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Araya's Place
Categories: Restaurants Thai Restaurants Buffets Restaurants Vegan Thai, Buffets, Vegan
1121 NE 45th St(between N 11th Ave & N 12th Ave)
Seattle, WA 98105
Neighborhood: University District
(206) 524-4332
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sun 11:30 am - 3:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
327 reviews for Araya's Place
Review Highlights
"The spring rolls were super crunchy, too."
(in 50 reviews)
"I had the avocado curry, four stars in heat."
(in 20 reviews)
"I highly recommend giving their peanut sauce a shot."
(in 29 reviews)
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327 reviews in English
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Review from Ema N.
Updated - 11/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been eating at Araya's for over 10 years (waay back when they were on the Ave) and I still love it.
I had my UW graduation dinner here with a small group of friends/family and the service was quick, food was shared family-style, and everyone loved it.
The Tofu Larb salad is really good (it's better than Larb Gai!) and the kitchen was able to make it for me without raw onion. Even though it's a salad, I still have to eat it with rice and it's sufficient for a meal (cold or warm).
The portions of the main menu items (curry, noodles, etc.) are large enough to share between 2 people. The soups can probably easily feed 3-4 people for one order (at least for me, I've always shared it and still had enough for take home).
There's no worry for me to eat here since everything is vegan and I don't have to worry about any seafood/shellfish allergy reactions. The kitchen staff are also really helpful about other types of food allergies, spiciness levels and answering any questions about recommended menu items. I've brought many non-vegan friends here, and all were impressed!Listed in: UW, Seattle restaurants: Safe for…, Allergy Safe
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/4/2009
Araya's is one of the few thai restaurants I can eat with 100% confidence that I will not have an… Read more »
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Review from Wendy M.
$8.99 Thai Buffet!
What an awesome find!
There are a lot of Thai Restaurants in Seattle, but not many Buffet's.
My usual Thai order would consist either something with tofu,vegetables and/or peanut sauce and my fiance's, "Chicken" Pad Thai. We are not a vegans and Araya is a Vegan Friendly Restaurant. I do however, love my veggies and felt like a kid in a candy store! My fiancé on the other hand, enjoyed the Pad Thai and the "pancit" like version, but had to ask, "where's the chicken?" The tofu just didn't cut it for him! lol He would rather eat at or take out Thai, where as I, loved the endless vegan!
Outcome: We left full and happy!
Thank you my fellow Yelpers, for guiding me to this great place!
TIPS:
- Private Lot with Limited Parking.
- Vegan
- Vegan / Gluten Free Bakery
Hours Vary:
- Lunch Buffet Everyday: 11:30am - 3:30pm
- Breakfast Served Monday - Friday: 7:00am - 11:00am
- Lunch / Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 11:30am - 9:30pm
- Lunch / Dinner: Friday and Saturday: 11:30am - 10:00pm -
Review from Rye D.
Seattle, WA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
While Visiting Seattle. I came here with a friend. I was surprised by all the vegan options. We had pot stickers which were fabulous crispy and not soggy.
I enjoyed a noodle dish vague I know. But I can't remember the name. One thing I do remember it was fabulous. I love that you can pick how hot you
Want your spices to be , Huge plus. The waitress was nice and helpful. She wasn't overbearing and left us alone to eat. The atmosphere was quite ,
The decorations and style of the restaurant was very interesting cool dragons, plants and little figurines all over the place. -
Review from Nate W.
Seattle, WA
1/14/2012
Araya's is a restaurant that has been around for decades and will continue to be. They have what I would describe as a cult following, encompassing a wide range of the community.
The food is very good. I've eaten off of the menu as well as the buffet at least 10 times each. The only knock against it would be their price. It is slightly too expensive to compete for 5 stars with the other Thai restaurants on the ave. The price isn't shocking though. Everyone knows it comes with the territory in regards to vegetarian restaurants. I would highly recommend the bean thread noodles as well as the infamous spring rolls.
