Chow Thai in Charleston, WV, is an absolute must-visit for anyone craving authentic, high-quality Thai cuisine. Tucked away on Shrewsbury Street, this charming, small eatery lives up to its reputation as one of the best spots in the city, offering a fantastic experience that feels both genuine and welcoming.
My recent visit was centered around two classic choices, and both were executed flawlessly. The Pad Thai is truly a signature dish here. The stir-fried small rice noodles were perfectly cooked—not too oily, with a delightful chewiness—and coated in a balanced sauce that hit all the right notes: sweet, sour, and savory. The dish is generously portioned and comes expertly prepared with egg, Asian chives, and a sprinkle of crushed peanuts and fresh bean sprouts, adding a wonderful textural contrast. It’s a vibrant, flavorful take on a Thai staple that showcases the kitchen’s skill.
To complement the meal, the Thai Tea was the perfect choice. It was rich, creamy, and wonderfully sweet, serving as a refreshing and cooling counterpoint to the savory Pad Thai. It’s clear that the same attention to detail that goes into the main dishes is also applied to their beverages.
Beyond the food, the service at Chow Thai is exceptional—fast, friendly, and attentive, even when the limited seating area is busy. The atmosphere is casual and inviting, making it a great spot for a quick, delicious lunch or a satisfying dinner.
If you’re in the East End area of Charleston and looking for an authentic taste of Thai street food, make a stop at Chow Thai. It’s a local favorite for a reason, and I highly recommend experiencing their excellent Pad Thai and refreshing Thai Tea for yourself. Five stars!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ashley Butch
We can to Charlston for my boyfriend's birthday and he loves Thai food. I found this restaurant and after reading the reviews I knew place was going to be the spot. It was everything I thought it would be. The food was DELICIOUS! We go to a lot of Thai places. Chow Thai was the best. I got the Pad Thai and he got the Curry and everything was so flavorful. The Pad Thai was the best I ever had and so was his curry. We went on Tuesday around 5 and unfortunately they were sold out and we were lucky enough to get a table at lunch the next day. We did have to wait 45 minutes for our food and the waitress let us know. It was worth the wait!! You know the food is fresh when it takes that long to cook. It was pipping hot at well. I would go there again if I ever come back out this way.
Dean Sassafrass
Really wish they would make their pad Thai gluten free 😭😭😭 had the masa man curry and it was good
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Erica James
My favorite lunch spot in Charleston!! Food is excellent every time of course, and I've tried most of the menu at this point. I'm also obsessed with the honeydew drink, it's amazing. The service is great too, the server is so nice and very fast!
JSTL
Really liked that curries did not use fish sauce or shrimp paste and they completely understood what was and wasn't OK. Panang curry was warming and packed with flavor.
Joe Page
Absolutely wonderful fresh hot food. Fantastic service and selection. Seating is limited, but the takeout is everything.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
D. Michl Lowe
I have been going here for years now! This is the best Thai food around, hands down! Its authentic and so tasty! Ive not had a dish here that didnt come off as thoughtful and homemade! They even do Ramen occasionally that really hits the spot! Don't miss out, this is a place to stop in Charleston for!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
caleb whittington
Great food and a solid staff. Only complaint is how small the place is. It can get full very quickly but the food is worth it!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joseph P
Pretty good Thai food spice a bit different than many I've had.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Rayahin
Not only is Chow Thai one of the best Asian-style restaurants in the Charleston area, it’s one of the best restaurants in the area PERIOD!!!
Friendly, timely and authentic service in a practical and functional dining room. Keep it up!
The best Thai in town! Fresh ingredients and amazing service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jake P
The Massaman curry was out of this world good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Orlando Velez
I can't even tell you that they're open, they dont update Google, you have to drive all of the way there to read a little sign made with a Sharpie, We're closed.
Not sure if its owner operated or operated by someone who just doesnt understand business.
If anyone discovers that this place is still open for business feel free to let us know, cheers!! 🥂
Service: 1
Becca Feldman
An excellent hole in the wall with delicious authentic thai food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Xavier Shaw
The food is always amazing! Portions are quite large and the price is always on point! I only visit West Virginia every year but when I do I ALWAYS stop here for lunch!
