Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Ben Thai Cafe

    4.3 (1.4k reviews)
    ModerateThai, Noodles
    Closed 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Waitlist - Ben Thai Cafe

    Waitlist closed

    The restaurant is not taking waitlist parties right now

    Ben Thai Cafe Reservations

    Order Ben Thai Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Ben Thai Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    BEN THAI CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    More like Ben Thai Cafe

    Recommended Reviews - Ben Thai Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Pad Kee Mao with beef
    Katelynn V.

    Average mid pad thai but really god pad kee mao! The pad Thai with chicken tasted really average and had a strong ketchup taste to it. Maybe that's how it's authentically made because this place seems like the real deal. It was just not it for my friend and I. Also the chicken was really dry. Would not recommend this dish. The pad kee mao with beef was so good and flavorful. Perfect wide flat noodles. I got this with level 5 spice and it still wasn't spicy enough for me. You can choose between level 1-5. I would get the pad kee mao again and not the pad Thai. The inside is very nice, dark and a vibe. The servers are also nice and check in really often LOL. My friend and I came an hour before closing time.

    Spicy Eggplant & Basil
    Rucha S.

    Stopped by on a Saturday afternoon when the restaurant wasn't crowded, and we were seated right away. We ordered the Papaya Salad, Veg Spring Rolls, House Favorite Yellow Curry, Eggplant Basil, Pad Kee Mao, and White Rice. The Papaya Salad was a bit disappointing. It was overly sour and tasted more citrusy than fresh and lime-forward. The Veg Spring Rolls were fine, but nothing particularly memorable. The biggest letdown was the Yellow Curry. It lacked the rich flavor I typically expect from a Thai curry, and some of the vegetables seemed undercooked. The Eggplant Basil was also underwhelming. It lacked the distinct basil flavor that the dish is known for. Since we ordered the vegetarian version, it came loaded with a mix of other vegetables, which made it feel more like a generic vegetable stir-fry than an eggplant basil dish. The Pad Kee Mao was the standout of the meal. It had good flavor and was enjoyable, although the portion size felt a bit small for the price. Overall, the food was ok, but nothing really stood out. I've had better Thai food elsewhere, both in terms of flavor and value. While the experience wasn't bad, it wasn't memorable enough to make me want to return. For the price point, I expected more authentic flavors and better execution.

    Aarin T.

    Ben Thai Cafe had a cozy and modern ambiance that made the restaurant feel inviting and comfortable. The atmosphere was nice for eating with family and gave off a warm vibe overall. The food was good, but there were a few things that kept it from being a 5-star experience. I ordered the Pad See Ew, and while the flavor was tasty, it was noticeably salty to the point where I ended up drinking about four cups of water afterward. The portions also felt somewhat small for the price. For example, the crispy calamari was $14.50 and came with only around 4-6 pieces, which felt a little underwhelming. Service was probably a 3/5 for me and my family. When we were ordering, the server's tone came across as a bit hostile, and we felt rushed both while ordering and eating. That said, the food still had good flavor and I can see why people enjoy this place. The ambiance definitely added to the experience, and with slightly better portion sizes and a more welcoming service experience, this spot could easily be even better.

    Ethel R.

    Back again. Happy "Mother's Day, to all MOMs! We celebrated with mom and family with a small gathering. Ben Thai Cafe Server - Amp T, she was very quick in helping us find the best dish and drinks that would match our meal. Hot Sake Ginger Mimosa Singh a Beer Barebottle IPA Fresh Roll - Tofu Garlic Duo Jasmine Rice Pad Thai - Veggie Gra-Prao Fried Rice - Extra Spicy The deco is alway so relaxing with all the beautiful art work on the walls. You must visit.

    Thai Ice Coffee & Thai Ice Tea
    Shivangi K.

    Been here a few times since first review and have definitely found my favorites here. Their Pad Kee Mao, Ka-ree (yellow curry), and Gra Prow Fried Rice are all phenomenal! I cannot recommend this rotation enough. The thai iced tea & iced coffee are such a fun treat along with the main meal. I have a hard time resisting... The food always comes out fast once ordered and service is great! It's a small space, but have never had too much trouble with seating. Yes, they do get pretty busy/packed for dinner. An unassuming but wonderful spot!

