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Where to Eat Thai Food in San Diego Right Now

Satisfy your curry and cool salad cravings at these 15 spots

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Thai cuisine is a food for all seasons. Warm temperatures call for refreshing salads that are as simple as shredded papaya or loaded with marinated, grilled beef. When the weather is brisk and breezy, our appetites turn to warming comfort curry dishes of red, green or yellow. And in the age of COVID-19 where days and months seemingly meld into each other, Thai food brings an added layer of comfort to an otherwise unpredictable climate.

Despite that, San Diegans can’t seem to get enough of the cuisine. With over 100 Thai restaurants in the county, there’s a restaurant to fit any budget and they’re all available for delivery and/or takeout, plus the occasional spot with outdoor dining. Here are a few standout Thai restaurants.

Disclaimer: This map should not be taken as endorsement for dining in, as there are still COVID-19 safety concerns: For updated information on coronavirus cases, please visit the California Department of Health. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.

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Chaba Thai Kitchen

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Don’t drive past the nondescript strip center because you’ll be missing out in Chaba Thai’s generous portion sizes. Some must-order items include the Spicy Basil Chicken with preserved egg. Chaba Thai also has a fine pad see-ew, a classic dish with wide noodles and a choice of protein. It’s an approachable, entry-level dish for those unfamiliar with the cuisine.

Spicy Basil Chicken with Preserved Egg at Chaba Thai
Spicy Basil Chicken with Preserved Egg at Chaba Thai
Phaedra Cook

Mekong Restaurant

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Lao and Thai cuisine meet at this Convoy District restaurant. Discover flavorful renditions of larb with your choice of chicken, beef or pork. The dish packs the fresh flavors of lime juice, chilis, mint and cilantro in every addicting bite. Don’t overlook the Laos portion of the menu either like the Lao cuisine platter, an introduction that includes beef jerky, sausage, spare ribs and wings, and steamed veggies. Food is only available for takeout.

Koon Thai Kitchen

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Head in early to Koon Thai to take advantage of their first-come, first-served outdoor seating. Its winning combination of classic Thai dishes in a laid-back atmosphere has led to quick success, as the company has since opened three more restaurants under the AAHARN brand. Try the Boat Noodles. It’s a bigger rendition of the small bowls of hot soup served by the merchants who traverse Bangkok’s canals. Choose a version featuring beef or pork, plus choice of thin or thick noodles.

Boat Noodles at Koon Thai
Boat Noodles with beef at Koon Thai
Phaedra Cook

Lanna Thai Cuisine

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Thai newbies fearing the spice levels should consider Lanna as their introduction to Thai cuisine. Most of the menu is comprised of classic Thai dishes with the heat dialed back so if you’re craving something really spicy, request it. Curries are trustworthy with good depth of flavor. The don’t-miss dish is dessert. Sticky rice comes topped with a crunchy combination of toasted yellow rice and black sesame seeds with perfectly ripe, almost custard-like mango served alongside. Curbside pickup is available as well as delivery within a 3-mile radius of the restaurant.

Sweet rice with mango at Lanna Thai
Sweet rice with mango at Lanna Thai
Phaedra Cook

Thai Papaya

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Located in the original Sab-E-Lee location, Thai Papaya’s specialty is som tam, or shredded green papaya salad. There are 10 different varieties that elevate this essential dish with some creative additions. Just one example is the som tam khai kem, which gets its flavor with the additions of salted egg, fresh tomato, dried shrimp, green beans, peanuts, fresh red chili, lime juice and fish sauce.

Som tam, or papaya salad, with salted egg at Thai Papaya
Som tam, or papaya salad, with salted egg at Thai Papaya
Phaedra Cook

The Original Sab-E-Lee

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The Original Sab-E-Lee’s dining room in Linda Vista gets packed enough to have a waiting list on Friday and Saturday nights — but since the start of the pandemic where indoor dining is either limited or prohibited, the takeout orders are just as busy. Go here for classic Thai dish like stellar tom kha gai with the push-and-pull tartness of lime juice and the contrast of creamy coconut milk. Duck larb with crushed red chili, red onion, green onion tops, fresh mint and ground rice for texture, is just as good.

