Some restaurants you try once. Some you like for a season. And then there are the rare ones that quietly become part of your life. Thai Cafe falls into that last category for me. I've been coming here for over 10 years, and that alone says more than any rating ever could. In a world where places change recipes, cut corners, or slowly fade, Thai Cafe has stayed exactly what it has always been consistent, authentic, and deeply comforting. It's not just a restaurant anymore, it's a tradition. My two constants: the Chicken Cashew and the Thai Basil Chicken (very little veggies, the way I always order it). Somehow, year after year, they taste exactly how your memory hopes they will. The chicken is always tender, never dry, coated in sauces that hit that perfect balance of savory, slightly sweet, and aromatic. The cashew dish has that warm, nutty richness that feels like a complete meal by itself, while the Thai basil carries that unmistakable garlic chili fragrance that instantly tells your brain: you're in the right place. And yes -- they get busy. Really busy. The wait times can absolutely get out of hand sometimes. But honestly, that almost proves the point. You don't see crowds form around ordinary food. You see them around places people trust. Places families return to. Places that have earned patience. Because when the plate finally arrives, the wait disappears. First bite, and you remember why you keep coming back after a decade. Thai Cafe is the definition of a true family owned restaurant not flashy, not trendy, just honest cooking made the same way every time, by people who clearly care about what leaves their kitchen. Some restaurants feed you for a night. This one has fed memories for years. Ten years later and it still feels like home on a plate. read more

Can't wait to come back here and try more. And come during light hours to see the garden outside. I know it's small but nice detail to add to a Thai restaurant. The staff was extremely attentive and friendly. We ordered shrimp egg rolls/spring rolls. Very well composed and filled with delicious ingredients. Thoroughly enjoyed them - just wish the sauce was a little bit thicker to stick to the rolls and hold the full flavor. But not a complaint. My friend had moo krob phad khanna - ate the plate clean - so definitely liked it. I had massaman chicken/ delish! Chicken/ potatoes/ carrots/ peanuts. Carrots could have been sliced smaller since we were eating with chopsticks - but the carrots were soft enough to eat. Very delicious - might even eat my leftovers b4 the night is over!! Adorable place. Well priced and good sized portions. Will definitely come again. read more

See all

When the hubs & I get some alone time to have a lunch date ~ which is so rare these days, we always like to revisit our comfort foods (aka foods the kids don't particularly fancy, on an average day). Lol So, for authentic Thai food, we immediately think..Thai Cafe! We particularly LOVE this Irvine location because it's conveniently located uber close to our home; in the Arbor Village Center, on the corner of Jeffrey & Walnut (near Sunmerry bakery & Taiko). We can literally go in & out quickly and efficiently. The staff is always uber nice and the vibe is so chill. The food quality has been consistent over the years, which is sooo important to keep the local loyals from coming back. On this particular lunch date, we decided to share a beef salad app. It's always so refreshing and has the perfect level of spice kick (we got medium hotness) and sweet & sour vinegrette. For entrees, we both shared our go-to boat noodles w/ thick rice noods. It's like the Thai version of our Viet pho. Always hits the spot, when we crave something soupy & flavorful. Lastly to round out our meal, we shared a chicken yellow curry (also, medium level hotness) cuz duh..when you think of Thai, you automatically think & crave curry. The 3 dishes together was uber satisfying and perfectly portioned for us both, without feeling like we overate ourselves into a food coma. Will always come back again when we get that Thai crave. read more

See all

Been coming here for many years! Even during busy hours there's always had plenty of seating. Usually not too loud and clean interior. Also big parking lot in front. Our go-to's are: pad see ew and the pineapple fried rice. This time we ordered: - pad kee mao: popular dish for a reason! Not too salty, has a mix of chicken and seafood. On the milder side but pairs really nice with the thai chilies on the counter. - bamboo chicken: our first time trying this dish. Was a little salty for our liking so I don't think we would order it next time. Vegetables and chicken were really well cooked though. Definitely recommend a side of rice if you order this. read more

Thai Cafe - bamboo chicken - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Found plastic in our food. The pad see ew was salty, the pad Thai was bland and the noodles were stuck together. The coconut soup was extremely sour like Vietnamese hot and sour soup. The wontons had a tiny pinch of meat inside. The icing on the cake was finding plastic in our food. read more

Thai Cafe - Plastic in our pad see ew - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

An amazing, unassuming gem in Irvine. My favourite Thai food spot -- no social media hype, no frills, just kind staff and awesome food. read more

