I've been wanting to come here for so long, but the drive from Irvine, while short in distance, is filled with uncoordinated stoplights and congested streets... so there has to be a reason for me to come out this far. Dropped in solo, but ordered like I had someone with me. Service was great, very fast and attentive. Everyone I interacted with had a smile on their face. Inside was clean and modern. Ordered the Beef Khao Soi, the Papaya Salad, and the Crab Fried Rice. All of them were exceptional. The beef in the Khao Soi was sooo tender, the rich and creamy soup (broth?) with coconut milk was perfectly crafted. The Crab Fried Rice was delicious too. They have an option to go "super saiyan" on the crab for a hefty price... may be up your ally if you can spare the cash. Lastly, the papaya salad. A staple. A must order to gauge authenticity! Manaoo does their profiles right: the salad was super refreshing with a perfect balance of heat and umami. However my disappointment comes from the use of a shredder instead of hand-cutting. I know its for efficiency...but when I'm dropping close to $15 for this... I do expect a bit more refinement. Overall, Thai food is getting expensive, and Manaao is no exception. However Manaoo provides excellent quality and bold flavors with fresh ingredients; they make sure you want to come back for more. I'll be back in to try my other Thai favorites! Parking is abhorrent! Don't park in the adjacent lot. They do tow! read more

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This Thai spot in Tustin, Manaao Thai Comfort Food, had been on my foodie list for a while ever since it opened in 2023. Not long after opening, it was featured by the LA Times / Daily Pilot, and then quickly blew up on TikTok and IG foodie circles across OC. Dinner starts at 4:30 PM, and we arrived around 4:10. Even then, people were already waiting in their cars. We walked around the plaza for a bit, but when we came back at 4:28, a line had already formed outside. They use a Yelp waitlist kiosk at the entrance, and we were already the third party in line. The restaurant has around 25+ tables, and within minutes of opening, the place filled up fast. By the time our first dish arrived, the line outside was packed. Definitely glad we came early, this place gets busy FAST. We ordered: 1. Khao Soi Noodle $28 One of the LA Times' "Best Dishes of 2023," and honestly the standout of the night. The rich yellow curry broth with coconut milk had a nice spicy kick without being overly salty. It came with crispy noodles on top, softer noodles underneath, plus crispy soft-shell crab that added great texture. The lime and diced onions on the side helped brighten everything up too. Very flavorful and worth trying, although $28 still feels a little pricey. 2. Gaeng Som (Thai Sour Curry Fish Soup) $28 A mildly sour and spicy curry fish soup with crispy fish, green papaya, daikon, carrots, and long beans. The flavor actually reminded me a bit of Korean spicy fish stew, but with stronger sourness and herbal notes. Great with rice, though again, the price feels high for the portion. 3. Thai Hainan Chicken Rice $18 This was probably the weakest dish we ordered. The chicken was very soft but lacked flavor, and the soup was pretty bland. Honestly, I prefer the Vietnamese-style chicken rice in Little Saigon more. The rice itself paired nicely with the stronger curry dishes though. 4. Thai Milk Tea $6 Less sweet than most Thai restaurants, which I really appreciated. Much more balanced and not overly sugary. Overall, Manaao feels more authentic and regional compared to many Americanized Thai restaurants in OC. The menu goes beyond the usual Pad Thai staples, and the flavors definitely have more depth. That said, prices are on the higher side, and portions aren't huge. Three dishes can easily run over $70. Still, I can see why this place became so popular. The owner apparently used to work as a web developer before starting to cook hometown Thai dishes during the pandemic, eventually opening Manaao with his wife to focus on authentic Thai comfort food. They're already expanding to Irvine Spectrum near Din Tai Fung. Out of everything we tried, the Khao Soi was definitely the must-order dish for me. Would I wait an hour for it though? Personally... probably not! Manaao Thai Comfort Food 13842 Newport Ave Unit F, Tustin, CA 92780 read more

