One of the most unique Thai restaurants I've been to! Everything we ordered was incredibly flavorful, with so much depth from the spices. You can really taste the care and authenticity in every dish. We stopped here for dinner during our Portland trip, and my husband and I ordered a bunch of dishes to share so we could try as much as possible. We had different types of skewers, quail eggs, calamari, beef panang, and stir-fried noodles. And of course, we had to finish with their famous black sticky rice with coconut. There wasn't a single bad dish. Everything was delicious, well seasoned, and tasted authentic. Each dish had its own unique flavor profile, and nothing felt boring or one dimensional. The ambiance was also really cute and cozy, making it a great spot for a date night or a nice dinner with someone special. The service was phenomenal too. Everyone was attentive, friendly, and incredibly fast without making us feel rushed. Honestly, I'd come back to Portland just to eat here again. Definitely a must try if you're looking for flavorful, authentic Thai food! read more

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The skewers are amazing, best things on the menu. We tried the chicken, shrimp, and moo ping skewers. All were excellent. We also got the papaya salad("Thai spicy is no joke"). Kra Pao chicken was delicious too. Grilled rice ball was meh, too salty. Desserts were ok, nothing too crazy. Pro tip: there's a public parking spot a block away, made parking much easier vs trying to find a street parking. read more

Boda was very good. While I didn't care for the fried rice, the tangerine chicken was amazing

Grab a drink and apps with a friend. Favorite seat at the corner of the bar. Perfect location to see all the happenings. Pat is training as the bartender and when she approaches looked at me and somehow knew I wanted a Thai Basil Collins. We had a connection. The drink was great and the apps hit the spot. Then it was time to decide on dessert and David walked up and asked if I want the fried bananas with chocolate ice cream. I did and said nothing. Again, delicious and perfect for my evening. read more

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FYI I got the food Doordash-ed to my hotel so I am judging exclusively the food that I received. I got the beef skewers and the crispy chicken wings. It was amazing! The wings were freshly fried and enveloped in a sweet sticky chili sauce. The skewers were absolutely delicious. You can really taste the tender beef, soy/fish sauce base, herbaceous lemon grass, and rich garlicky aroma. Yum. read more

Sitting at Boda's bar, with the friendly service and the overwhelmingly delicious aromas wafting from their kitchen while its sub-zero temperatures outside and the snow banks are 5 feet tall... it really is a treat! The food is delicious, the cocktails are done right and the bartenders are always witty and friendly! We love date nights at Boda. FYI -- this place is great all four seasons (not just in the dead of winter) read more

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Boda has the benefit that if you are a person who enjoys spicier, more authentic Thai food or if you're a baby like me who can't take the heat they have ample options of both while still being delicious read more

Solid thai spot! The quail eggs and green papaya salad were v yum. Cannot say i rec the pad kee mao - a little sweet and not very savory ? But like totally Acceptable to eat, and got the job done - i'd go back but order another entree read more

Boda - Pad Kee Mao - Thai Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Excellent Thai food. Easily the best Thai food I've had in Maine, NH, and MA. We tried multiple dishes, and everything from the apps, mains, to desserts were fabulous. In general, the flavor profile of each dish is so complex...and the textures so varied...it is like a kaleidoscope from bite to bite, from the initials flavors to the ending notes. So good! The service was efficient and friendly, and the server provided suggestions based on what we're thinking. There are two rooms, and we sat in the front room where the bar is which made it a little noisier than the back room which just has dining tables. It was a great atmosphere with the big windows facing a busy street made it feel like we could have been in any cool urban restaurant. As amazing as the all the food was, the desserts were absolute standout. We had the Thai tea cheesecake and the sticky rice with fresh mango. The cheesecake had complex flavors and a great texture, and the fresh perfectly ripe mango on sticky rice, with a delicate crisp cookie on top, was sweet and savory and soft and crispy and so good! read more

