Sen Yai Sen Lek

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Sen Yai Sen Lek (Big Noodle Little Noodle) is an amazing edition to the next big food block in the Twin Cities.

At the intersection of Lowry and Central you're looking at food from all over the globe: SenYai Sen Lek (Thailand), Crescent Moon (Afghanistan), Holy Land (Middle East), Adelitas (Mexico), Bombay Deli (India).

But what Sen Yai Sen Lek brings to the block is bright, balanced dishes, warmly colored walls and a buzz that's bound to bring more recognition to the often overlooked Central Avenue.

Chef Joe Hatch-Surisook and his wife Holly (who have been teaching the Twin Cities about Thai food for ages) offer not only traditional Thai food in their noodle shop, but an education on it.

At Big Noodle, your server can help you decide what dishes to order together to balance a meal with sweet, sour, neutral and spicy flavors (the essence of why Thai food can be so soul satisfying.)

The appetizers are inventive and versatile (crispy or fresh preferences are honored) and the entrees are divided into four distinct sections: noodles, sticky rice, traditional rice and curry. Within each section is a wide variety of flavor, spice, texture and temperature.

The Isaan dishes range from cold and spicy salads to crispy chicken wings (all of which are complimented by a bamboo basket of sticky rice.) The noddles dishes range from stir-fried and firm to clear and thin to wide and flat (all selected to enhance the sauce they're accompanying). The more traditional rice dishes have unique twists (tossed with pineapple and pickled greens) and the curry section is always chef selected that day.

The desserts are simple and traditional (to both Minnesota and Thailand) and taste as if a sweet grandmother prepared them.

It's been a long time since a new (and fresh) Thai restaurant made its way into Northeast, and now thanks to Sen Yai Sen Lek, cravings for curried noodles will be sated for years.

The space is surprisingly large and can accomodate large celebrations as well as intimate dates (we at Metromix suggest you visit a number of times and bring both.)