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Definitely utilize the Yelp waitlist because the wait can get pretty long, but it moves fairly quickly. The menu also has a ton of options, which makes it great for groups if you want to order a bunch of dishes to share. We started with the papaya salad which was super crunchy and refreshing. My favorite dish of the night was definitely the khao soi with soft shell crab. I love spicy food and the spice level here was perfect while still being really flavorful. The broth had such bold flavors and the soft shell crab paired so well with it. The crab fried rice was also really flavorful and had plenty of crab throughout. We also got the boat noodles which had a deep, rich broth and really tender beef. Definitely a comforting dish if you want something soupy. The pad Thai was probably my least favorite dish of the night. It was fine but could've used more spice and flavor compared to everything else we ordered. We also got a whole fish which I normally don't care too much for, but this one was cooked perfectly. The fish was so soft and tender with a light, herby flavor that balanced out the heavier dishes really well. Overall, really enjoyed the meal and the food came out quickly. We ordered more than enough food for 5 people, had leftovers, and the bill was still under $300, which felt very reasonable for the amount and quality of food. read more

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I recently revisited this place with better company and enjoyed my experience so much more! Since we came on a weekday for lunch, we didn't have to wait which was nice. I also think they expanded/remodeled their restaurant since I was last here but maybe I'm just imagining things. To start off, the pad see ew with beef was pretty standard. You can't really go wrong with it! I loved the beef in the khao soi. It was so tender and ripped apart easily. The noodles were also perfect with the curry broth. The green curry with roti could have been more fragrant but was still delicious! My favorite dish was the manaao pork jowl, which was crispy on the outside, but melted in my mouth. It had a limey sauce that was unforgettable! For drinks, both the thai green tea and thai iced tea were on the sweeter side, but both were enjoyable. I definitely see why there's always such long waits for this place. read more

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This has been on my wishlist forever but I've never gone until now as the wait is insane! My family was craving Thai food for dinner so I had waitlisted us for a Sunday night at 6 pm and we were on the waitlist for 1 hour. I definitely wouldn't recommend walk-ins as the waitlist fills up quickly. For drinks, we got the passionfruit smoothie (a special) and thai green tea. They ran on the sweeter side so I had to add a bit of water to dilute but otherwise, pretty strong and tasty! We loved the shrimp fried rice and pad thai but it was a mistake to get it with the pork belly. The pork belly had very crispy skin and the meat itself was super dry. It was hard to chew at times and I ended up not finishing. The pad see ew was a lil salty and greasy but still delicious. It's overhyped imo especially for the long wait but I would say it's good to try if you're a first timer. I'm still on the hunt for my favorite Thai restaurant! read more

Manaao - Pad See Ew, "Shrimp Fried Rice" - Khao Pad Goong, Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

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I first visited Manaao when it opened and was impressed by how flavorful everything was. Came back recently, but felt the overall quality went down a bit. My go-to is the khao soi, so rich and creamy! The pad thai was a bit disappointing though, it lacked flavor and we found a hair on it at the end of the meal. Note: It gets busy, even on a weekday. The parking lot is quite small, but you can try looking for street parking as well. read more

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I joined the waitlist around 6 pm on a Friday evening. We were seated about 30 minutes later. I was 22nd in line when I joined, so it moves pretty quick. I was surprised how big the interior is! Lots of tables. Menu is so extensive! I want to come back to try more, but I kept it simple with pad Thai on this visit and ended with mango sticky rice. Everything was amazing! Can't recommend enough. read more

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Omgosh I'm so glad I tried this spot! It was SO good! Went with a friend during lunch time and there was a wait but not too bad. You can also add yourself on the waitlist via Yelp. We tried the papaya salad with pork belly, pad Thai with shrimp, chu chee Curry with fried catfish, and mango sticky rice. All the dishes we got were delicious! My favorite was the curry and fried catfish. The catfish was cooked perfectly. Crispy on the outside and tender inside. Pretty meaty too. I can't wait to go back to try more! Service was great. They often checked in and refilled our waters. Thai ice tea was good too! read more

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I am SO blown away by this place. Been recommending it ever since I left. Best pad thai i've ever eaten, and the khao soo soft shell crab is a must. read more

