Thai Basil – Madison’s Beloved Thai Spot! 🌶️

No introduction needed – this place is a Madison favorite! We finally got to try it during a short trip, and it did not disappoint. Here’s the full experience: ⏳ Wait & Seating: No reservations for groups under 6. The owner suggests coming at 5 PM sharp or after 7:30 PM to avoid crowds. We arrived right at 5 and got a table easily – but by 5:30, it was completely full! (Also… why does it get dark so early in Madison? 🌙 5 PM felt like midnight!) 🍽️ Vibe & Setup: Cozy but well-spaced tables – not cramped at all. We sat near the open kitchen and could see the chefs wok-tossing fried rice – no pre-made stuff here! 🔥 📋 What We Ordered: Papaya Salad – Refreshing, tangy, and crunchy with green papaya, carrots, long beans, and cashews. Perfect starter! 🥗 Paradise Wings – Crispy fried chicken wings. A bit heavy on the coating, but well-seasoned and tasty. 🍗 Pineapple Curry (with Pork) – Creamy, fragrant, and mildly spicy. The pork was surprisingly tender! 🍍🍛 Pineapple Fried Rice (with Beef) – Wok-fried to perfection – grains were separate and flavorful. Best eaten hot! 🔥 Tom Kha Soup (with Shrimp) – A creamy, coconutty twist on classic tom yum. Not too sour – just right with mushrooms and tomatoes. 🍤🥥 Mango Sticky Rice with Thai Custard – The custard was silky like almond tofu, paired with coconut sticky rice. A sweet, satisfying finish! 🍚💛 💬 Final Thoughts: We over-ordered (as usual 😅), but everything was so good we finished almost all of it! Portions are generous – maybe start light and order more as you go. 💰 Price: ~$30 per person (before tip) – totally worth it! 📜 Menu attached below 👇 Highly recommend if you’re craving authentic, lovingly made Thai food. Madison, you’re lucky to have this place! #Madison #ThaiFood #ThaiBasil #MadisonEats #FoodieReview #UWMadison