This place was recommended for having the best Pad Thai in Seattle. Those were strong words so of course I had to come and check this place out. We were a group of five and had to wait about 20 minutes for a seat. The vibe is intimate yet casual. We all sat at the counter and seemed to be comfortable enough. I will say for a plus size lady, after a bit, that stool was not comfortable & I did keep readjusting. But I didn't come for comfort, I came for food. We ordered tom kha, Tom yum soup, spring rolls, fried tofu, Panang curry, pad thai, basil chicken, drunken noodles and pad see ew. Where I messed up is that I was the one who ordered Pad Thai. It was good. Really good. Not sure I would give it the title of the greatest I have ever had. But definitely solid and satisfying. What was the real star here was the drunken noodles and pad see ew. They were both so incredibly satisfying. You could smell the wok on the noodles. And that is the best way for it to be. You should be able to smell and have the flavor of the high heat of the wok and the slight char on the noodles. It im permeates the dish to levels that make it one of the most traditional and authentic experiences you can have. The curry definitely was delicious as well. All the flavors balanced - spicy, slightly sweet, umami, salt and perfectly creamy and the level 3 was a good heat. Not hot but a nice consistent mellow heat that stayed with you through the whole dish. Another favorites were the soup. The Tom Kha was mind blowing delicious. Rich and slightly creamy but tangy and salty and slightly sweet. Oh my, just now thinking about the soup has me wanting more again. And the Tom Yum soup - the best hot and sour soup. One thing that is apparent here, is this place knows how to balance their flavors. Thai dishes have to be perfectly balanced to be done correctly and here is where they do that. The tofu and egg rolls were just as good. For me, the dipping sauce for the fried tofu is 100% what makes that dish. As mentioned earlier, my pause for 4 stars is the portions on the noodle dishes are slightly on the small side. You get rice for filler and I could do without the rice and just have more of my actual noodle dish. As others mentioned, it's cash only. They will be sure to let you know. I squandered back and forth on a 4 star vs. 5 star rating here but not one single soul from our dining party, can stop thinking about those dishes. They were superior in every way. If you see me here and I have several plates in front of me, don't judge me - join me. We should all be enjoying this amazing food together. read more

See all

Service etiquette and food. They gave us basil fried rice without basil and when I pointed it out, he kept a plate of fresh basil and said we could add if we wanted to. When the dinner came to the table, I asked for plates.... It was dispensed and rudely ignored and finally I got myself two plates from their stash! This place is super busy with LOT of takeout orders... wish they had given us the same dine-in service. read more

I can't tell you enough how much I love this place. It's my absolute favorite Thai spot to eat at in Washington because of the price and how they make their Pad Thai! It's the perfect amount of sweet and spicy for me, with something I never knew I needed before, that little hint of flames. LOVE IT‼ Please keep it up, this place was a game changer for me on Pad Thai read more

Used to be a favorite spot for us but we left disappointed last time. Prices are now similar to a family size portion and my pad thai had very few noodles. read more

I wouldn't venture to say this is the worst pad see ew I've ever had, but it's easily bottom 3. Dry noodles, dry chicken, hardly any carrots or greens, no broccoli, barely any sauce, a really odd sour taste as if something was off, and for some reason they thought adding a big scoop of dry white rice was a good idea. I also got a thai iced tea which was overly sweet and hardly drinkable. $18 all in and a total waste of money. Still having nightmares about this meal. My tongue is going to need therapy before I can order pad see ew or thai iced tea again. I am highly suspicious of anyone claiming this is the "best Thai food in Seattle." Like, really? Have you ever had Thai food before?? I've already written too much. Yuck. There's several way better Thai food options around. Hard pass. read more

Thai Tom - Supposed to be pad see ew, yuck, avoid - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Bare bones with a front seat to the sauté pan action. The pace is frenetic with burners on high and lots of flame. Food slides out the pan, into a plate in front of you. Currie rice, drunken noodles and fried tofu were consumed quickly. Perhaps too quickly as the urge to nap quickly followed. Guilty street goodness. read more

