Thai Jasmine Spices Up O’Fallon

This month we’re pitting two of O’Fallon’s best Thai restaurants against one another for yet another Restaurant Battle. Thai Jasmine and Thai Gourmet each get to show off what they can do with some basil leaves, hot sauce and fresh vegetables. Chime in and predict your favorite before we post the results of our battle.


It's always a good sign when there's a short wait before lunch. When I visited , the tiny 10 table restaurant was bustling.

The small dining room had a warm, cozy feel without seeming overcrowded.  The open space was slightly divided by short privacy walls separating the perimeter booths.  A sushi bar with four tall stools anchored the back of the room.

Thai Jasmine was obviously a favorite among local business groups. Three of the 10  tables were set up to fit groups of six. Those were all packed with men who pinged my Computer Coder radar.

The menu was neatly split between Japanese and Thai offerings. A quick glance at nearby tables revealed people didn’t have a strong preference for sushi or Thai.

I was pleased to discover the sushi menu had some genuinely interesting options. The Volcano roll came with avocado, crab stick, cream cheese, pineapple, sweet sauce and hot sauce, all deep fried then served on a bed of carrots and fish eggs.

Over on the Thai side, they offered the usual mix of stir fried vegetables in a sweet and spicy sauce or curries drowned in delicious coconut milk. I was mighty tempted by the Green Curry with peas and bell peppers in a sweet, spicy sauce made of coconut milk with a dash of curry paste.

If you’re not familiar with Thai food, you’ll find it’s full of familiar vegetables. Carrots, potatoes, onions, peppers and green beans are in a lot of the dishes. If not for the seasonings and thin sliced meat it would sound like the description of a typical midwestern Sunday dinner.

Sure, I was there to try the Thai food, but in the spirit of completeness, I succumbed to the temptation of the Boston roll with its tuna, cucumber, avocado and sesame seeds.

I started with some ambiguous chicken dumplings. The menu didn’t label them as either Japanese or Thai. They turned out to be six crunchy, deep fried potstickers drenched in sweetened soy sauce. The thin wonton wrappers had a satisfying crunch before giving way to the buttery soft chicken filling within. The contrast of the soy sauce’s salt and the slightly sweet filling made for a tasty bite.  The six small pieces would be a good sharable appetizer.


My Boston roll was a nice piece of sushi. The sesame seeds gave a slightly bitter, nutty bite as a contrast to the natural sweetness of the tuna, all balanced by the creamy texture of the avocado.

While I liked the sushi and potstickers, I’m pleased to report my actual Thai entree was my favorite thing. Everything about my Basil Chicken was done right. Red and green bell peppers, carrots, and onions were stir fried until a perfect crisp-tender. The fresh basil leaves and thin sliced chicken gave a wonderful texture contrast in the spicy sauce. What's not to love?  Anyone trying to eat more veggies and avoid carbs should try Thai food. Ignore the rice and Thai food is diabetic, low-carb and paleo friendly.

Thai Jasmine is a real treat for anyone who likes spicy food. You can get your entrees entirely heat-free. Heck, there wasn’t a hint of heat in my sushi or dumplings. However, since they had a heat scale, I decided to give it a try with a medium-hot entree. Within four bites, my nose was trickling and my lips had a pleasant tingle I haven't felt in far too long.

The Boston roll made a perfect contrast with my surprisingly spicy Basil Chicken. The cool tuna within and creamy avocado perfectly tamed the spice from my entree. I found myself alternating bites between the sushi and the entree.

It was nice to see a family run restaurant clearly so popular they had a small wait for tables. It warms my heart when good food is rewarded by loyal customers.

The total for my Basil Chicken, Chicken Dumplings, Boston Roll and an iced tea came to $23 plus a $4 tip.

The diverse menu, fast service, and cosy feel make me pleased to give Thai Jasmine a solid A-.