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Unchai Thai Restaurant

4.4 (107 reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 8:00 pm

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UNCHAI THAI RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise

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Recommended Reviews - Unchai Thai Restaurant

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Crystal L.

One of my favourite Thai restaurant in Vancouver! Food is amazing! Authentic Thai flavours. Some dishes are quite spicy so pay attention to their * system! But if it gets too spicy, just order a Thai milk tea and you're good to go again! I really enjoy their boat noodle and their stir fried noodles. Don't expect fancy decor. They are clean and tidy but simple.

Moo tod prik tai dum (deep fried pork loin) $14, tamarind sauce not pictured
Stephanie T.

Whenever I am in the area, I try my best to visit this amazing Thai restaurant. The restaurant is super small, so it is best to go during off-hours to reduce the wait time. Even when we went for a late 2 pm Sunday lunch, the restaurant was full. They have taken over the space beside, so now at least there are a few more tables than before. Our go-to dishes are the fried pork appetizer and tom yum noodle soup. The fried pork is so crispy and succulent, and the tamarind dip is spicy and pairs so well. The tom yum noodle soup has an addicting sour soup with 6 well-sized tiger prawns. The pad see ew is also recommended, especially with their signature crispy pork belly (moo grob). Love the chewy, flat clear noodles it is made with. The Thai milk tea is also delicious and perfect to accompany the spicier dishes. We have also tried their crab curry, boat noodles, and chicken wings, which are all very good too, but I still prefer the go-to dishes above. I saw they used to make khao soi, so I hope one day they will bring that back. Service is no frills. They use some takeout containers and some that are not to serve the food, which is interesting. I still have yet to try a lot on their menu as I keep ordering the things I crave. I will be back.

Khao Pad Pu (front) and Boat Noodle (rear)
John C.

I've been to Unchai a few times over the years, and it continues to have some of the best Thai food in the city. For this last visit, I was going to watch a movie at 5th Avenue Cinemas, and knowing Unchai was only 2 blocks away, it was an easy choice for lunch. First thing I noticed was they expanded. Previously, they only had a few tables, and couldn't fit more than 12 people inside. Looks like they took over the restaurant space that was beside it, so they have at least tripled the space for people to dine in. We ordered two things: - Boat Noodle with Pork: Excellent. Not many places make Boat Noodle. I've tried this dish in multiple cities, and I still think Unchai has the best version I've ever had. Packs a punch of umami, and a fair amount of heat. My must have dish every time I visit. - Khao Pad Pu: Very good. A good fried rice has "wok hei", and this definitely had it. Great dish. A good counterpoint to the Boat Noodle since this rice dish is more mild in flavour. Service was quite good. This place has always been very casual, but the server did all the right things and took the extra time to suggest how best to use available condiments to add to our dishes. Overall, another great meal. Fantastic food, good service, more reasonable prices. Always consistently good. *Note: the best and most authentic Thai restaurants are certified by Thai Select - Unchai is certified.

PAD KEE MAO CRAB MEAT
Sally N.

It's our first time going to Unchai after their renovation earlier this year. Their store is bigger now with slightly more seats. Their food is still as good as before the renovation! We tried three dishes this time. We had MOO TOD PRIK TAI DUM as appetizer. It's fried pork loin with tamarind dipping sauce. The pork was surprisingly lean yet tender. It somehow reminded me of McNuggets but of course better. We had PAD PONG GARREE CRAB MEAT (turmeric curry with crab meat) and PAD KEE MAO CRAB MEAT (stir fired sheet noodles with crab meat) as our mains. Both dishes came with impressive amount of crab chunks. They were very flavorful and delicious. The curry was smooth and went so well with rice. The Pad Kee Mao was very well done too! The noodles were chewy, with layers of tastes - savory and herbal (lemongrass/ lemon leaves?) and it has wok hei too! Service was good. Servers were helpful and friendly! The taste and portion was good for the money. The only down side is that there's no free parking around the area. If parking is easier, I would go there more often!

Jim B.

Loved it! So this Thai Food was different than the same dishes at many US Thai restaurants. I'm guessing this was more authentic. We shared 2 dishes: - Pad Thai with Tofu - Green Curry with Chicken We didn't specify a spice level and both dishes had a bit of heat to them. Just about right for us actually. The Pad Thai had some clear wide noodles. Very good. It also had some green vegetable in it. It was a great dish. The Green Curry was also very good. It had all kinds of interesting vegetables in it that could not name. Lots of chicken too. Very tasty dish.

Curry
Lindsay D.

