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Name: Dok Bua Thai Kitchen
Address: 411 Harvard St, Brookline, MA, 02446
Telephone: (617) 232-2955
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.98

Dok Bua Thai Kitchen

411 Harvard St, Brookline, MA, 02446

(617) 232-2955
Store is closed

Dok Bua Thai Kitchen Menu

Appetizers

Poa-pia Tod

Peek-gai-tod

Goong-gra-bok

Pla-muk-tod

Tod-mun
Yum Salads

Thai Salad

Yum-nua Salad

Yum-pla-muk Salad

Som-tum Salad

Yum-woon-sen Salad
Vegetarian Entree

Pad-ma-kue-yao

Tofu Gra-prow

Vegetable Fried Rice

Pad-puk

Gang-puk And Tofu
Chef's Special Noodles

Thai Style Stir Fried Lo Mein

Thai Style Stir Fried Noodles

Pad Thai With Crispy Chicken

Pad-se-ew With Vermicelli Topped With Crispy Chicken

Egg Noodles Topped With Pork Legs
Thai Desserts

Coconut Ice Cream

Taro Pearl In Coconut Cream

Thai Chandol In Coconut Cream

Ginko Nut With Sweet Taro

Sago And Black Bean In Coconut Cream

Healthy Meal suggestions for Dok Bua Thai Kitchen

Appetizers

Poa-pia Tod [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peek-gai-tod [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Goong-gra-bok [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pla-muk-tod [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tod-mun [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Yum Salads

Thai Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yum-nua Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yum-pla-muk Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Som-tum Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yum-woon-sen Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Vegetarian Entree

Pad-ma-kue-yao [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tofu Gra-prow [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetable Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad-puk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gang-puk And Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Chef's Special Noodles

Thai Style Stir Fried Lo Mein [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Style Stir Fried Noodles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad Thai With Crispy Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad-se-ew With Vermicelli Topped With Crispy Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Egg Noodles Topped With Pork Legs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Thai Desserts

Coconut Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taro Pearl In Coconut Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Chandol In Coconut Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ginko Nut With Sweet Taro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sago And Black Bean In Coconut Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Anonymous P.

Among the best authentic Thai restaurants in Boston, and perhaps the very best. Their food isn't authentic across the board--stay away from (or steer right toward, if that's your preference) the American-style appetizers and soups. If it sounds Chinese, it's probably Americanized Chinese food to please unadventurous palates. But for the most part, the food is authentic and very good, though not the best I've ever had. They will make it very spicy if you order pet pet (Thai hot) or pet ma (as hot as you can make it please). My favorite dish is probably the spicy basil catfish. I sometimes prefer Rod Dee in Coolidge Corner, but most people prefer Dok Bua. Update: 9/27/06. As good as always. Perhaps the very best thing about Dok Bua is the DESSERTS. The delicious treats go well beyond mango with sticky rice. Try, e.g., the gingko nuts with taro, or the durian dessert if you're even more adventurous. Though Eastern cuisines aren't known for their desserts, Dok Bua serves up the best and most interesting Asian desserts I've ever had.
(5)
Joe R.

Great little Thai restaurant in Brookline. The dinner & lunch specials are all around $8-10, and were quite tasty. I had the stir-fried chicken and cashew meal special, which came with spring rolls and sweet & sour soup. I also shared the popcorn chicken appetizer. All were very tasty - not overly spicy, flavorful, and just the right temperature. If you go, pick up some dried squid chips on your way out...
(4)
Ellen L.

Terrible. I got sooo sick off of eating here. Doesn't seem to be the cleanest place... decor is just....weird... not a first date location! I'd go to brown sugar if you're going for atmosphere...and not getting sick!
(1)
Rahul S.

Best Thai I have eaten, period. Better than anything else in Boston or NYC for that matter (as per my friends from NYC who visited us and liked it better than the best Thai places they have eaten at in NYC). The decor is not so nice but the food is surprisingly reasonably priced too. Highly recommended.
(5)
Erin G.

I can't really compare this to other thai food i've had because i've never had memorable thai food. I ate at Dok Bua just last night and it was great! the restaurant has charm on its side, as well as a friendly staff and mouth-watering pictures of their dishes. I ordered tofu and veggies with rice noodles in a chili paste and it nearly burned my esophagus to a crisp...exactly what i'm looking for in a spicy dinner!!! i couldn't even finish it all and the word from the other side of the table was that the chicken and mango curry was tasty with generous servings of sweet mango. i also had my very first thai iced tea which was super sweet because of the cream, but you could tell that alone the tea would kick you right in the pants. pricing was totally reasonable and it's in a great location. i love brookline, and now, i love dok bua!
(3)
Susan D.

After hearing all the raves for this restaurant, I had to try it, especially since I was around the corner at my beloved Trader Joe's. I got the Pad Ke Mow lunch combination with two chicken wings and coconut chicken soup. I also ordered the papaya salad and later the mango coconut sticky rice. I have had my share of Thai food. So in comparison, the papaya salad wasn't that good. It was overly salty, but had nice crunch and chili strength. My coconut chicken soup was also way too salty, but at least the sweetness and savory coconut hid it a little bit. The flat noodles were delicious!! My husband got a meat on top of salad concoction that was WAY too spicy after he asked for no chilis at all. He is sensitive. I am not, but I thought it was sort of ridiculous that he asked for something and it was completely ignored. And sadly it didn't come with rice. We didn't bother ordering any after the fact because I shared my meal with him. The best discovery was the perfectly ripen room temperature sliced up mango sitting in a stellar warm coconut sauce adjacent to a wonderful mound of sweet sticky rice. The combination is amazing and I would return just for a repeat experience!
(3)
P G.

I LOVE this place! Best thai food ever. The staff is amazing, super friendly and very accomodating. I am hooked to this place and love to introduce it to my friends and family. Tom Yum Soup is too die for! I also enjoy their thai iced tea. You can order from their regular menu or from the lunch/ dinner special. The quantity and quality of the food is great and everythis is so fresh. The prices are reasonable. Definitely my favorite place! :)
(5)
Kristin M.

I love Dok Bua! their dinner specials cannot be beat. You get so much food for the money and have enough for the next meal or two. I have yet to find a thai restaurant in my area that even compares to dok bua. I order chicken pad thai every time so I can't review much else but the pad thai is delicious! the interior dining room kind of skeeves me out so I always take out.
(5)
Aluminum Chefs, C and T.

Hell Yeah! Dok Bua is the real deal. Brown sugar is good, but a little toned-down for the well-to-do college kids that eat there, let's say that: Brown Sugar is Emeril - and Dok Bua is Anthony Bourdain. Brown Sugar is Coldplay - and Dok Bua is the Dead Kennedys. Brown Sugar is a tour bus - and Dok Bua is an old van. Not that there's anything fundamentally wrong with those first things, they're very nice and very safe and usually relatively satisfying. But Dok Bua is better is so many ways - the food is excellent. They certainly are not spending their hours wondering how to dumb down their food to the American palette. They're not stingy with the spices and their menu items can be a bit 'out there' compared with their competition., in fact (if I'm remembering correctly) most of the menu isn't in English and instead resorts to a series of poorly taken photographs that you pretty much point to and the waiter brings you something that looks like it. If you're adventurous and can take a little heat and can tear yourself away from the cute little miniature food replicas in the front window, you owe it to yourself to eat here. Not only that, but love it or hate it, you're most likely not leaving having spent more than 20 bucks for 2, and you're kicking it in the 'Coo - how cool is that. Get in the van.
(4)
Adam B.

This place has pretty mediocre food from what I have had. Some of the worst pad thai. Some of the other noodle dishes were a bit better and the tamarind duck was again just ok. I'm pretty surprised it scored so high. I'm sorry but for my money you can't beat any of the rod dee's.
(2)
Kai L.

my friend recommended this place to me. i have only had one meal that this far, not very impressed. it's not a bad restaurant, but not an impressive one either. i probably need to try other dishes in the future to see if i actually had missed something in my last visit. it does have interesting miniatures around the restaurant though...
(3)
A. T.

The dinner specials (which also include rice, soup, and two spring rolls) are a steal at $10.95, and you get 10% off for paying cash. The red curry is a solid dish. Definitely coming back here in the future.
(3)
Immer E.

i wish i could like this place more since my friends always rave about this restaurant and drag me here often. however, i've never been very impressed w/ their food. they have photos to go w/ their menu, which can be a plus - but it's also a bit tacky...esp. when they don't clean the album pages. the restaurant is small so the tables are placed too close together. it ruffles my feathers when people have to lean over my table of food to manoeuver their way around the narrow aisles.
(2)
John P.

I really enjoy the decor inside Dok Bua, especially those two weird lamps. Beyond the atmosphere though, my meal has always been very good and the prices aren't bad either.
(4)
Jeff B.

I enjoyed my meal but it's not as if I can't wait to go back. There wasn't anything wrong with the food or the quality or the taste, I just wasn't wowed. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing or the normal chef was on vacation. I'd rather head to Brown Sugar where I know I won't be disappointed.
(3)
Uosdwis R J.

Maybe I caught them on an off night. I had massaman curry and some spring rolls delivered. Delivery was quick, but it was much more expensive than I expected. They didn't give me the price over the phone, and it turned out to be $22 for the aforementioned items. Interestingly, if I go on foodler.com to view their menu, I definitely shouldn't have paid that much. Ugh. What makes it worse is that the food was terrible. I live in Cleveland Circle. The only Thai near me blows. So I was hoping that this would satiate. Ugh. The spring rolls were filled with old vegetables, but were halfway decent. I was really looking forward to the massaman curry, but I couldn't have been more disappointed. Usually, massaman curry has a very nice peanutty flavor; whether that is "authentic," I have no idea, but all massaman curries I've had have been peanutty. This one was fishy. Which is fishy, because when I called, I asked if the massaman curry was vegetarian, and they said yes. Do they use fish sauce in massaman curry without realizing that fish sauce is a living creature? The fish taste overpowered the peanut taste. I also didn't realize massaman curry was a type of soup. When I poured it into a bowl on top of some rice, everything was swimming in the sauce. Even more fishy. This reminded me of Pho it was so soupy. I generally like plenty of curry, but this was excessive, especially considering I found the taste foul. I basically tried to let as much curry as possible drip off of the food before I ate it. I even dumped some of the rice into my peanut sauce from the spring rolls to try to get my money's worth. Maybe I was spoiled living in New Haven. Amazing Thai food and pizza are easy to find. Why not in Boston?
(1)
Tiffany D.

I can't believe I lived near there for almost a year and never went in to try this place. I just went this weekend (boyfriend brought me) and it was DELICIOUS!!!! We had like 5 or 6 big dishes between us and it was perfect for a HUGE lunch and a small take home dinner. The red curry with crispy chicken is to DIE for! As is the baby clams fried rice!!!! And that squid salad. YUM YUM YUM!!! Totally gonna come here/order from here more often!!!
(5)
K. M.

I used to be a big fan of this place, and it is with heavy heart that I'm giving this mediocre review. Once you get past the (admittedly odd) 'decor,' they've got a great lunch and dinner special, a good location, and they let you bring in your own wine (they don't have a liquor license). Lately, though, their prices have gone up and the quality of the dishes has started to go down. I hope that trend will turn around, but until it does consider this place 3 to 3.5 stars.
(3)
Jennifer Y.

This place has the most authentic, greatest tasting Thai food ever. The owners are amazingly nice and simple people. Decor is really simple and pared down but the food is amazing. Lunch specials offer a great value and I still dream about the crab rangoons from this place.
(5)
Helen L.

BEST THAI FOOD EVER!! Officially. I have heard soo much about this place before I went and it exceed my expectations. Their dinner special is amazing- you get all this assortment of food for $9.95! It was hot, fresh, tasty and affordable! Their menu has such a big assortment of food and a bunch of pictures so you're unable to make a fast decision. YUMMY!
(5)
Rachael K.

I've been here several times and have found it to be inconsistent. Sometimes the food and service are great, other times it is difficult to communicate with the wait staff and the food is less than stellar. For the price it's not a huge deal. I recommend going for lunch, you get a ton of great food at a reasonable price and I've found lunchtime service to be more consistently good.
(3)
Kaopectate P.

finally some amazing thai food in the boston area. i've been here for 10yrs looking for a place like this. everything i've tried is great. btw...this is one of the only thai places that will make things extra spicy when you ask for it.
(5)
Atrebor B.

Awesome Thai food (for Boston) at affordable prices; what more could you possibly ask for? I went here for lunch today and had the red curry with pork and Tom Yum soup with veggie spring rolls for $6.50. Everything was piping hot and fresh with the curry being much better than I had expected. In fact, it was so good that I found myself trying to drink the last drops of it; desperately mopping it up with the last bits of rice. The soup was a perfect "wake me up" for your mid-day drowses with just the right amount of "zing" factor; but it could have been a tad richer and less vinegary. I also loved the way the food was presented; with the serving plate being divided into cute little separate compartments. The restaurant was quite a hike from the T; but rest assure that the walk is well worth it. Recommended and I will definitely revisit.
(4)
Suzanne C.

Dok Bua comes highly recommended from a former regular (until I moved away.) Their specials are the best because you can choose small portions of many things- appetizers, soup & entree. The garlic tofu is my favorite. Never had a better tofu. The staff is very sweet and the service is fast.
(5)
Betty J.

I love this place. Is it wrong to admit that proximity to Dok Bua was a factor in choosing my apartment for next year? Complain about the service or the take out or the decor if you must, but this is hands down the best Thai food in Boston. Seriously, everything I've had here has been delicious and I've been many, many times.
(5)
Kirby M.

I must say, I'm pretty surprised at all of the glowing reviews for this place. Maybe I haven't given it enough of a chance, but I have absolutely had better thai food than this place. I think I have ordered in from here once and also ate lunch at the restaurant once. Don't get me wrong, the prices can't be beat but I just didn't find anything special about the meal. I enjoyed the fact I could get a lunch platter so as to have pad thai along with salad and a side, but I wasn't floored. I would much rather go to Brown Sugar.
(3)
Gregory M.

This place is disguised as a small grocery store and backroom of a large kitchen, so eating there for the first time you feel like you were just let in on a secret. the menu is huge and has pictures for those of us not savvy with ordering Thai. there are hard to find dishes (my friend really likes the whole catfish, don't ask me why), but my favorite is the many combos they have. they come out in large circular plates, subdivided into 5 compartments (i think that's the number) and the center is your soup of choice. the combos are pretty flexible, so there isn't one side that you are looking to avoid (ie no summer squash combos that just fills space). other details: fast service, bring your own alcohol...
(4)
Lindley E.

I was there the day this place opened. They sold various Thai sundries and had very limited seating. Gradually, as all of you discovered how great this gem is, the shelves of toothpaste and penicillin gave way to tables, and soon you had to wait upwards of a half hour to get seated on a weekend. One of Boston's only authentic Thai places....and worth the drive for out of towners. They've made compromises in their menu over the years, but don't let it stop you from going and trying some of the truly remarkable dishes on the menu. Holds up to more famous Thai spots in Houston and Chicago.
(5)
Rinn S.

I'm a big snob about Thai food and I have no problem owning that snobbery. In the search for quality and authentic Thai food in this area, I came across Dok Bua several years ago. The inside is super kitchy, the menu comes with a photo album of their dishes and the staff are really friendly and fast. But go for the food. It's cheap and absolutely wonderful. They make a lot of appetizers that you usually can't get at American Thai restaurants- their Sum Tom and Tod Mun Pla are especially good. The curries are amazing, and they'll make the gra prow "thai style"- extra spicy and minced. Honestly, I've never tried their pad thai because there are so many other great things on the menu, but I'm sure its fabulous too. I lived in Thailand for a while and ate out almost ALL the time and this is some of the best thai food I've had ANYWHERE. The fact that its BYOB is just icing on the sticky rice.
(5)
A. W.

Alert! My most favourite thai restaurant in Boston. ohhh yeah. And...the thing the alcoholic in me loves...is that you can BYOB, which is just such a special treat around these parts. The prices are already so inexpensive. Their Pad Thai is to die for. And if you don't have the energy to clamber all the way down (it's not that far) to Harvard Street....they deliver quick as sticks. Once, they even delivered in a snow storm. That is dedication....and a also bit cruel and self centered of me to order food for delivery in those extreme weather conditions.
(5)
Shannon S.

I've never been a big fan of Thai cusine, and I've probably walked past this place about 200 times on the way to Allston and never dined here, but damn, I'm glad I did. The restaurant is small with pretty standard tables inside, some cheesy decoration splashed about, but the food is very, very tasty. I had the crispy chicken with pad thai, green tea Boba tea, and Crab Rangoon. I highly, highly recommend the Pad Thai and the crispy chicken was tasty with the sweet sauce that it came with. I also enjoyed my Crab Rangoon--full and stuffed with creamcheese, crabmeat and then deep fried they came out super quickly and even my boyfriend (who isn't a seafood fan) had to say yes, the crab rangoon was right on. The Boba tea was good, but a little too icey for my taste so I let it melt a little. I really loved the green tea but the tapioca balls weren't the way I like them so I probably wouldn't go back there again for those, but the tea was very tasty. I also loved that the menu came with a secondary menu full of photos so you knew what and how much you were getting. It was a little out of order but if you take the time to look through it, it can really help you out (especially if like me, you haven't had a lot of Thai food). The waitress was fast, attentive with our drinks. Highly recommended! It was a great place to sit on a Monday Night and quietly talk to my boy over noodles. So really, it's all thanks to Yelp that I went at all, and I might have to start frequenting this place now that my Thai-food-fear has lapsed. Thanks Yelp --and really, all of you MUST try this place.
(4)
Ryan L.

I like this place better than Rod Dee's and brown sugar. Some of the food here has a slight chinese taste to it (salted fish fried rice) but overall a really good place to eat at. Wish it had more authentic selections like Nam Prik Oong and Khao Lam. Pretty cheap prices too. Portions could be better though.
(4)
Sara S.

Great food, awesome service and a great value. For something like $7.95, you get two appetizers and an entree during lunch. Same thing goes for $9.95 at dinner, but with soup as well. It's a great deal, really.
(4)
Ben P.

This is the best non-sushi Asian food in the Brookline area. Coolidge Corner has a ton of sushi restaurants, but beyond that there's nothing...other than the some good, quick, and affordable Thai from Dok Bua. The lunch specials are a great deal: the portions are big and I usually get two meals for $10. My favorite is the crispy chicken over a noodle dish. Rarely does it get so crowded that you can't get a table quickly...
(4)
kate L.

This place came a long way from a little convenient store back in the day. The food is great and the staff are very sweet! I can't seem to get out of the place without a wonderful Tai Iced tea! The lunch and dinner specials are really inexpensive and you get a large amount of food.
(5)
Emily M.

Went to dinner here with some friends Sat night for the first time. It was packed, but happily we didn't have to wait too long to be seated. However, we did have to wait what seemed like FOREVER to actually get our food. I don't know if it was because we all ordered the dinner specials, because we were all famished before we got there (and obviously the more you want the food, the longer you wait), because it was crowded, or what, but it took entirely too long. There was also some confusion over the soups that came with our meals (some of us got completely different soups than the others, when they were supposed to be all the same). It still gets 4 stars though, and we'll still be coming back, because it was delicious, very reasonably priced, BYOB, and close to my apt. Obviously a winning combination!
(4)
Kat C.

This is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Boston. Whenever I go there for dinner, I always get the dinner sets. You get to choose from 10 dishes and they all come with a bowl of tom yum soup, fried/steamed dumplings, spring rolls, and rice. The sets are great because you get a bit of everything. Definitely get the Thai iced tea to go with your meal...yummy =).
(5)
Rachel M.

Dok Bua, best Thai in town! Seriously! I love their specials and their Thai Iced Tea and Iced Coffee are delicious. This place is one of the best on Harvard Street, hands down.
(5)
Celicia C.

Although I don't get to eat here often enough whenever I am back home in Boston to visit my family and boyfriend we make it a point to trek here. It's an awesome mom and pop type of thai restaurant in Brookline. You get the great warm feel right when you walk in. I love all of the dishes there, and they're incredibly generous with the portions! What's better is the huge glasses of Thai iced tea. Dok Bua has wonneth me over.
(4)
Allie L.

I've only had the bubble tea here. It's pretty good, they make it into a smoothie type thing with shaved ice mixed in. The boba are usually the right consistency, not too chewy or hard.
(4)
David B.

I foresee many many many trips to Dok Bua in my future. Fantastic (and spicy!! yay spice!!) food. If you don't know what you want, figuring it out is an adventure that some might find tedious (you have to cross reference the menu with the photo album to see a pic of your dish). But both my wife and I loved our choices: her, yellow curry (very spicy); me, Pad-si-ew dinner special. Fun, casual, cheap, and delicious. A perfect combination.
(5)
nick b.

best thai in brookline! great for a sit down lunch or dinner. also great for takeout. i love the red curry.
(5)
Mags L.

came here for lunch with my work buddy who was singing its praises. said he used to come here on the daily when he was going to b.u. i can see why. this place is awesome. i had thai fried rice (i know - boring, but i was overwhelmed by the myriad of choices on display in that glorious photo album). i loved every bite of it. my friend had the pad si yew (sp?) that i was delighted to sample. it would've received 5 stars if it weren't located so inconveniently from me. ahh the curse of being lazy and desirous of everything hassle-free. this place was so good i may just have to trek back again.
(4)
Bonnie G.

I won't waste your time writing a long eloborate review. Just go there. It is that consistently delicious. If you don't, you are obviously missing out on one of the best places to eat in Boston, now aren't you?
(5)
Sara A.

This is officially my new favorite Thai place. In fact, it's the best that I've had in Boston hands down. The prices are extremely affordable, the atmosphere is busy but not distracting. They use menus with photographs, just like in Thailand, and all the food smelled amazing. We will definately be heading back here.
(5)
Bene K.

Really tasty!! I love finding new Thai restaurants with my favorite Som Tom Papaya Salad. This place has a great papaya salad---although, i am still devoted to Brown Sugar. But, the service is good and so is the food.
(4)
Kenny B.

Hot damn this was the best Thai place I've been to in a long, long time. When I'm in Boston next, I am eating here.
(5)
Christine K.

I love Thai food. Given that, this place is okay. It's not amazing or anything. But the lunch specials are decent. You get an entree, appetizer and soup sorta deal, which comes out to $9.60 with tax. I got the pad thai today was was decent, nothing special. The noodles always are cooked too much and have no shape and is a floppy mess. But it's a good greasy floppy mess. The tom yum soup was good, with mushrooms floating in it, covering the tender pieces of chicken. I got the pork dumplings, which I always get even though they aren't that great, just because I normally love dumplings. Must remember to get something else next time. The waitstaff is very friendly and service overall is friendly and prompt. It's a solid place, just nothing out of this world.
(3)
David T.

If it wasn't for all the Acuras and Saabs parked out front and the Jewish bookstore across the street one could easily forget he was in Brookline. Excellent Thai food + shabby decor + a horrendous amount of rain pounding down outside made me feel as if I was reliving the final day of my 2007 holiday to Bangkok. As this was my first time here I tried the pad thai. If a restaurant can't get this most basic of Thai street foods correct then it is not worth returning, IMO. Dok Bua nailed it with just the right amount of peanuts and perfectly cooked noodles that had a good bite to them. No mushy or glue-like noodles here. The tom yum soup was perfectly sour and they substituted chicken for the shrimp once I explained my crustacean allergy (truth is I just don't like them but it is easier, and more polite, to tell a restaurant you are allergic). Service was efficient and polite but it did lack the usual over-friendliness so often associated with the Thai population. However this is the US, not Thailand, and thus this is an unimportant factor. Also, prices were extremely reasonable with a good amount of food. It is easy to see why Dok Bua does such a brisk business. What they lack in decor, they make up for triple-fold in quality of food.
(4)
Matthew M.

Not terrible, not great. Got some thai curry here and the veggies looked / tasted like they were from frozen. The curry was not spicy / hot enough despite asking for very hot and spicy. Green papaya salad was a little better. The Chinese menu items are a little better than the thai in my opinion. Wish the thai food was better.
(3)
Lauren S.

The takeout I got from here was alright, but it cost me an arm and a leg. I was feeling under the weather so I ordered vegetable noodle soup and some thai fried rice. The veggie soup was bland and boring, even though I asked for it spicy. The rice was awesome and fragrant and amazingly good, but I'm a little disappointed that I paid 20 dollars for a meal for ONE person with minimal leftovers. Maybe I'll have an eat-in meal one day and see how that compares, but for now I'm going to try some other places.
(3)
Kerry M.

Best Thai in Brookline. Really cute decor.
(4)
Adam A.

When we first moved to Boston from CA, we were surprised at how little recognizable Asian cuisine (other than Chinese) there was around. Dok Bua was a charming little exception, with pleasingly spicy offerings, a familiarly kitsch atmosphere, and the cheap no-frills attitude that we missed from hole-in-the-wall places on the west coast. Sad to say, over the past few years we've been less and less excited about our experiences here, though. Things really seem to vary quite a bit from visit to visit, but I often end up feeling like the dish I got was lackluster, a standard combination of takeout veggies in a not very spicy or interesting sauce with some noodles or rice. For example, one used to be able to get a really fire-hot crunchy delicious papaya salad (Som Tum), but the last few times I've gotten it here, it's been disappointly bld. (Maybe I've just fallen in love with the version at Rod Dee near Coolidge, since they consistently bring the heat when you ask for it) The noodle soups are really quite dull and salty, with some bits of overcooked meat or seafood floating amidst a big bowl of otherwise not very exciting broth. And the pad thai has somehow become sweeter over time (?) Plus, the prices have (understandably) crept up, so dinner for two now usually ends up coming in more in the $30-$40 range. Our go-to dishes are pla duk pat pet (spicy catfish), som tam (papaya salad), and pad si ew. We do keep Dok Bua in the rotation, since it's a nicer place to eat in than Rod Dee, but at this point we mainly go for the variety and to get a bit of a walk in nice weather, rather than for any culinary superiority! Oh, a tip: they give 10% if you pay cash
(2)
Matthew P.

I went here with a few people the other day. I've been here once about a year ago and remember liking it. Lo and behold a coupon came around! I hadn't been for lunch before so I gave that a shot. They give you a good amount of dishes on their lunch menu and they let you get two apps on top of that. It comes out on a big tray. The entrÃ©e portion is a little bit smaller than the dinner menus (naturally) but the extra apps make up for that. I got the pineapple fried rice which was delicious. I can't remember what my friend got but it was this spicy pork dish. I would definitely go back to get that one! They were very friendly and were very good about filling up our waters which was very nice with our spicy food!
(4)
Jason G.

For the price, this place is great. The food is awesome and consistant. My wife and I have been going there for a couple years now and its definitely our "go to" Thai place. We tend to get delivery as the restaurant can get crazy busy and what I would perceive to be somewhat stressful. Overall, If you down for some good food and not looking for the fanciest of places, you would be missing out if you didn't try this place.
(4)
Patrick P.

Tried to go to Brown Sugar last Saturday but there was no parking. Started driving thru Brighton and again no parking. Drove down Harvard Ave and saw this little place called Dok Bua. Thought we'd give it a try and am I glad we did. The place was busy but we only waited about 5 minutes. The food was great, the service was wonderful. The menu was incredibly large and offered a lot. Really enjoyed the Pad Thai. I always judge a Thai restaurant by it's Pad Thai and this passed with flying colors. Wish they had beer, but did see people bringing their own wine. The Thai Iced tea was very good. My new favorite Thai restaurant!
(4)
Anita C.

Have been hearing rave reviews about this place and since I had a coupon I had to go here. When I went to the place Saturday night at 6 it was pretty packed, got one of the last remaining tables. Waiter handed us the menu, I was pretty impressed. Looking at the decor I would not expect such nice menus, there were very contemporary looking, 5 stars just for the menu. I also love that they have an image for everything on the menu. On to the food since I needed to spend $30 in order to use my coupon I got the cheapest appetizer, the cripsy thai egg rolls. I'm not usually a fan of egg rolls and this definitely did not help that, would not recommend unless you love egg rolls it was pretty bland but the sweet and sour sauce was pretty awesome. For entrees I got the Thai-Fried Rice Topped with Moo-Yang. Not the best choice in terms of fried rice. It was pretty bland but the Moo-Yang (marinated pork) was salvate in your mouth good. Would definitely get this again but with white rice and it costs $2 less than the fried rice. My mom got the Guay-Tiow-Moo Thai Noodle Soup (Pork noodle soup) and when I tried it, it was just melt in your mouth good. Though I would recommend getting the beef noodle soup since it comes with more meat. As for the service the food came pretty quick as others have mentioned, service is good but server did not happy when I presented her with my coupon. Then again I had 2 different servers. So I love this place so much that after going there for my first time on Saturday I ordered from them again on Monday, but this time for takeout since I had a coupon. Got the Chef`s Thai Style Stir-Fried Noodles which consisted of basil, baby corn, onion and chili paste topped off by crispy chicken. Let me tell you when I opened my box, I saw the motherload of chicken, it was almost completely covering the vermicelli noodles on the bottom. Came with a side of sweet and sour sauce which was great for dipping the chicken. The vermicelli itself was great, every bite tasted of something different, either sweet, sour, or spicy. I just wish there was more vermicelli since there was so much chicken to go around.
(4)
Claudia H.

I was a customer for a couple of years and overall, my experience went from okay to downright bad. Dok Bua is acceptable if you want to spend little money for a quick lunch in a setting that is very much like that of a not so modern cafeteria. Not acceptable if you want to meet with friends for a dinner experience. Here is why: As I mentioned already, the atmosphere of the place is that of an old cafeteria. Even after the 'upgrade' you are sitting elbow-to-elbow with the neighboring tables. Chairs, tables are on the well, cafeteria-side. Worst of all are glasses, apparently, the owners are too cheap for a minimal investment so you have to drink out of something that held pickles in a previous life. Flat ware is equally classy. The food is 'pre-made' and arrives in cafeteria-style trays. Pre-made as in readily available before orders and heated up, on the plus side you will not have to wait long. However, as a consequence, my spring rolls were totally dry and had the appearance of spring roll mummies. The taste was what I expect of food that went through multiple heating cycles. Sauces can be found on the shelves of Asian food markets, there is nothing added to make them any better and vegetables were mostly 'revived' from cans.
(2)
Wendy W.

Awesome place. Menu cannot be any easier because of the pictures galore. Prices are good and service is great. Food cannot be beat. Love the appetizer sampler.
(5)
I Y.

I had been to this restaurant for dinner a few times and had enjoyed the food each time. This was my first time for lunch though and my first Yelp review. We ordered the pad gai ga prow lunch special. I ordered mine with beef, thai salad, and steamed dumplings. My boyfriend ordered his with chicken, thai salad, and tom yum goong. We shared a green tea bubble tea drink. The drink came out quickly. It tasted ok, nothing special. Our entrees didn't take too long as well. Each entree was a good sized spread. My entree, however, came with chicken instead of the beef that I had specified. It didn't matter. I just waved it off and said it was cool. The thai salad was nothing special but the dumplings and tom yum goong were pretty good. The ga prow was only ok - we had better. We were served by a man and a woman. The guy was friendly and came to check on us from time to time. The woman wasn't as nice though. We presented our restaurant.com certificate to her when we were finished, and she gave an annoyed look. That just got us a little annoyed. Nothing really wowed us for lunch. Maybe we'll be back for dinner some time in the future (maybe in the far future).
(3)
Jen F.

I eat at Dok Bua fairly often, it's definitely my go-to Thai place. It's good. For the most part they're pretty solid in terms of quality. Their dinner special is a great deal, and comes with a super delicious Tom-Yum-Koong soup--a must try! Their menu is pretty large, and they have a great selection of cooked whole fish. The only issue is that they don't substitute ingredients. Instead, they take out the ingredient that you don't want and charge you extra for anything you want to add, which ultimately is a rip off. Some portions, especially dishes with shrimp, are a bit on the skimpy side. Other than that, Dok Bua is pretty solid. I recommend.
(4)
Wendy C.

Very good (but not great) Thai food, but dinner/lunch special are GREAT values. Was getting take-out for a large group, so did not order the lunch/dinner specials, but they are really a great deal. Also because we were eating dinner a few hours later, I only ordered things that would reheat (i.e. curries) and none of the noodles. I have been spoiled by NY, where there is truly fabulous Thai food and have not found any in Boston that rival them, but Dok Bua is very good by Boston standards and is reasonably priced, which earns it a star. The best of the curries was the Massaman which had a nice undertone of heat and peanutty flavor and the Keow-wan which is a green curry and was light and complemented the fish nicely. The yellow and red curries were enjoyable enough but tasted sort of similar and there was nothing that distinctive about them. The country style red (or jungle) curry is an acquired taste. Thanks to Yelp, I also ordered the Moo-yang pork which super-moist pork covered in barbecue-garlic-Thai spice deliciousness. The staff are very friendly.
(4)
Heidi X.

I've been here several times over the past 3 years and I love the place. It's casual and completely non-pretentious. It's just a place for good thai food, that's it. Most recently I had the lunch set with grilled marinated pork and rice, and my husband had the pineapple rice. Both our meals were lip smackingly delicious, and I would order the same thing again in an instant. So what else makes this place great? The menu offers a terrific variety of dishes, there are lunch and dinner sets at incredible value, and the staff are all very service oriented and they try to be helpful even if some of them do not speak English as their native language. Less than a minute after we stepped in and were seated, we were given an baby high chair, iced water in a plastic cup, and an M&M plate with plastic utensils for my infant - and I didn't even ask! One little known fact that adds sparkle to this gem - Dok Bua doesn't serve alcohol but it does allow diners to bring in their own wine. Corkage is free. Yep... as far as I recalled from the last wine dinner I had there about a year ago. Things can be a little hectic around peak dining hours, so make this a stop for a late lunch or early dinner instead.
(5)
Ms. S.

I love Thai food, and the best Pad Thai (spicy, no bean sprouts, with duck) I've ever had has been from here. We love their pad se ew as well. Great place. Great staff. And you can eat outside-- a definite plus on beautiful summer days/nights!
(5)
Jenny U.

I was too lazy to walk to Kenmore for my usual thai place that doesn't deliver, so I ordered from Dok Bua on the recommendation of my roommate. Pad thai with crispy chicken- bland, chicken was heavy and not very crispy at all. Noodle soup (chicken)- roasted chicken thrown in bland broth that tasted like standard chicken stock with some cilantro and green onion. Lettuce wraps- these were good! they delivered me half a head of lettuce, a nice sized cup of filling, and crispy noodles. Overall, fine for when I don't want to take a 50 minute round trip walk for deliciousness. But I will say that I both of the standard entrees at the other restaurant better.
(3)
Amanda K.

i was tricked into coming to this restaurant cause i read some review [not on yelp- i should have known better!] that said this place was super duper cheap and had good authentic thai food and blah blah i was thinking. SWEET! i'm poor this is cheap [the review said dishes for $3] count me in i get there and it is not super duper cheap. in fact its the same price everywhere else i've had thai food [some items even more] the food was alright. i ordered rad na dinner combo which is a noodle and it came with rice.... i wasn't exactly sure what i was suppose to do with that since i ordered noddles so i just took it home. it also came with tom yum soup which was hot and yummy. i asked for some heat on my food too and it was almost non existent. i also asked for pepper 3 times before i actually got it. overall i wasn't impressed. there are other thai places i'd rather go to. this place is actually somewhat expensive despite what the claims were. the service wasn't all that great either. they do give you a discount if you pay with cash which is nice. they're open relatively late but start cleaning up about an hour before they close. makes the customer feel uneasy like we are inconveniencing them!
(2)
Alexis B.

Great thai food!!! My mom and I went Saturday night for dinner around 7:30. Place was packed but we were seated right away. We ordered the appetizer sampler platter for only $10.95!!! We also got the Dok Bua noodle, and the duck curry over rice. Only con of the whole evening was everything came at once. So our little table was full of food! The appetizer sampler thing was good. It came with 2 chicken wings (YUM), 2 spring rolls (really good), 2 chicken satay (soo good!), 2 crab rangoons (eh), 2 golden bags (super yummy), and 2 curry chicken puffs (eh I didn't like a little too sweet). But it was a mountain of food. Than our other dishes. The duck was great. Super spicy which I liked. It was too spicy for my mom so if you are sensitive ask about spicy levels. The noodles were sooo good. We finished the plate. It was literally emptyyyy! And the best part if you pay in cash 10% off your bill!! So for all this food my mom and paid 40 bucks! AMAZING! Can't wait to go back. Also parking is pretty easy since it's further down on Harvard.
(5)
Priya D.

Totally love this neighborhood joint. Food is always consistently good in quality, reasonable in price, service is always good and attentive and I always have a good experience. I wish they had a dish similar to the Jade Noodle at Pepper Sky or Brown Sugar but that's really just me! I'd really recommend this place for a quick, easy, inexpensive and delicious dinner. Also, they are BYOB!!
(4)
Nate C.

I have been a fan of Dok Bua since 2001, and will actually make special trips here from the North Shore (even when I have a great Thai place within walking distance) They are super consistent and always nice. They get zero points for atmosphere, but they really don't need it, I judge every other Thai restaurant on Dok Bua. This is not a hole in the wall type place, there is a ton of room, but it is more cafeteria-like. I should say that my first ever Thai food came from Dok Bua while working at a nearby real estate office....is your first love your forever love? Hell no! This place is GOOD!
(5)
Hannah F.

Yum yum yum. I finally gave in to a two-day curry craving and went with a few people to stuff my face. We ordered a bunch of dishes and I unfortunately only remember two of them. I ordered the pineapple curry with tofu and my boyfriend ordered the crispy chicken dinner special. Super yummy. The curry was perfectly spicy and everything was delicious. Boyfriend's crispy chicken actually almost stole the night. There was a sauce that went with it that was absolutely mind blowing. No idea what it was, but I want more. I also ordered green tea boba, which was surprisingly good, and satisfied yet another longstanding craving of mine. Service was good. Very fast and polite. They don't, however, offer alcohol FYI. Not sure if it's BYOB or just no alcohol period, though. Maybe I didn't read Yelp carefully enough before going. It was reasonably priced, particularly with the dinner specials. All in all, everyone left full and very happy. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Jamie G.

This place reminds me of Thailand. Like, the actual country, not just an Americanized shiny version thereof. Delicious food, attentive waitstaff, great prices. Highly, highly recommend.
(5)
Matthew W.

Went here with the GF a few weeks ago for lunch on a whim. We're both big fans of Brown Sugar near Packard's Corner. Dok Bua didn't exactly unseat Brown Sugar for the title of "My Favorite Thai Restaurant" (a prestigious award, I know)... it was a good meal, but it could have been so much better. We both ordered lunch specials -- GF got the Pad Thai with shrimp and I went for the Moo-Yang (grilled marinated pork) to get my meat fix. The lunch specials come with 2 side orders each. GF chose Tom-Kha-Gai (coconut soup with chicken) and steamed pork dumplings, while I opted for the dumplings and spring rolls. GF wasn't expecting the Tom-Kha-Gai to be so heavy on the lemongrass and lime, and the result proved to be a little off-putting. I'm not a great source for a second opinion for that because I'm not big on coconut. The rest of the sides were fine, albeit nothing groundbreaking. I like meat. A lot. To that end, the Moo-Yang was ideal -- pork, pork, and more pork, marinated in a slightly sweet and noticeably sticky mixture. I gobbled it down as if someone had told me the server was ready to come back and take my entree away at any moment. GF liked the Pad Thai, but noted that it was a bit too sweet for her taste and didn't come with lime on the side. Maybe she should have put some of her soup on it... GF also had a Thai Iced Tea and enjoyed it. Thai Iced Tea is kind of hard to screw up, so I'm not sure how much credit to give for this, but it was good, so good job Dok Bua! You get 10 percent off if you pay cash. Of course I only had my debit card on me, so no help there. Not exactly relevant, but my fortune cookie only had half a fortune -- the bottom half of the paper was missing, which provides the theme for our Dok Bua experience. Overall, Dok Bua got all the basic stuff right, and I can't say I wasn't satisfied by the time I left, but that's only half the battle. The additional details that take a solid meal and turn it into an outstanding one weren't there. That's not a complaint or an indictment of Dok Bua -- it's acknowledging that adjusting some of the details would have led to an exemplary lunch instead of something that felt incomplete.
(3)
Maureen K.

I was quite disappointed at my meal. We only ordered chicken pad thai but it was completely tasteless and bland. I don't know if it was just a busy Saturday, or the fact we ordered take-out, but I couldn't even finish it.
(2)
VKR N.

Some of the worst Thai food I have ever had, designed solely for the tastebuds of white Americans who can't handle the intense flavors of truly good Thai. The spicy beef noodle soup was super bland, with only the barest hint of flavor -- just this side of dishwater. The fried dumplings were thick, gooey, and smelled of old cooking oil -- and the finger egg rolls were similar. The soy-based dipping sauce for the egg rolls tasted like something out of an old chemical storeroom. And the other dishes -- the steamed cod, the stir-fried beef -- all had the same goopy brown sauce that's slightly sweet, slightly salty, and completely undistinguished. Everything -- from the menus to the selection and the presentation -- was geared towards the non-Asian public. True enough, we were the only Asians there, and besides the waitstaff, there were no Thai folks. If the regulars who show up -- and there were quite a few, eager to nab Dok Bua's $10.95 dinner special from 4 - 7 pm nightly -- are happy, then who am I to kvetch? But I'll be hanged if I ever show up again. The only reason I even packed my leftovers to take home was because I hate waste. I don't think I'll be able to choke them down tomorrow.
(1)
Lydia H.

I've eaten here twice for lunch with friends, but I just haven't been that impressed. The food is just so-so. The place is a bit divey, and it's got character. It's certainly affordable and in a great location just outside the center of Coolidge Corner... but I can't get over the mediocre food. The Dokbua Salad is just plain steamed vegetables with some grilled chicken... it comes with peanut sauce, but I would expect some seasoning on the food as well. Without dressing, it was like eating microwaved steamed veggies plain from the bag. The Som-Tum Salad had a strange odor to it, and I truly could not identify the papayas as such. The vinaigrette dressing was just off. I ate a few bites and left the rest, and this is probably the first time I have ever done that with a salad. My boyfriend had a spicy pork dish, and I made the mistake of trying a bite. It was beyond spicy. He could handle it, but I practically had a panic attack, and I'm no stranger to spicy foods. The spice really crept up after a minute or two, and it was all over my lips, which burned for a long while. So... eat cautiously! Another time, my friend ordered the Pad Thai, which she said was good, and I ordered one of the chicken-and-rice lunch specials. It was fine, but I would have preferred many more veggies.
(2)
Staci C.

Went here based on Yelp reviews. I was disappointed... mucho. When I dine out, 95% of the time it's Thai food. I cook Thai food at home and have Thai friends that I cook with. So this review is based on my previous Thai food experiences. Basically, this food is GREASY. I never knew Thai food could be so oily. When I saw the bottom of my plate and the pool of grease and oil my Pad-Kee-Mow was sitting in, I was disgusted. Also, the veggies they used were either from a can or frozen. Nothing fresh about the food here. I ate there last night and my tummy still hurts today. Next time, I'll go to S&I where I know I can get authentic Thai. I'm not sure who called this authentic Thai... but that is far from the truth. Other than the small snacks sold by the register, there is nothing authentic about Dok Bua Thai Kitchen.
(2)
Juliana N.

I've been coming here regularly since a friend introduced me sometime in college =). The service here is great and the food is served quickly! I love their lunch/dinner specials. Soup. 2 small sides (usually dumplings and eggrolls) and a entree choice. Fried rice/ Pad Thai/ Pad See You... etc =) yumm. And dinner special is only $10. **10% OFF YOUR FINAL BILL IF YOU PAY CASH =)
(4)
E. G.

I love thai food, therefore, I am very critical of Thai food, cause I have consumed half of the worlds thai food... I feel like I need to say thai food one more time: thai food. food wise, this place is around one star, the extra was given for the BYOB policy. There is a Trader Joes really close, so you can stop by, pick up a bottle of two buck chuck, and head on over. It's a very economically friendly approach to a saturday night when you want to drink outside of "an apartment" but not break the bank.
(2)
Meghan M.

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Dok Bua!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What has happened to you????????? I was actually embarassed bringing someone here the other night after raving about the great food, service and prices. It was nothing like what I spoke of. I was excited to show and out-of-towner that we have great Thai food up in Boston. That didn't happen. The soup we started out with was great. And that's where "great" ended. I actually refrained from ordering a curry dish because it was $18...Are you kidding me?? It was no more than $10-12 last time I was here for a seafood with any type of curry. Our appetizer came out super hot (shrimp rolls) and within 30 seconds, no joke, our dinner was served. Last time I checked, appetizers should come out before the meal, you should have time to eat them, then they should serve you the next course. Well, they must have cooked my dinner before the appetizer because it my food was COLD. Not cool but cold. I have a personal rule about never sending back food so I ate it as is. I had ordered the daily special of shrimp sauteed with chilli and basil but it was mostly lemongrass and the sauce was just too syrup-y and sweet tasting (and not spicy as requested). My dining partner ordered duck in a tamarind sauce which was pretty tasty and came out hot. I'm also disappointed that they started sweetening their iced green tea. Anyway, after all this, the bill comes and for one soup, one appetizer and two of the cheaper meals on the menu was over $50!! If I had come here a year or so ago, I could've fed 6 people for that price. I was so, so sad walking out of here. I don't know what happened at this place but it really bummed me out to see these guys go down the tubes.
(2)
Grumpy P.

Try the Pad-Bai-Ga-Pow. Good service. The menu has a good selection across the board. Best Thai food I've had in the Boston area.
(4)
Michele C.

The best authentic Thai food I've found in this area. Fish cakes and garlic tofu are delicious.
(5)
Mary B.

Dok Bua unites people. Like me (Thai food luver) & my boy (Thai food tolerator.) For some reason though he loves Dok Bua and will agree with my sheepish suggestion to dine there. No dim lights or jazz music here. It feels like I actually kind of in a real Thai kitchen so kudos to truth in advertising. The service is speedy and the food arrives with a quickness. I haven't been too adventurous with the menu and usually stick with my standard tom yum koong and veggie pad thai. Classic. My only qualm with this place is that you feel like you're a bit too united with the people sitting around you which can lead to involuntary awkward eavesdropping and sore toes from Brookline strollers. Worth it.
(4)
Doug P.

Dok Bua is my favortie Thai place in Boston. It is good food, reasonable portions, and reasonable prices. Years ago it used to be a half market and half restaurant (You'll notice they left all the refrigerators and covered their glass will wall paper). It's so relaxed and cozy, the staff is very friendly, and the food is so consistently good it's hard to image someone not enjoying it.
(5)
Josie L.

I went with family and friend for an early dinner. The restaurant is very laid-back. We ordered: *Golden Triangle - Not bad, well seasoned. *Fresh Roll (Soft vegetable spring roll) - It was decent. *Keow-Wan Curry (basically it's a Green Curry) - I had better. The sauce was VERY watery. It would have been nice if they named the curry "Green Curry" since I was trying to figure out what kind of curry it is when reading the menu. I'm used to Red, Yellow, and Green as the name of the dishes. *Pineapple Fried Rice - Pretty good. One person was happy with the dish while others thought it was OK. *Dok-Bua Noodle - One person loves it, others found it OK. Overall, it's a decent place. No one really talked about the restaurant after dinner. Next time, I would love to try one of their deep fried fish dishes.
(3)
Amy I.

Their dinner specials are a great deal for $10. You can easily get two meals out of them between your entree, the spring rolls, the dumplings, and the soup. I got the pad thai and it was good, not wet and mushy like it is at some Thai places. Their crispy duck is also very good, not too greasy, as well as the basil fried rice. They serve your food fast. By fast, I mean that if you go to the bathroom right after you order, your food will be there when you get back. That's actually what happened. Amazing. Their decor is very...orange. But it doesn't matter since the food makes up for it. Plus there is a little area in the front where they sell asian groceries, like cookies and snacks. I always think that's funny at asian restaurants. I would rank it as one of the best Thai places in the area.
(4)
Dalina C.

I brought my family here for dinner last Sunday night. We're Thai (my parents grew up in Thailand) so we have decently high standards for the food. I had only gotten take-out in the past, so was looking forward to giving other menu items a try. We ordered a decent amount of dishes - 2 appetizers and about 6 entrees (we're not shy about eating). Everything we had was delicious, and as close to authentic Thai food that I've found in the area. I was surprised to see that even the desserts were true to Thailand, although I wonder how popular they are in Brookline! The atmosphere is perfectly casual, which is just the way I like it. It's the type of place where you could go in a sweatshirt and jeans and would feel just as comfortable as if you were wearing heels and a skirt. The waiter was nice, and the food came out quickly. The only less than great thing about the meal was the bubble tea was a little more liquid-y than I expected it to be - next time I am going to go with a straight Thai iced coffee. Definitely a minor detail though. Other than that, it was a great dinner!
(5)
Raz T.

After a weekend whirlwind, we were feeling incredibly lazy and splurged - taxi home from logan, and ordering in. The Pad Thai and Pad Kee Mow were bland and greasy - completely lacking in spice or any kind of a punch. The former tasted like cardboard, and the latter, like a greasy napkin. The Thai iced tea was much more like liquid ice cream than "tea" - teeth-rottingly sweet, and very, very thick and creamy. After picking at our food for about 5 minutes, we tossed it all out and opted for peanut butter sandwiches instead. What a waste.
(2)
Mikhaela K.

I've been going here for about 6 years on a regular basis. The dinner and lunch specials cannot be beat. You get tons of food (your entree, rice, soup, 2 apps) for a pittance (somewhere between $10 and $14). The pad si ew is flavorful and the noodles are always perfect. The the eggplant with chili and basil is tasty, too. If you can handle it, it's really great when ordered extra spicy. The chicken tends to be a little dry in their noodle/stir fry dishes so I stick with the friend tofu which is crispy on the outside and silky on the inside. Their pork dumplings are savory and the dough is nice and dense. The mango sticky rice is a MUST. They have other very interesting desserts such as the black sesame dumplings in ginger syrup. Try it! Other goodies are golden bags and spring rolls. Both are appetizers featuring a super thin crispy crust. Both are fun to eat and aren't heavy. The (red) curry is loaded with tons of fresh veggies and can be made more spicy or less so, whatever you prefer. The staff is great: efficient and friendly. They're good at describing the level of spiciness if that's a concern. If you're a thai novice, fear not, they have a picture menu! The restaurant used to be a grocery store and you can still see the old cold case doors along one side. This place is BYOB...yay!! Dok Bua is THE BEST!
(5)
noam m.

We came here last night after reading the recommendations on yelp. they have a dinner deal. 4-10pm, which includes a soup+rice+egg roll+dumpling and your choice of main dish, for 11 dollars. Food was great!our waiter was accommodating to our small requests and his big smile seemed really genuine, now - that you don't get allot!! Staff is friendly and the place was full with people happily chatting away, great atmosphere and much more diverse than other places in brookline.
(4)
Justin V.

Got a bunch of that sweet sweet Foodler money so I've been trying a lot of different asian places in the area. Definitely the best Pad Thai I've had in the area and maybe the best Pad Thai I've ever had. Not as fishy as a lot of the other Pad Thai places and they didn't overload it with peanuts. Big portion too. I loved it but I guess I could understand if people thought it was americanized or a little bland. For $9 they also included spring rolls anda couple dumplings. I got it for takeout but there were a bunch of employees in front who were helpful/friendly in making sure I got my food quickly. I really don't see any point in trying other places. Same price as every other place but with a lot more and better food.
(5)
Elise D.

I ate here for the first time today and I was extremely pleased with the casual environment, quick and friendly service, fair price, and, most importantly, the delicious food! I was there during the lunch special (which runs 'til 4) and got more food than I expected for $8.95! It comes with an entree, rice, and two sides. The menu features appetizing pictures of all of the entree options. I got my food in record time and had pleasant interactions with the staff all throughout my meal. I highly recommend Dok Bua to anyone looking for delicious inexpensive Thai food at a place that makes you feel comfortable and welcome!
(5)
Cecilia L.

I once lived near Brookline, back before I knew about Yelp, when my culinary path was dark, grim and ignorant. After I had moved away, I read the awesome reviews for Dok Bua and realized with chagrin that I had passed by many times but due to its dingy appearance had continued eating at Brown Sugar. My officemate confirmed this was a grave error. "If there's better Thai food," he said of Dok Bua, "you just let me know." Last night, my boyfriend and I made the long pilgrimage to Dok Bua. It was crowded and chaotic. They offer a selection of dinner specials with entree, rice, tom yum soup, spring rolls and pork dumplings for $10.50, served bento box style. At the same price as entrees off the regular menu, this is a great deal if you crave variety. But the entrees in the dinner special are smaller than entrees off menu, so if you are a pad thai whore and just want to chow noodles the entire time, dinner special may not be for you. We got a red chicken curry dinner special, beef basil fried rice dinner special, and an entree of chicken pad kee mao. I know, oink oink. Dok Bua isn't convenient for us to visit often, so we wanted to try as much as possible. The curry was just okay, not extraordinary. The basil fried rice was good but didn't compare to the heavenly rice at Pepper Sky's. The spring rolls and dumplings were tasty. But the standouts were the tom yum soup, so zesty and sour with lime, and the pad kee mao, among the best versions I've tasted. So I don't know if I can give the same endorsement as my officemate, but we really enjoyed our meal at Dok Bua. The dinner specials gave us so many different things to eat!
(4)
Vanessa C.

my only regret is waiting so long before finally trying Dok Bua. I knew it had to be good when yi-hwa said it was one of her favorites. finally checked it out in a large group after the clothing swap. the inside of this place is just the cutest - so cute that even if I didnt love the food I would probably come back just b/c its so comfortable! but the food was great. they have a great dinner combination special and the food is not greasy. also they have a full picture catalog of everything on the menu! brilliant. only 4 stars for now b/c I need to sample the menu a bit more to earn that 5th. all the spicy sauces on the table are definitely much appreciated and when you ask them to make something spicy, they really do! great little place!
(4)
Amanda L.

I knew we were in good hands when I saw the Yelp plaque with 4.5 stars on it. The place is kind of a glorified cafeteria, complete with miniature everything. They get +1000000 points for having pictures for EVERY.SINGLE.DISH. I like pictures, especially when I am not sure of what the dish entails, so having a picture of what it looks like it a definite plus. For my meal I got the Thai Style Stir Fried noodles with Crispy Chicken. The chicken was very crispy, but I didn't feel like I was going to have a heart attack either, so that's a plus. The noodles were delicious and I slathered it in as much hot sauce as I could and it still managed to keep the taste. I was also incredibly full afterwards, so yay for happy belly. My Thai Iced Tea was one of the best I've had, and they served it in a cool mug. Desserts looked good, but my pants were starting to cave in on themselves, so I decided it wasn't a good idea. Prices are definitely worth it for the quality of food you are getting. I didn't feel like my meal was overly greasy, so I didn't feel too bad eating the left over cookies I had when I got home. :D
(4)
Barrett F.

I've been to Dok Bua a few times, and to Thai and Asian restaurants all over the place (Boston, Chicago, Portland, New York, Philly....) and this may be one of my favorites. The food is excellent, though the Red Curry Duck has become a personal favorite, each time I've been the groups have tried different things and all of it has been good at minimum. To be fair some of the noodle dishes I thought left a little to be desired (they can be a bit bland) the curries and more interesting dishes have all been exceptional. Also, the menu's are a huge help, they have pictures of most all of the items, so especially if you want to be adventurous that can be a plus (the staff are great at helping too, I was steered to the red curry duck once, and I may never turn away). As for the restaurant itself. I wouldn't take a first date here, but if you've been seeing the girl for a few dates and you want to take her out to great food in a slightly more "eclectic" environment this might just be the spot. It can get a bit crowded during the evening rush, but about 8-8:30 it seems to slow down. In short: The aesthetic isn't that great, but the food is--and it more than makes up for the previous.
(4)
v y.

This has to be the best Thai place in Boston. I love their papaya salad as it is spicy and flavorful. The dinner combos are always a great deal. You get a Tom Yum soup which is decent and two spring rolls and two dumplings which are both delicious. The best thing to get is either their Drunken Noodles or Pad Thai which are just out of this world good. The noodles are tender, the veggies and meat are done well and the sauces are to die for. I'd also add that their Indonesian friends rice is really good. Even my father, who is extremely picky about Thai food admitted he quite enjoyed this restaurant. Oh yes, and if you want to taste what a real Thai Iced Tea tastes like, order it here. The strong tea flavor is amazing. I go here every chance I get. It's delicious.
(5)
Kreshnik Z.

My girlfriend and I are new to the Coolidge Corner and I must admit that Dok Bua (DB) has made the transition to the new neighborhood much easier and sweeter. Whether it is delivery or sitting in, D.B. is off the hook. The food is yummy and if you like to drink wine with your Thai like I do, well you are in luck my friends, because you can bring your own. That's right, D.B. is a BYOB kind of a place, so you can stop by at Trader Joe's on your way and pick up a bottle of Riesling for $5 or $6 bucks and enjoy the deliciousness. If you are relatively new to Thai food, no worries. They have an awesome picture menu that is more or less an accurate representation of what your dish will look like.
(4)
Laura G.

Amazing food, fast service, I dream about this place!!! Can't say more than that!
(5)
Matthew A.

A BIG Thanks to Yelper Rinn S. for finding and alerting me of this wonderful Thai restaurant. We went in on a Thursday early evening and started with a rich chicken noodle soup. We then order pad Thai, papaya salad and crab rangoons. We could not finish everything there was huge portions. We had tea and lovely Brookline Tap, and saved our liver for later. BYO bottle of vino or beer, if you will. I happily added this place to my entire list of BYOB restaurants in New England.
(5)
Tim S.

I love Thai food. This is a good restaurant, not great, but certainly affordable for its location and worth a visit. I went to Dok Bua with a friend for lunch. The lunch plates are both affordable (~$9) and tasty. They come with 2 "sides" where you can choose from soups, salad, dumplings, etc. I went with a simple chicken red curry, chicken coconut curry soup, and steamed dumplings. It was good, but I give the store a 4 star rating on the price to quality ratio. The one downside was that they brought all of the food out at once on a nicely divided plate, but I would have liked to enjoy my starters first, then eat the curry. Service was great, friendly and they kept my water glass filled :-) Oh and you can get a 10% discount off your eat in bill if you pay cash.
(4)
Dennis L.

Well, I came here on separate occasions by invite by different Brookline natives, most recently about two weeks ago. The curries I've had here have been alright, trying beef and duck variations, most recently the duck. It does not seem like anything phenominal, but good for the price, simply well-prepared flavorful curries mixed with a decent helping of vegetables, the dinner specials including fried dumplings and an eggroll, though I did not really like the dumplings and eggroll too much. They seem to go down as 'food', filler like rice in addition to the curry. The duck itself was large boneless slices that seem to have their flavor drawn away by the curry. However, what I did enjoy: Their dessert. So simple, yet hard to find around here... They have mango with sticky rice. I didn't have it since going to the sprawls of Hui Lao Shans in Hong Kong, but the helpings here are large for the mango, a large mango's worth coupled with a heaping helping of sweet and sticky rice that are wonderful in tandem in taste and texture. The mango was firm and not slimy. Here, having dinner is just sustenance to me, but the simple dessert is an experience. Dishes to try: Mango with sticky rice
(3)
Ivan C.

Not much else I can say that hasn't already been said. The atmosphere isn't much but when you go to a place where everything is basically under $12, you should know what to expect. The food is also exceptional and very well portioned. I make it a point to try and have at least one meal from here/week.
(4)
H T.

My friend took me here while I stayed with her during my Thanksgiving Break. Since I go to a college that's basically out-in-the-middle-of-no-where Pennsylvania, I absolutely miss eating Thai food. Don't get me wrong, there's Thai food in PA, just not convienently close to me. We ordered their Pineapple Fried Rice and Pad Thai, both with shrimp. Their shrimp were deliciously big. It's definitely Thai-Thai food, if you know what I mean. I guess the resaurant used to be an old grocery store because against one of the walls there's a line of fridges. But they cover it up and it looks like part of the decor. I'd definitely eat here often if I lived or went to school in Boston.
(4)
Andra Z.

This is, hands down, the best thai food I've ever had. Apparently I don't really like too many kinds of thai food, but I do know that Dok Bua is really wonderful. Several times I've just gotten the wrong thing, but it has all been wonderful, quality food. Just not stuff that goes with my taste buds. The things I have gotten here that are amazing are: the pad thai, the thai iced tea, any of the curries. The lunch specials are a great bargain, the crab rangoons are totes nom. I love the decor of this place, especially all the tiny little plastic food around the register. Maybe this is admitting ridiculousness, but I love the fresh bean sprouts with their pad thai. I had no idea this was something that should happen with all pad thai until I came to Dok Bua. Really great place for a casual date, just bopping out to get some great take out or an evening where you just don't want to cook.
(4)
William W.

I always go in with the intention of trying something different on the menu...and yet every time the $10.95 Red Coconut Curry platter calls to me and I have to get it. It's a great deal. Tom-yum soup, two spring rolls, two pork dumplings, and hefty scoops of red curry and jasmine rice. Definitely remember to bring cash with you. While they take credit cards...they will take 10 percent off your order if you pay with cash!
(5)
Evan J.

My roommate and I know this place for its dinner special, which we simply call, "The Feast". For a little more than 10 dollars you get PLENTY of great, not too greasy Thai food. The employees are always very friendly, and I have never had to wait more than 5-7 minutes for my order to come out. This place is a sure bet if you want a quick, filling, and tasty dinner.
(4)
Melissa D.

Love love love LOVE this place. Super cheap, you get SO MUCH food (definitely do one the plates on the separate menu that gives you dumplings, spring rolls, soup, rice and whatever you order). Everything is delicious. Such a good deal.
(5)
Bobby B.

Ok guys, Anyone who rates this place below a 3 ought to go eat in McDonalds everyday and enjoy what they consider to be Good Food :P I've tried hundreds of Thai places between New York and Boston and this place still takes poll position. Never have I been to a Thai restaurant with such an extensive menu of authentic Thai dishes. The menu here is at least 4 times bigger than any other Thai menu I've seen. To truly enjoy this place it is best you go with a large group and share a variety of dishes. Otherwise it will take you months to try most the menu. My personal favorites are the deep fried soft shell crabs, Kuo Kai noodles and Duck Larb. Skip the appetizers. The treasure is after that. I must warn you though, most the treasures you find here won't be found in other Thai restaurants. It will make you a very spoiled Thai food foodie. You will not be disappointed, otherwise write to me and complain!
(5)
Lisa S.

This place is amazing - great food, relatively cheap and it's BYOB! I always order one of their dinner combos - you get soup, rice, an entree, 2 dumplings and 2 egg rolls. Usually I have enough to take home for lunch the next day, although there have definitely been occasions where I have been hungry and eat everything. The soup is good. It's better when you mix it with the rice. My favorite entree is the pad see ew. Tasty. I also like the pad thai. They do a good job here. For the BYOB, they'll supply you with a bottle opener and glasses. The glasses aren't classy (actually, they're just water glasses) but they work. Sometimes it's better to bring beer. Then you don't even need the glasses.
(5)
MaryTyler M.

So this one time after dinner at Dok Bua I had a ferocious gumball jones... but the machine was broken. I would eat only candy if I could also get supplementary vitamin and mineral injections on the side. At any rate, so strong was my desire that the hostess took notice. Without asking, she opened up the machine, grabbed a soup spoon, and fished out 2 green gumballs for me. TWO!! It restored two gumball sized lumps to my perforated faith in mankind. However... as a vegetarian, I find this a pretty bad place to eat. To be real -- why would you timidly fuss here over having the eggs and fish sauce left out of your crazy greasy entree (a request which has not always been honored, in my experience) when you could go right across the street to the all-vegetarian Bubble Tea Bistro where they have dozens more options and absolutely no threat of infiltration? It deserves noting, though, that all of my carnivorous friends would definitely give this place 5 stars.
(3)
Jay M.

Great lunch.....great service...walking from CC and other areas....
(3)
Kylie S.

I had a really good meal here. I wish I could remember what dish I had--it was a very tasty wide noodle dish with delicious spicy soup and perfect fried spring rolls all for under $9.00. It totally hit the spot and the service was quick and friendly. I am already looking forward to going back. ----I have been a few times now and each time I have been impressed by the friendly service, the pleasant atmosphere and decor and the food. I love the drinks too particularly the taro. I wish they had more veggie options, that is my only complaint.
(4)
C C.

My favorite Thai restaurant in the Boston area. Their food is very authentic. It's very comparable to the Thai food I've had while I was in Thailand. The service is always great and the food comes out quickly. I love their Tom yum soup. My favorite dish from here is the baby clam fried rice. It's a must try. I've been here countless times. Here are a few other dishes I would recommend: pad Thai, moo yang, lettuce wrap, yum nua salad, som tum salad, and the drunken noodle. Oh and I love their Thai iced tea. Great food for a great value.
(5)
Raj P.

Aptly named Dok Bua Thai Kitchen, this place lives up to its name. Sure the food is excellent, but it seriously resembles a dining hall kitchen. Trust me, I work in one. The atmosphere blows, except if you manage to get a cozy couples table by the window and resist a bathroom break. Everywhere else, stinks of dish washing soap and remnants of soggy thai food. If you can't hold it and decided to make a trip to the toilet, resist the urge to look too closely in dish washing antechamber that you must pass through to reach the restrooms. Otherwise all appetite will be lost. If you can get past all this, the food is pretty tasty. I wouldn't know about authenticity, but everything we ordered tasted excellent. For a group of three, we shared the Dok Bua noodle, tamarind duck, and pork appetizer which all came out to $40 with tip. Not cheap, but its fairly competitive considering that there are 300 Thai restaurants in the one mile vicinity. I also liked the addition of several sauces/chutneys sitting on the table if you were a little adventurous for some more spice. My only other dislike would have to be the waitstaff. They're attentive and all, making sure your glass is constantly brimming with water. But when they say they close at 10:30, they mean it. We weren't halfway done with our food and one of our several waiters placed the bill on the table and said with a wonderful smile "Please take your time and enjoy the food!" Unfortunately we failed to recognize the subtle meaning of the statement. He actually implied "We're about to close, gtfo so we can wash dishes." Like idiots, we resumed eating our food. In less than a minute, every guest in the establishment cleared out and the already bright lights, brightened up more. The waitstaff began to gather around like a pack of smiling vultures, frequently checking up on us to see if we were done and if our glass were full. Finally one impatient waitress comes up and said "We're about to close the register so if you could just...." We took the hint, paid as quickly as we could and inhaled the rest of our food. As we were promptly shuffled out we couldn't help but ask ourselves, "did that just really happen?" It's irritating that they chose to seat us when they knew we would only have a half hour to order, wait, and eat our food. I wouldn't have even minded being turned away. If I wanted a fast dining experience, I would've gone to Super 88 and saved on tip.
(3)
Tapan P.

One of my perpetual favorites. Nice food, good portions for the price. Their lunch and dinner specials are a hit.
(4)
greg l.

Best thai food in Boston I have tried to date. The prices are MUCH better than Brown Sugar and the food is better. I find at many Thai restaurants the food is greasy and heavy. Every time I have eaten at Dok Bua I have left the restaurant feeling full, but refreshed. I like the lunch special. It comes with a choice of different appetizers as well as the main dish at a very affordable price.
(5)
Melissa A.

Ruh-roh. The poor economy has hit home at Dok Bua! The price of the lunch special went up $1! Now it is $8.95. Not sure how I feel about this. What am I talking about? I know how I feel about this -- it sucks! I will probably not be getting it as often, as I don't want to spend almost $10 on my lunch. I just don't have that kind of money. Yeah, it's only a dollar, but everyone has their threshold. Don't get me wrong, the food is still delicious (just ate lunch there today) and service is still good, but it pisses me off when places hike their prices. I maybe could've dealt with it better if they went to a solid $8.50. Either way, you still get a lot more food when you get it as takeout. If I eat there I can usually finish it. I couldn't even dream about finishing the entire lunch special when I get it to go. Just a good tip for those of you who like their food! And I did try a new sauce today - it's some clear sauce with jalapenos in it -- it's SOOOO good. I use that and the red chili sauce on my food and it makes my mouth burn with delight.
(4)
Jeff G.

Excellent thai food for the neighborhood and price. This is a great place to go eat or grab take out. The service is great and the menu has plenty of options. I recommend this restaurant for any one in the neighborhood looking for thai.
(5)
Luke A.

