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    Paya Thai

    4.4 (98 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Paya Thai Takeout or Delivery

    Paya Thai Photos

    Business Info

    PAYA THAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Upscale
    Dogs allowed

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    Tess S.

    Amazing basil friend rice, and I devoured the whole thing, which I rarely do. The cocktail was wonderful, it tasted bright and floral. It had gin and pea flower in it, but I can't find the name of it on their online menu. They were decently busy and service was great. I wish they would post more photos online of their guests dining!! Their Google Photos don't do them justice because we walked in and it felt like wonderful mood lighting and a great amount of people, whereas their Google photos make it seem like it will be brighter and nobody around. It sometimes makes it harder to convince dates or friends to go, since they expect it to be empty! It wasn't the case in reality, which was lovely! I've had this basil friend rice as takeout since I dined in, and I'll be honest it wasn't as good. Online you're given a choice of spice level. I forgot if it had any spice at all (it had amazing flavor). I chose slightly spicy and what came had a very weird flavor, almost smoky, with a deep red color to it. It had a good spice level but the flavor was almost ruined, since it completely changed the profile with the strange flavor. It's probably a dish that's best either with no spice, or a boatload of spice for those who like the pain. It's that weird middle ground when it really isn't the same. No spice brings out the wonderful flavors of the basil and brings out the nuance.

    Mai Tai
    Angelica D.

    Paya Thai was wonderful. Parking was easy and we were able to pay through a barcode in the parking lot. The restaurant is gorgeous! We sat at the bar until the remaining guests in our party arrived. While at the bar, I had a Mai cocktail. It consisted of reposado tequila and roasted pineapple. The flavors were well balanced. The menu is quite extensive and it was hard deciding what I wanted. For my appetizer I chose the duo which included shrimp rolls and springs rolls. They were both very delicious and fried to perfection. For my entree, I decided on the pad Thai with shrimp. Although I enjoyed it, it wasn't the best pad Thai I've had. Everyone enjoyed the food overall. Customer service was great and the food came out fast. I'm looking forward to returning.

    Basil Fried Rice with chicken

    The Basil fried jasmine rice felt just overcooked chewy & the chicken was dry. My wife loved her tofu dish & wine suggested by the server. Our Moroccan server was great! Overall great service & atmosphere.

    Shanelle S.

    I've been here twice now and would definitely recommend. Both times I went with a group of people. The first time it was a larger group. The service was really good and so was the food. Plus drinks. The second time I ordered a shrimp dish with veggies. My food was delicious and it was a good portion. It came with a side of rice. I took away one star because we waited for a bit for a host to come greet us. They seemed to be a bit understaffed at the time so the waiting with no greeter was a little annoying. Overall I would recommend and will be back to try other options.

    Old fashioned
    Joshua S.

    I've been here twice now and both times were great. The ambience is great for a bday event and also a date night. The food tasted fresh and had soooo much flavor. You can dip a shoe in the northern Thai curry and I would eat it. Parking is also validated for 2 hours so that's a great bonus.

    Cod - our most expensive dish and my least favorite
    Christina C.

    I wanted to try this place after I saw it the other day after a disappointing meal at brown bag seafood and I'm so glad I went back today. Lovely from start to finish. Patio was cool and shaded. Service was excellent-not rushed, friendly and our server had a beautiful smile and way about him. And of course the food!!! Ummmm yes!!!! Come to Paya and bring your folks. We liked everything we had. Everything was beautifully plated, served hot and I would order almost everything that we ordered again. Winner on all fronts!

    Lily S.

    Really enjoyed the visit- in the west midtown provision where ladybird used to be. Spacious and cozy but chic Tyler our server was amazing. Food was authentic and flavorful. The seafood hot pot was yummy and had plenty of seafood. Will def be back.

    Papaya Salad
    Allen W.

    Way more upscale than I thought it'd be - the interior is very pretty. Service was great! The food was plated nicely (though, the papaya salad had a whole quarter wedge of lettuce on the side and I really didn't know what to do with that). My favorite was a braised meat dish - it had mashed potato on the side and avocado and gold flakes on top. I've never seen avocado on top of a mashed potato + meat dish, but it worked! The wings were not bad, and the papaya salad also. The curry was quite good. For the portions (leaning on the smaller side) and the price though, I'm not sure I'd go again.

    Pad Thai chicken
    Julia C.

