Our first take out from here and it was fantastic. Mussamun in particular. Will return to sample additional delights.

Cozy eatery serving Thai dishes reminiscent of the eateries in Thailand. A rustic ambience with simple tables, and you know instantly that the focus is going to be on the food! They've also made it to the Michelin Bib Gourmand list several years in a row, so you know the food is going to be legit! They don't accept reservations, so getting there and hoping for a table is your best bet. We were a group of 5, and after about a 20 min wait (pretty much par-for-the-course for a Saturday night), we were seated. They do have tables outside, but we were told that we couldn't start our meal outside and then move to a table indoors after one was available, so we waited. Oh well! As we waited, we noticed a steady stream of online orders, indicating this is a popular place with those in the neighborhood. We got a few beers while we waited for a table. They also have Thai iced teas/coffee/lemonade, and serve young coconuts with water. We got a bunch of appetizers to share and some entrees. We got the crispy rice pork salad, this is served with lettuce leaves and herbs and a wedge of lime. I loved this dish - the crispy rice and ground pork combination was balanced and the squeeze of lime juice made for a perfect bite wrapped in a lettuce leaf with mint and cilantro. Next was the Bird & Buffalo Chicken wings, perfectly crispy and tossed in salt and pepper. Good for folks who don't enjoy the spice. We also got the grilled pork spare ribs to share, which folks enjoyed. For entrees we had the drunken noodles with pork, green curry with rice and massaman curry with rice. I could have done with a spicier version of the green curry, but it was flavorful and satisfying. Overall, a solid spot for Thai food - we will be back to sample some of their other dishes too! read more

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We have been here a few times, a smallish restaurant on Telegraph with open kitchen and friendly staffs Food was authentic and Thai spicy if you know what I meant, so for me.i would.do medium and still crying from the heat. Come to my surprise since I am not a big fan of curry they made a fan out of me.for serving one of the best Chicken curry with middle bowl ever. The sour mustard add a bit of tanginess to the creamy coconut and curry flavor and that juicy chilcken thigh got me.to want more. Very few places that would make me.say j need to go back.for this one dish and the chicken curry was the winner for me. read more

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Came here on a Thursday at opening. It wasn't too crowded or busy, but there was definitely a small lunch rush. It's very cute inside and could be the perfect place for a date or even dinner with friends/family. I tried the lunch special, holy tofu basil with yellow curry chicken. It was good, tofu saltier than expected, but the yellow curry was perfect. The yellow curry had the right amount of flavor and sweetness. Nothing overpowered it and the dish paired well with rice and with a fried egg. The veggie rolls were very crispy and flavorful. The fried chicken spring rolls were also good, but chicken didn't have much of the lemongrass flavor, it tasted like a regular crispy fried chicken. Comparing the duck larb with the chicken, the duck was better. It was refreshing and tender. The chicken was also good, but wasn't much of a standout. Everything was freshly made and I look forward to coming back! read more

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Sadly, this spot has gone down hill. Their motto is "love and larb," referring to the wonderful Thai dish by that name. I've eaten larb in many restaurants over the decades and Bird and Buffalo's version used to be pretty good. We went last night and it was beyond disappointing for the second time in the last 6 months. There were hardly any vegetables, the mint was old and brown, and it was served up without any sense of care on the plate. Most of the usual scallion salad like part of the dish was missing. The server acknowledged that it was not up to standard, so he didn't charge us for our tea but made no gesture to remake the dish or offer something else. We will not be going back. read more

I forgot my phone and had to go back to the office. I was already 40 minutes behind and facing an hour+ drive. Dinner is at home seemed too far away. Bird & Buffalo to the rescue. Trying to park on Telegraph past 5pm can be a challenge, they share a tiny lot with the rest of their building. Parking is parking and delicious is delicious. It happened to be happy hour, so I ordered off the happy hour menu. The pork skewers were juicy and full of flavor. I ate two skewers and took two home. I also had the roti and curry. I went veggie, which meant green curry. They serve it "taco" style. That man's a heaping serving if chopped fresh veggies on top of a ladel of basil green curry in top of the bread. When it first comes out, it is crispy deliciousness. I managed about 1 good bite before be the curry sopped the be roti. From to then on it was fork time. The roti edges did stay crispy, but for the most part it was delightfully messy. The neatnik in me wished the curry was served on the side. The cucumber, squash, shallots, carrot slivers, cilantro, and eggplant were really fresh. The curry was mild and flavorful. I rounded things out with thai lemonade. Love the relaxed vibe and consistently good food. Recommended. read more

