Wat Promwachirayan

This is for the review of the food we had at the Thai festival. They had a whole bunch of food on offer and a long tent where you could order. To make the ordering easier, you could go to different stations for different items to make it more efficient.It was a hot day out and we ordered a papaya salad (Thai style), khawse and a pad Thai with some wontons. The food was ready quick, they have the salads ready to go and out together the khaw soi quickly. Wantons and Pad Thai is constantly being made so you get fresh when you order. The salad was fresh and refreshing on the hot day. The flavors melded together well and you could taste the papaya, the lime, the hint of fish sauce, all blending in to create a tasty and unique salad. The khaw soi was another standout. Tender chicken with a flavorful coconut broth and noodles. Topped with fresh cilantro and crispy (rice wafers?) . Mix it all and you have tasty flavors and textures dancing in your mouth. The wontons and pad Thai were ok. I have had better and considering how good the other two dishes were, these were a little disappointing. But I also get that it's harder when you don't have a full kitchen at your disposal and things need to be made fresh on the spot.I would definitely get the khaw soi and the papaya salad again and if I can find out where to get their food, I would definitely order it. So far the only time I have had it is the once a year Thai ferstival.

This review is for the summer Thai Sunday Market held at Wat Promwachirayan, in partnerships with the Thai Cultural Council of MN. Few stalls but if you're in the neighborhood, worth a stop. Pet friendly since it's an open air market. Parking is limited as the market is on half the parking lot but you can try your luck since the market is small, a spot might open up for you with people not staying too long. There's parking attendants who will help locate a spot for you or sus out if it looks like someone is leaving or direct you to another area. If you did want to hang out longer, the left side of the market is where people sit and hang out-bring a picnic blanket or chairs. On the right side is where you pick up your food and where they have Thai consulate services. There's a handful of vendors selling plants and Thai souvenirs. In addition to the Thai food vendors, there's a baked goods vendor along the souvenir vendors, but you'll need to arrive earlier before they sell out. There's also mini donuts and Wonder's ice cream truck was out there. Cream cheese wontons were crisp with a nice spicy sweet and sour sauce. The bbq pork had a nice flavor but the cut of meat was a bit difficult to eat. Pineapple and coconut hand pies from the baked good stalls were a little greasy but flavorful and a perfect sized treat-not too sweet.

Thai market had great food options. Parking can get crowded but worth a visit. Various events throughout the year.