Restaurant Review: Choochai Thai Cuisine in Lubbock

On a tip from a friend, I visited Choochai Thai Cuisine for the first time today.

Now, Choochai is the epitome of hole-in-the-wall dining. This place isn't fancy; in fact, some might call it downright sketchy.

Alleged sketchiness aside, this place is the real deal!

Choochai has been family-owned and operated for at least two generations, and there is a lot of pride in cuisine quality going here. This fact is evinced by signs that read 'If You Want Fast And Cheap There Is A Wendy's Down The Street' and 'We close at 8 p.m. Our friends don't do dine-in at 7:30. Thanks for being our friend.'

There is something to be said for being able to witness the single chef making your food fresh as you order in the very open kitchen just behind the bar/counter.

How the owner, a Thai native, ended up in Lubbock, Texas is a topic for another blog. Suffice to say, Choochai is as authentic Thai as it gets!

The food was fresh and perfectly seasoned. (Don't you dare ask the chef for salt unless you are looking for a scowl!) Mild means spicy, medium means hot and I was too much of a wuss to travel down the hot trail.

I had the Pad Thai mild to medium, while my wife had the Curry Chicken medium. After trying her chicken, I'm glad I erred on the mild side!

There aren't a lot of choices when it comes to Asian food here in Lubbock, and some of those available are downright nasty. Choochai isn't one of them.

I'm eager to work my way through their menu on many visits to come!

My rating: 4 1/2 stars out of 5.