Savor the Flavors of India and Thailand

Although both Indian and Thai dishes are similar in their use of curry, the spices used in each often vary greatly. We’ve taken the guesswork out of deciding which dishes to try at a few of our local favorite spots.

King of Thai Noodle

VACAVILLE – This adorable restaurant and bar are in the perfect location. Whether you’re looking for a fabulous lunch option, a date night spot or an evening off from the kitchen, King of Thai Noodle is a great place to unwind and sink into some amazing selections of Thai cooking.

Walking in, you’ll notice sultry surroundings with elegant hues of pink walls that give an immediate sense of calm while simultaneously engulfing you in the intoxicating scent of those unmistakable Thai aromas!

Whether you’re on your own or with friends, take time to stop into the full bar for cocktails, to meet some neighbors or watch the game on their large screen TV. Enjoy lunch or dinner at the bar, the main dining area or the outdoor patio where you can watch the Nut Tree’s famous merry-go-round in action.

We decided to try some favorites to compare as well as some new dishes that seemed outside of our comfort zone. First up was the Chicken Satay, an all-time favorite ($12). This appetizer dish was basic and comes with 5 skewers, a slightly chunky peanut sauce for dipping and a small, cool, Cucumber Salad. For our main dish, we selected the Pumpkin Curry with Beef ($13). I think I’d prefer the chicken, however, this dish was delicious; packed full of onions and assorted bell peppers, with amazing Thai spices of curry and coconut. Last, we tried the Pineapple Fried Rice with Shrimp ($14), a very mild dish sprinkled with raisins and onions and topped with crushed cashews and cilantro.

Takeout and delivery are both available. A full menu is available online at KingofThaiVacaville.com.

1679 E. Monte Vista Ave., Vacaville
Open daily, 11am – 11pm
KingofThaiVacaville.com | 707.455.7150

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Clay Oven Grill & Bar

VACAVILLE – Clay Oven is located a few short blocks north of Nut Tree Road’s bustling premium outlets. Opened in 2011, the restaurant promises authentic Indian cuisine and a fine dining experience, which is exactly what we found when we visited.

Immediately walking in I was impressed with the friendly service, traditional music, vibrant colors, beautiful decor and towering architectural interior.

We were seated in a cozy booth and amazed at the large selections on the menu. First up we ordered the Combo Appetizer ($9.50) of Vegetable Samosa, Aloo Tikki and Vegetable Pakora. Next was the Seekh Kabob Tandoori Specialty (rolls of Free Range Lamb $15.95), that included a mustard sauce with yogurt, black pepper, garlic and fresh lemon juice served sizzling, spicy and delicious! We ordered the Assorted Naan (Tandoori bread baked in a clay pot)—all flavorful!

400 Orange Dr., Vacaville
Open daily, 11am – 10pm (10:30pm Fri & Sat)
ClayOvenGrillBar.com | 707.455.1313

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Thai E-San Kitchen

DIXON – The perfect stop for lunch or dinner! One of my new favorites — this place is super clean, friendly and has some of the fastest service I’ve ever had.

Coming up on one year in business, this restaurant is conveniently located right off of Hwy 80 in Dixon, making it easy to stop in and treat yourself to some delicious and beautifully presented Thai cuisine dishes.

We ordered an amazing Moo Ping (fresh skewers of pork with peanut sauce, $8.95), Pineapple Curry with Chicken (a spicy dish of meat, pineapple, carrot, green beans and basil in coconut milk with red curry paste, and only $10.95), Garlic Fried Rice with Shrimp ($11.95) and Thai Lemon Chicken ($9.95) — all spectacular.

This is a must-try place!

1440 Ary Lane, Unit B in Dixon
Open 11am – 3pm & 5pm – 9pm Mon-Fri • 11am – 9pm Sat – Sun
Thai-e-San-Kitchen.business.site | 707.676.5574

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Brandy Hart writes “Tastes of Your Town,” a monthly feature in the print edition of Your Town Monthly. This article was originally published in the August 2019 Solano and Yolo County print editions.