Well what a nice surprise we have last Sunday. We when to see the new movie "Michael ". And we have a time to eat something. We walk and find desert Thai restaurant. And I tell you. Super good food much better than others Thai food in the valley. The service was excellent, i will return again and highly recommend this place. read more

This is the best Thai food I've ever had! I'm not the most knowledgable about Thai, but I do eat a fair amount of it. I've some great, good, meh, and yikes! But Desert Thai is a real standout. Not the fanciest place, (which is actually good in my mind), the it's clean and the service was top notch. Never once had to wonder where our waitperson sent off too, perfect blend of available but not bothersome. We ordered the traditional test dish Pad Thai, very good. The Prik King, also very good. Both were on the lunch specials which included rice and soup or salad on each. The soup, Tom yum. Both the soup and salad were spot on. Anxious to go back with a larger group than two to try more dishes! read more

Despite a few scathing negative reviews of Desert Thai there were plenty of positive ones so I figured chances were good. I am a good home chef and Thai is one of my specialties so I don't go out to dinner often and it was pre-Covid the last time I actually ate at a restaurant, which by chance was Thai. But I was on a date with someone I just met so thought dinner and a movie would be a nice treat for both of us and turned out we both love Thai food and Desert Thai is right near the movie theater we picked so decided on that. I don't know about the negative reviews but I thought the food was fantastic. I started with chicken coconut soup which was delicious and my entree Pad Thai with chicken and shrimp and my date ordered sweet and sour chicken. The food presentation on both of our dishes was neat, visually appealing and very appetizing and the portions were big enough that despite me being a big man with an always big appetite I only finished half my plate [and my date not even half], of course the soup took up some of that space but I only had a cup size portion and one beverage. In hindsight we could have ordered one entree with a side of rice and been plenty. I never think to notice names but our server, a petite young lady, was friendly, attentive and checked on us regularly as did other staff passing by despite the place being busy, only one empty table when we entered, which was ours as we made reservations. The ambiance is typical modern southern California outdoor mall style more reminiscent of a sports bar with lots of TV's playing sports but that doesn't bother me as I like sports. But the premises was clean and comfortable which is always my main concern. I found myself as I was eating contemplating my next visit because there is so much on the menu that I like and would like to try. If there were any reason to give Desert Thai less than 5 stars it would only be nit picking such as the interior could have been any kind of restaurant. I like when ethnic restaurant interiors make you feel like "you are there" with decor and traditional music playing but that's just a personal quirk and has nothing to do with the food and service. read more

Always on the hunt for another Thai restaurant to try out. This particular one I've seen walking by but never tried it out. Plus there hasn't been much Thai places that's worth it in the dessert. I've been to one or two others and it was just whatever. Nothing major to rave about. Desert Thai is right in the heart of town where the civic center is located. Along the main strip off the 111 with some parking in the back. There's a small lot that shares it with other businesses but a parking structure and a few other lots all nearby. You'll find plenty of parking. Both indoor and outdoor dining. Things I noticed with the dessert, most places tend to close early mid week or not even open at all. Give or take 9:30 closings time. Anyways, we walked in during the weekdays which it was pretty mellow. A few people inside but we wanted the patio as we had our dog. There's two patio which wraps around to the back. Tables along the side where the front door is and majority in the back where there's also an entrance. Checked in with the hostesses which she mentioned to have a seat anywhere we wanted as she was finishing up with another customer. It did take a while to get the menu which we thought she may have forgotten until it came out later. They also served wine and beer. Don't quite remember if there's cocktails but I believe so. Food wise, they did have a majority of traditional dishes. Downfall, there was no noodles soup. Was craving either the tom yum noodle soup or the classic boat noddles. Neither was on the menu but your classic noodles dishes were. Started off with the larb which was actually delicious. Minced meat tossed together with all your traditional Thai spices and served with a wedge of cabbage. It's like the Asian version of a ceviche but minced meat. That dish was a hit with the right amount of spices. The juice was really tasty too. I alway get a side of rice to go with it. Entrees, the panang curry with chicken also served with a side of steamed rice. Portion was pretty decent. They served there's with snow peas and green beans versus bell peppers. It was still pretty tasty. And the spicy noodle, which there's a few different names to it depending on where you go to. Nice flat rice noodles sautéed and toss with bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and green onions. Another decent dish. The flavors were tasty which I added beef too. Both dishes were quite tasty. To full for desert. The staff were very friendly. Even though we were the only one on the patio, they did come out often to check in on us to see if we needed anything. During our meal, more people did walk in for dining. Between the other restaurants, this one was better. Food was tasty, staff were all very friendly and sweet. At least I can say there's a Thai restaurant that's good in the dessert. Always on the hunt for more. read more

