A fire truck parked outside Daisy Mint recently was cause for concern insomuch as it meant there weren’t likely to be empty tables inside. The small Thai restaurant is popular among a diverse crowd that includes students from nearby Pasadena City College and the occasional celebrity: John C. Riley. Although there may be a wait to secure a seat, it won’t be long. And once seated, service is attentive and food is brought out quickly.
My brother regularly frequents Daisy Mint and had some recommendations: Summer Rolls and curries. We started with the former which were so fresh they tasted as if most of the ingredients had come straight from the garden: mixed greens, cucumbers carrots and cilantro. The peanut sauce had a slightly sweet undercurrent we couldn’t quite place.
We opted for Crying Tiger one of the evening’s specials: marinated flank steak served with a spicy sauce of minced green pepper, garlic and shallots. The thinly sliced strips of beef were tender and absorbed the sauce well. The dish came with sticky rice, which is sweet and so glutinous it’s like a magnet for anything it comes in contact with.
Chunks of pumpkin, which were soft and potato-like, with peas, carrots and chicken swam in the Panang Curry, a velvety sauce of coconut milk and basil.
Servings are plentiful and though the Crying Tiger is not a regular menu item, I would be more than happy to repeat the exact meal at Daisy Mint on my next California visit.
Daisy Mint
Four-and-a-half Plates
1218 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, Calif.
The Blue Page Special 
A friend of mine lives in Pasadena. He is quite the foodie. I’ll recommend this place, but knowing him he’s already heard of it.
Thanks. You’ll have to let know if he’s been there or if it’s new to him.