In 2013, Angela Sakdi bucked conventional trends and opened a fast-casual concept of an authentic Thai restaurant. She immediately succeeded and soon opened Sweet Rice which quickly became No. 8 on Yelp’s 100 best places to eat in the country in 2020. Her family’s most recent endeavor is Bowl Thai Grill, located next to Sweet Rice in Gardena.
Due to escalating costs and a shortage of workers, restaurants have intentionally downsized their menus. Bowl Thai Grill has a limited menu of five grilled meat options, one salad, one appetizer, tea, coffee, root beer, draft beer, and wine. Each grilled meat item comes with papaya salad or chopped cucumber salad.
Walking up to Bowl Thai Grill, you will see Sweet Rice next door. Further, they can share the outdoor tables set up on the sidewalk. Both are clean, modern, and bright. Thai Bowl Grill has a rail that directs customers from the front door to the counter and is ideal for today’s social distancing.
While waiting for my to-go order, I enjoyed a “Dirty Thai Tea.” Made with coffee and tea, it’s not as sweet as a typical Thai Ice Tea.
They use meaty St. Louis Style Ribs so that the three ribs ($15.99) are evenly sized and lack rib tips. The vinegar-based tangy papaya salad nicely complements the meat, and the dipping sauce provides additional flavor.
The beef on their Satay Bowl ($15.99) is expertly grilled and arrives without skewers. The cucumber salad has a bland dressing, but the peanut sauce nicely enhanced the beef.
The big surprise was the Nam Kao Tod ($14.99), a mixed green salad with fermented pork sausage, shredded coconut, ginger, red onion, cilantro, scallions, peanuts in a chili-lime dressing. This salad is bursting with all types of flavors and is a joy to eat.
Even if your dining partner may not desire one of their bowl dishes, you are next door to Sweet Rice and be comfortable selecting something there because they both are under the same ownership.
Bowl Thai Grill in Gardena is the rear of the Pacific Square Shopping Center in Gardena.
1630 W Redondo Beach Blvd Ste 9 Gardena, CA 90247; 310.819.8475