This place is amazingngngngn its cheap, fast, cozy (somewhat, its a little over top with cheap decor) and GOOD. The food they have there is always tasty and delicious, satisfying and never breaks the piggy bank. The smoothies aren't so tasty though. . . and i don't like that they serve em in jam jars with handles. . . dont get the mango, it tastes funky. . . Crispy chicken pad thai is delicious, any noodle dish is good, the lunch specials aren't bad either. . .i usually get a fried rice dish. . .but right now i can't seem to remember any of the things (by name, but oh i can taste it. . .) The service isn't bad, any of the waitstaff will help you and take your order, so don't try to hunt down one specific one. . . Food comes out fast and hot, just the way I like it :D Go now. Its past coolidge corner. Harvard St.
(4)
Khemara K.

I lived down the street from Dok Bua for a year. Whenever i had friends and family visiting i would bring them here because it's the best place around for the price, service, and (most importantly) food. Asian food, in general, is pretty simple to order. Pick a sauce/curry and throw any meat in it with some vegetables and Dok Bua's menu does a great job of focusing on this. I normally order from their special menu which comes with a plethora of side items and a delicious tom yum soup. They also have very traditional thai dishes and desserts, which you rarely see in Boston. The reason why i'm not giving Dok Bua five stars is because going here so many times, their food is always the same. It's not a bad thing, but it's not a good thing either. I guess by coming here so many times, the food starts to become bland...
(4)
Caroline R.

My husband and I just got back from Thailand and we were craving really good Thai food. After doing some research on Yelp, we came across Dok Bua and their great lunch deal. It seemed to be a little too good to be true, but we decided to try it out anyways. The restaurant wasn't anything too exciting, but it was clean and that's what's really important. We both ordered their lunch deal (I got the Thai salad, spring rolls, and Penang curry (red curry with coconut). My husband had the Thai salad, Tom Ka and Pad Thai. Everything was delicious, the portions were a decent size, and it was the closest thing to food in Thailand. The peanut sauce was delicious (although I really didn't see it in Thailand). The spice was the right amount and we loved that they had the traditional Thai condiment tray. Although the price didn't compare to the $5 we would have spent in Thailand, we thought the deal was extremely reasonable (there is a dinner deal as well) and we are definitely looking forward to going back!
(5)
Anna P.

This was the first place my girlfriend and I went out to eat, and when she suggested Dok Bua, I did what any good first date would do: I smiled and said "oh, awesome!" But deep in my heart, I held on to a dark, dark secret. Now, after six months, I can finally come clean: I don't really like this place. I don't like the weird decor. I don't like that there's a strong smell of cleaning solvent when you walk in the door. I don't like that the fried rice, no matter how good it is in the first few bites, ends up being too greasy to finish. Lucky for me, my date was not weird or smelly, and we're happy as can be going elsewhere for our Thai food.
(2)
Kat T.

The best Thai restaurant in Boston. I think every single person I've taken to this place has loved it. It's a hole-in-a-wall type but the food is ah-may-zing! I love their lunch/dinner sets but most of all, I love their picture menus!
(5)
David P.

Poor quality of food on my last visit. very bland pad thai. seafood noodle soup was way under seasoned and had ramen noodles! WTF?! only thing decent was one of their seasoned pork appetizers.
(1)
Nicky N.

As far as Thai food goes in Boston, Dok Bua gets 4.5 stars...slightly above Brown Sugar (albeit BS has a nicer atmosphere) and Noodle Street, surely above Nud Pob. Interior is the expected gaudy mix of Christmas lights and little asian ceramic figurines. I go for the lunch special (7.95 with one entree plus two sides) which goes until 4PM. After that the dinner special is only two dollars more. I pushed myself to get something other than chicken pad thai so I got the second thing on the menu...noodles with chili and basil. It was so flavorful, yet not overwhelming or too greasy. S.O. loves the Thai soup with coconut milk and chicken / mushrooms (not so much a fan myself). Between shoveling spoonfuls into his mouth all I could hear was "TASTY."
(4)
Milee S.

As my previous reviews stated, Thai is my least favorite cuisine. But, we weren't in the mood for Japanese, so we decided to go to Dok Bua. I've become a convert! Well, getting there at least! Dok Bua is always crowded during the week, but we were able to get a table right away. They bring out menus and a giant photo album showing the pictures of the food. My bf and I decided to each get the dinner special: a choice of 8 different entrees that come with all of the following: jasmine rice, tom yum soup (YAY!), 2 vegetable spring rolls with a spicy dipping sauce, and two pork dumplings. All for $9.95!!! I had the pad thai (vegetarian) with tofu. The tofu was fried, but there was a sweetness about it. It was a big portion too. I've had pad thai at other places, but this was the best I've had in Boston. The spring rolls were perfect and the sauce was not too overwhelming. My bf had the country red curry and he REALLY enjoyed it. But the showstopper was the soup! Even better than Spice. I didn't have the dumplings (not a fan of pork), but they looked good! The value and quality of the food was fantastic. So worth going back! However, the decor is a bit odd. As one other reviewer said, there were these two lamps on the aquarium in the back that well, didn't really seem appropriate for a restaurant like this. But that's so minor, when compared to the great, unobtrusive service and quick service of food. Totally will go back!
(4)
Aaron B.

After reading reviews I was hoping for a bit more. I just got back from giving it another shot and, meh, still not impressed. The dinner speicial is cool with the separated plate and all the food you get for the price. The only problem is, its just not that good. The first time I was there I got one of the dinner specials, don't remember which, but I know it seemed like it was lacking sauce. Tonight I got the Thai mushroom with chicken daily special. The chicken was dry and the mushroom and sauce part was just boring, like it came out of a can. Not the worst food I've ever had, but I'd put this on the low side of 3 stars. Oh, and what is with the wall of refrigerators? I can understand if the building used to be something else, but they have an entire wall of functioning fridges? Bua?
(3)
Donald W.

Their cashier/manager/hostess is grumpy. ONE FLAG!!! Their Pad Kee Mow is one of the best thai noodles dish I've ever had. SIX FLAGS!!!
(3)
Cheuk S.

My friends suggested this place for my birthday and it was a very good selection. I rarely give 5 stars but this one took it. Maybe there was a little bias due to the situation, but I gave it 5 stars because the prices were fair and not expensive, and the food quality was very good and came in large portions like Chinese family style. At the end of the day, most dishes cost about $10 or less, + $3-4 for drinks and you could leave there with your wallet still intact. Waiter service was fine, can improve a little but nothing to complain about. The place was pretty packed most of the time on a Saturday night and the decorations were pretty homey. We ordered few beef, chicken and one duck dish and all of them were very good. It was about six of us plus one junior eater so there were plenty of room, if you have ten people it would still be good, but anything more might be pushing it. Parking was pretty easy as there's plenty of parking space on street or maybe one of the cvs parking lots. Overall, pretty casual place for some good food at fair value, and their bubble tea and thai ice tea drinks selection was pretty extensive. After dinner, we walked a few blocks to a ice cream place called JP Licks and had some good ice cream cake desert. So I would definitely come back again for any type of dining situation.
(5)
Tom E.

Think of it as Dok Bua Thai Kitsch'n - the wonderful Thai restaurant with the cuteness and kitschness that you would only normally see at the residence of your strange cat-loving aunt or gay dog-hoarding uncle. The restaurant is full of little models of typical Thai dishes and of Bangkok boat vendors. DIORAMA HEAVEN. There's some kind of ancient pinball machine, there's Asian snacks for sale and damn if they don't love playing Thai Pop allllll daaayyy loonnngg. As for the food, the geniuses who run Dok Bua have come up with the plan to sell you the stuff that is hard to describe and you'd probably baulk at the translation - they have the photo menu. Stick here and you'll prosper. Give yourself a good ten minutes to browse the pics and then choose whatever you want - it's all good. I'd definitely recommend the steamed egg bowl for anyone who just loves egg to some silly degree - it's very eggy! Dok Bua is Boston's best restaurant for an authentic Thai meal with your friends. They have plenty of seating, BYOB and the decor and vibe inside is fun. Spice levels are good but not high enough to scare away unprepared friends. So if you're scared of S&I's heat (or it's full) then Dok Bua makes a fantastic fall-back and it's much better with friends. Call me!
(4)
Alex S.

I suppose given the stellar reviews, I was expecting a bit more, but I did enjoy my meal at Dok Bua. For $9.95 (plus an additional dollar for rice), I got a generous portion of tofu, bean sprouts, and snow peas in a garlic brown sauce that had subtle hints of lime. The dish was supposed to include baby corn, but it was missing entirely; I really hate when the kitchen does that. Even still, I was impressed with the quality of the dish--the vegetables were incredibly crisp, and the tofu was delicious. For an appetizer, my boyfriend and I split the fresh veggie rolls--also very good. They were served with an excellent peanut hoisin sauce, and were also great with a dab of hot chili paste. The ambiance was definitely a little weird, and I was skeptical when I first walked in the door; this proved to be all for naught. The meal was tasty, and the service was quite prompt and helpful. Our waitress made sure fish sauce was omitted, and also offered us a choice of fried or fresh, steamed tofu in our dinners. We chose the steamed tofu, which absorbed the flavor of the sauce very well--I wish more restaurants offered this! I must say, I was disappointed that there were zero vegetarian options for the dinner specials. I don't understand that, especially since they have a separate, all veggie menu. Not a big deal, but it would have been nice. Overall, though, there was something decidedly unremarkable about Dok Bua. For the same price, I can think of other places I would rather go for Thai (like Bangkok Cafe in Roslindale). I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but if you're in the area and want a decent meal, Dok Bua is a good choice.
(3)
Susan K.

We have been going to Dok Bua for 10 years now. They are consistent and friendly. Decor is fun/funny. Food is pretty authentic, but maybe a little 'americanized'. We always love to end with dessert- the shaved ice ABC. Would highly recommend getting the Dok Bua card, which has saved us 10% at every visit for quite some time.
(4)
Erik R.

Their menu, for me, does not match up well with Bangkok Bistro's or the New Rod Dee. The only dish I really like is the # 14, the pork with rice. My take on their menu probably reflects my own personal preferences more than the quality of their food, so given that, and how much I like # 14, I'll still rate it high.
(4)
Anna K.

One of the best Thai places I've been to. They have this wonderful combination dinner plate where you get dumplings, spring rolls, tom yum soup, rice, and your choice of entree for 12 bucks. Everything is so delicious. The inside is laid out kind of weird, but it's warm and welcoming. I just hope they don't cook the fish that are in the tanks.
(5)
Hiroko S.

This Thai foods are really good. It is better to go with some of your friends. I went there 2 and we could not order much (only two). I definitely want to try lots of menu since they have a lot.
(3)
Kar M.

Our favorite thai restaurant in Boston. We have been going here for 7 years now and they have been consistently great. The food and service always wants me going back there atleast once a month. They also allow BYOB, so take a bottle of red wine with you and enjoy the spicy food. The wait staff are wonderful and always have a smile.
(5)
M M.

I've been eating Thai food for 15 years and this is definitely the worst Thai food I've ever had. It is surprisingly bad for a place with so many positive reviews. Avoid it like a plague.
(1)
Princess M.

Yumminess!!! The best thing about this place is their picture menu. The menu is so large that you will be spoiled for choices. We most recently tried their pad si ew and the vermicelli pad si ew. The version made with vermicelli was definitely better as it really soaked up all the flavors of this stir fried noodle dish. The crispy chicken is not as good as Rod Dee's but it's still nonetheless very crispy and tasty.
(4)
Michaela L.

Ooooooooooh, I was so deprived of Thai food when we came for dinner we way overdid it on the ordering. Dinner combos are BIG so watch out! Pad Thai was not fantastic, a bit disappointing, but my Pad Kee Mao with tofu was great, as was the appetizer involving spinach leaves, dried coconut, dried shrimps, peanuts, tiny chilies...you know what I'm talking about right? Also very good: fresh lemonade and mango with sticky rice. If you take the Green Line T you get the chance to walk off your massive food intake, like we did.
(4)
Fiat V.

WHO"S INTO HUMAN RIGHTS???? ANYONE HERE IN BOSTON???? IF THAT"S YOU..... READ THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! Here's an "IN-" sight on this restaurant if you don't already know..... I know this because my roommate worked there and told me this.... No matter how much you tip, if it be $1 or $100 tip, the owner of the restaurant keeps a huge cut of it! Each of the server brings home ONLY $65 per shift!!! No matter how stellar or how horrible the service is, the servers DO NOT keep their share of the tip. So for example, during the lunch shift, if 5 servers make a total of $100 or $1,000 in a shared-tip pot, each of the servers receives only $65 in tip. The extra amount goes to the owner of the restaurant. How dumb is that!!! Yeah, the food is alright, but if you support child-labor sweatshops, under-aged pornography, tainted baby formula, or are against ethical issues, then by all means, SUPPORT THIS RESTAURANT!!!!
(1)
ãƒˆãƒ¢ T.

A small authentic Thai restaurant in Brookline MA where I often visited with friends from Bangkok. (Warning: haven't been there for years, so my review could be out dated) PROS: I loved their picture menu, and I'm not talking about one of those professionally done picture menus you see at Chilli's. Unaltered photos taken by the chef that looks exactly like what you will get. Everything on their menu is great, so you cannot go wrong. All at a bargain price. CONS: I haven't been there for a while, but I don't think they still have liquor license. I'm not a heavy drinker, but it's nice to have beer with spicy food.
(5)
Shea D.

Three words: Crab Fried Rice. Nuff' said. PS: Get the bubble tea.
(5)
Julie R.

While in Coolidge corner with my boyfriend we decide to find a place for lunch. We venture down Harvard St. and see Dok Bua. I had remembered seeing good things on yelp so knew we were in good hands. A Yelp plaque rests on the hostess table. I think NICE! The place is set up cafeteria style and is packed on a Sunday afternoon. A server quickly gets our attention and takes us to an open table. We check out the large menu and both decide to do the combo for $7.95 each. So I decide on the coconut milk soup, salad with peanut dressing, and pad Thai. It arrives on a cute dish with everything separated. I try it all. Tasty! Salad is fresh and crisp. Soup is soothing, pad Thai is just great. My boyfriend got the spring roll, salad, and crispy chicken. He raved about it also while clearing his plate. The dining room was loud and very family friendly so don't go there looking for a romantic dinner. Go for some great food! The Thai iced tea was excellent too!
(4)
Nisy W.

This is one of my favorite regular places to go for Thai food. I don't mind taking the ride through the crazy J-Way and Riverway to get to that side of town. The service is always great, the food never dissapoints, and you can bring your own bottle of wine. The golden bags are to die for!!!!! And how can you not have the Thai ice tea....Yummm!!!
(4)
Shivani G.

I heard that Dok Bua won Best of Boston this year and my interest was piqued. I stopped by this afternoon for a light lunch and thoroughly enjoyed my chicken noodle soup. The broth was flavorful and the chicken had a lovely roasted flavor. I took their takeout menu because I have half a mind to order in for dinner! P.S. The decor reminds me of being in Thailand, so I liked its quaint charm. UPDATE: I ordered delivery and I wasn't as impressed as with my two times dining in. The pad thai lacked taste and the panang curry was a little nondescript when it came to its coconut milk. Hmm, maybe eating in the restaurant is the way to go?
(4)
Sarah R.

I don't go out often for Thai. It's not that I don't like it, it's just that it's not my first choice when dining out. Like Indian food, I have to be in the right mood for it. However, Dok Bua is a great choice for when you're jonesing for some Thai on the (relatively) cheap. There's a good selection of dinner specials for $9.95 that include your entree, jasmine rice, pork dumplings, and spring rolls. Not too shabby. When I came here last weekend I had the pad Thai with crispy chicken. This was on a Saturday night, when the restaurant was relatively hoppin'. In what seemed like the blink of an eye after ordering, our steaming hot, fresh food was brought out to us. For reals, this place has efficiency down pat. The chopsticks separate nicely, which is another plus. I can't tell you how much it irks me when I try to separate them and as a result, one stick has part of the other stick attached to it. Know what I mean? These split cleanly and evenly. Word. The atmosphere is kind of fun and kitschy, like other reviewers said. Lots of bright colors and sort of cartoony-looking, charming decor. Overall it's a very inviting and fun little joint. Downside? Apparently there's no plum sauce, which was inconsequential to me, but my date wanted some plum sauce like it was going out of style. No dice. Dok Bua does delivery too, so I imagine that when the mood strikes I'll be ordering from there. It's also worth another trip up Harvard Ave.
(4)
sara f.

With all the Thai places Ive eaten at in the Allston/Brighton area, this place was just ok and not very memorable. For one, perhaps the waitress was new or maybe we were just forgotten as we were placed in the back, but it took quite some time to place our order. We had noted that tables that were seated 10 minutes after us were placing their order before us which was pretty annoying. Second, one of the platters we ordered was cold and we had to ask the waitress to reheat it. Maybe I just went on an off night, but they seem to be on point the majority of the time as they have won numerous awards that are posted on the front door.
(2)
Frank N.

The Thai food is pretty solid here. I've been here quite a few times in the past, and it does not let me down. Recently I've been coming for the lunch specials, which aren't too bad, but then again the Genki-ya specials might be a little more...special (read: bang for the buck). Anyways, I like to go here because there's more seating than at S&I/rod dee, so if I am rolling with quite a few thai food fans, we can get our fix here. Tom yum soup is good, tad on the sweet side. I've tried a bunch of dishes here--I don't even remember the names, but all were definitely good. I can't attest to "authenticity" that much b/c I haven't had all of the dishes I've tried here in Thailand as well, but of course, all are good in their own right. Yen ta fo, chinese broccoli with dried/cripsy pork, pad si ew, rad nar, that appetizer dish that's just meat etc etc. Actually, I tried their pad thai for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and thought it was ok. I also prefer rod dee's pad kee mao over dok bua's. Did you know that "pork" in thai is pronounced "moo"? (though with a downward then upward tone). I always thought that was funny
(4)
Keelin C.

I am not a naturally born Thai fan, but have been on quest lately to find Thai food that I enjoy. My husband and I have been to Dok Bua a few times. We have eaten there and had it delivered. Each time the food is excellent. I love their Thai flavors and the services is always speedy and excellent. If you want reasonably priced Thai fair this is the place. Enjoy.
(4)
R I.

Went there for the first time because of a Groupon and now I'm hooked! This is definitely my favorite Thai restaurant in the area and the prices are very reasonable. The service was excellent and the menu is *extensive*. Nom nom nom.
(5)
Ashley B.

Dok Bua is so cute, discovered it randomly on campusfood.com and my roommate and I went to get some on the 4th of July. It's a small restaurant, but it has some great food! and when you order something to drink it comes in these adorable mason jars (like jars that jam has been put in), and I think it just adds a bit to the atmosphere, like small, home-y everything made fresh. You get good food for good prices and you can't go wrong with anything ordered there. There is take out and food is ready fast, so if you're starving, don't worry, everything is hot and made to order, but you also don't have to wait forever to stuff your face.
(4)
Jonathan R.

I have been going to Dok Bua since 2008. My friends and I eat here a few times a month, it is a great spot for large or small groups. The lunch special / dinner specials are very cheap, high quality, and quantity is large. Also, it is BYO, so bring a few beverages and enjoy!
(5)
Rosalind D.

i love dok bua. the only reason Im not giving this beloved restaurant of mine 5 stars is because they do not serve alcohol. everything i have ever gotten is great, and i actually crave their food and compare other thai places to them, which i think are marks of a great restaurant. they are super fast and wallet friendly to boot :)
(4)
Leigh I.

I would focus on stir fried items like Gara Pao, their beef with chili pepper. Dinner/Lunch special was a super killer deal until they raised price couple of times. It's still a good deal for around $10. They are generous with servings and people there are always smiling. Frequent eaters will have the VIP card. If you go there as often as we used to, VIP card pays for itself. My friends find it funny that we go there with a card but appreciates the VIP card. Unfortunately, they changed their policy is promoting cash so if you pay with cash, you get the same discount as the VIP card. This is a casual place with eatery like feel with good staple, inexpensive Thai food that you can't go wrong with.
(4)
Chris B.

I really enjoyed this place. Although not as good as S&I, this is a place that you can go to actually enjoy a sit down meal and isn't dedicated to takeout! The staff were really friendly, and patient with us as we had a pretty good size group. The only negative point I can raise is that the food did not come out in any order, instead, it all just appeared at the same time. The portions were really good for the price, and I will certainly be back for lunch and/or dinner.
(4)
Lauren M.

Very good, very reasonable. They accommodated my food allergies well! It was busy and a little noisy on Saturday night, but this is to be expected. You may have to wait, but it is well worth it!
(5)
Maya S.

If you are looking for cheap Thai food..this is the place to be. Decent options...liked the iced tea more than the food!
(3)
Tushar S.

Love the food!
(4)
Nick C.

I went to Dok Bua for my second time tonight and now I have to review it. The food here is so good! And the staff are so friendly and helpful, and the restaurant is so cute inside! Winning combination. The first time I went, I didn't get the dinner special because it comes with a pork dumpling, and I don't eat pork. I didn't think to ask if they could substitute something else without pork. I just got the pad kee mao entree with tofu, and it was fantastic! This time I asked about the dinner special- they happily offered to make it entirely vegetarian for me! Instead of the pork dumpling I got two extra vegetarian egg rolls. The vegetarian tom yum soup was delicious, and for my main dish I had the pad thai. Pad thai is a little pedestrian I realize, but when it's done well it absolutely satisfies, and this one was excellent. I will definitely be going back to Dok Bua!
(5)
Keo H.

I simply love this place. I've gone to Brown Sugar, Kao Sarn, Raw Dee, and a laundry list of other Thai Restaurants but I always end up back here. The food is authentic as it can get without being from your moms kitchen. The food selection is rediculous---SOO many! This is the only Thai Restaurant that offers Sai-Kowk (authentic spicy thai sausage). I also had the drunken noodles and spicy thai basil fried rice. All of which were soo freaking good. I don't care what anyones says this is the best Thai place to eat at if you're looking for good price, good food, and good laid back atmosphere. None of the dishes here are over $17, most are about $10-$12 and the portions are good. The service is also great, they came around often enough to check in on us. And yes, this place is the place because everytime I come here its busy and full. Its a good size restaurant with several tables so you don't ever have to wait to be seated. I willl be back next week. :o)
(5)
Emily F.

The decor and staff are sweetly lovable, service is speedy, portions are very large (especially the $10 dinner special), they boast great veg-friendly options - all in all it's delightful. In particular: 1. The miniture food displays are darling! I want the fruit and vege stands! It reminds me of my old Playmobile days. 2. I love the colorful dishes and the eclectic, colorful decorations. 3. The 8x10 photos of their dishes posted everywhere are quite endearing, as in the full picture menu. 4. Full water glasses are put out on the table as you sit down, illustrative of the very attentive staff. 5. They cut the fresh spring rolls into bite-size pieces - easy to eat, easy to share. If you've ever struggled to eat spring rolls with any poise resulting only in strings of carrots and sprouts hanging out your mouth with a mess of spring roll insides covering your plate, you'll understand just how much this is appreciated! So many options, so little tummy room.
(4)
Kimberly P.

I am very very impressed. Not only was the service speedy and the food good, they had a dinner special that included a main dish, sides, rice and soup for only $10.95. PLUS you can get 10% off for paying with cash. I knew there was a reason why this place is always packed when I drive by!
(5)
Megann S.

Dok Bua can be counted on consistently to be some of the best Thai food in Boston. Crab Rangoons are amazing as is the papaya salad. Let's just get it out there: the place is oddly decorated--a mishmash of neon palm trees, fish tanks, Japanese screens, and many other wonders that I would not do justice to here and i will leave for you to experience firsthand. The menu is typical Thai food (although a fairly extensive selection), but they also have a book of photos so that you can SEE what all the dishes look like before ordering. Sometimes, I admit, the pictures are a bit less than appetizing, but it's nice to see what something looks like if you have no idea what it might be. Wait staff is attentive and I've never had to ask for more water (the bus boys maybe need some additional duties). The place doesn't serve alcohol, but you can bring your own and they'll serve it for you. The best is if you get a seat along the "wall" which is not a wall at all but actually a row of coolers where you can chill your six pack while you eat (if you're positioned correctly, you can also retrieve another beer from the cooler without leaving your seat....a rare luxury).
(5)
Chloe N.

Dok Bua, I can't say enough good things about this place. The curry is great, and so are the combo-plate specials (good value right there). Lately, I've been getting the big ol' bowls of soup (sukiyaki lately- nice tomato broth with veggies and rice noodles). Perfect cure for the cold weather blues. The pad kee mao is also delicious. Anyway: BEST THAI IN BOSTON. Hands DOWN.
(4)
Geoff P.

I can't really add much that the other 250+ reviews haven't. Amazing, authentic food at a good price. If you want Thai food and are near Dok Bua, I highly recommend it.
(5)
Rosie Z.

More authentic than most Thai restaurant I have been to in the city, their lunch/dinner special was great which gives you two appetizers. The staff is very friendly and place is cleaner than a lot of the Asian places around. Will def come back.
(4)
Charles W.

I've been here several times now. The decor is nice, the service is great, and the food is very tasty.
(4)
Jess C.

Love love love the chili basil tofu dish. It's sooo hot, my face turns red and my eyes water, but it's soooo good! Make sure you get plenty of rice. If you order delivery, you need to ask for the rice, too, so don't forget too, or your mouth will explode. I love that this place is BYOB.
(5)
Erica T.

The food here is comfort food. A huge plate of fried rice and fried chicken or duck on top with an egg. Yumm.. The thai iced tea! Man, they have their recipe perfected. It tastes perfectly sweet every time. The food doesn't need work, but I am sad that their prices have increased. It used to be a place where I would think I'd only spend about $13 or 15 but now it's about $20. Not so good. BYOB which is good, except I don't drink anyway. I also don't like how I smell like greasy food when I leave the restaurant.. but I guess that is typical with asian restaurants.
(4)
Yumiko F.

I love their food. I tried the curry at this place for the first time. I always get green curry from other place but tried it and it was great but spicy side. Always fun of fried calamari as well. :)
(4)
Reaksmey K.

Simple & Delicious! one of my all time favorites in Brookline! Def try their lunch specials! i love the Moo-yang and Tom Yum soup! oh also the thai iced tea!
(5)
Bob J.

One thing you need to know about this place. BYOB. That's mean no up charge on the alcohol . The food is also good.
(4)
Mina K.

I love love love thai. =) Dok Bua does it right. My only complaint that it's too far from my apartment! The papaya salad is awesome and spicy! eek. The singapore fried rice is amazing, if you haven't tried it, you must! Expect to pay about 10-15$ per person for dinner (excluding drinks, appetizers). For me, it's too far and cost more money that I can afford to spend on food (I'm a poor student), but its freaggin worth it. =)
(4)
Jennifer S.

Update: Bumped up to first place in Jenny's Favorite Thai Restaurants because I realized that although I could have gone anywhere else since I wrote my last review, I haven't.
(5)
Itch S.

Grew from a mini-mart to a Thai mini-mart to a counter and now a full blown restaurant. Since it grew somewhat organically it makes the space eclectic. The service is great and seems to be family driven and the food is usually pretty good. The Larb will blow some smoke from your ears. Love it but would prefer to be sitting in a cold bathtub while eating it.
(4)
Meera Z.

I loooove this place. I came here before I even lived in the area, and I continue to come here on a regular basis. The dinner specials they have are huuuuge! It's definitely 2 meals worth of food! I don't know how traditional the food is, but to me it's some of the best thai food I've had. Aside from the Pad Thai, which is pretty average but still tasty. They are also vegetarian friendly. Just tell them and they'll make sure your food is meat-free. Even the dinner, they'll make the soup especially for you and give you all veggie options. Yay! They are super quick too... If you call in an order it's ready within 5-10 minutes. Definitely try this place out if you haven't already!!
(5)
Mark C.

Dok Bua is excellent, authentic, Thai Food. I'm not sure what else to say. I've veered WAAYY off the beaten path on their (rather extensive) menu, and have yet to be let down. Everything has been excellent. Hidden Gem: Mango with Sticky Rice and Coconut Milk dessert. It's awesome. I could ramble on about each dish.... but that would fill up a few pages. Just try it, and experiment. You won't be let down.
(5)
Zev X.

We ordered the vegetarian dumplings for an appetizer, the tofu and mixed vegetables with brown sauce and Pad Thai. The food is relatively cheap. Both entrees were under 10.00 and the appetizer was 4.75. the menus have pictures which is helpful in ordering -- no surprises. IF YOU WANT A RELAXING DINING EXPERIENCE --- DO NOT GO HERE. read below. THIS PLACE IS ONE STEP UP FROM A CAFETERIA. We were rushed out the door from the time we entered. Not 30 seconds after being seated did the waitress come over and ask if we were ready. She came back over every 60 seconds for a total of 3 times. and then sent over another waitress to ask if we were ready. The place wasn't even that crowded,,,,,, I am not sure what the problem was. After we ordered, the appetizer came instantly. Then after taking our first bite, she brought our food to the table. WTF! the food was okay and flavorful...... but expect to have a very quick dining experience. we were in and out in less then 35 minutes.
(2)
Lauren L.

OMG OMG OMG OMG! This is good Thai food!!!! NO.... this is GREAT Thai food!!!! This is the EXACT taste you would get if you have thai food in thailand!! I had the "Dok Bua Grilled Pork on Stick", I can still taste how favorful and tender they are when I am staring at the pics I took of them!!! Their Tod Mun (fish cakes) are as good as the street side food stand you can get them from in the middle of Bangkok!!! ....... i m just.... speechless..... (PS. I will post some pics soon!)
(5)
Jillian Y.

Pad Thai is a dish that really shouldn't be that hard to make. Yet somehow nearly every place in Boston is doing it wrong...not Dok Bua. Although this is yet another place I've never graced with my presence (I like their speed of delivery, frankly), I have definitely stuffed my face with their pad Thai, and I have definitely enjoyed it. Muchly.
(4)
Jay C.

Crispy chicken is very good. The workers are always very nice. The decor could use a little updating.
(4)
E B.

This place smells kinda funky... and normally, that would really turn me off of a place, but since I was with a group of people I decided not to make a fuss... and the food was actually very good! Their lunch and dinner specials can't be beat and I was very happy that they were willing to make mine with tofu instead of meat... and they didn't even charge me extra! (I think its about $9 for the lunch special and $12 for dinner--- includes 1 main dish and 2 or 3 sides which ends up being an incredible amount of food). I got the pad-see-ew (yea, I have NO idea how to spell that), tom kha soup (coconut based soup) and the vegi egg rolls. I also got coconut juice... everything was so delicious that I've since been back and have ordered the same thing.... but it smells weird every time. So cause of smell, 1 star; cause of food, 5 stars... and that averages out to a 3. (maybe next time I should do takeout!)
(3)
Melinda M.

I wish I could give 3 1/2 stars because although the decor is a little unusual I like it because it adds to the lively atmosphere. There are those dangling white xmas lights and a row of fridge doors covered with tree wallpaper. There always seems to be a lot of people here and everyone seems to be having a good time. The food is ok, the prices are good. A fun neighborhood haunt so stop by if you're around but I wouldn't go out of your way.
(3)
Gary F.

Gary took the tight girl here about two months ago. It's taken these two months to recover and finally spit out a tight review. Have you ever heard that a menu with pictures of the food is best avoided? Think IHOP or Friendly's. Well, one look at the sticky, photo album menu pages at Dok Bua and Gary wanted to run screaming onto Beacon Street. However, Gary persisted, whispering to himself that he's really never seen a meal he didn't like. And it's not that he didn't like the food at Dok Bua. However, there was the scary mango chicken, the tom wonsoon soup that wasn't nearly as tight as the one served at delicious Khao Sarn on Harvard Ave. and the fever dream decor. In summary: Dok Bua is a mix of Chinatown convenience store, acid trip, and Denny's. But you should try it anyway.
(3)
Jennafir E.

It was good food at a decent price, but it wasn't amazing. I enjoyed my meal and the round tables, the multiple choices, btu when push comes to shove it was just good. I'd go again if friends want to, but I'd probably try another place before going back, to see what else is out there.
(3)
Sarah S.

I'm not sure why everyone raves about this place. My experience of it has been just ok.
(2)
Jessica P.

If you haven't found a "good" thai place in Boston then you have not been to Dok Bua. I like it much better than Brown Sugar or The King & I. The food is always delicious and it doesn't break the bank. You can't go wrong with anything here and their picture menu would put any novice at ease. Enjoy!
(5)
Matt S.

First off, I have to say I'm not the biggest Thai food fan. I like it fine, but I prefer Chinese, Korean, Japanese, or, when in Boston, Burmese, if I'm going Asian. But Dok Bua is a nice place. I came here quite a bit when I lived in Brookline--always enjoyed it on Friday and Saturday nights in the summer, when it was packed with couples or with groups having a good time. Really good Pad Thai, and the best beef basil fried rice I've ever had! Now in Chicago, I miss it. There's nothing close here. And I think it's probably more authentic than Brown Sugar, which is good but overpriced and overrated. 4.5 stars.
(4)
Ryan D.

Dok Bua and Rod Dee are my fav thai joints in Brookline!. They both have great cuisine and they both are authentic. To tell you the truth i cant decide which thai place i like more... But what I can tell you about Dok Bua is they have a more diverse menu with some of my favs like Soft Shell Crab. Braised Thai Ribs and the shredded spicy melon. Dok Bua is more of a sit down restaurant with better ambiance. Its a great place to take a date, and its BYOB!!!!. They also have a little section of the restaurant that specialize in thai candies and other types of junk food. The picture menu should be a bible...What i've learned from dining out at asian restaurants is that the names of the dishes doesn't serve the foods justice. This also is a great technic for up selling because i always eat with my eyes first so...i always over order : )
(4)
Carolyn D.

I, I, I'm stunned that I so did not like this place. Granted, I was in a snit because I drove over to CC from Roslindale for a nice, quiet, veggie lunch at the Bubble Tea place across the street, only to find it's CLOSED. Sadness all around. But, I had already put my three quarters in the meter, and so walked across the street to Dok Bua, thinking I would have a decent lunch there, since so many Yelpers gave it four and five stars. Service is prompt, but the food was startingly mediocre. I got the cashew and veggie lunch, thinking it was vegetarian, but when I was asked "Beef or Chicken?" I should've switched to the one plainly veggie offering for lunch. I didn't, and asked if I could have it with tofu, and there was no problem. I also ordered the Thai salad and the veggie spring rolls as my two sides. Salad was iceberg lettuce and tomato. Hmm. Spring rolls good, put the shredded carrot garnish on salad, tasty. It was the tofu that stunned me. Soggy, lukewarm, clearly reheated. And there was lots and lots of fish sauce, but I'm not taking points of for that since I didn't ask and it didn't state it was a vegetarian dish. The ambience made me a little crazy. Kinda cool, but the music was too loud, and when music wasn't playing, it was some, man, talking in Thai. For a long time. I didn't enjoy that. Bathrooms through the dish washing room (I guess), unpleasant, and it made me feel like the bathroom was unclean (but it wasn't). Maybe lunch isn't their strong point, but the whole experience put me off.
(2)
Nora P.

Felt like I was in Thailand again when I walked in the door. The food was good and the atmosphere was great. We will be back...soon.
(4)
Matthew H.

I've eaten here many, many times and Dok Bua has never disappointed. The curries are tasty, the pad thai is one of the best in Boston and the chicken basil has lots of flavor and a nice bite to it. Some of the food is pretty spicy...they definitely don't water it down to please the typical american customer. But if you like food with some bite to it, you'll feel right at home at Dok Bua. The decor is a bit wacky, but it's a fun place to eat dinner and the service is always very friendly and attentive. All in all a very good experience that I would highly recommend to anyone.
(5)
Katie K.

Go for the Pad Ki Mow. Go now. (and don't forget the basil fried rice and the chili sauce.)
(5)
Doris K.

The most authentic Thai food in Boston - coming from one of my Thai friends. I love that they have a picture menu book so that you can actually see what you want to order, and I also love their Thai ice tea. I really enjoyed every single dish that we ordered and when you say spicy they mean spicy! I need extra water just from the fumes that were coming off the entree. They also offer smoothies, great for the summertime. For my Thai food cravings I usually go here or to Brown Sugar. Both are excellent and reasonable in price.
(5)
Busy L.

I had the lunch special for $8.95 yesterday which consisted of soup, chicken wing and an entree with rice served in a ceramic PuPu Platter type plate. The coconut soup was excellent. Chicken wings were dreaded little greasy things with no flavor. I had the spicy entree with pork and it was uninspired. Nothing exciting or memorable. Rod Dee on Beacon has much better quality food.
(2)
Joanna B.

I recently went to Dok Bua for lunch and, for all the reviewers who complained about the kitschy decor - they've upgraded!!!! The wall of refrigerators with contact paper covering them is gone and a very happy lime green coat of paint with interesting designs is in their place. This makes more space for diners, which is good, and the food is still delicious and priced affordably. They are always happy to substitute/add ingredients for you and they take credit cards. I have never had a bad meal there and I've been there at least 20 times and everyone I take there enjoys whatever they order. The lunch special is now $8.95. If you order hot tea you get a mug you could practically swim in and the hot thai tea comes in a very dramatic presentation where you pour the boiling water over the leaves yourself. It is still funky, but less scary-funky. The bathrooms are COLD and do not feel that clean, though I have never had a problem after using them. Thanks, Dok Bua, for making the dining room a little more inviting.
(4)
Nathan W.

Pretty good thai food. The portions are huge and you get a choice of a few dishes with their specials. The thai ice tea is great here as well
(4)
Joanna C.

I've only been here twice, but I like it enough to know that I'll be coming back. The pricing is reasonable and portions fair. Keep in mind, this isn't some fancy place, so I'm not keeping my expectations that high. And so... Pad ke mao: pretty good (I asked for mild spiciness, they were very obliging) Crab fried rice: okay Mango sticky rice: SO GOOD Chrysanthemum tea: I love this stuff I wish I could give them an extra half star because their service is friendly. Their extensive menu alone is worth coming back for. The picture menu especially helps get the appetite going.
(3)
Chris S.

Very friendly staff, tasty food.
(4)
RM S.

After Rod Thai in Chinatown burned down, I was having a hard time finding other Thai restaurants around the area that would match the SPICY Kra Pao (ground chicken with basil and rice) that I loved. Well my friends, I found that Dok Bua's spiciness to be authentic, so authentic that it makes me go into tears. I highly recommend this awesome ex-food market that turned into an amazing restaurant.
(5)
Ashley J.

I ventured back after my last disappointing trip and they have returned to their former glory. I am so happy to be able to indulge my craving for Thai basil once again at Dok Bua. Yeah
(5)
Iska B.

I just recently moved to Brookline in September and was looking through Yelp for some great places to eat near me. So clearly I quickly came upon Dok Bua and had to try it. My boyfriend and I had a great experience. We've been back 3 times now since it is a short walk from my place. The food is always so good and the portions are just right (not enormous so that you cannot finish but not too small either). We've tried the dinner specials, which are such a good option if you want to try a variety of foods, and the standard pad thai, pad see yew, and other noodle dishes. We also LOVE the fresh rolls. The staff is very nice and the service is quick. The prices are also great and allow a person to order appetizers even on a budget. If you want good Thai in Brookline this is THE place to go.
(5)
Chick P.

If I could give zero stars I would... sorry yelpers but i just had the worst delivery/food experience of my life... not only did i not get 1/2 of what i ordered... what i did get was littered with black hairs... EWWW my pad thai had a lot of unknown seafood (i think) bits in it YUCK. i feel sick thinking about it. asjdfksajfdsajk I AM SO DISAPPOINTED! and now there is a rumbly in my tumbly that is foreboding
(1)
Emily T.

I agree with all the other positive reviews--faabulous food--the other thing about this restaurant is that it is really kid-friendly and no matter how many times we've eaten there we've never had a bad meal. It's just consistently delicious!
(4)
Pamela P.

I hate to say anything bad about Dok Bua...I used to love Dok Bua...until one day my BF and I were eating there...we started with the soup...and I had the strangest feeling come over me...what it was was a reaction to MSG...now normally I am not sensitive to MSG...I eat Raman noodles all the time...but this episode landed me in the Emergency Room and the docs told me it was a reaction to MSG. Now like I said I normally can eat foods with MSG and I'm fine...which leads me to believe that there was A LOT of MSG in my soup...even my BF said he was starting to feel funny. But...I have eaten there before many times and been ok...but now I know why their food is so "flavorful"....I'd rather get the flavor from real spices...but of course that's how they keep their prices down. So I have to give Dok Bua a 2-star rating. If you can handle MSG...then eat there...but if you're at all sensitive like me...be wary.
(2)
Jonathan L.

Very affordable Thai food. The atmosphere is great. I love the incense. Oh yes, and I can't stress the great service more. I'm a very picky customer and these guys get it right every time. I've been to this restaurant several times and have never been let down. All their food is very simple and executed very well each time. What makes them good is the combination of spices, textures, and smells. They balance sweet, sour, and spicy flavors to make great food. Anyway, definitely worth a try. BTW, the picture book menu is great. Update: Upping this to 5 stars. Just wanted to add how big the portions are and how fast the service is.
(5)
Jack B.

I really shouldn't write this review since I'll be letting the word out, but it seems like there is no secret to keep. The place is justifiably crowded anyway and I'm not telling Brookline and environs anything they don't already know about this funky, loud Thai restaurant. This is Thai comfort food at its very best - all your favorite dishes done with great flavor and excellent value for money. I love the dinner special with red curry - a complete dinner for $9.95 that includes dumplings, spring rolls, chicken tom yum soup, red curry chicken (or beef, tofu, etc.), and rice. Don't miss the mango and coconut sticky rice for dessert - something always worth diving into even when you are absurdly full from your main course. One minor warning: I once ordered pad thai and requested no peanuts, but it arrived with peanuts. It was an honest mistake was quickly remedied. Still, allergic diners must remember to be careful when going for a Thai food fix!
(5)
Sashont C.

Never fail, awesome very affordable thai food!
(4)
Food S.

I have been to this restaurant a few times with my girlfriend in recent months, and each time I have not been disappointed by any means. Typically I get the same thing: the Pad Thai plate, which is very good, their prices are incredibly reasonable, as well as the freshness and presentation of the food is always very nice. I also have to laugh at the mason jar glasses they use to serve their drinks in. (I typically get the Thai iced tea, which I is a huge favourite) If you are in the Brookline area, I suggest you check them out. They are not far from Coolidge Corner.
(5)
Kristen R.

This was the first restaurant I went to after moving to Boston. I instantly fell in love with the food, but was it just because I'd been hauling boxes all day? Well, I had to put it to the test, so I eat here at least every other month to make sure that it really is good. And it always is. I've tried and liked several of the dishes, but I always go back to the Kee Meow Puk (vegetarian drunken noodles). It's just sooo good!!!!
(4)
Jonathan R.

I've had a hard time finding great Thai around Cambridge/Boston, and what is decent is often a few dollars over-priced, but last week I finally ventured out to Brookline to discover this gem at the recommendation of a friend. Fantastic food, a very broad menu, appropriately native ambiance, spotty but friendly-enough service (from cute waitresses), and ideal prices. I would go three times a week if it weren't so damned hard to get to Brookline from Cambridge without a car.
(5)
Colin N.

A word to the wise - stick to the specials! You get a great deal when you order their lunch or dinner specials. My girlfriend and I ordered from the menu. My panang curry was mediocre (beef was poor quality and curry was runnier than usual) but my girlfriends dish was great (forgot what it was). I got a thai iced tea, and we didnt order a starter. Bottom line for dinner was just over $30 including tip. Sticking to the specials and skipping the iced coffee, we would have had dinner for two for just over $20. Im going to give Dok Bua another shot, but sticking to my cheapskate budget!
(4)
lizzie b.

I always get nervous when I hear that a place has amazing pad thai. I rev up my taste buds and hope and pray that it will indeed meet my own standards. The best pad thai I've ever had was at a place called "Bangkok Seafood" on Charles Street that closed many years ago. The second best was in Paris at Au PetiThai (4 rue de roi de Sicile.) Dok Bua's pad thai is a far-off third, grouped with many other pretty good pad thai dishes I've consumed. It wasn't too greasy, but there were too many sprouts. The lime I poured over it did not add the particularly pungent flavor that I love. The chicken wasn't not fresh, but it wasn't too fresh either. The peanuts were there, but there weren't enough - none gratuitously sprinkled over the dish, which I prefer. There was quite enough fried egg - yum! My friend told me that the pad thai is "subtle" and that it hits you later how good it is. I would agree with her assessment and say it's yummy for the area, but not that "wow" experience I cringed and waited for...
(3)
fraulein v.

Best Thai food I have ever had, but what do I know I'm white. The plastic food really cracks me up as does the picture menu. I got a curry, my friend got a seafood shanghai noodle dish. I think i almost ordered everything on the menu, in my head... thankfully.
(5)
A D.

Went here first time yesterday -- 9 of us were accommodated almost immediately on a Friday night - not sure if this is common practice but if it is, BIG plus on service -- Lots of good looking entrees on the picture menu, but we were all immediately drawn to the dinner specials...all around 11 dollars and you get a good amount of food and tons of choices. Dinner specials all come with tom yum soup...a little spicier than some other thai places but still good. Also comes with two fried veg spring rolls, two pork fried dumplings, and two sauces, and rice For my entree I got tofu and veggies...pretty good, but the favorites from around the table were the pad-see-ew (wide rice noodles sauteed with chinese broccoli and beef) and the pineapple fried rice. The service was awesome, constantly filled our glasses, were really attentive, and nice all around. There's also a cool little fruit-drink bar inside that accompanies a fun islandy atmosphere. Good amount of food for the price -- all 9 of us were satisfied. Will definitely go back.
(3)
Jen C.

Great place for pretty authentic Thai food when pad thai or pad see-ew won't cut it. Whole catfish, sauteed Chinese watercress, yummy curries - it's all well done and pretty cheap too! The one thing that would push it into 5-star territory is if they made kanom krok (warm coconut pudding)... hint hint....
(4)
Shannon C.

Dok Bua serves the best Thai food I've ever eaten! The Tom Yum soup is really spicy...clears out the sinuses any day. I order the dinner special because it's less than $10, and it's enough for two meals. The red curry and coconut special is my favorite, but I'm working on the rest of the menu. The atmosphere seems nice, and there's a little side area where you can buy sugared guava and moon pies and other things I would name if I could read Thai. This is a great bet for dinner - just a short walk between the B and C!
(4)
Max G.

DOK BUA is the best Thai food, hands down for miles. No comparison.
(5)
Alexander W.

This is authentic and flavorful (ooh spicy!) Thai cuisine. The one waitress is so sweet, it will make you smile. It's pretty cute, and quite well priced too. I like the fact that they sell a range of packaged-but-authentic Thai foods and other regional goodies like a mini market. There's a lot to look at as you're waiting for your dish to arrive. The takeout service is always zippy.
(5)
Doug F.

Just updating to say the chicken BBQ is terrific. Also, the service seems friendlier every time I go. I have yet to be disappointed by Dok Bua.
(4)
Amanda S.

As I'm trying to recover from Morn's (my favorite Thai restaurant and one of our work-lunch go-tos) closing its doors in Wayland, I'm also in hot pursuit of a new place to satisfy my need for masaman curry. Dok Bua just might be that place! Decided to give the mango curry a try, and was not let down. Dok Bua has a number of lunch specials for $7-8, mine came with a generous portion (enough for two lunches) of mango curry along with your choice of two sides. We ordered takeout so I don't have much to say about the dining room or service, but based on the food I'll be sure to go back for the full experience another time.
(4)
Ken C.

Pretty good, but I still prefer Rod Dee and Brown Sugar.
(3)
M C.

I love this place. This place a reall Thai Food. And for the price you can not go wrong
(5)
Julie A.

mmm I like this place a lot! Good thai food for sure. The atmosphere is frickin' crazy, over the top tacky, it's amusing! BYOB makes eating here even more fun. Yummy food. good prices. I recommend!!!
(4)
Kristin S.

I don't see what all the fuss is about. A friend of mine was in town staying at our place last week and wanted to order Thai food. I said "Oh, lets try Dok Bua, yelpers love it!" I admit that Pad Thai is probably the one of the most uninspired dishes you can order but it is also one of the hardest to mess up. I've never had to struggle to find the sauce or the taste in Pad Thai before. From across the room my husband remarked that it looked dry. Perhaps the experience is different if you dine there. I'm willing to give them another try but I will remember to order extra sauce! I will give them credit, it is fairly inexpensive and came very quickly.
(3)
praveen v.

this is such an atypical thai restaurant b/c when you walk in, at first i thought it was a grocery store. It is! but in the back is the restuarant. the food is great and very affordable and it is BYOB!!
(5)
gado.gado D.

Lunches special dishes are good and excellent idea. Overall is more generous than Rod Dee.
(4)
Clarise D.

This is the best Thai restaurant in Boston. The food is delicious and authentic, the staff are friendly and the prices are reasonable.
(5)
Robert A.

Dok Bua Thai Kitchen On Harvard St. in Brookline off the coolidge corner green line stop.. "Ong Bak?" I thought. This place was odd looking as we stepped in. It was 1/4 grocery shop and 3/4 dine in restaurant. We were seated towards the back where i had a good view of the whole restaurant. The walls were covered in fobby tree/rainforest print wallpaper from the 80's in Asia, and one of the ceiling lights were mismatched from the others. Also caught a glimpse of a fluffy stuffed-animal rhino's head hung on the wall. Very confusing. Where they lack in design, they more than compensated for in portion and authenticity. They served us with 2 menus, one menu with pictures and the other w/o. I ordered the shrimp fried rice and it came with 5 or 6 jumbo shrimps, cucumbers and cilentro for decoration, and pleny plenty of flavor! For $7.95, I expected something effortlessly thrown together. I could tell they were proud of such a simple dish. We also ordered the Softshell crab. I dont know about you guys, but the last time I had softshell crab, (ahem apollo), it was one little crab. At Ong Bak, i mean Dok Bua they came out with a huge platter of it with a side of (special) sauce. Special to me just simply meant, spicy as shit! Still, it was a surprisingly large in portion, and taste was quite good. Wasn't very fond of the batter they used, it was like the batter used to make katsu whatever. Overall service 3outta5, food 3.5outta5, portion 4.3outta5, and setting 1.5outta5. This resaurant earns a rating of : Hidden Jewels"!
(4)
B P.

Awesome marketing!!! They have very nice pics of all the food there..makes you want to order it all!! Anyways, the food was tasty. We sat up front and the place looked very nice, fish tank, statues et al. Their lunch is definitely a good deal with the two appetizers. Loved the dumplings, the chicken coconut soup was way too salty. The Thai basil rice is a favorite. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Ben K.

I LOVE DOK BUA. It's the best Thai food I think I've ever had (and AMAZING prices). Every time I get the drunken noodles and they're delicious. Service is always a little weird, but always friendly and always fast. A++
(5)
Angel S.

Here I go... Thai Restaurant. Me Thai. Dok Bua-pleasantly surprised... good and cheap. Nice Thai fried rice. Hear delivery is slow, so pick it up or eat there if you can. Also "hear" that eating there tastes better too. What's up with chopsticks and fortune cookies though? Helloooooo Thai people! Well, I'm gonna guess they are Chinese Thai.
(4)
Lynn H.

Great value for the amount/quality of food you get. My Thai friend took care of all the ordering (we wanted to steer away from the generic pad thai and pad see ew) and she did a great job for the rest of us! We ate the meal family style and shared two curries (orange with fish, and red with veggies + chicken), some veggie dishes and a big steamed fish. The food wasn't the absolute best I've ever had, but it was served with a much appreciated spicy kick and was easy on our wallets! Oh here's a fun game to play while you're there....take a look around and try to figure out what the space was used for before it became a Thai restaurant. (It's pretty obvious once you figure it out!) The only issue I had with this place was their BYOB policy. I'd read all over Yelp that this was a BYOB joint (not going to lie...it was our driving reason for going). But when I asked our waiter about it and pointed to a six-pack under the table, he gave me a weary smile and said "We don't have a liquor license." Ummm...okay....no problem sir....that's why we brought our own! But he basically made us feel really uncomfortable about even asking and after a lot of nervous giggling and awkward pauses he informed us that we could do whatever we wanted but that they don't like when people drink there. Essentially, he left us the choice of being good patrons...or assholes. Awesome! We chose the former (no one wants noodles with a side order of phlegm) and had a great meal regardless. But a major bummer for the cold beers I had been thirsty for! So my advice for those planning on going for the BYOB aspect: don't ask, just do it...but be warned there may be some dirty looks thrown your way!
(4)
Charles L.

No doubt! 5 Stars for the most kick ass Tom Yom Soup around! That was some of the best takeout I've had in a LONG time... We ate the shrimp sticks and a WHOLE crab with spicy curry... damn!
(5)
Gen M.

Cheap amazing thai food (I actually dislike Rod Dee), the atmosphere is kinda kitschy, but okay -- i welcomed it. AMAZING BUBBLE TEA -- they serve it in those mason jar style mugs with handles -- just the entire presentation was cool, i thought.
(5)
Jill C.

Thai food for college kids. Great price though!
(2)
Stockton M.

Atmosphere pales to Brown Sugar which has so-so food. Food is more authentic but not quite as tasty as Rod Dee which has great food but zero atmosphere. So it serves a nice middle ground. One weird thing is that there is an area of the restaurant which is a little store selling some Thai products, including some things which appear to be porn....right near where you wait for a table....this could lead to an awkward moment if you bring someone there to impress or for a special dinner.
(3)
Jennifer B.

Because I could go on about this place fo-evah, I 'll just keep it short and sweet. Dok Bua was not only the 1st Thai food that I ever had, but it is most def. the best I've ever had. I miss it more than anything else in the region of MA. BEST PAD KE MOA EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sorry if i misspelled). Everything about this place rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everything!
(5)
Alyssa N.

Good service, as you tend to be seated fairly quickly, even on busy nights. Bonus points for the picture menu that accompanies the regular menu- I like to have a sense of what my food might actually look like (I'm not sure why this makes a difference, but it does- at least to me). The food is varied and tasty. I adore the radna (sp?) noodles, and find the sauce thicker and richer than in other Thai places. In fact, one of the best things about Dok Bua are the seemingly endless options offered to diners. I'm mainly a carnivore, but really do enjoy some of the (many) of the vegetarian options. I will say that the interior decor is somewhere off the aesthetically pleasing radar, but Dok Bua wouldn't be Dok Bua without the slightly scary, gray puffy cloud that watches over the restaurant from high on a shelf near the back or the genderless lamps that glow different colors on a table somewhere in the middle of the space. In all of my visits there has been only 1 minor mess up involving a friend who is allergic to peanuts, but they fixed it right away. The food is predictable, but in a good way. And there are so many more choices here than in most places.
(3)
Misha L.

This is the place that we go whenever we've either had an extremely good or an extremely bad day, and Dok Bua always makes the good days fantastic and the bad days better. The lunch and dinner specials are cheap but tasty and healthy, you get a ton of food, and the wait staff is nice. I always ask for my soup and dish ridiculously dangerously spicy, and they oblige my masochistic culinary quirks with a smile.
(5)
Hailey T.

I'll make this short and sweet. Fast delivery, decent price, good food. Pad thai was great, the chicken with it was just ok, but that wasn't my concern. The shrimp spring rolls are solid, but the crab rangoon is phenomenal!
(4)
Linh V.

I never know what i'm ordering. I never know what i'm eating. And then the next time i come, i never remember what I ordered or ate last time. But i don't care. You can't go wrong. Just close your eyes and point and I guarantee you'll be satisfied.
(5)
Jim K.

GOOD FOOD CHEAP! If you like Thai food, try this place. If you are short on funds, try this place. Try a lunch or dinner combination, which comes on a circular plate, with each part of the meal in different sections. It's a little cozy, with the tables close together, but it's very warm and inviting and the food is great. Definitely a must try for fans of Thai food.
(4)
Neeia G.

Nothing special. Just your average thai restaurant with average service
(3)
Randall K.

Great food, great serving sizes, very clean and the help are AWESOME.
(5)
Adi R.

Love this place. Solid 4 stars. Has a casual, neighborhood feel to it like the locals eat here and not the tourist crowd. Huge menu, but I usually stick to the Thai curries which are quite excellent. I've also tried and can recommend the Drunken Noodles and the calamari appetizer. The restaurant can get super busy and they usually do a good job of handling the crowds - efficient without being overbearing - notwithstanding the one occasion when we waited 40 minutes for our food.
(4)
Jocelyn C.

Practically the only thing I miss from my time living in Allston is getting to eat here. It makes me hungry just seeing the name up on this website! The food is cheap and amazingly good, and the service is friendly. I usually ordered take-out, which was always fast, but loved coming to eat in too. All-around great restaurant! The best part of eating in is getting to go through the picture menu... ingenious!
(5)
Taishi T.

Almost as good as going to Bangkok." My friend took us to this place one evening, and was pleasantly surprised. By the decor, it looks like a cross breed of some cheesy Chinese statue joint, "lion witch and the wardrobe" walls, and some of the best Thai food you can get in the East. I have been to a lot of places, including Thailand a few times, and this place definitely does the farang-hot-hot meals (Try the Tom Yum goong which is another indicator of quality). It even has the pink baskets with the Saran Cha and the chili pepper vinegars, that you get at the local places in Bangkok. The glass noodles were incredible, and the green chicken curry (My Thai level of greatness indicator) was very well done. I would recommend anyone who likes Thai, and if Jack talks Thai - then go to Dok Bua Hoo Aaa...
(4)
Kim H.

I feel guilty to downgrade my once favorite restaurant in all of Boston to three stars. I was a regular when it was a mini-mart, got one of their first VIP cards, and used to go several times a month a few years back. I went back recently for the first time in a long while and was so disappointed. Pad Ki Mow, were you always so saucy and tomato-y? Yum Nua, were you always so sweet and tomato-y? Why has tomato invaded all of the dishes? It was such a lackluster meal, and nothing tasted authentic. Dok Bua of 10 years ago, come back! I'm sticking with S&I for now.
(3)
Mini S.

Their Thai Food totally reminds me of Thai food in Bangkok! Very lively place. Awesome food! If I go for "REAL" Thai Food, this is the place to go. Their coconuts soup is really good. Try it! I go here all the time for Thai food.
(5)
Alex B.

b.y.o.b. = o.m.g
(4)
S H.

Excellent REAL Thai food. It's a simple place with an interesting decor, but the food is amazing. It's fresh and prepared exactly to your request. The servers are knowledgeable and friendly, and can handle both families and college kids that make their way down Harvard Street. If you're not familiar with Thai food or looking to try something other than a curry or Pad Thai, browse through the 4x6" photo album for pictures of each dish. Easy on-street parking, great for meeting large groups of people, quick service.
(4)
Christina N.

Even though I have only just begun to eat Thai food, this place has some of the best I've tried. My friend recommended we go for dinner here after reading several good reviews from other yelpers... We were not mislead! The restaurant itself was comfortable- maybe a little crowded, but that doesn't bother me. It was our waitresses' first night, but her inexperience was hardly noticed due to the amount of attention that was given to us by the other members of the waitstaff. We got everything we ordered- and in a timely manner. The menu was super easy to understand, as there were letters and numbers attached to each dish, as well as an accompanying picture. All we had to do was point at the picture of what we wanted. If that wasn't easy enough, there was also an overflowing photo album in the middle of our table which further displayed life sized pictures of each entree. Our meals were delicious! Both my friend and I ordered one of their curry dishes which, if we hadn't known ahead of time we might have been unpleasantly surprised, were WAY spicy! I feel like they should probably have a chili spiciness index like most other restaurants do. We also got vegetable tempura for an appetizer, which was YUMMY! Nice and crunchy! Overall, the experience was great- our only problem came at the end of our meal upon receiving our bill, our credit cards were incorrectly charged. (hence the 4 stars) We asked the waiter to split the bill, but my card ended up being charged the price of the whole meal, and my friends card was also charged for half of it. A small dispute erupted which led to us being unfairly yelled at (possibly a translation problem?) but finally another waitress came over and settled the dispute- No Harm Done!
(4)
Julian H.

Some of the most authentic Thai food in the Boston area. Make sure to try the Som Tum (green papaya salad). And the kitschy decor is molto bene.
(5)
Michael T.

I remember this place being a Thai grocery store with a couple of tables set all around the aisles for eating. I once kicked a girl in her arss as she was leaning over to get some soysauce because our table was so close to the shelves. My how things have changed! DB is now a pretty elegant, chic chic Thai restaurant in lovely Brookline. Well, as elegant and chic chic as a small, hole in the wall, restaurant can be. Still, my Thai friends swear by it, as do I. I have family in Bang Bang Bangkok and visit often...this is the real deal folks. EVERYTHING is good. Enjoy yourselves...
(4)
Katia M.

Great Thai place! Very spicy! Crowded and busy, but not in an obnoxious way. Fun date place if you're willing to brave the spice.
(5)
Michael G.

The food here is mediocre at best. There are many much better Thai places in the area. In general, it's certainly not bad, but compared to other places, it just doesn't measure up. The good news is that it's not expensive. For example, a dinner with appetizers, soup, and an entree ordered off the dinner special menu will set you back only $9.99 (they've recently raised their prices). That's not a bad deal. Unfortunately, the actual food just isn't that good. The dumplings and spring rolls, for example, were bland, and the crispy pork looked and tasted like deep-fried bacon, which is simply not what I expected. The one cool thing about this place is there's a picture menu. Unfortunately, it was sticky and gross from not having being wiped down.
(3)
Sarah C.

So I never crave Thai... ever. Last night was one of those incredibly indecisive nights where you're just being way too picky for being indecisive 'I want a really good atmosphere, really good food, close-by, NOW, and I don't want to spend a lot, and I'm starving, and I don't feel like searching for parking, and ugh I don't want to wait but I don't want to eat at a dive restaurant' ANYWAY... Driving on Harvard...there it was, my friend told me he heard it was awesome, and he had it with my debating. We sat immediately in spite of it being busy, and were handed these VERY handy menus that had pictures of all the entrees. But do they have drinks?? Oh man, I really wanted to get a drink. Nope... but the menu looked so delicious... and I we could get drinks after if we wanted. We ended up getting chicken satay with peanut sauce (oh how I love love love peanut sauce), A whole roasted snapper (not the best dish I could have chosen..it was over a random sort of flavorless undressed iceberg salad..that really served no purpose), and a mango curry duck dish, rice (free with entrees) green tea...all for only $35! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the bill. We seriously got all that delicious food for $35? I definitely foresee cravings for Thai food in my future. Good stuff, check them out. ;)
(4)
Ace G.

This place ROX ! Order the Golden Tea Bags and # N 13, that is if you like spicy...
(5)
Sue W.

After reading the great reviews of Dok Bua, I decided to give it a try and I'm glad I did. There are plenty of options on the menu that should suit your taste of the day. I loved the pictures of every dish as well so you knew exactly what you were getting. The portions are big and prices are decent. I ordered the Indonesian fried rice with crispy duck which was pretty good although I would've preferred a little more spice. Although I am a HUGE Rod Dee fan, Dok Bua measured up quite well.
(4)
Alyssa C.

6 of us ended up here on a miserably hot Monday for lunch. To cool down, we drank their lemonade and pina colada drink and ordered amazing cheap lunch specials. They have a big selection of vegetarian and vegan options and tasty meat/chicken options. More than enough food for a hot day.
(4)
Everett P.

the soup at dok bua is amazing. i have tried tom yum and tom kah gai soup at lots of other thai resturants and none even come close to dok bua. i take trips there to just get soup. they give you such a large amount of 7$ its great. the rest of their food is good, it dosent stand out above the other thai resturants in boston like their soups do.
(5)
Rebecca C.

Dok Bua is awesome. I grew up in Brookline, and when I heard that a Thai store was taking over where a convenience store had been, I was worried for its survival. I was so pleased when it transformed into a restaurant, and a totally delicious one at that. I think the decor is ridiculous- but in a good way. My favorite pieces are the furry gorilla like stuffed animal hanging from the ceiling and the two little figurines (girl and boy) with the lampshades over their heads that flash different colors (can't picture it? better go try Dok Bua and look for it!). In looking at their website, it seems their prices have crept up over the years- but their dinner special is still under $10 and comes with loads of good stuff- soup, rice, dumplings and egg rolls plus entree of choice. I love their pad si ew, pad ki mao, tofu triangle, thai fried rice and red curry. Pretty much everything is amazing, and with the right amount of spicy-ness, and they have that great photo album of all the food they serve! As long as you aren't looking for total formality of atmosphere, Dok Bua is pretty much the perfect Thai restaurant.
(5)
Emily D.

The food is really good, although slightly greasy compared to Bamboo in Brighton. They have dinner specials for $8.95, which includes entree, two appetizers, and a wonderful spicy soup. It's a great deal for a tasty night in, and if you go to the restaurant the kitch factor is fantastic.
(4)
A C.

having lived in Boston, Manhattan, and Los Angeles, I can honestly say, the thai food here is as good as it gets. Haven't had better pad thai than Dok Bua..oh and don't forget dessert: Mango sticky rice mmmmm..
(5)
Lala L.

Authentic Thai cuisine that use to be just a kitchen and a few tables on one side of the market. They make flavorful dishes and nothing on their menu can be accused of being bland or Americanized.
(3)
R W.

charming fun humble place that serves solid food. service is friendly and the prices are alright. i'd go back. i love how they keep their dessert menu quite traditional. a lot of lovely thai/east asian desserts that you don't see around Boston too often
(4)
Jimmy B.

Once you get past the random decor (weird lamps, a forest scene backdropped over what I think are refrigerators used during the day) and some pretty crammed seating arrangements, you'll find one of the better Thai places in the area. I'll be honest, the waiters and waitresses can make me nervous. They talk really fast and hate when it when I use my credit or debit card. But their food is what I've been told REAL Thai food should taste like (I grew up in the burbs, I really had no idea). They definitely have the best tom yom soup I've ever had. I usually get the pad woon sen when I go but their lunch and dinner specials are worth the $9.95 and give you a variety of things to try.
(4)
Ryan P.

soooo delicious! The service is excellent, you get the food fast, the prices are more than reasonable, and everything I have ever tasted there is delicious---at this point I have been there at least 3 dozen times; so you can take my word for it that the food there is great.
(5)
Felix L.

I eat a lot of thai food around Boston, and this place has some of the better dishes in the area. A lot of people said the decor is quite unusual and I can understand why, but i honestly didn't notice anything strange.. I kinda liked it! The times I've been they had those miniature collectible plastic foods (i have some of rococo furniture myself!). That aside, the food is good and the prices are reasonable. They give you a huge photo album with pictures of every single one of their dishes, which is a huge plus! I like to see what I'm ordering. They are also really friendly, one time, my friend tried to order a traditional thai dish not on the menu, and they said they would definitely do it, but we didnt know the name in thai, so they had no idea what we were trying to order =(.
(4)
Claudia L.

huge bowls of soup are always good in my book. dok bua makes an awesome tom kha gai (I'm sure I massacred the spelling on that one) and lets you choose between an appetizer/side portion or a giant hulking fishbowl of it. i have much love for this place - their pick-and-choose lunch and dinner combos are an awesome value - i can fill up for under $10 - and their kistchy and somewhat bizarre decor never fails to entertain.
(5)
Sam S.

mmmhm love this thai place. the tom yom soup is just right on those runny nose days. i love all the different kinds of curry too, but make sure you match up your veggies with your meat. for ex. chicken doesn't go with mango, but pork does!
(5)
Rico B.

I love this place. Foods are tasty and reasonably priced. They also have pictures menu, which is great when you don't know what to order or hesitant on what the food would look like.
(4)
Angela L.

Probably one of my go to Thai places!! I love it. And also it's right down the street from me. I always get the Pad Thai and the Indonesian fried rice. So good. The Indonesian fried rice with the perfectly cooked egg on top that is nice and runny. The crispy fried chicken on top is equally delicious!! Pad Thai is great and always a staple. I've also had the lettuce wraps here, which are on point. And also the crab rangoons-- probably one of the better crab rangoons I've had compared to anything else. Has a lot of filling in it and is not all crispy wrapping. I definitely recommend this place. Well priced and the staff are super friendly. Eat at the restaurant and it's BYOB. Take it home and feast by yourself :) they are generous with their portions so you will definitely be taking home food.
(4)
Sylvia C.

After coming here a few times, think it's fair to make the assumption...if you're ordering the dinner combo plates - then you're getting a good value. Otherwise - you're overpaying for okay Thai food. We ordered the following: - Pad thai with chicken and shrimp - a bit on the sweeter side - Chicken Keow-Wan Curry - with bamboo shoots and eggplant - the curry dish was a bit mild in flavor - Seafood special - great flavors but too much onions. Think it should be called onion special instead =P I'll give them props for getting all the dishes out in lightning speed and service was prompt.
(3)
Julia K.

