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Very clean and cute little spot. The food was very good and flavorful. The pork jowl was good, and it is just a preference, but I thought the sauce had too much fish sauce. They also use smaller noodles for the pad Thai, so that wasn't my preference. I have to go back to try their Pad See Ew. We went during lunch time, and she was taking care of all the tables extremely well too!
I have always seen this place but finally decided to give it a try. I did not know what to order, so I just got the steamed chicken n rice togo. I would say it was pretty decent for the price! The chicken was super moist and the garlic rice went well with it. I did try the thai tea but the flavor was a bit off to me. It tasted slightly burnt and was not sweet enough. Overall, I feel like this is a solid spot to go to for Thai food in the area and will most likely come back to try something else!
Service was great! Food was tasty and the menu is good. Lots of choices. Yellow curry was a tad spicier than I usually get, but the flavor was really good I didn't mind the spice. Plenty of parking
Great authentic Thai restaurant with some unique dishes! Stopped here for lunch with some friends. Quaint dining area that's well lit with a good amount of seating. Service was quick and friendly. We had a couple appetizers like their pork jowl and the wagyu roti mataba. They were both delicious, perfect bites before the meal. For the main course we all got the basil wagyu. It's a plate of minced wagyu beef with green beans and basil leaves, topped with a fried egg. I opted for a salad instead of the rice but it usually comes with jasmine rice. You can choose your level of spicy, I got medium. It also has a small sauce on the side that was quite spicy and tart. The meal was a perfect lunch, not too filling but enough to get full. I'll be back to try more!
This is probably one of the cheaper Thai places I've eaten at but still has great flavor and execution. They have a good selection of food on their menu but I went pretty basic with pad see ew. This was cheaper than all of the places I've been to in the last year, but was still very delicious and fills you up pretty decently. We also got the plern signature pork jowl which was juicy with a nice char taste, but the star of that dish was the accompanied sauce which just went well with everything. We'll have to come back and try some more stuff. All of the workers were also very friendly. Only downside is they don't seem to have public bathrooms.
A delicious hole in the wall Thai restaurant in Lake Forest Towne Center. Don't be fooled by this little place as it packs a good variety of flavors and unique dishes. For starters I tried their Wagyu Roti Mataba which was ground beef wrapped in their Roti like a samosa. The roti was just so perfectly cooked and delicious that it added a very nice texture to every bite and made for a great starter. For the main entrees I ordered the Pad See Ew, the Basil Wagyu and the Beef Shanks Panang Stew. A variety to keep the flavors coming. The Pad See Ew was nice and chewy as it should be and the flavors were very well balanced with the sweet, spicy and savory. I really enjoyed their Panang curry as it had a nice sweetness and finish with the dense Panang curry flavors. It comes with some rotis on the side for you to scoop up any of the left over curry. Lastly the Basil Wagyu was ground beef with egg and rice along with all the mixed flavors. All of their food was very good and genuinely enjoyed the experience which makes this a must try for all Thai food lovers. It seems like a family run business and everyone here serves with a smile.
This a quaint little place in a tiny shopping centre. You kinda have to know it's there. There were loads of people there on a Friday night which was good. There was only one server but she was pretty quick. She was very friendly. We got a yellow curry and pad Thai with2 Thai teas. The pad Thai was really good but it had a ton of bean sprouts. The yellow curry was good but the rice wasn't great. The rice was kind dry and a little crunchy, almost like it was at the bottom of the rice cooker. The Thai teas were just ok. They weren't my favourite. It didn't have a strong tea flavour. Overall, we enjoyed our experience. We will probably be back.
First timer! Late weekend lunch and had no wait. Lots of parking in the plaza. Cozy and clean restaurant. (FYI they do not have a restroom). The woman who served us was very welcoming, friendly, and attentive. The menu isn't overwhelming. Prices are reasonable. Food came out fast and beautifully plated. All three plates we ordered were DELICIOUS. - The pad see ew tasted very authentic. - The pork jowl bowl was refreshing and we liked how the purple rice was broken rather than traditionally sticky. - The chive cakes were crunchy and unique. The sauce was yummy too. Lovely experience. We will definitely be back! Can't wait to try other dishes.
