Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This Thai restaurant located in North Phoenix prioritizes good and fresh ingredients bought almost daily and is known for having dishes with a kick. Thai E-San serves traditional Thai dishes with an emphasis on cuisine from the northeast part of Thailand that are rich in flavor and culture.
The food is complemented by a welcoming environment. "When customers come through the door, I want this place to feel welcoming to them," owner Pui Pongtratic said.
Thai E-San is the perfect location for spice fanatics, but they offer a customizable spice level that can suit all in your party regardless of their spice tolerance. "Check, Please! Arizona" guest Angela Smith found Thai E-San because she wanted a little spice in her life, which she found in this family-owned gem. Smith's favorite dish is the yellow curry which is filled with fresh vegetables alongside a moist chicken that soaks up the flavors of the sauce. Smith also thoroughly enjoyed the chicken green beans served with a sauce that she praised as a "perfect spice level."
If you aren't in the mood for a typical Thai dish, guest Dana Furman also highly recommended the egg rolls, saying she could have "just eaten all of those all night." Guests also loved the coconut soup, describing it as a phenomenal flavor combination.
You can finish off your meal with the refreshing palette cleanser of the housemade coconut ice cream. Smith's pro tip: There's never anything you can't find on the menu, and if you're unsure of what to order ask the friendly staff.
Featured in this episode:
Thai E-San: thaiesanphx.com
Connect with us:
Learn more about "Check, Please! Arizona" and sign up for Arizona PBS newsletters: azpbs.org/checkplease
You can even sign up to be a guest on the show!
Arizona PBS on Instagram: instagram.com/arizonapbs
Arizona PBS on Facebook: facebook.com/arizonapbs
Support our work: azpbs.org/donatenow
Check, Please! Arizona is made possible through generous support from:
Whitfill Nursery @whitfillnursery
Hospice of the Valley @HospiceofValleyAZ
Ironwood Cancer and Research Centers @IronwoodCancerResearchCenters
Copenhagen copenhagenliving.com
Albertsons / Safeway @albertsonscompanies8103 / @SafewayInc
This Thai restaurant located in North Phoenix prioritizes good and fresh ingredients bought almost daily and is known for having dishes with a kick. Thai E-San serves traditional Thai dishes with an emphasis on cuisine from the northeast part of Thailand that are rich in flavor and culture.
The food is complemented by a welcoming environment. "When customers come through the door, I want this place to feel welcoming to them," owner Pui Pongtratic said.
Thai E-San is the perfect location for spice fanatics, but they offer a customizable spice level that can suit all in your party regardless of their spice tolerance. "Check, Please! Arizona" guest Angela Smith found Thai E-San because she wanted a little spice in her life, which she found in this family-owned gem. Smith's favorite dish is the yellow curry which is filled with fresh vegetables alongside a moist chicken that soaks up the flavors of the sauce. Smith also thoroughly enjoyed the chicken green beans served with a sauce that she praised as a "perfect spice level."
If you aren't in the mood for a typical Thai dish, guest Dana Furman also highly recommended the egg rolls, saying she could have "just eaten all of those all night." Guests also loved the coconut soup, describing it as a phenomenal flavor combination.
You can finish off your meal with the refreshing palette cleanser of the housemade coconut ice cream. Smith's pro tip: There's never anything you can't find on the menu, and if you're unsure of what to order ask the friendly staff.
Featured in this episode:
Thai E-San: thaiesanphx.com
Connect with us:
Learn more about "Check, Please! Arizona" and sign up for Arizona PBS newsletters: azpbs.org/checkplease
You can even sign up to be a guest on the show!
Arizona PBS on Instagram: instagram.com/arizonapbs
Arizona PBS on Facebook: facebook.com/arizonapbs
Support our work: azpbs.org/donatenow
Check, Please! Arizona is made possible through generous support from:
Whitfill Nursery @whitfillnursery
Hospice of the Valley @HospiceofValleyAZ
Ironwood Cancer and Research Centers @IronwoodCancerResearchCenters
Copenhagen copenhagenliving.com
Albertsons / Safeway @albertsonscompanies8103 / @SafewayInc
