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Bangkok Orchid
Thai Restaurant - Irving, TX
By David Currier
 Asian restaurants are as common in the Metroplex as
chop sticks in Hong Kong. Good Asian restaurants which offer relaxing decor,
great service and incredible value are not easy to find. Welcome, Thong and
Danny, owners of Bangkok Orchid Thai Restaurant in Irving.
Entering Bangkok Orchid, the first thing to catch my attention was the
refreshing decor: walls painted in Thai-smiling colors of muted orange which
Danny used to capture the cuisine’s carrot, oranges and panang curry, and a
green of bell pepper, banana leaf and green curry; interesting artwork that
has class - not appearing as if it came from the Clearance-Dollar-Store,
potted plants and flowers, tapestries hanging at the front door, typical
Thai Buddhas and happy Chinese Buddhas, polished carved wooden chairs and
fresh flowers on the tables. The atmosphere is splendid and very soothing.
In spite of an up-scale appearance, Bangkok Orchid is a casual restaurant.
Guests will be comfortable wearing jeans and t-shirts, Texas cowboy gear, or
Meyerson and Bass Hall finery.
 For business men and women of the Mid-Cities, at $5.95 ($6.95 with shrimp),
Bangkok Orchid is an oasis for an affordable lunch. For folks from Dallas
and Ft. Worth, Bangkok Orchid offers a dinner venue with a change in
surroundings and tastes, or even a new option on your way to or from Lone
Star Park. A friendly, even romantic evening dinner, with appetizer and
dessert costs about $25 per person, plus gratuity. And Bangkok Orchid is a
perfect place for an early dinner before your theater date in Dallas or Ft.
Worth.
Lunches include a choice of Thai soup or a green salad with tasty peanut
sauce, followed by a generous serving of your main course, a scoop of white
sticky-rice for soaking up the sauces, an egg roll with sweet-sour-spicy
dipping sauce and a mélange of fresh raw carrot and cabbage.
The dinner menu presents an expansion of the lunchtime offerings, plus, the
service is more refined.
For the dinner hours, typical appetizers include kitchen fresh spring rolls,
fried crab cakes, my favorite corn patties, and deep fried tofu. (I never
liked tofu until I had it here.)
Four unique soups, including the Thai specialty tom yum shrimp, or a clear
noodle, vegetable and tofu vegan-delight, are served up with distinct,
freshly prepared tastes.
Six full-meal salads such as beef and lemon grass with tomatoes, onions,
cucumbers and a chili-lime sauce, or a Thai green salad with that delicious
smooth peanut dressing are perfect for those days when losing a few pound is
at the top of your "to-do" list.
The generous dinner serving of the rich tasting pad Thai with shrimp and
tofu will likely leave you with leftovers for tomorrow's lunch. An extensive
selection of fish specialties, noodle plates and Thai curry dishes (each
with your choice of chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, tofu or mixed seafood)
provides diners the opportunity to explore the many tastes and textures of
Thai cuisine. My spicy fish with lime sauce was the hit of the evening, and
it, too, provided a snack for the next day.
The house special for dessert is a Thai banana-split; that is, a banana,
baked in it's skin, then split end to end and topped with two scoops of
coconut ice cream, shredded coconut and a bright red cherry. (Enough for two
lovers! Or this can be a surprise for the birthday-guest when served with a
candle.)
Several choices may be ordered with extra Thai chili spice - mild, medium or
hot! The medium accentuates the typical Thai flavors of market fresh basil,
lemongrass, garlic and ginger. Level hot is for those of us that enjoy these
flavors with a bit of perspiration dripping from our brow. I love it!
Specials of the day are not common, but if the chef has been creative, you
may be surprised. Ask you waiter. Since the menu offers such a variety,
specials are not important. This restaurant has become a weekly favorite of
many diners.
Danny and Thong do not have a liquor license. Beverages include a delicious,
refreshing, original iced coffee, iced Thai tea or Texas tea, hot tea or
coffee, and soft drinks. Guests are welcome to bring their own wine.
 In addition to the typical mint offered as you are leaving the restaurant,
you'll find a copy of the latest edition of Dallas Voice for you to take
with you. Hmmm? Might this be a gay owned restaurant in the Mid-Cities?
Could be!
Bangkok Orchid Thai Restaurant is located at 3311 West
Airport Freeway (183), Irving, TX, 75062 (972-252-7770), east of the Target
and Verizon stores. (Exit Airport Freeway using the North Beltline option.)
Reservations suggested for parties of six or more. Open Tuesday-Friday for
lunch, 11:00 - 3:00, and for dinner 5:00 – 9:00. Sunday, open noon – 9:00.
Closed on Mondays.
http://www.bangkokorchidtx.com/home.html
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