Chai Thai Noodles Oakland

So chill. The food is so good I could cry. Kao Soy is my favorite, and they do it so right!! How cute is their lychee Thai tea?! Pumpkin Curry is delicious. “Stay with me” is playing. This spot hits in every direction!! It’s an oasis in Oakland.

Best Tom Kha soup I’ve had in months! Absolutely flavorful. And the Thai tea was perfectly sweet. Definitely coming back. —- 9/1/23 Update: still one of my top two Thai restaurants in Oakland. Love the inside decore and how clean it is. Don’t be fooled by the exterior location, it’s quite beautiful inside. Foods flavorful and the staff is great.

We ordered catered food for our wedding from Chai Thai this June. They were super nice and helpful on the phone when they answered our questions about possible dishes and pricing. They were also able to deliver the food to us which was great! The food was enjoyed by all and we were happy with everything.

Such stellar Thai food. The Laotian sausages were delicious, as was the pork hocks and pad see ew. The mango sticky rice was the best I've had in a long time. Would definitely return!

Omg this restaurant is now my #1 favorite place! Everything I ordered was incredibly delicious, steamy hot and beautifully presented! I visited there June 4, 2021 so dine in just started back up with the whole Covid thing we got going on globally. This place was packed, safely of course! It looked like it could be a local favorite, and I totally see why! *I have milk/dairy sensitivity and I didn't get sick from their curry here! Which means they're only using the coconut milk for their curry like they should and NOT mixing half n half with it! I've gotten sick from other places in the past n it turned out they were adding half n half. The only down fall about this place. .. it's an hour from where I live.

Spent about $44 after tax for the Angel Chicken & 2 Seafood Thai rice. 🤤🤤😋😋🔥🔥🔥 I promise you it’s was all on 10!! Service was pretty quick. Food was nice and hot. Great place for a quick bite and conversation with a few friends or just a solo eat. The Angel Chicken is always the highlight for me just because it’s soo different and most ppl don’t really know about it. Excellent conversation starter. Ahh man I’ve made myself hungry all over again. I highly recommend this nice quaint and hip spot. It’s a certified hidden gem more shots on my IG @Mr.RubberSole 💪🏾🤘🏾💯

This place is really close to Lake Merritt so we were keen on trying a new thai place near home. We went there on a Friday lunch time (they shut at 3pm). Service was friendly and super fast. The restaurant and the bathroom in general was nice, cozy and clean. They had a very reasonably priced lunch specials (2 small curries with rice for 10.95) which was a great option but since no fish was included we went for a la carte. They have great varieties of dishes. We went for the Chai Thai noodles (cause we love our noodles and it's always good to try how well different restaurants prepare them) and catfish curry with rice separately. All in all the bill was for less than 30$ so good value for money. The noodles were flavorful, packed with veggies and not drowning in sauce which was nice so you could taste everything and still fill light. Catfish curry was lovely and again, packed with veggies. The portions were really good for the price and we ended up filling full but light. Definitely coming back to this little gem in East Oakland. Way to go!!!

I’ve been to this restaurant many times and have taken or recommended to friends and family. The food and service is exceptional. My usual order is Kaopoon (vermicelli noodles with curry soup) - the soup is rich and thick *drool. However, I’m giving it a three-star because I’ve found a piece of hair in my food - Twice! The first time was in my sister-in-laws noodle and second time was in my stir-fry dish.

Shuffled in here at around 7pm on a chilly Monday night. Had high expectations given their past reviews and was still blown out of the water. Our waitress sat us quickly and we were immediately greeted with our waters and menus. Must haves: Fresh Rolls, (add shrimp for $3, worth it imo), Pad Thai with Chicken, and the absolute bombshell of the night-- Kao Poon (1/5 spicy still has a kick). Absolute masterclass of Thai Cuisine tonight, and at under $15 per entree you can enjoy the close quarters of the restaurant without breaking the bank. Would absolutely recommend. I've attached a photo of my Kao Poon (Red Curry Coconut Noodles)

I've been going to chai Thai since I moved to Oakland in 2011. The food has really, really gone downhill. I ordered pad thai a couple of days ago and something tasted really off. I didn't get sick but the meat tasted weird and the noodles had an odd flavor. Unfortunately, I will need to take chai thai off of my restaurant rotation. I noticed it was really empty in the restaurant the night I went. I hope that this place can get it back together and be what it used to be.

