A new Asian fast food joint is rarely big news, but in the case of three-week-old Thai2Go, a couple of key details set it apart from the crowd.
For starters, Thai2Go is located in the new Cityville development on Medical District Drive. This heavily-trafficked cross street connecting Harry Hines Boulevard and Maple Avenue is a smart location, given its proximity to UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland and Children's Hospitals. Thousands of doctors, nurses and administrative professionals work less than a mile away (not to mention all the students and patients), their dining options are limited, and they all have far more excess cash than, Observer writers.
Funny, then, that restaurants near our offices include The Mansion, Cyclone Anaya's...
Second of all, as the name implies, Thai2Go specializes in Thai cuisine. Its motto, "Clean Food, Good Taste" (as opposed to the normal dirty crap, we suppose) promises a welcome respite from greasy takeout staples. It's also worth mentioning that the "2Go" part is misleading. The small, clean restaurant has plenty of seating if you'd like to dine-in, and delivery is also an option.
The Thai2go Curry ($7.95) seemed a natural choice for an inaugural
meal at this new spot, with the idea that any dish named for the
restaurant its served in is going to receive special attention. After
informing the friendly server behind the counter that we would be
eating "here", a china bowl of colorful vegetables and chicken in
brothy sauce emerged just a few minutes later, fragrant with fresh
basil. Light and spicy, the heat of the dish was allowed to run free
and unchecked.
Thai2Go's Custard and Sticky Rice ($4.95) combined glistening
sweetened rice, slices of golden coconut custard, mango and a
smattering of sesame seeds in a dish that left us wishing we'd skipped
right to the end of the meal.
On the downside, popular as Medical District Drive is with folks
coming to and from the hospital, it can be a real pain for anyone else
to find if they're unfamiliar with the area. Mapquest helps. Also,
street level parking is limited, but after a little hunting you'll
perhaps find the underground garage.
Finally, portion sizes at Thai2Go are on the small side compared to similar places. Some might argue, however, that restaurant portions in general have become grossly overinflated.