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I've been to many thai reastaurants, but not all of them give good customer service. Some restaurant like Thai bistro have a very nice setting inside, but does not know how to give good customer service. When i go out to eat the first thing i look for is customer service, taste of the food, and how good of a service they can give. The first time i went to Thai Ocean i felt as if i know the owner. It's a family own restaurant, but i felt comfortable asking for what i want to add on to the dish that i odered. I odered papaya salad, Pad Thai, and tum yum. I never really liked pad thai, but after i had pad thai at Thai Ocean i knew right then and there that i would be going back there. The lady that serve me was really nice and she constantly check up to see if i needed anything else. Anyways Thai Ocean is a small family dinning restaurant, but it is a place that would satisfied your need. Plus i just went there again yesterday.
:)
Yes, Michelle, you must have been there on an off day. Maybe Tuesdays are not their best day - I was there on Sunday and it was quiet. Thursdays are best. It's always good for lunch when I go there - then walk around the corner and drown the burn with some Peets Coffee. Go back - sit and watch the fish. Order the satay and the yellow curry. Experience the hotness =;^)
Okay, I'll spare you the musical asides this time. I went back (duh!) and this time ordered satay and NO SPICE in my curry cuz I wanted to see what it would really taste like - also because my digestive system is starting to fight back. Anyway, everything still checked out great - curry was a little more liquid than I would usually like, but all things considered I just pretended that it was curry soup and it still tasted excellent. This place needs more business, and if you like fish they have this huge fish tank in the back wall with salt water fish - one like Nemo from the movie - it's a toss up which is more fun to watch, the fish or the people coming in to get take out.
Definitely hit this place if you are near Green Lake.
Cue Led Zeppelin ... Dah dah dah na na ...
I've driven by this place so many times I ought to be an…
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As other reviewers have posted, there are major benefits to building up a regular status at Thai Ocean.
Excellent Phad Thai and curries, very spicy, and awesome service. The folks here know how to take care of their customers. We've lucked out to have orders placed both before and after they were open. Even after we've moved out of the neighborhood, we're still asked if we're having our usual.
This place was a pleasant surprise for a little Thai joint right around the corner from my friend's new apartment.
Absolutely AWESOME fresh rolls, served with heated peanut sauce. They were to die for. I could have easily eaten TONS more of them. I'm dreaming of them right now...
Solid Pad Thai, although I would have preferred a bit more tofu and I wasn't a huge fan of the added carrots and broccoli.
The staff was very friendly and service was very quick. The interior was a little bit tacky, but not too bad.
Maybe I was there on an off day....but we thought the food was horrible and the restaurant seemed dirty. I've walked by this 100 times and finally tried it. I was so disappointed in the food. After that one experience I swore I'd never go back. It's sad, because i know it's been there for quite some time and it's so convenient near greenlake. It just wasn't good...and I think it's hard to really mess up thai food.
It's nostalgic for me to visit Thai Ocean because I used to live on 65th which was walking distance to this neighborhood restaurant. They have recently (in the last two years) started using a higher quality of meat, more fresh herbs and spices, and now they offer fresh rolls (wrapped in rice paper) which is a little Vietnamese snack.
The decor is a little tacky, but the food is worth coming back to. My favorites here are the Thai Beef Salad (Yum Nue?), Pad Ke Mao, Pad Thai, and the snow peas with prawns.
One of my favorites in Seattle - always look forward to seeing the owner - so friendly! Practically lived off their Chicken Phad Thai & Mongolian Beef for 2 years. Their dishes always taste so fresh - and perfectly spiced.
Mango Sticky Rice (when available) is always an incredible treat after. You'll definitely need the walk around Greenlake when you're finished.
As others have said this is a pleasant surprise of a place. Only done takeout here, but I think they have a good decor & friendly staff, and quite good quality food. Takeout portions are awesome, with plenty of taste and spice.
Stop by when in Greenlake!
When it comes to Thai food I have definitely been around the block and while I casually frequented many establishments, none had won my heart.
None, that is, until Thai Ocean.
With its fresh daily roses and a giant, well-maintained fish tank along the whole back wall, it was love at first sight. My fondness only grew after I tried their scrumptious Yellow Curry and their yummy Pad See Ew noodles (their Pad Thai is good too, worry not), now I'm smitten. I go at least 2 to 3 times a month, can't get enough. The service is great, I really only ask that they handle with care, and it's a convenient location with free parking.
Four stars instead of five because once my dish was unusually bland and very different from the other times I'd ordered it. I mentioned this to the waiter and he explained that the owner (and head cook) was out of town and that the replacement cook didn't put the same "love" into her cooking. The waiter was super nice about it, he even gave me free Thai iced tea, but the owner needs to find a better substitute or train the current one better.
