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Sala Thai

4.1 (530 reviews)
ModerateThai, Noodles, Soup
Closed • 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:30 PM
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Order Sala Thai Takeout or Delivery

Sala Thai Photos

Business Info

SALA THAI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Sala Thai

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Beef pho
Namtan A.

I'm visiting from San Francisco and was craving a warm bowl of noodles, so I decided to stop by. It's a Thai restaurant, but they also serve pho. Overall, the flavor was pretty good, and the sliced beef was tender. The stewed beef was a little chewy, and the noodles were slightly undercooked for my preference. Still, it was nice to have a comforting bowl of Asian food while traveling. The staff were friendly and the overall experience was pleasant.

Thai tea with coconut milk
Christine J.

Came to Sala Thai on a Friday night around 8:30pm. It was a short walk to the restaurant from the hotel. We were seated right away at a booth. Loved the decorations inside, especially the cute flower lamp shades hanging above seats. Order the Thai Ice Tea and if you don't like half & half like I do, they have coconut milk as an option! We ordered a large Tom Kha with mixed veggies + a side of rice. We got extra mushrooms which is our favorite! would definitely come back if I was craving Thai Food and needed a place for a quick dinner while visiting Santa Cruz.

Tom Yum
Kayson T.

My friend is vegetarian and there were many vegetarian options available here! The food was surprisingly QUITE good (dare I say... best Thai food in the area), coming from someone from LA. Flavor were strong and as a meat lover, I still loved all the vegetarian options they had. Interior is also beautiful and super cozy. Service was very friendly too. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend a visit if you're looking for Thai food!

Peanut Dish
Lilith F.

A really cute, reliable local thai spot. This place is an absolute go to in Santa cruz. Their pumpkin curry is amazing, they have a solid collection of stir fry noodle options, mango sticky rice, and even pho. The inside decor is super cute too, with a faux thai roof overhanging part of the seating. Service is always efficient and friendly. Word to the wise: If you get the Papaya Salad, get it with no spice at all! I am a person who can handle spice, even visiting Thailand I got really spicy dishes and enjoyed them, but the medium spicy on the papaya salad was really overpowering, leaning to unpleasant. All in all, absolutely recommend as a date spot with with some XL singhas!

Family style- Pineapple Fried Rice, Tom Yum (Pot), Pad See-Ew, Pad Thai Noodles, Yellow Curry, Papaya Salad
Liann A.

Ordered via DoorDash while staying in Santa Cruz for bachelorette. We under estimated the spice when people wanted medium, I probably should have ordered some mild items. But everything was SO good! We got papaya salad, to yum with prawns, pad se ew with beef, pad Thai with seafood, yellow curry with chicken, pineapple fried rice with mixed vegetables, and a jasmine rice to eat with the curry. We devoured it, our order came fresh, quickly and hot. The flavor was there and pretty authentic. Service was quick as we ordered via DoorDash and it came timely.

"Tom yum"

Everything was terrible. Spring rolls were just flour and water tiny bits of cabbage and carrot. Tom yum was disgusting-not tom yum by any means

The best papaya salad
Vicky C.

Great Thai restaurant with delicious food, a lovely atmosphere, and excellent service!

Pad Kee-Mao with Chicken
Austin S.

Sala Thai was fantastic to dine at! The pad kee mao had the perfect amount of heat and the vegetables in it were very nicely cooked. Highly recommend.

Pad See-Ew Papaya Salad
Serena N.

Loved the ambiance! We got the Pad See-Ew and Papaya Salad and both were delicious :)

Red curry, drunken noodles, iced tea and vegetarian chow noodles
Simran K.

We had a great experience here! As vegetarians, we were happy to find plenty of delicious vegetarian options on the menu. The food was fresh and flavorful, and our server was friendly, attentive, and provided excellent service. We'll definitely be back!

Pad Thai Prawns
Sabrina N.

So good! I ordered the pad Thai with prawns it was delicious. The crab ragoons are so good as well, nice and crispy and a good size. Tried some pangang with salmon curry that was also delicious with the perfect amount of spice. Totally coming back again!

Panang Curry with chicken
Annie T.

Mmmmm mmmmmm good! I mean, mm mm GREAT! I've gotten takeout from Sala Thai numerous times with my teen and adult kids who also love Thai food. And today, we dined in, and we were happily rejoicing in the warm customer service (ie, quick seating, prompt ordering, water refilling, table checking). No one seemed rushed and everyone was courteous, even though there was a CONSTANT STREAM OF CUSTOMERS on a Sunday night, all the way til a few minutes before closing. I was astonished how busy they were, when other food establishments will show a trickle of fewer customers as it gets closer to closing time or close their kitchen an hour early. Not Sala Thai. It was clear people in Santa Cruz County and the vicinity know how good the food is here, like we do! Check out my photos! If only you can taste what we tasted. Our tummies were soooo happy! We hope Sala will stay here for a long time and never change their menu or way of doing business. In terms of ambiance, Sala is more of a cozy, warmly decorated restaurant than a fancy, overly-ornate Thai place like some I've seen. I appreciate the high ceiling and wood beams. The multiple items hanging off the ceiling makes the venue feel like a Thai restaurant in Santa Cruz... which it is. Haha. So it is perfect.

