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5 Thais - The Best Little Restaurant You Haven’t Tried
Even a dedicated consumer of double cheeseburgers needs a break now and then. On a recent drab and drizzly day, M. De Joie was in the mood for a bowl of pho, that Vietnamese soup/meal-in-a-bowl with the healing powers normally ascribed to chicken soup, AKA Jewish penicillin. However, M. de Joie was in Barnes & Noble at the time, and it being noonish, she did not feel like fighting the traffic down Hilltop to Cypress. M. de Joie drove south on Canby and found herself face-to-face with 5 Thais Restaurant.
5 Thais is the second restaurant opened by the owners/operators of Racha Noodle. It occupies the space vacated by TCBY Yogurt in that cramped little labyrinth of a strip mall where Canby runs into Dana Drive. You’ve been by it - you might have noticed it in the land of chain restaurants, near Chipotles, Strings, Panda Express, and so on and so forth.
The decor is minimal, with orange plastic chairs at small formica tables.
When M. de Joie entered, she wasn’t sure if she was supposed to order at the counter or sit down, but the friendly Thai waitress directed her to have a seat and brought menus that include photos of the dishes offered. No pho on the menu! M. de Joie heaved a heavy sigh and decided to make the most of the situation, and randomly selected an item off the meni, Khao Soy soup with tofu ($6.95).
The menu description: Khao Soy - noodle, choice of chicken, beef, or tofu, bean sprouts, onion in red and yellow curry with a touch of coconut soup.
Nothing could have prepared M. de Joie for this absolutely incredible dish. Sometimes you take a bite of an unfamiliar food and automatically file it in the “Top Ten Best Things I Ever Ate” section of your brain. Khao Soy moved right into that section. The complexity of flavors and seasonings was matched by the wide range of textures: soft tofu, crunchy bean sprouts, creamy coconut & curry broth, slightly firm noodles, the fresh topping of cilantro, scallions, and crispy-fried onion shards. This soup packs enough heat to make you sit up straight and take notice but not so much that you’ll be coughing. And the aroma is one of the most mouth-watering smells ever concocted. This meal in a bowl is one of the very best dishes produced by any chef in Shasta County, not to mention being one of the very best values for money.
Appetizer - curry puff: won ton skins filled with curried potato and deep fried. Served with peanut sauce. $4.50. This would be a good appetizer to share, or to introduce a neophyte to Thai cooking slowly.
M. de Joie was so impressed by the food that she returned accompanied by adventurous eater and fine cook, Destra del Tamburo. Two main dishes, one iced coffee, one diet Pepsi - $20.48.
Peanut sauce chicken - white meat chicken with peanut sauce on a bed of spinach, broccoli and cabbage, $6.95. This is probably the mildest and lightest of dishes offered, a good item for people who aren’t sure if they like Thai food or not.
Crispy basil prawns - stir-fried prawns with green beans, mushrooms, chili, garlic, and sweet basil, $7.95. This had a bit more kick, heat-wise, than the peanut sauce chicken. Perfectly cooked julienne vegetables with crisp prawns had a lively flavor from fresh basil and chilis.
All meals are accompanied by this lightest of green salads with a slightly sweet creamy dressing.
Pearl Thai Iced coffee, with “pearls” of tapioca - $2.50.
Both Racha Noodle and 5 Thais offer a condiment tray to go with your food. M. de Joie will be the first to admit she hasn’t much experience with these enhancements to your meal, so she asked the waitress what these bottles contain. Clockwise from far right: Naam plaa (Thai fish sauce, in unmarked bottle), phrik dong (chile slices in vinegar), Sambal ulek (oelek), Sriracha (Rooster sauce), sugar, oyster sauce (in red ketchup squeeze bottle), soy sauce. They also offer phrik pon, finely ground chili powder. What do you use these condiments for? A very helpful but somewhat lengthy guide was found at http://www.madammam.com/articles/tabletop.html. M. de Joie suggests you put a very small amount of any condiment on the side of your plate and taste it, mixed in to a little of your dinner before adding a large amount, as some of them are quite hot.
5 Thais looks like a nondescript little lunch counter, but there’s no hairnetted brassy waitress named Flo taking your order. Staff has a quiet dignity and pride in their restuarant and are eager to share their delightful cuisine. Portions are small-to-moderate but at the bargain prices, you can order several items and not break the bank. Highly recommended.
- Femme de Joie
5 Thais, 1003 Dana Drive, Suite A, Redding, CA 530-221-8929. Open Monday-Saturday, 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM, then 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Cash, no checks, no credit cards. No alcohol. On nice days there are tables outside. On-site parking.
