Bamee Restaurant — Restaurant in Durham

Bamee is my favorite restaurant of any style, in any location, in the world. After coming here for the first time when I began attending UNH, it has slowly found a deep, immovable place in my heart over the last 2+ years.

When I say this is my favorite restaurant of all-time, I do not take this statement lightly. For better or for worse, delicious food is a big part of my life, sometimes so much as to travel to NYC for the purpose of eating a unique dish I cannot find around my hometown (that is a 4-5 hour one-way drive for anyone not familiar with the area). I have travelled about America, Asia, and Europe trying the most authentic dishes countless world cultures have to offer. While this brings about many exciting adventures, none can top the consistency and comfort of Bamee.

Even when ordering the same dish several times on concurrent days or within the same week, there is no evident quality difference from day to day - that is, each time is as good as the last time. There are no “hot or cold” times that plague many other establishments. I frequently go at odd times such as 2:30 pm, and I am never served food been sitting out. Each dish is made fresh for you, and it’s as simple as that.

Some will claim that Bamee is a bit pricey. While this can be true depending on which area you are comparing it to, their prices are consistent with the Durham economy. Being located adjacent to a large university campus (and a rather isolated one at that), Bamee is competitive with the slightly raised prices of other restaurants in the area.

My personal favorite dish is the gra prao (any meat / tofu), but this is due to my personal flavor preferences. I have tried nearly the whole menu and, while everyone will have their certain tastes, every dish objectively excels compared to the same item found elsewhere. An added bonus is that this is an excellent restaurant for vegans (which I am not). The tofu gra prao, for instance, is probably the most fulfilling, satisfying vegan meal in existence. However, there are still plenty of meat options for omnivores like myself, making this is a terrific place to eat together with your vegan friends.

While Bamee specializes in Thai food, the kitchen is creative and not afraid to try unique specialty items. The menu is a vibrant mix of authentic Thai food, Asian-fusion, and a sprinkling of Japanese and Chinese-style options. I have more than once walked in and been surprised to see, on the specials menu lies a food that I have only elsewhere eaten in China (or large Chinatowns). While they have their comfort items I stick to about half the time, they still have to guts to frequently throw in a punchy new addition.

One last praise I will extol upon Bamee is the staff. They are personable, real people who are easy and fun to get to know, chat about life, and make jokes with. The establishment is run by a family of Thai immigrants and they have hired a handful of friendly personnel from the area to round out their team.

I hold Bamee in high regard and I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. If you become a regular customer, you will more than likely catch me in there frequently at what I call my “UNH...

Bamee is the best restaurant I have ever been to. I highly recommend it for both students at UNH and visitors who might be taking students out for lunch or dinner.

Walking in, you embrace this warm atmosphere that celebrates Thai-culture. There are specials written on a couple of boards, and menus in a container. You order by picking out what you want from the menu, and speaking to the cashier.

The menu has many options such as large soup bowls, noodle dishes, hearty sides, bubble drinks, coffee, and a couple of veggie options. The meals are made with care as you pull up a stool next to one of their long tables (which encourage conversation and meeting new people).

When the food is finished, they call your order and you go and bring it over on a tray. The food is absolutely amazing and served traditionally. When you're finished, you can either clean-up and be done with it, or you can ask for a take-home container for your leftovers.

The portions are hefty and well-meet the price. I can't wait to...

Had this for the first time last night. I got the Gra Pao and it was really good. I asked for extra spicy and I would consider it medium spicey. The price was very good for the portion size. My wife had the chicken noodle soup and how they pack it for take away was excellent. Noodles were separate from the broth so it stayed fresh. Its a fast casual place which is nice. Fountain drinks would be a appreciated. I wish it stayed open later. Closing at 8 in a college town while school is in session is a crime but its normal for everything around here unfortunately. We will definitely be back but it will probably continue to be take out only for us because for the life of me I can't understand why every place up here does not offer...