Marble Temple, Bangkok
Thai and Laotian Restaurants in the Delaware Valley
Marble Temple, Bangkok |
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Thai restaurants almost uniformly tend to be more upscale in decor and in price than Vietnamese restaurants. They have spread much more widely through the region, and most are excellent. A few Laotian restaurants also exist in the region, with food generally similar to Thai restaurants, sometimes influenced by France, the one-time colonial power in what was known as Indo-China. Visual evidence of Thailand's Theravada Buddhism is likely to be found in many restaurants, along with statues and pictures depicting figures from the Hindu Ramayana epic, imported and adapted from India. Look as well for spirit houses, found almost everywhere in Thailand to house and appease the spirits of the place. Note also the distinctive Thai script. Thai cooking combines the cooking techniques of India and China with the herbs and spices of Southeast Asia. The level of spiciness varies a lot with different dishes, but tends to be considerably hotter than Vietnamese food. If you're not a lover of chilies or are unfamiliar with the restaurant, you may want the first time to specify "mild" or "just a little spicy." Keep in mind that most Southeast Asians spread a little hot sauce over a lot of plain rice. While each restaurant has its own specialties, popular dishes that provide a useful introduction to Thai food include satay (grilled meat served with a spicy peanut sauce), a dish shared with Malaysia and Indonesia to the south; gaeng ped (red curry, with either meat or seafood); Pad Thai or other noodle dishes; and the distinctive Thai salads, which are generally quite spicy and commonly include grilled meat or seafood. |
 Dancers at Erawon Temple |
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A Little Thai Kitchen Aloe Fusion Bangkok City Somsak Thai Cuisine TAAN Kitchen |
 Floating Market ChinatownSiam
Cuisine Taste
of Thai
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South Street AreaTamarind Thai Palace Other Center CityErawan Thai Cuisine My Thai Siam Lotus |
North of PhiladelphiaWhite
Elephant Restaurant
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West PhiladelphiaLemon Grass Pataya Grill
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Jow's Garden Thai Singha House Vientiane Cafe |
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