Wow! what a great hidden find. Located in a strip mall among some questionable shops, You will find some hard to find Amazing Thai Food. It quite possibly is the best in the area. While It isn't the fanciest place, it sure serves great food. The Yellow curry was great and had good flavor. The Drunken Noodles were amazing, especially when asked for extra hot. The fresh rolls were crisp, fragrant, and tasted fresh. They were also served with some of the best peanut sauce - Very flavorful! read more

Stopped by nearby Chattanooga for a road trip and found this place for dinner on a Saturday night. Glad we ran into this place but this is a legit Thai restaurant. I always get pad thai for my meal and this time I got it with beef and spicy level 3. This was delicious! Decent amount of meat & It's more on the *wet* side of noodles which I'm totally fine with it. I also love how bean sprouts are cooked & incorporated with the noodles instead of being off to the side. I finished about 3/4 of it until I was full and took the rest in a to-go box. My meal was about $10 which is an average price for decent pad thai. It's a fairly small restaurant and about 3/4 packed on a Saturday night. Servers were super nice and accommodating. Really solid food and worth a stop by if you're craving Asian food in the area! read more

Thai Esan - pad thai - Thai Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

My sister and her family have been eating here for a while and have always raved about the quality/quantity of her weekly meals. So I suggested eating there to celebrate Mother's Day with the family. The portions are large...very large and very hot when they come out of the kitchen. The flavors are good, especially when you specify the heat index. The service is attentive and friendly. The locale is unassuming and I can appreciate that what I'm paying for is good food, not location. They received a 4 Bc they were slammed and it took forever (over 45 minutes) to get our food. read more

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As one who is a grand fan of Thai food and a guest of the country on man occasions, I am confident I know good thai food. the menu doesnt have to be fancy or be populated with dozens of dishes to translate into the right stuff. I have my preferences but I'd rather make choices from a small menu with a modest atmosphere. They make their priority the food - not the impressive list or the decor. This is how it goes in Thailand. Eat where the locals eat and you will get the real deal. This is how I rate this place. No frills. Good friendly service and great, authentic thai food st very reasonable prices read more

Someone nailed it, "Something's missing." That's exactly how we described the Sweet Basil Friday night. Ginger? More basil? More fish sauce? Not sure but weak compared to the complexity it used to have. The Green Curry with Chicken was spot on, though would have liked the chicken pieces and Thai basil in a little smaller pieces. But a LOT of chicken in it. New decor is mixed, better walls and tables, the western wagon wheel and unfinished counter is weird. read more

In general the food was very good and we would recommend them for anyone who was planning on eating at home. Three problem we ran into was assuming that we could find ap park or a scenic over view and eat in the car or in a park bench. The meal kits as I just read on Yelp's description do not send themselves to that approach. Otherwise the spring rolls and vegetable stir fried rice with chicken were excellent. read more

While the restaurant itself is not much to look at, don't let that fool you the food is quite good. Having visited Thailand many times, the food is as authentic as you're going to find at least in the Chattanaoga area. The entree portions are absolutely huge. Two people can easily eat, maybe three. The service is a little slow but worth the wait. The food is always freshly prepared and hot. I had the pineapple fried rice with shrimp and really enjoyed it. Just enough spice and full of flavor. My wife and son had Pad See Ew (a flat noodle dish with meat and vegetables). Both liked it so much they convinced me to take a bite. I really liked it too. A very savory dish. Overall I would say I was happy with my dinner experience. The food is the star of the show. This is authentic Thai food and not westernized cooking. Give them a try... read more

Thai Esan - Pineapple fried rice - Thai Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

This has quickly become our go-to Thai place in Chattanooga. The prices can't be beat, portions are large, and the flavor always wows us. It's a bit of a hole in the wall, but don't let the exterior turn you away. The Yellow Curry, Pad Thai, and Fried Rice are all delicious. My one qualm is that I'm a wimp for spice, and the mild curry and Pad Thai were a bit spicier than I would have liked. But I plowed through the burn because the food is just that good. One other thing that impressed me, we ordered takeout and they put the Pad Thai in aluminum foil inside of the carry out tray in order to keep the food hot and fresh. read more

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Found this place on vacation. Food was fresh and delicious. Service was fast and attentive. Prices were very reasonable. Came back again the next day!! read more

