Getting aboard the Thai Express

Another day at York, and I’m hungry in the evening after classes. I’m here every day of the week, and I eat a lot. Even when I try to stay ahead of myself and prepare my own food, I tend to eat throughout the day. Inevitably, I’m familiar and bored with almost everything edible that York has to offer.
Walking through the Student Centre, I wonder which of the usual joints I should hit for dinner. Then I remember there was some buzz about the new Thai Express.
The scent of sweet, sour, and spicy Asian sauces draws me in, and the crowd keeps me. The kitchen loud, the line long, and the seats filled, it’s clear students have been taking advantage of this new venue, adding some much-needed variation to campus food options. For students who have been choosing from the same restaurants every day for eight months of the year, it’s a nice change of pace.
I glance at the menu and see it’s exactly the same as any other Thai Express, but that can be expected of any franchise. The same way you don’t need to think too hard about what you want at McDonald’s or KFC, I feel conflicted because even though I’m trying a new restaurant, it occurs to me I’m not going to be eating new food. I order a mild beef pad thai, without looking at the menu, pay, and shuffle along the rail to wait for my food at the end.
Though there are a lot of people ahead of me, the line moves quickly. I’m pleased and admittedly a little surprised. The staff is in rhythm and for the most part, orders go smoothly. At the end of the line, I wait for my order to be called next and have a pleasant exchange with the chefs as they manhandle their giant woks. They are kind and quick, eager to serve up my order, and in just a few moments I’m taking my pad thai away in a small box. They are, however, a little callous with my friend’s order. Her “little bit of sauce on the side” turns into a lot of sauce in the middle of her noodles.
Sitting down, I open up the heavy take-out box and I’m impressed with the generous portion size. I hesitate to dive in – the presentation could use a boost. The noodles look bland and overall, though it smells good, it doesn’t look particularly appetizing. In fairness, this may be the box it is in. With a proper plate and a little more tidiness, the food would easily look much better.
I’m satisfied with the food taste and the texture of the pad thai as I make my way towards the bottom of the box. The sweet and spicy flavour could be brought out more, weighed down by the soggy noodles; the consistency takes the most away from the joy of the experience. These are also the complaints of my friends who have other noodle-based dishes. The dish can benefit from more zest and energy, but instead it is damp and dull.
That said, it’s still a moderate success, and I would go back to eat again — this time with realistic expectations. We’re still on a university campus, and it’s still Thai Express.
Alex Hum
Features Editor