i was fortunate enough to try mantra raja for an event. the service was incredible and food was also so good. i love the inside it was moody and dimly lit and colors inside go together so well. the owner was incredibly sweet to share her dishes with us. please go support this place! hands down best yellow curry in SD! read more

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My sister and I stopped into Mantra Raja after looking for some Thai food in Carlsbad. We saw it replaced the former Thai spot and decided to give it a try! When we first got there, it was slow so we got seated instantly. The women at the front of house tending to guests were extremely friendly; however?, service was on the slower side. They had a decent amount of to-go orders they were handling as well. The interior is super cute and calming, I love the color scheme of the reds and golds -- very pretty. We ordered the yellow curry with chicken (spicy level 2) and the pad see ew with beef (spicy level 1). Usually I'd opt for a higher spice level but my sister is sensitive to spice. The food came out quickly (faster than the Thai iced tea my sister ordered, which she said tasted good). The food was hot and flavorful. Did it blow me away? No, but it's a solid place. We finished it off with the mango sticky rice which was really good -- the creaminess and the fresh mango are just the best pairing. Overall, I'd say it was a good experience -- I just think they need more servers / front of house help because they picked up around 6:30 and two people just want enough to cover all those tables. read more

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This is the 3rd change of ownership at this establishment since Lotus Thai so once again, we were going to try this "new" place. Walking in, the theme is more refined, almost upscale casual than what it was before. We were greeted right away and seated. The employees were nice. There were many dishes on the menu and I was looking forward to having one of my favorite Thai curries, panang, red, green or yellow. Unfortunately, every one of those started with the word "spicy", so I ordered the Crispy Pork w/ Basil. My cohorts ordered the Drunken Noodles and Green Curry. Our food came out promptly and out of curiosity wanted to taste the baseline "spicy" of the Green Curry where no added spice was requested. But for me, it was still too spicy. I've never had this issue with the former occupants of this place, or even at any other Thai restaurants. So sadly, if I want Thai curry it will have to be at another establishment. Otherwise, the other dishes were good regardless of the spiciness. If you can tolerate the heat, you won't be disappointed here. The dish I ordered though, the Crispy Pork with Basil was delicious! A fried egg over crispy pork belly alongside perfectly cooked green beans and the best part? The lightly fried basil! What?!? Never underestimate the power of something so unassuming. That was the talk of the night. The dish itself was delicious but the sauce that settled under the beans and pork was very salty. We also tried Mango Iced Tea and Taro Milk Tea and those were good too. Glad we tried this place. read more

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Delicious!!!!!! Plenty of parking, beautifully decorated! Came for lunch and was so pleased!!! I got the Red curry lunch which included soup or salad, egg roll, and rice! It was so affordable! The wait staff were all so accommodating! I'm counting down to my next visit! read more

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Mantra Raja is a hidden gem. I believe it's currently the only Thai cuisine restaurant in the Carlsbad area. The restaurant is dim lit, perfect for a romantic date. The four seater tables are also a good fit for families. There's plenty of parking in the private lot. I tried several dishes. Although not the most delicious Thai food I've had, it was still good nonetheless. The pad Thai was on the sweeter side (you can ask for more spice), the pineapple fried rice was fragrant, the yellow curry was lusciously thick from the coconut milk, and the tom kah hit the right sour & savory notes. The way the staff handled situations was very professional and friendly. For example, our Tom Kah was way too sour. We told our waitress and they gladly redid it. In short, the hospitality was fantastic. There were only three tables filled through the duration of my meal. I think this place has a lot of potential, and I really hope more people try their food. read more

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Update, they replaced the delivered pad Thai that was missing the items, we dined there today and it was delicious as always. We also ordered yellow curry again and it was delightful as always. We are so full and have plenty leftover for another meal. Great portions this is our pad Thai & curry go to! Workers are so nice and friendly and welcoming as always. Clean with great a/c. Not too cold, perfect temperature inside. We have the toasted app and we had $5 bday reward and $5 in points as well. Wow! How great this restaurant uses the toasted app! You gain points with every visit, just have them scan your toasted app. Let I mentioned before they use quality products and ingredients so you leave happy feeling great. Today they had pretty yellow blue and pink flowers on the table, I love these details. Thank you so much, you are worth the drive! read more

