Green papaya
Although this site is an homage to local cuisine, we have yet to find our ‘forever’ Thai food home in Savannah. For that reason, I am reviewing a restaurant in Jacksonville, FL, which is a mere 1 hour and 45-minute drive for some of the best Thai food in the Southeast. The Green Papaya location that my husband and I frequent is located at River City Market Place; however, there are 3 other locations in Jacksonville and St. Augustine.
You will not be disappointed with anything on the menu, but on this occasion, we started our meal with the Green Papaya Sampler and an order of pork gyoza. The sampler includes Thai egg rolls, spring rolls, crab Rangoon, coconut shrimp, and chicken satay, accompanied by a peanut sauce and Thai garlic dipping sauce on the side. I can go on and on about each component; however, the spring rolls were extremely fresh and stuffed with a plethora of colorful vegetables. The fried elements were cooked to perfection, and the coconut on the shrimp was just the right amount. The pan-fried pork gyoza was crispy around the edges, and the pork filling was sublime.
For the main entrées, my husband and I ordered the house special Thai Basil fried rice and the chicken Pad Thai. The Thai Basil fried rice is a mixture of jasmine rice stir-fried with peas, carrots, scallions, chicken, egg, onion, fresh basil, and cashew nuts. It was beautifully presented on a clean, white dish alongside an edible flower. I have yet to eat a full flower, but I have added a petal or two to my entrée. Our litmus test for every Thai restaurant is the Pad Thai, and they had us from the very first time we ever ate at the Green Papaya. Now if we can’t decide what we want, we always order the Pad Thai. The ground peanuts and lime on the side of this rice noodle dish always work to enhance the flavors that will leave you wanting more and more. If you still have room left, the desserts are always a treat. I am partial to the Peanut Butter Explosion or the Tuxedo Bomb. My full belly would not allow any dessert during this visit.
While our search for a local Thai restaurant continues, we will happily drive to Jacksonville to the Green Papaya. With its simple yet sophisticated décor and impeccable service, don’t let the strip mall exterior fool you. If you have any Thai recommendations in the Savannah area, drop me a line at @kosterandkoster on Instagram. Until next time, let’s eat!
