I’ve driven by Pad Thai restaurant probably a hundred times. I’ve always known that it exists but never actually took the time to try it out. Recently, however, I came to the conclusion that I am in a restaurant rut. I am bored of cycling between the same three fast casual restaurants and am sick of ordering the same food each time. I decided to broaden my horizons by trying out Pad Thai restaurant and was ultimately shocked by what I found.

Located at 143rd street and Metcalf in south Overland Park, Pad Thai can be found on a corner of a strip mall. Unassuming appearance aside, I ventured into the restaurant with high hopes. My experiences with Thai restaurants is probably similar to most peoples’- I’ve been to a restaurant or two but haven’t exactly toured every option in town.

As I walked inside wearing jeans and a T-shirt I immediately realized I was underdressed. Other customers sat chatting while wearing cocktail dresses and even suits. At this point though, there was no turning back. I was met by a smiling server and was shown to a table with white tablecloth and a candle for ambiance, further proving that this restaurant was nicer than expected.

The menu offered an extensive variety of southeast Asian dishes. Pad Thai clearly prided itself in its unique and homemade list of curry dishes. From noodle dishes to plates of fried rice, there were endless options. To start out, I settled on an appetizer of vegetable pot stickers. Although I’m not quite sure exactly what kind of vegetables were in them, these pot stickers were just crispy enough on the outside and perfectly spicy enough on the inside. The appetizer options on the dinner menu ranged from about $7-$12 each.

For my choice of entree, I was tempted by the seemingly hundreds of other options, but I knew I had to go with the namesake Pad Thai dish. By this point my expectations about my entire experience at the restaurant had risen and the Pad Thai dish did not disappoint. Served with steaming vegetables like carrots, scallions and broccoli with a heaping portion of egg noodles with traditional spicy Pad Thai peanut sauce, this Pad Thai was one of the best I have ever had. At its $12 price point, the dish was well worth the money.

With its extensive menu and impressive entrees, Pad Thai proved to me that judging a restaurant by its cover can mean that you will miss out on some really great Thai food. Although, next time I go I plan to dress up a bit more.