Cha'Ba Thai

A Hidden Gem That’s Been Serving Portland for 26 Years – Cha’Ba Thai on Sandy Blvd Let me start with this: Cha’Ba Thai on Sandy Blvd is NOT the same as the other location you might have heard of. This spot is completely independently owned and operated, and it shows — in the best possible way. They’ve been a part of the Portland food scene for 26 years, which is impressive in itself, but what’s even more amazing is how fresh, welcoming, and vibrant the experience still feels. They recently underwent a full renovation just five months ago, and the transformation is stunning. The interior is beautifully modern with elegant touches of Thai design that make it feel warm, inviting, and upscale — without losing that neighborhood charm. Whether you’re coming in for a casual lunch or a special dinner, the space feels like it can flex either way. Clean, cozy, and full of great energy. Now, onto the most important part: the food. I ordered a solid lineup of dishes, and every single one was a 5/5. Truly. - Panang Beef Curry – Rich, creamy, and full of depth. The beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the curry was perfectly spiced with just the right touch of sweetness. - Papaya Salad – Fresh, zesty, and addictively crunchy. You can taste the care in the balance of lime, chili, and fish sauce. A great palate starter. - Pad Ka Prao – One of my go-to Thai dishes, and they nailed it. Wok-fried ground meat with holy basil, garlic, and chili, served with rice and an egg — full of that signature umami-rich flavor. - Spicy Chicken & Shrimp with Crisp Basil – This dish brought the heat in the best way. Perfectly cooked shrimp and chicken, tossed with crispy basil and a punchy, savory sauce. The textures were on point. - Boat Noodle Soup – A comforting bowl that felt like a hug. Deep, bold broth with rice noodles, meat, and herbs — it reminded me of street food stalls in Thailand. - Longan Juice & Coconut Juice – Refreshing, light, and authentic. The longan juice especially was a nostalgic treat. - Mango Sticky Rice – One word: heavenly. The mango was ripe and sweet, and the sticky rice had the perfect soft-chewy texture, all brought together with a silky coconut drizzle. The ideal ending to a Thai meal. But beyond the amazing food and beautiful space, what truly elevated the experience tonight was Lexi, my server. She was absolutely phenomenal — friendly, knowledgeable, attentive without hovering, and genuinely kind. Her service felt personal, thoughtful, and warm. You can tell she cares about both her guests and the food. Lexi, thank you for making my night so memorable — you’re a star. In short, Cha’Ba Thai on Sandy Blvd is the real deal. It’s a neighborhood staple that somehow feels like a fresh discovery. Whether you’re a Thai food enthusiast or someone looking to explore something new, this is a place that deserves your attention and support. I’m already planning what to order next time — and there will be a next time. Soon

We ordered the salmon which was pan fried, and had the lightest crunch, covered in a panang curry sauce, and served over asparagus and green beans. This was absolutely the standout dish of the night! We also tried the crying tiger which was grilled perfectly and served with the most delicious dipping sauce. Lastly, we shared the kao soi. We've had this dish at the other location before and it was hauntingly memorable, but unfortunately this one was forgettable. We ordered it three stars because we remembered that the dish at the last location ran hot, but this version was too sweet, and incredibly rich. It could've been twice as spicy and still wouldn't be as spicy as the one we remembered. Still, we enjoyed our time at Cha'Ba and will definitely return for that salmon!

It's just plain old great Thai food. I wouldn't go higher than four out of five on the spices though.

We love Chaba Thai over the years as its in our neighborhood and walkable. The people are super nice. But last night, July 20th, we ordered two Pad Thai with chicken, one MILD and one NO SPICE. And the one with NO SPICE was super spicy. Not okay. Chaba Thai should really comp our next order of Pad Thai. Couldn't eat the dish. And didn't want to have to walk back just to get a replacement last night. Very frustrating. So when you order, be very aware of what you get in your takeout bag.

Food is not as good at it used to be. Very dry Pad Thai and beef stir fry has very low grade meat, tough and hard to chew. Atmosphere Has changed as well, not as welcoming or friendly.

I love the flavors at this place. I have been there twice in the last week.. Everything has a beautiful presentation. We will be coming soon for more!

