Thai Opal — Restaurant in Dallas

I try various Thai restaurants around Dallas, and I always get the pad se ewe with chicken. When I first found this spot, I thought it was the best pad se ewe I had in all of Dallas below $20/plate. (I've never tried any more expensive Thai, if it exists) Each rice noodle had wavy edges and stood out, tall & proud on the plate, as if to say, "pick me, pick me! and don't forget to pick a carrot or broccoli for your bite, too!" In other words, the noodles were not stuck together. I also noticed the dish had a toasted nutty flavor as if the noodles were briefly fried in sesame oil, or maybe it's just an ingredient. Lately, however, they have a young man waiting tables who seems like a nice guy - I wouldn't want to see him get canned over my review - I just think maybe his English isn't that good? I asked for #3 spicy and the plate came out with no spice at all. I was able to request and stir in some spicy sauce myself, though it wasn't as good this way. While the pad se ewe hasn't been as good lately, the veggies are always fresh. I wonder if they have different cooks on different times/days. I like the atmosphere or ambience to the place. It's kinda dark & private. The decor reminds me of my grandma's house - if only she was Thai. It's never super busy at lunch time so it's quiet and you get...

Thai Opal used to be my go-to place for scrumptious Thai food. Unfortunately, I had not been there in awhile, so I stopped in for lunch last week. First of all, I was amazed to see that I was the ONLY soul in the place at 12:00 noon. During the entire time I was there, maybe two people came in to pick up to-go orders. No other diners came in.

Now.....the food was every bit as delicious as it had ever been. I got the sauteed edamame app and the yellow curry and both were divine. The service was adequate.

Herein I think lies the problem: they used to have a lunch menu with competitive prices and it had a good variety of dishes to choose from, most accompanied by soup and/or egg roll. I asked the server if they still had a lunch menu and he said no. The prices I thought were pretty high for a lunch meal, and this could be why there is no one there at lunch.

I hope they read this review and take my suggestion of reinstating their lunch menu with appropriate prices. It's just too good of a restaurant to have no...

Authentic dishes, wonderful staff and a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere makes Thai Opal a must-visit restaurant. After multiple visits and sampling numerous offerings on the menu it is apparent that the owner and staff are as passionate about the preparation of their dishes as they are about their service.

Each dish is prepared in the traditional manner, seasoned, sauced and spiced perfectly. The soups are excellent, flavorful broths with large portions of vegetables and meats. The atmosphere is casual with a contemporary flair. Entrees are healthy portions and authentically reflect the flavors of their indigenous regions. It's currently BYOB, so feel free to bring your favorite libation along for the ride.

The prices are reasonable, the portions generous, and the staff and service exemplary. Thai Opal delivers an outstanding dining experience and should be on your short list of must-visit...