PHENOMENAL!! This hole in the wall is so wonderful, I simply cannot put it into words! The actual space is tiny - three tables with a small check-in stand to place orders and grab take-out. Even in their small space, however, they have made it so cute and welcoming. The service is wonderful. They are accommodating and always have a smile. The pricing - 10/10. They are so fair with their pricing and really load up your plates! I was genuinely shocked when I saw how affordable it was. And the most important part - the food was absolutely delicious. Their pad see ew and drunken noodle were extraordinary. So much flavor was packed into each bite and I cannot wait to be back. read more

Just ordered from GrubHub and overall a pleasant experience! I appreciated the containers had ventilation so the food didn't get soggy. I'm not sure if it's different ordering in person, but on the GrubHub app there was no "spice level" option, so everything was very mild which was a bummer. All dishes had plenty of protein in them; they didn't skimp on the tofu, beef, or chicken at all. Flavors were good, again, just bummed about no spice. I'd definitely like to try again and update when I do! read more

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Small place with 4 or 5 tables so it's really for takeout. They have a great lunch special to include an entree + 3 egg rolls + soda for only $1 more than the entree only price. Give them credit for staying competitive when you have all the fast food places offering $5-$7 meal deals. The food was just ok. It lacked flavor. Even with a spicy level of 0, the food should still stand out on its own without needing spice. Egg rolls were sub par and needed the sweet and sour sauce. Portion was pretty good. read more

Hug Thai Express - Chicken Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Goodness me what a local gem this is. The Tom Yum fried rice was bursting with flavor in every bite. And the yellow curry was every bit as delicious. The food came out fast and you can tell the owners take great pride in their business, a great meal and worth a drive for this Thai experience. read more

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I came here on a Saturday around 5PM and man was it busy! There was a line out the door and a nice woman trying to handle the in-person rush and the phones. We were a party of 5 so we combined the 2 tables outside to create a makeshift table for ourselves. There is only three 2-person tables inside and two 2-person tables outside FYI. This is more of a takeout spot. I got the chicken pad thai (good flavor but the noodles were too sticky in my opinion. It made it hard to chew and swallow.), the tom kha (unbelievably delicious. The large size is MASSIVE.), the chicken larb (love this dish- filled with greens, fresh lime dressing and vegetables.) The woman that took our order came by and checked on us halfway through the meal which was lovely and thoughtful. I would give this spot another try when in the area. read more

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The food and service was amazing as usual! Love this place. They served out food quickly and everything was delicious. read more

Hug Thai Express - Tom Yum Fried Rice - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

Ordered delivery. Cashew nut chicken level 3 with white rice. Delivery was fast. Food was warm. Flavors were good but was not level 3. Recommendation is more chicken. My entree was more vegetable. I was craving this dish. So quick order was needed. Delivery driver friendly. read more

Great Thai food. Love their tom kha soup and pad thai. We also tried their chicken larb which was tasty as well. Very nice lady working the front helped us. This place is definitely worth a try! read more

As a disclaimer, I ordered this as delivery. The star of our order was the Green Curry. Lots of veggies and great flavor. The Thai Wraps (4) were fine. Good taste but pretty pricey for what you get. Ask for extra sauce! The loser was the Pad Thai! We usually get drunken noodles and opted for Pad Thai because of the stellar reviews. It was the driest noodle dish I've had at a Thai restaurant. I'll definitely try them again because the curry was that good. But I likely wouldn't order the wraps or Pad Thai again. read more

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Yum Yum -- My go-to Thai takeout spot. My favorite Thai restaurant for takeout since the day they opened. The customer service is excellent, the restaurant is always spotless, and the food is delicious. My absolute favorite is the Tom Yum Fried Rice. The lemongrass flavor is incredible and really makes it stand out. I also love the Chicken Drunken Noodle, and my husband's all-time favorite is the Crispy Basil Chicken. It's fried just right. The chicken stays moist and super flavorful every time. Whenever I'm craving Thai food (especially for a movie night at home), this is always where I go. Highly recommend! read more

Tucked away in a strip small, this tiny place serves generous portions of good Thai food in unassuming surroundings with great service. My daughter especially loves Kala's Crispy Chicken. The egg rolls are very tasty and the Pad Thai noodles were also good. read more

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I ordered the six piece wings and a side of sticky rice. I am very disappointed in the sticky rice. It is very hard. I can't even break a piece off. It's very frustrating when you order food because you're in a rush rushing you need to be somewhere you can pick up the food and you can't even eat the food and you can't go back because you have to be somewhere. read more

Hug Thai Express - Stick rice not so sticky but solid like a rock - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

Delicious, fast, and reasonably priced! I have been here many times and it never disappoints. It has a small seating area that is really cute especially for a business mostly doing carry out. I last had the pad see ew. The noodles were soft and flavorful and the veggies were just the right mix of tender and crunchy! Great sized portions for the price. read more

