Thai-o-rama came to a close last week with a group dinner at and several reviews of Sengchai Thai on Forest Ave, the culmination of 10 months of eating and writing about the baker’s dozen of restaurants in Portland that serve Thai food. Hopefully you enjoyed reading as much as we did in putting it together.

There was a lot of activity in the Thai segment of Portland restaurants industry this past year. Boda opened (taking over the Bangkok Thai space), Thai Chef Buffet closed (to be replaced by Soju which is itself going to be replaced by Shanghai-Tokyo), Chaing Mai moved from Union Street (to make room for Havana South), and Nakornping Thai changed owners and names to become Sabieng.

So no doubt you’re wondering now with 13 meals and 54 reviews by 9 different food writers behind us where should you go to eat. Read what some of the project’s most active participants have to say on that score including their list of Best of’s:

Appetite Portland – read the full article

Best Pad Thai: Chiang Mai Two delivered the goods with nicely cooked noodles, succulent shrimp, snappy bean sprouts, a balanced peanut/tamarind sauce, and a juicy lime wedge. Runner-up: Veranda Thai Cuisine’s version was fragrant and peanutty with shiny, slurp-worthy noodles. Disclaimer: You must order Veranda’s Pad Thai at heat level 2 or higher or risk receiving a blanched pile of bland.

Edible Obsessions – read the full article

I wanted to follow the outline of a ‘Best of,’ but when I kept answering the questions there was only one restaurant that I felt was the best in any category you could designate…Boda

The Blueberry Files – read the full article

Best curry… Pom’s Thai Taste
Overall, I think Pom’s is the most consistent traditional Thai restaurant. There were some flops, and it is one of the more expensive Thai restaurants we visited, but it’s good.

Where is Jenner’s Mind – read the full article

Best “I never expected to like it” dish: i have mixed feelings about crab rangoon and i usually just allow seth to order it. so i guess my ‘never expected to like it dish’ was the crab rangoon at chiang-mai two.

As for my part, I think Boda is ahead of the rest of the pack both in terms of the food (Miang Kum Som-oh!) and overall dining experience. That said, comparing Boda with the rest is an apples to oranges comparison, not because of qualitative difference but because while Boda is primarily a Thai small plate restaurant the other 12 are more in the standard Thai mode (pad thai-check, picture of the royal family-check, thai iced tea-check, etc). If what you’re looking for is a go to place for the standard Thai experience, then I think Veranda Thai, Chaing Mai and Saeng Thai House are your best options.

Still left unanswered is the question of why Portland has a Thai restaurant for approximately ever 5,000 men women and children who live here when other types of restaurants are missing or under-represented but that will have to wait for another day.

Many many thanks to Appetite Portland, Edible Obsessions, From Away, the Portland Daily Sun, Portland Eats, Portland Food Coma, Portland Food Heads, The Blueberry Files, Where is Jenner’s Mind for participating in the projects.

For the last round of our survey/review of Thai restaurants in Portland we visited Sengchai Thai which is located on Forest Ave in the same building as Haknuman Meanchey and just down the road from Mekhong Thai.

Appetite Portland – read the full review

I left feeling cozy and satisfied, but I think that was mostly due to the company and the odd, bubbly service. The food was pretty good. Servicable Thai.

Edible Obsessions repeated her approach from round 1 with a visual presentation of her eating notes – see the full review

From Away – read the full review

As for us, we were underwhelmed, as much as we didn’t want to be. When our delightful, aforementioned waitress brought a free round of steamy, yummy curry puffs, we were heartened. Alas, it all went downhill from there.

The Blueberry Files – read the full review

Larb Gai is described as ‘ground chicken tossed with lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, fresh lime juice, red onions, mint and Thai spices and sauce.’ And it was delicious. I ordered two stars, which was just the right amount of spice. There was crunchy toasted rice, great lemongrass flavor, and lots of fresh mint. The flavors melded together so nicely, and it was saucy, not dry. And while the menu said it would come on a bed of lettuce, my dish instead came with

Where is Jenner’s Mind – read the full review

so as you can tell, this was yet another mediocre thai meal. if you are in the area and you are really craving thai, by all means stop into sengchai thai and you will get a predictable meal of thai standards. but by no means go out of your way to dine at this restaurant.

