Upon entering for dinner my party of four were immediately greeted and sat. The lighting was dim, there was still some Christmas decor up. There were families and couples. The staff were neatly dressed to match and very kind and attentive.
Our drinks came immediately. There were Thai Iced Teas everywhere but I opted for a hot green tea.
I saw the Esarn Classic had a meat choice of “Crying Tiger” (marinated steak) which I always get at any Thai place that offers it. It’s my favorite. But I also love duck. Both dishes are more common at restaurants in SoCal than places in Washington state so I have to take advantage. Someone in my party got the Crying Tiger which I tried and recommend. I added a photo of that dish as well.
I ordered the “Duck Three Ways” which I couldn’t find on the online menu to add to this review, unfortunately. But it was divine. It is a gluten free dish that comes with three sauces: a spicy lemon-grass, sweet chili, and tamarind. They were all so flavorful and amazing. The duck was on the bone but abundantly meaty. The skin was crispy and salty while the inside was slightly tough but juicy. The vegetables were bright and added great color and texture. Each sauce complimented the duck so well. The spicy lemongrass (see photo top left) was my favorite. I loaded the pulp on and could put that on pork, steak, chicken, or fish; anything. The sweet chili (top middle) was made in house similar to the bottled but the flavor was more intense the sauce was also less dense and gelatinous which I preferred. The tamarind reminded me of the plum sauce I would normally get with duck just more tang and less floral. It was slightly sweet and what I would compare more to a variation of hoisin. If it had more garlic I might have taken it home with me. But I actually enjoyed it more with the vegetables.
Aside from parking, my experience was definitely satisfying and complete.
I recommend this place.