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    Kapow Buddy

    4.5 (98 reviews)
    ModerateThai
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Kapow Buddy Takeout or Delivery

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    KAPOW BUDDY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Kapow Buddy

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    Abegail A.

    What a delicious spot to grab Thai food in a fast-casual environment! This is probably one of my favorite spots to grab a bite to eat at the Mall, especially since they also serve some refreshing cocktails. You can build your own bowl or pick from one of their signature bowls - my favorites are the Fans' Favorite and Kapow Fried Rice with Grilled Steak. For a snack, I suggest the Buddy Wings and Larb Meatballs. For drinks, can't go wrong with the Thai Tea, Thai Green Thai, or Boss Ladies (alcoholic). Service is super friendly. Even when busy, food is ready rather quickly and they'll bring it to your table if you dine in.

    Disappointed in the small portions. Build Your Own
    Capri L.

    Hey friends! I've been wanting to try Kapow Buddy for a while. I was so sad I missed the Yelp MD Burbs event here. Kapow Buddy is a vibrant fast-casual restaurant located in the lower level of Montgomery Mall. They serve Thai cuisine with fun twists. They have preset options as well as build-your-own options. I ordered a build-your-own bowl. Fried rice, shrimp, spicy Kapow sauce, and other toppings that I can't remember lol. The Kapow sauce is amazing, it's hard to describe lol. But a great mix of sweet and savory. Kapow Buddy fell short on temperature and portion. My bowl was room temperature as soon as it came out. Also the portion filled up half the bowl. They could've added more rice and toppings. Despite this, the flavor was amazing! -Customer service was great. -It's located near the Cheesecake Factory. -Prices are average. -Plenty of tables for dine-in. There's also a bar inside. I wouldn't go out of my way to return. I hope you enjoy!

    Tom Yum Soup
    Paul J.

    Kapow Buddy is still going strong in Montgomery Mall's lower level, and they're still serving up authentic Thai-spiced goodies. A recent visit found us getting the Tom Yum Noodle, Tom Yum soup, garlic fried rice, and a classic bowl with tofu and a fried egg. I'm a big fan of the Tom Yum Noodle - a deep, filling bowl of spicy soup with lots of peanuts, cilantro, and green onions. It comes separately from the noodles and greens and hard-boiled eggs so that you can combine them together at home. This will likely be my go-to for the time being, because I will be going back to Kapow Buddy again and again. And you should, too!

    Curry Puff Kapow
    Larry M.

    This spot caught my attention on social media. A Thai Chipotle'ish type of spot!! Once I saw their set up, & food...I made my way to them!! I Love Thai food!! Let's GO!! . Where I am: @kapowbuddy . Location Reviewed: 7101 Democracy Blvd., SPC 1158 Bethesda M.D. inside of @westfieldmontgomery . Items Reviewed: STAMP!! Their Spring Rolls ($6.50 veggie spring rolls). Tasty, meaty w/0 meat, with a sweet n spicy dip!! STAMP!! Their Curry Puff Kapow ($8.50 a Thai pastry with chili pepper, chicken, & potatoes). Crisp, fluffy, with well seasoned chicken!! LIKE THAT! Their Buddy Wings ($8 Thai styled fried wings with a Thai dipping sauce). Crunchy, with a sweet heat dip!! LIKE THAT! Their Papaya Salad ($8 carrots, peanuts, spicy papaya, cilantro, tomatoes, & chili peppers). A sweet, & spicy salad, crisp, & actually tasty!! STAMP!! Their Chicken Create Your Own Bowl ($12.50 with fried rice, chicken, fried wonton, crispy basil, crispy onions, peppers, a fried egg, & their spicy Kapow sauce). Spicy, savory, plen, & flavorful!! STAMP!! Their Steak Create Your Own Bowl ($12.50 with purple rice, steak, crispy basil, string beans, edamame, & crispy garlic). Tender steak, savory rice, & tasty toppings!! STAMP!! Their Thai Tea, & Strawberry Lemonade ($5 each). Creamy sweet tea, & refreshing lemonade!! STAMP!! Their Drunken Ta-Lay ($13.99 with Lo Mein noodle, shrimp, fried wonton, bell peppers, edamame, & spicy Kapow sauce). Well cooked noodles, thick shrimp, & well sauced!! STAMP!! Thai, & Green Tea Cookies ($1.75 each). Both were sweet, & surprisingly soft!! . Customer Service: On Point. . Parking: DECENT. . Recommendations: Build your own bowl!! . Accessibility: It's wheelchair friendly, & it's differently abled persons friendly. 5 Stars=STAMP 4 1/2 Stars=LIKE THAT 4 Stars=DELICIOUS 3 Stars=DECENT 2 Stars=PASS 1 Star=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews

    Fans favorite bowl (crispy pork)
    Jade M.

    Such an awesome concept. Quick Thai street food with bursting flavors and a bar! Where can you go to get easy customizable bowls and catch a drink while you're picking which delicious bowl to order? I ordered the fans favorite (purple rice, crispy pork, crispy basil, crispy onion, signature Kapow sauce & egg). As a Thai person myself this dish did not let me down. Crispy pork that just melted in your mouth & the basil is perfectly crispy. Bar service was on point and even got to meet the owner, Mr. Kapow, who was very passionate about the food!

