Banana Leaf

business

17370 Preston Road
Dallas, TX 75252
Phone: 972-713-0123

Ever since we lived on the Addison/Carrollton/Dallas crossroads, Banana Leaf had been a bastion of Thai dining in the far north Dallas area. In fact, Banana Leaf introduced us to much of what enamored us with Thai cuisine. Many other reviewers tend to downplay or dismiss the milder and sweeter flavors which Banana Leaf uses, but hubby and I prefer their renditions over others. Their Pad Thai noodle is unquestionably newbie-friendly (though I prefer mine liberally seasoned with fish sauce). I also rate their Coconut Chicken soup the best in the metroplex, even though many reviewers bash Banana Leaf’s version as too sweet/not salty enough. Tigercry Beef made us literally cry with joy the first time we tried it; on subsequent orders, hubby wisely requested their spicy sauce on the side. I’ve also sampled their Waterfall Beef on past occasions when feeling health-conscious…the lime dressing with fish sauce complements the perfectly grilled steak on salad presentation (though this is a daunting salad for newbies). My favorites, aka comfort food selections, from their menu: Panang Curry with Beef (sweeter again than most places), Grilled Peanut Chicken (ask for some hot sauce on the side), and Basil Fried Rice (I love the basil fresh taste of this fried rice). I have yet to try a most recent addition to their menu, Duck Curry, but one of these days, I’ll venture over to Banana Leaf to try it. And don’t forget to try their Mango with Sticky Rice or Rice Pudding with Custard, both beautifully presented and tasting divine. But usually for lunch I just grab a to-go order of Green Tea Ice cream…a fine ending to a spicy meal.

My rating: 4.0 stars

Zoom Vietnamese & Thai Cuisine

4727 Frankford Road, Suite 349
Dallas, TX 75287
972-713-8884

Gaudily painted Asian restaurants worry me. I’ve been in a number of restaurants with the same color scheme that tried to pass off their Asian fusion cuisine as “the next big thing”, but I don’t buy it. I usually have a great disdain for Asian fusion, looking upon it as a way to persuade Asian food neophytes to embrace ethnic cuisine. Sadly, the fusion they try to present is nothing more than watered-down, over-priced imitations of authentic Asian cuisine…you Asian fusion foodie fans just need to run to your supermarket and grab your fusion from the frozen dinner section.

Happily Zoom doesn’t dumb down their menu or their flavors. In fact, those unfamiliar with Vietnamese or Thai fare might find the authentic-sounding names on the menu a bit daunting. But the food here is the real deal. And despite the garish colors, Zoom tries to be a little more upscale in their presentations.

I haven’t yet tried their Pho, since I make it a point to order the coconut chicken soup at every Thai restaurant I go to. Zoom’s presentation is a masterful rendition, with huge chunks of chicken and mushrooms, in a savory, not-so-sweet broth.

Zoom also does appetizers well, having tried their satay and various eggrolls, both cooked and fresh, and passing with flying colors. If you’re interested in trying out a sampler plate, they have that too.

I’ve tried a small selection of entrees at Zoom over the year that I’ve hiked over to it from work. The one thing that always struck me is their choice of vegetables that they add to their dishes. I’m enamored of their eggplant and string bean additions to their curry, and while their Panang isn’t quite what I’m used to at Banana Leaf, I still admire the flavor of it.

I have to say the best dish I’ve had at Zoom is off the menu, a Red Curry with Lychee Fruit that I constantly crave, when thinking of Thai curry. I only wish they had it on their regular menu or on a rotation.

Don’t be put off by the Asian fusion vibe or slightly higher price point when coming here; Zoom aims to please and you’ll be treated to some of the best Thai/Viet food in Dallas.

My rating: 3.5 stars

Asia Grill Fusion

business

208 Coit Road Suite 700
Plano, TX 75075
(214) 473-6647

Of the Thai joints I review here, Asia Grill is the least polished. Perhaps it’s because it’s the newest of the three and still trying to work out the kinks. But on several lunch outings, Asia Grill only does Thai in a mediocre way. Their curries left much to be desired, and I was rather put off by their commercial cut veggies–no surprises here, just beans, carrots, and bell peppers. (Although one time I ordered Panang, there was no evidence of string beans in the dish as the menu suggested.) Their Tom Kha Chicken soup was tasty, though I think the addition of tomatoes gave it a more acidic bite than I’m used to. Their peanut chicken dish left me puzzled, as the sauce looked like it had cooked over-long, looking goopy and lumpy as it draped over the grilled chicken.

I’ve attempted to order take-out dinner via phone, but they never seem to answer the phone on evenings, so I’m not sure where the problem lies. However, I’ve still been able to walk in and order food to-go, and the wait has never lasted longer than 10 minutes.

If Asia Grill would work on their menu some more, I’m sure it could be a destination for fine Thai in the area. (It is probably the nicest of the three restaurants in terms of ambience and decor, but sadly lacking in polished service.) As it is, Asia Grill is still a work in progress.

My rating: 2.5 stars