Working in Santa Monica, I’m always on the hunt for delicious, inexpensive lunch options. I found Greenview Thai on Yelp. It only has 3 stars but after looking at their menu and the photos, my gut told me I would enjoy it.

On my first visit, I ordered the chicken with garlic and black pepper from the lunch specials. It came with a small salad, crispy fried vegetable egg roll and fried rice. With tax, it was $10.95. I had vacationed in Phuket in 2016 and everything I ate except the Americanized salad, tasted like the authentic food of Thailand.

A few days later, a coworker was craving Thai food so I returned and ordered fried chicken from the regular menu. It was different, not like the buttermilk or southern fried chicken I expected. It had a tamarind flavor but it was fried perfectly with a sweet dipping sauce. I was surprised again at how much I enjoyed it.

My third and most recent meal, I once again took a gander at the lunch special menu. I debated ordering a traditional Thai dish. I asked my server what he recommended. He said orange chicken. I was doubtful that a Thai restaurant could pull off a solid non-traditional Thai dish. I was 100% wrong. Just like my first visit, my lunch came with a small salad and the freshly fried and crispy vegetable egg roll. The combination of the fried rice with the perfectly crispy, not overly sauced orange chicken was the perfect addictive combination. I couldn’t quite understand or believe the deliciousness of each bite. After eating half of the dish, I felt my waistline expanding and asked for a box. While putting the leftovers in the box, I ate a few more small bites of the chicken and the rice. When I came back to work, I almost immediately started eating the rest of the meal until it was all gone. So much for leftovers….

Three times is a charm for my food experiences at Greenview Thai. Everything I have eaten has left me wanting more. It’s a terrific value especially at lunchtime. Everything is cooked on order and perfectly fresh. The service has been exemplary for all three visits. I am crowning it my go-to for my lunchtime getaways and any group lunches.

Greenview Thai

11870 Santa Monica Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90025

http://www.greenviewthai.com