Continues to be one of the best Thai restaurants in Pittsburgh. We generally stick to take-out, but the restaurant now claims to be open for dining in. There was some construction going on when we picked up or order, so maybe call ahead to get up to date status. Street parking nearby is fairly easy. The online ordering experience is very easy. The food is nicely packaged and extremely well labeled to identify exactly what's in each container. In terms of the food itself, the level of flavor in just about everything is phenomenal. We have ordered items at a spice level ranging from 5 to 8 on a scale of 10. That feels like a good range, depending on the item. Sometimes a tom yum soup needs to be a 5 and a curry feels right at around 7 or 8. The som tom salad and tom yum soup were both extremely flavorful. The fresh rolls with shrimp were somewhat lacking and have generally been better in the past. The stir fries and curries were fantastic. I particularly enjoyed the garlic stir fry and red curry for our latest order. All told, this is an excellent destination. They consistently serve up excellent Thai food, and the restaurant staff all seem very committed to the goal. This is exactly the kind of destination that I like to support. read more

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Takeout from here is always pretty solid, they definitely run spicier than other Thai spots in the city so make sure you can handle it! Their Kao Soi is quite thick, more curry noodle than noodle soup which is my personal preference. But, I loved how much vegetable and flavor t had, only wish it had more onion and other toppings. Overall you can't go wrong with any of the dishes here, and I would definitely pick the stir fried noodles as must tries! read more

Everyone should check out this Thai spot in Pittsburgh! It's definitely top 3 thai places in the city. The food was truly amazing! Very flavorful and very fresh. They also give you a very large portion and everything is reasonably priced. My friend and I got Pad Kee Mao, Pad See Ew, and crispy taro spring rolls (the spring rolls did not hit the spot and probably wouldn't get them again though). They have a very extensive menu, and they do a very good job at informing what is vegan and what is not due to the fish sauce. The food also came out very quickly! The only couple of things is that there are only 3 tables to sit and you are sitting near kitchen appliances. The space inside shrunk from before covid. There is not much space, be aware of this! I know a lot of people order take out from here. The service was alright, nothing bad but nothing special. if you get soda, it'll come in a can, so no refills. read more

found this restaurant through Uber Eats and sent it as a Mother's Day gift to my grandma. The food was magnificent and the presentation was delightful. Reasonably priced and food was very authentic. Portions were superb. Highly recommend 10 out of 10. read more

I've walked past Smiling Banana Lead multiple times. Finally decided to order Mango sticky rice as a sweet treat to go. I will say, I was a little discourage when I got home due to the coloring of the rice which is typically white, it was a grayish color. I ended up driving back and asking if this was normal. One of the cooks, kindly explained that there's a certain flower that's added into it as an ingredient. I will say that eased my mind and I did take it back home and enjoyed it. However the portion size was a little small compared to what I'm use to getting at other restaurants. But I will return again to try other items. There's a few tables inside and outside if you wanted to eat there. read more

I frequently get takeout chicken pad thai and they never disappoint. I recommend getting a side of peanut sauce and pouring/mixing it into the noddles, it is amazing. They take their spicy level seriously, I consider myself pretty spice tolerant and 7/10 spicy is my limit to still enjoy my food and not be overwhelmed by spice! I want to try more items from the menu but love the pad thai too much! read more

I've been coming here for six years and was loyal as I thought it had the best Thai food. I ordered the same thing that I always get. I get home and the container is half empty. I called them to ask what happened and they tell me they started using larger containers..... I've been getting Thai food for a very long time and specifically from this restaurant for six years. It is the same exact container that they've always used and that most Thai restaurants use to which they said we have new owners...cheating Someone out of what they paid for is absolutely unacceptable. read more

Smiling Banana Leaf - Half an order of pad see ew - Thai Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ordered from them for many years. Loved them for a long time. That is why my last order was so disappointing. I know margins are thin, but I really hope that this doesn't point to a change in quality. I hardly got any food in my basil noodles container and it was very very salty. The container is usually full to the top but it was only just over half full. The pork spring rolls were crispy on the outside, but mushy in the middle. Please fix this. I'd hate to see a place I love sink in quality. read more

