The environment was good. The place was clean. The server was very nice. The place for very busy once we arrived. We had to wait a bit for some things but if they had another server there it would of been fine. But it was understandable they did the best could. I got the beef soup and I spiced it up. Very good. My boyfriend had the pad Thai and he said it was pretty good but remembered it was better before. He's not a big pad Thai guy tho. We will be back and try new things soon.
(4)
Sue N.
We've been wanting to try this restaurant for quite a while, and tonight we finally took the plunge! Another strip mall eatery, built this one is quite nice on the inside. Very clean, you can see through to the kitchen, and we were greeted as soon as we entered. Our waitress, Jennifer, was awesome. Our first time for Thai food (aren't we just the adventurous ones?). She very patiently explained the dishes and flavors to us which really helped with our choices. We started with the pan fried dumplings. Yummy. Scoffed those down in minutes ( we were hungry) I ordered the Pa See Eew (rice noodles stir fried with egg, broccoli, carrots and beef in soy sauce). Loved it!!! Portion was quite large, and at $11, reasonable. Hubby had the Gang Dang, which is a red curry dish with coconut milk and veggies. Wow, the flavor of the coconut milk was very obvious, a totally new flavor to me. Again another generous portion. Oh, and the unsweetened iced tea....Awesome, actually has tea flavor!!! Now I'm certainly no expert on Thai food, but I know good food, and this was good!! We will definitely be back. Give it a try, I think you'll like it.
(4)
Theresa T.
I learned about this great little restaurant when they served up some great food for the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce lunch. I joined a group of ladies for a small networking lunch at Chai Yo and everything was delicious. The service was excellent and the servers were very attentive and always with in sight. The decor was excellent, they have created a cozy little spot. This is not a typical strip mall Chinese restaurant but a nice date night appropriate restaurant. The prices are very reasonable and they were offering a great date night special.
(5)
Whitney B.
Super delicious Thai food! The curry is amazing and they never disappoint on portion sizes either! Love their food!
(5)
Marie W.
This place is a pleasant little surprise, tucked in Riverview. The food is actually good. You can eat the pad Thai without having the regret of not picking out something else. The restaurant is clean and in a convenient location to those who live in the surrounding neighborhoods. Overall-I give this place a thumbs up. A great little place to eat.
(4)
Frank N.
Who knew that sleepy little Riverview would be home to such great international cuisine? First pho and now Thai. Thanks to my fellow yelpers, wife and I are expanding the boundaries of our epicurean world. Based on awesome reviews and a 4 and a half star rating, we tried Chai Yo Thai. We pass Chai Tai every week, we shop at the Publix in the same plaza. We often wondered if it was good or even open. Today turned out to be the day. Inside is nicer than we thought it would be and it was very clean. We were greeted immediately and seated. We ordered the dumplings, (pot stickers), Red Curry and Pad See Eew, all based on our server's recommendation. The pot stickers were very good, but they resembled the frozen ones you buy by the bag from Costco or Sam's Club. Speaking of frozen I was going to order shrimp with my curry until I asked if the shrimp was fresh or frozen. Jennifer, our server, readily admitted they were frozen, I thanked her for her honesty and then ordered the chicken. My curry came along with the Pad See. Giants portions of both. They were also delicious. We had enough for another meal easily. We plan on returning to try other dishes. A nice little local find.
(4)
Judy S.
In town on vacation and was craving Thai. Depended on yelp reviews to decide where to go against the advise of residents who recommended a diff location. I shld have listened Admittedly all I had was the Pad Kee Mow or drunken noodles as they called it and spring rolls. The noodles had little to no flavor and horrible consistency. Huge crinkle cut pieces of carrots and underdone veges mingled in with dry flavorless chicken. The peanut sauce that accompanied the spring rolls was not authentic at all... Creamy and mild for mass appeal I guess. C'mon floridians ! You cannot possibly think this so good Thai food. It's not even Thai !
(2)
Vino L.
I ordered my food to-go and was offered a seat and a nice cold glass of water. The service was pleasant and welcoming. The restauraunt appeared clean and tidy. Ordered shrimp pad thai, chicken fried rice, crab wontons, and spring rolls. I was very pleased with the fact that all of their chicken dishes solely use white meat. Since I didn't dine in, my experience was somewhat limited. Overall, the crab wontons were very flavorful and crispy, even after arriving home. The pad thai was a tad dry but a hearty portion size. The fried rice could have used more flavor as well, but I enjoyed the plentiful chicken breast slices. The spring rolls also lacked flavor and seemed to contain more veggies than meat. I'm giving this place 4-stars because all of the menu items had their respective sauces inside the to-go containers without having to request them. The to-go order was thoroughly and correctly packed. The service was friendly and kind. The restaurant appeared clean and well kept. And two out of my four platters were right on point. I will return again, hopefully for dine-in.
