Parking is so complicated and having kids complicates it more! It was raining so hard and we were all scrambling to find parking in the evening. You can't park behind their building (it's their loading space or something). But you can park across at the Credit Union (we came after bank hours). The food is good though and they have plenty of seating! The servers are friendly too. We tried the OG (minced meat and veggies and it was delicious with the spice) and the chicken wings and mango sticky rice. The chicken wings had a good flavor and come with wet wipes! The mango sticky rice had great rice texture (it was chewy like mochi) but the mango was out of season so it wasn't very tasty. The coconut sauce was also very mild and didn't complement well. I would not get it again. read more

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Probably a 3.5, but I rounded up for the service. Came here with a friend the other day as we were both craving some Thai. Couldn't agree on a spot between the two of us, so we decided on a new spot. AMBIANCE - located right across the street from EMU (literally), the place doesn't look like much from the outside, but don't let that deter you. The inside is dark wood, with seating for about 40-50. I don't know if I'd take a large group here, but plenty of space for a lunch or dinner date. SERVICE - So you order your food in the front and then they bring your food out to you. They take a team approach to taking care of you, with multiple people checking on you throughout the menu. The lady that took our order also checked up on us as we were eating. She was a sassy one, trying to charge me extra for a to go box. I dug it. Other than that, her and the rest of the people there were very nice, and willing to help with any menu questions that we had. MENU - to order, you scan a QR code posted on the wall to pull up the menu. They have a rotating menu, which may explain why the menu itself seemed somewhat limited. Probably the most extensive section of the menu were the appetizers. There were only 2 curry dishes (masaman and a noodle dish) and only 1 type of fried rice. They had other standard items such as pad thai and pad see ewe, and they serve alcohol as well. All the dishes are priced without meat. You can add protein to any of the dishes for an extra fee. FOOD - my friend ended up trying the garlic fried rice with chicken (medium heat), and I ended up getting the masaman curry with chicken (medium as well). The garlic fried rice was neither too garlicky or that hot, but my friend enjoyed it all the same. The masaman curry had a nice curry flavor. Again, not that spicy, but good all the same. I also got a thai iced tea which really hit the spot. OVERALL - pretty solid joint. I normally try a few dishes when I check out a Thai joint, but my friend wasn't feeling too adventurous. I would definitely be willing to check this place out again. CELEBRITY RATING - Ed Helms read more

Had a great experience dining at basil babe! The restaurant is small, you order at the counter and then sit down and they will bring your food to you. the stand out was the OG, with great basil flavor, and good spice. Found the satay chicken to be a little dry, but enjoyed the peanut sauce it came with. The crabby Rangoon were very crab forward, but good! read more

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I really liked the food here. The menu changes every week. It's a bit pricey. The place is very cute and close to EMU campus. Service was excellent. read more

Came here with my girlfriend to try a new thai place. We walked in as first time guests and weren't really greeted.... I walked up to the counter and the guy asked what he can get for us, and my answer was "a table for 2". After that i got the full run down of how it works, but it was a weird introduction and exchange for our first time there. We sat in the corner near the rear, and the door needs a stopper or a fixed spring catch... every time someone came in or left. It slammed so loud my girlfriend jumped. There isnt a waiter or waitress per se. You walk back up to the counter to order then take a number ticket back to your table. I ordered the chicken red curry dumpling we saw in the pictures here, and it was amazing. I ordered the drunken noodles and she had a chili jam stir fry. My drunken noodles were, okay... nothing special. The noodles and sauce were pretty bland... Her chili jam said that it contained seafood, and let me tell you if you dont love seafood. Dont order it. The taste of shellfish was sooo strong. It made everything else in that dish, inedible. We ate a few bites each and had the waiter toss the rest. Which led me to another service issue. Knowing this is our first time now and you see us obviously not enjoy a dish and send 95% of it back to be tossed... not to attempt to help us make a selection or ask what was wrong with it... just poor wait staff. We ordered a third entree the garlic fried rice because how could you go wrong, right? Wrong. The garlic was crazy strong and just not good. Overall, i have had worse, elsewhere... but this was very disappointing... read more

