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    Thai Bistro

    4.3 (136 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Order Thai Bistro Takeout or Delivery

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    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!!!

    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!

    Front counter

    Stopped in this week and had mango with sticky rice. They gave us their new chicken bao to try- for free! Very very good. We love this place. It is such a nice place to hang out and get great food.

    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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    29 days ago

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

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    8 months ago

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

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    10 months 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

    Thai Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

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    Your Choice - Thai tea boba brownie sundae

    Your Choice

    4.2(440 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Updating my review to say I've had only good experiences since ~…read more The owners and other staff are all very nice, and I've only ever even seen the staff member with the bad attitude one time since my last review, and he wasn't at the counter. I don't usually leave reviews based on service so now that that's out of the way... let's talk food! The food here is delicious, their curries and topless seafood being my favs!!! The panang curry and green curry in particular have been the best I've had in Santa Barbara by far, only a couple times were they watery but it's RARE and they are almost always amazing and very flavorful. Several thai places here in Santa Barbara have horrible, flavorless curry, so Your Choice having such good curry means a lot for me. The topless seafood... I don't even know how to describe it, but just try it!!! I'll say the noodles here have been a bit of a hit or miss for me, I tend to prefer the ones from Empty Bowl, only because I don't like when my noodles are overly chewy and tend to prefer them a bit more on the saucy side - but luckily I don't judge good/authentic Thai food by their noodles, I judge by curry... which is by far my favorite thing here! Another thing I look at to determine a good Thai spot, is their papaya salad, which is a solid 8.5/10 for me here. It's not the best I've ever had but it's still really good, and it'd probably get a solid 9 if it came with any type of seafood in it like some of the best papaya salads I've had do - but it's packed with flavor and is one of my favorite "lighter" dishes to eat, not to mention all the fiber. My only complaint with this place is that they charge for rice, it doesn't come with the curry/any other meals unless you get a lunch special, which is not standard for Thai restaurants outside of Santa Barbara... but I suppose that's the "premium" that comes with living here. Rice is so cheap to make that I find it a bit silly to charge so much for it, but... the rent has to get paid somehow and if it keeps the prices of other dishes from being higher - so be it, I guess? I personally don't get rice when ordering for takeout here ever as I can make it at home, but if you *are* eating at the restaurant, I recommend the sticky rice - they make it well and it feels a bit more "worth it" for the price I guess. Also very worth noting that their desserts and Saturday night dessert specials are really unique, delicious and fun. You can tell the owners really put love into the restaurant because they make some really creative desserts, and it's always from scratch! If it's not a Saturday night, I also highly recommend the ube vietnamese coffee as a treat, it's very good. Thank you Your Choice for the positive experiences and for making delicious Thai food. I'll be eating panang and green curry here for as long as I live here, probably. Appreciate you and the good energy your restaurant brings to the neighborhood!

    Your Choice is an absolute hidden gem for Thai food here in SB. I tried it for the first time last…read moreweek, and ended up going back two days later because I could not stop thinking about the amazing food! The exterior is unassuming and so I have driven past many times. The interior is clean with lots of natural light coming in from the windows and spacious seating. We showed up right at 4pm for dinner and were seated immediately with menus and water. Our waiter was so friendly and patient, I could tell he was genuinely passionate about the food and answered all of our questions. We ordered the crab rangoons, chicken satay skewers, garlic pepper beef, pad Thai with beef, peach lemongrass iced tea and Thai iced tea. The flavors were INSANE! Everything tasted so fresh and was made with care down to the homemade dipping sauces. The mango sticky rice had perfectly ripe mangoes on a bed of sticky rice and a side of a whipped coconut cream. Very light and refreshing with a great balance of sweetness. The black sesame iced cream was really unique and had a more savory flavor to it. This spot is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area!

