do not eat @ sawatdee thai restaurant in bloomington located on 86th in lyndale. my hungry wife and i waited for 5 minutes where 3 staff members who were not busy at all didn't even have the decency to welcome us to the restaurant and seat us. 5 minutes is a long time if you're hungry. these ditzy dumb high school asian girls want to be lazy and not acknowledge that we're waiting to be served. my wife walked out of the restaurant, but i refused to let that slide. please people take your business elsewhere, where there is better service. the manager kept telling me "i'm sorry" repeatedly, in response i told her, that she "better be!!" telling me that they have a new girl and its her first day, i told her "all you are giving me are excuses, i want results, however you have failed!" the manager then told me "i'm sorry, it will never happen again!!!!" in response i said "you're damn right that it will not happen again, because i will never come back to your restaurant, and i will tell all of my friends about your severe lack of customer service, and i will write adverse reports about sawatdee thai restaurant bloomington in yelp!!!!" to all of my friends and fellow consumers, please take your business elsewhere, these people are not worth your money!!!!
(1)
K K.
If you are not from the Midwest or have had Thai food outside of the Midwest, you will not like this food. Sawatdee does make food spicier than your average Minnesotan restaurant. The staff is very nice. But the food is tasteless and out of the four dishes my friends and I ordered, only the satay chicken tasted as it should.
(1)
Louise M.
I have been here numerous times but I surprised myself that when I'm finally writing a review for them, my finger couldn't stop tapping until all five stars are illuminated. Most people would have a little tendency thinking a chain can't be that spectacular. I don't take the time to research whether this is a real chain or a family just owns more than one location. I certainly have seen Sawatdee in more than one place. Maybe it's just a popular name. I could have taken the time to research this; but, I found other more fun things to do on Sunday morning like sniffing my own stinky morning breath, barely moving, except using my index finger to write this review on my phone. The food has always made me happy. I have always enjoyed my meal there and they cooked it to what I expected. I had their pad thai and my beloved pad gra pow or Holy Basil chicken stir fry. Their gra pow is awesome! I asked for it to be super hot. It came super hot to a point that my eyes watered like every time I see pictures of dead animals on the beach yet again on facebook. The chicken would be covered with specks of pepper seeds and fiery red Thai chili skin all over. Oh, when they made it hot, it was hot. You couldn't feel your tongue but you could feel a fra forming. I also always ask for the chicken to be minced, and they always gave me a confused look when I asked that, but it always came perfect. I ordered Thai crispy fried egg too and it always came as I envisioned and they often gave me two eggs. This last visit, all was well and food was great as usual. Usually I come here after visiting my customer and I would get a quick lunch. I came here late for lunch, around 3 pm. No one was there. Lunch buffet was over but I have never tried the buffet or going for it anyway. I did my thing and when I was about to pay, I couldn't find my wallet. It's classic Louise. It's not my first time leaving my wallet behind at home but usually I had a savior. I had been lucky as in the past, there was someone with me that rescued me. It's not a way to get free meal, ok! I always paid them back unless they insisted that it's not necessary. So, this was the first time I dined sans wallet solo. Fuck! fuckety fuck fuck like Dita would say. I started to get nervous! I called my go to emergency contact, and he's not answering. I thought I could get him to give a credit card over the phone. My server lady came and I was flustered and stressed. The thought of having to wash dishes to pay for it or other means of payment that's not money flashed before my eyes. I hoped I didn't have to do the unthinkable of the oldest universal currency for a plate of chicken. She looked at me wondering what's going on and I explained the best I could without crying. She just said... "Ah..don't worry about it." I was like.. "What?" She continued and said that she knows I come there often enough and just pay next time or come back tomorrow. She then said that she trusted me. I told her I would call with a credit card when I got home. I left her my name and number. I was so shocked how they reacted! It was so cool also that she trusted me. I must have an honest face. I called and paid when I got home. They were thanking me on the phone and said that they appreciated that I called and paid. I turned around and thanked them for letting me do that. There was a lot of thanking going on. But good lord, how embarrassing!! Good thing I survived it with not much damage to my social and psychological states. Thus the five stars. Awesome people and awesome food. I felt bad interrupting their family lunch by eating there at 3 and then not having money to pay for it. Thank you, Sawatdee for trusting me. I couldn't thank you enough.
(5)
Dinah T.