I went there with my family on a Saturday night close to 8pm. It was a busy place due to carry out orders plus few dinning in. Dine-in area has about 10 tables. There are only 2 servers taking care of dine in and pick ups so it appeared that they are serving dine-in between pick up orders. The food was amazing probably best in Chattanooga as far as Thai food so 5 stars but the service is 3 stars at best. We ordered spring rolls and fresh rolls. Server brought both out then said will come back with plates but got busy with preparing a carry out order. I had to come to counter request plates. We where seated all 5 in booth for 4 so had to wait for bigger table to clear out. There was one long table free in middle but uncomfortable since right by the cashier and traffic area people coming for carry out. Everything we ordered was excellent, pad Thai, panang chicken, masaman beef. Kids rice noodles and pho. All very flavorful and portions are excellent and for a very reasonable prices. We where not asked how spicy so the panang has a little kick but not too spicy per Thai food standard. So, recommendations: if you are interested in carry out, this place should be top on your list. If are interested in dinning in, should not be your top choice but may be on a slower time of the day things may be different. Overall excellent food and nice staff. read more

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Returned few weeks ago and the food just not the same! It's more Chinese flavored than proper Thai food. The pad Thai was a miss, the fried rice was more Chinese fast food takeout. Their pho is still good everything else was just off. read more

As a person who lives in East Ridge, I am certainly a frequent visitor at Thai Esan. I love this place because the food is always consistent and extremely delicious. I highly recommend the Red Curry and Masaman Curry. I get it "Medium" and ask for extra chili flakes on the side to fully customize my spice level. If you love traditional Thai food, I definitely recommend giving Thai Esan a try. read more

All the best Thai food comes from places you can describe as "a hole in the wall" and this place is no exception. Wow. The food is truly exceptional. It is worth the detour you will have to make to jump off the interstate, despite its humble digs. The service is thoughtful and detail-oriented. The spice level was spot-on. If you are a true Thai food aficionado, this is your place. Our party enjoyed the yellow curry, the Pad Thai with beef, chicken fried rice, the Tom Yom Gai soup (spicy lemongrass with chicken), as well as the Tom Kha Gai soup (coconut milk and lime with chicken). read more

Always great food. Inconsistent with the heat levels. I usually order hot. Sometimes it is and sometimes it's not. Last time was way too hot to eat. read more

The best Thai I've had in Chattanooga! The location is nothing fancy and it looks a little like a diner from the inside but don't be fooled, this place cranks out some delicious dishes! You get a great value for you money and they have a wide variety of salads, noodles and curries. My husband and I have had a couple different dishes and never had a bad one. The pad thai is obviously a popular dish everywhere and maybe it's just so common that this one is just not isn't the best. An absolute must try is the Yum Voon Saine!! Not only does it come out looking beautifully colorful but the flavors are amazing! It is a salad but my husband and I usually split this as an app before our meal because it's so yummy but not to filling or heavy. read more

Thai Esan - Thai Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Don't let this place fool you. This has been some of the best Thai food I have had in Chattanooga. It looks like a basic little restaurant but that kitchen is making magic. Our server was so attentive and kind. Our food came out surprisingly quick. I ordered the Pad See Ew at 3 spicy and my daughter got the Pad Thai, both with chicken. The spices in mine were just the right amount of spicy without ruining the meal. Then for dessert we got the mango sticky rice, which I highly recommend. It was fresh and sweet. The prices were very reasonable too! I can not wait to go back! read more

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Unreliable, says they're open , travel off interstate through traffic to find them and they say they'll reopen 2 hrs later . Website said they closed in 1 hour for break before dinner. People were eating and being served. I don't care if the Panang or Pad Se ewe is the best in the world won't be back! I explained that we came off the interstate! They didn't care! read more

Absolutely delicious. We went on a busy Friday night but got a table right away. They were so quick and efficient while being so sweet. Food was fresh, authentic, and delicious. read more

First time here. Got some food to go: green curry with mixed vegetables & their "fresh rolls". Their food is amazing! Super fresh, spicy where it needed to be, and the best spring rolls in the world. The basil in the rolls and the sauce was...wow! I'll be back again. read more

I'm from Memphis. This is the best Thai restaurant I have ever tried before. Everything is so good. Love the Pad Thai and papaya salad read more

Thai Esan - Papaya salad - Thai Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

We are people of color and the treatment was rude. We called in at 8:15 pm and were told that indoor seating is available as long as we get here by 8:30. We'll we step in at 8:28 and were told that they won't offer dining in. The tone was impolite and the behavior was aggressive, showing us the clock on the wall and it definitely was not 8:30. With all the craziness going around Asian people, we wanted to support and this is how we were treated. Sorry, no business from Us Ever. read more

The Pho is the best I have ever had. Gracious staff. Go once a week, you won't be disappointed.

