Tipps Thai Cuisine
512 E Main St, Ventura, CA, 93001
Tipps Thai Cuisine Menu
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Address :
512 E Main St
Ventura, CA, 93001 - Phone (805) 643-3040
- Website https://tippsthai.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Quinn F.
I have been eating here for years. Frankly compared to other local Thai restaurants I have always preferred Tipps. Why?... Because the food is consistently good and service is good. For example tonight I had Naem Sod (ground pork with lime and ginger) and mint leave mixed vegetables. Very nice and complex flavors accompanied with delicious brown rice. My son had Tom Kha Gai and a Kang Ka Ree that he absolutely loved. The price is very reasonable for what you get; highly recommended!
(5)Evelyn N.
I read the Yelp reviews before trying Tipps. I thought I'd give it a try anyways. I thought the food that my spouse and I ordered was good. We ordered spring rolls, mint ginger chicken and pad Thai. I thought everything was pretty good. What I had an issue was it was 7pm on a weeknight only a few customers eating and we waited at least 10 minutes for someone to come by and ask us if we wanted drinks. We had to get menus on our own from the front of the restaurant and someone from the bar yells out sorry. It took 50 minutes to get our dinner. One customer came in places an order after us and still walked out before ours. We did get a mumbled apology from the server when she finally brought out everything. The owner was there but he was too busy entertaining himself with either a balloon taking a selfie , wearing a sombrero or chasing a little kid around the place. Normally , I'd say this is a guy I want to hang out with but I was really hungry and tired of waiting . He could've acknowledged us to the least. Main St in Ventura has a few other Thai restaurants that I'll try before coming back here.
(3)Lloyd D.
This is the best !! Angel wings Spicy noodles Pad Thai it's all great Come in meet the owner this place rocks !!
(4)Rey M.
I have been here a number of times. I'm a local and this is my go-to Thai place. Super friendly service and awesome food. We've (my man and I) modified a few dishes in the past and they're extremely flexible. Great drinks too. I get the House Margarita everytime!!
(5)Starr M.
Hubby and I were staying close by for our Anniversary and decide to check it out... So glad we did!!! Hubby got Thai honey garlic ribs and I got the pad Thai and it was AMAZING. So glad we found this place. We'll definitely be back
(5)Lene N.
This is officially my new favorite AUTHENTIC Thai Restaurant! Barbie, our server, I'm assuming one of the family members that owns the place... Was supppppper helpful and provided great recommendations. Also, she hooked it up w/ Spicy Thai peppers-which were definitely sweet to me, the fact that she went the extra mile to provide excellent customer. We told her it was our FirstTime to Tipps and she was very helpful! We ordered the ordinary Chicken pad Thai and Yellow Curry...&for an appetizer the spring rolls fried! It was enough to feed 2 people. For drinks we order the Tipps-Tinni and Thai Iced Tea both very delicious drinks. Our bill for 2 people came to about $48. We will definitely be back for the Fri/Sat Special and to visit and chat with Barbie !
(5)Dev M.
I am reviewing their lunch buffet. It was fairly horrible. They barely had any customers, two to be exact. This was a good indicator that I shouldn't have had lunch here. I once tried their buffet a few years ago. It was much cheaper, by two dollars and there was a greater of variety to choose from. Not only does the lunch buffet look disgusting (been sitting there burning under blue flames for a few hours), they only had two entrees to choose from and they don't use quality ingredient. They put jalapenos (Mexican) in their Thai fish sauce. How cheap can they get! I'm not coming here again. The buffet is definitely not worth $10.00! I would pay $6.99 for it. For $10.00 I expect more variety and freshness!
(2)Skyler F.
The food was good, the service was great, and the interior was just special, but getting to-go food in styrofoam ruined the experience. It leaked in the bag and in my car! Why won't a place learn to spend an extra nickel and not use styrofoam?
(1)Sean C.
I had a very nice noodle dish when I went to Tipps. The food was freshly prepared and the facility was very nice. They have an atmosphere that is peaceful and beautiful, especially some of the paintings. This would be 5 stars if not for the poor service. When I was there in the mid afternoon the waitresses were more concerned with gossiping with bar patrons then asking if I needed anything. I had to get up a couple of times to ask for hot sauce and a refill. I wouldn't mind that the waitresses were talking but I felt that it would be better if they had in the back instead of out in the open
(4)D C.
Excellent pad Thai! They are wonderful! I'm not a fan of mango on the sticky rice So I asked them to replace it with their coconut ice cream and it was insanely delicious!
(4)J D.
Love this place been coming here at least 15 years , Everything I have ever had has been so yummie , I recommend
(5)Theresa S.
Enjoyed the pad Thai and the vegetarian yellow curry. We asked for spicy and it was even more than we could handle, and we like spicy food! A great local find!
