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    Thai Esan

    4.3 (311 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Laotian
    Open 11:00 am - 3:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Order Thai Esan Takeout or Delivery

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    THAI ESAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Thai Esan

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    Thai Salad - so fresh
    Amber B.

    I took a chance tonight and it PAID off!! This is the best Wonton soup I've ever eaten!! Chicken broth wontons stuffed with pork and shrimp, cooked with assorted vegetables - the broth was so garlicky and delicious. The Thai Salad looks so beautiful even as an Uber eats order! They actually care about their food and how it's presented. This will be on regular rotation when in Chattanooga or East Ridge!!

    Mixed Vegetables
    Kevin K.

    We are enjoying the Thai cuisine a lot lately. The stop at Thai Esan provided us with a convenient location, fresh veggies and hot rice. We entered a storefront buzzing with activity. After ordering we waited for our meal while listening to a Thai symphony of voices slightly muffled behind the wall in the adjacent kitchen--the rhythmic chopping of the tofu, veggies and laughter. This is always a good sign of a great meal on the way. Our food arrived quickly even though the store was busy. It was hot and delicious. The service was efficient and warmed as the staff caught up to the orders. Keep in mind that they break between the lunch and supper hours by closing the store. So stop in and, well...Thai one on!

    Pad Thai
    Ebony A.

    Easily the best Thai food in Chattanooga. Easily. I've tried Thai food in so many cities: Atlanta, San Francisco, Tahoe, Austin, Seattle, LA, NY...and Thai esan is definitely in my top 5 spots for yummy Thai cuisine. We were also greeted with kindest which was a plus plus in my book. The pad Thai was so flavorful and beyond delicious! The noodles were fresh and didn't turn gummy like most pad dishes do after 10 min. The spring rolls were crispy, hot, and hugged with a lil peppery spice!! The food smelled so good, hubby and I ate the takeout in the car lol My only complaint is how expensive the spring rolls were: $7.50 for 4 egg rolls, which is kinda crazy! That's my only complaint though. If they lower the price to $4 or $5, I guarantee more people will try them and even by more than 1 order.

    Menu
    Chris S.

    Located along Ringgold Blvd. in a strip mall, you need to know where you are going to not drive by. There is a marque at the street, but it is easy to lose in the background. The sign over the storefront is much larger, so once you turn into the parking lot, you can easily find the restaurant. Parking is adjacent to the building or across a traffic lane. The traffic lane is fairly wide, so crossing should not be an issue. I didn't specifically notice a handicapped space, but there are no steps so proximity to the door is the main advantage here. Walking in, there is a counter directly across from the door, with seating to either side. Seating is both tables and booths, for maybe 25 people. Everything is bright and clean with minimal decorations, but certainly not Spartan. The waitress came to our booth after a few minutes with menus, and took our drink order. There was only one person working the front, but I never felt we waited too long for anything, even when it got a little busy. Our food took maybe 15 minutes to come out. It arrived in three deliveries a couple minutes apart, I assume as soon as each one came off the stove, so they were as fresh and hot as possible. The spring rolls were hot and crispy. The veggies inside were crisp and the dipping sauce had a slight heat, but was only noticeable, not distracting. My red curry was excellent. All ingredients were fresh, including the basil leaves which added a very nice flavor. The snow peas stir fry was also very good, with fresh veggies in a light oyster sauce. The Pad Kee Mao was also very good, again with fresh vegetables and excellent flavors. Take note of the heat ratings on the menu. I like some spice so I ordered the medium, and it was on the upper side of what I like. Certainly within my range but it may trend higher than other places. My dining partner likes hotter than I do and ordered the hot, which was also at the upper end of their range. We also had some order no spice, and they were very happy with their dishes. I am curious just how spicy the "make me cry" heat rating is, but I won't be the one to order it. Thai Esan is certainly a gem within an unassuming strip mall. Their menu is broad enough to provide ample choices for multiple trips, and the spice level can please any palate.

    the interior of a restaurant
    Vladmir T.

    Friendly Service, Good Food... Pad Thai is good here, so far that's all I have tried I think. The service is very polite here, I think it's a family owned spot. All in all a good place to feed your inner animal before it starts biting people....

    Pad Thai
    Kelly L.

    Wow!! Some random lady at McKay's suggested Thai Esan to me a while back. We live about 1.5 hours away, but visit the area often, and finally tried Thai Esan yesterday. wow!! We will definitely be back! We had fresh rolls & Thai dumplings for appetizers, red curry, pad Thai & the kids had some fried rice. Everything was delicious, fresh, and came out steaming hot! I would gather by the traffic it is a well loved local place. We walked in at nearly 1pm and shortly thereafter the place was packed & a constant stream of carry out! The staff were really sweet.

    Pad Kee Mao
    Michelle G.

