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    Tara Thai Cafe

    4.0 (289 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Seafood, Noodles
    Open 10:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Happy hour specials
    Good for kids

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    Fried Banana
    Susan U.

    Casual & Friendly Version: I live just a short walk from Tara Thai and have been coming here for years. The same owner has been running it for as long as I can remember, and the food is always delicious! Everything tastes fresh and full of flavor. Whenever I crave for mango sticky rice or pad Thai, this is my fave spot. The staff are super friendly and make you feel right at home. It's so nice having a spot this good so close by -- great food, great service, and super convenient location. Definitely one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants!

    Chicken Satay...tough and stringy.

    We ordered several items. Something was definitely off with the chicken satay. Chicken meat looked strange. Like it was very shredded looking and very hard to chew. Flavor was off. Wondering if they use Lab created meat. It was that strange! Chicken in pineapple fried rice was normal and very good. I don't think we will order it again.

    Yellow chicken curry
    Evan F.

    Had the always great shrimp wonton soup tonight. Excellent placer and wonderful presentation. A real treat to start a meal.

    Thai Tea
    Marcus G.

    My absolute favorite thing on the menu has to be the Thai Tea - I treat myself to one every single week! Since I'm lactose intolerant, I always get mine made with coconut milk, and it's perfection in a cup. Recently I finally tried the Chicken Pad Thai for dinner, and wow - it was incredible! I went with chicken and bravely chose the spicy option... and I'm so glad I did. It had the perfect kick: noticeably spicy but never overwhelming, just enough heat to elevate every bite. The flavors were on point, and they give you such a generous portion - easily two meals for most people. But after a long day at work? Yeah... I demolished the entire thing in one sitting and have zero regrets. Highly recommend if you're craving Thai that actually delivers on flavor and spice! Shawna is the best!

    Pad Se-ew Noodles
    Kendal S.

    Our experience at Tara Thai Café was fantastic. First things first - the waitress. She was amazing and honestly stole the whole show. Her kindness carried the entire experience. Just good vibes all around from her. We started with two traditional drinks: you can't go wrong with a cold Sapporo and a little sake to set the tone. To start we ordered the Tom Yum soup with shrimp. Now listen, they have a large size on the menu, but pro tip: you can ask for a small portion, which is perfect if each person wants their own. The spice level? Perfect. The flavor? On point. And they don't skimp either - five big shrimp in there. I mean, I wouldn't have been mad if they threw in five more, but hey--beggars can't be choosers, lol. Next up: beef salad - SO FIRE. The beef was actually mad tender (which, let's be real, is rare sometimes). You could tell they took their time with it. WHEW. Respect. (My bad on no pics, that's how fire it was) Then the spring rolls came out. Now spring rolls are hard to mess up - and they didn't. Light, crisp, just how they should be. Finally, the main event: Pad See Ew. Some might say this is a Mount Rushmore dish when it comes to grading a Thai spot. And if this was a test? They passed with flying colors. It HIT. Honestly, everything did. Big fan of this place. Great food, great vibes, and a small, cozy setting just a few blocks from the beach. And shoutout again to our server - she was just amazing.

    Wonton Soup.
    Jennifer B.

    After spending a fun 4th of July lunch and brisk walk by the shore with a couple of fur babies, Hubbers and I agreed we should pick up food for dinner. (We were dog sitting and we didn't want to leave the pups home alone as one of them is terrified of fireworks - and we knew they're gonna be going off all night.) The first Thai place we went to was closed due to the holiday. This was next to check if they're open. Luckily, they were! Hubbers and I went through the menu and ended up with a list of goodies to order. He stayed in the car with the pups and I went in. The weirdest thing is no one was tending to this whole place. I figured they were at the back somewhere. I said a few hello's and no response. I half yelled, and still nothing. I even tried calling (yes! Their listed phone number!) and nobody answered. So, I walked out. But while walking out, a lady walked in apologizing for the wait. For a few quick seconds there, I debated if I should stay and order or just keep walking out... ... but the idea of not leaving the pups alone to get food (even more especially) for 4th of July won out. Since there were no customers, I assumed the wait wouldn't be that long, so I put the order in and as I expected, I was walking out in no time. WONTON SOUP: Broth was tasty and had depth. The wontons were full of flavor. The veggies were good sidekicks. We liked it. CRAB FRIED RICE: My favorite of the lot! They were very generous with the crab. Each bite was guaranteed a piece or at least a taste. The aroma was enticing. What I find kinda odd was a quarter slice of tomato beneath the whole thing. (It's a filler, I know.) Neither Hubbers or I ate it. Otherwise, this dish was a meal in itself. BEEF PANANG AND LARB SALAD: These were Hubbers' picks and I wasn't really in the mood for either. However, he said he liked them a lot. THAI CHICKEN BBQ: Chicken was pretty juicy and tasty. But it's comparable to other Thai places, it has that familiar and common taste. But I liked this as well. FOOD: 4. SERVICE: 2.5. Someone should always be manning the front, right? Another couple walked in a few minutes after i put my order in, and like my experience, no one was there to welcome them in. (That lady took off to the kitchen to put my order rollin', but she was still gone too long.) VALUE: 3.5. PARKING: Private lot. OVERALL: 3.25. Yes, everything had to be reheated, but they turned out really good anyway. I'd return, if only for the crab fried rice... yum!

