Andaman Thai Restaurant — Restaurant in Denton

Have you ever had authentic Thai coconut curry? Well, let me tell you about the amazing restaurant, Andaman Thai, and the unforgettable dinner I had there a year ago featuring Green Coconut Curry, Fresh Spring Rolls, and Thai Coffee because after I do, I guarantee this restaurant will be on your must-dine-list.

When the weather gets cold and windy up in Denton, Texas, don’t you just want to find a warm cozy spot to rest and have an even warmer bowl of delicious soup in front of you to help replenish your energy? I know I do, and that’s exactly what Andaman Thai delivered during my dining experience. From the traditionally adorned walls to the relaxing Thai instrumental music gently playing in the backgrounds to the gentle welcome from the hostess, this restaurant brought forward an appreciation for guest’s hospitality that I have not witnessed in other restaurants (even some fine-dining institutions).

I ordered the Green Coconut Curry, the Fresh Spring Rolls (an appetizer), and the waitress-recommended Thai Iced Coffee. While I waited for my order I observed the other dining parties around me. Their tables looked lively- families conversing with smiles being traded over gorgeously presented entrees. Honestly, my mouth could not contain its excitement, for I’m afraid I was beginning to salivate as I thought about the food I had just ordered. I was famished, and looking forward to being drowned in amazing flavors.

First, the Thai Iced Coffee was served along with the Fresh Spring Rolls. The rolls had this jardiniere look about them, and the tender, translucent rice wrapper was just begging me to take a massive bite out of it. This appetizer was served with a complimentary sweet garlic sauce which I poured over the rolls, watching the sauce run across the rice wrapper and set gently their edges. And the taste, it was as refreshing as the first sip of water after finishing a lap on the running track, but also savory and sweet because of the sweet garlic sauce. It was in my opinion, the best Fresh Roll I have encountered to date. The Thai Iced Coffee was equally delightful, and quite pleasing on the pallet- especially if eaten in tandem with the Fresh Spring Roll.

The Green Coconut Curry arrived just a few minutes after the Rolls did, almost in time with my last bite! The vegetables looked enticing, and the curry held this pastel green color with specs of fresh Thai chili peppers surfacing to meet my joyful gaze. The server also brought out a well-sized bowl of brown rice (to my specification as one could choose between white rice or brown rice to accompany the entree) at no extra cost. The traditional way of eating this dish, as I was told by the server, was to take a spoonful of rice and dip it into the curry- attempting to grab hold onto some of the vegetables, sauce, and meat as one brought the spoon out of the glowing curry. I did just that, and boy was I surprised. A punch of savory and spicy flavors coated my mouth while my tastebuds hurried to catch up to my appetite. I was as consumed by that bowl of curry as it was by me- fairly quickly. My need for warmth was met, and I could not have been any happier.

That experience as a whole holds a special place in my heart, as it was the catalyst to my growing obsession with finding new curry flavors and culturally different foods that can inspire the feelings of joy and comfort that Andaman Thai was able to...

We have now been to Andaman a few times and are happy to report that the experience is always consistently good. Yes, parking is a challenge in this part of downtown, but we found a place just a block away. It is not a big restaurant at all, which is why it is disappointing that it is never crowded when we are there. Dark wood everywhere and certainly not bright in any way, which makes me say that it is a bit of a dive. I don’t mean that as a negative, just the feel it presents. Service was good. Each visit we consistently get one or more of our favorites. These include Satay Chicken which arrived hot off the grill with a superior peanut sauce. Excellent. Larb Chicken Salad which experience tells me can be tricky to get right in terms of spice and hotness because of the chili oil. Again, excellent with a generous amount of chicken and very fresh lettuce. Main courses we can recommend are Panang Curry with Pork and Pad Thai with Pork. The Panang was filled with veggies and came with a creative pyramid of perfectly done white rice. The definition of medium here tends toward the milder side when ordering spiciness, so if you like spice ask for above medium. The Pad Thai was about the sweetest version of that dish we have ever tasted. Not a bad thing at all, just different but highly flavorful. Noodles in the Pad Thai were perfectly done and not too sticky as can happen. On the most recent visit I got more adventuresome and had the Hot Pot Seafood, which is Mixed Seafood Baked in Thai Red Curry Sauce & Spices with Napa, Bell Pepper, Carrot, Baby Corn, Snow Pea, & Fresh Basil, Served with Jasmine Rice. You can’t tell from the photo, but it is actually boiling and sizzling and smoking when brought to the table. Tremendous presentation and even better flavor. All in all a very good experience each time and we will continue to return. Only real complaint is that the tables feel a little dirty because the wood they are made of just feels like it...

Brought in a group of 6 after we tried a vineyard half an hour away from Denton square. Service was fine and the basil duck was great. It’s listed as crispy but please note it will not come out with crispy skin. The poor review is truly based on the interaction with the owner of the establishment. The Pad Thai was lackluster but drunken noodles with shrimp were great! We ordered a variety of dishes from Pad Thai, Drunken noodles, and two orders of the mango sticky rice to end the evening. We asked our server if we could have one mango sticky rice taken off the check as the mango was not sweet and didn’t taste ripe. The rice portion was small on the plate compared to the mango which is not always a negative but in this case the flavor was average. The server brought out the owner for feedback and to request the mango sticky rice to be taken off our check. The chef and owner barely let us express our feedback and took extremely productive criticism poorly. It is not our intention to tear down small businesses as we own a hospitality business too. The owner dismissed our suggestions and quickly said he refused to take off the mango sticky rice that wasn’t eaten before quickly walking away. It’s sad that over a $9.25 dessert you lost business and accrued a negative review. Moreso, had he taken the feedback better and took the time to speak with us we would not have mentioned our experience.

All sauce requests cost extra, so be aware...