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Ben Thai Cafe

4.3 (1.4k reviews)
ModerateThai, Noodles
Open 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
Updated 1 week ago

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Live Current wait: under 5 minutes

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BEN THAI CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Ben Thai Cafe

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Pad Kee Mao with beef
Katelynn V.

Average mid pad thai but really god pad kee mao! The pad Thai with chicken tasted really average and had a strong ketchup taste to it. Maybe that's how it's authentically made because this place seems like the real deal. It was just not it for my friend and I. Also the chicken was really dry. Would not recommend this dish. The pad kee mao with beef was so good and flavorful. Perfect wide flat noodles. I got this with level 5 spice and it still wasn't spicy enough for me. You can choose between level 1-5. I would get the pad kee mao again and not the pad Thai. The inside is very nice, dark and a vibe. The servers are also nice and check in really often LOL. My friend and I came an hour before closing time.

Spicy Eggplant & Basil
Rucha S.

Stopped by on a Saturday afternoon when the restaurant wasn't crowded, and we were seated right away. We ordered the Papaya Salad, Veg Spring Rolls, House Favorite Yellow Curry, Eggplant Basil, Pad Kee Mao, and White Rice. The Papaya Salad was a bit disappointing. It was overly sour and tasted more citrusy than fresh and lime-forward. The Veg Spring Rolls were fine, but nothing particularly memorable. The biggest letdown was the Yellow Curry. It lacked the rich flavor I typically expect from a Thai curry, and some of the vegetables seemed undercooked. The Eggplant Basil was also underwhelming. It lacked the distinct basil flavor that the dish is known for. Since we ordered the vegetarian version, it came loaded with a mix of other vegetables, which made it feel more like a generic vegetable stir-fry than an eggplant basil dish. The Pad Kee Mao was the standout of the meal. It had good flavor and was enjoyable, although the portion size felt a bit small for the price. Overall, the food was ok, but nothing really stood out. I've had better Thai food elsewhere, both in terms of flavor and value. While the experience wasn't bad, it wasn't memorable enough to make me want to return. For the price point, I expected more authentic flavors and better execution.

Aarin T.

Ben Thai Cafe had a cozy and modern ambiance that made the restaurant feel inviting and comfortable. The atmosphere was nice for eating with family and gave off a warm vibe overall. The food was good, but there were a few things that kept it from being a 5-star experience. I ordered the Pad See Ew, and while the flavor was tasty, it was noticeably salty to the point where I ended up drinking about four cups of water afterward. The portions also felt somewhat small for the price. For example, the crispy calamari was $14.50 and came with only around 4-6 pieces, which felt a little underwhelming. Service was probably a 3/5 for me and my family. When we were ordering, the server's tone came across as a bit hostile, and we felt rushed both while ordering and eating. That said, the food still had good flavor and I can see why people enjoy this place. The ambiance definitely added to the experience, and with slightly better portion sizes and a more welcoming service experience, this spot could easily be even better.

Ethel R.

Back again. Happy "Mother's Day, to all MOMs! We celebrated with mom and family with a small gathering. Ben Thai Cafe Server - Amp T, she was very quick in helping us find the best dish and drinks that would match our meal. Hot Sake Ginger Mimosa Singh a Beer Barebottle IPA Fresh Roll - Tofu Garlic Duo Jasmine Rice Pad Thai - Veggie Gra-Prao Fried Rice - Extra Spicy The deco is alway so relaxing with all the beautiful art work on the walls. You must visit.

Thai Ice Coffee & Thai Ice Tea
Shivangi K.

Been here a few times since first review and have definitely found my favorites here. Their Pad Kee Mao, Ka-ree (yellow curry), and Gra Prow Fried Rice are all phenomenal! I cannot recommend this rotation enough. The thai iced tea & iced coffee are such a fun treat along with the main meal. I have a hard time resisting... The food always comes out fast once ordered and service is great! It's a small space, but have never had too much trouble with seating. Yes, they do get pretty busy/packed for dinner. An unassuming but wonderful spot!

