The Tantalizing Taste of Thai Basil Bistro

As the Perkiomen Valley’s lone Thai restaurant, in the Marketplace at Collegeville represents its cuisine style well, as evidenced by sets of tables occupied by smiling, belly-happy locals out for a lunch away from work.

Infamous for its lunch deal of $10.99 for a soup, appetizer and a heartily heated entrée, the quality of this spice-savvy grub matches a price well beyond what matches the bill before grabbing up leftovers to head back to the good old 9 to 5.

The sweet-and-spice-swept allure of creamy orange Thai iced tea perks the palate refreshingly next to a hot meal. The coconut water is an equally ahh-inspiring and delicately prepared drink.

The Thai ravioli soup, which incorporates a sampling of shrimp and chicken wrapped in wonton with a clear, easy broth and helpings of rich veggies, makes for a healthy start to the meal.

A line of four, crispy, golden-fried bean curd triangles served with sweet-and-sour sauce reminds the palate why Thai is such a worthy lunch escape once in a while—the pieces are warm, but not too hot for the tongue to handle between dipping endeavors.

Green chicken curry, an iconic Thai sampling, features coconut milk, bamboo shoots, cucumber cuts, broccoli, red peppers, carrots, lengthy pea pods and wide-set leaves of fresh basil. The accompanying plop of white rice is ready to balance things out when the currying gets too tough for the toughest of gustatory cells.

The restaurant is known for its freshly made phở each week, running out of batches in just a few days. And Thai Basil Bistro’s Vietnamese noodle soup, pined for by those who know it well, is just one more complement to the restaurant, where those dining could hardly guess they’re in a strip mall.

The quick and friendly service is accommodating to those with food allergies, and, thankfully, those also just looking for an affordable and fulfilling meal different from American fare.

Find Thai Basil Bistro at 305 Second Ave. in Collegeville.