Desperately Seeking {The Best Pad Thai}

Thom introduced me to this dish years ago, just after we’d first met.  I was in love at first bite and we’ve been searching for the best Pad Thai ever since.

Unfortunately, our search in Arkansas hasn’t produced good results.  We’ve even trekked the eighty miles to Little Rock to visit Asian markets in search of tamarind and lemon grass in order to make the dish at home. Our at-home efforts are usually much better than any restaurant we’ve encountered here.

Recently, Thom and I took a day trip to Oklahoma and on the way back through Fort Smith we stopped by Tassanee’s Thai Cuisine.  We had read rave reviews and had high hopes. Sadly, we were disappointed once again.

At first glance the portion size was the first disappointment.  The cost for this serving of Pad Thai with Tofu was $8.59.  Compared with many other restaurants we’ve eaten at, this is just not a big serving {and when the Pad Thai is SO good that you don’t want it to end, this is sad}.

I had tofu, Thom had shrimp.  It wasn’t the freshest shrimp, either.  In fact it was bland as was the tofu.  The top layer of sauce-y noodles were intensely fishy-says the girl who actually likes fish sauce in Asian dishes.

We had debated on choosing two different dishes and switching out half way through but nixed that in hopes that this was going to be too good to want it to end.  I wish we had ordered two different.  Other dishes may be good or at least better.

What we did like:  the sweet smoky Thai Tea.

Also, for me, cleanliness is a factor as well.  While the restaurant was clean and clutter free the condiment container that was brought to the table was grimy and kind of gross.  Call me picky but details like this make or break a place {and since there was no one else in the restaurant there was plenty of time to concentrate on these tiny details}.

There were just so many good things written about this place that I want to believe their other dishes are good.  I just didn’t find the best Pad Thai here.