We LOVE Pad Thai Stand!! Ever since I moved to San Diego I have been getting Pad Thai Stand when I need comfort food, want take out or just feel like great Pad Thai. This is the best Pad Thai in San Diego. We get northern and southern and then have half of each for different flavors. Love the creativity in the different flavors of each item. People and staff and always so friendly and it is appreciated. Casual and minimal seating so better for a quick bite or take out.
Nick N.
An awesome, casual spot to check out if you really enjoy pad Thai. It's the most famous and commonly ordered dish at Thai restaurants, and this place serves four regional variations. I've had the Boran, Southern, and Northern versions. The Boran features a soy sauce base, the Southern is coconut milk based, and the Northern has a unique massaman curry flavor. Of the three, I liked the Northern and Boran the most. This is a very casual spot mostly for takeout, though they do have a few seats available. Portion sizes are good and the quality of ingredients is good.Definitely worth checking out if you have always liked pad Thai, but want to be a bit adventurous.
Jennifer S.
Food was pretty good; a little on the sugary side. The attendant was so crotchety .... so rude. You could tell she hated her job, other people, and life in general.Lastly, the actual seating space was super gross. There was a dark grey mop leaning against the wall right by one of the tables ... the kind that started with white fibers. Other unsightly things were going on that I think I blocked out of my mind. Anyhow, I won't be returning. There are plenty more good Thai spots I'd give my business to, sadly.
Rohith V.
As advertised this place is indeed a stand. There's a couple of small outdoor tables and chairs in case you wanted to enjoy your food there. I like the style of their menu and I like that they have one dedicated dish that they make well. You have your choice of protein (tofu available for vegetarians) and then you select that flavor profile based on Thai geography. I went with the southern because I wanted something more coconutty. You can then select your spice level. While pad Thai is a sweeter noodle in general the medium spice I selected was still pretty spicy so be warned! They also have another non-fish based sauce you can select if dietary restrictions for an extra charge of $2. At $17 a pop price point is a bit higher than I expected esp after coming here a few years ago and I remember it being closer to $13-14 but inflation I guess . It does come with quite a generous portion as you can see in the pics and for me lasted about 1.5 servings as someone who generally eats a decent amount.
Lina P.
Super delicious and authentic! The bean sprouts were crispy and fresh, be warned it is Thai spice so the medium one will burn! The mild one was already feeling a bit of a kick but we loved it!
Allen H.
I used to be a big fan of this place but the service keeps declining while the price increases. I know they tend to take a while to prep the orders, but often times their phone just is unavailable. I'll come in to place the order in person and see the phone is off the line to avoid calls . What the heck? It's not uncommon to wait almost 30 minutes for a single order. I'm not sure how it can take so long since this is supposed to be a fast street food type dish. Considering the food costs almost $20/portion too, I think it's worth considering other options now.
Vivian L.
I LOVE the Pad Thai stand!! Pad Thai is one of my favorite dishes and I love that this hidden gem offers a variation of pad Thai depending on the region of Thailand. My favorites from here are the Southern and Northern style--the coconut cream in the southern style really elevates the dish in a way I never knew I needed! Plus their prices are very affordable for an amazing Pad Thai.I usually do GrubHub so can't speak to the ambiance but I know that I will always get a very satisfying and delicious meal when I order from here.
Danielle B.
So my favorite Thai food place changed ownership and I've been on the hunt for a new favorite place. In the last 2 month I've gone to 7 different Thai food restaurants in San Diego looking for Pad Thai that was as good as my other place. My search is finally over!! I found it! This is exactly what I've been searching for. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. The flavor and spice level is just right. It's a small place with limited seating but the food is amazing!! I'm soo happy
Deanne L.
Ordered take out and tried the Central Bangkok Pad Thai. It's described as "the most basic" pad thai but it's super good! It looked a little bland and lacked color at first, but there's so much flavor and spice. I tried it as mild spice, which is just one up from no spice, and it surprisingly delivered a pretty strong kick. I couldn't stop thinking about it since I ate it, so it's definitely a must try
Audrey L.
I thought pad thai was overrated until I gave this place a try. In fact, I tried all four flavors, most of which I haven't found offered at other Thai restaurants.The problem with pad thai at other restaurants is that it often borders on cloying. At The Pad Thai Stand, other flavors are present: savory, sour, piquant, and herby.As the name suggests, The Pad Thai Stand specializes in pad thai. It does so by limiting its menu to strictly pad thai, and the results speak for themselves, both on Yelp and on your palette.---Pro-tip #1: Opt to dine at the (divey) establishment or in the car. By the time you bring your meal home, the noodles will have coagulated and will stick together.Pro-tip #2: Try adding their $2 shrimp oil. It imparts a luxurious, unctuous flavor and texture to the noodles.
