So, after seeing many positive social media reviews about Siam Classic I felt it was high time I stopped in to see what the hype was all about and I took a Thai friend with me to see how legit this experience was.
To be honest, I've been here before, about 15 years ago and from what I recall, it was a very forgettable experience and a place I wasn't interested in trying again. But from reading the reviews, I wanted to go and didn't realized until I got there, it was the place I had been before. Upon entering, it looks like nothing inside has been improved, renovated, redecorated, etc since they opened (which is sad, because they do amazing work in the kitchen), but I didn't worry about that and just wanted to see how well they worked their skills in the kitchen.
The first course was Curry Puffs - These were pretty tasty, but still the worst I've ever had. Sorry to say that, but I was worried that the rest of the experience would be similar. The dough was thicker than what I'm used to, which is typically light and flaky. The stuffing wasn't as flavorful as I'm used to. But the dipping sauce was probably my favorite of all the curry puffs I've eaten before. Don't get me wrong, this was still tasty, I just had much higher expectations.
The second course was Laab Gai - This was awesome! Not too spicy, just all the right and tasty flavors that this fresh, amazing dish is supposed to have. It had whole Romain leaves, which you can cut up into a salad or use as a lettuce wrap and the Romain was fresh. The ingredients in it were very fresh and the mint, cilantro and peppers were excellent. The chicken pieces weren't the typical small "ground beef" style, they were actually somewhat chunky, which makes them easier to eat and soak up the citrus flavors. The crispiness from the crispy rice was just right, some places use too much, but they put in a perfect amount!
The next course was the Lemongrass soup (Tom Yum) was outstanding! It was loaded with fresh veggies as well being made with beautiful lemongrass chicken broth. The flavors were very noticeable and tasty. It should also be noted that this was the side dish that came with the lunch special and many times, that means a small cup of soup - not here... This was a bowl! It was loaded with tasty, tender shredded chicken pieces too!
Finally, it was time for the main course - Pad Prik Khing (with chicken) - It was VERY beautifully plated! It was a large order too, which made me wonder what the dinner portion would be like!?! The flavors (again, like the previous few courses) were spot on! This is one of my favs to try at a Thai place, as it seems simple, but I've seen it so varied, that it tells me just how well they execute overall. The green beans were fresh and al dente! The chicken was excellent and full of flavor and the entire dish worked just perfectly; probably in the top 2 Pad Prik Khings I've ever had!
Overall, this was a very nice, bordering on excellent Thai experience for me. The others that joined us seemed to really their food and I think I even got a thumbs-up from my Thai friend who came with us. We even planned what we'd get the next time we stop in.
I highly recommend stopping in here when in the mood for Thai! read more