The Food is good , Poor service, impatient with customers. The experience is not Ok. The taste is still very good. The service needs to be improved. After all, the consumption is not cheap. read more

Similan Thai Restaurant - Thai Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Really authentic and fresh and tasty. I loved that they served the meat with stick rice and Papaya salad . The salad and sticky rice is a common way of serving and eating food in Thailand ! We also ordered The yellow and Panang curry which we loved also got the pad see ew and the shrimp Pad Thai which was all very fresh and tasty ! read more

Similan Thai Restaurant - Crying tiger with a side of nam jim jaew, papaya salad and sticky rice - Thai Near Me - Solana Beach, California

I was craving Thai food to celebrate my birthday and my aunt found this place in Solana Beach! I've been to Solana Beach several times and I just learned about this area. It's around the corner of Cedros Avenue (Design District). To the left of the restaurant, there is a liquor store. The exterior of the restaurant is nice. A white paint-coated wall with their name and their brand symbol. It's cute and the choice of blue waves is simple but beautiful. As you walk in you're greeted with a warm toned lit space and dark wooden tables. The tables are nicely proportioned for parties of 2-4 (probably could do more with pushing tables together). They play soft music which is nice because it's more of a background thing and adds to the ambiance. The only thing is that they still have their Christmas decoration up and I think the space would look much more charming without it. Upon walking in the place we were greeted with a sign that said to wait to be seated. It didn't take long before a waitress came around and welcomed us in. The restaurant wasn't too busy because we got there around 7:30 pm. It's up to you to dress casually or a little more dressy. My aunt had some red wine and I ordered an iced Thai tea (they also have Thai iced coffee which is very yum, but quite late to order a coffee for me). The Thai tea wasn't overly sweet like in other places (some places use too much half n half). It was more tea strong, which I enjoyed. And the little ice nuggets were a great touch. They also brought out glasses of ice water for us. The colored glass it came in was stunning! I love the weight it had to the glass. For appetizers, sadly they don't have money bags anymore --- but we went with the chicken satay. And OMG! I highly recommend ordering this. It's quite lovely because they take it off the stick and slice it for you. And honestly, I think you get more chicken this way. The chicken was juicy and well-seasoned. The peanut sauce was light and so delicious. On the plate was a small bowl of pickled cucumber spirals that refreshed our palette. In addition to that, there were cute slices of bread. We took a little bit of everything on the plate and ate it in one bite. 10/10 I will admit that I am a sucker for Pad Thai, the classic go-to for people in California. We asked for no chives, no crushed peanuts, and extra tamarind sauce! Some places underseason their Pad Thai, but not here! The noodles were super thin but they weren't overcooked. The sauce was well incorporated and we asked for it to be stir-fried with beef. The beef was so tender and flavorsome. I loved that there weren't too many add-ins (like fillers-- eggs and stuff like that). The main focus was the Pad Thai. Remember to give the plate a little mixing before eating so you can get all the bean sprouts well incorporated. We also asked for some lime because it gives extra moisture to the dish. 10/10 Then we also ordered a Green Curry with Fried Tofu. They have this as a medium spice but put in a note to make it a little less spicy (toward mild). I've never had green curry before, but my aunt usually orders this so I went with her recommendation. I think this is a new favorite of mine!! So long, panang curry!~ It included: eggplant, bamboo shoots (not a raw veggie, this is the texture it's supposed to have), bell peppers, and Thai basil. Well, I will admit there was a bit of heat to this curry but having it with the white rice helped lower the oomph of the heat. The flavor...can't describe it but it was light and unlike any curry I've tasted. The green curry was not too salty and the Thai basil was very fragrant in it. I loved the bell peppers as well. 9/10 I am a slow eater and to my surprise, I overheard that the kitchen was closing in 10 minutes!! I was freaking out inside because I thought I was too late to order dessert. Luckily our sweet waitress remembered I wanted to see the dessert menu and said they could prepare the dessert for us. I went with the Banana Delights because who doesn't like fried bananas? It was fried in a puff pastry-- so flaky and puffy. Hot banana inside-- reminding me of the fried banana I had in VN. So good!! I liked that the banana wasn't sweetened. It is served with a berry cream sauce and we also had a serving of coconut ice cream. The hot dessert paired with the ice cream was heavenly! My aunt and I were celebrating my birthday and so they came out with a candle in the ice cream and sang Happy Birthday to me. It was a kind gesture and a lovely surprise. There were only 4 pieces of the dessert on the plate and just to tell you how good it was-- I would pay them extra for a brown baggie filled with them. Just pop them in my mouth and eat it. 12/10!! The service was very satisfactory. The waitress and waiter were both accommodating, friendly, and fun! When we asked for extra bowls of the pickled veggies they brought more. They even gave us bigger plates to eat in so we could share the main dishes. read more

