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Aree Thai
Category: Restaurants Thai Thai [Edit]
1150 KingswayVancouver, BC V5V 3C8
Neighbourhood: Kensington-Cedar Cottage
(604) 709-9229
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 11:30 am - 3 pm
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Danielle B. said: "I've never been to Thailand, so I can't tell you where to find "the most authentic Thai in Vancouver," but I really enjoy eating Thai food (probably my fave ethnic cuisine for more years than I can easily remember), so I can definitely…" read more »
49 reviews for Aree Thai
Review Highlights
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"Tried the original Pad Thai with chicken spicy and it was..." In 5 reviews -
"Tom Yum is not my favourite, but my husband loved it and..." In 7 reviews -
"Everyone MUST try their ice cream." In 11 reviews
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49 reviews in English
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Review from John H.
Courtenay, BC
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Finally a real Thai restaurant. Hands down the best. Everything we ate was the same as a good place in Bangkok.
If you want real Thai food come here -
Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 4/28/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Ok, it's time to re-review this place.
I found a small hair on my plate, and believe me, I can be squirmish about these things in a huge way. But no, I didn't say anything, and in fact, I tipped 25% and increased this to a five star. The service was a bit slow, but impressive for a one man show. So, why the rave review, you ask?
Because...
It's still the BEST Thai place in the city and it was really that good. The proprietor is a lovely man and gracious host, and his wife--who does all of the cooking--is amazing!
They say that Thailand looks like the head of an elephant, and as most people know, the elephant is highly revered there as a symbol of both strength and memory.
So, like an elephant, don't forget that this truly is the best thai place worth visiting in the city. It might not be pink, but it knows its Thai.
Note-I concur with my first review of the food, but this time, save room for the mango ice cream. Delish!Listed in: Casual Places to Perk up the…, ***** Five Star Faves *****
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/6/2011
Finally, we got to enjoy the best Thai in Vancouver! No wonder I slept so soundly last night. (And… Read more »
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Review from Zee K.
Vancouver, BC
3/28/2012
I hate to do this. I first went to Aree when it first opened and had good service and good food. I thought I had reviewed it but apparently not. Went back today at lunchtime, feeling sick and just wanted a Tom Kha to make me feel better.
The soup was decent, and my friend's lunch special (cashew chicken)was also good *(minus the salad, that he didn't like) but the service was a major major problem.
For the majority of the time we were the only people in there, towards the end one other customer showed up. The server showed up twice at our table, once to take our order and give us water/tea, and the other to drop off the food. No check in about how the food was, no tea/water topup. Even when it was apparent that neither of us were still eating she turned around and went back to sit down rather checking in. I had to get up and find her to get the bill and our food packed up. When I found her she was busy playing a game on her computer. I get that it was slow but that's not an excuse to have terrible service. -
Review from Deja S.
Vancouver, BC
3/17/2012
The (original) pad Thai, tom yum soup, papaya salad, and (homemade) coconut ice cream were all delicious, totally hit the spot.
We got everything medium spice, which was just spicy enough. You can order a side of hot chili sauce if you want your plate even hotter.
From the looks of it, and compared to my experience in Los Angeles, good and authentic Thai food is hard to come by in Vancouver. We got to meet Aree, who seems really devoted to making it happen.
Also they accommodate vegetarians by making a separate broth in place of the usual fish broth. -
Review from Patricia L.
Vancouver, BC
My sister-in-law has been raving about this place for awhile now and we finally had the chance to try it out tonight for my brother-in-law's birthday. THANK YOU families and birthdays! With the bigger family group of 8 people, we were able to try almost everything on the menu and holy crap balls the eats here were all kinds of wonderful.
The Coconut Rice is 100% coconut rice, they do not fart around and cheap out on the flavours like too many other Thai places in the city unfortunately do. Their curries are spiced with lots of love and their Cashew Chicken easily became a new addiction. Their fried noodles weren't too shabby either. Everything was eaten with gusto and our group polished off plate after plate of our fab Thai feast, much to the delight of the chef.
Their fruit juices taste really fresh too. We had the Coconut Juice and the Mango Juice - both were delicious and satisfying. For dessert, we finished off with Coconut and Jack Fruit Ice Cream with Deep Fried Bananas. Rolling ourselves out of the place at the end of the meal was such a gloriously gluttonous experience, that I'm looking forward to going back there again very soon!
I've heard that this place is mostly a take-out place, but everyone should really go there to sit-down and eat. The service here is so, so nice! Our server was very sweet, very accommodating and very considerate. You could tell how sincere she was in making sure everyone in our party enjoyed their food and she went out of her to make sure that every food item was served in the best way possible.
I'm so happy to get some decent Thai food back into my food repertoire again - hooray for my belleh!Listed in: I HEART Food!
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Review from Daniella E.
