Chaba Thai Kitchen

We were seated quickly and the food was served fast, which we really appreciated. However, the dishes didn’t quite match our taste. The green curry was a bit too salty, and the Pad Thai was a bit too sweet for our liking. On a positive note, they offered a free dessert at the end, which was a nice gesture. Unfortunately, due to the taste of the main dishes, I can't give more stars.

This place is really good! I’m obsessed with their crispy catfish salad. Every time I’m in San Diego. I have to stop by and get it at least once! It’s best if you order it there, but if you get it to go, they keep the sauce on the side so that it doesn’t get soggy. This dish may sound odd if you’ve never tried it, but it is so tangy flavorful and delicious. You can choose your own spice level, but they take spice seriously I typically go with a level three or four. Everyone working there is super sweet and sometimes they’ll give you a free dessert with cantaloupe and creamy Sago. That dessert is so good.

This restaurant has great reviews on Yelp and Google, and it’s clearly popular—my husband said it was packed when he picked up our order. We tried the Tom Yum Soup, Coconut Curry Chicken, and Green Papaya Salad. All three were good, but the standout was the Nyonya Coconut Curry Chicken—slightly sweet, mildly spicy, and perfect over rice. The Tom Yum Soup had large shrimp and a rich, flavorful broth (a bit too rich for me). The Green Papaya Salad was fresh with a nice mix of ingredients, though it could use a bit more fish sauce.

This is one of the best Thai food spots in San Diego. It’s a small, family-owned restaurant with excellent food and great service. The dishes are fresh and not greasy like some other places. Every time I’m in San Diego and craving Thai food, this is my go-to spot. All their food is great, but I especially love the drunken noodles and basil eggplant. Their curries are also amazing. They also have lunch specials for 13.95, which are a great deal. Just a heads-up, the spice level is no joke. On their scale from 1 to 10, I usually stick to a 3, and it’s still plenty spicy. Highly recommend!

We love Chaba thai and we order from them regularly. Eating in is the best option though because the staff is super sweet and they gave us free tapioca dessert every time. My favorite is Khao soi and Panang curry. Although all of their dishes are awesome and authentic. Just be careful with the spice level as they use potent thai chillis haha

This place was delicious! The chicken and rice was like a party in my mouth. Even the cucumbers were cut up to look fancy. But what put it over the top was the soup. They served a spectacular chicken and garlic soup that was delectable. They served a surprise desert at the end which we didn’t pay for. 100 percent 5/5 stars.

I liked EVERYTHING about it. The food was great. I got pad see-ew and it was not spicy just how I like it, and if you do want it spicy you can definitely get it spicy. (My husband ordered a 7.5 and it was spicy deliciousness.) The service was prompt. It did not take a long time for us to receive our apps or food, and when we did she reminded us to not leave our forks on the appetizer plates.(lol). The atmosphere of the restaurant was just as expected. My favorite part of it was the cute little paintings on the walls. ❤️

Experience the authentic taste of Thailand at this remarkable establishment, complemented by a warm and welcoming staffs. Enjoy a diverse selection of dishes and indulge in the rich flavors of coconut milk, particularly in the complimentary evening dessert (Tapioca w/ coconut milk), available on weekends. It is a truly satisfying culinary experience.

We were in the area and decided to try this Thai place and we're so glad we did! Take no heed for its lackluster decor, because the food makes up for it. It's located in a busy strip mall, parking lot was pretty full on a Tuesday at around 4pm. It's not a very big place, seating is limited so definitely wouldn't be good for groups. Thankfully, it wasn't busy in the restaurant so we were able to be seated right away. There were good choices on the menu; rice dishes, noodles, curries and such. My brother and I both ordered the panang curry and had sticky rice with mango for dessert. The food was brought out in a timely manner and the lady who served us was friendly and very attentive. The food was absolutely wonderful & delicious! Full flavored and I would have to say one of the best panang curries I've had. The vegetables were crisp and the chicken pieces were cooked well. And good portion of curry to rice given. Then the sticky rice with mango. SO divine! Rice was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of sweetness. And the mango slices were fresh. The restaurant was also in celebration of Chinese New Year so the server also offered and gave us nuts and sweet little treats on the house. She was so sweet! Then when we left, we forgot we had ordered an appetizer to go, but she ran after us to give us the food. Overall, a great experience. Too bad we're not close by or we'd be regulars. Highly recommend!

