Gaubaukam and Thai Erwan Offer the Best Thai Food on the Virginia Peninsula

The two best Thai restaurants on the Virginia Peninsula are Gaubaukham Thai Restaurant located at 2270 Executive Drive in Hampton and Thai Erawan, located at 2900 Hampton Highway in Yorktown.

Gaubaukham and Thai Erawan are both small, intimate restaurants that are nearly always full of customers. The reason for that is simple. The food is out of this world.

My daughter introduced our family to Thai food. The truth is, without her, I might have missed it altogether. I tend not to be very adventurous when it comes to restaurant food.

However, I am now totally hooked on everything Thai. I love learning about the culture, getting a chance to meet the Thai people and enjoying every Thai dish I try.

If I had to choose which was the best Thai restaurant between the two, I'd have to go with Thai Erawan but not by much. Both it and Gaubaukham are outstanding eateries. Better still, each has something unique to offer. That includes the fact that one focuses more on southern Thai food and the other on northern.

To look at it, Thai Erawan's location might not seem to be a good choice. It is tucked into the corner of a small strip shopping center. However, those who know the area are aware of the fact that looks can be deceiving. Thai Erawan is located just outside of Bethel Manor; the housing provided for the military members who serve at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton.

Nearby are several apartment complexes and upper middle class housing districts. With a bit of clever marketing and a lot of good food, Thai Erawan has managed to build a strong and loyal clientele from these various groups. Lunchtime is filled with military and their families while dinner on most nights is standing room only.

Modestly decorated with bits and pieces of Thai culture, the real focus is on the quality of the food, the welcoming atmosphere and the large decorative bar that serves just about anything you can imagine. There is something for just about everyone between the ages of six to sixty six.

My all time favorite is their Black Pepper Garlic Chicken, which is served over cabbage and rice. My daughter and grandson love the Erwan Fried Rice with chicken or shrimp while my husband and son-in-law are willing to try just about anything.

All of the dishes can be ordered without any Thai spice at all or you can ramp up the heat as hot as you can stand. The choice is yours and Thai Erawan respects each customer's individual taste.

When it comes to spring rolls, Thai Erawan's are the best of the best. I could make a meal out of those alone. The rice is always sheer perfection and the crab angels are nothing short of heavenly.

Prices are reasonable with the average meal coming in at around $10. The service can be a bit slow at times but that's because the place is generally packed to the rafters.

The restaurant has a room that can be reserved for private parties and dinners. They allow leeway to decorate within reasonable perimeters.

Every once in while Thai Erawan holds a special buffet meal on Sunday, a day when they are usually closed. The donation proceeds go to help their favorite charities; some local and some abroad.

My rating for Thai Erawan, among the best Thai restaurants, is a five out of five. It is difficult, after all, to improve upon perfection.

The other best Thai restaurant on the Virginia Peninsula is Gahbuakham (also spelled Gah Bua Kham). It has a lot in common with its competitor.

Gahbuakham is also tucked into a small strip center. While there are housing and apartment complexes nearby, Gahbuakham draws most of its customers from other locations.

Those include workers employed at nearby Hampton businesses as well as Langley Air Force Base, NASA and Hampton Sentara Hospital. It also gets its fair share of family business as well.

Gahbuakham is even smaller than Thai Erwan. It consists of less than a dozen tables in total.

Colorfully decorated with interesting pieces of Thai culture, the restaurant is warm and inviting. Always packed at lunch, it can also be hard to get into at dinner. Once again, it is often standing room only.

Bright, cheerful faces welcome guests into the restaurant and provide strong customer service whenever time allows. No matter what, service is always provided with a smile.

There is very little resemblance between Gahbuakham's and Thai Erawan's menus, which is a good thing. It doesn't force Thai food lovers to choose between the best of the best. Instead, they choose to go to one place for one type of dish and to the other for another.

Because of their limited space, Gahbuakham also does a booming carry out business. The one thing of which the restaurant can be certain is their customers intend to get their favorite food one way or the other. There is little desertion when it comes to their favorite Thai food locations.

My favorite dish at Gaubaukham is their Cashew Chicken. I love it so much that I rarely order anything different, although I'm dying to try the duck. My husband, daughter and son-in-law, on the other hand, are slowly but surely working their way through the menu.

Prices at Gahbuakham are slightly higher than Thai Erawan overall, averaging out around $11. However, the dollar or so difference doesn't prevent Thai food lovers from indulging any time they want. The cost is still reasonable when it comes to such gourmet delight.

My rating for Gahbuakham is 4.9 stars. I can't give it any less. It is just that good!

When it comes to Thai food Gaubaukham and Thai Erawan are in a league of their own. If you are ever in the Virginia Peninsula area, be sure to look one or both of them up. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.