I previously visited more than 3 months ago. I don't recall what I got but I remember liking it. This time around I ordered a spicey fried rice with mock duck, level 5 spice (out of 10). I wasn't impressed. It wasn't bad, but it lacked flavor and spiciness. We did get the fish cake appetizer, those were good with the sauce or dip it comes with. The place has nice decor and the service is good. I'd recommend this based off my first visit, but now I have mixed feelings. I wouldn't automatically pass on it. I will still probably give it another try and get something different. read more

Was in town and was craving Thai food and saw this place in the plaza we were in. Unfortunately, the food was bland and not flavorful at all. We ordered the pad Thai, papaya salad and yellow curry and everything was lacking flavor and spice. I ordered a Pad Thai medium spice and it was not spicy at all. The color of the pad thai was also bland and it didn't taste like anything. Similar comments for the papaya salad, asked for medium spicy and it was mild and didn't have a strong flavor. The curry and rice were ok at best. The rice didn't seem like it was jasmine and was kinda hard. read more

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I had the Satay Chicken and the Thai iced coffee and it was very tasty and I was able to eat it. My stomach has shrunk since I had bariatric surgery. But I was able to eat two sticks. The peanut butter sauce is so good. And the service was fast. I will be back to try this meal again very soon read more

Leela Thai Cuisine - 2. Satay Chicken (4 Pc) - Thai Near Me - Santee, California

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I have tried Leela two times now, in person and to go, and unfortunately did not love either experience. I ordered the Tom Kha Kai soup and Green Curry this week The soup almost tasted like it had too much coconut milk in it and not enough lime. Unfortunately I also found a hair when I dipped my spoon inside, so I couldn't eat more of it after this. The Green Curry had a little spice too but was semi bland in flavor. There was also very minimal chicken in this dish, which is frustrating since you have to pay extra for any type of protein. I also wish I had realized there was peas in this so that I could have ordered it without. Some highlights for this location itself is that it's conveniently located in a shopping center with plenty of parking. read more

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They have a nice menu with a variety of dishes....the service is good so far....the server bought us the menu....we looked at the menu and the server answered any questions we had......the restaurant is clean and quiet...it's early and we are the only people here...so far.. read more

I love the decor inside, it's very cozy and you can tell they handmade the menus, which were beautiful. The food was good. Service was fast. read more

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Ordered vegetable pad thai and when I got home.. it was chicken. I was served an orange with my meal instead of a lime. I ordered my meal spicy and it was sooo sweet and the sauce was nonexistent. Very disappointed and wouldn't recommend. read more

Ordered delivery through DoorDash that was quick and efficient. Food was bland, and did not include any condiments.. I had requested utensils and extra peanut sauce.... Nothing included. For a $40 order was disappointed and will not order again. Santee needs to up their food game so we aren't ordering from subpar establishments. read more

Ordered the panang curry and the drunken noodles both were amazing and had good flavor. But the curry was definitely the high point of the meal. read more

There's an authentic feel to this restaurant as soon as you walk in. Service was very quick and we were blown away with the portion size! I ordered a Chicken Panang Curry, spicy level 5 (out of 10).. and it was the perfect level of heat. the curry was fresh, creamy and rich with complex flavors. It was paired with a huge pile of dry, absorbent rice that was ready to soak up all the juices.. We washed the whole thing down with a huge Margarita glass full of Thai Coffee.. that gave me the energy boost I needed to get through the 2nd half of the day! Everything that came out of the kitchen looked amazing so I can't wait to come back and try something else - probably the pumpkin curry! read more

Leela Thai Cuisine - Panang Curry with Chicken - Thai Near Me - Santee, California

Not bad, but not great. I was underwhelmed by the whole experience. That goes for everything. Right off the bat, I noticed how much friendlier the waitress was to some people than others. I'm giving you my money, so try to extend me some decent customer service instead of half heartedly glancing at me when you are having whole conversations with the table next to me. The chicken larb looked good. However, I couldn't detect even a hint of spice, and this dish is traditionally a spicy one. Even though she was sweeping the floor, there were still huge pieces of food on the floor which makes me wonder if it was for show to look busy or for real. I don't think I'll be returning any time soon. read more

