Thai Restaurants Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

November 1, 2013 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

A Taste of Two Thai’s- Thaiphoon Bistro and Sawasdee Thai in Raleigh

Front of Thaiphoon, North Street in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

When you’re looking for a taste of something a bit more exotic, flavorful and spicy, Thai food always comes to mind for me! Curries, noodles, seafood and more, Thai cuisine covers a wide and delicious variety of flavors and is often punctuated with extremes of sweet, sour, spicy and hot. If you’re up for some of the best Thai food in the Triangle, I do have two favorites that are head and shoulders above the rest- Thaiphoon Bistro in S. Glenwood and Sawasdee Thai just past Crabtree Valley Mall. Both dish up exquisite and delicious Thai eats but in two very different types of ambiance.

Roti canai at Thaiphoon in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Thaiphoon Bistro is an easy choice if you live in downtown Raleigh. With two entrances on Glenwood Ave and North Street, I prefer North which features a koi pond, outdoor patio and opens up into the main dining room! The simple white decor is a change from their orange days and the small bar at Thaiphoon shows off a nice display of liquors. Modern and simple is the best way to describe the ambiance here, you can do a date or dinner party here and feel equally comfortable.

Green curry at Thaiphoon in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

I’ve eaten at Thaiphoon probably 10 or 15 times and for some reason never reviewed it. The menu has all your Thai favorites but for my most recent visit, I noticed a couple of newer items including a roti canai so yeah, I’m ordering it. Service at our table is sort of funny, my friend Susan wanted to customize the order and the Thaiphoon server was warning her not to do it and then asked her to promise not to send it back if she didn’t like it! But overall the service here is fine if not super warm.

Chicken pad kee mao at Thaiphoon in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

My roti canai starter was pretty solid: a well browned, pretty dense pancake with a thick curry sauce. If you haven’t had roti canai before you should definitely try Thaiphoon’s version. Typically you’ll find this app at Malaysian and Singaporean restaurants. Tear a piece of the pancake off dip into the tasty curry which also has some chicken and potato and you’ve got yourself a taste sensation! Messy but way delicious. My chicken pad kee mao is also decent and well-plated with some colorful hints. The portion size was a bit smaller than I’d expect and the spiciness, on the light side. But still a decent meal. Thaiphoon does a solid job all around and I always grapple with which place serves the best Thai but Thaiphoon is definitely in the top three for me!

Sign at Sawasdee-Glenwood, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Moving a bit further north to Sawasdee Glenwood, this restaurant location is in the front right corner of Pleasant Valley Promenade near the BP gas station. Sawasdee presents a more traditional Thai face with a more muted wood interior, wicker furniture and carvings. This is the second location for Sawasdee, the original up on Capital Boulevard is smaller and more casual but both serve good food. Located in a quiet corner of the Crabtree Valley Promenade, Sawasdee opens up to a large space of woods and bright colors. A small raised platform up front with some wicker seating, a side-bar along with 10 to 15 tables in the dining room. The space is open, up to date and comfortable. Light jazz is pumping out of speakers to keep the vibe mellow and chill.

Interior at Sawasdee-Glenwood, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

We’re celebrating a birthday so it’s time to eat big: Chicken larb, pad thai with shrimp, a red curry along with a catfish in chili-basil sauce get ordered up. The chicken larb starts us off and it’s a great app! White chicken morsels with red onion, lime and more, larb tingles the taste buds and dazzles the palate, nice job Sawasdee. Our fish comes out next and it’s two largish filets in a deep red chili sauce. It’s followed by the red curry with chicken and bamboo shoots along with a nice helping of pad thai with shrimp. The fish in chili sauce is solid but not super exciting, yet it still is tasty. The red curry is excellent with just enough heat, coconut milk and spicing to make it great on rice. The big winner for me is the pad thai with shrimp. Tender rice noodles, shrimp and tamarind flavor along with a pile of crushed peanuts.

Chicken larb at Sawasdee-Glenwood, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining Pad thai with shrimp at Sawasdee-Glenwood, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining Red curry with chicken at Sawasdee-Glenwood, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

One other bonus at Sawasdee, the wine prices are super reasonable! Everything is under $30 which is quite a deal for a restaurant. We go with some riesling to keep the heat and spices at bay. Service is efficient although we feel a bit rushed at the end of the meal since they’re cleaning up and closing the place down. But what can I say, but Sawasdee on Glenwood makes me happy. Definitely better than Tom Yum Thai, and I think better than Thaiphoon. There’s something about the execution and spicing here that makes me happy and makes it feel more Asian. So rock on Sawasdee and Thaiphoon! You both deliver tasty, delicious Thai food without much fuss, kup kun krup and bon appetit!

