Comparable to Pad Thai in downtown Carmel. The portions sizes are moderate and suitable if you're not too hungry. I ordered the veggie Pad Thai which was super flavorful. The noodles were more soggy than expected though. Each order also came with a side salad which basically tasted like coleslaw. On the lunch menu I believe it said each customer would get a spring roll but we didn't... The Thai Ice Tea was super yummy. I would highly recommend if you're looking for something milky and sweet. Service wise it seemed like they were short a few people so service was a little slow. Water pouring techniques were a bit sloppy but that's not something that bothered me.
(3)
Jelly R.
I ordered the massaman curry, and found several whole and broken-up bay leaves in it. Anyone working in a restaurant or who does any sort of cooking should know that bay leaves are for flavoring only and should be removed before serving a dish. . . and that a bay leaf can actually scratch the throat, intestines, and stomach lining if swallowed. So yeah, I was not too pleased when I found myself chewing on part of a bay leaf after already removing two whole bay leaves from the dish. The service also wasn't very good: The younger waitress working there was nice, but our actual waitress scowled at us, did not offer any soda refills, and seemed annoyed to be there and annoyed that we were there. One star, but giving it two because the food (minus the bay leaves) was "okay." More info about the danger of eating bay leaves (since the owner's response understates the potential problems that can occur from swallowing a bay leaf, and implies bay leaves are only problematic in large doses): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ba… ("[T]hey remain very stiff even after thorough cooking, and if swallowed whole or in large pieces, they may pose a risk of scratching the digestive tract or even causing choking. There are multiple cases of intestinal perforations caused by swallowing bay leaves and they should not be swallowed or left in the food before serving to prevent the occurrence of a possibly fatal surgical emergency. Thus, most recipes that use bay leaves will recommend their removal after the cooking process has finished.")
(2)
Sarah L.
Love the pad Thai, spring rolls and red curry! Never disappointed with the food or service.
(4)
Ana D.
Great decor. Lovely ambiance. Friendly and good service. Good was great too! Tom yum soup and Tom kha soups were excellent. The pad egg noodles were spicier than expected. But the chicken satay was great!
(5)
Stacy P.
3.5 Stars Thai Orchid is one of two Thai restaurants in the Castleton area. This restaurant can be a bit hard to see from 86th Street as it is a bit off of the main road, but it is fairly easy to get to once you turn onto Bash Street. The menu offers numerous selections, including many of the traditional Thai dishes that you would expect to see. While there is no gluten free menu, they do offer a handful of options. The Tom Kha variation of soups and all of the curries are gluten free. The Pad Thai, while it is made of rice noodles, it does contain small amounts of soy sauce. There is even a gluten free desert option, sticky rice, available. The portions were huge and allowed for another meal. Something to be aware of and some what of a pet peeve of mine, is that the shrimp is does come with the tail attached. Not really a biggy to some, but annoying to others. If you are looking for dessert in a class, I recommend the Thai Iced Tea. Their offering is one of the sweetest that I've had in awhile, so much so, I could only finish half of it. If your in the Castleton area and looking for a quick meal with friendly service, Thai Orchard is a good option.
(3)
Shea B.
Very friendly service with a smile! Soup they brought out is fantastic! (Wasn't that warm though. Very comfortable place. I will visit every time I come to Indy! Fantastic meal. Lunch menu just needs to include what's available. (chicken wings). Delicious food!!
(5)
Tim R.
It's fine if you've never had really authentic Thai. Iceberg lettuce only with honey mustard dressing? Really? That's not a salad, and calling it "free with lunch" doesn't mean it's okay to pass it off as salad. Our meals were fine, good portions with cheerfully provided extra veggies ($1 extra) and certainly hot (spice and temp) enough. We ordered "hot" and I wonder what "Thai hot" would be like. Both our meals were nearly identical components in different flavored broth. Fried spring rolls look like previously frozen bought at Kroger. It's clean, friendly, and inviting. BUT - There are better choices nearby.
(2)
Nicole G.
Loved this place! Affordable lunch prices with huge portions. The red curry with chicken had a good amount of heat (I asked for medium spicy). The spring rolls were my absolute favorite - I would have ordered a whole plate of just those if I could! And the Thai iced coffee, although just a touch sweeter than I would have preferred, came in a large glass and was still very very good. Our server was also attentive and prompt throughout our whole service. I'll definitely be back the next time I find myself in Castleton!
(5)
Anne D.
The chicken in my green curry was undercooked-pink. When we told the waitress, she didn't seem surprised at all. Very upsetting, we were so excited to find what seemed to be a great Thai place in a city that has so few options. Pretty sure I will have some severe food poisoning, which is awesome for a pregnant woman. We visited the restaurant on July 20, 2015 for dinner.
(1)
Gloria S.
Randomly picked this restaurant on yelp, I'm glad we did!! The food was delicious!! Very well spiced but not overly. Loved the staff as well. They were friendly and accommodated my peanut allergy. We will go back again!!
(5)
Katie R.
Very friendly servers, and I liked that they paid attention to our vegetarian request and made sure that the sides that came with our dishes (spring roll, fried sweet potato) were also vegetarian. I think you can find slightly tastier spring rolls at other Thai places in the city, but it was overall a good meal.
(3)
Jennifer N.
I've eaten Thai at many Indy restaurants before & had high hopes for Thai Orchid but left very disappointed. Won't be back.
(1)
Serena T.
Went with my girl friend (who is from China) for lunch yesterday. She loves their green curry. That is the only thing she will order. ( However, she did not like the beef. I told her she can order tofu or chicken in the future.) I had the broad noodle with tofu. Yummy. The egg roll and fried wanton were really good too. The Thai Tea is on the sweet side for me. Good tea,
(5)
Ntianu S.
Thai Orchid has slowly become one of my favorite places for Thai. It isn't the best, but it's pretty tasty. I usually go there for take out. The service is consistently good as well as the food. Today I was in the mood for Crab Rangoon and Pad Thai with chicken, which cost around $19 and some change. Both were delicious as always. The sauce that comes with the Rangoon is so good. I enjoy the sweetness of it. I haven't explored the menu as much because I love the Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles so much. I also plan to check out their lunch specials one day soon because the lunch menu is much cheaper than the dinner. If you are in the area this place is definitely worth a visit.
(4)
Michael C.
Sorry, but both our dishes were pretty bland. I had a plate of Seafood Madness that was really not very mad at all. I've had this served on a sizzling plate before, super hot and fresh, and this version was like that, just not as hot. I mean, if you're going to get out the cast iron. The service was nice, but more than a little slow with refills.
(2)
Kevin R.
This was our first visit to Thai Orchid and we were very impressed. My wife and I are not Thai aficionados but our daughter who was with us has eaten at many Thai restaurants in various cities, including NYC, Chicago, and San Fran. We really enjoyed our experience with Thai cuisine at Thai Orchid but our daughter (with broad experience with Thai food) was VERY impressed with their food. We have found a new fave!
(5)
Sarah C.
I've been on a Pad Thai kick lately (without peanuts - don't judge) and it has been wonderful. So I've been scouring the northside for potential Thai restaurants and, thanks to Yelp, I stumbled upon Thai Orchid. This little beauty is literally a few minutes away from my apartment. Perfect! I decided one evening to stop in and place an order to go. The staff were extremely friendly and punctual. And by golly, my food was ready in no time at all. And it was delicious. I'm not going to say it was super cheap, but it was fairly priced. And you get what you pay for -- and I was pleasantly pleased with their Pad Thai. It's location isn't exactly super wonderful, but I have a feeling they have a strong following of customers. I'm just pleased to have found another great spot in the Castleton area. Yeah!
(4)
Hannah J.
The food was very good but service was very slow! Probably will come back! Also the appetizers and fried rice were very good!
(4)
Kylie B.
Great food. Great Service. Huge portions for the price. It's nice and quiet here. Very relaxing popular music playing. They appear to have a decent wine selection too. Try the sticky dessert rice!!!!
(5)
Craig F.
Spicy basil fried rice was amazing- different from so many other generic 'thai' tastes you get around here. Didn't know what to think of the restaurant from the outside, but was pleasantly surprised. Would highly recommend.
(5)
Jeff N.
Nice little place Friendly Spring rolls were cold inside Chicken with eggplant was ok but skimpy on chicken Overall just ok Sapporo was cold and delicious Been there,done that,and won't return
(2)
Joe F.
They blew it. I waited 15 minutes as manager sat on the phone, no menu, no drinks, 6 tables came in after me and they were served. Good food is only half the experience. Won't be back.
(1)
Claudine S.
Love this place. the pottery shrimp is the best thing I have ever eaten.
(5)
Phi N.
Not sure how this place ranks among Indy restaurants because I was just visiting, but in comparison so other Thai restaurants that I've been to, I'd say overall the food was average. The starter salad was pretty tasty. For appetizers, we ordered the shrimp rolls, chicken on skewers, and fried tofu. They were all good, but nothing stood out. As for the main course, we split a beef salad and the whole fried fish. I expected more spice from the salad. As for the fish, it was fried to perfection, but the sauce was a very basic fish sauce (Even though I like it, I feel as if it's more of an acquired taste that's not for everyone). For dessert, we ordered the fried banana w/ ice cream and sticky rice with mango. The mango special was probably my favorite all night. The service was excellent, and the restaurant provides an excellent atmosphere. Clean for an asian place, lol. They make these cool little flowers out of the straw wrappers for the special drinks. So you know they're putting in the effort; they deserve the recognition for it.
(3)
Rachel Y.
I had previously left a great review for Thai Orchid but after receiving my food tonight, I am BEYOND disappointed. I order the exact same thing ever time I come here and when I pulled my curry out of the bag, the container was literally LESS than half full. I called to tell them what had happened and they said this is how it always is. That is complete crap, I have never ordered anything else, there is no way that I am mistaken. I am done with this place, such a rip off!!!
(1)
Aditya B.
This family owned Thai restaurant is probably the tastiest Thai restaurant in town. Very very good soup, Thai basil fried rice, Panang and massuman curry. The fried banana with mango ice cream is really yummy. The servers are very courteous and food was served on time. Every time we go here, we thoroughly enjoy the food!
(5)
Kay P.
I moved to this area a few months ago and checking out the ethic food scene. Have not physically been inside the restaurant, just take out. And often Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Soup). I would say the soup is never consistent. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Last time we ordered it as mild spice and it was ungodly hot, plus my Sweetheart, who picks it up of us, had a big mix up/hassle with the order being wrong and had to wait while they re-made it. Time away from my Sweetheart is never a good thing! I would like to dine in sometime and then write a review it. So for now, rating as far as take-out would be summed up as "inconsistent" for both food and service. We'll see ...
(3)
Darrin L.
We went in right at closing and they still served up a full wonderful meal. The Pad Thai was especially good and service was great. The chrysanthemum tea is nice for those who want to try something out of the ordinary. The red curry with shrimp is a little spicy for those who like blander food but we liked it.
(5)
Gauri W.
Below par food and service. A lot of family friends eat here (esp carry out) so I tried it twice before deciding not to go back. My drunken noodles smelled fishy, and there was more egg than noodle! The second time, I ordered a medium spice level red curry and it was CRAZY hot. They wouldn't refund my price or exchange it - huge pain.
(2)
Marguerite H.
Excellent service- great help with deciding which dishes to choose. Meals served quickly. Water with no ice is nice and cold. Lunch begins with the sublime flavor-exploding Coconut Soup. Veggies are crisp--adding just the right pop of flavor. The Pad Pak Ruam (Thai hot) did not disappoint. Rama Delight (from the dinner menu) was cooked perfectly- crispy veggies and tender chicken. Peanut sauce was creamy yet not heavy. Clears out quickly after 2:00pm- you could practically have the room to yourself. Can't wait to return to try another dish!
(5)
Lia L.
I used to love Thai Orchid but the last 4-5 times I have noticed a significant difference in the food. My fried rice was very dry and bland. Not like how it used to be. The pad Lee Mao noodles were not as tasty either. It used to be perfect and had a great char on the noodles giving it a smoky flavor but recently has been very bland and average. Not sure what happened, but i suspect they have a new chef because the food does taste different! I'm really sad to say I will be looking for a new Thai restaurant in town.
