55 Thai Kitchen

Full disclosure, I gave five stars for atmosphere because the staff was super friendly and informative. This tiny gem is actually inside a liquor store in the back corner. We learned that there are actually two different outdoor seating options also, but we ate inside. There were seven of us and we had six different entrees. My wife and I each had spicy basil chicken, hers with brown rice and mine with steamed vegetables. It was really good, and definitely spicy! We had a couple of people who can’t eat spicy food and their food was just right for them! One had pad Thai and the other Gai Tod. The prices were very reasonable and this was just an overall great experience! We only ended up there because Juan Jasper had such a long line and Google Maps showed this place was within walking distance :)

Neat little place in the back of the liquor store! Drunken noodles were great, but Pad Thai lacked flavor. It didn't taste like Thai food. Given the prices, the food is still worth it. Plus the liquor store has a great selection of bears including Salty Crew and Cali Creaming.

Food is delicious 😋, I lived here all my life and just discovered my new favorite place. I should be gate keeping this spot, but I can't be selfish an decided to post about it. Food is delicious, service is amazing and I always pick up a key lime sorbet with chamomile from the liquor store.

Inside a convenience store! I almost didn’t find it. There is only whatever parking you can find on the street which is very limited. However, the service was great, fast, and the flavor was good! My first complaint is that they were out of wide noodles and I had no way of knowing that until I was physically in the store (ordered online) which they substituted with thin rice noodles (like pad Thai) which wasn’t the absolute end of the world but I probably would have gone elsewhere had I known. My second complaint is that they didn’t have mango sticky rice, and I was craving that 🥲 (this isn’t their fault though bc it’s not on the online menu, I was just hoping)

I ordered delivery. The Pad Thai was very disappointing... bland, not spicy as ordered, no peanuts. There was no silverware provided. The spring rolls were also mushy and small amount of dipping sauce. Tom Yum soup was acceptable. Disappointed.

Portion size was great. Service was friendly. But I gotta agree with some of the other reviews on here that it's simply not real Thai food. Just not that enticing of flavors unfortunately.

As others have mentioned this is a funky hole in the wall place that serves Thai food. I ordered Tom Yum with chicken and Pad Thai with chicken. Soup came out quickly, was very good and came with lots of chicken chunks! Pad Thai was also very good; served deconstructed. I mixed it all together and enjoyed every bite! Only has 1 big booth, 2 four tops and a single 2 top, so seating could be an NJ issue during peak times. They do "to go" orders too.

Located in the back of a liquor store this place is a real hidden gem. I eat here 2-3 times a month minimum. I recommend the Green and Yellow Curry, get an extra side of rice.

Their drunken noodles are to die for and make sure to order a Thai tea with it to, omg that tea is delicious. Service is always fast and the workers are kind always nice to me and my mom. I like the vibe inside, it's convenient to be inside a liquor store.

I finally got to try this place out with my husband. I am amused that I have taken the 2 and have also run by the Liquor Store numerous times, where this place is located. I never noticed it. My husband and I finally tried it out. There are hundreds of reviews on here: 1. It's a small place with two tables inside 2. There is a bench-like table with multiple stools for eating outside 3. It's mostly a to-go place as there were a lot of Uber Eats, Grub Hub, and Door Dash people going in and out. Great place to get Thai food if you are on a fixed income or have a family and want good food at a reasonable price. 55 makes up for the lack of ambience with decent, affordable Thai food. I had the fried rice, and my husband got a yellow curry dish; we also got some fried veggie spring rolls. Next time I will probably order to go since I live about 2 miles from here and it's easy to jump in my car.

Food was ok. The pad see ew is different. This place uses the thinner noodles usually it's the wide rice noodles at other Thai restaurants. It was overly salty. I ordered the Tom kha soup. It was ok. Nothing special. The soup lid container was difficult to remove. My soup splashed everywhere. They need to use better containers. Maybe I didn't order the right items. It was an ok experience. Had much better Thai elsewhere

My go to spot to grab some Tom yum soup when feeling sick. This place reminds me so much of the east coast bodega. Located in the back of a convenient store, is probably one of the best thia places in SD. I have ordered from here multiple times and the food never disappoints. Service is always fast. 10/10 recommend checking this place out. Parking is a bit challenging but it's worth a visit.