(4)
Jenny K.
I love Chai Yo! The food is delicious, always made with fresh ingredients. The service is friendly and very accommodating. What a wonderful little restaurant! !
(5)
Tracy P.
Consistently great quality food and service. I usually get panang curry, pad Thai or a vegetable dish. They are consistent with their dishes, great fresh ingredients and fantastic and friendly service. I drop by or order take out as often as possible. I want to keep this place open and prosperous as the choices of good restaurants in riverview are horrible. In fact out of all of the restaurants ive tried in riverview, Fl this is by far the best!!!!!!!
(5)
Nathan W.
Start off by saying I love this place. From the food to the people that work there. I have eaten here at least 10x, food has always been great same with the service. If you want some good Thai food at a reasonable price try this place, doubt you will be dissapointed. I will upload pictures next time I go.
(4)
Jenny S.
We discovered Chai Yo last year when we were vacationing in the area and loved it. So this year when we were back in the area, we stopped by again. Sometimes second visits aren't as good as the first and you leave disappointed. Not this time. The food was just as good and the service was spot on. We love the Panang Curry and both ordered it. The fried spring rolls are really good too. The atmosphere is nicely decorated and perhaps the best indicator of a good restaurant, the restroom as nicely decorated and clean. When we are back in the area again, we will be visiting Chai Yo again.
(5)
Kevin B.
I am very impressed. We have lived in this are for just over 2 years and finally stopped in. I am very glad we did. The drunken noodles and curry were both some of the best I've had. Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Jude B.
Excellent food! The staff was easy to work with when picking dishes and answering questions.
(4)
HJ C.
have been dining here since they opened over 5 years ago. I can't think of a time where a month went by and I didn't visit here, sometimes 2 times a week!... These folks Always make you feel right at home. The ambiance is warm and always nice low background music, the restaurant is always clean and the service is top notch, they quickly get to know you by name. They can accommodate for small business meetings and family groups (maybe up-to 10-12 people) My list of favorites : (highly recommend these) -Pad Thai shrimp.; best sauce and noodles always perfect. -Chopped chicken salad (laab gai) ; when in the mood for something light/small bite. This is it, also low cal with amazing bang of flavors. -Panang curry chicken, tons of vegetables in the most luscious silky sauce.. Oh! - Tum Ka gai... Medium please with a side order of white rice, it becomes a meal. - Fresh Rolls. Have had many a dozen you all, the have always, always been so fresh. - Panko Fish, is so amazing, you may say why this at a Thai palace, well it has been a true favorite for us, that yummy sweet, spicy and with fresh cucumber. delish. - house fried rice is a winner with my 4 daughters and us, we get this every single time, even if the girls are not with us, they ask me to take some to go. - Basil chicken or shrimp is an excellent dish when in the mood for a lite dinner, sooo much flavor. Chef Topp has always gone out of his way to satisfy any wants and craving within reason, he'll prepare any meal to your liking in terms of the spiciness and/or suggest something special for the night, also gracious to accommodate for any allergies (peanuts, eggs , etc) The sticky rice with mango and that lavender ice-cream or the sticky rice with the baked custard,...have been desserts that have completed our experience every single time .
(5)
Mike F.
Sorry, but I don't quite understand all the "oooh's and aaah's" about this place. Maybe I'm spoiled from Boston-area Thai food, but I thought a 3-star rating was generous. The people were friendly and the place looked clean, but the food was so-so. We went there for lunch and tried both the chicken and the shrimp Pad Thai. I thought it was very bland and just "average". I decided to get the coconut custard dessert "to go" and they put vanilla ice cream on top of the hot custard knowing that I was taking it with me. I'm sure they were trying to provide me the "full experience" of the dessert, but it just melted into a complete mess by the time I got home Maybe the dinner experience is better, but I doubt that I'll try it again. I'll just have to wait until I return to the Boston area to have some really good Thai food.
(3)
Laura D.
If you think this is "tasty"...you obviously never had real thai food, from real thai people. I am very spoiled from DC/North VA thai food. This was tasteless, bland, and not worth the $$. I am still searching for better. This was my second time trying Chai yo, thinking it was the first time it was just bad, but no...just blah.
