Kala Thai Cookery

I've never had Kaprow in a dumpling until I came here and changed my life forever. The fried corn cakes and the pinapple curry were also to die for. This place is delightful, reasonably priced, and very fast/efficient. I'll definitely be back again soon. Thanks for a great meal.

Cozy and beautiful little restaurant with great food and service. The coconut galangal soup is one of the best soups we have had in a while. Spicy Cashew stir fry and Kee mow noodles were good and flavorful too. A must try for Thai food lovers.

First time trying food and so happy I chose this place. The food was amazing, so flavorful! The service was so nice, they were super busy and the waitress was extremely patient and kind. Can’t wait to go back to try more!

The place is popular, we went on a Saturday evening and it was packed. Serving so many people created problems for the restaurants - the quality of one dish was average. I requested chop sticks and some chili garlic paste to spice up my food, to 3 servers and yet I didn’t get it. The service is quick and people polite.

This is a family run restaurant, the food in this restaurant is mouthwatering and full off flavours. We had ordered 4 to 5 different dishes and each one was amazing. One of the best Thai food ever tested. Would definitely recommend this place.

A pretty standard Thai restaurant in a heavily touristy area. I wish they would serve the curry in a bowl instead of a flat plate, which made it really hard to mix the rice with the sauce. The curry was also a bit bland. My friend liked her Pad See Ew. The corn fritters had a lot of corn and the dipping sauce was good. Overall, it was okay experience, given the affordable price for the location. I would come back here again to try more dishes if I happen to be around the area.

Good spot for authentic Thai food. Smaller space and not a luxury space but the food is great. Have eaten there and done takeout. The spice level is legit. Basil fried rice is extremely spicy. The char on the noodle dishes is amazing!

Good, quick Thai food that hits the spot. Papaya salad, pineapple chicken curry, and tofu cashew nut curry all tasted great. Popiah appetizer was mediocre. Service was great as well.

Walking around the hotel to check out the restaurants around Faneuil Hall. Been eating Italian and seafood dishes and was looking for something different when I saw a line outside Kala Thai Cookery. I take it as a good sign whenever there is a line and they did not disappoint. It took 20 minutes to get seated. They were taking orders just before going in. Guess that's being efficient. Started with the fried tofu. Coated with light crispy batter on the outside and soft on the inside. Word of caution... it came smoking hot literally. For my main, ordered the Kapow (3 sign) with ground pork. It was delicious and just right amount of spice. The dinner portion was huge and good for sharing. It's even bigger than portions in Texas! It was a little salty. Should have asked if I can order sunny side up egg with it. Order comes with a side of white rice. Restaurant has a modern and rustic feel. They have table and countertop seatings. Authentic Thai food in downtown Boston. I would come back again when I'm in the area and try their other dishes. Everything looks good from the surrounding tables!

Attended this place for years so I am no stranger. Met the Owner on occasion and was very nice. However The last few times we have gone to kala the food was disappointing. Lack of ingredients mentioned on the menu not in our food. We were missed a few things the last two times and today was no different but this time I got a Massaman Curry it comes with potatoes. They used to fill up the dish with potatoes. This time ZERO. It costs 13 with tax. Was my fav part of the meal yet I didnt receive any... There are two very small grape tomatoes not listed in the ingredients in my dish, this indicates to me it was intentional as someone was too lazy to make more potatoes and couldnt be bothered telling the customer they were out of them. Even the food within the dish is mostly water and not enough food. (assuming because of lack of potato) This is insulting to paying customers. As much as I liked this place in the past this is a serious no return for me. Also had a get together tonight and my friends who also go here after work sometimes will also not be attending anymore as this isnt their first time seeing this either. It keeps happening. They need to talk with their staff and fix this pronto, and/or management needs to wake up. Inflation is up so we pay more to eat out and restaurants cutting food without your knowledge even though its on the menu like this really ticks me off.

One of my fave places for Thai is Kala Thai. I got the tofu massaman curry and the tofu soup with Thai iced tea, all was very good. My husband got stir fried cashew nut with beef and the galangal soup, he said both he liked it. Place is small and intimate, perfect for a quick lunch and wonderful for grabbing a quick crescent ridge ice cream next door when you're done!

