A couple years back I came across this pad thai at a farmer's market and was so into it. I only just found out they got a permanent spot and couldn't wait to try it. We got the northern with chicken which was more peanut saucy and southern with shrimp which was more coconut-ish. Both were excellent, but I think I prefer the southern. For the northern I regret not paying the $2 to add the dried shrimp, radish, and fried garlic because I think it needed a little tiny something something. The southern has some fried shallots that are a nice addition. For about $24 you get two heavy boxes of pad thai which made 4 decent meals for two of us. Totally delicious, worth every penny, and reheats really well!
Ben Carlos D.
I believe The Pad Thai stand took over what used to be Annie's Burgers. It's a small hole in the wall that looks like something you'll find in South East Asia. The ordering is simple. You choose the style of Pad Thai, pick your protein and decide if you want things added or removed.We ordered the Northern Style Pad Thai with chicken for that peanut sauce along with some Thai Tea with Coconut Milk. I'm going to say it, the Thai Tea with Coconut is a huge mistake. I should've just done half and half. The Pad Thai was interesting. We were expecting a rich flavor from the peanut sauce but it actually tasted bland. The fact that I can taste the mistake in my choice of Thai Tea means I can still taste things and most like not suffering from COVID. "Why the four stars?"I had the left overs for lunch and BOOM! FLAVOR! I guess the noods just needed to marinate in the sauce or maybe I sucked at mixing it. After that, it's good. I definitely have my favorite as far as Pad Thai and I don't think the Pad Thai stand comes close but then when you're just craving something good that doesn't break the bank, they come in clutch. I wonder if I could've mixed proteins and maybe I'll come back to figure it out. Or...someone can try and let us know in the reviews. Overall, I'd come back again and maybe try the Southern Style, redeem myself with regular Thai Tea and yeah...see if I can mix and match protein.
Cindy L.
A HUGE thank you to The Pad Thai Stand for convincing this girl to fall in love with pad thai all over again. So let's backtrack with a confession: I typically opt for pad se ew or a curry when getting Thai food. However, The Pad Thai Stand totally changed my views on pad thai and I'm already thinking of when I can go back! I first heard about this place through the wonderful world of Yelp and was intrigued that even though pad thai was the only item on the menu, there were so many variations. My husband and I ended up getting two orders: Chicken Northern and Tofu Southern. They were so different in flavors and it was such an amazing way to 'travel' (especially during times of COVID) to different parts of Thailand. Out of the two, I personally preferred Northern pad thai - mainly because I really enjoyed the heavy peanut flavor. For those who are big fans of coconut, Southern is definitely a solid option. A few things as related to COVID-19 (review written in September 2020): 1. Feel free to call and order ahead OR you can stop by, order, and wait. 2. Employees were wearing masks and plenty of precautions were taken. 3. Eating outside is an option but heads up, limited chairs and tables. 4. Credit cards are accepted.
Katie K.
My husband went here to pickup dinner the other night and the two Pad Thai dishes we tried were absolutely delicious!! He said everyone was so nice and he had a great time chatting while waiting for our order. We tried the Northern and a Southern. Highly recommend trying both of these. So much flavor and very similar to the amazing pad Thai we've had in Thailand and have been craving since!
Tommy B.
First off I want to say how amazing the service was here! I called in a late night order and right off the bat the owner was so kind. I had been craving pad Thai and this definitely hit the spot. Honestly the better pad thai I've had and this is not normally something crave. I was really tired from work coming in to pick up my order, so it was a welcomed experience to have it delivered. I also told them extra spicy and they were not playing! I had the southern pad Thai with all the fixings, it was deliciously nutty and warm with coconut! I've never had pad Thai to choose from like this. Awesome people and food Will be back again!
Anna L.
I honestly was intrigued and very excited to try this place, I would give it another shot because the flavors for the southern style of Thai was unique. It was like a bit coconutty which was an interesting twist on pad Thai that I've never had before. However, my overall first impression was not that great. I wish I could give this place a higher review but sadly I was disappointed in the pad Thai I got here. It was something about the noodle texture being too cooked and suuuuper stuck together and a bit dry and hard to eat. Not to mention it's about $11 for a not so big serving. Other restaurants like koon thai give you a heaping serving that is family style for the same ish price compared to this. My meal was also like half bean sprouts so that was kind a bummer :( anyways, I'll give it another shot hoping that it'll be better because my friend had this place once at the farmers market and it was pretty good. Maybe they just need to work on their production in their restaurant??
Sharon L.
