Smiles for Thai Smile 5

There hasn't been much buzz about Thai Smile 5 in a while so I wanted to go on record as saying I think it's the best Thai food in Louisville. My husband and I recently had a "Thai throwdown" comparing Pad Thai, Pad See Ew and Basil Fried Rice at both Simply Thai and Thai Smile and Thai Smile was the clear winner. The Pad See Ew at Simply Thai was so cloyingly sweet it almost tasted like it should have been dessert. Perhaps it was just an off night for Simply Thai but every time we go to/get takeout from Thai Smile we have an excellent meal. My husband has a new obsession with the Lab Gai, which is a ground chicken salad dish that he says is the best he's ever had (I've attached a pic). The owner is warm and inviting and always goes out of her way to make us feel welcome. She even remembers our favorite dishes and how we like them prepared. I hate that they're never very crowded because I know how hard the owner works to make everything from scratch, use fresh ingredients, etc. She told us the recipes she uses have all been passed down from her family and she truly takes pride in sharing them with her patrons.

It's at 5800 Preston Hwy, maybe 1/2 mile north of Fern Valley Rd.

lab gai.jpg

Sara, to which Simply Thai were you comparing Thai Smile 5, the one in St. Matthews or the one in
Middletown?

[Robin Garr]

Sara, to which Simply Thai were you comparing Thai Smile 5, the one in St. Matthews or the one in Middletown?

Are you seeing the same issue that I've been seeing, Gayle? Simply Thai St. Matt's good, Simply Thai M'town not so much?

[Robin Garr]

I do want to go back to Thai Smile 5, though, especially after Sara's testimony. We went out for lunch a while back, ordered from the regular menu, not the lunch specials, but were still pretty disappointed. I think we need to hit them during the dinner hour, though.

The "Thai throwdown" was in fact at the St. Matthews Simply Thai, although we have been to both locations. Our last (and final) visit to the St. Matthews location was just a few weeks ago (our friends chose the location) and I ordered vegetable fried rice with a 0 for the level of spice (what can I say, I'm a baby). When it arrived, there was a shocking number of visible red pepper flakes throughout the entire dish. I tasted it and concluded it was too spicy for me. When I asked the waitress if perhaps I had gotten an order of fried rice destined for a different table by accident, she indicated that my presentation was how it's served. I asked if I could have the dish prepared without red pepper and she said that it could not. Shrug.

[Robin Garr]

... I asked if I could have the dish prepared without red pepper and she said that it could not. Shrug.

Fair enough. That would certainly be a deal-breaker for me.

I wonder what's going on? When we had a lackluster experience at Middletown, I speculated that trying to manage two places was a problem for them. Maybe it's showing up in declining quality at both places? Or maybe, better to say, unpredictable quality? Anyway, thanks for sharing, Sara, and I don't doubt your experience, I'm just sorry to hear it.

I have visted the Middletown outpot 2-3 times in the past two months, and everything was fantastic. I have only ordered yellow curry, but it was very good.

DD

I've never had a bad experience at the St Matthew's Simply Thai. I've had a variety of curry from there countless times over the years and it's always consistent.

Thai Cafe in Holiday Manor is good as well. I actually think their Pad Thai is the best in town.

I live near Thai Smile 5, and they are truly awesome, but I have to say, I also used to live near Thai Taste on Brownsboro Road, and for my money Thai Taste is the winner. AFAIC, they have the best pad thai in Louisville, bar none.

[Robin Garr]

I live near Thai Smile 5, and they are truly awesome, but I have to say, I also used to live near Thai Taste on Brownsboro Road, and for my money Thai Taste is the winner. AFAIC, they have the best pad thai in Louisville, bar none.

Thai Taste is the closest Thai to us, and we loved it for a long time. The last few visits, though, all the faces seem to have changed, and the food didn't seem to be quite as good. I wonder if it has new owners or management ... any idea, Marsha?

I live near Thai Smile 5, and they are truly awesome, but I have to say, I also used to live near Thai Taste on Brownsboro Road, and for my money Thai Taste is the winner. AFAIC, they have the best pad thai in Louisville, bar none.

Thai smile has a sister restaurant in Elizabethtown that is very good. 2B Thai is owned by a relative of the Thai Smile 5 people.

Not exactly the fanciest of presentation or locations but very good food at decent prices. Also a place where you can eat in for lunch in less than 30 minutes.

They are also now serving beer/wine albeit a limited selection.

We were fairly regulars at Thai Smile 5 during lunch up until about a year or so ago when the manager there moved to the E-town location and to me the good service and good food prep went with him. We may have to give it another try since it sounds like they may have gotten things back together and I do miss my pineapple curry.

I have had the same experience since he left. before his departure I never had anything less than exceptional there, since he left I have been back three times and have been disappointed with the quality and service. I'm not saying it's bad, just very average now. the bar was set very high and the new management isn't reaching the level of quality and personal service that was the norm for thai smile 5 for a long time.

Thai Smile 5 has been replaced with Thai Noodles. Their phone number remained the same, but the menu/ownership is new. We're devastated. We recall the sweet lady mentioning a possible move to Fort Knox but I don't see any indication of that. Tears!

[Robin Garr]

Oh, no! Second time I've said that today!

Thanks for reporting though, Sara. Did you by chance give Thai Noodles a try? Perhaps we can hope that at least the successor eatery is good, too!