One of my favorite Thai spots in San Francisco and would highly recommend! The food is incredible - my favorites are the Tom Yom soup, the BBQ pork plate, and the eggplant dish! It was also very affordable. Staff are all very friendly and the service is great. read more

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I am a HUGE fan of noodle soup. I could eat variations of noodle soup for the rest of my life, my #1 spot on Beli is a noodle soup spot, and no matter the weather, I am always craving a bowl of piping hot noodle soup. There are few things I love more than a good, funky bowl of boat noodles or a rich, sour bowl of tom yum noodle. I was excited to hear about Zen Yai Thai as a spot that did both very well. What's more, they offered small bowls so that I could order both to try! I was sold. I came by for lunch recently. Located on the edge of the Tenderloin, Zen Yai has an unassuming store front and a clean interior. Service was quick and super friendly. To my utter delight, I saw that they also offered a small bowl of their yen ta fo, the iconic pink noodles that I last had over 7 years ago in Los Angeles. I ordered all three. They were about $6 a pop, and there were two types of chili, vinegar, and sugar on the table so you could season to your taste. I liked that you could choose between thin rice noodles, flat, rolled rice noodles, and egg noodles. I got rice noodles as I prefer them over egg noodles in Thai food. The boat noodles were dark and funky, as promised online. They were not as beefy and rich as the ones from my favorite spot, but full of flavor regardless. A generous drizzle of the garlic infused vinegar went a long way to amplifying the complexity and adding some brightness. The yom tum noodles were a bit sharper than the ones from my favorite spot, but were so satisfying to slurp. Again, these weren't as rich as the ones from my favorite spot and actually needed a touch of the sugar to tempter the acidity. Finally, the yen ta fo. Cute and pink, I got this bowl with the flat rice noodles, which come rolled. I could eat this with a spoon and get a good bit of the soup with each slurp. The fermented bean curd gave this dish a slightly sweet, funky taste, but it was definitely milder than the other two bowls. There were a good amount of meat and fish balls in each bowl, and while each bowl was quite small, after three bowls I was literally stuffed. I will definitely come back to try some of their other offerings, and maybe get a full size bowl of the boat noodles as it comes with more types of meat! read more

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Been here several times over the years and its always good. seems very authentic since most thai places don't do boat noodles. service is always fast, attentive, and courteous. there's never a crowd when i'm here for lunch and the restaurant is quite spacious. so the food always comes out quickly which is nice cuz i usually only have an hour lunch break. alot of regulars here speaking thai so you know its authentic! i always like ordering their fried fish cake, and their boat noodles with flat rice noodles. prices are very affordable and portions are good. have yet to try a rice dish but they look good so that may be the order for next time!! read more

Zen Yai Thai Restaurant - Combination Boat noodles, fish cake, and tomyum boat noodz - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

Spacious, open seating. Friendly, quick service. Really loved the authentic vibes of the place. Extensive menu with flavorful dishes. Decent/affordable pricing, but portions are on the smaller side. Definitely interested in returning to try other menu items! I enjoyed the Combination Boat Noodle, but it definitely won't suit everyone's palette, especially those who don't like the metallic-y taste of liver (my sister lol). Very savory and meaty. The Catfish Phig Khing was nice and fragrant. The fry on the fish was delicious. Loved the sweetness of the sauce! Recommend the medium spice for a decent kick. Got the Pad Kra Prow with ground chicken as well--thought it was just okay and a little salty. Came with a big bowl of fluffy rice. Overall, we had a good experience. Food was definitely flavorful. Also liked how they have condiments/spices at every table. Defo want to try the pad Thai and a curry next time! read more

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Great Location, This restaurant had move to a more convenient location. Food wise you'll never go wrong and the price very reasonable. Craving for Thai Food. Check this place read more

My thai friends all love this spot and say it's the most authentic in sf. They have tons of unique dishes you can't find elsewhere, and "secret" menu all written in thai too. Everything we ordered was amazing and super flavorful - if you can't handle spicy make sure to tell them! The inside is also very spacious and they have snacks available for purchase at the front. read more

