So I ate lunch at the Laughing Buddha today ...
... and I liked it. You know, kids, back in my day, in the mid-part of the first decade of the 21st century, the Tower District got its first Thai restaurant in Million Elephant. The food was amazing, and while the service has always been suspect, at least the first bartender they had was great. Plus you could eat at 3 a.m. There's only one word for that, and it rhymes with awesome.
Then Thaiphoon came along. And before its food quality went to [insert non-favorable word here] and it turned into a poor excuse for a booty club, it was awesome, too. While the panang wasn't as tasty as at Million, Thaiphoon won the pad thai test. And the price was right.
As for Buddha (photo courtesy of Mike Oz), it's too early to tell if I'll get tired of it eventually, as well. I had the Mongolian Beef, which was delicious -- if a bit spicy, but worth it. Steven had the pad thai, which looked and tasted a little frou frou for what I'm looking for in pad thai. But the ingredients in both entrees were certainly fresh. For that alone, I'd recommend checking out Buddha sooner than later.
My only question is why the limited menu? There only are a handful of noodle bowls and a few rice dishes; and the menu is identical for lunch and dinner (save 2 bucks on pricing). The appetizers looked interesting alongside the wine/sake list, but there were no prices listed for them. Maybe they're starting with the standards before easing in other delicacies. If that's the case, it's probably the smarter move. Here's just hoping more options actually are on the way.
I'll definitely be going back to try the appetizers and pound back some sake bombs.
But then again, I also went back to Hero's eventually. (God, I eat out too much.)
UPDATE: As promised, I went back last night with a few buddies after performing in a certain Rogue show. I had two Stellas, an order of egg rolls, spring rolls and lettuce wraps (all in the $5.99 range). The bar was niiice, and very comfortable. The bartender was cool and friendly -- and competent. It wasn't super busy, but I'd have confidence in his abilities on a night when it is. Also, I think it should be classified as more "Asian" than strictly "Thai." And I'm officially a fan ... for now.
Comments:
So three thai places within three blocks of each other?
Geez ...
Posted by: Mike Oz at March 4, 2009 2:18 PM
Another Thai place? Are you kidding? No wonder my peeps and I always end up eating at Livingstone's.
Posted by: Heather at March 4, 2009 2:18 PM
@mike and heather: hahaha ... you two are too cute. i'm marveling at the time stamps of both your comments.
with that said, whatever man. stop the hating. more thai food the better, i say. especially when at least two of the three joints have worn out their welcome (with me).
Posted by: will at March 4, 2009 2:24 PM
@Will: Well, who do you think I mean when I say "me and my peeps"?
Speaking for me and my peeps, we like appetizer-like foods -- fried whatever-you-got -- and Livingstone's has the more appealing menu.
Starline Grill's menu isn't bad in that respect, if you're willing to sit there for an hour waiting for your food. Which I am not.
Personally, I just don't like Thai food -- hence, the Tower District is not a huge draw to me when it comes to choosing somewhere to eat. Unfortunately, I spend so much damn time there, so Livingstone's it is.
Posted by: Heather at March 4, 2009 2:29 PM
do we really need ANOTHER thai restaraunt in the tower? why doesn't somebody open another chinese place while they're at it? when's someone gonna figure it out and open a late nite pizza slice place??!!
Posted by: Clint Storm at March 4, 2009 2:32 PM
Never was a fan of Million Elephant and never went to bootyphoon. But I love some good Thai and was trying to think of a place to eat dinner before I catch both yours and Travis's shows tonight. Thanks Will.
Posted by: Michael at March 4, 2009 2:34 PM
@the last sentence of the post: That's What She Said!
