Best Thai food in the state of Maine. I regularly get wonton soup, fresh spring rolls, pad thai noodles. Take out is quick and easy. Sit in is personal and great service. Definitely a favorite place to eat!
(5)
Anna D.
This is for their take-out only. Again, around 7 pm on a Saturday night, we're both itching for dinner, but so indecisive on what we want. When it comes to take out with delivery, we're looking at about an hr wait, given the time of night we're placing the order. Instead, we buck-up and are ok with putting on something other than PJs and going out in public to pick up our dinner. Tonight it was Sala Thai on Washington Ave. Don't be deceived by their "Forest Ave" address on their "allmenus.com" site(!!!!). We ordered their fresh, vegetable spring rolls as an app (rolled to perfection), chicken Pad Thai & Garlic Chicken. The menu states that vegetables came with the chicken pad thai, but mine had zero vegetables, but did include 2 shrimp. Thankfully, I enjoy seafood, but I can't imagine someone that doesn't like seafood ending up with my meal. The bo' really enjoyed his garlic chicken, but given his love for spice, he layered on more siracha! These three items came to $30, a little much for having not really ending up with what I had ordered, but will most likely come back knowing it wasn't a terrible experience. P.s. this was cooked and ready in 15 min! Best part about the night!
(3)
Stephen P.
Recently picked up take-out because I was craving their pad thai (best in town). Many pad thai dishes are too sweet, but Sala Thai balances the savory and sweet just right. I don't go nearly as often as I'd like because it's out of my way but it's totally worth it. While I was waiting to get my order I listened to two friends who ran into each other while waiting for their orders talk about how much they love this place. One of the guys was in the same position as me - not a convenient location to home, but worth the extra drive time.
(5)
Shayla H.
Pineapple fried rice is amazing here! They use just the right amount of curry powder and the rice has nice little sear to it, adding nice depth of flavor. It's a shame the site I used said 5.95 but when I arrived, I was charged 7.99. I was also a bit thrown off by the fresh vegetable spring rolls today. I used to frequent Sala Thai a few years ago and they would come nicely sliced like sushi and in a plastic container. Today, it was wrapped in plastic wrap, unsliced and then in a burger style styrofoam container. I firmly believe that food presentation is a large part of the experience. Given how it came, I imagine the spring rolls weren't too "fresh" after all. Go for the pineapple fried rice, which is 5 stars, just skip the spring rolls.
(3)
Alise K.
This place has been around so long and I can't believe we have not dined here! We ordered the shrimp and chicken pad Thai and the crispy noodle pad Thai. The crispy was not as good as the regular. The regular pad Thai was delicious. My only complaint was that there were only 3 shrimp on the dish and a small amount of chicken. We were there at 7pm and no one was there! Where are all the people??
(3)
Katie C.
Love Sala Thai! It's a great place for either dine in (it never is overcrowded) or takeout (quick and easy) and the staff is always friendly. I've had pad thai in lots of places, but keep coming back to Sala as my "go to" place for pad thai in Portland (yum!) and their pineapple fried rice is also fantastic! Definitely recommend.
(4)
Jess K.
Love their chicken Pad Thai and yellow curry. Fast and cheap! Great for take out, if you're in a rush. The staff is always nice.
(4)
Andrew B.
Have been eating here for years. Grew up in Portland and not a lot of Thai options. Restaurant is located in a former Wendy's (I think it was Wendy's) on a busy intersection. The food has always been excellent. Have traveled extensively since my youth and sampled Thai food around the world, theirs is very good. A touch of American fusion but really good basic Thai dishes. Service has always been excellent and my parents know the owners, they've been going there so long. Never seen the place very busy, the location is a bit off-putting and it's definitely not a trendy restaurant facade but if you want some really good food, a quiet place to eat, and friendly service, give it a try.
(4)
Kristal K.
My go-to place for Thai food. So far everything on the menu that I have tried has been good, with the exception of the tempura Pad Thai (crunchy, not for me). The staff is very friendly and the service is quick.
(4)
Simon L.
We were famished, so I decided to ignore the outward appearance of this place. I took a chance and brought my grandmother here for her first Thai experience--and she loved it. The decor is a little 70's basement chic, but the food was great! The yellow curry was the lunch special, and while not the most delicate I've ever had (the chicken pieces weren't small, but were pretty delicious), it was the best I've ever had for $6.99, easily. The spring rolls are my barometer, usually, and I was wary based on that much earlier review, but it seems they got their act together, because these were neat, tight, and crisp. The sauce was sweet, heavy on the honey, but I found myself trying to fit more of it on after each bite, so I must have been okay with it... All in all, an awesome example of not judging a book by it's cover--because this one looks like the owners manual to a lawnmower.
