We stopped by on a particularly busy weekend day and had to wait quite a while to be seated, but now that I've eaten here, I can say that it was truly worth it! The place was lively and welcoming, with thriving plants by the big windows. Everyone working was nice even as they were swamped with takeout and online orders in addition to the place being packed with diners. The food at Thai Basil was delicious. The fried appetizers were crunchy and flavorful, and the main dishes were filling. Portions were generous on most dishes, so we had leftovers to look forward to. Standout dishes for me were the Basil Fried Rice and the Tom Kha. Location is right off the green line light rail and neighborhood parking is a block or so away! read more

See all

Upon entering, the cozy wood details and gentle lighting foster a welcoming environment enhanced by lush Plants. The restaurant was quite busy by 7 PM, but the wait for a table wasn't long at all. The menu was limited, but the majority featured traditional Thai dishes. I was pleasantly surprised to see mee gatee and kao paik on the menu which is my Favs. We ordered the boat noodles, which quickly became my favorite place for them. The pad thai and kao mun gai tauat were also hits at the table! Overall grea place for authentic thai food! read more

See all

I came in at mid-afternoon on a Thursday and business was visibly steady, which should tell you something. I ordered spring rolls which I would rate as good, and chicken pad thai which I would rate as PERFECT. I realized I hadn't had straighforward pad thai in many years and now I feel I've been wasting my years because it was soooo tasty. Next time I come it will be hard to decide between basic pad thai that is this good, and one of their specialties. Service was really nice and quick, despite their constant stream of customers. And the proportion of price to portion size was very favorable. They appear to be on most or all of the delivery apps, and they are open every day from 9am to 9pm. Clean and cute! I'm very glad they are here! read more

See all

Finished a Wild Game w friends who were kind enough to invite us as they had a suite. I was pretty full from the event. My Indian Girl.. She is vegetarian so she didn't get much more than fruits. I found this place in yelp with a lot of options. The staff was super helpful and took good care of us. read more

See all

Amazing! I've been here a few times now shortly after moving into the area. One of my favorite local spots now! The service was laid back and the Thai tea is perfect, not too sweet and actually had that good hint of tea taste in it! We ordered their fried chicken and the crispy pork that came with rice. The chicken and pork were perfectly crispy with great flavor. The chicken came with some sweet sauce as well. I've grown up with my family business making amazing fried chicken but this place honestly tops that! I can't say that for many places! The drinks in bottles were like $6 but it was worth it and you could take home the bottle if you wanted! The place was very nicely decorated and very cute. read more

See all

I swear I've been to this building before years ago, I had a sense of dejavue when we went there for dinner. They have a small parking lot, might have to find parking in the neighborhood. Lots of greenery when we walked into the restaurant, reminds me of my mother's house. Small restaurant but they were busy. I can tell this place was a gem, almost every table had soups. My friend was craving for boat noodles, which was delicious. I saw kow mun gai, but crispy option too?? Instant curiosity! I had to try it. The ginger sauce was perfect. The owner is so sweet, she told us they have a mango juice and plum juice on the house. Come try the food if you're in the area. read more

See all

Really enjoyed the drunken noodles with beef ! Ordered on line and picked up on site... parking nightmare in the back .. guess I wasn't the only one picking up. The lot was full and in places 2 deep. Looks nice inside to eat but we were running late. Would eat here again read more

It was my first visit here, and navigating getting here amidst the light rail is an inconvenience if you don't use GPS and are on the wrong side of University Ave. My other quibble is the parking lot is small and tight. Everything else about this restaurant is a delight! The food, service, and ambiance were all really enjoyable. While this isn't a fine dining restaurant, I found the fast casual atmosphere adorable. The vibe here, with the cushions, string lights, and tablecloths was festive and really added a lot to the space. The aroma on entering the restaurant smelled so good; I immediately knew we were in for a tasty meal. The server was extremely warm and inviting; I loved when I told her it was our first visit, her reply was "Welcome...and see you next week". She wasn't far off...the food warrants a return visit. I asked for the Pad Thai (with chicken) to be mild, but I guess it was Thai mild, because it still had a little kick to it. That normally wouldn't bother me at all, because I've always liked spicy food, but as I've gotten older my digestive tract isn't on the same page any longer. I always order cream cheese wontons when they are on the menu; and these were uniquely flavored (in a good way) in both the sauce and the filling. The egg rolls were OK, and my least favorite item that we got. The noodle salad (with chicken egg roll and shrimp) was fresh tasting and I liked the peanut sauce on it. read more