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Flavors were off (too sweet). I had the chicken pot stickers (steamed). The pot stickers were good, but the sauce that came with them was not a traditional pot sticker dipping sauce; it tasted like a sweet bbq sauce mixed with oysters sauce. I also tried the Tom Yum Soup. It was lacking in lemon grass flavor and was slightly sweet. The chicken was over-cooked and rubbery. It came with fresh white button mushrooms tossed in just before serving, so not really cooked it the soup. For my main dish I had the Pad Thai with chicken and shrimp. It arrived very saucy. The shrimps and chicken were over cooked, rubbery. The sauce was very sweet. I asked the server after what made it sweet and she said the cook adds sugar to the dish. I've never had it that way before. The service was fast and friendly. The ambiance was casual and clean. I've eaten here before. I do not recall it being this bad. Not sure I'll be back though. read more

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Desert Thai is definitely a good time. This Cathedral City must is on the corner of Palm Canyon/Monty Hall Drive, next door to Brunch 101, The Roost and many gems. As well as directly in front of the Mary Pickford Theatre. Easy parking in many places, however Fridays are extremely busy for dinner in the area. I'd passed by DT a few times but this was my first time enjoying, and enjoying them with a friend. We noticed the nice patio in front, but since most people were dinning inside, we decided to as well. They have two rooms with booths and tables, including a room toward the side when you first come in that's more spacious, and even has a bar area with bar seating. Nobody was behind the bar, but it was nicely set up with lots of beer, wine, cocktails and beverage options to choice from #FullBar We had great service and follow up the entire time. My friend Marcus had Fried Rice with a side of French Fries, which initially came out with cocktail sauce as a side... But they were able to replace it with ketchup pretty much as soon as we asked. They were apologetic. Some people do enjoy cocktail sauce as a dip. I had the Tofu Pad Thai and a side of Brown Rice, really nice flavors, portions and presentation. We had a few more things to do after dinner so we didn't indulge in any drinks, however they have some great white wine options as well as rosé that would pair well with a lot of dishes here. Lighting, decor and overall feel is nice here. When we left the place was pretty filled up including the patio with it's heat lamps. Definitely would come back and try more from their vegan friendly Vegetarian section of the menu. But depending on your foodie lifestyle, restrictions and needs they have quite a bit to choose from. Stellar Lunch Specials, plus happy hour menu: Mixed Vegetable dish, Vegetable Dumplings and Vegetable Spring Rolls are definitely among them and calling me back to enjoy next time. Stop in to Desert Thai from 11:30AM til 9:30PM daily and give this very nice slice of family owned eats a try. read more

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One of my go to thai places in the desert! We ordered take out, customer service is always nice. I ordered the tofu delight, I had forgotten how spicy it was but still very good! Also ordered the chicken scewers for the kids but they didnt really like them. They looked very dry and husband said they didnt really taste like anything. My husband got the spicy peanut with chicken, he really liked his. The thing we hate about ordering take out is that since its located in a busy center theres usually never close by parking to just go grab the good. Wish they had a curbside pick up parking spot or something! read more

Desert Thai - Tofu delight - Thai Near Me - Cathedral City, California

Some of the best Thai I've ever had. We went twice the weekend we were there it was so good.