(3)
Nisita K.
My personally, Thai Orchid is the best Thai restaurant in IN because the test authentic Thai. And also waitress are very nice. I recommend that you order Som-Tam and Fish cake.
(5)
Patty L.
Not the best experience! I've been here several times during lunch and really enjoyed the food. Not so great for 5pm dining. I've noticed every time I dined here the restaurant seems damp and a touch of a mold smell. Regardless the noodle soup is usually tasty, tonight it was just ok. Jeff had Orange Chicken (he's not into thai flavors but sweet enough to fulfill my requests) he is now a little on the sick side of life. I guess he got a little bit of food poisoning and now saddled with a head ache. Ugh!! Poor guy! I don't think we will be back! And I was looking forward to the small taste of coconut soup they used to serve for an appetizer instead they serve (to me) a yummy slaw Jeff on the other hand did not like it at all. Sad but I can't give rave reviews. What's up with getting a decent meal in Indy these days. As Jeff just stated its not like we aren't spending enough money. Geez Louise I haven't had anything to write about in 2014 Ceazy
(1)
Robbie R.
One of the several Thai restaurants that I have visited in the past couple of months. I am on a quest to find the best Padd Thai in Indy. This is the only place that I have been to that has not offered soup or salad as a starter. The Thai restaurant in Plainfield gave me soup, salad and fried bananas with my meal. I will say that the staff is very friendly and I got my food quickly. I ordered my Padd Thai medium spicy and it came out sweet. I had to add a little heat to it to get my desired "spicyness". Portion size was a little on the small side too so I left paying a couple bucks more for a smaller portion with no soup or salad.
(3)
Olivia M.
I've been here a couple times and enjoyed it. The restaurant is quiet, food is flavorful and portions are generous (I always leave with leftovers). The server was a little over-attentive during our last visit (not necessary to ask several more times about water refills after we had declined), but I'd rather have that than slow service. Be warned that even the mild curry can pack a punch. I was fine with my panang curry, but my mom is more sensitive to spicy food and had to add extra rice and vegetables to her leftover green curry to balance out the flavor. You automatically get a small coleslaw-style (but better) salad as a starter, and I also recommend the vegetable tempura.
(4)
Marie D.
Went for lunch and ordered Drunken Noodles from the lunch special. Lunch comes with soup and an egg roll. Service was fast and the food was flavorful. Maybe a little too much vegetables for me. Overall, I'm sure I'm going back.
(4)
Cherish M.
Absolutely in love with this joint! Great variety. Food is on point and fab and friendly service. I'd recommended the Summer rolls, Tom kha soup, red and green curry, shrimp with silver noodles, basil duck, and asparagus delight! Um, um good! The reason I give this place a four is because they could give you the option of Thai salad or Tom yum soup like a couple other restaurants I've visited. Not everyone digs the salad...
(4)
Anand K.
I had the lunch portion that we just got in time for. They started us off with an amazing coconut milk soup. Normally I avoid soups but this one I could not have enough. It was sweet and had gingery flavor with peas and carrots which added a lot of flavor to it. There was also a piece of veg- spring roll and potato roll which was really crispy and flavorful. Then it was the main course which was the all-vegetarian "Pad Kea Mao" (Medium-hot). It is served with think flat rice noodles and sprinkled with peanuts with a very rich flavor of peanut sauce. Kind of like the pad-thai but with a different kind of noodles. I ended the meal with fried bananas with ice cream which is something that I eat at every Thai restaurant and this one was pretty good. Although it was not as sweet as I have had in a couple other Thai places. Overall, its a good place to eat, with very good service.
(4)
Christine S.
The best Thai food in Indy--fresh and delicious! The staff is friendly and knowledgable and will make sure you have exactly what you want and it comes out quickly. The restaurant and tables are super clean--this matters maybe too much to me? I always come in when I am in Indianapolis.
(5)
J T.
Hands down the best (and getting better) Thai in Indianapolis and the most consistently and best Pad Thai I've every consumed - I've consumed tons of that stuff. Everything I've tried here is top notch. Service delightful.
(5)
Hula B.
Ate here two nights in a row while visiting area. Food was good. Little starter salad I got on night 1 was really good. Like an Asian slaw, with shredded cabbage and carrots, a slightly sweet vinegar based dressing, with just a hint of chili, lime, and cilantro, all topped with some crushed peanut. I also had their spring rolls. Unfortunately, the food came out a little too fast, as food was piling up before I finished previous course. To top it off, empty dishes were not removed until I asked. However, once I did ask, the table was made nice again, graciously and efficiently. I would just prefer not to have to ask to have dirty dishes removed. I also had to flag someone down to get more wine. Again though, wine was brought promptly and with a smile after asking. Returned next night and had some soup and noodle dish. Both were good. Again, food came out too fast. I was considering a dessert to go and enjoy at my hotel, but my check was brought without asking if I wanted anything else. Since I am typically not a huge fan of Thai desserts, I decided to just pay and go. I will return when in area, inspite of spotty service. This is because the food is good, and honestly there really just aren't a lot of other options in area. That said, if this were in my neighborhood, they'd definitely be in my Thai rotation.
(4)
Robert R.
This was without a doubt the WORST Pad Thai I have ever eaten. I ordered it to go, drove 20 minutes to get there. Picked up my order, got it home, opened the box and saw some brown dried out noodles. No egg, bean sprouts, tofu, cilantro, green onion, peanuts or even a lime wedge. There was maybe a 1/4 of a chicken breast in it. It had no flavor that even resembled Pad Thai. The Tom Kha was ok but nothing to write home about. The Tod Mun Pla (fish cakes) were the only redeeming part of the meal. Rest assured I will not be going back to Thai Orchid. Waste of time and money. One star only because I had to give it a star rating.
(1)
Jacob D.
Definitely not crazy about it. We've been 2 or 3 times, and the meals are mediocre... however, if you order the pad thai or a noodle based dish, there is a distinct flavor of scorching in the food. It tastes like the pans are not washed between meals, and as a result, the food is much better if you go early rather than late.
(2)
phoebe c.
Yum. Quick service. Clean. Day dreaming of veg tofu drunken noodle What there is a sweet & sour freah slaw that's a starter? Why, thank you. Even dan liked his pineapple stir fry... Love
(5)
John H.
Hands down the spiciest and most flavorful thai food I've had. Beats most thai places I've tried in Cali. A must try is the Tom kha which is a coconut milk soup. The pad thai and hawaiian fried rice are great also. The atmosphere is true to their culture with all the Thai decorations. The service is great as they come to check on you often and thank you for coming in. They also refill your water. You might say so what. Asian restaurants tend to be less attentive so something this small is a grest plus. Don't go overboard with the spice levels. Thai hot is like habanero ghost chili hot. Our whole table was sweating. You want to enjoy the food and not burn your taste buds. For Indy, this is a great place to go if you want to experience some real Thai cuisine.
(5)
Kimmy V.
Went here for dinner love it!! I love the papaya salad!!!!!
(5)
Emma C.
Don't miss the SomTum salad. This food is fresh and delicious, and not too Americanized. Don't forget if you order it Medium- that's still pretty spicy to most people. Whew! Love this spot, huge portions. Lunch deal is one to check out, for a great value.
(5)
Aditya S.
This is another place close that is very close to my work place and we frequent this location for work lunches and when we want to have lunch on a budget and something tasty. being in a multiethnic group of people the thai taste seems to satisfy everyone. That said this place has 6.99 lunch specials and i love their soup(its coconut milk based). You also get a veg spring roll and potato wonton. as for the entrees, they have pad thai, curries and bangkok pasta etc. I usually get the potato curry or the pad thai and its been good. Do not get anything beyond medium hot if you cant handle spices. they can really turn it up on that front. my suggestion is if you are unsure then get something mild or medium and ask for the chilli sauces on the side and adjust it as per your liking. very reasonably priced typical thai place. will definitely not disappoint if you get the right spice level.
(4)
Celeste M.
Been here several times and only ever order their vegetarian red curry, it is very delicious! They say they use fish sauce in their curries but if you order it vegetarian then they make it vegan, so that is huge for me. The salad that comes with dinner is very flavourful. Their spice level isn't very spicy though. Very quiet and usually an empty restaurant though. Take away service is fast.
(5)
Dom C.
first time I went, I ordered coconut curry soup, BUT the waiter brought us egg rolls instead. I Wasnt sure how he got it wrong since I pointed at it on the menu and the waiter even repeated it after me. We ate the egg rolls anyways. Ordered 2 stir fry chicken dishes. They were OK. Until I found a strand of hair in my food & couldn't finish! It totally ruined it for me. But I LOVE Thai food. I would go back again. Maybe it would be better the second time around. I'll be ordering something else when I do go. Not like it would make a difference. But sometimes finding hair in food would do that to you. Thai Ice Tea was good. must have! Otherwise the atmosphere was nice and the waiters seemed friendly. AND overly attentive? I can be a good and a bad thing.. The waiter came to the table twice to ask if the food was good and I hadnt even taken a bite yet. LOL! No biggie but as a waiter, you should always learn to watch your table from a distance & comprehend the art of body language.
(4)
Sneha S.
Another good Thai restaurant.. The lunch specials are especially great! For under $7, you get soup, salad, spring roll and main course! A decent range of choices too.. I got the Thai basil fried rice and my husband got the #3 noodle option.. We got thai green curry too... All dishes were great to taste..
(4)
Tim W.
Delicious Thai food. Arrived 30 minutes before they closed and got excellent service and food.
(5)
Vanessa R.
People were very nice... But the food was not great. I put three stars because when you go to a "Thai" restaurant that's what you expect.. This was more like Chinese takeout with a fancy carrot flower. Pad Thai was far from authentic. I've never seen pad Thai with stir fry (green beans, baby corn, etc) way over priced.. And small portions.. not even shareable. Mehh
(3)
Dan Furlano M.
Really enjoyed the presentation, flavors, portions, heat levels, and genuine Thai beer!
(4)
Lorand M.
I echo most other comments relative to this fine restaurant. Incredible lunch specials that are an amazing value. The starter soup is superb with depth, texture, finish that ranks among the best I have ever had. Everything I have had has been vastly superior to other Thai I have engorged myself on in the greater Indy area. Recently had lunch at adnother highly rated Thai place....just no comparison in the opinion of both myself....and the my dining partner...the stultifyingly beautiful and exceedingly brilliant Karen B. There must be a real chef in the kitchen. Excellent food and service in a sublime, casual, and elegant ambiance.
(5)
Lawrence W.
Best-kept secret in Indy! We've been here several times and always had a great experience. The dining room is bright and spacious, and the service is prompt and friendly. Our Thai friends tell us the food is very good and quite authentic, though some dishes are slightly Americanized. You can order the dishes mild (really tame), medium (still fairly mild), medium hot (I'd call this medium), hot (plenty hot), extra hot (haven't had the guts to try it) and Thai hot (professionals only). Try Thai Orchid; you'll love it!
(5)
Greg B.
Really like the Chicken Pad Thai and the shred salad that comes with it! Give this place a try. So far I have been pleased and the service was fantastic! They were very attentive!
(5)
Elizabeth C.
Really liked this place. I had the yellow curry with tofu, which was what you'd expect; they used cooked instead of raw tofu, the usual vegetables, etc. I think they may have made it a touch spicier than other places, which was a plus for me. I also shared a mango sticky rice with my baby and we both destroyed it.
(5)
tammy h.
I'm from out of town, but my dad lives here and kept raving about how good the food is. His tastebuds did not lie. Great customer service, great food presentation at affordable prices, and most importantly the food was delicious! Thai tea came with a cute little paper rose made from the straw covers. Very friendly staff!
(5)
Ratcha M.
Alway have good food and service here.
(5)
David I.
First I have to say that I would have given it 5 stars but the food was inconsistent over two visits. The seating and the service was great. Both were immediate. The owner even came over to chit chat for a moment, which was nice. Our orders were taken quickly and while the food took a little longer than expected, it was worth the wait. Every dish was piping hot and had just the right amount of spice. It looks like it was just taken out of the wok, and not under a heat lamp. Each of the dishes was great, I can't say enough. The crab rangoon was PERFECT! And so were the money bags. The entrees were just as good as each had a distinct flavor. None of the flavors was too strong or weak. Another plus is that all of the ingredients tasted fresh, not frozen. The second time we went the entrees were great, but the crab rangoon was overcooked. If this was a $2.99 appetizer from a chinese take-out place it wouldn't be a big deal, but the appetizers are NOT cheap here. I would highly recommend this place and if my next visit is fantastic, I will change my review and score to reflect that.