Smiling Banana Leaf is a solid gem in the Highland Park area and easily in my top five local Thai spots! I've ordered from here multiple times, both for pickup and delivery via UberEats, and it consistently delivers on flavor and quality. While I live about 30 minutes away, I don't mind the wait--though delivery typically takes about an hour. That said, the food always arrives warm and well-packed, which I appreciate. My usual go-to dishes are the Pad Thai with chicken (zero spice level) and the Mango Tilapia dish served on a bed of mango and veggie slices. Both are delicious and hit the spot every time. The Pad Thai has a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, while the tilapia dish is a standout with its crispy texture and fresh, tangy mango complement. read more

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My friend and I stopped in for an early Sunday dinner after a long walk around Highland Park and enjoyed pork shumai, chicken pad thai, and tofu pad see ew. The portions were beyond generous, and there were so many options to choose from across the menu. The indoor seating area is much smaller than I remember, with maybe 3 total tables currently available. They seem to do a high volume of take out orders, however this did not impact the quality of our service and/or food. I'll be back! read more

Smiling Banana Leaf - Thai Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Went here at the recommendation of a friend. My boyfriend literally had a fork in the plate and the guy asked if we were done. This was at 9:20, even though the place is open until ten (and we had been there maybe 30 minutes). Food was acceptable but not good. The crab Rangoon was still frozen inside. The curry flavor was ok, the noodles were decent. The service is terrible. read more

So upset that when I had it at the time it was takeout only. When trying new places I make sure to have it fresh. Well it was snowing and I made sure I was having it fresh. Ate it outside at the table and was beyond worth it. And no I wasn't going to my car. I WANT TO FULL EXPERIENCE AND SO SHOULD YOU. Phenomenal flavor, low cost, ready super fast and the man who checked us out was very polite Top 3 Thai spots in the city by far. Defo recommend it Get the Tom Kha. I can drink it by the gallon read more

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Solid Thai spot in Highland Park!! I've ordered takeout from here multiple times over the years, and my favorites are their lunch curry specials including their panaang, pumpkin, and pineapple curries. They consistently deliver on both flavor and quality with every meal. I usually order a spice level 1, which has a decent kick already. Highly recommend this shop if you're looking for takeout from a reliable Thai restaurant! read more

Now this place rocks! Quiet, out of the way. Primarily caters to take out but don't let that fool you; the food is top notch South Asian (sorry cannot be more specific. Vietnamese or Laotian?). Fresh Spring Rolls are refreshing and noodle dishes are to die for! Just like Mama used to make (if I had an Asian mom). He he. read more

In my opinion Smiling Banana Leaf is possibly the most legendary restaurant in all of pittsburgh. The food has been consistently excellent over the years I've been coming here and makes this place a staple in Highland Park. read more

Love smiling banana leaf great lunch special , super fast service food always hot and ready. their rice always have a great sort of Vegetables in the curry I wish they had the fish/chili oil sauce like nicky thai. very small don't think there's a place to sit and eat. read more

This was one of only a few restaurants open when I was looking for some takeout on Labor Day. While it is a bit out of the way for me to be a regular here, I was impressed by the quality of the food. I ordered the see ew chicken which was delicious, just the right amount of spice for me at a 4/10. I also ordered the fried dumplings appetizer which were great dipped in the included sauce. My wife ordered the mango tilapia and enjoyed it as well. We ordered to go, and it seemed like the inside seating was shut down anyway. They were very busy, probably because they were one of only a few places open on Labor Day. Despite being so busy, they gave us an accurate timeline for our food (45-50 minutes) and it was ready and fresh when I arrived to pick it up. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for takeout from a reliable neighborhood Thai restaurant. read more

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My favorite are the dumplings! The noodle soups are a great option on a cold day or when feeling under the weather.