    Exceptional Pad Thai

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    9 years ago

    Food is great!!! Loves that it is so close to the beach, very convenient and great service as well

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    Page 8 of 8

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    Quality Seafood

    Quality Seafood

    3.9
    (1.9k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Okay, first piece of advice... GET HERE EARLY! We got to Quality Seafood around 9:30 AM and there…read morewas already a line. By 11:30, every table was pretty much taken. So if you think you're going to casually stroll in around lunchtime and grab a table... good luck lol. Now for the important part -- the seafood! The crab was SO fresh and absolutely delicious. The oysters were a little pricey, not gonna lie, but they were definitely worth it. Everything tasted super fresh and you really can't beat sitting by the water eating fresh seafood. Overall, we had a great experience and I would definitely come back. Just remember: come hungry and COME EARLY!

    The good: fresh, flavorful seafood and great lunch/happy hour specials with a fantastic view. You…read morecan get a delicious, hearty cup of New England clam chowder and fish ceviche for $5/each. The pre-prepared dishes are served promptly. The bad: the food/order pick-up system for items that need to be grilled/fried is chaotic. You're given a number to pick up your order by the cashier and directed to the pick up window. There is someone assigned to the grill area and a different person handles the side dishes. There does not appear to be any system of communication between the two areas such that the protein is held under the heat lamp area until the other person adds the side dish (fries, coleslaw, etc) to complete the order. To make things even more chaotic, the staff does not consistently call out numbers when to food is ready for pickup. Instead, the customers crowd the pick up area calling out their own order numbers to see if it's ready. The staff is nice and they seem to try their best overall, but their current system needs to be improved.

    Photos
    Display
    Display
    $60 worth of my own pick of clams and mussels.
    $60 worth of my own pick of clams and mussels.
    Fried Colossal Shrimp

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    Fried Colossal Shrimp
    Salt & Pearl

    Salt & Pearl

    4.5
    (267 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$
    Family-owned & operated
    Takes reservations

    no notes! great service, cocktails, and food…read more Lily is a great server - super helpful, attentive at the tight moments, not pushy. Bartender was great and also very friendly, Gimlet was perfectly balanced citrus Cremant Brut was fantastic - a great value! Took advantage of the S&P Th night special for food and was very pleased. Ceasar Salad - delicious. great balance of dressing to lettuce. croutons a tad salty Seared Albacore - surprising amount of spice but very good, Creme Brulee Cheescake - such a nice, light cheesecake slice!

