Thank you Yelp for yet another great find! Took my husband here while away for a fun weekend in San Diego and it did not disappoint. The panaang curry was excellent. We did have to wait about 15 min and after we were seated then a line really seemed to form. Very cute decor, we wish our local Thai place would do the same. Highly recommend!
(5)
Shiloh F.
This is one of my favorite places to get a full belly for cheap. Awesome service, great food, and never crowded put it on your list
(5)
Maryrose G.
Love that this place is so close to my work. Love that this place is close to the beach. Love that this place is quaint and comfy. Love the FOOD, the staff, and the quick service. I love Thai food!!!
(5)
Tessa W.
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" should be the theme of this restaurant. I am a very simple person when it comes to eating out. I have never returned any dishes at a restaurant. I usually put my faith in the chef. Anyways, I digress from the issue... As mentioned previously, I only have three criteria when it comes to eating out: 1) Good service 2) Good food 3) Cleanliness Well, this place did not even meet the first criteria. I was very excited to try this place. After reading yelp, I decided to try it. Since it was a Friday, I decided to make a reservation (according to Yelp, they accept reservations). We noticed the place was small and packed as soon as we walked through the door. There was another couple in front of us. There was no hostess at the door. It took about 5 minutes for one of the servers to walk up to us. I said that I had made reservations earlier in the day. I gave the server/hostess my name. She repeated my name and walked off. We stood there for ten minutes. I saw our server/hostess walking around. She avoided making eye contact with us. Not even a hand signal to say she was checking. It was ridiculous! Even though we made reservations, we were completely ignored. The earth will stand still before I set my foot in this place again. If you're looking for decent Thai food, try Taste of Thai or Celadon or Rama (same owner for Celadon). If not for the authenticity, you would at least get better service.
(1)
Kathleen K.
This is a local gem, but would not go way out of my way to eat here. It's a great place for take away as it can get pretty crowded with spotty service. The curry dishes of all types shine here. The Golden Flowers appetizer is lovely. Green beans with Thai chili and garlic (definitely add the shrimp) is a keeper. The shredded green papaya salad is interesting. Get the spicy eggplant dish! The Tom Yum soup is ok, not complex enough, too heavy on the lime? The Pad Thai is a bit strange. Dont bother with spring rolls here unless you dont like Thai food..... Not impressed with deserts, just have a nice Thai beer instead! Enjoy.
(3)
Becca L.
Love it for the unpretentious, eclectic vibe alone. And the food does not disappoint. An authentic spot for a Thai fix in North County.
(4)
Tiger P.
Good food. Good service
(4)
Pals W.
Cozy & authentic thai ambience + Great service + delicious food + affordable = Bangkok Bay Thai Have been there a bunch of times and tried a bunch of things, all of them turned out to be surprisinly good..Few of the "must check-out" items: 1) Bangkok bay boat (appetizer sampler with ~5 different items) 2) tom kha soup 3) Drunken noodles 4) Bangkok or Spicy bay fired rice 5) Kang ka ree (yellow curry) 6) Panang curry,panang salmon 7) Kang ped (red curry) 8) Kang khew wan (green curry) 9) Siamese twins (was not one of the best dishes)
(5)
Stephen W.
Well.. I wanted to like it. Really, my coworker has been bugging me to try this place for about two years now. What I ordered was decent.. dunno what it was called, but it was a brown sauce, thick noodles, big chunks of onions and slices of carrot, with the requisite basil throughout. And yah, it was pretty damn spicy. Here's the thing.. maybe two hours later I was in the crapper, blasting my guts out, and generally making a giant fucking mess. And that went on for about three days. There's a chance the spice just didn't agree with me, but sorry, no, I'm going with FOOD POISONING. GROSS! Due to my coworker's enthusiasm for this place, I am willing to try this place again, but it might take me another two years to work up the courage.
(1)
Jessica R.
Food, delicious. Decor, delicious. Going back and forth between Fowler's and the hostess stand, not so delicious but a fun race. I'll explain : if you're a dude and taking your lady out for the evening, plan ahead, make a reservation ....or just plan to imagine what your food will taste like while you wait outside the restaurant smelling what everyone else just got served. Could be a fun "getting to know you" moment. Maybe. ....but when you do finally sit down and you're enjoying your favorite curry dish or the pad thai, the wait is worth it. The food is good. Really good! And the decor makes you feel like you are back in the land of smiles. Sidenote: The four stars' rating is strictly for North County Thai restaurants only. When you venture south, Bangkok Bay becomes a 3 star, but don't let this discourage you. Delicious spicy goodness in North County is a rare gem.
(4)
Kurt M.
Not too many places can offer a dish involving avocado and cream cheese, call it Thai... keep me waiting for a table... and leave me totally satisfied. I yelped: * Best Thai Food I've Ever Tasted - The appetizer I mentioned above was surprisingly delicious, and entree even satisfied as leftovers. * Decor - It's the Thai Shenanigans (you mean that place with all the crazy crap on the walls?). There's decor everywhere, and from what I saw when traveling through Asia... that makes it pretty authentic. Lots of plants outside add to the Indochina vibe. Needs Help: * Time - We waited for a table at 830p on on Thursday for a good half hour, and they accidentally seated a couple out of order (the "hostess" then became "waitress" and I accidentally let the numbers in 21% get out of order). * Loud - A small popular place can mean you have to speak up, especially if you're near the fountain.
(4)
Erica L.
Excellent, authentic, and well priced!! Their Mango and sticky rice is to die for!!
(5)
janna h.
super great thai here. we love the tom ka soup -very yummy service is always happy even though they are always packed and busy worth waiting for 30minutes to get a seat. and the chicken curry is divine.
(5)
Brooke R.
We drove by this place twice before I noticed the big "thai" sign (I was looking for a big bangkok bay sign). Then we had to drive around the little plaza looking for the restaurant. It feels like it's hidden, encapsulated by hanging trees, but it's actually not hard to find at all. I'm just blonde. We walked in expecting a fast food thai type of place. it was nothing of the sort. It was sit down, with booths and tables. Let me clarify that: red vinyl booths, and tables. The room is decorated with what I'm assuming are to be Thai religious idols. They dimmed the lights half way through our meal which didn't really do anything, but I heard someone at the next table say "that's a lot better." Dishes are $12-15 each. That's outrageous for what you get. The food was decent. I wouldn't call it great. I ordered the drunken noodles and my dining partner had the cashew chicken. My noodles tasted good, I tried to eat every last one, but nothing about my meal was amazing. I failed to ask for it hot so they went the polar opposite and made it as mild as possible. I guess since I'm white I should expect that. The cashew chicken was a little bland but edible and still kinda tasted good. The best Thai food I've ever had was in Tucson, but since I can't make it to Tucson and back in the few hours I allot for dinner, I'll just go to Siamese Basil in Encinitas for Thai.
(2)
Hilary J.
The Red Curry is the best!!
(5)
Bleep S.
I've had better Thai food in SF...but it was alright except for the potstickers (bleh..gummy,tasteless) and rice(seemed like Chinese rice..not Thai rice). The chicken curry was in a wonderful sauce and they took me seriously when I said I wanted it hot. Unfortunately, it was very skimpy on vegetables. The guy had the won ton soup (he had pneumonia!), and said it was delicious... I'd go back and try a few more things , but that rice is just wrong!
(3)
Paige L.
I hate to be the party pooper here, but really I don't understand the great reviews. It was just okay for me. Definitely not a place I will rush back too. Although, the staff were friendly and the service was good. I've just had much better Thai.
(2)
Chelle D.
This place hits the spot when I am craving Thai food!! I love their spice tray, ask for it if you want to add spice or control your own spiciness. I really like their Tom Yum on the lunch menu with glass noddles, instead of the ones they come with. I have had just about all their curries, and they are good as well. Service is causal and friendly, and the atmosphere is nice. One of the best places for Thai in North County.
(4)
Anthony L.
Ah, my local favorite. Bangkok bay is an amazing restaurant - don't let these snooty out of towners make you think otherwise either. You should be forewarned though, this place is pretty small and gets VERY busy at peak times of dinner. Obviously the weeknights aren't as bad as Friday and Saturday, but as this place grows it's reputation in the area as the best Thai food around, its going to get packed. FYI, this place is killer for lunch too if you're in the area at that time. I used to have an office down the street and would eat here at least twice a week for lunch (at a killer price, no less). Now, onto the food. It's hard to find good Panang curry which is probably my favorite Thai dish. However, this place has set the bar high and believe me, ANY of their curry's are hard to beat. I normally order the Drunken Noodles with a side of peanut sauce as well, which is the perfect touch if you haven't tried it. The meat has always been good, and the Crying Tiger is something else... If you like beef dishes you'll love this. The service has always been top notch and personable, with the staff always making an effort to call me by my first name - awesome. Prices are fair and comparable to most other Thai places in the area, if not just slightly cheaper. North County is blessed to have this place around.
(5)
V K.
This is my favorite local Thai restaurant. It's so cute and the staff is attentive. It gets crowded but I've never had slow or poor service. I loooove the pad see ew with tofu; it's the best I've had! I've heard the soup and the curry are good as well, but haven't tried them myself.
(4)
S T.
Every dish is better than the next. Best Thai in north county!!
(5)
Alice N.
When you park in the shopping center, you look around and it's still industrial basic, almost cheap looking, regular old parking lot. Then you open the door to Bangkok Bay and you enter Thailand. You will be welcomed by a little Asian girl, and everyone has a thick Asian accent so you will get the vibe that they know the culture and the food very well. The place is lit beautifully, and the decor wraps around you as you sit down for the best meal and service you will ever get! Good for first date, special occasions, or call and pick up to order and enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Which I am going to do right about now.....
(5)
samantha d.
Great restaurant. Food and service have always been consistently good. I was a little sad when found out they no longer offer an eggroll w/ lunch specials. Oh well, I rather not get an eggroll than them raising the price. My favorite dishes here are panang curry, eggplant&tofu, chicken with green bean, noodle dishes - pretty much anything off the lunch menu.
(4)
Todd M.
It was a friends birthday last night and they love this place. From the Tom Ka to the Mango Sticky rice - everything was delicious. Perfect flavors in all the dishes we had. Loved it!
(4)
Wanugee N.
This cute and cozy restaurant is on old Highway 101, near the border of Solana Beach and Del Mar, in a little strip mall. It only has about a dozen tables, and has traditional Thai decorations everywhere. It is dark, yet casual and a nice choice if you are in the area. It may be Thai-Chinese managed, but I didn't confirm this. Some of the menu makes you think this maybe so, though. The food and service are both good. Not spectacular, but you should feel satisfied with a pleasant experience, at least I did over a year ago. They have about 12 appetizers, 4 soups including the traditional Tom Yum and Tom Kha. There are 4 salads, and the entrees are priced with Veggie or Tofu ($10), Chicken, Pork or Beef ($11), Shrimp or Squid ($12) and Seafood Combo ($15). There are both spicy and non-spicy flavors to choose from to mix with the meats. They have about half a dozen curries and about a dozen specialty dishes, including Duck and Salmon dishes, which run $11 - $17, except the 3 Flavor Fish is market priced. There is fried banana, ripe Mango, or coconut Ice Cream for dessert. If you had a day at the Del Mar track, coming back from LegoLand, returning from the Parahamsa Yoginanda retreat in Encinitas, or just in the area, this could be a nice stop for Thai food.
(4)
J L.
Went here w/friends while visiting Cali & this was like the 4th different Thai restaurant we went to lol & it was very good! The interior is pretty kool & makes you feel kinda like you might be in Thailand! Very cozy ^_^ only thing was that our food came out super spicy it was hard to eat it all so definitely say mild unless you want to burn all your tastebuds off lol. & I would make a reservation too not that we had to wait long but u have to wait outside cuz there is not enough room to stand inside.
(4)
Adi H.
Wonderful Thai place...I have been trying to find a good one now that I am back in San Diego and this one lives up to my standard. They have very fast service, and you can ask for any of the food to be not spicy which is great for me! GREAT lunch deals as well
(5)
Del Mar Girl H.
This our 3rd visit and our 3rd disappointment. We want to like this place, so we have tried it a few times and never been happy. Tonight we were staying next door at the Marriott and watching the play-off game (go Ravens!) so we decided to do take-out. We ordered the Bangkok Bay boat and the Wonton soup (usually we order entrees). The wonton soup was adequate, but not even close to being worth $14 for the price. I'm not a huge fan of chain restaurants, but PF Changs is way better (and yes, I realize one is Thai and one is a take on Chinese food). The Bangkok boat is a total joke. The chicken Satay wasn't bad, but one piece of chicken is twice the size of the other. How is that for consistency? The "large" shrimp were a total joke with WAY too much batter and no way were they large. We substituted Summer Rolls for the Spring Rolls because we wanted something not fried, we thought that was very nce of them. However, it was all lettuce with 1 bite of chicken and a couple carrot shreds, oh yeah and zucchini, what? Absolutely zero flavor. The other items were even more disappointing. Totally bummed, we want to like this place, but even if they were a $7.99 all you can eat buffet I would have to pass.
(2)
Vishal M.
Terrible food and service! 1) We went to dine out on a Sunday evening and it took them 25 mins to seat us 2) Finally the seat we were given was right by the kitchen and it was the waiting area for folks coming in for pick-up. How can you eat when you have 4/5 people standing right next to you? 3) When we asked that we should be moved to another table, they told us that there are many guys waiting outside. Finally, we had to tell them that we are feeling uncomfortable sitting at this small table right next to each other with so many people standing next to us overlooking us while we eat. So, either we should be moved to another table or we shall cancel our order 4) Finally, after 25 mins of wait, we got our Tom Yum soup which was decent and after another 10 mins, we were moved to another table 5) We order Grilled Salmon and Jungle Curry and I have to say that Salmon was far from being grilled. It was way overcooked and felt like it was boiled/steamed. The texture was pretty bad as the fish would disintegrate while I tried to cut it and was without any flavor. The only flavor was the curry that was poured on top of it. It's a pretty sad dish specially when it was for $17 6) Jungle curry was served 12 mins after Salmon and I had to start eating first with my wife waiting for food so the fish doesn't go cold. Finally, when the curry arrived, it was sour to say the least with curry missing from the dish and lacked any flavor 5) We were so hungry that we just stuffed ourselves with rice and minimal curry that we could get out of our dishes I am not sure how the place has got good reviews but we had a terrible experience and would definitely not go back again
(1)
Julie U.
Okay, not good. The first couple of times I went there is was great, but then started to devolve. Rapidly. Tonight, my shrimp hadn't been deveined, leading me to completely lose my appetite. The only thing that still seems to be good is the panang curry. At least I'm not hungry anymore. Not exactly the road I was hoping to take to non-hunger.
(2)
Lindsey C.
Yep, I think this place is delish! Maybe its because I don't get out for Thai too often.
(4)
Vivian G.
I've been coming to this family owned restaurant for over 10 years and it is one of my favorite hidden local gems. Tucked in a random strip mall it has the best Thai food in San Diego. The lunch is a steal at under $10 a person; it includes a bowl of soup, the entree, and a egg roll. You can choose from white or brown rice. The decor of this place is eclectic, with random stuff from Thailand. The staff is always friendly. A few of my personal favorites are: *Panang Curry *Pad See Ew *Spicy Eggplant *Hot Basil Soooooo...yummy. Of course the Tom Kha and the Tom Yum are amazing. The staff is very accommodating to my inability to eat spicy food; they make a true "mild". Friends that I have taken, who do like their food spicy have also been satisfied with the level of spice. If you're looking for an edgy fusion food experience this is not the place for you. If you're looking for a homey, fresh, made to order family place you'll be in heaven here.
(5)
Brian D.
Best Tom Yum in town, although Rama downtown has a nice version too (Rama's is sweeter). We get take out a few times a month and it's always consistently good. The ambiance in the place is nice too--for a strip mall they've done a good job of making you fell like you've been transported to an exotic destination. Panang curry is great as are the Angel Wings.
(5)
Ruthie S.
This place is very cute, like the atmosphere here. I had the yellow curry tofu and it was good, the only complaint is that the tofu could have been firmer. They also had good service too.
(4)
Ren D.
Just ate here for my birthday dinner, it was a first-time visit for everyone in our party and we are all extremely happy with the experience! First of all, the ambiance at Bangkok Bay is just beautiful - mellow, just the right amount of lighting, and very tasteful with lots of interesting details in the decor. We received very attentive service from our server and the food was served in under 10 minutes from ordering, hot and fresh from the kitchen. When I had asked them to add a little spicy kick to my Pad Thai they obliged in the most delicious way. Other diners in the party thought they could stand the heat with the four-way pepper platter that the server recommended... spice-related hilarity ensued. Overall everyone was very pleased with their food and I can't wait to try more dishes from their menu. Best of all the obliged me with a birthday treat (the fried bananas and ice cream) and the least embarrassing birthday song I've ever gotten at a restaurant. Awesome time!
(4)
Brinda J.
I really like place. I love their noodles. And their curry. I would give them 4 and 1/2 stars if I could but alas there's no half stars. It's pricey, so hence no 5 stars. But very authentic and good!
(4)
Sarah S.
Best Thai food outside of Thailand! I have been coming here for 5 years. Unfortunately, my review will not be very helpful, as I always get the same things when I come: 1. half moon ton appetizers. Amazing. Very easy to replicate but phenomenal every single freaking time ( i seriously want to marry these things!) The sauce that they come with is super awesome as well. 2. Pineapple Fried Rice. They use a special spice that makes this completely different from any other pfr I have had elsewhere. (In fact, I do not even bother eating this dish anywhere else now). 3. Desserts are good (much like any other Thai place). 4. Litchi Martini= TO DIE FOR!!!! Best ever!! Yummy!!! Staff is friendly and the service is good. :) Definitely will be a loyal customer for life! :)
(5)
Adam W.
I recommend the pad see ew or green curry spaghetti
(4)
Dolly C.
I love this place. Best Thai around, and the ambiance is great!!
(5)
S R.
I had a great experience here. Such a cute restaurant! Beautifully decorated! Really good atmosphere for a full Thai food experience. The food is awesome too! I ordered the Drunken Noodles with chicken. My husband ordered the Red Curry with shrimp (and he added pineapple). We also ordered the mango and sticky coconut rice desert! The food arrived VERY quickly. It was hot and fresh. Very good flavor. The curry was especially good. You could taste each flavor of lemongrass, kaffir lime and basil. The pineapple was fresh (not canned). The drunken noodles were so good! All of our orders were the best we have had from any Thai food restaurant. The portion sizes are good too. Not a whole lot extra, but plenty for my husband to be full! They actually gave us too much rice! I have never had that happen. All aspects of our food were perfect, even how spicy the dishes were. I think we ordered spicy number 7? They were so good!!! The service was nice and friendly. Our waitress was very nice and helpful. The prices were average for dinner. Not really expensive. The dishes range from 8-20 depending on what you get (most items are around $11 or $12). They have many choices too. Their menu is huge! I think I will try the pineapple duck next time! 5 stars because of the atmosphere, menu, food and service. Our new favorite restaurant!
(5)
G B.
Pricey but the food was great. Even a "keep-your-distance-from-anything-not-fried-rice-Âat-thai" guy like me tried and liked the kow something something noodle soup thingy. The place can get busy, but is pretty nice, cozy and fast (we were there after 8.30p) though. First time here, but will be coming back.
(5)
Dana O.
There is a reason why there is a wait here almost always. It is my go to Thai restaurant in north county San Diego and love the authentic Thai Flavors with the ever so American Thai menu. I don't care that real Thai people don't eat pad Thai this is the best in town. Don't let the shady parking lot next to a liquor store and consignment show deceive you because you will leave sweating delicious curry and loving it!
(5)
Angie S.
I absolutely LOVED this place! I can't wait to go back. I had the Panang curry and was soooooo pleased! The entire experience was really awesome from the app to dinner to the ambiance. Thanks so much for a delightful dinner!
(5)
joanna i.
Not sure when they started adding extreme amounts of sugar to everything but I can't have an order of drunken noodles without going into diabetic shock. Also, customer service has really gone downhill the busier they've gotten. Finally, I used to think this place was decently priced but $22 for a small order of pineapple fried rice is absolutely ridiculous. It's brown rice with bits of chicken and 2 pieces of shrimp. The food used to be great and the prices reasonable but now it's gone downhill. No thanks.
(2)
Michelle W.
DELISH! Nice atmosphere, tasty food, clean restroom, friendly staff, cozy booth... I really liked the decor - I felt like I was on vacation. The prices were reasonable. I also liked how tropical it felt, for being right on a parking lot! It really felt like an escape. The food was delicious, and I wanted to try a little of everything. I guess I'll just have to keep going back again and again just so I can!
(5)
Robert T.
Sloppy reservation-handling, but good food. Last Friday I set a reservation over the phone and when I arrived, they said they did not have me on the list. This pissed me off, because then I was treated like someone who didn't have a reservation and subjected to a 30-minute wait outside. Bangkok Bay needs to go to an Open Table-type of reservation system. Menu has great vegan options. My fiance said the Tom Kha soup was the best she has ever had and the drunken noodles, not the best but very good. She said she could see coming back to try everything on the menu. We both had drinks and food to bring home and the bill came under $100, I don't think their bill was correct Might be a better place to eat on weeknights. Weekends are very busy
(3)
GT W.
4-5 visits here and it sits at a higher 4-star Thai sit-down place for me. Upscale for Thai with romantic, darker ambiance. Homely, quiet feel. There are a few secluded dining rooms from the main dining room that I'm not wild about sitting in - too isolated. Food is pricier, but the location and ambiance make up for it. Service has always been great. Flavors and dishes always impress our group. I think it lacks a few dishes and preparation that keep it from being super authentic (such as minced meat with the pad kra pao). However, most dishes are solid and we keep coming back.
(4)
Ramya N.
I have been to this place a good number of times and it is one of my favorite Thai places around.This time though I took a couple of my friends here for a casual Friday night dinner since they were craving Thai. The place was pretty crowded but we were able to get our table in like 10 mins. The ambience is pretty cozy and comfy with Thai paintings hung all over the walls. Also, the staff is friendly and the service is great! We ordered golden fingers and Chicken wonton soup to start with and I enjoyed every sip of my soup. For the Entrees, we got spicy bay fried rice and hot basil with chicken. The food here is full of flavor and cooked to perfection. I was craving coconut water and they do serve fresh coconut water. Once the water is over, you can scoop and eat the young coconut fruit.
(4)
Lisa F.
Best Thai food anywhere!! Make reservations cuz they are always packed!
(5)
Richard M.
After watching Anthony Bourdain tour Thailand last night, I was inspired to continue my quest for good Thai food. At lunch today, I gave Bangkok Bay a try and was rewarded with a delicious meal in a peaceful, cozy restaurant. After looking over the lunch menu, I ordered the yellow curry with pork. It came with soup which was a light broth with bright citrus notes and nicely crisp bits of vegetable. The curry was rich and flavorful with perfectly prepared sticky rice to accompany. The ladies working the dining room were kind and attentive. I will be returning soon to continue exploring the menu.
(4)
L T.
Amazing food. Went for lunch with the family and everything was spectacular! ! The yellow curry, drunken noodles and the dessert, sticky rice with mango are to die for!!!!
(5)
Sharon V.
Stopped in here for lunch yesterday and thought this place was just ok. I came at 12:30 and was seated right away - I was surprised there wasn't a wait but I wasn't going to complain. The waitresses were very friendly and seemed to have a lot of regulars they knew by name which I thought was a good sign. Their lunch menu had great options and prices. I ended up choosing the chicken satay appetizer and the pad thai. I thought both were lacking a bit in flavor. The peanut sauce was blah (a squeeze of lime juice would've gone a long way) and the chicken a tad bit overcooked. I only had one of the four and the rest was packed up for later. Not fair to judge left overs but hubby had the skewers later for dinner and thought it was way overcooked and really lacked in flavor. It either needs more curry powder or needs to be marinated longer for the flavors to penetrate the meat. The pad thai serving size was on the smaller side so if you're a big eater, this probably wouldn't be enough for you. Flavor wise....ehh, decent but wished there was more of a kick to it. I don't know if you can request to get it more spicy but if so, I would've preferred the option. For $17.25, it was a decent lunch with 3 skewers left over for hubby's dinner but I probably wouldn't rush back to dine here again. Wouldn't rule it out though as service was very good and girls working were very nice and welcoming.
(3)
Jordan M.
I work in Del Mar, but I make the 10 minute drive up to Solana Beach during lunch to have Bangkok Bay Thai Restaurant, I think it's the best Thai food around the 92014 area. I've tried a couple over near El Camino and other shopping centers, they're good, but for the same price, I'd rather have better. I LOVE their yellow curry. I get a level three and it's delicious. I always evaluate Thai restaurants by the quality of their yellow curry. I'm not sure how valid that is, haha, but I feel like it's such a simple and standard dish, if they're messin' up the yellow curry, then they can't be trusted. LOL. The only complaint I had this time around was that the onions in my yellow curry were fairly raw, so they were VERY crunchy and had a really strong onion taste. My coworker usually gets the Tom Kha and she thinks it's delicious. She feels the same way I do about driving up here to get better Thai food instead of staying somewhere more local to our office. We had the Tom Yum soup today with our yellow curry and we felt it was a bit too salty. All in all, everything was very good. This is our third time here, so we will definitely be returning.
(5)
Sarah W.
My favorite Thai place!!!! Super delicious wonton soup and yellow curry. Drunken noodles were awesome too. Peanut sauce is to die for!!! Yum!
(5)
Yvette M.
YUMMY!! Heard about this place from SO MANY people. Finally went and they were right it's good!! The atmosphere is nice too!
(5)
Ann S.
Disappointing. Too salty. Food came out too fast and was not fresh. No itemized bill- had to ask for one and then there was an error so we had to ask for a credit.
(2)
Natalya C.
WOW! Tuesday 9 pm - the place is completely packed, that says something about popularity of this adorable family run Thai restaurant. I was craving some Thai food and got tired going to Taste of Thai every time, so with Yelp app in hand i found this tiny gem in the small strip mall in Solana Beach. The decor of the dining area is cozy and inviting with peaceful deem lighting. Its a pretty small restaurant so i don't think its good to bring a crowd here. They don't have a waiting area so you end up standing outside. After we finally got sited, my first order of business was to get my fav Chang beer, which is for some reason hard to come by in San Diego. After reading so many yelp tips, i ordered pad see ew with shrimp and my dinner date got spicy eggplant with chicken. In less then 10 minutes both our orders came out. My dish was full of flavor, noodles were perfectly cooked, the portion was very generous, enough to split for 2. Spicy eggplant was also just as delicious and succulent . Our server was gracious and attentive. A few drawbacks i found that their appetizers were overpriced, exp. $8 for 2 small skewers of chicken satay. They will charge you extra $2 for rice, where normally other Thai restaurants don't. Tip: make a reservation
(4)
Brittany C.
Best Thai food in the area! The restaurant is small so expect a wait. You can call ahead and get your name on the wait list. I called ahead on a Saturday and when we arrived, we only had to wait 10 minutes. Not bad! We ordered the Summer Roll and Tom Kha soup to start, followed by Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles. Everything was delicious! The wait staff is great, very attentive and friendly! Love this place and highly recommend!
(5)
Miss C.
I thought this place was pretty good. The atmosphere of the restaurant is really, really nice. I love the garden, the music and the decorations. Service is excellent and you feel well taken care of. It would have been really nice to relax here and have a nice meal. A lot of the other tables were full of rowdy families with very young children. I got the feeling that this restaurant caters to businessmen and families and I personally found the food to be very bland, even though it is cooked well.
(3)
Robert S.
I give this an easy 5 stars. We've been here for lunch and dinner on many occasions and they are great with their overall delicious consistency. To get a good idea of their small plate ability, I will always recommend the Bangkok Bay Boat. This offers almost everything in their appetizer arsenal and provides a good preview of what is available. When people go to Thai restaurants they either have Curry on their mind or Pad Thai. I haven't had much experience with the curry so i'll stick with what i know. I recommend the Pad Thai with Steak. It's the perfect meal and is wonderful as either a lunch special or dinner entree. If you're man enough to eat the full entree, i applaud your effort, but i can tell you the left overs are just as delicious as what is offered. The staff is always attentive and pleasant and the Thai decor of the restaurant gives an enchanted atmosphere that almost feels like something out of Indiana Jones (something heard from every kid under 12 in the restaurant). This is our go-to for Thai in North County and I feel spoiled that we're able to be in such close proximity to one of the Asian culinary treasures of North County San Diego.
(5)
Laura B.
This is the best thai food place in North County San Diego. The food here actually has flavor and if you want it spicy the food will still taste great. I usually order family style and have found that I like their drunken noodles, pad see ew, yellow curry, spicy rice, tom yum (basically everything I've tried is delicious). The decor here is pretty cool. There are thai pictures all over the walls. The lighting is low and the place is small and intimate. The restaurant is located in a strip mall on the 101 highway. There's parking easily available for free. I don't know if they take reservations but I don't usually have a problem eating here on short notice. I think once we waited ten minutes which wasn't too bad. The place is a bit pricey given that it's thai food but it's also Solana Beach, so it's expected. Additionally there aren't better alternatives nearby anyway.
(5)
Jordan M.
Best Thai in the city, hands down. We've established a "Thai Tuesday" at our office, and we end up here every week. Amazing food and value. Staff extremely friendly and accommodating. My favorites are the red or panang curry with seafood, and the papaya salad.
(5)
Jerry C.
This is one of our favorite Thai Places in San Diego. Been here several times and it is conveniently located in Solanda Beach which is very close by . Very small restaurant so if you don't have a reservation it can be a long wait. Everything is well done here including the Drunken Noodles, Crying Tiger, Hot Basil and Green Apple Salad. That being said - it a little more pricey here than other Thai Restaurants. Have never seen any coupon or Groupon deals.
(4)
Babita J.
Very good value for money Food is excellent and I love the fresh coconuts they have in mid summer I would really recommend this place for a nice dinner
(5)
KJ P.
Best Thai food I have ever had! The atmosphere is so cute too. The service was spectacular. I recommend the Thai ice tea spring rolls and green curry chicken. Mind blowing
(5)
Jeff B.
10+ spice level drunken noodle lived up to expectation. Quick and efficient. Fresh ingredients. Also, I inquired about the Thai iced coffee because I love Vietnamese coffee and she said the Thai was a bit milder - she was right. Very delicious!
(5)
Jodi W.
I love Bangkok Bay. I've had lunch, dinner and to go orders. I bring clients here for lunch and everyone always has great things to say. I wish they took American Express however. I've always enjoyed their food and can't think of a bad experience or meal here.
(5)
Tifany Q.
This place is amazing! My siblings and I were in town for work that weekend and decided to give this place a try since it was recommended by a friend. Came in on a Friday night and was told the wait would be about half an hour.. We decided to wait it out & glad we did cause we were sat within 5 minutes! It had a very romantic ambiance and the decor was just too cute!!! Definitely recommend: Tom Yum with Shrimp Pad See Yew Asparagus (!!) Crying Tiger (!!) Panang Curry with Shrimp (!!) BK Bay Ribs (!!) Shrimp Fried Rice That's what we ordered first night, plus the night after since we decided to come again... it was THAT good!!! Also, the service was great! Will definitely come back again when I'm in the area.. If you're craving delicious food, you HAVE to come here ;)
(5)
Khushbu G.
Love the atmosphere, service is very attentive and accomodating. I would highly recommend the drunken noodles!
(5)
Amy K.
I don't know if this restaurant is "as good as it gets" (what Yelp calls a 5 star review), but... I'm very happy with them. This was my second time here, and I've concluded they ARE a good Thai restaurant, and I'd gladly go back. I don't like their pad thai, but that's okay. This time I got panang curry, and I'd say it was perfection. Their sauce is a bit thick, and for the lunch they don't give quite enough rice. BUT no complaints from me! I loved the lunch, and it filled me up. For $10 each (including tip), my friends and I were all happy with our curry lunches! BEWARE their spicy is spicy! At other Thai restaurants, I order a 3 or 4 (out of 10). Here, I need a "mild". BEWARE you have to spend over $20 to use a credit card, and they don't accept split checks.
(5)
Marcy Llamas S.
I've tried several Thai restaurants in the area, but none of them are as good as Bangkok Bay. I love the baby bok choy especially... The people are friendly, and the atmosphere is calm and soothing. One of my favorite places to take out-of-town guests!
(5)
Jessica H.
Came here yesterday night for a date night with my wife. I would get a reservation if you plan on going later in the evening. Very good service and nice wine selection. Started off with a bottle of Sake and a glass of wine. The potstickers are so so good. Extremely tasty. I got the panang curry with chicken, very spicy. I absolutely loved it and found it so flavorful. My wife had the chicken pad Thai which I tried and would definitely recommend as well. This is my go to Thai restaurant for sure.
(5)
Dana B.
Went here with my husband a few weeks ago. I got the green veggie curry and he got a veggie dish- forget what it was called. Green curry was very good. I wouldn't say it's the best Thai I've had in San Diego, but it was good. The curry could have been a big stronger, was almost too much coconut milk, but the flavor was good. I'd eat here again if I wanted something close to where I live.
(4)
Faiza Q.
So me and my family are big thai food fans so were really excited that there was one close by and highly rated from where we were staying. We made a call ahead booking and were happy to get one on our desired time. So my first impression of this place is like you walked in to a thai gift shop. Highly over decorated with butterflies with glitter, buddha with its own water fountain. We get seated quickly and order the food. The restaurant seemed fully booked when we arrived. We ordered Chicken Satay, Calamari, Papaya Salad, Chicken Fried rice, Basil Chicken and Red curry beef. The Chicken Satay were ok but the peanut sauce you could tell was store bought. The calamari was seasonless. I'm a big fan of the Som Tum (papaya salad) and order one every time I eat thai food. This is by far the worst ones I've ever had. It was not spicy at all even the peanuts was not roasted or crushed. Then came the mains and the theme followed by being under seasoned. You know what they say 'If the locals don't eat there its definitely not Authentic!' Would not recommend
(2)
Mike M.
I met a friend in the middle for a Friday night dinner and that middle happened to be Solana Beach. Checked out Yelp and decided to come here without any reservations. The wait was only about 30 minutes at 7:30 and it passed pretty quickly on the benches out front. We had tom yum, red pork curry, spicy spinach and beansprouts, mango with sticky rice, and the fried banana with coconut ice cream. Everything tasted great but the service was rushed, it seemed like they were a little understaffed. No worries though as the employees were very pleasant and they carry the Thai staple beer Chang which kept me perfectly happy. Probably the best Thai I have had in north county, check it out.
(4)
Kris N.
The inside of the restaurant is so cute. It has a vintage Thai feel. The service was excellent. Everyone was very nice. The food was spicy. We ordered it as a 5. Wow! Don't go higher! We love Thai food and aren't adverse to spice, but this was hot! It made the dishes all taste similar to me. The food was good. No complaints, but I've had better Thai food at other Thai restaurants. All in all, we enjoyed ourselves and would recommend it to people in the area.
(4)
Jessica C.
my favorite thai spot in north county, possibly all of san diego. lotus thai downtown is equally as good. service is good. best tom kha soup i have found! pad thai great. drunken noodles good. i have had a few of the stir fry dishes, all very good as well. i will admit that i prefer Taste of Thai in del mars drunken noodles. other than that, great thai spot!
(4)
Claudia V.
This place is really something. The atmosphere is cozy, the staff is friendly and the food is amazing! I ordered 'Twisted Sisters' and it was SO good, very strong flavors, right amount of spiciness... I have nothing bad to say about it. Definitely recommend!
(5)
S D.
I honestly do not know how everyone is not Giving this place five stars! The ambience was perfect for a anniversary date! Such a cute place! The food was delicious!!! Loved this place!
I would give this place 4 stars but the service sucked so 3 stars is all I can give. The food was great and very flavorful however, my friend was charged extra for the brown rice that should have been included in the meal. Also, I was charged for rice I never ordered. Although $1.00 was removed from our tab, it should state there's an extra charge for brown rice. Lastly, once the check came we waited 15 minutes before we had to flag someone down to take our payment.
(3)
Jerrod B.
Best Thai food in Solana Beach and surrounding area. We always order to go, so I can't speak to the staff/location except to say that they're always very friendly when we pick up our orders. The food is to die for...some of the best I've had anywhere. Highly recommend to people who like good Thai food.
(5)
Andrew R.
Great little find.....food was awesome. We enjoyed both of the dinners we ordered. The people that work there were attentive and nice. Great Thai food!
(4)
Alli B.
Great food! Awesome atmosphere and really sweet people. I came here with family and everyone left very happy. Tip: they prefer cash
(5)
Laura G.
We were in the area looked on google for a near bye thai resturant. The review that we read on yelp were great. So we decide to stop by and give it a try. food we order was very delicious.the obionce was great. Great service .
(5)
Banu K.
The Siam Noodles rock! Very sweet service. The food was simply delicious. They accomodated my party who had vegetarian and gluten-free requests. A simple, small place in the middle of coastal Solana Beach. A fave to take my out of town guests each time!
(5)
Tom D.
Soooooo good! This was my first time here, I will definitely be back.
(5)
Thomas L.
Oh. My. Lord. Do you like Thai food? Do you like the BEST THAI FOOD?? Go here. Never ever disappointed. Yellow curry. Yum. Som tam? Oh so good. Tom kha to die for and angels wings that will knock your socks off. Pretty much anything is so authentic you'll be bowing to the king when you leave. They can make dishes more mild for you sissy punks out there but everything is So delicious as is. It gets busy so call ahead if you can for reservations. Don't be shy about this thai!!! Best thai food this hemisphere no doubt. Don't even waste time on other places you are blowing it so hard. Dates will be so impressed with your cultural skills even if you don't get some, you get some great food. Ya heard??? Church.
(5)
Jenelyn A.
Get the tom kha!! Idk if i spelled that right but its definitely the best coconut soup you will ever try!!! Ever!! Its really good like warm butta . :)
(5)
Rene P.
Anyone who regularly reads my reviews will know that I tend to be critical when it comes to Asian restaurants not on Convoy. This is particularly true for highly-rated places where the ratings reflect not so much the quality of the food but the lack of food knowledge of the clientele. Surprisingly, however, I didn't hate Bangkok Bay. In fact, I kind of liked it. To be sure, it still caters to an off-Convoy (read: wealthy and White) crowd. One older lady exclaimed to the waitress that she comes here twice a week. I think the waitress and I shared a moment in which we were both thinking, "umm... ok." But, in eating my drunken noodles, I could kind of understand why. The noodles were enticingly fresh, and the pork was tender. Summary: Hats off to Bangbok Bay for doing an excellent job serving the wealthy, White ladies of the world!
(4)
Kirsten D.
I had high hopes for this place because of the reviews. But after 2 attempts I don't think I'll go back. Nothing bad happened and our service was always great. It's just that the food isn't very good, the portions aren't that big, and price is just kind of ridiculous. ($7 for a small soup is a bit much) It's obviously a popular place because it gets busy very early. I guess I just don't get it?? The spice level here is very mild. I ordered an 8 both times and it tasted like a 2. If you like spicy, order a 10+. Oh, and they give a discount if you pay in cash.
(2)
John C.
While staying recently in Solana Beach we were craving Thai food and we happened upon Bangkok Bay. Restaurant was tiny, very packed and poorly lit. It was very clean and well decorated. Service was really good. We really enjoyed the food. I had Chicken Pad Thai, my wife had a shrimp dish (I forget the name). We also ordered the Chicken Satay skewers. They were amazing and the peanut sauce was perfect! The food was reasonably priced and the quantity was ideal. This place could benefit from expansion to a larger location. Definitely give this place a try, you'll be pleased.
(4)
Michael J.
I've been here a number of times (not by choice), and have tried a variety of dishes, and each time I imagine that this is what Buddy the Elf must taste when he smothers his spaghetti with maple syrup and candy. There isn't one thing on the menu that isn't sickeningly sweet. Their version of spicy noodles (drunken noodles) is sweet. The spicy fried rice is sweet. Their satay sauce is sweet. The plum fish sauce for the calmari is sweet. The sauce for the egg rolls is sweet. Their freaking Pad Thai, which I have never experienced, in its many iterations, made sweet, was sweet. The ONLY thing that wasn't sweet is the soup that they serve before the meal, which is overloaded with salt instead. I'm surprised the water here isn't dosed with a bit of sugar.
(1)
Karah C.
Love this joint. They have young delicious coconut on the menu. Cool atmosphere and everything we have tried has been on point. Usually super busy during dinner time.
(5)
Nova J.
Yum, yum, yum!!! Great Thai food, great atmosphere, great service. Since its hidden in a small shopping center, I was surprised that it was a quality date night restaurant with really tasty, Thai food. Best I've had in Cali!
(5)
Michelle H.
My mom took me to this place for the first time last night, it was really good! The ambiance and decor is beautiful and very authentic feeling. The lychee martini was really good. I wasn't a huge fan of the golden triangle but we had the Twisted Sister which was really good and the panang curry and drunken noodle were also pretty good. I will definitely be going back and trying new things :)
(4)
Sucre E.
Wanted to go out and have something nice to eat on new years eve. It was close to where I live and the lady on the phone said wait line was moving fast. Ordered their tofu soup, drunken noodles and beef fried rice. Everything was pretty good. Small restaurant with nice interior. Their prices were relatively reasonable too.
(4)
I. K.
My boyfriend and I came here last night to have dinner right before going to a show at belly up. He got the pad see ewe with chicken and I got the pad Thai with chicken. His dish needed some sweet and sour sauce but otherwise was pretty tasty and my dish was delicious. it's a good choice if you're in the area craving some Thai.
(3)
Sarah S.
Best Thai food in this area for sure. Super authentic, and the coconut/ mushroom soup is amazing. Love this place.
