Thai in South Florida

4345 N. State Road 7 Lauderhill

Hallelujah for Bangkok Palace, where delicious Thai dishes are made from family recipes. Don't expect goopy pad Thai or the usual lineup of boring curries, because the Kasinpila family makes its curry pastes from scratch and turns out a few dishes you probably haven't seen before. There's a delicious fried-egg salad, dinner-sized bowls of wonton and pork soup (kiew nam), a spicy and warming seafood clay pot filled with mussels, shrimp, scallops, and calamari, and half a dozen inspired noodle dishes. Don't miss the special Bangkok Palace rolls, miniature bites of bliss to roll up with lettuce and cilantro. Charming, cheap, addictive.

2 articles

Chakra Asian Cuisine & Lounge

15th St. and Ocean Dr., Ste. 203, Miami Beach South Beach

305-672-2001

Asian, Asian Fusion, Sushi, Thai, Bars and Clubs, Music Venues

Eddie Hills and Sushi Thai

134 N. Federal Highway Hallandale Beach

954-454-0023

Sushi, Thai, Japanese, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Putting the "dine" in diner, the Thai and Japanese dishes at this roadside joint are superb. Mee krob isn't too sweet; pad Thai isn't too fishy; curries are beautifully balanced. For Japanese fare, order any one of the numerous fresh-fish rolls or the katsu - pounded chicken or pork that's deep-fried and served with plum sauce. Wash it all down with endless mugs of freshly brewed green tea.

2 articles

Kevin's Sushi & Thai

706 S. Federal Highway Deerfield Beach

954-418-6218

Sushi, Japanese, Thai, Best Of

4 articles

Kiko

801 S. University Dr. #C-112 Plantation

954-473-0077

Japanese, Thai, Best Of

Although the raw and cooked fish here is stellar, Kiko is best-known for country-style Japanese fare. This clean, bright space in the Fountains Center offers food you'd discover a farmer serving to guests in the old country. Ramen and other noodle dishes are outstanding, as is the deep-fried pork cutlet with panko breading, a true comfort food. Try nabemono, with vegetables cooked together in a clay pot, or yakimono, with various samplings of meats or seafood in different sauces, or the Japamerican hybrid omerice. The provincial fare is heartier and less delicate usual -- a departure form our usual strip-mall sushi spots. But it's authentic and served with artistic flair.

2 articles

Lemon Grass Asian Bistro

3811 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale Beaches

954-564-4422

Asian, Japanese, Thai, Best Of, Menu

Lemon Grass is swank, but the price is right. The menu at this Fort Lauderdale spot verges on gigantic, but it?s easy to navigate, and your bill will be just as easy on your wallet. And unlike other multipage menus, this one hangs together beautifully and never loses focus, effortlessly drawing out Vietnamese, Chinese, Hawaiian, Thai, and Japanese threads. From the sushi bar, a gorgeously designed plate of tuna tataki is arranged like a Chinese fan; a plate of tiny whole baby octopuses slathered with a sweet and rich deep-red marinade pop when you chew them -- a visceral effect that takes some getting used to, but they?re wonderful. Vietnamese-style summer rolls are a perfectly balanced ode to the season; won-ton soup with asparagus floats puck-sized homemade chicken dumplings in a clear broth festooned with napa cabbage. The chefs? lightness of touch extends from the homiest of soups to the fanciest entrée, and it?s hard to imagine anything more pleasant than sitting at a sidewalk table over a plate of ?Mama?s lobster.?

4 articles

Mama Asian Noodle Bar

4437 Lyons Rd., Ste. E-108 Coconut Creek

954-973-1670

Asian, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Best Of, Menu

The menu at Mama Asian Noodle Bar in the Coconut Creek Promenade doesn't stop at noodles. In fact, its list of Thai-, Chinese-, Japanese-, and Vietnamese-inspired dishes is more extensive than restaurants that focus on just one country. It's the third restaurant from Mike and Lisa Ponluang, who previously ran Coral Springs favorite Thai Pepper and now entertain nightly at Coco Asian Bistro in Fort Lauderdale. Try Ponluang's famous spring rolls, fried-chicken-and-shiitake-mushroom bites he's been making since 1991. Or Chilean sea bass, moist and supple atop a pool of spicy red curry lined with fresh asparagus and kafir lime leaf. The modern digs are comfortable and attractive, and the reasonable prices make Mama a great everyday destination.