Is it just me, or are the signs of a good thai restaurant correlated with its decor - bright orange and lime green are a must and are the colors you'll actually find in most establishments in Thailand. The menu is robust, several pages of pictures, so you get a fairly good idea of what the dish is. This is far better than any standard thai restaurant that focuses only on pad thai-like dishes. We enjoyed the pad kee mao (thick rice noodles - the thai basil and slight heat really make the dish), moo yang w/thai fried rice (marinated bbq pork - balance of sweet and savory, w/fried egg) and Kai Yang (crispy chicken with sticky rice; not too unique but executed well). I'd come here any day to satisfy a thai food craving.
(4)
Rachel R.

Stopped in with a friend this afternoon and totally loved it! I had the chili paste fried rice with shrimp and crispy chicken, and it was wonderful--firm shrimp, moist chicken that was perfectly crispy, and fried rice that was awesomely spicy. I've been looking for a fried rice that will replace the Thai fried rice from my favorite restaurant in my hometown, and this is definitely it! My friend loved her drunken noodles, and, as a self-described "connoisseur of condensed milk," she said her Thai iced tea was the best she'd ever had. I also liked my Thai iced coffee--sweet, but not so sweet you couldn't taste the coffee. We finished with my FAVORITE dessert of all time--mango with sticky rice. The rice wasn't gluey but had great coconut flavor, and for mid-May the mango was juicy and sweet. Service was quick and EXTREMELY friendly--sometimes 2 or 3 waiters would show up at the same time to take our order or make sure everything was okay. AND they deliver to my apartment, which is everything. Definitely my new favorite Thai place in the Boston area!
(5)
Astra G.

BYOB Thai food ! (so glad BYOB is not illegal in Brookline) The first time I went...I ordered pad Thai and asked for it to be spicy. It looked pretty but lacked spice and tang and flavor in general. The second time I went.... I ordered drunken noodles and asked for it to be spicy and lo and behold my drunken noodles were nice and deliciously spicy I was very pleased to see things on the dessert menu usually not offered in all Thai restaurants, like raum mit my fave dessert. But they were out of that and basically everything else on their dessert menu except for the usual mango sticky rice. :( Service is always great. plus did I mention they're BYOB!?!?!
(3)
Grace M.

How disappointing! Pad thai is my favorite food ever and I was hoping to discover a new gem in Dok Bua.. I've passed by to see this place packed so many times and the Yelp photos & reviews looked great. I get tofu pad thai as I don't eat shrimp/chicken which unfortunately means that sometimes, restaurants will give me the "veggie" pad thai with the addition of weird vegetables that do NOT belong! Despite ordering the regular pad thai and asking to swap the shrimp for tofu, I ended up getting a vegetable version which included carrots, peas and green beans. I love these veggies but they don't belong in pad thai!! On top of the weird veggies, the dish itself just wasn't great. The noodles were a tad undercooked and the flavor was super bland. I wanted more tamarind paste in the sauce- it was missing that sour touch. I also asked for "hot" which is the highest heat level you can request when ordering online + extra scallions and neither of these requests were honored (no spice whatsoever). I also ordered the fried cod app, which they were out of, so I went w/ the veggie dumplings which were wimpy and bland. The fresh rolls though were quite good and the peanut sauce was especially good compared to others I've had. Though I regrettably give 2 stars to Dok Bua, I WOULD re-try this place and see how their curries are since it's really their pad thai that was the major disappointment. Normally, I wouldn't give such low stars on the basis of 1 dish, but it being a staple of a Thai restaurant, I think it fair. Oh well.. Khao Sarn still reigns as king!
(2)
Garkie Z.

Just tried Dok Bua for the first time yesterday. I'd like to make a quick note right off the bat. I brought in a Groupon and while this didn't bother me at all I'd like to bring it to the attention of any other Groupon users as this doesn't seem to be a problem with others- they do charge a 18% gratuity. (We were a table of TWO) My guess is that many people don't tip on the full amount of the bill and instead tip on the remaining. This in no way bothered me as I usually tip on average approximately 20% of the full bill. But just make sure you look before you tip on top of that! Alright onward! So my SO and I ordered: Crab Ragoons (6) for $6.95 Lunch special with Pad Se Ew, Fried Pork Dumpling and Thai Salad for $8.95 Dinner portion of Pad Thai $11.95 Cola for $2 The Crab Ragoons were DELICIOUS- they came out hot and were to die for! I'm talking about the perfect combination of filling, crab, and the sauce isn't your typical sweet and sour sauce (thank god) this is the thick syrup sweet spicy fish sauce and it's A-MAZING. My SO deemed this his new favorite place for crab ragoons! My Lunch special ... wasn't actually that special. The Pad Se Ew was really good! Perfect amount of sweet soy sauce and lots of noodles and Chinese broccoli cooked perfectly. It was the sides that were meh. The Fried Pork Dumplings were very small and very average. The salad was also average. Next time I'll definitely just be ordering the dinner portion of the Pad Se Ew instead! The Pad Thai was surprisingly not spicy. My SO did mention that the waitress didn't ask him how spicy he wanted it but he said he virtually couldn't taste any spiciness and that there was a surprising light sweetness to it. Not too much that he minded but definitely something new in terms of the normal Pad Thai taste. So maybe make it a point to add hotness if you're a fan of heat! Will definitely be coming back for both the Crab Ragoons and the Pad Se Ew though!
(4)
James B.

Dok Bua.. First, let me begin by saying that it was a cool day in Brookline as I walked up Harvard ave lo it must be at least 13 years ago. I spotted what at the time was a small Asian market with a couple of high tops serving daily specials. The specials were soo cheap, but sooo good. I would frequent for the Drunken Noodles, my go-to dish.. and it is AWESOME!! Now back to the present day, and although the market is gone, slowly overtaken by the restaurant the food is still ABSOLUTELY amazing! If you have not tried Dok Bua, I insist that you do.. If you have then you are singing a resounding HELL YES with me when I say.. GO THERE!! NOW!! They are probably open, unless it is late, late and then, go to bed. You have to get up early to make the trip to Dok Bua for their lunch specials.. Still ample, pleasant and oh, so very affordable..
(5)
Jen L.

Lunch special is outstanding $8.95 gets you entrÃ©e, plus two sides I got a salad and dumplings and one of the best red curries with chicken. But their are 23 options. It's an odd time of day to be eating but after driving from NY to Boston this was perfect.
(5)
Anne C.

I give the food 3 stars, since I think it is pretty run-of-the-mill Thai food, but I give Dok Bua 4 stars for their friendly service and 5 stars because you can bring in your own wine! Because of that, it's our go-to Thai place in this area, and I always think of it fondly because we've had many fun memories there. It's an easy and inexpensive place, so it's great for kids. Between my family and me, we've tried many of the soups and curry dishes and they're all really good. Grab a bottle of wine and get over there!
(4)
Elisha P.

Just ordered delivery from them. The food was hot, delicious, amazing! Will order from them again!!
(5)
Angela Y.

+$11 dinner special that has a bit of everything + open later than most dinner restaurants + easy to find on Harvard street +plenty of room +TV (for those inclined) This place is great! It's got all that you'll ever need for easy Thai food! Can't speak fo
(5)
Stacey G.

Ordered takeout vegetable pad Thai with steamed tofu Saturday night and was greatly disappointed. I had the pad Thai before and thought it was the best and recommended it to many people.... not anymore. - it was flavorless and I was craving thai food for awhile so I was utterly disappointed - the tofu was fried, even though I went over my order twice on the phone - too many sprouts - the vegetables are too big and undercooked - it did not come with a napkin or plastic ware Positives - waited maybe 30 min for delivery - it was hot - large portion
(2)
Elizabeth W.

I just moved to Brookline and I love thai food, as in I've been to Thailand and took authentic cooking courses in Bangkok. So when I read the positive reviews on yelp I was optimistic to try Dok Bua. I ordered the dinner platter as recommended and the red curry as my main section. I asked for very spicy curry and made it a point to explain that I loved heat. When my entree came the presentation was just meh-which I understand Im not at a 4 star Restuarant. The Tom Yum soup was good, probably the best out of anything on the platter. My red curry was luke-warm and not spicy. The chicken in the curry was tough and chewy. The egg rolls and dumplings were ok, clearly frozen with sauce out of a jar. I just can't see myself returning to a place that was very underwhelming. On a positive note, the service was outstanding. My waiter was kind and very attentive.
(2)
Lauren S.

Curry was really good, but heavy on the sauce and skimpy on the meat, veggies and potatoes. It was enough for lunch and dinner later on. Delivery was fast and hot.
(4)
Karina L.

Just want to reiterate how great this place is, especially the lunch deals. The lunch deals include a soup, a side appetizer, main dish (includes most of the go-to American Thai dishes such as pad thai, drunken noodles, etc.). Favorites include Tom-Kha-Gai Soup (coconut chicken soup) and any of their green curries.
(5)
Skye G.

It was a cold night so I was excited for some hot Thai. I got the tofu noodles but they weren't so great. The kids were happy and ate their Pad Thai and Satay Chicken so that was good. Not sure I'd go back. The bathroom, kind of scary.
(3)
Nikhila V.

Dining here was a happy, relaxing experience! I brought my mom here for her (and my) first Thai food experience and we both loved it. We were seated as soon as we walked in, waters materialized on the table almost instantly, and we were given menus. Our waiter came over within the next five minutes and took our order. Our soups came fast and piping hot. The entrees (the much-lauded Drunken Noodle, and vegetarian Pad Thai) arrived a little too quickly. But no complaints, sooner rather than later. Plus the entrees were still pretty warm when we got to them. My mom got the Drunken noodle and we both thought it was AMAZING!! (Stole a bite from her entree and claimed the leftovers. Eating them as I write this. Still good while cold!). The Pad Thai wasn't as good as I expected it to be, but it was still good. Yes, it was my first time, and yes I wouldn't know what good Pad Thai tastes like, but while compared to the Drunken noodle, this one was a little lackluster. Service was very good - the waiters didn't hover but they kept an eye on our table and refilled our waters regularly. They also brought our check pretty fast when we were done. Overall, it was a great experience. I'll definitely be going back or getting takeout from them soon!
(5)
Mallory C.

We scored a groupon and decided to try this place! Between the Groupon, their dinner specials and BYOB policy (grab a bottle of Three buck chuck at TJ's before going!) we spent $10 on dinner and a bottle of wine. Awesome deal for a date night. And we did NOT leave hungry. As mentioned, our bottle of wine was opened and placed in an ice bucket on our table, and they kindly provided glasses, and re-pours throughout the meal. We began with the crab rangoons, which appeared instantly and were perfect, but we had only taken like 2 bites before our entrees came, which I thought was a little TOO fast. I had the pad thai and the boy had the garlic pork dinner specials, both of which were delicious, and came with spring rolls, dumplings and soup! A huge amount of food for $10! The only thing I found odd about the place was the atmosphere, the service was very sporadic and it seemed to be much more of a take out or delivery place. We had to ask for sets of condiments the other tables already had, and then the server took them back from us while we were still eating, without even asking if we were done. Other than that, everyone was very nice, and willing to accommodate us, even though my scooter felt like it took up a ton of room! This is an awesome establishment, and while I wouldn't consider it a fancy night out, I will definitely be ordering from them, and would totally go for a quick dinner!
(3)
Young P.

I had a great dining experience at this place. I usually go to Rod Dee to satisfy my Thai craving but this time my fiance and I wanted to try a different place. I ordered the Thai fried rice with crispy chicken and shrimp. It was just amount of portion and I really liked the way they prepared the dish. Rice was cooked well, chicken was really crispy, and the shrimps were fully cooked. My fiance ordered the dinner special which included chicken red curry, tom yum soup, two fried spring rolls, and two dumplings. All the staff members were very polite and nice. I also really liked the fact that their menu included the picture of each meal plate. It was really helpful. Also, this place allows you to bring your own drink so if you are planning to visit here, make sure to bring your favorite beer or drink!
(4)
Justin F.

Such good Pad Thai! It is very light tasting and very very good! I would also suggest the mango sticky rice, I've never had anything quite like it!
(5)
Quynh Nhu D.

We had a huge party of people, was so glad they could accommodate us. Unlike some evil restaurant down the street, they actually will sit you if your full party isn't present - thank you for that, we were starving! Love that drinks are in mason jar, just look so cute. Lovely thai ice tea I had the pad thai dinner combo, it was good - but I do prefer S&I or A@Time's... But that's just me! The appetizer that came with the combo is ok, slightly a bit too dry for me, but my friend was too happy to eat mine. We all had a great time here, and the service was good. Although sometime they are too busy and we had to raise our hand for a while to get their attention :( It's understandable, though, dinner rush!
(4)
Isabella C.

I've been here twice, both times in a large group. I have rarely seen staff at a restaurant be so patient and treat a noisy, large group so well! I was incredibly impressed at the staff's ability to stay on top of orders and the speed at which orders were served. The best dishes here are the drunken noodles and the pad see-ew. The pad thai is also not bad -- it's not too sweet. I would also recommend trying the crab rangoon, which are sometimes called golden sacs. They're filo wrapped around crab and cream cheese paste. The things I would caution against are certain curries, which can be sparsely cooked with too many peppers, and the bubble tea lattÃ©s. I've tried both the green tea and taro ones and found the slush to be too watery. The flavors were not quite strong enough. Additionally, the tapioca were a bit too stiff -- probably from being kept cool -- and they weren't quite sweetened, the way I usually like my tapioca in bubble tea. All in all though, a great place to eat if you're looking for an inexpensive place to accommodate a large group! The service is great and the food is hearty.
(4)
Shelby S.

This place has the best crispy chicken pad Thai I have ever had in my life. I've been ordering from them for about a year, at least a few times a month. SO GOOD
(5)
Yuki S.

Friendly staff good food reasonable price, what more would u expect for a good place?
(5)
Evan Michael H.

My husband and I always get the dinner specials. We love the atmosphere and the service. It is on the list of our favorites here in Brookline. Their take out is fast as well.
(5)
Samantha B.

A few blocks into the heart of Coolidge Corner, Dok Bua is known for incredibly fast service, a huge menu, and of course the ridiculously cheap dinner specials. The dinner specials provide a smorgasbord of Thai appetizers (egg roll, fried pork dumpling and tom-yum soup) and a small portion of select entrees. Where the most recognizable Thai noodle dishes are perfectly fine, recommend digging deeper into the robust menu to find some unique bites. Come to Dok Bua for the spicy larb salad, Thai style ground meat, or roast duck in red curry over rice. Larb salad blends the signature Thai flavor of lemon grass with the freshness of mint and lime juice served with the protein of your choice (pick pork). The mix of zesty spices in the Thai style ground meat provided an adequate amount of heat without overwhelming the palate. Who knew that duck worked so well with red curry. The coconut milk of the curry enhanced the tender duck meat for a satisfying dish. Venture away from the Pad Thai and you are all set!
(3)
Michelle T.

Affordable and delicious! Loved the vegetable Pad Thai with tofu!! Not a big tofu person and I absolutely loved it! Oh and it's BYOB, doesn't get much better than that!
(4)
Nat G.

Something negative has happened to this restaurant, which several years ago got raves from some and now, based on our recent experience, is no longer to be recommended by us. Our Crispy Duck with Tamarind Sauce, Onion, Pineapple, and Ginger featured dry, tough pieces of duck; our Crispy Chicken Stir Fried with pineapple, onion, cashews in a Thai sweet sauce featured dry chicken.Tofu Pad Thai was just ok. The service was good and was friendly. No alcohol license, bring your own.
(2)
Charlotte A.

Very friendly and efficient service. Everything we ordered was so salty that it was inedible. Tried to eat but end up bringing the beef stew (untouched) home and recooked it to lighten the salt a little.
(2)
fussyeater x.

I hadn't been here for a few years, so went for lunch and ordered beef red curry, with spring rolls and tom kai gai soup. Many Thai places make their own spring rolls with thin wrappers, so I was shocked to get 3 tiny, fried, previously frozen, Chinese-style rolls where the skin was almost as thick as the contents. I objected, and ordered salad to replace it, but that was mostly iceberg lettuce and un-ripe tomato. On the plus side, the tom kai gai was excellent with quality chicken, making me wish I'd ordered my curry with that. As it was, the beef was poor quality and overcooked, so not much different from cardboard and not at all edible. The positive reviews make me think they must do some things right, but I'd suggest sticking to chicken dishes, and avoiding the beef.
(2)
Sarah M.

Good, inexpensive Thai food. They did a decent job on Drunken Noodles! Soft shell crab was a little pricey but that is to be expected. Lots of sauce served!
(4)
Tulan K.

I took my friend after my first experience here. My friend is a strick vegeterian like no broth or fish sauce or oyster sauce etc etc kinda guy. First problem everythingis ready made so most of the items he cabt order even all the vegetarian menu half of it had all the above mentioned items. I guess they are the only ones who do it since he has been toany places as thai is his fav and never had any problem. Anyways waiter did not speak english so back and forth we finally decided to order something without curry or sauce as the waiter could not explain what is what and what is in it. We ordered tofu with veggies in chilli sauce and fried rice w pineapple (extra $2 for 4 pieces of pineapple). The qty has gone down def than last time. We also ordered veg tempura more like diced veggie tempura. Except for cpuple brocolli florets none were big enough to dip in tue sauce. I def did not like the food this time around and probably would not come back as there are better places. Quality has gone down
(2)
April K.

This is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Boston, and I'm not just being biased because I know the owner's daughter who is super sweet. It's a family-owned establishment and it offers authentic and flavorful Thai food. The food is always consistent and delicious. My favorite is the chicken satay. The chicken is always so juicy, and the sauces are amazing. We also usually get the mango or pineapple fried rice, and either the pad-see-ew or pad thai. I always enjoy my meals here, and it's amazing that they offer BYOB (although I've never actually brought my own alcohol). The mango sticky rice for dessert is also bomb. The only reason why I didn't give this place 5 stars is because the environment is a little old and dingy, and the bathroom is kind of icky. It's not meant to be a fancy restaurant, but it could use a little updating.
(4)
Lannie L.

Purchased a Groupon then went the same night for dinner. We have been to Thailand before and loved that the atmosphere of the restaurant was reminiscent to what it was actually like there. Colorful and quirky. Service is attentive and fast and I LOVE the huge menu with pictures to match each menu item - so helpful! We got the usual: Pad Thai, Indonesian Fried Rice, Tom Yum Koong soup, and went on a whim with the Crab Rolls. We loved everything, minus the Crab Rolls. They didn't look appetizing and though they gave us a lot for an appetizer portion, it didn't really taste like crab and was more processed and bland than anything. That being said, everything else was delicious. Tom Yum was great, Pad Thai included a good amount of shrimp and chewier noodles than we were used to (which I like) and IFR was also delicious - the portion was huge! Prices are standard, the restaurant is spacious - if you're in the mood for Thai, you can't go wrong with choosing this place.
(4)
Guillermo M.

Tried their mango curry and it was excellent, loved that the mango was ripe and all the other elements combined really well. Also for the first time tried their taro dessert with coconut milk, excellent too!
(4)
Jennifer P.

I was so hopeful that this would be my new go-to place for Thai food. Sadly, that is not the case. I ordered the Thai egg rolls, crispy chicken pad Thai, and the crispy pork fried rice with broccoli. The egg rolls were standard slightly bland, slightly greasy egg rolls. The pad Thai consisted of pad Thai noodles, bean sprouts, and soggy green onions without any discernible sauce covered by breaded deep fried chicken. I like a good regular chicken pad Thai - why did they have to bread and deep fry the chicken? And without the sauce, it's pretty terrible. But the fried rice was by far the worst. Again, no seasoning or sauce, and the broccoli had a strange metallic taste to it. The pork was inedible. It had been so over cooked that it was hardened to the point that I couldn't even cut it with a steak knife. I will not be eating here again.
(1)
D L.

Best Thai food I've had in a long time! Their lunch special is incredible and dinner-sized portion for only $8.95!
(5)
Yidan S.

Went this place with couple of friends for dinner tonight as we want something tasty but not pricey. The ambiance overall is good and the staff are very friendly, we ordered the papaya salad, Tom yum soup as appetizer and four of us each order an entree, the food portion is huge and none of us finished the entree and could have some leftover for tomorrow. And most of the entrees are priced at $11-13 which is not bad at all, the food overall tastes okay, not very spicy as I would like. But when we saw the bill, the duck dish my friend ordered which is the most expensive one $16.95 and they also charged additional $2 for a bowl of rice that comes with the duck dish, COME ON!!!'REALLY??! $2 for a bowl of rice which I assume should be complimentary with the dish. I will go back to S&I for my top 1 most favorite thai restaurant which is in Allston.
(3)
Anthony A.

The service was great and the food comes out rather quickly. I had the pork dumplings, pad Thai, and Thai iced tea; everything was delicious.
(4)
Chelsea B.

I love Dok Bua so much!! The staff extremely friendly and accommodating, the food is authentic and delicious, portions are great for the price, and the ingredients are fresh. Anything with the crispy chicken is delightful. My favorites are the Pad See Ew and the seasoned beef appetizer! If you pay for takeout with cash they really seem to appreciate it, we've gotten discounts for this reason on several occasions.
(5)
nomo c.

Great food , it's like walking into your best friends moms kitchen. Comfortable casual atmosphere and good lunch specials.
(4)
Jessica W.

Just found this place thanks to Yelp. Since it was our first visit and we had a time crunch to make a movie, we went with the easy-ordering dinner specials, which at $10.95 were quite reasonable as it was all we needed to order. The food tasted fresh. Nothing fancy, just veggies, meat, and curry in various combos. The atmosphere is laid back and service friendly and attentive. But the best part was that the food was FAST! 4 minutes from ordering to our food appearing on the table. The restaurant was 80% full at the time and the takeout orders were lined up, but they clearly have the kitchen streamlined. We got to our movie early.
(4)
Jenni L.

Best Thai Food in Boston. I go there for dinner for the dinner special. 10.95 for a perfectly portioned dinner. Rice, soup, appetizers and entrees. Ordered the Crazy Noodle and loved it so much that it has become my signature dish at Dok Bua. I've tried other dishes that are just as good, but I am a sucker for the thick rice noodles! Tom-Yum soup is delicious. Literally, my favorite... and it helps that they aren't cheap with the shrimp and mushrooms! Service is wonderful. The waitresses are very nice and very attentive. If I want Thai food, I'd definitely come here... eventually I'll become a regular, no doubt.
(5)
Julia O.

Dok Bua is *the* best Thai Restaurant in the Boston area. I've lived here 10 years I can't believe I only found out about them a year ago - hence I've had to go at least once a week to compensate for all those lost meals. The prices are very affordable and the service is great. Most of the times I been I get my food in less than 5 minutes after ordering. Be sure to order the drunken noodles, they are so good!!
(5)
Chad F.

All the dishes are shown in pictures on the menu, so it is very easy to see what you are ordering. This comes in handy when you want to try out something that you have not had before. Great Thai food for reasonable price.
(4)
H T.

What more could you ask more? This restaurant cranks out super spicy thai and you're eating it under chandeliers that look like sperms and naked figurine lamps. Yeah, spicy food helps people GET-IT-ON. Even if you end up not gettin' any, the food is still so good. I couldn't get past my noodle dish. The flavor was spot on and it was SO spicy! I tried all my friends' dishes and they're all great. And eating it with a strange looking baboon stuffed animal hanging over my head was fun too! One thing not to order here is dessert. The ABC they had was missing red beans, the whole point of the dessert. And another one, Thai Chandol, was a bit too salty. As for service, it was average. There were several mishaps like putting meat in a vegetarian dish (but we sent it back and it was ok), and bringing out the desserts first. But I don't mind having desserts first. This is my favourite place for a super spicy pad-kee-mao now. Definitely worth a hike out here if you don't live in the area.
(4)
Lee H.

This place is the real deal. Great food. Low prices. Nice service. Don't expect fancy digs. It's a bit like being in Thailand. That's part of the charm. Parking can be tough, but there's a municipal lot a couple of blocks down. Give it a try.
(5)
Pud P.

I have been going to this restaurant for more than 8 years now. They have very friendly waiters and delicious Thai food! I've never been disappointed here!
(5)
G S.

Dear Dok Bua, This is not easy for me to say, but I think I'm in love with you. I know it seems sudden. We've only known each other a short time but I can't help it. I find you irresistible. Your yummy pork dish that I can't remember the name of but, because of your photo-album-menu, I can vividly recall the centerfold-like sexiness of its porky-sweety-tastiness, causes me to salivate by just thinking about it. (I think it's called, ironically, Moo-Yang. *sigh*) Your quirky decor makes me smile. Especially the wall of coolers camouflaged behind a serene forest mural. Your lively and courteous staff are great. Even when I show up with a huge table-full of friends who have trouble choosing from your extensive menu of authentic Thai dishes. I mean...you have Sum Tum! How could I not love you!? I can't wait to see you again, dear sweet Dok Bua. I am counting the seconds. Yours forever, me
(5)
Liz O.

Every time I go here, I tell myself I need to go here more often. My BF loves that they have a picture menu, and also that it's super cheap. I love that it's one of the few places I don't always get the same things because there's just so many things I love - and both of us like that they will omit ingredients we don't like. Even on a recent Saturday night, prime time, we were seated immediately and got our food within minutes of ordering. It's usually about $10-$11 for a dinner meal which includes soup, some apps, rice and a small serving of your main course. However, they always assume that's what you want, the dinner special version of whatever you order, so if what you want is the full-size entree and no mini apps and soup, it can be hard to specify that (especially on the phone or through foodler). Sometimes I just want an immense quantity of whatever and don't want to dilly-dally with egg rolls. Also, my BF doesn't really like fried food (can you trust a person who doesn't like fried food?) They used to serve the spicy dishes REALLY spicy, but sadly, no more. Now, even when I ask for extra spicy, I get extra white girl with a side of white rice. I want to cry tears of pain with my tears of pleasure. I want my Thai iced tea to be a soothing balm... But the service is friendly, the location is between the green C and B line, parking can usually be had at a meter in the evenings, and just go... you have to see the awesome lighting.
(4)
Evonne S.

My husband, daughter and I ate there last week as a last minute thing driving around Brookline. Food was ok, the crab rangoon - always a favorite was good but shaped weird and awkward to eat. The reason for the 3 star is that our bill was calculated with 20% tax added on. When asked why the tax was so high, they couldnt give me a straight answer and said that was their tax. I know im not a native of Boston but I am from this country and have eaten around Boston and havent seen tax like that. And i know they sometimes not only add state tax and city tax but not that much. Disappointed nontheless and made it a little harder to swallow my meal. Needless to say I wont be eating there again.
(3)
Marilyn T.

Every time I've gone there before 7:30pm, I've been able to get a metered spot out front. It's always pretty full (even in the middle of the afternoon), but there's usually little or no wait. I'm not a big fan of boba, but they offer lots of Asian drinks. I always get pad thai (yes, I know.. it's not even really thai). I like that it's sweet, but it can be a bit greasy sometimes. They recently raised the prices from $8.95 to $10.95. Other dishes I like include penang beef curry, Singaporean thin noodles with curry (pretty greasy), and any fried chicken dish. For Indonesian fried rice, I prefer Rod Dee. Dinner and lunch combos are available with smaller portions of the food, but you get egg rolls, rice, soup, etc. The decor is interesting, as there used to be a shop there, so you see the remaining refrigerator/freezer doors on the side, covered by decorative paneling. They still sell a few Asian grocery snacks in the front of the restaurant. Service is always quick, and they try to be as helpful as possible. Got to love the picture menu! They refill water quickly and are pretty accommodating about substitutions and dietary restrictions. It's the perfect place to load up on comfort food/carbs.
(4)
Alex S.

When your in the mood for Thai food and your not immediately thinking of some greasy Pad Thai with extra peanuts eggs and little that resembles Thailand, this might just be the place. From the moment you enter with the classic sappy Thai music playing and the women chefs that you catch glimpses of wearing masks in the kitchen this is a rather authentic Thai place. We went their for lunch and they have a $9 fix. I got stir fried pork with basil. The stir fry was a reasonable size and was really good. Not over greasy or over spiced. Perfect level of flavor. The lunch also comes with two sides. I had a Tom-Yom-Koong soup that was unfortunately WAY over salted. I am a guy who loves salt on things but this was so salty I really couldn't finish it which is saying a lot. My brother had the coconut milk and chicken soup and that was much much better. I also had steamed dumplings which were good but there were only 2 of them and they were only about a bite each. Overall not a bad experience but soup definitely needs some improvement.
(3)
Craig S.

Try any of their lunch specials & you'll be hooked. Good for groups or you & a date. I've impressed many girls by taking them here. Sorry, no bar here, but BYO as I've seen many do. I come here with buddies after golfing and we practically order the menu - My favorite Pad See Yu & crispy duck. Always grab some Thai Ice Tea along with the Tom Yum Soup. Don't forget, order by number & letter to avoid any confusion. CK9 or CK8. The best is the picture menu!
(4)
Joseph R.

Yyyyeeessss. My girlfriend and I went here for dinner the other night, and I fell in total love with this place. The location, the inside, the food, all of it. It's a good space with a good feel and good foot traffic. We got two of the dinner specials, which come out on these plates with sectioned off areas for different parts of the meal, with an area for soup in the middle. I don't think I've ever seen those before. Very cool. The food itself tasted pretty good. Ok so I started this review at least two months ago and decided for new year's to actually finish all these I hadn't yet. So I kinda forget what I had. But. If you like Thai food, go here, if for no other reason than I think it's a unique place in a genre of food that doesn't usually get all that super unique.
(4)
Erica D.

This is a pitch perfect Thai dive. You get the feeling the space used to be a convenience store -- rather than remove the refrigerator cases the line the walls, they simply covered the glass with marbled contact paper. Much of the furniture could pass for an 80s high school cafeteria. Food is served on mismatched plates (one of our appetizers was actually served on a christmas plate -- in March!). The dinner specials run around $11, for which you get a spicy soup, 2 spring rolls, 2 pork dumplings, rice and an entree. It is a bountiful spread, served on a round platter. The appetizers are, perhaps, a bit mediocre but the soup is nice and tangy and the entrees are the standouts. Normally I can't resist mango curry, but recently mixed it up and tried the basil eggplant, which was fantastic.
(4)
Mollie C.

Hands down the absolute best Thai restaurant in Boston, maybe even the entire East Coast. When living in Boston I went here a few times a month and to be honest, the food was always fresh, always delicious, and the wait staff are extremely friendly (they even gave me a free Dok Bua tshirt). My favorite dish was N6 (kua Gui which is similar to pad see ew) the noodles are freshly made in house, the chicken is never frozen, and you can tell the chefs take special care to make your dish perfect. Their fried rice meals are also delicious and fresh. The price is right too for the extremely generous portions you get, probably the biggest portions at a Thai place I've ever experienced! I love everything about Dok Bua and since moving to Baltimore I have been scouring the mid-Atlantic to find something that can even hold a flame to Dok Bua and nothing can measure up. Absolutely love love love!!
(5)
Doris T.

This was definitely one of the better Thai foods I had in Boston. The service was efficient and polite and the food was delicious. Even for a Friday night we got seated quickly. The dinner plates looked tantalizing but we settled for regular entre- crispy pad thai with chicken and shrimp and crispy chicken with vermicelli. Of course, hubby and I mixed and matched the two to make the even better combination of crispy chicken with crispy noodles...mmmmmmm.... really good! We reheated the leftovers on a tray the next day and it still tasted good. The place was cute and prices VERY reasonable. We are definitely planning to go back.
(4)
Kristen F.

I've recently been to Thailand and this is the first Thai place I've been to since I've been home. I thought the food was great and exactly what you get at a restaurant on Khao San Road, BKK. There are a TON of dishes to choose from, and the menu has pictures. We had the pineapple fried rice with shrimp and scallions, and the Pad Si Ew with chicken. Both very good, decent portions, and left us full but not to the point where all we could do was take a nap due to food comatose. They also have a variety of bubble teas and smoothies which I am looking forward to trying this spring. Major props to the staff... all of them so sweet and attentive. I'd definitely come back here.
(4)
Calli C.

I've been here twice, once in the fall on a weekend evening in a large group and other time on a quiet summer weekday for lunch for two. Both times I was not disappointed. The service, the quality of food, the relaxed ambiance was amazing. Both times I was bowled over by how much food you get for such little money that I'm not surprised it isn't packed all the time. One of the best places for Thai in Brookline, perhaps in Boston.
(4)
James J.

I've been out to Boston a few times for work, and have had trouble finding good spicy Thai food. Having heard good things about Dok Bua, I planned a trip to check it out. It was a quite a way out of the way, considering I was using the Boston public transportation to get around. I was hoping the trip would be worth it. The great food and excellent wait staff made it and experience that we would not readily forget. It was well worth the trip!!! Things started off pretty good. This is not a fancy restaurant, and just looked like the kind of hidden gem you always hope to run into. Our waitress was a little Thai gal named Bo, over here from Northern Thailand. She was even more friendly than you could expect, and proved to be great throughout the service. I went there with a couple of friends, which is always nice, so I can be sure to try better variety of foods. We started off with fresh rolls and crab rangoons. The fresh rolls were really good. They were simply a variety of vegetables wrapped in soft spring roll paper and serve\red with peanut sauce. The crab rangoons were unlike any that I have had before. They were loaded with filling, but more box shaped than flower shaped, so each bite was for crab filling than crust. I ordered up the Tom Kah Gai (Coconut soup with chicken and mushrooms), as well as Green curry with pork and eggplant (I made sure to ask for it extra spicy, or Phet Phet). My buddy ordered the red curry duck, and the same soup. His wife went safe, and just got and appetizer sampler. The soup was amazing. One of my favorite things about the way Tom Kah Gai is supposed to be is that it is just simplistic fresh ingredients. Chicken and mushrooms served in coconut milk, with fresh scallions, galangala, and lemon grass. Some places over complicate it, and distract from the few simple flavors that with compliment each other perfectly when done properly. Dok Bua NAILED IT!. I could have made an entire meal of that stuff, but I had more tasting to do. LIke clockwork, my curry arrived as I was working to clean every last drop of soup from the bowl. It looked and smelled great. I was eager to try, and first sampled a spoon full of the curry. At first the basil flavor was a pit overwhelming, but it was green curry after all. I was able to notice the rest of the flavors pick up a bit, and felt the nice bite from the spice in there. Meeting my initial approval, I mixed in the rice and dug in. As was expected, the heat level wasn't quite there. Not to worry, having convinced Bo of my affinity for the hot stuff, she brought of a tray of different chili mixes, a sour jalopeno, a slightly sweet chili sauce, chili oil, and the holy grail... ground roasted Thai chilies. No need to break into my Jolika reserve I keep in a small bottle on my key chain. I was able to add a couple of scoops of Thai chili, and we were in business. Were I a poet, I would write you a narrative that accurately captures the amazing mix of aromas and flavor. Instead, you are just going to have to take my word that it was AWESOME. I tried some of the red curry duck, and was like wise blown away. I'm not even going to make an attempt to describe that yummy goodness. The sampler plate had all kinds of tasty treats to try out. The chicken satay... OMG the chicken satay. Tender, yet crispy, and marinaded to perfection. The curry puff reminded me of Indian fare, but were quite tasty as well. Tasty chicken wings, as well as the golden bags. Despite being very full, I convinced them to stick around to sample some dessert. I asked for and order of sticky rice with coconut milk, and mango. My buddy did not realize that three simple ingredients could make for what he described as being and orgasmic experience. To start, the mango was perfect. Sweet, soft, and not very fibrous, it just melted in your mouth. Add to that the chewy sticky rice, and added flavor of the coconut, and you have a dish that I think that even the previously mentioned hypothetical poet James would have difficulty finding the words to capture the incredible delight that this dish presented to my palate. We left with rather full bellies, and still had doggy bags to tot what would be tomorrows lunch. The portions were abundant, and having over ordered out of excitement to explore the menu, we had quite a bit left over. I knew that I would be back. Too many questions left unanswered... Too many dished left unsampled. I was back a few days later. Having spent over an hour one way on the T, I was ready to get to work trying out more of the menu. I'd already been scouting it out on my phone on the way there, and knew what I wanted to order by the time I walked in. I got the Pad Khing with beef dinner special. It came with Tom Yum soup, egg rolls, dumplings, and rice at a really great price (I'm trying with the poet thing). Outstanding food!!!
(5)
Alan B.

This is actually one of the first places I used Yelp to try. Prior to coming here, I hadn't really experienced much Thai food at all, but the Yelp folks were screaming about this place, so I gave it a shot. What's not to love? Great location for me, as I live a few streets over. Portions are perfectly sized; not too big, not too small. Food is incredible; never felt like they reheated something in the microwave any of the times I've been here (quite a few). If I ask for extra-heat on my spicy food, they aren't bashful with it. I'm a big fan of the Pad-Ki-Mow, which is like a thick noodle stir-fry with onions and peppers, topped with some kind of spicy sauce. Also, I'll echo what many people have said about the Mango Sticky Rice. It's one of their pricier desserts, but WELL worth it. Speaking of prices, this place is a steal. Lunch combos go for $7.95 and you get two sides and a main dish, and only a buck more for a dinner combo. The restaurant itself isn't flashy, and the front of it looks like a grocery store. Once you get to the back, it's also very no frills. But for some reason, this works for the place, as you feel like you're eating in somebody's living room.
(4)
Casey W.

Overpriced and bland. If it were cheaper and I was inexperienced with decent Thai food, it would be worth it. The selection and options are there, but I didn't feel the flavor was at all. The fresh rolls were flavorless tubes of lettuce. The chicken yellow curry had maybe five small pieces of dry chicken in it for $12.95. There are several other Thai places that are much better.
(2)
Soul B.

When I was in Boston, my dad visited us from Thailand. My dad, as usual, wanted Thai food. Since my dad lived in Boston for 40 years, he knew where he wanted to go. I thought we were going to some fancy Thai restaurant. Instead my dad took us to this cozy little Thai place called Dok Bua. At first glance it looks like a hole in the wall restaurant with a little market are in the front part of the restaurant. It's not beautifully decorated but as with every restaurant, it's the food that counts. Even before getting the food, I know the food will be good. My dad would not have picked this place if it wasn't good. When I ate the food, I was not disappointed. As usual my dad did the ordering and it was delicious. The staff was very friendly and attentive to our needs. My dad said he felt like he was in Thailand (which is a huge compliment). With all the Thai restaurants in Boston, this restaurant is one of his favorites and has become mine too. I would recommend this place to everyone! menu: brookline.eat24hours.comâ€¦
(5)
Huan z.

While discussing food with a friend from Thailand, I told him one of my favorite Thai is Khao Sarn. He recommend me Dok Bua and Montien. He said Dok Bua is cheaper with more choices. If I want to be adventures on food, that's the place to go. I tried the restaurant yesterday. You can see previews of the food because they have pictures for every dish. I like that they have lot of choices on drinks and noodle soup. I also like that they have a Vegetarian corner. They have more than 200 different kind of dishes. usually I avoid restaurants like that because restaurant having few dishes specialize on their dish. I guess this place is a exception, because the food are very delicious. I guess it will take me a while to try all the food : ) in this one!
(4)
Karen G.

We ordered Delivery through eat24hours.com . Easy ordering and the food showed up when they said it would. No delivery charge and I could add the driver's tip online so I was able to send the food home while I was still at work and let our au pair accept the delivery without having to pay for it if they arrived before I got home. Nice! I gave them 3 stars because it was pretty good in general and everyone ate well over all, but my family really LOVES Thai food, so I am going to be specifically critical in my blow by blow. The Sa-Tay was fine and the peanut sauce was a little sweet, but it came with 4 packed skewers which was a lot and a nice surprise. My boys (5&7) loved it - but really they will eat anything if it comes on a sharp stick. I ordered the Yum-Nua Salad Medium, because usually it is so insanely, authentically spicy it will knock your socks off, but medium was a great disappointment. The dressing was a little too sweet with not enough lime and a very weak medium. Also they skimped on the lettuce which (when it is hot) is the good cooling part of the salad. However the meat was good and I would like to try it again, but spicy this time. The Pad Thai with Crispy Chicken was mixed. The pad thai was awesome!! Everyone ate it up and it was the only thing gone at the end of the meal, however next time I would skip the crispy chicken part and just get the pad thai. The crispy chicken was just a thin, breaded, over-cooked cutlet deep fried and sliced up. The kids ate a piece or two, but didn't really dig it, and we are talking about chicken nugget/fish stick aficionados here. The Pad-Si-Ew Noodle was fine. Not great but not bad. It was a little dry, so maybe it didn't have enough sauce and there may have been a little too much fish sauce, but fine. Although they did forget the Chicken, even though I put it in the comments. The Mas-Sa-Man Curry was good, the potatoes not too mushy which was nice, but the medium spice was a little cool. We got the Pina-Colada and Mango Bubble Teas, both of which were delish. Also the sticky rice was good but the portions were a little stingy. Overall just fine, not bad, but nothing to write home about.
(3)
Liz P.

I ordered delivery from here because of all the great reviews. I was so incredibly disappointed by the utter lack of flavor and overall poor quality of the food. It was a bad first impression and I'll never give them a second chance.
(2)
Branson L.

F-Yes... 4 stars and its not the best thai food in boston... its just a cool place... the food is good, the service is good, you can bring your own alcohol in... which isnt too common in boston. They make a mean spicy papaya salad, but you gotta ask for it to be extra spicy. I once had a hot food face off with some friends here... felt so right.
(4)
Robbie R.

1. Delicious 2. BYOB I got cwab rangoons last night and they were some of the best i've ever tried... and the crispy chicken pad thai is two of my favorite things in the same dish: fried chicken and pad thai. Brilliant. Bring a lot of friends and a lot of booze, and you'll have a lot of fun.
(5)
Katy D.

This place was great. The food came out incredibly fast. Pineapple curry with tofu was super good. Even though it was incredibly spicy to the point where my mouth and lips were burning I couldn't stop eating it. Green tea was the best I've had in a long time and was served in a huge mug. Cute casual atmosphere and friendly staff.
(5)
Heidi L.

The food is good, the prices are very reasonable (definitely cheaper than other places), the service is always super nice. I usually get the Drunken Noodles, though check out the Dinner Special (for 10.95, a few apps, a serving of rice, a tom yum soup and a half portion of your selected entree). Yum!
(4)
Kelsey C.

It seems like a lot of people like Dok Bua, but it was just not that good for me. If i'm going to take a hike to a Thai place, I'd much rather journey to Nud Pub in Allston. The Som-Tom Salad actually tastes like the papaya was somewhat mortar-and-pestled, but it was a tad bit watery and the green beans were tough. The Red Curry serves to wet your rice better than it serves to whet your appetite. The noodle:tofu ratio of the Drunken Noodle was less than one, which is just not right when you order a dish called drunken NOODLE. The overcooked, slightly-mushy, stuck-together noodles were also covered in mealy chili paste, which made it stick going down, as if mushy noodles aren't hard enough to swallow. Perhaps it should have been called Drunken Chef.
(2)
Daniel B.

The best Thai in Boston. I've eaten here 25+ times. If you like Pad Thai, you'll love theirs, as the flavor is complex and savory. However, the "Dok Bua Noodles" dish is even better. Pretty much everything we've eaten there has ranged from very good to excellent, with the exception of their red curry dishes... for whatever reason, their particular red curry isn't to our taste. The only other strike against Dok Bua is that they don't serve beef satay, only chicken satay. But never mind... most everything else is great, and the service is quick and friendly.
(5)
Carrianne C.

Yum- I love this place. I love eggplant and they have been so accomodating when I ask for eggplant instead of meat in my dishes (random, but I don't love tofu). If you want something more than just the usual thai noodle dish, hit up Dok Bua. Everything is fresh, and not greasy. Lots of room in the restaurant makes it a great place to go out, but delivery is amazing and SUPER fast.... the last time I delivered they brought it to my door in less than 30 minutes. Unheard of. Anyways my favorite Thai place in Brookline. And they take cards!
(4)
jazzy l.

We had dinner here with a party of 6. I think I like the lunch here more. The pad thai for dinner seem off kilter a bit. Everything was salty...too salty.
(3)
Jessica H.

Unfortunately my review of this is biased by the fact that I found not only one but TWO hairs in my pad thai when I got Dok Bua delivered today. I got the Crispy chicken pad thai and it was not excellent and then was ruined when I find two hairs in it.Blah will not be ordering from them again
(1)
Phil T.

I've visited here a few times. The food is good but isn't spectacular. The lunch and dinner specials gives you variety but lack in quantity. The decor weirdly works but border on a little tacky. They have Christmas lights and a Happy New Year sign along their bright (turquoise?) wall adorned with some Asian decorations. Their menus have pictures on them which is great for any Thai food beginners. A little tip for any winter diners, they keep their thermostat at a rather chilly setting since I kept my jacket on the whole meal. Overall Dok Bua is a good restaurant but nothing compelling.
(3)
Alicia C.

Meh~ I'd checked out other Thai restaurants before deciding to spent my bucks here. Overrated and pricy. My friend and I ordered the padped catfish and it was absolutely not fresh and overpriced. Don't think I'll visit again unless I've absolutely no choice...
(2)
Victoria P.

Love this place! The dinner combinations are a must! The Pad Thai is also really good - slightly sweeter than I'm used to, but still delicious. I alway have to end the night with a Thai Tea Bubble Tea - soooooo good.
(4)
Mike B.

It was about 9:30 on last Saturday night with my companion. We were seated and served promptly by friendly, courteous staff. The smell and decor of the place were not exactly first rate or pleasant, but the staff were. Our orders were prepared well and served to us very quickly - probably within ten minutes of placing them. The dishes were yummy, of moderate portions, and reasonably priced. I got the pad thai with crispy chicken. A good, casual dining experience.
(3)
Nora L.

Pretty good Thai food, 3.5. I came with a large group (10?) and the service was very quick. The servers are especially friendly here, which is why I'm giving it a 4 and not 3. The food, portion sizes and prices are pretty good. My usual is pad kee mao and trust me when I say this, I've had a lot of pad kee mao dishes at different restaurants. It wasn't as good or spicy as some other places in the area but still yummy. Didn't know this place was BYOB but that'll help bump up my rating to a 4 too. Overall, not my favorite Thai restaurant in the Brookline/Brighton area but still solid.
(4)
Jason K.

Crispy pad Thai chicken was soooo good. Highly recommended. Only thing I didn't like was that the portions were not generous for the appetizer. The chicken wings tasted good, but there were only about 5.
(4)
Tanya Y.

Dok Bua makes the world a better place. No Joke. I've been coming here fairly often and am shocked that I haven't gotten around to writing about Dok Bua yet, especially because this place is . that . damn . good ! Located in the amazing area of Coolidge Corner, Dok Bua definitely has their bragging rights. Often, there is a line to get into this place, which shows that people are willing to wait for deliciousness. Parking is available on the street and therefore it can be a bit difficult to find a spot. Once you walk in, you are greeted very nicely by the waitstaff, and you automatically get a sense of authenticity. There are a ton of miniature plastic food displays which are adorable, as well as various decorations including Christmas lights that adds to the ambiance. One of my favorite features about Dok Bua is their menu: they have tons of options and each item comes with a picture so you can visually see what you're going to be served before hand. They are reasonably priced and everytime I come here, I like to look at what other people are eating, because 9 times out of 10, it smells and looks delicious! Their Pad Thai (Sauteed rice noodle with shrimp, egg, scallion, bean sprout and ground peanut - $8.95) is delicious. Both the lychee ($13.95, comes with both shrimp and chicken) and pineapple fried rice (with shrimp, $10.95), is also amazing. My most recent discovery has been their "Moo-Yang" (Grilled pork marinated in Thai herb. - $7.95). The description that is stated on their menu does not give this meat any justice! GIve me an order of Moo Yang and some white rice and I'll be all set. So good! I've also had the opportunity of trying a couple of their drinks, which all come in these cool mugs (refer to my pictures!). Their Lychee Drink ($1.95) is great, and you definitely cannot go wrong with Thai Iced Tea ($2.50) (my fave!). HUGE plus! For birthdays, they have this amazing flower candle that sits in a bed of sweet rice, coconut milk, and mango ($6.95). The flower candle is originally closed, as if it hadn't bloomed yet, is lit at the table, then goes off almost like a little firework. It then opens to where each individual flower petal is lit up and it plays the "Happy Birthday" tune to you. (Refer to my picture!) This place is as good as it gets!
(5)
Nikki B.

Good inexpensive Thai food and they're great if you have a big group and make a reservation. The best part? It's BYOB so bring all the wine and beer you want! They don't charge a corking fee so no worries on that front. Every time my friends and I plan a bug get together we come here.
(5)
Anthony L.

I was ready, and exited, to go to Kayyam (Mediterranean place across the street) with a friend until I saw a sign saying "Best of Boston: 2009, 2011" under Dok Bua Thai Kitchen. I immediately thought "Hm, the BEST of Boston? Is it really the BEST? I need to find out." And so I did. Friends, DKTK (what a name) is really amazing. The staff is super friendly (I wonder if it's genuine or for a good/halfway decent tip) and the service is speedy. The physical restaurant is very clean and organized -- it makes sense to me. Their bathroom is very clean (although, I wonder if the flush actually works on the men's toilet?) and smells good. I ordered the pad thai off of the dinner menu ($9.99 -- what a bargain!). Guys, it was great. Seriously, delicious. The food came out on an overwhelming plate (had five slots -- rice, pad thai, spring rolls, something?, and soup). The rice was perfectly steamed, the pad thai had amazing flavor, the tofu was beyond delicious, and the spring rolls were amazing. Although DKTK is in an amazing location, it's not great for me (Cambridge to Brookline is a little inconvenient). However, if I'm ever craving Thai, this is where I'm going. Tip: this restaurant is BYOB... so bring whatever you'd like!
(5)
Eric F.

Ernie F. has touted Dok Bua for quite some time now and it def lived up to the hype on my first visit. Amongst us, we had the Moo-Yang, Pad Kee Mao with Bean Glass Noodles, Seafood Tom Yum Noodle Soup and Yellow Curry with Duck. A number of fellow Yelpers have spoken well of the Moo-Yang and for good reason! The dish was plentiful and chock full of juicy, flavorful pork with an awesome herby dipping sauce. I enjoyed my noodle soup - bright, crisp flavors with just enough spice complemented by well-cooked seafood and noodles. My friend's duck was pretty solid except that the meat was a little on the dry side. The star of the night would have to be my bro's bean glass noodles. They had a unique, springy consistency that, along with especially well-executed seasoning, elevated it above the usual Pad Kee Mow. As with Thai cuisine in general, the prices were more than reasonable and service was prompt and friendly. Looking forward to trying other dishes on my next visit!
(4)
Amy S.

Wow, food comes out FAST. i have never seen food come out so fast. I shared the pad see ew with my friend, and it was one of the better pad see ews i've ever had. really, not bad at all! idk, it was just really well made compared to the other ones. the price isn't too bad either!
(4)
Eric K.

Unbelievable Thai food I'm such a casual atmosphere! The duck was outrageous! Pad Thai nearly as good as well. Go if you can!
(5)
Niko D.

Good Thai food. I usually get the Drunken noodle with chicken. I get it spicy, but I think it could be a little spicier. Best thing about this place is that it's BYOB, which always a plus! The only negative thing I would have to say about this place is that the style and look of the restaurant is lacking. It needs an update big time.
(4)
Vicky H.

I've only been here a few of times. Once with my sister which was a very long time ago. And more recently with some friends. Nothing really changed here in the several years they were apart. The place looked and feel the same. I love looking at the miniatures of foods on display and at the same time find it disgusting how dusty they are and how cluttered the restaurant appeared. We ordered 4 different entrees to share. The price wasn't bad. It wasn't expensive, more on the less expensive side considering the location. The food tasted pretty good. It wasn't something you can brag about but definitely have that home cooked feel, as did the ambiance of the place. The kitchen was to the right of where I was sitting but slightly covered up so you can't see in much. The cleaning are was behind me and you can clearly see all the dirty dishes and the side work in prepping the vegetables. This area was gross. Dirty dishes all over as well as same area to prep the work. I wished I had my camera with me to take some pictures. Needless to say I haven't been back since no matter how good the food was. The only reason I am giving this place 2 stars because of the good food.
(2)
Lily P.

See pics we got #15 and #16 lunch specials. OMFG I LOVE THEIR MENU...see pictures agains. They have a picture of every order you could make. I love this since there is no guessing what you will be getting. You just point and choose. Lunch special was 8.99 came with 2 side dishes and a main course. The fried chicken was great with or without the sauce. I loved their peanut sauce...we also got the chinese eggplant. I didn't try the tomyum soup we got since we were too full by the time we finished the rice and the main dishes.
(4)
Hannah K.

Expecting a family-style platter with each order, my 6 friends and I ordered 4 dishes. It was not enough. However, the service was fast and the portions we did get were delicious!
(3)
Sanel S.

This place reminded me of wise words of my friend from China. I had suggested to him once that we go to Chinatown to get some good Chinese food. His response was: "Sanel, you don't go to Chinatown to enjoy a meal, you go there to be fed like cattle." I'd like to extend that analogy to Dok Bua Thai as well. You don't go here to eat and enjoy food, you go here to be fed the same way we feed cattle until we cull them. The food looks good but is really quite terrible. I've never been to Thailand so I can't speak to how it compares to their food, but I have had incredible Thai food at Osha in Watertown so I feel justified in comparing. The first problem at Dok Bua was that the server barely spoke English and apparently had never heard anyone use the word "chicken", as the "Chicken Pad Thai" went way over her head. See they don't like to use names for their meals, they need numbers. So the correct way to order is "I want to order Z17 with a side of A3 and drink J7." The portions they serve are generous but not really all that great. The pad thai comes with a side of rice, I don't know why, I've never had it served with rice anywhere else. I can only imagine that's because the amount of pad thai is half of what you'd get at a normal restaurant and rice is a lot cheaper to substitute and fill people up. There were three other sides, some soup, two egg rolls and couple of dumplings with some black soy-like sauce. The soy sauce was reminiscent of the black goo from the new Alien movie Prometheus where all those weird snake-like aliens live in. Perhaps they have a side business of supplying black goo to Hollywood. I did eat the dumplings nevertheless and I did eat my egg rolls but I used the sweet sauce that came with the rolls instead. Two spoonfuls of the soup was more than enough really. I only ended up eating my Pad Thai which itself was mostly good actually. I also ordered a Thai Ice Tea. It was watered down, diluted and lacked the subtlety and rich flavor of a real Thai Ice Tea I've had at other places like Osha in Watertown. OH and as a bonus I did experience heart palpitations about 30 minutes after eating my meal. Never happened before and otherwise I have a great heart and stay in shape. Now, correlation does not equal causation, but if you've never had heart palpitations and then you eat something and 20 minutes later you have them for the first time in your life, I'd say the correlation coefficient is pretty high on that one.
(1)
Danielle N.

Delicious. I order in most of the time and occasionally go there. Their chicken wings are delicious. Their curry puffs are to die for. Their dinner special is a steal in Brookline! My boyfriend and I always order Moo Yang, Pad Thai, and or Drunk Man's Noodle dinner special. Also their Tom Yum Soup used to be amazing but recently it has been too oily. Amazing thai food place!
(5)
Nicole K.

My favorite place! The food is always good. I have never been disappointed by anything I've ordered, and it all is fairly priced- the speed at which it comes out is astonishing too. The service is some of the most attentive and friendly I have ever had while not being officious. Go!
(5)
Elizabeth R.

I love this place! The service is really fast and always friendly. The food is pretty good, and comes within 5-10 minutes every time.
(4)
Lala I.

my fave thai joint in boston!
(4)
Sahil M.

Decent Thai food. Just what you'd expect. Fast and tasty, yet generic. The Thai iced coffee is really sweet. Recommend asking them to dilute it down a bit!
(3)
Kim K.

In need of bubble tea on a sunny 70 degree day in Coolidge Corner, my Yelp app led me here. This is a really cool walk in or sit down joint. Kind of a hole in the wall. I walked in and was greeted by a nice woman. Disoriented as to where I order bubble tea I just flat out asked if they had it and she said "Oh yes!" and pointed to their "slushies" menu. Ummm...ok! Well I ordered the green tea bubble tea. It's more a green tea latte actually. It's very milky/creamy but had amazing flavor. The green tea came through strong (in a good way) and the tapioca pearls were smooth and yummy. The tea was $4, a bit pricey in my opinion. But this was a rich and cool treat on a warm day so no complaints!
(3)
Lisa B.

Big points for being the only restaurant open during Hurricane Sandy... We were a little "eh'd" by the food, though. Everything tasted okay, but I think Rod Dee (Brookline) is much better. Maybe it's just personal preference, though.
(3)
Eric W.

My favorite Thai place in the Boston area! Staff is super friendly and attentive. Try the dinner specials to let you try a little bit of everything at a pretty decent price. Lot's of good vegetarian options for me, especially tofu curry. Can't speak to the meat dishes myself, but all my meat-eating friends love it. My friends and I stop by the liquor store down the street and get some beer beforehand (BYOB!!). They could definitely spruce up the decor, it must have been converted from an old convenient store at some point, but honestly when the food's good enough I don't really care.
(5)
Dennis D.

This is the first place I will give a 5 and it's simple, THE FOOD HERE IS SOOOOOO GOOD!!! I came here with my girlfriend and her sister (her sister told us about here) and we came in for their dinner menu. It had so much food and we got the Thai Green Ice tea... probably the best tasting teas I have ever tasted; sweet in the right way. I order the Drunk noodle plate (which came with soup, egg rolls, rice, and fried dumplings). All of that with great favors and I have yet tasted the noodles. Noodles were great, Spice but with me, not enough; asking the waitress for more spice, it gave the noodles a kick, in a good way. I came back two more times and they were great those two other times. I recommend going here for Thai for a great price.
(5)
Karen G.

The service here is amazing. Very attentive and the food came out quick. The fried pad thai worth crispy pork was delicious! The prices are a bit steep for what you get though. So 4 stars.
(4)
David C.

After my disappointing experience at Rod Dee, I was starting to think I'd never find a good Thai place in Boston, but fast forward a few days and I'm in love. Dok Bua is cheap, fast, and (most importantly) delicious. My mom and I went there the other night and got a couple of their $10.95 meal combos. For that price you get a generous platter complete with an entree (Pad-See-Ew for her, Tod-Kra-Tiem for me), soup, dumplings, spring rolls, and rice. My pork was a little tough, but it was drenched in a black pepper and garlic sauce that more than made up for it. Service is great, and although the interior is a little grubby, it's kind of charming. Beware the peppers they have on the tables though! I tried one of those tiny green ones and instantly regretted it. If you're a spice fan, however, I've found your heaven.
(4)
Alyssa W.

how have I not written a review for this place yet?? been going here for years and I went to school with the owners son. This is a family run business and recently, it has been getting noticed in all kinds of media, Best of Boston, youtube/bloggers and ME. haha My favorite things to get here? Indonesian Fried rice, I love the way the chicken is made, its like a tempura batter, but dark and it's just so freakin good. and you dont even have to ask them to add a fried egg on top! (unlike most other Thai restaurants) their lunch combos are great and reasonably priced. Lately I've been a little more adventurous and have been trying more of the authentic dishes. Unfortunately, I dont remember the names of the dishes, but they have all been great. There was a fried fish dish we had that was amazing. it was kind of like a sweet and sour sauce, but spicy and it wasnt too sweet or too sour, the fish was cooked to perfection as well, so moist but crispy on the outside. Now, i've never been to thailand, but i watch all those travel shows and when I walk into Dok Bua, I feel like I'm in Thailand, the decor is just as I see on tv. Some may not like it, but it's not over the top and you dont feel cluttered. it just feels like being in thailand.
(5)
Le N.

I used to go to dokbua alot - back when the food was better. Now the food is just okay. I only stop by when I'm in the area and even then, sometimes I prefer to take the extra mile to go to Rod Dee for cheaper prices. It's not a bad thai restaurant, but it's no longer great as well. But when I do come here, I order anything with crispy chicken - indonesian fried rice or pad thai (made spicy). The beef salad was also good during my last visit; be aware, it's very spicy - but I like spicy. =)
(3)
Mary L.

A hidden jewel! I had walked by this place for years and figured I should try it. I love spicy food and have tried many of the spicy/hot items on the menu. My faves: Tom-Yum-Koong Soup and any fried rice dish (especially Thai Basil Rice). Very reasonable prices and large portions. I always bring leftovers to work the next day and people ask me where my food came from :)
(5)
Carrie C.

Delicious, affordable go-to place for Thai food in Brookline. Great Thai fried rice and pad thai. I've never had a bad meal there and the staff couldn't be friendlier. The only odd quirk I've noticed is that the portion sizes for some items (esp. main dishes in lunch specials) tend to be significantly smaller if you eat-in rather than take out or get delivery. (So always takeaway!) This place continues to be one of my favorites in Boston for delicious, wallet-friendly meals!
(4)
M R.

tom yum soup, any of the dinner or lunch specials (great deal)--especially pad thai, mango smoothie/bubble tea...if i'm hungry and too lazy to cook or dine out, dok bua is at the top of my list of delivery restaurants. UPDATE: recently dok bua has been cutting their plating sizes in half, at least for deliveries. Usually you get 3 large spring rolls and a large tom yum soup with your dinner special, however now they are cutting the spring rolls in half so you only get 1 full spring roll, and sending about 1/3 of the soup that they used to. also, they are now beginning to charge an extra $2.00 if you want to have any kind of meat in most dishes. disappointing for me because this used to be one of my go-to spots for delivery.
(5)
Sun J.

I was working in Brookline today, and on the advice of my fellow yelpers, I gave Dok Bua Thai Kitchen a try. I had the lunch special: Pad Thai, with Tom Yom soup and thai fried egg rolls. Looooveeed the flavor of the soup. The service was friendly and the food came out really fast, which works out great on a lunch break. Overall, very solid.
(5)
David C.

My friends and I were looking for a place to eat for a decently sized group of 7. We ended up deciding on eating Thai. Upon arriving at 1PM on 12/31, there weren't too many people there and were seated immediately at a round table. I particularly like round tables since it allows everyone to face each other. I prefer round tables vs. the long tables whenever possible. They had a lunch special that includes a dish with two sides. I was in the mood for something more filling, so I went with the Basil Fried Rice. It was pretty good, food was flavorful. As for the two sides, I got the coconut soup and the Thai Salad. The soup was delicious and had a nice kick to it. The Thai Salad was alright, veggies were decently fresh. They bring out the food all at once on a really big round plate which is subdivided into sections, so you get all the food at once rather than in stages. Service was good, they were attentive and kept refilling our waters. Would definitely come here again when I'm looking for an inexpensive lunch/dinner when I'm in the area.
(4)
Ronica P.

Been here twice. Great bubble tea. Great drunken noodles, but they don't clean the chicken well enough so my BF and I were both chewing and spitting out pieces of cartilage still there. This is something I truly dislike if I go somewhere. This happened both times we went there. The first time I shrugged it off, but the second time we decided just not to come back even though the service was great too. Clean yo' chicken properly & then I'll be back :)
(3)
Elizabeth S.

After passing by so many times, I finally found an excuse to venture in. An excuse called the lunch special. For less than $10, you get a round plate divided into sections. One of those sections is a choice of about 20 entrees. Two other sections are side dishes (or if you get the yummy Tom Kha soup, your side dish will be smack in the middle of the plate). The other sections are sadly empty, except for maybe a cucumber or some other garnish. If Dok Bua served alcohol, I'd be in love. Instead, I'll settle for the Thai iced tea or the guava juice. Notes: -The hot tea is self serve - you might not be informed. Go for the tea! -There are indeed metal cat statues for decoration. They will not meow at you.
(4)
Vivian C.

I love their photo album style menu! And the cute miniature food decorations. The crispy chicken (it's everywhere!) is great, as is the moo yang (marinated pork). I happen to like the American sweet style of pad thai, as well as their vermicelli version of pad-si-ew. The Thai iced tea arrives in these chunky glass mugs - yummy, but way too much ice. Taro custard was nice, lightly sweet, but was probably reheated by microwave - part of it was still cold. Shaved ice was served in these cute smiley face cups. If you can grab it, they have a single round table in the back - large enough for 7 people. Note to self - the mango curry is too spicy for my taste, even when it is requested mild. Note to you - if you'll be coming back, get yourself a VIP card by purchasing $50 worth of gift certificates (5 $10 certificates). You can use the certificates for your next visit (I don't know if you can use them all in one go, or if you have to use them one at a time... since they're gift certificates, I would imagine that you could use them all at once...) and the card will grant you 10% off your next visit, and 20% off on your birthday. ***4/2011 visit*** Seems like they no longer advertise the VIP card. Asked for less ice in my Thai Iced Tea $2.50 and they complied! Nice. V17. Rad-Nar Broad rice noodle with Chinese broccoli, tofu in brown gravy sauce $9.95 and SN4. Pad-Si-Ew with Vermicelle Topped with Crispy Chicken $10.95 were both good and tasty choices, however the Pad-Si-Ew with the solid layer of chicken on top seemed the better deal portion-wise. But note to the wise, their chicken was mostly (all?) dark meat, which is great for me, but might not be appreciated by the white meat lovers out there. With the two of us dining this time, there was enough leftover for another light meal for one. *** 5/2011 visit *** The three of us decimated the three lunch specials ($8.95 each), no problem. I liked the peanut sauce that came with the thai salad side option. The two chicken wings option was actually 1 wing, segmented. The thai roll was freshly fried for us, and arrived hot and crispy and tasty. The pork dumplings were small, but tasted fine. The coconut milk chicken soup was a bit too tangy for me, but the chicken bits were tender. We enjoyed all three of the luncheon entrees: pad thai, pineapple fried rice, and the stir fried mixed vegetables in brown sauce. *** 3/2012 visit *** The Golden Bags $6.95 (ground chicken, onion and corn wrapped in a pastry bag) were not as good as other Yelpers made them sound. I didn't taste any corny sweetness, and it was quite meatball-like inside. It would have been better made with minced chicken (vs. ground) and with the distinctive flavors of each ingredient standing its own. The Thai Fried Rice Topped with Moo-Yang $13.95 was quite good, but be careful of the accompanying sauce as (unlike the rest of the sauces provided with the appetizers and the entrees) it includes chili pepper seeds a plenty! *** 3/2013 visit *** Thai Iced Tea $2.50 arrived in tall glasses this time, normally they are served in those cute canning jars with a handle. Along with favorites pad thai, moo yang, and crispy chicken, we tried a few new to us dishes - Kai-Yang $10.95 Thai style barbecue chicken and sticky rice, and Kai-Jeaw-Koong-Sub $10.95 Thai omelette with ground shrimp or ground pork. The omelette was a small portion for the price and rather simple a dish, tasty, but not amazingly tasty enough to justify the price. The chicken was literally a plate of chopped chicken pieces and a cute little basket of simple steamed sticky rice. A little too simple as well, but we had to admit that the chicken was moist and flavorful. *** another 3/2013 visit *** Not sure why an order of pad thai with crispy chicken is utterly covered with crispy chicken to the degree that you have trouble spotting the pasta underneath (see photos posted), but when we had them specially add crispy chicken to the Rad Nar today for a $3 surcharge that there was only perhaps one breaded chicken breast all sliced up scattered here and there. A bit disappointing. My DC found the Rad Nar $9.95 Broad rice noodle stir fried with tofu and Chinese broccoli to be rather bland, but liked the pad thai well enough.
(4)
Marsha W.

Man... I'm telling ya. Nothing smells or feels more like Thailand like this place. The place is hot, the decor is tacky, the food is fantastic. The only thing that may not be so accurate is the sub par wait service. Thailand is the HOME of genuine service. Any restaurant you go to you are waited on by multiple people. Who exactly DO YOU THANK or TIP!? Oh...that's right, its not customary or proper to tip more than what is equivalent to two dollars in any Thai restaurant NO MATTER how expensive your bill was. Now I know why the Europeans love Thailand =) Either way, Dok Bua will always continue to be great just like Brown Sugar on Comm Ave. You wonder why some Thai restaurants fail, and some excel like this one. Only a true Buddhist and Thai person knows. You can pretty much order anything off this menu and have it tastes like it was tossed on a wok on the streets of Bangkok, WHY CANT THEY DO DESSERTS TOO =( I can recommend a few dishes, but if you are a Thai food fan, I say...order your favorite dish, and watch the Thailand spring out from that. Enough said, just order anything and everything. You can't go wrong. Also worth mentioning, this place is MENU overload. This means, anything and everything you miss or love that you tasted if you happen to have gone to Thailand, most likely they have it. They didn't have those sour sausage filled with rice things though...hmmmm. Esan Sausage I think its called. I remember eating those outside my uncle's bookstore in Bangkok...memories! They have Sai Kok though which is another version minus the rice, but the taste can be a bit daunting for you American eaters, so skip it if you don't know what it is, most likely its a taste you'll have to try a few times to appreciate. Eat it with sticky rice!!! Another secret yummy that some may not know is the Curry Puffs on the apps menu. It's a classic and its the Thai version of what the Indian's call Samosa. If you love those, try the puffs! Anyways, I just wanted to give props to one of the rare Thai Restaurants that can call themselves AUTHENTIC. Lucky you Brookline! It's also the only reason I would step foot in that town. Otherwise avoid it, people CANNOT drive in that town =D Says the Asian girl...!
(5)
Diego T.

