I usually go here because I have Asian foodie friends, and they say this is their favorite Thai restaurant in town. I have yet to branch out from pineapple or chicken pad thai, but they are really good. As other reviewers say, though, BE CAREFUL how much spice you order. The "mild" has definite kick to it, and is plenty of spice for me. My friends order "medium" and are big spicy food eaters---so anything more than that might not be a good idea! It is true, too, that it's kind of pricey. I consider it a splurge that is definitely worth it if you are a true Thai food lover. read more

We drive over an hour for Thara Thai. And it is well worth it!! Service is great, very attentive and friendly. The food is fresh and seasoned perfectly. Never a disappointment. Excellent. read more

This restaurant is definitely a hidden gem! The pad thai and pho special were both very delicious. The portion sizes were enough to split between maybe 4 people, so it is worth the money! The mango sticky rice was good, but a little sweet for my tastes. The place is really quiet and nice inside. This is definitely my go-to spot for Thai food now. read more

Great tasting food. Rich in flavor and presentation. Very friendly staff and clean environment.

The Thai of your dreams! My bestie and I went there for lunch last week and I have been dreaming about it ever since. Spring rolls that are beautiful to behold and a joy to crunch into. Super fresh and the basil adds the perfect flavor note. Dip it into their sauce (salty and sweet) and you'll want to just make a meal out of these alone. We split their new seafood hot pot bowl and both of us just moaned with pleasure. You can close your eyes and with an intake of breath you can almost taste it. The broth is light and flavorful-full of the taste of fresh seafood. Fish, shrimp, oysters and mussels come together with fresh, thinly sliced veggies all swimming in the spicy broth. The price is wonderful for the quality and flavor that they offer. The wait staff is friendly, attentive and always there for your complete enjoyment of the meal. We are getting take out today of the above and adding Tom Yum to the order-a dream come true! read more

tl;dr- Good food, mediocre prices, decent service. Went here for lunch with a couple coworkers last week. The exterior (should have taken a picture!) is quite lacking in appearance, but the interior is authentically decorated. We got crab rangoon to start, and in my opinion it was not as good as the other Thai standout in the area, Siam Terrace. But it was still pretty good, I would get it again. I got the Thai iced coffee, and this was excellent, I would definitely recommend it despite the price. ($4) I got the massaman curry, which I took a picture of for yelp. It was good, but I felt the price was a tad bit high for lunch at $11 (they have lunch specials for red and green curries at $8), although this did include white rice on the side. My coworkers got red and green curries (lunch specials), and were happy with their meals. They offer you three levels of spiciness with your dishes, and there is sriracha on every table if you want to add a little extra. I got the mild, and my two coworkers got medium and hot. We were all happy with our choices, and the mild still had a little kick. I wouldn't recommend the hot choice to any but those who can handle a LOT of heat. The service was good at the start, but it was lacking a little at the end of our meal when the restaurant picked up. This was due to there only being one waiter for the restaurant, along with a nice elderly lady who brought out the food. Like some of the other reviewers commented, this appears to be a family business. Overall, definitely a good experience. I will be going back for lunch or dinner as an option to Siam Terrace. read more

See all

My favorite Thai place in CU. Love their tom yum soup and papaya salad. Family run, a little more expensive than the other Thai places in town, but worth it. If you don't like spicy, be honest about it and order mild :) read more

We enjoyed a delicious lunch here. I had the tofu Choo Chee and it had light heat and subtle flavor. My girlfriend had the Pad See Ew and it was fantastic. All the articles about superior Asian food in Champaign were true. We are from SPRINGFIELD and the Asian cuisine there is nightmarish. read more

Well I decided to get this place one more try I had it last year , I was reading my review and I complained about paying $14 for basil chicken and how greasy it was. Well needless to say I'm still sitting here starved to death. I couldn't even eat my meal it was terrible ...I asked for extra spicy it wasn't spicy at all it was honestly the greasiest Thai food I've had my entire life I have no idea why this has a four star rating I will never be back $15 for pad Thai ???? The menu said 10.99 I get there I'm told it's 15.49 I asked why she said because it had cashews in it??? Can add shrimp for three dollars but I guess it cost four dollars for a handful of cashews . Haven't eaten all day looks like it's time for a sandwich lol read more

