The day was gray and windy, not an ideal Friday to go out and eat lunch with my friends during school. However, I still wanted to take a break from that unappetizing school lunch served every day. It seemed like a perfectly good opportunity to try out this Thai restaurant that has been so popular among my classmates and friends: Mamu Thai.

The walk to Mamu Thai took about 2 minutes because the restaurant is located just around the corner from our school. As I stepped in the restaurant, I was overwhelmed by the sweet aromatic smell of a mixture of spices: garlic, onion, shrimp paste, chilies, and something I couldn’t identify. It smelled like barbecue, but had a hint of lemony sourness to it. The small restaurant’s brightly-decorated walls caught my eye: on one side, there was a huge collage covered with signs that displayed pictures and words that were in both Thai and English. From the ceilings hung incandescent pendant lights, their warm yellow glow illuminating the entire restaurant, casting a cozy and serene atmosphere. Lined along the collage wall was a long wooden counter with five red bar stools beautifully embroidered with swirling golden thread. From the walls, which were painted with red and yellow, hung small paintings of Buddha. There was a panoramic glass window built into a wall, which allowed customers to see the kitchen from the dining area. Soft country music playing from the speakers filled the entire room.