    Wow! I'm SO excited to be reviewing this fantastic new discovery. Coming into my dining experience here, idk why but I had ZERO expectations because I'd never heard about Paya or seen it or been to it, and I'm very happy to say that it exceeded my expectations and left a VERY positive impression on me! I was looking for a spot in West Midtown that was lively, yummy, and could accommodate a larger party with a reservation in advance and this was IT! Perfect selection. Our service was fantastic: polite, prompt, and not rushed. It allowed up to stretch out our dinner and enjoy the whole evening!!! The food, especially the appetizers were special, great value, and worth it! The entres we also loved, but WARNING, If you're a spice (heat) fan, you can go UP in your spice-level request because unlike most Thai places, I'd say they take it easy on the spice level you order. (Oooof these'll be my famous last words before I get absolutely wrecked ordering "Thai Hot" next time). Any way, I LOVED everything about the experience. I highly recommend coming in with a large group-- they made it SO easy, and I can't wait to come back.

    Basil duck with sauce
    Andy X.

    TLDR: 4.2/5, pretty good pad Thai and basil duck for take out. Pad Thai was great texture but I wish it was a little saucier. Medium spice was SPICY but I am weak so if you like spicy maybe it's totally fine. Basil duck was really good flavor, just a little bit dry but otherwise very well cooked esp for takeout

    Menu (Nov 2025)
    Leyang Z.

    A new Thai food spot in West Midtown. The restaurant serves delicate and creative dishes and has a beautiful vibe, so it has been on my list for months. Recantly I went there twice, once by myself and the other with my friend. Overall the experiences were not bad. For the first time, I ordered the basil fried rice with shrimp and ribeye skewers. I asked the kitchen to put less salt for the fried rice and they did a good job. Plus, the shrimp was tender and the basil -- which was lightly fried, was crispy. Recommended. The ribeye skewer was really of appetizer-size lol. The meat was good but I did not like eating it with something sweet like the peanut sauce served on the side. Then I recommended the restaurant to my friend and we went there for dinner. This time I tried the Nam Tok beef salad, side roti and Tom Yum Soup w/ shrimp, while my friend got the Basil Duck and Tom Kha Soup w/ shrimp. Unlike the ribeye skewers, my beef salad was surprisingly descent in size, and the meat was tender and sauce was refreshing (spicy and sour). It was served with some raw cabbage which had a pleasant juiciness and sweetness. Both soups were good; though my friend enjoyed hisTom Kha Soup more. The Basil Duck was very salty, but not many Thai restaurants nearby feature duck dishes so you may still give it a try:) Plus, I also recommended this restaurant to some of my classmates and they enjoyed it as well. The restaurant seemed to have lunch specials and I may try it next time.

    Pad Cha Branzino
    Amber M.

    Paya Thai Kitchen I've tried a lot of Thai food in Atlanta, and this is one of the few places that actually feels authentic. The flavors are strong, well-seasoned, and not toned down. You get that perfect mix of sweet, spicy, and savory in every bite. The food tastes fresh, the portions are good, and everything came out exactly how it should. If you're searching for the best Thai food in Atlanta or a solid Thai spot in West Midtown, this is definitely one to check out. I'll be coming back for sure.

    Duck
    Julie N.

    Food 20/10. I've been dreaming of the Thai basil fried rice with seafood for a couple of days now. Duck was fantastic too. It's a little pricey but worth every penny. Service 10/10 Ambience 9/10 Can't wait to go back.

    Pad see ew

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    Tyde Tate Kitchen - South Downtown - Shrimp fried rice

    Tyde Tate Kitchen - South Downtown

    4.5(125 reviews)
    2.6 miDowntown
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    I always order the Panang Curry Beef. It's very spicy, it has a little kick to it. It tasty, nice…read moreportions as well. The staff is always friendly & accommodating. It's a small restaurant with a bar. I always get my food to go.

