Healthy, Tasty Food at Green Basil

Green Basil is a small Thai & Vietnamese Restaurant located on Main Street in the heart of Woburn Center. Primarily known for take-out, the restaurant also has a dining area for those who want sit-down service. Green Basil emphasizes the importance of healthy meals and they offer a lot of low-calorie and healthy options. They also have beloved classics such as Pho, Pad Thai and Fried Rice. All the dishes are made to order from fresh ingredients. It takes a little time so make sure you call ahead or bring a book with you to read while you wait for your meal. All the menu items are available for lunch and dinner with lunch prices being significantly cheaper.

Decor: The inside of Green Basil is tiny with several tables for dining in and some modest decorations on the wall. It's a very cozy spot for a quiet dinner.

Appetizers: Green Basil has classics like Chicken Satay, Spring & Summer rolls, Crab Rangoon (theirs is spicy) and my personal favorite Scallion Pancakes. Those with an adventurous palate may want to try some unique specialities like Chao Tom (shrimp and sugar cane), Vietnamese Crepes, or Shrimp Toast. There are Vietnamese and Thai appetizer samplers for those who want to try a little of a lot of options.

Beverages: Green Basil offers classic drinks such as Thai Iced Coffee & Tea, Bubble Tea, Jasmine Limeade (tea with limeade) and Iced Green Tea. We highly recommend the fruit shakes which come in a variety of flavors including pineapple, mango, jackfruit, coconut, etc. They also have hot tea, coffee, bottled water and soda.

Entrees: In the mood for some Vietnamese? Green Basil offers a wide variety of Pho noodle soup bowls all of which come with a plate of bean sprouts, fresh basil and lime wedges. They also serve Vermicelli which is a cold noodle dish topped with your choice of vegetables or meats. For Thai, there are several curry dishes including my personal favorite Massaman Curry. They also have pad thai, mango fried rice and a big selection of seafood, beef, chicken and pork dishes. They have a mix-and-match menu as well as a healthy vegetarian selection. One notable selection is Healthy Garden which comes with steamed tofu and vegetables, rice and a side of peanut sauce. The Green Basil specials include basics like Chicken Cashew and Pineapple chicken as well as some interesting selections like Crispy Tamarind Duck, Wild Boar Basil and Chicken Gra Paw (ground chicken with vegetables in a spicy sauce).

Sides: Start off your meal with a steaming cup of soup like Wonton, Tom Yum Goong (with shrimp mushrooms, scallions and cilantro), Thai coconut soup or a Vegetable soup with a clear broth. There are also a variety of salads and you can add jasmine or brown rice, vegetables, noodles and sauce to any meal for an additional cost.

Desserts: Green Basil does not have a dessert menu. However, if you want to finish off your meal with something sweet, try one of the fruit shakes.

Service: Call ahead for pick-up or stop by for dining in. Delivery is available for a $2 fee for Woburn and a $3 for Burlington and Winchester.

Green Basil

383 Main Street, Woburn

http://www.greenbasilwoburn.com/