5291 Valleydale Rd., Inverness area (off Hwy. 280)
981-1616
www.ginzasushibham.com
A local Korean diner said the flavors "definitely reminded me of home," with high marks for the BBQ combination platter and the spicy beef. The restaurant also offers sushi, which has received high marks from other diners, as well as some Korean and Japanese noodle entrees. Read our Review.

430 Green Springs Hwy., Homewood
942-5400
This small restaurant is short on atmosphere but long on authenticity, and the prices are very reasonable. They serve the traditional "pho" beef noodle dishes accompanied by bean sprouts and herbs - usually basil and peppers. Here's a good thread about the restaurant on Chowhound.com: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/481849. Named a "hidden gem of dining" in Birmingham News City Scene, March 2009, which said, "Don't let the strip-mall setting turn you off ... Don't leave without trying the spring rolls, prepared with ground pork, shredded carrots and bean thread noodle."

4006 U.S. 280, Suite 108 (Target Plaza)
408-1800
This place gets raves for its fresh spring rolls (also known as summer rolls), plus fried egg rolls, Vietnamese sandwiches (called Bahn Mi), soups, stir-fries, and, of course, noodles. We're not experts in Vietnamese food, but everything was fresh, attractively presented and flavorful, the atmosphere was pleasant as well as the service. You'll find a menu and more reviews on Urbanspoon.

2100 Third Avenue North, Suite 100
297-0996
Downtown location of a popular Thai restaurant that also has locations in Five Points South and Crestline Village. Appetizers, soups, salads, suchi, various entrees with meats, vegetables, sauces, noodles, rice. City Scene's "lunch bunch" noted that service was too slow for a typical lunch hour.

16 South Perimeter Park (off Hwy. 280 in the old O'Charley's location)
968-8161
www.surinofthailand.com/280/index.htm
Thai food and sushi menu very similar to that of Surin West. Lunch and dinner. An October 2007 City Scene review by Tom Gaskin, who lived in Thailand for a year in the late '60s, said "Surin 280 is a very attractive restaurant that offers a two-page sushi menu and a good selection of rather tame Thai food." He enjoyed fresh basil rolls, shrimp hot and sour soup, Panang chicken, and "very, very good" three-flavor fish. The "hands-down favorite" was roasted duck with red curry, followed closely by shrimp and pineapple. Disappointing were Thai barbecued chicken, chicken fried rice, lack of authentic desserts.

64 Church Street, Mountain Brook
871-4531
www.surinofthailand.com/mtbrook/index.htm
Another Thai restaurant location from the owners of the popular Surin West on Southside.

1918 11th Ave. South (Southside/Five Points South)
324-1928
www.surinwest.com
Lunch and dinner. Very popular Thai restaurant; also popular sushi bar.

3321 Lorna Road, Hoover
978-6863
A reader-recommended restaurant, serving mild, medium, and Thai hot food such as spring rolls, chicken satay, Thai curries, noodle dishes, fish, stir-fry, Thai roast duck, as well as sushi, in a nice-casual atmosphere. Plenty of vegetarian options.

5408 U.S. 280 (in retail center at intersection with 119, near Greystone)
993-5775
http://www.thaiemeraldlek.com/
Lunch and dinner; reservations accepted. Beautiful, trendy restaurant blends East and West. City Scene praised calamari, lemon coconut soup, fish fried spring rolls, tuna crunch, Weeping Tiger, Shrimp Disguised, but found other dishes disappointing, especially for the price. On a 2007 lunch visit, we were impressed by the atmosphere and the quality of the food, including the Light Starter appetizer plate and the Super Crunch roll, but the service was so-so.

2031 Seventh Ave. South
326-3779
Casual, friendly Thai restaurant on Southside (in location of former Anthony's restaurant). In a September 2007 review in City Scene, reviewer Deeana Crider enjoyed Thai-style spring rolls, pot stickers, larb with pork, Drunken Man Noodle, Pad Thai, crispy squid, Thai sausage, Ka Prow Lamb. Chicken Masaman was a little bland.