Not very good at all. The two stars were for the service only; they were very attentive. I ordered the Moo Huang; it was dry, cold, and flavorless. The portion was meant for a child. The Fresh Wraps were old and may have been pre-made the day before. The peanut sauce tasted like what I buy from the market.
Their Phad See Ew is TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL. I thought I didn't like Thai food until I was coaxed there by vegan-boy, and holy cow, it was so good! And don't miss the "fresh roll w/ peanut sauce"..always hand-written on a whiteboard so you think it's a special, but it's the only special and they never erase it.
Once I asked the kid working there why there's always a bottle of red Revlon nail polish included with Buddha's daily food offering (brass plate next to the register). He sorta shrugged, then pointed to another small shrine on a shelf above the kitchen doorway. "There's food up there too," he explained.
Thai Ocean is totally fine, but it's not really worth going out of your way to eat here. I live 3 blocks away, so it's my default local Thai place. And it's totally good for that. But if I want an amazing Thai dinner, I'd go elsewhere.
Pluses: when you ask for spicy, they make it pretty spicy; generally a good assortment of veggies in the dishes; quick for takeout; outdoor seating.
The food here is solid, but not remarkable. The staff and owners on the otherhad are to be cherished.
It was cold a drizzling last week when I stopped by (I know that's hard to believe in Seattle). I could have sworn that I stopped by my Aunt Becky's house for a meal. Although I was just grabbing take out, they invited me to have a seat at a table while I waited. They brought me some hot tea and explained that she didn't want me to catch a cold with the weather. As I was waiting a regular walked in and before she sat down a waitress brought her out the Singha she hadn't yet ordered. Seriously, the waitress had it in her hand walking to her table as she said "I'd like a Singha".
If you live nearby, become a regular. Membership has its benefits.
I do like all things riparian, and so I decided to feast at Thai Ocean yesterday. The name is interesting, sort of. Would the host be dressed as Manchanu, guarding the lake lead that leads to the underworld? Would it be an ocean of flavor or a tsunami of culinary ecstacy? Or would it be like a gently pounding surf, lulling me into bliss?
I arrived around 5pm and immediately spotted the ocean-- a fish tank in the wall in the back of the restaurant.
They should really call the place Thai Tidal Pool, or maybe Thai dal Pool. ahhahahah!! Hahah!!!! ahem...
There wasn't anyone else there yet, but by the time I had visited the moldy smelling bathroom bordering a musty worn carpeted foyer, there were many more customers clamoring to get their "to go" orders.
The owner was very pleasant and accomodating, and the staff there didn't seem to mind "Junior", a fat squirrel who waits outside the door for food all the time.
I ordered tea and red curry squirrel, er I mean chicken. I asked the owner to make it very very very very spicy. Their hot scale is a 1 to 4 star scale. I asked for 4 star. It was hot, but not really as hot as I wanted. But it was tasty and I loved the fact that they served brown rice, which is much better for you than Jasmine rice.
I was thinking about the squirrel. I wanted to really like a Thai restaurant that fed squirrels by a lake. There's something very John Muir or Kerouac about it. And after I paid, I decided that if I was hungry and in the area again, I might return.
So, 1 star for the decor (it actually kind of depressed me --salmon/perriwinkle colored 1980's era decor), 2 or 3 stars for the red curry chicken I ordered with brown rice (it was good), and 5 stars for having a fat squirrel begging at the door.
There's better Thai, but hey, Squirrels are pretty damn cool.
Pretty good normal thai food that can do spicy right. An excellent take-out place.
Prices are a little high, but portions are very large; about one and a half times what I'm used to getting from a usual thai restaurant.
I would almost say that they put too much meat into their entries. You may wish to ask for extra rice to compensate for this.
If it's wasn't 100 yards from my house, I most likely wouldn't go there. Not to say it's bad, I just wouldn't go out of my way b/c there are SO many Thai places in Seattle (I prefer Siam Lake Union).
Pad Thai and curries are good and I like that they have brown rice as an option (vs. just white rice).
My wife thinks the fish tank is scary, so we usually get it to go. :)
Oh, and when they say spicy, they mean spicy. I love spicy food, so I don't mind it. 3 stars and you'll be grabbing for some aqua.
Yet another staple for the Greenlake neighborhood. The food here is pretty damn good (loves me the Swimming Angel!), it's inexpensive and its fast. It's gotten to the point now that when I show up I don't even get a menu anymore... they already know what I want.
That my friends is the beauty of the neighborhood restaurant. Come here a few times for good Thai and I'm sure you'll be remembered.
