Thai

I met a friend recently at her favorite Thai restaurant, Sala Thai, near SDSU. Their lunch specials are very affordable, around $5.95 and the place was packed with students and professionals. I was going to try something new but ended up getting one of my favorite Thai dishes, Pad See Ew. It was a cold day and Pad See Ew is a warm and comforting noodle dish. The mild, slightly sweet sauce made from soy sauce, sugar and perhaps oyster sauce(?) is mixed with flat rice noodles, broccoli and your choice of meat. Sala Thai’s version was fair but I prefer the Pad See Ew at Saffron on India.

Appetizer: Fried Calimari

The fried Calimari was an okay start. It isn’t a local exclusive that’s worth dying for. It was about the most unique thing on their menu of appetizers so I choose to get it. I was expecting it to have a more distinct taste. Unfortunately, with, or without the sauce, it’s nothing special. Just go to your local supermarket.

Main Course: Teriyaki Salmon Dinner

Celadon is a Thai restaurant “voted best in San Diego” and can be found in Hillcrest on University Avenue. The ambience is awesome but a little bit crowded, actually a whole lot crowded! I could barely move my chair back without getting clobbered by some lady sitting behind me or a waiter delivering food. The service was okay but nothing spectacular. There was nice mood lighting, perfect date place. Each table had a flickering candle and there were nice tapestries and decorations (i.e. it was a Thai restaurant).

Shrimp Spring Rolls ($7.95 for 4 pieces) - Rice paper stuffed with long rice, onions, mushrooms, and water chestnuts. Served with fresh lettuce, mint leaves, and cucumber. These rolls are fried and you can order Vegetable Spring Rolls instead for $7.25. I don’t like mushrooms, which this is full of, but I had to have another. It’s delicious.

Celadon has moved to a new location! It is now in Hillcrest near Hash House a go go. It has a very different feel. Less Thai. Much more modern. Very LA or NYC metro with its black and white color scheme. (But, it also reminds me of See’s Candies. I kept waiting for the samples, but they never came… They never came!)

We started off with their stuffed chicken wings. I liked the difference between the crispy fried chicken on the outside and the soft minced chicken on the inside.