My family and I stopped by this place for an early dinner (3pm) before we headed off to the airport back home to Chi-town, IL. We love thai food and this place was not what we expected. We were not happy that they ran out of some of the food available in their menu that we were trying to order, like fresh papaya salad and beef jerky. The place was a bit stuffy/warm and we were the only ones in the place so how could they have ran out of those type of foods? When we ordered pad see wu (sp?) instead of wide flat noodles, we got "pad thai" looking noodles. The pad thai noodle dish was a bit soupy. And the chicken laup was spicy but too much lettuce not enough chicken. The service was good, the Thai ice coffee was ok. We liked the fried spring rolls and chicken wing as well. But overall, we had way better thai food and it was a bit expensive. We spent $90 buck for 4 ppl (4 dishes, two drinks, and two apps). Not planning on going back to this place again, too bad...
(2)
Jill B.
Actually, more deserving of 0 of 5 stars. After having been to other Sawatdee restaurants, this was VERY disappointing. We took one bite of our meals and had enough. The food lacked flavor and was grayish in color. We barely at anything and left wondering whether or not we would become ill overnight. At least they did take $10 off our check.
(1)
Errol P.
My co-workers like to come here, but truthfully I am not a huge fan. It is basically the Thai version of sub-par Chinese takeout, including a lunch buffet that is equally uninspiring (fried chicken, cream cheese wontons, maple cookies, you know the deal). Their stirfrys scream of MSG. It isn't totally horrible, but there must be better places for Thai. The one up point is that it is frequented by buddhist monks in full garb, who do this cool chanting before eating.
(2)
Chelsea K.
I love Sawatdee! It's in my top 5 favorite restaurants. The food is delicious and their prices are reasonable, especially considering the substantial portions they give you. The service is always prompt and the waiters/waitresses are always very nice to me. Come in often enough, and they will definitely start knowing what you like to order. One of my favorite dishes is the Holy Basil Supreme. I always order it with beef, but the pork, shrimp, and tofu versions are fantastic as well. The green peppers, mushrooms, basil, and onions compliment the meat beautifully. Everything soaks in the bold, flavorful juices --- which is the best part in my opinion. Every spoonful is an explosion of perfection. (Served with white rice) Another of my go-to's would have to be the Supreme Shrimp. You can order it with squid as well, but I always just get the shrimp. Jumbo shrimp, green peppers, carrots, and onions. All served with a beautifully luscious red curry sauce. The texture is just right, and the aroma is intoxicating. I've had many friends take samples, and every single one of them has enjoyed this dish. (Served with white rice) The spice scale is something to be admired at Sawatdee. They can make things mild for those who don't like extra heat. But, if you dare, they are willing to serve you up a heapin' pile of spice (that's how I roll). The beauty of their spiciness, however, is that you can still 100% taste all of the other subtle flavors. Upon ordering, you have a choice of 1-5; They will warn you that a level 3 is hotter than "most people" can handle. Which is probably the truth. But I always order a level 5 (their highest option). They always serve me up an incredibly spicy, yet still absolutely delicious dish! My favorite appetizers: Fried Spring Rolls, Paradise Chicken Wings, Thai Style Beef Jerky, Curry Puffs (AMAZING dipping sauce comes with all of these) My favorite entrees: Holy Basil Supreme, Supreme Shrimp, Green/Red Chicken Curry, Beef with Oyster Sauce, Stir Fry Shrimp, Tod Gratiam Prig Thai, and Thai Fried Rice My only two small complaints about this place are that I didn't enjoy their Pad Thai (although, to be fair, I don't like most Pad Thais) and that their desserts leave a lot to be desired.
(5)
J H.
Lunch buffet was excellent 8.95
(5)
Clayton L.
This has been a staple of my team since our Helpdesk guy brought us here. The flavor is magnificent. I've only joined them for lunch (like most of my reviews), but the Pad Thai is excellent and the people are very friendly and happy to have you there. The prices are spot on what I'd expect from a Thai Restaurant. The only reason its not 5 stars is typically I'm needing more water/soda refills than I receive and often leave thirsty. However, the great service, food, and price keeps me and my team coming back.
(4)
Scarlett M.
fine service. mediocre food. moms fried rice looked more like wild rice there was sooo much soy sauce.... wonton soup was over seasoned.... pad thai was a joke.... there must have been MSG in it because it made me soooo ill in the middle of the night.....
(2)
Alie H.
Love love love . Love the service te prices the food the portions it's all just so yummy . I have not had one dish I don't like . My favorite is the spinach with the chicken and its like a curry and perfectly spicy . I love the fresh spring rolls && peanut sauce . If I could eat one thig for the rest of my life I would choose that (and my mother in laws pea && ham soup) !
