Recently, I’ve been in a sort of Thai food kick. In the past I wasn’t really in the mood to eat Thai food very often. I like to call it a food vocabulary, where you think of what you want to eat and end up making it or eating it. It’s not that I didn’t like Thai food at all back then. I just never thought of eating it when thinking about food options.
A friend of mine recently introduced me to a Thai restaurant in NE Portland called Chaba Thai. The outside of the restaurant makes the place look pretty old. The door is made of old wood painted white. Nothing special, right? However, upon entering you’re blasted with a wide array of bright colors and a more modern atmosphere. Every table is laid out with colorful plates and decor. The walls are vibrant. This was not what I expected when I saw it from the outside.
One of the mainstays of a Thai food restaurant is, of course, Pad Thai, so that’s what I ordered. We also ordered their Lemon Grass Chicken. Both of these dishes were well prepared to be aesthetically arranged as well as to be delicious. The Pad Thai was served with bean sprouts, peanutes, and a lime. It had a smoky flavor and was probably the best Pad Thai I’ve ever had. The Lemon Grass Chicken was served with Peanut sauce and a lot of broccoli. Broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables so it almost overshadowed the main dish, which tasted pretty good as well.
Chaba Thai quickly became one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. Their prices are reasonable. Expect to pay about 10 dollars a person. Their food is great. I’d recommend their Chicken Satay as an appetizer. Check it out if you’re ever in NE Portland driving down Sandy. You won’t be disappointed.
For more information:
Chaba Thai profile on Portland City Search