Came by Chai Thai Noodles in Oakland for a late dinner and it hit the spot. I ordered the Chan Pad Poo, which is basically Pad Thai with crab meat. Asked for it extra saucy and it came out just right--definitely one of the better Pad Thais I've had in a while. The crab gave it a nice richness and I'd happily get it again. Also tried the Tom Yum Noodle Soup with flat noodles. Noodles were cooked well, but the broth didn't have that deep tangy/spicy punch I usually look for in Tom Yum. Not bad, just a little lighter than what I'm used to. Menu marked both dishes as spicy, but they weren't too hot. For me, that was fine since I like a good kick (my spice tolerance is about eating Thai red chilis straight), but most people would probably find the heat level pretty comfortable. Service was quick and friendly, and the place had a relaxed vibe. Not too busy for dinner, with some nice artwork and Thai décor around the room. Overall, I enjoyed it--especially that Chan Pad Poo--and would definitely come back again.

I've been going to Chai Thai for years now and I always have a good experience. I recently took a friend who was in town for a work trip. (More people means more dishes to try!) We ended going with the Kao Nam (fried rice ball salad), papaya salad, spicy green beans and tofu, green curry, and larb. All the food was bomb per usual. I know with Chai Thai you're always gonna get solid portions and tasty, well-seasoned food. I had no complaints and the servers were all helpful. Mind you, the Oakland location is relatively small, so it can get a little tight if they're busy, but I still dig the vibe. I'd definitely recommend checking them out if you're looking for solid southeast Asian food.

Haven't been to Chai Thai Noodle for a while, way before the pandemic. Probably 5-6 years, sister said they have $5 happy hour noodles samplers (4 kinds of noodles- see photos for the specials). I suggested order 2 different bowls of noodles per person if you're hungry, that's only $10! The boat noodles were our favorites.

The food is okay, portions are on the smaller side. I just wish the flavors were more consistent--sometimes the Khao Piak noodle soup can be a little bland.

This has been one of my favorite Thai restaurants for many years, so I'm very sorry to say that they have fallen off horribly! Is this place under new management or something?!? The food used to taste authentic and very flavorful, but is now quite bland. I ordered 2 dishes today and immediately sent one back for being so bland, only for the redo to be marginally better. I didn't feel like arguing with them so I just took it and left. I'm sad to say that I will not be returning here.

I love this place! I work nearby, and me and many of my colleagues enjoy eating here for lunch. It's not fancy, but it is convenient, and the food is terrific. Yesterday I had the Tom Yum Noodle Soup, hot and sour comfort food. Delicious! The portions are generous and well worth the price. Highly recommended!

This Chai Thai location does not mess around. I was losing hope at the Hayward location, because the flavor has been drowned out over the years. Luckily, this one in Oakland continues to impress!!! Love the nam khao and boat noodles!!!

Food was great. The service was good . I'd driven past here almost daily and never stopped before. It's really cute inside. Not what I was expecting. So happy I finally came here.

Great people, the tea tastes amazing and overall the food is awesome. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for the Asian Cuisine

Delicious delivery!! So yummy. The eggplant came with tons of eggplant. The kao poon is just fabulous. The serving size was huge! Got it mild and they did it right, not very spicy and still flavorful.

An Oakland staple, been around for years. Delicious food, great prices, and good service, always. They also have other locations in Hayward and Berkeley that are just as good. Try their sister restaurant, the Saap Avenue for the perfect date night spot with a full bar and delicious cocktails.

The food is really spicy- get mild and a side of hot sauce. I thought it was yummy and fairly reasonably priced

This place is terrible! The taste in food has gone down hill and has been for quite some time. How do you mess up a basic dish like Pad Thai?! Every time I've ordered this, the taste is so off, the noodles are mushy and it smells weird. I feel like the owner doesn't care anymore about the quality of food they are serving. I used to love this place but it's no where near what it used to be. Will no longer support this location.

