Anthony M.
Yelp
"Wow". Those were the words uttered out of my mouth when I recently ordered Charoen to-go for dinner. Unbelievable. The food exceed expectations and more. What I got was:
- Drunken Brisket: they take linguini noodles, add basil, stir them in garlic, and add Smokin Beauty's brisket for a rich, flavorful dish that blew my mind. It contrasts so well. This one is a limited time collab, so don't miss out on it!!
- Pad Thai: what can I say? This may have been some of the best pad Thai I've ever had as well. This one differs from the drunken brisket because it's more light and a variety of tangy, spicy, and sweet flavors.
- Tom Yum Soup: this hot and sour soup was interesting. It comes with an array of herbs such as lemongrass and kaffir lime leaf which made it a light, herbal dish. It was my first time having tom yum, too!
- Mango Sticky Rice: this was my first time ever having mango sticky rice. I always been hesitant about the dish, but it actually went down better than I thought. The rice is sweet, not savory, so it works. It comes with a coconut cream to top off too. You gotta get this!
Charoen Express isn't your ordinary Thai restaurant though!There's no dine-in as they are a ghost kitchen! Which means they only operate through online orders from GrubHub, DoorDash, UberEats, Favor, etc. I wouldn't think too much on this as it's not an indication of quality. In fact, it's a smart way for newer businesses to see if their ideas can be successful since they pay less rent than a traditional establishment.
With that said, I was highly satisfied with what I got here. The prices are fair, the food was amazing, the portions were great, and the menu selection is wide. I give them a strong 5/5 for being outstanding!