Getting outside of your bubble is tough. But one very easy way to get out is the knowledge that your bubble just doesn’t have everything you want. So when it comes to good old fashioned Asian food, it’s easy to break out and make my way to Mesa and the Mekong Plaza. On this occasion, the journey led me to Thai Spices.

I don’t claim to be any sort of expert on Thai food, other than assuming the spicier the more authentic. In any case, I love Thai curry and Thai Spices had my favorite (and not overly common) curry, which is called massaman, so I ordered some with chicken and at a spice level of 3 out of 5.

What arrived was exactly what I expected. It was packed with flavor and a fair amount of coconut milk. Next time I’ll be sure to go with a spice level of 4, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the flavors and how they coupled perfectly with the tender chicken meat.

And while there was no doubt this curry was delicious, I also felt like I didn’t need to go all the way out to Mesa to get it. Granted, I can’t name any Thai place closer to my home that might be as good, but the other Asian food in Mesa is just that much more impressive.

So if you’re in Mesa already and looking for some tasty Thai, Thai Spices will do it for you. Just don’t expect it to blow you away compared to a neighborhood place you might already know and love.

The historical interrelationships of Southeast Asian countries is fascinating, especially for those in the Indochina parts. Amazingly, they have each maintained such strong individual cultures and that is no more apparent than in the food. You see, after some time in Vietnam a few of us were tired of Vietnamese food. So, obviously we wanted a burger or a burrito or pizza? Right? Wrong. We went for Thai food at a place called Tuk Tuk.

The menu had everything written in Thai, English and Vietnamese, so it was easy to some ordering done and we began with Tao Hu Tord Sauce Makham. This was simply deep-fried tofu with lemongrass and tamarind. As you probably know, I am not the biggest tofu fan, but when it’s cooked right I am all about it. This stuff was done right, with a crispy exterior, a silky interior and a punch of lemongrass, pepper and tamarind on the outside.

For my main course I ordered the Gaem Phed Ped Confit, which was their red curry and came with duck confit, pineapple and lychee. Since I love all of those things, it probably goes without saying that I loved this dish. And the truth is that I really did. I ordered it with just the right amount of spiciness and the flavors paired perfectly with each other. The sauce was so good that I kept sipping it and gave a bunch to my eating companion who had ordered the weirdest version of massaman curry I had ever seen (it was almost like a dry dish).

Things ended with some classic Khaomeow Mamuang, or as I like to call it, Mango Sticky Rice with Coconut Ice Cream. It was a perfect not-too-sweet way to end a meal.

And yet, while I enjoyed every aspect of my meal at Tuk Tuk, it is probably worth noting that this place does not adhere to the concept of bringing out food for an entire table at the same time. Certainly, I don’t expect that when I am abroad, but Tuk Tuk took this to an entirely new and frustrating level. Regardless, all is well that ends well and nobody left hungry or unhappy about the food itself. So, you know, if you are interested in breaking away from Vietnamese food in Ho Chi Minh City, Tuk Tuk will do the job.

You don’t really associate Japan with fried chicken. I mean, sure, if you’ve spent enough time in Japan or with Japanese food you have undoubtedly discovered karaage and more, but those aren’t exactly Earth-shattering compared to the fried chicken of the American South or even the fried chicken of Japan’s neighbor buddy (kind of), Korea. But Tokyo Fried Chicken in Monterey Park is doing its best to change that perception. So when it came down to choosing new restaurants or eating at old favorites before making the move to Phoenix, Tokyo Fried Chicken is where I found myself eating my last reviewable meal as a resident of Southern California (at least for now!).

As there were three of us, we decided to order the Meal for 3. This included 9 pieces of chicken, 3 sides, rice and some sort of cabbage-y thingy that I wouldn’t need to have anything to do with. For the sides we got the curry creamed corn and upgraded the other two to mac and cheese and brussels sprouts. The last of these was obviously not my idea, but I was content just to eat the other two.