    Yes! Yes! Yes! The answer is yes, this is what you want for diver tonight! Started out with the dumplings and they tasted so fresh and delicious. Their special house sauce was the Cherry on top. My husband got the drunken noodles (pad kee mao) and they were packed with flavor. I had the chicken satay with a side of egg fried rice. Absolutely amazing and filling. I have enough for lunch tomorrow and can't wait! Excellent service to boot!!!

    Papaya Salad

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    4 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Cold food when I got it after an hour from to-go. Poor lady out front nice but needed help!

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    7 months ago

    Very authentic food and friendly environment. Food come out quick and they have amazing staff and service.

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    10 months ago

    Best Thai food in Chattanooga, hands down. Always get a curry, they are all amazing. Nice people, clean and efficient.

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    1 year ago

    They have some of the best, most flavorful pho I have ever had. I will definitely be back next time I'm passing through Chattanooga.

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Website is impossible to order delivery from keeps cycling me to Yelp which is the worst

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Thai Esan

    Has anyone had trouble getting through via phone to place a to go order? I've gotten a busy signal for last 20 minutes

    Yes, we had that frequently as well. They don't put their phone back on the hook when they are extremely busy in the Restaurant.

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    Sticky Rice Cafe

    Sticky Rice Cafe

    4.6
    (846 reviews)
    93.1 mi
    $$

    What a great recommendation!!! first off I have spent quite…read morea while looking for fresh spring rolls... and then I was told Sticky Rice Café has them! They do and they are delicious... served with peanuts sauce, of course From the moment we walked in the energy, vibe and passion was apparent!! Our server was Tre... He asked us if we had eaten there before which we told him we had not so he took the time and explained the menu the food and also his favorite pics. He explained grandma's sauces and gave us a great education on the type of food that we would be ordering! After the spring rolls, my husband ordered the dinner portion of grilled pork chops. BIINGMOO and I ordered PAD KEE MAO.... This is wide noodles in an amazing sauce and you have your choice of beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, or tofu to be added. I chose beef......Tre brought three little dishes to sample three at grandma's sauces which all had amazing flavors with a little bit of heat... our meals were brought to us and of course we tasted each other's meals and we're amazed at the freshness, flavor and the size. Oh my goodness this is a place that if you enjoy fresh food with an Asian twist, you need to try it. Grandma sauces can be purchased as they are bottled for sale as well. Service was wonderful to go food going out the door was nonstop. And we were lucky enough to sit at the far back of the restaurant next to the kitchen, so we got to watch all of the different platings coming out.... And we just need to start at the top of the menu and work our way down because everything looks wonderful. Happy people, happy servers, great vibe. There is a bar off to the side, which basically was full the entire time we were there. Really a very nice experience five stars and two thumbs up!!!!

    Still great consistent service and tasty food. Truly an asset to Knoxville dining. We visited again…read moretoday and we have zero complaints. Since moving into the bigger location it's easier to be seated quickly. The dining room is welcoming, open and super clean. Everyone on staff is eager to help even if they are not your specific waitress. **Tip take home a jar of your favorite sauce. They sell them!

    Photos
    Sticky Rice Cafe
    Eating some protein with plenty of beef laab. #alsopho #grandmastyle
    Eating some protein with plenty of beef laab. #alsopho #grandmastyle
    Loa sandwich. (Very similar to a bahn mi). It was incredible!

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    Loa sandwich. (Very similar to a bahn mi). It was incredible!
    Sabaidee Cafe

    Sabaidee Cafe

    4.2
    (342 reviews)
    89.4 mi
    $$

    Stopped by Sabaidee Cafe for a late Sunday lunch with my daughter, and as always, it did not…read moredisappoint! We ordered the green bean salad, fried meatballs, Firecracker Shrimp, 505 fried chicken skins, and chicken Pad Thai, along with a green Thai tea. The green bean salad at level 3 spice was perfect--just the right amount of heat with a fresh, crunchy texture that made every bite enjoyable.The Firecracker Shrimp definitely lived up to its name with a nice kick, while the fried meatballs were cooked perfectly--crispy on the outside, soft with a pleasant chew on the inside. Both paired wonderfully with the sweet chili sauce served alongside them.The 505 fried chicken skins were another standout. They had the perfect crunch and the seasoning added just enough spice to keep you reaching for another piece. To cool things down, I ordered the green Thai tea, which was sweet, refreshing, and the perfect complement to all the spicy dishes. The chicken Pad Thai is always a favorite. The noodles have that perfect chewy texture, and the portion size is generous enough to enjoy for a second meal later. Our server was Jaylin and she was ate five and came by to check in to make sure we didn't need anything! The cafe has a laid back atmosphere. Sabaidee Cafe continues to be one of my go-to spots for consistently delicious food, generous portions, and great flavors. Highly recommend!

