Having just returned from three months in Chiang Mai, Thailand (I spend 3-4 months each year), I love cooking regional Thai dishes. I also love dining out. What are your favorite Thai/Viet restaurants? Sourcing ingredients are challenging but I found Lowell quite abundant in Asian grocery stores beyond HMart. What are your favorites? I’ll drive anywhere in Mass, RI to find them.
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I was in Newport/ Middletown RI last spring. One evening solo I jumped at the chance for Thai cuisine. Chose NaPha Thai Kitchen 120 W Main Rd, Middletown. At first thought I was in the wrong spot as it’s the first floor of an Inn. Went in, lovely room, gracious servers and delicious IMO food. I ordered steamed mussels with Thai herb in a spicy broth topped with basil, then KaoSoi (Chicken) - Rice noodles in a rich curry based broth, topped with fried shallots and bean sprouts. I wanted to lick the bowl it was so delicious. As rich and spicy as menu described. https://naphathaikitchenri.smiledining.com/?2023121402
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While I’ve never been, Lots of Eats Thai Kitchen in North Andover gets very good reviews from a group of employees who go there almost once a week. Better to eat in vs. takeout.
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Here’s a start: two good lists. Somerville, MA has some great thai options.
Sunrise market in Allston is a small thai-specific market.
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@Suki I definitely want to check this place out: Mahaniyom. And I still haven’t gone to Boon Noon which is in my town. GAH!
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These both look promising. Perhaps we can get a group together for an outing?
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I have pondered a GBA get-together but my schedule can be unpredictable and is in flux at the moment. Can’t hurt to try, though!
Pho So 1 in Randolph is - by far - my favorite Viet spot in the greater Boston area. Been there over 100 times and don’t get tired of it. Everything I’ve had is incredible
For Thai, I’ve found Brown Sugar Cafe on Comm Ave to be some of the best in town as well as 9Zaab in Cambridge if you’re more into Thai street food
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Both on my list and now I just feel like I need to knock 'em out sooner than later
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For us Cha Yen in Watertown was by far the best Thai we had when living in GBA
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Is it the same owners as Pho So 1 in Quincy?
Yep! Their original location is in Randolph and they expanded into Quincy last year. I’ve been to both but still like Randolph the best. It’s also closer to me. The Quincy location is a tad fancier
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Laughing Monk in Allston specializes in Isaan cuisine and is delicious.
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Mahaniyom is fabulous! Food AND cocktails, both. Very Small - so you definitely need reservations.
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I couldn’t find a more recent thread, so resurrecting this one:
We finally got to try Boon Noon last night and it was fantastic. We had the fresh roll salad (more of the delicious green sauce next time, please!), scallion pancake, kai soi, and spicy satay noodles. My husband, who is not given to hyperbole, could not stop raving about the spicy satay noodles - the noodles themselves were freshly made and the sauce was complex and spicy (without the heat being the main flavor). The market itself is tiny but cutely decorated, with bright colors and lots of plants.
They were doing a VERY brisk take out business while we ate (inside, given the heat, but there are picnic tables outdoors too) and the staff couldn’t have been more friendly. We’ve had a lot of “good [but not great]” Thai in Boston/Cambridge and Boon Noon is the clear front runner.
Hoping to make it back soon!
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That’s awesome to hear! I can’t wait to check it out
How much indoor seating is there?
If I recall correctly, there were about 5 two-top tables. The tables run along the side of the space, so one diner sits on a large bench against the wall (in case that matters to your party!)
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Replying to myself…
We’ve twice now gotten take out from Black Ruby, which went into the former Chalawan space on Mass Ave. It bills itself as “Thai Craft Burger and Dining” which I had trouble imagining, but whoever is running the kitchen knows what they’re doing.
We’ve had the Tom Yum Shrimp pasta (very good, very spicy), the green curry pasta (very good, some heat but less than the Tom Yum), the burrata mushroom salad (these are two of my favorite foods so of course I loved this, but it’s a little disjointed and the flavors don’t quite meld), the strawberry citrus salad (excellent), and the Caesar salad (my SO must order a Caesar anytime it is on a menu and he said this one was “not their best thing but it was fine”).
We haven’t been in person so I can’t comment on service or ambience, but would certainly recommend for take out.
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