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Thai Tom
Category: Restaurants Thai Thai [Edit]
4543 University Way NE(between 45th St & 47th St)
Seattle, WA 98105
Neighborhood: University District
(206) 548-9548
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 9 pm
Sun 1 pm - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
735 reviews for Thai Tom
Review Highlights
"It was literally the best Thai food I have ever had."
(in 91 reviews)
"the panang curry was delish too."
(in 49 reviews)
"The peanut sauce to end all peanut sauces."
(in 65 reviews)
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735 reviews in English
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Review from Rain And Rob H.
Renton, WA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
I will give this place 5 stars even though there were a few things that I didn't quite like. My wife got the chef special garlic chicken. It had no vegetables, just rice, chicken and sauce. It would have been nice with some vegetables. And why didn't I know that it didn't come with vegetables? Because the menu comes painted on a wooden plank. They list all of the menu items but don't give any descriptions. Most of the items are pretty typical so if you eat thai food you would be familiar with them, but some of them are not. It would have been nice to get some descriptions.
But the food was good. My spicy noodles was great and the five star had enough heat. My wife got the garlic chicken three star and we saw the chef pile fresh garlic into the stir fry. All that fresh garlic really made the dish. It was busy so the service wasn't light speed but it was cool watching the chef. He was as efficient as humanly possible and it was a fun show.
Food wise, which is what I like to focus my review on, it was definately five stars. It was some of the best thai food that we have had in a while. -
Review from Paul K.
Seattle, WA
2/8/2012
Yuck!
That was the first thought that came to mind after my first bite of their Thai fried rice.
For $8.75 I didn't expect gourmet but geez how on earth do you get fried rice wrong? Come on man!
Rice was soggy, chicken was dried out like jerky and there were two wimpy pieces of basil that were to say "re-used."
I've been to Thailand and I've had great Thai food in Seattle that is comparable but this place is a travesty towards representing what Thai food actually tastes like.
For goodness sake don't go to this place, it's a waste of time, money but of utmost importance, it's not worth your appetite, you'd be better off getting frozen Thai food at Trader Joes. -
Review from Kevin W.
1/23/2012 3 photos
When it comes to Thai food in the University District, all signs seem to point exclusively to Thai Tom. I don't know why, but people really make a big deal about this place. Best Thai food in Seattle? Maybe if all the more spacious and comfortable ones in the area are somehow inferior. That's not to say this place is anything short of excellent, or that I doubt in its ability to stand up to the competition. The food here is simply outstanding. Whether it's a better Thai restaurant than all the other ones in town is another question, but what is certain is that you really can't go wrong with any money spent here.
Because I knew how popular this place is and how limited the seating would be, I anticipated it getting full shortly after opening. I stood outside and waited until 11:30 AM with a handful of other eager customers. By 11:35, nearly every seat was taken. It was then that I realized I was dealing with serious business. While I was lucky enough to be seated, I saw the waiter turn away a few people and ask them to come back later because there just wasn't enough space to accomodate them. I don't know whether to be impressed by that, but if they're so successful, I wonder why they can't afford to get a bigger place.
The place itself, if the other reviews haven't made it obvious by now, is constantly busy and crowded. It looks old, worn out, and generally unpleasant. But it's a restaurant and not a museum where you marvel at artwork. The air here is pretty much always thick with the smell of delicious fried food. The kitchen isn't in its own separate room way in the back and out of the public eye; the cooks make your food right in front of your eyes. Consequently, it can also get rather hot, especially if you sit by the fires. But all this food is definitely worth the trouble. No matter how long you have to wait, you can be entertained by the aroma of other customers' meals and the display of the food being made.
Since so much of the fun of eating here comes from watching the cooks make everything, I'd suggest getting one of the seats at the counter near the front of the restaurant, kind of in the corner. It's a spectacular display, although not as ostentatious as teppanyaki. The cooks' hands move with astounding speed. They'll grab from the ingredients around them, crack eggs single-handedly, and noisily clatter the woks around as they perform all their cooking in a seemingly effortless manner. It's nice being able to see exactly how all this food is prepared, especially if it's obvious that it's being done by people who clearly have a lot of experience.