A small Thai spot near the North End area. It's quite busy when we got their. Their food looks great at first but most of them were way too sweet for us...The Cha Kuay Tiew was the only decent one with smokey wok flavorful. Good portion though. The Red Curry had plenty of chicken in it.

It was a little busy when we went Saturday night, so they offered to take our order while waiting and have the food ready soon after we get seated. Absolutely loved it because we were starving. Food and service were both amazing. Will definitely be back! Also whoever said this was a hole in the wall does not know what a hole in the wall is. The restaurant is super cute and well designed.

I loved this place two years ago and I still love it! Went for dinner a few days ago and its one of the most amazing thai places in Boston. It was packed, it is a small place, can probably accommodate around 30 people, the seating is too close to each other though. Taste - 10/10 Quality - 10/10 Pricing - 15/10 Quantity - 9/10 Service - 8/10 I got the panang curry with a side of rice and drunken noodles with tofu. Loved both so much! The curry i felt was way less and when asked i was told i could get some extra if i asked for it while ordering, so people remember to ask for extra curry its $1. I was happy to see there were so many veggies. The drunken noodles were great too! Also, food i ordered was VEGAN!! Loved it. Already ordered a takeout again for tonight.

Despite eating a full breakfast, then eating after breakfast ice cream, I was told this was the best Thai restaurant in Boston so I made sure to try Kala Thai out. It's easy to miss, so make sure to google maps this place. It's a very small restaurant, kitchen is open concept so it's a modern hole in the wall. The lunch menu was very affordable and expansive. There's a little bit of everything on it. I ordered the Garlic Bok Choy and my friend ordered the Pineapple Curry. Both came with white rice. You can upgrade to brown rice for an extra charge. I absolutely loved how the veggies weren't cooked to mush and that my entree came on a banana leaf. Both were beautifully presented dishes and full of flavor. I'm a huge fan of the fried tofu so already that was a win in my books. Garlic Bok Choy - think fried garlic tossed amongst simple veggies and the star is the bok choy. Aromatic, bold, oily stir fry in the best way. Pineapple Curry - fresh, bright, and tastes like it was cooking for hours with pineapple simmering at the last minute. We beat the crowd and there weren't too many other tables at the time. But I'm told that this place fills up all the time, so don't be surprised.

Finding a Thai spot is always a must for us when we travel and Kala Thai Cookery hit the spot! The food was incredibly delicious and we couldn't get enough of it. The people there were sweet and super kind. Highly recommend when in the Boston area! We got basil fried rice (which had a great spice level), panang curry, and pad thai.

Great spot for a meal with a friend! Food: - Pad Thai: solid portion size, taste and flavor for the price, can't go wrong with this classic - Tom Yum soup: a taller bowl of this soup, had some mushrooms, good for something looking for something warm - Shortrib curry: my friend got this, the presentation and the flavor were amazing! I want to go back and grab this for myself Seating is difficult to come by, if you're lucky and get there when a table opens up, you can get seated and get your food pretty quickly. Otherwise, it is definitely on the smaller side so people have trouble getting a table. Also, the staff is on the smaller side so there's not too much service

Went on a Monday evening around 7:30. It was packed, in a good way. The vibe is what you'd expect for a packed small restaurant space. Service was polite and efficient. I was seated immediately; she tried to banish me to the single eater stools along the wall but I prevailed and got a table. Ordered the Thai tea and veggie pad Thai. Pad Thai was good; good enough to return. No heat to it. I added the chili sauce to give it some kick. The portion was a nice size and reasonably priced. Will be back to try the rest of the menu!

This place was delicious. We came in and although there was a line we were seated maybe 10 min later. We ordered the steamed dumplings as an appetizer and they were hands down the best I've ever had. The sauce that comes with them is amazing. For entree we got the fried rice and pad Thai. Both heavier on the fish sauce than I'm used to, but it worked once again the food was delicious. When the check came we were shocked to see how low the tab was, considering we are in Boston. Friendly service too. Great place all around

Fantastic final meal in Boston! Very busy but fast turnover. The food is all prepared fresh upon ordering and has an outstanding taste. Corn cakes are off the charts!

I had the best meal here! I could go back every week for the spicy mango salad alone. My friend had to ask for her lemonade three times but I was too busy eating to notice.

