When it comes to authentic cuisine, it seems that everyone is on a constant journey to find it. Those lucky to have nearby restaurants that serve authentic dishes will enjoy the efforts put in behind the food. I’ve seen both ends of the scale. I came from a small town near Monterey, CA. Yes, there was plenty of seafood, but there was a lack of variety of food one could indulge in. My eyes opened up to the wonders of culinary adventures when I moved to the Bay Area more than four years ago. Here, I discovered different cuisines that ultimately made me want to share what I discovered with others.

I have to say, those living here in the Bay Area are fortunate to have such variety of restaurants available to them. Those living in the Fremont area are even more fortunate by having Sala Thai in the neighborhood. Their servings of authentic Thai cuisine have brought crowds to the restaurant throughout the years. The local Argus newspaper continues to award Sala Thai as the best Thai Restaurant in the tri-city area, year after year.

I have to agree that Sala Thai has the best Thai food in the Fremont area. I don’t really compare restaurants to each other, but the taste of Sala Thai’s food has much more flavor than any of the other Thai restaurants in the area. My first impressions were the punch of flavor that hits you right away. I found that the Po Tak seafood soup and Phad Thai highlight this the best. Just by taking a spoonful of the Po Tak, you can taste the marriage of sweet basil, lemon grass, and sour broth. With the Phad Thai, you have the perfect balance of sweet along with a little bit of a spicy bite. The strips of tofu and shrimp become smoothered with the flavors of Phad Thai, which makes this dish even more mouth watering. I catch myself ordering these two dishes at every Thai restaurant.

Then I think to myself, I shouldn’t try to compare restaurants to one another. Every chef wants to offer their authentic cuisine to customers with recipes that they’ve crafted or learned along the way. Recipes will always be different from one chef to another. We might not have the same views on food. My take is that everyone will still be on a never ending quest to find the best authentic cuisine where ever that may be.

If you decide to take a trip to Sala Thai, be aware that this spot is hidden in a strip mall area. You might not catch it right away because there are small offices surrounding it.

It’s a spot for dates because…
As for Thai cuisine goes, Sala Thai offers more flavorful dishes than others in the area.

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I’ve always enjoyed discovering a new restaurant unexpectedly. It’s always good when the restaurant that you find ends up becoming a local favorite of yours. That’s how I’ve felt about Simply Thai in Fremont, CA. Simply Thai is located in a shopping plaza hidden as the last spot amongst a row of several other businesses. At first, you wouldn’t expect to find this spot at its little location.

Step inside and you can feel the calm and relaxed atmosphere. The décor remains simple, just like the name of their restaurant. They even have tables for two, which can make for more intimate meals if you’re on a date.

Simply Thai became one of my local favorites because of one thing. The food. Delicious. Flavorful. Beautifully presented. These words describe my experience here. I had a chance to try the Satay Beef, Tom Yum Soup, Beef Rad Na, and my favorite, Panang Curry. The Tom Yum Soup and Panang Curry really stood out. The Tom Yum Soup was mildly spicy with its flavors of lemongrass and seafood just packed into the broth. The Panang Curry was the perfect dish to top off rice. It’s a very addictive combination for me. Just trying the food at Simply Thai has made it one of my favorite places to go for lunch or dinner.

Finding places like this can be really exciting. You never know what spot you’ll come across unexpectly.

It’s a spot for dates because…
The ambience at Simply Thai can make for an intimate meal. You can really feel the calm and relaxed vibe here.

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Banana Leaf in Milpitas, CA was first introduced to me by my cousin Romel. This spot offers both Malaysian and Thai food. We had a few outings here as a family and was left impressed each time. Rose and I decided to grab some dinner at Banana Leaf after running around the Great Mall for about an hour. You first will notice the open kitchen when stepping in. You may be surprised to see how busy this place can get. The dining areas tend to get a bit crowded for dinner, so having a quiet dinner for two may be out of the picture. Don’t let that stop you from visiting this spot, because the food alone is worth checking out. Picture this place as a lively spot to dine at.

We grabbed two usual dishes and decided to mix it up with a new one. The usuals that we ordered were the Pahd Thai and Red Curry Beef. I enjoyed Pahd Thai at many restaurants before, but this spot does it a bit better. A hint of sweetness shines out providing a great complement to the chicken and squid. The Red Curry Beef is also a favorite dish that we order a lot. The spices really come through. I always have to top my rice with the curry to achieve that perfect combination. You might find yourself doing the same thing. As for the new dish we tried, we ordered the Indian Nasi Goreng which is fried rice. It comes with prawns, squid, chicken, tofu, and eggs. This little dish also packs a little bit of spice to it. Combining all of the unique spiciness of each dish makes for a great meal.

Did I also mention that we ordered dessert to go? We ordered the fried ice cream with fried bananas. Yes, fried ice cream. The ice cream is wrapped up in some dough and is deep fried. Once you slice it open, the ice cream is revealed. It’s an awesome unique dessert that I tell everyone about. The dessert plating in the photo below is courtesy of Rose. Overall, if you’re looking to give your taste buds a venture into the spicy zone, give Banana Leaf a try.

It’s a spot for dates because…
Great choice of Thai and Malaysian dishes at Banana Leaf. If you’re looking for a little bit of spice, this spot is for you.

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