It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a Thai restaurant in the Twin Cities. Let’s get back into the swing of things with the restaurant that I once called the best Thai restaurant in the Twin Cities: Krungthep Thai. I wouldn’t give it that rank now but that’s not because our lunch there this past weekend was sub-par; it’s only because our hearts and tongues have since been won over by Hot Grainz. Indeed, our lunch on Saturday was as good as the best of our previous meals at Krungthep Thai—which is to say it was very good indeed. We were there with friends we’ve eaten there with before and we ordered a number of old favourites. Here’s how it went.
We were a party of seven and arrived at noon to find a mostly empty restaurant. By the time we left at around 1.30 pm it was almost full. And I think our table may have been the only one at which any non-Asians were seated. Make of that what you will. After a bit of chit-chat—we hadn’t seen our friends in a while—we got down to bidness. The menu is much the same as it was on our last visit and prices have only inched up a bit in the intervening year and a half
What did we order? The party included the surly college student I’d mentioned in my previous review of Krungthep Thai. He’s no longer as surly as he used to be but he’s unstinting in his cruelty towards me. At our last visit to Krungthep Thai, said cruelty had taken the form of frank comments about my decreptitude; on this occasion he spared my vanity but insisted on ordering cream cheese wontons. How will I show my face to the world? I asked. He only cackled evilly and threatened to get a second order. These are the people we are leaving the world to.
What else did we get? Appetizers and salads included the following: Moo Ping (grilled pork skewers); Deep-Fried Pork Ribs; Thai-style Papaya Salad; and Cooked Beef Larb E-San. To follow, Pad Thai with shrimp; Stir-Fry Spicy Catfish; Green Curry with pork; Water Spinach with Garlic; and Moo Daeng Fried Rice. To end, one order of Mango with Sweet Sticky Rice.
Everything was at least very good but the highlights, in my opinion, were the catfish, the green curry and especially the water spinach with garlic. I don’t believe we’ve ever ordered the water spinach before here (or at Bangkok Thai Deli—part of the extended family) but we’ll be sure to get it again. It’s a very simple dish but the flavour from what must have been a blazing hot wok was excellent. The green curry was neither watery nor sweet—two common problems with Thai curries in Minnesota—and was appropriately herbal and “green” in flavour. The spicy catfish was as good as it was on our previous visit (and it’s very good at Bangkok Thai Deli as well). Oh yes, we got everything that should have been hot at the M+/Spicy heat level and they brought a good but far from unmanageable level of heat.
For a look at the menu as it currently stands (I suppose tariffs may soon drive prices up), and at everything we ate, launch the slideshow below. Scroll down to see how much it all cost and to see what’s coming next.
There were a couple of minor confusions with our order but nothing really worth detailing. Cost? All of the above, plus two mango smoothies, tax, included 15% tip (for a party of 5+), plus a bit more to bring the tip up to 20% brought the total to $218. So roughly $31/head. We took enough food home for at least two more people. So that’s an effective per head price of $ 24 or so. However, you calculate it, a good price for the quality and quantity. We’ll try to come back before another year and a half go by. We should also go back to the aforementioned Hot Grainz—we haven’t been back since last summer. The problem is that it was a zoo the time we went on a weekend and when our teaching terms are on, it’s hard to get there on a weekday.
What will my next Twin Cities report be of? Probably of dinner at Alma. We are scheduled to eat there again this weekend (and I am hoping devoutly that their current, highly attractive menu won’t turn over before then). That report will go up next Wednesday. Before that I’ll have another report this weekend from my trip to Delhi last month.
A month ago, I wanted lunch at Hot Grainz, it converted to take-out only. I went to Bangkok Thai Deli instead, where service was chaotic and the food was not as good as previous visits. Perhaps we ordered poorly.
I agree with you that Krungthep is at or near the top of the Thai choices in the Twin Cities. I’ve eaten three meals there and all were very good. Some of my friends really like On’s so I’ll probably eat there in the future, but if it’s my choice, we go for Krungthep.
In the same category as Alma, have you tried Bucheron? I’ve eaten three meals there, and like Krungthep, all were outstanding.
That’s disappointing to hear about Hot Grainz moving to takeout-only. It’s only going to work for us now when we can sync up with friends in St. Paul to take food to their place. And, yes, service at Bangkok Thai Deli is unpredictable (and the food too sometimes).
Have not yet been to Bucheron. It’s on the list along with a larger number of “fine dining” places that have opened in the last few years. I guess I should try to make a reservation for May now in case they win the Beard award they’re up for.