Thai Basil ∙ Tempe, AZ
Rating: 
Thai Basil in Tempe was Arman’s choice for our lunch destination this week. We got to the restaurant around 11:45, which turned out to be just in time, because by noon a line was already forming out the door. I’m guessing it’s like that all the time too, due to the limited amount of space they have to work with.
Thai restaurants always seem to have a peaceful feel to them, and Thai Basil was no different. Although it was the lunch rush, I still felt relaxed and comfortable inside. The interior was tasteful, and actually rather impressive considering it was converted from a sub shop.
They started us with a bowl of Hot and Sour Soup, which comes with any lunch entree. It wasn’t really hot, although I noticed it just a bit of Thai chili sauce in it. I’m not sure what all they put in the soup, but the primary flavors I got were cilantro, ginger, and lime. It was a nice, light start to the meal. During dinner hours I believe they serve Coconut Soup.
I was in for a great surprise with the Thai Iced Coffee ($2). It was served in a tall, slender glass and looked delicious. It had a wonderful contrasting color, with rich white cream floating atop strong, dark coffee. As I gave it stir before taking my first sip, I wondered if it would be anywhere near as good as my beloved Thai iced tea. To my surprise, it was even better! It was super sweet and smooth.
I ordered Massaman Curry ($7), which is my favorite Thai dish. It is actually a Muslim-influenced dish, with many of the spices coming from the Middle East. In fact, according to RealThai, massaman actually means “Muslim.” It has chicken, potatoes, onions, carrots, and peanuts in a coconut milk-based, peanut curry sauce. If I could dream up the perfect version of massaman curry, it would taste just like the one at Thai Basil. The rich, creamy sauce was delectable, and they gave me enough to where I had some leftover to put on my jasmine rice. You can order the curry dishes mild, medium, or hot. I chose medium, and it was just about right for me. The spring roll was very good and the sweet and sour sauce was nicely prepared. It had some Thai peppers in it that gave it just a little kick.
Arman got the restaurant’s signature dish, which is aptly named Thai Basil ($7). He chose pork for his meat, which was sauteed with a chili garlic sauce, fresh vegetables, and of course Thai basil, which has a stronger taste than the traditional basil herb. He said the vegetables were cooked just right, to where they were still crisp. He described the dish as “excellent” and he loved the special sauce. The dish was colorful and nicely presented on a square plate. What more do you want for seven bucks?
Thai Basil is a special restaurant. They serve excellent Thai cuisine at a value that’s hard to beat. Considering the quality of the ingredients and the careful preparation, I would be willing to pay at least 20% more for a meal there. I highly recommend this restaurant.
Note: Thai Basil is an extremely vegetarian-friendly restaurant; in addition to their vegetarian offerings, you can substitute tofu for meat on any of their dishes
Thai Basil
403 W. University Dr., #101 (Map)
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 968-9250
lunch hours: M-F 11-3, Sa 12-4
dinner hours: Su-Th 5-9, F-Sa 5:30-9:30
Other locations:
Thai Basil - Phoenix: 4221 E. Chandler Blvd. (Map)
Thai Basil - Chandler: 4929 W. Chandler Blvd. #8 (Map)
Thai Basil is a great place. It looked for a while like another Thai Basil location was opening on Adams Street in Downtown Phoenix, but my most recent intel say it opened under the name of “Thai Elephant.” Whatever it’s called, it’ll probably show up on my site pretty soon.
Thai basil is the best in Tempe. Spring roll is the best in the world…..andy