Seek Out Thai Bamboo Bistro

Seek Out Thai Bamboo Bistro

A couple months passed between our visits to Thai Bamboo Bistro, and this time, on our third stop, we knew a little further. 

  Occasionally, a little further information is dangerous and just enough to move you not to return to an eatery. 

Not this time. 

 

 Our first visit was on a summer Monday. We were a little ahead of the lunch rush, our 2- time-old was a little restrained, and so we took a chance on a place we’d noticed in the new Quail Hill Village shopping center in Irvine, not far from where the San Diego (I-405) and Santa Ana (I-5) Highways meet in central Orange County, California. 

The center sprang up in the shadow of the Shady Canyon estates putatively overnight. It’s out of the way — you don’t just be by. 

 

 It’s in one of those new-generation neighborhood centers that have an each- too-familiar sense about its anchor supermarket on one end, Starbucks on the other, general fast- food and fast-casual caffs between. This bone was a little different — some of the ballot names weren't relatively so ubiquitous, and it appeared that the Irvine. took a chance and leased to some non-franchise drivers, too. 

We ventured into the boîte, and within 10 twinkles, the intimate place was packed. So packed, we snappily changed our sit-down order to to-go, hustled our now not-so-subdued little joe out, and headed home to the most luxurious take- eschewal we’d had in months. 

 

 Jungle curry with funk ($ 12) was mellow and smooth (we ordered the milder green curry; unheroic and red are available). Racy bomb lawn funk ($ 12) was salty and fresh. Traditional pad thai ($ 11) — my woman’s standard — sweet and freehandedly prorated with shrimp, egg, tofu, and polls. 

 So, we went back, this time for regale, without the boy. 

 

 Again, the eatery was full, though minus the maddening lunch crush. Again, our regale was succulent further green curry and pad thai — we’re brutes of habit. 

We were struck by the cool, contemporary room, with its sprinkle of bamboo ornamental traces. By the hastily effective service (though the refections can arrive at a further languid pace, evidence to the fresh cooked-to-order kitchen). And by the incredibly fresh constituents, rendered in light gravies. 

 

 The cook requests nearly daily,co-manager Jade Tam told me. Occasionally the grocery, occasionally a specialty store, a grower's request. 

 Also, well, life kept us down for many months, until I spoke with director Amy Lam. 

 

 As we gabbled about the eatery’s expansion plans and donation themes, Amy asked, “ Do you know Julie and Pat?” 

.Well, yes, I said, we’re going to their marriage in a day. 

 

 “ We haven’t seen them in a while,” Amy said, laughing. Julie advised they’d be absent for a while, commodity about pre-wedding fasting. 

I know Julie’s taste in food and caffs just well enough that this little nugget of information — that she and Pat are regulars enough to be on a first-name base — told me to get back in there, pronto. 

 

 We were again wowed by fresh flavors. We started with the Thai bamboo sample appetizer ($ 14), a blend of four from the menu ( spring rolls, summer rolls, funk, and beef satay, and gold bags — crisp wontons tied up like little Gold Rush- period treasures). 

Our shrimp in racy mango sauce ($ 16) was sweet but subtle. We upgraded from the standard pad thai, ordering the “ new edition” interpretation (egg polls rather than rice polls.$ 11). 

 

 It won’t be such a long delay for our coming mess then.