It's probably a tie between red and green curry. Red can be more soothing, but green can be more complex. Either way, I need to taste the sweetness of the coconut milk.
Can I Curry Your Favor?
Yellow and Massaman have those nice big potato chunks, but there isn't the same spicy zest. Please include bamboo for crunchy. Remember that I get a little weirded out by eggplant.
The way you eat your curry says a lot about you. If you daintily sprinkle the broth over your rice, you will have seven years bad luck*. To avoid such a demise, I eat the broth like a soup, with one big spoonful at a time. I sprinkle in the rice like a topping, allowing it to soak up some of the sauce, allowing me to chew the creamy flavors.
And on certain days of the week when I am feeling rambunctious, I take a gamble and get "Thai hot," the spiciest heat level available. Some cooks seem to take this as a challenge and make it a struggle for me to finish the bowl without sweating too much.
Thai Top Five
Here are some of my fave Thai food restaurants from around town:
1. Thai Spice Kitchen | 6426 Bowden Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32216
Hidden gem with fun apps! Fairly basic ambiance. Great service. The biggest problem here is that their drunken noodles AND their pad thai are both just as good as the curry (maybe better - gasp!). I've taken my parents, friends and favorite humans here.
2. Noom Thai Bistro, Southside | 8642 Baymeadows Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32256
Best customer service! Opened during the hurricane and fed many hungry Southside residents without electricity. Provides nice, large portions. Very fresh and extra spicy - if you so desire. Newer, slightly nice space than Thai Spice Kitchen.
3. Aroi Thai, 5 Points | 820 Lomax St, Jacksonville, FL 32204
Casual Riverside dining small bowl options! Very cute decor. Nearly always empty. I enjoy their Tom Kha Gai soup (pictured above), which is kinda like curry sans rice. This is great for being able to meander around and explore 5 points (or find dessert) after.
4. Takhrai Thai Restaurant, Bartram Park | 12709 Bartram Park Blvd #3, Jacksonville 32258
Very pretty inside, always get the green curry. This restaurant has a bit more of a fancy feel. When I worked at Web.com, I would sneak over here to get a decadent curry lunch.
5. Flavors of Thai, Downtown | 1004 Hendricks Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207
Convenient and trendy lunch thai spot. Good peanut dishes. Best decor and ambience. You get the fancy downtown vibe which is great for weekend dates. They also have the efficiency to get your lunch quick.
Insider Tip: Substitute rice for glass noodles. This changes the flavor profile and texture in a really interesting way. A bit of a high-maintenance ordering request, but it is worth it every once in a while!
*The bad luck fact is entirely fictional.