Thara Thai - Not worth 15.49.... Greasy and bland ... The complete opposite of what Thai food is supposed to be - Thai Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

I am giving this 5 stars because this was possibly the best Thai food I ever had. There were a few things I didn't like about the place though...outside looks a little dumpy, it was freezing inside, and the prices were a little high. The food was so good though that I overlooked these things. Great service as well. read more

I have lived in many place and have had some very good Thai food. This rates at the top. This family owned place was very busy however the family's team work made our lunch seamless. Everything tasted fresh. The flavors were great . I'll be back !!! read more

I'm totally in love with this place. It's cozy, delicious, and the staff is extremely friendly. I go There regularly just to try new things. Me and my boyfriend have a habit of trying out Asian restaurants anywhere we can find them, and Champaign surely never disappoints. I love the noodle dishes and the spring rolls are fantastic. Highly recommend the Panang Curry. This is my comfort food. read more

Since I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in May, this place has been about the most accommodating restaurant for me. They know me very well and are always very pleasant. They understand gluten intolerance and even will make things with my own gluten-free soy sauce. Like I said, the only concern I have is that they tend to make things a bit too spicy. But they have been so good to me otherwise and are so much better than the other Thai restaurants in town. read more

Great Thai food and very good service. The restaurant is small with approximately 15 tables. The place was very busy while we were there. Also a lot of take-out orders. You can't go wrong eating here and we will come back read more

This is my favorite Thai place in CU. mom and pop in the back, Chris, the son, out front with his sister. Everything is delicious! I get the see eiw pad Thai, Thai hot and I leave with a pleasant burn, which is hard to get in CU! We even ordered their food for our wedding celebration and everyone was ecstatic. They gave us a ton of chocolate fortune cookies, chopsticks and a whole bottle of sriracha too! The Tom yum and Tom kah gai are amazing too. Basically, you need to eat here again and again and you will still never have enough. read more

Four or five stars? Very tough call. Five stars because it's the best place to get Thai food in Champaign but 4 stars because admittedly it's not the best Thai EVAR and the decore could use the kind of help that involves not a decorator but a bulldozer. Still, it's probably my #1 takeout and would be even if I didn't live nearby. My favorite things: yellow curry, pad se ew, papaya salad, and when I'm sick, Thai chicken noodle. Seriously, try the papaya salad. The owner/cook (it's a family restaurant) will even make it with the fermented (real) fish sauce if you ask. Yes, the food is spicy relative to typical midwestern fare. I'm not suggesting you order anything hot the first time unless you've been to southeast asia and understand that the bottle of Sriracha on the table is only the beginning in the journey to spicy. The family who works there has been really nice to me and they've been great about substitutions and diet restrictions etc. If you live in Champaign and you like Thai food and somehow you haven't been here, you are an idiot. read more

I ended up here for the first time tonight because both Golden wok and Nithaya were closed on a Sunday night. But I was delighted to discover another good Thai food in town. I had the special pad thai with basil, and it was pretty good. I'll go there more often. Edit: I like this place a lot. Nowadays I think it is the best Thai place in town. read more

Absolutely amazing thai food. I have to order it "super extra mild" and it comes what I would compare to other thai places as medium. They give you a choice of no spice, mild, medium, and spicy. But you can say extra mild so your mouth isn't in pain later. Be prepared to wait a while for your food, maybe 35-45 minutes. The first time we went, we were a little mad the table of 10 that ordered 15 minutes after us got all their dishes and were nearly finished by the time just me and my husband were served. We like that it is a family business and that they have a lot of vegetarian options for when we're not feeling like having meat. Tofu is cooked perfectly every time. The atmosphere isn't fancy, but the food is excellent. read more

Zero ambiance. Delicious food and friendly service. Plenty of parking. Great prices. Zero ambiance. I don't care about ambiance, and if you don't either, this is your spot, champ. read more

Updating the review to give 4 stars just because their veggie fried rice and pho are tooooo amazing for just 3 stars.