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Bird & Buffalo is a quaint little restaurant The service was friendly and attentive. I think the owner was waiting on us. He had a good sense of humor. Larb: (Thai spicy salad with chili, shallots, cilantro, scallion, mint, roasted rice powder, fresh lime - served with lettuce wrap). *Fried Catfish (+$3) (4/5) - the lightly fried Catfish was tossed with the spices, etc and the flavor was good. I missed the freshness of the cilantro and mint in this dish. Spicy 'Drunken' Noodle: Fat rice noodle stir-fried with lots of chili, holy basil, green peppercorn, garlic, green beans, chopped chicken, & fried egg (4/5). We got this dish mild, but it was still flavorful and done well. They seemed to have forgotten the holy basil in this dish. The fried egg had that nice crispy fry that my wife enjoyed. Thai Ice Coffee (3/5) - not as sweetened as I liked but that's ok. Support your local business. Congratulations on 7+ years serving the community. read more

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I came to Bird and Buffalo in Oakland for Restaurant week and we decided to get a few of their platters to share. My friend and I decided to share the fried fish platter with green beans and stirfry basil pork which is served with rice and a fried egg. The dish was good but nothing amazing. The basil pork was my favorite out of the entire platter as it had more of a sweet basil sauce with a nice chili after kick to it. The grilled fish on the other hand was a bit milder tasting and was paired with what tasted like a standard red curry sauce. We also decided to try out some of their spring rolls and fried crispy rice which was a great started for everyone to share and out of the two my favorite was the fried crispy rice as it had a nice crunch and kick to it. read more

Bird & Buffalo - Crispy fried rice and spring rolls - Thai Near Me - Oakland, California

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I came here with some friends for Oakland restaurant week because we had seen it online and were intrigued by the menu! We came here during lunch, and since it wasn't too crowded we were able to be seated right away. While the restaurant itself isn't too large, it does have a decent number of tables for people to sit at to eat. The interior is also quite nice and homey, with a rustic vibe to it. I decided to get one of the rice plates, which had rice, some ground meat, egg, beans, and some fish. The meat itself was fresh and quite flavorful, and the vegetables were cooked well too. While the portions weren't that large, I did like the tastes of everything that I had and think it was a nice take on Thai food. Overall, I recommend checking this place out if you want some Thai food in Oakland! read more

Bird & Buffalo - Thai Near Me - Oakland, California

Visited for Oakland Restaurant Week. We tried the two sampler trays which were excellent. They were so kind and patient with my young child, and gave her extra attention. The whole experience was wonderful. From the moment we stepped into the door all the way to leaving the restaurant. read more

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Wow, how good was this place?! Great spot for dinner with a friend. We had the roti with beef and it was phenomenal. It's rare I try something I haven't had before. The presentation of this dish was super. We also split the drunken noodle with chicken. It was flavors I'm more accustomed too but still delicious all the same. I also had a Thai ice coffee , solid offering. The service was quick and pleasant. The space was cozy and wonderful and they have their own parking lot! read more

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Definitely better than my last Thai restaurant experience... I appreciated them replacing the scrambled eggs with fried egg (they looked at me like I was crazy, yes, but I just was craving a fried egg). The food was PIPING hot when we got it making it difficult to eat/shovel down especially cuz I was hungry but it was still just as yummy. I also liked the bok choy in the dish. The dish wasn't as big as other Thai portion sizes, so no leftovers but it was the perfect size for a meal leaving me full (not stuffed) and allowing me to finish the whole thing. The restaurant is small with not a lot of seating, but if you go at the right time you can get a seat (it was getting crowded after we sat down) and the service is pretty quick which is nice read more

