restaurant | thai cuisine | menu

My first time trying this place came from my boyfriend and I (ecstatically) putting in our first (and final) offer on a home that really wanted.  We had spent hours signing paperwork, when we realized how famished we were and that we were relatively new vegans so we couldn’t just grab food from anywhere.  Directly across the street, a store front read, “Thai Vegan”.  Seemed like the safest bet ever.  I ordered the dinner portion of Basil Leaves and my boyfriend ordered the Fresh Ginger. Both were so incredible that this is often our first choice for eating out. 

story

There is little information on their story aside from the owner being a female, Buddhist, monk, who aims to make people smile via food.  But it was recently mentioned in Albuquerque Business Journal that Thai Vegan is one of 51 Albuquerque restaurants to receive grants awarded to create outdoor dining experiences. They were also awarded best Vegan Food in Albuquerque a few years ago.  And while I would love to reach out to the owner to learn more about them, I think that is for a time in the future when things are not as fragile and uncertain in today’s restaurant world. 

I have limited photos of the food because… well, truthfully, their food doesn’t photograph well.  I have only ordered take-out here, and unless it’s a bakery item or something with a cross section (burrito, sandwich), food looks better on a plate. I’m sure it’s a beautiful presentation when dining in.  Please do not get turned off from this, the food doesn’t look unappetizing in the slightest, it’s just not a beautiful backdrop of their biodegradable containers and fragrant sauces.  I suppose I am leaving quite a bit to the imagination with this.  But you will have to trust me that this is not the Instagram-worthy dinner, this is the dinner exclusively for you and your taste buds.  And if you’re only buying food to post a picture and show-off to your followers, then you’re doing yourself a disservice, and maybe you should try your luck somewhere a bit trendier.    

The majority of this “review” is for me to give you a little extra help when navigating through their online menu, give you some suggestions, and encourage you to try this local, small business, that delivers in flavor every single time.

 

COVID-19 Compliance

Their protocol during this time should be mentioned in the newspaper.  Seeing as it isn’t, I will give them the praise they deserve.  Instead of bitching, about how the governor is imposing safety restrictions, they adapted! They have switched to a 100% carry-out system by building (an evident DIY project 😊 ) a station in front of their door (outside), which allows customers to walk up, pay, and get their food, without ever walking inside.  I think this is so admirable, while I’m sure they prefer the simplicity, it also shows that they care about their customers enough to exemplify the safest way a business can operate amidst a pandemic.

Menu

Unless I were to write a 200-page book, I cannot go into depth about every menu item or menu section for that matter. This menu is the local equivalent to The Cheesecake Factory’s, without the advertisements.  Their menu is a bit overwhelming, provides very minimal description, and 5 photos in total.  Even if you look on Yelp, there’s not a ton of photos there either.  If anyone knows the owner, I will happily help them out with their web development/social media presence.  But it looks like they’re doing fine without me.

Any time I’m about to order, as the countdown begins for my hunger turning into aggression, admittedly, I get frazzled with their menu.  They have 13 sections on their menu page, most of them are repeats from other sections.  If it’s your first time visiting the site, you’re just like, “Wait, what are the differences here?” I’ll try my best to help you. 

choose from (entrees):

• Foods without the combo (This includes: Soups, Salads, Noodles, Wraps, Burgers, Chef Specials)
• Lunch combination plate that comes with brown rice, 2 spring rolls, and a small side salad ($9.95, without add-ons)
• Dinner combination plate that comes with brown rice, 2 spring rolls, and a small side salad ($11.95, without add-ons)

my recommendations:

• Get an appetizer. Any of the dumplings are super filling and the best bang for your buck out of the apps. The “Chicken” Satay is delicious with the peanut sauce, but unfortunately, they are not very big.
• If you are as obsessed with curry as I am, get any of the Curries. The Green Curry with the soy fish is my absolute favorite!
• If you are not so hot on curry, the Basil Leaves is a safe bet, or the Pad Thai with tofu.
• Dessert? I have tried the Banana Chocolate Chip Rolls, they are delicious. Who doesn’t love deep fried egg rolls made of melted chocolate and banana? They are a bit pricey at $6.95 for 4 rolls but oh, so worth it if you have got a huge sweet tooth after dinner.

tips:

1. Thai Spice is SPICY!! – If you like spicy food, do not ask for extra spice. If you love spicy food be cautious when asking for extra spice. If you’re getting something spicy, I recommend trying it the way it comes first, then next time upping the spice meter. 
2. They have zero meat – Sometimes their menu it says, “Lightly breaded shrimp”, it’s a soy product. Vegans’ biggest fear is accidentally being served the real meat instead of the “fake meat”.  It’s all faux here, so order away.
3. Order the Thai Food! – Unless you’re one of those people who is not so adventurous with international foods, try the Thai options! Sure, they offer lentil loaf, veggie burgers, Creamy Chicken, but if you’re a fan of Asian foods then order the Asian foods!! That is no knock against their American options, but come on, it’s Thai food, try the damn curry!!!!