Watch out for the large, metal & concrete umbrella bases placed right at the curb. Caused $200-300 damage to my new car and the Manager didn't seem to care. A little compassion goes a long way. We got none. Disappointing as I am a long time regular at this establishment.

I am always scouting out for the best chicken pad thai. I'm from North Carolina and visiting, and this was the best chicken pad Thai I have had since visiting asia. hands down. The peanut sauce, oh my gosh to die for. And i'm a sauce guy.

Excellent! In every way. They've been around a long time, and for a reason. Large menu, and have some things that you don't see frequently. Like their boat noodles, crispy pork skin, rich and well-spiced (not spicy) broth and tender meat, what a treat! Cashew nut is also fantastic. Another star is their wings (all flats), juicy, shatter glass crust and sweet and tangy. Inside is wonderful, clean, spacious and very new in look. Bar is tiny, but they have a great wine list for an everyday place. Plenty of parking in the back (no lot I believe), but don't drive by just because you don't see any spots our front. Make this your next Thai adventure! Ane the ladies here are so nice and helpful.

I haven't been to Cha Ba Thai in years, and I thought that the restaurant looks very chic with great interior design. I like the portraits of traditional dishes that hung from the wall. The mural was beautiful too. I got the pad see ew and thought that it was a bit too salty for my personal preference. The server was attentive and I like how it's family-owned and operated.

Let me start with this: Cha'Ba Thai on Sandy Blvd is NOT the same as the other location you might have heard of. This spot is completely independently owned and operated, and it shows -- in the best possible way. They've been a part of the Portland food scene for 26 years, which is impressive in itself, but what's even more amazing is how fresh, welcoming, and vibrant the experience still feels. They recently underwent a full renovation just five months ago, and the transformation is stunning. The interior is beautifully modern with elegant touches of Thai design that make it feel warm, inviting, and upscale -- without losing that neighborhood charm. I ordered a solid lineup of dishes, and every single one was a 5/5. Truly. - Panang Beef Curry, Papaya Salad, Pad Ka Prao, Spicy Chicken & Shrimp with Crisp Basil, Boat Noodle Soup, Longan Juice & Coconut Juice, Mango Sticky Rice (One word: heavenly) But beyond the amazing food and beautiful space, what truly elevated the experience tonight was Lexi, my server. Her service felt personal, thoughtful, and warm. I can tell she cares about both her guests and the food. Lexi, thank you for making my night so memorable -- you're a star. In short, Cha'Ba Thai on Sandy Blvd is the real deal. It's a neighborhood staple that somehow feels like a fresh discovery. Whether you're a Thai food enthusiast or someone looking to explore something new, this is a place that deserves your attention and support. I'm already planning what to order next time -- and there will be a next time. Soon

excellent service. causal dining. yellow curry and som tum were good. wasn't a fan of their calamari --kinda rubbery and chewy. pricer compared to other thai restaurants i've been to. overall, good experience!

Their food is more expensive than most Thai restaurants, but the food is actually pretty tasty so we forgave them. We ordered out, the food was warm and fresh, no one felt like their food was subpar. We ordered a second time the next day. Would recommend.

Why is Cashew Nut Chicken so hard to find? I have no idea, but I am delighted that Cha Ba Thai offers it, and it is tasty! We have only ordered for delivery, but everyone has enjoyed their choices. Pad Thai, Kao Pad Pu (Crab Fried Rice) , and a lovely steak dish. I am disappointed that Thai Ice Tea is so expensive - $8.50! But, I am pretty sure that is bumped up by DoorDash, as it isn't that price on their website. Someday, I will go in person a write a proper review. For now, I just waned to know the food is good and they have Cashew Chicken.

Ordered to-go as I recalled liking this place previously. Unfortunately flavor was lacking in all dishes we ordered: pad thai, pad kee mao, and beef salad. Beef in beef salad was way too chewy and overcooked. I did like the sauce and flavor of the salad but when the density of the meat is affecting me eating it was hard to enjoy. Both noodle dishes were bland imo. Could've used more salt and less sweetness. Meats also in both noodle dishes could've been cooked better.

Their Pad Thai tastes totally different than any Pad Thai I've had before from the many I've tasted. It was very saucy and the sauce was way too sweet and almost tomato-ey??? Not what you expect in a Pad Thai dish!. Didn't care for it at all.