Our food was delicious. This is a very small casual restaurant and a shopping center in Lake Forest. Our service has been lovely. The menu Included vegan and vegetarian options as well as items for every pallet. I opted for the pad Thai with egg . It was delicious.. The sauce was amazing. The noodles were delicious. The presentation was beautiful. The chicken dish was moist, juicy with beautiful aroma and nice spices. We were very pleased and happy. The chive cake is outstanding.
The food here is really good. The portions are on the smaller side but flavor is there. The tofu is crisp and firm that's a plus! Price is about same as other Thai places around. I go here because they are on the Lake Forest gift card program. The service is always good - we have visited in person once and ordered to go once. Ladies very kind and friendly. Located in the plaza near Jack n the box. The restaurant is small but clean and bright.
Found this cozy lttle gem in Lake Forest and had a great experience. The space is nice and the server was incredibly friendly from the moment i walked in. I ordered the papaya salad, it was refreshing and crunchy. I then ordered the chicken satay and they came with a delicious peanut sauce and a tiny cucumber salad. I wish the cucumber had a more acidic vinaigrette, but the dish was still good. This was a nice spot for a quiet lunch.
Cute, kind of hidden Thai place in Lake Forest. I believe it was the owner (very friendly) who was helping pack our takeout order. Really liked their basil wagyu rice. Other dishes I tried, like the pad thai and panang curry were very much on the sweet end of the flavor spectrum. The food is good, though the portion sizes are on the smaller side.
2nd visits in three days; this day I had pork Jowl and steamed chicken in mind, did not disappoint first visit, I went by instinct, had grilled shrimp dish and Pork Jowl appetizer, so delightful, hence 2nd visit. Today, I expanded and included my favorite dessert- mangoes sticky rice; very good, the way I like it. Third visit, I shall invite one of the local friends to join me.
We are back! Restaurant is very cozy and quaint. Staff was very attentive and friendly. Restaurant was quite busy this time around. We ordered: 1. Coconut soup (Tom Kha) with Rice (mild): excellent 2. Basil Wagyu (mild): delicious 3. Sen-Jan Pad Thai: consistently excellent 4. Sweet sticky rice with mango: consistently excellent TLDR: Exemplary Thai food, great restaurant, great value. Would recommend! read more
4 months ago
This is a small shop, but it feels very clean and welcoming, and the owner seemed genuinely kind. We ordered takeout and got the beef shank panaeng curry with roti and the chicken pad see ew. Both dishes were delicious. The curry was rich and flavorful, and the beef was stewed beautifully until tender. The roti was a little on the greasy side, but still enjoyable. The pad see ew was especially good and very satisfying. One thing to note: even the mild spice level had a noticeable kick in both dishes, so keep that in mind if you are sensitive to spice. Overall, a really solid Thai spot that I would happily return to. read more
6 months ago
Very clean and cute little spot. The food was very good and flavorful. The pork jowl was good, and it is just a preference, but I thought the sauce had too much fish sauce. They also use smaller noodles for the pad Thai, so that wasn't my preference. I have to go back to try their Pad See Ew. We went during lunch time, and she was taking care of all the tables extremely well too! read more
3 months ago
I have always seen this place but finally decided to give it a try. I did not know what to order, so I just got the steamed chicken n rice togo. I would say it was pretty decent for the price! The chicken was super moist and the garlic rice went well with it. I did try the thai tea but the flavor was a bit off to me. It tasted slightly burnt and was not sweet enough. Overall, I feel like this is a solid spot to go to for Thai food in the area and will most likely come back to try something else! read more
Great authentic Thai restaurant with some unique dishes! Stopped here for lunch with some friends. Quaint dining area that's well lit with a good amount of seating. Service was quick and friendly. We had a couple appetizers like their pork jowl and the wagyu roti mataba. They were both delicious, perfect bites before the meal. For the main course we all got the basil wagyu. It's a plate of minced wagyu beef with green beans and basil leaves, topped with a fried egg. I opted for a salad instead of the rice but it usually comes with jasmine rice. You can choose your level of spicy, I got medium. It also has a small sauce on the side that was quite spicy and tart. The meal was a perfect lunch, not too filling but enough to get full. I'll be back to try more! read more
