Lunch, Anyone? Bangkok Blue Thai
Tasty food, very reasonable price
Thai cuisine has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, thanks to its diverse flavors and inexpensive price tag. For those on the hunt for good Thai in Boston, Bangkok Blue Thai Restaurant, in Copley Square across from the Boston Public Library, will delight with its rich assortment of colorful, delicious dishes.
We stopped by the restaurant on a recent January afternoon for what turned out to be a hearty lunch. Bangkok Blue’s extensive menu includes an array of noodle, curry, and fried rice dishes in addition to luncheon specials, most between $7 and $9. Certain dishes are graded with a mild, medium, or hot heat designation, helpful for those who want to avoid spicy entrees.
Several appetizers immediately caught our eye. The Golden Triangles ($5.50), deep-fried pockets of potatoes, onions, and light curry powder served with a sweet and sour chili sauce, are flavorful and samosa-like. The Crab Rangoon starter ($5.95) was light and puffy, filled with cream cheese and seafood. The Shu-mai ($5.95), steamed minced chicken and shrimp wrapped in wonton, was especially tasty when dipped in the accompanying savory soy-ginger sauce. For an extra $2.25, diners can add a starter of Shu-mai or Crab Rangoon to their lunch order.
Hungry patrons will be happy to know that Bangkok Blue’s entrées are large, guaranteeing doggy bag leftovers. Among the several entrees we ordered, the duck salad ($7.95) was particularly good. The dish—roasted duck, fresh basil, roasted chili, and lime dressing served on a bed of iceberg lettuce, onion, tomato, and cucumber—was fresh, with just a hint of spiciness. More than satisfactory was the hefty pile of pad Thai ($8.25), the classic dish incorporating pan-fried rice noodles with egg, chicken, shrimp, bean sprouts, and crushed peanuts. The lemongrass chicken ($7.95) we ordered was light, but lacked flavor. The sautéed chicken marinated in minced lemongrass, with onions, carrots, and scallions in a soybean garlic sauce with a side of white rice, was pleasantly light, but could have used a bit more punch. The clear favorite among the entrees we tried was the masaman curry ($7.95), sweet potatoes, onions, carrots, and roasted peanuts in coconut milk, served with a choice of chicken, beef (our selection), tofu, shrimp, or duck and a pile of white rice. The curry, combined with the delicate flavor of coconut milk and the crunchiness of the cooked veggies and peanuts, gave the dish a light kick, and the tender beef soaked up the vibrant sauce. It was a delicious choice.
In addition to its wide-ranging menu, Bangkok Blue offers quick, attentive service and a vibrant dining room with high ceilings and cheerful blue walls. The restaurant has outdoor dining during warm weather months—a great place to hear Copley Square’s outdoor summer concerts. Given its affordable prices and prime location, it’s an attractive spot to take a lunch break while shopping on Newbury Street or studying at the Boston Public Library.
Bangkok Blue Thai Restaurant, 651 Boylston St., Boston, is open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday from 3 to 9 p.m.; phone: 617-266-1010. Take any MBTA Green Line trolley to Copley Square. Bangkok Blue accepts all major credit cards. The entire menu is available for take-out and delivery ($2 to $5 charge) from 6 to 9 p.m. daily.
This is part of a weekly series featuring Boston lunch spots of interest to the BU community. If you have any suggestions for places we should feature, leave them in the comments section below. Check out or list of lunchtime tips on Foursquare.
Erin Thibeau can be reached at ethibeau@bu.edu; follow her on Twitter at @erinthibeau.
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