After all that, we have decided to make our own tacos tonight. [  ]
I like Sombat's ingredients. The herbs are garden grown organic by the owner, and she buys organic local produce. For me, it's not just that it sounds good, but it translates into tastiness.
A friend of mine loves their fried rice. I have wrongly assumed that fried rice is not that sexy as a stand alone dish. I tried some at Sombat's and I was a believer. I compared Ning's and it didn't have the same complex flavors, and my friend thought it wasn't close. I didn't like Ning's curry as well either.
That said, I got some not so great satay chicken at Sombat's, and even though their coconut galanga soup is good, I've had better. I think Naung Mai is better.
As far as interesting dishes go, I came here from the Bay Area where they have great Thai, and more adventurous dishes by far -- so I've kind of accepted that the range of food here is not large. I don't care though because if I find one or two things I love, I'm good. If I ate out really often, variety would matter more.
My favorite Hispanic food is Taos or Santa Fe style, New Mexican. I fell for that style hard when I lived there. Never gonna find it here. If there were some really tasty Mexican or Cal-Mex here, I would love that. Mexican and Italian places here are really deficient, while all the Thai I've had is good enough for me. I might have a favorite, but I like all of them.
"And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody, outside of a small circle of friends ~ Phil Ochs
Kapohocat,
M 10:30 - 9:00 on window .... Was crowded tonight, did not go in. would say they will be open Monday.
Kathy, I would say beware of claims an owner tells you.
FWIW > Sukothai has a garden in the back of the resturant.
aloha,
pog
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I love that everyone has a different take on which Thai restaurant is best. From how he talks, I'll take POG's word on Sukhothai. Both Nings and Chiang Mai have been extremely generous in teaching me some of the tricks of Thai cooking to where I can do a reasonable facsimile. I do like Sombats but for me the flavor is not the same as Nings. And yes, the atmosphere. But I am Farang as POG says although I do ask for it Thai hot. I eat only vegetarian so my experience will be much different from others here.
Generally the cook or owner will never give a farang one of their dishes Thai spicy for fear of them never coming back ... Also you need the right chiles to do it correctly ... Simply dumping X into to ramp up the heat is not the way to enhance the dish either so this is another reason.
If you really want it, order the spicy dish last and place your hands, palms facing the person taking the order, about shoulder height in front of you and look through your thumbs as you say "pet pet karuna krap" making a '10' with your hands while simultaneously nodding. Repeat with no hands on the second time, bring them back up on the to confirm third time if you are getting the 'are you sure' ? look and say "krap" with a mini nod and a smile.
say the a like you would the o in 'mop'
aloha,
pog
Edit to add ... Jackson for disclosure, I am friends with Sukothai. Thai chiles grow like crazy here, grab a Kaffir lime tree next Plant It sale and don't be afraid to use peanut butter in your curries.
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Pog's right. Lucy's is da bomb. Not perfect -- the service is an odd mix of help-yourself and we will bring it to you, eventually. It is very, very slow (I almost asked for a refund and left, it was that slow). They briefly put all the forks face up (so others put their clammy hands on your tines when they grab their forks), and the atmosphere is taco shop utilitarian. But this is surprisingly good casual Mexican food. This is BETTER than most Mexican food you get in Southern California.
This kind of food is definetely off my plan, and I find it way too pricey for what you get so I won't be back soon, but I see why families might like this. There is a keiki corner, where you can park a kid, and the little girl who takes your order for her mom is a disarming little sweetheart.
After this guilt-wracked diversion though, I am back on vegan and low cal. Everyone else should go enjoy.
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Pog, I have a Kaffir lime tree. I had asked Tina once where she got her leaves and she said, "get a tree." I did learn how to make red curry at Nings and I am allowed in the kitchen at Chiang Mai, to watch, but no talking. I have a favorite Indian restaurant on the Mainland. The chef is amazing and well known in the Indian chef world. (His cousin owns the Indian restaurant on Kona side). He gave me his secret for Chana Masala, but his rice is special. I asked him how he makes it and he started to tell his water ratios, stopped, and said, "No," you'll never come back.
I do use peanut butter. I make a peanut sauce with Thai chilis, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and peanut butter, and secret ingredient. Great with lightly fried tofu. I really do know good Thai food from mediocre, but only in my vegetarian frame of reference. Thanks for the tips.
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For Thai food my favorite is Sombat's, followed by Nings. Sombat is also one of the nicest people you could ever meet.
Jerry & I went to Sukothai about 6 months ago and will never go back. I think the food is good but the service was terrible. It took over an hour and a half to get food. At one point the waitress was taking our order and said wait a minute, left her pad and pen on our table, and came back 10 minutes later. When were leaving everyone that worked there apologized to us.
All restaurants can have a bad night but they should have at least given us a free Thai iced coffee or rice pudding for dessert. What would that have cost them - 50 cents?? If they had done that we would go back and try them again.
Markie
Markie
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We went to Lucy's last night, and it was just okay in our opinions...Food was average, service was erratic, and while the little girl taking orders was charming, their use of dry erase markers on plastic order sheets meant that every member of the staff had blue ink on their hands (and in some cases, faces). I'm sure some of it ended up in the food too, but I'm not twitching this morning, so hopefully it's non-toxic 
Their burrito is *huge* -- two strapping guys next to us each ordered one, but they ended up splitting a single portion, wrapping up the second for take-home, and then sitting in their chairs like a pair of pythons who had just eaten small cows. The atmosphere is friendly and energetic, though, and hopefully after they have a few week's experience under their belts, things will improve. We'll definitely give them another chance in a month or so...
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I tried it today, wasn't a positive experience. They lost my order, and the atmosphere was chaotic. Loud music made diners talk louder, was extremely noisy. They did turn the music down, though.
I'll chalk it up to getting the bugs out, and give them another chance. The food was pretty decent.
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For good Mexican try Emma's in Shipman Industrial Park. Most things I have had there were very good. It's a small spot and not open for dinner. Good stuff though.
Atlanta/Pahoa
Atlanta/Pahoa
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