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    Hug Thai Express

    4.7 (583 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Noodles, Salad
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 8:30 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Hug Thai Express Takeout or Delivery

    Hug Thai Express Photos

    Business Info

    HUG THAI EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Intimate
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Hug Thai Express

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    Reviews With Photos

    Tom Yum Fried Rice
    Benjamin W.

    Goodness me what a local gem this is. The Tom Yum fried rice was bursting with flavor in every bite. And the yellow curry was every bit as delicious. The food came out fast and you can tell the owners take great pride in their business, a great meal and worth a drive for this Thai experience.

    Larb with chicken! So refreshing and yummy
    Tiffany A.

    I came here on a Saturday around 5PM and man was it busy! There was a line out the door and a nice woman trying to handle the in-person rush and the phones. We were a party of 5 so we combined the 2 tables outside to create a makeshift table for ourselves. There is only three 2-person tables inside and two 2-person tables outside FYI. This is more of a takeout spot. I got the chicken pad thai (good flavor but the noodles were too sticky in my opinion. It made it hard to chew and swallow.), the tom kha (unbelievably delicious. The large size is MASSIVE.), the chicken larb (love this dish- filled with greens, fresh lime dressing and vegetables.) The woman that took our order came by and checked on us halfway through the meal which was lovely and thoughtful. I would give this spot another try when in the area.

    Tom Yum Fried Rice
    Viri M.

    The food and service was amazing as usual! Love this place. They served out food quickly and everything was delicious.

    Green Curry with vegetables
    Erika S.

    As a disclaimer, I ordered this as delivery. The star of our order was the Green Curry. Lots of veggies and great flavor. The Thai Wraps (4) were fine. Good taste but pretty pricey for what you get. Ask for extra sauce! The loser was the Pad Thai! We usually get drunken noodles and opted for Pad Thai because of the stellar reviews. It was the driest noodle dish I've had at a Thai restaurant. I'll definitely try them again because the curry was that good. But I likely wouldn't order the wraps or Pad Thai again.

    Stick rice not so sticky but solid like a rock
    Alex A.

    I ordered the six piece wings and a side of sticky rice. I am very disappointed in the sticky rice. It is very hard. I can't even break a piece off. It's very frustrating when you order food because you're in a rush rushing you need to be somewhere you can pick up the food and you can't even eat the food and you can't go back because you have to be somewhere.

    Egg Rolls
    Kathy B.

    Tucked away in a strip small, this tiny place serves generous portions of good Thai food in unassuming surroundings with great service. My daughter especially loves Kala's Crispy Chicken. The egg rolls are very tasty and the Pad Thai noodles were also good.

    Mango sticky rice
    Leslie R.

    Everything is always sooo good! Never disappoints. And the service is top notch. Very friendly people.

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    1 year ago

    Highly recommended. Fresh, authentic and delicious. The green papaya salad is very good

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    2 years ago

    The food was great!!!! service was top-notch and also nice inside, BUT it was a VERY SMALL place

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    2 years ago

    Great food and wonderful service. Great spot for Authentic Thai in La Mesa. Cute atmosphere with very friendly staff.

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Always a great spot for take out. They have excellent customer service and delicious food.

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    3 years ago

    Had some problems with my togo orders, the owner/manager reached out and fixed them right away. They really take care of their customers.

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    Page 5 of 15

    Hug Thai Express Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hug Thai Express

    Do they serve wine or can we bring our own?

    We’re very sorry that we cannot allow our customers to bring their own beer or wine into the restaurant. Under California law, it’s illegal for us to permit alcohol on the premises without the proper license. Thank you for your understanding.… 

    How clean this Hug Thai restaurant is any one can answer please I read about how good the food is so happy to find good Thai restaurant and do they used good quality ingredients please?

    It's very Clean! Has an "A" rating. Love this place😁

    Thai wraps aren't listed on your website for order any more, but they are on here. Are they still available?

    Does anyone know if they have vegan options?

    Our sauce base is completely vegan

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Mastiff Kitchen - La Mesa - Double smash burger

    Mastiff Kitchen - La Mesa

    4.6(317 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Private parking lot, 2 gender-neutral restrooms and space available for large groups…read more We drove down to La Mesa just to check out this place and it was worth it. We ordered the 'That's My Boy' and 'Meet Meat' pizza plus their fries. Their deep dishes were light and crispy. I loved the sweet sauce, jalapeño and ricotta cheese combo on That's My Boy pizza. The Mastiff Fries had a wonderful crispy texture. They are like thinly sliced potato wedges. (Our order is without cilantro which normally comes with it) The staff was super friendly and the restaurant was clean. They did have two tv screens playing the sports channel and had a variety of draft beer options.