(4)
Kristen B.
On my first trip here I explained that I was vegan and they said they understood and helped me find several menu options. Since then I have eaten here several times a week for lunch. Today my soup came out with a big chunk of ham in it. I was told that ham is always in it, but usually not much so several bowls are served without finding any chunks. I am very disappointed that my initial trip here I was lied to and I have been unknowingly eating ham for weeks. I will not be back.
(1)
Ed L.
I love Thai food, so when I saw on my Yelp app for iPhone that there's a Thai restaurant near my hotel, I was like, Score! That was great. I went into the restaurant on a crisp Wednesday evening, and there's really nobody around, except for a few diners. Empty. I guess it was one of those nights. I promptly ordered off the menu and asked for take out. The lady was more than welcoming, and maybe I should eat there again, but we'll see. I had the staples of Pad Thai with chicken medium spicy and the red curry with beef and white rice real spicy. Guess you can say, I am quite adventurous. The curry was average, but not too overwhelming with the spicyness. The Pad Thai was good, but could have been more spicy. My fault, I guess. They probably had the curry previously frozen and reheated, like so many Thai restaurants, but I didn't care. I'd like to try Thai places that really make their curries from scratch from the moment you order. I would be interested in how that turns out.
(3)
Mark F.
Coconut juice, soup, scallop & veggies were all flavorful and good. Quick service. A fine establishment. But the main dish was nothing to write home about.
(3)
Jessie D.
Best Thai food in Indy so far !!! Thai peanut salad which is given as a starter was delicious! All the coconut curries are good... Fried rice, cashew chicken and spring rolls are good too! The only bad experience was we had a 5$ off 30$ coupon but our bill was 80 cents less than 30$ so they refused to take the coupon.
(4)
Diane E.
This is my daughter's favorite Thai restaurant in Indy. She usually comes here for lunch with her husband since he works nearby, but tonight we came here to celebrate my birthday a couple of days early :-) My daughter and I both had the Yellow Curry - her with chicken, me with shrimp. My SIL had a beef dish with what looked like a Red Curry. We all enjoyed our meal, topped off with the Fried Bananas with Coconut Ice Cream. Lots of food, good prices, very attentive wait staff. I'm sure I'll be back...just wish it was closer to home.
(4)
Ethan B.
I like the food and the atmosphere.
(4)
Catherine K.
Love the pad thai. I usually get the chicken -- I ordered the shrimp once but there weren't enough shrimp to justify the additional cost ($2 at lunch, I believe). Lunch is a great deal. Your meal comes with soup, a small spring roll and something that resembles a crab rangoon but isn't (it tastes kind of like it has a sweet potato filling). It's more than enough food for lunch. I have only been to Thai Orchid once for lunch. We happened to stop in on Mother's Day. They were giving a special extra to all women; I think that was an order of crab rangoon. It was a nice touch.
(4)
Sarah G.
Thai Orchid is my absolute favorite place to eat, ever. I live in Muncie, and I make the drive to Castleton just so I can have food from Thai Orchid! Being a vegetarian, Thai food can be quite veg-friendly. I gladly spoil myself at this establishment. My favorite dish ever: Som Tum. (Yes, fish sauce is in it - my one non-veg cheat!) Som Tum is a tangy, citrusy, and highly flavorful dish of julienned papaya and carrot, pounded together in a mortar and tossed with tomatoes, green beans, peanuts, garlic, palm sugar, and chilies. Get it with sticky rice. This dish is HEAVEN. Thai Orchid's noodles are fantastic, and the spicier, the better. I am a huge fan of Pad Kee Mow, which are wide, flat rice noodles stir-fried with egg, basil, tomato, and a variety of vegetables. The Pad Thai is also another weakness. The Pad Ka Prow is another good vegetable stir-fry dish - spicy, basily, and savory. For desserts, I recommend the Sleeping Banana. And, if it's in season, the Mango with Sticky Rice is the perfect end to a perfect meal. My only problem when I come to the Thai Orchid: I have the hardest time picking just one thing to eat! The staff is super friendly and polite, the decor is lovely, and the atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed. I always have a good experience when I come to the Thai Orchid. Definitely worth the trip.
(5)
Marcie M.
I have popped my Thai Cherry and boy, I should have done that years ago!! Thank you to all the Yelpers who suggested different Thai choices around town and what to order. :) My hubby and I decided to celebrate my 30th birthday weekend with a finale at Thai Orchid last night. Neither of us had ever had a full Thai experience, so we ordered a lot of food! And, everything was to die for....I am so glad there is a highly recommended Thai place near our new house, as I think we'll be adding this to our take out favorites! The restaurant had a nice atmosphere and the staff was incredibly attentive. There were three ladies helping us and the owner stopped by to say hello after our food came out to ensure we were having a good experience...and we were. We got the chicken spring rolls and crab rangoons to start. I am a big crab rangoon fan and these were the best I've ever had anywhere! The cream cheese was amazing, soft and smooth. The breading was crispy, hot and not too greasy....delish! The scallions really kicked it up a notch and I loved the sweet dipping sauce that acommpanied. The spring rolls were awesome as well. Piping hot!! And, very good with fresh veggies! We moved on to Pad Thai (thank you for the rec!), and the orange chicken. I loved my orange chicken mild. It was crispy, sweet with just enough kick and I have continued to dream about it since last night. :) My hubby ordered a seafood stir fry medium and he was sweating through the rest of his meal...he really enjoyed it though! It looked like a wide array of different seafood and he cleaned his plate. We skipped dessert but now I am regretting it....however, I was so stuffed, I had to get the rest of my meal to go ....and I will be indulging for lunch today! YUMMMM-O. I obviously have nothing to compare this Thai experience to, but I do know that I will be exploring other local places in the future!!
(4)
Grace N.
I have been here a few times in the past, and most of the time the customer service is just ok, but the food is great. The Basil Curry Chicken is my favorite. The menu has a variety of options, but they also can add things that are not in a menu choice to the dish upon request. ( I love adding pineapple to some chicken dishes) Stop by and check it out!
(3)
Michael W.
Food - just OK - Pad Thai - good - Pad see ew - not good (I mean, really bad, tasteless, don't bother ordering it, you've been warned!!!) - Chicken gra pow - good - Beef panang - so so - Price - so so Ambiance - so so .... decorations are kinda bland and the lighting is kinda depressing, especially when the place is completely empty when we visited on a weeknight around 6:30pm Service - mostly good and attentive, but could be too much, epsecially when the waitresses kept coming back and tried to take our plates repeatedly when we're not done yet, I mean I was still chewing and had food on my plate.....and the place is completely deserted..........so what's the hurry? Would I come back again - maybe, since this place is really close to the hotel I usually stay at so it's rather convenient, but there are other places I would rather try first if I am in this area again...
(2)
Tamara M.
Above-average Thai in Indy. The decor was warm and welcoming, with touches that made it seem a step above what you'd ordinarily find in a suburban strip. (Thai Orchid shares its parking lot with one other business, Phantom Fireworks.) The massaman curry (mine ordered medium hot) was SO tasty: spiced just right and delicately flavored with coconut, tamarind, cardamom, cinnamon, etc. The Thai iced tea was just as it should be as well: sweet and the perfect balance to a spicy meal.
(4)
Christie M.
After hearing about it from a friend, my husband and I decided to try it since we were in town. We ordered the chicken wings and the whole tilapia fried with the panang curry. Both dishes were really tasty and I would have given it 4 stars but I thought it was way pricey for Thai food. The service was good... maybe will be back.
(3)
Jeff T.
I had the chef's special asparagus dinner with giant shrimp, calamari, and scallops. Deeeelicious!! The coleslaw was very tasty. It had a little bite to it.
(5)
Julie S.
I thought I liked this Thai restaurant. Afterall, I have eaten there about 3-4 times. My last visit was, well, my last visit. After my beloved Thai restaurant in Fishers went under new ownership, I have been boycotting them. So I have gone to Thai Orchid instead. Maybe they were just having a bad night, but considering they only had about 3 tables filled, I really doubt it. We ordered Panang Chicken Curry, Pad Thai and Orange Chicken. It was delievered fast, within 5 minutes. But that is where the good news stops. There was a reason why it was fast, the Panang Curry was COLD. It was also too limey and not peanutty enough. The Pad Thai had a faint taste of soap. When it was over, we waited and waited for the waitress to come and get the credit card so we could pay and get the heck out of there. I brought leftovers home, but the thought of eating it is not appetizing and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Thai food. Next time I will know better as I continue searching for a new favorite Thai restaurant because this isn't it.
(1)
Abby N.
I've eaten at Thai Orchid a few times over the last year and have thoroughly enjoyed it, each time! It's a great lunch or dinner spot! I recommend the Coconut Soup, Pad Thai and Massaman Curry. . . all are fresh and delicious! They also seem to have a fairly solid wine list - as well. The service at Thai Orchid is wonderful - they are extremely attentive, friendly and personable!
(4)
Jordan F.
I'm currently writing this review as I eat leftovers from Thai Orchid :) Yum McYumYum!! I love trying different foods so when my boyfriend suggested eating here for dinner one night, I was all over it! He had been to Thai Orchid with his family once before and raved about it, so I was excited to get my butt in their door. He's not the most adventurous eaters out there, so this was huge that he wanted to go back! Since then, we've been there twice. My first experience was a little disappointing, only because I ordered my chicken 'flied lice' HOT. I'm a girl who loves her spices and spicy-ness. HOT is TOO HOT! Our poor waitress could barely keep up with my water glass. I wish I would've been warned! Both times we have been, the restaurant has been somewhat busy but we've never had to wait for a table. Seating is prompt. As soon as you walk in the door, the hostess grabs the menus and points you in the direction of your table. I was eager to go a second time, as I learned my lesson the first time! The second time around, my boyfriend and I got the veggie spring rolls and thai dumplings as an appetizer as we did before. Both times, they were delicious! The spring rolls had the perfect crunch on the outside and a piping hot center. For my meal, I stuck with the Pad Thai and got it with pork ... MEDIUM. Oh wow, so much better! So much more flavor. I loved the tiny peanuts on top. Small enough not to be overbearing, but big enough that when you bit into one, you knew *drool I can't wait to go back and try more dishes!
(5)
Neal P.
Went for a lunch. Had the #3 Pad Kea Mao, with chicken. It was the best Thai dish that I've had in a long time. There are 6 spice levels: mild, medium, medium hot, hot, extra hot, and Thai hot. I got the medium (2nd level) and yes it did have enough kick. So go easy on the spice level. Lunch was served on porcelain plates with stainless steel utensils, with drinks in a glass tumbler. Food quality was 5-star. Ambience, cleanliness, service, value are 4 star, and worthy of toney Castleton. Lunch prices are reasonable for the quality. Their dinner (supper) prices are a little on the high side. Even so, the food quality seems to justify it. Staff is from Thailand. The menus on their web site are exact replicas (PDF) of their actual menu so you can check that out before you go. This is a nice place to impress the boss/gf/wife/inlaws. They are located on the South side of East 82nd street, corner of Bash. That's 2 stop lights West of I-69. Turn at the Speedway gas station. Their sign is pretty big, so you can see it from 82nd street. This place is larger, more elegant, and less homey than Thai Taste at the other end of Castleton. The waitresses are cute here. The food is about the same, or perhaps just a tad better. Both are worthy of patronage.
(4)
Shelly F.
This place rocks for many reasons.. First the price of the food can't be beat for the quality and quantity you receive. Second it is really good, you can get the level of spice/heat you want on each dish, I encourage first timers to go with the mild or medium if you are not use to Thai spices. I like heat but I tend to stick with the medium. You also can select chicken, beef or tofu for most dishes. My last visit I tried the garlic beef and it was pretty good and I would get it again, although I am a fan of the Pad Thai and orange chicken anything with beef and garlic win kudos in my culinary book. The service is fast and friendly, the restaurant is clean and parking is a snap. One other thing.... try the Thai ice tea, it has a pretty good blend of spices and cream.