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I came in two days ago wanting to get my tummy full before eye surgery the next day . It was fresh and clean. There were many people eating in but many deliveries and take out orders too. I ordered the Chinese Broccoli steamed and fish cakes and some beef basil. The service was fast friendly and helpful . read more

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My favorite Thai place in the Bay Area. I have been coming to Zen Yai since 2020 and never disappoint!! (Except that one time I thought they closed forever but they just moved to a better location down the street) The service here is great. The waitress lady here is super kind and nice Ambiance at their new location is great. It's brighter and cleaner compared to their old location. Food is amazing as always. I love their crab fried rice and boat noodles! Def my go to place for Thai food here in the bay. read more

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I am a big fan of this place. Very authentic tasting Thai food and everything always looks clean and well made. It's right on the edge of the Tenderloin near Van Ness Ave. The staff inside are friendly and attentive, and there's actually a lot of seating. There is plenty of space inside, so it's a good spot if you want to come with a large group and order a big spread. Parking is street parking only if you come by car. The menu is very extensive and almost everything I have ordered has been spot on. My favorite is the pad kra pao with any carb option like their fried rice dishes. If you're extra hungry and want something with broth to add on, the boat noodles are amazing and super savory. I love that they have organ meats available upon request which is a nice if you want the more traditional style. I have been here many times already and feel lucky to live close by because I get to eat like a king without destroying my wallet. Some other dishes I love are the pad see ew and the duck noodle soups. You will almost definitely catch me pigging out here either alone or with my brothers haha. This place is always on my mind and the heat from their spices definitely has me hooked and craving more rice and noodles. read more

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Yay... new location is bright with high ceilings. Service was good. Parking is always challenging. Or you can park at the garage across the street. The menu is still the same. They offer small-sized boat noodle soups for dine-in only. Or, you can order the big bowl. I like ordering the small bowl option because you get a nice bowl of soup without being too full. Hence, ordering more food. We ate: Fried calamari Combo 1 and 3 Small sized boat noodle soup Everything was flavorful. **special note: there's a bottle of fish sauce on each table as a condiment. They also offer a limited selection of Thai street food to-go by the cash register... Check it out... read more

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super affordable and authentic thai fare! it's pretty spacious with high ceilings and even a little corner store selling condiments and snacks. the menu is pretty extensive, and portions are generous for the prices. we eventually decided on two mains but still wanted to try the boat noodles, and fortunately they came in small sizes ($5-$6) which was perfect. we got the: - small meatball/ sliced meat boat noodles ($5): loved the broth, very flavorful! you can also choose your own noodles, I thought the thick flat noodles paired well - crab meat noodles ($15.95): so flavorful, and the thin vermicelli noodles were so soft - red duck curry ($15.95): the curry is on the sweeter side, but they gave plenty of duck with skin read more

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After coming back from Thailand, I was on a serious hunt for legit boat noodles in SF and Zen Yai Thai Cuisine absolutely delivered. Full disclosure: I've only ordered delivery and haven't visited in person yet, but the food quality alone already made this my go-to spot. The boat noodles were outstanding and the broth was rich, deeply savory, and had that authentic herbal depth that's so hard to find outside Thailand. Nothing tasted watered down. Even though I haven't been in person, I'm sure the service and ambiance is great! The spice level was perfect (I love spicy food), with real heat that actually enhanced the flavor instead of overpowering it. Even with delivery, the noodles held up well and everything arrived hot and fresh. Overall: If you've been to Thailand and are craving real boat noodles in San Francisco, this spot is definitely worth ordering from. I'll absolutely keep coming back. read more

Zen Yai Thai Restaurant - Boat noodle - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

The space is great, it's very open and spacious. The vibe is great and the service was quick. Even the food came out super fast almost just 10 minutes after I ordered. Though the food was kinda disappointing for me. It tasted alright but honestly underwhelming. The pork belly wasn't that crispy and almost just chewy and the string beans weren't as cooked as I wanted. read more