I was craving Pad Thai and had been wanting to try this place. I placed a pick up order on their website, it was easy to navigate and the menu had a lot of good options. We ordered chicken pad Thai, drunken noodles with chicken and the shrimp tempura. My order was ready right on time for pick up and the staff was very friendly. I liked the vibe inside the restaurant, next time we will definitely dine in. The food was all very good! And large portions as well, definitely shareable. We can't wait to try more of their dishes! read more

The food was delicious! We had the chicken Pad Thai and the Seafood Combination Plate and the flavor was ALL THERE! The portions were very generous for the price. Definitely will return! read more

This was my 1st time at Leela Thai. I got Chicken Panang which was way too watery. The flavor was OK but it was not a 'sauce'! A lump of hard rice was in a different box... it looked like it was scraped off another plate. And not very friendly!! Unfortunately I won't go back! read more

Rude customer service, Yellow curry was very spicy, It's interesting that the yellow curry has peas, I did not have a great experience here, I will not return. read more

Leela Thai Cuisine - Thai Near Me - Santee, California

Very quiet wholesome place. Delicious food. Great prices too. Love coming here!! Service is okay but the food is so amazing

The food was good. We definitely enjoyed our dinners! We had chicken fried rice, Leila's fried rice, Panag curry and chicken pad tai.

This is another good Thai place to go in Santee. The place is cozy and great customer service. Papaya salad is good, the taste a little salty compared to other Thai place but still good. It's not spicy at all and I'm not sure if I can adjust the spicy level or not. I would prefer to be a little spicy. Green curry is also good. I ordered with tofu and it's great. Not to spicy and my little boy enjoyed it. Spicy eggplant is also good. Not too spicy as well. Overall is good place. read more

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I normally don't leave negative reviews, but I felt compelled to share this experience, not because I want a refund, but because I believe in giving feedback when something feels off. I recently visited this restaurant and was excited to try the vegan options, as I'm newly transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle. I ordered the Pad Thai with mock meat and my partner ordered the Drunken Noodles. We also shared the spring rolls, which were okay. From the beginning, the service felt cold and dismissive. When I tried to clarify my order after misspeaking, the server cut me off abruptly, which made it hard to feel comfortable asking further questions. I asked for water, but it was never brought until I asked my boyfriend to remind her (since again I felt extremely uncomfortable) . It felt like my presence and my attempt to make a simple correction was an inconvenience from the start. When the food arrived, I immediately noticed a very strong, off-putting smell coming from the mock meat. It was tangy and almost putrid, and I couldn't bring myself to eat any of it. I didn't make a scene, but it was visibly clear I wasn't touching my food. The server didn't check in at all during the meal. Actually I noticed her see my distaste and full plate then CHOOSE to ignore me by going to the back until the very of my meal. When she finally returned to ask if I wanted a to-go box, I said, "No thank you, can you just throw it away? The vegan meat was very strong and smelled off." She said nothing, just took the plate and walked away. I'm not upset because I didn't like the dish; sometimes that happens. I'm upset because there was no hospitality, no curiosity, no acknowledgment that something wasn't right, and no basic kindness extended. I didn't expect a refund, but I did expect to be treated with the bare minimum of customer care. I really hope the restaurant takes this as constructive feedback and considers how it treats customers, especially those trying to navigate dietary changes and need a little patience. A little warmth and attentiveness go a long way read more

Always so delishious and service is top notch drunken noodles with spicy chicken @ level 6 ... avocado curry and mango sticky rice is soooo amazing. read more

It was a Friday evening and of course lines were out the door at every restaurant in Santee. I started looking up little hole-in the wall dinner places and stumbled on this GEM. Immediately placed a reservation and was pleasantly surprised at the ambiance and authentic decor this little place embraced. The food, AMAZING the sample appetizer was crispy to perfection with two yummy dipping sauces. Both the Yom Tom soup and Ginger Chicken were superb!!! I will be back and am anxiously awaiting my return. HIGHLY RECOMEND read more

Leela Thai Cuisine - Tom Tom soup, appetizer sampler platter, hot Sake and Sapporo beer - Thai Near Me - Santee, California