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They have a tiny parking lot that they share with a few other spots. Located near the old Hooper's chocolate store. They're a small shop, we didn't have an issue getting seated on the day we were there. Service was friendly and prompt. I came here with my family and we were able to split the kao soi and gai gra prow between the three of us. Everything was very comforting and delicious, exactly what we needed that day. I would definitely come back to see what else they have on the menu. Flavors were on point, my picky mom was impressed as well. read more

Bird & Buffalo - Gai gra prow - Thai Near Me - Oakland, California

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This place is phenomenal! Their catfish larb is so flavorful. I also like their roti and koi sow (spelled wrong). You can't go wrong at this spot! read more

Finally had the chance to dine-in here at Bird & Buffalo which has been on the Michelin Guide since 2022! As soon as you enter, you're greeted by cozy yet rustic Southeast Asian vibes. The dining area is pretty dense, but the staff makes sure that you feel welcome and comfortable. We were seated directly next to the register/where the staff tend to stand and it gave us a great view of the entire restaurant. The restaurant was pretty quiet, but there were only about 3 other tables seated at the time. The menu was straight forward but there was one item they had posted on the back wall that wasn't on the menu: Kao Piak Sen $17. We were told that this was essentially 'Lao Chicken Noodle Soup,' so of course we had to order it. We also ordered the classic Somtum (Papaya Salad) Thai style $15.95 + added salted crab $2 to it. One thing that really caught our eye was the Roti and Stewed Beef in Peanut-Red Curry $11.95. The menu notated that it is served 'taco style' so we wanted to see how it was executed. We made a request to have all of our food be served at the same time, but the papaya salad came out super quick. The other two dishes did come out at the same time, which was perfect! The Somtum portion was huge, we even had leftovers. It was a refreshing first bite with a pretty intense kick as you continue to eat it. Definitely ask to adjust the spice level if you're not good with spice! The salted crab add-in was delicious, fun to eat, and perfectly sweet + savory. Next up: we dug into the Kao Piak Sen. The chicken was ridiculously tender, the noodles were so bouncy, and the dish itself was very comforting, but I did wish it had just a teeny bit more flavor. Even with the added chili oil, it just needed a touch more of salt. Finally, we tried the Roti with Beef Curry. This was our favorite bite of the night and an absolute must order! It was served like an extra large taco, so, since we were sharing, we folded it and sliced it into two. The only thing we really had to slice was the roti, the beef itself just cut like softened butter. The sauce had seeped all the way through the meat so each bite was full of that sweet and creamy peanut red curry! I wish we had started with it, since it was room temp by the time we tried it--I bet it's even more incredible hot. Next time, I'm ordering my own and digging in right away. The roti was just a bit oily, but that richness worked with the fresh veggies and curried beef. It is located in an extremely walkable and bus-able location, but there's plenty of street parking nearby. If you're lucky, you can snag a parking spot in the small lot attached to the restaurant, but I believe it is shared with the business next to it. I parked on the street a few blocks away since I just always feel safer with my car in the residential parts in the Temescal area. read more

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Nice little place with very mom & pop ambiance. I got the Gai Gra Pow and my friend got the spicy Catfish. I got "spicy" and she got the catfish "thai spicy". My friend has a pretty high spice tolerance while I have a slightly above average one. The waiter even warned us several times that the thai spicy was very spicy and to be careful. We did not think the food was spicy at all. Flavors were very good otherwise, portions were also good. Also ordered the fried oyster mushrooms which were solid and crunchy as well. Service was very good. We had trouble deciding on what to order and they checked on us multiple times and refilled waters without asking. Waiter also gave me his suggestions when I was stuck between two snack orders. Overall, solid spot. Would have liked to feel some more heat from the food but otherwise would recommend. read more

Bird & Buffalo - Foreground js gai gra pow. Background is spicy catfish - Thai Near Me - Oakland, California

