Circles Thai 1514 Tasker St. South Philly (267) 687–1778
Don't Miss: Pumpkin Chicken Curry + Cheesesteak Spring Rolls Skip: Papaya Salad $10 - $20 per person If you’ve explored the Philly food scene, you know there’s a lot of diversity. One cuisine, however, has fallen through the cracks of the Philadelphian melting pot — Thai cuisine seems to be that neglected child of Philly. With the discovery of Circles, however, I can officially say that this little spot is single–handedly filling this void in the culinary scene.
Circles seamlessly executes classic and authentic Thai cuisine. Tucked away on 15th and Tasker St., it’s truly a hidden treasure. I went early and while I had made a reservation for three, I hadn’t needed to, as it was pretty empty. It had a casual and relaxed ambiance, which seemed to beg you and some friends to sit down and do some serious eating.
It wasn’t long before the food started piling onto our table. Our cheerful waiter first brought out steaming bowls of Tom Yum Soup ($3.95). There was a strong lemongrass flavor and the balance of sourness from the lime juice and the heat of the spice–infused broth made for a deliciously tingling slurp. The inauthentic but worthwhile Cheesesteak Spring Rolls ($4.95) were crispy bites of rich rib–eye steak, sautéed onions and provolone cheese fried to absolute perfection. Once the plate hits the table, be aggressive: you may have to fight for one. Our final starter, the Papaya Salad ($5.95), was refreshingly cool and acted as the perfect accompaniment to the other hot dishes.
The entrees started rolling in and didn’t seem to stop. The Pumpkin Curry with Chicken ($11.95) is a must–have. Its coconut–pumpkin blend screams autumn with every bite and the hearty chunks of pumpkin only further add to this fall masterpiece. The Shrimp Pad Thai ($10.95) was topped with giant jumbo shrimp that were unbelievably juicy and tender — a major steal for the price. If you’re into basil, the Basil Beef Fried Rice ($9.95) and the stir–fried Chicken Pad Kaprow ($9.95) both packed a deliciously intense basil flavor.
Every meal ends better on a sweet note, so we went for the Thai donuts. These little nuggets of fried dough came with a gooey coconut cream sauce. Prepare to get a little messy, as the donuts are coated in sugar and the sauce is too good to not end up all over your body/clothing/table.
Circles Thai fills Philly’s gaping hole for good Thai. With their student–friendly prices and their large, ready–to–share portions, it’s the perfect spot when you need a break from campus, want to celebrate passing that Spanish test you should have studied for or just feel like having a good meal. Did we mention they deliver?