Vancouver, BC
4/21/2012
This place is what Thai food should be in my opinon, in vancouber it comes second to none. I've tired half the menu and it had all been delicious. The food is flavorful, well priced and qulaity. Its not greasy or and the coconut isnt too heavy.. its just right. I crave this place.
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Review from Ellen L.
2/4/2012 5 Check-ins Here
I HEART YOU YELPERS!!!! I wouldn't have discovered this diamond in the rough if it weren't for youuuuu! After dinner at Aree Thai, I'm rethinking my previous 5-star reviews. Damn, I wish there was a 6-star option for special places like this.
Thai food in Vancouver, first things to come to my mind? Thai House, Green Basil, taste just like Chinese food, no spice, bland noodles, relatively expensive. Yeahhhhh, Aree Thai is none of the above. Let's just say I haven't been this wowed by a restaurant in a long time. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the best Thai food I've EVER had:
Tom Yum Soup - pow right to the kisser with the spices and herbs! The spicy kick was phenomenal and definitely warmed my stomach. This one gets spicy so beware. Foodgasm #1.
Pad Thai (Original) - apparently in Thailand, Pad Thai is only served with shrimp. So for an authentic experience, go with that. I've had Pad Thai plenty of times, but never had REAL Pad Thai until today. A great balance of spice, sweet, and savoury. Foodgasm #2.
Green Curry - to be honest, I don't really know what the differences are between the Thai curries (other than colour). I went with green curry because it had more vegetables. Very fragrant and dimensional. Get a bowl of rice and go wild. Foodgasm #3.
Coconut Ice Cream (made by Aree herself) - this one was complimentary. How sweet is that? Frozen real coconut bits. Ultra ultra creamy. Foodgasm #4.
Every single plate/bowl/fork/spoon/ice cream spatula was licked clean. The bill came to $30 after tax. So totally worth it for 4 foodgasms in a row rendering 2 very hungry people in a delicious food coma.
You can specify how spicy you want your food, on a scale of 1-5. We asked for 4 on everything. It's hot, but not unmanageable. In fact, I think I'll be going for the 5 next time. The food was slow to come out, but well worth the wait. The owner Aree is such a sweetheart. In case you can't tell, I'm very passionate about this place and can't wait to return! [insert a million more exclamation points]Listed in: Culinary Highlights 2012
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Review from Elizabeth B.
4/23/2012
Fantastic Thai restaurant! Great, fresh flavours!
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Review from Shae B.
2/8/2012
My, my give me some more of that Thai! Deliciousness! We had the green curry and the garlic broccoli with 2 coconut rice. Loved the green curry to death. The best flavour and it is so fresh and healthy tasting. It is healthy right? haha I hope so because I ate LOTS. We saw someone else with some amazing looking Pad Thai - we will have to try that next time.. because there will be a next time.. many next times!!
The service was awesome. She was so friendly and made us feel at home. She refilled our water often and smiled and chatted with us a bit. She even picked up the kinder surprise toy that we dropped on the floor. What service! Needless to say she got an awesome tip that she well deserved! It feels good to tip when you get great service.
And they hooked us up with some free tapioca pudding! Holy smokes - it just gets better and better. She offered homemade icecream at first but since I can't have dairy I was like no thankyou. And then she was like tapioca pudding! And I was like YES! haha It was just too awesome. :)
The price was fine for the quality as well. This kind of service and cooking is what all restaraunts should be. The place was also clean and the atmosphere was nice. I can't wait to go back for more! -
Review from Danny C.
Vancouver, BC
5/7/2012
Came here on May 4, 2012 (a Friday night) with 8 friends to try some "great, authentic, tasty" Thai food.
Here are my first impressions of the restaurant ambiance and decor;
1) Dingy, tacky bamboo style booths with sliding paper mache doors, poor lighting and stained floor tiles.
2) The table beside us had computer equipment, stationary, bills and invoices laid all over it. It was clear that the Owner didn't have any time to clear out his own mess to service his customers on a supposedly busy night. But more on the time management issue later...
Now the food;
1) Let's cut to the chase on this one, it was not as spectacular or s'wonderful as you are led to believe from some of the misleading reviews here. I've eaten my share of asian food and this place is just as good as the next Thai joint you find along Kingsway, e.g. Green Basil.
We order appetizers consisting of spring rolls, meat skewers, and deep fried squid rings. Next, we got green/red curry, original Pad Thai, and Dong Yum. Portions were on the small side, especially the curries. Again, the food was alright, some were more tasty than others, but efforts to enjoy the food was ruined by the horrible service.
Let me elaborate on service:
1) We reserved a table at 6:30pm, ordered at 7pm, and didn't get our food until 8pm. This would have been tolerable if ALL of the ordered food came at 8pm, but instead we were given only 2 curry dishes. It boggles my mind that the kitchen can be that slow on a relatively slow night.
