Good quality Thai food at reasonable prices. The dishes were rich in layer and satisfying…read more
Corn Fritter: An equisute and interesting appetizer. Corn coated in a thin layer of tempura batter, fried until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, showcasing its natural sweetness and slightly chewy texture. It was somewhat like a Chinese yumi-lao玉米烙 but more moist. The most surprising thing was that despite being entirely vegetarian food, it has the sweetness and meaty texture of fried shrimp paste. The sweet and sour sauce is similar to the Thai sweet chili sauce commonly found in China, but thinner. Served in a small cup, it looked like a cup of black tea, making it more refreshing.
Grilled Pork Neck: Very different from pork neck in Chinese Thai cuisine; it's more like Cantonese char-siu叉燒. The pork neck was very well marinated and grilled to a very tender perfection, with a rich and smooth honey aroma, and a subtle wine aftertaste, but it was slightly too sweet for me. Nam Jin Jaew was primarily composed of the tangy kick of lime and the savory saltiness of fish sauce, complemented by the mild spiciness of bird's eye chili, the special fragrance of cilantro, and the sweetness of palm sugar, with a subtle hint of smokiness. It was refreshing on the whole, and incredibly layered - I fell in love with it instantly.
Tom Saab Soup: It looked light, but it was surprisingly spicy and sour! The ribs were very fresh, all marbled with fat and lean meat, stewed until incredibly tender, allowing you to taste the natural aroma of the meat. The sourness was subtle, clear, and mild, with a base of lemongrass fragrance that added even more depth. My friend thoughtfully ordered it mildly spicy, but in the end, it just felt like it lacked a kick.
Mango Sticky Rice: The best mango sticky rice I've ever had! The sticky rice was cooked to perfect texture and warmth, absorbing the coconut milk flawlessly - neither too watery nor too dry. The first taste was the fragrance of glutinous rice, followed by the sweetness of coconut milk, and a refreshing, slightly tart mango to cut through the richness.
Thai Iced Tea: Too much condensed milk, excessively sweet. My friend said it was much sweeter than the last time she had it. Was this a change in the recipe, or did the quality control need improvement?
Donsak is a district in Surat Thani, Thailand, and also the hometown of the restaurant's co-owner and manager, Boom, where she was born and raised. The restaurant's introduction states: "When she left for the US, Boom didn't know she wouldn't get to see her home again for many years - and she still hasn't. Donsak is a way around that." No wonder what truly touches the heart, is indeed the taste of love and home.