Debb B.
Yelp
THAI (The House of Authentic Ingredients) is a great Thai restaurant located in East Sacramento. It's a small spot with limited indoor seating, but they've added outdoor seating as well. One side is covered and the other has heat lamps. Inside, there is also a small bar, which is a nice option if you are dining solo or want to enjoy a drink while waiting for takeout. Still, the ambiance is not the main attraction here, even with the somewhat modern décor. The real star is the food, which is rich in flavor and consistently delicious.
One of the things I really appreciate is the ability to customize the spice level when ordering, whether you are dining in or ordering online. You can choose from no spice, spice on the side, mild, medium, hot, or Thai hot. This flexibility is especially helpful when ordering takeout for my family. It allows me to get some dishes at a mild spice level and others much hotter so that everyone is accommodated. It works really well for us.
When dining in, the service is always good. The staff is polite and attentive without hovering. They strike a nice balance between giving you space and providing great customer service.
Here are some of the most frequently ordered dishes in our family:
Kang Karee (Yellow Curry)
This is hands down our favorite dish. It is a flavorful yellow curry made with potatoes, onions, cherry tomatoes, and a protein of your choice. We usually go with chicken, which is all white meat. Other protein options offered for this dish and many others include beef, pork, vegetables, fried tofu, soft tofu, shrimp, seafood, duck, calamari, tilapia, pork belly, or no meat.
If you are dining in, a side of white rice is included. For takeout, rice must be ordered separately and costs between $2.50 and $3.50. I recommend the jasmine rice because it soaks up the delicious, soup-like curry perfectly. Other rice options include brown rice, sticky rice, Aunchan rice (blue rice due to the exact of the Aunchan flower), and berry rice (a deep purple color nutty flavored rice high in antioxidants). You can also add extra protein for an additional charge.
Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles)
This dish ties for second place in our house. It features wide rice noodles stir-fried in a semi-spicy sauce with beef, bell peppers, onions, green beans, peppercorns, kaffir lime leaves, and Thai basil. The flavors are deep and savory, and the vegetables really round out the dish.
Kao Pad Subparod (Pineapple Fried Rice)
Also in second place, this dish is a refreshing combination of sweet and savory. We chose beef for the protein. It comes with large pineapple chunks, onions, egg, and cashew nuts, all stir-fried with yellow curry powder. It is light and satisfying with a subtle touch of sweetness.
Pad Thai
The Pad Thai here is another favorite. It is made with thin rice noodles stir-fried in traditional pad thai sauce with bean sprouts, chives, onions, crushed peanuts, and egg. It comes with a side of crushed red pepper, crushed peanuts, and a lime wedge. I highly recommend mixing all of these into the dish. The lime adds a bright, fresh finish that brings everything together.
Most of the dishes mentioned come with a few thin slices of cucumber. While they are technically a garnish, they are edible and work well as a palate cleanser. We always order the cucumber salad as an additional side. It is light, crisp, and made without soy sauce, which I prefer. I often enjoy this salad on its own as a refreshing snack on hot summer days.