This is my favorite Thai place in town. But I had to get on here and share one less star. Their food is always delicious and they are always nice, and it is a treat to go there. But the menu on their website said that the item I ordered (pad thai with shrimp) was $15.95. When I picked it up, it cost over $20. The black plastic containers are toxic and I wish they would completely stop using plastic packaging. I wiill stop ordering my food to go until the gross sticky plastic is no longer being used.

With the multitude of Thai food establishments in San Diego, there were a few unfortunate missteps that made this experience less than desirable... Although the Spring Rolls were fresh, they did not come with peanut sauce. Instead, we were given this amalgam of plum sauce and chili oil. Also, we ordered beef with the Pad Thai, however there were only a couple of strips of beef to be found in the dish. We understand the minimal margins in the restaurant industry, but this is not a way to garner repeat customers. Overall, an average Thai food experience that was soured by not including the basics.

A casual spot for dine in or takeout Thai food. I ordered takeout and the process went smoothly, the food was hot and on time. We ordered multiple dishes, with the standout being the red curry. It had a nice spice level and was very heavy on the coconut milk, which I loved. The pad see ew was a little bland and could have had more of a charred flavor. The spicy Thai fried rice had a great basil flavor, but could have been spicier. The egg rolls were also a little soggy and had too much dough. Overall it was a convenient spot, but I would only come back for the curry!

Delicious food, great service. The Thai chicken fried rice was amazing, lots of flavor. The spicy noodles were also absolutely amazing. Great location with a good amount of parking.

Today i ordered the pad see eww lunch special with tofu. You will be brought a small bowl of soup as you await for your dish. I was unsure of the name of the soup but the broth tasted revitalizing. The dish came out pretty quick and i can see the smoke fuming off the noodles. The aroma that wafted thru the air had an essence of a classic pad see eww dish. The smell of sweet and sour. Dish was great and great flavors. Thank you Naree for serving me today great customer service

Chaba Thai Kitchen is a long time eatery in the Kearny Mesa neighborhood near one of the gyms where I exercise so it was convenient for dinner after a recent workout. The suite is in the Mercury Village Shopping Center that seems to always have open parking spaces despite the numerous businesses. The inside had seating for up to 28 customers. The decor was rather plain with a few photo frames hanging on one wall as opposed to some Thai restaurants that have intricate artwork and sculptures representing the motherland. A menu booklet was available, however the business didn't have any to-go menus which I found to be a disservice in this day and age of takeout and deliveries. The choices were plentiful, but I stuck with one of my usual items in the Spicy Basil Noodles (aka Drunken Noodles) with a level two out of ten for spiciness. Stir-fried flat rice noodles were cooked with basil leaves, fresh Thai chiles, onions, and bell peppers. For a protein, I picked the mixed seafood that had calamari, fish, green mussels, and shrimp. My plate was prepared quickly with a portion size that I thought was average for the $20+ price. It didn't seem to be as generous as my fellow reviewers wrote about before the pandemic, but times have changed. There were six calamari rings, two pieces of fish, two mussels, and three shrimp included in the mixed seafood. That amount cost $5 more than the base price which had veggies or tofu as the noodle toppings. The level two heat was mild yet still very noticeable. I wonder what level eight or nine would have tasted like. I gave a three star rating for my meal at Chaba Thai Kitchen.

Great place, the service was amazing and the people that own it are super nice. They took care of us super well even though we had a somewhat larger group with kids. The food was excellent and my friend who is from Thailand said it was very authentic and very high-quality. Would definitely come here again and again.

