We were dying for some good, fresh Thai food, so we headed to Thai Valley Grill at the Whitemud Crossing Plaza.

Thai is a style of cuisine that I adore. So much so that I rarely care what is ordered when I go out – I’ll eat whatever shows up on the table and love it.

A crisp, cool bottle of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc (at $29 – what a bargain) got our palates primed for the Tom Yam Kai soup (chicken in spicy and sour soup with lemongrass, mushroom, chili mixed in lemon juice) which was delightful, if a touch on the salty side.

When it came to mains, we pitched it to the house. Bring us four dishes and rice that meet our dietary requirements and make our tummies happy. I think that’s more or less what Neil said. And look what we got!

And here comes the kicker: I can’t even tell you what we ate. Pretty lame for a restaurant review, eh? We were avoiding pork and shellfish, so they brought us two beef and two chicken dishes. One of the chicken dishes was served in a hollowed out coconut and it was very nice. One of the beef dishes was prepared with big chunks of mango and came in a lovely autumnal orange curry sauce.  All of the food was salty and, while I try to avoid that much salt at home, it sure tastes good when you eat out.

The spice plate (partially pictured in the bottom left corner of the shot) was my favourite, particularly the red and green finger peppers in the vinegar/soy brine. Salty and hot and fresh. It made the meal for me.

The ambiance of the place was comfortable and the server was polite and attentive. Lots of refills of cold, clean Edmonton ice water. We passed on dessert, but stayed sipping green tea and talking long after dinner was cleared.

Based on recent reviews by the local professional foodies (a way less lame reviewers) and online reviews going back a few years, it seems like Edmonton is a bit of a hotbed for tasty Thai food options.

In the end, at $150 including tax and tip and a bottle of wine, this was a solid Thai meal and it made for a very enjoyable evening.

Thai Valley Grill (take-out menu)
#149, 4211 – 106 Street (Whitemud Crossing Shopping Centre), EDMONTON, AB T6J6X4
Phone: 780-413-9556