Chiangmai — Restaurant in Conshohocken

My wife and I have been here twice in the past few months - on both occasions using a Living Social coupon. Based on our experience, we would feel confident in going again or taking our friends who are craving Thai food. Here are some of the things I like about the restaurant:

Taste - The first and foremost consideration for a restaurant is the taste of its food and Chiangmai scores well on that front. On our most recent visit, we had drunken noodles and evil jungle noodles and we enjoyed both dishes. Portion sizes were large as well. Ambience - The authentic decor adds to its appeal. My wife always seems to notice the beautiful artwork on the restaurant's walls. Location - It is located in a happening part of downtown Conshohocken. There is street parking located close by and after 6 p.m. one can park for free in the public parking lot just a block from the restaurant. Besides the convenient parking, having a seat by the window and being able to look out onto Fayette Street and people going by is a plus, which rarely happens in the 'burbs!

Areas where the restaurant falls short are: Space is limited and the tables are a bit too small. On both occasions, we were seated at the same table where it was a little hard to fit in two large plates along with glasses for water. On that same note, we have shown up around 9 at the restaurant and found the place not too crowded, but I can see why it would be desirable to have a reservation for times earlier in the evening. This place is one of the smallest restaurants I have come across in the area. While I like the professionalism of the servers and appreciate their keeping our glasses full throughout the course of dinner, it wouldn't hurt if they were a bit more welcoming and friendly. I also have found that as we get to the closing hours, they appear to be in a bit too much of a rush to close shop. I have seen servers mopping floors 15 minutes before the restaurant closes at other places and it is disappointing to see that happen at Chiangmai too. To elaborate further, I have never had the vibe that it would be fine to order dessert at 9:45, 15 mins. before the place closes.

If those two issues were successfully addressed, I could certainly see myself going there more often but other than these issues, the place delivers a...

Disappointing and Inauthentic - Avoid at All Costs

I recently visited Chiangmai, the so-called "authentic" Thai restaurant in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and my experience was nothing short of a culinary disaster. This establishment boasts about offering genuine Thai cuisine, but what I encountered was a far cry from authenticity.

First and foremost, the restaurant has decided to make a baffling choice: they no longer serve staple Thai dishes like papaya salad, replacing it with a lackluster cabbage salad. The audacity to substitute such a quintessential dish speaks volumes about their disregard for genuine Thai flavors and their customers' expectations.

As I delved into the menu, I couldn't help but notice the subpar quality of ingredients and flavors. Their curries, which should burst with the rich and aromatic spices of Thailand, were devoid of any true Thai essence. It's as if they've never tasted authentic Thai cuisine themselves.

However, the absolute nadir of my meal was the rice. I've never encountered rice of such abysmal quality. It looked and tasted like it had been languishing since dawn. The fact that they serve this dismal excuse for rice reflects their utter lack of concern for the basics of a decent meal.

When I mustered the courage to voice my concerns to the staff, I was met with a dismissive attitude that bordered on insolence. I was told that Chiangmai is not a "fine dining" establishment and that their lackluster food was to be expected. Excuse me? This has nothing to do with fine dining; it's about providing the customers with the authentic experience they were promised.

To anyone who appreciates and craves real, authentic Thai cuisine, I implore you to steer clear of Chiangmai. Your taste buds deserve better than this insulting excuse for a restaurant. There are numerous other options in the same price range that will actually deliver the Thai flavors and experience you seek. Chiangmai deserves zero stars for its complete disregard for its customers. Save yourself the disappointment and explore better...

Look, credit where it's due - The restaurant interior is lovely, and I've only had pleasant interactions with the staff. However, the most important component - the food - is absolutely terrible. I've worked in restaurants before, and I understand that every establishment has an off night here and there. So I always try a restauarant three times before I even consider giving a bad review. After doing so, I can say that the food here is consistently bland bland BLAND. I don't even know how that's possible with Thai food, but this place managed. I'm floored at the number of positive reviews on this place, but it makes more sense when you notice how many of the reviewers seem to be non-Asians who don't know any better - folks who think PF Changs is peak Asian dining.

I also don't like leaving reviews that are solely negative, so in the interest of balance, I highly suggest White Yak in Manayunk. It's not Thai, it's Tibetan, but if you're craving asian flavors and open to cuisines other than Thai, White Yak is...