TASTE OF THAI - HILLCREST

Unlike White Elephant's deep dive into Lao cuisine or Bahn Thai's chain-efficient consistency, Taste of Thai runs entirely vegan — every meat dish uses soy-based mock versions, which the kitchen doesn't advertise loudly but commits to completely. That means your pad see ew comes with soy chicken, your bassinac uses tofu 'beef', and your curry options all build flavor from vegetables and spice rather than animal protein. For the farmers market crowd and the post-brunch-line vegetarians who fill Hillcrest's sidewalks, it's a quiet revolution hiding in plain sight on University Avenue.

The smart, modern dining room doesn't broadcast its meat-free menu — no aggressive signage, no lecture about plant-based eating. You order yellow curry or spicy noodles the way you would anywhere else, and the kitchen delivers balanced, properly spiced Thai food that happens to be vegan. The spice levels skew cautious even when you ask for extra heat, so regulars know to be specific and insistent if they want actual fire.

Service moves with the efficiency of a place that's seen every possible combination of dietary restrictions and special requests. Outdoor seating catches University Avenue foot traffic without the noise, and reservations actually work here — useful for date nights when you don't want to gamble on walk-in waits.

Practical notes: Lunch specials bring the price down considerably. The spicy noodles with mock squid get consistent praise for texture and kick. If you're skeptical about mock meat, stick with vegetable-forward curries where the kitchen's spice-balancing shines without distraction. Plum wine pairs better than you'd expect with heat-forward dishes.