This place has been on my list to try as they specialize in pad thai. For some reason I expected it to be an actual little food stand, but it's actually a little shop with an area for outdoor seating.All they have on the menu is pad thai. You then pick your flavor, protein, and spice level. You can also sub out the regular fish sauce with a vegan sauce. I got the northern style with tofu since I wanted to try something a little different compared to the regular pad thai. I enjoyed the peanut flavor and their tofu was great as well. The portions were pretty big - enough for a leftover lunch the next day.On top of everything, their staff was friendly and kept us informed of the status of our order the whole time. They also offered to bring our order to the car if we prefer to wait in the car. We didn't mind standing, and especially liked their little cute standing tables. Cute decor and good food!
Dominic T.
while other thai restaurants are serving non-spicy pad thai for the 57 year old balding Kens who fantasize daily about their 1998 trip to Chiang Mai, The Pad Thai Stand offers up something wholly original + independent to this area of San Diego. like a true "street food" stand/hole-in-the-wall you would find in Southeast Asia, they serve only one dish - Pad Thai - made in 3 regional variations. and the result is addictive. its pretty carb and sauce heavy so ask for extra chicken !
Kelly J.
Excellent service here- and delicious Pad Thai. I love how you can custom order with your favorite protein or veggies and change up the sauce to your liking. They have so many gluten free options, and they even have vegan sauce. I'm not sure why the vegan sauce option costs more, since they aren't adding eggs and it uses soy sauce rather than fish sauce. Other than the odd $2 add-on for vegan, I though the prices were very reasonable. Hubby loved his shrimp with the southern curry flavor at medium heat. I would probably go mild heat next time, since I tend to be a little more of a level 3 out of 10 person.I do have to mention how friendly and welcoming the staff and workers were here, I would definitely come back. We will likely order ahead next time and just pick up our food to go, since the seating area is very tiny.
Vitaliy L.
This is an awesome Thai place. They are generally only open during farmer's market dates. It's really tasty. Highly recommend.
It was my first time trying this place so when I called to place my order, I asked what he would recommend. He, I think he was the owner, recommended the northern and southern pad Thai. Though both were different from what I would call regular pad Thai. They were both very delicious. When I got there to pick up my food, the owner/cook educated me a bit on the various types of pad Thai. He was very enthusiastic and really seemed to have a passion for what he does. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be returning even though it's not that close to my house. There's plenty of parking in the lot. I had a little trouble finding the restaurant because there isn't really a sign out front, at least not from the direction I came in from. I just cruised the parking lot a little bit and took a guess at which corner it was on. The shopping center isn't humongous or anything but I had never been to it before so I was unfamiliar. I typically don't order pad Thai when I get Thai food, mostly because it doesn't wow me. However that is not the case at this place. I will likely be going back this weekend to try another "flavor". Who knew there were different flavors? I've even been to Thailand and had pad Thai (it's my husbands go to) in the various regions and didn't notice the difference. But I was probably served tourist versions of this dish.
Joy C.
I've been on the hunt for the best pad thai in San Diego and I think I've finally found it. This place just killed all other pad thais I've tasted, and I eat Thai food pretty regularly. The owner was super friendly and helpful with what to order and the history behind the different styles. I ended up ordering the northern style with tofu, medium heat and it was amazing. The noodles are perfectly chewy and everything was so flavorful. I can't wait to come back and try other things on the menu.
Jennifer F.
Omg had this when they came to the Mira Mesa Farmers Market and wow this was one of the best pad thais I've had in my life. I was skeptical because I wanted the peanuty flavor or original flavor one, but all they had was this coconut one (I'm usually not a huge coconut fan). But WOW this was seriously bomb, the coconut was not overwhelming at all and gave off a flavor like it was cooked in coconut oil. I forgot what I asked for spiciness but usually I like to go for something medium and I def felt the heat. Employees were extremely friendly and nice too. Good work guys!! Def gonna visit again to try the other flavors :)
Tiffany T.
What a neat concept! I love Pad Thai. I feel like this is the ONE cuisine that is literally made differently everywhere--in the U.S. and even in Thailand. Northern style: The sweetest of all of them. Southern style: My favorite one. The coconut cream gives it a unique profile. Old style: The pork rinds give it a nice crunch. I love that the eggs on all three were super crispy. I would only suggest that they add a bit more protein in each dish.
Maria Katrina L.
We discovered this gem recently. I really enjoy their Southern style pad thai with shrimp and chicken. I would definitely try the other sauces. Glad this place is close by our place. If we feel like working out such as taking walks/strolls we can easily stop by this pad thai stand on our way home.
