By
Andrew Doughman
December 3, 2009
Those seeking Thai food in Seattle face a dilemma when it comes to the popular U-District restaurant Thai Tom. Some have raved about the food, but two health-inspection reports from this year revealed cockroaches present, food containers stored on restroom floors, and employees who didn’t wash their hands before handling food.
Photo by Luke Springer.
Kevin Sotka enjoys a dish at Thai Tom. He drove from Queen Anne on his day off just to eat there.
Now the restaurant is due for another inspection either this week or next, said Thu Bui, the environmental-health specialist who has already inspected the restaurant twice this year.
If health inspectors find serious, repeat offenses during this upcoming inspection, they could close Thai Tom and levy a fine against the restaurant.
But Jackris George, Thai Tom chef and manager, said this should not be a problem; he said he had explained health regulations to his employees.
“Right now everyone’s doing what I say,” he said. “It’s way better.”
The restaurant already closed following a July inspection on a tip alleging that cockroaches had crawled past a dining customer. The owner then scheduled a conference with employees of the public-health department the next day, Bui said.
When employees of the public-health department had heard from the owner regarding how he would correct the problems and prevent them from happening again, the restaurant was allowed to re-open.
But following the one-day closure, inspectors nearly closed the restaurant again after an October inspection.
Some of the restaurant’s more egregious violations involve hot and cold holding temperatures, or the temperatures at which food must be kept in order to avoid bacterial contamination. For instance, chicken and rice noodles had been at room temperature when they should have been stored at temperatures below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
George, however, claimed they have a difficult time storing food because of the size of their restaurant.
Due to the cramped quarters, Bui said one solution could be to limit their menu options, reducing the quantity of ingredients stored in the restaurant.
All of these health violations do not add up with the generally positive press Thai Tom has received. Online city guides offer four-star reviews, and reporters from the local press, The Daily included, have raved about the food and front-row seats to the cooks’ tofu-frying performances in the restaurant’s open kitchen. Numerous award stickers emblazon the restaurant’s storefront.
Nonetheless, some online reviewers have begun to notice the July and October health reports and have avowed to stay away from the business for health reasons. Others, however, have continued to praise the restaurant for its food and atmosphere.
Reach reporter Andrew Doughman at news@dailyuw.com.
35 Comments
#1 Kuzma
on December 3, 2009 at 8:58 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name | UW Community)
My girlfriend and I once went to this restaurant. Absolutely disgusting! It was very cramped, TV was very loud, and the flame from the stove was literally in your face. This made for a very uncomfortable eating experience. In addition, I saw no fewer than 4 cockroaches there. Plus the skinny waiter guy was very rude. We left without ordering and went to the Thaiger Room.
This has got to be the most overrated restaurant in Seattle, well not including Dick's. Stay away from Thai Tom.
#2 Nikolaj L.
on December 3, 2009 at 10:28 a.m.(UW Campus | UW Community)
This is the only authentic Thai restaurant in the States that I have visited. It is for exactly the same reasons that Kuzma lists above that make Thai Tom a worthwhile eating experience. Standard fare in Thailand is street vendor food, made to order usually in a very intimate setting. All this hubbub about health care violations is analogous to our over-obsession with cleanliness and our inability to step outside our comfort bubble. I would go to Thai Tom any day over the large, mostly empty of patrons, overdecorated and tacky Thai restaurants that are commonplace in U.S. strip malls and the Ave.
#3 commando2
on December 3, 2009 at 10:44 a.m.(Redmond, WA | Unverified Name)
Cockroaches in restaurants in the U district? What a surprise. I'm a student from 1982 and there were cockroaches all over the place then. You're not going to be able to get rid of them, ever. And why the squeamishness? Restaurants in the U district have always been like ones from 3rd world countries. Students, as I recall, were way dirtier than cockroaches.
