Thai Tom

Don’t expect small talk, courtesy, hygiene, answers to any questions, or card payments - only expect banger Thai curry fried rice. Better know what you wanna order and what goes into it beforehand. This place will humble you, fill your stomach, and destroy your ego 🔥

We went for dinner based on recommendation from a friend of ours. Restaurant supposed to close at 9 and we were there at 8.20 and they said they stopped taking new people. But it was rude response. We thought it is one off and went two days later Food was ok. We ordered thai fried rice, Tom Yum soup and veggie roll. Eventhough we said spice level 4, it came bland and we added sauce on the side. The way they delivered food was to leave(almost felt they did not care for us to come next time) It is hard to recommend to others when food was ok but service need to completely change with less attitude

I got there at 11:30 when they said they were opening but it wasn’t for another 10 minutes. They didn’t list the prices so I just got the pad thai with shrimps. Turns out shrimp was +$1.25 and they gave me only 5. Pad thai was 17.5 in total and portions were so small. Would not go back. And they only accept cash.

Cash only! INCREDIBLE thai food with super fast service, pad see you later and panang curry were both life changing! Highly recommend!

You need to try this place. Best thai i have had in the area. There is always queue but it moves fast. They cook food in front of you and everything is really fresh. They accept only cash so please bring some. Also, they don't have thai ice tea on the menu but ask for it, it's really delicious. We orders pad see new again, Yellow curry, spring rolls, ice tea, and mango sticky rice. Everything was really delicious

This is an amazing little place. It is a true hole in the wall - nothing fancy - maybe a little rough. The food is fantastic! It is a little on the hot side - we did 1 star and it was similar to a 3 star at other restaurants. We had the veggie stir fry with special Thai sauce (add tofu)- amazing. The Thai salad is an experience with the Lays chips and hot peanut sauce. The sticky rice mango - out of this world. Not great for large groups. CASH only.

I stopped here for lunch with a colleague. As we walked in, they told us "cash only." We were informed to sit at the table next to the door. I sat closest to the door, and as soon as I sat down, the waitress left the door open (and it was a cold rainy day). I didn't let it get to me as we'd be eating quickly and leaving. We had a question so flagged down the other waiter. My colleague had seen someone order wings but couldn't find it on the menu. Turns out, the menu was so old that you couldn't even read the appetizers section. The waiter pointed to that section of the menu and said, "It's right there," then walked away. Terrible service. After we ordered, thank goodness it came out quickly because I was freezing. I ordered the panang curry (spicy), and it was good. Had a good kick to it but was a bit too sweet for my liking. I do like how you can see the cheifs cook your food behind the counter. Only downfall is the entire place is smoky and stuffy. Would I go back? Nope. I'd much rather try a new Thai place than come back here.

The OG for Thai here in the U-District. If you went to school here, you know this spot. It's fast-paced street food. Restaurant prices with fast-food service. NOTE: They only take cash, so make sure you stop by the ATM before you pickup or dine-in. If you are looking for the true experience, sit at the "bar top" and be right next to the cook! Parking is on the street, and it's gonna be tough to find something on the Ave, so expect to walk a couple of blocks. The restaurant is a tight galley style space so expect a shoulder to shoulder experience. And you will definitely smell of the food. Food is consistent, and know they may run out of popular items like the fried rolls. Everything they pump out is good, with the spicy kick (or no spice) you ask for. The portions are good for the Seattle prices. Midas 5-stars for the food and street food experience.

With more than 2000 reviews, I'll be brief. This is a small restaurant that you'll likely have to wait outside in a line for. It's a show at the counter as you watch the staff turn out dishes over just one stove. The food was good. It wasn't the best pad Thai or the basil chicken that I've ever had. I say that because Thai Tom is considered one of the best in Seattle. I think that's a testimony to the lack of strong Thai restaurants in Seattle. (Don't misread that -- there are some great ones in the city.) That said, if you eat Thai in the suburbs across America, this will be one of the best places you've eaten. So, it's worth coming but set your expectations on your experience with Thai food in the US -- some will say it's their favorite and others will not be unhappy, but will want to try other places in Seattle and probably like those more. Cash only. See website for details. On street parking only.

