I've passed by this little restaurant on South Arroyo Parkway countless times while running errands…read moreto CVS and Petco. Last night, I finally decided to give Kwan Kitchen a try, and I'm so glad I did because everything was delicious. We started with the Chicken Satay, which was incredibly flavorful, tender, and juicy. If I had one minor critique, I would have loved a little more char on the chicken--but that's purely a personal preference. It was still absolutely delicious. Honestly, just thinking about it now is making my mouth water all over again. We also ordered the Shrimp Sticks, which had a perfectly crispy exterior with a large, juicy shrimp inside. They were cooked really well and made for a great appetizer. The restaurant itself has a cozy atmosphere. The music is kept at a low volume, making it easy to enjoy a conversation with your dining companions. One thing to note is that it stays pretty cool inside, so if you tend to get cold easily, I'd recommend bringing a light jacket. The servers were incredibly friendly and welcoming. The hospitality made it feel like you were a guest in someone's home rather than just another customer in a restaurant. For my entrée, I ordered the Pad See Ew. I didn't realize you could customize the spice level, so I ordered it with no spice to get a feel for the base flavor. Looking back, I think I should have gone with the mild spice level. The dish leaned a little sweeter than I prefer, and I think just a touch of heat would have balanced the flavors and added a bit more depth. Again, that's completely based on my personal preference. The portion size was generous, and the ratio of meat, egg, and noodles was exactly what I'd expect from a good Pad See Ew. The table next to us ordered the Chicken Wing Zaap, and I have to say--it looked exactly like the picture displayed in the front window. It smelled incredible, too, which immediately went onto my list for next time. Will I be coming back? Absolutely. I'm already looking forward to trying the Yellow Curry, the Mama Hot Pot, and those Chicken Wing Zaap that kept catching my attention all night. I wasn't in the mood for dessert this visit, but the Mango Sticky Rice looked just as beautiful as the photos. Hopefully, next time I'll save enough room to give it a try. Overall, Kwan Kitchen was a fantastic first experience. Between the delicious food, warm hospitality, and relaxed atmosphere, it's definitely a restaurant I'll be returning to. Sometimes the best places are the ones you've driven past dozens of times before finally deciding to stop in. This is one of those places.

SO AMAZING. I doubted any thai food in Pasadena can blow me away but Kwan Kitchen certainly did…read more The waitress recommended quite literally everything on the menu but we narrowed it down to yellow chicken curry, chicken wings for apps and crab fried rice. The apps came out last (go figure) and the other items came out first. Kwan's made the crab fried just right. I was concered that the crab would be old but nope, it was fresh and all the flavors were at the right levels. We asked for medium but it was a little on the spicy side. The yellow curry we had medium and that was the perfect level of spiciness. All in all a yummy dining experience and I am dying to go back. a quick warning and a note to management, the restroom could use a bit of work...

Nine & Nine is a small Thai restaurant on Colorado in Pasadena, with very generous portions of…read morefood. I stopped by here around 7PM on a Sunday and thankfully was able to find street parking quickly (bonus--parking was free on Sundays). The menu is pretty simple but has all of the Thai standards like noodles, curry, and rice dishes. I opted for the Pad Thai, which was delicious. It came with chicken as well as two pieces of shrimp, and the portion was very generous. The food also came out in around 10 minutes, which I was very grateful for as I was pretty hungry when I ordered. The cafe is fairly casual and there were several people picking up takeout orders. Most dishes were under $20 which I think is very fair in this day and age. Definitely looking to return and trying some of their other dishes (fried rice looked good, maybe I'll try that next).

Nine & Nine Thai kitchen is the definition of a great neighborhood hole in the wall spot. No…read morefrills, with just a handful of tables inside and some patio seating but the food is consistently excellent. Their daily lunch special (11am -3pm) is one of the best deals around for only $14. It comes with your preferred protein entree, a side salad, white rice and your choice of 2 egg rolls or chicken potstickers. My favorite is their cashew nut chicken, extra spicy. The beef and broccoli is great too. The food is always flavorful, fresh and the portions are generous. They have a great menu with a lot of appetizers, soups, noodles and your favorite Thai dishes. They have a nice list of dessert options including mango sticky rice and homemade coconut Ice cream. Online ordering is available too but service is always fast and friendly. Street parking is no longer free in Pasadena as of 2026. Lots of paid parking in nearby lots. This is a must try spot for authentic and affordable Thai food in Pasadena's playhouse district.