We swapped out a couple of the pieces of chicken for chicken breast because one of my companions was a white meat only racist, and unfortunately this made the food take a little longer to cook. But, soon enough it was ready with the sauces on the side to go with it (Ponzu, Spicy Ponzu and a taste of the Yuzu Pepper sauce just to see what it was like, which was pretty solid). Oh, we even got gloves to eat the chicken with so we wouldn’t get our hands dirty.

Anyway, the chicken was nothing short of incredible. The breading was all sort of crispy, while having no trouble clinging to the chicken. It was just thick enough and also flavorful in all the right ways. The chicken also managed to stay perfectly juicy – even the white meat that I ate at the end because there was extra. I was a fan of the Spicy Ponzu sauce, but really you couldn’t go wrong.

As for the sides, the curry creamed corn was exactly what it sounds like. So, if you like corn and curry, this is your dish. If you are expecting something unique and different than creamed corn, this is your dish. But if you’re hoping for something life-changing as a lover of corn in curry, you may be disappointed. And as for the mac and cheese, I’m actually going to weirdly penalize it for trying too hard to be different. The flavor was unique, but it could also be described as “off.” This, of course, did not stop me from devouring every last bite of the stuff, but if I had to do it all over again I would have traded out the mac for more fried chicken.

And that was my overall feeling as I left. Tokyo Fried Chicken is simply amazing at making fried chicken. And all the while the sides are just along for the ride on the coattails of the chicken. Truth be told, that was just fine by me.

Few restaurants have been on my to-eat list longer than Jitlada, a Thai spot in the middle of Thai Town (which itself is kind of in the middle of Hollywood). The original plan was just to meet a couple of friends for some authentic eats, but we ended up biting off a lot more than we had planned for. You see, throughout the evening we had sporadic, then more significant conversations with Jazz, the woman (and Iron Chef competitor) behind the whole place.

But it wasn’t always that way. For starters, while Jitlada has been around since the 70s, Jazz purchased the place in 2006 and began to turn it into food that some call more authentic than Thailand. In that time, she’s served a lot of famous people, but seems to be the most proud of her friendship with Ryan Gosling and the time Mila Kunis came in deeply pregnant hoping the spicy food would kick her into labor. Legend has it she gave birth the next day.

We began with Tom Yum soup (which is spicy and sour) with shrimp. Immediately, I could tell this was not made for western palettes. Yet, it was all at once spicy, sour and refreshing, which is certainly a difficult feat to pull off.

Then we had that burger up above, which once required calling in advance for preparation. Now, due to it blowing up on TV as an amazing “off-menu” item, the Jazz Burger is available anytime. This burger, by the way, is not on the menu just to bring parents in with picky children. No, it was originally something Jazz put together for her kids who used to hang out in a Joovy-Zoom-360-Ultralight-Jogging stroller while she sang to feel more comfortable around their friends. One day a patron saw her prepping it and wanted one. The rest is just chili-stuffed, chili-topped and coconut milk-covered history.

We didn’t stop there, though, as we needed to get some Crying Tiger (or Tiger Crying depending on who you ask) Beef because it had also been featured on TV. Having had this dish before, I can say that this was leaps and bounds better. Not only was the beef perfectly tender, it was infused with a salty and sweet flavor that some beef just deserves. Moreover, it was served with a spicy sauce on the side that mingled perfectly with those other flavors (assuming you can handle the spice).

Finally, we had to have some curry. I, for one, thought we should continue getting dishes outside of the normal Thai restaurant zone, but our waitress convinced us that curry was a good idea. So we went with the red, got it with chicken and were immediately glad she had convinced us to do so. We got it at the “spicy for white people” level (my words, not hers) and it was perfect. It’s hard to explain how the flavors and texture of the curry made it different than other Thai spots, but just trust me that it is.