(4)Deb W.
We ordered the papaya salad with medium spice. I just got back from a three day cleanse that left me super sensitive to spices and the salad was way too hot. They replaced it with the perfect minimal spice. It was great and they were so sweet about it. I normally love medium spice! The grapefruit martini "HeeHee" was a super treat. The green curry was nice and the spicy mint tofu a bit greasy as we asked for minimal oil. Overall, a great meal.
(4)Vanessa B.
Two thumbs up to Tipp's Thai! I had never tried Thai cuisine before going to Tipp's. Walking into Tipp's I felt as if I was walking into a friend's house for lunch. The atmosphere is warm and the staff is friendly. I had the Pad Thai and it was TO DIE FOR delicious! (My 18 month old even loved it!) I also tried the Thai Iced Tea. It wasn't my favorite but it was good. The only reason I am not awarding a 5 star rating is because my huband, daughter and I were the only people in the restaurant yet it took quite a while for our food to reach our table. I am very glad that I chose Tipp's for my first Thai Cuisine experience.
(4)Scott F.
Been going to Tipps Thai pretty regularly for a few months now. I consistently get a great meal at a very reasonable price. The owner is always here talking story and his entire staff is always pleasant and attentive. I enjoy supporting a local business that has been around for a few decades.
(5)Doug E.
I love this place Best Thai food since Thailand.... Great buffet on Wednesday.The owner is always around to make sure you have a great experience...
(4)Brandon D.
I was unimpressed with the food and thought that the Panang and the Tom Yum Gai was very much sub par. The chicken was over cooked and rubbery and the soup did not have any sourness going for it at all. I have to say I will not be visiting this place again.
(2)Timothy H.
Love Tipps Thai! They are the best! Love Chang! He is also the best!
(5)H F.
Food used to be good. Now, is mediocre at best. Wait staff don't understand English very well, making communicating difficult. Salad the comes as part of lunch special is very good.
(2)A M.
I first went to Tipps many moons ago. In those days, I think they were the only Thai restaurant in town, and they were very good. Now, though....I regretted going there recently. The service was fine, but the panang was awful, and the rice was mushy. It's all about the food: this place needs to step up its game, or it might not survive.
(1)James B.
One of my favorite restaurants in Ventura, been going there since day one. Haven't experienced any of the few negative things I'm seeing here. The food sometimes takes a while, but not that long and so what, I don't go there to race thru my dining exoerience. The owner is a character and I like it that way. Food and service don't suffer from it. We usually get some or all of the following: Hot and Sour Soup, whch is spot on, with all kinds of goodies and is hot like I like it, Chicken on fire, get it! Garlic pepper chicken or shrimp- delish and lots of both. The Angel wings and the ribs are meaty and ridiculously tasty! Folks, this is a local treasure, if phony and austere is your thing, don't bother. The owner cooks and is involved with it all, basically is always there. If he wants to have a beer and B.S. with his customers, I can dig it. It's one of the oldest, most successful restaurants downtown, so they must be getting it right. Always fresh, always hot, always on point. The kind of place that the leftovers don't see the light of day. O.K, a negative? The bar could use an upgrade with some good single malts and Tequilas.
(5)Annie H.
I'm sorry, but this place just wasn't good at all. The service was good, but the food was bad. I've been to plenty of Thai places in Ventura, and this is the bottom of the list. I went there and my sister and I were the only ones in the restaurant, and it was pretty big too. Not flavorful at all. I had leftovers and didn't really even want to eat them the next day. But, on the plus side there's no wait.
(1)Jacquelin S.
Finally a meal in Ventura that I enjoyed. My family went to Tipps for lunch. Everything was delicious starting with the dressing on the simple salad that comes with the lunch specials. I want the recipe, it's that good. Service was attentive and prices very reasonable. All our food had great flavor. I would be happy to go back on future visits to Ventura.
(4)Michelle R.
This is our favorite Thai place! All the soups are incredible. All the curries are amazing. The meats are always tender and flavorful. The owner is always coming to your table and asking us how everything is. It's just a really awesome Thai place. We enjoy everything about it!
(5)J L.
I tried this place out because it was semi close to the hotel I was staying at and it's located in a very cute area of Ventura. I wish I would have done my research, the food was bland. Not good at all, and their white rice was mushy. The service was great, but boy was the food not good.
(2)Meredith L.
If you can get over the dated interior, then you will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of the menu and pleasant service. The pineapple red curry with shrimp is one of my favorites, but just beware if you ask for "spicy" your mouth will definitely be on fire for the duration of the meal!
(4)J K.