This Thai restaurant is located E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA…read more My family decided to go here for dinner, We parked from the back for more available parking. As we entered from the back, I could see you can sit outside patio too, I was very amazed at all of the unique authentic decorations. This Thai restaurant is super clean & their restrooms, highly organized & attention to details. As we are seated I can tell this is a very arm, friendly, chic, classy and elegant place! Neung was our waitress, she asked if we had any questions and we did! She answered them all beautifully. There are some many dishes to choose from : Appetizers, Soups, Salads, Curries, Stir Fry & Veggies, Fried Rice, Pan Fried Noodles, Noodles Soups, Grilled BBQ, Cold & Hot drinks, Pot of Tea, beer, white & red wines, desserts. They also have lunch specials here too! We order appetizers egg rolls, Tofu soup small, Panang Beef with white rice , Pad see ew tofu, no egg, no broccoli substitute carrots. Their portions are great here & so was their prices! Everything was delicious, mouthwatering! I never had a big chunk of tofu in my soup before, but it's was so delicious with the broth! Neung was making sure if we needed anything , she was on it! Neung was so very polite, sweet, caring , king, very genuine, down to earth! Neung has this positive upbeat energy about herself that really radiates! She is Shining Star! Her shine will never fade! Please treasure her greatly! I would love to Thank Neung for fantastic & memorable visit! I would also like to thank the other workers who helped us ! Thank you Daisy Ming for a wonderful visit ! I'll definitely tell all my family & friends to come and visit! Please be kind and courteous to these hard workers!

Always a treat!! Service a fast and friendly!…read more Food is always outstanding. Ambiance is lively...tables are close and it's a tad loud but it's a lovely local place

Open on July 4th! That alone deserves 5 stars, just kidding! Seriously, the food is truly…read moreoutstanding -- spicy flat rice noodle with beef (pad kee mao) is not overcooked like some other places ("Thai Central" in Thai Town) and has the familiar texture and 'wok air' of the Cantonese beef chow fun. The traditional pad thai is also excellent. But our favorite is the Thai curry bowl (comes with white rice)....it's the curry dish for people who don't like curry...it's that good! The satay chicken skewers are a perfect appetizer.

Smaller place than look in the picture. We got there in time with a biggest table near the entrance…read morethat 2 guests were able to leave in a minute. We've 5 people which fit well for that table of 6. Food portions are little small for that price. Taste was not bad but nothing that had made me remember. Only thing was Pad Thai noodles were pretty good & chewy in texture so not too bad. The chicken skewers were not much flavor & dry. Dishes were a bit oily. It's pricy for their portion & probably not returning for that & flavors weren't kicking. DID I MENTION ADDING BEEF (chicken is free) TOPPING TO CURRY ORDER IS +$3 & SEAFOOD I think was $8! Another thing was unhappy with them is CHARGING 20% MANDATORY TIPS! So be careful & read before you pay! We came because of Moom 48 closed today/Monday! They've better price, normal to bigger portions of food, haven't tried their lunch special yet & much bigger restaurant than here.

What I Ordered: Street Side Mango Salad ($18)…read morePad See Ew with Pork Jowl ($24) Midnight Train Fried Rice ($23) Chocolate Matcha Lava ($15) Food: The Street-side Mango Salad was light, refreshing, and packed with texture. I loved the crunch from the peanuts and the sweet-tangy dressing that tied everything together. The Pad See Ew noodles were soft and chewy with a slightly caramelized soy flavor, and the Chinese broccoli added just enough freshness to balance the dish. I absolutely loved the pork jowl, tender and soft while adding an added layer of flavor to the dish. The Midnight Train Fried Rice had a great smoky wok flavor, and the Thai sweet pork sausage added a subtle sweetness that made it stand out from other fried rice dishes I've had. For dessert, we shared the Chocolate Matcha Lava. The warm molten chocolate paired surprisingly well with the earthy matcha center, and the fresh strawberries helped keep the dessert from feeling too rich. I was surprised at how the passionfruit ice cream blended well together with the flavors of matcha and chocolate. It was one of those combinations that shouldn't work but did work. Staff: All of the staff members were friendly! They were very knowledgeable about each of the menu items. I loved that they took the time to explain some of the menu items and where they got each idea from. Ambiance: Indoor seating only. Parking consists of street parking and parking garages around downtown Pasadena. You do have to pay for parking most of the time!

Loud and crowded seating, you'll most likely be very close to someone else. The bar seats are very…read morehard. Lunch specials prices are decent $17 for main, side, soup. Plus $3 Thai tea. Thai ice tea is heavy tea/bitter flavor and thick, looks like it does come from a mix they pour from a large pre-made container so taste will be inconsistent. Thai Basil with veggies and mushrooms - flavor was good but the veggies were hard and undercooked, so I wouldn't recommend it. Also mild was pretty spicy

I tried Dalah for the first time and was greeted with the kindest staff and such a warm and…read moreinviting ambiance. The server helped us through the menu and a manager gave us a complimentary fruit salad to try. My food was delicious and I highly recommend. This is one of the finest Thai restaurants Los Angeles has to offer.