2) When we asked the Owner (who looks and speaks like David Suzuki) about the slow service, we got a snappy and rude answer: "whoever orders their food first will get it first". However it was clear that some tables who arrived after us had received their food before us.
3) Please be aware that Mr.Suzuki has some hearing issues. I strongly suggest you repeat your order twice. In addition, don't be put off by his very unprofessional attire (scruffy polo shirt and heavily worn stone washed jeans and white sneakers).
4) Mr.Suzuki definitely gave preferential treatment to some customers, and did not know how to provide consistent service, timely food delivery, or manage his kitchen staff effectively. If you operate an Asian restaurant and you can't push out food within an hour, you have serious issues.
5) The last dish came at 9:30pm and my friends were all too disgruntled to wait for the free dessert.
So in conclusion, the horrible and rude service totally overshadowed the food tasting experience. We also saw other polite customers looking very annoyed from the non-existent service. One poor couple sat at their table for 1 hour + 15 mins without a single dish. Insane! -
Review from Kasimir K.
Vancouver, BC
2/8/2012
Great food and reasonable prices. Caveat: we were treated here and everything seems to taste better when you aren't paying!
We live just a block away and it took us over 6 months before we tried this restaurant. We went on a weekday when it was not busy. The service and the flavours were both exceptional. The portions stood out - you'll get more here than at most other Thai restaurants in Vancouver. The coconut rice was yummy as was everything we sampled.
The main thing going against this place may be its location. It's in a pretty nondescript block of Kingsway but you'll be glad you came once you see, smell and taste the awesomeness that is Aree Thai. -
Review from Jessica H.
Burnaby, BC
1/23/2012
Are you looking for actual AUTHENTIC REAL Thai food? Look no further! Every other place I've been to has been a fusion restaurant, that call themselves authentic, and it drives me nuts. This is REAL Thai food, and incredibly delicious.
The Hot level for spice was as hot as I could handle, and didn't overwhelm the dish, you could still taste all the amazing spices. Coconut rice is delicious and cooling. When I ordered the Coconut Juice I expected a can, and instead got a tall frosty glass of coconut flavored ice, and real coconut slices mixed in. It's now my favorite, besides the Original Pad Thai and the Tom Yum soup.
Best of all - they can do Gluten Free! Yup, I eat Gluten Free, as well as Celiac friends I've brought here and we haven't had any problems. They are wonderful! -
Review from Kari C.
Updated - 12/11/2011
Boyfriend: I've never had Thai food before.
Me: WHAAAAAAAT!!!???
It was icy outside, and we weren't up for a game of "what in the fridge would taste good together?", so we bundled up and made the short trek. I couldn't wait to bring him here.
Their "original pad Thai" is the one with tamarind, and we had it with chicken. Sweet, slick, tart, tender rice noodles, with beautiful little seared cubes of tofu and crushed, toasted peanuts...it was delicious. Last time I ordered mild-medium spice level, and it was a smidge too hot, so we ordered mild this time, and it wasn't fiery at all. Next time I'm going to just take it like a grown woman and fight back with an order of ice cream in between bites.
Green curry (with beef) and coconut rice...the look on his face when he ate it was priceless. Like a little kid on Christmas.
There's something about coconut-milk Thai curries...the cozy, delicate, sweet fragrance of coconut, and how rich it is makes it qualify as some serious comfort food. The silky Japanese eggplant chunks, chewy strips of bamboo shoot, crunchy bell peppers, and melt-in-your-mouth shreds of beef made the frigid walk worth it. The gentle kick of heat of the green chilies warmed us up.
The coconut rice was inexpensive, addictive, and a great accompaniment. We ended up ordering 2 bowls, so as not to waste any of the precious curry's sauce.
"Who would order regular steamed rice when they could have this???" We pondered.
Service was friendly again, as it was last time. I thought that they forgot to put the coconut ice cream on our bill (which has little chunks of jackfruit in it, by the way, get some now!!!), but they treated us with to again. The people at Aree Thai...I want to give them hugs.
We didn't want to leave, looking out the window in bewilderment It was so warm and inviting inside, and everything smelled like coconut, while out there it was frosty and bitter. Ick.
I love this place! I hope you will too! We can't wait to come back.
PS: They have a sectioned-off area, for parties, I guess, and are also able to accommodate vegetarians, celiacs, and maybe even vegans, unless they put shrimp paste or fish sauce in stuff. If you're curious, give them a shot! :DListed in: Surefires, East Van, Yo!, Werewolf Time
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/11/2011
They use tamarind in their pad Thai, fo reals!!!
I live in the 'hood and checked out Aree Thai today,… Read more »
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Review from Katie G.