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Ordered Basil Babe for delivery and here's my personal rundown. The Basil Stir Fry and Papaya Salad are MUSTs, 5/5, super delicious. I loved eating these together as well, very complimentary. I liked that there was fish sauce on the side too so you could choose how much you wanted to add (I added all of it). I got the Papaya Salad mild+ (and it was) and the Stir Fry medium (this ended up being on the hotter end for me and I might get mild+ next time!). The chicken wings are very tasty as well! Onto the Satay. Great flavors, but was pretty dry. And then finally, the Pad Thai. This was really just okay to me, and also on the drier end with not too much sauce (and therefore flavor). That rounds up all that we tried! Next time we'll skip the Pad Thai, but ideally try some other dishes like their curries and crab rangoon (which I've heard good things about). read more

Basil Babe - Basil Stir Fry, Papaya Salad, Chicken Wings, Satay, Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

I really wanted to like this place but I was just not impressed. I had heard a lot of great reviews and it just didn't live up to the hype. I wanted the drunken noodles based on some of the reviews I had read and the pictures I saw but when I called to place my order, they said they were out. So, I opted for another dish similar to what I wanted that someone there recommended. It was just okay, nothing to write home about. Honestly, it was overpriced for what it was. I've had better tasting Thai food. I'm glad I went to know if it was somewhere I would want to frequent and I'm glad I received my answer of not needed. They may have so other amazing dishes. Maybe if I had gotten what I originally wanted, I'd have a different outlook. But based on what I know right now, I won't be rushing back any time soon. read more

I had been wanting to try Basil Babe for a while now, I was in Ann Arbor doing a games night with friends and we got DoorDash from them today. There were five of us and one child and everyone enjoyed their meal. I got the OG Basil, which had veggies and pork and rice, and it was actually really similar to the food I had when I was in Thailand on a work trip in 2019. It came with some sort of sauce and I think I made it more spicy by adding it, I believe it was fish sauce, but they can make the entrees any spice level you want - I had ordered mine mild. I also ordered the chicken lemongrass potstickers, which were very good and came with a semi-spicy sauce, and I tried one of the vegan mushroom dumplings which I believe is a monthly special, and that was also tasty although I preferred the chicken ones. I would definitely order from here again, everything was very fresh and delicious and I'd love to try more of the menu. read more

Basil Babe - Chicken lemongrass potstickers - Thai Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

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Visited this place while we were visiting family in Detroit area. This was a great place to bring the family because there is ample seating, no frills menu. The quality of the food was great - I had the thail basil fried rice and it was some of the best I've had in a while. We also shared a bunch of things like the mushroom wontons and the curries. You order at the counter and they deliver to the table. read more

loved this place! you order and pay before you eat so slightly different then other sit down locations. we got the drunken noodles (can be made vegan), the thai red curry dumplings ( a little too crispy for my liking) and the pandan coconut pudding (personally not a fan but came with 3 little ones). took like 10-15 min for the food to arrive and you can just leave after you eat which is nice! the noodles seemed like rice paper folded up (like stacked in a way)! came out to ~$35 w tip which was pretty reasonabley priced! that was the perfect amount of food for 2 people. read more

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Wonderful food from a simple menu (choose a protein, then spiciness (mild, medium, THAI), then protein (Tofu, chicken, shrimp, pork), plus a preparation choice - green or red Thai chile sauces..., spacious dining room, modest but very satisfying beers on tap, quirky order & pay in advance process (quickly forgotten due to charming staff). For Old AA Westgate Siam Kitchen fans: the same family runs this restaurant! So go! You will be well-fed & well-taken care of. read more

Papaya salads are one of my go-to dishes for the summer so I was so excited to try it at Basil Babe in Ypsi. The veggies had a nice crisp to it, peanuts added another layer of texture, and the flavors were not too spicy. It also came with sticky rice, which was unexpected but welcome nonetheless. I also tried the pad kee mow with shrimp. The noodles were firm and chewy, and I liked how tender the shrimp was without being soggy. It also had a kick to it, since I ordered it spicy. Thai iced tea was definitely needed to help with the spice! The pad thai was a good option as well if you like thinner noodles and a more mild seasoning. The OG stir fry was a nice option for rice dishes if you prefer that. The crispy dumplings had a nice flavor to it and had a great crunch! There was plenty of seating indoors and once you order on the tablet and pay, you can take a seat wherever you want. Service was quick and efficient. You do have to pay for parking. Overall it was not a bad place for Thai food! read more