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So we finally ate at Boda. We had a 30 minute wait but was well the wait. Service is impeccable. We started with Beef skewers- good flavor but a little chewy. The meat was definitely not velveted. The chicken dumplings had no flavor, The sticky rice was awesome as was the box choy. It was nice to have that vegetable crunch. We ordered the pad thai wrapped in a crepe like omelet, it was very good. The drunken noodles were also a good choice. For dessert the girls shared the cheesecake - they raved how good it was. For me I couldn't eat another bite of anything. So to sum it up I enjoyed Boda but I left without feeling like WOW that was incredible. I must say the place was hopping busy on a Sunday night. Overall Boda keeps packing people in day after day, year after year. 11-11-2024 One day later: Honestly my leftovers tasted better cold than when it was served at the restaurant. Go figure- my taste buds are exploding right now read more

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We have heard amazing reviews on this place and they were all correct! We started with steak and shrimp skewers - delicious! The pad Thai was one of the best I have ever had and wasn't too saucy. We will definitely go back! read more

10/10!!!! Best food we had in Portland this week. Cozy intimate thai restaurant- gather with friends & order lots of food to share. We loved everything we ordered, but here's the highlights: 1) mussels in a curry broth with sticky rice. Mussels were plump and fresh and the broth I wanted to drink it! So many layers of flavor without being spicy. 2) quail eggs- cute presentation, you can decide how well done you would like them. Very tasty 3) drunken noodles with tofu- tons of fresh veggies & nicely sauced Wait staff was great! Great value for such tasty comfort food. Loved every bite read more

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TLDR: phenomenal Thai food Some of the best Thai food I've ever had. Food has thaf "it" factor. Loved my Paloma as well. Inside is lively with some bar seating as well. read more

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The food, the service, and the vibe. All fantastic! The Ma-Hor is to die for! The scallops were cooked perfectly. Definitely adding it to our Portland dining rotation. read more

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Great food, friendly service, accommodating to vegetarians, and a nice restaurant atmosphere. What's more to like? It's a tad off the beaten path, just a little outside the main area of the city, but worth the visit! read more

Boda is such a great spot with very inventive dishes. It felt like one of those places that is unique and exciting. Everything here is good- the drunk noodles were great. The dumplings were some of the best I've had. They had some fun specials and fried dishes that were also great. You can't go wrong with anything here! Our server was great at recommending food. read more

Boda - Special - Thai Near Me - Portland, Maine

I LOVED THIS PLACE. We came here for a quick dinner and even though the place was packed, we got quickly seated at the bar. Our bartenders gave us lovely drinks, honestly I liked sitting there just to see how they made them. We ordered the mussels, pad kee mao, pork belly skewers. The mussels were good, the sticky rice it came with was sticky but so hard it was hard to break apart. The sauce the mussels were in so good! The pork belly was cooked perfectly. My favorite was the pad kee mao. We got it with chicken and the flavor and the amount of sauce, everything was delicious. read more

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The best Pad Kee Maw I've had since I spent a few months in Thailand may years ago. Something about the way the noodles and veggies had the slightest char on them from the hot wok. We got them a second time and travelled 2.5 hours before we got home to eat them and they weren't gluey like the wide noodles can often be from other Thai restaurants. read more

I was actually heading to king of the roll but when I passed Boda, it looked practically empty. It always looks so full so I took the opportunity to get a table and try it out finally. Good thing too, it immediately filled right up!! I ordered the margarita, the mussels, and the goi moo, a salad made with pork belly. Tom Yum Margarita - this was a really great drink. A classic margarita, but also spicy, and in kind of a unique way. Gaeng Kha local mussels - an enormous portion of mussels - they were really crammed in the bowl - with a spicy curry broth and basil. It comes with sticky rice, so I ate all the mussels first and then put the rice in the broth to soak it all up. So good! Goi Moo - pork belly salad with greens, shallots, etc. I ordered it at a '3' which might have been 1 too much. Though actually the mussels turned out to be spicier, and the somewhat sweet sauce (from the fish sauce) in this dish became a welcome respite. Getting two smaller dishes was the right move. My eyes always tell me I want an entree and an app, but sticking to the tapas/small plates/apps lets me try more things. When I can do it anyway. Getting three spicy items though, maybe that wasn't the best idea. Boda tends to be crowded, but if you're ever walking past and it looks empty... uh go somewhere else and let me have the table instead! hahahaa read more