I ordered Pepper Salted Crispy Chicken, hub had Num Prik Ong Set, both with rice order on side to go. The new decor is LOVELY! great job. music was nice while we waited for food. Got home and looked at the food, hub's didn't look anything like the picture and came with chichorones. Interesting. The lettuce was a half head cut in half again. Not at all suitable for "wrapping" the ground pork in. Hub said it tasted good, however. The chicken dish I had was crispy all right. So much so it could not be chewed or swallowed. Also, SHARDS of bone was in every piece I managed to cut, but got stuck in the side of my mouth with bone. Be careful with this dish. Unidentifiable spice in in batter. NOT good. Will probably stick to PadThai Chicken if we come back.

Choices in the food we're different and food was authentic and service was accommodating to the group of 10 and I had a Thai salad and a beer and it was very well received by the guest that I had at restaurant

Very disappointing and definitely NOT the same Chaba Thai from the not so distant past. Poor service with only three tables of diners and they did not appear to be short on staff that spent every spare moment visiting one another. Ordered Tum Kha appeared to be Tum Yum, there seemed to be no coconut milk in it and the server argued with me. I had a "special" beef curry (served with beef only) with coconut cream dish and the beef was the toughest cut I have ever had in a restaurant, it basically was inedible. The "Jasmine" rice was standard rice. The premium priced shrimp salad roll had only lettuce on the inside, with a slice of cucumber and a thinly sliced half shrimp. The peanut sauce was sour with no hint of sweetness. There was no real excuse for such poor quality because they charged premium pricing. Never again...there is no way they can redeem themselves.

We have been to this place a few times over the years - - it seems to be a go-to thai restaurant for many in our neighborhood but not so much for me. And, I'm not sure why exactly - - service is super friendly and helpful, dining area is fine, food's good. Their fresh rolls are crisp and delicious, peanut sauce is super yummy and the chicken satay is seasoned and cooked well. The spice on the green papaya salad is fab, but I can't really give a fair assessment of it because we ordered it without the tomatoes- - not much else there so we will skip it next time. The Mussaman Curry with tofu is also something I will skip next time. The tofu was tough and it had too many onions. Street parking. Bathroom in the back.

I love the food, its beautiful and so good, and you couldn't ask for nicer server's. We've been going there since they opened years ago . It's a pretty place to enjoy a lovely dinner or lunch.

Finally tried this spot after driving by it so many times. We ordered the chicken pad thai, spicy basil fried rice and the bbq chicken to go. Very nice folks. We had a drink while we waited. The food smelled so great and the flavors were lovely. The pad thai was disappointing because it literally had no vegetables... literally just noodles and chicken. Like why ?? The basil rice was pretty basic.. chicken fried rice. The bbq chick head a nice flavor but it was dry :( Anyway .. hate to leave a bad review but oh well ‍

Excellent healthy food and friendly service. The lunch specials are a great deal. The inside just got a facelift. Highly recommended.

Everything we tried was good. Chu chee catfish, pad thai, som tum, The khao soi was everyone's favorite.

Cha Ba Thai replenished my tired and weary body after some hiking out in the PNW! As I walked from the back to the front of the restaurant, the sounds of kitchenware moving and the chefs talking (heard from the back screen door) got me pumped! I came in on a Friday evening and got seated immediately. I ordered Khao Soi and Panang Curry, both with beef. Both dishes were super flavorful, but I found myself digging in on the khao soi a bit more. It's a coconut curry noodle soup that I believe comes from Northern Thailand; the broth is really rich and it can be pretty filling! I thought the portion given here was perfect, and if you are down to try a soup with broth that isn't so soupy, but more gravy-ish, then I'd def rec trying this. The service here was quick, friendly, and very courteous. If I'm visiting Portland again, I'd def take a friend here!

This place can be easily missed. Make sure to slow down as you try to find this place. The food was just decent. Nothing really spectacular. The bbq chicken was a bit on the dry side and the grilled squid's portion was definitely on the small side. On the menu photo, it seems like we would get a lot more. The Pad Thai and yellow curry was amazing . Definitely recommend getting those. Vibe: 3/5 Taste: 3/5 Clean: 4/5 Value: 3/5 Service: 4/5 Parking: 3/5

Small, family-owned, cozy neighborhood staple. Authentic and delicious food. Staff is very kind.