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Some of the best food I've had in months. Had the dumplings, drunken noodles, and the OG pork and rice. 100/10. I like the smaller menu, ordering at the counter is fine, and the food was (can't emphasize enough) incredible. I don't even usually like fried dumplings but these were insane with the sauce. The main thing that's different between this place and many other Thai places is that other Thai places give you so much food you begin to question whether or not it's a joke. This place gives you enough to bring home a few bites for leftovers but they won't serve you a plate that's meal prep for your week lol. Can't wait to come back and try more! read more

We wanted to mix it up and try a new place for a recent Friday night. Basil Babe had been on our list for quite some time, so made our way on over. Located across from EMU's campus, it's in an unassuming corner building. After entering in the vestibule, you can grab a menu and seat yourself before walking up to the counter to place an order. You'll be given a number and waitstaff will bring out your food and drinks. Service was very fast, without feeling rushed. We started with some crab rangoons, and our entree was ready shortly after we finished those. I went for the chicken pad Thai and it did not disappoint. It was all of the familiar flavors with delicate slices of chicken throughout. I also got to sample some of the coconut curry with chicken and would highly recommend it - I think that will be my pick for the next visit. The ambiance for the restaurant was more casual than we expected, and we were a little surprised at the counter service. The staff did a great job of being efficient despite that unexpected part of the meal. Still, I would recommend to a friend and will look forward to returning again soon. read more

Basil Babe - Chicken pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

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My Basil Babe experience started in picking up frozen dumplings in her driveway, frequenting pop-ups, and has continued to the brick and mortar. Love that there has always been a vegan option, clearly marked. Food is always consistently good, and the location is great (though parking can be an issue). You order upon arriving and then find a table (counter service), but it seems quite efficient. The only thing it's missing is frozen dumpies to go! read more

Came by on a Saturday evening but it was pretty empty. They have menus up front where you place your order first then get seated, which I thought was unique considering it's more of a restaurant vibe. Food was mid - not sure if I'd return but good enough that I enjoyed the meal. I was shocked at how bland the pineapple fried rice initially looked simply by its appearance but that packed quite some flavor. Everything was very reasonably priced so we ordered a bunch of different things and family styled. read more

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Got the pad Thai with tofu and no eggs, it was really yummy with good potion size for the cost. Glad there was a good vegan option. Decoration, ambience and service was all great too. read more

Basil Babe - Pad Thai with Tofu - Thai Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

Ran in for take out. Something small as I had dinner plans. The server was very pleasant and helpful. Wasn't planning on completing a review but decided to jot down a quick review. Sorry there's a lack of pics. While waiting for my order of Chicken water chestnut wontons ( I believe in a rush to order hopefully the name is correct ) (Appetizer) I noticed the pleasant surroundings. This was my visit (not my last) to this establishment. It's tastefully decorated. Just enough to get a Thai homey Ypsi vibe. I will definitely be back. The wontons were ok. Will have to try an entree to truly review this restaurant. The menu changes. ( I believe every 2 weeks). read more

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Unlike most Thai places which kill you with the spice, this place has a reasonable spice scale. Mild is actually mild and medium is actually medium. The Masaman with shrimp was very flavorful and tasty, although it was a bit watery. The crab Rangoon was delicious and actually had large morsels of crab, which can be tasted through the cream cheese. The pad Thai was delicious and seemed authentic. It's semi self serve in that you place your order when you first walk in . The service is rather quick and the staff is friendly. It's a good choice if you're in the area . read more

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I was surprised how amazing both of the food I ordered. The OG basil pork was tasty, good portion the same with the mixed veggies stir fry with tofu. Price is ok. read more

Basil Babe - OG Basil Stir-Fry - Thai Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