I was excited to come back to this place after so many years. The spicy noodles were okay, I wished it was not as salty especially since it didn't come with rice like some of their other dishes. The Tom Kha Gai soup was rich and flavorful. The dishes came out quickly and we got our bill immediately. It's worth noting that they only accept cash and have limited seating, so plan accordingly. Overall, a solid 4-star experience for great Thai cuisine in a quaint setting. read more

Thai Tom - Tom kha with chicken was good - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Thai Tom has been around for a long time! I always get the Pad Thai Chicken and the best part is the taste of the wok in the noodles. There is just that tiny bit of crisp on the noodles and that wok-fired goodness. The Pad See Ew Chicken is also amazing. When it's a nice summer day I pick up some noodles and eat it out at UW. The shop is small but cozy with seating. The workers are fast and I usually call in my order if I'm taking out. It is cash only so come prepared. read more

Phad Thai (prawn) has good flavor but I was told at the ordering time that it is 15.xx but when it's time to pay; it turned out to be 17xx (but I still give tip on top of that) so my Phad Thai was close to $20 !! (Very different price from what showing in the online menu!!) First I almost didn't get any changes for my 20!! ... Just be careful!! read more

Come here if you want the best possible versions of the American Thai restaurant staples. The wok fire flavor is heads and tails better than any other Thai place around. You don't come to have a leisurely meal, or because you want beer, or with a group. Don't get take out, since your food loses that wok crispness and continues to steam and cook in its plastic carton. Be prepared (in winter at least) to sit near an open door. Think of it kind of like if a street food stall that has some very limited seating. Bring your own water bottle so you don't have to buy a plastic bottle of water. read more

A consistent presence in the U District since 1994, I first became familiar with Thai Tom when I moved to Seattle nearly two decades ago. That said, I hadn't been in a few years--I hadn't been in the U district much in that period--and really started to think of the place a lot after Tom, the place's namesake, had passed away a couple of years ago. Finally, I made it back in. I was seeing a show over at the Grand Illusion Theater around the corner, so popped in for a meal beforehand. I had the Panang Curry with chicken--you can choose 1-5 stars for heat, 5 being Thai hot, so I went for 4--and it was scrumptious, just like I remembered it. It went well with a Thai Iced Tea that I got to accompany it. Out the door for about $20 (including tip). I liked it so much that I went back in for lunch the next week and ordered exactly the same thing! Note: this place is cash only. Be sure to hit your bank before coming by. Also note: at lunch time, especially when UW is in session, a line can form before the place even opens. There are a tiny number of seats in the place, not more than 15, so once all the seats are taken at 11:30 or so, you'll have to wait for the first wave of patrons to finish and exit before you can get a seat. You may be in for a protracted wait if you don't make that first wave! read more

We saw them featured on local TV recently and decided to try them for dinner. It's a small place with an open kitchen where you can watch your food being built. We got there around 8pm on a Monday and where seated immediately. We got Panang curry with Chicken, and Shrimp Pad Thai. I loved the pad thai, very tasty and with the right amount of spice, I picked 4 as the spice level. I was asked if I wanted rice with pad thai, and chose not to get rice. Chicken Panang curry was very good. read more

Thai Tom - Shrimp pad thai - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Decided to stop by here after walking around University of Washington. I came here back in 2011 and loved it and wanted to share it with my husband. The service was good. The restaurant is super tiny so I wouldn't suggest going here in a. If group. I believe it's 3+ tables that can fit a couple of people and a handful of seating at the bar where you can watch them cook your meal. We ordered fried egg rolls, pad see ewe, and either the drunken chicken or a curry (knowing us probably the green curry). I honestly can't remember what the last dish was. Everything tasted pretty average to most Thai places I've been to, and I've been to a lot since I love Thai food. My biggest gripe about this place is the amount of food you get. The portions are small and on top of that it makes it look like they're trying to make it look bigger by putting rice with it. I've just never been to a Thai restaurant where my pad see ewe came with rice. If I remember correctly, you also have to pay for water. Overall, it was quite a letdown for me and my husband was not impressed at all. read more