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first off, the food was okay at best. it wasnt bad but did need something more. i ordered the yellow curry with tofu, if you want spicy or order a spicy dish, dont do nothing under medium or mild cuz it tasted like they didnt even really season it. the BIGGEST problem that i had was the fact i ordered only veggies and tofu in my curry, and i found multiple chunks of chicken in my food. as a vegan i was so grossed out. thats never happened to me at any thai restaurant. the last thing that stuck out to me and my friends was the service- really just took FOREVER to get any help. we waited so long for another glass of water, and there was only 2 people waiting on all of the tables with little to no communication. like i said food was okay at best just dont expect ur experience to be attentive. read more

Food was excellent. We had a curry, pad Thai & spicy fried rice. There is no longer a lunch special but the entree's are served with soup & salad & the servings substantial. Service was also very prompt read more

We were so pleased with the service as well as the amazing food. We've been to Thailand and this food was even more incredible! Top five restaurants of Thai that we've had in our lifetime and we've been around the world! Liz and Bruce read more

Similan Thai Restaurant - Restaurant interior. - Thai Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Ordered pad thai and yellow curry. The yellow curry was the least flavorful curry I've ever had. It tasted like they had good yellow curry and mixed it with way too much coconut milk. It was listed as "medium spicy," but didn't have any slice (or flavor). Even from the attached photo, you can see the yellow curry looks almost white. The carrots and potatoes in the curry were too large to comfortably fit into a bite, which required challenging/slippery cutting. Normally we will always take leftovers home, but we opted out because of this. The pad Thai flavor was off, and the noodles were thin rice noodles, which I've never seen after eating at dozens of Thai restaurants. It was served with a large pile of raw bean spouts that took over the plate (see photo). The service started out great, but we were left with my credit card sitting on the table for 10 minutes, waiting for someone to come by for the bill. Lastly, it was uncomfortably warm inside. Another family who came in next to us mentioned the same thing. I do not recommend this restaurant. read more

Similan Thai Restaurant - Yellow Curry - Thai Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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When you walk in the door at Similan you will see a beautiful and elegant retreat. We were welcomed and seated by Alex. Our meals were appetizing, filled with color and appealing aromas. I found the tastes more complex and interesting than at any other Thai restaurant I can think of. I strongly recommend that you try a meal at Similan and I believe that you too will want to eat there again. read more

Excellent customer service by Enzo! Food is great as well! Just order mild and everything will taste great!

pleasant place for dinner. Food was delicious energy was nice and comfortable. I would recommend this place

Delicious food. I ordered the chicken green curry with sticky rice and a Thai iced coffee. Pros: -food is fantastic. Curry had a nice kick to it -free small parking lot in front -friendly staff -it's a cloth napkins establishment Cons: -food comes out at different times. My friend had finished the majority of their meal and people who ordered after us got their meal before mine came out -sign in sheet isn't followed. People were let in before we were who had not signed in -tables were a bit close to each other so you could clearly hear other's conversation With that said, the food is great and the staff is nice. I would order take out in the future. read more

Similan Thai Restaurant - Green curry (chicken), sticky rice and Thai iced coffee - Thai Near Me - Solana Beach, California

I have tried this spot several times and everything is always fresh hots and delicious. The most beautiful souls work here and are such a delight. The lady always remembers my name with a warm welcome. They are easy to miss and the location is a bit awkwardly located once you get it you get it. The parking lot is small but I have always been able to get a spot. I definitely recommend if considering for delicious fresh Thai food with quick excellent service. read more

I have been coming to this restaurant several times during this past 1 1/2 years. The experiences had been positive. We came tonight and I ordered Crying Tiger dish. I waited almost 30 minutes for the food to come, while family members had already finished their food. When the dish finally came, I found the steak was a little overcooked, making it chewy, it's like well done. The sticky rice was kind of dry and hard, not even warm. When I asked the waiter about the meat and sticky rice, I was told that's how the Thai meat was cooked and rice was also normal. It was a very disappointing dish. Plus it was priced at $28. Just wonder if there is a change of management. read more

Wonderful flavors when you just need that taste of Thai! We've only ever ordered to-go food, which I think poses more challenges, and it's been fast and delicious every time! Nothing but high praises for this establishment! We love the lath salad, pad sew ee noodles and the Thai basil saute--incredible! read more

Our go to Thai take out. The food is always great, love their pad see ew and pad Thai. Highly recommend for quick take out

I order delivery a lot from here. A few times they have missed the spicy level I ordered but overall flavors are good.

