I’m a sucker for great oriental food — Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai — you name it, Jay will eat it.

And here is a fabulous Thai food restaurant for you — Yupha’s Thai Kitchen in Tempe, Arizona.

Located on the northwest corner of Hardy and Elliott, just a smidge east of I-10, Yupha’s is simply put, a culinary delight.

The Pad Thai is to die for. $6.94 (lunch, not sure of dinner pricing) will get you a pile of sautéed rice noodles and your choice of chicken, beef, pork or tofu (add two bucks for shrimp). And you get a cup of soup to boot. You can order mild, medium, hot, or “Thai hot”. I order hot, and let me tell you, it is BLAZING hot. I’ve seen lesser men break a serious sweat over the medium. I’m scared to try the Thai hot. Really. Scared.

It’s tough for me to get past the chicken Pad Thai, but I’ve also tried the Drunken Noodles, and Francy prefers the Lard Na. All are excellent. The “Kao pad” (Thai fried rice) is also outstanding, and a meal in itself. There is a nifty little appetizer called Kanom Jeeb that is a steamed wonton stuffed with crab meat, ground shrimp, chicken and water chestnuts. It is delightful.

The place is jammed packed at lunch, and I presume the same for dinner. But the lunch tables turn over quickly and there is almost always a place at the bar for one or two. Yupha herself is likely to take your order, she has been there every time I have, regardless of the day or hour.

Service is swift and efficient. It’s a bit noisy in the big lunch crowds, but who cares — you’re there for the food. Trust me, you won’t regret going.

Yupha’s Thai Kitchen
1020 West Elliot Rd. Suite B107
Tempe, AZ 85284
480-839-0576

Hours:
Lunch: Mon – Fri 11am – 3pm
Dinner: Mon – Thurs 5pm – 9pm, Fri – Sat 5pm – 10pm
Closed Sundays

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[tags]Tempe food, Thai restaurant, damn good eating[/tags]