Looking for a no-frills, low-key, down-to-earth Thai restaurant that serves simple, classic, traditional dishes? Koon Thai would not be the place! Some notes - - I've never seen a Thai restaurant that borders on overstimulating in the best way possible. The decor is flashy. The menu itself looks like they used Canva Pro. The dishes are as colorful and vibrant. - This was my first time, but I did hear about their spice system. Some dishes you can get on a scale of 1-10. My friend and I both got in the medium ranges, and the waitress responded with concern, which made me doubious. However, the dishes had no spice whatsoever. To each his own I guess. - The food was very flavorful. I needed water to cleanse my palatte after every couple bites. For the price, the servings could have been larger, but I guess you're paying for the experience as well. - Their rendition of the Tom Yum soup was not as sour as I typically have it, and was saturated with crunchy peanuts and a thick, rich broth that I would only see at ramen restaurants. There was an egg that did not seem to cook all the way; I don't think the broth was nearly hot enough. Had to pick out some egg goop. Worth getting though! All in all, I would come back for special occassions. Seems like I have to try the fried rice and desserts as well! Thanks Koon Thai for a great time, 4 out of 5 stars! read more

Koon Thai Kitchen - Thai Beef Jerky, Beef Pad See Ew, Tom Yum Noodle Moo Krob - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Koon Thai Kitchen is a longtime Asian eatery in the Convoy District. I have come several times in the past including once as a host of a group dinner. This visit was during a weekend lunch hour in which the place was nearly full during the first hour of operation. It seems that the decor has been updated over time to reflect a more intricate design reflective of Thai culture. One aspect of this restaurant is that the spiciness levels are authentic and not watered down for Americanized palates. Take note if you bring guests who may not be aware of this. On a sign posted outside the entrance was photos of several featured items. I chose the Goong Sarong from the grouping as an appetizer which was five shrimp skewers wrapped with fried egg noodles on the exterior. A sweet chili sauce was provided on the side. The presentation was quite photogenic, and the sauce was a perfect dip for the crunch wrapped shrimp. The Crab Fried Rice was my entree which took some time to prepare because I think it's one of the most popular choices. Their version is one of the best I have tried mainly due to the fluffiness of the rice. Add in the shredded pieces of real crab meat, and you have a simple well-executed dish. The service was slower than I expected, however the staff was trying their best to keep up with the volume of business. My latest experience at Koon Thai Kitchen was still at a four star level. read more

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It feels like almost a decade since I've last eaten here and I still love it. Shared the crab fried rice, tom yum soup with shrimp, chicken yellow curry, and papaya salad recently with my fiancé. Every single thing hit the spot. Crab fried rice had a good amount of crab back then and to this day; my favorite. Service is nice and quick. Enjoyed the decor around the restaurant. read more

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I was very glad we choose Thai and that we elected to come to Koon. The menu was great and lots of good options. I am particular about my pad see ew and it was heavenly. Spice level was great service was good and it was easy to relax and enjoy. I will be back see ewn. read more

Koon Thai Kitchen - Pa (G10) Pad SEE EW - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Not the best Thai place ever. It's decent but I just wasn't a big fan of the flavor or the pad Thai. Appetizers are decent but my favorite Thai spot is far superior. The crispy chicken curry with the noodle was my least favorite. It's just a mess to eat and the noodles just end up soggy. It looks so much better than how it tastes. Inside is nice and spacious and clean. I like the open windows that bring in a lot of light. Service was quite slow. We had to ask for waters and ask to order because they were taking so long and just standing there. I do appreciate their happy hour! That was actually worth it, but everything else was not. read more

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I ordered the lunch portion of the Pad Thai with shrimp, medium spice. Medium spice has very little kick and is a safe option for those who like spicy but want it mild. Shrimp on my Pad Thai was rubbery and had an aftertaste of being previously frozen. The sauce itself bordered on ketchup-y, not a fan but many people seem to enjoy that in the reviews. Not many veggies and no offerings of lime to offset the thick wetness of the dish. I just couldn't finish the lunch portion unfortunately. Thai beef jerky was marinated well and I enjoyed the side of fish sauce it came with. Atmosphere is cute. Kinda pop-artsy and lots of orchids throughout like many Thai places have. Service was just ok. read more