The menu here is something of an oddity. Instead of the usual thin and light paper menus, the ones here appear to be entirely painted on wooden planks. My first instinct was actually to take it as a joke, but I realize that it may have been a stylistic choice. I suppose they're really going for that authentic Thai feel here. From the rather brief list of hardly more than thirty items, I ordered the Phad Thai for $7.50. This restaurant is supposedly top-tier, but I wanted to get the most basic dish before venturing onward to their more "specialized" delicacies. I got it with chicken and three stars on the spicy scale from one to five.
Although there was quite a long queue of customers who had already placed their orders before I could get a chance to, it's almost not a concern because it was such a delight watching the guy cooking the meals jump from making one person's dish to another. It's amazing how he never seemed to mess up, too. On numerous occasions, it looked like he was stirring the food too carelessly and would make a mess, but he always seemed to catch it in his wok. The show had an almost mesmerizing quality to it. I don't know why I get such a kick out of watching one person multitask so efficiently. It's an entirely missed opportunity if you get seated at one of the tables to the side, away from where all the action is taking place. For this reason, I would not recommend coming here with too large and cumbersome of a group. Either way, it's quite possible to get seated right next to a complete stranger here.
My much-awaited lunch arrived with the chicken Phad Thai on one side of a long bowl, a clump of white rice occupying the other side, and a wedge of lime adjacent to all this. Sizzling in front of me, it looked and smelled like quite a feast, although I couldn't help but notice that it was... disappointingly small. To be fair, it was a very inexpensive dish, but insufficient as a whole meal for a voracious eater like me. All petty complaints, because the food itself was without a doubt among the best of Thai cuisine I've ever experienced. A sweet taste was dominant with this Phad Thai; I guess they had skimped on the spiciness, but I won't hold it against them. I may have exaggerated the flaws, but they're all insignificant when you consider that this is just about as close to perfection for Thai food in Seattle to feasibly reach. -
Review from Ken L.
The existence of memorable Thai restaurants are far and in-between for me in Seattle. Thai Tom's violently passionate wok chef cranks up mouthwatering perfection a la the drunken noodle and panang curry. I requested a 4 star spicy and gosh darn it that is EXACTLY the spice level I expected, a rare occasion for me. The chicken meat and vegetables incorporate the hot chili seasonings whereby giving satisfying flavors without the burn that numbs the sense of taste. Therefore, product quality is outstanding.
The drawbacks. For the price paid, you get about 25% less bites as the scoop of rice is nearly the same size as the entree item. Also, it is so cramped that on a dozen occasions I had to feel a neighboring stranger's back warmth as unwanted, unexpected contacts were made. -
Review from Martha C.
Seattle, WA
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Oh Thai Toms...
If you are looking for good thai food, this is the place to go on the AVE. There are a lot of different thai options but this one stands out.
The place is small so you usually have to wait for a seat but the best time to go is before the lunch time rush or for an early dinner. Not all of the meals come with rice FYI!
HINT - if possible, do not sit on the booth seats facing the kitchen. If it is busy, the server will squeeze past you every 2 mins to get people's food. It is very annoying. -
Review from Emily L.
Palo Alto, CA
1/11/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Oh Thai Tom, how I curse the day I met you. How I curse the day I tasted your sweet deliciousness! Why couldn't you be in California?! Oh, how I've dreamed of your delicious noodles and curries every day since I left Seattle. Damn you Thai Tom!
In all seriousness, Thai Tom is the best Thai food I have ever had. I have yet to find a suitable substitute here in the golden state. I absolutely love their phad thai. I know that pad thai is usually one of the more boring Thai dishes, but something about the way Thai Tom makes it, oh man, it's amazing. I also love their yellow curry. So much so I literally ordered it to go, and brought some back with me to California. Even a day later it's better than any other yellow curry I've had. If you're a peanut sauce fan, for the love of god get the Swimming Rama. You will *not* regret it.
A word of warning. This place is cash only, so do yourself a favor and bring some with you. Also, this place is tiny. There is probably seating for like 30 people, max, and it's always packed, so be prepared to wait in line outside for 30-40 minutes at least. If you're not in the mood to wait outside for 40 minutes, I'd call ahead and order take out. -
Review from Allison H.