    I ordered takeout, and when I arrived, my food was not ready. I asked the waiter to let me know how…read moremuch longer it would take, and he told me it was being prepared and would be ready in two or three minutes at most. However, I ended up waiting there for nearly 30 minutes. Every ten minutes, I went back and asked again if he could please give me an accurate estimate, because I was in a real hurry and needed to get back to work. Each time, he kept saying "just five more minutes." Eventually, he went into the kitchen, and the chef came out and started speaking to me in a very rude tone. When I tried again to ask how much longer I needed to wait for an order that had been placed an hour earlier, he didn't even listen to me, cut me off mid-conversation, and walked away. Their behavior was extremely unprofessional, unfriendly, and disrespectful. This is not something I will forget, and I'm sure they treat other customers the same way. They should understand that this is the United States, where customer service truly matters, and it's the customers who give value and credibility to a business. Based on their behavior, it honestly felt like I wasn't in the U.S., but somewhere with very poor customer service standards.

    Photos
    Sabaidee Cafe
    505 Fried Chicken Skins
    505 Fried Chicken Skins
    Pho Chicken my wife brought me to go from Sabaidee Cafe. The flavors and textures are just so good!

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    Pho Chicken my wife brought me to go from Sabaidee Cafe. The flavors and textures are just so good!
    Baan Thai

    Baan Thai

    3.8
    (31 reviews)
    9.2 mi

    Don't think about it, just go! The food is flavorful, well prepare, and authentic. The employees…read moreare very kind and hospitable. I ordered the Pad See Maw (Drunken noodles) with chicken and it exploded with flavor. The touch of basil was perfect and blended well with the noodles. I ordered it with medium spice and it was just right. This puts Ringgold on the map for me. Please support this business. I want this place to be here for years to come.

    I came here with a friend for a late lunch in the afternoon. The restaurant is located in a small…read moreplaza with other businesses like the Grocery Outlet and Dollar Tree. So there was a good-sized parking lot with alot of parking spaces. I got the Chicken Pad Thai at medium spice and a Thai Tea with boba. My friend and I also split eggrolls. I have to say, those eggrolls were phenomenal. They were just perfect in every way, they had a very crispy golden texture on the outside. The filling was very flavorful, the meat was seasoned well. I loved everything about it and out of the many Asian restaurants I've been to in the area, their eggrolls are my favorite and at the top of my list. My Chicken Pad Thai was decent. The spice level was perfect, flavor was good, and the portion size was very nice. For me, I feel like flavor could've been a little stronger, it just felt weak to me. My entree was okay, not bad at all by any means, but it just wasn't my favorite. It didn't stand out to me. I'd probably go to another place for their Pad Thai rather than here. The Thai Tea itself was delicious, it was sweet, creamy, and still had that Thai Tea flavor that shined through. However the boba/tapioca pearls were very tough. It was very tough and hard to chew. It didn't taste like a fresh batch, they weren't soft and chewy at all so I'm assuming it's from an older batch from a couple hours ago. The inside was alright, there were many tables to sit and eat at. Once we got inside, the server told us to sit anywhere we'd like and order at the front. But once I made my way to the cashier to order, the floor was very sticky. It was noticeable with every step I took. We had a decent experience, but I'm not sure I'd return.

    Photos
    Amazing new menu and the owner super nice
    Amazing new menu and the owner super nice
    Eggrolls
    Eggrolls
    Menu

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    Menu
    Som-Tum Thai

    Som-Tum Thai

    4.2
    (73 reviews)
    85.2 mi

    Som Thum Thai is one of my favorite spots! The food is always fresh, flavorful, and consistently…read moredelicious. I come back regularly for the kao piek. it never disappoints. The som thum is perfectly balanced, and they can make it just the way you like it. I ordered mine at spice level 7, and it was perfect! The ginger salt and pepper shrimp and squid are a must-try. They're crispy, well-seasoned, and packed with flavor. On my latest visit, I tried the Pad Thai for the first time, and it was excellent! great flavor without being overly sweet. The service is always friendly, and the food comes out quickly. If you're looking for authentic Thai and Lao flavors, I highly recommend Som Thum Thai. I'll definitely be back!

    Som-Tum Thai is a nice smaller restaurant. It has some nice decor and appears to be nice and clean…read more Also, they played some lively background music. The service was very friendly. I placed a to-go order of sesame chicken with fried rice, wonton soup and chicken fresh rolls. My order took about 10-15 minutes. So it did take not too long. The food was prepared fresh so everything was nice a hot even after a short 10 min drive to get back home. The wonton soup was excellent. The chicken fresh rolls were decent, but some of the lettuce was not so fresh. Also, the peanut sauce was a little runny for my taste. The sesame chicken was pretty good, however, the fried rice was a little bland. Overall, I would say it was a decent lunch. But I would say, considering they are a little pricier than most Thai restaurants, I was expecting a little more wow. I will definitely give them another try.

    Photos
    Som-Tum Thai
    Mi-korb
    Mi-korb
    Som-Tum Thai

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    Thai Esan - thai - Updated August 2026

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