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Foodies will love Thai Esan in East Ridge

In the foreground is the Pad Thai with Thai rice noodles with eggs, bean sprouts and ground peanuts in a tamarind sauce. Above it is the Sweet Basil stir fry with chicken, bell pepper, basil, onion and minced chili sauce.
In the foreground is the Pad Thai with Thai rice noodles with eggs, bean sprouts and ground peanuts in a tamarind sauce. Above it is the Sweet Basil stir fry with chicken, bell pepper, basil, onion and minced chili sauce. In the foreground is the Pad Thai with Thai rice noodles with eggs, bean sprouts and ground peanuts in a tamarind sauce. Above it is the Sweet Basil stir fry with chicken, bell pepper, basil, onion and minced chili sauce.

By Barry Courter 5 min read

If you go

› What: That Esan, 4330 Ringgold Road, East Ridge.› Phone: 423-771-9718.› Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.› Price range: $3.50 for spring rolls to $15.95 for Thai seafood soup.

photo The red curry was cooked with coconut milk, bamboo shoots, kaffir lime leaves, bell pepper and tofu.
photo Barry Courter reviews a meal from Thai Esan.

Ours is not a big city, so when a new restaurant opens, people, especially self-professed foodies, tend to hear about it. I don’t think Thai Esan has been open but a couple of weeks, and I’ve been twice. I know a foodie who went twice in one day last week. I might go again today and maybe again tomorrow.

It is located in the space where Mama’s Thai Smile was on Ringgold Road near the corner of Moore Road. I liked that one as well. Thai Esan is not a perfect restaurant, nor is it perfect for all occasions. It has neither wine nor beer, nor is it a fancy place, so it’s probably not going to be your top choice for a first date or a romantic meal.

Fortunately, good food and good restaurants are like mini vacations for my wife and me, and therefore count as a romantic night out. Forget the beach. We’ll take a really good Pad Thai or red curry every time, and for our date last week, Thai Esan fit the bill.

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