Zen Yai Thai Restaurant - Prig Khing Moo Grob 2. Pad Se-ew - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

Zen Yai Thai is packed with flavor. A couple of friends and I adventured to the Tenderloin district to find some good Thai food- and we did just that! The staff was friendly and the food was dynamic. I got the Rad Ma, containing crispy noodles, beef and Chinese broccoli. The bed of fried noodle provided a tact, delicious base for the entree. The beef was earthy, juicy and tender while the Chinese broccoli was leafy and crisp. While the food was incredible, the restaurant itself was freezing cold. Please be prepared to wear layers if you go during the winter months. All in all, I was impressed by Zen Yai Thai, it's approachable, fairly priced and delivers on taste. read more

Zen Yai Thai Restaurant - exterior - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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There are sooooooo many Thai spots, how do you choose? The closest one to me! A lucky find here, the menu has the usual suspects but the BBQ pork caught my eye. This dish is usually very good or OK depending on the Chef. This dish happens to be very good, on the sweet side via Honey but when you dip it in the Nam Jim Jaew sauce it gives a nice contrast! I like to add chili and some garlic jalapeño vinegar to the sauce for some extra punch ! Service is friendly and the food comes out quick. The decor is basic, clean and unassuming. Overall a good spot with traditional looking menu with boat noodle soup I like it and I think you may like it too! Sawatdee! read more

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This might be my new go to spot. Where else can you go to get a $6 bowl of boat noodles. The menu has so many options it was a little overwhelming. Ended up getting tom yum noodles, basil ground pork and rice, papaya salad with salted crab and fermented fish, thai tea, and mango sticky rice. You know a place is legit if there's a bottle of fish sauce and a condiment rack full of chilies, pickled jalapenos, and sugar. The thai tea was the best I've had. The tom yum noodles hit my taste buds in all the right ways. It was sour, umami, spicy, and sweet after a little condiment addition. So much better than pho. The papaya salad was fresh, and I did enjoy making a paste of sugar, fish sauce, and dried chili peppers to turn it into a snack. The basil pork burned right through me even though I requested medium spice. It doesn't come with a fried egg though. And the mango sticky rice was fine. If you like Thai food, I don't think you'll find a better place for flavor or value in the city. read more

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tldr amazing authentic thai spot in a slightly sketch area but has cute interior and friendly staff we ordered papaya salad, pad thai, pad kee mao, and tofu eggplant basil stir fry. papaya salad was very fresh, well seasoned and cut well - order mild if ur not into spice. all the noodle dishes came with heavy portions which i appreciated - chicken on both dishes were very tender and it was full of veggies. flat wide noodles are hard to master and it was the perfect texture. i think the pad thai noodles were under and flavor were on the sweeter side. between the two dishes, i would order the pad kee mao again. tofu eggplant stir fry was standard and rice was well cooked staff was really friendly and the prices were very reasonable here like $15-16 per dish. the ambiance was nice with ample seating but it's in a rougher part of town but at least it's closer to van ness ave this place is actually thai owned and next time i will try more authentic regional thai dishes but wanted to try the classic dishes first! i will definitely be returning food 4.5/5 ambiance 4/5 service 4.5/5 value 5/5 read more

Zen Yai Thai Restaurant - Green Papaya Salad - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food 5/5 The Thai boat noodle soup here is one of my fav! They have the option where you can order a small size for only $5-$6 and the large size is definitely a good portion for one person. The flavor of the soup is good and the meat slices were tender. Pad kee mao had a strong basil flavor and the noodles were bouncy and weren't overcooked. Will definitely come back to try other dishes! Service 4.5/5 Pretty standard service here, they gave hot water when I asked for it and came to check on us to make sure we're not waiting for bills or anything. Ambiance 5/5 Love how spacious the restaurant is. During the day, there's naturally lighting that comes through the windows and the tall ceiling gives the place a very comfortable lounge vibe. Good for all party sizes! read more