I popped into Kala Thai Cookery, a real hole in the wall place for some Thai food after a friend recommended it to me. The restaurant is quite small, and the kitchen is visible and open in the back of the restaurant. It was quite hot and humid this day, and I could feel that the ventilation in the restaurant was not great, as it got a bit smokey over the course of our meal several times. Even though it's a bit small, the service here was amazing! Our waiter was incredibly attentive :) The Gra Pow was fresh, spicy and delicious, and the noodles in the kee mow were flavorful, spicy, and sweet. It was a bit sweeter than I would expect, but still quite delicious. My cravings for Thai food were definitely satisfied!

I loved this restaurant so much during my visit to Boston. It was so close to the Boston Public Market and our nearby hotel. It was extremely busy and the seats are kind of close together, but I didn't mind that that much. Staff was attentive enough for how busy the restaurant was. We ordered the papaya salad, short ribs curry and panang curry. We also ordered the sticky rice which comes at an extra charge. They forgot the order of the the sticky rice on the short rib curry and had put regular rice, but they were super apologetic and let us keep the regular rice, and shortly after brought the correct order of sticky rice. We also decided to try their thai tea ice cream and it was okay for me. The ice cream was a bit dense and was more icy than creamy. The flavour was very good though! Otherwise, everything tasted amazing and we ended up coming here twice during our visit!

Located in Haymarket. Closest pad thai to the North End. Really tasty although its missing a lime. Corn cakes are interesting and worth getting for $6. Preordered the food, fast service, and got to eat in the nice Greenway outdoor tables.

Truly awful food. I was amazed given the great reviews. Maybe just an off night, but the food was inedible. We started with the corn cakes and fried dumplings. The corn cakes were just a big lump of over-fried cord in batter. The corn was completely dried out and tasteless. The dumplings were very thick and deep fried to a deep chocolate brown color. Whatever was inside had turned black from overcooking. We had a Tom Yum soup and a Tom Kha. The Tom Yum was OK, but the Tom Kha just tasted like sweetened coconut milk. No evident spices or other flavors. We then tried three mains. Pad Thai, Short Rib Curry, and Sukothai. The Pad Thai was OK. It has zero flavor, no spices that could be discerned, but was not awful. The short rib curry consisted of four short ribs in a sort of brown sauce with no vegetables. The sauce did not appear to contain any curry ingredients. It simply had no flavor and was also cold. The Sukothai was bizarre. It consisted of boiled noodles with no stock or sauce. It was served with a teaspoon each of sugar, chili flakes, and peanuts. Also, an egg and fish cake. It just seems like they boiled the noodles in water and then served them. Very strange. On the positive side, the thai iced coffee was good, the server was very nice, and with validation, parking was $3.

Tasty, affordable food with a nice staff in a clean, modern setting. We ordered the Basil fried rice with beef and the pad kee mao with chicken. The Basil fried rice has a great, deep basil flavor but I liked the pad kee mao noodles even better! I think the perfect combo would have been the pad kee Mao with beef. Both dishes were only $15, which made for an affordable dinner in a great area.

Came here for a lunch date & we were super happy with the service! The restaurant is small, but we were sat and served fairly quickly. We were overall happy with our meals but were hoping for more noodles, and the food was not particularly spicy. However, the dishes were flavorful, portion sizes were perfect for lunch, and the prices were very reasonable. Overall, amazing lunch spot and convenient to the T.

This is one of my go-to Thai place in downtown. Very small place but service is quick and I never have to wait long. We got the cheesy shrimp rolls as an appetizer to share and it was so tasty! I also got an iced Thai tea which I highly recommend as well as the pineapple fried rice.

The best Thai food you'll find in Boston. Surprisingly cheap for the quality of food, and the food is amazing. The restaurant itself is pretty small with limited seating, I usually get it as take out. They are always quick when you order- usually ready within 20 minutes. There is nothing not to love, everytime I try something new there I find a new favorite dish. The basil fried rice and panang curry though are must tries!

