Thai Tom

I have loved Thai Tom since the first time I ate there in the mid-90s. At that time there was a seemingly Thai guy named Tom who operated a Thai lunch counter and played the guitar and the ladies swooned. The food was basic and great and you were eating 10 seconds after it was off the stove. And you got to choose the spiciness by how much dry chili was added to the dish; you did not want to choose the max of five.

Then I did not go back for over 25 years. The place had moved a few blocks within the U-District of Seattle and somehow was grimmier. But the food was still delicious and basically the same except there was no Tom. And five stars was not as spicy as it had been.