The Maine Sunday Telegram published the one prior review of Sengchai Thai and in 2004 the reviewer wrote,”It was as if we had found the Thai version of an old-fashioned, trustworthy diner where the food was remarkably inexpensive but generously served and delicious.” You can see their menu online at sengchaithai.synthasite.com.

The group plans on putting together a retrospective look back at the last year of eating Thai with some overall recommendations on where to eat Thai in Portland. Watch for it next week.

For the 12th round of our survey/review of Thai restaurants in Portland we visited Siam Orchid which is located in the One City Center food court.

Appetite Portland – read the full review

A second trip confirmed the first. A Thai basil shrimp tossed with light oil in the wok – very tasty. A pre-made crab rangoon fried to a crisp and stuffed with gooey, crab-flavored paste – not so much.

From Away – read the full review

… All Malcolm wanted was satay; in this case, a sassy hunk of chicken on a stick, that he reported having some nice flavors, in spite of their sad rubbery appearance. And so it was. The peanut “satay sauce,” served in a plastic cup on the side, was rock-solid frozen. So that was too bad. Finally, my rice. Was. Also. Satisfactory. It was savory, with bits of onion, chicken, and green stuff (basil?). I was starving. And so I slowly ate every mediocre morsel. And then I was sad and bloated forever times infinity. The end.

The Blueberry Files – read the full review

My dish was steaming hot and came with carrots, broccoli, onions, and chicken in a thin, brown sauce. The broccoli was crunchy and bright green, and the chicken was not *as* overcooked as some Thai stir-fry chicken can be. The sauce was very flavorful and made me wish I had a spoon to better scoop it up with the loads of accompanying rice.

While the dish I ordered was not particularly ‘Thai,’ it’s a good quick fix for a workday lunch, as well as some great people watching.

Where is Jenner’s Mind – read the full review

I thought that the spice was pretty mild, particularly as I requested a spice factor 2 out of 3. Perhaps a tad bland as well, but still passable Pad Thai with wide noodles served with scallions and mung beans. Sometimes pad Thai can be a bit on the sweet side. The Pad Thai, from the restaurant whose name shall remain a mystery, was not too sweet, and that was nice. If you need a quick and affordable Thai fix for lunch (I’m pretty sure this is a lunch only joint) that will leave you with leftovers for dinner, hit this place up. It won’t knock your proverbial socks off but it does the trick.

The Press Herald published one prior review of Siam Orchid back in 2007.

That leaves us with just one more stop before we finish up the series: Sengchai Thai. We should have the groups thoughts on that restaurant before the end of the 2010, aka the Year of Pad Thai.

For the 11th round of our survey/review of Thai restaurants in Portland we visited Chiang Mai. Until just a few months ago the restaurant had been located on Union Street but moved out and over to Washington Avenue to make room for Havana South. As you can read below our panel of food writers had very divergent experiences at Chiang Mai.

Appetite Portland – read the full review

Hard to put my finger on it. It’s not a tangible thing. But something about the food at Chiang Mai didn’t – well – fit together.

I guess the most apropos word for the experience is – erratic.

From Away – read the full review

I just had the best Tom Khar Kai of my life. And I want to tell you all about it. I shall paint you a word picture. Imagine it: a deep cup of light coconut creamy broth that reveals three or four adorable, plump and buoyed mushrooms, big pieces of white chicken, a few glistening onions, and red pepper flakes studding the soup. It is sweet, savory and spicy, hitting every note gracefully. This is comfort food, soup you want to bathe in, then take out to a nice dinner.

The Blueberry Files – read the full review

So I would return to Chiang Mai Two for lunch, specifically for the beef salad. I would order it with 2 stars of heat to get my blood moving. It seems to be the most (only?) vibrant dish coming out of the new kitchen on the block.