See all

I usually get pad Thai but wanted to try the drunken noodles spicy level 3 and they were perfect! My fiancé got the pad see you and absolutely devoured it. Seeing the food being prepared was great, lots of flames and skills to be found. Wonderful read more

See all

I was craving for a Thai food and my new favorite place, Amazing Thai wasn't open until 5pm. So I decided to go back to my old favorite place and I was disappointed to say the least. First the portion size used to be tiny and I learned today from they add more rice to Phad Thai orders to compensate and cover up the portion size. Second, the taste isn't the same, it was so burnt that I didn't even enjoy it at all. Third, they don't take any cards and only accept cash which is very inconvenient, not to mention the parking. All in all, it's safe to say that I will never come back again. read more

Thai Tom - Phad thai - half of the portion is plain rice, what a robbery - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A small staff and a small space with a big heart. The prices lie well below what you'll find elsewhere in Seattle. The chef has 4 fired woks going at once and the speed and intensity with which they move is majestic. My pad thai at level 2 packed a surprising amount of heat. read more

Thai Tom - Open kitchen - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

You can tell the food is going to be good when there's a long line waiting outside to get food. The service was pretty quick once we sat down. Ordered while we were waiting outside. The tom yum soup was the best I've ever had! read more

Came here based on recommendations given for 'the best Thai' in Seattle and according to UW students and locals Thai Tom was definitely mentioned the most. Came here and ordered their pad Thai and swimming Rama which is chicken cooked in a peanut sauce served over rice and spinach. I think what's unique about Thai Tom is that they cook it in huge woks until their is a charred flavor in their food. So good, their pad Thai wasn't too sweet and tasted like it was made in Thailand, it felt more authentic than the rest. The swimming rama was super flavorful and perfect for peanut sauce lovers. Definitely my new Thai spot in Seattle! read more

Thai Tom - Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

why does the portions looks so stingy? Like I use to go here in 2001 and the portions were massive. I LOVED you then. Like WTF Thai tom? you raised your prices but the portions don't seem to match your pricing???? read more

Sad news today, I was told Tom is no longer with us. This is hands down my favorite Thai restaurant of all time & today it still is. Tom's legacy lives on. I was hoping to see him today but I was told he passed away a few years ago . The servers are always so nice and shared with me about Tom's passing which was much appreciated. Even though this is a hole in the wall, it's my favorite hole in the was and favorite place to eat in the U-District. The food was excellent as always and they always get my three star spice level just right. But, I haven't been here since before the Pandemic started and am so glad they survived it. The dishes they serve food in dishes they use, looks a little different but the taste is as great as it ever was. I usually order Swimming Rama and the Pad Thai but the first time I visited over 20 years ago, Tom suggested ordering the Drunken Noodles and I'm happy I followed his advice. I'll have to order it again the next time I visit. My daughter who I brought here for the first time when she was a teenager, loved the Yellow Curry and still has fond food memories of this place. She was jealous when I told her I visited without her but was happy for me too since she lives in Illinois now. Every time, and I mean every time, I'm in the U-District, I make a point of visiting here for great food Thai food. I'm so glad Tom's legacy lives on into the next generation for my fellow foodies to enjoy. Rest in peace my friend Tom. read more

Honestly I don't see the hype with this place. First you have to wait 15-30 minutes to get inside. Once seated at the counter you're elbow to elbow with a complete stranger. I ordered the pad Thai and it had good flavor, but it wasn't big enough to feed a small child. Really disappointed in the portion size for the price. I was warned that they only accept cash, which is silly in this day and age. Overall it was a underwhelming experience that left me hungry. read more

Thai Tom - Baby sized pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love Thai food, but I'm usually limited to curries as the only gluten free items on the menu. When I walked by and asked one of the employees if they had gluten free options, she gladly responded, "Yes!" She added that they only take cash, so I just walked to the Chase ATM on the corner and came back. The same employee explained that they have a gluten free sauce and any of their dishes could be made gluten free. She asked if the shrimp paste would be fine, so I agreed, and I had a very freshly made Drunken Noodle dish just minutes after I ordered. It was fun to watch the chef/cook in his zone with all the woks going at once. My food was delicious and just as spicy as I hoped it would be (I got 3 out of 5 stars). The Thai iced tea was good, too. My total came to just under $20, which was less than I've spent at other Thai places with food that wasn't quite as good. I'll definitely have this place in mind when I'm back for a visit! read more

