Las Vegas: Lotus of Siam, Part II

This is our third trip to Lotus of Siam since its renovation last November. Our previous visit can be found here. I promised Hubs we would come back as soon as the renovation was done. When we arrived, we saw Chef and owner Siapin Chutima walking around the restaurant greeting guests. This year, Chef Chutima received her second nomination by the James Beard Foundation for the Best Chef in the Southwest region. A nod from the James Beard Foundation is a clear indication that this little restaurant in a strip mall off the strip is here to stay.

The restaurant was expanded to the space next door. As you can see, a wine bar was added to showcase the restaurant's wine service and wine list.

A wine cellar was also added.

While the wine list was tempting, I ordered my usual Thai Iced Tea.

Everything that we ordered was highly recommended. Pretty much you can't go wrong with these choices. If you haven't seen the menu, you'll have a hard time choosing what to order which is why this is our third trip here. I always recommend coming here with a group of people so that you can sample twice as many entrees.

Tom Kha Kai Bangkok Style (#23).

A distinctive soup of sliced chicken with coconut milk, straw mushroom galanga, lemongrass and a touch of lime juice.

Koong Sarong - Prawns in a Blanket (#8)

Marinated prawn wrapped with bacon and wonton wraps, deep fried, served with homemade sweet and sour sauce.

Garlic Prawns (Chef's Choice)

Deep fried prawn with shell and sautéed with our special garlic sauce, topped with ground black pepper.

Drunken Noodles (#116)

Pan fried flat rice noodle topped with, sauteed beef with fresh & dry chili, Thai basil served on bed of green.

One piece of advice: Book a reservation before coming here. When we stopped by after our failed meal at Woo, there was still a packed house at 8:30pm plus patrons were waiting 30 minutes for a table. I can't get enough of Lotus of Siam. It's one of the reasons why we drive to Vegas than fly (cab fares are expensive).

Lotus of Siam

953 E. Sahara Avenue

Las Vegas, NV 89104

702.735.3033

Website: http://www.saipinchutima.com

Las Vegas: Lotus of Siam

Lotus of Siam needs no introduction. With MANY accolades displayed in their small waiting room to the known long lines you have to endear if you didn't make a rezzy, this is the place to be if you want Thai-Issan classic food (other than going to Thailand itself).

This is Thai cuisine at its finest, which is located in a strip mall off the strip. Don't let its looks deceive you.

See the James Beard Foundation nod on the far left. Yup, Chef Saipin Chutima was nominated for Best Chef of the Southwest in 2008. This is the real deal and every foodie should take notice. Serious eats: Lotus of Siam should be on your to-do list.

When you walk into the dining room, you'll notice three distinct dining areas. In the center of the room is the main dining area and off to the left and the right are two sets of booth-like tables. The third dining area is located at the front of the restaurant (south-end). Having a reservation or not, you'll be seated in the next available table.

On the west side of the room, you will find an array of photos in frames with what we thought were famous and not to famous people who dined here.

The decor and decorations were minimal unlike other Thai restaurants that we've been to where they've transformed their restaurant into a mini Thai village.

Thai Iced Tea - $4.00

First off, we ordered a pair of Thai iced teas. I had thought about ordering a Riesling from their extensive wine list but for this trip we wanted to go with the classics.

Tom Yum Kung - $4.95 (cup)

Hot and sour with shrimp, lime juice, lemon grass & straw mushroom.

Tom Kah Kai - $4.95 (cup)
A distinctive soup of sliced chicken with coconut milk, straw mushroom galanga, lemon grass and a touch of lime juice.

Beef Pad Sw-Ew Noodles - $8.95

Stir-fried flat rice noodle with egg and Chinese broccoli with black soy sauce.

Shrimp Pad Thai - $8.95

Thai small rice noodle stirred fried with egg, green onion, bean sprouts and chopped peanut.

Chef Special: Garlic Prawns - $19.95
Deep fried prawn with shell and sautéed with our special garlic sauce, topped with ground black pepper.

Sea Bass with Sa-mm Rod Sauce - $22.95

Deep fried Sea Bass, topped with sweet, sour and spicy sauce.

Coconut ice cream - $3.00

I wish we had a larger party of about 4-6 people so that we can order more dishes and serve it family-style. Maybe next time.

By the time we left the restaurant, the small waiting room was filled eager diners waiting to devour great Thai cuisine. The strip mall was a hustling and bustling with people, cars and cabs.

Would we be back? Definitely! I'm glad we got to experience Lotus of Siam before its major renovation which is coming up in two weeks. By the time it reopens in December, we'll be back in Vegas. We can't wait!

Things to know:

• Lotus of Siam will be open on Thanksgiving Day but will close the day after until December 23, 2009 for renovations.
• Reservations are HIGHLY recommended for dinner. Call 702.735.3033 at least one day in advance. You should also call before you arrive to reconfirm your reservation.
• If you don't have a reservation, try to arrive when the restaurant opens at 5:30pm. Expect to wait 30-60 minutes on the weekends.
• The restaurant is located in a strip mall off of east Sahara Ave. There is no signage from the street to show you where the restaurant is located. The strip mall is between State St. and Market St. Make a right into a small street called Commercial Center Dr. If you pass S. Maryland Pkwy, you've gone too far. Click here to see a map.
• Don't worry about parking. There are many spaces available. What you should worry about is actually getting a table.
• Dress code: Casual.
• Price range: $$
• If possible, bring a large party (about 4-6) so that you can order more than 4 dishes.
• Lotus of Siam has a notable wine list for German Rieslings. Apparently, your go-to guy for wine pairings is Suchay "Bill" Chutima (Saipin's husband and owner).
• Spicy levels: 0 to 10. 3 was mildly hot. Get a Thai iced tea to cool off your tongue.

Lotus of Siam

953 E. Sahara Avenue

Las Vegas, NV 89104

702.735.3033

Website: http://www.saipinchutima.com