We stumbled across this tiny, hidden Thai restaurant in Tacoma today, and WOW--what a gem. From the moment we walked in, the service was incredibly warm and welcoming. You can tell right away that they genuinely care about their customers, which made the whole experience feel special. And the food... absolutely delicious. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. It's one of those places where every bite makes you pause for a second because it's just that good. My daughter and I both left saying we can't wait to come back. If you're in Tacoma and love Thai food, do yourself a favor and check this place out--you won't regret it. So happy we found this spot read more

See all

Hands down one of the best Thai restaurants in Tacoma! It's hidden in a corner next to a deli and small convenience store. Pretty full menu covering a wide span of Thai food and really kind service. We ordered the panang curry, pad see ew and pad Thai. The price to portion ratio is really great! The dining space is intimate, dim and cozy. I highly recommend you try this place out the next time you're craving Thai! read more

Loak Toung Thai - Phad Thai, Phad See Iw, Panang Curry - Thai Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Stopped by on Saturday evening for dinner. Very nice, laid back atmosphere, clearly a family restaurant with lots of love. We had red curry, Pad See Ew, fried rice. All were tasty and large portions, three dishes more than enough for four people. They catered well to my gluten-free companion, and even treated her to a box of fresh rolls to take home. Would return. read more

Authentic Thai cuisine . Fresh flavor . Big serving . Jeremy the owner and his son Roy are very friendly and w great customer service . Traveling to Portland . Visiting from California . Will definitely come back read more

Loak Toung Thai - Inside ambiance - Thai Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

After visiting Thailand a decade ago I gave up on Thai restaurants locally cause none of them taste or present anything like what I expected in Thailand. However, this place won me over and I'm so happy we went. The food was amazing, the portions are massive and prices are great. Really the best Thai food anywhere around the PNW. read more

My husband and I stopped by to get some delish Thai food. Their food is delicious! We waited about an hour to get our food served but it was worth the wait. They sold out of red curry and panang. Loved how they decorated inside and made it feel so homey. read more

See all

I went here for a Saturday lunch and was seated promptly at a 5-top table even though we were a party of 2. Later we realized it's because the portions are huge! We thought the prices of the dishes were pricey but then, each dish can serve 2-3 people. We got the red curry lunch special with fresh spring roll, garlic chicken lunch special with fried egg roll, and Tom kha. I opted chicken for red curry lunch special level 3 spice so it is a bit spicy. The curry could have a bit more flavor - it was filled with lots of ingredients so it is more of a chicken dish than a curry dish. No complaints on portions and value, just the flavor profile. The fresh spring roll is kind of like a chicken wrap. The garlic chicken lunch special is much larger portions than the red curry. I feel like it is at least a pound of chicken there. This dish alone could serve 3 people! The chicken is a bit dry and could be a bit more flavorful, but again great value. Tom kha is a bit tangy but is very flavorful. I wish the red curry had as much flavor! I recommend this even though it is not a lunch special. We got tofu with this one but I think a chicken or pork would be a better option. I wished the server cautioned us it is a lot of food like the other tables as we grossly overordered and had leftovers for way too many meals and we prefer trying different places for the variety for food adventures. Otherwise, food is okay but value is great as it is large portions. Quantity over quality read more

See all

Blink and you will drive past, tucked in the corner of the "strip mall". The pictures pretty much the same inside, using warehouse shelves as tables and work station. The place is too dark for my taste and there was a steady clientele coming in. The food came out and each dish can feed 2-3 ppl each. The Pineapple fried rice was good, could not taste the pineapple unless you bit into a piece. The large cuts of chicken and cabbage could have been smaller. The Phad Thai was good, different from my normal but still good. The Penang Curry was the best part. Their menu is now online https://www.loaktoungthai.com/menu read more

Really good service. Food was authentic and fantastic. Portions were large. Definitely check them out read more

See all

Loved the ambiance. It really felt like eating in another place. The food was fantastic, with huge portions, and low prices. Most of all the lady who was our waitress was wonderful and made us feel valued and paid extra attention to us. We will absolutely be back for other dishes. read more

See all

We had dinner last Saturday, it was a special 20th birthday dinner. I have not been back in a few years so the back room was a nice surprise! The front room is perfect for people coming in for pick up. Dinner was delicious, as always. The lady chefs do not disappoint! We had the Red Thai Curry, Panang Curry, Pad Thai with Fried Tofu, Papaya Salad, Thai Style (my favorite), and Pineapple Fried Rice with Prawns. The vegetables were cooked to perfection, it still had a slight crunchiness...the prawns were perfect...everything was amazing. I can't recommend this tiny restaurant! Food is fresh and flavorful. Don't forget to try the Ginger Delight, a beverage they serve. Their staff came out to sing Happy Birthday to my daughter, we all joined in. It was a very special and memorable evening. They brought a special steamed cake for us and birthday candle too. Our host took extreme care, not just us, but every single party - he took time to share stories and have conversations with everyone. I will not forget this dinner! Thank you so much!! read more

