Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Hug Thai Express

    4.7 (566 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Noodles, Salad
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 8:30 PM

    Order Hug Thai Express Takeout or Delivery

    Hug Thai Express Photos

    Business Info

    HUG THAI EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Intimate
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like Hug Thai Express

    Recommended Reviews - Hug Thai Express

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Mango sticky rice
    Leslie R.

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

    Green Curry with vegetables
    Erika S.

    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.

    Yazen H.

    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!

    Egg Rolls
    Kathy B.

    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.

    Drunken Noodle
    Gwyn C.

    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.

    Kala's Crispy Chicken and vege pad thai
    Emily Z.

    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.

    Yellow Curry

    See all

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Phusita D.
    130
    16
    27

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brooke S.
    232
    40
    25

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vanessa W.
    133
    26
    39

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John H.
    2
    16
    17

    4 years ago

    One of our favorite hidden gems. My wife and I love the crab fried rice, pad Thai and curries! You won't be disappointed!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of joe j.
    72
    119
    183

    4 years ago

    It was a little lite on flavor lite on heat aswell... Pad Thai beef. I asked for 3 felt like 1-2.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    My favorite mango sticky rice! super sweet and savory - very nice staff as well and very lovely little store

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of V M.
    20
    43
    20

    3 years ago

    one of my favorites in SD! Try them out. I've had everything on the menu. Friendly staff and generous portions.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Delicious pad Thai noodles and the best fried rice! Must taste and enjoy. Some of the best Thai Tea in town. You'll thank me later!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amber D.
    364
    42
    21

    4 years ago

    Super yummy food and great amount of spice. I ordered a five and it was exactly what I thought it would be, medium.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa W.
    176
    23
    5

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great Thai! Always hits the spot! Friendly customer service and pretty great price point.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great delicious place! Love how I can call in an order right before I head to ouch & it's ready!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    I always order the Basil Eggplant with Shrimp. It is SO delicious! The quality of the food is superb. I love this restaurant.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of B'ma S.
    16
    150
    50

    5 years ago

    The best Thai food I've had. Very authentic. Keep coming back for more, can't get enough of this place!! Thank you!!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Amazing fast casual Thai. The food is very flavorful and you get a good portion for the price. The garlic fried chicken is really good!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Food was delicious! Best Drunken noodles! Also had mango sticky rice, YUM!! Customer service was great too!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great food! Will definitely recommend this restaurant. Food was still hot when it was delivered.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great local place for Thai food! Order ahead of time! Good quality and not expensive!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Juan J.
    89
    11
    8

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tanapat T.

    Tanapat T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 9 of 15

    Hug Thai Express Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hug Thai Express

    Do they serve wine or can we bring our own?

    We’re very sorry that we cannot allow our customers to bring their own beer or wine into the restaurant. Under California law, it’s illegal for us to permit alcohol on the premises without the proper license. Thank you for your understanding.… Read more

    How clean this Hug Thai restaurant is any one can answer please I read about how good the food is so happy to find good Thai restaurant and do they used good quality ingredients please?

    It's very Clean! Has an "A" rating. Love this place😁

    Thai wraps aren't listed on your website for order any more, but they are on here. Are they still available?

    Does anyone know if they have vegan options?

    Our sauce base is completely vegan

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Signature Thai Cuisine

    Signature Thai Cuisine

    4.6(730 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Whenever I try a new Thai restaurant, I order the drunken noodles as a litmus test for how good the…read morerest of menu probably is. And yes, the drunken noodles at Signature Thai Cuisine is the best I've had. The FBI (fried bananas and ice cream), which I get without ice cream, is perhaps even better than the already dreamy drunken noodles. If you think that you've had fried bananas, you haven't had Signature's rendition. The coconut in the FBI elevates what would otherwise be a cliche dessert. I will be back to try the rest of the menu!

    WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT…read more Unfortunately, the service at this location has been highly inconsistent. While I had polite and respectful male servers during my first two visits, my last two experiences were ruined by a specific female waitress (It's the woman who looks like she's had visible facial/nose surgery). During my most recent visit, she completely abandoned our table after bringing the food. We had to go without water refills. She basically dumped our food off, got on FaceTime, was speaking loudly in her language, then she just abandoned our table. My husband eventually had to track down another staff member just to get our check and to go boxes. I also observed that waitress acting perturbed and ignoring another table's request for separate checks. Because of this incredibly unprofessional behavior and inattentiveness, I cannot trust eating here again. Management really needs to address her lack of customer service. She's going to make them lose customers. I heard the table behind us saying they weren't coming back either. edit: I noticed she's actually on one of the photos here on yelp throwing up a peace sign with a customer. Management needs to let her know it's not a bar, it's a job. She should have that polite energy with everyone, and she does not !