It's at the back of a liquor store, but it had such great reviews. I had to try it. I got the drunken noodles and it was good, but it didn't feel like anything super special to write home about. I got it mild so it wasn't too spicy, just right. My friend got the green curry and enjoyed the flavors. There's a good amount of stuff inside which I really appreciated, since a lot of places have a lot of sauce, but not that much veggies or protein. Definitely a solid choice if you're going for Thai food to go. They do have a few spots inside, but it's definitely not a place you go for the ambience, just the food it's primarily for takeout only!

Not living in Golden Hills. There is a certain pizza place that my wife and I love coming to. So we find ourselves in this neighborhood quite frequently. One of the last times. We spotted a close by neighborhood market that had a sign for Thai food. That was when we decided that we would give it a try next time we were in the area. So the next time we were in Golden Hills. My wife went for pizza again while I made it a point to get Thai food. Parking can be a challenge in Golden Hills. Mainly street parking in a tight residential area. But that day. Parking was easy. Found one quickly across the street. Entering the neighborhood market. You could get your beer and snacks but tucked in the back is where 55 Thai Kitchen is. Not sure if the market and restaurant is owned by the same owners or if the restaurant is leased out. It's a question I will have answered next time I come. 55 Thai Kitchen is a full sized kitchen serving some delicious Thai. The chicken pad Thai and the yellow curry beef was some the best Thai I have ever eaten. Service is fast and friendly. There is a couple of tables set up but it's a tiny eating area. I see myself mainly getting take out if I do come. Then grabbing a six pack of beer from the market on the way out. Support local businesses especially the good ones. 55 Thai Kitchen is awesome.

Stayed in a vacation rental nearby and wanted some quick late night dinner after toddler when to bed, we really enjoyed it!

So I stopped by to check out the Thai 55 kitchen it's in the back of a small 7-Eleven type store there's only two tables in there so I would imagine they do a lot of to go but I went in and had the pad thai it was very very good the sauce was good it was put together nicely it was only chicken crossed around $15 with tax for the plate little pricey but very good I was in the mood for Pad Thai so it was worth it will I go back sure I have to try some other things but the pad thai was very good.

Meh... we will not get Thai food next time while in San Diego. The Shrimp Larb was inedible as it was salted so aggressively I could not eat it. The curry was greasy. The service was prompt and friendly. The food needs some work.

Pretty solid and affordable Thai food! The place is located in the back of a liquor store which is interesting but a hidden gem. Could be more flavorful but a solid option for takeout!

Hidden gem in Golden Hill. Food is amazing, and the service is always on point. Isaac and Jessica are wonderful at their jobs and always provide a welcoming environment. Highly recommend.

I eat here at least 1-4 times a month. My favorite items are the Yellow Curry and Green Curry with white rice, I recommend adding an extra side of white rice if you have a big appetite like. The chicken Gai Tod(fried chicken bites) are really good too. I also enjoy the spring rolls. Everything is pretty fairly priced as well. This is my Favorite restaurant in Golden Hills.

This place is located deep inside a liquor store. As I recall, you can dine in but it's more so to takeout. I ordered ahead through the app and had no delay in service. What I ordered was the Tofu, Eggroll, Pad Thai, and Spicy Basil Chicken with Rice. First time trying tofu and it was pretty good. It's just so tasteless so I had to add seasoning/sauce to it. I should've got more than one Eggroll it was pretty good. Pad Thai was tasty and not so oily which I enjoyed. Lastly, the spicy basil chicken with rice was crazy hot. Maybe my tastebuds weren't expecting the heat but if you're anything like me try getting it without the spiciness.

I like the flavor! Impressed with the food quality and prep time, and the serving size is pretty large.

Exceptional! Quick, friendly, knowledgeable service! With intention to make sure you get what you want,... the way you want it!! Veggies and meat were Fresh, not a week old,...or frozen or canned! Veggies were cooked "Al dente", just before serving! The whole dish is prepared when you order it! Great tastes, with good quality ingredients,... at a reasonable price.... Can be a bit challenging to find this restaurant, since it is inside a corner grocery store, in a residential neighborhood...... Entire staff is kind, friendly and makes you feel at home....