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I've tried to come to Zen Yai twice before so I was glad I finally got to try it. I got there and saw the location empty but they had signs posted saying they had moved a block away. The new space seems pretty big with high ceilings. It wasn't too busy for dinner on a Saturday night. Zen Yai combo (4/5): We chose the combo 3 which included spicy chicken, chicken yellow curry, fried wontons, green salad, and rice. The chicken wasn't too spicy and had a good flavor. It paired well with the white rice. The yellow curry tasted like a Cantonese curry so I enjoyed it. The fried wontons were crispy but small. The green salad was just some lettuce. To, yum noodle (4.5/5): This included ground pork, fish balls, red pork, liver, onions, bean sprouts, and crushed peanuts. I love a hot and sour broth. You get your choice of noodle so we chose the thin rice noodle which is what you usually see in a boat noodle dish. The portion was a bit small for a large portion? No clue what a small would look like. Definitely adding Zen Yai to my restaurant rotation! I'd love to try other dishes on the menu. Service was very attentive. The food came out surprisingly quickly but maybe because they weren't too busy. They can split the check too. Apparently there is parking available at the AMC. read more

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So delicious and authentic. Service was great they're so nice and welcoming. Ambiance was chill and modern definitely recommend for real Thai food. read more

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I was here over 10 years ago, enjoyed some great thai food in the Tenderloin and then forgot all about them until now. They moved to a new location which is much larger and spacious now. Boat noodles (pork and beef) have been solid ever since I can remember. The restaurant menu serves authentic Thai cuisine and even some Issan style dishes for those wanting something spicier. Just recently I stopped by the new location and parking is a lot easier on this block. I ordered some pork boat noodles and some packages of essan sausage to go. They also ship to out of state if you're willing to pay! read more

I have fond memories of this space. When I was a kid, my dad would bring me here when it was Racha Café. "We'll have the Spicy Basil Chicken but NO spicy". I was young so I had no idea. But now? Thai food should light your booty hole on fireeee! J/k, but it should be at least a little spicy. Zen Yai took over Racha Café over 20 years ago but it's like time has stood still. Inside and out, it hasn't changed much other than fresh paint and a mural. Takeout, delivery, and indoor dining only. Beer available. Visited on a weeknight around 7 pm and was promptly seated. (+) Budget friendly! NOTHING is over $16.95. (+) Thai menu available on the weekends (ask servers to translate). (+) Four variations of Boat Noodles, a Thai street food made with a fragrant broth of pork blood, spices, and herbs. Served with rice noodles and array of pork, beef, liver, and/or seafood. (+) Array of Thai chilies and hot sauces to turn things up...if you're eating with someone who can't take the heat. This may be a negative for some but yea, it's located in the TL. It's not as scary as some make it out to be. You come to the TL for good ethnic food and to support local mom and pop businesses. F O O D * Catfish Prik Khing: Fried Catfish w/ prik khing paste, lime leaf ($15.95): https://tinyurl.com/5d5drb5b - Request medium spicy Jam packed with robust spices AND heat! Good bold flavors but the catfish were sliced thin (~1/4 inch) so you mainly tasted the batter. * Pad Se Ew: Pan-Fried Flat Noodle w/ choice of protein, egg, broccoli ($13.95): https://tinyurl.com/5fmhjb7n - $1 upgrade to shrimp Our fav thing here. Love that they use the extra wide noodles, soft and chewy with good wok hei (smoky char). Nice savory sweet flavor with firm shrimp and crisp broccoli. Ordered it again on our second visit and it was just as good. * Thai BBQ Pork w/ sticky rice, carrot salad ($14.95): https://tinyurl.com/4ayhyf58 Generous portion of tender pork (shoulder?) with a nam jim jeaw dipping sauce, a fish sauce and tamarind based sauce that lacked punch. Served with sticky rice and crisp carrot salad lightly seasoned with vinegar. * Kra Prow Moo Krob: Spicy Holy Basil Pork Belly ($13.95): https://tinyurl.com/4ayhyf58 - Request medium spicy Lean pork belly with a slightly crispy rind stir-fried with green beans, peppers, and several leaves of basil. Too mild in flavor tho. Was surprised that it included rice. S E R V I C E Polite and prompt. Wave down staff if you need something. A M B I A N C E Clean and bright with over a dozen tables. P A R K I N G Challenging parking during the day but we easily found street parking since we came for dinner. Overall, Zen Yai serves up decent Thai food (3.5 star-ish). Yes, there's better Thai food in the area but you can't beat the value here. If you're looking to leave with a full belly with leftovers and without making your wallet cry, Zen Thai is a good option! read more