Loak Toung Thai - Tiki Station - Thai Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

The best Kuay Tiew Rua (Boat Noodles) I've had outside of Thailand. This is not a standard menu item. Must follow their social media platforms to know when they'll offer this epicurean dish. Staff is very attentive and exude Thai hospitality. It's difficult to find authentic Boat Noodles here stateside. Feel free to thank me when you try this dish at Loak Toung Thai. Traditional Thai food at its best!! read more

Loak Toung Thai - Kuay Tiew Rua aka Thai Boat Noodles - Thai Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

I've had Thai food all over the world and even worked with Thai chefs, so I had high hopes for this place considering the ratings--but it just didn't hit the mark for me. Ambiance: It's a cute little spot, but the smell threw me off right away. It had this old-building/restroom kind of smell, and then I noticed a drain right by our table. That definitely took away from the experience since the smell lingered the whole time. Food: We ordered the Thai tea, crispy cauliflower, garlic chicken with shrimp, and Tom Kha. - Thai Tea (2/10): Way too sweet. It was loaded with sugar and condensed milk, so I could barely taste the tea. Took two sips and couldn't finish it. - Crispy Cauliflower (4/10): The texture was great--nice and crispy--but it was pretty bland. The only real flavor came from the dipping sauce, which was disappointing. - Garlic Chicken (5/10): The seasoning was spot on, but the dish felt thrown together. The chicken was just piled on top of a ton of veggies, which ended up getting soggy. Would've been better served separately. - Tom Kha (4/10): I was most excited for this, but it was a letdown. Right away, I bit into huge pieces of ginger, which wasn't a great start. The lighting was dim, and the ginger and chicken looked identical, so it was hard to tell them apart. Plus, the soup was super thick, overloaded with coconut milk, and missing key ingredients like mushrooms. The balance just wasn't there. Service: 10/10. The staff was awesome--super friendly and attentive. But unfortunately, great service couldn't make up for the food. The portions were big, but overall, I wouldn't come back. read more

See all

Food is consistently tasty with large serving sizes, but the prices have increased steadily over time. Main dishes, including lunch specials, are $17. I visited on May 2nd with my almost octogenarian dad and his long-time partner, and it turned out to be an odd experience. Perhaps the server took offense at me mentioning the increase in price, but some of his comments during the meal were just odd. After my statement, which was not untrue, he objected and said there hadn't been any changes and he'd told the owner to raise them even more. Okay, cool. When I ordered a 4-5 spice level for my meal, he said, "I guess you're not sharing with mom!," referring to my dad's partner. It was just overly familiar and presumptuous. He later asked her if she wanted to do the dishes to make some extra money, or something. We all just kind of laughed awkwardly because, huh? None of us got the joke. The server transferred our leftovers to to-go boxes, which was kind, but my dad contacted me later to say that his remaining egg roll was missing. Besides our particular dining experience, there were a few other peculiarities. The server was wearing very tight short shorts; everyone around here loves when the weather warms up, I get it, but they were was not quite appropriate for a restaurant, even with the super-dim lighting that required "mom" to use a magnifying light to read the menu. Maybe they want that back room to approximate a cruise lounge experience, with the lighting and the attire, but please brighten things up. It's so so dark in there. I recall the days when Loak Toung was the affordable hidden gem in Tacoma. I know the cost of everything has sky-rocketed and I appreciate that a small family business needs to adjust prices to stay profitable. But, prices have surpassed comparable established Thai places in town, and the service albeit quirky, left us all feeling a little uncomfortable. I'll probably look elsewhere the next time dad wants some garlic chicken, which makes me a little sad since we and other folks in my orbit have been going there since the place opened. read more

This may be the best Thai food I have ever had, anywhere. Don't come here for a quick meal - the chef, Maam Ray, takes no shortcuts. Her care and expertise shine through in every bite, and the ingredients are excellent., We shared two lunch specials - Garlic Chicken and Red Curry. The flavors were intense and perfectly balanced, the heat level was exactly as ordered, and the portions were amazing. The complimentary Khanom Tan (sponge cake) was a perfect ending to our meal. Our server was a delight - attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. I encourage you to come here - but please, don't tell Guy Fieri about it! This is a true Mom & Pop place - Jeremy Ray manages the front of house. In a 2023 SeattleMet article, he noted that Loak Toung means something like "salt of the earth". An apt name for a place that serves rural-style Thai food. read more

