387653 Mon Apr 02 16:39:52 -0700 2007 2 8 Midwest 0 2444282 Well, guess there are no 'hounds in Wichita since I've not gotten any response to any of my posts from residents of my new home town regarding coffee, Asian, etc. So, I've started poking around myself and found a couple of interesting, but not stellar, places, and a couple of ho-hums. Bangkok Cafe on S. Rock Rd is a tad on the ho hum side, but that, like all these comments, is based on one lone visit. Had a duck curry which was ok and a yum neua (beef salad) which had decent flavors, but was built on some nasty old iceberg lettuce instead of bright green leaf lettuce which, had it been employed, would have earned this place higher marks. Like I said, all the flavors were good, but a few points off for execution of other details. Heard good things about Thai Tradition and tried it at lunch. Ordered tod mon (fish cakes) which were made of shrimp instead of fish and as a result, the cakes didn't hold together properly and the flavor was just odd since I'm used to fish...don't know if shrimp is a legit Thai variation, but I've noticed that all the Thai menus I've seen here go the shrimp route and that is too bad...might be a concession to the local market which is, I suppose, not very sophisticated in these cuisines? (I've had Thai food from coast to coast including some of the notable bests like Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas, and I've never seen Tod Mon made with shrimp) I also had pad thai which was almost unbearably sweet. Not a hint of tartness which is traditionally provided by tamarind, though some US recipes call for ketchup to give the sweet and the tart. Not sure if this one took that route, but it was not a great dish at all. Guess I'll go back, but not very impressed. Wanted to try Thai House a week or two ago, but it was closed for some unknown reason. Will go back at some point, but it's not convenient at all and I was a tad miffed that they were not open on a day they say they are. Also tried Chiang Mai on S. Hillside. Though a bit dingy, and totally empty when we went in for dinner, the food was very nice. We had chicken laarb which was spot on, though a bit over generous with the onion. Also tried pad thai which was pretty decent but a tad too wet...and no real hint of dried shrimp and very little peanut, but the flavors were good, and it was prepared quite hot, just as we'd requested. Also had a green curry, but ordered shrimp...I'm more familiar with pork in green curry, so the flavor was odd to me, but good. The vegetables were not "authentic" in my opinion: baby corn and carrots. I think this should be made with small green Thai eggplants which are not very common in the USA, so many joints use zucchini...but baby corn? Yuk. In any case, I'll go back here for sure. One note: Every thai place I've been to here has the wait staff costumed up in "native" garb which I find a bit silly. even the mom and pop places.... come on folks, do the food right and let the staff wear something less authentic...the food is far more important. Yesterday I sampled the food at My Canh which i saw on S. Hillside when looking for Chiang Mai. It is a Viet place which concentrates mostly on soups and noodles with little in the way of other traditional Viet dishes, stir fries, clay pots, curries, etc. Had goi cuon, but made with grilled pork meatballs instead of grilled pork...a nice variation. The roll itself was very fresh and nicely done. I wasn't in the mood for soup so I ordered one of the dishes "over rice", grilled pork chop and egg cake. The plate was piled with rice and topped with a single skinny pork chop, a small chunk of egg cake and a token cuke and cabbage chunk. the flavor of the pork was good and it was nicely charred...the egg cake was likewise quite yummy, but the portion was a bit stingy. Covered with fish sauce, this is a good option. Next time i'll try one of the blackboard specials...yesterday offered grilled beef ribs...over rice... since I love bahn mi (viet sandwiches), I ordered on to go to hold on to for dinner. Got the grilled pork version for $2.75, but the whole thing was substandard because the bread sucked; a soft, not crusty roll, that was insipid and just wrong...guess there are no decent bakers in this town to do the correct crusty small loaves...too bad, the innards were ok (though a tad stingy as well). Won't order another sandwich there until they can get better bread. But will go back for Bun, Pho, etc.... Nice, friendly place, and very clean....recommended.... Well, that's it for now...no leads on decent Chinese, so will have to satisfy that urge at home...have other Thai and Viet places on tap, in addition to a Malaysian place...will report back when I know more!!!! Oh, having come here from Austin, I'm used to decent Mexican. so far, nothing even close, and won't even bother commenting on the two meals I've had....again, home might be where I get the best Mexican in town.... Mon Apr 02 16:39:52 -0700 2007 25989 sambamaster 1 2456176 I'm in Wichita! Have you tried Playa Azul in Old Town (Washington and Douglas) for Mexican food? It always gets such mixed reviews. I thought it was pretty good. Bamboo House on Douglas (between Market and Broadway) is pretty new, and a lot of people I work with like it. The fried rice is really good, at least. Fri Apr 06 00:26:45 -0700 2007 2444282 89107 exkette 1 2456915 Do check out Kim Huong, 1410 N. Broadway. My Vietnamese relatives claim it is the best in town. I agree. Fri Apr 06 08:58:48 -0700 2007 2444282 11121 dinerminer