    This is gonna be a long one because this place took me for a ride. I hate to sound like but this is…read morea restaurant you'd like only if you've never ventured to NE ATL/BuHi/Norcross for the real bangers. It gives... tourist trap? I have never in my life had Americanized Thai food (or at least been conscience of it) but this tasted every bit of that. Not a single Thai national or descendant cooking or dining in here... I should have slid out the door upon noticing this but we were HONGRY and this place was walking distance. I appreciate the big portions to help alleviate the hunger, but the food going down wasn't even close to a real Thai experience. And the general ambience was definitely off. It's unclear whether this is a casual to-go spot or a sit-down spot or a bar. The service here was confusing. You have to order drinks separately from your food, for one. Secondly, it took a solid 10 minutes for a bartender to walk behind the bar and begrudgingly explain to me what they have available. I would have ordered more but her attitude made me close the tab after one beer. We didn't get served water until after we received our food, a solid 15-20 min after being in the restaurant. It generally felt like no one wanted to be there, and the staff were just moving independently to complete tasks instead of creating a dining experience *together*. There was not a smile from a single person I interacted with. I'd most likely not return purely because the dining experience is just plain out uncomfortable. On to the food. Mostly oil and noodles except for the papaya salad, which was... okay. Again, big portions. Nice heat. But just okay. The whole cherry tomatoes on top were a little weird and screamed laziness. The tofu kee mao was... okay. Same for the chicken pad thai. Lots of oil. This food made us feel pretty tired after eating it, which I've rarely experienced eating Thai cuisine. And they were very, very stingy with the protein. My husband counted 4-5 little slivers of chicken and hella noodles. The same was true for my tofu dish. I mean... it's tofu y'all. Cheap. But I can imagine they have to cut these corners because there were about 8 staff members running around in a small space with only a few customers in for happy hour. They do have HH deals on drinks depending on the day, but I found the drinks to be overpriced and not worth it. Especially the beer. And a $10 non-alcoholic cocktail is wild imo, especially for the scanty area this area is in. They are certainly milking the fact that they are in eyeshot of the Mercedes Benz stadium. The inside is beautiful and very ~trendy~ and honestly that tells me exactly where the focus is. I'd rate this a 2, but I'm adding a star for the spotless restrooms.

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    26 Thai Kitchen & Bar - Midtown - Inside. Bar on 1st floor.

    26 Thai Kitchen & Bar - Midtown

    4.3(607 reviews)
    1.8 miMidtown
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    Full bar
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    Best Thai food I've had in a very long time. Absolutely amazing food!! We ordered the Pad See Ewe,…read morethe Massaman Curry, and a bottle of soda. My portion of the food was the Massaman Curry, which was plentiful, hot, fresh, and packed with flavor! DoorDash ran a BOGO offer, turning $25 for one order into $25 for two! I would definitely order from here again or, better yet, dine in!

    I wanted to love my experience but I didn't. I convinced my party to try this midtown location…read morepassing about 20 other Thai restaurants. The Victorian charm is nice but loses some appeal when the main level dining area has tables so close together. Upstairs is way better. I took my party at 12:15 and arrived a few minutes early. I asked for a table in the corner because I brought some older guests. I was rudely denied by the hostess. Impolitely in tone and manner she said if I seat you there, where would I seat a larger party if they come. I explained that she could merge tables for them like she did our table. Our two tables weren't even but rushed together. Throughout the whole time we were there, the table was never filled. :( Nonetheless, we were seated and quickly greeted. The food was a solid 5 for taste. The server was fantastic until the bill came. He could have used some decorum to let me know there was a problem with my card. I transferred some money then there was a problem with the way he explained after trying to resolve the bill. I asked someone to take me to the manager. It was disappointing that the tone quickly became passive aggressive, progressed to let's just look at the computer system so you can go, and at points there was a lack of clarity on next steps with the bill. I felt dismissed. In the end, he did apologize and he did resolve it. However, it was an upsetting experience. I won't go back to this location but I am willing to try another location.

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    Poor Calvin's - Drunken noodle scallops and lobster tail with shrimp

    Poor Calvin's

    4.4(5.1k reviews)
    2.1 miDowntown
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    Made dinner reservations via Open Table. Used the complimentary Valet for parking. Once inside my…read moreparty was already waiting. The inside space is small but intimate. We were at a 2-top table. Ariel was an amazing server! Very knowledgeable about the menu. Our appetizers were so delicious. We got the Lobster Crawfish Wontons and Vietnamese Seafood Spring Rolls. For our entrees we ordered the Seafood Curry and Fried Chicken with lobster mac and cheese and collards. The dessert stole the show. The new Toasted Poundcake was absolutely delightful. It was green in color and very moist. Server with a gingerbread ice cream and topped with strawberries and banana fosters. I enjoyed every bite. I also got the Chocolate Ganache Cake Togo.

    My husband and I were in Atlanta attending a conference and doing some research when we came across…read morePoor Calvin's online. We intentionally avoided reading reviews because we wanted to form our own opinion, and we're so glad we did. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed warmly by the host, which immediately set the tone for a great dining experience. Once seated, our waiter was attentive, personable, knowledgeable, and genuinely seemed to care that we enjoyed our meal. The food was outstanding, the drinks were excellent. Poor Calvin's delivered from start to finish. If you're visiting Atlanta or you're a local looking for a restaurant that combines exceptional food with outstanding hospitality, Poor Calvin's is well worth the visit. We left with absolutely no complaints and look forward to returning the next time we're in Atlanta.

