Loak Toung Thai

Cool little spot. Looks sketchy from the outside but that's the majority of Tacoma for ya. This place really delivered on delicious food and stellar service. Huge portions too and a really cool atmosphere that you wouldn't expect when you first roll up to the place. It's one of the better thai places I've been to in the area and it deserves a better location. But I'm not trying to knock the restaurant. The thai tea is one of my favorite things ever. I was surprised it wasn't packed but it deserves to be. Come try it out and spread the love for this little gem !

Beautiful place, with authenticity in the food & spice level like Thailand where we visit often, and CRAZY GENEROUS portions. 1 star minus for: A) very slow service (they’re short of staff, but their high school staff are trying their best & very polite and accommodating; one slightly aggressive customer refused to scan the QR menu and insisted on a physical menu & the tall high sch female went right ahead to find one for him. B) meats are kinda tough/over cooked, but flavour is def there. So overall, def a place I’ll return to! Randomly spoke to a staff who turn out to be the the Boss, and he told us his wife who’s cooking is from Thailand. That explains a lot about the flavours. Super great folks, will be back if we visit this state again.

Such a find! Looks non-descript from outside but inside it’s super cute. Especially recommend the fresh rolls. No glass noodle filler, just yummy veggies and protein! Big portion sizes too on everything I got. 😋

Authentic Thai food. First time in years I have had this yummy of restaurant Thai. A major positive find and really close to UPS. Caution... with authentic comes the heat. I like it but for those that aren't ready start low, even a zero. And work your way up. A 5 you better be born and raised in this level of heat. Super service. Very very reasonably priced! Lots of food per item. This place, one of the rare finds, gets an equally rate 5 stars.

A hidden gem! Nice restaurant in a not-as-nice neighborhood. Service was very friendly and attentive. They really cares what customers like and feel. Dining room is tastefully decorated, yet a bit dark to my like. There’re a couple special tables showing cultural emphasis. Food was surprisingly well made with interesting presentation. It’s well worth the price.

Excellent Thai Food served here. Owner very professional, helpful, friendly person. We will be going back! The Best red curry dish I've had in years. My friend really enjoyed the vegetarian eggplant dish.

Best Thai food I've had in years! The staff is super friendly. The portions are generous. The food is aaaasamaaaazzzziiinnngg!!!! I had a delicious ginger tea there that I've never tasted before. It had a strong sweet delicious ginger flavor, almost like candied ginger. Yum! My curry was wonderful. I'll be eating there again for sure! So glad I found this place 😃

It was my first time eating here. I celebrated my birthday with my family and OMG the food is amazing, the atmosphere is awesome and the owners treated us like family. This is hands down the best Thai restaurant in Washington State. Thanks to Jeremy and his wife for making my birthday one to remember!

Blink and you will drive past, tucked in the corner of the "strip mall". The pictures pretty much the same inside, using warehouse shelves as tables and work station. The place is too dark for my taste and there was a steady clientele coming in. The food came out and each dish can feed 2-3 ppl each. The Pineapple fried rice was good, could not taste the pineapple unless you bit into a piece. The large cuts of chicken and cabbage could have been smaller. The Phad Thai was good, different from my normal but still good. The Penang Curry was the best part. Their menu is now online https://www.loaktoungthai.com/menu

Ambiance A+ Food A+ Service A+ Prices A+ This is literally what someone means when they say the best food comes from the most "hole in the wall" spots. Outside is "hole in the wall", but inside you enter an oasis of culture, comfort, and kindness. You will be pleased by all of it, and the quality of food they serve is higher than any other Thai joint in T Town. Call and ask for a reservation because you will likely not dine in if you don't. They seat till 6:30p and close at 8:00p. The owners are lovely people.

LOVED IT HERE! Food was so good and portions were gigantic!! Service was great, and server was very sweet. highly recommend this place!

My husband and I stopped by to get some delish Thai food. Their food is delicious! We waited about an hour to get our food served but it was worth the wait. They sold out of red curry and panang. Loved how they decorated inside and made it feel so homey.