Matt V.

Had a great experience here! Our waiter was super friendly and helpful, making the whole visit feel welcoming from start to finish. The decor is absolutely beautiful--every detail is thoughtfully designed, even up to the intricate ceiling work. Food-wise, the Pad See Ew was delicious. The noodles were perfectly cooked, still had a nice chew while being tender and soft. The meat was a bit on the tougher side, but the flavor made up for it. The roti was quite oily, but the thin, translucent layers gave it that satisfying, flaky texture you want. If you're into heat, be sure to ask for it spicier..this isn't traditional Thai spice level by default, but they can turn it up if you're up for the challenge.

Panang Salmon Curry

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1 month ago

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1 month ago

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28 days ago

Food is good, but inconsistent with flavor. The fried rice and soup is Amazing. The quantity is pretty good as well

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3 months ago

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6 months ago

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3 days ago

Very good, very delicious, cheap, good taste, very good service attitude. I highly recommend you to try it. It has a Thai flavour.

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4 months ago

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28 days ago

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5 months ago

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2 months ago

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3 months ago

Love the papaya salad, they had quick service here. The interior of the restaurant was welcoming

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2 months ago

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6 months ago

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5 months ago

Love the green house feeling at this place. Good food and service... wish they had boba in Thai tea though.

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6 months ago

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24 days ago

Food is always great here. Very good service every time I come and we really like the atmosphere.

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4 months ago

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3 months ago

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Betty Noodles

Betty Noodles

3.7(190 reviews)
0.4 mi
•$$
Locally owned & operated
Established in 2012

My wife and I have been coming here for awhile. Betty Noodle has its pros and cons. I tend to order…read morethe curry noodle dish, which is amazing, salt n pepper wings are fire. But the soup dumplings stuck to the paper n you lost all the juice and the service is alright... I left I had to flag our server down for everything including to pay. The food and service could be a bit better, but we know what we're getting into when stopping by. Oh and If you're picky about water mark utensils and cups... just expect it might look a bit dirty which is why I use chopsticks and order a canned drink.

We love Betty noodles! They are reasonably priced and delicious! A nice selection of Chinese soups…read moreand dishes keeps us coming back! Some highlights are the schezwan fried tofu, so good! Wok fried tofu triangles are slightly firmer on the outside and softer on the inside, but they hold the consistency drenched is a hot chili oil and onion sauce. The Ma Po tofu chicken dumplings are super tasty. The dumplings are nicely cooked pot sticker style and covered in Ma Po tofu. They are a real treat. Betty's super soup is a must try. A flavorful broth and a nice variety of toppings make this a hearty meal. The super noodle soup also has noodles making it even more filling if that's what you are feeling. Besides tasty food they have an interesting selection of alcoholic (and not) drinks like sakes, soju, and Japanese craft beers! Definitely check these guys out! And look for Simon on the big screen!

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Betty Noodles
Betty Noodles
Betty Noodles

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Fusion Fare Restaurant - Braised Favabean Fish

Fusion Fare Restaurant

4.5(117 reviews)
0.5 mi
•$$

Hands down the best restaurant in Santa Cruz, imo. The chef is outstanding. Every thing I've had…read morehas been delicious. Lots of unique dishes. I love the stir-fried eggplant, the tofu rainbow salad, all the noodles, the yu choy, red oil dumplings, salted egg fried rice, and the crispy chicken. They also offer a tasty, complimentary soup while you wait. If you want to try the stir-fried eggplant, I'd recommend you eat at the restaurant. It has a light crispy exterior and in the takeout container it'll steam up and lose some of the crunch. Not the end of the world, but the crisp texture is something special. The interior and set-up is simple and casual. You order at the counter and they bring the food to the table. It is self-service on the water and the free soup. All the people that work here are super nice. Every time I eat here, I'm already looking forward to what I'm going to try next time lol Everyone I know who's eaten here has come back multiple times. It's that good!

Fusion Faire is our go-to whenever we drive down from San Jose to Santa Cruz. My husband and I have…read morebeen so many times we've lost count, and we always bring friends and family along too. As someone with both gluten and dairy restrictions, I usually have to avoid Asian cuisine altogether, but this place is the exception. Every single visit I leave completely satisfied. The menu has a wide range of options, and our favorites are the Chongqing chicken, salted egg yolk tofu, and coconut curry chicken. If you catch the sesame balls fresh out of the fryer, order them immediately. They are to die for. What really sets this place apart is the free vegan and gluten free soup they offer. With my allergies, that kind of thoughtful accommodation is rare, and it means a lot. Service is consistently great, and it's clear the staff cares. We always make a point to say hi to the chef on our way out. It's no surprise the place is always busy, and I love that they stay open late for the college crowd. Five stars, easily. If you're in Santa Cruz, this is a must-visit.

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Fusion Fare Restaurant - Spare Rib Rice Cake Stew

Spare Rib Rice Cake Stew

Fusion Fare Restaurant - Braised Herb Duck

Braised Herb Duck

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Sala Thai - thai - Updated October 2026

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