I was meeting a friend for lunch in Benicia, a couple of hours' drive from my house. Neither of us knew much about restaurants in the area, but we "Yelped" a bit, and Pearl Thai caught our eye. Very glad it did! We were greeted by a gentleman with a fun sense of humor - can't really explain it, but he made us smile. The place is small, but very welcoming. We were shown to a window booth, where we chatted a bit before we looked at the menu. The server came to take our order and we had barely even looked. She told us to take all the time we needed. Eventually, we made our decisions. My friend got one of the lunch combos - a chicken curry (she chose red curry, you can also choose green or yellow), and I don't remember what the other combo item was. But everything looked delightful on her plate! On our way into the restaurant, I spotted a sign with a lunch special on it - crispy chicken kao soi, a noodle dish, and it looked good, so that's what I requested. It was quite yummy! The best part was the deeply flavored sauce that the noodles were nestled into - I could put it in a cup and drink it, it was soooo good, lots of savory fish sauce and just enough spice to keep it interesting. Besides the noodles actually in the sauce, there were crispy fried noodles on top as well, adding a nice texture variety. The picture doesn't really do it justice. I was hungry and dove in before I remembered to take the photo, oops. The chicken was breaded and laid on top of the noodles in thin slices, very nice and crunchy. We had Thai hot tea with our lunch - not the sweet kind, but the nice clean-flavored hot tea. It went perfectly with our dishes. I don't know exactly when either of us will get back to Benicia again, but if and when we do, I hope we can stop by Pearl Thai again! read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - Kao soi lunch special - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

*** Vegetarian Review *** None of their dishes have fish sauce so you don't get knocked over the head with the smell when you walk in. They remind me every time I order, but as a vegetarian, we've all had that fish smell delivered to us at a Thai restaurant at least once (probably twice, more likely three times) in our eating lifetimes. It is such a relief to not have to worry about that here. Would I Come Back? Yes, when I'm in town, I make it a point to come here. Did I mention they don't use fish sauce!? Parking is is incredibly easy so that's never an issue. It's a shared parking lot with many stores and other restaurants. I typically go on a Sunday for lunch, and even with a party of 5, I haven't had to wait for a table. Seating capacity is probably 45-50 guests so if you're planning a large party, definitely best to call ahead and make a reservation. The Food: Roti & Yellow Curry ($14, Grade A+): Fried roti with a yellow curry dipping sauce. It's a super savory dish, and honestly, I should have had you at "fried." If you're wondering what roti is, think of it as a buttery, flaky, pan-fried flatbread. It's large enough appetizer to share with 3 people, but you're pushing your luck with 4. Pad Thai with Fried Tofu ($16, Grade A): I've had this dish 5 times now. To be completely transparent, it's the exact reason why I can't give Pearl Thai a full 5-star rating, purely because of consistency. The first time I got it, it was perfect. The second and third times, it had no sauce and was dry. The fourth time, I asked them to make it saucy, and they obliged to an almost soupy level. For this fifth time, I just ordered it straight up and zipped my lip on any alterations. As they say, the fifth time was a charm! When it's made with the perfect amount of sauce, this dish is excellent. The noodles have that exact texture you look for in a pad thai, and the egg gets that great scorch from the wok for an added layer of flavor. Also, the tofu has been incredibly fresh every single time. It never tastes slightly spoiled, which happens a lot in smaller towns that don't heavily support plant-based diets where tofu just sits in a fridge eagerly awaiting someone to order it. Mixed Vegetables ($14, Grade A): Sautéed wood ear mushrooms and mixed vegetables in a garlic soy sauce. If you've ever had Pad Pak, you already know this flavor profile. I really enjoyed it, but next time I'll ask for no carrots and maybe half the garlic. Overall, it's a perfect dish that absolutely requires steamed rice to soak up all that great flavor. Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango ($8, Grade A): The classic dessert we see at all Thai restaurants, but they serve it with purple sticky rice, making it a visually yummy dish. It's plenty of food to share between two people. Bottom Line: The service here is great and very friendly. It's a small, local shop with "Best in Town" awards highlighted on the walls. The environment is clean, and the food is served hot and arrives at the table quick. One Last Word: Don't leave here without ordering the roti with yellow curry for an appetizer. Pure savory goodness! read more

