If you enjoy watching your food being made fresh right in front of you, this place is such a fun spot to try. It felt like a different experience from the usual restaurant visit, which made it even more memorable. What I really liked about this restaurant is the live kitchen setup. You can actually see the chefs cooking, which makes the whole experience feel more lively, interactive, and interesting than a typical sit-down restaurant. We ordered spring rolls, fried chicken, drunken noodles, panang curry with shrimp, and Thai iced tea, all at spice level 5. The spring rolls were honestly so good. Crispy, flavorful, and one of my favorite things we ordered. Just a small warning, they come out very hot. Best way to eat them is to start from the corners first and let some of the heat out. The fried chicken was good, especially with the chili powder on top, but it was not the standout dish for me. The drunken noodles were tasty and full of flavor. But the real star was the panang curry with shrimp. That was easily my favorite dish of the meal. It was rich, spicy, and so satisfying. I got spice level 5, and while I still enjoyed it, I think spice level 4 would have been perfect for me. And I have to mention the Thai iced tea because I loved it so much I ordered a second one. The mix of sweet and slightly bitter flavor was just perfect. A few things to know before you go: this is a cash-only restaurant, so come prepared. If not, there is an ATM near the 7-Eleven a few blocks away. The restaurant is also pretty small, so do not expect cozy or very comfortable seating. It gets busy, and when there is a line outside, the staff usually comes out and takes your order while you wait, so it helps to know what you want ahead of time. Parking can also be a little difficult, so be ready for street parking. Of course, there are a few things that could be improved. The staff could be a little more helpful and welcoming. Also, the receipt was written in a scribbled way without a clear price breakdown, so I would suggest asking for the detailed breakup if you want to understand the charges properly. Also they take 15 min kind of breaks without any notice when they are busy. Overall, I really enjoyed the food and would definitely go back. It is not just about the food, but also the whole experience, which feels different from most restaurants. Ratings: Spring rolls: 5/5 Fried chicken: 3.5/5 Drunken noodles: 4/5 Panang curry: 5/5 Thai iced tea: 5/5 read more

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Bestie and I came here on a Thursday evening around 6pm after watching cherry blossoms at the UW Quad on probably one of many days of complete sunshine for the foreseeable future as of this writing. The area inside is very small with bar seating and several tables for mostly groups of two, and many people were lined up outside after we finished eating an hour later, that's how popular this place is! It's pretty cramped in here, and it isn't too clean around the tables or chairs and even the restroom. You can see the staff cooking the food in the kitchen, which is directly in front of the bar seating. From my friends who've eaten here back then, they're cash only and when I came here, they still are. All entrees are priced similarly, and there are drinks you can get as well. I got their pad see you again, and my bestie got their pad thai while also getting a green Thai tea as a drink. I got my dish with 2-star spice, which was quite a lot when I ate it, or my spice tolerance has gone down. Either way, the green Thai tea helped, and it was really good; you can easily distinguish both the green tea and the Thai tea in the drink. My dish was standard though it did have that nice, smoky taste you get when stir-fried food JUST comes off the wok. Absolute chef's kiss for making the food quick here while also retaining a smoky taste and a presentable dish too! I'm mad that I never got to eat here when I was still a student at the UW; I missed out on a great place to eat then, but I'm also happy to get to finally try here. I can see why it gets a ton of people compared to all the other eateries around the Ave, and I see myself coming back for more! read more

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Popped back into Thai Tom in UD, and I'm happy to report it's still as good as ever. If you've been before, you know the drill, but the consistency is really what keeps people coming back. The Food We covered a lot of ground with our order, and every dish hit the mark: Panang Curry: Rich, creamy, and perfectly spiced. Basil Chicken: Great aromatics and that classic savory-heat balance. Drunken Noodles: Excellent texture on the noodles with just the right amount of char. Thai Curry Fried Rice: A standout; packed with flavor and not overly greasy. The Logistics The Wait: We waited about a half hour, which is honestly expected here. It's a popular spot for a reason, so just plan accordingly. Pro-Tip: It is still strictly Cash Only! Make sure you hit the ATM before you arrive so you don't lose your spot in line. Still one of the best hole in the wall spots in the neighborhood for a solid, no-frills Thai meal. Definitely worth the wait! read more

