Thai food is typically thought of as being spicy or similar to Chinese cuisine; but none of these thoughts quite hit the mark. According to the home page of The Spice, 402 Main St., Thai food combines the five primary flavors of hot, sweet, sour, salty and bitter to create unique dishes. These flavors are then developed through the use of herbs, such as mint, garlic, ginger, curry and basil, to add depth to the dish. And fortunately, AMUSE has discovered Thai cuisine not only here in Ames but in Des Moines as well.

Ames:

The Spice

402 Main St.

The Spice is one of Ames’ ethnic restaurants, which features a variety of dishes with a Thai flair, spanning appetizers through desserts. The Spice also offers an array of curry dishes ranging from mild to sweet or spicy. Prices are also reasonable, ranging from $10 to $19.

Thai Kitchen<<br />

2410 Chamberlain St.

Thai Kitchen is located in the heart of Campustown. The dishes the restaurant serves up include classic Thai delights, such as Pad Thai and Thai Braised Chicken. Thai Kitchen is also well known for their prices: Most entrees range from $6 to $7.

Des Moines:

Thai Flavors

1254 E. 14th St.

Thai Flavors is a Des Moines restaurant that features an extensive variety of dishes, including rice and noodle plates, for customers to choose from. They also feature a scale customers can use to determine how spicy they would like their dishes; their hottest level is called “Iowan Hot.” Prices are reasonable, ranging from $8 to $13.