(2)
Julio M.
Went to lunch with kids. Had three different dishes (Pad Thai, Fried Rice and Basil Chicken). All tasted fresh and delicious. No wait so service was great. Server was great also and attentive.
(5)
Quest F.
I have tried ALL of the Thai restaurants in the area; this is one of the best and my personal favorite!
(5)
Carlos H.
I tried this Thai restaurant last weekend after some friends invited me out to lunch with them. I enjoyed the food - the crab rangoons were very good. The portions were large as other Yelpers have mentioned. We received a full chicken and rice soup bowl as a part of the lunch special. We shared a summer spring roll, which was also good. I had a beef pad thai as my main entree. The pad thai tasted quite different from other restaurants. I liked it, but it wasn't my favorite. I would still frequent Ploy Thai and also Jasmine Thai in Brandon after this experience. Still...it is in a good location in Riverview and certainly much more convenient for residents of that area. I am not a fan of Mai Thai on Bloomingdale and Bell Shoals and my experience with Lemon Grass Thai is too limited to make a judgement call between the two restaurants. The Thai Tea was also made very well - something that some Thai restaurants in Tampa easily butcher. Overall, I would say Chai Yo Thai tastes pretty good and I would recommend it. I may have to try some curries and other dishes to form a complete opinion. Service was satisfactory, the waitress kept our drinks refilled and there was no significant waits between dishes.
(4)
Matthew C.
Well... A 2 star, but barely. Place was clean, waitress was nice but - the tum Ka Gai was like lime coconut water with very little in it, way too watery and Limey. The sweet and sour chicken, nothing irritates the shit out of me quite like when they advertise, with pineapple, and put 1 piece in the hole damn thing. Thai iced coffee was good... Won't be back, sorry.
(2)
Gerard B.
The Good - the food and the service. My favorites include their crispy crab wontons, panko fish, and panang curry. The fried rice is pretty good too - tasty without being greasy. The So-So - the atmosphere. It's clean and cozy, but nothing special. The Bad - nothing.
This is (in my opinion) the best Restaurant for Pad Thai in Brandon. It's always fantastic, no matter if I get it to go or eat in. I've tried a handful of other places for Pad Thai, and no where compares to this amazing place! You HAVE to try it.
(5)
Raquel Z.
Date night with my husband. Their soup was amazing. My husband had the red snapper a bit pricey! They serve tap water :( .
(4)
Saravanakumar G.
Very good food and good service. I am from Chicago and will definitely go here on my next Tampa visit.
(4)
Rick M.
The Food at Chai Yo is always great, the place is pleasant, Topp has a great soup he does not put on the menu called Thum Yum Talay ask for it.
(5)
Melissa R.
I have eaten here many, many times and they never disappoint. I have brought friends and family here and have converted them all to fans not only of the restaurant but Thai food in general. For lunch you get a few fried wonton, a cup of deliciously simple rice and chicken soup and your entree. The portions are generous. I have tried just about everything on the menu. My favs are the pad thai and the green curry. The only thing I've tried that I didn't love but was still decent was the cashew chicken. Service is efficient and friendly and we always feel welcomed when we come in or brings guests. A year ago our family from out of the country ate here and this trip they didn't want to leave the US without going back for some Thai food. Don't overlook their appetizers and soups. The fresh rolls and the spring rolls are fantastic and the beef soup is out of sight.
(4)
Rod A.
Been coming here at least one a month since May 2013. The panang chicken is amazing. Large portion and quick, friendly service. Highly recommend if you enjoy Thai or asian cuisine.
(5)
Gerardo L.
I know this place for a long time. Not only the food is awesome but the owners give great service. They are always nice and friendly and the food is really good. You can also tell them you are not eating carbs and they will put more veggies into your plate. Awesome food.
(5)
Rebecca K.
This was a great choice! I am a big Thai food fan and last night I met up with a friend to have a half-working/half-play time dinner. Chai Yo Thai has WiFi, which I did not use, but their patience to let us stay until closing (9pm) working on my laptop in their booth with a power outlet was fantastic. They did not seem disgruntled or annoyed that we took up their table after finishing our meal. It was not very busy after 7:30p. The Crab Wonton appetizer was not as stellar as I'd hoped for, and the chili sauce a bit too runny. I probably wouldn't order this again. For my entree I ordered the "Drunken Noodles"(Pad Khee Mao) with chicken - medium spicy. My dish was delicious. I ate the ENTIRE plate. I was in rice noodles, green beans, sprouts, onions, carrots, chicken, and bamboo shoot heaven. There was the right amount of sauce to keep everything nice and tasty, and the spicy level was right on for 'medium'. I also ordered a to-go of Green Curry with chicken which I will try tonight. The to-go portion was even bigger, convincing me that it will take me two days to eat that, although I wish I'd gotten a little more rice with the to-go order. They provided 1 smallish cup of rice to a medium (maybe 40oz?) container of curry. I can always make more at home. My friend ordered the Pad Thai with chicken. Always a good safe choice. Her dish was just as tasty and fresh. Overall, a great dinner, good service, and good place for a quiet meet up. Price was good. Right over $23 for a Thai tea and two entrees.
