Food & Drink in Hereford

Thai Pattaya's chefs demonstrate a mastery of myriad cooking styles with their pan-Asian dishes, from the Vietnamese soup known as pho to plates of to crispy tamarind duck. Chicken, beef, and veggies commingle within bowls of rice noodles, or with fried rice flavored with basil, lime, and other classic herbs harvested late at night from the backyards of homes in Thailand. The kitchen team also crafts fragrant curries as well as less-common specialties such as a grilled panang salmon with kaffir-lime leaves.

Pops Backyard BBQ slathers brisket, pulled pork, sausage, and ribs with tangy barbecue sauce. The cooks also whip up sandwiches, sides, and daily specials. The restaurant has been selected 1st in the Hereford Reader's Choice Awards six years running.

"Life is short. Eat dessert first." That's the sweet motto at Rock 'N Roll Soda Shoppe, a lovingly retro tribute to the bygone days of poodle skirts, sock hops, and an un-jumpsuited Elvis. The diner specializes in old-fashioned ice cream drinks and desserts, including shakes loaded with candy pieces and splits both banana-filled and banana-free. But the kitchen gladly accommodates guests who prefer to begin their meals with savory fare. Angus beef burgers arrive layered with bacon and cheese or green chilies, while Monte Cristo sandwiches are served freshly griddled and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

At Eddie's Napoli's Italian Restaurant, family recipes are used to craft Italian classics such as chicken breast tossed with linguine and white-wine-lemon sauce and seafood dishes such as a decadent lobster-and-crab ravioli dish smothered in cream sauce. The pizzas, though, are New York–style, crowned with toppings ranging from artichokes to meatballs. On weekends, sets of smooth live music add to the ambience.

The savory aroma of fire-grilled steaks and fried eggs is the first thing to greet the noses of guests ambling into The Ranch House Cafe. After the initial olfactory welcome, the restaurant envelops visitors in a relaxed, home-like atmosphere bolstered by homemade meals, friendly service, and embarrassing middle school class portraits of every visitor. Chefs bustle about the kitchen transforming Angus Beef into hand-formed burgers before sending them to tables on the arms of speedy servers. Conscious of meeting the dietary needs of all its patrons, The Ranch House Cafe offers low-calorie, meatless, and kid-friendly noshes to ensure that eaters push back from their tables feeling sated.

The King and I of Canyon welcomes hungry visitors to feasts of rich coconut-milk curries, tender morsels of tuna, salmon, and crab, and spicy stir-fry dishes flavored with aromatic scallions, garlic, ginger, peppers, and basil. Taking its name from the famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and its less famous spinoff sitcom, the restaurant enchants visitors with an exotic, yet approachable charm, seating guests at tables decorated with fan-folded napkins and fresh blossoms, while serenading diners with live musical performances. Behind the marble-topped sushi bar, chefs hand-roll inventive maki combinations or arrange nigiri plates into colorful, edible pieces of art.