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Manaao continues to be one of our absolute favorites. We got to try a couple of new items on the menu. We started with the Thai Crab Cake Rolls, which were so flavorful, and packed with a generous amount of real crab -- especially good with the sweet & sour dipping sauce. We were lucky to try the soon-to-launch Chicken Wings in Holy Basil Sauce, and it was fantastic! We're already counting down until it hits the menu. For mains, my go‑to Garlic Pepper Berkshire Pork was as delicious as ever, and the Panang Curry with Braised Beef was rich, comforting, and perfectly balanced. Sorry, I was not able to take pictures of the entrées because my hands were too busy devouring the chicken wings, lol. I tried the Palm Juice for the first time and loved it so much I ordered a second. Always great to see the owners Ken & Anita + Wise & June. Service is always friendly and efficient, and the food is consistently of high quality -- Manaao never misses. And there's always something new and fabulous to try! read more

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Came on a weekday night for dinner and it was popping here! There wasn't a wait when I arrived at 5pm but by the time I left, there was a wait outside and the parking lot was filled up. The service was great in that they frequently came to refill my water. Place was clean. The chicken satay doesn't come as skewers as this typical appetizer does. The chicken is just like a whole piece, sliced. I was surprised at the presentation and hoped that the taste would make up for it, but the chicken itself was lacking flavor. I don't recommend it. The pad kee mao came with green peppercorns. I rarely see these in a drunken noodle dish, so this was a nice surprise. This was number two for this meal. The papaya salad was decent. Nothing special or stood out. I wish it had more depth in the umami flavor. The green curry with ribeye and naan was full of flavor, so I would say this is probably the top dish of a meal. It came with green eggplants and had and had the fragrance and flavor of kaffir lime leaves. read more

Been a few years since I've been here, but I've heard great things from many of my friends, and from my experience they were correct. I noticed that they either moved or expanded their space which is nice. This restaurant is very popular now, so the extra seating is welcome. Came with a group of friends and ordered the Thai Boat Noodle. It was recommended by our waitress, and is one of the few times I ventured out from my usual Thai food orders. It did not disappoint, the broth was packed with flavor and there were generous portions of meat. I honestly did not know what to expect, and was pretty blown away. I asked for the spice on the side, which they generously provided, and adding in that extra kick of heat further complemented the burst of flavor that came with every bite. After finishing this dish, I was thoroughly satisfied and amazed. The only downside is that the prices feel pricier, but I know in general prices are rising in the restaurant industry. I'll definitely be back here to try out their other menu items. read more

Have been seeing this place passing by & always see a lot of people waiting outside. We got the sausage fried rice, spicy soft shell crab, khao soi with braised beef, chicken wings with basil sauce, papaya salad with soft shell crab, & the tom yum. Everything was delicious, my absolute favorite was the soft shell crab! We also tried the mango sticky rice beer, I would skip this as it didn't taste like a regular beer & nothing like mango sticky rice. Pro tip is add yourself on the Yelp waitlist ahead of time so you're not waiting for so long. read more

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I thought this place was pretty good. The service was great, the restaurant had a nice "fanciness" that I don't see in a lot of Thai places. We thought the food was above average for sure. The mangoes with sticky rice.... great, the crab fried rice..... great, the green curry..... great. The pad see ew was good with the exception of the pork belly on top. The pork belly skin was a bit chewy but flavor was spot on. I would definitely go again though, just for the first 3 dishes. read more

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A very solid spot for Thai. The crispy pork was good and the khao soi with the braised beef was loaded with flavor. Definitely worth trying. The wait times however can be long as they don't do reservation, so expect to wait at least an hour at peak time. The ambiance of the restaurant is really nice and the employees are very kind. read more

Manaao - Khao soi noodles with braised beef - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

