Erawan Thai Restaurant
Redwood City, CA 94063 (650) 556-9966
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Mon-Fri 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Sat 12:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Sun 12:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
84 Reviews for Erawan Thai Restaurant
One of Erawan Thai Restaurant's Favorite Reviews
Just as good, maybe even better than Bangkok Bay. Warning though -- their spicy dishes really are quite spicy! Not mild and watered down like some other places. I think it may have burned a hole in my stomach, but considering how good the food was, so well worth it. Only complaint - the service was a bit slow and not as friendly as at Bangkok Bay.
Great Service. Good food and decently sized portions. Nice decorations. Im pretty glad we stumbled upon this place after finding out the place we were gonna go to was closed.
I hate to say it, but the quality of the food here has been slowly slipping. The first few times, I gave them excuses - they were busy and in a hurry, they were short staffed. This time, there were only 6 or 7 tables of guests and the food was not what it used to be.
Shrimp gets dressed appetizer - skip this. The description is not accurate. It says ground shrimp, but they're whole shrimp. Deep fried in a thin wonton wrapper and pretty oily.
Silver noodles - lacked the sweet onion flavor and egg taste. Somewhat bland, overly dried out.
Yellow curry chicken - good, the curry was a little thin, not as richly flavored.
Good portion of rice served, pleasant service, but the food which was irresistible before and lick-your-plate clean inspiring, is reduced to being slightly above average.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
03/19/2008
Excellent yellow chicken curry and panang beef. Fresh flavors, nice and spicy, and well-cooked food.… Read more »
I've been to Bangkok Bay a few times, and didn't realize that Erawan was was right around the corner. We came here for lunch on a weekend and it was pretty empty, but we figured we'd give it a shot. The interior is a little overly decorated, but whatever suits your taste. The staff is very polite and service was good.
We started with the beef salad which was just OK. The dressing was good, but the beef could have been a little more tender. We had the gai kra prow and green curry with eggplant and pork. Both dishes were delicious! The gai kra prow had tons of thai basil and very good flavor, and the green curry was excellent too. We pretty much always order the gai kra prow at every thai restaurant, which is how we measure our rating. I would definitely come back again to try more dishes.
Came here just for a quick Pad Thai for 2 after the Silicon Valle Elite event and it was good! The noodles are not sticky so that you can eat by each string of noodle. They even squeeze the lemon for you!
Yum, yum! Thank you Yelp! We have been trying to find a decent Thai place (didn't like Siamese Kitchen or Thai Time in San Carlos), so I went searching on Yelp for the highest rated Thai place around here, and found Erawan. We just ate there tonight, and it was great! The only reason they lose a start is for service that was a little bit slow. The kids loved their food, although one wanted the fried rice, and the other wanted pad thai, so we have lots of leftovers...nothing wrong with that! We started with the Tom Kha soup, and it was really good, nice and creamy and flavorful. The Chicken Satay was terrific, tender with a great peanut sauce. My husband and I had the curry duck and the honey pork, and they were both excellent. I'm so happy to find a good Thai place close by.
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IN TWO SENTENCES: Decent Thai food at a decent price. Definitely stands out among the restaurants in Redwood City, but if you're willing to drive out a bit more, you'll find better.
TAKEOUT: I've had takeout here countless times for both lunch and dinner and have eaten in the actual restaurant once (nice ambiance and soft lighting). Takeout's pretty easy. You just call it in, and all their dishes are nicely numbered so it's hard to screw it up. They cook pretty fast and the staff is very friendly.
FOOD: Have had their curries, salt and pepper dish, pad-thai, erawan noodles, and their erawan and pineapple fried rices. I like how you can choose what kind of meat you want for all their core dishes (choose between tofu, beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, calamari, fish, or seafood combo... wow). I think I liked the erawan fried rice the best of everything I've had here.
I don't have anything devastating to say about Erawan's food, but nothing really stands out either. It's not a place I'd recommend to a friend unless they were asking me specifically for Thai restaurants in Redwood City.
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Of the three Thai Places I've found so far within walking distance of me in Redwood City, this one's the worst. Right-down-to-the-Thai-Iced-Tea-BAD. It was also the first place I ate in Redwood City and I panicked that this was Thai Food on the west coast. Thank God for Bangkok Bay and Thai House. Thai House, for the record, gets my vote for best.
Came here for lunch yesterday, lots of menu choices and relatively cheap - about $8 total per person. Comes with soup, rice, salad, and your choice of entree. Place gets busy around noon, so come a bit earlier. Staff is attentive and service is quick.
Have only been here once for dinner, and was favorably impressed. Not bad for the price.
The restaurant is small with tasteful, what-I-assume-is-Thai decor lots of elephants). The waitstaff is pleasant and very attentive, and the Thai Iced tea and spring rolls were excellent, some of the best I have had.