Thai Cafe - pad see ew - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

I haven't been here for a few years. We decided to have dinner here tonight while we were in the neighborhood. Food was as delicious as I remembered. Not sure why the low ratings on Yelp? We ordered the combination fried rice and chicken curry with bamboo shoots. Fried rice came with beef, pork, two shrimps, and fried eggs. That was very flavorful and so tasty. The chicken curry was perfectly seasoned and the chicken was tender. Wish they put a bit more bamboo shoots. Overall, it was a great meal. Restaurant was full for a Sunday late afternoon/early evening. Service was also good. read more

See all

Friendly and good service. Was a little bit of a wait but nothing too crazy. The food is quickly prepared and piping hot off. Definitely can taste all the deliciousness the dishes have to offer. My favorite was the pad see eww. That's a staple I try when going to any Thai place. The pad Thai also had a flavorful taste as well as the combo fried rice. The restaurant itself was clean and not loud. read more

See all

Stopped by for a casual dinner during the week. The plaza itself can get hectic at times but there was plenty of parking when we went. The inside is quaint but clean and we were seated immediately. The fried rice was tasty but it would've been perfect if it was cooked just a tad more. The noodles were seasoned well and was a healthy portion. Service was quick and efficient. Solid Thai spot, could see myself coming back soon. read more

Thai Cafe - fried rice - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

This is a small little Thai restaurant in Irvine. It's very casual. The servers were nice and friendly. The menu is simple. We ordered beef pad see ew, house fried rice and angel wings. The food was ok. In an area where there are so many options for Asian food, the flavor really needs to stand out otherwise it's just mediocre. The taste was ok. I was hoping for it to be more flavorful. The angel wings were densely packed and dry. The fried rice had more toppings than rice and the meat on it was tough. I've had better pad see ew elsewhere. Overall, the experience was ok. read more

See all

This is a very casual restaurant and seemed pretty popular on yelp, so I decided to try it out. I came here with a friend early on a Saturday night and was able to be seated immediately. However, the service was a little slow. It took awhile to get our food and it seemed like quite a few tables were also waiting on their food too. I ended up ordering a phad see iw beef. It was not bad but not amazing either. However, they gave a generous amount of beef compared to other restaurants. The price was also not too expensive as well. Overall, I would come back again. read more

Thai Cafe - phad see iw beef - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Food was so delicious !! Service was fast!! Highly recommend! So flavorful and so tasty!! the ambiance was great and food came out steamy hot ! read more

Thai Cafe - The yellow chicken curry with the shrimp fried rice and these thick noodles ! - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

As a huge fan of Thai cuisine, I've found that it tends to be either absolutely excellent or a total miss .I've passed by Thai Café many times and finally gave it a try. The interior is simple and cozy. We ordered catfish, shrimp fried rice, and shrimp Pad Thai. The catfish was outstanding--crispy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The Pad Thai and fried rice were just okay. Portion sizes were generous, and the staff was kind. While the dining area was quiet, there were plenty of delivery orders going out. I'd come back just for the catfish! read more

See all

Food was just ok. I was expecting it to be more flavorful. Drunken noodles lacked basil. Service was great I would rate the servers 5 stars super nice and pleasant. They served the food pretty quick. Decor is lackluster. Simple. Mango sticky rice -rice was over cooked and the mango was not thinly sliced like the dish calls for. read more

Thai Cafe - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Decor- 4/5 Cute and like the decor Very cozy and small Service-4/5 Attentive and kind Food-3/5 Tom ka chicken soup- 5/5 I loved the mushrooms and chicken, could skip tomatoes A bit sour but delicious Steamed spicy whole fish- 2/5 asked for it nonspicy Fish was tender and cooked well but the amount of garlic was SO overpowering I couldn't taste much else read more

Thai Cafe - Steamed whole sea bream - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Thai cafe is the one of the best spots in Irvine to get Thai food. It can get pretty busy here at certain times but the staff is usually extremely quick and helpful. My wife and I have tried a variety of options from here such as the Curries, Pad See Sw, Pad Kee Mao, Papaya salad, and the fried rice. They have all been amazing and we would definitely order all of them again. This is one of our comfort spots in Irvine and we always can't wait to eat out here. read more

3.5 Stars...the reason I'm pushing this to a 4 stars is because I grew up in the SGV where there are more Thai options available with in a small area. This place is good, but I've definitely had better without going to Thailand. I have been getting take out from this place for years and have actually never dined in until recently! The service was great and attentive even though it was somewhat busy. What surprised me was the the dining area was really well lit. All the dishes were delicious, especially the green curry which is something I always get when I see it, I was told it doesn't come with rice, I responded with a WTH look, she then said, "You can eat it with the pineapple fried rice." I think that would just be weird. How does a curry not come with white rice automatically, that's just nickel and diming customers on a whole different level, It's like going to Jimmy John's and they say the bread is a separate order Portions seems slightly larger dining in than when I get it in a box, might have to dine in more often now. read more

