I tried Thai Canteen and had a bit of a mixed experience overall. The drunken noodles were really good and super flavorful. That was definitely a highlight for me. I also tried the duck fried rice one time, but I made the mistake of ordering it way too spicy and ended up not being able to finish it. Honestly, that was on me, and I think if I adjusted the spice level, it would have been really good. I also ordered the mango sticky rice, which I was excited about because I have had it at many different places. Unfortunately, the mango was not very sweet, and when I mentioned that something felt off, the response I got made me feel a bit dismissed, like I did not understand the dish. That part of the experience was frustrating. In general, the service was not the kindest during that visit, which affected my overall impression. That being said, the food itself has good flavor, and ordering to go might be a better option if you want to avoid that kind of interaction. It has been a few months since I have been back, so I cannot say if the staff or experience has improved. Overall, it is a place with good food, but the service side of things could definitely be better. read more

Thai Canteen was my go-to spot during my college days in Davis. Lunch, dinner, late-night -- Thai Canteen always had me covered. My usual order at any Thai restaurant is pad thai or pad see ew, and they nailed it every time. The portions are huge and the prices are excellent and they definitely don't skimp. The vibe is very much a casual cantina: metal chairs, wooden tables, and an olive-green color palette throughout the interior. It feels lively and relaxed, perfect for a quick meal with friends between classes. - Pad Thai -- classic chicken pad thai topped with chopped peanuts and lime for extra zest; huge portion with a great balance of sweet and savory flavors; they also go pretty hard on the Thai spice if you ask for it - Thai Iced Tea -- cool, refreshing, and not overly sweet, with that classic amber color topped with condensed milk Service is always friendly and welcoming. The place can get pretty bustling, especially during weekend lunches, but that's part of the classic college-town cantina atmosphere. We were usually able to find a table, though you might have to wait a bit during peak hours since Thai Canteen is a must-try spot in downtown Davis! read more

Thai Canteen - Pad Thai Chicken - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

TLDR: If you love real heat with real flavor, Thai Canteen is the spot. Finding a Thai restaurant that actually delivers Thai hot is harder than it should be. Thai Canteen does it -- spicy enough to make you pause between bites, which is exactly where I want to be. I've been getting the Pad Thai, and on my last visit I tried it with steak for the first time. Highly recommend it if you've never had it that way -- the steak adds a richness that works really well with the dish. I also tried the Gai Kua, which was running as a special, and it was excellent. I'll be upfront -- I think spicy food just tastes better. Heat brings out a depth of flavor that milder dishes don't have for me, so keep that in mind. But even setting my bias aside, the flavor here is genuinely good. As long as they keep the heat and the quality, Thai Canteen has my business. I want to work through the entire menu eventually. read more

I been coming to Thai Canteen for a few months now for lunch, typically on Fridays or a random Tuesday! Located in downtown Davis, you are greeted right away and order at the counter, pick a number and then go make yourself comfortable at any open seat! They have ice cold water you can fill yourself in these stainless steel cups and don't forget to grab the legit fire spice rack! I always get pad ga prow chicken with steam rice and a side of Thai style fried eggs! Can never go wrong or their drunken noods with extra noods and extra chicken! And make it even more better adding the Thai red chili on top!! Their Thai Tea is yummy! I normally get that on my way out for my dessert! The people who work and run this eatery are not only very nice but work hard and do an amazing job cooking lots of orders in immaculate timing! Food comes out piping out every time! Ambience is very chill, lots of people like me on their lunch break, students on lunch etc Please come by!! read more

See all

Love stopping by Thai Canteen when i'm in the Davis area for some good Thai food. My go to for some Pad Thai. And service is always friendly (Thank you)! I usually get more, but today i was by myself. And unfortunately can't stuff myself. I will definitely be back for more with the family! See ya later. 2/21/26 :) read more

See all

Our favorite Thai place in Dixon is closed for 2 weeks as they visit family, so we ventured into Davis for Thai food. Thai Canteen was right there when we parked so we decided to try it out. It is super cute inside with quite a bit of seating. We ordered at the counter and chose chicken Pad Thai. She asked us about our spice level choice and we both chose medium. Once the food came out, we realized it might have been the wrong choice!! It was definitely too spicy for the both of us. We suffered through it and decided to bring it home to finish it instead. Everyone was super nice! We asked for an additional plate of bean sprouts thinking it might help with the spiciness. Ultimately, we got boxes for what we had left and got up to leave. The food was super yummy, but next time we will get it mild!! Eating at home I'll mix it up with some rice to take down the heat! We will be back for sure!! read more