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    Bangkok Station - Crab meat Fried Rice

    Bangkok Station

    4.1(569 reviews)
    4.3 miBuckhead
    $$

    Beautifully decorated restaurant. They really put a lot of thought and intention into making the…read morecustomer feel like they are enthralled into Thai culture. I ordered an espresso martini, and fried Gyoza for an appetizer. The Gyoza came with a mushroom soy sauce that was really light and delicious. My espresso martini was amazing! I ordered the crab meat fried rice for my meal and it was very delicious. Pretty simple and didn't have a lot of extra stuff in it like veggies but still very delicious. We had a large group of people and our server was really nice and dealt with it very well. Everything just took a little bit longer. I definitely want to return for that award-winning pad Thai. Oh, and by the way, parking was super easy and simple. I got there around 7:20 on a Friday evening and was able to find parking behind the building in the open air lot very easily.

    The restaurant has plenty of free parking behind the restaurant and in the parking garage. However,…read morethe back of the restaurant looks more like the front entrance, while the actual front entrance faces the street, so it can be a little confusing when you first arrive. The decor, especially the service, is very on point. All the servers were friendly and attentive. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with Thai cultural artifacts, and there's also a backdrop of umbrellas at the entrance that makes for a nice photo spot. The food, however, was a bit hit-or-miss for me. Most of the dishes were a little too heavily seasoned, too sweet, or too salty for my taste. My boyfriend enjoyed the food more than I did. My palate tends to lean toward lighter flavors. The food was good overall. Nothing to complain about, but nothing really stood out as amazing either. We had: - Strawberry Creamy Mocktail: a bit too syrupy for me. - Black Mussels: the mussels were a little dry and didn't taste very fresh. The dish was also too salty for my taste. - Fried Gyoza - Satay Chicken - Tiger Prawns & Scallops - Roti Bread: we ordered this as a side without curry. - Mango Sticky Rice for dessert. Overall, it's a nice place with really good service and beautiful decor. Although the food didn't quite work for my palate, it will probably suit people who enjoy stronger and more heavily seasoned flavors. I would still recommend giving it a try, especially for the atmosphere and excellent service.

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    Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft

    Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft

    3.8(1.2k reviews)
    1.5 miBuckhead
    $$

    I am a big fan of Thai food- probably my favorite cuisine, and have had a couple of Thai women in…read moremy life who knew how to throw down in the kitchen. That said, this might be my last meal on the planet if I had to choose: Pork Larb w cabbage, Papaya salad, and a side of jasmine rice. I am giving this place 5 stars for their authentic flavor and beautiful presentation. They did not have pork Larb and I will not Complain bc the chicken was fabulous. and to put the whole peanuts in the papaya salad! It's the best I've ever had. Im happy that I found a way to give you all a good review bc you have the friendliest and most welcome staff too! Thank you! Cindy.

    I had absolutely no idea when I walked into Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft on July 29 that I would be…read moredining there during its final week after 16 years in Atlanta. Four days later, Tuk Tuk closed its doors for good. What an unexpected and bittersweet discovery. And I'm so glad I got to experience it. From the moment you walked into the downstairs foyer and saw the tuk-tuk, you knew this wasn't going to be an ordinary Thai restaurant. Take the stairs or elevator to the second-floor dining room and suddenly you're transported. The space was stylish, warm and beautifully done, with wonderful details throughout. We started with an ice-cold Paper Plane cocktail, perfectly made and a lovely beginning to dinner. My girlfriend and I shared the seafood garlic noodles, loaded with seafood and deeply savory. Delicious. Then we spotted the whole fish special on the chalkboard and couldn't resist. The whole fish arrived dramatically presented over garlic rice with a fresh papaya salad. It was enormous -- far more than the two of us could finish -- beautifully prepared and absolutely worth ordering. And because I will always find room for dessert, I finished with mango sticky rice. No regrets. It delivered exactly what I wanted after a Thai feast. I love Thai food. I seek it out when I travel, and meals like this are exactly why. Great Thai cooking can hit sweet, salty, sour, spicy and savory notes seemingly all at once, yet somehow remain beautifully balanced. Learning only a week later that Tuk Tuk had closed genuinely made me sad. I feel incredibly fortunate that I happened to walk through those doors one last time without knowing just how fleeting the opportunity was. After 16 years, that's quite a legacy -- and I'm grateful I got one final taste of it. Life is too short not to eat well or travel well. Get out there and find your next meal on your journey -- because sometimes the places you think will always be there simply won't be.

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    Paya Thai - thai - Updated August 2026

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