The food is delicious. Very fresh and well prepared. We had Penang Curry and Green Curry, both with soft tofu and very spicy. We also started with the delicious Tom Kha soup. One of the best we've had The service was pleasant and prompt. The ambience is very nice. Small restaurant but surprisingly generous seating. Very artfully decorated. Try it and you'll become a regular! read more

We ordered seafood Tom yum soup, chicken pad Thai and tofu pad kee mow. Noodles were fresh and seasoning for all entrees were savory, can taste tamarind and very flavorful with medium spicy level. One of the best Thai in North Coast San Diego. read more

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For food and service. Came in kind of late. Server was nice and attentive, food was banging. So good! Texture and flavor hit the target. We ordered pad se ew with chicken, and one of the curries with chicken. We'll be back. We sat in a booth with duct-taped but the food and service was not diminished by that. read more

The food is authentic and yummy! The decor is cozy and interesting. Service is friendly and quick. read more

We have only done takeout here and the food is always a solid "good". Very fresh and they are prompt on pickup time promised.

So the food is simple. fresh not saucy but My stomach was bothering me later in the evening and I attribute it to something I ate Service was fair kept on having to hunt down the waiter for a water refill. They also, as in many Asian restaurants have no sense that you don't bring out an appetizer along with the meal read more

Took my niece here for her Birthday and we loved everything. Great service and amazing food. We had the beef pad Thai, the chicken satay which was moist and delicious, a tofu panang curry and banana crisp with coconut ice cream. We were very satisfied. Can't wait to go back! read more

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I've had such a hard time finding a favorite Thai restaurant since moving to this area, but now I found it! atmosphere is very comfortable, food is great and everyone is always so nice. Jan served us tonight and she is so lovely. Highly recommend! read more

Theyve got some pretty cool offerings at this spot hut alas it hasnt hit the mark to be one of my go-tos. Both visits my beloved pad kee mao has been dry with virtually no sauce. Ive had to make shift my own with soy sauces to give it something to work with. One last time i will see if their pad see ew does better. Both visits ive been dying to get a hold of those blanket shrimp but both times theyve "been out" or just not offered at all (order put in online before they even opened). Odd and disappointing. The money bags are super cute and fun to eat if lacking flavor, but the duck sauce helps. One more try and we will see. They better have some blanket shrimp otherwise what the heck take it off the menu! read more

Similan Thai Restaurant - Pad Khee Mao Noodles (lack sauce) & Money Bags (fun could use more flavor) - Thai Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Nice restaurant kind of small food was good but little disappointed by the chicken basil stirfry with vegetables there was literally 3 thin pieces of chicken in my dish. The flavor was good, but very disappointing on the protein ! After spending $120 I don't think I'll be coming back . Service was good. The people were nice. read more

Ambience is quiet and welcoming. Recommend the shrimp fried rice, tom yum with chicken, cashew pork, appetizer sampler. They serve fried soft shell crab in a variety of ways. We had a nice experience! read more

Wonderful Thai food And excellent service. I particularly like the duck dishes and the Cornish game hen dish. Great place for a sitdown meal or takeout. read more

We have been wanting to try this Thai restaurant for awhile but every time we would stop by they were not offering any dine in. Fast forward to last week when we finally were able to dine in. My friends and I like to eat Thai and we try as many Thai restaurants that we can. We almost always order the same thing so we have a pretty good idea of what's good and what's not. We started with the Tom Yum soup. We all didn't care for the overly sour flavor and not much of any other flavor. It was just sour. They also gave us these small, shallow bowls that resembled a cat bowl. It made the soup hard to eat. My friend and I both ordered the cashew nut chicken. It looked so flavorful but was underwhelming. The chicken was also over cooked and dry. My other friend ordered her usual eggplant pork. She said it was ok. Overall, we all agreed that we've had better Thai food. And despite all the good reviews, the long anticipated dining experience was a disappointment. read more

