What a rare find in a very quiet part of the Inland Empire. The food is so good and creative, it’s just amazing that it is in a suburban location that you really must seek out. From the outside, you would not even know that it is a glorious Thai food experience. It is a very unassuming building, with a funky motel in the back. But whatever and wherever, I am here to tell you; that Chapter Two, has some of the most inventive tropical Thai inspired cuisine, that I have ever laid eyes on and tasted. From the moment you are served your beverage, you know you are in for a charming fantastical experience. They serve a Matcha Thai Iced Tea, in a lovely wooden holder, with mini cookies alongside. Every part of Chapter Two is well thought out and planned. From The depression ware glass bowls to the delicate flowers served on top of my beverages and food items. This food is light years apart from everything you have ever tried before. It is colorful, with rich exotic Thai spices and curries, and the utmost attention to details. It really got my creative taste buds a blaze.
Here’s What I Tried:
Beverages:
Matcha Thai Iced Tea, this is the iced tea with the amazing presentation.
Watermelon Mojito, they use different glasses for everything, and this amazing drink had a beautiful strip on watermelon on the top of the glass. It is a wonderful, super refreshing drink. They do not have an alcohol license, but it really did no matter.
Appetizers:
Summer Rolls, it is made with super fresh vegetable and shrimp, a very nice peanut dipping sauce alongside of it, and a gorgeous curry strip of red beets on top to add to the overall art piece of this food item.
Curry Puff, in a very light puff pastry with vegetable inside, just a wonderful starter.
Salad:
House Green salad, the dressing on this salad is enough to try it!
Khao Yum Rice Salad, so they bring you a huge plate, with all of these lovely vegetables and fruits separated. It looks like a big carnival, or like confetti. Lexi poured it all into a beautiful wood bowl along with some amazing Thai dressing. She mixed it all together and presented us with the most delightful salad ever. I would absolutely order this every time.
Mains:
Pad Thai Bo-Ran, with very delicate noodles and super plump shrimp, it’s a great Pad Thai and I have tasted many of them.
Mussaman Braised Beef, they are cubes of beef that are super tender, with some very lovely Thai dark curry flavors. It is just an amazing dish.
Khao Soi Chiang Rai with Chicken, the presentation is fantastic, with all kinds of accompaniment, almost like the kimchi at a Korean BBQ. It just makes one’s appetite soar. It is so great to see all their very clever ways that they deliver such lovely cuisine.
Rawang Curry, this curry is a bit on the spicy side but is so different from any other dish that I had, that it is was just perfect.
Garlic Green Beans with Shrimp, there is a very subtle mild sauce, that is wrapped around these delicious darlins, and the shrimps are plump and delightful.
Crying Tiger Beef, the beef is cooked medium rare, and is very tender, with a nice marinade. The rice comes in its own individual rattan steamer and is a dark purple and black rice.
Rice:
Pineapple Crab Fried Rice, here is another great presentation, with tomatoes and cucumber surrounding the rice, with the crab and the eggs on 2 different sides of the platter. They do a natural dye on the rice, with pea flowers, to make it look a blue purple tint, which also adds to the overall artistry of this dish. It is just the best fried rice you will ever eat.
Desert:
Watermelon Iced Crush, what a wonderful light desert. It’s only served during watermelon season, so come and get it now. On a hot balmy summer day, it’s worth the trip to try it and nothing else.
Pandan Pudding, I was not sure about this one. You must have an acquired taste for this fruit, but I am sure there is a serious fan out there who can’t get enough of this dish.
I found out some tidbits about Lexi, but I was so enamored with the food, that I really did not do my usual detective work on the history etc. I do know that Lexi had another establishment not far from this one, and during Covid it got tough to stay open. So now, she is doing reconnaissance and nurturing this already existing business. She has taken over the kitchen and does her best to show the customers her whimsical artistic takes on already fascinating Thai food. It’s amazing how much energy she has seeing that she has two very young children and a husband. She told me that she was living in Los Angeles and working at Natalie Thai in Beverly Hills. She was coming to visit her husband when she was not working. Now, with her young children she had to settle down more in this area. I am so glad that she did. Honestly, I will be coming in here a lot, there is so much other good stuff on this menu that I need to try.
It’s off 10-freeway going East to the desert, so it’s a pretty good call to come here for lunch, or dinner, or get to-go to take with you. It’s just that good. For me, I would want to do a sit down every time, because of this quaint charming atmosphere, and the way the food is plated, it is all one big, brilliant experience. Lexi should not change a thing, people just need to discover Chapter Two, and like me they will be hooked forever.
Chapter Two
24957 Redlands Blvd.
Loma Linda, CA 92354