Mantra Raja - Thai Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Really enjoyed our first visit! We ordered the Pad See Ew and Pad Thai. Their portions were pretty big and filling. They let you choose your spice level from 1-5. We ended up choosing level 2, and it had a little kick to it, but the food was really good still. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, and the restaurant had a clean, welcoming atmosphere. We'll definitely be back! read more

Mantra Raja - Pad See Ew - Thai Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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I looove Thai Food! Mantra Raja is the place to go to for authentic flavorful food in a really niiice intimate setting. It's easy to get to from the 5 Interstate and when you arrive there's plenty of parking. Once inside, the service from the friendly attentive staff is FANTASTIC. The food from the expert passionate chefs is INCREDIBLE. It's now my "Mantra Raja". I can't wait to go back to try another dish. I highly recommend it to the Yelp Community :-) read more

Mantra Raja - Yellow Curry w/ Chicken Lunch Special - Thai Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Ordered from Uber eats on Fridays night for pick up. When we arrived the place was PACKED! Great sign. We ordered the pad see ew with shrimp and Panang curry. Absolutely amazing! We waited quite a long time but they seemed short staffed and they threw in a chicken satay on the house! Definitely would like to come back and eat in as well! Great hidden local spot! read more

I ordered my daughter chicken Phad Thai today because this place had good reviews. My daughter couldn't finish it and said it had no flavor. I thought she was being a moody teenager...however I just tried it and she was so right! I have loved Phad Thai for 3-4 decades and have found some Thai places better than others but never have I completely disliked a Phad Thai dish until now. I'm bummed because this place is super close to our house. read more

Great food. Good ambiance of restaurant and great location right next to the 5 freeway at Carlsbad village drive. Service was excellent for our private event. I will be back to try the rest of the menu with my family read more

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Ambiance..nice place on main floor..look for sign above door. The side says aroi..thai..pretty big space. Service..fast and friendly Food..amazing..I got thai tea with boba..pineapple.friend rice foe lunch..it came with salad and egg roll..it was ao good and full of flavors read more

My luncheon group who meets monthly at various restaurants and eateries in the area gathered here recently and we were all pleased with the food service and ambience. Several of us had the pad Thai with coconut soup which was a lunch special and very reasonable under $20. The food was delicious and plentiful. We all left with a take home box. My only suggestion was that if you're not a fan of spicy food order a zero as we ordered a one on a scale of one to five and all said it was a little bit too much. The waitress immediately took our orders and was very accommodating answering questions for those with special food needs. We had a separate room all to ourselves and were very comfortable. I would definitely come back here again. It is right off the five in Carlsbad and not easily noticeable to find unless you're looking for it. read more

Nasty, unseasoned rice and chicken. Raisins in the thai fried rice and I have never had raisins in my thai fried rice before. Absolute waste of money I could have stir frief myself. NO FLAVOR read more

Mantra Raja - Trash - Thai Near Me - Carlsbad, California

The restaurant has a simple, clean, and pleasant ambiance, with plenty of parking and tables that can accommodate larger parties. Unfortunately, the service was very disappointing. We had a 7:00 p.m. reservation, but no one came to our table until about 8:15 p.m., when the waiter finally brought water and took our order. We were very thirsty and hungry by then, and we had already been sitting for about 45 minutes without service. Two other parties arrived after us and were served before we were. The food was mixed. We asked for spice level 3, but it tasted more like a level 5 and was extremely spicy. The "salmon" did not seem like salmon; it tasted more like trout. The soup was also not really soup -- it was more like noodles in sauce. That said, the spring rolls and drunken noodles were great. The lesson here is probably to stick with traditional Thai dishes, which seem to be the restaurant's strength. Anything outside of that may be more of a risk. I'm not sure we would return. They appear to have only one waiter and the owner working, so even though the space can handle larger parties, you should expect a considerable wait.. read more

Honestly, the Kao Soi noodle dish I ordered was so bomb! I was already planning on my next visit after my first bite! The broth was so flavorful, and the ingredients all feel so fresh! Mango sticky rice was almost perfection, except they did not put toasted sesame on it which I feel it's such a finishing touch to this dish. I can't wait to be back to try other things on the menu! The owner is so sweet and came to say hi to our table. We love going to her tea spot Mantra Sukha. Lovely woman, very kind. The place is cute, their lighting could dim a little though. One area was way too bright so we had to move to a different table. Nonetheless, we will definitely be back! Highly recommend! read more

