Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Pad Thai Stand

    4.3 (484 reviews)
    ModerateThai
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
    Updated a few days ago

    Order The Pad Thai Stand Takeout or Delivery

    The Pad Thai Stand Photos

    Business Info

    THE PAD THAI STAND ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    More like The Pad Thai Stand

    Recommended Reviews - The Pad Thai Stand

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Menu
    Nicole M.

    Came here recently and got the central flavor and it was delicious! Once everything was mixed together, it was the perfect sauciness and the noodles had a really nice, bouncy texture. I'd love to come here again!

    Menu
    Ann H.

    When a restaurant makes only 1 item, it better be the gosh darn best there is and that is exactly what the Pad Thai here is like. You have to eat it there unless you live really close because it'll become a block of noodles if you wait. The menu is simple- consisting of 4 flavors, proteins and spice levels. The pad Thai is made fresh to order- the order comes piping hot with all the aromas and such a mouthy bite. They normally only have 1, sometimes 2 employees working so it does take a minute to get your order if it's busy. There are about four tables in the seating area (outdoor seating with covered top), first come first served. It's not fancy but definitely the best pad Thai in San Diego.

    Southern Style
    Noel E.

    Food is good! Menu is simple enough, choose style of noodles, spiciness, and protein. I ordered Northern and my wife got Southern. Both were really good . Mine was medium spicy but maybe too spicy for other people. All outdoor seating, approximately 20 people We also got their Iced Tea both were good

    Christine B.

    With the highly rated reviews we wanted to give this spot a try, but to our surprise, it was quite disappointing. We ordered two pad Thai dishes to try: the Northern style, and the Southern style. As you can see from the picture, both of them lack in color & flavor. The pad Thai noodles stuck together since they were quite dry & not saucey in the slightest. I have definitely had much better pad Thai at other Thai restaurants. I do like the concept of choosing your style of flavor from different regions of Thailand, but I feel that they the missed mark on the actual flavorful of pad Thai.

    Southern (Chai-Ya) with Tofu
    Iliana M.

    I've been coming here for pad thai for the past 3 years and it always hits the spot! I do think it's best to eat it there when it's fresh. A little hole in the wall with only outdoor seating. The first time I came here the owner happened to be working and helped explain the menu to me! You get to choose from Southern, Northern, Central, or Old Style (Boran), each having a unique different flavor! You can also pick your protein(s) and spice level.

    Southern (Chai-Ya)  Old Style (Boran) Northern (Chiang-Mai)
    Linette R.

    The Pad Thai here is very decent! With different styles from different parts of Thailand. We got the Southern, Northern and old style. And they were all very good! The service was good but teller ambiance is nice to sit for a bit and then take it to go.

    Johnny Q.

    Love this place . Had Chang Mai with chicken and vegetables. Very hot . Great food. Highly recommended

    Brian P.

    The service was nice and helped me with ordering here for the first time. My order was the central extra spicy. For 15 dollars the serving is pretty nice and will make you full. My only complaint is that the chicken was a bit dry. Would come again to try other styles.

    Northern (Chiang-Mai) Chicken Pad Thai
    Mia Y.

    How has no one mentioned the service... rude to be frank. The girl at the front and who took my order was direct and nice enough however... I got medium spice which is more sweet than spicy and half bean sprouts although we called in and requested for none. Our order was repeated to us too. Chicken is like dry scraps. I'll give it to them for generous portion but it's safe to say I won't be returning

    Northern (Chiang-Mai)
    Erica C.

    It was fine. I remember coming here a couple of years ago and thinking that it was really good, but it was on the bland side today. It was lacking color and I was hoping that it tasted better than it looked, but it just fell flat. I'm not sure if Thursday nights have a different chef compared to weekends but I don't think I'll be coming back. I'll stick to getting my pad thai at Koon Thai probably. Thai tea was nothing special; tastes a little watered down. There is a parking lot and some seating available. Ask the staff if you need to use their restroom.

    Central (Bangkok) Style Pad Thai
    Cassandra K.

    Sometimes, I deliver food with DoorDash in the Clairemont/Kearny Mesa area. One night, I delivered plate after plate of tantalizingly-delicious-smelling Pad Thai from the Pad Thai Stand and thought, "Dang, this place is so popular that I'll have to come back and try it for myself." Today, I finally treated myself to my own order. The Pad Thai Stand is tucked away in suburban Clairemont on Ashford and Beagle. Not only do they embody the "hole-in-the-wall," stereotype, but they are also a shining example of a restaurant only having one dish, but doing it exceptionally well. They have four styles of Pad Thai: Northern (Chiang-Mai), Central (Bangkok), Southern (Chai-Ya), and Old Style (Boran). Each order of Pad Thai can be ordered with chicken, veggies, tofu, or shrimp. For $2 more, you can order the Pad Thai with the vegetarian/vegan ayutthaya sauce. They also appear to have gluten-friendly options on the menu. I opted for the Central (Bangkok) style this time around and ordered it with chicken, peanuts, and scallions. I absolutely DEMOLISHED this plate. Pad Thai sauce is typically made with tamarind, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and brown sugar, but The Pad Thai Stand's sauce has additional layers of umami that leads me to believe that they blend in some dried shrimp as well. The bean sprouts and lime served alongside provide a welcome, bright fresh crunch. This is easily the best, freshest, serving of Pad Thai noodles I've ever had. I can't wait to go back and try the other styles!