    Khao Soi Deluxe with Roasted Ox Tail ($26.50)
    Tiffany Y.

    My friend recommended this place after saying it had the best Khao Soi he's had! I thought this was really solid Thai food, but not the best that I've ever had. I would still come back though if I was ever craving some Thai food. Ben Thai Platter ($22): Everything on here was crispy and fried nicely. Nothing felt too oily at all. I really liked how there were 4 different sauces to dip the appetizers in too. Khao Soi Deluxe with Roasted Ox Tail ($26.50): The ox tail was so tender and I loved the flavor of the north. I do think it's a bit on the pricey side, but it was really tasty and the noodles were cooked well. Roasted Duck Curry ($23): The curry was good, but didn't feel super cohesive with the pineapple in it. The duck was on the leaner side and I felt like the skin wasn't as crispy as it could've been. You definitely taste the roasted flavor in the duck though. Mango + Sweet Sticky Rice ($12): Really solid dessert option! You can't go wrong with this. Drinks: They do a really nice deal where you can get 50% off non alcoholic drinks if you check in on Yelp :) I got the unsweetened Thai iced tea and it was delicious and refreshing!

    Michael L.

    There is a middle aged gent who seems to be the owner of the restaurant, and I think this individual does not put forward a good look for the restaurant as a whole. There was a delivery driver who came in asking if he could use the restroom in between the stops, and this man told him "yes, but don't make it dirty, if you make it dirty I block you" in a very rude and condescending tone. The food was ok but not amazing. Pad kee mao deviated from the authentic preparations I've had at countless other Thai establishments across the country. Not very much basil and no spicy flavor. Prawns were a little overcooked. Seemed like a very "Americanized" preparation which probably suits certain clientele but you are certainly not paying for authentic Thai food here. He also seemed to be in a huge rush to get us out the door even though he still had several open tables and no line of customers waiting. He basically came without warning as I was finishing up the meal and having a conversation with my girlfriend, slapped down the payment terminal, watched me as I was picking out tip options, and essentially grabbed the terminal out of my hand as soon as I selected a tip option. Very weird overall experience and unfortunately can't find anything worth returning for. I also can't recall anything offensive that we had done other than sit down and order food and eat peacefully and quietly. Maybe he was having a bad day, but inexcusable nonetheless...

    Pad see ew with roasted duck
    Vickie N.

    I ordered the Pad See Ew with roasted duck, and it was absolutely amazing. Every noodle was packed with flavor, and the duck was incredibly juicy, tender, and well-seasoned. I was especially impressed that the dish arrived at my hotel still piping hot. The quality, flavor, and portion were all outstanding. Highly recommend--10/10!

    Khao Soi (Northern Thai)
    Lawrence L.

    We ordered take out from here and were pleasantly surprised! The khao soi was packaged extremely well for take out. Noodles/toppings separated and packaged nicely with the soup on the side. The crispy noodles remained crispy even though it was delivered 25 min later. The flavor was spot on and I loved the heat level. Would 10/10 come back here in person to eat.

    Eggplant with beef
    Tina H.

    Egg plant had good texture but was a little salty. The pad Thai was good but would've been better with thicker noodles and the pineapple fried rice had a little bitter ness to it. The murder wings had great texture too but had too much garlic. Mango sticky rice was good to end our dinner. But all in all. 7/10

    Roasted Duck Curry
    Stephen L.

    A solid Thai place in SF! If possible I'd give it right below 4 stars. Came on a weekday night and it was pretty empty. Location is good and interior is lively. I thought each of the dishes were overall well made. Overall, my main critique is that I wish the flavors were a bit bolder. A little more salt and spice is always appreciated for those who have stronger flavor preferences. I think this was true for the pad thai and the spicy basil eggplant. The duck curry was excellent. Great flavors and well cooked. Highly recommend this dish for anyone who comes. The duck was well cooked as well, juicy and flavorful Overall wouldnt mind coming back! A good experience that caters a bit more to broader taste preferences

    Thai tea
    Veerawan T.