(5)
Christopher P.
Midwest or not, this is NOT Thai food. I had the holy basil beef and it was so incredibly salty that I almost sent it back. Absolutely awful. The decor is old and tired with a definite strip mall feel. Save yourself the disappointment and head over to the Sawatdee on Washington Ave. or up in Maple Grove.
(1)
Colin D.
Not bad but not brilliant. Went for lunch. We were going to try the buffet but there wasn't much choice on it so we decided to order a few items and share them. Highlights were the Massamun Beef Curry which had huge chunks of beef and potatoes and the fresh spring rolls. Didn't like the pad thai which was a bit mushy. Finally try the jasmine tea which really compliments the food.
(3)
Daniel M.
I enjoy Thai food in general, so I was happy to find this place near to where I work. The service is very good with very nice and engaging staff. The curries here are tasty but they love hot peppers, so a medium in my book translates to "low-medium" to them. And their Thai iced tea is super yummy too.
(4)
Matthew S.
It's been several years since I've been to Sawatdee, and I had fond memories, so I was excited to be in the area during their lunch buffet. I don't know if I've been spoiled living in Los Angeles and the SF Bay area the last few years, but I was unimpressed. Keep in mind these comments are only for their lunch buffet: - Flavors were okay - selection was sub-par (definitely would have liked more curry options than just beef massaman) - the veggies were on the soggy side - pad thai was too sweet - the best item: the chicken/veggie/rice soup. LOVED the strong ginger flavor. - the price was right at 8.95/person Overall we left our meal feeling kind of gross/unsatisfied, and that's not just because I stuffed my face (it is a buffet, afterall =). finally, it would be nice to see more asian restaurants using gluten-free soy sauce. It is often the only gluten-containing ingredient in many dishes, and this simple substitution would attract a large segment of customers. Sawatdee would be smart to go this route.
(3)
Cindy S.
The is not a real Thai restaurant. It is an Americanized Thai restaurant. All the food is flavorless and lacking any key elements of good tasting Thai food. If you are Asian, just skip this place because you will be disappointed. I ordered duck, papaya salad and soup. All of it was plain. It need more fish sauce, salt, lime, pepper and any ingredient used for Thai food. The service was polite, but super slow. Over all I don't have much to say because Sawatdee does not have much to offer.
(2)
Vaj G.
Thai iced tea was wayyyyyy tooo sweet, and had wayy too much milk in it. i threw away half of it cos it was jst way too sweet. i've had thai food wayy too many times at other places to know what's good. Food was not bad, their portions are pretty large, so thats a plus and tasted pretty good.
(4)
Cletis H.
My expectations were to high. Visited in later evening. Food was cold and waitress was not helpful. Flavor of food was bland.
Ordered pad Thai good flavor. The spicy trout was horrible just bland with little sauce.
(3)
Dan A.
Sub-average describes this place perfectly. They get away with selling Thai food in Minnesota because most Minnesotans have not had Thai food and don't know the difference. Sort of the Leeann Chin of Thai food. Not that it is bad. But do you call it Thai food? Meh. Would I choose it over Subway for lunch? Sure. Would I bring out of town guests there for dinner? Never.
(2)
Nathan M.
This is by far my favorite Sawatdee location. ALERT! Not all Sawatdee locations are created equal! Although the menus may be similar, what comes out of their respective kitchens is quite different. IE: I ordered my usual choice (red curry w/ chicken) from the maple grove location and was sorely disappointed after having previously ordered it at the Bloomington location. Now I drive from Anoka to Bloomington every time I want Sawatdee.
(5)
Alie P.
Definitely a favorite in bloomington. They have awesome chicken satay with a yummy cucumber sauce. Great fresh spring rolls, which is clearly a favorite of mine, yummy peanut sauce. They also had good sweet cream cheese puffs, which i always enjoy. Great pad thai, unfortunately not enough heat but im sure they'd be happy to change the order to your liking. Rama thai delight was always delicious. I always had it medium hot. Sweet and sour with vegetables was really good too! Ah what's not to like on their menu! The people who own it are very friendly and consistent which always makes a restaraunt a better place. Love love love.
(5)
Seppuk U.