(4)
Amanda L.
I went to Thai Orchid for the first time yesterday, and it was delicious. My friend and I were seated immediately upon arrival. The wait staff was fast and friendly. We got our food within five minutes of ordering. I had the Rama Delight at medium heat. It wasn't very spicy, but towards the end of the dish I had to eat some rice in between bites. I liked the amount of heat. My friend had Pad Thai at Thai Hot. He said it wasn't terribly hot, but he did have to takes sips of water every couple of bites. I will definitely be going back.
(4)
Richard H.
Huge, huge menu. Fast friendly service. The food is fine.
(3)
Kaleb G.
If you enjoy Thai cuisine this place is great. It's my girlfriend and I's favorite Thai place in the NE Indy area. Service is always good, staff is friendly, and the food is always great. I rarely stray from the Red Curry Chicken..it's amongst the best I've had at any Thai Restaurant. The spring Rolls are pretty good as well.
(4)
Rhonda W.
Fabulous food!! I had the Pad Thai with chicken! Pros: Food was out within 5 - 8 minutes after placing the order Serving size for the price Food tasted excellent (Coconut soup, spring roll, wonton, pad thai) Not overly crowed (Went at 11AM on a Wednesday) Cons: Ordered mild which I couldn t taste any spice (requested spicer so the waitress brought me a cup of spices that allowed me to make my spice just right:-) The food was soooo good, I am going back today for lunch and taking my family for dinner on Saturday!!
(5)
Amy H.
My regular spot for Thai. I'm spoiled by the great consistency of the food and service here and can never bring myself to go elsewhere in town. The only better Thai I've had in my life was in Paris, so as far as the local scene goes, this is as good as it gets. Lunch here is a steal. For about $8 you get a full meal. Soup, salad, a spring roll and a good sized entree. You won't leave hungry and you'll probably take some with you. The dinner menu is more extensive with a full section devoted to seafood. This is in addition to your appetizers, salads and soups, noodle dishes and curries, with chicken, beef, pork, tofu and all veggie options. My favorites are the yellow curry with chicken - medium is a great heat for this dish as it is sweet from the coconut milk base; pad thai - get this hot. Its amazing and has nice even mix of ingredients - you don't get overpowered with egg or tofu and your meat portion will be healthy. The garlic pepper entree is wonderful but I'd recommend skipping this if you aren't a big garlic fan. :) Last night we got take-out for New Years. As always, our food was ready lickety split in 20 minutes. We got vegetarian spring rolls, yellow curry with chicken and the pad ped with beef (bamboo shoots, green beans, bell peppers and basil). Medium was plenty spicy and we easily had leftovers despite the fact it was all going down quickly with the help of a beautiful bottle of sparkling Domaine Carneros Rose. Our take out order ran us $32 which we gladly paid. If you've never tried this place, do so. You won't regret it.
(5)
David M.
I'm not an Indy native and haven't been to other Thai places here, but this place was pretty good and the spiciness was actually on point. I'd been warned, and went with the "hot" (ranges are mild-medium-medium hot-hot-extra hot-thai hot). It was perfectly spicy for me, meaning just bearable. They also have great crab rangoons with plenty of filling. The cheapest meal on the dinner menu here is $10.99, which is not bad but not the cheapest either, since the prices only go up from there.
(4)
William B.
Amazing food I've been going to Thai Orchid since they opened enough so that the owners and waitresses know my family and me usually never have to order and simply ask for the usual, Me and my family have never been disapointed. My most recent excursion there I had my usual large order Tom Kha medium hot with all 3 ingredient options *chicken,vegitable, tofu* a large order of white rice, Multiple Thai Ice teas *amazing drink and they've made the best I've tasted always ask for a bit of extra sweetened condensed milk on the top* and the Thai tapioca pudding for desert *I code name it frog eggs lol. If you ever get it you'll know what I mean.* All I can really say is you won't regret Thai Orchid the food is great and its always made fresh and fast and the staff is always nice. Edit: By the way try the Thai Iced Coffee it is really strong and very delicious.
(5)
Casey R.
Love the Pad Thai here and the spring rolls and crab rangoon are amazing as well! I have also had the coconut soup and it's really good...I have never eaten inside so I don't really know about the service, always get take-out.
(4)
Sonya W.
This really is as good as it gets I think. I don't pretend to know what "authentic" means when it comes to food from other cultures (being a Russian-American and all) - but this is the best danged Thai food I've had anywhere on this side of the world. Not only did they make curry for the weak (that would be me) that tasted AMAZING, but everyone at the table loved their food - and there were 9 of us! The pad thai, which is the most boring dish, is usually how I judge a Thai place - and my friend's pad thai was truly awesome. Coming here made me realize I've come to tolerate some really bad Thai food and that it can actually taste this good instead! The service was wonderful and everyone was very nice to us. Of course I live in DC, so I might have a different standard for "nice" - but everyone was very attentive and genuine!
(5)
Eric N.
This unassuming strip mall Thai joint has TREMENDOUS coconut milk soup and chicken pad thai. Their lunch deal is the BEST value, and it's something you CRAVE.
(4)
Will H.
Some of the best Thai food I've eaten in the mid-west. We had pad thai, pad see ew, cashew chicken and the special seafood madness. They were all outstanding and very delicious. The service here was a bit slow, but nothing that detracted from our enjoyment of our dinner. If you are staying in one of the many hotels in the area and are in the mood for thai, this is the one to go to, we were not disappointed.
(4)
Casey G.
Meh. Pad Thai was...chalky and tasted kinda more like pad see ew... The chicken in my Phanang Curry was kinda strange tasting, like it came from a can? Slimy. Not good.
(1)
Meghan D.
A LUNCH MUST STOP!! For $6.99 you receive a delicious coconut based soup, small salad, mini spring roll, and a fried dumpling... rice and your meal. I opted for the Mussamon Curry and it was enough for two meals, that lunch and lunch the next day. The food came out within ten minutes, fast like other reviews said, but I would argue that it tasted fresh and not like it had been frozen as others suggest. I know from working in asian restaurants that food is cooked and served fast, often prepped for the more popular dishes to cut down on wait time.
(4)
Ivanka B.
My hotel was right next door and after eating here on Tuesday night I ordered from them again on Wednesday! Really awesome Thai food and they have carryout. The decor of the restaurant is very chic, if I wasn't alone I would have eaten there! The spring roll appetizer was about a dozen little rolls (maybe less) but they were so good! I loved that they were bite-sized! The dipping sauce was nice and spicy for those who appreciate a good kick . . . There's only one Thai dish that isn't too spicy for me and it's chicken Pad See Ew which was really great here - flavor was good and there was a hint of ginger which I love! The best thing on the menu - sweet sticky rice with black bean - awesome!!! I dream about that warm goodness . . .
(4)
Brett R.
Wow - some of the best Pad Thai (chicken) I have every had! I felt the interior was quite kitschy. The place has these big ornate gilded statues, but everything else looks pretty meek. It felt like the whole theme was half-hearted and thrown together. The service was average. The one waitress working the night I was there got around eventually, but wasn't too prompt. Also, the menus had a background which was obscured the menu descriptions enough where I was a bit hard to scan through quickly to decide what I wanted. The descriptions were quite long too. Did I mention the Pad Thai was really awesome though?
(4)
Kelly J.
It was ok. I had the pad thai. The vegetables tasted like they were canned. Also you received a "crab rangoon and spring roll" with your lunch meal. They were sooo tiny. Like little doll crab rangoons! I almost laughed out loud! It was over priced, for sure!
(2)
Kelly C.
Tasty, good food, but not cheap. The entrees are about $4 higher than we're used to paying in Chicago (and not always from dives). We ordered plain rice noodles and steamed pork for the kids, and that alone was $20. Pad Thai was savory, if a bit over-sauced. Spring rolls were good, but fried, so essentially egg rolls. Overall, a decent option if you're staying nearby, as we were (the hotel next door), but I'd think Indy natives might have just as good but less-expensive options.
(3)
J T.
Just moved back from dan jose where I had a favorite Thai spot and have struggled to find somewhere that can be my new favorite... Still looking
(3)
Tom J.
Overrated. Pad thai tasted like "blah" - go to Thai Cottage instead
(4)
Brittan B.
I've been to this place twice now, both times for carryout.. I got the Vegetarian Pad Thai, spicy both times, and the vegetarian spring rolls as well. Although the food is good, I still prefer Jasmine Thai locally. They both offer the same level of decor and dining experience but Jasmine Thai is priced slightly better and offers more more vegetables in their vegetarian Pad Thai, basically a little more bang for your buck overall. If Thai Orchid kicked other elements up a notch in addition to the price, it might be worth the difference because the food is good.
(3)
Russ C.
As a foodie that has eaten Thai food at least once a week for 10 years and been to every Thai restaurant in Indy, most several times, and I can tell you this is the best in town. Comprehensive menu. Friendly attentive service. Fresh, authentic Thai. And unlike every independent Asian restaurant I've ever been to, they accept AmEx (the lack of which is the bane of any business traveler - thank you, extra star for you).
(5)
Cherri W.
Absolutely delicious! Try the coconut soup (I am sure there is a longer fancier name, but it is fabulous !)
(4)
Jeremy V.
Perfect in pretty much every way. You just can't pronounce anything on the menu, so practice your pointing skills before you head in ("I'll have ttthhhhhhhhhat one..."), but it'll be worth the embarrassment.
(5)
Alex K.
We like to have lunch here. Great value for lunch at $7. Generous portions.
(4)
Mark W.
Best Thai I have had in Indy, wonderful Tom Kha soup, wonderful Yellow Curry. Also try the coconut juice, had to have a second!
(4)
Lynn W.
I've eaten here twice so far. Ambience is nice and food is consistently good. My biggest concern is location. The restaurant is located behind some buildings just off 82nd street in Castleton, so it's easy to miss. I hope they develop a loyal clientele so they can stay in business.
(4)
Kirsten F.
This place was alright. I enjoyed the food and they actually got the spiciness perfect for me. However, the prices were a bit high for what you got. The appetizers were expensive, 6.99 for 6 crab rangoons, seems like a lot to me, as well as the entrees and you only got a tiny little salad as your precursor to the meal. What I thought was nice, was the owner came around and talked to every table to make sure they were doing alright. The place was busy, so seems like a popular place for thai food.
(4)
Virginia M.
Great food and great service.
(4)
Robin P.
Definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in the Castleton area. They just opened a couple of months ago and I was happy to see that they seem to be getting a lot of traffic - it was just about filled on a recent Thursday night. The staff was very attentive - were constantly making sure that dishes were removed and water was filled. I had the spicy seafood soup and was not disappointed. I'll be back.
(4)
Beth C.
My husband and I stumbled across this place and were really impressed! It is kinda hidden back off 86th, and we'd NEVER noticed it! They have an excellent lunch special (only $6.99). Not only is the presentation really nice, it tastes delicious. There are many choices / preparation styles. I tried the garlic pepper, and it was amazing!
(5)
Meru R.
We have eaten at this place for 4-5 times now. No complaints about the food - Its grt! But the service is awful , esp during dinner time. We have noticed it twice now - all the staff is driking while working. They all have their drink at the main counter and keep drinking ( wine, beer, beverages) while talking on phone (with speaker on!! ). This is highly unprofessional! It would still have been ok , if they would have paid attention to the customers as well. At both dinner times we had to wait for them take order, then for refills and then for the checks! Let me clarify that we are pretty mild customers - dont sweat over minor things. But this has happened twice with us. On top of that one of the waiteress was rude to us. One more thing that happened at this place was that we were overcharged $5 as tip while we had not given that much! It was infuriating! With the pathetic and rude service , I dont think we are going back again...
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch 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
Mia M.
