Phra Ram 9 Offers Thai Definitely Worth a Try

Can a Thai restaurant named after a Bangkok rail station and located next to the Vons supermarket in Rancho San Diego Village shopping center really deliver a fine dining experience?

One visit to Phra Ram 9 (pronounced Phra-Ram 9–it says so right on the front of the menu) is all it took to convince us it can. Everything from the cuisine to the décor to the service was outstanding during our first meal there on a recent Saturday night.

While some social websites claim the food at Phra Ram 9 is “Thai light,” we found it to be several notches above most Thai restaurants we’ve tried in San Diego County. While you can order the very spicy meals some consider true Thai cuisine, we opted for the milder versions on our maiden visit to this 3-year-old cool spot with haute cuisine.

We had high hopes before even entering the small, lovely dining room, which seats about 30 but was less than half-full on our visit. On the sidewalk in front were several tables covered in white-linen tablecloths and with intricately folded napkins nesting in large, sparkling-clean goblets. The theme carried over inside with modern Asian décor. Beautiful artwork adorned the soothing, cocoa brown walls. Subdued, recessed overhead lighting set a relaxed mood. Light jazz and pleasant Asian music emanated from the sound system.

Two very pleasant, polite waitresses welcomed us without the “So, how are you guys doin’ tonight?” chatter so common at many local restaurants. Even the menu looked refined, with crisp white lettering on heavy, chocolate-brown paper.

To get an idea of what the restaurant offers, we ordered the sampler appetizer ($12.99) of juicy chicken satay, crispy cream cheese wontons, spring rolls and summer shrimp. All were top quality, but the plump, roasted shrimp stole the show. Each was wrapped in a cocoon of fried noodles, something we’d never seen or tasted before. Three dipping sauces–peanut, sweet and sour, and vegetable–accompanied the food, all beautifully presented on a simple, square white plate with shredded vegetables and a purple flower at one corner.

For entrees, we tried a house specialty and a traditional meal. The specialty was Phra Ram Delight ($13.99), a crispy noodle basket piled high with sautéed shrimp and chicken, broccoli and carrots under a mild curried peanut sauce, with a molded mound of jasmine rice on the side. Again, all beautifully presented, fresh and delicious. Even the Thai soy sauce, served in a small ceramic bowl–no bottles on the tables here–tasted richer that what’s usually served at Asian restaurants.

The traditional was Pad Thai ($10.99), a staple of every Thai restaurant. We tried the stir-fried noodle dish with shrimp, but chicken, vegetarian, beef, pork, shrimp and calamari also are available. Also covered in peanut sauce, it was topped with bean sprouts, scallions and finely chopped eggs. Once again, this sumptuous dish tasted better than most we’ve had in this area.

Each entrée proved to be more than enough for a single diner. They were so good, this was one of the rare times we didn’t have any leftovers. Then the exotic dessert really filled us up: homemade coconut ice cream topped with chopped peanuts and fried bananas drizzled with caramel sauce ($5.99). Combing bites of the cool, refreshing ice cream with the warm bananas in a crispy pastry was a taste treat worth a return trip in itself.

Phra Ram 9 also boasts an international wine and beer list, monthly specials, and traditional curries, soups and salads. We didn’t have room to try them all but plan to be back to do so. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner.

The total bill for two came to $53.87 for two—well worth the price for memorable food and great ambiance. Service was excellent. Our drinks were refilled without asking, we weren’t rushed to leave after finishing our meals, and our waitresses answered each question we had about the menu. It’s obvious that the owners are committed to serving high-quality cuisine and pay attention to every little detail. Even their website is clean and uncluttered. Check it out at phraram9sandiego.com.

Whether you’re a newcomer to Thai cuisine or looking for a new place to try old favorites, give Phra Ram 9 a try. Your taste buds will thank you for it. And so will any friends you bring with you.