I work close to Thara Thai, and eat here about once a week. The food is consistently good, and more reasonable than some of the other Thai restaurants in CU. The lunch menu is a great deal, and I've taken friends, family and coworkers here. I love it! read more

Thara Thai is a clean,comfortable, friendly place that serves wonderful Thai food. There's a lovely young woman there who always waits on us and makes us feel at home. Favorites on the menu include the papaya salad, the cucumber salad, and the mussamon curry which is a stew made of chicken or tofu with potatoes and peanuts. I thought their pad thai was a little greasy, so I don't order that. They are quick with drink refills and service is very attentive. Prices are in the middle range-better come with twenty dollars to get a good entree, drink and possibly an appetizer. read more

This is my absolute favorite Thai restaurant ever. Their Pad Thai is the best I've ever had. I get mild and it's the perfect amount of spice for those a little sensitive to spicy food. It has the perfect balance of flavors. I love that it's family owned and their son waits the tables. Very nice people. My in laws and I all rave about this place. They have tried many things on the menu and it's always good. If you haven't been here you need to go! read more

i normally went to saigon for pho in this area but i tried this new place for once.. i really needed a good hangover soup and this definitely hit the spot. server is SO friendly and nice. this place got packed as soon as it opened up on a sunday.. this shows how good the place is! good water refills. thank you. wait was reasonable. only thing to be careful about is the spiciness.. medium is probably measurable to hot cheetos. yum! but this place is great for pho. it was different that what i was used to but i liked it. a lot. i'd definitely come here again. read more

Delicious and affordable. They have a lunch menu and I ordered the Ginger Chicken - mild. And it was very good. I had enough for 2 whole meals. My friends ordered the Pad See Eiw - w/ Chicken & Mild, I think I liked that even better. The flavor was soy but also sweet. Mmmm. And then...we got Chocolate Fortune Cookies...surprisingly pleasant, who knew? read more

I went to this place on Sunday evening at 620pm. I ordered broccoli and tofu. Thats it. Stir fry brocoli and tofu. The waitress told me 15 minutes. I wanted until 7pm. Total of 40 minutes. That is unacceptable. It was not the waitresses fault (I don't think). She was the only waitress (or waiter) for a house full of approximately 30 patrons and 2 to go orders. I will not be going back because of this poor service. read more

I'm not sure what qualifies as "ambience" given the previous reviews, but the service and the food spoke for themselves at Thara Thai. Our waitress was phenomenally attentive and friendly; the food was delicious and as ordered. The levels of spice were just as we had requested and the food was quick to arrive and piping hot. Thara Thai isn't trying to be fancy. It's on a back street in a largely industrial/commercial neighborhood and is housed in what seems to be a former diner or somesuch. But if you're looking for good service, good food and reasonable prices, this is your place. If you want to be wowed by hip, swanky surroundings, go elsewhere. With two appetizers, two entrees, plus drinks, tax, and a hefty tip, our bill was about $40. Not bad at all especially since the leftovers constituted another whole meal for us. Lunch specials are available at about $6.95 a plate; the average dinner meal is about $7-9. read more

i recently went on thai food kick around town... and to make the comparison fair decided to have basil chicken in several places... Thara Thai, Nitaya Thai and Basil Thai in campustown. the first one (Thara Thai) is probably the best. plenty of food, good taste, quite spicy -- be warned, their "medium" spicy would be considered hot in most other places. the chicken was good, but a bit dry, and the rice portion was small, hence minus one star. but those things may not bother everyone. in any case, probably the best place for Thai take-out in the Chambana area. as for dine-in, i don't know -- but the location itself (sharing a parking lot with some cheap motel) is somewhat less than romantic. i'd keep any first-dates away... update -- 1 year later -- recently, i noticed their rice portions have become "normal sized". read more

I would have to say this place is hands down some of the best Thai food. It is family owned which is great and nice to support. The seating area isn't very large so it can get crowded. A large group of us from work go there and all enjoy it. I generally call ahead and they can accommodate is with no problem. I've only ordered the vegetarian pad dishes and the curries. My favorite is the green curry. The service is very friendly and the food is great, I highly recommend this place! read more

