Got takeout from here about a year ago and we STILL talk about it. Went again today and dined in and the food was as delicious as we remembered it, if not even better. The Thai food here SLAPS! The dining area is fairly small, maybe about 10-12 tables, can see it filling up pretty quickly. Our server was super friendly and attentive (forgot her name) and was so nice to our noisy toddler haha. Food came out at pretty good pace and app, entrees and food didn't all come out at the same time which was nice. You HAVE to get their Thai sausage appetizer - If they made this an entree, I would get it every single time. The sausage is perfectly balanced with lean and fat and packed full of Thai flavor and spices. For my entree I got the Thai fried rice with chicken and this portion is HUGE, was able to take some home and easily serve it as another meal. The fried rice was so tasty and fried chicken was perfectly fried and came with a nice sweet and sour sauce too. My wife loved the pad se ew and got to take home her food as well. If this place was closer to us, it would be not good for our wallets. If you want delicious and authentic Thai food, look no further than Yak Yai! read more

He Said: We brought a small subset of our kids, the ones who live here, while on a visit to town for music (GSBG!) and they chose the dinner spot. None of us had been before and I'll never pass up Thai food. We got the massaman curry while splitting the veggie gyoza with one of the kids and summer rolls with everyone. Also, I tried multiple bites of the red curry from one kid and from the other a tofu noodle. All in all, I'd say: sure, it's ok. I think they have good southeast Asian food, and okay Thai food. The curry was heavy on liquid and not as much on protein and veg. The gyoza were covered in dried garlic, which left little chance for any other flavors to come through, and what was there was mild. The summer rolls were super-sized and tasty for sure, probably the best of what we had IMO. The crispy tofu noodle was middle of the road. I am not against any of this food, but much of it came up short. The service was good in some cases with quick attention at first and diminishing from there. Prices are good all around and we had no problems getting in on a Wednesday. She Said: I don't have anything to add to what he said except that the Pinot Noir on offer is quite nice. Potty Points: No trip to the potty for me, but my son was enthralled by the new-to-him approach to a bidet! read more

I stopped by YAK YAK Thai for some Thai food and honestly, it was a cute little experience. I ordered the crispy chicken fried rice and just had water to drink. The staff was probably my favorite part of the visit. Everyone was really nice and helpful, and they actually took the time to help me decide what to order. I went with medium heat, but if you actually like spicy food, you can definitely go hotter. The medium wasn't very spicy to me at all. The sauce they served on the side was really good, though. The portions are HUGE, which makes the prices feel very reasonable. You could easily share one entrée with another person, and I thought it was a nice touch that they give you little plates specifically for sharing. The restaurant itself is small, but really cute. The decor is definitely doing what it's supposed to do. I loved the look and overall vibe, although the tables are pretty close together and the chairs aren't exactly the most comfortable. It's more of a cute, casual spot than somewhere I'd sit for hours. Parking is the usual Shockoe Bottom/downtown situation... so, you know, good luck on parking at certain times. Overall, I thought the food was good and the portions were great, but the staff and the decor were definitely the highlights of my visit. Overall rating: 9/10 Food: 9/10 Service: 10/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Value: 8/10 Parking: Shockoe Bottom. Enough said. read more

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Literally some of the best Thai I've had. We visited on a Saturday night it was fairly empty. It was decorated nicely but the tables were a little tight. The roti was sweet. The gyoza was fried well. I enjoyed the chicken pad thai. The bean sprouts were great! read more

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I really like this restaurant once I found out about it I've been going ever since , one thing I have noticed with takeout that it is not as good as dining in and I feel like that is very contradicting , even with the sauce everything was skimped and wasn't proportioned for the price that was paid , I would never order take out again because of the experience not getting what I paid for other then that the food is still good and will be back but only for dine in read more

The food was delicious I had the Pad See Ew (drunken noodles) with chicken. The flavor was spicy and verging on overly sweet (which I don't mind much), the noodles were soft and delicate, and the chicken was shaved. The service was spectacular. We had Kai as our server, and the bartenders worked together seamlessly to support each other's tables. I went to order the Pink Milk Tea and he even warned me that I might not like it. The ambiance gave off a modern Pinterest vibe with lots of greenery and string lights used to produce a warm and inviting effect. read more

