Reading a Thai menu well matters more than reading the star rating. Heat is the part that trips people up, since medium at one kitchen can be mild or fiery at another, and the other two things worth settling before you order around Durango are the style of curry you want and whether anyone at your table avoids meat.
How do you order the heat you want?
Ask what the scale means in that kitchen. "Medium" at one place is "mild" at another, and no standard exists. A server who says a dish comes with fresh chiles tells you more than a number does. Cooking for a group? Order one notch lower and ask for chile on the side.
Think about travel time as well. Curries and noodles hold up for takeout. Crisp fried dishes want a short drive. Our answer on food delivery in Durango lists who delivers.
Why do rice and curries behave differently at altitude?
Water boils cooler up here. CSU Extension lists 203 degrees Fahrenheit at 5,000 feet and 198 at 7,500, and Durango falls between the two (CSU Extension). Food boiled or simmered cooks at a lower temperature, so rice and braises need adjusted times. A kitchen that works at 6,500 feet every day has sorted that out. If you cook Thai at home here, expect to adjust.
How do you check a restaurant's kitchen?
La Plata County Public Health inspects restaurants, and you can search the reports. The county says one inspection may not show a kitchen's long-term habits, so read a report as a snapshot (La Plata County). With a serious food allergy, tell the server and the cook directly.
When is it busiest?
Expect summer evenings and holiday weekends to be the crunch. Call ahead for a larger group. Our answer on where to park downtown will save you a lap around the block. For the wider dining picture, see our best restaurants guide and the dining guide.