Amazing food and even better service. My sister... in her words... wanted to lick the plate. All the staff was very attentive and food came out perfect in a timely manner. We both got Pad See Eww, egg rolls and Thai Tea. read more

Desert Thai - Pad see eww - Thai Near Me - Cathedral City, California

While on the road, we were searching for a Thai restaurant which would approximate our local favorites and, and we certainly found one in Desert Thai. Close to our vacation home, with ample parking, a colorful place with a friendly welcoming. We were given a choice of the daily lunch specials or the all day menu. The lunch specials come with some extras, but with a smaller serving of the entree. We chose the larger portion, mainly so we would have leftovers to take out. We were welcomed with some jasmine ice tea, and I am not usually a fan of iced tea but this one was tasty. We ordered a dish referred to as hot eggplant and a tofu pad Thai. Both were bountiful and scrumptious. Prices were consistent with the current restaurant scene and we will certainly return when we are in town. read more

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I cannot believe that I have lived in the CV for a year and have never written a review for this wonderful restaurant! My visits have always been during lunch, where they have a specifically priced menu. All of my greetings at the door have been prompt and very friendly. The kitchen does an awesome job in preparation and the entrees come out quickly and piping hot. Your server will gladly guide you on the spice level which for me is necessary and well heeded. This is a very related atmosphere offering indoor and outdoor tables along with deep seating booths for a slightly more intimate feel. TVs are on the inside walls if you are looking for something other than conversation! I was looking for a replacement for a place I was very fond of in LA and Desert Thai definitely meets that challenge. read more

This is the worst Thai restaurant I have ever been to. The food had been pre cooked. They brought us the wrong dish with chicken and came back 3 minutes later with a chicken and vegetable dish. It is not possible to cook chicken and vegetables in under 3 minutes. The food tasted old and no Thai seasoning was used. Even the Thai chili sauce didn't taste good. I was sick with stomach issues for several days after eating here. I do not believe the current owners know how to cook Thai food. read more

Omg!!! So delicious! My friend told me about this place, looks like they're remodeling one side, we were greeted & seated politely & quickly.. always a +; couple people came by to see how we were doing, the gentleman that took our order was super friendly & kept checking on us, turns out he was the owners' son. The good was so tasty! Cannot wait to go back! read more

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This place has great food especially their panang chicken curry! It's the best I've ever had! Service is good. However the restaurant is laid out weird (customers walk through the open kitchen.) and it's pretty messy, and unappealing to see that. Cleanliness needs some real attention inside. Floors dirty. More pleasant to sit outside. I'd love to see this place clean up the atmosphere. read more

Ive never had bland Thai. Until today. I should have known, at point of order no one was asked their spice level desires. Never seen that. My minced lettuce wraps were made with shredded chicken not minced. Meh. Great service. Overly bright fluorescent lighting. read more

Desert Thai - Thai Near Me - Cathedral City, California

Fabulous food! Good service. Nice casual atmosphere. Have been coming here for a few years. One of my favorite

Really great service with zero ambiance. Food was good. It was our first time here. We stopped in for the lunch specials. In general, they run about $15.95 & come with soup or salad & a complimentary tea that they kept refilling for us. We'll be back. Lunch specials are daily until 3:30! read more

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I was in the area and stopped by for lunch. The inside is very spacious and the restaurant also has seating available on the outside for those nice warm summer days. I asked for one of my favorite dishes, Prik King with Tofu. It came with white rice (brown rice available), a salad (soup available), and an iced tea for 14.95. The Prik King was so flavorful. I loved that the green beans still had some crunch to them. Their Thai Chili sauce in the sauce tray was my favorite. I also really enjoyed the salad dressing. It was peanut based. The waiter was friendly and checked on me to ensure everything was tasting great. Overall, it was a good experience and I would stop by again when I'm in the area. read more

Desert Thai - Prik King with Tofu - Thai Near Me - Cathedral City, California

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This is the best Thai food in the valley, hands down. I can't count the number of times we have been here, and we are never disappointed. Everything from their appetizers, to the salads, to the soups, to the curries, to the noodles, to the traditional dishes are just amazing. We searched for good Thai food in the valley and kept being disappointed until we finally found Desert Thai. Their flavors are just incredible, and the quality of all of the produce is top tier. You cannot go wrong with ANYTHING on this menu. read more