Stopped here for a quick lunch with my three-year-old son on a Friday afternoon. They were still offering their lunch special at 1:30, which included an entrée, soup, salad, and a spring roll for $7.99. I wanted the spicy basil fried rice, but I had to go with the more preschool-friendly Thai fried rice. The soup is kind of weird - it's like coconut milk mixed with Campbell's vegetarian vegetable broth, with a few peas and carrots thrown in. I wasn't a fan, but my son liked it and ate most of it. The entrée came out very quickly, but was well-prepared. Lots of fresh vegetables, which my son loved, especially the baby corn and carrots. It had a very good flavor and wasn't spicy at all. The salad wasn't anything to write home about - just some iceberg lettuce, shredded carrots, and what tasted like honey mustard dressing. The service was quick, friendly, and to the point. The restaurant and bathroom were pretty clean. Absolutely nothing to complain about at all here.
(4)Joie L.
Comparable to Pad Thai in downtown Carmel. The portions sizes are moderate and suitable if you're not too hungry. I ordered the veggie Pad Thai which was super flavorful. The noodles were more soggy than expected though. Each order also came with a side salad which basically tasted like coleslaw. On the lunch menu I believe it said each customer would get a spring roll but we didn't... The Thai Ice Tea was super yummy. I would highly recommend if you're looking for something milky and sweet. Service wise it seemed like they were short a few people so service was a little slow. Water pouring techniques were a bit sloppy but that's not something that bothered me.
(3)Jelly R.
I ordered the massaman curry, and found several whole and broken-up bay leaves in it. Anyone working in a restaurant or who does any sort of cooking should know that bay leaves are for flavoring only and should be removed before serving a dish. . . and that a bay leaf can actually scratch the throat, intestines, and stomach lining if swallowed. So yeah, I was not too pleased when I found myself chewing on part of a bay leaf after already removing two whole bay leaves from the dish. The service also wasn't very good: The younger waitress working there was nice, but our actual waitress scowled at us, did not offer any soda refills, and seemed annoyed to be there and annoyed that we were there. One star, but giving it two because the food (minus the bay leaves) was "okay." More info about the danger of eating bay leaves (since the owner's response understates the potential problems that can occur from swallowing a bay leaf, and implies bay leaves are only problematic in large doses): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ba… ("[T]hey remain very stiff even after thorough cooking, and if swallowed whole or in large pieces, they may pose a risk of scratching the digestive tract or even causing choking. There are multiple cases of intestinal perforations caused by swallowing bay leaves and they should not be swallowed or left in the food before serving to prevent the occurrence of a possibly fatal surgical emergency. Thus, most recipes that use bay leaves will recommend their removal after the cooking process has finished.")
(2)Sarah L.
Love the pad Thai, spring rolls and red curry! Never disappointed with the food or service.
(4)Ana D.
Great decor. Lovely ambiance. Friendly and good service. Good was great too! Tom yum soup and Tom kha soups were excellent. The pad egg noodles were spicier than expected. But the chicken satay was great!
(5)Stacy P.
3.5 Stars Thai Orchid is one of two Thai restaurants in the Castleton area. This restaurant can be a bit hard to see from 86th Street as it is a bit off of the main road, but it is fairly easy to get to once you turn onto Bash Street. The menu offers numerous selections, including many of the traditional Thai dishes that you would expect to see. While there is no gluten free menu, they do offer a handful of options. The Tom Kha variation of soups and all of the curries are gluten free. The Pad Thai, while it is made of rice noodles, it does contain small amounts of soy sauce. There is even a gluten free desert option, sticky rice, available. The portions were huge and allowed for another meal. Something to be aware of and some what of a pet peeve of mine, is that the shrimp is does come with the tail attached. Not really a biggy to some, but annoying to others. If you are looking for dessert in a class, I recommend the Thai Iced Tea. Their offering is one of the sweetest that I've had in awhile, so much so, I could only finish half of it. If your in the Castleton area and looking for a quick meal with friendly service, Thai Orchard is a good option.
(3)Shea B.
Very friendly service with a smile! Soup they brought out is fantastic! (Wasn't that warm though. Very comfortable place. I will visit every time I come to Indy! Fantastic meal. Lunch menu just needs to include what's available. (chicken wings). Delicious food!!
(5)Tim R.
It's fine if you've never had really authentic Thai. Iceberg lettuce only with honey mustard dressing? Really? That's not a salad, and calling it "free with lunch" doesn't mean it's okay to pass it off as salad. Our meals were fine, good portions with cheerfully provided extra veggies ($1 extra) and certainly hot (spice and temp) enough. We ordered "hot" and I wonder what "Thai hot" would be like. Both our meals were nearly identical components in different flavored broth. Fried spring rolls look like previously frozen bought at Kroger. It's clean, friendly, and inviting. BUT - There are better choices nearby.
(2)Nicole G.
Loved this place! Affordable lunch prices with huge portions. The red curry with chicken had a good amount of heat (I asked for medium spicy). The spring rolls were my absolute favorite - I would have ordered a whole plate of just those if I could! And the Thai iced coffee, although just a touch sweeter than I would have preferred, came in a large glass and was still very very good. Our server was also attentive and prompt throughout our whole service. I'll definitely be back the next time I find myself in Castleton!
(5)Anne D.
The chicken in my green curry was undercooked-pink. When we told the waitress, she didn't seem surprised at all. Very upsetting, we were so excited to find what seemed to be a great Thai place in a city that has so few options. Pretty sure I will have some severe food poisoning, which is awesome for a pregnant woman. We visited the restaurant on July 20, 2015 for dinner.
(1)Gloria S.
Randomly picked this restaurant on yelp, I'm glad we did!! The food was delicious!! Very well spiced but not overly. Loved the staff as well. They were friendly and accommodated my peanut allergy. We will go back again!!
(5)Katie R.
Very friendly servers, and I liked that they paid attention to our vegetarian request and made sure that the sides that came with our dishes (spring roll, fried sweet potato) were also vegetarian. I think you can find slightly tastier spring rolls at other Thai places in the city, but it was overall a good meal.
(3)Jennifer N.
I've eaten Thai at many Indy restaurants before & had high hopes for Thai Orchid but left very disappointed. Won't be back.
(1)Serena T.
Went with my girl friend (who is from China) for lunch yesterday. She loves their green curry. That is the only thing she will order. ( However, she did not like the beef. I told her she can order tofu or chicken in the future.) I had the broad noodle with tofu. Yummy. The egg roll and fried wanton were really good too. The Thai Tea is on the sweet side for me. Good tea,
(5)Ntianu S.
Thai Orchid has slowly become one of my favorite places for Thai. It isn't the best, but it's pretty tasty. I usually go there for take out. The service is consistently good as well as the food. Today I was in the mood for Crab Rangoon and Pad Thai with chicken, which cost around $19 and some change. Both were delicious as always. The sauce that comes with the Rangoon is so good. I enjoy the sweetness of it. I haven't explored the menu as much because I love the Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles so much. I also plan to check out their lunch specials one day soon because the lunch menu is much cheaper than the dinner. If you are in the area this place is definitely worth a visit.
(4)Michael C.
Sorry, but both our dishes were pretty bland. I had a plate of Seafood Madness that was really not very mad at all. I've had this served on a sizzling plate before, super hot and fresh, and this version was like that, just not as hot. I mean, if you're going to get out the cast iron. The service was nice, but more than a little slow with refills.
(2)Kevin R.
This was our first visit to Thai Orchid and we were very impressed. My wife and I are not Thai aficionados but our daughter who was with us has eaten at many Thai restaurants in various cities, including NYC, Chicago, and San Fran. We really enjoyed our experience with Thai cuisine at Thai Orchid but our daughter (with broad experience with Thai food) was VERY impressed with their food. We have found a new fave!
(5)Sarah C.
I've been on a Pad Thai kick lately (without peanuts - don't judge) and it has been wonderful. So I've been scouring the northside for potential Thai restaurants and, thanks to Yelp, I stumbled upon Thai Orchid. This little beauty is literally a few minutes away from my apartment. Perfect! I decided one evening to stop in and place an order to go. The staff were extremely friendly and punctual. And by golly, my food was ready in no time at all. And it was delicious. I'm not going to say it was super cheap, but it was fairly priced. And you get what you pay for -- and I was pleasantly pleased with their Pad Thai. It's location isn't exactly super wonderful, but I have a feeling they have a strong following of customers. I'm just pleased to have found another great spot in the Castleton area. Yeah!
(4)Hannah J.
The food was very good but service was very slow! Probably will come back! Also the appetizers and fried rice were very good!
(4)Kylie B.
Great food. Great Service. Huge portions for the price. It's nice and quiet here. Very relaxing popular music playing. They appear to have a decent wine selection too. Try the sticky dessert rice!!!!
(5)Craig F.
Spicy basil fried rice was amazing- different from so many other generic 'thai' tastes you get around here. Didn't know what to think of the restaurant from the outside, but was pleasantly surprised. Would highly recommend.
(5)Jeff N.
Nice little place Friendly Spring rolls were cold inside Chicken with eggplant was ok but skimpy on chicken Overall just ok Sapporo was cold and delicious Been there,done that,and won't return
(2)Joe F.
They blew it. I waited 15 minutes as manager sat on the phone, no menu, no drinks, 6 tables came in after me and they were served. Good food is only half the experience. Won't be back.
(1)Claudine S.
Love this place. the pottery shrimp is the best thing I have ever eaten.
(5)Phi N.
Not sure how this place ranks among Indy restaurants because I was just visiting, but in comparison so other Thai restaurants that I've been to, I'd say overall the food was average. The starter salad was pretty tasty. For appetizers, we ordered the shrimp rolls, chicken on skewers, and fried tofu. They were all good, but nothing stood out. As for the main course, we split a beef salad and the whole fried fish. I expected more spice from the salad. As for the fish, it was fried to perfection, but the sauce was a very basic fish sauce (Even though I like it, I feel as if it's more of an acquired taste that's not for everyone). For dessert, we ordered the fried banana w/ ice cream and sticky rice with mango. The mango special was probably my favorite all night. The service was excellent, and the restaurant provides an excellent atmosphere. Clean for an asian place, lol. They make these cool little flowers out of the straw wrappers for the special drinks. So you know they're putting in the effort; they deserve the recognition for it.
(3)Rachel Y.
I had previously left a great review for Thai Orchid but after receiving my food tonight, I am BEYOND disappointed. I order the exact same thing ever time I come here and when I pulled my curry out of the bag, the container was literally LESS than half full. I called to tell them what had happened and they said this is how it always is. That is complete crap, I have never ordered anything else, there is no way that I am mistaken. I am done with this place, such a rip off!!!
(1)Aditya B.
This family owned Thai restaurant is probably the tastiest Thai restaurant in town. Very very good soup, Thai basil fried rice, Panang and massuman curry. The fried banana with mango ice cream is really yummy. The servers are very courteous and food was served on time. Every time we go here, we thoroughly enjoy the food!
(5)Kay P.
I moved to this area a few months ago and checking out the ethic food scene. Have not physically been inside the restaurant, just take out. And often Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Soup). I would say the soup is never consistent. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Last time we ordered it as mild spice and it was ungodly hot, plus my Sweetheart, who picks it up of us, had a big mix up/hassle with the order being wrong and had to wait while they re-made it. Time away from my Sweetheart is never a good thing! I would like to dine in sometime and then write a review it. So for now, rating as far as take-out would be summed up as "inconsistent" for both food and service. We'll see ...
(3)Darrin L.
We went in right at closing and they still served up a full wonderful meal. The Pad Thai was especially good and service was great. The chrysanthemum tea is nice for those who want to try something out of the ordinary. The red curry with shrimp is a little spicy for those who like blander food but we liked it.
(5)Gauri W.
Below par food and service. A lot of family friends eat here (esp carry out) so I tried it twice before deciding not to go back. My drunken noodles smelled fishy, and there was more egg than noodle! The second time, I ordered a medium spice level red curry and it was CRAZY hot. They wouldn't refund my price or exchange it - huge pain.
(2)Marguerite H.
Excellent service- great help with deciding which dishes to choose. Meals served quickly. Water with no ice is nice and cold. Lunch begins with the sublime flavor-exploding Coconut Soup. Veggies are crisp--adding just the right pop of flavor. The Pad Pak Ruam (Thai hot) did not disappoint. Rama Delight (from the dinner menu) was cooked perfectly- crispy veggies and tender chicken. Peanut sauce was creamy yet not heavy. Clears out quickly after 2:00pm- you could practically have the room to yourself. Can't wait to return to try another dish!