Where is Jenner’s Mind – read the full review

the waiter, it ends up, is the owner and he was really excited to talk to us about the restaurant, local thai food, and even this blogging project. he gave us some coupons for 25% of an entire meal (but which are only good for less than a month) and tried to give me like 10 take out menus, i think to hand out to friends. i’m not gonna give you a menu but i do recommend that you check out chiang mai-two. i have accepted, after 10 or 11 thai restaurant reviews, that there is really very little variation in the vast majority of menus. so instead of judging on originality, i judge on quality. i thought this place was great when it came to taste and quality. in all honesty i think its gonna be our new go-to thai restaurant.

The Portland Phoenix and Portland Press Herald published the only other reviews of Chiang Mai a few months after the restaurant opened at its old location in May 2006.

There are just 2 Thai restaurants left for us before we finish up the series: Sengchai Thai, Siam Orchid. Where we should go next?

For the 10th round of this comprehensive survey/review of Thai restaurants in Portland we visited Vientiane on Noyes Street. It’s a combination market and restaurant. There a few tables but is probably better known as a spot to get takeout.

Appetite Portland – read the full review

The food certainly doesn’t come close to Boda’s or even Pom’s. But, compared to the other neighborhood Thai restaurants, Adam and I both feel it fares quite well. Rather strongly, even.

The curry was quite nice and the atmosphere — authentic and weird — can’t be beat.

Edible Obsessions – read the full review

Later on that evening we talked about our dishes and I came to a conclusion: Perhaps, over the past six years of trying other places in town, it wasn’t really Vientiane that had changed but us. The meal was still enjoyable, just not the best we’ve had. Our tastes and preferences now lie elsewhere in the Thai spectrum offered in and around Portland. Like any relationship that fades away because people change I have this to say to Vientiane, “I’m sorry, it’s not you–it’s me.”

The Blueberry Files – read the full review

So I’m excited to eat at and review Vientiane, because I know their Pad Thai is the best I’ve ever had. That’s right, the best I’ve ever had. So if you’ve had their Pad Thai and are immediately thinking a me a philistine, that’s fine. At least you know where my tastes lie. This Pad Thai is my personal measure for all other Pad Thais.

Where is Jenner’s Mind – read the full review

after a summer break from thai food and blogging, vientiane was a great welcome back. while they offer the average thai fare, vientiane does a good job at it. its very convenient and we will definitely be going back for thai take-out.

Food in Portland published the one prior review of Vientiane about a decade ago and gave them 3½ stars, “My freshly made spring rolls were large, tasty and lovely to look at. The vegetables (mostly cucumber, carrot and sprouts) and the mint were very fresh and the rice wrapping itself was soft and easy to bite into. They came with a sweet Thai sauce with bits of peanut and pepper flakes.”

There are just 3 Thai restaurants left for us to visit: Chiang Mai, Sengchai Thai, Siam Orchid. Where we should go next?

For the 9th round of this comprehensive survey/review of Thai restaurants in Portland we visited Saeng Thai House which has two locations located just a few blocks from each other. The original location at 921 Congress remained dormant for many years but was refurbished and relaunched a couple of years ago, and the “new” location at 271 Saint John Street.

The Blueberry Files – read the full review

The people at Saeng Thai are very nice- both times I’ve eaten in and gotten take out, I’ve had excellent customer service. But this time my food didn’t live up to my previous experience.

Where is Jenner’s Mind – read the full review

in relation to all the standard thai in this town, i think its up towards top of the list. but as my friend mark said, we may just be hitting it on the right night. its also quite a deal with the pad thai costing like $6 or $7. so at this price point and the two good meals we have had so far, i would visit saneg thai house again.

When I first moved to Portland people would regularly recommend Saeng Thai as a good option for Thai food, but despite living just a few blocks away this was my first visit in 12 years. I visited the restaurant on Saint John Street and was  pleased with my meal, the food was fresh and well executed and the service very friendly. I would definitely eat there again and hope to try out the small original spot on Congress Street the next time I go.

