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I've only been here once, but the dish I had was good. Beyond that, the price was reasonable, and the service was nothing to complain about.
It's a small-ish place, and lit low. I like that.
People thought this was:
This is another favorite place for me.
This is the Thai restaurant I go to on a special occasion, or with anyone that I feel the need to impress a teeny bit more than my little hole in the wall Bay Thai.
I feel like the food is always good, that there are a lot of choices, and the restaurant itself is just pretty. There's a nice garden outside (of course, there is also a main street and the freeway outside, too). And inside it feels like someone's house. A bit shabby-chic but chic nonetheless.
I go here all the time. It's one of the best Thai places in Marin. Very consistent, very delicious. Last night, I had the spring roll appetizer special. It was made with avocado and lettuce and came with a peanut dipping sauce. It was very good, fresh, and not too filling. I also ordered the vegetarian Pad Prik Kra Pow (sorry if I botched the name) with tofu. It was perfectly flavored. The sauce was so good that I used my rice to soak it all up, to the last drop.
People thought this was:
Absolutely excellent in every way! Delicious, fantastic service, and unmatched ambiance, all at incredibly reasonable prices. Can't be beat in Marin!!!
I had been here many times from 2003 through 2006 and loved it. Friday night was the first time in a few years...and it was fair, at best! The appetizer was the best part. Pad Tod. But, the entrees were very disappointing. Many times in the past I've ordered the Pad Thai and thought of it as one of the best anywhere. But, this time it was not very tasty and there was less on the plate...including only 3 shrimp which were awful. My friend had a similar experience. She ordered a vegetarian entree which was described as a green bean and mushroom dish. There were only 4, yes 4, of their special green beans and we needed a microscope to find the special mushrooms. Plus, the dish was over-saturated in the sauce. Since I had had so many excellent experiences, I'd give it another try to make sure this was an exception rather than norm now. But, just one more chance.
Used to be great, but now I can not say that. Service is poor, quality of the beef in the salads questionable. Most of the curries are ok, the pad thai is bland. It isn't bad, just there are much better thai restaurants, or learn to cook the cuisine yourself - shop at the Asian Market - it isn't difficult.
The 3 tasting menus are all delicious. Been there so many times, always fantastic. it is amazing. Each tasting menu is made for your specific appetite. You can come for a little meal or the biggest meal of your life. It is a high-end restaurant, but it is worth every penny. FOOD is unbelievable, service is great, scenery is gorgeous (weddings must be beautiful there). I have been there for anniversaries, business banquets, birthdays, family meals, and every time it is SO consistent. If you want to get away from all the chaos, especially in today's world, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to this restaurant.
Great family restaurant with solid food and fantastic atmosphere. The family makes you feel welcome and almost like royalty when serving you. The design and set up of the restaurant brings a coziness to it that is very inviting.
The food has never been disappointing- the fish special was fantastic- fresh fish lightly fried with basil and fantastic thai seasoning. The curries (green chicken especially) are fantastic and the spring rolls are fresh and delicious. The noodles are standard but equally delicious.
This place is well worth the visit, but bring your patience with you for parking- if the lot under the freeway is full, you may be looking for a while.
People thought this was:
Ah, I remember when we first moved to Marin, and getting accustomed to the ways of the county. Amidst being told I need to buy a Subaru Outback, exclusively wear Patagonia or Mountain Hardwear clothing, and own a golden retriever, I mentioned to my someone that I was in the mood for Thai food.
"Oh, dude. You GOTTA go to Royal Thai! It's like, the BEST Thai food!"
And try it I did. And it wasn't bad. Not quite good enough to make me go back, but the locals kept pimping the spot. So now I've been there five times, and it's high time for a review.
It's overrated. It really is. It's not the best Thai food, despite what the brainwashed folks here think - I've had good Thai, and can count a half dozen restaurants off the top of my head back in DC that blow this place out of the water in terms of food, service, decor, and prices.
For a start, I'm not down with being charged extra for rice.
Oi! Royal Thai! NOOOOO! (http://www.youtube.com... )
And their food just... isn't that good. It feels like that they're relying on the hype, and the kitchen is resting on it's laurels (sorry, been watching lots of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares on BBC America). Their drunken noodles were greasy and limp. The green curry was bland and about as hot as Barbara Bush in her knickers. I had a seabass special that sat in a pool of oil.