Finally checking this place out. My friends have been raving about it. After trying their food, I find them underwhelming. Tried their spice level 8 out of 10. They do live up to their spice level. Ordered: 1) Pork Spring roll- Crispy skin and good flavor 2) Green curry with tofu - decent 3) Pineapple Fried rice - didn't taste much flavor except chili 4) Sago with black beans and coconut cream - expensive for a small portion For now, they do takeouts only but the do have some outdoor seating. read more

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I have never had food from here but today I ordered takeout and it was DELICIOUS! I got the pineapple fried rice and panang curry with both a level 4 spice. The fried rice was sweet and had dynamic flavor with fresh veggies and tasty rice. The panang was the perfect balance of spice and coconut cream. The peas were a nice change of pace which I'm not used to in my curry. Overall, I can't wait to go back and try more food from here. read more

Smiling Banana Leaf - Panang Curry - Thai Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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It was good but I've had better. The pad Thai was kind of dry. Compared to others I have tried. The fried rice was good. I also got the spicy green beans and that was good as well. They only have take out. They do have tables outside if you want to eat there. read more

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Excellent Thai food in the Highland Park area. I've heard great things about this spot and it definitely lived up to the hype! I ordered the Pad Thai with chicken, pork spring rolls, Thai custard with sticky rice, and Thai iced tea. Everything was (mostly) excellent. Oddly, the Pad Thai itself was not the greatest. I'd give it a 3.3-3.7/5. The portion was excellent. Bowl itself isn't big put they pack the noodles in there. A few vegetables, like green onions, are in there too. Fair amount of nuttiness and peanuts. My main issue? It is too dry. I like Pad Thai that is saucy and has an excellent quality sauce. Here, the noodles themselves are good, but the dish is still somewhat bland without the sauce. There's a fair amount of chicken and it was cooked well. Other than that, this place is basically flawless. Thai iced tea is sweet and a bit creamy, too. You can taste the original blend of tea as well as the condensed milk. The price of $3 is very fair. Pork spring rolls are insanely good! They taste a bit like pork dumplings/pelemeni stuffed inside a spring roll wrapper. Crunchy, meaty, and great sauce. Dessert was excellent, although a bit on the expensive side ($7). I even forgot to take a photo; thats how quickly I ate this custard. I like that they are somewhat liberal with the coconutty sweet liquid on top. Overall, a great spot and fair prices with great portions. The Pad Thai was the only slight disappointment, since it didn't have much sauce. read more

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Edited review and after a 12 year lapse I'm back I. Pittsburgh and had lunch here today. It was absolutely amazing again. I got the Som Tom salad, Tom Yum soup w chicken, and garlic chicken. Had leftovers and will be enjoying them later tonight after the ballgame. Staff was incredible. read more

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Consistency. My very first visit here was a long, long time ago and it definitely was not a good first impression. The spice level I ordered, 6 or so out of 10 gave me the biggest heartburn! Fast forward over to this year, the interest rekindled when I noticed it was across from another new restaurant I was trying for the first time, Cafe de Brazil. So this time around I decided to go low on the apice level to test the 2-4 levels. Much more bearable; at times the 3 level had enough spice whereas I could still taste the food, feel the heat I desired and enjoy the flavors. My usual is: Crispy Fried Pork Spring Roll-crispy as it says and great starter with a sweet dip sauce. Let it cool a bit first before you eat though as they are fried right before they take it out to you! Tom Som - Papaya salad with choice of a meat for an additional charge. Typically I add shrimp to it. The salad always tastes fresh and crisp. The sauce they use it also the reason why it is so good. Mango Tilapia - I normally request the sauce and mango separate from the fish for the majn reason I like my fish to remain crispy and not drenched in sauce and become soggy. I use the side sauce as well as sauce from the Tom Som to dip my fish! The kee maw noodles are excellent! Perfectly cooked each time and the seasoning just seems to be spot-on each time. I now recommend Smiling Banana for great tasting Thai. read more

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As a guy who has worked in many Thai kitchens I tend to be pretty picky. I got the mango salad and my daughter got the pad kee mow, they were both terrific! It's a cozy spot in a smaller neighborhood that delivers on point authentic Thai fare. We loved it! read more