There were also two earlier reviews published in Portland magazine (2003) and the Portland Press Herald (2004). The 4 star review from the Press Herald wrote that, “Saeng Thai House now has fancier digs and a larger, more creative menu than it had on Congress Street. The food is still excellent, and a pretty good bargain at that.”

There are  just 4 Thai restaurants left visit: Chiang Mai, Vientiane, Sengchai Thai, Siam Orchid. Do you have any thoughts on where we should go next?

For the 8th round of this comprehensive group survey/review of Thai restaurants in Portland we visited Veranda Thai which is located right off of the Washington Street exit of 295. Veranda Thai also has a sister restaurant, Veranda Noodle Bar which is situated across the street.

Appetite Portland – read the full review

My Chicken Pad Thai — also ordered at heat level 2 — was decidedly peanutty with a spicy snap. Red in color from the spices and shiny with oil, the noodles slurped up beautifully. The Tofu Pad Thai — ordered by Margo from the Portland Daily Sun — was white and dry. It looked like a dish from a different restaurant. She had ordered it at heat level 1. Lightbulb. You’ve gotta go for the heat.

The Blueberry Files – read the full review

Happily, I recommend Verenda Thai for great Thai food in Portland. The decor may leave something to be desired, but who cares when the kitchen is serving such great food? If you’re in the mood for some take out (or maybe try the noodle bar for better ambiance?), head over the bridge to Verenda Thai.

Edible Obsessions – read the full review

When the Mrs. said she was going to grab lunch at Veranda, and did I want anything to take away, I stayed true to form and ordered the Drunken Noodle with Chicken. Their version of the dish is the standard by which I’ve been measuring every other one of the variations I’ve had so far. And, so far, no one has compared. Because that singular dish is the embodiment of my Thai comfort food, and because they do it so well, I can only say that Veranda is my sentimental favorite of the pack.

Where is Jenner’s Mind – read the full review

as i said before, the restaurant is tiny so the kitchen is tucked around the corner, really only feet from the dining room. its kind of cool to be able to hear the cooks working in the kitchen, but with that you have to take that your meal may be a little smokey and your clothes may continue to smell like thai food long after you are done eating. overall i found veranda thai to be pretty good and i would eat here again.

As for my thoughts, I think this is my favorite spot we’ve been to among the standard Thai restaurants we’ve visited so far in this series—Boda is also very good but seems to be something of a different animal. That said the group still has 5 Thai restaurants left visit (Chiang Mai, Vientiane, Saeng Thai House, Sengchai Thai, Siam Orchid) before we finish up and there’s a chance one could be a real hidden gem. Stay tuned to find out.

For additional information on Veranda Thai visit the restaurant’s website or read this review that appeared in The Maine Switch from last Summer.

For the seventh round of this comprehensive group survey/review of Thai restaurants in Portland we visited Sabieng on Forest Ave. They’re neighbors with Bibo’s and Katahdin. All three are well situated to tap into theater goers on their way to a performance at Portland Stage. Sabieng is just the latest name for the Thai restaurant at this location. In recent memory it’s also been called Nakornping Thai and Chaba Thai Cuisine II.

Portland Food Heads – read the full review

let’s just say that the interior didn’t exactly beg me to sit down and stay for a meal. As everyone tends to judge a book by its cover from time to time, this made me a bit nervous that I was in for another disappointing plate of Pad-Thai. Luckily, the food at Sabieng is on a higher plane than the decor.

The Blueberry Files – read the full review

I don’t know how good business is at Sabieng; after all it’s tucked around a corner and is right down the street from the more popular Pom’s. But between the hospitality we received and the fresh ingredients, I’d recommend adding this place to your short list of great Thai restaurant in Portland.

Where is Jenner’s Mind – read the full review

appetizer = chive pancakes. yummy. a little gummy in that way that rice pancake-type-things can be but it filled with fresh chives and garlic and complemented nicely with a ginger dipping sauce. mains = panaeng tofu curry and lemon grass chicken, both served with brown rice and both ordered medium spicy. yum to both.

These are the first reviews published of Sabieng and as a result we’re now able to take them off the Unreviewed List.

