Cleo G.
Yelp
TLDR: Awesome modern/fusion take on Thai food!!!! Not a single thing was bad, several dishes blew us away, and the atmosphere/servers are super friendly and sweet.
This East Nashville Thai Restaurant is a gem of unique, upscale takes on Thai classics. Sure you can order your average dishes like Pad see ew or Pad Kra Pao, but to be honest, you should be going to a more casual, hole in the wall restaurant if you want the best of the best of those authentic meals (I recommend smiling elephant or degthai). If you're looking for a culinary adventure, and are exciting about trying new things, then this is where you go.
Here's what we (a group of 3 foodies with an ability to eat a LOT and a desire to try everything) ordered:
-Pork Jerky with Sticky Rice: 7.5/10 - The pork jerky itself was reminiscent of a thick cut pork belly, and the sticky rice served with it was perfectly cooked. It came with a zingy dipping sauce that brought most of the flavor to the dish, which is the reason I don't rate it any higher, but the meat was still really good.
-Thai Salmon Salad: 8/10 - You could get this at any Thai restaurant, but it was fresh, the salmon was PERFECTLY crispy and just tasted amazing, and they were heavy handed with the seafood portion. Loved!
-O-Toro Tataki with Mango Salsa: 10/10 - The O-Toro was so wonderfully fresh, with the salmon roe and lime bringing a citrusy flavor that complimented the fishyness so well. It was a divine bite, especially with the sweetness of the mango salsa! A MUST try!
-BAB Dry Rub Wings: 10/10 - When I tell you we did NOT expect these to be this good... I mean it. But they came to our table covered in a (once again) citrusy yet spicy dry rub that had our taste buds on a roller coaster of flavors. Our initial worry was that the wings would be too dry, but upon first bite, the juicy chicken just melted in the mouth, absorbing all the flavors of the dry rub, and we were beyond content. Order this!!
-Khaow Soi with Soft Shell Crab: 10/10 - Probably my FAVORITE dish of the night. The coconut curry soup itself was SO flavorful and creamy, and it was jam packed full of these delicious, perfectly cooked noodles. It came with chicken as well as soft shell crab, both of which I have zero complaints about and paired divinely with the curry soup. The soft shell crab was fried yet soft on the inside, and an added textural element came from the crispy noodles on top of the dish. SOOO good.
-What the Duck: 9/10 - I love duck. And this did not disappoint. Stock full of pieces of tender duck, mushrooms, pineapple, veggies, and a savory brown sauce, it also came with 2 duck wings. The flavor of the sauce was so perfect for the meat, and the sweetness of the pineapple was a genius addition. Also comes with rice!
-A5 Wagyu Strip Loin Carpaccio: 10/10 - This was d i v i n e. The thin slices of meat absolutely melted in my mouth with an unbelievable richness. Each wagyu carpaccio slice has a jalapeño slice and a bit of caviar, adding a zing that harmonizes with the butteriness of the meat and the truffle oil. The arugula salad in the middle didn't seem a necessary addition, but it didn't take away from the dish, and I found this dish to be my second favorite of the night.
-Chef Choice Sashimi Silver: 8/10 - Your classic Chef Choice Sashimi. The fish was thick, fresh, and delicious, exactly what you want if you're looking for something simple. A little bored, but it did come with a ponzu sauce that we forgot about(considering we had 10 dishes on our table) so keep that in mind!
-OBX Roll: 9.5/10 - This roll has everything you want, and it is SO good. I wanted to keep eating it even though I was so full. With several types of fish, crispy tempura flakes in the interior, and topped with spicy mayo, the flavors were rich yet fresh and had me wanting to come back for more. An A+ roll.
-Thai Tea: 10/10 - I mean, it's Thai Tea. Come on. The Tea was sweet, cinnamony, and tasted so warm despite being, obviously, cold. A MUST have drink if you can handle sweet beverages. If you enjoy drinks like boba, you'll love this.
-Mango Sticky Rice: 8.7/10 - A great end to our meal! The sticky rice comes out blue, which is so fun, and is soaked in a sweet, condensed milk and paired with fresh mango. The rice on its own is good because of the milk, but the real deal is putting the perfect bite of mango, rice, and milk in your mouth and just enjoying the sweet flavors and various textures whisk you away. It's a classic Thai dessert, and a great one at that.