We recently decided to grab takeout for lunch from Thai Tom, a place we used to frequent many years ago. I was curious to see if it still held up! The restaurant was fairly busy, and after placing our order, we were told our food would be ready in about 10 minutes. It ended up being closer to 15, but since we don't live too far away, we were thrilled to find everything still piping hot when it was time to eat. I ordered the Panang curry with chicken, while my kids opted for the Pad See You. I'm happy to report that everyone was satisfied! My Panang curry was wonderfully rich and savory, with perfectly steamed rice and tender, delicious chicken. The kids loved their dish too; the noodles had a delightful warm and smoky flavor, and the sauce was so tasty that they devoured all their veggies! While I'm glad to say the food is just as delicious as I remembered, I did notice that the portions aren't as generous as they used to be. In the past, they piled everything into large white clamshell containers, but now it comes in smaller black lidded bowls that are more manageable for one sitting. Nonetheless, I'm really glad Thai Tom is still around to satisfy our cravings for Thai food!

The last few times I went to Thai Tom back around 2019 something was off. The flavors just weren't there. I had them today and their mojo is definitely back! The food was delightful, perfectly seasoned and that smoky goodness permeated the Pad Thai and the restaurant. Some might complain about the ambiance, the tight confines and rough upkeep, but frankly it feels like you're walking right into a hole in the wall restaurant in Koh Samui. They turn tables quickly even with the limited seating, food comes out quick. I love this place!

This was a fun, unique dining experience. The interior is small but it is intimate and just fun to be able to see your food being prepared. The Thai curry fried rice was so flavorful and so delicious. I liked that they have you order outside before being seated so you get your food pretty quickly once you're seated. My only complaint was that our bill was impossible to decipher so we just had to trust it was right.

Used to love this place. It was crazy delicious and reasonably priced. However, after going for the first time in a long time I am very disappointed. $17 dollars for such a small portion and on top of that it's burnt.

Have been meaning to try Thai Tom for awhile. A friend that is a Chef and owner of a Thai restaurant in Pierce county highly recommended them. So of course I had to go. One of the first things they tell you before you get seated is that it's cash only. I got there about 4:30ish and was able to walk in without a problem there was one other person at the time during the time I was there it began to fill up. I had asked my friend what to order she said she always gets the Tom Kha, that is what I went with a side of rice. Probably wasn't the best weather to be getting soup but didn't matter. When I go to a Thai place for the first time I always get three stars cause I'm not sure what level of spiciness it will be I could've probably handled a four. Most people were Thai Tea I happen to have my water bottle so stuck with that for hydration. the soup was very flavorful coconut milk based. generous portion of chicken and the fresh herbs brighten the richness of the dish. Service is efficient and quick. The space is very casual nothing fancy. not very big a counter that faces where the food is being cooked that probably seats 8 and a couple of four top tables I believe. Definitely would like to try one of the noodle dishes next time.

Thai Tom has been around for a long time! I always get the Pad Thai Chicken and the best part is the taste of the wok in the noodles. There is just that tiny bit of crisp on the noodles and that wok-fired goodness. The Pad See Ew Chicken is also amazing. When it's a nice summer day I pick up some noodles and eat it out at UW. The shop is small but cozy with seating. The workers are fast and I usually call in my order if I'm taking out. It is cash only so come prepared.

This is probably my favorite Thai place in Seattle and second in Washington. In particular the mango sticky rice is perfect. The mangos are just ripe enough to cut through them like soft butter with your fork and the sticky rice has an amazing consistency. I have never had a mango in the states that is actually this good. The pad see uh and phad Thai were both great as well. They cook over a flaming hot wok tight in front of you. We were so close that it was super hot (but still worth it). I don't know how to describe it other than rustic. The speed was crazy fast once they got the food on the wok. To get in for a seat it was about 15m for 2 people or 5 for 1 but it didn't look big enough for more than groups of 2. They also get your order as you wait to make everything even faster. They only take cash. It's not a deal breaker since the prices are reasonable and the food is great. With fast and friendly service as well, this is a great place.

