Best Thai in town overall.
Written: Nov 28 '00 (Updated Mar 22 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent food, low prices, great people, and did I mention excellent food?
Cons: Not open late on weekends.
The Bottom Line: Tiny space, low prices, heaping portions, big tastes.
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| xuvetyn's Full Review: Arroy Thai Cuisine |
Aroy Thai is a tiny, unpretentious place staffed by extremely friendly folk. My fiance and I discovered this place when making the round of Thai restaurants upon first moving to Portland, and we count it the best overall. We eat there 1-3 times a week, - it's easy with their prices (most dishes are around $5-$7 for lunch and dinner alike). They are open Mon-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat 11am-6pm, not open Sundays. The correct spelling is "Aroy" and not "Arroy" if you are looking it up in a phone book.
The space is tiny, just a handful of tables and chairs, a TV in one corner, wood paneling (bamboo?) and the usual pictures of Thailand. I don't go inside much since my fiance usually picks it up to go for work, so I can't comment extensively on the decor. It always feels warm and comfortable though. The times we do eat inside, we always see families with the air of those who eat there often. It isn't the type of place you need to dress up for, or make reservations at. When you walk in, you just seat yourself or order at the counter, and a friendly server will bring you your meal with all due speed. (I usually go for dinner though - they are probably much more crowded during lunch with their prime downtown location.) When the check comes, it's accompanied by Andes thin chocolate mints, my favorite.
Food:
Where to begin? Definitely with the egg rolls, crisp and flaky on the outside, filled with soft clear noodles and veggies on the inside, served with a sweet & spicy dipping sauce. I'm addicted to these rolls. Other appetizers include a yummy chicken satay and delicious salad rolls. The Thai iced tea is thick and sweet, not watery like it is at some restaurants. They don't serve any alcohol, just tea, coffee, and juices. As for the entree, you won't be disappointed with any of the curries. My favorites are definitely the Panaeng, an intense curry with mushrooms, and the yellow curry with thick, soft chunks of potato. Other curries they offer are red, green, mussamun and pinesapple. The Hot & Spicy Noodles dish balances soothingly wide, soft noodles with perfectly sauteed, fresh veggies and a generous amount of garlic and other spices - hands down beats Bangkok Kitchen's version in my opinion. Pad Thai, while served in a gigantic portion, isn't one of my favorites here. I prefer a sweeter, stickier sauce, and theirs is on the salty side, but I've heard others rave about it. The BBQ chicken is flavorful and tender. Cashew chicken and sweet & sour chicken are both delicious here as well. Finish with $1.50 homemade coconut ice cream, which comes with crushed peanuts and dried fruit bits mixed in. Items you might want to skip are the crispy fish (I thought it too little fish for a satisfying meal, and somewhat tough to boot) and the sweeter noodle dishes which were too gloppy for my taste. For vegetarians, they can substitute tofu for meat in most of their dishes, and usually do so in generous amounts.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
xuvetyn
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Location: Portland, OR
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 0 members
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