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100/10 Taste like authentic thai food and it is spicy enough for south east asian taste bud. The KRA PROW MOO KROB is amazing + boat noodle + thai papaya salad platter. There's a parking upfront too which makes it so convenience. They were so nice on the phone + great customer service even when it was really busy. The restaurant is spacious and clean. Love it! read more

Zen Yai Thai Restaurant - Pad Kra Prow - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

TL;DR: delicious Thai food, best boat noodles I've had in the city, lots of seating! I would come back just for the Tom yum noodles I'd never visited Zen Yai before, possibly because I was always distracted by Hai Ky next door to their previous location. But they've moved now, and can hold my attention. When I went one evening, there was street parking available outside. The restaurant is huge, loads of seating, high ceilings - the only problem there is when you need the server's attention and you have to wave them down from across the room. Service is friendly and warm, and food can come out really fast if the restaurant isn't too busy. My favorite thing here is how they have small and large sizes for their soup noodles which gives me the opportunity to eat different things and not fill up! They're also *very* reasonably priced for the small which doesn't break the bank. What I've ordered over multiple visits: Boat noodles - delicious! It's pretty hard to find in the bay area, and this version is great. It's a little sweet so you might want to add some chilli flakes (they're spicy though, be careful) to balance it out. Generous toppings and goes great with the thin rice noodles Tom yum noodles - my favorite thing, this was the sleeper hit I didn't expect. The soup has a nice balance of savory and sour, and you can add chilli flakes for more heat. Also goes great with thin rice noodles. Pad Thai - probably one of the better versions I've had in the city, it wasn't soggy or too wet and had a good balance of flavors. I added some chilli flakes for a kick. Papaya salad - this was ok, was refreshing Crab fried rice - yum! I originally thought this would come with chunks of crab meat like I've had elsewhere but they almost incorporate the crab into the rice so it's just mouthful after mouthful of crabby rice. I liked the onions and tomato in there too. Tom kha gai - this was nice and warming on a cold day, the soup is kind of on the sweet side so I added chilli flakes to balance it out a bit. There was a lot of chicken in there. However, I don't think soups are their strong point. Wings of love - very crispy wings coated in this sweet, sour, spicy sauce. It was pretty saucey but maybe not my favorite wings in the city read more

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The service I had was friendly. I came to try their boat noodles and everything would've been perfect if it wasn't cloyingly sweet. Due to that, I had a difficult time eating it at all, but the ingredients were fresh. They also use regular spinach and not water spinach which I prefer. Seems like a popular spot so maybe I'll try something different next time. There's plenty of seating and the space is open and wide. read more

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Our favorite Thai restaurant in the city! We've been here so many times and it's always good, whether eating in or taking out. They recently moved to a new location - it's very close to the old one but bigger and brighter. Ambiance is always really nice, I always feel at home here with the soft music playing in the background. Service is lovely and attentive. Favorites off the menu are pad kee mao, lad na, phig khing. These are all solid, and do well as take out too. Because we're Lao/Thai, we always get the spiciest option and it's great, but if you're sensitive to spice then be warned that it's actually spicy lol. If eating in, I would get some rounds of boat noodles - all options are great, I recommend getting the small bowls and getting all of the versions. Overall, I highly recommend this place if you want tasty, authentic Thai food! Price to quality ratio is great. read more

