Best Thai - Thai Isaan

* This restaurant is a category winner in Viva's Ultimate Takeout Food Award winners 2003.

When we began our search for the best takeout food spots, time and again people told us about their fantastic experiences at Thai Issan. We can see why: great service and generous servings of the best Thai food in town. It's the freshness and innovative flavours that make you go "wow" and head back for a second time. And many times after that.

Everything is so good that it's hard to pick a favourite dish but if we're forced to we'd recommend the prawn curry, grilled scallops with tamarind sauce and the stirfried chicken with honey, pineapple and cashew nuts.

Huge servings for very reasonable prices. And the warmest welcome you'll find.

Cost: All mains come in under $20, including seafood dishes which are quite large. Entrees, which again are very generous, average around $7. They have a 10 per cent discount on pick up too.

Viva also recommends: Mekong Neua, Kingsland and Sawadee, Ponsonby