Thai Staunton, Staunton, Virginia

Ah! I just found this post, one that I wrote a while back. This restaurant is a definite must-stop if you’re or passing through the area.

Our long North Carolina vacation, alas, came to an end and Nancy and I started the long drive over to I-77, and then up 77 to 81 to 66 and home via the dread Beltway, as we so often did back when Liza was at Davidson.

It’s a tough route, barren of wood-cooked barbecue the whole way, unless you want to detour west to Beans in Edinburg or well east to The Barbecue Exchange in Gordonsville. You don’t really want to, of course, still less does Nancy. You want to get home, and detours in the exploding suburbs if Northern Virginia are not to be taken lightly. Still, we’ve often veered off the interstate to find really good local places to eat, but without much success, at least in the Virginia stretch.

This time, though, we hit pay dirt with Thai Staunton. It’s a couple of miles off I-81 if you take the exit for VA 262 (longer if you take the US 250 exit), at 1000 Greenville Avenue. It’s a bright, pleasant place for a meal, and service is prompt and friendly.

We both ordered lunch specials ($15) that include an entree, a small salad, choice of soup (lemongrass, coconut, wonton, or hot and sour), an egg roll, and rice. First came the salad.

It was indeed small, lightly dressed, and topped with crunchy fried bits. It was not particularly memorable, but a pleasant start.

Everything else came at once on the platter — the entree, the soup (hot and sour), and the egg roll. Nancy had chosen the Red Curry, which came with two stars for spiciness. The egg roll is hiding behind it.

My Kra Pow also came with two spicy stars. And there you can see the egg roll separated from its container of sweet and spicy Thai dip by the rice.

Both of us thought that the hot and sour soup was very well executed. The seasoning was on point and it was chock full of vegetables and shreds of chicken like those pictured. The broth had not been over-thickened, as it usually is, but maintained a nice clean texture.

Nancy’s curry showed the same sure hand on the seasonings and the same thoughtfulness in execution. My Kra Pow was the best Thai dish I’d had in a while — or that I’ve had since. Both the seasoning and the level of heat were just right. I just love those Thai green chiles. This was an excellent dish, well thought out and executed.

Both of us were delighted with our lunch, which had far exceeded my expectations. I’m adding Thai Staunton to my list of Best Places to Eat on I-81, and you definitely should give it a try when you’re in the area.

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