(5)Lia L.
I used to love Thai Orchid but the last 4-5 times I have noticed a significant difference in the food. My fried rice was very dry and bland. Not like how it used to be. The pad Lee Mao noodles were not as tasty either. It used to be perfect and had a great char on the noodles giving it a smoky flavor but recently has been very bland and average. Not sure what happened, but i suspect they have a new chef because the food does taste different! I'm really sad to say I will be looking for a new Thai restaurant in town.
(3)Nisita K.
My personally, Thai Orchid is the best Thai restaurant in IN because the test authentic Thai. And also waitress are very nice. I recommend that you order Som-Tam and Fish cake.
(5)Patty L.
Not the best experience! I've been here several times during lunch and really enjoyed the food. Not so great for 5pm dining. I've noticed every time I dined here the restaurant seems damp and a touch of a mold smell. Regardless the noodle soup is usually tasty, tonight it was just ok. Jeff had Orange Chicken (he's not into thai flavors but sweet enough to fulfill my requests) he is now a little on the sick side of life. I guess he got a little bit of food poisoning and now saddled with a head ache. Ugh!! Poor guy! I don't think we will be back! And I was looking forward to the small taste of coconut soup they used to serve for an appetizer instead they serve (to me) a yummy slaw Jeff on the other hand did not like it at all. Sad but I can't give rave reviews. What's up with getting a decent meal in Indy these days. As Jeff just stated its not like we aren't spending enough money. Geez Louise I haven't had anything to write about in 2014 Ceazy
(1)Robbie R.
One of the several Thai restaurants that I have visited in the past couple of months. I am on a quest to find the best Padd Thai in Indy. This is the only place that I have been to that has not offered soup or salad as a starter. The Thai restaurant in Plainfield gave me soup, salad and fried bananas with my meal. I will say that the staff is very friendly and I got my food quickly. I ordered my Padd Thai medium spicy and it came out sweet. I had to add a little heat to it to get my desired "spicyness". Portion size was a little on the small side too so I left paying a couple bucks more for a smaller portion with no soup or salad.
(3)Olivia M.
I've been here a couple times and enjoyed it. The restaurant is quiet, food is flavorful and portions are generous (I always leave with leftovers). The server was a little over-attentive during our last visit (not necessary to ask several more times about water refills after we had declined), but I'd rather have that than slow service. Be warned that even the mild curry can pack a punch. I was fine with my panang curry, but my mom is more sensitive to spicy food and had to add extra rice and vegetables to her leftover green curry to balance out the flavor. You automatically get a small coleslaw-style (but better) salad as a starter, and I also recommend the vegetable tempura.
(4)Marie D.
Went for lunch and ordered Drunken Noodles from the lunch special. Lunch comes with soup and an egg roll. Service was fast and the food was flavorful. Maybe a little too much vegetables for me. Overall, I'm sure I'm going back.
(4)Cherish M.
Absolutely in love with this joint! Great variety. Food is on point and fab and friendly service. I'd recommended the Summer rolls, Tom kha soup, red and green curry, shrimp with silver noodles, basil duck, and asparagus delight! Um, um good! The reason I give this place a four is because they could give you the option of Thai salad or Tom yum soup like a couple other restaurants I've visited. Not everyone digs the salad...
(4)Anand K.
I had the lunch portion that we just got in time for. They started us off with an amazing coconut milk soup. Normally I avoid soups but this one I could not have enough. It was sweet and had gingery flavor with peas and carrots which added a lot of flavor to it. There was also a piece of veg- spring roll and potato roll which was really crispy and flavorful. Then it was the main course which was the all-vegetarian "Pad Kea Mao" (Medium-hot). It is served with think flat rice noodles and sprinkled with peanuts with a very rich flavor of peanut sauce. Kind of like the pad-thai but with a different kind of noodles. I ended the meal with fried bananas with ice cream which is something that I eat at every Thai restaurant and this one was pretty good. Although it was not as sweet as I have had in a couple other Thai places. Overall, its a good place to eat, with very good service.
(4)Christine S.
The best Thai food in Indy--fresh and delicious! The staff is friendly and knowledgable and will make sure you have exactly what you want and it comes out quickly. The restaurant and tables are super clean--this matters maybe too much to me? I always come in when I am in Indianapolis.
(5)J T.
Hands down the best (and getting better) Thai in Indianapolis and the most consistently and best Pad Thai I've every consumed - I've consumed tons of that stuff. Everything I've tried here is top notch. Service delightful.
(5)Hula B.
Ate here two nights in a row while visiting area. Food was good. Little starter salad I got on night 1 was really good. Like an Asian slaw, with shredded cabbage and carrots, a slightly sweet vinegar based dressing, with just a hint of chili, lime, and cilantro, all topped with some crushed peanut. I also had their spring rolls. Unfortunately, the food came out a little too fast, as food was piling up before I finished previous course. To top it off, empty dishes were not removed until I asked. However, once I did ask, the table was made nice again, graciously and efficiently. I would just prefer not to have to ask to have dirty dishes removed. I also had to flag someone down to get more wine. Again though, wine was brought promptly and with a smile after asking. Returned next night and had some soup and noodle dish. Both were good. Again, food came out too fast. I was considering a dessert to go and enjoy at my hotel, but my check was brought without asking if I wanted anything else. Since I am typically not a huge fan of Thai desserts, I decided to just pay and go. I will return when in area, inspite of spotty service. This is because the food is good, and honestly there really just aren't a lot of other options in area. That said, if this were in my neighborhood, they'd definitely be in my Thai rotation.
(4)Robert R.
This was without a doubt the WORST Pad Thai I have ever eaten. I ordered it to go, drove 20 minutes to get there. Picked up my order, got it home, opened the box and saw some brown dried out noodles. No egg, bean sprouts, tofu, cilantro, green onion, peanuts or even a lime wedge. There was maybe a 1/4 of a chicken breast in it. It had no flavor that even resembled Pad Thai. The Tom Kha was ok but nothing to write home about. The Tod Mun Pla (fish cakes) were the only redeeming part of the meal. Rest assured I will not be going back to Thai Orchid. Waste of time and money. One star only because I had to give it a star rating.
(1)Jacob D.
Definitely not crazy about it. We've been 2 or 3 times, and the meals are mediocre... however, if you order the pad thai or a noodle based dish, there is a distinct flavor of scorching in the food. It tastes like the pans are not washed between meals, and as a result, the food is much better if you go early rather than late.
(2)phoebe c.
Yum. Quick service. Clean. Day dreaming of veg tofu drunken noodle What there is a sweet & sour freah slaw that's a starter? Why, thank you. Even dan liked his pineapple stir fry... Love
(5)John H.
Hands down the spiciest and most flavorful thai food I've had. Beats most thai places I've tried in Cali. A must try is the Tom kha which is a coconut milk soup. The pad thai and hawaiian fried rice are great also. The atmosphere is true to their culture with all the Thai decorations. The service is great as they come to check on you often and thank you for coming in. They also refill your water. You might say so what. Asian restaurants tend to be less attentive so something this small is a grest plus. Don't go overboard with the spice levels. Thai hot is like habanero ghost chili hot. Our whole table was sweating. You want to enjoy the food and not burn your taste buds. For Indy, this is a great place to go if you want to experience some real Thai cuisine.
(5)Kimmy V.
Went here for dinner love it!! I love the papaya salad!!!!!
(5)Emma C.
Don't miss the SomTum salad. This food is fresh and delicious, and not too Americanized. Don't forget if you order it Medium- that's still pretty spicy to most people. Whew! Love this spot, huge portions. Lunch deal is one to check out, for a great value.
(5)Aditya S.
This is another place close that is very close to my work place and we frequent this location for work lunches and when we want to have lunch on a budget and something tasty. being in a multiethnic group of people the thai taste seems to satisfy everyone. That said this place has 6.99 lunch specials and i love their soup(its coconut milk based). You also get a veg spring roll and potato wonton. as for the entrees, they have pad thai, curries and bangkok pasta etc. I usually get the potato curry or the pad thai and its been good. Do not get anything beyond medium hot if you cant handle spices. they can really turn it up on that front. my suggestion is if you are unsure then get something mild or medium and ask for the chilli sauces on the side and adjust it as per your liking. very reasonably priced typical thai place. will definitely not disappoint if you get the right spice level.
(4)Celeste M.
Been here several times and only ever order their vegetarian red curry, it is very delicious! They say they use fish sauce in their curries but if you order it vegetarian then they make it vegan, so that is huge for me. The salad that comes with dinner is very flavourful. Their spice level isn't very spicy though. Very quiet and usually an empty restaurant though. Take away service is fast.
(5)Dom C.
first time I went, I ordered coconut curry soup, BUT the waiter brought us egg rolls instead. I Wasnt sure how he got it wrong since I pointed at it on the menu and the waiter even repeated it after me. We ate the egg rolls anyways. Ordered 2 stir fry chicken dishes. They were OK. Until I found a strand of hair in my food & couldn't finish! It totally ruined it for me. But I LOVE Thai food. I would go back again. Maybe it would be better the second time around. I'll be ordering something else when I do go. Not like it would make a difference. But sometimes finding hair in food would do that to you. Thai Ice Tea was good. must have! Otherwise the atmosphere was nice and the waiters seemed friendly. AND overly attentive? I can be a good and a bad thing.. The waiter came to the table twice to ask if the food was good and I hadnt even taken a bite yet. LOL! No biggie but as a waiter, you should always learn to watch your table from a distance & comprehend the art of body language.
(4)Sneha S.
Another good Thai restaurant.. The lunch specials are especially great! For under $7, you get soup, salad, spring roll and main course! A decent range of choices too.. I got the Thai basil fried rice and my husband got the #3 noodle option.. We got thai green curry too... All dishes were great to taste..
(4)Tim W.
Delicious Thai food. Arrived 30 minutes before they closed and got excellent service and food.
(5)Vanessa R.
People were very nice... But the food was not great. I put three stars because when you go to a "Thai" restaurant that's what you expect.. This was more like Chinese takeout with a fancy carrot flower. Pad Thai was far from authentic. I've never seen pad Thai with stir fry (green beans, baby corn, etc) way over priced.. And small portions.. not even shareable. Mehh
(3)Dan Furlano M.
Really enjoyed the presentation, flavors, portions, heat levels, and genuine Thai beer!
(4)Lorand M.
I echo most other comments relative to this fine restaurant. Incredible lunch specials that are an amazing value. The starter soup is superb with depth, texture, finish that ranks among the best I have ever had. Everything I have had has been vastly superior to other Thai I have engorged myself on in the greater Indy area. Recently had lunch at adnother highly rated Thai place....just no comparison in the opinion of both myself....and the my dining partner...the stultifyingly beautiful and exceedingly brilliant Karen B. There must be a real chef in the kitchen. Excellent food and service in a sublime, casual, and elegant ambiance.
(5)Lawrence W.
Best-kept secret in Indy! We've been here several times and always had a great experience. The dining room is bright and spacious, and the service is prompt and friendly. Our Thai friends tell us the food is very good and quite authentic, though some dishes are slightly Americanized. You can order the dishes mild (really tame), medium (still fairly mild), medium hot (I'd call this medium), hot (plenty hot), extra hot (haven't had the guts to try it) and Thai hot (professionals only). Try Thai Orchid; you'll love it!
(5)Greg B.
Really like the Chicken Pad Thai and the shred salad that comes with it! Give this place a try. So far I have been pleased and the service was fantastic! They were very attentive!
(5)Elizabeth C.
Really liked this place. I had the yellow curry with tofu, which was what you'd expect; they used cooked instead of raw tofu, the usual vegetables, etc. I think they may have made it a touch spicier than other places, which was a plus for me. I also shared a mango sticky rice with my baby and we both destroyed it.
(5)tammy h.
I'm from out of town, but my dad lives here and kept raving about how good the food is. His tastebuds did not lie. Great customer service, great food presentation at affordable prices, and most importantly the food was delicious! Thai tea came with a cute little paper rose made from the straw covers. Very friendly staff!
(5)Ratcha M.
Alway have good food and service here.
(5)David I.
