Ka Ti Thai Cuisine

**** Ka Ti Thai has closed 

I was driving past Montgomery Field on Aero Drive, when I noticed a tiny sign posted on the grass in front of one of those non-descript grey colored strip malls. Craning my head to read it, I almost drove right off the road! Sheesh, if you thought texting or cell phones were major driving hazards...... But there was a payoff for my pulled neck muscle. The sign read "Thai Food". I took a right on Glen Curtiss Road, and another right onto Gibbs Drive, which, along with running parallel to Aero, is the only way you'll get in to the parking lot of these strip malls.

And lo' and behold, what was once a pizza shop, was now a Thai Restaurant! In the oddest of locations. Unfortunately, the place was closed.

 

Luckily, I found myself in the area around lunchtime several days later. I parked and entered the tiny restaurant.

The first thing I noticed was the decor.........wow, lot's of lace. It looked more like a Southern Tea Room than a Thai Restaurant.

 

I had spied a list of Lunch Specials ranging in price from $6.95 to $8.95 on the billboard outside.

 

I was greeted, and seated by a smiling Young Lady and was handed the menu. I was positively famished so I ordered a few items.

I started with the Som Tom (Papaya Salad - $7.95). In keeping with the S(tandard) O(perating) P(rocedure), I was asked for a "heat level". My reply of "Thai spicy please", was met with a gasp, an uncomfortable smile, and a "please, one moment". At which time the young lady, scurried to the kitchen. I could overhear a discussion, and there was some moving noises...perhaps preparing the defibrillator, and maybe the fire extinguisher? The Server returned, and obviously concerned with my survival, verified that I indeed wanted my Papaya Salad spicy. After reaffirming my commitment to chilies, she gladly placed my order.

 

The Som Tom arrived, nice, bright, and fresh. The young lady thoughtfully included some extra napkins for me, which came in very handy. As for the salad itself, it was very "HWOP", that would be "hot with out pungency". I enjoyed the sweat inducing spiciness, as well as the good amount of tart-sour lime in the dish, but there was a lack of fish sauce; and no other component (dry shrimp, salted crab) to add that umami bang to the dish.

I also ordered the Spicy Noodles with Chicken (lunch special price - $6.95). It arrived looking pretty good.

 

This was pretty much a drunken noodles type of dish. The chicken was moist and soft. The noodles sorely needed a bit of "wok hay" as it presented itself as flaccid edging on mushy. The dish was very tamarind heavy, making it too tart..... you know the phrase, "too much of a good thing....." The heat level was decent. I took my leftovers home, and the Missus had a taste of it, and responded with a "whoa........puckery." Still, the service was very friendly, and I wanted to give this place another shot.

So, with the Missus occupied for the evening, I dropped by Ka Ti for take-out. I had wanted Nahm Tok, but they were out, so instead I went with the Marinated Pork Ribs ($12.95). Which, according to the menu, were pork ribs marinated in Coca-Cola. While waiting for my order, I heard the microwave pinging, not once, but three times, which did not bode well for my meal. When I arrived home and removed the plastic cover from my tray, this is what greeted me:

 

The ribs looked very pale, I had expected something with more caramelization. The flavor was very reminiscent of braised sweet-sour pork, and was not bad. The texture of the ribs were very soft, too soft, again much like something braised. My first thought was that they could have just used pork shoulder with a Coca-Cola braise and achieved something better than this for less. The veggies were very routine broccoli and carrots. I was provided with a good sized container of Jasmine Rice as well.

You know, I like the staff at Ka Ti, they are warm and pleasant folks from just outside Bangkok. I want them to do well, especially in this location. But I found the food to be mediocre Americanized Thai, though I've done much worse, and paid much more for Thai in San Diego. Still, this is the best, if not the only Thai for at least a mile, and adds more diversity to what is offered around Serra Mesa.

Ka Ti Thai Cuisine
8690 Aero Drive #114
San Diego, CA 92123

Open Mon - Fri - 9am - 7pm

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Comments

[Carol]

Nuked ribs, hmmm. Maybe they were just heating up the broccoli. :-)

We've got a couple of places like that by my house. There's one in particular that I have to go back a 2nd time before passing final judgement. But I haven't been able to find anything close to Sab-E-Lee close by. :-(

[Judy Lee]

Luckily, this little piggy lives right next to Spices Thai Cafe in Carmel Valley ;)

[caninecologne]

hi kirk,
i hate it when ethnic restaurants "leave out" key ingredients to make their food more "americanized". there was a thai place in downtown chula vista (next to the old vogue theatre) that left out their dried shrimp and went really spare with the fish sauce in their papaya salad because they didn't want to offend their customers, although it was described in their menu.how do i know this - i asked and that's what the owner told me. nice. wtf...

hmm, microwave? :)

[kat]

too bad it was bad...

[Kirk]

Hi Carol - I haven't been able to find anything like Sab E Lee in San Diego..... ;o)

Hi Judy - Oink-Oink!

Hi CC - Hitting that balance between keeping true to what you're making versus just a business decision is difficult. Though I think a lot of folks think this is "real" Thai food.

Hi Kat - Yes, I want this place, a places like this to do well.

[foodhoe]

awww, I totally know what you mean. We have a great dearth of good thai restaurants where I live, and the few that we have all serve bland food w/o that spark that makes me want to eat there... a viscious circle indeed.

[Kirk]

Hi FH - You're absolutely right.