Vancouver, BC
3/25/2012
Warning! Their liquor license was taken away! I went to Aree Thai with a group of 7 last night. It was very quiet when we got there at 8pm. It took a while for the server to come over, and it took a while for us to be able to order anything. She didn't ask us for a drink order, and when I asked if we could order some beers, she said 'no'! Uh oh! Saturday night out for dinner with friends and no beer? Ok, well we survived, but had I known that they didn't have a liquor license, I don't think we would've gone. Instead we had tea... which was not refilled. Service was not very attentive.
The food was good. Great flavours, good spice. Loved the Pad Cashew Nut stir fry, and the Papaya Salad was good too. -
Review from Brian G.
Vancouver, BC
12/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is the best Thai restaurant I've been too in the city of Vancouver. There, I said it.
Seriously, we've been here around 15 or so times. Each time we get friendly service. If you eat in they're even child friendly (server brings out child plastic ware and a little bright plastic cup for water).
Of course the most important thing is this: the food is incredible. Consistent, excellent, yummy.
Highly recommended. -
Review from Veronica D.
Vancouver, BC
11/7/2011
We took some friends and family out to dinner here for the first time this summer. I was excited to try after reading the reviews and that they could make truly vegetarian Thai food (no shrimp paste or fish sauce).
Having spent 6 weeks in Thailand, we know real Thai food, so were hoping this could be tasty and authentic tasting.
We ordered a large Tom Yum soup to start. It was pretty spicy. Tom Yum is not my favourite, but my husband loved it and loves spicy food.
For dinner we got
Massaman Curry: my favourite Thai curry. It was really flavourful and I would definitely get it again. If you're not familiar with it, it's like a Thai Indian fusion curry a little savory and sweet and creamy.
Eggplant Delight: We got it with no meat or tofu, just extra eggplant. We ended up getting 2 servings of it, because I love eggplant so much. lol. It was really flavourful and well cooked.
Pad Thai: Was pretty good. Not my favourite version, but I'm sure better than what Vancouver normally gets. It was a little too greasy, but I'm sure we could ask for less oik next time.
The price is pretty good for this place and the staff are very accommodating and friendly.
I'm really glad more reviews have been posted of this place and more people are hearing about it.
Thai food in general is spicier than you think, so make sure to get it a little less hot than you think you'd want it to be safe. You can always get extra chill on the side if you want.
We will definitely come back. It's too bad they are so far from where we are.Listed in: Tastiest Vegan Eats in…
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Review from Cathy S.
Updated - 6/25/2011 ROTD 1/26/2012
I really want Aree Thai to succeed and am trying to do my part by dragging friends along to experience the deliciousness. I am starting to have a few concerns though...
It was a Friday night around 8 and there was only one other table occupied. It looked like she did have 3-4 small take-out orders however.
We tried to order some Singha beer and she said that she did not have alcohol although I thought during previous visits it had been licensed? I am hoping that we just misunderstood and that they were merely out of beer.
Although the menu shows a full array of appetizers, Aree has cut all but the most common and dare I say boring ones: fish cakes, sates, calimari and spring rolls.
The quality of the cooking has not diminished one iota, in fact, the Tom Yum that I had during this meal was the best that I have had outside of Thailand. I really hope that people find and support Aree Thai because it truly would be a loss to Vancouver's Thai food loving citizens.Listed in: Small but Mighty List
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/9/2011
This is proof that you can't always judge a book by its cover. We entered a small completely empty… Read more »
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Review from Naomi E.
Toronto, ON
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
My boyfriend and I attended Aree Thai for the third time this week! Much like the first time we were pleasantly surprised! We were greeted at the door by an extremely friendly man who promptly sat us and brought us drinks! He had remembered our favourite dishes from the last time we were there, right down to the differing spice levels!! We adored the curry last time and we had come again for the curry! This time ordering all three, red, green and yellow curries! I have an extreme passion for food and don't take lightly to mediocrity in the dining world! I can say three times now without a doubt, Aree Thai offers the best Thai curry I have ever had!
Another pretty fun dish is their traditional pad Thai, with tamarind! You have the option to try it the way most Thais eat it and it is a real treat!
It's a little hole in the wall place on Kingsway but offers some of the most delightful service, with a smile and charm! With that and the best curry I am sold! I will be back often! This place deserves to be tried! I hope you like it as much as we did!!! -
Review from Michael P.
Burnaby, BC
6/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've been putting off reviewing restaurants for a very long time but thanks to the food I was served at Aree Thai, I've been inspired to get on it and make this my very first (of many) reviews.
First and foremost, I've eaten at numerous Thai restaurants and have had both good and bad experiences. I enjoy trying new places and having read the reviews of this establishment, I figure I'd give it a try. Best decision I made in a long time.
Aree Thai is a spacious and well decorated restaurant with an authentic ambiance. All the wall paintings and decorations seem to have been carefully selected to provide patrons with a genuine Thai experience. It was also clean, quiet and relaxing.
