Kona Restaurants: The Royal Thai Cafe at Keauhou, Thai Food

78-6831 Alii Dr # K2
Kailua Kona, HI 96740

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Price range: ¢-$

One evening, for our anniversary, we decided to go here after reading in the local phone book that this restaurant was voted "Best Thai Restaurant Five Years in a Row" by some kine committee or something like that. Upon arrival, I must say that this place has a wonderful atmosphere, and charming decorative touches. There are many fountains, Buddha statues, and elephants all over the place. There is a lot of space to move around in he restaurant, also.

We started our meal off with a "Royal Thai salad", which on the menu stated that it was assortment of vegetables and chicken with spicy peanut sauce. Well, the waiter brought back iceberg lettuce surrounded by crinkle cut radishes, carrot, and cucumber...peanut sauce on top, but no chicken. It was not very good for the $7.95 that we paid for it.

David decided that he wanted to try the "Stuffed Pineapple", and I wanted the "Royal Thai Foursome". The Stuffed Pineapple is fried rice, assorted stir-fry vegetables, shrimp and chicken inside of a pineapple shell. It is delightful if you like pineapple.

The Royal Thai foursome is beef, chicken, pork, and shrimp with, again, a mixture of stir fry vegetables. I ordered mine sans pork. I was utterly disappointed. It lacked the signature Thai seasoning that I crave, and the meats were so bland that I had to order a small plate of spicy peanut sauce to add flavor to the dish.

All in All, I learned not to depend on "Positive or Rave Reviews" for restaurants based on a phone book. Establishments change management from time to time. Good Ambience, but really Bland overpriced food. Only go here if you want pretty things to look at while you eat.