5 articles

Moon Thai & Japanese Restaurant

9637 Westview Dr. Coral Springs

954-752-4899

Thai, Japanese, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

You wouldn't know it by the name, but this place has a sushi bar and a really long list of Japanese specialties. Still, it's impossible to get past the Thai-ness of the place, from servers in traditional dress to giant prawns in wonderfully rich peanut sauce. Everything from the bright-yellow walls to the tangy tom yum goong soup screams vibrancy and restraint. Curries are exceptionally well-balanced, and even more-mundane dishes such as mee krob are excellently rendered. Cloud-soft Thai doughnuts make a delicious dessert.

4 articles

Moon Thai & Japanese Restaurant

2818 Weston Rd. Weston

954-384-7275

Asian, Japanese, Thai, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

4 articles

Moonchine Asian Bistro

7100 Biscayne Blvd., Miami North Dade

305-759-3999

Japanese, Sushi, Thai, Pan-Asian, Recommended

At Moonchine, kitsch is an understatement. Basking in this eatery's red, Amsterdam-esque glow are purple walls, hanging lanterns, sterile silver counters, and bamboo embellishments galore. Waitresses wear harajuku-inspired Japanese schoolgirl uniforms, and if you're lucky, you can catch a random movie, such as St. Elmo's Fire, playing muted on a large projection screen. The pan-Asian and sushi menu is an array of crowd-pleasing (if not always overly generous) dishes at affordable prices. Stalwarts such as tuna and salmon tataki, pad thai, and authentic Thai-style curries are competently prepared and flavorful. Traditional (American) sushi rolls such as the California ($5.95) and the JB ($8.95) are available, but try some of the original creations, including the glutton-friendly deep-fried rainbow roll, the tres amigos ($10.95), and the light and fresh mango roll ($9.95), stuffed with spicy tuna and cilantro. If you have a difficult time deciding what to order, hit up the all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch, which boasts all of the most popular items from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $15.95. And for dessert, skip all the generic tempura offerings and opt for the sticky rice mango ($6); it's sweet, light, and simply perfect. At night, their charming garden area located in the outside rear of the restaurant turns into Lounge 71 -- a funky bar with hanging lights, white linen drapes, thatch walls and yes, more harajuku-inspired Japanese schoolgirl waitresses except instead of serving sushi, they're pushing shots.

Nu Sushi

1312 N. University Dr. Coral Springs

954-755-5211

Asian, Japanese, Sushi, Thai, Recommended, Menu

Nu-Sushi has been operating silently in the same dim spot on University Drive for going on 20 years now. In that tiny space that seats about 30, chef-owner Yuji Azuma turns out fresh sushi culled from local and international waters, as well as an extensive array of authentic Japanese dishes that you won't find in many other restaurants. Saying Nu-Sushi's menu is extensive is sort of like saying Tolstoy was a bit long-winded. There are a good four dozen items in Azuma's appetizer section alone - dishes such as thin-sliced octopus salad, deep-fried pork skewers with caramelized onion, and yamakake, tuna sashimi served with slivers of raw potato. Add to that a long list of bento boxes, donburi rice bowls, soba and udon soups, tempura, and katsu (Japan's answer to KFC), plus a whole other mini-menu of about, oh, 40 more authentic Japanese small plates, and you start to get a glimpse of just how varied a meal there can be.

1 article

Red Ginger Asian Bistro

9710 W. Sample Rd. Coral Springs

954-752-1850

Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Sushi, Thai, Best Of, Menu

Red Ginger covers all bases with a pan-Asian menu that stretches from China to Thailand. The spacious restaurant is draped in steely grays with lipstick-red accents. The food showcases similar contrast. Chinese classics like kung pao chicken and Szechuan beef share space with wok-fried Thai soft-shell crab and spicy beef and lime salad. Sushi from the bar is fresh, and an assortment of specialty rolls showcases a creative touch. Some of the options are pricier than you'll find in similar restaurants, but the overall quality is higher as well.