We ordered on GrubHub the delivery service was great. Tho food was terrible over cooked dry and to much sauce on my wife's pad thai. I will not order from them again. read more

I decided to try another Thai restaurant because I love to explore the vast variety of dining experiences San Diego has to offer. I am a big Thai food lover so of course I had to venture out and try another one. I love Curry dishes so I did order a Green Curry dish with a pot of hot green tea. I have ordered Green Curry before at other Thai places so I did order it again to try it here. I added shrimp as the protein for my Green Curry. Wow what an outstanding burst of flavor this was. The spice was medium so it was just right. A little spicy but just the right amount I could handle and still enjoy. I noticed they were very generous with the shrimp as well as the vegetables in the Curry. I was having a bad case of allergies on the day I went, so I feel this helped me get rid of them quickly. The service was perfect also to go along with the meal. The waitress was smiling and friendly which I really appreciated. I did notice the restaurant was clean also so that was a big plus and important. Leela Thai delivered perfection with delicious food and impeccable service with a smile. I highly recommend this Thai restaurant to anyone who desires an authentic, healthy, fresh, outstanding-tasting and pleasant dining environment. Hurry, get dressed and head over to Leela Thai! read more

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Great Thai place, especially for takeout. The restaurant is not too fancy, but OK. The best part is the quality versus price. The price is really good for what you get. Big portions for under $20 each plate. Great flavor and good options. Great service, plenty of parking. My favorite dish is the curry fried rice, very good! You can order online, but there's no option for spice level, so if you like it hot, be sure to call. I like it mild, so I order online and it comes out mild, so that depends on preference. Overall, great place, goo service good prices, a win for Thai food in Santee. read more

Leela Thai Cuisine - Curry Fried Rice: Curry powder, raisin, carrot, peas, onion, garlic & egg. - Thai Near Me - Santee, California

All you have to do is taste the food here, it sells itself. During the pandemic we came here once a week and the taste and quality of the food has continued it's 5 star level. I start with a cup of the egg soup. Fresh and made from scratch. I get the Thai fried rice with chicken. Flavorful and enough to feed two people. My wife gets the drunken noodles, and they make an amazing version of this! I love my Thai fried rice but this is the drunken noodles are winner of this menu in my opinion. For dessert we get the mango sticky rice. Sweet and fresh like everything they make here. It gets busy here at lunchtime and dinner time so be patient it will be worth it when the food hits your palate! read more

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Food 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Cleanliness 5/5 Customer service 5/5 Speed 5/5 Price 5/5 Outdoor seating? No Wheelchair access? Yes Vegetarian options? Yes Vegan options? Yes Absolutely delicious. The best Thai food I've had in a very long time. Extremely flavorful and spice is perfect. LARGE portions (enough for two meals). Very affordable for the amount of food you get. Highly recommend! Will definitely be returning. read more

Leela Thai Cuisine - Drunken Noodles - Thai Near Me - Santee, California

I ordered my food online. The promised time was 30 minutes. I was 40 miles away and figured it was more than enough time. I was wrong. The wait for my food was an hour. I got there in exactly 30 minutes and waited 30 more minutes for my food. The woman knew I was waiting for my food and never advised me my order was ready. I paid extra for chicken, you would not have know by the portion size. The food was good can't complain but the service was horrible. I was one of three people who were told 10 minutes that became 30. An Uber driver complained about the wait and the woman gave him such attitude. She had the audacity to ask whether he wanted to come back. Ma'am he'd been waiting already 20 minutes plus why would he want to come back when he has already been waiting for paid food . read more

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Great food but proportions are much smaller when you order takeout vs. eating in. Just a thought..

I ordered the Tom Kha soup (to be delivered) and asked them to add extra veggies: broccoli and carrots and spice on the side. They packaged everything the way I asked and added the extra vegetables. The soup arrived hot and tasted amazing. I will definitely order here again. Best tom kha I've had in a while, this is my new favorite Thai spot! read more

Service is great and the staff is really kind and nice. Food is great and very tasty! Mango sticky rice is bomb!

