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Mai Thai
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 9 pm
Sat 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
21 reviews for Mai Thai
Review Highlights
"...Ew entree and homemade coconut ice cream for desert -- all..."
(in 3 reviews)
"The drunken noodles (Pad Kee Mao) I had tonight could..."
(in 3 reviews)
"And the Green Curry is hard to beat."
(in 9 reviews)
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Rose P.
Chesterland, OH
9/19/2011
Ordered spring rolls and Pad See Ew entree and homemade coconut ice cream for desert -- all very tasty! If I didn't have to drive from Ohio I would frequent this place.
Doesn't look like much from the outside but inside is appealing comfortable and the service is friendly. -
Review from Swetha G.
10/8/2011
What other reviewers have said about the décor is totally accurate. The interior is intimate and warm and just looks a WHOLE lot better than the poor design from the outside. They have done a great job with making the small space look classy and inviting.
The food is average. It also took quite a long time for our entrees to come out, which sucked for me b/c I was one of the few at the table who didn't order an appetizer, and I was getting hungry :( The dish that I got was good and tasted about the same as most other Thai restaurants I've been to. Nice seasoning and flavor. However I think there was miscommunication between my server and I because after eating several bites of my dish, thinking the vegetables were at the bottom of the bowl, I think I was served Red Curry instead of the Panang Curry that I thought I had ordered. I specifically asked the server for red curry and vegetables and she pointed at the panang curry on the menu and asked me if I wanted tofu, chicken pork or beef with it, and I said tofu. But the dish was definitely missing broccoli, carrots, zucchini and all the other colorful vegetables I was looking forward to having. It still tasted good though, so I'm not fully complaining, but just not what I thought I ordered. Also the dessert I had - the Mai Thai's Banana, was not the best fried banana and coconut ice cream. They really give a meager portion of fried banana, and the ice cream did not taste like coconut at all, it tasted more like vanilla. It was pretty hard and took me using my serving spoon and a fork to break! The berry sauce that it comes with was tasty though.
Service was mediocre and not as overly friendly and welcoming as others have pointed out. We were treated alright, but the entire service we received was more attentive than friendly. I think I also feel slightly biased because the last establishment that I was at, the service was outstanding, so the bar has been raised, and what I experienced at Mai Thai, fell a bit short.
All in all this place is not the best Thai restaurant around, but it's still pretty decent, and considering the lackluster ethnic food selection in Columbia, this will have to do for now. However I'll probably frequent Thai Lotus more if I had to choose between the two. -
Review from Stephen S.
Barstow, CA
9/28/2011
Had a pretty good chicken/veg/curry dish. Wasn't as hot as I normally would like but I do prefer to add the heat rather than burn my face off completely.
As promised, it was fresh and flavorful with a uniquely pleasant (but loud) atmosphere. It was a Wednesday and was busy at about 8pm. I will be back.
They also had a pretty decent wine list and asian beers. Service was average. -
Review from Tonya K.
Irmo, SC
12/12/2011
By far the best Thai in town. The tom yum has actual fresh mushrooms (not the canned that is usually in other local Thai restaurants' soups), cilantro, red bell pepper, scallion, and onions. The Panang Curry is divine. Again, filled with fresh vegetables, cooked to perfection... still crisp and flavorful. Baan Sawan charges twice as much for their dishes and tends to skimp on the meat and veggies, and their sauce doesn't quite have the same perfect balance of flavor and kick. The Amazing Chicken is also, well, pretty darn amazing if you like the peanut sauce they serve with their Chicken Satay and Fried Tofu (which are both quite good, as is their Golden Angel). And it's the one Asian restaurant I'll stick around to enjoy dessert at. Their Mai Thai Lychee includes delicious lychees over homemade coconut ice cream, usually garnished with strawberries and whipped cream. Yum!
The prices are perfect, the staff is friendly, the atmosphere welcoming, and the food... truly the best Thai in town. -
Review from Blake A.
Summerville, SC
4/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Last night was my 5th or 6th visit to Mai Thai. The food always seems to amaze me. It good. Really good. But one thing that really stood out last last was the incredible service I received. The staff has always been friendly, but when they offered to replace my meal at no cost due to the spiciness of it... I was blown away. The error was even my fault, not the kitchen's. ..
As far as food goes; the Fried Golden Angel wanton is to die for. And the Green Curry is hard to beat. Just be careful w/ the heat level. A 4 made me cry like a little girl. -
Review from Dan S.
Gainesville, FL
4/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Popped in on my way from Buffalo to Florida for lunch - lunch specials are a great deal, include a little side salad and cup of soup, side of rice and entree for like $7 or $8. Spicy Basil Calamari is delicious. Bonus points for charging less than $2 for an iced tea too - a rarity these days! Service was very good - when I was about to ask for something, she was already on her way to bring it to me.
