Walked into Chaba Thai Kitchen looking for specialty dish Khao Soi and found a family owned gem! A cozy and simple dining experience in the plaza where there's matcha and yummy desserts. The crispy pork was so nicely made, my friend loved his bbq plate. I also savored the eggplant basil a lot it was delicious and fragrant. Khao soi was yummy, and since we got spice level 5 out of 10 it is not for the uninitiated. Shout out to the calamari, which was actually a really amazing appetizer and reignited my respect for calamari done right. Still thinking about the calamari it was that perfect. Our group finished off the night with a small coconut milk dessert and it really hit the spot perfectly. Safe to say we were all very impressed with the quality of both food and service and Chaba Thai, it was a welcoming dinner experience and is a Thai restaurant I would recommend! read more

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If comfort food had a VIP list, Chaba Thai would definitely be on mine. I've been coming here for years--so long that the server already knows exactly what my daughter and I are ordering before we even sit down (honestly, I feel both seen and exposed ). This spot is small, with limited seating and simple decor, but don't let that fool you--the food is consistently spot on. We always go for the chicken satay (extra peanut sauce is non-negotiable--my daughter insists) and a side of rice, while I stick with my go-to: chicken yellow curry, level 8. Their spice level is perfectly balanced. It's always fresh, hot, and comes out fast enough to keep hangry moments in check. On this visit, we added shrimp fresh spring rolls--absolutely delicious, especially the sauce. We also tried the Thai coffee--my husband loved it, but it was a bit too sweet for my taste. Bonus: they serve a complimentary tapioca dessert for dine-in, which we now fully expect and look forward to like it's part of the main course. At this point, we're not just regulars--we're emotionally invested. FYI: appetizers cost around $12, and main courses cost approximately $17. Our meal today came to just under $75. read more

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TLDR small Thai restaurant serving up a classic menu of Thai favorites with a classic ordering style: order a dish, pick the main (meat, seafood, vegetarian meat, veggie, etc). Pretty good, service is hit/miss, spice scale (1-10) is honest, flavor profile leans sweeter than other Thai places I frequent. I'd recommend! Chaba Thai is a small 20ish seater restaurant in the strip mall by Kearny Nissan. This lot constantly changes up shops and this place has sustained the test of time. Not much to say about ambience but the service can be... interesting. Never been when it's busy but there are times customers arrive later than us, order less, and receive first. Nobody really checks on you. Service 6/10. Ambience N/A On to the food but one overarching note I found with every dish we ordered (and I do mean every). The cooking style is on the sweet side to me, not sure if this is to broaden appeal or their particular recipe. I still like it (my wife loves it haha) but just a note for your info. Pad Thai (shrimp) Everything you want in pad Thai and cooked well. The noodles are chewy without turning into a single fused mess. Tamarind, peanut, garlic all come through and there is a good balance lf sour, bitter, savory, spice, and salty. Shrimp were also cooked perfectly: smoky, bouncy, but not rubbery 7/10 Massaman curry Appropriately nutty and floral. Basil and coconut come through nicely. Good amount of garnishes as well. Nothing to mconolain about here! Spice of 3/10 gives a nice warmth and you can get chili oil/ chilis on the side for your own taste. 8/10. Chinese broccoli w/salted fish Veggies are nicely cooked. More one dimensional than other dishes. Garlic, ginger, and salt but you gotta have veggies. Note the salted fish is the kind you would get in a jar or can, not fried salted fish chips. 6/10 Chicken gyoza. A winter special. Not much going on but it's interesting to have that accompaniments with Japanese dumplings (I ate my share with a generous helping of pickled Thai chile). They are prepared crispy, have a light savory flavor, and are not dry. Okay, love a seasonal, but wouldn't go out of my way to grab them. 5/10 Tom yum Everything you want in tom yum flavor wise. Sweet, sour, spicy, and aromatic. A splash of lime and we are really playing with fire. I will say this is a basic set of garnishes compared to what I'm used to; I am used to a mix of seafood, mushrooms, and vegetables. Here you get a mix of cut vegetables and the protein you select, treating the soup like every other menu item. 7/10 Overall it's good reliable food in SD. It's my wife's go to for thai and a comfortable spot to grab lunch/dinner. Expect $15-20 per item served family style. read more