Yak Yai Thai Restaurant - Frozen banana and ice cream (it's like a spring roll with banana in it!) - Thai Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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think this has to be overall the best Thai food I've found in Richmond. We were a large party, so we got to try many dishes. All the regular noodles--pad Thai, pad see yew--massaman and green curries, grilled meat, papaya salad...all appetizers and Basil fried rice were outstanding, but the fried rice with crispy chicken was really a wonder. So is Petra, one of the great servers of our era. read more

My friends and I stumbled upon Yak Yai Thai while hanging out in Shockoe Slip and I'm so glad we did. We had an amazing experience. It's very cute and quaint inside. After looking over the menu, I started with a Thai coffee that was rich, smooth, and perfectly sweet. We also ordered the spring rolls, which were light, crispy, and full of flavor. For my entrée, I had the basil beef and added shrimp. Every bite was packed with bold, delicious flavor. The beef was tender, the shrimp were perfectly cooked, and the spice level was just right, especially when pairs with some sweet chili sauce on the side The service was fantastic. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. You can really tell the staff care about the food and the experience. This spot was such a gem to find and I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in Richmond. read more

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The service was quick and the place looked beautifully decorated. The food was absolutely delicious and the size was decently portioned. It was just slightly on the pricier end for thai food. read more

Was in town for a convention and we ended up here to get some Thai food! We had a relatively large sized group but the staff was kind enough to find a way to accommodate us! The interior was nice and cozy with good ambient lighting. I'm from an area with really really good Thai food so I fear it was a little different here. Not as many standard menu items as I usually see. Some of the soups were hit or misses, with misses being more of a blander flavor than what I typically expect from Thai food. Overall though the experience was really nice! read more

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I was super sad when Tio Pablo closed but am very happy with Yak Yai Thai being the buildings new occupant. The decor is super cute and the large family style table in the middle is still a restaurant staple. I have been here for lunch on a number of occasions. Their gluten free entrees are pretty much limited to curries, however, the curries are delicious. I have only gotten sick once and found out yesterday that is because their tofu is fried with items with gluten containing ingredients. I took off one star because the server and chef didn't communicate that on my prior trip, resulting in some sickness. However, major shout out to the incredible waitress who warned me yesterday when I tried to order the tofu in my Green Curry. I got chicken instead and had no issues at all! read more

Yak Yai Thai Restaurant - Green Curry (GF) with chicken. Note, nothing with tofu is GF due to shared fryer. - Thai Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Deeelicious! Unfortunately i came to try the massaman curry roti but they were out (3pm on a Tuesday) and i knew I also wanted Tom Yum soup. I asked if they could sub the massaman for the green curry and it was no problem! Also got the fried beef to go with. All three dishes were so good! Esp the tom yum!! Service was friendly and casual. Prices werent crazy. The waitress initially forgot my limeade but comped it on the bill, very sweet. I will definitely be back! read more

Yak Yai Thai Restaurant - Tom Yum Soup (GF), Thai Jerky Beef, Roti chicken Green Curry. - Thai Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Driving through Richmond and had to get a quick lunch and found this restaurant. We were seated right away and the service was really friendly. For the food, the pork basil and chicken green curry were as authentic as it can be, and the spice medium was on point. The letdown, I added an egg on my pork basil and it was overcooked, it's supposed to have a runny yolk and crispy edges. My friend and BF had the chicken cashew and the sauce was good but the breading was so thick, they couldn't tell if there were actual chicken pieces or if it was ground, and no actual cashews on the dish. This was disappointing and not worth the $17.95 price tag, and they too added an egg and their dish was about $20.. that is super pricey for a very small portion of food. However, the grilled marinated pork and beef jerky appetizers were the bomb, and the portions were small as well. Our total bill was $110 without the tip. And taxes were a whopping 13.5%!! Holy moly! I didn't realize Richmond Va is more expensive than CT, NY or CA. I think the food price is a lot for the portions. We have a lot of Thai restaurants in the East Coast and the prices here are so much more. Overall, delicious authentic Thai food, excellent service, nice ambiance but overpriced and the taxes are ridiculous this part of the state. read more