Chow Thai in Charleston, WV, is an absolute must-visit for anyone craving authentic, high-quality Thai cuisine. Tucked away on Shrewsbury Street, this charming, small eatery lives up to its reputation as one of the best spots in the city, offering a fantastic experience that feels both genuine and welcoming.
My recent visit was centered around two classic choices, and both were executed flawlessly. The Pad Thai is truly a signature dish here. The stir-fried small rice noodles were perfectly cooked—not too oily, with a delightful chewiness—and coated in a balanced sauce that hit all the right notes: sweet, sour, and savory. The dish is generously portioned and comes expertly prepared with egg, Asian chives, and a sprinkle of crushed peanuts and fresh bean sprouts, adding a wonderful textural contrast. It’s a vibrant, flavorful take on a Thai staple that showcases the kitchen’s skill.
To complement the meal, the Thai Tea was the perfect choice. It was rich, creamy, and wonderfully sweet, serving as a refreshing and cooling counterpoint to the savory Pad Thai. It’s clear that the same attention to detail that goes into the main dishes is also applied to their beverages.
Beyond the food, the service at Chow Thai is exceptional—fast, friendly, and attentive, even when the limited seating area is busy. The atmosphere is casual and inviting, making it a great spot for a quick, delicious lunch or a satisfying dinner.
If you’re in the East End area of Charleston and looking for an authentic taste of Thai street food, make a stop at Chow Thai. It’s a local favorite for a reason, and I highly recommend experiencing their excellent Pad Thai and refreshing Thai Tea for yourself. Five stars!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We can to Charlston for my boyfriend's birthday and he loves Thai food. I found this restaurant and after reading the reviews I knew place was going to be the spot.
It was everything I thought it would be. The food was DELICIOUS! We go to a lot of Thai places. Chow Thai was the best. I got the Pad Thai and he got the Curry and everything was so flavorful. The Pad Thai was the best I ever had and so was his curry.
We went on Tuesday around 5 and unfortunately they were sold out and we were lucky enough to get a table at lunch the next day. We did have to wait 45 minutes for our food and the waitress let us know. It was worth the wait!! You know the food is fresh when it takes that long to cook. It was pipping hot at well. I would go there again if I ever come back out this way.
Really wish they would make their pad Thai gluten free 😭😭😭 had the masa man curry and it was good
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
My favorite lunch spot in Charleston!! Food is excellent every time of course, and I've tried most of the menu at this point. I'm also obsessed with the honeydew drink, it's amazing. The service is great too, the server is so nice and very fast!
Really liked that curries did not use fish sauce or shrimp paste and they completely understood what was and wasn't OK. Panang curry was warming and packed with flavor.
Absolutely wonderful fresh hot food. Fantastic service and selection. Seating is limited, but the takeout is everything.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have been going here for years now! This is the best Thai food around, hands down! Its authentic and so tasty! Ive not had a dish here that didnt come off as thoughtful and homemade! They even do Ramen occasionally that really hits the spot! Don't miss out, this is a place to stop in Charleston for!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food and a solid staff. Only complaint is how small the place is. It can get full very quickly but the food is worth it!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pretty good Thai food spice a bit different than many I've had.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Not only is Chow Thai one of the best Asian-style restaurants in the Charleston area, it’s one of the best restaurants in the area PERIOD!!!
Friendly, timely and authentic service in a practical and functional dining room. Keep it up!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The best Thai in town! Fresh ingredients and amazing service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Massaman curry was out of this world good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I can't even tell you that they're open, they dont update Google, you have to drive all of the way there to read a little sign made with a Sharpie,
We're closed.
Not sure if its owner operated or operated by someone who just doesnt understand business.
If anyone discovers that this place is still open for business feel free to let us know, cheers!! 🥂
Service: 1
An excellent hole in the wall with delicious authentic thai food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
The food is always amazing! Portions are quite large and the price is always on point! I only visit West Virginia every year but when I do I ALWAYS stop here for lunch!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
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