House of Siam
55 South Market Street
San Jose
As soon as you walk into House of Siam at 55 South Market St. in San Jose, you're nailed with a yin-yang, paired opposites combination of informality and formality. The fancy decor of the restaurant is hauntingly and exotically gorgeous: expensive wooden Thai figurines, Southeast Asian art on the wall, vividly colorful tablecloths, and bamboo dividers that separate the tables. But in the midst of all this, kids are running around screaming, the television is blasting from the kitchen, and the waitresses are constantly chattering to each other across the restaurant, that is, when they're not engaged in hilarious and coquettish banter with the customers. Any establishment that offers plates with names like "Angry Beef, " "Prawns Get Dressed" or "Drunken Sea Bass," is an immediate winner. Nowhere does the fact that Thai people are like the Italians of Southeast Asia hit you more strongly than House of Siam.
Somsamai and Nuttawee, the two sisters who own the eatery, opened it about six years ago and it has been gaining popularity ever since. The place is located in the heart of downtown San Jose's financial district--a prime location. Every day at lunch the restaurant is jam packed with suits and the line is always out the door. However, House of Siam is not just for upscale restaurantees, even though it looks that way. All walks of life are welcome, whether you're a vegan or a carnivore, whether you're in a tuxedo or a trenchcoat.
Most of all, if you are a spicy food aficionado, like myself, you will be at home away from home at this restaurant. Although it may take a few visits to convince them how scorching you really want it, once you do, the heat will envelop your body cavity, and the blood, sweat, and tears will soon follow, as they should. If you're not into the spicy stuff, no problem. They'll make it however hot you desire.
The lunch bargains are $7.95 except for a few specials which tip the scales between ten and fifteen bucks. Dinner plates range from $7.95 to $14.95.
Larb, a sweltering ground meat salad with lettuce, red onions, mint leaves, and rice powder works well as an opening plate. In Thailand they eat it with sticky rice, so ask for this particular combination and you will appear to really know what you're doing.
The soups at House of Siam are equally outstanding. Some of the best Tom Yum Goong I've ever tasted was at this restaurant. Others include a tasty seafood Tom Ka Talay or a vegetarian Tom Ka Pak.
At House of Siam their seafood selection is the cream of their crop. Gorge yourself on their deep-fried Pompano fish (Pla Rad Prig) which comes soaked in chili oil. You'll dive head first into specialties of the house like Long Song Prawns for $12.95 or Gang Kua Ped Yang, a sliced duck dish with red curry and coconut milk that comes served in a pineapple shell for $10.95.
Add a selection of wines that perfectly compliment the various degrees of spice in the plates, and there you have it. The 1995 Napa Ridge Cabernet is an excellent choice with spicy food.
Although they've raised their prices quite a few times in the last few years, which is somewhat disappointing, House of Siam continues to be one of the most popular restaurants in downtown San Jose.
Reproduction of material from posthoc is prohibited without written permission.
Copyright 2002, Posthoc, Inc.