The Main Street area between Charleston Blvd and Imperial Ave has seen many changes. A revitalization (read: gentrification) is fully underway and has visibly transformed that part of Downtown. I have many thoughts and feelings about this, but that’s all for a different post. This post is all about one of the positive additions. D E Thai Kitchen has taken up residence in the former home of Rock’N’oodles (RIP).

Intimate/Spacious

The restaurant remains intimate, as it was before, with four tables and the ability to seat a maximum of 14 people. But the counter area has shifted giving the place a more open feel. On the walls, a cool grey tone works in congruence with light colored wood seating and tables to further stretch the sense of space. Two deceivingly simple, yet lovely murals by artist Sir_Jorra (that is his Instagram handle) complete the breezy, casual ambiance. I picture friends gathered around heaping, steaming foods, heads tilted back, laughing freely. The perfect neighborhood spot.

I’ve wanted to try D E Thai for months, stalking their Instagram feed, drooling at dishes that looked deep with color and spice. I finally dragged Rich down there on Christmas day, where I proclaimed we shall have a Christmas Feast. Normally at Thai restaurants, we each order one entrée and call it a day, but this being the Feast, we ventured further. The service was everything you’d hope for: friendly, prompt, informative, and accommodating.

Filling/Light

We shared the Papaya Salad, Crab Rangoon, and (vegan) Tom Kha Soup, to start. The Papaya Salad was fresh, crunchy and satisfying. However, I should’ve tossed it thoroughly at the beginning, because most of the fantastic citrusy juice had sunk to the bottom of the dish and did not coat the rest of the salad evenly. As a result, the best bites were the very last ones. The Crab Rangoon served as a solid appetizer, not greasy, with a thin outer shell protecting the rich interior.

The Tom Kha Soup was exactly what I hoped it would be. I am always on the lookout for a good creamy vegetarian or vegan broth-based soup, as those are hard to come by in restaurants. I find that creamy broth, with its warmth and light but substantial composition creates a feeling beyond just fullness of the stomach—it nurtures a fullness of the heart. The broth from the Tom Kha Soup at D E Thai definitely fulfilled that purpose. Its silky texture, combined with the heat and acidity formed a tart treat that is memorable, and more importantly, crave-able.

Far/Close

For his entrée, Rich ordered the Spicy Basil Crispy Pork and while he devoured that dish, I busied myself polishing off the large bowl of Tom Kha, which I could eat every day, forever. I did try a couple of bites of his pork and it was amazing. The meat was tender, and the light-fingered use of sauce highlighted the best aspects of the pork’s flavor, rather than masking it. There is a certain joy that comes from eating food that is colorful, and throughout our meal, our table was covered with such foods. Besides the fact that a dish filled with colorful ingredients often indicates balance and health, the visual itself is exciting and enticing.

We finished the meal with Mango Sticky Rice. Not overly sweet, it presented an excellent ending note to a magnificent orchestral performance. A delightful end to a delightful experience. Even though we live on the other side of town, we plan to support D E Thai as often as possible. Not only because owner Jompon Chotikamars is a long-time Vegas resident (25 years). Not only because this is his first foray into restauranteurship (uncanny). Not only because our Feast—including a Thai Iced Tea, Thai Iced Coffee, and additional entrée for the next day—was very reasonably priced (roughly $65). But because our taste buds and stomachs demand it. Loudly. Seriously, I can’t get them to shut up about it.