This is probably one of the cheaper Thai places I've eaten at but still has great flavor and execution. They have a good selection of food on their menu but I went pretty basic with pad see ew. This was cheaper than all of the places I've been to in the last year, but was still very delicious and fills you up pretty decently. We also got the plern signature pork jowl which was juicy with a nice char taste, but the star of that dish was the accompanied sauce which just went well with everything. We'll have to come back and try some more stuff. All of the workers were also very friendly. Only downside is they don't seem to have public bathrooms. read more
A delicious hole in the wall Thai restaurant in Lake Forest Towne Center. Don't be fooled by this little place as it packs a good variety of flavors and unique dishes. For starters I tried their Wagyu Roti Mataba which was ground beef wrapped in their Roti like a samosa. The roti was just so perfectly cooked and delicious that it added a very nice texture to every bite and made for a great starter. For the main entrees I ordered the Pad See Ew, the Basil Wagyu and the Beef Shanks Panang Stew. A variety to keep the flavors coming. The Pad See Ew was nice and chewy as it should be and the flavors were very well balanced with the sweet, spicy and savory. I really enjoyed their Panang curry as it had a nice sweetness and finish with the dense Panang curry flavors. It comes with some rotis on the side for you to scoop up any of the left over curry. Lastly the Basil Wagyu was ground beef with egg and rice along with all the mixed flavors. All of their food was very good and genuinely enjoyed the experience which makes this a must try for all Thai food lovers. It seems like a family run business and everyone here serves with a smile. read more
4 months ago
This a quaint little place in a tiny shopping centre. You kinda have to know it's there. There were loads of people there on a Friday night which was good. There was only one server but she was pretty quick. She was very friendly. We got a yellow curry and pad Thai with2 Thai teas. The pad Thai was really good but it had a ton of bean sprouts. The yellow curry was good but the rice wasn't great. The rice was kind dry and a little crunchy, almost like it was at the bottom of the rice cooker. The Thai teas were just ok. They weren't my favourite. It didn't have a strong tea flavour. Overall, we enjoyed our experience. We will probably be back. read more
First timer! Late weekend lunch and had no wait. Lots of parking in the plaza. Cozy and clean restaurant. (FYI they do not have a restroom). The woman who served us was very welcoming, friendly, and attentive. The menu isn't overwhelming. Prices are reasonable. Food came out fast and beautifully plated. All three plates we ordered were DELICIOUS. - The pad see ew tasted very authentic. - The pork jowl bowl was refreshing and we liked how the purple rice was broken rather than traditionally sticky. - The chive cakes were crunchy and unique. The sauce was yummy too. Lovely experience. We will definitely be back! Can't wait to try other dishes. read more
Our food was delicious. This is a very small casual restaurant and a shopping center in Lake Forest. Our service has been lovely. The menu Included vegan and vegetarian options as well as items for every pallet. I opted for the pad Thai with egg . It was delicious.. The sauce was amazing. The noodles were delicious. The presentation was beautiful. The chicken dish was moist, juicy with beautiful aroma and nice spices. We were very pleased and happy. The chive cake is outstanding. read more
9 months ago
The food here is really good. The portions are on the smaller side but flavor is there. The tofu is crisp and firm that's a plus! Price is about same as other Thai places around. I go here because they are on the Lake Forest gift card program. The service is always good - we have visited in person once and ordered to go once. Ladies very kind and friendly. Located in the plaza near Jack n the box. The restaurant is small but clean and bright. read more
Found this cozy lttle gem in Lake Forest and had a great experience. The space is nice and the server was incredibly friendly from the moment i walked in. I ordered the papaya salad, it was refreshing and crunchy. I then ordered the chicken satay and they came with a delicious peanut sauce and a tiny cucumber salad. I wish the cucumber had a more acidic vinaigrette, but the dish was still good. This was a nice spot for a quiet lunch. read more
5 months ago
Cute, kind of hidden Thai place in Lake Forest. I believe it was the owner (very friendly) who was helping pack our takeout order. Really liked their basil wagyu rice. Other dishes I tried, like the pad thai and panang curry were very much on the sweet end of the flavor spectrum. The food is good, though the portion sizes are on the smaller side. read more
