Basil Thai Restaurant & Bar

1175 Folsom St, San Francisco
(415) 552-8999

Recent Reviews

Tony T.

Amazing Thai Food and Great Staff :) Location is easy. Atmosphere is clean and unique to Thailand culture.

Anmol R.

The restaurant has a really nice ambiance which may not be apparent from the outside. I love the bamboo chairs, they're super comfortable. Food was delicious, especially the catfish and the pad see ew. However, the duck was a bit dry Our server (didn't get her name unfortunately) was really friendly and patient. She let us bring wine from the wine store across and uncorked it for us.

Grace Zhang

Food was delicious and portion sizes were large. The staff was kind and thoughtful. I loved the aguachile and thought the seafood was very fresh and flavor was very good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

ayush kalani

My friend and I went to Basil Thai Restaurant and Bar for SF restaurant week, and it struck a positive chord with its nice ambiance and friendly service.The restaurant itself has a contemporary feel, with sleek décor and a lively atmosphere. Our server was attentive and prompt, making sure our water glasses were always full and answering any questions we had about the extensive menu.Speaking of the menu, it's a Thai food lover's dream! They offer a wide array of dishes, from classic noodle and fried rice options to soups, salads, rice plates, and enticing snacks. Their Restaurant Week deal for $45 included a three-course meal and a drink. And that's what we tried. They also had happy hour going on when we were there, so we ordered some snacks and drinks on the side - $10 cocktails, $6 snacks, $5 beer, and $9 house wine.Here's a breakdown of some of the dishes we tried:Steamed Pork & Crab Dumplings: While the filling was flavorful, the dough was a bit thick and undercooked at first. We mentioned this to the staff, and they kindly offered to cook them a bit longer. The second attempt was better, but the dough was still a tad thicker than ideal.Thai Aguachile: This dish was a refreshing take on ceviche. Shrimp, scallops, and squid were bathed in a zesty lime marinade and served with crispy sesame rice crackers. It was a perfect light and flavorful starter.BBQ Pork Ribs: The ribs were not your typical fall-off-the-bone ribs but they were cooked well. The accompanying green papaya and carrot slaw provided a nice crunch, while the smoked tomato relish added a touch of smokiness that balanced the sweetness of the ribs.Pan-Roasted Japanese Scallops: These perfectly cooked scallops were bathed in a savory Thai XO sauce and accompanied by tempura green beans. It was delicious and beautifully presented dish.Sweet Mango & Coconut Cream Sticky Rice: This classic Thai dessert did not disappoint. The sticky rice was perfectly cooked, and the sweetness of the mango paired beautifully with the creamy coconut sauce.Thai Iced Tea: A refreshing and classic beverage to complement the meal.We also tried a few other dishes that were not on the Restaurant Week menu but were definitely worth it:Indian Flat Bread & Curry: This dish offered a delightful surprise – crispy flatbread paired with a flavorful and savory vegetable curry.Corn Fritters, Cucumber Salad 'Kao Pode Tod': These crispy fritters were a delightful textural contrast to the cool and refreshing cucumber salad.Overall, Basil Thai offers a modern take on classic Thai dishes with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients. While the undercooked dumplings were a minor misstep, the friendly service, extensive menu, and delicious food make it a great choice for a fun and flavorful dining experience. Especially with the Restaurant Week deal, it's a great opportunity to try a variety of their offerings at a good value.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Ben Winston

Delicious food. Huge portions. Amazing wait staff. Great vibe.We went for the first night of SF Restaurant Week expecting small bites given the moderately low price point. Instead, each app and main course was a meal on its own. Add in a dessert and drink?! This might have been the best deal in town.I've also eaten there on a normal night - the food and drink menus were equally good. Well worth a visit.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Mango Sticky Rice with Coconut Cream, Pork Shoulder

Ayush K.

