Ginger Thai Kitchen — Restaurant in Salinas

COME SUPPORT LOCAL, don't come for good food and service. Cook at home or save the cash towards a ticket to Bangkok , and learn the language .

On May 10, 2018 I read Charles Montesa's Ginger Thai Kitchen recommendation in Monterey County Weekly. It's a great read I recomend it. Also check out the one comment about the article (its not a good comment). I wouldn't recommend this place. Definitely would not write an article about it unless it was about reasons I recommend that you not go. That's kind of what this is. The food tastes just 'OKAY' and that's it. The presentation was barely okay . The flatware was not matching and bent with little sharp notches in it, serving plates chipped as well. Am I being too picky? The service was nonexistent to all but one table. I arrived 20 minutes after opening and there was only one table of 4 and another group was leaving. Quickly more people arrived in separate parties totaling 5 tables not including me and mine. Then another two people came in and things got exciting. All the employees got happy and even came from back of house. Everyone started fellowshiping in um...I understand 3 languages and it wasn't one of them...I'm not sure what was being said. It was good times though. They quickly received menus with boba drinks. Those are the damndest tasty treats...get one if you ignore my negative review. Try and get one free...we paid for our stuff $60 and some dollars not including the generous gratuity also left. I forgot to mention the honored guests recieved their meals before the rest of the house. If you just don't care about those things still eat elsewhere...you can get equally awful service at a lower...

The food is marvelous! Especially the panang curry. The reviews do not lie, because that is some of the best Thai curry I have had. Also, the brown rice has an earthy rich flavor (I think it's technically red rice). Oh, but it's also some of the best rice I've had. Now, whether or not you enjoy everything on the menu is your personal preference; but each of the seven dishes we ordered was very well made.

As for service, we were able to order very soon, but without pressure (which I personally appreciate). Our servers were respectful and effective. I watched the table next to ours be cleaned very well after guests left, and so I assume that holds true for the cleanliness of everything (because it was a night when they did what was right even though no food critics were around). The restroom was clean and well-stocked.

As for the atmosphere, the decorations have personality but aren't garish (a balance some restaurants struggle to find). So I really appreciate that about it. The plates and dishes are aesthetic! There's also a really fun ship on the counter.

I'm aware that was a lot of details, so to sum up, I recommend the panang curry with brown rice and was very impressed with the cleanliness, respect, and efficiency at Ginger Thai Kitchen.

And finally, one more gem. I think it's seasonal, but the mango and sticky rice is phenomenal...

I ordered the deep fried calamari, the fresh spring rolls and a bowl of the coconut Chicken soup. My taste buds were disappointed. Let me explain on the deep fried calamari, I'm used to having like a very light tempura batter which this one did not have. It had a very heavy crumb like panko batter which was totally bland. The sauce did not help it at all for its overpowered blandness and hardly any squid which were cut to look like onion rings. Being someone who knows how gut and clean squid. I don't think they should serve it like this if it's fresh. So let's get to the spring rolls. I'm a very heavy spring roll person and these were pretty. However, the sauce is a fusion of something Sweet and tangy It's not the regular peanut hoisin sauce combination... In fact, I didn't taste any peanut at all. Now for soup.. it's not thick. It's a thinner type of soup and fresh vegetables. Mushrooms, carrots and beautiful slices of chicken and that...