Thai Star

Shrimp in a blanket are amazing and the service is great!! So many delicious options.read more

I love this place. Whenever I'm feeling sick and I just want soup I always think of this place. The…read morepho broth is so flavorful and warming. It was our first time getting the vegetables pad Thai but it was really good. The server asked us if we wanted it spicy and we didn't even know that was an option. Our server is really kind. She's there every time we go and we never seen or heard an issue. We also DoorDash from there occasionally. The Thai wings are also very delicious especially paired with sticky rice and their chili oil!

Dining room

Pad See ew

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Red curry with shrimp

Thai Cuisine II

3.3(393 reviews)

1.3 mi

I've been here a couple of times and I always order chicken pho and spring rolls. The chow main is…read morealso good, flavorful and it has a good portion! I tried 2 alcohol beverages from the bar (I'm not sure if it operates separately) I think one of them was a Moscow mule and it was very very strong. Then I had a Paloma which wasn't very good.

This restaurant has been a family favorite since they opened. There is usually a good dinner crowd…read moreand they have plenty of meals that are drool worthy. The only reason I gave it 4/5 stars is because some days the Pad Thai is amazing and others the tofu is old and hard. Worth the gamble though.

Pineapple fried rice

Thai salad

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Spring roll appetizer

Bangkok Thai Restaurant

4.0(250 reviews)

1.2 mi

Incredible food! Got the green curry which was delicious and well seasoned. Great eggplant which is…read morehard to cook right. could benefit from some lighting/ambiance changes but don't let that stop you from trying it!

Okay, so the ambiance could use a little work, but this was the best green curry I have ever had…read more This place is amazing! But you might consider takeout

The restaurant

Chicken Pad Thai

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Coconut Cafe

4.2(261 reviews)

1.9 mi

Great service, great food! Thank Yelp for another great…read morerecommendation! We couldn't wait to wait to eat, thus photo is after we chowed down. Food had great flavors and portion were good. -Thai fried rice: shrimp, calamari, scallops -Pad see ew: sliced beef, fat rice noodles and American broccoli stir fried with a lightly sweet soy sauce. -BBQ beef, large portion, side of cucumbers and rice. Location HIDDEN in backside of business center next to Indonesian grocery store. Plenty of parking. Ambiance

I went to dine at coconut cafe and I was incredibly impressed with the entire experience. The…read moreservice was excellent and everyone was very nice, attentive, and our food came out pretty quickly. The food tasted great, fresh, and unique. We finished every last bite and can't wait to come back to try more things on the menu, thanks!

The seating.

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Inside

Houa Khong Restaurant

3.9(144 reviews)

1.5 mi

Food and Ambiance was both authentic. Portions were huge! Service was attentive…read more I got the green curry lunch special. It was hot and went well with the rice. The drunken noodles were too wet. The tomatoes might have added too much water. The combination pho was nice, the broth had a little sweetness. Thai basil would have made it better. The spring rolls were a tasty snack on the road.

Best home food in Merced. Food is authentic, I ordered Lao Papaya and raw beef Larb. I always stop…read moreby here when I visit relatives. Parking is good, space is big for a party of 10 or lower. I always to go it but the cashier person was friendly. I definitely recommend this place.

Back room dining area

Spicy wings with sauce on the side

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Thai Cuisine

4.0(141 reviews)

1.3 mi

Came here for dinner on a Sunday and it wasn't too busy. Ordered the fresh spring rolls (a bit…read morepricy) and spicy green beans (rice not included). Bf got the pad kee mow which had good spicy flavor. Green beans were lightly cooked which I requested. They were good, but missing some flavor. Server was nice and ambiance was fine. Prices ok. Located in a small strip mall with small lot.

