Thai Kitchen — Restaurant in Albuquerque

This was one of my favorite restaurants, until the unfortunate experience I had this evening. It's a bit of a long story, but worth the read for anyone who wants to avoid a very uncomfortable experience with this restaurant..

I'm sincerely hoping the restaurant owner will see this and realize that it might be best to turn away orders that won't be ready until the restaurant's closing hour.

I called to place a to-go order around 7:30pm, and was kindly told that while they would put my order in, it wouldn't be ready until 9pm. Not exactly ideal, but I thought, "Oh well...if they're willing to take my order I can wait a bit."

I went to pick up my order and arrived around 8:55pm, because obviously, that's when I was told my order would be ready. I attempt to enter the restaurant and they had already locked the door, which is somewhat understandable given that they close at 9pm. However, that was the time they gave me..

I looked inside and waved and the restaurant staff actually pretended they didn't see me! I grabbed my cell phone to call and let them know I was there to pick up the to-go order they SAID wouldn't be ready until 9. The phone rang SEVERAL times..meanwhile they CONTINUED to ignore me, even though it was plainly obvious that I was attempting to get their attention and that I was ON MY CELL PHONE calling them! Finally, someone picked up and I was able to explain why I was standing out there.

By the time someone came to let me in, so I could PAY for my food, I was SO uncomfortable I almost didn't even want my order. All I was doing was following their instructions and they treated me like some psycho and allowed me to stand out there waiting like an idiot. It was pretty embarrassing, not to mention downright disappointing. What grown adult pretends to not see someone standing right in front of them? The whole interaction was unprofessional and NO ONE apologized for their lack of courtesy, let alone do anything to rectify the situation.

Even though their food is good, why would I want to go back there after that? I highly...

Thai Kitchen is an unassuming Thai restaurant in Rio Rancho in the Corrales Shopping Center on Corrales Road and Alameda Blvd NW. It’s between Interstate All Battery Center and the Dollar Tree across from Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza. There’s a large free parking lot so parking shouldn’t be an issue. The entry into the restaurant doesn’t have any steps, so patrons in wheelchairs or with mobility issues won’t encounter any barriers. There’s both table and booth seating.

We ordered one of the current appetizer specials, which was the mango summer roll. It was a Thai spring roll with mango instead of the protein. It came with a sweet chili sauce and the roll overall was light and refreshing on a hot summer day. It was a nice alternative to deep fried appetizers.

We each had the pineapple fried rice with tofu, medium spice. The onions were cooked but still firm and crunchy, the pineapple was fresh, and there was a nice pile of cilantro on top. The dish additionally had tomatoes, cashews, and green onion. It was flavorful and the spice was complimentary instead of overpowering. The rice wasn’t greasy at all - it was just cooked well.

The service was attentive and the food came quickly. I’m interested in trying more entrees at Thai Kitchen and would...

Oh boy, let me tell you about the "pleasant" experience I had at Thai Kitchen. The moment I stepped into this fine establishment, I was simply dazzled by the immaculate decor and spotless dining room. Why, the staff's stained, tattered uniforms just oozed class and sophistication.

The service simply couldn't be beat - our server so kindly dumped a pile of napkins and utensils onto our table and then vanished into thin air. We waited with bated breath for our drinks, strawless of course, but they did eventually appear after a minor eternity.

Now the food...oh the food! The squid salad was a revelation - who knew rubbery, chewy sea creatures doused in cloying cucumber paste could taste so divine? And the spice, wow! My mouth was on fire for hours but in the best possible way. I'm still reminiscing about the gastrointestinal distress I experienced later that night - so delish!

In summary, Thai Kitchen is a Michelin-starred dining experience that simply must be tried. From the décor reminiscent of abandoned warehouses to the stellar service from staff who clearly hate their jobs, this is a restaurant not to be missed. Just be sure to load up on antacids...