Thaiphoon Bistro

301 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27603

Location on Google maps

Sawasdee Thai

6204 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27612

Location on Google maps

December 1, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: Tom Yum Thai in Cary for Solidly, Spicy Thai Fare

Front of Tom Yum Thai, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Over in Cary Town Plaza is a quiet little Thai restaurant called, Tom Yum Thai. I had been here years ago when it opened and thought it was decent but it literally took over five years before I came back for a re-visit! Cary Town Center is just not a spot I get to that frequently but I’m glad I did get back to try Tom Yum Thai again. From the outside the restaurant looks pretty humble. Most likely a conversion of a fast-food restaurant, the drab exterior opens up to a large, high-ceiling dining room full of dark woods and pendant lighting, quite nice! We grab a table in the corner, there’s plenty of sunlight to keep the place bright for lunch time. Tom Yum Thai does a bunch of lunch specials for $8 which includes drink, soup or salad and entree.

Interior of Tom Yum Thai, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Pad thai at Tom Yum Thai, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

The table starts with some Thai spring rolls: six diagonally cut pieces with some sauce. They’re decent vegetarian rolls, well-fried but sort of bland including the sauce. For the price ($3.95) it’s a decent app but just doesn’t pop with much flavor which is what I usually associate with Thai food. My colleague’s crispy rice cake with chicken looks a lot more interesting but don’t want to fill up before my entree. The chicken soup is fine, just some clear broth with some light noodles and chicken. And of course I go with the Thai spicy noodles with chicken for my main, Tom Yum Thai’s equivalent of pad kee mao. It’s a nice portion with plenty of rice noodle, chicken and adds some tomato, mushrooms and onion. Spicing at hot is really medium to me, I usually order in the middle for hotness. The noodles are well-cooked with some suppleness but the dish is lacking basil. I spy a piece or two but it can really use some more. The additional veggies make for a nice touch but this dish just seems to be lacking a bit of flavor.

Spicy noodles with chicken at Tom Yum Thai, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Service at Tom Yum Thai is solid and efficient for lunch time. They’re busy but not super-busy so they did a nice job keeping glasses filled. In the end, Tom Yum Thai is a decent spot for Thai eats but very much in the middle. Good portions, decent flavor for lower prices which is perfect for lots of people. But my instincts are that they’ve toned things down a bit for a suburban crowd. Still I’d come back again because there isn’t a lot of decent Thai food in this neck of the woods outside of Thai Villa. In the end, I guess waiting five years wasn’t that big a deal but hopefully it won’t be that long before my next visit!

Tom Yum Thai

685 Cary Towne Blvd

Cary, NC 27511

919.386.7533

Tom Yum Thai menu

Location on Google maps

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February 12, 2020 by Ron Wen

Thai at Main Street in Durham: A Fun Take on Flavorful Thai Cuisine

Thai @ Main Street in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Thai @ Main Street in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Over the past decade as the restaurant scene boomed in downtown Durham, it’s an area known for great farm to table Southern eats, beer and burgers. But what was conspicuously missing was really good ethnic food. Over the past two years or so, that gap has slowly been filled by restaurants such as Viceroy (Indian) and Goorsha (Ethiopian) on Main Street. And now you can add one more to the mix, Thai at Main Street! Located in the old Dames Chicken and Waffles space, Thai at Main Street opened in 2018 and I’ve been able to stop in for two dinner visits. So how are they doing so far? Not bad, with some room for improvement, read on for the details!

Dining room at Thai @ Main Street in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Dining room at Thai @ Main Street in Durham – nctriangledining.com

From out on Main Street, you’ll clearly see their sign hanging overhead, Inside the old Dame’s space has been opened up and there’s a slightly tropical feel to everything. Dark wood planked floors, thin wooden chairs along with some bright yellow and aquamarine on the walls as accents. If feels simple and humble which is reflected in Thai at Main Street’s menu and pricing. Thai at Main Street’s menu covers the typical array of Thai cuisine such as larb, curries and noodles along with some house specialty dishes. Pretty much everything on the menu is under $20 and primarily in the under $15 range which is really reasonable for this convenient location in downtown Durham. And while I’m a pretty good home cook, Thai dishes always seem a bit complicated for me in terms of ingredients so I love going out and eating their flavor-packed offerings!

