Asia Market and Thai Food

Thai Food Adventure with Chali
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When Scott's girlfriend, Chali was in town, we were eager to search out the most authentic Thai food we could find.  ​

Chali grew up eating Thai food, cooked by her mother and she's also spent much of her life in Thailand. Figured we'd venture away from our neighborhood favorite, Thai Cottage. We ventured all the way to The Heights, for our dining experience!

The Market
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Asia Market is really a tiny food shop (on a rather run down part of W. Cavalcade St.)  A shop that also prepares meals. On the internet I noticed  "grungy" and "hole in the wall" being used by reviewers, who also adored the flavorful dishes.  ​

The dining tables are squeezed into the front of the shop, near stacked bags of rice and crowded shelves of goodies.  3 bonus points for the browsing possibilities, while you dine!  I would not use the word grungy! It just felt like eating in a friend's cluttered home. 

Papaya Salad
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Papaya Salad! Chali was very excited about this, because it is not always served in American Thai restaurants. It looks like noodles, but is really shredded papaya, with shrimp.  ​

We shared this cold dish using the plastic utensils, found at a nearby table. We also helped ourselves to condiments and sauces and pitchers of water.  Again, I felt like I was getting up from my kitchen table to serve myself from the fridge!  Comfy, not grungy!

Sticky Rice
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Another thing Chali was fairly giddy about was sticky rice. I guess it's harder to make than steamed, so her mother doesn't make it as often. In the photo, she's teaching Scott to use his hands.  ​

Now about chopsticks. For years I thought using chopsticks in a Thai restaurant showed your ignorance. Chail says she uses them for noodle dishes.  3 bonus points for what I learned!

Tom Yum Soup
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I ordered Tom Yum Soup with chicken, for my main dish. I am a big fan of coconut milk, so this was a treat! The soup was packed with chicken, veggies and spice. I had heard food can be pretty hot here, but this was just about right. I had a little water in my Styrofoam cup, just in case!

3 points for Tom Yum soup! I actually had enough left over for lunch the next day!

Pad Thai

Don is looking very sly about his Pad Thai!  We certainly can't give him any bonus points for trying a new and unusual dish, since Pad Thai is about the most common of dishes in Thai restaurants. But he said it was quite tasty! 

The photo hardly gives a peek at the other diners, but with only 8 tables you wouldn't expect much people watching. However, by the time we left all the tables were full.

3 points for a very eclectic crowd of diners, as well as food shoppers.  We had a policeman and UPS driver. We had a curious Johnny Depp/Carlos Santana guy. A surfer dude trying to dress for business. Less than half the crowd was Asian, which was a bit surprising since the store attracts customers seeking Asian ingredients. But all in all, there was a likable feel
to the curious characters we dined near! ​

​Phloi
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Our server Phloi, added many bonus points to our meal adventure.  She was very delighted to learn that Chali's mother is Thai, but even more delighted when Chali told her that her parents had almost named her Phloi! 
2 bonus points for Phloi!

Hearing the Thai language certainly added to authenticity. I couldn't understand a word, but wondered why Chali anwered a question with  "Nit noi". (that's the name of a Houston Thai restaurant) But Chali said she was just answering Phloi's question of  "how spicy?" with  "a little bit."    

5 Bonus points for Chali helping us have an authentic adventure!

TOTAL OF 19   POINTS FOR ASIA MARKET!
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