We got vegan pad kee mow and vegan pad khing tofu…read more The vegan pad khing tofu comes with tofu, mushroom, ginger, onion, garlic, and bell pepper. I really liked this dish. We got steamed rice to pair. Next I tried the vegan pad kee mow and especially after the previous dish, the spice level on this really hit! I would say it's definitely on the spicier of spicy side. My partner eventually got hit halfway through the dish where the spice really started accumulating. Both were very delicious though! We came in on 4th of July for lunch and it was very busy. There was just one server so there was a bit of a longer wait for us to order after we were seated, but I could see how busy she was, seating people, checking out their bills, answering the phone, serving dishes, and handling takeout orders. Eventually towards the second half of our meal, a second server arrived. Empty tables got cleared much faster. We were just passing through Merced so very glad to have found this Thai spot with yummy vegan options as opposed to resorting to some unhealthy fast food. I recommend!

Inside

Pad Thai, Thai Tea

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Crab Rangoon

Yummy Thai

4.1(96 reviews)

3.3 mi

The food was great! Service was fast and friendly. Hole in the wall find in Atwater Ca!read more

This is one of my go to restaurants when visiting my family. Food is amazing as always. Our go to's…read moreare steak salad, thai boat, raw larb w/ sticky rice, and pad see ew. I'd say this place is like a hole in the wall. It's small inside and super glad they installed an AC unit. Before, they had a portable AC which did not keep cool inside. Service can be a hit or miss depending on who is working that day. We've had wonderful servers who checked up on us regularly making sure our water was filled as well as making sure our needs were met. This is the place I would always recommend to my friends and family.

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Sam Cafe

4.1(490 reviews)

1.6 mi

Our family went to Sam's Café tonight. The staff were very friendly and the food was delicious. I…read morehad the Pad Thai and we shared the imperial roles. The imperial rolls were great! So was the pad Thai, several family members had other dishes and we were all pleased with our choices. It will be a place that we visit again!

Wonderful food at a great price nice atmosphere friendly Staff great service. Clean nice portionsread more

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Orange juice

Noah's Vietnamese Fusion Cuisine

4.1(493 reviews)

1.5 mi

Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that…read moretomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today -- Thich Nhat Hanh Driving into a Central Valley town around 8 means you are hopeful to find a decent place to eat at, regardless of the hardship you might endure ;-) Noah's was an excellent find! Open later, in a decent area, with friendly service. Nd absolutely amazing pricing!! We got spring rolls, shaken beef, chicken satay and a salad for $37 dollars plus $9 tip. Oh, and that was with a Diet Coke too. Insanity. Food was very good with the favorite being the $12 shaken beef. A nice sauce, again at that stupid good price. This place is huge! I think a pizza joint in the past. Large screen tv and a consistent take out business. Street or alley parking. Food is probably 4+ stars but the pricing gets them a five!! Highly recommended in Merced.

Wow I forgot how good and cheap Noah's was. The service is always excellent and you get your food…read morefairly quick. The spring rolls are perfect and only $6 you can't beat that. The banh mi is my favorite in Merced. The meat is flavorful and all the veggies taste so fresh. I had never tried the shaking beef before, but I loved it. The meat was so tender, the rice was perfectly cooked, and the salad brought some freshness to the dish. The restaurant is pretty large and quiet so perfect for a quick dinner.

Large pho

Dining area

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Pork Sandwich

Houa Khong 2

4.1(176 reviews)

1.1 mi

It's a nice little place…read more Awesome customer service. Staff was welcoming and warm. Crispy Pork Belly - So delicious and satisfying! Also, the plate look exactly like the online image; so its not false advertisement. Red Curry - my husband really like it Kao Piak (thick rice noodle soup/ aka Vietnamese udon) - delicious! Thai Tea - love it I found this on Google and the way home from out of town. I was attracted by all the beautiful food photos on Google maps. Glad I picked this restaurant. If you haven't eaten here, I highly recommend you give it a try.

We used to come here all the time, but they're under new management now. There's plenty of parking…read more They're located at the corner, so it's easy to get to from G Street, E Donna Drive, and/or E Yosemite Ave. Food is just as good as it was prior. Staff is nice. The place is clean. Nevertheless, it's a small spot though, so there's limited seating available. Better for a small lunch/dinner, but probably won't accomodate an extra large group. The food is fresh and made to order. It's your typical Laos/Thai spot. My son's favorite is the Satay Chicken. We used to be a huge fan of the coconut water because it was as fresh and came with coconut bits, but under new management, they just handed us a can of coconut water you can easily buy at the Hmong Store in town AND without pulp. Unfortunately, that was a bit disappointing. Regardless, overall, food, service, and location took the cake so seeing as this was not our first time here, it also won't be our last.

