Line Thai offers many spicy Thai foods to choose from. Photo by Jed Strahm

Make a beeline to Line Thai

By Lea Soto
Special to West Times

Line Thai in Sun City is very likely the most worthwhile restaurant in the entire far northwest Valley. Really, there’s nothing else going on in that area. The offerings are an overwhelming assortment of fast food and all the usual sit-down chains. Line Thai offers standard Thai food that is a break from the chains.

Line Thai is kind of inconspicuous from the outside. The restaurant is located in a strip mall at 99th Ave. and Bell Road. Inside, things aren’t too fancy, but at least there isn’t any unnecessary overdone ambience.

There’s a pretty extensive menu. Items are numbered to make ordering simple, and the menu is organized well so it’s not hard to narrow down items of interest. My meal got started with egg rolls. These egg rolls are thinly wrapped and very crispy when you bite into them. Also, I tried out one of the soups. The hot and sour chicken soup with lemon grass, mushrooms and homemade chili paste is delicious. The soup comes out in a dish that is lit underneath with a small flame to keep the dish hot. It’s quite a spectacle.

I’ll admit, it’s probably something you’ll have to really have a taste for, but if you do like the soup, you’ll love it.

Here’s a warning: The spiciness level of Thai food is a few notches above the familiar heat index of more familiar spicy foods. Even items at the “medium” level are above average hot with Thai food.

Main items offered include noodle dishes, curry dishes, and other meat and vegetable items. I decided to order the familiar sweet and sour chicken as well as the Phad Thai noodle dish. I really like the sweet and sour chicken. The dish is of a higher quality than I’m used to from most take-out places. The fried battered chicken is crispy and steaming hot. Rice is served alongside. I made the mistake of ordering the Phad Thai just a bit too spicy for my liking, however. I really wasn’t able to eat too much of it, so I’d really like to try it milder.

Don’t skip dessert at Line Thai either. After a super spicy meal, coconut ice cream made from real coconut milk and topped off with peanuts is a cooling treat.

Line Thai may be out of the way for some, but if you’re in this area of town, just skip all the chains and go here.