I always live a good pad Thai. Warm temperature and freshly made. Have been coming here for a couple years with out a problem. Will be back again too soon. Friday night spot after work to just eat warm dinner with my Love

Absolutely love this restaurant. It doesn't disappoint when one orders takeout and the ambience of you eat in is such a step up from many Thai restaurants. Plus, the staff are friendly, attentive and always smiling. Also SO superior in every way to the Chaba Thai on NE Alberta which is only a few blocks from our home - we come here instead.

A tale of two visits for me. First time i was blown away by the "thai spicy" Pad Khee Mao, and a second dish which was also on point. Was excited to return. Then the second time I went with a group of about six, and nothing was all that amazing. Once 'fine' and once 'amazing' - I'm assuming it depends a lot on who is in the kitchen on any given day. Service is good and tons of seating, so it's great to drop in any time, especially if you have a group to seat like we did.

Had ordered red curry with hot spicy level and it was so perfect and very delicious One of the best Thai restaurant I have ever had

Great place to satisfy your Thai craving! I've eaten here and have done take-out dozens of times and have always received a hot and delicious meal. If Miang Kum (or spelled Miang Kham) is on the menu, I'm getting it! After having this dish in Thailand many times, I was so happy to see it on Cha Ba Thai's menu as it's challenging to find here in the States. Think of this dish as a build your own spinach wrap. The fillings hit all the Thai notes - sweet, salty, sour and hot - and you control the combo. You get a stack of spinach leaves (in Thailand they use Betel leaves which are larger and sturdier) and you select diced ginger, chopped peanuts, shallot, dried shrimp, toasted coconut and a squeeze of fresh lime to create the perfect bite! Trust me, this dish is what Thai food is all about!!! Not a fan of Pad Thai which is too sweet for me, I go with Pad Woon Sen which is made with thin mung bean noodles (gluten free) stir fried with carrots, onion, scallion, egg and chicken. Soooo good! Also get the Drunken Noodles, spicy, which is always a crowd pleaser. Love their Pa Nang Curry which has all the flavors I enjoy, and without potatoes that are included in a yellow curry. Since I put over brown rice, I don't want or like the double carb thing. Service is always fast and friendly. Back in the pre-Covid days I would sit at the bar and enjoy hot tea while they prepared my order. Now it's ready for me when I arrive, calling ahead or placing online.

A nice quaint restaurant with a decent amount of seating for groups. Most of the dishes we ordered was decent; however, the Pad Thai was a miss for us. The sauce was a bit too salty for our taste. The server and kitchen remade the dish and it tasted a bit sweeter after but was not able to finish the dish.

Love this place ... possibly one of the best Thai restaurants in Portland amongst the million that exists in Greater Portland metro area....we have been here about 20 times and thru the pandemic and e wry time whether it's pickup or dine in, the food is delicious and quantity is ample This time we ate in and as usual our food was really really delicious... see pics for comments A must if u like Thai food....

My friends and I had lunch here last year and we were happy with the food and service. So last Sunday, that same friend and I came back because we had a good experience previously. Unfortunately, we were disappointed. We ordered pad thai, seafood red curry and crispy pork with broccoli. The shrimp on the pad thai was not fully cooked, the pork with the broccoli was obviously not freshly fried. The meat was tough and dried out, and broccoli was raw. The seafood red curry was ok, squid a little on the chewy side. Food was not even hot. When my friend mentioned the shrimp to the server -- she answered "why are you only telling me this, when you're almost finished eating. She could see that we didn't even consume half of the pad thai. We also mentioned that the broccoli was raw, and she said that is how they cooked the broccoli. She asked if we've eaten there before and we said yes, and that was the reason why we were there the second time. We had a great experience the first time but very disappointed this time around. We were the first customer of the day and for a while, we were the only ones dining. The pictures looked good and very appetizing but just "photogenic".

I've been going to Cha Ba Thai on NE Sandy when I want Thai food for many years now. Nice staff, really delicious food, and an attractive and spotlessly clean dining room.