Coming inside everything's new, nice and clean

Red curry with Shrimp

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Shrimp salad

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14 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

K P.

0

3

0

11 years ago

Thai Star on the corner of G St and Alexander Ave in Merced is a true Shining Star for not only their incredibly authentic and enjoyable Thai meals, but for their charming dining environment and how truly professional, courteous and caring the owners truly are. IF you need to eat Gluten Free, I highly suggest going to Thai Star! They will go out of their way to tell you which menu items they can modify in order to help ensure it is free of gluten & wheat so you can trust and really enjoy your meal. I was able to bring my own gluten free tamari soy sauce to help season the dish more and she was so kind to do that for me. They even take phone orders for you to pick up and always made with extra care and the highest quality. read more

Mary G.

0

8

0

15 years ago

The food was very low caliber and they got my order wrong. The folks who run the place are nice but the other Thai places in town do a much better job on the food. Sad because I wanted to love this place which is just around the corner from where i live. And the ambiance? This is just a strip mall store front with a visible kitchen and no homogeneous decor. This is the kind of place that needs rocking food to be worth it, and the food just doesn't cut it. read more

TIDA D.

0

1

0

17 years ago

thai star seats 40. it isn't overly decorated but it is very clean and well lit. they treat you like long lost friends when you arrive, while you dine, and when you leave. best thai food i've had since thailand. it's not americanized. authentic and always..let me emphasize..always..good food. portions are huge and prices are much lower than fancy places that serve me attitude and i never know if the same dish is gonna taste the same next time. read more

Laura M.

1

10

0

3 years ago

I ordered the Pad Thai and it was an absolute delight. The noodles were perfectly cooked, and the balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors was spot on. The portions are generous, ensuring you leave with a satisfied palate. read more

Isaac V.

39

5

0

9 years ago

Have gone to Thai Star 3 years now. They always make the best thai food in Merced and they happily make my order vegan. I recommend their curries, pad thai, and garden rolls (their peanut sauce is the best). read more

Maria H.

0

4

0

3 years ago

The green curry here is for sure a must-try. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff is attentive. I'm so stoked I found this place, and I'll be coming back for more tasty Thai dishes. read more

TerceS A.

0

217

911

1 year ago

3/24/2025, I ordered a few grocery dishes for my lunches next week. It's a 'Star' decision same as when I ordered here during 2024. read more

Nicky G.

0

2

0

10 years ago

Their pineapple rice is amazing. I can never get tired of it. The water is fresh, and the owners are very friendly.

Veronica M.

49

9

0

4 years ago

Get the sampler and the they are amazing and the quality of food is the best you can tell it's all homemade!

Jazmin C.

0

4

7

2 years ago

Delicious food best Thai place in Merced ! Very fast as well . They have great customer service too

Matt S.

33

5

2

15 years ago

Great service, great food- good price. Third visit and very consistent! We will be back!

Kim Y.

0

3

0

4 days ago

The orange chicken here has to be one of the very best I've had. Must try. A hidden gem.

Maxamillian D.

0

5

0

3 years ago

The food takes too long to get here and the food is terrible. That's all I have to say.

Stacey J.

0

13

0

13 years ago

its small but, the food is very good..... We go back and back

Thai Star - thai - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Thai Star also viewed

Thai Cuisine

4.0

(141 reviews)

Came here for dinner on a Sunday and it wasn't too busy. Ordered the fresh spring rolls (a bit…read morepricy) and spicy green beans (rice not included). Bf got the pad kee mow which had good spicy flavor. Green beans were lightly cooked which I requested. They were good, but missing some flavor. Server was nice and ambiance was fine. Prices ok. Located in a small strip mall with small lot.