Pork larb at Thai @ Main Street in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Pork larb at Thai @ Main Street in Durham – nctriangledining.com

For starters, the larb is a great choice. Full of spicy and flavor, Thai at Main Street pairs minced pork with thin slices of red onion, peppers and I usually see this dish using chicken so this version is a bit different that what I’d usually get. But given pork is a white meat, it pairs pretty well with the flavors and spice of this dish. Like much of Thai cuisine, you get a mix of sweet, sour (squeeze of lime) and spicy along with a lot of color. Thumbs up here!

Another fun starter at Thai at Main Street is their street meat balls! Served on skewers, I believe Thai at Main Street is serving up the standard beef meat balls that you find in Asian cuisine and soups. The meat is spiced up with some sweet sauce and cucumber onion garnish which makes for a tasty bite. A bit of a surprise for me, I haven’t seen this on many other Thai menus over the years.

Massaman curry at Thai @ Main Street in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Massaman curry at Thai @ Main Street in Durham – nctriangledining.com

For the mains, the Massaman curry is a tasty treat. This mild curry uses a coconut-based broth, Massaman is an easy way to try the unique flavor profile of Thai cuisine which usually mixes in savory, sweet and sour. Love the cashews served up with the chicken slices, there’s a lot of flavor going on here. But do note, that Thai at Main Street does slightly smaller portions which is reflected in their lower prices for lunch. I would describe the portion sizes as Thai-style vs. American-style.

Chicken pad thai at Thai @ Main Street in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Chicken pad thai at Thai @ Main Street in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Their chicken pad thai which is really a foundation dish for me in Thai cuisine was solid. Served with thin rice noodles, seared white chicken slices and a bit of egg, scallion and peanut garnish, it’s a tasty dish but not a stand-out for me. It seemed to be missing some of the tang and complexity that you usually get with tamarind in this dish. I also tried out a fried catfish with chili sauce which was a generous portion of firm, white fish in a crispy coating and topped with a slightly tangy, red sauce. The broccoli on the side was nicely steamed and the Thai basil on top is a nice touch!

Fried catfish with chili sauce at Thai @ Main Street in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Fried catfish with chili sauce at Thai @ Main Street in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Service at Thai at Main Street is solid and friendly, they will get you in and out quickly. They also run some regular drink specials so along with their decent menu prices, it’s a good meal in downtown Durham for a decent price. But the flavors and execution could be better so I’d put Thai at Main Street right down the middle for me in terms of Thai cuisine. But to be honest with you, there seems to be a dearth of good Thai restaurants in the Triangle so Thai at Main Street does a good job but could use some tweaks and improvements to be great.

Thai at Main Street

317 W. Main Street

Durham, NC 27701

984.219.7444

Location on Google maps

January 1, 2014 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

First Take: Thai Villa for Spiciness in South Hills Mall, Cary

Front of Thai Villa in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Thai food is one of those cuisines that sort of intimidates me as a home cook. Lots of interesting ingredients, preparation and flavors mean I typically only eat it when dining out. And as a Thai food lover, Thai Villa over in Cary was one of the first recommended spots I heard about in 2007. Located in a slightly run down plaza between 440 and Buck Jones Road, you may not notice this Cary classic even if you shop at Grand Asia Market a lot. It’s been here forever which is both good and bad as you’ll see.

Dining room of Thai Villa in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

From the front, Thai Villa’s got an inconspicuous entry way that leads into a casual dining room. Basic booths and four tops, a bit aged with worn carpeting, the place could use a sprucing up! But no big deal, I normally like my Asian food grungy which means you’ll typically end up with good eats at a bargain basement price. I’ve typically done lunch here and Thai Villa has your usual assortment of Thai apps, noodle dishes, curries and rice dishes. We go with an order of spring rolls and I get my usual, the chicken pad kee mao which they call Thai Villa noodles. I love the spiciness and flavors in pad kee mao, it’s one of those items that I could probably never re-create at home.