Our hotel staff recommended this restaurant, saying the food was authentic Thai food. Our server, Jocelyn, was awesome, but honestly, the food didn't wow us. The place itself was nice and clean, but the food just didn't live up to the ratings. read more

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Finally came out to try this place & had a great lunch with the wife. The servers were great & all the workers were super friendly!. I had the inferno noodles with chicken & I really enjoyed them! They had a great flavor & kick!. I also had the spring roll with my lunch special along with the complementary ice t oh & the tom yum soup! which overall all the food was delicious!. The ambiance was nice & clean. I would definitely come back! read more

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The wait was so long! The servers were nice but a way too long of a wait to be seated and served. The food was bland, lukewarm and the rice was undercooked. Maybe not a good day. read more

We went to Desert Thai for the first time on the recommendation of friends who described it as having "authentic" Thai food. It was a disappointing experience overall. The food was mediocre at best. For example, the pad Thai was made with noodles that were chopped into small pieces. It was more like a noodle salad with a bare hint of peanut sauce. The stir-fried eggplant was passable, though the eggplant itself was in large chunks and too firm. The cocktails were worse than the food. For example, the dry gin martinis had some sort of floral sweetener that was hard to describe. We had them made over again, only to have watery gin. The service was friendly and agreeable. The ambiance is functional and not much to speak of. read more

The chicken noodles were delicious and plentiful. I don't usually have leftovers but I was glad to have them again the next day. There was an odor in the restaurant that was a little off putting. read more

Desert Thai - Chicken noodles - Thai Near Me - Cathedral City, California

If it were someone else with more time they would have sued this place, it is a good place for anyone who is interested in making quick money, I say this because I was a regular I always order the same dish but I usually don't pay tips since I only order 1 dish. After about 1 month of not tipping or maybe I was Asian/thai I found small black pebbles in my food. My partner said it could have been from the chicken, but while I was doing DoorDash with the pizza shop behind it I saw behind desert Thai the small black pebbles were all over their plants in the back where the staffs can go out to. Overall like I said it's a good place to sue, they are hateful little men with small ego pretty sure the entire staffs are boys so if you order or dine in without tip enough times they will definitely give you a reason to sue. read more

We ordered Thai food for delivery for a batch party and the service was quick and the food was delicious. We ordered salads, rangoons, rolls, and noodles (pad Thai, pad se ew, spicy noodles). Everything was tasty! Perfect for a night in. read more

Thai food is my absolute fav. I look forward to coming to this place! The service is stellar, all the staff are friendly & knowledgeable. Perfect location! I'll prob suggest going there this Thursday for dinner actually. I haven't been in a couple weeks lol read more

Don't be fooled my the Mexican staff and owner. Every thing was delicious. I had the Kung poa chicken and my husband had the pad Thai. We shared the lettuce wraps ( these were just okay to me. The owner was very nice. Walked around making sure his guests were satisfied. Wait staff were nice , too. Our server even put our leftovers in the container for us! read more

Desert Thai - PAD THAI - Thai Near Me - Cathedral City, California

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The food was large portions , good pricing , good flavor, good service. Overall 4 stars. The best things were the pad see ew and eggrolls our least favorite was the fried rice. Ambiance gets 1 star! Exposed plywood, wires hanging from wire basket overhead. Unfinished walls with crude iron welding, and small holes in wall behind makeshift shelves for alcohol. In need of major TLC for the atmosphere. If I return in will be in the winter so I can sit outside. Because the original side could use some tlc as well. I was told that they took over a place next store and got a liquor license and then they are remodeling slowly. I saw a picture of the place before they ripped out the grill and vent above. It looked nice and should have left it as it was until,they could remodel all at once. read more

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Very good Thai food. I had the pad Thai and the pad see ew - both were great dishes. We also have the chicken steamed dumplings to start with and added sweet-and-sour sauce instead of the plum sauce. Had some sake they only had a cold sake. My mom wanted a glass of red wine. They either had a Pinot for $18 or a cab or Merlot for seven or nine dollars. I would definitely recommend this place as the food is amazing and I think I would definitely go there again and keep trying new dishes. There's options to sit inside or outside. I sat outside on the courtyard. read more

Food was full of flavor! Great prices and great service! I ordered my food to go and it was ready pretty fast.

