Pae Thai Restaurant

About ten years ago, I ate at a Thai restaurant that was in the same location that is now occupied by Pae Thai.  I can't recall if the restaurant was actually called Pae Thai then, but I do know that the food was decent and worth a return visit.  Since this place is right near my apartment, I frequently passed by the restaurant without actually stopping to eat there. But one evening, not too long ago, I decided to satisfy my curiosity and stopped in for dinner with a friend.

Upon entering the dimly lit restaurant, the first thing I noticed were the colorful paintings on the wall that were ringed with rope lights.  Below the painting on the left hand side of the photo is a small waterfall and pond!  The restaurant was spacious and clean and just barely occupied at about 9:00 pm (yes, it was late).

After looking over the menu, I decided to start with the combination appetizer plate (US$11.95). 

This appetizer sampler included 3 spring rolls, 3 fish cakes and mountain of mee krob in the middle.  The spring rolls, which were stuffed with chicken, vermicelli, mushrooms and other vegetables, were hot and crunchy when they arrived.  Served with a side of sweet/sour dipping sauce, I enjoyed these because they were well drained and mostly oil free.  The mee krob, which is a crispy fried rice noodle, was supposed to have been stir fried with garlic, green onions, tofu, chicken and bean sprouts.  Instead, it arrived doused in way too much of the overly sweet chilli sauce rendering the noodles a bit soggy and with just a few  bean sprouts to be found.  And finally, we arrive at the tod mun pla, or fish cakes.  Normally, these fish cakes are seasoned with kaffir lime leaves and are served with a cucumber relish.  The small, rubbery fish cakes were lacking any of the kaffir lime leaves' fragrance and the cucumber relish was nowhere to be found.

After the slight disappointment with the appetizers, I was hoping to fare a little better with the Pae Thai ong choi salad (US$10.95).

Described on the menu as a "signature selection", I was hoping that this dish would prove to be a worthy selection.  When it arrived at the table, I was a little surprised to see the dish "garnished" with four deep fried ong choi leaves.

Have a closer look. 

This dish was a combination of seafood (squid and shrimp) and chicken that had been stir fried with lemongrass, red onions, tamarind juice and cashew nuts.  There were some cut red chillies, some chopped green onions and some chopped cilantro here as well.  After taking the first bite, I found the dish similar in texture to a favorite of mine -- larb.  The combination of flavors was interesting and familiar, yet different and well balanced, making this the most enjoyable dish of the evening.

The last dish to arrive at the table is one that I usually order at any Thai restaurant that I visit -- green curry with beef (US$8.50).

When the dish of curry was placed on the table, I found it odd that I couldn't detect any of the usual fragrance that is so common with green curry.  The curry was thick, and full of beef and eggplant.  There was just the slightest hint of coconut milk here and there was a small scattering of basil leaves throughout the dish.  The curry lacked the depth normally found in most curries and it certainly lacked the subtle flavors that make this one of my favorites.

The food here at Pae Thai is good in some instances and average in others.  The service here was good, and the food arrived quickly at the table.  The prices are in line with what you'd pay at a similar restaurant and I probably would come here again, if only for the ong choi salad.  There were a few other items on the menu that I was curious to try, and the next time I'm here, I'm going to have to remember to choose my dishes wisely. 

Pae Thai Restaurant
1246 South King Street
Telephone:  808.596.8106

Comments

[Kirk]

Reid - Teasing us with even more photos, huh? The Ong Choi looked like green onion garnish in that dish!

[MBS]

Well, the pictures look ono, but I guess we hungry readers will have to wait for Reid's review. =)

Reid, are there more Thai restaurants back home now? I don't remember seeing all that many Thai restaurants 6 years ago. More Thai immigrant?

[Jo]

HEY! Who you calling krob?!?!? ::wink::

[robwonton]

Looks good. Giving me a Thai craving.

[Reid]

Hi Kirk,

Teasing? Hmmm. =P

There were only 4 fried ong choi leaves in the whole dish. Made me wonder why they called it an ong choi salad.

Hi MBS,

There have been quite a few "new" Thai places opening up recently, so yes there are a few more options now. Not all of them are good, but most are in the acceptable range.

The review will be updated sometime today. I promise.

Hi Jo,

LOL! =P

Hi robwonton,

Welcome to the blog!

I'm glad you enjoy the photos. The review will be up soon.

[Kirk]

Hi Reid - Funny thing, at first glance I thought the Mee Krob was shredded carrot, need to get my eyes checked!

[Reid]

Hi Kirk,

I can see how that would happen. The mee krob looks a bit day glo doesn't it? =P

[milgwimper]

Reid,

The Mee Krob, day glo is the perfect word for it. I would have thought it was shredded carrots myself. The ong Choi Salad did look delish, but I have no idea as why it would be called Onchoi slald with such little ong choi. Ahhh green curry is your standard Thai huh, for DH and I its red curry and drunk noodles. :)

[Reid]

Hi Milgwimper,

Yeah, it looked kinda day glo, I don't know why though. I've never made it myself, but after eating this a few times, I found that it tastes like Thai sweet chilli sauce.

As far as green curry is concerned, it's probably my favorite because of the dish's subtle flavors.