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Brought my parents here for Mother's Day lunch and was so glad we got to experience it! We got here just before opening and barely made it in at the last table of the first wave of seating. There were 20 parties in front of us and it was a bit confusing at first but I luckily quickly noticed the Yelp tablet out front. We ordered the papaya salad, morning glory with crispy pork belly, drunken noodles with beef, khao soi with braised beef, and Chu chee curry with fried catfish. Everything was delicious and authentic and a hit with our party! We left stuffed and with leftovers but I will note the morning glory with crispy pork belly portion was a bit smaller than we've had at other restaurants. Flavors though were all outstanding and my parents are excited to come back again next time! Service was friendly and we found out that next time we can actually still park next door to their lot since it's a pretty small lot out front. read more

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Been wanting to try this place for the longest time but it's so busy on weekends so I decided to go on a weekday right when it opened. The staff were so friendly and were able to give me recommendations. I ended up getting the catifish with curry and the shrimp rolls. Both dishes were so delicious and there were definitely leftovers. I'm already planning to come back to try the popular khao soi. read more

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Manaao Thai has some of the best Thai food in Orange County. There's definitely some hype surrounding this new spot, with lines out the door, packed tables, and a lively lime tree wallpaper. Sample their bold, rich, and flavorful dishes, such as their creamy khao soi noodles. If you are planning to ball out, add a grilled giant river prawn or a bone-in braised short rib. Chu Chee Curry and Fried Catfish Filet: This dish is a winner! The orange curry produces its bold flavor from red curry paste, coconut milk, oyster sauce, sugar, bell peppers, and lime leaf. The fried catfish filet is large and like a sculpture resting on a bed of rice. The fish is flaky and its crispy batter absorbs the flavor like a champ. Mama Tom Yum Hot Pot: If you enjoy Mama instant noodles, this one is for you. The noodles are thin, firm, and springy. The broth is spicy, sour, savory, and citrusy. There are all sorts of goodies in the soup: mushrooms, ground pork, fish balls, squid, and herbs. Green Curry with Beef Ribeye and Roti: The green curry is creamy and sweet from the coconut milk, fish sauce, lime leaf, and Thai basil. The roti is golden, flaky, and crispy. Dip the rolled layers in the silky curry. Wrap the roti around some of the sliced ribeye, peppers, and eggplant. Crying Tiger: The grilled ribeye steak is tender and juicy. Dunk it in the tangy dipping sauce loaded with fresh Thai chilies, fish sauce, and lime juice. Thai Pandan Custard and Coconut Ice Cream: The toast is made from the fluffy bread from the legendary Cream Pan bakery. A creamy pandan custard on the toast combined with coconut ice cream is the perfect dessert for an amazing meal. The Wait: This is not a place where you can walk up since wait times can be over half an hour. Try your luck on the Yelp waitlist. Parking: The strip mall lot is tiny and usually packed. You can find street parking if necessary. read more

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I'm not a huge Thai fan, but I have to say this is the best Thai restaurant I've ever been to. Everything is absolutely excellent. Best crab fried rice in the universe. And the pork Jowl is amazing. I also got a classic yellow curry curry with shrimp. Total perfection. I can see why the line is so long! read more

Manaao - Quite the spread. - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

YUM EVERYTHING WAS SO DELICIOUS. I was craving Thai food and I'm so glad we came here. Pork jowl is my must order here. Khao soi with braised beef was yummy and medium spicy so it had a kick to it. I tried the sausage fried rice for the first time and it did not disappoint, very nice and smoky and savory. Waited for about half an hour on a Saturday afternoon but service was quick once we were seated. Casual ambiance. I love Manaao I will be back soon! read more

Manaao - Pork Jowl - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

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Everything we ordered was so good!! Our party of 6 arrived at restaurant around 6pm (seated right away) after that the line started forming and there was surely a wait. List of what we ordered: crab fried rice, crying tiger, green curry roti, catfish curry, shrimp pad Thai, tom kha soup, laab, khao soi. All 10/10. Only dish that we didn't care for was was the Thai crab rolls in soy paper. Food came out so quickly after we ordered: service was excellent. For dessert the mango sticky rice and pandan custard toast were really the best desserts on the menu. read more

