Ellen’s 5-star review:
I HEART YOU YELPERS!!!! I wouldn't have discovered this diamond in the rough if it weren't for youuuuu! After dinner at Aree Thai, I'm rethinking my previous 5-star reviews. Damn, I wish there was a 6-star option for special places like this.
Thai food in Vancouver, first things to come to my mind? Thai House, Green Basil, taste just like Chinese food, no spice, bland noodles, relatively expensive. Yeahhhhh, Aree Thai is none of the above. Let's just say I haven't been this wowed by a restaurant in a long time. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the best Thai food I've EVER had:
Tom Yum Soup - pow right to the kisser with the spices and herbs! The spicy kick was phenomenal and definitely warmed my stomach. This one gets spicy so beware. Foodgasm #1.
Pad Thai (Original) - apparently in Thailand, Pad Thai is only served with shrimp. So for an authentic experience, go with that. I've had Pad Thai plenty of times, but never had REAL Pad Thai until today. A great balance of spice, sweet, and savoury. Foodgasm #2.
Green Curry - to be honest, I don't really know what the differences are between the Thai curries (other than colour). I went with green curry because it had more vegetables. Very fragrant and dimensional. Get a bowl of rice and go wild. Foodgasm #3.
Coconut Ice Cream (made by Aree herself) - this one was complimentary. How sweet is that? Frozen real coconut bits. Ultra ultra creamy. Foodgasm #4.
Every single plate/bowl/fork/spoon/ice cream spatula was licked clean. The bill came to $30 after tax. So totally worth it for 4 foodgasms in a row rendering 2 very hungry people in a delicious food coma.
You can specify how spicy you want your food, on a scale of 1-5. We asked for 4 on everything. It's hot, but not unmanageable. In fact, I think I'll be going for the 5 next time. The food was slow to come out, but well worth the wait. The owner Aree is such a sweetheart. In case you can't tell, I'm very passionate about this place and can't wait to return! [insert a million more exclamation points]