(5)
Eliana S.
Family owned, which is something that always makes me personally happy. :) I find the decor and the many plants makes the restaurant a calming atmosphere. The food is good and I love how there are unusual dishes if you're up for an adventure. We got the Golden Triangle, super good I highly recommend it. The Larb Kai salad, I thought that it was a bit too salty and there wasn't enough lettuce with it but it was still good. And then for the entree we got the Angel Wings, oh my God those were so good. You should try it just trust me on this. ;) On the overall the servers are friendly and accommodating, plus it's fun seeing the mom pop around checking on people. The atmosphere is wonderful. The food is really good, the price to portion ratio is a bit on the meh side, it could be better but I've had a lot worse when it comes to serving size. You won't leave hungry but you won't have leftovers either unless you're a light eater. Either way, I really like this place and will definitely come again :)
(4)
JM D.
Ate dinner here tonight. I had the chicken pad thai; I read another review on here that said the it was a bit sweet & boy do I agree. It was an overall ok dining experience, not stellar; the food is decent, the service wasn't bad just not great. It kinda felt like we were being rushed. I probably would not go back or recommend this place unless someone's asked specifically about Thai food in Solana Beach, again not because I thought it was awful, just think there's better elsewhere.
(3)
Matthew S.
The food is pretty good and very quick for lunch time. I personally like the Panang curry. However, I am not overly impressed by anything and I never leave feeling great. They say the curry - with the exception of yellow - is gluten free and safe to eat with celiac - they take care not to have cross - but I am skeptical from my past experiences. If you have celiac I would think twice. Price wise you will pay around $10. But bring cash because they do not accept credit card charges under $20.
(3)
Alvaro M.
This place is still good, but it's lost a lot of its mojo. The dishes don't seem as authentic as they used to be. Lots of bell peppers and other cheap veggies as "filler" for the dishes that used to contain more meat or more pricey veggies. I'm still giving it a three-star because I've always loved this place, but it's slipping, and fast.
(3)
Sherie H.
Well I have finally found my favorite Thai restaurant in San Diego. Went with my best friend, she had the Pad Thai and I had the Yellow chicken curry. DELICIOUS. We went at 7pm on a Friday and were seated fairly quickly. Very busy but everyone moved fast and was still attentive. Really great place.
(5)
Amy A.
Food is not authentic. Tom Yum tasted like vinegar with fish sauce soup. Green curry doesn't taste like green curry. Lychee martini is lychee canned juice mixed with vodka. Over priced. Rethink before you come.
(1)
Laura C.
Yum! I came here to get take out so my review is mostly for the food and only partially for the service since I didn't eat in. When I entered the restaurant and let them know I was ordering to go they were very nice and accommodating, provided me with a menu, and a place to sit while I took a gander at it. The restaurant itself is very nice inside with low (but not too dark) lighting and lots of beautiful decorations. It made me want to come back with the DH to dine in. I ordered the panang curry with chicken and an order of the mango and coconut rice. They had the food ready within 15 minutes or so which I feel is a reasonable amount of time. The panang curry with chicken was d-licious. The chicken was all breast meat. The curry was well flavored. It had green beans and red bell peppers in it which I love. The curry came with a box of rice which I thought was kind of on the small side for the amount of curry. When the woman there asked me for heat level I said a "2" b/c I've to other Thai places where you say 2 and they bring out a 5... it's all subjective. The 2 was nice w/ practically no heat (in my opinion). However, the curry had such yummy flavor that I didn't mind the lack of kick. My DH wasn't here to eat the take out w/ me so I was able to split the curry and rice between two meals. The mango and coconut rice... oh, yum! I felt kind of guilty eating more rice after the first round of rice. That feeling faded quickly... The mango was perfectly ripe. It was really nice. The rice itself was just the right amount of sweet and delicious! My only qualm with Bangkok Bay is the price. I understand that they are located on Coast Highway in Solana Beach and that with that the rent is likely to not be cheap. However, I think my order was $21 and some change. $13 (about $4 more than other places) of that was the curry and $7 was the mango with rice. The rest was tax... I've been to a few other places where curry is typically cheaper. However, I will say that they use very fresh ingredients at Bangkok Bay and again, they are located in Solana Beach so... I would definitely come back again and plan on doing so with the DH in tow.
(4)
Goen K.
Came in for dinner with le hubby. Service was nice. It took 30 minutes to be seated. Twice as long as the girl told us, but for the seating availability, I don't blame her. Sat down and ordered. After getting our meal, I immediately noticed our beef salad. I'm sorry to say that cucumbers and tomatoes do not make up for the lack of beef. The fried rice was nice, except for the lack of flavor. The pad Thai noodle was a little over cooked and may have sat on the wok for a little too long causing the sauce to be obsolete. Now for the Tom yum soup.. It has a nice kick to it, but the fact that it didn't have much to offer except just that. It didn't seem to have an actual base flavor. Like they took some water and added a pinch of spices to it. I like the service, but not the food. 5 star service + 1 star food = 2 star review.
(2)
Scarlett C.
My husband and I have come here more times then I can count. We mostly do take out but have dined in before. It gets very busy so plan to wait to dine in or call multi times for pick up. Items we have had: 1. Wonton soup - small and large are both a lot of soup 2. Chicken Satay- best in San Diego, great peanut sauce 2. Drunken Noodle- best in San Diego, a lot of meat with a balance of vegetables 3. Hot Basil- very good, like drunken noodle but with rice instead 4. Crying tiger- husband said it was a healthy option very good We have had other dishes but these are our time choices... you can't go wrong here.
(5)
Andrew S.
They seem to switch up the lunch special soup often. Yesterday I got the egg drop soup which was very tasty. The Tom Kha Kai soup here is also very good. They do not give as much vegetables in the soup as some other thai restaurants I have been to, but the soup is amazing. The curry here is exceptional as well. I have tried the green curry yesterday and it has always been one of my favorites here. You have an option between white and brown rice. They have plenty of veggies in the curry, but the green curry soup is the most amazing part! I love the pad thai here as well. The noodles are fresh and delicious! They do not stick together as much as they do at some other thai restaurants I have been to. Come early to beat the lunch rush. The ambiance is very nice too. Very decorative to match the theme of the restaurant. Service is great as well! Food comes out fast! Within 10 minutes of ordering even at a busy time!
(5)
Tina V.
Bangkok Bay is almost always busy when we get in the Thai mood. That is because their food is excellent! The service is friendly and prompt. Green Curry with shrimp is our must-have and their presentation is perfect. We like number 4 heat - hot enough to clear the passages, leaving all flavors desired. As a second choice, we try to venture out to try a new dish. We have not been disappointed. 3 Thai brothers is a light and tasty side with baby bok choi, mushrooms and tofu, simple and full of flavor. The Pad Thai is tasty too; we choose beef, although the waitress suggested duck. Perhaps next time... The Thai coffee was a pleasant change from the Thai tea, which is always yummy, but sometimes too filling for me. The lettuce wrap appetizers are a great start. For an amazing finish, try the coconut ice cream and fried bananas. Wow! The coconut is refreshing, with a toasty taste that lingers just long enough. This is my first Thai choice, for sure.
(5)
Tyler M.
Took an hour and a half to get my food with No explanation. Rude waiter/Bad service. First time I leave a bad restaurant review.
(1)
Joe M.
I had earlier given this place 4 stars based on my visit on Dec 21st. I went back for dinner on Dec 23rd and modifying my review. Second time the food was very disappointing, it was tasteless and the service was not very friendly. So as others said, it is a hit and miss. The food was ready when promised and the price is reasonable for this part of town. The plain rice is still overcooked, mushy and tasteless.
(2)
Midlife C.
Good food, but extremely pricey. I've had better Thai food for a lot less money. I guess we're all having to pay for their rent.
(3)
Michael S.
I think Bangkok Bay is a hidden gem and probably has the best Thai food I've found in North County. The restaurant itself is small and unassuming with classic decor, which was probably assembled over many years. The interior is a bit dark and dare I say romantic, but not so much that you couldn't have a business lunch. The crowd is eclectic and not business lunchy at all, with a mix of locals, beach types and friends meeting up. A buddy told me that the last time he was there the back room hosted a private event for a bunch of pro surfers. Bangkok Bay is relaxing and casual - very low key. We've done takeout and we've eaten in. There can be a wait at peak times but at lunch last week we went in and sat right down. The three of us ordered lunch specials featuring classic Thai favorites: Pad See Ew with pork, Drunken Noodles with chicken or maybe tofu and Panang Curry with shrimp. I had the curry, which was great, and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. Every dish was exceptional, per usual. Great place.
(4)
Dan K.
This has to be the best all-round Thai place in north county for Thai. Bases loaded and hits it out the park. The food is authentic and great quality. Plenty of fresh veggies, plenty of noodle choices, curries, and different meats. Even a variety of entree style plates like whole fish, salmon, and grilled duck. A Thai friend of mine agrees with me and thinks this is the best place she has been to in San Diego. The service is great, provided by a slew of thickly accented Thai women, who are eager to please and always smiling. This is not like other South-East Asian restaurants that have horrible lighting and atmosphere. This place is dimly lit (as it should be), with a fountain and plants all in the restaurant with some light music playing in the background. Its like eating in a spa. The place is small, so you might want to make reservations. They dont have a bar area to sit in, but have seating directly outside if you are waiting.
(5)
Merry L.
Tried this place last night for the first time. Cute interior- very zen feeling. All of the food was very tasty. The yellow curry and the Pad see ew were great. . The glass noodle and tofu dish was good. The noodles had a ton of flavor, where the tofu was a bit bland. Their meats are high quality beef and pork. Nice to not get all fat and grizzle. The service was good, not great. We got in early but the place was packed when we left. My only issue was an inconsistency in the spice in my dish. Some bites were very mild and others super spicy. Need to mix their sauces a bit better. We will definitely be back to try some more dishes.
(4)
Justine M.
Favorite Thai restaurant in San Diego. My family and I eat here a lot for birthdays and special events because it's just that good. Typically order the pineapple fried rice or drunken noodles and it is always phenomenal! Make sure to order their tom kha, it's the best in San Diego. My sister is vegan and discovered this place, they have exceptional mock duck and other vegan/vegetarian options, too. The staff is always super friendly and courteous and the atmosphere is cozy and unique. It is a small restaurant so if you're in a hurry or have a large group with you, make sure to call ahead and make a reservation.
(5)
Abbie H.
Hands down my favorite Thai restaurant, anywhere. Bangkok Bay is right down the street, which is dangerous and oh so wonderful. What do I love about BB? Firstly, they do NOT mess around with the spiciness! If I say I want an 8, they give me a super spicy 8. They don't look at me like I'm crazy and dumb it down for me. Secondly, the prices are great for how much food you get. Thirdly, if you order takeout it is always ready in a super swift amount of time, even on a weekend evening. I usually get a yellow curry with chicken but have also had the drunken noodles, both are heavenly. They are always friendly and it's a super cute little restaurant with an authentic Thai feel. Can't say enough good things about it.
(5)
Quynh D.
The food was very good. We ordered pineapple fried rice with crab instead of chicken and panang salmon. The salmon was a little plain though. Very pretty and cozy decoration also. The waiters were super nice. My favorite thai place now. I wish it were closer to where i live.
(5)
Tad C.
All in all this place was good. I would come back for sure. Nice way to get together with friends and away from all of the tourists.
(3)
Chandler P.
We were staying in Solana Beach recently in a nearby hotel and could smell the wonderful aroma's coming from this restaurant so we had to check it out. It has a small dining room so it would be best to get a reservation for minimum wait time. We walked over at about 8pm and the place was packed. Two or three couples were waiting outside already for a table but she estimated about 20 minutes wait time. We sat down and waited and we were impressed at how they would come outside to see how we were doing and apologized for us waiting. We were seated very close to our wait time and our server came to our table right away. I had never had Thai Iced Tea before but I love iced tea so I thought I would give it a shot. If you haven't had it before, I would suggest you ask for a taste because it definitely has a different taste which I did not enjoy. I bet you that it is more of an acquired taste but didn't work for me. I am sure people who know Thai Iced Tea would probably say it's great. As were were waiting outside, it did give us a chance to read the reviews on Yelp. We saw lots of reviews that recommended the Pineapple Fried Rice, Twisted Sister and the Drunken Noodles so we went with those and we were not disappointed. Each had a unique flavor that was very good and there seemed to be a competition on who could finish the Drunken Noodles first. All in all, great food, great ambiance, great service. Would definitely go again if we are in the area.
(5)
Abigail S.
Went here for my birthday a few months ago but before that I had gone five or six times over the years if not more. My favorite food is thai so I am pretty critical when I go to a thai place and this place is PHENOMENAL. Honestly everything is just amazing I have no complaints. I am a woman of habit and I always get pad see ew noodles and they are always amazing the portions are large enough to split one entree or take some home and feast on that stuff at 12am like the guilty pleasure it is!
(5)
Jay E.
One of the best Thai restaurants in San Diego county. The food is excellent...service is great...and atmosphere is pretty cool.
(4)
Mark F.
The soup is supreme. This is one of the better Thai places north of San Diego. Good service. Good value.
(5)
Lanya G.
Now that is some good Thai! Possibly the best in SD, I've been frequenting this spot for a few years now and I love it every time! The inside decor is very cozy and cute but not very big, so at busy hours you will most likely be waiting for a bit. My favorite items here are the spicy drunken noodles with wide rice noodles, eggplant with vegetables, I ask for added broccoli to this dish and YOU MUST TRY THE TOM YUM SOUP! Gawd that soup is so ammmaazing! Its a clear spicy broth with little shredded slivers of cabbage and the flavor is lime+spicy! Probably my two favorite flavors! But omg! Try it, if you like spicyness you won't regret it! Great thai food!
(5)
Lara R.
Great food and very friendly. We had green curry and panang curry, both delicious. And the heat scale is accurate, my 7 was pretty spicey. I liked the decor as well. I will definitely be back and try more dishes. Wish it was closer to my work, I'd come here weekly for sure.
(5)
Jem B.
Finally have crab fried rice & pretty close to flavors of being in Thailand! BK ribs were sweet & bit of acidity. Decor was cute. Friends enjoyed there meals. Thai iced was big, service was friendly but seemed to rush us. Will be back!
(4)
Heidi E.
We have been going to Bangkok Bay for more than 10 years and I am amazed to say that we have never had even the slightest disappointment. This place is so good, so consistent and has such a lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. It's our favorite restaurant in San Diego, hands down. If you like great Thai food, do yourself a favor and give it a try.
(5)
Elizabeth S.
My favorite Thai restaurant in San Diego. I always get the yellow curry and panang. The fresh rolls are great too :) it's pretty small inside and gets very busy. Great for takeout!
(5)
Flix N.
drunken noodles were amazeballs. noodles and veggies cooked to perfection.
(4)
Dana M.
Oh man! What a shame. I have had 3 really positive experiences, one decent experience, and most recently, a negative one. The decent experience was the second time I came, and it was mostly because of the people sitting near us. They complained that something was wrong with the soup, and then about the heat of the dish, etc. It seemed to be non-stop. If they didn't like the restaurant, they were just being picky. I really liked it. Unfortunately And then I've been several times since then and just loooved it! The mango sticky rice is absolutely killer, and the dishes are all very solid. Huge menu for vegetarians, which I dig, but not confining to non-vegetarians. All in all, a people pleaser restaurant! So I brought a friend recently, and felt embarrassed by the time we left for even suggesting it! A few things happened: 1. The appetizer we ordered was an avocado and cream cheese fried dumpling. Hard to mess that up! But they did. The avocado was extremely unripe, to the point where it was difficult to eat. Why serve that to us?? 2. My dish came late and it was cold. So far, only small things.. 3. There was a large piece of plastic in my food. I thought it was a unique caramelization of my glass noodles until I bit into it, and realized it was actually a folded up piece of plastic from a bag! Gross. 4. They wouldn't split the check if it was under $40. And I've never really been crazy about the fact that there's such a large discount with cash, so it doesn't surprise me that they do this too. We were $4 under. Would they have not let me pay with a card if I went in by myself and totaled up less than $20? The only thing that seemed really bad was the large piece of plastic. All the other 3 were relatively forgivable. It was just really a shame that all four of those happened in the same meal. There just wasn't a problem-free part of our meal. So I'm mixed. I'd like to go back because of the several times that it's been great, and it seems pretty fairly priced for what they give. But then I cringe because of the last time. I'll update when/if I go again.
(3)
Peter H.
Been here twice now and multiple other Thai places in North County area. So far this is one of the best Thai places I've been to in the area. This last trip was with some out of town guests, they liked it a lot. We had a variety of dishes, from chicken satay, papaya salad, panang curry, crab fried rice, and more. Definitely recommend this place for people looking for Thai food.
(5)
Paula I.
Beautiful and fun atmosphere. Felt like I was in Thailand. Add to that I had a handsome date, well the ambiance could not be better. The food was amazing. We had a wonderful green curry with brown rice. Flavorful and fresh! The pineapple fried rice had tender chicken and plump shrimp with juicy ripe pineapple. Oh yeah, did I mention my date was darling? But besides that I loved this place. Cracked me up that everyone leaving with Togo orders had huge bags with at least 5 entrees. Obviously a good sign.
(5)
C V.
This is one of the best Thai spots I have ever been to. And I just stumbled upon it by searching on yelp on my way from LA to Mexico. My man and mom loved it too. I will definitely return.
(5)
Rachel M.
Best thai food in San Diego. The service is wonderful. The restaurant is so cute inside.
(5)
Amy L.
Was staying next door at the Courtyard Marriott and stumbled on this place. When I saw how full it was, I knew I was in for a treat. They didn't disappoint- the food was fresh and yummy! I liked the fact that they used fresh vegetables and didn't apply a disproportionate amount of oil to the dishes. Seemed healthier and tasted homemade. I could have used a tad more spice but I understand they are probably catering to the average american pallet. As a bonus, the ambiance of this place is nice too. Great hidden restaurant in a strip mall!
(4)
Brian B.
Bangkok Bay is amazing! It's not the cheapest place but it is well worth it! I come to eat here at least once a week and am never disappointed. The food is amazing and fresh, the servers are always polite and helpful, and there is usually no wait for a table! I recommend the Cashew Nut Chicken, but you really can't go wrong with anything here!
(5)
Mark D.
Was staying in Del Mar and found reviews high for this- so drive up a short ways to Solano Beach and found this Thai place. It was packed with people- luckily we got seated right away and like everyone else says in their reviews- we were served rather quickly - I had the Tom Yum soup which was good. I would have liked it to be spicy to a hotter extent- but yet delicious. We got the potstickers which was a good tummy filling starter- then we had our pad thai and that was delicious. The waitress was sweet and attentive. Highly recommend!!!
(5)
Larissa L.
All I can say is this place is the absolute best!!! Don't know what I would do with out it... Yellow curry and pad see ew are amazing... The inside is really cool and makes you feel like your in an authentic restaurant in Thailand. It is always a fun experience to go for dinner and they have great lunch specials if your just looking to fill your belly with delicious thai food.
(5)
Travis C.
All I can say is this place is busy and there is a good reason... SOOOO GOOD! Keep it up!
(5)
Natasha O.
I've only had take-out from here but its delicious every time! I work right near the restaurant and usually order here for lunch. I highly recommend this restaurant. My favorites are the cashew nut chicken, spring rolls and pot stickers.
(5)
Charles B.
stick to the curry and the soups you will never be disappointed. Also avoid coming around 7 Fridays and Saturdays.
(5)
Kelly G.
Great little restaurant! The atmosphere was perfect for a first date to a family dinner. The food is amazing. Everything was fantastic. Including the Thai Iced Tea. Yum!
(5)
Rebecca N.
Cute little restaurant our friends took us to. This place has good authentic Thai food (I lived in Thailand for 3 months so I would know). I perferably like it hot but my husband can't tolerate it so I went with Medium for everything and it made us both happy. The Tom Yum soup is always good. My husband and I always each pick something and share it so I ordered the drunken noodles medium hot (may have been a little too hot for my hubs but I loved it) and he ordered the mild yellow curry which was very tasty- a great mixture together. The prices are about $12 a plate.
(5)
Amber W.
I was recently in Thailand and had some of the best food I've ever had in my life. But even in Thailand some of the food was not as good as Bangkok Bay. I have been coming here for 8 or 9 years and have always, always had excellent food and service. The levels of spiciness are always spot on and I have never been disappointed with a meal. The atmosphere is also very authentic. I would suggest making a reservation as there can sometimes be quite a wait, especially on weekends.
(5)
Katie B.
This place never let's us down!!!!! Chicken Pad thai is amazing!!!! cozy little place that gets busy :) its one of our favorite hidden gems in Solana Beach
(5)
G J J.
Food was good...actually very good...BUT...have you noticed that you can't hear anyone talk in here? There is some sort of an acoustical problem whereby you can't hear your fellow guests at your own table on busy days. They messed up the order a few times, but were efficient in terms of rectifying the issue. They are quick to take away plates, which is annoying, but they also frequently fill up the water like hound dogs on beef jerky. I'd say - if you are eating alone...which is almost never, I guarantee you, then this is a good place. Otherwise, try Taste of Thai up the road a bit, and get consistently good food and ambiance.
(3)
Lauren L.
This place is good, the food is decent. I'd have given it a 4 stars if I didn't think that they are over-priced. I just had some very very good Thai food in Boston, so my expectations were high.... ( dokbuathai.com in Boston) I found that the food is comparable to Amarin Thai, but Amarin Thai is priced much better. The Beef Salad is good, especially the fact that the beef are freshly grilled to medium rare. The Chicken Satay [$7] has a lot of room for improvement, and they don't even have Pork Satay or Beef Satay... boooooo.... :-( They also don't even have one of the most traditional thai appetizer: Tod-Mun (Fish Cake)..... another booooooo..... Angel Wings.... I personally found them too stuffy.... I guess, others may have liked them better.... so, you can count this as my personal issue.... Overall, I think I will give it another try later, maybe with a larger group of people, when I can try more of their dish. The food is not bad, just over-priced. So, if you don't mind paying up... I think this place worth 4 stars... (PS. I'll post pics soon....)
(3)
Ms. C.
We were visiting from the Bay Area and used Yelp to find this restaurant. I definitely have had better. The Tom Ka soup was too creamy and the yellow curry and Pad Thai was just o.k. It's hard to find great Thai food but I was disappointed because there were so many positive Yelp reviews.
(3)
Ed M.
Great food.... Make reservations because it is always busy and the waitlist system is broken!
(2)
Lisa G.
We went to this restaurant with the recommendation from the hotel nearby where we were staying at. Plus we were in the mood for some Thai food. I had their Thai tea and I really liked it (so much that I got two of them). There are no refills for Thai tea, you pay each time. It is on the sweet side but I like my drinks sweet so it was perfect. We had the dumplings for our appetizer and they were pretty good. It was different than some other places we've had. For entrees we had the Garlic and Pepper with chicken, which was pretty good and Pad See Ew with beef, which was horrible. We ordered the Pad See Ew after reading some of the reviews on how great it tasted and I have to say it was the worse beef I've had at a Thai restaurant. I have had way better Thai food than here so not sure what all the rave is about.
(2)
Jeffrey T.
I love eating in at Bangkok Bay - they've got a great vibe inside and unique decorations. I've always enjoyed their dishes, each one has been very tasty. My only complaint is that they don't seem to use the highest quality ingredients - the chicken in particular wouldn't rate as the highest grade, and for the price I was disappointed.
(4)
Jerry Y.
Been there a few times for dinner and the food has been consistently good. My favorites dishes are Pad Woon Sen (glass noodles) with fried tofu, and Panang curry with duck. They are always packed for dinner so call ahead and make a reservation.
(5)
Sol C.
One of the best thai iced teas I ever had. However the price at this restaurant is way too expensive. If you drive 10 miles away from Solana beach you'll find more reasonable prices for the same quality of food. The pad thai was okay. The thai chicken was above average. But I'll remember the frosty thai iced tea the most! Service was fantastic.
(3)
Thomas M.
I love my Thai food so I was so pumped when I found out about this place. Lunch special is great. I have been here multiple time and it's good every time.
(4)
Timo E.
This place had great reviews. So I drove a long way, out of my way to go to it only to discover that they had closed their doors 15 minutes early. Won't be coming back! Restaurants have to learn to keep their hours. People count on them
(1)
K B.
Bangkok Bay is one of the best Thai restaurants I have ever experienced. We were a party of 4 and shared 2 appetizers (pot stickers & half moons) both delicious. We also shared 4 entries, green curry, pad thai, hot basil and sizzling tiger, all amazing. 3 in our group had never had green curry and they loved it. We had excellent, attentive service. When back in this area I'll definitely eat here again.
(5)
Marianne E.
The food is delicious! I had the crying tiger and my wife had cashew nut chicken. We were both very impressed. The service was good and the atmosphere was quaint. We went for lunch so it was not crowded but I read that reservations are suggested for dinner. I would definitely go again when in the area.
(5)
Bando Y.
Honestly the best Thai food I have ever had in a beautiful intimate setting. Check it out. I love the Kow Soi dinner with Shrimp. Don't miss the coconut milk soup.
(5)
Caitlin H.
Favorite thai place in San Diego. Everything is delicious and they have an amazing lunch special. Soup, egg rolls and an entree for $8!!! The cream cheese and avocado wontons are insanely delicious. Try em!
(5)
John S.
Got takeout from here last night for a group. Had heard friends rave about the place so decided to give it a try. We were very disappointed. The summer rolls were generic. The Larb Kai lacked flavor and came with tiny lettuce leaves which were difficult to use as cups. The Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles were OK, although it had to be the least spicy Drunken Noodles I've ever had. They never asked us what spicy level we wanted in the dishes, but they shouldn't default to zero. The Kow Sai Noodles were horrible, a bland watered down curry lacking the rich flavor this dish normally has. The Hot Basil and Slicky Rice were decent, but overall not a good experience.
(2)
Abby W.
If it weren't for Yelp, I wouldn't have even known that this Thai restaurant existed! It's located in a small strip of shops along the coast highway in Solana Beach and although I've driven along that road on several occasions, I've never seen this spot. My boyfriend and I discovered it on Yelp a few months ago and decided that we would give it a try for lunch. Well, today was the day! We stopped in just after the lunch crowd and browsed the lunch specials, which are Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. We selected our Thai favorites, beef pad see ew and chicken yellow curry. Both dishes were delicious! My only slight complaint is that the beef is a little chewy but the rest of the meal was wonderful. The yellow curry was one of the best that we've ever had! The lunch special also includes a bowl of soup and today's soup was Tom Kha. The coconut broth was tasty and there were lots of veggies too. While not a fancy restaurant, Bangkok Bay has an authentic Thai decor that adds a nice vibe. The service was friendly but not very prompt. My boyfriend waited awhile to have his water refilled and it took quite some time after we finished eating for the check to arrive. I would recommend stopping by for their lunch specials. Priced at $8-11, you can save about $5 a meal over coming at dinner, plus you get free soup! Sounds good to me! Quick tip: I noticed on their menu that they only accept credit cards for bills of over $20 so plan accordingly.
(4)
Shawn H.
Bangkok Bay is the perfect lunch destination - just be sure to get here early because the dining room fills up fast! The lunch menu is pretty extensive and well priced. There is sure to be a dish available for anyone. The regular menu picks up where the lunch menu started, offering a bevy of authentic and delicious dishes. The decor here is awesome. You don't feel like your sitting in a shopping center in Solana Beach. The art on the walls, and the overall atmosphere work to take you away. The staff is extremely attentive and polite. The service is quick without compromising quality. I enjoy eating here and taking friends and loved ones here when in the area. This is a definite go to eatery if you are looking for Thai in the Solana Beach/Del Mar area.
(5)
Monet R.
I love their food. I've been going there for years. I haven't had a curry better than theirs.
(5)
Joy C.
Best Thai food we have been able to find in San Diego. Others agreed it was most authentic. We have had chicken pad sew yew, shrimp and pinneapple fried rice, BK fried rice, potstickers, and papaya salad. All dishes were very tastey. I have noticed that the spice levels vary from lunch to dinner likely due to different chefs. Lunch tends to be less spicy and dinner is more spicy, so keep that in mind when selecting your spice range on 10 point scale.
(4)
Kimiye N.
This place was delicious! Granted I came in here around 3pm on a Saturday just for a little piece of mind on my own. This was perfect, like most places during the lunner time, it was relaxed but always other patrons around. I ordered the papaya salad, thinking I'd be hungry to order something else and I didn't need to. Which I'm actually slightly disappointed at myself for. I typically go for the green curry, but today I decided to keep it light. The wait staff was super friendly and didn't mind that my order was so small! Still very kind and checked on me to see if it was good. The papaya salad was delicious, the dressing was perfectly spiced (7) and vinegar-y enough for me to want to take it home and dip anything I can get my hands on into it. For the sake of not being "that girl" I chose not to ask. I highly recommend this restaurant and will be back to order my usual, and maybe more.
(5)
Pat G.
I have had Thai food before, several times. This was different, this was THAI FOOD. Delicious, full of flavors and I wish I could go back, every week. I can't, I was on vacation from the other side of the country There were four of us so we ordered four different items and shared. I have to admit that I didn't care for the spring rolls, they were all white inside, I like to see some color. However the people I was dining with liked them so I'm not marking down for them. I am really not sure what we ate except for the chicken curry. (see picture, maybe you can name that Thai food). I have actually made chicken curry from scratch. Nothing I've made or had in a restaurant can stand up to the flavor in this dish, including the rice.
(5)
An L.
Awesome find in Solana beach. A friend suggested this place today for lunch, and it didn't disappoint! Fresh, authentic Thai food. As good as any other Thai place I've been to if not, better. We came at a good time 'cause this place got busy soon after we arrived. It fills up pretty quick. Service was fast and friendly. Check out their lunch specials, very reasonable. Good little find, I'll be coming back for sure!
(5)
Jenn P.
Excellent food and service! I have been going here for years and they are consistently excellent!
(5)
Tania G.
Pad thai and Kao Soi were the best!
(5)
Kali J.
3/5 times, this place is amazing. The other 2 times it's a crapshoot. Slow service, slower to come food, the food arrives staggered so one party could be finished before another gets their meal. It's a great little family owned place, but they're understaffed for how popular a place this is. I love the food when it's good, which is why I keep coming back. And when it's bad I have to remember that it's par for the course.
(3)
Madeline L.
Love the food here. Musselman beef is awesome. Loved the fried rice too. A must visit.
(5)
Davy M.
Loved this little authentic place. Pad Thai and Yellow Chicken Curry were both delicious. Ambience inside is intimate but still can be great for a couple or medium sized group. If we were local we'd be here all the time!
(4)
christina c.
This place is my go-to Thai restaurant! It's always packed by locals who feel the same way.
(4)
Lianna S.
Not that I've ever been to Thailand...(yet) but this is probably the most authentic Thai place I've been to yet. It's much better than Taste of Thai or Spices, yuck. And I still prefer Thai Pan for takeout because it's a lot cheaper and similar quality. Regardless, we were starving and ordered the massaman beef, tofu pad thai, and a spicy green curry with chicken to share. Everything was delicious, we devoured it all. It was funny though because we told the waitress we like really spicy and she suggested a 4. (We normally order a 7 or 8). So we're thinking, well maybe it's really spicy here because it's more authentic? Definitely not, a 4 wasn't spicy at all, wish we would've gone with our usual. Oh well. It's definitely worth a stop if you're in the mood for good Thai food, especially for a date.
(4)
Cheyenne B.
My favorite place to eat by far!! Atmosphere is just spot on. Beautiful place, aesthetically. Everything about this restaurant is fantastic. The servers are very attentive and food comes out fast. The food is absolutely incredible. I would try the duck red curry, it's delicious! Lovely place all around, even though it's kind of pricey it is definitely worth it.
(5)
Steve R.
Call ahead...cute..but small. Not super impressed. had better Thai food. they have a Vegan menu as well. My girlfriend is Vegan...she wasn't impressed with the food either. anyway....close ...wont be back
(3)
Robin D.
I love everything about this place, from the giant pots of overflowing greenery outside that create a green wall in the front window, to the peaceful quiet ambiance inside with courteous, friendly service. I have had and recommend these dishes: beef salad with chili lime dressing, panang curry with chicken, green curry with duck, phad thai with shrimp, and mango sticky rice. Heavenly!
(5)
Ricky C.
Best Thai place in San Diego refuse to go anywhere else great food great service great atmosphere!!!!! Did I mention that the twisted sister is amazing!!!!
(5)
Richard G.
I am from Denver. Several times a year I visit Solana Beach and dine here. The food is always top notch and the service is extraordinary. Even with the restaurant full of guests on Friday night, food arrived lickety split, and servers continually filled our glasses and removed used plates, all with a smile. The food was great and the service was among the best I've ever received. I'll be back!
(5)
Annika W.
The best Thai food in North County by far. The panang curry is delightful and the service impeccable. I've traveled far and wide in Thailand and this is the closest I've gotten to authentic Thai food and its OH so coozy.
(5)
Marc P.
A fantastic Thai restaurant in North County. We have been going here for years, and love the food. We have never had a dish here that we haven't thoroughly enjoyed. I would give it 5 stars except for the two negatives to this place; it is always packed, and over the past several years they have raised their prices quite a bit. There is nothing wrong with the atmosphere, but given how crowded it is, I just feel like I am paying a little more for thai food than I should, despite how delicious the food is. You definitely want to do yourself a favor and try this place out. When you go, you definitely want reservations. Even with reservations, don't surprised if you have to wait to get your table (esp. if it is a Friday or Saturday night, or it is a summer evening). I haven't had a dish there that I don't like. One of my favorites is the Crying Tiger.
(4)
Jennica M.
Love this place. Food is so tasty, my favorite is the pad thai. Service is also great. And just the environment in general is nice. Bangkok is definitely a regular stop. No complaints at all!
(5)
Chris G.
I work near this restaurant, and this is one of the best Thai places I have ever been too. The lunch specials are not only very affordable, but also healthy sized portions. If you are in/or around the Solana Beach area I highly recommend this place. Drunken Noodles and Pad Se Ew are both great!!!
(5)
Maria A.
We really like Bangkok Bay, it's hands down the best Thai place that we've found in this area. We usually grab takeout when we visit, but we did visit for a sit down dinner on one occasion. When we call in a takeout order it is always ready quickly (usually 15 minutes) and is always ready when we get there. The restaurant itself is small and a bit dark, and we had to wait quite awhile for a table. The service was good, and the menu is plentiful. The food is really great, we have yet to try anything that we don't like yet. We'll definitely continue to visit Bangkok Bay as our go to Thai spot!
(4)
Deborah B.
This place can be hit or miss. When they are on they are really good, other times they are seriously lacking. Tonight they took almost an hour for my to go, forgot the spices on the side and made my medium spicy order (asked for 6-7 on 10 scale) only about a 3. But they do make several items without fish sauce for vegetarians and their half moon ton is a brilliant idea.
(3)
Pam P.
Horrible. Eating the leftovers for lunch and realizing what is off. They used bottled lime juice. Really! Come on. If your supplier forgot to deliver limes send someone to costco. There is no substitute for fresh. $35 down the drain. Won't go back. Sorry.
(1)
Ike E.
They told us our to-go order would be done in 30 minutes. It took 90 minutes. We stood in that crowded restaurant for an hour waiting for an order. Also, they charged us $12 for an extra order of vegetables. The food tasted great, though. I'm debating whether I want to go back there.
(2)
Paul V.
My wife & I ordered the Tom Kha (soup), drunken noodle w/ chicken, & crying tiger (grilled sirloin w/ tamarind sauce. All dishes were savory, flavorful and good. The beef could use a bit more seasoning but the tamarind sauce complemented it well. The service was friendly and efficient. Reservation is recommended.
(4)
Anabelle K.
Had been here twice before and thought it was good enough. The cute kitchy Asian atmosphere almost made up for just ok food before. But I was SO disappointed today. I drove all the way to Solana for lunch and the rice was as mushy as mashed potatoes. My stir fry was inedible. I've never wanted to not eat. My boyfriend said his pad thai was bad and I didn't believe him. Then tried it and it tasted like sugar water was poured over it. Horrible flavor. I had to go to the deli next door and take a coke home with my to settle my unhappy tummy. I'm so sad to give a bad review but my main hope here is that the business owner will see this and take a look at whoever the chef happened to be today. I'm guessing it was a substitute or something... :(
(1)
GMon3y K.
Went there on a date from out of town and we loved it. We usually go to a Tai restaurant in San Gabriel Valley. The Tum yum soup tasted heavenly. Just the way we had it at Sala Tai San Gabriel. The service there was optimal. Waiters kept refilling our teas without hesitation. We give it a high thumbs up :)
(5)
Janessa F.
The Thai iced tea is so tasty and comes in a big glass. I had the green curry and it was awesome! I asked for a bunch of extra stuff and the waitress was really nice about it. I think that's the best green curry I have ever had. My husband had the Pad See Euw and he really enjoyed it as well. We will definitely be coming back here!
(5)
Chris J.
We've been trying to find a decent Thai restaurant since moving away from downtown (where we had Lotus Thai). My wife suggested we try Bangkok Bay, after she had been here previously. I ordered a simple yellow curry for lunch. When I try a new Thai place I usually go with either yellow curry or pad Thai, just because they are simple and easy to compare. The curry itself was bland. Almost no spice (and I don't necessarily mean spicy) which led to very little flavor. There was a good amount of chicken in the curry, though, which is a plus. The rice though... Wow, over-cooked. It was like mush. Add the curry to it and it was basically a lumpy soup. I only ate half of it before I just couldn't do any more. I don't think I'll be coming back here. The Thai iced tea was very good, at least!
(2)
Rachel U.
Why this restaurant's Yelp rating isn't nearing 5 stars is beyond me. The ambience is cute, intimate and comfortable. It does get crowded, but they let you call ahead and put your name down which I think is awesome! All their curry and noodle dishes are fantastic. I could drink their yellow curry. MUST HAVE: pineapple fried rice. I know, I know. Not the first thing that comes to mind when you are trying to decide what to order at a Thai restaurant. But I promise, it's SO GOOD. You'll never want to order it anywhere else ever because other pineapple fried rices can't compare. I think they might add a touch of curry and sugar to it? I don't know but it's delish. The food is super authentic. I have yet to try something that isn't perfect. It is a bit pricey, but I don't mind paying a premium price for the best Thai in SD.
(5)
Coco M.
I LOVE Bangkok Bay. Incredible Thai food. I am picky when it comes to Thai good but this place did not disappoint. I recommend the tom kha soup with chicken and the red curry. Their mangos with sticky rice is my favorite dessert!! I also enjoy the Thai iced tea. The staff is friendly. This places fills up quickly in the evenings so make a reservation to be safe. Definitely our fave restaurant in Solana beach!
(5)
Katerina J.
This is a little Thai gem in Solana beach carefully hidden from a public eye. Authentic decor, amazing service, delicious food, great selection of beers and pleasant ambience make Bangkok Bay a truly unique Thai dinner place where I found myself keep coming back to craving mouth-watering Three Bros and Drunken noodles. This place gets very busy particular on Fridays and evenings so do yourself a favor and call them in advance to make sure your wait time decreases from 30 min to 10. If you decide just to show prepare to wait... great thing they have nice benches outside surrounded by a little That "garden" (also beach is 5 min away) hence waiting becomes easier. We usually order a bottle of refreshing That beer (Singha) to start with, appetizer and delicious Three Bros (vegetarian's paradise) and Pad See Ew. Nothing ever disappoints.
(5)
Chelsea Y.
Great place to enjoy some good Thai food! Great customer service as well. I am regular at this place now.
(5)
Bookish B.
Bangkok Bay is hands down the best Thai I've ever had. My bestie and I go there about once a week for lunch as they have great lunch specials. They are very inexpensive, and the portions are plenty big. Each lunch special comes with soup, but Fridays are best because they have the coconut Tom Kha soup which is the best thing I've ever had in my life. You can't go wrong with a curry (I usually get red or green), but their noodles are also kick-ass. I always get the Drunken noodles, and my friend gets the Pad Thai. Another amazing dish is the Spicy Bay Fried Rice. In addition to their amazing food, the service is always friendly and super fast. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Go there now!
(5)
Sabrina H.
Well-decorated place! Great ambience. The servers were all Thai and very friendly. I wasn't "wow"ed by my Massaman curry (it was good, but not great), but my mom really enjoyed the Twisted Sisters.
(4)
Lulu L.
I went for dinner for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is hidden in the back of a strip mall, but its decorated so cute inside that you forget your in a shopping center! The service was amazing ,the staff is so friendly and professional. The food was amazing, the Pad See Ew was one of the best I have ever had, the yellow curry delicious and even the basic chicken satay, moist, seasoned and done to perfection! Im so excited that I found this place, I definitely will be back!
(4)
Lana B.
BB is by far the best Thai restaurant I have found in the states!! It sounds too complimentary but it's absolutely true! Even after spending a month in Thailand last year I can honestly say the food is authentic and just as good as being in Thailand!! So delicious !!
(5)
Rebecca H.
What a wonderful surprise in solana beach! Great intimate space. Delicious meal. Very friendly staff. We will be back! Loved it!
(5)
Amanda D.
I don't understand why people put up with the outrageous charge - you can get the same thing for half of the price. especially for the potato that's under cooked. Is it the Del Mar location fee? Amazing they can still get 4 stars. If you want real Asian food, come out of Del mar please
(1)
Anna M.
The green curry was excellent, better than any curry i've had in london. Very fresh with exquisite subtle flavors. Service was gracious and efficient. Pleasant atmosphere, moderate prices. Nice lychee martini. We will be back.
(5)
Mr. A.