Tom Kha Gai at Sab-E-Lee
Tom Kha Gai, or creamy coconut and chicken soup, at The Original Sab-E-Lee
Phaedra Cook

J&T Thai Street Food

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While diners will find the usual Thai dishes like curries and noodle dishes, one dish that separates this Linda Vista spot from other restaurants is the steamed chicken rice. The homey comfort of slow-poached chicken and fragrant chicken-ginger rice may look unimpressive but the accompanying chicken broth make it a standout menu item. Also good is the tom-ka soup.

Steamed chicken rice J&T Thai Street Food

Thai Joint

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The dishes at this Adams Avenue location are as pretty as they are masterfully executed, and worth a call for delivery or pickup. The crispy-skinned E-Sarn Sausage made with ground pork is addictive and gets extra flavor from the additions of ginger, galangal, lemon grass and chili. Both this and the Half Moon fried wonton skins stuffed with curried potato, peas and carrots are the kinds of dishes that have diners coming back for more.

E-Sarn sausage and the Half Moon fried dumplings at Thai Joint
E-Sarn sausage and the Half Moon fried dumplings at Thai Joint
Phaedra Cook

Plumeria Vegetarian Restaurant

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Vegan and vegetarian Thai dishes headline the menu at this University Heights restaurant. Flavors are on point for many of their dishes but lean towards the conservative side when it comes to spice levels. A don’t-miss item is the pad see-ew— wide rice noodles sautéed with broccoli, carrots and cabbage. Carnivores ordering satay with mock chicken won’t miss the real thing.

Plumeria

Bahn Thai

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Order ahead for takeout but drivers be warned: parking in this area of University Heights is scant so plan accordingly. A few dishes like the yum nuea, a beef salad, or young duck curry, make a pickup worth the extra effort. Unlike other places, Bahn Thai does not fool around on spice levels. Diners get the heat they order — a refreshing change from other places that dial the spice level back.

Yum Nuea, or beef salad, at Bahn Thai
Yum Nuea, or beef salad, at Bahn Thai
Chuck Cook Photography

Lotus Thai Cuisine

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Serving since 1999, this Hillcrest Thai restaurant offers unbeatable and filling lunch specials from 11 AM to 3 PM on the weekdays. Choose from holy basil, drunken noodles and variety of curries as a few of the takeout specials. Dinner is equally memorable with chef dishes like Three-Flavored Soft Shell Crab, featuring a sweet and spicy tamarind sauce.

Soi 30th

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Go here for Northern Thai fare like its namesake dish khao soi. It features crispy rice noodles cut from a big square of dough that’s laid over a cloth to steam over a pot then fried. Dishes here tend to have gentle sweetness to temper any heat, including the pad phet served with either pork belly or fried fish, chili paste, coconut milk, Thai eggplant, bamboo shoots, bell pepper and Thai basil, all with a fried egg on top. There’s now a second location in Ocean Beach ready for takeout or delivery.

Khao Soi at Soi 30th
Khao Soi at Soi 30th
Phaedra Cook

Supannee House of Thai Restaurant & Catering

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Supannee’s regular delivery of fresh local fish makes it not just a great Thai restaurant, but a great restaurant in general. Add in an exemplary wine list (perfectly geared for Thai cuisine) and you have a go-to spot in Shelter Island. Classic Thai dishes are just as well executed as restaurant specialties, like the som tam, a shredded green papaya salad with cherry tomatoes and plenty of blanched peanuts. Outdoor seating is available, as well as delivery and takeout.

Deep-fried rockfish at Supannee Houston of Thai
Deep-fried rockfish at Supannee Houston of Thai
Phaedra Cook

AAHARN by Koon Thai

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Humans cannot live by pasta alone, which is only one reason why Thai restaurant AAHARN is a welcome addition to the Little Italy area. Heat levels are as-requested. Standout dishes include tum yum, loaded with sturdy straw and wispy enoki mushrooms, or order specials like the lemon & lime fish featuring a steamed filet in a lime-garlic broth. A second location is in the University City area, and both sites offer delivery or takeout

Tom yum soup at AAHARN Thai in Little Italy
Tom yum soup at AAHARN Thai in Little Italy
Phaedra Cook