(5)
Kat J.
Excellent Thai food! The staff is always so nice here and they have great lunch and dinner specials. I am yet to try something on the menu that isn't awesome!
(5)
Mario C.
Pretty good neighborhood thai restaurant. Had green curry shrimp and thai fried rice. The food was very tasty, spicy as I'd expect from a Thai restaurant. The service was very friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant.
(3)
Todd S.
This is a hidden gem behind a Suncoast bank in a Publix shopping plaza off of Boyette. Excellent service, friendly and knowledgeable staff. The food is extremely fresh, clean and flavorful. It's a quiet and quaint little spot that is perfect for an exciting meal on a weekday. Had: red curry w/pork, green curry w/shrimp, and spring rolls w/shrimp (a must! so fresh!) Cannot think of any improvements.
(5)
Jake W.
Nice little Thai place in Riverview. Friendly staff & always seems to smell delicious. Definitely above average on a relative scale. Would be a nice little spot for a Friday night date before a movie if we could ever escape! Restaurant. Com certificates to save a few bucks...
(4)
Katy S.
Legit food truck! I got to try out Chai Yo Thai at a recent food truck event at Red Star Rock Bar. I had a pineapple pork curry dish and boy, was it delicious. The sauce was very creamy and the pork was cooked just right. I also tried out some wontons, which were quite tasty, as well! The employees working were very nice and we got the food quite quickly. This was definitely a good experience and I look forward to trying it again in the future.
(4)
Jennifer M.
Never lets me down. Definitely one of my favorite meal stops ever. One of these days I'll try to save room for a banana roll, but tonight I ate nearly all. Dinner servings easily serve two people, so be prepared to get your fill. Green chicken curry = Sweet basil, coconut milk... Tons of veggies & tender chicken over aromatic jasmine rice ...mmmmm
(5)
Eric C.
very good Thai food, great service Better than many of the places in NYC Went there during a visit to FL and was pleasantly surprised.
(5)
Sophia E.
I've been passing by this place for a long time, and each time my curiosity for what it was like had grown, and today, my father and I decided to take the time to go into this restaurant to check it out with my dad. I love Thai food, so I figured I would love it. And I did. Entering inside, the interior was very simple with 94.9 FM radio playing and a TV on ESPN (or some sports channel; I wasn't sitting on the side to view it). There wasn't anyone else in there besides the cooks and the maitre'd (whose name I learned was Nicholas), which spooked me a little, but after that initial shock, it went away. The lady that was cooking and serving us was very quiet but absolutely adorable and was very kind to us throughout the experience. Dad and I ordered spring rolls and the wontons as appetizers, both of which were brought out quicker than expected. I've never eaten wontons before, but these were absolutely delicious! They were hot so we had to wait a bit to eat them. For our entrees, I had the Shrimp Pad See Ew, and dad had the Pork Pad Thai. The Pad See Ew came with quite a lot of vegetables (carrots, broccoli, onions) and a fresh lime on top. I had to wait a few minutes before digging in-- it was rather hot! Surprisingly, it was a little sweeter than expected, but none the less good. The noodles were al dente, the vegetables were firm yet very easy to eat (my personal favorite), and with the lime it tasted fantastic. Dad's Pork Pad Thai was actually sweeter than my Pad See Ew (he let me try a little), and had a nuttier (peanut) taste to it. I'm not fond of peanuts at all, but the noodles were still good nonetheless! All in all, this place was quaint, cute, and had fantastic food. I'll certainly recommend this place to anyone who wants wonderful Thai food!
(5)
Jonathan H.
Nice service but the food is poor. I had the volcano chicken that had the texture of shoe leather. My wife had the pad thai unfortunately the noodles were chewy.
Sylvia M.
