What a gem. I wonder if they named their restaurant Smile because they knew it would make everybody who visits smile?! Well either way it works! My boyfriend and I love coming here for date night. It's small and intimate. Perfect in the winter time with a bottle of wine. I truly believe their chef is fantastic. They constantly have specials that are awesome. During our last visit we had the Thai Calamari and Princess Dumplings as appetizers. Both were delicious. Bright, bold flavors and well executed dishes. I'm impressed by how such an unassuming restaurant turns out such refined dishes. As entrees we usually get the duck pad Thai and spicy noodles. These go to dishes never disappoint. The service is so friendly and we never feel rushed even when we sit there after we pay to finish our wine. The added bonus is that the prices are really reasonable. Our bill usually comes out under $50 including tip. The quality well exceeds the prices at Smile. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Smile Cafe - Thai calamari - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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So good! And so much food! I ordered takeout from here on Friday night and was super impressed. I got the pad thai - it had tofu, chicken AND shrimp in it! I also got the shrimp egg rolls very tasty. The portion size was alarmingly huge and you know I ate all of it. Highly recommend, may be my new Thai go-to! read more

Updating to 5 stars! This place just keeps getting better. I've tried just about everything on their menu now (been going here for about 8 years) and have yet to be disappointed. My favorites: Shrimp satay Crying tiger Crying fish Smile calamari Princess dumplings Thai tea read more

We got delivery on this rainy night and every item hit the spot. Shrimp Penang curry was the perfect mix of spicy with a hint of sweetness. My husbands pad Thai and the chicken satay also tasty!! read more

Delicious food I've been ordering non-stop since the pandemic began! I've only ordered delivery so I can't speak to the restaurant's decor or anything, but I do know the food is delicious. My sister loves the yellow curry and I'm obsessed with the spicy noodles. They're nice and chewy. The portions are nice and large as well! read more

Smile Cafe - Spicy Noodle with Tofu - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ordered take out order from here on my philly trip. Their fried rice was good, Tom yum soup tasted good, although the mushroom they used in the soup was not fresh, it's got so much black spot on them. Their mango sticky rice was really good. I like how they put banana leaves underneath the sticky rice, which gives it a nice aroma. Would def have it again if I'm in town again. read more

One of the best Thai restaurants in the city. I have been to this restaurant many times over the years. I have moved away since but I come here every chance I get. read more

This is one of my favorite Thai take out places! I'm a huge fan of duck and I love how you substitute the meat in any of your dishes with duck! My favorite thing to order is the lovely duck special and pad see ew. The food is always solid here, it's my go-to if I'm feeling like Thai! read more

Ordered drunken noodle with shrimp for $13.99. Looks like it's only takeout still. Don't know if it was ever a sit down restaurant. Food was ok. Noodles a little overdone and shrimp tasted a little pasty. Price is pretty good. read more

this place was heaven on earth. Legitimately the best food I've ever had. The service was amazing, the ambiance there was so peaceful and pretty. If you're in Philly you HAVE to eat here. read more

Delicious Thai food, quick and friendly service, and cozy atmosphere. The restaurant is small and feels like a hole in the wall, but it's not to be missed! The peanut curry with veggies and tofu was extremely good, as was the drunken noodles with veggies and tofu. Both entrees were good portions and the price was right for them. I will definitely be returning! read more

Came here for the first time and ordered takeout. I ordered the massaman curry and mango sticky rice -- both were well made, prepared quickly and very tasty! Will be returning again. read more

Solid, decently-priced Thai food! I got the basil dish before, stir-fried drunken noodle and red curry with chicken. The dishes were a bit oily but not unbearable, flavors are good. The red curry definitely has a strong coconut taste so I wouldn't get it if you don't like coconut. I got it with chicken and the chicken was a bit dry but the red curry flavor is rich and packs a small amount of heat. They only offer take out right now so good place to go when you're in a time crunch and craving some Thai cuisine. read more

My family's go to spot for drunken noodles! Spicy but yet flavorful. Most places we try tend to be on the sweeter side- similar to pad see ew. It's been awhile since the pandemic but we used to go for the lunch special, such a steal. I normally get the spring rolls while my family gets the steam dumplings. Our other go to dishes is the salmon Penang, tilapia and green curry. When we come during dinner, we like to get their fried banana for dessert. They used to have a store in the northeast that carried almost the same exact menu, however, offered Caesar salad with cashew that was delicious and I'm sad they don't offer it at this location. Always a must- their Thai tea and Thai coffee. Taste delicious and can't beat the price!!! read more

one of my fav restaurants in the whole city- great, food, great service, all for an unbeatable price. so cute- def go here!!