And while the food was incredible, perhaps the best moment of the meal was when my little baby started crying and Jazz offered to hold him and feed him for me. As a food blogger, there is perhaps nothing cooler than eating a famous chef’s food while she simultaneously bottle feeds your four month-old child. Yet, there I was, eating amazing food cooked by someone who loves nothing more than to walk around her restaurant and mingle with random patrons as though they were just stopping by her home for a meal. яндекс

Just off the main drag of South Lake in Pasadena is a little Thai spot that goes by the name Nine and Nine. What the name means is lost to me, but what wasn’t lost to me was their lunch specials for $7.50, which captivated me as I browsed the menu. Like most Thai places, the lunch specials menu was a small fraction of the whole, but it had curry and that’s all a guy like me could ask for.

I ordered the Beef Panang, which was described as a mix of coconut milk, red curry and peanut sauce. https://petitsecret.ch. As part of the lunch special it came with two egg rolls and steamed rice. Thus, I had no idea it would also come with bell peppers until it arrived in front of me. These weren’t the most difficult veggies to avoid, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t a disappointment.

The curry, however, was not a disappointment at all. It’s been a while since I plunged into panang, and I found Nine and Nine’s version more spicy than your average Thai curry, but in a good way. Like in a way that it brought out the flavor of the peanuts, coconut and beef without drawing more than a bead of sweat. It was a little more viscous than typical red curry, but hey that’s what the rice is for.

Nine and Nine is really great spot for some Thai food. And while their lunch menu is somewhat brief, the main deal is massive and just waiting for me to order for dinner.

While attempting to get our bearings on food in Pasadena, we stopped in Thai place called Daisy Mint, which promised to be more than just an ordinary Thai spot based on its eclectic furnishings and somewhat unique menu. It wasn’t easy getting a stroller into the tiny place, but we made it work and set about eating.

I ordered the Daisy Noodle because it had many things I like, such as red curry, rice (not daisy) noodles, egg, crispy onions, bean sprouts and crushed peanuts. The sprouts were somewhat questionable, but as aborted vegetables I seem to have less of a problem with them than I do with many other things.

It arrived and was not only a beauty to behold, but a beauty to be eaten. As far as flavor goes, this was pretty great. It had a slight kick, but just tons of flavor. The trouble was that the noodles stuck together like siamese twins (pun intended). They were never fully liberated from each other, but great-tasting nonetheless.

Would I go back? Well, my father-in-law enjoyed his meal so much that he never wanted to leave (he had the mussels, by the way). As for me, I was fine leaving but certainly wouldn’t mind a repeat.

The name Verde Mesa is a little bit frightening for a restaurant. For one, it doesn’t really follow the rules of Spanish, weirdly translating into “table green.” The other reason it’s frightening is because of that whole “green” thing. It’s definitely a vegetarian-friendly spot, but it came with really high recommendations and the restaurant we really wanted was full.

After looking over the menu, I was nearly ready to leave, but then I saw one of their specials: Curry Coconut Stew. It came with tempeh, breadfruit and jasmine rice. At the time I believed tempeh to be some sort of a fish, but when the meal arrived and I started eating it I realized I was way off. It turns out that tempeh is some sort of Malaysian tofu. This was disappointing, but I decided to power through it. After all, this was travel despite technically still being in the US.

And in fact, the curry itself was quite tasty. I was a big fan of the breadfruit in place of some crummy vegetable, but this was somewhat canceled out by the use of tempeh instead of meat. It was edible, really, but man it would have been awesome to have some chicken or beef in there instead.

Nonetheless, if you are into greens, Verde Mesa is really the place for you when you come to San Juan. If not, it’s probably best to make your way elsewhere.

After many days abroad, one might think I wouldn’t jump right into another ethnic meal after returning to the USA. Well, you’re right, because my first stop was Taco Bell, but after that set my stomach straight it was time for a meal at Nicky’s Thai Kitchen in Downtown Pittsburgh. Nicky’s sits on the fancy end of the Thai spectrum, which is usually something I try to avoid because cheap Thai is awesome, yet I was willing to give Nicky’s a try.

