The Dalles Thai Cuisine — Restaurant in The Dalles

Honestly this place is exactly perfect for what The Dalles needs! They provide great authentic Thai food that's been spiced down for the locals who don't fully appreciate non American foods yet. I got the Tom Ka which is a staple way to find out how Thai restaurants work with flavors. This one was fantastic! While they didn't ask the spice level a trick I use is to get 'spicy on the side' and then spice to taste. The soup is creamy and vegetable heavy with strong notes of lemongrass and kaffir limes. The chicken is average and their shrimp is cooked with shell on full sized and not from frozen. I also ordered the pineapple fried rice which was exactly what it sounds like with no frills. Honestly they aren't a cut above a big city Thai place but they scratch my itch every time in town when I crave some authentic southeast Asian flavor profiles.

PS the chef can make the food extra flavored or spice if requested - I think they've learned how to negotiate authenticity with local appeal to the traditional 'meat and potato' lifestyle. The chef I noticed didn't speak English, used authentic ingredients, and was accommodating to every...

After being so glad to see the restaurant had reopened, we found the first meal there a real disappointment. The Pad Thai was a one-note heap on a plate - tinted slightly pink with tamarind, the only “flavor” element was the mildl sweetness the tamarind. There was no visual and taste contrast from green onion or lime, no crunch of fresh bean sprouts and peanut, no yellow tangle of egg. The single curled shrimp was indistinguishable from the pinkish slices of chicken. I took much of it home - and the next day threw it away. It really shouldn’t be called Pad Thai … maybe just “Chicken with Rice Noodles in Mild Sweet Sauce?” The other entree of scallops on lettuce was similarly lacking in flavor, though the scallops were properly cooked. I know the chef is supposed to be the same, and maybe all the ingredients just haven’t arrived yet, but right now this seemed more like an idea for a Thai restaurant than one serving beautifully presented and delicious Thai food. I suppose we’ll give it another try but the huge miss on a “classic” like Pad Thai doesn’t leave me...

Since the restaurant changed ownership I have been very impressed with the food. It is what I would consider spot on orginal thai resturant food. It is exactly the flavors of some of the first thai food restaurants I went to that got me firat hooked on thai food almoat two decades ago now. Thay said, I am lowering my rating because the portions are on the small side in my opinion. The first time I thought maybe I got a lunch portion but they do not have a lunch menu and I received the same portion for the same price at night. Perhaps it is their fault for making such good food but I hope they consider resizing their portions even if they have to charge another $1 or $2...