See all

My favorite Thai restaurant when I was a college student at Davis! Came to visit as an alumni and it's just the same as i remembered. I came on a Saturday with some friends around 8pm and it wasn't that busy and lots of seating was open. You order first and then you can find anywhere open to sit. - Pad kee mao (drunken noodles) : The exact same when I had it a few years ago. We got it with beef and the noodles are cooked well. There is a spicy kick to it which I love. However, I noticed they barely gave us any meat. - Pad kra pow : This rice dish was so good and the sauce is amazing!!! We got this with chicken and it was cooked well and packed with sm flavor! I highly recommend getting this rice dish. - Thai tea: Standard Thai tea. No complaints. They have extra sauces and chili flakes you can use. Normal ambiance inside the restaurant. You can see the chefs in the back because there is a clear window. Can't wait to come back here again some day. read more

See all

well first this is a top-notch place to go while you charge your EV at the EVGO which is right over by the Arboretum just about three minute walk away. They have both level two and level three chargers there. Next if you have your fuzzbutt with you you can sit on the patio oit front that has a dog bowl for water and plenty of shaded seating. water is self-serve so you can go get a cup of water and fill up the water bowl that's outside for your little schnoogins. I came here because Chatty-G. The notorious G.P.T., told me i should according to this artificial intelligence it was one of the best options for vegan food in town! Thai cuisine is my favorite so this was an easy choice. My Pad Kee Mao, a.k.a. drunken noodles came out very fast and the tofu was perfectly braised. I think I would've ordered it a bit spicier but I told them to go mild since they had ample condiments that fulfilled my capsaicin requirements. Note to vegans: the condiments are not all vegetarian exactly. There is one that has little sliced red peppers in it that has a fish base. All the other ones are animal free. For instance the green peppers are jalapeños and they're just in a vinegar brine. I do wish they would label the ones that have fish sauce in them, which is probably my only complaint. Anyway, The interior looked comfortable as well. you can actually order inside and they'll deliver to you wherever you may be if you've got the number on your table. That is all the information that you require. read more

Thai Canteen - 27 Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

See all

Nice dinner here while visiting family! Casual vibes, you order at the counter. Menu is on wall and helpful that they have printed menus as well. Loved their beer selection! We had the Thai beer. Delicious chicken pad Thai and Ben had a chicken yellow curry. The dumplings we had (gyoza style) were great! Good leftovers the next day. Friendly service. Great location in downtown Davis. read more

See all

Every college town needs a local low key Thai place for hungry students to gather. I got my classic pad see ew with tofu (egg ok) and Thai iced tea. It hit the spot until i decided i wanted a little bit more spice and sprinkled some of the crushed red chili in the jars on the table over my dish. Little did I know that these were Thai chili, not American red chili flakes. The result was too spicy for my medium-low white girl spice level and I spent the rest of the time chugging my creamy Thai iced tea. Stay the sprinkle of the chili else risk a tongue on fire. Logistics: - indoor and outdoor seating - limited street parking nearby but I think there was a paid public garage around the corner - order at the counter read more

Thai Canteen - Thai iced tea - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

See all

Still one of our favorite Thai restaurants of all time! The duck fried rice is a dish I'll never be able to skip here and it was delicious as always. My boyfriend got the drunken noodles with beef this time (hot level spicy again) and said the beef was much more dry and chewy than pork/chicken- so something to note! We shared a hot ginger tea and I am still thinking about it. I've never had a cloudy, spicy gingery, yet sweet tea like this before. Such a great meal that we'll continue to order again and again. 5 stars! read more

See all

Great authentic Thai spot in town. We did takeout and I have to give them a shoutout for their service. I brought my own glass Tupperware because I prefer not to put hot soups/ curries in plastic containers. They were nice and accommodating about it, which I appreciated! Heres what we ordered: * Tom Yum: This was the highlight! It had that perfect, classic balance of spicy & sour notes with aromatic herbs. They were very generous with the protein, too. Be warned: the spice is definitely up there! I had to accompany this with lots of water, but I really enjoyed the kick. * Red Curry: A really solid curry with bamboo shoots, bell peppers & basil. The broth wasn't too heavy or creamy, but it was packed with spices and flavor. The beef was tender, and the bamboo/peppers added a nice freshness. * Pad See Ew: I loved the chewy texture of the noodles and the fact that they use white meat chicken. However, it was slightly too greasy for my taste and lacked a little bit of flavor compared to the other dishes. * Mango Sticky Rice: Visually, looks cool because the sticky rice is blue! It was yummy, though I do wish they had the coconut cream topping that is usually drizzled on top. One note for improvement: They unfortunately forgot to pack my order of rice. I wish they had double checked the bag before handing it out, so just a heads up to check your order before you leave! read more