Best Thai food I've encountered in the Midwest. The Pad Kee Mao w/ cashew specialty was delicious. So many different flavors came together perfectly and the hot was actually hot! Thanks for not making spicy "Midwest white-boy spicy!" read more

Came here after running errands and was not expecting much. Well, I was wrong. The food was incredibly tasty, and the service was fast. Be warned: the spicy is actually really spicy. read more

Get their special Thai Pho! The broth is not your usual broth from a Vietnamese Pho joint. It's a special broth that has a Thai influence with a Vietnamese tradition. It's spicy and you will enjoy all the fresh ingredients that come with. I know that some broths are served "dirty" not authentic (e.g. powder) but this one is authentic and unique tasting. I always come here either during a flu/cold or after a hard night of drinking to help the sobering process. The family that owns this places will notice if you are a regular and will do everything they can to make your stay a positive one. One time, they forgot my order, but comped me free soda. That's good caring service. I have yet to find a place like this outside of Champaign, IL but if not, please enjoy their Thai Pho for me. read more

Best Thai food In and around the champaign/Urbana area. Curry, pad Thai, coconut milk soup, and papaya salad are all delicious! A must place to eat if you like spicy food! read more

Probably the best Thai food in CU, taking a star off as it's a tad bit expensive and the waiting time for orders is a little too much.

The food is always good. I always get the Beef Pad See Ew, and I love the spicyness of it. The service was okay, the staff was friendly, but the service was slow. Compared to other Thai restuarants in the Champaign-Urbana area this place is the best. The food was a bit over priced, but the portions are decent. I am leaving four stars because a couple of times I went, the order was wrong. The first time I asked for spicy and my sister said mild, but they messed up our order and gave me mild and my sister spicy. The second time I got Beef Pad See Ew take out (they charged me beef), but came home disappointed to find out they forgot the beef. Nevertheless, they fixed their problems, but it is quite time consumming to go back and wait for the food to be reprepared. read more

Food is great! much better than Green street Thai. But.. we were charged $2 for a cup of instant hot tea? common..it should be free

where to begin... it was 8pm on a wednesday night and there were about 4 or 5 other tables of customers. the rest of the tables had not yet been cleared from previous customers. the service: the waitress cleaned one of the tables and seated us promptly. after being sat in a booth, we waited for menus and water, but had to ask for a menu. when we asked the waitress she curtly responded... "that's what i was just about to do." we also had to ask for water. i would say from the time we sat down to the time the waitress came to us to order probably about 15 minutes had passed. the food: the pad kee mao was actually pretty good. a little greasy, but the flavor was good. the green curry with chicken on the other hand... well, the potatos were so overcooked i could have turned them into mashed potatos on my plate with the tines of my fork. the curry was really soupy... there was no depth to the sauce. overall: it's difficult to assess the authenticity of this thai restaurant when there are several items on the menu that are typical chinese faire. i do understand it's in champaign, and probably needs to have a broader selection to accomodate a larger group of palates. i have to say this place was pretty average and the service made it below average. read more

I've been coming to Thara Thai for the past 2 years. This is by far the most amazing Thai place in Chambana. In fact I'd go as far to say it's some of the best Thai food I've had period. My go to dish is the Panang curry (medium spicy). The house special fried rice is also really great. The food has always been on point and consistent. I love the mom and pop atmosphere of this place. The wait staff and family are very friendly. I'd recommend everyone give Thara Thai a chance, I promise you will not be disappointed. read more

By far one of the best Thai places in CU, though as the other reviewers point out, it is at horrendous location. It doesn't have the ambiance of some of the other CU Thai places, but I this place has the best flavor. The food is always wonderfully rich and spicy, especially the basil chicken with chile sauce. The service is also great and they will customize your dish if you ask nicely. read more

My favorite thai place in the area. The flavor is always spot on, and I love that they are the spiciest in town (definitely order one level lower than what you normally do!). The people who run the place are super nice too (it's family run). read more