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    Thai Bistro

    4.2 (138 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated a few days ago

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    Inside
    Megha R.

    Wow! I really had to keep reminding myself to take pictures before we gobbled up all the food. We got the fried Tofu, Vegetable Pad Thai, Vegetable Pineapple Fried Rice and Spicy Eggplant with Tofu. Everything was absolutely delicious! The pineapple fried rice in particular had so much flavor. The two gentlemen that were at the front were very attentive and friendly. They helped us make decisions on what to order and the spice levels we requested were spot on! The restaurant is small and the decor is not overwhelming. We got here right before it got busy and our food came out quickly.

    Khao Soi Noodle Soup + Tom Yum (Small) + Pad See Eww
    Ethan P.

    We had Pad See Ew and Khao Soi with Tom Yum Soup! Pad See Ew doesn't look as dark as ones I get from other places, but it tastes good and isn't overly salty! I liked it! I had Khao Soi for the first time and it was really nice too! The portions are big imo and I was SOOOO full. I finished the Khao Soi, but really I should have taken some leftovers home. Total came out to what, 55? Server was very nice and friendly and courteous! Bathroom was bathrooming. Nice.

    Fresh Rolls
    Michelle C.

    Ordered take out! Got chicken satay and fresh rolls to supplement a homemade meal. Chicken satay is a classic appetizer and was good with the peanut sauce and sweet cucumbers it came with. The Fresh rolls are refreshing but definitely not anything to be crazy about. It's like a salad wrapped in rice paper. We opted for tofu and they put one piece of tofu per roll. They use the same peanut sauce as the chicken satay. I would have to come back and try their entrees to give a more in depth review.

    Thai Tea
    Angela R.

    Thai Bistro has become one of my favorite places when I have a craving for Thai Food. The lunch specials here are reasonably priced and the portions are more than generous! Lunch is Offered Mon. - Fri. From 11am to 2:30 The ambiance is spacious and I've been lucky thusfar, to come here when it's not too busy. Parking is located on the street. On my latest visit I tried the spicy dish Pad Kee Mao, also known as Drunken Noodles, which was a bold and spicy Thai dish. It was spicier than expected for me, but still delicious. The Pad Thai here is sweet, savory, and full of flavors with every mouthful. This Thai classic dish will transport your taste buds to the bustling streets of Bangkok. The yellow & green curries made here are both full of creamy richness and aromatic spices. A tantalizing Thai masterpiece that never fails to delight the senses. Overall a great place to dine at if you're craving Thai Food!

    Mango Fish Salad.

    Thai Bistro has the best salad (Mango Fish Salad) out of anywhere in all of Santa Barbara and beyond! It is so unique that maybe you wouldn't ever think of trying it but the flavors burst in a perfect combination in your mouth and you can tell every single ingredient is fresh and the food is made with love! I have tried the Pad Thai and the Chicken Satay as well and everything is good! The servers are all so kind and attentive and I highly suggest going to this wonderful restaurant! The owner who created this recipe is genius!!!

    Pad Kee Mow
    Pratima M.

    A casual spot for Thai eats in Santa Barbara -- they were able to accomodate our large party of ~20 with a reservation booked a week or so in advance, which I'm grateful for. They pushed together tables so we could eat in 2 large groups. All of the food is great for family-style sharing, and there were tons of vegetarian options. The food here is pretty decent, but nothing crazy out of the ordinary -- they have all of the Thai classics, and we got Pad See Ew, Pad Kee Mow, and Pineapple Fried Rice to share. The food could've used a little more spice, IMO, but the portions were great and variety great. Overall, accommodating service and good food!

    Panang Curry and Thai Iced Tea

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    5 months ago

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    9 days ago

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    3 months ago

    The food was very flavorful and good portion size. I ordered the spicy pork with basil and got the choice of ground or sliced pork.

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    6 months ago

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    Sopin S.

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    4 months ago

    Fast service and flavorful food. Ok ambience and very reasonably priced. Parking in the rear!

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    11 months ago

    Great happy hour food selection menu. Restaurant servers are very attentive and food is served quickly.

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    1 year ago

    4.5 just because it's a bit out of the way from downtown. Otherwise, no notes honestly. It's so, so good.

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    Page 1 of 4

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    Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar

    Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar

    4.3
    (956 reviews)
    1.9 mi
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    Situated in the Santa Barbara Farmers Market complex, Empty Bowl is an inviting space where you can…read moresit right at the bar and watch the wok action. Service is friendly and the food well prepared. Menu options are limited, but everything is delicious. Recommend going at happy hour. There's usually a special offer.

    Located inside of Santa Barbara Public Market, Empty Bowl is located towards the center of the…read moremarket. They offer Thai dishes including noodle bowls, small plates, and handmade dumplings. We got the Northern Thailand Curry Noodles "Khao Soi" and the Tom Yum Noodles. The Khao Soi had egg noodles and chicken in a curry base broth with coconut milk, fish sauce, pickled mustard greens, cilantro, green onions, and housemade chili oil. They also give you crispy egg noodles to put on top. I appreciated that they wrapped this separately in foil, so they didn't get soggy right away! The chicken pieces were quite large, but overall the broth was tasty! I enjoyed the Tom Yum Noodles! For these, they use flat wheat noodles with Thai chili paste, bunashimeji mushrooms, white button mushrooms, fish sauce, red jalapeño, galangal herb, makrut lime leaves, lemongrass, cherry tomatoes, and cilantro. I chose chicken for my protein. The tom yum flavor really came through! They also give a pretty big portion! Since they are located in a food hall, you can sit at any of the tables. Empty Bowl will give you a pager, so you know when to return to the counter to pick up your food.

