My heart sank a bit as I approached the counter of Thai Super Bowl, a street-food-style restaurant inside the Lotte Market on West Colonial Drive. I got there ahead of the published closing time of 7:30 p.m., but there was already a sign on the counter that read, “Sorry, we’re closed.”

The woman behind the register must have noticed my crestfallen expression and maybe was moved by the tear developing in the corner of my eye. She slowly reached for the sign and slipped it back under the counter. Yay, I could order.

I made it quick because I had already studied the menu. I ordered green curry with beef and a side of crispy pork. I paid for the food and the woman handed me one of those coaster-shaped beepers to alert me when the order was ready. So I strolled off to the market to pick up some things I needed. (I barely got past the soy sauce aisle with dozens of varieties. Seriously, I’d need a soy sauce sherpa to make a choice.)

By the time I found the items I needed for my recipe, my order was ready.

The green curry sauce was terrific. It had the requested slices of beef in a oil-dotted sauce made rich with coconut milk. It also included red bell pepper and bamboo shoots plus whole leaves of Thai basil. It was wonderful spooned onto the rice that came with it, but I was also happy just sipping the broth.

The crispy pork was sort of like a Thai version of chicharrones, well-crisped skin with chewy flesh attached. A nice snack with the sweet and sour dipping sauce.

Thai Super Bowl is part of Lotte’s slapdash food court set up in a corner inside the front door. If I’m not mistaken, it occupies the booth where Michael Collantes’ Taglish used to be. That of course led to Soseki and a Michelin star, so who knows what could happen?

Thai Super Bowl is at 3191 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando (map). It is open for lunch and (early) dinner daily. The phone number is 407-237-0375.