This place is awesome from the delicious food to the beautiful decor. It is a great family restraint. The food is great. This place is cozy. The staff is friendly and take their work seriously. The ambiance is wonderful, I really feel like I'm in Thailand. I feel this place is wonderful for date night or family dinners! This place has delicious food and I think you should try it!
(4)
David G.
Great service, wonderful food - loved it! The salmon dish was superb and it was a good sized portion for a reasonable price. It was far better than the salmon I recently had at Brigantine's and it came with plenty of rice and veggies!
(5)
Kate K.
Hit or miss honestly. I think that Bangkok Bay is one of the better Thai choices in the area, but overall not amazing. The service is hit or miss. I've had excellent dining experiences and less than stellar ones. The food is reasonably priced, however most dishes are not that flavorful. Nothing special, but okay.
(3)
lee m.
Great restaurant, food, staff and ambience. This is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in all of San Diego. Heck all of Southern California. It can be crowded because it is so good. *It's always worth the wait.
(5)
Meg C.
The entrees we had tonight as a group were all fantastic! We had: Drunken noodles with chicken, curry chicken, duck, mock duck, Tom kha soup and house salad. Dessert- coconut ice cream and mango with sticky rice. All delicious and service was great.
(5)
Bethia H.
I don't think I've ever had such an amazing experience with Thai food. Bangkok Bay is located in a random plaza off of the 101 in Solana Beach, an easily missed hole-in-the-wall. We ordered the Tom Yum soup with tofu, Panang Curry (beef) and Pad See Eu (chicken). Tom Yum soup had tofu and cap mushrooms, the flavor was perfection and I just wanted to lick the rest of the pot after I finished. The meat from both Panang Curry and Pad See Eu dishes were very tender and not dry and gross like most american-thai places. The Panang Curry was pretty spicy but totally worth it. The Pad See Eu noodles were made just right! Service was excellent. I'd definitely come here again.
(5)
Mark M.
Best Thai in North County. The pineapple fried rice with shrimp & chicken is amazing. Love the friendly staff who always make the dining experience a pleasure.
(5)
John N.
Great food and great service. The place is cute with very tasteful decorations. It is owned by Thai people and has a nice parking lot that has always open parking spaces when we go. I would highly recommend it.
(4)
Jennifer L.
Everything I had there was so yummy. Very affordable with great service! It's a very cute restaurant!
(4)
Cole C.
Bangkok Bay is a little pricey for me to become a regular (or am I just cheap?), but that sure isn't keeping the rest of North County away. This place is packed! And for good reason. It's a really cute little restaurant... Definitely not a hole in the wall, and certainly nicer than Siamese Basil a few miles down the street. The decor is perfect and I think they do a great job of fitting as many diners in there as possible without making you feel like you're on top of the table next to you. Everything on the menu looks great, but we settled for spring rolls, drunken noodles, and massaman beef. The spring rolls were a little bland, but our entrees were wonderful. I just finished a plate of leftover massaman beef for lunch today, and I think it was even better leftover than it was last night! If you don't make a reservation, get excited for a 35+ minute wait on the bench outside, as they don't have any waiting room seating inside. If you can manage to swing by the ATM before heading over, they sometimes reward you with 10% off your bill for paying with cash.
(4)
Danny F.
Really yummy Thai food. Actually, I never had Thai food prior to coming here and I was pleasantly surprised. The prices are expensive, so it's not a place you'll eat at regularly, but great for special occasions. Still I can't help but think the food is being marked up about 15 times what you pay for the same entrees in Thailand. Also, the booth seats are old and can be quite uncomfortable. I made the mistake of hitting the weights at the gym before coming here and sitting in the booths made my back ache, had to get up and stretch it out a couple of times. On the other hand, the staff here are all as good as it gets. They're all from Thailand or the neighboring countries. So they smile and treat you warmly. They're very friendly, chatty, and helpful. Also the ambiance of this restaurant is great, the owners have really gone out of their way to provide authentic experience. Pros: Yummy food, friendly staff, great authentic "Thai" ambiance Cons: Expensive, slow, uncomfortable booth seats
(3)
Brittany R.
Really solid place for Thai. The interior of the restaurant is really lovely too. We usually get takeout, and I can't recommend their tom yum soup enough! It's so delicious.
(4)
Alex D.
In our search for a quality Thai place closer to home, my girlfriend and I stumbled across this hidden gem in Solana Beach some time last fall, and we've been returning here for dinner ever since. While Bangkok Bay may not appear to be the most sophisticated establishment looking from the outside, enter and you will find yourself instantly immersed in an authentic, leisurely paced world of Thai culture, delicious food, and relaxing music. Do as I do, and begin your meal with a good bottle of Singha, Thailand's most famous beer. Or fine, be that way - and start off with one of their yummy appetizers if you don't drink. For the main course, the Pad See Ew noodle dish is always a safe bet, though for lighter and even healthier fare you may want to try the Three Thai Bros, a large plate of steamed bok choy, mushrooms and crispy tofu all drenched in a mesmerizing traditional sauce. Pricey, some other reviewers have noted - well, a bit, I'll admit. However, you get what you pay for. Speaking of which, take note: they accept only one credit card per table for orders under $80.
(5)
tim j.
Stayed at the Marriott just next door. My daughter and son in law said they were going to to to CPK. I said OK, we are going to order Thai..,,,, I was online looking at the Menu and they said,,,, THAT looks good, we will get that too. I ordered Wonton soup, pad thai, and coconut curry. Got it to go, we split it all up and enjoyed everything!!!
(5)
Matt G.
OK - I lived in the Inner Richmond district of San Francisco for almost a decade, so I think I have a pretty good view into good Thai food. This is easily the best I have found in SD. Great food. Great service. Small and quaint atmosphere. Reasonable prices. Gets busy in the evening, so go early or get a reservation. Was not a problem walking in for lunch.
(5)
Beth-Dave S.
Quaint and cozy atmosphere...had the green curry chicken to go......delicious! Will come back again...
(4)
Leigh K.
I came here for the first time yesterday. I have heard a lot about it. The only reason we came is because my go-to Thai place is now closed on Tuesdays. Here is my run-down: I like the ambiance. It's what I call "Thai Nautical." It reminds me of being on a ship... lots of netting and interesting decor, only Thai style. The food was just so-so. I thought the prices were a bit inflated. I am not used to paying $14 for a hot pot of soup or $14 for a vegetarian entree at a Thai restaurant. Most places throughout San Diego charge less. I am not a fan of rice that you have to be charged for, should you get more. Most Thai places will bring you more rice if you want it, at no extra charge. Considering that the cost of eating here is more than other Thai restaurants, they should definitely offer unlimited refills on the rice (and how much rice are you really going to eat anyway? It would just be enough to bring home with leftovers!). The Pad Thai was pretty lackluster. I found the flavor to be too sweet and rather average. In addition, there wasn't much that went along with it. I saw a few cubes of tofu but not much else. With the other dish we got, the flavor of the red curry was bland, and it seemed like they added too much cream (almost like they put a bunch of dairy milk in there). It would have been nice to be given an option to add some kick to it. So, my synopsis of this is... I won't come back. It wasn't terrible, but was just very very average. If I drive to the coast again and see that my favorite Thai place is closed, I won't bother coming here. I just won't eat Thai food on Tuesdays.
(2)
Mary N.
This is, hands down, the best Thai restaurant I've tried in North County. The service is very pleasant and helpful, and the chow is good. We had the server choose our entrees and he did a superb job. Prices are fair. Cute decor, too. Reservations recommended.
(4)
Daniela G.
Been coming here since before it was a well known place and food and quality are consistent. Delicious chicken satay, fresh summer rolls, pot stickers, to start, pad thai, pad see ew, pad soon sen, yellow curry, fried rice are mouth watering and delicious! Very cozy ambiance although sometimes the ac is a bit cold so bring a sweater. Love it here and will always be a regular.
(5)
Cristina B.
Third time at this restaurant and the second time we have bad service. We arrived to a ten minute wait for a party of four and thirty minutes later we were seated after five different parties. This was the second time that we had to wait a long time for a small party. Food is great which is why we wait, but the service is crappy.
(3)
Mia B.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday night and not as busy as I expected. The service was fantastic! Even the hostess asked us "How's the food?" The food was delicious!! I normally cannot eat an entire dish but I did at this place. I got the thick noodles with chicken ($13) and it was yummy. My husband got the beef and brocolli over white rice. The beef was yummy. I didn't like the white rice, it was dry and smelled funny. But he liked it = ) It's dark in there so it can be a lil romantic. Decor is interesting and a bit much. Our dinner and one large beer we split was $37 =) We'll definitely be back!
(4)
Amanda S.
I have always loved this place for dine in lunch. The curries are great and all the ingredients are fresh...the decor seems authentic and the service is very good. The last two times I have been I got take out and was extremely disappointed. Last night I ordered 4 things...and I wasn't really happy with any of them. I got the Tom Yum Soup vegetarian style. It was tasteless....kind of like water with vegetables. Asparagus and shrimp dish: the shrimp was good and the sauce was good, but the asparagus was awful. It was all the woody end bits and more than 2/3 of it was inedible. Green papaya salad: tasty but boring, and the smallest portion I have seen for $8...it seemed like a tiny side portion. Summer rolls: Rice paper seemed stale, and there were these huge sticks of raw zucchini that seemed really out of place. They were also filled with lettuce and no herbs so they were really tasteless. I am super bummed...I have always loved this place like I said, but after a hankering for Thai food last night, and $40 worth of disappointment later, I will not get take out here again. I guess I will stick to dining in for lunch. I don't know what has changed, but its definitely not as good as it once was.
(2)
Rebecca C.
This is good their Jungle curry has some real heat to it! Romantic inside and generally lovely ambiance!
(4)
Kaylin O.
Americanized Thai Food or unauthentic Thai food for non-Thai patrons. If you look around the restaurant, we were the only Asian people in there! The Tom ka khai or Coconut soup with chicken was so bland I could barely tolerate it. This is one of my favorite Thai dishes so it was very disappointing. It tasted like coconut soup. My friend said the Thai Ice Tea was too sweet. She had to dilute it with water! My friend, who is Thai, said the food tasted more like Northern Thai or Laos cuisine. She liked her Green Curry Spaghetti but her husband thought his dish was under spiced. Both of them agreed that they cater their spiciness and dishes to non-Thai patrons! So if you're expecting Authentic Thai food, do not come here!
(3)
Anshel S.
This is my favorite Thai restaurant in San Diego. Why? because it's authentic. I originally went here with my mom and sister a few times and had a great experience. So, knowing this place was good, I came here with my Thai friend who speaks fluent Thai but is ethnically Chinese. Bringing him there was one of the funniest experiences ever, because the waitresses would simply not leave us alone. The overall ambiance of the place is very very hard to beat and the quality of the food as well as the portion sizes are also of equal level. This place definitely isn't cheap, i"ll be the first to admit it, however, the food is great and is well worth going with your family or taking a date with you. In most cases, you'll end up taking a box home.
(5)
Bryan G.
My favorite restaurant in the whole entire world. My favorite thing to get there, is the coconut curry chicken or shrimp. They have the best fried rice and the biggest chunks of chicken. Also very good atmosphere.
(5)
Jim T.
Best Thai in San Diego ( so far)
(5)
Mariah D.
Even by California standards, this place seemed a little pricey to me. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my meal. There was a 20 minute wait on a Thursday night at 9 PM (guess it's popular) so I opted to get Pad Thai and sticky rice to-go and eat in my hotel next door. The to-go ordering was a little strange. They shoved me in the very back corner by the kitchen door of the already tiny restaurant and the cook took my order. There were waitresses and bus boys rushing by and I needed to press myself against the wall to avoid being in the way. I usually tip a small amount even on to go orders, but this was just weird. I had ordered pad thai and sticky rice with mango, but a few minutes after I had placed my order, the cook sticks his head out and says that they are out of mango and would it be OK for me to have coconut ice cream on the side of my sticky rice instead of mango. I said that was fine, assuming that there would be no extra charges for this since it was a substitution that was not my original order. I get my food and bill a few minutes later, and the total was $26. I'm not sure how that worked since I didn't get an itemized copy but all I had was Chicken Pad Thai and the Sticky Rice with ice cream. I guess I got charged for 2 desserts because I said yes to the ice cream? I'm not sure, but I was so claustrophobic in my corner that at that point that I signed on the line (no tip) and darted for the door. I guess it worked out that my total was over $20 for one person because you can only use a CC on orders of more than $20. Once I was able to enjoy my meal in my spacious hotel room, the food was tasty. It wasn't the best Thai ever, or very memorable, but it was solid Pad Thai and the rice was good. The ice cream that I paid $6 extra for? Not as good...kind of ice crystally and not as creamy. The Pad Thai portion was HUGE and I had a very substantial noodle breakfast the next day. 3 stars because I think I would have liked it more if I had had a true dine-in experience.
(3)
Alex H.
Whaaaap! I'm not quick to slap down a fiver, but this place gets one. My eyes are as round as they get (yup, I'm just a whitey), but I feel that I know Thai food. I've been to Thailand, and my Thai sister-in-law can cook it up somethin' fierce. Now, on to Bangkok Bay. I was previously unwilling to favor this place over another I've reviewed, but after much discussion with my partner in dining, I elected to order nearly back to back from our top two choices for Thai food in the area. Well, Bangkok Bay won hands down. Not that the other place isn't good, but Bangkok Bay just puts more Bang in the Kok. :) There's something very authentic about the cooking here. I ordered: Green curry with chicken, pad thai with shrimp and chicken, and drunken noodles with pork. The drunken noodles were prepared at 10 on their scale of 1-10 spiciness. The Green Curry was as rich, flavorful, and delicious as I've had anywhere--including Thailand (sorry, sis!). The pad thai was perfect, not too sweet like some places make it, and the super spicy drunken noodles sent me into a state of Thai nirvana that I am profoundly sorry I have recovered from. That's pretty much it, except that the authenticity of this place has me wanting to talk to the kitchen about some dishes you rarely see on menus. If they accommodate me, I'll update my review and petition yelp to grant me a sixth star.
(5)
Scott T.
BANGKOK BAY is adorable. i love the clutter -- has the feel of eating in someone's home. the wait staff (also adorable) was attentive without hovering. nice detailing in the decor with soothing white-noise from trickling water. started with three appetizers and a salad. the POTSTICKERS (chicken dumplings steamed and then pan-fried) -- nothing special here (pretty standard stuff) but the dumplings did not spend enough time in the pan to get that textural contrast between the inside and the outside. the FRIED TOFU (with a peanut and plum dipping sauce) was pretty good and my two youngest (JULIANA and WYATT) love tofu. the CHICKEN SATAY's were exactly what you'd expect -- dry and overcooked with a texture that suggested they were leftover from lunch yesterday. i ordered them for the four-year old boy because he's a serious carnivore. the only good ones i've ever had were at roadside places where they're hot off the grill so i have to assume some responsibility here. the SIAM BEEF SALAD was a major disappointment. asked for it spicy and it wasn't but a bigger gripe was the dressing -- not much going on -- no mint, no cilantro and not much lime -- just sugar (and not palm sugar) and fish sauce and there were no mint or cilantro leaves in the greens. the whole flavor profile never got off the ground. PAD THAI was gorgeous - tragically, the taste fell flat. barely present tamarind flavor and some sweetness and that was that. not even lime quarters to jump start the tastebuds. the PANANG CURRY had a nice flavor but once again no spice -- why do the servers ask you how spicy you want it if the kitchen's going to ignore you anyway ??? there was lots of chicken (but it was kinda tough) and judging by how much we ate and how much we took home the serving was deceptively generous. the GRILLED EGGPLANT was awful. the dish's only redeeming was the condiment -- a bowl of a PORK LARB with a couple shrimp submerged in the same one-note "spicy lime dressing" as the SIAM BEEF SALAD. cute and cozy -- i'll give you that but restaurants should be judged on their food and BANGKOK BAY is closer to just OK than A-OK.
(3)
Sumi A.
One of my go-to places in the neighborhood for dining in or takeout (usually takeout). I usually stick to the same dishes and like the pineapple fried rice, green curry, and a Cornish game hen entree that is delish! Bangkok crispy chicken or something like that? The service is always friendly and takeout orders are made really quickly; I usually call ahead and it's ready by the time I get there. The place is kinda small, but really charming, so if you're dining in then reservations are recommended, otherwise there might be a wait.
(4)
Danielle F.
It smells wonderful in here, just as a Thai restaurant should. This little restaurant gets some stars for it's decor alone which is warm and inviting. The food was pretty good too, not the best but sufficiently good. The portions are large- I only wish the food had come out a little warmer. Service needs some work as they were very inattentive meaning that service simply disappeared for the entirety of the meal which was annoying. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable meal, I'd just stay away from their red wines which were terrible and overpriced.
(4)
Arie R.
Yes! Found another good thai restaurant. So one day, we were looking for a Thai restaurant that was nearby and that we had never tried. So what did we do? We yelped, and found two candidates in our area: Siamese Basil in Encinitas and Bangkok Bay Thai in Solana Beach. We picked Bangkok Bay Thai and went there on a weekend afternoon, but when we got there, the restaurant was closed, there seemed to be having some sort of renovation/reconstruction going on. Oh well, then we went to Siamese Basil instead. But recently one night, we thought again about this restaurant and wondered if they were open, and they were! So we got there around 6:30-ish, there was already a line (three parties ahead of us). The lady inside mentioned that the wait would be around 30 minutes. But wrong!! we waited for an hour or so (OK, the food better be good!!!) The restaurant has a dark interior, and very rustic (in a Thai way :)), and as usual lots of wood carvings, and paintings of Thai dancers. We could see that the restaurant was really busy. We ordered Po-Tak, Pad Boon Sen, Crab Fried Rice, and Crying Tiger (pardon my Thai spelling). All of them were very good, and as far as we can tell, tasted authentic. I could taste (and feel) that they "might have used" a lot of MSG though (don't know for sure, but my body never lies). But that's not a problem for me whatsoever, if I go to any authentic Thai restaurant, that is expected! Another thing that rings this restaurant authentic is that they give out spoon to eat, instead of fork (we had to ask for forks). Eating with spoon (instead of fork), is the way to go to eat any South East Asian rice dishes (in my opinion). Using fork-only is sooo american :). Oh, and one more thing, this restaurant gives preference to its female clientele as far as the restrooms go :). There are two restrooms, one of them is dedicated for women, and the other one is co-ed (what? :)) We would definitely come back, and next time we would make reservation first.
(4)
Juan S.
Great place to eat. First time eating here and the food was great. I will eat here next we are in the area. Very pleased.
(5)
Yana K.
The food was really good. The garlic beef was the best I have had in a long time. The beef was sooo tender. The Tom Yum was awesome and the drunken noodle (pad ke mao) was delicious. One complaint - super overpriced. Soup was $14! And the portions are pretty small. Very good food but 50% too much.
(3)
Jessica C.
Checked this place out last night for the first time and am looking forward to being a regular! Tastiest Thai I've had in San Diego - good ambiance and very friendly service. Had the cashew chicken and husband had the pad see ew - both were delicious. Dessert was mango with sticky rice - also wonderful. So glad we found this place and can't wait to come back!
(5)
John F.
Off the beaten path. Great food,great service, good prices. Restaurant has great atmosphere, small and quaint. The minute you walk in the door the smells invite you. Brought my little ones with me and they really enjoyed. I visit San Diego every vacation and cannot believe I passed over this restaurant.
(5)
Dan C.
I go here probably once a week because it's less than a mile from where I work for lunch. It does not have a lot of seating, but you can wait outside or browse some of the next door shops while you wait if you have to. I always try to go a bit later to avoid the rush, although you don't want to go past 3 since they close for a couple hours between lunch and dinner. I have tried a number of dishes, but found that my favorite is the Spicy Chicken Basil Lunch Special. As an appetizer the spring rolls are amazing and their sauces are delicious. They bring you water with in a minute of sitting down and your waiter quickly comes to ask you if you would like drinks, an appetizer, or are ready to order. Sometimes I will order an appetizer if I am with other people, but if not will just go straight for the meal. The lunch specials consist of their soup of the day, rice, and the entree itself. They bring you the soup within a minute of ordering prior to bringing the main course. The main course follows quickly and is fresh and hot. You can get a rack of different sauces and chili powder if you would like to customize the spiciness of your dish if you request (I always do). In summary it is a quick, good sized meal with a medium price range and prompt service! *If you want to pay with a credit card it is $20 minimum though, which is unfortunate when you want to just go in by yourself for a meal or take out because you have to make sure you get some cash!
(4)
Nell C.
A local thai joint we have loved before but have not been back in awhile and this time the service was good however the food was cold, app larb chicken was super dry and did not come with enough lettuce cups!! Main course par ram was cold and lacked flavor. Overall, we were disappointed.
Love this place. Small so get reservations. Pad si ew and yellow shrimp curry are great. Also try the sticky rice and mango for dessert! 10% discount if you pay with cash!!
(4)
Andy F.
Here's the deal with Bangkok Bay - Probably a 3 star restaurant if it weren't for the lunch special. Flip that menu over (back page) and don't bother with any other page if you're there for lunch. Soup, Spring Roll & Entre for $8-$10 range. AND BOOM! OPTIONS GALORE. You can choose your level of spice on most dishes (1-10), but beware, even a wanna-be tough guy like me was reduced to a crying mess at 6. PROS: LUNCH SPECIAL, quick quick service, great portion sizes, pretty mellow/peaceful ambiance and convenient location right off the 101 north from Via Del La Valle. CONS: Probably not a great spot for a group bigger than 6 or 8, not a ton of seating, have to charge $20+ or no credit card (2 people for lunch need to order something other than water to get to $20+). Here's the lowdown. Go for lunch. Pick something off the lunch special page (go easy on the spice). Enjoy a quick meal and get your well-fed, very-pleased ass back to work.
(4)
Carrie H.
Went here for the first time last week and then came back the next day because I could no get enough! Food is awesome. I had the yellow curry and the red curry and both were amazing! The lunch special is bomb as for about 8 bucks you get a good-sized portion of your main dish plus an egg roll and soup. The portions are big so perfect for sharing or for taking home for lunch/dinner the next day! GO here it is awesome!
(5)
Sinnary S.
We were in the area and used our navigation system to find the closest Thai restaurants. And, then I compared the list on Yelp so I chose this one. I ordered the red curry and chicken satay and both were very good. What I did not like about the restaurant: very hot and stuffy in there although it was already cool & breezy outside. I ordered the mango & sticky rice, the rice was not fully cooked. I told the server and he took my plate and never returned. So, I paid the bill and left a very small tip. Was pretty disappointed that they didn't address the fact that the sticky rice was not fully cooked. My children insisted they wanted to eat it because they love that dessert so much, but I didn't want to risk them getting an upset stomach.
(3)
Tamar F.
Yum! I had this as take-out twice since the summer, and it's my favorite Thai place in Southern California. Too bad it's 100 miles away from my home! I can only vouch for the food, since I haven't eaten at the restaurant, but dang is it good. The Penang Salmon is by far the best thai-style salmon I have ever had. Rather than having it be more curry than meat, the salmon is basted in the penang sauce and is ridiculously flavorful. The pad see ew is also quite tasty. Usually I find pad see ew to be too greasy and all, yet this one had a great amount of flavor minus the grease. And be sure to get some mango sticky rice for dessert. Yum! The prices are alright - a bit pricier than my neighborhood joint, but it's worth it.
(4)
Chrystal Z.
+: - ambience - Panang Curry... dr0o0o0o0o0l The pad thai left something to be desired, for sure. Service was also a bit on the slow side, and I generally felt like their food was overpriced for both quality and quantity. And this is the first time I have
(3)
M D.
This is one of my daughter's all time favs! We love all the dishes. My husband's favorite is the "Crying Tiger" works for everyone since the sauce comes on the side. Fun atmosphere can get really busy so I recommend reservations!
(4)
Maureen B.
This was a great recommendation! We could tell a lot of the customers were regulars & that was a great first impression. The food was delicious and the service was friendly and great. We will be back!
(5)
andrea d.
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food for this little hidden gem. We had the summer rolls with shrimp and spicy green beans with chicken and we both had the Tom Kha soup - all were outstanding! Already planning my return visit!
(4)
Ryan W.
We got the yellow curry, drunken noodles, and Bay Puff. They were good. Parking on a Sunday night was ample, but we were glad we had a reservation because the restaurant seemed to fill up. Our friends brought their 7-month old daughter, and the Bangkok Bay employees were friendly and helpful (e.g. with setting up a high-chair upside down so that they could put the car seat on top of it). The Thai Iced Tea was the best I've had.
(4)
Kristen E.
REALLY good food. I've gone here many times with either just my husband, or with a very large group (over 10 ppl). It is VERY small, but if you call ahead of time you can reserve a large table. ALL of the food is just soo tasty. My favorites are the green curry, the pineapple rice and the crying tiger. My husband can eat an entire pot of the tom kha coconut soup also, it's so good. If you haven't tried this place yet, you need to. They even have really good wine there!! The ambiance is great. It's a little dark with a lot of asian art. It's a great date place.
(5)
Karen N.
Good curry and appetizers. Great service and such a wonderfully decorated restaurant! If you go during rush hour, be prepared to wait!
(3)
Christopher W.
Tip: Opt for brown rice! This place has excellent service, great ambiance and decorations making it feel like you're in Thailand. My coworkers and I love this place and this is one of the go to spots when we all meet up to eat. The parking lot has always had a spot for me to park. I normally get Pad Thai or Yellow Curry on their lunch special. You can choose chicken, beef, seafood, or vegetables. It isn't the cheapest, but the lunch special is a decent deal and you can have a meal for under $10. The lunch special comes with the curry, rice, soup and egg roll. I also love getting their Thai tea. It is really sweet for my tastes, but I still love it. I drink some and then add some cold water to it to make it go even further!
(4)
Nino R.
During my life in SoCal, I've sought to replicate food memories created while growing up in Jersey. Currently, only 3 restaurants have been creative enough to consistenly meet that challenge in Thai cuisine. In Orange County there is Phuket Thai. In Riverside County there is Aiyara Thai Cuisine. And in San Diego County there is Bangkok Bay. The Tom Kha, Glass Noodles, and the Crying Tiger are all must haves. If a restaurant can execute these three dishes at a high level, then I'll always give them a piece of my stomach. I haven't read any of the other reviews. All I needed was a recommendation from Kathalyn N. She gets me. She understands my belly. I wasn't surprised to see so many reviews and such a high rating. But I was surprised with the decor. This is a great date place. The wood, long benches and Thai art give it a divey-chic appeal. You'll lose yourself in the food, and then you'll lose yourself in each other. If you do manage to land a table with the long bench, then be sure to sit together instead of across from one another. It just adds to the magic. Thai me up...
(4)
Cal R.
We dropped in around 5pm on a Sunday for a light snack (our first visit). The Summer Roll appetizer had 6 pieces & was more than abundant. The peanut sauce was warm (nice touch) & tamarind sauce just the right amount of sweet/sour. We also split a shrimp Tom Yum fire pot. It was pretty light on the vegs & shrimp but Everything was fresh & really delicious. By the time we left a little before 6, the place was nearly completely filled up. Highly recommend it!!
(5)
Doug B.
Recommended at hotel next door. Excellent Thai food, both standards like Pad See Ew and Massaman Beef but also unusual tastes like Green Apple Salad and a very delicate green curry with eggplant among a number of other vegetables. If you want spicy make sure you ask. They did not and we got the Anglo versions of the curries.
(4)
Ryan S.
Staying at the hotel next store and wanted something close by. I do not usually eat Thai food, but I figured I would give it a shot. Very enjoyable experience. I ordered the drunken noodle with beef. Fabulous customer service.
(4)
Irene B.
On a mission to find good Thai food, we heard about this place from a few friends. We checked it out on a Thurs night. The place was pretty busy for a Thurs night, but the place is also a little small. The decor on the inside is pretty cool. I like the coziness of the place. We had very friendly service and when she heard me ask the hubby which Thai beer to get, Chang or Singha, she said she liked Chang better. So, that's what we got. Not bad. Following the advice of previous Yelpers, we got the Yellow Curry with Shrimp and the Drunken Noodles with chicken and a side of peanut sauce. Somehow we missed asking for a spicy level. Why our server didn't ask, I'm not sure. Even though our food wasn't spicy, it was still delicious. We had the mango and sticky rice for dessert. We have become a huge fan of this stuff. It was good, but I think I like it better at Spices Thai in Carmel Valley. Our bill before tip was $40. Overall, this place is great! Great atmosphere, decor, service and food. I'm sure we'll be going back to this place.
(4)
Bob D.
Fantastic food, service. MAKE A RESERVATION - without one you may not get it (it is small) and we always see people turned away (as we were the first time). Fresh, delicious food - we go there every time we are in Solana Beach, and the whole family (including some very picky boys) loves it.
(5)
Ian P.
Great food, great service and a nice atmosphere. The Tom Kha was light and creamy and my Kow Soi was delicious. Chang and Singha are available by the bottle as well which is a nice plus. I would recommend this place if you're in the area.
(4)
Patty C.
My first time here, and I already know it's going to be a local favorite in my new neighborhood! Hot, aromatic dishes that you can anticipate an aisle away. I got the drunken noodles with veggies, which comes with real veggies (broccoli, red bell peppers, onions) instead of the anemic bean sprouts and filler carrots. I appreciate great Asian food in a non-Asian area, but the $12.00 price for a noodle dish puts it just outside the range of a place I would be willing to go for regular take-out.
(4)
Carly H.
Bangkok Bay has never let me down. Not once has anything tasted anything less than absolutely delicious . I love this place and it is my go-to when I do not want to be disappointed. Great service too, always timely and courteous.
(5)
Jacky K C.
tip: opt for brown rice! good service, good ambiance, and tasty consistent food. Pad Thai was bit on the sour side. Massamma beef was crazy good like a Thai style beef stew with carrots and potatoes; crab fried rice actually had huge chunks of real crab meat unlike many thai joints selling crab fried rice. Penang curry also excellent. Also offered was brown rice which is a good healthy option.
(4)
Corey U.
Very nice hole in the wall restaurant. My girlfriend recommended we go there one night and I reluctantly agreed. I am very particular of small restaurants like this one only because my experience hasn't been so good. Yellow Curry was amazing and they only serve Thai beer. The restaurant was packed and service was quick and friendly. Definately a big fan and look forward to going back.
(4)
Yoon P.
Bangkok Bay is CUTE! I love the decor with water fountain, fresh flowers, and wall art that makes you think you're in someplace entirely different. I had the drunken noodles with vegetables and tofu and can attest that the vegetables were so fresh and abundant, I didn't need more! I also got the Guava juice that was very yummy. My girlfriend had Tom Yum Soup and absolutely loved every sip!
(4)
alex b.
Chicken pad Thai is good! Service is quick And always get your order right!
(4)
Surfdawg M.
Been here a couple of times. Fairly extensive menu. Overall---Decent Thai but pricey though. Prob the best Thai in the area. If your more than an hour a way would try other places.
(4)
Isadora O.
Yet another North County disappointment... I was craving some good Thai food as i seem to be at least once a week ever since i moved here, and was housesitting my sister's place in Carlsbad so i used yelp to look up local thai restaurants and picked one with one of the highest ratings. As blasphemous as this may sound, i'm now actually starting to wonder why it is i even use yelp... I'm sorry. But why is Bangkok Bay's rating so high? Well ok, i only got one dish: the yellow curry with shrimp, and that alone is what my two star rating is based on. But when i get yellow curry at just about any other restaurant it's almost always good... Sometimes even excellent! Not this time... It's true that i'm new to North County, i've only been to three thai restaurants here (this one, Panya Thai Kitchen and Taste of Thai), but they've all been such let downs.. Panya was the only one with any highlights - still sad thai food over all, but delicious yellow curry with shrimp, which is a simple pleasure i tend to ask of my complicated, over extended life from time to time. I wanted to try Bangkok Bay's pad thai and tom kha (2 of my favs, along with a dish often called swimming angel which is chicken in peanut sauce on a bed of steamed or pan fried spinach), but i was too scared by other local restaurants' failures (not to mention one of the ingredients in the tom kha according to their website menu was tomatoes; wha??) so i ordered the one dish i thought any thai joint could get right: the yellow curry. And oh how it saddened my poor awaiting tastebuds... The biggest problem was the shrimp. They were so overcooked that they were almost rubbery and had a strange almost *too* shrimpy shrimp taste and odor...if i start puking later tonight, i'll let you know... After eating two shrimp, i threw the rest away. That was 4 bucks down the garbage disposal.. The actual curry was ok. Not terrible. Not bad enough to be bad, not good enough to be good. Fair, i suppose. But also a small amount of food compared to the other N.C. restaurants i've tried, not to mention for the price. With how good Panya Thai Kitchen's yellow curry is (and they gave me twice the amount Bangkok Bay did), i'll drive the extra miles and go there next time if that's my craving. Although with my disappointment with Panya's other dishes i might be better off braving yet another new restaurant... In the end, i would not return to Bangkok Bay. Yellow curry is something every thai restaurant should have down. If they can't get that right, and they put tomatoes in their tom kha, i have little reason to believe any of their other dishes would be worth it. The hunt continues... Oh and to all those people who say in their reviews of every thai place in North County that "there is much better thai food around", pray tell us, WHERE? Next time you have the holy grail of thai food up your sleeve, please have the decency to share. That's why we're here, we want the best. Or at least something to make our tummies smile. So help a yelper out, people. I'm starting to doubt that anyone who says there is something so much better around here without saying what the place is called, is maybe exaggerating a wee bit. I may be just starting out on my quest for North County's best Thai, but i won't let that stop me from continuing to explore, experiment and name names. You're welcome.
(2)
Sara J.
I love this place. My husband used to have an office next door and we used to go here all the time and the food is so good. The spicey basil with chicken is the best and I never leave with out mango and sticky rice or the wrapped bananas and coconut ice cream. yummy I can't wait to make it back up there.
(5)
Jon S.
Sorry, but this is not Thai food. It is a reasonable facsimile. The interior is 1970 memory lane, lacking only the large herringbone and loud yellows.
(2)
Lindsay S.
Really great flavors on everything my husband and I ate! Tastes like you are in someone's kitchen rather than a large restaurant like so many other Thai restaurants! Really small though so don't expect to always get seated right away. Additional pluses - super friendly staff and fun atmosphere!
(4)
Kathalyn N.
This is where I fell in love with Thai food, and you know what they say about your first love...nothing will ever compare. I think everything about this place is awesome. From the food, to the decor, the bathrooms, the service, and even the sign on the street that reads "Bangkok Bay" in font that I remember being called "Wing Dings". The Tom Kha soup here is delicious. There is a level of flavor in this soup that other Thai places strive to achieve, but never quite obtain. Also, when you order this soup without meat, it's vegan. No chicken stock, no fish sauce, no shrimp paste, no animal products of any kind. The waitress actually brought out the recipe card to prove it to my once vegan sister! Thumbs up for: Yellow Curry with chicken Panang Curry Drunken Noodles with Chicken. Also great with Beef! For all you Gluten Free people out there, the Drunken Noodle dishes (and everything else with that same sauce) contains soy sauce. They graciously offered to make the dish without soy sauce for my other sister, who doesn't eat Gluten. SO FREAKING ACCOMMODATING! I LOVE IT! I've eaten here several times in the past, and I've tried a lot of stuff on this menu. There has only been 1 time when I thought this place fell short...2 words...coconut ice cream (okay, 3 words). Remember that really cheap shampoo and conditioner called "White Rain". Yeah, it's reminiscent of that. Y'know how something can taste like something else smells? Ehh, never mind. So go here. Try YOUR favorite Thai dish. What I listed above are just my personal favorites, but again, everything I've ever had here (minus the coconut ice cream) is incredible!
(5)
Vicky N.
The Asian decor created a very laid back vibe. The pad Thai was pretty standard, though a bit chewy for my taste. Green curry was a tad but salty as well. Not bad, but next time I'll be ordering something else!
Tried three dishes: Fiery Pad Prig Kang- this was kind of a disappointment as it was definitely not spicy ( contrary to the name and the little chili symbol on the menu). Kua Noodles- was flavorful but though I had requested it to be medium spicy, it simply wasn't spicy enough. A lot of the chili condiment set at the table helped a lot! Kang Kew Wan- this was by far the best dish- mildly sweet and spicy, with a light coconut milk green sauce. Also had the Fried bananas and coconut ice cream for dessert. It is definitely something that can be shared by two. The ice cram was a little too soft-almost a slushy consistency but the little banana fritters glazed with a honey wash and dusted with sesame seeds was amazing! Great combo:)
(3)
Justin S.
I have to say this is one of my favorite restaurants in all of SD. Everything I have here is great. A bit on the spicy side so specify that you don't want super spicy otherwise you will need a fire extinguisher for you face...But the food is awesome. Service is great and the ambiance is sweet and cozy. But the food is consistent. I have the drunken noodles with seafood and also the green curry chicken with sticky rice and i never get tired of it. Also the summer rolls with peanut sauce is BOMB. And lastly, my favorite desert on the planet, the mango with sweet sticky rice. GO THERE if you like Thai. They have yet to dissapoint.
(5)
Yevgeniy D.
The food is great, service very personal. I'm not an expert, but that was the best Thai food I ever had.
(5)
Ross A.
Came here with a good buddy of mine to get down on some legit Thai food, and that is precisely what we did. Potstickers, yellow curry, cashew nut chicken (my standard), spring rolls, Thai iced tea, and Chang. Everything was excellent and sufficiently spicy. The atmosphere, with the calming Asian music and fake waterfalls, kind of made me want to lay down and take a nap after I finished eating. In fact, I may have dozed off for a minute... I'd absolutely recommend this spot if you're looking for something authentic and not too pricey. I'll be back.
(4)
Darla D.
Bangkok Bay is GREAT. I Love love the decor, they are so creative with their decorating and it makes you smile. The staff is SO nice and efficient and the food is excellent. although in a funky corner strip mall that is old, the cafe is awesome. and with the creative decor you do not feel like you are in a funky strip mall. the bathrooms are also wonderfully decorated and clean which I really appreciate. HIGHLY recommend them and I am a Thai conisseur and I'm picky! the food is awesome; Green curry, Pad Thai, Tom Sum soup, spring rolls all excellent. ask for extra sauce, not enough on the spring rolls and its really yummy. My favorite on a rainy day or if I am sick, the Tom Yum soup will heal all ailments! wonderful job staff at Bangkok, one of my favorites : - )
(5)
Mike C.
We ate here last night. We had a party of four and although there was a bit of a wait for a Monday night (the place is pretty small), the food was tasty. It wasn't "blow your mind" food (vs. Celedon or Amarin or Lotus Thai), but it was definitely good quality Thai. The prices were okay for Solana Beach and so-so for Thai. So why the low marks? When the bill came the server explained that they would not split payment for more than one credit card unless the bill totalled over $100. We weren't asking to split the bill, just to put half the amount on one credit card and half on another. They refused. We didn't make a big deal about it at the time, but what's embarrassing about this ridiculous policy is that only one person at the table had cash. How hard could it be to put $X split in equal amounts on two cards when every other restaurant does it? I eat out a lot, don't often carry cash anymore, and I never have a problem splitting payment -- especially when it's 50/50. It made for an uncomfortable payment situation where the one person with cash had to pay for the entire meal and now we all owe the person who just happened to have cash at the table. Is it the end of the world? No. But I distain businesses who needlessly make life hard on their customers. For this reason alone, I can guarantee none of us will be going back. BOTTOM LINE - Food quality: Good Prices: Good for Solana Beach, but Mediocre for Thai. Service: Beware! rigid policies = unfriendly customer environment. If you go, make sure you have cash on-hand or plan to spend a lot on dinner.
(2)
Checko-Wing S.
It's a good place for Thai food. I don't go that often because it's a small place and they are usually packed! I recommend the Red Salmon Curry. I love how people complain about the price of food when they go to a sit down restaurant on the coast in Southern California. Seriously people...how is a place going to stay in business charging $7-10 for a plate of food??!!!
(4)
Harmony D.
Love, love, love this place! I am a serious fan of the apple salad and every entree that we have had has been flawless. I wish it was closer to my house but I will happily drive here to get good Thai food.
(5)
Jeremy F.
Stopped in by chance off the highway. Fantastic!!
(5)
Jenn C.
I think this place may be slightly overrated. I had the spicy green curry which was indeed very good. However, everything else was so-so to decent, but probably not 4 stars decent. The tom yum soup flavor was mostly derived from fish sauce and salt, and lacked a little depth. The red curry was extremely and abnormally sweet. My bf's mother ordered some Thai style ribs and they looked very dry. Basically, the food was good enough where I would go again, but after factoring in the wait, it really is not worth it. We came on a random Thursday night, and the wait was about 45 minutes.
(3)
Heather W.
Okay, I'm a downtowner so I don't get out much in North County. I was excited to try this place and branch out, and especially loved the decor that greeted us as we walked in. The service was friendly and prompt. There were six of us, and we were able to get a last minute reservation a Sunday night. All good things. Then there was the food. Okay, having had a close college friend from Thailand whose family owns an awesome Thai restaurant back home in Miami, I've downed some Thai food in my time. Maybe everyone just ordered the wrong thing, but I am just not in agreement with the four and five star reviews here. The mee-krob was okay, but with only two shrimp? They definitely skimped there. The Bangkok Bay Boat-well, the appetizers were okay. The flavors just didn't do it for me. There could've been so much more oomph! The Cashew Nut with Vegetables entree' was pretty flavorless, and the Spicy Eggplant dish with chicken was not spicy at all-we had even asked for it to be extra spicy. Nope. Nada. None of us did drink, but still at $91 without tip for 6 people, I'd say it was quite reasonable. I don't know that I'd seek this place out again, and it's certainly "cute", but it takes a lot more than that for me to be impressed.