Chang is the ultimate independent business owner and a cool guy overall. The food is good, filling and fairly priced. The staff is friendly and efficient, and it's a family atmosphere. Tipps is a Ventura "must" for everyone. Chang deserves the success he has had and I'm delighted I got to be there for their 32nd anniversary. Since I moved to Ventura 5 years ago, I used to get takeout here all the time for myself and my mother, who loved their food. Now I regularly meet one of my friends for dinner here. When one of us is late, Chang knows us and is always patient with letting us hang onto a table until the other arrives. I also had the pleasure of working him twice on the Thanksgiving charity dinners for the community. He worked his butt off and managed the entire volunteer kitchen crew like a genius...even when some moron guy showed up and posed for pictures with the local media, pretending he was the chef behind the meal. Chang handled him in the coolest and funniest way. He rocks! Try Tipps. You'll love it.
(4)John K.
Great food and affordable prices. I eat there whenever I am in town! Get the pad thai - it's the best I've had. Plus, for some reason it is rarely crowded, but always has a reasonable crowd. Friendly wait staff as well.
(4)Lindsey D.
I love their Thai tea- so yummy! I've been here a few times and we are always seated promptly and the service is great. Their pad Thai is a bit dry. But their garlic shark was great!
(4)Lauren D.
Nice Thai restaurant with almost a full page of vegetarian food. We sampled some curry, fried tofu, and pad see you. Delicious as always. The service is prompt and friendly. An excellent choice, especially if you have vegetarians/vegans in the group.
(4)Ron C.
Tipps Thai is the perfect example of a restaurant that was good for a long time and is now coasting on its past success. My wife and I went there often in the mid to late 90's and always had a great experience and good food. Last Saturday, we were downtown for Artwalk and needed a place to go to dinner. When my wife suggested Tipps Thai, I thought it was a great idea. I could not have been more wrong. The one thing that went well was the initial seating. We were promptly seated and a server took our orders right away. My wife and I always loved the garlic pepper chicken and beef, so we ordered both of those. We also ordered the Won Ton soup and the fried vegetable appetizer. First, the food. The vegetable appetizer was flavorless without using the pineapple sauce, which I did not like as the sweetness overpowered the vegetables. The Won Ton soup was ok, except for the fact that there was only one won ton per person. I didn't really mind, as I was really looking forward to the entree. Unfortunately, that was worse. The garlic pepper beef was overcooked, and the brown sauce that came with it tasted neither of garlic or pepper. Also, the portions were much smaller than I remember. As for the service, it was on par with the food. After our server brought dinner to our table, she completely ignored us. We were never offered refills on our drinks, and it took almost twenty minutes to get our check. All in all, our trip down Nostalgia Lane was terrible in every way. I can't find a single reason to recommend this restaurant.
(1)Humberto G.
I was originally going to another Thai restaurant across the street, but it turned out to be closed on Tuesday's. I guess it's the family day for them. The owner of We Olive recommended we come here for dinner, and while I was a little on the skeptical side due to the 3 stars on Yelp, I had the Thai food itch. We ordered the Thai Ribs, Pad Thai and Tom Ka Kai soup. The Pad Thai was ok, and the soup was good although it lacked some spice. Not sure what it was, but something was missing, Still good though. But the ribs, damn, they were gnaw on the bone good. My boss and I had to fight for the last one. Unfortunately for me, her status in the totem pole won out and she took the last one. Food was good, but ribs were amazingly good. Service was also good. I doubt I'll be in the area again, but I would check it out again if I was here.
(4)Charles W.
I've been coming to Tipps since the early 80s. I think it was Ventura's first Thai restaurant and it was pretty cool back then: partitioned booths and we could even smoke our Djarums in there. 30 years later, I've seen the place ebb and flow with quality and decor. It's never been a stellar restaurant, but it was always a place you could count on, sometimes, for tasty food. However, on our last visit, I noticed that a malaise has once again set in. The chicken and pork that graced our dishes were overcooked, gamey, and is this possible, crumbly like chalk. I get the feeling that the food was just slopped together without the cook bothering to taste what was going out. The choices for good eats in Ventura are slim to none, but without improving the flavor and composition of the dishes, I just don't see us coming back down this way just for the food at Tipps (especially when we live so close to Thai Town in LA now).
(2)Stephanie B.
I just went to Tipps Thai again tonite. I ordered the yellow curry with tofu. My son had the chicken fried rice. We did not like our meals. The vegetables (peas and carrots) were from a frozen food bag. Really cheap produce. My dish had too many onions - another sign of cutting corners. There are many good Thai places in Ventura - we will pass on this one in the future. I had been there before for lunch and had enjoyed the meal. Not sure what happened?
(2)Nancy F.
Came here a couple of times for lunch and was always seated quickly. Pad thai shrimp is good Cashew nut chicken is spicy and delicious Basil chicken is ok Thai iced tea is good Sauteed vegetables is really good Coconut chicken soup is surprisingly good Salad has much to be desired
(3)Vanna N.
