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New(ish) eats: Opal Thai

Best Thai on the island? An all-girls’ eatfest in Haleiwa aims to find out


Yes, we know Opal Thai moved out of its old food truck and into permanent new digs back in October. We’re just glad we finally got back there to check it out. Here’s our report.

Paalaa Kai Bakery (15 of 15)

Paalaa Kai Bakery

What to eat after Opal's: You can have your shave ice. I'll crisp through these puff pastry layers like so many ultra-thin, buttery sheets and into the huge pocket of creamy custard within. The thick squiggle of chocolate piped on top adds a finishing depth.

If you go to the North Shore, stop by on your way back. If you go to the Waialua or Haleiwa bon dances, make an early pit stop. That is all. I'll leave you with this beauty shot.

If you missed M&M eats: North Shore, here’s the video and photo gallery.

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Melissa808 268 pts moderator

I forgot to add a comment regarding the soup (and remember, I'm not into soup): We were blown away at the layers of flavor in the Tom Yum. Usually, the soup is just sour. That's it. This one is complex. There's sour, there's floral, there's savory, and ... oh, something else. But the different flavors release on your palate in layers with each spoonful. You actually kind of forget that you're eating (OK, well, drinking) and end up taking in the experience of the bowl.

nonstopmari 245 pts moderator

 Melissa808 v interesting. i remember u coughed when trying the bangkok chef tom yum goong; too sour. i look for sour, spicy and sweet, and then the undertones of shrimp, mushrooms, etc., so actually like that stronger, simpler, head-clearing profile.

surfchik4jesus 6 pts

 Melissa808 i don't usually like tom yum.  sakura and i enjoyed opal's version =)

nonstopmari 245 pts moderator

 surfchik4jesus  Melissa808 point taken! opal's is good for non-sour fiends. btw sakura is a fantastic eater :)

nonstopmari 245 pts moderator

@808pooh TOTALLY. THE. BOMB.

turkfontaine 202 pts

i've always wondered why there are many more Thai restaurants in CA than there are Viet.  there are about four times as many Viet Americans here than Thai Americans. and those Thai restaurants are not clustered in Thai neighborhoods like LA's tiny Thai-town in East Hollywood. they're in mall food courts and strip centers and downtown banking centers. i even know two Marin Thai restaurants that are owned by Vietnamese.

 

fried basil? i must try that.

nonstopmari 245 pts moderator

 turkfontaine are u sure there are more thai than vnese restos in calif? i always thot there were huge concentrations of vnese restos in parts of orange county. i hear it's the mecca of vnese food outside of vn, w small specialty restos i can only dream abt from here. vnese places outnumber thai in hnl and are run by vnese. otoh, many of our thai restos are run by laotians, while i can't think of any laotian restos here.

turkfontaine 202 pts

 nonstopmari true. that in Westminster, OC, along Bolsa it's walla walla VN restaurants, cause that town is big time Viet. but out in the hinterlands, in hill towns, hick towns and hillbilly burgs, there always seems to be a Thai place. also, have you ever noticed that there are beaucoup prepared or easy to prepare packaged Thai dishes at supermarkets like Trader Joe and Whole Foods?

nonstopmari 245 pts moderator

 turkfontaine tj and wf? those aren't thai, they're faux-thai. i think tj does a better job w/ those.

LenaHanson 20 pts

I always have an amazing experience at Opal's! He's never let me down! YUM!!! Too bad I missed the snow puffies! 

nonstopmari 245 pts moderator

 LenaHanson next time gotta plan better :)

InsomniaGirl 5 pts

I prefer Rajanee Thai Cuisine in Mililani over Opal's for flavors and offerings. They have a great specialty menu that is only available on their FB page. You guys should check that place out too!

nonstopmari 245 pts moderator

 InsomniaGirl ok, bookmarking rajanee for next visit to mililani. thnx for the rec :)

InsomniaGirl 5 pts

 nonstopmari

 Thanks, Mari! I know I've taken a few recs from your list, so glad to be of help :) Opal does his thing quite well, but I preferred the flavors and serving portions when he was still a truckie.

nonstopmari 245 pts moderator

 InsomniaGirl ditto re the portions, tho i hadn't visited the truck enough to know the flavors better. a definite bright spot, tho, along w/ dishes at thai herb kitchen, maile's, siam garden. maybe a roundup is in order...

Annoddah_Dave 81 pts

EO:  OK, I am not an aficionado of Thai fuuds and I shy away because of the reputation for being super hot and spicy...some of the pix appear to be not really spicy.  Do they make stuff with mild or medium spice?  I remember your post on this place from before and now I am intrigued.  Oh, there is one thing I really like is sticky rice.

Melissa808 268 pts moderator

 Annoddah_Dave Dave! You need to expand your horizons! They make um mild (I don't like spicy). There's more to Thai food than sticky rice. When you try the other stuff you'll be sad at all the years you missed out on Thai food!

nonstopmari 245 pts moderator

 Annoddah_Dave these flavors are lighter than most thai in town. if u know what to order, u will find dishes w/ a good blend of citrus, fresh herbs and fish sauce that doesn't overwhelm the flavor of the ingredients. and it can come w/ zero spice if u ask. it's worth expanding ur horizons!

Annoddah_Dave 81 pts

 nonstopmari OK, we went over the weekend.  Yup, not overly spiced as Opel recommended a couple of dishes to match my experience.  It was very tasty with subtle flavors...very very guud fuud!  They gave added spice which Mel liked, for me it was guud enough as is.  Winnah winnah chicken dinnah!

nonstopmari 245 pts moderator

 Annoddah_Dave yes, v v guud! and u spelled opel right, props for paying attention :)

About Mari Taketa

Mari Taketa is a dedicated eater who's as opinionated as she is hungry. She covered everything from neighborhood mom-and-pop places to ethnic eateries to fine dining restaurants on Honolulu's dining scene for Metromix Honolulu and The Honolulu Advertiser's TGIF. Before that, she ate her way through Vietnam, Scotland and Japan, where she lived, traveled or worked, after recovering from a journalism career that included stints as editor-in-chief of Hawaii Business magazine and reporter and editor at The Associated Press. Her goals are to always be hungry for more, and to always want to know what's around the next corner.

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