J&T Thai Street Food: a friendly neighborhood fix

By Alyssa Ong

Appearances can be deceiving. When cruising down Linda Vista road, you may notice a semi-fancy, warehouse-style Thai restaurant. The menu dissolves fears of the extra expense of dining out because all items are less than $10. J&T Thai Street Food offers speedy and attentive service while also welcoming vegetarian and meat-eaters alike.

Once inside, you get that “Chipotle” feeling where you order your items and pay before sitting. I had to rub my eyes for a minute when I saw the vast selection of drinks they had on the menu which included the staple ice coffees and teas (each below $3). I decided on the Lemongrass drink and Red Curry with Chicken as my entree.

The server then selects the customer’s order through an iPad. The customer can also choose between an email or a text message receipt. My friends and I picked a booth facing the glass windows and, immediately they realized the photography opportunity. They whipped out their phones to use Instagram.

Almost as instantly as the instinct to take photos, the food arrived in a similar timely manner. The food came in eco-friendly disposable bowls and plates. The curry carried a note of sweetness to its creamy texture with a fair amount of vegetables and chicken. The meat and veggies paired well with the jasmine rice. The lemongrass drink was sweet, tangy and refreshing.

It’s hard not to notice the many people streaming in to order takeout. The servers were quick-paced in assisting them and offered friendly smiles to their customers.

The word is going around about this restaurant right around the corner. I’ve heard raving comments about J&T’s Pork Leg Stew Rice (a take on Carnitas) and Chicken Rice (rice that has been cooked with chicken stock).

Overall, J&T lives up to its name of alluding to the “street.” It delivers fairly priced food with a punch of flavor. Three words may convince you to try J&T’s: location, location, location. Convenience is king.

J&T’s hours are Mon. to Sat. from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.