The environment was good. The place was clean. The server was very nice. The place for very busy once we arrived. We had to wait a bit for some things but if they had another server there it would of been fine. But it was understandable they did the best could. I got the beef soup and I spiced it up. Very good. My boyfriend had the pad Thai and he said it was pretty good but remembered it was better before. He's not a big pad Thai guy tho. We will be back and try new things soon.
(4)Sue N.
We've been wanting to try this restaurant for quite a while, and tonight we finally took the plunge! Another strip mall eatery, built this one is quite nice on the inside. Very clean, you can see through to the kitchen, and we were greeted as soon as we entered. Our waitress, Jennifer, was awesome. Our first time for Thai food (aren't we just the adventurous ones?). She very patiently explained the dishes and flavors to us which really helped with our choices. We started with the pan fried dumplings. Yummy. Scoffed those down in minutes ( we were hungry) I ordered the Pa See Eew (rice noodles stir fried with egg, broccoli, carrots and beef in soy sauce). Loved it!!! Portion was quite large, and at $11, reasonable. Hubby had the Gang Dang, which is a red curry dish with coconut milk and veggies. Wow, the flavor of the coconut milk was very obvious, a totally new flavor to me. Again another generous portion. Oh, and the unsweetened iced tea....Awesome, actually has tea flavor!!! Now I'm certainly no expert on Thai food, but I know good food, and this was good!! We will definitely be back. Give it a try, I think you'll like it.
(4)Theresa T.
I learned about this great little restaurant when they served up some great food for the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce lunch. I joined a group of ladies for a small networking lunch at Chai Yo and everything was delicious. The service was excellent and the servers were very attentive and always with in sight. The decor was excellent, they have created a cozy little spot. This is not a typical strip mall Chinese restaurant but a nice date night appropriate restaurant. The prices are very reasonable and they were offering a great date night special.
(5)Whitney B.
Super delicious Thai food! The curry is amazing and they never disappoint on portion sizes either! Love their food!
(5)Marie W.
This place is a pleasant little surprise, tucked in Riverview. The food is actually good. You can eat the pad Thai without having the regret of not picking out something else. The restaurant is clean and in a convenient location to those who live in the surrounding neighborhoods. Overall-I give this place a thumbs up. A great little place to eat.
(4)Frank N.
Who knew that sleepy little Riverview would be home to such great international cuisine? First pho and now Thai. Thanks to my fellow yelpers, wife and I are expanding the boundaries of our epicurean world. Based on awesome reviews and a 4 and a half star rating, we tried Chai Yo Thai. We pass Chai Tai every week, we shop at the Publix in the same plaza. We often wondered if it was good or even open. Today turned out to be the day. Inside is nicer than we thought it would be and it was very clean. We were greeted immediately and seated. We ordered the dumplings, (pot stickers), Red Curry and Pad See Eew, all based on our server's recommendation. The pot stickers were very good, but they resembled the frozen ones you buy by the bag from Costco or Sam's Club. Speaking of frozen I was going to order shrimp with my curry until I asked if the shrimp was fresh or frozen. Jennifer, our server, readily admitted they were frozen, I thanked her for her honesty and then ordered the chicken. My curry came along with the Pad See. Giants portions of both. They were also delicious. We had enough for another meal easily. We plan on returning to try other dishes. A nice little local find.
(4)Judy S.
In town on vacation and was craving Thai. Depended on yelp reviews to decide where to go against the advise of residents who recommended a diff location. I shld have listened Admittedly all I had was the Pad Kee Mow or drunken noodles as they called it and spring rolls. The noodles had little to no flavor and horrible consistency. Huge crinkle cut pieces of carrots and underdone veges mingled in with dry flavorless chicken. The peanut sauce that accompanied the spring rolls was not authentic at all... Creamy and mild for mass appeal I guess. C'mon floridians ! You cannot possibly think this so good Thai food. It's not even Thai !
(2)Vino L.
I ordered my food to-go and was offered a seat and a nice cold glass of water. The service was pleasant and welcoming. The restauraunt appeared clean and tidy. Ordered shrimp pad thai, chicken fried rice, crab wontons, and spring rolls. I was very pleased with the fact that all of their chicken dishes solely use white meat. Since I didn't dine in, my experience was somewhat limited. Overall, the crab wontons were very flavorful and crispy, even after arriving home. The pad thai was a tad dry but a hearty portion size. The fried rice could have used more flavor as well, but I enjoyed the plentiful chicken breast slices. The spring rolls also lacked flavor and seemed to contain more veggies than meat. I'm giving this place 4-stars because all of the menu items had their respective sauces inside the to-go containers without having to request them. The to-go order was thoroughly and correctly packed. The service was friendly and kind. The restaurant appeared clean and well kept. And two out of my four platters were right on point. I will return again, hopefully for dine-in.
