Basil Thai Cafe
1700 S SE loop 323
Suite 102
Tyler
75701
Tel: 903 504 5999
In an unlikely location in a strip mall behind McDonalds and Burger King you will find a hidden treasure – Basil Thai – Tyler’s only authentic Thai eatery.
Basil Thai in Tyler TX
It is called a ‘cafe’ for a reason that is obvious when you walk in – this is no spot for a romantic meal for two. The ambiance is non-existent, it is brightly lit with fluorescent lights in the ceiling, there is a TV in one corner, you order from the counter and the customer is responsible for getting their own drinks and silverware. There is no alcohol served.
But if it is good Asian food you are looking for, and lots of it, this has to be near the top of the list. Basil Thai serves appetizers such as egg rolls and edamame, Thai soups, salads, noodle dishes, curries and lots of different rice dishes with shrimp, salmon, chicken or beef.
As we approached Basil Thai Cafe we were greeted by the most delicious smells. The place was very spartan as I have already described and it was quite cold but it is clean and the food is served on china plates and chopsticks are available which is a bonus. The staff are very friendly and helpful and the menu has descriptions of the ingredients used in each dish for those unfamiliar with Thai food.
The entrees we chose were all under $10 and for that price you get a really big plate of delicious food. The ingredients were fresh – even down to the pineapple and the freshly toasted cashews in the fried rice. The Jasmine rice and rice noodles were wonderful and the vegetables were also crisp and plentiful. Even the Thai tea was good. The owners and chefs are Thai themselves and so the food is very authentic. Two of our party had been to Thailand and found the same flavors we had experienced there represented in the dishes served here in Tyler. However, instead of using parts from the whole chicken as they do in Thailand, the chefs here cooked us only the best chicken breast – definitely a good adjustment to the traditional methods in my mind! We liked the idea of ‘spicy ratings’ for the curries – very accommodating for the Texas palate – you can choose one star, two or three. One star is described as a tingling sensation, two is a stimulating kick and three is a raging fire! I chose two stars which was really quite warm, perhaps the 3 stars should be reserved just for the true ethnically Thai consumers.
I think the reputation of Basil Thai is catching on – we had the last available table last Friday night and the turnover of customers was quite fast. I also noted that there were several families there. Fried rice and noodles are a good option for hungry children.
My overall impressions are that this is a good place for a good fast feed. It isn’t in itself an evening’s entertainment despite the slightly exotic food but is good if you are going somewhere afterwards. Alternatively you could order a take-out and have it at home. You can phone in an order any time. I think I will do that whenever I have a craving for a taste of the Orient!