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My wife and I walked to Boda for a non-seafood experience while we stayed in Portland. We enjoyed splitting various tapas including chicken and veg dumplings, beef skewers, shiitake skewers, quail eggs, and Thai sticky rice ball. The quail eggs and rice ball were a bit salty for us. The beef skewers were fantastic! From the drink menu, my wife had a Paul's Demise and I had Gobblin. Both were well crafted and tasty! The restaurant was busy and a little warm/stuffy, but the service was polite and attentive! If you want a break from seafood while in Portland, I recommend this spot! read more

Dinner at Boda was a great way to end our stay in Portland. The staff was kind and informative. We started out with beef skewers and green papaya salad. The beef skewers had a nice salty savory flavor marinated into them as well as a crispy texture while still being juicy and tender. For the green papaya salad we were asked which spice level we wanted and chose 3/4. Despite being spicy, it was very refreshing. For my entree I had the red curry jay with chicken added since I wanted more protein than just tofu. There was a good balance of flavors that is typical in Thai cuisine. For my dessert I had the mango sticky rice as well as the black rice pudding. The mango was ripe and the sticky rice was nicely sweetened with coconut cream. It was my first time having black rice pudding and I'm glad I ordered it. It had a slightly herbal note and a complexity that I enjoyed. The toasted coconut shaving topping added a nice warm note to the dish. I'd definitely come back here to try more dishes on my next trip to Portland. read more

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Good service And the food was great. We came here during rush hour and it wasn't too busy which was surprising. Highly recommend!

Amazing, amazing restaurant on the west end of Portland. It was highly recommended by many locals so we knew we had to go. The menu was so unique and had something for everyone. Our table had the drunken noodles, sprouts, steak skewer, mussels, bacon wrapped asparagus and pork bowl. Everything was unreal. The cocktails were all good too, especially the Thai basil collins. The only bad part for us was that there was a shift change while we were there and apparently our server never put our order in before leaving. We watched parties come and go for quite some time before we were able to ask a waiter what was going on. After one hour, our order was actually put in and we promptly got our food. The manager took care of us so we tried hard not to let this part of our experience take away from the amazing food. read more

Boda - Thai Near Me - Portland, Maine

Boda is my favorite Thai restaurant in Portland. The Thai chicken noodles are my favorite thing on the menu but the pad Thai is also a very fun and unique take on a classic dish. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The service has always been quick when I have visited. The restaurant is set up as a split level which makes the space feel intimate and relaxing. read more

My daughter and I were in Portland for the evening and we stopped in at Pai Men Miyake. The wait was an hour so we decided to try Boda. It was amazing! What a lucky find!!! Innovative menu with a mix of truly distinct dishes in a modern Thai style with other really traditional dishes! We had the chicken dumplings, roasted quail eggs, drunken noodles, and pad Thai. Each dish was excellent! Great spot! read more