We were happily greeted and served by Aree (yes, the Aree of Aree Thai) and ordered Tom Yum, Pad Thai, Spring Rolls as well as Green Curry. She forewarned us that her version of 'hot' is spicier than most restaurants but that's what makes Thai food delicious.
The food was cooked and served fresh by Aree herself and I can't put into words how amazing the food tasted; albeit, a little spicier than I had anticipated by I could not stop eating for all the right reasons. The Tom Yum was spicy but robust and flavourful, the Pad Thai was well balanced and perfectly cooked, Spring Rolls were crispy, not too oily and the Green Curry (my favourite) was immaculate. To top it off following our meal, Aree served us ice cream she made herself (we settled for coconut and mango). The perfect dessert to compliment a perfect meal.
I can go on and on about how appetizing and scrumptious our meal was but that'll leave me hungering.
I'd rather you pay Aree a visit and see for yourself what you're missing out on. I can assure you that this Thai restaurant is one you will not regret visiting.
Bon appetit! -
Review from Maggie L.
Richmond, BC
1/24/2012
Great service! Great Thai Food! This place is one of few that lives up to its expectation on Yelp! Yeah, finally found a real tasty Thai food in Vancouver.
We have came here on 3 separate occasions and each time their food and services had not disappointed us! Our favorites: Authentic shrimp Pad Thai and Basil Beef Stir Fried Flat Rice Noodles (the later one comes with egg noodles as standard, but the dish goes equally well with flat rice noodles). Fresh ingredients, great presentation. Lots of flavor with twist. Yum yum! Others on Yelp like their Tum Yum Soup. I have tried it but it is too mild, not sour and short of kick, not living up to my expectation as it is quite different than those ones I had in Thailand.
And my only complaint is their portion which in general is quite small with respect to its price. -
Review from M K.
Vancouver, BC
10/21/2011
Had visited there 3 times by now, and found that this is a real and authentic Thai food.
So far, I've tried Tom Kah, pad See Iew, Green curry, Som Tum and Pad Gra Prao and also their irresistible hand-made ice cream. Hmm, how can you leave this restaurant without eating this ice cream?!
Not big on Spicy food? No worries, ask Aree, she will find the way just you like -without compromising her high standard and passion on her food.
Although location is bit far for me as I'm living in downtown, however, it's worth it!! -
Review from Peter W.
Vancouver, BC
9/3/2011
I was looking for a great Thai restaurant in Vancouver, read the reviews and was intrigued. Aree Thai did not disappoint - the food was great and very authentic. The original Pad Thai was flavorful without being oily or too salty. I also had stir fried basil leaves with tofu. It was so good, it made me want to go to Thailand to experience that type of food there.
The food was accented by the wonderful and very friendly service. So friendly in fact that they included a small scoop of homemade ice cream for everyone at our table.
The only strikes against this restaurant are the location (Kingsway is a wasteland) and the space (although nicely decorated, it feels a bit crusty).
All and all this is great Thai food at a reasonable price. -
Review from Erin G.
Vancouver, BC
5/25/2011 3 photos
Finally, a Thai restaurant that makes spicy food when spicy is requested. I may look like a wimpy westerner, but I like heat in my Thai food (and Mexican food, and Indian food - ok, I just like it hot - all of it).
Best Thai food I've had outside of Thailand.
I went in here for lunch today. During lunch they have a list of 15 items for $8.50 each. Most of them come with salad and a spring roll in addition to the main (which includes rice). I ordered Pad Gra Pao (sauteed basil, bell peppers, onion, and baby corn + tofu as my "meat" choice) and asked for it hot. The server double checked to make sure I knew what I was getting into, but I assured her that I knew Thai spicy and I was totally looking for that.
The salad and spring roll came out within 10 minutes of ordering. The salad was just basic iceburg lettuce, some shredded carrot and purple cabbage, but the dressing made it more special. It was a thick, creamy sweet dressing that really perked up the basic veggie salad. The spring roll was crunchy and had a tasty filling of glass noodles, and veggies.
The mains came out perfectly timed with when we were finishing up our salads & rolls. One bite of my Pad Gra Pao and I fell in love, and my nose started to run. It was perfectly spiced, and super tasty.
I kind of want to keep this place a secret, but the owner is so sweet and passionate about bringing authentic Thai to Vancouver that I'm going to shout about Aree Thai from the rooftops to make sure they stay in business. -
Review from Elaine N.
8/17/2011
I decided to check out Aree thai during my most recent visit to Vancouver. Some relatives of mine own a store nearby and told us that it just opened.
I ordered the Pineapple Fried Rice. It was great! Definitely hit the spot after a long night out in downtown Van. I'd be down to check out the other stuff on the menu. -
Review from Theresa W.
Vancouver, BC
6/23/2011
I was pretty worried when I walked into this restaurant at 7pm on a weeknight and found it to be completely empty. You always raise an eyebrow when there's never anyone eating in the restaurant, like maybe people know something you don't?