    Photos
    Signature Thai Cuisine - Outside seating

    Outside seating

    Signature Thai Cuisine - Drunken Noodle -@tinah

    Drunken Noodle -@tinah

    Signature Thai Cuisine - Three Flavor Fish -@tinah

    See all

    Three Flavor Fish -@tinah

    Phra Ram 9 - Fish!

    Phra Ram 9

    4.3(400 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    I've ordered from here before, but usually just stick to the pad thai which, for the record, is…read moredelicious. This time I branched out and tried the Thai sausage fried rice and the fresh spring rolls for a takeout dinner, and I am so glad I did. They were absolutely right when they said my tummy would be happy. The experience started with a phone call to place my order, and the person who took it was immediately warm and friendly. When I came in to pick everything up, the ladies behind the counter were genuinely enthusiastic, not in a performative way, but in the way that people are when they're truly proud of what they're serving. They guaranteed I'd love it, and they delivered on that promise completely. It's rare to walk into a place and feel that kind of energy -- a team that's happy to be there and happy to feed you. That warmth is just as much a reason to come back as the food itself. And I will absolutely be coming back to keep working my way through the menu.

    My boyfriend and I were on a long drive and stopped at the first restaurant that popped up on…read moreMaps--and I still can't believe how lucky we got. From the moment we walked in, we knew it was going to be good; it felt like everyone there was a regular. The service was wonderful, with friendly faces all around, and the food was truly exceptional. I ordered the Khao Soi (I'd never had it before, but I saw curry and pickles on the menu and thought, "Yup!"), and it absolutely blew my mind--hands down one of the best curry dishes I've ever had. My boyfriend got the Spicy Noodles, and they were just as amazing. He had to force himself stop eating so he could enjoy the rest for his lunch the next day, haha. We finished with mango sticky rice, and unsurprisingly, it was incredible. You can't really go wrong with mango sticky rice in general, but this was warm, sweet, and fragrant. Can't wait until we are back in the area to stop by again!

    Photos
    Phra Ram 9 - Interior

    Interior

    Phra Ram 9 - Cream Cheese Wonton

    Cream Cheese Wonton

    Phra Ram 9 - Glass

    See all

    Glass

    Tamarind Thai Restaurant - Ranked No.1 in the world " Panang curry "

    Tamarind Thai Restaurant

    3.9(534 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Always great. I've been coming to this restaurant for years. The food is always great, the service…read moreis always great! My personal favorites: Spring rolls Cheese Wontons Yellow Curry

    Came here for lunch on a Monday at Tamarind Thai in La Mesa. We were seated by Sam and given time…read moreto look over the menu. From the start, I could tell he was a little flustered. The lobby was filling up quickly with dine-in customers and pickup orders, and he was literally doing everything -- cleaning tables, taking orders, running food. Whew. When we asked what was popular on the menu, the responses were short, like "It depends on what you like." He wasn't rude at all -- just clearly overwhelmed and didn't have time to connect. I get it, but when you're dining in, you do hope for a little more guidance. It took about 25 minutes to receive our appetizers, and we didn't get drinks at the beginning. About 10 minutes into eating our appetizers, our entrées came out. I ordered the Spicy Noodles with beef, and my husband ordered the Pad Thai. His plate looked beautiful and tasted fresh and delicious. Mine, on the other hand, looked like the noodles had been sitting -- a bit dry -- although the veggies were vibrant and colorful, which helped presentation-wise. Unfortunately, I kept tasting a bitterness and realized some of the noodles at the bottom were burnt. I'm not one to complain, but I definitely needed water at that point. My husband had to go to the counter to ask for drinks, and Sam apologized and brought them about five minutes later. When we checked out, Sam still had a smile on his face, which I truly appreciated. He mentioned we came at a very busy time and day. I hope that wasn't meant to excuse the hiccups -- a simple apology would've been perfectly fine. Still, I respect that he kept it together and did his best. The dining area inside is small, but they do have an outdoor table option if requested. I'm not sure if this experience reflects their normal standard, and I hope it doesn't. There's definitely room for improvement with food quality consistency and front-of-house support. Sam was kind, and honestly, I'd probably give them another try simply because he handled the pressure as best as he could. But they really need another staff member up front to help with orders, cleaning, and running food instead of having one person juggle it all. Room to grow for sure.