    We were craving Thai food and saw this place nearby, so we decided to check it out. We arrived right when they opened, and the service was super friendly. A kind gentleman helped us and even struck up a conversation. The ambiance was bright and clean. The food was great overall, and the khao soi was my favorite. Emperor Khao Soi - I was extremely impressed by this dish. It came with three different meat options: chicken satay, duck, and oxtail. All of them paired perfectly with the soup, and I loved the texture of the egg noodles. I can definitely see why this is their most popular item! They don't play around with their portions too, it was huge. Pad Thai - The noodles were thinner than what I'm used to, and it was slightly dry. The flavors were subtle but still excellent. Also Thai teas are a must

    Pad See Ew
    Anh T.

    I got a reservation with a friend here on a weekend evening, and most of their restaurant was full. Pad See Ew: There were perfectly chewy noodles with a smoky, savory sauce. The pork was tender and well-seasoned, and the dish had a nice balance of sweetness and soy richness. Paradise Wings: These were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. There was a strong, delicious garlicky flavor that paired well with a sligthly sweet flavor. This was generally a cozy spot with reliably tasty Thai comfort food!

    Yellow curry

    See all

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Elaine Y.
    1044
    1689
    4614

    2 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 2
    Love this 7
    Oh no 3

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Clare H.
    3
    193
    175

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Thida S.
    247
    100
    542

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Barbara O.
    174
    11
    14

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Rie K.
    619
    33
    38

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tina L.
    4
    21
    26

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 4 of 36

    Ben Thai Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ben Thai Cafe

    Does anyone know if the peanut sauce is vegan, or does it have fish sauce in it?

    Our peanut sauce doesn’t contain fish sauce. We only use peanut butter, sugar, salt and curry paste.

    Which items can be made gluten-free and vegan?

    Are they delivering now?

    Are you delivering

    View All 5 Questions

    Taniku Izakaya

    Taniku Izakaya

    4.6
    (349 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    We've stopped here a couple times in the past month before catching a concert or a movie nearby. We…read morelove Taniku because it's a meal that rarely disappoints. This most recent time my girlfriend was craving ramen but I wasn't so I got creative. I love their black pepper chicken, so I got that and asked for a side of rice. On top of that we got the ribeye skewers and their new snow crab hand roll. The sauce for the black pepper chicken was really really tasty. That sauce over the rice, was so comforting. The ribeye wasn't super tender but tasty. The snow crab hand roll came with so much snow crab, I felt like it's one of the few hand rolls I've had that was filling. If you come for happy hour, they have good deals on ramen. I think like $13ish, which is a great deal. It ends promptly at 5:30, so plan to get there well before 5:30 if you are looking to take advantage. Something to think about it, Theres no sign up list for waiting for tables, and everyone who's waiting just lines up outside and down the block (no waiting inside). While the ramen (especially their Niku ramen) is still a solid choice. Piecing together meal with some appetizers and a side of rice might be my go-to way of ordering here now. Taniku really does do a lot of things well and the food is always tasty.

    I went here for dinner around 6:30pm and a line started forming right after we arrived, becoming…read moreabout 10 people deep. We only waited about 10 min. We started off with the Mekyabetsu (Brussels sprouts), Ba-Ra (pork belly), and Kobe (beef). The Brussels sprouts were my fav starter, and the sauce paired so well with it. The Ba-Ra was pretty good, but nothing amazing, and same for the Kobe, which I found to be a bit bland. We also split the Hokkaido Miso ramen. The broth had a great flavor, and the pork chashu was possibly the best I've ever had(!) as it was soooo tender and flavorful, and not very fatty. I did think the cauliflower left room to be desired, and kinda took away from the ramen overall. We finished our meal off with the matcha Panna cotta - this was a great dessert and wasn't too sweet ;) This place definitely seems to be pretty good at a lot of dishes, but not amazing at any single one. The vibe is great, service was great, and prices are a biiiiti steep but not unreasonable.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !
    Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !
    Calamari

    See all

    Calamari
    Dumpling Story

    Dumpling Story

    4.5
    (474 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Dumpling Story is what I've heard to be Dumpling Home's aesthetic counterpart (sister restaurants)…read more The interior is definitely aesthetic, featuring a bright, modern, minimalist exterior. Menu is relatively the same as Dumpling Home featuring my faves like the numb and spicy XLB and the sheng jian bao. Both very delicious! The remainder of the dishes we got were also good. I will say the green beans left me wanting a bit more from it. But overall, my party had a nice, fulfilling meal. Dumpling Home will always be my favorite (still prefer it a TINY bit), but because there is less of a crowd, service was amazing! I definitely wouldn't mind coming back considering there the difference in wait time to Dumpling Home.