Very hole in the wall, cash only spot. I like that they are very very clear that it is cash only before they allow you to sit down. There are probably 3 tables and a bar area with about 8 seats. At the bar you can watch the chef make 4 dishes at a time. Pretty impressive. I agree the portion sizes are a bit small for the prices in comparison to other Thai places I have been to. They don't serve tap water either, only bottled. However the food is tasty. I did get the hottest spice level (5/5) and it didn't taste as spicy as other places to me- I do like spicy food, obviously, but it wasn't unbearable. Very busy on a Thursday night, but they get people in and out fast. read more

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Came here on a Saturday night and there was a small line to wait for a seat. It is fairly small inside, so there is not much seating. When we got seated, we were able to see the chef cooking our food, which I thought was cool. We ordered Thai salad, which was a salad that came with chips and a peanut dressing. I ordered the pad see ewe with shrimp and thought it had good flavor. My husband ordered spicy noodle. It was definitely spicy and came with the wider noodles that is similar to pad see ewe. I enjoyed the food here, but thought the serving size was small. I found myself still hungry after finishing my meal. Also, they don't serve alcohol here, so just FYI. Overall, I liked the food here and they had good pricing. I would come back if I was in the area. Btw, they are cash only! There is a Chase bank within walking distance, but make sure to bring cash with you. read more

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cash only!! visiting seattle, my friend's coworker recommended we check out Thai Tom so we can around 7pm on a saturday night. no wait at all but the space is small. it has an open kitchen concept so we saw the chef cooking right in front of us. we split the fried tofu and pad thai (level 2). the fried tofu wasn't anything special, the sauce it came with really saved the dish. the pad thai was delicious! I should've gotten level 1 but level 2 was still good - just slightly too spicy for me haha service was fine, it's such a small space so it was easy to get our server's attention. read more

Thai Tom - Deep Fried Tofu - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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It's very nice whenever you get to experience a chef cook right in front of you because it's like a cooking show so the ambiance of the place was very much like a small homie restaurant. It's very small but everyone is usually quick to eat and then go! The servers were really on top of everything, as soon as you see a food is done they'll immediately give it to the table, etc. The food was super good me and my friends we got Pad Thai no peanuts with 1 and 2 star spice, yellow curry 1 star spice, mango sticky rice, and Thai tea's. We finish everything super quick so that's how you know that their food is excellent. I will say though I was not expecting them to take CASH ONLY, but luckily we all had cash with us. So be prepared when you wanna try this place out! The smell of the food will literally catch your taste buds when you're near their outside entrance! read more

Thai Tom - Chef - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The place is super small so if you have a large group beware!! Also they ONLY accept cash. I would say party max of 4 or even 2 if you want to try this place. Seems pretty authentic and they cook it right there on the grill out in the open. The bad thing about that is that it gets super smokey and I kept coughing and sneezing. It's also very hot if you're there in the summer because there's no AC and you have to pay for water bottles. We didn't want to pay so we just dealt with the heat. Lowkey the servers kind of just sit around at the bar lol. The Pad See Ew (Phad See You) was good though just small portion but I guess it's a good price for Seattle ($14.50)? I got spice level 2 which is their medium spice level but I could've had 3 in my opinion. It was super flavorful so that's the good thing about it and comes super fresh off the grill. I found it more wet than other places I've had. We also got the Mango sticky rice dessert which isn't on the menu but we saw it online. Seems like they don't have it all the time because the waitress said they have it today (possibly a secret menu item but we didn't ask). Mangoes were fresh and the sticky rice and coconut milk complimented each other so well. I recommend going for the food, but just be cautious of the other aspects. read more

Thai Tom - Chicken Phad See You - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The food here is so good! The place itself is really small and they cook your food right in front of you. But the chefs make the food fast and serve you fast. You do have to pay in cash though so make sure you take some before you go. read more

Thai Tom - Kitchen & seating in the same place - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Located on the north end of the Ave. Small restaurant with limited seating. Cash only establishment. With all the hype I've heard about this place, it was just ok. Due to limited seating, decided to order to go for faster service. Ordered the noodles and the noodles was overcooked and a few vegetables were added. In came with rice and they combined it with the noodles. Not sure why but maybe to fill the to go container since it was only half the noodle dish I ordered for $17. Not worth the price or portion read more

Overall, I'd say Thai Tom's food wasn't stellar and the pricing is just okay given the small-ish portion sizes. There was a 10 ish minute wait for a party of 2 at 7 on a weekday. Because the restaurant is pretty small, I'd definitely discourage bringing a large party. Everything is made to order and the place is CASH ONLY. It was a little smokey at the bar seating, but I Pad Thai (3/5): The noodles weren't as springy as I'd like and while the dish was quite spicy for a 3/5, I felt like there wasn't a ton of depth of flavor; I just wanted more acid, sweetness, everything punched up a notch. The wok-fire was nice enough and they aren't too generous with the shrimp even though it's a dollar extra. Thai Wings (4.25/5): This was actually solid: great balance of savory, sweet, and acidic. Wings are slightly crunchy on the outside (fried without a batter) while staying perfectly tender and juicy on the inside. read more