We ordered crab pad Thai, pad see ew, and drunken noodles and each dish was so flavorful and delicious! I've never had pad Thai with crab before and I got it with 6 spice level and it was just enough heat. Would definitely come back when I'm visiting La mesa! read more

We actually ate in on one of the three inside tables; there are a couple more outside. There was a steady flow of people picking up food. We had the fried tofu appetizer, a green curry, and a Pad Grapow with pork; everything was great. The Pad Grapow is minced meat and rice with an egg on top. It was very flavorful. We also had hot tea that came in a very nice mug, not styrofoam. The parking lot is quite full always as there are several places here but there is always the one across Lake Murray. It is on the corner of Lake Murray and Baltimore. The register woman doubles as your waitress. She was so nice. read more

Everything is always sooo good! Never disappoints. And the service is top notch. Very friendly people. read more

Hug Thai Express - Mango sticky rice - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

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First off, this is a counter service place so don't think you're getting some fine dining service. The staff is friendly and welcoming and took out order with a smile. It's a small shop that's cutely decorated and feels warm. The food is great, we ordered the pork jerky, fried ribs, tom kha with chicken and pad kra pao. All the food is great. Usually I get the crab fried rice but can't eat rice right now so we had to change it up. Great experience overall. read more

I had such a great experience here! From the moment I walked in, the staff was incredibly welcoming, friendly, and attentive. The atmosphere was clean, relaxing, and beautifully put together, making the whole visit feel comfortable from start to finish. The service was top-tier, and you can tell they genuinely care about their customers and take pride in what they do. Everything was handled professionally, and the attention to detail really stood out. I'll definitely be coming back and recommending this place to my friends and family. If you're looking for great service, a clean environment, and an overall amazing experience, this is the place to go. Five stars without a doubt! read more

For the past year I've been living in La Mesa we've been on the hunt for the best, reasonably priced, near by Thai restaurant. Little did I know I would find the best Thai restaurant in San Diego only 4 min away from my home. Everything here is great but I need to give a special shout out to the crab fried, it's the best in the game. The people here are so friendly and always provide great service any day of the week. Highly recommend 10/10 read more

Food is great, better as a take out spot than dine in though. Classic Thai food, a bit underspiced compared to some other Thai spots I have been too (Bahn Thai 3 is like a Hug Thai 9 level spice) so just FYI read more

The food here is absolutely amazing! Authentic and great taste. The seasoning and freshness is superb. I recommend everyone try this place! Staff is wonderful too! read more

Hug Thai Express - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

Where's the shrimp? On the plus side, this place is full charm. Everything is made fresh and there are inspirational signs giving it warmth. Dad and I ordered the same dish - drunken noodles combo except I asked that rather than fish they add mores shrimp. Meanwhile mom ordered a different noodle dish also a protein combo. Since we all had the combo (shrimp, beef, chicken and fish - with me being fish less) I became obsessed with knowing if they did double up on my shrimp. The answer was yes - there were 4. Mom had two and dad had only one! Portion size is moderate as is the price. Food was ok. Were we to try it again, it would be for our usual go to, Pad Thai - to give it another chance and see how that rates. In summary, it's ok for food in a pinch. read more

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Great spot for Thai food in east county! The parking lot is small and most of it is 15 min parking, and the restaurant itself is very tiny with 3 tables so I think most people do takeout orders. I've been here twice and the pad thai was flavorful both times and nice and saucy. I tried the Kala crispy chicken for the first time and it was still pretty crispy even though I got takeout and didn't get to eat it until about an hour later. The flavors are also a nice balance of sweet and sour. Their spice level goes from 1-10 and I got a level 2 for both the crispy chicken and pad thai, but the pad thai was spicier. While eating I couldn't feel the spice that much but after I was done I felt the spice lingering in my mouth. I don't think I could do higher than a 3 or 4 here and my spice tolerance is decent lol. read more

Hug Thai Express - Kala's Crispy Chicken and vege pad thai - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

Reddit recommended this place for their yellow curry and let me tell you that this place is second to none. Seriously the best yellow curry I've ever had. I always get it with chicken and spicy level 4 for normal, but 6 for a slight kick. Pad Thai is always on point here too with big pieces of shrimp. I always call in my order and take it to go since the service is always good. They do have a dining area, but it is very small so I've never eaten here. I'm sure they would take care of you though. read more

Meh, it can be a win but the last few times we're not good. Service was less than and food prep was, eh at best. They are either 5 star or 2 star so it's on you if ya want to try. read more

I like their yellow curry with chicken and Thai iced tea. They have an app you can order through and get points. I have only gotten take out here. read more

Amazing good Thai food. Friendly service. Great location and warm ambiance. Dine in or take out.