So you combine inflated prices, with mediocre food, and throw in the fact that this place is always, for some reason, packed, means I was going to give it two stars.
But on my last visit, I ordered the grub to go - and while I was waiting, they brought me tasty jasmine tea, so they got a star back. If they'd put vodka in there, they'd have gotten two back, but they weren't to know.
Still don't have the Subaru, golden retriever, or Prada-gonia clothing either.
People thought this was:
This restaurant is easy to get to as it is tucked away off Route 101, almost under Rt. 101, in a house. There is parking on the side in a special lot (read signs) that IS under Rt. 101.
I have been here twice and both times the place has been packed, even on a Sunday night! The food is great. The flavors are different, more complex, than what I have tasted at other Thai restuarants (I want to say more authentic, but I have never been to Thailand - so I don't know that it is).
The crepe appetizer dishes are very yummy and large enough for two to share. I had the Chicken and Peanut sauce for dinner, this dish was also very good. Desserts look good, but have yet to try them.
Seating in the main room is nicer than in the side/enclosed patio room which is drafty (they do have space heaters there to help counter the draft).
951 Clement St, San Francisco, CA - (415) 386-1795
This is the location I've dined in. It's the best Thai I've experienced during visits to SF, though they do not have a Rama dish as it must be a diff part of Thailand we're eating here. The food is delicious, the prices are competitive and if you need something tasty and spicy, this is the place to get your taste buds screaming in ecstacy. Of course, there's raw oysters somewhere in this great city, yuummm-o! ooh, juicy pacific oysters w/a little lemon, a dash of hot sauce... Oh, back to Royal Thai. It's clean and as usual, the staff is pleasant. It's worth driving around for a space or even walking to from that space. Am i rambling--it's early for me.
People thought this was:
Quite a nice venue inside, I like the ambiance and decoration. It feels like a higher class vibe than in most Thai restaurants I've been in. The food I've had here is quite good and tasty, and prices were reasonable.
I tried their Pad See-ew, but for some reason they made it with these thin noddles that definitely threw me for a loop. I did feel let down by what I considered a woefully inadequate portion. Royal Thai is probably a good date place, they will force you to not scare your date away by showing him/her your voracious appetite.
I must subtract points for this shortcoming.
People thought this was:
My favorite Thai place! I grew up in Marin, but now have moved all over the place, but whenever when I am visiting the Bay Area I try to pop over to Royal Thai. They have a dish there that I have dreams about that I haven't found anywhere else, the scallops in yellow curry powder with potatoes and green onions! Delish!
I was about to say how authentic this place is, then realized, "What the hell do I know about authentic Thai?!" Growing up in my house, noodles meant spaghetti and peanuts were for peanut butter.
However, I do know yummy when I taste it, and both occasions I've been to Royal Thai I have loved every dish. The veggies are fresh and the sauces delicious. And like Osha Thai, I could kiss them for having brown rice. The salmon (cooked in bamboo leaves = extra moist) and miso black cod were my favorites this last trip.
The service has also been stellar both visits--super fast and friendly. They generously brought out fried bananas and coconut ice cream with a candle and sang for our friend's 85th birthday! It's also fine for kids and big groups.
You don't even have to beg or bribe this City girl to cross the bridge to have dinner at Royal Thai!
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I used to go to Thai Smile, then My Thai, but for San Rafael, I am convinced Royal Thai is the best. Very authentic, Curies (spicy Red is the best), Papaya salad and spring rolls.
But King of Thai Noodle on Taraval in SF is THE BEST.
We decided to try this place last night (a Tuesday). It was crazy busy, actually there were empty tables, but the staff all had crazy busy eyes. We waited 10 minutes to get water and order (yes, we waited patiently with our menus closed).
The food was just not so good. The soup was overly salty and weirdly thick. The pad Thai was a little gluey and the rice to go with the salmon curry cost $2. I know food prices are going up, but $2 for a small scoop of rice seems pretty steep.
This place just isn't worth it. There are better Thai places out there.
