TASTE OF THAI - HILLCREST — Restaurant in San Diego

Say it isn't so! Taste of Thai ruined Som Tum. Worse, they deny it.

In ordering green papaya salad from Taste of Thai, previous experiences have delivered a masterfully crafted product. The order I received today, unfortunately, was a poor representation. What is advertised, "Fresh green papaya salad, with dried shrimp, a traditional Northeastern Thai salad", was not what I received.

Formerly one of the thai restaurants that make traditional thai, my return to Taste of Thai this week was a disappointment. From my first trip to Taste of Thai, I would receive a proper Som Tum. The dish features green papaya shredded then pounded using a mortar and pestle. The pounding is to bruise the shredded papaya while adding fish sauce, lime juice, peanuts, tomato and palm sugar. Some restaurants include green beans, but they do not add to the dish in my opinion.

When I placed my order, 2:40 PM, I requested no green beans and Bangkok hot. When I arrived to pick up my order, 2:50 PM, I waited a few minutes, then received my order. As my prior experiences had been good and the rain had stopped, I did not look at my order until I got home.

The papaya probably went through a mandolin operated by a rookie as shown in the photos. The tomato was barely ripe, not red all the way through. There was no lime juice evident, but the sugar was quite pronounced. Finally, it seems the reference to Bangkok hot had no meaning, as the salad was bland.

On arriving home and experiencing the low-quality product, I called. As it was after lunch ended, I was told I could leave a message after the tone, but there was no tone. The voicemail was informative about hours of service, but I could not request a call back. I tried repeatedly after arriving home, and finally got my call picked up just before 5 PM.

On asking if there was someone new in the kitchen I was told the chef had been there for years. My prior experiences being so good, I asked about any changes, and defined the problems with what I received. The person answering the phone told me nothing had changed with the recipe. I asked if they wanted to make the item right before I adjusted my prior 4- star review, but was told that since nothing had changed in the product, there was no concern.

It is unfortunate the restaurant is having issues, especially since COVID. However, if the restaurant cannot be consistent about the product offered, I must speak out to let folks know a good restaurant...

First-time here and I really enjoyed it. Everything about this place was excellent. The food it's truly delicious, I had the Duck roasted noodle soup. It was a new taste for me, so bold but balanced at the same time, so new and fresh with a slightly taste of mint or might be anothe spice that it makes it so welcoming. If I could eat this broth everyday I'd do it. The noodles, (the type, egg noodles, recommended by our waiter) where the right amount of flavour and thickness. I also tried the plum wine they have and I really liked it, you can taste the plum flavour there, is kind of sweet but not awfully, good sweet. The place is clean and the decorations lead you to a really Thai ambient. About the service, it was over and extremely good, excellent, outstanding. This is the kind of service all restaurants should have. Waitress and waiters are really doing their work, without overstepping when you don't need. To the contrary they're really taking care of you, making the service very effective. When you need to refill your drink they we'll ask you before and you don't even have to ask for it. When you are done they know and they go and take away what you don't need. They ask, recommend, treat you as it should be. That with a lot of tables to attend and from I can tell that food service is wide to all customers. It's their timing, kindness, and efficiency along with the true Thai flavours that makes this place so unique. It's just perfect. I give 5 stars because I cannot give 6, but this it's an outstanding place. It'll be my place for Thai food. Definitely come here and live this experience. I highly...

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