Khao Soi Deluxe with Roasted Ox Tail ($26.50)
Tiffany Y.

My friend recommended this place after saying it had the best Khao Soi he's had! I thought this was really solid Thai food, but not the best that I've ever had. I would still come back though if I was ever craving some Thai food. Ben Thai Platter ($22): Everything on here was crispy and fried nicely. Nothing felt too oily at all. I really liked how there were 4 different sauces to dip the appetizers in too. Khao Soi Deluxe with Roasted Ox Tail ($26.50): The ox tail was so tender and I loved the flavor of the north. I do think it's a bit on the pricey side, but it was really tasty and the noodles were cooked well. Roasted Duck Curry ($23): The curry was good, but didn't feel super cohesive with the pineapple in it. The duck was on the leaner side and I felt like the skin wasn't as crispy as it could've been. You definitely taste the roasted flavor in the duck though. Mango + Sweet Sticky Rice ($12): Really solid dessert option! You can't go wrong with this. Drinks: They do a really nice deal where you can get 50% off non alcoholic drinks if you check in on Yelp :) I got the unsweetened Thai iced tea and it was delicious and refreshing!

Michael L.

There is a middle aged gent who seems to be the owner of the restaurant, and I think this individual does not put forward a good look for the restaurant as a whole. There was a delivery driver who came in asking if he could use the restroom in between the stops, and this man told him "yes, but don't make it dirty, if you make it dirty I block you" in a very rude and condescending tone. The food was ok but not amazing. Pad kee mao deviated from the authentic preparations I've had at countless other Thai establishments across the country. Not very much basil and no spicy flavor. Prawns were a little overcooked. Seemed like a very "Americanized" preparation which probably suits certain clientele but you are certainly not paying for authentic Thai food here. He also seemed to be in a huge rush to get us out the door even though he still had several open tables and no line of customers waiting. He basically came without warning as I was finishing up the meal and having a conversation with my girlfriend, slapped down the payment terminal, watched me as I was picking out tip options, and essentially grabbed the terminal out of my hand as soon as I selected a tip option. Very weird overall experience and unfortunately can't find anything worth returning for. I also can't recall anything offensive that we had done other than sit down and order food and eat peacefully and quietly. Maybe he was having a bad day, but inexcusable nonetheless...

Pad see ew with roasted duck
Vickie N.

I ordered the Pad See Ew with roasted duck, and it was absolutely amazing. Every noodle was packed with flavor, and the duck was incredibly juicy, tender, and well-seasoned. I was especially impressed that the dish arrived at my hotel still piping hot. The quality, flavor, and portion were all outstanding. Highly recommend--10/10!

Khao Soi (Northern Thai)
Lawrence L.

We ordered take out from here and were pleasantly surprised! The khao soi was packaged extremely well for take out. Noodles/toppings separated and packaged nicely with the soup on the side. The crispy noodles remained crispy even though it was delivered 25 min later. The flavor was spot on and I loved the heat level. Would 10/10 come back here in person to eat.

Eggplant with beef
Tina H.

Egg plant had good texture but was a little salty. The pad Thai was good but would've been better with thicker noodles and the pineapple fried rice had a little bitter ness to it. The murder wings had great texture too but had too much garlic. Mango sticky rice was good to end our dinner. But all in all. 7/10

Roasted Duck Curry
Stephen L.

A solid Thai place in SF! If possible I'd give it right below 4 stars. Came on a weekday night and it was pretty empty. Location is good and interior is lively. I thought each of the dishes were overall well made. Overall, my main critique is that I wish the flavors were a bit bolder. A little more salt and spice is always appreciated for those who have stronger flavor preferences. I think this was true for the pad thai and the spicy basil eggplant. The duck curry was excellent. Great flavors and well cooked. Highly recommend this dish for anyone who comes. The duck was well cooked as well, juicy and flavorful Overall wouldnt mind coming back! A good experience that caters a bit more to broader taste preferences

Pad See Ew
Anh T.

