I don’t like to shop at Target on Military Highway. It’s not clever.

It does taste better than it looks.

The traffic is thick and the selection is picked over due to the high volume of customers. Shoppers come from all corners of Norfolk and are not unlikely to visit the other major discount stores nearby. So it’s packed and I’m annoyed. It behooved me to find a different Target locale.

My new spot is now in Chesapeake on Carmichael Way, a less trafficked store a short drive down I-664. After a recent, meandering shopping experience with my husband, we got hungry. The strip mall nearby housed a restaurant called Simply Thai and this sounded simply fine for lunchtime fare, so we gave it a shot. Upon entering, I grew encouraged by the calm atmosphere—attractive with several pieces of Asian-inspired art, dark wood tables and chairs and dim lighting. The red wine colored paint set an exotic mood, offering a mental departure from Chesapeake and its strip malls.

The lunch selection pleased me. The stir-fries, noodles, fried rice and curries were all priced at $6.95. Each could be paired with beef, chicken, pork, shrimp or tofu. The restaurant also offered traditional appetizer choices like fried spring rolls, Sa-tay chicken, fresh rolls and dumplings–perfect for a casual bite to eat.

I ordered hot tea and thought about trying Rainbow Fried Rice because of its description of ingredients: garlic, onions stir fried with mixed vegetables and a scrambled egg on top. But, alas, I’m a sucker for green curry. I rarely get away from it when I hit up a Thai restaurant, no matter how delicious other items look. I enjoy green curry for the sweetness of the coconut milk coupled with spices like cumin and cardamom mixed with Thai basil, lemongrass, and chili. It’s impossibly flavorful without being overwhelmingly hot.

So, I ordered green curry and was pleased with Simply Thai’s version, rife with green peas, red peppers, eggplant wedges and plenty of basil leaves. The dish had a traditional and well-prepared taste, arriving in a white bowl that offset its mint color beautifully. I chose tofu in lieu of meat because it absorbs the flavors from the milk brilliantly. As is typical, the dish comes served with rice, which I dipped in the spiced coconut milk and when finished, tossed it in with the leftovers for later indulgence.

My husband, Joshua, ordered Drunken Noodles and was similarly pleased. His dish featured fresh, flat rice noodles, garlic, chili, onions, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli and basil. The noodles were plated and tossed with a brown sauce and served spicy. This dish, too, came well prepared, and flavorful. Try these noodles if you are looking for a departure from Pad Thai and desire more heat. Another appealing noodle dish on the menu was Pad Thai Red Curry, an entrée with a red chili, coconut milk base. The thin noodles are served with stir-fried vegetables and peanuts on top.

We came away from Simply Thai feeling full and satisfied. Our lunching experience turned out to be simply delicious. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a good Thai restaurant. Although it doesn’t have the makings of a legendary joint, it lives up to its name in being simple, traditional and flavorful.

I’m sure we’ll return to Simply Thai for another lunch. Its reasonable prices and handy location to Target make it a prudent choice. Next on my list is their Pumpkin Curry, a dish I’ve never seen on a Thai restaurant’s menu. I look forward to my next visit.

Simply Thai is located at Edinburgh Commons Shopping Center, 236 Carmicheal Way, Suite 322, Chesapeake. Their phone number is 757-204-4623.