Thai Spice. Covington: 1531 US 190. 985-809-6483.

Written by Tom Fitzmorris October 18, 2010 20:28 in

3 Fleur
Average check per person $15-$25
 BreakfastNo Breakfast SundayNo Breakfast MondayNo Breakfast TuesdayNo Breakfast WednesdayNo Breakfast ThursdayNo Breakfast FridayNo Breakfast Saturday
LunchLunch SundayLunch MondayLunch TuesdayLunch WednesdayLunch ThursdayLunch FridayLunch Saturday
DinnerDinner SundayDinner MondayDinner TuesdayDinner WednesdayDinner ThursdayDinner FridayDinner Saturday

Thai Spice

Covington: 1531 US 190. 985-809-6483. Map.
Casual.
AE MC V
Website

WHY IT'S NOTEWORTHY
The best demonstration of the health of Thai cookery on the North Shore is that this one coexists with a related but different and equally good Thai restaurant across the highway. Although both were put together by the same guy and appear to have the same menu, in fact the cooking style of Thai Spice is noticeably different. I go back and forth from one to another, doubling my pleasure.

WHAT'S GOOD
If I had to pick out one outstanding characteristic of Thai Spice's food, it would be the excellence and quantity of the vegetables it uses in many of its dishes. The meat components, while not ungenerous, take a back seat to these vividly flavorful, crunchy veggies, all awash in well-made Thai sauces.

BACKSTORY
Thai Spice was originally on the other side of the highway, operated by Ricky Seubsanh. A family squabble caused Ricky to move to the other side of US 190, taking the name with him. He brought in his nephew to help run the place, but wound up returning to the other side to open Thai Thai. The nephew and his family continued on at Thai Spice. If there's been a change in the food here after all that, I haven't detected it.

DINING ROOM
It's a space in a strip mall, originally built as a Mexican fast-food operation. Although Thai decor was added wherever it would fit (since two walls are completely of glass, there aren't many such places), the restaurant is still rather spare, but gets a good feeling from the brightness and high ceilings. Most of the staff is family and serves quietly and well.

ESSENTIAL DISHES
Starters
»Soft spring roll
Crispy spring roll
»Cheese roll
Steamed dumplings or fried dumplings
Chicken satay
»Thai chicken wings
Calamari
»Tom yum soup (chicken or shrimp)
»Tom kha soup (chicken or shrimp)
Entrees
Items marked with * available with chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, or tofu
*Fried rice
Pineapple fried rice
Yum woon sen (salad with shrimp and pork)
»Thai beef or chicken salad
»*Pad thai
*Pad woon sen
»*Pad kee mow
»*Thai curry: red, green, Panang, or musuman style
»*Thai stir-fry with basil, ginger, cashews or garlic
»*Jungle curry (heavy on vegetables)
Duck with Thai basil
»Paradise shrimp (with lemongrass)
»Siam Ocean (a seafood stew)
»Spicy whole fish
Desserts
Sweet rice pudding with coconut

FOR BEST RESULTS
You can get any meat with any dish, but ask the waiter what he recommends with the sauce you're interested in, and go with his suggestion.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
The enormous windows catch too much sunlight at times. Some kind of blinds would help.

FACTORS OTHER THAN FOOD
Up to three points, positive or negative, for these characteristics. Absence of points denotes average performance in the matter.

  • Dining Environment
  • Consistency
  • Service-1
  • Value +2
  • Attitude +1
  • Wine & Bar
  • Hipness
  • Local Color

 

SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES
  • Good for business meetings
  • Open Sunday lunch and dinner
  • Open Monday lunch and dinner
  • Open most holidays
  • Unusually large servings
  • Quick, good meal
  • Good for children
  • Easy, nearby parking