The yellow curry, while palatable, was a bit thin and lacked flavor, and I wasn't a big fan of the pad thai. In short, the main courses I sampled weren't distinctive.
In summary, an above average Thai place with above average staff, decor, and appetizers. I'd have to eat here again and have a better dinner to upgrade my rating, and there are better Thai restaurants around in the RWC.
*** UPDATE 4/12/08: I came back here to dine in last week. I ordered the same Spicy Basil Fried Rice with *fresh* tofu and extra spice. Thankfully, my entree came with rice this time. However, it was made with the standard fried tofu vs the fresh kind. Generally a two-for-two-mix-up would mean I am NEVER eating there again but the fried rice was ABSOLUTELY delicious, complete with fresh basil aroma and tons of thai spice. Despite the residual communication issue, I think this place has become my favorite thai joint in San Mateo (step aside Nipa-Pon Thai!). 4.5+ stars. ***
** My 1st Visit: We ordered Spicy Basil Fried Rice with Tofu, only to drive home and found she gave us Spicy Basil with Tofu and of course, NO rice. 0 stars. **
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Erawan is a true find! I seldom get to Redwood City but happened to be very hungry after dancing at a nearby outdoor concert. We were walking right past and noticed the inviting decor within and thought we would take a chance on something new. Wow. Everything from the papaya salad to the basil fried rice and curry chicken was outstanding. I will return soon and start with their special tea and spring rolls and continue with rice and curry from there .
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I went to Erawan last night with a friend that said it was much better than Bangkok Bay which is right around the corner. Well, I don't agree with her that Erawan is better. We had the spring rolls, which were ok, but not well stuffed because there seemed to be a lot of the rice "paper". The sauce it was served with was yummy though. She ordered the beef salad and she says it is her favorite. I thought it was ok. We had the yellow curry with chicken. There wasn't very many potatoes and the carrots are thinly sliced and the curry seemed kind of soupy. We also had the pad thai, which I also thought was a little soupy. I had the fried banana dessert with ice cream and the bananas were mushy. I also got a sour stomach the day after. I say go elsewhere.
Great Thai food at moderate prices. I like that we can order our red curry chicken mild, medium or spicy. We like it on the spicy side. They make a good veggie dish and we leave off the tofu. The dishes we order are always consistently delicious and the place always smells so good. Just remember to order your rice along with your entree. The place is cozy, well lit, and nicely decorated. Another great place to eat in Redwood City.
Great Thai food. Great prices. The soups are delicious and they make a good Pad Thai. Service is prompt and efficient.
The decor has definitely a nice Thai touch which adds nicely to the experience.
It's a small place, but the food is really good. Price is decent, portion is good, service is nice as well. I tried the eggplant and a seafood one and I liked both.
I always feel bad for only ordering take out, at Erawan so I can't say much on the atmosphere or noise levels. Small, cozy little place, decorated a little more upscale than most Thai places.
Really good tom kha gai and red curry, a bit lacking in their pad see ewe -the noodles aren't the usual flat rice noodles and the flavor is kinda bland. Tried their Thai iced tea, and detected a hint of caramel, nice, new twist.
Parking can be lame around the Broadway area so be prepared to circle and have quarters handy!
Always tasty. Always consistent. Always a good choice.
Love their spicy eggplant.
This place is amazing. I feel like I am stepping into Thai land every time I eat there. I love everything about the restaurant except how small it is inside. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very unique; they have true Thai art on the walls that shimmer in the light as you eat. Somehow they also manage to make art with the food - they almost paint with food. The dishes arrive on ornate plates with flowers cut out of carrots, colorful sauces mixing with chiffons of fresh basil. A certain atmosphere is created just by the dishes served, the mother of pearl silver ware and the white cups filled with bright orange Thai tea. Some of my favorite dishes: the Crispy Spring Rolls, the Satay, Tomkah Soup (which is a delight for the taste buds. The coconut milk broth offers a sweet and salty perfumed base for chicken, mushrooms, onions carrots, cilantro, galangal and lemongrass. It can be ordered as hot or as mild as you like it), Erawan lettuce cups and the Beef Salad. I was seriously disappointed by the Pad Thai. This place outdoes Thai-Time and Bangkok Bay; there is no contest.
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Very good food.
I have turned in to a PatPong man of Thai food and this place is good. Great service and enticing atmosphere.
Well done!!!
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Good soild Thai restaurant. Almost everything I tried at this place is pretty good. Once in a while the soup that comes with lunch has no flavor, but over all pretty good place.
THIS PLACE IS AWESOME!