I got a reservation with a friend here on a weekend evening, and most of their restaurant was full. Pad See Ew: There were perfectly chewy noodles with a smoky, savory sauce. The pork was tender and well-seasoned, and the dish had a nice balance of sweetness and soy richness. Paradise Wings: These were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. There was a strong, delicious garlicky flavor that paired well with a sligthly sweet flavor. This was generally a cozy spot with reliably tasty Thai comfort food!

Yellow curry
Erika U.

Visited SF from San Jose for the day and wanted good Thai food. Unfortunately this place was just average and the quality of service was meh. It's a cute little spot, seats close together, lots of windows so you don't actually feel crowded which was great. Got seated within a few minutes of arrival and forgotten about for 10-15 minutes before a couple of waters were provided. Our order was taken and appetizers came out shortly after. Wings - was really looking forward to these and ended up disappointed because they tasted like the oil they were fried in with some garlic thrown on top. The flavor was on the surface and just fell right off the chicken. Crunchy but flavorless (except for the oil) no salt or pepper or anything. Roti came by itself , so had to add the peanut sauce. The peanut sauce saved this meal- legit the best thing we ordered. The roti was a little oily for my liking but the sauce was so good we added a second batch. Mains - pad Thai, rice and curry. The yellow curry chicken was good, average lots of veggies. Rice was with pork and unfortunately the meat was very tough I pushed most of it away. Pad Thai flavor wise was good but it just all clumped together into a ball like it was too stuck to each other. Overall nothing horrible about this place but also nothing special where I would want to come back (except for that peanut sauce). Service only improved slightly as we had food coming out timely but nothing special. And it was really loud where we were seated.

Paradise Wings

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Ask the Community - Ben Thai Cafe

Does anyone know if the peanut sauce is vegan, or does it have fish sauce in it?

Our peanut sauce doesn’t contain fish sauce. We only use peanut butter, sugar, salt and curry paste.

Which items can be made gluten-free and vegan?

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Sobakatsu

Sobakatsu

4.4
(296 reviews)
0.4 mi
$$

So good! This place definitely lives up to the hype. The tempura was incredibly light, airy, and…read moreperfectly crispy without feeling greasy at all. The soba was also delicious and paired really well with the tempura. One thing to keep in mind is the wait. The restaurant is tiny, so even on a random weekday we ended up waiting about 40 minutes. I've also heard weekend waits can easily stretch to over an hour, so definitely come prepared if you're planning to visit during peak times. Funny enough, they accidentally gave me the wrong order--but I wasn't about to complain because they gave me the more expensive fish tempura instead of the shrimp tempura I ordered. It ended up being a happy accident because I got to try even more of their menu. The fish tempura, hot soba, shrimp tempura, and handmade fish cake tempura were all delicious. I'd happily recommend any of them!

As everyone else mentioned, Sobakatsu is dine-in only, has limited seating, and always has a wait…read more It's best for small parties of 1-2. There's bar-type seating and tables, so you may share with strangers. You order on a tablet, pay, and then sit down. When there's no more seats, you're just waiting in line to order. Chef calls out your order # and then you pick up your tray of food and return to your seat. When you're done, you return the tray to the chef. I ordered the tenkake (hot soba) with shrimp kakiage and soba warabimochi. The soba noodles had good texture, nice and chewy but not mushy. The dashi broth was delicious and warming. The shrimp kakiage was good, but a bit greasy. The soba warabimochi was chewy and mildly sweet. They have a bathroom onsite, which funnily enough, is roughly similar in size to the dining area. If you're eager to try Sobakatsu, I recommend lining up 30 minutes before opening for higher chances of first seating. Don't take your chances closer to closing, since they may close early when soba runs out.