Food was great. This place is inside a vape and liquor store and that threw us - not a sit down restaurant and best for togo orders. The yellow curry was surprisingly delicious. Also had the green curry, spring rolls and fried rice which were also good.

Great thai spot wiht good pries in the area. It's at the back of the liquor store in Golden Hill neighborhood. Got the Pad Thai, Tom Kha, and Massaman Curry. The massaman curry had really good flavor and chicken was tender, however the potato was a little undercooked imo. Other than that great dish! Pad thai, like any other thai places is solid. Tom kha was good!

I've lived down the street from here for the past 3 years and have always wanted to go. I finally went yesterday and man was it such a great experience. First, the younger guy behind the register was so nice and patient; he helped gauge how much food we should order and he was spot on. If you're reading this, guy, thank you for the great customer service. And if the manager is reading this, give my guy a raise or an extra day off. Now let's talk about food. First thing we ordered was the pad Thai. It comes in a box that looks a little small but looks were deceiving. It was a lot! A couple servings for the gf and me. Really really tasty. The second thing we ordered was the fried chicken. Never had it before but it's most likely gonna be in my usual orders. Had a nice spice seasoning and the quantity was also a lot. Lastly, we ordered edamame. Can't go wrong with edamame, came in a good size cup and we had enough for leftovers. For all three items, it was nicely priced. Safe to say, this will be my go to for Thai. Also love the fact that it's inside the liquor store.

Yummy with no frills other than what is on the plate. Just how I like it. Great taste and big portions. I hade drunken noodles and my fiend had a curry. we both purchased a beverage in the liquor store and settled in to share our food. Both of us had a couple bites of each others but needed up scarfing the remainders since it was soooooo good. I cannot wait to be back.

Customer service is non existent A shame because food is great Came in tonight 845p; they close 930p Staff was washing dishes and trying to rush close rather than acknowledge me at regular. I called for him too but it seemed like he purposely was ignoring us so he could end the night faster. Very unprofessional and frustrating coming into this joint after a long flight.

This is my favorite Thai restaurant and yet it is in the back of a liquor store. It's somehow the best though. I've moved from the area and now have to look for somewhere as good as this place but it was the perfect place for takeout. I'd call ahead and especially love their pad see ew, drunken noodles, and tom kha soup! That's all i'd normally get but i'm willing to bet all their other food is amazing too.

Came here last night and thoroughly enjoyed everything! Prices are reasonable, not crazy upcharged. Everything we ordered was solid, definitely a staple Thai spot in the area. The yellow curry had to be my favorite. I was craving a super rich curry and this hit the spot. Service was quick, easy, and respectful! Ordering online is the way to go. Definitely will be coming back (:

We did not expect this place to be inside of a liquor store, but we were pleasantly surprised by the food that we got! I have to say, the flavors get better the next day for the curry and the soup. We ordered everything with tofu other than the soup, so we did not have the same "lack of protein" problem that others had. We placed the order ahead and it was ready right when they said it would be. I recommend this place if you want something quick and easy for Thai.

The food is great and the service is fast. We usually do takeout, so not sure about the ambience, but you should check it out.

Hmmm, ok overall food is "ok", especially when you're super hungry lol. Pad thai super tasty xcept chewy and dry chicken.. ....crispy spring roles made fresh from the freezer from God knows where, but not sure how many real Thai restaurants make these from scratch. BTW did not see any Thai chefs lol. Thai fried rice acceptable xcept they use the same dried out chicken lol. Huge portions. Take away...kitchen staff just needs to allow more time to cook chicken properly.

Officially over this place, they do not honor their hours, do not answer their phone so you can call and verify and are utterly obnoxious when you show up 329 minutes before their advertised open hours. Freaking obnoxiously hostile and complete waste of time!

Good food and fast service! The soup was packed with flavor and the yellow curry was really rich and savory. It's an interesting spot that's in the back of a liquor store so probably somewhere I'd only order to go - but that's okay! There's a time and place for that :) I will be back to try more stuff.

