Thai Hut

Still draped with a Grand Opening flag, Thai Hut opened on April 13, the Thai New Year. The tiny, take-out-only establishment seems to already have quickly caught on, as evidenced by constant telephone orders and pick-ups of huge portions of authentic Thai cuisine. Kai, the owner, comes from Bangkok. Her family owns two other restaurants in the area, Siam Square in Chinatown and Kratong on Broadway in Somerville. Among nine noodle and rice dishes available for lunch or dinner is a superb version of pad thai ($6.25), thin rice noodles with plenty of ground peanut, shrimp, chicken, egg, and bean sprouts. Plenty of vegetarian, meat, seafood, salad, and curry dishes are also offered ($7.50), including a fragrant yet somewhat spicy massaman chicken curry in coconut milk with carrots, sweet potato, onions, green peppers, and peanuts. The tangy chicken coconut soup ($2.50) is chock full of chicken. All lunch specials ($5.75 and under) are available from 11:30 am to 3 p.m. and include rice.

Thai Hut, located at 93 Beacon Street in Somerville, is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Call 492-8377 or 492-8534.

-- Nancy Kalajian