Came with a group from work. The good: they were able to accommodate a group of 6 on a weeknight. The menu is kind and diverse, so everyone found something they wanted. The kitchen is fast. The portions were appropriate, and the food was really good! Not expensive at all. Watch out for the spice scale! I do just okay with spicy food, and a 2/10 was all I could handle. Other members of my group got 7-8 and liked it. The bad: the door to the outside opens right into the tiny dining room, so some people kept their coats on. It is loud. We had to flag down the waitstaff to take our order, as he was busy doing double duty answering the phone and ringing up the people who ordered takeout. I would definitely come back again. read more

Smiling Banana Leaf - Painted ceiling - Thai Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Got take out from the Smiling Banana Leaf, and tried Panang curry for the the first time. I order a heat level of 6, out of 10. The food was delicious with a bit more of a kick than I expected. I would recommend going 1 or 2 levels lower in spice when you order this scrumptious meal. read more

Smiling Banana Leaf - Rice and Panang Curry (minus bell pepper) - Thai Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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So so yummy! This is our go-to Thai food. It's takeout only or you can eat at their picnic tables outside or at the little park across the street. I always get the pad see ew and my husband loves their fried rice. It's always very flavorful. Service is quick as well! read more

Absolutely delicious! We have enjoyed this wonderful Thai place for quite some time now, but it was wonderful to see them fully embracing COVID precautions and setting up a super easy online ordering site, accompanied by very safe pickup procedures - everyone is masked, they do a no-contact delivery, and only one patron inside while picking up and paying. My favorite is their Pad See Ew - chicken or pork has been our go-to, but seriously, we've tried the whole menu, and every single item is a total winner! Dumplings are the best, too! We are fully planning to keep supporting them by being regulars. Try them out - you won't be sorry! read more

Smiling Banana Leaf was a good take out only option in Highland Park. The outdoor seating is nice and dog friendly. I recommend ordering the steamed dumpling appetizer. Not to mention, SBL offers a spice range from 0-10 - overall good meal! read more

Smiling Banana Leaf - Glass Noodle, Dumplings (Choice of Steamed or Fried) - Thai Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Some friends living in the Morningside neighborhood have been raving about Smiling Banana Leaf and so even though I'm over in West End I caved and placed an order this past weekend and made the 20 minute drive each way. The wife was riding shotgun and since we weren't going to be able to eat in we opted out of curries which we thought might be messy in a vehicle and prone to spill on our drive back. Instead we got the pineapple fried rice with chicken. For $11 dollars we got more than enough food for the both of us and I was so pleased that there were ample pineapple and chicken chunks. We got a 5/10 on the heat scale and that was perfect for us as it gave a hint of heat but nothing that required gulps of water to alleviate. Only complaint for me was that one of my chicken pieces had some bone still attached. I didn't see it before I chomped down and bone splinters went up in the roof of my mouth... that put a damper on the meal but I still give it 4 stars for flavor, quantity and price. read more

I normally love their food. Ordered Pineapple fried rice with shrimp and got a surprise inside, piece of hard plastic.

Pretty tasty fried rice, good price for a decent sized serving. It is take out only but there is seating outside so it is perfect for a day where the whether is nice. The food also did not take too long to get to us either read more