Turns out, people just don't yet realize how awesome this place is. Aree Thai is one of the better Thai places in Vancouver that I've been to. It's completely authentic, and the food portions are great! We shared the green mango salad, the prawns with glass noodles, and a vegetarian noodle dish with broccoli. All of it was fantastic - completely flavourful and truly authentic. I'm so glad I gave this place a try.
I'm definitely worried that it's in a quieter area (the #19 will drop you off right there, and it's a 5 minute walk from the #22 or the #25), but I'm pretty confident this place will survive this hurdle and stick around for quite some time!Listed in: 2011 Best Of
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Review from Yvonne H.
Vancouver, BC
5/26/2011
It is always a bummer when you walk into a thai restaurant and order a pretty standard dish, like pad thai, only to be given a wet unidentifiable mess of noodles doused in some evil ketchupy sauce. It is not cool and it makes me sad. You're sorely mistaken if you think this is how pad thai should look and taste like.
Aree Thai is the anti-nasty pad thai. It has resurrected my need and love to consume delicious mouth-watering thai food on a regular basis. And by regular, I mean at least 3 times a week. AT LEAST.
And the hosts are just darn lovely! They are genuinely interested in your opinion about the food and make suggestions that suit your tastebuds. In my book, that equates to excellent service. Solid authenthic deliciousness and owners that care about thier customers?? Seems like a no-brainer to me! Get your hungry self there and enjoy ASAP.
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Review from Peter H.
Vancouver, BC
5/3/2011
Aree, you had me at tamarind sauce.
Pad Thai made sans nasty ketchup? Hurah! Happy to have a local place that makes pad Thai using proper tamarind sauce and not over cooked noodles! If you associate the classic Thai noodle dish as being some form of mushy red sauce over soggy noodles, do yourself a favor and try it here. Also enjoyed the green curry and tried the friendly owners delicious home made coconut and banana ice cream, plated with a deep fried banana of course. This place is going to make me fat and happy; Can't wait to go back.
Edit: Any place I go to 6 times in 2 weeks gets the 5 star upgrade. -
Review from RJ B.
Vancouver, BC
5/9/2011
Best Thai I've had in Van.
Go for the "original" Pad Thai, as opposed to the usual sloppy, ketchupy kind (although they offer that kind too should your tongue be dull) ;)
Great curries and fair prices.
Oh and perhaps the friendliest service I've ever experienced-- she even went so far as to offer up wooden bookmarks and magnets straight from Thailand at end of meal as a gift. Not every time of course-- but still.
Support this great place when you get a chance, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Shannon B.
Vancouver, BC
Aree Thai has been open for a while now and although I am happy that this place is a hidden gem, I fear that lack of traffic will have this place shut down in no time.
The food is fantastic! The original pad thai is my favourite (no ketchup for this girl).
On our last visit I had the tom yum soup because I was feeling a bit under the weather; I was very happy to have my sinuses cleared while still being able to task the amazing flavour.
We also tried the red curry, yum.
This time we saved room to try the home made ice cream. I had the coconut (which had delectable chunks of fresh coconut throughout) and my husband had the sweet tea ice cream which was equally as delicious.
The space is comfortable and open but also has private booths along the side. This would be a great venue for large groups.
I am glad that Aree Thai is now open on Mondays but I think that if this place did delivery or maybe some advertising, business would definitely pick up.
Check it out, you won't regret it!Listed in: Asian Cuisine
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Review from Annie M.
Vancouver, BC
It was so quite on Thur night at Aree Thai. I went here for supper with my husband and quite enjoyed the food. We got an order of appetizer platter - spring rolls and chicken Satay was pretty standard...nothing to complain about. Calamari was ok, just a bit dry.
We ordered a "medium" spicy tom yam soup, but we found it definitely spicier and even made me sweat.
We shared a red curry with beef and added prawn, the curry was great but it turned out only 3 shrimps added on top. It tasted frozen shrimps... -
Review from Alex I.
Vancouver, BC
6/9/2011
I have not written a review in a long time. I am just starting again now because Aree deserves recognition.
Favorite thai in Vancouver, maybe anywhere. Penang curry is my favorite here and it is amazing, but everything I have had is good to amazing. Curry is actually pretty hot if you ask for it too, which is hard to find in this city. The owner Aree is very sweet and interested in hearing what you think about here food.
The place is new, the space is lovely. It just deserves way more customers. If you are thinking about eating here, just do it.
Also, lunch specials for the thrifty. -
Review from Angela L.
Updated - 1/22/2011 ROTD 10/22/2011
I've said it before, but I'll say it again: hidden gem, people!! I feel quite fortunate to have Aree Thai in my 'hood, as the vicious Pad Thai cravings I'm prone to meet their maker here.
