Thai/Food/Gaga...Oh, My!

I've always thought that Center City Philadelphia could use a few more great Thai restaurants.  There are my go-to spots like Tamarind/My Thai/Aqua, and even though I'm always happy to go back for more, I still feel like there's room to add to the mix.  So, when I heard that Erawan would be opening a second location in Chinatown, I was thrilled.  Unfortunately, I have never been to their original spot on 23rd and Sansom (I really need to venture out to the Art Museum Area more), but I've heard great things, so walking the few blocks to 9th and Arch was a must. 

The gals and I checked it out for lunch on a weekday when they offer their fantastic lunch deal of salad/soup or app/entree for $7.95 +.  And this cute little byob with their super friendly staff and Thai Lady Gaga music (no joke, they have their own version of Bad Romance) hit the spot.  The peanut dressing on the Erawan salad was so rich and delish that I honestly sent the bowl back completely clean.  My veggie spring rolls and Holy Basil Supreme were completely satisfying as well.  The portion sizes were plentiful, easily allowing us to package up some leftovers to savor over later.  My only minor complaint was that the entree could have been just a tad bit spicier, however I'm sure they would have been more than happy to fulfill this request as the staff was oh-so helpful and pleasant throughout our dining experience.  With their options for take-out and delivery as well, I will definitely add Erawan to my go-to list.  Grab a few bottles and a few friends and check out Erawan and their version of Lady Gaga for a savory dish or three.