Slowly making my way through Jersey's Thai restaurants and seeing which ones stand out... Up next on my list was Topaz Thai in Belleville, a business that's been sitting in my Yelp collections for awhile. With plenty of positive reviews, I was excited to give it a try! This family-owned biz is on Washington Ave. Parking can be a little annoying since it's a busy street with metered spaces, but there's a small paid lot next door with a limited number of spots. I stopped by on a Saturday evening and was seated right away. The place felt cozy and casual with the charm of a mom-and-pop restaurant. The menu is full of Thai classics, and the lunch specials seem like a great value. Prices are reasonable too, with most entrees under $20. Whenever I try a new Thai spot, I like to get a few staple dishes that I've ordered countless times before. Consider it my unofficial Litmus test! I went with: *Mama Loaded Thai Tacos $11.95 [crispy shells topped with ground chicken, herbs, cilantro, nuts, ginger, and lemon] - Loaded is definitely the right word here. These crispy shells were packed to the brim with flavorful, well-seasoned ground chicken and toppings in every bite. They also served it with a bottle of their EXTRA spicy Thai chili sauce-and trust me, it lives up to its name. Just a few drops had my tongue on fire! They're not traditional tacos, but I liked the Thai-inspired twist on them. The unique flavors were a delicious start to the meal. *Chicken Rama Curry with side of Jasmine rice $16.95 [coconut milk, red curry paste, roasted peanuts, tamarind paste, and fish sauce topped with chicken & mixed vegetables] - The winning dish! The curry was so rich, creamy, and nutty. It was so good that I was tempted to pick up the bowl and drink every last drop LOL. The spice level started off mild, but the heat slowly built up after a few spoonfuls. *Chicken Pad Thai $15.95 [stir-fried thin noodles with egg, peanuts, scallion, bean sprouts, and tamarind sauce] - You can't skip Thailand's national dish! The noodles were perfectly cooked, and they didn't skimp on the protein. I got PLENTY of tender chicken in every bite. The only thing holding it back from being a 5/5 for me was the sauce. Pad thai is known for its balance of savory, sweet, tangy, and nutty flavors, and this was a little TOO sweet for me. The sugar overpowered the other flavors. I wish they had given me a lime wedge to brighten things up. Still, I enjoyed the dish overall and can see it being a hit for anyone who prefers a sweeter pad thai. *Mango Sticky Rice $12.95 [coconut sticky rice with fresh mango and coconut cream] - It's mango season, baby, so there's no way I was leaving without ordering this! The rice was warm, lightly sweet, and infused with a creamy coconut flavor. Absolutely loved the sticky and chewy texture. The mango was more sour/tart than sweet. A riper mango would've made this dessert even better, but this was still the perfect ending to a meal. As for the portion sizes? No complaints. I had leftovers to take home and still felt satisfied. The service was on point! Everyone was kind and attentive. The food came out quickly, so there really wasn't much waiting around. Topaz Thai, you made a strong first impression! Between the homey atmosphere, solid food, reasonable prices, great value, and friendly service, this spot easily earned a second visit. I'm excited to come back and try more menu items! read more

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While Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cuisines seem to grab most of the Asian culinary spotlight in the US, don't sell Thai food short. It is more than curries and papaya salad. The cuisine takes the perfect blend of spicy, acidic, sweet, and aromatic to form bold and dynamic flavors. Located right between Belleville Park and the Passaic River on a busy Washington Avenue, Topaz Thai is a beloved family-owned/family-run BYOB establishment known for its Thai cuisine. Upon entering as a first-timer, I was greeted by the owner's wife, Bankie, and led to a table by the window inside a cozy, warm, and welcoming dining area with minimal traditional Thai decor. I decided on the Pad Thai () with fried tofu accompanied by Thai iced tea (). The food was incredibly flavorful and fresh, using the best ingredients, resulting in the perfect balance of spices. Every dish is thoughtfully executed and prepared to provide an authentic taste. The tofu was perfectly cooked. Portion size was just right. The staff was warm, welcoming, and very attentive, which made the whole dining experience even better. Since I had the entire place to myself, I had the honor to speak with the cook/owner, Narit. Over the years, it has become a go-to spot for both locals and visitors seeking a genuine taste of Thailand. read more

