Bangkok Pad Thai

Type of Cuisine: Traditional Thai (take-out, delivery or sit down)
Overview: Casual comfort dining

735 Richmond Street, London, ON  |  519-433-6634
www.bangkokpadthai.com
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11:30 am to 10:00 pm; Friday, 11:30 am to 11:00 pm; Saturday, 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm; and Sunday, 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Pricing: $$$

Thai food – along with Indian – travels very well due to the thick sauces and braising so is perfectly suited for take-out or delivery. Bangkok Pad Thai is one ofLondon’s long-standing restaurants in the north end of Richmond Row.

Typical mainstays from their menu are the sesame beef (delicious and tangy sweet and spicy glaze and big pieces of meat), green curry (chicken, peppers and peas in a coconut sauce with a mild heat), and of course, pad thai (peanut sauce and noodles with bean sprouts, chicken and shrimp). Add a little sriracha sauce on top of the pad thai and your sense will be fully satisfied – sweet, spicy, salty, sour and bitter with the pleasantness of umami. The meal is exotic and authentic enough for the devout but recognizable and familiar enough for those who may not be too adventurous in a culinary sense.

The long and narrow location overlookingRichmond Street(be warned that parking can sometimes be an issue) is comfortable and decorated with traditional Thai art. The tables by the front window are great people-watching seats without any interruption from the busy take-out area in the back. The wait staff is friendly and attentive and fully knowledgeable about Thai traditions.

Let us be clear that Bangkok Pad Thai is not cheap eats. While each dish is more than reasonably priced (and an ample, good value size), as with Chinese food, once all the other components are factored in along with delivery charge and tip, a meal for two (with leftovers) will be close to $60. But the popularity of the restaurant and the taste bears witness to the fact that the food is worth it. For those looking for something more reasonable, they feature a lunch special where their pad thai is available (take-out or dine in) for only $7.95. It is quite the affordable feast for one.

While for some not an affordable option for regular ordering, Bangkok Pad Thai is a delicious alternative to other more typical delivery staples of pizza and Chinese. You will not be disappointed whether you know Thai food well or trying it for the first time.

The owners have passed their business savvy down to their son, Eddy Phimphrachanh, who has opened two more upscale establishments using the same element that has built Bangkok Pad Thai’s success – good authentic food – but with a more modern and youthful twist. Thaifoon (http://www.thaifoonrestaurant.com/) onDundas Street near Talbot is a more stylish and approachable version of Thai-inspired cuisine (fusion shall we say?), and Lavish, a lounge/nightclub onDundas at Clarence.