The chefs are brought over from Thailand, and so the food tastes very authentic. I'm not an expert on Thai cuisine, but I do know that everything I've been served has been delicious (okay, so it's true: I almost always get the Pad Thai "original". But it's been delicious every time). The menu is quite comprehensive, and vegetarian friendly. Tofu is basically interchangeable with meat here. Their house-made ice cream is always a treat, and their current "Thai iced tea" flavour is uniquely refreshing - ask to try it!
A wonderful, friendly couple run the place, and they're always willing to chat about the food. Special requests are graciously accommodated. They really want to make sure that their customers are comfortable and well taken care of. I certainly always feel this way with delicious Pad Thai in muh belly.Listed in: Vancouver Favourites, Noontime Nomming, Vancouver Vegetarian, Excellent Ethnic
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/25/2010
My dining companion and I have been itching to try out Aree Thai since we first saw it open in my… Read more »
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Review from MW P.
Toronto, ON
3/27/2011
We try to go at least once a week to eat. Best curry in the city. Guaranteed.
We try to get only one type when we go, but end up getting red, yellow, and green almost every time. It's insane.
The pad thai is also awesome, as they offer both "traditional" and "americanized" versions.
The girlfriend and I go and get completely full, and the meal comes out to maybe $40. It's inexpensive and awesome.
Cliff and Aree (the owners) are great people we met the first time we went in last fall, and they deserve this praise for making the best Thai we've ever had.
Oh, and check out the thai iced coffee, the girlfriend gets it everytime and says it's delicious! (I don't drink coffee, so I can't say.)
Go here. You won't be dissapointed. Unless you don't like Thai food, but in that case, what are you doing reading this then? -
Review from Cyndi H.
Vancouver, BC
YES!!
I've been wanting to come to this place for awhile, but I keep swinging by on Mondays... and that is the one day it's closed. Well, today I got lucky... ahem...
Love love loved:
Coconut rice.
Friendly owner--made us feel sooo at home and cared for.
Awesome curries.
Great neighbourhood--the KCC
Free street parking
Cute booths (used to be a Japanese place)
Hook a sister up with some more Thai goodness!Listed in: Kensington-Cedar Cottage: The…, Family Stylin' it!, kingsway
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Review from Crystal D.
Vancouver, BC
11/27/2011
Mmmm I love Thai food and having been to Thailand found this restaurant to be pretty authentic! All of our dishes were delicious and our server was super friendly and had lots of suggestions for what to order. We even got a yummy chef's special that isn't on the menu. This is the first Pad Thai I really enjoyed as it didn't taste like noodles & ketchup like so many others I've tried. We'll be back!
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Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
7/25/2010
* New Thai with promise *
I've been keeping my eye on this spot waiting for it to open, and was happy to discover the Grand Opening sign today. So we stopped in for lunch. They have been open for 3 days.
We were greeted by a very smiley Thai woman, that instantly reminded us of all of the friendly smiles we saw in Thailand in our various trips there.
My partner ordered pad thai. The woman immediately asked, "We have two types. Do you want traditional or with ketchup?" Excellent! They offered a true tamarind based pad thai, without the goopy sauce many places doctor up with ketchup. Hooray!
I ordered my standard test dish of Nua Phad Bai Grapau. I was happy to see it arrive with Thai basil as opposed to the sweet basil many places substitute. The beef was very tender, and cooked perfectly. I was less enthused that they also included baby corn and bell peppers, which gave a bit of a Canadian feel to the dish. I prefer more of a focus on the basil, chillies, and beef. But the flavour of the sauce was very good, and I imagine with a request they would be happy to prepare it more similarly to how you may find it in Thailand.
They are running a 20% Grand opening special on dinners. (Doesn't apply to their lunch specials.)
The menu overall has a good variety, and looks promising. I imagine they are trying to find the balance of catering to both Thai and Western tastes. I just hope that they continue to offer a choice like they did with the pad thai instead of going all Western (or defaulting to a Western presentation without asking if you don't speak Thai).
I hope they find their feet and continue to offer a nice Thai option in the area.Listed in: Vanoodle, Vancouver Thai Food
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Review from K S.
Updated - 4/7/2012
since the hostess/owner decided to respond or share some incorrect information about my experience at her restaurant, i thought it would be only be right if i update my posting w/ more detail. firstly, i find it interesting that she has time to read comments on yelp but not enough to provide real service for customers that pay to eat her food. secondly, i gave her 2 dimes, 2 nickles and 27 pennies because i was leaving canada the next morning and needed to get rid of my change. it was NOT 52 pennies. besides, money is money. it should not matter what kind of coins or bill was paid by a customer. as for the tip, my husband said he would leave it behind and left first w/ the kids because they were tired of waiting for the bill and everything else we needed. in fact, we waited so long for water, to order, food and everything else that my daughter and i laid down to rest while we waited. when i told the hostess/owner that i had left a tip at the table, i assumed my husband had left the tip while i talked w/ the girls that were also waiting forever when we were about to leave. they were waiting for some friends, but the owner did not bring water or come by to ask. once i came out to catch up w/ my family, i asked how much tip my husband left and he said he did not and felt she was not deserving of it. therefore, i did not bother to go back and correct what i had assumed my husband had already done. so, do not think i did not have the courage to tell you to your face that your service or restaurant was bad, i just thought you were not worthy of my time. i am sure it was similar to the way you felt or treated us as your customers.