See all

After missing breakfast because of early meetings I was on the hunt for something delicious for lunch. I was not disappointed with Basil Cafe. I ordered the basil fried rice with chicken and extra veggies and the veggie egg rolls. I ordered online and when I went in to pick up the staff was very friendly and provided me an ETA for my order to be ready. I made a stop before heading to my hotel and my food was still hot when I finally was able to eat. The rice was cooked perfectly and had the right balance of veggies/chicken. The egg rolls were crispy and flavorful. The sauce that comes with the egg rolls had a little bit of sweetness but not overpowering. I am so glad I decided to give Basil cafe a try. read more

See all

Incredibly accommodating for GF diets. I got the pad kee mao with shrimp, medium spicy. The spice level was perfect, the shrimp was cooked well, and the noodles had good flavor, even slightly sweet but not overwhelmingly so. Good potion for lunch too. Delivery was quick with uber eats. read more

Basil Cafe Thai Cuisine - Thai Near Me - St Paul, Minnesota

Very good food in a basic restaurant. We started with some tasty egg rolls. We enjoyed the drunken noodles and the crispy chicken. Both were very tasty. Service was a little slow but we enjoyed the meal. read more

See all

I come here frequently, but this time, I came with my girlfriend. I wanted her to try the wontons so bad, because they're my favorite. I even told her not to have them when she came with one of her friends, wow, what a controlling boyfriend! The service here is always phenomenal, the food is always super tasty. I love the design of the place too, lots of greenery and a clean vibe. When I came with my girlfriend (wow, I talk about her so much), we just ordered wontons because the universe said we should. The cashier was super nice, and said they would throw in an additional wonton because I told an amazing story and am so passionate about these wontons. Black garlic cream cheese, a tamarind sauce, and just the right amount of crunch on the outside. I have no photos because we demolished them before I could even write the review. Please give this place a try, support small business! read more

We were a group of 29 people - a large group for this restaurant. The owner, Tiffany, worked with me to prepare a menu that would please everyone and it was terrific! Don't miss the Sticky Rice dessert - we had it with mango and mixed berries. read more

This is a mini review as I only did takeout just for me on way home from work. My favorite takeout place (Thai Cafe) was closed for Holidays so I decided to take a chance on Basil. It did not disappoint! A few things I appreciated: * Easy on-line ordering for takeout * Reasonable prices * On-site parking and easy access to transit * Delicious food! I ordered the drunken Noodles with fresh tofu, one of my standby Thai dishes. I ordered medium spicy, which I thought was fairly mild but I always under order spice when trying somewhere new. I would describe it as above average. There was something a little different O can't quite describe- almost a smoky quality to the spices but I really enjoyed it * Super friendly staff * Beautiful interior. I want to come back and dine inside! read more

Basil Cafe Thai Cuisine - Thai Near Me - St Paul, Minnesota

See all

Such a great spot for lunch! The whole restaurant is decorated gorgeously with plants, string lights, and beautiful fabric table cloths. They have a small parking lot on the side of the building at its right off the lightrail for easy transportation. Only complaint is it was hot inside the restaurant. The service was great. They were able to seat our large group quickly. Complimentary strawberry lemonade was available near the counter. The food was likewise impeccable - I was too hungry to take a photo. I got the pad kee mow. The group also ordered the pad see-yew, Khao moo krob, and curry. The portion sizes were large for lunch and I left full and sleepy. Next time I want to try their summer berry sticky rice and one of their bottled tea drinks - they looked so fresh and yummy! read more