Located in a hole in the wall strip mall, which is often a good thing. Tried the cashew chicken. Clean and well prepared. Not fantastic, lacked flavor, but I would return to try more. read more

Thai Esan - Thai Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Took 15 minutes before our food order was taken then another 45 minutes before some of our food came out. We came before the rush and somehow 4 tables after us has gotten their food first. The server was nice but in-experience, and the other staff can care less. The corner section we sat at was also dirty and the vent hasn't been cleaned for years. Not a good experience for our first time here. So ended up cancelling the rest of our orders. read more

Overall I really liked this place. It's unassuming but the staff is really friendly and the food is good. It's just wasn't overwhelming to me to give 4 stars, but I would definitely try again. We got the spring rolls and they came out hot and were really good. I'm not good with spicy and the sauce was a sweet with a kick. I asked for one without so much kick and they brought out a less spicy version which was good. I had the chicken pad thai and it was good. It had a little bit different flavor than I'm used to. But was fresh and cooked well. I will be back as this is good thai and the staff is friendly and helpful. read more

For a small storefront restaurant in a small strip mall, the service is good and the food is excellent.

Pad Thai. All day, every day. Arguably some of the best Pad Thai in the city. Cannot recommend Thai Esan enough.

Best this place may not be well Decorated and fancy looking but it's the best Thai restaurant in town. read more

It's just good every freaking time. Cheap food made authentically. Thai spicy is NO JOKE

The pho is good, kinda salty. Love the roasted garlic they add too it. Coffee is overly sweetened and they use half n half. Traditional vietnamese coffee is usually done with condensed milk. Also their roast tasted bitter and burnt. I come from a little place in California known as little Saigon. Which is filled with authentic vietnamese food, I know good pho. 1st experience was good. Second not so much. The staff looked grumpy and irritated right when I was seated. I have a 2 and 4 year old. My 2 year old was throwing a tantrum as I was checking out and my 4 year old fell so she also was crying. They gave me dirty looks. They were rolling their eyes. Little kids have big emotions you cannot always control. Uh, I just spent $40 on just me and my toddlers, you could be a little more patient. They got my order wrong after waiting 30 mins for food. The lady said it was my fault I ordered 1 noodle not 2. Not the case I think I know to order 2 noodles considering I have two kids. Maybe they were having a bad day. I was. You never know what people are going through. I would go back. I just feel they do not welcome children. read more

This was a fun experience. Went with Yelper Stacy J for an early dinner. We tried a few different things and most were really good. I've read the reviews for this place and so I was really looking forward to it. First Stacy ordered the green papaya salad. It was salty and very fish sauce tasting. Not my favorite thing but it was decent. My fellow Yelper loved it. Then I ordered Panang curry with chicken. One of my all-time fav dishes. I was a bit concerned about the heat level according to the reviews so I went pretty conservative with a 2. I could have upped it to a 3 and been good. This was delish. What I love about Panang is the contrasting flavors of the spicy and the sweet of the coconut milk. So smooth. I'll try it with the beef next time. I then noticed that they had Pho on the menu...WHAT?!?!? If you've read any of my reviews you know I'm cuckoo for Pho and there are only a couple of places in town that serve it. This would be a bit lower on my list of places that serve it. The broth was a bit salty but I usually add a bit of hoisin to it so it balanced it all right. It's nice to have an option for Pho over in East Ridge. Pho is so popular in many cities. I'm just waiting for it to really catch fire here in ChattTown. I would be in heaven. I took a couple of bites of the panang and then concentrated on my soup. I took my panang to go and had it the next day and it was great. We also tried the Pad Thai, as my friend said, this is how she judges a Thai place. The most popular Thai dish in the US, I think. The color of the dish was gorgeous. a redish pink with visible chili flakes in it. Surprisingly though, it was really sweet and not much spice at all. I liked it but would have liked some heat to it. The consensus was that this is a good place and will definitely be back to try more dishes. I really gotta try the spicy basil noodles. Now that's my go-to Thai dish next to panang. read more

Pad Thai is amazing their shrimp is great flavor as well. Best pad Thai in Chattanooga!!

The food is flawless. The service is less than attentive. BUT it is quite friendly! (And I always going during the lunch rush, so part of that is on me) If you're an impatient guest, or have a need for fancy bells and whistles - I don't think you'd be satisfied. However, if you want the best food, then take a deep breath and dive right in. The ambiance is strip mall chic, and you're going to get a canned soda should that be your beverage choice... But my gosh the food is top notch. My parties have ordered several things; from apps, soups, curries and good old fried rice. Seriously, the Spicy Fried Rice is my new favorite comfort food! I took heed from other reviews and ordered food at medium spicy, and it was still above what I've received at other Thai restaurants around town. Go immediately. Keep this local place up and running. They deserve all the Thai Lovers' business. read more