    Jasmine A.

    Mr. Kapow is a great concept for fast casual Thai food, basically a Thai style chipotle. We ordered two bowls and fried chicken wings, I had the pork jowl bowl and it was delicious! Rice with spicy pork jowl topped with crispy basil, fried onions and basil. All the flavors worked well together. To me it felt very homey. The chicken wings were crispy and paired well with the chili sauce. There's so many other items on the menu I want to try, so I'm definitely coming back!

    Thai Coffee
    Ben D.

    Excellent thai food at Montgomery mall got the burn your mouth larb and papaya salad. All were very good. The larb was served on a bed of lettuce and tasted fresh. Papaya tasted awesome had a nice hot vinegary taste was perfectly seasoned. The burn your mouth had great crispy pork. The. Mixed with an egg and crispy basil. Tasted fresh with nice balance of savory flavors of the pork and egg. Service was very friendly and nice. It's cool spot has a cool interior and nice sized bar too.

    Riley G.

    wow. I love everything about this place. The owner, and staff are so incredibly friendly. The concept itself is amazing, it is designed as a way to get a quick thai style bowl (similar to how chipotle functions), however, they also serve speciality cocktails and drinks. It is a multi-purpose establishment, can be great for a quick lunch, work remotely, or happy hour. The food itself is so fresh and delicious, i mean look at this shrimp and the green beans and fried basil? SOO good. Warning though their food is pretty spicy, however, i am someone who hates spice and i still ate every bite. I have been back twice within the last five days, and i plan to come back and try some more of their drinks. The Boss Lady cocktail, and Olieng-tini, which is a coffee martini with thai coffee, were two of my favorites that i tried. They are located so conveniently, which is in entrance 4 of Montgomery Mall (right next to the cheesecake factory), so there is parking right behind their back patio. They had their grand opening in October, but due to a fire over the holidays they had to close and re-open second week of January, so i really suggest coming out and supporting this local gem, for the people and the mouth-watering food.

    Customized bowl with shrimp, lo mein, eggplant, basil, etc
    Breanne R.

    I was excited to try this new fast casual thai spot. It was bigger than expected and I enjoyed the atmosphere as it felt cozy. I ordered using an iPad and therefore had limited interaction with any staff. However, I did notice that no one spoke to me. As far as the food everything just tasted okay. I customized a bowl with lo mein, shrimp, eggplant, etc. I ordered their signature sauce on top, but I was unable to distinguish where it was. The eggplant was disappointing and had almost zero flavor. I enjoyed the shrimp and noodles, but again would have appreciated more sauce. I really enjoyed the Green Thai Iced Tea. I would give them one more shot and try another combination.

    Fried tofu
    Amy S.

    This is a cute little place. The place is bright and has fun seatings. It is located by Cheesecake not food court. We did carry-out both times. Service is quick as long as you just get the bowls; however, if you do order it is extra 5-10 minutes wait. We did get complimentary drinks the first time because of the extra wait. I loved my bowls both times. I chose salad for the bases, crispy pork for protein, and various toppings topped with spicy kapow sauce. As far as appetizers, I liked two and did not like two. Edamame and fried tofu were good. I didn't care for the larb gai unfortunately. It is a place I would considered again if I am at the mall.

    Build Your Own
    Julie K.

    Super cute thai restaurant that's fast casual and has lots of seating. You can make your own bowl or choose one a signature bowl from the menu. Great staff that is super sweet and helped me make my choice! I got the fan favorite bowl with crispy pork, fried egg, crispy basil, and some yummy sauce on top of a bed of purple rice. Super yummy - sauce really pulls it all together, sweet and savory. Would've liked to add some more veggies on top for more of a fresh crunch aspect, but still delicious! Maybe next time i'll just op for the build your own bowl and add this myself:) They also have a bar with some super yummy sounding drinks with a special happy hour deal or menu! (3-6 pm). Love the seating options, super open concept with cute decor. Very aesthetic and definitely recommend as a meet spot with friends! Will definitely be back! Love the idea of a Thai style chipotle. Haha yay!

    Maggie J.

    Love Kapow Buddy it is one of my favorite restaurant to go to highly recommended l!! Food is delicious and drinks is very creative and so good, thanks Ainum for your hospitality service!!

    Charlene E.

    I accidentally stumbled upon this place while shopping and because I love Thai, it was only right that I buy, lol. The restaurant had a nice green earthy theme, really cute, although the chairs did need a refresh and cleaning. The staffer greeted me with a smile and answered all the questions I had in an informative way. I ended up ordering a bowl with the purple rice (it's technically brown rice), with add ons of shrimp, crispy basil, onions, peppers, green beans, and Thai spicy chili basil sauce. The food was just what I needed and pretty good for the value. If I'm ever in need on a fix while shopping at the Montgomery mall, I'd definitely visit again but I'd do white rice instead.

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

    the best staff and great food love supporting small business specially when the quality and appreciation is there

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    1 year ago

    Nicest people, delicious food, and drinks that will blow your mind. Cannot recommend enough :)

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    Thank you Alexis! See you next time :)

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    Bite of Asia

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    Kapow Buddy - thai - Updated July 2026

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