I am obsessed with The Pad Thai Stand. I like the fact that they specialize in one dish and make it well.I've tried all the different variations offered, but my all time favorite is the Northern Chiang-Mai. The sauce is creamy with a hint of peanut. It's incredible. I refuse to eat order Pad Thai at other restaurants. This place is a must try!!
Kalani T.
Closest thing to authentic pad Thai I've had in SD so far, and the service is friendly and attentive! The Central Bangkok pad thai is superb, and it definitely earns its hidden gem status as it's in a discrete, tucked away spot.
Nancy W.
This should really be called The BAD Thai Stand. So utterly disappointed with my order. I've been seeing this place many times as I drive to my boyfriend's home that yesterday I decided I was going to try it. I called in an order for 2 shrimp Southern region pad thai dishes. 1 hot hot, the other medium hot. When I arrived it was just being bagged to go. I couldn't wait to get it home and enjoy the dish. I arrived 5 minutes later to open up the box and find nothing but a clump of stuck noodles together, no vegetables, NO SAUCE, and shrimp? Well I could find five. (So small it was not worth the extra money.) I was so upset I called the restaurant to asked about my order and was told that if I let the dish sit for awhile, the noodles could clump together And "sorry bout that" Grrr! I am only 5 minutes from them and opened the box as soon as I got home. Will not return and suggest you all save your $$. There are so many better authentic Thai places in San Diego to choose and get much better quality food. Oh and the spice was Zero in both dishes. My boyfriend scrambled some eggs and onions in the dish to try to save it. He did it much better than the original dish.
Stephanie B.
Prices are up, portion size down. Inflation has hit the Pad Thai Stand. I've been eating here for a long time after first ordering a plate at a farmer's market way back. Our go-to orders are still Northern & Southern with chicken or tofu. I always add the complete ingredients (dried shrimp, preserved radish, fried garlic) to the Northern to kick it up a notch. Central is quite good too for your classic restaurant style pad thai. The food here is always consistent and delicious, but I am bummed especially about the portions. I wouldn't mind the ingredients stretched over the old portion of noodles, but this no longer has a lot of leftovers between two of us :(
Sarah S.
This place is really bad. Overpriced for what they give you. I had the chicken pad thai. They only gave me three pieces of chicken and the bean sprouts were black. The Thai ice tea I got was also sour. When I got there I had to wait a good five minutes for the server to notice me, even after I rang the designated bell to get his attention. I'm glad I came here because now I'm inspired to learn how to make Pad Thai on my own so I don't have to return.
We LOVE Pad Thai Stand!! Ever since I moved to San Diego I have been getting Pad Thai Stand when I need comfort food, want take out or just feel like great Pad Thai. This is the best Pad Thai in San Diego. We get northern and southern and then have half of each for different flavors. Love the creativity in the different flavors of each item. People and staff and always so friendly and it is appreciated. Casual and minimal seating so better for a quick bite or take out.
An awesome, casual spot to check out if you really enjoy pad Thai. It's the most famous and commonly ordered dish at Thai restaurants, and this place serves four regional variations. I've had the Boran, Southern, and Northern versions. The Boran features a soy sauce base, the Southern is coconut milk based, and the Northern has a unique massaman curry flavor. Of the three, I liked the Northern and Boran the most. This is a very casual spot mostly for takeout, though they do have a few seats available. Portion sizes are good and the quality of ingredients is good.Definitely worth checking out if you have always liked pad Thai, but want to be a bit adventurous.
Food was pretty good; a little on the sugary side. The attendant was so crotchety .... so rude. You could tell she hated her job, other people, and life in general.Lastly, the actual seating space was super gross. There was a dark grey mop leaning against the wall right by one of the tables ... the kind that started with white fibers. Other unsightly things were going on that I think I blocked out of my mind. Anyhow, I won't be returning. There are plenty more good Thai spots I'd give my business to, sadly.
As advertised this place is indeed a stand. There's a couple of small outdoor tables and chairs in case you wanted to enjoy your food there. I like the style of their menu and I like that they have one dedicated dish that they make well. You have your choice of protein (tofu available for vegetarians) and then you select that flavor profile based on Thai geography. I went with the southern because I wanted something more coconutty. You can then select your spice level. While pad Thai is a sweeter noodle in general the medium spice I selected was still pretty spicy so be warned! They also have another non-fish based sauce you can select if dietary restrictions for an extra charge of $2. At $17 a pop price point is a bit higher than I expected esp after coming here a few years ago and I remember it being closer to $13-14 but inflation I guess . It does come with quite a generous portion as you can see in the pics and for me lasted about 1.5 servings as someone who generally eats a decent amount.
Super delicious and authentic! The bean sprouts were crispy and fresh, be warned it is Thai spice so the medium one will burn! The mild one was already feeling a bit of a kick but we loved it!
