First Time at Aroydy Thai Cuisine
Walked into Aroydy Thai in Poulsbo this afternoon, hungry and kinda clueless. Place smelled amazing – like lemongrass and coconut milk hitting you right at the door. Felt a bit overwhelmed looking at the menu, everything sounded good! Flagged down a server. Gotta admit, I stumbled over some dish names. “Trying to decide what to try… any favorites?” I asked him.
The Ordering Process
Server dude was super chill. Said “Go for the classics.” Okay, took a breath, figured I’d just dive in. Pointed at the menu like a total noob and started naming stuff:
- “Tom Kha Gai Soup” – The coconut chicken soup he said I absolutely couldn’t miss.
- “Som Tum Papaya Salad” – Asked for medium spicy. Hopefully that wasn’t a mistake.
- “Pad Thai” – Obvious choice, right? Gotta test their basics.
- “Panang Curry with Pork” – He recommended the pork belly for this one. Sounded rich.
- “Mango Sticky Rice” – Yes, dessert first in my head! Put it on the order immediately.
Felt pretty accomplished hitting that “5 must-try” goal right off the bat. Just sat back, sipped some water, hoped I hadn’t bitten off more than I could chew (literally).
Digging Into the Dishes
Food came out steaming. Alright, here’s the real deal:
Tom Kha Gai: First spoonful? Wow. That broth! Creamy coconut, punchy lime, hidden ginger heat sliding in after. Pulled tender chicken bits right out. Felt instantly warmed up.
Som Tum: Crunch! Shredded papaya, little dried shrimp surprises, tomatoes, peanuts all tangled up. That “medium” spice level? Made my nose run just a tiny bit. Totally worth it. Refreshing but packs a wallop.
Pad Thai: Classic test. Squeezed lime all over it. Noodles stuck together perfectly, nice chew. Plenty of shrimp and bean sprouts mixed in. Not overly sweet like some places do it. Hits that savory-sour-sweet spot dead-on.
Panang Curry: Deep orange color. Thick, rich sauce coating tender pork belly chunks. Taste is nuts – creamy coconut yes, but also roasted peanuts and this deep spice (cumin? cardamom?) hitting the back of your throat. Soaked up sauce with rice. Heavy stuff, but amazing.
Mango Sticky Rice: Saved room somehow. Warm, sticky coconut rice felt comforting. Sweet mango slices on top. Pure sweet bliss after all that spicy, savory goodness. Cleaned that plate.
My Big Takeaway
Waddled out feeling stuffed but happy. Server knew his stuff – every recommendation landed. That Panang Curry? Still thinking about it hours later. Definitely scratched my Thai food itch. If you go, tackle those five. You won’t regret it. Maybe skip breakfast first!