1 article

Siam Cuisine

2010 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors

954-564-3411

Asian Fusion, Thai, Best Of, Menu

This decades-old Thai spot, one of the first in Broward, still has legions of original fans. It's expanded to include sushi, with 30 offerings on the sushi menu, but the mainstay is still aromatic Thai dishes. The atmosphere is old-school Thai -- teak paneling and carvings all around. Starters include the spring rolls, crispy and filled with vegetables. The wonton soup is notable here. The spice levels for entrées range from mild to Thai-style - i.e., superhot. Curries get raves from longtimers, who praise the Panang and red and greens as well. There's pad Thai for traditionalists too and satay that's served with dipping sauces. They serve large portions when you place your order - plan to take home a doggy bag or share with a friend. A decent wine list offers many by the glass. Prices are fair; specials tend to cost more, while lunch is a bargain.

1 article

Siam House Thailand Restaurant

1392 SE 17th St. Fort Lauderdale

954-763-1701

Thai, Asian, Best Of, Menu

1 article

Sky Thai Sushi

350 E. Las Olas Blvd. Fort Lauderdale

954-993-9889

Sushi, Thai

Owned by the team behind Tee Jay Sushi in Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors as well as Thai House in North Miami Beach, Sky Thai Sushi offers a combination of traditional Thai, authentic Japanese, and a fusion of the two for the downtown business district. The interior of the restaurant takes its cue from the sky: one wall features a wispy mural in soft sunset colors; a blue backlit wall highlights bird cutouts; and above, recessed black lights emit a celestial glow. The offerings here include a number of authentic Thai dishes, such as curries (red, green, panang, and massaman) and stir fries (basil, pepper garlic, cashew, ginger, and vegetable). Traditional Japanese dishes include agedashi tofu, shumai, and miso soup. Thai sushi rolls incorporate Japanese technique with the bold flavor combinations of Thai cuisine, such as the Candy Cane Roll ($15), with hamachi, scallions, and cucumber rolled inside rice and topped with tuna, whitefish, kimchee, and sesame oil.

Sukhothai

1930 E. Sunrise Blvd. Fort Lauderdale

954-764-0148

Asian, Thai, Recommended

One of the oldest Thai restaurants in Fort Lauderdale and still deservedly popular with everyone in the animal kingdom, from early birds to hepcats. Mother Susie and son Eddie have made themselves and their place a local institution by providing excellent service and reasonable prices in a handsome setting accented with Asian sculpture and bright flowers. Red, green, panang, and basil curries, pad Thai, oodles of noodles, and a longish lineup of vegetarian dishes should please just about everybody who has a hankering for coconut milk or the flavors of lime leaves and lemongrass.

5 articles

Sushi N' Thai

3745 Hollwood Blvd. Hollywood

954-987-8569

Thai, Sushi, Best Of, Menu

At first, it seems that very little about this unassuming, pedestrian, but perennially popular Hollywood strip-mall eatery is outstanding. The Thai dishes are good if unspectacular, and most of the cooked Japanese fare is just perfectly... adequate. However, the raw fish served at Sushi Thai is unbeatable. No fancy places, no jam-packed out-the-door place, not even your favorite tried-and-true neighborhood standbys can possibly match the simply spectacular off-the-boat freshness of S-T's sushi and sashimi. Artsy presentations, innovative preparations, and obscure oddities are available all over South Florida. Go ahead, knock yourself out at the conveyor-belt place where the sushi travels to you on a plastic boat and the chefs wear silly hats (and the fish tastes like dry cat food). But raw-fish eaters who demand a consistently perfect product will not find better than Sushi Thai. Master Sushi Chef Sevee Mongkolsin is adept at the most crucial aspect of the sushi trade -- selecting the very finest fish available from wholesalers. Years of studying the sashimic arts have proven that the salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and scallop (did we say salmon?) sold here beat the competition fins down. Best times to visit are Monday and Tuesday nights, when dollar specials on sushi and items like gyoza make it fun to indulge.

3 articles

Sushi Thai Siam Kitchen

3341 N. Federal Highway Wilton Manors

954-565-0855

Japanese, Sushi, Thai, Best Of

Obviously, somewhere in the 1990s, Broward and Palm Beach politicians decided that Thai and Japanese restaurants need never seek separate customers. A decade later, it's nigh impossible to find a Japanese raw-fish restaurant that can't fix you up a steamy bowl of tom kha gai. That wasn't the case when we were kids. Thankfully, this doesn't mean Siam Kitchen is an underachiever in either realm. The menu is strictly simple, and that's what makes Siam Kitchen work. These guys have the decency not to go overboard with oddities, which is good. You're in a strip mall next to a strip club, after all. Siam Kitchen is a perfect place for dinner before a lap-dance extravaganza or a show at the nearby Culture Room.

