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Dynamic Sweet Basil Doubled Up
Written by Anneka Miller
Photography by Leah Kennedy
Voted Best Thai Food in 2009 by an Oregon Daily Emerald poll, Sweet Basil Express is a much-loved part of the colorful campus food experience.
“It’s definitely my favorite Pad Thai place,” says Will Charles, a University of Oregon junior.
Pad Thai isn’t the only thing Sweet Basil Express is serving up. Emily Anderson, a Lane Community College freshman, loves the Tom Kah Gai, a traditional hot and sour soup made with chili, coconut milk, chicken, and cilantro.
“It’s a good hot and sour taste,” she says. “It’s super spicy!”
Lovers of Sweet Basil Express might appreciate that there is a second Sweet Basil location downtown, at 941 Pearl Street. The Express location offers Thai favorites, like Pad Thai, yellow curry, fried wontons, and sweet and sour rice, and fast service for students on the go.
Winner of the Overall Best Bite Award at the 2010 Chefs’ Night Out event, the Pearl Street Sweet Basil offers an expanded menu for lunch and dinner including cocktails. Some especially creative dinner creations include spicy king salmon curry, crispy honey duck, and pineapple fried rice, all under $20. The monthly specials, like spicy coconut noodles and hoy tod, for both the lunch and dinner menus will keep frequent diners puzzling over their options. At the Pearl Street location, the cuisine is served sit-down dinner style in a gold and red swathed space with modern touches that reflect the fusion of traditional and regional on the menu.
Sit-down or order-and-run, Sweet Basil covers it all serving UO students and the Eugene community with appetizing Thai cuisine.