In terms of the atmosphere the staff keeps its awfully consistent. I've been going here for over 4 years and its always been the same. You can count on a relaxed setting with friendly and helpful staff.
Be sure to bring your friends, they certainly have the seating to accommodate! -
Review from Linda L.
Seattle, WA
1/1/2012
I love the atmosphere and food at this place. The only turn off is the price, which is why I come here rarely.
Pretty much everything on the menu is good, and I (an avid meat eater) didn't even miss the meat because the dishes are filling and hearty. My favorite thing is the hot and sour soup. While I personally love hot and sour soup even when it's crappy with thin broth and throwaway meats and vegetables, I must say that the soup here is brilliant. It's very thick, flavorful, and every component is of very high quality. -
Review from R D.
Seattle, WA
1/14/2012
Service leaves you to yourself ... but it ends up being okay because the food is so good. Try the Pa-Nang curry, beautifully presented Araya's Asparagus, Drunken Mushrooms, and Phad Phet Makhua with brown rice. Also try the brown rice tea!
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Review from Jen D.
Seattle, WA
1/9/2012
Really tasty food, great service, very nice restaurant. I would absolutely suggest this for any vegetarian who is looking for a new place to try. Parking is a pain - I wanted to rage on this man who parked in 2 parking spots when the parking was clearly packed.
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Review from Veronica D.
11/7/2011 7 photos
We were excited to try vegan Thai food at a place that knows how to make Thai food truly vegan.
We had no idea there was a lunch buffet so at $8.99 for all you can eat it was very surprising.
We decided to try it. For the money it's a good deal. They have a bunch of dishes. Yellow Curry, Tom Yum Soup, stir fried vegetables, steamed vegetables, vegetable spring rolls, pad thai, salad and some other dishes I don't know.
I wished they had had more than 1 curry, but that's ok, yellow curry is still good.
The pad thai was a little greasy, but still ok.
They also have a bunch of different vegan desserts, but by then we were so stuffed there was no way we could get some. I took some photos of it though. They have some gluten free ones as well.
I wish we had stayed longer so we could come for dinner and order off the menu. I would come back, it's run by friendly people and was nice to find a vegan Thai place.Listed in: Seattle Vegan Must Try…
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Review from erica r.
11/18/2011
Mostly I've been there for their lunch buffet. While it's exciting to have so many vegan options at once, I always feel like they're not all that great. Worth going to once in awhile, but not really amazing food.
I'd always heard that the food is so much better when you order off the menu, so I went for dinner. While the menu definitely offers more interesting variety than I am used to in veg. Thai restaurants, the food was again disappointing. Maybe I just didn't order the best things. I imagine that there are some things there that are just incredible...I just think everything on the menu should be... -
Review from Kerry S.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 11/20/2011
The last couple of times I have gone to Araya's for the buffet, I have been sorely disappointed. The buffet pad thai tastes weird and there is never a good curry option.
The soup and spring rolls still don't disappoint, but I would rather go elsewhere and just get a good main dish.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/30/2010
The buffet is so exciting for me. You get as many spring rolls as you want and soup and curry and… Read more »
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Review from Rachel P.
10/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
HOLY MOLY!!! This place was super tasty! I went today for lunch thanks to a groupon from a friend, but I pass by every day on my way to work. I hate to say I've been narrow minded about it because it says Vegetarian on the sign ... I learned today just try it and enjoy.
I tried the Pad Thai with 2 stars ... definitely could use more spice so next time I will do 4 stars. My FAVE of the day was the Asparagus Hunsa ... WOW! Loved it! Yet again I should have added a little more spice, but this was my first time here and I didn't know just how spicy their stars were.
Will definitely go back!!! -
Review from Alan N.
11/1/2011
Myself and two other members of BBN9K decided to try the wares that Araya's had to offer. On all accounts of the 5 people that came, we all came away thoroughly pleased; impressed even.
