Chao Baan: A Taste of Thailand in St. Louis
Our family has a little tradition: we visit Chao Baan once a year. This Thai restaurant isn't necessarily mind-blowing, but it's always on our minds, a steady presence on our list. π₯° Their signature Thai-style grilled fish is an absolute must-order! π The whole fish is fried until golden and crispy, with a satisfying crunch on the outside while the flesh inside remains tender and flaky. Paired with their special sweet and sour Thai sauce, it's refreshing and appetizing without being greasy. π For starters, we tried the shrimp cakes and papaya salad. The shrimp cakes were genuinely good β springy, substantial, and you could tell they used quality ingredients. π As for the papaya salad, it felt pretty standard, nothing particularly memorable. For the main dishes, the yellow chicken curry was indeed a bit plain, lacking standout features β a safe choice. π But the curry noodles were really interesting! The bowl held a mix of half crispy fried noodles and half soft, regular noodles, offering a wonderful contrast in texture and a very fragrant taste. π The Thai holy basil pork rice (Pad Krapao) was fantastic with steamed rice, the minced meat stir-fried and incredibly fragrant. Just be careful with the spice level! πΆοΈ This dish is genuinely quite spicy here β friends who can't handle heat should definitely choose cautiously. I especially want to recommend the coconut milk version of the Tom Yum soup! π₯£ It's completely different from the regular sour and spicy version. The entry is exceptionally smooth and mild, filled with the sweetness of seafood and the creamy, gentle fragrance of coconut milk. Plus, it's not spicy at all, making it perfect for those with a milder palate or who avoid spice. π I've also had the regular version before β it's the classic hot and sour flavor, very stimulating, great for when you want to wake up your taste buds. All in all, Chao Baan is a reliable choice that won't let you down. β¨ We give it a three-star recommendation. When you can't decide what to eat but want to try something a bit different, coming here for a try is a safe bet. #ThaiFood #FoodRecommendation #StLouisEats #FoodieDiary #CoconutTomYum #ThaiGrilledFish #FoodJournal π
