The Sacramento region’s most underrated Thai restaurants, as chosen by readers

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A great neighborhood Thai restaurant can produce familiar curries that warm the soul from the inside out, or wow the taste buds by experiment with Southeast Asia’s cornucopia of flavors.

You’ll find both in the Sacramento region — with a little crowdsourced help.

We asked The Sacramento Bee’s readers to nominate the region’s most underrated Southeast Asian restaurants, and got enough replies to fill two lists. Readers’ choices of the most underrated Thai restaurants are up first, followed by Vietnamese favorites in the near future.

Bangkok@12 Thai: Downtown Sacramento workers — and sadly, erratic drivers’ cars — have long navigated toward Nancy Phupong’s corner Thai restaurant for salmon in garlic chili sauce or yum woo sen, a glass noodle salad with shrimp and ground chicken.

900 12th St., Sacramento; (916) 443-5588.

Bangkok Garden: Chicken wings come coated in your choice of peanut, garlic, Sriracha, citrus or chili sauce at this North Natomas restaurant in Truxel Station shopping center. And fear not: you’ll also find classic Thai dishes such as see sa hai (scallops, squid, shrimp and catfish sautéed with vegetables in a spicy paste), along with a vegan menu.

2069 Arena Blvd., Suite 170, Sacramento; (916) 263-9600.

House of Thai Rice & Noodle: Down-home Thai American plates of basil fried rice and crispy catfish salad make this no-frills North Highlands restaurant a strong budget option.

5738 Watt Ave., Suite 4752, North Highlands; (916) 333-2591.

JP Thai Kitchen: Try the chicken avocado curry, steamed whole pompano or smoked eggplant topped with a spicy basil sauce and crispy Thai basil at this homey South Land Park favorite.

6004 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento; (916) 391-8996.

Kin Thai Street Eatery: Sister Napis Lindley and Napak Kongsitthanakor’s midtown Sacramento concept gives traditional Thai street foods modern-day California restaurant makeovers, as seen with moo ping (marinated pork skewers with chili-tamarind sauce) or kanom pakkaad (pan-fried turnip cakes in sweet chili sauce).

1050 20th St., Suite 180, Sacramento; (916) 619-8144.

Loving Hut: This Taiwan-based chain in Elk Grove Landing is entirely vegan, at times substituting soy protein for meat (golden wontons, bun bo Hue) and alternatively leaning deeper into vegetables (Buddha’s Delight with mushrooms, bok choy, carrots, bamboo shoots, snow peas, baby corn and jujubes) to make meals pop.

8355 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 800, Elk Grove; (916) 478-9590.

Rum Thai Bistro: An ornately-decorated Sterling Pointe shopping center with a dark wood bar, Rum Thai has developed a devoted Placer County following thanks to dishes such as roast duck in red curry or pad king sod, fresh ginger stir-fried with vegetables and customer’s choice of protein.

880 Sterling Parkway, Suite 20, Lincoln; (916) 543-7300.

Sai Varee: A Pocket favorite founded in Promenade Shopping Center in 2014, Sai Varee’s specialties include mi krop (deep-fried noodles with shrimp and chicken in a sweet-and-sour sauce) and bamboo shoots sautéed with other vegetables in garlic chili sauce.

7485 Rush River Drive, Suite 770, Sacramento; (916) 422-7701.

Takieng Thai Cuisine: Keep your eye out for interesting dishes such as the kaeng kiew warn (zucchini, corn, green beans, carrots, bamboo shoots bell peppers and eggplant in a spicy green curry) or nur yang (rib-eye steak marinated in herbs and served with two sauces).

4400 San Juan Ave., Suite 8, Fair Oaks; (916) 966-0660.

Thai Basil: Suleka Sun-Lindley’s midtown restaurant has drawn customers since 2002 thanks to a lovely patio, a wealth of vegan options and intriguing seasonal specials such as soft-shell crab curry or tofu citrus salad.

2431 J St., Sacramento; (916) 442-7690.

Thai House: Holy basil stir-fry, grilled beef salad and fresh pumpkin curry are among the best-sellers at this restaurant in Point Loma shopping center, opened by owner — and house pianist, as time allows — Robert Adorjan in 2017.

3181 Cameron Park Drive, Suite 101, Cameron Park; (530) 350-8020.

Thai Street Bistro: Crab pad Thai, choo chee salmon and string beans stir-fried in spicy red curry paste stand out at this understated Tahoe Park gem, which opened in 2019.

6490 Broadway, Sacramento; (916) 969-7825.

The Coconut On T: Nan Pangpanga’s restaurant in Southside Park, which has sister locations in midtown Sacramento, River Park, Arden Arcade and Elk Grove, nicely executes comforting classics such as drunken noodles and pad see ew.

1110 T St., Sacramento; (916) 822-4665.

The House of Authentic Ingredients: THAI, as Ann and Suvijak Devahasdin’s restaurant and cocktail bar is known to fans, elevates beefy boat noodle soup, barbecued pork ribs in tamarind sauce, larb meatballs and other items with exquisite presentation and choice ingredients in East Sacramento.

4701 H St., Sacramento; (916) 942-9008.

This story follows our underrated Mexican restaurant list and our closer look at the spot readers voted as their favorite.