I feel like RT is raved about in Marin, but I hadn't checked it out until last night. The menu is extensive and they seemed to be willing to make things vegetarian, even if they weren't written as options on the menu. But if you want tofu, you'll have to ask for it. Vegetarian does not automatically = tofu.
We had a special veggie fresh roll as an appetizer. Our waiter did not tell us about the specials, but when I overheard this from another waiter at another table I knew I had to try it. The rolls had mint, lettuce, carrots and avocado in it. I'm pretty sure avocado is not authentic Thai but it was fresh and delicious. However, the peanut sauce dipping sauce was kind of chalky and definitely needed some heat.
We ordered vegetarian pad see-ew and vegetable panang curry, which are our standbys. The pad see-ew was very garlicky but dry and the noodles were all stuck together in clumps. I like a more saucy, silky pad see-ew. The vegetables were okay, but it would have been improved with the addition of some baby bok choy.
The panang curry was pretty good and had a nice amount of heat supplemented by very large pieces of jalapeno peppers. Again, the variety of vegetables could have been greater.
The portions are definitely smaller than usual for Thai restaurants - two dishes served two people with no leftovers. I don't consider that a minus whatsoever, its just helpful to know. The service was okay but not great. I feel like the woman working there was trying to burn holes into the skull of each person who walked in with her glare.
By the way, the parking situation is confusing because all the signs in the lot say "reserved for French Quarter". We didn't figure out until after we parked far far away that "French Quarter" is not a jazz bar or a cheesy Cajun restaurant but rather is the name of the "complex" that Royal Thai is in. So its cool to park in that lot.
I love that San Rafael has a "French Quarter." That's awesome.
Royal is one Marin's old school Thai joints and this is what a fine Thai dining experience is all about.
The Royal in the name refers to the specific kind of food they serve, that was refined in Thailand. You know it when you see it: roses carved out of carrots, etc.
Great place.
People thought this was:
Once upon a time, I would have given Royal Thai 5 whole stars, but unfortunately, this is a different time...
Based on my most recent dining experience here, the beef salad was not very beefy and everything else was simply okay... except for the 'angel wings' which were still as fantastic as I remembered. The wait was a bit long especially since it took us about 40 minutes to get here from the city. I probably wouldn't come back here, but considering how good my experience was in the past, I'm giving it a very mild 4 stars.
____________________________
Update 5/11/2007:
Well, I did come here again and it deserves 4 stars and then some! Everything was oh so perrrfect.
People thought this was:
San Rafael's Royal Thai restaurant serves some of, if not the best, thai cuisine in the Marin. Royal Thai fits thai restaurant charm into a cozy Victorian house just located under Highway 101.
Food ranges from the classic (curries, pad thai) to their daily specials, so there should be something for everyone. Lunch specials are a great way and affordable way to fill up on fresh and flavorful treats.
People thought this was:
The food is delicious in every way! I dream of the sticky rice w/ mango, and of course the fried bananas w/ ice cream.... ahhhhh! I know that's dessert... but it's oh so good. Every single dish I've had there has been excellent.
The only issue anyone can have w/ this place is that they tend to be little on the slow side, however this is well worth it... So, take a long lunch, you deserve it.
Wow. I have never really been an aficionado of Thai food, however it is the consensus of my friend, girlfriend and myself that Royal Thai is some of the best around. Our appetizers and entrees were delicious, the price was right, we left VERY satisfied.
Five stars and a short review, because the food here was unique, delicious, and left me with a newfound appreciation for Thai.
People thought this was:
Returned here for the first time in years. I don't know why I stopped going here in the first place. Maybe it's because I've been exposed to much better thai food elsewhere, I'm not sure. But recently I revisited this restaurant, and it was still pretty good. Not much had changed since last time I went. I think one of the main benefits of this restaurant is its relatively large menu. There really is a lot to choose from, most of it pretty decent.
Located in the "french quarter" in San Rafael, this restaurant also has a nice atmosphere, even if it is a stones throw away from the freeway. Once inside, you'd never know it.
Very popular thai restaurant close to Hwy 101 in downtown San Rafael. Easy parking in free city lot.
Gets packed, get reservations. I've eaten here 3X. Menu features all the usual items that you see in all American-thai restaurants.
This is an old Victorian house with dining areas spread throughout many rooms. Decoration style is nice enough with thai paraphernalia on the walls.
