Elephant Jumps, a Thai restaurant in the Yorktown shopping center across from Luther Jackson Middle School, has been in business for a year. It had gone unnoticed by us until now. The restaurant features a variety of traditional but innovative Thai dishes.
We ordered both the Thai spring rolls and the Thai spicy mushroom soup as appetizers. The spring rolls contained very little cabbage, were overwhelmed by starchy, bland rice noodles and tasted more like a mouthful of grease than anything else. The blandness of the rolls was alleviated by the honey-like sweet chili sauce they came with, which added a depth to the taste. The four rolls cost $3.95. Not a terrible value. The soup had the perfect amount of spice; it was hot enough to produce a desired zip but not so hot as to produce tears. The mushrooms were a bit rubbery and raw however, and could have been cooked more thoroughly.
Elephant Jumps’ East meets West Menu combines Thai classics with western fare, such as burgers, spaghetti, and burritos. The spaghetti green curry chicken combines Thai green curry (a coconut-milk based stew with green chili paste, chicken, eggplant, mushrooms and mint) with traditional Italian spaghetti. Elephant Jumps did not succeed in fusing the two flavors.
While the noodles added a unique texture, they did little to enhance the flavor. The dish lacked an “Italian” component and felt as if the taste would not have changed if the noodles were substituted with jasmine rice.
The green curry was still delectable with its creamy-spice flavor. Elephant Jumps does an excellent job of giving this dish the right amount spice. Overall, an excellent rendition of a Thai classic, but not a profound fusion of contrasting cuisines. A terrific deal for only $9.95.
Elephant Jumps dedicates a whole section to vegetarian meals, such as the mixed vegetables in peanut sauce. The tofu in the dish was perfect with a crisp outer layer and a chewy interior. The dish proved satisfying due to the Tofu and the freshness of the vegetables. For the portion size, the $9.95 is worth it.
The famous Thai iced tea features strongly brewed black tea, commonly known as “red tea” in East Asia, with orange blossom water and a special spice called star anise. The drink’s orange creamy taste, balanced with Asian spices is sure to make you ask for more.