An appetizer plate at Thai Corner in Gruenstadt, Germany, includes spring rolls, fried chicken pieces and vegetable tempura. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)
Sometimes I like to get out of Kaiserslautern to try restaurants a bit farther afield. I pull up Tripadvisor and start searching for a culinary gem within short driving distance of the city.
That’s how I found Thai Corner in Gruenstadt, a town of about 13,000 some 30 minutes by car northeast of Kaiserslautern. Just off the autobahn and near the German Wine Route, Gruenstadt links up with numerous hiking and biking trails through the picturesque Pfalz wine region.
I wouldn’t call Thai Corner a culinary gem, but it’s convenient before or after an outdoor excursion in Gruenstadt. The portions are plentiful and the prices are reasonable, especially the daily lunch special for under $6.
But it isn’t authentic-tasting Thai cuisine. On a recent lunch outing, I found the food hit-or-miss.
The shrimp soup with a medium-spicy broth and plenty of mushrooms at Thai Corner in Gruenstadt, Germany (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)
First the hits, starting with the tom yam gung, or shrimp soup with fresh lemongrass and mushrooms. The waitress warned me it was spicy, but I’d say the brownish-red broth was German “hot,” hence something I could handle.
The appetizer plate, which included fried chicken pieces, vegetable tempura and spring rolls with a sweet chili dipping sauce, didn’t knock my socks off but was satisfactory.
I ordered the pad thai, since it was the daily special, and was excited to try one of my favorite Thai dishes. Now picture a bland pile of noodles with vegetables and a couple of peanuts.
The pad thai at Thai Corner in Gruenstadt, Germany, was a bargain for under $6, but the noodle dish didnt have any flavor. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)
It tasted fresh but flavorless, a frustrating combination. I also decided to try the green curry with coconut milk and tofu. This had flavor but not one I recognized or enjoyed.
The lackluster main courses surprised me, given some of Thai Corner’s glowing ratings online. Tripadvisor ranked it No. 2 of 27 restaurants in Gruenstadt, with reviewers heaping such praise as “some of the best Thai food I have ever eaten in Europe.”
I’ve had better Thai from an imbiss, which is a snack stand or restaurant for a quick meal. Khao Lak in Mehlingen is decent. The imbiss has a few tables and does takeout.
I will say the restaurant had better ambience than an imbiss. It was cozy and you can watch the chef cooking in an open kitchen area, like you would in someone’s home.
And the restaurant also has an extensive list of wine offerings, including local white and red wines, rose and secco. I was driving, so I enjoyed a warm pot of jasmine tea.
The kitchen is in an open area inside Thai Corner in Gruenstadt, Germany, allowing diners to see the chef at work. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)
If I’m ever in Gruenstadt again and nothing else finds my interest, I might consider going back to Thai Corner for some wine with appetizers, the shrimp soup and wasabi ice cream. The ice cream received a good review but I forgot to order it.
And it’s possible on another day, a different daily special might be tastier, such as Monday’s chicken meatballs with sweet potatoes and red curry or Thursday’s pork dish in spicy peanut sauce.
The restaurant also sells a variety of Thai spices and sauces, so you could stock up and try making a more flavorful pad thai at home.
Thai Corner
Address: Hauptstrasse 109, Gruenstadt, Germany
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Closed on Sundays and German holidays.
Prices: Variable lunch specials, 5.90 euros. Appetizers and soup start at 3.90 euros. Main courses range from about 7.90 euros to 17.90 euros.
Information: Phone: 063-59-923994; Online: thaicorner-gruenstadt.de
Thai Corner in Gruenstadt, Germany, is open six days a week for lunch and dinner. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)
