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    Payakk

    4.3 (69 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Order Payakk Takeout or Delivery

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    PAYAKK ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Payakk

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    Pad Thai with shrimp & crab, green beans & mushrooms, and shrimp toast
    Laura E.

    When you step inside Payakk, the decor makes you feel as if you've been transported to Thailand. We had a reservation on Thursday 8/13/2026 and we were seated right away. The drink menu had a nice selection of wine, cocktails, beers, mocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks. I had the Thai ice tea lemonade, which was a unique combo of tea and citrus flavors. My mom got a mocktail that I don't remember the name but it was lime flavored. We shared the shrimp toast, pad Thai, and mushrooms & green beans. The bread was nicely toasted and the shrimp was flavorful. Unlike most versions of pad Thai, Payakk's version comes with crab and tiger prawns. One of the best I've had. The veggies were cooked well, especially the mushrooms. Though the food was five stars, the service was a little erratic. We were served the green beans and mushrooms first, which we asked to be served after our drinks with the pad Thai. When our server brought out those dishes after the drinks, he said the bartender was backed up. Although the servers were friendly, they seemed disorganized (and possibly understaffed). Despite the hiccups, I would come back for sure.

    Karina G.

    Absolutely one of the best dining experiences I've had all year. The inside is inspired by Bangkok listening lounges providing such an incredible ambiance. Combined with the creative and delicious food, Payakk feels so beautifully intentional and from the heart. Only problem we faced was how to narrow down our choices from this menu to a reasonable amount for 2! Their portion sizes are small to normal, working great for family style sharing. In the end 1 app, 2 mains and 2 dessert was the perfect amount for us. Standouts for me were our two mains, the crab curry vermicelli and fried pork fried rice. Genius to pair a creamy coconut curry with noodles. And they really nailed the balance of hearty, from the fried pork, and fresh, from the fish sauce, cucumber and lettuce accompaniment. I anticipate many more visits in my future and feel so blessed to have such an authentic and unique spot join the already amazing Oakland food scene.

    Fried tofu
    Natalie G.

    Wow! No idea how this place is so highly rated. We were so excited to try this spot and it unfortunately completely missed the mark. The food was absolutely flavorless. We tried to come out for a weekend treat and wish we had eaten at home. We walked in and sat at the bar, which we do not mind at all but supposedly it was because of existing reservations but many seats were empty the entire time. I don't fault them for that as they don't know how long we are going to stay etc. It doesn't affect their star rating but really don't recommend just for (lack of) taste alone. I recommend going somewhere else if you want actually good Thai food!

    Pink noodles and delicious veggies
    Elaysha J.

    Wow Payakk! So glad I've been introduced to this gem of a restaurant. A friend and I got dinner here after being heavily influence on IG. The service was excellent and attentive. The menu is well-crafted, felt very intentional - in a way not to overwhelm the mind or ordering process. The dining space is beautiful, alive and green, the tables and lighting were intimate without being too dark. The food was delicious; I particularly loved the chicken wings marinated in fish sauce, (like I haven't had a better version ever). The Sea Bass with dipping sauce was buttery, light, breathtakingly delicious and brimming with flavor. I am not a fan of noodles (especially the rice variations), so the pink noodles left much to be desired IMO. I enjoyed the seafood it was cooked with and Noodle people may love it. I will absolutely revisit!

    Grilled Sea Bass with Fermented Fish Dip
    Yarrow H.

    Payakk is such a gorgeous and fun new restaurant. The chefs goal is elevate Thai classics. I went with my friend and we loved the aesthetic. So many cool objects, art, murals and plants. It was stunning. The service was good, they were attentive and recommended dishes. We ordered: Fish Sauce Fried Chicken Wings (Crispy, golden-brown wings marinated in premium fish sauce). They were crispy, juicy and had an amazing sauce on them. The meat fell off the bone. Grilled Sea Bass with Fermented Fish Dip (GF) (Succulent grilled sea bass served with a bold and spicy fermented fish dipping sauce). This fish was so buttery, perfectly cooked and the sauce was incredible. Spicy and so savory. I would go back for this fish alone. The fish was cooked in banana leaves which I think helped keep it very moist. Stir-Fried Pink Noodles (GF) (Rice noodles stir-fried in rich Yentafo sauce, infused with aromatic red yeast rice (Angkak) served with squid, shrimp and fresh vegetables. This was our least favorite dish simply because compared to the other dishes it lacked flavor. It was fresh and beautiful just not as appealing as the other dishes to us. Green Bean & Mushroom Stir-fry (Crunchy green beans sautéed with earthy mushrooms in a light savory garlic sauce). These veggies were soooooo good. Perfectly cooked and the sauce was very umami. I could have drank the sauce. We really loved this place. The vibes, the food, and the whole experience. We will definitely be back.

    Menu
    herald h.

