Review: Thai Papaya
Author: indianapoliseater | Filed under: Food Reviews, Location: Indianapolis, IN
Thai Papaya
3905 West 96th Street, Suite 1000
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
WIBIA and I had been working together to help him move and we saw this place nearby. Since I had never eaten Thai food before and wanted to try it (the food education of IndianapolisEater is a never-ending process), we decided to pop in here for a visit.
What I Got: Kao Padd Gra Prow (Pork) $9.95
Spicy Thai fried rice served with eggs, banana peppers, green and white onions and Thai basil. Comes with your choice of soup, a spring roll or Thai salad (I got the spring roll).
Kao Padd Gra Prow
Since this was my first venture into Thai food, I figured I’d order something that seemed vaguely familiar, so I got this dish served with pork (chicken and beef were the other options). You can also choose the temperature of the dish and the options were mild, medium, hot or super hot. Since I’m semi-adventurous when it comes to hot food, I chose the hot option. Despite this, all I can really say about this dish is “blah.” It was pretty much just a pile of all the foods listed in the description with a nice spicy kick. There was nothing really special about it and I must say that I was bored after eating it. The pork was also a little dry, so that definitely subtracted from the dish as well. If this had one thing going for it, it was a healthy portion size which was good because I needed it after the pathetically small spring roll that came with the dish. Check out the picture below…that thing was barely bigger than a AA battery and was covered with grease. It was not really appetizing at all.
Thai Spring Roll
Would I Buy It Again? Definitely not. For my first venture into Thai food, I was not impressed. Maybe it was the dish that I ordered, maybe it was the particular restaurant (this place does get positive reviews online. Hmm…) or maybe it was just the food not being something my palate prefers, but I’m definitely not in a hurry to eat Thai food again. It’s too bad too, because I really would like to expand my horizons and try all different kinds of cuisines.
-IndianapolisEater
Tags: Food, Pork, rice, spring roll, Thai, Thai Papaya
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Don’t let this place ruin Thai food for you. If done right, Thai is easily one of my favorites. The good places really work flavor and spice together and it creates cuisine that is FAR from boring. Give it another shot!
IE- I agree with John. Thai food is easily one of my all-time favorites…. the mix of spices and flavors- cilantro, lemon grass, mint…curries…lime…There are spicy Thai dishes and not so spicy. So try again…Thai Cafe is my go-to Thai restaurant in Indy.
*Also- a lot of Thai food is actually very healthy…
Agree with Amy, Thai Cafe is excellent.
I think Siam Square in Fountain Square is the Thai place of the moment though, with superb authentic Thai dishes (and, mango with sticky rice for dessert).
I’ve never really gotten into Thai food, but I have TONS of friends that love it, so I end up going to Thai restaurants a lot. LOL I’d recommend something peanut based (if you’re not allergic) or I always love ginger flavors. Those are the two I hit up most often. Chicken with ginger, can’t go wrong.
I used to have a Thai restaurant club. We went to about 7 places locally, and Thai Papaya was one of the least liked by group consensus. I prefer Thai Cafe and Thai Orchid. A lot of people swear by Swasdee, but I find it to be middle of the road. Next time, go with a group and try a little of everyone’s dish. I’d even resurrect Thai Club to include you.
Thank you everyone for all of the recommendations/tips. I have several Thai places near me, so I plan on taking your recommendations into account. Maybe we’ll see another Thai post from me in the coming weeks/months!
I’ve never had Thai food, but I’m really impressed with the cars in the parking lot. Can anybody read a license plate number on that gold impala? Has to be somebody famous.
I’m not super big on Thai food but I’d recommend Pad Thai or Pineapple Fried Rice as entry dishes for relative newcomers… duck is usually pretty good as well although duck is a bit greasy in general.
Oh, if you like spicy I’d go for the curry. Thai curry is different from India or Japanese curry. They tend to have a bit of coconut milk though if you don’t like that.
I’d like to second Siam Square – it’s definitely the best I’ve had in town. Jasmine Thai at 96th & Gray is pretty decent, and it has the benefit of being next door to Yogokiss.
I’m glad you’ll give Thai another shot. When it’s done poorly, it is bland – just a dry pile of stir-fried veggies, etc. But when done right, it should be more than the sum of its parts, with ingredients like fish sauce, chiles, lime leaves, basil, etc, all drawing everything together into a fragrant pile of delicious happiness.
Apologies for the threadjack: Sarah, were you part of the group that did the article for Nuvo (or whatever) a while back?
@Brand Eating: I’m kind of screwed in some respects with Thai food because I HATE pineapples and I’m not a big fan of Coconut milk either. I’ll do like spicy food though, so I’ll go back and find something that fits my taste a little better than this one does.
I was at this meal as well and I was not a big fan. Surely on the low end of the city.
@Nathan: I dig your website…very cool work.
@Sarah: Include me too! Glad to see you are blogging again.
@BrandEating: Totally agree…those are good starting places. I like Indian Curry the best, but they are all different.
@Nick: More than welcome welcome to thread hijack here.
For your first Thai foods, I recommend Pad Thai and Mee Krob. No pineapple and no coconut, yet both are classic Thai dishes. Delicious too.
Do I have to stop reading if your guys hate all my suggestions?!
Getting worried I am a bad food (amateur) critic…
yeah, that’s definitely not Thai food as I understand the definition! Find a good quality place!
I don’t think you really meant the food was available at different different “temperatures”
Please do try Siam Square and SAWASDEE! Near 86th and Ditch.
^Sort of like I didn’t mean to type “different different”
@ Windi… ha ha…. I can imagine that you feel that way. Ummm….I liked Gumbo a Go Go and you mentioned that?!
Kao Padd Gra Prow is my favorite dish at Thai Papaya! I know many people who love spicy food would recommend this dish. Maybe you can try something less spicy? I know that the dish you order has a very authentic spice to it according to my thai friend ( I took from out of town). Please don’t give up on Thai food!!!