I started out by splitting some Thai Chicken Wings with a buddy and they were actually really awesome. The sauce had just the right amount of kick (well, at least for a white guy) and the seasoning was delicious. Moreover, the wings themselves were pretty meaty.

As for my main course, I went with the Massaman Curry with chicken. It also came with potatoes, peanuts, and a mix of peanut butter and coconut milk with the curry paste. I ordered it at spice level 5 (out of 10), knowing that I could always add more if necessary. When it arrived, I was disappointed to find the curry littered with peppers and onions, but at least it wasn’t difficult to eat around these. As for the spice level, I found it to be pretty close to perfect. It was also the kind of spiciness that builds, so unlike my friends that added extra flakes after their first bite, I waited mine out and was rewarded with edible food. The curry itself was fine, but nothing really special.

So, along with pretty much any upscale Thai place I’ve ever been to, Nicky’s Thai Kitchen fell victim to simply not offering more that I could get at a less upscale spot. There was nothing bad about it, but just not enough good to justify the fancy pants-ness of the joint. Except maybe those wings.

Noodlehead is a funny name for a restaurant. But then, Deadhead is a weird name for people who follow a band called the Grateful Dead. I know you’re thinking apples and oranges, but hey, if you like noodles, why not be a Noodlehead? In this case, though, the noodles are limited to the Thai variety, but Noodlehead has plenty to offer.

Over the course of a couple visits to Noodlehead, I have found some pretty delicious things on their menu. For example, even before getting into the noodles, Noodlehead’s “Snacks” include Pork Belly Steamed Buns and something called Sweet and Spicy Pig Wings. The pork belly buns are served with a bit of sauce and thinly-sliced cucumber/pickle monsters. I put up with the pickles since I was eating with other, but just beware when ordering and know that they are much better without.

The pig wings are an interesting little dish, playing off of buffalo wings and served up to look like little drumsticks. But instead of chicken, these are piggy riblets with Thai barbecue sauce and freaking awesome. You know, except for the weird pickle cucumber things that accompany them on the plate. Fortunately, they don’t come into contact with each other.

For the main courses, Noodlehead serves up all of its noodle dishes for a flat rate of 9 bucks. There’s a good variety, but so far my favorite is their Chiang Mai Curry, which is egg noodles, chicken, pickled mustard greens and crispy shallots in a yellow curry coconut milk sauce. As you’d expect, I order without the greens for a pure meal. As with any good spicy restaurant, you are given a spice level and this one ranged from 1-5, with 5 being crazy hot and 4 being “Thai Hot.” As a whitey, so far I haven’t gone beyond level 3, which has a great balance of heat and flavor, but next time I think I’ll see if I can brave the Thai heat.

Noodlehead is a good, safe bet for Thai food with unique options for anyone to enjoy. Just don’t tell the people who work there, you don’t want it going to their head.

You know how some restaurants don’t seem to have an identity? You know, like Jack in the Box but in full restaurant form. Well, Sun Penang in Squirrel Hill is one of those restaurants. The only identity it really has is “Asian,” but Asian covers a lot of groups and so does Sun Penang. From Thai to Dim Sum to Malaysian, it is a hard place to choose a meal, but choose I did.

For some reason I was feeling the Thai part of the menu and ordered myself some Curry Chicken with Potato and my wife felt more Chinese and went with Beef and Broccoli. My curry was of the red variety and also came with cilantro, while her dish came with exactly what it said it came with, but she had them add water chestnuts, which I find much more acceptable than broccoli.

The result? Maybe it’s better to stick to one thing and do it well. While the dishes were certainly beautiful, they seriously lacked in flavor. This is not to say that they tasted bad. In fact, there can be nothing negative said about the flavor because it really wasn’t there. Perhaps we were there on an off day, but the name of the game on that day was bland and with so many other options in the area, bland isn’t something worth returning to.