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We stumbled upon this hidden gem while searching for Thai food near our appointment--and what a find it turned out to be! The chicken pad Thai was absolutely delicious--perfectly balanced flavors with just the right amount of sweetness, tang, and savory goodness. The noodles were cooked just right, the chicken was tender, and every bite kept us going back for more. If you're in the Kearny Mesa area and craving Thai food, this spot is definitely worth a visit. We'll be back for sure! read more

Chaba Thai Kitchen - Pad Thai with chicken - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

This is a bit of a hole in the wall place, no air conditioning, no fountain drinks, just authentic Thai food. I had the Tod Mun to start. The minced fish cakes were prepared well and the cucumber salsa was outstanding. I ordered a green curry with beef, spicy three and I was very happy. The dish was spicy and not too hot. Service was attentive and even offered a tapioca dessert on the house. If you are craving a real Thai experience, this place will definitely provide it. They do have lunch specials, so I will be back to sample more of the menu. read more

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This place serves the BEST Thai food! The flavors are incredibly authentic, everything tastes fresh, and you can tell the dishes are made with care. The service was fast, and the staff was kind and welcoming. Reasonable price. Highly recommend! read more

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I went to Chaba Thai many years ago and had quite the impressive experience. Returned yesterday to take my mom for an early Mother's Day dinner and oh man, this might be my new favorite Thai spot in SD! We got the Pad Thai with chicken and Green Curry with Chicken...so delicious and all of the flavors were on par. I was definitely once again quite impressed that many years later this spot still delivers. Service was wonderful, atmosphere was clean, and they even offer complimentary dessert that was so yummy. Definitely coming back for sure! If you're in the area, it is a must-try! read more

Chaba Thai Kitchen - Pad Thai with chicken - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Came into Shaba Thai Kitchen today and honestly... you can tell right away they really take pride in their food. There's a reason they were Yelp Best Food 2023. We ordered a few things and everything hit. First, the crispy basil chicken with white rice oh my God, that chicken was amazing. Super flavorful, perfectly cooked, just really, really good. Then we got the Chinese broccoli with crispy pork and that took it to another level. The pork was crispy, the broccoli had so much flavor, and together it was just rich and satisfying. The Khao Soi noodles were another standout. The noodles were delicious, everything tasted fresh, and the flavors were on point. But honestly, the crab fried rice was the highlight. That thing was unreal. So much flavor, loaded with crab easily my favorite dish. Definitely one of those plates you keep going back to. We finished with the tapioca in coconut milk, and that hit the spot. Light, sweet, super comforting. Perfect way to end the meal. Overall, everything came out fresh, flavorful, and done right. Service was smooth, food was perfect, and the whole experience was fantastic. Real gem for Thai food I'm definitely coming back. Great location too, plenty of parking, super easy to get in and out. If you're in San Diego, this place is a must-try. Adding pics so you can see for yourself. Amazing location, inside as well cool decor, great vibes great ambience. 8010 Claremont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92111 Open daily 11AM-9PM 858-503-7777 #ShabaThaiKitchen #YelpBestFood2023 #SanDiegoEats #ThaiFoodDoneRight #MustTrySD #FoodieFindsSD read more

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I just discovered this small, family owned Thai place in San Diego...found it by following a local Yelper, and I'm so glad I did. The dishes here are fresh, flavorful, and not greasy... I ordered:Tod Mun (fish cakes) perfectly cooked, very flavorful, not oily...Beef Salad was big portion, delicious, with just the right hint of spice , Pad See Ew with Seafood was so tasty, high quality seafood, full of flavor...Crab Fried Rice not greasy at all, really enjoyable... Service was attentive, the restaurant was clean, though parking is a bit tight...I'll definitely be coming back, especially to try some of the other dishes ! read more

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I'll start with the bad -- Parking Lot Sucks, dining room is a little run down and a little "untidy". Good -- Vegetable Pad Thai was delicious!!, Service was very kind and friendly, my to-go portion was large read more

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Very authentic and delicious Thai food at Chaba Thai Kitchen! The service was pretty fast and the ambiance was simple and nice. I really enjoyed the red curry , but the star was the basil eggplant dish, so amazing! They even gave a delicious milk tapioca dessert which was the perfect ending to the meal :) Food: 4.5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Value: 4/5 Overall: 4.33/5 read more