I cannot fathom how there can be bad reviews about this place since I have had great dining experiences the last couple times I've been here. The waitresses are very nice and attentive and they always check up to see if we're doing okay. Keep in mind that this place has been operating for over 20+ years. There is a reason they have managed to stay open for so long. I recommend their shrimp Tom yum soup and spicy beef salad. The soup has got to be one of the best I have had at a Thai restaurant. The last time we had dinner there, Chang, the owner, stopped and chatted with my boyfriend for a minute. Nice guy with a sense of humor.
(4)Casey C.
Not bad... the only one i know of in the area though I'm not really from this area so that doesn't say much. If you're craving Thai/Asian and you're in the area, it's not too bad. We had the Tom Yum soup. It was tangy and spicy, but could have been tangier and spicier. They use white mushroom instead of straw mushroom, which can be common but not preferred by me. But they had some nice chunks of lemon grass, which i love. Of course i don't eat them, but like seeing them and could taste it in the soup. Don't know if they have a shrimp option or not but it wasn't offered/noted, and it came out with only chicken. I prefer shrimp. We also had the mint leaves dish, which is basically a stir fry dish with veggies (mostly bamboo), meat (of your choice, mine was chicken), and mint leaves. Unfortunately this was underpar as it had little to no taste of mint (did have the leaves I guess just not enough) and was mostly bamboo. It wasn't bad, but I love mint and was disappointed. The spicy noodles was really good. Had great wok flavor, was nice and spicy (you can get most dishes adjusted for spicyness). Not too greasy, but the noodles were also not all stuck together. I liked this one way more then my choice of the mint dish. Wouldn't mind coming back for spicy noodles or to try their other stuff.
(3)Amanda H.
Chang was hilarious! The owner was a little drunk behind the bar, shoving free beer to my friends and telling us hilarious stories of his past. He even told us a really cool one about a ghost child that runs around in the restaurant. He built a tiny house shrine and gives offerings in hopes that the boy will be a positive haunting experience. He was literally walking around, drink in hand, chatting with everyone! Hilarious! He also showed us his bullet proof vests he wears and a massive samurai sword. AMAZING! The thai food was eh, I have had better. But ambiance was cool and the owner was entertaining.
(3)Jose B.
So stumbled upon this place due to the fact that our favorite place "RICE" was close apparently due to their "family day". We walked across the street to White Sands but the menu did not look very full or appetizing, so we walked down Main street & found ourselves @ Tipps Thai. Read so reviews & was a little skeptical just like on of the reviewers we has read but decided to give it a go. The honey ribs were a good as reviewed however I had the Pad Thai & it wasn't very good tasting. A friend ordered the Pad see ew & said or was fishy tasting almost like it the sauce came from a can. So we sent it back & ordered the Panag curry w/chicken, which turned out to be a better choice. All in all it wasn't a great experience & would def caution others before recommending this joint.
(2)John S.
My tipp is to go somewhere else. First off, the hostess was on the phone the entire time we we're there gossiping about men. We could hear all the details. The menu should have been a clue since it had Chinese dishes. The soup was bland and the chicken curry tasted like it was something bought premixed. The lack of a condiment tray with spices and peppers was another red flag. Don't go unless you think Pickup Stix is Thai food.
(2)Sheri F.
J and I stopped in Ventura for the night after a long day of driving and I was absolutely dying for good Thai. The B&B owner recommended we walk down to Tipps and after poking around at a few other restaurants we decided to give it a try. I'm glad I didn't read the reviews beforehand. I'm happy to report that we had a delicious meal. Normally I just order favorites I recognize from the menu, but for some reason I decided to ask the server if there was anything super special we shouldn't miss. He said they had fresh-caught yellowtail that could be cooked a variety of ways. They also had an intriguing chicken and thai noodle special that was only available on weekends but when I tried to order they were already sold out. Being hungry and exhausted we ordered the yellowtail with panang curry and pad thai with shrimp. Now, I am actually not a huge fan of fish other than salmon, but this yellowtail was divine. The pad thai also had really nice flavor and everything was cooked beautifully. We did our best to clean our plates and only stopped because we were well and truly full. We were shocked when the bill arrived, but in a good way. We thought we might pay a hefty price for the fresh yellowtail, but it was only $12.99 - that's $3 less than we pay at home for our usual not-fresh-caught salmon panang. So I don't know what to say - maybe we got lucky, maybe we were just too tired to know better... all I can say is I was happy.
(4)Ferdmeister V.
Gr8 Pad Thai at place.
(4)Carolyn B.