My only other experience dining at a Sawatdee was in St. Cloud years ago and though I don't remember it very well I do remember I wasn't impressed. Perhaps its why it took me years to go back to one. My gf told me about this location and she recommended it after dining here with one of her friends. So we rolled up on this joint with ravenous appetites and the desire to melt the plastic in my wallet. Started off with spring rolls. HOLY F#!% that was some good stuff. I didn't care for the peanut sauce all that much, wayyyyyy too sweet so I just ate it naked. Could have just gotten a few orders of them things and been satisfied! I ordered pad thai, she ordered red curry with chicken. We shared. I really liked the pad thai. I usually shy away from ordering this dish because so many thai places make it so damn greasy. Not the case here. It was delicious. I got it with pork, and there was def no shortage of meat. I like that. I really liked the curry too. The taste was so mild and smooth. The last little bit my gf and I had a spoon sword fight to see who would get it. She won, doh! We scarfed that stuff down. Heat level was very good too. Both dishes a little over 10 bucks ea and the spring rolls 6.5 bucks. My plastic didn't melt, and had a delicious meal. Can't complain about that at all. I look forward to the next outing here.
(5)
Keith J.
I just recently found this location and am so glad I did. We've been there a few times and tired a variety of different menu options. The Pad Thai is the go to option. The roast duck curry has such a delicious curry sauce with it, I almost want to be able have a bowl of just the curry. As others have mentioned, the spring rolls are fresh with a nice peanut dipping sauce. The Laab is another usual order along with the Thai Beef Jerky and Tod Gratiam Prig Thai with pork. You can order how ever spicy you want and they have online ordering too. The only thing I didn't like was the spice level seemed to vary depending on when we ordered it and what the chef considers mild or medium. With how close it is to home it has become my to go to place for yummy Thai food. Don't let the strip mall location scare you. There's also a lunch buffet which I haven't tried.
(4)
Tim S.
Fans of Sawatdee know what to expect: GREAT authentic Thai food. It's hard to try new things when you find a favorite. Today, I went outside of my comfort zone and tried two new things. The tofu soup is a must for starters! Very flavorful (the broth as tofu has no flavor!) and a great way to start the meal. Don't worry, Spring Rolls. I haven't given you up completely! Avoiding my usual choices of Pad Thai or fried rice, today I opted for the Lob Esan with sticky rice. Wow, this was a treat to the taste buds! Fresh flavors, and so many flavors. They make this with coconut milk and peanut paste, along with cilantro, cucumbers, and other ingredients, I really am happy I tried something new. I love spicy food, but for some reason, I chose three peppers instead of four. I should have done that to really make this dish pop. The sticky rice was extra, but I'm glad I ordered that too. And at this location, the server is so kind and friendly. I should get her name, but she's there all the time. The entire dining experience makes me come back for more!
(5)
Nicole H.
We are the typical Sunday night take out family. I've never eaten in the restaurant, but our food is always great. We usually get veggie fried rice level 3 and beef and oyster sauce level 4..perfect for some heat! They are nice, quick and have never let us down in years.
(3)
Brent B.
At the surface, at or sub-average. A buffet to be sure, of limited selections and more tofu dishes than this carnivore cares for. Very good spring rolls, I'm Happy to report. Adequate for $8.95. Not the variety or flavor of Joy's Pattaya Thai dishes which are $1 more and cooked to order--with beer & wine available, unlike here (they don't even ask you if you want a coke--just water). Just saying...
(2)
Daniel R.
Had lunch here yesterday. It was really tasty. Had the lunch buffet and felt like there was an adequate selection without being overwhelming. I also felt it was a good value. The servers were friendly and efficient.
(4)
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Address :8501 Lyndale Ave S
Bloomington, MN, 55420
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Saif K.
do not eat @ sawatdee thai restaurant in bloomington located on 86th in lyndale. my hungry wife and i waited for 5 minutes where 3 staff members who were not busy at all didn't even have the decency to welcome us to the restaurant and seat us. 5 minutes is a long time if you're hungry. these ditzy dumb high school asian girls want to be lazy and not acknowledge that we're waiting to be served. my wife walked out of the restaurant, but i refused to let that slide. please people take your business elsewhere, where there is better service. the manager kept telling me "i'm sorry" repeatedly, in response i told her, that she "better be!!" telling me that they have a new girl and its her first day, i told her "all you are giving me are excuses, i want results, however you have failed!" the manager then told me "i'm sorry, it will never happen again!!!!" in response i said "you're damn right that it will not happen again, because i will never come back to your restaurant, and i will tell all of my friends about your severe lack of customer service, and i will write adverse reports about sawatdee thai restaurant bloomington in yelp!!!!" to all of my friends and fellow consumers, please take your business elsewhere, these people are not worth your money!!!!
