BKK Thai Cuisine and Sushi Bar

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SPICY LIME GROUPER

One of the most convincing reviews I ever read once was, “Just go!” I’m going to quote that author here regard the BKK Thai Restaurant (5267 Park St. N., Pinellas, Florida 33709; 727-545-1781): “Just go!”

BKK is the designation for the Bangkok airport. The last time I had Thai style fish this good was in Bangkok. This restaurant is what my son would describe as a “good restaurant to take a date to”–quiet, dimly lit, nice furnishing, cloth napkins (don’t laugh…not all restaurants have them). The main attraction, for me, of the BKK is its fish menu. Their grouper in a spicy lime sauce with celery, fresh garlic, galangal root (a Thai spice similar to ginger), kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, chilies and lime juice is my absolute favorite. It’s beautiful on the plate. It tastes even better.

Most Thai restaurants have two, maybe three fish dishes. BKK has seven. Next time I go, I want to try their fish in tamarind and pineapple sauce. Doesn’t that sound good? Their menu has a number of dishes that I’ve not seen on other Thai menus about town, such as a red curry fish cake and string bean appetizer in plum sauce on cucumber salad (tod mon pla) or a deep-fried roast duck salad (yum ped yang).

There are even inventive fried rice dishes such as black-olive fried rice with minced pork, Thai sausage, cashew nut and string beans, or their BKK Supreme fried rice with crab, shrimp, chicken, Thai sausage, cashews, pineapple and raisins. The four different duck entrees (tamarind, panang, red curry, basil sauce) are all moderately priced and look interesting. Of course, the BKK has all the usual dishes including Drunken Chicken, another one that’s usually not on menus.

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BKK INTERIOR

Often, desserts are the shortest suits for Asian restaurants. Not so, BKK; they have nine. I adore their green tea ice cream. If I can ever tear myself away from that, I hope to try their pumpkin custard, or fried cheese cake…or maybe the mango and sticky rice.

I guess you can tell I like this place. It’s a bit out of the way–it’s in a strip mall just south of the intersection of 54th Ave. N. and Park St. N. It’s a bit of a trek from downtown, but if you’re at the beach, it’s much closer than you think–just come across 150th Ave (Bay Pines Blvd.) to Park St. and turn north, or come across Park Blvd. from Redington Shores through Seminole to Park St. and turn south. If you’re downtown or in south St. Pete, you’ll have your favorite ways to get to Park Street, then just head north.

They’re open for lunch Monday-Sunday, 11:3am-3:00pm and dinner Monday-Thursday, 4:30pm-9:30pm, Friday-Saturday, 4:30pm-10:00pm, and Sunday, 4:30-9:00pm. That it’s open for late suppers is another plus. I’ve never tried their sushi but it’s an extensive list and even includes several eel selections (I love eel); I would assume their sushi is of the same quality as their Thai dishes.

They take credit cards, and their entrees are mostly between $15 and $20; however, there are a number of simpler entrees in the $10-$12 range and I’ve seen families with kids there more than once, so it is possible to dine there quite affordably. The portions are large. I always take home half for lunch the next day!

I recommend this restaurant very highly.

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BKK EXTERIOR

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Tagged as: Asian food, FOOD, restaurants, seafood, St. Petersburg, Thai food