If you’re the type of adventurous eater that enjoys discovering a new five-star hole-in-the-wall, then listen up. While driving on sunset drive, you’ll find an array of Thai restaurants in the span of a 1-mile radius, but look no further than 72nd street and 104th avenue. There’s a small shopping center where you’ll find an adult book & video store and a smoke shop, but all the way on the left you find a little restaurant called “Siam Gourmet”. It’s owned by an elderly Thai couple—the husband waits on the tables while the wife cooks. The setting is fairly intimate with a maximum capacity of about 25 and soft Asian music playing in the background. The windows are tainted, the parking is scant, and the location itself may seem uninviting, but (trust me) it’s fantastic.
In order for you to fully appreciate how delicious Thai food can be, it’s vital that you try a few different dishes and develop an appreciation and taste for the overall cuisine. For now I want to start you off on the right track and give you a few different meal suggestions.
On an inevitably hot Miami summer day, try the Thai iced tea, which is basically just Thai tea leaves, condensed milk, evaporated or coconut milk, water, and sugar. It has a distinct orangey, spicy flavor and is a great accompaniment or even desert. If you’re in the mood for an appetizer, their vegetable spring rolls are among the best I’ve tried and they’re always served steaming hot with duck sauce of course.
My personal favorite dish is the traditional Red Curry with chicken—made with coconut milk, crunchy bamboo shoots, red peppers, green peppers, and peas. It is served in a bowl with a side of white rice. The soft sweetness of the coconut milk with the hotness of the spices and the crunchiness of the veggies is simply mind-blowing. Once you’re finished, don’t feel embarrassed, pick up the bowl, and drink what’s left. When you come back for seconds (and, believe me, you will), try the Pad Thai, which is one of their most popular dishes. If you don’t know what Pad Thai is, it’s a dish based on noodles that contains eggs, bean sprouts, chicken, shrimp, and is usually topped with crushed peanuts; it’s also served with fluffy white rice. If you’re a seafood lover, order the spicy seafood soup, which is a clear broth packed with shrimp, mussels, scallops, and other fish. It tastes like the sea smells, but spicier. However, since the soup is considerably filling, I’d recommend having it as the main course.
One of the ingredients that give Thai food its distinct and delicious flavor is fish sauce. Pretty much, fish sauce is a condiment that’s made from fermented fish. It’s a staple in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines that’s used during the cooking process in virtually all meals. The more fermented it is, the smoother and less fishy the taste.
Thai restaurants are abundant in Miami, but, too often, they are operated as concepts or “inventive” cultural fusions (e.g. Sushi Samba, Thai Sushi & Bistro). Siam gourmet is pure, undiluted, and refined Thai fare done right. The food is authentic, fresh, flavorful, and moderately priced. If you haven’t followed my gist, try Siam Gourmet. It’s quite possibly the best Thai restaurant in Miami.
Siam Gourmet Thai Restaurant
10480 SW 72nd Avenue 33173
(305) 273-0486
Food: *****
Price: $$$
Date-Worthy: ♥♥½
(Note: Ratings are out of five)
- Gabriel Heredero
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