in addition to bad service, the food is where i did not go into enough detail in my original review because i did not want to let other reviewers to know how bad your restaurant truly was. firstly, i must tell you that your Pad Thai was unbelievably average. the flavor was flat and the dish only had noodles and not much of anything else. the only redeeming quality were the noodles had not been overcooked. when i asked you why we had such tiny and few shrimps in the dish, you said i had asked for shrimp and not prawns. apparently, you said i had to ask for prawns if i wanted larger shrimps. you also said we were not charged extra for small shrimps. in the US, i have never heard of such a mistake. since most restaurants indicate an extra charge for shrimps/prawns and you tell them shrimp, it is the same as prawns because they are both the same. regardless if it is shrimp or prawns, you need to put more than 5 tiny shrimps into the dish. the dish was already but having 5 tiny "shrimps" only makes it look even more pathetic. by the way, you did charge us more for the "shrimps" and said you would not. it was not worth the debate because it would have taken forever to wait for you to come back and fix the overcharge and we were aging as it was. my husband ordered chicken red curry and the dish was filled w/ bamboo shoots and onions w/ very few pieces of chicken. i had ordered the chicken w/ basil and got the same cheap deal. you put exactly 7 pieces of chicken meat(i counted because the dish was so sad and pathetic) into my dish and most of it was filled w/ bell peppers and onions. the dish had colors because of the bell peppers, but it was only disguising what you did not want to provide customers, which was a dish that can be considered as a meal. we only ordered one other dish for our kids, which was chicken satay. the flavor tasted as if you had just marinated it about 1 hour ago and the chicken was, once again, very tiny. the overall theme of your restaurant seemed to be "less is better". in this case, less is not better. just cheap! you cannot charge $10 canadian dollars for every single dish and give us this weak attempt w/ tiny pieces of chicken or shrimps w/ no service and expect people not to complain. clearly, most of your clients are canadians and maybe they are used to tiny portions w/ almost no meat or shrimps. i have eaten in thailand, US and many other great places w/ Thai restaurants and they do not try and disguise their dishes w/ vegetables when it is not a vegetarian dish. do not try and cheap out on ingredients and expect people not to notice. it is not as if you are paying high rent in a nice part of town and cannot afford to give your customers what they order when you charge them $10 for each dish. in addition, you are not exactly spending money on service because you were the only person working all of the tables for a dinner crowd. the bottom line is that your restaurant was not worthy of the praise others have given you for the food or service. it was my option to share the truth based on my experience.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/6/2012
we were visiting vancouver and decided to try thai and thought of yelp for some suggestions. after… Read more »
Comment from aree n. of Aree Thai 4/6/2012
Thank you so much Mrs. K.S. to share some of your thought… More » -
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Review from Andrew R.
Vancouver, BC
Will return. Not a stunning interior, but a nice place for lunch on kingsway. Run and owned by a cute married couple, probably hoping for a few more customers than just me. The Tom yum was rich and flavourful as was my main. They make their own ice cream on site and are proud of their spot. Would be nice to see more customers, perhaps they should offer a groupon.
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Review from Zhi L.
Vancouver, BC
8/18/2011
This is probably the best Thai food I have tasted in vancouver. I did some research and read alot of reviews here on yelp and it did not disappoint.
Their soups and pad thais are done very well and the service was very very friendly.
Everyone MUST try their ice cream! We wanted to order the fried banana with ice cream dessert, but the server was very very honest and told us that the bananas were too ripe and didnt want to serve it to us. She was sorry to disappoint us and gave us complementary ice cream instead!
She makes all her own ice creams and the one must try is "Thai Tea ice cream!!!"
Will definitely come back again! amazing restaurant all around!!! totally deserves more guest than it currently has... -
Review from Sarah M.
Vancouver, BC
8/2/2011
:) YAY finally GOOD THAI FOOD IN VANCOUVER :)
Aree Thai! so tasty.
Went there on the weekend, omg it is amazing.
I ordered the original pad thai with prawns & tamarind sauce, it was very well cooked and rich of flavours.
My boyfriend ordered the beef massaman curry and steamed rice, he said it was unreal,he was very happy with his meal.
Prices are fair and service is fast and friendly.
We had the opportunity to meet the owner Aree, she was really smiley and welcoming with us.
I will definitely be coming back here, I CANNOT WAIT.
Thanks Aree