55 Thai Kitchen Golden Hill

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Depending on which location you opt for, you’ll either find 55 Thai at the back of a convenience store in Golden Hill, or in East Village, SDSU or Pacific Beach. It’s open later than many Thai restaurants, so go here when the craving for green curry sauce or pad thai hits late. Visitors here should be forthcoming if they like spicy food; the staff doesn’t necessarily ask for preferences, so the dishes tend to default to the mild side.

green curry and shrimp pad Thai at 55 Thai Kitchen
Green curry and shrimp pad Thai at 55 Thai Kitchen in Golden Hill
Phaedra Cook

Chaba Thai Kitchen

Don’t drive past the nondescript strip center because you’ll be missing out in Chaba Thai’s generous portion sizes. Some must-order items include the Spicy Basil Chicken with preserved egg. Chaba Thai also has a fine pad see-ew, a classic dish with wide noodles and a choice of protein. It’s an approachable, entry-level dish for those unfamiliar with the cuisine.

Spicy Basil Chicken with Preserved Egg at Chaba Thai
Spicy Basil Chicken with Preserved Egg at Chaba Thai
Phaedra Cook

Mekong Restaurant

Lao and Thai cuisine meet at this Convoy District restaurant. Discover flavorful renditions of larb with your choice of chicken, beef or pork. The dish packs the fresh flavors of lime juice, chilis, mint and cilantro in every addicting bite. Don’t overlook the Laos portion of the menu either like the Lao cuisine platter, an introduction that includes beef jerky, sausage, spare ribs and wings, and steamed veggies. Food is only available for takeout.

Koon Thai Kitchen

Head in early to Koon Thai to take advantage of their first-come, first-served outdoor seating. Its winning combination of classic Thai dishes in a laid-back atmosphere has led to quick success, as the company has since opened three more restaurants under the AAHARN brand. Try the Boat Noodles. It’s a bigger rendition of the small bowls of hot soup served by the merchants who traverse Bangkok’s canals. Choose a version featuring beef or pork, plus choice of thin or thick noodles.

Boat Noodles at Koon Thai
Boat Noodles with beef at Koon Thai
Phaedra Cook

Lanna Thai Cuisine

Thai newbies fearing the spice levels should consider Lanna as their introduction to Thai cuisine. Most of the menu is comprised of classic Thai dishes with the heat dialed back so if you’re craving something really spicy, request it. Curries are trustworthy with good depth of flavor. The don’t-miss dish is dessert. Sticky rice comes topped with a crunchy combination of toasted yellow rice and black sesame seeds with perfectly ripe, almost custard-like mango served alongside. Curbside pickup is available as well as delivery within a 3-mile radius of the restaurant.

Sweet rice with mango at Lanna Thai
Sweet rice with mango at Lanna Thai
Phaedra Cook

Thai Papaya

Located in the original Sab-E-Lee location, Thai Papaya’s specialty is som tam, or shredded green papaya salad. There are 10 different varieties that elevate this essential dish with some creative additions. Just one example is the som tam khai kem, which gets its flavor with the additions of salted egg, fresh tomato, dried shrimp, green beans, peanuts, fresh red chili, lime juice and fish sauce.

Som tam, or papaya salad, with salted egg at Thai Papaya
Som tam, or papaya salad, with salted egg at Thai Papaya
Phaedra Cook

The Original Sab-E-Lee

The Original Sab-E-Lee’s dining room in Linda Vista gets packed enough to have a waiting list on Friday and Saturday nights — but since the start of the pandemic where indoor dining is either limited or prohibited, the takeout orders are just as busy. Go here for classic Thai dish like stellar tom kha gai with the push-and-pull tartness of lime juice and the contrast of creamy coconut milk. Duck larb with crushed red chili, red onion, green onion tops, fresh mint and ground rice for texture, is just as good.

Tom Kha Gai at Sab-E-Lee
Tom Kha Gai, or creamy coconut and chicken soup, at The Original Sab-E-Lee
Phaedra Cook

J&T Thai Street Food

While diners will find the usual Thai dishes like curries and noodle dishes, one dish that separates this Linda Vista spot from other restaurants is the steamed chicken rice. The homey comfort of slow-poached chicken and fragrant chicken-ginger rice may look unimpressive but the accompanying chicken broth make it a standout menu item. Also good is the tom-ka soup.

