Thai O Cha Lunch Buffet
Thai · 220 E Aviation Blvd, Universal City, Texas 78148
★★★★★ 1 review(210) 659-3310
Menu Items
Reviews
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Best Thai Lunch Buffet, Lots Of Selections, & Great Flavor.
Thai O'Cha earns the top spot for best Thai Buffet on my list.
Located just outside the main gate to Randolph AFB in Universal City TX. Its common to see many servicemen and servicewomen dining here for lunch.
Thai O'Cha offers a lunch buffet, from 11am-3pm.
I've been dining here for years, and the quality has remained consistent. My favorites are the Pad Woonsen and the Beef Salad. The fried pork is a must try as well, and should be dipped in the chile fish sauce (Nam Pla) which is in a small container (looks like goldish liquid with green and red peppers). This may sound odd or gross if your not familiar with Thai food, but I was told to try it this way by a Thai chef, and he was right. He called the sauce, "Thailands version of BBQ sauce", and it adds a sour, spicy, & salty flavor to the meat, that I personally like.
The beef salad here is served hot, with all the ingredients, including the red onion, cucumbers, & lettuce, cooked into the dish. Traditionally the vegetables are served cold, with the meat and lime sauce poured over the top.. I like to ladle some of the cucumber salad over it to add some crunchy cucumbers and sweet liquid to it as well.
The pad woonsen and pad thai, are both served meatless here. Thai chile and crushed peanuts are available in small bowls next to the sauces, and can be added if you want to spice up either of these items. The pad woonsen though, is another one of my favorites here. It has a ton of flavor, and goes well side by side with the beef salad.
Honestly only a few items on the buffet are so/so. Despite being a buffet, many of these entrees are nearly as good as they get. The Thai O'Cha buffet is definitely a great place to try new dishes.
The staff is friendly, willing to answer any questions, tend to dietary restrictions, and cook fresh items that they are out if you ask.
Shown in the attached video, (I walked a little too quickly)
- Front Side of Buffet -
Panang Yellow Curry (with bamboo shoots),
Unknown,
Pork & Green Bean,
Fried Rice,
Unknown Soup,
Pad Thai Noodles
Beef Salad (Yum Na),
Salad Shrimp
- End of Buffet Table -
Spring Rolls, Fried Pork, Fried Chicken, Cheese Rolls,
Steamed Rice (in Cooker),
(Sauces - Fish Sauce, Sweet Chile, Soy, Siracha, Hoisen, Thai Chile, Crushed Peanuts, Cucumber Salad, Nam Pla, and more.)
- Back Side of Buffet -
Laab (ground chicken salad)
Papaya Salad,
Pad Woonsen (clear noodles),
Chicken & Rice soup,
Basil Eggplant,
Pad See Ew,
Bok Choy (in middle)
Chicken, Jalapeno Curry (dont know the name)
Red Curry (unknown name)
Not shown is the dessert bar, with Coconut Tapioca Soup (Sago), Pumpkin Soup (Kaeng Buat* Fak Thong*), and fresh fruit.
Spring Rolls, Fried Pork, Cheese Rolls
Pad Thai
Basil Eggplant
Pork & Green Beans, Panang Curry with bamboo shoots)
Pumpkin Soup (in coconut milk)
— Paul