Today’s lunch comes from the “Thai Street Food” cart, which I discovered on 50th Street between 6th and 7th. This block was chock full of good street food choices today. I must return.

The Thai Street Food cart is staffed by actual Thai people, which is promising. Also, the cart itself features pictures of fun food pictures strung up with binder clips. I enjoyed this subtle reminder of where I just came from and where I must return.

I ordered the chive cake ($3.99) appetizer, which were actually cooked to order. Little wedges of what tasted like scallion pancakes, except with chives and in wedge form. Delicious — crispy on the outside and pancakey on the inside. It came with that sweet/vinegary dipping sauce. I forget what that’s called. This was a winner.

For my main I had the basil chicken ($5.99), which also seemed to be cooked to order. This came with white rice and a portion of iceberg lettuce. The chive cakes also came with iceberg lettuce. I don’t really understand that. Iceberg lettuce by itself seems like the poorest choice for a garnish, and once shoved up against hot food it just kind of wilts into a wet mess. Is it maybe like the packing peanut of the street food world?

The basil chicken was delicious, but crazy spicy. Coming from me that says something. I guess I could have picked out the tiny pieces of peppers, but I ate it all anyway. Way too much rice with this dish. I really had to force myself to stop.