The Vibe: Soulful, eclectic, and very intentional. It feels like a boutique dining experience rather than just another Thai spot. It's street parking so make sure to go a bit early to find a spot. The Standouts: Tom Yum Soup and Tiger Prawns. The flavors are deep and "soulful," exactly as advertised on TikTok. Next time we want to try the dessert! It looked epic but we were so full. Elite Tips: The "Thai Soul Food" tag is trending for a reason. Make a reservation, as the space is curated and fills up fast. read more

See all

Very cute interior and delicious food! Staff were attentive throughout as well. Visited for lunch on a Saturday at around noon and were first in the restaurant. No wait. Ordered the Gui Chai, Kao Pad Mun Puu, MP Pad Thai, and Ribeye Green Curry. Gui Chai came out piping hot with a crisp interior and soft, slightly mochi like texture. Served with a sauce that adds a bit of sweetness. Super tasty and haven't seen similar on other menus before. Kao Pad Mun Puu was topped with a soft and fluffy egg that paired well with the soy sauce forward fried rice. Come with a good amount of crab on top. No lumps of meat, so the crab almost disappears into the rice, instead adding a subtle seafood sweetness. I found it delicious but if you're specifically looking for a crab forward experience this might not be it. Also comes with an amazing green seafood sauce that adds a punch of garlic, fish sauce, and spice. We were excited for the MP Pad Thai but were sadly disappointed by this one. Mainly due to the shrimp being sort of tough from being overcooked, and the shrimp heads were pretty intense in ocean flavor. Leaning in a not good way. Otherwise, the pad thai is less of that red sweet and tangy tamarind situation we have come to expect. I didn't mind that and the noodles had a good bounce to them. I appreciate that the bean sprouts came as a pile to the side, as someone who dislikes raw bean sprouts. After seeing several other Yelp reviews mention the Ribeye green curry as a must order, we went for this too. It did not disappoint with plenty of veggies (eggplant, crispy Brussels, bamboo) and tender ribeye. The curry is more watery than you might be used to. Make sure to order rice to soak all that up. Sad it doesn't already come with it. Also leans on the sweeter side but I liked that balance here. So many more options. Would be back! read more

See all

Probably my new fave berk Thai restaurant next to farmhouse! They had great service and the decor inside was lovely. Every dish was amazing! Full review on @lifestylebyangiee :) read more

See all

Ribeye green curry is a must. The curry is on the thinner side, flavor was absolutely exquisite. The steak was perfectly juicy and not dry at all. Veggies included eggplant, brussels sprouts, and bamboo shoots, which I thought was quite a refreshing take on the typical green curry. Pad see ew was standard. Portion sizes are fairly average and could be more generous. You can't leave without trying their dessert--warm sticky rice and pandan ice cream topped with a crunchy fried cookie MMM. I thought service was okay and could have been slightly more attentive, but great meal overall. read more

See all

Somehow Praaw Thai figured out how to be innovative while also giving all of the familiar and delicious Thai flavors. The ribeye curry was incredible. The meat was very tender and the green curry was so good I just wanted to drink it out of a cup! The curry was on the thinner side but the flavor was so good it didn't bother me at all. I also got crab fried rice which was good and traditional. The chive pancake was a little bit greasy and if you don't like chives/onions you won't enjoy it. I liked it but I probably wouldn't get it again. The service and the ambiance was great. Nice and patient staff. The menu prices are on the higher end. read more

Praaw Thai - Crab fried rice - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

