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Unchai Thai Restaurant

4.4 (105 reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 8:00 pm

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UNCHAI THAI RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual

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Recommended Reviews - Unchai Thai Restaurant

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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.

Wilson L.

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

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!

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
Gloria F.

Tasty Pad Thai I got the Pad Thai Moo Grob to go ($22) I ate the pad Thai fresh in the car and it tasted just perfect. The pork was crispy and not too salty at the same time The shop closes early and also closed on Sundays, so I can see why they are so busy on a Saturday night They give cutlery and chopsticks that's packaged which is a nice touch The staff are friendly and the order was done in 15-20 min The dish tastes great but I think it would be even better to have the curry dishes and fried rice dish to go with the pad thai

Pad thai
Kayla C.

This wonderful hole in the wall, from what I understand, is fairly new to Vancouver. It's smaller than the kitchen in your home, and only has 4 tables for two for dine-in. Evidently, takeout is their primary service. The menu isn't huge, but there are a lot of unique dishes that I haven't seen on Thai menus at the typical places I've ever been. The pad Thai was different than pad Thai's I've ever had- but it did have an authentic home-cooked meal feel to it. The food was tasty, fresh, quality. The service was friendly and quick. I'm shocked we managed to get a table on a Friday night, given the limited space. The place was constantly buzzing with takeout and delivery orders, and as soon as a table was vacant it was backfilled. This spot is an easy 5/5 for its authentic vibe, and super fresh food, prepared right there in front of you.

Pad Ki Mao w/ Crab Meat

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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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Inside

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Canh Ga Lan Bot, Fried chicken

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Unchai Thai Restaurant - thai - Updated June 2026

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