(4)Jenny K.
I love Chai Yo! The food is delicious, always made with fresh ingredients. The service is friendly and very accommodating. What a wonderful little restaurant! !
(5)Tracy P.
Consistently great quality food and service. I usually get panang curry, pad Thai or a vegetable dish. They are consistent with their dishes, great fresh ingredients and fantastic and friendly service. I drop by or order take out as often as possible. I want to keep this place open and prosperous as the choices of good restaurants in riverview are horrible. In fact out of all of the restaurants ive tried in riverview, Fl this is by far the best!!!!!!!
(5)Nathan W.
Start off by saying I love this place. From the food to the people that work there. I have eaten here at least 10x, food has always been great same with the service. If you want some good Thai food at a reasonable price try this place, doubt you will be dissapointed. I will upload pictures next time I go.
(4)Jenny S.
We discovered Chai Yo last year when we were vacationing in the area and loved it. So this year when we were back in the area, we stopped by again. Sometimes second visits aren't as good as the first and you leave disappointed. Not this time. The food was just as good and the service was spot on. We love the Panang Curry and both ordered it. The fried spring rolls are really good too. The atmosphere is nicely decorated and perhaps the best indicator of a good restaurant, the restroom as nicely decorated and clean. When we are back in the area again, we will be visiting Chai Yo again.
(5)Kevin B.
I am very impressed. We have lived in this are for just over 2 years and finally stopped in. I am very glad we did. The drunken noodles and curry were both some of the best I've had. Can't wait to go back.
(4)Jude B.
Excellent food! The staff was easy to work with when picking dishes and answering questions.
(4)HJ C.
have been dining here since they opened over 5 years ago. I can't think of a time where a month went by and I didn't visit here, sometimes 2 times a week!... These folks Always make you feel right at home. The ambiance is warm and always nice low background music, the restaurant is always clean and the service is top notch, they quickly get to know you by name. They can accommodate for small business meetings and family groups (maybe up-to 10-12 people) My list of favorites : (highly recommend these) -Pad Thai shrimp.; best sauce and noodles always perfect. -Chopped chicken salad (laab gai) ; when in the mood for something light/small bite. This is it, also low cal with amazing bang of flavors. -Panang curry chicken, tons of vegetables in the most luscious silky sauce.. Oh! - Tum Ka gai... Medium please with a side order of white rice, it becomes a meal. - Fresh Rolls. Have had many a dozen you all, the have always, always been so fresh. - Panko Fish, is so amazing, you may say why this at a Thai palace, well it has been a true favorite for us, that yummy sweet, spicy and with fresh cucumber. delish. - house fried rice is a winner with my 4 daughters and us, we get this every single time, even if the girls are not with us, they ask me to take some to go. - Basil chicken or shrimp is an excellent dish when in the mood for a lite dinner, sooo much flavor. Chef Topp has always gone out of his way to satisfy any wants and craving within reason, he'll prepare any meal to your liking in terms of the spiciness and/or suggest something special for the night, also gracious to accommodate for any allergies (peanuts, eggs , etc) The sticky rice with mango and that lavender ice-cream or the sticky rice with the baked custard,...have been desserts that have completed our experience every single time .
(5)Mike F.
Sorry, but I don't quite understand all the "oooh's and aaah's" about this place. Maybe I'm spoiled from Boston-area Thai food, but I thought a 3-star rating was generous. The people were friendly and the place looked clean, but the food was so-so. We went there for lunch and tried both the chicken and the shrimp Pad Thai. I thought it was very bland and just "average". I decided to get the coconut custard dessert "to go" and they put vanilla ice cream on top of the hot custard knowing that I was taking it with me. I'm sure they were trying to provide me the "full experience" of the dessert, but it just melted into a complete mess by the time I got home Maybe the dinner experience is better, but I doubt that I'll try it again. I'll just have to wait until I return to the Boston area to have some really good Thai food.
(3)Laura D.
If you think this is "tasty"...you obviously never had real thai food, from real thai people. I am very spoiled from DC/North VA thai food. This was tasteless, bland, and not worth the $$. I am still searching for better. This was my second time trying Chai yo, thinking it was the first time it was just bad, but no...just blah.
(2)Julio M.