Seattle, WA
12/24/2011
Best Thai food in Seattle. Enough said. It ironically served as my benchmark of good Thai food when I was traveling around Thailand! AND it's relatively cheap - although it has gone up since I stated at UW. Now it's up to $7.50 for pretty much anything on the menu, still not bad. Don't come here if you're expecting fancy service and a nice quiet meal. DO come here if you want good, spicy thai food that you can watch being cooked along with 5 other people's dishes in a chaotic mess of various woks dancing over flames on the stove that'll make you feel like your eyebrows are going to be singed off.
The restaurant is pretty small and dingy but it's got a whole lot of character - expect to wait and be asked for your order while standing outside. They're not shy with their spice scale - I happen to love spicy food but I would be conservative on the number of stars you order if you are spice-wary. -
Review from Eric R.
Seattle, WA
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is the best Thai food I've ever had.
Fun, unique atmosphere with so much to watch. I'm pretty sure no matter what you order you won't be disappointed. The place is very small so if you don't like lots of noise or being close to people I would not recommend this place for you.
CASH ONLY. -
Review from Tina H.
Seattle, WA
1/1/2012
SWIMMING RAMA WITH TOFU.
that's all i'm gonna say. -
Review from Jenn W.
Seattle, WA
12/3/2011
Dinner AND entertainment AND amazing food!
This place dub-step rocks! We waited about 20 minutes or so for a table, which seems to be typical as I've often seen folks loitering outside Thai Tom's door, but it was WELL worth the wait.
The cook is AMAZING to watch. Try to get a barside seat if you can, it makes the meal all the more enjoyable. Not that you need a show to enjoy the food, it is tasty tasty tasty, and VERY easy on the wallet.
Notice the CAPS? Don't plan on a quiet Thai meal at this locale, the music is LOUD and the space is small, but that only adds to the appeal of the place. Thai Tom is a unique experience of tasty thai treats, in large portions, dub-step music, and an impressive display of food prep. -
Review from Joel N.
Ithaca, NY
1/16/2012
Aggressive in your face Thai food. Salty, sugary, spicy, smokey, fatty.
Tom Kha with chicken, Swimming Rama with Fried Tofu, and Cashew Chicken are the winners. For the tofu adverse, you gotta try the fried tofu in the swimming rama, might change your mind on that otherwise bland mushy ingredient.
I've been going here since my college days, and come back every time I'm in town. It's not really authentic Thai food, it's not really trying to be anything other than the most aggressive wok cooking in Seattle. -
Review from Monica N.
12/12/2011
3.5 Stars
I came here because of the big hype and how everyone raves about this place. Honestly its a good experience, but I've had better Thai food elsewhere. Don't get me wrong. It's good here! But maybe I expected too much after all the reviews.
I should have ordered what every one else suggested to order on yelp, but rather I ordered my usual Phad Se "YOU", I ordered a 3 Star, and it was pretty spicy for that many stars. Portions were nothing exciting, and I thought it was a bit too sweet for my liking. My best friend ordered the Chef's Special "FRY" rice and it was good, again a bit spicy for a 3 Stars as well. So be careful as to how many stars you ask for here.
The area is small. When I say small... I mean SMALL. I read reviews before coming here and yes they warned me it was small. BUT its smaller than you think. I can almost say its a little bigger than a bus. the aisles are really compact and the bathroom is right next to the kitchen... real interesting place alright. It gets crazy busy dinner time, so prepare to sit on each other's laps!
The food was mediocre good, and nothing too exciting to me. Probably just a one time thing just to follow that hype. -
Review from Siruo Z.
Athens, GA
12/23/2011
Tried the Pad Thai and a soup.
And yes it was AMAZING to watch the cook.
But this restaurant is just soooo popular and we got frozen waiting outside in the cold winter... -
Review from Mammlet M.
Sammamish, WA
12/17/2011
The Pad Thai gets a 4-star, as does the Swimming Rama.
No Regular Sticky Rice, which makes eating curry sad for me.
THEY NEED NEW BOWLS. Every dish in the place is chipped. BUY NEW BOWLS! It is gross to eat off broken dishes.
The tiny diner counter is fun to sit at... and the service is nice enough. But seriously, NEW DISHES PEOPLE. -
Review from Ellie W.
Bellingham, WA
1/23/2012
Wow! All of the reviews on here are spot on. The pad thai was amazing! Do not take the stars lightly the spice is intense but not overpowering.
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Review from Jonathan H.