The Fresh Rolls are DELICIOUS (and im sure the spring rolls are too)
Even the Fried Tofu thing was good (i usually HATE tofu)!!!
For Dessert, i reccommend the sweet sticky rice with mango (or ice cream if you dont like mango)
Delicious.
Cozy atmosphere.
The food has a warmth to it; that feeling that it was made with love.
Did I mention delicious? Some places quantity rules over quality, but not here. Definitely quality over quantity.
Friendly service.
What I look for in a Thai restaurant are fresh ingredients and spice that hits you like a Muai Thai knee or elbow to the skull.
I got pad ki mao. Like most places they serve it with broccoli instead of kai-lan (Chinese broccoli/kale). The broccoli was fresh, so I'd rather eat that than old kai-lan. I ordered it extra spicy and the server asked if I wanted it "very hot" or "Thai spicy". I said "Thai spicy" make it hot! When she brought it out, it smelled pretty damn spicy. She asked if I wanted a jar of their hot sauce. Of course!
Turns out it wasn't super spicy, no respect for the gringo. It seems like they kept to their garlic and chili mix that I was able to sample by itself from the dish she gave me. After dumping half of it on my pad ki mao I was rewarded with a runny nose, watery eyes, and an endorphin rush. They have the goods here and the base dish is tasty enough to support them.
I prefer Erawan to any of the Thai restaurants I have eaten at on the 'slua. They're definitely going to get my repeat business when I'm in the mood for Thai.
Lunchtime Take-Out Review.
Note to self: Search reviews for "dish-specific reviews" before ordering.
Got a lunch workout in and I figured Thai food could be an adequate way of reloading these guns (stares at reflection of double-flexed guns in monitor)...
Called Erawan before I jumped in the shower and ordered the Jungle Curry, as I was feeling the Fever.
Arrived at Erawan to pick up my order, which was waiting for me. Though I didn't eat there... I will say that the decor was nice and definitely has a Thai flavor to it...
which can't really be said about the Jungle Curry. As mentioned in my "Note to Self" above, if I had done a simple search, I would've realized that the Jungle Curry was watery and tasted more soup than curry. In addition to the watery lack of thickness, the Jungle Curry didn't really have a very strong curry taste to it either. Add a little of the sour stuff, and it would've been closer to Tom Yun Gai than Panang. It was definitely a little on the bland side. And to top it off, my stomach is seriously angry at me that I only barely filled it up... either I'm a big, fat, lazy pig... or the serving seemed a bit small.
Oh, I must note though... big fan of the peanut-y dressing used on the salad.
If I DO try this place again... I'm definitely NOT getting the Jungle Curry. I'll find other ways of curing my Fever.
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This is our regular Thai restaurant. Everything I've had here has been good to great. My favorite is the Pad Ta Lay. Their appetizer platter is also quite good. The biggest surprise to me is that their calamari is awesome (I know... calamari at a Thai restaurant... weird). However, IMO, the best thing about Erawan is that they will make my food Thai Hot! Being pasty and blond, I have a hard time getting waiters to believe me when I ask for my food spicy, and I normally wind up with my food only medium. But not at Erawan! They'll serve me food that will turn me red... just how I like it. 4.5 stars!
This little restaurant is wonderful place to get some really tasty food. Their green curry with chicken is so yummy, as are their starters like the chicken satay or beef salad. The cons to this place is that it is on the small side so if you have a really large party or a stroller it can be a bit crowded. In addition sometimes the service can be quite slow, but all in all I would totally recommend this neighborhood restaurant!
My sister brought me to Erawan last night for my second dinner here. She's vegetarian, so we went with a tofu curry and another veggie noodle dish. The dishes were good, the service extremely friendly & fast and the decor is nice. We got out of there for $32 including two beers and tip.
So while this may not be the big anniversary destination, it's a very solid choice for that casual dinner with friends or family.
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This is a great little restaurant. The food is fantastic, fairly inexpensive, flavorful, and they are always efficient (at least whenever I am in there). I eat here at least once a week, either take out or eat in.
I have to say that for a last meal I would definitely order some spicy green beans (and ask for them spicy) with BBQ honey pork and maybe another curry or some pad thai on the side (and I think that I would choose my last meal from here). No matter what you order you can't go wrong here.
This is a must go in Redwood and if I were picking between this or Bangkok Bay I would choose Erawan every time.
One note: their thai basil fried rice is incredibly basily, so if you are not an extreme basil lover it might not be for you. Also, make sure that if you want it hot, you say so. Their dishes can come out fairly mild if not specified.