    Photos
    Tamarind Thai Restaurant - Inside from the far wall.

    Inside from the far wall.

    Tamarind Thai Restaurant - Spicy Noodle

    Spicy Noodle

    Tamarind Thai Restaurant - Tamarind Fish

    See all

    Tamarind Fish

    Oishii Thai Japanese Cuisine - Cucumber salady

    Oishii Thai Japanese Cuisine

    4.8(224 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    bffr ... this thai/sushi place HIT THE SPOT ... we came to try this place for lunch and although we…read morehad some hesitations bc we haven't really visited this neighborhood, it was actually a cute and cozy spot. We walked in and you can tell its mainly japanese with a little but of thai. I'm a sucker for restaurants that play walking videos and food videos .. bc lol why not?? We ordered the eggplant dish and I think drunken noodles. Great portions and great taste. Would definitely come back here!

    I came by here for dinner after struggling to figure out where to eat and I am super happy I did…read more Besides the food these were some of the friendliest people I've met; basically only smiles, happy waves and checking up on me constantly through the whole dinner. I am unsure if they are all family but one of the workers daughters was also running around and helping out/interacting with the guests. I'd come back here just based on the positive vibes alone. Besides the service though I ended up ordering a spicy basil with chicken and I did not realize they'd give out the rice in a heart shaped but I thought it was nice touch. The dish overall was solid; good amount of spice, plenty of meat//veggies and a flavorful sauce that complimented it all. One of the workers also came by and just randomly gave me a Thai tea and said it was on the house. The Thai tea itself was good as well, just the right balance of milk, sugar and tea. If I still lived near SDSU I would definitely return here!

    Photos
    Oishii Thai Japanese Cuisine - The chef making our sushi

    The chef making our sushi

    Oishii Thai Japanese Cuisine - Po tak

    Po tak

    Oishii Thai Japanese Cuisine - Inside

    See all

    Inside

    Bahn Thai - Drunken noodles with chicken

    Bahn Thai

    4.5(3.5k reviews)
    6.8 miUniversity Heights
    $$

    ORDER INSIDE FIRST! Then find a table and sit -they'll bring your food. If ordering take-out,…read moreeveryone waits along the sidewalk for them to bring out/call your number. All information is clearly marked on the receipt, large numbers on top with estimated time below for order to be ready. Super small restaurant with only limited outdoor seating. They're planning to move a few doors down, into a larger location, within a few months. Food is tasty, good portion size, and service is limited but friendly and patient. Pineapple fried rice with chicken, and chicken satay, were both perfect. Fried chicken wings are good but not something I'd have again, even though I love fried chicken and chicken wings, just prefer somewhere tspecializes in them. Parking is difficult unless you're willing to walk several blocks

    Hole in the wall Bahn Thai is serving carryout with limited outdoor only seating…read more SERVICE Patrons order and pick up at the counter. My order of the sweet chili wings was estimated to take 25 minutes to prepare and came with the sauce separate as requested. FOOD 2/5 sweet chili wings: actually wings and drumsticks and had a tougher texture that did not taste freshly fried, which was disappointing given the $15 price point for 7 wings. Even though the wings didn't deliver, the chicken satay with peanut sauce was tasty

