I've eaten at Smile Cafe more than a dozen times. The food is consistently tasty, fresh and satisfying. One order of cabbage salad at $4.00 is a great first course to share. The dressing is tangy and authentic, not Americanized. Main courses are modestly priced, offering a wide selection of seafood, meat and vegetarian choices. Service is fast and friendly. The other diners always look happy-- mostly romantic couples or small gatherings of friends. WiFi is free. The restaurant is also an art gallery, displaying modern oil paintings that are changed often. We root for this kind of restaurant because it makes our city unique, diluting the saturation of chain restaurants in Philly. read more

I have been walking past this place for the last 2 years almost everyday and always wondered. Funny thing, I didn't even know it was a restaurant for the longest time, anyhoo, that was my laziness. So me and my friend decided to get thai takeout, and we almost ordered from Erawaan, and then I decided to check out the reviews of this place and went with it. SO HAPPY i did. The prices were way cheaper, will not lie, always helps. Placed my order through the phone and the person who took the order was super patient and helpful [ I happen to be a mad indecisive soul...] We got the Steamed Shrimp and corn dumplings Seafood Pad Thai Create your own Salmon dish with vegetables in Penang Curry Sauce. Amazing! I won't lie, I loved the Pad Thai, only problem was, where it looses a star, was the seafood was not the freshest of all, the scallop was a bit questionable, but nothing major. I would still go there in a heartbeat and order the same thing! Steamed dumplings came in a bundle of 5 and were creamy from the corn and had a great spicy kick to it! Dear god the Salmon was DELICIOUS! I thought they would be small pieces, turns out they give u a huge piece from the best part of the salmon, with beans, peppers, carrots and pineapple in the creamy rich sauce. Wish I could lick the plate. If you are sharing food, this salmon could easily be split in two. Point is, I would order from here in a anytime and food was plate-licking worthy! The salmon was $14.95, who could beat that? For Vegetarians, they have this thing called Mock duck and many other alternatives and will modify any entree for you too. They definitely put a smile on our face by the time we were done :] read more

Finally made it to Smile after wanting to try it for years. It was the perfect spot for a girls night dinner. I enjoyed my curry though I wish it had been slightly spicier, next time I will ask. Their pick your own menu suits me very well and I look forward to returning to try other dishes and appetizers. I wouldn't say this is the best Thai I've ever had but it is good for Philly and the service and environment are way better than most in the city. read more

Smile is a cute little Thai spot with good food . I find Philly to lack great Thai but this place is one of the better Thai spots In these parts. I split the veggie pad Thai and yellow curry with my buddy. The pad Thai was worth ordering again as was the curry but next time I'd prefer to try their masa an or red curry . The Tom yum soup was not as spices as I'd like it. Staff was semi friendly but seated us oddly for place being empty ( tight spot against a wall ). I will be returning soon to try some more dishes k spicy noodles being next on my list . read more

I tried this spot out today based on the other reviews. Terrific values on the lunch specials. Appetizer and entree for $8! The place is quite small but I showed up with two friends at approximately 1p on a weekday and we were able to get a table right away. Service was decent and our water glasses stayed full. read more

I find it really tough to find good thai food in the city, and I was hoping smile cafe would be the one to prove me wrong. Unfortunately, I was sadly disappointed by my mediocre pad see ewe. While there was a generous portion shrimp in the dish, the noodles were overcooked and the dish wasn't as savory or flavorful as what I expect when I think of thai food! I'll probably stick to my usual delivery spot in south philly next time I get a hankering for some pad thai! read more

Every review that recommended the mango sticky rice was not kidding. Definitely try the mango sticky rice at least once in your life.