We chose this spot based on its Yelp reviews, and it definitely lived up to the hype. We came for a weekday lunch, expecting a decent crowd, but we had the place to ourselves. The restaurant is family-run: the husband manages the front of the house, while his wife runs the kitchen alongside their daughter. The wife is a trained chef from Thailand and has experience working in other restaurants. When you walk in, you'll see a takeout counter right in front, but if you head to the right into a slightly dimmer room, there's a cozy sit-down dining area. We had to try the classic Pad Thai, Pad See-Ewe, and the Basil Pork lunch special. The portions here are massive--easily enough for three people! The service was fast, and the owner was friendly, sharing some interesting info about the restaurant. The food was hearty and a great value for the price. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

See all

Two great things: (1) HUGE PORTIONS (2) lovely lovely ambience; it's an escape from the world. We loved walking in and the host was super friendly! They had quite the lunch crowd....however, the quality of food was not impressive. I was with my sister who actually lived in Thailand for a year...and she was disappointed. read more

See all

Best Pad Thai in Tacoma! Only place to get it this good outside of Seattle. Seriously.

I had driven by this place many time and never knew it existed. It's hidden in the back and doesn't look like much from the outside but the food was great. Everyone was friendly. I will definitely go back read more

A group of us were going to a Rainiers game and decided we wanted to eat beforehand. Our planner found this little place just down from the Cheney Stadium. Really nothing to look at from the outside, but you are transformed to truly Thai ambiance once you walk through the doors. So very nice inside. We split some of the dishes, one was the garlic chicken and some yellow curry. Both dishes were so good !! The yellow curry was the best I have ever had. Most of the food we got, we had to bring home, which is fine with me. The place is run by a really nice couple, he waits tables and his wife cooks. It is truly a fantastic place. Coming back for sure !! read more

Loak Toung Thai - Garlic Chicken - Thai Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

Delicious, family owned Thai restaurant. Loak Tuong is really hidden in a small plaza right off Union and Center- known as Oakland area of Tacoma. Outside is very unassuming, somewhat sketchy. Inside is warm, inviting, and cozy. We were greeted and sat right away. The food is made fresh, with huge portions. Three of us shared two dishes. We tried the Phad Thai and Red Curry. The red curry stole the show- so good! Highly recommend! read more

Loak Toung Thai - Inside - Thai Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

Good food, could use more heat. Huge portions, great service, and intimate ambiance. It was not as spicy as what we had expected. read more

See all

Delicious food, beautiful ambiance, wonderful and thoughtful service; this restaurant has it all. I absolutely loved coming here with my partner for lunch, and boy was I surprised to see how beautiful the interior was. The owners did a wonderful job at capturing the essence of Thailand in such a limited space. The food just the cherry on top, with portions hearty enough to fill you up for the day, full of spice and definitely made with love. The service was wonderful and welcoming. Come here with the entire family or for an intimate date night, I promise you it's worth your while! read more

Loak Toung Thai - Pad Thai and Garlic Chicken lunch special, amazing portions at such a great deal. - Thai Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Probably my favorite Thai food in Tacoma - SO good!! Pad Thai is amazing, Tom Kha was great, garlic chicken was tasty. Spicy wings were a little dry/needed more sauce basted but were good too. Very romantic atmosphere/beautiful ambiance. Can't wait to go back! read more

Loak Toung Thai - Garlic Chicken - Thai Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Ambiance A+ Food A+ Service A+ Prices A+ This is literally what someone means when they say the best food comes from the most "hole in the wall" spots. Outside is "hole in the wall", but inside you enter an oasis of culture, comfort, and kindness. You will be pleased by all of it, and the quality of food they serve is higher than any other Thai joint in T Town. Call and ask for a reservation because you will likely not dine in if you don't. They seat till 6:30p and close at 8:00p. The owners are lovely people. read more

LOVED IT HERE! Food was so good and portions were gigantic!! Service was great, and server was very sweet. highly recommend this place! read more

Nice portions of green curry. My daughter's noodle dish wasn't great. No caramelization or char so it seemed underdone.

The workers were very kind and friendly so Ill give a star for that. However, everything was a disappointment. This place received very high reviews so we had high expectations It was EXTREMELY dark in the restaurant - almost thought all the lights were turned off it was pitch black with very few dim lit lanterns almost (if you like a dark ambiance, you might enjoy this) We wanted to order the spicy chicken wings and they said they were out - we came in around 5pm and they open at 4:30pm That was unfortunate and a little strange to run out of chicken wings 30 min upon opening We waited almost half an hour to get our food Pad thai was a bit salty and didn't have a smokey taste and fresh tamarand and peanut flavor Noodles were a little melted but were chewy Basil fried rice was very bland and the eggs tasted similar to premade scrambled eggs The rice was a little tpo moist in my opinion as well Pros: Portion sizes are BIG - two entrees could feed 5 people read more

