Albuquerque served as home to more than 528,000 residents as of July 2009, according to the City Data website, making it the largest city in the state of New Mexico. The city's size has led to its establishment as a center for commerce and culture, and visitors and residents of Albuquerque can find restaurants from a variety of culinary traditions as a result. Among these are casual and upscale establishments that specialize in Thai cuisine.
Orchid Thai Cuisine is on historic Route 66 in the Highland Business District of Albuquerque in an eye-catching building adorned with a brightly colored mural inspired by classic Asian art. The restaurant is a past recipient of the award for "Best Thai Restaurant" from Albuquerque Magazine. The menu includes vegetarian fare like the tofu with pineapple in sweet and sour sauce, noodle dishes like the signature hot and spicy and meat dishes like the lemongrass pork chops. The restaurant serves beer, wine and cocktails, specializing in frozen, tropical drinks like the pina colada or the papaya daiquiri.
Orchid Thai Cuisine serves lunch Mondays through Saturdays and dinner nightly. Reservations are accepted, but generally not required. Business casual attire is appropriate.
Orchid Thai Cuisine
4300 Central Southeast
Albuquerque, NM 87108
505-265-4047
orchidthaicuisine.com
Krung Thai Cuisine is on Menaul Boulevard in the Sombra del Monte neighborhood of Albuquerque, between Wyoming Boulevard Northeast and Pennsylvania Street Northeast. To begin the meal, the restaurant offers three soups, including the specialty pho, which consists of rice noodles, tripe, meatballs and rare flank steak in beef broth. An entree specialty is the basil frog legs, stir-fried with onions and bell peppers. Another is whole tilapia, deep fried and served in a hot sauce. Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine are also featured on the menu.
The restaurant does not serve alcohol. Krung Thai Cuisine serves lunch and dinner daily. Reservations are not taken. Casual attire is the norm.
Krung Thai Cuisine
7923 Menaul Blvd., Suite A
Albuquerque, NM 87110
505-292-9319
krungthaicuisine.com
Lotus Cafe Thai Cuisine is on the corner of Osuna Road Northeast and San Mateo Boulevard Northeast, near the west end of Arroyo Del Oso Park. The editorial travel website Sneaky Sunday has previously named the restaurant "The Best Thai" in Albuquerque. The menu includes curries, noodles, fried rice, pho soups and specialty seafood like the sweet and sour catfish. Chinese and Korean fare is also served. To drink, the restaurant offers a variety of exotic fruit juices like lychee and durian. Alcohol is not served.
Lotus Cafe Thai Cuisine is open Mondays through Fridays for lunch and nightly for dinner. Reservations are not required. Business casual is the typical attire.
Lotus Cafe Thai Cuisine
5505 Osuna Road Northeast, # A
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505-884-4610
lotuscafeabq.com