My favorite Thai restaurant in the cities! Everything is delicious. They have 3 spice levels (no spice, mild, medium, or spicy). I typically order medium when I try a new place. I think their medium has a bit more heat than most medium places in the cities (although personally I added more chili oil, which was available at the table side). Service was friendly, and the restaurant had ample seating and was overall a cute vibe. They have gluten free and vegetarian options which are clearly labeled on the menu, which I really appreciate! Would recommended for dining out with family and friends! read more

Basil Cafe Thai Cuisine - G1. Mango Sticky Rice (seasonal) (Pandan) - Thai Near Me - St Paul, Minnesota

See all

Don't serve customer wilted veggies!!! If you don't have basil please 86 it. Got served wilted basil asked the server for a new bowl of basil but rather than taking it back she just said " we only have wilted basil at the moment." Let that sink in a bit. Nothing looks worst than a restaurant serving wilted basil and not to mention given cold egg-roll that's been sitting at the counter for a while. If your staff don't care about the food they serve don't expect a good review from customers. Use common sense!!! Wilted veggies= bad food read more

Basil Cafe Thai Cuisine - Basil - Thai Near Me - St Paul, Minnesota

I've ordered delivery a couple of times, but haven't had the opportunity to eat in the restaurant yet. The food is great and heavy portion sizes. As someone who likes "MN spicy" i learned the hard way to stick with no spice on my pad Thai order because the mild nearly killed me . I can usually handle at least mild, but not here. read more

So happy to have found my new favorite pad Thai in the area. Flavors were spot on, the ambiance was wonderful and the customer service exceptional! The pad Thai was a little different in the sense that the noodles were thinner as opposed to flat but the texture had just the right chew, the sauce was perfect and the spice level was spot on. Will definitely be back to try more of the menu in addition to the regular pad Thai craving! read more

Always loooove going to basil cafe!! My favorites are the crispy chicken, Tom kha soup, and mango sticky rice as pictured! The food is really flavorful and the crispy rice comes with cilantro broth that feels like a hug! Service has always been good and the place is pretty cute with lots of plants! Parking can just be a little tight in their parking lot sometimes :) I also like their tea that comes in bottles-- the selection is awesome! read more

See all

My sisters and I visited this restaurant, and I ordered the chicken egg rolls, which I enjoyed so much I had to get a second serving. I ended up not ever eating the Tom Yum soup I ordered, so I can't review it properly. The crispy porks were flavorful, though I wish they were slightly crisper. The staff was friendly, though service was a bit slow. Among all, I think my favorite part was their drinks--especially their Boba tea. I was pleased to discover that their beverages are also sold at local stores, which is a big plus! read more

We popped in here for lunch one afternoon after a rally at the Capitol. The place filled up pretty quickly and I don't think they were ready for so many people, but they handled it well. I had the pad thai (so original, I know) and it was good! I ordered medium spicy and it was a perfect amount. There are so many restaurant options on this stretch of University, but I would definitely recommend this place! read more

Great Thai food! Everything I had was savory and tasty. My friend and I ordered: Fried pork belly with garlic Cream cheese wontons Pad kee mow (Drunken Noodles) Pad Thai Mango sticky rice (pandan) The pork belly was flavorful and went really well with the sauce. The cream cheese wontons were crispy, well filled with cream cheese, and tasty with the tamarind sauce. As for the noodle dishes, the drunken noodle was spicy for a medium (I loved it), and the pad Thai was sweet and spicy too. Lastly, the mango sticky rice was decent. I do wish the mangos were sweeter, but the pandan rice was good. I would definitely recommend Basil Thai, and also come back! read more

See all

Thai cafe that if you blink, you could miss it along University Avenue. They DO offer free parking in their lot on the east side of the building. Warm and full of plants and Thai decor, it's a great place for lunch. Our waitress was a little busy with the lunch crowd, so she dropped off a bottle of water for our table (which I did appreciate when enjoying my Thai-spiced meal!) read more

See all

Wonderful food and service! Highly recommend. Another family member own the nearby bakery which was also very good.