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Not as happy with their food as the last time I visited. Unfortunately the pad thai was lacking a lot of flavor and the chicken yellow curry I ordered had just a few pieces of chicken. The flavor of the curry was pretty good though. We got the calamari appetizer which came out chewy, very oily, and needing salt. We also ordered the fresh spring rolls but they had forgot to place the order with the kitchen so it never reached our table and we had it taken off our bill. I ordered a thai tea which at least never fails. Needs a little bit of work. read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - yellow chicken curry (lunch size) - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

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Decor, lovely. Service, friendly. Tom kha gai soup: outstanding! But the pad see ew was undercooked with no char on it, unfortunately! I would return just for the tom kha gai. read more

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Enjoyed Thai dinner, fast service and food was hot not too spicy. If you can't think of a place that delivers excellent food try Pearl Thai. ‍‍‍‍‍‍ read more

Such friendly staff and cozy vibes. New to the neighborhood and we are Definitely coming back. Food was delicious.

Had lunch today and really enjoyed the Pad see ew beef. The staff were very attentive and kept checking on me which I appreciated. Filled my water glass without needing to ask. The water glasses had a slice of lemon, and tasted great. They have some very gorgeous chandeliers, which makes it feel elegant dinning. read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - Pad see Ew beef - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

Excellent service and conversation from the owner and staff. I've been here on many occasions and they never disappoint. The food is excellent and they recently got new chandelier. Cleverly clean as well. I got the Prawn and scallops over rice and my mom got the seafood stir fry's I think I may have the names wrong. read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - Shrimp & Scallop 8/21/25 - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

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Came here with my family for a post Christmas celebration. Food was amazing! There were so many selection from the menu. I wish I took all the photos of the food presentation. The service from Pom was great. She attended to us every minute. Our water and jasmine tea was constantly topped off. They also didn't rush us. We made a a reservation and it was good we did. The place is not that big and gets busy immediately as it opens. Ambiance was perfect. The decor was beautiful and my family enjoyed our luncheon experience. This was my only second time here and I will definitely be back again. Please visit this hidden gem. Ample parking outside since it's in a mall. Also the price is very reasonable. Do note that gratuity is added for party of 6 or more. read more

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I ordered Musaman Curry with a side order of brown rice. The small portion of curry had no peanut taste at all, 4 tiny shrimp and a lot of boiled potatoes. A total disappointment...either get a new recipe or take it off your menu. Sorry Pearl Thai you are off my dinig list. BTW, the brown rice was great. read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine is a small restaurant, but it definitely hits the spot when it comes to Thai food. Customer service was excellent, and the food prices were reasonable. It was my first time trying Tom Kha, and it completely changed me. I've been ordering Tom Kha ever since my visit here, but out of all the ones I've tried, Pearl Thai Cuisine's has been the best. It is incredibly flavorful and warm--perfect for rainy weather. Their Pad Thai was probably my second favorite. The sauce was very creamy, and the crushed peanuts and bean sprouts added so much depth to the texture. The pineapple fried rice and grilled beef short ribs were also delicious. I especially enjoyed the marinade they used for the short ribs. This place is somewhat of a hidden gem--I'll definitely be visiting again! read more

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I have ordered from them for years but this will be the last time. I was bamboozled. The portion size has been cut and they had the audacity to say it hadn't. The picture is my proof! For scale, the small size spice to show the $19 worth of soup I got! Green curry and it is not even green. Very disappointed. read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - "Green" curry from Pearl Thai - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

Been eyeing Pearl Thai Cuisine and finally got to try it for the first time. The restaurant looked clean and decor was festive, but surprisingly empty around dinner time. After my experience, I can see why. While the food menu options are endless, the prices are high for the quality of food. The cost for a beef salad (which was under cooked and looked grey), small plate of calamari, and chicken pad thai was $70. I don't feel the food was worth the cost but that's just me. A couple of folks trickled in for takeout orders so maybe it's not too bad. I've tried many Thai restaurants bc i love Thai cuisine, but this place just didn't do it for me. read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - Beef Salad - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