The vibe at Praaw Thai is dark and retro, and the menu features authentic specialty dishes not commonly found in most Thai restaurants. We started with Gui Chai, four homemade crispy chive and rice flour cakes, served with a spicy soy vinaigrette; and Plah Goong, a salad of grilled shrimp in a lemongrass chili dressing, accompanied by Thai herbs and crispy shallots. Their signature dish was called Nookie's Ka-Ree Koong--whole, head-on tiger prawns sautéed in a creamy egg curry sauce, along with red pepper, scallions, onion, and celery. My favorite part was the flavorful prawn heads, and the egg curry sauce paired nicely with Jasmine rice on the side. Finally, we had two noodle dishes--Mama Pad Kee Mao Beef was made of Mama instant noodles stir-fried with beef, tomato, onion, basil, red pepper, and green peppercorns in a spicy garlic sauce (though the dish wasn't particularly spicy); and Kao Soi 13, an egg noodle soup in a coconut curry broth, topped with a beautifully caramelized grilled chicken leg. Overall, the food here was beautifully presented and delicious, and everything came at a good value with generous portions! read more

See all

Interesting thai food and beautiful aesthetics Dishes (ranked by my fav) 1) Ribeye green curry: I'm not a steak person but this was sooo good and the steak was juicy 2) green onion fried cake 3) Nookie's ka-ree Koong: prawn curry Logistics: -accepts cc -can make reservation -free, street parking read more

See all

The dumplings were okay. It's been a long time since I ordered a Thai iced tea. Seems like they are getting smaller. What I was impressed with was the Koong Ka-Ree. It was a dish with large prawns which surprised me. Since I had a big appetite I enjoyed the large amount of food with also downing two orders of jasmine rice. Ate the shells and all. I had never had papaya salad before but it was a nice change with the chrunchiness aspect. The restaurant is relatively small but popular. It can be a bit noisy. Again I was very happy with my main entree. Service was alright. read more

See all

Praaw Thai was the first spot to pop up during my rushed search for a last minute Valentine's Day dinner. We only had two conditions: It had to be Thai, and it had to be in Berkeley. Luckily, there was plenty of parking in the surrounding area and we did not need a reservation! We were seated immediately at a booth in the corner at 5:30PM. We opted for 4 dishes to split between 3 people this evening, and I am happy to say we ordered the perfect combination (and amount) of food to get a good idea of just how delicious this new Thai spot is. To start, the Tao Huu is their crispy homemade (we were intrigued) tofu with tamarind sauce on the side. The homemade tofu had a texture I didn't think I would like, but I loved. It was airy and softly-crispy, and without the sauce had a nice meaty bite to it. The sauce itself was sweet and was later used as a dip for other bites. We love a fresh + crunchy papaya salad. This one was a little saltier and not as sour as others I've had, but definitely packed a lot of flavor and spice. I'd get it with shrimp next time, but overall this cold dish balanced out the rest of our meal. Pad Thai is a must-get every single time I visit a new Thai spot, and Praaw did these noodles well. Saucy and tangy with tender, yet perfectly chewy noodles to complement the bean sprouts -- We were more than happy. The Tom Yum Goong Hot Pot satisfied our need for a warm bowl of soup. I honestly hadn't even read the description, but we ordered it mild because we wanted to beat the chilly air outside, and I'm so glad we did. They were generous with the amount of shrimp + mushrooms in the hot pot, and the shrimps were cooked perfectly... I'm all for a creamy shrimp head and I did enjoy every single one of them. I think I filled up my soup bowl 3 or 4 times over the course of my meal because the broth was so creamy, flavorful, and the right amount of spice, def kept drinking it even though I was stuffed by the end. Overall, I'm excited to see this spot thrive and grow in the near future. The servers checked on us frequently even though the rest of the restaurant was packed for love day, and I saw plenty of people drop by for takeout orders as well. With so many Thai spots in Berkeley, Praaw served the most memorable meal I've had here in awhile. I can't wait to come back here with more frens to share more food! read more

See all

Loved the food and ambiance at Praaw Thai! There is a small lot in the back but plenty of street parking available. Food came out fast and the flavors were fresh and vibrant! We ordered the Gui Chai (crispy chive cake), Yem Neur(a tasty beef salad), Ribeye green curry(a must!), Crab fried rice and Mama Pad Kee Mao Beef. The crab fried rice came with a spicy thai sauce that was so delicious! We even asked our server if they plan to sell it in a jar to-go lol. I came with two of my girl friends and we shared a bottle of wine (which i thought was a great option!) We were all stuffed by the end of dinner. Already planning a trip to come back to show my husband this local gem! read more

