Thamnak Thai - Cedar Park

Thamnak Thai - Cedar Park

Written by Deb Arnold Thursday, 07 September 2006

Authentic Thai cuisine full of flavor

As our dinner party entered the serene atmosphere of Thamnak Thai restaurant, I thought how things have changed during the past twenty-plus years. I would never have imagined that Cedar Park would have an authentic Thai restaurant. But this restaurant, owned and operated by Ott Chantangsu for almost four years, is an excellent example of the diversified cuisine springing up in Cedar Park.

Thamnak Thai’s menu is well-rounded with a variety of choices ranging from soups, salads, curry dishes, rice, stir fries, and noodles—all of which offer choices of beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, or tofu.

For the appetizers we selected three of the restaurant’s favorites. The vegetarian egg rolls (2 for $3) were crisp and full of well-seasoned vegetables served with a delicate sweet and sour dipping sauce. The coconut shrimp (6 for $5) were served on fresh julienned carrots with a tart cucumber salad, and the golden cheese rolls (4 for $3) were crisply fried with a seasoned cream cheese filling.

Next we ordered some of the restaurant’s soups. The Tom Yum soup, a spicy bowl of shrimp, onion, mushrooms, lemongrass, and Kaffir-lime leaves in a flavorful broth ($3.50) was delicious. The Wonton soup with fresh, tender shrimp and chicken wontons immersed in a flavorful broth full of cabbage, cilantro, and carrots ($3.50) was excellent. Even our dyed-in-the-wool “meat-and-potato man” thoroughly enjoyed this soup.

Finally, we were ready for the main courses. The vermicelli noodle dish with grilled chicken ($7.50) served over freshly tossed mixed greens and topped with finely ground peanuts was delicate yet full of flavor, especially with the accompanying side of sweet and sour sauce. The fried rice dish ($7) was chocked full of succulent shrimp, egg, onion, and tomatoes beautifully prepared and presented. The Pad Prik ($7.50), a moderately spicy dish, was served on a bed of fluffy rice with perfectly grilled shrimp, green bell peppers, sweet onions and mushrooms. The Pad Pak ($7.50), braised beef served in a light brown sauce with a medley of vegetables that included onions, peppers, and miniature corn served with an ample portion of steamed rice ($7.50) was as appetizing as it was eye appealing.

To complete our dinner we opted for two of the dessert choices-a parfait glass filled with a creamy homemade coconut ice cream laced with golden, sweet jackfruit ($3), and the sweet rice crowned with a generous serving of fresh mango ($4.50)--my personal favorite.

Ott’s Favorites

Chu-Chi Salmon - Grilled salmon with pepper, kaffir leaf and basil in special curry sauce, ($12.50)

Pad Kra Prao - Choice of beef, chicken, pork, shrimp or tofu stir-fried with bell pepper, onion, mushroom and basil, ($7.50)

Green Curry - Choice of beef, chicken, pork, shrimp or tofu with basil, bamboo, bell pepper and zucchini, ($7.50)

Lunch M-F: 11am-3pm • Dinner M-Th: 5pm-9:30pm

Fri: 5pm-10pm • Sat: 11am-10pm

Thamnak Thai, 200 Buttercup Creek Blvd., Cedar Park, TX, 512-331-3810

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