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It was my first time here, and it was so good! My friend and I ordered a bunch of dishes so we could try a little bit of everything. Luckily, there was no wait since we arrived right when they opened at 4:30 pm. Our server was also really nice, which made the experience even better. We ordered five dishes: Green curry with beef rib-eye & roti Pad Thai with shrimp Pad See Ew with beef Crab fried rice Chu Chee curry with fried fish fillet If I had to rank them from my favorite to least favorite: 1. Pad Thai with shrimp - The shrimp were huge and incredibly delicious. Definitely my favorite dish. 2. Chu Chee curry with fried fish fillet - The catfish had an amazing crunch, and the curry wasn't too strong, which I really liked. 3. Crab fried rice - Very rich in crab flavor. If you love crab, you'll really enjoy this. 4. Pad See Ew with beef - It was good, but tasted pretty standard--similar to what you'd get at other places. 5. Green curry with beef rib-eye & roti - I still enjoyed it. The roti reminded me of the Trader Joe's green onion pancake (just without the green onion). Overall, great first experience and I'd definitely come back to try all the other stuff I didn't get to try. Ambiance was super nice (refer to photo) to see how the inside of the restaurant looks. read more

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I've been seeing Manaoo Thai all over and kept hearing how good it was, so I finally tried it. It gets pretty busy and parking is honestly kind of annoying, but I was down to deal with it to try something new. It is cute inside and it's nice you can be put on the waitlist. I'm just going to come out and say it... it did not live up to the hype We got the creamy tom yum shrimp soup and that was probably the most disappointing. It wasn't really creamy and leaned more sweet than that bright, sour, citrusy flavor you expect from tom yum. It just felt off balance. The shrimp itself was good though, I'll give it that. We also got the stir fried Chinese broccoli and this one had potential but didn't quite land. The pieces were super skinny, not like the thicker cuts you usually get in something like pad see ew, and it was sitting in a pool of its own juices which made it kind of soggy. Flavor wise it had a nice garlic moment, but texture wise it wasn't it. The pad see ew was the best dish by far. It had that darker soy sauce flavor, nice and savory, and the beef had that slightly charred, off-the-grill taste that I actually really liked. The Chinese broccoli in this dish had more of the texture I was expecting too, which made a difference. Overall, it was good but not great. Unfortunately, I just wasn't impressed. It felt overhyped for what it is! read more

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My first impression is the restaurant atmosphere. It's super spacious and well decorated. The windows are mostly covered up so you get a warm vibe on the inside. The service is friendly and pretty quick. The lunch rush seemed to be around noon and tapered off by 1:00 on a weekday. We ordered an appetizer and 2 entrees for 3 people and it was perfect. I forgot to take a picture of my fave dish--the crispy pork jowl. It was super tender and served with what they call seafood sauce. I can drink that sauce. It's so delicious. The pad kee mao was pretty standard. The noodles had a nice texture. The soft shell crab yellow curry was good but I would try a different curry next time. I wanted something with more sauce. read more

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Food: Ordered quite a bit (too long to list here), but everything left a positive impression on the palate and was presented beautifully. But the highlights for me would have to be the Crying Tiger, the Crab Fried Rice and the Mango Sticky Rice. Service: No notes! Our group of six was well accommodated--we were waited on by 1-2 people who were constantly checking in, so never had to flag down someone for anything. Ambiance: Casual, modern. Unassuming facade, but nice interior. Parking: Ample parking. Located in a plaza. read more

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This trendy Thai spot is definitely worth the hype and serves high quality and flavorful dishes! The papaya salad was tangy, refreshing, and a little more on the spicy side. We also added on the soft shell crab, which was delicious but a little small. I loved the crying tiger steak, it was juicy and the tangy fish sauce was addicting. The drunken noodles were also tasty, and the Panang curry is great if you like sweeter curries. Since we came to celebrate a birthday, we got a complimentary ice cream topped with various jellies, and it was a perfect treat to share. The interior is elevated and can be both for a special occasion or a casual meal. The wait can get very long, so we decided to show up 10 minutes before opening on a Sunday. We ended up being second in line and got seated immediately on opening. However, when we left the restaurant, the line was over an hour and a half long, so definitely come prepared! read more