We got vegan pad kee mow and vegan pad khing tofu…read more The vegan pad khing tofu comes with tofu, mushroom, ginger, onion, garlic, and bell pepper. I really liked this dish. We got steamed rice to pair. Next I tried the vegan pad kee mow and especially after the previous dish, the spice level on this really hit! I would say it's definitely on the spicier of spicy side. My partner eventually got hit halfway through the dish where the spice really started accumulating. Both were very delicious though! We came in on 4th of July for lunch and it was very busy. There was just one server so there was a bit of a longer wait for us to order after we were seated, but I could see how busy she was, seating people, checking out their bills, answering the phone, serving dishes, and handling takeout orders. Eventually towards the second half of our meal, a second server arrived. Empty tables got cleared much faster. We were just passing through Merced so very glad to have found this Thai spot with yummy vegan options as opposed to resorting to some unhealthy fast food. I recommend!

Thai Cuisine II

3.3

(393 reviews)

I've been here a couple of times and I always order chicken pho and spring rolls. The chow main is…read morealso good, flavorful and it has a good portion! I tried 2 alcohol beverages from the bar (I'm not sure if it operates separately) I think one of them was a Moscow mule and it was very very strong. Then I had a Paloma which wasn't very good.

This restaurant has been a family favorite since they opened. There is usually a good dinner crowd…read moreand they have plenty of meals that are drool worthy. The only reason I gave it 4/5 stars is because some days the Pad Thai is amazing and others the tofu is old and hard. Worth the gamble though.

Yummy Thai

4.1

(96 reviews)

The food was great! Service was fast and friendly. Hole in the wall find in Atwater Ca!read more

This is one of my go to restaurants when visiting my family. Food is amazing as always. Our go to's…read moreare steak salad, thai boat, raw larb w/ sticky rice, and pad see ew. I'd say this place is like a hole in the wall. It's small inside and super glad they installed an AC unit. Before, they had a portable AC which did not keep cool inside. Service can be a hit or miss depending on who is working that day. We've had wonderful servers who checked up on us regularly making sure our water was filled as well as making sure our needs were met. This is the place I would always recommend to my friends and family.

Houa Khong Restaurant

3.9

(144 reviews)

Food and Ambiance was both authentic. Portions were huge! Service was attentive…read more I got the green curry lunch special. It was hot and went well with the rice. The drunken noodles were too wet. The tomatoes might have added too much water. The combination pho was nice, the broth had a little sweetness. Thai basil would have made it better. The spring rolls were a tasty snack on the road.

Best home food in Merced. Food is authentic, I ordered Lao Papaya and raw beef Larb. I always stop…read moreby here when I visit relatives. Parking is good, space is big for a party of 10 or lower. I always to go it but the cashier person was friendly. I definitely recommend this place.

Houa Khong 2

4.1

(176 reviews)

It's a nice little place…read more Awesome customer service. Staff was welcoming and warm. Crispy Pork Belly - So delicious and satisfying! Also, the plate look exactly like the online image; so its not false advertisement. Red Curry - my husband really like it Kao Piak (thick rice noodle soup/ aka Vietnamese udon) - delicious! Thai Tea - love it I found this on Google and the way home from out of town. I was attracted by all the beautiful food photos on Google maps. Glad I picked this restaurant. If you haven't eaten here, I highly recommend you give it a try.

We used to come here all the time, but they're under new management now. There's plenty of parking…read more They're located at the corner, so it's easy to get to from G Street, E Donna Drive, and/or E Yosemite Ave. Food is just as good as it was prior. Staff is nice. The place is clean. Nevertheless, it's a small spot though, so there's limited seating available. Better for a small lunch/dinner, but probably won't accomodate an extra large group. The food is fresh and made to order. It's your typical Laos/Thai spot. My son's favorite is the Satay Chicken. We used to be a huge fan of the coconut water because it was as fresh and came with coconut bits, but under new management, they just handed us a can of coconut water you can easily buy at the Hmong Store in town AND without pulp. Unfortunately, that was a bit disappointing. Regardless, overall, food, service, and location took the cake so seeing as this was not our first time here, it also won't be our last.

