Some Thai restaurants are just OK. Others are fantastic. But in between — that’s where most Thai places dwell.
And then comes Suki Thai Noodle House, a newish place in a Boulder strip mall.
Suki Thai is just different.
First of all, Suki Thai is fast-food style. Armed with a big plastic tray, you drag it with you as you order from the big, lit board hanging above the kitchen, and as the cooks prepare your meal.
Then there is the meal itself. Want a “bowl”? Pick your protein (tofu, chicken, calamari and shrimp, pork meatballs, etc.). Then select a broth (coconut and red curry, for example). The cooks will prepare it all in front of you, and it will take maybe a minute or two.
Thai salads? They offer three. Pad thai? Yep. And with the exception of beverages (smoothies, a “Thai fresh lime drink”) and the kids menu (which includes a scrumptious Thai-style chicken-noodle soup), that’s pretty much it.
The food is clean and simple, heavy on broth and aromatics (including all-you-can-use basil, lime, peppers and more) and shrinking from what sinks lesser Thai restaurants — liberal use of sugar and vegetable oil.
Suki Thai is fast, efficient, simple, very good, and cheap.
Think of it as Chipotle for Thai food, with noodles instead of tortillas and lemongrass for cumin.
If only Suki Thai Noodle Houses would start popping up all over the place.
Douglas Brown: 303-954-1395 or djbrown@denverpost.com
Suki Thai Noodle House
Thai. 675 30th St., Boulder, 303-444-1196. Lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday. Dinner only on Sundays.
