Yesterday, Moody and I headed over to Cyclo for lunch. When we got there, the place was packed so rather than wait, we decided to head across the street to Thai Rama. I've been to Thai Rama a few times before, and although the food is nowhere near as good as the food at Swaddee or Yupha's, it had always done the job when a Thai craving was at hand.

We were in a bit of a hurry, so by the time the waitress came by to take our drink orders, we were ready to order everything. I went with the yellow curry. I asked for it "super spicy". I love really hot food, and am usually able to tolerate the hottest foods that most eateries can dish out. I get tired of telling wait staff that "no I haven't eater here before, but I want it as hot as you can make it", or "yes, I mean number 10". Our waitress didn't argue, and I was happy for that.

When the waitress returned with our order, I immediately noticed something off about my yellow curry. The first thing that got me was the layer of oil floating on top with bits of pepper throughout. The pepper I didn't mind, but the oil definitely didn't belong there. There was also an odd odor. It took me a few minutes to place it, but I finally realized it was habanero. The first bite was completely disappointing. Not only was the curry devoid of any flavor, it was so unbalanced that all I got was heat and the pungent taste of habanero. The dish was definitely spicy, which was good, but it came completely at the expense of any flavor. The chicken was bland, the potatoes were overcooked, and anything else that was in there had completely turned to mush. Worst of all, there was absolutely no coconut flavor.

I think I remember now why I don't go to Thai Rama on a regular basis - there are just too many better choices for Thai in the area. Next time I'm in a pinch, I'll save myself the disappointment and head down the road to Swaddee.

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Comments (Comment Moderation is enabled. Your comment will not appear until approved.)
prakash shah's Gravatar we were regular customer of Thai Rama since they opened(i think 2004).
No doubt food is great but owner(ED) is very rude and greedy, sometime we ordered food for take out and they charged(hidden) for condiments like sauce, normally no restaurant charge for condiments, they don't mentioned for charges over phone.
so we stopped take out.
we went to sit down and ordered food, we like to had row onion on side, they know us very well, time for paying, they charge us for onion and all condiments(chilly garlic sauce, chilly powder) etc.
we asked why did you charged us, you guys never did or nobody ask or explained.
they said that everything is getting expensive, but we ask for let us know when we ordered.
then they said sorry, we'll remove and blah blah.
bottom line is they try to collect extra and hidden more money from customers, we caught them several times in making mistake in total, always 'sorry'.
they make good food but they think they can cheat people for few dollars.
# Posted By prakash shah | 7/10/07 2:23 PM
prakash shah's Gravatar now we go to Swaddee thai restaurant, they're not greedy like Thai Rama owner ( ED) , they're little expensive than Thai Rama but no disappointment or rude behaviour.
# Posted By prakash shah | 5/14/08 5:58 PM
Rob Brooks-Bilson's Gravatar Hi Prakash,

Swaddee is my favorite as well. I agree that they are a little pricier than most, but they do have a good lunch special, and their taste is well worth it.
# Posted By Rob Brooks-Bilson | 5/17/08 9:55 AM
prakash shah's Gravatar I think Swaddee is best Thai restaurant in Chandler area.service is best and no no hidden charge.
# Posted By prakash shah | 6/11/08 5:20 PM
Rob Brooks-Bilson's Gravatar Hi Prakash,

