Gao is Always a “Wow.”

Gao Thai Kitchen

There are so many choices in and around town that I admit: sometimes, it takes me awhile to get to the places on my list that I’ve heard about over and over. Gao Thai Kitchen is one of those places. And me and my husband were kicking ourselves that it took us 5 years of living in Bergen County to finally try it this summer! It started with getting take out to bring to Ramsey pool. Pizza for the kids, but something more interesting for us.

I ordered the Red Curry with Shrimp with a side of Jasmine rice and I have to say, I was blown away by the quality of the shrimp. I was expecting those tiny, rubbery baby shrimp but these shrimp were large, crunchy and beautiful. I’d could have drank the sauce through a straw: just the right amount of spice with sweet coconut milk, bamboo shoots, red bell pepper and fresh basil. ($18 and worth every penny) My husband had the Pad Gra Pow with chicken  onions, Thai basil, string beans, bell peppers and chili sauce which he devoured before I got a bite so it must have been good!

Forgot to take photos. This is Gao’s BBQ Beef.

It’s hard to not keep going back to something that you’d drink through a straw, but then next time, fighting the pangs in my stomach calling out for the shrimp, I tried the Massaman Curry with Beef. This dish was as tasty and addicting with tender beef, potatoes and fried shallots in a spicy curry peanut sauce ($14). In an ideal world, I’d get both next time and share…but some of you already know, I have an issue with sharing. : ) Someday I promise to actually go inside and sit down..and take my photo.

What I want to try next? Noodles: the Pad Thai Pratoo Phee with cellophane noodles, sautéed shrimp, crushed peanuts, brown tofu, bean sprouts and asian chives and the Chili Noodle & Pork Sausage, stir-fried flat rice noodles with jumbo shrimp, Thai pork sausage, string beans, egg in chili paste sauce!

Several of the entrees are labeled as “gluten-free” on the menu. While I don’t have celiac, thought I’d pass that along for my friends that do.

Gao Thai Kitchen, 63 West Main Street, Ramsey, NJ 07446