Top Southeast Asian Restaurant in La Mesa
Bamboo Fresh Thai Cuisine
7953 University Ave, La Mesa, CA 91942, United States
There was a parking lot so don't worry about parking! We spent about 60$ for the two of us but you can get really full with 10-20$ per person!This was our first visit but I'm telling you it is a really great place!! The whole atmosphere in the restaurant was great! The cute decorations and music were really relaxing! The staff is so friendly and they kept checking on us and brought us water frequently.The bamboo basket is really good! It was really crunchy, fresh and tasty, the two sauces that came with it were perfect to go with, I especially love that there were two little spoons by the sauce so you won't get everywhere messy.We had the spicy level 4 green curry and it was really spicy for us but so goood! It's really flavorful and you can taste the creamy coconut in it!I had a medium rare Tiger Cry Steak but it was too well done and too dry for me, but besides that the vegetables that came with it were fresh and well cooked, the mint sauce was really good too!We loved our dessert!!! The mango sticky rice is a little different than any other mango sticky rice I've had before, it's a little salty and a little sweet, it's a good balance and you gotta try it yourself!!
Tamarind Thai Restaurant
7970 University Ave UNIT 310, La Mesa, CA 91941, United States
Wednesday night dinner for two... The food was very, very good.The menu was comprehensive, yet not overwhelming. We ordered the combination appetizer platter, as well as an order of mixed vegetables with chicken. The food was fresh, delicious, plentiful, perfectly prepared, and served in a very reasonable timeframe. Each sauce was just right. The pricing was very fair. I would definitely return for the food.In my opinion, the wine offerings were over priced, and most of the wine options were not compatible with Thai cuisine. Perhaps a bit of consultation with a wine specialist could enhance the pairings, and assist the servers in their recommendations. (Our wait person recommended a Cabernet Sauvignon with the most delicious and light chicken and vegetables.The staff was friendly and attempted to be helpful, but seemed baffled not only with the wine recommendations, but also by my friends inquiries regarding what they thought were the best items on the menu. Knowing how to respond to such questions without accidentally denigrating the other selections on the menu would be helpful.The entire environment is really quite casual, beginning with the exterior. Although there are a few really lovely features (the gorgeous floor, as well as the mural on the wall outside of the bathroom) the ambiance doesnt do justice to the delicious food served in this tiny treasure. In my opinion, a brief consultation with a professional designer could elevate the entire experience to the same level as the delicious food.