Dinh T.
Yelp
The Thai food I've been searching for!
Had dinner with friends here, and it was worth the drive from OC. There were so many new flavors to be enjoyed, but more importantly, there was a completely different whole cooked fish that was not fried but cooked in a hot plate (more on that later).
Came in on a Tuesday night, light crowd so we were seated quickly. Our server was prompt and courteous. We ordered 5 items: e-san sausage, papaya salad with crispy pork, chicken khao soi, crab curry with kanom jean, and the steamed fish with lime sauce.
The sausage was nice and crispy and paired well with all the garnishes creating a nice balance of texture and flavor. The papaya salad was bright and cut the fattiness of the yummy fried pork belly. The khao soi was creamy, and the flavors penetrated the chicken perfectly while the noodles had a nice bounce to it. The crab curry was a party; with so many different garnishes, you had endless flavors and textures to try out. For me, the star of the show was the steamed whole fish cooked in lime sauce: delicate and perfectly cooked. The lime sauce had a nice kick and felt more like a light broth that I could drizzle over rice and eat all day. The 4 of us shared this meal and were full at the end of dinner; I myself was very content with every bite.
The restaurant is nestled in the corner of a strip mall full of Thai restaurants. Although not flashy and eye-catching as the other restaurants, Thai Central Cuisine instead shines with the quality and flavor of their food; they are confident in their food, blending bold and subtle flavors. Definitely willing to make the drive from OC to try more of their dishes.