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    The Pad Thai Stand

    4.7 (95 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Specialty Food
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order The Pad Thai Stand Takeout or Delivery

    The Pad Thai Stand Photos

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    THE PAD THAI STAND ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Pad Thai Stand

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    Green Curry (Hybrid Pad Thai)
    Brooke T.

    A hole in the wall kinda place, The Pad Thai Stand is literally what it says it is. It's a food stand in the middle of PB that sells Pad Thai, and that's pretty much it, and it's really good at it. The people are pretty friendly, and you can see them making your food right behind where you order. You can customize your spice and pick which "style" of Pad Thai you want, and if you don't know, they have pretty good descriptors to help you decide. The favorite I've gotten is the green curry version of the Southern Pad Thai with chicken, and it's absolutely delicious. I was skeptical of curry flavor in my Pad Thai, but it's done really well--the flavor mixes with the Pad thai flavor and adds an extra spice to it. I personally went for medium spice, and I don't think I could go any further without pain.

    Old Style (Boran)
    Hannah B.

    I ordered both the central and old style. The central one is light and delicious, it has a sweeter taste, and is less peanuty. The other one is darker and more classic style of pad Thai. I got both with spice, it's it's perfect for me, I actually ended up adding some siracha and that may have over powdered it. I do with there was more chicken or more egg,, but it's a great portion size. But my food came out piping hot and since it's so close to my place I do think I would order it again.

    Southern (Chai-Ya)
    Jessica M.

    DELICIOUS!!! The pad Thai was so delicious and super hot (temperature wise) until we got back to our air bnb, which was super nice. It was easy to order and didn't take very long. The pad Thai was fresh and flavorful, will absolutely be back. Managed to save a little for tomorrow, was hard not to eat it all! So yummy!!

    pad thai curry with vegetables
    Keli B.

    This review is written specifically for vegetarians. I don't write many dissatisfied reviews, but I it would be irresponsible for me to not right an honest one here. I ordered the curry pad thai with vegetables, mild. I didn't taste the curry but tasted a ton of fish sauce. Also they went super light on the vegetables, and the mild spice tasted like a 5 out of 10. If you are vegetarian, you're better off going to a real Thai restaurant where you can ask for a vegetarian alternative to fish sauce without a $3 "vegetarian tax". Very disappointed. I had a small serving and threw the rest out. Will not be coming back here. I just donated $17 to a local business, this makes me feel better about my experience.

    Southern (Chai-Ya)
    Jordyn J.

    Wowwwww I am in love. My mouth is on fire but I am loving this pad Thai. I ordered the spicy southern pad Thai and I am pleasantly surprised at how delicious this is! Love the amount of sprouts provided. Will be back to try more flavors :)

    Old style mixed
    Meri A.

    Found a gem in PB. This Pad Thai spot is legit. Flavors I've tried: -Northern: Total flavor win. My current favorite! -Southern: Really delicious. Perfectly balanced. -Old-School: Satisfying! Pros: -Generous sized portions -Fresh-to-order dishes -Super friendly service -Easy online ordering Cons: Parking can be tricky Seriously good Pad Thai variety. Can't wait to come back!

    Had a few bites. Whoops

    Great suggestion of the northern style pad thai. Looking forward to try the rest. Quick service. Prepped to order.

    Northern Style (No Spice)
    Megan G.

    Once upon a time, I had pad thai in passing some place somewhere that I do not recall that had me hooked in an instant. For years I have tried many variations of this dish, seeking to replicate the flavor rapture of that first experience. Many were good, but they all had that one tiny thing missing. Until now. Finally, I have found a worthy suitor in Pacific Beach, San Diego. Hands down the best Pad Thai I've ever had.

    Lauren C.

    This place is LEGIT! The menu is simple: 4 styles of pad thai (Northern, Central, Southern or Old Style), pick your protein, and pick your spice level. That's it. No other apps, no sides, just nothing but true Thai style pad thai's. We had the northern (with chicken) and southern (with shrimp) styles, and I would order each of them again. Both were so flavorful and cooked to perfection. Which is even more incredible because there is only 1 guy who works the stand at a time, and he does it all! He takes orders and cooks the food. Watching him work was honestly super impressive, as by the time we got there he was already working on 6 other orders ahead of us. But even with being that far back in the queue, we got our orders relatively quickly, and it was worth it. I will absolutely be coming back to The Pad Thai Stand next time I am in Pacific Beach!

