By Pamela Brownstein
On a chilly December afternoon, the Lunch Bunch was pleased to be warm inside the intimate Suwan Thai Cuisine on Paris Avenue in Port Royal. Originally at the little white schoolhouse, the restaurant relocated across the street in October 2012. An attractive water feature and outdoor seating area welcome customers in the front, and inside diners discover an updated and ornate decor. The husband and wife team — with John Winner at the front of the house and Tassana
Champatong in the kitchen — never disappoint, and all the dishes were so delicious.
The table was first treated to an Oyster Pancake — steamed oyster in a rice flour pancake topped with bean sprout and served with spice sauce. Although I consider myself well-versed in Thai food, I had never tried an oyster pancake, and I
don’t know why because it was awesome. We all loved it.
Next we tried Chicken Satae, the strips of tender chicken breast marinated in coconut milk and spices are char-broiled. I love dipping the chicken on a stick in savory peanut sauce, and the cool contrast of the cucumber salad.
Our final appetizer was the handmade Thai dumpling, Kanom Cheep, stuffed with ground pork and shrimp.
Kim was excited about the roasted duck with red curry special, and we all agreed it was amazing.
Elizabeth eagerly anticipated the Drunken noodles — pan-fried wide rice noodles with chicken, shrimp, sweet onion, roasted chilis and fresh, home grown Thai basil — another flawlessly delicious entree.
Of course, the presentation of the Pineapple Fried Rice, served in half of a pineapple shell, is always a crowd pleaser. And the fresh pineapple fried rice with chicken, shrimp, cashews and raisins tastes as good as it looks.
No meal at Suwan is complete without trying at least one of their desserts. The Purple Sticky Rice and the Coconut Custard on top of sticky rice were both so yummy, we couldn’t decide which one we liked the best. And the two flavors of homemade ice cream — mango and coconut — are simply divine.
Suwan Thai Cuisine is located at 1635 Paris Avenue, Port Royal, SC, 29935. Open Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 5 to 9 p.m. Call 843-379-8383.