The best! I love the food and the super casual vibe, I only wish the food didn't come in takeout containers. Sean is *best!* on my second visit he knew my favorite order. Now I can't get enough. So yummy! Great vibe, awesome food, impeccable service. =)

Awesome Thai kitchen if you're visiting the San Diego Zoo! This may appear as a regular Asian grocery store, but in the back is the 55 Thai Kitchen restaurant. It's just a walk-up counter for your orders, a pick-up area, and no inside seating. But the smells are amazing, and you take your food outside to eat at simple tables. Open the food boxes and the magic happens. This is higj-quality Thai cuisine! My pad see euw with tofu wowed me and my 14 year-old cousin, who never had it before. She loved her pad Thai, and her mom had an aromatic Massaman chicken curry that popped with color. It surprisingly was stuffed with big chunks of potatoes, too! (shown in pic) We also greatly enjoyed the Thai iced coffees, which were strong and smooth. I recommend this as a fun market/restaurant experience if you're in the area, or specifically to wind down after a long walk in Balboa Park or the Zoo. Good spot!

I love 55 Thai! This one was located inside a convenience store which was kind of cool actually! I always get the yellow curry with chicken and a Thai tea or Thai iced coffee. Their yellow curry is absolutely so delicious and a little spicy! I've gotten it a handful of times and the quality is great every time. They make the food relatively fast too, but I usually order online and it's ready when I get there! Some seating outside which is nice too!

Surprise it's in the back of a liquor store- two tables. Food was great! Tom Ka soup was some of the best I've ever had.

I ordered via UberEats delivery, so I can only speak to the food. I'll start with the very good--the Tom Yum Soup. It's EXCELLENT. You can certainly taste and smell the lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves. The flavor/ingredient components of what make an amazing Tom yum soup are all there. The chicken was also cooked very well in the soup, meaning it was actually somewhat tender to the chew, and was not at all tough. The Pad Thai though... what happened? I detected zero tamarind flavor throughout the entire dish. It just tasted like wok-fried noodles with no sauce. Sure, the wok hei was there, but that was literally the only "flavor" to this dish. This made me extra sad because the bean sprouts were nice and crunchy, and they did not omit the lime on the side. But no sauce! Also, I had to choose two different "toppings" to the dish, which was odd. I would have liked to just choose chicken, but I selected chicken and veggie because it didn't let me proceed without a second choice. The veggies were good quality, but didn't belong to the dish (broccoli, carrots, mushrooms). Skip the pad thai. The spring rolls themselves were good, nice texture and filling. However, my pet peeve is when the sweet chili sauce given is so watered down that it's basically transparent with no color. This was unfortunately the case, which is seriously SUCH an easy fix for the restaurant with a bottle of Mae Ploy. For real, spring rolls + mediocre transparent sauce are a 2.5/5, but spring rolls + Mae ploy flavorful sauce are 5/5!

Excellent customer service. The young guy at the front gave us his recommendations. Delicious pad Thai , I'd say 9 out of 10, delicious fried rice, 9 out of 10 and really good drunken noddles 8 out of 10. Liked how the restaurant is in the back of a liquor store. Prices were affordable, the place looked clean, and the food seemed healthy in comparison to other Thai places. Can't wait to come here again!

My first time to this hidden gem did not disappoint! Super nice, friendly staff. I used the online ordering, and was only mildly disappointed that drunken noodles were not available. My order was hot and delish. More to follow, I am sure!

Great portion sizes! Had leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Decided to try the pad Thai, fried rice, and Tom yum soup. Tom yum soup really hit the spot- would highly recommend. Very easy to order online and pickup. Try to pickup on time as the pad Thai noodles will set and get hard.

Craving some Thai food and this place is close to home. Got some pad thai to go. Flavor profile was good. Not much chicken and I didn't see any vegetables. I'd go back but I think I would order something different. The restaurant is in the back of a convenient store and has a little dine in area.

Coming back day after day because their food is so good! We loved their pad Thai. It's flavorful and light on dressing so it's not overwhelming. We loved the hearty curry as well!

Food was slightly bland and I found it odd that it was delivery but didn't include napkins/forks.