Solid spot! They were busy when I came on a Friday night. The place is super small so there was only 1 waitress. I noticed a few people had trouble getting her attention while we were waiting to order. She had some help towards the end it seemed. The food came quickly, and I was tasty! I wish the fried rice had more flavor, but I could have asked for more spice. The shrimp were over cooked, but there were over 5 in it! We liked the shrimp and corn dumplings appetizer a lot (comes in 5). read more

I hadn't been to Smile since my college days, but when walking around with a bottle of wine on an abnormally warm March night, my friend said let's get Thai food. Both Smile and Erawan were nearby with Smile getting the slight lead on yelp, so that's where we went. Even though the restaurant was pretty empty the waiter made us sit almost on top of the one other couple there. The wine was opened promptly and we perused the menu. I went with the chicken coconut soup and the pad see ew (surprise, surprise). The soup was pretty disappointing. I can't really pinpoint the issue, but it wasn't as bright as it usually is. My pad see ew, a little spicy, was pretty much on point. Not the best I've ever had, but the spice level was perfect and it wasn't overly sauced. The veggies in it were a little undercooked though. I tried some of the house salad which had a nice dressing, and a bite of the chicken satay. My friend had the radna for his main dish. The sauce tasted like the chicken and broccoli sauce from Chinese restaurants, and there was a lot of it. Not a big fan, but he enjoyed it. The place started to fill up around 7:30. There was a gentleman eating by himself who occasionally let out huge belches that the whole restaurant heard. By the third time, everyone was cracking up. Come on, I know this place is pretty casual, but you're still out in public. read more

So-so Thai food. I ordered the Pad Thai which tasted overly sweet, like peanut butter and ketchup mixed together. The ambiance was nice and service was good, so I might come back to try something else. read more

Smile Cafe - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I have been to this place for lunch. I strongly recommend you to try this place because the lunch deal is great and delicious! You can get choose two appetizer and a main course for only $8+. You also have the option to choose the protein like shrimp, chicken, beef or pork. The portion isn't huge so you won't be having a heavy lunch. However the restaurant is rather small, they can accommodate about 20-30 people max. If you are coming with a group for lunch, you might need to wait. (I'm not sure if they do reservation) You can do take out! I tried the soup, spring roll and dumplings. I would recommend the soup and spring roll. The dumpling is on the sweeter side for me and the skin is thicker too. As for the main course, I have tried several of the dishes like Pad Thai, spicy noodle, spicy fried rice, tilapia special and Thai spaghetti. I love all of them, though Thai Spaghetti isn't my preference. It's covered with peanut sauce and I didn't really like the combo with the steamed rice noodle. Also I LOVE their Thai iced tea. It's not overwhelmingly sweet. It balances out just nice. Try this if you are looking for a drink! Overall, love this place! 4 stars because I haven't try their dinner menu, so leaving room for that. read more

Smile Cafe - Lunch Menu! - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We came for a late dinner and very much enjoyed the food and ambiance. It is a tiny restaurant but cozy and our dishes were great: - The garlic and black pepper stir fry was light and savory, although I did not see the black pepper. -The red curry tofu was solid with a spicy and creamy broth, and the pad see ew was perfectly seasoned and served with a six jumbo shrimp. -The chicken pad thai was very good as well with plenty of chicken and perfectly cooked sweet and savory noodles; the portion size was quite generous and is enough to last two meals, at least. -The grilled calamari appetizer was also a hit as it was tender with a slight char and served with a tasty slightly tangy peanut dipping sauce. -The chicken satay was decent but pretty standard. -The coconut soups were a hit but the tofu vegetable soup was literally 5 tiny cubes of tofu in a vegetable broth. Overall, the meal was great and service was fantastic. We ended up talking until 10:30 before we realized that they actually close at 10 pm since they were kind enough to not even ask us to leave! read more