(3)
Christina K.
I've only had the Pad Thai here and with that being said, its the best Pad Thai I've ever had in Portland. Staff is friendly, never dined in but its quiet and very underrated. I'd fly home just to have this Pad Thai again.
(5)
Bud P.
Not a big fan, my wife likes the crunchy pad thai. i consider this place to be chinese food. Not very good and my tummy hurts later on.
(2)
Erin S.
I have been going to Sala Thai for nearly 6 years and I have never had anything less than a delicious meal! This family-owned restaurant on upper Washington Avenue is so wonderful and, perhaps, the best thai food I have had. I do take out and eat in all the time and have found their customer service to be great. Take out, even at their busiest hour, never takes more than 20 minutes, and you are never left hanging at your table as their attentive wait staff is ready to take care of all your needs. Their menu is perfectly priced, and their entrees are huge. I would highly suggest the pad thai, but my favorite is the yellow curry. They make all of their curries in-house - in fact, most everything is home made at Sala Thai! They also carry some great beer and wine options. If you're looking for a great place to grab takeout, lunch or dinner, I would highly recommend visiting the kind folks at Sala Thai. You won't regret it and will be back again soon after!
(5)
Sara M.
I love Sala Thai my family and I have been coming here for years. I love the Pad Thai Noodles, the Wanton soup and the Fresh Spring Rolls! It's a family run place and they are right out of Thailand, very authentic! The place is decorated to the max with somewhat chincy looking Thai decorations but it only adds to the charm of the place. Although it doesn't look like much from the outside it is well worth a visit I always enjoy myself and have a great meal. They have a cute little herb garden out back for fresh herbs in the summer.
(5)
Robin B.
We decided we would eat here again
(4)
Bobbi Jo W.
Crickets....the sound of crickets interrupts silence at Sala Thai. Close friends live nearby so this is the only reason I discovered quiet Sala Thai. It's unfortunate that the restaurant is almost always empty because the staff is extremely hospitable and the food comes fast and without disappointment. The curry puffs are not greasy and are a great meal starter. Everything I have tried has been hot, flavorful, and as far as my taste buds can tell, fresh. My favorite is the drunken noodles (with beef!) and I am always satisfied when I choose To eat here. Id love to see this restaurant justified with more business.
(4)
Marlena V.
I love Thai food. Authentic or not, if it's fresh, well put together, tasty and doesn't cause a massive explosion in my lower stomach region I'll try it twice. That said, I do not love Sala. Honestly speaking, as Portland newbs, we leafed through the phone book in our motel room and chose this place based on their boastings of such prestigious claims as being "the Best of Portland" several years in a row as well as making a list for top restaurants in the country. Plus they delivered. Bam. A set up for a major instant win. Or not. We started off slow with two orders of pad thai and an order of the fresh veggie rolls: how difficult can that possibly be for one of the country's best? Apparently, very. For starters, our food arrived 45 minutes later with a $33.00 tab plus tip. "Alright," I figured, "if the food is good, I can totally deal." The veggies rolls were huge and slightly disfigured but these are two qualities that can go either way. The taste itself? Completely bland and unappealing. The lettuce was a slightly wilted brown and the rest of the mess was more like a chopped salad than a spring roll. The dipping sauce was a tart mix of peanuts and vinegar. Well, possibly something else as well, but trust me, all I could taste was vinegar. Yikes. For the first time, like ever, I didn't bother finishing it. The pad thai was even worse. With a tangy, fishy odor the noodles and meat were overcooked and swimming in, you guessed it, more vinegar. There was absolutely no balance or real taste due to the overwhelming stench of the "sauce." Someone, please, take away the bottle. It's just not worth it. I tried to like it. I really did. But this was an utterly disappointing experience as due to the printed hype, I was expecting much, much better. Passable. Edible, even! That said, words do not describe the horrific noises that were generated by my stomach that evening. If you're a masochist with a strong love of vinegar by all means, dig in. As for the rest of us, for the love of God, stay as far away as possible.
(1)
Monique G.
Good Pad Thai, interesting under-the-sea-meets-kitsch atmosphere, friendly service. I like Sala Thai - never had the takeout though, so I can't speak to the other reviewer's issues.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Anna Z.
