Brown Sugar & Similans

By far, the best Thai food in Boston can be found at the Brown Sugar Cafe. With a location on Commonwealth and one in Fenway, this restaurant serves authentic Thai food in the Thai style. As you would expect from its name, each table has a small jar of brown sugar as well as a chili pepper shaker for those who like their dishes a little more spicy.

Coming from the California where there is an abundance of ethnic food to choose from, I searched for many years for a good Thai restaurant in Boston. Most typical Thai restaurants on the East Coast have altered their dishes for the American palate so that the dishes are the Americanized versions, a little bland and lacking in spices and spicyness. Brown Sugar is for those who want authentic and tasty Thai dishes.

Brown Sugar has an extensive menu from appetizers to salads, entrees and desserts. In the middle of the menu, you will even find an insert card specifically titled Thai style dishes. Anything you order from the regular menu is delicious on its own but those found on this insert are prepared in the authentic manner so be prepared for a great spicy meal. There are also combo plates available that come with rice, spring roll and an entree.

My favorite appetizers include their crispy spring rolls, the satay chicken and tofu triangles with sweet & sour dip. If you like peanut sauce and salads, try their special Brown Sugar Salad that comes with peanut sauce dressing. I always opt for the papaya salad with side of sticky rice...the perfect marriage of sweet/sour spicyness.

Brown Sugar also offers a build your own curry dish by choosing the main meat or seafood ingredient and curry type (red, green, yellow, massaman or vegetable). They also offer build your own entrees based on your favorite Thai ingredient, such as basil, ginger or bok choy and choice of meat or seafood.

At a Thai restaurant, you can never go wrong with ordering pad thai and here, there are several versions to try...all very tasty and garnished with fresh bean sprouts. Their basil fried rice or basil pad thai is very aromatic and the taste certainly lives up to your olfactory senses.

If you want the more authentic Thai style dishes, try the Kow Rad Moo Pad Prik King - pork with garlic chili paste and green beans over rice or the Kow Rad Gaprow Kai Dao - your choice of minced meat made with Thai spices and herbs over rice. A must try for duck lovers is the Tamarind Duck - sauteed sliced boneless roast duck in sweet Tamarind sauce with Thai veggies or Duck Choo Chee - the same but in a hot curry sauce.

Don't forget to order the Thai iced tea and dessert. Try the fried ice cream or one of their more exotic flavors such as ginger, ogura (red bean), green tea or mango ice creams. Top it off with a side of sweet sticky rice for that authentic taste.

Brown Sugar is for those who want a delicious and authentic Thai meal in a nice, clean and comfortable setting. For a more fine dining atmosphere, try their third location, the Similans near the Cambridge Galleria.

For more information:
http://www.brownsugarcafe.com/index.html