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Surin West
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
19 reviews for Surin West
Ok Yelpers, give Surin West a break...we are talking about Birmingham, my hometown, the city I love, but couldn't get a job in so living and loving in the ATL...so understandably, there won't be many options for "authentic" Thai food. Surin West does an OK job in its attempt to get Bham outside of the fastfood/club Ruby Tuesdays box! My first visit was a couple months ago, on the recommendation from my dear baby sister (another college graduate looking for permanent employment - yea, that's another rant) and a BOGO coupon. I can't remember the exact name of the dish, but it was the Lamb chops entrée. The meat had just the right spice and flavor that I didn't need the extra sauce I usually request at Thai restaurants. We ordered a bottle of Reisling, which had a twist off top, so wasn't impressed there.
Second visit was this past Saturday. We weren't as hungry this time, so we tried out the sushi and soup items. The sushi combos #3 & #4 were pretty fresh and the Shrimp Tempura selections within the combo were flash fried perfectly, not greasy at all. I ordered the Wonton Soup. It was actually good to the last drop. We again ordered a bottle of wine, a Pinot Grigio...again, with a screw off cap. Waiter poured about half a glass for me to try first lol...I'm like dude, it's a screw off cap and you pretty much filled the glass to the top...we'll just take it haha.
I will say that the 2 male waiters I had were not the greatest. Both were in a rush to either take our plate or provide the bill, but slow on bringing extra napkins or spicy mayo for the sushi (oh yea, its not really a white table cloth type of estab!) Overall, I would recommend Surin West, and make sure you sit by the window facing 11ave to enjoy the characters that walk or stumble by.
This place is in a cool little neighborhood in Birmingham and I kinda wished I had eaten some place else. I went with a group of folks who love this place so I got to taste all their favorite dishes and this place just doesn't stack up.
The coconut soup is given in a generous portion with lovely shrimp and a bit of spice but the lime flavor from the kafir lime leaf was missing. Some one ordered crunchy sushi for the table and I had never had anything like it before. Certainly not authentic but tasty with an interesting texture. The Pad Thai which they call Thai noodles was again off balance. The only good thing I can say about them was that the noodles were perfectly cooked but the salty, sweet, citrus was not there. I ordered one of my favorites spicy basil stir fry. I really love this dish with duck but they didn't offer it so I settled for pork. It was nice and spicy but I don't think they used Thai basil because that assertive licorice flavor was missing.
I guess if you really are craving Thai you can give it a go but don't expect any transcendental Thai experience.
Seriously? This is the Birmingham version of Thai food? Overly sweet, not nearly spicy enough and it felt like was heavily Americanized. Maybe I'm spoiled by other Thai restaurants in other cities, but I really feel like this place is pasable. Even the sushi is a little below average.
People always ask me what I miss most about Birmingham. I miss SURIN WEST!! This is the place where I met friends, dates, dined alone. I knew the bartender and he would tell me funny stories. I miss the nam tok beef I just miss Surin West. When I head to Birmingham ALL of my friends know where I want to go.
I Love Surin West!!!
Ok...I am a sushi fanatic and this place started it all! The flavors, the service, and restaurant is impeccable! The drinks are good and strong and their jasmine tea is delightful. I probably had 1 bad experience, but it was because the server was kinda rude...but one bad apple isn't gonna stop me from going! For sushi choices-beginner-California Roll or Spicy Tuna..
Entrees- the best is the Pad Prik..the best appetizer is the Surin Basket! You have got to go there and try it yourself!
Excellent sushi, the rest is so/so... some tasty dishes, although not quite as authentic as I like.
I was excited to find a Thai restaurant in Birmingham and sad to find it a little less exciting than most Thai restaurants I've been too.
The food was weak in authenticity- seemed like an American chef making Thai food though it is Thai owned.
The atmosphere of the place was alright- lots of light and large photos of Thailand on the walls. I'm annoyed by paper over a cloth table cloth, but that's just me. I think for some of their atmosphere the prices could have been lower but I see that it really is probably a fancy place for that part of town so okay. I was also cold here- oi- I hate being cold and then getting ice in my water. Don't let my temperature dilemma sour you though, I'm willing to admit it might just have been me but I have a special dread for temperature problems in a place where I'm wanting to focus on the meal.
