Ra-Ka-De-Ka .. Sort of Thai ..sort of fast food...sort of good(if you order properly)

mmm-yoso!!! is about food that Kirk, ed (from Yuma) and Cathy eat.  Sometimes we eat good stuff, and sometimes it is not so good.  We tell you about it in any case. Cathy is talking today.

Hi.  Since we all know Kirk is in Thailand ( I have emails to prove it), I had an urge for some Thai food.  The Mister and I went to Sab E Lee this past weekend and then had occasion to go to Ra Ka De Ka, a two location San Diego chain, this week.  Since I had been here a few times this past summer, I had photos and thoughts already written down about the food here.

Hot Basil Beef ($7.50)

It is served this way, in the to go boxes, even when you eat in.  There is a choice of jasmine or brown rice.  The beef is tender, and mixed with bell peppers, onions, carrots, garlic and basil leaves.  Hot as in temperature, not spiciness.

  Tastes very good and fresh.  Vegetables are crispy and not overcooked. 

Fresh Spring Rolls-($4.95) Shrimp, tofu, carrots, lettuce and glass noodles wrapped in rice paper. Cut into nine pieces and served with hoisin, sriracha and peanuts.  Enough to be a meal: fresh and tasty food.

Thai iced tea and Thai iced coffee. $1.95 each.  Don't bother. Way too sweet.

Pa Ram Chicken($6.95). Grilled chicken on top of broccoli and carrots, and a peanut sauce that really was just too sweet.  The ingredients were fresh...but mixing the chicken with these Spicy Noodles ($7.50) which were made with beef, basil, green peppers and egg gave the chicken and broccoli much more flavor and diluted the sweetness of the sauce.

 

The chicken bowl -which is an all day special- is a very good deal at $4.95-a slow cooked chicken thigh served with steamed broccoli and carrots on top of a lot of brown rice.  Fresh and tasty food (the chicken thigh is very moist and flavorful), again, not particularly Thai.

The best and most authentic Thai food here is called Lettuce wraps.  This really is chicken larb and if you get it medium or hot in spice level, is excellent. Diced chicken with onions, mint, cilantro and lime juice ($6.95) and excellent.  A lot of food.

The panang curry is good, as are the red, yellow and green curries.  The cooks are Thai and do know how to make things correctly, but you really have to ask and indicate spice level does not matter.  The ingredients here are all very fresh and it almost tastes like "healthy" Thai...maybe "Thai Lite" better describes it.  There is a brisk, constant  business and people seem to really like it here.  It does serve a purpose and isn't bad.  If you think of it as good, fresh,  healthy food, and not as particularly authentic Thai, the prices make it a very good deal.  I don't think Kirk will come here when he has a craving though...

Ra Ka De Ka 10450 Friars Road 92120 (619)521-4810

4508 Cass Street (Cass and Garnet) 92109 (858)581-1954

website

Comments

[Carol]

Sometimes proximity and convenience rule over authenticity! Well, at least that appeals to the laziness in me. :-) The Chicken Larb looks good.

[sawyer]

spring rolls and wraps look good. chicken bowl too. great pictures as always. i don't think i've ever had chicken larb. i've only had larb once or twice, but I don't remember anything about it. I'll have to try it out next time I go for some thai, but it's always so hard because I want to order the pad thai or pad see ew. maybe i'll get both =)

[Cathy]

Hey, Carol. It is very good quality food for a good price here. There are just not as many things that appear 'adventurous' here as at some other places. There is a reason to stop and try it.
I have cravings for larb in the summer, Sawyer...it is listed as an appetizer here and usually under "salads" at other Thai places. If you can get beef or pork larb, it is even nicer. The blend of flavors is just perfect for me. Did you notice the photos on the Chopstix Too post? Different camera...has 3G in the name... :)

[Kirk]

Hi Cathy - Greetings from Vientiane...we just had laap for lunch......

[cathy]

Oh man, and the proper way of the larb being called...You are really there and I am *so* envious...and hungry!