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I'm originally from Los Angeles, where there is A LOT of excellent Thai food at a variety of price points, and I've also been to Thailand multiple times. So perhaps I'm too demanding a judge for the Thai food of southeast Michigan. But I must say, my meal at Basil Babe was thoroughly mediocre. I ordered pad see ew, which is a relatively simple dish, and I think it functions as a decent litmus test of whether a Thai place is legit or not. The noodles were gummy and clumpy, and each bite had a strange aftertaste -- I'm not 100% sure but I think it was white pepper? Which in my experience has no place in pad see ew. The main flavors you expect in pad see ew (sweet and savory) were pretty muted too. Basically a meal that hovered somewhere between bland and off-putting. Maybe just a bad night for the kitchen? Idk. Also, I'm fine with their order-at-the-podium setup and the service of the food was prompt. BUT I resent the ridiculous preset tip options. My total before tax was just over $14 for the single entree, yet one of the tip options presented was $7. You are on some powerful psychoactive substances if you think I'm paying a 50% tip especially when I have to order at the counter. They have put some obvious effort into their branding and I also noticed they were selling merch as well. The t-shirts were cute but I'd rather they put more effort into the food. But they probably don't need to because I do believe this is likely one of the better Thai restaurants in the area. And since the restaurant was bustling when I arrived it's clear that the community they serve is happy with the food. I think the truth is that if you are a serious Thai food lover with high expectations you just won't find them met in this area. read more

The Pad Thai with pork belly was outstanding and the drink specials were very fun. The staff was super friendly and helpful.

Chicken satay, spring rolls and veggie potstickers are delicious! You can order online and then pick up to go. I love this place and the inside is fine. Seems a little sketch since the Wurst bar left and yet another weed store opened. Stop with the weed please Ypsilanti, we have MORE than enough. read more

I never got to try their pop-up but was super excited to hear about them opening a restaurant. We've had them for takeout a few times now and it's always been such a pleasant experience. Customer service is super friendly that I don't even dread calling to put in a pick up order! Everything we've had has been so good that it's hard topic a favorite! The green curry was a definite stand out and I love the OG basil stir fry!! So much flavor and that egg on top is perfection! Also love the weekly updated menu!Haven't dined in yet but from picking up it seems like a pretty chill atmosphere! Basil Babe is definitely a weekend take out go to for us!! read more

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My partner and I went for a date to finally try Basil Babe's restaurant. We have always enjoyed their York Pop Ups. I couldn't believe that the food was even better at the restaurant. I appreciate the extreme speed at which our order was served as well. I can't wait to go back. I loved everything I ate - crabby rangoons, spring rollls and Pad Thai. The best part was that we could go for a date under $50. That's incredible these days. read more

Basil Babe - Pad Thai, 1/2 of spring roll order LOL, and crabby rangoons and OG stir fry - Thai Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

Visiting some family up in the area, they had been bragging on Basil Babe and wanted to take us in - they had recently opened the brick and mortar and were getting things up and running. We got in and checked out the menu, knowing immediately what we wanted :) The decor and atmosphere was definitely not done/ready for the direction they are wanting to go - but it was comfortable. They took our order and we sat down with some water and waited. The food came out pretty quickly and everything was hot (temperature wise) which I definitely appreciated! My tofu green curry was spicy and delicious - I loved the flavor and definitely devoured almost the entire thing (including the rice). My friends liked their curry and dumplings as well! Unfortunately, the Pad Thai - although the texture was great and my husband liked the pork belly option - was a bit lacking on sauce. You could tell it was missing something - which was disappointing because everything else was pretty good! We know our Pad Thai so it was too bad. Servers were pretty good about coming by to refill water or replace our carafe. Definitely a spot finding their groove but I think in a few months they'll be rocking! read more

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I came here as a fun little errands day! I was running around town and pretty hungry. This place had a pop up at homes brewery and after that it was on list to check it out! The food is amazing! The size is decent and I was pretty satisfied with every dish. I got the curry dumplings and the papaya salad. Then I think I got the pork belly entree! The service is nice! You walk in order and pay and then sit wherever you want! It is spacious !! read more

