"Upon arrival, our waitress was friendly and quick to take our orders. We both opted for the Chicken Pad Thai in the lunch portion. Much to our surprise, the food arrived at our table just four minutes later. For anyone familiar with authentic Thai or Japanese cuisine, you know that freshly prepared dishes typically require more time to make.
Our first impression was that the portion size was quite generous for a lunch offering. However, there was an unusual aroma coming from the dish. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it smelled spoiled, but it was a scent that didn't match what we expected from this type of food. When we tasted the Pad Thai, we were taken aback by its flavor, which was overwhelmingly reminiscent of noodles mixed with ketchup, fish sauce, and sugar.
When the server checked on us, I inquired whether the dish was prepared traditionally. She assured me that they only use authentic ingredients and claimed that this is how the dish would taste if we were in Thailand. This was surprising information to me, as our experiences with Thai and Japanese food in various U.S. cities have led us to believe the traditional dishes generally have a consistent taste. However, she didn’t offer us an alternative dish.
After this conversation, we started to worry about the two specialty rolls we had ordered: the Beverly Hills Roll and the Hot Mama. Although the rolls were beautifully presented, they were unfortunately not fresh and appeared to be pre-made. The cream cheese in the Beverly Hills roll was nearly impossible to chew, and the "white fish" in the Hot Mama did not resemble any white fish I have ever tasted.
The server noticed that we had hardly touched our food and asked why. I honestly shared our disappointment, to which she replied, “I’m sorry you don’t like our food, but your tastes seem more suited for those American places.” I found that amusing. We’ve enjoyed meals at both upscale establishments and small, family-run restaurants with Thai and Japanese staff, consistently receiving excellent food.
I won’t be returning to Amazing Thai. Save your hard-earned money and consider dining at Kikos on University Drive just north of 595 or Japan Inn on University Drive just south of Sunrise Blvd instead; both are significantly better options."
Tom Yum Shrimp