Praaw Thai - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

So happy I was able to visit Praaw Thai before they start to get even busier! Every dish we tried absolutely wow'd us! The shortrib curry, scallion appetizer, crab fried rice with their sauce were amazing (not to mention the presentation). Their dessert was super unique (pandan w sticky rice and thai cracker). I also rly loved their decor. So thoughtfully done! There's something about Thai hospitality that always blows me away, and this spot was no exception. Can't wait to come back! read more

Praaw Thai - Shortrib green curry, crab fried rice, stir fried egg noodle w beef, thai tea & thai coffee were also so good - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Friday March 25, 6pm After a nicely done small papaya salad with added prawns (5) we choose the sour spicy tom yum prawn soup to sooth Gio who was fighting off a head cold & why we came. The soup was served in a special metal hot pot serving bowl with the center heating "chimney". Unfortunately it wasn't hot enough so after Gio's request for reheating ,the returned soup's large Tiger prawns, the star of the dish, were totally overcooked, dry & mealy. Too bad... the other dishes, a sea bass with green peppercorns (pia pad cha) as was quite nice as was the ribeye green curry. The thing is... nonwithdstanding for the overcooked prawns in the soup, the other dishes (for me) just didn't make me drool or call me to return. read more

Praaw Thai - Papaya salad with prawns & tepid sour & spicy Tiger prawns Tom Yum soup - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

I was invited to Praaw Thai by a fellow foodie friend and we were not let down. This is a new Thai restaurant in Berkeley and I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already. First impressions were excellent. The restaurant is so aesthetically pleasing. The ambience was perfect. The lighting, the music, the furniture, the decor. All the way down to the way they plate their dishes. It was all so perfectly curated. No notes. We ordered half the menu and nothing disappointed. Everything was SO good. No exaggeration. My only critique was we had a couple dishes with overcooked shrimp, however, the flavors were so delicious it was easy to overlook the shrimp. On top of everything the service was fast, friendly and attentive, which is one of the MOST important things to me. This place is DEFINITELY worth the visit. Berkeley is loaded with excellent Thai options. It can be hard to stand out, but Praaw definitely does. I'd argue it's already one of the best! read more

See all

So yummy!! Papaya salad was divine, tasted exactly like the authentic papaya salad I ate in BKK. It was so good that we had to order another. Portion was a bit small. Tofu puffs were good too, sauce was just ok. Chicken satay was just ok, nothing to write home about. Highlight was the green curry with ribeye and the pandan dessert. Omg it didn't wow us when reading the menu description but when we tried it was SOOO amazing. Loved the sticky rice at the bottom! read more

See all

Came here on a Tuesday night for dinner. It was surprisingly busy for a Tuesday but luckily we got a table right before a bunch of people came in. We ordered the dumplings and fried chive appetizer, a pad see ew with beef, an eggplant chicken with a side of rice and the pandan dessert. Everything was really good, I normally don't like chives but there were really great reviews for the chive appetizer so we got it and we both LOVED it. Nice and crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, definitely recommend! All of the other things we ordered were good as well, the pandan dessert was reallllly good. Overall 10/10, good food, good portions, service wasn't as attentive but they did their best with how busy and packed they were that night. Would definitely come back and try more things on the menu. read more

See all

The TikTok review on Praaw Thai was spot on. The restaurant is vibes - date night, atmospheric brunch, kid-friendly menu and high-chair for baby. We thoroughly enjoyed the crab fried rice, skewers, hot pot soup (the second item on the menu that isn't tom yum), mango salad with shrimp (incredible!) and crab fried rice - all very tasty and lovely. Will definitely come back! Bonus points for having brown rice on your menu :) read more

Loved everything about this place! Atmosphere was great, music was great, service was great and the food was awesome. Super friendly wait staff. Every table was full and a little bit of a wait so we weren't the only ones enjoy enjoying it. read more