I love this place for the consistently good service and best-ever Phad Kee Mow (I get take-out and ask for (fried) tofu instead of meat). I always ask for extra broccoli and they get the two-star spiciness exactly right (with actual pieces of pepper for heat!). The "wide" noodles are the kind that are cut from sheets...delicious and so much better than regular wide noodles. If they're not too busy and it's chilly outside, someone will usually offer me a cup of hot tea while I wait for my to-go order. :D
After walking three blocks in the rain to take it home, it's still piping hot and delicious. If you live in this area, you must try it! It just might become your favorite rainy-day weekend study food.
I luuurve this place.
It's incredibly cheap, so that's good. The fried tofu here is amazing, and they don't look at you all funny if you ask for red curry sauce WITHOUT coconut milk. In fact, it's on the menu that way. If I ask for my red curry without coconut milk at any other Thai restaurant I get a range of reactions, from shock and scandal to laughter to a blank stare. Who likes a meal that's sweet? Curry should be savory.
Anyway, it's sort of awesome. The decor is standard to blah, but what are you going to a Thai restaurant for anyway? It ain't a museum, folks. If you want Thai food, good and hot and fresh and as spicy or as mild as you want it, Thai Ocean is a destination of perfection.
If you live around Green Lake you need to try Thai Ocean. It's not in a location on the main strip (sort of behind where the old Albertsons was) but it's easily found.
The food is great and prepared well -- very authentic. Everyone who works there is extremely friendly and make you happy just to be ordering from them. The prices are very reasonable too. Their Tom Kha Gai is really good.
Two words -- food poisoning. I ordered chicken pad see ew.....
I love this place. Pad See Ew done just right. With vegies! Yay! I miss it now that I don't live close, but it's sooo yummy.
Great take out.
Tonight was the first time I went to Thai Ocean, but I was so satisfied that I can't help writing a review for it!
My friend and I ordered the Phad Thai and Fried Rice. They're both really good! When I saw that they do not use MSG, I thought the food won't taste that good (I'm not really a fan of MSG, but I know that food with MSG will taste somewhat better.) However, to my surprise, both dishes were very rich with flavors. We ordered 5-stars and they were spicy enough. Food came out pretty fast.
Besides the good food, service was great. Staffs were really nice and friendly. The restaurant itself was nice and clean. They also have some outdoor seatings, so it should be perfect during summer, where you can enjoy the sunshine and the view.
While we were there, about 4-5 people came in to order to go. I guess that's understandable since they cook the food pretty fast.
This is a great place to eat after you run around Green Lake.
On top of those, food was cheap, and the portion was quite generous. Almost everything is under $10. Lunch menu is about $6 only.
I will definitely come back, and I'll bring more friends next time. Really looking forward to try other dishes!
Let me preface this by saying that I used to LOVE this place... their panang curry is amazing. BUT one fateful night, something happened.
I brought my fork up to my mouth, and I was staring eye-to-eye right at a grasshopper (or a roach...? Not sure, but regardless it was deceased, thankfully). Needless to say, I was thorougly grossed out, and got my money back from the owners.
Every time I begin to miss the food here, I just think of the three words: Insect Pad Thai...
Went here with a Friend the other night because the place we planned on going to was closed. Short-and-sweet critique, I'd say if you are local & looking for some quick takeout, ... maybe. But once was probably enough. There are just too many places in Seattle to return somewhere that doesn't "wow" you in some way!
We got there before they 'opened', so I was able to relax and enjoy the little patio outside until my Friend joined me. Well- they decided to 'open', but never turned the sign around or invited us inside! People just began walking in... Well, it didn't matter too much. It wasn't all that crowded. I think most people order takeout there.
The one girl who helped us had her head down on the counter sleeping before we came in, and was doing homework most of the time we were there.
We ordered an appetizer of fried tofu, with the red Panang curry and swimming Rama.
People (who worked there? caterers? really-familiar-customers?) were running in & out from the kitchen to their cars the whole time, the portions certainly were not overly-generous. However, the food itself was fine.
Alright in a pinch but think any restaurant could take over their lease and do much better in this neighborhood. The food always has WAY too much fish sauce and is often overcooked. If you are starving and it is the only place open - you might want to see what is left in the back of your fridge.
If you are tired of the wait staff following up your request to make the dish vegetarian with "Shrimp OK?" this is the place to be. Their kitchen actually thinks through the recipe and makes an effort to leave the animals out.
Their soups are wonderful.
The only complaint I have is that their background music is slightly too loud for my taste.