(3)
M R.
Please put a waiting area for people picking up their food.. People standing in the middle of the restaurant for 15 minutes in a line to pick up their food is awkward for everyone.. Take out 2 tables near the door and put a waiting area there. Food was pretty good. Nice atmosphere. Food took 45 min to come out, place was really busy, they needed a few more servers.
(3)
Sarah C.
Nate and I wanted some Thai food before Cirque de Soliel in Del Mar, so we Yelped and ended up at Bangkok Bay. I ordered the Drunken Noodles, which we had had at a previous Thai place and been disappointed in. I think I just am not fond of the dish. Nate got the Pad Thai and it was very good. The place is small, tucked back in a strip mall. Super busy, obviously popular, but we still got in right away and had great service.
(3)
adam g.
Pad See Ew & soup (insert type of soup here) is my trusty standby order at new Thai places. I usually don't take This Girl's suggestion; but, I craved Thai food and I was too lazy to find another place in the area. This was one suggestion that I am happy to have followed. The Pad See Ew with Mock Duck was delicious and the Tom Kha Soup with Tofu was a pleasing surprise. I'm not a fan of coconut-anything; but, the flavor was not overwhelming. Not knowing what a fire pot was, we accidentally ordered too much food. Anyways, like I said, the food was great, the service was pretty awesome, the portions are large, and I couldn't find a reason not to add this to my list of usual dining choices. I can't wait to go back!
(4)
Ari V.
The Tom-Kha soup (coconut lime flavor) and mango sticky rice desert are tops..
(4)
Diana H.
I felt like Thai (Friday night and it was my turn to pick! Woohoo!) and this came up on the Urban Spoon app (you know the spinny one on the iphone?). We didn't find it on the first pass (it's the last strip mall before Dog Beach, fyi), but there it was back in the corner. COZY place - meaning, it's small and the tables are close together. But it was nice and not real loud. I like the decor. Friendly wait staff. Only problem was, it was DARK. I mean, I know I'm old, but shoot, I seriously could not read the menu. At least help a girl out with a little contrast between the print/paper? I ordered a "medium" curry and even my husband agreed it was "hot". But we ate it all anyway because it was soooo good. It was ... the one with eggplant. Everyone liked what they got. 4 entrees, 2 apps, 4 (non-alcohol) drinks - $78 before tip. Not bad especially for on 101. I'd go back.
(4)
Leo I.
Pretty much the best thai you will find in the Encinitas/Solana Beach area.. Service was nothing special; even felt ignored. Great thai offsets poor service, and I really don't care that my friend didn't get his water refilled promptly.
(4)
Lauren W.
Yum! Finally, an amazing Thai restaurant to go to when I am in San Diego! Pad See Ew is flawless! It is so good that I haven't dared try anything else...yet! Seriously, this restaurant is such a gem and it is very charming inside as well. Had lunch with my husband and parents here and we all left very happy and excited to have found a good thai restaurant in the area! Restaurant is teeny tiny, so be prepared.
(5)
Lilly L.
Not so good at all. No lunch prices on the weekend. Pad Thai was so undercooked and hard. Larb Kai had no flavor. They must of ran out of rice flavor and lime. How this place has 4 stars I do not know!
(2)
Holy Dumpling ..
Dinner review. Bottom line: A little pricey for what you get, but really nice atmosphere (good date location), very friendly staff, decent serving sizes and tasty food with good presentation. This would be a three star based on food quality vs price if it wasn't for the friendly staff and atmosphere (which I rarely like to pay for). 2 dishes, no drinks and dessert: $41 including tip. The two of us got there at 7:30pm. We had called ahead at 7:10pm and put in a reservation (accepted on a Monday night) for 7:45pm. There was a confusing looking pad of paper that a couple of different people who worked there flipped through and would write in to keep track of who got the next table, but with the reservation, we definitely got a table faster than a few other groups who were waiting. Up until 8:30ish, there was a constant small flock of people who hung around the door like vultures trying to get the next table. ..which leads me to a caveat for the place. Don't get the table by the door. For the first 30-40 minutes, we constantly had people hanging out right by the table with lots of nervous energy, trying to flag down the hostess and claim the next table. At one point, an older guy in wrinkled dockers put his butt about two feet from my head, right next to the table, and just stood there. Not appetizing! Note to Bangkok Bay: You guys should put up a sign asking people waiting to be seated to stay outside. You have a very nice little courtyard out there for people to wait and it's really not very nice for the people at the table by the door to have people hovering. We got: Angel Wings (3 stuffed fried wings bathed in sweet and sour sauce) - this was OK but I wouldn't get it again. The sweet and sour sauce was good (even with the fish sauce) and the wings were tender and had some good flavor, but we didn't realize it would come deep fried. Fried food is heavy food, not what I expect when eating Thai. Red Curry with seafood - expected more eggplant. It had 3 small pieces. Tasty but nothing special. I tend to like the sweeter panang curry, so maybe I just had false expectations on the flavor. The mussels were delicious. The other seafood wasn't bad. Mango and Sticky Rice - I love this dessert, but it was so-so here. The mango was delicious. The flavoring on the rice was good. However, the rice was hard and at times took some real chewing. It also didn't stick together as well as sticky rice should (I think) which made it a little difficult to eat. We ordered white rice (the default), but they brought us brown rice instead ($1 extra if you read the fine print .. not that they were trying to scam us, I believe it was an honest mistake). They brought us white rice quickly and happily when we asked. You get a ton of rice, which is great. It was good rice too. I spent a few months in Thailand awhile back and just had Thai at a well reviewed hole-in-the-wall $5.50 a dish place up in LA. The food here was good but heavier (more Americanized). Really tasty but for some reason didn't quite scratch the itch as far as flavors and lightness. The default plate I ate my rice and curry on was huge. That means the curry can spread out over the plate and "get lost." A smaller plate that had a higher rim would have been nice. The plate felt pretentious for the flavors and warmth of what I associate a Thai meal with. This is the first time I've gone to a Thai restaurant and not by default gotten a fork and a spoon (traditional Thai). They just had a fork there on the table. Spoons came with the two dishes, but those should be the serving spoons, right? One of the spoons had fallen in the *incredibly* sticky (I mean like, melted honey sticky) sweet and sour sauce while they were bringing it out. Rather than grab a new one, the waitress tried to clean the spoon with a napkin, but it still stuck to my hand when I grabbed it. I spent parts of the meal using water and my napkin to try to clean the spoon handle and my own hand. Weird. They forgot to bring our leftovers out after taking them away. We got halfway back to the car before remembering them. We walked back and they happily quickly brought them out (they had already been boxed and bagged, just not brought out to the table). I have to re-iterate that the people (family?) who work there are very nice and have created a soothing atmosphere and unique restaurant. If you look closely at the booths and walls, this could have been a normal diner if they hadn't done such a good job decorating it. Nice find in North County!
(4)
Jenny W.
It just so happened to be that I had a friend visiting from NYC staying at the Holiday Inn just down the road. When looking for a place to eat, Bangkok Bay Thai restaurant popped up and we decided to give it a go. Boy am I glad we did. This restaurant is quite a local find. If I was close by, I'd probably eat here often. The food is a LITTLE bit more expensive than other thai restaurants and the menu itself is pretty similar, but you get a lot for your money and in some ways I felt it was less "frufru" or gimmicky. The presentation for the dishes are simple, you wont see your pineapple fried rice served in a pineapple, but hey thats okay when it tastes so darn good. (I got ours with just a mild bit of spiciness - maybe that is what set it apart from other Thai restaurants I have had pineapple fried rice in). The Cashew Nut with Tofu = so good, and they give you PLENTY of rice. I hate it when you have to order another bowl of rice for an additional $1, and well you will not have that problem here. And save room for the coconut mango sticky rice. HEAVEN. Boy have I been missing out. I kind of feel like a fool for not trying this earlier. You MUST get it.
(4)
Traci W.
Cute little place with good, solid food. My husband and I both agree that they excelled in appetizers and soup (the soup was honestly the best I've ever had - EVER), but that the entrees were just OK. After living in Hawaii for several years with a huge selection of good Thai food, I will acknowledge that our standards are high. We went with a fairly large party and decided to order several appetizers and soup to share. ALL of them were perfect. The vegetarian spring rolls were fantastic. As a bonus, they offered two different dipping sauces, so we were thrilled. The fried tofu was crispy and not greasy with a nice dipping sauce. The fried wontons with avocado and cream cheese were different, but in a good way. I'd order them again. We got the coconut based-soup (Tom Ka? I think?) and found it to be both light and rich at the same time. It was creamy and flavorful, but not overpowering. My husband got Pad Thai with tofu and said he'd give it 3 of 5 stars. I got a stir-fried veggie dish and found it to be a little on the watered down side. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't up to the quality of the appetizers or soup. However, my uncle (who lived in Thailand for almost 2 decades) said his drunken noodles were comparable to what he'd had in Thailand and raved over his dish. I wish I'd tried them before he finished them! :) I'll definitely go again - I'll either try the drunken noodles or order a tapas-style dinner next time and skip the entrees all together.
(4)
Lorelei C.
Love that I work right next to this place! It is a little gem hidden in a strip mall. The panang curry is delicious with the right amount of spice. The Mango sticky rice is so delectable that you crave it daily. The people here are so nice!
(4)
Geena T.
I only write a review if I think its a 5 star and this place is definitely a 5 star! Best Thai food in the North County coastal area. You have to make reservations, because this place is always busy. Everything they make is fresh, yummy & makes you want to come back for more :)
(5)
Vicky G.
Had dinner last night. I was expecting a lot considering the high ratings by fellow yelpers! Service and ambiance was excellent! Once I opened the menu I had a bad feeling... Prices are really high.... $12-$19 for average Thai dishes. We ordered the Gai Yan Chicken and the Chaing Mai spare ribs. Both dishes were served with some sticky rice in some small straw containers... Cute but come on, give me my damn rice! Chaing Mai ribs were gross... We ate like 3 bites and left the rest! It was dry and just looked like it got the life sucked out of it.... Sad dish ; ( The chicken dish was the better of the two so we ate that, although it was hard to swallow.., it being so dry. The sauce that came with it were those sweet and sour sauce that you can buy in a bottle for $2 at the Asian stores! So if you're hungry and want tasty Thai Food... Go somewhere else!
(2)
Kristin K.
The Pad Thai and Yellow Curry were great. Not the best ever, but we were all really happy. The brown rice is WAY better than the white, totally worth the $1 or whatever they charge.
(4)
Melissa M.
Tried Bangkok Bay last weekend and we'll definitely go back! We tried around eight different dishes and nothing was disappointing. I thought the food overall was better than Taste of Thai. It's a cute little restaurant and the service is very friendly and attentive. There was a loooong wait for dinner so they apparently have some loyal fans!
(4)
Yasmin K.
I enjoy eating at Bangkok Bay for several reasons. Firstly, their food is yummy, secondly, the pricing is good, thirdly, the atmosphere, including music are complementary. Last time we went they forgot to bring us one dish until we had practically finished eating, so we told them we didn't want it anymore. They were cool with that and apologized for the delay. Oh, reservations are almost always essential!
(4)
Jessica H.
AMAZING pad thai and panang! They go easy on the spice - a 5 is pretty mild by my tastes so don't be shy with the spice level. Solid food, great, quick service... my only complaint? I wish it wasn't so popular!
(5)
Craig Y.
Delicious food in a cozy atmosphere--certainly the best Thai restaurant in the Del Mar/Solana Beach area. The only drawback is the location--it sits in the tacky strip mall just north of Via De La Valle. But once you're inside, you can forget all about the location because even though it's pretty small, the decor and ambiance are very authentic. The place almost always has a nice buzz and often there's a wait for a table. The service can be a little slow at times but is always friendly and accommodating. My favorite dish is the Panang Salmon which has a great flavor but is a little lighter than most of the other curries. The prices I think are very reasonable. Overall, my favorite north county Thai restaurant.
(4)
Lesley V.
They have the BEST sticky rice with fresh mango! I order it as my appetizer! I love the small diner atmosphere of Bangkok. The walls are tastefully decorated with objects that look like they were made in Thai. The staff is friendly and the food is yummy! Make a reservation b/c it's always packed. If you arrive at 5:30 you can probably be squeezed in. Great date night venue!
(5)
Sarah L.
Bangkok Bay is tucked away on the coast in Solana Beach. It only seats around 60 people so it's constantly packed for dinner. Knowing this-we went to an early dinner around 5:30pm. We were seated right away but by 6pm the place was full and people were already sitting outside waiting for a table. The food is great and the atmosphere has a cool vibe-dark, bamboo, running water, authentic decor. I love the half moon ton's-puff pastry filled with avocado and cream cheese, yes please-so creamy and good. The veggie spring rolls are another favorite as well as pot stickers. Their salads are big and I like the house salad with fried tofu. I went out of my comfort zone from "the usual" to try something different, and went with the hot basil. They kept it mild for me and the veggies were crisp. This was really good! I'm glad I tried something new and look forward to trying yet another tasty dish. I think the prices are fine-the food is great so when you leave happy and no longer hungry, I say it's worth it. We love going here but it can't always be a spur of the moment decision due to the usual wait for a table factor, unless you can sneak in early enough. The servers are friendly and offer suggestions if you have lots of questions like I do. They do take reservations but I can't recall if there's a minimum # of people to reserve a table. I had leftovers for lunch and it was just as tasty!
(4)
Siciqit T.
Love, love this place!! We got here very early on Sunday (at 11am) while they open at 12pm supposedly, and they open their door right away. WOW!!!! Thank you so much for opening the door early for us!! My friends from Thailand had a great visit here in San Diego and Bangkok Bay added the fun, the food was awesome, truly authentic. Just for me, the pad thai was a little too sweet, other than that, service and food are awesome!
(5)
Brent W.
This is short and sweet. Nice service, great atmosphere with very legit affordable Thai food. I wiil now recommend this place as my favorite Thai food taste experience since I've been in California for 8 years. Yum!!!
(5)
Eddie D.
Great food! I eat Thai food at least 3 time a month at many different restaurants. On a business trip last year I came across BANGKOK BAY. It is now in my top 5 Thai restaurants anywhere.
(5)
Jonny T.
OK, I gave a 4 but its really a 4.5. But I will go back. Lets get the bad out of the way first. Mooncat ordered & she said "extra spicy", the (lovely) server then looked at my white face (Mooncat is Thai/Lao) with that quizzical "can you handle extra spicy?" look. I emphasized "extra, extra spicy" & tossed in a big grin to let her know I can dig it. Then the food came out. Mooncat ordered the appetizer of wantons filled with avocado & cream cheese with a light chili dipping sauce. Twas nice & crispy. Our main meals were northern style spare ribs & sticky rice (YES, they have sticky rice but in tiny portions although they do give more when asked) whilst I got a "very spicy" curry. I would rate the curry 3/10 for spice but 10/10 for taste. I cannot believe the previous posters who found it too hot!!!!! I added heaps of extra chili - both dry & wet - as well as the crushed peanuts they brought me. ALSO, the decor is really really lovely. Mooncat pointed out all the various authentic Thai blibs & blobs plus they have a lovely garden outside. This is one of my top two Thai places in SD county & I will be back!
(4)
Amanda S.
I tried every Thai restaurant in Solana Beach, Oceanside, and Del Mar, and this restaurant is FABULOUS. We got: Pad Thai - Perfect balance of flavors, definitely a 5. Red Curry - Spicy and DELICIOUS, could get spicier but then it wouldn't be as enjoyable. - 4.5 Service - 10, fantastic service, extremely attentive.
(5)
Penny Lane S.
T--t-t-tasty Thai. Wherever I go I feverishly scour the area for good Thai. Thank god Solana has some excellent Thai within walking distance. It all started with a packed restaurant and a line of hungry, confused people trying to figure out where the hostess stand is. Apparently there isn't one. We waited about 15 minutes for a booth (score). But apparently you can make reservations so next time maybe my date will do a little planning so we won't have to wait. Let's get serious, that will probably never happen. Service: excellent Chicken Satay Appetizer: tasty treat Yellow Curry: double yummmmm My date seemed to enjoy the drunken noodles as well. I think I've found my new favorite Thai restaurant in the area thus far. Can't wait to go try more dishes. Maybe this time some dude won't be babbling incessantly and an inappropriate decibel level. Hey d-bag, I don't care what you think about Avatar or if your sister-in-law is a skank. I'm trying to enjoy my curry.
(4)
Angelamarie S.
Wonderful service, atmosphere, and food! We had great service...both the waitress and hostess were checking in on us multiple time to make sure we were happy...the service was not slow as other people have described. We waited about 15 mins. for a table (this was on a Sunday night around 7pm) I ordered the Pra Ram with a spice level of an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 and it was perfectly spicy and tasted great! The mango and sticky rice was the perfect complement to the dinner. I would definitely go back again to try out some other dishes!
(4)
rob g.
Amazing Thom Yum Goong and Thom Yum Kha. You can order $5 for a bowl or $12 for a "hot pot" big enough for everyone to share. Great Thai decor and friendly quick service. Money Thai iced tea. As an visitor to Carlsbad, I'm glad Yelp helped me find this place! Bangkok Bay gets extra credit for being the first place to remove the shrimp tails in my Thom Yum Goong - everywhere else leaves them on, and you have fish through your soup to pull them off. Well done!
(5)
Vicky N.
Lunch deal is a steal. Soup of the day in addition to your main dish for $7. I finally dined in for lunch. The service was great - the food was served in a timely manner and my water cup was full the entire time. If I had to choose between the basil dish and the eggplant w basil dish, I'd go w the basil. As always, you can't go wrong w the red curry or the panang curry.
(4)
Jessica C.
Don't love Thai food but this place was good. Fast service. Calm atmosphere. Would come back again.
(3)
Jay N.
Food was great. The only thing I didn't like was the Salad it had to much mayo & not enough chicken. Service is great. Great location too!
(4)
matt c.
Over priced, phad thai was dry and forgettable. probably wont go back
(2)
Teresa C.
What a disappointment! We saw the great reviews and decided to go there. The food was expensive and mediocre. Don't order angel wings (dry) or the pad Thai (overly sweet, we ate only 10% of it). The pineapple fried rice was pretty good. Overall, very shocked how bad the food was...
(1)
Shep G.
This place rocks, it is right next to the Courtyard hotel in a strip mall. Great food and great portions .... it is a pretty busy place on weekends so be warned
(4)
A.J. S.
Ooh, I forgot about this place! This IS excellent. Since I am no longer a North County girl I can't go up there very often anymore, and found other favorite Thai places, but Bangkok Bay is still very delicious. I remember their Tom Ka and their phad thai being very very good.
(5)
Diamond C.
Excellent thai food! Often busy so get there early or call for reservations (i'm not sure if they do them) Excellent friendly service. Great flavors and desserts. Very cool decor inside! I come here often as my favorite place is down in Hillcrest and is much farther away.
(4)
Mary Ann G.
Had lunch there today, it was recommended by a coworker. I had tofu yellow curry. They didn't ask about spiciness. It was not spicy @ all & boring. My daughter had pad thai noodles with chicken. It was just OK. The place was dark inside with chatchkies hanging all over and mosquitos flying around. I would go to Spices in Carmel Valley 1st. Would probably not go here again!
(2)
Scott P.
My husband and I went here for the first time last night. There was a bit of a wait to get in as it has a rather small dining area. I ordered BBQ Chicken and my husband ordered Drunken Noodles. The BBQ Chicken was unlike anything I had ever had before - more like a rotisserie chicken than American BBQ. The Drunken Noodles with tofu was fantastic. Both were very large portions at a decent price. We had the appetizer sampler which I highly recommend. It included 5 different apps for $14. The lychee martini was to die for and my husband loved his Singha beer (similar to Asahi). We finished the meal with coconut ice cream - it's worth it to wrap up the rest of your dinner so you can save room for this. The staff was very attentive and helpful. The menu was very diverse including a TON of vegetarian dishes. Overall we had a wonderful time and will certainly be back.
(4)
Denis D.
Thai food is a favorite and I eat at many Thai restaraunts ... this one had attentive service and a quaiint, well decorated, comfortable atmosphere. I was staying at the Marriott Courtyard next door and this was convenient ... but the food was just OK. The summer rolls (un-fried rice paper wraps) had to have been made earlier in the day as they were a bit wilted and the been sprouts browning a little. The sauces accompanying the rolls were good ... but the rolls were not that flavorful. The Spicy Eggpant was well done ... vegetables were crisp and freshly prepared. I asked for 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 and it was exactly what I expected. Pricing is average ... $26 (w/o tip) for an iced tea, hot tea, summer rolls and spicy eggplant. You won't be wowed .. but you won't be disappointed.
(3)
Jessica D.
My husband and I tried Bangkok Bay for the first time last weekend! Great sevice and wonderful food! We will be back!
(5)
Kristy H.
My boyfriend and I ordered some takeout from here last night. I LOVE Thai food, and this place did not disappoint! I'm definitely going to go back and try other items. I also want to dine-in, because the interior is SO cute and cozy We ordered the drunken noodles with seafood combo, the tom sun salad, and crying tiger. I really liked that the seafood combo comes with MUSSELS and SCALLOPS and omitted the fake crab. I really don't like that most other Thai places throw the faux-stuff in there. Everything else was delicious as well, but its pretty difficult to mess up crying tiger as long as you have good meat! Random Tip: This place is pretty small and kindof awkward in terms of picking up take-out. There isn't a clear host stand and so you are left creepily standing right next to some of the diners. Go to the back lefthand corner and someone will help you!
(4)
Joy S.
Bangkok Bay is a hidden gem! It's a small restaurant (about 15 tables), tucked away in a corner of a little shopping plaza in Solana Beach. I last dined there on a Monday night, but the place still managed to bring in enough customers to fill all the tables. The food is delicious and authentic (I'm Thai, so I should know!), and the staff offers their service with a smile. My favorite dish is the Roasted Duck Curry, but I give thumbs up to everything else I've ever tried there.
(5)
Steph L.
I have to agree with James. It is without a doubt THE BEST Thai restaurant in San Diego. I used to come here at least once a week when I lived in DM. Take the 5 North to Via de la Valle. Go west and turn right on Highway 101. Get in the first left turn lane you can get into, and turn into the parking lot of the strip mall where there's a liquor store. Bangkok Bay is tucked away in the corner. I think the decor is great too -- I feel like I am in Thailand, even though I've never been. Everything I've ever tried has been really good, except the Thai iced tea is a little too sweet for my taste. What I like is the amount of fresh veggies they put into their dishes. Try the summer rolls, curry noodles, the barbecued chicken plate (forgot the Thai name), spicy noodles, any curry dish, soups... try everything. You won't regret it, and it may become a favorite of yours too!
(5)
Justine V.
My boyfriend and I came here on a whim late on Sunday night. We got there at 9pm, the place was packed and there was a 20 minute wait! (We knew we were in a great spot!) After reading all the reviews on Yelp, we decided w the panang curry w tofu and also a noodle dish w chicken and peanut sauce (cant remember the name!) We started out w the calamari, and overall the meal was delicious. Leftovers tasted just as good the next day! I'd highly recommend this thai joint!
(5)
jon c.
Love love love it! The Panang Panang curry is addicting. You've been warned.
(5)
Jen D.
Yellow Curry... with Shrimp... the BEST!!
(4)
Maya G.
Loved this place-- the small space had nothing on the cute decor: the lighting was low and every spare inch had some crazy tree or plant or statue, it was very chill and pleasing to the eyes. The food was super, from the Tom Kha soup to the Summer Rolls to the Seafood Combo Veggie dish...they used fresh seafood generously, everything was cooked just right with no excess of thick sauce...it was just right. There was about a 20 minute wait, but once we were in the staff were super attentive and there was not a hitch to the evening.
(4)
Jared S.
Pros: Excellent fresh Thai food Decor and atmosphere Lunch specials Cons: Parking can be a pain sometimes
(5)
Michelle T.
First off, minus one star for being a little pricier than most Thai food I've eaten here in SD. But this place is seriously delicious! I've had a couple curries here, all with chicken and all fabulous. The food here is so legit and the decor inside is unmistakably Thai. They close early though and I have been left outside, hungry and sad on a few different occasions.
(4)
D K.
I love the sound of the fountain while slurping up yum yum Tom Yum with vegetables. And after blissing out in the surroundings, I order the summer rolls with extra peanut sauce. I then like to get the Green Curry with Vegetables medicinally spicy or the Spicy Eggplant along with some steaming ginger tea. I'm a big regular fan at this wonderful Thai restaurant tucked away in Solana Beach. It is a great place to take your date/lover/significant other/neighbor or anybody else you may have in mind. Delicous. Bon Ap!
(4)
Kelly M.
I was very impressed! We tried Bangkok Bay Thai based upon the reviews here on Yelp! I was very pleased! Thanks Yelpers!! I hope to make it back again often!
(4)
Nishant K.
Favourite thai restaurant in San Diego. love the ambient. Very cozy & inviting. The food is very authentic.
(5)
Gamebebe C.
This is a place for "local" Solana Beach Resident. The food is OK, not nasty but is definitely "American Thai Food" If this is what you are looking for, this will be an alright place. It is not authentic at all. The curry is watery and everything just tasteless. Moreover, another expensive "American Thai Food " Place $15 dollars for curry........... It is like a 10% better than spices thai and it is a "1-10, what do you like" thai place. This is a place for you if you always order "Phad Thai" or "Drunken Noodle", then it is alright. If you want real thai food, you will be VERY disappointed.
(2)
Kauveh S.
Wow... I really forget how great this little restaurant is even though I have been there ten times in the last 3 years..... This is the only place in North County to get Thai, perhaps that place in Encinitas competes but this place is great.... Ask the server for the spice selection if you are in an adventurous mood..... Enjoy!!!
(5)
Amy S.
This place is crowded any day of the week, so be prepared to wait. You will like how spicy and flavorful the foods are! Try the panang chicken, the tom kah w/chicken soup, and the crying tiger beef. You can't go wrong with your entree. Give this hidden gem a try!
(4)
Duncan F.
Slight wait. Nice atmosphere. Very friendly waitstaff. Decent food.
(3)
CourtneyBren H.
Best Thai restaurant around - by far. Everything is so fresh. In a world of soggy vegetables, they keep 'em crunchy. Who doesn't love that? My favs: spicy eggplant, cashew nut squid, and LOVE LOVE LOVE the pra ram. Even their house salad is remarkably yummy considering the simplicity, Nice for a small quiet eat-in, great for a noisy houseful of take out.
(5)
Liz S.
OK. I like the ambiance, the service was ok, the summer rolls - which is their name for fresh spring rolls, were good - not the most flavorful I've ever had but I enjoyed them. Tightly wrapped rolls filled with lettuce and tofu and some other veggies. The curry was just disappointing... I got some red curry (can't remember the exact name with chicken) and my boyfriend got some green curry with pork. While the curry sauce was above average, the meat tasted like rubber in both cases. Like the meat was boiled (overly so) and then thrown in at the last minute - seriously no flavor at all. And for the price, extra disappointing. I'm used to a lot more flavor in the vegetables and meat. Not gonna go back. I'm a curry girl and generally when I eat Thai food, quite satisfied with my meal. Just like the yelp thing says "Meh, I've experienced better."
(2)
Cameron B.
My girlfriend took me here for my birthday and thought the food was amazing! I have been searching for a good sit down Thai restaurant in SD for a while now and I think I finally found it. It was pretty crowded since the restaurant is in a strip mall but we were seated quickly and the service wa excellent. The portions were a good size and the quality was great. I don't like going to Thai restaurants where you feel gross afterwards or it's all oily. Definetly recommend!
(5)
R D.
I have been going to Bangkok Bay once a week for lunch for the last 10+ years. The management may change, but the food is consistenly good as is the service. In my view, they have the best Green Curry in town. The Thom Kha soup is also consistently good.
(4)
Erik R.
Fun little place in Solana Beach. It's very small though, so can't bring a bunch of people and you should make a reservation or be prepared to wait, even during the week. It's well worth the wait though. The food is always amazing, tastes fresh, and the service is great. It's a very good place for a date since it is so small and intimate. I highly recommend this place.
(4)
kelly k.
We satisfy our Bangkok Bay cravings 2 or 3 times a month and have only been disappointed once, but still laugh at the time we ordered Spicy Basil Chicken, which wasn't spicy, had no basil and totally different veggies and sauce as described on the menu, but they insisted we received the dish we ordered! I digress. The servers are very friendly, but it's a small restaurant and yes you may have to wait for 10 GD minutes to get your table during peak hours on a Friday night. Charming decor, with a tiny little bar in the far corner that seats 2. The tangy, flavorful thom kha soup is to die for and the kang ka ree curry has such a nice balance of spice and heat. We order it as 3 on a spiciness scale of 1 - 10 (I'm disappointed I could only handle a 3, but the 5 was much too "challenging" as the BF said). The summer rolls are fresh and light and we love to finish with coconut ice cream. They also have a small but decent wine list, paired well for spicy food.
(4)
Gabriel A.
The only thing that could make this less than a 5 is the location. Anyone who posts less needs a brainscan. Seriously, read all of the 4-stars. Most of them say "this is the best thai place I've ever been to," then they give it 4-stars. Come on people, get in the game...
(5)
Ryan D.
This hidden little gem is the best Thai food I have found so far in North County area. Tuff to find if somebody didn't tell you exactly where it was but well worth the hunt. Really good prices, friendly waiters, and a awsome lunch special on the week days. A little crowded at night but the take out is very convienent to just call in if your in the area. Spicy Basil, do it.
(5)
Chris W.
This place used to have really good Thai food. Hadn't been there in awhile. When recently and had the worst pad thai I've ever had. It was strangely orange and tasted incredibly sweet. The food was so terrible that I won't go back.
(1)
Phil W.
Just the best food and very good price And the guys are cute too
(5)
Tom R.
I have dined here three times now when I am down here for business and stay at the Courtyard next door. I got a seat by the door tonight and watched as customers arrived. There is no hostess so the staff kinda does a round robin when it comes to seating people. Longest I have waited was about 5 minutes while they cleared some tables. Granted they weren't slammed tonight but every one was greeted pretty fast and seated. Curries and Basil dishes that I have had have been excellent. House salad with peanut slather served on the side is tasty and can feed two people (well not the super sized variety). Medium spice on the basil dish was about right but then again being from N. Cal. we kinda whimp out on the heat vs. the locals
(5)
Julianna W.
I LOVE this restaurant. You ask, why the reason for 4 stars instead of 5. The restaurant is particularly small, and it's kind of difficult to get it. I recommend a reservation, but for me I prefer to get take out. It's pretty dark in the restaurant. The waitresses are nice, and service is quick. Recommendations: Panang Curry, Summer Rolls, Phad Thai Noodles, Spicy Eggplant and Tofu, and my ultimate favorite is the Tom Yum Soup with tofu.
(4)
Dan S.
Not sure if it authentic, but it sure is tasty. Almost everything I have ordered has been good. Usually do take out, but the few times I have eaten there, the wait staff has been very helpful and attentive. If you are going there on a weekend, be prepared to wait. But takeout is always 15 minutes. Also, never take the 2 person table in the back left corner. All the takeout people hover over your table waiting for their order.
(4)
Devin W.
Food: I am a huge Thai food fan and try new Thai restaurants any chance I get. This is by far the best Thai restaurant I have ever eaten at (Celadon's in San Diego is also very good as well, but only eaten there a few times). I've gone here for years, tried almost everything on the menu and never been dissatisfied. Among their wonderful dishes, the ones that stand out the most in my mind are: all the curries (red, yellow, green, etc), the pad see ew, pad thai, the duck (I can't remember which one I like better), and the crying tiger (delicious but you have to really like beef or be sharing dishes because it is only beef). For appe-thai-zers (kind of corny, but that's what they call them here) the spring rolls (the non-fried kind) are delicious w/yummy peanut sauce and the satay are my favorite. It's difficult to leave without ending with the mango w/stick rice for dessert- my favorite! They used to ask how spicy you wanted your dish on a 1-10 scale but I'm not sure they do this anymore or not as consistently as they used to. The ratings are pretty accurate. A 1-4 is mild, but depending on the dish will have a slight kick. A 5-up is fairly spicy and anything higher than 7 or 8 is for the very brave (I've tried but I loose the feeling in my lips). This is also a great place for lunch specials (closed of course from 3-5p.m.) if you're not down for a more expensive dinner. Service: The owner is a really nice guy and the service has almost always been good, generally very nice, polite and attentive. There was one server (a younger guy who had braces, I don't know anyone's name as no one introduces themselves) who was not very pleasant...I questioned him about a dish he had brought me because I had ordered a curry and he brought me some sort of green bean dish. He told me very rudely that I had ordered some sort of green bean dish and I politely disagreed and told him that I had asked for the green curry. He then tried to argue with me saying that is not what I had ordered, he was very rude about it....I didn't know what to say, clearly irritated he whisked the dish away. Despite this rude waiter, I've come back many times (and fortunately never had him as a waiter again) Atmosphere: I love the funky Thai atmosphere here. The plumerias (and I think they have gardenias) outside smell amazing when they are in bloom, making the wait a little more enjoyable. My favorite thing to do is pick out the new addition to the decor - nearly every time I go there is something new, whether it be a new wood carved panel or some decorative elephants..they are always changing it up.
(5)
Geoff M.
Tasty thai food and nice decor makes this a new favorite for me. The wife and I were in the mood for spicy and they delivered. The meal was a little pricey (the difference between 4 and 5 stars for me), but the food was good, so I'll definitely come back.
(4)
Morgan H.
I came here with a friend and had such a fantastic dinner! The spring rolls were great, the pad thai was fabulous and the wait staff was very helpful and willing to please. I LOVED the interior - it was fun and different, yet not tacky nor overdone. Very pleasant dinner and will def go back!
(4)
Sogoal Z.
Even if Bangkok Bay was a makeshift refrigerator box lean-to situated on the corner of a outdated mortuary of the 70s and Big Willy's Adult Book Store & Toyshop, I'd still make the trek to relish in the godliness of its summer rolls and glass noodles.
(5)
Tundrah T.
i third the "best thai in San Diego" sentiment. this place is absolutely excellent--from the food to the atmosphere to the service. i usually stick to the same few (boring) items when at thai places--pad thai, panang curry and summer rolls--all three at Bangkok are out of this world. i've had other dishes here as well, and have never once been disappointed. the wait can get a little backed up, especially on weekend nights. there's no where to sit inside, so if its cool out bring a sweater/jacket, you'll be camping out in the scenic strip mall until you're seated. the owners should upgrade to a bigger place soon, they've definitely outgrown this spot.
(5)
Kel R.
Excellent food and ambiance. Great deals for lunch, as well.
(5)
Amanda G.
I haven't dined here, but I always order take out. The food is great. May I recommend the som tom, garlic and chicken, an fried rice with tofu. It is all very tasty. But, add one more dish and you're looking at at least $40 dollars in the evening. But, they do give you plenty of food. Usually that covers four people with left overs, so when you do the math, $10 a head it pretty reasonable. The restaurant is very small or shall we say intimate. But, I do feel bad for the people who get the table near the pick up area because there's no privacy and I always feel like I'm right up on them when I'm waiting to pay. Definitely, though a place to go when you want thai food and friends over for dinner. And, they do make it really fast. 15-20 minute wait max.
(4)
Helaana C.
Best Drunken Noodles. Get them here. What I wouldn't get here is the Red Curry Chicken-why? because you can get the best red curry ever down the street at Siamese Basil. However this small gem is hiding in a small strip mall which mainly belongs to a liquor store but don't let that turn you off. Inside is like being transported to Bangkok instantly. Small, charming, dim lit dining room is perfect for weekday dining. Service is ok nothing spectacular. Overall the food is good not great (except the drunken noodles) so when I am craving Thai food in Solana Beach this is my spot.
(3)
Annie F.
Drunken noodles and the spring rolls! Yum!
(4)
M M.
my co-worker and i love this place. we wish they were more consistent with their spice levels though.
(4)
Adam M.
Great local Thai food. I always get the Panang curry and Pad Thai, they can also make it as spicy as you want. Only have gotten take out but the inside looks nice but small. Seems like there is always a wait on weekends. Reasonable prices, better than any other thai place around
(4)
T K.
First off: it's a pet peeve of mine when people say "pad thai" isn't authentic Thai food... My boyfriend and I lived in Thailand for a year and often ordered pad thai in the most out-of-the-way, remote, rural food stalls in northern Thailand where there weren't any other foreigners to be seen. (in response to a comment below). ANYWAY - I really enjoy this restaurant, and have always been happy with the food that I've had there. Love the ambiance. Service is generally friendly, though when they do get busy there can be a bit of a wait. I generally get turned off when I need to wait 10 minutes despite having made a reservation, but it is a small restaurant and 10 minutes isn't that big a deal in the end. It's not all that Americanized, at least based on my experience in Thailand. They do not offer a lot of authentic northern Thai dishes, but everything I've tried has been delicious and not a huge departure from what I've eaten in Thailand. My boyfriend also loves this place, so that's 2 people who have lived in the country who are perfectly happy with the food served here.
(4)
Cassidy C.
By far the best Thai in all of San Diego! The Panang is to die for! We often get both the curry and cashew nut chicken and just mix it together so AMAZING!
(5)
Chris W.
For the price and the qulaity of food you cant go wrong at all! Hard to get into sometimes but it is a local favorite! Most everyone in there is Thai which is great so it is a good experience. Try the Thai BBQ chicken really good and not dried out! Great cheap eats!!!!!
(4)
Barbara M.
Love this place! But order it less spicy than you want it because they make their food HOT.
(5)
Cassie K.
straight from Thailand-- well, sort of. The food is EXCELLENT! The staff is so kind and polite. The dinner is very reasonably priced. I would definitely go early or make reservation... the place only has about 12 tables so it fills up quickly. Tips: most of their meals serves 2.
(5)
L S.
My all time favorite Thai place. I don't live in North County but this is worth the drive. The tea is fabulous. I have lunch there often and have never had a bad experience. Word of caution, on weekend nights get reservations. It is pretty busy at night.
(4)
Beth B.
Delicious. The Tom Yum soup is the best I've ever had. Although be careful, the som yum salad varies on different days....I asked for very spicy and there was no spice in it what so ever....and on another day I asked for the same thing and it was too hot. I think they have two chefs and cook extremely differently. Still wonderful though.
(4)
Kaitlin M.
We decided to try another thai restaurant after being less than impressed with our choices in Del Mar/Carmel Valley area. Must say we were impressed with the Red Curry. We of course had to try the Pad Thai and while the noodles were slightly overcooked, the flavor was pretty good. The sauce didn't taste like it was made from ketchup..we had the mango and sticky rice but would probably not try again. The flavor was decent but the rice was not moist enough (seemed like it was left in the rice cooker for awhile). Not the cheapest thai food ( more than $55 for 3 entrees, dessert, no drinks) but will return again. Good service - a plus!
(4)
Diana t.
great decor and food. they keep the water coming at this place-my water glass is never empty. i've been to several other thai places in the north county area and have to say that this place does have the best thai food in san diego.
(5)
James H.
The best Thai restaurant in San Diego. You can find it right on the Coast Highway, close to Via De La Valle and the race track. The food is excellent. You must try the Thai Beef Salad, Pad Kee Mao (Spicy Noodles), and the Panang Curry. I've never had a bad dish there.
(5)
Jessica B.
I live in Solana Beach and this is one of my favorite local restaurants. We get take out all the time, but I also love eating here. It's a small, cute place with great ambiance. If you go at prime dinner time, there is usually a wait- I like to try going early or late to avoid this. My favorite is the yellow curry- I can't usually eat spicy food, but I brave it becuase it is so good. I also enjoy the pad thai and pra ram.
(4)
Sheree L.
This is one of the best Thai restuarants we have been to. I ordered Angel wings(chicken wings de-boned and stuffed ground chicken and veggies.) summer rolls and a steamed seafood medley. Everything was really good especially the angel wings. The service was great as well, friendly, prompt, and considerate, For a restaurant situated in a strip mall, the decor was unexpectedly pleasing. I definitely felt like I was in a cafe in Thailand.
(4)
Taylor J.
Headed out for dinner on the 23rd with family members. I have to say this is one of the best kept little secrets in Solana Beach. I had the Drunken noodles as a change (as I typically have a panang curry or Pad Thai whenever i visit a Thai restaurant). I ordered the noodles medium spicy (turned out pretty mild) and the other two in my party ordered Yellow curry with medium spice (turned out too spicy). We called ahead to make sure there was room and they did reserve a table for a party of three. It's a nice cozy little place that you could pass by on a normal drive town the coast. However, the next time you're in the area and are eager for some good Thai be sure to stop in.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jennifer B.
Thank you Yelp for yet another great find! Took my husband here while away for a fun weekend in San Diego and it did not disappoint. The panaang curry was excellent. We did have to wait about 15 min and after we were seated then a line really seemed to form. Very cute decor, we wish our local Thai place would do the same. Highly recommend!
(5)Shiloh F.
This is one of my favorite places to get a full belly for cheap. Awesome service, great food, and never crowded put it on your list
(5)Maryrose G.
Love that this place is so close to my work. Love that this place is close to the beach. Love that this place is quaint and comfy. Love the FOOD, the staff, and the quick service. I love Thai food!!!
(5)Tessa W.