Decor on the outside is a zero-star strip mall, but inside they have created a mood-lit oasis of tranquility and hipness. Nice find in the middle of a crazy-long driving day - thanks, Yelpers! -
Review from Linda S.
Lexington, SC
10/20/2011
We truly enjoyed our dinner last night at Mai Thai . It is so far the best Thai in town . The food was so fresh and so tasty . Our server was very firendly . 5 stars restaurant .
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Review from Lynne F.
Columbia, SC
11/10/2010
I went there for the first time last night. I was the first customer of the night and received excellent service. The food was very good (Mai Thai rolls and chicken Massaman curry). Both dishes were delicious and when I asked the waitress to box up the rest of the curry, she asked if I wanted additional rice?! So, I said yes and when I looked on the bill, there was no extra charge. How sweet is that? The only thing that made me a little sad was that they did not have Tod Mun(sp?), a type of fish cake appetizer.
I will *definitely* go back. -
Review from Paul B.
5/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
The food here is great!
the outside looks, maybe, a bit ominous~ Inside is very nice, intimate and clean! A warm cozy atmosphere that complements raspberry sake very well :)
Started with wonton soup, very light and tasty- Wonton filled with ground pork served in a clear broth seasoned with sprouts and a hint of green onions and cilantro?
I ordered the Panang curry with chicken, served with red and green peppers, broccoli, and sprouts with a side of rice. The curry is mixed with coconut milk, a hint of mint and is oh so good! not too spicy but full and rich! The vegetables were very crisp and tasty and the chicken was just perfect.
This was a nice place to eat, staff was very nice, food very good, and did I mention the raspberry sake? -
Review from Laurin M.
Columbia, SC
5/26/2009
My quality of life in the Midlands just got a whole lot better after eating at Mai Thai in West Columbia tonight.
For years I've been bummed about the absence of a Thai restaurant in the area that meets all of my criteria -- fresh ingredients, reasonable prices, pleasant atmosphere, generous portions, and attentive service.
Mai Thai has all of those elements.
The drunken noodles (Pad Kee Mao) I had tonight could compete with the drunken noodles at my favorite Thai haunts in the DC area. The stir fried veggies were especially crisp, and there was a nice variety of them -- fresh mushrooms, red peppers, zucchini, snow peas etc.
The servers were friendly and attentive, and the meal was well-timed. I was in a hurry and took most of my food to-go, but for the diners who were lingering and enjoying a leisurely meal, the servers even offered some complimentary Thai desserts.
Mai Thai is situated in a desolate, sketchy shopping center out Sunset Blvd in West Columbia -- just beyond the Riverbanks Zoo entrance and across from Food Lion. (I'm convinced that the best Thai restaurants on the planet are located in sketchy strip malls or holes in the wall.) Upon opening the door, though, you've already forgotten where you just parked the car because you're entering a small, cheerful, calmly lit, tastefully decorated restaurant.
I love Asian food more than any cuisine on earth and am picky about it. For years I've given Thai Lotus and Thailand Restaurant on St. Andrews Road second, third, and fourth chances, but they're both hit-or-miss, and the haul out to St. Andrews from downtown is a huge pain. Also, the service at Thai Lotus stresses me out. I always feel like I'm inconveniencing them and that they're ready to close the restaurant. Baan Sawaan in 5 Points is great, and I love the guys who work there, but it's prohibitively expensive. Mai Thai's food was every bit as good, the portions were twice as big, and the prices were half as much as Baan Sawaan's.
I enthusiastically recommend Mai Thai. I'll be visiting again soon and trying another dish.
The Free-Times' review of Mai Thai is here: http://www.free-times.... -
Review from Jane D.
Columbia, SC
8/19/2011
I'm going to agree with the other reviews. Whatever you do, don't let the outside appearance scare you away. You will be charmed by what you see inside. Their service makes you feel special. The food tastes fresh and is at just the right spice. You will be a little too full when you finish, but you'll feel full on healthy food. Be sure to order the jasmine tea. You'll love the sauce they put on the food and will want to mix it with your rice and savor the last morsel of it.
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Review from Epicurious E.
Columbia, SC
2/20/2010
Mai Thai is one of three Thai restaurants (well, four if you count Baan Swaan, a Thai fusion restaurant that is kind of overpriced for what you get, IMHO) that I know of around here, and it is definitely a pretty decent option for Thai food, for the Columbia area. The flavor of the food at Mai Thai is fairly authentic, if a bit light at times, and uses the freshest ingredients in the area (my favorite Thai restaurant in Columbia, Thai Lotus, offers food with a more robust flavor, but Mai Thai uses ingredients that are just a bit fresher).
Mai Thai is in a random plaza on Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia, and although the outside of the restaurant looks pretty unimpressive, the inside of the restaurant is actually quite pretty, and a nice location for a date if you are looking for it. It is also a good choice if you are looking for a vegetarian meal, as it offers a good variety of dishes with just vegetables or tofu.
