It was a Saturday night, and I was bar hopping with some friends at the beach. My girlfriend wanted to meet up, and she was hungry. Hmm, what’s a good spot with some vegan options for her? I wondered.

Thai food came to mind, but I couldn’t remember the name of the place I liked.

So she picked me up outside of the Brix, and we drove down 3^rd street looking for the spot. We saw the bright red sign “Buddha’s Belly” that hasn’t been changed even though they’ve officially changed their name. It was around 6 or 7pm, and several tables were occupied, but there was plenty of room for more. At first our hostess took us to a table, but I was in more of a casual mood to sit at the bar.

The first thing I order is a Thai tea, which is a cold, sweet, reddish drink mixed with milk that makes it creamy. Coconut milk for my vegan date, please. “No problem.”

Our bartender was really kind and attentive. Some restaurants can be dicey if you have allergies or special requests, but this girl was on it with vegan suggestions and even speaking with the chef to avoid shellfish for me. High maintenance, I know.

We ordered the vegan egg rolls, which were awesome, and Tom Kha Soup, a creamy cocunut soup with lemongrass, limeleaf, peppers, and mushrooms.

We decided to play it safe, and went with a 2 on their 1-5 scale for the spice level. That turned out to be perfect with a nice kick, and a spicy finish. It actually made me re-think the “4” that I had just ordered for our main dish, the Pra Ram Curry.

Pra Ram is a hot skillet of spinach, brocolli, and carrots, covered in a Thai peanut sauce (my favorite), along with rice, and topped with fried eggplant, squash, and zucchini. You can have it topped with any meat, shrimp, or tofu if you want. Bomb diggy.

I gotta say I love eating at Buddah’s Belly, or as it’s now know Buddha’s Thai Bistro (whatever). The vibe is nice and low key, with easy seating, great food, and an accomodating staff. We were more than satisfied. I even signed up for their text club, which made the Thai Tea free. Score.

By the time we finished, the bar was full, and the friendly beach conversation filled the room. College football was on the TVs, and even though many people were dressed up for their occasions, I did not feel under dressed in my t-shirt and backwards hat.

We were out of there for around $35, tip included.

So all in all, if you’re looking for a quality food spot with great menu options (seriously the menu is huge) then make your way over to Buddah’s Thai Bistro, and enjoy.

We give it the “904News” stamp of approval.

For more info, check out their site at http://buddhathaibistro.com

Photo credit: neil conway / Foter / CC BY