I don't know how I made it through the first 13 years of my life without eating any Thai food. I don't recall feeling deprived of such deliciousness, but then again you never miss what you never had, right? Actually, I did eat a lot of noodles as a kid. Spaghetti noodles. I must be part Italian, which would explain my thick and curly chest hair! OK, maybe I didn't eat THAT many spaghetti noodles, but I can say that eating multiple bowls of the stuff helped prepare me for the goodness that is Phad Thai. Of course, the famous peanut-noodle dish has a reputation as being something that only foreigners would eat. Well hell, I can't use chopsticks well so I must qualify as a gastronomical tourist.Typhoon is a small restaurant chain in the Portland area that specializes in Thai cuisine. The downtown location is associated with the Hotel Lucia, so if you stay there you can order up some Tom Yum soup at a moments notice. The original location on Portland's trendy Northwest 23rd avenue has doubled in size due to its popularity. Always a good sign... Actually, the "hipness" of Typhoon is probably its biggest downfall - as the restaurants get trendier, the prices have been slowly creeping up. Although much of the food is just as good as any other Thai dinner, there are a few standout options that really make Typhoon a place to dine.
Firstly, Typhoon has an extensive tea menu. Yes, tea. They have a selection that covers almost every imaginable type of tea as well as an exotic menu that offers some rare white tea varieties that are quite spectacular. If you don't like tea, then you can order off of the wine/cocktail/beer list which is pretty straightforward.
Secondly, Typhoon serves up the best drunken noodles I have had the fine pleasure to eat. They are spicy and not overly stir-fried, and are so delicious that I am drooling slightly as I type. They come in veggie form, too, so our vegetarian friends may still enjoy this simple yet highly recommended dish.
Lastly, Typhoon offers "pine cone fish", which is a large fillet of fish that has been cubed with the skin on and deep fried. It comes out looking like a round pine cone, and chunks of the fish can be torn off and dipped in a refreshing lime cilantro sauce. It is the best fish and chips without chips that you will ever have.
Typhoon is not without its problems, however. The price is a sticking point that gets increasingly difficult to justify when you are on a graduate student stipend. And the restaurant is less "authentic" than other, smaller and local Thai restaurants. However, for an occasional treat, a dish of Drunken Noodles and a Thai iced tea from Typhoon can really hit the spot.
Check out their webpage at www.typhoonresturaunts.com
(Tom Yum Soup from Typhoon)