3 months ago
2nd visits in three days; this day I had pork Jowl and steamed chicken in mind, did not disappoint first visit, I went by instinct, had grilled shrimp dish and Pork Jowl appetizer, so delightful, hence 2nd visit. Today, I expanded and included my favorite dessert- mangoes sticky rice; very good, the way I like it. Third visit, I shall invite one of the local friends to join me. read more
Been here twice now. Nice little Thai Cafe. I like the steamed chicken and rice but wish it came with more chicken. Portions are smaller/prices higher than average Thai restaurant so its not my first choice with so many Thai restaurants around. But the service is friendly. Note: there is no restroom so you will have to search nearby restaurants which is a big inconvenience. read more
Michelin quality restaurant in Lake Forest, California. #PlernThaiCafe is a popular Thai restaurant known for its authentic and flavorful #Thai and #Asian #comfortfood, often with unique twists from the chef. They offer vegetarian and vegan options, small plates, and wine. It is known for its quality ingredients and affordability. I love their Wagyu basil stir-fry, crispy pork Brussels sprouts, and authentic Thai teas. Other standout, authentic dishes including the pork chow with purple rice, steamed chicken with rice and wagyu curry. Many dishes are under $20 making it a local favorite for both dine in and takeout. read more
4 months ago
I worked in Bangkok for 5 years so I'm always on the lookout for great Thai food. And the Thai food here is very good. My mother ordered the Sen-Jai Pad Thai with shrimp and I ordered the Kaeng Ka-ri, Yellow Curry (which had potatoes, chicken, carrots and onions). When I was asked the spice level, I asked the owner to make it the same level as if I were in Thailand. My Yellow Curry was delicious and hot with the right use of spices, creating a layered taste. (My only nit with my dish is I thought the chicken was on the dry, somewhat tough side.) My mother's Pad Thai was excellent --- light with super fresh shrimp. Both dishes were generous portions for a reasonable price. The ambiance of the restaurant was light and bright, with a yellow wall with artwork of trishaws and the other wall a muted grey. The owner who served us was very friendly and made us feel welcome. I'd like to try their other dishes. read more
1 month ago
10 months ago
Delicious, we love everything we order, keep in mind that the coconut soup was very simple but actually taste delicious, place is small very small, their taste is good, also the servers were very friendly, price was also ok to us for the delicious meal. but something we didn't like or approved is that they don't have a public restroom, that's not good. read more
1 month ago
5 months ago
A very satisfying meal . I ordered the ground beef with basil and fried egg on top of the rice.it was satisfying. Spicy can be adjusted from spicy to no spice at all. I chose the latter and it was perfect. The only thing i can say is, beef was a little dry but because of the sauce it compensate it. I received my order still HOT which means they cook to order which is a plus on my book. Yes, I will patronize this restaurant again and will try their other dishes soon. Oh , I have this to-go. read more
Probably some of the best Thai food in South County. Been eating their food for years now. My favorite dishes are the tofu pad see ewe noodles, fried chicken with rice, and shrimp green curry. I love all their Thai condiments they have which enhances the flavors. The food tastes authentic and very flavorful, not overly sweet like Hanuman Thai (which I feel the food at Hanuman is way too sugary and Americanized flavors.). The ingredients are fresh and authentic. The service has always been prompt and friendly. The ambiance is casual but it's clean and cool. Highly recommended this awesome gem! read more
If you want the best crispy fried chicken ever... you NEED to come here. Crispy Fried Chicken: GET THIS!! The most deliciously crispy, juicy, and mouth watering chicken you will ever eat. Paired with the sauce, I don't think it can get any better. I don't even live near here and I come back just for this. The other items were tasty and seasoned well but the fried chicken just stole the show for me. The service was very friendly and accommodating. And for dinner time, we were almost the only ones in the restaurant. For how good the food was, this place needs to be put on the radar! Food: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Atmosphere: 6/10 Value: 7/10 read more