Good basic Thai place. Though serving some Americanized dishes, it still servers hearty traditional food. The staff is friendly enough for a quick sit-and-eat. Worth a 3.5
(4)
Andrea E.

I gotta say, it's a pretty good price for what you get! I walked in one day, unplanned and with a craving for pad thai, I order from the numbered menu (apparently they only want you to order by number, they request it) got my delicious pad thai, it was great and full of flavor, not to mention that it gad a good amount of shrimp, not like when you order from other places and they give you 2 stinken shrimp, I also loved the fact that it came with a couple of side dishes which supplemented my meal wonderfully... to sum it up, I enjoyed the food, had good service and the price was right. I recommend it!
(4)
Noa N.

I wasn't that impressed. When I travel, I like to try the best Thai food in the area and based on the reviews, I decided to try the moo-yang dinner plate at Dok Bua. Service and food were good but I wouldn't recommend it unless you want something very simple and safe.
(3)
Lani H.

If you're looking for authentic Thai food in Boston, then look no further than Dok Bua. I lived in Chiang Mai for a bit and fell in love with Thai cuisine, but had been leery to try Thai joints back in the U.S. because I assumed it would only lead to disappointment. I've been to Brown Sugar in Allston which is OK, but nothing I'd go back to. That being said, I'm so glad I entered Dok Bua on a whim today. So what makes this place so great? It's a lot of things. First is the ambiance. The restaurant decor, the super-friendly staff, and the amazing smell of food reminded me of being back in Thailand. Then of course would be the food itself. It was, in a word, spectacular. If you're looking for something different, then I highly recommend the larb gai (chicken minced meat salad with cilantro, lemon, and onion slices) and chu-chi pla (deep-fried bass in a sweet curry sauce). The larb was right on the dot with what I had back in Thailand. Great food, and great service. If you know any Thai then I encourage you to practice with the staff there. I'll be going back at least once a month, and it's probably the closest thing to Thai food anywhere in Boston.
(5)
Ron C.

THAI CHICKEN WINGS | MOOYANG | BEEF PAD SEE YEW | CRISPY CHICKEN !!! All the above can be mixed at your desire...Mooyang over anything is awesome!! Been coming here for yours and have never had a disappointing meal. The menu is vast and you can definitely experiment with something new each time. i'm not too much of a curry guy but the wife and friends love the curries here. It can get packed but they take reservations and are very accommodating. We've had parties of upwards of 20 in here and its worked out. Dear Dok Bua: Kob kun mak (Thank you) for introducing me to MOOYANG!!!!
(5)
Elizabeth T.

By far best Thai food in and around boston. Right on par with pad Thai from Chiang Mai Chaing Rai and Bangkok.
(5)
Snuffles B.

This is the perfect place for me: their menu for dummies has pictures of everything and all the dishes are numbered so I can avoid the embarrassment of butchering the names of the dishes. The restaurant is colorful and warm feeling, homey mixed with a Super 88 food court thing going on. We were seated quickly around 7, and thank God, b/c 5 mins later there was a line half a block out, but it moved quickly. The service was efficient and unobtrusive. We shared 3 dinner specials and ate: - Tom Yum Soup - Above average, on the sweeter side. - Dumplings and Egg rolls - Tasted good, but fried so of course they do. - Chicken Pad Thai - Lots of stuff, also on sweeter side, a much above average but not mind numbing version. - Beef Pad See Ew - Very good, not too greasy heavy. - Moo Yang - Tender, tasty, but very sweet. - Taro pudding - Bad, not heated so some was warm and some cold, not very taro flavored, tasted like a wet sponge. - Mango Sticky Rice - Average, but liked it b/c not insano sweet or heavy as it tends to be at other places. This place is very heavy handed with sugar, so be warmed if you don't like your food sweet - fortunately, I do! Overall not the best Thai in the world, but solid food and service that I would definitely go back to. How could they make it better? Plastic food - maybe one day.
(4)
John S.

I give stars for originality - experiencing something different and unique is what I live for. This restaurant definitely delivers with that, food and decor alike. I felt like I was in Thailand. $10.95 dinner special from 4pm-10:30pm - comes with your dish of choice (many selections), 2 spring rolls, 2 dumplings, rice, and soup. They know how to do business.
(4)
Ellie W.

I hate to admit it, but ever since I went to Thailand and actually ate authentic Thai cuisine, I've been a Thai food snob since. I guess it's pretty difficult to compare, since not all the same ingredients are readily available here. I have yet to find a Thai restaurant in Boston that is hands down my favorite. Dok Bua is pretty good, but I'm not sure if it's my fave yet. They have friendly, fast service, which is a plus. I think I'll have to try a few more dishes there before I pass real judgement.
(3)
Sara M.

After working a 12-hour day, I decided to take myself to dinner and stopped here to try the dinner special everyone raves about. For 10.95 you get two pork spring rolls, two dumplings, soup, and an entree with rice. I got the tofu with cashews in a brown sauce and it was pretty good. The dumplings were a little chewy, and I was not expecting the tofu to be fried, but it was delicious. The service is very good, and my water was refilled several times. The decor leaves something to be desired, part cafeteria - part I don't know what, but it feels almost like they quit halfway through in decorating. The only thing that I really didn't like was the soup, It didn't taste or smell quite right to me.
(3)
Laura A.

note the Tofu Gra-Prow with "house special tofu" is actually seitan. i was grossed out at first when it was delivered because i thought it was beef, and it's one of those dishes that is mostly protein with a scattering of veggies.. it was way, WAY too much seitan IMO. my favorite thing here is the eggplant and the basil fried rice with tofu. unfortunately just eggplant isn't really substantial for dinner and the fried rice doesn't quite give you enough for leftovers. i would recommend this place for dining in, not for delivery.
(3)
Dorothy K.

When you have a soy allergy, it isn't easy to find good Thai restaurants that won't kill you. So when I found out that Dok Bua uses corn and/or canola oil (instead of soybean oil and/or vegetable oil) in all of their cooking, I was thrilled! I've been going there for a few years now, and every time I go, the service is quick and the staff is friendly. I also never have a problem communicating my food allergy to them-- they're used to it. It's a great place for groups, but also good for casual dining for couples. Other things I really love about Dok Bua: BYOB! And they'll provide you with a bottle opener and some small glasses. You get a lot of food for a reasonable price. $8.50 for a huge heaping plate of shrimp Pad Thai, $15 for a WHOLE FISH in sweet and sour sauce with vegetables, or $11 for their dinner specials, which all include dumplings, egg rolls, soup, and a bowl of rice IN ADDITION to the enormous entree you just ordered. You get a lot of food, so go hungry. Fortune cookies. I know, there's not much special about fortune cookies, but THEIRS are awesome. Not in terms of taste, but in terms of fortunes. The last one I got said "A school is a building with four walls and the future inside." I mean, come on. Summary: good food, good service, they handle food allergies well, and it's a fun place to go.
(4)
Sarah F.

You have to like the campy Thai atmosphere and the BYOB policy, but every time we've come, we have been disappointed with the food. It might be because we have consistently fooled ourselves into ordering the same thing (I think the tamarind crispy duck) which is essentially just a big plate of fried duck, with a tiny bowl of fruit in the middle. Also the chicken curry was essentially a bowl of overdone meat - not too much in the vegetable territory. Other people seem to like this place - and the service is friendly and attentive. Maybe we are just ordering the wrong thing, but I think we will be back to Khao Sarn which is consistently excellent.
(2)
Lisa L.

Ordered pick-up on a Saturday night and it was ready in just 10 minutes. We got Tom Yum Soup, Crispy chicken Pad Thai, and Green Curry with beef. The Tom Yum was a revelation. It was so spicy and flavorful with just the right amount of salt, and the vegetables and shrimp were great. Green curry was one of the best I've had, the spiciness was a whole mouth experience and not just burning tongue. The crispy chicken Pad Thai was a bit disappointing. Within minutes of getting our order, I opened the tupperware and the "crispy chicken" was already steaming its way to sogginess. The rest of the pad thai (noodles) were basically nothing special, kind of bland. However, hot tip, if you have leftover noodles the next day, fry them in a little oil with leftover rice, pour some soy sauce over, and crack a couple eggs in and mix it up. It's like a sweet noodle pudding, so good. I'll definitely come back and try the Pad Thai fresh at the restaurant (maybe it's better?) and some more Tom Yum!
(4)
Alana F.

Let's cut to the chase: Dok Bua is the only BYOB place I've found in the greater Boston area. Maybe there are other gems hiding amid the...well, the normal restaurants that charge you for beer and wine and shit. But, all those other places of eating become swindlers, scammers, and (as Dickens would happily add, also chiselers and rogues--although, that's probs because he was paid by the page. Not sure why I'm still Rhapsodizing Adjective. Maybe Dok Bua will throw a free meal my way *hint, hint*). So, yea, here's how it goes: pit stop at Trader Joes (henceforth to be referred to as Cheap Wine Funland) and invite 3-5 Charles Shaws to dinner (one Chuck per person, duh), and then mosey on over to Dok Bua, only slightly less hungry than before because you just cannot resist the free sample (cookie butter? that's spreadable crack). Think it's a coincidence that Dok Bua staked its claim next to Cheap Wine Funland? Nope. They thought that shit through. Upon entering DB, my friends and I were immediately relegated to a (cozy!) corner (so when we become the most...excitable...people there, we don't upset the cute couple in the front who haven't caught on to the fact that each dish is meant to be enjoyed with 750 mL of grownup grape juice), where the waiter--without having to be asked--hands over an ice bucket, wine glasses, and a corkscrew. What gave us away? Oh, right, we're twentysomethings, sporting the sheen of anticipated drunkenness. But here's the kicker: when you're no longer anticipating that sheen, when, in fact, you've gotten that sheen ON and perhaps you don't really want to stand up to go to the bathroom *all the way in the back* because you're afraid you'll need solid things to stabilize you, the beautiful waiters and waitresses don't judge...well, at least not in a way that's obvious to me/my flushed and garrulous friends, and that's all that really matters. Now that I've said that, I can probably kiss my free meal byebye, but, really, I can eat a decent meal and get a decent amount tipsy for a whopping $12 (that's including the wine), and I'm fine by that. You may be reading this review, grumbling about the fact that I didn't write anything about the actual food. Here it goes: if you want great Thai food, go somewhere else. If you want good Thai food and to drink for cheap, Dok Bua is where it's at. I'm not gunna tell you what to order: look at the menu; there are legit pictures of EVERY SINGLE food item. Let your eyes guide you. I've not eaten anything I've disliked, and I've been here too many times to count...sorry, ma. At least your frugality has rubbed off?
(5)
Harry H.

Solid take out lunch specials (2 for $19) from nice folks who had our food ready in a few minutes. Went with the tofu Penang which offered a nice kick, and sides of Thai salad (meh) and some veggies (solid). A filling meal at a reasonable price if you're in the area.
(3)
Dona F.

A few weeks ago, my friend and I were lured into this restaurant by their eccentric outside display of colorful mock-noodle dishes. Anticipating a warm trendy atmosphere, similar noodle bars found in Japan or South Korea, we were astonished by the lack of style and vitality within the room. Worst yet, was the unforgettable aroma of wet dog within the air. Alas, there was no dog, watered or dry, but there was a waiter. He didn't seem to speak very good English, but new enough of the basics to get by. So we took our time looking over the lunch menu and finally came to a decision. I ended up with the basil fried rice, vegetable soup, and vegetable spring rolls. I gotta say, they work quick here. All the food came to us in a matter of, what--six minutes? Appetizers and entree alike were placed together on one sectioned dish which gave me the choice of what to eat first. Soup, I thought would be a good place to start. My first reaction was a positive one--the broth was excellent. The rolls weren't as great, but I enjoyed dipping them into the soup. Best of all was the basil-fried rice, which I ordered extra hot. (They have 3 optional levels of spiciness: mild, medium, hot.) It was top notch: the rice was nicely fried and perfectly seasoned with holy basil (which hints of licorice) and deep fried tofu. When the bill came I was surprised at how fair the prices were. Due to the poor ambiance of the place, I probably won't be coming back here soon, but will order takeout.
(3)
TK W.

Always a big fan. Everything taste great, so it is difficult to pick my fav to mention here. Lunch special is definitely a steal. Oh I don't remember the name, but it was eggplant with pork, I think that would be one of my fav. Tom Ka Kai (Chicken coconut soup) was very rich and explosion of coconut, lime with chicken on the background. Not water down at all. One black mark. If you use groupon, they ask you before you order, so made people think if they skim on things. But I am still a big fan.
(5)
Jennifer N.

I went to Dok Bua a few years ago, and I fell in love. I had a note in my planner that said "GO BACK TO DOK BUA BEFORE LEAVING BOSTON!" So today, three years after my first trip to Dok Bua, I made my way back. I disregarded the horrible decor, as I did the first time, and chuckled at the bloated menu (presented with an equally bloated book of pictures -- all of the pictures look the same!). We ordered the larb, which was far more lemon flavored than I would have liked (and also far more fish sauce flavored than I would have liked). Though the menu said it would be served with ground toasted rice, there was none on the plate. Generally, I like larb for its complex taste, but this was just flat and lemony. We also ordered the pad khing which is supposed to be stir fried protein (we ordered shrimp) ginger, mushroom, baby corn, onion and brown sauce. What arrived was basically a plate of broccoli (literally 14 florets, even though broccoli wasn't mentioned on the menu), some baby corn, and a few shrimp. It tasted like very ordinary stir fried shrimp in a very salty brown sauce. It breaks my heart to write this since Dok Bua held such a special place in my memory, but nothing about my experience there tonight would make me want to return.
(2)
Wendy L.

Laid back Thai place with great dinner specials and appetizers. There are some dishes here that you just cant find at a typical Thai restaurant in Boston. They have a really nice menu with a ton of pictures so you know what you are getting yourself into if you're not too adventurous. The best appetizer here are the Golden Bags! So crispy and delicious...They are kind of like spring rolls but with minced meat, corn and scallions all wrapped up in a fried wonton! It's amazing, must try. My favorite dish here is Moo Yang over rice. Moo Yang is marinated grilled/barbecue pork in a garlicky sweet sauce. It's sooo flavorful and juicy! I haven't seen this dish at another Boston Thai restaurant. I would say this is definitely one of their top dishes here. I also enjoy the Mango with Sticky Rice dessert. They pour a creamy sauce over the sticky rice that makes it sweet and yummy. The slightly tart mango is a perfect combo with the sweet rice. I also LOVE the miniature food models they have all over the restaurant. They are so cute! The servers here are super friendly and helpful.
(4)
Jennifer N.

Dok Bua is definitly a good thai food find in Brookline. Started with the crab rangoons and they were hot and tastey. Great flavor, and they succeeded where sometimes rangoons fail and taste like melted cream cheese. Yum. I had the Pad Thai- which was a huge portion and the tofu was nicely pan fried with a good portion of veggies. Great flavor too! Husand had the dinner special- $11 for Tom Yum Soup, two Egg Rolls, two Pork Dumplings, Basil Chicken, and White Rice. So much food for the price, you can never go wrong. Every meal we saw served, except my pad thai, was a dinner special. Definitly check it out!
(4)
z k.

Dok Bua- authentic, fast, friendly, healthy, delicious. This place started out as a Thai convenience store and gradually expanded their food bar into the full blown restaurant we have today. Their food is flavorful, and they do spicy dishes right. Special love for their Pad Kee Moo. Also, make sure to try the Tom Yum soup that comes with the dinner special - it's an acquired taste that becomes an addiction.
(5)
Adriana T.

Very inexpensive lunch $8.95 and you get to chose two sides with it. If you are around Brookline on Harvard Ave it's definitely worth a try. They have a few tables outside so if it's nice out you can do people watch while eating.
(4)
Sara C.

This has become my go to restaurant. My favorite entrÃ©e is the Thai fried rice. The flavor of everything at this restaurant are spot on. Try their chicken wings appetizer! Finally tried the Mango Sticky Rice - delicious.
(5)
Joe J.

Dok Bua, great thai food at a reasonable price. The combo meals are great, and the ingredients are really fresh. Would recommend trying it if you are a thai food fan. Had the drunken noodle meal and the dumplings were great, as well as the spring rolls. Try this place!
(4)
Michelle R.

if you are not using foodler to order thai from this place all the time, you need to get your life together. so good. and i love me a menu where the vegetarian things are marked so I don't have to guess (look, when I guess, I'm actually just rationalizing how it's not really eating animal stuff if I don't know for sure that it's animal stuff).
(4)
Alisa K.

Solid, cheap, fast Thai food made by super nice people who like pictures of food and love babies. In fact, you could actually be illiterate and still fully experience the menu and restaurant. They were incredibly friendly and accommodating: they actually voluntarily cleared off a shelf to make way for our friends' baby stroller. They were also very happy to make vegetarian-friendly substitutions to their dinner special. Speaking of which, the dinner special is a great deal - 10.99 for soup, a spring roll, a dumpling, and an entree. Note that the portion size of the actual entree is pretty small, but the accompanying appetizers, soup, and value fill you up. Food wise, the drunken noodles, soup, and spring rolls were a highlight. The penang curry was a lowlight. The ambiance is pretty casual - layout is more cafe (with waiter service) than restaurant. The food is more of a 3.5, but their friendly, fast service and love of pictures and babies bumped them up to 4 stars overall.
(4)
Tiffany T.

Hands down some of the best Thai food I've ever had--and I've tried many, many places! This is my favorite place to get Thai. Get the: Pad Thai Baby Clam Fried Rice Red Curry with Crispy Duck Mango Curry Thai Ice Tea Staff is always friendly and nice. We will be back again and again...
(5)
NCNY N.

So gross, filthy. I once made the mistake if going to the bathroom which involved walking by their back "room". Gross rotting food to be prepped
(2)
Evan R.

I should rightfully give this place a 4-star review.... but after two years of loyal patronage, I can safely say that Dok Bua is slowly sinking.... and it sucks! I was so happy to find a restaurant that delivers great Thai food. They were about 1-2 notches below Brown Sugar in my book. No, neither place is cheap, but I was willing to pay for Dok Bua to deliver on a Sunday afternoon when I was being lazy and wanted to splurge on a nice treat. My favorite dishes were the Pad Thai, Crispy Pork, Moo-Yang over fried rice, Gaprow, and many appetizers. But sadly, I noticed a sharp decline in early 2010. The delivery started getting slower and slower.... suddenly it took almost 90 minutes sometimes, and the food was not quite as hot as it used to be. The food was still good though. Then as months went on, my roommates and I had 2 consecutive bad orders. The Moo Yang become fatty, and sat on very greasy rice. The Pad Thai was bland. The Gaprow was still good.... but when then Moo Yang and Pad Thai account for $24 of our order, that is not good enough. We stuck with them and tried to tough it out, but they are simply not the same restaurant right now. The ingredients are still very good but they do not seem to give a crap right now, and that's just a damn shame. I've since moved away from Brookline, but I hope to visit Dok Bua again later this year and see that they've recovered from their lull.
(3)
Clare S.

Seems like there a lot of great veggie tarian items on this menu... but the ones I got were not worth half the price they charged. I got delivery of some shrimp spring rolls and a tofu, mushroom, scallion, and snow pea stir fry. Seriously bland, to the point that I had to add a good amount of my own house spices, etc to make it edible.
(1)
Cindy K.

Hands down the best casual Thai food in Boston! I've been a regular for a few years now and I think they are one of the most authentic Thai restaurants I've had. Now, I can finally say that with actual comparison since I just came back from a trip to Thailand. Although no where is as good as the food in Asia, Dok Bua really tries to stay authentic and I don't blame them that the food still lacks from the homeland since the same fresh ingredients just aren't available here. While I still dream of food in Thailand and get depressed that I can never really get the same amazing food here, this will still be the place I go to for my Thai food fix until the next time I visit (a girl can dream!...sigh) Service is fast and friendly. Dinner specials are the best - $11 gets you soup, spring rolls, pork dumpling and an entree. Hard to beat that! Also its extremely vegetarian-friendly!!
(5)
Jude P.

This is one of my favorite spots and personally I wouldn't take just anybody here if they didn't deserve to be there. When I first came to Dok Bua, I was just amazed by the fact that they had a picture for everything on the menu. Seriously the quality of the food is great, extremely tasteful, and definitely like the presentation. The wait staff are good as well and also always in a nice mood and willing to accomadote to any request. My usual dishes are the Oyster Sauce w/ rice & chicken, SN4-Vermecilli with steamed chicken, golden bags, and the Pineapple fried rice. Also the tropical smoothies are good to taste up. This place was my first real introduction to Thai food which made me go into a rampage on finding and eating at a number of Thai spots for the past few years. Go there, set your expectations low, and be bumrushed by the healthy results
(4)
Anna I.

Dok Bua (411 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 617-232-2955) is located on Harvard Street not far from Coolidge Corner and Harvard Avenue T stops started out as a market with one side with tables to eat delicious Thai food about 14 years ago. Since then, the market ended and the restaurant expanded. The kitschy dÃ©cor is a bit cluttered with many versions of miniature food displays creating a more colorful and casual informal feel. Dok Bua was voted by locals in 2011 to be the best Thai in Brookline and by Boston Magazine as the "Best of Boston in 2007" as well. Thai food lovers know that it is a cuisine that mixes and tries to harmonize with the distinct flavors of sweet, sour, bitter and salty which is not an easy feat. Plus, with all the wonderful influences it has from Chinese, Indian, Persian, Lao and Vietnamese cooking, it is no wonder it tastes delicious! Somehow, Dok Bua does a great job and continues to have a loyal following. The menu has many helpful photos and is chockfull of food choices (many that cannot be found on other menus). Their prices are reasonable and portions are generous which keep customers coming back for more. Currently, the restaurant provides limited delivery service for a $2 fee and $15 order minimum. Plus fans rate it to be vegetarian friendly and they use healthy canola and corn oils. During a recent trip, the reasonable $10.95 dinner special plate had 20 options to choose from along with a choice of Chicken, Pork Beef or Tofu or you could add $3 more for Shrimp, Squid, Fish or Duck. Every dinner special entrÃ©e plate is served with jasmine rice, Tom-yum soup (Thai hot and sour soup), egg roll and fried pork dumpling. I opted for #14 for the Moo-Yang (grilled pork). Also chosen was the N2 or Pad-Si-Ew (entrÃ©e) ($8.95) sautÃ©ed rice noodles with Chinese Broccoli. For refreshment, the Thai Iced Tea ($2.50) satisfied just balancing the right amount of sweetness and tea flavor without it being overpowered by the cream. Instead of Jasmine rice, brown rice was chosen and at no extra charge for the dinner special. The Moo Yang was superb. It was very flavorful with the sweetness and soy flavor. It was addictive and well complemented by the rice. The Tom Yum soup had a nice balance of the sweet and sour from the lemon grass (herb with subtle citrus flavor native to South East Asia and India), kaffir lime (a lime from South East Asia and India), galangal (from ginger family), fish sauce, lime juice and crushed chili peppers. The egg roll was fried but nothing spectacular simply filled with slivered vegetables and vermicelli. The fried pork dumplings were a somewhat better with a bit thicker wrapper but the dumpling went well with its dipping sauce. The heaping plate of Pad-Si-Ew (stir fried with soy sauce) came out with perfectly cooked. Slightly chewy fat, flat long noodles and dark soy sauce gave a simple yet satisfying soy flavor and fish sauce plus the not overcooked Chinese Broccoli still had a nice slight crunch. Being a vegetarian, my dining companion enjoyed the simple stir friend veggies, remarking it was a generous portion with very fresh vegetables. The service is attentive and friendly and all the servers make sure you are not ignored. If you want to check out a new Thai food option around the Brookline and Allston area, make sure to check out Dok Bua.
(4)
Camille R.

Had lunch the other day and the eggplant stirfry (vegan!) was cooked perfectly. I knocked it a little bit last time. And the sauce was magical.
(5)
Kelly O.

My apartment's default weekend delivery choice. I'm pretty frugal and usually bring lunch to work and then make myself dinner, allowing myself take-out or a meal out only about once a week. But with Dok Bua's dinner special, I don't have to feel guilty about spending the money, because for $10, I get enough food for 2, sometimes even 3 meals in a row (seriously). You get a choice of entree, 2 spring rolls, 2 pork gyoza, 1 carton jasmine rice, and 1 tom yum soup. I like the Pad Si-Ew entree, which is a bit different from other versions in that it only basically has noodles, chicken, and really fresh-tasting chinese brocolli (which before this dish, I never even liked). When my meal arrives, I'll eat both spring rolls,1 or both gyoza, and half my entree, and then I have the leftovers from that plus the whole soup and rice (which I like to combine together to make an entree in itself, a sort of rice stew). $5, or $3, per meal is just fine with me :) Aside from the crazy good deal, the food is pretty tasty itself, a bit MSG-d but hard to find Asian food that isn't. I'm not the biggest fan of their pad thai (I prefer Brown Sugar's version), but for value it really can't be beat...
(4)
paul h.

I love the little Thai decorations thats placed all around the restaurant. I thought I was in Thailand for a second and the staff are so friendly. If I didn't live too far away, I would go to this place every day for Thai food. I had the crispy dark meat chicken with sweet sauce egg rolls, fried dumpings, tom yum soup and rice. It was so delicious and filling! Make sure to bring quarters if your driving by car to this location. You would have to find parking and feed the meters. If your going by the T its the green line Alston stop and you would probably have to walk for 1/4 a mile towards staples and TJ Max to get there.
(5)
Robin Y.

Delicious food at knockout prices - a city can never have too many of those! I'd recommend getting a full dish that you like (Pad Ki Mao is so good) rather than the dinner special which has only a smaller dish and some spring rolls, soup, vegetables etc which aren't that special. Great for a very casual dinner and to try out some Thai dishes, or when you're feeling lazy to cook.
(4)
A C.

I just found out that they have on-line ordering for takeout and delivery, which is key! I've been frustrated with wrong orders -- "Tofu pad thai...TOFU...PAD THAI" and then get home to see I have chicken satay. Online is pretty easy and straightforward.
(4)
Michele G.

I was so hungry and indecisive that I wanted two entrees, so I ordered 'em! Despite other patrons starting at the girl with two full-sized plates, I would say that the food is good but nothing amazing. However, I was happy to have an option that was affordable in Coolidge Corner for dinner at 9:30 at night.
(3)
Amie L.

A "Must-Try." This place is just packed with deliciousness. Love how the menu has a picture of each dish beside it.
(5)
Bao Anh N.

This place is cheap, fast, and good! I really like that every item on the menu is accompanied by pictures, so you get a sense of what you are ordering. My boyfriend and I wondered into Dok Bua for an impromptu dinner. Overall, I really liked their food. The prices were very reasonable and the Thai Style stir fried noodles were very tasty (tastes like a cross between Pad Thai and General Tso's Chicken...if that makes any sense). Overall, the noodle dishes are great. However, there are a lot of fusion dishes on there that aren't spectacular. I wasn't thrilled with the Fresh Rolls...they are essentially lackluster spring rolls. Also, don't order the papaya salad...it is more or less a horrible goi salad with too much vinegar. I've also ordered the Pad Thai with crispy chicken...it doesn't taste all that authentic, but it was delicious. Overall, the rest of the food there is great! The bobo tea is also delish. I highly recommend the rice and noodle dishes! Great place, will continue to frequent this place!
(5)
Robo T.

I was bombarded with hype about Dok Bua from various people prior to trying it. I am happy to report that it lived up to the hype. The moo yang appetizer is awesome. It is tasty marinated bbq pork pieces served with a bomb-azz dipping sauce that's fish sauce based with a lot of hot pepper. Another thai place in cambridge has this same app, but the portion/price ratio is significantly better at Dok Bua. For my entree I had kra pow minced chicken on rice and it totally kicked my ass in a good way. Its eye-wateringly spicy but also delicious. The meat gyoza's were also delicious. Its basically YUM across the board. Location is an old market converted into a restaurant - the old freezer case doors are painted and decorated rather than having been ripped out. The setting has a louder cafeteria feel. The decor feels a little cheap but it doesn't try to be something its not. Its no frills and this is all good. Service is attentive and the people are very nice.
(4)
Dave G.

This is, by far, my favorite Thai place around and I come here way too often. There is no reason to write anything other than: Just go eat here. The menu is very well designed, the food is bright and exciting, very well priced, and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. The best part is: If you look in the kitchen you'll see a small army of little old Thai ladies. This makes me think it has to be like home cooking. While the combination plates are super, my favorite thing there is the Indonesian fried rice with crispy chicken. It makes me very happy to come here.
(5)
Niamh D.

This is one of my favorite go-to neighborhood restaurants. Service is friendly and unbelievably prompt! My boyfriend and I actually have a contest to see if we can finish a glass of water before one of the waitstaff comes to refill it. The dinner specials are a great deal at about $10 dollars for two apps, a bowl of soup, white rice, and an entree. I usually stick to my favorite, pad thai, but I have tried several other dishes and have yet to be disappointed. Another reason to love this place is that they allow you to bring bottles of wine from the outside to have with your meal. So... $10 bucks for a full meal and a bottle of Two Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's, and you have yourself a night out!
(5)
Ian V.

i'm not going to start this review with one of those: "i've been to thailand, and i know thai food!" nor anything like that. with that being said, i am currently eating my food from this place, and while i enjoyed my tom kha gai soup, i do not like my massaman curry at all. the curry here is...not curry. it's soup! tastes exactly the same just with more salt. like, i just finished my soup and onto the curry. it tastes the same because it's exactly the same base. ok, i know tons of thai foods have the same base, but really? this is not curry. in my experiences with all kinds of curry (japanese, indian, thai and others), it is typically not soup. well, that's what this place is--soup. curry soup. or soup curry. you choose. lame. you know what's also lame? 2 bucks for a small thing of rice! puhlease! if you're gonna water down my curry, don't skimp out on the rice. sad. now, the food and all was fine, but i will not ever eat here again nor can i honestly recommend it to anyone.
(3)
Brian B.

I Miss You Dok Bua! So I used to live right around the corner from Dok Bua. Every now and again I would stop in for one of the dinner specials. It could not be beat! For a modest price you got soup, a choice of 2 apps, and your entree served up on a compartmentalized platter. The mango smoothy is also very refreshing. The food is good, the ambiance is nice, and the decor is eclectic. I still stop in once in a while when I'm in the area.
(4)
Kari C.

I've been to Dok Bua on multiple occasions and haven't been disappointed yet. The atmosphere is really cool, with little knick knacks all around (ie mushroom looking things which hold tooth picks scattered about). Their dinner platters are a great deal and quite good. A soup, eggrolls etc with your main meal is enough to win me over. To sum it up: Good food, good service, quirky atmosphere and great deals.
(5)
William B.

Who would have thought such an unassuming little place in Brookline concealed such wonderful thai food? We had the best pad see-ew I can remember having, spicy eggplant, and a third noodle tofu dish picked more or less at random off the menu that was highly tasty, if too spicy for my dining companions. They also have (apparently) good bubble tea, which I don't like, and fruit purees that they call smoothies, which I do. If there weren't well over 100 reviews, I would have called it a hidden treasure.
(4)
ken t.

always have a good time here. the food is excellent and i have never needed to wait for a table and they get busy. im just lucky. everything is goof so u cant miss but i like the combos coz u get the tom yum soup which is BOMB!!! and parking is awesome so no need to worry abt that.
(5)
H T.

Not very authentic, but it's decent. The portions are generous, and the combo meals are a great value. They don't use MSG, and if you live nearby, they'll have the food at your door in less then 15 minutes. I used to live in Brookline and I would always order from this place when I didn't want to cook. The tom yum soup is great.
(3)
Ernie F.

RATING: 4.5 stars, rounded up (the benefits of a good first impression, and a terrible meal at a similarly rated Thai restaurant) FOOD: Tom Yum Noodle Soup (chicken) Thai Iced Tea QUICK SUMMARY: Tom Yum Soup = Flavorful, no tomatoes, has that distinguishable hot/spicy taste. Noodles = Slightly wider than Pho, cooked just right, not chewy at all. Chicken = Ground chicken, alright. Thai Iced Tea = Strong Thai tea flavor, just the right amount of sweetness (which means they didn't overload on the cream) Service = Quick, friendly, a lot of smiles, and the waitress knew how to joke :] Price = Slightly expensive, but the taste is authentic. QUICK SENTENCE: "Good news for Dok Bua since I wrote this review after eating at Pho Basil; there is still hope that the Boston area has some good Asian food."
(5)
Joseph T.

I started going to Dok Bua more than I go to Rod Dee because my good friend recommended and invited me and others to go with him for a dinner. When I entered there, sat down, and ordered basil fried rice and Thai banana shake. My reaction to my meal was "Oh my god! So FUCKING DELICIOUS!" I find this restaurant to be a bit more authentic on a different farang's neighborhood and it packs heat, flavors, and love from Thailand. My money is being worth the bangs there and I love it. The service is always friendly there and the Thai staffs were very sweet and kind. I love the Thais because they are friendly. If you ask them to spice up your dish, they would. They can recommend you a dish for you to try. Their specials are awesome, but I am always attached to my favorites. The food is amazing, especially the soup and curry. There are other items that are delicious and authentic. Tom yum goong soup is great. I love the sourness, spiciness, and hotness when I slurp it loudly. Any dish you order is good. I don't order all of them because I am attached to some of my favorites, but I am definitely going to give other dishes a try. Just one thing I would like to request that Dok Bua to start serving Singha beers and other alcoholic beverages. I have been hankering to down a bottle of Singha to go with my noodle dish and eat and drink like a Thai working class man who would like to eat a delicious and spicy dish with a cold one in his hand.
(5)
Michele J.

To quote the Yelp 5 star rating: "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" definitely describes Dok Bua's Thai food and dining experience. The decor is fun and charming, the ambiance is upbeat, and the wait staff are super friendly and smiley (yes, that's right, lots of smiles happening at Dok Bua!). While I'm only somewhat familiar with authentic Thai food, the menu seems to offer an array of "more authentic" Thai dishes than just the usual dishes you'll find at other American Thai restaurants. And the food is truly delicious. The menu is huge, so of course there may be some hit or miss items... but from the numerous times I've eaten at Dok Bua over the past 5 years, I have never been disappointed with my meal. Go check out Dok Bua and stay awhile: you can enjoy your meal with a bubble tea, a smoothie or a cup of complimentary hot tea, while letting your eyes wander to the fish in the aquarium and then to the thatched roof interior over the kitchen and finally to the miniature models of food. And don't forget to leave room for their desserts!
(5)
Carly G.

After reading so many good reviews here and hearing praise for the place from trusted friends, I was astonished at how bad our meal was. The service was great, everyone was friendly, so that wasn't an issue. It wasn't the absolutely mediocre salad with boring iceberg lettuce or even the near-flavorless golden bags. The real offender was the green curry. Now, we've definitely had our fair share of green curries. We know what it's supposed to taste like and smell like, and it's a dear favorite. It is most definitely NOT supposed to reek of cat urine. But somehow, that ammonia mixed with dusty cat litter smell is exactly what our bowl of curry smelled like. Something was clearly wrong. I kept leaning over to take another whiff, hoping I was imagining things, but no - as a lifelong cat owner, I unfortunately know that smell all too well. To be fair, and out of sheer curiosity, I decided to taste it. Had it tasted amazing, I might, MIGHT, have just held my breath and gone through with it. But it was watery and frankly disappointing. It didn't taste bad, but it wasn't any good either. And not worth the cat lady house stench that was turning my fiance's stomach. We asked the waitress to smell it, and inquired if that was how their green curry usually smelled. She smiled and insisted it was perfectly normal while we just gaped in shock. We sent it back (something I have only done once before in my life). No manager came out to talk to us to apologize or anything. At least it was taken off the bill. We won't be going back. Too bad...I really wanted to like it. :(
(1)
Chris C.

This is it when it comes to authentic Thai food in Boston. I come in here with my friend from Thailand and they will cook us almost any traditional dish. Coming here reminds me of home :) FYI this place is BYOB! Weird hu? Can this place get any better?
(5)
Timmi C.

It makes me sad to post my 2 star review on Dok Bua, as I would have normally given them a 4 star review. The last time I ordered delivery from there, they delivered it too early (at 6:15 vs 6:45p, so I wasn't even home yet!), and when they should have delivered at 6:45pm, they did not come until almost 8p, and the food had been sitting out and was barely warm, as it had been sitting out for almost 2 hours. The driver tried to me that they had cooked me fresh food, and the food I was receiving was not the first order, or at least, he thought so. That was one big fat lie, because the food was cold, and half of the food was spilled out of the containers. Thanks dude. I will not order from here again after this experience. I'd rather order from Smile Thai or whatever it's called at Super 88.
(2)
Jenny N.

Still my favorite spot for Thai in Brookline. Portions have not downsized. My new favorite is the crispy chicken over vermicelli noodles and Chinese broccoli. Indonesian fried rice is also nom-worthy.
(5)
meghan t.

This is my very favorite Thai restaurant that I compare all others too! The only others that can even slightly compare are in L.A., which I think knows great Thai, so Boston is lucky to have it in my book. I stumbled upon this awesomely cute restaurant when another one across the street was too full, and was so blown away that I continued to bring all my friends and fam there for years to come. It's one of my top eating destinations when I come to Boston, and besides visiting friends, one of my only reasons to visit the city. Their lunch and dinner specials come on trays with soup, salad, egg rolls, rice, and a dish. So much food, and a good deal. You can substitute tofu for most meals and their Pad Kee Mow and Garlic Tofu are fantastic. Another big plus, which I think is still the case, you can bring your own bottle of alcohol to the table. On top of it, Dok Bua is run by really sweet people who make every visit comfortable, so they deserve their loyal following.
(5)
Shawn L.

I started out like most people with Dok Bua, in that I kept walking by it when I first moved to Boston back in 2005. I stuck my nose up in the air at the quirky dineresque appearance that one sees from the outside. But then I tried it one day... Back then the decor was much more quirky and playfull, with the pink and blue lamp with the lightswitchin the boys crotch, and it had all sorts of crazy fun stuff hanging from the ceiling....but all of this is nothing compared to the food. Dok Bua is hands down my favorite Thai place that I have gone to yet. I know this sounds absurd, but I eat a LOT of Thai food and I've gone to so many restaraunts it's not even funny. The food is fresh, spicy, packed with flavor and is very affordable. The waitstaff is always kind, smiley and appreciative for ones business. if you're looking for a delicious deal I suggest getting the lunch or dinner combo with the tom yumm soup, an appetizer, jasmin rice and your main dish. There is a lot of food and it's (I dont have the exact price) but definitely under 20 for the lunch and about the same for dinner. Dok BUa is a lil bit of a walk if you'recoming off the D line but it's worth it. Bring your friends and appetities and be prepared to eat some of the most amazing Thai food without all the white table cloths and pompusness that is prevelant with more expensive and LESS TASTY restaraunts in the Coolidge Corner area. I for one am happy to trade the costs of white table cloths and tea lights for amazing food and a fun place to eat.
(5)
Katherine J.

BYOW. Also, tried the massaman - it's pretty good!
(5)
James M.

I am a complete sucker for yellow curry and this place has the best one around in my opinion. Never been there for dine-in, just take away. They are always super nice when I come in and have condiments all piled up and they allow you to take what you want. I would have given 5 stars, but they make me buy a side of rice when I buy the curry which is ridiculous.
(4)
Olivia C.

I ordered the glass noodles which were really good, kind of had a bouncy texture to it (if that makes any sense). I was expecting the thin string-like clear noodles but was pleasantly surprised they actually did resemble the name. Who would've guessed? Also tried the Golden Bags and Golden Triangles which both looked so cute and tasted great. The drinks were really cute too, in their little mason cup-jar things. The Thai tea I ordered was considerably sweet for a Thai tea but went well with the dishes. Last, but not least, the servers were really nice. We had brought in a cake to celebrate someone's birthday and they gave us one of those lotus flower candles that open up and shoot out fire. Super cool. Look it up. (Probably doesn't come with every order).
(4)
Sabrina P.

Dok Bua has the best Thai food in Boston! Some hi lights... -BYOB...that's right. Show up with your favorite bottle of wine, craft brew or spirits and they'll supply the opener and glasses. -Best Tom Yum soup I've ever had -Great smoothies if you're walking by on a hot summer day -Pad Ki Mow (drunken noodle) is the real deal, not like some of the other more Westernized versions from restaurants that offer this dish. -Appetizers are cheap and have large shareable portions The service is extremely fast, almost to a fault. If you order an app/soup and an entree at the same time you'll likely get them at the same time, sometimes a minute or two ahead if you're lucky. If you're like me and enjoy a well paced dining experience that allows time to digest between appetizer and entree then place your orders when you are ready for them. I always try to pay in cash because this is a family restaurant. You should all do the same!
(5)
Amy M.

Decided to grab an order of spring after dinner. Delicious, fresh and hot from the fryer. The waiters and hostess were extremely helpful and sweet. Need more people like this in the food industry!:) I can't eat anymore so we are going to walk this off till I see the next eatery. Lol
(3)
Tony N.

This place is hands down the best Thai place I have ever been to. Authentic and affordable! Service is top notch. Always busy but you never have to wait for a thing, including a table. I get something different every time I go and have never been disappointed but these are definite home runs: 1. Anything with crispy duck 2. Seafood hot pot Tom Yum 3. Green curry 4. Red curry 5. Drunken noddles Happy tea is a nice way to end the meal.
(5)
Megan M.

I'm so in love with this place! It's right around the corner from me and I order from here probably at least once a week, Let's start with the fan favorites: their pad thai is a real winner. It's usually not as sweet as other pad thais, which I appreciate. Pad See Ew is great too. But what REALLY sets this place apart is the dinner specials. For $11 you get: A main dinner dish rice 3 thai spring rolls 3 fried dumplings (teeny tiny) Tom-Yum soup (which is awesome) How can you LOSE people? This is the best. If you're ordering out, use an Eat24 coupon for a few bucks off to make this a real steal. Also, if you sit down to eat inside, it's BYOB which is SO COOL! TLDR; This place is awesome, don't miss their incredible dinner specials.
(5)
Nicole B.

Disclaimer: I'm writing the review based on my experiences with Dok Bua when I used to live in the area about 3 years ago. This is my favorite Thai place in the area. Very authentic and relatively inexpensive. I tend to judge Thai places on how good their papaya salad is (if they don't even have it on the menu then...well). The papaya salad is absolutely delicious.
(5)
Leanne C.

I haven't found a better place for Thai in Boston than Dok Bua. Well crafted fresh spring roll slices, perfect phat prik khing, addictive green curry and a quirky atmosphere to wash it all down. I'm usually someone who goes by the "If there are pictures of real displays of the food, run away" but I'll make an exception for this Brookline-based chili-friendly spot. Did I mention they have their own beautiful tea blends? I highly recommend their Happiness blend; pleasant, refreshing and the floral notes complimented my basil-heavy meal well.
(4)
Susie D.

Excellent. No complaints whatsoever. Excellent service, ample food, good quality, pad thai especially good.
(5)
F L.

I've been going here for 15+ years, dating back to when most of the space was a convenience store and there were only a few tables available for dining, so a review is long overdue. Though they've upgraded, the ambiance is still not as nice as many of the fancier Thai places around town, but the food is wonderful and it is a longtime favorite among the Thai friends who first introduced me to the place. Sure, there are some dishes I like better than others, and there have been some occasional misses. But the staff is so helpful and friendly that I've never had a bad experience in all my visits. I hope this place sticks around for a long time!
(5)
Dulari J.

I ordered food to deliver and it was 1 hour and 40 min late. And then the delivery guy had the nerve to say the tip wasn't enough and made me pay more. Food was okay. Fried chicken was not done. Crumbs were all soggy!!! I would not recommend the place to deliver for sure.
(1)
Julia M.

In my experience, if a restaurant's menu contains photographs of their food, you should leave immediately. Fortunately for me, I decided to give Dok Bua and their photo-covered menu a chance. Having been to Dok Bua on several different occasions, I can say that they serve consistently good Thai food at a price that won't break the bank (many dishes are around $10). The service is generally quick, & the waitstaff is very friendly.
(4)
Ambrose C.

Are you looking for a good and light Thai lunch in a spacious location within a nice and quiet community? If you said yes, this place has your answer. This place is at a great location in the nice and quiet community of Brookline and they offer these lunch specials that are approximately $10. They also have a pretty good selection of slightly bigger dishes if you want to eat some more food. The lunch specials consist of ordering one dish, and a couple of tiny side dishes for about $10. The first time I came here, I had the Pad Thai with two pieces of pork dumplings and two pieces of the Thai Fried Egg rolls. It was a tasty and simple dish from what I remember. The second time I came here, I was with some people that I know and we all ordered the lunch special. I had the Beef Pad-Si-Ew with Tom Yum Soup and two pieces of pork dumplings. The Tom Yum soup was pretty good, and had a great flavor. The Pad-Si-Ew was tasty and I really liked the crunchiness of the vegetables combined with the slight tenderness of the beef. Portions are not really big, so this is a good choice if you already had a really big breakfast, or if you are going to have a fairly large dinner later tonight. One lunch special from this place should be satisfactory to fill the stomach of a young man. I definitely think it is better to come here for dinner. The unfortunate part is that you may have to spend some more money but you will get some more food. I came here for dinner, and got the Moo Yang Fried rice, which is the really tender pork doused in a sauce. It comes with a fried egg and some sauce with a tiny bit of spice in it. The Moo Yang Fried Rice was excellent. I really liked the flavors of the two sauces, especially the sauce on the Moo Yang pork. Combined with the tenderness of the pork, the texture of the fried rice, and the liquid egg yolk, and it was a tasty dish. The dish is definitely expensive at almost $15, but it's definitely the tastiest dish I had at this place. One dish should be enough for a light meal for two people or enough to feed one really hungry man. This place is probably one of the biggest Thai restaurants in Brookline. It is very spacious when there's not many people. If you sit by the window and if the weather is nice, you could do some "people watching" with your buddy or companion. Service was really friendly. Overall, this is a pretty solid Thai restaurant at a great location and one of the most spacious Thai restaurants I have visited. I would definitely come back here for the Moo Yang Fried Rice if I have a lot of extra cash and possibly for the lunch specials if I am not too hungry. I don't think this is the best place to get Thai food, and I believe that there may be other places that make better Moo Yang, but I think this is a great choice and it will probably be my secondary choice to get Thai food in Brookline.
(4)
Hannu K.

Great and very tasty food at good price/value ratio. Their staff is also very nice and helpful. I love their pad thai!
(5)
Raymond P.

I love the fried rice with crispy chicken, vermicelli pas sew yu and the crispy duck curry are very good.
(5)
Jon S.

Probably the best thai I've had actually. The restaurant itself is a little tacky with its decorations and the staff can be a lil absent minded at times but the food is really wonderful especially for the price. The chicken curry dishes and the thai basil dishes are particularly good. I also should mention how useful the menu is - they have pictures of most of the items which really helped us pick our choices.
(5)
Carla B.

I came here for dinner with two of my friends and absolutely LOVED IT. The restaurant is BYOB so my dining companions and I arrived armed with 2 bottles of wine. Our waiter promptly brought us wine glasses and a bucket with ice to keep our wine chilled. He was incredibly helpful and attentive throughout our dinner and didn't rush us to leave after we finished eating. The food was delicious! And affordable! As a vegetarian, I was thrilled to see so many veggie options! The menu has pictures of each dish, which definitely helps. I ended up ordering a tofu dish with a brown sauce and some veggies. It was great! My friends ordered the dinner special, which includes an entree (in a smaller portion), soup, spring rolls, and dumplings for around $10.00. Quite the steal! Word of caution, the dumplings have pork in them, so if you're not a pork eater, be sure to let the waiter know!!
(4)
Reid S.

Stopped in here on a whim and got a cheap lunch special combo. Absolutely delicious. Now I just need to convince them to give me the full thai heat. Tom kai gai = great. Red chicken curry = great. No complaints.
(5)
Piper P.

This kitschy Thai restaurant in Brookline is a reliable "go to" for that Thai food craving. The menu is extensive, service is quick and overly attentive (a server always seems to be standing "at attention" nearby), and the price point is very modest. Always large portions; I've never left without a take-home box. Be specific and clear when you order; English comprehension is marginal among some of the staff. Point to the menu if you have to. One of my favorite perks: this is a BYO establishment; they don't serve alcohol, but you are welcome to bring your own - and they provide glasses.
(3)
Lusi J.

This place is my all time favorite Thai restaurant. Idk what it is about their crab rangoons but I'm always coming back for more. Their mango curry is also amazing for those who like sweetish curries. The driver for this restaurant is the only one thats ever found my apartment without having to call and ask or have me come down. Thumbs up for that lol.
(5)
D. L. L.

This place serves decent Thai food but for me ranks behind Rod Dee or MJ Ready Int'l. They do have some home style dishes like steamed egg with pork that you can't get at many thai restaurants, but the staple dishes like pad thai and pad see ew are not as good as Rod Dee (the one at Wash Sq). We probably won't be returning anytime soon given with the other Thai options around.
(3)
Clementine C.

Best way to enjoy Thai food that I've seen in a while - here's why: 11.95 dinner special (10.95 before tax). This is Jasmin rice, 2 pork dumplings, 2 spring rolls, soup, and your entree choice. Ain't nothin' betta! The food is enough to make two meals, which is always a plus. The spice level was good and the food was authentic. I had the Pad Thai, my girlfriends the Pad Thai and the Drunken Noodles. The staff were fast and very pleasant. They happily converted meals to vegetarian for Good Friday, which was really nice. I was guzzling water like I'd been deserted, and my glass was never empty. We had out dinner platters (look in photos) within 10 minutes of ordering. While the decor is cafeteria-like, it doesn't matter to me! This place has some great eats!
(5)
Steven R.

I was really surprised how great the food was from here. They had good Yelp reviews, but the food tasted incredibly authentic and was delicious. I've since had it two more times and it was fantastic every time. Now I have never been here in person and have only experienced delivery, but the food was exceptional every time. Delivery guys were all really fast and friendly too which is nice. Portions were really large as well and $10's for that much awesome crispy chicken (or vegetable) pad thai is well worth it!
(5)
David S.

Best Boston Thai food outside of Thailand. When it's out first time going to a new thai restaurant, we always order the same three staples Tom Yum soup, papaya salad and pad Thai. The smell of the soup immediately brought me back to Bangkok. Great spices and heat. Papaya salad was fresh, crunchy with a spicy broth. The pad Thai was delicious not overly tamarind flavored but balanced and delicious. Could have one for a cold beer but it's BYOB. Next time bringing cold beer and an appetite to explore the menu. Bravo!!
(5)
Aria D.

I've done take out here twice and dined in once. My lunch takeouts have always been timely and the staff super nice, but I deducted stars for the dining in experience. - It was hot in there, they only had fans. The heat made it harder for me to enjoy my food and did not sit well with my stomach. I should only be sweating from eating spicy dishes, not because it's humid in the restaurant. I started to get way too full on hydrating myself with water, and barely touched my plate. - They asked us if we wanted white or brown rice with meals, to which we said brown. The waitress did not let us know that it would be a $2 upcharge for brown rice, otherwise I would have declined. As someone who works in a cafe and a fine dining restaurant I was not happy when our waitress chose not to tell us we would be charged extra (their menu is also like 6 pages long with images everywhere, so it made it hard to read everything). I've never been to a Thai restaurant where they charged you extra on rice for meals (like curry) that it should accompany. - Food is decent, a bit inconsistent. The two times I've done take out everything was good (didn't blow me away) but for some reason I couldn't stomach the drunken noodles while I ate inside...can't tell if it's the dish or if it was because it was way too hot in there. My boyfriend ordered the green curry vegetable dish and with his brown rice, it came to $15......the curry was okay, definitely nothing special. The dish was not worth $15 at all. I also asked for my dish to be super spicy, and I had to add about 4 spoonfuls of chili paste before I could taste the spice. I've had better Thai food, but since I am new to Boston I've yet to find a great spot in the area. On the PLUS side, they are BYOB and overall the staff is really nice, timely, and refilled all our waters before they were empty.
(2)
Francisca W.

haven't been back since i moved out of the area years ago. gladly a friend lives nearby, which brought me back into its embrace once again. and i'm glad i'm back! from hostess to waiters, despite being busy, they're always friendly, mild, and smiling, even nodding their head in humility as they respond to your requests. i love Thai people. waiting for food has never been so pleasant: surrounded by an ambiance of a street fare, but with covered seating AND a/c! if i had closed my eyes, i could have fooled myself that i'm in Thailand or Hong Kong (ok, except the A/C bit). serious, i could hear the butane gushing out full throttle, along with the clanging of the woks behind the walls. that makes me very happy! food is FANTASTIC. spiciness on the spicy dishes is manageable; all the dishes are down-to-earth grassroot, yet heavenly. one thing i REALLY enjoy is that high heat quick-stir method of cooking, creating what we Cantonese call "wok hei" in food, which makes the said food reeeeally aromatic to the nose, and pleasing to the palate -- something a household cooktop can never achieve. one bite of it and i'm melting inside. our gentle waiter was sooooo unbelievably calm and gracious that i'd feel like a grump just by not smiling back. ex. his hands were piled high with plates from clearing the other table, yet he would not forget to look onto us on his way to the back in order to make sure that we are taken care of as well -- he would nod to notify the receipt of our request, while softly asking us to please wait for whatever the heck we were asking of him. how can you not oblige like a kitten with that kind of Buddist-like approach?!? double melting inside just seeing how he carries himself. ok maybe i got a little emotional over this. but even if you had just come for the food (or all the miniature food figures), you won't be disappointed. quality, comfort, and price -- that's right. and you're sure to be sent off with a smile and nod on your way out, smiling to yourself even if a truck hits you next. i know i would be.
(5)
John R.

This is hands down better Thai food than in Thailand. Their Pad Kee moa is better than any place we have tried in Bangkok and trust me we tried a lot :) Our go to spot every time we are in need of authentic spicy and tasty Thai food !
(5)
Harvard P.

Very dependable Thai food place. I like their lunch and dinner combos because they're reasonably priced, come with two egg rolls, two gyozas, tom yung soup and your choice of entree. My favorite is the grilled pork (called Moo Yang) entree.
(4)
Carrie Y.

OMG best Thai restaurant ever!!!! This is the best Pad Thai I have ever had in my life. I had the dinner special for $10 (plus $3 extra for shrimp and $5 crispy chicken add on). You get 2 fried egg rolls, 2 fried dumplings, bowl of tom yum soup, scoop of rice, shrimp pad thai with shrimp, and added the crispy chicken. The value is good and the food is just plain AMAZING. Most definitely coming back to try their crispy pad thai. I wish I could find Thai food like this in SF. I'll have to make sure I come here every time I'm in Boston.
(5)
Yuka Y.

I always order the spicy ground meat set dinner when I'm here. You really are spoilt for choice at Dok Bua with their pictured menus. The spicy ground meat (laab) is pretty spot on with the ones in Bangkok. As for the tom yum goong soup that comes with it, it's a miss. As with all the ones I've tried in MA, they're never spicy and sour enough. Missing that tangy essence that is supposed to come from the lemon grass and other herbs, which understandably is difficult to get here. I love love love their Thai iced tea here. Tastes great and it comes in such a cute little vintage glass mug!!!! The deco in this place is oddly sparsed around the place but it gives it a food court/laid back feel to it. Low key, reasonably priced, and interesting place to take people to.
(4)
Adeline H.

I love this place! I reccommend the fish, which they have grilled or steamed like 4 different ways. I was there again today and the F1 grilled fish was perfectly sweet and spicy. Not a lot of reviewers mention the fish since it is the more expensive dishes here, but I dont think 20$ is that bad for good fish. Of course get the spicy papaya salad you get a big portion. And if you like chow foon youll like the Drunken Noodles so much more, I think its N3. Of course you have to drink a thai iced tea as well! Delicioussss but they need bigger cups in my opinion, the amount you get in a mason jar isnt enough. But other than that I definitely recommend coming here. They even have 10% off if you pay in cash.
(5)
Angie G.

Tasty food but definitely over priced for what it is. We ordered veggie pad thai and it had few veggies, few tofu, and mostly mung beans. The sauteed eggplant was very tasty but again, a few pieces of eggplant in brown sauce is not worth $13. Maybe we will dine-in at some point so we can try a dinner special as it looks like that's the only good vegetarian deal.
(3)
Sherry K.

We have been visiting Dok Bua since it was a grocery store years ago. It gradually transformed into a restaurant. Unfortunately, as they took away their grocery shelves, and added more seats, increased their food price, the quality has been steadily downhill. While the service is still great, very friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere, the food really wasn't what it used to be. A bit disappointed but I guess that's how things usually go. Maybe the grandmothers who were cooking behind the curtains retired or had the day off. Their spices on the table still retained the flavor, too bad their noodle soups didn't. Won't be going back for a long while...
(2)
Lindsay M.

Amazing!! Thai food at it's best! From the service to the Thai Iced Tea, this place is exceptionally good. My boyfriend got this duck dish and I got glass noodles with squid. Getting hungry just thinking about it!! Not only were they very nice and respectful, they came out with the food SO fast!! Best Thai food in Brookline that's for sure!!
(5)
Jenny V.

first things first. All the little toys in the front window that are solar powered. AWESOME. i think my fave is the two asian kids dancing. too cute. I came here with my sister and mom after shopping around Boston. We ordered Pad thai with crispy chicken, the pad thai was really yummy and the crispy chicken reminds me of chicken katsu. We also got chicken panang curry and tried the fried rice with crispy duck. Everything was so good and the food came out really fast! The service was quick and very friendly. My sister said if she lived closer she would probably eat here every week. Definitely try this place out if you're in the area!
(5)
Rob H.

Food was great - we ordered takeout for 6 people, ate it family-style, and everyone loved all of the different dishes we got. One minor issue was that we didn't get a $2 side of rice that we'd ordered. Not a big deal, but we called to express our displeasure about it. To our surprise, they sent the delivery driver back with just that one side of rice! We appreciated the great customer service.
(5)
C S.

Terrible, terrible. I ordered a curry to be delivered through Grub Hun and the curry came looking like a soup, without rice, and barely any veggies and meat in it. There were no utensils whatsoever and I was unable to eat, after a long morning of hard work. Grubhub contacted the restaurant and they said the curry wasn't supposed to have any rice, or be delivered with utensils. Then, they basically hung up on them, without an apology. Grubhub was awesome and issued me a $10 coupon, but the restaurant still got my money. I WILL NEVER ORDER FROM THERE AGAIN.
(1)
Tory P.

Good, but there's better Thai. After having Brown Sugar Cafe, this is somewhat of a letdown. I did like the combos/dinner specials though
(3)
Paola Z.

First time in Brookline. We were looking for a place to go for lunch we came across this place while on out walk. The lunch menu was great. Offering a variety of options for a low price. The PineApple fried rice and pai tai were really tasteful. With out lunch entree we chose soup and spring rolls which were very good, also included for the same price. The portions were great for lunch. Defiantly a place to go if you enjoy authentic Thai.
(4)
Cositas I.

This is a casual, no-frills kind of place with decent Thai food. Their curries and Pad Thai are all perfectly good, but nothing exceptional.
(3)
Paul O.

I've had positive experiences here in the past, and they are very friendly at Dok Bua. But tonight I ordered food to-go and pointed out the Gang-Puk with tofu, which had a picture of what it looked like. Got it home and there is no tofu in it at all. I just paid $16 for some white rice and mixed vegetables. After eating the meal I'm still hungry. I'll be sticking with S&I Thai from now on.
(3)
Chris R.

Solid food, good prices, friendly service. Decor was pretty drab but clean so no complaints. Good spot for a casual meal, wouldn't pick it for date night or a special occasion. I really liked how they have pics of all the dishes on the menu. I'm sure that makes me sound dumb but it really gives you a much better sense of what the dish is like than just a text description. Definitely would go back. Fresh rolls were the highlight food wise.
(4)
Rose C.

Overall, I think this is a really good Thai experience. I like the ambiance, the service was friendly, and the food is consistent. The lunch and dinner specials might offer the chance to try a few of the items including the tom yum soup and the smaller appetizers, but the portions are quite small. I also really like the Thai iced tea. I haven't gotten the drinks here but they look awesome! I think the food here is quite comparable to S&I. While this place might be more suitable for groups, S&I is more tasty and more bang for your buck. If it's take-out, I would recommend getting S&I. But if it's the experience you are after, I think Dok Bua is fairly decent.
(3)
Ted M.

I've only ordered from Dok Bua once. The food was pretty impressive: quality and quantity for a reasonable price (not a steal, but not a rip-off). I did, however, have to check my phone and confirm with the delivery driver when he arrived that the food was actually mine, since it only took 14 minutes from the second I submitted the order. I live a decent distance away, and I don't even understand how that is humanly possible, but the food was hot and fresh. Definitely worth the money, especially for the pad thai!
(4)
Katie B.

This family-owned and operated restaurant has been passed from sister to sister since 1998. It is a medium-sized restaurant with a casual, fun atmosphere. In the front of the restaurant, models of Bangkok boat vendors and their dishes add to the decor. Somehow Dok Bua strikes the perfect balance between cute and quirky. Their service also makes this restaurant so appealing--the waiters and waitresses are attentive without being overbearing, as well as extremely friendly and genuinely pleasant people. While ambiance and service add a lot to any restaurant experience, the excellence of Dok Bua goes well beyond these two aspects. Not only does the restaurant offer an impressively extensive menu--featuring curries, rice plates, and several vegetarian options--it also boasts some of the best lunch and dinner specials in Boston. The lunch special runs from 11 to 4 p.m. and is only $8.95. It includes one of 21 different main dishes along with a choice of two side orders, including various soups, salads, and meatier starters like steamed pork dumplings. For just two dollars more, their dinner special is served with jasmine rice, Tom Yum soup, two vegetable egg rolls, and two fried pork dumplings. This option appeals to many people because it offers variety and all four components of the meal are authentic. Furthermore, the portions are generous without being wasteful. The soup is spicy and tangy--absolutely full of flavor. The egg rolls are crisp and the dumplings, while not the highlight of the plate, add another dimension to the meal. The simplicity of the dumplings compliments the flare of the soup. The quantity and variety of entrees can be overwhelming. With the short descriptions under each option, most dishes are written in anglicized Thai. "Guay-Tiow-Ped" most likely does not help the average Bostonian decide what to eat, but thankfully the menu also has numerous pictures of the food. The Pad Thai is a common favorite that is also more familiar to most people. A simple sauteed rice noodle dish offers the seamless combination of several flavors from the shrimp, egg, scallion, bean sprout, and ground-peanut mixed in. The noodles are slightly chewy and the many ingredients provide a variance of textures. In addition to a great variety of appetizers and main entrees, Dok Bua also offers various teas and desserts. Thai iced tea, popular across most Thai restaurants, can be slightly risky when ordering at a new destination. Somehow it seems every restaurant will make it slightly differently--at some places it is sickeningly sweet, at others overly milky and bland. Dok Bua's Thai Iced Tea ($2.50), however, has consistently been perfectly sweet and creamy from the milk and has deliciously strong tea flavor. The presentation in a vintage, glass mug offers a nice touch as well. The various components of a quality restaurant are all present at Dok Bua. Everything from the individual spice condiments conveniently provided on every table to the timeliness of the service comes together to create a highly enjoyable meal. Their dinner and lunch specials are what make Dok Bua stand out among the many great Thai restaurants around Boston. If the walk from the T stop is a deterrent, Dok Bua also offers delivery.
(4)
Kiki P.

Dok Bua Thai Kitchen is an authentic looking cuisine not too far from Coolidge Corner (1 block away). When you enter the restaurant, you feel like you are in Thailand. The staff is very friendly and always smiling all Thailand is nicknamed "the land of smiles" Some of the dishes are delicious and pretty authentic. The others are okay. My brother lives near this restaurant and he picks up from here at least once a month. He highly recommended it so I went in with high expectations. However both of the dishes I ordered were just okay. The drunken noodles and the Thai basil fried rice. These are my two signature dishes which I order at every Thai restaurant and frankly I was a bit disappointed. On the other hand, the Pad-Bai-Ga-Pow is actually very authentic tasting. I would recommend trying this dish out. For dessert, I decided to try the mango sticky rice, which ended up being pretty yummy. I enjoyed it very much. The portion size for this dessert dish is rather generous...large enough for two to enjoy. I am a huge tea connoisseur and when I saw the list of teas offered at Dok Bua I became instantly excited. I asked the server if the tea was loose leaf in a pot or a tea bag. She mentioned that she can make it in a pot for me. I ordered the jasmine green tea and she did indeed bring it out in a pot. However as I opened it up I noticed it was not loose leaf tea. It was basically two small tea bags thrown into a big pot....and she changed me quite a few bux for it too :-( Another note is that the food here really upsets my tummy sometimes. I wonder if they have MSG inside? Not sure about that. Overall, I would recommend checking this place out as it has a cool authentic ambiance and some of the dishes are pretty good. I would probably come back here to give it another shot and try something new. Not because its amazing, but because Thai food is my favorite food. Khob Kun Ka!
(3)
Olivia J.

Their dinner special is pretty sweet. A huge plate of food for under $10 (comes with soup, egg rolls, and rice). My usual go-to Thai dish is red curry with chicken (mild) or pad thai. For the first time in my life, though, I tried a "new" Thai dish here, because it sounded so good. I tried their Moo Yang pork. I loved it. Tasted a little like beef cubes from a Vietnamese restaurant in Philly (Nam Phoung), but yeah. Good marinated pork. Also tried a dessert item, it was warm with tapioca-like things in a taro-bubbletea-reminiscent soup. Excellent! Thoroughly happy, and would go back for trying out more new dishes. Joanne took me, and she is a regular here! (She claims that everyone that she's taken to eat here was happy with their food.)
(5)
S R.

Horrible delivery service. Placed an order at 6 pm. It's 8:30 and still no food. The woman on the phone said the driver had left when I called at 7:45. I live about 3 miles away.. Seriously?
(1)
Jim M.

My wife and I moved to the Boston area about three years ago, and we have tried about half a dozen Thai restaurants since then. While some have been pretty good, we both like this one best. My wife had the Pad Thai with chicken and shrimp, and I had the Grilled Shrimp with Chili and Lime Juice. Delicious. The service was prompt and very friendly, too. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Kim H.

BEST INDONESIAN FRIED RICE! this plate can be shared with 2 people $15 with that said -- I had very high hopes to try their pad thai. ( go to S&I Thai for pad thai ) WORST PAD THAI EVER. I didn't even want to take a second bite. oddly they have very good phone service when it comes to calling haha thats why I love ordering from them. Over the years as they got much more popular they did up the price alot, but it is very worth it !
(4)
Rachel D.

I love this place! I went once and now I'm hooked. The tiny little miniature foods in the window are also a huge plus with me, considering I love miniature versions of normal things. Their dinner combinations are OUT OF THIS WORLD. the price is great and the food is delicious (see photo). I also had a thai iced tea, which was a little pricey but I think they're always pricey and small, in Boston. You get tom yum soup (which is the best i've had), spring roll, entree, and salad with your dinner for around $12! Check this place out if you haven't already.
(5)
Joanne H.

I have been to Dok Bua many times and, after being away from Boston for four months, it was the first place I wanted to eat when I got back. It is an unpretentious, comfortable eatery that offers consistently good food at relatively low prices. I have never had a bad meal there. Service is friendly and efficient. I usually order the specials, which arrive on a large pu pu type platter. For around $12, you get 2 appetizers, a soup, rice and an entree. There's a large selection of entrees to choose from. Last week, my husband and I ordered mango chicken, which was delicate and flavorful, and cashew chicken, nicely spiced. In both cases, the chicken was cooked perfectly and arrived moist and tender. The dishes at Dok Bua are homestyle and light, without the heavy sauces, grease and excess salt I often encounter at other restaurants. When I get home, my body feels good. One big plus is that you can bring alcohol. You will even be supplied with wine glasses and a wine cooler, with no corkage fee. Dok Bua is a little gem in the JFK section of Brookline. I will definitely return.
(5)
Nicole A.

This is the second time I've been here. Food is pretty good and you can bring your own alcohol which is awesome. The thing that struck me this time was not the food, not the servers, not the atmosphere. It was the pregnant Spanish woman who called over a waitress to tell her something. She said and I repeat she said "I killed a baby cockroach and its under the table in a napkin. When you clean later don't forget it." The waitress proceeded to give them wet naps and beg for forgiveness. What the hell??????? If I hadn't just been leaving, I'd probably have caused a scene. Overall, good food. Good prices. Cleanliness? I don't know anymore.
(3)
Jennifer L.

