Rarely
do new restaurants dazzle me. Seldom am I so taken by an eatery that I dine
there four times in one week. But I have found a rare treat in Bunn Thai
Bistro. They offer a Thai and Asian
fusion dinning experience with a vibrant feel that has delighted this girl’s
palate. Bunn uses organic, natural, and local ingredients and some Thailand
treats that my taste buds had so missed. I started with the lemon grass tea, a
delicacy I discovered in Thailand and have not found made correctly here. Gary
started with his Thai staple, Sticky Mango Rice and was pleased to announce it
was the sweetest version of this enchantment he had tried. We moved on to the
Bunn dip basket with toast, cucumber slices, celery, romaine lettuce leaves,
carrots and tomatoes all dunked into a warm coconut and chicken dipping sauce.
I was amazed and ready to try everything on the menu.
Owners
Tommy, Sis and her husband (real names are Arna and Champ) told us how their
family has owned a restaurant in Bangkok for over 200 years, so there is a
tangible history and family pride that goes into each dish. We talked about how
to order a common Thai meal. They suggested it should have a soup, a curry
dish, a spiced salad, noodles with fish and vegetables and a couple of
stir-fries. They should be ordered communal and shared, as the harmony of
tastes and textures is as important as the guest with whom you share the meal.
The
lunch special is served from 11:00am to 3:00pm and has two entrees for only
$9.50, served in smaller portions; this is a suitable way to sample many of
their selections. I choose the Creamy Coconut Tom Yum soup that blew my mind it
was so scrumptious with mushrooms, red peppers, and chunks of tofu. Gary had
the salad and the peanut dressing was fantastic atop fresh organic baby greens,
shaved carrots and crotons.
Our
main course came; I had the Thai fried rice with chicken, brown and green
onions, eggs, Chinese broccoli, peas, carrots, cilantro and tomato. It was so
full of flavor and the rice was the perfect consistency. I also had the Kung
Pao Chicken with hormone fee chicken stir fried onions, bell peppers, dried
chili and peanuts. The Thai flavor added to this traditional Chinese menu item
tasted fantastic. Gary wanted to start his tour of the curries as they have
three on the menu. Red Curry had the long sweet burn with bamboo shoots,
broccoli zucchini, bell peppers; basil leaves and carrots swimming in a
luscious red curry coconut sauce. He also tried the Pad Thai that was extra
sweet (they have sugar on the table if you want to add more). A Thai lime wedge
enlightened this traditional dish with fried tofu, tamarind and palm sugar
sauce dusted with peanuts and fresh bean sprouts.
We
came back for dinner and had the Mar Hor a new sensation of sweet and salty
seasoning of ground chicken rolled in a ball and speckled with peanuts and
served over fresh pineapple rings. It
was marvelous. Then we tried the Corn Fritters made with whole corn kernels,
garlic and egg and seasoned perfectly. They were served with a sweet sauce and
a hot chili sauce. Surprising and wonderful. Gary started with the deep fried
coconut and banana balls with vanilla ice cream. Crushed bananas are coated in
coconut flakes and deep-fried, I had to try this and it was outstanding.
I
had the Papaya Green Salad, a super spicy dish made with shredded papaya,
carrots, tomato, green beans tossed with chili, garlic and peanuts in a spicy
lime and fish sauce and topped with grilled shrimp. This was my favorite dish
as the textures, flavors and heat inspired me.
Our main dish was Heaven On Earth, pan seared tilapia with jumbo lumps
of real crabmeat in a savory creamy panang curry coconut sauce with vegetables
and kuffir lime and basil leaves. The dish was the product of a true master in
the kitchen. This is my new weekly hang out pending I sample everything on this
menu.
The
Bunn Thai menu is vegan, vegetarian and gluten free friendly. Simply tell them
your special dietary needs and they will accommodate you (they added extra
sugar for Gary, extra heat for me). Bunn
Thai Bistro is located at 968 west Grand Avenue in Grover Beach, call them at
805-473-2824. They are open every day but Wednesday from 11:00am to 3:00pm and
4:00pm to 9:00pm.