See all

I am from Seattle, and been going to Thai Tom for many years, since back in the day when Tom was still cooking :) I've traveled a lot, and I'm always in a hurry lol! So I'm always looking for quick, get in and get out fast kind of spots... Even though when I'm there I'm basking in the glow of how good the food is here, and how it's prepared right in front of you! There is a cool sit down wrap around counter, that is cozy enough to share conversation with others if they are also in the mood :) I always get the same thing at Thai Tom... Penang Chicken, 3 Star and Thai Ice Tea, all for under 25.00, but they do only accept CASH, so you def will want to be prepared for that! I own a business across the street Innervisions, and most of the time after I put my order in, they will just deliver it to me... right across the street :) Everyone at Thai Tom is super chill, and sometimes they do close at certain times, for a short break! So maybe be mindful of that also :) I can't recommend Thai Tom enough! A Seattle treasure for sure! read more

Had amazing panang curry - Chicken at this location. I love when the food is served piping hot and really feels like an authentic experience sitting in the small shack ! read more

Food here is great. Flavorful Thai food without feeling overly greasy after. Seating is not the most comfortable at the tables (high chairs, low tables) but sitting at the bar is fun bc you get to watch the kitchen. Today we got the Phad see you again and the basil chicken. Portions aren't the biggest BUT pricing is decent compared to other Thai places on the ave on top of the smoky/spicy flavors. About service: The first time I came here four years ago we had a really bad experience with the service (long story short was chased down and yelled at for not tipping enough even though the service was subpar. They made a scene in front of the restaurant, ended up demanding our money and taking it out of our wallets). Happy to say that todays service is much improved. The waiters checked up on us and did not try to get us to leave as quickly as before. As other reviews noted - it is cash only, and water is not free so I would bring your own water since it can get spicy. read more

Thai Tom - Basil Chicken - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Sooo good! Get the mango sticky rice!! Expect to wait 15 minutes or so. Decide what you want while you wait and be ready to order when they are seating you. 2 people at a time, and you both have to be there. Cash only. Bring your own water. The pad Thai is delicious, and there are plenty of vegetarian options. It is fun to sit at the counter and watch them cook. There is not much parking available usually and it is not free. Convenient location otherwise though. read more

I can't say enough good things about Thai Tom. This was probably the first restaurant I had real food after a lifetime of of what seemed like bland nonsense. This restaurant sent me on a mission to travel and find the best of everything I could throughout the entire world. I've been yelled at by the staff, I've been chased down the street for leaving too small of a tip and I have been abandoned by all the staff inside the restaurant while they took a smoke break. I took a photo of the Pad Thai. You've had it before but you haven't had this. It's dry spiced and has a smokey char like you'd expect from a street stall. Best Thai food in Seattle. read more

Thai Tom - Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I came to Seattle and was looking for food near my hotel. Thai Tom came up and this Thai food is amazing.

It is fast, I visited mid afternoon, no wait. The kitchen is in the style of San Francisco's House of Nanking, fast cooking, flames in the kitchen and the food comes out hot from 3 burners. I had the Massaman Curry with chicken. It was shaved chicken, onions and green peppers. Lesser care for the ingredients and the crispness of the vegetables. $14. Thai Tom has been operating for 38 years, feeding generations of students. It is fine for student food, it would not have survived otherwise. But you can find better food in Seattle now. It is fine if you want the atmosphere or old-timey classic. read more

The last few times I went to Thai Tom back around 2019 something was off. The flavors just weren't there. I had them today and their mojo is definitely back! The food was delightful, perfectly seasoned and that smoky goodness permeated the Pad Thai and the restaurant. Some might complain about the ambiance, the tight confines and rough upkeep, but frankly it feels like you're walking right into a hole in the wall restaurant in Koh Samui. They turn tables quickly even with the limited seating, food comes out quick. I love this place! read more