Praaw Thai - Dessert with ice cream and rice pudding - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Last night walking through the Westbrae neighborhood we came across Praaw. They've been in this location since taking over 5 to 6 months ago with a staff, menu and decor all been revamped. Setting is cozy and chic, but not formal and not kitschy. Lighting creates a mood! Staff was efficient and friendly. They were not afraid to give recommendations if you ask. Fundamentally, gear to the chef's specials and unique starters to make this meal great. Started with chicken and shrimp dumplings. There were four large dumplings and that was plenty for two people. Next, we had tofu bombs. I believe it's housemade tofu that is expanded and fried almost like a savory beignet? Dipping sauce with peanut and chilies, and it was such a great different kind of dish to have. We shared the pumpkin chicken and prawn curry. Nothing too spicy, everything very simple and flavorful. Next time we'll try the eggplant special. They do have classics like pad Thai, and build your own curry if that's what you are into, but glad to find something unique! As far as liquor, they do have beer. There was a live DJ playing tracks. Not pulsing like in a club! It was not so loud that we could not speak to or hear each other, but enough to say 'wow this soundtrack in the background is really amazing!' Didn't even realize there was a DJ until mostly through our meal. Sound and light is definitely transformative. It was like we went on a little date trip. We were full, but got talked into eating their special house made coconut ice cream and sticky rice topped with a homemade praline cookie. Sometimes when you're having such a good time, you don't stop even when you're full....just to keep the good times going, and we did! Highly recommend, wonderful people great food, great atmosphere, highly attentive service, and bound to be a star in the neighborhood. read more

Praaw Thai - Coconut ice cream on sticky rice topped with traditional house made Cookie Crisp. - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Outstanding vibes!! i love that they play clasic thai vinyls, the lighting is perfect. Great service, super attentive!! I am thai myself so i was extra excited to finally stop by praaw. I have tk say the gui chai was spot on. Gui chai is my favorite thai street snack and they absolutely killed it. Crab fried rice was tasty, i love the seafood sauce they have on the side. Beef salad was a bit too salty for my liking so I would maybe skip out on that. Overall, I will most definitely be coming back!! read more

See all

Grabbed takeout a couple weeks ago. The food here was excellent. The Pad Thai had great spice and was loaded with fresh ingredients. The yellow sea bass curry was rich, aromatic, and balanced, way better than I could've ever imagined. Portion sizes are generous too. Prices are fair for the quality. Highly recommend this spot if you're craving flavorful, fresh, rustic food. read more

Cute vibe, vintage decor. Staffs are attentive and super friendly. Dumplings (appetizer) were yummy and bouncing in my mouth! Crab fried rice is highly recommended, drizzling some chilly sauce on top of the fried rice is also the best complementary pairing. read more

Praaw Thai - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

best thai I've had this side of Thailand! Great new to have this place in the hood! Authentic flavors. Not as good via takeout unfortunately. read more

Nice looking inside kind of contemporary decor. Plenty of seating. When I was there it was mostly two tops but I'm sure they could accommodate larger groups. We got seated quickly but it took maybe ten or more minutes to have out order taken. I think there was only one server. We ordered two mains an appetizer and a salad to share. The papaya salad was not bad but would have liked more spice like I'm used to, also asked for it with shrimp but the server must not have heard or something because it came without and we also weren't charged for shrimp. The fried tofu was also good. The sea bass curry was pretty flavorful but In mild spice, however, the fish itself was overcooked. The hoy beef was was pretty mid not off putting but also nothing special. read more

See all

Cute spot for date night! Staff were super friendly - everything had great flavor and we enjoyed all of our dishes. Don't forget to ask for some hot sauce/chilis on the side! read more

