Julia Holody – Staff Writer

juh664@psu.edu

Thai Eatery is hands down the best Thai restaurant in the city of Erie.

The restaurant is located at 5641 Peach Street, conveniently located near the Millcreek Mall. They offer dine-in and takeout services, so customers can enjoy traditional Thai cuisine anywhere. 

The exterior of the restaurant is unassuming, with the establishment hidden in a strip mall. However, I highly recommend dining in, because the restaurant’s interior is newly renovated. The walls are painted a cool sage green and are adorned with clusters of faux ferns. The lush atmosphere is accompanied by the sound of smooth jazz playing on the radio, making for a comfortable dining experience. 

The employees of the restaurant have always been polite, charming, and helpful. I can safely say that I have never had an unpleasant encounter with any of the restaurant staff. Nate, the owner of the restaurant, has made it a point to say hello to my family and I whenever we visit. His hard work and dedication to crafting exquisite Thai dishes coupled with his impeccable customer service and warm demeanor makes him a restaurant owner of the highest standard.

When eating out, it can be difficult for people with food allergies and dietary restrictions to find a restaurant with meals that meet their nutritional requirements. This is no problem for Thai Eatery, which has a customizable menu like no other. Each of the dishes bears a description of the ingredients it contains. As someone with Celiac Disease, I really appreciate how their menu identifies which dishes can be made gluten free. The menu also distinguishes the vegetarian and vegan options, and warns about the presence of peanuts and seafood. However, it is important to note that peanuts are a staple ingredient in Thai food, so customers with peanut or tree nut allergies should be cautious when dining at any Thai restaurant.

I have ordered from the Thai Eatery menu more times than I can count, and I would like to highlight some of the best meals that the restaurant has to offer. The appetizers are always a great place to start, whether you are sharing them with friends or enjoying them for yourself. The fresh spring rolls are my personal favorite, and they can be ordered fried as well. The crab rangoons are a fan favorite. They also offer traditional Thai soups and salads, like the savory Nam Sod salad with ground chicken and spicy lime dressing, or a cup of Tom Yum soup with mushrooms and tomatoes floating in a zesty broth of lemongrass and chili. 

The noodles at Thai Eatery are arguably the best in town. It would not be a Thai restaurant if it did not have Pad Thai, stir fried noodles with your choice of protein, eggs, scallions, bean sprouts, and crushed peanuts. Most of the dishes at Thai Eatery give customers the option to choose which protein they prefer for their dishes, like chicken, mixed seafood, and tofu to name a few. They also let customers choose how spicy they want their food on a scale of 1-5, and they can even opt for a no-spice option. As for the types of noodles, the menu will specify which noodles will be used in the dishes. For example, the Pad See Ew has wide rice noodles that soak up the soy sauce in the dish, while the Drunken Mama consists of curls of fried egg noodles. 

My favorite entrees at Thai Eatery are the curry dishes. They consist of a warm curry broth garnished with spices and filled with vegetables and, once again, a protein of choice. They come with a side of white rice that soaks up the flavor. My personal favorite is the pineapple curry, which contains a sweet and spicy blend of pineapples, carrots, bell peppers, eggplants, coconut milk in red curry paste. The pumpkin curry is a seasonal favorite that everyone should try at least once, with pumpkins, carrots, bell peppers, eggplants, coconut milk in red curry paste creating a sweet and nutty flavor profile. 

Thai Eatery is the hidden gem of Erie County that deserves more recognition. It is open every day of the week except Monday, and I urge everyone to dine in at the establishment for lunch or dinner. Thai Eatery has been my favorite restaurant since it opened, and I know it will be yours too.