To be honest this was some of the best Thai I have had. To start off their appetizer naan and curry dip was like crack and so addicting... lets just say I uber eatsed it next day. Their jerky was good too. The meat wasn't too tough like other places, its like they actually slow cooked it and marinated it instead of rushing the process. Our initial reason for visiting was for khao soi but after seeing other peoples reaction to pad thai and seeing how many people had pad thai I got that. It wasn't super sweet and was flavorful. Lastly I know the mango sticky rice is reliant on the mangos but the day we went they were perfect. Overall food was so good and will keep us coming back. Now to the service, our waiter was not overwhelmed and did his job with finess. It wasn't long waits for the water to be refilled or for him to greet us. Finally we will talk about the restaurant. It was so nice to see the place having their culture on display rather than trying to cover it with contemporary, modern or Chic looks. It wasn't loud, it was like at a family gathering where everyone was talking and eating but not being drown out by loud music. Its hard for me to give 5* because I have expectations that service and food must be amazing to get that rather than 5* because they tried. You earn your tip and review and for me this place earned both. read more

1st time here and we enjoyed our dinner here Food was okay, Service was friendly and efficient Ambiance is nice, clean space and organize space read more

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This past Father's Day, my group of 6 people came to eat dinner at this restaurant since we had come here before. Even though the food was fine, what really left a bad impression was when the store manager told us that we were forced to pay a 20% gratuity as part of the whole bill because of our table size of six, which is ridiculous. Most sit-in restaurants we've been to only automatically add a 20% tip if the group is 10 or more. This unexpected charge was quite unreasonable. I believe that gratuity and the percentage should ultimately be left to the customer to decide for a small size group, but this restaurant decided to do otherwise. I wanted to put this out as a warning to those planning to dine here so it won't be an unhappy surprise for you. Overall, I'm very disappointed with my recent experience here. read more

Decided to come back and give this place another try and order other dishes! Also discovered the buy one get one appetizer (only certain ones) free during happy hour. Food: Sam Chan Tod Nam Pla (9/10) - crispy, good protein, good flavor especially paired with the sauce Thai Jerky [Beef] (6/10) - a bit dry but paired with a good sauce Som Tum [Thai] - (7.5/10) - pretty refreshing and flavorful salad Creamy Tom Yum Goong Yai (7.5/10) - you can definitely taste coconut milk, it's flavorful and spicy. It was a bit too salty for me though. Spicy Fried Rice (8/10) - good portion to share, flavorful, spicy kick Crispy Tofu (8/10) - crispy but not too dry, yummy with sauce Gyoza (8/10) - nothing special but a decent gyoza. crispy and warm. Service: They were very nice and helpful as always! Ambiance: It gets busy even on a Monday. The atmosphere is buzzing with conversations at every table. The decorations are very floral and pretty! read more

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Two ladies were seeking a new space for a casual dinner on a post work week-night. Service was quick - all four(?) servers were eager for us to order - we were not clear about why there was a rush. Food arrived quickly and had no flavor, though we both requested medium spice. Chicken in both dishes was dried out. When a server asked if everything was okay, we politely and honestly responded by commenting on the dried out chicken, he apologized and walked away. Interestingly, all servers were gone...we had to beg for tea, water the remaining hour with no servers to be found. Odd evening experience at Koon. read more

Highly recommend Panang curry and tom yum noodle soup!!! Great ambiance, service, and overall experience!

This is the spot for flavorful, authentic Thai food! I would personally give this spot a 4.5/5. Food: The spicy red curry was perfectly flavorful and rich with a touch of spice. I ordered it with chicken. The yellow curry was a tad too sweet and heavier but otherwise fine. Ambiance: Pretty nice interior, nothing crazy but it's clean and warm. Interior noise level was good, not too loud not too quiet. Service: Our server, Gabe, was very nice and attentive. Service was wonderful and we were promptly seated and taken care of. Other: There's a huge parking lot, especially for Convoy so parking is super easy even on weekends. read more

Koon Thai Kitchen - (G2) Red Curry ((G1) Yellow Curry - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Had the drunken noodles and it was very clean. Not as heavy as most places in SD! Had the level 3 spice. Barely anything, going higher next time. Also the portion was excellent for the price. The ambience in the restaurant was really cool. Can't wait for next time ! read more

