That might be my favourite dish from any restaurant

I'm also a huge fan of Som tam

I also adore Miang som - a fragrant dressed mixture of pomelo, prawns/crab, shallot and grated coconut which you pick up and eat with betel leaves. Mmmm....

And Thai sticky rice is delicious. Unadorned, it's my very favourite kind.

But there are so many dishes I haven't tried yet, it's such an amazing cuisine and I have so muh more to learn about it.

http://blogs.flyertalk.com//blogs/vi...hai_cooki.html

For Tom Yam Goong (Thai Spicy and Sour Prawn Soup) and Gai Phad Med Mamuang (Sauteed Chicken with Cashew Nuts & Dry Chili), see:

http://blogs.flyertalk.com//blogs/vi...le_thai_c.html

Indeed. I wouldn't miss it in LAS, as the routine of wannabe fine dining establishments in the various hotels does get old after so many renditions. Lotus of Siam is excellent. But at the same time, there are several Thai restaurants that I do believe are its equal, a couple of them here in suburban Northern Virginia (I'm a lucky guy! :D )

Thanks.

Extra chilies for me!

I've been a few times, and found it a bit overhyped. Certainly good, but being played up everywhere as 'the best Thai restaurant in America' built my expectations up a bit higher than the food delivered.

A meal a few months ago at Thai House Express in San Francisco left em blown away--far more flavorful than anything I've had at LoS. Just the first bite of Laab at THE had me convinced. Ruam Mit in St. Paul is another place that I'd suggest over LoS.

Not that LoS is bad--it's certainly stronger than 98% of the US Thai places, just that I think the buildup was too much.

Just went to Thai food for lunch today...

-Pad thai is always a given (no tofu please).
-Red curry
-Thai fried rice (I doubt this is authentic Thai food, but I like the Thai versions a lot better than their Chinese counterparts)
-Tom Yum soup

All of the above as spicy or extra spicy (if I'm dining alone...at home...just in case ;))

On a related note...I've always wondered if Pad thai is an "authentic" Thai dish or something Americanized, like General Tsos Chicken and the like in Chinese cuisine?

Nua Nom Tok
Penang Gai
Larb Gai
Tom Ka Gai
Spicy Lemongrass Soup.

In DC proper do Thai X-ing -- actually get someone else to grab it if you can because the waits for take-out can be all over the place :D -- and Bangkok Bistro.

i'm a simple girl... i like red curry (with tofu) and pad thai (with tofu). mmm, maybe i will order some thai food now! @:-)

There are many Thai dishes that are specialities of a particular region that aren't eaten much elsewhere, but Pad Thai is eaten across the country - I'm sure there's plenty of variation though.

I can't see how it could have been Americanised as it's very popular in Europe and I've never heard of General Tsos Chicken.

The Thais have a long history of absorbing new ingredients and making them their own (chili only came recently - the traditional 'big four' seasonings are salt, garlic, cilantro/coriander root and peppercorns). Muslim spices have come from the South, Chinese influences from the North, and the Thais are still assimilating Western ingredients.

But Pad Thai isn't so different from Japanese yakisoba. The noodles probably mean it's got Chinese influences, but Americanised? Only certain versions that might be watered down for foreign palates.

One big difference: pad thai is made from rice flour and yakisoba is made from wheat flour. The taste/texture between the two is entirely different. Pad Thai is more akin to the southern chinese rice stick noodles (米粉 or mǐfěn) or Vietnamese pho noodles.

My favourite Thai dishes are 'pla kee mao' and the raw prawns 'cooked' with fish sauce, lemon, chili and garlic...there are also pieces of a slightly bitter vegetable placed around the shrimp...mmmm, the best. There is also a shrimp dish where the shrimp (tiny) are literally jumping out of the bowl..this dish is served with a lid to keep the shrimp inside..now that is fresh!

Add me to the list for Lotus of Siam!!!!!!^ Anytime I'm just about anywhere on the west coast, I will go (almost) out of my way to get there..the food, ohhhhhh the food!!!!!! (think how homer loves his beer!):D

I am a fan of Thai Basil Chicken-- as long as i remember that "hot" and "Thai hot" are vastly different!