Viet Thai
Exploring a culture through food
A friend whose opinion I trust once told me, “Pay attention when you go to a restaurant, especially when the cuisine is not American. If the people eating there are of the same country (as the cuisine) then the food is good and authentic.” Those words have stuck with me for years.
When you walk into Viet Thai off Johnston Road, the majority of the patrons are of Asian descent. There is a healthy dose of American patrons as well, but when you look around and listen most of the people are not speaking English. This is a good thing. Viet Thai is a little restaurant that I found on a whim. It is on the south side of town and sits on the backside of a Burlington Coat Factory in a strip mall that is easily missed.
When you walk into Viet Thai, there is no pomp and circumstance. The space is wide and there are booths along the walls and a few tables that house groups or large parties of people. The servers are all of Asian descent and most are very knowledgeable about the cuisine. Paul, who has been at the restaurant for a few years, was helping our server (we had a lot of questions!) and was more than happy to help and answer any question we had. Vietnamese and Thai cuisine is known for their freshness, and everything here is fresh and made to order. The salads are extremely popular and known for their freshness. This restaurant offers a unique perspective as it gives you Vietnamese and Thai food, so the menu can be overwhelming.
Most people only know one Thai dish: Pad Thai. I’m not the biggest fan of the dish because the noodles always seem mushy to me. With a menu this big, there is no reason to order the norm, so I don’t and venture out. On this occasion, for my first dish I ordered Pho Ga (pronounced fuh). It’s a traditional Vietnamese dish made with beef steeped in a rich flavorful broth. This version of Pho is made with chicken and the broth is full of spring onions and cilantro and noodles reminiscent of the 10-cent packs of Ramen noodles. Pho comes with mung beans, fresh Thai basil and wedges of lime all as condiments . While to me the soup is more of an appetizer, it is designed to be a main dish. It comes in three sizes: medium, large and extra large. Let me just say that I have never seen a bowl that big in my life. The Pho was extremely good and the broth was exceptional. Soon after the rest of our meal came out and the second phase began.
For the second round I ordered a Thai dish affectionately know as No. 85. It is called Pad Khing. I was told that it was a popular dish at the restaurant, especially for people who have never eaten Thai food. It’s chicken, beef or pork sautéed with fresh ginger, scallions and mushrooms in a brown sauce. While this dish was good it was extremely heavy on the ginger. Every flavor and element of the dish plays on your tongue like a carefully selected musical composition, each knowing when to play their part. This dish is served with white rice, which is great for soaking up the juices. 
Oddly enough, this place is also known for its smoothies and bubble tea, which can be made with or without tapioca balls. I am not much of a tapioca or a smoothie-after-dark kind of girl, but one thing I love is Vietnamese or Thai coffee. I discovered this little gem a few years ago and it surpasses any iced coffee that Starbucks could ever make. Vietnamese and Thai coffees are made with dark coffee and sweetened with condensed milk, with spices then poured over ice. The combination is heaven. After drinking this there is no need for dessert because it is liquid dessert.
No matter what part of Charlotte you live in, Viet Thai is worth the trek for traditional and exceptional Vietnamese or Thai food. It’s a great way to explore a culture through its food.
