I saved my first food review for my favorite thing, Thai food. My bar has been set very high for Thai food; I try it in just about every town I visit. It is great for vegetarians. A lot of dishes are already vegetarian or can be ordered with tofu. Pad Thai and yellow curry are my personal favorites. I always miss my opportunity to go to Thai Basil here in Chico. I have been thinking about it ever since I moved here but whenever I am around, they are closed. On weekdays, they are closed between lunch and dinner from 3-5 pm. I ordered Pad Se-ew, a pan fried noodle dish similar to Pad Thai. Pad Se-ew always feels a little healthier than Pad Thai because it has Chinese broccoli and a sauce which is less rich. I am sure that any health difference is marginal however. For those unfamiliar with or wary of Thai food, this dish could be your move.

As I said my bar was set very high, I was impressed with Thai Basil. The service was very fast and friendly, just as I would hope. It was probably the fastest meal I have received in a while. The price was around $9.00 before tax and tip. I would say that is cheaper than most places I’ve been to. Lucky for me, I was on a first date and no matter how hard I tried to pay, he would not let me. That is one way to get a cheap meal. The taste itself also exceeded my expectations. The noodles were salty (in a good way) and savory. Rice noodles will always have a place in my heart. They are chewy and soak up any flavor they are with. They are far more comforting than regular wheat noodles. The Chinese broccoli was fresh and made me feel like I was getting my full serving of vegetables. The atmosphere is clean and has upscale elements but overall, it is more of a casual place. You would not need to dress up to go here by any means. With that being said, I am eager to go back. I am happy I found a good place where I can take my best friend who also loves Thai. The date went very well and we went on another one a few days later. Unfortunately, I got stood up for the third date. I am a little hurt so that will deter me from going to Thai Basil again for at least a couple weeks, but I won’t let any guy stand between me and great Thai food. I will be back soon to try some other menu items.