Photos
Inside
Inside
Tenzaru Soba: Shrimp + Veggie Tempura w/ chilled soba noodles | $19.25
Tenzaru Soba: Shrimp + Veggie Tempura w/ chilled soba noodles | $19.25
Cold soba + tempura

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Cold soba + tempura
Taniku Izakaya

Taniku Izakaya

4.6
(348 reviews)
0.2 mi
$$

Decided to try the Happy hour at this Japanese place and was blown away…read more Its a small place, maybe 8 tables tops squeezed into this narrow space but it was fantastic. Gretted when we entered, we slid into one the few open tables. The decor was charming, and we were quickly gretted by our server with menus and water. My sister and I split some appetizer items so we could try various items, and every single dish was a taste sensation. The gyoza was crisp on the outside while packed with a savory meat, drizzled with sauce. The Karaage was tender chicken encased in a light fried pankostyle casing, also drizzled with a sauce, and the flavor, each bite was satisfying without being too filling. The Kabocha Kor, were panko fried pumpkin patties with a tonkatsu style sauce that brought the taste buds to a more earthier place . The Tokoyaki, were tender fried octopus balls in a sauce that I would have been happy to hunker down with a large bowl of and just crush, easily my favorite bite, which is saying something as no bute was bad . We closed with an order of Hotate, which was a grilled scallop skewer. Somewhere between sea and bay scallops in size, they were an awesome cap to the dining experience. With a this, I washed it down with a peach-weizen beer which was the perfect accompaniment to the meal. Every dish was fantastic in flavor, sauces, and texture. On top of all this, the service was excellent, and the happy hour prices very much in reason.

The appetizers were amazing. The pork belly skewers didn't taste super fatty and were so soft, the…read moreagedashi tofu was great, the tater tots were good. Takoyaki was average. The hamachi carpaccio was really good. The ramen was below average. The Niku broth was tasteless and oily and it was spicy but didn't taste spicy. I couldn't finish it. I'd come here only for the appetizers only. But I probably won't be coming back.

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Interior
Interior
Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !
Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !
Calamari

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Calamari
Mashita Galbi Jjim

Mashita Galbi Jjim

4.6
(161 reviews)
0.5 mi

The best galbi jjim we've had so far! My partner and I found this place last minute. It was a…read morelittle small inside but I enjoyed the aesthetic/ambiance and luckily we had zero wait time. We ordered the galbi jjim and strawberry watermelon drink which was a decent size, not too sweet, and very refreshing. My partner's spice tolerance is pretty low so we ordered the level one spice. Unfortunately it was still too spicy for him so I double checked to make sure it was only the level one spice and they said yes. About 15 minutes later, they let us know that the food is on the house! Not what we were expecting at all since we really just wanted to enjoy the food, but it was much appreciated. They also said to let them know the next time we come back so that they can do 0.5 spice instead. Overall amazing food and amazing customer service. We are definitely coming back! Just beware if you have a low spice tolerance and let them know when you place your order!!

We came to Mashita Galbi Jim on a Sunday and were the first in line. We were anticipating long wait…read moretimes after having tried to eat here a few times before. If you're not able to squeeze into the first wave, the wait is upwards of 2 hours! FOOD: We ordered one galbi jim with extra noodles and rice cakes and a separate garlic noodles for a party of 5. While we initially thought we could finish two galbi jims, our server cautioned us against it, referencing the healthy portion size. We were glad we took her advice because everyone was stuffed by the end of our meal. Their galbi jim was flavorful, with extremely tender beef and chewy rice cakes. We ordered the lowest level of spiciness and while there was still a kick, it was extremely manageable. SERVICE: We were the first to be seated and our galbi jim took almost 20 minutes to come out while others waited even longer. However, they comped our garlic noodles and apologized for turning waits. Overall, I'd definitely return if I'm able to get into the first wave of seating.

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Mashita Galbi Jjim
Complimentary Banchan (clockwise): Salad w/ sesame dressing, kimchi, japchae, fish cakes
Complimentary Banchan (clockwise): Salad w/ sesame dressing, kimchi, japchae, fish cakes
Soy KFC, sauce on the side ($22.75)

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Soy KFC, sauce on the side ($22.75)

Ben Thai Cafe - thai - Updated July 2026

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