I ordered the chicken wings, ribs and chicken heart - for SCIENCE! Chicken heart was interesting and they gave you a lot! Looks small portions but there's quite a few. I ate most of it and then got "chcikened" out on the rest. The wings were actually really good especially with the sauce they gave. It's like a spicy sweet sauce. Now here is where they effed me. I ordered the ribs and nowhere does it say there's peanuts. There's a peanut salad underneath it. Luckily, I had Epi nearby. So I did what most Gen Z would do. I just wiped that snizzzz off and ate most of it. The ribs were actually really good. They also gave you a thin spicy type sauce that paired really well. The bottom two ribs were coated with peanuts so I threw them away. I could have refunded on DoorDash the whole amount but I'll donate that cost to science- I mean the Resteraunt. Minus 1 star for putting peanuts without listing that in the menu. IF YOU SERVE PEANUTS PUT THAT ISH IN THE MENU! read more

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The restaurant itself is cute and definitely makes for a nice dinner spot although the service was pretty average. As far as the food goes, the yellow curry chicken with roti was honestly the best - came out so fresh and flavorful! I love the pickled vegetables on top and the chicken was cooked so well! The pinky milk was okay, probably could do without or maybe the Thai tea instead. Same with the Kao Piak Sen, it's a pretty average chicken noodle soup - would recommend trying one of the other noodle dishes instead! read more

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Overall the food is delicious but nothing that was phenomenal that would warrant me to go out of the way for unless I'm in the area EXCEPT that the fried chicken spring roll and Kao Ka Moo was tasty. Chicken spring roll has outer layer that was not the usual spring roll and so it gives a nice texture to the meaty spring roll. The Kao Ka Moo, stewed pork belly, was so tender that it just shreds and the flavor was yummy. This was the entree that we pretty much finished since it was yummy. Pad see ew was so so. A little on the soggy side which I'm not used to and I prefer pad see ew from another location about 1 mile away that is hands down the best I've had. Nam Kao was ok too. Texture was lacking since everything was mostly soggy when I've like the crispy rice texture together with all the meat and vegetables. Kao soi had good coconut milk soup but it didn't have that spices depth to it. If it did, it would have been perfect, just as how I would remember it when I had it in Thailand. read more

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We stopped in this place on a whim after a failed attempt to visit Marufuku down the street. Marufukus wait was too long and we needed good food, asap. We popped into bird and buffalo and were not disappointed! We were pleasantly surprised at how this restaurant that was not on our radar turned out to be just what the doctor ordered. Filling, heart felt food made with love and soul. We could really taste the care that went into the dishes we ate. We started with the wings and crispy egg rolls, then each of us had a different entree. Nobody had any complaints. The curries were delicious. I ordered the pad see ew and the noodles were so tasty. Almost like they were hand made/ripped. I've caught myself thinking about this dish a few times since this visit. The food most definitely left an impression! read more

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Bird & Buffalo still hits even after all these years. Takeout is still a great option, and most recently a midweek lunch was delicious. The food is fresh, bright and seemingly not swimming in oil. There are plenty of fresh vegetables and the spice level was spicy enough but not overbearing so. Prices have gone up, just like everything in life. What was once a feeling of a deal, is now on par with most spots, although the menu has smaller bites at a few lower prices. I recently went with the 2 item combo ($22ish) and was able to get a veggie curry and a ground chicken dish. It came with rice, an egg and green beans and it was great, filling and enough for a little bit of leftovers. Overall, a great, hip, but casual Thai option in Temescal with some parking. read more

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I've been wanting to try this spot for awhile and glad I finally got a chance. I came in on a Friday eve around 7. There is a shared lot for parking. The space is not huge; I grabbed a spot by the window and noticed there are a few outdoor tables as well. I ordered the fried oyster mushrooms as a starter and went with the fried catfish larb for my enteee. the waitress asked how spicy I wanted and I chose to go with mild. The mushrooms came with a dipping sauce. As far as alcohol there is beer and a few wines to choose from. Everything was good and service was attentive. read more

Bird & Buffalo - Larb Salad - Thai Near Me - Oakland, California

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This is going to be a meal I crave and definitely come back for. I can't believe I've been down the street for 7 years and haven't eaten here! First of all, the ambiance is so cute. Feels like I've pulled up to a street vendor in Thailand and grabbed some of the best food. The food is extremely delicious. Thanks to the suggestions! The oyster mushrooms taste like straight up calamari and the aioli it comes with so perfect with it! So good! I did the choose 2 - lunch meal. It did not disappoint what so ever. It was so much food, good for 2 to share for sure. Absolutely coming back cause, I love Thai food and I have let this place slip through my fingers for long enough! See you again bird and buffalo! read more

