Cha manao — the street-stall sibling that trades the cream for a squeeze of lime.
$7
Where it comes from
For every Thai who takes tea creamy, there is one who takes it bright. Cha manao is the same strong-brewed red tea, skipping milk for fresh lime and sugar over ice — the drink of the hottest hour of the day. Street vendors will tell you it cuts through spicy food even better than its famous sibling. Sweet, sharp, ice-cold, gone too fast.
Not sure how to judge a plate like this? Read our field guide to the best Thai food in Orange County — five signs of a real Thai kitchen, and what to order once you’re in one.