    Laura M.

    Tried this place cause it popped up as the closest to me after class. It literally is just a stand with Pad Thai options of proteins and sauces based on regions. I got the original. It was really good as far as I remembered. The noodles were a little too al dented for me though. But the spice was right on the spot& the sauce was tangy and sour. I think I have to try it again to see if I like it like that. Lol.

    Pad Central (Bangkok)
    Christine M.

    Preface this by saying, we are Pad Thai snobs. LOL My husband is Thai, we owned a Thai restaurant, so I WILL SAY IT PROUD. we are snobs in Thai food lol. We had high hopes for this spot. We have gone back 3 days in a row just to give them a chance/ eat it correctly. Each time has been late night..after 9pm ish, never busy. Do recommend calling in, since they take awhile/it's never quite ready even when you get there. But! more reason to open up that box so it doesn't dry out. First time - we ordered the central (classic/basic) and northern (peanut-y flavor). Both medium spicy. even for my Thai husband. DONT RUIN YOUR TASTEBUDS, stick with MILD or NO SPICE. lol besides being extra spicy, sadly we ate this back at the hotel...which was like 10 mins away? And the color on both pad thais were disappointing. It looked dry and not enough sauce. We definitely recommend getting shrimp and adding dried shrimp and sweet radish. It wasn't badddd, but the noodles clumped up way too quick. second time - decided to give them another try. only ordered the classic pad thai, no spice, shrimp, dried shrimp and radish. MUCH better. we did open it in the car to eat, so that we could try it fresh to see if that made a different. It wasss saucier, a little on the sweeter side, but the lime helped cut it. but much more satisfied, and one of the better pad thais we've had. third time - we decided to give the old style (boran) a try. one of the workers remembered me, LOL and we chatted. I mentioned my last visits, and he made an effort to make this one saucier LOL. and indeed it tasted good. I will say one of the better, best? pad thais we've had ever. We agreed with another review that sometimes it's a gamble. and we gambled 3 times before confirming that they're good. LOL if anything, they're cool folks, who do take suggestions, and if you happen to like your pad thai a certain way, I think you should let them know. a no frills spot, definitely feels like you're in Thailand in a little shop, lol. We recommend it to friends.

    See all

    3 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Craig L.
    1
    269
    58

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Duy U.
    0
    10
    11

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Be prepared for the staff to take their sweet time and make them selves food before they make your order.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tune N.
    3
    49
    76

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ari J.
    1952
    623
    2961

    2 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 13

    The Pad Thai Stand Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Pad Thai Stand

    Do they have vegan options?

    Do you still serve at Oceanside's Thursday evening market? Do you serve at any local SD farmers market?

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Koon Thai Kitchen

    Koon Thai Kitchen

    4.2
    (3.1k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    I don't usually leave reviews, but I wanted to share my experience dining here with my family…read more The evening started off great. The staff was friendly when we arrived, we were seated quickly, received our drinks promptly, and our food came out fast. The music was enjoyable, the ambiance was nice, and the restaurant had a modern, welcoming feel. Most importantly, the food was excellent. Everything we ordered was delicious, and my kids couldn't stop talking about the crispy pork belly. Honestly, the food itself was 5-star quality. The issue was what happened as the restaurant approached closing time. About 10-15 minutes after we started eating, a staff member brought our check and asked us to pay even though we were still waiting on two mango sticky rice desserts that had not yet been served. I politely explained that we hadn't received all of our food yet, so it didn't make sense to close out the bill. The desserts were brought out shortly afterward. A different employee then returned and again asked us to close out the check, assuring us that we could continue eating while they finished closing. Although I was hesitant, I paid and explained that I would leave a cash tip after we finished since we were still dining. Unfortunately, from that point on, the service noticeably changed. No one checked on our table, our water glasses were never refilled, and the staff seemed focused on cleaning around us. The booth behind us was being cleaned very loudly while we were still trying to enjoy our meal. It made us feel rushed and unwelcome, and honestly took away from an otherwise great dinner. When I asked for containers for our leftovers, the interaction felt cold and standoffish compared to the friendly service we received earlier in the evening. My suggestion would be that if the restaurant is close to closing and doesn't want guests dining in, they should clearly communicate that and switch to takeout only. The food was genuinely delicious, and I would come back again--but not near closing time. Great food, disappointing end to the evening.

