The owners of Soi, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, were kind enough to invite me and my husband in for a Thai-style brunch. Soi, while only being 16 months old has quickly become a Cap Hill favorite.
When we first arrived, we were warmly greeted by Gabe, 1/2 of the husband and wife team who own Soi. Walking to our table, the first thing I noticed were the rich colors, reclaimed wood, and high vaulted ceilings. Having visited Thailand last year, I could see the casual aesthetic found in many Thai dining establishments infused with a modern vibe, making it a perfect fusion for the trendy neighborhood.
We had a few moments to speak with Gabe about the restaurant and learned that it is family owned and ran by him and his wife, Yuie. Yuie, who devised much of the menu, studied in Northern Thailand to learn the art of cooking Isan food. From looking at the menu, you can tell a lot of thought and care was put into the creation of each dish. I was so impressed by the presentation at Soi, especially after learning that it is independently owned and not a part of one of Seattle’s growing list of restaurant groups. After our quick chat, Gabe gave us some time to browse the menu.
Soi’s menu features many unique and tantalizing dishes from the North-Eastern region of Thailand called Isan. As described on their menu, ‘the food from Isan can be funky, pungent, and more fragrant than you may be used to, but it’s because we do it ‘bo lan’- the original way.’ While you may not find typical Thai dishes like Phad Thai or Green Curry, there are a vast array of flavorful options that will surely satisfy any appetite. And if you aren’t familiar with the offerings, the helpful waitstaff can walk you through the plentiful options.
Since we came for brunch, I was delighted to see a fun mix of traditional Isan dishes as well as a few Western favorites like waffles and French toast. But even the familiar brunch dishes had a Thai twist, which made them sound all the more interesting.
For this particular dining experience, Gabe hand-selected a few dishes for me and Adam to share. Feening for our daily caffeine fix and wanting to try one of the housemade Thai drinks, we started our meal off with a Cafe Vitta French Press – Small $4.50 and a Nam Manao – condensed milk, lime, soda, $3.50.
The Nam Manao had such a unique flavor, it’s definitely not a combination I’ve ever tried before. It was slightly creamy, fizzy and lime-y. Sorry, I know that’s probably not the best description, but it’s hard to accurately describe the mix of flavors. What I can tell you is it was definitely delicious. I could totally see myself gulping a few of these down on a beautiful, hot Seattle summer afternoon. Gabe mentioned wanting to make a cocktail version of this, and I think that would be a fantastic addition to their drink list. The first dish to arrive was a Thai-style Chicken Congee – Chicken breasts stir-fried in garlic sauce served with fresh ginger, spicy boiled egg, soy sauce and street vendor doughnut, $9.
With our palettes warmed up and our stomachs excited for more, we were ready to try the next dish. The server laid down a beautiful array of meat and vegetables in a cast iron skillet. This is a popular street-breakfast served in Northern Thailand called Kai Grata, which translates to Pan Eggs. Kai Grata – Chinese sausage, two eggs, pork belly, green onions, mushrooms, tomato, and spinach in a skillet, rustic peasant toast, $14.
This dish had the perfect combination of savory, salty and sweet. The pork belly being more on the savory and salty side, with the perfect amount of crisp. And the Chinese sausage adding some sweetness. The wilted spinach and slightly sauteed veggies gave the skillet a nice light feel. Finally, the peasant toast dipped in the gooey egg yolk is pretty much all I dream about in a brunch dish. To end our tasting at Soi, Yuie presented us with a dessert roti. Mo Chit – Banana, egg, and hazelnut chocolate $8.25.
This was my first time trying a sweet roti, and all I could think was, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!?!?! The Indian flatbread was crispy on the outside and slightly chewy in texture. The banana and egg filling was perfection and the hazelnut chocolate drizzled on top was to die for. It was warm, a little melty and so yummy. Overall, Adam and I enjoyed everything we tried at Soi. I’m glad that Gabe was there to walk us through our exploration of Northern Thai fare. I look forward to returning for an evening of dinner and drinks with friends. It’s just the type of place I could imagine spending a few hours, splitting exotic dishes and having great conversation over a cocktail or two.