    Photos
    Bahn Thai - Yellow Curry, Rolls and Thai Tea

    Yellow Curry, Rolls and Thai Tea

    Bahn Thai - Pineapple Rice with shrimp

    Pineapple Rice with shrimp

    Bahn Thai - Sweet chili wings

    See all

    Sweet chili wings

    Oodles By The Noodbar - Garlic Butter Noodles

    Oodles By The Noodbar

    4.5(272 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    I came in person recently with 9 friends. They were able to accommodate us even though we were just…read morewalking in. The woman was super friendly even though it was a little chaotic. At first, she said the order only could be done on 1 bill. And then later she compromised with 2 bills, 5 people per table. That was nice of her! I just had 2 coffees before entering so I decided to skip ordering Thai tea. But they had a large drink menu, of fruit teas and more. My friend had the lychee tea which was very large and looked super refreshing! They also came by often to top off our waters which was nice. To eat, I ordered the $16.99~, Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with White Rice. It came with onion, green onion, carrots, zucchini, bell pepper, and cashews. The carrots were beautifully cut, but a little too crunchy for me to properly enjoy in the stir fry. Everything else was delicious! I think this could definitely be shared between 2-3 people. It was a lot for me, even after a large hike. The sauce was flavorful and not overly salty. I didn't ask for any spice level, but I think I'd choose mild or medium next time. My friends ordered-- - $12.99, Dirty Fried Chicken: This had a blitz coating of lime, mint, and spices. And it was decorated with thinly sliced green onions with a side of sweet chili sauce. The chicken was hot and plump, not dry, and very much mouthwatering! Would recommend. - $14.99, Thai Grilled Chicken Salad: Grilled Chicken Breast on a bed of mixed green salad, carrots, and cucumbers with peanut dressing. It reminded me a little of chicken satay~ it smelled and looked incredible. I think I might order it next time, when I want something light and fulfilling after a hike. - $11.99, Cream Cheese Avocado Wontons (6PC): These came out piping hot and when you took a bite they were oozing. It was very creamy and when you dip into the plum sauce it's a delectable bite. A nice appetizer to share with the table. - $16.99-$19.99 (depends on what protein you get), Pad Thai: This proportion was manageable for one person. The restaurant used thin rice noodles, but it didn't clump excessively compared to other restaurants. The prices are what you'd typically see at a Pan-Asian restaurant, a few dollars more than what you'd want to spend. But these kinds of restaurants, in my opinion, are for enjoying with others. So, if you're sharing food and all that-- the price is worth it (esp with the quantity that is given). Next time, I would probably order one of their noodle dishes rather than rice. Oodles by the Noodbar has such a large and diverse menu so I would highly recommend coming in to try them out.

    Highly recommend Oodles. I often get the fresh Salad rolls (the peanut sauce is exceptional.)…read more The service is friendly. The location is quaint but charming. My personal favorite is Dan Dan noodles with extra Dan Dan sauce. Noodles are exquisite and the meat is perfection. My only hang up is the price for the product.

    Photos
    Oodles By The Noodbar - Counter decor

    Counter decor

    Oodles By The Noodbar - Trio Pork Over Rice

    Trio Pork Over Rice

    Oodles By The Noodbar - Trio Pork Over Rice

    See all

    Trio Pork Over Rice

    Little Thai Kitchen - Drunken Noodles, Cream Cheese Wontons, & Fresh Spring Rolls

    Little Thai Kitchen

    4.5(182 reviews)
    5.3 mi
    $$

    Fresh Shrimp Spring Roll 10/10 - Vegetables taste really…read morefresh and have a good crunch - Nice hint of mint throughout the roll - Shrimp was fresh - Great peanut sauce to pair with the fresh rolls Som Tum(Papaya Salad) Hot 10/10 - Great spice flavor - Nice blend of sour, sweet and savory flavors - Fresh ingredients Pad See Ew 10/10 - Great blend of sweet and savory sauce - Beef was tender and soft - Vegetables are soft and absorbs the sauce nicely Panang Curry 9/10 medium spice - Curry is full of flavor, good balance of savory and sweet - Medium is not too spicy - soft sticky rice Thai Tea 10/10 - The perfect amount of sweetness - Does lean on the sweeter side - Large amount of Thai Mango Sticky Rice 10/10 - fresh cold sweet mango - Sweet condensed milk - Warm soft sticky rice - The right amount of sweetness Found this hidden gem in San Diego and was not disappointed! Went on a Sunday and it was not busy at all but had a steady stream of pickup orders. The food was absolutely amazing and tasted authentic. Every dish left us feeling satisfied and happy. The food came out really fast which was perfect because we're were really hungry. The waiter was very kind and really attentive to our needs. Brought out all our food and everything we needed to enjoy our meal. The atmosphere is very laid back and cozy. It had a mom and pop feeling to it.

    Thai Kitchen delivers consistently good Thai food made with care. The flavors are well balanced,…read moreeverything tastes fresh, and the portions are solid. Nothing feels rushed or overly adjusted -- just straightforward, well-done Thai cooking. Service is friendly and welcoming, and the overall experience is relaxed and comfortable. It's easy to see why locals keep coming back. If you're looking for a dependable Thai spot you can return to again and again, this place is worth checking out.

    Photos
    Little Thai Kitchen - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Little Thai Kitchen
    Little Thai Kitchen

    See all

    Hug Thai Express - thai - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...