Yummmmmmmm. OMG so good. So I eat a special diet. I no longer eat any grains, starches or carbs. That means I don't do sugar or corn starch in the sauces. Which is hard at places like this that have premade sauces, etc. I ordered the Pad Eggplant minus any sauce and the Pad Prik-Khing w/ Shrimp which has green beans with bell peppers and lime leaves. Also NO SAUCE and added garlic. The lady on the phone was so worried that it was going to be too plain and then I wouldn't like it and think their food was bad. WRONG! It was SOOOOOO good. I was able to taste all of the flavor of the vegetables and I loved every bite. I could taste the yummy lime leaves in the green beans and they were so crispy. The eggplant was also so full of flavor and I loved every bite. The only thing I will change next time to my Pad Eggplant order is to omit the onions. I would rather have all eggplant. It was so tasty. I WILL absolutely be back. Both orders cost me about $25. FYI - I ordered for pick up but it appears that they have seating available and they had plastic shields when I went to pay.

Portland born and raised here, have gone to cha ba Thai on and off over the years. Mostly because the quality of the food has consistently declined and the service also. I keep giving it an another try because it's so close to us.. but after this last incident , I will never return. We ordered three dishes for takeout, hoping at this time perhaps the quality of the food would have gone up . The food was so bad that we actually weren't even able to eat it.. called in just to give a little feedback ( first time in all the years we've done this) . Was received well and they offered us a credit to come back again and try . maybe a month later,We called in a few dishes and they explained it had to be to the total of the credit in order to make the order.. so we added on a side dish. She explained to just pick up with our name and no payment necessary. we arrive and they ask for a card to finalize order but will receive a return.. we are confused bur assume their computer system works a certain way. We go home and wait a couple days and see that we were charged for the amount and given no credit that they had offered us so naturally I call in to try to understand what is going on, and I am met with a woman raising her voice at me and telling me that I actually ordered double the amount of food then I did and then if I have a problem with her "instead of sending my husband, I should call myself and speak to her face-to-face ". Her exact words. Im in utter shock of how Im being spoken to and hang up the phone . if you want good thai food for the same price with better quality customer service I would recommend Padee on Burnside.

Our go to, neighborhood Thai spot. Food is consistent and always yummy. The ladies at the counter are exceptionally kind- I recently messed up when I placed my order and they felt bad because I had to wait 10 minutes longer than planned so they gave us a free app (despite it being 0% their fault). Love their curries, pad see yo

Cha Ba Thai is incredible!!! My work buddies and I drive all the way fron Salem to enjoy their wonderful service and AMAZING food!! It's authentic and delicious and I can't bring myself to visit another Thai place closer because Cha Ba will always be the best. If you're looking for a intimate quiet spot with great service and endless tasty options look no further than Cha Ba Thai. The place is cozy and the whole place will keep you coming back for more. Love it! !!!!

Pretty good food. It has some unique options you don't regularly see at other restaurants. My kid was able to order pad khee mao with squid, so that was cool. Angel wings were just ok, but cool first time try.

Food is great but don't order via Yelp. Everything is marked up an additional ~16%. Go to their website and order there.

WOW. Yummy Thai food! They did very well with making the noodle dishes very flavorful and the lunch special provided a great value for what you got. The highest level of spice was actually spicy. I got the second to highest tier and it was okay, my sister got the highest and it was just the right amount for us. If you dine in, they have a spice rack you can request and add your own pepper flakes/powder to make it to your liking of spice. The person serving us gave us great service, refilled our water frequently and allowed us to take our time to enjoy the meal. This location has a different owner than the one on Alberta, FYI.

Old school traditional Thai, we've been going for more than 14 years. As with most Thai places the service is usually very friendly. Their versions of all the standards are above average, our regular rotation: Pad See Ew Miang Kum Tom-Yum Soup Yom-Nuar (beef salad); a regular to go item when I'm craving healthy I'm not partial to curries, but those are good too. Parking is generally easy. They close between 3 and 5 pm.

we returned for dinner yesterday and sat in the garden...i had a tsingdao, my partner had the blue green cocktail, and our friend had a glass of white wine...next, i had the stir fry veggie/rice/tofu, and they had great dishes too....the place was hopping inside and outside..we love the garden with all the colors...the food is the best....the drinks hit the spot....the staff was so friendly, and he was running around since he was the only one plus the chefs....thx so much......

