When it comes to Thai food, if you find yourself on the “I’m particular” end of the spectrum, or even downright snobby, then you’ve come to the right article. Among a landscape littered with heavily western-influenced, mediocre Thai food options, Wild Rose stands above the fray as a bastion of exceptional Thai-cuisine. Inspired by the geographically rural eats found in Northern Thailand, regional authenticity is paramount to the recipe of success found at this local’s favorite, located in downtown Bend. In fact, every dish on the menu is inspired by family recipes taken from the region. 

 
No trip to Wild Rose is complete without the right dining companion, so I chose a close friend of mine who shares my love of excellent Thai food for the experience. Although the menu is not overcomplicated with too many items, we’re always torn between ordering our favorite dishes, and branching out with new ones. For this experience, we opted for three familiar staples:  the Thai Iced Coffee, Gai Tod Nam Pla (spicy chicken wings), and the Khao Soi Curry. Something we know from personal experience is that it’s best to bring your a-game to Wild Rose, because Northern Thai food is always best experienced when all five senses are properly cultivated.
 
Our Thai Iced Coffees arrived first, a beautiful burnt orange, dark brown, and creamy in appearance. A moderate sweetness balanced well with the tea. It was smooth, creamy and proved to be a nice pairing with the chicken wings that arrived soon after.