Love Pen Thai! It's my favorite Thai place outside of the U-district.

Pen Thai is very sub-par - at best. If you like American version of Thai food, then you will like it. If you are looking for an equivalent to food in Thailand, avoid it. You will want to visit Siam on Broadway, Racha Thai in Queen Anne, or Typhoon in Redmond. There are MANY restaurants offering better (pure authentic) Thai food other than Pen Thai and Chantanee.

My wife and I are Thai and we try to adhere to the old rule not to say anything bad about another. Well, what can we say good about Chantanee? Actually we know the owner is very smart because they make Thai food exactly the way Americans like it. But in fact for Thai people this food is not even Thai.

We agree with you that Pen Thai in Bothell is a great Thai restaurant, well worth the trip and family friendly. Let the wait staff help you with excellent Thai food choices, spice levels and the delicious high quality cocktails. Our family is Thai/American all speaking both languages. We are blessed to spend half our time at our Bellevue home and half our time at our Thai home and are always amused by clientele who debate what is "real" Thai food. Two suggestions for you specialists... 1. consider the restaurant business of giving clients what they want and will eat and 2. All you need to do is tell the wait staff that you prefer a Thai style preparation and the cooks will be quite happy to provide it... do be prepared for less protein, more vegetables and a spice level that most dinners in Bellevue and Bothell won't like. We imagine that most Americans would prefer the dishes as offered and if you know what you're doing you can always add spices from the condiment trays on every table. In Thailand we've found about 100 ways to serve Phad Thai and about 1,000 ways to make Som Tom.... suit yourself ! We enjoy Pen Thai and think you will too!