#4 hapabear
on December 3, 2009 at 12:08 p.m.(None, None | Unverified Name | UW Community)
As an avid Thai food connoisseur I can confidently defend Thai Tom. This is hands down the most authentic Thai restaurant in all of Seattle, it is the closest thing you will get to the real thing. As for the loud atmosphere, and rude waiter, well that's culture for you and if you can't deal with it, don't go back. There are plenty of other worldly people in this city that can recognize great food when they taste it. As for cockroaches, aren't they one of the oldest creatures on the earth? The ice age couldn't get rid of them so how do you expect Thai Tom to? Obviously Thai Tom has something the cockroaches like and that's why they keep coming back for more. If you ask me these cockroaches must have really good taste and if I was a cockroach Thai Tom would be my home too. Part of eating great Asian food is learning to accept all that comes with it, Chinatown restaurants in Seattle are bustling with mice and cockroaches, but you don't see anyone trying to shut them down because everyone there knows that's just the way it is. In order to get something great, you have to be willing to take some bad in with the good. Thai Tom definitely has room for improvement in terms of cleanliness and food safety. Regardless, myself and many other foodies in Seattle would hate to see such a wonderful restaurant go. BIBA THAI TOM!!!
#5 Kuzma
on December 3, 2009 at 12:08 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name | UW Community)
Overobsession with cleanliness? The food they're serving is unsafe to eat and can potentially make people very sick. Who wants roaches crawling near them while they eat? Authentic does not equal disgusting.
#6 Kuzma
on December 3, 2009 at 12:29 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Dude, they don't wash their hands. They store the food they feed to you on restroom floors. I'm sure the roaches get in the food as well. Have you guys lost your minds? There's plenty of other great restaurants on the ave.
#7 Rohan S.
on December 3, 2009 at 12:40 p.m.(Seattle, WA)
"For instance, chicken and rice noodles had been at room temperature when they should have been stored at temperatures below 41 degrees Fahrenheit."
Here's an experiment everyone defending these things above should do: buy some chicken and store it at room temperature, on your counter or something. Come back the next day. Looks pretty "authentic", doesn't it?
#8 Faith Y.
on December 3, 2009 at 12:43 p.m.(Seattle, WA | UW Community)
Eek! I've had some crappy service but the food has been better than average. But I'm not willing to sacrifice my health & well-being for a half hour of dancing tastebuds. Cockroaches are NEVER okay and they need to buck up!
#9 Rob G
on December 3, 2009 at 1:28 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Thai Toms is the best Thai food in seattle. Authentic street cooking, if you seattle germ freaks can't take it, please edon't eat there. Less time spent in line for the rest of us that want it.
#10 food
on December 3, 2009 at 1:55 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Yeah!! Thai Tom should be closed due to the hygiene issue.
#11 husein
on December 3, 2009 at 2:07 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
CLOSE Thai Tom!! Unfriendly waiters, unpleasant place to eat! OMG, storing the food in the restroom, that is insane. Where do they place their brain? CLOSE Thai Tom AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
#12 Aaron G
on December 3, 2009 at 3:30 p.m.(Mercer Island, WA | Unverified Name)
Wow, I wouldn't be surprised if the negative comments are from other Thai restaurant owners in the area.
Thai Tom is the best Thai food I have ever had (including Thailand). I've been eating there for about 10 years and have never had a problem.
George is a genius, the food is incredible and just about everyone that is serious about great Thai food knows this place is the real deal.
It's not a mystery why the line is always out the door and the other Thai restaurants on the ave have empty seats.
#13 Jessica Rad
on December 3, 2009 at 3:32 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name | UW Community)
In a perfect world, it would be nice if they moved to a larger location that has more storage space. That would solve at least SOME of the issues associated with the restaurant. Although the restaurant is very unclean, the food is the best thai food in the U.District and maybe the best thai food I have ever had but that doesn't mean the health code violations are by any means ok. Regarding customer service, it is usually crappy especially the skinny, tall dude is extremely rude. I hate it when he is my waiter. He gets tipped ZIP!
#14 Ben Schiendelman
on December 3, 2009 at 3:58 p.m.(Redmond, WA | Unverified Name)
I'm hearing a lot of white people suggesting this is the best Thai food in Seattle.
Apparently that's a good reason to feed people cockroach. You don't have to ask if it's ended up in the food - read the Yelp reviews!
#15 Jason H
on December 3, 2009 at 4:03 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name | UW Community)
Sorry, but Thai Tom is just...overrated. I have tried all of the Thai restaurants on the Ave and Thai Tom really is comparable to the other restaurants in terms of taste and quality of food. I don't see any reason why you would wait 30+ minutes for a seat there when the other Thai restaurants nearby are bigger, cleaner, and basically offer the same menu choices. I'm convinced the only reason it is a lot more popular than the other Thai restaurants is because of the "authenticity" factor of eating at a hole-in-the-wall Asian restaurant.
