Thai Kitchen — Restaurant in Melbourne

Thai Kitchen 1729 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne, FL 32935

4 Stars

Blinking back at my random name generator, I couldn’t help but think upon the infamous words of Booker T., “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all...” It’s not that bad, I do jest; however, as the name Thai Kitchen was staring back at me, I did loathe the moment. I have developed a visceral hatred for Sushi/Thai combo places, so when I pulled up and found a Thai restaurant that serves actual Thai food I was pleasantly surprised. Be forewarned as I am feeling a tad macaronic as I write this, but then it is an excellent Thai to be alive!

Lisa (her nom de guerre) is our slothfully slow server today. However, she is a charming Chiang Rai of light AND boxed our food up without being asked. That rates a 30% tip in my book. As previously stated, I detest Sushi/Thai combo joints and apparently, so do the owners here, as they have a sign that states they serve “Authentic” Thai food. I have never been to Thailand, but a family member lives in Bangkok. He said two things you never see in a restaurant: sushi or chopsticks (for a frame of reference).

I asked Lisa for some Pad Woon Sen, Creamy Tom Yum Noodles and an order of Crispy Pork Belly. Awaiting Lisa’s return, I engaged my company in light banter about what I know of Thailand. I quickly realized it wasn’t all that much and the conversation died not with a Panang, but with a whimper just as our food arrived! Snapping some quick pictures of the feast before me, I dove in as the aromas wafting forth were hinting that the best Thai food I’ve ever had had just fallen into my lap.

The Pad Woon Sen consisted of the traditional Thai clear or glass noodles mixed with fresh veggies and it was spot on. I don’t think I have had any other national cuisine that so expertly combines flavors as the food from Thailand. Some dishes can be extremely spicy yet never lose the underlying flavors. In other words, the heat is never all you taste.

Case in point, the Creamy Tom Yum Noodles were a superb combination of rice noodles, bean sprouts, cilantro, fried garlic, ground peanuts, Thai chili powder and lime juice. The heat of the chili powder is offset magnificently by what should be Thai Basil, but in this case, it is cilantro. This “spicy-mint” flavor is the key to authentic Thai cuisine and this dish had it down pad!

Sadly, I had a job to do and, as such, forced myself onto the last dish up for review, the Crispy Pork Belly. Once again, everything was deliciously prepared, dancing a delightful Khon across my taste buds. Even though I have never been to Thailand, I know this has to be the real deal Thai food as I have never seen these dishes in a combo place. Not once. Ever.

The Big Boy says, “After this meal, it’s safe to say I’m coconuts for Thai food. You should go, and if you don’t? You can kiss my...

This was my favorite Thai restaurant for years, but unfortunately there are new owners and this is NOT THE SAME RESTAURANT that got 4-5 stars before. The only thing that was the same was the AC that doesn't cool the place - easily overlooked when the food was fantastic. They didn't have any coconut juice so I got Thai tea which was flavorless. The fresh spring rolls where huge and loose and messy with no herbs to give them that fresh flavor. There were no Thai condiments on the table and the peanut sauce served with rolls was like hoisin from a jar. The Pad See Ew used to be the best in Central Florida with tender pieces of beef, whatever greens were freshest at the market and wide noodles like homemade with a flavorful brown sauce...but now just bland overcooked stir fry mix like frozen Chinese food in a bag from the grocery store. I always ordered the green papaya salad with a side of sticky rice because it was the best I had ever tasted anywhere (and I get it everywhere I go) - but unfortunately it came on a bed of torn iceberg without the dried shrimp or raw green beans that are so integral to this dish. The dressing was almost there but like everything else in this meal, it came up short. To be fair, the sticky rice was good. We were going to have the mango and sweet sticky rice dessert which used to be amazing, I would dream about it. But we decided to just leave because as bad as everything else was, I couldn't take any more disappointment. The service, while friendly, left us sitting forever before giving us our bill. I don't know what happened to the lovely family that owned this restaurant prior to the current owners. The happy friendly wife - a genius in the kitchen - doing magic with the freshest ingredients and recipes that tasted passed down for generations. She would come out to each table and make sure you liked it and that you were eating it the 'right way'. She wouldn't even make the mango dessert unless she could get her particular type of mangos...not just any mangos. I miss the husband who ran the front of house all smiles and attentiveness, I even miss their recalcitrant teenage daughter who hated being there but did her job well. I can only hope they made their fortune and are retired in the house they built for their extended family back in Thailand. Anything other than that would make me feel more sorry for myself than...

This is THE BEST Thai restaurant I've tried here. It tastes just like it did when I lived in Thailand. Fried rice is my favorite, but their cashew chicken is just amazing! I've been going there for years (even though it's kind of far from home). It changed owners not too long ago, but the food is still top quality (everything tastes freshly made and you can actually peek on it being cooked right then and there, just like in Thailand). It is family owned and run, with the Mom and Dad cooking, and the two sons acting as waiters. The parents don't speak English much, but the sons are fluent. All of them are super polite and friendly though, and that's another reason we like going there. The place is small, the atmosphere casual, and the service simply incredible. I have tried their entire menu by now, and I've liked almost everything. If you prefer hotter, spicier versions though, you just need to tell them you want it "Thai hot" because the norm is more for the western tongue. Most of the entrees come with a small soup or salad and a spring roll. This month's soup is delicious! (Some sort of hot and sour one) I have recommended this place to many friends, and this is also our go-to place to bring visitors (from Europe and Asia). So far, all have been impressed with the quality of the food...