Inexpensive. Small. Friendly.
The pot stickers, papaya salad, noodles with shrimp, fried rice with pork, yellow curry with chicken were all wonderful. Not as ambitious, nor as expensive, as Lotus, but very worthwhile.
No alcohol so you might want to bring some wine, but make it a big, rich one to counter the spice.
I was with a friend who lived in Thailand for awhile and he said it reminded him of a lot of the great little joints in Bangkok.