Thai Bistro II
159 Central Ave., Pacific Grove
(831) 372-8700, www.thaibistropg.com
According to the American Chemical Society, people get a pleasure-inducing endorphin rush from eating spicy food because of a chemical reaction. It’s your body’s way to numb the pain caused by capsaicinoids, which are what give chilies their heat. The spicy satisfaction is, chemically, not unlike a runner’s high. So ask your server to “make it hot” at Thai Bistro II and get ready for a masochistic ride down the tasty side. Mouth-numbing Thai salads and spicy stir-frys can be balanced by curries rich in coconut milk and peanut sauce, and classic dishes like Bangkok duck and pad Thai can be made mild for folks who find the spice of life to be an ingredient best left off their dinner plates. But Thai Bistro II owners Jill and Nicky Sriprayul, a pair of Bangkok natives, can deliver Thai flavors so authentic, it is our recommendation to turn up the heat, at least for this meal.