Thai Rice, Cameron Park

As the name suggests, Thai Rice takes every set of taste buds to the faraway lands of Thailand. Each day the restaurant's chefs spin oriental dishes profusely seasoned with spices such as ginger, turmeric, and chili. Their shrimp Pad thai, for instance, is prepared from rice noodles stir-fried with eggs and flavored with tamarind pulp, fish sauce, as well as red chili pepper, and served alongside bean sprouts and lime wedges. Pad kee mao—also known as drunken noodles—is also served with noodles and shrimp, but is recognized for its distinctive spiciness delivered by chili, fresh black pepper pods, and holy basil.