Jasmine Thai Cuisine

Open for lunch (11am - 3pm) and dinner daily

Jasmine Thai Cuisine is a welcome new addition to the Morro Bay dining community. The restaurant moved from a construction zone in Atascadero to its prime location on Morro Bay Boulevard. The dining area is quite small and offers a cozy atmosphere with a window on the world (or Morro Bay Boulevard to be exact). Recent renovations have added a few more dining spots near the bar area, and the overall decor is very tasteful with slate tile floors, wood furniture and rich colors.

Our two most recent visits were during lunch. When we took guests along, we ordered three items from the regular menu and ate family style. Most recently, my husband and I dined as a couple, each selecting from the lunch specials available. The lunch specials are priced at $7.95 (two items are $8.95 and $9.95) and come with soup, rice and stir fry vegetables. You may choose chicken, pork, tofu or beef for the main dish. Shrimp, calamari and fish are available for an additional $2. The soup is quite simple but meets all the needs of comfort, warmth and good health with large chunks of vegetables and a flavorful broth. The stir fry vegetables that accompany the main entree are lightly steamed, making them colorful and fresh, and very tasty with a light hoisin-type sauce. The two entrees we selected were phad thai with beef, and param with chicken. The param is a favorite of mine with a deliciously thick peanut curry sauce and plenty of spinach and chicken. The phad thai was enjoyable but seemed to be missing something. Perhaps it just wasn't spicy enough. The texture of the noodles and level of sweetness was very good.

The service at Jasmine Thai Cuisine is kind and attentive and ready with recommendations for entrees and beverages. Our children have not had the privilege of dining at Jasmine Thai, but a children's menu is available with chicken strips, chow mein, or chicken fried rice for $5.95 each. The regular menu items include plenty of appetizers, soups and salads, as well as curries, seafood specialties, noodles and fried rice dishes. Prices range from $3.50 for a cup of soup, to $14.95 for the seafood specialties. The majority of the main dishes are priced at $9.95.

Somehow we haven't been able to discipline ourselves enough to stop eating the main course and save room for dessert. The desserts offered sound wonderful: fried banana with ice cream, sweet sticky rice with mango, and both green tea and mango ice creams. Maybe we'll have to make a special trip. In addition to the standard Thai beverages, Jasmine Thai offers a wine list as well as a number of domestic and imported beers and hot sake.

Jasmine Thai Cuisine is located on the north side of Morro Bay Boulevard and west of Monterey Street.