Sorry to dis a local establishment, but when you stop trying to please customers and are content to serve sloppy food, then it's going to catch up with you. Give Tipp's a miss. Ventura has several other Thai restaurants available for your dining pleasure. (White Sands is new and notably good.) But pleasure is not what you will get at Tipp's. My best guess is that Tipp's is surviving on regulars who come out of habit--and to hang out at the bar, because friends are already there--rather than because of a preference for their cuisine. We were served food so bad, I vowed never to come again. Our stir-fried noodles came to us pasty and falling apart. Blobs of white noodle starch mixed with sauces. ICK! How could any respectable kitchen staff lot blobbly noodles go out the door? No noodle was longer than half an inch and all were mushed up together. Pad see ew, the wide rice noodles I am referring to, are wide and long--and should be resilient. Not blobular. The spicy fried fish dish was tasty at first bite--the fish itself was prepared well--lightly crisped, with a mildly spicy sauce draped over it. But the vegetables in the sauce were obviously frozen--all uniformly cut and flabby like rubber replicas. Double-ick. How much trouble does it take to cut fresh carrots and broccoli to toss into a stir-fry? Hardly any at all, Flabby food equals we'll be taking our business elsewhere.
(1)Michelle D.
Holy shit...wtf? The only good thing about this place was that the waiter: he asked to see my ID and I was flattered...but really, I'm not that old anyway...so...? Also I ordered a vegetarian dish and he thought to tell me that it had fish sauce in it, which was really impressive. I ordered a noodle dish with mock duck. I honestly still can't believe it. The noodles must have been cooked several days before...they were gelatinous and stuck together. I was immeasurably disappointed. Thank goodness I am back in San Diego!
(1)emily h.
You want thai? No?! Just the Tipp...i promise! Love this place, food is fresh, great portions, wait staff is very friendly. Tom ka gai, yes please! The entrées are family style so you get to try what everyone orders and they make things as spicy as you like. All this must be why whenever we want to go out for dinner, Tipps is always on the top of our mind!
(4)Glenn H.
The owner of this place is the rudest person I have ever met. He sits at the bar getting drunk and then decides to visit his guests. He tells the most rude jokes imaginable. The food is okay, but the experience with the owner will keep us from ever returning.
(1)James G.
Best Thai on main st, decent service and nice decor.
(5)Terrance B.
Used to come here often when I lived in Ventura. Moved to OC and haven't been back in several years. My Thai wife is a terrific cook so I am used to excellent Thai food. Tipps is excellent but you need to dig into the menu a little bit and not just order Pad Thai all the time. Try the ground chicken salad (authentic and excellent), the beef salad, Rad-Na, or any of the soups. They have toned the recipes down over time to suit american tastes, so if you like it spicy let them know. If the group is all round-eyes you might need to tell them twice. Visiting Tipps just gave me an excuse to drive to Ventura more often.
(5)Kristi N.
I just discovered this place in downtown Ventura and think about it all the time. Everything I have ordered here is phenomenal. They serve a green curry with Thai noodle on the weekend that is to die for. The mussel are great, the shrimp is perfectly cooked, I can't say enough about the food. The service is a treat, nice, polite, not intrusive, but attentive. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Stephen B.
Tipps is not tops. First let me say that I love Thai food. The food here is just so-so. Thai food should be sparky and fresh, but the food here seems bland and lacks any fresh flavors or spice. The dingy interior is downright depressing. Carpeting in a restaurant is suspect and this carpet seems old and dirty. Cleanliness is also questionable here. Customers get a good look here since they walk by the kitchen on the way to the bathroom. Several upset stomachs after eating here may confirm this. This place needs a re-boot and a remodel. On a positive note, the staff seems friendly, if despirited. I can't recommend Tipps and I would look elsewhere for Thai food in Ventura.
(1)Gabby S.
I have been here twice and now I feel the need to write a review. The first time I went there I stuck in the back with my group of 4 for dinner. Unsure why? The front area was not packed. The waitresses seemed to forget about us and during my entire meal I didn't get a water refill.... The next time I went was for lunch. Not as crowed as the dinner and decent lunch specials. There are some interesting Thai dishes I haven't seen at other Thai restaurants but that doesn't mean they are good. This an average Thai restaurant so I will continue to search for the perfect Thai place in Ventura or perhaps I can travel to Santa Barbara for My Place. :-)
(2)Christina M.
Pineapple fried rice was great and the service was awesome!! Chang was a great host and the satay was the best I've had. Fun night and great food.
(4)John M.
It's okay. we parked by Rice Thai and probably should have gone there, but there was NO one inside. Tipps had people inside so we went there. She ordered the yellow curry and I got the pepper garlic scallops, upon recommendation from the waitress. She also took a long while to get to our table. My pepper garlic scallops... eh. scallops were suppose to be lightly breaded and I don't think they were. they were also small and mushy. It also came with a LOT of mushrooms, which I told the waitress I didn't like, but she recommended it anyway. My ladyfriend got the yellow curry, and that was good, but the potatoes weren't cooked very well. Basically with options, I'd probably end up going to Rice or another place next time.