This restaurant has great reviews on Yelp and Google, and it's clearly popular--my husband said it was packed when he picked up our order. We tried the Tom Yum Soup, Coconut Curry Chicken, and Green Papaya Salad. All three were good, but the standout was the Nyonya Coconut Curry Chicken--slightly sweet, mildly spicy, and perfect over rice. The Tom Yum Soup had large shrimp and a rich, flavorful broth (a bit too rich for me). The Green Papaya Salad was fresh with a nice mix of ingredients, though it could use a bit more fish sauce.

I ordered it online and picked it up to go. I got papaya salad, crispy fish, pad see ew, and tom kha soup. It was okay on flavor and the meat was good, but a little overcooked. Other than that, no complaints. They packed it nicely so it didn't leak.

Great service here at this small joint! There's only a few tables inside but for a Saturday lunch there were still empty tables. The food was good. I got the chicken drunken noodles/spicy basil noodles but I think the beef was higher quality. The portion size was great though! The server was kind enough to offer us free dessert (tapioca).

I go to Chaba about once a month, and it is always fabulous! Highly recommend. Service is quick. Food delicious.

Food was delicious !!!!!!! Really good taste and very big portion all the prices are good and will defiantly come back .. the service was amazing and the place is just perfect .

My favorite Thai food place to grab food before work or with a girlfriend. I use to do grub hub for them years before. And they've been apart of my life since 2016. I love their crispy basil chicken and their koi soy noodle with beef. I wish I made enough money to give them tips every time I see them.

The lunch special I had here was horrible. The potstickers was so burned I couldn't eat it. Decor was terrible and the seating very uncomfortable. I was so hungry that I ate a couple of the stir fried eggplants in my meal and then paid and left almost a full plate. I'm really surprised this place can stay open with an offering this bad.

Really busy at 8:00pm on a Sunday! We grabbed Togo food and every single table was taken so we took it as a sign that the food is really good. We were impressed! It was pretty good Thai food and they do NOT mess around with the spice level. If you order it extra hot, it will be very very spicy. Yellow curry had a nice flavor but we prefer it just slightly sweeter. The pad Thai was delicious! We would come back.

One of my favorite Thai places in SD. The staff are the friendliest and will make you feel at home. My usual order is beef salad, catfish salad, and pad see ew. -Beef salad: very generous with the amount of beef and well seasoned. I like how much sauce and toppings (cucumbers, tomato, red onion) they give you. -Catfish salad: this is my favorite dish here because it's so unique. The catfish is ground into tiny pieces and fried, so it's a thin crispy layer on top of the salad. The sauce they give is very spicy but so delicious. It's sweet, salty, and sour. -Pad see ew: this is a solid pad see ew. They never skimp on the seasoning. The spice level is no joke here. Level 6-7 can be really spicy for me. I usually stick to level 3. Also sometimes they give a little dessert at the end. They make this coconut tapioca dessert with cateloupe, and it's so refreshing in the summertime. There's usually plenty of parking for this restaurant because it's in a good sized plaza for Convoy.

This was an absolute gem! Chana was super quiet when I came in. I skipped the menu and ordered a Chicken Pad Thai. It came out pretty fast, and it was delicious! The flavors were popping and it was cooked well. The tapioca after the meal was a nice treat. It cleanses the palate well. Great food, great service!

Chaba Thai's interior is very low-key and what I would consider "no frills". It was a tad more expensive than I had expected, but after my food came out, I noticed the portion size was enormous. I was given the option to make it spicy and I asked for a 4 on a scale of 1-10. It was spicier than expected. I also asked for more peanuts for garnish, which seemed to be no problem. When I was done, I was given this refreshing coconut dessert with melon balls at no charge. The lady helping me was very friendly and refilled my water multiple times as I was struggling with the spice. I enjoyed my dining experience a lot.

Yellow chicken Curry is all I can rave about!!! I come here and want to try new things but this is always a hit for me. I tried level 3 recently and wow was it spicy. I suggest level 1 if you don't like spice. The curry is creamy and full of huge veggies. I have yet to find another yellow curry that even comes close.

