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Restaurant Review
Grill Thai Another Reason to Visit U-Square Reviewed by Sesetu Holomisa
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
November 2020
FOOD & DRINKS
U
-Square is frequented by most of us when traveling around Jeollanam-do or Korea, when going to the cinema there, or shopping at Shinsegae Department Store. The ever-present movement of people in the bus terminal and shopping centers makes for a wide variety of cafes and restaurants. You can satisfy any craving – from Chinese cuisine to Western dishes. One of my new personal favorite establishments to visit is a Thai restaurant, conveniently named “Grill Thai.” Grill Thai offers a selection of dishes including the popular noodle dish pad thai (with chicken, pork, or seafood options), rice dishes like nasi goring and khao phat, steak, and a selection of salads. I have been there twice, ordering the chicken pad thai on my first visit and the seafood pad thai the second time. It is important to note that a friend took me on a Saturday, and I took another friend on the very next day. That is how delicious the chicken pad thai was. You are given the option to choose the vegetables you would like and the level of spiciness. (I am an all-ornothing type, to be honest.) They brought the spice with the chicken dish, but the following day, it was a little milder. Sometimes I think there is a perception that nonKoreans cannot handle spicy food, so they tone it down a bit. So, that may have been the case for the not-so-spicy seafood noodle dish. Other than that, the meals were consistently flavorsome and came in large portions. It was not crowded on either occasion, so it will not be a cause for concern if you want to check this restaurant out while we are in the midst of practicing social distancing. The servers are friendly and professional, and there is a vibrant atmosphere there. The music they play is fresh out of the studio, so if the joy of your meal being brought to you makes you dance in excitement, the latest Korean (and sometimes Western) hits will be in the background to match your mood. The prices are very reasonable, but I find that this is applicable in almost all diners in Korea; they give you a meal that could feed two and price it for one person. No complaints over here!
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The restaurant is clean and has a cool, dark vibe in the sense that the lights are low, and there are steel chairs and dark-colored tables with luminescent artwork on the walls. But it is not so dark that you cannot see the bits of truffle and crushed nuts in your pad thai. Speaking of nuts, if you do have any allergies, it is best to ask before ordering what ingredients are in the dish. Having traveled to Thailand and tasted authentic Thai dishes, I have to be honest and declare that this restaurant does not entirely stick to the traditional recipes. There is an obvious fusion of Korean preferences and interpretations that give a twist to the meals. Nonetheless, it is up to you to decide if it is worth going twice in a weekend like I did. I suggest you visit Grill Thai with a companion and treat yourself to great service and a meal that will leave you content. Who knows, you might also find yourself “Shazaming ” a few songs with your Shazam app that you can use the next time you play any K-pop-related game in class!
▲ Chicken pad thai.
The Reviewer
Sesetu “Sese” Holomisa is a Leo, and Studio Ghibli is currently her source of happiness, along with listening to She by Harry Styles and eating spicy ramen with a sweet glass of house wine. Instagram: @sesetuh
10/28/2020 10:50:10 AM