See all

Thai Canteen is easily the number one Thai spot in Davis. A great spot for any occasion - casual lunch, dinner date, or large groups. Checkout their specials - if you see the Khao Soi on there, highly recommend. The noodles for the drunken noodles have great texture, the pad Thai is very good, the papaya salad is solid, and the wings are decent. The tamarind sauce that comes with the wings, I'd recommend saving that for later at home to dip in anything. read more

See all

I ordered some take out after a long day and was excited to get some Thai food. Red curry was good, but they gave me the wrong item for dessert. When I got home, I was really looking forward to the sweet fried banana but am now stuck with some bland sesame balls. read more

Thai Canteen - Fried Sesame Balls - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

See all

Came here with a group one Friday night since it is one of the few restaurants that closes later. We were also drawn in by some deal where you order a dish and get a free Thai iced tea. What we got: chive pancake (2/5) -- I kind of thought this would be scallion pancake adjacent, but when it came out, I was surprised at how thick and greasy each cake was. The dough seemed to be made of rice/tapioca flour and was fried very crisp while the inside was mush because of the moisture between the chives and the cooked dough. It basically fell apart as I picked it up, lucky if it made it to the dipping sauce in one piece. The amount of chive was also overwhelming since it was bitter and tough to chew through without, again, having the entire cake fall apart. green curry (3.5/5) -- average green curry that I've tried at every other Thai restaurant khao pad gai tod (3.5/5) -- I tried just the fried rice and it was flavorful and light, but also on the much sweeter side gkuay tiow reur (3/5) -- this reminded me a lot of pho with both the meat and the broth flavor. The broth and noodles were nice, but the meat was very tough/dry I would give this place another chance given the ease of ordering, payment, and speed at which the food is ready. Portions are fair, service is average, and the ambiance is nice for hanging out. read more

See all

Came in on a Sunday night, and the wait was pretty short. You order at the front, grab a number, and pick an open table to sit down. The restaurant's ambiance is pretty standard with dim lighting. What I Ordered: 1. Pineapple Fried Rice Had a good flavor, and the pineapple added a nice tartness to the dish. No complaints here--I actually prefer their rice dishes over their noodle dishes. 2. Pad See Ew Compared to other Pad See Ew dishes I've had, this one was a bit watery and had a strange flavor. The meat also had a slight freezer-burn taste, which was a little off-putting. That said, it was still a pretty solid dish overall. 3. Mango Sticky Rice Honestly, you can't go wrong ending your meal with this. The sweetness of the rice and the tartness of the mango pair really well together. Final Thoughts: Their dishes are pretty solid and hit the spot when you're craving Thai food in Davis. Some were better than others, but overall, it gets the job done. read more

Thai Canteen - Pineapple fried rice - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

See all

A solid, classic establishment for Davis. I've only had the Pad Thai but I trust that the other dishes are good as well. It's typically crowded and sometimes the wait is a bit long, however. Also the staff need to do a better job at cleaning the water cups :/ Nonetheless it's a great dinner place with tons of yummy options! read more

Thai Canteen - Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

Ambiance: A modern desk ordering establishment with a dimmer feel Service: the service was good, you order at the desk and they deliver the food to you. Water and everything is also self serving Food: We got the Pad Gra Prow and Pad Med Mamuang. The dishes on this day was quite salty. If you didn't have rice it would be too hard to eat. The gra prow was sweet and tangy with the vegetable selection well cooked. We found the meat to be a bit tough however. The Pad Med mamuang on the other hand had a spicy and salty flavor that was quite delicious. Note: Thai Canteen I have found to be incredibly inconsistent. read more

Thai Canteen - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

Food was good! The portion was perfect. We were able to finish everything. Service: it was a cold day and we asked for hot water. The staff went to boil us a fresh pot. Very friendly and helpful :) Ambiance: nice place for hanging out. Located in downtown. I parked in a paid parking lot nearby. read more