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Chaba Thai is my favorite Thai restaurant in San Diego! The food can be spicy, so choose your spice level wisely. The pad Thai and yellow curry are standout favorites. The best thing on the menu is their tapioca dessert! We have received this in a small complimentary bowl every time we've dined in. The sweet coconut milk compliments the small tapioca pearls, melon, and coconut. read more

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This place is the quintessential spot for Thai food. You know how sometimes you crave Thai food and there's a very specific flavor, texture and spice that you're looking for? Only this will satisfy you're craving completely? Any other variation or deviation from the flavor that you have in mind will miss the bar? Come here. This is the place to satisfy the craving. We ordered green curry, spicy fried rice, and the drunken noodles at spice level 7/10 (because most Thai places aren't spicy enough for us). Nari our server, recommended 5 spice for the rice. Listen to Nari. She is right. 5 spice is plenty. Found our go-to Thai spot. read more

Okay one of the best Thai places in town! The seasoning is there and a 2 for the tom kha is perfect!! Honestly the best tom kha I've had in a very long time. The pad Thai and laab was perfectly seasoned and we did for a 2 spicy, could have went up to a 3! I love how you can still taste the spices and the seasonings since the spice doesn't over power anything!! Would come back again and try other menu items, service was quick as we came at a quiet time, and the interior is super cozy -- you know it's the place for locals! read more

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This is the best thai place Ive ever been to! Came after looking at all the great reviews and it did not disappoint. We received such great service and our food came out immediately! The lady that served us was so kind! read more

Chaba Thai Kitchen - 15. Tom Kha Soup - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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Today i ordered the pad see eww lunch special with tofu. You will be brought a small bowl of soup as you await for your dish. I was unsure of the name of the soup but the broth tasted revitalizing. The dish came out pretty quick and i can see the smoke fuming off the noodles. The aroma that wafted thru the air had an essence of a classic pad see eww dish. The smell of sweet and sour. Dish was great and great flavors. Thank you Naree for serving me today great customer service read more

Chaba Thai Kitchen - Lunch soup - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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Sorry half of my party came late due to heavy traffic so I forgot to take picture. But we order a lot, lol. We tried the fish and chicken yellow curry, chicken satay, pad thai, fried rice, the bbq & fried pork, papaya salad, fried banana, coconut ice cream, and mango sticky rice. My mom has a sweet tooth. I think we forgot a few dishes, lol. There was 7 of us and we all came at different times. I'm thankful that they are so accommodating and super patient. Customer service is definitely amazing!! The food is all delicious there's not a dish that I don't like. They used real Thai chilies so it does get spicy. But at least they have Thai tea or Thai coffee to help with the spiciness. The fried banana is banana wrapped in Spring roll skin fried to perfection and drizzled with honey. My mom got the yellow curry with fish that has so much flavor. The fish is cooked perfectly. This is one of the best Thai food I've had in a while. Even my mom who lives in OC likes the food also. I want to try more dishes. read more

Chaba Thai Kitchen is a long time eatery in the Kearny Mesa neighborhood near one of the gyms where I exercise so it was convenient for dinner after a recent workout. The suite is in the Mercury Village Shopping Center that seems to always have open parking spaces despite the numerous businesses. The inside had seating for up to 28 customers. The decor was rather plain with a few photo frames hanging on one wall as opposed to some Thai restaurants that have intricate artwork and sculptures representing the motherland. A menu booklet was available, however the business didn't have any to-go menus which I found to be a disservice in this day and age of takeout and deliveries. The choices were plentiful, but I stuck with one of my usual items in the Spicy Basil Noodles (aka Drunken Noodles) with a level two out of ten for spiciness. Stir-fried flat rice noodles were cooked with basil leaves, fresh Thai chiles, onions, and bell peppers. For a protein, I picked the mixed seafood that had calamari, fish, green mussels, and shrimp. My plate was prepared quickly with a portion size that I thought was average for the $20+ price. It didn't seem to be as generous as my fellow reviewers wrote about before the pandemic, but times have changed. There were six calamari rings, two pieces of fish, two mussels, and three shrimp included in the mixed seafood. That amount cost $5 more than the base price which had veggies or tofu as the noodle toppings. The level two heat was mild yet still very noticeable. I wonder what level eight or nine would have tasted like. I gave a three star rating for my meal at Chaba Thai Kitchen. read more

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Delicious yellow curry and appetizers. Quick and friendly service. Excellent flavors. Convenient location. Will be back again.

