Which US City/Metro has the best Thai Food? (largest, place, America)
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Which city/metro do you think has the highest standard for quality Thai food and the best Thai restaurants?
I'm going to go with Seattle, since there is such an insane number and density of Thai restaurants (a total of 340+ for a city of 600K, higher per capita than anywhere else I've seen), really high standards for quality (if a Thai restaurant isn't good, it likely won't make it), and a ton of authentic places and great regional variety (for example, this place, which specializes in Thai food from the Isan Province - completely different from conventional Thai food found in America: Pestle Rock Isan Thai Cuisine).
I could also see making a case from the Bay Area or LA, or maybe even NYC just by sheer quantity (although standards for quality are much lower in NYC, from what I've found). No other cities that I've tried have been close to these, though. What do you think?
Two other places (aside from the ones on your list) that have surprisingly quality Thai food are Portland and DC.
Frankly, I didnt think the Thai food in either of those cities was good. Granted, I only have eaten about 3-4 places in Portland so there may be some really good ones that hid from me. In Houston, I was highly disappointed and Ive eaten at a multitude of Thai joints there. Its such an otherwise great eating city too.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Seattle. I haven't been able to find nearly as good Thai food anywhere else since I moved away from there (nor have I been able to find Swimming Rama anywhere else besides Seattle, why is it so hard to find?). I miss Thai Tom's in the U-District, and I just miss food in general in Seattle. I'd live there again if it wern't for the sun deficit.
I don't know, I'd think that Los Angeles might be up there considering it has the highest number of Thai people in the US, but I've never had Thai food in Los Angeles, so I can't say.
Though it's hard to say, considering that Thai food is everywhere these days. To the extent that in some places it's often Vietnamese or Chinese cooking Thai food, due to the popularity of it. Good Thai food I enjoy--however there's a trend of every Thai restaurant having the exact same menu with little variety in a lot of places--sort of like what became of Chinese food in America. The best Thai restaurant in Portland is Pok Pok which was started by an American guy who cooked in Thailand for a years, but focuses on regional dishes and street food that you don't find at most Thai restaurants, but there's a number of other places that stand out among the hordes of interchangable Thai places these days...
Seattle has good Thai food whe I've had it, but to be honest, I've gotten so burnt out on eating Thai food after a while, that it takes a particularly good place to get me excited. I'll have to try the place you mentioned though as real regional Thai food still proves interesting to me.
I have no idea but I've certainly had some amazing Thai food in Los Angeles, mostly in Thai Town in East Hollywood.
These types of CvC threads are always pretty tough because really, how would anyone know short of eating at 5+ of the best Thai restaurants in each city. Certainly doable but I doubt it has been done.
I agree there a lot of Thai places that have similar menus across the country, and to me that's what makes Seattle, LA, and the Bay Area stand out. These places all have good regional variety and there are many places that do the more conventional stuff but in an authentic and delicious way.
I don't know, I'd think that Los Angeles might be up there considering it has the highest number of Thai people in the US, but I've never had Thai food in Los Angeles, so I can't say.
Though it's hard to say, considering that Thai food is everywhere these days. To the extent that in some places it's often Vietnamese or Chinese cooking Thai food, due to the popularity of it. Good Thai food I enjoy--however there's a trend of every Thai restaurant having the exact same menu with little variety in a lot of places--sort of like what became of Chinese food in America. The best Thai restaurant in Portland is Pok Pok which was started by an American guy who cooked in Thailand for a years, but focuses on regional dishes and street food that you don't find at most Thai restaurants, but there's a number of other places that stand out among the hordes of interchangable Thai places these days...
Seattle has good Thai food whe I've had it, but to be honest, I've gotten so burnt out on eating Thai food after a while, that it takes a particularly good place to get me excited. I'll have to try the place you mentioned though as real regional Thai food still proves interesting to me.
There is a restaurant (mini-chain actually) on my street called It's Pho! and basically the premise is that it is Vietnamese food cooked by a Thai family. I think they also have a restaurant called It's Thai!
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