This highly-rated Thai restaurant has long been on my list of places to check out; perhaps I postponed visiting (with less-open-minded hubby) due to some menu items being very different from those at other typical Thai restaurants we'd visited to date. Visiting with fellow foodies, we were eager to taste a variety (would've ordered more had we had more room in our bellies)! With some helpful input from our sweet-&-patient server, Pat, we ordered the following: Hot Tea, $3 (served loose leaf, in a cute, bulbous tea pot -- with appreciated refills of hot water); Starters: Crispy Chive Cake, $8.95 -- tender and tasty, with a hint of spiciness; Curries: Beef Shanks Panaeng Stew (smooth and savory), which comes with choice of Jasmine rice or (so glad we chose) Rotee -- a deliciously addictive buttery flatbread, $19.95 (I discovered that I LOVE this!). Plates: Crispy Pork Brussel Sprouts (served with Jasmine rice), $17.95; Pad See Ew, $14.95 (with Shrimp + $3) -- flavorful wide rice noodle with plump shrimp (disappointingly, I accidentally deleted my photo). The portions were satisfying and sufficient but are smaller servings than other restaurants of the same cuisine; attractive presentation -- including chilies being served in small stainless steel dipping cups (vs. the variety of chilies in condiment containers with small serving spoons that we've been served elsewhere). The interior is small, simple yet stylish in design, clean (with hand sanitizer on every table), and comfortable. Service was wonderful from start to finish: extremely welcoming and friendly, approachable, helpful, attentive, and professional. Heads-up: no restrooms within the restaurant. Eager to return to experience more of their menu items... very soon! Update: I've returned a few times since my initial visit; I'm pleased to report that hubby very much enjoys this place, too!! read more
2 months ago
30 days ago
3 months ago
The Lake Forest GC brought me here. (For those not in the know - google it!) It's tucked away in the corner of a plaza. Very small space inside, but it was packed on Saturday afternoon when I went. I ordered for to go. I love rice noodles, so I had to go with my usual Thai restaurant order Pad Kee Mao with chicken. I asked for medium spicy. Sadly, it was not spicy at all and the portion was not as big as other places. Still - a decent option in Lake Forest and would consider coming again to try something else, in case they had an off day! read more
4 months ago
Plern consistently amazes me with their delicious menu items. I started coming here 3 years ago and I will keep coming back! They've added new items onto their menu and everything is so tasty and delish. For all of their items, you can opt from no spice all the way up to spicy. Recently I went outside of my comfort zone and tried their Crispy Pork Brussels Sprout - omg. It was sooo good. My usuals are the Crispy Chicken Rice and The Basil Wagyu. The ladies who work there are always super nice and are constantly refilling your waters. They offer takeout so if you're tight on time, maybe order for pickup. During peek lunch hours, they do get packed so I always try to go early with my co workers- like around 11:30am. This restaurant is authentic Thai cuisine and it's unlike any Thai food I've ever had before. If you like Thai food, be sure to check this place out! read more
6 months ago
This was so so amazing the first time we had it. Here is the 2nd time - and it's not cheap at $90 for 2. Whoever was cooking last night (1/2/26) at around 7 pm this was completely OFF. Not like Plern at all, they have amazing food. I'm not trying to harm with this review, only help. Sorry this was super off and not at all aligned with your amazing brand. read more
9 months ago
Had lunch with the family today at Plern Thai cafe. Everything is very authentic and delicious. Service by chef Nina and her staff are quick and friendly. It's a small and clean restaurant. We will come back soon! read more
The service was fast and server was friendly. Unfortunately we did not like the food - we went for the protein and veggie plate in hopes of a more healthy meal but there was way too much dressing on salad and the dressing was too vinegary. The steak plate was mostly arugula and meat was chewy - it did not feel like a balanced meal. The vegetarian appetizer was mostly starch - I wish it came with some herbs and improved dressing to balance it out. It is possible we ordered the wrong things on the menu. I cant recommend it yet it seems other yelp reviewers have enjoyed other menu items. read more
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More info about Plern Thai Cafe
22611 Lake Forest Dr
Ste C6
Lake Forest, CA 92630
Directions
(949) 989-4566
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https://plernthaicafe.com
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Ask the Community - Plern Thai Cafe
Can they make dishes vegetarian? Can they use Tofu?
Yes, there are some dishes they can but some not.
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19 reviews that are not currently recommended
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