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Food was delicious. Ordered the spring rolls for appetizers. There were 3 per order. Very light and flavorful. Sweet-and-sour chicken with jasmine rice, exceptional. Pineapple rice with pork delicious. This is only my third time having Thai food very impressed It's a byob also. Restaurant was very clean. Service was very nice. read more

Friendly & quick service! Street parking but they have a mini parking lot that you can pay to park! Recommend their tacos, pad see ew, and got their panang curry with chicken! Restaurant was byob and gave a cozy vibe. read more

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Drove about 25min to try it out & we are glad we did! Small parking lot was super convenient but limited. We liked the service a lot and ambiance- it was pretty empty inside but we noticed alot of pick up orders/ to go. We tried both the Thai and lychee Thai iced teas, so so good! We also tried chicken loaded mama tacos, very good! For main we ordered beef pad see ew & chicken pad Thai. Both were pretty good as well! We were overall happy with our dinner!! Thank you! read more

Topaz Thai Restaurant - Pad See Ew Noodle & Pad Thai Noodle - Thai Near Me - Belleville, New Jersey

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I highly recommend Topaz Thai Restaurant! From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere and music create such a welcoming and relaxing vibe. The food was absolutely amazing, and the customer service was impeccable. This was my first time trying authentic Thai food, and I was not disappointed at all. If you love Thai cuisine or want to try it for the first time, Topaz is definitely a must-visit! read more

We came here on a Thursday evening and it was not very busy so we were able to dine in. It's a small restaurant with just a few workers so there's a bit of wait but not terrible and the staff is nice. The food was great! We enjoyed every dish. There's a parking lot which is very helpful since it's in Belleville on a popular street that can be hard to get parking. read more

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Only open for takeout, cozy little spot that will get your Thai fix when you need it. I ordered the Pad See Ew in medium spice and as any good Thai restaurant medium spice is basically reach for the tissues because you'll be sweating! Very delicious though, but definitely hotter than Mexican grade spicy food so be aware! My husband ordered the basil fried rice and the Thai tacos which were delicious! Better than I expected, they are way better than they look trust me on that. The star of the show was the Basil fried rice, I loved it and could not stop picking at my husbands plate. Can't say much about the service but they get their orders out fairly quick. Will be back to try their sticky mango rice next! Portions are decently generous, and will leave your belly nice and full, will definitely be back for more! read more

Finally had the chance to try this spot. We ordered the green curry, pineapple fried rice, eggplant dish, and chicken pad Thai. The curry came with jasmine rice which always hits the spot. It had a delicious spicy kick to it and hint of sweetness. The pad Thai could've been spicier but it was seasoned perfectly. We also ordered the chicken satay that came with the peanut sauce. It was okay. The service was really slow. We arrived around 4pm and ordered at 4:30 ish but our food arrived at 6-7pm .... We were super hungry so the wait was strenuous. The interior decor was thoughtfully placed for the season and had a cozy feel to it. read more

All I have to say is... YUM!!! I almost ate my fingers! The ribs were so juicy, and the meat fell right off the bone. The onions, string beans, and peppers were a great touch! Thai Chili Ribs read more

Topaz Thai Restaurant - All I have to say is... YUM!!! I almost ate my fingers! Thai Chili Ribs - Thai Near Me - Belleville, New Jersey

Delicious thai place option. Flavors were unexpectedly very strong and well balanced. Portions were a little small but ate every last bite

Back for indoor dining Thursday - Sunday! So happy to be back to my favorite Thai restaurant Food is just as delicious as it was 4 years ago. read more

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Never left a review on yelp before, but the drunken noodles from topaz Thai were so horrendous that I felt compelled to share. Maybe some of their other dishes are better, but for a restaurant claiming to serve "Thai food" you have to know how to make drunken noodles. Worst $16 ever spent. Disgusting meal. Do not eat. read more

Service at this restaurant is poor. Couldn't enjoy the food due to poor service & ambience.