Update as of 12/27/23: Returned to dine-in after what felt like ages! We chose to start off with a large order of the Potak Seafood Soup, followed by Spicy Drunken Noodles with Beef, Crispy Basil Chicken, Khao Kluk Kapi Fried Rice and Massaman Curry with Chicken. Loved depth of flavor in most of the dishes with the exception of the Crispy Basil Chicken which felt a little too chewy beneath the crispy exterior. We also had 3 Thai Iced Teas and they were so refreshing and delicious. We were so glad to note that CTK continues to serve authentic tasty Thai dishes, we will definitely be repeat customers.

Authentic Thai food. I had green beans with tofu and drunken noodles. Great flavors, definitely going back for more.

Food is consistently amazing and they always give a complimentary sweet treat (as pictured) What a way to say thank you to their customers! Love this place!

Tom Yum soup was sooo flavorful and delicious. Exactly what I was craving. I wasn't sure how hungry I was since it was only lunchtime, but even after I decided not to order more after my soup, the sweet server me made a yummy dessert of tapioca, melon, and milk. Her service was excellent, kindly walking to me tableside to check on me although the restaurant was empty and quiet (it was a late lunch, after 2pm). It was so refreshing and that was so kind to give when I ordered so little! That was so kind of her!! Now I know where to go when I'm craving that Tom yum yummy I will be back to try more.

Came as a party of 2 on a Monday at around 12 PM. There was no wait time. Unfortunately very mediocre food for the price point. The staff are very nice but I probably wouldn't come back again as I believe there are better Thai places for a cheaper price. I was very let down by the Khao Mok Kai as I felt like the rice was well seasoned, but chicken was dry and the portion size of the dish is quite small. Khao Mok Kai - 7/10 Pad See Ew - 7/10

I was craving spicy Thai food one day and stumbled upon this gem--now it's my go-to spot for Thai! I've been back numerous times, and everything is consistently amazing. Tom Kha Soup: a velvety broth that's rich and comforting Papaya Salad: perfectly balanced with that signature spicy kick ‍Pad See Ew: features soft noodles with a flavor explosion that I can't get enough of Spicy Eggplant: great heat and depth of flavor And don't miss the Khao Soi--it's an incredible dish full of bold, vibrant flavors. You can pick your spice level, but be careful when the spicy cook is there! If you're looking for delicious, authentic Thai food, Chaba Thai is a must-try!

I have been coming here since they opened and they never disappoint. Before Chaba, I never liked Thai food much. We always order the basil eggplant, crispy basil fried chicken, and a curry. The portions are very generous so it provides a lot of meals. The staff are so friendly. I catered a small party with them some years back and it was a hit. They aren't playing around with their spice levels. we used to do level 7 but have settled on 5 now. If you have never tried Chaba, you are really missing out.

I love it here , everyone is super sweet and great with recommendations. We ordered the pad Thai with chicken which was very good, As well as the yellow curry with fried tofu flavorful. And the Thai fried rice with shrimp the spice was nice. Would recommend and will be back :)

This place is always an amazing place to visit. Always give you a deserts at the end of the meals. Tom yum soup change a bit on how they serve it but the flavor is 10/10

Small place. I came here to order take out for lunch the next day. I got their drunken noodles with chicken. I ate it the next day so it could skew the taste... maybe. The noodles were still good and plentiful, chicken pieces weren't much, cut into thinner slices. What bothered me was the sauce was a little too sweet. I barely tasted any of the basil. I don't like sweet noodles or sauce. I still think the best is Bahn Thai drunken noodles. I wouldn't mind trying again, maybe eat there too. Portions were of generous size.

This is our go to Thai place; we usually go for dinner but recently caught the lunch crowd. Small spot with about 6-7 tables. Tasty as always, friendly service and fast as well. The lunch special offers a daily soup and the dinner portion comes with a tapioca dessert in coconut milk with melon. My favorite part.

I've been to this restaurant four times, and I always get the green curry. It's perfect every time!! The staff have always been very friendly, and they bring the food out super quickly. I've brought my mother and my friends here, and they've all really liked their meals as well. Thank you for the wonderful food!

