Well, here's the disclaimer part first...

I did speak Thai, and got to know the waitress a little bit and spoke to her about the lack of good Thai food on the Westside.

Emporium Thai is the place.

So, here's what we ordered...

Yum Nuah (can't get the right tone with Englisch), spicy beef salad.
Mu Yahng, BBQ pork
Shrimp cakes
Cow Pad boo, er, Fried rice with crab
Cow niao ma mua, Mango with sticky rice

So, a word of warning, unless you have lived as an expat, or are Thai, or are one of the few freak of nature mericans who can eat Thai spicy, do NOT order it spicy. I asked (well, more like demanded it) spicy in Thai, because the mrs is farang, and more often than not, they take a look at her, and automatically tone down the spicy level.

The yum nuah, the beef was just right, sliced the Thai way (which is to say, the portion is small for American standard), and so super spicy. Just like how it is in Bangkok.

The Mu Young is also done just right, and again, in teeny tiny portion for American standard, but again, is just like what you get in Bangkok. Oh, and with the authentic dipping sauce that is hard to get even in Thai town.

The shrimp cake, well, we forgot to ordered it spicy. In Bangkok, this is usually mixed in with that devil little green chilli diced. But because we forgot, it came out on its own without the chilli. The cake could be better. I will order it again and have them make it the Thai way, then post my judgment.

Crab fried rice is pretty good, pretty close to what you get in Bangkok. Warning, it is cooked with MSG like they do in Bangkok. And they don't use crab sticks, so it is actual crab. Squeeze on the lime, and it is just like Bangkok. I will order it again without MSG and report back.

Lastly, the Mango dessert. This is really really ripe mango with sticky rice and coconut milk. The sticky rice has just the right coconut milk mixed in, and the whole thing was devoured in 2 seconds between the both of us.

In short, this reminds me of the four years that I lived in Bangkok and the food I had as an expat there. Comfort food with small portions.

 

I'm hungry now...