3 articles

Tamarind Asian Grill and Sushi Bar

949 S. Federal Highway Deerfield Beach

954-428-8009

Japanese, Sushi, Thai, Recommended, Menu

Named for the tree that gives Thai food its unique flavor, Tamarind serves some of the freshest and most interesting Thai fare you're likely to find in these parts. From a sweet/sour green papaya salad to grilled quail eggs yakitori-style to Tamarind's scrumptious "Thai fries" made from boniato strips dipped in coconut batter and deep fried - this big menu offers enough to keep even the most jaded Pan-Asian foodie from getting bored. A lineup of excellent sushi, some of it wrapped in the sheerest rice paper to satisfy the low-glycemic crowd, comes courtesy of the chefs at the sushi bar in the smaller of two soothingly decorated rooms. For dessert, don't miss the sweet, sticky rice puddings.

3 articles

Tee Jay Thai Sushi

2049 N. University Dr. Coral Springs

954-752-9993

Asian, Japanese, Sushi, Thai, Recommended

Tee-Jay Thai Sushi has a menu as big as the Gulf of Thailand: There are six or so sections of Thai and Japanese appetizers like summer rolls wrapped in rice paper, salads with beef and lime, gyoza filled with minced meat, and tataki tuna seared on the grill; a huge selection of stir-fried noodle dishes with shrimp and chicken, some spicy some sweet; more than a dozen designer house maki rolls done up to look like sea monsters; and enough classic dishes like pad Thai and mee-krob to keep you occupied for days. Service is informal and often hurried, and consistency varies, but for an all-purpose Asian joint, Tee-Jay delivers.

1 article

Tee Jay Thai Sushi

5975 N. Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale

954-771-4447

Sushi, Thai, Menu, Readers' Choice

Tee-Jay Thai Sushi has a menu as big as the Gulf of Thailand: There are six or so sections of Thai and Japanese appetizers like summer rolls wrapped in rice paper, salads with beef and lime, gyoza filled with minced meat, and tataki tuna seared on the grill; a huge selection of stir-fried noodle dishes with shrimp and chicken, some spicy some sweet; more than a dozen designer house maki rolls done up to look like sea monsters; and enough classic dishes like pad Thai and mee-krob to keep you occupied for days. Service is informal and often hurried, and consistency varies, but for an all-purpose Asian joint, Tee-Jay in Fort Lauderdale delivers.

1 article

Tee-Jay Thai Sushi

2254 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors

954-537-7774

Sushi, Thai, Menu, Slideshow, Readers' Choice

The original Tee-Jay Thai Sushi is located on Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale; this Wilton Manors location is the restaurantâ??s second outpost. Decor is clean, minimalist, and Asian; the peaceful setting is then jolted to life with techno music pumping through the speakers. The menu is vast but consists mostly of hot Thai dishes such as noodles, curries, and grilled proteins, along with a good variety of sushi choices. The Thai cuisine here is led by Wanlada Russmetes, who grew up in Bangkok, New York, and South Florida. Sushi consists of classic rolls and some Americanized ones â?? many of them so big itâ??s hard to fit a bite in oneâ??s mouth. A delight is the attentive, bubbly service from happy staff. Sushi chefs chat up patrons at the bar, and on at least one occasion, a waiter was seen giving out back rubs to diners.

3 articles

Thai Bayshore

4838 N. Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale

954-772-8990

Thai, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

The proprietors of Thai Bayshore, from Bangkok, have been operating Thai restaurants locally for almost a decade, but they moved to their current location a few years ago. Husband Pat Siri runs the front of the house and helps in the kitchen; his wife, Nida, cooks; a daughter occasionally waits tables. The Siris have decorated this charming space with warm brick and honey-colored wooden floors, painted the walls deep maroon and butterscotch, and decorated sparsely with carved wooden screens, stately statues of the Thai Buddha, and a great stone relief sculpture, all chosen personally and shipped from Thailand. A sound system plays unobtrusive classical piano music. Tom yum kai soup is state-of-the-art, served in an elegant geometric white bowl and flavored with lemongrass, lime, and supremely "chickeny" chicken pieces in clear broth; curry puffs are composed of sweet potato and minced chicken. Entrées are delicious, authentic, and beautifully presented: fresh vegetables with thumb-sized rolls of squid piled artfully in the center of a white plate; a seafood curry of pale, apricot-colored coconut cream curry with shrimp, mussels, scallops, and squid arranged with bamboo shoots and thin strips of carrot.