Went to lunch with kids. Had three different dishes (Pad Thai, Fried Rice and Basil Chicken). All tasted fresh and delicious. No wait so service was great. Server was great also and attentive.
(5)Quest F.
I have tried ALL of the Thai restaurants in the area; this is one of the best and my personal favorite!
(5)Carlos H.
I tried this Thai restaurant last weekend after some friends invited me out to lunch with them. I enjoyed the food - the crab rangoons were very good. The portions were large as other Yelpers have mentioned. We received a full chicken and rice soup bowl as a part of the lunch special. We shared a summer spring roll, which was also good. I had a beef pad thai as my main entree. The pad thai tasted quite different from other restaurants. I liked it, but it wasn't my favorite. I would still frequent Ploy Thai and also Jasmine Thai in Brandon after this experience. Still...it is in a good location in Riverview and certainly much more convenient for residents of that area. I am not a fan of Mai Thai on Bloomingdale and Bell Shoals and my experience with Lemon Grass Thai is too limited to make a judgement call between the two restaurants. The Thai Tea was also made very well - something that some Thai restaurants in Tampa easily butcher. Overall, I would say Chai Yo Thai tastes pretty good and I would recommend it. I may have to try some curries and other dishes to form a complete opinion. Service was satisfactory, the waitress kept our drinks refilled and there was no significant waits between dishes.
(4)Matthew C.
Well... A 2 star, but barely. Place was clean, waitress was nice but - the tum Ka Gai was like lime coconut water with very little in it, way too watery and Limey. The sweet and sour chicken, nothing irritates the shit out of me quite like when they advertise, with pineapple, and put 1 piece in the hole damn thing. Thai iced coffee was good... Won't be back, sorry.
(2)Gerard B.
The Good - the food and the service. My favorites include their crispy crab wontons, panko fish, and panang curry. The fried rice is pretty good too - tasty without being greasy. The So-So - the atmosphere. It's clean and cozy, but nothing special. The Bad - nothing.
(5)Andrea T.
I am an absolute fan of this place every since they opened! Great food and customer service every time I go in. Very clean and nice décor. The portions are generous without being overbearing...just enough to fill you up. The chicken pad thai and basil chicken are my favorite dishes.
(5)Jessica W.
This is (in my opinion) the best Restaurant for Pad Thai in Brandon. It's always fantastic, no matter if I get it to go or eat in. I've tried a handful of other places for Pad Thai, and no where compares to this amazing place! You HAVE to try it.
(5)Raquel Z.
Date night with my husband. Their soup was amazing. My husband had the red snapper a bit pricey! They serve tap water :( .
(4)Saravanakumar G.
Very good food and good service. I am from Chicago and will definitely go here on my next Tampa visit.
(4)Rick M.
The Food at Chai Yo is always great, the place is pleasant, Topp has a great soup he does not put on the menu called Thum Yum Talay ask for it.
(5)Melissa R.
I have eaten here many, many times and they never disappoint. I have brought friends and family here and have converted them all to fans not only of the restaurant but Thai food in general. For lunch you get a few fried wonton, a cup of deliciously simple rice and chicken soup and your entree. The portions are generous. I have tried just about everything on the menu. My favs are the pad thai and the green curry. The only thing I've tried that I didn't love but was still decent was the cashew chicken. Service is efficient and friendly and we always feel welcomed when we come in or brings guests. A year ago our family from out of the country ate here and this trip they didn't want to leave the US without going back for some Thai food. Don't overlook their appetizers and soups. The fresh rolls and the spring rolls are fantastic and the beef soup is out of sight.
(4)Rod A.
Been coming here at least one a month since May 2013. The panang chicken is amazing. Large portion and quick, friendly service. Highly recommend if you enjoy Thai or asian cuisine.
(5)Gerardo L.
I know this place for a long time. Not only the food is awesome but the owners give great service. They are always nice and friendly and the food is really good. You can also tell them you are not eating carbs and they will put more veggies into your plate. Awesome food.
(5)Rebecca K.
