South King County has an abundance of small to medium sized ethnic restaurants, and it is sometimes difficult to determine which have the best and most authentic food. Indochine has been mentioned on the Internet as one of the better Thai restaurants in the area, and it certainly seems to have more than the average number of devoted customers.

The menu did not seem to be as extensive as I expected, although different names and descriptions of items at different restaurants usually require a careful examination to make sure nothing is being overlooked. I asked if Phad Prik King was served, and I was told that some of the cooks may know how to make it, but the ones in the kitchen at the time did not. I got the impression that they would have tried to make it had I been able to name the ingredients, but I did not want to risk it.

My meal started with a Larb Salad served with ground chicken and a basil and lime dressing. This was quite flavorful and refreshing, but was milder and tasted a little different than the Lao version I had tried. I did not care for this one quite as much as the Laotian salad, but it was certainly enjoyable.

My entree was the Sauteed Basil Curry with tofu, a yellow curry that was more aromatic than spicy, and a pretty flavorful dish.

Basil seems to be one of the main flavors used in the dishes, along with lemongrass, ginger, and similar flavors. I am not sure if the restaurant makes generous use of Thai chiles, fish sauce, and other ingredients that would appeal more to the "Thai taste." My impression is that if you want some of the more exotic Thai dishes, it would be better to go to Bai Tong in Tukwila or Noodle Boat in Issaquah.