Peanuts and pearls were the twin staples of Thai cuisine for centuries, during which time it was also considered fashionable for wealthy merchants to sport mouths full of broken teeth. Today’s Groupon brings the two back together in a slightly more accessible culinary combination: for $10, you get $20 worth of Thai cuisine and drinks at Peemkaew.

Delicious peanut sauce and the pleasures of the surrounding Pearl District are only part of the appeal of Peemkaew. The Thai eatery offers diverse menus for both lunch and dinner, and many dishes can be made vegetarian for those haunted by dreams of scissor-wielding hamburgers. Classic Thai dinner meals, including familiar noodle and curry dishes ($8.95 for chicken, beef, pork, or tofu; $10.95–$12.95 for shrimp, scallop, or seafood), are prepared with authentic spices and memorable flavors. Customer favorites include the green curry, pineapple fried rice, and Pad Thai topped with ground peanuts. The fresh salad rolls ($4.95 for dinner, $3.50 for lunch) have also earned a place in the hearts of Portland Thai lovers that can only be cleared out with expensive surgery. In addition to the basics, you’ll find unique chef’s creations for dinner, such as the red pumpkin curry ($10.95 for chicken, beef, pork, or tofu; $12.95 for shrimp, scallop, or salmon). The house-specialty barbecue chicken ($9.50) comes marinated in a Peemkaew secret-recipe sauce that will cause your taste buds to target your stomach with an aggressive PR campaign for more Thai food.

Peemkaew’s stylish décor befits the surrounding Pearl District and its many art, entertainment, and dining venues, not to mention its thunderdomes. The restaurant’s attractive atmosphere provides a pretty mix of traditional Thai orchids with modern acid-green and red walls and contemporary art. The friendly, unpretentious staff adds to the pleasant atmosphere. After a day of seeking out a stylish outfit or browsing local galleries, treat your friends to spices as artistic as paint on canvas (and significantly less latexy) with today's Groupon to Peemkaew.