This isn't our first time eating here, but I just had to give a shoutout to Pearl Thai Cuisine for their consistently delicious food! We ordered the short ribs, pad thai with prawns, pad see ew with pork, and the eggplant lover with pork! Every dish was packed with flavor and absolutely satisfying. After happily stuffing ourselves, we ended the night with mango sticky rice, which was the perfect sweet finish to an amazing meal! The service was incredible, and they always greet us with "Welcome Home!" which makes the experience feel even more special. read more

I used to love this place and thought it was pretty decent. However, every time I order here, the entrees are very lackluster than normal. I'm not sure if there has been a change in chefs, or ownership, but the food has changed drastically. I used to love getting their roti, pad Thai, papaya salad, and their creative drinks. The drinks are still really good, but that's just sugar. The food lacks flavor and spice--which I crave Thai food to have. I got their papaya salad tonight and after a few bites, it prompted me to write this review out of anger. This dish is borderline $20, mind you. I also got their rangoons, which were also almost $20, and they were fine, but how were these two the same price point? I haven't eaten inside in awhile, but even just ordering online has made me turned off entirely by this place. They should try to do better or hire a different cook. read more

pad see ew was delicious 10/10. the egg roll appetizers were also very yummy. the drinks were very delicious, and the rose straws were a nice touch. staff was really nice and we got seated quickly :) would definitely come here again read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - Thai Tea Float - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

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This restaurant exceeded my expectations! The food was absolutely delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making the entire dining experience enjoyable. I highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely be coming back. Five stars! Jom melie, you're a very good server .. we enjoyed your very good sense of humor.. Jim (melie) and I will see you again soon! read more

We called in our order before arriving, and I'll admit--it was the easiest table experience ever. Our food was brought out once, and that was the full extent of the service. The food itself was decent, but the portions were surprisingly small--about half the size of what we're used to at other Thai places--and prices were roughly 30% higher. What really surprised us was the automatic 20% gratuity added to the bill. We were two adults and three kids (ages 6-11), and when I asked about it, they said it's their policy for parties of five or more. For a meal where no additional service was provided, that felt excessive. It might work for some, but between the pricing, portion size, and added gratuity, we won't be back. read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

Was craving Thai on my way home so I stopped by here.. food was hot & fresh to order. I tried their pad ke mow/drunken noodle with shrimp & beef & it was (for me) a 7.5/10 but their Thai green tea drink?! BEST one I've had in the Bay Area thus far. Service was attentive and friendly. I loved that the chefs in the back waved hello when I picked up my food. Ambiance is cute! I love chandeliers. I'd come back if I was local.. esp for that Thai green tea. As we say in the bay- it was hella bussin'! read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

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Horrible service and they forgot to bring out one of our entrees which was sitting on the back counter getting cold when I went up to see if they took the order correctly. Fried rice was wet and soggy rice - very disappointing. read more

I just wanted to really give a shout out to Pearl Thai. Most Benicians know but in terms of service, Pearl Thai has the best in town. Hands down. I still believe this place has some of the best Thai food in the area. That also is probably pretty well known. But the main reason I wanted to do another review is because I always can appreciate when customer service has gone beyond 110%. I came here on a whim last week to eat dinner despite them closing in about 30 mins of our arrival. And you know what? They still allowed us to sit down and eat. While some might not be impressed by this one kind gesture, it means a lot when I've been turned away by another restaurant in town with the same exact situation. Me and my party had actually got there around 45 mins within closing and were advised they were only doing take out only. I was a little bummed but it just meant I got to go up the street to eat some other bomb food in town. My neighbors who had came with us though were pretty irritated that a restaurant would turn us away with sufficient time to serve us but hey. What can you do? That's their rules. Makes me think of those signs that say, "We reserve the right to refuse service." But getting back on track, when we sat down at Pearl Thai that day, it made me think of that night we got turned down. It's so nice to have a restaurant like Pearl Thai that treats anyone who comes through their doors like family. When you leave they usually say, "See ya tomorrow!" Heck, maybe they WILL see me again tomorrow for some more food... read more