This was my first time trying Thai food that is not Pad Thai, and I was very pleasantly surprised! I ordered the pa nang curry and khao soi gai todd and loved both of them. The khao soi gai todd was a sweeter curry broth with pieces of chicken tenders in the dish. I liked the chicken--it made the dish quite filling! The dish also supposedly has chili oil drizzled on it, but I did not taste any spice at all. The pa nang curry was also very delicious. It was a curry made with coconut milk, and that made the dish quite sweet and creamy! I definitely would recommend both dishes. Overall, I had a great experience at Koon Thai! The food was sweet, savory, and unique! The only critique I have is regarding the portion sizes. The portions are a bit small for their price... read more

Koon Thai Kitchen - Khao soi gai todd - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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At a first glance, Koon Thai looks a little on the pricey side, but once you see the food portions the prices make a lot more sense. I had Koon Thai Kitchen at a lunch event, so I can't speak to the restaurant or staff, but I can say that based on how good the food was I am already planning a repeat trip back! read more

Tons of flavor in everything we tried, whether it was a special or a more traditional dish. We enjoyed the ground chicken egg rice special, the pad see ewe, and a large order of tom yum with shrimp. We ordered a mix of medium and mild spicy. The spice was right (might do medium for everything next time) and every dish impressed. I especially liked the ground chicken special. I was surprised! read more

Would like to give a shout out to our serving team Aom and Mhee for taking care of us during our recent dinner. We brought a couple of friends from San Francisco up and needless to say our friends were very happy with the KYC (know your customer) from Aom and Mhee as well as the delicious food. Thank you for a wonderful dinner experience. read more

Can wait to bring my family. Came with my boyfriend and I enjoyed all the food. Service was great. Parking can be an issue. It is convoy. But when we came parking was good on a Wednesday. Portions are great size and want to bring the family to do more family style ordering and sharing. Able to try more dishes that way had the tom yum noodles, crab fried rice, Panang beef, mango sticky rice, and ginger tea. All our dishes were delicious. read more

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Visited for my bday this year and chose it due to YELP reviews, and I was very happy. It's a cute foot tucked into a very busy center and parking lot. Has lots of parking though. The dinner crowd were non-existent until about 5pm. We made reservations just to be proactive through Yelp, arrived on time for their dinner opening (closed until 3-4:30), was greeted quickly and sat. The decor as you walk is was super Christmasy and trendy for taking pictures. The entire ceiling has decorations hanging which was festive. It has booths on one side with a few smaller table, it's private and quiet within the booth area which I appreciated. Service was good as well, we had several attentive waiters/ waitresses throughout the night. I will say when they brought our drink glasses mine had lipstick stains very noticeable, we addressed it and they swapped it out-no biggie. Food was really good, they are larger portions so it's all shareable for noodles/ rice. Everyone took home food as it was so much. Everything was hit and flavorful, spice was good (we ordered several levels). I look forward to returning. read more

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This review is solely for ordering delivery through UberEats and DoorDash. I'm a spicy girl, but watch out! I opt for mild or medium at Koon Thai, since the medium has a good kick of spice. There was one time I had ordered at the "spicy" level, I could handle it but I certainly ate more white rice to try to balance out the spice. For all the times I've ordered through delivery everything was prepared thoughtfully! They use reusable containers, and for the soups and saucy dishes they wrap the container with cling wrap to avoid spills. All the food is so flavorful and enjoyable. I've had their cream cheese wontons, tom ka soup, pad Thai, pad see ew, and various curries. read more

This place is always my go-to. The truffle steak, the Pad Thai and Pad See Ew, the Pineapple Fried Rice, the Tom Yum Noodle Soup, and the Mango Sticky Rice!!! Everything is soo good, and they always treat us nice. The people here are so awesome and just a delight to be around. I love the vibes, the interior, the decorations, and everything. It's sometimes a long wait, but worth it! read more

Koon Thai Kitchen - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

The Thai food at Koon Thai is authentic and delicious. They have a lot of unique options on their menu that you won't find in other Thai restaurants in San Diego. However, my group experienced a few issues with the service. Firstly, they did not provide us utensils - we had to ask for forks and spoons, chopsticks, and then napkins, which all came separately after our food was plated. Second, a server brought out my order, left it on another table, and didn't place it on our table until 5-10 minutes later. Lastly, they didn't give us to-go boxes, and when we asked, they didn't give us bags either. We felt like our group was an afterthought. I had no issues with the quality or pricing of the food. The establishment's interior design was also gorgeous. However, I am a bit disappointed in the service my group experienced at this restaurant. read more