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Smiling Banana Leaf has definitely got my attention. What a yummy lunch. We came on a Saturday probably close to 12:30. We were warned to make reservations since the place is cozy, but we were fairly early for our suspected arrival and were seated near a window at a two top. I read since the restaurant was tight that on cold days every time the door opened you would get a winter blast. Lucky for us we must have been seated perfectly since as cold as it was outside we stayed comfy inside. Our waitress was very cheery. There was a lady refilling water glasses consistently so no threat of wanting for water. We started with the fresh summer roll of the day as an appetizer. We no sooner ordered than the waitress delivered the rolls to us. At this point we placed our entrée orders and began to enjoy the rolls. The rolls, which usually is one of the highlights of my dining options, were very mediocre. There was shrimp in them yet neither me or my husband detected the shrimp. I was also missing all those wonderful mint and basil flavors that are usually packed into the rolls. I found them to be quite bland. The Thai hot paste I requested did enhance the flavor but they were still pretty meh. Our entrées came out a short time later. When we eat Thai I never know how hot to order the dishes. Some places have scales between 1-5, others 1-10, here is 1-10. I asked the waitress for a suggestion, she asked how hot I like it. Oh I like it hot! But I also like to taste my food. I have been to Thai places where a four will send your taste buds packing so you just never know. With this information she suggested a 7. I was hesitant but then again she is the expert. I asked for more Thai chili paste and red pepper flakes just in case. I went with the Pad Kee Mao with Tofu, because I just love those fat rice noodles. Our dishes were served and they looked amazing. The portion was excellent. The noodles were prepared perfectly, not too soft or gummy. They served an ample amount of tofu which is awesome. Many places skimp on the proteins but not here. The meal was perfect, save one thing. A 7 was WAAAYYY too mild. I dowsed my dish with pepper flakes and paste to drive up the Scoville units. Other than the lack of spice the flavor was well balanced. With my few adjustments I was able to create a delicious meal with plenty of leftovers for another meal. We love a few places on Bryant it's awesome to have another great stop on this street. read more

Smiling Banana Leaf - Thai Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This is a great place tucked away in the Highland Park area of Pittsburgh. My stumbles upon this place with my partner as I always run past on my jogs around town. The space is light, and open which creates a good dining experience. Along the far wall there is bench seating perfect for group outings. The staff was very attentive to the appetizers/ main courses. The curry was to die for. I typically get the highest spice level, and this time was no exception. Usually I'm not phased, but this time I think a met my match with the spicy Massaman. I could barely handle the 10 out of 10 spice level, and I enjoyed every second of it. If you like spicy good then this is the place for you. (My partner did enjoy the mild curry). read more

Smiling Banana Leaf - Massaman Curry x Pineapple Curry - Thai Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

My favorite Thai place in Pittsburgh. There good is consistently amazing. Tom Kha soup is my favorite it's so rich and creamy and flavorful! I love the fresh vegetables they always have in there. Just miss eating inside! But it's perfectly fine taking it to go. They have tables outside for warmer months. read more

Smiling Banana Leaf - Tom Kha soup - Thai Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

They have the best glass noodles here that you can get in the city, seriously! The ingredients always taste fresh.

This place does not offer any indoor dining. They had neglected to mention that on their website. There are some tables placed on the sidewalk. If it's raining (as it was when we went there), tough luck. So we ordered Take Out: massaman curry with beef, Tom Kha soup, & Thai fried rice with chicken. The Soup was good--a little on the sweet side. The massaman curry was good too but the beef was very, very chewy--with a cardboard texture. The fried rice was good--the chicken in it was white meat and a little overdone. The take out containers were far smaller than one generally sees. read more

This is the first place I tried when I moved to Highland Park and it's honestly one of the best Thai places I've had in the entire city. I would give it a try as well as the other places in Highland Park! read more

Not what I was expecting. Being a Thai girl, I was craving a sukiyaki soup and was trying to find something similar. The gentleman taking orders didn't seem too happy with me because I was asking a lot of questions trying to figure out what I wanted to order. Thankfully a lady came out of the kitchen and helped answer my questions and decide what I should get. I left the gentleman a $2 tip so maybe he'll be more happy to the next customer. The Tom yum noodle soup I ordered didn't really have much soup since all the noodles and tofu was stuffed in the same container. I was expecting them to pack the noodles separate from the soup like all other Asian restaurants because they know if the noodle sits in the soup, it gets soggy. Needless to say, this dish doesn't travel well. I also ordered a spicy level 7, and it was less spicy than the curry I ordered at spice level 4. The curry was good. My only complaint is the extra $5 charge for beef. Which brought this dish price to $18. Pretty price compared to the portion size. Summary: Expensive beef and noodle soups aren't great for take-out. read more

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