I had only ever had Cha Ba Thai delivered for office parties, because it's so close to work, but every time, they always got our team's orders right and included enough utensils and napkins for everyone. Last week, I dined in for the first time, and had a pretty good experience. The waitress seemed a little like she was in a rush, and borderline pushy, but the other waitress that would come by was a lot nicer and helpful. I got the Khao Soi, and it was pretty good, compared to others I've had around town. I love Khao Soi, and have been trying to find a place that serves it. The noodles were chewy, broth was hearty and creamy, and the crunchy noodles on top were great. The portion was so big, I couldn't finish! We also tried the cashew chicken for my mom, who isn't too adventurous with food, and it was better than I expected; not too salty, had a good amount of vegetables and chicken, and came with rice to balance the dish out.

Try Cha'ba Thai restaurant on Sandy they are really good I recommend my favorite items and the menu is the chicken sauté and the fish cakes rice and their RC Cola they are really good I've been going there it's delicious if you were or you have some here I recommend to go to the my favorite Thai restaurant

Thing place has AMAZINGGGG food! Cannot get enough of it. Pretty expensive though........

Ambience in the dining room was nice. Went Wednesday at 7pm and there was little dining room business as we were one of two tables. I think they do a lot of to go orders. Angel wings were good but bland and lacking flavor. I had the Thai Basil stir fry. It was good but seemed a bit salty. My partner had the Pad Thai and. He really liked it. The Pad Thai Soup was flavorful and good. Overall it was a good meal. Not fantastic but we will give it a try again!

I ordered takeout via their website from the Sandy location. Pad Woo Sen with tofu and vegetables. I hate how a lot of places dump a bag of frozen mixed vegetables in their noodle or rice dishes. That was not the case with this delicious big bowl of flavorful noodles. It was packed with fresh broccoli, cabbage, peas, two kinds of mushrooms, red and green bell peppers, tomatoes, and baby corn. None of the veggies were overcooked. The flavor and seasoning was just right. The dish cost $10 and it was a huge portion of food. A very good value. I also ordered the chicken satay. The four skewers of chicken were tender, they were grilled to perfection, and had really nice seasoning. I definitely will be back!

Nice big menu, food is always hot and tastes fresh. The portion sizes for takeout are big and perfect for sharing. They also have more fresh vegetables than other Thai places around. Overall, good easy spot to get food.

We Have been going to this restaurant for years. It never fails us and we have never been disappointed with the dishes that we order. The prices are good and the amount of food is also good. The staff is also very friendly and quick to service you and your orders. Highly recommend this restaurant for excellent Thai food.

This place, recommended to us by a Thai friend, is the real deal. Having spent quite a bit of time in Thailand, I can instantly tell when a Thai place is not. Their Green curry, while delicious, is not the best in Portland, but close. But their Pad Thai, eggplant dish and mango sticky rice is superb. It's my wife's favorite place. And it is not that pricey!

Driving down Sandy and decided to stop in. I had the cashew chicken, I love sweet chili paste, I'd was delicious. Wife had the pad Thai w/ beef, she ordered it medium spicy and it was a little too much but she enjoyed it and the flavor was good. She's was sweaty after that. We agreed to go mild next time. Nice Quaint place and server was nice. We will return.

Great Thai food at even better prices. Loved their chicken lettuce wrap appetizer. The panang curry, chicken cashew stir fry and kao pad spicy basil all tasted great. I personally don't like the veggies cut as big as they had in their dishes but that didn't take away from the overall flavor at all. The lemon soda was very refreshing too. And to top it all, we had no wait time at all. Highly recommend!

Pretty disappointed. Ordered an easy lunch, The Emerald, which is tofu and green vegetables with peanut sauce. The broccoli was expired, brown and unappealing, the three leaves of spinach were soggy and the tofu was hard. See pictures... The salad roll was good, but it was split open and difficult to eat.

I've only gotten a basic noodle dish here, pad woon sen (to-go) and I'd say it's in the top 3 around town I've tried. Flavor, quality of meat, and freshness of veggies are all good. Portions for the price is on par with most others. I'm a fan! SPICE LEVEL I asked for "spicy," they countered with "hot," and it felt more like a solid medium to me. If you like the spice, don't be bashful.