Annie introduced me to Thai Valley Grill (149-4211 106 Street NW) on Friday night, a tiny eatery tucked right next to the Whitemud Crossing Library. Located near her school, she had been to the restaurant once, and was eager to see what else they had to offer.
I didn’t expect the establishment to be busy, but it was packed during our entire visit. To be fair, Thai Valley seats around forty patrons, but the majority of diners who entered had the air of regulars, a sign of a healthy business. The decor reminded me of a charming French bistro – nice tapestry curtains, forest green carpet and ceiling, and worn, slightly mismatched wooden furniture. All in all, a comfortable setting for the evening. My only qualm with our table was its proximity to the door – on that cold winter night, we were reminded of just how chilly it was outside every time new customers arrived. I felt even worse for the couple seated right next to the door, as they kept their coats on for their entire meal.
The menu had a sense of humour to it, rarely encountered in the Edmonton restaurant scene: “Our dishes can be tempered to your taste, mild, medium or hot, even Thai Style if you dare!!! Fire extinguishers are available and include milk, bananas and slices of cucumbers. Speedy delivery costs extra. If all else fails, we have an assortment of ice cream.” Both Annie and I decided on the Pad Thai ($12.95), Thai style stir fried rice stick noodles with shrimp, chicken, bean curd, green onion, bean sprouts, roasted peanuts and egg.
Annie told me that the kitchen had been slow during her last visit, so we were both surprised when our dishes were delivered fairly promptly. The lettuce and carved carrot garnish were nice touches, and made up for the use of plain white china (compared with some other Thai eateries in the city). Our plates came with a small vessel of dried pepper flakes for us to add to taste, but I was fine with the semi-sweet sauce that thoroughly coated the noodles. I appreciated the liberal quantity of green onions included, which provided a crunchy boost, but I wished for more tofu and larger shrimp. While the dish wasn’t as flavourful as Syphay or Bua Thai‘s version, it was pretty good as a whole.
Pad Thai
Annie opted for a sweet ending for the meal, and ordered the mango with sticky rice ($5.95). Garnished with whipped cream, mango syrup and a cherry, the dish was nicely presented on a square plate. For someone who doesn’t really enjoy mango, I have to say, the combination of the warm, chewy rice with the ripe fruit was actually quite tasty.
Mango with Sticky Rice
Thai Valley Grill provides a nice refuge from “mall food” for those at the nearby Southgate Shopping Centre, or a low-key, comfortable venue for a small party. But to be on the safe side, make sure to call ahead for reservations first.
Thai Valley Grill
149-4211 106 Street NW
(780) 413-9556
Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:30am-2pm; Dinner: Sunday-Thursday 4-9pm, Friday-Saturday 4-10pm
Appetizers $4.95-13.95, Entrees $11.95-17.95, Dessert $3.95-5.95
Only Here for the Food 
I’m not sure I agree with your tepid review.
My husband and I travelled to Thailand two years ago. When we returned home we searched high and low for an authentic Thai resto in Edmonton and were ecstatic when we finally discovered the Thai Valley Grill.
Are Syphay and Bua Thai truly closer to the real thing?
As someone who has never been to Thailand, I can’t say that I can declare authenticity so much as say whether a restaurant pleases my palate or not. In Thai Valley Grill’s case, my one experience was positive, but not off the charts.