First I have to say that I would have given it 5 stars but the food was inconsistent over two visits. The seating and the service was great. Both were immediate. The owner even came over to chit chat for a moment, which was nice. Our orders were taken quickly and while the food took a little longer than expected, it was worth the wait. Every dish was piping hot and had just the right amount of spice. It looks like it was just taken out of the wok, and not under a heat lamp. Each of the dishes was great, I can't say enough. The crab rangoon was PERFECT! And so were the money bags. The entrees were just as good as each had a distinct flavor. None of the flavors was too strong or weak. Another plus is that all of the ingredients tasted fresh, not frozen. The second time we went the entrees were great, but the crab rangoon was overcooked. If this was a $2.99 appetizer from a chinese take-out place it wouldn't be a big deal, but the appetizers are NOT cheap here. I would highly recommend this place and if my next visit is fantastic, I will change my review and score to reflect that.
(4)Kristen B.
On my first trip here I explained that I was vegan and they said they understood and helped me find several menu options. Since then I have eaten here several times a week for lunch. Today my soup came out with a big chunk of ham in it. I was told that ham is always in it, but usually not much so several bowls are served without finding any chunks. I am very disappointed that my initial trip here I was lied to and I have been unknowingly eating ham for weeks. I will not be back.
(1)Ed L.
I love Thai food, so when I saw on my Yelp app for iPhone that there's a Thai restaurant near my hotel, I was like, Score! That was great. I went into the restaurant on a crisp Wednesday evening, and there's really nobody around, except for a few diners. Empty. I guess it was one of those nights. I promptly ordered off the menu and asked for take out. The lady was more than welcoming, and maybe I should eat there again, but we'll see. I had the staples of Pad Thai with chicken medium spicy and the red curry with beef and white rice real spicy. Guess you can say, I am quite adventurous. The curry was average, but not too overwhelming with the spicyness. The Pad Thai was good, but could have been more spicy. My fault, I guess. They probably had the curry previously frozen and reheated, like so many Thai restaurants, but I didn't care. I'd like to try Thai places that really make their curries from scratch from the moment you order. I would be interested in how that turns out.
(3)Mark F.
Coconut juice, soup, scallop & veggies were all flavorful and good. Quick service. A fine establishment. But the main dish was nothing to write home about.
(3)Jessie D.
Best Thai food in Indy so far !!! Thai peanut salad which is given as a starter was delicious! All the coconut curries are good... Fried rice, cashew chicken and spring rolls are good too! The only bad experience was we had a 5$ off 30$ coupon but our bill was 80 cents less than 30$ so they refused to take the coupon.
(4)Diane E.
This is my daughter's favorite Thai restaurant in Indy. She usually comes here for lunch with her husband since he works nearby, but tonight we came here to celebrate my birthday a couple of days early :-) My daughter and I both had the Yellow Curry - her with chicken, me with shrimp. My SIL had a beef dish with what looked like a Red Curry. We all enjoyed our meal, topped off with the Fried Bananas with Coconut Ice Cream. Lots of food, good prices, very attentive wait staff. I'm sure I'll be back...just wish it was closer to home.
(4)Ethan B.
I like the food and the atmosphere.
(4)Catherine K.
Love the pad thai. I usually get the chicken -- I ordered the shrimp once but there weren't enough shrimp to justify the additional cost ($2 at lunch, I believe). Lunch is a great deal. Your meal comes with soup, a small spring roll and something that resembles a crab rangoon but isn't (it tastes kind of like it has a sweet potato filling). It's more than enough food for lunch. I have only been to Thai Orchid once for lunch. We happened to stop in on Mother's Day. They were giving a special extra to all women; I think that was an order of crab rangoon. It was a nice touch.
(4)Sarah G.
Thai Orchid is my absolute favorite place to eat, ever. I live in Muncie, and I make the drive to Castleton just so I can have food from Thai Orchid! Being a vegetarian, Thai food can be quite veg-friendly. I gladly spoil myself at this establishment. My favorite dish ever: Som Tum. (Yes, fish sauce is in it - my one non-veg cheat!) Som Tum is a tangy, citrusy, and highly flavorful dish of julienned papaya and carrot, pounded together in a mortar and tossed with tomatoes, green beans, peanuts, garlic, palm sugar, and chilies. Get it with sticky rice. This dish is HEAVEN. Thai Orchid's noodles are fantastic, and the spicier, the better. I am a huge fan of Pad Kee Mow, which are wide, flat rice noodles stir-fried with egg, basil, tomato, and a variety of vegetables. The Pad Thai is also another weakness. The Pad Ka Prow is another good vegetable stir-fry dish - spicy, basily, and savory. For desserts, I recommend the Sleeping Banana. And, if it's in season, the Mango with Sticky Rice is the perfect end to a perfect meal. My only problem when I come to the Thai Orchid: I have the hardest time picking just one thing to eat! The staff is super friendly and polite, the decor is lovely, and the atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed. I always have a good experience when I come to the Thai Orchid. Definitely worth the trip.
(5)Marcie M.
I have popped my Thai Cherry and boy, I should have done that years ago!! Thank you to all the Yelpers who suggested different Thai choices around town and what to order. :) My hubby and I decided to celebrate my 30th birthday weekend with a finale at Thai Orchid last night. Neither of us had ever had a full Thai experience, so we ordered a lot of food! And, everything was to die for....I am so glad there is a highly recommended Thai place near our new house, as I think we'll be adding this to our take out favorites! The restaurant had a nice atmosphere and the staff was incredibly attentive. There were three ladies helping us and the owner stopped by to say hello after our food came out to ensure we were having a good experience...and we were. We got the chicken spring rolls and crab rangoons to start. I am a big crab rangoon fan and these were the best I've ever had anywhere! The cream cheese was amazing, soft and smooth. The breading was crispy, hot and not too greasy....delish! The scallions really kicked it up a notch and I loved the sweet dipping sauce that acommpanied. The spring rolls were awesome as well. Piping hot!! And, very good with fresh veggies! We moved on to Pad Thai (thank you for the rec!), and the orange chicken. I loved my orange chicken mild. It was crispy, sweet with just enough kick and I have continued to dream about it since last night. :) My hubby ordered a seafood stir fry medium and he was sweating through the rest of his meal...he really enjoyed it though! It looked like a wide array of different seafood and he cleaned his plate. We skipped dessert but now I am regretting it....however, I was so stuffed, I had to get the rest of my meal to go ....and I will be indulging for lunch today! YUMMMM-O. I obviously have nothing to compare this Thai experience to, but I do know that I will be exploring other local places in the future!!
(4)Grace N.
I have been here a few times in the past, and most of the time the customer service is just ok, but the food is great. The Basil Curry Chicken is my favorite. The menu has a variety of options, but they also can add things that are not in a menu choice to the dish upon request. ( I love adding pineapple to some chicken dishes) Stop by and check it out!
(3)Michael W.
Food - just OK - Pad Thai - good - Pad see ew - not good (I mean, really bad, tasteless, don't bother ordering it, you've been warned!!!) - Chicken gra pow - good - Beef panang - so so - Price - so so Ambiance - so so .... decorations are kinda bland and the lighting is kinda depressing, especially when the place is completely empty when we visited on a weeknight around 6:30pm Service - mostly good and attentive, but could be too much, epsecially when the waitresses kept coming back and tried to take our plates repeatedly when we're not done yet, I mean I was still chewing and had food on my plate.....and the place is completely deserted..........so what's the hurry? Would I come back again - maybe, since this place is really close to the hotel I usually stay at so it's rather convenient, but there are other places I would rather try first if I am in this area again...
(2)Tamara M.
Above-average Thai in Indy. The decor was warm and welcoming, with touches that made it seem a step above what you'd ordinarily find in a suburban strip. (Thai Orchid shares its parking lot with one other business, Phantom Fireworks.) The massaman curry (mine ordered medium hot) was SO tasty: spiced just right and delicately flavored with coconut, tamarind, cardamom, cinnamon, etc. The Thai iced tea was just as it should be as well: sweet and the perfect balance to a spicy meal.
(4)Christie M.
After hearing about it from a friend, my husband and I decided to try it since we were in town. We ordered the chicken wings and the whole tilapia fried with the panang curry. Both dishes were really tasty and I would have given it 4 stars but I thought it was way pricey for Thai food. The service was good... maybe will be back.
(3)Jeff T.
I had the chef's special asparagus dinner with giant shrimp, calamari, and scallops. Deeeelicious!! The coleslaw was very tasty. It had a little bite to it.
(5)Julie S.
I thought I liked this Thai restaurant. Afterall, I have eaten there about 3-4 times. My last visit was, well, my last visit. After my beloved Thai restaurant in Fishers went under new ownership, I have been boycotting them. So I have gone to Thai Orchid instead. Maybe they were just having a bad night, but considering they only had about 3 tables filled, I really doubt it. We ordered Panang Chicken Curry, Pad Thai and Orange Chicken. It was delievered fast, within 5 minutes. But that is where the good news stops. There was a reason why it was fast, the Panang Curry was COLD. It was also too limey and not peanutty enough. The Pad Thai had a faint taste of soap. When it was over, we waited and waited for the waitress to come and get the credit card so we could pay and get the heck out of there. I brought leftovers home, but the thought of eating it is not appetizing and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Thai food. Next time I will know better as I continue searching for a new favorite Thai restaurant because this isn't it.
(1)Abby N.
I've eaten at Thai Orchid a few times over the last year and have thoroughly enjoyed it, each time! It's a great lunch or dinner spot! I recommend the Coconut Soup, Pad Thai and Massaman Curry. . . all are fresh and delicious! They also seem to have a fairly solid wine list - as well. The service at Thai Orchid is wonderful - they are extremely attentive, friendly and personable!
(4)Jordan F.
I'm currently writing this review as I eat leftovers from Thai Orchid :) Yum McYumYum!! I love trying different foods so when my boyfriend suggested eating here for dinner one night, I was all over it! He had been to Thai Orchid with his family once before and raved about it, so I was excited to get my butt in their door. He's not the most adventurous eaters out there, so this was huge that he wanted to go back! Since then, we've been there twice. My first experience was a little disappointing, only because I ordered my chicken 'flied lice' HOT. I'm a girl who loves her spices and spicy-ness. HOT is TOO HOT! Our poor waitress could barely keep up with my water glass. I wish I would've been warned! Both times we have been, the restaurant has been somewhat busy but we've never had to wait for a table. Seating is prompt. As soon as you walk in the door, the hostess grabs the menus and points you in the direction of your table. I was eager to go a second time, as I learned my lesson the first time! The second time around, my boyfriend and I got the veggie spring rolls and thai dumplings as an appetizer as we did before. Both times, they were delicious! The spring rolls had the perfect crunch on the outside and a piping hot center. For my meal, I stuck with the Pad Thai and got it with pork ... MEDIUM. Oh wow, so much better! So much more flavor. I loved the tiny peanuts on top. Small enough not to be overbearing, but big enough that when you bit into one, you knew *drool I can't wait to go back and try more dishes!
(5)Neal P.
Went for a lunch. Had the #3 Pad Kea Mao, with chicken. It was the best Thai dish that I've had in a long time. There are 6 spice levels: mild, medium, medium hot, hot, extra hot, and Thai hot. I got the medium (2nd level) and yes it did have enough kick. So go easy on the spice level. Lunch was served on porcelain plates with stainless steel utensils, with drinks in a glass tumbler. Food quality was 5-star. Ambience, cleanliness, service, value are 4 star, and worthy of toney Castleton. Lunch prices are reasonable for the quality. Their dinner (supper) prices are a little on the high side. Even so, the food quality seems to justify it. Staff is from Thailand. The menus on their web site are exact replicas (PDF) of their actual menu so you can check that out before you go. This is a nice place to impress the boss/gf/wife/inlaws. They are located on the South side of East 82nd street, corner of Bash. That's 2 stop lights West of I-69. Turn at the Speedway gas station. Their sign is pretty big, so you can see it from 82nd street. This place is larger, more elegant, and less homey than Thai Taste at the other end of Castleton. The waitresses are cute here. The food is about the same, or perhaps just a tad better. Both are worthy of patronage.
(4)Shelly F.