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I have been here multiple times, and have had predominantly good experiences. The panang curry and garlic pepper in particular are very good. The service is typically just fine, and getting to watch the cooks is fun. However, the last time I went was quite disappointing. I was in a group of 3, and none of us were given water. I ordered a level 3 spicy dish, but it genuinely had no spice at all (and I've had this level here before so ik what it should be like/its not a matter of my tolerance). Someone else at my table ordered a dish with chicken, but it came with tofu instead. I also was surprised to find celery in pad Thai. Overall the food was still pretty good, but the service was very poor and I'm not sure I will be coming back. read more

The wok work here is insane--amazing to watch one guy handle everyone's food like a true master, juggling five to six woks at the same time. Everything comes out piping hot, perfect for a chilly day. I got the Thai curry fried rice, which had the perfect amount of crispy rice granules and a bold, slightly smoky flavor. I went with level 2 spice, and it was a pretty solid heat level for me. It's a small, cozy spot--highly recommend. I think they might only accept cash, or at least they did the day I went, so it's good to have some on hand just in case. read more

Thai Tom - Thai curry fried rice and Pad see ew - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The best Thai food I've ever had in my entire life! Do not bring your credit card. It's cash only.

Stopped by for dinner with wife. First time here. Like the Thai street setting. Service was quick. Portions were nothing special and spice level was about right. read more

We recently decided to grab takeout for lunch from Thai Tom, a place we used to frequent many years ago. I was curious to see if it still held up! The restaurant was fairly busy, and after placing our order, we were told our food would be ready in about 10 minutes. It ended up being closer to 15, but since we don't live too far away, we were thrilled to find everything still piping hot when it was time to eat. I ordered the Panang curry with chicken, while my kids opted for the Pad See You. I'm happy to report that everyone was satisfied! My Panang curry was wonderfully rich and savory, with perfectly steamed rice and tender, delicious chicken. The kids loved their dish too; the noodles had a delightful warm and smoky flavor, and the sauce was so tasty that they devoured all their veggies! While I'm glad to say the food is just as delicious as I remembered, I did notice that the portions aren't as generous as they used to be. In the past, they piled everything into large white clamshell containers, but now it comes in smaller black lidded bowls that are more manageable for one sitting. Nonetheless, I'm really glad Thai Tom is still around to satisfy our cravings for Thai food! read more

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Where do I start? My partner and I came here for dinner tonight, he ordered pad Thai and took a bite of noodles so burnt it was black, but he didn't know because the burnt part was on the bottom. Did the chef try and hide it? Who knows. He ended up sending it back (first dish he ever sent back to the kitchen his whole life btw) and the plate he got the second time around was the smallest portion of pad Thai I'd ever seen served at a restaurant. Each dish is $17, and for only a few dollars worth of ingredients. The bathroom is gross and smells bad. The service is fine. We asked for water and were told that they only have bottled water for $1 because "we don't have tap water". The first time we went there we were slightly confused because we saw the people next to us had twice the amount of food on their plate than we did, but we gave it a second try tonight to see if it would be different. There will not be a third time. read more

Does this have to happen every time I order to go? Sadly, was reminded why I don't do take out from Thai Tom. The portions are tiny. Team, you know this is so much smaller than the portions when dining in. Please don't do this to your customers... read more

Thai Tom - Phad Thai - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Easy to miss hole-in-the wall spot. Very small interior. But do not let any of that fool you. There is SO much character and flavor in this restaurant. Super intimate in a good way with quick and easy service. The food is possibly the best Thai I have ever had, and it is cooked right in front of me. The wings are crispy and have a good sauce. The green curry is exploding with complex deliciousness. So many levels of flavor, and I couldn't get enough. I want to try everything here!!! read more

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My favorite Thai place on the ave!! make sure to bring cash when you go this place and try to avoid busy hours because store isn't very big. They cook in front of you so it can be a bit smoky but the food is sooo good it's worth! read more

Thai Tom - Phad Thai - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Solid little spot on the Ave. Casual dine in experience or an easy grab and go. They cover all the basics and do a good job of it. It can get prettttty spicy which I fully endorse. read more

