1. Sala Thai

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Santa Cruz, CA

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Sala Thai

4.1 (532 reviews)
ModerateThai, Noodles, Soup
Closed • 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Order Sala Thai Takeout or Delivery

Sala Thai Photos

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SALA THAI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
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 :)

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.

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!

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.

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2 months ago

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2 months 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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2 months ago

The ambiance is very nice! The food was alright honestly not the best but the service was nice as the staff is very sweet and attentive.

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3 months ago

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6 months ago

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5 months ago

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10 days ago

Amazing service and amazing food as always! Has the coolest ambiance too. I always order the Pad see ew and it is soooo delicious!

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6 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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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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Betty Noodles

Betty Noodles

3.7(192 reviews)
0.4 mi
•$$
Locally owned & operated
Established in 2012

I stumbled in here for a quick simple meal. Ambiance is casual. Interior is nice but vibe wasn't…read moresuper welcoming or warm. They were kind enough bit I felt a bit rushed. Rushed to sit and to decide and order. They were very accommodating of requests. The miso tofu soup of the side menu is delicious. My favorite. The side of noodles is great. I didn't care for the veggie dumpling or the cucumber salad. They had a flavorful profile and texture thatI found off putting. The salad was generously portioned but too spicy and saucy. I would definitely recommend the soups and appreciate that they can make them not spicy. The bathroom is for custumers only. There was an unpleasant sewer odor as soon as I approached it. I'll give a 4 for overall food quality, especially as the entree soups and rice dishes looked great, though more like a 3 for atmosphere and ambiance especially since no one checked on dissatisfied once items were dropped off. I did have to hop up myself to grab extra napkins. Staff were very causal in their pajamas and one person was sleeping in the side room.

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.

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Betty Noodles
Betty Noodles
Betty Noodles

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Bad Animal - Smashed cucumbers

Bad Animal

4.3(187 reviews)
0.5 mi
•$$$

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a phenomenal experience. Made a reservation for…read moredinner and my table was readyd upon arrival. Parking is available in the paid garage right across the street. Street parking was also available at $2.25/hour coins only (no credit cards). Bad Animal is located inside a used book store. The restaurant featured a bar, open kitchen, along with a dining room facing the bookstore. Service by the staff throughout the evening was fantastic! Started off with the artichoke and maitake crostini and it looked fantastic. The crostini wasn't super fresh and wasn't warm. I've had better crostinis in Paris. I do love the European portions at this restaurant so I can try more dishes! Moved on to the corn that the waitress highly suggested and it was very fragrant and tasty. Opted for the miso cod and it was excellent. This was served over a bed of rice which was decent. The rice was pretty fluffy and the miso glaze over the cod was a touch on the stronger side. The cod was cooked to perfection. Loved the side of cucumbers! Ended off the meal with the chocolate mousse which had a fantastic layer over foam and strawberries on top. Loved how it wasn't too sweet too! ~$90/head after tax and gratuity for dinner.

Such a cool and unique spot in Santa Cruz. The whole atmosphere is amazing -- having a restaurant…read moreand wine bar surrounded by books gives this place so much character and makes it feel completely different from anywhere else in the area. The food was great, the service was friendly, and you can tell a lot of thought goes into the menu and overall experience. I also loved being able to look around the bookstore before and after eating. It's the kind of place where you actually want to stay for a while instead of just eating and leaving. Definitely one of the most memorable places I've been to in Santa Cruz. Would absolutely come back. 5 stars!

Photos
Bad Animal - Main dining area

Main dining area

Bad Animal - Yellow curry with tofu

Yellow curry with tofu

Bad Animal - Books upon books!

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Books upon books!