Delicious! This place was definitely busy right up to closing on a Saturday night. The food was delicious!! They ran out of white rice and offered to make our fried rice with brown rice instead. My fiancé asked for a duck recommendation and it was a great call! The eggplant basil tofu dish is one of my go tos and they did great job with it. It all really hit the spot on a cold night! From the previous reviews, this seems like a new spot for this restaurant and they definitely fill the space! The service and specials board felt incredibly authentic. read more

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Food: Tom Yum was flavor packed each bite you took. My food rating 9/10. I chose the crispy noodles, beef and Chinese broccoli for the Rad Na. It was very saucy, perfectly softening the crispy noodles. I just felt it was a bit bland and heavy because of the crispy noodles and sauce. My food rating 7.5/10. Service: Be patient and get seated. Server drops water and takes order. They drop off the dish hot. When you're about done, you ask for a check. My service rating 9/10. Ambiance: I did not take any photos of the restaurant exterior or interior. However, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the interior is very open. High ceiling, bright decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Their service stations could use a little touch up.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]My ambiance rating is 8/10.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall: Flavorful Tom Yum Boat Noodle. Good service! New location from what the yelp page says, so more to come! read more

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This is a legendary Thai noodle spot. I've been living in the U.S. for over 10 years, and I keep coming back to this place because the food is real Thai food -- truly authentic, not Americanized. This is the kind of restaurant that Thai people in the Bay Area know and love. Honestly, it's been a go-to spot for Thai locals for years. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I've never really recommended this place to others before, and there was one reason: the old location was in a pretty rough and unsafe area.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]But now, in 2026, everything has changed. They've moved to a new location that is bigger, cleaner, safer, and way more convenient -- 100 times better than before[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. To all Americans and anyone who loves real Thai food: come try it. This is 100% authentic Thai flavor, the kind you won't get from influencers who say everything tastes good because it's their job. Trust me -- I'm Thai. This is a legendary Thai noodle spot. I've been living in the U.S. for over 10 years, and I keep coming back to this place because the food is real Thai food -- truly authentic, not Americanized. This is the kind of restaurant that Thai people in the Bay Area know and love. Honestly, it's been a go-to spot for Thai locals for years. I've never really recommended this place to others before, and there was one reason: the old location was in a pretty rough and unsafe area. But now, in 2026, everything has changed. They've moved to a new location that is bigger, cleaner, safer, and way more convenient -- 100 times better than before. To all Americans and anyone who loves real Thai food: come try it. This is 100% authentic Thai flavor, the kind you won't get from influencers who say everything tastes good because it's their job. Trust me -- I'm Thai. read more

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I've visited this place a few times when I'm in San Francisco, and every time it reminds me of home. I've tried the papaya salad, Thai boat noodles with beef and egg noodles, kana moo krob, and keaw Tod everything is so delicious! The flavors are authentic, just like being back in Thailand. It really brings back memories and makes me feel at home.The only downside is the environment outside the restaurant it's not the best. But honestly, the food is so good that it's worth it. I'll definitely be coming back again! read more

Zen Yai Thai Restaurant - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

We went on an adventure to find this restaurant, walking from our hotel... we made it 15 minutes before they closed, yikes! They happily seated and served us. We also had some mango sticky rice for dessert. Our food came out quickly. It was so hot, fresh and tasty! read more

Zen Yai Thai Restaurant - Pad Se-Ew with chicken - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

10/10 if you looking for authentic taste thai beef noodle please visit here , highly recommended read more

Zen Yai Thai Restaurant - Thai Combination - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came here for lunch and ordered the pad Thai. I asked for NO PEANUTS but my order came with peanuts sprinkled on top. It's a good thing I double checked. I came back and they replaced it for me immediately. First time ordering the papaya salad and it has TOO MUCH peanuts and NOT enough papaya.. Spice level is okay. The sticky rice is too MUSHY and tasted like it had already been chewed. read more