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" should be the theme of this restaurant. I am a very simple person when it comes to eating out. I have never returned any dishes at a restaurant. I usually put my faith in the chef. Anyways, I digress from the issue... As mentioned previously, I only have three criteria when it comes to eating out: 1) Good service 2) Good food 3) Cleanliness Well, this place did not even meet the first criteria. I was very excited to try this place. After reading yelp, I decided to try it. Since it was a Friday, I decided to make a reservation (according to Yelp, they accept reservations). We noticed the place was small and packed as soon as we walked through the door. There was another couple in front of us. There was no hostess at the door. It took about 5 minutes for one of the servers to walk up to us. I said that I had made reservations earlier in the day. I gave the server/hostess my name. She repeated my name and walked off. We stood there for ten minutes. I saw our server/hostess walking around. She avoided making eye contact with us. Not even a hand signal to say she was checking. It was ridiculous! Even though we made reservations, we were completely ignored. The earth will stand still before I set my foot in this place again. If you're looking for decent Thai food, try Taste of Thai or Celadon or Rama (same owner for Celadon). If not for the authenticity, you would at least get better service.
(1)Kathleen K.
This is a local gem, but would not go way out of my way to eat here. It's a great place for take away as it can get pretty crowded with spotty service. The curry dishes of all types shine here. The Golden Flowers appetizer is lovely. Green beans with Thai chili and garlic (definitely add the shrimp) is a keeper. The shredded green papaya salad is interesting. Get the spicy eggplant dish! The Tom Yum soup is ok, not complex enough, too heavy on the lime? The Pad Thai is a bit strange. Dont bother with spring rolls here unless you dont like Thai food..... Not impressed with deserts, just have a nice Thai beer instead! Enjoy.
(3)Becca L.
Love it for the unpretentious, eclectic vibe alone. And the food does not disappoint. An authentic spot for a Thai fix in North County.
(4)Tiger P.
Good food. Good service
(4)Pals W.
Cozy & authentic thai ambience + Great service + delicious food + affordable = Bangkok Bay Thai Have been there a bunch of times and tried a bunch of things, all of them turned out to be surprisinly good..Few of the "must check-out" items: 1) Bangkok bay boat (appetizer sampler with ~5 different items) 2) tom kha soup 3) Drunken noodles 4) Bangkok or Spicy bay fired rice 5) Kang ka ree (yellow curry) 6) Panang curry,panang salmon 7) Kang ped (red curry) 8) Kang khew wan (green curry) 9) Siamese twins (was not one of the best dishes)
(5)Stephen W.
Well.. I wanted to like it. Really, my coworker has been bugging me to try this place for about two years now. What I ordered was decent.. dunno what it was called, but it was a brown sauce, thick noodles, big chunks of onions and slices of carrot, with the requisite basil throughout. And yah, it was pretty damn spicy. Here's the thing.. maybe two hours later I was in the crapper, blasting my guts out, and generally making a giant fucking mess. And that went on for about three days. There's a chance the spice just didn't agree with me, but sorry, no, I'm going with FOOD POISONING. GROSS! Due to my coworker's enthusiasm for this place, I am willing to try this place again, but it might take me another two years to work up the courage.
(1)Jessica R.
Food, delicious. Decor, delicious. Going back and forth between Fowler's and the hostess stand, not so delicious but a fun race. I'll explain : if you're a dude and taking your lady out for the evening, plan ahead, make a reservation ....or just plan to imagine what your food will taste like while you wait outside the restaurant smelling what everyone else just got served. Could be a fun "getting to know you" moment. Maybe. ....but when you do finally sit down and you're enjoying your favorite curry dish or the pad thai, the wait is worth it. The food is good. Really good! And the decor makes you feel like you are back in the land of smiles. Sidenote: The four stars' rating is strictly for North County Thai restaurants only. When you venture south, Bangkok Bay becomes a 3 star, but don't let this discourage you. Delicious spicy goodness in North County is a rare gem.
(4)Kurt M.
Not too many places can offer a dish involving avocado and cream cheese, call it Thai... keep me waiting for a table... and leave me totally satisfied. I yelped: * Best Thai Food I've Ever Tasted - The appetizer I mentioned above was surprisingly delicious, and entree even satisfied as leftovers. * Decor - It's the Thai Shenanigans (you mean that place with all the crazy crap on the walls?). There's decor everywhere, and from what I saw when traveling through Asia... that makes it pretty authentic. Lots of plants outside add to the Indochina vibe. Needs Help: * Time - We waited for a table at 830p on on Thursday for a good half hour, and they accidentally seated a couple out of order (the "hostess" then became "waitress" and I accidentally let the numbers in 21% get out of order). * Loud - A small popular place can mean you have to speak up, especially if you're near the fountain.
(4)Erica L.
Excellent, authentic, and well priced!! Their Mango and sticky rice is to die for!!
(5)janna h.
super great thai here. we love the tom ka soup -very yummy service is always happy even though they are always packed and busy worth waiting for 30minutes to get a seat. and the chicken curry is divine.
(5)Brooke R.
We drove by this place twice before I noticed the big "thai" sign (I was looking for a big bangkok bay sign). Then we had to drive around the little plaza looking for the restaurant. It feels like it's hidden, encapsulated by hanging trees, but it's actually not hard to find at all. I'm just blonde. We walked in expecting a fast food thai type of place. it was nothing of the sort. It was sit down, with booths and tables. Let me clarify that: red vinyl booths, and tables. The room is decorated with what I'm assuming are to be Thai religious idols. They dimmed the lights half way through our meal which didn't really do anything, but I heard someone at the next table say "that's a lot better." Dishes are $12-15 each. That's outrageous for what you get. The food was decent. I wouldn't call it great. I ordered the drunken noodles and my dining partner had the cashew chicken. My noodles tasted good, I tried to eat every last one, but nothing about my meal was amazing. I failed to ask for it hot so they went the polar opposite and made it as mild as possible. I guess since I'm white I should expect that. The cashew chicken was a little bland but edible and still kinda tasted good. The best Thai food I've ever had was in Tucson, but since I can't make it to Tucson and back in the few hours I allot for dinner, I'll just go to Siamese Basil in Encinitas for Thai.
(2)Hilary J.
The Red Curry is the best!!
(5)Bleep S.
I've had better Thai food in SF...but it was alright except for the potstickers (bleh..gummy,tasteless) and rice(seemed like Chinese rice..not Thai rice). The chicken curry was in a wonderful sauce and they took me seriously when I said I wanted it hot. Unfortunately, it was very skimpy on vegetables. The guy had the won ton soup (he had pneumonia!), and said it was delicious... I'd go back and try a few more things , but that rice is just wrong!
(3)Paige L.
I hate to be the party pooper here, but really I don't understand the great reviews. It was just okay for me. Definitely not a place I will rush back too. Although, the staff were friendly and the service was good. I've just had much better Thai.
(2)Chelle D.
This place hits the spot when I am craving Thai food!! I love their spice tray, ask for it if you want to add spice or control your own spiciness. I really like their Tom Yum on the lunch menu with glass noddles, instead of the ones they come with. I have had just about all their curries, and they are good as well. Service is causal and friendly, and the atmosphere is nice. One of the best places for Thai in North County.
(4)Anthony L.
Ah, my local favorite. Bangkok bay is an amazing restaurant - don't let these snooty out of towners make you think otherwise either. You should be forewarned though, this place is pretty small and gets VERY busy at peak times of dinner. Obviously the weeknights aren't as bad as Friday and Saturday, but as this place grows it's reputation in the area as the best Thai food around, its going to get packed. FYI, this place is killer for lunch too if you're in the area at that time. I used to have an office down the street and would eat here at least twice a week for lunch (at a killer price, no less). Now, onto the food. It's hard to find good Panang curry which is probably my favorite Thai dish. However, this place has set the bar high and believe me, ANY of their curry's are hard to beat. I normally order the Drunken Noodles with a side of peanut sauce as well, which is the perfect touch if you haven't tried it. The meat has always been good, and the Crying Tiger is something else... If you like beef dishes you'll love this. The service has always been top notch and personable, with the staff always making an effort to call me by my first name - awesome. Prices are fair and comparable to most other Thai places in the area, if not just slightly cheaper. North County is blessed to have this place around.
(5)V K.
This is my favorite local Thai restaurant. It's so cute and the staff is attentive. It gets crowded but I've never had slow or poor service. I loooove the pad see ew with tofu; it's the best I've had! I've heard the soup and the curry are good as well, but haven't tried them myself.
(4)S T.
Every dish is better than the next. Best Thai in north county!!
(5)Alice N.
When you park in the shopping center, you look around and it's still industrial basic, almost cheap looking, regular old parking lot. Then you open the door to Bangkok Bay and you enter Thailand. You will be welcomed by a little Asian girl, and everyone has a thick Asian accent so you will get the vibe that they know the culture and the food very well. The place is lit beautifully, and the decor wraps around you as you sit down for the best meal and service you will ever get! Good for first date, special occasions, or call and pick up to order and enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Which I am going to do right about now.....
(5)samantha d.
Great restaurant. Food and service have always been consistently good. I was a little sad when found out they no longer offer an eggroll w/ lunch specials. Oh well, I rather not get an eggroll than them raising the price. My favorite dishes here are panang curry, eggplant&tofu, chicken with green bean, noodle dishes - pretty much anything off the lunch menu.
(4)Todd M.
It was a friends birthday last night and they love this place. From the Tom Ka to the Mango Sticky rice - everything was delicious. Perfect flavors in all the dishes we had. Loved it!
(4)Wanugee N.
This cute and cozy restaurant is on old Highway 101, near the border of Solana Beach and Del Mar, in a little strip mall. It only has about a dozen tables, and has traditional Thai decorations everywhere. It is dark, yet casual and a nice choice if you are in the area. It may be Thai-Chinese managed, but I didn't confirm this. Some of the menu makes you think this maybe so, though. The food and service are both good. Not spectacular, but you should feel satisfied with a pleasant experience, at least I did over a year ago. They have about 12 appetizers, 4 soups including the traditional Tom Yum and Tom Kha. There are 4 salads, and the entrees are priced with Veggie or Tofu ($10), Chicken, Pork or Beef ($11), Shrimp or Squid ($12) and Seafood Combo ($15). There are both spicy and non-spicy flavors to choose from to mix with the meats. They have about half a dozen curries and about a dozen specialty dishes, including Duck and Salmon dishes, which run $11 - $17, except the 3 Flavor Fish is market priced. There is fried banana, ripe Mango, or coconut Ice Cream for dessert. If you had a day at the Del Mar track, coming back from LegoLand, returning from the Parahamsa Yoginanda retreat in Encinitas, or just in the area, this could be a nice stop for Thai food.
(4)J L.
Went here w/friends while visiting Cali & this was like the 4th different Thai restaurant we went to lol & it was very good! The interior is pretty kool & makes you feel kinda like you might be in Thailand! Very cozy ^_^ only thing was that our food came out super spicy it was hard to eat it all so definitely say mild unless you want to burn all your tastebuds off lol. & I would make a reservation too not that we had to wait long but u have to wait outside cuz there is not enough room to stand inside.
(4)Adi H.
Wonderful Thai place...I have been trying to find a good one now that I am back in San Diego and this one lives up to my standard. They have very fast service, and you can ask for any of the food to be not spicy which is great for me! GREAT lunch deals as well
(5)Del Mar Girl H.
This our 3rd visit and our 3rd disappointment. We want to like this place, so we have tried it a few times and never been happy. Tonight we were staying next door at the Marriott and watching the play-off game (go Ravens!) so we decided to do take-out. We ordered the Bangkok Bay boat and the Wonton soup (usually we order entrees). The wonton soup was adequate, but not even close to being worth $14 for the price. I'm not a huge fan of chain restaurants, but PF Changs is way better (and yes, I realize one is Thai and one is a take on Chinese food). The Bangkok boat is a total joke. The chicken Satay wasn't bad, but one piece of chicken is twice the size of the other. How is that for consistency? The "large" shrimp were a total joke with WAY too much batter and no way were they large. We substituted Summer Rolls for the Spring Rolls because we wanted something not fried, we thought that was very nce of them. However, it was all lettuce with 1 bite of chicken and a couple carrot shreds, oh yeah and zucchini, what? Absolutely zero flavor. The other items were even more disappointing. Totally bummed, we want to like this place, but even if they were a $7.99 all you can eat buffet I would have to pass.
(2)Vishal M.
Terrible food and service! 1) We went to dine out on a Sunday evening and it took them 25 mins to seat us 2) Finally the seat we were given was right by the kitchen and it was the waiting area for folks coming in for pick-up. How can you eat when you have 4/5 people standing right next to you? 3) When we asked that we should be moved to another table, they told us that there are many guys waiting outside. Finally, we had to tell them that we are feeling uncomfortable sitting at this small table right next to each other with so many people standing next to us overlooking us while we eat. So, either we should be moved to another table or we shall cancel our order 4) Finally, after 25 mins of wait, we got our Tom Yum soup which was decent and after another 10 mins, we were moved to another table 5) We order Grilled Salmon and Jungle Curry and I have to say that Salmon was far from being grilled. It was way overcooked and felt like it was boiled/steamed. The texture was pretty bad as the fish would disintegrate while I tried to cut it and was without any flavor. The only flavor was the curry that was poured on top of it. It's a pretty sad dish specially when it was for $17 6) Jungle curry was served 12 mins after Salmon and I had to start eating first with my wife waiting for food so the fish doesn't go cold. Finally, when the curry arrived, it was sour to say the least with curry missing from the dish and lacked any flavor 5) We were so hungry that we just stuffed ourselves with rice and minimal curry that we could get out of our dishes I am not sure how the place has got good reviews but we had a terrible experience and would definitely not go back again
(1)Julie U.
Okay, not good. The first couple of times I went there is was great, but then started to devolve. Rapidly. Tonight, my shrimp hadn't been deveined, leading me to completely lose my appetite. The only thing that still seems to be good is the panang curry. At least I'm not hungry anymore. Not exactly the road I was hoping to take to non-hunger.
(2)Lindsey C.
Yep, I think this place is delish! Maybe its because I don't get out for Thai too often.
(4)Vivian G.
I've been coming to this family owned restaurant for over 10 years and it is one of my favorite hidden local gems. Tucked in a random strip mall it has the best Thai food in San Diego. The lunch is a steal at under $10 a person; it includes a bowl of soup, the entree, and a egg roll. You can choose from white or brown rice. The decor of this place is eclectic, with random stuff from Thailand. The staff is always friendly. A few of my personal favorites are: *Panang Curry *Pad See Ew *Spicy Eggplant *Hot Basil Soooooo...yummy. Of course the Tom Kha and the Tom Yum are amazing. The staff is very accommodating to my inability to eat spicy food; they make a true "mild". Friends that I have taken, who do like their food spicy have also been satisfied with the level of spice. If you're looking for an edgy fusion food experience this is not the place for you. If you're looking for a homey, fresh, made to order family place you'll be in heaven here.
(5)Brian D.
Best Tom Yum in town, although Rama downtown has a nice version too (Rama's is sweeter). We get take out a few times a month and it's always consistently good. The ambiance in the place is nice too--for a strip mall they've done a good job of making you fell like you've been transported to an exotic destination. Panang curry is great as are the Angel Wings.
(5)Ruthie S.
This place is very cute, like the atmosphere here. I had the yellow curry tofu and it was good, the only complaint is that the tofu could have been firmer. They also had good service too.
(4)Ren D.
Just ate here for my birthday dinner, it was a first-time visit for everyone in our party and we are all extremely happy with the experience! First of all, the ambiance at Bangkok Bay is just beautiful - mellow, just the right amount of lighting, and very tasteful with lots of interesting details in the decor. We received very attentive service from our server and the food was served in under 10 minutes from ordering, hot and fresh from the kitchen. When I had asked them to add a little spicy kick to my Pad Thai they obliged in the most delicious way. Other diners in the party thought they could stand the heat with the four-way pepper platter that the server recommended... spice-related hilarity ensued. Overall everyone was very pleased with their food and I can't wait to try more dishes from their menu. Best of all the obliged me with a birthday treat (the fried bananas and ice cream) and the least embarrassing birthday song I've ever gotten at a restaurant. Awesome time!
(4)Brinda J.
I really like place. I love their noodles. And their curry. I would give them 4 and 1/2 stars if I could but alas there's no half stars. It's pricey, so hence no 5 stars. But very authentic and good!
(4)Sarah S.
Best Thai food outside of Thailand! I have been coming here for 5 years. Unfortunately, my review will not be very helpful, as I always get the same things when I come: 1. half moon ton appetizers. Amazing. Very easy to replicate but phenomenal every single freaking time ( i seriously want to marry these things!) The sauce that they come with is super awesome as well. 2. Pineapple Fried Rice. They use a special spice that makes this completely different from any other pfr I have had elsewhere. (In fact, I do not even bother eating this dish anywhere else now). 3. Desserts are good (much like any other Thai place). 4. Litchi Martini= TO DIE FOR!!!! Best ever!! Yummy!!! Staff is friendly and the service is good. :) Definitely will be a loyal customer for life! :)
(5)Adam W.
I recommend the pad see ew or green curry spaghetti
(4)Dolly C.
I love this place. Best Thai around, and the ambiance is great!!
(5)S R.
I had a great experience here. Such a cute restaurant! Beautifully decorated! Really good atmosphere for a full Thai food experience. The food is awesome too! I ordered the Drunken Noodles with chicken. My husband ordered the Red Curry with shrimp (and he added pineapple). We also ordered the mango and sticky coconut rice desert! The food arrived VERY quickly. It was hot and fresh. Very good flavor. The curry was especially good. You could taste each flavor of lemongrass, kaffir lime and basil. The pineapple was fresh (not canned). The drunken noodles were so good! All of our orders were the best we have had from any Thai food restaurant. The portion sizes are good too. Not a whole lot extra, but plenty for my husband to be full! They actually gave us too much rice! I have never had that happen. All aspects of our food were perfect, even how spicy the dishes were. I think we ordered spicy number 7? They were so good!!! The service was nice and friendly. Our waitress was very nice and helpful. The prices were average for dinner. Not really expensive. The dishes range from 8-20 depending on what you get (most items are around $11 or $12). They have many choices too. Their menu is huge! I think I will try the pineapple duck next time! 5 stars because of the atmosphere, menu, food and service. Our new favorite restaurant!
(5)G B.
Pricey but the food was great. Even a "keep-your-distance-from-anything-not-fried-rice-Âat-thai" guy like me tried and liked the kow something something noodle soup thingy. The place can get busy, but is pretty nice, cozy and fast (we were there after 8.30p) though. First time here, but will be coming back.
(5)Dana O.
There is a reason why there is a wait here almost always. It is my go to Thai restaurant in north county San Diego and love the authentic Thai Flavors with the ever so American Thai menu. I don't care that real Thai people don't eat pad Thai this is the best in town. Don't let the shady parking lot next to a liquor store and consignment show deceive you because you will leave sweating delicious curry and loving it!
(5)Angie S.
I absolutely LOVED this place! I can't wait to go back. I had the Panang curry and was soooooo pleased! The entire experience was really awesome from the app to dinner to the ambiance. Thanks so much for a delightful dinner!
(5)joanna i.
Not sure when they started adding extreme amounts of sugar to everything but I can't have an order of drunken noodles without going into diabetic shock. Also, customer service has really gone downhill the busier they've gotten. Finally, I used to think this place was decently priced but $22 for a small order of pineapple fried rice is absolutely ridiculous. It's brown rice with bits of chicken and 2 pieces of shrimp. The food used to be great and the prices reasonable but now it's gone downhill. No thanks.
(2)Michelle W.
DELISH! Nice atmosphere, tasty food, clean restroom, friendly staff, cozy booth... I really liked the decor - I felt like I was on vacation. The prices were reasonable. I also liked how tropical it felt, for being right on a parking lot! It really felt like an escape. The food was delicious, and I wanted to try a little of everything. I guess I'll just have to keep going back again and again just so I can!
(5)Robert T.
Sloppy reservation-handling, but good food. Last Friday I set a reservation over the phone and when I arrived, they said they did not have me on the list. This pissed me off, because then I was treated like someone who didn't have a reservation and subjected to a 30-minute wait outside. Bangkok Bay needs to go to an Open Table-type of reservation system. Menu has great vegan options. My fiance said the Tom Kha soup was the best she has ever had and the drunken noodles, not the best but very good. She said she could see coming back to try everything on the menu. We both had drinks and food to bring home and the bill came under $100, I don't think their bill was correct Might be a better place to eat on weeknights. Weekends are very busy
(3)GT W.
4-5 visits here and it sits at a higher 4-star Thai sit-down place for me. Upscale for Thai with romantic, darker ambiance. Homely, quiet feel. There are a few secluded dining rooms from the main dining room that I'm not wild about sitting in - too isolated. Food is pricier, but the location and ambiance make up for it. Service has always been great. Flavors and dishes always impress our group. I think it lacks a few dishes and preparation that keep it from being super authentic (such as minced meat with the pad kra pao). However, most dishes are solid and we keep coming back.
(4)Ramya N.
I have been to this place a good number of times and it is one of my favorite Thai places around.This time though I took a couple of my friends here for a casual Friday night dinner since they were craving Thai. The place was pretty crowded but we were able to get our table in like 10 mins. The ambience is pretty cozy and comfy with Thai paintings hung all over the walls. Also, the staff is friendly and the service is great! We ordered golden fingers and Chicken wonton soup to start with and I enjoyed every sip of my soup. For the Entrees, we got spicy bay fried rice and hot basil with chicken. The food here is full of flavor and cooked to perfection. I was craving coconut water and they do serve fresh coconut water. Once the water is over, you can scoop and eat the young coconut fruit.
(4)Lisa F.
Best Thai food anywhere!! Make reservations cuz they are always packed!
(5)Richard M.
After watching Anthony Bourdain tour Thailand last night, I was inspired to continue my quest for good Thai food. At lunch today, I gave Bangkok Bay a try and was rewarded with a delicious meal in a peaceful, cozy restaurant. After looking over the lunch menu, I ordered the yellow curry with pork. It came with soup which was a light broth with bright citrus notes and nicely crisp bits of vegetable. The curry was rich and flavorful with perfectly prepared sticky rice to accompany. The ladies working the dining room were kind and attentive. I will be returning soon to continue exploring the menu.
(4)L T.
Amazing food. Went for lunch with the family and everything was spectacular! ! The yellow curry, drunken noodles and the dessert, sticky rice with mango are to die for!!!!
(5)Sharon V.
Stopped in here for lunch yesterday and thought this place was just ok. I came at 12:30 and was seated right away - I was surprised there wasn't a wait but I wasn't going to complain. The waitresses were very friendly and seemed to have a lot of regulars they knew by name which I thought was a good sign. Their lunch menu had great options and prices. I ended up choosing the chicken satay appetizer and the pad thai. I thought both were lacking a bit in flavor. The peanut sauce was blah (a squeeze of lime juice would've gone a long way) and the chicken a tad bit overcooked. I only had one of the four and the rest was packed up for later. Not fair to judge left overs but hubby had the skewers later for dinner and thought it was way overcooked and really lacked in flavor. It either needs more curry powder or needs to be marinated longer for the flavors to penetrate the meat. The pad thai serving size was on the smaller side so if you're a big eater, this probably wouldn't be enough for you. Flavor wise....ehh, decent but wished there was more of a kick to it. I don't know if you can request to get it more spicy but if so, I would've preferred the option. For $17.25, it was a decent lunch with 3 skewers left over for hubby's dinner but I probably wouldn't rush back to dine here again. Wouldn't rule it out though as service was very good and girls working were very nice and welcoming.
(3)Jordan M.
I work in Del Mar, but I make the 10 minute drive up to Solana Beach during lunch to have Bangkok Bay Thai Restaurant, I think it's the best Thai food around the 92014 area. I've tried a couple over near El Camino and other shopping centers, they're good, but for the same price, I'd rather have better. I LOVE their yellow curry. I get a level three and it's delicious. I always evaluate Thai restaurants by the quality of their yellow curry. I'm not sure how valid that is, haha, but I feel like it's such a simple and standard dish, if they're messin' up the yellow curry, then they can't be trusted. LOL. The only complaint I had this time around was that the onions in my yellow curry were fairly raw, so they were VERY crunchy and had a really strong onion taste. My coworker usually gets the Tom Kha and she thinks it's delicious. She feels the same way I do about driving up here to get better Thai food instead of staying somewhere more local to our office. We had the Tom Yum soup today with our yellow curry and we felt it was a bit too salty. All in all, everything was very good. This is our third time here, so we will definitely be returning.
(5)Sarah W.
My favorite Thai place!!!! Super delicious wonton soup and yellow curry. Drunken noodles were awesome too. Peanut sauce is to die for!!! Yum!
(5)Yvette M.
YUMMY!! Heard about this place from SO MANY people. Finally went and they were right it's good!! The atmosphere is nice too!
(5)Ann S.
Disappointing. Too salty. Food came out too fast and was not fresh. No itemized bill- had to ask for one and then there was an error so we had to ask for a credit.
(2)Natalya C.
WOW! Tuesday 9 pm - the place is completely packed, that says something about popularity of this adorable family run Thai restaurant. I was craving some Thai food and got tired going to Taste of Thai every time, so with Yelp app in hand i found this tiny gem in the small strip mall in Solana Beach. The decor of the dining area is cozy and inviting with peaceful deem lighting. Its a pretty small restaurant so i don't think its good to bring a crowd here. They don't have a waiting area so you end up standing outside. After we finally got sited, my first order of business was to get my fav Chang beer, which is for some reason hard to come by in San Diego. After reading so many yelp tips, i ordered pad see ew with shrimp and my dinner date got spicy eggplant with chicken. In less then 10 minutes both our orders came out. My dish was full of flavor, noodles were perfectly cooked, the portion was very generous, enough to split for 2. Spicy eggplant was also just as delicious and succulent . Our server was gracious and attentive. A few drawbacks i found that their appetizers were overpriced, exp. $8 for 2 small skewers of chicken satay. They will charge you extra $2 for rice, where normally other Thai restaurants don't. Tip: make a reservation
(4)Brittany C.
Best Thai food in the area! The restaurant is small so expect a wait. You can call ahead and get your name on the wait list. I called ahead on a Saturday and when we arrived, we only had to wait 10 minutes. Not bad! We ordered the Summer Roll and Tom Kha soup to start, followed by Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles. Everything was delicious! The wait staff is great, very attentive and friendly! Love this place and highly recommend!
(5)Miss C.
I thought this place was pretty good. The atmosphere of the restaurant is really, really nice. I love the garden, the music and the decorations. Service is excellent and you feel well taken care of. It would have been really nice to relax here and have a nice meal. A lot of the other tables were full of rowdy families with very young children. I got the feeling that this restaurant caters to businessmen and families and I personally found the food to be very bland, even though it is cooked well.
(3)Robert S.
I give this an easy 5 stars. We've been here for lunch and dinner on many occasions and they are great with their overall delicious consistency. To get a good idea of their small plate ability, I will always recommend the Bangkok Bay Boat. This offers almost everything in their appetizer arsenal and provides a good preview of what is available. When people go to Thai restaurants they either have Curry on their mind or Pad Thai. I haven't had much experience with the curry so i'll stick with what i know. I recommend the Pad Thai with Steak. It's the perfect meal and is wonderful as either a lunch special or dinner entree. If you're man enough to eat the full entree, i applaud your effort, but i can tell you the left overs are just as delicious as what is offered. The staff is always attentive and pleasant and the Thai decor of the restaurant gives an enchanted atmosphere that almost feels like something out of Indiana Jones (something heard from every kid under 12 in the restaurant). This is our go-to for Thai in North County and I feel spoiled that we're able to be in such close proximity to one of the Asian culinary treasures of North County San Diego.
(5)Laura B.
This is the best thai food place in North County San Diego. The food here actually has flavor and if you want it spicy the food will still taste great. I usually order family style and have found that I like their drunken noodles, pad see ew, yellow curry, spicy rice, tom yum (basically everything I've tried is delicious). The decor here is pretty cool. There are thai pictures all over the walls. The lighting is low and the place is small and intimate. The restaurant is located in a strip mall on the 101 highway. There's parking easily available for free. I don't know if they take reservations but I don't usually have a problem eating here on short notice. I think once we waited ten minutes which wasn't too bad. The place is a bit pricey given that it's thai food but it's also Solana Beach, so it's expected. Additionally there aren't better alternatives nearby anyway.
(5)Jordan M.
Best Thai in the city, hands down. We've established a "Thai Tuesday" at our office, and we end up here every week. Amazing food and value. Staff extremely friendly and accommodating. My favorites are the red or panang curry with seafood, and the papaya salad.
(5)Jerry C.
This is one of our favorite Thai Places in San Diego. Been here several times and it is conveniently located in Solanda Beach which is very close by . Very small restaurant so if you don't have a reservation it can be a long wait. Everything is well done here including the Drunken Noodles, Crying Tiger, Hot Basil and Green Apple Salad. That being said - it a little more pricey here than other Thai Restaurants. Have never seen any coupon or Groupon deals.
(4)Babita J.
Very good value for money Food is excellent and I love the fresh coconuts they have in mid summer I would really recommend this place for a nice dinner
(5)KJ P.
Best Thai food I have ever had! The atmosphere is so cute too. The service was spectacular. I recommend the Thai ice tea spring rolls and green curry chicken. Mind blowing
(5)Jeff B.
10+ spice level drunken noodle lived up to expectation. Quick and efficient. Fresh ingredients. Also, I inquired about the Thai iced coffee because I love Vietnamese coffee and she said the Thai was a bit milder - she was right. Very delicious!
(5)Jodi W.
I love Bangkok Bay. I've had lunch, dinner and to go orders. I bring clients here for lunch and everyone always has great things to say. I wish they took American Express however. I've always enjoyed their food and can't think of a bad experience or meal here.
(5)Tifany Q.
This place is amazing! My siblings and I were in town for work that weekend and decided to give this place a try since it was recommended by a friend. Came in on a Friday night and was told the wait would be about half an hour.. We decided to wait it out & glad we did cause we were sat within 5 minutes! It had a very romantic ambiance and the decor was just too cute!!! Definitely recommend: Tom Yum with Shrimp Pad See Yew Asparagus (!!) Crying Tiger (!!) Panang Curry with Shrimp (!!) BK Bay Ribs (!!) Shrimp Fried Rice That's what we ordered first night, plus the night after since we decided to come again... it was THAT good!!! Also, the service was great! Will definitely come back again when I'm in the area.. If you're craving delicious food, you HAVE to come here ;)
(5)Khushbu G.
Love the atmosphere, service is very attentive and accomodating. I would highly recommend the drunken noodles!
(5)Amy K.
I don't know if this restaurant is "as good as it gets" (what Yelp calls a 5 star review), but... I'm very happy with them. This was my second time here, and I've concluded they ARE a good Thai restaurant, and I'd gladly go back. I don't like their pad thai, but that's okay. This time I got panang curry, and I'd say it was perfection. Their sauce is a bit thick, and for the lunch they don't give quite enough rice. BUT no complaints from me! I loved the lunch, and it filled me up. For $10 each (including tip), my friends and I were all happy with our curry lunches! BEWARE their spicy is spicy! At other Thai restaurants, I order a 3 or 4 (out of 10). Here, I need a "mild". BEWARE you have to spend over $20 to use a credit card, and they don't accept split checks.
(5)Marcy Llamas S.
I've tried several Thai restaurants in the area, but none of them are as good as Bangkok Bay. I love the baby bok choy especially... The people are friendly, and the atmosphere is calm and soothing. One of my favorite places to take out-of-town guests!
(5)Jessica H.
Came here yesterday night for a date night with my wife. I would get a reservation if you plan on going later in the evening. Very good service and nice wine selection. Started off with a bottle of Sake and a glass of wine. The potstickers are so so good. Extremely tasty. I got the panang curry with chicken, very spicy. I absolutely loved it and found it so flavorful. My wife had the chicken pad Thai which I tried and would definitely recommend as well. This is my go to Thai restaurant for sure.
(5)Dana B.
Went here with my husband a few weeks ago. I got the green veggie curry and he got a veggie dish- forget what it was called. Green curry was very good. I wouldn't say it's the best Thai I've had in San Diego, but it was good. The curry could have been a big stronger, was almost too much coconut milk, but the flavor was good. I'd eat here again if I wanted something close to where I live.
(4)Faiza Q.
So me and my family are big thai food fans so were really excited that there was one close by and highly rated from where we were staying. We made a call ahead booking and were happy to get one on our desired time. So my first impression of this place is like you walked in to a thai gift shop. Highly over decorated with butterflies with glitter, buddha with its own water fountain. We get seated quickly and order the food. The restaurant seemed fully booked when we arrived. We ordered Chicken Satay, Calamari, Papaya Salad, Chicken Fried rice, Basil Chicken and Red curry beef. The Chicken Satay were ok but the peanut sauce you could tell was store bought. The calamari was seasonless. I'm a big fan of the Som Tum (papaya salad) and order one every time I eat thai food. This is by far the worst ones I've ever had. It was not spicy at all even the peanuts was not roasted or crushed. Then came the mains and the theme followed by being under seasoned. You know what they say 'If the locals don't eat there its definitely not Authentic!' Would not recommend
(2)Mike M.
I met a friend in the middle for a Friday night dinner and that middle happened to be Solana Beach. Checked out Yelp and decided to come here without any reservations. The wait was only about 30 minutes at 7:30 and it passed pretty quickly on the benches out front. We had tom yum, red pork curry, spicy spinach and beansprouts, mango with sticky rice, and the fried banana with coconut ice cream. Everything tasted great but the service was rushed, it seemed like they were a little understaffed. No worries though as the employees were very pleasant and they carry the Thai staple beer Chang which kept me perfectly happy. Probably the best Thai I have had in north county, check it out.
(4)Kris N.
The inside of the restaurant is so cute. It has a vintage Thai feel. The service was excellent. Everyone was very nice. The food was spicy. We ordered it as a 5. Wow! Don't go higher! We love Thai food and aren't adverse to spice, but this was hot! It made the dishes all taste similar to me. The food was good. No complaints, but I've had better Thai food at other Thai restaurants. All in all, we enjoyed ourselves and would recommend it to people in the area.
(4)Jessica C.
my favorite thai spot in north county, possibly all of san diego. lotus thai downtown is equally as good. service is good. best tom kha soup i have found! pad thai great. drunken noodles good. i have had a few of the stir fry dishes, all very good as well. i will admit that i prefer Taste of Thai in del mars drunken noodles. other than that, great thai spot!
(4)Claudia V.
This place is really something. The atmosphere is cozy, the staff is friendly and the food is amazing! I ordered 'Twisted Sisters' and it was SO good, very strong flavors, right amount of spiciness... I have nothing bad to say about it. Definitely recommend!
(5)S D.
I honestly do not know how everyone is not Giving this place five stars! The ambience was perfect for a anniversary date! Such a cute place! The food was delicious!!! Loved this place!
(5)Dina B.
Bangkok Bay Thai Restaurant is the most delicious and most authentic Thai food. My family has been coming here for about 6+ years now. Its a bit small inside, and it is always crowded, which to me is a good sign of good food. There can be a wait, so make a reservation before hand, and then usually there's just a small wait when you arrive, but worth it. Love the Pad Thai and chicken dishes. Of course I always have to have a Thai Ice Tea and they serve a really good one. Love coming here on a date with my husband, and sometimes we bring friends, and the whole family, because our teens love their food too. Another thing I love about this restaurant is that the décor inside is really Thai inspired for a great ambiance. The restaurant is tucked away in a small slightly dark shopping strip ctr., so look out for it because you may just miss it driving by.
(5)Amber B.
I would give this place 4 stars but the service sucked so 3 stars is all I can give. The food was great and very flavorful however, my friend was charged extra for the brown rice that should have been included in the meal. Also, I was charged for rice I never ordered. Although $1.00 was removed from our tab, it should state there's an extra charge for brown rice. Lastly, once the check came we waited 15 minutes before we had to flag someone down to take our payment.
(3)Jerrod B.
Best Thai food in Solana Beach and surrounding area. We always order to go, so I can't speak to the staff/location except to say that they're always very friendly when we pick up our orders. The food is to die for...some of the best I've had anywhere. Highly recommend to people who like good Thai food.
(5)Andrew R.
Great little find.....food was awesome. We enjoyed both of the dinners we ordered. The people that work there were attentive and nice. Great Thai food!
(4)Alli B.
Great food! Awesome atmosphere and really sweet people. I came here with family and everyone left very happy. Tip: they prefer cash
(5)Laura G.
We were in the area looked on google for a near bye thai resturant. The review that we read on yelp were great. So we decide to stop by and give it a try. food we order was very delicious.the obionce was great. Great service .
(5)Banu K.
The Siam Noodles rock! Very sweet service. The food was simply delicious. They accomodated my party who had vegetarian and gluten-free requests. A simple, small place in the middle of coastal Solana Beach. A fave to take my out of town guests each time!
(5)Tom D.
Soooooo good! This was my first time here, I will definitely be back.
(5)Thomas L.
Oh. My. Lord. Do you like Thai food? Do you like the BEST THAI FOOD?? Go here. Never ever disappointed. Yellow curry. Yum. Som tam? Oh so good. Tom kha to die for and angels wings that will knock your socks off. Pretty much anything is so authentic you'll be bowing to the king when you leave. They can make dishes more mild for you sissy punks out there but everything is So delicious as is. It gets busy so call ahead if you can for reservations. Don't be shy about this thai!!! Best thai food this hemisphere no doubt. Don't even waste time on other places you are blowing it so hard. Dates will be so impressed with your cultural skills even if you don't get some, you get some great food. Ya heard??? Church.
(5)Jenelyn A.
Get the tom kha!! Idk if i spelled that right but its definitely the best coconut soup you will ever try!!! Ever!! Its really good like warm butta . :)
(5)Rene P.
Anyone who regularly reads my reviews will know that I tend to be critical when it comes to Asian restaurants not on Convoy. This is particularly true for highly-rated places where the ratings reflect not so much the quality of the food but the lack of food knowledge of the clientele. Surprisingly, however, I didn't hate Bangkok Bay. In fact, I kind of liked it. To be sure, it still caters to an off-Convoy (read: wealthy and White) crowd. One older lady exclaimed to the waitress that she comes here twice a week. I think the waitress and I shared a moment in which we were both thinking, "umm... ok." But, in eating my drunken noodles, I could kind of understand why. The noodles were enticingly fresh, and the pork was tender. Summary: Hats off to Bangbok Bay for doing an excellent job serving the wealthy, White ladies of the world!
(4)Kirsten D.
I had high hopes for this place because of the reviews. But after 2 attempts I don't think I'll go back. Nothing bad happened and our service was always great. It's just that the food isn't very good, the portions aren't that big, and price is just kind of ridiculous. ($7 for a small soup is a bit much) It's obviously a popular place because it gets busy very early. I guess I just don't get it?? The spice level here is very mild. I ordered an 8 both times and it tasted like a 2. If you like spicy, order a 10+. Oh, and they give a discount if you pay in cash.
(2)John C.
While staying recently in Solana Beach we were craving Thai food and we happened upon Bangkok Bay. Restaurant was tiny, very packed and poorly lit. It was very clean and well decorated. Service was really good. We really enjoyed the food. I had Chicken Pad Thai, my wife had a shrimp dish (I forget the name). We also ordered the Chicken Satay skewers. They were amazing and the peanut sauce was perfect! The food was reasonably priced and the quantity was ideal. This place could benefit from expansion to a larger location. Definitely give this place a try, you'll be pleased.
(4)Michael J.
I've been here a number of times (not by choice), and have tried a variety of dishes, and each time I imagine that this is what Buddy the Elf must taste when he smothers his spaghetti with maple syrup and candy. There isn't one thing on the menu that isn't sickeningly sweet. Their version of spicy noodles (drunken noodles) is sweet. The spicy fried rice is sweet. Their satay sauce is sweet. The plum fish sauce for the calmari is sweet. The sauce for the egg rolls is sweet. Their freaking Pad Thai, which I have never experienced, in its many iterations, made sweet, was sweet. The ONLY thing that wasn't sweet is the soup that they serve before the meal, which is overloaded with salt instead. I'm surprised the water here isn't dosed with a bit of sugar.
(1)Karah C.
Love this joint. They have young delicious coconut on the menu. Cool atmosphere and everything we have tried has been on point. Usually super busy during dinner time.
(5)Nova J.
Yum, yum, yum!!! Great Thai food, great atmosphere, great service. Since its hidden in a small shopping center, I was surprised that it was a quality date night restaurant with really tasty, Thai food. Best I've had in Cali!
(5)Michelle H.
My mom took me to this place for the first time last night, it was really good! The ambiance and decor is beautiful and very authentic feeling. The lychee martini was really good. I wasn't a huge fan of the golden triangle but we had the Twisted Sister which was really good and the panang curry and drunken noodle were also pretty good. I will definitely be going back and trying new things :)
(4)Sucre E.
Wanted to go out and have something nice to eat on new years eve. It was close to where I live and the lady on the phone said wait line was moving fast. Ordered their tofu soup, drunken noodles and beef fried rice. Everything was pretty good. Small restaurant with nice interior. Their prices were relatively reasonable too.
(4)I. K.
My boyfriend and I came here last night to have dinner right before going to a show at belly up. He got the pad see ewe with chicken and I got the pad Thai with chicken. His dish needed some sweet and sour sauce but otherwise was pretty tasty and my dish was delicious. it's a good choice if you're in the area craving some Thai.
(3)Sarah S.
Best Thai food in this area for sure. Super authentic, and the coconut/ mushroom soup is amazing. Love this place.
(5)Eliana S.
Family owned, which is something that always makes me personally happy. :) I find the decor and the many plants makes the restaurant a calming atmosphere. The food is good and I love how there are unusual dishes if you're up for an adventure. We got the Golden Triangle, super good I highly recommend it. The Larb Kai salad, I thought that it was a bit too salty and there wasn't enough lettuce with it but it was still good. And then for the entree we got the Angel Wings, oh my God those were so good. You should try it just trust me on this. ;) On the overall the servers are friendly and accommodating, plus it's fun seeing the mom pop around checking on people. The atmosphere is wonderful. The food is really good, the price to portion ratio is a bit on the meh side, it could be better but I've had a lot worse when it comes to serving size. You won't leave hungry but you won't have leftovers either unless you're a light eater. Either way, I really like this place and will definitely come again :)
(4)JM D.
