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    Basil Thai Bistro

    3.8 (440 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Salad, Noodles
    Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Basil Thai Bistro Takeout or Delivery

    Basil Thai Bistro Photos

    Business Info

    BASIL THAI BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Basil Thai Bistro

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    Thai Tea
    Maria E.

    The food is delicious. I am partial to the Panang Curry, but their Pad Thai is also amazing. Lunch special pricing cant be beat - you should see the portion! As always, they greeted me with a friendly hello and treated me kindly throughout my visit. Easy to find parking, seating available for different group sizes. Also, if you order the Thai Iced Tea, you won't be disappointed.

    Melissa C.

    Nice little restaurant with quick service and friendly employees. I'm very picky about my pad thai and this is one of the few places that makes it the way I like. Stop in and give them a try.

    Dumplings
    Ciera N.

    Found this place on doordash & ordered about 20 minutes before they closed because my daughter randomly wanted dumplings lol. We also ordered the spring rolls which were super filling. We enjoyed them and the sauces that came with both were super good and really made the dishes pop!!

    the front of the restaurant
    Jasmin H.

    Nice, chill, authentic Thai restaurant that doesn't have a gazillion items in their menu but serves some of the most delicious dishes from Thailand. From someone who has lived there for more than a decade, I can say that this place is spot on from the polite and thoughtful attitude of the staff, to the lovely decorations and the soft Thai music playing in the background, to the presentation and taste of their food. If you're in the East County of San Diego, check this place out! There's plenty of free parking space and you'll definitely enjoy the food and excellent service. The restaurant appears to have clean floors, furniture, utensils, and restroom. You can also order online and get your food to go.

    Pad Thai with chicken
    Tammie W.

    The hubby and I ordered Basil Thai for dinner and were pleasantly surprised by how satisfying it was. First of all, our pick up order was ready in 15 minutes, packaged nicely and piping hot. Second, the flavors were really good and those spring rolls stayed nice and crisp. The pad Thai was superb. The chicken was tender, the flavors worked well and it wasn't too spicy. My curry was very well seasoned, had a nice kick at a level 5 and I slurped it all up. My only criticism is that the tofu, potatoes and carrots were huge and could've been cut down by half the size. I know they do this do the vegetables don't turn to mush when cooking, but it made a mess when trying to cut. This place is close to our new place and we'll definitely be grabbing food yo hi again.

    Panang Curry Duck Pad Thai Lunch Combo
    Michael D.

    Food was ok. Ordered the Panang curry duck lunch special. Portion was small, curry not even enough to be soaked up by rice. Soup appetizer had good broth, but veggies did not taste fresh. Good service, but I won't be back.

    Pad Thai
    Anna-Lisa D.

    Another fantastic Thai spot! I try to get similar things at every place we try and this did not disappoint. The Tom kha was phenomenal and I will definitely be back for more of that. The pad see ew with fish was the best ever. So flavorful and delicious. The pad Thai was good, about the same as any other place, but don't miss the Tom kha or pad see ew. Staff was friendly and the place is spacious, not busy.

    Yellow curry with rice

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    9 days ago

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    4 months ago

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    Jet S.

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    4 months ago

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    Jet S.

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    13 days ago

    Basil Thai is amazing. The staff is incredible and the food is even better! A must try if you are in the area!

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    1 year ago

    Very nice local business. Good Thai food and nice service. Thank you for a nice dining experience

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Not too expensive and the food is amazing! Good portions for the price. The vegetables in the curry were tender and tasty.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    Excellent Thai dishes from Drunken spicy noodles and egg rolls to fried rice. The servers were efficient and helpful.

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    4 years ago

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - Basil Thai Bistro

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    Koon Thai Kitchen

    Koon Thai Kitchen

    4.2
    (3.1k reviews)
    8.3 mi
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    Food was amazing like always, no wait even though it was busy for a Monday and our server Coco had…read morea great attitude and was very attentive, suggested the crab rice said it was his favorite and did not disappoint it was so delicious. Would definitely recommend and will be coming back for sure.