I just experienced the most unprofessional food delivery service from this so-so Thai food restaurant. I ordered delivery through GrubHub. And because I prefer to tip my delivery people with cash (and was planning to do so with this order), I did not add a tip to my credit card charge. Before getting my food delivered, I received a phone call from the restaurant "reminding" me that I did not add a tip when placing my order. I responded by saying that I knew I did not add a tip only for them to ask me, "so you are going to tip with cash, right?" I was very frustrated at this point, and assured them that I was planning to tip the delivery person. They then said, "okay, your food is on its way" and hung up. At this point, I decided that I was not going to tip because of how unsatisfactory my experience had been thus far.. But it got WORSE. When the delivery person came to my building and gave me my food, he demanded a tip in cash. When I told him that I did not have the cash for him, he then pestered me to go on my GrubHub account and charge my card for a tip. I told him that I will do it when I get back into my apartment and he then asked me, "How much?" I responded by saying I will choose when I get back. Me agreeing to charge a tip to my credit card was the ONLY way he was going to 1) give me my food, and 2) leave my doorstep. These people will harass you for a tip to no end. I will never order from them again and plan on taking my business elsewhere. read more

Delicious food, and the staff really helped me out when I forgot my debit card there. Give it a try!

I moved in to the area a few months ago and have been trying to make more of an effort to support the small mom and pop places in the neighborhood. The employees inside were so kind and its nice to have some small talk - something that I've been missing the past year from COVID. They are only doing take out. Its a little confusing entering since you make a u turn as you go up the stairs, but other than that, very easy process. read more

I returned- sober and super hungry... I was pleasantly suprised by the decor. Its small, but very cozy and inviting with loads of artwork on the wall. Apparently this place also serves as an art gallery. Boy did I miss alot the last time around. Service was efficient and friendly and the menu consisted of your standard thai fare- green, yellow and red curries, spicy basil, etc, etc with your choice of meat, tofu, or seafood.... We opted for the spicy noodles with shrimp (somewhere in the fog of my drunken stupor I remembered eating something spicy with noodles and being a big fan). We also got the tofu with yellow curry. So I'm a total wimp when it comes to hot food, but people assume I like things spicy (the hazards of being Indian).. I'm usually super weary at thai restaurants, and end up pleading with them to make it mild, only to find that I spend half the meal in tears from the spiciness- like I said big wimp! Thankfully Smile Cafe got it just right. The food still had a kick to it, but it was just the perfect amount of spiciness. The food was very flavorful, and I loved the fact that the curry wasn't super heavy. The tofu still picked up the flavor, but it wasn't heartburn inducing. The biggest shock of the meal was the price. We had plenty of food for two, and the grand total was $32. I've spent way way more on sandwiches for lunch!! I'm definitely coming back to this place- sober or drunk.... read more

Very cute small place. We ordered Spicy noodles and Fried Tilapia with pineapples, tomatoes, in a curry sauce, which was pretty good. Noodles were yummy, with a nice spicy depth to it (not sure how to describe it -- almost like roasted hot pepper, if that makes sense). I'd say this is about 3.5+ stars, not quite 4 stars. Will be back if I feel like Thai & don't want to go too far or can't find a better place for it in Philly. read more