Femme de Joie’s first culinary masterpiece was at age 4, when she made the perfect fried bologna sandwich on white bread. Since then she has dined on horse Bourguignon in France, stir-fried eel in London, and mystery meat in her college cafeteria, but firmly draws the line at eating rattlesnake, peppermint, and Hamburger Helper. Currently she resides in Shasta County at her country estate, Butterscotch Acres West. She is nearly always hungry. Visit MenuPlease for more.
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I have attempted to eat there on 5 occasions only to get to the door and it be locked………….even though the door sign shows the hours I stopped there that they should be open… and no other sign on the door…….hmmmmm
Will give it one more try and hopefully they will be open…
I too have heard good things about this restaurant….
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Femme de Joie Reply:
November 4th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Lana,
We’ve heard that 5 Thais had some delays in getting off the ground ; possibly that could be continuing off and on. It is hoped they will resolve all obstacles and have consistent opening hours.
Do make another attempt to eat there. Thanks for your comment.
- Femme de Joie
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I’m so hungry after reading this! Of course, I’ve been a big fan of Racha for years, ever since a friend of mine celebrated his 60th birthday there. Good to know they are branching out.
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I’m going to go here this weekend based specifically on this review. It sounds like a wonderful place!
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5 Thais is related to Racha Noodle - like brother and sister. I love Racha Noodle with a passion. The food is delicious and the people are wonderful. I tried 5 Thais, and it’s good, but just a little different than Racha. We’re doubly blessed to have talented people in Redding making excellent Thai food!
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I agree heartily! We get things to go frequently as they are right in our neighborhood. The women who work there are so accommodating, if not speedy. We alway try something new and have not been disappointed yet!
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I have become a big fan of the Thai Bistro, on Yuba between East and Pine. How does this compare?
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Femme de Joie Reply:
November 4th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Dear Dugan,
Thai Bistro is going on the list of places to try. Thank you for the suggestion.
- Femme de Joie
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Lea Reply:
November 8th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Your reviews are a blast! Thank you. Here’s a tip for when you review Thai Bistro. It’s okay to ask for “changes.” An example would be asking for fried rice instead of the plain white rice. It could cost more, but it’s the best non-grease-like rice I have ever had - simple. Also, we learned that any variety of fish will be cooked in a style as ordered. And your in luck if the house made cheese cake is available for the day.
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Kelly Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 11:44 am
5Thais and Racha Noodle are authentic Thai food - Thai Bistro is more creative, fusion-type Thai food. All three are wonderful, delicious. Just different culinary experiences!
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Yep, great place.
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Naj, at Thai Bistro is a MASTER of many different styles. Yet he always transcends contemporary “styles.” What he eclectically does with a pear, chocolate, some spices and liquor… is so incredibly wonderful, it will probably become illegal and only served in speakeasies or “collectives”! What he does with halibut, steaks and more traditional bases is extraordinary!! (always… tonguegasmic!!) Naj, makes the esoteric approachable to anyone. The biggest bummer for me is that I can’t afford to go out to great places like Thai Bistro anymore… I DO think I want to try 5 Thais, however.
M. de Joie, I LOVE reading - and drooling - over your reviews - please keep em’ coming!
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Femme de Joie Reply:
November 4th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Dear Alan,
How sweet of you to say so. Thanks for the compliment! Thai Bistro is definitely on the list to try very soon.
- Femme de Joie
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I’ve always wondered about this place, but it usually looks closed when I pass by. I enjoyed your review, and will give it a try. You’ll love Thai Bistro, and would be interested in your opinion of that restaurant too.
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We will go by 5 Thais again. Glad to hear it is open! My wife and I are regulars at Racha Noodle. Its is so fresh and yummy! And the prices are low. We can both eat there, with tip, for twenty bucks. To me, a restaurant is a real find, if you can get remarkable food for a really reasonable price. Thai Bistro is excellent, if you have some extra cash on hand, are a meat lover, and want to treat yourself to something special. But for vegetarians, and folks on a recession budget, Racha Noodle is the find of the decade. And the ladies are so sweet. You can tell so much care goes into each dish. Cant wait to try Five Thais! Thanks for the review.
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OH thank heaven they finally opened! As a dedicated fan of Racha Noodle, I kept waiting for 5 Thai’s to open so that there would be a great Thai option on the east side of town! Love it, love it! Hopefully, once they get a steady clientele, they can expand the menu to include some of my favorites from Racha Noodle!
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Thai Bistro is fantastic! The only place my husband will eat out at. The salmon is amazing. And the place is low key and friendly. Friendly…hum when will Moonstone Bistro wake up and offer a house wine and (for me) lose the edge one of the partners bask in. Whoops, was I using my outside voice?
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