A Taste of Thai- His Review
By Mike Woody

On our search for unique meals, Angie and I decided to take our taste buds on a trip across the world or at least as far as Huber Heights to the Thai Smile Restaurant.
While the crowd of other diners was sparse our appetites were filled with the desire to be quenched as we were seated. Our server was a charming young woman with a smile as bright as the sun that shines from America to Thailand.

When taking our drink orders, I requested either a Coke or Pepsi and she said, “We have both.” Which is rather rare for a restaurant, so I chose Pepsi, which mentally is my preference, but I probably experience no physical difference in taste between the two.
The menu was a list of foreign (literally) choices to me as I had never ordered any Thai food before. The wide selection of items all sounded very good and reasonably priced, but I was drawn most to the Drunken Noodle with chicken. I suppose partly due to the name which is beyond the norm. It’s a flat rice noodle, mixed with vegetables and hot peppers if spice is desired.

I did some research on the origin of the name Drunken Noodle and discovered a mixture of meanings. Some believe it’s because it’s an excellent cure for hangovers. Others feel it’s so hot the eater has to be drunk to stand it, while others are certain one becomes drunk while trying to drown the heat with alcohol. Another belief is that it comes from the chef being drunk and throwing in all types of ingredients without a care. A possible explanation is that it’s the only food available on the streets of Thailand very late at night and in the very early morning when inebriated revelers leave their place of celebration. It’s also possible that the ‘wobbly’ noodles themselves provide the dish its name.

The server said the level of spice added must be selected on a scale from 1 to 10, and for the sake of the article, and also sober, I chose the number eight. As an appetizer I ordered the Spring Rolls which come in two’s and with a tasty dipping sauce. In a reasonable amount of time our meals arrived and after the first bite my body temperature immediately shot up the scale. If I was drinking it would have quickly driven me into alcoholism. Rather than Drunken Noodle, I think I would change its name to Runny Nose Noodle. In just a few bites it cleared up my sinuses better than the medication I’ve been taking for a month. The heat, however, did not take away from the delicious flavor of the dish, its vegetables were crisp and the chicken was succulent in a savory sauce. If the legend of the name is true, I’m glad I was sober and able to enjoy it. Fortunately, I was kept in steady supply of Pepsi and water by our server, which helped to quench the fire.

When you travel as far as Thailand for a meal the whole experience must be observed, so in respect to our readers, Angie and I decided to have dessert. I went with the fried bananas which come with your choice of dips from three ice cream flavors. While probably for the sake of health, the serving size is probably all that’s needed but, the ice cream must be dipped with the smallest spoon in the restaurant and only one dip is given.

It was refreshing but it didn’t completely douse the flames inside of me.
With respect to trying something new, the fried banana was enjoyable with its crispy coating but I would just as soon have it in its natural state.

Thankfully, the bill did nothing to light me up more; as an appetizer, meal, dessert, and a drink was only $20.

Located at 6118 Chambersburg Road in the Huber Centre, Huber Heights, Thai Smile is a nice destination for an authentic foreign, or sinus cleansing, meal.

Her Review
By: Angie Franzer

I adore Thai food, so I was incredibly excited when we decided to try out Thai Smile for our dining review. I have no idea why, but I’ve always been drawn to Asian culture and cuisine, right down to the Buddhist text tattoo I went ahead and permanently inscribed on my body (sorry Mom and Dad), to my unwavering desire to spend a few weeks in Bangkok exploring the city, dining on delicious food and enjoying a culture completely different from my own. That being said, Thai food is probably my most favorite dining option and I encourage anyone and everyone to try it for themselves.
Thai Smile is a cute, family-owned establishment in Huber Heights that I had no idea existed prior to our review. I’m really a much stronger advocate for any family-owned restaurant as opposed to chain, as I feel the food options are one-of-a kind.

As soon as we were seated my excitement mounted and I immediately ordered a tasty Thai Iced Tea. I’m not sure when or where I first tried this quenching treat, but I am most definitely hooked on the sweet blend of black tea, sugar and sweetened condensed milk. So good! I had to muster the last drop of willpower I possessed not to suck the entire glass down in ten seconds flat.

I ordered a personal favorite, chicken pad Thai, which consists of rice noodles pan fried with fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, diced peanuts and egg combined with chicken seasoned to perfection, with an appetizer of Crab Rangoon complete with sweet and sour sauce. (I was super hungry, as once again I had not eaten the entire day and had supplemented my diet with one too many cups of coffee. I realize it’s getting to be a highly unhealthy and negative pattern.)

Our appetizers arrived quickly and I devoured mine within the course of a few minutes with Woody’s aid. When my pad Thai arrived it looked and tasted absolutely delicious with just the right hint of spices and seasoning. I grabbed my chop sticks and dug in.
My meal was not incredibly spicy, but Woody was quite brave and ordered an exceptionally hot dish. He let me sample from his plate and while it was great, it was a little too hot for my personal taste. He was a trooper however, despite the healthy supply of water.

The meal was nothing short of amazing and the service was excellent. Our waitress provided me with a steady supply of Thai Iced Tea and checked back a few times to make certain Woody and I were enjoying our meals.

Although I was quite full after devouring the main dish, I figured I’d better order dessert for the sake of the article. I chose a small helping of coconut ice cream upon the suggestion of our server. I’d never tried it before, but it was delicious! I wanted more, but I was beyond stuffed.

The price of my entire meal was also impressive. I dropped only $15 for an appetizer, dinner and dessert. For such an appetizing meal, I felt this was very reasonable.

For anyone that desires a taste of the East, I highly recommend this great little restaurant. In fact, it has been my favorite thus far. I know I am not Ebert or Roeper, but I give it two thumbs up.