(1)K K.
If you are not from the Midwest or have had Thai food outside of the Midwest, you will not like this food. Sawatdee does make food spicier than your average Minnesotan restaurant. The staff is very nice. But the food is tasteless and out of the four dishes my friends and I ordered, only the satay chicken tasted as it should.
(1)Louise M.
I have been here numerous times but I surprised myself that when I'm finally writing a review for them, my finger couldn't stop tapping until all five stars are illuminated. Most people would have a little tendency thinking a chain can't be that spectacular. I don't take the time to research whether this is a real chain or a family just owns more than one location. I certainly have seen Sawatdee in more than one place. Maybe it's just a popular name. I could have taken the time to research this; but, I found other more fun things to do on Sunday morning like sniffing my own stinky morning breath, barely moving, except using my index finger to write this review on my phone. The food has always made me happy. I have always enjoyed my meal there and they cooked it to what I expected. I had their pad thai and my beloved pad gra pow or Holy Basil chicken stir fry. Their gra pow is awesome! I asked for it to be super hot. It came super hot to a point that my eyes watered like every time I see pictures of dead animals on the beach yet again on facebook. The chicken would be covered with specks of pepper seeds and fiery red Thai chili skin all over. Oh, when they made it hot, it was hot. You couldn't feel your tongue but you could feel a fra forming. I also always ask for the chicken to be minced, and they always gave me a confused look when I asked that, but it always came perfect. I ordered Thai crispy fried egg too and it always came as I envisioned and they often gave me two eggs. This last visit, all was well and food was great as usual. Usually I come here after visiting my customer and I would get a quick lunch. I came here late for lunch, around 3 pm. No one was there. Lunch buffet was over but I have never tried the buffet or going for it anyway. I did my thing and when I was about to pay, I couldn't find my wallet. It's classic Louise. It's not my first time leaving my wallet behind at home but usually I had a savior. I had been lucky as in the past, there was someone with me that rescued me. It's not a way to get free meal, ok! I always paid them back unless they insisted that it's not necessary. So, this was the first time I dined sans wallet solo. Fuck! fuckety fuck fuck like Dita would say. I started to get nervous! I called my go to emergency contact, and he's not answering. I thought I could get him to give a credit card over the phone. My server lady came and I was flustered and stressed. The thought of having to wash dishes to pay for it or other means of payment that's not money flashed before my eyes. I hoped I didn't have to do the unthinkable of the oldest universal currency for a plate of chicken. She looked at me wondering what's going on and I explained the best I could without crying. She just said... "Ah..don't worry about it." I was like.. "What?" She continued and said that she knows I come there often enough and just pay next time or come back tomorrow. She then said that she trusted me. I told her I would call with a credit card when I got home. I left her my name and number. I was so shocked how they reacted! It was so cool also that she trusted me. I must have an honest face. I called and paid when I got home. They were thanking me on the phone and said that they appreciated that I called and paid. I turned around and thanked them for letting me do that. There was a lot of thanking going on. But good lord, how embarrassing!! Good thing I survived it with not much damage to my social and psychological states. Thus the five stars. Awesome people and awesome food. I felt bad interrupting their family lunch by eating there at 3 and then not having money to pay for it. Thank you, Sawatdee for trusting me. I couldn't thank you enough.
(5)Dinah T.
My family and I stopped by this place for an early dinner (3pm) before we headed off to the airport back home to Chi-town, IL. We love thai food and this place was not what we expected. We were not happy that they ran out of some of the food available in their menu that we were trying to order, like fresh papaya salad and beef jerky. The place was a bit stuffy/warm and we were the only ones in the place so how could they have ran out of those type of foods? When we ordered pad see wu (sp?) instead of wide flat noodles, we got "pad thai" looking noodles. The pad thai noodle dish was a bit soupy. And the chicken laup was spicy but too much lettuce not enough chicken. The service was good, the Thai ice coffee was ok. We liked the fried spring rolls and chicken wing as well. But overall, we had way better thai food and it was a bit expensive. We spent $90 buck for 4 ppl (4 dishes, two drinks, and two apps). Not planning on going back to this place again, too bad...
(2)Jill B.
Actually, more deserving of 0 of 5 stars. After having been to other Sawatdee restaurants, this was VERY disappointing. We took one bite of our meals and had enough. The food lacked flavor and was grayish in color. We barely at anything and left wondering whether or not we would become ill overnight. At least they did take $10 off our check.
(1)Errol P.