Ate dinner here tonight. I had the chicken pad thai; I read another review on here that said the it was a bit sweet & boy do I agree. It was an overall ok dining experience, not stellar; the food is decent, the service wasn't bad just not great. It kinda felt like we were being rushed. I probably would not go back or recommend this place unless someone's asked specifically about Thai food in Solana Beach, again not because I thought it was awful, just think there's better elsewhere.
(3)Matthew S.
The food is pretty good and very quick for lunch time. I personally like the Panang curry. However, I am not overly impressed by anything and I never leave feeling great. They say the curry - with the exception of yellow - is gluten free and safe to eat with celiac - they take care not to have cross - but I am skeptical from my past experiences. If you have celiac I would think twice. Price wise you will pay around $10. But bring cash because they do not accept credit card charges under $20.
(3)Alvaro M.
This place is still good, but it's lost a lot of its mojo. The dishes don't seem as authentic as they used to be. Lots of bell peppers and other cheap veggies as "filler" for the dishes that used to contain more meat or more pricey veggies. I'm still giving it a three-star because I've always loved this place, but it's slipping, and fast.
(3)Sherie H.
Well I have finally found my favorite Thai restaurant in San Diego. Went with my best friend, she had the Pad Thai and I had the Yellow chicken curry. DELICIOUS. We went at 7pm on a Friday and were seated fairly quickly. Very busy but everyone moved fast and was still attentive. Really great place.
(5)Amy A.
Food is not authentic. Tom Yum tasted like vinegar with fish sauce soup. Green curry doesn't taste like green curry. Lychee martini is lychee canned juice mixed with vodka. Over priced. Rethink before you come.
(1)Laura C.
Yum! I came here to get take out so my review is mostly for the food and only partially for the service since I didn't eat in. When I entered the restaurant and let them know I was ordering to go they were very nice and accommodating, provided me with a menu, and a place to sit while I took a gander at it. The restaurant itself is very nice inside with low (but not too dark) lighting and lots of beautiful decorations. It made me want to come back with the DH to dine in. I ordered the panang curry with chicken and an order of the mango and coconut rice. They had the food ready within 15 minutes or so which I feel is a reasonable amount of time. The panang curry with chicken was d-licious. The chicken was all breast meat. The curry was well flavored. It had green beans and red bell peppers in it which I love. The curry came with a box of rice which I thought was kind of on the small side for the amount of curry. When the woman there asked me for heat level I said a "2" b/c I've to other Thai places where you say 2 and they bring out a 5... it's all subjective. The 2 was nice w/ practically no heat (in my opinion). However, the curry had such yummy flavor that I didn't mind the lack of kick. My DH wasn't here to eat the take out w/ me so I was able to split the curry and rice between two meals. The mango and coconut rice... oh, yum! I felt kind of guilty eating more rice after the first round of rice. That feeling faded quickly... The mango was perfectly ripe. It was really nice. The rice itself was just the right amount of sweet and delicious! My only qualm with Bangkok Bay is the price. I understand that they are located on Coast Highway in Solana Beach and that with that the rent is likely to not be cheap. However, I think my order was $21 and some change. $13 (about $4 more than other places) of that was the curry and $7 was the mango with rice. The rest was tax... I've been to a few other places where curry is typically cheaper. However, I will say that they use very fresh ingredients at Bangkok Bay and again, they are located in Solana Beach so... I would definitely come back again and plan on doing so with the DH in tow.
(4)Goen K.
Came in for dinner with le hubby. Service was nice. It took 30 minutes to be seated. Twice as long as the girl told us, but for the seating availability, I don't blame her. Sat down and ordered. After getting our meal, I immediately noticed our beef salad. I'm sorry to say that cucumbers and tomatoes do not make up for the lack of beef. The fried rice was nice, except for the lack of flavor. The pad Thai noodle was a little over cooked and may have sat on the wok for a little too long causing the sauce to be obsolete. Now for the Tom yum soup.. It has a nice kick to it, but the fact that it didn't have much to offer except just that. It didn't seem to have an actual base flavor. Like they took some water and added a pinch of spices to it. I like the service, but not the food. 5 star service + 1 star food = 2 star review.
(2)Scarlett C.
My husband and I have come here more times then I can count. We mostly do take out but have dined in before. It gets very busy so plan to wait to dine in or call multi times for pick up. Items we have had: 1. Wonton soup - small and large are both a lot of soup 2. Chicken Satay- best in San Diego, great peanut sauce 2. Drunken Noodle- best in San Diego, a lot of meat with a balance of vegetables 3. Hot Basil- very good, like drunken noodle but with rice instead 4. Crying tiger- husband said it was a healthy option very good We have had other dishes but these are our time choices... you can't go wrong here.
(5)Andrew S.
They seem to switch up the lunch special soup often. Yesterday I got the egg drop soup which was very tasty. The Tom Kha Kai soup here is also very good. They do not give as much vegetables in the soup as some other thai restaurants I have been to, but the soup is amazing. The curry here is exceptional as well. I have tried the green curry yesterday and it has always been one of my favorites here. You have an option between white and brown rice. They have plenty of veggies in the curry, but the green curry soup is the most amazing part! I love the pad thai here as well. The noodles are fresh and delicious! They do not stick together as much as they do at some other thai restaurants I have been to. Come early to beat the lunch rush. The ambiance is very nice too. Very decorative to match the theme of the restaurant. Service is great as well! Food comes out fast! Within 10 minutes of ordering even at a busy time!
(5)Tina V.
Bangkok Bay is almost always busy when we get in the Thai mood. That is because their food is excellent! The service is friendly and prompt. Green Curry with shrimp is our must-have and their presentation is perfect. We like number 4 heat - hot enough to clear the passages, leaving all flavors desired. As a second choice, we try to venture out to try a new dish. We have not been disappointed. 3 Thai brothers is a light and tasty side with baby bok choi, mushrooms and tofu, simple and full of flavor. The Pad Thai is tasty too; we choose beef, although the waitress suggested duck. Perhaps next time... The Thai coffee was a pleasant change from the Thai tea, which is always yummy, but sometimes too filling for me. The lettuce wrap appetizers are a great start. For an amazing finish, try the coconut ice cream and fried bananas. Wow! The coconut is refreshing, with a toasty taste that lingers just long enough. This is my first Thai choice, for sure.
(5)Tyler M.
Took an hour and a half to get my food with No explanation. Rude waiter/Bad service. First time I leave a bad restaurant review.
(1)Joe M.
I had earlier given this place 4 stars based on my visit on Dec 21st. I went back for dinner on Dec 23rd and modifying my review. Second time the food was very disappointing, it was tasteless and the service was not very friendly. So as others said, it is a hit and miss. The food was ready when promised and the price is reasonable for this part of town. The plain rice is still overcooked, mushy and tasteless.
(2)Midlife C.
Good food, but extremely pricey. I've had better Thai food for a lot less money. I guess we're all having to pay for their rent.
(3)Michael S.
I think Bangkok Bay is a hidden gem and probably has the best Thai food I've found in North County. The restaurant itself is small and unassuming with classic decor, which was probably assembled over many years. The interior is a bit dark and dare I say romantic, but not so much that you couldn't have a business lunch. The crowd is eclectic and not business lunchy at all, with a mix of locals, beach types and friends meeting up. A buddy told me that the last time he was there the back room hosted a private event for a bunch of pro surfers. Bangkok Bay is relaxing and casual - very low key. We've done takeout and we've eaten in. There can be a wait at peak times but at lunch last week we went in and sat right down. The three of us ordered lunch specials featuring classic Thai favorites: Pad See Ew with pork, Drunken Noodles with chicken or maybe tofu and Panang Curry with shrimp. I had the curry, which was great, and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. Every dish was exceptional, per usual. Great place.
(4)Dan K.
This has to be the best all-round Thai place in north county for Thai. Bases loaded and hits it out the park. The food is authentic and great quality. Plenty of fresh veggies, plenty of noodle choices, curries, and different meats. Even a variety of entree style plates like whole fish, salmon, and grilled duck. A Thai friend of mine agrees with me and thinks this is the best place she has been to in San Diego. The service is great, provided by a slew of thickly accented Thai women, who are eager to please and always smiling. This is not like other South-East Asian restaurants that have horrible lighting and atmosphere. This place is dimly lit (as it should be), with a fountain and plants all in the restaurant with some light music playing in the background. Its like eating in a spa. The place is small, so you might want to make reservations. They dont have a bar area to sit in, but have seating directly outside if you are waiting.
(5)Merry L.
Tried this place last night for the first time. Cute interior- very zen feeling. All of the food was very tasty. The yellow curry and the Pad see ew were great. . The glass noodle and tofu dish was good. The noodles had a ton of flavor, where the tofu was a bit bland. Their meats are high quality beef and pork. Nice to not get all fat and grizzle. The service was good, not great. We got in early but the place was packed when we left. My only issue was an inconsistency in the spice in my dish. Some bites were very mild and others super spicy. Need to mix their sauces a bit better. We will definitely be back to try some more dishes.
(4)Justine M.
Favorite Thai restaurant in San Diego. My family and I eat here a lot for birthdays and special events because it's just that good. Typically order the pineapple fried rice or drunken noodles and it is always phenomenal! Make sure to order their tom kha, it's the best in San Diego. My sister is vegan and discovered this place, they have exceptional mock duck and other vegan/vegetarian options, too. The staff is always super friendly and courteous and the atmosphere is cozy and unique. It is a small restaurant so if you're in a hurry or have a large group with you, make sure to call ahead and make a reservation.
(5)Abbie H.
Hands down my favorite Thai restaurant, anywhere. Bangkok Bay is right down the street, which is dangerous and oh so wonderful. What do I love about BB? Firstly, they do NOT mess around with the spiciness! If I say I want an 8, they give me a super spicy 8. They don't look at me like I'm crazy and dumb it down for me. Secondly, the prices are great for how much food you get. Thirdly, if you order takeout it is always ready in a super swift amount of time, even on a weekend evening. I usually get a yellow curry with chicken but have also had the drunken noodles, both are heavenly. They are always friendly and it's a super cute little restaurant with an authentic Thai feel. Can't say enough good things about it.
(5)Quynh D.
The food was very good. We ordered pineapple fried rice with crab instead of chicken and panang salmon. The salmon was a little plain though. Very pretty and cozy decoration also. The waiters were super nice. My favorite thai place now. I wish it were closer to where i live.
(5)Tad C.
All in all this place was good. I would come back for sure. Nice way to get together with friends and away from all of the tourists.
(3)Chandler P.
We were staying in Solana Beach recently in a nearby hotel and could smell the wonderful aroma's coming from this restaurant so we had to check it out. It has a small dining room so it would be best to get a reservation for minimum wait time. We walked over at about 8pm and the place was packed. Two or three couples were waiting outside already for a table but she estimated about 20 minutes wait time. We sat down and waited and we were impressed at how they would come outside to see how we were doing and apologized for us waiting. We were seated very close to our wait time and our server came to our table right away. I had never had Thai Iced Tea before but I love iced tea so I thought I would give it a shot. If you haven't had it before, I would suggest you ask for a taste because it definitely has a different taste which I did not enjoy. I bet you that it is more of an acquired taste but didn't work for me. I am sure people who know Thai Iced Tea would probably say it's great. As were were waiting outside, it did give us a chance to read the reviews on Yelp. We saw lots of reviews that recommended the Pineapple Fried Rice, Twisted Sister and the Drunken Noodles so we went with those and we were not disappointed. Each had a unique flavor that was very good and there seemed to be a competition on who could finish the Drunken Noodles first. All in all, great food, great ambiance, great service. Would definitely go again if we are in the area.
(5)Abigail S.
Went here for my birthday a few months ago but before that I had gone five or six times over the years if not more. My favorite food is thai so I am pretty critical when I go to a thai place and this place is PHENOMENAL. Honestly everything is just amazing I have no complaints. I am a woman of habit and I always get pad see ew noodles and they are always amazing the portions are large enough to split one entree or take some home and feast on that stuff at 12am like the guilty pleasure it is!
(5)Jay E.
One of the best Thai restaurants in San Diego county. The food is excellent...service is great...and atmosphere is pretty cool.
(4)Mark F.
The soup is supreme. This is one of the better Thai places north of San Diego. Good service. Good value.
(5)Lanya G.
Now that is some good Thai! Possibly the best in SD, I've been frequenting this spot for a few years now and I love it every time! The inside decor is very cozy and cute but not very big, so at busy hours you will most likely be waiting for a bit. My favorite items here are the spicy drunken noodles with wide rice noodles, eggplant with vegetables, I ask for added broccoli to this dish and YOU MUST TRY THE TOM YUM SOUP! Gawd that soup is so ammmaazing! Its a clear spicy broth with little shredded slivers of cabbage and the flavor is lime+spicy! Probably my two favorite flavors! But omg! Try it, if you like spicyness you won't regret it! Great thai food!
(5)Lara R.
Great food and very friendly. We had green curry and panang curry, both delicious. And the heat scale is accurate, my 7 was pretty spicey. I liked the decor as well. I will definitely be back and try more dishes. Wish it was closer to my work, I'd come here weekly for sure.
(5)Jem B.
Finally have crab fried rice & pretty close to flavors of being in Thailand! BK ribs were sweet & bit of acidity. Decor was cute. Friends enjoyed there meals. Thai iced was big, service was friendly but seemed to rush us. Will be back!
(4)Heidi E.
We have been going to Bangkok Bay for more than 10 years and I am amazed to say that we have never had even the slightest disappointment. This place is so good, so consistent and has such a lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. It's our favorite restaurant in San Diego, hands down. If you like great Thai food, do yourself a favor and give it a try.
(5)Elizabeth S.
My favorite Thai restaurant in San Diego. I always get the yellow curry and panang. The fresh rolls are great too :) it's pretty small inside and gets very busy. Great for takeout!
(5)Flix N.
drunken noodles were amazeballs. noodles and veggies cooked to perfection.
(4)Dana M.
Oh man! What a shame. I have had 3 really positive experiences, one decent experience, and most recently, a negative one. The decent experience was the second time I came, and it was mostly because of the people sitting near us. They complained that something was wrong with the soup, and then about the heat of the dish, etc. It seemed to be non-stop. If they didn't like the restaurant, they were just being picky. I really liked it. Unfortunately And then I've been several times since then and just loooved it! The mango sticky rice is absolutely killer, and the dishes are all very solid. Huge menu for vegetarians, which I dig, but not confining to non-vegetarians. All in all, a people pleaser restaurant! So I brought a friend recently, and felt embarrassed by the time we left for even suggesting it! A few things happened: 1. The appetizer we ordered was an avocado and cream cheese fried dumpling. Hard to mess that up! But they did. The avocado was extremely unripe, to the point where it was difficult to eat. Why serve that to us?? 2. My dish came late and it was cold. So far, only small things.. 3. There was a large piece of plastic in my food. I thought it was a unique caramelization of my glass noodles until I bit into it, and realized it was actually a folded up piece of plastic from a bag! Gross. 4. They wouldn't split the check if it was under $40. And I've never really been crazy about the fact that there's such a large discount with cash, so it doesn't surprise me that they do this too. We were $4 under. Would they have not let me pay with a card if I went in by myself and totaled up less than $20? The only thing that seemed really bad was the large piece of plastic. All the other 3 were relatively forgivable. It was just really a shame that all four of those happened in the same meal. There just wasn't a problem-free part of our meal. So I'm mixed. I'd like to go back because of the several times that it's been great, and it seems pretty fairly priced for what they give. But then I cringe because of the last time. I'll update when/if I go again.
(3)Peter H.
Been here twice now and multiple other Thai places in North County area. So far this is one of the best Thai places I've been to in the area. This last trip was with some out of town guests, they liked it a lot. We had a variety of dishes, from chicken satay, papaya salad, panang curry, crab fried rice, and more. Definitely recommend this place for people looking for Thai food.
(5)Paula I.
Beautiful and fun atmosphere. Felt like I was in Thailand. Add to that I had a handsome date, well the ambiance could not be better. The food was amazing. We had a wonderful green curry with brown rice. Flavorful and fresh! The pineapple fried rice had tender chicken and plump shrimp with juicy ripe pineapple. Oh yeah, did I mention my date was darling? But besides that I loved this place. Cracked me up that everyone leaving with Togo orders had huge bags with at least 5 entrees. Obviously a good sign.
(5)C V.
This is one of the best Thai spots I have ever been to. And I just stumbled upon it by searching on yelp on my way from LA to Mexico. My man and mom loved it too. I will definitely return.
(5)Rachel M.
Best thai food in San Diego. The service is wonderful. The restaurant is so cute inside.
(5)Amy L.
Was staying next door at the Courtyard Marriott and stumbled on this place. When I saw how full it was, I knew I was in for a treat. They didn't disappoint- the food was fresh and yummy! I liked the fact that they used fresh vegetables and didn't apply a disproportionate amount of oil to the dishes. Seemed healthier and tasted homemade. I could have used a tad more spice but I understand they are probably catering to the average american pallet. As a bonus, the ambiance of this place is nice too. Great hidden restaurant in a strip mall!
(4)Brian B.
Bangkok Bay is amazing! It's not the cheapest place but it is well worth it! I come to eat here at least once a week and am never disappointed. The food is amazing and fresh, the servers are always polite and helpful, and there is usually no wait for a table! I recommend the Cashew Nut Chicken, but you really can't go wrong with anything here!
(5)Mark D.
Was staying in Del Mar and found reviews high for this- so drive up a short ways to Solano Beach and found this Thai place. It was packed with people- luckily we got seated right away and like everyone else says in their reviews- we were served rather quickly - I had the Tom Yum soup which was good. I would have liked it to be spicy to a hotter extent- but yet delicious. We got the potstickers which was a good tummy filling starter- then we had our pad thai and that was delicious. The waitress was sweet and attentive. Highly recommend!!!
(5)Larissa L.
All I can say is this place is the absolute best!!! Don't know what I would do with out it... Yellow curry and pad see ew are amazing... The inside is really cool and makes you feel like your in an authentic restaurant in Thailand. It is always a fun experience to go for dinner and they have great lunch specials if your just looking to fill your belly with delicious thai food.
(5)Travis C.
All I can say is this place is busy and there is a good reason... SOOOO GOOD! Keep it up!
(5)Natasha O.
I've only had take-out from here but its delicious every time! I work right near the restaurant and usually order here for lunch. I highly recommend this restaurant. My favorites are the cashew nut chicken, spring rolls and pot stickers.
(5)Charles B.
stick to the curry and the soups you will never be disappointed. Also avoid coming around 7 Fridays and Saturdays.
(5)Kelly G.
Great little restaurant! The atmosphere was perfect for a first date to a family dinner. The food is amazing. Everything was fantastic. Including the Thai Iced Tea. Yum!
(5)Rebecca N.
Cute little restaurant our friends took us to. This place has good authentic Thai food (I lived in Thailand for 3 months so I would know). I perferably like it hot but my husband can't tolerate it so I went with Medium for everything and it made us both happy. The Tom Yum soup is always good. My husband and I always each pick something and share it so I ordered the drunken noodles medium hot (may have been a little too hot for my hubs but I loved it) and he ordered the mild yellow curry which was very tasty- a great mixture together. The prices are about $12 a plate.
(5)Amber W.
I was recently in Thailand and had some of the best food I've ever had in my life. But even in Thailand some of the food was not as good as Bangkok Bay. I have been coming here for 8 or 9 years and have always, always had excellent food and service. The levels of spiciness are always spot on and I have never been disappointed with a meal. The atmosphere is also very authentic. I would suggest making a reservation as there can sometimes be quite a wait, especially on weekends.
(5)Katie B.
This place never let's us down!!!!! Chicken Pad thai is amazing!!!! cozy little place that gets busy :) its one of our favorite hidden gems in Solana Beach
(5)G J J.
Food was good...actually very good...BUT...have you noticed that you can't hear anyone talk in here? There is some sort of an acoustical problem whereby you can't hear your fellow guests at your own table on busy days. They messed up the order a few times, but were efficient in terms of rectifying the issue. They are quick to take away plates, which is annoying, but they also frequently fill up the water like hound dogs on beef jerky. I'd say - if you are eating alone...which is almost never, I guarantee you, then this is a good place. Otherwise, try Taste of Thai up the road a bit, and get consistently good food and ambiance.
(3)Lauren L.
This place is good, the food is decent. I'd have given it a 4 stars if I didn't think that they are over-priced. I just had some very very good Thai food in Boston, so my expectations were high.... ( dokbuathai.com in Boston) I found that the food is comparable to Amarin Thai, but Amarin Thai is priced much better. The Beef Salad is good, especially the fact that the beef are freshly grilled to medium rare. The Chicken Satay [$7] has a lot of room for improvement, and they don't even have Pork Satay or Beef Satay... boooooo.... :-( They also don't even have one of the most traditional thai appetizer: Tod-Mun (Fish Cake)..... another booooooo..... Angel Wings.... I personally found them too stuffy.... I guess, others may have liked them better.... so, you can count this as my personal issue.... Overall, I think I will give it another try later, maybe with a larger group of people, when I can try more of their dish. The food is not bad, just over-priced. So, if you don't mind paying up... I think this place worth 4 stars... (PS. I'll post pics soon....)
(3)Ms. C.
We were visiting from the Bay Area and used Yelp to find this restaurant. I definitely have had better. The Tom Ka soup was too creamy and the yellow curry and Pad Thai was just o.k. It's hard to find great Thai food but I was disappointed because there were so many positive Yelp reviews.
(3)Ed M.
Great food.... Make reservations because it is always busy and the waitlist system is broken!
(2)Lisa G.
We went to this restaurant with the recommendation from the hotel nearby where we were staying at. Plus we were in the mood for some Thai food. I had their Thai tea and I really liked it (so much that I got two of them). There are no refills for Thai tea, you pay each time. It is on the sweet side but I like my drinks sweet so it was perfect. We had the dumplings for our appetizer and they were pretty good. It was different than some other places we've had. For entrees we had the Garlic and Pepper with chicken, which was pretty good and Pad See Ew with beef, which was horrible. We ordered the Pad See Ew after reading some of the reviews on how great it tasted and I have to say it was the worse beef I've had at a Thai restaurant. I have had way better Thai food than here so not sure what all the rave is about.
(2)Jeffrey T.
I love eating in at Bangkok Bay - they've got a great vibe inside and unique decorations. I've always enjoyed their dishes, each one has been very tasty. My only complaint is that they don't seem to use the highest quality ingredients - the chicken in particular wouldn't rate as the highest grade, and for the price I was disappointed.
(4)Jerry Y.
Been there a few times for dinner and the food has been consistently good. My favorites dishes are Pad Woon Sen (glass noodles) with fried tofu, and Panang curry with duck. They are always packed for dinner so call ahead and make a reservation.
(5)Sol C.
One of the best thai iced teas I ever had. However the price at this restaurant is way too expensive. If you drive 10 miles away from Solana beach you'll find more reasonable prices for the same quality of food. The pad thai was okay. The thai chicken was above average. But I'll remember the frosty thai iced tea the most! Service was fantastic.
(3)Thomas M.
I love my Thai food so I was so pumped when I found out about this place. Lunch special is great. I have been here multiple time and it's good every time.
(4)Timo E.
This place had great reviews. So I drove a long way, out of my way to go to it only to discover that they had closed their doors 15 minutes early. Won't be coming back! Restaurants have to learn to keep their hours. People count on them
(1)K B.
Bangkok Bay is one of the best Thai restaurants I have ever experienced. We were a party of 4 and shared 2 appetizers (pot stickers & half moons) both delicious. We also shared 4 entries, green curry, pad thai, hot basil and sizzling tiger, all amazing. 3 in our group had never had green curry and they loved it. We had excellent, attentive service. When back in this area I'll definitely eat here again.
(5)Marianne E.
The food is delicious! I had the crying tiger and my wife had cashew nut chicken. We were both very impressed. The service was good and the atmosphere was quaint. We went for lunch so it was not crowded but I read that reservations are suggested for dinner. I would definitely go again when in the area.
(5)Bando Y.
Honestly the best Thai food I have ever had in a beautiful intimate setting. Check it out. I love the Kow Soi dinner with Shrimp. Don't miss the coconut milk soup.
(5)Caitlin H.
Favorite thai place in San Diego. Everything is delicious and they have an amazing lunch special. Soup, egg rolls and an entree for $8!!! The cream cheese and avocado wontons are insanely delicious. Try em!
(5)John S.
Got takeout from here last night for a group. Had heard friends rave about the place so decided to give it a try. We were very disappointed. The summer rolls were generic. The Larb Kai lacked flavor and came with tiny lettuce leaves which were difficult to use as cups. The Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles were OK, although it had to be the least spicy Drunken Noodles I've ever had. They never asked us what spicy level we wanted in the dishes, but they shouldn't default to zero. The Kow Sai Noodles were horrible, a bland watered down curry lacking the rich flavor this dish normally has. The Hot Basil and Slicky Rice were decent, but overall not a good experience.
(2)Abby W.
If it weren't for Yelp, I wouldn't have even known that this Thai restaurant existed! It's located in a small strip of shops along the coast highway in Solana Beach and although I've driven along that road on several occasions, I've never seen this spot. My boyfriend and I discovered it on Yelp a few months ago and decided that we would give it a try for lunch. Well, today was the day! We stopped in just after the lunch crowd and browsed the lunch specials, which are Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. We selected our Thai favorites, beef pad see ew and chicken yellow curry. Both dishes were delicious! My only slight complaint is that the beef is a little chewy but the rest of the meal was wonderful. The yellow curry was one of the best that we've ever had! The lunch special also includes a bowl of soup and today's soup was Tom Kha. The coconut broth was tasty and there were lots of veggies too. While not a fancy restaurant, Bangkok Bay has an authentic Thai decor that adds a nice vibe. The service was friendly but not very prompt. My boyfriend waited awhile to have his water refilled and it took quite some time after we finished eating for the check to arrive. I would recommend stopping by for their lunch specials. Priced at $8-11, you can save about $5 a meal over coming at dinner, plus you get free soup! Sounds good to me! Quick tip: I noticed on their menu that they only accept credit cards for bills of over $20 so plan accordingly.
(4)Shawn H.
Bangkok Bay is the perfect lunch destination - just be sure to get here early because the dining room fills up fast! The lunch menu is pretty extensive and well priced. There is sure to be a dish available for anyone. The regular menu picks up where the lunch menu started, offering a bevy of authentic and delicious dishes. The decor here is awesome. You don't feel like your sitting in a shopping center in Solana Beach. The art on the walls, and the overall atmosphere work to take you away. The staff is extremely attentive and polite. The service is quick without compromising quality. I enjoy eating here and taking friends and loved ones here when in the area. This is a definite go to eatery if you are looking for Thai in the Solana Beach/Del Mar area.
(5)Monet R.
I love their food. I've been going there for years. I haven't had a curry better than theirs.
(5)Joy C.
Best Thai food we have been able to find in San Diego. Others agreed it was most authentic. We have had chicken pad sew yew, shrimp and pinneapple fried rice, BK fried rice, potstickers, and papaya salad. All dishes were very tastey. I have noticed that the spice levels vary from lunch to dinner likely due to different chefs. Lunch tends to be less spicy and dinner is more spicy, so keep that in mind when selecting your spice range on 10 point scale.
(4)Kimiye N.
This place was delicious! Granted I came in here around 3pm on a Saturday just for a little piece of mind on my own. This was perfect, like most places during the lunner time, it was relaxed but always other patrons around. I ordered the papaya salad, thinking I'd be hungry to order something else and I didn't need to. Which I'm actually slightly disappointed at myself for. I typically go for the green curry, but today I decided to keep it light. The wait staff was super friendly and didn't mind that my order was so small! Still very kind and checked on me to see if it was good. The papaya salad was delicious, the dressing was perfectly spiced (7) and vinegar-y enough for me to want to take it home and dip anything I can get my hands on into it. For the sake of not being "that girl" I chose not to ask. I highly recommend this restaurant and will be back to order my usual, and maybe more.
(5)Pat G.
I have had Thai food before, several times. This was different, this was THAI FOOD. Delicious, full of flavors and I wish I could go back, every week. I can't, I was on vacation from the other side of the country There were four of us so we ordered four different items and shared. I have to admit that I didn't care for the spring rolls, they were all white inside, I like to see some color. However the people I was dining with liked them so I'm not marking down for them. I am really not sure what we ate except for the chicken curry. (see picture, maybe you can name that Thai food). I have actually made chicken curry from scratch. Nothing I've made or had in a restaurant can stand up to the flavor in this dish, including the rice.
(5)An L.
Awesome find in Solana beach. A friend suggested this place today for lunch, and it didn't disappoint! Fresh, authentic Thai food. As good as any other Thai place I've been to if not, better. We came at a good time 'cause this place got busy soon after we arrived. It fills up pretty quick. Service was fast and friendly. Check out their lunch specials, very reasonable. Good little find, I'll be coming back for sure!
(5)Jenn P.
Excellent food and service! I have been going here for years and they are consistently excellent!
(5)Tania G.
Pad thai and Kao Soi were the best!
(5)Kali J.
3/5 times, this place is amazing. The other 2 times it's a crapshoot. Slow service, slower to come food, the food arrives staggered so one party could be finished before another gets their meal. It's a great little family owned place, but they're understaffed for how popular a place this is. I love the food when it's good, which is why I keep coming back. And when it's bad I have to remember that it's par for the course.
(3)Madeline L.
Love the food here. Musselman beef is awesome. Loved the fried rice too. A must visit.
(5)Davy M.
Loved this little authentic place. Pad Thai and Yellow Chicken Curry were both delicious. Ambience inside is intimate but still can be great for a couple or medium sized group. If we were local we'd be here all the time!
(4)christina c.
This place is my go-to Thai restaurant! It's always packed by locals who feel the same way.
(4)Lianna S.
Not that I've ever been to Thailand...(yet) but this is probably the most authentic Thai place I've been to yet. It's much better than Taste of Thai or Spices, yuck. And I still prefer Thai Pan for takeout because it's a lot cheaper and similar quality. Regardless, we were starving and ordered the massaman beef, tofu pad thai, and a spicy green curry with chicken to share. Everything was delicious, we devoured it all. It was funny though because we told the waitress we like really spicy and she suggested a 4. (We normally order a 7 or 8). So we're thinking, well maybe it's really spicy here because it's more authentic? Definitely not, a 4 wasn't spicy at all, wish we would've gone with our usual. Oh well. It's definitely worth a stop if you're in the mood for good Thai food, especially for a date.
(4)Cheyenne B.
My favorite place to eat by far!! Atmosphere is just spot on. Beautiful place, aesthetically. Everything about this restaurant is fantastic. The servers are very attentive and food comes out fast. The food is absolutely incredible. I would try the duck red curry, it's delicious! Lovely place all around, even though it's kind of pricey it is definitely worth it.
(5)Steve R.
Call ahead...cute..but small. Not super impressed. had better Thai food. they have a Vegan menu as well. My girlfriend is Vegan...she wasn't impressed with the food either. anyway....close ...wont be back
(3)Robin D.
I love everything about this place, from the giant pots of overflowing greenery outside that create a green wall in the front window, to the peaceful quiet ambiance inside with courteous, friendly service. I have had and recommend these dishes: beef salad with chili lime dressing, panang curry with chicken, green curry with duck, phad thai with shrimp, and mango sticky rice. Heavenly!
(5)Ricky C.
Best Thai place in San Diego refuse to go anywhere else great food great service great atmosphere!!!!! Did I mention that the twisted sister is amazing!!!!
(5)Richard G.
I am from Denver. Several times a year I visit Solana Beach and dine here. The food is always top notch and the service is extraordinary. Even with the restaurant full of guests on Friday night, food arrived lickety split, and servers continually filled our glasses and removed used plates, all with a smile. The food was great and the service was among the best I've ever received. I'll be back!
(5)Annika W.
The best Thai food in North County by far. The panang curry is delightful and the service impeccable. I've traveled far and wide in Thailand and this is the closest I've gotten to authentic Thai food and its OH so coozy.
(5)Marc P.
A fantastic Thai restaurant in North County. We have been going here for years, and love the food. We have never had a dish here that we haven't thoroughly enjoyed. I would give it 5 stars except for the two negatives to this place; it is always packed, and over the past several years they have raised their prices quite a bit. There is nothing wrong with the atmosphere, but given how crowded it is, I just feel like I am paying a little more for thai food than I should, despite how delicious the food is. You definitely want to do yourself a favor and try this place out. When you go, you definitely want reservations. Even with reservations, don't surprised if you have to wait to get your table (esp. if it is a Friday or Saturday night, or it is a summer evening). I haven't had a dish there that I don't like. One of my favorites is the Crying Tiger.
(4)Jennica M.
Love this place. Food is so tasty, my favorite is the pad thai. Service is also great. And just the environment in general is nice. Bangkok is definitely a regular stop. No complaints at all!
(5)Chris G.
I work near this restaurant, and this is one of the best Thai places I have ever been too. The lunch specials are not only very affordable, but also healthy sized portions. If you are in/or around the Solana Beach area I highly recommend this place. Drunken Noodles and Pad Se Ew are both great!!!
(5)Maria A.
We really like Bangkok Bay, it's hands down the best Thai place that we've found in this area. We usually grab takeout when we visit, but we did visit for a sit down dinner on one occasion. When we call in a takeout order it is always ready quickly (usually 15 minutes) and is always ready when we get there. The restaurant itself is small and a bit dark, and we had to wait quite awhile for a table. The service was good, and the menu is plentiful. The food is really great, we have yet to try anything that we don't like yet. We'll definitely continue to visit Bangkok Bay as our go to Thai spot!
(4)Deborah B.
This place can be hit or miss. When they are on they are really good, other times they are seriously lacking. Tonight they took almost an hour for my to go, forgot the spices on the side and made my medium spicy order (asked for 6-7 on 10 scale) only about a 3. But they do make several items without fish sauce for vegetarians and their half moon ton is a brilliant idea.
(3)Pam P.
Horrible. Eating the leftovers for lunch and realizing what is off. They used bottled lime juice. Really! Come on. If your supplier forgot to deliver limes send someone to costco. There is no substitute for fresh. $35 down the drain. Won't go back. Sorry.
(1)Ike E.
They told us our to-go order would be done in 30 minutes. It took 90 minutes. We stood in that crowded restaurant for an hour waiting for an order. Also, they charged us $12 for an extra order of vegetables. The food tasted great, though. I'm debating whether I want to go back there.
(2)Paul V.
My wife & I ordered the Tom Kha (soup), drunken noodle w/ chicken, & crying tiger (grilled sirloin w/ tamarind sauce. All dishes were savory, flavorful and good. The beef could use a bit more seasoning but the tamarind sauce complemented it well. The service was friendly and efficient. Reservation is recommended.
(4)Anabelle K.
Had been here twice before and thought it was good enough. The cute kitchy Asian atmosphere almost made up for just ok food before. But I was SO disappointed today. I drove all the way to Solana for lunch and the rice was as mushy as mashed potatoes. My stir fry was inedible. I've never wanted to not eat. My boyfriend said his pad thai was bad and I didn't believe him. Then tried it and it tasted like sugar water was poured over it. Horrible flavor. I had to go to the deli next door and take a coke home with my to settle my unhappy tummy. I'm so sad to give a bad review but my main hope here is that the business owner will see this and take a look at whoever the chef happened to be today. I'm guessing it was a substitute or something... :(
(1)GMon3y K.
Went there on a date from out of town and we loved it. We usually go to a Tai restaurant in San Gabriel Valley. The Tum yum soup tasted heavenly. Just the way we had it at Sala Tai San Gabriel. The service there was optimal. Waiters kept refilling our teas without hesitation. We give it a high thumbs up :)
(5)Janessa F.
The Thai iced tea is so tasty and comes in a big glass. I had the green curry and it was awesome! I asked for a bunch of extra stuff and the waitress was really nice about it. I think that's the best green curry I have ever had. My husband had the Pad See Euw and he really enjoyed it as well. We will definitely be coming back here!
(5)Chris J.
We've been trying to find a decent Thai restaurant since moving away from downtown (where we had Lotus Thai). My wife suggested we try Bangkok Bay, after she had been here previously. I ordered a simple yellow curry for lunch. When I try a new Thai place I usually go with either yellow curry or pad Thai, just because they are simple and easy to compare. The curry itself was bland. Almost no spice (and I don't necessarily mean spicy) which led to very little flavor. There was a good amount of chicken in the curry, though, which is a plus. The rice though... Wow, over-cooked. It was like mush. Add the curry to it and it was basically a lumpy soup. I only ate half of it before I just couldn't do any more. I don't think I'll be coming back here. The Thai iced tea was very good, at least!
(2)Rachel U.
Why this restaurant's Yelp rating isn't nearing 5 stars is beyond me. The ambience is cute, intimate and comfortable. It does get crowded, but they let you call ahead and put your name down which I think is awesome! All their curry and noodle dishes are fantastic. I could drink their yellow curry. MUST HAVE: pineapple fried rice. I know, I know. Not the first thing that comes to mind when you are trying to decide what to order at a Thai restaurant. But I promise, it's SO GOOD. You'll never want to order it anywhere else ever because other pineapple fried rices can't compare. I think they might add a touch of curry and sugar to it? I don't know but it's delish. The food is super authentic. I have yet to try something that isn't perfect. It is a bit pricey, but I don't mind paying a premium price for the best Thai in SD.
(5)Coco M.
I LOVE Bangkok Bay. Incredible Thai food. I am picky when it comes to Thai good but this place did not disappoint. I recommend the tom kha soup with chicken and the red curry. Their mangos with sticky rice is my favorite dessert!! I also enjoy the Thai iced tea. The staff is friendly. This places fills up quickly in the evenings so make a reservation to be safe. Definitely our fave restaurant in Solana beach!
(5)Katerina J.
This is a little Thai gem in Solana beach carefully hidden from a public eye. Authentic decor, amazing service, delicious food, great selection of beers and pleasant ambience make Bangkok Bay a truly unique Thai dinner place where I found myself keep coming back to craving mouth-watering Three Bros and Drunken noodles. This place gets very busy particular on Fridays and evenings so do yourself a favor and call them in advance to make sure your wait time decreases from 30 min to 10. If you decide just to show prepare to wait... great thing they have nice benches outside surrounded by a little That "garden" (also beach is 5 min away) hence waiting becomes easier. We usually order a bottle of refreshing That beer (Singha) to start with, appetizer and delicious Three Bros (vegetarian's paradise) and Pad See Ew. Nothing ever disappoints.
(5)Chelsea Y.
Great place to enjoy some good Thai food! Great customer service as well. I am regular at this place now.
(5)Bookish B.
Bangkok Bay is hands down the best Thai I've ever had. My bestie and I go there about once a week for lunch as they have great lunch specials. They are very inexpensive, and the portions are plenty big. Each lunch special comes with soup, but Fridays are best because they have the coconut Tom Kha soup which is the best thing I've ever had in my life. You can't go wrong with a curry (I usually get red or green), but their noodles are also kick-ass. I always get the Drunken noodles, and my friend gets the Pad Thai. Another amazing dish is the Spicy Bay Fried Rice. In addition to their amazing food, the service is always friendly and super fast. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Go there now!
(5)Sabrina H.
Well-decorated place! Great ambience. The servers were all Thai and very friendly. I wasn't "wow"ed by my Massaman curry (it was good, but not great), but my mom really enjoyed the Twisted Sisters.
(4)Lulu L.
I went for dinner for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is hidden in the back of a strip mall, but its decorated so cute inside that you forget your in a shopping center! The service was amazing ,the staff is so friendly and professional. The food was amazing, the Pad See Ew was one of the best I have ever had, the yellow curry delicious and even the basic chicken satay, moist, seasoned and done to perfection! Im so excited that I found this place, I definitely will be back!
(4)Lana B.
BB is by far the best Thai restaurant I have found in the states!! It sounds too complimentary but it's absolutely true! Even after spending a month in Thailand last year I can honestly say the food is authentic and just as good as being in Thailand!! So delicious !!
(5)Rebecca H.
What a wonderful surprise in solana beach! Great intimate space. Delicious meal. Very friendly staff. We will be back! Loved it!
(5)Amanda D.
I don't understand why people put up with the outrageous charge - you can get the same thing for half of the price. especially for the potato that's under cooked. Is it the Del Mar location fee? Amazing they can still get 4 stars. If you want real Asian food, come out of Del mar please
(1)Anna M.
The green curry was excellent, better than any curry i've had in london. Very fresh with exquisite subtle flavors. Service was gracious and efficient. Pleasant atmosphere, moderate prices. Nice lychee martini. We will be back.
(5)Mr. A.
This place is awesome from the delicious food to the beautiful decor. It is a great family restraint. The food is great. This place is cozy. The staff is friendly and take their work seriously. The ambiance is wonderful, I really feel like I'm in Thailand. I feel this place is wonderful for date night or family dinners! This place has delicious food and I think you should try it!
(4)David G.
Great service, wonderful food - loved it! The salmon dish was superb and it was a good sized portion for a reasonable price. It was far better than the salmon I recently had at Brigantine's and it came with plenty of rice and veggies!
(5)Kate K.
Hit or miss honestly. I think that Bangkok Bay is one of the better Thai choices in the area, but overall not amazing. The service is hit or miss. I've had excellent dining experiences and less than stellar ones. The food is reasonably priced, however most dishes are not that flavorful. Nothing special, but okay.