We feel as though we are eating Thai food in someone's home. It has a cozy feel and the food is delicious. We especially enjoy the green and red curries. We have tried other Thai restaurants in the area and believe this to be the best combination of taste and value. read more

Nice menu, beautiful & artsy decor. Food was delicious and met up to my expectations. Nice for a lunch date or casual dinner.

from the name of the restaurant, i wouldn't expect it to be that good. but the quality of the food really surprised me. i had the red curry with chicken and the dish was very flavorful, though i tend to like my curry a little less watery and for the dish to come with a little more rice. the food took a while to come, but there weren't many staff working despite every table being filled. the interior is dimly lit with paintings hung on the walls. it's a pretty cozy setting, and we were sitting at the table next to the window - the table that holds the water fountain pictured on this yelp page. read more

Tried this place since they seemed to have reasonable prices and good reviews. I had Pad See Ew which is my favorite dish and what I usually try at any thai restaurant. It was definitely very tasty; large enough for two meals. I also got some spring rolls which were delicious. I wish they had added a bit more sauce to the dish but there were some yummy veggies and mixed meat. I'm going to try some other places around the area but I'd definitely go back. read more

Lunch specials one of the best around town!! I've been coming here for the past 5 years, and always get the soup of the day (which happens to be chicken lemongrass soup everyday), spring roll, and chicken red curry. The chicken pad Thai is also a favorite but the sauce is inconsistent sometimes, so I like sticking to the curry. Service is pleasant, but quick - perfect speed when you want to squeeze a meal in during your lunch hour. And the artwork just makes you smile. read more

My friend and I visited during lunch time. I didn't regret it at all, though outside was freezing. Affordable lunch specials and I had the drunken noodles. It was very good and flavorful. The lunch came with soup and app. read more

"i've been craving pad thai for two months. it's like I'm pregnant with a monk's baby" were the words of my friend when we were trying to figure out what to order for dinner. After hearing this statement there was no way I could deprive her of her beloved pad thai, but I ran into a dilemma. Where do I order it from? I'm not a huge fan of Thai food so I was clueless. She suggested we use Grubhub.com to find a place that delivers and OMG this site is amazing to find delivery in you area. Every cuisine and every place that delivers in your area! We chose Smile Cafe because of their expansive menu and location. Downside? The delivery charge was $7, which I thought was a little ridiculous. Well at least we won't have to tip the delivery man, right? Wrong! When her Pad Thai and my Rad Na was delivered the man gave me the evil eye when I asked for the cash back (our bill was $36 for two dishes, a little pricey for delivery in my opinion). He was really pissed that I asked for change from the $40 and told me that he only gets a dollar from the delivery charge. I felt so awkward and uncomfortable. Am I wrong to feel this way? But, hungry and annoyed I just let him keep it and quickly closed the door. This food better be worth the hassle. I was a little disappointed. My Rad Na came in two compartments, the vegetable, chicken and broth in one and the noodles in another. I would have liked them to be in the same container so the noodles could marinate and soak up all the juices. But I put it all in a bowl and tried to mix it around as much as I could. The chicken and broth were really good but the noodles were a little lackluster. They had a weird aftertaste and didn't absorb the broth well. I ended up just eating all of the ingredients from container one and left the noodles aside. My friend was not upset with her Pad Thai at all and ate it all within minutes. She was definitely satisfied with her meal, but I was left still hungry and broke. In my opinion, delivery should not be expensive. Twenty bucks for a dish that didn't wow me makes me pretty upset. And I'm not a cheapskate by any means, I love to sit in a nice restaurant and just throw away my bills on delicious eats, but this was a rainy Friday chill-night. Smile Cafe delivery just did not deliver. read more

Tasty takeout place! One of few places that actually appropriately use spicy levels. If you ask for extra spicy, they certainly deliver! It was soooo good. read more

AMAZING. Ordered delivery, had requested it to be delivered a little later, was not a problem. Super affordable, generous portions, and DELICIOUS. Got beef salad, chicken wings with spicy chili sauce, and lemongrass shrimp soup (tastes like tom yum). All for under $20! read more

Smile Cafe - Chicken Wings with Spicy Chili Sauce (6 Pieces) - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

this is actually my favorite thai place to go to. super cute and tiny little place with delightful staff. it's byo, the prices are great, and i always have a super meal. they have a make your own page on the menu which (as a control freak) i totally love. you pick your protein, your sauce, and they will steam or fry it for you! (i always say fry, duh) they have tofu available and if you order a pad thai just say "no egg" to make it vegan. read more

This was a really nice lunch before going to the Mutter Museum--great service and value. Really nice art on the walls and generous portions in the lunch specials. I had the penang salmon--great! read more