I went here for a Saturday lunch and was seated promptly at a 5-top table even though we were a party of 2. Later we realized it's because the portions are huge! We thought the prices of the dishes were pricey but then, each dish can serve 2-3 people. We got the red curry lunch special with fresh spring roll, garlic chicken lunch special with fried egg roll, and Tom kha. I opted chicken for red curry lunch special level 3 spice so it is a bit spicy. The curry could have a bit more flavor - it was filled with lots of ingredients so it is more of a chicken dish than a curry dish. No complaints on portions and value, just the flavor profile. The fresh spring roll is kind of like a chicken wrap. The garlic chicken lunch special is much larger portions than the red curry. I feel like it is at least a pound of chicken there. This dish alone could serve 3 people! The chicken is a bit dry and could be a bit more flavorful, but again great value. Tom kha is a bit tangy but is very flavorful. I wish the red curry had as much flavor! I recommend this even though it is not a lunch special. We got tofu with this one but I think a chicken or pork would be a better option. I wished the server cautioned us it is a lot of food like the other tables as we grossly overordered and had leftovers for way too many meals and we prefer trying different places for the variety for food adventures. Otherwise, food is okay but value is great as it is large portions. Quantity over quality

We chose this spot based on its Yelp reviews, and it definitely lived up to the hype. We came for a weekday lunch, expecting a decent crowd, but we had the place to ourselves. The restaurant is family-run: the husband manages the front of the house, while his wife runs the kitchen alongside their daughter. The wife is a trained chef from Thailand and has experience working in other restaurants. When you walk in, you'll see a takeout counter right in front, but if you head to the right into a slightly dimmer room, there's a cozy sit-down dining area. We had to try the classic Pad Thai, Pad See-Ewe, and the Basil Pork lunch special. The portions here are massive--easily enough for three people! The service was fast, and the owner was friendly, sharing some interesting info about the restaurant. The food was hearty and a great value for the price. We'll definitely be coming back!

Loved the ambiance. It really felt like eating in another place. The food was fantastic, with huge portions, and low prices. Most of all the lady who was our waitress was wonderful and made us feel valued and paid extra attention to us. We will absolutely be back for other dishes.

I've had Thai food all over the world and even worked with Thai chefs, so I had high hopes for this place considering the ratings--but it just didn't hit the mark for me. Ambiance: It's a cute little spot, but the smell threw me off right away. It had this old-building/restroom kind of smell, and then I noticed a drain right by our table. That definitely took away from the experience since the smell lingered the whole time. Food: We ordered the Thai tea, crispy cauliflower, garlic chicken with shrimp, and Tom Kha. - Thai Tea (2/10): Way too sweet. It was loaded with sugar and condensed milk, so I could barely taste the tea. Took two sips and couldn't finish it. - Crispy Cauliflower (4/10): The texture was great--nice and crispy--but it was pretty bland. The only real flavor came from the dipping sauce, which was disappointing. - Garlic Chicken (5/10): The seasoning was spot on, but the dish felt thrown together. The chicken was just piled on top of a ton of veggies, which ended up getting soggy. Would've been better served separately. - Tom Kha (4/10): I was most excited for this, but it was a letdown. Right away, I bit into huge pieces of ginger, which wasn't a great start. The lighting was dim, and the ginger and chicken looked identical, so it was hard to tell them apart. Plus, the soup was super thick, overloaded with coconut milk, and missing key ingredients like mushrooms. The balance just wasn't there. Service: 10/10. The staff was awesome--super friendly and attentive. But unfortunately, great service couldn't make up for the food. The portions were big, but overall, I wouldn't come back.

I had driven by this place many time and never knew it existed. It's hidden in the back and doesn't look like much from the outside but the food was great. Everyone was friendly. I will definitely go back

Probably my favorite Thai food in Tacoma - SO good!! Pad Thai is amazing, Tom Kha was great, garlic chicken was tasty. Spicy wings were a little dry/needed more sauce basted but were good too. Very romantic atmosphere/beautiful ambiance. Can't wait to go back!

Delicious, family owned Thai restaurant. Loak Tuong is really hidden in a small plaza right off Union and Center- known as Oakland area of Tacoma. Outside is very unassuming, somewhat sketchy. Inside is warm, inviting, and cozy. We were greeted and sat right away. The food is made fresh, with huge portions. Three of us shared two dishes. We tried the Phad Thai and Red Curry. The red curry stole the show- so good! Highly recommend!