    Not your average Thai spot! This place is so cool and the food is amazing! I love Thai food but this place has their own twist on dishes which made it feel a bit more elevated in flavor. The ambiance is very chic, it feels like your aunties house. The flavors of the food are also very aromatic, spices, and herbaceous. If you love Thai food and want to try something a little more upscale, try this spot out!

    Chicken entree
    Steve B.

    First time here. This hidden gem is a vibe, especially for a date night or hanging out with friends. We did not have a reservation, but the staff was very accommodating and found seats for all four of us at the bar. The place stays busy, and the bar area is constantly moving with drinks and food coming out. The restaurant is clean, stylish, and has a great atmosphere. The prices reflect the neighborhood it's located in, but the portions are generous. We ended up boxing up leftovers to take home. I highly recommend the Pad Thai. It comes topped with crab, shrimp, and grilled prawns, and it was absolutely delicious. I'd definitely come back. Next time I'd like to try some of the cocktails. The drinks I saw on other tables looked pretty impressive. Tips: Make a reservation if you're planning a date night. I would not recommend sitting at the bar for a date since it can get pretty busy and noisy. Cleanliness: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Flavors: 8/10 Portion: 10/10 Coming back? Yes

    Ashley T.

    This place was so cute! Loved how they decorated the place. The waiter was really helpful with helping us choose our dishes. Almost everything tasted great but the steak was a little over cooked. Not sure about the choice and taste of the thin noodles here. My cocktail tasted sweet and refreshing.

    Alexa W.

    Wow, what a find! Once again, Yelp came to our rescue when we needed to find somewhere to eat immediately and didn't know of any decent places in the neighborhood. Once we had decided on Thai food, we went to Payakk. We ordered two main dishes and one appetizer. Looking at the trendy décor and other guests, I was expecting small portions and unusual flavor combinations. Boy, was I wrong! Even the two of us (two adults with a medium appetite and one ravenous six year old) had to take home leftovers. The pork jawls with fried rice stood out to me. My daughter devoured almost all of the meat and most of the rice. That's as good as it gets! The place itself is really interesting and cool. I definitely want to come back for a date night to enjoy the food, music and cocktails.

    Interior
    PJ D.

    Ambiance and staff were both great here and it was pretty easy to get a reservation off Open Table. It was also pretty easy to find some street parking nearby. However, that itself is not enough to make a restaurant great. While the concepts for all the dishes are great - everything was lacking in flavor for us while we visited which was disappointing, especially given the price. It could've just been an off-day for the kitchen but nothing really hit the mark for us and in the end my friends and I wished we had gone somewhere else.

    Green Bean & Mushroom Stir-fry
    Suraj P.

    This has been on my list of places to try for a while now and finally gave it a try. Unfortunately it did not live up to the expectations. We ordered 3 different vegetarian dishes and every one was very bland. We asked for some chili paste which did help a bit, but as it was a dry seasoning it didn't mix well with the food, so you either got flaming hot spice or nothing at all. The service was great and we tried some drinks as well, these do not factor into negative review. The location is also very nicely decorated and welcoming. Just wish there was more to the dishes.

    Sea bass curry
    Krislyn C.

    Made a reservation for Monday evening. It wasn't crowded. What a gem! Food was absolutely delicious. Got the sea bass curry, rib eye noodles, and wai wai pad mushroom. They even had a bookshelf of children's books that my toddler enjoyed during dinner. Will definitely be back!

    Rib eye
    Yvonne F.

    Came to celebrate vday!!! We originally had a 7pm reservation but swapped to 5 since we were not doing the prix fixe menu. When we arrived, there was already a few tables sat and by 6pm, the tiny restaurant was filled. Payakk is such a cute, neighborhood spot that is tucked in the Oakland hills. The ambiance is eccentric with it's pop of color walls and decor -- I loved it! Since it was our first time here, we opted for the pad thai, rib eye, mushroom puffs, and coconut rice with fish. Rib eye: delicious, cooked perfectly, and paired wonderfully with the sauce on the side Pad thai: not your normal pad thai, comes with head-on shrimp and crab meat. Yummy, but wished it was a tad bit more flavorful Mushroom puff: the star of the show! The filling is flavored perfectly with a flaky crust. The sauce on the side also complimented it so well with it's touch of sourness Coconut rich with fish: tasted great when you had it with the fish. Nothing special. Service was good, very friendly! Perfect spot for a date night or girl's night

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    9 months ago

    The food is incredible. Much more diverse then other Thai restaurants. The service is excellent. And the ambiance is stylish. A+

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    10 months ago

    Flavorful food, interesting combinations, beautiful ambience, very accommodating staff.

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    10 months ago

    Food is amazing; best upscale Thai in Oakland + in a really cool building. Steak was great

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Payakk

    Do they take reservations?

    Yes; I believe we made reservations via the Open Table app.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Payakk - thai - Updated September 2026

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