I love this place! I've been trying to find a Thai restaurant like this for a while now. My boyfriend and I shared the "Lovely Little Thing" appetizer where they offer you two samples of crab rangoons, springrolls, dumplings, etc. It was my favorite, especially the crab rangoons! They were generous with their cheese stuffing. We also got Pad Thai with crispy chicken. It wasn't the best Pad Thai I've had, but still pretty solid. I also tried a little bit of the Thai iced tea from my friend and it tasted perfect for my taste buds! I'm hoping to come back soon, especially for the crab rangoons and Thai iced tea!
(5)
Angela L.

Probably one of my go to Thai places!! I love it. And also it's right down the street from me. I always get the Pad Thai and the Indonesian fried rice. So good. The Indonesian fried rice with the perfectly cooked egg on top that is nice and runny. The crispy fried chicken on top is equally delicious!! Pad Thai is great and always a staple. I've also had the lettuce wraps here, which are on point. And also the crab rangoons-- probably one of the better crab rangoons I've had compared to anything else. Has a lot of filling in it and is not all crispy wrapping. I definitely recommend this place. Well priced and the staff are super friendly. Eat at the restaurant and it's BYOB. Take it home and feast by yourself :) they are generous with their portions so you will definitely be taking home food.
(4)
Sylvia C.

After coming here a few times, think it's fair to make the assumption...if you're ordering the dinner combo plates - then you're getting a good value. Otherwise - you're overpaying for okay Thai food. We ordered the following: - Pad thai with chicken and shrimp - a bit on the sweeter side - Chicken Keow-Wan Curry - with bamboo shoots and eggplant - the curry dish was a bit mild in flavor - Seafood special - great flavors but too much onions. Think it should be called onion special instead =P I'll give them props for getting all the dishes out in lightning speed and service was prompt.
(3)
Julia K.

Is it just me, or are the signs of a good thai restaurant correlated with its decor - bright orange and lime green are a must and are the colors you'll actually find in most establishments in Thailand. The menu is robust, several pages of pictures, so you get a fairly good idea of what the dish is. This is far better than any standard thai restaurant that focuses only on pad thai-like dishes. We enjoyed the pad kee mao (thick rice noodles - the thai basil and slight heat really make the dish), moo yang w/thai fried rice (marinated bbq pork - balance of sweet and savory, w/fried egg) and Kai Yang (crispy chicken with sticky rice; not too unique but executed well). I'd come here any day to satisfy a thai food craving.
(4)
Rachel R.

Stopped in with a friend this afternoon and totally loved it! I had the chili paste fried rice with shrimp and crispy chicken, and it was wonderful--firm shrimp, moist chicken that was perfectly crispy, and fried rice that was awesomely spicy. I've been looking for a fried rice that will replace the Thai fried rice from my favorite restaurant in my hometown, and this is definitely it! My friend loved her drunken noodles, and, as a self-described "connoisseur of condensed milk," she said her Thai iced tea was the best she'd ever had. I also liked my Thai iced coffee--sweet, but not so sweet you couldn't taste the coffee. We finished with my FAVORITE dessert of all time--mango with sticky rice. The rice wasn't gluey but had great coconut flavor, and for mid-May the mango was juicy and sweet. Service was quick and EXTREMELY friendly--sometimes 2 or 3 waiters would show up at the same time to take our order or make sure everything was okay. AND they deliver to my apartment, which is everything. Definitely my new favorite Thai place in the Boston area!
(5)
Astra G.

BYOB Thai food ! (so glad BYOB is not illegal in Brookline) The first time I went...I ordered pad Thai and asked for it to be spicy. It looked pretty but lacked spice and tang and flavor in general. The second time I went.... I ordered drunken noodles and asked for it to be spicy and lo and behold my drunken noodles were nice and deliciously spicy I was very pleased to see things on the dessert menu usually not offered in all Thai restaurants, like raum mit my fave dessert. But they were out of that and basically everything else on their dessert menu except for the usual mango sticky rice. :( Service is always great. plus did I mention they're BYOB!?!?!
(3)
Grace M.

How disappointing! Pad thai is my favorite food ever and I was hoping to discover a new gem in Dok Bua.. I've passed by to see this place packed so many times and the Yelp photos & reviews looked great. I get tofu pad thai as I don't eat shrimp/chicken which unfortunately means that sometimes, restaurants will give me the "veggie" pad thai with the addition of weird vegetables that do NOT belong! Despite ordering the regular pad thai and asking to swap the shrimp for tofu, I ended up getting a vegetable version which included carrots, peas and green beans. I love these veggies but they don't belong in pad thai!! On top of the weird veggies, the dish itself just wasn't great. The noodles were a tad undercooked and the flavor was super bland. I wanted more tamarind paste in the sauce- it was missing that sour touch. I also asked for "hot" which is the highest heat level you can request when ordering online + extra scallions and neither of these requests were honored (no spice whatsoever). I also ordered the fried cod app, which they were out of, so I went w/ the veggie dumplings which were wimpy and bland. The fresh rolls though were quite good and the peanut sauce was especially good compared to others I've had. Though I regrettably give 2 stars to Dok Bua, I WOULD re-try this place and see how their curries are since it's really their pad thai that was the major disappointment. Normally, I wouldn't give such low stars on the basis of 1 dish, but it being a staple of a Thai restaurant, I think it fair. Oh well.. Khao Sarn still reigns as king!
(2)
Anne C.

I give the food 3 stars, since I think it is pretty run-of-the-mill Thai food, but I give Dok Bua 4 stars for their friendly service and 5 stars because you can bring in your own wine! Because of that, it's our go-to Thai place in this area, and I always think of it fondly because we've had many fun memories there. It's an easy and inexpensive place, so it's great for kids. Between my family and me, we've tried many of the soups and curry dishes and they're all really good. Grab a bottle of wine and get over there!
(4)
Elisha P.

Just ordered delivery from them. The food was hot, delicious, amazing! Will order from them again!!
(5)
Angela Y.

+$11 dinner special that has a bit of everything + open later than most dinner restaurants + easy to find on Harvard street +plenty of room +TV (for those inclined) This place is great! It's got all that you'll ever need for easy Thai food! Can't speak fo
(5)
Garkie Z.

Just tried Dok Bua for the first time yesterday. I'd like to make a quick note right off the bat. I brought in a Groupon and while this didn't bother me at all I'd like to bring it to the attention of any other Groupon users as this doesn't seem to be a problem with others- they do charge a 18% gratuity. (We were a table of TWO) My guess is that many people don't tip on the full amount of the bill and instead tip on the remaining. This in no way bothered me as I usually tip on average approximately 20% of the full bill. But just make sure you look before you tip on top of that! Alright onward! So my SO and I ordered: Crab Ragoons (6) for $6.95 Lunch special with Pad Se Ew, Fried Pork Dumpling and Thai Salad for $8.95 Dinner portion of Pad Thai $11.95 Cola for $2 The Crab Ragoons were DELICIOUS- they came out hot and were to die for! I'm talking about the perfect combination of filling, crab, and the sauce isn't your typical sweet and sour sauce (thank god) this is the thick syrup sweet spicy fish sauce and it's A-MAZING. My SO deemed this his new favorite place for crab ragoons! My Lunch special ... wasn't actually that special. The Pad Se Ew was really good! Perfect amount of sweet soy sauce and lots of noodles and Chinese broccoli cooked perfectly. It was the sides that were meh. The Fried Pork Dumplings were very small and very average. The salad was also average. Next time I'll definitely just be ordering the dinner portion of the Pad Se Ew instead! The Pad Thai was surprisingly not spicy. My SO did mention that the waitress didn't ask him how spicy he wanted it but he said he virtually couldn't taste any spiciness and that there was a surprising light sweetness to it. Not too much that he minded but definitely something new in terms of the normal Pad Thai taste. So maybe make it a point to add hotness if you're a fan of heat! Will definitely be coming back for both the Crab Ragoons and the Pad Se Ew though!
(4)
James B.

Dok Bua.. First, let me begin by saying that it was a cool day in Brookline as I walked up Harvard ave lo it must be at least 13 years ago. I spotted what at the time was a small Asian market with a couple of high tops serving daily specials. The specials were soo cheap, but sooo good. I would frequent for the Drunken Noodles, my go-to dish.. and it is AWESOME!! Now back to the present day, and although the market is gone, slowly overtaken by the restaurant the food is still ABSOLUTELY amazing! If you have not tried Dok Bua, I insist that you do.. If you have then you are singing a resounding HELL YES with me when I say.. GO THERE!! NOW!! They are probably open, unless it is late, late and then, go to bed. You have to get up early to make the trip to Dok Bua for their lunch specials.. Still ample, pleasant and oh, so very affordable..
(5)
Jen L.

Lunch special is outstanding $8.95 gets you entrÃ©e, plus two sides I got a salad and dumplings and one of the best red curries with chicken. But their are 23 options. It's an odd time of day to be eating but after driving from NY to Boston this was perfect.
(5)
Stacey G.

Ordered takeout vegetable pad Thai with steamed tofu Saturday night and was greatly disappointed. I had the pad Thai before and thought it was the best and recommended it to many people.... not anymore. - it was flavorless and I was craving thai food for awhile so I was utterly disappointed - the tofu was fried, even though I went over my order twice on the phone - too many sprouts - the vegetables are too big and undercooked - it did not come with a napkin or plastic ware Positives - waited maybe 30 min for delivery - it was hot - large portion
(2)
Elizabeth W.

I just moved to Brookline and I love thai food, as in I've been to Thailand and took authentic cooking courses in Bangkok. So when I read the positive reviews on yelp I was optimistic to try Dok Bua. I ordered the dinner platter as recommended and the red curry as my main section. I asked for very spicy curry and made it a point to explain that I loved heat. When my entree came the presentation was just meh-which I understand Im not at a 4 star Restuarant. The Tom Yum soup was good, probably the best out of anything on the platter. My red curry was luke-warm and not spicy. The chicken in the curry was tough and chewy. The egg rolls and dumplings were ok, clearly frozen with sauce out of a jar. I just can't see myself returning to a place that was very underwhelming. On a positive note, the service was outstanding. My waiter was kind and very attentive.
(2)
Lauren S.

Curry was really good, but heavy on the sauce and skimpy on the meat, veggies and potatoes. It was enough for lunch and dinner later on. Delivery was fast and hot.
(4)
Karina L.

Just want to reiterate how great this place is, especially the lunch deals. The lunch deals include a soup, a side appetizer, main dish (includes most of the go-to American Thai dishes such as pad thai, drunken noodles, etc.). Favorites include Tom-Kha-Gai Soup (coconut chicken soup) and any of their green curries.
(5)
Skye G.

It was a cold night so I was excited for some hot Thai. I got the tofu noodles but they weren't so great. The kids were happy and ate their Pad Thai and Satay Chicken so that was good. Not sure I'd go back. The bathroom, kind of scary.
(3)
Justin F.

Such good Pad Thai! It is very light tasting and very very good! I would also suggest the mango sticky rice, I've never had anything quite like it!
(5)
Quynh Nhu D.

We had a huge party of people, was so glad they could accommodate us. Unlike some evil restaurant down the street, they actually will sit you if your full party isn't present - thank you for that, we were starving! Love that drinks are in mason jar, just look so cute. Lovely thai ice tea I had the pad thai dinner combo, it was good - but I do prefer S&I or A@Time's... But that's just me! The appetizer that came with the combo is ok, slightly a bit too dry for me, but my friend was too happy to eat mine. We all had a great time here, and the service was good. Although sometime they are too busy and we had to raise our hand for a while to get their attention :( It's understandable, though, dinner rush!
(4)
Nikhila V.

Dining here was a happy, relaxing experience! I brought my mom here for her (and my) first Thai food experience and we both loved it. We were seated as soon as we walked in, waters materialized on the table almost instantly, and we were given menus. Our waiter came over within the next five minutes and took our order. Our soups came fast and piping hot. The entrees (the much-lauded Drunken Noodle, and vegetarian Pad Thai) arrived a little too quickly. But no complaints, sooner rather than later. Plus the entrees were still pretty warm when we got to them. My mom got the Drunken noodle and we both thought it was AMAZING!! (Stole a bite from her entree and claimed the leftovers. Eating them as I write this. Still good while cold!). The Pad Thai wasn't as good as I expected it to be, but it was still good. Yes, it was my first time, and yes I wouldn't know what good Pad Thai tastes like, but while compared to the Drunken noodle, this one was a little lackluster. Service was very good - the waiters didn't hover but they kept an eye on our table and refilled our waters regularly. They also brought our check pretty fast when we were done. Overall, it was a great experience. I'll definitely be going back or getting takeout from them soon!
(5)
Mallory C.

We scored a groupon and decided to try this place! Between the Groupon, their dinner specials and BYOB policy (grab a bottle of Three buck chuck at TJ's before going!) we spent $10 on dinner and a bottle of wine. Awesome deal for a date night. And we did NOT leave hungry. As mentioned, our bottle of wine was opened and placed in an ice bucket on our table, and they kindly provided glasses, and re-pours throughout the meal. We began with the crab rangoons, which appeared instantly and were perfect, but we had only taken like 2 bites before our entrees came, which I thought was a little TOO fast. I had the pad thai and the boy had the garlic pork dinner specials, both of which were delicious, and came with spring rolls, dumplings and soup! A huge amount of food for $10! The only thing I found odd about the place was the atmosphere, the service was very sporadic and it seemed to be much more of a take out or delivery place. We had to ask for sets of condiments the other tables already had, and then the server took them back from us while we were still eating, without even asking if we were done. Other than that, everyone was very nice, and willing to accommodate us, even though my scooter felt like it took up a ton of room! This is an awesome establishment, and while I wouldn't consider it a fancy night out, I will definitely be ordering from them, and would totally go for a quick dinner!
(3)
Young P.

I had a great dining experience at this place. I usually go to Rod Dee to satisfy my Thai craving but this time my fiance and I wanted to try a different place. I ordered the Thai fried rice with crispy chicken and shrimp. It was just amount of portion and I really liked the way they prepared the dish. Rice was cooked well, chicken was really crispy, and the shrimps were fully cooked. My fiance ordered the dinner special which included chicken red curry, tom yum soup, two fried spring rolls, and two dumplings. All the staff members were very polite and nice. I also really liked the fact that their menu included the picture of each meal plate. It was really helpful. Also, this place allows you to bring your own drink so if you are planning to visit here, make sure to bring your favorite beer or drink!
(4)
Isabella C.

I've been here twice, both times in a large group. I have rarely seen staff at a restaurant be so patient and treat a noisy, large group so well! I was incredibly impressed at the staff's ability to stay on top of orders and the speed at which orders were served. The best dishes here are the drunken noodles and the pad see-ew. The pad thai is also not bad -- it's not too sweet. I would also recommend trying the crab rangoon, which are sometimes called golden sacs. They're filo wrapped around crab and cream cheese paste. The things I would caution against are certain curries, which can be sparsely cooked with too many peppers, and the bubble tea lattÃ©s. I've tried both the green tea and taro ones and found the slush to be too watery. The flavors were not quite strong enough. Additionally, the tapioca were a bit too stiff -- probably from being kept cool -- and they weren't quite sweetened, the way I usually like my tapioca in bubble tea. All in all though, a great place to eat if you're looking for an inexpensive place to accommodate a large group! The service is great and the food is hearty.
(4)
Shelby S.

This place has the best crispy chicken pad Thai I have ever had in my life. I've been ordering from them for about a year, at least a few times a month. SO GOOD
(5)
Yuki S.

Friendly staff good food reasonable price, what more would u expect for a good place?
(5)
Evan Michael H.

My husband and I always get the dinner specials. We love the atmosphere and the service. It is on the list of our favorites here in Brookline. Their take out is fast as well.
(5)
Samantha B.

A few blocks into the heart of Coolidge Corner, Dok Bua is known for incredibly fast service, a huge menu, and of course the ridiculously cheap dinner specials. The dinner specials provide a smorgasbord of Thai appetizers (egg roll, fried pork dumpling and tom-yum soup) and a small portion of select entrees. Where the most recognizable Thai noodle dishes are perfectly fine, recommend digging deeper into the robust menu to find some unique bites. Come to Dok Bua for the spicy larb salad, Thai style ground meat, or roast duck in red curry over rice. Larb salad blends the signature Thai flavor of lemon grass with the freshness of mint and lime juice served with the protein of your choice (pick pork). The mix of zesty spices in the Thai style ground meat provided an adequate amount of heat without overwhelming the palate. Who knew that duck worked so well with red curry. The coconut milk of the curry enhanced the tender duck meat for a satisfying dish. Venture away from the Pad Thai and you are all set!
(3)
Michelle T.

Affordable and delicious! Loved the vegetable Pad Thai with tofu!! Not a big tofu person and I absolutely loved it! Oh and it's BYOB, doesn't get much better than that!
(4)
Nat G.

Something negative has happened to this restaurant, which several years ago got raves from some and now, based on our recent experience, is no longer to be recommended by us. Our Crispy Duck with Tamarind Sauce, Onion, Pineapple, and Ginger featured dry, tough pieces of duck; our Crispy Chicken Stir Fried with pineapple, onion, cashews in a Thai sweet sauce featured dry chicken.Tofu Pad Thai was just ok. The service was good and was friendly. No alcohol license, bring your own.
(2)
Charlotte A.

Very friendly and efficient service. Everything we ordered was so salty that it was inedible. Tried to eat but end up bringing the beef stew (untouched) home and recooked it to lighten the salt a little.
(2)
fussyeater x.

I hadn't been here for a few years, so went for lunch and ordered beef red curry, with spring rolls and tom kai gai soup. Many Thai places make their own spring rolls with thin wrappers, so I was shocked to get 3 tiny, fried, previously frozen, Chinese-style rolls where the skin was almost as thick as the contents. I objected, and ordered salad to replace it, but that was mostly iceberg lettuce and un-ripe tomato. On the plus side, the tom kai gai was excellent with quality chicken, making me wish I'd ordered my curry with that. As it was, the beef was poor quality and overcooked, so not much different from cardboard and not at all edible. The positive reviews make me think they must do some things right, but I'd suggest sticking to chicken dishes, and avoiding the beef.
(2)
Sarah M.

Good, inexpensive Thai food. They did a decent job on Drunken Noodles! Soft shell crab was a little pricey but that is to be expected. Lots of sauce served!
(4)
Tulan K.

I took my friend after my first experience here. My friend is a strick vegeterian like no broth or fish sauce or oyster sauce etc etc kinda guy. First problem everythingis ready made so most of the items he cabt order even all the vegetarian menu half of it had all the above mentioned items. I guess they are the only ones who do it since he has been toany places as thai is his fav and never had any problem. Anyways waiter did not speak english so back and forth we finally decided to order something without curry or sauce as the waiter could not explain what is what and what is in it. We ordered tofu with veggies in chilli sauce and fried rice w pineapple (extra $2 for 4 pieces of pineapple). The qty has gone down def than last time. We also ordered veg tempura more like diced veggie tempura. Except for cpuple brocolli florets none were big enough to dip in tue sauce. I def did not like the food this time around and probably would not come back as there are better places. Quality has gone down
(2)
April K.

This is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Boston, and I'm not just being biased because I know the owner's daughter who is super sweet. It's a family-owned establishment and it offers authentic and flavorful Thai food. The food is always consistent and delicious. My favorite is the chicken satay. The chicken is always so juicy, and the sauces are amazing. We also usually get the mango or pineapple fried rice, and either the pad-see-ew or pad thai. I always enjoy my meals here, and it's amazing that they offer BYOB (although I've never actually brought my own alcohol). The mango sticky rice for dessert is also bomb. The only reason why I didn't give this place 5 stars is because the environment is a little old and dingy, and the bathroom is kind of icky. It's not meant to be a fancy restaurant, but it could use a little updating.
(4)
Lannie L.

Purchased a Groupon then went the same night for dinner. We have been to Thailand before and loved that the atmosphere of the restaurant was reminiscent to what it was actually like there. Colorful and quirky. Service is attentive and fast and I LOVE the huge menu with pictures to match each menu item - so helpful! We got the usual: Pad Thai, Indonesian Fried Rice, Tom Yum Koong soup, and went on a whim with the Crab Rolls. We loved everything, minus the Crab Rolls. They didn't look appetizing and though they gave us a lot for an appetizer portion, it didn't really taste like crab and was more processed and bland than anything. That being said, everything else was delicious. Tom Yum was great, Pad Thai included a good amount of shrimp and chewier noodles than we were used to (which I like) and IFR was also delicious - the portion was huge! Prices are standard, the restaurant is spacious - if you're in the mood for Thai, you can't go wrong with choosing this place.
(4)
Guillermo M.

Tried their mango curry and it was excellent, loved that the mango was ripe and all the other elements combined really well. Also for the first time tried their taro dessert with coconut milk, excellent too!
(4)
Jennifer P.

I was so hopeful that this would be my new go-to place for Thai food. Sadly, that is not the case. I ordered the Thai egg rolls, crispy chicken pad Thai, and the crispy pork fried rice with broccoli. The egg rolls were standard slightly bland, slightly greasy egg rolls. The pad Thai consisted of pad Thai noodles, bean sprouts, and soggy green onions without any discernible sauce covered by breaded deep fried chicken. I like a good regular chicken pad Thai - why did they have to bread and deep fry the chicken? And without the sauce, it's pretty terrible. But the fried rice was by far the worst. Again, no seasoning or sauce, and the broccoli had a strange metallic taste to it. The pork was inedible. It had been so over cooked that it was hardened to the point that I couldn't even cut it with a steak knife. I will not be eating here again.
(1)
D L.

Best Thai food I've had in a long time! Their lunch special is incredible and dinner-sized portion for only $8.95!
(5)
Yidan S.

Went this place with couple of friends for dinner tonight as we want something tasty but not pricey. The ambiance overall is good and the staff are very friendly, we ordered the papaya salad, Tom yum soup as appetizer and four of us each order an entree, the food portion is huge and none of us finished the entree and could have some leftover for tomorrow. And most of the entrees are priced at $11-13 which is not bad at all, the food overall tastes okay, not very spicy as I would like. But when we saw the bill, the duck dish my friend ordered which is the most expensive one $16.95 and they also charged additional $2 for a bowl of rice that comes with the duck dish, COME ON!!!'REALLY??! $2 for a bowl of rice which I assume should be complimentary with the dish. I will go back to S&I for my top 1 most favorite thai restaurant which is in Allston.
(3)
Anthony A.

The service was great and the food comes out rather quickly. I had the pork dumplings, pad Thai, and Thai iced tea; everything was delicious.
(4)
Olivia C.

I ordered the glass noodles which were really good, kind of had a bouncy texture to it (if that makes any sense). I was expecting the thin string-like clear noodles but was pleasantly surprised they actually did resemble the name. Who would've guessed? Also tried the Golden Bags and Golden Triangles which both looked so cute and tasted great. The drinks were really cute too, in their little mason cup-jar things. The Thai tea I ordered was considerably sweet for a Thai tea but went well with the dishes. Last, but not least, the servers were really nice. We had brought in a cake to celebrate someone's birthday and they gave us one of those lotus flower candles that open up and shoot out fire. Super cool. Look it up. (Probably doesn't come with every order).
(4)
Sabrina P.

Dok Bua has the best Thai food in Boston! Some hi lights... -BYOB...that's right. Show up with your favorite bottle of wine, craft brew or spirits and they'll supply the opener and glasses. -Best Tom Yum soup I've ever had -Great smoothies if you're walking by on a hot summer day -Pad Ki Mow (drunken noodle) is the real deal, not like some of the other more Westernized versions from restaurants that offer this dish. -Appetizers are cheap and have large shareable portions The service is extremely fast, almost to a fault. If you order an app/soup and an entree at the same time you'll likely get them at the same time, sometimes a minute or two ahead if you're lucky. If you're like me and enjoy a well paced dining experience that allows time to digest between appetizer and entree then place your orders when you are ready for them. I always try to pay in cash because this is a family restaurant. You should all do the same!
(5)
Amy M.

Decided to grab an order of spring after dinner. Delicious, fresh and hot from the fryer. The waiters and hostess were extremely helpful and sweet. Need more people like this in the food industry!:) I can't eat anymore so we are going to walk this off till I see the next eatery. Lol
(3)
Tony N.

This place is hands down the best Thai place I have ever been to. Authentic and affordable! Service is top notch. Always busy but you never have to wait for a thing, including a table. I get something different every time I go and have never been disappointed but these are definite home runs: 1. Anything with crispy duck 2. Seafood hot pot Tom Yum 3. Green curry 4. Red curry 5. Drunken noddles Happy tea is a nice way to end the meal.
(5)
Megan M.

I'm so in love with this place! It's right around the corner from me and I order from here probably at least once a week, Let's start with the fan favorites: their pad thai is a real winner. It's usually not as sweet as other pad thais, which I appreciate. Pad See Ew is great too. But what REALLY sets this place apart is the dinner specials. For $11 you get: A main dinner dish rice 3 thai spring rolls 3 fried dumplings (teeny tiny) Tom-Yum soup (which is awesome) How can you LOSE people? This is the best. If you're ordering out, use an Eat24 coupon for a few bucks off to make this a real steal. Also, if you sit down to eat inside, it's BYOB which is SO COOL! TLDR; This place is awesome, don't miss their incredible dinner specials.
(5)
Nicole B.

Disclaimer: I'm writing the review based on my experiences with Dok Bua when I used to live in the area about 3 years ago. This is my favorite Thai place in the area. Very authentic and relatively inexpensive. I tend to judge Thai places on how good their papaya salad is (if they don't even have it on the menu then...well). The papaya salad is absolutely delicious.
(5)
Leanne C.

I haven't found a better place for Thai in Boston than Dok Bua. Well crafted fresh spring roll slices, perfect phat prik khing, addictive green curry and a quirky atmosphere to wash it all down. I'm usually someone who goes by the "If there are pictures of real displays of the food, run away" but I'll make an exception for this Brookline-based chili-friendly spot. Did I mention they have their own beautiful tea blends? I highly recommend their Happiness blend; pleasant, refreshing and the floral notes complimented my basil-heavy meal well.
(4)
Susie D.

Excellent. No complaints whatsoever. Excellent service, ample food, good quality, pad thai especially good.
(5)
F L.

I've been going here for 15+ years, dating back to when most of the space was a convenience store and there were only a few tables available for dining, so a review is long overdue. Though they've upgraded, the ambiance is still not as nice as many of the fancier Thai places around town, but the food is wonderful and it is a longtime favorite among the Thai friends who first introduced me to the place. Sure, there are some dishes I like better than others, and there have been some occasional misses. But the staff is so helpful and friendly that I've never had a bad experience in all my visits. I hope this place sticks around for a long time!
(5)
Dulari J.

I ordered food to deliver and it was 1 hour and 40 min late. And then the delivery guy had the nerve to say the tip wasn't enough and made me pay more. Food was okay. Fried chicken was not done. Crumbs were all soggy!!! I would not recommend the place to deliver for sure.
(1)
Julia M.

In my experience, if a restaurant's menu contains photographs of their food, you should leave immediately. Fortunately for me, I decided to give Dok Bua and their photo-covered menu a chance. Having been to Dok Bua on several different occasions, I can say that they serve consistently good Thai food at a price that won't break the bank (many dishes are around $10). The service is generally quick, & the waitstaff is very friendly.
(4)
Carla B.

I came here for dinner with two of my friends and absolutely LOVED IT. The restaurant is BYOB so my dining companions and I arrived armed with 2 bottles of wine. Our waiter promptly brought us wine glasses and a bucket with ice to keep our wine chilled. He was incredibly helpful and attentive throughout our dinner and didn't rush us to leave after we finished eating. The food was delicious! And affordable! As a vegetarian, I was thrilled to see so many veggie options! The menu has pictures of each dish, which definitely helps. I ended up ordering a tofu dish with a brown sauce and some veggies. It was great! My friends ordered the dinner special, which includes an entree (in a smaller portion), soup, spring rolls, and dumplings for around $10.00. Quite the steal! Word of caution, the dumplings have pork in them, so if you're not a pork eater, be sure to let the waiter know!!
(4)
Reid S.

Stopped in here on a whim and got a cheap lunch special combo. Absolutely delicious. Now I just need to convince them to give me the full thai heat. Tom kai gai = great. Red chicken curry = great. No complaints.
(5)
Piper P.

This kitschy Thai restaurant in Brookline is a reliable "go to" for that Thai food craving. The menu is extensive, service is quick and overly attentive (a server always seems to be standing "at attention" nearby), and the price point is very modest. Always large portions; I've never left without a take-home box. Be specific and clear when you order; English comprehension is marginal among some of the staff. Point to the menu if you have to. One of my favorite perks: this is a BYO establishment; they don't serve alcohol, but you are welcome to bring your own - and they provide glasses.
(3)
Lusi J.

This place is my all time favorite Thai restaurant. Idk what it is about their crab rangoons but I'm always coming back for more. Their mango curry is also amazing for those who like sweetish curries. The driver for this restaurant is the only one thats ever found my apartment without having to call and ask or have me come down. Thumbs up for that lol.
(5)
D. L. L.

This place serves decent Thai food but for me ranks behind Rod Dee or MJ Ready Int'l. They do have some home style dishes like steamed egg with pork that you can't get at many thai restaurants, but the staple dishes like pad thai and pad see ew are not as good as Rod Dee (the one at Wash Sq). We probably won't be returning anytime soon given with the other Thai options around.
(3)
Clementine C.

Best way to enjoy Thai food that I've seen in a while - here's why: 11.95 dinner special (10.95 before tax). This is Jasmin rice, 2 pork dumplings, 2 spring rolls, soup, and your entree choice. Ain't nothin' betta! The food is enough to make two meals, which is always a plus. The spice level was good and the food was authentic. I had the Pad Thai, my girlfriends the Pad Thai and the Drunken Noodles. The staff were fast and very pleasant. They happily converted meals to vegetarian for Good Friday, which was really nice. I was guzzling water like I'd been deserted, and my glass was never empty. We had out dinner platters (look in photos) within 10 minutes of ordering. While the decor is cafeteria-like, it doesn't matter to me! This place has some great eats!
(5)
Steven R.

I was really surprised how great the food was from here. They had good Yelp reviews, but the food tasted incredibly authentic and was delicious. I've since had it two more times and it was fantastic every time. Now I have never been here in person and have only experienced delivery, but the food was exceptional every time. Delivery guys were all really fast and friendly too which is nice. Portions were really large as well and $10's for that much awesome crispy chicken (or vegetable) pad thai is well worth it!
(5)
David S.

Best Boston Thai food outside of Thailand. When it's out first time going to a new thai restaurant, we always order the same three staples Tom Yum soup, papaya salad and pad Thai. The smell of the soup immediately brought me back to Bangkok. Great spices and heat. Papaya salad was fresh, crunchy with a spicy broth. The pad Thai was delicious not overly tamarind flavored but balanced and delicious. Could have one for a cold beer but it's BYOB. Next time bringing cold beer and an appetite to explore the menu. Bravo!!
(5)
Aria D.

I've done take out here twice and dined in once. My lunch takeouts have always been timely and the staff super nice, but I deducted stars for the dining in experience. - It was hot in there, they only had fans. The heat made it harder for me to enjoy my food and did not sit well with my stomach. I should only be sweating from eating spicy dishes, not because it's humid in the restaurant. I started to get way too full on hydrating myself with water, and barely touched my plate. - They asked us if we wanted white or brown rice with meals, to which we said brown. The waitress did not let us know that it would be a $2 upcharge for brown rice, otherwise I would have declined. As someone who works in a cafe and a fine dining restaurant I was not happy when our waitress chose not to tell us we would be charged extra (their menu is also like 6 pages long with images everywhere, so it made it hard to read everything). I've never been to a Thai restaurant where they charged you extra on rice for meals (like curry) that it should accompany. - Food is decent, a bit inconsistent. The two times I've done take out everything was good (didn't blow me away) but for some reason I couldn't stomach the drunken noodles while I ate inside...can't tell if it's the dish or if it was because it was way too hot in there. My boyfriend ordered the green curry vegetable dish and with his brown rice, it came to $15......the curry was okay, definitely nothing special. The dish was not worth $15 at all. I also asked for my dish to be super spicy, and I had to add about 4 spoonfuls of chili paste before I could taste the spice. I've had better Thai food, but since I am new to Boston I've yet to find a great spot in the area. On the PLUS side, they are BYOB and overall the staff is really nice, timely, and refilled all our waters before they were empty.
(2)
Francisca W.

haven't been back since i moved out of the area years ago. gladly a friend lives nearby, which brought me back into its embrace once again. and i'm glad i'm back! from hostess to waiters, despite being busy, they're always friendly, mild, and smiling, even nodding their head in humility as they respond to your requests. i love Thai people. waiting for food has never been so pleasant: surrounded by an ambiance of a street fare, but with covered seating AND a/c! if i had closed my eyes, i could have fooled myself that i'm in Thailand or Hong Kong (ok, except the A/C bit). serious, i could hear the butane gushing out full throttle, along with the clanging of the woks behind the walls. that makes me very happy! food is FANTASTIC. spiciness on the spicy dishes is manageable; all the dishes are down-to-earth grassroot, yet heavenly. one thing i REALLY enjoy is that high heat quick-stir method of cooking, creating what we Cantonese call "wok hei" in food, which makes the said food reeeeally aromatic to the nose, and pleasing to the palate -- something a household cooktop can never achieve. one bite of it and i'm melting inside. our gentle waiter was sooooo unbelievably calm and gracious that i'd feel like a grump just by not smiling back. ex. his hands were piled high with plates from clearing the other table, yet he would not forget to look onto us on his way to the back in order to make sure that we are taken care of as well -- he would nod to notify the receipt of our request, while softly asking us to please wait for whatever the heck we were asking of him. how can you not oblige like a kitten with that kind of Buddist-like approach?!? double melting inside just seeing how he carries himself. ok maybe i got a little emotional over this. but even if you had just come for the food (or all the miniature food figures), you won't be disappointed. quality, comfort, and price -- that's right. and you're sure to be sent off with a smile and nod on your way out, smiling to yourself even if a truck hits you next. i know i would be.
(5)
John R.

This is hands down better Thai food than in Thailand. Their Pad Kee moa is better than any place we have tried in Bangkok and trust me we tried a lot :) Our go to spot every time we are in need of authentic spicy and tasty Thai food !
(5)
Harvard P.

Very dependable Thai food place. I like their lunch and dinner combos because they're reasonably priced, come with two egg rolls, two gyozas, tom yung soup and your choice of entree. My favorite is the grilled pork (called Moo Yang) entree.
(4)
Carrie Y.

OMG best Thai restaurant ever!!!! This is the best Pad Thai I have ever had in my life. I had the dinner special for $10 (plus $3 extra for shrimp and $5 crispy chicken add on). You get 2 fried egg rolls, 2 fried dumplings, bowl of tom yum soup, scoop of rice, shrimp pad thai with shrimp, and added the crispy chicken. The value is good and the food is just plain AMAZING. Most definitely coming back to try their crispy pad thai. I wish I could find Thai food like this in SF. I'll have to make sure I come here every time I'm in Boston.
(5)
Yuka Y.

I always order the spicy ground meat set dinner when I'm here. You really are spoilt for choice at Dok Bua with their pictured menus. The spicy ground meat (laab) is pretty spot on with the ones in Bangkok. As for the tom yum goong soup that comes with it, it's a miss. As with all the ones I've tried in MA, they're never spicy and sour enough. Missing that tangy essence that is supposed to come from the lemon grass and other herbs, which understandably is difficult to get here. I love love love their Thai iced tea here. Tastes great and it comes in such a cute little vintage glass mug!!!! The deco in this place is oddly sparsed around the place but it gives it a food court/laid back feel to it. Low key, reasonably priced, and interesting place to take people to.
(4)
Adeline H.

I love this place! I reccommend the fish, which they have grilled or steamed like 4 different ways. I was there again today and the F1 grilled fish was perfectly sweet and spicy. Not a lot of reviewers mention the fish since it is the more expensive dishes here, but I dont think 20$ is that bad for good fish. Of course get the spicy papaya salad you get a big portion. And if you like chow foon youll like the Drunken Noodles so much more, I think its N3. Of course you have to drink a thai iced tea as well! Delicioussss but they need bigger cups in my opinion, the amount you get in a mason jar isnt enough. But other than that I definitely recommend coming here. They even have 10% off if you pay in cash.
(5)
Angie G.

Tasty food but definitely over priced for what it is. We ordered veggie pad thai and it had few veggies, few tofu, and mostly mung beans. The sauteed eggplant was very tasty but again, a few pieces of eggplant in brown sauce is not worth $13. Maybe we will dine-in at some point so we can try a dinner special as it looks like that's the only good vegetarian deal.
(3)
Sherry K.

We have been visiting Dok Bua since it was a grocery store years ago. It gradually transformed into a restaurant. Unfortunately, as they took away their grocery shelves, and added more seats, increased their food price, the quality has been steadily downhill. While the service is still great, very friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere, the food really wasn't what it used to be. A bit disappointed but I guess that's how things usually go. Maybe the grandmothers who were cooking behind the curtains retired or had the day off. Their spices on the table still retained the flavor, too bad their noodle soups didn't. Won't be going back for a long while...
(2)
Lindsay M.

Amazing!! Thai food at it's best! From the service to the Thai Iced Tea, this place is exceptionally good. My boyfriend got this duck dish and I got glass noodles with squid. Getting hungry just thinking about it!! Not only were they very nice and respectful, they came out with the food SO fast!! Best Thai food in Brookline that's for sure!!
(5)
Jenny V.

first things first. All the little toys in the front window that are solar powered. AWESOME. i think my fave is the two asian kids dancing. too cute. I came here with my sister and mom after shopping around Boston. We ordered Pad thai with crispy chicken, the pad thai was really yummy and the crispy chicken reminds me of chicken katsu. We also got chicken panang curry and tried the fried rice with crispy duck. Everything was so good and the food came out really fast! The service was quick and very friendly. My sister said if she lived closer she would probably eat here every week. Definitely try this place out if you're in the area!
(5)
Rob H.

Food was great - we ordered takeout for 6 people, ate it family-style, and everyone loved all of the different dishes we got. One minor issue was that we didn't get a $2 side of rice that we'd ordered. Not a big deal, but we called to express our displeasure about it. To our surprise, they sent the delivery driver back with just that one side of rice! We appreciated the great customer service.
(5)
C S.

Terrible, terrible. I ordered a curry to be delivered through Grub Hun and the curry came looking like a soup, without rice, and barely any veggies and meat in it. There were no utensils whatsoever and I was unable to eat, after a long morning of hard work. Grubhub contacted the restaurant and they said the curry wasn't supposed to have any rice, or be delivered with utensils. Then, they basically hung up on them, without an apology. Grubhub was awesome and issued me a $10 coupon, but the restaurant still got my money. I WILL NEVER ORDER FROM THERE AGAIN.
(1)
Tory P.

Good, but there's better Thai. After having Brown Sugar Cafe, this is somewhat of a letdown. I did like the combos/dinner specials though
(3)
Paola Z.

First time in Brookline. We were looking for a place to go for lunch we came across this place while on out walk. The lunch menu was great. Offering a variety of options for a low price. The PineApple fried rice and pai tai were really tasteful. With out lunch entree we chose soup and spring rolls which were very good, also included for the same price. The portions were great for lunch. Defiantly a place to go if you enjoy authentic Thai.
(4)
Cositas I.

This is a casual, no-frills kind of place with decent Thai food. Their curries and Pad Thai are all perfectly good, but nothing exceptional.
(3)
Paul O.

I've had positive experiences here in the past, and they are very friendly at Dok Bua. But tonight I ordered food to-go and pointed out the Gang-Puk with tofu, which had a picture of what it looked like. Got it home and there is no tofu in it at all. I just paid $16 for some white rice and mixed vegetables. After eating the meal I'm still hungry. I'll be sticking with S&I Thai from now on.
(3)
Dona F.

A few weeks ago, my friend and I were lured into this restaurant by their eccentric outside display of colorful mock-noodle dishes. Anticipating a warm trendy atmosphere, similar noodle bars found in Japan or South Korea, we were astonished by the lack of style and vitality within the room. Worst yet, was the unforgettable aroma of wet dog within the air. Alas, there was no dog, watered or dry, but there was a waiter. He didn't seem to speak very good English, but new enough of the basics to get by. So we took our time looking over the lunch menu and finally came to a decision. I ended up with the basil fried rice, vegetable soup, and vegetable spring rolls. I gotta say, they work quick here. All the food came to us in a matter of, what--six minutes? Appetizers and entree alike were placed together on one sectioned dish which gave me the choice of what to eat first. Soup, I thought would be a good place to start. My first reaction was a positive one--the broth was excellent. The rolls weren't as great, but I enjoyed dipping them into the soup. Best of all was the basil-fried rice, which I ordered extra hot. (They have 3 optional levels of spiciness: mild, medium, hot.) It was top notch: the rice was nicely fried and perfectly seasoned with holy basil (which hints of licorice) and deep fried tofu. When the bill came I was surprised at how fair the prices were. Due to the poor ambiance of the place, I probably won't be coming back here soon, but will order takeout.
(3)
TK W.

Always a big fan. Everything taste great, so it is difficult to pick my fav to mention here. Lunch special is definitely a steal. Oh I don't remember the name, but it was eggplant with pork, I think that would be one of my fav. Tom Ka Kai (Chicken coconut soup) was very rich and explosion of coconut, lime with chicken on the background. Not water down at all. One black mark. If you use groupon, they ask you before you order, so made people think if they skim on things. But I am still a big fan.
(5)
Jennifer N.

I went to Dok Bua a few years ago, and I fell in love. I had a note in my planner that said "GO BACK TO DOK BUA BEFORE LEAVING BOSTON!" So today, three years after my first trip to Dok Bua, I made my way back. I disregarded the horrible decor, as I did the first time, and chuckled at the bloated menu (presented with an equally bloated book of pictures -- all of the pictures look the same!). We ordered the larb, which was far more lemon flavored than I would have liked (and also far more fish sauce flavored than I would have liked). Though the menu said it would be served with ground toasted rice, there was none on the plate. Generally, I like larb for its complex taste, but this was just flat and lemony. We also ordered the pad khing which is supposed to be stir fried protein (we ordered shrimp) ginger, mushroom, baby corn, onion and brown sauce. What arrived was basically a plate of broccoli (literally 14 florets, even though broccoli wasn't mentioned on the menu), some baby corn, and a few shrimp. It tasted like very ordinary stir fried shrimp in a very salty brown sauce. It breaks my heart to write this since Dok Bua held such a special place in my memory, but nothing about my experience there tonight would make me want to return.
(2)
Lisa L.

Ordered pick-up on a Saturday night and it was ready in just 10 minutes. We got Tom Yum Soup, Crispy chicken Pad Thai, and Green Curry with beef. The Tom Yum was a revelation. It was so spicy and flavorful with just the right amount of salt, and the vegetables and shrimp were great. Green curry was one of the best I've had, the spiciness was a whole mouth experience and not just burning tongue. The crispy chicken Pad Thai was a bit disappointing. Within minutes of getting our order, I opened the tupperware and the "crispy chicken" was already steaming its way to sogginess. The rest of the pad thai (noodles) were basically nothing special, kind of bland. However, hot tip, if you have leftover noodles the next day, fry them in a little oil with leftover rice, pour some soy sauce over, and crack a couple eggs in and mix it up. It's like a sweet noodle pudding, so good. I'll definitely come back and try the Pad Thai fresh at the restaurant (maybe it's better?) and some more Tom Yum!
(4)
Harry H.

Solid take out lunch specials (2 for $19) from nice folks who had our food ready in a few minutes. Went with the tofu Penang which offered a nice kick, and sides of Thai salad (meh) and some veggies (solid). A filling meal at a reasonable price if you're in the area.
(3)
Wendy L.

Laid back Thai place with great dinner specials and appetizers. There are some dishes here that you just cant find at a typical Thai restaurant in Boston. They have a really nice menu with a ton of pictures so you know what you are getting yourself into if you're not too adventurous. The best appetizer here are the Golden Bags! So crispy and delicious...They are kind of like spring rolls but with minced meat, corn and scallions all wrapped up in a fried wonton! It's amazing, must try. My favorite dish here is Moo Yang over rice. Moo Yang is marinated grilled/barbecue pork in a garlicky sweet sauce. It's sooo flavorful and juicy! I haven't seen this dish at another Boston Thai restaurant. I would say this is definitely one of their top dishes here. I also enjoy the Mango with Sticky Rice dessert. They pour a creamy sauce over the sticky rice that makes it sweet and yummy. The slightly tart mango is a perfect combo with the sweet rice. I also LOVE the miniature food models they have all over the restaurant. They are so cute! The servers here are super friendly and helpful.
(4)
Jennifer N.

Dok Bua is definitly a good thai food find in Brookline. Started with the crab rangoons and they were hot and tastey. Great flavor, and they succeeded where sometimes rangoons fail and taste like melted cream cheese. Yum. I had the Pad Thai- which was a huge portion and the tofu was nicely pan fried with a good portion of veggies. Great flavor too! Husand had the dinner special- $11 for Tom Yum Soup, two Egg Rolls, two Pork Dumplings, Basil Chicken, and White Rice. So much food for the price, you can never go wrong. Every meal we saw served, except my pad thai, was a dinner special. Definitly check it out!
(4)
z k.

Dok Bua- authentic, fast, friendly, healthy, delicious. This place started out as a Thai convenience store and gradually expanded their food bar into the full blown restaurant we have today. Their food is flavorful, and they do spicy dishes right. Special love for their Pad Kee Moo. Also, make sure to try the Tom Yum soup that comes with the dinner special - it's an acquired taste that becomes an addiction.
(5)
Chris R.

Solid food, good prices, friendly service. Decor was pretty drab but clean so no complaints. Good spot for a casual meal, wouldn't pick it for date night or a special occasion. I really liked how they have pics of all the dishes on the menu. I'm sure that makes me sound dumb but it really gives you a much better sense of what the dish is like than just a text description. Definitely would go back. Fresh rolls were the highlight food wise.
(4)
Rose C.

Overall, I think this is a really good Thai experience. I like the ambiance, the service was friendly, and the food is consistent. The lunch and dinner specials might offer the chance to try a few of the items including the tom yum soup and the smaller appetizers, but the portions are quite small. I also really like the Thai iced tea. I haven't gotten the drinks here but they look awesome! I think the food here is quite comparable to S&I. While this place might be more suitable for groups, S&I is more tasty and more bang for your buck. If it's take-out, I would recommend getting S&I. But if it's the experience you are after, I think Dok Bua is fairly decent.
(3)
Ted M.

I've only ordered from Dok Bua once. The food was pretty impressive: quality and quantity for a reasonable price (not a steal, but not a rip-off). I did, however, have to check my phone and confirm with the delivery driver when he arrived that the food was actually mine, since it only took 14 minutes from the second I submitted the order. I live a decent distance away, and I don't even understand how that is humanly possible, but the food was hot and fresh. Definitely worth the money, especially for the pad thai!
(4)
Katie B.

This family-owned and operated restaurant has been passed from sister to sister since 1998. It is a medium-sized restaurant with a casual, fun atmosphere. In the front of the restaurant, models of Bangkok boat vendors and their dishes add to the decor. Somehow Dok Bua strikes the perfect balance between cute and quirky. Their service also makes this restaurant so appealing--the waiters and waitresses are attentive without being overbearing, as well as extremely friendly and genuinely pleasant people. While ambiance and service add a lot to any restaurant experience, the excellence of Dok Bua goes well beyond these two aspects. Not only does the restaurant offer an impressively extensive menu--featuring curries, rice plates, and several vegetarian options--it also boasts some of the best lunch and dinner specials in Boston. The lunch special runs from 11 to 4 p.m. and is only $8.95. It includes one of 21 different main dishes along with a choice of two side orders, including various soups, salads, and meatier starters like steamed pork dumplings. For just two dollars more, their dinner special is served with jasmine rice, Tom Yum soup, two vegetable egg rolls, and two fried pork dumplings. This option appeals to many people because it offers variety and all four components of the meal are authentic. Furthermore, the portions are generous without being wasteful. The soup is spicy and tangy--absolutely full of flavor. The egg rolls are crisp and the dumplings, while not the highlight of the plate, add another dimension to the meal. The simplicity of the dumplings compliments the flare of the soup. The quantity and variety of entrees can be overwhelming. With the short descriptions under each option, most dishes are written in anglicized Thai. "Guay-Tiow-Ped" most likely does not help the average Bostonian decide what to eat, but thankfully the menu also has numerous pictures of the food. The Pad Thai is a common favorite that is also more familiar to most people. A simple sauteed rice noodle dish offers the seamless combination of several flavors from the shrimp, egg, scallion, bean sprout, and ground-peanut mixed in. The noodles are slightly chewy and the many ingredients provide a variance of textures. In addition to a great variety of appetizers and main entrees, Dok Bua also offers various teas and desserts. Thai iced tea, popular across most Thai restaurants, can be slightly risky when ordering at a new destination. Somehow it seems every restaurant will make it slightly differently--at some places it is sickeningly sweet, at others overly milky and bland. Dok Bua's Thai Iced Tea ($2.50), however, has consistently been perfectly sweet and creamy from the milk and has deliciously strong tea flavor. The presentation in a vintage, glass mug offers a nice touch as well. The various components of a quality restaurant are all present at Dok Bua. Everything from the individual spice condiments conveniently provided on every table to the timeliness of the service comes together to create a highly enjoyable meal. Their dinner and lunch specials are what make Dok Bua stand out among the many great Thai restaurants around Boston. If the walk from the T stop is a deterrent, Dok Bua also offers delivery.
(4)
Kiki P.

Dok Bua Thai Kitchen is an authentic looking cuisine not too far from Coolidge Corner (1 block away). When you enter the restaurant, you feel like you are in Thailand. The staff is very friendly and always smiling all Thailand is nicknamed "the land of smiles" Some of the dishes are delicious and pretty authentic. The others are okay. My brother lives near this restaurant and he picks up from here at least once a month. He highly recommended it so I went in with high expectations. However both of the dishes I ordered were just okay. The drunken noodles and the Thai basil fried rice. These are my two signature dishes which I order at every Thai restaurant and frankly I was a bit disappointed. On the other hand, the Pad-Bai-Ga-Pow is actually very authentic tasting. I would recommend trying this dish out. For dessert, I decided to try the mango sticky rice, which ended up being pretty yummy. I enjoyed it very much. The portion size for this dessert dish is rather generous...large enough for two to enjoy. I am a huge tea connoisseur and when I saw the list of teas offered at Dok Bua I became instantly excited. I asked the server if the tea was loose leaf in a pot or a tea bag. She mentioned that she can make it in a pot for me. I ordered the jasmine green tea and she did indeed bring it out in a pot. However as I opened it up I noticed it was not loose leaf tea. It was basically two small tea bags thrown into a big pot....and she changed me quite a few bux for it too :-( Another note is that the food here really upsets my tummy sometimes. I wonder if they have MSG inside? Not sure about that. Overall, I would recommend checking this place out as it has a cool authentic ambiance and some of the dishes are pretty good. I would probably come back here to give it another shot and try something new. Not because its amazing, but because Thai food is my favorite food. Khob Kun Ka!
(3)
Olivia J.

Their dinner special is pretty sweet. A huge plate of food for under $10 (comes with soup, egg rolls, and rice). My usual go-to Thai dish is red curry with chicken (mild) or pad thai. For the first time in my life, though, I tried a "new" Thai dish here, because it sounded so good. I tried their Moo Yang pork. I loved it. Tasted a little like beef cubes from a Vietnamese restaurant in Philly (Nam Phoung), but yeah. Good marinated pork. Also tried a dessert item, it was warm with tapioca-like things in a taro-bubbletea-reminiscent soup. Excellent! Thoroughly happy, and would go back for trying out more new dishes. Joanne took me, and she is a regular here! (She claims that everyone that she's taken to eat here was happy with their food.)
(5)
S R.

Horrible delivery service. Placed an order at 6 pm. It's 8:30 and still no food. The woman on the phone said the driver had left when I called at 7:45. I live about 3 miles away.. Seriously?
(1)
Jim M.

My wife and I moved to the Boston area about three years ago, and we have tried about half a dozen Thai restaurants since then. While some have been pretty good, we both like this one best. My wife had the Pad Thai with chicken and shrimp, and I had the Grilled Shrimp with Chili and Lime Juice. Delicious. The service was prompt and very friendly, too. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Kim H.

BEST INDONESIAN FRIED RICE! this plate can be shared with 2 people $15 with that said -- I had very high hopes to try their pad thai. ( go to S&I Thai for pad thai ) WORST PAD THAI EVER. I didn't even want to take a second bite. oddly they have very good phone service when it comes to calling haha thats why I love ordering from them. Over the years as they got much more popular they did up the price alot, but it is very worth it !
(4)
Rachel D.

I love this place! I went once and now I'm hooked. The tiny little miniature foods in the window are also a huge plus with me, considering I love miniature versions of normal things. Their dinner combinations are OUT OF THIS WORLD. the price is great and the food is delicious (see photo). I also had a thai iced tea, which was a little pricey but I think they're always pricey and small, in Boston. You get tom yum soup (which is the best i've had), spring roll, entree, and salad with your dinner for around $12! Check this place out if you haven't already.
(5)
Joanne H.

I have been to Dok Bua many times and, after being away from Boston for four months, it was the first place I wanted to eat when I got back. It is an unpretentious, comfortable eatery that offers consistently good food at relatively low prices. I have never had a bad meal there. Service is friendly and efficient. I usually order the specials, which arrive on a large pu pu type platter. For around $12, you get 2 appetizers, a soup, rice and an entree. There's a large selection of entrees to choose from. Last week, my husband and I ordered mango chicken, which was delicate and flavorful, and cashew chicken, nicely spiced. In both cases, the chicken was cooked perfectly and arrived moist and tender. The dishes at Dok Bua are homestyle and light, without the heavy sauces, grease and excess salt I often encounter at other restaurants. When I get home, my body feels good. One big plus is that you can bring alcohol. You will even be supplied with wine glasses and a wine cooler, with no corkage fee. Dok Bua is a little gem in the JFK section of Brookline. I will definitely return.
(5)
Nicole A.

This is the second time I've been here. Food is pretty good and you can bring your own alcohol which is awesome. The thing that struck me this time was not the food, not the servers, not the atmosphere. It was the pregnant Spanish woman who called over a waitress to tell her something. She said and I repeat she said "I killed a baby cockroach and its under the table in a napkin. When you clean later don't forget it." The waitress proceeded to give them wet naps and beg for forgiveness. What the hell??????? If I hadn't just been leaving, I'd probably have caused a scene. Overall, good food. Good prices. Cleanliness? I don't know anymore.
(3)
Jennifer L.

I love this place! I've been trying to find a Thai restaurant like this for a while now. My boyfriend and I shared the "Lovely Little Thing" appetizer where they offer you two samples of crab rangoons, springrolls, dumplings, etc. It was my favorite, especially the crab rangoons! They were generous with their cheese stuffing. We also got Pad Thai with crispy chicken. It wasn't the best Pad Thai I've had, but still pretty solid. I also tried a little bit of the Thai iced tea from my friend and it tasted perfect for my taste buds! I'm hoping to come back soon, especially for the crab rangoons and Thai iced tea!
(5)
Heidi L.

The food is good, the prices are very reasonable (definitely cheaper than other places), the service is always super nice. I usually get the Drunken Noodles, though check out the Dinner Special (for 10.95, a few apps, a serving of rice, a tom yum soup and a half portion of your selected entree). Yum!
(4)
Kelsey C.

It seems like a lot of people like Dok Bua, but it was just not that good for me. If i'm going to take a hike to a Thai place, I'd much rather journey to Nud Pub in Allston. The Som-Tom Salad actually tastes like the papaya was somewhat mortar-and-pestled, but it was a tad bit watery and the green beans were tough. The Red Curry serves to wet your rice better than it serves to whet your appetite. The noodle:tofu ratio of the Drunken Noodle was less than one, which is just not right when you order a dish called drunken NOODLE. The overcooked, slightly-mushy, stuck-together noodles were also covered in mealy chili paste, which made it stick going down, as if mushy noodles aren't hard enough to swallow. Perhaps it should have been called Drunken Chef.
(2)
Daniel B.

The best Thai in Boston. I've eaten here 25+ times. If you like Pad Thai, you'll love theirs, as the flavor is complex and savory. However, the "Dok Bua Noodles" dish is even better. Pretty much everything we've eaten there has ranged from very good to excellent, with the exception of their red curry dishes... for whatever reason, their particular red curry isn't to our taste. The only other strike against Dok Bua is that they don't serve beef satay, only chicken satay. But never mind... most everything else is great, and the service is quick and friendly.
(5)
Carrianne C.

Yum- I love this place. I love eggplant and they have been so accomodating when I ask for eggplant instead of meat in my dishes (random, but I don't love tofu). If you want something more than just the usual thai noodle dish, hit up Dok Bua. Everything is fresh, and not greasy. Lots of room in the restaurant makes it a great place to go out, but delivery is amazing and SUPER fast.... the last time I delivered they brought it to my door in less than 30 minutes. Unheard of. Anyways my favorite Thai place in Brookline. And they take cards!
(4)
jazzy l.

We had dinner here with a party of 6. I think I like the lunch here more. The pad thai for dinner seem off kilter a bit. Everything was salty...too salty.
(3)
Jessica H.

Unfortunately my review of this is biased by the fact that I found not only one but TWO hairs in my pad thai when I got Dok Bua delivered today. I got the Crispy chicken pad thai and it was not excellent and then was ruined when I find two hairs in it.Blah will not be ordering from them again
(1)
Phil T.

I've visited here a few times. The food is good but isn't spectacular. The lunch and dinner specials gives you variety but lack in quantity. The decor weirdly works but border on a little tacky. They have Christmas lights and a Happy New Year sign along their bright (turquoise?) wall adorned with some Asian decorations. Their menus have pictures on them which is great for any Thai food beginners. A little tip for any winter diners, they keep their thermostat at a rather chilly setting since I kept my jacket on the whole meal. Overall Dok Bua is a good restaurant but nothing compelling.
(3)
Alicia C.

Meh~ I'd checked out other Thai restaurants before deciding to spent my bucks here. Overrated and pricy. My friend and I ordered the padped catfish and it was absolutely not fresh and overpriced. Don't think I'll visit again unless I've absolutely no choice...
(2)
Victoria P.

Love this place! The dinner combinations are a must! The Pad Thai is also really good - slightly sweeter than I'm used to, but still delicious. I alway have to end the night with a Thai Tea Bubble Tea - soooooo good.
(4)
Mike B.

It was about 9:30 on last Saturday night with my companion. We were seated and served promptly by friendly, courteous staff. The smell and decor of the place were not exactly first rate or pleasant, but the staff were. Our orders were prepared well and served to us very quickly - probably within ten minutes of placing them. The dishes were yummy, of moderate portions, and reasonably priced. I got the pad thai with crispy chicken. A good, casual dining experience.
(3)
Nora L.

Pretty good Thai food, 3.5. I came with a large group (10?) and the service was very quick. The servers are especially friendly here, which is why I'm giving it a 4 and not 3. The food, portion sizes and prices are pretty good. My usual is pad kee mao and trust me when I say this, I've had a lot of pad kee mao dishes at different restaurants. It wasn't as good or spicy as some other places in the area but still yummy. Didn't know this place was BYOB but that'll help bump up my rating to a 4 too. Overall, not my favorite Thai restaurant in the Brookline/Brighton area but still solid.
(4)
Tanya Y.

Dok Bua makes the world a better place. No Joke. I've been coming here fairly often and am shocked that I haven't gotten around to writing about Dok Bua yet, especially because this place is . that . damn . good ! Located in the amazing area of Coolidge Corner, Dok Bua definitely has their bragging rights. Often, there is a line to get into this place, which shows that people are willing to wait for deliciousness. Parking is available on the street and therefore it can be a bit difficult to find a spot. Once you walk in, you are greeted very nicely by the waitstaff, and you automatically get a sense of authenticity. There are a ton of miniature plastic food displays which are adorable, as well as various decorations including Christmas lights that adds to the ambiance. One of my favorite features about Dok Bua is their menu: they have tons of options and each item comes with a picture so you can visually see what you're going to be served before hand. They are reasonably priced and everytime I come here, I like to look at what other people are eating, because 9 times out of 10, it smells and looks delicious! Their Pad Thai (Sauteed rice noodle with shrimp, egg, scallion, bean sprout and ground peanut - $8.95) is delicious. Both the lychee ($13.95, comes with both shrimp and chicken) and pineapple fried rice (with shrimp, $10.95), is also amazing. My most recent discovery has been their "Moo-Yang" (Grilled pork marinated in Thai herb. - $7.95). The description that is stated on their menu does not give this meat any justice! GIve me an order of Moo Yang and some white rice and I'll be all set. So good! I've also had the opportunity of trying a couple of their drinks, which all come in these cool mugs (refer to my pictures!). Their Lychee Drink ($1.95) is great, and you definitely cannot go wrong with Thai Iced Tea ($2.50) (my fave!). HUGE plus! For birthdays, they have this amazing flower candle that sits in a bed of sweet rice, coconut milk, and mango ($6.95). The flower candle is originally closed, as if it hadn't bloomed yet, is lit at the table, then goes off almost like a little firework. It then opens to where each individual flower petal is lit up and it plays the "Happy Birthday" tune to you. (Refer to my picture!) This place is as good as it gets!
(5)
Nikki B.

Good inexpensive Thai food and they're great if you have a big group and make a reservation. The best part? It's BYOB so bring all the wine and beer you want! They don't charge a corking fee so no worries on that front. Every time my friends and I plan a bug get together we come here.
(5)
Jason K.

Crispy pad Thai chicken was soooo good. Highly recommended. Only thing I didn't like was that the portions were not generous for the appetizer. The chicken wings tasted good, but there were only about 5.
(4)
Anthony L.

I was ready, and exited, to go to Kayyam (Mediterranean place across the street) with a friend until I saw a sign saying "Best of Boston: 2009, 2011" under Dok Bua Thai Kitchen. I immediately thought "Hm, the BEST of Boston? Is it really the BEST? I need to find out." And so I did. Friends, DKTK (what a name) is really amazing. The staff is super friendly (I wonder if it's genuine or for a good/halfway decent tip) and the service is speedy. The physical restaurant is very clean and organized -- it makes sense to me. Their bathroom is very clean (although, I wonder if the flush actually works on the men's toilet?) and smells good. I ordered the pad thai off of the dinner menu ($9.99 -- what a bargain!). Guys, it was great. Seriously, delicious. The food came out on an overwhelming plate (had five slots -- rice, pad thai, spring rolls, something?, and soup). The rice was perfectly steamed, the pad thai had amazing flavor, the tofu was beyond delicious, and the spring rolls were amazing. Although DKTK is in an amazing location, it's not great for me (Cambridge to Brookline is a little inconvenient). However, if I'm ever craving Thai, this is where I'm going. Tip: this restaurant is BYOB... so bring whatever you'd like!
(5)
Eric F.

Ernie F. has touted Dok Bua for quite some time now and it def lived up to the hype on my first visit. Amongst us, we had the Moo-Yang, Pad Kee Mao with Bean Glass Noodles, Seafood Tom Yum Noodle Soup and Yellow Curry with Duck. A number of fellow Yelpers have spoken well of the Moo-Yang and for good reason! The dish was plentiful and chock full of juicy, flavorful pork with an awesome herby dipping sauce. I enjoyed my noodle soup - bright, crisp flavors with just enough spice complemented by well-cooked seafood and noodles. My friend's duck was pretty solid except that the meat was a little on the dry side. The star of the night would have to be my bro's bean glass noodles. They had a unique, springy consistency that, along with especially well-executed seasoning, elevated it above the usual Pad Kee Mow. As with Thai cuisine in general, the prices were more than reasonable and service was prompt and friendly. Looking forward to trying other dishes on my next visit!
(4)
Amy S.

Wow, food comes out FAST. i have never seen food come out so fast. I shared the pad see ew with my friend, and it was one of the better pad see ews i've ever had. really, not bad at all! idk, it was just really well made compared to the other ones. the price isn't too bad either!
(4)
Eric K.

Unbelievable Thai food I'm such a casual atmosphere! The duck was outrageous! Pad Thai nearly as good as well. Go if you can!
(5)
Niko D.

Good Thai food. I usually get the Drunken noodle with chicken. I get it spicy, but I think it could be a little spicier. Best thing about this place is that it's BYOB, which always a plus! The only negative thing I would have to say about this place is that the style and look of the restaurant is lacking. It needs an update big time.
(4)
Vicky H.

I've only been here a few of times. Once with my sister which was a very long time ago. And more recently with some friends. Nothing really changed here in the several years they were apart. The place looked and feel the same. I love looking at the miniatures of foods on display and at the same time find it disgusting how dusty they are and how cluttered the restaurant appeared. We ordered 4 different entrees to share. The price wasn't bad. It wasn't expensive, more on the less expensive side considering the location. The food tasted pretty good. It wasn't something you can brag about but definitely have that home cooked feel, as did the ambiance of the place. The kitchen was to the right of where I was sitting but slightly covered up so you can't see in much. The cleaning are was behind me and you can clearly see all the dirty dishes and the side work in prepping the vegetables. This area was gross. Dirty dishes all over as well as same area to prep the work. I wished I had my camera with me to take some pictures. Needless to say I haven't been back since no matter how good the food was. The only reason I am giving this place 2 stars because of the good food.
(2)
Lily P.

See pics we got #15 and #16 lunch specials. OMFG I LOVE THEIR MENU...see pictures agains. They have a picture of every order you could make. I love this since there is no guessing what you will be getting. You just point and choose. Lunch special was 8.99 came with 2 side dishes and a main course. The fried chicken was great with or without the sauce. I loved their peanut sauce...we also got the chinese eggplant. I didn't try the tomyum soup we got since we were too full by the time we finished the rice and the main dishes.
(4)
Hannah K.

Expecting a family-style platter with each order, my 6 friends and I ordered 4 dishes. It was not enough. However, the service was fast and the portions we did get were delicious!
(3)
Sanel S.

This place reminded me of wise words of my friend from China. I had suggested to him once that we go to Chinatown to get some good Chinese food. His response was: "Sanel, you don't go to Chinatown to enjoy a meal, you go there to be fed like cattle." I'd like to extend that analogy to Dok Bua Thai as well. You don't go here to eat and enjoy food, you go here to be fed the same way we feed cattle until we cull them. The food looks good but is really quite terrible. I've never been to Thailand so I can't speak to how it compares to their food, but I have had incredible Thai food at Osha in Watertown so I feel justified in comparing. The first problem at Dok Bua was that the server barely spoke English and apparently had never heard anyone use the word "chicken", as the "Chicken Pad Thai" went way over her head. See they don't like to use names for their meals, they need numbers. So the correct way to order is "I want to order Z17 with a side of A3 and drink J7." The portions they serve are generous but not really all that great. The pad thai comes with a side of rice, I don't know why, I've never had it served with rice anywhere else. I can only imagine that's because the amount of pad thai is half of what you'd get at a normal restaurant and rice is a lot cheaper to substitute and fill people up. There were three other sides, some soup, two egg rolls and couple of dumplings with some black soy-like sauce. The soy sauce was reminiscent of the black goo from the new Alien movie Prometheus where all those weird snake-like aliens live in. Perhaps they have a side business of supplying black goo to Hollywood. I did eat the dumplings nevertheless and I did eat my egg rolls but I used the sweet sauce that came with the rolls instead. Two spoonfuls of the soup was more than enough really. I only ended up eating my Pad Thai which itself was mostly good actually. I also ordered a Thai Ice Tea. It was watered down, diluted and lacked the subtlety and rich flavor of a real Thai Ice Tea I've had at other places like Osha in Watertown. OH and as a bonus I did experience heart palpitations about 30 minutes after eating my meal. Never happened before and otherwise I have a great heart and stay in shape. Now, correlation does not equal causation, but if you've never had heart palpitations and then you eat something and 20 minutes later you have them for the first time in your life, I'd say the correlation coefficient is pretty high on that one.
(1)
Danielle N.

Delicious. I order in most of the time and occasionally go there. Their chicken wings are delicious. Their curry puffs are to die for. Their dinner special is a steal in Brookline! My boyfriend and I always order Moo Yang, Pad Thai, and or Drunk Man's Noodle dinner special. Also their Tom Yum Soup used to be amazing but recently it has been too oily. Amazing thai food place!
(5)
Nicole K.