This is the first establishment that I have tried to eat strictly vegetarian and had thoughts of running for a burger at times but pushed through. We ordered the Drunken Mushrooms, Tom Yum Soup, Spicy Noodle, Avocado Curry and the Asparagus Hunsa. To varying degrees, all the dishes were quite delicious. My personal favorite was the Drunken Mushrooms and the Avocado Curry was surprisingly good as well.
Nom nom nom. I mean, what can I say? Fast, friendly service, delicious food and good company made for a scrumptulescent experience. They even have their own private parking lot! I am already fiending for another excursion. -
Review from Martin R.
Seattle, WA
1/7/2012
Excellent Thai food. I hadn't been there since they were on the Ave, but my wife and I stopped there the other day. It's only gotten better. Neither of us are vegetarian, yet we both thought it was the best Thai we've had in years.
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Review from Samantha G.
Seattle, WA
9/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
The lunch buffet is such a great deal! For only $8.99, you can get yourself filled on various vegetarian dishes ranging from egg rolls to soup and phad thai. I'm not a vegetarian but I really enjoy having lunch here. I highly recommend giving their peanut sauce a shot. I thought it went well with most of the dishes I ate it with.
I personally think this is the perfect place to have a meal with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian friends. Give it a shot when you have time! -
Review from Jordon S.
Seattle, WA
10/31/2011
Friend 1: Do you want thai for lunch?
Me: Yes, Let's get Thai Tom.
Friend 2: How about Araya's?
Friend 1: Yes, ARAYA"S NOM NOM NOM.
Me: The vegetarian place?
Friend 1: Yep. So good.
Me: No thanks.
Friend 2: We're going with or without you.
Me: But I'm a carnivore.......(As I get in the car with them)
---- Arrival at what is a packed dining area on a Saturday ----
Me: This is going to be a while, let's go to thai tom. Look at that 20 person line.
Friend 1: It will move fast
--- And it did. Very quickly. Fresh thai brought out every 20.
Friend 2: Alright, the line died down. Let's get in there.
Me: Ok. Since we're here.
---As I look around and the delicious, sweet smell of curry, and distinct blend of spices hits my nose, I realize this is no ordinary vegetarian food. ---
Fastforward 2 hours and 4 plates later.
Me: It was ok.
Server: You need to leave, you've been eating foreverrrrrrr.
Friend 1: See I knew you'd like it.
It is fantastic and I am a self - proclaimed neanderthal meat eater. Most of my meals revolve around a protein. In this instance at this wonderful restaurant I realize you can have incredible flavor without killing animals. It won't make me vegetarian for more than a meal at a time when I get to enjoy this buffet indulgence, But I will not be so hesitant in the future. -
Review from Andre R.
Seattle, WA
11/21/2011
Very good even though I usually don't eat vegitarian nor do I ever spell it lol. Accidentally went on the day of all you can eat buffet and it was a extremely satisfying meal I recommend to anyone
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Review from S W.
Seattle, WA
10/8/2011
YUCK. I went to this place for lunch today and it was so disgusting. I got a Thai iced coffee with coconut milk and it was so sugary I couldn't drink more than a few sips. What a waste.
I ordered the Sweet and Sour Tofu with brown rice and my friend got the Pa-nang Tofu. The sweet and sour sauce was like candy, it was so gross. It wasn't sour or tangy at all, and the vegetables were swimming in the red goo. My friend's curry was so bland it was like steamed vegetables thrown into an entire can of coconut milk with some curry paste. There was just way too much sauce.
Service was mediocre- we were checked on for our order, once during the meal, and for our check.
This place is way overpriced and the food is just terrible. -
Review from Kim H.
Seattle, WA
11/30/2011
The buffet is great, but the dinner menu is fantastic.
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Review from Mailani w.
Seattle, WA
6/8/2011
This review pertains to the lunch buffet.