#16 Lulu
on December 3, 2009 at 4:08 p.m.(Lewiston, ID | Unverified Name | UW Community)
Wow--are you guys who support serious? I can understand that you love their food, but you're accepting the fact that they place food on the floor at inappropriate temperatures and having bugs in your food w/o you knowing? There are other authentic Thai restaurants around, just try harder to find them and discover new places. It doesn't have to be a disgusting place to have good food. Maybe some of you who are unaware of the potential health risks of E. Coli and Staph should just eat from the floor and don't wash your hands after you use the restroom to eat. Or maybe better yet, take a course in microbes and then see why there is a health danger.
Thai Tom deserves to be shut down. Period.
#17 John Smith
on December 3, 2009 at 4:23 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
People should always check Health Dept. inspection results before going to a restaurant:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservi...
Some very popular places have awful inspection results, and expense or exclusivity are no guarantee of a good inspection result.
I won't go to a restaurant unless it has zero or at most 20 points for at least six months or the last two inspections, whichever is the greater length of time.
Food poisoning: the first twelve hours you think you're going to die, then the next twelve hours you wish you would die.
#18 carolyn
on December 3, 2009 at 4:24 p.m.(Isanti, MN | Unverified Name)
I was Thai Tom's most avid customer for years...swore by it, took every friend and visitor there. Until the day I found a large cooked roach right in the middle of my take-out swimming rama.
I called and told them of the problem after I stopped gagging. They told me I could come in and get my money back. (I never went--couldn't face the place, even for $7.) I also reported it online to the Health Department. Now, 7 years later, interesting to see that someone else has noticed the problem.
At least all the cockroaches everyone else has seen there were still alive--not cooked halfway into their delicious dish like mine.
#19 John Smith
on December 3, 2009 at 4:39 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
BTW, the article is misleading regarding the July closure. A restaurant is closed by the Health Dept. inspector if the combined score of red and blue points is 120 or more:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservi...
On 07/23/2009, Thai Tom's score was 132.
If the red points score is 90 or more, then the inspector will close the restaurant. On 10/07/2009, Thai Tom's score was 109; apparently the red points totaled fewer than 90, but eleven more points and the inspector would have closed the restaurant again.
#20 Masie
on December 3, 2009 at 8:25 p.m.(Redmond, WA | Unverified Name)
All of you supporters......Please leave some chicken out at room temp for a few hours and then eat it.
Experrience the glory of food borne illness and then get back to me.
When you own a restaurant it is a requirement that you follow health codes. The public is trusting you with their health.
I do not care how good the food is, if it makes someone sick, or worse kills someone, then the business should be closed.
But hey, if you would like to experience a little lysteria, ecoli, salmonella, hep c or worse......Go eat at Thai Toms.
#21 Blake Madden
on December 4, 2009 at 12:12 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
I can't speak to authenticity, but Thai Tom is by far the best Thai food I have ever eaten, and one of my top meals of ANY kind in the world. Period. I've eaten there dozens of times. It's disgusting. It's cramped. The staff is rude. I've waited for an hour to eat there. I've been splashed with hot oil from the stove. I've waited in line for 45 minutes to get in after they were supposed to open just so they could finish their lunch. In the end, none of it matters. Why? Because the food matters and is THAT good. Eating a roach never killed anyone, let alone seeing one. To all the people who want it closed- why? If it bothers you that much, don't eat there! As someone earlier said, hopefully you clear out the lines for the rest of us that want to eat there. If it's as bad as it's portrayed here, shouldn't I have gotten deathly ill many times over already? Shouldn't there be 1000 people telling Thai Tom food-poisoning stories? I haven't heard 'em nor have I had 'em and I'll keep eating there until I do. Hey people- you could get hit by a bus when you leave your house today- better stay in and not risk it! Or worse yet- we're all gonna get swine flu! Oh my god! The end is nigh! Food at room temperature! The world's oldest insect! Wotta world!
#22 chris j
on December 4, 2009 at 2:11 a.m.(Auburn, WA | Unverified Name | UW Community)
If you find a cockroach in your food, pluck off its wings and legs. They're kinda sweet and crunchy. No joke.
#23 Mike
on December 4, 2009 at 11:33 a.m.(Location Unknown | Unverified Name)
I honestly can't believe this is a surprise to anyone. If you like the food, go eat there. If you don't, quit crying and find another place to get Thai food. I just feel bad for all of the sheltered people who are complaining about an authentic environment to eat in and some germs. Quit being six years old and realize that millions of people around the world are in much more unsanitary environments and they are surviving just fine! When an epidemic comes around and all of you "sanitary saints" get sick and die from immune system deficiency, I'll be at Thai Tom's enjoying some great food with the surviving cockroaches!
