City: El Paso, TX

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (915) 533-1300

Address: 2606 North Mesa St.

Description: Though many people consider Pad Thai to be the dish by which to measure any Thai restaurant, for me, it is Tom Kha Gai, a delicious coconut milk soup with chicken, ginger, and chilis. For this dish, Tara Thai gets my total approval. Whole pieces of lemongrass float invitingly in Tara Thai’s spicy yet sweet version of this unforgettable soup. The Pad Thai, too, is not too syrupy and comes with a traditional selection of garnishes, including crushed peanuts and lime.The menu at Tara Thai is typical of most Thai restaurants you’ve been in before. They boast heavily about their Drunken Noodles, which are a house favorite. They also serve complimentary Thai flat bread with spicy green dipping sauce—a unique addition. The interior is subdued, with calming colors and about a dozen well-spaced tables that invite intimate conversation. Tara Thai was started in 2008 by Sai Pituk, who is of full Thai decent. Regulars to the restaurant are often greeted by name, and first-time customers enjoy a personalized introduction to the restaurant and its menu. The restaurant is bolstered by an upscale air that is brought home with the addition of beer and wine, including a lovely house cabernet sauvignon. Top off your meal with the Thai Flan, an authentic sweet Thai dessert, made of rice pudding and coconut.