My review is based on our experience of their service for this evening's dinner -- December 11, 2023. When we first walked in, both ladies running the front of the house were stuck on their phones texting or on social media. I had to walk toward the back of the restaurant to request for a table of two. Cool. No big deal as dinner service was just beginning and they were probably getting all their messaging out of the way. More on that later. We ordered one Papaya Salad, one See Ew, one Tom Yum Soup, and one Pineapple Chicken Curry. I asked if we could slightly modify the papaya salad as I like it prepared in a more traditional way. Our server immediately responded that no changes could be made. It made sense after the fact, because the papaya salad came out within minutes after she went to the back of the kitchen to submit our order -- which tells me the papaya salad is premade and not made to order. The Tom Yum Soup and Pineapple Chicken Curry had way too much sugar as part of the base so the sweetness took away from the authenticity of what Thai food represents. The only reason why this review is getting an extra star is because the See Ew was decent -- not the best but the char was there which means I know they used a wok and that it was a made to order dish. I might also add that when we tried to flag either server down for chopsticks and a spoon -- they were both still very much glued to their cell phones. Look up and pay attention to the floor you both are supposed to be managing! Next thing. We finished what we could of our dinner spread and asked for some ToGo boxes and a carry out bag. I'm a rational person and I can understand if a restaurant is trying to cut costs by giving paper bags with no handles vs. with handles. I saw the server hand three other patrons a ToGo paper bag with a handle to make it easier to carry out and when I asked her for the same bag -- I was met with a sigh that she could barely mask and with a hint of annoyance through her face expression as she walked away. Final thing. Our tab was taken care of by my partner and in the gratuity section, we listed we would pay cash. We like to do that in general so the house doesn't take a cut of our server's gratuity since he or she worked for it. I had to take a phone call and walked outside with my belongings. My partner was putting on his jacket to prepare for a walk outside (Boston is cold) -- one of the servers was quick to grab the receipt and shouted "where's the cash? I don't see any cash!" My partner told her he was going to add some cash as soon as he put his jacket back on -- the man barely stood up so that was incredibly inappropriate. He ended up leaving a smaller tip than we intended to because that ambush was simply not polite. So, hospitality at this spot? Almost non existent. Food? Barely Thai and actually overpriced for what the quality, presentation, and taste was. Not a fan.

The food tasted amazing, but the portions were so small we were all hungry after finishing our entree. The noodle portions looked better, but the curry portions were smaller. The service was average, but it was not cool that they gave the table next to us (why sat 10 minutes later) water before we got water.

Has the red curry with tofu and wow, was the sauce flavorful. Rich and creamy and a whole lotta pow! Panang curry was also great. Not much ambiance but for a casual quick meal, this is the place to go. Yum.

Probably the second best cashew nut dish I've ever eaten (I've had a lot all over the world. Simply delicious and the perfect spice level. Highly recommend.

Kala has a Great location right next to all of the historic restaurant and bars on Union Street. Across from the Haymarket marketplace Kala Thai Cookery has some really great Thai specialty dishes for a price you can't find in Boston! One app and two dishes only came out to $36! Ample portions and very clean inside. The staff were very friendly and allowed me and my coworker to sit and chat for a very long time after we finished eating. If you are craving some good Thai curry or chicken and rice, give Kala a shot and see if you become a re-occurring customer like me! :)

Definitely one of the best lunch options around the area if you don't want Italian or to break the bank. Every dish I've had here is great and flavorful. Some of the highlights are the spicy kee mao, the steak tips which for the price are unbeatable in this part of town, the drunken noodles, and the spicy noodle soup. The coconut appetizer soup is also the best I've ever had, it has these huge great exotic mushrooms in it. Usually pretty packed for lunch and groups over two wait, but not long. I wish it was closer to me for take out but probably such a great option for the locals. The service is always great too.

I order here a few times a month and always am happy. My favorites are the spicy noodles soup with chicken, shrimp pad Thai and the red curry. The spice level is always great and everything tastes fresh. I generally do take out, but you can also sit down. It is a smaller place so if you are going with a group I would recommend making a reservation. All the interactions I have staff are always pleasant.

Ive been to this place a couple times. The soup is amazing. They will make it extra spicy just ask! So delicious!