The portions are large. SEMervice is super friendly and they turnover tables fast so the wait is a lot less than anticipated. There is a small parklet/patio. Do not exoect a ton of tables as this place is a hole in the wall. What stands out is the use of authentic ingredients including pea eggplant and homemade curry pastes. On the negative side, they do use disposable containers for anything without a sauce and for drinks. Yes they sre compostable but still, they could be more sustainable and use real dishes....

Roti and curry (left) and Pad Thai (right)
Veronica V.

I ordered delivery, and perhaps it was my fault (I had an upset stomach) that I ordered the Pad Thai and roti curry, which probably did not engender love from the kitchen. The Pad Thai, when it arrived (not supposedly long after if was made) was glued together. I asked for no peanuts, but the it was full of peanuts. It was surprisingly bland too. Luckily, I had some tamarind paste and a few other things to make it less so. The roti was quite delicious. Truly quite lovely. The curry was not terribly special, but good. A bit more curry would have been nice. Obviously, I'm sure that if I went there in-person and ordered like I had an iron gut, the food would be phenomenal. But if you have dietary issues that make you choose "safer" options, this might not be the best choice. I look forward to trying again when I am able to be less fearless in my ordering.

Boat noodles with crispy pork.  Spectacular!
Robert B.

Look no further... this is without question the best Thai restaurant in Vancouver! Unchai comes closest to being in Thailand when it comes to both menu and authentic flavour. Nobody else comes close. O have never had crispy pork as good as this outside of Thailand, and have NEVER seen a sauce in a vancouver Thai place that has duck blood as a a component before coming here. There's only four wee tables, so if you're looking for a sit down experience, you may have to wait. They do a very brisk takeout service, as well as all the food delivery companies. It's clean, tiny, and bright, but if close your eyes and take a bite you could swear that you're back in some back alley in Thailand. Almost all Thai places in town serve the same boring dreck: yellow and red chicken currries, lame pad Thai (what no dried shrimp or fish sauce???), and maybe a stir fried beef with basil. Meh... Unchai does a much deeper dive into the cuisine. If you're not used to the bold flavours and textures of real Thai food, this place might be challenging. However, if you've been looking for the real deal, look no further! This video shows what my wife and I had there... https://youtu.be/hM8fZ4yn8B4?si=huLot7bhAkrxbPtm

Chicken Wings
Victoria P.

This place is legit. Service was good! Our server seated us immediately and came by several times to check in with us during our stay. She got our food out in a timely manner and was helpful in answering questions on the menu. The food was fantastic! We order khao soi, chicken wings, crispy pork, pad see ew, and green curry. All were very tasty and seasoned perfectly. Spice was on point. The only downside would be that this place is in a tiny spot with limited seating. We sat outside in their seating area, but the weather was cool enough to sit and eat. All the cars kept driving by and it was quite noisy to hear others in my party.

prawn pad thai
Olivia C.

Great spot for a quick dinner with consistent food. There is only a few tables inside so expect a wait during dinner time if you want to dine in but there's also patio seating. Service is quick and food is very delicious. It's a little on the pricey side but the portions are generous.

Kay F.

An unassuming Thai restaurant from the outside when I first walked in - it has the homey feeling of a local mom and pop shop. They have three small tables inside which was quickly filled with people for lunch on a weekend. We got a curry dish along with the moo grob pad Thai. The food was absolutely delicious and I particularly linked their take with the crispy moo grob and the pad Thai. The Thai ice tea was also a good complement to the meal. I highly recommend this place and definitely will be back!

Wilson L.

Delicious authentic Thai food . Good portion , well price ... Will go back to try more entrees

Red Curry
Andy P.

Ok... this place is a hole in the wall with very little seating. If you happen to sit inside, you're also sitting in the kitchen which was an experience on its own. Absolutely loved the food! First time I've had Thai food that is so unique and clearly differentiates from the others that I've had thus far. Must get: Their wings!!!! Wow. It was so damn good, we ordered 2 more portions the next day. When on vacation, you tend not to eat at the same place twice but this is solid. Their Pak Ki Mao... they used a clear noodle instead of the typical ones. Man... such a game changer. Their fried rice and red curry had unique flavors on its own as well. Love this place!!! Will definitely visit this place next time I'm in town and I recommend you do the same.

a bowl of food

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2 years ago

Favorite Thai food in the city. Very small room, best for takeout rather than waiting on a table. The chicken wings are a MUST!

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Fat Mao Noodles

Fat Mao Noodles

4.4
(125 reviews)
2.1 km
•$$

Fat Mao or Fat Cat has become one of my weekly rotations. I honestly love all of the noodle…read morevariations they offer but my go to is the Nham Ngeaw! And yes, it has the pork blood which I love! Service is quick and they have a counter that faces the kitchen if you're a solo diner. I've also done doordash and the food is packaged well. My only gripe with the delivery is that they don't deliver the noodle in a bowl that is big enough for the entire dish. The noodles and soup are put in two different bowls but you almost can't put them together because it will overflow. This is difficult of you're staying in a hotel so if you can, just eat in the restaurant because they also have hot sauces and pepper that they serve on the table, which they don't give to you if you order delivery.