Posted by: brodiemash at March 4, 2009 2:35 PM
Definitely something to try out... it's a good location and might be fun to hang out for a moment. Thanks for the 411
Posted by: Renee N at March 4, 2009 2:39 PM
i liked the laughing buddha too, the orange chicken is BOMB. i figured since they're new, they have a smaller menu. i was hoping that would change. i didn't realize it was a thai place tho.
as far as thaiphoon, the food would be good if they laid off the spice. (the chef has a very heavy hand)
million elephant...
i do love that place, but avoid eating there. i had a bad experience (maybe 2 years ago.) i won't mention the details because i LOVE that place and have eaten there since.
Posted by: karma at March 4, 2009 2:40 PM
I too have eaten at the Laughing Buddha, and I think it was great. It was even good the next day when I warmed up my leftovers because I was too hammered the night before to finish it all.
I heard that the cook there is from PF Chang's, although I don't know how true that is. I do know that the food was good, and the bartender that was talking to us was cool as hell too.
Don't know if it's the spot to just hang at, but if you are looking for some good food, that was the place to do it...
Posted by: Chris at March 4, 2009 2:40 PM
Heather, I've heard tell that Landmark also has fried goodness on their appetizer menu and I'm pretty sure that Sequoia has fried goodness on theirs as well.
Posted by: adam at March 4, 2009 2:56 PM
I look forward to trying the Buddha.
Have you all tried the place just a wee bit west of
Blackstone and Ashlan in that strip mall. Not sure what
it's called. But it's a very modest, but pretty yummy and
inexpensive thai place.
(but for tonight. it's a Rogue tradition: I jam over to
Golden while setting up for the first act at Veni's (Travis Sheridan's show) and then, by the time he starts, I get a show, plus steamed rice and orange chicken.[eaten stealthily out in the parking lot as to not offend our hosts but close enough that I don't miss any of the show through the slats] Oh yeah!)
Posted by: blake at March 4, 2009 3:05 PM
@Clint Storm: Yes! What he said.
@Adam: You're right, I guess. There are other options. I've had the potato skins at Landmark -- very good. Haven't been to Sequoia in a while, so I don't really remember what's on the menu.
I guess I just know that I can get a half order of whatever at Stone's and escape with a bill under $10.
Posted by: Heather at March 4, 2009 3:08 PM
I agree that there really isn't a need for more Thai in the Tower. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but it's a bit much.
Either way, I'll be trying it out tonight before Travis's show.
What Tower really needs is a GOOD sushi restaurant.
Posted by: MsJoey at March 4, 2009 3:11 PM
@clint: im witchu on the pizza slice
@brodie: i was wondering how long it would take someone to jump on that.
@michael: thank YOU
@renee: youre welcome
@karma: def gotta try the orange chicken. i love me some orange chicken. ... but now that i think about it, maybe it's not just a thai place. perhaps asian is a better word? gonna need clarification from someone on that.
@adam and heather: mmmm, fried goodness ...
@blake: i think you should do an entire guest blog entry on all your rogue traditions.
@joey: lemme know what you try. and whatcha doin after travis' show? page 16 in your map, 8:30, dianna's south. (hint, hint)
@everybody else: i totally guessed wrong on which entry would get more people talking between thai food and prop 8.
Posted by: will at March 4, 2009 3:22 PM
I haven't found any thai place in fresno that's worthy compared to spots in LA. I've been spoiled by great thai food. Whenever I go to LA , I always make it a point to take my friends to this hole-in-the-wall spot called YAI . right off hollywood blvd and the 101 next to the 7-11. best pad thai ever. well everything is excellent. take it from an asian
Posted by: derek akira at March 4, 2009 4:59 PM
@Blake You're thinking of Bankok, and I agree, that spot's great.
Will be trying the Laughing Buddah soo...
I dig a simple menu, do a few things really really good...
No Bar report? Bar and Grill?
Posted by: Diablo at March 4, 2009 5:18 PM
@derek: i like nan king in SF. (but im a tourist, so ...)
@diablo: i was on my lunch break. you know what they say? dont blog drunk.
but dont worry, i'll be back. just. you. watch. (actually, dont -- cant guarantee it'll be pretty.)