I used to go to Bangkok Bay a lot, but their Tom Kha Gai was getting really nasty. The chicken in it was disgusting - dark meat, gristle, just gross stuff I always spat out. So I finally tried Erawan right down the street and man their Tom Kha Gai is top notch! It's a great texture - not too thin, not too thick. You can order it mild, medium, or spicy, and the spices are nicely balanced by the coconut milk. The chicken in it is always nice, tender, white meat with no gross bits in it, and the mushrooms are always juicy and plump.
So, I always get the soup, but everything else I've got here has been really good too. Last night we got the clear-noodle salad. It was warm clear noodles with chicken and prawns on a bed of lettuce. It was definitely spicy, but not too hot. I've also had the clear glass noodles with pork as a side-dish and it was just as delicious. I usually get one of the curries with chicken or beef or pork - it's nice that they give you the option of any meat or vegetarian. My favorite is the yellow curry though.
I have never been here live. My co workers sometimes get this place to go and order for me and deliver it to me...lucky me! I have awesome co workers...
Anyway- Once they got me the garlic and pepper beef dish for lunch, and now every time they order from here I have to get the same thing. It is so good- very spicy- marinated beef with hot peppers and garlic. I usually get it with no rice and a side salad- the dressing is very very good.
I need to branch out and try other stuff on the menu. I am aware I am a creature of habit, and once I like something I stick to it for a while...
Anyway- 4 stars for this place- I will have to go there and eat sometime for lunch- maybe take my fantastic co workers there..
yum!!!
Even just walking in, I notice there's something different here. Decor seems genuine and sincere. Music, lighting, aroma, it feels like someplace else. having never been to Thailand, I can't vouch for authenticity, but it sure seems legit. Quality of experience is evident here, as I observed a lady sitting in the corner pruning and inspecting basil leaves. When presented with a very comprehensive menu, I was offered suggestions, and got to ask questions about each dish. It was cool. They recommended the brown rice, and sure enough it goes well with curry. The Jungle curry was unique, without coconut milk and had different spices (as promised) and the Pad Thai was great. Portions were large. I'll be back.
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We chose this restaurant specifically because of the Yelp recommendations, listing it as the best rated Thai place in the mid-peninsula. Unfortunately, we were disappointed.
Papaya salad was a good start, although a bit on the bland side. But it was all downhill from there.
The pad see ew rice noodle dish with chicken and broccoli was not up to par. Although still quite edible, the noodles were on the mushy side, and the chicken was bland and flavorless. This was probably the driest version of pad see ew I've had.
The fried fish with chili sauce, served with sliced peppers and onions, had some off flavors, and the fish texture was on the tough side, bringing into question whether the fish was fresh or just improperly cooked.
Service was OK. Decor was pretty nice.
The place was busy with locals who apparently know the staff well. I can see how the place pleases locals, but for an enthusiast of Southeast Asian cuisine, with experience sampling great food in Bangkok, this place really disappoints.
This is a great spot for Thai food. We recently tried it on a recommendation of a friend. We had calamari (ok), green curry and a seafood salad. The service was SO good and people very friendly.
My friends and I ended up here after working up a sweat sorting goodies at the local food bank so imagine my disappointment when we finally got down to eating. I was hungry and the portions sizes were small. Out of us three, I'd never been before and won't be rushing back for more.
The flavors of our entrees were so-so (yellow curry with chicken) and the decor was a nice touch, however, prices were a little steep in my opinion given the small amount of food they provide.
The best Thai food by far. I love thier brown rice....The lovely spinach is really quite lovely! The Spring rolls and the Pad Thai are also delicious. The have the best peanut sauce around and they have this black bean sauce noodle dish thats everyone must try
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I love noodle soup, so I was very much looking forward to a bowl of boat noodles. It seemed like a good choice as it was popular with the lunch crowd. I was starving and ready for some good noodle soup.
We each received a mug of complimentary chicken soup with vegetables; nice touch. The soup was rather bland though and didn't taste particularly Thai. Then the wait began...and the wait continued. Service was so slow! I think that's unacceptable during lunch hour in a downtown area.
My boat noodles arrived in a rather small bowl. The beef strips were tough and the thick rice noodles were overcooked. The light broth was fine but didn't make up for the tough beef and soggy noodles.
I could have just ordered the wrong thing, but even the starter soup didn't strike my fancy.
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Most Thai people think a white girl can't handle hot food. This place has great food. The beef salad ROCKS!!! and when I say HOT, they do it HOTTTT baby! Just the way I like it.
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Food and service are both good. Solid Thai restraurant in the Redwood City area. So far all the dishes we have had have been good.
The SPICY BASIL rocks if you like it spicy, we get it with the chicken which is minced. Tom Yum soup is my wifes favorite. Curries had been very good as well.
The food was very good. Tofu was fresh & just perfect. We liked their yellow curry and spring rolls. Spring rolls were not looking very oily.
Their fried banana ice cream was surprisingly delicious.
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