For the sixth round of the Thai-o-rama (Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Round 5) collaborative food writing project, we selected Boda, Portland’s newest Thai restaurant which is located in Longfellow Square. Boda is the creation of Nattasak Wongsaichua and Danai Sriprasert who also own Green Elephant.

Appetite Portland – read the full review

Oily and aromatic with sesame overtones in a savory broth, the [bitter melon] soup provoked my tastebuds like little I’ve tried before or since. It awoke areas of my tongue I didn’t know existed! A remarkable balance of flavors, it played the role of appetizer to a “T” – kicking my hunger into overdrive.

And it killed with a crisp martini.

Edible Obsessions – read the full review

So, what can I say? Boda, in my book, is the best Thai place in town. If you go, don’t go there with preconceived notions based on Take Out Thai. Go with an empty belly and an open mind. And try a lot of different things. Order enough for left overs, trust me on this the panaeng is quite yummy cold when you’re intoxicated. But, by all means, just go.

Portland Daily Sun (article not available online)

Anyway we set it aside and ordered some shrimp skewers and grilled Thai sticky rice. The rice patty had a nutty crunchiness on the outside, which contrasted with the gummy softness inside, a great side dish to the shrimp and spicy chili garlic lime dipping sauce.

Where is Jenner’s Mind – read the full review

all in all, this was a pretty good meal. first off, i have never seen any of these things on a menu at any other thai restaurant, so they get points for showing me something different. second, even though there were a couple of items that i didn’t really care for, the things i did like were really great.
i would go back just for the cocktails, dessert, and people watching.

For additional perspectives check out one of these earlier reviews:

• Maine Sunday Telegram (5/2/2010)
• Portland Eats (3/26/2010)
• Edible Obsessions (3/9/2010)

or visit Boda’s website.

For the fifth round of the Thai-o-rama (Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4) collaborative food writing project, a skeleton crew tackled Mekhong Thai on Forest Ave.

Edible Obsessions – read the full review

Now, when I opened up my container of Drunken Noodles with Chicken, I was quite excited. The dish smelled wonderful and the portion was more than generous. And, on the first few bites, I thought it to be one of the best. But then the burning in my mouth took over to the point of nearly being inedible. This wasn’t the feel good burn I normally associate with this dish . . .

Portland Daily Sun

I visited the place last week and have decided to be brief then be gone: Average food, average service. Worth neither avoiding nor making a special trip.

Portland Food Heads – read the full review

The Pad Thai (although not exactly true to the opposing glamor shot) was probably the best I’ve had yet between Sala Thai and Pom’s Thai Taste. Crispy, juicy chicken and a well-balanced sauce actually delivered a decent amount of flavor. Certainly not the best Pad Thai I’ve had, and I’m quite convinced it’s not the best in town either. But it was pretty good, and I wouldn’t hesitate from picking some up for a lazy weeknight dinner.

The Blueberry Files – read the full review

Over Mekhong Thai does not make my list of go-to places for Thai food in Portland. After we ordered, I noticed a table stand that was their Pho menu. Maybe I’ll include it in my tour of Portland’s Pho dishes, but I will keep searching for the best Thai in Portland.

For more information on the restaurant visit their website: www.mekhongthai.com.

For the fourth round of the Thai-o-rama (Round 1, Round 2, Round 3) collaborative food writing project, the group tackled Pom’s Thai Taste. There are three locations (2 in SoPo and 1 in the city), but we decided to focus our attention on the one on Congress Street.