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Great service and ambiance, but in my opinion the Thai dish lacked flavor and didn't quite meet expectations in terms of taste. read more

Koon Thai Kitchen - (B1) Thai Salad (A10) Thai Jerky [Beef] (G1) Yellow Curryyellow - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Solid Thai food. Full transparency that we came here days after returning from a trip to Thailand. The menu actually has a lot of the classic Thai dishes from all over Thailand. So it was kind of cool seeing some of those dishes, like the khao soi. We got the pad woon sen with chicken and the pineapple fried rice. Both at a spiciness level of 7. Both dishes were tasty! A good amount of ingredients in both and good flavor. The 7 spice level is definitely high but I still found it enjoyable while my partner said he'd probably do around a 5 next time. Pick your poison! The only negative would be that everyone's food came out at very different times. Not just 5 or so minutes. Probably close to 15. With a group of 10 it just made to a slightly less great experience. Service was nice and friendly otherwise. read more

Koon Thai Kitchen - Pad woon sen with chicken - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

The best Thai restaurant in the city! The food is always fresh and delicious. Very friendly staff will help you with their big menu. Especially, thank you to Mhee, who helped us with the final decision and level of spice. He took great care of us! I like the ambiance here: beautifully decorated, always with Thai food projects on the TV screen--very interesting videos! Highly recommended! read more

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From the moment we walked in, the service at Koon Thai Kitchen was top notch -- warm, upbeat, and genuinely helpful. The interior is bright, colorful, and so fun to sit in -- it sets a great mood before the food even arrives. Food was awesome! The pad thai was perfectly seasoned, the papaya salad was refreshing, the pad see ew had great texture, and the eggplant tofu was rich and flavorful. Portion sizes were generous too. Definitely a spot I'd go back to again for both casual dinners and group outings. read more

Came here for a work lunch and they easily accommodated for a large group on a short notice. The servers were nice and when changes were requested, they were made without any mistakes. The food was incredible from the appetizers to the entrees and servings sizes were large. read more

Koon Thai Kitchen - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

We were quickly seated on a busy Saturday night. The Tom Yum Noodles were so flavorful and had a strong amount of lime in the broth. The boat noodles were spiced very well and had a healthy amount of beef in the bowl. The curry was also well made and was a decent size. The casual eatery was packed and lively. Service was quick and helpful. read more

Koon Thai Kitchen - Tom yum noodles, boat noodle soup, yellow curry - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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Best Thai food in town -- affordable yet truly high-class! We had a family dinner here, and everyone in our group loved the food. As soon as we arrived, a very friendly server greeted us and took our order for six people. We ordered Tom Kha Soup, Goong Sarong, Shrimp Fried Rice, Pad Thai Noodles, and Pad See Ew Noodles. The soup was served amazingly fast, followed by appetizers and main courses in perfect timing. Every dish tasted fresh, aromatic, and beautifully presented. Over the past several years, we've been to many Thai restaurants, but this one stands out as one of the best. It's definitely our new go-to spot whenever we crave Thai food. The ambiance was great -- cozy, warm, and inviting. Highly recommended! read more

Arrived here at 9pm for dinner, got seated right away. We ordered the beef Jerky, pad seew and khao soi with fried chicken. This was our second time eating here and we really enjoy their food last time. All 3 dishes we got were delicious and satisfying. The decor is nice with a lot of cool stuff and murals. The inside was very colorful and vibrant, with good lighting. The service was just okay this time. Placing our order and receiving the food was fine, it was when they were about to close. About 9:45pm they told us that they were doing last calls for the kitchen, but we were good. Shortly after they brought us the bill. Then at 9:52pm another waitress or employee came up to our table asking if we can close out the bill. I get that they close at 10pm but personally it felt like we were being rushed to pay for the bill when it wasn't even 10pm yet. There were plenty more tables that were occupied and still eating in the restaurant. I'm not sure what the big rush is to close out the bill by 10pm? Next time we are not coming here close to closing, if we do decide to come back. read more