(3)Arnel D.
This place is a-ok. There really wasn't anything else to eat nearby and so I chose Tipps. It looked a little old and probably needs an remodel. But the food was surprisingly delicious. The server was very attentive but the owner looked drunk.
(3)Ana B.
My first introduction to Thai cuisine was at Tipps Thai back in the 1990s. I loved it. I've returned there a few times during the years following and was happy with the food and ambience. However, I went there again last week and it was definitely not as I remembered. It felt more like a bar, with loud drunk patrons shouting across the restaurant. The owner's family members (my dinner companion knows the owner and told me these were his daughters, their husbands, and children) were also milling around and loudly talking with one another. In fact, I felt badly for the server who had to constantly navigate her way around them to get to the tables. Finally, the food arrived and that was the final disappointment. The peanut sauce was not good, nor was the fish platter. We will not be returning to Tipps Thai Cuisine.
(1)Nick L.
I signed up for Yelp to Yelp about this awesomely BAD experience I had. I decided to eat there for the cane shrimp. It never came! And everything else came like 45 min later with the waitress being passive aggressive. The owner was drunk and the ladies he was drinking with (who came after us) got their food first! After I talked to the drunk owner, we got a new waitress, Jin, she was nice and discounted the food. I still never had my cane shrimp, and the food wasn't even good :(
(1)Erin W.
The food was acceptable, the server we had was lovely and pleasant, but the owner was imposing and lacked social graces. If he would have just left us with his initial impression of a friendly hello and a joking attitude we may have come back again. However, he stumbled up to our table and appeared to be intoxicated after further observation. When he started touching his beard and then touching our plates/silverware, said that all white people look the same and tried to tell me the "proper way" to eat my food we had enough. There are too many struggling restaurants with outstanding food and gracious owners to ever go back to Tipps Thai. The food is not good enough to have to put up with being condescended to.
(1)Joe G.
My mom and I were chilly from the coastal air and decided to stop in for some Glassy Noodles Soup! It hit the spot and then some! The broth wasn't overly salty and the chicken was comforting. We also ordered Four Friends which was like Thai vegetable tempura. They were cooked perfectly and the sweet and sour sauce was delicious! To finish off the meal, we ordered coconut ice cream with wonton fried bananas. The ice cream was the best and everything was drenched in a maple syrup reduction! Fabulous meal and our bill was under $20
(5)Joshua G.
Everybody needs a descent Thai joint in their neighborhood. Tipps is a lovely little spot with some unpretentious food options. Service is swift, the drinks are stiff. And the fried bananas are pretty sweet. I suggest you stick to the curry or basic noodle options and steer away from anything too adventurous with a possible exception for the muscles. I typically get pa-nang or pad thai. Please ignore all criticism about the owner. I like him. And his daughters are hilarious.
(4)Rose G.
This is by far the best Thai restaurant that I have been to in Ventura County. There is no false pretense here, just genuinely kind service and superb food! I love the satay, curry, wonton soup and don't even let me get started on the excellent beer / bar selection. I am so happy that I came here this evening. Chang, the proprietor, is a one man entertainment machine. The servers were so sweet and attentive. I am definitely coming back here again. Thank you so much for a memorable dining experience. I am now a life long diner! See you very soon.
(5)Eriko P.
I went here with friends. We just drove in town from Los Angeles, and were hungry. Their lunch menu is very reasonably priced, comes with soup, egg roll and main course. The quality is OK, but still tasty. My friend's daughter, age 13, was introduced to Thai food at this restaurant. She loved her Pad Thai. I can't remember what I ordered, but overall, the food was tasty for the price. I would come back here, but there are so many other choices here on Main street within walking distance
(2)Kim B.
We went here because Rice Thai restaurant is closed on Tuesdays. The food was not good. My cousin had to return her noodle dish because it was mushy and fishy tasting. We won't be back.
(2)Greg K.
I've eaten at Tipps on numerous occassions. Notice that I said eaten and not dined. There is a difference. The food and service has always been fine. And yes, the owner has been "tippsy" (excuse the pun) and flirtatious with female patrons at times but that is part of the charm of this local establishment.
(3)Christopher G.
My wife and I go there just for the Tom Kah Gi and spring rolls. Great portions and the owner is always inviting. The only thing lacking is the service: twice we didn't received our apps and they were still on the bill!
(3)Victoria Y.
