The Emporium, located above the University of Rhode Island, has a variety of cuisine options for students to choose from. However, one stands out above the rest: Simply Thai.
Located next to the thrift store Come Ups, Simply Thai offers a plethora of Thai dishes that will always satisfy. These include salads, appetizers, noodles, side orders, specialties, curry, fried rice, soups and wok stir-fry. The restaurant has a 4.7-star rating on Google, proving their immensely delicious food also comes with great service and a comforting atmosphere.
Their most popular items are pad Thai and Penang curry, according to Yelp. The pad Thai and drunken noodles are both originally priced at $15 for their vegetable options, and their other prices vary based on your choice of protein. Their chicken add-on changes the price to $16. Aside from their chicken, Simply Thai offers a variety of other protein options, including pork, shrimp, crispy duck and more. These other options and their prices can be found on their website.
I eat at Simply Thai a few times a month and have ordered a variety of dishes. I have tried many appetizers and entrees, and some have stuck with me, becoming my most ordered dishes.
A great appetizer option is their summer roll. Their summer roll is a variety of vegetables, including lettuce, carrot and bean sprouts, wrapped in a rice flour wrap. This dish also includes basil leaves, giving it extra flavor. They have a few protein options to choose from, including tofu, shrimp or chicken. This appetizer comes with two rolls and is among the largest summer rolls I have ever been served. Starting at $4.50, this appetizer is a great addition to any entree.
Another appetizer I love from Simply Thai is the garlic string beans. This dish includes fried string beans covered in a bean sauce. Fried garlic is included on top of the green beans. The sauce paired with the green beans creates a flavor that goes well with many items on the menu. The sauce is light but flavorful, while not overpowering the flavor of the garlic or the green beans. For those looking for a lighter yet fulfilling appetizer, consider the garlic string beans for $7.50.
My final appetizer recommendation is the pork dumplings. This appetizer comes fried and steamed and includes a sweet ginger soy sauce on the side. Both of the styles these dumplings are served in are up to par, and both are worth trying. The ginger soy sauce complements the taste of the steamed and fried dumplings, and both options are equally flavorful. The pork dumplings are $8.50.
My last recommendation is my favorite entree: hot basil pad Thai. This dish may not be for everyone, but it is the perfect spicy dish for those who indulge in heat. It includes pan-fried thin rice noodles with egg. It’s also cooked with chili paste and vegetables, including bell peppers, onions and basil leaves. This entree has become my new go-to item. The heat cooked with the basil creates the perfect spicy flavor for the noodles and the vegetables. The vegetables are always cooked perfectly, which combines well with the thin noodles. I typically opt for the vegetable option, which is $15, but they also offer a plethora of other protein options. If you enjoy a spicy meal, definitely opt for the hot basil pad thai. They also offer hot basil fried rice if this flavor sounds incredible, but noodles aren’t up your alley.