Tried this out tonight, ordered through Postmates, so it could have just been how you order on there, but there was no option for spice level which should have been my first clue. The fresh rolls have barely any flavor, I make better when I have time to make them at home. Shredded iceberg, a sprinkling of carrots, some noodles, ONE mint leaf in each, no cilantro, no green onions. Lacked any of the flavor of other places I've tried in the area. Surprised me since they have tons of great reviews both on here and on the Postmates app. Anyway, Tom kha was okay, again, not much flavor and I'm pretty sure has canned mushrooms instead of fresh. More like a cafeteria food than anything. I guess I expected more for the high price tag on everything. I guess I'm just disappointed. Also ordered Pad See Ew with beef and it was pretty bland, and the Thai iced tea I ordered for tomorrow had ice despite the description saying it wouldn't have ice. For the higher price than my usual place in this area I just expected it to be better. I rarely write reviews anymore but after spending so much on this I really just expected better. read more

We ordered take out Mon 10/21. Nothing was great. Mushy noodles, soft egg rolls and weird smelling mock duck. More than half was left over. We threw out the leftovers because we didn't feel like forcing ourselves to eat sub par food. I've never rated a restaurant below 3 stars and hate to give a local business a negative rating -- however, this is my truth. Unfortunately, Thai Thai is closed Mondays. read more

Great Thai restaurant. Has all the dishes, drinks, and desserts one can expect for an American Thai venue. Service and food quality are good as expected. If you're in the mood for good Thai, this is a place to try. I highly recommend their "fresh rolls" appetizer. read more

Leela Thai Cuisine - Thai Ice Tea Drunken Noodles - Thai Near Me - Santee, California

Had a craving for some crab fried rice. Ordered it to go.. Sadly I couldn't find 1 piece of crab real or imitation!!!

Leela Thai Cuisine is tucked away in a medium-sized corner mall in Santee. I like the "pop" of the chartreuse-colored wall on the North side of the dining room. As with most Thai restaurants, the staff is friendly and smiling. They are sometimes out of wines on their list. Accordingly, it can take a while before the bottle lands on your table. The wine service is tentative, and after the initial pour, you are on your own. From the menu, the Thai Basil Chicken is a winner. The restaurant does not have coconut ice cream for dessert, which I find so refreshing after a Thai dinner. The final check is hand-written and sometimes just has a "total" with no or only a partial itemization, so you may need to clarify. read more

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The food is always good! I've been ordering here for years and have never had a bad meal.

A delightful lunch experience - brought out quickly but not at the cost of quality. Amongst one of the best Thai places in San Diego. read more

Leela Thai Cuisine - 33. Pad See Iew - Thai Near Me - Santee, California

We tried this place a few years ago and didn't leave a review. It wasn't that good back then, and this still holds recently when we decided to give it another try. The restaurant itself was clean and inviting. The staff was extremely friendly and the server was very attentive. That is where the stars stop. 'Fresh shrimp spring rolls'- yellow lettuce, tiny fishy shrimp, too hot peanut sauce. Not good. Chicken Wings that most folks liked on their reviews- Extremely overdone and dry. The sauce was just 'ok', nothing special. They sat on a bed of cabbage that was drowned in the sauce. The dish would have been better with a lighter sauce coating. Pad Thai- number 3, combo. No spice at all, the typical try of chilis didn't exist. They brought out a generic chili paste. The noodles were overdone, the beef was chewy and tasted terrible. The seafood in the dish was beyond edible- fishy and chewy. Panang Curry- Extremely watery, it should have been thicker. I liked the veggies, but my husband thought they were was underdone. Again no spice. Overall the meal was bland and flavorless. I'll stick with the other mediocre Thai restaurants in Santee. read more

My favorite place to sit and do work and eat great food. Don't let the empty room fool you, the food is amazing! Love to get pad see ew or yellow curry. Staff are kind and attentive. My go to place for Thai food without hassle or disappointment. read more

Long time customer of Leela Thai....Everytime the food quality was Great!....Haven't ordered Leela Thai in a few months....So ordered Pad See Lew Noodle dish which is usually really good!....For some reason this time there was not ONE solid flat noodle it was ALL completely "mush"....which made my entire meal look gross!....I was really disappointed....I called the restaurant...they did give me store credit which I hope will work "next time"....Need better Chefs or check the Food Quality better. - Disappointed Customer........ read more