8/5/2002

Thai Chillies is located in downtown Kirkland, very close to the waterfront. We ended up here accidentally, when the main restaurant we wanted to review was closed. Fortunately, Thai Chillies was open a little later than most downtown Kirkland spots on a weeknight, and we got a chance to sample their interesting cuisine.

We were a little nervous, since the place has a very "hole-in-the-wall" feel. It only has a few tables and an unpolished interior. We were the only sit-down diners the whole time. However, the food was good, and all the dishes were unlike their counterparts at other Thai restaurants. For example, the Panang Curry had a sweetness to it I wasn't used to. Also, the Pad Thai wasn't red at all. Our other dishes also followed this pattern of distinctiveness - the Cashew Chicken, Pad Kee Mao, Spring Rolls, and Tom Kah Gai. All good, but not quite what we were expecting. The Panang Curry was our favorite.

The service was fine, but our overall dine-in experience seemed ultra-casual. There was a TV with fuzzy picture and sound on in the main dining area, and the place was either too hot (with the door closed) or too cold (with it open). Our advice is to do what others did... order out! Then you can try their unique food without the in-house deficiencies.

Bottom Line: Good for take out, or a late-night bite to eat at the waterfront.