Best Thai food in the state of Maine. I regularly get wonton soup, fresh spring rolls, pad thai noodles. Take out is quick and easy. Sit in is personal and great service. Definitely a favorite place to eat!
(5)Anna D.
This is for their take-out only. Again, around 7 pm on a Saturday night, we're both itching for dinner, but so indecisive on what we want. When it comes to take out with delivery, we're looking at about an hr wait, given the time of night we're placing the order. Instead, we buck-up and are ok with putting on something other than PJs and going out in public to pick up our dinner. Tonight it was Sala Thai on Washington Ave. Don't be deceived by their "Forest Ave" address on their "allmenus.com" site(!!!!). We ordered their fresh, vegetable spring rolls as an app (rolled to perfection), chicken Pad Thai & Garlic Chicken. The menu states that vegetables came with the chicken pad thai, but mine had zero vegetables, but did include 2 shrimp. Thankfully, I enjoy seafood, but I can't imagine someone that doesn't like seafood ending up with my meal. The bo' really enjoyed his garlic chicken, but given his love for spice, he layered on more siracha! These three items came to $30, a little much for having not really ending up with what I had ordered, but will most likely come back knowing it wasn't a terrible experience. P.s. this was cooked and ready in 15 min! Best part about the night!
(3)Stephen P.
Recently picked up take-out because I was craving their pad thai (best in town). Many pad thai dishes are too sweet, but Sala Thai balances the savory and sweet just right. I don't go nearly as often as I'd like because it's out of my way but it's totally worth it. While I was waiting to get my order I listened to two friends who ran into each other while waiting for their orders talk about how much they love this place. One of the guys was in the same position as me - not a convenient location to home, but worth the extra drive time.
(5)Shayla H.
Pineapple fried rice is amazing here! They use just the right amount of curry powder and the rice has nice little sear to it, adding nice depth of flavor. It's a shame the site I used said 5.95 but when I arrived, I was charged 7.99. I was also a bit thrown off by the fresh vegetable spring rolls today. I used to frequent Sala Thai a few years ago and they would come nicely sliced like sushi and in a plastic container. Today, it was wrapped in plastic wrap, unsliced and then in a burger style styrofoam container. I firmly believe that food presentation is a large part of the experience. Given how it came, I imagine the spring rolls weren't too "fresh" after all. Go for the pineapple fried rice, which is 5 stars, just skip the spring rolls.
(3)Alise K.
This place has been around so long and I can't believe we have not dined here! We ordered the shrimp and chicken pad Thai and the crispy noodle pad Thai. The crispy was not as good as the regular. The regular pad Thai was delicious. My only complaint was that there were only 3 shrimp on the dish and a small amount of chicken. We were there at 7pm and no one was there! Where are all the people??
(3)Katie C.
Love Sala Thai! It's a great place for either dine in (it never is overcrowded) or takeout (quick and easy) and the staff is always friendly. I've had pad thai in lots of places, but keep coming back to Sala as my "go to" place for pad thai in Portland (yum!) and their pineapple fried rice is also fantastic! Definitely recommend.
(4)Jess K.
Love their chicken Pad Thai and yellow curry. Fast and cheap! Great for take out, if you're in a rush. The staff is always nice.
(4)Andrew B.
Have been eating here for years. Grew up in Portland and not a lot of Thai options. Restaurant is located in a former Wendy's (I think it was Wendy's) on a busy intersection. The food has always been excellent. Have traveled extensively since my youth and sampled Thai food around the world, theirs is very good. A touch of American fusion but really good basic Thai dishes. Service has always been excellent and my parents know the owners, they've been going there so long. Never seen the place very busy, the location is a bit off-putting and it's definitely not a trendy restaurant facade but if you want some really good food, a quiet place to eat, and friendly service, give it a try.
(4)Kristal K.
My go-to place for Thai food. So far everything on the menu that I have tried has been good, with the exception of the tempura Pad Thai (crunchy, not for me). The staff is very friendly and the service is quick.
(4)Simon L.
We were famished, so I decided to ignore the outward appearance of this place. I took a chance and brought my grandmother here for her first Thai experience--and she loved it. The decor is a little 70's basement chic, but the food was great! The yellow curry was the lunch special, and while not the most delicate I've ever had (the chicken pieces weren't small, but were pretty delicious), it was the best I've ever had for $6.99, easily. The spring rolls are my barometer, usually, and I was wary based on that much earlier review, but it seems they got their act together, because these were neat, tight, and crisp. The sauce was sweet, heavy on the honey, but I found myself trying to fit more of it on after each bite, so I must have been okay with it... All in all, an awesome example of not judging a book by it's cover--because this one looks like the owners manual to a lawnmower.