I just had the chance to try Dalah, a new spot located on Lake and Cordova. It's right across from…read moreLA Fitness, but it can be a little tricky to spot at first--just look for the red door handle! The interior is beautiful and very modern. The food really hits the spot with an authentic, homemade flavor profile. My absolute favorite was the Padthai--the noodles were perfectly chewy, and the flavor was unique compared to any other Thai spot I've been to. I especially loved that it came with Kab-Moo (Thai-style chicharron); catching those fatty, crispy bits in every bite was pure bliss. Another must-order is the Moo Ghon Tod (fried pork bites). The pork is marinated so well; it's perfectly savory and umami-rich. I could honestly eat this dish every single day. The service was also lovely--the staff even brought out an Es-Yen (Thai coffee) for me to try, which was delicious. It isn't too busy right now, but I have no doubt that there will be a line out the door very soon. If you're looking for authentic Thai food with a unique twist, I highly recommend checking this place out before it gets crowded!

Title: Finding Redemption in a Bowl: Authentic Pho & Value in Playhouse Village…read moreRating: 5/5 Stars After a disappointing experience a few months ago at another spot just a few blocks away (where we were served pho with udon-style noodles - and no, it wasn't fusion), I was hesitant to try pho in Pasadena again. But my partner has been coming to Ginger and Spice for two years, so we stopped by for a Tuesday dinner around 7:00 PM. This place restored my hope that authentic Vietnamese flavors can actually be found in Pasadena. The "Hidden Gem" Context: Located right on Colorado Blvd in the heart of Playhouse Village, a versatile spot for coworking office spaces, shopping, and local restaurants, this place is easy to miss amidst the flashier, high-end dining options nearby. But don't let the unassuming storefront fool you; this is a Playhouse Village anchor for locals who know where the real value is. The Food: - Fresh Spring Rolls ($7.85): We started with these (shrimp option, though they have tofu as well for vegetarians). Super fresh, served with peanut sauce, though I dipped mine in the fish sauce from my salad for that extra kick I grew up on. - Beef Pho ($14.45): The dish of choice for my partner, this was the redemption I needed. The broth was excellent - honestly the best pho I've had in LA so far. My partner loved it, and I deeply appreciated that they used real rice vermicelli noodles (unlike my last experience). I generally avoid beef, but I tried this and could immediately taste the work of an experienced chef using honest, traditional flavors. - Note: If you like heat, I'm planning to come back for the Spicy Pho next time. - Grilled Salad with Pork ($14.00): Since I was feeling cautious about the pho, I opted for this salad (sticking to my preference for lighter fare). It was fresh with an excellent crisp to the greens, and the pork had that signature savory marinade that pairs perfectly with fish sauce. The Menu Quirks (Know Before You Go): While we stuck to the classics, the menu here is notably broad. - The "Fusion" Angle: Alongside authentic pho, they serve a full American breakfast (French toast, eggs) and burgers. It feels a bit like an identity crisis, but the locals swear by it. - Vegetarian Friendly: Unlike many old-school spots, they offer a dedicated Vegetarian Broth and tofu options for the pho and salads, making it a legitimate destination for vegetarians. Service & Vibe: The staff was memorably friendly and efficient. It was a bit warm inside, so we grabbed one of the tables right outside on the sidewalk. It made for a nice, casual evening watching the Playhouse Village foot traffic go by. Verdict: In a neighborhood where lunch can easily hit $25+, Ginger and Spice is the "Value King." At around $14.50 for a bowl of pho, it is significantly more affordable than competitors nearby without sacrificing quality. If you want authentic flavors without the "fancy facade" markup, this is the spot.

Came here on a Saturday at around 11 AM just before the lunch rush. My friend is a vegan and found…read morethis place on Yelp after searching for vegan options. The menu had a little of everything for everyone (meat, veggie, vegan, etc). My friend ordered the vegan banh mi and I opted for the chicken banh mi. Food wise, the banh mi's were pretty decent. The portions are pretty big (I only ate half) and the prices were decent for Pasadena. The bread was nice a crunchy but the banh mi was lacking in vegetables and the chicken was a bit dry. My friend seemed to have enjoyed the vegan banh mi (tofu banh mi) and her matcha drink. The place is a nice little spot with a few tables. Service was great! You order at the counter and then find a seat. When it got closer to 12, there was a lunch rush and many people walked in. I noticed alot of people were ordering pho even though it was about 85 F outside haha. I would like to come back and try the pho! For two banh mi's + 2 bags of chips and a matcha drink, the total came out to be around $38 after tax and tip. If you're in the area looking for decent Vietnamese food with vegan and vegetarian options, this place is worth checking out!

Food very good, service very nice, awesome everything good ,place very nice, and everything nice…read moreand good Gbu all

Good food Good service…read moreModerate pricing Relatively quick I think the food at dinner is better than the food at lunch. Both are good. I have been coming here for years and it hits the right combination of price, service, food quality and atmosphere. Good for chatting and lunch meetings