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| - I look forward to the last Sunday of every month because Chaiya has a special place in my heart. And by heart, I mean stomach.
This is basically a small little food fair held in the parking lot of the monastery where all the funds raised goes towards the monastery itself. FYI, the lovely vendors here donate their time, money, and resources! They keep absolutely none of the profit.
The food selection is not that vast, but what they do have is always ace. In addition to food, they have home-grown herbs and vegetables, desserts, and Thai snacks.
Here's a rundown of the items I typically get:
- Moo Ping/Pork Skewers: 4 for $5, grilled, juicy, and sweet, get it with the sticky rice ($1)!
- Pad Thai: $5, probably the most popular item, generous portion, cooked to order so may take some time, there is a sign-up sheet
- Clear Pork Noodle Soup: $5, light, choice of thin or thick noodles, condiments on the side
- Thai Tea or Thai Coffee: $1, too sweet for me
- Ba Tan Ko/Chinese Donuts: 50 cents a piece, dip in condensed milk, childhood favorite :)
- Roti: $1, filled with condensed milk and cooked with sugar until crispy
- Saku Sai Moo: 3 for $1, tapioca dumplings filled with pork, soft and tender, ask for veggies and fresh chili!
- The rice noodle dumpling next to the tapioca dumplings: 3 for $1, super soft, kind of oily
Other notable items are sticky rice with pork, sticky rice with mango, coconut milk dessert, and naam (fermented pork sausage).
My main gripe is that seating can be difficult to find because word has gotten out about this little gem. This year is the busiest I have ever seen! Great for business, but not so much for those looking to eat on the premises. However, you can always share a table with some friendly folks.
Everything is affordable and delicious and the proceeds go towards a great cause. Chaiya is one of the few places in Vegas that feels like there's an actual community rather than a gathering of strangers.
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