Delicious food, beautiful ambiance, wonderful and thoughtful service; this restaurant has it all. I absolutely loved coming here with my partner for lunch, and boy was I surprised to see how beautiful the interior was. The owners did a wonderful job at capturing the essence of Thailand in such a limited space. The food just the cherry on top, with portions hearty enough to fill you up for the day, full of spice and definitely made with love. The service was wonderful and welcoming. Come here with the entire family or for an intimate date night, I promise you it's worth your while!

My favorite Thai restaurant in Tacoma. The owners are so welcoming and personable. Love the crispy tofu and the tom yum soup, everything tastes very fresh.

Food is top tier and the lil pineapple candy's they have are really good too. Customers service is really good too.

Truly, a hole in the wall, but I must agree that the food was exceptional. Service was spot on as well.

Looks can be deceiving, from the outside it doesn't look too great, but it's worth going inside. The servers were great and super friendly. Be careful - they are not greedy with their portions! I feel like my pad Thai could have fed 3-4 people. These are definitely shareable plates. We also had the fried cauliflower which was absolutely amazing - a definite must try. I recommend this place to anyone who wants good Thai food. Won't be spending a lot when coming here either, the prices are great for the amount of food you get.

The food here was above average--I'd give it 4 stars--but the prices are pretty steep, even considering all restaurants' prices now. Also, the prices here are roughly 20-25% higher than the most recent menu photo on Yelp so do plan for that. Lastly, my to-go order leaked all over the bag since they use some chintzy take-out containers. It's probably best to eat at the restaurant if you want to eat all of your meal.

This place is great. Such a hole in the wall authentic Thai restaurant. Even though it was busy the service was great and the food was amazing!

A group of us were going to a Rainiers game and decided we wanted to eat beforehand. Our planner found this little place just down from the Cheney Stadium. Really nothing to look at from the outside, but you are transformed to truly Thai ambiance once you walk through the doors. So very nice inside. We split some of the dishes, one was the garlic chicken and some yellow curry. Both dishes were so good !! The yellow curry was the best I have ever had. Most of the food we got, we had to bring home, which is fine with me. The place is run by a really nice couple, he waits tables and his wife cooks. It is truly a fantastic place. Coming back for sure !!

The food was delicious. We thought it might be closed at first because of the lighting and large OSB covered window. Once you pass the lobby you are transported into a beautiful cozy space! The food was amazing. We were lucky to come on a night with the pork rib curry special. We ordered 3 main dishes for 2 people and the fish cake appetizer. We had enough food for at least 6 people but will be enjoying the leftovers for days. Staff were very friendly! We will 100% be back!

We haven't been here in a few years. It used to be very small with maybe five or six tables. Boy have things changed! They acquired the space next door and now have a legit dining area. We had the Pad See Ew (sp?) and garlic chicken. We also had spring rolls. Both main dishes were EXCELLENT. And the portions were large. The quality and flavor were definitely a step up from most of the local Thai restaurants. Service was prompt and courteous. Our only complaint was with the fried spring rolls. They tasted as if they were dipped in salt water. Meaning the inside was not salty, but the wrapper was inedible. My guess is someone just made a mistake with the wrappers. (I'm unsure if they make the rolls in-house or outsource them). That said, I don't feel this is probably the norm. We will definitely be returning on a more frequent basis..

Hidden gem in Tacoma for Thai food lovers. Outside area seems okay but the inside ambiance is totally different and the vibes are so cool. It feels like you are in different place. Never thought I would find such a restaurant here. Service and food was another plus plus.

I have never had a bad dish here. They are accommodating with gluten free items, steering me away from things that can't be made gluten free or wouldn't be very tasty if made gluten free. The owners work very hard to make everyone feel welcomed.

Just so amazing. Great family owned restaurant. Great service and the dining area is so serene. There furniture is well loved but don't let that deter you from the epic food experience that awaits you. The food is AMAZING! we visited from out of town a couple years back and my husband had been looking for another restaurant to do the Three Flavor Fish... no one comes close. He's been dreaming of it since. So our recent visit we had to come back! So good! Enjoyed the fried spring rolls and crispy cauliflower appetizer- perfection! I had the Moo Tod (fried pork strips). The dipping sauce is so good!!! Can't wait to come back again!