This was quite an interesting experience being in UDistrict getting some Thai Food. We saw a large crowd here so we decided to check it out. The wait for 4 people was about 30 mins on a Monday evening. We were waiting outside and about 10 mins before we were getting seated we were asked to order. This may have been the first restaurant I have been to where I was asked to order without being seated. It is efficient but we didn't get a chance to ask questions about the menu so overall mixed feelings about that. The menu is not that large and has all the Thai classics. We were seated and were surprised at how small this restaurant is. There are only like 4 tables for 2 and bar seating, and just one table for parties more than 2 (seating 5 people). So do not recommend bringing full parties here. The food is cooked right in front of you which makes it kinda hot, so that's unfortunate. As for the food itself I loved it. Some of the best, fresh drunken noodles I have had. Loved how the chicken was cooked. The fried spring rolls are a nice appetizer. The mango sticky rice was also fresh and very solid. Nothing disappointed. Because we ordered before seating, all our food was out pretty fast, so it is efficient. This place is very good for its value. Keep in mind it is cash only, but there is an atm around 300 feet away that makes things convenient. I did enjoy my experience despite all the quirks. Definitely not the place to bring a party of people tho. The wait is also quite a while so be prepared to stand outside. They also don't text you or anything when ur table is ready, it's a hand written line outside that the host will write your name on. Would come again to try some more food, since it was indeed really good.

$17 for a small yellow curry. It was really good but with the price, I'll pass.

The owner recently passed, and maybe that's the eventual downfall because it has gone seriously downhill. This morning, for example, at the time they say they "open", I stood in the rain outside for extra 20 minutes, and when I looked inside, there was the whole staff, casually eating lunch. How....tasteless, no pun intended. Better food and service on the "Ave" is everywhere...

Honestly I don't see the hype with this place. First you have to wait 15-30 minutes to get inside. Once seated at the counter you're elbow to elbow with a complete stranger. I ordered the pad Thai and it had good flavor, but it wasn't big enough to feed a small child. Really disappointed in the portion size for the price. I was warned that they only accept cash, which is silly in this day and age. Overall it was a underwhelming experience that left me hungry.

They served me mushrooms. Normally, I wouldn't make too much of a funk about this. But I specifically asked for no mushrooms. They took back the first plate because of the mushrooms. Then, the second plate also had mushrooms in it. They were truly apologetic about everything, but it was very frustrating. I didn't actually have the chance to have any other food because of this mistake.

Went once awhile ago and returned because someone in our party picked this place. And... the food and service is STILL JUST AS BAD. I cannot emphasize how small the portions are and the cost of the dishes. Three entrees of tiny proportions and they serve bottled ($$$) water came up to over $60. Cash only and after we ate they were on us to pay right away. After we paid, we were chatting on where to go next and they came over to ask is to leave because "other patrons are waiting" but there were other open tables and it was obvious they wanted to move us out since we are not ordering another else. If I can give them ZERO stars, I would have. There are much better options on the Ave. Though not Thai, I recommend going across the street to Mala Tang. Better bang for your $ and much better food.

Been to Thai Tom many times and it's the best Thai food I had in Seattle. Although the restaurant is very small and cramped and you have to pay cash only the food is delicious. My portions were never small for the yellow curry or drunken noodles which is what I usually get. Quick service. I'm going to leave it at four stars for now because there is no bathroom and you have to buy bottled water.

I love Thai food, but I'm usually limited to curries as the only gluten free items on the menu. When I walked by and asked one of the employees if they had gluten free options, she gladly responded, "Yes!" She added that they only take cash, so I just walked to the Chase ATM on the corner and came back. The same employee explained that they have a gluten free sauce and any of their dishes could be made gluten free. She asked if the shrimp paste would be fine, so I agreed, and I had a very freshly made Drunken Noodle dish just minutes after I ordered. It was fun to watch the chef/cook in his zone with all the woks going at once. My food was delicious and just as spicy as I hoped it would be (I got 3 out of 5 stars). The Thai iced tea was good, too. My total came to just under $20, which was less than I've spent at other Thai places with food that wasn't quite as good. I'll definitely have this place in mind when I'm back for a visit!

