La Mesa is fortunate to have a large variety of Thai restaurants.

If you are looking for a neighborhood comfort food restaurant with calming decor, and a quiet place where you can talk to your dining companions without raising your voice, Phra Ram 9 Thai Restaurant checks all the boxes.

Phra Ram is a unique name that Wikipedia defines Phra Ram as “the epitome of moral leadership, ethics, selflessness, and living true to dharma”, a nice vision for any establishment.

At Phra Ram, you can sit down or order take-out. There is a small outside patio if you prefer al fresco dining.

It has a very extensive menu with many seafood specialties. Some house specialties include fish and seafood dishes. Bangkok Seafood- shrimp, calamari, green mussels, scallops with cabbage served in a fresh pineapple (except on to-go orders). The Crab Lover is fresh crab in fried rice. Although the name is not too tempting, Evil Fish is another unique dish of steamed fish filet topped with creamy choo chee curry sauce and green beans.

If you prefer shrimp, the Tango Shrimp is battered shrimp covered with the same creamy choo chee curry sauce and green beans. The Phra Ram Delight is shrimp or chicken topped with peanut curry sauce served over noodles. Ho Mok is an exotic curry seafood with shrimp, calamari, green mussels, and scallops served in a young coconut. Pad See Ew is stir-fried fresh noodles in brown sauce with broccoli, oriental broccoli, and an egg.

You can still get the standard Thai dishes like Pad Thai and Red, Green, Yellow, or Panang curries, which are savory and cooked to your preferred heat level.

The popular dessert of sweet rice with Mango is always a delight. You can also try sweet rice with coconut ice cream or sweet rice with fried banana.

Phra Ram is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., closed only from 3:30-4 p.m. to reset from lunch to dinner.

It is located at 3705 Avocado Blvd in La Mesa.

For to-go orders, call (619) 670-9099.