By Stella Tirone By Stella Tirone | April 22, 2022 | Food & Drink, Feature,
From curry and fried rice to noodles and stir fry, these are the best Thai restaurants in Dallas you need to try.
A South Bay staple, Must be Thai is serving up flavorful homestyle Thai food with a modern twist: think Larb, a minced pork or chicken salad with spicy sauce; Pad See You, wok-fried flat rice noodles with Chinese broccoli and egg in black bean soy sauce; or Tom Yum fried rice tossed with prawns, calamari and a hint of lemongrass. Pair any of these delectable dishes with a glass of wine, sake or even a Thai beer. For something sweet, the Loco Coco features tropical fruit, red bean, anchan rice, coconut and mixed fruit ice cream, all topped with toasted coconut. 3143 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose
Enjoy tasty fare in Olarn Thai’s quaint and quirky dining room peppered with eclectic art imported from Thailand and shoe-free pillow dining for a special authentic experience. Delight in sumptuous house specials like BBQ marinated sirloin steak over a bed of veggies with spicy lime sauce; roasted Royal duck served with veggies and sweet plum sauce; and a sizzling mix of seafood sauteed with peanut sauce. 19672 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino
Blue Mango’s award-winning menu is a must for any Thai food enthusiast. The resto dishes out tantalizing eats from cream cheese wontons, edamame and pad thai to more authentic specialties like spicy noodles and spicy beef salad. Not to mention, the eatery offers an extensive sushi menu with rolls like the Zorro, filled with spicy tuna, shrimp tempura and cucumber and topped with salmon, tobiko and creamy sauce—plus tuna, scallop or soft shell crab sashimi and nigiri. 635 Coleman Ave., San Jose
Since 2008, Shana Thai has prepared authentic, from-scratch family recipes with exquisite care, from the handpicked ingredients to the delicate cooking process. Carnivores will love the Moo Ping Thai-style grilled pork skewers with Thai dried chile-lime dipping sauce and a coconut cream glaze, while seafood eaters will savor the wild ginger and peppercorn catfish stir-fry. 311A Moffett Blvd., Mountain View
Sourcing the best local, organic and wild ingredients available from growers and farmers markets alike, Tee Nee Thai is as fresh as it gets. Nosh on fresh summer rolls with rice noodles, sauteed tofu, veggies and peanut sauce to dip; pineapple fried rice with chicken, prawns, veggies and curry; or lightly fried garlic pepper prawns sauteed with garlic, cilantro stems and shrimp sauce. Sip on a Thai iced tea or coffee—or maybe something boozier from a wide selection of wines from family producers committed to the most sustainable farming practices. 1423 The Alameda, San Jose
Welcoming customers for 27 years, the owner and chef of Barn Thai—whose roots trace back to Bangkok and Korat—engages the nuances of classic Thai cuisine with specialty local cooking techniques. The restaurant emphasizes an artful and intricate balance of five flavors— savory, sweet, spicy, sour and sometimes bitter—with unique ingredients like galangal, mint, green and red chiles, plum sauce and kaffir lime leaves, a citrus native to tropical Southeast Asia. 921 E. Duane Ave., Sunnyvale
Dishing up mouthwatering vegetarian and vegan dishes inspired by the flavorful cuisines of Thailand, India and China, Merit Vegan is just the spot to indulge in plant-based eats. Expect produce-pumped eats like fried dumplings bursting with tofu, seitan, veggies and ginger; seaweed salad with tofu, bean sprouts, carrot and sesame seeds tossed in sweet light vinaigrette sauce; and pho brimming with rice noodles, seitan, mushroom, fried tofu, jalapeno, basil and cilantro in a freshly made herbal vegetable broth. 548 Lawrence Expressway, Sunnyvale
Famous for its pad Thai and spicy curries, Thaiphoon delivers authentic Thai and Pan Asian cuisine. Keeping health and wellness top of mind, the resto avoids the use of artificial preservatives like MSG in their dishes, instead championing wholesome fare crafted from the freshest ingredients and seasonings. Our tip? Grab a spot under the awning on the outdoor patio and cool off with a refreshingly boozy rum-spiked Thai tea. 543 Emerson St., Palo Alto
Priding itself on the use of longtime family recipes and offering customers authentic Thai spice levels, hidden gem Oros—the word for “son” in Thai—is a hot spot to grab a bite. Some house favorites are the massaman curry loaded with potatoes and onions simmered in coconut milk, peanut sauce and curry paste and topped with peanuts; the Seafood Delight, a combination of seafood sauteed with chile paste, assorted veggies, ginger and fresh lime leaves; or the green papaya salad with fresh chile, garlic, palm sugar, fish sauce, cherry tomato, dried shrimp, green bean and lime. 6177 Santa Teresa Blvd., San Jose
Dusita Thai Cuisine keeps clean eating top of mind, serving up a varied mix of low-fat healthful fare an an extensive vegetarian menu that boasts veggie-focused substitutions for practically every meat-centric dish. To start, the crystal soup is a light, cozy broth with silver noodles, ground chicken, soft tofu, napa cabbage, green onion and cilantro. The pineapple curry adds a hint of spice with red curry paste and coconut milk prepared with pineapple, tomato, bell peppers, green peas, sweet basil leaves the a choice of prawns or mixed seafood. 2325 El Camino Real. Ste. 104, Santa Clara
Finally reopening after an extensive hiatus, E&O Trading Company will once again serve various Asian cuisines under one roof—think Indian, Indonesian, Japanese and, of course, Thai. Nosh on one of that various small plates boasting tapas-style portions, or one of the myriad wood-fired entrees. The previous location also served as a microbrewery and hosted live music. Be on the lookout for more details to come!
Photography by: EMY/UNSPLASH