It's been a few years since I've ordered food here and although time has passed, the food is still great! My usual order contains a few dishes: -thai salad - fresh/crispy/flavorful, its a great salad to start and open your appetite -chicken satay - simple and yummy as it should be -pad kee mao(drunken noodles) - flavorful with a nice kick, balanced and hearty -pad see ew - smokey and savory, they nail this dish so well I compare it everywhere else I order -spicy basil - tender, SPICY and keeps you wanting more -grilled pork - marinated well, tender and the sauce is *chefs kiss* All their dishes are fairly priced and they all come out tasting great! I highly recommend ordering here! PS there's decent parking around the area and a small parking lot next to the restaurant. read more

MY FAV. Love their wide noodle dishes, either drunken noodle or pad see ew. The chicken is fresh. Nothing is too greasy. Their fried fish dish is tasty too but i usually go for the noodle dishes. Fried rice dishes also good. Crab ragoon appetizer - delicious! Same with vegetable spring rolls. Their plum sauce is tasty. I was not blown away by their clay pot shrimp dish or fried chicken dish, but they weren't bad either. I have ordered in from this place on uber eats a bunch of times now. My boyfriend and i are always pleased. Yum yum yum. read more

Topaz Thai Restaurant - Thai Near Me - Belleville, New Jersey

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There aren't a whole lot of nice Thai spots in and around nutley so we decided to increase our search radius and stumbled on Topaz Thai in a nearby town. They have not resumed dine in and only do take outs or delivery. We have ordered from here a couple of different times and the food is good but I wouldn't go out of the way to come here and eat. read more

In my opinion, they have the best Thai authentic flavor food, the service is great and the place feels very homie.

Always excellent food. Service is also great. Have only done take out but looking forward to eating on site now that dining room is reopened. Chicken Tacos Pad Thai Spring Rolls read more

I enjoyed my meal. The restaurant had a pleasant ambiance with simple decor and comfortable seating. The food was decent overall, but too spicy. read more

Came here today, but their dining room is closed. Dining room is only open on certain days & time. This information is not reflect anywhere, not even in their website. I would say service is poor too because if someone comes to dine-in, they should just accommodate. read more

We love Topaz! We haven't been able to find great Thai closer to us, so we make the quick drive over to Topaz and never regret it. Service is always very quick and friendly. We haven't tried dining in, but it looks cozy. Our go tos are usually Pad see ew and basil fried rice. Highly recommended! read more

Very, very solid four stars with a few aspects higher. There is both a home style here and a fusion creativity. Mama herself is a real presence, and we appreciated her friendliness and eagerness to make some special dishes. Her duck was out of this world good. My husband typically finishes all meals, but this portion was large and we brought the extra home for a large full meal for one the next day. My whole red snapper was very good too. Delightfully seasoned. Plus bok Choi and green beans. Appetizer dumplings were just ok. Taco appetizers, two chicken, two veggie were seasoned nicely. I found the taco shell itself ok. My husband quite liked. They served lovely little bonus salads to start. Refreshed the palate! Restaurant was not too busy the Friday we went. Several other patrons were regulars. Heard some order the Volcano chicken. Would like to try that in the future. Restaurant is worth a visit for sure. Repeat diners next to us said they go at least once a month. read more

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Our go-to for great Thai - We usually get it to go, and order is ready quickly, spices are just what we ordered, food is very tasty and fresh. read more

This is probably the fifth time I ordered from Topaz but things are not as good as it used to be.. I ordered the Tom Kha shrimp soup along with sticky rice mango. This is $15 (should be $14 but I got a $5 bill back when I handed the lady a $20 bill ). It's a bit on the pricy side but I guess it makes sense since there aren't a lot of Thai restaurants around? Well either way, i was so disappointed by the soup. You'd think a $6 quart size soup would be good but it just tasted like diluted sweet water. Not sour, not savory, no coconut milk flavor at all... just really sweet and watery. It had two pieces of shrimps in it. The sticky rice mango was good. Mango was sweet even though it looked a bit green still. I do think it is slightly on the pricier side for $8 but it tasted good. Overall, I probably won't order from Topaz again anytime soon..gotta go a litter further if I crave Thai again read more

