Before Palm Garden Thai Cuisine opened in Aberdeen in March of this year, the building had nearly 90 years of history as other businesses.
“The Palm Garden opened in 1932 as the Palm Garden House of Chicken,” said Karla Stangl. “It is a historical building with loads of history in it.”
The first owners and the first business were around for 50 years before the building became part of a trust and was rented out as an antique store.
“I turned it back into the Palm Garden Café and Chocolate Shoppe in 2007,” she said.
Unfortunately, Stangl ended up closing about a year ago due to the pandemic.
Aberdeen welcomed its first Thai restaurant when Saw Jack, a refugee from Myanmar, opened Palm Garden Thai Cuisine.
“[Our] goal is to share good Thai food with Aberdeen,” said Jack.
“He worked for a Thai restaurant near Saint Paul, MN, before coming here to try to open his own,” explained Stangl.
One of the 10 appetizer options is an order of the Fresh Spring Rolls, which are made with chicken, shrimp, lettuce, carrots, mint, cilantro, and noodles.
There are, of course, the classic Pork Egg Rolls and Veggie Egg Rolls and an option to order Cream Cheese Wontons.
“Everything is fresh and cooked to order, even soups,” said Jack.
Pad Lawn is one of the most popular entrées and is made with stir-fried mixed vegetables and a choice of chicken, pork, mock duck, beef, shrimp, veggie, or tofu. The vegetables include onions, carrots, cabbage, green beans, broccoli, bell peppers, mushrooms, and celery.
“Part of our agreement to purchase was that they keep the Palm Garden name.” -Karla Stangl
Among Jack’s Chef Selection menu items is Karapao Mussel. A spicy dish, Karapao Mussel is made with jalapeños, fresh mushrooms, onions, and shell-less mussels.
Along with other classics, like Beef and Broccoli, Chicken Curry, and Wonton Soup, Palm Garden Thai Cuisine offers Pad Thai and Sesame Chicken entrées.
More on the Menu
Appetizers
+Edamame
+Fried Tofu
Soup & Salad
+Tom Yum Soup
+Papya Salad
Entrées
+Chicken Lettuce Wrap
+Pad Cashew Nut
Chef Selection
+Seafood Salad
+Rice Noodle Soup
Desserts
+Mango Sweet Sticky Rice
+Red Bean Mochi
Pad Thai is made with stir-fried rice noodles, egg, bean sprouts, and a choice of protein. The dish is served with peanut and lemon.
Jack adds that the recipe for Sesame Chicken is “breaded chicken breast in a tangy sauce, garnished with steamed broccoli and sesame seeds.”
“The food is very authentic,” added Stangl. “Many customers come in and are a little intimidated because they are unfamiliar with Thai Cuisine, but they always leave happy.”