Posted by: will at March 4, 2009 5:22 PM
Blake: The place on Ashlan just off Blackstone (in the strip mall with the 7-Eleven) is Bangkok. And it's very good. (All this and Thai karaoke, too ...)
Haven't been there in a while, since I heart the Elephant -- good food, great prices, greater people. (Used to like Thaiphoon, too, before the attitude adjustment.) And I'll definitely be stopping in at the Buddha, where two of my wonderful Elephant friends, Vanhsy and Kit, are now working.
What I would really like, though (and this will really open up a can of bait) is one decent sushi joint in the Tower -- one that has something remotely resembling service ...
Posted by: fran fried at March 4, 2009 6:04 PM
I was ticked when they got that place. When the fish deal closed I envisioned having that storefront for my new venture, Bangers, a 24/7 hip hop bar in the front with a gun store in the back. When you come in for a shooter, you get a shooter, dog! And the magnums come as champagne or as 7mm Remington. Don't have colors, don't come in.
Posted by: jimguy at March 4, 2009 8:18 PM
Best Tower Drinks: Landmark IF Miriam is working.
Best Tower Thai: Hm. I thought is was Million, but I'd best try the Buddha, especially with the traitorous move by fave servers Vahnsee and Kit. Love them! Plus, worst bartender in town at Million...check your bill when he serves you! (Love Thomas, but his cocktails are quite suspect...never taste the same twice).
Best Tower Restaurant Pizza is actually the Starline Grill, but you've gotta pick the right night to get your food in under an hour. Last night was NOT it.
But for simple, quick eatin? I loves me the Stones and Irenes. And if you're drinkin'? Stones again. If you have the moolah, tho? Landmark.
@Jimguy? They already have that place, 'Bangers.' They call it "Bobby's." Proof? The huge fight there on Mardi Gras, and the colors showin' nearly every night (they actually have/need a cop car there with two cops every weekend or big night).
Posted by: Stephen at March 5, 2009 8:05 AM
Bobbys is good for fights. The chick fights rule!
Posted by: jimguy at March 5, 2009 9:01 AM
@Stephen: I totally agree with you about Thomas, his drinks and the bill at Million!
But, as much as I love Miriam (she makes a mean Bloody Miriam), I gotta give it up to Hillary at Stones. NO ONE in Tower pours a drink like she does!
And can someone roll up to a corner with a hot dog stand please! I would kill for a decent hot dog, mid-barhopping!
Posted by: MsJoey at March 5, 2009 9:33 AM
msjoey,
while hillary is good, it's all about keith at landmark.
Posted by: ed at March 5, 2009 10:02 AM
Anyone know how vegetarian/vegan friendly they are?
Posted by: Jesse at March 5, 2009 10:12 AM
Ed,
I agree. Last night Keith made a mean stoli/cran followed up by a raspberry Kamikazee. The perfect way to end a Wednesday night!
Posted by: MsJoey at March 5, 2009 10:38 AM
The Laughing Buddha is an Asian Fusion restaurant...They serve Thai, Laotian, Chinese, and Vietnamese food. I heard from one of the bartenders that they will be serving a couple of sushi dishes next week! I am so looking forward to that! So far, I've tried their chowmein, orange chicken, and eggrolls. I loved it all! The eggrolls were awesome, and I am looking forward to going back for some more:)
Posted by: Jennifer S. at March 6, 2009 1:51 PM
The Tower District had a Thai restaurant in 1993 I remember because I ate there once... the address was like 562 e olive
or 556 e olive at echo. The Tower also had a Sushi and Japanese Restaurant in the late 1990s at 609 e Olive.
But what the tower has not had yet is a Vietnamese food or a place that has Pho' (fhu).
and if you did not know most of the local Thai restaurants are really Laotian. Got Lop?
and if you want Chinese in the Tower everyone should know of Mings next door to Club Fred or the Golden Dragon next to the former Wild Blue.
"Tower District got its first Thai restaurant in Million Elephant."
Posted by: antimusick at March 12, 2009 1:23 PM
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