UGH, should have known. I picked the more old restaurant thinking it would taste better. Nope. When I walked in, it smelled like wet carpet. The place wasn't even that busy but yet the service was slow. I think it was authentic Thai though based on the people working there. There was this couple of old white people in front of me and the waitress kept asking if they wanted it "MI".. and they are like HUH?? And one of the ladies was like OOHH.. "mild". haha. All in all, $9 for a veggie pad thai for lunch is expensive. Food took along time to come out too..
(3)Lacy W.
Although my preferred place is The Lunch Box, it was a Sunday and closed. A friend suggested Tipps, so we checked it out. It was nearly 8pm and we had to choose quickly as we were advised the kitchen was about to close. We chose 3 dishes, crispy shrimp appetizer, pad ram and pad thai. The food was serviced in a nice manner and there was plenty of it (leftovers). The decor was nice, place was clean, service was good. The food was good, although I wasn't impressed with the crispy shrimp, it was just okay. The location on Main is great, as you can just step out and head up Main to do other things, like shopping or going to listen to music or a bar. I would go there again.
(4)Judy H.
First off the restaurant needs a face lift and the bathrooms are old and dirty which leads me to wonder what the kitchen must look like. The food came out promptly but it was mediocre at best. The chicken in the soup was way overcooked and the pork in our dish was extremely tough. I don't like to write bad reviews but this place needs some help!
(2)Paige W.
Oh, lord. What a terrible place. Our group of 10 people walked into Tipp's Thai on a slow Sunday evening expecting a delicious Asian feast. What we got was a nightmare. The server, who gets huge fashion points for rocking an apron with a fake tuxedo print (complete with a sewn-on red bow tie), seemed entirely overwhelmed by our numbers and the vast language barrier that existed between us. She also completely forgot to take drink orders for half the table. When our food still hadn't arrived after about 30 minutes, the entire staff of the restaurant came to our table with complimentary salads (the reason for that second star you see) DOUSED in a sickeningly sweet peanut dressing. I gobbled mine up because the hunger had evaporated my scruples, but others pushed their plates away in disgust. After our meals finally arrived, we realized there were plates mixed up, ingredient modifications ignored and chicken replaced by some awful mystery meat. Yikes and yuck. My curry was bland and unremarkable, my neighbor's fish stank to high heaven and the green curry across the table was almost too spicy to eat. By the time we were all finally finished and had settled our bill, all the other tables in the restaurant had left and the staff had formed a gauntlet near the bar, just waiting for us to leave. We walked out with our heads down, avoiding eye contact and secretly vowing never to return on future trips to Ventura.
(2)Tom C.
I ate here with a business associate and we sat outside. All in all the lunch we had was pretty decent. Pad Thai was a bit overcooked but for the price it was a decent lunch. I like things very spicy and the chili sides were good. Decent egg roll.
(3)Lorraine L.
My friends and I came hungry and wanting thai food. When we went in, the waitress asked us if we wanted to eat the buffet or just have a regular lunch. We were all, "whaat? buffet?" so went to go check it out and they had a small selection compared to regular buffets, but we decided to try it anyway. The salad was good but the peanut sauce got to be too sweet at times. The fruits they offered was probably the best thing they had haha. They had pad thai, spicy noodle thing?, eggrolls, vegetable tempura, stuff, stuff, fried rice, annd chicken curry. Nothing was remarkable except for the curry. The curry was delicious. So pretty much... lunch buffet = okay. It's sad how the only good dishes they offered was not thai (minus the curry).
(2)Monica S.
I can't believe how small the portion sizes were! We ordered a pad thai and a pork dish, and was served a mini salad to start off. Not bad so far. A few minutes later we received our orders and were disappointed to say the least. The portions were offended us given the delirious prices they charged. For $9 I received a small plate of pad thai, half of which consisted of bean sprouts. With the pork dish came a small scoop of rice for another $8. The bill came out to about $22 total including tip, because the service was exceptional. But geez, what a rip-off! Save your hard earned cash.
(1)Liz H.
I had their lunch special and you get a generous amount of food for 8 dollars.. I got their ginger chicken which was very good and fresh.. friendly staff and very calm and clean . they have a very nice vegetarian menu.. I miss their buffet though.
(4)K B.
Excellent Service. Delicious Soup. Offers Mock Duck and lot's of tofu dishes. Pretty average tasting thai food.
(3)Mark E.
Not sure where the bad reviews are coming from, but since my father and I eat at Tipps pretty regularly, maybe we're "used to" the service/food? I've always loved this place, and drive down from Ojai fairly often to eat at Tipps. We always get prompt service and our order is always perfect. Certainly not gourmet food, but it is quite tasty nonetheless.
(4)Jeff N.
I got my food to go: chicken pad thai chicken satay The satay was good. It's kind of tough to screw it up. The peanut sauce was spicy but kind of oily. The Pad Thai is decent. I've had the Pad Thai at lunch, and I don't know if it's a different chef, but it's way better at lunch. It was flavorful. I've had worse (Thai Peru down the street) and much better.
