Courtney L.
Yelp
[ Visited prior to COVID-19 outbreak ]
It's wild to think that the first Thai restaurant opened in the Seattle area only 40 years ago. How did past generations survive without a taste of Pad See Ew or Papaya Salad? Thai Kitchen was born in 1981, followed by Thai Tom in 1984... now Bird Pepper has joined their clan as the third and most recent installment. These three restaurants all stem from the same lineage leaving a lasting legacy on their traditional family recipes.
Located on the second floor of Bellevue Square, the restaurant is split into two stories and is therefore much larger than it initially appears when you step inside. We walked past the classy bar area and were seated in the main dining area. Among the dark wooden tables, simple Thai-style decor and natural light, I loved the modern polished interior.
Their menu is divided between into small plates, soups and salads, entrees & rice and noodles. They also offer two daily specials served with a side of soup for $13, but we decided it would be more fun to share a couple dishes off the main menu. After all, I never pass up the opportunity to eat "family-style"!
The two of us started out with Chicken Satay ($12) as an appetizer. The plate contained three skewers each with a full chicken cutlet, served with house peanut sauce, toasted french bread and a small cup of cucumber salad. The yellow curry marinade on the chicken was fragrant and flavorful while the peanut sauce added a little touch of tang and some additional depth. Plus, the chicken was lean, tender and still juicy despite being solely white meat.
From the 'Entrees' section of the menu, we couldn't resist the Bangkok Chicken ($18). I always have a craving for fried chicken, regardless of its form, and this was absolutely delicious. Tossed in a sweet spicy garlic and coriander sauce, then finished with fried basil, this dish excited all my taste buds! We took home a few pieces as leftovers and I gobbled them up the same day as part of my dinner. So good!
Finally, we shared plate of Chicken Drunken Noodles ($16). The wide rice noodles were a little on the soft side as opposed to having that chewy bite, but between the chicken and medley of tomatoes, onion, sweet basil and bell peppers, this was a really tasty dish. Along with Bangkok Chicken, I ordered the noodles at the mid-spice level of three stars. I'm a fan of heat, but after taking the first couple bites, I realized I would have been perfectly content with two stars. They take their heat seriously here - be aware!
While the portion sizes are average, I'd consider pricing to be elevated compared to other Thai restaurants in general, but standard for this area of Bellevue. However, considering the scrumptious food and friendly timely service, treating ourselves to this meal was definitely worth it and a highlight of my week!