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Everything is great! Second time coming no complaints finally tried a noodle dish. I would highly recommend! I love the music vibes too. read more

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Food is authentic and fresh. We ordered the Tom Kha Shrimp, Red Curry Chicken, Crispy spring rolls, shrimp summer rolls, and Papaya Salad. Great picks and I would highly recommend to anyone. Prices are wonderful and there is plenty to share. read more

The bases were loaded...location, ambiance, service...and then BOOM!!!! Here comes the Grand Slam!!! The food was delicious. Fresh and beautifully presented. If this little gem was in my home town, I would definitely be a regular. Oh, and the cocktails were artfully presented and a refreshing start to our dinner. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Yak Yai Thai Restaurant - Thai Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I was craving Thai food and found this place on Yelp (duh)! The menu provides you more than the usual Thai food (i.e., pad Thai, pad see-ew). If you're looking to explore other Thai dishes, make a visit. I got the beef salad and went with "mild" spiciness, which I'm glad I did! It was just spiciness enough to enjoy without gulping water. There was plenty of beef but I wished there was a little more salad. The service was great! My water was always refilled and the owner asked us about our experience. The vibes of the restaurant were pleasant. Plenty of seating inside and outside. Good for groups! read more

Yak Yai Thai Restaurant - Beef salad! I got medium spicy and it was just enough to enjoy. - Thai Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Poor Service We were seated and given water and menus. Others were seated after us and their orders were taken. This was our second and last time that we will visit this restaurant! read more

Great new Thai restaurant in Shockoe Bottom, charming/cozy dining area, Friendly staff and Owner who stops by your table to check in with you, and the food that is some of the best in the city. If you haven't found any good Thai/Asian food yet? No need to Cry go to Yak Yai read more

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I'm happy I went midday during the week because I imagine parking could be a tad difficult. Nevertheless, I love their signage from the street. The menu has a variety of appetizers, entrees, and extras. I began with the roti with chicken. The roti was soft, a little flaky and very good! I could've just dipped it in the Massaman sauce (mild sauce) and skipped the chicken lol The red curry, I asked for spicy but probably could've gone with Thai spicy. It had amazing flavor. I ordered the following to go and even at home, three hours later, they did not disappoint: Fried rice with crispy chicken + mango sticky rice. I would reorder every single thing again! The decor is modern rustic which gives a really chill vibe. And the service was prompt and polite. read more

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Though barely 2 months old, Yak Yai has already had great reviews so I decided to try it for myself. And boy, it did not disappoint! Its interiors are modern and elegant with touch of Thai. Our server Rayden was attentive and gave us great recommendations. The owner also chatted with us and was very warm. Crab fried rice had a lot of crab in it. Pad thai with chicken as protein was very flavorful. Mango sticky rice for dessert was sooo good. Food was absolutely delicious. Would highly recommend and definitely come back! Owner read more

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I've heard nothing but good things about Yak Yai and wanted to try it out. It's tucked away in Shockhoe Bottom so it's technically a hidden gem. We started with the spring rolls and Thai beef jerky. At first I was shocked about how much lettuce was in the spring roll but sometimes you have to trust the process! They were so fresh and it worked perfectly with the sauce! The jerky was also delicious - super flavorful and paired really well with the sauce. I got the basil noodles with chicken. So tasty! The noodles had the perfect bite. The flavors all came together really well. I went with my mom and sister. Our mother, who does not eat Thai food very often, was super impressed with her Thai iced tea and the crispy chicken fried rice. I tried both and they were both really good! The tea was strong but sweet, just what you would expect. The fried rice was also delicious. My sister got the pad Thai and a matcha milk tea. Again, it did not disappoint. We all shared dessert my favorite was the banana while they loved the mango sticky rice. Service was nothing short of amazing!everyone there was super friendly and make you feel like part of the family. The owner even came over to talk to us for a while and talked about his experience opening the restaurant. They recently got their liquor license and are beefing up their cocktail menu. Definitely check them out! read more

