Mark on the Shore

Mark’s Score   8.6

I appreciate the wide choice of Asian cuisine in our region.  When I post about my Asian culinary experiences, I get two reactions; those people who point out the lack of good Chinese food, and those people who give me new leads. Multiple times people have mentioned my failure to review Teera Thai. Thai cuisine is one of the great cuisines of Asia, so I decided to correct that oversight. 

Teera Thai is owned by local residents; Teera Koiprasert and Jonathan Lopez.  They opened Teera Thai in May of 2024. Their stated mission is to offer authentic traditional Thai dishes made with fresh high-quality ingredients, reflecting the rich culinary heritage of Thailand in a casual friendly atmosphere. 

I was on the north side of town at Petco. Since Terra is just a short distance from Petco, I decided to give it a try. Teera is located in a small storefront in the same strip mall as Cactus Taverna on the southbound side of Rte 13. For me, atmosphere is part of the experience, so a restaurant located in a strip mall is already a negative. It is hard to have a memorable experience in a strip mall. The fact that the restaurant is lighted with harsh fluorescent lighting is also a negative. A note to all restauranteurs, food never looks its best under harsh blue light.

This was my first visit, so I was going to order something traditional like Pad Thai or green curry. But then I saw Crispy Pork Belly with Chinese Broccoli on the menu and it sounded so interesting I decided to order it. I have firm views about Asian cuisine. Indian food should be spicy and bold. Japanese food is about textures, flavor combinations, and presentation. Vietnamese food is subtly delicate, and Thai food should be aromatic with a bold balance of flavors. 

Teera Thai is a self-proclaimed casual restaurant, so I was pleasantly surprised to see an exquisitely presented dish. The food was beautifully arranged in a black scalloped plate. This was far from casual, it was elegant. It is obvious that the chef takes pride in their work. In many Asian cuisines, presentation is as important as the food itself. The dish screamed, “I am proud of this food.” With my anticipation raised, I took a bite. The dish had that delicate fragrantly aromatic quality that I appreciate in Thai cuisine. It was perfectly cooked and boldly flavorful. It seemed like a lot of food when the waitress brought it out.  But I enjoyed it so much I ate the entire dish, which is rare for me. Also, in many Asian cultures it is rude to eat everything on the plate, so I almost always leave something in Asian restaurants. 

Who would have thought, sitting under a bright fluorescent light in a strip mall, that I would find a memorable meal? For me, that is the greatest praise I could give any restaurant, my experience was indeed memorable. I wish I hadn’t taken so long to visit.