See all

Go to Thai restaurant. We've been enjoying this place for years (since 2011) and everything has stayed consistent. Good food, nice servers and pretty quick service. read more

Thai Cafe is a tiny restaurant located in a plaza right off the 5 freeway in Irvine. CHICKEN YELLOW CURRY ($16.45) - for the price I'd expect it to come with rice but it didn't. This was a standard yellow curry. 4/5 PINEAPPLE FRIED RICE ($16.45) - there was no spice from this and I think it could've used it. However, the spice from the other dishes lingered in my mouth so it felt like it was more spicy than it was. 4/5 BOAT NOODLES ($13.95) - the broth was so flavorful, rich, and I loved this dish. My first bite in the meal was a sip of the broth and it was the perfect way to start the meal. My only complaint was that the flat rice noodles were slightly overcooked and too soft. 5/5 PHAD KEE MAO ($16.45) - the sauce was so good and very flavorful. We also got this as mild but it still had a kick. This was probably 1A/1B as my favorite dish. 5/5 For drinks we ordered the Thai iced tea ($4) which was standard. The dishes had lots of flavors and my favorites were the boat noodles and the phad kee mao. We thought about ordering medium spice but we were glad we didn't because the mild was enough for us. read more

See all

This restaurant is so nostalgic and homey, and the food hits the spot every time! All of the plates are family style and most seating is at a booth. I always order the Tom Kha Ga and I highly recommend it because it's perfectly sour and creamy. Their menu isn't too overwhelming and they have just what you're looking for, but rice needs to be ordered on the side. The staff are friendly and welcoming, and every time I leave I am looking forward to the next time I come back. Overall, Thai Cafe is a hidden gem in Irvine and the food is great for its price point! Definitely a place for families and friends to enjoy a warm meal together. read more

Thai Cafe - Tom Kha Ga, Boat Noodles, Eggplant Basil Tofu - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

How the mighty have fallen. I've gone to this place for over 10 years, even after moving out of Irvine I visit this place every time I'm around the area. It's one of those places that was consistently delicious every time. Not sure if the chefs have changed but how could you have a bland Pad Thai? Noodles were cooked perfectly, so were the other accompaniments, but the sauce??? Way off. I'm hoping this is a one off time, and that mgmt reads this prior to our next visit. Such a shame for one of my favorite Thai restaurants, and what I had dubbed "The Best" in Irvine. read more

We've been ordering takeout from Thai Cafe for many years. They've been consistent and offering tasty entrées and our main go to for Thai food. We've eaten there just a handful of times. They have pretty good portions and the and quality is fine. The service is decent enough and you will get your food in a timely fashion. Recently ordered chicken Pad Thai from here and it tasted great. However, my husband got sick from it. Hopefully this was just the one and only time. We typically enjoy the various curries, noodle dishes, and fried rice. read more

Fast service, convenience of nearby parking, great food. The hosts were very fast and welcoming. Wouldn't mind revisiting. read more

See all

Saturday, 02/14/2025 Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! I had a Galentine's lunch date with my sister at a local Thai spot in Irvine. The restaurant was clean, the food was delicious, but the service could use some improvement. They're slammed during lunch and dinner, so pro tip: try to get there by 11:30 am if you want to grab a table without a wait. They've got separate lunch and dinner menus, because who doesn't love options? The food packs a punch, spice-wise, so don't be shy about asking for it mild. My sister and I were obsessed with the eggplant and tofu dish, sautéed in onions - it was eggplant-tastic! All in all, I'm giving this Thai place two thumbs down for the service, but a 4 up for the food. Happy eating, folks! read more

See all

I ordered the Pad See Ew with Beef for takeout. It is spelled Phad See Iw Beef on their menu, In case you are looking for it. It was a good sized portion with a good amount of beef, egg and Chinese broccoli. The noodles were soft and cooked well. The beef was tender enough and not burnt. The soy sauce was too strong, which is probably why the noodles were so dark. It was also too salty instead of being a sweet soy sauce, as it traditionally should be. That threw the overall flavor off for me, but it would be good if you prefer it more salty. The order was ready very quick. I was quoted 20-30 minutes but it only took 10. read more

Thai Cafe - Pad See Ew Beef (Phad See Iw Beef as spelled on their menu) - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