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Havent been here in years...but the food taste even better than I remember it. Sunday afternoon... first people in for dinner after 4pm...our group was waiting around eagerly for some yummy Thai. I was craving calamari and thai iced tea...made it so quicly. Omg ...I dont know what batter mixture they had, but it almost tasted like the best fried chicken I've ever had in life... I need that recipe in my world frfr!! Our waitress recommended the matcha thai iced tea...it was so refreshingly good. With orders of druken noodles, house fried rice with strips of fried chicken, and panang curry. Job well done! The inside seating and decor was very inviting and comfortable along with the soothing musical background. This is definetly one of my top fav thai restaurants and I will be making another trip soon. Ciao for now..... read more

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Always greeted with a smile, spent Mother's Day dinner with my hubby. We started with the fried spicy pork belly for appetizer. For our meal ordered the pompano fish, mixed vegetables with chicken and rice. Masarap!(Filipino means yummy!) read more

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I just had a cup of Tom-ka soup to go and wasn't sure if I get enough seafood in it! It tasted amazing and was loaded with seafood! I'll definitely go back next time to get it again! I highly suggest this place!:))) read more

Friendly, efficient service. Small place that is welcoming. I do not know much about Thai food. This is my second time ever eating Thai, both at Pearl Thai. I decided on the Basil Seafood lunch special. I would describe the flavors as Bright!! A little spicy and a little sweet. I like this place. Very busy during lunch time. read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - Basil Seafood over Rice Lunch special - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

Great service, friendly staff and yummy food! Will definitely be back to try other dishes

The crunch in these fresh vegetables are fantastic. Cooked to perfection. I ordered green curry with salmon and extra bamboo shoots. Delicious. Fresh. It seems that every time I come back it just keeps getting better from the last time. Still the best everyday Thai restaurant with the freshest ingredients. Fast service. I recommend it every time. read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - Green curry with salmon and extra bamboo shoots - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

So first of all, my wife has known the owner Tony for over 20 years, since the days of Cham Thai! It's like he says when you visit his restaurant, "Welcome Home". It really is a homecoming, we eat at Pearl Thai and we celebrated my mom's 73rd birthday here on Sunday. Great food, super delicious and consistent with the flavors, and I haven't eaten here since the pandemic! Overall: 20/10 read more

Exceptional service. Food was great. Family oriented place. Small but cute. Highly recommended.

Met up with a friend while looking for a place to eat and I'm glad we picked this spot. They've got gluten free options for most of the menu, which made it easy for me. The restaurant is small, so if it's busy, expect to wait. There's a backdrop of Thailand and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. It's got some personality. The servers were polite and really attentive. My kids wanted to draw and they brought over a bunch of old receipts for them to use. Overall, a good experience. read more

Always so yummy. I love the chicken and fried rice lunch special. Always fast and very friendly service.

I've been coming here for 15 years. I always get the same dish and know their menu by heart. The waiter knows me. I was surprised by his response when I told him that his yellow curry didn't taste the way normally does. He just looked at me and started arguing and then told me OK. I won't charge you this time. I'm leaving shocked and still hungry. read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - I'm hoping if the owner sees this he can reach out to me. - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

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This place was preetty good. I went with my family and we got calamari (not pictured), chicken yellow curry, crab fried rice, crispy pork, and beef basil (all pictured). I also got the Thai green tea (not pictured). Everything was so DELICIOUS. The calamari was the most flavorful calamari I've ever had. The chicken yellow curry was everything I imagined: the deep flavor of curry with just the right amount of spice (I got this one because I can't handle spice, but there are other, spicier curries). The crab fried rice surprised me because I usually can't taste crab in crab dishes that aren't just straight crab, but of course this place has crab fried rice with an amazing crab flavor! Surprise, surprise, the crispy pork was also DELICIOUS. I think it was my favorite out of everything we ordered because it was exactly how I think pork belly should taste when I look at it (surprisingly most pork belly does not taste like how I imagine). As for the beef basil, I didn't personally try it because my sister said it was spicy, but my parents liked it! And last but not least, the green Thai tea I sipped on throughout the meal. This was, of course, DELICIOUS. At first I thought the green tea flavor would overpower the Thai tea flavor, but they blended together very well and had a slight aftertaste of bubblegum (at least that was my first thought). The service was also very good: we got a table almost immediately, the staff checked up on us once to ask how we're liking the food, and the wait for all our dishes felt quite short. In summary, this restaurant has dishes with perfect flavors and I will most definitely be returning. Zoey D. signing off read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - Chicken Yellow Curry, Crab Fried Rice, Crispy Pork, beef basil? - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