Have been meaning to try Thai Tom for awhile. A friend that is a Chef and owner of a Thai restaurant in Pierce county highly recommended them. So of course I had to go. One of the first things they tell you before you get seated is that it's cash only. I got there about 4:30ish and was able to walk in without a problem there was one other person at the time during the time I was there it began to fill up. I had asked my friend what to order she said she always gets the Tom Kha, that is what I went with a side of rice. Probably wasn't the best weather to be getting soup but didn't matter. When I go to a Thai place for the first time I always get three stars cause I'm not sure what level of spiciness it will be I could've probably handled a four. Most people were Thai Tea I happen to have my water bottle so stuck with that for hydration. the soup was very flavorful coconut milk based. generous portion of chicken and the fresh herbs brighten the richness of the dish. Service is efficient and quick. The space is very casual nothing fancy. not very big a counter that faces where the food is being cooked that probably seats 8 and a couple of four top tables I believe. Definitely would like to try one of the noodle dishes next time. read more

Thai Tom - Tom Kah with side of rice - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

super small location, but food smelled so good just walking in. you can see them make the food in front of you which was cool. portions were a little small for the price in my opinion, but still worth trying nonetheless. definitely go earlier since the place is super busy during peak meal times ordered: pad thai pad see you again shrimp fried rice yellow curry read more

Thai Tom - Thai Fry Rice, Yellow Curry - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I love Thai Tom. I used to go here in college and these something intriguing about a small hole in the wall set up in which you have to wait to be seated. This location definitely transports you to Asia. The barstools, the staff person taking your seat number, and the wait. The smells is the funnest part of Thai Toms in which you can hear the sizzle of the wok, the sound of the veggies hitting the stir fry, and the eggs being beaten in the dish. Flavor profiles before Thai Curry Simple and lots of other copycats in Seattle stood out. I still think that Thai Tom's is the more greasy spoon out of the Thai spots in Seattle. With that being said, it's one of the most delicious because I don't think they may clean their wok that often to really lock in the flavors. Over the years I noticed Thai Tom's quality lessened. The little restaurant wasn't as clean, and the dishes didn't have the same kick and spicy ness as before. I'll still give it 4 stars. In a city full of sub par Thai food, Thai Tom is still up there for cheap, convenient, and great atmosphere. read more

This was a fun, unique dining experience. The interior is small but it is intimate and just fun to be able to see your food being prepared. The Thai curry fried rice was so flavorful and so delicious. I liked that they have you order outside before being seated so you get your food pretty quickly once you're seated. My only complaint was that our bill was impossible to decipher so we just had to trust it was right. read more

Thai Tom - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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With more than 2000 reviews, I'll be brief. This is a small restaurant that you'll likely have to wait outside in a line for. It's a show at the counter as you watch the staff turn out dishes over just one stove. The food was good. It wasn't the best pad Thai or the basil chicken that I've ever had. I say that because Thai Tom is considered one of the best in Seattle. I think that's a testimony to the lack of strong Thai restaurants in Seattle. (Don't misread that -- there are some great ones in the city.) That said, if you eat Thai in the suburbs across America, this will be one of the best places you've eaten. So, it's worth coming but set your expectations on your experience with Thai food in the US -- some will say it's their favorite and others will not be unhappy, but will want to try other places in Seattle and probably like those more. Cash only. See website for details. On street parking only. read more

Ambiance - Flawless. Sitting at the bar we got to watch the food being made on gas burners with flames that roared 8inches tall. Dinner and a show? Sign me up. Food - Delicious, but I love a good sweet + savory combo so I may be biased. Service - Small place and busy. We ordered outside and then seated. A little slow to serve the food after we ordered. read more

Thai Tom - Chef Special 1 Or 2 Or 3 - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is probably my favorite Thai place in Seattle and second in Washington. In particular the mango sticky rice is perfect. The mangos are just ripe enough to cut through them like soft butter with your fork and the sticky rice has an amazing consistency. I have never had a mango in the states that is actually this good. The pad see uh and phad Thai were both great as well. They cook over a flaming hot wok tight in front of you. We were so close that it was super hot (but still worth it). I don't know how to describe it other than rustic. The speed was crazy fast once they got the food on the wok. To get in for a seat it was about 15m for 2 people or 5 for 1 but it didn't look big enough for more than groups of 2. They also get your order as you wait to make everything even faster. They only take cash. It's not a deal breaker since the prices are reasonable and the food is great. With fast and friendly service as well, this is a great place. read more

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Best Thai food in Seattle. Bar none. Eating there is as close as you can get to eating in Thailand. And the dishes are all exquisite.