My favorite place! The food is always good. I have never been disappointed by anything I've ordered, and it all is fairly priced- the speed at which it comes out is astonishing too. The service is some of the most attentive and friendly I have ever had while not being officious. Go!
(5)
Elizabeth R.

I love this place! The service is really fast and always friendly. The food is pretty good, and comes within 5-10 minutes every time.
(4)
Lala I.

my fave thai joint in boston!
(4)
Dennis D.

This is the first place I will give a 5 and it's simple, THE FOOD HERE IS SOOOOOO GOOD!!! I came here with my girlfriend and her sister (her sister told us about here) and we came in for their dinner menu. It had so much food and we got the Thai Green Ice tea... probably the best tasting teas I have ever tasted; sweet in the right way. I order the Drunk noodle plate (which came with soup, egg rolls, rice, and fried dumplings). All of that with great favors and I have yet tasted the noodles. Noodles were great, Spice but with me, not enough; asking the waitress for more spice, it gave the noodles a kick, in a good way. I came back two more times and they were great those two other times. I recommend going here for Thai for a great price.
(5)
Karen G.

The service here is amazing. Very attentive and the food came out quick. The fried pad thai worth crispy pork was delicious! The prices are a bit steep for what you get though. So 4 stars.
(4)
Lisa B.

Big points for being the only restaurant open during Hurricane Sandy... We were a little "eh'd" by the food, though. Everything tasted okay, but I think Rod Dee (Brookline) is much better. Maybe it's just personal preference, though.
(3)
John S.

I give stars for originality - experiencing something different and unique is what I live for. This restaurant definitely delivers with that, food and decor alike. I felt like I was in Thailand. $10.95 dinner special from 4pm-10:30pm - comes with your dish of choice (many selections), 2 spring rolls, 2 dumplings, rice, and soup. They know how to do business.
(4)
Ellie W.

I hate to admit it, but ever since I went to Thailand and actually ate authentic Thai cuisine, I've been a Thai food snob since. I guess it's pretty difficult to compare, since not all the same ingredients are readily available here. I have yet to find a Thai restaurant in Boston that is hands down my favorite. Dok Bua is pretty good, but I'm not sure if it's my fave yet. They have friendly, fast service, which is a plus. I think I'll have to try a few more dishes there before I pass real judgement.
(3)
Andrea E.

I gotta say, it's a pretty good price for what you get! I walked in one day, unplanned and with a craving for pad thai, I order from the numbered menu (apparently they only want you to order by number, they request it) got my delicious pad thai, it was great and full of flavor, not to mention that it gad a good amount of shrimp, not like when you order from other places and they give you 2 stinken shrimp, I also loved the fact that it came with a couple of side dishes which supplemented my meal wonderfully... to sum it up, I enjoyed the food, had good service and the price was right. I recommend it!
(4)
Noa N.

I wasn't that impressed. When I travel, I like to try the best Thai food in the area and based on the reviews, I decided to try the moo-yang dinner plate at Dok Bua. Service and food were good but I wouldn't recommend it unless you want something very simple and safe.
(3)
David C.

My friends and I were looking for a place to eat for a decently sized group of 7. We ended up deciding on eating Thai. Upon arriving at 1PM on 12/31, there weren't too many people there and were seated immediately at a round table. I particularly like round tables since it allows everyone to face each other. I prefer round tables vs. the long tables whenever possible. They had a lunch special that includes a dish with two sides. I was in the mood for something more filling, so I went with the Basil Fried Rice. It was pretty good, food was flavorful. As for the two sides, I got the coconut soup and the Thai Salad. The soup was delicious and had a nice kick to it. The Thai Salad was alright, veggies were decently fresh. They bring out the food all at once on a really big round plate which is subdivided into sections, so you get all the food at once rather than in stages. Service was good, they were attentive and kept refilling our waters. Would definitely come here again when I'm looking for an inexpensive lunch/dinner when I'm in the area.
(4)
Ronica P.

Been here twice. Great bubble tea. Great drunken noodles, but they don't clean the chicken well enough so my BF and I were both chewing and spitting out pieces of cartilage still there. This is something I truly dislike if I go somewhere. This happened both times we went there. The first time I shrugged it off, but the second time we decided just not to come back even though the service was great too. Clean yo' chicken properly & then I'll be back :)
(3)
Elizabeth S.

After passing by so many times, I finally found an excuse to venture in. An excuse called the lunch special. For less than $10, you get a round plate divided into sections. One of those sections is a choice of about 20 entrees. Two other sections are side dishes (or if you get the yummy Tom Kha soup, your side dish will be smack in the middle of the plate). The other sections are sadly empty, except for maybe a cucumber or some other garnish. If Dok Bua served alcohol, I'd be in love. Instead, I'll settle for the Thai iced tea or the guava juice. Notes: -The hot tea is self serve - you might not be informed. Go for the tea! -There are indeed metal cat statues for decoration. They will not meow at you.
(4)
Vivian C.

I love their photo album style menu! And the cute miniature food decorations. The crispy chicken (it's everywhere!) is great, as is the moo yang (marinated pork). I happen to like the American sweet style of pad thai, as well as their vermicelli version of pad-si-ew. The Thai iced tea arrives in these chunky glass mugs - yummy, but way too much ice. Taro custard was nice, lightly sweet, but was probably reheated by microwave - part of it was still cold. Shaved ice was served in these cute smiley face cups. If you can grab it, they have a single round table in the back - large enough for 7 people. Note to self - the mango curry is too spicy for my taste, even when it is requested mild. Note to you - if you'll be coming back, get yourself a VIP card by purchasing $50 worth of gift certificates (5 $10 certificates). You can use the certificates for your next visit (I don't know if you can use them all in one go, or if you have to use them one at a time... since they're gift certificates, I would imagine that you could use them all at once...) and the card will grant you 10% off your next visit, and 20% off on your birthday. ***4/2011 visit*** Seems like they no longer advertise the VIP card. Asked for less ice in my Thai Iced Tea $2.50 and they complied! Nice. V17. Rad-Nar Broad rice noodle with Chinese broccoli, tofu in brown gravy sauce $9.95 and SN4. Pad-Si-Ew with Vermicelle Topped with Crispy Chicken $10.95 were both good and tasty choices, however the Pad-Si-Ew with the solid layer of chicken on top seemed the better deal portion-wise. But note to the wise, their chicken was mostly (all?) dark meat, which is great for me, but might not be appreciated by the white meat lovers out there. With the two of us dining this time, there was enough leftover for another light meal for one. *** 5/2011 visit *** The three of us decimated the three lunch specials ($8.95 each), no problem. I liked the peanut sauce that came with the thai salad side option. The two chicken wings option was actually 1 wing, segmented. The thai roll was freshly fried for us, and arrived hot and crispy and tasty. The pork dumplings were small, but tasted fine. The coconut milk chicken soup was a bit too tangy for me, but the chicken bits were tender. We enjoyed all three of the luncheon entrees: pad thai, pineapple fried rice, and the stir fried mixed vegetables in brown sauce. *** 3/2012 visit *** The Golden Bags $6.95 (ground chicken, onion and corn wrapped in a pastry bag) were not as good as other Yelpers made them sound. I didn't taste any corny sweetness, and it was quite meatball-like inside. It would have been better made with minced chicken (vs. ground) and with the distinctive flavors of each ingredient standing its own. The Thai Fried Rice Topped with Moo-Yang $13.95 was quite good, but be careful of the accompanying sauce as (unlike the rest of the sauces provided with the appetizers and the entrees) it includes chili pepper seeds a plenty! *** 3/2013 visit *** Thai Iced Tea $2.50 arrived in tall glasses this time, normally they are served in those cute canning jars with a handle. Along with favorites pad thai, moo yang, and crispy chicken, we tried a few new to us dishes - Kai-Yang $10.95 Thai style barbecue chicken and sticky rice, and Kai-Jeaw-Koong-Sub $10.95 Thai omelette with ground shrimp or ground pork. The omelette was a small portion for the price and rather simple a dish, tasty, but not amazingly tasty enough to justify the price. The chicken was literally a plate of chopped chicken pieces and a cute little basket of simple steamed sticky rice. A little too simple as well, but we had to admit that the chicken was moist and flavorful. *** another 3/2013 visit *** Not sure why an order of pad thai with crispy chicken is utterly covered with crispy chicken to the degree that you have trouble spotting the pasta underneath (see photos posted), but when we had them specially add crispy chicken to the Rad Nar today for a $3 surcharge that there was only perhaps one breaded chicken breast all sliced up scattered here and there. A bit disappointing. My DC found the Rad Nar $9.95 Broad rice noodle stir fried with tofu and Chinese broccoli to be rather bland, but liked the pad thai well enough.
(4)
Marsha W.

Man... I'm telling ya. Nothing smells or feels more like Thailand like this place. The place is hot, the decor is tacky, the food is fantastic. The only thing that may not be so accurate is the sub par wait service. Thailand is the HOME of genuine service. Any restaurant you go to you are waited on by multiple people. Who exactly DO YOU THANK or TIP!? Oh...that's right, its not customary or proper to tip more than what is equivalent to two dollars in any Thai restaurant NO MATTER how expensive your bill was. Now I know why the Europeans love Thailand =) Either way, Dok Bua will always continue to be great just like Brown Sugar on Comm Ave. You wonder why some Thai restaurants fail, and some excel like this one. Only a true Buddhist and Thai person knows. You can pretty much order anything off this menu and have it tastes like it was tossed on a wok on the streets of Bangkok, WHY CANT THEY DO DESSERTS TOO =( I can recommend a few dishes, but if you are a Thai food fan, I say...order your favorite dish, and watch the Thailand spring out from that. Enough said, just order anything and everything. You can't go wrong. Also worth mentioning, this place is MENU overload. This means, anything and everything you miss or love that you tasted if you happen to have gone to Thailand, most likely they have it. They didn't have those sour sausage filled with rice things though...hmmmm. Esan Sausage I think its called. I remember eating those outside my uncle's bookstore in Bangkok...memories! They have Sai Kok though which is another version minus the rice, but the taste can be a bit daunting for you American eaters, so skip it if you don't know what it is, most likely its a taste you'll have to try a few times to appreciate. Eat it with sticky rice!!! Another secret yummy that some may not know is the Curry Puffs on the apps menu. It's a classic and its the Thai version of what the Indian's call Samosa. If you love those, try the puffs! Anyways, I just wanted to give props to one of the rare Thai Restaurants that can call themselves AUTHENTIC. Lucky you Brookline! It's also the only reason I would step foot in that town. Otherwise avoid it, people CANNOT drive in that town =D Says the Asian girl...!
(5)
Diego T.

Good basic Thai place. Though serving some Americanized dishes, it still servers hearty traditional food. The staff is friendly enough for a quick sit-and-eat. Worth a 3.5
(4)
Lani H.

If you're looking for authentic Thai food in Boston, then look no further than Dok Bua. I lived in Chiang Mai for a bit and fell in love with Thai cuisine, but had been leery to try Thai joints back in the U.S. because I assumed it would only lead to disappointment. I've been to Brown Sugar in Allston which is OK, but nothing I'd go back to. That being said, I'm so glad I entered Dok Bua on a whim today. So what makes this place so great? It's a lot of things. First is the ambiance. The restaurant decor, the super-friendly staff, and the amazing smell of food reminded me of being back in Thailand. Then of course would be the food itself. It was, in a word, spectacular. If you're looking for something different, then I highly recommend the larb gai (chicken minced meat salad with cilantro, lemon, and onion slices) and chu-chi pla (deep-fried bass in a sweet curry sauce). The larb was right on the dot with what I had back in Thailand. Great food, and great service. If you know any Thai then I encourage you to practice with the staff there. I'll be going back at least once a month, and it's probably the closest thing to Thai food anywhere in Boston.
(5)
Ron C.

THAI CHICKEN WINGS | MOOYANG | BEEF PAD SEE YEW | CRISPY CHICKEN !!! All the above can be mixed at your desire...Mooyang over anything is awesome!! Been coming here for yours and have never had a disappointing meal. The menu is vast and you can definitely experiment with something new each time. i'm not too much of a curry guy but the wife and friends love the curries here. It can get packed but they take reservations and are very accommodating. We've had parties of upwards of 20 in here and its worked out. Dear Dok Bua: Kob kun mak (Thank you) for introducing me to MOOYANG!!!!
(5)
Elizabeth T.

By far best Thai food in and around boston. Right on par with pad Thai from Chiang Mai Chaing Rai and Bangkok.
(5)
Snuffles B.

This is the perfect place for me: their menu for dummies has pictures of everything and all the dishes are numbered so I can avoid the embarrassment of butchering the names of the dishes. The restaurant is colorful and warm feeling, homey mixed with a Super 88 food court thing going on. We were seated quickly around 7, and thank God, b/c 5 mins later there was a line half a block out, but it moved quickly. The service was efficient and unobtrusive. We shared 3 dinner specials and ate: - Tom Yum Soup - Above average, on the sweeter side. - Dumplings and Egg rolls - Tasted good, but fried so of course they do. - Chicken Pad Thai - Lots of stuff, also on sweeter side, a much above average but not mind numbing version. - Beef Pad See Ew - Very good, not too greasy heavy. - Moo Yang - Tender, tasty, but very sweet. - Taro pudding - Bad, not heated so some was warm and some cold, not very taro flavored, tasted like a wet sponge. - Mango Sticky Rice - Average, but liked it b/c not insano sweet or heavy as it tends to be at other places. This place is very heavy handed with sugar, so be warmed if you don't like your food sweet - fortunately, I do! Overall not the best Thai in the world, but solid food and service that I would definitely go back to. How could they make it better? Plastic food - maybe one day.
(4)
Sara M.

After working a 12-hour day, I decided to take myself to dinner and stopped here to try the dinner special everyone raves about. For 10.95 you get two pork spring rolls, two dumplings, soup, and an entree with rice. I got the tofu with cashews in a brown sauce and it was pretty good. The dumplings were a little chewy, and I was not expecting the tofu to be fried, but it was delicious. The service is very good, and my water was refilled several times. The decor leaves something to be desired, part cafeteria - part I don't know what, but it feels almost like they quit halfway through in decorating. The only thing that I really didn't like was the soup, It didn't taste or smell quite right to me.
(3)
Laura A.

note the Tofu Gra-Prow with "house special tofu" is actually seitan. i was grossed out at first when it was delivered because i thought it was beef, and it's one of those dishes that is mostly protein with a scattering of veggies.. it was way, WAY too much seitan IMO. my favorite thing here is the eggplant and the basil fried rice with tofu. unfortunately just eggplant isn't really substantial for dinner and the fried rice doesn't quite give you enough for leftovers. i would recommend this place for dining in, not for delivery.
(3)
Dorothy K.

When you have a soy allergy, it isn't easy to find good Thai restaurants that won't kill you. So when I found out that Dok Bua uses corn and/or canola oil (instead of soybean oil and/or vegetable oil) in all of their cooking, I was thrilled! I've been going there for a few years now, and every time I go, the service is quick and the staff is friendly. I also never have a problem communicating my food allergy to them-- they're used to it. It's a great place for groups, but also good for casual dining for couples. Other things I really love about Dok Bua: BYOB! And they'll provide you with a bottle opener and some small glasses. You get a lot of food for a reasonable price. $8.50 for a huge heaping plate of shrimp Pad Thai, $15 for a WHOLE FISH in sweet and sour sauce with vegetables, or $11 for their dinner specials, which all include dumplings, egg rolls, soup, and a bowl of rice IN ADDITION to the enormous entree you just ordered. You get a lot of food, so go hungry. Fortune cookies. I know, there's not much special about fortune cookies, but THEIRS are awesome. Not in terms of taste, but in terms of fortunes. The last one I got said "A school is a building with four walls and the future inside." I mean, come on. Summary: good food, good service, they handle food allergies well, and it's a fun place to go.
(4)
Sarah F.

You have to like the campy Thai atmosphere and the BYOB policy, but every time we've come, we have been disappointed with the food. It might be because we have consistently fooled ourselves into ordering the same thing (I think the tamarind crispy duck) which is essentially just a big plate of fried duck, with a tiny bowl of fruit in the middle. Also the chicken curry was essentially a bowl of overdone meat - not too much in the vegetable territory. Other people seem to like this place - and the service is friendly and attentive. Maybe we are just ordering the wrong thing, but I think we will be back to Khao Sarn which is consistently excellent.
(2)
Alana F.

Let's cut to the chase: Dok Bua is the only BYOB place I've found in the greater Boston area. Maybe there are other gems hiding amid the...well, the normal restaurants that charge you for beer and wine and shit. But, all those other places of eating become swindlers, scammers, and (as Dickens would happily add, also chiselers and rogues--although, that's probs because he was paid by the page. Not sure why I'm still Rhapsodizing Adjective. Maybe Dok Bua will throw a free meal my way *hint, hint*). So, yea, here's how it goes: pit stop at Trader Joes (henceforth to be referred to as Cheap Wine Funland) and invite 3-5 Charles Shaws to dinner (one Chuck per person, duh), and then mosey on over to Dok Bua, only slightly less hungry than before because you just cannot resist the free sample (cookie butter? that's spreadable crack). Think it's a coincidence that Dok Bua staked its claim next to Cheap Wine Funland? Nope. They thought that shit through. Upon entering DB, my friends and I were immediately relegated to a (cozy!) corner (so when we become the most...excitable...people there, we don't upset the cute couple in the front who haven't caught on to the fact that each dish is meant to be enjoyed with 750 mL of grownup grape juice), where the waiter--without having to be asked--hands over an ice bucket, wine glasses, and a corkscrew. What gave us away? Oh, right, we're twentysomethings, sporting the sheen of anticipated drunkenness. But here's the kicker: when you're no longer anticipating that sheen, when, in fact, you've gotten that sheen ON and perhaps you don't really want to stand up to go to the bathroom *all the way in the back* because you're afraid you'll need solid things to stabilize you, the beautiful waiters and waitresses don't judge...well, at least not in a way that's obvious to me/my flushed and garrulous friends, and that's all that really matters. Now that I've said that, I can probably kiss my free meal byebye, but, really, I can eat a decent meal and get a decent amount tipsy for a whopping $12 (that's including the wine), and I'm fine by that. You may be reading this review, grumbling about the fact that I didn't write anything about the actual food. Here it goes: if you want great Thai food, go somewhere else. If you want good Thai food and to drink for cheap, Dok Bua is where it's at. I'm not gunna tell you what to order: look at the menu; there are legit pictures of EVERY SINGLE food item. Let your eyes guide you. I've not eaten anything I've disliked, and I've been here too many times to count...sorry, ma. At least your frugality has rubbed off?
(5)
Ambrose C.

Are you looking for a good and light Thai lunch in a spacious location within a nice and quiet community? If you said yes, this place has your answer. This place is at a great location in the nice and quiet community of Brookline and they offer these lunch specials that are approximately $10. They also have a pretty good selection of slightly bigger dishes if you want to eat some more food. The lunch specials consist of ordering one dish, and a couple of tiny side dishes for about $10. The first time I came here, I had the Pad Thai with two pieces of pork dumplings and two pieces of the Thai Fried Egg rolls. It was a tasty and simple dish from what I remember. The second time I came here, I was with some people that I know and we all ordered the lunch special. I had the Beef Pad-Si-Ew with Tom Yum Soup and two pieces of pork dumplings. The Tom Yum soup was pretty good, and had a great flavor. The Pad-Si-Ew was tasty and I really liked the crunchiness of the vegetables combined with the slight tenderness of the beef. Portions are not really big, so this is a good choice if you already had a really big breakfast, or if you are going to have a fairly large dinner later tonight. One lunch special from this place should be satisfactory to fill the stomach of a young man. I definitely think it is better to come here for dinner. The unfortunate part is that you may have to spend some more money but you will get some more food. I came here for dinner, and got the Moo Yang Fried rice, which is the really tender pork doused in a sauce. It comes with a fried egg and some sauce with a tiny bit of spice in it. The Moo Yang Fried Rice was excellent. I really liked the flavors of the two sauces, especially the sauce on the Moo Yang pork. Combined with the tenderness of the pork, the texture of the fried rice, and the liquid egg yolk, and it was a tasty dish. The dish is definitely expensive at almost $15, but it's definitely the tastiest dish I had at this place. One dish should be enough for a light meal for two people or enough to feed one really hungry man. This place is probably one of the biggest Thai restaurants in Brookline. It is very spacious when there's not many people. If you sit by the window and if the weather is nice, you could do some "people watching" with your buddy or companion. Service was really friendly. Overall, this is a pretty solid Thai restaurant at a great location and one of the most spacious Thai restaurants I have visited. I would definitely come back here for the Moo Yang Fried Rice if I have a lot of extra cash and possibly for the lunch specials if I am not too hungry. I don't think this is the best place to get Thai food, and I believe that there may be other places that make better Moo Yang, but I think this is a great choice and it will probably be my secondary choice to get Thai food in Brookline.
(4)
Hannu K.

Great and very tasty food at good price/value ratio. Their staff is also very nice and helpful. I love their pad thai!
(5)
Raymond P.

I love the fried rice with crispy chicken, vermicelli pas sew yu and the crispy duck curry are very good.
(5)
Jon S.

Probably the best thai I've had actually. The restaurant itself is a little tacky with its decorations and the staff can be a lil absent minded at times but the food is really wonderful especially for the price. The chicken curry dishes and the thai basil dishes are particularly good. I also should mention how useful the menu is - they have pictures of most of the items which really helped us pick our choices.
(5)
Adriana T.

Very inexpensive lunch $8.95 and you get to chose two sides with it. If you are around Brookline on Harvard Ave it's definitely worth a try. They have a few tables outside so if it's nice out you can do people watch while eating.
(4)
Sara C.

This has become my go to restaurant. My favorite entrÃ©e is the Thai fried rice. The flavor of everything at this restaurant are spot on. Try their chicken wings appetizer! Finally tried the Mango Sticky Rice - delicious.
(5)
Joe J.

Dok Bua, great thai food at a reasonable price. The combo meals are great, and the ingredients are really fresh. Would recommend trying it if you are a thai food fan. Had the drunken noodle meal and the dumplings were great, as well as the spring rolls. Try this place!
(4)
Michelle R.

if you are not using foodler to order thai from this place all the time, you need to get your life together. so good. and i love me a menu where the vegetarian things are marked so I don't have to guess (look, when I guess, I'm actually just rationalizing how it's not really eating animal stuff if I don't know for sure that it's animal stuff).
(4)
Alisa K.

Solid, cheap, fast Thai food made by super nice people who like pictures of food and love babies. In fact, you could actually be illiterate and still fully experience the menu and restaurant. They were incredibly friendly and accommodating: they actually voluntarily cleared off a shelf to make way for our friends' baby stroller. They were also very happy to make vegetarian-friendly substitutions to their dinner special. Speaking of which, the dinner special is a great deal - 10.99 for soup, a spring roll, a dumpling, and an entree. Note that the portion size of the actual entree is pretty small, but the accompanying appetizers, soup, and value fill you up. Food wise, the drunken noodles, soup, and spring rolls were a highlight. The penang curry was a lowlight. The ambiance is pretty casual - layout is more cafe (with waiter service) than restaurant. The food is more of a 3.5, but their friendly, fast service and love of pictures and babies bumped them up to 4 stars overall.
(4)
Evan R.

I should rightfully give this place a 4-star review.... but after two years of loyal patronage, I can safely say that Dok Bua is slowly sinking.... and it sucks! I was so happy to find a restaurant that delivers great Thai food. They were about 1-2 notches below Brown Sugar in my book. No, neither place is cheap, but I was willing to pay for Dok Bua to deliver on a Sunday afternoon when I was being lazy and wanted to splurge on a nice treat. My favorite dishes were the Pad Thai, Crispy Pork, Moo-Yang over fried rice, Gaprow, and many appetizers. But sadly, I noticed a sharp decline in early 2010. The delivery started getting slower and slower.... suddenly it took almost 90 minutes sometimes, and the food was not quite as hot as it used to be. The food was still good though. Then as months went on, my roommates and I had 2 consecutive bad orders. The Moo Yang become fatty, and sat on very greasy rice. The Pad Thai was bland. The Gaprow was still good.... but when then Moo Yang and Pad Thai account for $24 of our order, that is not good enough. We stuck with them and tried to tough it out, but they are simply not the same restaurant right now. The ingredients are still very good but they do not seem to give a crap right now, and that's just a damn shame. I've since moved away from Brookline, but I hope to visit Dok Bua again later this year and see that they've recovered from their lull.
(3)
Clare S.

Seems like there a lot of great veggie tarian items on this menu... but the ones I got were not worth half the price they charged. I got delivery of some shrimp spring rolls and a tofu, mushroom, scallion, and snow pea stir fry. Seriously bland, to the point that I had to add a good amount of my own house spices, etc to make it edible.
(1)
Cindy K.

Hands down the best casual Thai food in Boston! I've been a regular for a few years now and I think they are one of the most authentic Thai restaurants I've had. Now, I can finally say that with actual comparison since I just came back from a trip to Thailand. Although no where is as good as the food in Asia, Dok Bua really tries to stay authentic and I don't blame them that the food still lacks from the homeland since the same fresh ingredients just aren't available here. While I still dream of food in Thailand and get depressed that I can never really get the same amazing food here, this will still be the place I go to for my Thai food fix until the next time I visit (a girl can dream!...sigh) Service is fast and friendly. Dinner specials are the best - $11 gets you soup, spring rolls, pork dumpling and an entree. Hard to beat that! Also its extremely vegetarian-friendly!!
(5)
Jude P.

This is one of my favorite spots and personally I wouldn't take just anybody here if they didn't deserve to be there. When I first came to Dok Bua, I was just amazed by the fact that they had a picture for everything on the menu. Seriously the quality of the food is great, extremely tasteful, and definitely like the presentation. The wait staff are good as well and also always in a nice mood and willing to accomadote to any request. My usual dishes are the Oyster Sauce w/ rice & chicken, SN4-Vermecilli with steamed chicken, golden bags, and the Pineapple fried rice. Also the tropical smoothies are good to taste up. This place was my first real introduction to Thai food which made me go into a rampage on finding and eating at a number of Thai spots for the past few years. Go there, set your expectations low, and be bumrushed by the healthy results
(4)
Tiffany T.

Hands down some of the best Thai food I've ever had--and I've tried many, many places! This is my favorite place to get Thai. Get the: Pad Thai Baby Clam Fried Rice Red Curry with Crispy Duck Mango Curry Thai Ice Tea Staff is always friendly and nice. We will be back again and again...
(5)
NCNY N.

So gross, filthy. I once made the mistake if going to the bathroom which involved walking by their back "room". Gross rotting food to be prepped
(2)
Michele G.

I was so hungry and indecisive that I wanted two entrees, so I ordered 'em! Despite other patrons starting at the girl with two full-sized plates, I would say that the food is good but nothing amazing. However, I was happy to have an option that was affordable in Coolidge Corner for dinner at 9:30 at night.
(3)
Amie L.

A "Must-Try." This place is just packed with deliciousness. Love how the menu has a picture of each dish beside it.
(5)
Anna I.

Dok Bua (411 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 617-232-2955) is located on Harvard Street not far from Coolidge Corner and Harvard Avenue T stops started out as a market with one side with tables to eat delicious Thai food about 14 years ago. Since then, the market ended and the restaurant expanded. The kitschy dÃ©cor is a bit cluttered with many versions of miniature food displays creating a more colorful and casual informal feel. Dok Bua was voted by locals in 2011 to be the best Thai in Brookline and by Boston Magazine as the "Best of Boston in 2007" as well. Thai food lovers know that it is a cuisine that mixes and tries to harmonize with the distinct flavors of sweet, sour, bitter and salty which is not an easy feat. Plus, with all the wonderful influences it has from Chinese, Indian, Persian, Lao and Vietnamese cooking, it is no wonder it tastes delicious! Somehow, Dok Bua does a great job and continues to have a loyal following. The menu has many helpful photos and is chockfull of food choices (many that cannot be found on other menus). Their prices are reasonable and portions are generous which keep customers coming back for more. Currently, the restaurant provides limited delivery service for a $2 fee and $15 order minimum. Plus fans rate it to be vegetarian friendly and they use healthy canola and corn oils. During a recent trip, the reasonable $10.95 dinner special plate had 20 options to choose from along with a choice of Chicken, Pork Beef or Tofu or you could add $3 more for Shrimp, Squid, Fish or Duck. Every dinner special entrÃ©e plate is served with jasmine rice, Tom-yum soup (Thai hot and sour soup), egg roll and fried pork dumpling. I opted for #14 for the Moo-Yang (grilled pork). Also chosen was the N2 or Pad-Si-Ew (entrÃ©e) ($8.95) sautÃ©ed rice noodles with Chinese Broccoli. For refreshment, the Thai Iced Tea ($2.50) satisfied just balancing the right amount of sweetness and tea flavor without it being overpowered by the cream. Instead of Jasmine rice, brown rice was chosen and at no extra charge for the dinner special. The Moo Yang was superb. It was very flavorful with the sweetness and soy flavor. It was addictive and well complemented by the rice. The Tom Yum soup had a nice balance of the sweet and sour from the lemon grass (herb with subtle citrus flavor native to South East Asia and India), kaffir lime (a lime from South East Asia and India), galangal (from ginger family), fish sauce, lime juice and crushed chili peppers. The egg roll was fried but nothing spectacular simply filled with slivered vegetables and vermicelli. The fried pork dumplings were a somewhat better with a bit thicker wrapper but the dumpling went well with its dipping sauce. The heaping plate of Pad-Si-Ew (stir fried with soy sauce) came out with perfectly cooked. Slightly chewy fat, flat long noodles and dark soy sauce gave a simple yet satisfying soy flavor and fish sauce plus the not overcooked Chinese Broccoli still had a nice slight crunch. Being a vegetarian, my dining companion enjoyed the simple stir friend veggies, remarking it was a generous portion with very fresh vegetables. The service is attentive and friendly and all the servers make sure you are not ignored. If you want to check out a new Thai food option around the Brookline and Allston area, make sure to check out Dok Bua.
(4)
Camille R.

Had lunch the other day and the eggplant stirfry (vegan!) was cooked perfectly. I knocked it a little bit last time. And the sauce was magical.
(5)
Kelly O.

My apartment's default weekend delivery choice. I'm pretty frugal and usually bring lunch to work and then make myself dinner, allowing myself take-out or a meal out only about once a week. But with Dok Bua's dinner special, I don't have to feel guilty about spending the money, because for $10, I get enough food for 2, sometimes even 3 meals in a row (seriously). You get a choice of entree, 2 spring rolls, 2 pork gyoza, 1 carton jasmine rice, and 1 tom yum soup. I like the Pad Si-Ew entree, which is a bit different from other versions in that it only basically has noodles, chicken, and really fresh-tasting chinese brocolli (which before this dish, I never even liked). When my meal arrives, I'll eat both spring rolls,1 or both gyoza, and half my entree, and then I have the leftovers from that plus the whole soup and rice (which I like to combine together to make an entree in itself, a sort of rice stew). $5, or $3, per meal is just fine with me :) Aside from the crazy good deal, the food is pretty tasty itself, a bit MSG-d but hard to find Asian food that isn't. I'm not the biggest fan of their pad thai (I prefer Brown Sugar's version), but for value it really can't be beat...
(4)
paul h.

I love the little Thai decorations thats placed all around the restaurant. I thought I was in Thailand for a second and the staff are so friendly. If I didn't live too far away, I would go to this place every day for Thai food. I had the crispy dark meat chicken with sweet sauce egg rolls, fried dumpings, tom yum soup and rice. It was so delicious and filling! Make sure to bring quarters if your driving by car to this location. You would have to find parking and feed the meters. If your going by the T its the green line Alston stop and you would probably have to walk for 1/4 a mile towards staples and TJ Max to get there.
(5)
Robin Y.

Delicious food at knockout prices - a city can never have too many of those! I'd recommend getting a full dish that you like (Pad Ki Mao is so good) rather than the dinner special which has only a smaller dish and some spring rolls, soup, vegetables etc which aren't that special. Great for a very casual dinner and to try out some Thai dishes, or when you're feeling lazy to cook.
(4)
A C.

I just found out that they have on-line ordering for takeout and delivery, which is key! I've been frustrated with wrong orders -- "Tofu pad thai...TOFU...PAD THAI" and then get home to see I have chicken satay. Online is pretty easy and straightforward.
(4)
Eric W.

My favorite Thai place in the Boston area! Staff is super friendly and attentive. Try the dinner specials to let you try a little bit of everything at a pretty decent price. Lot's of good vegetarian options for me, especially tofu curry. Can't speak to the meat dishes myself, but all my meat-eating friends love it. My friends and I stop by the liquor store down the street and get some beer beforehand (BYOB!!). They could definitely spruce up the decor, it must have been converted from an old convenient store at some point, but honestly when the food's good enough I don't really care.
(5)
Sahil M.

Decent Thai food. Just what you'd expect. Fast and tasty, yet generic. The Thai iced coffee is really sweet. Recommend asking them to dilute it down a bit!
(3)
Bao Anh N.

This place is cheap, fast, and good! I really like that every item on the menu is accompanied by pictures, so you get a sense of what you are ordering. My boyfriend and I wondered into Dok Bua for an impromptu dinner. Overall, I really liked their food. The prices were very reasonable and the Thai Style stir fried noodles were very tasty (tastes like a cross between Pad Thai and General Tso's Chicken...if that makes any sense). Overall, the noodle dishes are great. However, there are a lot of fusion dishes on there that aren't spectacular. I wasn't thrilled with the Fresh Rolls...they are essentially lackluster spring rolls. Also, don't order the papaya salad...it is more or less a horrible goi salad with too much vinegar. I've also ordered the Pad Thai with crispy chicken...it doesn't taste all that authentic, but it was delicious. Overall, the rest of the food there is great! The bobo tea is also delish. I highly recommend the rice and noodle dishes! Great place, will continue to frequent this place!
(5)
Robo T.

I was bombarded with hype about Dok Bua from various people prior to trying it. I am happy to report that it lived up to the hype. The moo yang appetizer is awesome. It is tasty marinated bbq pork pieces served with a bomb-azz dipping sauce that's fish sauce based with a lot of hot pepper. Another thai place in cambridge has this same app, but the portion/price ratio is significantly better at Dok Bua. For my entree I had kra pow minced chicken on rice and it totally kicked my ass in a good way. Its eye-wateringly spicy but also delicious. The meat gyoza's were also delicious. Its basically YUM across the board. Location is an old market converted into a restaurant - the old freezer case doors are painted and decorated rather than having been ripped out. The setting has a louder cafeteria feel. The decor feels a little cheap but it doesn't try to be something its not. Its no frills and this is all good. Service is attentive and the people are very nice.
(4)
Dave G.

This is, by far, my favorite Thai place around and I come here way too often. There is no reason to write anything other than: Just go eat here. The menu is very well designed, the food is bright and exciting, very well priced, and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. The best part is: If you look in the kitchen you'll see a small army of little old Thai ladies. This makes me think it has to be like home cooking. While the combination plates are super, my favorite thing there is the Indonesian fried rice with crispy chicken. It makes me very happy to come here.
(5)
Niamh D.

This is one of my favorite go-to neighborhood restaurants. Service is friendly and unbelievably prompt! My boyfriend and I actually have a contest to see if we can finish a glass of water before one of the waitstaff comes to refill it. The dinner specials are a great deal at about $10 dollars for two apps, a bowl of soup, white rice, and an entree. I usually stick to my favorite, pad thai, but I have tried several other dishes and have yet to be disappointed. Another reason to love this place is that they allow you to bring bottles of wine from the outside to have with your meal. So... $10 bucks for a full meal and a bottle of Two Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's, and you have yourself a night out!
(5)
Kim K.

In need of bubble tea on a sunny 70 degree day in Coolidge Corner, my Yelp app led me here. This is a really cool walk in or sit down joint. Kind of a hole in the wall. I walked in and was greeted by a nice woman. Disoriented as to where I order bubble tea I just flat out asked if they had it and she said "Oh yes!" and pointed to their "slushies" menu. Ummm...ok! Well I ordered the green tea bubble tea. It's more a green tea latte actually. It's very milky/creamy but had amazing flavor. The green tea came through strong (in a good way) and the tapioca pearls were smooth and yummy. The tea was $4, a bit pricey in my opinion. But this was a rich and cool treat on a warm day so no complaints!
(3)
David C.

After my disappointing experience at Rod Dee, I was starting to think I'd never find a good Thai place in Boston, but fast forward a few days and I'm in love. Dok Bua is cheap, fast, and (most importantly) delicious. My mom and I went there the other night and got a couple of their $10.95 meal combos. For that price you get a generous platter complete with an entree (Pad-See-Ew for her, Tod-Kra-Tiem for me), soup, dumplings, spring rolls, and rice. My pork was a little tough, but it was drenched in a black pepper and garlic sauce that more than made up for it. Service is great, and although the interior is a little grubby, it's kind of charming. Beware the peppers they have on the tables though! I tried one of those tiny green ones and instantly regretted it. If you're a spice fan, however, I've found your heaven.
(4)
Alyssa W.

how have I not written a review for this place yet?? been going here for years and I went to school with the owners son. This is a family run business and recently, it has been getting noticed in all kinds of media, Best of Boston, youtube/bloggers and ME. haha My favorite things to get here? Indonesian Fried rice, I love the way the chicken is made, its like a tempura batter, but dark and it's just so freakin good. and you dont even have to ask them to add a fried egg on top! (unlike most other Thai restaurants) their lunch combos are great and reasonably priced. Lately I've been a little more adventurous and have been trying more of the authentic dishes. Unfortunately, I dont remember the names of the dishes, but they have all been great. There was a fried fish dish we had that was amazing. it was kind of like a sweet and sour sauce, but spicy and it wasnt too sweet or too sour, the fish was cooked to perfection as well, so moist but crispy on the outside. Now, i've never been to thailand, but i watch all those travel shows and when I walk into Dok Bua, I feel like I'm in Thailand, the decor is just as I see on tv. Some may not like it, but it's not over the top and you dont feel cluttered. it just feels like being in thailand.
(5)
Le N.

I used to go to dokbua alot - back when the food was better. Now the food is just okay. I only stop by when I'm in the area and even then, sometimes I prefer to take the extra mile to go to Rod Dee for cheaper prices. It's not a bad thai restaurant, but it's no longer great as well. But when I do come here, I order anything with crispy chicken - indonesian fried rice or pad thai (made spicy). The beef salad was also good during my last visit; be aware, it's very spicy - but I like spicy. =)
(3)
Mary L.

A hidden jewel! I had walked by this place for years and figured I should try it. I love spicy food and have tried many of the spicy/hot items on the menu. My faves: Tom-Yum-Koong Soup and any fried rice dish (especially Thai Basil Rice). Very reasonable prices and large portions. I always bring leftovers to work the next day and people ask me where my food came from :)
(5)
Carrie C.

Delicious, affordable go-to place for Thai food in Brookline. Great Thai fried rice and pad thai. I've never had a bad meal there and the staff couldn't be friendlier. The only odd quirk I've noticed is that the portion sizes for some items (esp. main dishes in lunch specials) tend to be significantly smaller if you eat-in rather than take out or get delivery. (So always takeaway!) This place continues to be one of my favorites in Boston for delicious, wallet-friendly meals!
(4)
M R.

tom yum soup, any of the dinner or lunch specials (great deal)--especially pad thai, mango smoothie/bubble tea...if i'm hungry and too lazy to cook or dine out, dok bua is at the top of my list of delivery restaurants. UPDATE: recently dok bua has been cutting their plating sizes in half, at least for deliveries. Usually you get 3 large spring rolls and a large tom yum soup with your dinner special, however now they are cutting the spring rolls in half so you only get 1 full spring roll, and sending about 1/3 of the soup that they used to. also, they are now beginning to charge an extra $2.00 if you want to have any kind of meat in most dishes. disappointing for me because this used to be one of my go-to spots for delivery.
(5)
Sun J.

I was working in Brookline today, and on the advice of my fellow yelpers, I gave Dok Bua Thai Kitchen a try. I had the lunch special: Pad Thai, with Tom Yom soup and thai fried egg rolls. Looooveeed the flavor of the soup. The service was friendly and the food came out really fast, which works out great on a lunch break. Overall, very solid.
(5)
Chris C.

This is it when it comes to authentic Thai food in Boston. I come in here with my friend from Thailand and they will cook us almost any traditional dish. Coming here reminds me of home :) FYI this place is BYOB! Weird hu? Can this place get any better?
(5)
Timmi C.

It makes me sad to post my 2 star review on Dok Bua, as I would have normally given them a 4 star review. The last time I ordered delivery from there, they delivered it too early (at 6:15 vs 6:45p, so I wasn't even home yet!), and when they should have delivered at 6:45pm, they did not come until almost 8p, and the food had been sitting out and was barely warm, as it had been sitting out for almost 2 hours. The driver tried to me that they had cooked me fresh food, and the food I was receiving was not the first order, or at least, he thought so. That was one big fat lie, because the food was cold, and half of the food was spilled out of the containers. Thanks dude. I will not order from here again after this experience. I'd rather order from Smile Thai or whatever it's called at Super 88.
(2)
Jenny N.

Still my favorite spot for Thai in Brookline. Portions have not downsized. My new favorite is the crispy chicken over vermicelli noodles and Chinese broccoli. Indonesian fried rice is also nom-worthy.
(5)
meghan t.

This is my very favorite Thai restaurant that I compare all others too! The only others that can even slightly compare are in L.A., which I think knows great Thai, so Boston is lucky to have it in my book. I stumbled upon this awesomely cute restaurant when another one across the street was too full, and was so blown away that I continued to bring all my friends and fam there for years to come. It's one of my top eating destinations when I come to Boston, and besides visiting friends, one of my only reasons to visit the city. Their lunch and dinner specials come on trays with soup, salad, egg rolls, rice, and a dish. So much food, and a good deal. You can substitute tofu for most meals and their Pad Kee Mow and Garlic Tofu are fantastic. Another big plus, which I think is still the case, you can bring your own bottle of alcohol to the table. On top of it, Dok Bua is run by really sweet people who make every visit comfortable, so they deserve their loyal following.
(5)
Shawn L.

I started out like most people with Dok Bua, in that I kept walking by it when I first moved to Boston back in 2005. I stuck my nose up in the air at the quirky dineresque appearance that one sees from the outside. But then I tried it one day... Back then the decor was much more quirky and playfull, with the pink and blue lamp with the lightswitchin the boys crotch, and it had all sorts of crazy fun stuff hanging from the ceiling....but all of this is nothing compared to the food. Dok Bua is hands down my favorite Thai place that I have gone to yet. I know this sounds absurd, but I eat a LOT of Thai food and I've gone to so many restaraunts it's not even funny. The food is fresh, spicy, packed with flavor and is very affordable. The waitstaff is always kind, smiley and appreciative for ones business. if you're looking for a delicious deal I suggest getting the lunch or dinner combo with the tom yumm soup, an appetizer, jasmin rice and your main dish. There is a lot of food and it's (I dont have the exact price) but definitely under 20 for the lunch and about the same for dinner. Dok BUa is a lil bit of a walk if you'recoming off the D line but it's worth it. Bring your friends and appetities and be prepared to eat some of the most amazing Thai food without all the white table cloths and pompusness that is prevelant with more expensive and LESS TASTY restaraunts in the Coolidge Corner area. I for one am happy to trade the costs of white table cloths and tea lights for amazing food and a fun place to eat.
(5)
Katherine J.

BYOW. Also, tried the massaman - it's pretty good!
(5)
James M.

I am a complete sucker for yellow curry and this place has the best one around in my opinion. Never been there for dine-in, just take away. They are always super nice when I come in and have condiments all piled up and they allow you to take what you want. I would have given 5 stars, but they make me buy a side of rice when I buy the curry which is ridiculous.
(4)
Christine K.

I love Thai food. Given that, this place is okay. It's not amazing or anything. But the lunch specials are decent. You get an entree, appetizer and soup sorta deal, which comes out to $9.60 with tax. I got the pad thai today was was decent, nothing special. The noodles always are cooked too much and have no shape and is a floppy mess. But it's a good greasy floppy mess. The tom yum soup was good, with mushrooms floating in it, covering the tender pieces of chicken. I got the pork dumplings, which I always get even though they aren't that great, just because I normally love dumplings. Must remember to get something else next time. The waitstaff is very friendly and service overall is friendly and prompt. It's a solid place, just nothing out of this world.
(3)
David T.

If it wasn't for all the Acuras and Saabs parked out front and the Jewish bookstore across the street one could easily forget he was in Brookline. Excellent Thai food + shabby decor + a horrendous amount of rain pounding down outside made me feel as if I was reliving the final day of my 2007 holiday to Bangkok. As this was my first time here I tried the pad thai. If a restaurant can't get this most basic of Thai street foods correct then it is not worth returning, IMO. Dok Bua nailed it with just the right amount of peanuts and perfectly cooked noodles that had a good bite to them. No mushy or glue-like noodles here. The tom yum soup was perfectly sour and they substituted chicken for the shrimp once I explained my crustacean allergy (truth is I just don't like them but it is easier, and more polite, to tell a restaurant you are allergic). Service was efficient and polite but it did lack the usual over-friendliness so often associated with the Thai population. However this is the US, not Thailand, and thus this is an unimportant factor. Also, prices were extremely reasonable with a good amount of food. It is easy to see why Dok Bua does such a brisk business. What they lack in decor, they make up for triple-fold in quality of food.
(4)
Matthew M.

Not terrible, not great. Got some thai curry here and the veggies looked / tasted like they were from frozen. The curry was not spicy / hot enough despite asking for very hot and spicy. Green papaya salad was a little better. The Chinese menu items are a little better than the thai in my opinion. Wish the thai food was better.
(3)
Lauren S.

The takeout I got from here was alright, but it cost me an arm and a leg. I was feeling under the weather so I ordered vegetable noodle soup and some thai fried rice. The veggie soup was bland and boring, even though I asked for it spicy. The rice was awesome and fragrant and amazingly good, but I'm a little disappointed that I paid 20 dollars for a meal for ONE person with minimal leftovers. Maybe I'll have an eat-in meal one day and see how that compares, but for now I'm going to try some other places.
(3)
Kerry M.

Best Thai in Brookline. Really cute decor.
(4)
Adam A.

When we first moved to Boston from CA, we were surprised at how little recognizable Asian cuisine (other than Chinese) there was around. Dok Bua was a charming little exception, with pleasingly spicy offerings, a familiarly kitsch atmosphere, and the cheap no-frills attitude that we missed from hole-in-the-wall places on the west coast. Sad to say, over the past few years we've been less and less excited about our experiences here, though. Things really seem to vary quite a bit from visit to visit, but I often end up feeling like the dish I got was lackluster, a standard combination of takeout veggies in a not very spicy or interesting sauce with some noodles or rice. For example, one used to be able to get a really fire-hot crunchy delicious papaya salad (Som Tum), but the last few times I've gotten it here, it's been disappointly bld. (Maybe I've just fallen in love with the version at Rod Dee near Coolidge, since they consistently bring the heat when you ask for it) The noodle soups are really quite dull and salty, with some bits of overcooked meat or seafood floating amidst a big bowl of otherwise not very exciting broth. And the pad thai has somehow become sweeter over time (?) Plus, the prices have (understandably) crept up, so dinner for two now usually ends up coming in more in the $30-$40 range. Our go-to dishes are pla duk pat pet (spicy catfish), som tam (papaya salad), and pad si ew. We do keep Dok Bua in the rotation, since it's a nicer place to eat in than Rod Dee, but at this point we mainly go for the variety and to get a bit of a walk in nice weather, rather than for any culinary superiority! Oh, a tip: they give 10% if you pay cash
(2)
Matthew P.

I went here with a few people the other day. I've been here once about a year ago and remember liking it. Lo and behold a coupon came around! I hadn't been for lunch before so I gave that a shot. They give you a good amount of dishes on their lunch menu and they let you get two apps on top of that. It comes out on a big tray. The entrÃ©e portion is a little bit smaller than the dinner menus (naturally) but the extra apps make up for that. I got the pineapple fried rice which was delicious. I can't remember what my friend got but it was this spicy pork dish. I would definitely go back to get that one! They were very friendly and were very good about filling up our waters which was very nice with our spicy food!
(4)
Jason G.

For the price, this place is great. The food is awesome and consistant. My wife and I have been going there for a couple years now and its definitely our "go to" Thai place. We tend to get delivery as the restaurant can get crazy busy and what I would perceive to be somewhat stressful. Overall, If you down for some good food and not looking for the fanciest of places, you would be missing out if you didn't try this place.
(4)
Patrick P.

Tried to go to Brown Sugar last Saturday but there was no parking. Started driving thru Brighton and again no parking. Drove down Harvard Ave and saw this little place called Dok Bua. Thought we'd give it a try and am I glad we did. The place was busy but we only waited about 5 minutes. The food was great, the service was wonderful. The menu was incredibly large and offered a lot. Really enjoyed the Pad Thai. I always judge a Thai restaurant by it's Pad Thai and this passed with flying colors. Wish they had beer, but did see people bringing their own wine. The Thai Iced tea was very good. My new favorite Thai restaurant!
(4)
Anita C.

Have been hearing rave reviews about this place and since I had a coupon I had to go here. When I went to the place Saturday night at 6 it was pretty packed, got one of the last remaining tables. Waiter handed us the menu, I was pretty impressed. Looking at the decor I would not expect such nice menus, there were very contemporary looking, 5 stars just for the menu. I also love that they have an image for everything on the menu. On to the food since I needed to spend $30 in order to use my coupon I got the cheapest appetizer, the cripsy thai egg rolls. I'm not usually a fan of egg rolls and this definitely did not help that, would not recommend unless you love egg rolls it was pretty bland but the sweet and sour sauce was pretty awesome. For entrees I got the Thai-Fried Rice Topped with Moo-Yang. Not the best choice in terms of fried rice. It was pretty bland but the Moo-Yang (marinated pork) was salvate in your mouth good. Would definitely get this again but with white rice and it costs $2 less than the fried rice. My mom got the Guay-Tiow-Moo Thai Noodle Soup (Pork noodle soup) and when I tried it, it was just melt in your mouth good. Though I would recommend getting the beef noodle soup since it comes with more meat. As for the service the food came pretty quick as others have mentioned, service is good but server did not happy when I presented her with my coupon. Then again I had 2 different servers. So I love this place so much that after going there for my first time on Saturday I ordered from them again on Monday, but this time for takeout since I had a coupon. Got the Chef`s Thai Style Stir-Fried Noodles which consisted of basil, baby corn, onion and chili paste topped off by crispy chicken. Let me tell you when I opened my box, I saw the motherload of chicken, it was almost completely covering the vermicelli noodles on the bottom. Came with a side of sweet and sour sauce which was great for dipping the chicken. The vermicelli itself was great, every bite tasted of something different, either sweet, sour, or spicy. I just wish there was more vermicelli since there was so much chicken to go around.
(4)
Claudia H.

I was a customer for a couple of years and overall, my experience went from okay to downright bad. Dok Bua is acceptable if you want to spend little money for a quick lunch in a setting that is very much like that of a not so modern cafeteria. Not acceptable if you want to meet with friends for a dinner experience. Here is why: As I mentioned already, the atmosphere of the place is that of an old cafeteria. Even after the 'upgrade' you are sitting elbow-to-elbow with the neighboring tables. Chairs, tables are on the well, cafeteria-side. Worst of all are glasses, apparently, the owners are too cheap for a minimal investment so you have to drink out of something that held pickles in a previous life. Flat ware is equally classy. The food is 'pre-made' and arrives in cafeteria-style trays. Pre-made as in readily available before orders and heated up, on the plus side you will not have to wait long. However, as a consequence, my spring rolls were totally dry and had the appearance of spring roll mummies. The taste was what I expect of food that went through multiple heating cycles. Sauces can be found on the shelves of Asian food markets, there is nothing added to make them any better and vegetables were mostly 'revived' from cans.
(2)
Wendy W.

Awesome place. Menu cannot be any easier because of the pictures galore. Prices are good and service is great. Food cannot be beat. Love the appetizer sampler.
(5)
I Y.

I had been to this restaurant for dinner a few times and had enjoyed the food each time. This was my first time for lunch though and my first Yelp review. We ordered the pad gai ga prow lunch special. I ordered mine with beef, thai salad, and steamed dumplings. My boyfriend ordered his with chicken, thai salad, and tom yum goong. We shared a green tea bubble tea drink. The drink came out quickly. It tasted ok, nothing special. Our entrees didn't take too long as well. Each entree was a good sized spread. My entree, however, came with chicken instead of the beef that I had specified. It didn't matter. I just waved it off and said it was cool. The thai salad was nothing special but the dumplings and tom yum goong were pretty good. The ga prow was only ok - we had better. We were served by a man and a woman. The guy was friendly and came to check on us from time to time. The woman wasn't as nice though. We presented our restaurant.com certificate to her when we were finished, and she gave an annoyed look. That just got us a little annoyed. Nothing really wowed us for lunch. Maybe we'll be back for dinner some time in the future (maybe in the far future).
(3)
Jen F.

I eat at Dok Bua fairly often, it's definitely my go-to Thai place. It's good. For the most part they're pretty solid in terms of quality. Their dinner special is a great deal, and comes with a super delicious Tom-Yum-Koong soup--a must try! Their menu is pretty large, and they have a great selection of cooked whole fish. The only issue is that they don't substitute ingredients. Instead, they take out the ingredient that you don't want and charge you extra for anything you want to add, which ultimately is a rip off. Some portions, especially dishes with shrimp, are a bit on the skimpy side. Other than that, Dok Bua is pretty solid. I recommend.
(4)
Wendy C.

Very good (but not great) Thai food, but dinner/lunch special are GREAT values. Was getting take-out for a large group, so did not order the lunch/dinner specials, but they are really a great deal. Also because we were eating dinner a few hours later, I only ordered things that would reheat (i.e. curries) and none of the noodles. I have been spoiled by NY, where there is truly fabulous Thai food and have not found any in Boston that rival them, but Dok Bua is very good by Boston standards and is reasonably priced, which earns it a star. The best of the curries was the Massaman which had a nice undertone of heat and peanutty flavor and the Keow-wan which is a green curry and was light and complemented the fish nicely. The yellow and red curries were enjoyable enough but tasted sort of similar and there was nothing that distinctive about them. The country style red (or jungle) curry is an acquired taste. Thanks to Yelp, I also ordered the Moo-yang pork which super-moist pork covered in barbecue-garlic-Thai spice deliciousness. The staff are very friendly.
(4)
Heidi X.

I've been here several times over the past 3 years and I love the place. It's casual and completely non-pretentious. It's just a place for good thai food, that's it. Most recently I had the lunch set with grilled marinated pork and rice, and my husband had the pineapple rice. Both our meals were lip smackingly delicious, and I would order the same thing again in an instant. So what else makes this place great? The menu offers a terrific variety of dishes, there are lunch and dinner sets at incredible value, and the staff are all very service oriented and they try to be helpful even if some of them do not speak English as their native language. Less than a minute after we stepped in and were seated, we were given an baby high chair, iced water in a plastic cup, and an M&M plate with plastic utensils for my infant - and I didn't even ask! One little known fact that adds sparkle to this gem - Dok Bua doesn't serve alcohol but it does allow diners to bring in their own wine. Corkage is free. Yep... as far as I recalled from the last wine dinner I had there about a year ago. Things can be a little hectic around peak dining hours, so make this a stop for a late lunch or early dinner instead.
(5)
Ms. S.

I love Thai food, and the best Pad Thai (spicy, no bean sprouts, with duck) I've ever had has been from here. We love their pad se ew as well. Great place. Great staff. And you can eat outside-- a definite plus on beautiful summer days/nights!
(5)
Jenny U.

I was too lazy to walk to Kenmore for my usual thai place that doesn't deliver, so I ordered from Dok Bua on the recommendation of my roommate. Pad thai with crispy chicken- bland, chicken was heavy and not very crispy at all. Noodle soup (chicken)- roasted chicken thrown in bland broth that tasted like standard chicken stock with some cilantro and green onion. Lettuce wraps- these were good! they delivered me half a head of lettuce, a nice sized cup of filling, and crispy noodles. Overall, fine for when I don't want to take a 50 minute round trip walk for deliciousness. But I will say that I both of the standard entrees at the other restaurant better.
(3)
Amanda K.

i was tricked into coming to this restaurant cause i read some review [not on yelp- i should have known better!] that said this place was super duper cheap and had good authentic thai food and blah blah i was thinking. SWEET! i'm poor this is cheap [the review said dishes for $3] count me in i get there and it is not super duper cheap. in fact its the same price everywhere else i've had thai food [some items even more] the food was alright. i ordered rad na dinner combo which is a noodle and it came with rice.... i wasn't exactly sure what i was suppose to do with that since i ordered noddles so i just took it home. it also came with tom yum soup which was hot and yummy. i asked for some heat on my food too and it was almost non existent. i also asked for pepper 3 times before i actually got it. overall i wasn't impressed. there are other thai places i'd rather go to. this place is actually somewhat expensive despite what the claims were. the service wasn't all that great either. they do give you a discount if you pay with cash which is nice. they're open relatively late but start cleaning up about an hour before they close. makes the customer feel uneasy like we are inconveniencing them!
(2)
Alexis B.

Great thai food!!! My mom and I went Saturday night for dinner around 7:30. Place was packed but we were seated right away. We ordered the appetizer sampler platter for only $10.95!!! We also got the Dok Bua noodle, and the duck curry over rice. Only con of the whole evening was everything came at once. So our little table was full of food! The appetizer sampler thing was good. It came with 2 chicken wings (YUM), 2 spring rolls (really good), 2 chicken satay (soo good!), 2 crab rangoons (eh), 2 golden bags (super yummy), and 2 curry chicken puffs (eh I didn't like a little too sweet). But it was a mountain of food. Than our other dishes. The duck was great. Super spicy which I liked. It was too spicy for my mom so if you are sensitive ask about spicy levels. The noodles were sooo good. We finished the plate. It was literally emptyyyy! And the best part if you pay in cash 10% off your bill!! So for all this food my mom and paid 40 bucks! AMAZING! Can't wait to go back. Also parking is pretty easy since it's further down on Harvard.
(5)
Priya D.

Totally love this neighborhood joint. Food is always consistently good in quality, reasonable in price, service is always good and attentive and I always have a good experience. I wish they had a dish similar to the Jade Noodle at Pepper Sky or Brown Sugar but that's really just me! I'd really recommend this place for a quick, easy, inexpensive and delicious dinner. Also, they are BYOB!!
(4)
Nate C.

I have been a fan of Dok Bua since 2001, and will actually make special trips here from the North Shore (even when I have a great Thai place within walking distance) They are super consistent and always nice. They get zero points for atmosphere, but they really don't need it, I judge every other Thai restaurant on Dok Bua. This is not a hole in the wall type place, there is a ton of room, but it is more cafeteria-like. I should say that my first ever Thai food came from Dok Bua while working at a nearby real estate office....is your first love your forever love? Hell no! This place is GOOD!
(5)
Hannah F.

Yum yum yum. I finally gave in to a two-day curry craving and went with a few people to stuff my face. We ordered a bunch of dishes and I unfortunately only remember two of them. I ordered the pineapple curry with tofu and my boyfriend ordered the crispy chicken dinner special. Super yummy. The curry was perfectly spicy and everything was delicious. Boyfriend's crispy chicken actually almost stole the night. There was a sauce that went with it that was absolutely mind blowing. No idea what it was, but I want more. I also ordered green tea boba, which was surprisingly good, and satisfied yet another longstanding craving of mine. Service was good. Very fast and polite. They don't, however, offer alcohol FYI. Not sure if it's BYOB or just no alcohol period, though. Maybe I didn't read Yelp carefully enough before going. It was reasonably priced, particularly with the dinner specials. All in all, everyone left full and very happy. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Jamie G.

This place reminds me of Thailand. Like, the actual country, not just an Americanized shiny version thereof. Delicious food, attentive waitstaff, great prices. Highly, highly recommend.
(5)
Matthew W.

Went here with the GF a few weeks ago for lunch on a whim. We're both big fans of Brown Sugar near Packard's Corner. Dok Bua didn't exactly unseat Brown Sugar for the title of "My Favorite Thai Restaurant" (a prestigious award, I know)... it was a good meal, but it could have been so much better. We both ordered lunch specials -- GF got the Pad Thai with shrimp and I went for the Moo-Yang (grilled marinated pork) to get my meat fix. The lunch specials come with 2 side orders each. GF chose Tom-Kha-Gai (coconut soup with chicken) and steamed pork dumplings, while I opted for the dumplings and spring rolls. GF wasn't expecting the Tom-Kha-Gai to be so heavy on the lemongrass and lime, and the result proved to be a little off-putting. I'm not a great source for a second opinion for that because I'm not big on coconut. The rest of the sides were fine, albeit nothing groundbreaking. I like meat. A lot. To that end, the Moo-Yang was ideal -- pork, pork, and more pork, marinated in a slightly sweet and noticeably sticky mixture. I gobbled it down as if someone had told me the server was ready to come back and take my entree away at any moment. GF liked the Pad Thai, but noted that it was a bit too sweet for her taste and didn't come with lime on the side. Maybe she should have put some of her soup on it... GF also had a Thai Iced Tea and enjoyed it. Thai Iced Tea is kind of hard to screw up, so I'm not sure how much credit to give for this, but it was good, so good job Dok Bua! You get 10 percent off if you pay cash. Of course I only had my debit card on me, so no help there. Not exactly relevant, but my fortune cookie only had half a fortune -- the bottom half of the paper was missing, which provides the theme for our Dok Bua experience. Overall, Dok Bua got all the basic stuff right, and I can't say I wasn't satisfied by the time I left, but that's only half the battle. The additional details that take a solid meal and turn it into an outstanding one weren't there. That's not a complaint or an indictment of Dok Bua -- it's acknowledging that adjusting some of the details would have led to an exemplary lunch instead of something that felt incomplete.
(3)
Maureen K.

I was quite disappointed at my meal. We only ordered chicken pad thai but it was completely tasteless and bland. I don't know if it was just a busy Saturday, or the fact we ordered take-out, but I couldn't even finish it.
(2)
VKR N.

Some of the worst Thai food I have ever had, designed solely for the tastebuds of white Americans who can't handle the intense flavors of truly good Thai. The spicy beef noodle soup was super bland, with only the barest hint of flavor -- just this side of dishwater. The fried dumplings were thick, gooey, and smelled of old cooking oil -- and the finger egg rolls were similar. The soy-based dipping sauce for the egg rolls tasted like something out of an old chemical storeroom. And the other dishes -- the steamed cod, the stir-fried beef -- all had the same goopy brown sauce that's slightly sweet, slightly salty, and completely undistinguished. Everything -- from the menus to the selection and the presentation -- was geared towards the non-Asian public. True enough, we were the only Asians there, and besides the waitstaff, there were no Thai folks. If the regulars who show up -- and there were quite a few, eager to nab Dok Bua's $10.95 dinner special from 4 - 7 pm nightly -- are happy, then who am I to kvetch? But I'll be hanged if I ever show up again. The only reason I even packed my leftovers to take home was because I hate waste. I don't think I'll be able to choke them down tomorrow.
(1)
Lydia H.

I've eaten here twice for lunch with friends, but I just haven't been that impressed. The food is just so-so. The place is a bit divey, and it's got character. It's certainly affordable and in a great location just outside the center of Coolidge Corner... but I can't get over the mediocre food. The Dokbua Salad is just plain steamed vegetables with some grilled chicken... it comes with peanut sauce, but I would expect some seasoning on the food as well. Without dressing, it was like eating microwaved steamed veggies plain from the bag. The Som-Tum Salad had a strange odor to it, and I truly could not identify the papayas as such. The vinaigrette dressing was just off. I ate a few bites and left the rest, and this is probably the first time I have ever done that with a salad. My boyfriend had a spicy pork dish, and I made the mistake of trying a bite. It was beyond spicy. He could handle it, but I practically had a panic attack, and I'm no stranger to spicy foods. The spice really crept up after a minute or two, and it was all over my lips, which burned for a long while. So... eat cautiously! Another time, my friend ordered the Pad Thai, which she said was good, and I ordered one of the chicken-and-rice lunch specials. It was fine, but I would have preferred many more veggies.
(2)
Staci C.

Went here based on Yelp reviews. I was disappointed... mucho. When I dine out, 95% of the time it's Thai food. I cook Thai food at home and have Thai friends that I cook with. So this review is based on my previous Thai food experiences. Basically, this food is GREASY. I never knew Thai food could be so oily. When I saw the bottom of my plate and the pool of grease and oil my Pad-Kee-Mow was sitting in, I was disgusted. Also, the veggies they used were either from a can or frozen. Nothing fresh about the food here. I ate there last night and my tummy still hurts today. Next time, I'll go to S&I where I know I can get authentic Thai. I'm not sure who called this authentic Thai... but that is far from the truth. Other than the small snacks sold by the register, there is nothing authentic about Dok Bua Thai Kitchen.
(2)
Juliana N.

I've been coming here regularly since a friend introduced me sometime in college =). The service here is great and the food is served quickly! I love their lunch/dinner specials. Soup. 2 small sides (usually dumplings and eggrolls) and a entree choice. Fried rice/ Pad Thai/ Pad See You... etc =) yumm. And dinner special is only $10. **10% OFF YOUR FINAL BILL IF YOU PAY CASH =)
(4)
E. G.

I love thai food, therefore, I am very critical of Thai food, cause I have consumed half of the worlds thai food... I feel like I need to say thai food one more time: thai food. food wise, this place is around one star, the extra was given for the BYOB policy. There is a Trader Joes really close, so you can stop by, pick up a bottle of two buck chuck, and head on over. It's a very economically friendly approach to a saturday night when you want to drink outside of "an apartment" but not break the bank.
(2)
Meghan M.

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Dok Bua!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What has happened to you????????? I was actually embarassed bringing someone here the other night after raving about the great food, service and prices. It was nothing like what I spoke of. I was excited to show and out-of-towner that we have great Thai food up in Boston. That didn't happen. The soup we started out with was great. And that's where "great" ended. I actually refrained from ordering a curry dish because it was $18...Are you kidding me?? It was no more than $10-12 last time I was here for a seafood with any type of curry. Our appetizer came out super hot (shrimp rolls) and within 30 seconds, no joke, our dinner was served. Last time I checked, appetizers should come out before the meal, you should have time to eat them, then they should serve you the next course. Well, they must have cooked my dinner before the appetizer because it my food was COLD. Not cool but cold. I have a personal rule about never sending back food so I ate it as is. I had ordered the daily special of shrimp sauteed with chilli and basil but it was mostly lemongrass and the sauce was just too syrup-y and sweet tasting (and not spicy as requested). My dining partner ordered duck in a tamarind sauce which was pretty tasty and came out hot. I'm also disappointed that they started sweetening their iced green tea. Anyway, after all this, the bill comes and for one soup, one appetizer and two of the cheaper meals on the menu was over $50!! If I had come here a year or so ago, I could've fed 6 people for that price. I was so, so sad walking out of here. I don't know what happened at this place but it really bummed me out to see these guys go down the tubes.
(2)
Grumpy P.

Try the Pad-Bai-Ga-Pow. Good service. The menu has a good selection across the board. Best Thai food I've had in the Boston area.
(4)
Michele C.

The best authentic Thai food I've found in this area. Fish cakes and garlic tofu are delicious.
(5)
Mary B.

Dok Bua unites people. Like me (Thai food luver) & my boy (Thai food tolerator.) For some reason though he loves Dok Bua and will agree with my sheepish suggestion to dine there. No dim lights or jazz music here. It feels like I actually kind of in a real Thai kitchen so kudos to truth in advertising. The service is speedy and the food arrives with a quickness. I haven't been too adventurous with the menu and usually stick with my standard tom yum koong and veggie pad thai. Classic. My only qualm with this place is that you feel like you're a bit too united with the people sitting around you which can lead to involuntary awkward eavesdropping and sore toes from Brookline strollers. Worth it.
(4)
Doug P.

Dok Bua is my favortie Thai place in Boston. It is good food, reasonable portions, and reasonable prices. Years ago it used to be a half market and half restaurant (You'll notice they left all the refrigerators and covered their glass will wall paper). It's so relaxed and cozy, the staff is very friendly, and the food is so consistently good it's hard to image someone not enjoying it.
(5)
Josie L.

I went with family and friend for an early dinner. The restaurant is very laid-back. We ordered: *Golden Triangle - Not bad, well seasoned. *Fresh Roll (Soft vegetable spring roll) - It was decent. *Keow-Wan Curry (basically it's a Green Curry) - I had better. The sauce was VERY watery. It would have been nice if they named the curry "Green Curry" since I was trying to figure out what kind of curry it is when reading the menu. I'm used to Red, Yellow, and Green as the name of the dishes. *Pineapple Fried Rice - Pretty good. One person was happy with the dish while others thought it was OK. *Dok-Bua Noodle - One person loves it, others found it OK. Overall, it's a decent place. No one really talked about the restaurant after dinner. Next time, I would love to try one of their deep fried fish dishes.
(3)
Amy I.

