New in Scottsdale: Lao Thai

​Could Thai food possibly get any more popular? The last few years have seen a boom in Thai food across the Valley, and still more new restaurants are opening their doors.

​The newest is Lao Thai, which opened last week in the former Kam's Garden space on Scottsdale Road at Oak (2200 N. Scottsdale Rd). I stopped by for a cheap, quick lunch of musamun curry, which had a delicious spicy flavor tempered with coconut milk. The sauce could've been a little thicker, but I liked the tenderness of the beef. As an aesthetic bonus, the carrots were shaped like flowers, the potatoes had scalloped edges, and there was a pretty garnish made from shaved daikon and carrot.

​The Thai iced tea was irresistibly sweet with condensed milk, served in a huge glass that made me think of a Big Gulp.

​A light, peppery vegetable soup and crisp spring roll with chili sauce were included in the $7.50 lunch special.  

​From the looks of the dining room, these folks did a major makeover of the space -- the walls are now a fresh, buttery shade, and the booths have crisp upholstery.

As expected, the dinner menu has a slew of options, from papaya salad to stir-fries to curry. A few interesting items include "in-law eggs" (crispy, deep-fried hard-boiled eggs stuffed with ground chicken and pork, onion, and green onions), Thai omelet stuffed with ground chicken, pork, and vegetables, pumpkin curry, and duck noodle soup.