First time coming here and we really loved it! The cream cheese wontons were the best I've had in a while. The pad Thai was probably the best of my life. sweet, tangy, lots of peanuts. The Tom kha was the only thing that was disappointing. It was WAY too salty. Other than that our server was so sweet and helpful. We will definitely be back but will skip the Tom kha read more

See all

This review is disappointing to write because my wife and I have genuinely loved this restaurant and have had great experiences here in the past. Unfortunately, my most recent visit was extremely uncomfortable and unsanitary. During my visit, the owner brought her dog into the dining area and encouraged guests to pet it. While I love dogs, this quickly became inappropriate for a restaurant setting. The dog jumped onto my table while water cups and utensils were still out Shortly after, the dog was moved onto another dining table -- which was honestly shocking. To make matters worse, the dog later defecated in the middle of the dining floor, and a waitress (not the owner) had to clean it up. At one point, the dog also went into the kitchen area. This situation completely ruined my meal and raised serious concerns about cleanliness and food safety. I truly hope the owner can change something. Unfortunately, after this experience, we're not sure when or if we'll return. read more

Love the food there. The lady whom I think owns the restaurant is always so nice and making sure everything went well. She told me she makes the kopia noodle in house which is soooo delicious. The staff is nice, food is delicious, place is clean. Love the yummy dessert drinks too, very authentic. I've door dashed a couple times and what I appreciate about this place is that they tie up the bags nice and tight then staple them in brown paper bag which makes me feel great about no tampering of the food. read more

Ordered for delivery. F4. Khao Moo Krob (Crispy Pork Rice) Customer Service did a good job of presentation, but Pork Belly was over cooked a bit that made it extra crispy and chewy, otherwise the house-special dipping sauce was delicious! The side of cilantro-chicken broth had a great balance of flavor as well. I've been told the inside of the restaurant is very nice for eat in. Follow me for more reviews and comment what I should try next. read more

See all

Friendly customer service, food took a bit longer to receive but they had a steady flow of people coming in and out for takeout pickups. A bit on the sweeter side and a different take than what I'm used to for the dishes but it was still good. Definitely try their tricolor bottled drink, so refreshing. Cute aesthetics from the plants, the Thai skirts turned table cloths, metal water cups to give you a feel like you're not in Minnesota. read more

See all

We have been on the hunt for the best Pad Thai in the metro area. Basil Cafe keeps us coming back! They run specials often (hello BOGO!) and always have friendly service. Great flavors and get a generous portion for the cost. We've always gotten takeout, but the inside is clean and well maintained too. read more

Basil Cafe Thai Cuisine - Chicken E1. Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - St Paul, Minnesota

See all

We had a great experience with Basil Cafe this past week! I went with a group of friends and we all enjoyed our entrees and would go back. They have a small parking lot next to the restaurant otherwise the street parking is further away. I started my meal with a Thai tea and really liked it, they bottle their own teas. For a meal I got the red chicken curry and also tried the chicken pad thai and really liked both. They labeled their menu well with gluten free which I appreciated. The service was a little slow when we went but that allowed us time to talk and enjoy our meals. The meals were well priced and I'd definitely go back! I want to try some of their other teas, entrees, and a dessert next time! read more

See all

This is another gem on University Ave in St. Paul. The decor is very inviting. Quaint tables with nice tablecloths welcoming you in to the dining space. The papaya salad was outstanding. The spring rolls were freshly made. I had to request an additional sauce because the springs are a very nice size...enough to share. Service was friendly and attentive. read more