Food is just okay, polite with the chili, not too spicy for American palates. The Tom Ka soup is okay, not as strongly fragrant with galangal & coriander as I prefer. Pad thai noodles again just okay. All the ingredients are there, the owners are thai, so what's missing?
Some authentic soul to the cooking. There are many, many thai places in San Rafael. This one is just in the middle of the pack, quality wise. Prices slightly higher than typical Mom & Pop thai.
Check out my review of Lanna Thai in San Anselmo. Great Food there.! It's 5 miles from Hwy 101. Worth the extra 10 minute drive.
People thought this was:
This restaurant is not with all of the others in San Rafael. It is cute and tucked away. However, the parking is under the 101. That aside.. the restaurant itself is very cute.
The food is hit and miss. The larb is not very good. It seems more like charred pork. I've had amazing larb in the past and this is one to pass on. The Green Curry was very good. However, the portions are not very large. If you want to order for two make sure you order two entrees and perhaps appetizers. The appetizers were great, we ordered the fried egg roll and the sauce was amazing. The mango and sticky rice was alright. It needed more yummy coconut sauce.
All in all, this place will do for a little Thai craving but it's not at the top of my list.
I'm back-filling the restaurants I've eaten at before becoming a Yelp member, so I will not try to recall exactly what I ordered at Royal Thai, but it was very good. The service was very good too. I'll be visiting there again and hope to write a more thorough review one of these days before long.
MARININITES REJOICE. YOU HAVE GOOD THAI FOOD.
so i've come here three times, once with friends from the area who had a hankering for incredibly hot [of their own accord, not by default] thai food that would somehow also appease our vegetarian companions, and twice during lunch. i was appeased every time, though the thai iced tea was less than stellar.
before you walk in, you need to realize that you're in marin, not some scrubby place on the peninsula or in the city. things are nicer here. there's parking. there are tablecloths and candles. they accept credit cards. you'll also be eating around a lot of rich people. but i digress.
this is a good place to go, nearly an all-purpose restaurant for all of your "hey we work in marin so let's get lunch in san rafael" or "hey honey let's go to a decent restaurant instead of supersizing ourselves with double cheeseburger meals for a fifth night in a row" or "i want some fucking hot thai food but zoe over here can't eat meat" needs.
the portions are decent, the space is nice and quiet, and it's...well... quaint. you're pretty much having thai food in the living room of a victorian house. in marin. pass the grey poupon.
maybe it's because i've only went there during the day, but come here now, as it's never as packed as the quality of the food & atmosphere would otherwise indicate. you're missing out.
WOW.... I think under normal circumstances this would get three stars.... but... ... I can explain it all, and it isn't snobbery about authenticity its about out of balance flavors, its about the immigration act that followed the viet nam war, and the american immigrant experience, about non professional cooks all using the single source book of Thai food its about the machismo of those cult of fire ignorant fools that think Thai food should be hot hotter hottest leaving the food either way too hot..or for Thai tastes, in order to balance the heat, over sweetened and so as you pull back the spice you are left with over sweet one dimensional food...sigh...ok...so where was I?
Royal Thai..everyone ..up here in the land of the Taliban sez that this is the bombdigity of all Thai food and these people have all been to phuket and koh samui and chang mai so it must be true!!! I have avoided this place for sooo long..its in t he quirky and pretty french quarter under neath the freeway on third ...no parking unless you circle around and enter from another street and its hard to tell from the street if they are open...OK so once you are parked and get into the grounds, a beautiful little restaurant reveals itself, the staff is friendly and the menu simple.
on the day I went... I wanted to eat Essan food and yes they had som tam, Gai yung, and Kow Neow... well no they had run out of kow neow...so I changed over to Larb Moo and Kow Suwai...no rice!!! ok ...sigh this is insane..the word for food in Thai is the word for rice..KOw!!!!!! huh..no rice..no offer to make rice..this is 1:30!!!! lunch!!! this is not a noodle shop.... ok so my daughter orders her favorite noodle thing , pad see-ew, they put it on thin glass noodles instead of rice noodles..which made no sense...as the style of noodle should be wider and rice to sop up the sauce.. and the heat was gone so it was an over sweet mess, the portions were small, oh I had the Larb as they had no Yam nua... they came up with some rice... phew... the larb was too sweet as well, but with the addition of Nam pla prick the world was a better place...the portions right down to the thai ice tea were small... not lunch potion small just plain food cost small- note to ethnic food owners everywhere, lose the garnishes that no one eats save 10-20 cents per plate and increase the portions of real food presentation is not a bunch of lettuce an orange slice etc..on every fricken plate!!!! arrrrrrrrrrrgh...oh and we had Hom muk- fish cakes.okish..