Mantra Raja - Forgot what it's called but it's a soup noodle dish. One of their specialties. The broth was so flavorful, almost like a curry. - Thai Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Some lunches are simply a meal. Others make you start planning your next visit before you've even left. Mantra Raj Thai in Carlsbad was that kind of experience. The restaurant is charming and inviting, with a warm atmosphere that makes you want to settle in and stay awhile. The service was genuinely friendly and welcoming, the kind that makes a good meal even better. I ordered the lunch special with Pad Thai and Tom Kha soup, and both were absolutely delicious. The Tom Kha was rich, comforting, and beautifully balanced, while the Pad Thai was the standout for me. In fact, it was the most authentic Pad Thai I've had in recent memory--fresh, flavorful, and prepared with a level of care that is becoming increasingly rare. Good food has a way of transporting you. For a little while, this lunch did exactly that. Delicious food, kind service, and a lovely atmosphere. I'll definitely be back. read more

We popped in there today after the beach and Michael had chicken wings and I had Tom Yum vegetarian soup both outstanding . But to die for was the coconut ice cream. It's homemade it's delicious with ribbons of real coconut throughout We will be back and it takes someone special that loves Thai to eat at this wonderful new restaurant. Enjoy and make sure you don't miss it. read more

Mantra Raja hosted a Yelp event. I finally was able to attend one of these cool affairs. What a great experience meeting with other Yelpers. There was 20-30 of us that came to taste what Mantra is all about. First of all it is right off the 5 freeway. They share a building with another restaurant El Tejate. The parking lot is in the back. We had a set menu offering us fried wontons with cream cheese and imitation crab meat. It was a good start. They also provided a small Thai iced tea. This was actually pretty good as I ended up having 2 of them. We had the drunken noodles chicken and it was not bad. The fresh ginger stir fry with tofu was ok. I think the star of the show is the yellow curry chicken on top of the rice. I would order this next time for sure. The service was on point and the restaurant was nice and clean. You should add a little heat to the dishes as they served these dishes to us with no spice to accommodate the ones that don't like spicy. We were given a small portion of spicy sauce and you just added how much you want. If you need a quick Thai fix in the Carlsbad area just come here. read more

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Food was fresh and amazing authentic Thai flavors. Great service. Update and upgrade from the last few Thai spots in the same building.

Food was pretty good, but service was very poor due to "someone not showing up today". The server literally was somewhat rude in the nice polite Thai way. Restaurant is decorated beautifully and has plenty of parking. There are stairs to climb at the main entrance- but I think if you park in the back, there is another door that is at ground level. Lots of parking and located east of the busy Carlsbad main drag- but close enough to all the other spots you might want to go to after dinner. We'll give it another try. read more

We came around 5 and brought my cousin from out of town. we were the first ones there and my family was very impressed. The service was so fast and fresh! They were very kind and the food was amazing. Lots of flavor and love how it's tucked in. Makes it a hidden gem. I will definitely come back. read more

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The most bland pad Thai I've ever had. It literally just tasted like boiled noodles don't water your money.

Amazing food, every dish was exceptional and not overly expensive either. The inside is beautiful and an amazing ambiance, with lovely service from our host. read more

Fresh, spicy, and full of flavor! The seafood was juicy, the glass noodles soaked up the delicious dressing, and every bite had the perfect mix of tangy, sweet, and spicy. Super refreshing and not too heavy -- definitely a dish I'd order again. read more

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Carlsbad!!! Wake up and smell authentic Thai food! Beautifully prepared, excellent service and the food was delicious!! Support local!! Give this place a try. If you're lucky the owner, Nok, will greet you with her big, lovely smile. read more

We were a large group and they accommodated us in a private room which was a wonderful surprise. The service was super friendly and all of the food was excellent. Even though we were a large group there was zero drama with giving separate checks to each guest which was appreciated. Most other restaurants will do it but make you feel like it's a major inconvenience for them which is an unpleasant feeling to have as you are spending money as a customer. Not here! They were great about it. They do of course still charge an automatic gratuity for large parties but that is standard in the industry. read more