#24 Dali Llama
on December 4, 2009 at 11:43 a.m.(Portland, OR | Unverified Name)
Funny how all the supporters are unverified names. We can all safely assume this is the same guy. Believe me, I'm not a squeemish eater, but if you are going to have bugs in my food, at least advertise it. I'd rather temper my stomach and order the bugs myself rather than get a roach suprise in my Pad Thai. Although the storing of food in bathrooms/room temp chicken is kinda revolting.
#25 Preeway
on December 4, 2009 at 11:55 a.m.(Omaha, NE | Unverified Name)
I used to live on the Ave about 10 years ago and ate there 2-3 times a week. Best food on the Ave for sure. I stopped eating there after several cockroaches scurried from under the napkin holder on the counter while I was eating. The cook even had the gall to follow me out of yelling at me for not tipping. There are other thai restaurants nearby that are just as good. At least there used to be. Told everyone I knew about my experience and I never went back.
#26 Roachman
on December 4, 2009 at 4:11 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name | UW Community)
I saw cockroaches there before too!!
#27 Thai
on December 4, 2009 at 4:14 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name | UW Community)
We should also close down Thai 65 too! Fuck them and their required tips.
#28 people
on December 4, 2009 at 5:06 p.m.(Lynnwood, WA | Unverified Name)
THAI TOM is the best. I really like the food there.
#29 Maria Smith
on December 4, 2009 at 5:10 p.m.(Lynnwood, WA | Unverified Name)
Don't CLOSE!!! If you don't like to eat at Thai Tom, you shouldn't come!!! Let the rest of people like us to come there!!
#30 J
on December 4, 2009 at 6:29 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name | UW Community)
Love the food there, and I dont mind the bugs, or the general cleanliness of the place, but the repeated hot and cold holding temp violations are pretty serious.
#31 Kevin
on December 4, 2009 at 9:10 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name | UW Community)
Close them down. It's pretty obvious they don't give a crap about their customers. If "authentic" means "unsafe" then I'll go elsewhere.
#32 Albert
on December 10, 2009 at 11:26 p.m.(Portland, OR | Unverified Name)
Ok, I get that cockroaches in your food is beyond gross, but has anyone who's eaten at Thai Tom's gotten sick? I think they should clean up their act and it's good that it's been brought to light so perhaps they can be delicious AND clean. But please don't shut this much loved restaurant down.
#33 Adam
on December 13, 2009 at 6 a.m.(None, None | Unverified Name | UW Community)
Kuzma@1,5, and 6: Hate to be the bearer of bad news but I've seen a cockroach crawl across an adjoining table at the Thaiger Room while eating there about 1 1/2 years ago. Doubt much has changed in there in that respect. You might want to rethink your championing of that particular restaurant over Thai Tom. They're both about equal in terms of cleanliness, by my estimation.
#34 JN
on January 31, 2010 at 3:30 p.m.(Renton, WA | Unverified Name | UW Community)
Thai Tom may be the one of the worst when it comes to cleanliness, service, and location, but their Phad Thai is amazing. One of the best I've had, and by far the best on the Ave. Thai Tom seriously needs to SWITCH PLACES WITH THAI 65 and clean their act up. Thai 65 is also dirty and unclean, but their food is also very below average so they don't have much going for them. They do not deserve the spacious interior and convenient location at the bottom of the Ave. Thaiger room seems to be somewhere in between Thai Tom and Thai 65 in terms of taste, cleanlisness, and service.
#35 Fox
on February 3, 2010 at 9:17 p.m.(Alden, NY | Unverified Name)
Please don't shut down Thai Tom. The defenders are right. Put signs in the door and windows highlighting the health problems. Whatever it takes. But do not close it down. In most countries Thai Tom would be just fine. Only in this extremist germ-nazi state is shutting this place down for cockroaches even a discussion. Yes, they should clean up their act completely if they want the signs taken down from their door. But come on. Freedom. If we choose to eat there, we should be able to eat there. A whole lot of us don't give a crap about roaches. I've never gotten sick from eating Thai Tom, and I've gotten sick from a lot of other "A" graded food spots.
Post a comment