Inviting interior. There is a variety of seating, and the kitchen is in the main room of the…read morerestauraunt in a way that feels home-y and more personable. Staff was very friendly and fast. We received our food within 10 mins. We ordered the vegetarian khao soi. The fried egg noodles added a nice crunch and visual, but the long rigid strands made it a little tough to eat together with the khao soi. The broth looked spicy, but the main flavor profile of the coconut curry was the creamy sweet coconut milk flavor. There were plenty of veggies that were all cooked well, and the rice noodles were fun to chew and novel! Personally, I would have liked some condiments to increase the spiciness or add another layer of flavor. But, for what it is, it was good.

Photos
The interior
The interior
Fried egg salad
Fried egg salad
Vegetarian cauliflower and tofu khao soi (with wonton noodles)

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Vegetarian cauliflower and tofu khao soi (with wonton noodles)
Miku

Miku

4.4
(2.6k reviews)
3.4 km
•$$$

Vancouver truly lives up to its reputation as a food paradise in Western Canada, with a diverse…read morearray of culinary delights. If you're ever in Vancouver, you absolutely can't miss Miku, the Japanese restaurant next to Canada Place! This restaurant is incredibly popular, often requiring a wait, so reservations are highly recommended. This time, I managed to book a window seat a week in advance for the weekend! The renowned Miku restaurant undoubtedly boasts a beautiful view from its windows, excellent service, and of course, delicious food. Their seared sushi is particularly famous. From appetizers to main courses to desserts, the dining experience was very enjoyable. Their signature dessert, Green Tea Opera, is highly recommended!

Located next to Canada Place, this Japanese restaurant specializes in seared sushi and is even…read morerecommended by Michelin The restaurant offers views of Burrard Inlet right outside its windows. We recommend sitting by the window or at the sushi bar, where you can watch the chefs prepare the seared sushi right before your eyes. Tip: If you're looking for high-quality, elegant Japanese cuisine with a touch of innovation, Miku is an excellent choice. It's almost always fully booked, so be sure to make a reservation in advance. Request a window seat to enjoy the waterfront view while savoring your meal--it's well worth it!

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Inside the restaurant
Inside the restaurant
Spicy edamame (CAD $8)
Spicy edamame (CAD $8)
Little emperor (CAD $10) and Aka miso old fashioned (CAD $24)

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Little emperor (CAD $10) and Aka miso old fashioned (CAD $24)
Bai Bua Thai Cuisine

Bai Bua Thai Cuisine

4.2
(161 reviews)
6.8 km
•$$

Delicious Thai food! Met the family for a birthday lunch, and everything went well, from making…read morethe reservations to a great lunch! The food was delicious - amazing pad Thai and delicious curries. Service was great- and I forgot to ask if I could bring my own cake, but I did and they were really cool about it. Cute place, but not fancy, so casual dress and kids are fine! I live in Surrey and we chose Ban Bua because it was central for the rest of my family, but I really hope I can go back soon!

Came in for a quick lunch at Bai Bua Thai and wow I did not know that Vancouver had so much…read moredelicious Thai food. The restaurant is located on a busy street and is unassuming/easy to miss so I'm glad my boyfriend pointed it out for us to try with some friends. We ordered a bunch of dishes to share. They all arrived relatively quickly and my favourites were the pad thai and the khao soi. The pad thai was fragrant and on the sweeter side which I like. I also liked the fresh raw bean sprouts on the side. The khao soi was curry noodles with tender beef and crispy egg noodles. The curry was very flavourful with a hint of heat and sweetness. This was also my first time trying curry noodles at a Thai restaurant. The green curry was filled with bamboo shoots, peppers, and a good amount of chicken. The flavour from the bamboo shoots really comes through as well. For the crab fried rice, it came with a spicy sauce and pickled vegetables. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough to go around so I didn't get a chance to get a good taste of it with the rice. However, I scooped some curry sauce from the khao soi onto the crab friend rice and it was delicious! Finally, we tried the mango sticky rice and my goodness, it was so pretty! The rice was warm and sweet which paired beautifully with the slightly tart mango. I'll definitely have to come back to have more of the khao soi noodles!

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Inside of restaurant~
Inside of restaurant~
Soft shell crab  really nice
Soft shell crab really nice
Business hours~ (October 2024)

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Business hours~ (October 2024)

Unchai Thai Restaurant - thai - Updated July 2026

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