This was quite an interesting experience being in UDistrict getting some Thai Food. We saw a large crowd here so we decided to check it out. The wait for 4 people was about 30 mins on a Monday evening. We were waiting outside and about 10 mins before we were getting seated we were asked to order. This may have been the first restaurant I have been to where I was asked to order without being seated. It is efficient but we didn't get a chance to ask questions about the menu so overall mixed feelings about that. The menu is not that large and has all the Thai classics. We were seated and were surprised at how small this restaurant is. There are only like 4 tables for 2 and bar seating, and just one table for parties more than 2 (seating 5 people). So do not recommend bringing full parties here. The food is cooked right in front of you which makes it kinda hot, so that's unfortunate. As for the food itself I loved it. Some of the best, fresh drunken noodles I have had. Loved how the chicken was cooked. The fried spring rolls are a nice appetizer. The mango sticky rice was also fresh and very solid. Nothing disappointed. Because we ordered before seating, all our food was out pretty fast, so it is efficient. This place is very good for its value. Keep in mind it is cash only, but there is an atm around 300 feet away that makes things convenient. I did enjoy my experience despite all the quirks. Definitely not the place to bring a party of people tho. The wait is also quite a while so be prepared to stand outside. They also don't text you or anything when ur table is ready, it's a hand written line outside that the host will write your name on. Would come again to try some more food, since it was indeed really good. read more

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I've been to this restaurant a couple of times before and always had a good experience, but unfortunately my last visit was very disappointing. The food is still great, no complaints there, but the customer service really missed the mark this time. We asked to place our order and were simply ignored the first time, which made us feel unwelcome. They just grabbed our plates without asking whether we're finished or not. I also noticed that they did not asking us if we wanted rice to be included in our Pad Thai lol. It's a shame because I know this place can do better, but the way we were treated this visit really soured the experience. No offense but low key I feel some asian discrimination from one of the server here read more

Thai Tom - Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First time here. Found out about this place through King5 evening show. I ordered the chicken pad thai, and my husband ordered the thai basil chicken, thinking it was the fried version. My 5 star chicken pad thai had no spiciness at all. I mean zero spice tasting. The noodles were broken, too wet, and sour. Not the balance of sweetness and sour taste I was looking for. I also ordered the thai tea. It was weak in flavor. My search for the best pad thai place continues! read more

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Thai Tom gets it right every time. Been coming here since grad school in 1994. Thai food with depth of flavor. Nice slight char on noodles and vegetable. Spiced right, priced right and served with speed and kindness. The best. read more

Thai Tom - Dinner and a show - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Super quick service they literally cook it right in front of you if you're seated at the bar! Seating is a little tight it's a super small restaurant but I still had a good time at the bar with a group of 6. Personally I don't like Phad See Ew with tamarind sauce so it tasted a little different, but the Phad Thai was delicious. read more

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Food was pretty decent small portions but good flavor what it's horrible is the service if you get seated by the bar they are on your face the whole time I was trying to eat and the lady kept grabbing plates across from me I asked for space and got mad , cooks kept putting hot plates right on my face , I wasn't even done with my food when they kept asking for payment and it was only cash Definitely not recommended read more

The best Thai food I've ever had. Service was quick and staff was friendly. I loved how authentic the place was.

Really great Thai food. Second best Thai food I've ever had from a restaurant. But the portions are absolutely disgustingly small for what you pay. WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS WAS $17?? MORE THAN HALF THE CONTAINER IS RICE read more

Thai Tom - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Taste has gone down. Overly salty and overly sweet. WTH? Loved the drunken noodle back in the day. Not the same. Ingredients differ.....or less veggies. read more

A really good casual place. Very simple and fresh dishes, love that you can see and feel the food cooking right in front of you. We got the basil chicken, panang curry, and pad thai(only noodles they had available) and everything tasted great. Pros: fast service, and fast movement on seating, only had to wait a few minutes on a weekday night Cons: cash only, only bottled water available, so consider getting a drink read more

Thai Tom - Kitchen! - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Service etiquette and food. They gave us basil fried rice without basil and when I pointed it out, he kept a plate of fresh basil and said we could add if we wanted to. When the dinner came to the table, I asked for plates.... It was dispensed and rudely ignored and finally I got myself two plates from their stash! This place is super busy with LOT of takeout orders... wish they had given us the same dine-in service. read more