Tucked up on a quiet part of College Hill in Providence, Sawaddee serves some of the best no-frills Thai you can find outside of Thailand (and in fact, after traveling to Southeast Asia in 2008, I’d say Sawaddee beats most places in Thailand too). But don’t expect a showstopper from this tiny restaurant with little décor to speak of. The first visit might leave you wondering what the big deal is, but months later you’ll say you still haven’t found anything better. The friendly staff and fantastic food keep locals coming back week after week.
RECS: It’s all excellent, but if you asked me to order for you, I’d say start with a cup of tom yum or tom kha soup and maybe a green papaya salad. For the main course, get chicken or tofu with vegetables in either the garlic sauce or with cashew nuts, and pair it with a side (or two!) of the their incomparable sticky rice. (For something gluten-free, ask for the Pra-Ram with chicken or tofu and add extra snow peas, plus a side of sticky rice). If you have room for desert, try the sweet sticky rice with mango.