A couple years back I came across this pad thai at a farmer's market and was so into it. I only just found out they got a permanent spot and couldn't wait to try it. We got the northern with chicken which was more peanut saucy and southern with shrimp which was more coconut-ish. Both were excellent, but I think I prefer the southern. For the northern I regret not paying the $2 to add the dried shrimp, radish, and fried garlic because I think it needed a little tiny something something. The southern has some fried shallots that are a nice addition. For about $24 you get two heavy boxes of pad thai which made 4 decent meals for two of us. Totally delicious, worth every penny, and reheats really well!
I believe The Pad Thai stand took over what used to be Annie's Burgers. It's a small hole in the wall that looks like something you'll find in South East Asia. The ordering is simple. You choose the style of Pad Thai, pick your protein and decide if you want things added or removed.We ordered the Northern Style Pad Thai with chicken for that peanut sauce along with some Thai Tea with Coconut Milk. I'm going to say it, the Thai Tea with Coconut is a huge mistake. I should've just done half and half. The Pad Thai was interesting. We were expecting a rich flavor from the peanut sauce but it actually tasted bland. The fact that I can taste the mistake in my choice of Thai Tea means I can still taste things and most like not suffering from COVID. "Why the four stars?"I had the left overs for lunch and BOOM! FLAVOR! I guess the noods just needed to marinate in the sauce or maybe I sucked at mixing it. After that, it's good. I definitely have my favorite as far as Pad Thai and I don't think the Pad Thai stand comes close but then when you're just craving something good that doesn't break the bank, they come in clutch. I wonder if I could've mixed proteins and maybe I'll come back to figure it out. Or...someone can try and let us know in the reviews. Overall, I'd come back again and maybe try the Southern Style, redeem myself with regular Thai Tea and yeah...see if I can mix and match protein.
A HUGE thank you to The Pad Thai Stand for convincing this girl to fall in love with pad thai all over again. So let's backtrack with a confession: I typically opt for pad se ew or a curry when getting Thai food. However, The Pad Thai Stand totally changed my views on pad thai and I'm already thinking of when I can go back! I first heard about this place through the wonderful world of Yelp and was intrigued that even though pad thai was the only item on the menu, there were so many variations. My husband and I ended up getting two orders: Chicken Northern and Tofu Southern. They were so different in flavors and it was such an amazing way to 'travel' (especially during times of COVID) to different parts of Thailand. Out of the two, I personally preferred Northern pad thai - mainly because I really enjoyed the heavy peanut flavor. For those who are big fans of coconut, Southern is definitely a solid option. A few things as related to COVID-19 (review written in September 2020): 1. Feel free to call and order ahead OR you can stop by, order, and wait. 2. Employees were wearing masks and plenty of precautions were taken. 3. Eating outside is an option but heads up, limited chairs and tables. 4. Credit cards are accepted.
My husband went here to pickup dinner the other night and the two Pad Thai dishes we tried were absolutely delicious!! He said everyone was so nice and he had a great time chatting while waiting for our order. We tried the Northern and a Southern. Highly recommend trying both of these. So much flavor and very similar to the amazing pad Thai we've had in Thailand and have been craving since!
First off I want to say how amazing the service was here! I called in a late night order and right off the bat the owner was so kind. I had been craving pad Thai and this definitely hit the spot. Honestly the better pad thai I've had and this is not normally something crave. I was really tired from work coming in to pick up my order, so it was a welcomed experience to have it delivered. I also told them extra spicy and they were not playing! I had the southern pad Thai with all the fixings, it was deliciously nutty and warm with coconut! I've never had pad Thai to choose from like this. Awesome people and food Will be back again!
I honestly was intrigued and very excited to try this place, I would give it another shot because the flavors for the southern style of Thai was unique. It was like a bit coconutty which was an interesting twist on pad Thai that I've never had before. However, my overall first impression was not that great. I wish I could give this place a higher review but sadly I was disappointed in the pad Thai I got here. It was something about the noodle texture being too cooked and suuuuper stuck together and a bit dry and hard to eat. Not to mention it's about $11 for a not so big serving. Other restaurants like koon thai give you a heaping serving that is family style for the same ish price compared to this. My meal was also like half bean sprouts so that was kind a bummer :( anyways, I'll give it another shot hoping that it'll be better because my friend had this place once at the farmers market and it was pretty good. Maybe they just need to work on their production in their restaurant??