If you're looking for delicious, balanced, spicy, goodness this is the place to go. I ordered the pineapple fried rice, papaya salad (lao style extra spicy), spicy chicken wings, and moo Tod (pork strips with 3 savory and sweet dipping sauces).

Phad see ew and phad kee mao do not disappoint and the portions are great, especially when so many restaurants portions keep getting smaller and more expensive. I wish they would have garlic green beans back on their menu, it was my favorite.

Unusual location but very quality dining inside! Food is always on point, moody Asian atmosphere, nice enough for a special occasion and great family staff. Never disappoints!

Best pad woon sen I have ever tried and I've had a lot! I called for takeout and the woman who helped me was so kind. My whole order was ready when I got there with the food nice and hot and the drink staying cool in the fridge. Fairly priced respective to similar places today. Highly recommend and will be coming back! P.S. the spice level is 1-5, I ordered 3 and it was more than spicy enough for me!

I wanted to try a new place to eat for lunch and I found this place on google. After looking at the website i called in my order for pad kee mao. I've never had it before but it looked delicious. Went to pick it up and let's just say the outside is a little hidden but once inside it was very welcoming and you can tell the place is ran by love and family. The company from the staff was very appreciated as well. As for the food goes, 10 out of 10 stars!!! The portion on this dish is huge! The veggies are fresh and crunchy, there's a perfect amount of sauce. Overall my experience here was great and would absolutely recommend giving this place a try!

Have ordered panang curry, red curry, chicken wings, pad Thai, and fried pork to go. All are ok but the panang curry is our favorite and hits every time! Always friendly staff when we call to order and pick up.

I tried to go to Loak Toung Thai a couple of years ago which was right during the pandemic and saw that their business hours were extremely limited. I think they were like that for a while and I didn't reattempt to go and kind of forgot about the restaurant. But eventually I did and when I did it seemed like what was probably once their normal business hours were restored and I am so very glad we did! Steve saw a menu online about Thai sausages as an appetizer. We couldn't find it on the menu there but they still made it when we asked for it. They were so good! These round sausages which were on skewers came with wonderful dipping sauces! We then moved on to the main dishes. Steve ordered a chicken and rice dish. I cannot praise enough how well done they cooked the broccoli in this dish. It was sheer perfection. I then got my favorite which I almost always get at Thai restaurants, Phad Kee Mao. I like getting chicken with this noodle dish so I did. The basil and all the other spices made a seamless and abundantly flavored dish. We both got three stars on the spice level which was perfect. Portions were huge! It is true our appetites aren't as big in the summer time but we took a lot of leftovers home and those leftovers stretched into two extra meals. And of course even as leftovers it was still out of this world. Would love to come back and try more dishes and to delve into their dessert menu as well. Very likely this Thai restaurant is the best in Tacoma.

Updating my review since it's been a hot minute! Came in cuz I'm hungry, it's unseasonably hot here in Washington state and I didn't wanna cook! Loak toung Thai never disappoints! I ordered pad se ew tonight, spicy number 4 And a Thai iced tea to cool down the fire! Now ima go home and eat!

This is one of those restaurants that you don't judge until you've been inside and tasted their food. Based on their location and the storefront, it doesn't seem like there is a restaurant, but a friend of a friend recommended it so we had to try it out. I met my girlfriends there for a mommy night out without the kids. The inside of restaurant is so cute and intimate. I think the lack of windows makes it intimate. We decided to sit on an elevated floor without chairs, just a pillow and loved the ambiance. We ordered their special, pork belly with Chinese broccoli and it was delicious. We also ordered Phad Thai and Pineapple Fried Rice, which we all enjoyed. The service was great and not once did we have to ask for water. They were patient with us as we took time to enjoy the food and each other's company.

One of the best Thai foods in Tacoma, I'm from California and the Thai food there is wonderful but when I came to this place and tried the food I was very happy

Jackpot!!! Excellent food. Plan to come back again next time we're in town. And you better bring your appetite because the plates could feed two.

I love Thai food but this food was nothing anything close to tasting or looking Thai. I don't normally leave reviews but the food I ordered to go was CAPITOL HORRIBLE, but the staff was nice. I will never go back.