I decided to branch out and try a new restaurant beyond my usual mainstay places. When doing that I always examine the menu carefully and just jump in to try a spectrum of things that seem to appeal. Getting some Thai comfort food seemed mighty good. This restaurant is in a new apartment building at the corner of Ashby and San Pablo. It is in a first floor storefront at the south end of the building, with good signage. The entrance is off to the side in a small street front courtyard. Parking on the side street off San Pablo was readily available. The interior seems very cozy and intimate. When entering you're immediately confronted by a table acting as a barrier with lots of Covid safety measures in place, including a requirement to be vaccinated, with proof, to enter and eat there. Masks are also required. BRAVO! I was just there for a pick up order so never beyond the table. Ordering online was simple and they texted me when the order was ready. So simple and my favorite way to order these days. I got the following- - Garlic pork spareribs - Larb salad with chicken - Pad Thai with chicken - Basil fried rice with tofu and veggies You can choose the protein or seafood to add to most dishes. Prices are in the average range. Portions are very good and plentiful. The ribs were small yet a good amount, but some were rather tough, chewy and full of grizzle. There was lots of tasty garlic, and a dipping sauce. The larb had ground chicken, my added choice, and was fresh and tasty. It came with a small container of ground peanuts. I had ordered another noodle dish beside the Pad Thai and perhaps this was it, but hard to know for sure. I found the noodles really don't travel well, and most likely best eaten at the restaurant. Unfortunately, the noodles coagulated together and made it hard to eat. The basil fried rice was awesome and the stand out of the meal. I would gladly get it again. The rice was fragrant and delicious as were all the ingredients, along with the sweetness of the fresh basil. This dish deserves 4.5 stars. Overall, I found the food competent, tasty, yet very mainstream and lack luster. There was enough food for two meals for two people so the value is there. It's basic street comfort food so expect to get exactly that, with a bit of a need to bump up a distinct flavor quotient.

Pretty friggin good. Based on taste, this place is 5 stars hands down. The rice was cooked perfectly and the toasted cashews and fried egg tasted like it just came off the grill. Little heavy on the oil. I was so engulfed in it, it wasn't until I was halfway done I realized there was no pineapple in the pineapple fried rice. (Honestly it was so good, I'm not even mad) Also got the Panang Curry with Shrimp and avocado. They give you the choice of avocado or mango, which I thought was pretty cool. Avo was plentiful and ripe, but nothing other than shrimp to be found (I think I was supposed to come with bell peppers and some other veggie?) Again, very delicious but not exactly what I was expecting. I'd still recommend and would try more!

I think I have to give this Chai Thai 3.5 stars. I've been to the Chai Thai in Hayward just a couple times and only did take-out once or twice during COVID from the Hayward location. It was a great experience so I was kind of expecting a similar experience for the one in Oakland. That's not to say that my experience at this location is bad. It just wasn't as great of an experience as the ones I've had at Hayward, but who knows, maybe this was a one off experience. We placed an online order right before they open (11:30 AM), and I think the online platform defaults your pick-up time to 12:15 PM as the earliest slot to allow time to prepare and pack. The timing worked out perfectly, because it does take a bit of time to get from my location to the restaurant in Oakland. Please note, parking around this area can get pretty hectic as there's lots of streets you can't turn into and lots of double parking on side streets. There's lots of two-way stops for the busy streets too. I circled around the area twice before I was able to find a parking spot. Our order consisted of 1) Yellow Curry with Chicken, 2) Green Curry with Chicken, 3) Panang Crispy Chicken, and 4) for myself I ordered the Som Tum Going Yang (Papaya salad with grilled shrimp) with mild spiciness. I wasn't the one who picked up the order, so can't comment on their COVID-19 safety measures. First off, a couple things to note, I would think curry would normally come with rice, otherwise it's kind of just having soup. We didn't know that we had to order rice for an additional $3 each. We ended up making our own rice since we didn't know it wasn't included until we got home. On the upside, I guess this could help reduce food waste? Order only what you need I suppose. Second, the crispy layers of the chicken for the Panang curry, unfortunately, turned soggy pretty quickly. Lastly, although I ordered mild Papaya salad, they do not kid when it comes to mild. I have never though salad could be this spicy. That's not to say my Papaya salad was bad. On the contrary, it was actually really flavorful and good. It was definitely worth the price point too. There was tons of shredded Papaya. They didn't skimp on the grilled shrimps. They also portioned their noodles perfectly, and the side of cabbage added a crunchy texture to the mix. Wish they didn't include small bits and pieces of limes with the peels in the salad though. If you can't handle and/or enjoy spice at all, I wouldn't recommend this salad to you, but if you can handle it, this is some good spicy salad. Initially, the spice is tolerable, but this spice builds!! I hadn't expected this to be a painful meal. I was sniffling and tearing up by the end. Would I order it again though? Yes, but I'll make sure to put extra mild in the special instructions next time! I would also recommend the green curry as well. I got a sample taste of it and it's delicious! This is a creamy, but not too heavy of a curry. The eggplants goes really well with this curry because it's good at soaking up the curry flavors. All-in-all, it was a decent meal. Great for some, not so great for others. I wouldn't mind giving it a second try when I'm around again though.

