4.5 stars
We had…read moretried several Thai restaurants in Bergen and Rockland county and had continually been disappointed. However, that changed with our discovery of SOD. First off, the staff was extremely nice, both on the phone while placing our order and during our seamless pickup. Though we took the food to-go, their dining room was certainly cozy and comfortable enough for dining in on another occasion.
When we got home and unpacked the food, we saw that the portions were generous and that everything was well-packed. We started by sharing the unique, Handmade Thai Crepe Dumplings. The beautiful dark purple noodle wraps had been stuffed with peanuts and turnips, a spectacular flavor combination covering salty, nutty, and sweet profiles. I then had my Tom-Yum Soup, which had been served in a quart container that was about 2/3 full, so a bit more than a pint. The spicy, sour lemongrass broth was packed with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, lemongrass, Kaffir lime leaves, and tender white meat chicken, which we had asked to be added. The soup had been prepared with a medium spice level that was ideal for the dish.
However, the restaurant was not shy with their spices on the main courses! I went with my standard Pad Se-Ew with Chicken, for which I do not typically specify a heat level. However, the restaurant's menu mentioned that spice could be added between mild and extra hot. I asked for medium, but it was definitely more fiery than I had expected! However, the noodles were delicate and the Chinese broccoli was fresh and crisp. My mouth might have been a bit numb, but I could still tell that the dish was tasty! Everyone else loved their individual plates, though we all took note that we should be more careful with our requested spice levels going forward. In addition to our own meals, we shared an order of the Garlic Noodles with Chicken, since it was an unusual dish for a Thai restaurant. It contained sautéed, flat rice noodles with egg, bean sprouts, scallions, garlic, sesame oil, and tender chicken. A mild heat level was perfect for this, as the lack of fire allowed the robust sesame and garlic notes to make an impact. Each piece of chicken was lean, moist, and tender.
SOD Thai really exceeded my expectations and was definitely a local gem that we would order from again!