I don't mean to offend the delicate sensibility of the vegan palette, but I must say the peculiar high ratings for Araya's is more pumped up than Lindsey Lohan's overripe trout lips. Let's be fair, this could be like a category of a subcategory like "hottest female, Indycar series, race driver-- Danica Patrick." It basically translates to "best Thai, vegan, gluten free restaurant on 45th street that takes debit cards with a husky discount!"
If that slogan answers your every desire then the buffet is whispering your name. For the rest of us, the whole spread is pretty lackluster. The first thing I noticed when trying all the 5+ items with soup is how sweet everything was. From the soup, the curry, phad thai, veggie stir fry all taste similar like a bottle of bad sweet-chili-soy sauce. The fried rice was more pathetic than Panda Express with a sad bag of frozen mixed vegetables, dried up cubes of tofu and seasoned with the very same phad thai sauce. It was mushy, and even the serving spoon cloaked with the stuff was embarrassed.
I prefer the Whole Food's buffet set up. Clean, labeled, ingredients listed and meticulously maintained. Araya does none of those things. How am I supposed to know what the light brown gravy-ish pan is without piercing the pleather hymen on top?! What the hell is this thing that looks like blackberry compote next to the steamed tofu??? WHY would you set up the buffet in the most inconvenient way, forcing diners to reach across the long pan inviting pet hair, my hair that sheds, bracelets, that will inevitably fall or glide in the food. Stupid.
There was one nice touch which was their hot Jasmine tea which arrives in a Bodum french press. Very classy, I give props for that. -
Review from Jennily D.
Brooklyn, NY
9/16/2011
Wonderful service!!! Was in the area and have been meaning to check out this place.
Everyone was very friendly and helpful. I got lots of attention especially for having a to-go order. Great touches was when one nice server asked about which yoga studio I came from, and conversed with me,recommending another studio I should check out. Another male server went above and beyond to carve the meat out of a fresh coconut so I could take it to-go. It's been a long time since I've had genuinely good service especially on a Friday night.
I ordered the pad thai and basil fried rice. I should have remembered my cardinal rule: If you've never been to a particular restaurant before, order below your spice level because you don't know how spicy they are!
So let's say their spicy #3 is quite hot-often the #4 in other restaurants so keep that in mind.
Food came out piping hot in a very generous portion ( yay lunch and dinner for tomorrow!), but one less star for the flavors.
Pad thai was instantly too sweet for my preference, however noodles were cooked well and I liked how they cooked and cut the tofu.
Basil fried rice had a unique smell to it, to which I accredit the thin strips of bamboo shoots. The texture of the rice was beyond amazing, however I added my own soy sauce because I didn't get too much flavor coming out. I really liked all the vegetables including cabbage, which I typically do not enjoy in a fried rice.
Major kudos for having gluten free dessert options. Didn't have a sweet tooth at the moment, but I am excited to try them in the future.
I think I'll order something different next time, but will definitely return for the great ambiance and service. -
Review from s z.
Seattle, WA
10/28/2011
this place is DELICIOUS. well most of the items on the menu.
i normally don't do vegetarian cuisine because i'm a full-blown carnivore. when i get a little cilantro as garnish, i'll eat that and consider my mission accomplished in terms of veggie consumption. i must say, this place is really pretty good. the prices aren't much to cheer or complain about, but that's whatever if you're getting yummy food.
i've had all their curries at least 3 times and i've never had a bad batch. i don't recommend the fried rice, however. it's just not as good as the fried rice you'd get a chinese place (but that could be my chinese side speaking). their buffet is what really gets me. i love it. it's never really that crowded, the food is rotated so it's fresh, and it's $9 or something. amazing.
araya's is consistent. that's the most important thing to me. if you get the pad thai and you like it, it'll be that same pad thai you liked next time. if you didn't like it, you know what to avoid. -
Review from Sara H.