I would go back, but because it's a good place for variety and not because I was crazy about it.
Service was very friendly.
Seems to be in a district where there are some interesting shops nearby. My friends and I visited a nearby Sikh grocery store afterwards.
I'll start with the good stuff. The atmosphere is very nice, I went there for dinner with a date, and it was good for that. Candles on the tables, not too loud despite being packed. The location is good for meandering around the area after dinner. The wait service was forgettable, nothing terrible or amazing. Price-wise, I thought everything was pretty standard, but wine by the glass was a little cheaper than I would expect.
You have to park at meters, there is no parking lot. So you may need to drive around for a bit if the area is busy that night.
Here is what I didn't like. It was a really generic menu. It was a big mash-up of Asian food. There was sushi, Thai, Japanese, and more. I personally like places that select a particular cuisine to specialize in, instead of having a billion different dishes that are OK. Actually, until I read these other reviews, I thought it was suppose to be a sushi place...
It's basic, and that's pretty much fine by me. This is the unofficial go to place for my lab whenever we go out to lunch together. If you're in any way associated with UAB you've probably been here more times than you can count.
Service can be shaky at best sometimes, but normally it's acceptable. I tend to always get the pad prik tofu, which is good and comes with a bowl of soup at lunch, which is generally when I'm there.
I guess the defining aspect of Surin West is acceptability. It's not the best Thai food you'll ever have, but it's always edible and easy.
I thought it was funny how every single law firm in Birmingham would take me to Surin West for lunch when I interviewed with them. Was there no Indian restaurant in the downtown area? :)
Surin West serves rather standard Thai food. The dishes are quite unremarkable except for a decent duck curry.
An average Thai restaurant, if found in another city. Their is nothing special about the food, it seems it's more Chinese than Thai. The Pad Thai or Thai noodle as they call it, is the best thing on the menu. I suggest ordering it without sprouts because the seem to over do it. Service is sub par. Be prepared to wait 5-10 minutes for anything from the bar. Sushi is even worse, the rice seems too mushy and fish doesn't truly taste too fresh.
The place is clean and trying to find parking is harder than the MCAT.
Duck dish was good with less spice than I wanted but I did not ask for pet-pet.
The spicy beef salad is excellent and does have some heat if you request it pet-pet/Thai hot.
I don't really eat Pad Thai as I think it's mostly boring.
Who gets sushi at a Thai restaurant?
This is a Birmingham standard. Good for a date, work meeting or a night with your friends. Good food (spicy coconut soup and chicken panang), good sushi (super crunch) and yummy martinis!
The downside, everyone and their uncle goes especially if they are new to trying Thai food so (ooo how adventurous). The food is good but not knock you off your feet, and when it is really crowded the service suffers as does the atmosphere (loud).
All in all, I do recommend it and I go there often.
I have eaten here 4 times over a period of about 3 years. Their Sushi is not good. If you want good Sushi go to SUMO in Hoover or go to Thai Emerald at the intersection of Hwy 280 and 119.
I dont know why people continue to go here when there is much better here in Birmingham.
Definitely one of the better food choices in Birmingham. The Thai food is solid, although maybe nothing remarkably different than you'd find in most Thai restaurants.
The atmosphere is ideal for an evening date or for hanging out with some friends.
The prices are reasonable and there's a good variety of food that should appeal to most people's tastes.
Bottom line- if you want Thai food, don't go here. If you like slightly overpriced Americanized Chinese, or decent sushi, then it's pretty good. I do like their tiramisu. The waiters are alright, the place is always clean, and the ambiance is nice.
There is a high probability of a long wait.
Unremarkable. These guys know Thai cuisine, but given local tastes in Alabama they can't get too adventurous with their recipes. The service is great and the restaurant is very clean. Going there for lunch can be an adventure; tough to find parking and very very crowded; took us over 30 minutes to get a table. I would have given them a 3rd star but after seeing the prices they charge... I don't think so.
Solid drinks :) Pretty good maki. Nice servers.
Surin has seating for 500 and they are always packed. I have never had to wait for a table. The waitstaff is friendly and the food is so good you will never cook again. Go there for lunch and try their Chicken Noodle Bowl. For dinner, try their Wing of Angel. Surin is great for big parites or romaintic dinners.
