View Dining Pick of the Week: Siam Thai Kitchen

Siam Thai Kitchen

604 N. Rainbow Blvd., 702-880-8802

The Las Vegas Valley is full of places like Siam Thai Kitchen, but that’s a good thing: little, hole-in-the-wall-type joints that aren’t much to look at from the outside, but for those brave enough to venture within, a culinary find awaits. Located in an aging strip mall near Rainbow Boulevard and U.S. Highway 95, Siam has the somewhat unique distinction of being a Thai restaurant with a drive-thru. On the Friday afternoon my co-worker and I were there for lunch, we noted that the tiny dining room filled up quickly with what looked to be nearby office workers who obviously were not strangers to the place — always a good sign. We started with crab Rangoon ($6.95 for six pieces), which was tasty and among the best I’ve tried. Our entree choices were pad Thai with vegetables (it also comes with a choice of chicken, pork or tofu, or add beef for $1 or shrimp for $3 more) and yellow curry, both available on the lunch specials menu. The lunch specials are $6.99 and are served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. They include a small green salad, fried egg roll and fried won ton, and among the entree choices are Kung Pao chicken, cashew nut, pepper steak and pad pak, served with white rice (brown rice is $1 more). The regular menu also has salads (papaya, larb, yum seafood), noodle dishes (pad see ew, pad kee mao, lad nah), fried rice and entrees such as spicy catfish, spicy eggplant and pad phet. Curries (red, yellow, green, panang and pineapple) are $9.95 each. The dessert menu features traditional mochi ice cream ($3.95) along with specialty choices such as mango with sweet sticky rice ($5.95) and fried banana with or without ice cream ($3.50 to $4.50). The beverage menu includes Thai iced tea or coffee for $2.50 and fresh young coconut for $4. Carry out and delivery are available. Regular menu prices average $10 to $13. Siam Thai Kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.