This place not only gotten more expensive, the food amount gotten less and the quality of food had gone down too. I ordered Mixed vegetable medley and it had tomatoes on it, It was not on the menu. It made it taste weird. read more

Chaba Thai Kitchen - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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With the multitude of Thai food establishments in San Diego, there were a few unfortunate missteps that made this experience less than desirable... Although the Spring Rolls were fresh, they did not come with peanut sauce. Instead, we were given this amalgam of plum sauce and chili oil. Also, we ordered beef with the Pad Thai, however there were only a couple of strips of beef to be found in the dish. We understand the minimal margins in the restaurant industry, but this is not a way to garner repeat customers. Overall, an average Thai food experience that was soured by not including the basics. read more

We came late afternoon with hardly anyone there, but dinner hour it looks like it will fill up. The service was attentive, the food was absolutely delicious. The sauces are especially good. As our server suggested, we took the leftover sauce home as it is hard to make! Can't wait to savor the flavor over rice when we get home. We will return to try more items. The yellow curry and the #37 noodle dish were both amazing! Fairly small strip mall store but clean and with some nice design elements (look up at the ceiling). read more

I randomly came across this place when I was looking for a quick place to pick up food to bring to my parents who were craving Thai food. Ever since then, I've always come back! My fiance really enjoys the yellow curry since it's full of flavor you can't get anywhere else! I usually opt for pad see ew or the combo set (love the Thai bbq chicken). Nari is so welcoming and gives good suggestions if you have questions! read more

A casual spot for dine in or takeout Thai food. I ordered takeout and the process went smoothly, the food was hot and on time. We ordered multiple dishes, with the standout being the red curry. It had a nice spice level and was very heavy on the coconut milk, which I loved. The pad see ew was a little bland and could have had more of a charred flavor. The spicy Thai fried rice had a great basil flavor, but could have been spicier. The egg rolls were also a little soggy and had too much dough. Overall it was a convenient spot, but I would only come back for the curry! read more

One of the most flavorful pad thais in SD! I loved how you can adjust the spice levels read more

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This restaurant has great reviews on Yelp and Google, and it's clearly popular--my husband said it was packed when he picked up our order. We tried the Tom Yum Soup, Coconut Curry Chicken, and Green Papaya Salad. All three were good, but the standout was the Nyonya Coconut Curry Chicken--slightly sweet, mildly spicy, and perfect over rice. The Tom Yum Soup had large shrimp and a rich, flavorful broth (a bit too rich for me). The Green Papaya Salad was fresh with a nice mix of ingredients, though it could use a bit more fish sauce. read more

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We were in the area and decided to try this Thai place and we're so glad we did! Take no heed for its lackluster decor, because the food makes up for it. It's located in a busy strip mall, parking lot was pretty full on a Tuesday at around 4pm. It's not a very big place, seating is limited so definitely wouldn't be good for groups. Thankfully, it wasn't busy in the restaurant so we were able to be seated right away. There were good choices on the menu; rice dishes, noodles, curries and such. My brother and I both ordered the panang curry and had sticky rice with mango for dessert. The food was brought out in a timely manner and the lady who served us was friendly and very attentive. The food was absolutely wonderful & delicious! Full flavored and I would have to say one of the best panang curries I've had. The vegetables were crisp and the chicken pieces were cooked well. And good portion of curry to rice given. Then the sticky rice with mango. SO divine! Rice was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of sweetness. And the mango slices were fresh. The restaurant was also in celebration of Chinese New Year so the server also offered and gave us nuts and sweet little treats on the house. She was so sweet! Then when we left, we forgot we had ordered an appetizer to go, but she ran after us to give us the food. Overall, a great experience. Too bad we're not close by or we'd be regulars. Highly recommend! read more

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Let me start by saying that I'm the opposite of a foodie. I hate trying new foods and will stick with something if I like it, which is rare. I came here with my coworkers for a work event and had only eaten Thai food once in the past and didn't like it. When I came here I ordered the red vegetable curry (spice level 3) and I loved it. I came back again and also had soup, cheese samosas (not sure what they're actually called), this desert drink (also not sure what it's called- it had small boba balls, ice cubes, and melon), and iced Thai coffee. Everything was AMAZING! One of the few restaurants I've tried in the last five years that I'll actually be returning to. The staff is amazing as well. If you're nervous about trying new foods, definitely give this place a try. read more

stopped by around 3-4pm and was greeted by a very sweet lady. I ordered panang curry and green curry. hands down sooo delicious !! I forgot to take a picture because it was so good lol. Everything was so yummy and comforting. I will be back again, till next time ! read more