(3)lee m.
Great restaurant, food, staff and ambience. This is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in all of San Diego. Heck all of Southern California. It can be crowded because it is so good. *It's always worth the wait.
(5)Meg C.
The entrees we had tonight as a group were all fantastic! We had: Drunken noodles with chicken, curry chicken, duck, mock duck, Tom kha soup and house salad. Dessert- coconut ice cream and mango with sticky rice. All delicious and service was great.
(5)Bethia H.
I don't think I've ever had such an amazing experience with Thai food. Bangkok Bay is located in a random plaza off of the 101 in Solana Beach, an easily missed hole-in-the-wall. We ordered the Tom Yum soup with tofu, Panang Curry (beef) and Pad See Eu (chicken). Tom Yum soup had tofu and cap mushrooms, the flavor was perfection and I just wanted to lick the rest of the pot after I finished. The meat from both Panang Curry and Pad See Eu dishes were very tender and not dry and gross like most american-thai places. The Panang Curry was pretty spicy but totally worth it. The Pad See Eu noodles were made just right! Service was excellent. I'd definitely come here again.
(5)Mark M.
Best Thai in North County. The pineapple fried rice with shrimp & chicken is amazing. Love the friendly staff who always make the dining experience a pleasure.
(5)John N.
Great food and great service. The place is cute with very tasteful decorations. It is owned by Thai people and has a nice parking lot that has always open parking spaces when we go. I would highly recommend it.
(4)Jennifer L.
Everything I had there was so yummy. Very affordable with great service! It's a very cute restaurant!
(4)Cole C.
Bangkok Bay is a little pricey for me to become a regular (or am I just cheap?), but that sure isn't keeping the rest of North County away. This place is packed! And for good reason. It's a really cute little restaurant... Definitely not a hole in the wall, and certainly nicer than Siamese Basil a few miles down the street. The decor is perfect and I think they do a great job of fitting as many diners in there as possible without making you feel like you're on top of the table next to you. Everything on the menu looks great, but we settled for spring rolls, drunken noodles, and massaman beef. The spring rolls were a little bland, but our entrees were wonderful. I just finished a plate of leftover massaman beef for lunch today, and I think it was even better leftover than it was last night! If you don't make a reservation, get excited for a 35+ minute wait on the bench outside, as they don't have any waiting room seating inside. If you can manage to swing by the ATM before heading over, they sometimes reward you with 10% off your bill for paying with cash.
(4)Danny F.
Really yummy Thai food. Actually, I never had Thai food prior to coming here and I was pleasantly surprised. The prices are expensive, so it's not a place you'll eat at regularly, but great for special occasions. Still I can't help but think the food is being marked up about 15 times what you pay for the same entrees in Thailand. Also, the booth seats are old and can be quite uncomfortable. I made the mistake of hitting the weights at the gym before coming here and sitting in the booths made my back ache, had to get up and stretch it out a couple of times. On the other hand, the staff here are all as good as it gets. They're all from Thailand or the neighboring countries. So they smile and treat you warmly. They're very friendly, chatty, and helpful. Also the ambiance of this restaurant is great, the owners have really gone out of their way to provide authentic experience. Pros: Yummy food, friendly staff, great authentic "Thai" ambiance Cons: Expensive, slow, uncomfortable booth seats
(3)Brittany R.
Really solid place for Thai. The interior of the restaurant is really lovely too. We usually get takeout, and I can't recommend their tom yum soup enough! It's so delicious.
(4)Alex D.
In our search for a quality Thai place closer to home, my girlfriend and I stumbled across this hidden gem in Solana Beach some time last fall, and we've been returning here for dinner ever since. While Bangkok Bay may not appear to be the most sophisticated establishment looking from the outside, enter and you will find yourself instantly immersed in an authentic, leisurely paced world of Thai culture, delicious food, and relaxing music. Do as I do, and begin your meal with a good bottle of Singha, Thailand's most famous beer. Or fine, be that way - and start off with one of their yummy appetizers if you don't drink. For the main course, the Pad See Ew noodle dish is always a safe bet, though for lighter and even healthier fare you may want to try the Three Thai Bros, a large plate of steamed bok choy, mushrooms and crispy tofu all drenched in a mesmerizing traditional sauce. Pricey, some other reviewers have noted - well, a bit, I'll admit. However, you get what you pay for. Speaking of which, take note: they accept only one credit card per table for orders under $80.
(5)tim j.
Stayed at the Marriott just next door. My daughter and son in law said they were going to to to CPK. I said OK, we are going to order Thai..,,,, I was online looking at the Menu and they said,,,, THAT looks good, we will get that too. I ordered Wonton soup, pad thai, and coconut curry. Got it to go, we split it all up and enjoyed everything!!!
(5)Matt G.
OK - I lived in the Inner Richmond district of San Francisco for almost a decade, so I think I have a pretty good view into good Thai food. This is easily the best I have found in SD. Great food. Great service. Small and quaint atmosphere. Reasonable prices. Gets busy in the evening, so go early or get a reservation. Was not a problem walking in for lunch.
(5)Beth-Dave S.
Quaint and cozy atmosphere...had the green curry chicken to go......delicious! Will come back again...
(4)Leigh K.
I came here for the first time yesterday. I have heard a lot about it. The only reason we came is because my go-to Thai place is now closed on Tuesdays. Here is my run-down: I like the ambiance. It's what I call "Thai Nautical." It reminds me of being on a ship... lots of netting and interesting decor, only Thai style. The food was just so-so. I thought the prices were a bit inflated. I am not used to paying $14 for a hot pot of soup or $14 for a vegetarian entree at a Thai restaurant. Most places throughout San Diego charge less. I am not a fan of rice that you have to be charged for, should you get more. Most Thai places will bring you more rice if you want it, at no extra charge. Considering that the cost of eating here is more than other Thai restaurants, they should definitely offer unlimited refills on the rice (and how much rice are you really going to eat anyway? It would just be enough to bring home with leftovers!). The Pad Thai was pretty lackluster. I found the flavor to be too sweet and rather average. In addition, there wasn't much that went along with it. I saw a few cubes of tofu but not much else. With the other dish we got, the flavor of the red curry was bland, and it seemed like they added too much cream (almost like they put a bunch of dairy milk in there). It would have been nice to be given an option to add some kick to it. So, my synopsis of this is... I won't come back. It wasn't terrible, but was just very very average. If I drive to the coast again and see that my favorite Thai place is closed, I won't bother coming here. I just won't eat Thai food on Tuesdays.
(2)Mary N.
This is, hands down, the best Thai restaurant I've tried in North County. The service is very pleasant and helpful, and the chow is good. We had the server choose our entrees and he did a superb job. Prices are fair. Cute decor, too. Reservations recommended.
(4)Daniela G.
Been coming here since before it was a well known place and food and quality are consistent. Delicious chicken satay, fresh summer rolls, pot stickers, to start, pad thai, pad see ew, pad soon sen, yellow curry, fried rice are mouth watering and delicious! Very cozy ambiance although sometimes the ac is a bit cold so bring a sweater. Love it here and will always be a regular.
(5)Cristina B.
Third time at this restaurant and the second time we have bad service. We arrived to a ten minute wait for a party of four and thirty minutes later we were seated after five different parties. This was the second time that we had to wait a long time for a small party. Food is great which is why we wait, but the service is crappy.
(3)Mia B.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday night and not as busy as I expected. The service was fantastic! Even the hostess asked us "How's the food?" The food was delicious!! I normally cannot eat an entire dish but I did at this place. I got the thick noodles with chicken ($13) and it was yummy. My husband got the beef and brocolli over white rice. The beef was yummy. I didn't like the white rice, it was dry and smelled funny. But he liked it = ) It's dark in there so it can be a lil romantic. Decor is interesting and a bit much. Our dinner and one large beer we split was $37 =) We'll definitely be back!
(4)Amanda S.
I have always loved this place for dine in lunch. The curries are great and all the ingredients are fresh...the decor seems authentic and the service is very good. The last two times I have been I got take out and was extremely disappointed. Last night I ordered 4 things...and I wasn't really happy with any of them. I got the Tom Yum Soup vegetarian style. It was tasteless....kind of like water with vegetables. Asparagus and shrimp dish: the shrimp was good and the sauce was good, but the asparagus was awful. It was all the woody end bits and more than 2/3 of it was inedible. Green papaya salad: tasty but boring, and the smallest portion I have seen for $8...it seemed like a tiny side portion. Summer rolls: Rice paper seemed stale, and there were these huge sticks of raw zucchini that seemed really out of place. They were also filled with lettuce and no herbs so they were really tasteless. I am super bummed...I have always loved this place like I said, but after a hankering for Thai food last night, and $40 worth of disappointment later, I will not get take out here again. I guess I will stick to dining in for lunch. I don't know what has changed, but its definitely not as good as it once was.
(2)Rebecca C.
This is good their Jungle curry has some real heat to it! Romantic inside and generally lovely ambiance!
(4)Kaylin O.
Americanized Thai Food or unauthentic Thai food for non-Thai patrons. If you look around the restaurant, we were the only Asian people in there! The Tom ka khai or Coconut soup with chicken was so bland I could barely tolerate it. This is one of my favorite Thai dishes so it was very disappointing. It tasted like coconut soup. My friend said the Thai Ice Tea was too sweet. She had to dilute it with water! My friend, who is Thai, said the food tasted more like Northern Thai or Laos cuisine. She liked her Green Curry Spaghetti but her husband thought his dish was under spiced. Both of them agreed that they cater their spiciness and dishes to non-Thai patrons! So if you're expecting Authentic Thai food, do not come here!
(3)Anshel S.
This is my favorite Thai restaurant in San Diego. Why? because it's authentic. I originally went here with my mom and sister a few times and had a great experience. So, knowing this place was good, I came here with my Thai friend who speaks fluent Thai but is ethnically Chinese. Bringing him there was one of the funniest experiences ever, because the waitresses would simply not leave us alone. The overall ambiance of the place is very very hard to beat and the quality of the food as well as the portion sizes are also of equal level. This place definitely isn't cheap, i"ll be the first to admit it, however, the food is great and is well worth going with your family or taking a date with you. In most cases, you'll end up taking a box home.
(5)Bryan G.
My favorite restaurant in the whole entire world. My favorite thing to get there, is the coconut curry chicken or shrimp. They have the best fried rice and the biggest chunks of chicken. Also very good atmosphere.
(5)Jim T.
Best Thai in San Diego ( so far)
(5)Mariah D.
Even by California standards, this place seemed a little pricey to me. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my meal. There was a 20 minute wait on a Thursday night at 9 PM (guess it's popular) so I opted to get Pad Thai and sticky rice to-go and eat in my hotel next door. The to-go ordering was a little strange. They shoved me in the very back corner by the kitchen door of the already tiny restaurant and the cook took my order. There were waitresses and bus boys rushing by and I needed to press myself against the wall to avoid being in the way. I usually tip a small amount even on to go orders, but this was just weird. I had ordered pad thai and sticky rice with mango, but a few minutes after I had placed my order, the cook sticks his head out and says that they are out of mango and would it be OK for me to have coconut ice cream on the side of my sticky rice instead of mango. I said that was fine, assuming that there would be no extra charges for this since it was a substitution that was not my original order. I get my food and bill a few minutes later, and the total was $26. I'm not sure how that worked since I didn't get an itemized copy but all I had was Chicken Pad Thai and the Sticky Rice with ice cream. I guess I got charged for 2 desserts because I said yes to the ice cream? I'm not sure, but I was so claustrophobic in my corner that at that point that I signed on the line (no tip) and darted for the door. I guess it worked out that my total was over $20 for one person because you can only use a CC on orders of more than $20. Once I was able to enjoy my meal in my spacious hotel room, the food was tasty. It wasn't the best Thai ever, or very memorable, but it was solid Pad Thai and the rice was good. The ice cream that I paid $6 extra for? Not as good...kind of ice crystally and not as creamy. The Pad Thai portion was HUGE and I had a very substantial noodle breakfast the next day. 3 stars because I think I would have liked it more if I had had a true dine-in experience.
(3)Alex H.
Whaaaap! I'm not quick to slap down a fiver, but this place gets one. My eyes are as round as they get (yup, I'm just a whitey), but I feel that I know Thai food. I've been to Thailand, and my Thai sister-in-law can cook it up somethin' fierce. Now, on to Bangkok Bay. I was previously unwilling to favor this place over another I've reviewed, but after much discussion with my partner in dining, I elected to order nearly back to back from our top two choices for Thai food in the area. Well, Bangkok Bay won hands down. Not that the other place isn't good, but Bangkok Bay just puts more Bang in the Kok. :) There's something very authentic about the cooking here. I ordered: Green curry with chicken, pad thai with shrimp and chicken, and drunken noodles with pork. The drunken noodles were prepared at 10 on their scale of 1-10 spiciness. The Green Curry was as rich, flavorful, and delicious as I've had anywhere--including Thailand (sorry, sis!). The pad thai was perfect, not too sweet like some places make it, and the super spicy drunken noodles sent me into a state of Thai nirvana that I am profoundly sorry I have recovered from. That's pretty much it, except that the authenticity of this place has me wanting to talk to the kitchen about some dishes you rarely see on menus. If they accommodate me, I'll update my review and petition yelp to grant me a sixth star.
(5)Scott T.
BANGKOK BAY is adorable. i love the clutter -- has the feel of eating in someone's home. the wait staff (also adorable) was attentive without hovering. nice detailing in the decor with soothing white-noise from trickling water. started with three appetizers and a salad. the POTSTICKERS (chicken dumplings steamed and then pan-fried) -- nothing special here (pretty standard stuff) but the dumplings did not spend enough time in the pan to get that textural contrast between the inside and the outside. the FRIED TOFU (with a peanut and plum dipping sauce) was pretty good and my two youngest (JULIANA and WYATT) love tofu. the CHICKEN SATAY's were exactly what you'd expect -- dry and overcooked with a texture that suggested they were leftover from lunch yesterday. i ordered them for the four-year old boy because he's a serious carnivore. the only good ones i've ever had were at roadside places where they're hot off the grill so i have to assume some responsibility here. the SIAM BEEF SALAD was a major disappointment. asked for it spicy and it wasn't but a bigger gripe was the dressing -- not much going on -- no mint, no cilantro and not much lime -- just sugar (and not palm sugar) and fish sauce and there were no mint or cilantro leaves in the greens. the whole flavor profile never got off the ground. PAD THAI was gorgeous - tragically, the taste fell flat. barely present tamarind flavor and some sweetness and that was that. not even lime quarters to jump start the tastebuds. the PANANG CURRY had a nice flavor but once again no spice -- why do the servers ask you how spicy you want it if the kitchen's going to ignore you anyway ??? there was lots of chicken (but it was kinda tough) and judging by how much we ate and how much we took home the serving was deceptively generous. the GRILLED EGGPLANT was awful. the dish's only redeeming was the condiment -- a bowl of a PORK LARB with a couple shrimp submerged in the same one-note "spicy lime dressing" as the SIAM BEEF SALAD. cute and cozy -- i'll give you that but restaurants should be judged on their food and BANGKOK BAY is closer to just OK than A-OK.
(3)Sumi A.
One of my go-to places in the neighborhood for dining in or takeout (usually takeout). I usually stick to the same dishes and like the pineapple fried rice, green curry, and a Cornish game hen entree that is delish! Bangkok crispy chicken or something like that? The service is always friendly and takeout orders are made really quickly; I usually call ahead and it's ready by the time I get there. The place is kinda small, but really charming, so if you're dining in then reservations are recommended, otherwise there might be a wait.
(4)Danielle F.
It smells wonderful in here, just as a Thai restaurant should. This little restaurant gets some stars for it's decor alone which is warm and inviting. The food was pretty good too, not the best but sufficiently good. The portions are large- I only wish the food had come out a little warmer. Service needs some work as they were very inattentive meaning that service simply disappeared for the entirety of the meal which was annoying. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable meal, I'd just stay away from their red wines which were terrible and overpriced.
(4)Arie R.
Yes! Found another good thai restaurant. So one day, we were looking for a Thai restaurant that was nearby and that we had never tried. So what did we do? We yelped, and found two candidates in our area: Siamese Basil in Encinitas and Bangkok Bay Thai in Solana Beach. We picked Bangkok Bay Thai and went there on a weekend afternoon, but when we got there, the restaurant was closed, there seemed to be having some sort of renovation/reconstruction going on. Oh well, then we went to Siamese Basil instead. But recently one night, we thought again about this restaurant and wondered if they were open, and they were! So we got there around 6:30-ish, there was already a line (three parties ahead of us). The lady inside mentioned that the wait would be around 30 minutes. But wrong!! we waited for an hour or so (OK, the food better be good!!!) The restaurant has a dark interior, and very rustic (in a Thai way :)), and as usual lots of wood carvings, and paintings of Thai dancers. We could see that the restaurant was really busy. We ordered Po-Tak, Pad Boon Sen, Crab Fried Rice, and Crying Tiger (pardon my Thai spelling). All of them were very good, and as far as we can tell, tasted authentic. I could taste (and feel) that they "might have used" a lot of MSG though (don't know for sure, but my body never lies). But that's not a problem for me whatsoever, if I go to any authentic Thai restaurant, that is expected! Another thing that rings this restaurant authentic is that they give out spoon to eat, instead of fork (we had to ask for forks). Eating with spoon (instead of fork), is the way to go to eat any South East Asian rice dishes (in my opinion). Using fork-only is sooo american :). Oh, and one more thing, this restaurant gives preference to its female clientele as far as the restrooms go :). There are two restrooms, one of them is dedicated for women, and the other one is co-ed (what? :)) We would definitely come back, and next time we would make reservation first.
(4)Juan S.
Great place to eat. First time eating here and the food was great. I will eat here next we are in the area. Very pleased.
(5)Yana K.
The food was really good. The garlic beef was the best I have had in a long time. The beef was sooo tender. The Tom Yum was awesome and the drunken noodle (pad ke mao) was delicious. One complaint - super overpriced. Soup was $14! And the portions are pretty small. Very good food but 50% too much.
(3)Jessica C.
Checked this place out last night for the first time and am looking forward to being a regular! Tastiest Thai I've had in San Diego - good ambiance and very friendly service. Had the cashew chicken and husband had the pad see ew - both were delicious. Dessert was mango with sticky rice - also wonderful. So glad we found this place and can't wait to come back!
(5)John F.
Off the beaten path. Great food,great service, good prices. Restaurant has great atmosphere, small and quaint. The minute you walk in the door the smells invite you. Brought my little ones with me and they really enjoyed. I visit San Diego every vacation and cannot believe I passed over this restaurant.
(5)Dan C.
I go here probably once a week because it's less than a mile from where I work for lunch. It does not have a lot of seating, but you can wait outside or browse some of the next door shops while you wait if you have to. I always try to go a bit later to avoid the rush, although you don't want to go past 3 since they close for a couple hours between lunch and dinner. I have tried a number of dishes, but found that my favorite is the Spicy Chicken Basil Lunch Special. As an appetizer the spring rolls are amazing and their sauces are delicious. They bring you water with in a minute of sitting down and your waiter quickly comes to ask you if you would like drinks, an appetizer, or are ready to order. Sometimes I will order an appetizer if I am with other people, but if not will just go straight for the meal. The lunch specials consist of their soup of the day, rice, and the entree itself. They bring you the soup within a minute of ordering prior to bringing the main course. The main course follows quickly and is fresh and hot. You can get a rack of different sauces and chili powder if you would like to customize the spiciness of your dish if you request (I always do). In summary it is a quick, good sized meal with a medium price range and prompt service! *If you want to pay with a credit card it is $20 minimum though, which is unfortunate when you want to just go in by yourself for a meal or take out because you have to make sure you get some cash!
(4)Nell C.
A local thai joint we have loved before but have not been back in awhile and this time the service was good however the food was cold, app larb chicken was super dry and did not come with enough lettuce cups!! Main course par ram was cold and lacked flavor. Overall, we were disappointed.
(2)Cecilia S.
This is a really cute Thai restaurant right off of Solana Beach Highway 101. The interior design of the restaurant almost makes you feel like you're on a little village boat. The décor has a very traditional Thai flare, and the sounds of the trickling water fountain gave the restaurant a very relaxed and zen-like atmosphere. The food was delicious. The satay chicken skewers were tender and well seasoned. The sauce was also a perfect blend of sweet and salty. The lunch specials weren't as inclusive as some of the other Thai restaurants I've been to. Large portions, but there was no soup included (something I always look forward to), and the salad and egg rolls that were part of the special were mediocre. Other than that, the food itself is perfect. The to-go curry came in a huge cup and the pad see-iw was delicious. Other downside: We tried to order for pick-up, but the phone line was either disconnected or busy all the time. We tried several times, but that continuously occurred. Service was a tad bit slow when we got there. We were there on our lunch break, so our time was limited.
(4)Matthew A.
Love this place. Small so get reservations. Pad si ew and yellow shrimp curry are great. Also try the sticky rice and mango for dessert! 10% discount if you pay with cash!!
(4)Andy F.
Here's the deal with Bangkok Bay - Probably a 3 star restaurant if it weren't for the lunch special. Flip that menu over (back page) and don't bother with any other page if you're there for lunch. Soup, Spring Roll & Entre for $8-$10 range. AND BOOM! OPTIONS GALORE. You can choose your level of spice on most dishes (1-10), but beware, even a wanna-be tough guy like me was reduced to a crying mess at 6. PROS: LUNCH SPECIAL, quick quick service, great portion sizes, pretty mellow/peaceful ambiance and convenient location right off the 101 north from Via Del La Valle. CONS: Probably not a great spot for a group bigger than 6 or 8, not a ton of seating, have to charge $20+ or no credit card (2 people for lunch need to order something other than water to get to $20+). Here's the lowdown. Go for lunch. Pick something off the lunch special page (go easy on the spice). Enjoy a quick meal and get your well-fed, very-pleased ass back to work.
(4)Carrie H.
Went here for the first time last week and then came back the next day because I could no get enough! Food is awesome. I had the yellow curry and the red curry and both were amazing! The lunch special is bomb as for about 8 bucks you get a good-sized portion of your main dish plus an egg roll and soup. The portions are big so perfect for sharing or for taking home for lunch/dinner the next day! GO here it is awesome!
(5)Sinnary S.
We were in the area and used our navigation system to find the closest Thai restaurants. And, then I compared the list on Yelp so I chose this one. I ordered the red curry and chicken satay and both were very good. What I did not like about the restaurant: very hot and stuffy in there although it was already cool & breezy outside. I ordered the mango & sticky rice, the rice was not fully cooked. I told the server and he took my plate and never returned. So, I paid the bill and left a very small tip. Was pretty disappointed that they didn't address the fact that the sticky rice was not fully cooked. My children insisted they wanted to eat it because they love that dessert so much, but I didn't want to risk them getting an upset stomach.
(3)Tamar F.
Yum! I had this as take-out twice since the summer, and it's my favorite Thai place in Southern California. Too bad it's 100 miles away from my home! I can only vouch for the food, since I haven't eaten at the restaurant, but dang is it good. The Penang Salmon is by far the best thai-style salmon I have ever had. Rather than having it be more curry than meat, the salmon is basted in the penang sauce and is ridiculously flavorful. The pad see ew is also quite tasty. Usually I find pad see ew to be too greasy and all, yet this one had a great amount of flavor minus the grease. And be sure to get some mango sticky rice for dessert. Yum! The prices are alright - a bit pricier than my neighborhood joint, but it's worth it.
(4)Chrystal Z.
+: - ambience - Panang Curry... dr0o0o0o0o0l The pad thai left something to be desired, for sure. Service was also a bit on the slow side, and I generally felt like their food was overpriced for both quality and quantity. And this is the first time I have
(3)M D.
This is one of my daughter's all time favs! We love all the dishes. My husband's favorite is the "Crying Tiger" works for everyone since the sauce comes on the side. Fun atmosphere can get really busy so I recommend reservations!
(4)Maureen B.
This was a great recommendation! We could tell a lot of the customers were regulars & that was a great first impression. The food was delicious and the service was friendly and great. We will be back!
(5)andrea d.
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food for this little hidden gem. We had the summer rolls with shrimp and spicy green beans with chicken and we both had the Tom Kha soup - all were outstanding! Already planning my return visit!
(4)Ryan W.
We got the yellow curry, drunken noodles, and Bay Puff. They were good. Parking on a Sunday night was ample, but we were glad we had a reservation because the restaurant seemed to fill up. Our friends brought their 7-month old daughter, and the Bangkok Bay employees were friendly and helpful (e.g. with setting up a high-chair upside down so that they could put the car seat on top of it). The Thai Iced Tea was the best I've had.
(4)Kristen E.
REALLY good food. I've gone here many times with either just my husband, or with a very large group (over 10 ppl). It is VERY small, but if you call ahead of time you can reserve a large table. ALL of the food is just soo tasty. My favorites are the green curry, the pineapple rice and the crying tiger. My husband can eat an entire pot of the tom kha coconut soup also, it's so good. If you haven't tried this place yet, you need to. They even have really good wine there!! The ambiance is great. It's a little dark with a lot of asian art. It's a great date place.
(5)Karen N.
Good curry and appetizers. Great service and such a wonderfully decorated restaurant! If you go during rush hour, be prepared to wait!
(3)Christopher W.
Tip: Opt for brown rice! This place has excellent service, great ambiance and decorations making it feel like you're in Thailand. My coworkers and I love this place and this is one of the go to spots when we all meet up to eat. The parking lot has always had a spot for me to park. I normally get Pad Thai or Yellow Curry on their lunch special. You can choose chicken, beef, seafood, or vegetables. It isn't the cheapest, but the lunch special is a decent deal and you can have a meal for under $10. The lunch special comes with the curry, rice, soup and egg roll. I also love getting their Thai tea. It is really sweet for my tastes, but I still love it. I drink some and then add some cold water to it to make it go even further!
(4)Nino R.
During my life in SoCal, I've sought to replicate food memories created while growing up in Jersey. Currently, only 3 restaurants have been creative enough to consistenly meet that challenge in Thai cuisine. In Orange County there is Phuket Thai. In Riverside County there is Aiyara Thai Cuisine. And in San Diego County there is Bangkok Bay. The Tom Kha, Glass Noodles, and the Crying Tiger are all must haves. If a restaurant can execute these three dishes at a high level, then I'll always give them a piece of my stomach. I haven't read any of the other reviews. All I needed was a recommendation from Kathalyn N. She gets me. She understands my belly. I wasn't surprised to see so many reviews and such a high rating. But I was surprised with the decor. This is a great date place. The wood, long benches and Thai art give it a divey-chic appeal. You'll lose yourself in the food, and then you'll lose yourself in each other. If you do manage to land a table with the long bench, then be sure to sit together instead of across from one another. It just adds to the magic. Thai me up...
(4)Cal R.
We dropped in around 5pm on a Sunday for a light snack (our first visit). The Summer Roll appetizer had 6 pieces & was more than abundant. The peanut sauce was warm (nice touch) & tamarind sauce just the right amount of sweet/sour. We also split a shrimp Tom Yum fire pot. It was pretty light on the vegs & shrimp but Everything was fresh & really delicious. By the time we left a little before 6, the place was nearly completely filled up. Highly recommend it!!
(5)Doug B.
Recommended at hotel next door. Excellent Thai food, both standards like Pad See Ew and Massaman Beef but also unusual tastes like Green Apple Salad and a very delicate green curry with eggplant among a number of other vegetables. If you want spicy make sure you ask. They did not and we got the Anglo versions of the curries.
(4)Ryan S.
Staying at the hotel next store and wanted something close by. I do not usually eat Thai food, but I figured I would give it a shot. Very enjoyable experience. I ordered the drunken noodle with beef. Fabulous customer service.
(4)Irene B.
On a mission to find good Thai food, we heard about this place from a few friends. We checked it out on a Thurs night. The place was pretty busy for a Thurs night, but the place is also a little small. The decor on the inside is pretty cool. I like the coziness of the place. We had very friendly service and when she heard me ask the hubby which Thai beer to get, Chang or Singha, she said she liked Chang better. So, that's what we got. Not bad. Following the advice of previous Yelpers, we got the Yellow Curry with Shrimp and the Drunken Noodles with chicken and a side of peanut sauce. Somehow we missed asking for a spicy level. Why our server didn't ask, I'm not sure. Even though our food wasn't spicy, it was still delicious. We had the mango and sticky rice for dessert. We have become a huge fan of this stuff. It was good, but I think I like it better at Spices Thai in Carmel Valley. Our bill before tip was $40. Overall, this place is great! Great atmosphere, decor, service and food. I'm sure we'll be going back to this place.
(4)Bob D.
Fantastic food, service. MAKE A RESERVATION - without one you may not get it (it is small) and we always see people turned away (as we were the first time). Fresh, delicious food - we go there every time we are in Solana Beach, and the whole family (including some very picky boys) loves it.
(5)Ian P.
Great food, great service and a nice atmosphere. The Tom Kha was light and creamy and my Kow Soi was delicious. Chang and Singha are available by the bottle as well which is a nice plus. I would recommend this place if you're in the area.
(4)Patty C.
My first time here, and I already know it's going to be a local favorite in my new neighborhood! Hot, aromatic dishes that you can anticipate an aisle away. I got the drunken noodles with veggies, which comes with real veggies (broccoli, red bell peppers, onions) instead of the anemic bean sprouts and filler carrots. I appreciate great Asian food in a non-Asian area, but the $12.00 price for a noodle dish puts it just outside the range of a place I would be willing to go for regular take-out.
(4)Carly H.
Bangkok Bay has never let me down. Not once has anything tasted anything less than absolutely delicious . I love this place and it is my go-to when I do not want to be disappointed. Great service too, always timely and courteous.
(5)Jacky K C.
tip: opt for brown rice! good service, good ambiance, and tasty consistent food. Pad Thai was bit on the sour side. Massamma beef was crazy good like a Thai style beef stew with carrots and potatoes; crab fried rice actually had huge chunks of real crab meat unlike many thai joints selling crab fried rice. Penang curry also excellent. Also offered was brown rice which is a good healthy option.
(4)Corey U.
Very nice hole in the wall restaurant. My girlfriend recommended we go there one night and I reluctantly agreed. I am very particular of small restaurants like this one only because my experience hasn't been so good. Yellow Curry was amazing and they only serve Thai beer. The restaurant was packed and service was quick and friendly. Definately a big fan and look forward to going back.
(4)Yoon P.
Bangkok Bay is CUTE! I love the decor with water fountain, fresh flowers, and wall art that makes you think you're in someplace entirely different. I had the drunken noodles with vegetables and tofu and can attest that the vegetables were so fresh and abundant, I didn't need more! I also got the Guava juice that was very yummy. My girlfriend had Tom Yum Soup and absolutely loved every sip!
(4)alex b.
Chicken pad Thai is good! Service is quick And always get your order right!
(4)Surfdawg M.
Been here a couple of times. Fairly extensive menu. Overall---Decent Thai but pricey though. Prob the best Thai in the area. If your more than an hour a way would try other places.
(4)Isadora O.
Yet another North County disappointment... I was craving some good Thai food as i seem to be at least once a week ever since i moved here, and was housesitting my sister's place in Carlsbad so i used yelp to look up local thai restaurants and picked one with one of the highest ratings. As blasphemous as this may sound, i'm now actually starting to wonder why it is i even use yelp... I'm sorry. But why is Bangkok Bay's rating so high? Well ok, i only got one dish: the yellow curry with shrimp, and that alone is what my two star rating is based on. But when i get yellow curry at just about any other restaurant it's almost always good... Sometimes even excellent! Not this time... It's true that i'm new to North County, i've only been to three thai restaurants here (this one, Panya Thai Kitchen and Taste of Thai), but they've all been such let downs.. Panya was the only one with any highlights - still sad thai food over all, but delicious yellow curry with shrimp, which is a simple pleasure i tend to ask of my complicated, over extended life from time to time. I wanted to try Bangkok Bay's pad thai and tom kha (2 of my favs, along with a dish often called swimming angel which is chicken in peanut sauce on a bed of steamed or pan fried spinach), but i was too scared by other local restaurants' failures (not to mention one of the ingredients in the tom kha according to their website menu was tomatoes; wha??) so i ordered the one dish i thought any thai joint could get right: the yellow curry. And oh how it saddened my poor awaiting tastebuds... The biggest problem was the shrimp. They were so overcooked that they were almost rubbery and had a strange almost *too* shrimpy shrimp taste and odor...if i start puking later tonight, i'll let you know... After eating two shrimp, i threw the rest away. That was 4 bucks down the garbage disposal.. The actual curry was ok. Not terrible. Not bad enough to be bad, not good enough to be good. Fair, i suppose. But also a small amount of food compared to the other N.C. restaurants i've tried, not to mention for the price. With how good Panya Thai Kitchen's yellow curry is (and they gave me twice the amount Bangkok Bay did), i'll drive the extra miles and go there next time if that's my craving. Although with my disappointment with Panya's other dishes i might be better off braving yet another new restaurant... In the end, i would not return to Bangkok Bay. Yellow curry is something every thai restaurant should have down. If they can't get that right, and they put tomatoes in their tom kha, i have little reason to believe any of their other dishes would be worth it. The hunt continues... Oh and to all those people who say in their reviews of every thai place in North County that "there is much better thai food around", pray tell us, WHERE? Next time you have the holy grail of thai food up your sleeve, please have the decency to share. That's why we're here, we want the best. Or at least something to make our tummies smile. So help a yelper out, people. I'm starting to doubt that anyone who says there is something so much better around here without saying what the place is called, is maybe exaggerating a wee bit. I may be just starting out on my quest for North County's best Thai, but i won't let that stop me from continuing to explore, experiment and name names. You're welcome.
(2)Sara J.
I love this place. My husband used to have an office next door and we used to go here all the time and the food is so good. The spicey basil with chicken is the best and I never leave with out mango and sticky rice or the wrapped bananas and coconut ice cream. yummy I can't wait to make it back up there.
(5)Jon S.
Sorry, but this is not Thai food. It is a reasonable facsimile. The interior is 1970 memory lane, lacking only the large herringbone and loud yellows.
(2)Lindsay S.
Really great flavors on everything my husband and I ate! Tastes like you are in someone's kitchen rather than a large restaurant like so many other Thai restaurants! Really small though so don't expect to always get seated right away. Additional pluses - super friendly staff and fun atmosphere!
(4)Kathalyn N.
This is where I fell in love with Thai food, and you know what they say about your first love...nothing will ever compare. I think everything about this place is awesome. From the food, to the decor, the bathrooms, the service, and even the sign on the street that reads "Bangkok Bay" in font that I remember being called "Wing Dings". The Tom Kha soup here is delicious. There is a level of flavor in this soup that other Thai places strive to achieve, but never quite obtain. Also, when you order this soup without meat, it's vegan. No chicken stock, no fish sauce, no shrimp paste, no animal products of any kind. The waitress actually brought out the recipe card to prove it to my once vegan sister! Thumbs up for: Yellow Curry with chicken Panang Curry Drunken Noodles with Chicken. Also great with Beef! For all you Gluten Free people out there, the Drunken Noodle dishes (and everything else with that same sauce) contains soy sauce. They graciously offered to make the dish without soy sauce for my other sister, who doesn't eat Gluten. SO FREAKING ACCOMMODATING! I LOVE IT! I've eaten here several times in the past, and I've tried a lot of stuff on this menu. There has only been 1 time when I thought this place fell short...2 words...coconut ice cream (okay, 3 words). Remember that really cheap shampoo and conditioner called "White Rain". Yeah, it's reminiscent of that. Y'know how something can taste like something else smells? Ehh, never mind. So go here. Try YOUR favorite Thai dish. What I listed above are just my personal favorites, but again, everything I've ever had here (minus the coconut ice cream) is incredible!
(5)Vicky N.
The Asian decor created a very laid back vibe. The pad Thai was pretty standard, though a bit chewy for my taste. Green curry was a tad but salty as well. Not bad, but next time I'll be ordering something else!
(3)s s.
I came here for 4th of july fireworks with my family. We love Thai food so when our hotel told us there is one on our way to fire works that was awesome. The restaurant is nice, small but homey feeling. We order summer rolls, calamari and Thai red curry. We were not too hungry, so two appetizers and one full entrée. Having traveled to fourteen countries, this is first time that our entree came before appetizer. I even told them to bring every thing together because we were eating our appetizer as entree. So first we got our entree and when we were almost done with it, then calamari showed up and when we got done we that, finally summer rolls. Well, the food was good so we were fine. The bill was $36 and change. As usual for OK service, I added 10% gratuity. So I made it $40 even. When we walked out side the restaurant and were hurrying, as my son was saying we are running late for fire works, this waiter came running after me (out side the restaurant) and asked that if the service was bad. I said no it was OK. He then said, why did I just give him $3.49 in tip. I said what do you mean. He had the nerve to say that, that's the least amount he ever got in tip. I asked if he expected $40 tip on $36 food. My son was close to street so I didn't made a big deal and went after my son but such thing never happened before in my life. Next day, I went to talk to the owner or manager but I found out its family owned and that waiter was family member. I knew my complain won't make much difference. My advise, food is good but make sure you guys are ready to pay at least 50% of your food cost in gratuity or get insulted.
(1)Seetha G.
Tried three dishes: Fiery Pad Prig Kang- this was kind of a disappointment as it was definitely not spicy ( contrary to the name and the little chili symbol on the menu). Kua Noodles- was flavorful but though I had requested it to be medium spicy, it simply wasn't spicy enough. A lot of the chili condiment set at the table helped a lot! Kang Kew Wan- this was by far the best dish- mildly sweet and spicy, with a light coconut milk green sauce. Also had the Fried bananas and coconut ice cream for dessert. It is definitely something that can be shared by two. The ice cram was a little too soft-almost a slushy consistency but the little banana fritters glazed with a honey wash and dusted with sesame seeds was amazing! Great combo:)
(3)Justin S.
I have to say this is one of my favorite restaurants in all of SD. Everything I have here is great. A bit on the spicy side so specify that you don't want super spicy otherwise you will need a fire extinguisher for you face...But the food is awesome. Service is great and the ambiance is sweet and cozy. But the food is consistent. I have the drunken noodles with seafood and also the green curry chicken with sticky rice and i never get tired of it. Also the summer rolls with peanut sauce is BOMB. And lastly, my favorite desert on the planet, the mango with sweet sticky rice. GO THERE if you like Thai. They have yet to dissapoint.
(5)Yevgeniy D.
The food is great, service very personal. I'm not an expert, but that was the best Thai food I ever had.
(5)Ross A.
Came here with a good buddy of mine to get down on some legit Thai food, and that is precisely what we did. Potstickers, yellow curry, cashew nut chicken (my standard), spring rolls, Thai iced tea, and Chang. Everything was excellent and sufficiently spicy. The atmosphere, with the calming Asian music and fake waterfalls, kind of made me want to lay down and take a nap after I finished eating. In fact, I may have dozed off for a minute... I'd absolutely recommend this spot if you're looking for something authentic and not too pricey. I'll be back.
(4)Darla D.
Bangkok Bay is GREAT. I Love love the decor, they are so creative with their decorating and it makes you smile. The staff is SO nice and efficient and the food is excellent. although in a funky corner strip mall that is old, the cafe is awesome. and with the creative decor you do not feel like you are in a funky strip mall. the bathrooms are also wonderfully decorated and clean which I really appreciate. HIGHLY recommend them and I am a Thai conisseur and I'm picky! the food is awesome; Green curry, Pad Thai, Tom Sum soup, spring rolls all excellent. ask for extra sauce, not enough on the spring rolls and its really yummy. My favorite on a rainy day or if I am sick, the Tom Yum soup will heal all ailments! wonderful job staff at Bangkok, one of my favorites : - )
(5)Mike C.
We ate here last night. We had a party of four and although there was a bit of a wait for a Monday night (the place is pretty small), the food was tasty. It wasn't "blow your mind" food (vs. Celedon or Amarin or Lotus Thai), but it was definitely good quality Thai. The prices were okay for Solana Beach and so-so for Thai. So why the low marks? When the bill came the server explained that they would not split payment for more than one credit card unless the bill totalled over $100. We weren't asking to split the bill, just to put half the amount on one credit card and half on another. They refused. We didn't make a big deal about it at the time, but what's embarrassing about this ridiculous policy is that only one person at the table had cash. How hard could it be to put $X split in equal amounts on two cards when every other restaurant does it? I eat out a lot, don't often carry cash anymore, and I never have a problem splitting payment -- especially when it's 50/50. It made for an uncomfortable payment situation where the one person with cash had to pay for the entire meal and now we all owe the person who just happened to have cash at the table. Is it the end of the world? No. But I distain businesses who needlessly make life hard on their customers. For this reason alone, I can guarantee none of us will be going back. BOTTOM LINE - Food quality: Good Prices: Good for Solana Beach, but Mediocre for Thai. Service: Beware! rigid policies = unfriendly customer environment. If you go, make sure you have cash on-hand or plan to spend a lot on dinner.
(2)Checko-Wing S.
It's a good place for Thai food. I don't go that often because it's a small place and they are usually packed! I recommend the Red Salmon Curry. I love how people complain about the price of food when they go to a sit down restaurant on the coast in Southern California. Seriously people...how is a place going to stay in business charging $7-10 for a plate of food??!!!
(4)Harmony D.
Love, love, love this place! I am a serious fan of the apple salad and every entree that we have had has been flawless. I wish it was closer to my house but I will happily drive here to get good Thai food.
(5)Jeremy F.
Stopped in by chance off the highway. Fantastic!!
(5)Jenn C.