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In the area with a friend and wanted to try this place out. Our server,Joe, was attentive and helpful with menu suggestions. We ordered Panang curry chicken and Pad Thai with Shrimp. So delicious, each bite a flavor bomb. The curry was both sweet and spicy with the right combination of earthy flavors. The pad Thai with shrimp was more of a comfort food,in the best possible way, everything was on point. Shrimp and noodles were succulent and delicious! The place is super cute too, Asian themed throughout. Seriously you should try it out! We will definitely return to try out more menu options. read more

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As a self-proclaimed Thai food snob, I'll admit--my standards are sky-high, especially when it comes to my ultimate benchmark dish: drunken noodles. While I wouldn't say these were the best I've ever had in my life, they were undeniably fresh, and the noodles? Absolute perfection. Cooked to that magical texture--soft but still with a little bite. The flavor was solid, though I found myself wishing for a bit more punch--more Thai basil, maybe some tomatoes--but overall, it was a seriously satisfying dish. The craftsmanship in those noodles alone was impressive. I also got to sneak a few bites off my tablemates' plates (lucky me), and they were absolutely raving. They're San Diego locals and regulars here, which says a lot. I'm visiting from Northern California where we've got so many stellar Thai spots in Sacramento San Francisco, Berkeley San Jose in Fremont and even then, I'm already plotting my return visit with my whole extended family in tow. There are so many dishes I'm dying to try, especially the Tamarind Duck--one of my all-time faves. The menu is so extensive it was honestly painful not to order half of it on the spot. The vibe is effortlessly cool, the ambiance relaxed but stylish, and the staff? Super on it--efficient, friendly, even with a giant crowds, trying to get in for a weekday early lunch This place truly deserves a full five stars. Can't wait to come back and feast properly. read more

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This is genuinely the best Thai food I've ever had. I've been seeking out and eating Thai food for 20+ years and have moved all over the country during that time. Mhee was a great server, and he made great suggestions. Very attentive and gracious. The papaya salad, spring rolls (their peanut sauce is warm), tom kha, tom yum, and Pa-Nang curry were seriously all so good. The only suggestion I have for the restaurant is that they should put more noodles and vegetables in the spring roll. It had a lot of lettuce, but very little of the other ingredients. I also had a Mango Beso (cocktail) and it was refreshing and tasty. Can't wait to return! read more

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Food was amazing! Gigi's service was so nice and attentive! The atmosphere of the restaurant was really cool.

During Covid our favorite Thai restaurant in San Diego closed. Amarin Thai on Richmond street was my families go to for years. We were in search for a new spot and came across Koon Thai. Since the first time in, the restaurant is decorated in a modern meets past Thai style. The food is on point, but their level of spice is a bit off! A most places a 3-4 would be medium or mild, at Koon Thai 3-4 is on the bottom of hot. So tread lightly. Lastly, the staff is very attentive, provides great recommendations if you aren't sure what to get, and are very welcoming. read more

Food was great! Gigi was great! I had a tom yum pork soup that was delicious, and lava cake and mango sticky rice. Yum!

My son and I went there last weekend. The wait is not too bad 30 mins but it was worth the wait. The ambiance is great and the staff are friendly. I had a bowl of Tom Yum soup and it had 4-6 big shrimp though I wanted it to be more sour and spicy. The chicken sate is great! Big chunks of meat and the peanut sauce just yummy. My son was craving for Phad Thai which came with a big portion and delicious. I had Kapraw Moo Krob and was NOT disappointed at all. I will definitely be back and bring more friends. I highly recommend this place! read more

Koon Thai has never failed when I am craving a Thai lunch. I got the pad thai though in the past I've gotten the pad see ew and I've got to say their food is always right on the mark. Their staff is prompt to seat you and serves you with a smile. The decor is lovely and the restaurant is very clean and inviting. It's definitely one of my go to lunch places when I actually go onsite for work. read more

Koon Thai Kitchen - (G9) Pad Thai lunch special - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

All the foods were good and flavorful and the portions were huge. Service was okay and they were pretty busy for a Thursday night. Went here for my mom's birthday and they gave us a free slice of mango cake at the end. We enjoyed everything except the pineapple fried rice. read more

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