(3)Christina K.
I've only had the Pad Thai here and with that being said, its the best Pad Thai I've ever had in Portland. Staff is friendly, never dined in but its quiet and very underrated. I'd fly home just to have this Pad Thai again.
(5)Bud P.
Not a big fan, my wife likes the crunchy pad thai. i consider this place to be chinese food. Not very good and my tummy hurts later on.
(2)Erin S.
I have been going to Sala Thai for nearly 6 years and I have never had anything less than a delicious meal! This family-owned restaurant on upper Washington Avenue is so wonderful and, perhaps, the best thai food I have had. I do take out and eat in all the time and have found their customer service to be great. Take out, even at their busiest hour, never takes more than 20 minutes, and you are never left hanging at your table as their attentive wait staff is ready to take care of all your needs. Their menu is perfectly priced, and their entrees are huge. I would highly suggest the pad thai, but my favorite is the yellow curry. They make all of their curries in-house - in fact, most everything is home made at Sala Thai! They also carry some great beer and wine options. If you're looking for a great place to grab takeout, lunch or dinner, I would highly recommend visiting the kind folks at Sala Thai. You won't regret it and will be back again soon after!
(5)Sara M.
I love Sala Thai my family and I have been coming here for years. I love the Pad Thai Noodles, the Wanton soup and the Fresh Spring Rolls! It's a family run place and they are right out of Thailand, very authentic! The place is decorated to the max with somewhat chincy looking Thai decorations but it only adds to the charm of the place. Although it doesn't look like much from the outside it is well worth a visit I always enjoy myself and have a great meal. They have a cute little herb garden out back for fresh herbs in the summer.
(5)Robin B.
We decided we would eat here again
(4)Bobbi Jo W.
Crickets....the sound of crickets interrupts silence at Sala Thai. Close friends live nearby so this is the only reason I discovered quiet Sala Thai. It's unfortunate that the restaurant is almost always empty because the staff is extremely hospitable and the food comes fast and without disappointment. The curry puffs are not greasy and are a great meal starter. Everything I have tried has been hot, flavorful, and as far as my taste buds can tell, fresh. My favorite is the drunken noodles (with beef!) and I am always satisfied when I choose To eat here. Id love to see this restaurant justified with more business.
(4)Marlena V.
I love Thai food. Authentic or not, if it's fresh, well put together, tasty and doesn't cause a massive explosion in my lower stomach region I'll try it twice. That said, I do not love Sala. Honestly speaking, as Portland newbs, we leafed through the phone book in our motel room and chose this place based on their boastings of such prestigious claims as being "the Best of Portland" several years in a row as well as making a list for top restaurants in the country. Plus they delivered. Bam. A set up for a major instant win. Or not. We started off slow with two orders of pad thai and an order of the fresh veggie rolls: how difficult can that possibly be for one of the country's best? Apparently, very. For starters, our food arrived 45 minutes later with a $33.00 tab plus tip. "Alright," I figured, "if the food is good, I can totally deal." The veggies rolls were huge and slightly disfigured but these are two qualities that can go either way. The taste itself? Completely bland and unappealing. The lettuce was a slightly wilted brown and the rest of the mess was more like a chopped salad than a spring roll. The dipping sauce was a tart mix of peanuts and vinegar. Well, possibly something else as well, but trust me, all I could taste was vinegar. Yikes. For the first time, like ever, I didn't bother finishing it. The pad thai was even worse. With a tangy, fishy odor the noodles and meat were overcooked and swimming in, you guessed it, more vinegar. There was absolutely no balance or real taste due to the overwhelming stench of the "sauce." Someone, please, take away the bottle. It's just not worth it. I tried to like it. I really did. But this was an utterly disappointing experience as due to the printed hype, I was expecting much, much better. Passable. Edible, even! That said, words do not describe the horrific noises that were generated by my stomach that evening. If you're a masochist with a strong love of vinegar by all means, dig in. As for the rest of us, for the love of God, stay as far away as possible.
(1)Monique G.
Good Pad Thai, interesting under-the-sea-meets-kitsch atmosphere, friendly service. I like Sala Thai - never had the takeout though, so I can't speak to the other reviewer's issues.
(3)