Looks can be deceiving, from the outside it doesn't look too great, but it's worth going inside. The servers were great and super friendly. Be careful - they are not greedy with their portions! I feel like my pad Thai could have fed 3-4 people. These are definitely shareable plates. We also had the fried cauliflower which was absolutely amazing - a definite must try. I recommend this place to anyone who wants good Thai food. Won't be spending a lot when coming here either, the prices are great for the amount of food you get. read more

Loak Toung Thai - Phad kee mao with pork - Thai Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

Love the staff. No eat in options for a while. Tried the papaya salad... the cashier asked "are you SURE it's very stinky." She was correct. I would have asked for lighter on the fish sauce/fermented fish paste. DELICIOUS! read more

I tried to go to Loak Toung Thai a couple of years ago which was right during the pandemic and saw that their business hours were extremely limited. I think they were like that for a while and I didn't reattempt to go and kind of forgot about the restaurant. But eventually I did and when I did it seemed like what was probably once their normal business hours were restored and I am so very glad we did! Steve saw a menu online about Thai sausages as an appetizer. We couldn't find it on the menu there but they still made it when we asked for it. They were so good! These round sausages which were on skewers came with wonderful dipping sauces! We then moved on to the main dishes. Steve ordered a chicken and rice dish. I cannot praise enough how well done they cooked the broccoli in this dish. It was sheer perfection. I then got my favorite which I almost always get at Thai restaurants, Phad Kee Mao. I like getting chicken with this noodle dish so I did. The basil and all the other spices made a seamless and abundantly flavored dish. We both got three stars on the spice level which was perfect. Portions were huge! It is true our appetites aren't as big in the summer time but we took a lot of leftovers home and those leftovers stretched into two extra meals. And of course even as leftovers it was still out of this world. Would love to come back and try more dishes and to delve into their dessert menu as well. Very likely this Thai restaurant is the best in Tacoma. read more

See all

Updating my review since it's been a hot minute! Came in cuz I'm hungry, it's unseasonably hot here in Washington state and I didn't wanna cook! Loak toung Thai never disappoints! I ordered pad se ew tonight, spicy number 4 And a Thai iced tea to cool down the fire! Now ima go home and eat! read more

Loak Toung Thai - Exterior - Thai Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

Hidden gem in Tacoma for Thai food lovers. Outside area seems okay but the inside ambiance is totally different and the vibes are so cool. It feels like you are in different place. Never thought I would find such a restaurant here. Service and food was another plus plus. read more

Loak Toung Thai - the interior of a restaurant - Thai Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

The food was delicious. We thought it might be closed at first because of the lighting and large OSB covered window. Once you pass the lobby you are transported into a beautiful cozy space! The food was amazing. We were lucky to come on a night with the pork rib curry special. We ordered 3 main dishes for 2 people and the fish cake appetizer. We had enough food for at least 6 people but will be enjoying the leftovers for days. Staff were very friendly! We will 100% be back! read more

Loak Toung Thai - Don't be fooled by the entrance! - Thai Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

My favorite Thai restaurant in Tacoma. The owners are so welcoming and personable. Love the crispy tofu and the tom yum soup, everything tastes very fresh. read more

Food is top tier and the lil pineapple candy's they have are really good too. Customers service is really good too.

This place is great. Such a hole in the wall authentic Thai restaurant. Even though it was busy the service was great and the food was amazing! read more

Great portion size that taste amazing. Ambience is nice and service is great. I have bad eyes so the theme was a bit dark for me but otherwise I love this place read more

This is one of those restaurants that you don't judge until you've been inside and tasted their food. Based on their location and the storefront, it doesn't seem like there is a restaurant, but a friend of a friend recommended it so we had to try it out. I met my girlfriends there for a mommy night out without the kids. The inside of restaurant is so cute and intimate. I think the lack of windows makes it intimate. We decided to sit on an elevated floor without chairs, just a pillow and loved the ambiance. We ordered their special, pork belly with Chinese broccoli and it was delicious. We also ordered Phad Thai and Pineapple Fried Rice, which we all enjoyed. The service was great and not once did we have to ask for water. They were patient with us as we took time to enjoy the food and each other's company. read more

See all

Best pad woon sen I have ever tried and I've had a lot! I called for takeout and the woman who helped me was so kind. My whole order was ready when I got there with the food nice and hot and the drink staying cool in the fridge. Fairly priced respective to similar places today. Highly recommend and will be coming back! P.S. the spice level is 1-5, I ordered 3 and it was more than spicy enough for me! read more

Loak Toung Thai - Phad Woon Sen with tofu - Thai Near Me - Tacoma, Washington