I can't believe I had never been here before. Food was delicious, prices were fair and the employees were all friendly. The panang curry and pad see ew noodles were some of the best I've had. I'll definitely be returning soon. read more

Delicious food, great service. The Thai chicken fried rice was amazing, lots of flavor. The spicy noodles were also absolutely amazing. Great location with a good amount of parking. read more

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To go order/uber eats- shrimp spring rolls and pad thai. Lack of ingredients promised via menu. Flavor is editable but disappointing. Could have filled it with more noodles if going cheap or add the mint, etc. iceberg lettuce was not it. same thing with Pad Thai where is even the bean sprouts, peanuts or anything else that wasn't noodles and chicken. It seemed like there was a lack of effort or trying to cut back on things for cost....but the things they were cut back on were the cheaper items. Even the size of pad Thai was the smallest I have ever seen but add the normal expected items and I could have looked over it some. N/a rating going to the restaurant and seeing staff in person. Mostly not gonna order again - not paying ($12ish - have to go back to look at price) that much for just lettuce to only give another shot and happening again. read more

Chaba Thai Kitchen - $10 - 99% iceberg lettuce. looks like there were more ingredients but not. Misleading menu, does not include all ingredients. - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

This restaurant is a hidden gem. I've been going for over 5 years and the food never disappoints. I dream of the crispy catfish salad... it's fresh , tasty, and just amazing; even in the way in the way they cut their ingredients.... They take pride in their food and never cut corners. I think their portions are generous. I highly recommend!!! read more

Great service here at this small joint! There's only a few tables inside but for a Saturday lunch there were still empty tables. The food was good. I got the chicken drunken noodles/spicy basil noodles but I think the beef was higher quality. The portion size was great though! The server was kind enough to offer us free dessert (tapioca). read more

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I ordered it online and picked it up to go. I got papaya salad, crispy fish, pad see ew, and tom kha soup. It was okay on flavor and the meat was good, but a little overcooked. Other than that, no complaints. They packed it nicely so it didn't leak. read more

Really busy at 8:00pm on a Sunday! We grabbed Togo food and every single table was taken so we took it as a sign that the food is really good. We were impressed! It was pretty good Thai food and they do NOT mess around with the spice level. If you order it extra hot, it will be very very spicy. Yellow curry had a nice flavor but we prefer it just slightly sweeter. The pad Thai was delicious! We would come back. read more

Chaba Thai Kitchen - 44. Yellow Curry - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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This was an absolute gem! Chana was super quiet when I came in. I skipped the menu and ordered a Chicken Pad Thai. It came out pretty fast, and it was delicious! The flavors were popping and it was cooked well. The tapioca after the meal was a nice treat. It cleanses the palate well. Great food, great service! read more

Chaba Thai Kitchen - Chicken Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food was delicious !!!!!!! Really good taste and very big portion all the prices are good and will defiantly come back .. the service was amazing and the place is just perfect . read more

Chaba Thai Kitchen - 28. Pad Thai with Shrimp - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Update as of 12/27/23: Returned to dine-in after what felt like ages! We chose to start off with a large order of the Potak Seafood Soup, followed by Spicy Drunken Noodles with Beef, Crispy Basil Chicken, Khao Kluk Kapi Fried Rice and Massaman Curry with Chicken. Loved depth of flavor in most of the dishes with the exception of the Crispy Basil Chicken which felt a little too chewy beneath the crispy exterior. We also had 3 Thai Iced Teas and they were so refreshing and delicious. We were so glad to note that CTK continues to serve authentic tasty Thai dishes, we will definitely be repeat customers. read more

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This is my favorite Thai place in town. But I had to get on here and share one less star. Their food is always delicious and they are always nice, and it is a treat to go there. But the menu on their website said that the item I ordered (pad thai with shrimp) was $15.95. When I picked it up, it cost over $20. The black plastic containers are toxic and I wish they would completely stop using plastic packaging. I wiill stop ordering my food to go until the gross sticky plastic is no longer being used. read more