Topaz Thai Restaurant - Tom Kha Shrimp Soup Sticky Rice - Thai Near Me - Belleville, New Jersey

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Absolutely the best Thai in NJ. Mama loves to cook & it's apparent in every dish that comes to the table. BYOB

I'm in love with "Mama's cooking" here! This small family-run restaurant serves up classic and authentic Thai dishes in a cozy atmosphere. It's a bit pricier than other Thai restaurants, but the food is delicious - I've come here several times and my favorites include the veggie tacos (imo, tastier and more refreshing than the loaded Thai tacos), the Volcano Chicken (not spicy, but deliciously hot, crispy, and juicy), and the Topaz noodles (great flat noodles dish!). The restaurant itself is small, so I'd recommend making reservations here if you have a larger party, especially for dinner on the weekends. Also, parking is mostly street, but there is a metered lot right next to the restaurant if you're lucky enough to grab a spot! read more

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My friend took me here tonight for my birthday. Parking lot to the left of it. Very convenient. The vibe is cozy and I liked that I felt like I was in someone's home. The service was good too... the waitress made a great suggestions. Nice servings and great tasting! It's BYOB! Here's what I got... Mamas Love Nest Veggie Tacos (ahhmazingggg!) Pan Seared Dumplings Volcano *Shrimp (I substituted the chicken for shrimp instead and the sauce was great too). Defiantly will come back here for date night. I want to get the crispy duck! read more

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I've been eating here for years and probably over hundreds of times. Great place for many reasons. Meeting Mama, the owner, is an experience of its own. She is friendly, a great cook and and enthusiastic about serving her guests and making a point to visit each table when she can. I typically order the chicken Thai tacos to start. Big portions with 4 tacos. Four the main course, I've never been disappointed with the Chicken Ra Ma, Panang or chicken and cashew. A must try is Mama's pumpkin soup which is seasonal. Usually available around November. Creamy and delicious! read more

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Good ambiance, good prices. Food is okayish. I ordered a pad Thai (which is good for calibrating across restaurants bc everyone offers it), a Thai noodles, and a veg dumpling. All three were on the greasy side. The noodle dishes didn't contain many veggies (but at least they weren't frozen). The pad Thai was lite on the sauce so it's hard to tell whether it had enough tamarind. The dumplings came with a nice spicy plum sauce which I was inclined to drink directly as a nectar. The flavor of the veg noodles were ... subtle. read more

The chili fish was delicious and a lot of food. Got it as pick up and the sauce was separate to keep the fish crispy and fresh!

I had written Topaz off for a while b/c the last time i believe a sauce in my dish was Rancid or something. Fine. I left them alone. TODAY, I was craving spicy Thai basil noodles really badly and wanted to give it another try since I use to LUV this place....HUGE A** MISTAKE!!! As I'm eating my food I notice a hair as you can see in the picture & became immediately disgusted!!! Everyone working there has bone straight hair which leads me to believe it was a PUBIC HAIR!!! I just called and am waiting for management to call me back. I AM PISSED. SOOOOO f*cking TIRED of people & places that are in FOOD services especially; being SO CARELESS & GROTESQUE!!! This sh*t is UNACCEPTABLE...PERIOD!!! There's NO WAY IN HELL that incidents like this should EVER be happening!!! I'm LIVID!!! Do NOT eat here... I mean if the picture of an obvious hair doesn't turn you OFF then power to you!!! I'm F*cking DONE!!! read more

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I frequent this place quiet often for lunch with my work buddies. Its a nice, cozy Thai restaurant serving pretty tasty food. It has good seating with decent Decor. They have pretty reasonable pricing, especially their lunch specials are perfect @ $8/9. I have found the food quiet flavorful and tasty. Note, few may find the food spicy and let the staff know about your preferences. However, the service may run slow especially when the restaurant is crowded. Often observed this while visiting them with large groups. The menu at Topaz Thai is quiet vegetarian & vegan friendly. They have a lunch special menu where each dish can be ordered with vegetables or tofu(vegan options) as the choice of protein and comes with a side of soup/salad. I found the simple tom yum soup made with some spices and vegetables really flavorful and always look forward to trying it each time I visit. I absolutely love their spicy basil noodles with Tofu, also tried the Massamun curry & Rama Curry which too were great. The curry options are served with a cup of rice on the side. Recommendations: Spicy Basil Noodles with Tofu/Vegatables Massamun Curry with Tofu Rama Curry with Tofu Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for some good Thai food and reasonable pricing. But sometimes the service may run pretty slow. read more