so here is the deal, this is just another thai restaurant, no better or worse then any other place in the bay area. It is authentic in that it is waht Thai food is in America...it is in a lovely setting but this doesn't get the raves from me that others give it..if this is your favorite Thai..good for you...but if you are seeking a stellar transforming Thai experience... it isn't here...don't bother, its the same as your favorite neighborhood place, so move along nothing to see here...
People thought this was:
Royal Thai might be my favorite Thai place in all of Marin.
Very tasty, authentic selections and a friendly staff.
Unfortunately it is rare that I have the opportunity to eat there and thus can't remember exactly what I order.
Pork, or shrimp or something. Anyway it's pretty damn good.
I like the outdoor garden setting, an exterior draped with vines. Inside is just as nice, with several dining rooms that seemingly offer more privacy, as opposed to one large dining area. Walking in, I wondered if Royal Thai would live up to all the "Best of..." accolades framed at its entrance. The service was professional. The food came out with the quickness, but nothing about it stood out as being "The Best", even for Marin Co.; for me, that award goes to Orchid Thai in San Anselmo. They do, however, offer just the right balance between food, service, and atmosphere.
People thought this was:
Delicious!!!!! This place is alittle hard to get to but it is worth the Find.... two thumbs up!!! You have to get the fried bananas with ice cream for dessert.. I don't even remember eating it I inhaled it so fast!
People thought this was:
Great place for Thai in Marin. Food is excellent, but service is slow (otherwise it would have been 5 stars...). The long wait time did give me time on my most recent visit to read about the history of the restaurant from reviews dating back to 1986 hung in the entrance, good for the couple who owns it for keeping a restaurant packed and serving good food for twenty years.
People thought this was:
Low key. No wait on a Friday night. Solid thai food for all the standards. Nothing struck me as too innovative, but everything we ordered was decent. I guess I should be glad that Royal Thai sticks to what it knows rather than try all that fancy fusion BS that a lot of restaurants try to do...but a little more zing would have given this review 4 stars. You can't go wrong here, I just would have liked something a little more sexy. Oh yeah, and the prices are quite reasonable.
People thought this was:
This place is consistently good and has never failed us yet. This is surprising , especially in Marin, which IMHO has a lot of mediocre Thai places. I usually get takeout as the dining room is generally packed on Friday nights and weekends. The vegetarian dishes are great (try the eggplant) and most of the meat dishes are done right. I have not had a chance to try the chef's specials (there is usually a board with some good ones in the restaurant) but will do so on my next visit. As a previous reviewer noted - you can't go wrong.
People thought this was:
Ordered for pickup. Had ordered once before, nothing notable. Ordered the standards, thinking they couldn't mess that up. Panang Chicken, Pad Thai with shrimp, spring rolls. Food arrived in a clump. Chicken looked like mouse tongues. Spring rolls dry. Literally pad thai was one solid noodle clump. Never could separate it.
People thought this was:
IT's not my favorite place, nothing memorable. Expensive and portion sizes are small for sharing. I like that they have several dished that other Thai places don't, but like I said nothing memorable. Food is good, but I have not gone back in a long time. Try it, see if you like it.
Food, service, price, everything is impeccable. They are very flexible, don't even get upset if we show up with 20 other people during busy hours without reservation.
I love their curry and peanut sauce. The portion is right and the presentation is nice.
The best thai food! Trust me I 've tried them all. Order the chef's special sea bass, its incredible. Service and decore are mediocre at best, but once you try the food- you will not care. I also recommend the chicken with chiles ( if you like really spicy).
San Rafael, CA
Category: Thai
San Rafael, CA
Category: Thai
San Rafael, CA
Category: Thai
San Rafael, CA
Category: Thai
San Anselmo, CA
Category: Thai
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