I was not impressed with this restaurant. I ordered a cup of Tom Yum soup and I felt like it tasted like dirt. The satay chicken skewers were very good, the chicken did not taste dry. It was very flavorful. Lastly, I ordered the Pad See Ew . I was disappointed the restaurant did not use traditional Chinese broccoli. I also felt like the noodles were a little stale. The service was pretty quick, the restaurant itself is pretty small inside so I wouldn't say this is a great place for multiple large parties of more than six. read more

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Came here for lunch on a Monday at Tamarind Thai in La Mesa. We were seated by Sam and given time to look over the menu. From the start, I could tell he was a little flustered. The lobby was filling up quickly with dine-in customers and pickup orders, and he was literally doing everything -- cleaning tables, taking orders, running food. Whew. When we asked what was popular on the menu, the responses were short, like "It depends on what you like." He wasn't rude at all -- just clearly overwhelmed and didn't have time to connect. I get it, but when you're dining in, you do hope for a little more guidance. It took about 25 minutes to receive our appetizers, and we didn't get drinks at the beginning. About 10 minutes into eating our appetizers, our entrées came out. I ordered the Spicy Noodles with beef, and my husband ordered the Pad Thai. His plate looked beautiful and tasted fresh and delicious. Mine, on the other hand, looked like the noodles had been sitting -- a bit dry -- although the veggies were vibrant and colorful, which helped presentation-wise. Unfortunately, I kept tasting a bitterness and realized some of the noodles at the bottom were burnt. I'm not one to complain, but I definitely needed water at that point. My husband had to go to the counter to ask for drinks, and Sam apologized and brought them about five minutes later. When we checked out, Sam still had a smile on his face, which I truly appreciated. He mentioned we came at a very busy time and day. I hope that wasn't meant to excuse the hiccups -- a simple apology would've been perfectly fine. Still, I respect that he kept it together and did his best. The dining area inside is small, but they do have an outdoor table option if requested. I'm not sure if this experience reflects their normal standard, and I hope it doesn't. There's definitely room for improvement with food quality consistency and front-of-house support. Sam was kind, and honestly, I'd probably give them another try simply because he handled the pressure as best as he could. But they really need another staff member up front to help with orders, cleaning, and running food instead of having one person juggle it all. Room to grow for sure. read more

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I still love this place. Their Thai food is excellent, and I really love their lunch specials. They're packed with food and have a great variety at a great price. I always know what I'm going to get is going to be fresh and flavorful. They've always been friendly over the years. I've gone here. It's one of the better Thai spots in San Diego, you could probably call it like a hidden gem. I love their stir fry veggies with tofu and the lunch special salad and soup. It's a small little place but plenty of seating. Lunch does get crowded! read more

Tamarind Thai has probably one of the best lunch specials in town. For $11.95, you can order either pad thai, yellow curry or a variety of other dishes on their lunch special menu. I personally prefer the noodles here - pad thai and spicy noodle. All of the items in the lunch special menu will come with a cup of soup, two cream cheese wontons, and a side salad with peanut sauce. If you're not here for the lunch special, I highly recommend their crab fried rice or one of their steamed fish dishes. I normally see the same server for lunch time. He is very nice, calm and friendly. Tamarind Thai is a neighborhood gem. Price: $ Parking: Street plaza Recommendation: Lunch specials - Pad Thai or spicy noodle, cream cheese wonton, and crab fried rice read more

Tamarind Thai Restaurant - Lunch specials starting at $11.45 - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

Been coming here for years and the food is always great. We usually get takeout, but decided to dine in during a weeknight and had a great experience. It wasn't too crowded and service was quick. read more

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Service was fast and friendly. I ordered online, but they didn't get my order. They made it really quickly for me, in just ten minutes. Everything was delicious. Large portions. I'll be back to try a few more items! read more

Tamarind Thai Restaurant - Garlic edamame - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

Good restaurant with kind and funny servers and chefs. Food is good price and high quality, they give a lot of food as well. Only complaint is that the squid is a bit chewy and bland. read more

Great food delicious iced tea first time trying it with coconut milk it was marvelous!