Zen Yai Thai Restaurant - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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seafood soup fishy crab fried rice - so dissapointed! sorry - not coming back! green papaya salad- they forgot late- when we remind! read more

One of the neighborhood staples. Not in the most glamorous location in tenderloin but a long standing reputation and great food with very affordable prices keeps the restaurant busy nevertheless. If you are a fan for Thai food this is a must- try. E-Saan Sausage : 9.5/10 Tom Yum Noodle: 9/10 Pad See Ew: 9/10 Green Curry: 9.5/10 Thai Ice Tea: 9/10 Overall Food: 9/10 Price Value: 10/10 Ambience: 7/10 Wish they could install some translucent curtains to the windows to screen the street. read more

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I'm always searching for a place that serves authentic Thai food and this place is pretty close. And the prices here are pretty affordable which is surprising since it's located in San Francisco. When the restaurant offers condiments on the table to make prik nam pla you know the food is going to be good. Everything we ordered was delicious and so flavorful. We ordered two small boat noodles- beef soup and tom yum, papaya salad with fermented fish and crabs, crab fried rice and seafood eggplant. I have a high spice tolerance and order the eggplant dish and papaya salad "spicy." And it was pretty spicy for me. For the soups and crab fried rice, I just add the spices provided on the table to add heat. Next time I return I will order the large bowl of the original beef boat noodles soup. It was so good. The flavor of the soup was intense and complex. The flat noodles were nice and chewy. The papaya salad was also the best papaya salad I have ever had. Services was excellent. Very friendly staff. I wish I live closer so I can eat here more often. read more

Zen Yai Thai Restaurant - Original boat beef noodle soup (small) - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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New location of the best Thai street food in San Francisco. Soul and Gem of San Francisco shining now. The place that people who visit must come. Price is reasonable but food quality is the best. I been with them 10 years and go on. read more

The boat noodles were incredible! I have been wanting to try this place for so long after a friend recommended it to me. The restaurant was pretty empty on a Friday at 6:30 PM, but that seemed to be more because of the restaurant's location rather than quality because it got busier as the night went on (but never too loud). The waitstaff are friendly, and there's a variety of chili flakes and other toppings on the table for you to add to dishes to your liking, I got the Beef Combination Boat Noodles with regular noodles, and my two friends and I shared the Catfish Phig Khing, which we got mild. The Catfish Phig Khing came with a good sized side of white rice and was smaller than I expected, but the boat noodles were massive in portion! Great deal for that price. Catfish Phig Khing: 5/5, deliciously crispy and the flavors pack a punch! The pieces are cut in a cross-section so it goes through the spine, and there are smaller bones in the fish but you could honestly eat through them easily. The mild spice level allowed us to enjoy the fish texture more, as it was fried to perfection. A tangy, spicy, smoky dish! Beef Combination Boat Noodles: 5/5, these were amazing! So much meat, and all of it was delicious. Even though I'm not the biggest liver fan, I loved it here along with everything else. Perfect noodle texture for me: soft but with enough bite to be a carrier of flavor. The broth is unlike anything else I've had before -- so rich and aromatic yet not heavy. Every spoonful was a delight! Overall, I loved my experience here. I can definitely see myself coming here/ordering from here regularly. I found a new favorite food, and I'm excited to have it again! read more

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I love Zen Yai! Their new location on O'Farrell is very nice. High ceilings with spacious seating! The atmosphere is perfect for some delicious highly authentic Thai food. I love their catfish deluxe and boat noodle. It's killer. The servers are fast and efficient. Very friendly people. read more

Zen Yai Thai Restaurant - The sign - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

The boat noodles were SO good! It was my first time trying boat noodles. This was recommended to me by a Thai friend. Very authentic flavors! read more

Zen Yai Thai Restaurant - Combination Boat Noodle - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California