I was excited to come back to this place after so many years. The spicy noodles were okay, I wished it was not as salty especially since it didn't come with rice like some of their other dishes. The Tom Kha Gai soup was rich and flavorful. The dishes came out quickly and we got our bill immediately. It's worth noting that they only accept cash and have limited seating, so plan accordingly. Overall, a solid 4-star experience for great Thai cuisine in a quaint setting.

Sooo good! Get the mango sticky rice!! Expect to wait 15 minutes or so. Decide what you want while you wait and be ready to order when they are seating you. 2 people at a time, and you both have to be there. Cash only. Bring your own water. The pad Thai is delicious, and there are plenty of vegetarian options. It is fun to sit at the counter and watch them cook. There is not much parking available usually and it is not free. Convenient location otherwise though.

A really good casual place. Very simple and fresh dishes, love that you can see and feel the food cooking right in front of you. We got the basil chicken, panang curry, and pad thai(only noodles they had available) and everything tasted great. Pros: fast service, and fast movement on seating, only had to wait a few minutes on a weekday night Cons: cash only, only bottled water available, so consider getting a drink

I was craving for a Thai food and my new favorite place, Amazing Thai wasn't open until 5pm. So I decided to go back to my old favorite place and I was disappointed to say the least. First the portion size used to be tiny and I learned today from they add more rice to Phad Thai orders to compensate and cover up the portion size. Second, the taste isn't the same, it was so burnt that I didn't even enjoy it at all. Third, they don't take any cards and only accept cash which is very inconvenient, not to mention the parking. All in all, it's safe to say that I will never come back again.

MY FAV THAI PLACE!! It's a small hole in the wall place in U district that only takes cash. It was almost like a super affordable hibachi place where they cook in front of you. Half the time we were just in awe at how fast the chef was cooking up so many dishes all by himself! It gets pretty hot sitting around the kitchen area but it's a pretty cool experience all for a low price of about 15 per dish. Got the Thai iced tea and it was refreshing and delicious. Garlic pepper chicken: the best dish there imo! It was so so juicy and packed with so many flavors. Got a level 3 spice for this but I would suggest going up another level if you can handle it. Mixing this with the fried rice, best Thai food in the city! Thai fried rice: it was so flavorful and sticky/saucy enough! Got a level 4 which was perfect amount of spice in the dish. I would definitely recommend getting it with a curry or other dish as well!

I can't say enough good things about Thai Tom. This was probably the first restaurant I had real food after a lifetime of of what seemed like bland nonsense. This restaurant sent me on a mission to travel and find the best of everything I could throughout the entire world. I've been yelled at by the staff, I've been chased down the street for leaving too small of a tip and I have been abandoned by all the staff inside the restaurant while they took a smoke break. I took a photo of the Pad Thai. You've had it before but you haven't had this. It's dry spiced and has a smokey char like you'd expect from a street stall. Best Thai food in Seattle.

A small staff and a small space with a big heart. The prices lie well below what you'll find elsewhere in Seattle. The chef has 4 fired woks going at once and the speed and intensity with which they move is majestic. My pad thai at level 2 packed a surprising amount of heat.

First of all, great service. The servers are super friendly and attentive. Super small hole in the wall place, but nice ambiance. It's open kitchen so you can see the chef cooking right behind the bar. Everything is cooked to order. Spice levels are customisable between 1-5. Pad Thai and Pad See You Again were seasoned perfectly! Wouldn't be the same without the char.

The portion size is insanely small, very disappointing. Ate here before and it was at least double

Sad news today, I was told Tom is no longer with us. This is hands down my favorite Thai restaurant of all time & today it still is. Tom's legacy lives on. I was hoping to see him today but I was told he passed away a few years ago . The servers are always so nice and shared with me about Tom's passing which was much appreciated. Even though this is a hole in the wall, it's my favorite hole in the was and favorite place to eat in the U-District. The food was excellent as always and they always get my three star spice level just right. But, I haven't been here since before the Pandemic started and am so glad they survived it. The dishes they serve food in dishes they use, looks a little different but the taste is as great as it ever was. I usually order Swimming Rama and the Pad Thai but the first time I visited over 20 years ago, Tom suggested ordering the Drunken Noodles and I'm happy I followed his advice. I'll have to order it again the next time I visit. My daughter who I brought here for the first time when she was a teenager, loved the Yellow Curry and still has fond food memories of this place. She was jealous when I told her I visited without her but was happy for me too since she lives in Illinois now. Every time, and I mean every time, I'm in the U-District, I make a point of visiting here for great food Thai food. I'm so glad Tom's legacy lives on into the next generation for my fellow foodies to enjoy. Rest in peace my friend Tom.

