It’s been a while since we’ve had good Thai food. In fact, it’s been since moved to Durango earlier this year, so when we heard good things about Thai Pagosa, we were stoked to try it.
Though small, Thai Pagosa exudes a quiet elegance, from the Buddhas peering down at hungry guests to the smiling cats bobbing back and forth as they welcome you to the front desk.
We admired the restaurant’s decor as we signed in for a table with fingers crossed, as they were in the middle of their lunch rush and we were starved. Luckily for us, the staff at Thai Pagosa moves quickly, and it wasn’t long before our waitress came to seat us.
She led us to a shared bench that serves as a long booth, and we made ourselves at home alongside the dozens of other guests filling the tables.
We were surprised to find that while elegant, Thai Pagosa is also affordable, which was an added bonus. Their lunch special menu – available Monday through Friday – ranges from $7.95 to $9.95 an entree. Our wallets breathed a sigh of relief.
My companion and I went with their Pad Khee Mao – aka Drunken Noodles made of thick rice noodles stir-fried with egg, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, carrots, chicken, organic basil, all soaked in Thai basil sauce – and Khao Pad Tham ma Daa, Thai-style fried jasmine rice with egg, onions, carrots, broccoli, and pea with brown sauce and tofu.
Thai Pagosa offers a plethora of diverse food options, including Pho, roasted duck, and Thai curry. There’s no reason to go hungry at Thai Pagosa.
I’d been hankering for a delicious bowl of Drunken Noodles for four months, so I instantly dove into the dish. It’s hard to paint a complete picture of our how food tasted. We shoveled it into our mouths so quickly, it was hard to imagine there had ever been food sitting in front of us to begin with.
The vegetables carried a delightful crunch alongside the soft noodles, and the intense spices provided an authentic feel to the Thai cuisine. It was a delicious lunch experience, one we were surprised to find in the small town of Pagosa Springs – a place that has continually surprised us with its delightful restaurant offerings.
Between the brilliant decor and the impressive food, we’ll be thinking of Thai Pagosa next time we’re hungry.
Amanda Push