Pad kee mao (Thai Villa noodles) at Thai Villa in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Service at Thai Villa is fast which is a good thing because this place is popular for lunch. We get a small plate of four rolls with dipping sauce which is nicely fried but your run of the mill rolls. My plate of Thai Villa noodles comes out and it’s a generous portion with plenty of chicken slices, green peppers, onions and more, yum! This dish can be a bit tricky and when it’s done well, you end up with soft but firm rice noodles that have been stir-fried with the ingredients to blend the flavors. And Thai Villa does do a nice job with the flavors and heat, their noodles are definitely spicy and pungent. Where it goes off a bit is that the noodles are a bit over-cooked and slightly mushy. You end up with a clump of pad kee mao which is still edible but not quite perfecto! Decent job, though..

Still, Thai Villa is worth a visit for its spicy fare because there isn’t a ton of Thai eats in Cary. The next closest place is Tom Yum Thai up at Cary Town Center from what I know. Don’t expect fine-dining, just solid, spicy Thai cuisine in a dated dining room and you’ll be fine for a visit here! This Cary is still doing a good job with authentic Thai food so come on out for a visit!

Thai Villa

1319 Buck Jones Road

Cary, NC 27511

919.462.9010

Thai Villa menu

Location on Google maps

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November 12, 2016 by Ron Wen 3 Comments

First Take: Thai 55 in Durham for Affordable, Spicy Flavors

Front of Thai 55 in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Front of Thai 55 in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

When the craving for Thai food hits you, it’s hard to resist! There’s something about the melange of flavors that Thai food delivers (sweet, spicy, savory and more) which keeps you coming back for more. Thai eats are a little hit or miss in the Triangle so I’m always looking for a great Thai option. Reviews online pointed me to a new spot, Thai 55 in Durham which is conveniently l0cated near the 55/54 intersection, home for many dining options. So yeah, it was time for a visit to get my spice on!

Interior of Thai 55 in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Interior of Thai 55 in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

Driving by Thai 55 you’ll immediately notice the stand-along building with its bold signage. Looking like a chain restaurant conversion, the inside of Thai 55 is humble and bright. Decked out in yellow and red vinyl table cloths, I grab a seat at one end of the sunny dining room. They have a slew of lunch options which come with a salad-soup and rice for under $10. I go with the spicy catfish along with some basil rolls to explore the menu.

Basil rolls at Thai 55 in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Basil rolls at Thai 55 in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

A salad with ginger dressing starts of the meal and it’s decent but nothing to write home about. The basil rolls follow and they are similar to the Vietnamese summer rolls here. While most basil rolls I’ve had in Thai places are primarily vegetarian, Thai 55 adds shrimp and roast pork to their version which is near identical to what you’d get in a Vietnamese spot. These basil rolls at Thai 55 are a bit smallish and a bit sloppily wrapped. They used whole shrimp here (not butterflied) and the pork is inconsistent. It’s still an okay appetizer but not up to par with what I’d find elsewhere.

Spicy catfish lunch at Thai 55 in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Spicy catfish lunch at Thai 55 in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

And finally the spicy catfish! It looks great, presented on lettuce leaves, a sprinkle of thinly sliced ginger and a scoop of rice. The catfish is perfectly fried with a nice crisp coating soaking some of the spicy sauce. Well actually the sauce here is sort of spicy and a bit one-dimensional but still a tasty meal. It’s a good portion size for the lunch prices so certainly Thai 55 offers up a good value.

Salad at Thai 55 in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Salad at Thai 55 in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

I pay my bill and head out thinking that it is nice to have Thai 55 in my hood near the office. While it’s certainly not perfect, it’s decent Thai for Durham and maybe I picked the wrong items on the menu. The menu has plenty of options (including sushi), service was good and the setting is perfectly fine for lunch. It might be a bit casual for dinner here. But I certainly think that Thai 55 is worth another visit before a final verdict. So 3.5 stars for Thai 55 right now, let’s see what visit #2 turns up!

Thai 55

4716 NC-55

Durham, NC 27713

919.748.3051

Location on Google maps

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A Taste of Two Thai’s- Thaiphoon Bistro and Sawasdee Thai in Raleigh

First Take: Tom Yum Thai in Cary for Solidly, Spicy Thai Fare

Thai at Main Street in Durham: A Fun Take on Flavorful Thai Cuisine