We got there 10 minutes before it opened and there was already a line outside the restaurant! For a table of 5 it took us another 30 minutes (basically waited for one round of people to eat and leave the place). We put our name down and walked around U district so it didn't feel like that long of a wait. The chef was nonstop cooking since we stepped foot in the restaurant, which was pretty incredible to see. The food has a lot of 'wok hei' which makes the food really good when you eat at the restaurant. I would assume it wouldn't taste as good when you get take out for the exact same reason. We tried out the tom kha gai soup and it was loaded with seafood! It should be noted that with a party of 5, there's a surcharge automatically added to your fee. Just an FYI.

This place was recommended for having the best Pad Thai in Seattle. Those were strong words so of course I had to come and check this place out. We were a group of five and had to wait about 20 minutes for a seat. The vibe is intimate yet casual. We all sat at the counter and seemed to be comfortable enough. I will say for a plus size lady, after a bit, that stool was not comfortable & I did keep readjusting. But I didn't come for comfort, I came for food. We ordered tom kha, Tom yum soup, spring rolls, fried tofu, Panang curry, pad thai, basil chicken, drunken noodles and pad see ew. Where I messed up is that I was the one who ordered Pad Thai. It was good. Really good. Not sure I would give it the title of the greatest I have ever had. But definitely solid and satisfying. What was the real star here was the drunken noodles and pad see ew. They were both so incredibly satisfying. You could smell the wok on the noodles. And that is the best way for it to be. You should be able to smell and have the flavor of the high heat of the wok and the slight char on the noodles. It im permeates the dish to levels that make it one of the most traditional and authentic experiences you can have. The curry definitely was delicious as well. All the flavors balanced - spicy, slightly sweet, umami, salt and perfectly creamy and the level 3 was a good heat. Not hot but a nice consistent mellow heat that stayed with you through the whole dish. Another favorites were the soup. The Tom Kha was mind blowing delicious. Rich and slightly creamy but tangy and salty and slightly sweet. Oh my, just now thinking about the soup has me wanting more again. And the Tom Yum soup - the best hot and sour soup. One thing that is apparent here, is this place knows how to balance their flavors. Thai dishes have to be perfectly balanced to be done correctly and here is where they do that. The tofu and egg rolls were just as good. For me, the dipping sauce for the fried tofu is 100% what makes that dish. As mentioned earlier, my pause for 4 stars is the portions on the noodle dishes are slightly on the small side. You get rice for filler and I could do without the rice and just have more of my actual noodle dish. As others mentioned, it's cash only. They will be sure to let you know. I squandered back and forth on a 4 star vs. 5 star rating here but not one single soul from our dining party, can stop thinking about those dishes. They were superior in every way. If you see me here and I have several plates in front of me, don't judge me - join me. We should all be enjoying this amazing food together.

Waited 30 minutes for a to go order of pad Thai & it was not good. This place is only good if you're eating there, otherwise the food doesn't sit or taste well. Ambiance is definitely in need of an uplift.

been here twice and the food never disappoints. their tom yum HITS theres so much flavor and their chicken pad see ew never disappoints. i think the price is also pretty decent for the quality of food. eating inside is nice, although a bit cramped. service is great, and everyone's been kind to me. remember to bring cash when you come here :3

I wouldn't venture to say this is the worst pad see ew I've ever had, but it's easily bottom 3. Dry noodles, dry chicken, hardly any carrots or greens, no broccoli, barely any sauce, a really odd sour taste as if something was off, and for some reason they thought adding a big scoop of dry white rice was a good idea. I also got a thai iced tea which was overly sweet and hardly drinkable. $18 all in and a total waste of money. Still having nightmares about this meal. My tongue is going to need therapy before I can order pad see ew or thai iced tea again. I am highly suspicious of anyone claiming this is the "best Thai food in Seattle." Like, really? Have you ever had Thai food before?? I've already written too much. Yuck. There's several way better Thai food options around. Hard pass.

they only take cash!! I think that was my only qualm abt it. The place is really busy but pretty cute. Food was good! You can really tell that they cooked it in a wok!!!