El Chipotle Taqueria - Asada rice and beans wet burrito

El Chipotle Taqueria

4.2(60 reviews)
0.6 mi

Not a bad spot if you're looking for quick tacos or a solid burrito. When we walked in, the first…read morething we noticed was the bright, colorful walls and the big TV above the register. We were excited to see the World Cup playing, but wow, the volume was really loud. The staff was friendly and offered helpful recommendations, though it was a bit odd that they were eating at the register while we ordered. There are several tables inside, and the open doors let in a nice cool sea breeze. The food itself was decent. We ordered a regular pollo burrito, and while we were excited about the tomatillo sauce, there wasn't much of it to taste. We also expected refried beans instead of whole pinto beans. Still, the burrito was good overall. The street tacos were better, the carnitas were flavorful, and the salsas added a nice kick. The rice and beans on the plate were solid, and we appreciated the free chips and salsa bar, even though the labels were mismatched and made it hard to tell which salsa was which. The chavela was a good drink. They forgot the shrimp on the rim at first, but eventually brought them out.

It was a small restaurant with a few chairs and tables. It's not your traditional table where you…read morewill order food at the table. There was a kiosk you would order food from pay and then sit down and wait for your food. We ordered flautas, pupusa and a few other items. The Falta was by for my favorite items since it had rice and beans and the sour cream and avocado the pupusa's was great with their pickled cabbage and I do recommend trying both items. The kids ordered hamburgers, which was just a basic hamburger and it tasted great because the kids ate all of it. My sister-in-law ordered a taco salad. The bowl was huge filled with meat and veggies. I recommend this place as they are friendly and fast and best part is is next to the beach.

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El Chipotle Taqueria - Inside

Inside

El Chipotle Taqueria - Wet Regular Burrito

Wet Regular Burrito

El Chipotle Taqueria - Mexican Glass Bottle Coke

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Mexican Glass Bottle Coke

Real Thai Kitchen - 27. Seafood Combination Tom Kha Soup

Real Thai Kitchen

3.9(602 reviews)
0.6 mi
•$$

Shouts out to Ratana Bowden, the owner such a sweet and hospitable young lady! She greeted me and…read moremy daughter with open arms. She sat down with us and talked me through some of their specials and about the restaurants history, we happened to stop by on their 14th anniversary! The ambiance is homey, warm and a perfect spot to sit down and dine. Now on to the food, we started with the shrimp rolls and the chicken potstickers. They both held a crispy exterior and a juicy interior and paired well with the sweet chili and soy vinaigrette sauce respectfully and washed that all down with a cold creamy and refreshing Thai iced tea. We then were presented the Grilled Beef salad which was my personal favorite, the beef was seared to perfection, tender and the citrusy, sweet vinaigrette it was tossed in along side the vegetables and herbs gave my tastebuds a memorable experience. The next up the old fashioned Pad Thai, now my ONLY gripe with Pad Thai Is how sweet it can be, what I learned today is the OLD FASHION way is the same ingredients minus the sweetness....ill never order pad Thai the same. It's exactly what my taste buds crave when thinking pad thai...top tier! The Chicken Satay was the perfect combination of smoky and juicy and paired well with the peanut sauce. The tangerine chicken was juicy, tender, crispy and tossed with the sauce that was bright, tangy, sweet with the perfect amount of sour. Whole meal and experience was a 100/10. If you're in the Santa Cruz area and looking for a good sit down home style meal different from the carnival food stop by here! It's a 10 minute drive from the boardwalk.

Do not go here. Full stop…read more We entered the empty restaurant as a party of 10. 10 minutes after ordering, one curry dish was delivered. After 30 minutes, nothing else came out. We noticed: -Tables were seated after us and had food delivered while we waited. - Kitchen was processing to go orders ahead of ours - Server ignored or lost track of water for our 3 toddlers. We finally asked them what was going on and our server said we were already served and thought we left! Eventually we had to camp out by the kitchen to remind them we hadn't been served, at which food started getting delivered. At the end, they tacked on a forced 20% tip. When we complained, they said they would not reverse the gratuity! Food was passable, but not worth this experience. Absolutely do not give business to this horrible, greedy place.

Photos
Real Thai Kitchen - Pad 66. Phad See Ew 8. Crab Rangoon 19. Trout In the Jungle Kao Soi

Pad 66. Phad See Ew 8. Crab Rangoon 19. Trout In the Jungle Kao Soi

Real Thai Kitchen - 63. Old Fashioned Phad Thai

63. Old Fashioned Phad Thai

Real Thai Kitchen - Exterior

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Exterior

Sala Thai - thai - Updated October 2026

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