A hidden gem! Tucked away in a small strip mall is this charming little Thai restaurant. We were greeted right away and seated by friendly staff. Surprisingly, the place was quite full for a late lunch hour! We opted for the lunch specials and were quite pleased by the generous serving sizes. The flavors of the dishes were authentic and absolutely delicious. I really appreciated the amazing flavor without the intense spice. Of course if spice is your thing they will surely add it! I ordered the Pad Prik Thing which was a wonderful balance of of curry, herbs and green beans. My partner had the mixed vegetables medley with chicken which he gobbled up so fast I wasn't able to steal a bite. If you are looking for some authentic Thai flavor this place is a must try!

I love Chaba Thai Kitchen. When I'm thinking of place to eat out for dinner, Chaba always comes to mind. The papaya salad (Level 2 Spice) is always a go-to for my family and I. The service is personable and generally quick. It has a family style vibe and I love to support a small business. It's a very comfortable environment and we love the staff. The music is family friendly. "Very yummy" is the general consensus. They're also very good about allergies which is important for us.

In the past the drunken noodles were really good. This week they were dried out ñ, tasted old maybe?

The lady that runs the restaurant is very nice. She will give you a real recommendation if you ask for it (not like those who say everything is good & it depends on what you like). The crispy chicken is pretty good. Food portion is tiny. Taste ok, not great. One of the popular spot among college students. Small place. Homey vibe. Free dessert.

Small quaint location. Only 6-8 tables so definitely not good for large groups. But it was perfect for myself and my hubby. Music was quiet not to loud. Service was fantastic. One lady did it all by herself! Took orders, seated guests, cleared the tables, brought the food out and followed up with each customer. Granted there wasn't a lot of tables to take care of when we were there, but she was an awesome multi-tasker! Oh yea...and not to mention to to-go/Door Dash orders she attended to when they came to retrieve them. My Thai tea was so-so. I have had better in other locations. This one was on the sweeter side and smaller then ones I've had from other locations. My yellow curry with chicken was yummy. I am not great with spicy, so I said mild or no spice, but wow my first bite I CALL THAT SPICY. But lol...to anyone else I know it wouldn't be spicy. It was a spice level I was okay to handle eating, but would have preferred it to be less spicier. The chinese broccoli with fried pork was yummy. Wish I had more pork in there, but it was good. We quickly scooped up the pork out of there, so it didn't sit in the sauce to long (it would have gotten soggy/mushy) since it was crunchy. First time here, but we will definitely come back. We actually came to check out the grand opening store next door, but decided to try this Thai food instead. They even gave us a small bowl of coconut milk with tapioca (nice...actually it was a bonus touch!) Because we got dessert here we ended up not going next door.

Food wasn't that good . . Ordered Pad Thai & fish filet in 3 sauces. Service was ok.

This is a staple to go to when visiting San Diego because of the vibes and friendliness that they have when entering the store. They aren't too busy and they are pretty attentive when you need water, napkins and asking how your food is. I got the Mango Chicken Curry and it was such a good choice when you are feeling a soup to warm up your stomach. However, the chicken can a bit dry but the curry is super flavorful so you should eat both together. Another downside is that rice is not included in the curry so you have to order a bowl on the side and I feel like rice made the dish better and more complete.

This has been my go-to spot for Thai food for years, ever since I was in college! Favorite orders are Pad Thai and Drunken Noodle. The servers are always so sweet, the portions are generous, and I love that they give you complimentary dessert if you dine in. Most recently, I came here around 3:30pm on a Wednesday for a late lunch to go. I ordered the Drunken Noodle with beef and the green curry with mixed seafood, both mild. Total was $36 before tip. It was about a 20 minute wait, and the lady offered me a glass of iced water while I waited. I love all the condiments here - dried chili flakes, pickled peppers and chili in lime fish sauce. She gave me plenty of condiments for my to go order, so be sure to ask for them. The drunken noodle was delicious, as usual. It was my first time trying the green curry - it came in one of those to go soup containers and was loaded with seafood and bamboo shoots. It was so much curry; it fed my boyfriend and me for 2 meals. I have introduced so many people to this place over the years because I love this small business and want them to stick around. Definitely give them a try next time you are craving Thai food!!