Boda - Roasted quail eggs. - Thai Near Me - Portland, Maine

Boda! On a weekend trip up to Maine we stumbled upon this place.... Well we originally had added our name to a wait list at a highly reviewed restaurant across the street and told we had an hour plus wait... and what do you do while you wait.. well you sit at the bar and start enjoying your evening with drinks however, this place didn't have a bar to sit at.. lost opportunity and missed out on extra $... Nonetheless, we venture across the street to Boda and opt to sit at the bar... because that was the whole point not to wait to be seated at yet another restaurant... we order 2 apps and 2 drinks while we wait... and OMG both apps were good but the mussels! We're exceptional and the bartender Max gave us a tip on how he prefers to eat them... take the time to remove them all from their shell add the side of sticky rice it comes with to the pot and well, enjoy! It was soo good! We talked about just sitting there and continuing to enjoy the food but because it was our last night we decided to take advantage of being in Portland and keep our next reservation. We left when the other restaurant said our table was ready, put our hoods and hats on walked in through the rain across the street and was seated.. we were underwhelmed by the menu and the options... before we ordered anything put our coats back on said thank you and walked back to Boda for a proper dinner! Back at Boda we were welcomed back and seated within 10mins..We tried the wings (another great app) i had more mussels and my BF tired a crab noodle dish which he said was really good as well! Such a great find for us and really good food! read more

Boda - This was mussels and sticky rice... really good! - Thai Near Me - Portland, Maine

While visiting the area, friends wanted to try Thai food, so we visited Boda for a weekend dinner. We were disappointed with the food. VIBE: The dining room is cute, with a southeast Asian@ feel and tasteful art. The place was not packed, so noise was not an issue and it didn't seem crowded at all. SERVICE: Staffers were cordial and welcoming. Our server was helpful, though not as available as they might have been. Our dishes were nicely coursed in a timely manner -- no rush, no lag. FOOD: Given the good Yelp reviews, I had hoped to give my friends an exemplary sample of Thai flavors, but alas, everything was rather bland. Thai wings and beef skewers were the most flavorful items, but were understated. Papaya salad was crisp, but dull. Drunken noodles tasted good in a mild Cantonese way. Special fried duck spring rolls were bland and a bit greasy. A dessert featuring black rice was sweet, but underwhelming. There was a decent compact selection of wines by the glass. Boda doesn't take reservations, but they have a (very inaccurate) online waitlist. Allow time for parking -- street parking is chancy, as is lot parking to some degree. The food was mostly not bad, but not the tasty Thai I had hoped for... read more

First time here based on Yelp reviews and we are so glad we tried it! The food was excellent - very fresh ingredients expertly prepared. Service was attentive and atmosphere was fun. Prices were fair. Highly recommend. read more

One the list of top restaurants in Portland and I can see why. Casual, unique Thai dishes that are appetizing and delicious. Enjoyed the pad that blanketed I. Thin layer of egg. Service was solid and ambiance is what you'd expect for a local Thai restaurant. There's a lot of Thai restaurants so go to this one since it's already been vetted by the critics. read more

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You want good or you want open late night? Cause you rarely get both. At 9pm we were ready to eat dinner which works in a city like New York but a little less so in other places. I took a chance on Boda and by chance I mean my mom was hangry and impatient and lecturing me on "being respectful of older people's time-sensitive stomachs (ma'am what??) and my cousin had a poker face but also probably wanted to kill me. Mind you we were all laid up napping in the AirBnB past dinner time so how was I the one responsible?? When we walked in at 930 we had to wait a little. Good sign as far as I'm concerned. We each had a drink while we waited and that seemed to take the edge off. Once at the table we basically ordered it all. Who knew Thai tapas would be the thing that made us stop hating each other? Highlights: Lychee martini Thai iced tea Shrimp skewers Bok Choy Tofu Fried rice Brussels sprouts Rice pudding The service The place was buzzing at 1130 when we left. So glad we went. My mom can't stop raving about it and my cousin the pescatarian left the place properly stuffed. And I emerged a culinary hero. "Amanda always choose the best places." ;) read more

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Oh Boda, I want to love you as much as everyone else does. This is one of the most raved about restaurants in Portland, and has been for years. The service is always awesome. The ambience and lighting is really cozy. BUT... the food is so beyond salty every single time that I don't think I can go anymore. At this point, everything comes out over cooked and so salty it's hard to eat. The flavor is usually good- still love that- but it's hours after my meal and I'm still chugging water. Ugh! I am probably just too sensitive to salt, but just giving a warning to others who may also be!! read more

