55 Thai Kitchen Golden Hill

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.

Hidden gem. Best deal in San Diego… Tom Yum soup under $6! Definitely helped me get over this cold 🙌 Will come back and try the $13.75 Mussaman Chicken Curry. 😍

Hidden gem!!! Great customer service best tom yum soup!! I usually don't order because tastes like lemongrass water. This soup was rich in flavor! Better than the curry. The manda curry was slightly too rich but still good! Pad thai solid 8/10 hard to get good pad thai! They always make it too sweet. Perfectly balanced but a little on the dry side. Could have a been a bit more creamier with more crunchy peanuts

I've waited 4-5 orders before leaving this review because I so wanted to be wrong. The service is always good, food is ready when I get there, ordering is smooth, prices are good, people are nice... But the food just bland and not good. There just isn't much in the way of aromatics or spices. The meat is particularly unseasoned, like it's just steamed and mixed in at the end. Everything in the dishes tastes and looks steamed with some light sauce mixed in. There's never any signs of high heat stir frying, wok hei, or anything. It's like what thai food would be if you ordered it on temu. Or if it was a la croix flavor. Maybe this is what some people want? I've mostly ordered noodle dishes and always the spiciest option. So take with a grain of salt if you're ordering something else.

We were visiting from out of town, and instructed by our host to check this place out. The food is OUTSTANDING. We proceeded to eat here every night of our stay. Why go anywhere else? We tried the ginger chicken, pad thai, and Tom Yum. Honestly, I’ve been to Thailand thrice, and this food checks the authenticity box. The tom yum broth was so good, I could close my eyes and be transported to Chang Mai.

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.

I don’t know why it’s taken us so long to return. Maybe it’s because we are spoiled by a few other Thai spots closer to us and it’s easy to pick birria in this neighborhood. But we needed somewhere to eat one day that was something different than the last few meals and Thai just sounded good. We were quite happy to order the pad see ew with beef and the massaman curry. The Thai iced tea was perfect! I didn’t realize there was seating inside since we had previously ordered takeout, so we ate in and had zero leftovers to take home. We will definitely be back soon.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. =)

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

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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...

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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 regret to say that my recent takeout experience was disappointing. The quality of the food was simply unacceptable. It's evident that the kitchen took significant shortcuts with their preparation methods. To my surprise, the potatoes in the curry were undercooked and the size of two large kiwis. We ordered the yellow curry (pretty mid in flavor and their white rice was mushy), Thai fried rice with chicken (extremely dry), and drunken noodle (poorly executed, lacked the usual flavor notes you would expect eating real drunken noodles). All of it was ordered to be "spicy" but there was absolutely no heat whatsoever. The First and last time eating at this establishment.

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.

Great Thai food, love the condiments. I appreciate the food is not sweet nor salty nor saucy as in the case with most Thai restaurants. They strike a good balance of sweetness, savory and light.

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.

The quality of the food has changed dramatically. I used to visit this place every weekend now every other three months, and when I do go, it gives me more reasons not to go anymore. The Pad Thai noodles I ordered today were falling apart, like they were overcooked and soggy and sometimes it feels like I'm chewing a piece of glass when I order the drunken noodles.

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).

Why did you guys recently change your drunken noodles to thin glass noodles? It is much worse.

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.

Went for take away. Pretty tasty, nice size portions, fair price! Definitely going back!

Best chicken curry and Thai tea boba!! Thank you!!! I'll definitely be coming back whenever I'm in San Deigo!

Solid experience no frills just good food at a great price, my ex brought me to this place and I continue to go there as the food supersedes my exes memory lmao jk but yea it would be a solid 5 star if the ambiance was slightly improved.

All the guy's working here were so great; we were exhausted and just finished moving to the area tonight and everything was fantastic. The food was amazing, they were super busy but still really efficient. 10/10. I even forgot to order rice until we picked up the food and they just threw it in the bag, no problem. :) That was so nice and it was overall super chill and easy to grab drinks in the store that they have their restaurant in!

Food is always on point here. Don't let the place fool you it's inside a Liqour store. Food is awesome and great price for a budget

I think the food was good overall. I tried the tom yum soup and got the special curry. But I took a point off for the meat that was in the curry. Over cooked. The chicken fell apart while eating, like crumbled apart. I guess it's one way to eat chicken, but I don't know. I would take another approach if I was to cook the same thing. When I cook curry, I cook the meat independently, mix with curry and leave it in the fridge overnight to let the flavor mix well to avoid overcooking. This makes the meat texture awesome every single time.

I love 55 thai!!!! It is for sure the best thai in san diego. Their flavors are strong and bold. Their spice level is actually spicy! They have the legit little thai chilis. The restaurant is very accommodating and can make almost anything gluten free. Veggies are always fresh. This is my go-to thai spot