Their dinner specials are a great deal for $10. You can easily get two meals out of them between your entree, the spring rolls, the dumplings, and the soup. I got the pad thai and it was good, not wet and mushy like it is at some Thai places. Their crispy duck is also very good, not too greasy, as well as the basil fried rice. They serve your food fast. By fast, I mean that if you go to the bathroom right after you order, your food will be there when you get back. That's actually what happened. Amazing. Their decor is very...orange. But it doesn't matter since the food makes up for it. Plus there is a little area in the front where they sell asian groceries, like cookies and snacks. I always think that's funny at asian restaurants. I would rank it as one of the best Thai places in the area.
(4)
Dalina C.

I brought my family here for dinner last Sunday night. We're Thai (my parents grew up in Thailand) so we have decently high standards for the food. I had only gotten take-out in the past, so was looking forward to giving other menu items a try. We ordered a decent amount of dishes - 2 appetizers and about 6 entrees (we're not shy about eating). Everything we had was delicious, and as close to authentic Thai food that I've found in the area. I was surprised to see that even the desserts were true to Thailand, although I wonder how popular they are in Brookline! The atmosphere is perfectly casual, which is just the way I like it. It's the type of place where you could go in a sweatshirt and jeans and would feel just as comfortable as if you were wearing heels and a skirt. The waiter was nice, and the food came out quickly. The only less than great thing about the meal was the bubble tea was a little more liquid-y than I expected it to be - next time I am going to go with a straight Thai iced coffee. Definitely a minor detail though. Other than that, it was a great dinner!
(5)
Raz T.

After a weekend whirlwind, we were feeling incredibly lazy and splurged - taxi home from logan, and ordering in. The Pad Thai and Pad Kee Mow were bland and greasy - completely lacking in spice or any kind of a punch. The former tasted like cardboard, and the latter, like a greasy napkin. The Thai iced tea was much more like liquid ice cream than "tea" - teeth-rottingly sweet, and very, very thick and creamy. After picking at our food for about 5 minutes, we tossed it all out and opted for peanut butter sandwiches instead. What a waste.
(2)
Ian V.

i'm not going to start this review with one of those: "i've been to thailand, and i know thai food!" nor anything like that. with that being said, i am currently eating my food from this place, and while i enjoyed my tom kha gai soup, i do not like my massaman curry at all. the curry here is...not curry. it's soup! tastes exactly the same just with more salt. like, i just finished my soup and onto the curry. it tastes the same because it's exactly the same base. ok, i know tons of thai foods have the same base, but really? this is not curry. in my experiences with all kinds of curry (japanese, indian, thai and others), it is typically not soup. well, that's what this place is--soup. curry soup. or soup curry. you choose. lame. you know what's also lame? 2 bucks for a small thing of rice! puhlease! if you're gonna water down my curry, don't skimp out on the rice. sad. now, the food and all was fine, but i will not ever eat here again nor can i honestly recommend it to anyone.
(3)
Brian B.

I Miss You Dok Bua! So I used to live right around the corner from Dok Bua. Every now and again I would stop in for one of the dinner specials. It could not be beat! For a modest price you got soup, a choice of 2 apps, and your entree served up on a compartmentalized platter. The mango smoothy is also very refreshing. The food is good, the ambiance is nice, and the decor is eclectic. I still stop in once in a while when I'm in the area.
(4)
Kari C.

I've been to Dok Bua on multiple occasions and haven't been disappointed yet. The atmosphere is really cool, with little knick knacks all around (ie mushroom looking things which hold tooth picks scattered about). Their dinner platters are a great deal and quite good. A soup, eggrolls etc with your main meal is enough to win me over. To sum it up: Good food, good service, quirky atmosphere and great deals.
(5)
Elise D.

I ate here for the first time today and I was extremely pleased with the casual environment, quick and friendly service, fair price, and, most importantly, the delicious food! I was there during the lunch special (which runs 'til 4) and got more food than I expected for $8.95! It comes with an entree, rice, and two sides. The menu features appetizing pictures of all of the entree options. I got my food in record time and had pleasant interactions with the staff all throughout my meal. I highly recommend Dok Bua to anyone looking for delicious inexpensive Thai food at a place that makes you feel comfortable and welcome!
(5)
Cecilia L.

I once lived near Brookline, back before I knew about Yelp, when my culinary path was dark, grim and ignorant. After I had moved away, I read the awesome reviews for Dok Bua and realized with chagrin that I had passed by many times but due to its dingy appearance had continued eating at Brown Sugar. My officemate confirmed this was a grave error. "If there's better Thai food," he said of Dok Bua, "you just let me know." Last night, my boyfriend and I made the long pilgrimage to Dok Bua. It was crowded and chaotic. They offer a selection of dinner specials with entree, rice, tom yum soup, spring rolls and pork dumplings for $10.50, served bento box style. At the same price as entrees off the regular menu, this is a great deal if you crave variety. But the entrees in the dinner special are smaller than entrees off menu, so if you are a pad thai whore and just want to chow noodles the entire time, dinner special may not be for you. We got a red chicken curry dinner special, beef basil fried rice dinner special, and an entree of chicken pad kee mao. I know, oink oink. Dok Bua isn't convenient for us to visit often, so we wanted to try as much as possible. The curry was just okay, not extraordinary. The basil fried rice was good but didn't compare to the heavenly rice at Pepper Sky's. The spring rolls and dumplings were tasty. But the standouts were the tom yum soup, so zesty and sour with lime, and the pad kee mao, among the best versions I've tasted. So I don't know if I can give the same endorsement as my officemate, but we really enjoyed our meal at Dok Bua. The dinner specials gave us so many different things to eat!
(4)
Vanessa C.

my only regret is waiting so long before finally trying Dok Bua. I knew it had to be good when yi-hwa said it was one of her favorites. finally checked it out in a large group after the clothing swap. the inside of this place is just the cutest - so cute that even if I didnt love the food I would probably come back just b/c its so comfortable! but the food was great. they have a great dinner combination special and the food is not greasy. also they have a full picture catalog of everything on the menu! brilliant. only 4 stars for now b/c I need to sample the menu a bit more to earn that 5th. all the spicy sauces on the table are definitely much appreciated and when you ask them to make something spicy, they really do! great little place!
(4)
Amanda L.

I knew we were in good hands when I saw the Yelp plaque with 4.5 stars on it. The place is kind of a glorified cafeteria, complete with miniature everything. They get +1000000 points for having pictures for EVERY.SINGLE.DISH. I like pictures, especially when I am not sure of what the dish entails, so having a picture of what it looks like it a definite plus. For my meal I got the Thai Style Stir Fried noodles with Crispy Chicken. The chicken was very crispy, but I didn't feel like I was going to have a heart attack either, so that's a plus. The noodles were delicious and I slathered it in as much hot sauce as I could and it still managed to keep the taste. I was also incredibly full afterwards, so yay for happy belly. My Thai Iced Tea was one of the best I've had, and they served it in a cool mug. Desserts looked good, but my pants were starting to cave in on themselves, so I decided it wasn't a good idea. Prices are definitely worth it for the quality of food you are getting. I didn't feel like my meal was overly greasy, so I didn't feel too bad eating the left over cookies I had when I got home. :D
(4)
Barrett F.

I've been to Dok Bua a few times, and to Thai and Asian restaurants all over the place (Boston, Chicago, Portland, New York, Philly....) and this may be one of my favorites. The food is excellent, though the Red Curry Duck has become a personal favorite, each time I've been the groups have tried different things and all of it has been good at minimum. To be fair some of the noodle dishes I thought left a little to be desired (they can be a bit bland) the curries and more interesting dishes have all been exceptional. Also, the menu's are a huge help, they have pictures of most all of the items, so especially if you want to be adventurous that can be a plus (the staff are great at helping too, I was steered to the red curry duck once, and I may never turn away). As for the restaurant itself. I wouldn't take a first date here, but if you've been seeing the girl for a few dates and you want to take her out to great food in a slightly more "eclectic" environment this might just be the spot. It can get a bit crowded during the evening rush, but about 8-8:30 it seems to slow down. In short: The aesthetic isn't that great, but the food is--and it more than makes up for the previous.
(4)
v y.

This has to be the best Thai place in Boston. I love their papaya salad as it is spicy and flavorful. The dinner combos are always a great deal. You get a Tom Yum soup which is decent and two spring rolls and two dumplings which are both delicious. The best thing to get is either their Drunken Noodles or Pad Thai which are just out of this world good. The noodles are tender, the veggies and meat are done well and the sauces are to die for. I'd also add that their Indonesian friends rice is really good. Even my father, who is extremely picky about Thai food admitted he quite enjoyed this restaurant. Oh yes, and if you want to taste what a real Thai Iced Tea tastes like, order it here. The strong tea flavor is amazing. I go here every chance I get. It's delicious.
(5)
Kreshnik Z.

My girlfriend and I are new to the Coolidge Corner and I must admit that Dok Bua (DB) has made the transition to the new neighborhood much easier and sweeter. Whether it is delivery or sitting in, D.B. is off the hook. The food is yummy and if you like to drink wine with your Thai like I do, well you are in luck my friends, because you can bring your own. That's right, D.B. is a BYOB kind of a place, so you can stop by at Trader Joe's on your way and pick up a bottle of Riesling for $5 or $6 bucks and enjoy the deliciousness. If you are relatively new to Thai food, no worries. They have an awesome picture menu that is more or less an accurate representation of what your dish will look like.
(4)
Laura G.

Amazing food, fast service, I dream about this place!!! Can't say more than that!
(5)
Matthew A.

A BIG Thanks to Yelper Rinn S. for finding and alerting me of this wonderful Thai restaurant. We went in on a Thursday early evening and started with a rich chicken noodle soup. We then order pad Thai, papaya salad and crab rangoons. We could not finish everything there was huge portions. We had tea and lovely Brookline Tap, and saved our liver for later. BYO bottle of vino or beer, if you will. I happily added this place to my entire list of BYOB restaurants in New England.
(5)
Tim S.

I love Thai food. This is a good restaurant, not great, but certainly affordable for its location and worth a visit. I went to Dok Bua with a friend for lunch. The lunch plates are both affordable (~$9) and tasty. They come with 2 "sides" where you can choose from soups, salad, dumplings, etc. I went with a simple chicken red curry, chicken coconut curry soup, and steamed dumplings. It was good, but I give the store a 4 star rating on the price to quality ratio. The one downside was that they brought all of the food out at once on a nicely divided plate, but I would have liked to enjoy my starters first, then eat the curry. Service was great, friendly and they kept my water glass filled :-) Oh and you can get a 10% discount off your eat in bill if you pay cash.
(4)
Dennis L.

Well, I came here on separate occasions by invite by different Brookline natives, most recently about two weeks ago. The curries I've had here have been alright, trying beef and duck variations, most recently the duck. It does not seem like anything phenominal, but good for the price, simply well-prepared flavorful curries mixed with a decent helping of vegetables, the dinner specials including fried dumplings and an eggroll, though I did not really like the dumplings and eggroll too much. They seem to go down as 'food', filler like rice in addition to the curry. The duck itself was large boneless slices that seem to have their flavor drawn away by the curry. However, what I did enjoy: Their dessert. So simple, yet hard to find around here... They have mango with sticky rice. I didn't have it since going to the sprawls of Hui Lao Shans in Hong Kong, but the helpings here are large for the mango, a large mango's worth coupled with a heaping helping of sweet and sticky rice that are wonderful in tandem in taste and texture. The mango was firm and not slimy. Here, having dinner is just sustenance to me, but the simple dessert is an experience. Dishes to try: Mango with sticky rice
(3)
Ivan C.

Not much else I can say that hasn't already been said. The atmosphere isn't much but when you go to a place where everything is basically under $12, you should know what to expect. The food is also exceptional and very well portioned. I make it a point to try and have at least one meal from here/week.
(4)
H T.

My friend took me here while I stayed with her during my Thanksgiving Break. Since I go to a college that's basically out-in-the-middle-of-no-where Pennsylvania, I absolutely miss eating Thai food. Don't get me wrong, there's Thai food in PA, just not convienently close to me. We ordered their Pineapple Fried Rice and Pad Thai, both with shrimp. Their shrimp were deliciously big. It's definitely Thai-Thai food, if you know what I mean. I guess the resaurant used to be an old grocery store because against one of the walls there's a line of fridges. But they cover it up and it looks like part of the decor. I'd definitely eat here often if I lived or went to school in Boston.
(4)
Andra Z.

This is, hands down, the best thai food I've ever had. Apparently I don't really like too many kinds of thai food, but I do know that Dok Bua is really wonderful. Several times I've just gotten the wrong thing, but it has all been wonderful, quality food. Just not stuff that goes with my taste buds. The things I have gotten here that are amazing are: the pad thai, the thai iced tea, any of the curries. The lunch specials are a great bargain, the crab rangoons are totes nom. I love the decor of this place, especially all the tiny little plastic food around the register. Maybe this is admitting ridiculousness, but I love the fresh bean sprouts with their pad thai. I had no idea this was something that should happen with all pad thai until I came to Dok Bua. Really great place for a casual date, just bopping out to get some great take out or an evening where you just don't want to cook.
(4)
William W.

I always go in with the intention of trying something different on the menu...and yet every time the $10.95 Red Coconut Curry platter calls to me and I have to get it. It's a great deal. Tom-yum soup, two spring rolls, two pork dumplings, and hefty scoops of red curry and jasmine rice. Definitely remember to bring cash with you. While they take credit cards...they will take 10 percent off your order if you pay with cash!
(5)
Evan J.

My roommate and I know this place for its dinner special, which we simply call, "The Feast". For a little more than 10 dollars you get PLENTY of great, not too greasy Thai food. The employees are always very friendly, and I have never had to wait more than 5-7 minutes for my order to come out. This place is a sure bet if you want a quick, filling, and tasty dinner.
(4)
Melissa D.

Love love love LOVE this place. Super cheap, you get SO MUCH food (definitely do one the plates on the separate menu that gives you dumplings, spring rolls, soup, rice and whatever you order). Everything is delicious. Such a good deal.
(5)
Bobby B.

Ok guys, Anyone who rates this place below a 3 ought to go eat in McDonalds everyday and enjoy what they consider to be Good Food :P I've tried hundreds of Thai places between New York and Boston and this place still takes poll position. Never have I been to a Thai restaurant with such an extensive menu of authentic Thai dishes. The menu here is at least 4 times bigger than any other Thai menu I've seen. To truly enjoy this place it is best you go with a large group and share a variety of dishes. Otherwise it will take you months to try most the menu. My personal favorites are the deep fried soft shell crabs, Kuo Kai noodles and Duck Larb. Skip the appetizers. The treasure is after that. I must warn you though, most the treasures you find here won't be found in other Thai restaurants. It will make you a very spoiled Thai food foodie. You will not be disappointed, otherwise write to me and complain!
(5)
Lisa S.

This place is amazing - great food, relatively cheap and it's BYOB! I always order one of their dinner combos - you get soup, rice, an entree, 2 dumplings and 2 egg rolls. Usually I have enough to take home for lunch the next day, although there have definitely been occasions where I have been hungry and eat everything. The soup is good. It's better when you mix it with the rice. My favorite entree is the pad see ew. Tasty. I also like the pad thai. They do a good job here. For the BYOB, they'll supply you with a bottle opener and glasses. The glasses aren't classy (actually, they're just water glasses) but they work. Sometimes it's better to bring beer. Then you don't even need the glasses.
(5)
MaryTyler M.

So this one time after dinner at Dok Bua I had a ferocious gumball jones... but the machine was broken. I would eat only candy if I could also get supplementary vitamin and mineral injections on the side. At any rate, so strong was my desire that the hostess took notice. Without asking, she opened up the machine, grabbed a soup spoon, and fished out 2 green gumballs for me. TWO!! It restored two gumball sized lumps to my perforated faith in mankind. However... as a vegetarian, I find this a pretty bad place to eat. To be real -- why would you timidly fuss here over having the eggs and fish sauce left out of your crazy greasy entree (a request which has not always been honored, in my experience) when you could go right across the street to the all-vegetarian Bubble Tea Bistro where they have dozens more options and absolutely no threat of infiltration? It deserves noting, though, that all of my carnivorous friends would definitely give this place 5 stars.
(3)
Jay M.

Great lunch.....great service...walking from CC and other areas....
(3)
Kylie S.

I had a really good meal here. I wish I could remember what dish I had--it was a very tasty wide noodle dish with delicious spicy soup and perfect fried spring rolls all for under $9.00. It totally hit the spot and the service was quick and friendly. I am already looking forward to going back. ----I have been a few times now and each time I have been impressed by the friendly service, the pleasant atmosphere and decor and the food. I love the drinks too particularly the taro. I wish they had more veggie options, that is my only complaint.
(4)
C C.

My favorite Thai restaurant in the Boston area. Their food is very authentic. It's very comparable to the Thai food I've had while I was in Thailand. The service is always great and the food comes out quickly. I love their Tom yum soup. My favorite dish from here is the baby clam fried rice. It's a must try. I've been here countless times. Here are a few other dishes I would recommend: pad Thai, moo yang, lettuce wrap, yum nua salad, som tum salad, and the drunken noodle. Oh and I love their Thai iced tea. Great food for a great value.
(5)
Raj P.

Aptly named Dok Bua Thai Kitchen, this place lives up to its name. Sure the food is excellent, but it seriously resembles a dining hall kitchen. Trust me, I work in one. The atmosphere blows, except if you manage to get a cozy couples table by the window and resist a bathroom break. Everywhere else, stinks of dish washing soap and remnants of soggy thai food. If you can't hold it and decided to make a trip to the toilet, resist the urge to look too closely in dish washing antechamber that you must pass through to reach the restrooms. Otherwise all appetite will be lost. If you can get past all this, the food is pretty tasty. I wouldn't know about authenticity, but everything we ordered tasted excellent. For a group of three, we shared the Dok Bua noodle, tamarind duck, and pork appetizer which all came out to $40 with tip. Not cheap, but its fairly competitive considering that there are 300 Thai restaurants in the one mile vicinity. I also liked the addition of several sauces/chutneys sitting on the table if you were a little adventurous for some more spice. My only other dislike would have to be the waitstaff. They're attentive and all, making sure your glass is constantly brimming with water. But when they say they close at 10:30, they mean it. We weren't halfway done with our food and one of our several waiters placed the bill on the table and said with a wonderful smile "Please take your time and enjoy the food!" Unfortunately we failed to recognize the subtle meaning of the statement. He actually implied "We're about to close, gtfo so we can wash dishes." Like idiots, we resumed eating our food. In less than a minute, every guest in the establishment cleared out and the already bright lights, brightened up more. The waitstaff began to gather around like a pack of smiling vultures, frequently checking up on us to see if we were done and if our glass were full. Finally one impatient waitress comes up and said "We're about to close the register so if you could just...." We took the hint, paid as quickly as we could and inhaled the rest of our food. As we were promptly shuffled out we couldn't help but ask ourselves, "did that just really happen?" It's irritating that they chose to seat us when they knew we would only have a half hour to order, wait, and eat our food. I wouldn't have even minded being turned away. If I wanted a fast dining experience, I would've gone to Super 88 and saved on tip.
(3)
Melissa A.

Ruh-roh. The poor economy has hit home at Dok Bua! The price of the lunch special went up $1! Now it is $8.95. Not sure how I feel about this. What am I talking about? I know how I feel about this -- it sucks! I will probably not be getting it as often, as I don't want to spend almost $10 on my lunch. I just don't have that kind of money. Yeah, it's only a dollar, but everyone has their threshold. Don't get me wrong, the food is still delicious (just ate lunch there today) and service is still good, but it pisses me off when places hike their prices. I maybe could've dealt with it better if they went to a solid $8.50. Either way, you still get a lot more food when you get it as takeout. If I eat there I can usually finish it. I couldn't even dream about finishing the entire lunch special when I get it to go. Just a good tip for those of you who like their food! And I did try a new sauce today - it's some clear sauce with jalapenos in it -- it's SOOOO good. I use that and the red chili sauce on my food and it makes my mouth burn with delight.
(4)
Jeff G.

Excellent thai food for the neighborhood and price. This is a great place to go eat or grab take out. The service is great and the menu has plenty of options. I recommend this restaurant for any one in the neighborhood looking for thai.
(5)
Luke A.

This place is amazingngngngn its cheap, fast, cozy (somewhat, its a little over top with cheap decor) and GOOD. The food they have there is always tasty and delicious, satisfying and never breaks the piggy bank. The smoothies aren't so tasty though. . . and i don't like that they serve em in jam jars with handles. . . dont get the mango, it tastes funky. . . Crispy chicken pad thai is delicious, any noodle dish is good, the lunch specials aren't bad either. . .i usually get a fried rice dish. . .but right now i can't seem to remember any of the things (by name, but oh i can taste it. . .) The service isn't bad, any of the waitstaff will help you and take your order, so don't try to hunt down one specific one. . . Food comes out fast and hot, just the way I like it :D Go now. Its past coolidge corner. Harvard St.
(4)
Khemara K.

I lived down the street from Dok Bua for a year. Whenever i had friends and family visiting i would bring them here because it's the best place around for the price, service, and (most importantly) food. Asian food, in general, is pretty simple to order. Pick a sauce/curry and throw any meat in it with some vegetables and Dok Bua's menu does a great job of focusing on this. I normally order from their special menu which comes with a plethora of side items and a delicious tom yum soup. They also have very traditional thai dishes and desserts, which you rarely see in Boston. The reason why i'm not giving Dok Bua five stars is because going here so many times, their food is always the same. It's not a bad thing, but it's not a good thing either. I guess by coming here so many times, the food starts to become bland...
(4)
Caroline R.

My husband and I just got back from Thailand and we were craving really good Thai food. After doing some research on Yelp, we came across Dok Bua and their great lunch deal. It seemed to be a little too good to be true, but we decided to try it out anyways. The restaurant wasn't anything too exciting, but it was clean and that's what's really important. We both ordered their lunch deal (I got the Thai salad, spring rolls, and Penang curry (red curry with coconut). My husband had the Thai salad, Tom Ka and Pad Thai. Everything was delicious, the portions were a decent size, and it was the closest thing to food in Thailand. The peanut sauce was delicious (although I really didn't see it in Thailand). The spice was the right amount and we loved that they had the traditional Thai condiment tray. Although the price didn't compare to the $5 we would have spent in Thailand, we thought the deal was extremely reasonable (there is a dinner deal as well) and we are definitely looking forward to going back!
(5)
Anna P.

This was the first place my girlfriend and I went out to eat, and when she suggested Dok Bua, I did what any good first date would do: I smiled and said "oh, awesome!" But deep in my heart, I held on to a dark, dark secret. Now, after six months, I can finally come clean: I don't really like this place. I don't like the weird decor. I don't like that there's a strong smell of cleaning solvent when you walk in the door. I don't like that the fried rice, no matter how good it is in the first few bites, ends up being too greasy to finish. Lucky for me, my date was not weird or smelly, and we're happy as can be going elsewhere for our Thai food.
(2)
Kat T.

The best Thai restaurant in Boston. I think every single person I've taken to this place has loved it. It's a hole-in-a-wall type but the food is ah-may-zing! I love their lunch/dinner sets but most of all, I love their picture menus!
(5)
David P.

Poor quality of food on my last visit. very bland pad thai. seafood noodle soup was way under seasoned and had ramen noodles! WTF?! only thing decent was one of their seasoned pork appetizers.
(1)
Nicky N.

As far as Thai food goes in Boston, Dok Bua gets 4.5 stars...slightly above Brown Sugar (albeit BS has a nicer atmosphere) and Noodle Street, surely above Nud Pob. Interior is the expected gaudy mix of Christmas lights and little asian ceramic figurines. I go for the lunch special (7.95 with one entree plus two sides) which goes until 4PM. After that the dinner special is only two dollars more. I pushed myself to get something other than chicken pad thai so I got the second thing on the menu...noodles with chili and basil. It was so flavorful, yet not overwhelming or too greasy. S.O. loves the Thai soup with coconut milk and chicken / mushrooms (not so much a fan myself). Between shoveling spoonfuls into his mouth all I could hear was "TASTY."
(4)
Milee S.

As my previous reviews stated, Thai is my least favorite cuisine. But, we weren't in the mood for Japanese, so we decided to go to Dok Bua. I've become a convert! Well, getting there at least! Dok Bua is always crowded during the week, but we were able to get a table right away. They bring out menus and a giant photo album showing the pictures of the food. My bf and I decided to each get the dinner special: a choice of 8 different entrees that come with all of the following: jasmine rice, tom yum soup (YAY!), 2 vegetable spring rolls with a spicy dipping sauce, and two pork dumplings. All for $9.95!!! I had the pad thai (vegetarian) with tofu. The tofu was fried, but there was a sweetness about it. It was a big portion too. I've had pad thai at other places, but this was the best I've had in Boston. The spring rolls were perfect and the sauce was not too overwhelming. My bf had the country red curry and he REALLY enjoyed it. But the showstopper was the soup! Even better than Spice. I didn't have the dumplings (not a fan of pork), but they looked good! The value and quality of the food was fantastic. So worth going back! However, the decor is a bit odd. As one other reviewer said, there were these two lamps on the aquarium in the back that well, didn't really seem appropriate for a restaurant like this. But that's so minor, when compared to the great, unobtrusive service and quick service of food. Totally will go back!
(4)
Aaron B.

After reading reviews I was hoping for a bit more. I just got back from giving it another shot and, meh, still not impressed. The dinner speicial is cool with the separated plate and all the food you get for the price. The only problem is, its just not that good. The first time I was there I got one of the dinner specials, don't remember which, but I know it seemed like it was lacking sauce. Tonight I got the Thai mushroom with chicken daily special. The chicken was dry and the mushroom and sauce part was just boring, like it came out of a can. Not the worst food I've ever had, but I'd put this on the low side of 3 stars. Oh, and what is with the wall of refrigerators? I can understand if the building used to be something else, but they have an entire wall of functioning fridges? Bua?
(3)
Donald W.

Their cashier/manager/hostess is grumpy. ONE FLAG!!! Their Pad Kee Mow is one of the best thai noodles dish I've ever had. SIX FLAGS!!!
(3)
Cheuk S.

My friends suggested this place for my birthday and it was a very good selection. I rarely give 5 stars but this one took it. Maybe there was a little bias due to the situation, but I gave it 5 stars because the prices were fair and not expensive, and the food quality was very good and came in large portions like Chinese family style. At the end of the day, most dishes cost about $10 or less, + $3-4 for drinks and you could leave there with your wallet still intact. Waiter service was fine, can improve a little but nothing to complain about. The place was pretty packed most of the time on a Saturday night and the decorations were pretty homey. We ordered few beef, chicken and one duck dish and all of them were very good. It was about six of us plus one junior eater so there were plenty of room, if you have ten people it would still be good, but anything more might be pushing it. Parking was pretty easy as there's plenty of parking space on street or maybe one of the cvs parking lots. Overall, pretty casual place for some good food at fair value, and their bubble tea and thai ice tea drinks selection was pretty extensive. After dinner, we walked a few blocks to a ice cream place called JP Licks and had some good ice cream cake desert. So I would definitely come back again for any type of dining situation.
(5)
Tom E.

Think of it as Dok Bua Thai Kitsch'n - the wonderful Thai restaurant with the cuteness and kitschness that you would only normally see at the residence of your strange cat-loving aunt or gay dog-hoarding uncle. The restaurant is full of little models of typical Thai dishes and of Bangkok boat vendors. DIORAMA HEAVEN. There's some kind of ancient pinball machine, there's Asian snacks for sale and damn if they don't love playing Thai Pop allllll daaayyy loonnngg. As for the food, the geniuses who run Dok Bua have come up with the plan to sell you the stuff that is hard to describe and you'd probably baulk at the translation - they have the photo menu. Stick here and you'll prosper. Give yourself a good ten minutes to browse the pics and then choose whatever you want - it's all good. I'd definitely recommend the steamed egg bowl for anyone who just loves egg to some silly degree - it's very eggy! Dok Bua is Boston's best restaurant for an authentic Thai meal with your friends. They have plenty of seating, BYOB and the decor and vibe inside is fun. Spice levels are good but not high enough to scare away unprepared friends. So if you're scared of S&I's heat (or it's full) then Dok Bua makes a fantastic fall-back and it's much better with friends. Call me!
(4)
Tapan P.

One of my perpetual favorites. Nice food, good portions for the price. Their lunch and dinner specials are a hit.
(4)
greg l.

Best thai food in Boston I have tried to date. The prices are MUCH better than Brown Sugar and the food is better. I find at many Thai restaurants the food is greasy and heavy. Every time I have eaten at Dok Bua I have left the restaurant feeling full, but refreshed. I like the lunch special. It comes with a choice of different appetizers as well as the main dish at a very affordable price.
(5)
Alex S.

I suppose given the stellar reviews, I was expecting a bit more, but I did enjoy my meal at Dok Bua. For $9.95 (plus an additional dollar for rice), I got a generous portion of tofu, bean sprouts, and snow peas in a garlic brown sauce that had subtle hints of lime. The dish was supposed to include baby corn, but it was missing entirely; I really hate when the kitchen does that. Even still, I was impressed with the quality of the dish--the vegetables were incredibly crisp, and the tofu was delicious. For an appetizer, my boyfriend and I split the fresh veggie rolls--also very good. They were served with an excellent peanut hoisin sauce, and were also great with a dab of hot chili paste. The ambiance was definitely a little weird, and I was skeptical when I first walked in the door; this proved to be all for naught. The meal was tasty, and the service was quite prompt and helpful. Our waitress made sure fish sauce was omitted, and also offered us a choice of fried or fresh, steamed tofu in our dinners. We chose the steamed tofu, which absorbed the flavor of the sauce very well--I wish more restaurants offered this! I must say, I was disappointed that there were zero vegetarian options for the dinner specials. I don't understand that, especially since they have a separate, all veggie menu. Not a big deal, but it would have been nice. Overall, though, there was something decidedly unremarkable about Dok Bua. For the same price, I can think of other places I would rather go for Thai (like Bangkok Cafe in Roslindale). I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but if you're in the area and want a decent meal, Dok Bua is a good choice.
(3)
Susan K.

We have been going to Dok Bua for 10 years now. They are consistent and friendly. Decor is fun/funny. Food is pretty authentic, but maybe a little 'americanized'. We always love to end with dessert- the shaved ice ABC. Would highly recommend getting the Dok Bua card, which has saved us 10% at every visit for quite some time.
(4)
Erik R.

Their menu, for me, does not match up well with Bangkok Bistro's or the New Rod Dee. The only dish I really like is the # 14, the pork with rice. My take on their menu probably reflects my own personal preferences more than the quality of their food, so given that, and how much I like # 14, I'll still rate it high.
(4)
Anna K.

One of the best Thai places I've been to. They have this wonderful combination dinner plate where you get dumplings, spring rolls, tom yum soup, rice, and your choice of entree for 12 bucks. Everything is so delicious. The inside is laid out kind of weird, but it's warm and welcoming. I just hope they don't cook the fish that are in the tanks.
(5)
Hiroko S.

This Thai foods are really good. It is better to go with some of your friends. I went there 2 and we could not order much (only two). I definitely want to try lots of menu since they have a lot.
(3)
Kar M.

Our favorite thai restaurant in Boston. We have been going here for 7 years now and they have been consistently great. The food and service always wants me going back there atleast once a month. They also allow BYOB, so take a bottle of red wine with you and enjoy the spicy food. The wait staff are wonderful and always have a smile.
(5)
P G.

I LOVE this place! Best thai food ever. The staff is amazing, super friendly and very accomodating. I am hooked to this place and love to introduce it to my friends and family. Tom Yum Soup is too die for! I also enjoy their thai iced tea. You can order from their regular menu or from the lunch/ dinner special. The quantity and quality of the food is great and everythis is so fresh. The prices are reasonable. Definitely my favorite place! :)
(5)
Kristin M.

I love Dok Bua! their dinner specials cannot be beat. You get so much food for the money and have enough for the next meal or two. I have yet to find a thai restaurant in my area that even compares to dok bua. I order chicken pad thai every time so I can't review much else but the pad thai is delicious! the interior dining room kind of skeeves me out so I always take out.
(5)
Rachael K.

I've been here several times and have found it to be inconsistent. Sometimes the food and service are great, other times it is difficult to communicate with the wait staff and the food is less than stellar. For the price it's not a huge deal. I recommend going for lunch, you get a ton of great food at a reasonable price and I've found lunchtime service to be more consistently good.
(3)
Aluminum Chefs, C and T.

Hell Yeah! Dok Bua is the real deal. Brown sugar is good, but a little toned-down for the well-to-do college kids that eat there, let's say that: Brown Sugar is Emeril - and Dok Bua is Anthony Bourdain. Brown Sugar is Coldplay - and Dok Bua is the Dead Kennedys. Brown Sugar is a tour bus - and Dok Bua is an old van. Not that there's anything fundamentally wrong with those first things, they're very nice and very safe and usually relatively satisfying. But Dok Bua is better is so many ways - the food is excellent. They certainly are not spending their hours wondering how to dumb down their food to the American palette. They're not stingy with the spices and their menu items can be a bit 'out there' compared with their competition., in fact (if I'm remembering correctly) most of the menu isn't in English and instead resorts to a series of poorly taken photographs that you pretty much point to and the waiter brings you something that looks like it. If you're adventurous and can take a little heat and can tear yourself away from the cute little miniature food replicas in the front window, you owe it to yourself to eat here. Not only that, but love it or hate it, you're most likely not leaving having spent more than 20 bucks for 2, and you're kicking it in the 'Coo - how cool is that. Get in the van.
(4)
Adam B.

This place has pretty mediocre food from what I have had. Some of the worst pad thai. Some of the other noodle dishes were a bit better and the tamarind duck was again just ok. I'm pretty surprised it scored so high. I'm sorry but for my money you can't beat any of the rod dee's.
(2)
Kai L.

my friend recommended this place to me. i have only had one meal that this far, not very impressed. it's not a bad restaurant, but not an impressive one either. i probably need to try other dishes in the future to see if i actually had missed something in my last visit. it does have interesting miniatures around the restaurant though...
(3)
A. T.

The dinner specials (which also include rice, soup, and two spring rolls) are a steal at $10.95, and you get 10% off for paying cash. The red curry is a solid dish. Definitely coming back here in the future.
(3)
Immer E.

i wish i could like this place more since my friends always rave about this restaurant and drag me here often. however, i've never been very impressed w/ their food. they have photos to go w/ their menu, which can be a plus - but it's also a bit tacky...esp. when they don't clean the album pages. the restaurant is small so the tables are placed too close together. it ruffles my feathers when people have to lean over my table of food to manoeuver their way around the narrow aisles.
(2)
John P.

I really enjoy the decor inside Dok Bua, especially those two weird lamps. Beyond the atmosphere though, my meal has always been very good and the prices aren't bad either.
(4)
Jeff B.

I enjoyed my meal but it's not as if I can't wait to go back. There wasn't anything wrong with the food or the quality or the taste, I just wasn't wowed. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing or the normal chef was on vacation. I'd rather head to Brown Sugar where I know I won't be disappointed.
(3)
Uosdwis R J.

Maybe I caught them on an off night. I had massaman curry and some spring rolls delivered. Delivery was quick, but it was much more expensive than I expected. They didn't give me the price over the phone, and it turned out to be $22 for the aforementioned items. Interestingly, if I go on foodler.com to view their menu, I definitely shouldn't have paid that much. Ugh. What makes it worse is that the food was terrible. I live in Cleveland Circle. The only Thai near me blows. So I was hoping that this would satiate. Ugh. The spring rolls were filled with old vegetables, but were halfway decent. I was really looking forward to the massaman curry, but I couldn't have been more disappointed. Usually, massaman curry has a very nice peanutty flavor; whether that is "authentic," I have no idea, but all massaman curries I've had have been peanutty. This one was fishy. Which is fishy, because when I called, I asked if the massaman curry was vegetarian, and they said yes. Do they use fish sauce in massaman curry without realizing that fish sauce is a living creature? The fish taste overpowered the peanut taste. I also didn't realize massaman curry was a type of soup. When I poured it into a bowl on top of some rice, everything was swimming in the sauce. Even more fishy. This reminded me of Pho it was so soupy. I generally like plenty of curry, but this was excessive, especially considering I found the taste foul. I basically tried to let as much curry as possible drip off of the food before I ate it. I even dumped some of the rice into my peanut sauce from the spring rolls to try to get my money's worth. Maybe I was spoiled living in New Haven. Amazing Thai food and pizza are easy to find. Why not in Boston?
(1)
Tiffany D.

I can't believe I lived near there for almost a year and never went in to try this place. I just went this weekend (boyfriend brought me) and it was DELICIOUS!!!! We had like 5 or 6 big dishes between us and it was perfect for a HUGE lunch and a small take home dinner. The red curry with crispy chicken is to DIE for! As is the baby clams fried rice!!!! And that squid salad. YUM YUM YUM!!! Totally gonna come here/order from here more often!!!
(5)
K. M.

I used to be a big fan of this place, and it is with heavy heart that I'm giving this mediocre review. Once you get past the (admittedly odd) 'decor,' they've got a great lunch and dinner special, a good location, and they let you bring in your own wine (they don't have a liquor license). Lately, though, their prices have gone up and the quality of the dishes has started to go down. I hope that trend will turn around, but until it does consider this place 3 to 3.5 stars.
(3)
Jennifer Y.

This place has the most authentic, greatest tasting Thai food ever. The owners are amazingly nice and simple people. Decor is really simple and pared down but the food is amazing. Lunch specials offer a great value and I still dream about the crab rangoons from this place.
(5)
Helen L.

BEST THAI FOOD EVER!! Officially. I have heard soo much about this place before I went and it exceed my expectations. Their dinner special is amazing- you get all this assortment of food for $9.95! It was hot, fresh, tasty and affordable! Their menu has such a big assortment of food and a bunch of pictures so you're unable to make a fast decision. YUMMY!
(5)
Kaopectate P.

finally some amazing thai food in the boston area. i've been here for 10yrs looking for a place like this. everything i've tried is great. btw...this is one of the only thai places that will make things extra spicy when you ask for it.
(5)
Atrebor B.

Awesome Thai food (for Boston) at affordable prices; what more could you possibly ask for? I went here for lunch today and had the red curry with pork and Tom Yum soup with veggie spring rolls for $6.50. Everything was piping hot and fresh with the curry being much better than I had expected. In fact, it was so good that I found myself trying to drink the last drops of it; desperately mopping it up with the last bits of rice. The soup was a perfect "wake me up" for your mid-day drowses with just the right amount of "zing" factor; but it could have been a tad richer and less vinegary. I also loved the way the food was presented; with the serving plate being divided into cute little separate compartments. The restaurant was quite a hike from the T; but rest assure that the walk is well worth it. Recommended and I will definitely revisit.
(4)
Suzanne C.

Dok Bua comes highly recommended from a former regular (until I moved away.) Their specials are the best because you can choose small portions of many things- appetizers, soup & entree. The garlic tofu is my favorite. Never had a better tofu. The staff is very sweet and the service is fast.
(5)
Betty J.

I love this place. Is it wrong to admit that proximity to Dok Bua was a factor in choosing my apartment for next year? Complain about the service or the take out or the decor if you must, but this is hands down the best Thai food in Boston. Seriously, everything I've had here has been delicious and I've been many, many times.
(5)
Kirby M.

I must say, I'm pretty surprised at all of the glowing reviews for this place. Maybe I haven't given it enough of a chance, but I have absolutely had better thai food than this place. I think I have ordered in from here once and also ate lunch at the restaurant once. Don't get me wrong, the prices can't be beat but I just didn't find anything special about the meal. I enjoyed the fact I could get a lunch platter so as to have pad thai along with salad and a side, but I wasn't floored. I would much rather go to Brown Sugar.
(3)
Gregory M.

This place is disguised as a small grocery store and backroom of a large kitchen, so eating there for the first time you feel like you were just let in on a secret. the menu is huge and has pictures for those of us not savvy with ordering Thai. there are hard to find dishes (my friend really likes the whole catfish, don't ask me why), but my favorite is the many combos they have. they come out in large circular plates, subdivided into 5 compartments (i think that's the number) and the center is your soup of choice. the combos are pretty flexible, so there isn't one side that you are looking to avoid (ie no summer squash combos that just fills space). other details: fast service, bring your own alcohol...
(4)
Lindley E.

I was there the day this place opened. They sold various Thai sundries and had very limited seating. Gradually, as all of you discovered how great this gem is, the shelves of toothpaste and penicillin gave way to tables, and soon you had to wait upwards of a half hour to get seated on a weekend. One of Boston's only authentic Thai places....and worth the drive for out of towners. They've made compromises in their menu over the years, but don't let it stop you from going and trying some of the truly remarkable dishes on the menu. Holds up to more famous Thai spots in Houston and Chicago.
(5)
Rinn S.

I'm a big snob about Thai food and I have no problem owning that snobbery. In the search for quality and authentic Thai food in this area, I came across Dok Bua several years ago. The inside is super kitchy, the menu comes with a photo album of their dishes and the staff are really friendly and fast. But go for the food. It's cheap and absolutely wonderful. They make a lot of appetizers that you usually can't get at American Thai restaurants- their Sum Tom and Tod Mun Pla are especially good. The curries are amazing, and they'll make the gra prow "thai style"- extra spicy and minced. Honestly, I've never tried their pad thai because there are so many other great things on the menu, but I'm sure its fabulous too. I lived in Thailand for a while and ate out almost ALL the time and this is some of the best thai food I've had ANYWHERE. The fact that its BYOB is just icing on the sticky rice.
(5)
Shannon S.

I've never been a big fan of Thai cusine, and I've probably walked past this place about 200 times on the way to Allston and never dined here, but damn, I'm glad I did. The restaurant is small with pretty standard tables inside, some cheesy decoration splashed about, but the food is very, very tasty. I had the crispy chicken with pad thai, green tea Boba tea, and Crab Rangoon. I highly, highly recommend the Pad Thai and the crispy chicken was tasty with the sweet sauce that it came with. I also enjoyed my Crab Rangoon--full and stuffed with creamcheese, crabmeat and then deep fried they came out super quickly and even my boyfriend (who isn't a seafood fan) had to say yes, the crab rangoon was right on. The Boba tea was good, but a little too icey for my taste so I let it melt a little. I really loved the green tea but the tapioca balls weren't the way I like them so I probably wouldn't go back there again for those, but the tea was very tasty. I also loved that the menu came with a secondary menu full of photos so you knew what and how much you were getting. It was a little out of order but if you take the time to look through it, it can really help you out (especially if like me, you haven't had a lot of Thai food). The waitress was fast, attentive with our drinks. Highly recommended! It was a great place to sit on a Monday Night and quietly talk to my boy over noodles. So really, it's all thanks to Yelp that I went at all, and I might have to start frequenting this place now that my Thai-food-fear has lapsed. Thanks Yelp --and really, all of you MUST try this place.
(4)
Ryan L.

I like this place better than Rod Dee's and brown sugar. Some of the food here has a slight chinese taste to it (salted fish fried rice) but overall a really good place to eat at. Wish it had more authentic selections like Nam Prik Oong and Khao Lam. Pretty cheap prices too. Portions could be better though.
(4)
Sara S.

Great food, awesome service and a great value. For something like $7.95, you get two appetizers and an entree during lunch. Same thing goes for $9.95 at dinner, but with soup as well. It's a great deal, really.
(4)
Ben P.

This is the best non-sushi Asian food in the Brookline area. Coolidge Corner has a ton of sushi restaurants, but beyond that there's nothing...other than the some good, quick, and affordable Thai from Dok Bua. The lunch specials are a great deal: the portions are big and I usually get two meals for $10. My favorite is the crispy chicken over a noodle dish. Rarely does it get so crowded that you can't get a table quickly...
(4)
kate L.

This place came a long way from a little convenient store back in the day. The food is great and the staff are very sweet! I can't seem to get out of the place without a wonderful Tai Iced tea! The lunch and dinner specials are really inexpensive and you get a large amount of food.
(5)
A. W.

Alert! My most favourite thai restaurant in Boston. ohhh yeah. And...the thing the alcoholic in me loves...is that you can BYOB, which is just such a special treat around these parts. The prices are already so inexpensive. Their Pad Thai is to die for. And if you don't have the energy to clamber all the way down (it's not that far) to Harvard Street....they deliver quick as sticks. Once, they even delivered in a snow storm. That is dedication....and a also bit cruel and self centered of me to order food for delivery in those extreme weather conditions.
(5)
Emily M.

Went to dinner here with some friends Sat night for the first time. It was packed, but happily we didn't have to wait too long to be seated. However, we did have to wait what seemed like FOREVER to actually get our food. I don't know if it was because we all ordered the dinner specials, because we were all famished before we got there (and obviously the more you want the food, the longer you wait), because it was crowded, or what, but it took entirely too long. There was also some confusion over the soups that came with our meals (some of us got completely different soups than the others, when they were supposed to be all the same). It still gets 4 stars though, and we'll still be coming back, because it was delicious, very reasonably priced, BYOB, and close to my apt. Obviously a winning combination!
(4)
Kat C.

This is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Boston. Whenever I go there for dinner, I always get the dinner sets. You get to choose from 10 dishes and they all come with a bowl of tom yum soup, fried/steamed dumplings, spring rolls, and rice. The sets are great because you get a bit of everything. Definitely get the Thai iced tea to go with your meal...yummy =).
(5)
Rachel M.

Dok Bua, best Thai in town! Seriously! I love their specials and their Thai Iced Tea and Iced Coffee are delicious. This place is one of the best on Harvard Street, hands down.
(5)
Celicia C.

Although I don't get to eat here often enough whenever I am back home in Boston to visit my family and boyfriend we make it a point to trek here. It's an awesome mom and pop type of thai restaurant in Brookline. You get the great warm feel right when you walk in. I love all of the dishes there, and they're incredibly generous with the portions! What's better is the huge glasses of Thai iced tea. Dok Bua has wonneth me over.
(4)
Allie L.

I've only had the bubble tea here. It's pretty good, they make it into a smoothie type thing with shaved ice mixed in. The boba are usually the right consistency, not too chewy or hard.
(4)
David B.

I foresee many many many trips to Dok Bua in my future. Fantastic (and spicy!! yay spice!!) food. If you don't know what you want, figuring it out is an adventure that some might find tedious (you have to cross reference the menu with the photo album to see a pic of your dish). But both my wife and I loved our choices: her, yellow curry (very spicy); me, Pad-si-ew dinner special. Fun, casual, cheap, and delicious. A perfect combination.
(5)
nick b.

best thai in brookline! great for a sit down lunch or dinner. also great for takeout. i love the red curry.
(5)
Mags L.

came here for lunch with my work buddy who was singing its praises. said he used to come here on the daily when he was going to b.u. i can see why. this place is awesome. i had thai fried rice (i know - boring, but i was overwhelmed by the myriad of choices on display in that glorious photo album). i loved every bite of it. my friend had the pad si yew (sp?) that i was delighted to sample. it would've received 5 stars if it weren't located so inconveniently from me. ahh the curse of being lazy and desirous of everything hassle-free. this place was so good i may just have to trek back again.
(4)
Bonnie G.

I won't waste your time writing a long eloborate review. Just go there. It is that consistently delicious. If you don't, you are obviously missing out on one of the best places to eat in Boston, now aren't you?
(5)
Sara A.

This is officially my new favorite Thai place. In fact, it's the best that I've had in Boston hands down. The prices are extremely affordable, the atmosphere is busy but not distracting. They use menus with photographs, just like in Thailand, and all the food smelled amazing. We will definately be heading back here.
(5)
Bene K.

Really tasty!! I love finding new Thai restaurants with my favorite Som Tom Papaya Salad. This place has a great papaya salad---although, i am still devoted to Brown Sugar. But, the service is good and so is the food.
(4)
Ace G.

This place ROX ! Order the Golden Tea Bags and # N 13, that is if you like spicy...
(5)
Sue W.

After reading the great reviews of Dok Bua, I decided to give it a try and I'm glad I did. There are plenty of options on the menu that should suit your taste of the day. I loved the pictures of every dish as well so you knew exactly what you were getting. The portions are big and prices are decent. I ordered the Indonesian fried rice with crispy duck which was pretty good although I would've preferred a little more spice. Although I am a HUGE Rod Dee fan, Dok Bua measured up quite well.
(4)
Alyssa C.

6 of us ended up here on a miserably hot Monday for lunch. To cool down, we drank their lemonade and pina colada drink and ordered amazing cheap lunch specials. They have a big selection of vegetarian and vegan options and tasty meat/chicken options. More than enough food for a hot day.
(4)
Everett P.

the soup at dok bua is amazing. i have tried tom yum and tom kah gai soup at lots of other thai resturants and none even come close to dok bua. i take trips there to just get soup. they give you such a large amount of 7$ its great. the rest of their food is good, it dosent stand out above the other thai resturants in boston like their soups do.
(5)
Rebecca C.

Dok Bua is awesome. I grew up in Brookline, and when I heard that a Thai store was taking over where a convenience store had been, I was worried for its survival. I was so pleased when it transformed into a restaurant, and a totally delicious one at that. I think the decor is ridiculous- but in a good way. My favorite pieces are the furry gorilla like stuffed animal hanging from the ceiling and the two little figurines (girl and boy) with the lampshades over their heads that flash different colors (can't picture it? better go try Dok Bua and look for it!). In looking at their website, it seems their prices have crept up over the years- but their dinner special is still under $10 and comes with loads of good stuff- soup, rice, dumplings and egg rolls plus entree of choice. I love their pad si ew, pad ki mao, tofu triangle, thai fried rice and red curry. Pretty much everything is amazing, and with the right amount of spicy-ness, and they have that great photo album of all the food they serve! As long as you aren't looking for total formality of atmosphere, Dok Bua is pretty much the perfect Thai restaurant.
(5)
Emily D.

The food is really good, although slightly greasy compared to Bamboo in Brighton. They have dinner specials for $8.95, which includes entree, two appetizers, and a wonderful spicy soup. It's a great deal for a tasty night in, and if you go to the restaurant the kitch factor is fantastic.
(4)
A C.

having lived in Boston, Manhattan, and Los Angeles, I can honestly say, the thai food here is as good as it gets. Haven't had better pad thai than Dok Bua..oh and don't forget dessert: Mango sticky rice mmmmm..
(5)
Lala L.

Authentic Thai cuisine that use to be just a kitchen and a few tables on one side of the market. They make flavorful dishes and nothing on their menu can be accused of being bland or Americanized.
(3)
R W.

charming fun humble place that serves solid food. service is friendly and the prices are alright. i'd go back. i love how they keep their dessert menu quite traditional. a lot of lovely thai/east asian desserts that you don't see around Boston too often
(4)
Jimmy B.

Once you get past the random decor (weird lamps, a forest scene backdropped over what I think are refrigerators used during the day) and some pretty crammed seating arrangements, you'll find one of the better Thai places in the area. I'll be honest, the waiters and waitresses can make me nervous. They talk really fast and hate when it when I use my credit or debit card. But their food is what I've been told REAL Thai food should taste like (I grew up in the burbs, I really had no idea). They definitely have the best tom yom soup I've ever had. I usually get the pad woon sen when I go but their lunch and dinner specials are worth the $9.95 and give you a variety of things to try.
(4)
Ryan P.

soooo delicious! The service is excellent, you get the food fast, the prices are more than reasonable, and everything I have ever tasted there is delicious---at this point I have been there at least 3 dozen times; so you can take my word for it that the food there is great.
(5)
Felix L.

I eat a lot of thai food around Boston, and this place has some of the better dishes in the area. A lot of people said the decor is quite unusual and I can understand why, but i honestly didn't notice anything strange.. I kinda liked it! The times I've been they had those miniature collectible plastic foods (i have some of rococo furniture myself!). That aside, the food is good and the prices are reasonable. They give you a huge photo album with pictures of every single one of their dishes, which is a huge plus! I like to see what I'm ordering. They are also really friendly, one time, my friend tried to order a traditional thai dish not on the menu, and they said they would definitely do it, but we didnt know the name in thai, so they had no idea what we were trying to order =(.
(4)
Claudia L.

huge bowls of soup are always good in my book. dok bua makes an awesome tom kha gai (I'm sure I massacred the spelling on that one) and lets you choose between an appetizer/side portion or a giant hulking fishbowl of it. i have much love for this place - their pick-and-choose lunch and dinner combos are an awesome value - i can fill up for under $10 - and their kistchy and somewhat bizarre decor never fails to entertain.
(5)
Sam S.

mmmhm love this thai place. the tom yom soup is just right on those runny nose days. i love all the different kinds of curry too, but make sure you match up your veggies with your meat. for ex. chicken doesn't go with mango, but pork does!
(5)
Rico B.

I love this place. Foods are tasty and reasonably priced. They also have pictures menu, which is great when you don't know what to order or hesitant on what the food would look like.
(4)
Alex B.

b.y.o.b. = o.m.g
(4)
S H.

Excellent REAL Thai food. It's a simple place with an interesting decor, but the food is amazing. It's fresh and prepared exactly to your request. The servers are knowledgeable and friendly, and can handle both families and college kids that make their way down Harvard Street. If you're not familiar with Thai food or looking to try something other than a curry or Pad Thai, browse through the 4x6" photo album for pictures of each dish. Easy on-street parking, great for meeting large groups of people, quick service.
(4)
Kenny B.

Hot damn this was the best Thai place I've been to in a long, long time. When I'm in Boston next, I am eating here.
(5)
Sarah C.

So I never crave Thai... ever. Last night was one of those incredibly indecisive nights where you're just being way too picky for being indecisive 'I want a really good atmosphere, really good food, close-by, NOW, and I don't want to spend a lot, and I'm starving, and I don't feel like searching for parking, and ugh I don't want to wait but I don't want to eat at a dive restaurant' ANYWAY... Driving on Harvard...there it was, my friend told me he heard it was awesome, and he had it with my debating. We sat immediately in spite of it being busy, and were handed these VERY handy menus that had pictures of all the entrees. But do they have drinks?? Oh man, I really wanted to get a drink. Nope... but the menu looked so delicious... and I we could get drinks after if we wanted. We ended up getting chicken satay with peanut sauce (oh how I love love love peanut sauce), A whole roasted snapper (not the best dish I could have chosen..it was over a random sort of flavorless undressed iceberg salad..that really served no purpose), and a mango curry duck dish, rice (free with entrees) green tea...all for only $35! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the bill. We seriously got all that delicious food for $35? I definitely foresee cravings for Thai food in my future. Good stuff, check them out. ;)
(4)
Christina N.

Even though I have only just begun to eat Thai food, this place has some of the best I've tried. My friend recommended we go for dinner here after reading several good reviews from other yelpers... We were not mislead! The restaurant itself was comfortable- maybe a little crowded, but that doesn't bother me. It was our waitresses' first night, but her inexperience was hardly noticed due to the amount of attention that was given to us by the other members of the waitstaff. We got everything we ordered- and in a timely manner. The menu was super easy to understand, as there were letters and numbers attached to each dish, as well as an accompanying picture. All we had to do was point at the picture of what we wanted. If that wasn't easy enough, there was also an overflowing photo album in the middle of our table which further displayed life sized pictures of each entree. Our meals were delicious! Both my friend and I ordered one of their curry dishes which, if we hadn't known ahead of time we might have been unpleasantly surprised, were WAY spicy! I feel like they should probably have a chili spiciness index like most other restaurants do. We also got vegetable tempura for an appetizer, which was YUMMY! Nice and crunchy! Overall, the experience was great- our only problem came at the end of our meal upon receiving our bill, our credit cards were incorrectly charged. (hence the 4 stars) We asked the waiter to split the bill, but my card ended up being charged the price of the whole meal, and my friends card was also charged for half of it. A small dispute erupted which led to us being unfairly yelled at (possibly a translation problem?) but finally another waitress came over and settled the dispute- No Harm Done!
(4)
Julian H.

Some of the most authentic Thai food in the Boston area. Make sure to try the Som Tum (green papaya salad). And the kitschy decor is molto bene.
(5)
Michael T.

I remember this place being a Thai grocery store with a couple of tables set all around the aisles for eating. I once kicked a girl in her arss as she was leaning over to get some soysauce because our table was so close to the shelves. My how things have changed! DB is now a pretty elegant, chic chic Thai restaurant in lovely Brookline. Well, as elegant and chic chic as a small, hole in the wall, restaurant can be. Still, my Thai friends swear by it, as do I. I have family in Bang Bang Bangkok and visit often...this is the real deal folks. EVERYTHING is good. Enjoy yourselves...
(4)
Katia M.

Great Thai place! Very spicy! Crowded and busy, but not in an obnoxious way. Fun date place if you're willing to brave the spice.
(5)
Michael G.

The food here is mediocre at best. There are many much better Thai places in the area. In general, it's certainly not bad, but compared to other places, it just doesn't measure up. The good news is that it's not expensive. For example, a dinner with appetizers, soup, and an entree ordered off the dinner special menu will set you back only $9.99 (they've recently raised their prices). That's not a bad deal. Unfortunately, the actual food just isn't that good. The dumplings and spring rolls, for example, were bland, and the crispy pork looked and tasted like deep-fried bacon, which is simply not what I expected. The one cool thing about this place is there's a picture menu. Unfortunately, it was sticky and gross from not having being wiped down.
(3)
William B.

Who would have thought such an unassuming little place in Brookline concealed such wonderful thai food? We had the best pad see-ew I can remember having, spicy eggplant, and a third noodle tofu dish picked more or less at random off the menu that was highly tasty, if too spicy for my dining companions. They also have (apparently) good bubble tea, which I don't like, and fruit purees that they call smoothies, which I do. If there weren't well over 100 reviews, I would have called it a hidden treasure.
(4)
ken t.

always have a good time here. the food is excellent and i have never needed to wait for a table and they get busy. im just lucky. everything is goof so u cant miss but i like the combos coz u get the tom yum soup which is BOMB!!! and parking is awesome so no need to worry abt that.
(5)
H T.

Not very authentic, but it's decent. The portions are generous, and the combo meals are a great value. They don't use MSG, and if you live nearby, they'll have the food at your door in less then 15 minutes. I used to live in Brookline and I would always order from this place when I didn't want to cook. The tom yum soup is great.
(3)
Ernie F.

RATING: 4.5 stars, rounded up (the benefits of a good first impression, and a terrible meal at a similarly rated Thai restaurant) FOOD: Tom Yum Noodle Soup (chicken) Thai Iced Tea QUICK SUMMARY: Tom Yum Soup = Flavorful, no tomatoes, has that distinguishable hot/spicy taste. Noodles = Slightly wider than Pho, cooked just right, not chewy at all. Chicken = Ground chicken, alright. Thai Iced Tea = Strong Thai tea flavor, just the right amount of sweetness (which means they didn't overload on the cream) Service = Quick, friendly, a lot of smiles, and the waitress knew how to joke :] Price = Slightly expensive, but the taste is authentic. QUICK SENTENCE: "Good news for Dok Bua since I wrote this review after eating at Pho Basil; there is still hope that the Boston area has some good Asian food."
(5)
Joseph T.

I started going to Dok Bua more than I go to Rod Dee because my good friend recommended and invited me and others to go with him for a dinner. When I entered there, sat down, and ordered basil fried rice and Thai banana shake. My reaction to my meal was "Oh my god! So FUCKING DELICIOUS!" I find this restaurant to be a bit more authentic on a different farang's neighborhood and it packs heat, flavors, and love from Thailand. My money is being worth the bangs there and I love it. The service is always friendly there and the Thai staffs were very sweet and kind. I love the Thais because they are friendly. If you ask them to spice up your dish, they would. They can recommend you a dish for you to try. Their specials are awesome, but I am always attached to my favorites. The food is amazing, especially the soup and curry. There are other items that are delicious and authentic. Tom yum goong soup is great. I love the sourness, spiciness, and hotness when I slurp it loudly. Any dish you order is good. I don't order all of them because I am attached to some of my favorites, but I am definitely going to give other dishes a try. Just one thing I would like to request that Dok Bua to start serving Singha beers and other alcoholic beverages. I have been hankering to down a bottle of Singha to go with my noodle dish and eat and drink like a Thai working class man who would like to eat a delicious and spicy dish with a cold one in his hand.
(5)
Michele J.

To quote the Yelp 5 star rating: "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" definitely describes Dok Bua's Thai food and dining experience. The decor is fun and charming, the ambiance is upbeat, and the wait staff are super friendly and smiley (yes, that's right, lots of smiles happening at Dok Bua!). While I'm only somewhat familiar with authentic Thai food, the menu seems to offer an array of "more authentic" Thai dishes than just the usual dishes you'll find at other American Thai restaurants. And the food is truly delicious. The menu is huge, so of course there may be some hit or miss items... but from the numerous times I've eaten at Dok Bua over the past 5 years, I have never been disappointed with my meal. Go check out Dok Bua and stay awhile: you can enjoy your meal with a bubble tea, a smoothie or a cup of complimentary hot tea, while letting your eyes wander to the fish in the aquarium and then to the thatched roof interior over the kitchen and finally to the miniature models of food. And don't forget to leave room for their desserts!
(5)
Carly G.

After reading so many good reviews here and hearing praise for the place from trusted friends, I was astonished at how bad our meal was. The service was great, everyone was friendly, so that wasn't an issue. It wasn't the absolutely mediocre salad with boring iceberg lettuce or even the near-flavorless golden bags. The real offender was the green curry. Now, we've definitely had our fair share of green curries. We know what it's supposed to taste like and smell like, and it's a dear favorite. It is most definitely NOT supposed to reek of cat urine. But somehow, that ammonia mixed with dusty cat litter smell is exactly what our bowl of curry smelled like. Something was clearly wrong. I kept leaning over to take another whiff, hoping I was imagining things, but no - as a lifelong cat owner, I unfortunately know that smell all too well. To be fair, and out of sheer curiosity, I decided to taste it. Had it tasted amazing, I might, MIGHT, have just held my breath and gone through with it. But it was watery and frankly disappointing. It didn't taste bad, but it wasn't any good either. And not worth the cat lady house stench that was turning my fiance's stomach. We asked the waitress to smell it, and inquired if that was how their green curry usually smelled. She smiled and insisted it was perfectly normal while we just gaped in shock. We sent it back (something I have only done once before in my life). No manager came out to talk to us to apologize or anything. At least it was taken off the bill. We won't be going back. Too bad...I really wanted to like it. :(
(1)
M M.

I've been eating Thai food for 15 years and this is definitely the worst Thai food I've ever had. It is surprisingly bad for a place with so many positive reviews. Avoid it like a plague.
(1)
Princess M.

Yumminess!!! The best thing about this place is their picture menu. The menu is so large that you will be spoiled for choices. We most recently tried their pad si ew and the vermicelli pad si ew. The version made with vermicelli was definitely better as it really soaked up all the flavors of this stir fried noodle dish. The crispy chicken is not as good as Rod Dee's but it's still nonetheless very crispy and tasty.
(4)
Michaela L.

Ooooooooooh, I was so deprived of Thai food when we came for dinner we way overdid it on the ordering. Dinner combos are BIG so watch out! Pad Thai was not fantastic, a bit disappointing, but my Pad Kee Mao with tofu was great, as was the appetizer involving spinach leaves, dried coconut, dried shrimps, peanuts, tiny chilies...you know what I'm talking about right? Also very good: fresh lemonade and mango with sticky rice. If you take the Green Line T you get the chance to walk off your massive food intake, like we did.
(4)
Rosie Z.

More authentic than most Thai restaurant I have been to in the city, their lunch/dinner special was great which gives you two appetizers. The staff is very friendly and place is cleaner than a lot of the Asian places around. Will def come back.
(4)
Charles W.

I've been here several times now. The decor is nice, the service is great, and the food is very tasty.
(4)
Jess C.

Love love love the chili basil tofu dish. It's sooo hot, my face turns red and my eyes water, but it's soooo good! Make sure you get plenty of rice. If you order delivery, you need to ask for the rice, too, so don't forget too, or your mouth will explode. I love that this place is BYOB.
(5)
R I.

Went there for the first time because of a Groupon and now I'm hooked! This is definitely my favorite Thai restaurant in the area and the prices are very reasonable. The service was excellent and the menu is *extensive*. Nom nom nom.
(5)
Ashley B.

Dok Bua is so cute, discovered it randomly on campusfood.com and my roommate and I went to get some on the 4th of July. It's a small restaurant, but it has some great food! and when you order something to drink it comes in these adorable mason jars (like jars that jam has been put in), and I think it just adds a bit to the atmosphere, like small, home-y everything made fresh. You get good food for good prices and you can't go wrong with anything ordered there. There is take out and food is ready fast, so if you're starving, don't worry, everything is hot and made to order, but you also don't have to wait forever to stuff your face.
(4)
Jonathan R.

I have been going to Dok Bua since 2008. My friends and I eat here a few times a month, it is a great spot for large or small groups. The lunch special / dinner specials are very cheap, high quality, and quantity is large. Also, it is BYO, so bring a few beverages and enjoy!
(5)
Rosalind D.

i love dok bua. the only reason Im not giving this beloved restaurant of mine 5 stars is because they do not serve alcohol. everything i have ever gotten is great, and i actually crave their food and compare other thai places to them, which i think are marks of a great restaurant. they are super fast and wallet friendly to boot :)
(4)
Leigh I.

I would focus on stir fried items like Gara Pao, their beef with chili pepper. Dinner/Lunch special was a super killer deal until they raised price couple of times. It's still a good deal for around $10. They are generous with servings and people there are always smiling. Frequent eaters will have the VIP card. If you go there as often as we used to, VIP card pays for itself. My friends find it funny that we go there with a card but appreciates the VIP card. Unfortunately, they changed their policy is promoting cash so if you pay with cash, you get the same discount as the VIP card. This is a casual place with eatery like feel with good staple, inexpensive Thai food that you can't go wrong with.
(4)
Chris B.

I really enjoyed this place. Although not as good as S&I, this is a place that you can go to actually enjoy a sit down meal and isn't dedicated to takeout! The staff were really friendly, and patient with us as we had a pretty good size group. The only negative point I can raise is that the food did not come out in any order, instead, it all just appeared at the same time. The portions were really good for the price, and I will certainly be back for lunch and/or dinner.
(4)
Lauren M.

Very good, very reasonable. They accommodated my food allergies well! It was busy and a little noisy on Saturday night, but this is to be expected. You may have to wait, but it is well worth it!
(5)
Maya S.

If you are looking for cheap Thai food..this is the place to be. Decent options...liked the iced tea more than the food!
(3)
Tushar S.

Love the food!
(4)
Nick C.

I went to Dok Bua for my second time tonight and now I have to review it. The food here is so good! And the staff are so friendly and helpful, and the restaurant is so cute inside! Winning combination. The first time I went, I didn't get the dinner special because it comes with a pork dumpling, and I don't eat pork. I didn't think to ask if they could substitute something else without pork. I just got the pad kee mao entree with tofu, and it was fantastic! This time I asked about the dinner special- they happily offered to make it entirely vegetarian for me! Instead of the pork dumpling I got two extra vegetarian egg rolls. The vegetarian tom yum soup was delicious, and for my main dish I had the pad thai. Pad thai is a little pedestrian I realize, but when it's done well it absolutely satisfies, and this one was excellent. I will definitely be going back to Dok Bua!
(5)
Chloe N.

Dok Bua, I can't say enough good things about this place. The curry is great, and so are the combo-plate specials (good value right there). Lately, I've been getting the big ol' bowls of soup (sukiyaki lately- nice tomato broth with veggies and rice noodles). Perfect cure for the cold weather blues. The pad kee mao is also delicious. Anyway: BEST THAI IN BOSTON. Hands DOWN.
(4)
Geoff P.

I can't really add much that the other 250+ reviews haven't. Amazing, authentic food at a good price. If you want Thai food and are near Dok Bua, I highly recommend it.
(5)
Keo H.

I simply love this place. I've gone to Brown Sugar, Kao Sarn, Raw Dee, and a laundry list of other Thai Restaurants but I always end up back here. The food is authentic as it can get without being from your moms kitchen. The food selection is rediculous---SOO many! This is the only Thai Restaurant that offers Sai-Kowk (authentic spicy thai sausage). I also had the drunken noodles and spicy thai basil fried rice. All of which were soo freaking good. I don't care what anyones says this is the best Thai place to eat at if you're looking for good price, good food, and good laid back atmosphere. None of the dishes here are over $17, most are about $10-$12 and the portions are good. The service is also great, they came around often enough to check in on us. And yes, this place is the place because everytime I come here its busy and full. Its a good size restaurant with several tables so you don't ever have to wait to be seated. I willl be back next week. :o)
(5)
Emily F.