Steamed chicken rice J&T Thai Street Food

Thai Joint

The dishes at this Adams Avenue location are as pretty as they are masterfully executed, and worth a call for delivery or pickup. The crispy-skinned E-Sarn Sausage made with ground pork is addictive and gets extra flavor from the additions of ginger, galangal, lemon grass and chili. Both this and the Half Moon fried wonton skins stuffed with curried potato, peas and carrots are the kinds of dishes that have diners coming back for more.

E-Sarn sausage and the Half Moon fried dumplings at Thai Joint
E-Sarn sausage and the Half Moon fried dumplings at Thai Joint
Phaedra Cook

Plumeria Vegetarian Restaurant

Vegan and vegetarian Thai dishes headline the menu at this University Heights restaurant. Flavors are on point for many of their dishes but lean towards the conservative side when it comes to spice levels. A don’t-miss item is the pad see-ew— wide rice noodles sautéed with broccoli, carrots and cabbage. Carnivores ordering satay with mock chicken won’t miss the real thing.

Plumeria

Bahn Thai

Order ahead for takeout but drivers be warned: parking in this area of University Heights is scant so plan accordingly. A few dishes like the yum nuea, a beef salad, or young duck curry, make a pickup worth the extra effort. Unlike other places, Bahn Thai does not fool around on spice levels. Diners get the heat they order — a refreshing change from other places that dial the spice level back.

Yum Nuea, or beef salad, at Bahn Thai
Yum Nuea, or beef salad, at Bahn Thai
Chuck Cook Photography

Lotus Thai Cuisine

Serving since 1999, this Hillcrest Thai restaurant offers unbeatable and filling lunch specials from 11 AM to 3 PM on the weekdays. Choose from holy basil, drunken noodles and variety of curries as a few of the takeout specials. Dinner is equally memorable with chef dishes like Three-Flavored Soft Shell Crab, featuring a sweet and spicy tamarind sauce.

Soi 30th

Go here for Northern Thai fare like its namesake dish khao soi. It features crispy rice noodles cut from a big square of dough that’s laid over a cloth to steam over a pot then fried. Dishes here tend to have gentle sweetness to temper any heat, including the pad phet served with either pork belly or fried fish, chili paste, coconut milk, Thai eggplant, bamboo shoots, bell pepper and Thai basil, all with a fried egg on top. There’s now a second location in Ocean Beach ready for takeout or delivery.

Khao Soi at Soi 30th
Khao Soi at Soi 30th
Phaedra Cook

Supannee House of Thai Restaurant & Catering

Supannee’s regular delivery of fresh local fish makes it not just a great Thai restaurant, but a great restaurant in general. Add in an exemplary wine list (perfectly geared for Thai cuisine) and you have a go-to spot in Shelter Island. Classic Thai dishes are just as well executed as restaurant specialties, like the som tam, a shredded green papaya salad with cherry tomatoes and plenty of blanched peanuts. Outdoor seating is available, as well as delivery and takeout.

Deep-fried rockfish at Supannee Houston of Thai
Deep-fried rockfish at Supannee Houston of Thai
Phaedra Cook

AAHARN by Koon Thai

Humans cannot live by pasta alone, which is only one reason why Thai restaurant AAHARN is a welcome addition to the Little Italy area. Heat levels are as-requested. Standout dishes include tum yum, loaded with sturdy straw and wispy enoki mushrooms, or order specials like the lemon & lime fish featuring a steamed filet in a lime-garlic broth. A second location is in the University City area, and both sites offer delivery or takeout

Tom yum soup at AAHARN Thai in Little Italy
Tom yum soup at AAHARN Thai in Little Italy
Phaedra Cook

55 Thai Kitchen Golden Hill

Depending on which location you opt for, you’ll either find 55 Thai at the back of a convenience store in Golden Hill, or in East Village, SDSU or Pacific Beach. It’s open later than many Thai restaurants, so go here when the craving for green curry sauce or pad thai hits late. Visitors here should be forthcoming if they like spicy food; the staff doesn’t necessarily ask for preferences, so the dishes tend to default to the mild side.

green curry and shrimp pad Thai at 55 Thai Kitchen
Green curry and shrimp pad Thai at 55 Thai Kitchen in Golden Hill
Phaedra Cook

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