Food is always well prepared. Have dined in and also gotten take out and their food never disappoints. Love the salads and their soups and well. read more

The food is very good there.I love the tom ja soup and cheese stuffed wonton. They have really good lunch specials

This is one of our favorite places for Thai food. We've been coming here for years. We go to the La Mesa Farmers market and then come here. We love sitting outside. We enjoy the yellow curry, pad thai and pineapple fried rice. All delicious. Staff is friendly and helpful. We love this place! read more

Always great. I've been coming to this restaurant for years. The food is always great, the service is always great! My personal favorites: Spring rolls Cheese Wontons Yellow Curry read more

Tamarind Thai never disappoints. Stopped in for a quick lunch ordering off their lunch specials. Got the Jungle Stir Fry with pork (my favorite). Small soup and salad, came with two cheese filled whatchamacallits which I've never had before and they were delicious. Food came out hot and fresh. Heat level was spot on too. Love this place. read more

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This place has gone downhill a bit. Ordered pad Thai...tasted like fish sauce more than anything else. Low protein, very few pieces of chicken, a few peanut crumbs and almost zero veggies. Customer service borders on cranky. Ask for some hot sauce and they glare at you like you are stealing. Bummer, but lots of other Thai choices in La Mesa. One star for the Pannang curry which was flavorful but again very light on protein but lots of big carrots. read more

The food was decently priced. Pretty cheap compared to other Thai places I like going to. The server was nice and patient. He was the only one working foh--taking orders and bringing out food. The restaurant itself looks neat and organized. Has a mom and pop shop vibe. My group got papaya salad, beef & chicken larb, Ka-Pow Crispy Pork, pad thai, and the mango w/sticky rice. The papaya salad was aight. Not my favorite but it was good. The beef and chicken larb was only 10$ each and both were good. Chicken was better in my opinion. The pad Thai is the same as any other Thai place you go. It's never been my type of food so I can't really make a judgement on it. The mango sticky rice though was yummy! read more

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Absolutely the worst service ever (on a to go order). Two big parties didn't help, but the one server's attitude and lack of caring didn't help one bit. I've been a long time customer and this is the last time I will ever go here. read more

Stopped here before my dental appt just to get something light. Decoded to order the glass noodle soup with chicken (in a pot) . Definitely a generous amount of the broth , and mushrooms. Sad to say, the broth itself was super bland. When it was served, glass noddles were obviously still cooking. Grateful letting me dine in for 30 min before closing time read more

Really like a 3.5 but rounded up cause I've been here multiple times and at the end of the day, would order again lol. I've only ever gotten takeout from here and can't attest for the sit in service, but they're always friendly and get the order correct when packing to go meals!! The curry here is the best dish you can get! It's so flavorful and silky and yummy. The spicy yellow curry has a perfect heat and blend of spices. The only thing I'd say is we had a mountain of carrots in there-- def wouldn't have minded some more potatoes (if y'all are listening lol!) The spicy noodles (which basically were like drunken noodles) for me was a miss :( though the heat was there, the flavor was not. The noodles were also all over cooked and stuck together in one gelatinous brick. The sauce really didn't taste like anything. Maybe there wasn't enough of it? They definitely give you a huge portion chock full of noodles, but essentially it's just kind of going to waste :/ I've also had the hot basil beef and I remember that def being good!!! I think they use fish sauce in the mix so be careful if that's not your vibe! I like how they offer a mix of jasmine and wild rice. read more

Ordered some food to go and was severly disappointed. Pad See Ew- they put wayyy to much soy sauce it was too salty to even eat. Noodles weren't wide. Mango Sticky Rice - I havent seen it with purple rice but it was good, however for the mango they cut a bit too much into the seed and ever bite I would get strings stuck in my teeth. Wouldn't order from here again. read more

Tamarind Thai Restaurant - Pad See Ew Noodle - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Been going here for over 20+ years. Vegetarian dishes have always been superb. Inside very quaint.

Had the Jungle Stir-Fried Beef. DELICIOUS! The sauce was even slightly sweet. I gulped it down in minutes. So good. The price ( very affordable) made it even better. Service was also prompt and courteous. Will definitely go back! Highly recommend. read more

First time trying this place and it was good. They do not skimp on the portions. I got the panang curry and the pad see ew. Their panang curry was very flavorful. I really enjoyed it. Their pad see ew was good too, but it was more sweeter than what I'm usually used too. I didn't mind it after a few bites. read more

Tamarind Thai Restaurant - Panang Curry - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Hairs in the food, allergens in the wrong dishes, incorrect labeling. As pictured there were black hairs in multiple dishes. Ordered two pad Thai dishes, one very spicy, one very mild with no bean sprouts due to allergy. Received a very mild with bean sprouts labeled "spicy". Received a very spicy pad Thai with no bean sprouts. Even when ordering spiciness, it greatly varies depending on the day. What's going on here, definitely not following proper food handling. Can't go back, there are many other Thai options in east county. read more