2 articles

Thai Delight

1895 W. Hillsboro Blvd. Deerfield Beach

954-360-7400

Thai, Recommended, Menu

The pink-and-red décor combo may seem typical, the menu somewhat familiar, and the dry pad Thai far from a delight. But the coconut milk-heavy red curry is anything but ordinary. Steamed chicken-and-shrimp dumplings and beef satay with peanut sauce also elevate the restaurant's status. Takeout.

Thai Me Up

2389 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors

954-202-0000

Thai, Sushi, Japanese, Recommended, Best Of

Locals love Galanga, as much for the beauty of the space and the occasionally wild scene as for its Thai and Japanese food, which can be uneven. But Galanga is worth a visit for its heady atmosphere and terrific décor -- a gigantic saltwater fish tank, serene blue mood lighting, carved wooden screens, high beamed ceilings, and a lovely outdoor patio surrounded by tropical foliage. The staff here -- the women dressed in Thai silk skirts -- can be marvelous. The clientele skews heavily gay, all the better for a party. As for the food, we have a feeling your experience may feel a little random -- we've had some excellent meals (sea bass grilled in banana leaf; dancing lobster) and some entirely forgettable (a plate of hot, uninspired assorted appetizers). House specialty rolls tend to be of the cooked and fatty variety (and they're huge) as opposed to the fresh raw tidbits you might find at more authentic sushi bars, which doesn't mean they're not delicious.

2 articles

Thai on the Beach

901 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. Fort Lauderdale

954-565-0015

Thai, Best Of

A spot-on Thai eatery that requires you to look in all directions: Up, so you can find it on the second floor (over Primanti Brothers Pizza & Grill); out, so you can gaze at the unexpectedly stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean from the restaurant's multitude of bay windows; and down, so you can appreciate the medley of spices and flavors crowding the table. Dishes marked with asterisks are, to chef-owner Wannapa Eapros' credit, appropriately zesty, so don't be surprised when the Thai Beach beef salad with chili paste sears just a touch and the tom yum goong soup cures your most recent cold. Curries and noodle dishes are especially good here, and Chef Wannapa Eatros's specialties such as the seafood stir-fry are both generous and delicious.

3 articles

Thai Spice

1514 E. Commercial Blvd. Fort Lauderdale

954-771-4535

Thai, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu

An elegant, longstanding local favorite, beautifully appointed with aquariums and Asian art, Thai Spice deserves the crowds that pack it nightly. So make a reservation; this place gets as busy as the streets of Bangkok. All entrées, from red curry chicken to scallops basil, can be served safe-and-sound mild or burn-a-hole-in-your-tongue spicy. Terrific. Seasonal house specials might include a whole Florida lobster stuffed with jumbo shrimp and scallops, Thai Spice grouper, seafood clay pot, or a Siam duck. And an excellent wine list ranges from Gekkeikan sake all the way up to Roederer champagne and Opus One.

2 articles

Thai Thai

1861 N. Pine Island Rd. Plantation

954-424-0808

Thai, Sushi, Recommended, Menu

Back in 1989, when Thai Thai first started slinging mee krob and pad Thai to the West Plantation crowd, it was breaking new ground. The restaurant won a slew of accolades in the mid-1990s, and as recently as 2007, it was named Best Thai Restaurant by the Best Of South Florida guide. But while Broward has grown - and much of that broken ground has been leveled off and built upon by more progressive Thai restaurants and fusion joints - Thai Thai has pretty much stayed the same. As a result, the menu feels staid and generic. It's composed almost exclusively of now-familiar dishes like red, green, massaman, and panang curry; steamed dumplings, satay, and spring rolls; and over a dozen chicken, meat, and seafood dishes done with your choice of sauce (basil, sweet and sour, curry, etc.). You could close your eyes and pick a dozen Thai joints out of a hat and receive identical dishes at any of them. The prices too are ageless, which means you can still get whole, fried snapper done volcano style (a chili-soy sauce that's not hot enough) for $19.95.

Thai in South Florida

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