This is an awesome vegetarian place!! I think that the best deal is the lunch buffet. The buffet has usually 6 - 7 different entrees and dessert. If you don't have time to eat in you can get a takeout container of the lunch buffet stuff. The dinner is usually pretty crowded... definitely try the spring rolls they are served with sesame seed honey which is an awesome twist. Overall everything tastes good. Don't forget to get a Thai iced tea you can even get it with soy milk and the glass is huge!!
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Review from Bonnie M.
Mountlake Terrace, WA
9/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food here is really yummy and buffet is a bargain! The staff are friendly and I loved the atmosphere. Only problem I had
was that nothing was labeled at
the buffet so a couple of things I
got weren't what I would say bad, just not my taste so I felt bad leaving it on the plate uneaten. Overall a pleasant
experience :-) -
Review from Jessica B.
Seattle, WA
5/31/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Vegetarian only with huge amount of options! Yay!!
I've been here for dinner and the lunch buffet and have been very pleased with both!
Dinner- it's usually packed, but I've never had to wait more than a couple of minutes. Lots of good options for all pallets. Thai iced tea with coconut milk = happiness.
Lunch buffet- Good amount of options, but check it out before you sit down (as you should always do with a buffet). There is an extensive spice bar! And black rice with coconut milk for desert, they hide the milk off to the corner so keep your eye out! It's there.
I take away a star for slow service, but it's not tooooo slow.
They have their own reserved parking lot, so that's a plus in that area! -
Review from Ninette C.
Seattle, WA
10/24/2011
I really like vegetarian thai food and this place does not disappoint. It was definitely a good lunch spot back when I was a college student. They have good all you can eat soup, phad Thai and rice pudding for a great price!
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Review from Nicole B.
Seattle, WA
11/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I can only speak to the lunchtime buffet. All you can eat for $8.99, with tax $9.89. The experience was awkward at first, since the entrance opens to (what feels like) the middle of the dining room. There is no hostess stand, and I stood there for about a minute (in all my awkward glory) and wasn't helped. I then went to what looked like a cashier stand next to where they sell baked goods, and stood in line there while people paid for their meals. Once I got to the front of the line, I was seated. So, to review, if you want to be seated, you need to walk through the dining room, wait in line behind people trying to buy pastries and people paying for their meal, and then get seated. I thought that this was a strange method of seating guests.
Once I was seated, I went over to the buffet and tried a little of about everything. I thought everything tasted somewhat the same, kind of the same basic spices, sweetness, and veggies with a different starch (rice, noodles, etc) and maybe a curry sauce over what looked like curry. It was frustrating that there were no labels on the food, not an ingredients list or so much as the name of the dish, so I couldn't really tell what I was eating. It was helpful when a fellow customer (probably a regular) noted my confusion and started telling me which dish was which, but really? Would it be so difficult to have mini signs and descriptions so that the guests don't have to resort to seeking help from other guests? I have to say though that the flavors of the dishes, although fairly indiscriminate from each other, were pretty good, with the exception of what I think was the Pad Thai. It definitely tasted like a store bought Pad Thai sauce, and in my humble opinion, did not taste authentic. That was disappointing, because I always thought that, if all else fails in a Thai restaurant, Pad Thai is a consistent go-to meal. Not in this case.
The service was fairly good, given that two girls were running the entire front of house (bravo!), and the place was busy as well.
I think the price fits the quality of food. As a vegan, this place agreed with my vegan side, but the buffet didn't really impress my palate. I hope non-vegans don't think that this is the best vegan food can do. However, for a quick, affordable meal, this place does the job. -
Review from Sarah F.
4/11/2011
I'm only judging the lunch buffet. And well, it's damn good for the price!
Pros?
-Very cheap
-Soup is a buffet item (unusual for Thai buffets)
-No need to wait
Cons?
-Everything is sweet and simply adding spices they have on the side doesn't give it as good of a spicy flavor as cooking them in
-Could be more options -
Review from Jamie B.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 11/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
After giving Araya's a second chance I must say that it has become one of my favorite veggie Seattle restaurants. The drunken mushroom dish is wonderful! The service is much better (perhaps it was a one-time fluke).