My friend and I went to Basil Thai Restaurant and Bar for SF restaurant week, and it struck a positive chord with its nice ambiance and friendly service. The restaurant itself has a contemporary feel, with sleek décor and a lively atmosphere. Our server was attentive and prompt, making sure our water glasses were always full and answering any questions we had about the extensive menu. Speaking of the menu, it's a Thai food lover's dream! They offer a wide array of dishes, from classic noodle and fried rice options to soups, salads, rice plates, and enticing snacks. Their Restaurant Week deal for $45 included a three-course meal and a drink. And that's what we tried. They also had happy hour going on when we were there, so we ordered some snacks and drinks on the side - $10 cocktails, $6 snacks, $5 beer, and $9 house wine. Here's a breakdown of some of the dishes we tried: Steamed Pork & Crab Dumplings: While the filling was flavorful, the dough was a bit thick and undercooked at first. We mentioned this to the staff, and they kindly offered to cook them a bit longer. The second attempt was better, but the dough was still a tad thicker than ideal. Thai Aguachile: This dish was a refreshing take on ceviche. Shrimp, scallops, and squid were bathed in a zesty lime marinade and served with crispy sesame rice crackers. It was a perfect light and flavorful starter. BBQ Pork Ribs: The ribs were not your typical fall-off-the-bone ribs but they were cooked well. The accompanying green papaya and carrot slaw provided a nice crunch, while the smoked tomato relish added a touch of smokiness that balanced the sweetness of the ribs. Pan-Roasted Japanese Scallops: These perfectly cooked scallops were bathed in a savory Thai XO sauce and accompanied by tempura green beans. It was delicious and beautifully presented dish. Sweet Mango & Coconut Cream Sticky Rice: This classic Thai dessert did not disappoint. The sticky rice was perfectly cooked, and the sweetness of the mango paired beautifully with the creamy coconut sauce. Thai Iced Tea: A refreshing and classic beverage to complement the meal. We also tried a few other dishes that were not on the Restaurant Week menu but were definitely worth it: Indian Flat Bread & Curry: This dish offered a delightful surprise - crispy flatbread paired with a flavorful and savory vegetable curry. Corn Fritters, Cucumber Salad 'Kao Pode Tod': These crispy fritters were a delightful textural contrast to the cool and refreshing cucumber salad. Overall, Basil Thai offers a modern take on classic Thai dishes with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients. While the undercooked dumplings were a minor misstep, the friendly service, extensive menu, and delicious food make it a great choice for a fun and flavorful dining experience. Especially with the Restaurant Week deal, it's a great opportunity to try a variety of their offerings at a good value.

Ben W.

Delicious food. Huge portions. Amazing wait staff. Great vibe. We went for the first night of SF Restaurant Week expecting small bites given the moderately low price point. Instead, each app and main course was a meal on its own. Add in a dessert and drink?! This might have been the best deal in town. I've also eaten there on a normal night - the food and drink menus were equally good. Well worth a visit.

Lisa W.

We ordered to go. More like a 3.5 ish but rounding up as most dishes were pretty good. Their papaya salad was bomb! I think it was the best thing there. The dressing was a perfect spicy and sour. We also got some pad kee mao, crab fried rice, shrimp in tamarind and green curry. The pad kee mao wasn't as flavorful as I hoped. It was dry and the seasoning wasn't soaked in. Some of the noodles were still white. The crab fried rice had plenty crab. It was pretty good. The shrimp in tamarind was tasty. And the green curry was good, pretty mild though. I'm sure the experience in the restaurant would have been better but we had 2 infants and it was raining, so it was easier to order to go and eat at home.

Jairo T.

First time in the area and trying out this spot. Walked in without reservations with a small group of friends on a week day during the evening. We were seated immediately and there were a few tables already taken. Tried the classic tom kha which was a giant bowl of soup and chicken. Perfect for a big appetite. Around the table, others ordered the Kana mu grob and the pad ke mao all with good reviews. Service was fast and cordial. Nice spot with good variety.

Daphne Spencer

Omg! Amazing food and super nice staff. Try the braised pork... best EVER!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Jessica Mierau

Some of the best Thai food in SOMA! Highly recommend. We had VERY slow service, but that was because there were two large groups. Typically it’s pretty standard.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Pumpkin Curry, Green Curry, Spicy Basil Chicken, Papaya Salad

Michelle T.

The highlight of my meal here are: - Mango sticky rice - this was served with a warm coconut sauce. I don't remember other places serving this with a warm sauce. This makes a big difference in the dish and is the key element that made it a highlight of my meal. -Pad thai - it wasn't overly sweet and noodles were chewy. We also got: - Pla duk pad ped (catfish with eggplant) - this was a bit salty because of the sauce so rice is a must - Jungle beef - this wasn't memorable but wasn't bad either - A tofu dish served in a clay pot - I love tofu and the glass noodles it comes with. - Fried banana with coconut ice cream - fried food and ice cream goes hand in hand. No complaints here! I think they serve this with Mitchell's ice cream. The setting was dim and intimate. Service was fast and attentive.

orion swann

One of my favorite Thai spots anywhere in CA. Pad See Ew is out of this world. Also the catfish is must try.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Zach H.

Great food consistent quality fresh ingredients reasonable prices. Great service. Can't go wrong. Please support him.

V V

Moody waitress and ridiculously salty food. The menu is very boring and they don’t have classic curries.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 2

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