Appetite Portland decided to forgo her usual Pom’s order of five flavor noodle soup with crispy duck (“not the best soup in the world, but it’s dependable, hearty, filling and affordable”) to branch out into new horizons on the menu. She writes that the Steamed Butterflies dumplings were a “sticky and overly sweet mess”. However, the Pad Thai was “quite tasty” once lime “begged” from the waitress balanced out the sweetness. Read the Full Review

Edible Obsessions points out that the “Thailand meets Ikea” interior design for the dining room “is bright and cheery without the feeling of being campy or gaudy,” and that “the food also falls into the line of pretty simple and straightforward.” It sounds like the Krah-Tong Thong appetizer, Pad Khee-Mao and desserts were the high point of her meal with the bland Pad Thai being the most notable exception. Read the Full Review

Portland Eats rates Pom’s as “good, solid, Thai food” but that the menu of 694 items (he counted) is too long and that “as good as the food at Pom’s is, it would be even better if the menu was more focused, truly highlighting a small handful of specialties.”. Read the Full Review

Portland Food Heads tried the Paad-Khee-Mao “I’ve always loved drunken noodles, and these were very good; in fact, one of the better plates I’ve ever had.” However on a return trip for some take-out was disappointed by a plate of Crab Pad Thai. Read the Full Review

The Blueberry Files handed this review over to a guest post by her roommate. They both “appreciated the complete lack of kitsch” in the restaurant decor, which enabled them to “focus entirely on the food. Which was, on balance, pretty good.” They enjoyed the $1 sushi but the meal went off course with the “odd consistency” of the non-traditional Crispy Pad Thai. Their Fried coconut ice cream “was a great way to end the evening”.Read the Full Review

Where is Jenner’s Mind rates Pom’s as “some of the best thai food in portland”. The dumplings were “bland” but the Crispy Duck got rave reviews (“i’m drooling just writing about it”). Read the Full Review

My take on Pom’s is that it offers a solid choice for Thai in the city. Like Edible Obsessions and Portland Food Heads, I don’t think Pad Thai isn’t their strong suit. It’s clear from this set of reviews (and the ones linked below) that there’s plenty on the menu to enjoy but that the service still has some room to grow. From the comments of The Blueberry Files and Edible Obsessions as well as my own experience, skipping dessert would be a mistake.

For more on Pom’s Thai Taste also check out these earlier reviews by:

• Diet for a Small City
• Portland Phoenix
• Maine Sunday Telegram
• Type A Diversions
• Portland Press Herald

For the third round of the Thai-o-rama (Round 1, Round 2) collaborative food writing project, we did a group meal at Kon Asian Bistro. As the name implies, Kon is a pan-Asian restaurant; it has a strong emphasis on Chinese and Japanese cuisine with some Thai options and a smattering of items from elsewhere.

Appetite Portland’s summation sets the theme for all four reviews, “Kon really is more Asian Fusion than Thai, and its Thai offerings seem to be its weakest link…For me, the Chinese dishes were stellar – and well worth repeat visits.”

Portland Food Coma is quite succinct in his dislike for the Thai food at Kon, but confirms that “there is great food to be had, you just need to stick to the Chinese offerings”, and specifically recommends the rock shrimp and the Peking duck wrappers which “have both been outstanding on each visit, and I would gladly go back for more.”

The Blueberry Files gives Kon an overall grade of B+. She was a big fan of the rock shrimp that Portland Food Coma recommends, “#$*&! delicious”, but wasn’t especially impressed with the her appetizer of entree.

Where is Jenner’s Mind gushes about the mimi peking duck, “oh mini beijing duck! i dream of you often with your sweet plumy sauce and crispy fatty skin and your fresh cucumbers and scallions and your light fluffy rice flour bun”, but as for her Thai Red Snapper entree writes that it “was good, but not great”.

I’d echo the opinion of the rest of the gang. The items I enjoyed the most weren’t from the Thai section of the menu. The taste of Seth’s Szechuan Crispy Dried Shredded Beef was good enough to bring me back the next day for lunch, but the Thai food, while not bad, wasn’t memorable.

To sum up, here’s a quote from last year’s review from Type A Diversions, “With excellent choices for Japanese and Thai in Portland, I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat at Kon for either. But if I’m in the mood for Chinese this is my new go to spot.”