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Went for my birthday and a time was had! Large party so it took some time to get all the orders out but everything was good and everyone was pleased! The owner showed some bday love and thanked us for our patience (only two cooks so we definitely understood) and they were so nice! Authentic Thai food in Shockoe Bottom, cute space with an enjoyable vibe to include a nice playlist! Perfect for girls night out or cozy enough for a date. Looking for good Thai food pay them a visit! read more

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Came here again! I always try the pad thai more than a couple times to assess how they cook the most popular dishes! I do love the amount of flavor and thơ the pad thai isn't even dry. I always order with extra sauce! It's a solid place to go with friends and has excellent service! Id really recommend checking it out! read more

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Came here for dinner recently. The place was empty at 6pm on a week night. Friendly staff seated me right away with a menu. Glancing the menu I noticed they didn't have Penang curry but the red curry was close enough and I just asked for not too spicy. The meal came out right away and it is a good size portion. Flavors were very good. The only negative I can say about my experience is the table was really sticky. A little annoying if you want to put your arm, hand or phone on the table. Still, I will return to try some other dishes. read more

Yak Yai Thai Restaurant - Red Curry - Thai Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Great service and delicious thai tea shooter drinks from Petra. Would definitely recommend their happy hour! read more

Yak Yai Thai Restaurant - Menu - Thai Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Such a cute vibe inside! It's very nice and cozy with cute rustic details. Service was very kind but sometimes it took a couple times asking for the same thing (bowls, spoons) to finally get them. Food: as far as Thai in Richmond goes, this is high up on the list for flavor. Not overly sweet, which is nice. -- Pineapple fried rice: 5/5: an unlikely star for me, the slight "curry" spices in the rice balanced surprisingly well with the sweet and acidic bursts of pineapple! There were also some pieces of dried fruit and other things which gave it some nice interest. -- Beef salad: 4/5: super nice balance of salty, sour, slightly sweet and spicy. Not too heavy. Only downside was that it was a little on the smaller side, so it was a little hard to share with a group. Would still order again, just need to manage expectations for portion size. -- Papaya salad with soft shell crab: 3/5 super cool that they have this, and the flavors were awesome! I'll probably get the basic papaya salad with no soft shell crab next time, just because I was not the best at eating the crab. -- Yen ta fo: 3/5: pretty cool dish that I had for the first time, but a little lacking in the flavor department for me. It was just a bit bland. But the thick noodles were very nice! The color is quite interesting read more

Yak Yai Thai Restaurant - Thai Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Environment is cozy and friendly. The food was AMAZING!!! We had the basil noodles and green curry, both some of the best dishes I have experienced. We constantly look for consistent Thai dining and this will be our last stop. Tell all your friends, the food is fantastic. Also, the staff was professional and prompt. read more

Stopped there on the way while traveling with family. We ordered pad see ew, tom yam seafood soup, yen ta foo soup and basil fried rice Soups were really good; highly recommend. Pad see ew was alright. But they missed the mark on basil fried rice; it tastes sweet; never had a basil fried rice that is sweet. The ambience is good; service is reasonable. The server was polite and professional but mixed up on the sequence. A table ordered after us got their food before. The server apologized and we understood. read more