    I stumbled across this restaurant on social media, and the food looked amazing, so I decided to…read moregive it a try. We arrived around 7:30-7:45 PM without a reservation and were seated within about 15 minutes. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, and we decided to sit inside. The atmosphere was nice, and both our waitress and waiter were friendly and helpful. Overall, I thought the service was great. For drinks, I ordered the Karate Kid, upgraded with the handcrafted ice cube and smoked, and the White Lotus. The Karate Kid was excellent--very smooth and well balanced, and definitely my favorite of the 2. Unfortunately, the White Lotus was pretty underwhelming. It tasted like a watered-down sour drink, and I could barely taste the alcohol. We started with the Peruvian scallops and BBQ oysters. The scallops were one of the highlights of the night. They were served with a mango cube in each, which added a refreshing sweetness that paired surprisingly well with the scallops. The BBQ oysters, on the other hand, weren't really for me. The sauce and seasoning overpowered the natural flavor of the oysters, and I personally prefer preparations that allow the oyster itself to be the star. For our entrees, we ordered the short rib pappardelle, king crab roll, and New York strip. The short rib pappardelle was easily my favorite dish of the night. The short rib was incredibly tender, the pasta was cooked perfectly, and the flavors were rich without being overwhelming. Everything complemented each other really well. The New York strip was slightly more cooked than I would have preferred and a little salty, but it was still enjoyable. The king crab roll was decent, although I found it somewhat bland and wished it had a little more flavor. Overall, I had a really enjoyable experience. There were a few hits and misses, but the dishes that stood out were excellent, the service was great, and I thought the pricing was very reasonable for the overall experience. I would definitely come back and try more of the menu.

    Photos
    Nashville Style Chicken Sandwich
    Nashville Style Chicken Sandwich
    Seared Togarashi Encrusted Albacore
    Seared Togarashi Encrusted Albacore
    Key Lime Pie

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    Key Lime Pie
    Pacific Fish Center & Restaurant

    Pacific Fish Center & Restaurant

    3.5
    (686 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$

    A feast was to be had at the Pacific Fish Center & Restaurant conveniently located on the Pier!…read more My favorite is the fish soup, fried shrimp and fries as well as the small shrimp they sell by the pound. The restaurant is run by Koreans who really highlight the flavor of the seafood and they have been in the business for as long as I can remember. The crab is steamed with a side of butter and you can get Tabasco by request. I also recommend their Gochujang! They sell a really delicious and hearty fish soup that I would not skip out on. Definitely try the other side of the restaurant to get the Clam Chowder!

    So, the food here is fantastic. I mean, such an experience. The fish stew is best version of that…read moredish anywhere. I've had a tray of uni here. Honestly, I can't believe the low rating. It doesn't deserve it. So the service is not great, but that's because it's very busy. If you need to get in and out, this is not the place, but if you know what you're in for, enjoy the breakwater, and yummy eats. Yes, the food here is that good. Expensive, but really good. I always get the "large" size stew because leftovers are acceptable to bring home and they taste good. Also, the Haw Dwip Baap (sashimi binimbaap) is still really refreshing and good. So, I have a new rating system......I will be write what I feel honestly about an establishment. The only ratings I will give are 5 stars, which is enjoyable, or 3 stars which is "needs work."

    Photos
    The seats by the ocean
    The seats by the ocean
    Fresh shrimp
    Fresh shrimp
    I always take good photos.

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    I always take good photos.
    Sea Level Restaurant & Lounge

    Sea Level Restaurant & Lounge

    4.2
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$
    Casual dining
    Happy hour specials

    We had a great experience today. Esther J was our server and she went above and beyond to provide…read morean incredible dining experience. She was attentive, kind, noticed we needed shade and brought an umbrella over without us having to ask, took photos of our group, and really made our experience enjoyable. We will be back and will request her!

    My girlfriend and I celebrated our anniversary at Sea Level Restaurant & Lounge, and it was…read moreeverything we hoped for and more. From the incredible waterfront views to the amazing food and outstanding service, it made for the perfect date night. We started with the clam chowder and crab cakes, which were both fantastic. For our entrées, we had the Linguini Del Mar and the Petite Filet (added a side of peppercorn sauce), and every single bite was delicious. Everything was cooked perfectly, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. The highlight of the evening, though, was our server, Greg. He made us feel completely at home from the moment we sat down. His recommendations were spot on, he was attentive without ever being intrusive, and when my girlfriend got a little chilly on the patio, he even brought her a blanket without us having to ask. It's those thoughtful little touches that truly elevate an experience. As the sun began setting over the marina, Alison Brecht performed live acoustic music that created the most romantic atmosphere. She even took a couple requests, including mine and my girlfriend's favorite songs. Sitting outside by the fire table, enjoying an incredible meal while listening to live music and watching the boats in the harbor, felt like something out of a movie. It was the perfect backdrop for celebrating our anniversary. Sea Level exceeded every expectation we had. Between the outstanding food, exceptional service from Greg, beautiful waterfront views, and Alison Brecht's wonderful performance, this was one of the most memorable date nights we've had. We can't wait to celebrate here again. We will most definitely be back soon and could not recommend this lovely restaurant more if you're in the area !