    Photos
    Your Choice - Interior

    Interior

    Your Choice - Chile Tamarind Wings

    Chile Tamarind Wings

    Your Choice - Vegan mango and rice

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    Vegan mango and rice

    Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar - (Photo/Video by Ins@foodie.skye)

    Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar

    4.3(948 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    With so many dining options inside SB Public Market, we had a hard time deciding what to have for…read moredinner. After walking around the plaza a couple of times, we picked Empty Bowl. A side note: real silverware and plates/bowls are offered only if you dine inside the restaurant's premises. Since we opted to sit in the general area, our orders were prepared as a to-go set. After browsing through their menu, we chose the following dishes: Beef Pho: The broth was quite savory, tangy, and a tad sweet. The thin rice noodles were slightly soft. The filet mignon slices were tender, and the beef balls had good texture. The sauce and bean sprots were given on the side. Bangkok Street Noodle: The broth was flavorful, spicy, and quite tangy. The thin noodles had a balanced firmness. There was a nice blend of sliced BBQ pork, minced meat, meatballs, and fried wontons, then garnished with chili, cilantro and green onion on top. Shrimp Summer Roll: The rice paper wrap had a pleasant chewy texture. The ingredients were super fresh and satisfyingly crunchy. The tanginess of the mango and cucumber went well with slightly sweet hoisin style sauce. The mint provided a quite refreshing taste and aroma to the rolls. A beautiful fusion of colorful visual presentation and exquisite taste. Overall, it was a very enjoyable meal. Highly recommended.

    Bangkok wings. Spicy and sweet crispy and tender. These wings are a must... a special dish only…read moremade for Fridays. I heard that these are legit flavors - a friend who lived in Thailand said this was the closest thing to Thai street food here in Santa Barbara! Go get you some! Thank for the tasty wing and prompt service!

    Photos
    Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar
    Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar - (Photo/Video by Ins@foodie.skye)

    (Photo/Video by Ins@foodie.skye)

    Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar - Bangkok Wings 'Peek Gai Tod': All natural free range Jidori chicken wings, Thai chilis, tamarind, fish sauce, fried garlic, makrut lime

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    Bangkok Wings 'Peek Gai Tod': All natural free range Jidori chicken wings, Thai chilis, tamarind, fish sauce, fried garlic, makrut lime

    Three Monkeys

    Three Monkeys

    4.5(70 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    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
    Three Monkeys - Thai coffee!

    Thai coffee!

    Three Monkeys - Hungry Box - chicken skewers

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    Hungry Box - chicken skewers

    Secret Bao - Kungpao Cauliflower

    Secret Bao

    4.5(708 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    What can I say other than culinary perfection? It's where street food meets casual dining but with…read moremasterfully crafted menu items that will make your taste buds pop! The KFC Bao was exceptional. Crunchy, tangy, sweet, fresh and savory. A delightful dish that had me wanting a second one. The Dolsot Bokkeumbap was also delicious, savory and a bit in the heavy side, it could use something fresh, acidic or sweet to brighten up the dish. The staff was very friendly and recommended the Bao, so they know what is good on the menu. I was sat outside where they have a beautiful little patio with heaters and comfortable seating. Overall this place is a must try!

    Overall the food was very delicious. I would recommend the Bao (both the KFC and pork belly were…read morevery good). The sweet potato dumplings are fried and had a very unique twist for Asian fusion and would recommend. The kalbi was very mediocre, but it was fun for sharing. Day cake was delicious. I would highly recommend since it came out and was very warm. The bingsu was mostly frozen and was not finally shaved in terms of milk ice and the Nutella pairing with it did not go very well. We had a fantastic server (Cathy) who took our orders and was very friendly. The front staff was quite rude when we followed up what the wait time was (might have been because it was busy, but hope that it's a 1x thing and not a pattern). Otherwise, vibes we're very good and I can see why this is a popular spot.

    Photos
    Secret Bao - The bar

    The bar

    Secret Bao - Sweet Potato Dumplings

    Sweet Potato Dumplings

    Secret Bao - Yum ... just this is enough

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    Yum ... just this is enough

    Thai Bistro - thai - Updated May 2026

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