The Pad Thai and Tom Yum were passable. The Green Curry was a bit better but still lacked authenticity and seemed a bit over salted. The vegetable spring rolls were very good. Portions are large and service excellent. read more

This is my favorite Thai place in the city!! My husband and I go here often for both lunch or dinner. The food is always so good. We have traveled to Thailand a year ago and the food here is definitely measurable to the authentic Thai dishes that they offer. My favorite dish is the beef salad . . . its always a great app. to start the table off with. Refreshing and filled with great flavors! Its a cute little hole in the wall in the city. read more

Cannot begin to express how great this place is. I've been here on a girls night out, on dates, and birthday dinners. Great service, BYOB, cozy ambience, and DELISH food! I am obsessed with the Seafood Radna, and probably will not get anything else because it's just that good. Before that I've gotten their Duck Pad See Ew and Spicy Basil Noodles, both delicious! And I always finish the whole thing. Next time you're in town, Smile Cafe is a great choice. I would call ahead (I usually do an hour ahead) just to see if they have tables available, and they usually do. GO GO GO! read more

Ate here Saturday night as we wanted Thai, and, well, there are a lot of average Thai restaurants in Philly, and I don't like average. This place had good Yelp reviews, so why not go for it? Plus it is a BYOB, always a plus to bring your own bottle of vino along with you. This place is very Philly BYOB - small, intimate, and hectic. Nothing terribly outstanding about the decor, but it definitely was not uninviting. Our server poured some water, uncorked our wine, but did not pour, nor did he offer the cork, nor the traditional "swig" - might be some sort of law I know not of with BYOBs, but at least for me I want to see the server at least pour the wine. Instead of being very inviting, our server was quick and talked to my back - a quick "what do you want?" rather than the hospitable spiel I'm so used to. We ordered barbecued octopus because...How often do you see that on a menu? It came quickly, and was cooked quite well - nice taste to it, nice light flavoring, and not rubbery. It came with a peanut sauce that was, in my opinion, tasty but a tad too sweet for my taste. Still the octopus made up well enough for it and I'd not have a problem eating it again. For the main I had a seafood spicy noodle. Very well done. Being a seafood lover, I appreciate it when seafood is cooked well, and this was extraordinary! Nothing was rubbery, everything just perfect. The noodles were firm, spicy, and plentiful. The entire dish seemed to have just as much seafood as noodles, and for under $20, you cannot go wrong. Also, while plentiful, it wasn't overdone - there wasn't too much food, but there definitely was enough to leave with a full stomach, especially with a bottle of wine. Our bill - two entrees and an appetizer, came to under $40. Definitely cannot complain about that. What I can complain about is the service - the waiter not once spoke in front of us (always behind the back) and seemed to try to rush us out. Also, the food came out almost too quick. By the time we were done our appetizer we didn't even get a chance to drop our forks before the entrees came! A bit more spacing would have been welcome. All in all, I'd recommend a visit here if Thai is an option - it's tasty, convenient to many things, and for a Rittenhouse Square restaurant, very affordable. read more

Dining in, taking out, or getting delivery, smile cafe performs well. Food is reasonably priced (lunch special is a phenomenal deal) and BYOB optionality is always a nice touch. Recommend the curry dishes above all else but haven't been disappointed experimenting. read more

I was hankering for thai food and the place I used to go near my office closed, so I came here again after so many years. It is a small, quaint space.It does get busy during weekday lunch hour. I was seated immediately and ordered from lunch special menu list. For $7.95 you choose soup, appetizer, salad list (two items). I had shrimp thai dumplings and chicken lemongrass soup. The dish I tried again is the wide noodle dish called Lad Na. It is chock full of veggies, protein of your choice, wide rice noodles and brown sauce (like the chinese brown sauce that I love). Thought food was really good. Service pretty good but because I was table of one, only received one refill of my water. Nice people, you can have a nice lunch when workingnear by. Glad I returned. I shall again. read more