Absolutely the best Thai in San Diego. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. It's a great place to grab delicious food to go. It's a small spot but there is seating inside and outside. I love this place. read more

Had the papaya salad and it was absolutely phenomenal. I got a level 5 so it was spicy but not to the point where I couldn't finish it. It tasted fresh and they're not joking when they say express. I literally got my food within 5 minutes of ordering. The place was very cozy and a few tables inside and outside. I highly recommend if you're in the area and the fact that it was so inexpensive compared to fast food - get some fresh food here for the same price, if not cheaper. read more

I love the Tom kha soup with chicken! It is prepared with those small delicious enoki mushrooms! I also got the beef pad see ew, which is another of my favorite go to dishes here. Fantastic Thai food . Quick service.. Ambiance -- there are a few tables to dine in but I mostly get takeout read more

Did not deliver as promised. The order was placed at 12:00pm, told them it will be picked up at 12:30. Arrived at 12.35 and that's when I was told 5 min but more like 20 min total time 55 minutes from the time I ordered. My family ended up starving. Why not be upfront and tell how long it takes to prepare. This place is called Thai Express! Is it? read more

I have three words to describe Hug Thai. Fresh, flavorful, and friendly! I was visiting a nearby business around lunchtime and saw Hug Thai. Everything is very fresh and made to order, and the best part about eating there is that the food is served piping hot. The pad Thai was at level five, which is perfect for me. The yellow curry was delicious, and we tried the egg rolls. (Super crispy) This place is a keeper, and we're coming back. read more

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This place is an absolute gem. They have beaten my previous favorite Thai Restraunt. Everything I've had there is amazing from the curry to the pad Thai and other noodles and of course the soups. They package to go good with care as well. Which is so so rare nowadays. Thank you so much and keep up the good work! read more

Super cute little place, awesome service, and my fresh spring rolls were delicious! The man working the front was super nice, made sure I didn't run out of water, and served my food in just a few minutes! I will definitely be back! read more

I have been wanting to try this place for awhile now and so happy I did! It is a great place to take out because the size of the restaurant is small but cozy. You can still dine here but keep in mind there is still room for a small party. I started with a Coconut Soup which had so much flavor. It was the perfect appetizer to begin with. I did order Green Curry which was amazing! I had added chicken to the curry so I had protein included. I also had rice as well which I could have had more of both since it was that spectacular tasting! I had a Thai iced tea which I so love because of the sweet flavor. I was so happy having tried this cute, cozy, and tasty Thai restaurant. Hug Thai is a "Premier Thai" restaurant you must try! I can't wait to go back and try other dishes! Give your stomach a hug and try "Hug Thai" today! read more

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We alI always would pass by this place whenever we go running at Lake Murray and we finally decided to try it!!! I just love how cozy this place feels :) & didn't have to wait too long for our food. What we ordered: - Kala Chicken: honestly, if you're going to order anything... you have to get this!!!! It's the crispiest, most garlicky chicken I've ever had! It paired so well with the other dishes and it also comes with rice. Def the star of the show for me! :) - pad Thai w/ chicken (spicy level 2): a solid choice, & I loved that it was saucy! Some places make their pad Thai a little too dry - Tom Kha w/ tofu (spicy level 2): this was so delicious!! Had everything that I love in a tom kha with just enough tang and spice Seating: - 2 indoor and 2 outdoor tables! Seating is pretty limited so most people grab takeout :). Parking: - small parking lot but had no issues finding a spot! read more

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This place is a must try my husband had his birthday lunch here and we had outstanding food and service. Highly recommend the curry and mango shrimp! read more

Tucked away in an unassuming stip mall you'll find Hug Thai Express. The restaurant is very small with three tables inside and two outside. We walked in and were greeted right away. I ordered the chicken drunken noodle with medium spice and my husband ordered the cashew chicken with mild spice. I got a thai tea to drink but my husband didn't order a drink. When she brought out the tea she also brought out a glass of water for him. Its the little things that make you want to go back. The food is cooked to order and she brings it out as soon as it is ready. There is no leaving a plate to cool while the entire order is completed. The food was awesome! Good portion size. Everything was cooked and spiced well, which is not easy with nuts. You can easily overcook them if added too soon. My husband said the cashew chicken was a wonderful blend of sweet and savory with a perfect amount of meat and veggies in just the right amount of sauce to accompany the generous side of rice. The drunken noodles were cooked perfectly with a great mix of onions and bell peppers. Hug Thai Express is definitely a hidden gem worth discovering. read more

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Awesome food! We ordered the cashew nut with beef and the crispy chicken (new menu item)! Delicious! Customer service was excellent! read more

Hug Thai Express - Crispy chicken - Thai Near Me - La Mesa, California

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We ordered a late dinner last night, around 8 pm. Our food arrived quickly and was hot and steamy. We ordered the appetizer eggrolls, crab pad Thai and pineapple chicken curry. We ordered through Uber eats and the menu showed 5 eggrols, 7 arrived in our order, (THANK YOU HUG THAI'!) the egg rolls were delicious. My partner order the crab pad Thai. This dish is really good, the crab is shredded and we think, cooked with egg, it's absolutely delicious! I ordered the pineapple curry which is delectable!!! The curry has big chucks of eggplant that were the highlight of the dish:) everything was very flavorful, inexpensive, and showed up hot and ready to eat. Highly recommend Hug Thai! read more

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