Drive straight to The Abbey (a popular coffee stop for Taylor students), overshoot by a few hundred yards and you’ll find yourself parked in front of Marion’s best Thai restaurant. Jay’s Authentic Thai Cuisine is a local favorite, well-known for its classical Thai dishes and flavorful options.
Thai food, along with Indian food, is generally known for having entrees that accommodate dietary restrictions, such as gluten allergies, veganism and lactose-intolerance. The variety of allergen-free foods make Jay’s the perfect place for a large group to go out to dinner. There is a choice for everyone!
Some of the most popular dishes on the menu include appetizers like crab rangoon or dumplings, stir fry entrees including garlic stir fry and a sweet and sour stir fry and flavor-packed curry dishes like gang panang curry or red curry. All entrees come with a choice of chicken, pork, beef, tofu or shrimp for an extra charge.
The prices are fairly affordable with soups ringing up at $3.55 for a bowl and $12.25 a pot. A stir fry, curry dish or noodle entree costs just $9.25 (these prices are based on the dinner menu, prices may vary on the lunch menu).
The portion sizes are generous, making them the perfect dish to share. A fun way to order at Jay’s would be to bring a few friends, get several entrees and appetizers, grab some extra plates and try a little of everything! You can’t go wrong with this menu.
The service isn’t particularly quick, but the employees are friendly and the atmosphere in the restaurant is pleasant (the smells are worth spending a few extra minutes at dinner). While Jay’s isn’t necessarily the place for a quick meal, it is the perfect spot for a dinner out with friends or a break after doing homework for too many hours at The Abbey.
Jay’s Authentic Thai Cuisine is located at 1500 S. Western Ave., Marion, Indiana. They are open for lunch, Tuesday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and dinner, Monday - Friday, 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. They also serve dinner on Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m.
Overall Pros: Not too far from Taylor and has accommodations for dietary restrictions. Their food is delicious and pretty affordable.
Overall Cons: The service isn’t very quick, making it inconvenient for those who may be looking for a fast meal.