This place has been on my list to try as they specialize in pad thai. For some reason I expected it to be an actual little food stand, but it's actually a little shop with an area for outdoor seating.All they have on the menu is pad thai. You then pick your flavor, protein, and spice level. You can also sub out the regular fish sauce with a vegan sauce. I got the northern style with tofu since I wanted to try something a little different compared to the regular pad thai. I enjoyed the peanut flavor and their tofu was great as well. The portions were pretty big - enough for a leftover lunch the next day.On top of everything, their staff was friendly and kept us informed of the status of our order the whole time. They also offered to bring our order to the car if we prefer to wait in the car. We didn't mind standing, and especially liked their little cute standing tables. Cute decor and good food!
while other thai restaurants are serving non-spicy pad thai for the 57 year old balding Kens who fantasize daily about their 1998 trip to Chiang Mai, The Pad Thai Stand offers up something wholly original + independent to this area of San Diego. like a true "street food" stand/hole-in-the-wall you would find in Southeast Asia, they serve only one dish - Pad Thai - made in 3 regional variations. and the result is addictive. its pretty carb and sauce heavy so ask for extra chicken !
Excellent service here- and delicious Pad Thai. I love how you can custom order with your favorite protein or veggies and change up the sauce to your liking. They have so many gluten free options, and they even have vegan sauce. I'm not sure why the vegan sauce option costs more, since they aren't adding eggs and it uses soy sauce rather than fish sauce. Other than the odd $2 add-on for vegan, I though the prices were very reasonable. Hubby loved his shrimp with the southern curry flavor at medium heat. I would probably go mild heat next time, since I tend to be a little more of a level 3 out of 10 person.I do have to mention how friendly and welcoming the staff and workers were here, I would definitely come back. We will likely order ahead next time and just pick up our food to go, since the seating area is very tiny.
This is an awesome Thai place. They are generally only open during farmer's market dates. It's really tasty. Highly recommend.
Restaurantji Recommends
It was my first time trying this place so when I called to place my order, I asked what he would recommend. He, I think he was the owner, recommended the northern and southern pad Thai. Though both were different from what I would call regular pad Thai. They were both very delicious. When I got there to pick up my food, the owner/cook educated me a bit on the various types of pad Thai. He was very enthusiastic and really seemed to have a passion for what he does. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be returning even though it's not that close to my house. There's plenty of parking in the lot. I had a little trouble finding the restaurant because there isn't really a sign out front, at least not from the direction I came in from. I just cruised the parking lot a little bit and took a guess at which corner it was on. The shopping center isn't humongous or anything but I had never been to it before so I was unfamiliar. I typically don't order pad Thai when I get Thai food, mostly because it doesn't wow me. However that is not the case at this place. I will likely be going back this weekend to try another "flavor". Who knew there were different flavors? I've even been to Thailand and had pad Thai (it's my husbands go to) in the various regions and didn't notice the difference. But I was probably served tourist versions of this dish.
I've been on the hunt for the best pad thai in San Diego and I think I've finally found it. This place just killed all other pad thais I've tasted, and I eat Thai food pretty regularly. The owner was super friendly and helpful with what to order and the history behind the different styles. I ended up ordering the northern style with tofu, medium heat and it was amazing. The noodles are perfectly chewy and everything was so flavorful. I can't wait to come back and try other things on the menu.
Omg had this when they came to the Mira Mesa Farmers Market and wow this was one of the best pad thais I've had in my life. I was skeptical because I wanted the peanuty flavor or original flavor one, but all they had was this coconut one (I'm usually not a huge coconut fan). But WOW this was seriously bomb, the coconut was not overwhelming at all and gave off a flavor like it was cooked in coconut oil. I forgot what I asked for spiciness but usually I like to go for something medium and I def felt the heat. Employees were extremely friendly and nice too. Good work guys!! Def gonna visit again to try the other flavors :)
What a neat concept! I love Pad Thai. I feel like this is the ONE cuisine that is literally made differently everywhere--in the U.S. and even in Thailand. Northern style: The sweetest of all of them. Southern style: My favorite one. The coconut cream gives it a unique profile. Old style: The pork rinds give it a nice crunch. I love that the eggs on all three were super crispy. I would only suggest that they add a bit more protein in each dish.
We discovered this gem recently. I really enjoy their Southern style pad thai with shrimp and chicken. I would definitely try the other sauces. Glad this place is close by our place. If we feel like working out such as taking walks/strolls we can easily stop by this pad thai stand on our way home.