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/21/2011
I can't attest to the quality of the food as I left after being waved in the general direction of a… Read more »
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Review from Kim S.
Seattle, WA
1/2/2012
Love the buffet. Have been there for dinner and it is just ok. Good selection on the buffet and great that it is all veggie.
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Review from Stephanie C.
Temple City, CA
3/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
For $8.99, I was able to eat a delicious vegetarian buffet-style Thai lunch! There was steamed vegetables, spinach salad, soup, steamed brown rice, pad thai, fried rice, curry, egg rolls, red bean dessert with coconut milk. I'm usually not a big fan of buffets but for that price, I got to pay for the price of one entree for under $10 and got to have a bite of different types of dishes.
The workers were also really friendly and helpful. When my boyfriend told them how we were visiting from out of state, they gave us some suggestions on places we could visit near the area. That's how we were able to see the cherry blossoms at UW!Listed in: Sleepless in Seattle
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Review from Clarke W.
Los Angeles, CA
4/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best VEGAN Thai food I've ever had. Every dish in the lunch buffet had depth and complexity, so many dishes to choose from with great opposing flavors ranging from spiciness and creaminess, sweet and sour, fresh and pickled. I would come back again just for the spring rolls alone, they were crispy, light and fresh, perfect!
Tip:
- Stop in for the Lunch Buffet, Mon-Thur 11:30am-3:30pm, Fri-Sun 11:30am-4pm. -
Review from Jennifer G.
Seattle, WA
7/21/2011
Don't understand the criticism about the lunch buffet at all. It's vegetarian nirvana for me. My daughters and I go here often for lunch and have always found it to be fresh and well-stocked with a nice variety of very yummy choices. I love their brown rice, spring rolls, black rice pudding. I could go on. If you're vegetarian, I don't know any place in town that can beat this and at this price.
Above and beyond this, the family that owns Araya's REALLY understands the value of a warm greeting and customer service. No complaints whatsoever. Keep on keepin' on, Araya's! -
Review from Samantha K.
Centennial, CO
2/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm not a vegetarian and my inner health inspector is scared of buffets, so I was really surprised by how much I like this place! I've been twice-- one with a friend for the regular lunch menu and once with coworkers for the buffet. Both times it was delicious! I had the spicy noodle off of their regular menu, and it had the perfect amount of heat. The crunchy tofu is good even if you're not a big tofu person, and they were happy about giving me no broccoli and extra other veggies. As far as the buffet goes, most everything I tried was good. The phad thai was delicious, the fried rice was great, the soup was yummy, and the spring rolls were the best I think I've ever had.
One warning: the parking lot is seriously cramped. If you live/work anywhere close, walking is easier. Other than that, I'd definitely recommend this place and will be back. -
Review from Hai Yen N.
Seattle, WA
1/19/2011
I don't care that they don't have meat. They do what they do so damn well that the fact of it being a vegetarian spot doesn't even come into play. When I crave Thai food I constantly want Araya's because it's that good.
Everything is well done, I haven't had a single bad dish here. The noodles are always the right amount of toothsomeness, the vegetables always fresh and the sauces just the right balance of salty, spicy and sweet. I recommend the tom kah soup a.k.a. the most amazing soup you will ever eat. It's served in a traditional Chinese hot pot heated in the middle using coals and comes to the table literally on fire. I dream about this soup. Savory coconut broth with cubes of soft tofu, mushrooms, scallions, chilies and lemongrass. Spoon it over some brown rice. You will die happy.
The atmosphere here is also wonderful. Lots of authentic Thai decorations, nice wood tables and a spacious floor plan. One of my favorite restaurants to be sure!Listed in: Thai Me Up
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Review from Jennifer B.
Seattle, WA
10/20/2011
LOVE ARAYA'S PLACE!! The Veggie meat with Peanut sauce is delicious, the servers are cool .
