Sitting quietly on South Main St, Boon Choo, a Thai restaurant holds a small but mighty menu, a nostalgic vibe, and a friendly staff. The founder, Renu, loves to cook for her son, which inspired her to start a small business on Facebook during the pandemic. This small operation became a food truck beloved for its presence at Sharon Day and eventually grew into the Sharon restaurant seen today as well as another location in Norwood. Renu ensures that “every dish is the best of us”, and claims that the small menu ensures that every meal is the highest possible quality. As of right now, they are hiring. Charlotte Trivedi, our food critic, visited this restaurant and shared her thoughts:
You’ve never felt true happiness if you haven’t eaten at Boon Choo.
When I entered the restaurant, the aroma of delicious food filled me with joy. The atmosphere was cozy and peaceful, and a waiter was ready right away to take our to-go order. Of course, my family decided to order many different dishes, but no matter how much you order, the meal will be fantastic.
Once I received my food, I rushed out of the building, eager to eat. As fast as I could, I sat down at my dining room table and tore open the bag.
Since this was my first time at Boon Choo, I decided to start with the appetizers. First up were the spring rolls and crab rangoon, which are staples of any Asian restaurant. Once you bite down into Boon Choo’s crispy, flaking spring rolls, you’ll understand what I’m raving about. They were fresh and crunchy, with a sweet and tangy sauce that you can’t help but lick off your fingers. As for the crab rangoon—one bite into these wonton wrappers filled with fluffy cream cheese and all you’ll want to do is keep eating.
As much as I would love to talk about more appetizers—like their soft, deep-fried gyoza, stuffed with salty seasoned chicken and served with tangy ginger sauce, or their fresh and airy vegetable rolls, a healthy alternative—I also can’t wait to move on to the main dishes.
Next, it was time for some noodles! Boon Choo has a large selection, but when I first looked at their menu, I was drawn to the Drunken Noodles, or Pad Kee Mao. As I stuck my fork in, I inhaled the scent of garlic, pepper, and meat—and this dish tasted as good as it smelled. The chewy, thick noodles will send your taste buds soaring with joy, the tender meat soaking up the flavors from the stir-fry, with some veggies adding a pop of color and a fresh crunch.
The next noodle dish I tried was Pad Woon Sen. These glistening, saucy noodles were not only full of savory notes like egg and chicken, but also had a surprising sweet kick. The dish’s glass noodles are perfectly thin and are lighter than the other dishes—especially the restaurant’s rich Pad Thai.
Pad Thai has been my favorite Thai dish for as long as I can remember. At Boon Choo, just one bite provides an array of textures and flavors. Crunchy peanuts, fresh light bean sprouts, and the oily, salty sauce that runs down your throat will leave you begging for more.
The last dish I sampled was Boon Choo’s green curry, which can be made with chicken or tofu. I wished I could finish the entire portion: the curry was creamy and fragrant, bursting with flavor.
A meal can’t last forever, though, and by the end I was pretty thirsty. There’s no better way to hydrate than with a glass of their creamy Thai tea, a bright orange blend of aromatic spices. Although the drink was sweet enough to be a dessert, I also enjoyed the mango sticky rice, a mix of soft, juicy mango and dark, gooey rice. This rich and delicious dessert was a perfect way to end the night.
Eating at Boon Choo left me dreaming of my next visit, so it’s safe to say I’d give it 5 stars. If you want to check it out, head to 366 South Main Street in Sharon. I recommend the gyoza, spring rolls, Pad Thai, and Thai iced tea.
Whether you are vegetarian, vegan, allergic to nuts, or just plain picky, Boon Choo has something for everyone. Are you wallowing in self-pity because you can’t find the perfect food? Then you’ll listen to this review and get yourself some Thai!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