This was a great choice! I am a big Thai food fan and last night I met up with a friend to have a half-working/half-play time dinner. Chai Yo Thai has WiFi, which I did not use, but their patience to let us stay until closing (9pm) working on my laptop in their booth with a power outlet was fantastic. They did not seem disgruntled or annoyed that we took up their table after finishing our meal. It was not very busy after 7:30p. The Crab Wonton appetizer was not as stellar as I'd hoped for, and the chili sauce a bit too runny. I probably wouldn't order this again. For my entree I ordered the "Drunken Noodles"(Pad Khee Mao) with chicken - medium spicy. My dish was delicious. I ate the ENTIRE plate. I was in rice noodles, green beans, sprouts, onions, carrots, chicken, and bamboo shoot heaven. There was the right amount of sauce to keep everything nice and tasty, and the spicy level was right on for 'medium'. I also ordered a to-go of Green Curry with chicken which I will try tonight. The to-go portion was even bigger, convincing me that it will take me two days to eat that, although I wish I'd gotten a little more rice with the to-go order. They provided 1 smallish cup of rice to a medium (maybe 40oz?) container of curry. I can always make more at home. My friend ordered the Pad Thai with chicken. Always a good safe choice. Her dish was just as tasty and fresh. Overall, a great dinner, good service, and good place for a quiet meet up. Price was good. Right over $23 for a Thai tea and two entrees.
(5)Kat J.
Excellent Thai food! The staff is always so nice here and they have great lunch and dinner specials. I am yet to try something on the menu that isn't awesome!
(5)Mario C.
Pretty good neighborhood thai restaurant. Had green curry shrimp and thai fried rice. The food was very tasty, spicy as I'd expect from a Thai restaurant. The service was very friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant.
(3)Todd S.
This is a hidden gem behind a Suncoast bank in a Publix shopping plaza off of Boyette. Excellent service, friendly and knowledgeable staff. The food is extremely fresh, clean and flavorful. It's a quiet and quaint little spot that is perfect for an exciting meal on a weekday. Had: red curry w/pork, green curry w/shrimp, and spring rolls w/shrimp (a must! so fresh!) Cannot think of any improvements.
(5)Jake W.
Nice little Thai place in Riverview. Friendly staff & always seems to smell delicious. Definitely above average on a relative scale. Would be a nice little spot for a Friday night date before a movie if we could ever escape! Restaurant. Com certificates to save a few bucks...
(4)Katy S.
Legit food truck! I got to try out Chai Yo Thai at a recent food truck event at Red Star Rock Bar. I had a pineapple pork curry dish and boy, was it delicious. The sauce was very creamy and the pork was cooked just right. I also tried out some wontons, which were quite tasty, as well! The employees working were very nice and we got the food quite quickly. This was definitely a good experience and I look forward to trying it again in the future.
(4)Jennifer M.
Never lets me down. Definitely one of my favorite meal stops ever. One of these days I'll try to save room for a banana roll, but tonight I ate nearly all. Dinner servings easily serve two people, so be prepared to get your fill. Green chicken curry = Sweet basil, coconut milk... Tons of veggies & tender chicken over aromatic jasmine rice ...mmmmm
(5)Eric C.
very good Thai food, great service Better than many of the places in NYC Went there during a visit to FL and was pleasantly surprised.
(5)Sophia E.
I've been passing by this place for a long time, and each time my curiosity for what it was like had grown, and today, my father and I decided to take the time to go into this restaurant to check it out with my dad. I love Thai food, so I figured I would love it. And I did. Entering inside, the interior was very simple with 94.9 FM radio playing and a TV on ESPN (or some sports channel; I wasn't sitting on the side to view it). There wasn't anyone else in there besides the cooks and the maitre'd (whose name I learned was Nicholas), which spooked me a little, but after that initial shock, it went away. The lady that was cooking and serving us was very quiet but absolutely adorable and was very kind to us throughout the experience. Dad and I ordered spring rolls and the wontons as appetizers, both of which were brought out quicker than expected. I've never eaten wontons before, but these were absolutely delicious! They were hot so we had to wait a bit to eat them. For our entrees, I had the Shrimp Pad See Ew, and dad had the Pork Pad Thai. The Pad See Ew came with quite a lot of vegetables (carrots, broccoli, onions) and a fresh lime on top. I had to wait a few minutes before digging in-- it was rather hot! Surprisingly, it was a little sweeter than expected, but none the less good. The noodles were al dente, the vegetables were firm yet very easy to eat (my personal favorite), and with the lime it tasted fantastic. Dad's Pork Pad Thai was actually sweeter than my Pad See Ew (he let me try a little), and had a nuttier (peanut) taste to it. I'm not fond of peanuts at all, but the noodles were still good nonetheless! All in all, this place was quaint, cute, and had fantastic food. I'll certainly recommend this place to anyone who wants wonderful Thai food!
(5)Jonathan H.
Nice service but the food is poor. I had the volcano chicken that had the texture of shoe leather. My wife had the pad thai unfortunately the noodles were chewy.
(3)