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It's a pretty nice ambience with so much good food. They are attentive to their guest needs. We came very early and avoided the line/waitlist. read more

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We were the first to arrive when they opened at 4:30 pm but stayed in the car while we waited. At around 4:20, customers started coming so we joined the line to the 3rd party to go in. There were 11 and of us adults 3 young kids. We were celebrating our grandson's college graduation. The restaurant has a pleasant ambiance with a clean refreshing look. They have a pretty extensive menu and can be overwhelming. We were seated as soon as they have arranged the tables. The servers gave us ample time to review the menu with rush despite of the long line outside the restaurant. We decided to get 2 orders of each of the following: Crab fried rice, green beef curry with roti, Tom yung gung with shrimps, morning glory with crispy pork, flying tiger and pad si sieu. The crab fried rice was a notch down from being delicious. It needed a tad of salt and pepper, maybe a bit of soy sauce or Knor seasoning and chives. It came with a tangy green sauce which enhanced the under seasoning. The green beef curry with side of Roti bread is fantastic and my favorite. Also, the Tom yung shrimp soup was so delicious that I didn't mind the spicy spike. The morning glory was perfectly blanched, sautéed and seasoned with crispy pork belly. The Flying Tiger beef steaks were too bland for me and lastly, the Pad see ew with beef just okay. I've had better ones at other Thai resto. We ordered too much for our party. I gave them 5 star because we enjoyed majority of the food and the service was good! We were fully satisfied and highly recommend this place for those who are craving for Thai food. read more

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Amazing thai food in the OC that tastes just as good as the places in North Hollywood, but without the 1.5 hour drive. We ordered the Khao soi, manaao house (tom yum) noodle, and the holy basil chicken wings. The Khao soi was deep and flavorful, and perhaps one of the top Khao soi I've ever had (and I've had my fair share in LA and NY). The Manaao house noodle was amazing as well and the tom yum soup base was so good. Highly recommend this place and I'll definitely return. read more

Manaao - Khao soi, manaao house noodle soup - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

We came on a Wednesday for lunch. You do need to join the waitlist, which I recommend since it does get busy. Fortunately, our wait was less than 5 minutes, and our table was already prepped with water glasses. The menu was large but not overwhelming.. I was excited to try a few things. We ordered the crispy chicken skins, Lao papaya style and the soft shell crab with yellow curry powder..OMG, the flavor explosion! The chicken skins were perfectly crispy, served with a chili sauce and their homemade spicy salt to add some heat. The soft shell crab was absolutely delicious and crispy, lightly battered, and just a medley of flavors. The papaya salad was thinly shredded, fresh, and the sauce was perfect, not too pungent. Manaao Comfort Thai Food is the best Thai food we've had so far. June, our server, was courteous and lovely. Sadly, I wanted to try their dessert, but I was so full there was no room left. Left full and happy! read more

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Crying tiger: 5/10, Morning glory: 9/10, flavor was really good Saeng gong: 9/10 Grilled giant prawn: 7/10, sauce is good but this was the smallest giant prawn lol. Also hard to separate meat from shell read more

Make sure to join the waitlist asap. This place can get crowded but there's more seating now. The parking also gets full so be prepared. The staff is very friendly and attentive. I never had to worry about my water being refilled. The pad thai was my favorite dish. It was very flavorful and cooked well. I didn't like the crab fried rice as much. I was hoping they would have a spicy rice dish but I couldn't find one. I didn't like how the crab tasted. It wasn't bad, it's just not my taste. The chinese broccoli was also decent. I don't think I would get the pork with it again. The pork was okay but not worth paying extra for in my opinion. I love the decor here. They have ducks and Walle everywhere. read more

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We were greeted warmly and seated promptly. The staff gave us great recommendations and checked in on us often. The restaurant was clean and decorated with cute lime wall paper. The best part of this experience was the food. We got the crab fried rice and they were generous with the crab. The creamy tom yum soup was flavorful in the best way. The pad Thai was a classic that they perfected. We made sure to leave room for the mango with sticky rice. The creamy sauce that came with the dessert was sweet, creamy, and salty. The perfect balance!! read more