Family-run restaurant in the heart of a busy street/college town! It's a small place, so I'd recommend making a reservation or being prepared to wait. Yummy pad thai: great portion size and plenty of meat. But I do wish there was a spice level option to customize

I was in the mood for something spicy and looked up this place. Great location. I was eating solo and this place is right in front of the farmers market so there is plenty of hustle and bustle outside, great for people watching. As for the food, I was thinking about pad Thai but the waitress recommended kee mao (I believe). She said is it more spicy. Everything was yummy

The restaurant located right in downtown Boston. There is limited street parking here, so you might need to park in a garage if you drive. Restaurant is not too big, they can hosted around 20 sth guests max. When we arrive at the restaurant, the staffs are extremely friendly, she recommended us her fav dishes. We ordered the corn cake, pineapple curry and char Kay teow. The corn cake is very savory and crunchy. The presentation of all dishes are nicely presented. I would say that the curry is very rich in flavor and the Shrimp taste fresh, not like frozen. I just took one star off because it's so hard to find street parking here.

The Pad Thai was moist and delicious. The cheesy shrimp rolls were crispy and packed with flavor. The lemonade had a floral quality that made it more refreshing and not too sweet. I'm still waiting for the Tom Yum soup to cool down. (It was delicious but a little watery.) Service was quick and efficient. The ambience was minimal, but for authentic Thai food, you can't beat this place!

I visited with a group of friends on a busy Saturday afternoon. Despite the small size of the restaurant, we were seated quickly, and the wait was not as bad as expected based on other reviews. Our table was small, and we had to place our drinks on the bench beside us. To start, we ordered the corn cake with sweet and spicy peanut dressing, and it was deliciously crispy. It was so unique, and all of us really enjoyed it! For our entrees, we ordered the beef grilled over rice, the char kway teow, and the panang curry. The char kway teow was our favorite dish - it had interesting and unique flavors with the right amount of spiciness. The noodles were cooked perfectly. I just wish the portion size was bigger. The beef grilled over rice was cooked and seasoned well, but there were too many extra veggies on the plate that didn't really add to the dish. For example, the boiled broccoli was bland and felt out of place. The panang curry was good, but a bit on the sweeter side for my taste. I would have preferred more spice to balance the sweet and nutty flavors. Overall, I'd give it a 4/5 rating. Despite some minor flaws in the dishes, the food was enjoyable, and the service was prompt and friendly. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for its delicious food and cozy atmosphere.

Popular place and it's pretty small so there might be a wait. They don't take reservations either. We had the kapow with pork (spicy!), pad see ew, curry short rib, and dumplings to start. Food was pretty good. Service was efficient and good. Kudos to their patience managing the small space.

Food was average, but very pricy. It is a tiny place with not much place to wait, and we went on a chilly day. Service was ok, and they weren't really very helpful with the menu either.

My sister and I had plans to eat here on a Sunday morning, but one of us did not feel well enough to go out. As an alternative, we picked up and took it back to our place as they were not taking delivery orders at the time. The order was already to be picked up by the time I showed up about 10 minutes after placing the order. Everything was neatly packed and bagged with zero leakage. It was a cute and decently spaced out establishment, a place I can see myself coming to in the future. We shared a bunch of items including Pineapple Curry, Pad Thai with shrimp, Pad See Ew with beef, Steamed Kapow Dumplings, Cheesy Shrimp Rolls, spicy noodle soup with shrimp and Thai iced tea. Everything was great from top to bottom and I imagine would have tasted even better fresh. Dumplings were juicy and tasty. Rolls were still hot and crispy by the time we opened them up served with a sweet and spicy chili sauce. Pad see ew and pad Thai was a little dry but is consistent with my experience at other places as well. I loved the curry since it was creamy and had an extra kick. My sister said she liked the tea as she prefers them not to be too sweet. Overall, I had a great experience and look forward to coming again. Highly recommend.

Service was very limited, but that's not surprising. I was with a party of four, and everyone thought their meals tasted bland. It's also a somewhat cramped restaurant with a bunch of dying plants. My Pad See Ew in particular had a very strange, disgusting taste and I couldn't finish the dish (even though Pad See Ew is often my favorite Thai dish to get. There are many better Thai places you could go to in Boston.

