More than three years ago, I decided to try Thai food for the first time. Although what I ate is a blur, the introduction of new spices and food was far from forgettable. When I heard Chalong, a brand new restaurant only a five minute drive from school had just opened, I knew I had the perfect opportunity to relive that taste of flavors I experienced years ago.

Walking into the restaurant, the simple, yet beautiful decorations, added to the strong aroma of spices and food cooked in the kitchen. The two waiters werecheerful and excited to seat my friend and I. The restaurant is surprisingly small, and only two or three tables had people dining.

Thai tea has always been one of my favorite drinks, and Chalong’s version of this classic beverage is delicious. It has a milky, smooth taste that eased the heat of the entrees we ordered. Considering the drink was labeled “tea,” I couldn’t taste it, but that wouldn’t affect my rating. Their lemonade, while unique, lacked the typical depth of flavor. The taste resembled lemonade, but it was difficult to determine if it was machine-dispensed or powdered. However, its flavor didn’t stand out from other lemonades I’ve tried.

The cream cheese rangoons are distinct from the generic versions of this dish at fast food chains like Panda Express They are generous with their portions regarding the amount of crab inside of each rangoon. In other restaurants where I have eaten, there is always a lack of cream cheese or crab in the rangoon, so I thoroughly enjoyed the balanced ingredient ratio and the sweet and sour sauce was a perfect consistency.

I adore curry, so I wanted to give Chalong’s Thai curry a chance. The flavor was unlike my favorite Indian curry, but I enjoyed it. The recipe included condensed milk, which was surprising as I would have never thought to put that in a curry. I genuinely enjoyed this curry, even if I could not distinguish each ingredient. The rice was like any white rice, without seasoning, but it created a great consistency when I mixed it with the curry.

My friend ordered the fried rice and said that it was one of the best she had ever had. The dish had scrambled eggs, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy onions. The rice was generously portioned and served fairly hot. The massive shrimp enhanced the flavor of the rice and helped it earn a strong 10/10 rating.

There is nothing to critique besides the spice level for both of the entrees, which is left up to the customer. With the curry and the shrimp fried rice, we chose a level 3 spice level (5 being the spiciest). The fried rice and curry were tolerable for a few bites until the fiery seasoning began to catch up with us. If we were to choose the spice level again, we would choose level 2 despite loving hot foods. The spice differed from what I am used to because of the herbs, as they were distinct from the seasonings typically incorporated in Mexican foods. Regardless, I still loved the entrees.

I have had mango sticky rice before and was not a fan, but I wanted to give this dish another chance. As stated on the menu, it is a seasonal dish, so I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to try it again. The mango was perfectly ripe, colorful, and totally delectable. The texture of the rice, on the other hand, was somewhat questionable. The rice felt harder on the outside, but the dish redeemed itself once I reached the middle. The condensed milk complemented the dish perfectly. I was not a major fan of this dish, but I can see my mango-loving peers enjoying it.

Not only was the food delicious, but the overall vibe and hospitality from the servers was enjoyable. Their welcoming attitude towards my friend and me was remarkable, coupled with their willingness to answer our questions. The waiters constantly refilled our drinks and frequently checked if we had any additional requests. Their friendliness left a lasting impression, and I genuinely look forward to dining there again. Moreover, our food was promptly brought out within five minutes of ordering. The restaurant environment was calming, and not many people came in to eat during the course of our meal.

The only major thing I would like to see more of is adjustments to the menu to state allergens explicitly. I had plenty of leftovers (enough for two more meals) and wanted to share that food with my dad. However, I was hesitant to do so because of his tree nut allergy. I asked the waiter if any nuts were used in the making of the food, and he stated, “No,” but the concern about peanut oil or some type of sauce convinced me not to give it to him.

I recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting to try a new cuisine. The food was delicious, the workers were nice, and the restaurant’s interior decoration was appreciated. I look forward to trying something new at this restaurant and I would encourage others to eat here if they have not already.