Thai food can be a lot more spicy, for one thing. They have a lot of curries and use a lot of fish sauce.
Thai Gourmet getting the most mentions. I agree. Beware the "Thai hot" though. I love it, but it is too hot for most people. Konomwan has long been a great one too. I haven't been in years, since they moved into the new restaurant space. They used to be a little, dumpy hole in the wall, but the food was outstanding! The chicken, coconut milk and lemon grass soup was amazing (I can't remember the name - is that tom kha gai? - like crack - I kept adding rice to make it last longer).
Yep, that's tom kha gai. Good to know they're still around, hopefully the owner is just as rude and cantankerous as ever. Man, I could go to Houston for a week, eat out twice a day, and not even come close to hitting all the places I miss.
The owner died a few years ago. Evidently the wife was the cook and the food is still good, but it is one of many restaurants I have yet to visit. Thai Gourmet and Nidda Thai are my faves, although my last visit to Thai Gourmet was a bit disappointing. I got Thai Hot and it wasn't that hot. Also, Thai Jasmine is quite good if you are in the Hobby area.
I mentioned Merlion on the first page. Here's Houston's three-time winner of James Beard food-writer awards, Robb Walsh (who lived in Thailand), reviewing Merlion in Seabrook and giving it his highest marks for Thai. He says get the seafood dishes. (and you can't go wrong with an award called James Beard in Houston.) "This is the best Thai seafood I've eaten outside of Thailand, and I intend to savor every morsel I can politely lay my lips on." http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/thai-seas-6549288
My vote is for Thai Gourmet. Haven't been in over a year so not sure if it's fallen off but it was the best I've had in town.
Sawadee off of Weslayan near Bellaire used to be my favorite Thai spot, haven't been there in a few years but the food was always great.
So different that you can easily like one and not the other. Usually people who like Indian seem to like Thai though.
First time I went there I ordered the Thai hot. For how much people talk it up it wasn't as spicy as I thought it was going to be. Thai Gourmet is delicious for sure though.
another thai gourmet vote - their red curry is the best i've ever had. their chopped chicken w eggplant and their garlic okra are also freaking delicious. i do agree w those that say their spice levels have gone down but have also become more consistent. vieng thai overtook TG for me a few years ago but i've rediscovered TG the past two years and it's the best i've had in houston. best ITL thai is nidda imo.