    I don't usually leave reviews, but I wanted to share my experience dining here with my family…read more The evening started off great. The staff was friendly when we arrived, we were seated quickly, received our drinks promptly, and our food came out fast. The music was enjoyable, the ambiance was nice, and the restaurant had a modern, welcoming feel. Most importantly, the food was excellent. Everything we ordered was delicious, and my kids couldn't stop talking about the crispy pork belly. Honestly, the food itself was 5-star quality. The issue was what happened as the restaurant approached closing time. About 10-15 minutes after we started eating, a staff member brought our check and asked us to pay even though we were still waiting on two mango sticky rice desserts that had not yet been served. I politely explained that we hadn't received all of our food yet, so it didn't make sense to close out the bill. The desserts were brought out shortly afterward. A different employee then returned and again asked us to close out the check, assuring us that we could continue eating while they finished closing. Although I was hesitant, I paid and explained that I would leave a cash tip after we finished since we were still dining. Unfortunately, from that point on, the service noticeably changed. No one checked on our table, our water glasses were never refilled, and the staff seemed focused on cleaning around us. The booth behind us was being cleaned very loudly while we were still trying to enjoy our meal. It made us feel rushed and unwelcome, and honestly took away from an otherwise great dinner. When I asked for containers for our leftovers, the interaction felt cold and standoffish compared to the friendly service we received earlier in the evening. My suggestion would be that if the restaurant is close to closing and doesn't want guests dining in, they should clearly communicate that and switch to takeout only. The food was genuinely delicious, and I would come back again--but not near closing time. Great food, disappointing end to the evening.

    Photos
    Beautiful interior wonderful staff
    Beautiful interior wonderful staff
    Crispy fish fillets
    Crispy fish fillets
    (D7) Crab Fried Rice, delicious !

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    (D7) Crab Fried Rice, delicious !
    Sovereign Modern Thai Cuisine

    Sovereign Modern Thai Cuisine

    4.4
    (516 reviews)
    10.4 mi
    $$$

    Came here on a Saturday for a late lunch. We had made a reservation for 4 and were sat right away,…read moreit was not busy. Parking will be mostly street spots. We were lucky and were able to grab the spot right out front. For drinks we each ordered a cocktail. It did take a bit for them to come out but once they did you can tell time and effort were put into making them. They were beautiful and all tasted great. We ordered 4 dishes to share, the wasabi scallop ceviche, crispy baby crab, braised beef panang, and crab fried rice. The ceviche was definitely one of my favorites. Super flavorful, fresh, with the perfect amount of wasabi. The crispy baby crab was savory and easy to eat, especially since you're eating the whole crab, shell and all. The curry in the braised beef panang was so addicting, I couldn't stop eating it. The crab fried rice was tasty and filling. For dessert we got the mango sticky rice. The mangoes were fresh and sweet. Overall pretty standard but still yummy. Service was friendly, helpful and attentive. All the food came out in the timely manner. The vibe of the restaurant is casual but can be a little dressy for a nice date. Overall I definitely recommend a try here. Beautiful presentation with all the food and drinks while still being delicious.

    Came here to celebrate a birthday, and the experience was phenomenal. We ordered 3 appetizers and…read morean entree to share among ourselves. We got the Taro Fritters, Bangkok street noodles, pork sausage, and the chicken wings. The highlight of the dinner were the chicken wings!! They were so flavorful and crispy, I cannot recommend them enough. The taro fritters were a close second, the tamarind sauce was also a highlight of my dinner experience. Service was quick + amiable, and the inside of Sovereign was clean and inviting. The decor is dark and moody, with live plants throughout the establishment. Parking is metered & limited, but definitely worth the hassle.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Avocado Spring Rolls
    Avocado Spring Rolls
    Beef Spare Rib Golae

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    Beef Spare Rib Golae
    Mekong Cuisine Lao and Thai

    Mekong Cuisine Lao and Thai

    4.4
    (906 reviews)
    8.4 mi
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    Women-owned & operated
    Kid friendly