We saw them featured on local TV recently and decided to try them for dinner. It's a small place with an open kitchen where you can watch your food being built. We got there around 8pm on a Monday and where seated immediately. We got Panang curry with Chicken, and Shrimp Pad Thai. I loved the pad thai, very tasty and with the right amount of spice, I picked 4 as the spice level. I was asked if I wanted rice with pad thai, and chose not to get rice. Chicken Panang curry was very good.

A great experience. The food is excellent, prices are very reasonable. Get there early as the lines can be long. If possible sit at the counter and watch as the food is prepared. The green curry was spicy but good. The Shrimp add-on is great. chicken add-on is okay.

Decided to stop by here after walking around University of Washington. I came here back in 2011 and loved it and wanted to share it with my husband. The service was good. The restaurant is super tiny so I wouldn't suggest going here in a. If group. I believe it's 3+ tables that can fit a couple of people and a handful of seating at the bar where you can watch them cook your meal. We ordered fried egg rolls, pad see ewe, and either the drunken chicken or a curry (knowing us probably the green curry). I honestly can't remember what the last dish was. Everything tasted pretty average to most Thai places I've been to, and I've been to a lot since I love Thai food. My biggest gripe about this place is the amount of food you get. The portions are small and on top of that it makes it look like they're trying to make it look bigger by putting rice with it. I've just never been to a Thai restaurant where my pad see ewe came with rice. If I remember correctly, you also have to pay for water. Overall, it was quite a letdown for me and my husband was not impressed at all.

Phad Thai (prawn) has good flavor but I was told at the ordering time that it is 15.xx but when it's time to pay; it turned out to be 17xx (but I still give tip on top of that) so my Phad Thai was close to $20 !! (Very different price from what showing in the online menu!!) First I almost didn't get any changes for my 20!! ... Just be careful!!

What a great culinary experience! Small but mighty place. Takes cash only. If you haven't been here before, be careful with the spice levels. They mean business!

It is fast, I visited mid afternoon, no wait. The kitchen is in the style of San Francisco's House of Nanking, fast cooking, flames in the kitchen and the food comes out hot from 3 burners. I had the Massaman Curry with chicken. It was shaved chicken, onions and green peppers. Lesser care for the ingredients and the crispness of the vegetables. $14. Thai Tom has been operating for 38 years, feeding generations of students. It is fine for student food, it would not have survived otherwise. But you can find better food in Seattle now. It is fine if you want the atmosphere or old-timey classic.

Came here based on recommendations given for 'the best Thai' in Seattle and according to UW students and locals Thai Tom was definitely mentioned the most. Came here and ordered their pad Thai and swimming Rama which is chicken cooked in a peanut sauce served over rice and spinach. I think what's unique about Thai Tom is that they cook it in huge woks until their is a charred flavor in their food. So good, their pad Thai wasn't too sweet and tasted like it was made in Thailand, it felt more authentic than the rest. The swimming rama was super flavorful and perfect for peanut sauce lovers. Definitely my new Thai spot in Seattle!

Oh. My. God. The food is so so good!! We had the Pad Thai, cashew chicken, and vegetarian delight. It's cash only and often a line out the door. But it's so worth it

We drove 1 hour for food here... called verified they close at 9pm. websote / online 9pm. arrive 830 sorry closed. and they are still making food.. we drove 1 whole dam hour to eat here. thanks for turning us away. great business. WTF

My husband was a regular here during college and he brought me here with our baby girl during a visit back. He said it was just as delicious as he remembered. It's a tiny place but we came when it wasn't too busy and were served right away. We got a front row seat watching the chef make our Phad Thai and Phad See You! Both of them were so flavorful and fresh...I can't pick a favorite so my recommendation is to get both! I'm glad I snapped a pic before we ate because there wasn't a scrap left over. Patty was so kind and welcoming to us! I was holding my baby but it was hard to eat since she was trying to grab everything and almost knocked over my plate. My husband held her while I ate and then Patty came by and asked to hold her. The baby went so happily to her and Patty kindly entertained her while we finished our meal. Thank you, Patty! And thank you to the chef for the wonderful meal!