We had lunch here the other day, with two friends who recommended it highly; it proved to be an excellent choice. Service was prompt and friendly. They brought us glasses of iced tea just as we sat down, a nice touch. We ordered from the lunch menu, I had the Penang curry with chicken, my hubby had sauteed vegetables with chicken. Both were delicious and certainly generous portions. My curry was different than I've had in any other Thai restaurant (or in Thailand) and I appreciated the opportunity to experience the difference, which probably reflects the many styles of curry in different regions of the country. Why four stars? our friends both ordered kung pao, one chicken, one beef, both medium hot. One was perfect, the other so hot that he ended up leaving most on his plate. Inconsistency isn't good. I'm sure that if he would have told our server they would have replaced it, but some aren't comfortable with that choice. That said, they agreed that they would return because all previous experiences were so good. I'm sure we will be back and try dinner. read more

Wanted Thai but wanted try something other than Thai smile in PS. Thankfully it was very nice and cool inside and we got started off with complimentary iced teas that helped. We initially looked at the regular menu and it looked like your typical Thai offerings and on par prices with majority of Thai places including from OC. But after looking at the lunch deal we decided on that and it came with rice and soup, on top of your meal which was a great portion. We ended up eating everything except the appetizer which was great as well but took it with us. We enjoyed the food so much and the lunch deal that we took some orders to go to bring back to the family. After talking with the owner and other employees we were complimented with a coffee brûlée which hit the spot after our meals. The place itself is great and of course great location next to the movie theater and other entertainment and food locations. After knowing it's been here for years I can imagine how busy it gets once the weather cools down and everyone comes back to the desert. They have a nice patio which I'm sure it gets busy come cooldown season. Plus they have a bar area and tvs around so you have stuff to watch while enjoying your meal and cooling down from the heat. Definitely recommend and is now my #1 spot for Thai in the Desert. read more

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Great lunch special menu! Food has always been flavorful and quick service. I love the yellow and panang curry, also the tom Kha coconut soup(I add pineapple to mine!). A cute little spot for some unpretentious dining. read more

Hadn't had Thai food in a while so decided to stop here for a bite. So glad I did. I had chicken pad Thai and was some of the best I've ever had. The dish was fresh and spiced exactly how I like. It really was a great meal. I will be back soon. read more

The food and the service need much improvement. It is definitely not authentic Thai food. Tastes quite bland. We had to ask "can we get service here please" because it was not happening. read more

The worst Thai food I've ever eaten. I ordered the noodles with shrimp and I got undercooked top ramen which was very dense and difficult to chew in a very bland sauce. The shrimp looked fake. I had stomach pains later that evening. Terrible place. read more

Ambiance was okay, crowd was mixed with different ethnicities, but honestly they're not that welcoming. Our server/waiter was knowledgeable with their menu & food variations, he was kind. Prices were a bit high. We ordered yellow chicken curry & probably only got 6-7 pieces of chicken. We had combination fried rice no shrimp, yellow curry and noodles. They have complimentary iced Jasmine tea. Restroom: they do not have changing table for baby. read more

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What's not to love? Tom Kai soup hot and tasty and my Pad Thai was excellent. Ordered in medium spicy and only needed a little if the red chili sauce. Nice glass of Sav Blanc and you are all set for Main Stage at Coachella! Thank you Adrian, I shall return! read more

Perhaps it was an off day... The first impression was the smell that hit us in the face as we opened the door. Is that the kitchen or is there a plumbing problem? They have a lunch menu. I got the Garlic dish andy guest got the Basil. The lunch came with free iced tea and we both got the Tom Yum soup. I didn't find any ginger chunks or roots. It was thin and too sweet. The garlic chicken was nothing special. The staff appears to all be locals. Native American or Hispanic. Didn't see anyone even vaguely Asian in appearance. The food is a 2.5 to a 3. The seating area is basic to rough. I don't see a reason to return. read more