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Choices for Thai cuisine are limited in the Mojave desert, but if you're in the mood for outstanding Thai cuisine, and you're in the small eastern Kern county town of Mojave, CA, you're in luck, as Mojave is home to Mojave Thai Cuisine, which offers some of the best Thai cuisine that you'll find anywhere... As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's a little after 4:00 in the afternoon on Friday, January 03, 2020, and I've arrived at Mojave Thai Cuisine, located in Mojave, CA, and I'm looking forward to an amazing early dinner. Do you recognize this facade from the Graziano's Pizza Restaurant days?
Photo: As you enter the restaurant, you'll be greeted by a friendly staff member, and invited to seat at the place of your choice in the spacious dining room. Does this look familiar? "Back in the day..." this was Graziano's Pizza Restaurant, which served outstanding pizza, but unfortunately Graziano's closed back in 2011. Like a phoenix... say HELLO to Mojave Thai Cuisine!
Photo: The main dining room is spacious, clean and comfortable, and except for a coat of new paint, has hardly changed since the "pizza days." It's a little after 4:00 in the afternoon, and I'm seated at a nearly empty restaurant.
Photo: You must simply admire a Thai restaurant that includes little shelves on the wall, stocked with fresh oranges, statues, and lots of Thai decor.
Photo: After I was seated, my amazingly friendly server, Shayari, offered me the menu, which includes "Appetizers." Yes, I was tempted, and since today was my first time at this delightful restaurant, I went with #1 on the "Appetizer" side of menu, the "Crispy Chicken Wontons." When I dine at a new restaurant, I like to start at the "top" of the menu, whenever possible.
Photo: After pondering the menu, I ordered from the "A La Carte" section of the menu, and went with #70, the "Sweet and Sour" offering.
Photo: From the order counter, you can get a great view of the kitchen, and the friendly staff at work. If you look to the center of the photo, you'll see the owner of the restaurant, hard at work, in the kitchen. Shayari introduced her to me, but sadly, I didn't catch her name.
Photo: Meet super friendly Sandra, who is at work, replenishing choices from the Thai condiment bar. Sandra is a super friendly person, and an amazing hostess!
Photo: All Thai restaurants post a portrait of the Thai Royal Family, and Mojave Thai Cuisine proudly displays a portrait of the king and queen of Thailand. Back when I proudly served with the U.S. Navy, I had the chance to visit Thailand for a couple of weeks, and I fell in love with the beautiful country, the friendly people and the amazing cuisine.
Photo: Meet Shayari, my amazingly friendly hostess, who brings my plates of "Sweet and Sour" and "Crispy Chicken Wontons" to me, with a friendly smile. I can't say enough great things about Shayari, as she chatted with me, welcomed me, and treated me like a member of her family. Come to think of it... perhaps she and I are brother and sisters?
Photo: Shayari brings a plate of jasmine rice to my table with a friendly smile. Such a friendly person, and an amazing server! Shayari is the kind of girl you want to meet to be your lifelong friend, or if you're lucky, maybe your wife. Anyway you look at it, Shayari made my meal, and my day complete.
Photo: I smile... how can you help not to smile when you're dining at Mojave Thai Cuisine? ... as my amazing friendly hostess, Shayari snaps my photo. Note the glass of ice water, garnished with lemon slices which was both welcome and wonderful. My only gripe is that Mojave Thai Cuisine doesn't serve beer or wine, as I was looking forward to a Singha beer, which is the "Budweiser" beer of Thailand. No worries, as the food and the ice water was excellent!
Photo: From the "A La Carte" section of the lunch/dinner menu, I went with #70, the "Sweet and Sour." I splurged, and ordered from the "Appetizers" section a #1, which is a "Crispy Chicken Wontons." What a way to start an early dinner!! I was a little surprised that Shayari brought my lunch - early dinner - and appetizer at the same time, but it wasn't a problem, as each amazing dish complimented each other, and since it was late in the afternoon and I hadn't eaten since breakfast, I was hungry, and all dishes presented to me in any order took care of business. Item #70, "Sweet and Sour," is described on the "A La Carte" menu as, "Sauteed with your choice of meat, with pineapple, onion, bell pepper and tomatoes, in a sweet, tangy sauce." Quite a simple description for an elegant dish,and they left out the fact that the amazing plate contained carrot... oh boy! The menu states, "Your choice of meat..." such a nice phrase... and you can choose between chicken, pork, beef, shrimp or squid. If you live on the other side of the "fence," you can choose between "veggie" or tofu. I sit on the "other" side of the fence, and I ruminated between shrimp or squid, but shrimp won out. After Shayari presented my elegant dinner to me, I didn't look back in my rear view mirror, as I knew shrimp was the correct way to go. Shall we start with the appetizer? This "appetizer" could make for an entire meal, as you get 8 deep fried wontons, stuffed with chicken, along with a bowl of sweet and sour dipping sauce for enjoyment, and for... dipping. Each wonton was stuffed with delicious, juicy, tender chicken, and each bite was made even better by dipping it into the sweet and sour sauce. Such an appetizer, which could make for an entire meal! Ah... the "Sweet and Sour." Among the numerous meat, and "veggie" choices, I went with shrimp, as I've never met a shrimp that I didn't love. You have to love this dish, as the shrimp was marinated, and served with pineapple, onion, bell pepper, tomatoes, all combined in a sweet, tangy, and slightly sour sauce. Sweet meets sour, and together the combine for an amazing dish at Mojave Thai Cuisine. Naturally the added jasmine rice added to the meal, made a fine side dish, and was wonderful to soak up the delicious sweet and sour sauce. This was a "classy" meal any way you say it!
Photo: After paying my tab, and almost leaving the restaurant, Shayari said, "Wait a minute... we're making you dessert." What? I hadn't ordered dessert, thought about it, or even thought to pay for it, but Mojave Thai Cuisine was giving me a complimentary dessert of "Sticky Rice with Mango." How many ways can I say "thanks?" Amazing friendly hostess, Sharon, brings my dessert to me with a smile. Thank you Sharon, and thank you to Mojave Thai Cuisine for the amazing dessert...
Photo: From the "Deserts" section of the menu, this is the "Sticky Rice with Mango" offering. It's topped with sweet coconut cream sauce, and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Wow! I don't have much of a "sweet tooth" but this amazing dessert hit the spot, as the sweet, juicy sliced mango, topped with the coconut sauce was sweetly delicious. The rice, also topped with coconut sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds added a side to a dessert that is simply unexpected - and ignored - in most restaurants. This "dessert" could almost qualify for a meal. I'm a believer, and I love "Sticky Rice with Mango" for dessert, or maybe for a main course. The food is amazing, the service is as friendly as it gets, and everything about this restaurant points to a superior Mojave dining experience. As an aside, I'm an "elite Yelper," and I rate my dining experiences on Yelp, after posting on this web site. Mojave Thai Cuisine garnered a "5-star" rating from me, any way you could look at it. When you're visiting Mojave, CA, and you're in the mood for delicious Thai cuisine, and a truly enjoyable dining experience, plan to visit Mojave Thai Cuisine. You'll love this fine restaurant! Bangkok meets Mojave at Mojave Thai Cuisine. Mojave Thai Cuisine Copyright(c) 2020 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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