The food was amazing some of the best I've had anywhere! Great quiet spot. Pad se Iw was amazing. Got 4 star could have gotten 5. Perfect flavors.

Don't let the location or the entrance take out area fool you...great food and dining area feels like Thailand. Best Thai food I've had in a long time and best in the south end area!!!

I love coming here, the waiter is the owner he is very attentive and super nice., portions are AMAZING, you'd definitely have left over. This is classic fried rice LEFTOVERS. Family owned business.

I can't believe I have never eaten here. The inside is decorated with Thai themed decor. I chose to sit in the section that has a cover and clothed drapes around so you feel a bit enclosed in your own space. This section requires your shoes to be taken off and you step onto the platform and are seated on a cushion. I think there's only 2 or maybe 3 people that work here and I think its ran by husband and wife, its so cute and they were super friendly. I ordered the lao style papaya salad at a 4 star. Not too spicy, but just enough heat. Amd I love the fermented sauce they use. The stinkier the better in my opinion, cause there's more flavor. Also their lao papaya salad comes with chopped up raw crab. I also tried their special of the day which is their Thai style sour sticky ribs. It was garlicky and actually not very sour in my opinion, but still got good flavor. A little bit sweet and savory and a nice char on the edge. They come with 2 different dipping chili sauces. And I got a side of jasmine sticky rice to compliment both of the dishes. Might I also add, the portions are quite generous. Now I have a closer option to go to when I crave papaya salad.

The food is beyond what I expected!!! The service is over the top and the ambiance is a perfect setting. I am upset it took me this long to find this restaurant. I definitely recommend EVERYTHING...if you like ginger ale you MUST try theirs. I wish they were open 7 days a week!!! Thank you for being great. My family and I love this place.

Great lunch specials, beautiful presentation of food and friendly service. We will come back again. Sue W.

Food is always good here Serivice is good and I get the pang yang is what I get One of tacoma favorites

This is a good Thai Food Restaurant. The food was good, but what I was impressed with the most was the incredible service, friendliness and atmosphere. I ordered the Drunken Noodles (Phad Kee Mao proper name and listed on the menu) and the Panang Curry, both meals were good and came in very large portions. I would visit this restaurant again.

Love the staff. No eat in options for a while. Tried the papaya salad... the cashier asked "are you SURE it's very stinky." She was correct. I would have asked for lighter on the fish sauce/fermented fish paste. DELICIOUS!

Almost passed it! Was ohhh...Melon Seed--I gotta go there some time and happened to see this spot tucked away on the back side. Doesn't look like much from the outside, or even as you walk in, but go into the other side...and it is a different scenery. Low light ambiance adds another level to your dining experience with several different seating choices available. Not a huge selection on the menu, but a fair one for Thai cuisine. I went with the drunken noodle, three others went for the fried rice, one with the curry, one with the garlic chicken and one with the Tom Yum soup. Drunken noodle was ordered at a spice level of 4 which ended up not being very spicy--also ordered a spicy chicken wing level 4. Noodles good--chicken wings just okay. Nothing special about them, not spicy--or flavorful even, just chicken wings. Garlic chicken looked delicious! Smelled delicious--even tasted delicious, but was on the cold side. The curry was on the cold side as well, but was good. Flavors were too rich to finish after meat and veggies were gone. Fried rice came out hot and was liked by all that ordered it. Tom Yum was good and had rich flavors as well. I would say over all 3.5 stars. Lady was friendly, but all of the food needed to be hot when it made it to the table. I thought the "change of scenery" added a unique touch.

Wow! Some of the best Thai food I've had in quite some time!! It looks like a little hole in the wall but you'd be surprised on the flavor and portions. I have been craving them for sometime now so I need to go back! We ordered to go but next time we will stay and dine in.

Absolutely loved it here!!! You can dine in or get it to go! The atmosphere is so homey & comfortable. Waited about 20 minutes for my takeout order, but good food takes time!! It was so delicious and the portions are so BIG! I had so much leftover after I thought I ate so much. You can tell this family works hard to make sure they serve quality food and kindness. Will definitely be coming back here and trying the dine in option (:

Food was amazing. Everything was good. Spice level you ask for is good as well. Service is quick and very nice owners and the server "Sarath" is amazing. Knows all of his foods on the menu and can answer all questions. Cute restaurant on the inside.