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In Richmond on business and wanted to try a local establishment rather than a typical chain restaurant. Scoured Yelp for a place to try and saw the high ratings for Yak Yai and decided to check it out as I enjoy a good Thai dinner. Let me say, this place did not disappoint! Totally agree with the high ratings. Arrived at the restaurant and was happy to see free parking in a lot across the street so that made things easy to start. Upon walking in the restaurant, I found it to be small yet quaint with a nice Thai vibe. Okay, so far so good. My waiter was very friendly and pleasant and seated me quickly. I ordered the Papaya Salad and Fried Spring Rolls to start. They arrived quickly and were on point! The salad was crisp, fresh and absolutely delicious. The spring rolls were equally satisfying. For my main entree I ordered the Basil Noodles with Shrimp. Oh wow, talk about tasty and satisfying! Was more than pleased with my choice. Having traveled to Thailand, my dishes at Yak Yai would rival any of the meals I enjoyed in Thailand. That said, I would totally recommend you check this place out. It is authentic, presented quite nicely and most importantly, delicious. Walked out knowing I made the right choice for my night here in Richmond. Should I return here, rest assured I will find my way back to Yak Yai. Nicely done folks!! read more

Yak Yai Thai Restaurant - Papaya Salad (GF)(N) fried spring rolls - Thai Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Easy walk from the Main Street train station, Canal Walk, and other attractions. Open on Sundays when other places are closed. Food and service were great, plus intimate seating and mood lighting. Had the curry puffs and red curry with chicken. Both were delicious, fresh, and came out quickly (but not *too* quickly). Will return and recommend. read more

Overall, great spot. Would rate a 4.5 if I could. Went here for a Valentine's date. It was a cozy little spot! We got served pretty quickly. Got some Valentine's drinks that were stronger than I expected, without needing extremely large cups. Also had a little heart shaped straw that was pretty fun. Got some pan-fried Gyoza which was tasty. We each got different fried rice and honestly, some of the better fried rice I've had. It's really easy to get bored with fried rice partway through the meal, but it was delicious all the way through. Finished off with a fried banana and vanilla ice cream for dessert. It was fried in a spring roll casing, creating an interesting texture. If I had to complain, there's maybe 2 minor things. There were some millennial white woman decorations that I think clashed with the Thai aesthetic. Even with the Valentine's decorations, it still felt out of place. They also asked me for spice level in my rice and I couldn't taste any spice at all outside of a random pepper I assume was in the cooking. read more

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Excellent flavor (at least for our 2 dishes). If I had one complaint it would be that the portions were a bit smaller than I would like. Chicken larb was nicely seasoned, just the right amount of fish sauce. I would have preferred more peppers in it (I had asked for extreme spice levels, but Im abnormal-especially for the area). Wife had basil noodles with shrimp, and flavor was excellent. $5 extra for 5 shrimp, but they were good sized. read more

Yak Yai Thai Restaurant - Basil noodles - Thai Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I came here for lunch with my cousin and his family this past Saturday afternoon after seeing positive reviews on Yelp and Google. Food came out pretty quickly. The service tends to be a bit more hands off, though. THAI JERKY BEEF - 10.95 Lots of bite-sized strips of flank steak that had a sweet marinade that was enjoyable on its own. The pieces weren't very consistent -- one piece i ate was like 90% fat which was kind of gross. Nonetheless, most were delicious with bits of fat that made it juicy and extra flavorful. This was a good appetizer to start and share with a small group. MASSAMAN CURRY - 13.95 Meh. The massaman curry was just OK and nothing to write home about. It tasted pretty bland and underwhelming. The potatoes were thick and incredibly starchy. The worst part was the side of rice it came with. The texture was quite awful. There were clumps of incredibly mushy rice that was unpleasant and soggy. Overall, disappointing. My cousin and his wife got the tom yum soup and tom ka soup that they didn't end up finishing. Their red curry was also just OK. Sadly, we weren't very impressed with the food at Yak Yai. A plus for the restaurant is that it is kid friendly! read more