Praaw Thai - Tiger prawn pad thai - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Decided to check out this spot after hearing some good things about it, but it ended up not being great thai food for my partner and I. We showed up at 6:30pm, the vibe is great, cozy lighting, great music playing, definitely an aesthetically pleasing restaurant. We waited about five minutes, a staff asked if we had a reservation and we stated that we did not, but got seated immediately. Upon being seated, water and menus were provided. We spent a few minutes going over the menu and decided to get the Tau Huu (Fried Tofu w/ Tamarind Sauce), Papaya Salad (w/ grilled prawns *extra $3*), Sea Bass Yellow Curry, and Kanah Numman Hoy Beef (Broccoli Beef). All items we've ordered were with medium spicy (if you've had thai spicy before keep in mind it can get very hot so we opted for medium). The appetizers came out shortly, Papaya salad: upon taking a bite of the papaya salad I noticed that it was incredibly sweet and lacked other flavors such as heat (from chili and garlic) there was no saltiness (lack of fish sauce) nor was there any tartness (limes). I was a little disappointed that there were no prawns within the dish when we ordered but it was not a big deal. Tau Huu: this was personally my favorite dish out of everything (possibly I am biased for fried tofu). The tamarind sauce was okay but had the same issue as the papaya salad, it was too sweet, it lacked umami, heat, and tartness. Ten minutes later our mains arrived at our table. Sea Bass Yellow Curry: plating looks amazing and taking the first bite, I noticed the curry is sweet, too sweet for a curry. The sea bass was nicely seared and had a crispy skin, but it was definitely overcooked. The brussels added a nice texture to the dish, and there were mashed potatoes which I found a bit odd but complimented the curry. I had high hopes for the curry, but again it lacked many aspects of the flavors normally in a yellow curry, it was just overall too sweet. Kanah Numman Hoy Beef: this is really a chinese broccoli beef, but the meat lacked any flavor, and broccoli is broccoli. This dish is just standard, not that impressive. In the end, the pricing was alright, but for the price (we paid $90 with tip) I expected the food to be better than what was served. Everything was too sweet or lacked in flavor overall. I thought about getting dessert specifically the Praaw Toast, but decided not to. Overall would I come back? Maybe. Would I recommend this place? Sure give it a shot as my opinion may differs from everyone. read more

See all

I drive past this place every day and I've been wanting to try it for a while, but never got around to it until today only to realize that they completely rebranded and are Praaw Thai now! My husband and I shared the kao soi and the green curry with ribeye. The steak was so tender and paired perfectly with the savory curry-this was our favorite dish. The broth of the kao soi was so flavorful and the pickled mustard greens cut nicely through the rich broth. The chicken leg that came with the kao soi was surprisingly dry for dark meat so that was a bit disappointing but would order it again just for the broth and noodles. Both items were the perfect mild spice level. It's definitely a bit on the pricier side ($75 after tax and tip) but let's be real, all food is getting so expensive these days so it may just be a product of the times. I do think that the price was worth it for the high-quality food good portion sizes, cute ambience and attentive service. This is a great date night spot and we will definitely be back! read more

Praaw Thai - Kao soi - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

My new favorite Thai spot! The food is soooo delicious, the staff are so warm and friendly, and the ambiance is so nice. We ordered Emily's dumplings, kai satay, crab fried rice, ribeye green curry, and their dok jok dessert. My personal favorite was the ribeye green curry; it came with deliciously cooked ribeye steak, brussel sprouts, eggplant, and bamboo shoots. The thai tea is also a must-try! I will definitely come again read more

See all

Everything we ordered was so good--thoughtful, legit Thai flavors that didn't feel watered down at all. The Pad Thai (tofu) was perfectly balanced and not oily, the Tum Strawberry was bright, refreshing, and surprisingly addictive, and the Thai crab fried rice was comforting, fragrant, and generously filled with crab. The ribeye green curry was the standout: incredibly tender ribeye in a rich, aromatic green curry with just the right amount of heat. If this is what they're serving during a soft opening, I'm definitely coming back for more. Highly recommend. read more

Praaw Thai - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Absolutely Delicious!! As a Thai food Fanatic, & as a person who lived in Thailand for many years, & as a person who continues to travel there every year for more than 25 years I'm very excited and more than pleased by Praaw Thai! The food is delicious & quite possibly the best Thai food plate for plate in the entire East Bay. OUTSTANDING!! Bravo & big cheers to the chef and team there! If you love Thai Food, Praaw Thai is an absolute MUST!! (I wish I took more pictures) Next time!! - I will be going there many more times!! read more

