11/29/18
Yum Nua at Thai Smile in Palm Desert, CA. Yum Nua, or Thai Beef Salad in English, is one of my go-to dishes when I dine at Thai restaurants. A simple dish, but it’s not easy to find one that stands out. Thai Smile’s version is terrific, so much so that I had to come back the next night to run it back. A generous portion of grilled, marinated beef is mixed with red onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, mint, cilantro, crushed red peppers, and lime juice. Fresh ingredients and a terrific blend of flavors and seasoning. The beef was tender and not over-cooked (I asked for medium rare), which can happen in some versions of Yum Nua. Served at room temperature, this salad is entree-size and big enough to share. Thai Smile has a large menu with traditional Thai food along with friendly and knowledgeable service. I also loved their Tom Yum Shrimp Soup.