THAI DELIGHT CAFE: REAL FAMILY STYLE.

• Author: Sasich, Chris
• Position: READERS' CHOICE

West Jordan -- Tucked away in a West Jordan strip mall is one of Utah's hidden food gems. THAI DELIGHT CAFE is a local favorite for Thai cuisine, the kind of place where regulars don't have to speak to order their favorite dishes and where the customers are an extension of the family that runs the business.

Lae Tranngoc decided to take her love of cooking to the next level by starting a restaurant almost two decades ago--and her labor of love has paid off. "She just takes care of the customers, she has a big heart," said Win Tranngoc, Lae's son and an employee at the restaurant. "The food makes you feel warm and fuzzy, it's food for the soul. You feel bad, you eat a bowl of curry, you feel better. Every time my mom serves some food it's a small victory for somebody; you never know what somebody is fighting."

Thai Delight's menu offers almost 70 Items, an impressive selection for a small restaurant that takes exacting care with every dish and the ingredients they use. "I think a lot people enjoy the coconut soup and the curry. You want to come with like four or five people, so that way everyone can get a different dish and pass it around," said

Win. "The majority of people get one of the soups; the coconut soup is the most...