Came and left with a smile! I admit my review might be a little biased because I went with the intention of getting a good Thai place as well as a good place to practice my Thai (been learning for a month, whoo!) I walked in a little apprehensive because I didn't have any kind of preference in mind but the waiter was patient with me and allowed me to choose one appetizer at a time, keeping the menu beside me. The ambiance is very neighborly and feels very homey-- with the huge window, it also gives a nice, bright natural sun vibe. I felt comfortable, and the beautiful mural of the different Thai ethnic groups beaming on the wall was nice and cheery. I came around five on the dinner side and ordered two apps and an entree. The lemongrass soup (with shrimp!) was the best I've ever had, literally blew my mind. The flavorful spiciness, the lime tang-- it was so delicious that I ordered a second soup to take home with me. (And the soup was so inexpensive! Less than $4!) My second appetizer was the Ka-Nom-Jeeb. I love sweet soy sauce but notoriously I am not a fan of sweet and savory mixing (as a general rule. It depends on the sweet and on the savory but... I'll leave it there.) The sweet was just enough to not be too much and I enjoyed it but I'll admit I could've gone without. This appetizer was a little more pricey, presumably because it had crab, but it was about $7~ for as many pieces, with each piece about the size and shape of Chinese shumei. Now, I admit, for my entree, I was extremely boring-- I ordered Pad Woon Sen, which is basically vermicelli noodles stir-fried with love and also everything I want in life on a plate. (^': The portions were extremely generous and I ended up taking some home. Flavors were delicious and the shrimp stir fried in the noodles were huge! The vegetables were crunchy like I like and the noodles weren't clumpy like glass noodles can be. Staff is very friendly and personable (and they said my Thai accent was good, so once again, biased. ;^) ) All in all, I would go again. And again. And again. (Until my wallet was empty.) read more

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I stopped past Smile Cafe last Fall when I wanted to branch out from my regular lunch neighborhood and try a new Thai spot. Smile Cafe is definitely a quiet and intimate spot at the corner of 22nd and Chestnut. I ordered a dish I was familiar with: Chicken Curry with Extra Spicy Basil Sauce. It left more to be desired, especially on the seasoning end. Its a disappointment when the best thing about the dish is the fresh steamed rice. Don't think I will return. read more

Smile Cafe - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Small and beautiful restaurant right next to the Mütter Museum. When you walk in, you're immediately greeted by delicious smells. Probably the best Thai that I've had here in the city. Gotta try the Thai tea, it tastes just like the homemade stuff. Value is solid. Drunken noodles and their salmon salad is delicious. Nothing tasted frozen, only fresh. Very friendly service. Will be back. read more

This place was wonderful. I really enjoyed their coconut soup with shrimp, and the Thai iced coffee. I would get those two things everyday if I lived close by...it would be dangerous. Our server was very kind and extremely professional. The restaurant is tiny, yet has and calm and airy feeling too it which is nice. They are also vegetarian friendly, and will accommodate your veggie desires if need be. read more

Smile Cafe - View of the restaurant from our table. - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Lovely quaint Thai restaurant I stumbled on while waiting for a class at the wine school next door. I was seated immediately. The decor is pretty sparse and unassuming but the service and food are what counts and those were both fantastic. I ordered the grilled squid salad. It was served promptly. The squid was warm and tender on a bed of crisp salad. The dressing it was served with complimented the flavor profile perfectly. I was in a bit of the hurry and the server brought my check promptly and thanked me for coming. I would definitely come back here again. read more

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Very nice place, small but cozy. The staffs are friendly too. The food are great , reasonable price. I recomened Pad - see -ew for ppl who can't eat spicy . Thai salad beef for who love spicy (I'm Thai and I love spicy !!) My friends also ordered Papaya Salad , Grill duck and Beef BBQ with sticky rice. Everything is very yumm! read more

Smile Cafe - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Some of the best Thai food I have had anywhere. The place doesn't look like much but you will be pleasantly surprised by the food.