Seattle, WA
1/8/2012
If you don't give tip, they will run out of the restaurant and ask for it! Food is decent!
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Review from Felisa D.
11/20/2011
I made the mistake of coming here in the middle of the summer. While it was hot outside, it was oppressively hot and crammed in here. It's a hole in the wall for sure. My friend and I soldiered on anyway because everyone LOVES this place. A few friends who have been to Thailand or who are Thai have told me that this is about as authentic as you can get.
I was so excited and was waiting to find myself forgiving them for all their reported health code violations but it (by "it" I mean Pad Thai. Because that's all I ever get from Thai restaurants) was just... okay. Like, if this is as authentic as it can get, Thai 65 isn't far from being authentic. I learned from a friend later on, however, that the food here is very inconsistent. That some cooks are better than others. I probably came at a bad time.
So I came back... but this time, I wasn't very hungry so I ordered a salad. I'm still wondering what the heck that was and who thought it justified to put it on the menu. It was just lettuce and globs of peanut sauce. And it was like $7 or something. It was almost insulting!
I'll probably come back again because I really want this place to redeem itself but so far, it's a 2.5 for me. But I'm deducting .5 points for that joke of a salad. -
Review from Lauren B.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Best Thai food I've ever had, and a fun, crowded, tiny restaurant. Be ready to wait, but it's worth it! I particularly love the basil fried rice, which I can get two meals out of for less than $8. It's always a treat to watch the fry chef cooking - I'm talking about the one with the "Thai Son" tattoo. He reminds me of the Boiler Man from Spirited Away, grabbing various herbs and powders from here and there and making amazing concoctions... magic! Cash only though!!
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Review from Kim R.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 12/4/2011
went back to THAI TOM as I was in the area and craving some Thai Noodles. Employees seemed nicer this time, and the noodles and rice hit the spot.
Though the cook misunderstood that I wanted 1 star and gave me 0 stars which was remedied by adding some dried red peppers once I started eating. I still find the music loud and annoying--no wonder the cook couldn't hear me! ;)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/27/2011
The food is tasty, but after I got take out one day, I realized how greasy the food is. I also… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie G.
Miami, FL
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
DO NOT come here if you are expecting pages of pretty options
DO NOT come here if you're claustrophobic
DO NOT come here if you want extensive decor
The restaurant is tiny, the bowls are chipped and it gets PACKED to the point that you will be practically on your neighbor's lap. There is maybe 5 tables and an L shaped bar and that is it! All disclaimers aside if you can tolerate the little annoyances and chalk it up to charm, the food is fantastic.
From a double sided plank you choose your dish, and then can add your spicy preference (from no stars to I can't taste for a week spicy 5 stars). Being the heat intolerant that I am, I'd recommend sticking with 0-1 star if spicy isn't your thing. My friend I I shared a curry cashew rice and the pad thai. The chef working laboriously to feed the lunch crowd split his efforts between two woks and managed to churn out our meals with impressive speed and skill.
It looks and tastes like you'd expect authentic street food to be. Not a beautiful presentation but also not drowning in sauce, the dishes were skillfully made and full of flavor! The cashew nuts added a nice crunch to the rice, which also boasted several other veggies for additional color. Also, it's not my thing but I've been told the Thai iced tea is phenomenal!
We didn't feel rushed, but I did feel guilty enjoying a long leisurely meal while a huge crowd developed outside, peering hungrily in every few seconds to see when tables might potentially open up. It is cash only so make sure to have some on hand, although the entrees themselves are pretty inexpensive (I think it was like $7-$8 per person). Also they do have bathrooms, but they are hard to navigate to in this teensy space, and clearly a storage shed as well (the toilet is next to the water heater and there was a used carton of eggs in the trash). Probably easier to go before you come in!
The epitome of the hole-in-the-wall, Thai Tom is a great way to get your Thai fix!Listed in: Seattle Sweet Spots
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Review from Kevin C.
San Francisco, CA
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
The yelp reviews is what brought me here in my visit to Seattle. This would probably be categorized as a more upscale hole-in-the-wall, but still a hole-in-the-wall. If you've been looking for a hole-in-the-wall that has good food, look no further. The food is cheap and the portions are decent. Thai food is usually pretty flavorful but this place adds a little something more than flavor that made it delicious. I got the Panang Curry and it was really really good. Depending on where you sit, you get to stare in amazement at the chef while your are eating the food he just prepared for you. Be prepared to wait because the place is tiny but the wait is well worth it!