Thai Canteen - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

I will tell you that the food is tasty, however when I got home. My stomach was not happy. I will just leave it at that. I had the eggplant, chicken and rice. The food came out quickly. It a cute little restaurant, however it was a bit warm in side. Not sure if I'd come again given my tummy issue, however my co-workers that I went with did not have any stomach issues. Like I said, the food was tasty, which my stomach would have agreed read more

Interesting place. I had the chicken with peanut butter sauce and spinach. I liked it for a bit but then it tasted too sweet to me. There was rice on the plate too. The portions were very generous. The ambience was amazing. They also gave free Thai iced tea with a curry order. The Thai tea was so delicious and pretty big. Overall a good experience. read more

See all

My goto Thai place in the area I always love when they have the deep fried chicken skin appetizer I basically come here for that and the sauce ! They often have happy hour deal for appetizers and other specials nice indoor and outdoor seating. A great place to eat in person or to door dash I often do both and find it sometimes better then both the spots in Dixon read more

I think this place is overall good. Interesting interior and flavors. I always appreciate vegetarian options. The coconut and mango rice was absolutely delicious, and I highly recommend trying it out, as it is seasonal! Definitely unique and worth ordering. read more

Thai Canteen - Coconut Rice and Mango - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

See all

This place got cheaper I think for around ~16 for a larger entree. On a Thursday night there wasn't a wait. Weekends get very busy expect a wait in line to order and pay and a wait for the food. Food isn't super authentic but for me as a nonThai person it's good. Pretty much the only place for Thai food in town. I will be coming back, but the cup I got was filthy with white gunk on the lip. Pretty disgusting. Otherwise normally nice enough service. Nicer more upscale ambience in a nice part of downtown, just surprising that you pay before getting your food and you havr to get your own water and sauces. read more

Food was great and slightly spicy just like Bay Area Thai restaurants. We ordered at the counter which was fast service. The food arrived not long after we ordered. Comfortable community style seating in the front area.It is our new go to Thai restaurant when we visit UC Davis. Go Bears!! read more

See all

The best Thai restaurant in Davis. We came on a a Saturday for lunch, and it wasn't too busy. Staff took our order at the front, and we were seated immediately. I ordered the Pad Si Ew with Chicken, and it was flavorful. Thai Tea was amazing and refreshing. Thai Tea was cheap, but food prices are kind of high considering the serving. Will definitely go back when I am craving Thai food. read more

Thai Canteen - Thai iced tea - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

See all

Thai Canteen has been one of my favorites since I attended UC Davis over a decade ago. Their pad si ew is one of my favorites, their pad Thai isn't pad as well as all of their other dishes and drinks! You order and can sit anywhere or take it out and service is quick. They also sell beer and have tons of drinks. I remember hosting one of my graduation dinners here and they were able to accommodate our party without having a reservation but that was years ago. This place is also open pretty late too. Parking can get busy downtown if it's busy. read more

See all

I've probably eaten here over 20 times and every time it is delicious! Thai Canteen is my favorite Thai restaurant in Davis! Love that they have so many vegetarian options as you can select tofu as your protein for many of their dishes! My favorite has to be their pad thai, pad si ew, and thai fried rice. This time we ordered their pad thai and pad si ew, both with tofu. It tasted as delicious as always - flavorful and perfectly cooked noodles! No doubt that I will be back for my next Thai food craving! read more

Thai Canteen - pad thai with tofu - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

See all

Came back here for my sisters graduation on Saturday (Go Ags!). Surprisingly wasn't as packed as I thought it would be. The server was very patient with my family and all the questions they had regarding the food. I ordered the Pad Med Mamuang with beef and an iced thai tea. I don't know if it was the hunger getting to me but I have to say this is the best meal I've had at Thai Canteen. The beef was crunchy and paired really well with the cashews and water chestnuts. Compared to the other noodle dishes my family got, it was a way bigger portion. And for the price?? What a steal. The Thai tea never misses here, however this time it was lackluster and had a bland taste. Not sure what happened there but over all I'm so glad I was able to visit one last time. read more

Thai Canteen - 10 Pad Med Mamuang - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

See all

For the price, it's probably the best Thai place in Davis. Great portions and pretty quick service. I've tried some of the more popular dishes: the green curry and rice, pad Thai, and pad si ewe. None of these disappoint, and by the looks of it the other options are good as well. Just be wary if you order spicy. Medium and above is may be too much if you don't have high tolerance Another plus is that it's right next to Davis Creamery! read more