(3)Emari H.
This place was the most disgusting place I've ever eaten. I would take the Thailand street side noodle cart over this any day. When we walked in, it wasn't that busy but there was only one waitress and one busboy. There were tables with mountain of dirty dishes and leftovers and they made no attempt to clear it during the whole time we were there. Someone sitting at the next table ordered some soup that smelled literally like shit and I almost vomited over my food. I love exotic food and usually say that "stink food is a good food" but not this one! It was really bad that I could hardly concentrate. The waitress got a little busy and that poor lady tried to hurry and tripped and ate it while catering to us. One good thing was the papaya salad. While it was VERY spicy (I liked it but my husband couldn't touch it), it was very tasty. I ordered a noodle soup and it had a lingering sweet taste to the soup that I did not like. I love Pho (I know it's not Thai) and I usually get a similar noodle soup to satisfy my pho cravings but this one did not do it for me. Without the sweet aftertaste, it probably had a good soup but no matter how much hot sauce and fish sauce I put in the soup I couldn't fix it. I should have stopped with just the salad. The whole time we were there, they did not clean out anyone's table and the food and dirty dishes were piled up on top of number of tables. I felt it was very unsanitary and doubted their sanitation practice. It was so gross that even with a good papaya salad I would never go back there again.
(1)Gardy B.
only went there once so hope this helps... - it's a good place to try once, EXPECT little service. this is a place i would NOT want to come back to. - the buffet price was cheaper than any of the food on the menu, picking buffet is something i would recommend. - the buffet line isn't as big as you would expect a buffet should be. the most they would offer are fruits, and 6 pans of main courses. - in my opinion, the best thing they offer are their fruits. their fruits are really refreshing. - the water extremely tastes like TAP water, i suggest you buy a soft drink.
(2)T F.
Yeah I'm not gonna jump on the negative nancy bandwagon. This place is great. I've been here at least 10 times with groups varied in size from 2 to 10 and the service has always been good. The soups for a table are amazing. The food is authentic. The drink menu is crazy. The place has character. Don't miss it.
(5)shonna s.
food is great... staff is off and on. prices are reasonable. my fav thai place in town.
(4)Kelly W.
Looking for a great lively dinner place? Tipps has delicious dishes and the decor takes you back to Thailand. There's a reason this place has been a corner stay of dining in Ventura for decades - great food, full bar and reasonable prices in downtown Ventura. Authentic cuisine and hospitality - enjoy!
(4)Don M.
The best Thai food on Main St! If you ask for it spicy, expect it to be REALLY spicy. Live music on weekends. 'nuff said. Update 08-2006: Actually Cholada is now the best Thai on main - or anywhere in the area for that matter - dropping a star.
(3)jen h.
Best thai tea you will ever find anywhere! Trust me. Garlic pepper everything is amazing, although I don't order scallops so I will not speak for them. Pad thai also amazing, pa nang amazing, egg rolls delicious. I can't say enough good things about Tipps. I have been going there since I was a kid and it is by far one of my favorite places on this earth to eat! Family owned and opperated, Chang is awesome and is generous with the liquor behind the bar, his daughters offer great friendly service and they're completely adorable. This place is not for the uptight, it is super chill, huge portions, low key, a great place to bring kids (I can hardly ever keep mine in the chair and everyone, staff and patrons are always so friendly), but come early because this place cracks!
(5)Jennifer M.
Best Thai food around! The spring rolls and the shrimp pad thai are amazing! After having not eaten in over 24 hours after i gave birth to my daughter this is what i demanded my boyfriend bring me to eat! Its one of my favorite meals, that and a Thai iced tea and there's nothing better. Great cocktails and stiff drinks! The staff is like family to me, we have been going for years they even have my daughters picture on the wall and Chang (the owner) calls himself Grandpa Chang to my daughter Its very baby friendly they even have a swing i set my daughter in up on the table while i eat, very accommodating to children. Friendly staff great and down to earth. Sure Tipps could mean Tipsy cus the owner likes to hang out like a family friend and have a few drinks with the customers, whats so wrong with that? I even went in one time on a very windy day when all the electricity went out and they were still manage to hold their own very well! Not many will continue to stay open and cook under candle light and still come out with amazing dishes. They still have the lunch buffet on Wednesdays and its fabulous! Highly recommend this place!!! 5 STARS!
(5)TwoGirlsDad S.
Without a doubt one of the best Thai restaurants anywhere. The food is consistant, well prepared, and fast. Chang's egg rolls are the best anywhere. Pad Thai is one of our favorites. Pepper garlic chicken is a must have. Every out of town guest I have broght to Tipps insists on returning when they visit.
(5)