Finally had an opportunity to try the joint. Came with family and family friends, so we got to try variety of dishes. Unfortunately they did not have drunken noodles during our visit. We got the following: - Tofu Red Curry Dumplings - Papaya Salad - Pad Thai with Chicken - Pad Thai with Shrimp - Red Curry with Chicken - Eggplant + Basil with shrimp Come with large group so you can try all the dishes. Their concept is bit weird. You walk in, scan the QR code and/or get the menu, you'll get seated and when you are ready to order, go back up to the host area, order your food, pay, go back to your seat and wait for your food. If you want to see what the dish looks like, scan the QR code for the menu as it has the photos of the dishes. At the table, they have a bottle of water and when you get seated, they will provide you with spoon & forks. No chopsticks, you'll need to ask for them. When our papaya salad came, I went up and asked for chopsticks and was told they will bring it. Unfortunately the gentleman got busy and ended up going to the host area to help customers and forgot. I had to go back up and ask someone else for the chopsticks. I think when they seat you, they should ask if we need chopsticks and go from there. In the seasoning department - it's sweet and salty. The Pad Thai was good, had all the flavors, however it was too sweet for me. I would recommend you ask them to tone down the sweetness when you order and they will be happy to do so. It was the same with the red curry, it was bit too sweet for my taste. As for the eggplant stir-fry, it was on the salty side. The flavor profile was awesome, the rice helped... but water was my best friend... ending up consuming the bottle of the water by myself. Service - our order came out fast. We got here at 5:30 and by 6pm, the place was packed. I did notice few tables that were waiting long time to get their food... definitely plan your trip wisely. Overall, definitely a hot place as the place got busy. Service was good when they weren't busy, ok when busy. 3.5 stars for the food, however overall 3 stars for now. read more

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Came here on a Friday night at 7 and the line to order was just a few minutes wait. Plenty of seating, our food came out super quick and staff was buzzing around if we needed anything. We ordered: - Thai iced coffee - crabby rangoons - pork belly story fry w wok fried egg - eggplant stir fry w shrimp and wok fried egg - cocosquash Thai iced coffee: delicious, but we weren't sure if they misheard and we ended up with iced tea . Didn't have a strong coffee taste obviously, but still good. Pork belly stir fry: Good flavor. The pork belly was not soft and fatty as usual but crisped up in a way you don't usually see. Eggplant stir fry: If you like eggplant, go for it. You can add a protein like chicken, pork belly, shrimp, or extra veggies anyway. Both of the stir fries had similar flavor (Thai basil forward) and were pretty spicy for it being the default. As someone who enjoys and dabbles in spicy food, I'd call it a medium. GET THE WOK FRIED EGG ON EVERYTHING. Cocosquash: it's like coconutty tapioca slurry with chunks of roasted squash in it. Not bad but we love the mango sticky rice and thought this would be great with mango. It was also kind of oddly room temperature with parts that were cooler and warmer. Not sure if that's intentional. We had no complaints and can't wait to return! We were big fans of the pop ups and are excited to be able to experience BB in this way... especially if they open up that bar and start serving alcohol :) read more

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Pretty tasty and great ambiance! I got the Drunken Basil Fried Rice and Papaya Salad, both in medium, and they packed a punch of flavor that I've been craving! The papaya salad definitely gave a good amount of heat and the fried rice was more mild. The portions were pretty generous and a would go back again in a heartbeat. They've been able to transform the place into a vibrant, comfy atmosphere and I love the story of the mom & daughter co-owners. Seems great for all walks of life- college students, kid- friendly, and adults! read more

Basil Babe - Basil Fried Rice w/ Tofu & Fried Egg - Thai Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

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Ok so I'm getting so tired of serving myself and them asking for gratuity. The food was ok especially if you love salt. My curry was coconut milk and salt. The pork belly was dried up pieces pork with a bit of fat on each piece. Why this place has so many great reviews I have no idea. They have no parking, no service, no other taste than salt, and the water was served warm in pitchers already on the table. If you want an honest review this is it. I hate giving bad review's, but I hate being ripped off with crap food even more. I came here based on reviews come on fellow Yelpers seriously ? read more

Basil Babe - Gratuity for what ? - Thai Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

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Basil babe offers a new place in the Ypsilanti area that gives authentic flavors, a unique and inviting authentic, and quick service!