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Very delicious lunch here. No wait on a Sunday at 12:30pm. I did call ahead to set aside a table of 8 for our group. It wasn't very busy; there were only a couple other small groups who dined during our meal. Our server was very friendly and helpful. * Thai Iced Tea ($4.50, w/ Grass Jelly +$1) - 4.5 stars. Great flavor, I could taste a hint of bitterness from the tea. We got 1 glass split into two cups for our toddlers, and I swear we got the equivalent of 2 full glasses. * Kao Piak Sen ($17, special) - we got this with the chili and scallions on the side for our kids. The noodles were very soft. They liked it plain (basically chicken noodle soup). The chili was intense when I tried it with the soup! * Kao Soi ($18.50, w/ chicken +$3) - 4.5 stars. Very delicious, intense flavor, good mix of soft and crunchy noodles. read more

Bird & Buffalo - Kao Soi ($18.50, w/ chicken +$3) - 4.5 stars. Very delicious, intense flavor, good mix of soft and crunchy noodles. Sun lunch 2025-01-12 - Thai Near Me - Oakland, California

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Food here was fantastic!! Ordered the taco style beef with cucumbers and the ribs. Very reasonable prices and service was fantastic. Definitely come here and bring an appetite. read more

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I don't eat Thai often but lately have been craving something with more protein and punch. Haven't dined in yet but the DoorDash orders have been great: - Miang Pla, fried tilapia, fried beautifully and the accoutrements are perfect, sweet, sour, spicy, fresh, herbal and textured - larb salad with pork cheeks +$3 totally worth the extra cost for the cheeks, mega flavor and toothsome - tom saap, hot pot with shrooms, tripe and riblets, really warming and good! - spring for the pdh sauce - it's aptly called pretty darn hot, just need a smidgen! Satisfying and tastes very high quality. A fan for sure. read more

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Really delicious Thai comfort food. My only critique is that when we visited this place, they were out of majority of the things that we tried to order and we got there pretty close to when they opened. read more

I had Roti it came with lots of vegetables and had a very unique taste and flavor. It was delicious. I also ordered can't remember the name, it was something with tofu and lettuce. That was disgusting. I couldn't even eat one bite of it. It had some weird, mint smell and very sour. Service was ok, except if the waiter could have had a smile on her. read more

Delicious thai spot with great portions! We ordered the drunken noodle and the spicy catfish. Service was quick and efficient. This is a place we would come back to again. read more

Really sweet place with most authentic thai food i've seen in the bay (esp with dishes offered and such). The location in temescal is pretty convenient and free grass jelly thai tea if you post on story! The restaurant's family owned and the staff are incredibly sweet. They knew just the right times to check in on us for water and if we needed any help. The inside itself is very charming and is perfect for couples or family groups. How I rate my stars: 1 - Yikes. Will never be coming back. Usually raw food, terrible service, etc 2 - Maybe it was just this time. Didn't like what I ordered, bug in the food, bad experience, etc 3 - Meh. Nothing special nor awful about it, but not super memorable. 4 - Liked! Would happily come back to :) 5 - Must-Try!!! I will becoming back to this place every time I'm in the area. read more

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Stopped by for a dinner and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food. The highlight for me was the Pad e'sarn noodle. Their variation of pad see ew but not as sweet and plenty of egg and chicken. For some reason, it really hit the spot. Imperial roll and papaya salad were also good appetizers to start. Overall loved the quick service and tasty food. read more

Some of the best Larb I've ever had! The food here is definitely authentic, and the flavors and spices are very strong, not your typical mainstream Thai cuisine. Service was very quick and friendly, and they are also considerate of your spice preferences (although the most authentic dishes have the most heat!). I had a fish and larb dish that had a very unique and bright tamarind flavor to it. They are generous with the spices and pronounced flavors. Would recommend! read more

