Dear Thai House 530:
Sorry that I have been taking you for granted. I realize now that we, the residents of The Mission, are very LUCKY to have you in our neighborhood. You make great-tasting food at reasonable prices in a hip atmosphere (that maybe tries a little TOO HARD, but that’s okay.)
To demonstrate my devotion, I’ve composed a poem:
Thai House 530, don’t ever go away.
Thai House 530, long may you stay.
Thai House 530, your prices can’t be beat.
Thai House 530, damn I like your meat.
I also must apologize for being such a creature of habit; I pretty much order the same items every time I’m with you. But, that’s me, those are my short-comings, not yours. You’ve been carrying your weight in the relationship and I’ve been too afraid to venture forth into new territory.
But, why risk it when I know my old stand-by’s are SO GOOD? Namely, the Tom Yum soup with CHICKEN instead of shrimp ($5.) Thank you for being so accommodating and making that adjustment for me, you’re always such a pleaser. And, Pad See Yew with BEEF ($9.) It’s not lost on me, my sweet Thai House 530, that while OTHER Thai restaurants (ahem, such as King’s Thai on Clement St.) use THINLY SLICED roast beef (almost “sandwich-like” in it’s thickness) as their beef in Pad See Yew, YOU USE ACTUAL bite-sized MORSELS OF STEAK. Yours is wonderful and meaty, chewy and delicious. There’s makes me think someone ran out of steak so they just threw in some sliced roast beef and none of the zombies noticed or complained.
Pad See Yew with Beef. (Rice noodles, Chinese Broccoli, Eggs, and chunks of steak)
My whole meal, with tax and tip came to $18.23, which, in this over-priced town actually counts as a bargain these days. I left completely sated, filled to overflowing with your Love – I mean, your Food. I mean, well, let’s face it, Food is Love. Thai House 530, I Food You!
(If I WAS going to wander, it would probably be with your pricey relative, Lers Ros Thai, just a couple of blocks away. But, damn, is she an EXPENSIVE mistress to maintain!)
Thai House 530
530 Valencia Street (near 16th Street)
San Francisco CA 94110
415.503.1500
Having lived in Bangkok for a number of years, we feel there are very few restaurants outside Thailand that match local Thai food. However TH530 goes beyond the standard Tom Kha Kai and curries with original Thai dishes prepared in the way we remember them.