Praaw Thai - Coconut Ice Cream for dessert!! (With Sticky rice!) delicious!! - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Dinner at Praaw Thai was fantastic. This is not your typical Thai restaurant -- they offer unique dishes you won't find at other Thai spots in the Bay Area, with flavors that feel truly authentic and inspired by Thailand. We loved Yum strawberry (refreshing and perfectly balanced), the Guichay (crispy outside, soft inside), and the Khao Soi with chicken, which tasted just like Northern Thailand. The green curry with ribeye was rich, fragrant, and not overly sweet. Dessert was a highlight (dessert lover!): DokJok sweet sticky rice with pandan ice cream and a crispy Thai flower -- such a creative and delicious combination. The atmosphere is cozy and stylish with warm lighting and brick walls, and service was friendly and attentive. Highly recommend if you're looking for Thai food that goes beyond the usual menu. read more

See all

Incredible food, service, and ambiance. Best Thai we have had in years. Food was very well balanced. Not too spicy, great tang :) Especially loved the pandan dessert. read more

The food portions are generous and satisfying, and the taste is decent. The customer service is friendly and attentive, which adds to the overall experience. The place also has a clean and welcoming vibe, making it a comfortable spot to dine. read more

See all

Really enjoyed everything we ordered, the crab fried rice and green curry ribeye were our faves! The staff were all so friendly and the decor was super cute. Also loved that there are a couple outdoor tables to sit outside on a nice day! read more

Food was delicious, specifically the pad see ew! The service was a little on the slower side, but pleasant. They provided a free Pandan dessert due to the slower service, which was DIVINE. The ambiance was lovely, excellent lighting! I totally enjoyed the decor and the booth seats, which were very comfortable! Would return! read more

Really great food in a cozy, upscale space! We eat a lot of Thai food and really enjoyed the authentic flavors & dishes - the ribeye green curry, MP Pad Thai and "spicy" Brussels were all great. Requested some dishes mild and they were perfect - a bit of heat, but not a distraction. We'll be back soon! read more

Good place and find for the first time delicious food friendly service nice location off street parking moderate prices

Sea bass yellow curry incredible. The Cassava addition is very smart and works great. Ribeye green curry delicious. Great service. Intentional curation of the menu and a great date night spot. Ambiance is a blend of modern and vintage Thai imagery and aesthetic. I will be definitely be back !! read more

See all

Honestly- a hidden gem. This place has that perfect vibe of good food, a chilled environment and fun staff. I head over at least 1x a week. It's fun and relaxed - head here !! My faves are the cashew chicken and the green curry read more

Absolutely loved Praaw Thai. The pad Thai was a standout -- perfectly balanced, bold, and packed with flavor without being overly sweet. You can tell real care goes into the seasoning and technique. The green curry rib eye was on another level. Tender, juicy steak paired with rich, aromatic green curry. Every bite was layered with deep Thai flavors and just the right amount of spice -- easily one of the most memorable dishes I've had in a while. And don't skip dessert. The Hawaiian roll with Thai tea cream was such a creative finish -- soft, slightly sweet, and incredibly satisfying. Light but indulgent, and a perfect way to end the meal. From mains to dessert, everything felt intentional and well executed. Also can't forget the vibe, it has a nice vintage feel with dim lighting and great music. Can't wait to come back and explore more of the menu. read more

Absolutely insane meal. Ribeye green curry, sea bass yellow curry, and cucumber salad were all 12/10. The cook on the ribeye and sea bass were PERFECT. The sea bass came with a cassava mash *CHEF'S KISS* No notes. They also have a lot of dishes that you don't often see on Thai restaurants' menus that I need to come back to try. Praaw has a gorgeous, well thought out interior. We went for lunch but I think the vibes will be even better during nighttime. The owners are super sweet and service was great. read more

Praaw Thai - Ribeye green curry - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all