Oh So Tasty: Pakpao

Chef Jet Tila

Pakpao opened quietly 10 months ago but it just hit my radar when I received an invitation from their new chef/partner, Jet Tila, to come over and sample his culinary creations.

That name sound familiar? Tila has had appearances on Cutthroat Kitchen, Iron Chef America, and Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations and he's just landed in Dallas to lay his brand of Thai cooking on the Dallas scene.

“Pakpao already does an amazing job with creating authentic Thai food," said Tila is a previous release, "I will be infusing regional dishes from the North, Isaan, and Bangkok, along with helping to promote the brand and expand Pakpao’s influence on the Texas dining scene, which is one of the fastest growing in the country. It’s tremendously exciting for me to be a part of it.”

Tila debuted new menu items Wednesday night, and told the Dallas Business Journal that "this selection only represents a third of what he hopes to bring to the restaurant. Menu items included Tom Kha Gai, or chicken coconut soup; Neu Nam Tok, or waterfall steak salad; and Tila’s signature Khao Soi, or Chian Mai curry noodles. He’s also added his Thai Silk cocktail, comprising unfiltered sake, pineapple rum and Thai Basil, to the drink menu. He plans to do two more menu changes by the end of the year but intends to keep some of Pakpao's unique items."

Although everything they brought out was amazing, my favorites were the Pad Kee Mow (Drunken Noodles), Khao Pad Sapparod (Pineapple Fried Rice) and Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Hot and Sour Shrimp Soup). Located behind Oak off of Oak Lawn Ave. in the Design District, the restaurant holds about 50-60 people, offers patio dining and has an energetic and cool atmosphere that's sure to please.  I give it two thumbs way up and can't wait to go back.

Pakpao is located at 1628 Oak Lawn Ave #120, Dallas, TX 75207, (214) 749-7002, http://pakpaothai.com