Zephyr Lodge

Like many of the smaller restaurants at Lake Tahoe, Orchids Thai is located in a building that, architecturally speaking, could be called “mid-century shopping center,” and has an interior that, if it weren’t for the decorations on the walls, could just as easily be that of a rural cafe. But since dining is less about the surroundings than it is about the food, Orchids thrives in this little location just east of the Y. There are a lot of spicy dishes on their menu, and if you see something that isn’t marked as spicy but you’d like to add a little heat to it, that’s not a problem. Likewise, this restaurant is pretty good about accommodating special dietary needs. There are some nice desserts, including green tea ice cream, and they have recently added an event room, so feel free to make a party out of your Thai cuisine experience.