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This place is worth trying. Currently they are only doing takeout. Is it authentic Thai, not really. It caters to the palate of the neighborhood. We've ordered the fish cake. It was cooked and spiced well. Pad sew eww and spicy basil noodle was too sweet that we could not eat it. It was like eating a dessert. If you order it, ask for less sugar. The standout dish of the restaurant is the crispy basil duck. Juicy and crispy duck served along a garlic basil sauce. Must order this. Overall it is a decent restaurant with friendly staff. Just ask for less sugar in your food read more

I've been ordering from topaz for YEARS now. I miss the old staff and mama. The new guy that greets and takes your order isn't so friendly. I usually get the Chicken Pad Thai for lunch they will give you a choice of soup (usually Tom yum) and a house salad with their own sauce. I also tried the Thai tacos, volcano chicken, basil fried rice (ask for the dumpling soy sauce and add it to your fried rice) Everything is usually great. I just NEVER take the pad Thai or any kind of stir fry noodles out. They tend to dry out easily. read more

Guys I've got to be honest. Topaz Thai is not what it used to be or how I remember it. I am very familiar with the owner and it's been twice now that it seems her recipes are losing. At first I thought it was just an off day and maybe the dish I ordered. But I ordered fried rice twice and both times it was wet, (like a soupy rice) and lacked flavor. It truly saddens me. Mama's (the owner) sons used to cook her recipes and you can tell the chef is different. I'm giving two stars because service is still decent and i have a past with them, but truthfully I couldn't finish the food (I had to throw it out). Not to mention, I paid $16 for lunch special all because I asked for vegetables. Very sad and disappointed. read more

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Great place, delish food, great service! Will be back because everything about this place is perfect. The owner herself is so amazing . read more

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I love this little spot. Its homey, loving and decorated awesome. Not to mention, "Mama" herself came out and chatted with us. She was friendly and funny, i loved when the people in the kitchen and behind the business do things like this. The mushroom puffs were really good, but i wish they were filled more. You only get about 4 but theyre addicting. For about $7 you can get about 5 small crab rolls. They were good also, but skimp on the crab meat. The sauces that come with both are addicting, sweet and tangy. The green curry was a pleasant surprise of creamy and savory, that led up to a spicy kick. Was it overpowering? NO, it was a nice surprise tho. The curry sauce was a bit more watery than other Thai places, but i was digging it. Nice big chunks of tofu too. The thai ice tea is served in this huge glass, youd think we were at a bar. read more

Topaz Thai Restaurant - Mushroom puffs (6$) and crab rolls (7$) - Thai Near Me - Belleville, New Jersey

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I can't believe I have never submitted a review for Topaz! This little spot in Belleville is easily one of my favorite Thai restaurants. What makes them stand out here is the fact that the owner (who goes by Mama) adds her own flair here and there, making for some great and unique signature dishes (Thai Tacos are an absolute must for everyone to try at least once). Besides those fusion-esque dishes, her other authentic Thai dishes on the menu are better than many of the other Thai restaurants in the area, making for a great selection of menu options. Lastly, besides the great food, when Mama is there, she makes you feel right home, offering some of the best customer service around. read more

Topaz Thai Restaurant - Tom Yum Soup with lunch - Thai Near Me - Belleville, New Jersey

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The chicken and shrimp pad Thai is delicious! I've also had the crispy volcano chicken from this place and it was good but I wish it would've been crispier. I'm definitely going to try other dishes. read more

Topaz Thai Restaurant - Shrimp and chicken Pad Thai Noodles - Thai Near Me - Belleville, New Jersey