Favorite Thai Place

So close to the action, his 

water cup was at my seat!

I always love trying out "hole-in-the-wall" restaurants.  Although they can sometimes be a little grungy,  the food can be surprisingly delicious.  The best cuisine's aren't always  the five-star fine dining restaurants with white table cloths and all male waiters.  Thai Tom in the University District is a great example of a small hidden gem in the Seattle area.

Zoe and I outside Thai Tom by on University
Avenue by UW.

The line can be long for this 7 table and approximately 250 sq. ft. sized restaurant, but it is worth the wait.  Make sure to pay attention when the small Taiwanese women calls your name.  "Zoe" can very easily be pronounced as "Carrie", and then you're out of luck.

If your party is anymore than 3 people, you are destined to wait for a seat at the bar.  Overlooking the "kitchen", you watch as the pantry chef chops vegetables and wraps up fresh spring rolls.  The real fire comes from the single chef slaving over the stove.  At a rapid pace he will whip up sometimes 6 different noodle dishes at once.  Different oils, chopped vegetables, chicken or tofu, and noodles are thrown into the wok pans and fried to thai exquisiteness.  He then uses the counter you are sitting at to plate the dishes.  The steaming noodles sit there, making your mouth water until one of the two ladies working the floor picks them up to be delivered.

Zoe with her Chicken Pad Thai

Most members of my family usually order the Chicken Pad Thai.  It is probably one of the best executes of the popular thai dish in the city, so I can see why. The green onions pack  tangy-ness, while the bean sprouts help tone down the sweetness.  I like how they are mixed in, instead of just placed on top in a giant pile like at most other thai places.  The plate is served with rice, which doesn't make much sense to me because you already get so many noodles!

Chicken Pad See Ew

Although I do enjoy the Pad Thai, my favorite thai dish has always been Chicken Pad See Ew.  I love the consistency of the flat and wide rice noodles.  I love chewy noodles! (That's probably why I like gnocchi so much as well.)  My dish comes with lots of veggies that add the perfect crunch.

Both dishes have small pieces of fried egg and chicken in them.  My only critique is that I wish there were either more bigger sized or more pieces of chicken.  It's a lot of noodles, with not a lot of protein.  But, the chicken that is in the dish is so well marinated, it almost tastes like candy!  The line outside in the rain can be long.  The wooden chairs and barstools are very uncomfortable, and the restaurant only takes cash.  But, Thai Tom is a definite must for any out of town guest you want to woo with a hole in the wall Seattle favorite!

Me with my favorite bowl of noodles!
Chicken Pad See Ew