    Photos
    Setting at noodle bar
    Setting at noodle bar
    (Photo/Video by Ins@foodie.skye)
    (Photo/Video by Ins@foodie.skye)
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    Your Place Thai Restaurant

    Your Place Thai Restaurant

    3.9
    (569 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    Your Place on Milpas has been our family's #1 top visited restaurant over many years. The service…read morehas always been top notch. According to Google, Your Place was founded in 1983 and is Santa Barbara's oldest operating Thai restaurant. My first visit to Your Place was in 1991. Our favorite dishes are: pork satay skewers (with authentic Thai peanut sauce) as an appetizer, Tom Kha Gai (Thai coconut chicken soup), panang chicken, garlic pepper chicken, and spicy eggplant with tofu. If it's two of us we might order just two entrees with steamed rice. We visited most recently on a warm summer day and we were pleased that the restaurant now has air conditioning. It was very comfortable.

    Typical cozy Thai restaurant interior. Cut off for dine in is about 30 minutes before closing…read more Staff is kind and service is quick. The cost per dish is higher than expected for the portion of food, rice is not included with any meal it is a side order.. ($2 small $3 large) Mixed vegetables with tofu in ginger sauce ($18) was cooked perfectly, the sauce was yummy but very light and watery, almost too light but could be complimented with a spicy chili oil or paste to heighten the flavor. (I have ordered this dish twice, the review is consistent for both orders) Garlic pepper chicken ($18) dish was cooked well, ordered extra hot but was very much on the mild side. Expect to pay for rice to go with your meal unless you are getting a lunch special. I would have liked to try more dishes but again the prices were too high to justify trying more items. Disappointed with the portion sizes for the price. This is the reason for 3 stars.

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    Your Place Thai Restaurant
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    Three Monkeys

    Three Monkeys

    4.5
    (70 reviews)
    1.8 mi
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    Three Monkeys is one of those places you come to if you don't feel like eating a heavy meal, but…read moreyou need sustenance to satisfy your hunger. Located at the very end of the SB Public Market and right next to Cooneys bar. Their menu offers chicken, pork, beef and tofu Bánh Mi, as well as meat skewers, stir fry and salads. Just to name a few. I've tried the chicken and beef skewers which comes in the Hungry Box. I subbed two of the skewers for beef, but in all honesty the beef was too too tough to break down. My one pet peeve is meat that is chewy, dry and too tough to eat. Although it was flavorful, but I wouldn't order it again. I did enjoy the chicken skewer though! The Hungry Box also comes with rice and a salad. Both of which were simple but a nice compliment to the skewers. On my recent visit I ordered the Buffalo wings. They were delicious! I appreciate that the sauce wasn't too spicy. I haven't had buffalo wings in a long time and these really hit the spot! The French fries were also good and not too salty. Overall, three monkeys is worth checking out if you're visiting the public market. Customer service is fast and efficient.

    We went to the Santa Barbara Public Market to try Corazon Cocina, and my husband wasn't feeling it…read moreso we decided to give Three Monkeys a try. Service isn't really a thing SBPM since it's a walk up to order and then pick it up when your buzzer goes off, but we liked the comfortable and casual setup. We ordered the Hungry Box #1 with chicken and a chicken bahn mi, and both were very good. The chicken was the same in both meals, and it was well seasoned and nicely grilled, but still juicy. The salad with the box and the pickled veggies in the bahn mi were fresh and crisp too. Just a comment on the bahn mi is there the ratio of bread to filling in the bahn mi was just a little too much bread. Overall though, it we enjoyed it and it made for a very nice meal.

    Photos
    Three Monkeys
    Thai coffee!
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    Hungry Box - chicken skewers

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    Hungry Box - chicken skewers
    Secret Bao

    Secret Bao

    4.5
    (738 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Omg where do I begin??! Hands down one of my favorites restaurants in Santa Barbara. I got the…read moreSangria cocktail which was so fruity and delicious! Then I also ordered the KFC and the pork belly bao, both had a delicious flavor and balance of savory and sweet. We also ordered the cucumber peach salad, which was delicious with pieces of Basil in it. So fresh! We got the crab rangoon, and I believe the scallop and prawn dumplings. All had such a lovely flavor and we're just so good. You can't go wrong here with anything you order! Great service and great food.

    Secret Bao was an okay experience overall. The food was decent, but nothing really stood out enough…read moreto make me want to come back specifically for it. We tried the garlic noodles, spicy beef noodles, popcorn chicken, and corn dumplings. The garlic noodles were creamy and the spicy noodles had good flavor, but the dishes overall felt a bit underwhelming. The popcorn chicken was soggy (but probably cause I had it to go), though it wasn't particularly memorable, and the corn dumpling were fine but didn't leave a lasting impression. The service was friendly and our food came out in a reasonable amount of time, which we appreciated. The restaurant had a relaxed, casual atmosphere that made it a comfortable place to grab a meal, but was super packed for a weekday. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, but it also wasn't anything special. I might give it another try in the future and order some of their more popular items before making a final judgment.

    Photos
    The bar
    The bar
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    Pink Peruvian Scallops
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