If you are looking for an authentic Thai restaurant with kind staff, savory food, and a cozy feeling, look no further than Thai Nam Phet just down the road from Morris Knolls High School. Thai Nam Phet is located at 296 US Highway 46 East, in Rockaway, NJ. Recently, the school’s Multicultural Club, advised by Mr. McLaughlin and Mr. Lipsen, took a field trip to Thai Nam Phet as a way to immerse and introduce members to Thai culture.
When our club arrived, we observed the restaurant’s charming exterior, featuring a blue and white paint job, and an outdoor seating complete with lights and greenery. Upon entrance, a friendly waiter was ready to guide us to our table. The interior of the restaurant is warm and humble, with soft music that immediately welcomes you. The gentle yellow of the walls adorned with elegant Thai paintings makes you feel right at home. One can spend hours submerged in both the ambiance and their meal.
[Thai Nam Phet exterior, taken by Kat Udud and Vibha Akula]
Our meal plan included a variety of savory foods. Here is what was ordered for the table that we, and the other students who attended, shared:
Curry Puff — These crescents of love are awaiting a bite. At a glance, it’s a fried pastry that poses as an ordinary dumpling, but lo and behold inside is a delectable surprise. Served with cucumber sauce as a dip, patrons are quickly met with three overwhelming flavors all at the grace of its mahogany mush: seasoned chicken, onions, and potatoes. Be careful on your first bite! As you enjoy, the crust will start to crumble beneath your grip.
Spring Rolls (Po Pia Tods) — Looking for a good eggroll? Include an order of spring rolls, most known as Po Pia Tods. Its battered crust and carefully tucked ends are almost impossible to resist. Stuffed with cabbage, carrots, and bean thread noodles, Thai Nam Phet delivers satisfaction before the entrée can arrive. I tried these with the plum sauce and it is definitely hard to miss!
Tom Kha Soup — Personally this soup wasn’t my favorite, but if you’re in the mood for a natural mushroom broth with a strong aromatic scent and scattered chicken slabs, then this is the soup for you!
Mixed Vegetables (Pad Pak) — To all the vegetable lovers, enjoy an exaggerated side of sautéed broccoli, carrots, string beans, mushrooms, napa cabbage, scallion, and baby corn with your entrée. This is most scrumptious when applied to a dish of noodles, like Pad Thai or the Poor Man Noodle.
Thai Fried Rice (Kao Pad) — Your typical fried rice dish with eggs, onions, diced tomatoes, carrots, green peas, and scallions, albeit creamier. A classic, this is a delicious choice to pair with any dish.
Yellow Chicken Curry (Gaeng Karee) — Let’s just say this also wasn’t a favorite, and for those who like curry keep in mind that this is not your ordinary serving—this is unique to the Thai in that the curry is more liquid than it is thick. The chicken does not absorb the sauce, but if you put aside the chicken and dip your white rice into the puddle instead, it enhances the flavor. For some, it’s considered spicy, but for others (like me) the tang comes naturally. This dish also comes with a side of potatoes and onions.
Pad Thai — Thin rice noodles mixed with eggs, ground peanuts, scallions, and bean sprouts. I wasn’t a fan of this entrée, but the delicacy of the noodles is worth mentioning. The ground peanuts add a flavorful garnish to the noodles and the sauce that’s absorbed by them, which is perfect to accompany white rice.
[Mixed Vegetables, Tom Kha Soup, and Thai Fried Rice taken by Jena Tanis and Kat Udud]
As part of our experience, we were served two drinks and a variety of desserts. We were given a choice between canned soda or water. Soon after, we were met with their famous Thai Iced Tea. Its presentation included an alluring gradient from dim orange to cream and when mixed, the colors swirled into a peach-orange. The taste was exceptional as well, with a cool tea flavor and a vanilla undertone.
After we finished our main course, a flavorful dessert tray was placed at the center of our table. It included slices of mango, Thai custard, and sticky rice with a mint leaf embellishment. The mango slices were vivid orange, offering a tropical and succulent taste. The custard had a gelatin-like texture with a hint of sweetness; its appearance consisted of a pallid, neutral green and yellow color. Finally, the sticky rice had a pleasant, mildly sweet flavor; one could compare its taste to a Rice Krispy treat. Its appearance was mainly beige and white.
By the end of the trip, Jena mentioned the time when she and her family went to Thai Nam Phet over the summer and they ordered her soon-to-be favorite dishes of the place: The Little Mermaids shared appetizer and the Ginger Duck as her entrée. She described that The Little Mermaids were like the spring rolls but differed in that they were fried over shrimp. The flavor is balanced with the crunch of the shrimp and the crispiness of the coated rice paper, and by dipping it in the sweet chili sauce, the sensation is all the more enhanced. To continue, the Ginger Duck is roasted to perfection and topped generously with a young ginger and special soy sauce. She added that, although the flavor was delayed, the aftertaste is what lured her into wanting to order it again in the future.
[Thai Iced Tea and Sticky Rice, taken by Vibha Akula]
Overall, dining at Thai Nam Phet was a delightful experience. The staff were kind and accommodating, ensuring a wonderful time at the restaurant. One of us took home a keychain of a tuk-tuk featuring the message, “I ❤ ️Thailand”. We would recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys savory food or would like to indulge in delicious, authentic Thai food.
[Tuk-tuk keychain, taken by Kat Udud]
Thai Nam Phet website