The food good was amazing and the chef was so nice even as he was busy cooking. Me and my friend managed to get a seat in front of the chef while he cooks non-stop. The place is small but nice. Would love to come back one day read more

Green curry is like butter. So good. Go here every time we're in the neighborhood. Get there early (or late) if you want to eat lunch there. Thai done awesomely! read more

Honestly, one of my favorite proletariat dining experiences in all of Seattle The reason to go here is the ambiance. Tiny, tiny place. You gotta sit at the bar and they cook right there, maybe only 4 feet from you. If you sit to the right, pans flaming with oil will actually heat your face. Don't go here during busy dining times or you will have a long wait. It's a pop-in, pop-out experience. The food is probably not living up to 5 stars. It is a little dry, but good flavor. BUT, the food is not why you go here. It is a fun experience and the owners are quirky, sitting in front area when it is less crowded and scooting you out the door once you are done eating. Some folks were down grading for that, but for me it is all part of the experience. read more

The Service was fast though, probably wouldn't come back just because of the small portion read more

Thai Tom - My first time here, idk i feel like for $17 this isn't much at all other Thai spots give bigger to go portions. - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We got there 10 minutes before it opened and there was already a line outside the restaurant! For a table of 5 it took us another 30 minutes (basically waited for one round of people to eat and leave the place). We put our name down and walked around U district so it didn't feel like that long of a wait. The chef was nonstop cooking since we stepped foot in the restaurant, which was pretty incredible to see. The food has a lot of 'wok hei' which makes the food really good when you eat at the restaurant. I would assume it wouldn't taste as good when you get take out for the exact same reason. We tried out the tom kha gai soup and it was loaded with seafood! It should be noted that with a party of 5, there's a surcharge automatically added to your fee. Just an FYI. read more

See all

The last time I've been here was in high school and we decided to try again earlier this month for a Wednesday take out. Thai Tom remains still one of the more popular places to eat on the Ave. However this place was a little bit of a let down. We ordered take out for 4 people, 4 dishes - Phad Thai, drunken chicken, Panang curry, and Fried rice. Flavors were rich, food was alright. It was decent Thai food to be honest. For some reason I thought it wasn't as good compared to when I ate in person. Out of the 4, the Phad thai was the best. However the after effects weren't great. Out of the 4 of us, 3 of us had stomach issues for the next 24 hours. I was the lucky one and didn't have any problems but one had really bad stomach cramps and one was on the toilet for a good majority of the morning the next day after eating for dinner. After hearing about my friend's experience, I probably would avoid going back to Thai Tom for a while. I wouldn't mind giving it a second try but I feel like there are other great places to try on the Ave. Pros of Thai Tom are relatively reasonable prices for Thai food and rich flavors that make it tasty Cons - cash only, located on the Ave so parking is a hassle. Possible food stomach issues? read more

Thai Tom - Phad Thai Thai Fried Rice Drunken Chicken Panang Curry - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First of all, great service. The servers are super friendly and attentive. Super small hole in the wall place, but nice ambiance. It's open kitchen so you can see the chef cooking right behind the bar. Everything is cooked to order. Spice levels are customisable between 1-5. Pad Thai and Pad See You Again were seasoned perfectly! Wouldn't be the same without the char. read more

They served me mushrooms. Normally, I wouldn't make too much of a funk about this. But I specifically asked for no mushrooms. They took back the first plate because of the mushrooms. Then, the second plate also had mushrooms in it. They were truly apologetic about everything, but it was very frustrating. I didn't actually have the chance to have any other food because of this mistake. read more

Memorable dining experience. About 8 tables along the wall and a counter with about 6 seats, often a line but service is quick and food is cooked to order so arrives piping hot! Not the friendliest staff but all about getting you served. Sitting at the counter is a treat, front row seating to watch the chef in action. Entrees are plentiful and delicious! Cash only. read more

So cool to see that this place has been here since 1994. Great food and service but the wait get seated is insane. We ended up waiting almost 45 minutes and seems like it's a constant line out the door. Also cash only. Prices were a little high but the food tasted great and definitely somewhere to try at least once. Our favorite was the tom yum soup. Pad Thai and padang curry were great as well read more