Enjoying the crunch of fresh vegetables

Three out of four dishes we enjoyed last weekend at Wondee's Fine Thia Food and Noodles in Hackensack came from its Vegetarian Menu, including sauteed tofu with fresh basil leaves, onions, scallions and fresh chili (Kraprow Tofu, $11), above.

Crispy tofu goes into a refreshing salad with shredded carrot and fruit, all dressed with lime juice and chili paste (Yum Rod Pedt, $10), above. You can wrap the salad in lettuce leaves.

Steamed jumbo shrimp with crunchy broccoli in a sweet-and-sour chili sauce comes from Wondee's regular menu. The dish is called Koong Lard Prig ($17).

This soup, filled with crunchy cabbage and other vegetables, is a vegetarian version of a spicy shrimp-and-mushroom soup on the regular menu. Thome Yum Vegetable is $3.50.

We have been ordering almost all of our takeout dishes from Zen Kitchen in Teaneck made with fresh garlic, avoiding the ubiquitous brown sauce, which is filled with sodium. Here, Sauteed Mixed Vegetables with Fresh Garlic ($7.95) is served over brown rice, which is provided at no extra charge. Wondee's charges $2.50 for a small bowl of brown rice.

Bean Curd with Vegetable Country Style from Zen Kitchen ($7.95).

Wondee's Fine Thai Food and Noodles, 296 Main St., Hackensack; 201-883-1700. BYO, free parking in rear lot. No delivery. Closed Mondays.

Zen Kitchen, 1443 Queen Anne Road, Teaneck; 201-837-7322. Delivery charge is $1.50.

Exploring Wondee's vegetarian menu

Mock Duck Kraprow at Wondee's Fine Thai Food in Hackensack.

Fried rice with tofu, vegetables and fresh basil leaves.

The plan for dinner out on Saturday was to order everything from the vegetarian menu at one of our favorite restaurants, Wondee's Fine Thai Food and Nooodles in Hackensack.

It was a perfectly good plan, of course, until my meat-loving teenage son got wind of it.

So, that's how we ended up with both meat and vegetarian dishes on the table.

But my wife joined me in enjoying soup, salad, entree and fried rice -- all with vegetables, tofu or textured soy.

The dishes were mildly spicy and full of flavor and texture, but free of unhealthy animal fats. 

My wife raved about the meal, and both of us were stuffed. 

A full page of Wondee's menu is vegetarian.

We started with Thome Yum Vegetable Soup.

Four of us shared a vegetarian salad, Yom Rod Pedt, which substitutes crispy tofu for bits of duck with lettuce and fruit in a tasty dressing ($10).

My wife and I had Thome Yum Vegetable, a spicy vegetable soup ($3.50), but my son and mother-in-law ordered Geuw Nam, wonton soup with roast pork slices ($3.50).

We loved the Mock Duck Kraprow with chili, onion and sweet basil, especially the meaty texture of the faux duck ($12).

Our brightly flavored vegetable-and-tofu fried rice, Pad Kraprow, was $10.

My son and mother-in-law shared a special, Braised Pig's Shoulder, which came with white rice ($12). 
  

Crispy tofu stands in for duck in a delicious salad.

A spicy chili-garlic sauce brightened our entrees and fried rice.

Braised Pig's Shoulder with hard-boiled egg.

Wondee's Fine Thai Food and Noodles, 
296 Main St., Hackensack; 201-883-1700.

Parking in rear, BYO, no delivery. Closed Mondays.



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