Pad See Ew has the lovely wok essence that I adore so much when digging in on this entree! My family meme bet went back to get that order since they left it out in our first takeout order. They tossed in the chicken satay for the inconvenience of going back to get this dish! I like their stuffed fried chicken. Larb duck salad, lacked spazzing sauce. Spicy tom yum soup with shrimp was especially spicy when I usually prefer spicy. I would say do medium spicy level to still have that taste in place. Pretty tasty Thai cuisine here!

Soooo goood. My go to spot for Thai food. Neighborhood is a lil sketch at night- but the food makes it worth it.

This is our top pick neighborhood Thai, but I'm worried this location closed since they weren't answering the phone last time I checked and they weren't listed as an option on the Chai Thai website. I've eaten here ever couple months for over a decade. The food is tasty and consistently on point unlike some local competitors who vary based on who is cooking (Champa , I love you but you're all over the place).

The beef noodles with red chili and garlic were so delicious that I almost ate the entire bowl.

This place has fire food and amazing customer service! I usually get takeout since they pack all my food nicely. They're also pretty quick with preparation! I would highly recommend this spot!

The service and the food quality once upon a time was great, but the service and the quality of the food has went down. I don't know if it's because of the pandemic, but I won't be visiting here no time soon.

I think I found my new favorite Thai restaurant in Oakland. Every dish that we ordered was delicious. While I enjoyed the papaya salad and Chan Pad Poo (similar to Pad Thai with crabmeat), my favorite dish was the kao soy! A creamy curry broth with chicken, egg noodles (you can swap for rice stick or wide noodles), bean sprouts, a little bit of onions, and crispy noodles for the perfect crunchy element. Honestly, it's a perfect dish. I would order it over and over again.

We came here for lunch and thought that the food was pretty good. However, for one combination plate (two small curries and a side of rice, a pad se ew order and basil fried rice, we paid over $45 (including tax and some tip) so the food here is on the pricier side. We ordered the combination plate where we could choose two sides, so we chose the yellow curry and the chicken curry. Then, we ordered the basil fried rice with tofu and the pad se ew with beef. All of the dishes we're flavorful and well-seasoned. Hype chicken in the curry was tender and good. However, the other protein in the dishes could have been better. For instance, there was a lot of beef in the pad se ew (almost too much) but it was dry and not that great. The tofu in the basil fried rice was also pretty dry and hard to chew and wasn't that great either. The overall dishes were great but they could work on the protein part. Of course with Covid we had to take the food to go. But even with the 15-minute drive home, the food was pretty hot. Parking is not that great bc it's street parking but I parked at a small park nearby.

the food is good, but it has gotten very expensive. Don't be surprised to pay over $20 a dish.

We ordered take out and it was SO GOOD tonight! It's always good, but tonight tasted extra delicious. Also, I was pleasantly surprised to see that when ordering the Larb dish, they now have the spice option "Thai spice"!! Now it tastes spicy hot the way we love it. YAY!!!!! Love their kao poon & curry are also my favorites here.