    We simply loved this place. The wait wasn't long, despite it being packed when we arrived. The…read morestaff was amazing. The place is small. They have packed in as many tables as they could in here. Yet it didn't feel crowded or like we would bump someone if we breathed. The food. That's what it's all about right? This place delivers. Every thing was as good as the last. They have a pretty extensive menu I wanted to try it all. Sadly I had to settle for Hot and Sour Soup, Wonton soup, Pork Xiao Long Bao 8 Pcs, Chicken Xiao Long Bao 8 Pcs, (8Pcs) Pork Dumpling with Sesame Sauce and Red Chili Oil (6Pcs), Numb & spicy pork Bao, Green Onion Pancake, (Sweet) Red Bean Paste Pockets. We had it family style. The 3 of us shared it all. There was plenty to go around. None of us left hungry. I can't even pick a favorite. Maybe the numb and spicy which wasn't that spicy. It was just so good and flavorful. The soup dumplings were amazing. So much perfect flavor. They held together until the bite. So good. The hot and sour soup was plenty tasty. Not the best I've ever had but certainly among the best. The only thing I will say is that one of my companions can't have seaweed. The wonton soup was amazing but full of seaweed. It wasn't listed on the menu and we have never had seaweed in any other wonton soup so didn't know to ask if it could be left out. That was sad. All she could do was have a tiny spoon of the broth to taste it. The green onion pancake was very good. The red bean paste pockets use the same dough but filled with sweet red bean paste. They were a perfect way to end the meal. Next time I'm in the city I will visit again. Loved it all. It was worth taking the time to visit and eat there.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Juicy pan fried pork bao
    Juicy pan fried pork bao
    Pan fried pork dumpling

    See all

    Pan fried pork dumpling
    Mashita Galbi Jjim

    Mashita Galbi Jjim

    4.6
    (164 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Awesome place with a huge portion size of food!…read more Good: - Only waited about 5min for a seat on a Sunday night for dinner - They are generous with the banchan and we had a couple refills - The galbi jjim for 2 people was way too much and well worth since it powered 2 more meals after - super fresh and so many toppings - the meat is super soft - The watermelon strawberry drink was huge and great value Bad: - Takes a while for the food to come - The place is pretty small Overall would come again, super comfort food. Great value and just enjoyed the vibes.

    super cute small-ish restaurant serving korean dishes and known for galbijjim! we came by to try it…read moreout and i really enjoyed it. it didn't seem too busy on a weekday night and our party of five was able to sit right away. the food also came out quickly once ordered! the only thing is that service could be spotty, as it seemed they didn't have enough staff for the floor when we were there. i didn't mind too much but keep that in mind if you are on a timeline! we tried the galbijjim, which comes with glass noodles, rice cakes, and cheese by default. they also gave us banchan and rice. the galbijjim was saucy and savory with tender meat & lots of cheese. i do think it's less sweet than daeho's version, which can be a plus if you find theirs to be overly sweet! additionally, they include the rice cakes and cheese, which are paid add-ons if you go to daeho. the banchan were better than daeho's in my opinion. their fish cakes were nicely grilled and kimchi tasted great. i only wish they had purple rice as an option! the portion was perfect for five of us so it's a really great value in my opinion. overall a good vibe, great food and banchan, nice portion for galbijjim. service can be slow but they're very kind and helpful.

    Photos
    Mashita Galbi Jjim
    Complimentary Banchan (clockwise): Salad w/ sesame dressing, kimchi, japchae, fish cakes
    Complimentary Banchan (clockwise): Salad w/ sesame dressing, kimchi, japchae, fish cakes
    Soy KFC, sauce on the side ($22.75)

    See all

    Soy KFC, sauce on the side ($22.75)

    Ben Thai Cafe - thai - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...