The decor and staff are sweetly lovable, service is speedy, portions are very large (especially the $10 dinner special), they boast great veg-friendly options - all in all it's delightful. In particular: 1. The miniture food displays are darling! I want the fruit and vege stands! It reminds me of my old Playmobile days. 2. I love the colorful dishes and the eclectic, colorful decorations. 3. The 8x10 photos of their dishes posted everywhere are quite endearing, as in the full picture menu. 4. Full water glasses are put out on the table as you sit down, illustrative of the very attentive staff. 5. They cut the fresh spring rolls into bite-size pieces - easy to eat, easy to share. If you've ever struggled to eat spring rolls with any poise resulting only in strings of carrots and sprouts hanging out your mouth with a mess of spring roll insides covering your plate, you'll understand just how much this is appreciated! So many options, so little tummy room.
(4)
Kimberly P.

I am very very impressed. Not only was the service speedy and the food good, they had a dinner special that included a main dish, sides, rice and soup for only $10.95. PLUS you can get 10% off for paying with cash. I knew there was a reason why this place is always packed when I drive by!
(5)
Megann S.

Dok Bua can be counted on consistently to be some of the best Thai food in Boston. Crab Rangoons are amazing as is the papaya salad. Let's just get it out there: the place is oddly decorated--a mishmash of neon palm trees, fish tanks, Japanese screens, and many other wonders that I would not do justice to here and i will leave for you to experience firsthand. The menu is typical Thai food (although a fairly extensive selection), but they also have a book of photos so that you can SEE what all the dishes look like before ordering. Sometimes, I admit, the pictures are a bit less than appetizing, but it's nice to see what something looks like if you have no idea what it might be. Wait staff is attentive and I've never had to ask for more water (the bus boys maybe need some additional duties). The place doesn't serve alcohol, but you can bring your own and they'll serve it for you. The best is if you get a seat along the "wall" which is not a wall at all but actually a row of coolers where you can chill your six pack while you eat (if you're positioned correctly, you can also retrieve another beer from the cooler without leaving your seat....a rare luxury).
(5)
Erica T.

The food here is comfort food. A huge plate of fried rice and fried chicken or duck on top with an egg. Yumm.. The thai iced tea! Man, they have their recipe perfected. It tastes perfectly sweet every time. The food doesn't need work, but I am sad that their prices have increased. It used to be a place where I would think I'd only spend about $13 or 15 but now it's about $20. Not so good. BYOB which is good, except I don't drink anyway. I also don't like how I smell like greasy food when I leave the restaurant.. but I guess that is typical with asian restaurants.
(4)
Yumiko F.

I love their food. I tried the curry at this place for the first time. I always get green curry from other place but tried it and it was great but spicy side. Always fun of fried calamari as well. :)
(4)
Reaksmey K.

Simple & Delicious! one of my all time favorites in Brookline! Def try their lunch specials! i love the Moo-yang and Tom Yum soup! oh also the thai iced tea!
(5)
Bob J.

One thing you need to know about this place. BYOB. That's mean no up charge on the alcohol . The food is also good.
(4)
Mina K.

I love love love thai. =) Dok Bua does it right. My only complaint that it's too far from my apartment! The papaya salad is awesome and spicy! eek. The singapore fried rice is amazing, if you haven't tried it, you must! Expect to pay about 10-15$ per person for dinner (excluding drinks, appetizers). For me, it's too far and cost more money that I can afford to spend on food (I'm a poor student), but its freaggin worth it. =)
(4)
Jennifer S.

Update: Bumped up to first place in Jenny's Favorite Thai Restaurants because I realized that although I could have gone anywhere else since I wrote my last review, I haven't.
(5)
Itch S.

Grew from a mini-mart to a Thai mini-mart to a counter and now a full blown restaurant. Since it grew somewhat organically it makes the space eclectic. The service is great and seems to be family driven and the food is usually pretty good. The Larb will blow some smoke from your ears. Love it but would prefer to be sitting in a cold bathtub while eating it.
(4)
Meera Z.

I loooove this place. I came here before I even lived in the area, and I continue to come here on a regular basis. The dinner specials they have are huuuuge! It's definitely 2 meals worth of food! I don't know how traditional the food is, but to me it's some of the best thai food I've had. Aside from the Pad Thai, which is pretty average but still tasty. They are also vegetarian friendly. Just tell them and they'll make sure your food is meat-free. Even the dinner, they'll make the soup especially for you and give you all veggie options. Yay! They are super quick too... If you call in an order it's ready within 5-10 minutes. Definitely try this place out if you haven't already!!
(5)
Mark C.

Dok Bua is excellent, authentic, Thai Food. I'm not sure what else to say. I've veered WAAYY off the beaten path on their (rather extensive) menu, and have yet to be let down. Everything has been excellent. Hidden Gem: Mango with Sticky Rice and Coconut Milk dessert. It's awesome. I could ramble on about each dish.... but that would fill up a few pages. Just try it, and experiment. You won't be let down.
(5)
Zev X.

We ordered the vegetarian dumplings for an appetizer, the tofu and mixed vegetables with brown sauce and Pad Thai. The food is relatively cheap. Both entrees were under 10.00 and the appetizer was 4.75. the menus have pictures which is helpful in ordering -- no surprises. IF YOU WANT A RELAXING DINING EXPERIENCE --- DO NOT GO HERE. read below. THIS PLACE IS ONE STEP UP FROM A CAFETERIA. We were rushed out the door from the time we entered. Not 30 seconds after being seated did the waitress come over and ask if we were ready. She came back over every 60 seconds for a total of 3 times. and then sent over another waitress to ask if we were ready. The place wasn't even that crowded,,,,,, I am not sure what the problem was. After we ordered, the appetizer came instantly. Then after taking our first bite, she brought our food to the table. WTF! the food was okay and flavorful...... but expect to have a very quick dining experience. we were in and out in less then 35 minutes.
(2)
Lauren L.

OMG OMG OMG OMG! This is good Thai food!!!! NO.... this is GREAT Thai food!!!! This is the EXACT taste you would get if you have thai food in thailand!! I had the "Dok Bua Grilled Pork on Stick", I can still taste how favorful and tender they are when I am staring at the pics I took of them!!! Their Tod Mun (fish cakes) are as good as the street side food stand you can get them from in the middle of Bangkok!!! ....... i m just.... speechless..... (PS. I will post some pics soon!)
(5)
Jillian Y.

Pad Thai is a dish that really shouldn't be that hard to make. Yet somehow nearly every place in Boston is doing it wrong...not Dok Bua. Although this is yet another place I've never graced with my presence (I like their speed of delivery, frankly), I have definitely stuffed my face with their pad Thai, and I have definitely enjoyed it. Muchly.
(4)
Jay C.

Crispy chicken is very good. The workers are always very nice. The decor could use a little updating.
(4)
E B.

This place smells kinda funky... and normally, that would really turn me off of a place, but since I was with a group of people I decided not to make a fuss... and the food was actually very good! Their lunch and dinner specials can't be beat and I was very happy that they were willing to make mine with tofu instead of meat... and they didn't even charge me extra! (I think its about $9 for the lunch special and $12 for dinner--- includes 1 main dish and 2 or 3 sides which ends up being an incredible amount of food). I got the pad-see-ew (yea, I have NO idea how to spell that), tom kha soup (coconut based soup) and the vegi egg rolls. I also got coconut juice... everything was so delicious that I've since been back and have ordered the same thing.... but it smells weird every time. So cause of smell, 1 star; cause of food, 5 stars... and that averages out to a 3. (maybe next time I should do takeout!)
(3)
Melinda M.

I wish I could give 3 1/2 stars because although the decor is a little unusual I like it because it adds to the lively atmosphere. There are those dangling white xmas lights and a row of fridge doors covered with tree wallpaper. There always seems to be a lot of people here and everyone seems to be having a good time. The food is ok, the prices are good. A fun neighborhood haunt so stop by if you're around but I wouldn't go out of your way.
(3)
Gary F.

Gary took the tight girl here about two months ago. It's taken these two months to recover and finally spit out a tight review. Have you ever heard that a menu with pictures of the food is best avoided? Think IHOP or Friendly's. Well, one look at the sticky, photo album menu pages at Dok Bua and Gary wanted to run screaming onto Beacon Street. However, Gary persisted, whispering to himself that he's really never seen a meal he didn't like. And it's not that he didn't like the food at Dok Bua. However, there was the scary mango chicken, the tom wonsoon soup that wasn't nearly as tight as the one served at delicious Khao Sarn on Harvard Ave. and the fever dream decor. In summary: Dok Bua is a mix of Chinatown convenience store, acid trip, and Denny's. But you should try it anyway.
(3)
Jennafir E.

It was good food at a decent price, but it wasn't amazing. I enjoyed my meal and the round tables, the multiple choices, btu when push comes to shove it was just good. I'd go again if friends want to, but I'd probably try another place before going back, to see what else is out there.
(3)
Sarah S.

I'm not sure why everyone raves about this place. My experience of it has been just ok.
(2)
Jessica P.

If you haven't found a "good" thai place in Boston then you have not been to Dok Bua. I like it much better than Brown Sugar or The King & I. The food is always delicious and it doesn't break the bank. You can't go wrong with anything here and their picture menu would put any novice at ease. Enjoy!
(5)
Matt S.

First off, I have to say I'm not the biggest Thai food fan. I like it fine, but I prefer Chinese, Korean, Japanese, or, when in Boston, Burmese, if I'm going Asian. But Dok Bua is a nice place. I came here quite a bit when I lived in Brookline--always enjoyed it on Friday and Saturday nights in the summer, when it was packed with couples or with groups having a good time. Really good Pad Thai, and the best beef basil fried rice I've ever had! Now in Chicago, I miss it. There's nothing close here. And I think it's probably more authentic than Brown Sugar, which is good but overpriced and overrated. 4.5 stars.
(4)
Ryan D.

Dok Bua and Rod Dee are my fav thai joints in Brookline!. They both have great cuisine and they both are authentic. To tell you the truth i cant decide which thai place i like more... But what I can tell you about Dok Bua is they have a more diverse menu with some of my favs like Soft Shell Crab. Braised Thai Ribs and the shredded spicy melon. Dok Bua is more of a sit down restaurant with better ambiance. Its a great place to take a date, and its BYOB!!!!. They also have a little section of the restaurant that specialize in thai candies and other types of junk food. The picture menu should be a bible...What i've learned from dining out at asian restaurants is that the names of the dishes doesn't serve the foods justice. This also is a great technic for up selling because i always eat with my eyes first so...i always over order : )
(4)
Carolyn D.

I, I, I'm stunned that I so did not like this place. Granted, I was in a snit because I drove over to CC from Roslindale for a nice, quiet, veggie lunch at the Bubble Tea place across the street, only to find it's CLOSED. Sadness all around. But, I had already put my three quarters in the meter, and so walked across the street to Dok Bua, thinking I would have a decent lunch there, since so many Yelpers gave it four and five stars. Service is prompt, but the food was startingly mediocre. I got the cashew and veggie lunch, thinking it was vegetarian, but when I was asked "Beef or Chicken?" I should've switched to the one plainly veggie offering for lunch. I didn't, and asked if I could have it with tofu, and there was no problem. I also ordered the Thai salad and the veggie spring rolls as my two sides. Salad was iceberg lettuce and tomato. Hmm. Spring rolls good, put the shredded carrot garnish on salad, tasty. It was the tofu that stunned me. Soggy, lukewarm, clearly reheated. And there was lots and lots of fish sauce, but I'm not taking points of for that since I didn't ask and it didn't state it was a vegetarian dish. The ambience made me a little crazy. Kinda cool, but the music was too loud, and when music wasn't playing, it was some, man, talking in Thai. For a long time. I didn't enjoy that. Bathrooms through the dish washing room (I guess), unpleasant, and it made me feel like the bathroom was unclean (but it wasn't). Maybe lunch isn't their strong point, but the whole experience put me off.
(2)
Nora P.

Felt like I was in Thailand again when I walked in the door. The food was good and the atmosphere was great. We will be back...soon.
(4)
Matthew H.

I've eaten here many, many times and Dok Bua has never disappointed. The curries are tasty, the pad thai is one of the best in Boston and the chicken basil has lots of flavor and a nice bite to it. Some of the food is pretty spicy...they definitely don't water it down to please the typical american customer. But if you like food with some bite to it, you'll feel right at home at Dok Bua. The decor is a bit wacky, but it's a fun place to eat dinner and the service is always very friendly and attentive. All in all a very good experience that I would highly recommend to anyone.
(5)
Katie K.

Go for the Pad Ki Mow. Go now. (and don't forget the basil fried rice and the chili sauce.)
(5)
Doris K.

The most authentic Thai food in Boston - coming from one of my Thai friends. I love that they have a picture menu book so that you can actually see what you want to order, and I also love their Thai ice tea. I really enjoyed every single dish that we ordered and when you say spicy they mean spicy! I need extra water just from the fumes that were coming off the entree. They also offer smoothies, great for the summertime. For my Thai food cravings I usually go here or to Brown Sugar. Both are excellent and reasonable in price.
(5)
Busy L.

I had the lunch special for $8.95 yesterday which consisted of soup, chicken wing and an entree with rice served in a ceramic PuPu Platter type plate. The coconut soup was excellent. Chicken wings were dreaded little greasy things with no flavor. I had the spicy entree with pork and it was uninspired. Nothing exciting or memorable. Rod Dee on Beacon has much better quality food.
(2)
Joanna B.

I recently went to Dok Bua for lunch and, for all the reviewers who complained about the kitschy decor - they've upgraded!!!! The wall of refrigerators with contact paper covering them is gone and a very happy lime green coat of paint with interesting designs is in their place. This makes more space for diners, which is good, and the food is still delicious and priced affordably. They are always happy to substitute/add ingredients for you and they take credit cards. I have never had a bad meal there and I've been there at least 20 times and everyone I take there enjoys whatever they order. The lunch special is now $8.95. If you order hot tea you get a mug you could practically swim in and the hot thai tea comes in a very dramatic presentation where you pour the boiling water over the leaves yourself. It is still funky, but less scary-funky. The bathrooms are COLD and do not feel that clean, though I have never had a problem after using them. Thanks, Dok Bua, for making the dining room a little more inviting.
(4)
Nathan W.

Pretty good thai food. The portions are huge and you get a choice of a few dishes with their specials. The thai ice tea is great here as well
(4)
Joanna C.

I've only been here twice, but I like it enough to know that I'll be coming back. The pricing is reasonable and portions fair. Keep in mind, this isn't some fancy place, so I'm not keeping my expectations that high. And so... Pad ke mao: pretty good (I asked for mild spiciness, they were very obliging) Crab fried rice: okay Mango sticky rice: SO GOOD Chrysanthemum tea: I love this stuff I wish I could give them an extra half star because their service is friendly. Their extensive menu alone is worth coming back for. The picture menu especially helps get the appetite going.
(3)
Chris S.

Very friendly staff, tasty food.
(4)
Fiat V.

WHO"S INTO HUMAN RIGHTS???? ANYONE HERE IN BOSTON???? IF THAT"S YOU..... READ THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! Here's an "IN-" sight on this restaurant if you don't already know..... I know this because my roommate worked there and told me this.... No matter how much you tip, if it be $1 or $100 tip, the owner of the restaurant keeps a huge cut of it! Each of the server brings home ONLY $65 per shift!!! No matter how stellar or how horrible the service is, the servers DO NOT keep their share of the tip. So for example, during the lunch shift, if 5 servers make a total of $100 or $1,000 in a shared-tip pot, each of the servers receives only $65 in tip. The extra amount goes to the owner of the restaurant. How dumb is that!!! Yeah, the food is alright, but if you support child-labor sweatshops, under-aged pornography, tainted baby formula, or are against ethical issues, then by all means, SUPPORT THIS RESTAURANT!!!!
(1)
ãƒˆãƒ¢ T.

A small authentic Thai restaurant in Brookline MA where I often visited with friends from Bangkok. (Warning: haven't been there for years, so my review could be out dated) PROS: I loved their picture menu, and I'm not talking about one of those professionally done picture menus you see at Chilli's. Unaltered photos taken by the chef that looks exactly like what you will get. Everything on their menu is great, so you cannot go wrong. All at a bargain price. CONS: I haven't been there for a while, but I don't think they still have liquor license. I'm not a heavy drinker, but it's nice to have beer with spicy food.
(5)
Shea D.

Three words: Crab Fried Rice. Nuff' said. PS: Get the bubble tea.
(5)
Julie R.

While in Coolidge corner with my boyfriend we decide to find a place for lunch. We venture down Harvard St. and see Dok Bua. I had remembered seeing good things on yelp so knew we were in good hands. A Yelp plaque rests on the hostess table. I think NICE! The place is set up cafeteria style and is packed on a Sunday afternoon. A server quickly gets our attention and takes us to an open table. We check out the large menu and both decide to do the combo for $7.95 each. So I decide on the coconut milk soup, salad with peanut dressing, and pad Thai. It arrives on a cute dish with everything separated. I try it all. Tasty! Salad is fresh and crisp. Soup is soothing, pad Thai is just great. My boyfriend got the spring roll, salad, and crispy chicken. He raved about it also while clearing his plate. The dining room was loud and very family friendly so don't go there looking for a romantic dinner. Go for some great food! The Thai iced tea was excellent too!
(4)
Nisy W.

This is one of my favorite regular places to go for Thai food. I don't mind taking the ride through the crazy J-Way and Riverway to get to that side of town. The service is always great, the food never dissapoints, and you can bring your own bottle of wine. The golden bags are to die for!!!!! And how can you not have the Thai ice tea....Yummm!!!
(4)
Shivani G.

I heard that Dok Bua won Best of Boston this year and my interest was piqued. I stopped by this afternoon for a light lunch and thoroughly enjoyed my chicken noodle soup. The broth was flavorful and the chicken had a lovely roasted flavor. I took their takeout menu because I have half a mind to order in for dinner! P.S. The decor reminds me of being in Thailand, so I liked its quaint charm. UPDATE: I ordered delivery and I wasn't as impressed as with my two times dining in. The pad thai lacked taste and the panang curry was a little nondescript when it came to its coconut milk. Hmm, maybe eating in the restaurant is the way to go?
(4)
Sarah R.

I don't go out often for Thai. It's not that I don't like it, it's just that it's not my first choice when dining out. Like Indian food, I have to be in the right mood for it. However, Dok Bua is a great choice for when you're jonesing for some Thai on the (relatively) cheap. There's a good selection of dinner specials for $9.95 that include your entree, jasmine rice, pork dumplings, and spring rolls. Not too shabby. When I came here last weekend I had the pad Thai with crispy chicken. This was on a Saturday night, when the restaurant was relatively hoppin'. In what seemed like the blink of an eye after ordering, our steaming hot, fresh food was brought out to us. For reals, this place has efficiency down pat. The chopsticks separate nicely, which is another plus. I can't tell you how much it irks me when I try to separate them and as a result, one stick has part of the other stick attached to it. Know what I mean? These split cleanly and evenly. Word. The atmosphere is kind of fun and kitschy, like other reviewers said. Lots of bright colors and sort of cartoony-looking, charming decor. Overall it's a very inviting and fun little joint. Downside? Apparently there's no plum sauce, which was inconsequential to me, but my date wanted some plum sauce like it was going out of style. No dice. Dok Bua does delivery too, so I imagine that when the mood strikes I'll be ordering from there. It's also worth another trip up Harvard Ave.
(4)
sara f.

With all the Thai places Ive eaten at in the Allston/Brighton area, this place was just ok and not very memorable. For one, perhaps the waitress was new or maybe we were just forgotten as we were placed in the back, but it took quite some time to place our order. We had noted that tables that were seated 10 minutes after us were placing their order before us which was pretty annoying. Second, one of the platters we ordered was cold and we had to ask the waitress to reheat it. Maybe I just went on an off night, but they seem to be on point the majority of the time as they have won numerous awards that are posted on the front door.
(2)
Frank N.

The Thai food is pretty solid here. I've been here quite a few times in the past, and it does not let me down. Recently I've been coming for the lunch specials, which aren't too bad, but then again the Genki-ya specials might be a little more...special (read: bang for the buck). Anyways, I like to go here because there's more seating than at S&I/rod dee, so if I am rolling with quite a few thai food fans, we can get our fix here. Tom yum soup is good, tad on the sweet side. I've tried a bunch of dishes here--I don't even remember the names, but all were definitely good. I can't attest to "authenticity" that much b/c I haven't had all of the dishes I've tried here in Thailand as well, but of course, all are good in their own right. Yen ta fo, chinese broccoli with dried/cripsy pork, pad si ew, rad nar, that appetizer dish that's just meat etc etc. Actually, I tried their pad thai for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and thought it was ok. I also prefer rod dee's pad kee mao over dok bua's. Did you know that "pork" in thai is pronounced "moo"? (though with a downward then upward tone). I always thought that was funny
(4)
Keelin C.

I am not a naturally born Thai fan, but have been on quest lately to find Thai food that I enjoy. My husband and I have been to Dok Bua a few times. We have eaten there and had it delivered. Each time the food is excellent. I love their Thai flavors and the services is always speedy and excellent. If you want reasonably priced Thai fair this is the place. Enjoy.
(4)
Jonathan R.

I've had a hard time finding great Thai around Cambridge/Boston, and what is decent is often a few dollars over-priced, but last week I finally ventured out to Brookline to discover this gem at the recommendation of a friend. Fantastic food, a very broad menu, appropriately native ambiance, spotty but friendly-enough service (from cute waitresses), and ideal prices. I would go three times a week if it weren't so damned hard to get to Brookline from Cambridge without a car.
(5)
Colin N.

A word to the wise - stick to the specials! You get a great deal when you order their lunch or dinner specials. My girlfriend and I ordered from the menu. My panang curry was mediocre (beef was poor quality and curry was runnier than usual) but my girlfriends dish was great (forgot what it was). I got a thai iced tea, and we didnt order a starter. Bottom line for dinner was just over $30 including tip. Sticking to the specials and skipping the iced coffee, we would have had dinner for two for just over $20. Im going to give Dok Bua another shot, but sticking to my cheapskate budget!
(4)
Jonathan L.

Very affordable Thai food. The atmosphere is great. I love the incense. Oh yes, and I can't stress the great service more. I'm a very picky customer and these guys get it right every time. I've been to this restaurant several times and have never been let down. All their food is very simple and executed very well each time. What makes them good is the combination of spices, textures, and smells. They balance sweet, sour, and spicy flavors to make great food. Anyway, definitely worth a try. BTW, the picture book menu is great. Update: Upping this to 5 stars. Just wanted to add how big the portions are and how fast the service is.
(5)
lizzie b.

I always get nervous when I hear that a place has amazing pad thai. I rev up my taste buds and hope and pray that it will indeed meet my own standards. The best pad thai I've ever had was at a place called "Bangkok Seafood" on Charles Street that closed many years ago. The second best was in Paris at Au PetiThai (4 rue de roi de Sicile.) Dok Bua's pad thai is a far-off third, grouped with many other pretty good pad thai dishes I've consumed. It wasn't too greasy, but there were too many sprouts. The lime I poured over it did not add the particularly pungent flavor that I love. The chicken wasn't not fresh, but it wasn't too fresh either. The peanuts were there, but there weren't enough - none gratuitously sprinkled over the dish, which I prefer. There was quite enough fried egg - yum! My friend told me that the pad thai is "subtle" and that it hits you later how good it is. I would agree with her assessment and say it's yummy for the area, but not that "wow" experience I cringed and waited for...
(3)
fraulein v.

Best Thai food I have ever had, but what do I know I'm white. The plastic food really cracks me up as does the picture menu. I got a curry, my friend got a seafood shanghai noodle dish. I think i almost ordered everything on the menu, in my head... thankfully.
(5)
A D.

Went here first time yesterday -- 9 of us were accommodated almost immediately on a Friday night - not sure if this is common practice but if it is, BIG plus on service -- Lots of good looking entrees on the picture menu, but we were all immediately drawn to the dinner specials...all around 11 dollars and you get a good amount of food and tons of choices. Dinner specials all come with tom yum soup...a little spicier than some other thai places but still good. Also comes with two fried veg spring rolls, two pork fried dumplings, and two sauces, and rice For my entree I got tofu and veggies...pretty good, but the favorites from around the table were the pad-see-ew (wide rice noodles sauteed with chinese broccoli and beef) and the pineapple fried rice. The service was awesome, constantly filled our glasses, were really attentive, and nice all around. There's also a cool little fruit-drink bar inside that accompanies a fun islandy atmosphere. Good amount of food for the price -- all 9 of us were satisfied. Will definitely go back.
(3)
Jen C.

Great place for pretty authentic Thai food when pad thai or pad see-ew won't cut it. Whole catfish, sauteed Chinese watercress, yummy curries - it's all well done and pretty cheap too! The one thing that would push it into 5-star territory is if they made kanom krok (warm coconut pudding)... hint hint....
(4)
Shannon C.

Dok Bua serves the best Thai food I've ever eaten! The Tom Yum soup is really spicy...clears out the sinuses any day. I order the dinner special because it's less than $10, and it's enough for two meals. The red curry and coconut special is my favorite, but I'm working on the rest of the menu. The atmosphere seems nice, and there's a little side area where you can buy sugared guava and moon pies and other things I would name if I could read Thai. This is a great bet for dinner - just a short walk between the B and C!
(4)
Max G.

DOK BUA is the best Thai food, hands down for miles. No comparison.
(5)
Alexander W.

This is authentic and flavorful (ooh spicy!) Thai cuisine. The one waitress is so sweet, it will make you smile. It's pretty cute, and quite well priced too. I like the fact that they sell a range of packaged-but-authentic Thai foods and other regional goodies like a mini market. There's a lot to look at as you're waiting for your dish to arrive. The takeout service is always zippy.
(5)
Doug F.

Just updating to say the chicken BBQ is terrific. Also, the service seems friendlier every time I go. I have yet to be disappointed by Dok Bua.
(4)
Amanda S.

As I'm trying to recover from Morn's (my favorite Thai restaurant and one of our work-lunch go-tos) closing its doors in Wayland, I'm also in hot pursuit of a new place to satisfy my need for masaman curry. Dok Bua just might be that place! Decided to give the mango curry a try, and was not let down. Dok Bua has a number of lunch specials for $7-8, mine came with a generous portion (enough for two lunches) of mango curry along with your choice of two sides. We ordered takeout so I don't have much to say about the dining room or service, but based on the food I'll be sure to go back for the full experience another time.
(4)
Ken C.

Pretty good, but I still prefer Rod Dee and Brown Sugar.
(3)
M C.

I love this place. This place a reall Thai Food. And for the price you can not go wrong
(5)
Julie A.

mmm I like this place a lot! Good thai food for sure. The atmosphere is frickin' crazy, over the top tacky, it's amusing! BYOB makes eating here even more fun. Yummy food. good prices. I recommend!!!
(4)
Kristin S.

I don't see what all the fuss is about. A friend of mine was in town staying at our place last week and wanted to order Thai food. I said "Oh, lets try Dok Bua, yelpers love it!" I admit that Pad Thai is probably the one of the most uninspired dishes you can order but it is also one of the hardest to mess up. I've never had to struggle to find the sauce or the taste in Pad Thai before. From across the room my husband remarked that it looked dry. Perhaps the experience is different if you dine there. I'm willing to give them another try but I will remember to order extra sauce! I will give them credit, it is fairly inexpensive and came very quickly.
(3)
praveen v.

this is such an atypical thai restaurant b/c when you walk in, at first i thought it was a grocery store. It is! but in the back is the restuarant. the food is great and very affordable and it is BYOB!!
(5)
gado.gado D.

Lunches special dishes are good and excellent idea. Overall is more generous than Rod Dee.
(4)
Clarise D.

This is the best Thai restaurant in Boston. The food is delicious and authentic, the staff are friendly and the prices are reasonable.
(5)
Robert A.

Dok Bua Thai Kitchen On Harvard St. in Brookline off the coolidge corner green line stop.. "Ong Bak?" I thought. This place was odd looking as we stepped in. It was 1/4 grocery shop and 3/4 dine in restaurant. We were seated towards the back where i had a good view of the whole restaurant. The walls were covered in fobby tree/rainforest print wallpaper from the 80's in Asia, and one of the ceiling lights were mismatched from the others. Also caught a glimpse of a fluffy stuffed-animal rhino's head hung on the wall. Very confusing. Where they lack in design, they more than compensated for in portion and authenticity. They served us with 2 menus, one menu with pictures and the other w/o. I ordered the shrimp fried rice and it came with 5 or 6 jumbo shrimps, cucumbers and cilentro for decoration, and pleny plenty of flavor! For $7.95, I expected something effortlessly thrown together. I could tell they were proud of such a simple dish. We also ordered the Softshell crab. I dont know about you guys, but the last time I had softshell crab, (ahem apollo), it was one little crab. At Ong Bak, i mean Dok Bua they came out with a huge platter of it with a side of (special) sauce. Special to me just simply meant, spicy as shit! Still, it was a surprisingly large in portion, and taste was quite good. Wasn't very fond of the batter they used, it was like the batter used to make katsu whatever. Overall service 3outta5, food 3.5outta5, portion 4.3outta5, and setting 1.5outta5. This resaurant earns a rating of : Hidden Jewels"!
(4)
B P.

Awesome marketing!!! They have very nice pics of all the food there..makes you want to order it all!! Anyways, the food was tasty. We sat up front and the place looked very nice, fish tank, statues et al. Their lunch is definitely a good deal with the two appetizers. Loved the dumplings, the chicken coconut soup was way too salty. The Thai basil rice is a favorite. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Ben K.

I LOVE DOK BUA. It's the best Thai food I think I've ever had (and AMAZING prices). Every time I get the drunken noodles and they're delicious. Service is always a little weird, but always friendly and always fast. A++
(5)
Angel S.

Here I go... Thai Restaurant. Me Thai. Dok Bua-pleasantly surprised... good and cheap. Nice Thai fried rice. Hear delivery is slow, so pick it up or eat there if you can. Also "hear" that eating there tastes better too. What's up with chopsticks and fortune cookies though? Helloooooo Thai people! Well, I'm gonna guess they are Chinese Thai.
(4)
Adi R.

Love this place. Solid 4 stars. Has a casual, neighborhood feel to it like the locals eat here and not the tourist crowd. Huge menu, but I usually stick to the Thai curries which are quite excellent. I've also tried and can recommend the Drunken Noodles and the calamari appetizer. The restaurant can get super busy and they usually do a good job of handling the crowds - efficient without being overbearing - notwithstanding the one occasion when we waited 40 minutes for our food.
(4)
Sashont C.

Never fail, awesome very affordable thai food!
(4)
Lynn H.

Great value for the amount/quality of food you get. My Thai friend took care of all the ordering (we wanted to steer away from the generic pad thai and pad see ew) and she did a great job for the rest of us! We ate the meal family style and shared two curries (orange with fish, and red with veggies + chicken), some veggie dishes and a big steamed fish. The food wasn't the absolute best I've ever had, but it was served with a much appreciated spicy kick and was easy on our wallets! Oh here's a fun game to play while you're there....take a look around and try to figure out what the space was used for before it became a Thai restaurant. (It's pretty obvious once you figure it out!) The only issue I had with this place was their BYOB policy. I'd read all over Yelp that this was a BYOB joint (not going to lie...it was our driving reason for going). But when I asked our waiter about it and pointed to a six-pack under the table, he gave me a weary smile and said "We don't have a liquor license." Ummm...okay....no problem sir....that's why we brought our own! But he basically made us feel really uncomfortable about even asking and after a lot of nervous giggling and awkward pauses he informed us that we could do whatever we wanted but that they don't like when people drink there. Essentially, he left us the choice of being good patrons...or assholes. Awesome! We chose the former (no one wants noodles with a side order of phlegm) and had a great meal regardless. But a major bummer for the cold beers I had been thirsty for! So my advice for those planning on going for the BYOB aspect: don't ask, just do it...but be warned there may be some dirty looks thrown your way!
(4)
Charles L.

No doubt! 5 Stars for the most kick ass Tom Yom Soup around! That was some of the best takeout I've had in a LONG time... We ate the shrimp sticks and a WHOLE crab with spicy curry... damn!
(5)
Gen M.

Cheap amazing thai food (I actually dislike Rod Dee), the atmosphere is kinda kitschy, but okay -- i welcomed it. AMAZING BUBBLE TEA -- they serve it in those mason jar style mugs with handles -- just the entire presentation was cool, i thought.
(5)
Jill C.

Thai food for college kids. Great price though!
(2)
Stockton M.

Atmosphere pales to Brown Sugar which has so-so food. Food is more authentic but not quite as tasty as Rod Dee which has great food but zero atmosphere. So it serves a nice middle ground. One weird thing is that there is an area of the restaurant which is a little store selling some Thai products, including some things which appear to be porn....right near where you wait for a table....this could lead to an awkward moment if you bring someone there to impress or for a special dinner.
(3)
Jennifer B.

Because I could go on about this place fo-evah, I 'll just keep it short and sweet. Dok Bua was not only the 1st Thai food that I ever had, but it is most def. the best I've ever had. I miss it more than anything else in the region of MA. BEST PAD KE MOA EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sorry if i misspelled). Everything about this place rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everything!
(5)
Alyssa N.

Good service, as you tend to be seated fairly quickly, even on busy nights. Bonus points for the picture menu that accompanies the regular menu- I like to have a sense of what my food might actually look like (I'm not sure why this makes a difference, but it does- at least to me). The food is varied and tasty. I adore the radna (sp?) noodles, and find the sauce thicker and richer than in other Thai places. In fact, one of the best things about Dok Bua are the seemingly endless options offered to diners. I'm mainly a carnivore, but really do enjoy some of the (many) of the vegetarian options. I will say that the interior decor is somewhere off the aesthetically pleasing radar, but Dok Bua wouldn't be Dok Bua without the slightly scary, gray puffy cloud that watches over the restaurant from high on a shelf near the back or the genderless lamps that glow different colors on a table somewhere in the middle of the space. In all of my visits there has been only 1 minor mess up involving a friend who is allergic to peanuts, but they fixed it right away. The food is predictable, but in a good way. And there are so many more choices here than in most places.
(3)
Misha L.

This is the place that we go whenever we've either had an extremely good or an extremely bad day, and Dok Bua always makes the good days fantastic and the bad days better. The lunch and dinner specials are cheap but tasty and healthy, you get a ton of food, and the wait staff is nice. I always ask for my soup and dish ridiculously dangerously spicy, and they oblige my masochistic culinary quirks with a smile.
(5)
Hailey T.

I'll make this short and sweet. Fast delivery, decent price, good food. Pad thai was great, the chicken with it was just ok, but that wasn't my concern. The shrimp spring rolls are solid, but the crab rangoon is phenomenal!
(4)
Linh V.

I never know what i'm ordering. I never know what i'm eating. And then the next time i come, i never remember what I ordered or ate last time. But i don't care. You can't go wrong. Just close your eyes and point and I guarantee you'll be satisfied.
(5)
Jim K.

GOOD FOOD CHEAP! If you like Thai food, try this place. If you are short on funds, try this place. Try a lunch or dinner combination, which comes on a circular plate, with each part of the meal in different sections. It's a little cozy, with the tables close together, but it's very warm and inviting and the food is great. Definitely a must try for fans of Thai food.
(4)
Neeia G.

Nothing special. Just your average thai restaurant with average service
(3)
Randall K.

Great food, great serving sizes, very clean and the help are AWESOME.
(5)
Jocelyn C.

Practically the only thing I miss from my time living in Allston is getting to eat here. It makes me hungry just seeing the name up on this website! The food is cheap and amazingly good, and the service is friendly. I usually ordered take-out, which was always fast, but loved coming to eat in too. All-around great restaurant! The best part of eating in is getting to go through the picture menu... ingenious!
(5)
Taishi T.

Almost as good as going to Bangkok." My friend took us to this place one evening, and was pleasantly surprised. By the decor, it looks like a cross breed of some cheesy Chinese statue joint, "lion witch and the wardrobe" walls, and some of the best Thai food you can get in the East. I have been to a lot of places, including Thailand a few times, and this place definitely does the farang-hot-hot meals (Try the Tom Yum goong which is another indicator of quality). It even has the pink baskets with the Saran Cha and the chili pepper vinegars, that you get at the local places in Bangkok. The glass noodles were incredible, and the green chicken curry (My Thai level of greatness indicator) was very well done. I would recommend anyone who likes Thai, and if Jack talks Thai - then go to Dok Bua Hoo Aaa...
(4)
Kim H.

I feel guilty to downgrade my once favorite restaurant in all of Boston to three stars. I was a regular when it was a mini-mart, got one of their first VIP cards, and used to go several times a month a few years back. I went back recently for the first time in a long while and was so disappointed. Pad Ki Mow, were you always so saucy and tomato-y? Yum Nua, were you always so sweet and tomato-y? Why has tomato invaded all of the dishes? It was such a lackluster meal, and nothing tasted authentic. Dok Bua of 10 years ago, come back! I'm sticking with S&I for now.
(3)
Mini S.

Their Thai Food totally reminds me of Thai food in Bangkok! Very lively place. Awesome food! If I go for "REAL" Thai Food, this is the place to go. Their coconuts soup is really good. Try it! I go here all the time for Thai food.
(5)
Anonymous P.

Among the best authentic Thai restaurants in Boston, and perhaps the very best. Their food isn't authentic across the board--stay away from (or steer right toward, if that's your preference) the American-style appetizers and soups. If it sounds Chinese, it's probably Americanized Chinese food to please unadventurous palates. But for the most part, the food is authentic and very good, though not the best I've ever had. They will make it very spicy if you order pet pet (Thai hot) or pet ma (as hot as you can make it please). My favorite dish is probably the spicy basil catfish. I sometimes prefer Rod Dee in Coolidge Corner, but most people prefer Dok Bua. Update: 9/27/06. As good as always. Perhaps the very best thing about Dok Bua is the DESSERTS. The delicious treats go well beyond mango with sticky rice. Try, e.g., the gingko nuts with taro, or the durian dessert if you're even more adventurous. Though Eastern cuisines aren't known for their desserts, Dok Bua serves up the best and most interesting Asian desserts I've ever had.
(5)
Joe R.

Great little Thai restaurant in Brookline. The dinner & lunch specials are all around $8-10, and were quite tasty. I had the stir-fried chicken and cashew meal special, which came with spring rolls and sweet & sour soup. I also shared the popcorn chicken appetizer. All were very tasty - not overly spicy, flavorful, and just the right temperature. If you go, pick up some dried squid chips on your way out...
(4)
Ellen L.

Terrible. I got sooo sick off of eating here. Doesn't seem to be the cleanest place... decor is just....weird... not a first date location! I'd go to brown sugar if you're going for atmosphere...and not getting sick!
(1)
Rahul S.

Best Thai I have eaten, period. Better than anything else in Boston or NYC for that matter (as per my friends from NYC who visited us and liked it better than the best Thai places they have eaten at in NYC). The decor is not so nice but the food is surprisingly reasonably priced too. Highly recommended.
(5)
Erin G.

I can't really compare this to other thai food i've had because i've never had memorable thai food. I ate at Dok Bua just last night and it was great! the restaurant has charm on its side, as well as a friendly staff and mouth-watering pictures of their dishes. I ordered tofu and veggies with rice noodles in a chili paste and it nearly burned my esophagus to a crisp...exactly what i'm looking for in a spicy dinner!!! i couldn't even finish it all and the word from the other side of the table was that the chicken and mango curry was tasty with generous servings of sweet mango. i also had my very first thai iced tea which was super sweet because of the cream, but you could tell that alone the tea would kick you right in the pants. pricing was totally reasonable and it's in a great location. i love brookline, and now, i love dok bua!
(3)
Susan D.

After hearing all the raves for this restaurant, I had to try it, especially since I was around the corner at my beloved Trader Joe's. I got the Pad Ke Mow lunch combination with two chicken wings and coconut chicken soup. I also ordered the papaya salad and later the mango coconut sticky rice. I have had my share of Thai food. So in comparison, the papaya salad wasn't that good. It was overly salty, but had nice crunch and chili strength. My coconut chicken soup was also way too salty, but at least the sweetness and savory coconut hid it a little bit. The flat noodles were delicious!! My husband got a meat on top of salad concoction that was WAY too spicy after he asked for no chilis at all. He is sensitive. I am not, but I thought it was sort of ridiculous that he asked for something and it was completely ignored. And sadly it didn't come with rice. We didn't bother ordering any after the fact because I shared my meal with him. The best discovery was the perfectly ripen room temperature sliced up mango sitting in a stellar warm coconut sauce adjacent to a wonderful mound of sweet sticky rice. The combination is amazing and I would return just for a repeat experience!
(3)
RM S.

After Rod Thai in Chinatown burned down, I was having a hard time finding other Thai restaurants around the area that would match the SPICY Kra Pao (ground chicken with basil and rice) that I loved. Well my friends, I found that Dok Bua's spiciness to be authentic, so authentic that it makes me go into tears. I highly recommend this awesome ex-food market that turned into an amazing restaurant.
(5)
Ashley J.

I ventured back after my last disappointing trip and they have returned to their former glory. I am so happy to be able to indulge my craving for Thai basil once again at Dok Bua. Yeah
(5)
Iska B.

I just recently moved to Brookline in September and was looking through Yelp for some great places to eat near me. So clearly I quickly came upon Dok Bua and had to try it. My boyfriend and I had a great experience. We've been back 3 times now since it is a short walk from my place. The food is always so good and the portions are just right (not enormous so that you cannot finish but not too small either). We've tried the dinner specials, which are such a good option if you want to try a variety of foods, and the standard pad thai, pad see yew, and other noodle dishes. We also LOVE the fresh rolls. The staff is very nice and the service is quick. The prices are also great and allow a person to order appetizers even on a budget. If you want good Thai in Brookline this is THE place to go.
(5)
Chick P.

If I could give zero stars I would... sorry yelpers but i just had the worst delivery/food experience of my life... not only did i not get 1/2 of what i ordered... what i did get was littered with black hairs... EWWW my pad thai had a lot of unknown seafood (i think) bits in it YUCK. i feel sick thinking about it. asjdfksajfdsajk I AM SO DISAPPOINTED! and now there is a rumbly in my tumbly that is foreboding
(1)
Emily T.

I agree with all the other positive reviews--faabulous food--the other thing about this restaurant is that it is really kid-friendly and no matter how many times we've eaten there we've never had a bad meal. It's just consistently delicious!
(4)
Pamela P.

I hate to say anything bad about Dok Bua...I used to love Dok Bua...until one day my BF and I were eating there...we started with the soup...and I had the strangest feeling come over me...what it was was a reaction to MSG...now normally I am not sensitive to MSG...I eat Raman noodles all the time...but this episode landed me in the Emergency Room and the docs told me it was a reaction to MSG. Now like I said I normally can eat foods with MSG and I'm fine...which leads me to believe that there was A LOT of MSG in my soup...even my BF said he was starting to feel funny. But...I have eaten there before many times and been ok...but now I know why their food is so "flavorful"....I'd rather get the flavor from real spices...but of course that's how they keep their prices down. So I have to give Dok Bua a 2-star rating. If you can handle MSG...then eat there...but if you're at all sensitive like me...be wary.
(2)
Jack B.

I really shouldn't write this review since I'll be letting the word out, but it seems like there is no secret to keep. The place is justifiably crowded anyway and I'm not telling Brookline and environs anything they don't already know about this funky, loud Thai restaurant. This is Thai comfort food at its very best - all your favorite dishes done with great flavor and excellent value for money. I love the dinner special with red curry - a complete dinner for $9.95 that includes dumplings, spring rolls, chicken tom yum soup, red curry chicken (or beef, tofu, etc.), and rice. Don't miss the mango and coconut sticky rice for dessert - something always worth diving into even when you are absurdly full from your main course. One minor warning: I once ordered pad thai and requested no peanuts, but it arrived with peanuts. It was an honest mistake was quickly remedied. Still, allergic diners must remember to be careful when going for a Thai food fix!
(5)
Food S.

I have been to this restaurant a few times with my girlfriend in recent months, and each time I have not been disappointed by any means. Typically I get the same thing: the Pad Thai plate, which is very good, their prices are incredibly reasonable, as well as the freshness and presentation of the food is always very nice. I also have to laugh at the mason jar glasses they use to serve their drinks in. (I typically get the Thai iced tea, which I is a huge favourite) If you are in the Brookline area, I suggest you check them out. They are not far from Coolidge Corner.
(5)
Kristen R.

This was the first restaurant I went to after moving to Boston. I instantly fell in love with the food, but was it just because I'd been hauling boxes all day? Well, I had to put it to the test, so I eat here at least every other month to make sure that it really is good. And it always is. I've tried and liked several of the dishes, but I always go back to the Kee Meow Puk (vegetarian drunken noodles). It's just sooo good!!!!
(4)
nomo c.

Great food , it's like walking into your best friends moms kitchen. Comfortable casual atmosphere and good lunch specials.
(4)
Chelsea B.

I love Dok Bua so much!! The staff extremely friendly and accommodating, the food is authentic and delicious, portions are great for the price, and the ingredients are fresh. Anything with the crispy chicken is delightful. My favorites are the Pad See Ew and the seasoned beef appetizer! If you pay for takeout with cash they really seem to appreciate it, we've gotten discounts for this reason on several occasions.
(5)
Jenni L.

Best Thai Food in Boston. I go there for dinner for the dinner special. 10.95 for a perfectly portioned dinner. Rice, soup, appetizers and entrees. Ordered the Crazy Noodle and loved it so much that it has become my signature dish at Dok Bua. I've tried other dishes that are just as good, but I am a sucker for the thick rice noodles! Tom-Yum soup is delicious. Literally, my favorite... and it helps that they aren't cheap with the shrimp and mushrooms! Service is wonderful. The waitresses are very nice and very attentive. If I want Thai food, I'd definitely come here... eventually I'll become a regular, no doubt.
(5)
Julia O.

Dok Bua is *the* best Thai Restaurant in the Boston area. I've lived here 10 years I can't believe I only found out about them a year ago - hence I've had to go at least once a week to compensate for all those lost meals. The prices are very affordable and the service is great. Most of the times I been I get my food in less than 5 minutes after ordering. Be sure to order the drunken noodles, they are so good!!
(5)
Chad F.

All the dishes are shown in pictures on the menu, so it is very easy to see what you are ordering. This comes in handy when you want to try out something that you have not had before. Great Thai food for reasonable price.
(4)
H T.

What more could you ask more? This restaurant cranks out super spicy thai and you're eating it under chandeliers that look like sperms and naked figurine lamps. Yeah, spicy food helps people GET-IT-ON. Even if you end up not gettin' any, the food is still so good. I couldn't get past my noodle dish. The flavor was spot on and it was SO spicy! I tried all my friends' dishes and they're all great. And eating it with a strange looking baboon stuffed animal hanging over my head was fun too! One thing not to order here is dessert. The ABC they had was missing red beans, the whole point of the dessert. And another one, Thai Chandol, was a bit too salty. As for service, it was average. There were several mishaps like putting meat in a vegetarian dish (but we sent it back and it was ok), and bringing out the desserts first. But I don't mind having desserts first. This is my favourite place for a super spicy pad-kee-mao now. Definitely worth a hike out here if you don't live in the area.
(4)
Lee H.

This place is the real deal. Great food. Low prices. Nice service. Don't expect fancy digs. It's a bit like being in Thailand. That's part of the charm. Parking can be tough, but there's a municipal lot a couple of blocks down. Give it a try.
(5)
Pud P.

I have been going to this restaurant for more than 8 years now. They have very friendly waiters and delicious Thai food! I've never been disappointed here!
(5)
G S.

Dear Dok Bua, This is not easy for me to say, but I think I'm in love with you. I know it seems sudden. We've only known each other a short time but I can't help it. I find you irresistible. Your yummy pork dish that I can't remember the name of but, because of your photo-album-menu, I can vividly recall the centerfold-like sexiness of its porky-sweety-tastiness, causes me to salivate by just thinking about it. (I think it's called, ironically, Moo-Yang. *sigh*) Your quirky decor makes me smile. Especially the wall of coolers camouflaged behind a serene forest mural. Your lively and courteous staff are great. Even when I show up with a huge table-full of friends who have trouble choosing from your extensive menu of authentic Thai dishes. I mean...you have Sum Tum! How could I not love you!? I can't wait to see you again, dear sweet Dok Bua. I am counting the seconds. Yours forever, me
(5)
Jessica W.

Just found this place thanks to Yelp. Since it was our first visit and we had a time crunch to make a movie, we went with the easy-ordering dinner specials, which at $10.95 were quite reasonable as it was all we needed to order. The food tasted fresh. Nothing fancy, just veggies, meat, and curry in various combos. The atmosphere is laid back and service friendly and attentive. But the best part was that the food was FAST! 4 minutes from ordering to our food appearing on the table. The restaurant was 80% full at the time and the takeout orders were lined up, but they clearly have the kitchen streamlined. We got to our movie early.
(4)
Liz O.

Every time I go here, I tell myself I need to go here more often. My BF loves that they have a picture menu, and also that it's super cheap. I love that it's one of the few places I don't always get the same things because there's just so many things I love - and both of us like that they will omit ingredients we don't like. Even on a recent Saturday night, prime time, we were seated immediately and got our food within minutes of ordering. It's usually about $10-$11 for a dinner meal which includes soup, some apps, rice and a small serving of your main course. However, they always assume that's what you want, the dinner special version of whatever you order, so if what you want is the full-size entree and no mini apps and soup, it can be hard to specify that (especially on the phone or through foodler). Sometimes I just want an immense quantity of whatever and don't want to dilly-dally with egg rolls. Also, my BF doesn't really like fried food (can you trust a person who doesn't like fried food?) They used to serve the spicy dishes REALLY spicy, but sadly, no more. Now, even when I ask for extra spicy, I get extra white girl with a side of white rice. I want to cry tears of pain with my tears of pleasure. I want my Thai iced tea to be a soothing balm... But the service is friendly, the location is between the green C and B line, parking can usually be had at a meter in the evenings, and just go... you have to see the awesome lighting.
(4)
Evonne S.

My husband, daughter and I ate there last week as a last minute thing driving around Brookline. Food was ok, the crab rangoon - always a favorite was good but shaped weird and awkward to eat. The reason for the 3 star is that our bill was calculated with 20% tax added on. When asked why the tax was so high, they couldnt give me a straight answer and said that was their tax. I know im not a native of Boston but I am from this country and have eaten around Boston and havent seen tax like that. And i know they sometimes not only add state tax and city tax but not that much. Disappointed nontheless and made it a little harder to swallow my meal. Needless to say I wont be eating there again.
(3)
Marilyn T.

Every time I've gone there before 7:30pm, I've been able to get a metered spot out front. It's always pretty full (even in the middle of the afternoon), but there's usually little or no wait. I'm not a big fan of boba, but they offer lots of Asian drinks. I always get pad thai (yes, I know.. it's not even really thai). I like that it's sweet, but it can be a bit greasy sometimes. They recently raised the prices from $8.95 to $10.95. Other dishes I like include penang beef curry, Singaporean thin noodles with curry (pretty greasy), and any fried chicken dish. For Indonesian fried rice, I prefer Rod Dee. Dinner and lunch combos are available with smaller portions of the food, but you get egg rolls, rice, soup, etc. The decor is interesting, as there used to be a shop there, so you see the remaining refrigerator/freezer doors on the side, covered by decorative paneling. They still sell a few Asian grocery snacks in the front of the restaurant. Service is always quick, and they try to be as helpful as possible. Got to love the picture menu! They refill water quickly and are pretty accommodating about substitutions and dietary restrictions. It's the perfect place to load up on comfort food/carbs.
(4)
Alex S.

When your in the mood for Thai food and your not immediately thinking of some greasy Pad Thai with extra peanuts eggs and little that resembles Thailand, this might just be the place. From the moment you enter with the classic sappy Thai music playing and the women chefs that you catch glimpses of wearing masks in the kitchen this is a rather authentic Thai place. We went their for lunch and they have a $9 fix. I got stir fried pork with basil. The stir fry was a reasonable size and was really good. Not over greasy or over spiced. Perfect level of flavor. The lunch also comes with two sides. I had a Tom-Yom-Koong soup that was unfortunately WAY over salted. I am a guy who loves salt on things but this was so salty I really couldn't finish it which is saying a lot. My brother had the coconut milk and chicken soup and that was much much better. I also had steamed dumplings which were good but there were only 2 of them and they were only about a bite each. Overall not a bad experience but soup definitely needs some improvement.
(3)
Craig S.

Try any of their lunch specials & you'll be hooked. Good for groups or you & a date. I've impressed many girls by taking them here. Sorry, no bar here, but BYO as I've seen many do. I come here with buddies after golfing and we practically order the menu - My favorite Pad See Yu & crispy duck. Always grab some Thai Ice Tea along with the Tom Yum Soup. Don't forget, order by number & letter to avoid any confusion. CK9 or CK8. The best is the picture menu!
(4)
Joseph R.

Yyyyeeessss. My girlfriend and I went here for dinner the other night, and I fell in total love with this place. The location, the inside, the food, all of it. It's a good space with a good feel and good foot traffic. We got two of the dinner specials, which come out on these plates with sectioned off areas for different parts of the meal, with an area for soup in the middle. I don't think I've ever seen those before. Very cool. The food itself tasted pretty good. Ok so I started this review at least two months ago and decided for new year's to actually finish all these I hadn't yet. So I kinda forget what I had. But. If you like Thai food, go here, if for no other reason than I think it's a unique place in a genre of food that doesn't usually get all that super unique.
(4)
Erica D.

This is a pitch perfect Thai dive. You get the feeling the space used to be a convenience store -- rather than remove the refrigerator cases the line the walls, they simply covered the glass with marbled contact paper. Much of the furniture could pass for an 80s high school cafeteria. Food is served on mismatched plates (one of our appetizers was actually served on a christmas plate -- in March!). The dinner specials run around $11, for which you get a spicy soup, 2 spring rolls, 2 pork dumplings, rice and an entree. It is a bountiful spread, served on a round platter. The appetizers are, perhaps, a bit mediocre but the soup is nice and tangy and the entrees are the standouts. Normally I can't resist mango curry, but recently mixed it up and tried the basil eggplant, which was fantastic.
(4)
Mollie C.

Hands down the absolute best Thai restaurant in Boston, maybe even the entire East Coast. When living in Boston I went here a few times a month and to be honest, the food was always fresh, always delicious, and the wait staff are extremely friendly (they even gave me a free Dok Bua tshirt). My favorite dish was N6 (kua Gui which is similar to pad see ew) the noodles are freshly made in house, the chicken is never frozen, and you can tell the chefs take special care to make your dish perfect. Their fried rice meals are also delicious and fresh. The price is right too for the extremely generous portions you get, probably the biggest portions at a Thai place I've ever experienced! I love everything about Dok Bua and since moving to Baltimore I have been scouring the mid-Atlantic to find something that can even hold a flame to Dok Bua and nothing can measure up. Absolutely love love love!!
(5)
Doris T.

This was definitely one of the better Thai foods I had in Boston. The service was efficient and polite and the food was delicious. Even for a Friday night we got seated quickly. The dinner plates looked tantalizing but we settled for regular entre- crispy pad thai with chicken and shrimp and crispy chicken with vermicelli. Of course, hubby and I mixed and matched the two to make the even better combination of crispy chicken with crispy noodles...mmmmmmm.... really good! We reheated the leftovers on a tray the next day and it still tasted good. The place was cute and prices VERY reasonable. We are definitely planning to go back.
(4)
Kristen F.

I've recently been to Thailand and this is the first Thai place I've been to since I've been home. I thought the food was great and exactly what you get at a restaurant on Khao San Road, BKK. There are a TON of dishes to choose from, and the menu has pictures. We had the pineapple fried rice with shrimp and scallions, and the Pad Si Ew with chicken. Both very good, decent portions, and left us full but not to the point where all we could do was take a nap due to food comatose. They also have a variety of bubble teas and smoothies which I am looking forward to trying this spring. Major props to the staff... all of them so sweet and attentive. I'd definitely come back here.
(4)
Calli C.

I've been here twice, once in the fall on a weekend evening in a large group and other time on a quiet summer weekday for lunch for two. Both times I was not disappointed. The service, the quality of food, the relaxed ambiance was amazing. Both times I was bowled over by how much food you get for such little money that I'm not surprised it isn't packed all the time. One of the best places for Thai in Brookline, perhaps in Boston.
(4)
James J.

I've been out to Boston a few times for work, and have had trouble finding good spicy Thai food. Having heard good things about Dok Bua, I planned a trip to check it out. It was a quite a way out of the way, considering I was using the Boston public transportation to get around. I was hoping the trip would be worth it. The great food and excellent wait staff made it and experience that we would not readily forget. It was well worth the trip!!! Things started off pretty good. This is not a fancy restaurant, and just looked like the kind of hidden gem you always hope to run into. Our waitress was a little Thai gal named Bo, over here from Northern Thailand. She was even more friendly than you could expect, and proved to be great throughout the service. I went there with a couple of friends, which is always nice, so I can be sure to try better variety of foods. We started off with fresh rolls and crab rangoons. The fresh rolls were really good. They were simply a variety of vegetables wrapped in soft spring roll paper and serve\red with peanut sauce. The crab rangoons were unlike any that I have had before. They were loaded with filling, but more box shaped than flower shaped, so each bite was for crab filling than crust. I ordered up the Tom Kah Gai (Coconut soup with chicken and mushrooms), as well as Green curry with pork and eggplant (I made sure to ask for it extra spicy, or Phet Phet). My buddy ordered the red curry duck, and the same soup. His wife went safe, and just got and appetizer sampler. The soup was amazing. One of my favorite things about the way Tom Kah Gai is supposed to be is that it is just simplistic fresh ingredients. Chicken and mushrooms served in coconut milk, with fresh scallions, galangala, and lemon grass. Some places over complicate it, and distract from the few simple flavors that with compliment each other perfectly when done properly. Dok Bua NAILED IT!. I could have made an entire meal of that stuff, but I had more tasting to do. LIke clockwork, my curry arrived as I was working to clean every last drop of soup from the bowl. It looked and smelled great. I was eager to try, and first sampled a spoon full of the curry. At first the basil flavor was a pit overwhelming, but it was green curry after all. I was able to notice the rest of the flavors pick up a bit, and felt the nice bite from the spice in there. Meeting my initial approval, I mixed in the rice and dug in. As was expected, the heat level wasn't quite there. Not to worry, having convinced Bo of my affinity for the hot stuff, she brought of a tray of different chili mixes, a sour jalopeno, a slightly sweet chili sauce, chili oil, and the holy grail... ground roasted Thai chilies. No need to break into my Jolika reserve I keep in a small bottle on my key chain. I was able to add a couple of scoops of Thai chili, and we were in business. Were I a poet, I would write you a narrative that accurately captures the amazing mix of aromas and flavor. Instead, you are just going to have to take my word that it was AWESOME. I tried some of the red curry duck, and was like wise blown away. I'm not even going to make an attempt to describe that yummy goodness. The sampler plate had all kinds of tasty treats to try out. The chicken satay... OMG the chicken satay. Tender, yet crispy, and marinaded to perfection. The curry puff reminded me of Indian fare, but were quite tasty as well. Tasty chicken wings, as well as the golden bags. Despite being very full, I convinced them to stick around to sample some dessert. I asked for and order of sticky rice with coconut milk, and mango. My buddy did not realize that three simple ingredients could make for what he described as being and orgasmic experience. To start, the mango was perfect. Sweet, soft, and not very fibrous, it just melted in your mouth. Add to that the chewy sticky rice, and added flavor of the coconut, and you have a dish that I think that even the previously mentioned hypothetical poet James would have difficulty finding the words to capture the incredible delight that this dish presented to my palate. We left with rather full bellies, and still had doggy bags to tot what would be tomorrows lunch. The portions were abundant, and having over ordered out of excitement to explore the menu, we had quite a bit left over. I knew that I would be back. Too many questions left unanswered... Too many dished left unsampled. I was back a few days later. Having spent over an hour one way on the T, I was ready to get to work trying out more of the menu. I'd already been scouting it out on my phone on the way there, and knew what I wanted to order by the time I walked in. I got the Pad Khing with beef dinner special. It came with Tom Yum soup, egg rolls, dumplings, and rice at a really great price (I'm trying with the poet thing). Outstanding food!!!
(5)
Alan B.

This is actually one of the first places I used Yelp to try. Prior to coming here, I hadn't really experienced much Thai food at all, but the Yelp folks were screaming about this place, so I gave it a shot. What's not to love? Great location for me, as I live a few streets over. Portions are perfectly sized; not too big, not too small. Food is incredible; never felt like they reheated something in the microwave any of the times I've been here (quite a few). If I ask for extra-heat on my spicy food, they aren't bashful with it. I'm a big fan of the Pad-Ki-Mow, which is like a thick noodle stir-fry with onions and peppers, topped with some kind of spicy sauce. Also, I'll echo what many people have said about the Mango Sticky Rice. It's one of their pricier desserts, but WELL worth it. Speaking of prices, this place is a steal. Lunch combos go for $7.95 and you get two sides and a main dish, and only a buck more for a dinner combo. The restaurant itself isn't flashy, and the front of it looks like a grocery store. Once you get to the back, it's also very no frills. But for some reason, this works for the place, as you feel like you're eating in somebody's living room.
(4)
Casey W.

Overpriced and bland. If it were cheaper and I was inexperienced with decent Thai food, it would be worth it. The selection and options are there, but I didn't feel the flavor was at all. The fresh rolls were flavorless tubes of lettuce. The chicken yellow curry had maybe five small pieces of dry chicken in it for $12.95. There are several other Thai places that are much better.
(2)
Soul B.

When I was in Boston, my dad visited us from Thailand. My dad, as usual, wanted Thai food. Since my dad lived in Boston for 40 years, he knew where he wanted to go. I thought we were going to some fancy Thai restaurant. Instead my dad took us to this cozy little Thai place called Dok Bua. At first glance it looks like a hole in the wall restaurant with a little market are in the front part of the restaurant. It's not beautifully decorated but as with every restaurant, it's the food that counts. Even before getting the food, I know the food will be good. My dad would not have picked this place if it wasn't good. When I ate the food, I was not disappointed. As usual my dad did the ordering and it was delicious. The staff was very friendly and attentive to our needs. My dad said he felt like he was in Thailand (which is a huge compliment). With all the Thai restaurants in Boston, this restaurant is one of his favorites and has become mine too. I would recommend this place to everyone! menu: brookline.eat24hours.comâ€¦
(5)
Huan z.

While discussing food with a friend from Thailand, I told him one of my favorite Thai is Khao Sarn. He recommend me Dok Bua and Montien. He said Dok Bua is cheaper with more choices. If I want to be adventures on food, that's the place to go. I tried the restaurant yesterday. You can see previews of the food because they have pictures for every dish. I like that they have lot of choices on drinks and noodle soup. I also like that they have a Vegetarian corner. They have more than 200 different kind of dishes. usually I avoid restaurants like that because restaurant having few dishes specialize on their dish. I guess this place is a exception, because the food are very delicious. I guess it will take me a while to try all the food : ) in this one!
(4)
Karen G.

We ordered Delivery through eat24hours.com . Easy ordering and the food showed up when they said it would. No delivery charge and I could add the driver's tip online so I was able to send the food home while I was still at work and let our au pair accept the delivery without having to pay for it if they arrived before I got home. Nice! I gave them 3 stars because it was pretty good in general and everyone ate well over all, but my family really LOVES Thai food, so I am going to be specifically critical in my blow by blow. The Sa-Tay was fine and the peanut sauce was a little sweet, but it came with 4 packed skewers which was a lot and a nice surprise. My boys (5&7) loved it - but really they will eat anything if it comes on a sharp stick. I ordered the Yum-Nua Salad Medium, because usually it is so insanely, authentically spicy it will knock your socks off, but medium was a great disappointment. The dressing was a little too sweet with not enough lime and a very weak medium. Also they skimped on the lettuce which (when it is hot) is the good cooling part of the salad. However the meat was good and I would like to try it again, but spicy this time. The Pad Thai with Crispy Chicken was mixed. The pad thai was awesome!! Everyone ate it up and it was the only thing gone at the end of the meal, however next time I would skip the crispy chicken part and just get the pad thai. The crispy chicken was just a thin, breaded, over-cooked cutlet deep fried and sliced up. The kids ate a piece or two, but didn't really dig it, and we are talking about chicken nugget/fish stick aficionados here. The Pad-Si-Ew Noodle was fine. Not great but not bad. It was a little dry, so maybe it didn't have enough sauce and there may have been a little too much fish sauce, but fine. Although they did forget the Chicken, even though I put it in the comments. The Mas-Sa-Man Curry was good, the potatoes not too mushy which was nice, but the medium spice was a little cool. We got the Pina-Colada and Mango Bubble Teas, both of which were delish. Also the sticky rice was good but the portions were a little stingy. Overall just fine, not bad, but nothing to write home about.
(3)
Liz P.

I ordered delivery from here because of all the great reviews. I was so incredibly disappointed by the utter lack of flavor and overall poor quality of the food. It was a bad first impression and I'll never give them a second chance.
(2)
Branson L.

F-Yes... 4 stars and its not the best thai food in boston... its just a cool place... the food is good, the service is good, you can bring your own alcohol in... which isnt too common in boston. They make a mean spicy papaya salad, but you gotta ask for it to be extra spicy. I once had a hot food face off with some friends here... felt so right.
(4)
Robbie R.

1. Delicious 2. BYOB I got cwab rangoons last night and they were some of the best i've ever tried... and the crispy chicken pad thai is two of my favorite things in the same dish: fried chicken and pad thai. Brilliant. Bring a lot of friends and a lot of booze, and you'll have a lot of fun.
(5)
Katy D.

This place was great. The food came out incredibly fast. Pineapple curry with tofu was super good. Even though it was incredibly spicy to the point where my mouth and lips were burning I couldn't stop eating it. Green tea was the best I've had in a long time and was served in a huge mug. Cute casual atmosphere and friendly staff.
(5)
Mikhaela K.

I've been going here for about 6 years on a regular basis. The dinner and lunch specials cannot be beat. You get tons of food (your entree, rice, soup, 2 apps) for a pittance (somewhere between $10 and $14). The pad si ew is flavorful and the noodles are always perfect. The the eggplant with chili and basil is tasty, too. If you can handle it, it's really great when ordered extra spicy. The chicken tends to be a little dry in their noodle/stir fry dishes so I stick with the friend tofu which is crispy on the outside and silky on the inside. Their pork dumplings are savory and the dough is nice and dense. The mango sticky rice is a MUST. They have other very interesting desserts such as the black sesame dumplings in ginger syrup. Try it! Other goodies are golden bags and spring rolls. Both are appetizers featuring a super thin crispy crust. Both are fun to eat and aren't heavy. The (red) curry is loaded with tons of fresh veggies and can be made more spicy or less so, whatever you prefer. The staff is great: efficient and friendly. They're good at describing the level of spiciness if that's a concern. If you're a thai novice, fear not, they have a picture menu! The restaurant used to be a grocery store and you can still see the old cold case doors along one side. This place is BYOB...yay!! Dok Bua is THE BEST!
(5)
noam m.

We came here last night after reading the recommendations on yelp. they have a dinner deal. 4-10pm, which includes a soup+rice+egg roll+dumpling and your choice of main dish, for 11 dollars. Food was great!our waiter was accommodating to our small requests and his big smile seemed really genuine, now - that you don't get allot!! Staff is friendly and the place was full with people happily chatting away, great atmosphere and much more diverse than other places in brookline.
(4)
Justin V.

Got a bunch of that sweet sweet Foodler money so I've been trying a lot of different asian places in the area. Definitely the best Pad Thai I've had in the area and maybe the best Pad Thai I've ever had. Not as fishy as a lot of the other Pad Thai places and they didn't overload it with peanuts. Big portion too. I loved it but I guess I could understand if people thought it was americanized or a little bland. For $9 they also included spring rolls anda couple dumplings. I got it for takeout but there were a bunch of employees in front who were helpful/friendly in making sure I got my food quickly. I really don't see any point in trying other places. Same price as every other place but with a lot more and better food.
(5)

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Address : 411 Harvard St
Brookline, MA, 02446
Phone (617) 232-2955
Website https://www.dokbua-thai.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Dok Bua Thai Kitchen

411 Harvard St, Brookline, MA, 02446

Dok Bua Thai Kitchen Menu

Appetizers

Yum Salads

Vegetarian Entree

Chef's Special Noodles

Thai Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Dok Bua Thai Kitchen

Appetizers

Yum Salads

Vegetarian Entree

Chef's Special Noodles

Thai Desserts

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