My co-workers like to come here, but truthfully I am not a huge fan. It is basically the Thai version of sub-par Chinese takeout, including a lunch buffet that is equally uninspiring (fried chicken, cream cheese wontons, maple cookies, you know the deal). Their stirfrys scream of MSG. It isn't totally horrible, but there must be better places for Thai. The one up point is that it is frequented by buddhist monks in full garb, who do this cool chanting before eating.
(2)Chelsea K.
I love Sawatdee! It's in my top 5 favorite restaurants. The food is delicious and their prices are reasonable, especially considering the substantial portions they give you. The service is always prompt and the waiters/waitresses are always very nice to me. Come in often enough, and they will definitely start knowing what you like to order. One of my favorite dishes is the Holy Basil Supreme. I always order it with beef, but the pork, shrimp, and tofu versions are fantastic as well. The green peppers, mushrooms, basil, and onions compliment the meat beautifully. Everything soaks in the bold, flavorful juices --- which is the best part in my opinion. Every spoonful is an explosion of perfection. (Served with white rice) Another of my go-to's would have to be the Supreme Shrimp. You can order it with squid as well, but I always just get the shrimp. Jumbo shrimp, green peppers, carrots, and onions. All served with a beautifully luscious red curry sauce. The texture is just right, and the aroma is intoxicating. I've had many friends take samples, and every single one of them has enjoyed this dish. (Served with white rice) The spice scale is something to be admired at Sawatdee. They can make things mild for those who don't like extra heat. But, if you dare, they are willing to serve you up a heapin' pile of spice (that's how I roll). The beauty of their spiciness, however, is that you can still 100% taste all of the other subtle flavors. Upon ordering, you have a choice of 1-5; They will warn you that a level 3 is hotter than "most people" can handle. Which is probably the truth. But I always order a level 5 (their highest option). They always serve me up an incredibly spicy, yet still absolutely delicious dish! My favorite appetizers: Fried Spring Rolls, Paradise Chicken Wings, Thai Style Beef Jerky, Curry Puffs (AMAZING dipping sauce comes with all of these) My favorite entrees: Holy Basil Supreme, Supreme Shrimp, Green/Red Chicken Curry, Beef with Oyster Sauce, Stir Fry Shrimp, Tod Gratiam Prig Thai, and Thai Fried Rice My only two small complaints about this place are that I didn't enjoy their Pad Thai (although, to be fair, I don't like most Pad Thais) and that their desserts leave a lot to be desired.
(5)J H.
Lunch buffet was excellent 8.95
(5)Clayton L.
This has been a staple of my team since our Helpdesk guy brought us here. The flavor is magnificent. I've only joined them for lunch (like most of my reviews), but the Pad Thai is excellent and the people are very friendly and happy to have you there. The prices are spot on what I'd expect from a Thai Restaurant. The only reason its not 5 stars is typically I'm needing more water/soda refills than I receive and often leave thirsty. However, the great service, food, and price keeps me and my team coming back.
(4)Scarlett M.
fine service. mediocre food. moms fried rice looked more like wild rice there was sooo much soy sauce.... wonton soup was over seasoned.... pad thai was a joke.... there must have been MSG in it because it made me soooo ill in the middle of the night.....
(2)Alie H.
Love love love . Love the service te prices the food the portions it's all just so yummy . I have not had one dish I don't like . My favorite is the spinach with the chicken and its like a curry and perfectly spicy . I love the fresh spring rolls && peanut sauce . If I could eat one thig for the rest of my life I would choose that (and my mother in laws pea && ham soup) !
(5)Christopher P.
Midwest or not, this is NOT Thai food. I had the holy basil beef and it was so incredibly salty that I almost sent it back. Absolutely awful. The decor is old and tired with a definite strip mall feel. Save yourself the disappointment and head over to the Sawatdee on Washington Ave. or up in Maple Grove.
(1)Colin D.
Not bad but not brilliant. Went for lunch. We were going to try the buffet but there wasn't much choice on it so we decided to order a few items and share them. Highlights were the Massamun Beef Curry which had huge chunks of beef and potatoes and the fresh spring rolls. Didn't like the pad thai which was a bit mushy. Finally try the jasmine tea which really compliments the food.
(3)Daniel M.
I enjoy Thai food in general, so I was happy to find this place near to where I work. The service is very good with very nice and engaging staff. The curries here are tasty but they love hot peppers, so a medium in my book translates to "low-medium" to them. And their Thai iced tea is super yummy too.
(4)Matthew S.