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This restaurant is located in a small shopping center behind the Supercuts. Is fairly small inside and feels packed with how close the tables are to each other. The young lady who waited on us wasn't very personable BUT got our order right and took care of us adequately. All of us enjoyed our food. The Pad See reheated the next day really well. The Mixed Vegetables with Chicken was very good, I loved the broth. The Yellow Curry with Chicken was good and was generous with the chicken. Food was good, but ambiance/environment was not. Right before the food came out, one girl started cleaning the bathroom. It's super small inside so the whole restaurant was impacted with the strong smell of Fabuloso cleaner that was definitely not diluted enough. The smell was SO strong. A little later while we were eating, a woman goes to the windows and starts spraying them with cleaner....the mist was felt by all of us and the smell made it hard to eat. It was only like 7pm, I don't know why they'd clean such a small space with chemicals in spray bottles around where people are eating. I wouldn't like to eat there again based on how small it is and the overwhelming cleaning supply smells but would consider take out. read more

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Service: I placed a takeout order with them over the phone yesterday for dinner. The lady who helped me was quick and professional. Note: my review is solely for the food itself, because my partner picked up the food from the restaurant. We ordered quite a bit of food from here! I'll go over my thoughts for each below: What we liked: -The cream cheese wontons: the portion size was generous and they seasoned the cream cheese nicely with what tasted like green onions. -The Bangkok Duck: my partner said the duck was very flavorful. It came with two large thighs and he was only able to finish one. We saved the second one for lunch the next day. -the Thai tea: they steep their tea very strongly and they don't overpower the taste of the tea with too much sugar. I really liked their Thai tea. What could be improved: -The chicken satay: the flavor was great but the chicken was a dry compared to other Thai restaurants. However, the peanut sauce it came with was fantastic. - Pad Thai with tofu: I requested mild (level 2), but I didn't realize that would mean hardly any sauce or flavor. It was quite dry and the flavor was faint. Usually requesting mild does not impact the sauciness or flavor at other places. - Mango sticky rice: the rice itself had great flavor, but the mango was super sour. We enjoyed the food and their price points. I'll be back but I won't order the Pad Thai again. read more

Service was fast and friendly, the food was great and prices were very reasonable, especially considering the amount of leftovers we took home! read more

We tried Tamarind for the first time on Sunday, 3/23/2025, and wow--this place completely exceeded our expectations! We decided to grab some Thai food for our Sunday night ritual of watching The White Lotus, and it was the perfect choice. We ordered Pad See-Ew with Tofu (Medium Spicy), Pineapple Fried Rice with Tofu, Thai Spring Rolls, Panang Curry, and Jungle Stir-Fry--and let me tell you, this feast fed four of us with leftovers for days! The Panang Curry was unbelievably delicious, rich, and flavorful. Plus, they were super generous with the rice, which we really appreciated. Delicious food, great portions, and affordable prices? We're definitely coming back. If you love Thai food, this spot is a must-try! read more

We like this restaurant, but I suggest not ordering anything with peas. They dump a large portion of a big bag of frozen peas with tiny cubed carrots in the dish. Very unappetizing to me who was served those many times growing up! I want fresher food in my dish. I understand frozen peas, but those cubed frozen carrots are gross. read more

Great Thai restaurant! The food is delicious--highly recommend the red curry, it's so good! The tom yum soup is packed with flavor. Warm and welcoming place. read more

Tamarind Thai Restaurant - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

A modest Thai restaurant in La Mesa that serves some of the best Thai food I have ever tasted. It is currently my favorite place to eat. The yellow curry duck and beef eggplant are to die for. Every time my wife suggests this place for lunch or dinner. It puts a smile on my face. The restaurant isn't very big but it's clean and inviting. The service is very polite and timely. One of the advantages of the restaurant being small. The parking lot is also small but there is always spaces available. For those who like spicy food. The restaurant can vary the heat to your liking. From a ratio of one to ten. One being no heat at all with ten being extremely spicy. I am a lover of spicy food but I choose on the side of caution as I get older. So I choose an eight on the dishes I eat and luckily I don't have any adverse effects later. To me, the heat is intense at first but soon subsides after a bite of rice or a drink of my beer. It doesn't fully go away though. My burning lips reminds me the heat is no joke. Again a modest Thai restaurant that serves some the best Thai I have ever eaten. Currently my favorite place to eat. The restaurant can make their dishes as spicy as you want it. From mild to super spicy hot. Service is great and the restaurant decor is modest. I highly recommend this place for lunch or dinner. Support local businesses especially the good ones. This restaurant is amazing. Eat here. read more