Chana Thai is hands down our favorite Thai restaurant in San Diego. We have been coming here for over 10 years because it is a family run restaurant with super authentic and delicious Thai and Lao food. The owner is often there and she always comes to your table to say hello and answer any questions. On our last visit we came with our friend who grew up in Thailand and they spoke together in Thai and he made sure everything we ordered was "Thai Hot" which is crazy hot but so worth it (but you can of course order any spice level you like). The restaurant is small, intimate and very comfortable. The food is truly outstanding and affordable and we will be coming here for many many miles re visits in the years to come.

Delicious! Came here for lunch out of curiosity and the taste of it all was delightful, service was quick and super nice, the place is a good size, enough inside sitting, it's a must try !

Honestly the worst service I have ever seen. The lady working the front is very rude not just to her customers but to the delivery people. I can't believe what I witnessed when I was there. I couldn't even taste my food because I felt so uncomfortable. She was mean to a DoorDash driver; the girl was respectful and left without saying anything. Horrible! Will not be coming back.

I've only been to this place a few times and it's always to pick up curry to go. Got the yellow curry with pork last week, medium spicy and it was delicious creamy coconut goodness. The portions seemed to be larger, or maybe prices lower, but c'est la vie in Cali. with the accompanying rice, it was good for 1.5 meals. I'll be back sooner this time.

This spot has been my go-to Thai restaurant for the last 7-8 years so I'm disappointed that I have to update my review to just "average". Over the years, I've ordered many times from them both personally and for their catering services for work lunches. I've converted many a person over to this establishment, but I'm not so sure I can stand by that any longer. I know inflation has hit everyone hard, but the prices of their food has gone up exponentially. I recently ordered drunken noodles with beef to go for $16 (!) and it was a noticeably smaller portion. I wouldn't be so disappointed if they at least maintained their quality, but the noodles were slightly overcooked and gummy. Plus I'm a pretty petite person but even I felt like I wasn't completely full. I remember that same dish would have cost $11 just a few years ago and I would have gotten two meals out of it. If this place is gonna hike up their prices, at least make it worthwhile. Otherwise, I guess I'll have to hunt for a my new favorite Thai restaurant.

Service review: As much as I wanted to try this place, I had ZERO service. I stode in line just like everyone else. When I got to the counter, it was like I was invincible. No one helped me, no one acknowledged me, no eye contact from anyone. I understand that I came at a busy time, but...as I stode there waiting for someone to greet me, the employees behind the counter immediately greeted the folks who just walked in. Helloooooo, you have a customer standing right in front of you waiting for service. I was over it and left.

The food here was good. The Tom kha was flavorful. The lemon grass gave it good flavor and the coconut broth delicious. The pad Thai is sweeter than I'd love but I added the extra spice and chili oil and it was great then. The thing is is I like my food spicy where most people I go with don't like spicy. So I always add spice so that's always an option

service was like the bills needed to be paid. 10/10 love the ambiance gives a nice feel of home. Food was insanely delicious and filled with surprises, definitely looking forward to bringing my wife here for dinner again. Chicken Satay was amazing, the curry was delicious, and the beef with the skinny noodles was solid too. Added they gave us these two sauces one nem tasted crazy but with the food was heaven sent and the other was vinegar haha!

This is not the fanciest restaurant, does not have amazing decor, isn't cute inside, and doesn't have a fine dining feel, but the food is absolutely fantastic. It's probably some of the best Thai food in San Diego. The food is authentic and they have a great selection of dishes to choose from. Some of my absolute favorites are the Tom yum soup, papaya salad and yellow curry. The service is fast and friendly- and they are always accommodating to adapt for gluten free, dairy free and spicy level.