It's been several years since I've been to Sawatdee, and I had fond memories, so I was excited to be in the area during their lunch buffet. I don't know if I've been spoiled living in Los Angeles and the SF Bay area the last few years, but I was unimpressed. Keep in mind these comments are only for their lunch buffet: - Flavors were okay - selection was sub-par (definitely would have liked more curry options than just beef massaman) - the veggies were on the soggy side - pad thai was too sweet - the best item: the chicken/veggie/rice soup. LOVED the strong ginger flavor. - the price was right at 8.95/person Overall we left our meal feeling kind of gross/unsatisfied, and that's not just because I stuffed my face (it is a buffet, afterall =). finally, it would be nice to see more asian restaurants using gluten-free soy sauce. It is often the only gluten-containing ingredient in many dishes, and this simple substitution would attract a large segment of customers. Sawatdee would be smart to go this route.
(3)Cindy S.
The is not a real Thai restaurant. It is an Americanized Thai restaurant. All the food is flavorless and lacking any key elements of good tasting Thai food. If you are Asian, just skip this place because you will be disappointed. I ordered duck, papaya salad and soup. All of it was plain. It need more fish sauce, salt, lime, pepper and any ingredient used for Thai food. The service was polite, but super slow. Over all I don't have much to say because Sawatdee does not have much to offer.
(2)Vaj G.
Thai iced tea was wayyyyyy tooo sweet, and had wayy too much milk in it. i threw away half of it cos it was jst way too sweet. i've had thai food wayy too many times at other places to know what's good. Food was not bad, their portions are pretty large, so thats a plus and tasted pretty good.
(4)Cletis H.
My expectations were to high. Visited in later evening. Food was cold and waitress was not helpful. Flavor of food was bland.
(2)Faridah S.
Great Thai Food That Stands The Test of Time - Service? No So Much. I used to live in Minneapolis, and ate regularly at the Sawatdee location downtown on Washington Avenue regularly. When I was visiting recently, after being away for years, I recalled that experience and asked my friend if they were still open. We checked the internet, and to my delight, we located Sawatdee nearby in Bloomington! I went with high expectations, hoping for a delicious experience. I was a little concerned to arrive and find the restaurant empty at lunch time. I also noted that the décor lacked the warmth that I remembered from the downtown location. My friend reminded me that it was all about the food, so I let go of those observations. The menu was extensive, and I was excited to see that #18 Rama Thai Delight was still on the menu, as it used to be my standing favorite. We ordered hot tea and the #9 Golden Shrimp as an appetizer to share. Although I studied the menu for a bit, I had to order my favorite Rama Thai Delight (peanut curry smothered chicken on a bed of fresh steamed spinach). My friend decided on the #63 Shrimp & Scallops (enhanced by fresh garlic and Thai sauce). We both went with Mild as our spice level, knowing you can spice it up if desired, and asked that additional spice be delivered with the food. The Golden Fried Shrimp came out quickly, and were delicious. We almost requested an additional order, but our main course arrived and we realized we had more than enough food. Both of our dishes were delicious, but we did need to add more spice to our dishes. Unfortunately, our server had not brought it with our food as requested. She had also disappeared after delivering our food. After a few minutes I got up and went to the only staff I could find to ask for the condiments. I don't understand why, but it still took a few minutes for anyone to bring us what we needed. In spite of that inconvenience, the meal was good and had great flavor overall. With the additional spice to give us the heat we wanted, the food was perfect. The upside was that the food was really well prepared and delicious, and my favorite dish had not changed over the years that I was away from Minneapolis. The downside was the our visit to Sawatdee was somewhat tarnished by the service. I would have given this five stars for the food, but the slow (nearly 5 minutes) service with the additional condiments we requested (when we ordered our food) has to be noted. That said, I would not hesitate to eat here again. The next time I will insist that the condiments arrive at our table before we even receive our food.
(4)Sarah S.
Ordered pad Thai good flavor. The spicy trout was horrible just bland with little sauce.
(3)Dan A.
Sub-average describes this place perfectly. They get away with selling Thai food in Minnesota because most Minnesotans have not had Thai food and don't know the difference. Sort of the Leeann Chin of Thai food. Not that it is bad. But do you call it Thai food? Meh. Would I choose it over Subway for lunch? Sure. Would I bring out of town guests there for dinner? Never.
(2)Nathan M.