Basil Cafe is one of my favorite places to eat! Seriously, the atmosphere transforms you to Thailand. I love the decor, and the attention to detail on everything sets the tone for the food, which is also really good! I also really enjoy the consistency of flavors everytime I come back -- everything always tastes exactly the same. The owner really cares for quality here. Here's some of my favorites. Spring Rolls - you can choose to get chicken or shrimp or a combo of both. They use ground chicken which is easier to bite into than slices. I love the amount of veggies and herbs aee included in the spring rolls. It's a must have for me everytime! Green Curry - OMG this is amazing! The owner makes the paste which makes this so much more herbaceous than other green curries I've had. This is the only place we can get satisfied with green curry! Pad See Ew - I really like that they use Chinese broccoli in here... it makes the dish well rounded. This is one of my favorite stir-fry noodle dishes to get, and she always nails it. Of course, the pad thai is also really good here! Pho, Lao style - This broth is sooo good! Beefy, umami, herby, and so flavorful! This is not your usual Vietnamese pho, so don't get the wrong idea. This one has more oomph to it and the flavors are more intense. The garlic oil adds so much depth to this! Truly a beautiful lao-style dish. Honestly, everything here tastes so good. I feel like I've tried the whole menu already, but seriously, you can really feel the care and love the owner has for this place. The food is always consistently good, and any feedback provided is always looked into carefully and owner always listens. read more

See all

New in town, but have been back to Basil Cafe at least 3 times so far. Service is good, and the food never disappoints. I especially like the green curry and the basil fried rice. Parking is easy as well, although if the lot is full you may have to go find street parking. read more

I just ordered take out for the first time from Basil Cafe after hearing it recommended from a coworker and WOW! They did not disappoint! I think this is my new favorite Thai restaurant in the metro! Everything was well seasoned and delightfully flavorful (even the food ordered with "no spice" was delicious and far from bland). We tried the following: Pad Thai with Mock Duck - The noodles were cooked to perfection with the right amount of sauce. The sauce seems to be sweeter and brighter in the best way. It came with the right amount of peanut crunch and I loved that the pieces of mock duck were cut smaller so you get some in every bite. Red Curry with Fried Tofu - Delicious, rich and creamy with the right amount of veg and spice. Tofu was spot on what you want in a crispy tofu. Drunken Noodles with Fried Tofu - again the fried tofu was flavorful and crispy. I love that it has a good amount of sauce and veg so it's not just noodles and the veg was perfectly cooked - not over cooked. So flavorful! Cream Cheese Wontons - delicious! They had a good amount of filling that had a sweet, garlicky flavor, nice and crispy and paired so well with the dipping sauce (seems like a garlic plum sauce?) I definitely will be ordering again soon and telling all my friends about this place! The restaurant ambiance seemed like a nice place to eat in too! Highly recommend and can't wait to try other items on the menu! read more

Amazing red curry. The staff are incredibly hospitable. The owner is so kind and gave fantastic recommendations. I stumbled on this place and will absolutely be coming back to try more things. read more

This is our favorite place for Thai takeout - pad see yew and egg rolls are must haves. Everything has been flavorful and it is easy to order and pick up. Try the drinks and desserts too, they're fun and have seasonal options! read more

Ordered Spring Rolls and Fried Rice for delivery. Specifically asked for peanut dipping sauce when it came to selecting side sauces ( which i kind of thought was a given and should automatically come with them ) and hot chili sauce . Guess what ?? No Peanut dipping sauce . Its the equivalent of ordering a salad but the dressing was forgotten; or Sushi with no ginger or wasabi,..You get the drift. Very disappointed. I gave 2 stars because the fried rice had perfect spice and good flavor . It would have been nice to he able to give more though . read more

I'm a sucker for papaya salad, pretty much always an item I order at Thai restaurants. My friend spotted a "platter" for the papaya salad that came with a bunch of goodies, pork rinds, hard boiled eggs, meatballs, wonderfully crispy pork, cabbage, noods...this might be my favorite platter of anything ever. I'm still craving it. Anyways, parking was easy, there's a parking lot to the side of the restaurant. Service was very friendly and efficient. Our server was personable and seemed genuinely nice, like he didn't hate people, which I feel has been rare in my recent customer experiences. If I could change one thing it'd be the 3% fee to pay with credit card. Honestly, I'd rather businesses work those fees into the food prices. I'd rather be ignorant that these types of fees are passed on to customers than have it noted separately, that's just me. Otherwise, I enjoyed my meal and will be back to try more dishes. read more