Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Yummy Thai Squared: Ruen Pair and Bhan Kanom Thai

Starchy Marie wrote about our visit to Ruen Pair with Delicious Coma, Eat Sip Chew, and Wandering Chopsticks ages ago. What can I say? I'm a lagger.

But I have a big yellow arrow showing you which sign is Ruen Pair's at this popular Thai Town strip mall. That's got to count for something.
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Just in case you forget where you are while you're eating, this back wall reminds you very clearly. Thanks, Ruen Pair!

Stir-fried morning glory with soy bean sauce (market price).
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A solid version of my favorite green vegetable.

Papaya salad -- sliced papaya mixed with green bean, tomato, dried shrimp, lime juice, ground peanuts, and fresh crab ($5.95).
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After having many papaya salads, I can now say this with confidence -- I don't like papaya salad. Yes, I habitually eat things that I don't really love multiple times before I kick them out of my rotation; I like to give all foods a fair shake. But, as far as papaya salads go, this one was a good and spicy one.

Salty vegetable and ground pork in clear soup ($5.95).
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This reminded me of soups that my mom used to make when I was a kid. Simple but magically perfectly salty.

Deep-fried pompano with spicy chili dressing (market price).
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The best dish of the night for me. It's fried fish! With a humongous dish of chili sauce! What's not to like?

Green curry chicken with bamboo shoots, basil, and coconut milk ($5.95).
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Pleasant and calming after a fairly fiery papaya salad.

Stew[ed] duck noodles ($5.95) (ordered dry).
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Loved this. My second-fave dish. It has duck in it. Duh.

After dinner, we crossed the parking lot to Bhan Kanom Thai for dessert.
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Ever wonder what a Thai sweets store is like? Wonder no more.

Panchi -- taro, corn, shredded coconut, sugar (6 for $2.50 or 10 for $4). Grilled sticky rice with banana -- banana, sticky rice, coconut milk, sugar ($1.25).
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This is a prime example of why I try things that I don't like. I don't like taro. I don't like coconut. But guess what? I effing love panchi! Paaaaanchi! Hot and golden and crunchy and not too sweet. Super good.

The grilled sticky rice was lovely, too. Mr. Monkey was very happy that I brought it home for him.

The panchi stole my heart, though. I thought about it all night, even after all the wonderful dishes at Ruen Pair.

16 comments:

  1. that's some expensive papaya salad. i'll eat all of yours. i LOVE papaya salad. it's one of my MIL's faves, too.

    i LOVE that dessert place. they have some prepackaged goodies that are good, too. these little toast thingies with sugar/cinnamon/sometimes sweet shredded pork, these deep fried, sweet stick things in a can, etc., etc.

    word verification is rotiumm. now i want some roti.

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  2. Whoops! I don't know why it said $35. It's only $5.95. :)

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  3. damn those duck noodles look good!

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  4. Paaaaanchi! I love that stuff too. Bhan Kanom Thai used to have a location in North Hollywood that I'd frequent when I worked in the valley. Panchi made for a much better afternoon snack than office birthday cake!

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  5. my friend's mom makes duck noodles for us but I allow myself to ask her to do so once a year lest I be labeled an ungrateful leech. I will have to hit ruen pair for some in the mean time. :)

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  6. Is this the same strip mall where the old Palm Thai used to be? I miss that old location. You could get real up close and personal with Thai Elvis.

    I also love that dessert place. I think it's the first place I ever tried Thai sweets. Need to get back there soon.

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  7. I am more tempted by the Thai massage sign. They're super expensive here as they only have them in the fancy salons and yet I want one desperately like the ones I had in Thailand.

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  8. mmm, i have a soft spot for magically salty soup.

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  9. Not a fan of Thai food. I am, however, a fan of yellow arrows.

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  10. I'm currently working on a post about Ganda Thai which is in the same parking lot haha and I also got from desserts from that dessert place. Your duck noodles look better than my duck noodles though...

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  11. I looove papaya salad. How can we get along when you hate the things I love? Like mushrooms!

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  12. Hah I love how dapotato said "that's some expensive papaya salad." I was just about to remark, "that's a cheap papaya salad!" I really need to eat out more outside of WeHo/Westside

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  13. "Loved this. My second-fave dish. It has duck in it. Duh."

    This made me laugh. It's something I would say.

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  14. And now I want Ruen Pair. Great pictures, lovely!

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  15. Hmm I usually eat at Red Corner Asia in that plaza. Maybe I should try Ruen Pair!

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  16. I like thai food, but I agree with you - I'm really not a fan of papaya salad.

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