I used to be a big fan of this place but the service keeps declining while the price increases. I know they tend to take a while to prep the orders, but often times their phone just is unavailable. I'll come in to place the order in person and see the phone is off the line to avoid calls . What the heck? It's not uncommon to wait almost 30 minutes for a single order. I'm not sure how it can take so long since this is supposed to be a fast street food type dish. Considering the food costs almost $20/portion too, I think it's worth considering other options now.
I LOVE the Pad Thai stand!! Pad Thai is one of my favorite dishes and I love that this hidden gem offers a variation of pad Thai depending on the region of Thailand. My favorites from here are the Southern and Northern style--the coconut cream in the southern style really elevates the dish in a way I never knew I needed! Plus their prices are very affordable for an amazing Pad Thai.I usually do GrubHub so can't speak to the ambiance but I know that I will always get a very satisfying and delicious meal when I order from here.
So my favorite Thai food place changed ownership and I've been on the hunt for a new favorite place. In the last 2 month I've gone to 7 different Thai food restaurants in San Diego looking for Pad Thai that was as good as my other place. My search is finally over!! I found it! This is exactly what I've been searching for. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. The flavor and spice level is just right. It's a small place with limited seating but the food is amazing!! I'm soo happy
Ordered take out and tried the Central Bangkok Pad Thai. It's described as "the most basic" pad thai but it's super good! It looked a little bland and lacked color at first, but there's so much flavor and spice. I tried it as mild spice, which is just one up from no spice, and it surprisingly delivered a pretty strong kick. I couldn't stop thinking about it since I ate it, so it's definitely a must try
I thought pad thai was overrated until I gave this place a try. In fact, I tried all four flavors, most of which I haven't found offered at other Thai restaurants.The problem with pad thai at other restaurants is that it often borders on cloying. At The Pad Thai Stand, other flavors are present: savory, sour, piquant, and herby.As the name suggests, The Pad Thai Stand specializes in pad thai. It does so by limiting its menu to strictly pad thai, and the results speak for themselves, both on Yelp and on your palette.---Pro-tip #1: Opt to dine at the (divey) establishment or in the car. By the time you bring your meal home, the noodles will have coagulated and will stick together.Pro-tip #2: Try adding their $2 shrimp oil. It imparts a luxurious, unctuous flavor and texture to the noodles.
Restaurantji Recommends
I am obsessed with The Pad Thai Stand. I like the fact that they specialize in one dish and make it well.I've tried all the different variations offered, but my all time favorite is the Northern Chiang-Mai. The sauce is creamy with a hint of peanut. It's incredible. I refuse to eat order Pad Thai at other restaurants. This place is a must try!!
Closest thing to authentic pad Thai I've had in SD so far, and the service is friendly and attentive! The Central Bangkok pad thai is superb, and it definitely earns its hidden gem status as it's in a discrete, tucked away spot.
This should really be called The BAD Thai Stand. So utterly disappointed with my order. I've been seeing this place many times as I drive to my boyfriend's home that yesterday I decided I was going to try it. I called in an order for 2 shrimp Southern region pad thai dishes. 1 hot hot, the other medium hot. When I arrived it was just being bagged to go. I couldn't wait to get it home and enjoy the dish. I arrived 5 minutes later to open up the box and find nothing but a clump of stuck noodles together, no vegetables, NO SAUCE, and shrimp? Well I could find five. (So small it was not worth the extra money.) I was so upset I called the restaurant to asked about my order and was told that if I let the dish sit for awhile, the noodles could clump together And "sorry bout that" Grrr! I am only 5 minutes from them and opened the box as soon as I got home. Will not return and suggest you all save your $$. There are so many better authentic Thai places in San Diego to choose and get much better quality food. Oh and the spice was Zero in both dishes. My boyfriend scrambled some eggs and onions in the dish to try to save it. He did it much better than the original dish.
Prices are up, portion size down. Inflation has hit the Pad Thai Stand. I've been eating here for a long time after first ordering a plate at a farmer's market way back. Our go-to orders are still Northern & Southern with chicken or tofu. I always add the complete ingredients (dried shrimp, preserved radish, fried garlic) to the Northern to kick it up a notch. Central is quite good too for your classic restaurant style pad thai. The food here is always consistent and delicious, but I am bummed especially about the portions. I wouldn't mind the ingredients stretched over the old portion of noodles, but this no longer has a lot of leftovers between two of us :(
This place is really bad. Overpriced for what they give you. I had the chicken pad thai. They only gave me three pieces of chicken and the bean sprouts were black. The Thai ice tea I got was also sour. When I got there I had to wait a good five minutes for the server to notice me, even after I rang the designated bell to get his attention. I'm glad I came here because now I'm inspired to learn how to make Pad Thai on my own so I don't have to return.