This place rocks for many reasons.. First the price of the food can't be beat for the quality and quantity you receive. Second it is really good, you can get the level of spice/heat you want on each dish, I encourage first timers to go with the mild or medium if you are not use to Thai spices. I like heat but I tend to stick with the medium. You also can select chicken, beef or tofu for most dishes. My last visit I tried the garlic beef and it was pretty good and I would get it again, although I am a fan of the Pad Thai and orange chicken anything with beef and garlic win kudos in my culinary book. The service is fast and friendly, the restaurant is clean and parking is a snap. One other thing.... try the Thai ice tea, it has a pretty good blend of spices and cream.
(4)Amanda L.
I went to Thai Orchid for the first time yesterday, and it was delicious. My friend and I were seated immediately upon arrival. The wait staff was fast and friendly. We got our food within five minutes of ordering. I had the Rama Delight at medium heat. It wasn't very spicy, but towards the end of the dish I had to eat some rice in between bites. I liked the amount of heat. My friend had Pad Thai at Thai Hot. He said it wasn't terribly hot, but he did have to takes sips of water every couple of bites. I will definitely be going back.
(4)Richard H.
Huge, huge menu. Fast friendly service. The food is fine.
(3)Kaleb G.
If you enjoy Thai cuisine this place is great. It's my girlfriend and I's favorite Thai place in the NE Indy area. Service is always good, staff is friendly, and the food is always great. I rarely stray from the Red Curry Chicken..it's amongst the best I've had at any Thai Restaurant. The spring Rolls are pretty good as well.
(4)Rhonda W.
Fabulous food!! I had the Pad Thai with chicken! Pros: Food was out within 5 - 8 minutes after placing the order Serving size for the price Food tasted excellent (Coconut soup, spring roll, wonton, pad thai) Not overly crowed (Went at 11AM on a Wednesday) Cons: Ordered mild which I couldn t taste any spice (requested spicer so the waitress brought me a cup of spices that allowed me to make my spice just right:-) The food was soooo good, I am going back today for lunch and taking my family for dinner on Saturday!!
(5)Amy H.
My regular spot for Thai. I'm spoiled by the great consistency of the food and service here and can never bring myself to go elsewhere in town. The only better Thai I've had in my life was in Paris, so as far as the local scene goes, this is as good as it gets. Lunch here is a steal. For about $8 you get a full meal. Soup, salad, a spring roll and a good sized entree. You won't leave hungry and you'll probably take some with you. The dinner menu is more extensive with a full section devoted to seafood. This is in addition to your appetizers, salads and soups, noodle dishes and curries, with chicken, beef, pork, tofu and all veggie options. My favorites are the yellow curry with chicken - medium is a great heat for this dish as it is sweet from the coconut milk base; pad thai - get this hot. Its amazing and has nice even mix of ingredients - you don't get overpowered with egg or tofu and your meat portion will be healthy. The garlic pepper entree is wonderful but I'd recommend skipping this if you aren't a big garlic fan. :) Last night we got take-out for New Years. As always, our food was ready lickety split in 20 minutes. We got vegetarian spring rolls, yellow curry with chicken and the pad ped with beef (bamboo shoots, green beans, bell peppers and basil). Medium was plenty spicy and we easily had leftovers despite the fact it was all going down quickly with the help of a beautiful bottle of sparkling Domaine Carneros Rose. Our take out order ran us $32 which we gladly paid. If you've never tried this place, do so. You won't regret it.
(5)David M.
I'm not an Indy native and haven't been to other Thai places here, but this place was pretty good and the spiciness was actually on point. I'd been warned, and went with the "hot" (ranges are mild-medium-medium hot-hot-extra hot-thai hot). It was perfectly spicy for me, meaning just bearable. They also have great crab rangoons with plenty of filling. The cheapest meal on the dinner menu here is $10.99, which is not bad but not the cheapest either, since the prices only go up from there.
(4)William B.
Amazing food I've been going to Thai Orchid since they opened enough so that the owners and waitresses know my family and me usually never have to order and simply ask for the usual, Me and my family have never been disapointed. My most recent excursion there I had my usual large order Tom Kha medium hot with all 3 ingredient options *chicken,vegitable, tofu* a large order of white rice, Multiple Thai Ice teas *amazing drink and they've made the best I've tasted always ask for a bit of extra sweetened condensed milk on the top* and the Thai tapioca pudding for desert *I code name it frog eggs lol. If you ever get it you'll know what I mean.* All I can really say is you won't regret Thai Orchid the food is great and its always made fresh and fast and the staff is always nice. Edit: By the way try the Thai Iced Coffee it is really strong and very delicious.
(5)Casey R.
Love the Pad Thai here and the spring rolls and crab rangoon are amazing as well! I have also had the coconut soup and it's really good...I have never eaten inside so I don't really know about the service, always get take-out.
(4)Sonya W.
This really is as good as it gets I think. I don't pretend to know what "authentic" means when it comes to food from other cultures (being a Russian-American and all) - but this is the best danged Thai food I've had anywhere on this side of the world. Not only did they make curry for the weak (that would be me) that tasted AMAZING, but everyone at the table loved their food - and there were 9 of us! The pad thai, which is the most boring dish, is usually how I judge a Thai place - and my friend's pad thai was truly awesome. Coming here made me realize I've come to tolerate some really bad Thai food and that it can actually taste this good instead! The service was wonderful and everyone was very nice to us. Of course I live in DC, so I might have a different standard for "nice" - but everyone was very attentive and genuine!
(5)Eric N.
This unassuming strip mall Thai joint has TREMENDOUS coconut milk soup and chicken pad thai. Their lunch deal is the BEST value, and it's something you CRAVE.
(4)Will H.
Some of the best Thai food I've eaten in the mid-west. We had pad thai, pad see ew, cashew chicken and the special seafood madness. They were all outstanding and very delicious. The service here was a bit slow, but nothing that detracted from our enjoyment of our dinner. If you are staying in one of the many hotels in the area and are in the mood for thai, this is the one to go to, we were not disappointed.
(4)Casey G.
Meh. Pad Thai was...chalky and tasted kinda more like pad see ew... The chicken in my Phanang Curry was kinda strange tasting, like it came from a can? Slimy. Not good.
(1)Meghan D.
A LUNCH MUST STOP!! For $6.99 you receive a delicious coconut based soup, small salad, mini spring roll, and a fried dumpling... rice and your meal. I opted for the Mussamon Curry and it was enough for two meals, that lunch and lunch the next day. The food came out within ten minutes, fast like other reviews said, but I would argue that it tasted fresh and not like it had been frozen as others suggest. I know from working in asian restaurants that food is cooked and served fast, often prepped for the more popular dishes to cut down on wait time.
(4)Ivanka B.
My hotel was right next door and after eating here on Tuesday night I ordered from them again on Wednesday! Really awesome Thai food and they have carryout. The decor of the restaurant is very chic, if I wasn't alone I would have eaten there! The spring roll appetizer was about a dozen little rolls (maybe less) but they were so good! I loved that they were bite-sized! The dipping sauce was nice and spicy for those who appreciate a good kick . . . There's only one Thai dish that isn't too spicy for me and it's chicken Pad See Ew which was really great here - flavor was good and there was a hint of ginger which I love! The best thing on the menu - sweet sticky rice with black bean - awesome!!! I dream about that warm goodness . . .
(4)Brett R.
Wow - some of the best Pad Thai (chicken) I have every had! I felt the interior was quite kitschy. The place has these big ornate gilded statues, but everything else looks pretty meek. It felt like the whole theme was half-hearted and thrown together. The service was average. The one waitress working the night I was there got around eventually, but wasn't too prompt. Also, the menus had a background which was obscured the menu descriptions enough where I was a bit hard to scan through quickly to decide what I wanted. The descriptions were quite long too. Did I mention the Pad Thai was really awesome though?
(4)Kelly J.
It was ok. I had the pad thai. The vegetables tasted like they were canned. Also you received a "crab rangoon and spring roll" with your lunch meal. They were sooo tiny. Like little doll crab rangoons! I almost laughed out loud! It was over priced, for sure!
(2)Kelly C.
Tasty, good food, but not cheap. The entrees are about $4 higher than we're used to paying in Chicago (and not always from dives). We ordered plain rice noodles and steamed pork for the kids, and that alone was $20. Pad Thai was savory, if a bit over-sauced. Spring rolls were good, but fried, so essentially egg rolls. Overall, a decent option if you're staying nearby, as we were (the hotel next door), but I'd think Indy natives might have just as good but less-expensive options.
(3)J T.
Just moved back from dan jose where I had a favorite Thai spot and have struggled to find somewhere that can be my new favorite... Still looking
(3)Tom J.
Overrated. Pad thai tasted like "blah" - go to Thai Cottage instead
(4)Brittan B.
I've been to this place twice now, both times for carryout.. I got the Vegetarian Pad Thai, spicy both times, and the vegetarian spring rolls as well. Although the food is good, I still prefer Jasmine Thai locally. They both offer the same level of decor and dining experience but Jasmine Thai is priced slightly better and offers more more vegetables in their vegetarian Pad Thai, basically a little more bang for your buck overall. If Thai Orchid kicked other elements up a notch in addition to the price, it might be worth the difference because the food is good.
(3)Russ C.
As a foodie that has eaten Thai food at least once a week for 10 years and been to every Thai restaurant in Indy, most several times, and I can tell you this is the best in town. Comprehensive menu. Friendly attentive service. Fresh, authentic Thai. And unlike every independent Asian restaurant I've ever been to, they accept AmEx (the lack of which is the bane of any business traveler - thank you, extra star for you).
(5)Cherri W.
Absolutely delicious! Try the coconut soup (I am sure there is a longer fancier name, but it is fabulous !)
(4)Jeremy V.
Perfect in pretty much every way. You just can't pronounce anything on the menu, so practice your pointing skills before you head in ("I'll have ttthhhhhhhhhat one..."), but it'll be worth the embarrassment.
(5)Alex K.
We like to have lunch here. Great value for lunch at $7. Generous portions.
(4)Mark W.
Best Thai I have had in Indy, wonderful Tom Kha soup, wonderful Yellow Curry. Also try the coconut juice, had to have a second!
(4)Lynn W.
I've eaten here twice so far. Ambience is nice and food is consistently good. My biggest concern is location. The restaurant is located behind some buildings just off 82nd street in Castleton, so it's easy to miss. I hope they develop a loyal clientele so they can stay in business.
(4)Kirsten F.
This place was alright. I enjoyed the food and they actually got the spiciness perfect for me. However, the prices were a bit high for what you got. The appetizers were expensive, 6.99 for 6 crab rangoons, seems like a lot to me, as well as the entrees and you only got a tiny little salad as your precursor to the meal. What I thought was nice, was the owner came around and talked to every table to make sure they were doing alright. The place was busy, so seems like a popular place for thai food.
(4)Virginia M.
Great food and great service.
(4)Robin P.
Definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in the Castleton area. They just opened a couple of months ago and I was happy to see that they seem to be getting a lot of traffic - it was just about filled on a recent Thursday night. The staff was very attentive - were constantly making sure that dishes were removed and water was filled. I had the spicy seafood soup and was not disappointed. I'll be back.
(4)Beth C.
My husband and I stumbled across this place and were really impressed! It is kinda hidden back off 86th, and we'd NEVER noticed it! They have an excellent lunch special (only $6.99). Not only is the presentation really nice, it tastes delicious. There are many choices / preparation styles. I tried the garlic pepper, and it was amazing!
(5)Meru R.
We have eaten at this place for 4-5 times now. No complaints about the food - Its grt! But the service is awful , esp during dinner time. We have noticed it twice now - all the staff is driking while working. They all have their drink at the main counter and keep drinking ( wine, beer, beverages) while talking on phone (with speaker on!! ). This is highly unprofessional! It would still have been ok , if they would have paid attention to the customers as well. At both dinner times we had to wait for them take order, then for refills and then for the checks! Let me clarify that we are pretty mild customers - dont sweat over minor things. But this has happened twice with us. On top of that one of the waiteress was rude to us. One more thing that happened at this place was that we were overcharged $5 as tip while we had not given that much! It was infuriating! With the pathetic and rude service , I dont think we are going back again...
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