I think this place may be slightly overrated. I had the spicy green curry which was indeed very good. However, everything else was so-so to decent, but probably not 4 stars decent. The tom yum soup flavor was mostly derived from fish sauce and salt, and lacked a little depth. The red curry was extremely and abnormally sweet. My bf's mother ordered some Thai style ribs and they looked very dry. Basically, the food was good enough where I would go again, but after factoring in the wait, it really is not worth it. We came on a random Thursday night, and the wait was about 45 minutes.
(3)Heather W.
Okay, I'm a downtowner so I don't get out much in North County. I was excited to try this place and branch out, and especially loved the decor that greeted us as we walked in. The service was friendly and prompt. There were six of us, and we were able to get a last minute reservation a Sunday night. All good things. Then there was the food. Okay, having had a close college friend from Thailand whose family owns an awesome Thai restaurant back home in Miami, I've downed some Thai food in my time. Maybe everyone just ordered the wrong thing, but I am just not in agreement with the four and five star reviews here. The mee-krob was okay, but with only two shrimp? They definitely skimped there. The Bangkok Bay Boat-well, the appetizers were okay. The flavors just didn't do it for me. There could've been so much more oomph! The Cashew Nut with Vegetables entree' was pretty flavorless, and the Spicy Eggplant dish with chicken was not spicy at all-we had even asked for it to be extra spicy. Nope. Nada. None of us did drink, but still at $91 without tip for 6 people, I'd say it was quite reasonable. I don't know that I'd seek this place out again, and it's certainly "cute", but it takes a lot more than that for me to be impressed.
(3)M R.
Please put a waiting area for people picking up their food.. People standing in the middle of the restaurant for 15 minutes in a line to pick up their food is awkward for everyone.. Take out 2 tables near the door and put a waiting area there. Food was pretty good. Nice atmosphere. Food took 45 min to come out, place was really busy, they needed a few more servers.
(3)Sarah C.
Nate and I wanted some Thai food before Cirque de Soliel in Del Mar, so we Yelped and ended up at Bangkok Bay. I ordered the Drunken Noodles, which we had had at a previous Thai place and been disappointed in. I think I just am not fond of the dish. Nate got the Pad Thai and it was very good. The place is small, tucked back in a strip mall. Super busy, obviously popular, but we still got in right away and had great service.
(3)adam g.
Pad See Ew & soup (insert type of soup here) is my trusty standby order at new Thai places. I usually don't take This Girl's suggestion; but, I craved Thai food and I was too lazy to find another place in the area. This was one suggestion that I am happy to have followed. The Pad See Ew with Mock Duck was delicious and the Tom Kha Soup with Tofu was a pleasing surprise. I'm not a fan of coconut-anything; but, the flavor was not overwhelming. Not knowing what a fire pot was, we accidentally ordered too much food. Anyways, like I said, the food was great, the service was pretty awesome, the portions are large, and I couldn't find a reason not to add this to my list of usual dining choices. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Ari V.
The Tom-Kha soup (coconut lime flavor) and mango sticky rice desert are tops..
(4)Diana H.
I felt like Thai (Friday night and it was my turn to pick! Woohoo!) and this came up on the Urban Spoon app (you know the spinny one on the iphone?). We didn't find it on the first pass (it's the last strip mall before Dog Beach, fyi), but there it was back in the corner. COZY place - meaning, it's small and the tables are close together. But it was nice and not real loud. I like the decor. Friendly wait staff. Only problem was, it was DARK. I mean, I know I'm old, but shoot, I seriously could not read the menu. At least help a girl out with a little contrast between the print/paper? I ordered a "medium" curry and even my husband agreed it was "hot". But we ate it all anyway because it was soooo good. It was ... the one with eggplant. Everyone liked what they got. 4 entrees, 2 apps, 4 (non-alcohol) drinks - $78 before tip. Not bad especially for on 101. I'd go back.
(4)Leo I.
Pretty much the best thai you will find in the Encinitas/Solana Beach area.. Service was nothing special; even felt ignored. Great thai offsets poor service, and I really don't care that my friend didn't get his water refilled promptly.
(4)Lauren W.
Yum! Finally, an amazing Thai restaurant to go to when I am in San Diego! Pad See Ew is flawless! It is so good that I haven't dared try anything else...yet! Seriously, this restaurant is such a gem and it is very charming inside as well. Had lunch with my husband and parents here and we all left very happy and excited to have found a good thai restaurant in the area! Restaurant is teeny tiny, so be prepared.
(5)Lilly L.
Not so good at all. No lunch prices on the weekend. Pad Thai was so undercooked and hard. Larb Kai had no flavor. They must of ran out of rice flavor and lime. How this place has 4 stars I do not know!
(2)Holy Dumpling ..
Dinner review. Bottom line: A little pricey for what you get, but really nice atmosphere (good date location), very friendly staff, decent serving sizes and tasty food with good presentation. This would be a three star based on food quality vs price if it wasn't for the friendly staff and atmosphere (which I rarely like to pay for). 2 dishes, no drinks and dessert: $41 including tip. The two of us got there at 7:30pm. We had called ahead at 7:10pm and put in a reservation (accepted on a Monday night) for 7:45pm. There was a confusing looking pad of paper that a couple of different people who worked there flipped through and would write in to keep track of who got the next table, but with the reservation, we definitely got a table faster than a few other groups who were waiting. Up until 8:30ish, there was a constant small flock of people who hung around the door like vultures trying to get the next table. ..which leads me to a caveat for the place. Don't get the table by the door. For the first 30-40 minutes, we constantly had people hanging out right by the table with lots of nervous energy, trying to flag down the hostess and claim the next table. At one point, an older guy in wrinkled dockers put his butt about two feet from my head, right next to the table, and just stood there. Not appetizing! Note to Bangkok Bay: You guys should put up a sign asking people waiting to be seated to stay outside. You have a very nice little courtyard out there for people to wait and it's really not very nice for the people at the table by the door to have people hovering. We got: Angel Wings (3 stuffed fried wings bathed in sweet and sour sauce) - this was OK but I wouldn't get it again. The sweet and sour sauce was good (even with the fish sauce) and the wings were tender and had some good flavor, but we didn't realize it would come deep fried. Fried food is heavy food, not what I expect when eating Thai. Red Curry with seafood - expected more eggplant. It had 3 small pieces. Tasty but nothing special. I tend to like the sweeter panang curry, so maybe I just had false expectations on the flavor. The mussels were delicious. The other seafood wasn't bad. Mango and Sticky Rice - I love this dessert, but it was so-so here. The mango was delicious. The flavoring on the rice was good. However, the rice was hard and at times took some real chewing. It also didn't stick together as well as sticky rice should (I think) which made it a little difficult to eat. We ordered white rice (the default), but they brought us brown rice instead ($1 extra if you read the fine print .. not that they were trying to scam us, I believe it was an honest mistake). They brought us white rice quickly and happily when we asked. You get a ton of rice, which is great. It was good rice too. I spent a few months in Thailand awhile back and just had Thai at a well reviewed hole-in-the-wall $5.50 a dish place up in LA. The food here was good but heavier (more Americanized). Really tasty but for some reason didn't quite scratch the itch as far as flavors and lightness. The default plate I ate my rice and curry on was huge. That means the curry can spread out over the plate and "get lost." A smaller plate that had a higher rim would have been nice. The plate felt pretentious for the flavors and warmth of what I associate a Thai meal with. This is the first time I've gone to a Thai restaurant and not by default gotten a fork and a spoon (traditional Thai). They just had a fork there on the table. Spoons came with the two dishes, but those should be the serving spoons, right? One of the spoons had fallen in the *incredibly* sticky (I mean like, melted honey sticky) sweet and sour sauce while they were bringing it out. Rather than grab a new one, the waitress tried to clean the spoon with a napkin, but it still stuck to my hand when I grabbed it. I spent parts of the meal using water and my napkin to try to clean the spoon handle and my own hand. Weird. They forgot to bring our leftovers out after taking them away. We got halfway back to the car before remembering them. We walked back and they happily quickly brought them out (they had already been boxed and bagged, just not brought out to the table). I have to re-iterate that the people (family?) who work there are very nice and have created a soothing atmosphere and unique restaurant. If you look closely at the booths and walls, this could have been a normal diner if they hadn't done such a good job decorating it. Nice find in North County!
(4)Jenny W.
It just so happened to be that I had a friend visiting from NYC staying at the Holiday Inn just down the road. When looking for a place to eat, Bangkok Bay Thai restaurant popped up and we decided to give it a go. Boy am I glad we did. This restaurant is quite a local find. If I was close by, I'd probably eat here often. The food is a LITTLE bit more expensive than other thai restaurants and the menu itself is pretty similar, but you get a lot for your money and in some ways I felt it was less "frufru" or gimmicky. The presentation for the dishes are simple, you wont see your pineapple fried rice served in a pineapple, but hey thats okay when it tastes so darn good. (I got ours with just a mild bit of spiciness - maybe that is what set it apart from other Thai restaurants I have had pineapple fried rice in). The Cashew Nut with Tofu = so good, and they give you PLENTY of rice. I hate it when you have to order another bowl of rice for an additional $1, and well you will not have that problem here. And save room for the coconut mango sticky rice. HEAVEN. Boy have I been missing out. I kind of feel like a fool for not trying this earlier. You MUST get it.
(4)Traci W.
Cute little place with good, solid food. My husband and I both agree that they excelled in appetizers and soup (the soup was honestly the best I've ever had - EVER), but that the entrees were just OK. After living in Hawaii for several years with a huge selection of good Thai food, I will acknowledge that our standards are high. We went with a fairly large party and decided to order several appetizers and soup to share. ALL of them were perfect. The vegetarian spring rolls were fantastic. As a bonus, they offered two different dipping sauces, so we were thrilled. The fried tofu was crispy and not greasy with a nice dipping sauce. The fried wontons with avocado and cream cheese were different, but in a good way. I'd order them again. We got the coconut based-soup (Tom Ka? I think?) and found it to be both light and rich at the same time. It was creamy and flavorful, but not overpowering. My husband got Pad Thai with tofu and said he'd give it 3 of 5 stars. I got a stir-fried veggie dish and found it to be a little on the watered down side. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't up to the quality of the appetizers or soup. However, my uncle (who lived in Thailand for almost 2 decades) said his drunken noodles were comparable to what he'd had in Thailand and raved over his dish. I wish I'd tried them before he finished them! :) I'll definitely go again - I'll either try the drunken noodles or order a tapas-style dinner next time and skip the entrees all together.
(4)Lorelei C.
Love that I work right next to this place! It is a little gem hidden in a strip mall. The panang curry is delicious with the right amount of spice. The Mango sticky rice is so delectable that you crave it daily. The people here are so nice!
(4)Geena T.
I only write a review if I think its a 5 star and this place is definitely a 5 star! Best Thai food in the North County coastal area. You have to make reservations, because this place is always busy. Everything they make is fresh, yummy & makes you want to come back for more :)
(5)Vicky G.
Had dinner last night. I was expecting a lot considering the high ratings by fellow yelpers! Service and ambiance was excellent! Once I opened the menu I had a bad feeling... Prices are really high.... $12-$19 for average Thai dishes. We ordered the Gai Yan Chicken and the Chaing Mai spare ribs. Both dishes were served with some sticky rice in some small straw containers... Cute but come on, give me my damn rice! Chaing Mai ribs were gross... We ate like 3 bites and left the rest! It was dry and just looked like it got the life sucked out of it.... Sad dish ; ( The chicken dish was the better of the two so we ate that, although it was hard to swallow.., it being so dry. The sauce that came with it were those sweet and sour sauce that you can buy in a bottle for $2 at the Asian stores! So if you're hungry and want tasty Thai Food... Go somewhere else!
(2)Kristin K.
The Pad Thai and Yellow Curry were great. Not the best ever, but we were all really happy. The brown rice is WAY better than the white, totally worth the $1 or whatever they charge.
(4)Melissa M.
Tried Bangkok Bay last weekend and we'll definitely go back! We tried around eight different dishes and nothing was disappointing. I thought the food overall was better than Taste of Thai. It's a cute little restaurant and the service is very friendly and attentive. There was a loooong wait for dinner so they apparently have some loyal fans!
(4)Yasmin K.
I enjoy eating at Bangkok Bay for several reasons. Firstly, their food is yummy, secondly, the pricing is good, thirdly, the atmosphere, including music are complementary. Last time we went they forgot to bring us one dish until we had practically finished eating, so we told them we didn't want it anymore. They were cool with that and apologized for the delay. Oh, reservations are almost always essential!
(4)Jessica H.
AMAZING pad thai and panang! They go easy on the spice - a 5 is pretty mild by my tastes so don't be shy with the spice level. Solid food, great, quick service... my only complaint? I wish it wasn't so popular!
(5)Craig Y.
Delicious food in a cozy atmosphere--certainly the best Thai restaurant in the Del Mar/Solana Beach area. The only drawback is the location--it sits in the tacky strip mall just north of Via De La Valle. But once you're inside, you can forget all about the location because even though it's pretty small, the decor and ambiance are very authentic. The place almost always has a nice buzz and often there's a wait for a table. The service can be a little slow at times but is always friendly and accommodating. My favorite dish is the Panang Salmon which has a great flavor but is a little lighter than most of the other curries. The prices I think are very reasonable. Overall, my favorite north county Thai restaurant.
(4)Lesley V.
They have the BEST sticky rice with fresh mango! I order it as my appetizer! I love the small diner atmosphere of Bangkok. The walls are tastefully decorated with objects that look like they were made in Thai. The staff is friendly and the food is yummy! Make a reservation b/c it's always packed. If you arrive at 5:30 you can probably be squeezed in. Great date night venue!
(5)Sarah L.
Bangkok Bay is tucked away on the coast in Solana Beach. It only seats around 60 people so it's constantly packed for dinner. Knowing this-we went to an early dinner around 5:30pm. We were seated right away but by 6pm the place was full and people were already sitting outside waiting for a table. The food is great and the atmosphere has a cool vibe-dark, bamboo, running water, authentic decor. I love the half moon ton's-puff pastry filled with avocado and cream cheese, yes please-so creamy and good. The veggie spring rolls are another favorite as well as pot stickers. Their salads are big and I like the house salad with fried tofu. I went out of my comfort zone from "the usual" to try something different, and went with the hot basil. They kept it mild for me and the veggies were crisp. This was really good! I'm glad I tried something new and look forward to trying yet another tasty dish. I think the prices are fine-the food is great so when you leave happy and no longer hungry, I say it's worth it. We love going here but it can't always be a spur of the moment decision due to the usual wait for a table factor, unless you can sneak in early enough. The servers are friendly and offer suggestions if you have lots of questions like I do. They do take reservations but I can't recall if there's a minimum # of people to reserve a table. I had leftovers for lunch and it was just as tasty!
(4)Siciqit T.
Love, love this place!! We got here very early on Sunday (at 11am) while they open at 12pm supposedly, and they open their door right away. WOW!!!! Thank you so much for opening the door early for us!! My friends from Thailand had a great visit here in San Diego and Bangkok Bay added the fun, the food was awesome, truly authentic. Just for me, the pad thai was a little too sweet, other than that, service and food are awesome!
(5)Brent W.
This is short and sweet. Nice service, great atmosphere with very legit affordable Thai food. I wiil now recommend this place as my favorite Thai food taste experience since I've been in California for 8 years. Yum!!!
(5)Eddie D.
Great food! I eat Thai food at least 3 time a month at many different restaurants. On a business trip last year I came across BANGKOK BAY. It is now in my top 5 Thai restaurants anywhere.
(5)Jonny T.
OK, I gave a 4 but its really a 4.5. But I will go back. Lets get the bad out of the way first. Mooncat ordered & she said "extra spicy", the (lovely) server then looked at my white face (Mooncat is Thai/Lao) with that quizzical "can you handle extra spicy?" look. I emphasized "extra, extra spicy" & tossed in a big grin to let her know I can dig it. Then the food came out. Mooncat ordered the appetizer of wantons filled with avocado & cream cheese with a light chili dipping sauce. Twas nice & crispy. Our main meals were northern style spare ribs & sticky rice (YES, they have sticky rice but in tiny portions although they do give more when asked) whilst I got a "very spicy" curry. I would rate the curry 3/10 for spice but 10/10 for taste. I cannot believe the previous posters who found it too hot!!!!! I added heaps of extra chili - both dry & wet - as well as the crushed peanuts they brought me. ALSO, the decor is really really lovely. Mooncat pointed out all the various authentic Thai blibs & blobs plus they have a lovely garden outside. This is one of my top two Thai places in SD county & I will be back!
(4)Amanda S.
I tried every Thai restaurant in Solana Beach, Oceanside, and Del Mar, and this restaurant is FABULOUS. We got: Pad Thai - Perfect balance of flavors, definitely a 5. Red Curry - Spicy and DELICIOUS, could get spicier but then it wouldn't be as enjoyable. - 4.5 Service - 10, fantastic service, extremely attentive.
(5)Penny Lane S.
T--t-t-tasty Thai. Wherever I go I feverishly scour the area for good Thai. Thank god Solana has some excellent Thai within walking distance. It all started with a packed restaurant and a line of hungry, confused people trying to figure out where the hostess stand is. Apparently there isn't one. We waited about 15 minutes for a booth (score). But apparently you can make reservations so next time maybe my date will do a little planning so we won't have to wait. Let's get serious, that will probably never happen. Service: excellent Chicken Satay Appetizer: tasty treat Yellow Curry: double yummmmm My date seemed to enjoy the drunken noodles as well. I think I've found my new favorite Thai restaurant in the area thus far. Can't wait to go try more dishes. Maybe this time some dude won't be babbling incessantly and an inappropriate decibel level. Hey d-bag, I don't care what you think about Avatar or if your sister-in-law is a skank. I'm trying to enjoy my curry.
(4)Angelamarie S.
Wonderful service, atmosphere, and food! We had great service...both the waitress and hostess were checking in on us multiple time to make sure we were happy...the service was not slow as other people have described. We waited about 15 mins. for a table (this was on a Sunday night around 7pm) I ordered the Pra Ram with a spice level of an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 and it was perfectly spicy and tasted great! The mango and sticky rice was the perfect complement to the dinner. I would definitely go back again to try out some other dishes!
(4)rob g.
Amazing Thom Yum Goong and Thom Yum Kha. You can order $5 for a bowl or $12 for a "hot pot" big enough for everyone to share. Great Thai decor and friendly quick service. Money Thai iced tea. As an visitor to Carlsbad, I'm glad Yelp helped me find this place! Bangkok Bay gets extra credit for being the first place to remove the shrimp tails in my Thom Yum Goong - everywhere else leaves them on, and you have fish through your soup to pull them off. Well done!
(5)Vicky N.
Lunch deal is a steal. Soup of the day in addition to your main dish for $7. I finally dined in for lunch. The service was great - the food was served in a timely manner and my water cup was full the entire time. If I had to choose between the basil dish and the eggplant w basil dish, I'd go w the basil. As always, you can't go wrong w the red curry or the panang curry.
(4)Jessica C.
Don't love Thai food but this place was good. Fast service. Calm atmosphere. Would come back again.
(3)Jay N.
Food was great. The only thing I didn't like was the Salad it had to much mayo & not enough chicken. Service is great. Great location too!
(4)matt c.
Over priced, phad thai was dry and forgettable. probably wont go back
(2)Teresa C.
What a disappointment! We saw the great reviews and decided to go there. The food was expensive and mediocre. Don't order angel wings (dry) or the pad Thai (overly sweet, we ate only 10% of it). The pineapple fried rice was pretty good. Overall, very shocked how bad the food was...
(1)Shep G.
This place rocks, it is right next to the Courtyard hotel in a strip mall. Great food and great portions .... it is a pretty busy place on weekends so be warned
(4)A.J. S.
Ooh, I forgot about this place! This IS excellent. Since I am no longer a North County girl I can't go up there very often anymore, and found other favorite Thai places, but Bangkok Bay is still very delicious. I remember their Tom Ka and their phad thai being very very good.
(5)Diamond C.
Excellent thai food! Often busy so get there early or call for reservations (i'm not sure if they do them) Excellent friendly service. Great flavors and desserts. Very cool decor inside! I come here often as my favorite place is down in Hillcrest and is much farther away.
(4)Mary Ann G.
Had lunch there today, it was recommended by a coworker. I had tofu yellow curry. They didn't ask about spiciness. It was not spicy @ all & boring. My daughter had pad thai noodles with chicken. It was just OK. The place was dark inside with chatchkies hanging all over and mosquitos flying around. I would go to Spices in Carmel Valley 1st. Would probably not go here again!
(2)Scott P.
My husband and I went here for the first time last night. There was a bit of a wait to get in as it has a rather small dining area. I ordered BBQ Chicken and my husband ordered Drunken Noodles. The BBQ Chicken was unlike anything I had ever had before - more like a rotisserie chicken than American BBQ. The Drunken Noodles with tofu was fantastic. Both were very large portions at a decent price. We had the appetizer sampler which I highly recommend. It included 5 different apps for $14. The lychee martini was to die for and my husband loved his Singha beer (similar to Asahi). We finished the meal with coconut ice cream - it's worth it to wrap up the rest of your dinner so you can save room for this. The staff was very attentive and helpful. The menu was very diverse including a TON of vegetarian dishes. Overall we had a wonderful time and will certainly be back.
(4)Denis D.
Thai food is a favorite and I eat at many Thai restaraunts ... this one had attentive service and a quaiint, well decorated, comfortable atmosphere. I was staying at the Marriott Courtyard next door and this was convenient ... but the food was just OK. The summer rolls (un-fried rice paper wraps) had to have been made earlier in the day as they were a bit wilted and the been sprouts browning a little. The sauces accompanying the rolls were good ... but the rolls were not that flavorful. The Spicy Eggpant was well done ... vegetables were crisp and freshly prepared. I asked for 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 and it was exactly what I expected. Pricing is average ... $26 (w/o tip) for an iced tea, hot tea, summer rolls and spicy eggplant. You won't be wowed .. but you won't be disappointed.
(3)Jessica D.
My husband and I tried Bangkok Bay for the first time last weekend! Great sevice and wonderful food! We will be back!
(5)Kristy H.
My boyfriend and I ordered some takeout from here last night. I LOVE Thai food, and this place did not disappoint! I'm definitely going to go back and try other items. I also want to dine-in, because the interior is SO cute and cozy We ordered the drunken noodles with seafood combo, the tom sun salad, and crying tiger. I really liked that the seafood combo comes with MUSSELS and SCALLOPS and omitted the fake crab. I really don't like that most other Thai places throw the faux-stuff in there. Everything else was delicious as well, but its pretty difficult to mess up crying tiger as long as you have good meat! Random Tip: This place is pretty small and kindof awkward in terms of picking up take-out. There isn't a clear host stand and so you are left creepily standing right next to some of the diners. Go to the back lefthand corner and someone will help you!
(4)Joy S.
Bangkok Bay is a hidden gem! It's a small restaurant (about 15 tables), tucked away in a corner of a little shopping plaza in Solana Beach. I last dined there on a Monday night, but the place still managed to bring in enough customers to fill all the tables. The food is delicious and authentic (I'm Thai, so I should know!), and the staff offers their service with a smile. My favorite dish is the Roasted Duck Curry, but I give thumbs up to everything else I've ever tried there.
(5)Steph L.
I have to agree with James. It is without a doubt THE BEST Thai restaurant in San Diego. I used to come here at least once a week when I lived in DM. Take the 5 North to Via de la Valle. Go west and turn right on Highway 101. Get in the first left turn lane you can get into, and turn into the parking lot of the strip mall where there's a liquor store. Bangkok Bay is tucked away in the corner. I think the decor is great too -- I feel like I am in Thailand, even though I've never been. Everything I've ever tried has been really good, except the Thai iced tea is a little too sweet for my taste. What I like is the amount of fresh veggies they put into their dishes. Try the summer rolls, curry noodles, the barbecued chicken plate (forgot the Thai name), spicy noodles, any curry dish, soups... try everything. You won't regret it, and it may become a favorite of yours too!
(5)Justine V.
My boyfriend and I came here on a whim late on Sunday night. We got there at 9pm, the place was packed and there was a 20 minute wait! (We knew we were in a great spot!) After reading all the reviews on Yelp, we decided w the panang curry w tofu and also a noodle dish w chicken and peanut sauce (cant remember the name!) We started out w the calamari, and overall the meal was delicious. Leftovers tasted just as good the next day! I'd highly recommend this thai joint!
(5)jon c.
Love love love it! The Panang Panang curry is addicting. You've been warned.
(5)Jen D.
Yellow Curry... with Shrimp... the BEST!!
(4)Maya G.
Loved this place-- the small space had nothing on the cute decor: the lighting was low and every spare inch had some crazy tree or plant or statue, it was very chill and pleasing to the eyes. The food was super, from the Tom Kha soup to the Summer Rolls to the Seafood Combo Veggie dish...they used fresh seafood generously, everything was cooked just right with no excess of thick sauce...it was just right. There was about a 20 minute wait, but once we were in the staff were super attentive and there was not a hitch to the evening.
(4)Jared S.
Pros: Excellent fresh Thai food Decor and atmosphere Lunch specials Cons: Parking can be a pain sometimes
(5)Michelle T.
First off, minus one star for being a little pricier than most Thai food I've eaten here in SD. But this place is seriously delicious! I've had a couple curries here, all with chicken and all fabulous. The food here is so legit and the decor inside is unmistakably Thai. They close early though and I have been left outside, hungry and sad on a few different occasions.
(4)D K.
I love the sound of the fountain while slurping up yum yum Tom Yum with vegetables. And after blissing out in the surroundings, I order the summer rolls with extra peanut sauce. I then like to get the Green Curry with Vegetables medicinally spicy or the Spicy Eggplant along with some steaming ginger tea. I'm a big regular fan at this wonderful Thai restaurant tucked away in Solana Beach. It is a great place to take your date/lover/significant other/neighbor or anybody else you may have in mind. Delicous. Bon Ap!
(4)Kelly M.
I was very impressed! We tried Bangkok Bay Thai based upon the reviews here on Yelp! I was very pleased! Thanks Yelpers!! I hope to make it back again often!
(4)Nishant K.
Favourite thai restaurant in San Diego. love the ambient. Very cozy & inviting. The food is very authentic.
(5)Gamebebe C.
This is a place for "local" Solana Beach Resident. The food is OK, not nasty but is definitely "American Thai Food" If this is what you are looking for, this will be an alright place. It is not authentic at all. The curry is watery and everything just tasteless. Moreover, another expensive "American Thai Food " Place $15 dollars for curry........... It is like a 10% better than spices thai and it is a "1-10, what do you like" thai place. This is a place for you if you always order "Phad Thai" or "Drunken Noodle", then it is alright. If you want real thai food, you will be VERY disappointed.
(2)Kauveh S.
Wow... I really forget how great this little restaurant is even though I have been there ten times in the last 3 years..... This is the only place in North County to get Thai, perhaps that place in Encinitas competes but this place is great.... Ask the server for the spice selection if you are in an adventurous mood..... Enjoy!!!
(5)Amy S.
This place is crowded any day of the week, so be prepared to wait. You will like how spicy and flavorful the foods are! Try the panang chicken, the tom kah w/chicken soup, and the crying tiger beef. You can't go wrong with your entree. Give this hidden gem a try!
(4)Duncan F.
Slight wait. Nice atmosphere. Very friendly waitstaff. Decent food.
(3)CourtneyBren H.
Best Thai restaurant around - by far. Everything is so fresh. In a world of soggy vegetables, they keep 'em crunchy. Who doesn't love that? My favs: spicy eggplant, cashew nut squid, and LOVE LOVE LOVE the pra ram. Even their house salad is remarkably yummy considering the simplicity, Nice for a small quiet eat-in, great for a noisy houseful of take out.
(5)Liz S.
OK. I like the ambiance, the service was ok, the summer rolls - which is their name for fresh spring rolls, were good - not the most flavorful I've ever had but I enjoyed them. Tightly wrapped rolls filled with lettuce and tofu and some other veggies. The curry was just disappointing... I got some red curry (can't remember the exact name with chicken) and my boyfriend got some green curry with pork. While the curry sauce was above average, the meat tasted like rubber in both cases. Like the meat was boiled (overly so) and then thrown in at the last minute - seriously no flavor at all. And for the price, extra disappointing. I'm used to a lot more flavor in the vegetables and meat. Not gonna go back. I'm a curry girl and generally when I eat Thai food, quite satisfied with my meal. Just like the yelp thing says "Meh, I've experienced better."
(2)Cameron B.
My girlfriend took me here for my birthday and thought the food was amazing! I have been searching for a good sit down Thai restaurant in SD for a while now and I think I finally found it. It was pretty crowded since the restaurant is in a strip mall but we were seated quickly and the service wa excellent. The portions were a good size and the quality was great. I don't like going to Thai restaurants where you feel gross afterwards or it's all oily. Definetly recommend!
(5)R D.
I have been going to Bangkok Bay once a week for lunch for the last 10+ years. The management may change, but the food is consistenly good as is the service. In my view, they have the best Green Curry in town. The Thom Kha soup is also consistently good.
(4)Erik R.
Fun little place in Solana Beach. It's very small though, so can't bring a bunch of people and you should make a reservation or be prepared to wait, even during the week. It's well worth the wait though. The food is always amazing, tastes fresh, and the service is great. It's a very good place for a date since it is so small and intimate. I highly recommend this place.
(4)kelly k.
We satisfy our Bangkok Bay cravings 2 or 3 times a month and have only been disappointed once, but still laugh at the time we ordered Spicy Basil Chicken, which wasn't spicy, had no basil and totally different veggies and sauce as described on the menu, but they insisted we received the dish we ordered! I digress. The servers are very friendly, but it's a small restaurant and yes you may have to wait for 10 GD minutes to get your table during peak hours on a Friday night. Charming decor, with a tiny little bar in the far corner that seats 2. The tangy, flavorful thom kha soup is to die for and the kang ka ree curry has such a nice balance of spice and heat. We order it as 3 on a spiciness scale of 1 - 10 (I'm disappointed I could only handle a 3, but the 5 was much too "challenging" as the BF said). The summer rolls are fresh and light and we love to finish with coconut ice cream. They also have a small but decent wine list, paired well for spicy food.
(4)Gabriel A.
The only thing that could make this less than a 5 is the location. Anyone who posts less needs a brainscan. Seriously, read all of the 4-stars. Most of them say "this is the best thai place I've ever been to," then they give it 4-stars. Come on people, get in the game...
(5)Ryan D.
This hidden little gem is the best Thai food I have found so far in North County area. Tuff to find if somebody didn't tell you exactly where it was but well worth the hunt. Really good prices, friendly waiters, and a awsome lunch special on the week days. A little crowded at night but the take out is very convienent to just call in if your in the area. Spicy Basil, do it.
(5)Chris W.
This place used to have really good Thai food. Hadn't been there in awhile. When recently and had the worst pad thai I've ever had. It was strangely orange and tasted incredibly sweet. The food was so terrible that I won't go back.
(1)Phil W.
Just the best food and very good price And the guys are cute too
(5)Tom R.
I have dined here three times now when I am down here for business and stay at the Courtyard next door. I got a seat by the door tonight and watched as customers arrived. There is no hostess so the staff kinda does a round robin when it comes to seating people. Longest I have waited was about 5 minutes while they cleared some tables. Granted they weren't slammed tonight but every one was greeted pretty fast and seated. Curries and Basil dishes that I have had have been excellent. House salad with peanut slather served on the side is tasty and can feed two people (well not the super sized variety). Medium spice on the basil dish was about right but then again being from N. Cal. we kinda whimp out on the heat vs. the locals
(5)Julianna W.
I LOVE this restaurant. You ask, why the reason for 4 stars instead of 5. The restaurant is particularly small, and it's kind of difficult to get it. I recommend a reservation, but for me I prefer to get take out. It's pretty dark in the restaurant. The waitresses are nice, and service is quick. Recommendations: Panang Curry, Summer Rolls, Phad Thai Noodles, Spicy Eggplant and Tofu, and my ultimate favorite is the Tom Yum Soup with tofu.
(4)Dan S.
Not sure if it authentic, but it sure is tasty. Almost everything I have ordered has been good. Usually do take out, but the few times I have eaten there, the wait staff has been very helpful and attentive. If you are going there on a weekend, be prepared to wait. But takeout is always 15 minutes. Also, never take the 2 person table in the back left corner. All the takeout people hover over your table waiting for their order.
(4)Devin W.
Food: I am a huge Thai food fan and try new Thai restaurants any chance I get. This is by far the best Thai restaurant I have ever eaten at (Celadon's in San Diego is also very good as well, but only eaten there a few times). I've gone here for years, tried almost everything on the menu and never been dissatisfied. Among their wonderful dishes, the ones that stand out the most in my mind are: all the curries (red, yellow, green, etc), the pad see ew, pad thai, the duck (I can't remember which one I like better), and the crying tiger (delicious but you have to really like beef or be sharing dishes because it is only beef). For appe-thai-zers (kind of corny, but that's what they call them here) the spring rolls (the non-fried kind) are delicious w/yummy peanut sauce and the satay are my favorite. It's difficult to leave without ending with the mango w/stick rice for dessert- my favorite! They used to ask how spicy you wanted your dish on a 1-10 scale but I'm not sure they do this anymore or not as consistently as they used to. The ratings are pretty accurate. A 1-4 is mild, but depending on the dish will have a slight kick. A 5-up is fairly spicy and anything higher than 7 or 8 is for the very brave (I've tried but I loose the feeling in my lips). This is also a great place for lunch specials (closed of course from 3-5p.m.) if you're not down for a more expensive dinner. Service: The owner is a really nice guy and the service has almost always been good, generally very nice, polite and attentive. There was one server (a younger guy who had braces, I don't know anyone's name as no one introduces themselves) who was not very pleasant...I questioned him about a dish he had brought me because I had ordered a curry and he brought me some sort of green bean dish. He told me very rudely that I had ordered some sort of green bean dish and I politely disagreed and told him that I had asked for the green curry. He then tried to argue with me saying that is not what I had ordered, he was very rude about it....I didn't know what to say, clearly irritated he whisked the dish away. Despite this rude waiter, I've come back many times (and fortunately never had him as a waiter again) Atmosphere: I love the funky Thai atmosphere here. The plumerias (and I think they have gardenias) outside smell amazing when they are in bloom, making the wait a little more enjoyable. My favorite thing to do is pick out the new addition to the decor - nearly every time I go there is something new, whether it be a new wood carved panel or some decorative elephants..they are always changing it up.
(5)Geoff M.
Tasty thai food and nice decor makes this a new favorite for me. The wife and I were in the mood for spicy and they delivered. The meal was a little pricey (the difference between 4 and 5 stars for me), but the food was good, so I'll definitely come back.
(4)Morgan H.
I came here with a friend and had such a fantastic dinner! The spring rolls were great, the pad thai was fabulous and the wait staff was very helpful and willing to please. I LOVED the interior - it was fun and different, yet not tacky nor overdone. Very pleasant dinner and will def go back!
(4)Sogoal Z.
Even if Bangkok Bay was a makeshift refrigerator box lean-to situated on the corner of a outdated mortuary of the 70s and Big Willy's Adult Book Store & Toyshop, I'd still make the trek to relish in the godliness of its summer rolls and glass noodles.
(5)Tundrah T.
i third the "best thai in San Diego" sentiment. this place is absolutely excellent--from the food to the atmosphere to the service. i usually stick to the same few (boring) items when at thai places--pad thai, panang curry and summer rolls--all three at Bangkok are out of this world. i've had other dishes here as well, and have never once been disappointed. the wait can get a little backed up, especially on weekend nights. there's no where to sit inside, so if its cool out bring a sweater/jacket, you'll be camping out in the scenic strip mall until you're seated. the owners should upgrade to a bigger place soon, they've definitely outgrown this spot.
(5)Kel R.
Excellent food and ambiance. Great deals for lunch, as well.
(5)Amanda G.
I haven't dined here, but I always order take out. The food is great. May I recommend the som tom, garlic and chicken, an fried rice with tofu. It is all very tasty. But, add one more dish and you're looking at at least $40 dollars in the evening. But, they do give you plenty of food. Usually that covers four people with left overs, so when you do the math, $10 a head it pretty reasonable. The restaurant is very small or shall we say intimate. But, I do feel bad for the people who get the table near the pick up area because there's no privacy and I always feel like I'm right up on them when I'm waiting to pay. Definitely, though a place to go when you want thai food and friends over for dinner. And, they do make it really fast. 15-20 minute wait max.
(4)Helaana C.
Best Drunken Noodles. Get them here. What I wouldn't get here is the Red Curry Chicken-why? because you can get the best red curry ever down the street at Siamese Basil. However this small gem is hiding in a small strip mall which mainly belongs to a liquor store but don't let that turn you off. Inside is like being transported to Bangkok instantly. Small, charming, dim lit dining room is perfect for weekday dining. Service is ok nothing spectacular. Overall the food is good not great (except the drunken noodles) so when I am craving Thai food in Solana Beach this is my spot.
(3)Annie F.
Drunken noodles and the spring rolls! Yum!
(4)M M.
my co-worker and i love this place. we wish they were more consistent with their spice levels though.
(4)Adam M.
Great local Thai food. I always get the Panang curry and Pad Thai, they can also make it as spicy as you want. Only have gotten take out but the inside looks nice but small. Seems like there is always a wait on weekends. Reasonable prices, better than any other thai place around
(4)T K.
First off: it's a pet peeve of mine when people say "pad thai" isn't authentic Thai food... My boyfriend and I lived in Thailand for a year and often ordered pad thai in the most out-of-the-way, remote, rural food stalls in northern Thailand where there weren't any other foreigners to be seen. (in response to a comment below). ANYWAY - I really enjoy this restaurant, and have always been happy with the food that I've had there. Love the ambiance. Service is generally friendly, though when they do get busy there can be a bit of a wait. I generally get turned off when I need to wait 10 minutes despite having made a reservation, but it is a small restaurant and 10 minutes isn't that big a deal in the end. It's not all that Americanized, at least based on my experience in Thailand. They do not offer a lot of authentic northern Thai dishes, but everything I've tried has been delicious and not a huge departure from what I've eaten in Thailand. My boyfriend also loves this place, so that's 2 people who have lived in the country who are perfectly happy with the food served here.
(4)Cassidy C.
By far the best Thai in all of San Diego! The Panang is to die for! We often get both the curry and cashew nut chicken and just mix it together so AMAZING!
(5)Chris W.
For the price and the qulaity of food you cant go wrong at all! Hard to get into sometimes but it is a local favorite! Most everyone in there is Thai which is great so it is a good experience. Try the Thai BBQ chicken really good and not dried out! Great cheap eats!!!!!
(4)Barbara M.
Love this place! But order it less spicy than you want it because they make their food HOT.
(5)Cassie K.
straight from Thailand-- well, sort of. The food is EXCELLENT! The staff is so kind and polite. The dinner is very reasonably priced. I would definitely go early or make reservation... the place only has about 12 tables so it fills up quickly. Tips: most of their meals serves 2.
(5)L S.
My all time favorite Thai place. I don't live in North County but this is worth the drive. The tea is fabulous. I have lunch there often and have never had a bad experience. Word of caution, on weekend nights get reservations. It is pretty busy at night.
(4)Beth B.
Delicious. The Tom Yum soup is the best I've ever had. Although be careful, the som yum salad varies on different days....I asked for very spicy and there was no spice in it what so ever....and on another day I asked for the same thing and it was too hot. I think they have two chefs and cook extremely differently. Still wonderful though.
(4)Kaitlin M.
We decided to try another thai restaurant after being less than impressed with our choices in Del Mar/Carmel Valley area. Must say we were impressed with the Red Curry. We of course had to try the Pad Thai and while the noodles were slightly overcooked, the flavor was pretty good. The sauce didn't taste like it was made from ketchup..we had the mango and sticky rice but would probably not try again. The flavor was decent but the rice was not moist enough (seemed like it was left in the rice cooker for awhile). Not the cheapest thai food ( more than $55 for 3 entrees, dessert, no drinks) but will return again. Good service - a plus!
(4)Diana t.
great decor and food. they keep the water coming at this place-my water glass is never empty. i've been to several other thai places in the north county area and have to say that this place does have the best thai food in san diego.
(5)James H.
The best Thai restaurant in San Diego. You can find it right on the Coast Highway, close to Via De La Valle and the race track. The food is excellent. You must try the Thai Beef Salad, Pad Kee Mao (Spicy Noodles), and the Panang Curry. I've never had a bad dish there.
(5)Jessica B.
I live in Solana Beach and this is one of my favorite local restaurants. We get take out all the time, but I also love eating here. It's a small, cute place with great ambiance. If you go at prime dinner time, there is usually a wait- I like to try going early or late to avoid this. My favorite is the yellow curry- I can't usually eat spicy food, but I brave it becuase it is so good. I also enjoy the pad thai and pra ram.
(4)Sheree L.
This is one of the best Thai restuarants we have been to. I ordered Angel wings(chicken wings de-boned and stuffed ground chicken and veggies.) summer rolls and a steamed seafood medley. Everything was really good especially the angel wings. The service was great as well, friendly, prompt, and considerate, For a restaurant situated in a strip mall, the decor was unexpectedly pleasing. I definitely felt like I was in a cafe in Thailand.
(4)Taylor J.
Headed out for dinner on the 23rd with family members. I have to say this is one of the best kept little secrets in Solana Beach. I had the Drunken noodles as a change (as I typically have a panang curry or Pad Thai whenever i visit a Thai restaurant). I ordered the noodles medium spicy (turned out pretty mild) and the other two in my party ordered Yellow curry with medium spice (turned out too spicy). We called ahead to make sure there was room and they did reserve a table for a party of three. It's a nice cozy little place that you could pass by on a normal drive town the coast. However, the next time you're in the area and are eager for some good Thai be sure to stop in.
(4)