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A beloved Portland staple for a reason. Excellent quality food for a reasonable price, attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly waitstaff, and nice (if busy) atmosphere. I particularly recommend the Brussels Sprouts, Pork Belly Skewers, and Chicken Panaeng! Reservations: Boda does not accept reservations, and can get quite busy. That said, I arrived at around 5:30pm on a Friday evening and there were still a few tables available. By around 6:30, there was a line of people waiting. read more

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Delicious! Food was fresh, savory, and umami. Service was excellent and the food came out so quick. Server brought out some complementary quail eggs that cooked through when flipped in the hot pan! They were salty little morsels complemented with sesame oil and chives. Beef skewers were out of this world (tender, sweet, salty) and the curry puffs were light and crunchy with the perfect amount of spice. All the sauces added a light aromatic complement to the fried/seared dishes. We'll be back next time we're in Portland! read more

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Amazing! Some of the best Thai food I've ever had! We stumbled upon this little cozy Thai restaurant and we were so grateful they let us sit down as it was almost closing time. The service, food and atmosphere was awesome! read more

I came back to Boda for dinner for the first time in several years due to nothing else being open the day after a snowstorm. For this, I'll always be grateful. The food was much better than I remembered, though my husband and I also ordered completely different dishes this time. We started with the ma-hor, which was intriguing though not something I'd rush to get again. Then we split a pork belly salad (I notice it's not on the menu anymore), which was super bright, refreshing, and flavorful, though just a little too salty. For our main, we split the beef panaeng, which made me want to stand up and applaud. The beef was tender perfection and just falling apart with the slightest pressure from my fork. The sauce was deep, rich, and satisfying while also carrying some good heat. We savored every last bite of this. Based on this strong showing, I'd definitely go back for more! read more

I am someone who eats Thai food almost every other day be it home cooked or at Thai restaurants. The food here is good. 3.5 to 4/5.....But suited to an American palette (had to be!). Service gets a 5/5. Now my problems or suggestions for improvement: The hot chili oil served on the side does NOT make up for the somewhat "weak" curry. This is not a flavoring ingredient but only "heat". The curry was weak not because of the lack of heat but because of the weaker spices used in the curry paste or maybe just less curry paste used than required for a nice curry. The noodles were excellent though and not "weak". What I have written above is a recurring theme in almost all Thai restaurants in the US but i thought BODA would be different because it had been recommended to me by another owner of a Thai restaurant who knew my taste for Thai ingredients/cooking. Perhaps have an option for those who like the regular spice levels (not chili or heat) that Thai people like. CANNOT make up for this with chili oil on the side - that is heat but curry paste is totally different. The portion level that i recommend here is 3 dishes for 2 people. The portions here are much smaller than needed for hungry adults. read more

Fantastic. Thai restaurant in downtown Portland. We found the location via Yelp (of course). Apple salad and squid were great starters, tofu red curry, basil fried rice and chicken curry were outstanding. Spicy and well balanced curries. Friendly service and great music. read more

Good food. Cozy Restaurant. Waiters are super kind. I got the shrimp skewer, chicken skewers and the pad Thai noodles. I enjoyed all. Definitely recommend. read more

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Mixed mostly good review...some things were really delicious (mushroom salad and some of the other apps) but mains were only good and the chicken/cashew dinner missed on the chicken and was overly salty. Service started strong and faded out after food came. read more

This place is absolutely delicious! We started with the beef skewers based on other Yelp recommendations and this did not disappoint! Sooo tasty! We then had the curry puffs which was on the specials menu, which is a no brainer bc curry puffs are the best damn thing! For our entrees we ordered the beef panang - amazinggggg. The beef was so tender and the curry was perfectly tasty. We also had another special which was the spicy crab curry which was a small portion, served with cute little noodle nests - this was also very flavorful and definitely not that spicy. As for drinks, their Thai basil Tom collins is so good! Took off one star bc the host/server was just not friendly when you first walk in with welcoming you and honestly, all of them don't really smile? Weird! It's a good thing the food is amazing! read more

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