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Make sure to check wait times on here, luckly i joined the wait before leaving home. It was an hour wait on a Thursday early dinner! But besides the wait, the staff here is super kind and welcoming. Food was also very very good! read more

Manaao - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

My friend and I decided to go on a Saturday night as a walk in but were with a 1 hr wait. The outside was packed with people waiting and chatting, but because I really wanted to try this place we waited and they did not disappoint. The interior is quirky and the workers follow the theme and colors of the space well making it a fun environment to be in. As for food I got to try the crying tiger, the pad thai, and the khao soi. The khao soi is very aromatic and the crunchy noodles were fried well. The curry soup itself is very flavorful and I appreciate that it's not overly oily or thick. The crying tiger was good the highlight of the dish is the sauce it comes with. The pad thai was my favorite dish. The bouncy noodles, good level of spicy, and lemon are some highlights to the dish. I am not a fan of their pork belly since it's dry and lacks flavor. The wait was so worth it and I was so full. I definitely will be back and I'll join on the wait list on yelp instead read more

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Stopped in for lunch on a Thursday and it was pretty busy! Their Yelp waitlist is pretty accurate and moves quickly for small groups. We tried the catfish curry, morning glory, and the house boat noodles. Everything was delicious, though I wish the curry had some vegetables in it! Prices are high around $25+ per entree, but portion sizes are huge. Drinks are just okay. Service was amazing! I would stop in again to try something different. read more

We visited for dinner on a Sunday and waited about an hour for a table, which already says a lot about how popular this place is. I ordered the Khao Soi, which was the main reason for coming, and it did not disappoint. The flavor was rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced. My husband ordered the Hainan Chicken, which was different from the Malaysian or Singapore-style versions we are used to. However, the rice was absolutely outstanding -- easily the tastiest Hainan rice I've ever had. It was served with only a green sauce instead of the usual red and green pair, but it had a nice kick to it. The décor was bright and very "lime-themed," clearly designed to match the restaurant's concept. Service was efficient, and the food arrived quickly despite the busy crowd. After experiencing the quality of the food, it is easy to understand why there is always such a long line to get in. read more

Manaao - Khao Soi Noodle with Braised Beef - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

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Had to try Manaao at least once, and this will probably be the only time, after all the rave reviews and recommendations. The inside is clean and very modern. The service was great. The waitlist can be over an hour. Recommend getting to the restaurant before they open and put your name on the waitlist. At 12pm is when the crowd comes. Also a good plan is to use Yelp and get added to the waitlist before coming. The food was delicious and glad we experienced dining here, but we preferred more of the traditional Thai food. read more

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There is a long wait for a reason and easily the best Thai food I've had in the states. If you are within the area you are able to check in online on Yelp and I would recommend so as wait times can be crazy. Also carpooling is a good idea as parking there is pretty limited. I went with a party of 4 on a Sunday night and the wait time was 1.5 hours when checking in at 5:30pm. Our party ordered crab fried rice, crying tiger steak, beef Panang, pad kra pow, and a beef pad see ew. My favorite was the beef panang and the crab fried rice. Everything tasted authentic and had excellent flavor with a good portion size as well. You can ask for chili sauce on the side and they will bring you an assortment of different spices. For desserts we got the mango sticky rice and pandan toast with ice cream. The mango sticky rice was decent but not the best I've had. I really enjoyed the pandan toast warmness paired with the coconut ice cream brings great contrast to the dish. Overall if you're not on a time crunch I highly recommend this place and is worth the wait if you are skeptical. read more

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The restaurant is cozy and decorated well. Also, the staff were friendly and attentive. This place does not take reservations, so make sure to go there early! My friends and I really liked everything that we had ordered, it was absolutely amazing. First time trying the Thai Ice Green Tea (defintely will come back again for this). Would want to try other things from their menu! Ordered the following: - Khao Soi - Pad Thai Shrimp - Papaya Salad - Green Curry Rib-Eye with Roti - Thai Ice Green Tea read more

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