For more insight on the food at Kon Asian Bistro see earlier reviews by:

• an earlier review by Portland Food Coma
• Erik Desjarlais, chef at Evangeline
• Chris2fer
• Maine Sunday Telegram
• Portland Phoenix

Viet Bangkok Cuisine was the focus of this second round of the Thai-o-rama collaborative food writing project. Looking across all reviews for the restaurant, the Pho is the dish nearly everyone agrees is one of VBC’s strengths. Earlier reviews in 2007 by Accidental Vegetables and the Maine Sunday Telegram also complimented the Thai entrees but that wasn’t the experience this time around.

Appetite Portland details two reasons to visit the Viet Bangkok Cuisine, “1. The authentic Pho, 2. The trippy, giant lobster mounted to the wall.” In her review she writes of her non-Pho dining “As for the rest of our meal? Mixed results.”

Edible Obsessions had an “odd and highly disappointing” meal and reports she “Probably won’t be heading back.”

The Blueberry Files went with a group of friends including blogger Strawberries in Paris. She writes that the appetizers were “good, but nothing to write home about” but it sounds like the Pho was the standout dish of the night “There were thin slices of beef, skinny rice noodles, thinly sliced onions, and floaty green onions. Deeeelicious.” with other entrees suffering from an “odd sweetness”.

Where is Jenner’s Mind describes VBC as “small clean restaurant with all the requisite kitschy south east asian decor”. She echoes The Blueberry Files assessment that their were “some weird elements” that cropped up in their dinner but sums up with “you may get some surprises in your dishes, but overall i think it will be enjoyable.”

Portland Daily Sun had this to say “The vegetables were limp, the color olive drab, something you’d find in an army surplus store rather than a farmer’s market or produce section…It must be mentioned that the Massaman Tofu was good but the flavor was identical to that which I make with canned stuff. All in all, Viet Bangkok is a place to be skipped. There are too many better alternatives in Portland to frequent a place that goes by the numbers.”

Prompted by item 7 on Margo Mallar’s 2009 culinary bucket list a group of Portland food writers are working together to eat and write our way through all of the Thai restaurants in Portland. This gives us a reason to try out the full breadth of Thai food in the  city and gives everyone a way to read multiple points of view of the same restaurant at the same time.

Sala Thai on Washington Ave was our first stop and five food writers have published so far; I’ll add links below as other posts appear. The reviews seemed to be mixed:

Portland Food Heads writes “the folks at Sala Thai are putting out solid food that happens to be worthy of attention” and enjoyed the Pad Thai which “Happily, Sala Thai does the dish correctly.”

Appetite Portland and her husband didn’t enjoy the Pad Thai but did wrote that they “fared much better with the Tamarind Duck. Served in a tangy (if not exactly spicy) brown sauce, the duck was well-seasoned, perfectly roasted, and boasted just the right amount of fat.”

Columnist Margo Mallar from the Portland Daily Sun visited Sala Thai for a pair of lunches. She reports disappointment in the texture of her Pan Fried Noodles but enjoyed The Ginger-Scallion Tofu, “nicely marinated soy curds in a sauce that was well balanced between pungent and mellow.”

Edible Obsessions has gone experimental in her form by posting the notes of her visit. If I’m able to decipher her hand writing it looks like the she found the atmosphere “odd but nice…without being campy” and that the most notable dish was gorgeous with lots of vegetable but packed more of a heat punch then expected.

The Blueberry Files ordered a mix of plates including her favorite Thai dish Laab Gai. She writes “while I wasn’t disappointed, this Laab Gai didn’t quite live up to my (admittedly high) expectations. It could have used more veggies underneath, and while I got a great lemongrass zing every other bite, I wasn’t blown away by the seasonings.”

Where is Jenner’s Mind rated her meal at Sala Thai as “good, but standard. all the food was flavorful, but other than the dumplings, nothing stood out”. With regard to the dumplings she wrote, they were “pan fried to a beautiful crisp, and topped with little bits of fried garlic. i tried to scoop up as many bits of garlic onto my dumpling before dipping it into a slightly sweet tamarind sauce.”

For my part I’d say the food was good overall, but what stands out more for me were the friendly attentive service and the atmosphere, PFH called it “not unlike sitting down in sitting down in the living room of an elderly relative” and I’d agree.