This is a local superstar. The definition of a hole in the wall, this restaurant gave me four years of pure enjoyment and burning tongues. Admittedly, there's not great signage surrounding the University Ave location, but simply follow the stream of to-go diners and you'll surely find it. To-Go, mainly because there's not much seating inside. An ideal afternoon plan might be to toss your order in at the window, pop into the Target next door to grab those nagging items you've been avoiding going to the store for, and picking up your food on the way out. Between the bad signage and the cash only, I want to drop the score down from a 5 but I just can't bring myself too. The food portions are perfect, the noodles come with rice, and eating inside is an experience in it of itself. Sit at the bar for the calming, meditative experience of watching the chef expertly create 3 meals at once. I recommend doing this in the winter, where the open door at your back cools you down and the flames from the kitchen warm you back up. If you can't tell, I'd say this is a must-try.

Excellent service! Our server was so nice. All the food was very tasty and it hit the spot on a hangover Sunday. Really enjoyed that we could sit down and relax and they took care of us. And they serve beer! There was not much wait time for anything.

Food here is great. Flavorful Thai food without feeling overly greasy after. Seating is not the most comfortable at the tables (high chairs, low tables) but sitting at the bar is fun bc you get to watch the kitchen. Today we got the Phad see you again and the basil chicken. Portions aren't the biggest BUT pricing is decent compared to other Thai places on the ave on top of the smoky/spicy flavors. About service: The first time I came here four years ago we had a really bad experience with the service (long story short was chased down and yelled at for not tipping enough even though the service was subpar. They made a scene in front of the restaurant, ended up demanding our money and taking it out of our wallets). Happy to say that todays service is much improved. The waiters checked up on us and did not try to get us to leave as quickly as before. As other reviews noted - it is cash only, and water is not free so I would bring your own water since it can get spicy.

The last time I've been here was in high school and we decided to try again earlier this month for a Wednesday take out. Thai Tom remains still one of the more popular places to eat on the Ave. However this place was a little bit of a let down. We ordered take out for 4 people, 4 dishes - Phad Thai, drunken chicken, Panang curry, and Fried rice. Flavors were rich, food was alright. It was decent Thai food to be honest. For some reason I thought it wasn't as good compared to when I ate in person. Out of the 4, the Phad thai was the best. However the after effects weren't great. Out of the 4 of us, 3 of us had stomach issues for the next 24 hours. I was the lucky one and didn't have any problems but one had really bad stomach cramps and one was on the toilet for a good majority of the morning the next day after eating for dinner. After hearing about my friend's experience, I probably would avoid going back to Thai Tom for a while. I wouldn't mind giving it a second try but I feel like there are other great places to try on the Ave. Pros of Thai Tom are relatively reasonable prices for Thai food and rich flavors that make it tasty Cons - cash only, located on the Ave so parking is a hassle. Possible food stomach issues?

"That was one of the best food experiences of my life" - my eating buddy. The flavor explodes in your mouth, we loved this place. It's so authentic and simple yet complex at the same time, would eat here 3 times a week if we could. Cash only, only a few tables and there's always a small wait but it's so worth it. This is by far the best food in the u district

Favorite Thai food in Seattle! I loveeee drunken noodles and they have one of the best pad thai! All the flavors are there and the noodles are like they should be. The plates definitely had more protein than noodles but can't complain about that.

So cool to see that this place has been here since 1994. Great food and service but the wait get seated is insane. We ended up waiting almost 45 minutes and seems like it's a constant line out the door. Also cash only. Prices were a little high but the food tasted great and definitely somewhere to try at least once. Our favorite was the tom yum soup. Pad Thai and padang curry were great as well