Thai Palace — Restaurant in Bradenton

READ BEFORE COMING HERE

To begin, I'll start with the good. 2 stars, because of how attractive and well designed the theme for the restaurant is. It felt very inviting, the menus looked awesome. Our server was a young guy, very friendly and easy going. My girlfriend and I were looking for a good Thai place to go for lunch, and she said this place used to be quite popular. With a great looking menu of options, we thought it would have been a great meal.

Now, we started out with a tofu appetizer, and salads. As soon as the salads were placed in-front of us, I realized this wasn't going to be what I was hoping. I would almost be willing to bet money that the salads are pre-bagged store bought salads from Publix or Walmart.

The thing that really turned me off about this place was the peanut sauce, which I will mention here a few times. I'm someone who eats more peanut butter in a month than most people will eat in a year. I again, would almost be willing to bet money that the "Thai Peanut Sauce" this place uses for everything, is straight from a jar of Peanut Butter, with maybe just maybe a few spices or a small amount of liquid added to it. I essentially ate a Publix bagged salad with Jiff peanut butter poured on top.

For my lunch, I ordered something like a plate of Thai vegetables (can't remember what is was called) with a side of rice. Again, the peanut sauce just happened to come with it. After my plate arrived, I realized that every vegetable looked exactly like a store bought vegetable cooked with absolutely no spices or seasoning. So there I was, covering my Thai dish of vegetables with Jiff peanut butter.

After eating a few bites of the broccoli covered in peanut butter, I realized that all of the plaques and awards on the walls, and all of the amazing reviews this place has received must have been from a time when this place actually cared about the food that they put out. This is not Thai, and should not even be considered remotely close to what Thai is supposed to be like.

So basically, if you enjoy bagged salads off the shelf of your local supermarket, Jiff peanut butter, and generic vegetables with no seasoning or spices, for the same price you'd be paying at an authentic Thai place, definitely come here. It's been almost 12 hours and I still taste the peanut butter in the back of my throat.

I can only hope more people who know what actual Thai food should taste like, take the time to leave reviews about this place. The reviews definitely misled me into coming...

• Warning ⚠️ this is a long one * Upon entering I was awestruck by the decor. I’ve never been anywhere in Asia, but the decor made me feel as though I had stepped onto another Continent. We were welcomed by a warm and friendly young lady, I am fairly old so most people are younger than I, lol. I am blanking in her name but, she ended up being our server and she was lovely and patient with our questions throughout our visit. It seemed as though all the servers worked as a team. If the food was ready and your server was unavailable, someone else brought the entries out. I witnessed this a couple of times. THE Menu is well thought out. It has pictures and descriptions for every dish, with spice level. So many options, it was hard to choose. THE food, OHMYGOODNESS 💕! Do you appreciate when the food comes hot out of the kitchen? I do. ✅ The entrees were presented so beautifully, I forgot to take pictures I was so awestruck. At first taste, do you close your eyes and enjoy all the flavors and heat? I do. It happens so rarely, I have to laugh at myself. ✅ What was ordered: Because we couldn’t decide we chose the Combination Sampler for our appetizer. Each and every sample was great. The cucumber sauce 🤩. ✅ For the less adventurous of us, the Thai Grilled Chicken. The steamed vegetables were perfect and the chicken was juicy and flavorful. ✅ Then the Amazing 😋 Peanut Curry, perfection. The sauce, spot on. ✅ And I had the Green Curry. I was unsure of the heat level so I requested it to be mild. I could have enjoyed it a bit spicier, next time. It was still perfect. ✅ For dessert we had to try the Thai Donuts. Deliciously unique and very tasty with the peanut dipping sauce. ✅ I guess you could say we will be repeat...

My dining experience at Thai Palace, a beloved local Thai restaurant, was exceptional. The highlight of our meal was the classical fried rice and tom yum duck soup, both of which stood out for their authenticity and flavor. The fried rice, a seemingly simple dish, was elevated to new heights by its perfect preparation and taste, proving that even the classics can be extraordinary. The tom yum duck soup was a vibrant blend of flavors, striking the perfect balance between spicy, sour, and savory.

We also indulged in appetizers accompanied by curry chutneys, each bite a testament to the chef's skill in blending spices and flavors. The quality of ingredients shone through in every dish, contributing to the rich and satisfying flavors.

Paired with authentic Thai beer, the meal was a culinary journey I would eagerly embark on again. The service was discreet yet attentive, adding to the overall pleasant atmosphere. The generous portions allowed us to take some of our meal home to enjoy later, a testament to the value offered by Thai Palace.

While I would recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking authentic Thai cuisine, my endorsement seems hardly needed. Thai Palace's popularity among locals speaks volumes about its quality and appeal. It is a must-visit for Thai food enthusiasts and those looking to explore...