My family and I typically go to another popular Thai restaurant in OC, but we wanted to try this one because it was close to us. We have travelled many times to Thailand and find this place really good! Some of the items on the menu are not traditional Thai foods, so we stuck to our usual orders at Thai restaurants., The service was efficient and fast! Everything that we order was amazing! All of the dishes were seasoned perfectly and felt like authentic Thai flavors. I would say the highlight for me is the Tom Ka Gai. It was INCREDIBLE! The soup was well balanced with the perfect blend of coconut and lemongrass. Look, the restaurant ambience is nothing to write home about. Don't plan on taking cute photos here, however if you're looking for a casual place to grab something to eat in sweats and a hoodie. This is the place! read more

Thai Cafe - Cashew Chicken, Pad See Ew, Papaya Salad - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Both the taste and portion size are extremely satisfying. Since the price is also low, I will definitely return to this restaurant.

came in on a late sunday night and the place was super busy when we got in line. wasn't as busy anymore as soon as we got seated down about 20-30 mins later. the service wasn't that good either. never got checked on during our whole meal and had to flag someone down for both our dessert and check in the end, felt like they forgot about us. maybe i just came on a bad day // spicy basil chicken- this one was superr flavorful. // tom yum kai- full of flavor as well, loved the lemony taste to it and had a great spice. lots of chicken and veggies inside // fried banana w/ ice cream- wasn't expecting the batter to be so hard and difficult to eat, did not end up finishing read more

See all

Great for Thai food! We haven't tried a lot of different Thai restaurants so I don't know how it rates, or how traditional, but it suits our taste. I like how they ask to make sure medium get is ok. We ordered Tom ka gai with medium heat and she asked if we're sure and that medium is pretty hot! We told her we get it all the time and she still studied our faces and reluctantly agreed. Hahaha Very nice and efficient service here. Good for both dining in and takeout. read more

See all

Love, love, LOVE this place! As someone who finds Thai food **hit or miss**, I was thrilled when my partner and I discovered this absolute gem. From the first bite, we knew we struck gold--flavors were bold, fresh, and authentic. We shared four dishes, and the portions were generous for the price. Even splitting everything, we left completely satisfied (and maybe a little too full!). No question--we'll definitely be back! If you've been searching for real Thai food done right, this is the spot. read more

The atmosphere is just a humble restaurant. The interior is decent for a Thai restaurant at this price. The service is on par with a fast-casual restaurant. From here Food It really is the best. I can't stop thinking about the squid with vegetable rice sauce. All the other food is good and the value for money is good read more

See all

Really friendly folks and really like their yellow curry and vegetarian fried rice. Third or fourth order from them - more to come.

Our friends rave about this place so we decided to check it out. It was empty around 2pm on Monday. Service is quick and the portions are easily shareable. The water tasted like cucumbers. The yellow curry was chicken with a side of curry. Very yummy and spicy even though it was mild. The potatoes and carrots were perfectly cooked as well. Rice also comes with the curry. The pad see ew was so flavorful and savory. The beef was too meaty for my liking but nonetheless we still enjoyed it. They also give you spices upon request. I'll definitely go back to try their pad thai. read more

Thai Cafe - yellow curry & pad see ew - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

This place is just alright, to say the least. The service was the worst part about my experience. I came here with my mom to celebrate her birthday. The servers told us to leave at a certain point because we had been there for longer than the time they allowed. They were not nice about it. The food was not nearly good enough to make up for the lack of service. The ambiance is very basic and minimal. They could try so much harder with their interior decor. I won't be back here. There are so many better Thai spots in the area; go to those instead. read more

We just moved to OC and trying to find a new go to spot for Thai/Lao food in Irvine. We arrived at 8:30pm and were seated upon arrival. We knew it was going to be good when we realized it was a full house. It was very homey and between the two of us, we ordered four different entrees. The portions were generous and arrived in a timely manner. We totally forgot to ask for the name of the server who closed us out but if you're reading this..thank you for the recommendations for authentic Thai/Lao food in OC. We look forward to coming back again! read more

Thai Cafe - Papaya salad, boat noodle, Lao sausage, pad see ew with beef - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

We've been coming here for years and are also super picky about Thai food - we've traveled to Thailand many times - and love this place. The pad Thai is great, definitely not bland, and the portions are super generous. Highly recommended! read more

Extremely expensive for what you get and the food was very bland and neutral. I will not be coming back.

Small restaurant, enjoyed food under cool Air conditioner . Great tasted ( good for American) Nice service . read more

See all

Food is so good, my favorite comfort thai place near campus. The Pad Kee Mao specifically is amazing, and the Thai Tea is super refreshing.

Great service and food. Easy upfront parking. Great selection of dishes. I have been coming here for years.