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Review from Bry B.
San Francisco, CA
11/13/2011
PROS
Best Thai I've had yet
Cool decor
CONS
Do not accept cash
Parking can be really difficult to find
Consistently bad service from the servers -
Review from Eli W.
10/25/2011
After reading a sample of the 700 reviews prior to mine, I realize the first thing I have to say is, yes, Thai Tom is not clean or expansive in size.
If chain-restaurant standards of cleanliness and big-boxed sized venues are an important criteria for where you prefer to dine, then do not go to Thai Toms (and the ave for the most part). However, know that you, generally, are depriving yourself of some really good food; and Thai Toms has good food.
I hope, however, people can see past the whining about cleanliness, service (and tipping, more later), and space.
The food is delicious. Thai Tom's dishes are very well seasoned and are really flavorful. The noodles are never saucy and always cooked to a good consistency/texture. Plus the prices here are cheap! roughly $8 per dish and one dish is a hearty meal for one.
I recently discovered, through a friend, the Chef Special. There are two Chef specials, last time I visited. The one with peanut sauce and the one with garlic. Get the one with garlic. It is crazy delicious. (if you do not like cilantro, make sure to tell them so. The dish has quite a bit of it)
Other dishes that I've had and liked a lot:
-poor man noodle (a dish with a black bean based sauce and fried tofu)
-Phad Thai (safe and delicious)
-Swimming Rama (peanut based sauce, so good, over your choice of meat/tofu, over a bed of spinach)
-Curry Fried Rice (curry fried rice, : P)
Thai Tom is in contention (with In the Bowl Vegetarian Noodle Bistro) for my favorite all time local Thai place.
Quick comment on service. I have never experienced particularly terrible service from the people here. Sometimes they are rushed, yes. It's a busy restaurant. I also have never been forced to tip more than I felt fair. I, however, have experienced kind service here before.
Come to think of it, the dishes here are pretty cheap ~$8 per dish. 10% for tax $0.80, 15% of $8.80, $1.32 for tip. Add it all together $10.12 per head, still a damn bargain in my opinion.
CASH ONLY, CASH ONLY CASH ONLY (i say this, but I always have to have people spot me) -
Review from Mark C.
Seattle, WA
10/21/2011
Yeah its a dive, and yes its small and always crowded. But the food is simply amazing and totally worth the wait. We come here at least twice a month. Its so cheap and the food is so good. We've tried everything on the menu, and loved almost everything. My favorites are the Eggplant Ginger, Panang Curry, Pad See Euw, and Swimming Rama.
Sit at the bar if you've never been here before. It's quite a show. Oh, and bring some cash. -
Review from shirley g.
Irvine, CA
2/1/2012
wow this place is REALLY amazing. even though it was FREEZING cold outside and we waited for over an hour, it was sooo worth it. we ordered about 6 dishes and they were all stellar. tiny hole in the wall, and such amazing food. love!
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Review from Ryan C.
Thousand Oaks, CA
11/7/2011
This place is pretty good and I would say its the best thai food on the ave. and it seems like there are a bunch of thai places (and vietnamese) restaurants on this street.
I have been here about four times and even though it is small and not as clean as it could be but I kinda admire the atmosphere nonetheless it just simply works for this kind of restaurant. I also like those two penguin statues that hold up a sign that says welcome, haha its cool and I kinda want to know where to buy it cause I would definitely put that in my house.
I have tried this place four times and they have unbelievably good thai food and generous portions. Honestly its been a while so i forgot what some of the dishes tasted like, but it was very good. I had a cashew chicken and its spiciness was perfect and it gave me a lot of rice which I liked. The thai tea is good but they could give you more for what you pay. I have had the curry and again I can't describe all the textures and tastes but its really good, and thats all that matters. They also have good soup and I can vouche for that. I remember when I came down here for my uw orientation (go huskies!) my dad decided to come here two nights in a row. So come here if you want good food and finally want to live.
P.S. try getting a seat on the counter cause its cool and you can see how the guys cook right in front of you, cooking with multiple pans at once. hehe -
Review from Janet D.
