Everybody tells you not to, but sometimes, you craft a fully formed opinion of something you’ve never even tried. (Right? I know I’m not the only one.)

Your friend starts talking about a new music artist they love, and then another friend mentions the same artist, and another, and another… And pretty soon, you’ve vowed to hate this person’s music because hello. You’re not a follower. You’re different.

Or maybe your cousin buys an electric car and you think, Ugh, of course Jim would drop six figures on a vehicle that has to be charged. It’s not worth it! But like… you don’t know that for sure. You’ve never driven a Tesla. Maybe Jim is onto something.

Anyway—this was me and Thai food.

When I heard “Thai food,” my head immediately went to spicy sauces on top of strange animal protein choices. Why? No idea. But if it’s between unidentifiable meat and Chinese food from a carton, I will choose Chinese every time.

At least, that was the case before I discovered Thai Rama in Crystal City (just a few minutes from Festus).

My wife and I decided to try it for one of our regular lunch dates, and it was my first time eating authentic Thai food. I wasn’t expecting much, but wow—it totally transformed my preconceived ideas about Thai cuisine.

I ordered the stir fry with chicken, broccoli, carrots, and garlic in a light sauce, and it was *chef’s kiss.* Fantastic. I can’t believe trying real Thai food took me this long. Honestly, I think it beats most Chinese dishes (I know, I know—I couldn’t believe it either!).

Plus, the waitstaff at Thai Rama is very friendly, and the chef got our orders out to us quickly. It was pretty impressive considering their extensive cooked-to-order menu. (There must be nearly a hundred items on there!) As a realtor in the Festus area, I really appreciate the customer service.

Even if you don’t feel like going to a sit-down restaurant, you’ve got to check this place out. They deliver locally, so just give them a call. You won’t be disappointed.