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Review from Caroline H.
Seattle, WA
10/9/2011
Who says only vegetables are not good enough to satisfy our taste??? Araya's Place is THE ONE PLACE you want to go when you are craving for Thai food, and really want to eat healthy. This place is very spacious, and the decoration is extrodinary, brings out the Thai culture and made me feel cozy and comfortable while enjoying the tasty food of Araya's. You don't need to be a vegan to eat here ! For one dish that I reccoment the most is the Tom-Yom Soup, which was my first choice for my hang over !!!!! The service was extrodinary, the wait staff were always very friendly and nice ! Thank you for being there, Araya's !!!
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Review from Inna B.
Seattle, WA
My last experience pushed Araya towards the "bottom" of my mental list of places to go for Thai. Why? My last several visits had been for the buffet, which... well, buffet food usually doesn't impress me much. Then that last visit where they offered the buffet even though it was 10 minutes from being over... that made me sad enough to go elsewhere every time I wanted to grab some Thai near the UW campus.
A few weeks ago my friend and I found ourselves very hungry and with no desire to cook. Thai food sounded good and Araya's was just down the street, so we went there.
Did we have a good experience? Oh heck yes! The food was fantastic and the server was great at helping us pick out what to have for dinner.
Some quotes from my dining partner:
"The only bad thing about the food is that my belly isn't big enough to eat it all!"
"I don't even like Thai food, and I enjoyed this!"
"I try to avoid meat and dairy, so it was nice not having to make sure it wasn't in something I ordered."
Favorite quote from the waitress:
"Coconut juice from a can? No, no. We've got the GOOD stuff. Let me get you some."
And good stuff it was!!!! The juice was tasty and the coconut meat was the softest and most delicious I have ever had (from a coconut). I still like canned coconut juice, but now understand that they've got something that is much, much better. (And that I must get coconut juice at Araya's frequently.)
Lessons learned:
Araya's dinner and menu lunch - fantastic.
Araya's lunch buffet is a great deal, but not nearly as good.
Araya's fresh coconut juice/meat in a coconut - PERFECTION.Listed in: Appe-THAI-zing, U-District Foods, Goods & Etc, Avoiding The Meats
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/8/2009
Ehh...
So- to start off- I don't think this is necessarily a GREAT Thai place, but I think it's great… Read more »
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Review from Sonya L.
Updated - 12/23/2010
I have returned and experienced the lunch buffet. It is incredible. So many different choices, so many delicious items! And it is really inexpensive for the amount of food that you get to eat!
The service is very good - especially with keeping water glasses refilled. Everyone is friendly and smiling. It's just a great atmosphere in which to eat.
I highly recommend the lunch buffet. And the regular menu as well - everything I've tried here has been excellent.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/29/2008
Despite being a pescatarian, I don't go to vegetarian restaurants very often because 99% of my… Read more »
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Review from Kelsey T.
Seattle, WA
5/10/2011
This place is a favorite, and we've tried nearly everything on the menu.
It is awesome on a date night for people watching (lots of awkward dates) and the selection is awesome (especially if you're a veggie-- it's so fun being able to eat everything on the menu!). The portion sizes tend to vary a bit, which is interesting. I'm not sure why. It's never skimpy, just some times it's a TON and others its a fair amount.
I especially love the noodle curry-- it's perfect for when I'm not sure whether to go noodles or curry. Brilliant!
The lunch buffet is an awesome value and good if you want to try a bit of everything. It's a bit bland/tame, but you can spice it up with things on the side.
Yum! -
Review from Joey M.
San Francisco, CA
3/8/2011 1 photo
"I would take a vegetarian here and not feel like my meal was being slighted in the least" -quote my brother, who considers this among the top Thai restaurants in Seattle, even though he eats meat.
Nice decor, reasonable prices, intelligent efficient staff. They were quick to bring the order and all the food looks gorgeous.
Vegan or not, you should try out this place for yourself.