Service/Setting: This setting is unique because it resides inside a liquor store. While the seating is limited, it is a nice place to be. I recommend getting takeout from this location, but in either case you can expect friendly service with a short wait for your food on average days. Food: I've ordered lots of items from here and all of it is delicious. More of a matter of preference. On this visit, I tried a newer item: their friend chicken appetizer. The chicken is fresh, crispy, and has a unique flavor. The dressing it comes with works well to cut through some of the heaviness of fried chicken. Definitely worth sharing, the portion is generous. Overall: This is a great neighborhood spot that offers a unique take on Thai. Good value, fresh food, and great staff.

Whole in a wall place in the back of a convenience store. It's extremely clean and the service was awesome. Whole in the wall places are the best IMO. We ordered drunken noodles, and pad see ew. Both were flavorful and authentic. Portions are generous and I love how the add a lot of veggies and meat to the noodles. Noodles were $9.50 to $10.50 depending on the type of protein you choose, which is a total steal considering all the meat and veggies they add to the noodles! You gotta check this place out!!!

I had this Tom Yum soup for take out today. This soup was supposed to have shrimp in it... except it didn't. It was literally all soup no protein. Only thing nice about this place was probably their pricing but that's about it. My husband said his food was just ok, nothing special but edible.

Ordered take out on a whim because I had some Uber Eats credits. Prices are excellent, but portions are perhaps a tad smaller than other places. I like that they used mostly non plastic packing material, and that the Thai teas came with a drink tray to prevent spilling on the ride over. Utensils only to request. Everything was delicious. Tom yum got the signature tang, and an ok amount of mushrooms in it. The pad Thai actually came with 2 toppings, so I ordered veggie and chicken, and the amount in relation to noodles was a pleasant surprise. Tasted excellent too, and spicier than most other places just like I wanted. Drunken noodles also perfectly cooked, but not really spicy even though I ordered hot. The massa man chicken curry was to die for. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The Thai tea with boba could not get any better. Not too sweet for the tea, and perfectly iced to keep chilled. The boba had the perfect chew even at the end of the meal when most other boba in iced or frozen drinks always get too hard and unpleasant. I think I've found my new go to Thai delivery and might one day visit in person too!

I've only eating here once, and I ordered the ginger stirfry. I've had this dish and other Thai restaurants, and I've certainly ordered it a lot throughout my life. it has been flavorful and zingy at other thai establishments. This dish was neither. I went to Trader Joe's and picked up some Thai curry sauce to add to make it taste like what you're finding a normal restaurant. I don't know if that Ginger dish blandness was just a one time mistake or if that's just their style. I hope they get better.

Ordered tom kha soup and spring rolls for delivery. Driver left food outside my gate and didn't even call or text to let me know. I don't know how long it was sitting there, but food was cold by the time I found it sitting there...

This off shoot is located in the back of the corner mart and honestly, that was my first indication of how good it would be. Had also been told by neighbors that it was the place to go. I wasn't too hungry, but wanted something comforting, warm and to remind me of home. Tom Kha soup with chicken and a spring roll did the trick! I forgot to ask for a spice level, but they gave a little container of chili sauce so I mixed it in to my liking. Delicious. I'll be back for the soup, and to try more on the menu.

Needed quick delivery for a late night meal while staying at an Airbnb. This place had crazy high reviews so decided to place and order... The Pad Thai didn't have as much veggies as I'm used to which I thought was odd but the flavor was . I did order it to be medium spicy but didn't get any kick from it sooo... Not sure what happened there. I do wanna try something freshly made in the restaurant one day. My friends really loved the tom yum that they got (which I don't have a pic of).

Ordered food and it was really good. Had the drunken noodles and chicken. My friend got the Pad Thai and a side of rolls. All was good and fresh even with DD delay.

55 Thai is sooooo good! Very reasonably priced and fast too. Some of my personal favorites are the tom kha (with or without noodles), the drunken noodles and pad see ew, and the yellow curry! I generally get them all with tofu, but you can choose from several other proteins too. Definitely don't think it's the healthiest, but wow is it delicious.

Excellent food! Ordered pad Thai, drunken noodles, yellow curry! Best Thai food I have had in San Diego!