Pioneering Thai vegetarian cuisine in San Diego since 1988, TASTE OF THAI - HILLCREST operates from 527 University Ave with a co-proprietor native to Thailand. Guests arriving for dinner often start with a glass of natural wine at Cork & Stem, steps away on the same block of University Ave. The kitchen builds each curry, stir-fry, and soup to order, letting diners calibrate spice levels from mild to Thai-hot across house specialties that include braised pork shanks, savory duck, and whole trout with green apple salsa. The co-proprietor's Thai heritage informs a curry paste program ground fresh each morning, producing flavor depths that distinguish the kitchen from standardized Thai chains on a University Ave strip shared with The Deli Llama's counter-service sandwich operation. The restaurant's most complex plate is the whole trout with green apple salsa, a preparation that requires deboning, pan-searing, and finishing with a house-made fruit relish served tableside.