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Best Thai Food In The DFW Area

In Thailand, cuisine is a vital component of any social event and, as a general rule, there will be the same number of dishes ordered as there are diners where all dishes are shared together. A traditional Thai meal will include the four main seasonings of spicy, sweet, sour and salty, and the dishes that combine all four of these tastes are deemed the most successful. The Dallas/Fort Worth area is rich with Thai dining options to be enjoyed throughout the year.
Thai Star
(credit: thaistaraddison.com)

Thai Star
14833 Midway Road
Addison, TX 75001
(972) 991-6334
thaistaraddison.com

Upon entering Thai Star, one feels transported to an island setting due to the use of warm and lush tropical décor. The aromas wafting from the kitchen entice the diners before they are even seated. The ever-reliable Pad Thai is a good choice for those new to this cuisine. The dish is filled with rice noodles in a delectable tamarind sauce with crisp green onions, sprouts and peanuts. The protein options include tofu, chicken, beef, pork or seafood (shrimp and scallops). The Mango Fried Rice is moist and plump with in-season mango, onions, raisins, peas and carrots. Another great rice option is the Pineapple Fried Rice with onions, garlic, tomatoes and cashews. For those craving more spice, a solid selection is the Green Curry which is stewed in coconut milk with zucchini, carrots, bell peppers, bamboo and basil with a choice of proteins.  Tasty selections to end the meal include the visually-dynamic Purple Rice Pudding which is topped with coconut cream or for a caffeine kick, select the Thai Coffee – either hot or cold – which is thick and has the perfect amount of sweetness.

ZENse
(credit: ZENse/Facebook)

ZENse
8600 N MacArthur Blvd, Suite 142
Irving, TX 75063
(972) 401-0099
zensethai.com

Catering to the Las Colinas crowd is the very soothing yin environment of ZENse which takes immense pride in serving healthy and authentic Thai cuisine. Tempting starters include the Summer Rolls with shrimp and a peanut-pineapple sauce or the Fish Cake which has been tossed in a special house sauce with cucumbers, carrots, onions and a touch of crushed peanuts atop a bed of spring mix greens. If looking to warm up with a soup, ZENse is one of few Thai restaurants in this area to offer Tom Yum -- an authentic and popular spicy/sour soup flavored with lemongrass, mushrooms, baby corn, chicken and bamboo shoots. Standout entrees include the Spicy Basil Fried Rice with onions, egg, broccoli and bell peppers or the Pad Ba Mee which is packed with stir-fried egg noodles and roasted sesame, onions, tofu and bean sprouts. A tempting curry is the Panang with sweet-roasted peanuts, bell peppers, basil and lime leaves. Dessert offerings include light Green Tea Ice Cream and the Roti Fried Asian pancake topped with sugar and condensed milk.

Related: Best Pho in DFW

Bangkok City Restaurant
(credit: bangkokcityrestaurant.com)

Bangkok City
4301 Bryan St
Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 824-6200
bangkokcityrestaurant.com

Bangkok City is one of the oldest Thai restaurants in Dallas that has a loyal following from those that live and work near the city center. With a pleasant ambiance and a corner location for ample amounts of natural light, it provides a great reprieve for those working in offices. A tempting start to the meal is a five-piece order of Steamed Thai Dumplings which are filled with ground pork, shrimp and water chestnuts, all enveloped in a vegetable wrapper and served with spicy soy sauce. Another great lunch option is a bowl of Crab Meat Soup which has generous amounts of crab meat, celery, onions, silver noodles and mushrooms. For an entrée, there is the Spicy Asparagus with plump shrimp, mushrooms and a spicy garlic sauce. However, if a visual memory is in order as well as an appetizing dish, it's hard to turn down the Fish-Garlic which sounds relatively safe but will be served to the table on a platter as an entire deep-fried fish with chopped onions, mushrooms, bell peppers and red chili sauce. To top off the meal is a sinful Black Rice Pudding or Thai Sweet Iced Coffee.

Sea Siam
(credit: seasiam.com)

Sea Siam Thai Restaurant
940 Keller Parkway, Suite 230
Keller, TX 76248
(817) 431-1581
seasiamtexas.com

Sea Siam is located in a little strip mall, but that doesn't stop it from serving Thai dishes that are big on taste. Catering to families and singles on the go, this little venue does tend to fill up quickly during the evening hours. Well-received dishes include the Beef Red Curry which is spicy enough to let you know it's there but won't have your hands in a fanning frenzy for the whole evening. A more mild dish is the Pad Se Ew, a generous portion of wide noodles with a choice of protein. Whichever item you choose, the amazingly attentive service will keep you happy throughout your meal. Note that Sea Siam does not provide delivery or reservations.

Happy Bowl Asian Food
(credit: Happy Bowl Asian Food/Facebook)

Happy Bowl Asian Restaurant
8149 White Settlement Road
Fort Worth, TX 76108
(817) 246-0977
Facebook page

This quaint eatery is most definitely a family-owned business that prides itself on providing excellent service, heaping portions and freshly-prepared food. Be cautious when ordering food spicy because Happy Bowl will take you at your word and offer a spice rating system of one through five. Most American patrons consider three to be at the top of the palatable comfort zone. Tempting dishes include the Yellow Chicken Curry with moist pieces of chicken in a rich sauce and the Basil Fried Rice which is so plentiful that it will make any single meal spread into  additional servings.

Related: Best Sushi In Dallas

Raine Devries is a 5th generation Dallasite and is well acquainted with the best that the city has to offer. She resides in the Downtown / Deep Ellum area and enjoys being so close to the Arts District, live music venues, and great restaurants. She has a passion for international travel, indie/foreign films, and riding her Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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