For the average American, reading a Thai restaurant’s menu can be baffling.
Names like larb, som tom and pad krapow are not very descriptive. That’s not the case at Thai Spice, Murfreesboro’s newest Thai restaurant. The menu is a set of pictures above the register. The pictures are labeled with the names of the dishes, ensuring you understand what the dish is going to be, before you order.
The restaurant is clean and not overly ornate, opting for a simple, laid back environment.
“Thai Spice is very casual,” Wally Sirbaugh, a regular, says. “You don’t have to dress up, you just come as you are.”
Inside there are about ten tables. The chairs are not traditional. They are half-moon shaped and curve to the bottom, ensuring a comfortable fit. On the wall, an LCD TV hangs. CNN is on, and I catch the news of the day as I a get a bite to eat.
The lunch crowd is mixed. At one table a family sits with their little boy, at another a group of Asian-American students laugh and talk as they enjoy their lunch, there is a scattering of business types and college students.
When the food comes out, it’s a bit of a surprise given the laid-back environment in which it is served. I’m hungry for Pad-Thai. The dish is ornately garnished with a hand cut carrot flower. Shredded carrots colored bright orange, and shredded cabbage, a light green, adorn the dish. Plenty of peanuts are on top. When all is mixed together, the flavor is great and at $7.95 the dish is excellent, and affordable.
“Our chef came from Thailand to ensure our food’s authenticity,” Nick Thepsouran, the owner, explains. “He owns a restaurant in London and two in Thailand. He has been cooking for over 20 years.”
But what do the patrons think of the cuisine? It’s hard to get anyone to give their opinion, they are all so engaged by their food.
“The food is excellent,” Larry Thrasher, an MTSU alum and first time patron, explains between bites. “I served in the army and was stationed in Thailand. I’ve eaten a lot of Thai-food in my life.
“When I came back to MTSU, I had Thai roommates. They made this kind of food all the time in our dorm room. The food here is just as good, but it’s a bit fancier. I will definitely come back.”
Thepsouran says “We want to help people discover real and authentic Thai food.”
Mr. Sirbaugh said Thai Spice offers the best, and cheapest, Thai food in town.
“I may be partial, but I love all the food,” Sirbaugh says. “It’s difficult for me to choose a particular dish, they are all so good. However, I will recommend the Thai Spice Crispy Noodles, they’re great!”
Thai Spice offers a 10 percent discount for MTSU students, and it’s located right past Greek row. If you are in the mood to try a new Thai restaurant give it a try, especially if you go to MTSU, it is practically on campus.