I agree RE swaddee being the best in Chandler.
# Posted By Rob Brooks-Bilson | 6/20/08 3:35 PM
unknown's Gravatar I have been going to restaurants for a long time and I know that if I order extra of something, that usually involves a charge. That you expect everything to be free is ridiculous. I go to Thai Rama all the time and the servers are all very nice to me and the food is good. If I remember correctly, on their menu it said that extra veggies are $1.50. Is red onion a vegetable? Yes, i think it is. I wouldn't consider it a condiment, like ketchup? Have you ever bought red onions? They are not free in a store so why should they be free in a restaurant? Maybe the reason the owner was rude to you was because you were rude to her first. How much did she charge you? $1.00, $2.00, .75 cents? I got charged 1.50 for ranch dressing in a restaurant before. No big deal. Maybe the problem was you as the customer.
# Posted By unknown | 12/18/08 12:12 AM
prakash shah's Gravatar not a problem about charge for onion, i went to lots of Thai restaurant nationwide, normally they said if they charge for anything.
Normally waiter let customer know if they charge extra for something, i paid $3 for little onion in Florida, no problem.
pay for onion on side is not big deal but they should let us know, we used to go to Thai Rama twice week since they open.
Would you pay for soy sauce, chily sauce?
Normally all restaurant people ask if they are going to charge for something extraor ask you .
If you pay $40 or more dinner, you wouldn't mind to pay $1 extra for onion.
# Posted By prakash shah | 1/28/09 1:01 PM
prakash shah's Gravatar you post your comment as unknown, means you are from restaurant family.
Normally customer pay 15% tips, don't like to be cheated for 50 cents.
I usually paid $ 8 for dinner entry at Thai Rama, now i happily pay $ 11 for dinner entry at Swaddee.
# Posted By prakash shah | 1/28/09 1:06 PM
prakash shah's Gravatar problem is hidden charge, customer don't mind to pay for anything extra if it's in knowledge.
you wouldn't pay for tape water, maybe someone come and ask for it when you pay for your bill.
Would you pay for ketchup at Burger king or McDonalds?
it was samething, Thai Rama charged us for soy sauce $1, chilly sauce $1.
charge should be reasonable,i told you that food is great at Thai rama.
But it hurt when somebody try to cheat you or try to make you stupid for 50 cents or one dollar even you pay $6 in tips.
My email is here, don't hesitate to send email as unknown person.
# Posted By prakash shah | 1/29/09 4:40 PM
prakash shah's Gravatar and it's pretty common in Thai restaurant, i went to restaurant in Mesa(pallee's or something), we ordered extra white rice, we were four people, they served white rice in small bowl for one person and charged for four persons($4 for small bowl of rice), they said it's thai tradition for charge more money after you eat.
i called to AMEX and canceled that charge and tip.
we didn't have any bad experience about food or charges in Swaddee thai restaurant in Chandler, and FYI i don't work for Swaddee.
Customer like to pay more money for food and tip but don't like be cheated.
# Posted By prakash shah | 1/30/09 3:46 PM
unknown's Gravatar I'm not sure why you assume that I am in the restaurants family, I just personally don't like everyone in the world wide web to know my name and info. Just habit I guess. I have seen your other posts and if they charged youfor soy sauce, which I find hard to believe, that was wrong. When I went there, they never charged me for soy sauce or chili sauce or any spice, but they charged you? Weird. Anyways, the reason that I am replying back to you is that you proved my point. You went to yet another restaurant, and got confrontational about the fact that they charged you for something extra. You even went as far as calling the credit card company to have the poor servers tip reversed! DO you know that servers in arizona barely make $3 per hour? And after taxes, the paycheck is pretty minimal, so their base income is tips, I know because I have been a server before, and you actually called to take back your tip!?!?
If I don't like a restaurant, I just don't go back. Is it the servers fault that the owner wants to charge extra for things? And for you to say that hidden charges and cheating must be "common in Thai Restaurant", ridiculous. What are you implying? I can see you are upset at my previous comments, because you posted four more times since then, and I am sorry for causing you such distress, but if you can't see a pattern emerging from your encounters with different restaurants, then I don't know what to say.
# Posted By unknown | 2/5/09 12:07 AM
prakash shah's Gravatar i canceled tip because owner was server.i worked for $4.25 in my life, if i have problem with owner or about food still i pay 15% or more to server in cash.
we don't go to Thai Rama since two years because as you said that if you don't like then don't go.
we go where we feel more comfortable and no hidden charges apply.
# Posted By prakash shah | 2/10/09 11:53 AM
Bah Bah's Gravatar Well, I think you should learn how to cook Thai food and cook it at home. So you dont have to go out to eat at Thai restaurant (they probably get tired of you) and also you will save 50 cents of extra onion!!!!!!! Go to www.Google.com/how to make thai food with onion!!!!
# Posted By Bah Bah | 3/1/09 6:05 AM



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