We had lunch a while ago in the Berkeley spot & loved it, so wanted to try the Oakland one (IIRC the Berkeley one is fancier on the inside). We really enjoyed this place. Service was swift, portions were generous (one curry order was definitely enough food for 2 of us). We, over many visits, have ordered our go to Thai dishes: red curry tofu, panang curry tofu, yellow curry tofu. Food was served hot, customized spice levels, and delicious! Definitely going back for takeout, and for dining in.

Mmm definitely some of the best Thai food I've had in a while! The pad kee mao was so delicious, and it had the perfect proportion of noodles/veggies/chicken in my opinion. The spice level was very tolerable but enough that I'd consider it "spicy." And for the price (about $11) the portion size was generous! The restaurant is a little cramped, but not uncomfortably small, and it was decorated heavily for Christmas :) The service was ok, a little slow at times, but maybe that's because we were off in a little table in the corner. If you're in the area and are looking for good Thai food I would highly recommend Thai Chai! The area is a bit on the sketchy side, especially at night, but the restaurant was perfectly fine!

It's always a plus when you find a place that opens a little later than most restaurants. It was really busy for a late Sunday night. This was pretty much why the service was slow and missed a item on our order. But overall the food was good. The menu is extensive and has a lot of noodle, noodle soups, curries and rice plates to choose from. I was torn between a noodle soup and a curry. I decided to gl with red curry since that shouldn't be something easily to mess up. The red curry had a lot of stuff in it but not much tofu. At least the flavor was great. The angel wins were solid too. Everyone seemed to like the noodle soups. Will have to try it next time.

Food was really good and staff members were really nice. However they opened their door late, and had to go through punching so much orders. We were first in the restaurant but got our order wrong, and wait time for others was averaging 30-40 mins.

Came here for a late lunch on a Sunday afternoon. There was construction going around in the area so parking might be tricky. The restaurant was fairly empty when we arrived, so we were seated promptly. Here's what we ordered: 1. Tom yum noodle soup (his) 2. Imperial rolls (shared) 3. Chai thai noodles (mine) My goal was to finish my entire plate of noodles but alas I could not. At first glance, it didn't seem like a lot of noodles but it really was. The noodles were super delicious and as I've said in a previous review, I love my noodles! The imperial rolls were crunchy and flavorful. My main concern was the flies. Since the door to the restaurant was kept open, flies were coming in and out. It was annoying having to swat away a fly or two every 5 minutes when I was trying to eat my food. I mean, you do not know where those flies came from or what they've touched.... So the next time I come back, please do something about those flies!!!

This is hands down the best Thai food in the Bay Area! I've never had anything here that wasn't delicious. Recommend the catfish curry and the crab fried rice.

Came here on a weekday and the place was mostly empty except for a couple tables. Was super hungry for noodles and this place did not disappoint. I ordered the Khao Poon because I wanted noodle soup with rice noodle. Unfortunately I was dying when I finally got the noodles and had to watch my BF eat his noodles for 20 min. Pretty sure my server forgot to enter my order but acted like it was NBD. Well... I have to say the noodles did (almost) make up for the slow AF service. Both noodle soups were $11, really large bowls with a ton of meat. The broth was super flavorful and the vegetables on top with line went perfectly with it. I love how the Chiang mai noodles came with both crispy and soft flat egg noodles. I highly recommend this place and will def be back!

We usually go to the Chai Thai in Hayward but since we spent the morning in Oakland we thought we'd try this one for lunch instead. The lunch specials are great and a wide selection. You don't just get 1 but 2 entree choices per special! We got the prik khing, basil tofu, red curry, and mixed veg. It was so much we took one of them to go. Oh and the topper was my coconut Thai ice tea -- to die for!!! Why don't more Thai restaurants have this??? Service was nice enough and there was ample street parking even at lunchtime. Would repeat whenever we're around the area at lunch!

I've been coming here for 7 years. They always have been my go to for a good pad kee mao, and khao soi and it's always good. They are pretty consistent.