For more details about the food, as well as photos of both the restaurant and some of the dishes offered here, you can visit my food blog, http://epicurious-eats.../ -
Review from Paul V.
Columbia, SC
6/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
1st visit had spring rolls, pad Thai beef, drunken noodles, coconut sake awesome, 2nd time spring rolls, steamed dumplings, black pepper chicken, brought my two daughters and ones bf one had the amazing chicken, I introduced my picky one with drunken noodles and she raved and the bf had the sweet and sour chicken all loved it.
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Review from Jerilynn B.
Blythewood, SC
8/18/2010
Amazing. I'd recommend it to anyone. Awesome service, pleasant environment and delicious food at a great value. It's a wonderful place for a date night. The Pad Thai is the best I've had and the spiciness is perfect at a 3 (enough to feel the kick but still able to taste the food). I've also had the Thai Fried Rice which was excellent. Check it out!
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Review from Don F.
Newberry, SC
8/21/2009 1 photo
Crispy Duck with Curry & Pineapple! I love this place. Staff very friendly. I will be back, again and again! Only one complaint. The fried Tofu was dry and tough. But everything else exceeded my expectations.
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Review from James M.
Columbia, SC
1/19/2010
Service is great, and the panang curry is delicious...though never spicy enough for my taste.
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Review from Spencer S.
San Francisco, CA
7/14/2009
I'm no Thai expert, but this place has some great food. First of all, DONT judge it when you drive up. It is in a strip mall and looks super sketchy from the outside. The inside is very tastefully done though. It is small and intimate -- would make a great date spot. I recommend the salad with the peanut sauce and the cashew chicken. The service was great and the prices reasonable. Definitely a must do for Thai fans in Cola.
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Review from Carolyn H.
Washington, DC
12/15/2009
Thanks to Laurin's review, my guy and I checked this place out. I agree with Laurin that it's very similar to Thai restaurants in DC (such as Bua and Sala Thai).
The decor was lovely, esp. the Siddhartha triptych along one wall and the charming porcelain salt and pepper shakers (pairs of elephants, dogs, and other cute critters). It definitely did not feel like a shopping mall restaurant, but a getaway to a more serene land.
I almost ordered the drunken noodles, but then at the last minute I opted for a spicy chicken dish with bamboo shoots, bell peppers, and Thai basil. My guy ordered the red curry with chicken, which had coconut milk and bamboo shoots. Both dishes had good flavor profiles. One of the dishes (I'm not sure which one) had heat that built up over time, which I sadly discovered after I had eaten most of my rice. Still, the dishes satisfied the soul, and I enjoyed both.
For dessert, we had the combo fried banana (which are tiny pockets of banana in egg roll wrappers, glazed with honey) and coconut ice cream covered in a fruit sauce. I've had better fried banana (my favorite is at Bua in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC); Mai Thai's were too compact to truly enjoy, esp. since there was very little banana filling. The coconut ice cream was pretty good, esp. with the fruit sauce, which provided a nice complement to the richness of the coconut.
In all, we really enjoyed our dinner at Mai Thai. If I were to visit Columbia again, I definitely would come back. -
Review from Snehee C.
Columbia, SC
12/21/2010
Awesome food, awesome varieties and simply awesome service! The only reason I give it a four is the spice level...I wanted more spicy food than they could provide me with!
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Review from Jeffrey Z.
Columbia, SC
4/17/2010
Best Thai food in Columbia... maybe best Thai restaurant ever for me. We found out about Mai Thai when it was reviewed in a local paper so we thought we would try it out. We love this place, when you drive into the parking lot and see Mai Thai your first thought would be maybe I made a mistake., but as soon as you open the door you know you didn't. The restaurant is beautiful inside, very relaxing, very comfortable. I give the food and the service a 10.
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Review from valencia w.
Richland, SC
9/13/2010
I usually eat at Bangkok Restaurant on Garner's Ferry Rd. because it's out my way but I had heard great things about Mai Thai and decided to try it. It was well worth the drive! I had also tried Thai Lotus and found it lacking in spite of good reviews I'd read, so my hopes weren't too high. I saw a line out the door soon as we drove up and we almost decided to try someplace else but I'm glad we waited. The aroma as we entered cemented our decision to wait and I'm so glad we did. My brother ordered the Duck Curry with Pineapple and I always order Pad Thai. The starters that came with the meal were lovely although the salad was comprised of iceburg lettuce, which I generally avoid. I liked the sweetish dressing and the chicken soup with rice was aromatic and satisfying. When our main courses came, I could hardly keep from sniffing--the curry smelled amazing! I sampled my brother's curry and promised myself that I'd venture from Pad Thai next time but my dish was so delicious that I'm still craving the taste, days later. The prices were the best I'd encountered in Columbia and the service was excellent. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant and plan to go back to sample each and every specialty on that menu!