Similan Thai Restaurant - Tom Yum Soup with tofu - Thai Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Classy place for good Thai food. Friendly service. We were able to be seating right away and parking wasn't an issue. Got the crab fried rice and a curry. Both were good. Glad to have found this place. read more

Stopped in for lunch and was pleasantly surprised by how tasty the meal was! Perfectly plated, portions, taste, such a reasonably priced meal! Highly recommend for authentic thai read more

One of the better Thai places I've tried in north county. Their curry and Bamboo chicken were very good. Service was great and restaurant was beautiful. Price is great too! read more

A friend who has been here to eat many times invited me to lunch. I love Thai food, so I agreed to check out a new place. The lunch special was really good..it included soup or salad..entree and rice or noodles. I had the panang curry with chicken..the food was hot and very flavorful..our server was very polite and efficient...the restaurant was pretty full but not too noisy. I also loved the traditional Thai decor . The restaurant is close to the beach, so after lunch we went to enjoy the sea air..I will definitely be back to similan to taste another dish! read more

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Loved the interiors and friendly service. Food is fresh and colorful. Really wanted to love it. But it didn't suit my palate. Too much fish sauce perhaps? I really enjoyed the ground chicken basil stirfry. But didn't care for the pad Thai, green curry or Tom yum gha soup. read more

I've been coming to Similan for over 18 months now, and the food just keeps on being the best Thai food I've tasted outside of Thailand, really! The feeling of the place and the service is as good as the food, always so kind, and though they are efficient, they're never giving the vibe of being rushed. What can I say, I love Similan! read more

The food was mediocre. The flavors were just not there, and the veggies were undercooked. I'll keep looking for a better Thai restaurant and cross this one off as a "nope". read more

The place is really nice small but very clean and nice The staff are very nice The food is really good and clean If I'm in the area I'll stop by here again awesome service and food read more

We came here because of the reviews, we enjoyed the meal, the two comments I will make is that the two staff members we engaged with, did not smile once, they seemed like they were ready to go home and we got to the restaurant about 30 minutes before close so I can also understand their desire to wrap up the day, but we did not like feeling that. Also, one of the dishes we ordered, we were asked, mild, medium, or spicy, we ordered medium, but it was super spicy, I eat spicy food very frequently, and there's a big difference between mild and spicy, the staff was kind enough to credit me for the dish, so they did the right thing but, it was the attitude more than anything, I am sure if we would have gotten there earlier in the evening, or on another day, the demeanor would be different, all in all, we enjoyed the meal, and may be back, Worth the try read more

I'm giving the staff much credit for kindly handling our group of 15--it's not a huge restaurant, but they were more than able to accommodate us. Unless you're opposed to it, food is served "family style" which means that people can try more dishes. The Panang Curry has eggplant, bell pepper, mushroom and your choice of protein which includes tofu (to keep it vegetarian) chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, and scallop. We tried several variations and it was delicious...slightly sweet and savory just exactly what you would expect it to taste, but even better than that. Pair it with white rice for the perfect balance in flavors. We also tried the Green Curry & Yellow Curry and they were so good too. We also tried several variations of the noodles options and I highly recommend the Pad Thai, & Pad Khee Mao. We also had Fried Rice, but requested "duck" (which may be an off-menu request but they were able to fill it) as the protein. I feel like I've become an expert with duck lately since I've had a good one and a not-so-good-one in recent times. This particular one, I would put in the category of "great". It was tender and flavorful and was incorporated perfectly with their tasty fried rice. I would also suggest the Thai salad--I'm a huge sucker for that peanut dressing. The Tom Kha soup was also great, but I can't imagine any of their soups not being good. I was specific with some of my favorite dishes here, but I feel like anything on the menu will be good especially if you already love Thai food. I don't live in the area, so I'm not able to patronize this restaurant as much I'd like, but I recommend it for that are visiting or are local. 10 our of 10. :-) read more

Pad Thai! Best I've had in a decade! I used to go to this place in Oklahoma where a thai couple made the best ... since they moved back to Thailand 10 years ago I've been on the hunt and this is the first time I've found someone with a similar style of cooking the dish. read more

Similan Thai Restaurant - Pad Thai! Best I've had in a decade! - Thai Near Me - Solana Beach, California