10/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
You know you're onto a good thing when two people from Idaho, the tech at the Mac Store, and Yelp all tell you to eat lunch at the same place...Thai Tom.
A tiny hole in the wall near the university serving up excellent Thai food to a diverse clientele. It's hot, a bit dingy (I suggest holding off on using the bathroom facilities), and packed. But, it's the real deal. I could easily convince myself that I'm really in Thailand...
This was the perfect place to introduce my teenage daughter (who is slowly morphing from a picky pants eater to one with a decent palate) to pahd thai. Since we are both small eaters without a fridge for leftovers, I had to forgo trying one of their more interesting menu choices. But, I was not disappointed...and neither was said daughter.
Be sure and stop off at the ATM before you arrive...it's CASH ONLY! -
Review from Ava A.
Seattle, WA
1/21/2012
Everyone is always going on and on about how Thai Tom is the greatest place ever, blah blah, so I finally braved the wait and went. And it was...good. That's all. Not spectacular. They nicely accommodated me when I asked for mixed veggies in my curry (not on the menu). The prices were a touch high for fairly small portions. But mostly, the place is so cramped and unpleasant, that it simply isn't worth it. I might go there again for takeout, but honestly, I prefer other Thai places on the ave or really, anywhere (for my money, best Thai in Seattle is Thai Siam in Ballard).
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Review from Vas S.
New York, NY
10/30/2011
If you sit at the counter, it's like your eating inside a restaurant kitchen. I love it. If that freaks you out, grab one of the cramped tables. I personally wouldn't go there if I had to sit at a table.
The whole restaurant is cramped, a true hole-in-the-wall, but that is it's charm. Combined with well executed if simple Thai preparations, this is a great place to grab a bite.
The counter serves as the final prep table. You're closer to the chef than the waiters, who reach between dinners at the counter to grab just completed dishes.
The chef works at lightning speed, stir frying up to 6 things in parallel with a sense of timing that is uncanny.
Thai Thom exudes bare bones efficiency. But more like an artist rather than an engineer. The wait staff is serious and dispenses with the tip-boosting smiles. No affectation or blah here. You have walked into a place that people go to for good food, not to banter with the staff.
Thai Tom deserves 5 stars on all counts: food, price and atmosphere. It is one of my favs in the U-District. -
Review from Rich X.
Seattle, WA
11/7/2011
Pros: Good Pad Thai(Depending on the chef you get) . Other food is alright but nothing special. Cheap
Cons: Service sucks, atmosphere is gross, and its always loud and crammed.
Conclusion: Really good Pad Thai but its a simple recipe which I will respect the business and not reveal on yelp. Always get to go. -
Review from Amanda C.
8/19/2011
EAT AT YOUR OWN RISK! Health Department has shut this place down and it's only a matter of time before they do it again.....
oh Thai Tom, it was good while it lasted.
I discovered Thai Tom several years ago and I immediately became a huge fan, wooed by the blaring Thai rap music, cool wooden menus and dishes, and the constant lively buzz of the restaurant. The love affair recently ended once I started noticing patterns of becoming sick after eating there. Not only that, I've tried other Thai restaurants around Seattle (not getting sick) and realized what truly amazing Thai food should taste like. Thai Tom is gross and expensive for what you get.
I found out, after it was too late, that this place has been shut down MANY times from the health department due to lack of sanitation and pest problems. The closures were even written up in UW's Daily newspaper. I honestly can't believe it's still open. -
Review from Grace C.
Seattle, WA
11/5/2011
I've eaten here at least once a month since I moved to Seattle three years ago. The waitstaff can be unbelievably rude - once they yelled at me for having the effrontery to walk into the restaurant (I just wanted to pick up my takeout! But I got to cry instead), and once they chased my friend down the street and yelled at her for not tipping "enough." Unbelievable.
Despite this ridiculousness, I go back because 1. it's the best Thai food I've ever had (this includes two trips to Thailand), and 2. because the cook (really skinny guy who looks like he's on speed) is a total character and so much fun to watch.
Oh PS: Don't use the bathroom if you eat in. Last time I was in there (early 2011?) it was crammed full of plastic buckets and rubber hoses, and it didn't look like it had been cleaned in ages. Honestly I just order takeout now. -
Review from Vivi Y.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 10/25/2011 4 photos
Food is still amazingly delicious. Especially the Pad Thai. (I've never officially eaten any other entree by myself though so I can't speak:/)
Place is still small, crowded and busy but I STILL don't get why people COMPLAIN about this? I'm pretty sure that you saw the interior before you actually headed in.