Bird & Buffalo - Fried Fish Larb Salad - Thai Near Me - Oakland, California

My first impression is that the atmosphere is great and the space is beautifully decorated. We started off with the roti dip and vegetable green curry. The roti itself was oily and didn't have that layered texture I needed. It's closer to a fried dough than roti, but vegetable curry on top tasted fresh and I liked the combo altogether. The drunken noodles were just okay and also a bit greasy, and not comparable to other Thai spots around. Same goes for the mango sticky rice: the sweetness and milk consistency was on the blander side.. but the rice texture was good. Beer on tap was overpriced, too. I was recommended a couple times and wanted to give it a try but I left feeling like I've had better. Maybe other menu items could change my mind? Food was overall overpriced and average, and service was nice, although not good enough for me to return or recommend. read more

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Great Food! Very tasty dishes!! You can't go wrong with this Michelin rated place!! Friendly crew too. My first time coming in and certainly won't be my last. read more

Bird & Buffalo - Kao Ka Moo, E Sarn Pork Sausage, Chicken Drunken Noodles, Spicy Catfish 'Pad Cha' - Thai Near Me - Oakland, California

Superb scrumptious food that will keep you wanting more and more. I will make it to a point to taste everything their menu offers. My wife and I dined here for the first time yesterday and interestingly enough, we somewhat stumbled across this place literally by accident given our ramen spot we initially planned on going to, was just down the street yet we were equally open to having some Thai food as well as we happened to quickly glance at this place as we were searching for parking and the catchy resto name did it for us so I quickly glanced their menu and gave them a try. Delicious grub overall - their grilled pork cheeks was on another pallet level. Their wings plus the crack sauce it was glazed with was on point. Wife had the crispy catfish dish which was also noteworthy in itself of a dish. We'll be back for sure. read more

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This is my first Thai/Lao style dining. I'm a few months late on this review but better late than never right? I still recall the flavors and fresh ingredients. Yes it's that good and fresh! I went there on a Friday evening. Surprisingly there was no wait for a party of 4. Service was attentive and prompt. I recall sitting on benches and it felt like a dinner picnic type of ambiance. The food is different than typical Thai. It's almost like a Chinese crossed with Thai and a bit of fusion influence. We ordered several dishes as shown in my photos. My favorite is the drunken noodle and mu palo (tender fatty pork). I think the presentation of the pork spareribs is very nice but I felt it could've been more tender. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be so not a total knock. My least favorite is the sausage, but that could've been due to us ordering that last. I wish I ordered curry because that would've hit all flavor angles. This restaurant is perfect for a simple lunch or to share with a couple of friends. I'll certainly return. read more

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food: WOW 10/10 the Mussamun Neur was so delicious. If you like peanuts and red curry this will blow your mind it's so tasty and flavorful! I ordered door dash takeout but I will definitely be dining in and having this to get the full experience :) I also ordered a side of wings and they are also super yummy no complaints at all! Once before I had their dessert roti with condensed milk and it was a sweet and tasty treat :) I cannot speak on service and ambiance but I will be returning soon and with company! read more

Bird & Buffalo - Chicken wings - Thai Near Me - Oakland, California

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I was looking to cater my husband's 50th when I remembered Bird and Buffalo's soul satisfying Thai food. I reached out to Pat who helped me decide the menu, quantities and also took care of allergies and dietary requirements. Truly was a smooth and happy experience. She and her team delivered the food and set it up for me. Best decision ever! All the guests loved the food , such fresh, flavorful dishes! I would highly recommend Bird and Buffalo to everyone I know. read more

I've been meaning to write this for a year now. This food is good. It's consistently delicious and fresh. I love all the flavors and textures. I usually order Togo, however they make this food super fast and it always arrives piping hot. I ordered the khao piak chicken soup. And the chicken rolls. The noodles are so chewy and delish The chicken egg rolls are crispy rice egg rolls stuffed with chicken mince and spices i wish it came with lettuce and fresh herbs like champa. But I'm not complaining. Both so good!! read more

Given that I've been recommending this place to anyone and everyone, I figured I should come back and revise my review! I really do like this place and have come back several times since my initial review. The flavors are on point and everything is tasty and perfectly fresh, never overcooked! My favorite thing is the roti with beef or chicken, but I also love the drunken noodles, wings, and can't wait to try more of the menu! read more

Bird & Buffalo - Roti and beef - Thai Near Me - Oakland, California

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