    Found my way here for a burger. I had heard of it but never had been. So my expectations were…read moresomewhat up. Since I am gluten free I got my burger lettuce wrapped. I had never had a smash burger before so again my expectations were a little more than the average person. They did not disappoint the flavors were so delicious. I especially enjoyed the garlic aioli more than I thought I would (it is more like a mayo for this burger). The burger came with a a handful of pickled peppers and mini pickles on side. They were good but felt a little out of place for my taste. This place is definitely more of a bar feel than I expected and smaller than I thought it would be, and the seating was tight with most all the tables being bar height. The last thing to keep in mind the parking lot is small but there is street parking, but is leads to residential area so it can be limited to. Overall the burger had good flavor and I will be back to try more on the menu. If you are looking for a beer with your burger there was a lot of choices. Also, if you are into sports, there are several televisions on with a few different events playing.

    Photos
    Mastiff Kitchen - La Mesa - Double Smash Burger

    Double Smash Burger

    Mastiff Kitchen - La Mesa - Left is 'That's My Boy' and right is 'Meet Meat'

    Left is 'That's My Boy' and right is 'Meet Meat'

    Mastiff Kitchen - La Mesa - Mastiff Fries

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    Ney Restaurant - Baba Ghanoush! Best in town!

    Ney Restaurant

    4.6(380 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    I was told this is the best place for Mediterranean in town by a very nice man on a plane ride home…read moreto San Diego. I think they are specifically an Iraqi style restaurant. Not quite casual, a little fancy but not really elevated dining or anything. Nice ambiance and polite, attentive service. We ordered the spreads combo platter that came with spicy Turkish baba ganoush, regular baba ganoush, hummus, and tzatziki. It was served with piping hot pita. This was delicious, worth coming for on its own. It was my first time having Turkish baba ganoush, it was delicious! The hummus and tzatziki were excellent. I especially love the addition of a unique crunchy garnish for each dip; chickpeas on the hummus, olives on the Turkish baba ganoush, pomegranate seeds on the baba ganoush, and coarser chopped cucumber in the tzatziki. Presentation is also beautiful, with all the color and each dip smoothed in a nice pattern. My only wish is that the baba ganoush is a little smokier. We also had the Ney classic grill which came with beef shawarma, beef skewer, chicken skewer, 2 lamb kofta, and breaded chicken. The menu claims this serves 2-3, but we probably only ate half between 4 relatively light eaters after our spread combo. I really enjoyed the shawarma; the chicken and filet mignon is a little light on the seasoning but the flavor is otherwise good; the kofta could be more tender in my opinion. I rarely see chicken cream chop in grill platters, but it was well executed. The platter also comes with pickles and rice and biryani, all of who I enjoyed. The biryani comes with almonds and raisins and everything has a nice sumac flavor. They also include garlic sauce and tahini; the garlic is really punchy. The jalapeno was crazy spicy. Everything is served on a bed of lavash, but it gets a little soggy under all the meat. If I were to give feedback, I would prefer the shawarma a little less salty and the grilled filet mignon and chicken a little more salty. Not sure why it's so disparate. For the amount of food, the price is very reasonable for a seated dining experience. One note is that they really blast the AC, so dress a little on the warmer side if you run cold. Come with 4-6+ people, order the spreads platter and the grill platter, and enjoy!

    I loved this place! The night before coming here for takeout, I had Mediterranean food down at…read moreSeaport Village. It was tasty and satisfying... but this place BLEW MY MIND. The moment I walked in, I was warmly greeted and asked if I wanted a table for one. I said no, I was hoping to order takeout, and she kindly invited me to sit at the bar while I looked over the menu. Right away, the atmosphere felt welcoming, beautiful, and relaxed. I ordered my food, sipped my water, and honestly didn't think I had ordered that much. Then she came out with multiple filled brown bags of food! First of all, the prices were amazing. Second... the food was TOP NOTCH and completely different from what I had the night before. Everything was packed with flavor without being overloaded with salt. Fresh, vibrant, rich, and incredibly satisfying. The waitress/hostess was knowledgeable, friendly, and gave great recommendations on what to try. You can tell the staff truly cares about the experience. I will absolutely be back the next time I visit San Diego again. And not that I recommend eating while driving ... but the next day on my drive back to Ventura County, I spread out my leftovers and happily snacked on hummus, baba ghanoush, and dolma all the way home. That alone says everything about how good this place was.

    Photos
    Ney Restaurant
    Ney Restaurant - Filet Mignon Tikka with Baryani - delicious too

    Filet Mignon Tikka with Baryani - delicious too

    Ney Restaurant - A hidden gem, look for it.

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    A hidden gem, look for it.