Best Thai food in all of North County! It's like a hidden gem tucked away in a lot that serves incredible food and even better service. I've had multiple dishes, and they're all to die for. Always finish the meal off with their mango sticky rice. Perfect for sharing or even all to yourself!!! read more

Most of the dishes we ordered were fine (not mind blowing but decent), however it was unclear that the "protein choice" for the wonton soup referred to the protein inside of the wonton. Most wonton soups (at the same price point) from other places have wontons and an additional protein of some kind so I figured choosing vegetable would get me the standard wontons & just veggies. Nope, the protein choice was apparently for the wonton filling, which would have already been disappointing, but was made way worse by the fact that each wonton was "filled" by a singular, tiny floret of broccoli..... the broth was good, but I'm sorry for the same price point / serving I can get a wonton soup from Thai Thai Oceanside with better broth, delicious pork filling in the wontons, vegetables, chicken AND shrimp. I wanted to try somewhere closer to my house but the fact they would serve a wonton soup with what were essentially just unfilled wonton wrappers kind of put me off from coming back. My husband also said the level 3 spicy for his dish was pretty underwhelming compared to other places. Will definitely be sticking with Thai Thai Oceanside from now on for thai food read more

I was craving mango and sticky rice so we tried this spot tonight. Very impressed! The ambiance is great- clean, spacious, romantic lighting and nice music. We had wonderful service- seated quickly, drinks and food served promptly. We got the fresh spring rolls, the rice paper was soft and tasted fresh and it had a good amount of veggies and mint. We shared the drunken noodles which were delicious and weren't too greasy. The mango and sticky rice hit the spot. Mango was perfectly ripe and the sticky rice was fresh with the right amount of coconut sauce and sesame seeds. All for a pretty reasonable price. Can't wait to come back! read more

Food looks good but will never know. Severely understaffed and waiters were more focused on cleaning tables than taking orders. Ended up waiting 30 minutes for water and sat around for another 20 before leaving. No order taken or drinks placed. Would like to give it another shot. read more

Love the pad thai and super friendly. Only ever have had take out but super easy and quick!

Extremely delicious. A hidden gem in Carlsbad, you need to look for the El Tejate sign and it is behind the building. Would recommend to anyone visiting or in Carlsbad. read more

Great food and amazing service. We had an excellent experience. Highly recommended!!!

- This is the first negative review I ever submitted in Yelp. - Never had this happen before at a restaurant. One of the items we ordered was a TomYum soup. We regularly order it at other Thai restaurants. Theirs sucked we both tried a couple bites and we sent it back and informed it sucked. When the bill came it was still on the bill. I. asked why it was still on there and he informed since we ordered it we got charged. So we had to pay for an item we did not eat. The fresh rolls appetizer was good but the Drunken noodles was marginal at best. read more

Came in for an early lunch April 24th. Our waitress was so friendly and funny as well. She mentioned it was recently under new management, which could be a great sign considering the food was delicious and quickly received. My Vietnamese girlfriend absolutely loved the tomyum soup. read more

Mantra Raja - Thai Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I'm not a big reviewer so I'll keep this brief. Pleasant surprise that the former Thai restaurant here has been replaced by this gem. Amazing food, fresh and clean atmosphere, and great service. If you like Thai food eat here. read more

Everything was 10/10. Service is great. Food is amazing. Ambiance is beautiful. Every detail of this place is so thoughtful and well designed. Highly highly recommend this spot for incredible thai food and a lovely experience !! My boyfriend literally said the Kao Soi Crispy Pork was one of the best things he's ever tasted. The curry was so flavorful. Gluten free and vegan options !!! Prices are totally reasonable. We can't wait to keep coming back! read more

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The best Thai I have ever had!! Highly recommend the Tom Yum soup it was the tastiest broth. I was having a bad day and this magical soup made me feel so much better read more

Ordered for pick up. It was all packaged and ready for me. Ordered orange chicken with no spice and egg rolls. Chicken was tender and barely breaded which was a refreshing change for orange chicken. The sauce was light (not thick and syrupy). It came with cooked broccoli and white rice. Egg rolls were light and tasty. This will be my go to spot for Thai. Can't wait to try more dishes. read more