Granite Falls’ long wait is over: Thai food has finally arrived

GRANITE FALLS — Culinary history has been made here. For the first time in its 116-year history, the town has a Thai restaurant.

The chance to be the only Thai-food game in town is what lured Nucharee and Tanapol Rungruangsatian to move Eat Thai Cuisine to Granite Falls from Seattle’s posh Queen Anne neighborhood, of all places. They’ve set up shop in the space on E. Stanley Street that was formerly occupied by Barbecue Bucket.

The Rungruangsatians, who moved to the U.S. from Thailand about 15 years ago, were pleasantly surprised when they opened the doors for the first time. It seems the locals could hardly wait to give Thai food a try.

“Many people were in line,” Nucharee Rungruangsatian said. “We didn’t expect that because it’s a small town.”

My dad, Jim Thompson, joined me for lunch so we could sample Eat Thai’s menu together.

And that menu is huge. There are 34 main dishes from which to choose, from pad see-ew (sauteed noodles with broccoli) to pad kra prow (roasted duck topped with spicy Thai basil sauce), along with more than a dozen soups, salads and appetizers.

We ordered four fresh basil rolls ($12) to start. The rolls are filled with shrimp, noodles, basil and lettuce, and are wrapped in rice paper. The rolls’ filling was nice and crunchy with clean flavors, and there was a delicious peanut sauce for dipping. Dad likened it to eating out of a garden.

Other appetizers to choose from include spring rolls, chicken satay, chicken wings with sweet Thai sauce, fried tofu, calamari and pork stickers.

The main dishes, all $11.95, come with a choice of chicken, pork, beef or tofu. Shrimp or an extra helping of meat cost an additional $3. Every main dish is served with rice, except for noodle dishes.

I ordered another Thai restaurant staple: pad Thai (I chose pork for my protein), ground peanuts, bean sprouts and tamarind sauce.

I’ve had pad Thai in many Thai restaurants, and sometimes the noodles can be dry. Eat Thai’s were not — they were full of flavor that complemented the pork and bean sprouts well. The peanuts served on the side, which I sprinkled on top, were a nice touch.

I also ordered the crispy chicken slathered in chili paste and served with broccoli. The chicken was true to its name — deep-fried to crispy perfection. It reminded me of the orange chicken I often order at Chinese restaurants.

Dad opted for the garlic stir-fry with broccoli, celery, carrots, garlic cloves and garlic sauce.

“The garlic isn’t overwhelming, which is nice,” he said. “It’s just a nice hint of garlic.”

To top things off, we both ordered Thai iced tea ($3). The drink, made with spiced black tea, sweetened condensed milk and sugar, was like dessert in a glass. Order one, too, if you’re in the mood for a treat.

Evan Thompson: 425-339-3427, ethompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @ByEvanThompson.

If you go

Eat Thai Cuisine, 402 E. Stanley St., Granite Falls, is open 11 a.m. to 8:50 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 8:50 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Delivery is available. Call 360-322-7481 or order online at www.eatthaigranitefalls.com.