    Our first visit to Mekong Lao & Thai was fantastic, and we're already planning our next one! A dear…read morefriend recommended this one and we were thanking her before we left our table. When we ordered, our server took the time to explain their spice scale (1-5), letting us know that a 1 is already about a medium spice level. We settled on mostly 2-3, but wow--the Thum Khao Poon (shredded green papaya salad) still packed some serious heat! Even my spice-loving kids were challenged. The server also gave us a heads-up that it's very fish-forward in flavor, which we appreciated and happened to love. The absolute standout of the meal was the Nam Khao Tod. It was hands down the family favorite--crispy coconut rice with pork sausage, crunchy peanuts, fresh herbs, and so many incredible textures and flavors in every bite. We could have ordered a second plate! We also had the Drunken Noodles with chicken, which were slightly oily in the best possible way, making them extra rich and delicious. The Chef's Special Basil Stir Fry with Crispy Pork was another winner. Our server brought over a chili vinegar that elevated the crispy pork to a whole new level--it was so good drizzled over every bite. Great food, thoughtful service, and plenty of dishes we're already looking forward to trying next time. Can't wait to come back!

    If you are craving great Southeast Asian comfort food in Kearny Mesa, this place delivers on taste,…read morebut the arrival process is stressful. The plaza has horrible parking, and we had to aggressively fight for a parking space with another car before we could even walk in. Came here on a Saturday around 6 pm with 2 friends. == FOOD == We got a beef pad see ew, khao soi, and a pork rice. All the food was pretty good. I took off one star because it seemed like the pad see ew was smothered in white pepper. == SERVICE == Service was a bit slow, but we think it was because we were waiting for the rice to be cooked? However, the staff was polite, apologetic about the delay, and very attentive. She gave us free mango sticky rice. == AMBIANCE == Interior is very nice and there is bar seating too. The bathroom is also very clean. If you don't mind a slower-paced meal and a chaotic parking lot, the amazing Lao and Thai flavors are completely worth it!

    Photos
    Nam Khao Tod
    Nam Khao Tod
    Sai Oua
    Sai Oua
    Khao Piek Sen

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    So Saap

    So Saap

    4.3
    (850 reviews)
    6.6 mi
    $$
    Vegan friendly
    Gluten-free friendly

    Oh em gee So Saap more like So Saarap!!! (Delicious in Tagalog) I do believe this experience eating…read morethis healthy yummy in my tummy food (the dessert and the meal and the water) was awesome hehe! Service?? Authentic and from the heart. Going into this restaurant is like stepping into a new delicious world. The chef is like Willy Wonka but for Thai food! I went for Mother's Day and I love my mom :) she loves it too "I love to eat here" - my mom

    This review is for 7/18/26, we were visiting SD zoo and stopped by So Saap for dinner before…read moreheading back to LA. I thought the food was alright... Prices were decent. The restaurant was modernized enough. Also we just wanted to try a new restaurant we have never been to and thought why not give So Saap a shot. We ordered the lao papaya salad, khmer beef skewers, Tom yum soup, pad thai and lastly added Nam Khao dish. I was really excited about trying the Nam Khao and glad they had this option here. Everything came out right away but the Nam Khao never showed up. We were almost done with our dinner and the dish didn't come out yet so we asked them if we could cancel the order. The server told me she would see what she could do. 5 minutes later she brings the dish out and told us sorry they already made it and we had to accept it. At this point we were given the check. I was irritated but my husband said its fine, just take the whole thing to go and eat it when we get back. I packed it up. We paid for it and didn't make a fuss. When I got home and decided to eat it, I found a piece of rock in my food. First time this has ever happened. I'm not happy with our service and definitely not happy that Nam Khao came with a rock/pebble. Will attach a photo! Needless to say, we will NOT be coming back to So Saap again!

    Photos
    November Food menu
    November Food menu
    November Drink menu
    November Drink menu
    Join us at our bigger new location

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    Join us at our bigger new location

    Basil Thai Bistro - thai - Updated August 2026

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