This place is a hidden gem, it's location within semi industrial and residential neighbors made it interesting to find. Once inside you can't imagine that you are still in Oakland. Lots of Asian influence in the decor. The purple working there are really friendly and helpful the answer questions about the food and give suggestions. We selected an appetizer and three dishes for our party of four enough food for us with no leftovers. The food was very flavorful and surprisingly good. Definitely coming back!

Our local Thai place. We eat here regularly and the food is always delicious. Dine in or take out, great time either way. It's cute a cosy inside and the service is swell. I'm a particular fan of the chicken with garlic rice.

Their food is a bit subpar compared to the Chai Thai In Berkeley. Ive eaten here multiple time and everytime they have been scared and standoffish when I enter the door. Both times, either when they had people in the restaurant or not, whether I was with one other person or alone, they appear scared of my company and I seemingly because we were black. They have problems accommodating customers when it comes to meal substitutions due to their cooks not wanting to add anything to their recipe . ai will choose Berkeley from now on even though this is closer

I definitely love this place. I order take out every time, so I'm not quite sure what the fine in experience is like. My favorites are Red Curry with beef and Pad Thai. I always order the spring rolls because they're fire as well as the Thai Tea.

The food here is excellent and the daily specials are something to try. Every dish was amazing, I particularly like the fish and eggplant dishes here.

I think I found a solid Thai spot in the Bay that won't break the bank. Everything we got was on point. The chili oil (chili garlic paste mixture) is a risky condiment depending on how sensitive your stomach is, but it makes everything that much better. We got pad Thai and pad prig pao that paired really well with the sticky rice. The portions are big enough to feed you good for a couple meals. Good find, got a little ace in my pocket now for future Thai cravings.

Ordered take outs from this place for dinner, while everything was tasty, I felt a little cheated. We ordered the Pad Thai and the Pad Ped Moo Krob. The Pad Ped Moo Krob was suppose to be crispy pork belly with eggplant, instead we got sliced dry pork. It still tasted fine, but I just wish I was not falsely advertised.

Man, do I love this restaurant. Honestly, I can't believe I hadn't written a review until now! Chai Thai is my "go to" for my cravings! I almost always get the Rice Ball Salad, Pad Thai and one of the curry dishes. Their Khao Soi Neur is also a favorite of mine! I did notice their take out sizes have gone smaller, and it made me a bit sad. I do however, understand COVID has affected many restaurant businesses and all I can do is continue to support them and hope they keep their doors open for us to enjoy their delicious dishes. That being said, I believe Chai Thai to be one of the best in the area with flavor and price point and I look forward to being a continuous customer of theirs!

Still a solid 4 for taste. Value and flies are a minus as I can get a tasty weekday lunch combo of Appetizer, Thai Iced Drink, Salad, one Selection with Rice or a Noodle dish for the same price 10 minutes away without flies buzzing around me. The lunch combo at Chao Thai comes with salad or soup, two selections, and white rice. Good service, usually busy in gentrified OaklNd.

Quality pad Thai and the best Tom kha gai I've had in a long time. Delivery was smooth. Can't wait to try more.

I was in Oakland for business and was in between meetings so wanted to pick up some good ol' fashion Thai or Lao food. I found this cute family owned restaurant and the pictures convinced me for the stop. I ordered the papaya salad with a side of vermicelli noodles and a Pad See Ew. The portions were large so I ended up packing half of it to go, but the lunch was infused with rich Southeast Asia flavors and super filling. The papaya salad was prepared Lao style with the fermented crab paste. I requested it to be extra spicy, and the chef made it a point to accommodate. The noodles were a perfect pairing. Papaya Salad is always a refreshing dish to have for lunch or dinner. The Pad See Ew was great -- not too sweet. I requested it with tofu for my protein, and it was assembled perfectly. Would definitely visit if ever in the area again. P.S. parking is tricky, but you should get lucky across the streets near the residential homes. However, pay close attention to the signs because the street cleaning times are designated during odd hours.

I've always loved coming here. Service is always top notch. Food is always very delicious. Super small space But very cozy. Our server that night was absolutely attentive. We got the duck larp, glass noodle salad, yellow curry and pad ke mow. Everything was super delicious. Give this place a try!