Kala Thai Cookery: A Thai Culinary Gem in Boston Pros: - Perfectly Cooked Pad Thai: The Pad Thai at Kala Thai Cookery is a burst of flavors. The noodles are spot-on, and the sweet, savory, and slightly tangy sauce is a treat for the taste buds. - Delicious Massaman Curry: The Massaman Curry is like a warm, Thai hug in a bowl. Creamy, rich coconut milk-based curry with just the right level of spice, served with tender chunks of meat. - Efficient Service: The staff here takes orders lightning fast, and your dishes arrive promptly, ensuring you get your Thai fix in no time. Cons: - Small Space, Potential Wait: The restaurant is quite small, so be prepared for a wait, especially on busy nights. - Not for Leisurely Dining: If you're looking for a leisurely meal, this might not be the place. The limited space and the queue of diners at the entrance create a bustling, energetic atmosphere. Summary: Kala Thai Cookery in Boston is a must-visit for lovers of Thai cuisine. Their Pad Thai and Massaman Curry are culinary delights. The efficient service ensures you won't be waiting too long, but do be ready for a lively, cozy dining experience. It's the perfect spot to savor your meal before moving on to your next adventure.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kala. It's a small spot with a pretty unassuming exterior, but I highly recommend you go inside to see what's there. We tried a ton--corn cakes, beef tacos, fried dumplings, chicken fried rice, shrimp see ew--and everything was excellent. I haven't been to many Thai spots, but this was the best I've tried and it seriously convinced me to expand my restaurants in this space. Really good food, nice people, cute small spot.

My favourite kind of place - not too big - and felt like a mom-and-pop - Food came out in a reasonable amount of time. It was hot and delicious Loved it

What a lovely little spot for warm Thai food on a rainy day! The place has a homey feel with simple decor and an open kitchen concept. Normally, there is a line, but we were able to get seating since we ate a very late lunch. The pad Thai was delicious! It had crunchy onion on top and a sweet sauce. It was a great portion size for one person, not too big and not too small. I also thought the prices were pretty reasonable, too! Parking is a little challenging since it is a bustling part of Boston.

Such an amazing restaurant right next to the Boston Public Market and between Downtown and the North End. With so many tourist traps in this area this place is a true gem. Delicious curries and noodle dishes for great prices. It's small and unassuming but would definitely recommend giving it a try!

The Thai food here is outstanding. I could smell the amazing aromas permeate from the kitchen as I was waiting patiently for my food. I can hear the sounds of the chef's woks firing up and cooking the food. When the food was served, it was piping hot, which I LOVE. All the dishes I ordered from the pad thai, chicken satay, and sukhothai, brought all the flavors of salty, sweet, savory, umami, bitter, sour, pungent, creamy, and spicy. If there was one thing I had a slight problem with is with the pad thai. It needed more noodles because it was heavy with the sauce. Otherwise, I was a very happy camper. I was disappointed that they didn't have tod mun when I ordered it today and next time I'll need to try the corn cakes. The north end is lucky to have a great Thai spot in the neighborhood.

Cute little Thai restaurant hit the spot on a cold night in the city. Flavors were delicious, servings were plentiful enough to share everything! Service and ambience were also great.

we ordered takeout from kala thai on a thursday night. super easy to use the online ordering, said our food would be ready in 20-30 min. pick up was super smooth! when we got to the restaurant it was crazy busy, people waiting out the door. we realized they were waiting to be seated so we walked in to the hostess to grab our food. it was ready and waiting for us 25 min after we ordered. we got home and dug in. genuinely best thai food i've had in boston! and the prices are chefs kiss!! so happy to have found this gem. we're gonna be regulars here. we got the pad thai, pad see ew and fried rice. absolutely loved everything!!

Had some confusion getting seated, but once we sat the food and service was great. Not expensive considering the caliber of food and the location.

Highly highly recommend! The restaurant is small but we were able to grab table quickly. They have a gluten free menu and are knowledgable. We tried the Tom Yum soup and red curry with chicken. Both were delicious. So much flavor in both dishes and we were able to tell them what spice level we wanted the curry. Lots of veggies and chicken in the curry and the rice itself was very good. The service was great and the food didn't take long. We would love to come back and try more.

I walked in at 7pm on a busy night (Celtics and Red Sox games). Staff took our order while we were in line and were very communicative about when we would get a table. The food still took some time despite the earlier ordering. My friends got the Tom Yum soup and loved it . I got the Tofu Pad Sew Ew and it was some of the best I've had in Boston. The are not stingy with vegetables, which I appreciated. Only dinged because it was nearly impossible to have access to our wait staff during the meal due to the business. A lot of tables were sitting for longer than needed while waiting on checks. Overall, you can't beat the price and quality of food; definitely will be coming back next time I am near Haymarket.