Hidden gem alert! When you're exhausted from power walkin' around Green Lake and hunger strikes, skip Amante, don't touch Duke's. Take a dip in the delicious, affordable-yet-clean Thai Ocean! This place serves up a satisfying Pad Thai that's neither ketchupy nor boring. Made with just the right blend of spices and veggies. The fresh veggie rolls are also refreshing and spot-hitting. Wait for a beautiful day and dine on the plant-filled patio. I'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu.
Thai Ocean's Crab/Cream cheese appetizers are addicitive, and the Phad Thai is great (Smoky and flavorful!) Stop by when you're done torturing yourself (I mean exercising...) at Greenlake. There is a parking lot here, and indoor/outdoor seating (depending on the weather.) Food is available to go.
I have only eaten inside of this place once of the 15-20 times I've gotten their food, so I can't really comment on the service. I usually get a noodle dish and a curry. The curries never dissappoint. The green curry is phenomenal, and the panag curry good too. Sometimes the phad thai is too saucy and sweet, and other times the phad see-iuw isn't friend enough. But on the whole their dishes are good, it's pretty inexpensive, and take out is ready in 15 minutes, max. I'll keep coming back to this place.
When we moved to Seattle we knew that we would be able to find LOTS of Thai food. We were so pleased to find our favorite so near to our new home. Thai Ocean is so fantastic! They are really good about making it spicey- if you ask for a Four you are going to get something REALLY hot. My husband loves spicey things and the four was almost too much for him!
Great take-out since it's usually ready in ten minutes or so. After grabbing the goods, walk it over to a bench along the lake for a great meal with a great view.
Thai Ocean is becoming my next best place to have inexpensive Thai food that isn't too much an Americanized version of the real thing. With all the thai restaurants around Seattle, it has to be something special to catch my eye and this is it. I can't wait for warmer weather so I can sit outside and watch the cyclists zipping around Ravenna/Greenlake area.
This is the cheapest and best thai lunch you can have in the Greenlake area. The portions are big, and include a salad and spring rolls. If you eat in, the decor is average, but there's a beautiful fish tank in the back to gaze at. In the summer, this you can eat on their patio, which has some greenery and sunlight.
Thai Ocean is fast, friendly and delicious. What more could you want? Though Thai restaurants are fairly ubiquitous in Seattle, this one by Greenlake certainly doesn't disappoint. Great Phad Thai and Phad See-Ew.
i just picked up some takeout from ocean thai for the 1st time-WOW! the duck curry pretty much rocked my husband's world and my phad thai tofu is PERFECT. not dry at all and very flavorful-delish.
Not the cheapest eats not the most expensive-i think well worth the quality. The Duck curry is very affordable if you get one order & split it over rice.
whats that? they're open until 9:30pm?
Sold.
Wanting to make a quick 9:30pm dash for Thai food, we ended up at the nearby Thai Ocean. Even though it was close to closing time, the hostess/waitress was very friendly and allowed us to eat in. I was a little worried the place would look run down based on other reviews and other shabbier restaurants in the area, but I was pleasantly surprised. It seemed nice and clean, and the lighting level was just right. We started with the fresh rolls, which were excellently wrapped but a little dry. The accompanying peanut sauce was abundant and delicious. Two of us asked for more than 5 stars of spiciness, to which the waitress confirmed "Thai hot", but as usual, it didn't end up making any difference. Fortunately, she immediately brought us the DIY spice tray, which featured four different weapons of ass destruction. I ordered my staple "chicken, basil, bell pepper, onion, and mushroom in chili paste" dish, and found it satisfying, especially for the $7.95 price and covered with briny sliced chilies and red chili paste from the tray. While I wouldn't rave about it, my friend was raving about his duck curry, and was quite excited to have enough for leftovers the next day. (My friends commented that Asian food seems to taste better the next day, perhaps due to extra marination. This led to an informal feasibility study for a "Second Day Asian" restaurant. We ended up shelving the idea, in hopes that it too would improve with age.) Anyway, while it didn't end up displacing any of my favorite Thai joints, I'm sure I'll be back before long.
I live about 3 blocks from this place but I was always under the impression that it was a seafood joint. Being a veg that kept me from trying it. But then one day I decided to stop in and check it out. Man am I glad I did. Their Pad Thai is among the best ive had, ive gotten in 3 times in the past month. Last time I went in I decided to try something new. I got flustered and just picked a random number from the veggie menu. Basil something, it was pretty amazing itself. I would recommend Thai Ocean for anyone that lives near Greenlake.
reasonably priced, reasonably okay. Nothing great, but it's close to home so we thought we'd try it. With all the thai in Seattle though, I probably won't go again. Service is good.
Neighborhood: Green Lake
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Greenwood
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Northgate
Category: Thai
Seattle, WA
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Ballard
Category: Thai
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