This is by far my favorite Sawatdee location. ALERT! Not all Sawatdee locations are created equal! Although the menus may be similar, what comes out of their respective kitchens is quite different. IE: I ordered my usual choice (red curry w/ chicken) from the maple grove location and was sorely disappointed after having previously ordered it at the Bloomington location. Now I drive from Anoka to Bloomington every time I want Sawatdee.
(5)Alie P.
Definitely a favorite in bloomington. They have awesome chicken satay with a yummy cucumber sauce. Great fresh spring rolls, which is clearly a favorite of mine, yummy peanut sauce. They also had good sweet cream cheese puffs, which i always enjoy. Great pad thai, unfortunately not enough heat but im sure they'd be happy to change the order to your liking. Rama thai delight was always delicious. I always had it medium hot. Sweet and sour with vegetables was really good too! Ah what's not to like on their menu! The people who own it are very friendly and consistent which always makes a restaraunt a better place. Love love love.
(5)Seppuk U.
My only other experience dining at a Sawatdee was in St. Cloud years ago and though I don't remember it very well I do remember I wasn't impressed. Perhaps its why it took me years to go back to one. My gf told me about this location and she recommended it after dining here with one of her friends. So we rolled up on this joint with ravenous appetites and the desire to melt the plastic in my wallet. Started off with spring rolls. HOLY F#!% that was some good stuff. I didn't care for the peanut sauce all that much, wayyyyyy too sweet so I just ate it naked. Could have just gotten a few orders of them things and been satisfied! I ordered pad thai, she ordered red curry with chicken. We shared. I really liked the pad thai. I usually shy away from ordering this dish because so many thai places make it so damn greasy. Not the case here. It was delicious. I got it with pork, and there was def no shortage of meat. I like that. I really liked the curry too. The taste was so mild and smooth. The last little bit my gf and I had a spoon sword fight to see who would get it. She won, doh! We scarfed that stuff down. Heat level was very good too. Both dishes a little over 10 bucks ea and the spring rolls 6.5 bucks. My plastic didn't melt, and had a delicious meal. Can't complain about that at all. I look forward to the next outing here.
(5)Keith J.
I just recently found this location and am so glad I did. We've been there a few times and tired a variety of different menu options. The Pad Thai is the go to option. The roast duck curry has such a delicious curry sauce with it, I almost want to be able have a bowl of just the curry. As others have mentioned, the spring rolls are fresh with a nice peanut dipping sauce. The Laab is another usual order along with the Thai Beef Jerky and Tod Gratiam Prig Thai with pork. You can order how ever spicy you want and they have online ordering too. The only thing I didn't like was the spice level seemed to vary depending on when we ordered it and what the chef considers mild or medium. With how close it is to home it has become my to go to place for yummy Thai food. Don't let the strip mall location scare you. There's also a lunch buffet which I haven't tried.
(4)Tim S.
Fans of Sawatdee know what to expect: GREAT authentic Thai food. It's hard to try new things when you find a favorite. Today, I went outside of my comfort zone and tried two new things. The tofu soup is a must for starters! Very flavorful (the broth as tofu has no flavor!) and a great way to start the meal. Don't worry, Spring Rolls. I haven't given you up completely! Avoiding my usual choices of Pad Thai or fried rice, today I opted for the Lob Esan with sticky rice. Wow, this was a treat to the taste buds! Fresh flavors, and so many flavors. They make this with coconut milk and peanut paste, along with cilantro, cucumbers, and other ingredients, I really am happy I tried something new. I love spicy food, but for some reason, I chose three peppers instead of four. I should have done that to really make this dish pop. The sticky rice was extra, but I'm glad I ordered that too. And at this location, the server is so kind and friendly. I should get her name, but she's there all the time. The entire dining experience makes me come back for more!
(5)Nicole H.
We are the typical Sunday night take out family. I've never eaten in the restaurant, but our food is always great. We usually get veggie fried rice level 3 and beef and oyster sauce level 4..perfect for some heat! They are nice, quick and have never let us down in years.
(3)Brent B.
At the surface, at or sub-average. A buffet to be sure, of limited selections and more tofu dishes than this carnivore cares for. Very good spring rolls, I'm Happy to report. Adequate for $8.95. Not the variety or flavor of Joy's Pattaya Thai dishes which are $1 more and cooked to order--with beer & wine available, unlike here (they don't even ask you if you want a coke--just water). Just saying...
(2)Daniel R.
Had lunch here yesterday. It was really tasty. Had the lunch buffet and felt like there was an adequate selection without being overwhelming. I also felt it was a good value. The servers were friendly and efficient.
(4)