Ithaca's dining bargain is Little Thai House in Collegetown

We've talked any number of times about Little Thai House, the quick and inexpensive Thai eatery on Dryden Road in Collegetown. They've appeared on our Year-in-Review lists and Top Ten lists, they're featured in our Welcome to Ithaca feature, and they come up every time we talk about affordable lunch options. But, somehow, we've never given Little Thai House their very own review, until now.

In a town full of Asian eateries ranging from pretty good to outstanding, and running the geographic gamut from Thailand to Japan, this one tiny Collegetown spot has thrived as long as it has simply by offering good food at a good value. The majority of customers take advantage of the already-ready food, though you can also order a variety of dishes from a menu.

When I'm at Little Thai House, I almost always order the basic meal of any two entrees served together, picking pad thai and one other entree, served over white rice. The pad thai is a traditional, stir-fried, seasoned rice noodle dish, simplified here with bean sprouts and egg but without the shrimp or meat that's often added. It's therefore vegetarian if you don't count the fish sauce used in the recipe, and many vegetarians don't. For me, it's a deliciously tangy side dish, but it can also make a meal by itself.

What goes next to my pad thai depends on my mood, and the menu changes from time to time with new entrees. Red curry chicken and spicy basil chicken, both flavorful and spicy chicken dishes with lots of vegetables and tender, lean strips of chicken, are probably the two items I order most, but not far behind is the eggplant and tofu dish, made with the delicious Chinese eggplant. I occasionally branch out with the spicy Thai green beans or the fish with black bean sauce.

What's really remarkable is that, so far, we've only spent $5.85, including tax. You can get a single small entree serving for even less, but at under six bucks for a filling meal any time of day, Little Thai House is the biggest bargain around. I sometimes splurge and add a spring roll, though I'm rarely that hungry. More often, I'll get a Thai iced coffee to enjoy with my food. This strong, thick, sweet, creamy coffee is worth a couple bucks extra.

I haven't talked about the items you can order from the menu, such as fresh noodle dishes or soups, but that's because I really never bother going past the food that's already right in front of me. It's almost always fresh, and if the pad thai looks like it's been sitting out for a couple of hours, I know I can ask for a new batch. Plan on spending five to ten dollars on lunch and dinner, and toss a little in the tip jar. Find Little Thai House at 202 Dryden Road in Collegetown, call them at 607-273-1977, and tell them you heard about them here.