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Thai Wave
A nice taste of Thailand

By David L. M. Preston
OC Voice Staff Writer

Thai food, in the last decade or so, now has a pervasiveness and popularity throughout the U.S. that would have surprised urbane “big city folks” back in the day. Even in small hometown spots, from Maine to Texas, you now have mom and pop Thai restaurants (heck, there are some seven or so in Huntington Beach alone) when once one had to gallivant off to the largest urban center or over to Southeast Asia to get a good taste.

And tasting good is, of course, a large part eating. Having had the chance to spend time in Thailand I can say that, as with most imports, American Thai is unique in its own manner of interpretation. From the north of Chiang Mai, to the bustle of Bangkok, there is a great variety of food styles (just think of the cuisine style in the use, comparing Minnesota lutefisk to New Orleans’ gumbo, and you get the idea). And I have to admit even with my enjoyment of hot-spice southern Thailand is particularly piquant, at least from my experience in Songkhla, but the satay was wonderful.

So there is a relish of expectation when one enters a Thai restaurant, and with Thai Wave in Huntington Beach, the anticipation is satisfied. A mainstay of tourist and local business, located as it is on Main Street, a bit farther east from the main downtown so the parking is a bit more reasonable. However far that goes.

To get a good sampling of their efforts I ordered the Thai Wave Combination platter ($9.95), which gives a sampling of different appetizers that are offered. Egg rolls, BBQ ribs (your choice of beef or pork), fried wontons and “naked” shrimp with vegetables. Every offering was wonderful, and the butterflied and butter soaked shrimp where particularly satisfying. The Thai dipping sauce, a sweet-sour vinegary mix, was excellent with the crispy egg rolls.

Being a bit of a Tom Yum soup snob, there is a particular restaurant I have in mind out-of-state, by which I compare all other Tom Yums, I ordered a small bowl with shrimp. (Small, $4.95; large, $8.95; with $1 extra for added shrimp.) It was a fine soup with lemongrass, a decent spiciness, mushrooms and Thai basil. Better than most, but not quite up to my “ideal.” Granted, my tastes may differ than some, and it isn’t really fair to compare to a non-competitor, but there it is. I would definitely order this soup again from Thai Wave, don’t get me wrong. Better than most, but not overthrowing my own ideal.

For the main entrée I had a Panang curry with chicken. A lighter curry (don’t compare it to the Indian or Pakistani use of the term) with a coconut-based broth-sauce with and rich sienna-orange flavor that melds well with rice ($8.95). I followed with the sticky rice stuffed with banana and black beans dessert ($3.50), which was sweetly fantastic; syrupy when cut into with a fork and chewy enjoyable only as sweet rice can be.

Other offerings at Thai Wave include an oddly sounding, to English-speaking ears, dish called larb. Much tastier than it’s name, larb is made of ground chicken with onions and chilis, mixed with lime juice and Thai basil ($6.95).

The wonderful Pad Thai, with the widespread-in-Thai-cooking peanut sauce, noodles $7.95; and various fried rice options ($7.95 and higher) are also available. For those who like meat, definitely try the satay skewers ($6.95) with chicken, beef or pork marinated in Thai spices and served with peanut sauce.

There are also offered Thai-Californian-Asian fare such as tempura shrimp or calamari (more Japanese style than anything) for $7.95, and chow mein noodles, also for $7.95.

The seating is made up of lots of booths and four-seating tables, and the wait-staff was very attentive. Some three or four different waitresses and bus-people interacted with me over the time I was there. The attention was great, but there was still an error with my dessert, which they quickly rectified. The tip was deserved.
Thai Wave also has a lunch special, that runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering a variety of curry and noodle dishes with chicken, beef, pork or vegetables, for $6.25, that are served with salad, egg rolls and the usual steamed rice.

A nice taste of Thailand, with other gastronomies mixed in, as is common in California, and a good option for those not interested in a plane ticket to Southeast Asia. Gin khao liang? Hue mai? Then head on down to Main Street.

Thai Wave Restaurant

522 Main St, Huntington Beach, CA 92648-5134
Phone: (714) 960-0219, (714) 960-0349
Free local delivery with orders over $12.

Hours:

Monday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.Sunday: noon to 10 p.m.

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