House of Thai
By Scott Millsop
House of Thai
Dining out might be a lot of things. Often it is just dinner. Sometimes it is an exploration of new flavors, or variations on the preparation of different dishes. It can be an education. It can be an adventure. Sometimes it is entertainment.
We take all of those approaches to our Nosh Ups, and the Noshers at Ethnosh are usually on board for a bit of everything. Ethnosh education applies to more than just food. We get a bit of insight into different cultures, from tales of world travel to familiarity with local neighborhoods. The adventure might be eating without utensils, drinking Bloody Mary’s packed with seafood, meeting new people and talking for hours, or discovering new levels of spiciness. The entire experience is entertaining.
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Photos by Bobby Tewksbury
The neighborhood around House of Thai is mostly about entertainment. There’s an axe throwing establishment and a pinball bar. There’s a shooting range. There are sports bars. House of Thai is a great way to start – or finish – a night set aside for fun.
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There is a banner inside the dining room that says “The Most Authentic Thai Cuisine in Dayton.” That’s something they insist on and we thank them for that. Most businesses try to appeal to the broadest number of people, which can be a formula for mediocrity. It’s especially evident with food, where the heat is turned down and presentation is painterly. That’s not necessarily bad. Sometimes we crave Taco Bell but we know it’s not Mexican food. So they make a point of keeping their cooking honest at House of Thai.
It came from Thailand along with Mam, who is the owner of House of Thai. She was the head chef at another popular Thai restaurant for 15 years. Around six years ago she decided to run her own show. It’s a family show. When talking about Mam the subject of sauces comes up often. She’s the flavor component. Others in the family hold up other parts of the business. We talked with Amanda at our interview and photoshoot. She’s young and smart and businesslike, but the important thing is that she understands it all. Heritage. Cuisine quality. Authenticity. Service. Family. Neighborhood. Community.
We visit a lot of Thai restaurants around town because there is a large Thai community. House of Thai plays host to weddings and other ceremonies. It is a family oriented place. We’re told that if we want further education that there is a Thai temple called WatPaknam in Huber Heights. They hold festivals and gatherings. The Buddhist monks offer blessings to new ventures. The restaurant staff around House of Thai talked about it with real enthusiasm.
We have to talk about Pad Thai. We can say it’s typically a sweet, savory, tangy, stir-fried noodle dish with rice noodles, fish sauce, palm sugar, eggs and peanuts. But it’s such a culinary staple that it has as many variations as a hamburger in America. The offering at House of Thai is very lively. The sauce on their curry is smooth and full of flavor. There is a rumor of a dessert that is a fried banana served with a homemade coconut ice cream.
Why is Thai food so popular? Amanda says people like the flavors, and it is healthier. More vegetables. Less starch. Why is the food so good at House of Thai? Amanda says it’s because of Mam. “She cooks with love,” Amanda says.