'The fish trap bursts' — a fisherman's boast of a soup, so loaded the gear gave way.
Spicy
$26
Where it comes from
A po is the staked fish trap Thai coastal fishermen have set in the shallows for generations; taek means it breaks. Po taek is the soup for the day the catch overwhelms the equipment — everything goes into a clear, blazing broth of lemongrass, galangal and Thai basil, with no coconut milk to soften the blow. Tom yum's leaner, saltier cousin: pure sea, pure herb, pure heat.
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.