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We don't know about others but salty and not real Thai food in our time. The other thing is regular Thai vegetables is not inside their foods. read more

Very disappointed, this was our first time here and our last. WE ordered 3 red curry soups. One was veggies only and the other two chicken and veggies. WE were up charged for extra veggies with the 2 chicken soups but there definitely was not extra. Mind you we did not ask for extra but noticed it on our receipt later at home. as the order was placed in the shop in person to go. So, there is the first issue and that wasn't okay. Next and more important the soup was awful I don't know who seasoned it or if they just made a mistake with what they put in it, but it was the worst red curry soup of my life, no joke. it was not even edible. we tried hard but it went to the trash. I will say that the one with veggies only and no chicken was not as awful, and we managed to eat that one until we waited for a pizza to be delivered. First and only visit there I don't have money to spend on food that is not edible:( read more

One of my favorite Thai restaurants! I always get the spicy noodles and Thai tea !!! Service was great and fast as well !

Food is great the staff is friendly! The restaurant has a warm friendly feel to it would definitely come back

The service and food is great here! Been wanting to try this place for awhile and it definitely didn't disappoint. The portions were great and the spicy level was ! Note to those who like a little less spice, the spice level is from 0-10. I got 5 as I like medium and it was great! We tried the fried won tons, golden bags, spicy noodles, spicy fried rice, and the pad thai. Even the ambiance was great as We tried their patio seating and it was a really lovely evening weather. It's next to a busy street but the street noise wasn't too bad as there is a retaining wall separating you from the street and you are sunken in, having to go down a few steps from street level. Overall, I definitely recommend this place! read more

This restaurant offers incredibly delicious food, and I highly recommend giving it a try. I opted for Thai cuisine for lunch and had it delivered. Since it was my first time trying Thai from this restaurant, I was uncertain about the portion size, taste, quality, and packaging. To my satisfaction, the food arrived fresh, hot, and was well-packaged. I ordered the Panang Curry with chicken and jasmine rice, and a side of cheese wontons. accompanied by cheese wontons. This meal was a burst of flavors, with lemongrass playing a prominent role in the curry. The level of spiciness was perfect for me since I ordered it mild, providing just the right amount of heat to savor. Packed with tender chicken, carrots, and a perfectly thickened curry sauce, this dish was not only filling but also incredibly satisfying. The cheese wontons, along with the dipping sauce, were equally delicious. I had leftovers, which I happily enjoyed later for dinner. Without a doubt, I'll be returning to explore more dishes on their menu. read more

Tamarind Thai Restaurant - Panang Curry with Chicken, so good! - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

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The curries and soups here are amazing. Panang curry is my favorite. It's rich and flavorful. Both the Tom yum and Tom kha are also really good. For noodles I'd recommend the spicy noodles. Each noodle dish is a dry noodle which I prefer. It's more about the spices and less sweet. Also the jungle stir fry if you're looking for super flavorful dish with a ton of veggies. The Tamarind team is very courteous and the food comes out hot and quick! It's a cute restaurant that does an amazing job with their food. read more

Tamarind Thai Restaurant - Spicy Noodles Panang Curry Mix Wild Rice - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

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I decided to come here for some spicy noodles per according to the reviews people recommended them. Unfortunately they were either sitting all mushy in a container or lacking flavor. I can't say I would return because the customer service was also lacking. I also tried the panang curry and some sticky rice with mango. Only reason I gave it a 3 stars is the panang curry was decent. Perhaps the cooks were stressed or tired and it showed in the food. read more

Loved how they had khao soi as not many places serve it in San Diego. The spice level for 'mild' was a bit more than I can handle as it wasn't that mild. Got a few good bites that were very delicious. Wouldn't mind going back but ordering in next time read more

Tamarind Thai Restaurant - Khao Soi, mango sticky rice and Thai Iced Tea - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

Always great food . I recommend the curries. Yellow and Masaman really good! Every order is constantly good and the staff is friendly and timely service . read more