Thai Esan - Table spices. - Thai Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Simply amazing! One of the best Thai restaurants that I've been too! It's tucked away in a small shopping center so it may be easy to miss. I read a few reviews before deciding on this place. Well it certainly lived up beyond my expectations. The waitress was attentive the whole time. My table started off with some fried egg rolls. I had wanted to try their spring rolls but unfortunately they were out. The egg rolls were crispy and flavorful. The dipping sauce complimented them very well. I also was able to try their Thai tea. Wow! It was delicious! Refreshing and sweet, but not insanely sweet. I ordered my favorite go-to dish: Green curry. You can alter the level of spiciness according to their chart provided on the menu. I chose mild since I'm not a fan of crazy spicy. The dish was so wonderful. Lots of veggies and the curry was great! The portion I received was huge! I barely finished half even though I wanted to keep eating it. That's how good it was! I also took a couple of bites off my boyfriend's pad thai. It was amazing! He was shocked by how huge his portion was. Our friend that we brought really enjoyed his Pad See Ew and fried rice as well. I find the prices here to be cheap especially since the portions are very generous. It's a must visit if you're looking for great Thai food in Chattanooga. Next time I visit again on vacation, I'm certainly stopping by! I'm craving it as I write this review! read more

Thai Esan - Green curry - Thai Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

For years, I have been frustrated with the Asian cuisine in the Chattanooga region. There is some decent tasting food at many of the restaurants, but few have many authentic qualities. Then, I found Thai Esan through the Date Night Dining article on Nooga.com. The food at Thai Esan is excellent! Here are some of my favorites: - Fresh Rolls: these are the best fresh spring rolls in town. They come with a chili/citrus and a peanut sauce that are both delicious! When you order them, ask them to NOT cut the fresh rolls up. They're a lot less messy when they are whole. - Pho: This pho is the real deal! And, even though it is not Thai, the pho is actual beef bone broth (not a broth mix), it is freshly made, and when you take it home for leftovers, you have to reheat it from a "gel". Yum. It is excellent! Say goodbye to Noodle and Pho's basic broth, and say hello to Thai Esan for your pho fix! - The Thai salads are killer and so delicious... papaya, beef, glass noodle... mmmm! - All of the mains I have had were solid, and some were surprisingly exceptional! Give Thai Esan a try, and I bet you will be coming back for more and more and more. :-) read more

I love Thai food, and Thai Esan did not disappoint. What I appreciate about this place are their spice levels. Keep in mind their spicy is Asian level spicy, so mild was enough to make me break a sweat. I ordered the chicken Panang curry. It was delicious. One serving of it was enough for 2-3 meals. They were very generous with the meat and vegetables. I was too full by the end to try any desserts. Service was very quick and nice too! read more

Thai Esan - Chicken panang curry - Thai Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

A new favorite. We had never tried this place before. My friend and I shared an appetizer and an entree. For the appetizer we chose the Golden Puffs, which looked like fried ground meat patties with fresh jalapeños inside, served on a bed of carrots with a sweet cucumber, carrot, and peanut sauce. For the entree, we chose the Pork Pad Thai, spicy level 2. I loved the spice but my boyfriend thought it was too much, meaning next time I can add the spice separately to respect his pallet. For drinks, I ordered hot Lipton brand Jasmine tea and he had a Thai tea, both very good. I thought it was thoughtful that each table included an assortment of Thai flavored condiments. We still had leftovers and the server offered a to-go box. The server brought our check and we paid her from the table, of which she cleaned afterwards. Service was fast and accurate and the interior was neat and clean. The seating was a little worn, but comfortable and plenty. Our shared meal and drinks was twenty bucks; not bad for a tasty Sunday afternoon meal. Also, for desert, we stopped next door and ordered two fresh sliced Mangos in a cup, with some Mexican concoction on top that was amazing. I just pointed at a picture and my boyfriend tried to say the words, lol. It was a success and totally worth the slightly awkward language barrier. read more

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The girl up front yelled at my friend for no reason. She definitely doesn't need to be working in the restaurant industry. Food is decent I guess, but nothing special. I wouldn't recommend this place to anybody. read more

The young girl who works up front is extremely rude and unprofessional. To preface, I typically love eating here with my family; however, what I witnessed today was absolutely appalling and we will not be returning. I watched as the young lady (employee) berated a young woman (customer) throughout the entirety of their meal. She verbally attacked the customer very publicly and loudly for the entire restaurant to witness. The customer was just a young woman who behaved very respectfully and patiently while enduring such treatment. I have not left a bad review on any restaurant before now, but I have thought about this poor young woman and her family all day, so I feel it's only right. read more

Food use to be incredible. It is now just mediocre. I would give it a little higher rating but the girl who works the front is beyond rude. Service was awful. After trying to ask for a refill, she yelled at me from across the restaurant telling me to come up there to pay when I had not even finished my food. After my jaw was on the floor she stated, "so what do you need a box?" I stated that I was just trying to see if refills were free and she walked off. Five minutes later she came by and slammed a water glass on the table (I did not even have water). This use to be my favorite place but due to being blatantly belittled by the staff in front of the whole restaurant, I will never be back. read more