Jasmine Bistro — Restaurant in Port Angeles

The animal zodiac (which includes mushrooms) aligned tonight with DUCK. I would re-elect Duck Curry for main entree. Usually I stick to the pescatarian party line when I’m coastal but I took a chance and it was sumptuous. Thank you duck. Jasmine Bistro, which sounds like a politician , punches above her weight. Like that Oregon representative Peter DeFasio, she looks diminutive and small from the outside but is full of delivering value. But now that I’ve lavished my praise, let me gripe, as a constituent, that the front of the restaurant was understaffed. Probably an effect of a busy evening before 4th of July holiday, so whatever, I had eaten breadsticks in the grocery store atrium an hour before and said to my travel family, “I just love it when a plan comes together.” But then said dinner plan fell apart on the road 10 minutes later and we party of hangry four came uponst popular establishment of Jasmine Bistro. The wait was long, like shipwrecked sailors im a lifeboat first we were hopeful, then impatient, then started bickering, then began opening up to each other. The book: If You Want to Be A Girl, Be A Good Girl, if it’s ever written, will have been birthed here out of our sublimated hunger.

The menu is spicy and expansive. There’s a respectable selection of vegetarian options including yellow curry with tofu. I mean there’s probably more - I’m selling them short, but also can only comment on what I tasted. There was a Daily Special menu that looked inspired. There was rambutan in my duck and it was good. Makes me want to bake a duck. Definitely some inspiration behind the menu and cooking, decoration and ambiance. The drink menu looked alluring but I just did a hibiscus rose soda cuz I’m off liquor like that Clint Eastwood musical:...

On 10/9/2023, I ordered butterflies (8), pad see ew (3), and red curry chicken.

I waited at the bar for takeaway and there was one waitress serving the tables, seating people, fielding calls, and working the bar. She was very nice and attentive and seemed calm even though she was busy.

I was warned before ordering my two plates of level 5 spice pad see ew that they used Carolina reaper (my favorite), and I reassured our waitress I knew what I was in for. This wide noodle dish usually has a savory and light tang flavor, but the noodles were clumped together and were very dry with very little flavor. To make a dish very hot, peppers are usually added to the sauce and also topped dry on finish. This dish had a lot of dry ghost pepper on top but it tasted burned or too dried out because there was no natural vinegary taste left. With no sauce or oil, it was pretty bland but the heat was there. I ended up reheating the next day with a tamarind and fish sauce to give it some umph, and that was pretty good. 3/5

The red curry chicken was excellent, and ordered at a 3 spice level. The veggies tasted crunchy and fresh, but the chicken was dry. I would definitely reorder this dish, though. I’ve never had pineapple added to it before, but it was a pleasant surprise. 4/5

The butterflies were full of meat and veggies and were fried to a perfect crisp. 5/5

This is a great joint with excellent atmosphere in a cozy nook and good...

The food itself was exceptional and honestly deserved a 4.5 star review. I ordered the Spicy Basil Noodle and Yellow Curry Fried Rice for pickup. Both were delicious and the attention to detail was evident in every bite, with flavor and execution that clearly reflected true quality.

But two things stood out and completely soured the experience:

#1 The pricing doesn’t make sense, the online menu list the dishes as folllow: •Spicy Basil Noodle – $12 •Yellow Curry Fried Rice – $12 → Subtotal should be $24 → With 10% tax = $26.40 total

The actual amount I was charged was $36 something I gave $40 in cash and left a tip for two entrees, with no extras, sides or drinks. The pricing is a bit of a head-scratcher and inconsistent, leaving a bad impression.

#2 As I walked across the hotel parking lot, I saw a guy with long hair smoking a cigarette in front of his car. He ended up coming into the restaurant shortly afterwards. I assumed he was a customer until he casually walked behind the bar and directly into the kitchen/employee area. Didn’t bother to wash his hands, no apron, no hair tie… Who does that? It’s gross and there’s no excuse. That’s a serious hygiene concern and health department violation.

Exceptional food, but ambiguous pricing and suspect sanitation practices made it a disappointing...