It was pretty good your standard thai place. I got duck but I wish I would've gotten something spicy. The staff was really nice. The restaurant is really cute but kind of small read more

Smile Cafe - It was pretty good I woks I would've gotten something spicy though - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I will preface this review by saying I used yelp to find Smile Cafe. I did not like Smile Cafe for a reason I can not exactly put my finger on, but my boyfriend did. My boyfriend flew in from State College to have dinner with me. Before he got on the plane, he mentioned Thai so I quickly looked on yelp for a good Thai restaurant. I was a bit underwhelmed by the choices on the menu. Honestly, we were going to tip and leave beacuse something just felt off. We both opted for the Build Your Own-- we had chicken, and red curry. The flavor of the soup was alright, nothing spectacular. The consistency is what annoyed me. The soup bowl it was placed in was so large, which such a small amount of broth, that I could not get a full spoon full. I know it sounds silly, but this really annoyed me. The consistency was definitely more like a coconut soup than a curry. The broth was not emulsified enough. I asked what vegetables came with it and was told broccoli, but the only piece of broccoli in my boyfriend's was a stem. In short, it was good, but not great. The eggplant did not compliment the meal at all. Cherry tomatoes would have worked better. I will say that the flavor of the curry was dramatically different on its own and when mixed with the rice. My boyfriend really liked the flavor of the soup. I guess I am comparing it to a new Thai restaurant in State College in terms of portion and price because I haven't had any other Thai in Philadelphia. WIthout comparing it to anyplace else, I think I would like it much more. We were the only people in the restaurant when we entered around 6:30. By the time we left, four other small groups/couples came by. It reminded me of a neighborhood restaurant more so than something you would travel to. At one point I thought the waiter wanted to sit down and eat with me because he was hovering so close for so long. The waitstaff is definitely friendly-- really, sweet. read more

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Unpretentious, delicious Thai spot right in center city with a value-packed lunch special. This is my go-to Thai restaurant in center city. The dishes are super flavorful and authentic, and they have a variety of more adventurous menu items outside of your typical pad thai and pad see ewe (ie duck and squid). This place is also very accommodating for large groups, and calling ahead with a reservation has always served me well. And who can pass up on the byo thai option? read more

I really enjoy it here. Service is always great (server is this really sweet Asian lady) and food always hot. They also know how to get things spicy when I ask for it. Downfall, its a tiny spot and come during rush and u won't get a table. I do think they have an upstairs, but don't quote me on it, so I may be wrong about size. Not my fav thai spot, but still quite filling and close to my work where I can walk to meet up with friends in the area. Love their curries here!! Veggies aren't overcooked and has just the perfect crisp to it. Chicken lemongrass taste like Mama noodles I buy at the asian market (good, but I expected more from the soup). Spring rolls were stuffed with way too much noodles and not enough of anything else. read more

Smile Cafe is my favorite Thai place in Philly. I've had many pleasant meals here, all made so by the delicious food, fair prices, and wonderful service. And, it's a perfect date spot! I typically get either curry or pad see ew, and both are perfect. But no meal here is complete without the lemongrass soup. Wow! I could have a huge bowl of this every day of the week. So perfectly tangy, salty, and spicy. Now that I think about it, for some reason I tend to eat here more in the winter than any other time of year. Maybe it has to do with how the food warms me up, or the cozy, intimate space. read more

My favorite Thai place in Center City so far. I like it loads better than Erawan! The place is small, but comfortable. It's a very homely and relaxing environment, great for a date or good conversations with friends! They have a great lunch special for appx $10 that comes with 2 appetizers and a main dish. I always choose the lemongrass chicken soup as one of my appetizers. The main portion is large enough to have leftovers! I also like the create your own curry combo option: choose your meat / veg and choose your curry. Veg friendly! Good value for money! read more

Smile cafe is half open but fully prepared. I order take out at least twice a week and love their curry every variety is my favorite. I've always loved Thai food and Smile Cafe is perfect. read more

Got takeout here for the first time during the pandemic today. The food was great! I used the Ritual app and it was ready even before the time predicted. The lemongrass tom yum soup is my favorite in the neighborhood; I ordered shrimp for the protein. There were three nice-sized shrimp, which was about right for the serving size of the soup. The sweet and sour entree preparation (with a nice assortment of veggies and pineapple) was delicious; I ordered it with chicken, but I think I might like to try it with seafood next time (this was my first time ordering that entree). I ordered medium spice level on everything and that was just right since I wasn't looking for a lot of heat this time. The veggie spring rolls were good. They're only doing takeout at this point. There was hand sanitizer available on the pickup table and masks are required. I'll be ordering again soon! read more

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