Thai Canteen - Pad Thai w/ Calamari - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

I feel conflicted giving this restaurant two stars. On one hand, the Gkuay Dtiow Reur here is excellent and they have a wide array of Thai dishes available here. On the other hand, the quality of service varies wildly. The first time I dined in here, the servers were great and friendly. The second time I came, the two servers I had made me feel unwelcome. I had come in shortly before happy hour (about a few minutes before) and ordered one main course. However, the server was struggling a bit with the machine (which isn't a problem in my opinion, I don't mind waiting) for a while. I noticed it was happy hour in the middle of this and asked her if I could add an appetizer to my order. She visibly rolled her eyes befitting adding it :/ During this whole ordeal, the servers spoke rather coldly to me. Normally, I've would've interpreted their tones in good faith, but the eye rolling and overt exasperation makes me assume that they were being intentionally disparaging and rude. It was really an unpleasant way to start a meal, especially since I was looking to treat myself after finishing one of my finals. As for the ambiance, the restaurant itself is nice and has a casual sort of feel, but I just felt on edge the whole time during my second visit. Overall, I cannot recommend dining in here. They have some excellent dishes (I ordered takeout from here five times and enjoyed it each time), but the service during my second visit makes me loath to recommend this place to anyone :/ read more

It's been 10 years since we last ate here and the fact that this restaurant is still busy and thriving proves the quality of food and flavor from this establishment. Absolutely delicious meal. They do not disappoint with their pad Thai. We also had pad kee mao. Pad see ew, and yellow curry. All were delightful and dishes were completely cleaned even though we can in "not that hungry" I also have to mentioned the Tom Yum beer was has unique flavor. read more

Wow this place surprised me. I didn't realize Davis had a Thai restaurant that met my flavor expectations. I came here on a Wednesday afternoon in a party of 5 and the place wasn't crowded. You order up front, find a place to sit, and the server will bring your order to you. There is adequate seating available at Thai canteen. I ordered the Pad Thai with chicken and can confidently say it was one of the best pad Thai's I've had. I could tell right off the bat that it was going to be flavorful since the color was a rich, dark orange. The portion was pretty generous too. I also appreciated that thai canteen had additional chili sauce, chili flakes, limes, etc. to pair with the dish. Would definitely recommend this place if you're craving thai cuisine! read more

Thai Canteen - Pad thai - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

Do not order to go, the portion size is ridiculous, they give you more rice than curry read more

Thai Canteen - Yellow curry - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

Stopped in for the first time on a Sunday evening. It was busy but still plenty of seats available. You order first then find a seat. Our food took awhile. Ordered green curry chicken, pad Thai & shrimp with Thai garlic sauce #3. Everything was tasty. I will be back to try the other dishes. I was so disappointed as I tried ordering the mango rice dessert but was told it's only available to order during the summer. Not sure why as I've ordered mango sticky rice at many other Thai restaurants. Update- Came back a week later and they are now serving the mango sticky rice. It was really good. I also tried Pad ma kur-kai dow. It's Very tasty. read more

See all

I'm not sure why this place has 3.6 stars because I think the food is great. I got the pad kee mao, and it was delicious. We ate outside and the weather was also perfect! read more

Thai Canteen - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

Service is terrible . I had gone a few days ago idk what her name is but she needs to fix her attitude she looked like she didn't want to be there read more

I see why this place is popular, this is a College, Town and students living on a budget can get a decent portion of Thai food for a moderate price. The menu is non-standard for a Thai restaurant, but I think this restaurant, again, is catering to the college crowd. All entrées come with rice, except the noodles, sides & appetizers. When you get to the front be ready to order ... if you asked him any questions, you might have a flashback to the Seinfeld episode of the soup N**i . We stopped into this joint to grab a quick bite. But because of the line to order and how crowded the dining room was, it was not too quick of a bite. The atmosphere in the restaurant had a positive buzz of useful energy.! read more

See all

Pad khing. Brown rice plus calamari $19 plus $ tax and charges so $21 tasty but only one piece of calamari chinzy read more

Thai Canteen - 8 Pad Khing with calamari Was tasty but Only one piece of calamari For $20 because upcharge for brown rice upcharge for calamari - Thai Near Me - Davis, California

While the food is fantastic and the service is generally good on occasion the manager (or shift lead) can be extremely rude and hostile