Alright, confession time: I've been slacking on the Yelp reviews (I know, I know--shame!), but I'm back and kicking things off strong with a hidden gem that's spicing up Richmond in all the right ways. Meet Yak Yai, a Thai spot that opened just a couple months ago--and already has me wondering how I lived without it. I dropped by with a couple of friends, and let's just say this place didn't just exceed expectations--it danced over them waving a spring roll in triumph. We kicked things off with appetizers: the summer spring rolls and the pan-fried dumplings. And listen--whoever made that homemade peanut sauce deserves their own cooking show. Creamy, smooth, and perfectly balanced--not too peanut-forward, just an elegant drizzle of delicious. The dumplings were crispy and stuffed to the brim. No hollow shells here--these were the real deal. For mains, I went for the crab fried rice (because I make good life choices), and one friend grabbed the Thai pho. The crab fried rice came out loaded with crab--not a "Where's Waldo?" situation. The portion was generous enough that Future Me got to enjoy the other half for lunch the next day (thanks, Past Me). But then I tried a spoonful of my friend's Thai pho... and instantly regretted everything. The broth was rich and soul-soothing, and the noodles had that perfect bite--not mushy, not tough, just right. It was basically a warm hug in a bowl. Now let's talk dessert. Because of course we had to finish strong with mango sticky rice and Thai iced tea. The mangoes were perfectly ripe, the sticky rice was dreamy, and the iced tea hit that sweet spot--both literally and emotionally. But Yak Yai isn't just about the food (though it absolutely could be). The service was top-tier. Friendly, attentive, and genuine--like they actually cared that we were having a great experience (because they did!). The cherry on top? The owner himself came by our table to chat, ask how we heard about the restaurant, and make sure everything was to our liking. That kind of personal touch? Rare--and appreciated. The space itself is small but cozy in the best way, with thoughtful decor that makes it feel warm and inviting. It's the kind of place that feels like a neighborhood favorite even if you've only just discovered it. Bottom line: whether you're a Richmond local or just visiting for the weekend, do yourself (and your taste buds) a favor--get to Yak Yai. I'll absolutely be back... possibly before I even finish writing this review. read more

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Yak Yai is amazing! We tried it for the first time yesterday for lunch and can't wait to go back again. We got fried spring rolls, massaman curry with chicken, and a basil ground beef with the egg. This is our usual at our go-to thai place and Yak Yai's was so much more rich and flavorful, we would highly recommend both! The wait staff was attentive and kind, they gave us info on spice levels, answered our menu questions, and made us feel so welcome. Thank you Petra and Annie! read more

Yak Yai Thai Restaurant - Massaman Curry with Chicken - Thai Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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A Must Visit! We are in town for a volleyball tournament and found this thai gem in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom area. From the moment you walk in, the interior is beautiful with exposed brick, wood, and greenery. The ambience is perfect for your everyday lunch/dinner, date night, family night, and any celebratory event. Every dish we tried was a 10/10 and authentically delicious! We had the steamed chicken dumplings, crab fried rice, pad see ew, green curry, and mango sticky rice. YUMMMM!!! I love when a restaurant brings out the food as it is cooked to order so everyone's food is hot and fresh. The spice levels offered were accurate and had just the right amount of heat (or no heat for me) as expected. The food options and flavors and great friendly and knowledgeable service will keep you coming back! We will be eating here again before we leave Richmond. This is more than a Thai restaurant... it's an experience full of fresh authentic flavors that will leave everyone satisfied. Go now, you will not be disappointed!!! read more

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Happen to be passing through Richmond on a road trip and we're so glad we stopped at Yak Yai Thai Restaurant. We ordered family style to try lots of dishes. My favorites included the fried tofu, the red curry (with chicken), the basil fried rice (chicken), and all the desserts but especially the mango sticky rice (we actually took two orders to go!). Everyone liked everything and each dish was someone's favorite of the meal. Cute restaurant, a little small so make sure you get a reservation but we were able to easily get one for nine somewhat last minute. Super friendly staff, it's a family business and they're all so nice and personable. Parking on the street is possible but hard to find. Thankfully there are plenty of pay to park lots nearby. Awesome dinner in a great spot with super friendly people. Loved it and wished I lived closer! Thanks for a great meal! read more

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Food and Ambiance were amazing. We were feeling Thai for dinner so we decided to go here and were very surprised at how great the food was. We had the Duck soup and the classic Pad Thai. Duck soup was really flavorful and just the right spice. Pad Thai was a classic that you think of when you want Thai food. Great Spot. read more

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Food was so good, great atmosphere and our waitress was so friendly and knowledgeable.