    Oodles By The Noodbar - Garlic Butter Noodles

    Oodles By The Noodbar

    4.5(285 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    I came in person recently with 9 friends. They were able to accommodate us even though we were just…read morewalking in. The woman was super friendly even though it was a little chaotic. At first, she said the order only could be done on 1 bill. And then later she compromised with 2 bills, 5 people per table. That was nice of her! I just had 2 coffees before entering so I decided to skip ordering Thai tea. But they had a large drink menu, of fruit teas and more. My friend had the lychee tea which was very large and looked super refreshing! They also came by often to top off our waters which was nice. To eat, I ordered the $16.99~, Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with White Rice. It came with onion, green onion, carrots, zucchini, bell pepper, and cashews. The carrots were beautifully cut, but a little too crunchy for me to properly enjoy in the stir fry. Everything else was delicious! I think this could definitely be shared between 2-3 people. It was a lot for me, even after a large hike. The sauce was flavorful and not overly salty. I didn't ask for any spice level, but I think I'd choose mild or medium next time. My friends ordered-- - $12.99, Dirty Fried Chicken: This had a blitz coating of lime, mint, and spices. And it was decorated with thinly sliced green onions with a side of sweet chili sauce. The chicken was hot and plump, not dry, and very much mouthwatering! Would recommend. - $14.99, Thai Grilled Chicken Salad: Grilled Chicken Breast on a bed of mixed green salad, carrots, and cucumbers with peanut dressing. It reminded me a little of chicken satay~ it smelled and looked incredible. I think I might order it next time, when I want something light and fulfilling after a hike. - $11.99, Cream Cheese Avocado Wontons (6PC): These came out piping hot and when you took a bite they were oozing. It was very creamy and when you dip into the plum sauce it's a delectable bite. A nice appetizer to share with the table. - $16.99-$19.99 (depends on what protein you get), Pad Thai: This proportion was manageable for one person. The restaurant used thin rice noodles, but it didn't clump excessively compared to other restaurants. The prices are what you'd typically see at a Pan-Asian restaurant, a few dollars more than what you'd want to spend. But these kinds of restaurants, in my opinion, are for enjoying with others. So, if you're sharing food and all that-- the price is worth it (esp with the quantity that is given). Next time, I would probably order one of their noodle dishes rather than rice. Oodles by the Noodbar has such a large and diverse menu so I would highly recommend coming in to try them out.

    Been here a handful of times, we are always greeted with good friendly service…read more Usually I get the lychee ice tea, tried the red guava ice tea this time around. I'd get it again, but I do feel it has a more subtle flavor than the lychee version. The salad roll was good, but I did think they looked smaller than what you might typically expect. The one thing I did not care for was the dipping sauce. I believe the menu said it was a peanut sauce but I was personally not a fan. It tasted more like a coconut curry sauce. The place is always clean and usually not very loud. I recommend you stop by if you are in the area.

    Photos
    Oodles By The Noodbar - Counter decor

    Counter decor

    Oodles By The Noodbar - Trio Pork Over Rice

    Trio Pork Over Rice

    Oodles By The Noodbar - Trio Pork Over Rice

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    Freshería - Wake up sandwich

    Freshería

    4.6(47 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    Had a great experience here! The food was delicious and the service was excellent. Everything came…read moreout fresh. Definitely a spot I'd recommend if you're looking for good food and a place you'll want to come back to. I'll definitely be returning!

    Fresheria in La Mesa is a cute little spot but definitely on the smaller side so seating can be…read morelimited when it gets busy. The vibe is chill overall, but the service was just okay. Nothing rude, just not very attentive. I ordered the green chilaquiles and they were decent but definitely on the spicy side so just a heads up if you're sensitive to heat. I added eggs and steak. The eggs came scrambled and were a bit dry and the steak didn't have much flavor which was kind of a letdown. We also tried the oatmeal pancakes. They were okay but leaned more dry than fluffy. They didn't come with syrup and no one offered any. I tried asking for some but the server walked away mid conversation which honestly threw me off. The watermelon smoothie tasted pretty much like blended watermelon with sugar and water. It wasn't bad but nothing I'd go out of my way for. I've been to the National City location before and that one is still my favorite by far. This La Mesa spot just didn't hit the same in terms of food or overall experience. One thing that stood out was the sauce situation. When I asked for sauces I was told I could only have one. I'm big on restaurants being stingy with hot sauce. It just feels unnecessary and kind of takes away from the experience. Overall it wasn't a bad visit but it didn't wow me either.

    Photos
    Freshería
    Freshería - Fruit salad

    Fruit salad

    Freshería - Avocado ham wrap

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    Hug Thai Express - thai - Updated September 2026

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