Smile Cafe is just amazing. Their food is always a cut above other places in the same price range - you can tell they use good quality, fresh ingredients and they really prepare the food with a great deal of care. I like to try something new on the menu every time I order, but my go-to's are the steamed dumplings (so good), golden tofu appetizer, the tasty eggplant special, the crying tiger, the massaman curry, and (of course) their pad thai. I recently tried their chicken satay for the first time and was blown away by how juicy the chicken is! Even after delivery and reheating. I used to eat there in person in the Before Times, and their little dining room is sweet and spotlessly clean. Now when I order delivery, I'm always impressed by how quickly the food arrives (some credit might go to the delivery service, I don't know) and how carefully everything is packaged up. All said, these guys are great, their prices are more than fair, and the food is top-notch. read more

Great ambience and delicious food. You can't go wrong with either the red or green curry. Also, the place is BYOB.

Just ordered take out from Smile Cafe. Because I only get a 30 minute lunch break I need to have my food on time. The service was fast and friendly. I got the lunch special, salmon panang curry, chicken lemon grass soup (my favorite super flavorful light and delish), and steamed dumplings for only $8.00. The food was good (not great but good, perhaps I need to try some different lunch items), the price was right, and the service was fast. The sauces were light but flavorful and the lunch portion was just right. Definitely one of my new favorite lunch spots. read more

I am confused as to all the good ratings. Even at its worst, erawan is a much better restaurant. This isn't remotely Thai food.

The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food. Their lemongrass soup is just the right amount of spicy. Seafood salad is delicious and refreshing and those coconut, shrimp and curry dumplings are one of the most unique dishes I've ever tried. Perfect combination of sweet and savory. read more

Smile Cafe - Amazing seafood salad and dumplings - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The drunken noodle is mediocre. The noodles were mushy and bland flavor - I couldn't even eat it. Erawan Thai (a block over) is much better! read more

I really don't understand how this place is "authentic." There was not a lick of Thai on the menu (which sometimes makes it harder for those of us who read Thai and expect the items to be named a certain way). I asked for my dish to be "very spicy" and it was so plain I asked for "fresh chilis" which I used all of. Small, cute, and charming for sure, but the taste was not to par. read more

Excellent food and the delivery is always quick (usually order through seamless or beyond menu). What I like the most about this place is they put actual veggies in their dishes. I usually get noodles with tofu and veggies. Majority of places pretty much just put cabbage (ick) and onions. Here they put crisp and fresh chunks of veggies - zucchini, green beans, carrots and broccoli. Super yummy and always fresh. Everything I've tried from the dumplings to the green curry, spring rolls and noodles have all been great. I always order here when I'm in town and they never disappoint! read more

Had shrimp Pad Thai and spring rolls from here last night from Grubhub, the pad Thai tasted like tomato paste and nothing else, and the shrimp was unseasoned and over cooked to the point where it was rubbery. I've had better spring rolls from the frozen section of a grocery store. Would not recommend this place to anyone with tastebuds read more

Gotta say. Haven't been to too many Thai places that I didn't like their basic noodle dish. We both got standard pad Thai and it was like drinking vinegar from the bottle. Probably the worst pad Thai I've had in my life. Hopefully just an off night. I won't be back but maybe others will give it a chance. read more

got delivery from here through grubhub one night when i felt like trying a new spot. the food arrived 40 minutes later nice and hot. i asked the dish be spicy and it was not what i would consider 4 out of 5. i will give it another shot. read more

A great 3 star place. Im sure thats what the place aspires to be, so its standing good for what it wants to achieve. Order drunken noodles and massaman curry. Food was decent. Cute small place. Byob. read more

They were ok, nothing mind-blowing at all, however, good prices and pretty good food. I would say their delivery needs a little work, otherwise I say go for it! read more

Amazing food, friendly service, and great value--what more can I say. We don't live in the area anymore and haven't been here in a few years but I'm happy to say it hasn't changed from the special place I remember. I got the Princess Dumplings and Spicy Duck and everyone else at the table said that's what they're getting next time! So glad we made the trip back--well worth the drive downtown. We are definitely coming back here again soon. There is so much more on the menu I want to try! read more

Eating the green curry with mock duck right now. ITS THE BOMB!!!! WOWOWOWOWOW!!!! so good.

I come here a lot and really like the people there. Service is usually very good and the portion is more than generous. However, it's not that tasty. read more