I went here last night and it was packed but no wait for me and my friend, a two top we git seated right away and had the thai iced tea within minutes! We ordered the appetizer shrimp rolls snd they came out quickly as well, they were delicious stuffed with fresh basil and mint inside served with a savory warm sauce with chopped nuts in it,so good! My panang curry was next and it was delicious, just the right level of spice. Served with steamed rice shaped like a cone and sprinkled with black sesame seeds, lovely. My friend had the pad thai with crispy chicken. Amazing! read more

I order this pork belly I forgot whats the name but its so good. Two thumbs up. Ambiance was great and service was fast and friendly the lady offered me a glass of water or anything to drink while waiting. It was pricy but definitely worth it. read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - I ordered this pork belly I forgot what its called but its so good that I had to give them 5stars for a token of appreciation. - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

We have eaten here 5-6 times and it has been one of our favorite Thai restaurants. We are always satisfied with the food even though it is on the pricier side. (We ended up paying almost $150 for 4 adults & 1 toddler) We were seated in a booth for 4 people. Our 4 year old toddler sat between my wife & I and our 1 year old was asleep in a carrier and was on the floor near our booth. We were enjoying the food & were amazed at how quick it came out. But then the bill arrived ($124) and I gave my card. When I was given the slip to sign, I saw that the slip said $148. They charged my card for 20% more without telling me first. When I looked at the receipt, they adjusted it & added 20% gratuity. At the last minute, they decided to include our 1 year old in the headcount. Our 1 year old who was in a carrier nearly the whole time and who did not eat at the table (they didn't have a high chair for him or our 4 year old anyway). Although we enjoy the food, I don't know if we will be eating here again any time soon because of this incident. read more

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Amazing food. Good portion. We try something different each visit. Would recommend it. Service is good and friendly. Haven't need reservations yet. They are pretty strict about dining times. So make sure you arrive within the time and give yourself enough time to dine and possibly add to order. read more

Our go to Thai place in town! We love their pad thai, red curry, yellow curry, pad see ew, drunken noodles, and of course Thai tea! Service is always great, lots of seating inside. We often order for pick up also, and it's usually ready 20-30 minutes depending on day and time. read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - Beef Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

Short version: Absolutely wonderful place. Food, service, value, ambiance, all five stars. Absolutely worth the drive from Napa! Long version: Went in for dinner at 4PM. What a cute place. Clean, professional, yet friendly and warm in appearance. It wasn't very busy, in the time we were there, a couple at another table ate there and a couple take-out orders were picked up. But who else eats dinner at 4PM so hopefully they are busier later because Pearl Thai deserves more customers! I had chicken pad-see-ew and my dining partner had chicken pad thai. Both were fantastic. Bursting with flavor, ingredients tasted fresh and high quality. Portion size was perfect - satisfying! Price relative to portion size reasonable for California in 2023. If you're on a budget but want to treat yourself, don't be afraid to come here. Service was perfect. Super nice lady that greeted us and took our orders was friendly and pleasant. And the guy that brought the food out was friendly too... they were all smiles without feeling fake. Rare in a world where everyone seems to be (understandably) grumpy and stressed. Worth noting the food arrived quickly and together, so I'm surprised other reviewers experienced meals arriving slowly one by one, but it wasn't busy while we were here so maybe that's the difference or they've improved this? We didn't try any beverages besides ice water that was attentively refilled as needed, but I do think next time we'll have to try dessert - the mango sticky rice sounded great! read more

Pearl Thai Cuisine - Chicken pad-see-ew. Great! - Thai Near Me - Benicia, California

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5/5 for this awesome Thai place. We've been coming here for a few years and they just never disappoint. The food is always delicious and the taste is always consistent. The staff is always sooo friendly and the place is always so peaceful and clean. They've been a staple in the Benicia community for a while now and I don't think they'll be going anywhere anytime soon. They are awesome. Definitely recommend them for anyone that is wanting some quality Thai food. read more

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