    Photos
    Sea Level Restaurant & Lounge
    Sea Level Restaurant & Lounge
    Sea Level Restaurant & Lounge

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    Fishing With Dynamite

    Fishing With Dynamite

    4.5
    (2k reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    Was looking for a spot to eat at manhattan beach and based on my trusty yelpers reviews this seemed…read morelike the foodie spot to try. They weren't wrong. We started with the ceviche in Clamato with pieces of crab and avocado served with a delicious tortilla chips. I absolutely loved the flavor profile and couldn't get enough of the Clamato sauce. Then we moved to the weekend only special sea urchin, which Stephanie's parents personally bring down from Santa Barbara for weekend service. I'm usually indifferent at best to sea urchin, but this was excellent Then we shared the Jonah Crab Fusilli, another winner. I was driving, but hubby ordered a banhattan and it was another winner. They also have some beer and wine options as well as a full bar. Though very full by this point, just couldn't resist the pretzel bread pudding. The bread portion was crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside with a delicious salty caramel sauce. Served with a very smooth and delectable scoop of ice cream. There's indoor and outdoor seating. If you want to sit inside best to make a reservation. We did not have reservations, but were lucky to get outside seating. Service was fluid with different people coming around to ensure everything was tidy. Really enjoyed one of the staff, a young girl who cleared our table and delivered some of the dishes. Loved her chill surferish vibes.

    Great service. Cocktail was refreshing and yummy. Appetizers: pan seared scallops and chilled soba…read morenoodles were mouthwatering. BF luvd his Koshihkari rice dish with shrimp, blue crab and uni. So why only four stars?? My Chilean sea bass was overcooked: dry and not tender. The sauce and veggies saved the dish. But it would've been stellar if the sea bass was perfectly cooked. Gave this note to our server to pass along to the kitchen. Server comped us a free dessert. FWD: Fish should not be a miss for a seafood restaurant, especially when Chilean sea bass is a pretty forgiving fish to cook. Maybe it was one off???

    Photos
    Bar area.
    Bar area.
    Peruvian Scallops (chilled)
    Peruvian Scallops (chilled)
    Starters

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    Starters
    Redondo Beach Crab House

    Redondo Beach Crab House

    3.1
    (425 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$

    A lot of the reviews I've seen from here have been marked down due to the cost of the food - but…read morey'all... this is a beach front/pier side restaurant that is selling crab and other expensive seafood items... I feel like the cost (with the economy as it is) makes sense. It is expensive, yes, but the freshness and quality of the food is so delightful, it breaks my heart to see the ratings go down because of it. Like many people in the reviews, I grew up with this place in my childhood. I used to come with my family to dine here, and it used to be SOOO busy. Getting seated with our group back then (7+ people) used to be an ordeal, but it was worth it every time. The most recent time I had went was as a party of 4, with my family and my boyfriend. The service was so lovely and sweet, the servers made us feel welcome right away and sat us by the window so we could watch the waves and sunset as we ate. My mom ordered most of the food, so I couldn't tell you the names, but we got lots of crab and a spicy sea stew that was very delightful. It was my boyfriend's first time trying the stew and he said he would come back and bring his family to try just that on its own. There's a parking structure that's attached to the pier, so parking is very easy to find. If you go during the day time, there are other shops and bars open for you to peruse and enjoy, but by the time we had finished eating, most of the other places had closed up shop haha. I definitely recommend trying this place at least once; the food, service, and view make up for the price in my humble opinion. Though, I feel like if you'll make it a semi-regular stop once you find yourself in Redondo.

    Great location next to the beach on the pier seafood was fresh, but was lacking in flavor. Kids…read moredidn't like the hamburger. Good enough for a mothers day celebration at a cost of $3xx including mandatory tip, lucky we got their early. Service was good, but you can see they were short handed. Ordered the following. Overall not a fan. 2 Dungness Crabs = 3 star 1 Order Seafood soup but brought out fish soup instead = 2 star 1 Muscle Soup = 2 star 2 Hamburger and fries = 1 star 4 Rice = 4 star 1 Kim Chi side dish = 1 star

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Clam Chowder
    Clam Chowder
    Redondo Beach Crab House

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    Tara Thai Cafe - thai - Updated August 2026

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