Tai-Kadai Kitchen

Tai-Kadai Kitchen Restaurant Review:

This pan-Asian restaurant in Rosemead’s Universal Plaza showcases the cuisines of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Chaozhou and Hainan. A stylish dining room features faux-wood walls, black-and-white-striped flooring and plenty of plant life. Each meal starts with an amuse-bouche that could consist of lap cheong, wonton strips and peanuts tossed with tiny dried fish. From there, consider spring rolls showcasing shrimp and pork shoulder and served with peanut sauce bolstered with crushed peanuts. Imperial rolls are a crispy counterpoint, with a pork, wood ear, jícama, onion and taro filling and savory fish sauce for dipping. An array of noodle dishes is highlighted by mee goreng with shrimp, chicken, vegetables and a funky sauce crafted from soy, minced garlic, dried chilies and shallot oil. Bun is also a fun option --- rice vermicelli with mix-and-match toppings like shrimp and egg cakes, grilled pork chops and/or pork meatballs. Temper the meat’s richness with raw vegetables, fresh herbs or ice-cold beer.