Lotus Thai Restaurant — Restaurant in Bartlett

Lotus Thai stands out from the former Thai Basil. The inside has been remodeled and updated. It feels very open and is definitely well lit. The staff is all very friendly and wonderful to talk to. The menu is definitely smaller, which by no means is a bad thing. We picked dishes that we are familiar with. We tried the panang gai, larb gai, som tham, fresh spring rolls, crab rangoon, Thai coffee, and Thai iced tea. First thing I will say about the food, is it is definitely different from Thai Basil and different than my Thai grandmother's cooking. (Thai Basil is how we used to scratch cravings for her cooking. She lives in Florida.) The fresh spring rolls and crab rangoons were good for starters. They weren't really why we visited. I personally liked the dipping sauce for the fresh spring rolls. To me it tasted like a soy sauce based sauce that had the umami of fish sauce, the zest of some citrus, and a hint of sweetness. The panang reminded me of the maesri panang curry paste, my grandmother uses. My husband got it as a level 10, the spicest they offer. They are not playing with this heat. The zucchini and squash are very interesting choices of vegetables for this dish too. The sweetness of the dish is something that we couldn't get past. The larb reminded me more of a satay. I'm not saying it isn't bad, I am just used to being able to taste more of the balance of fish sauce, lime, chili, and sugar. I did like the rice powder used for this dish. It seemed like it was toasted and ground with a mortar and pestle. It gave it a nice "crunch" texture. Next is the som tham. I like that they offer Shrimp and Beef as protein add-ins to this dish, but personally, have had it with shrimp or without shrimp. (Mostly without- that is how my grandmother makes it.) The som tham was probably my favorite. It balanced sweet, spicy, and crunchy fairly well. It will definitely scratch that itch if miss my grandmother's cooking. (Though she doesn't use green beans or shredded carrots. It will definitely do in a pinch.) I will ALSO NOTE Thai food prepartion/dishes varies on region. While I may not be used to my food being as sweet, that is not a reflection of this restaurant. Personally I'm used to more spicy/savory Thai food because of what my Grandmother and Mom...

I’m in Memphis for work and really wanted good Thai food. I was lucky enough to find Lotus Thai through a Google search.

Oh my goodness- this is the best I’ve had! I ordered spicy edamame and Curry Noodle (chicken and tofu) at a spice level 4/10.

The edamame is perfectly steamed with a delicious spicy sauce. I only regretted my husband was not able to share this with me (I’m traveling for work)!

For the curry noodle I requested a thin rice noodle and added tofu to the base protein of chicken. The tofu was the star of this dish and I wished I had ordered more of it. The sauce is mildly spicy and slightly sweet. It was a perfect sweetness for me, as some Thai restaurants do overdo the sweetness.

I’ll be in Memphis for the next few weeks and I will be back to try the Tom Yum soup!! Will report back.

Btw, the place was so cute when I picked up my takeout. I had...

I had such a great experience here! The restaurant is clean, spacious, and beautifully decorated with hanging lights and festive touches. It felt cozy and welcoming right away.

The food was delicious:

• Tom Yum Soup was full of flavor with lots of fresh mushrooms and just the right amount of heat.

• Grilled Pork Skewers with Sticky Rice were perfectly cooked and came with a super tasty dipping sauce.

• Papaya Salad (Som Tum) was fresh, crunchy, spicy, and so refreshing.

• Larb (Minced Chicken Salad) had bold flavors and came with fresh greens — really satisfying.

I also loved the small touches like candle-lit tables and friendly service.

If you're looking for authentic Thai food in Memphis with a chill atmosphere, this is the place. Highly...