I vowed to return to Basil Babe after a less than satisfying experience with their noodles. Pad Thai has to be the most "American" of all the dishes on any Thai menu. That should not be an excuse for a plate with gloppy broken noodles, but I do not think it's fair for Pad Thai to be a litmus test dish for a great Thai kitchen. That papaya salad, ordered hot (but not Thai hot), was quite good but I needed to return and try out some other sections of the menu. After my most recent visit when I ordered the red curry with chicken and the mango sticky rice, I am significantly more impressed with what Basil Babe is putting onto plates. While I was a little nervous about the mango sticky rice when looking at its presentation, the flavors were outstanding! It's not a word I use lightly. Historically, I have seen this dish served with a more delicately sliced mango half. Many thin mango slices can make the dessert easier to share and more fun to eat. Basil Babe's version has the mango cut into much larger chunks, which I thought would get in the way of my enjoyment. I was very happy to be proven wrong. The red curry chicken, ordered spicy (but not Thai spicy) certainly brought some sweat to the top of my head. However, given the richness of the coconut milk in the curry, it presented as a little less spicy than the papaya salad. Fat cuts heat, so this made some sense. The bottom line is that the curry sauce was delicious and well balanced enough to drink like a soup. Part of me wishes I had some more rice to soak it all up. Maybe next time I'll order an extra side of rice. The vegetables, especially the eggplant in the curry were fantastic. The weak link was the chicken, which did not seem to have absorbed the flavors, and was kind of dry. Maybe in the future there will be a chicken thigh option? My hunch is that the stir fry section is where that fifth star is hiding, or maybe it's in the Thai Spicy option. But to try those I will have to return without a different set of eaters, or get back to Basil Babe on my own. It's going to happen. It's just a matter of when. read more

Whenever the topic of food comes up in Ypsilanti I find Basil Babe gets mentioned more than a few times. I finally decided to make a trip here for lunch and I was not disappointed. The first thing I noticed was the sign to scan a QR code for the menu and then you pay at the front desk before you sit down. I like when restaurants do this because then I can just leave after I finish my meal and not have to wait for my check. I only got two items, the Mushie Mode Dumplings and the Pad See Ew. The dumplings (which are filled with mushrooms) were worth the trip alone, especially with the sweet and sour sauce they drizzled over them. The Pad Sew Ew was also delicious with shrimp added to mine and probably one of the better versions of this dish I've had at a Thai place. I also like how the water is already at the table ready to pour once you get comfortable. All the food tasted fresh and the herbs/spices came together perfectly in each bite. read more

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Found myself in Ann Arbor this week and tried Basil Babe for the first time. I placed an order for takeout and it was ready in less than 10 minutes, and the staff was very friendly! I ordered the vegan spring rolls which were fresh, delicious, and crispy- some of the best I've had! I also ordered the vegan tofu pad Thai, which I found disappointing. It was chewy, bland, and unimpressive. read more

Basil Babe - Vegan Sprint Rolls - Thai Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

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Nothing better than some curry when you have a stuffed up nose. If this is your first visit, you order and pay before you sit down. The only thing about that is you have to tip before you're served if you're using a card. The interior is fresh and clean, but a little low budget. We started with the spicy pork dumplings and they were very good. My husband ordered the pork belly stir fry which was good, but the star was definitely the Green Curry. If we ever go back, I would order it again and maybe try a noodle dish. read more

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I've been waiting for a new Thai rest to come to the area. The location and interior are nice. I loved the mango sticky rice and chicken satay. Unfortunately, my Massaman chicken was a bit bland. It did not have the flavor and spice I was expecting. This may have been a one-off and I will try it again. I enjoyed the appetizers and dessert and will try it again. read more

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Loved the Thai iced tea! My food was also delicious and would recommend again. The service is nice and helpful if needed.

What a cute place. Feels comfortable and great service. We tried the OG basil stir fry and it was delicious. If you're looking for fancy not here. If you're looking for great service that's this place. If you're looking for quick and tasty this is the place. Thanks for a tasty meal read more

Basil Babe - Thai Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

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Great food at reasonable prices. My favorites are the vegan fried dumplings, the spring rolls and the masaman curry. A friend always has the papaya salad and loves it. Have introduced several other friends to this restaurant and all have been pleased with their meals. Street parking is available; have never needed to park far away. Highly recommend. read more