    The food was great. Sofia provided an superb service…read more Amazing! The restaurant was clean. Its location is good.

    Photos
    Beautiful interior wonderful staff
    Beautiful interior wonderful staff
    Crispy fish fillets
    Crispy fish fillets
    (D7) Crab Fried Rice, delicious !

    See all

    (D7) Crab Fried Rice, delicious !
    Sovereign Modern Thai Cuisine

    Sovereign Modern Thai Cuisine

    4.4
    (504 reviews)
    6.8 mi
    $$$

    Everything went well!!!…read more I absolutely enjoyed every bite of everything we ordered ... Highly recommended !! Our food order : Thai Tacos ( my second favorite) chicken Larb ( good but not something I would order again) Papaya salad ( Medium spice level was a 10/10 spicy... delicious) Duck curry ( ... curry sauce was too sweet for my liking but Duck was just perfect!!! ) Steak (Medium) and fried rice ( My FAVORITE Dish ). Drink Order : Geisha ***** Dessert: sticky rice and mango ... it was so good that I ordered an additional one to go . Homemade Coconut ice cream - delicious! Great Service & Quiet Ambiance! Visited on a friday Night.

    I had very high expectations for this place given that it's a Michelin guide restaurant. Overall…read morefood was good, but not the best thai I've had. Crispy pork belly (7.5/10): MASSIVE pieces!! kinda dry. wish the pieces were smaller but the crisp was perfect and I enjoyed the sauce! Braised beef panang (8/10): they used chuck roast which isn't my fav. But the curry itself was sooooo addicting just wish it was a bit spicier Chicken and tofu pad see ew (7.5/10): again good but not the best I've had. kinda lacked the smokey/charred flavor and had a stronger citrusy taste. but the chicken wasn't dry & the presentation was perf Thai tea (9/10): perfect amount of sweetness yummmm Would consider going again to try diff dishes!

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Avocado Spring Rolls
    Avocado Spring Rolls
    Beef Spare Rib Golae

    See all

    Beef Spare Rib Golae
    Supannee House Of Thai By Suree

    Supannee House Of Thai By Suree

    4.2
    (1.7k reviews)
    7.2 mi
    $$

    Have been going to and ordering in from Supannee for years and it's very very good. Our kids love…read morethe mixed veg soup and egg rolls, the chicken satay and panang curry. I had the whole rock fish today it was fantastic. The ingredients are always fresh, with a real love behind the dishes. They go way overboard on decorating for holidays, which we LOVE! We always plan celebratory dinners there, especially around Xmas and Valentines. All around great ambiance! The server TK is absolutely phenomenal, kind, funny, she makes you feel like an old friend while taking great care of us every time! We appreciate her and all the staff, and the hard work they do, particularly on busy nights when they're swamped. Great local Thai food!

    Maybe they were just having an off day today, but I thought this restaurant was just barely OK…read more After hearing how good it is for so long I was a bit disappointed TBH. I went with one of my girlfriends tonight at about 5:30 PM. We were quickly seated. I ordered a mango lemonade, which came out quite fast and was beautiful. It tasted pretty good too. I asked the server for recommendations on the menu, but she seemed startled by my question, like she was not used to giving recommendations. The two items that she did recommend didn't really sound appealing so I went with Pad See Ew with mock duck. That's one of my go to dishes at a Thai restaurant. I asked not to have any spice level added to my food, but the food came out and was just generally lacking flavor. It was very bland and even though there was a generous portion of vegetables in the dish the mock duck was super mushy. All the places I've ever been to it's sautéed crispy. Also, the the noodles were all stuck together. Like if you put noodles in water to let it boil, but you don't stir them and they just boil like that in a clump. The restaurant was very cute inside. I would be open to trying it again just because I've heard so many good things that I can't believe this is their standard experience.

    Photos
    Valentines decorations
    Valentines decorations
    Grapow Beef & Nam Kao Tod & Thai Tea Lemonades 8/30/25
    Grapow Beef & Nam Kao Tod & Thai Tea Lemonades 8/30/25
    Hawaiian fried rice

    See all

    Hawaiian fried rice
    Mekong Cuisine Lao and Thai

    Mekong Cuisine Lao and Thai

    4.4
    (904 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    Kid friendly

    Fantastic window into Laotian food!…read more Nam Khao Tod is consistently fantastic, just an explosion of flavor in every bite. Khao Piak Sen is typically very flavorful. I love the starchy noodles and how it thickens the chicken soup. The Lao sausage is also delectable, comes with a fresh and herbaceous sauce with a side of Lao glutinous rice made presumably the traditional way, soaked in water then steamed. It has a wonderful chewy texture that's different from short grained glutinous rice. All of it is amazing and it's hard to deviate from the regular rotation, but my eye is on the Khao Soi and avocado curry next. No complaints about the ambiance, it's cute with plants and wooden tables, and the bathrooms are very clean iykyk. The owner is there pretty consistently working, a sign of good business practice!