New Hong Kong

3.4

(73 reviews)

We've been wanting to try this place and we finally got the chance a few weeks ago. I've seen and…read moreheard mixed reviews. We went on a Friday evening and it was moderately busy. When we got there, we were seated pretty quickly. The menu is pretty expansive so it definitely feels overwhelming at first with the amount of options. My boyfriend and I figured we can pick a couple appetizers and get separate combination plates which would allow us to try a little bit of everything. For appetizers, we ordered: Steamed bbq pork buns Popcorn chicken For combination plates, we ordered: #H fried shrimp, pork fried rice, and Mongolian beef over noodles #D orange chicken, pork fried rice, and beef and broccoli over noodles The food was decent. I liked the fried shrimp and orange chicken. Boyfriend liked the Mongolian beef and beef and broccoli. We both also liked the popcorn chicken. The steamed bun was pretty generic. Lots of food and more than enough for 2 people. Definitely prefer and recommend this over getting Panda Express. Staff was friendly. The older gentleman with glasses was really nice. Some of the tables needed to be cleaned better. There were flies inside and one of the staff was just hitting them with a swatter as people ate. Food didn't seem very appetizing after seeing that. Overall, it's an okay establishment. I would go here over Panda Express. However, next time, I might order to go but that's pretty much it.

Super impressed by the great tasting food and the friendly staff. Definitely on my list of favoritesread more

Thai Cuisine

3.5

(65 reviews)

Food was savory and, from my experience, authentic. Some Chinese dishes offered too. Service was…read moreprompt and courteous. Space was open and comfortably lit. A relaxed midweek dinner; will be back. :)

BEWARE OF THIS PLACE THE FOOD AND SERVICE!!! My experience was rude disrespectful and disgusting!!!…read more I took both of my daughters here after school to get mango sticky rice to go, and they also ordered noodles. Unfortunately, this turned into a terrible experience. As we were driving home, my daughter started eating her mango sticky rice and said, "Mommy, there's a long hair in my rice." I looked and saw a long black hair cooked into the rice. Before touching anything, I took a picture of it. I immediately turned around and went back to the restaurant. I told the woman at the counter that there was a hair in my daughter's rice. She responded, "This has never happened before." I told her, "Well, it happened this time." She then said she couldn't see the hair. The restaurant was so dark that I had to turn on the flashlight on my phone just to show it to her. I eventually pulled the hair out of the rice myself and handed it directly to her. She took the hair from my hand and went toward the back. Another woman came out and said she didn't see any hair. I explained that the first woman had already taken the hair from my hand. When I asked for a refund, I was told that I couldn't get one because my daughter had already eaten some of the rice. I explained that she had to eat some of it in order to discover the hair that was cooked into it. My other daughter kept her food, and I even said I would accept a partial refund. The woman continued arguing with me about the refund. I told her this was bad customer service and that if they are preparing and serving food, they need to make sure hair isn't getting into customers' meals and should be wearing proper hair restraints. I then told her that I had a picture of the hair while it was still cooked into the rice and could show it to her. That is when she finally decided to give me my refund. While giving me the refund, instead of apologizing, she proceeded to tell me to get out of the restaurant, never come back again, and that she was going to call the police on me. I couldn't believe the way this was handled. Finding a hair cooked into my daughter's food was bad enough. But denying what I was showing them, taking the actual hair from my hand and then acting as though there was no hair, refusing the refund until I mentioned that I had photographic proof, and then threatening to call the police while telling me never to return was completely unacceptable customer service. Mistakes can happen in any restaurant. What matters is how a business handles them. A simple apology and refund would have ended the situation immediately. I have the picture of the hair cooked into the rice. We definitely will not be returning.

New China Cafe

3.5

(163 reviews)

Had the almond chicken combination, I shared it with my friend. Food coma. I attached the nee menu…read more9/21/25 for your review. I decided to order it since I was running errands, good service.b

0 Stars - Absolutely Disgusting Experience…read more I ordered the broccoli and beef combination at New China Cafe and found a roach in my food. Yes, an actual roach. When we told the staff, no one apologized, acted concerned, or took responsibility. We didn't pay for that plate, obviously, but the lack of apology or customer service made the situation even worse. Unfortunately, we didn't get a picture, but trust me -- there was a roach in the food. This was one of the most unacceptable dining experiences I've ever had. I will never be returning, and I strongly recommend others stay away.

Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant

3.7

(75 reviews)