Generally speaking, I've never received any bad service. The chefs were super cool and talked to me a bit when they're less busy. The waitress were usually polite and nice although they do get rush and a bit mean in rush hours. But that's business, right? You want to get as much people in and out in the shortest amount of time.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/9/2011
BEST thai food ever! At least in WA!
Okay I don't think I'll write a good review for this restaurant… Read more »
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Review from Craig V.
Sammamish, WA
12/19/2011
Hole in the wall, small and cramped - best Pad See Ew I've had, period! Not five stars, well, because it's not a 5 star place :O) ...very good food tho! I expect to be a regular whenever I get to the Seattle side of the lake. May be tough to eat Eastside Thai from here on out.
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Review from Jana R.
Federal Way, WA
9/16/2011
I love this food! The best time food around! My husband has visited Thailand multiple times and he says this is the closest you can get to authentic Thai.
Just be aware that they don't mess around when it comes to spice so if you don't like spicy food make sure to get yours 1 star or no spicy. Remember you can always ask for a spice tray to make it spicier if needed! -
Review from Anton Z.
9/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hw do you manage to combat the terrible reputation restaurants on the Ave have for health violations? Have an open kitchen where you can see EVERYTHING!
We'd talked about going to Thai Tom for a while, but every time we walked by it was either super busy, or we'd just eaten elsewhere. We went for lunch, and were able to sneak in right before a line of 20 people formed outside.
The inside is TINY (probably only 20 seats in the whole place). The inside is dark and intimate, and the open kitchen allows for you to see the food being prepared - a really cool experience. The service is really fast, and super friendly.
I had the spicy broccoli, which was well executed and tasty. I went with the level three. but I think I'd probably go higher next time. My partner enjoyed the Thai fried rice, which was not too sticky and just the right spice at a four. Their Thai iced tea was also fantastic, with enough sweetness without being cloying.
All we could say as we left was how excited we were that we'd finally tried this! -
Review from Elizabeth C.
Seattle, WA
10/15/2011
Thai Tom serves the best Thai food on the Ave, for sure. It's a little bit of a walk from the dorm I live in, but it's worth it. I got the Pad See Ew and my friends got the Pad Thai, both of which were really delicious. The only complaint I have about this place is that the restaurant is really small, so if you get there at a bad time you could be waiting for a while. You don't go there for the service or the look of the place; you go for the food.
Also, the spiciness range is a little milder here - I got three stars for my dish and I barely felt it at all, whereas three stars at other places usually has me reaching for water. So if you go to Thai Tom I'd go up one star on the spiciness.
Important note: They only take cash! Bring bills!
Update: went there a second time and ordered four stars. It took it up a notch but it was still totally manageable, and not as spicy as four stars usually is. -
Review from Sushi L.
Seattle, WA
8/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Overrated. Super busy, mediocre portions.
Worst part - small venue and way too noisy. -
Review from Adam B.
Seattle, WA
10/11/2011
Thai Tom is as good as it gets. Everything on the menu is amazing, delicious and flavorful. The staff operates on warp speed and there is almost always a wait.
Do: sit at the bar
Do: have the thai iced tea
Do: bring cash since they don't take cards
Dont: try to be a hero with the stars (3 stars is HOT)
Dont: ask the waiter what phad thai is....the line is out the door -
Review from JC D.
7/22/2011
My out of town guest thought they would show ME a good place in my own town.
This is place is pretty badass. Dude behind the grill is from anotha' motha'. He holds down the fort by himself. Order after order he's the cookin' away what a 3 person kitchen would do... impressive.
We all enjoyed our meals. Mine felt a bit greasy, but it is what it is. The flavor was not off, just the tofu was deep fried and I like mine grilled and sauteed.
Crazy thing of all is that half way through dinner rush the kitchen stopped. I was sitting at the counter by the grill and they were serving up a chicken soup that was not in the menu. I look back and the whole staff was sitting at a corner table enjoying dinner. Crazy funny to stop the shift. after a good 20 minutes they were back without a beat.
I'm down; I'll be back.
