1st of Thai
By: Laura Westneat
Chicken Pad Thai
On Lavender Parkway in Faribault Minnesota, a red fluorescent sign reading “1st of Thai” sparks curiosity about the origin of the grammatically questionable name. Although imagining a 400-meter race between all the Thai restaurant owners in the area is fun, it is more likely that the name is a strategy to be first in the phonebook. Despite this outdated method of advertising, 1st of Thai brings a flavor of Thai food to the table of Midwesterners that guarantees word of mouth will be the superior form of publicity.
The interior design lacks the organization of a larger chain, but suggests the family-owned restaurant’s ethos to focus on the food, not the accessories. In keeping with the impersonal warehouse feel of the restaurant, the staff present themselves as robotic strangers, with small talk of the weather and drink orders as their generic scripts. The initial stiffness of the location and the staff quickly changes to charming and comfortable when the food arrives.
The egg rolls ($3.89 for 2 rolls) are homemade, with a thin layer of fried crisp dough encasing the juicy interior. An inquiry regarding the spice level of the pad thai ($9.29) reveals a flexibility that reflects the attentive small business hiding behind the drafty warehouse design. In addition to the two extra spices on the table, the waiter offered to bring out a dish of extra spice for customization of the meal. These accommodations to the taste buds of each customer extend to the entire menu; the kitchen is willing to omit or add anything to the standard dishes if the customer requests it. With a menu that blends Chinese and Thai food, and includes traditional Thai household staples like mok bha, 1st of Thai aims to offer something for both Midwestern and native Thai diners. Regardless of individual preferences, for the casual Thai customer who cares more about food than fashion, 1st of Thai wins the race for your stomach.
Open daily for lunch and dinner. Dishes average around $8-$10
**Background information and more personal details regarding the history of the restaurant taken from a story that Carleton students in the American Studies department conducted: https://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/amst/studentprojects/ethnicfood/1stofthai/
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