    If you are craving great Southeast Asian comfort food in Kearny Mesa, this place delivers on taste,…read morebut the arrival process is stressful. The plaza has horrible parking, and we had to aggressively fight for a parking space with another car before we could even walk in. Came here on a Saturday around 6 pm with 2 friends. == FOOD == We got a beef pad see ew, khao soi, and a pork rice. All the food was pretty good. I took off one star because it seemed like the pad see ew was smothered in white pepper. == SERVICE == Service was a bit slow, but we think it was because we were waiting for the rice to be cooked? However, the staff was polite, apologetic about the delay, and very attentive. She gave us free mango sticky rice. == AMBIANCE == Interior is very nice and there is bar seating too. The bathroom is also very clean. If you don't mind a slower-paced meal and a chaotic parking lot, the amazing Lao and Thai flavors are completely worth it!

    Photos
    Nam Khao Tod
    Nam Khao Tod
    Sai Oua
    Sai Oua
    Khao Piek Sen

    See all

    Khao Piek Sen
    Kiin Extraordinary Thai

    Kiin Extraordinary Thai

    4.2
    (362 reviews)
    10.7 mi
    $$

    The fact that they were vegan-friendly immediately earned a spot on my radar. After a long work…read moreweek, I pictured myself enjoying a quiet, peaceful dinner where I could decompress and recharge. Instead, I accidentally walked into what felt like the culinary cousin of a nightclub. The music was pumping, the energy was high, and any thoughts of a tranquil retreat disappeared faster than my appetizer. Maybe it's a completely different vibe during the day, but at night, this place is definitely alive. That said, once I adjusted my expectations (and accepted that my meditation session would have to wait), I had a great time. The restaurant is located inside Sky Deck, an indoor food hall with multiple vendors. Finding it felt a bit like a scavenger hunt since the signage wasn't very obvious, but after asking around, I eventually made my way there. I started with the garlic green beans after seeing another reviewer rave about them, and wow- they were not exaggerating. The dish arrived with a tiny umbrella perched on top, which was both adorable and unexpectedly glamorous for a plate of green beans. This appetizer was small but mighty. Every bite was packed with flavor, and if I hadn't already ordered an entrée, I absolutely would have ordered a second round. For my main course, I chose the Pad See Ew with fried tofu at medium spice. Apparently, their definition of "medium" and my definition of "medium" are not close relatives. This dish came with a kick! Halfway through, I found myself wishing I had ordered something sweet to balance things out. Instead, I bravely faced the spice armed only with hot water and a slice of lime. Um, it was a battle. While the portion size wasn't quite as large as what I've seen at similar restaurants, it ended up being exactly the right amount for me that evening. I left satisfied without feeling overly full. The service was wonderful as well. The waitresses were kind, and the hostess checked in during my meal, which made the experience feel welcoming and attentive. Although I didn't get the quiet, zen-like end to my work week that I had envisioned, I ended up enjoying something different: a fun solo date surrounded by great food, upbeat music, and the infectious energy of the crowd. Sometimes the universe gives you a peaceful retreat, and sometimes it gives you spicy noodles and a soundtrack. This time, I got the latter- and I'm not mad about it.

    Such a beautiful Thai restaurant located within the Del Mar Sky Deck with incredibly flavorful…read moredishes! We surely left sated and with full and happy bellies. What we tried: Thai Iced Tea with coconut milk Fresh Spring Rolls with shrimp Tom Kha with shrimp Moo Yang Mixture Set Braised Beef Panang Curry Thai Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango Everything was truly topnotch. Every dish we got was so tasty and just made with love. One thing that was worth noting though, was how soft and tender the proteins were on the chef's signature dishes that we ordered. The braised beef just melts in your mouth! Their Thai Iced Tea was not too sweet and the mango sticky rice was utter perfection! The ambiance was amazing as their decor was not only simply exquisite, but so eye catching and interesting too, and the staff--they were so kind and attentive. You get the kind of service that will make you want to come back. They just make you feel so welcome here. Overall, we're absolutely delighted to have had dinner here and it certainly won't be the last time.

    Photos
    Entrance
    Entrance
    Sautéed Garlic with Green Beans (GF,V)
    Sautéed Garlic with Green Beans (GF,V)
    Fish Fillet Pad Ped entree.

    See all

    Fish Fillet Pad Ped entree.

    The Pad Thai Stand - thai - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...