Boun's Asian Restaurant - Delightful Thai/Laos

Previously I had blogged about a Thai/Laos restaurant in Winnipeg and remarked it was the only one of its kind I had run across. Soon after I was forwarded a pleasant email from a reader who recommended Boun's Asian Restaurant for their Laos/Thai cuisine. Flabbergasted I quickly made the trek from the Children's Hospital one afternoon for a quick after work bite.

Boun's is located in historic St. Boniface on Marion Street. Lying in the same strip mall as one of my other favourites, Vientiane, I was impressed by the pleasant and appealing signage that spoke with an air of confidence. The interiors were similarly well decorated with large spacious wooden tables, comfortable chairs and welcoming wait staff.

The menu is classic Thai with a few sprinklings of Laos cuisine. For anyone familiar with Thai restaurants, the offerings here should be instantly recognizable with the bevy of soups, curries stir fries and noodle dishes including the classic Pad Thai. However on top of that are a smattering of Laos inspired dishes including the national dish, Laap. Boun's offers each dish on a variable scale of spiciness so that each customer can customize the spice level of their dishes. While I applaud restaurants for giving customers choice, I find this can take away from the overall flavour of the dish; after all it is the ratio and combination of tastes that determine the flavour profile of a dish and changing one variable inherently will change the others as well. Nevertheless off to the food.

Potato Curry with Chicken was similar to Thai yellow curries. A nice creamy coconut based sauce envelops the bevy of tender breast pieces, potatoes and peanuts. Creaminess from the curry is also accentuated by the perfectly cooked creamy potatoes while the peanuts add a nice crunch. I have to commend Boun's on cooking their chicken just right: tender, juicy and soaked in all the flavours of the dish. Earthiness is given by basil.

Pad Thai is the national dish of Thailand and is an obvious choice at any Thai restaurant. The version here was delicious! A large portion of tender rice noodles are tossed in a tamarind based sauce and topped with crushed peanuts and a side of fresh bean sprouts. The key is the balance of flavours in the sauce and Boun's achieves the spicy, tangy and salty combination well here. Crunchiness from the fresh bean sprouts achieves a nice textural balance.

Boun's Laap Salad is their version of the classic Laos national dish. Laap is a meat based salad that takes minced beef (or chicken), roasted rice, fresh vegetables all tossed in a fish sauce based vinaigrette. The flavour profile here was a perfect balance of spicy, tangy and salty. While the minced meat is inherently heavy, the overall dish felt light and fresh and works well as a fantastic appetizer or a light main course.

Boun's Asian Restaurant ranks highly as one of the better Thai restaurants in the city. Wrapping authentic flavours and fresh ingredients in a modern and clean establishment, Boun's should appeal to anyone looking for Thai cuisine. The cherry on top is the addition of Laotian specialties which work well to compliment the classic Thai dishes. Definitely worth a visit for anyone in the area.