    Southern (Chai-Ya)
    Yvette J.

    this is so far the best pad thai i have ever had. i love how they keep the bean sprouts nice and fresh. the service and food was absolutely amazing. the pad thai stand is really just a small stand with a few outside tables. perfect location, just 15 min walk from the beach. the stand offered four different flavors, northern, traditional, southern, and old style. I tried the southern and old style. No regrets going back twice in one night. I was so happy and satisfied with the flavors of both. the coconut milk in the southern style just made the flavor so much more satisfying. i was able to add extra tofu and they were very generous. i ended up saving one for when we got home and it still stayed just as delicious. i will never stop thinking about how good this pad thai spot is.

    Front of restaurant
    Johnny R.

    Cool spot! Took my wife and little ones. Food was delicious. All the servers and cooks were super friendly! We ordered the central style with chicken which was an original flavor and the old style with shrimp! Both were delicious but the old style was definitely top notch!

    Central (Bangkok)
    Sam S.

    Easily the best Pad Thai I've ever had by a long shot. It just hits different than regular old orange noodles at a lot of Thai restaurants; lots of bold, saucy flavor. I've tried all four flavors on the menu, and Southern is my favorite - it has a creamy coconut sauce. But all four are great and worth trying out. Price is $15 with chicken added. Staff at PB location are friendly, and they told me about their other location in Clairemont.

    Front of the structure

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    2 months ago

    Best Pad Thai I've ever had, and I've had a lot of good pad Thai places. My friend went to Thailand and said this is just as good.

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    I've eaten a lot of Pad Thai and this is truly delicious Pad Thai. Quick service and really nice owners. So good!!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Pad Thai Stand

    Review Highlights - The Pad Thai Stand

    We ordered the central style with chicken which was an original flavor and the old style with shrimp!

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Food was amazing like always, no wait even though it was busy for a Monday and our server Coco had…read morea great attitude and was very attentive, suggested the crab rice said it was his favorite and did not disappoint it was so delicious. Would definitely recommend and will be coming back for sure.

    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.

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

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    Came here on a Saturday for a late lunch. We had made a reservation for 4 and were sat right away,…read moreit was not busy. Parking will be mostly street spots. We were lucky and were able to grab the spot right out front. For drinks we each ordered a cocktail. It did take a bit for them to come out but once they did you can tell time and effort were put into making them. They were beautiful and all tasted great. We ordered 4 dishes to share, the wasabi scallop ceviche, crispy baby crab, braised beef panang, and crab fried rice. The ceviche was definitely one of my favorites. Super flavorful, fresh, with the perfect amount of wasabi. The crispy baby crab was savory and easy to eat, especially since you're eating the whole crab, shell and all. The curry in the braised beef panang was so addicting, I couldn't stop eating it. The crab fried rice was tasty and filling. For dessert we got the mango sticky rice. The mangoes were fresh and sweet. Overall pretty standard but still yummy. Service was friendly, helpful and attentive. All the food came out in the timely manner. The vibe of the restaurant is casual but can be a little dressy for a nice date. Overall I definitely recommend a try here. Beautiful presentation with all the food and drinks while still being delicious.

    Came here to celebrate a birthday, and the experience was phenomenal. We ordered 3 appetizers and…read morean entree to share among ourselves. We got the Taro Fritters, Bangkok street noodles, pork sausage, and the chicken wings. The highlight of the dinner were the chicken wings!! They were so flavorful and crispy, I cannot recommend them enough. The taro fritters were a close second, the tamarind sauce was also a highlight of my dinner experience. Service was quick + amiable, and the inside of Sovereign was clean and inviting. The decor is dark and moody, with live plants throughout the establishment. Parking is metered & limited, but definitely worth the hassle.

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    Dining room
    Dining room
    Avocado Spring Rolls
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    Mekong Cuisine Lao and Thai

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    Our first visit to Mekong Lao & Thai was fantastic, and we're already planning our next one! A dear…read morefriend recommended this one and we were thanking her before we left our table. When we ordered, our server took the time to explain their spice scale (1-5), letting us know that a 1 is already about a medium spice level. We settled on mostly 2-3, but wow--the Thum Khao Poon (shredded green papaya salad) still packed some serious heat! Even my spice-loving kids were challenged. The server also gave us a heads-up that it's very fish-forward in flavor, which we appreciated and happened to love. The absolute standout of the meal was the Nam Khao Tod. It was hands down the family favorite--crispy coconut rice with pork sausage, crunchy peanuts, fresh herbs, and so many incredible textures and flavors in every bite. We could have ordered a second plate! We also had the Drunken Noodles with chicken, which were slightly oily in the best possible way, making them extra rich and delicious. The Chef's Special Basil Stir Fry with Crispy Pork was another winner. Our server brought over a chili vinegar that elevated the crispy pork to a whole new level--it was so good drizzled over every bite. Great food, thoughtful service, and plenty of dishes we're already looking forward to trying next time. Can't wait to come back!

    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
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    The Pad Thai Stand - thai - Updated July 2026

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