Why is Thai cuisine more popular than Chinese or Korean?

[Ottawa2011]

I heard at one time that it's due to the Thai ability to blend the best of all essential flavours into their cooking, in the same dish you get sweet, sour, salty, and bitter, all at the same time. Maybe that's the secret.

[Jhenma]

Originally Posted by thatguydownsouth

Thai food is like Outback and Chinese food is like McDonalds. Ill just put it that way. When I get Chinese I know what Im asking for, mediocre food that has had no effort put into it. Its just heavy sauce on "fried rice" and some meat. I put fried rice in quotes because sometimes what your getting is in no way fried rice. Its just some kind of steamed yellow rice with carrots and peas.

Thai food on the other hand has more fresh ingredients like lemongrass as well as better flavor that isnt derived from some MSG laden sugar sauce.

Also which ones do you see failing health inspections over and over again in your area? Hint, not the Thai restaurants...

I love Thai food, but I disagree about the health violations. In Seattle Thai Tom - one of the most popular Thai restaurants (in a city with hundreds of them) got one of the lowest health inspection grades in the city and had to shut down.

[TabulaRasa]

The idea that health code violations are limited to only restaurants of certain ethnicities is equal parts offensive, laughable, and ridiculous.