Thai Orchid

     This past Monday I enjoyed my day off with some funky friends and a Thai dinner! Kia and Sean (the infamous) have lived all over the world and are two absolutly wonderful people...and I've been fortunate enough to share many noms with them! They have always mentioned Thai food with the slightest hint of drool dribbling out of their mouths and I was able to experience the glory at Thai Orchid....
     I was super hungry when we got there, but not to the point of ordering too much to even look at. We all shared a soup, salad, curry, and dessert. (Funny how some people get all that just for themselves)~ it was all together beyond filling and delicious.
     We started with the Som Tom J (10,000W)...

Som Tom J  (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     This was a Thai salad full of mushrooms, shredded cucumber and carrots, cashew nuts, and was garnished with cherry tomato halves. The salad was bedded on top of two napa cabbage leaves and was swimming in a spicy and edgey tomatoe based hot sauce...it was delicious, refreshing, fresh, and the sauce left you wanting more.
     The curry we got was the Pad Pak Med Mamuanng J (11,000W). This had a good assortment of veggies, baby corn, peppers, cabbage, carrots, cashews, tofu and 묵(muk)!

Pad Pak Med Mamuanng J (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The textures all balanced well, crunchy veggies, snappy peppers, soft crisp tofu and warm muk. The portion wasn't huge but the flavor was! I really liked the addition of muk. I've never had it warm but there's something about acorn.
     The soup we got was the Tom Yam Pake J (12,000W). This was amazing. Lemon grass and real galangal! Tons of veggies, steamy spicy coconut broth and lots of flavor. It was hot, it was a sexy kind of heat. One that simmers in your throat a little bit, urging you to get in another spoonful. I couldn't get enough of this broth...creamy coconut milk and heat...yes please!

Tom Yam Pake J (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The desert we got was the Khao Neow mamuang (7,000W) meaning mango and sticky rice. From ever Thailand visitor I've ever met, their body sinks with the thought of this dish..sinks in that "ugh, I miss it so" type of way. I finally experienced it and...ughhh...just get it...GET IT.

Khao Neow mamuang (photo taken by VeganBeats

     The decision of whether I must visit Thailand has been nailed in. I think I will become the fattest person in Thailand when I go, what are sweatpants made for right? (I joke...I can't.)

I highly recommend experiencing the food at Thai Orchid. It's fresh, flavorful, a little pricy but...hey, it's quality.

How to get there:
Itaewon station (line 6) walk out exit 3 and walk straight for about 5 minutes, it's located on your right on the 3rd floor.
Phone #: 02-795-9338
email: arurot@hotmail.com