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Bali Thai
Categories: Restaurants Indonesian Restaurants Thai Indonesian, Thai [Edit]
Harbour Centre555 W Hastings St
Vancouver, BC V6B
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(778) 371-0024
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 6 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
If you've ever been to Thailand, you've met Bob. He can't get enough Thai food. He'll go out of his way to get PAD THAI; He'll travel up the river for 3… read more »
14 reviews for Bali Thai
14 reviews in English
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Review from Dea B.
Richmond, BC
11/6/2011
As an Indonesian diner, I can vouch for the authenticity of the food here. The spices were just right and the dishes help me deal with homesickness.
Friendly service. As previous reviewers say, the family who runs this business heaps on the smiles and the food, too. We ended up chatting for a while as they prepared the food (we bought a big load of take-out for a few nights' worth of dinner -- the dishes still taste good reheated). The lady also gave us free deep-fried corn fritters to eat while we waited and chatted.
I'd recommend the lamb curry and the beef rendang. But honestly, I haven't tried something I don't like from this little stall.
Being in a dark food court, the ambiance naturally is lacking. But if it's good food you want, they've got it. For the price, you can't go wrong. Take a detour from the glitzier Asian restaurants and go here instead. -
Review from Jeff S.
Vancouver, BC
4/10/2012
I eat here about twice a week, and sometimes more often.
Why? Because it's delcious, comforting and healthy.
The red rice is fantastic, and I can't get enough of the peanut sauce they generously dip the chicken satay in. I've tried pretty much everything here and haven't found anything I didn't enjoy. They always ask if you've got enough carbs and you are welcome to mix more than one card (I usually get the red rice with a bit of their not-at-all-greasy pad thai noodles).
As a bonus the service is beyond friendly. I'm a big fan of being called "Dear" by a sweet lady, so that could be part of the reason i return again and again. No, no.. it's the food. -
Review from Diana C.
Burnaby, BC
3/27/2012
I ordered 2 items on rice. I got the stewed eggplant and 3 chicken skewers on saffron coconut rice. They also wondered if I wanted more rice, but I declined since I don't really enjoy rice. When you do go, you can always ask for more rice at no extra charge. The rice was very fragrant, but the spices of the eggplant were quite strong and over powered the taste.
Even though I ordered a 2 item meal with rice, they gave MeatLover and I extra vegetable fritter. Add the peanut sauce cause its good. It was so good, I could have eaten these all day. No joke! I'll definitely be back for some more lunch when I'm in the area.
Overall, the food is decent depending on what items you add to it. I would go back just because of the nice service they provide, plus those vegetable fritters are so good. -
Review from Ryan L.
Vancouver, BC
4/30/2012
People working were nice..but the reviews here are extremely inflated, I promise you that. Pad thai was worse than what you'd make out of a box in a grocery store. Tofu, kale dish was flavourless and the tofu was prepared/fried poorly.
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Review from Rebecca C.
Vancouver, BC
11/3/2011
It's not often that an establishment located in a dingy food court gets such good reviews, but Bali Thai deserves five stars and then some.
I used to work in Harbour Centre and went here regularly for lunch. Today, I stopped by while running some errands downtown and was delighted to find that the service and food is as good as ever.
I'm pretty sure that Bali Thai is family-run, because all of the staff members seem happy and proud to be working there. They are all genuinely nice people who have enough positive energy to brighten my day. As other reviewers have mentioned, the lady who served me today ended every single sentence with "my dear" and insisted on giving me samples of their delicious spicy tempeh. It's a joy to be treated so nicely.
The food is excellent, too. No greasy food court stereotypes here -- instead, there's a wide range of steamed veggies and proteins (vegetarian and not) in various flavourful sauces. Personally I love the nutty red rice my base carb, but they also have a selection of white rice, fried rice and noodles.
You can get a big meal for under $8.
There's a reason for the "People Love Us On Yelp" placard prominently displayed on Bali Thai's counter.
Go here for lunch, and insist on giving them a tip even though they don't a have a tip jar. -
Review from Malloreigh M.
Vancouver, BC
8/27/2011 4 Check-ins Here
NICEST PEOPLE EVER. I take classes at Harbour Centre and invariably forget to pack food for myself to eat over the course of that four hours. After Joe Veg closed, I branched out to try other places in the food court - but I didn't get past Bali Thai.
They have vegetarian (vegan) options every day, as well as meat options. For less than $5.50 you can have a plate or container overflowing with delicious saffron coconut rice topped with one of their options - from yellow curried kale and tofu to sea asparagus in black bean sauce. There are also delicious fried vegetable fritters and peanut sauce.
The woman who owns this place is so sweet. She remembers me every time I go and calls me "dear" and gives me samples of new dishes she's trying out. She is so wonderful. One time I was particularly broke and when my card was declined she just told me not to worry about it and come back another time to pay. In this day and age!
For food court food, the quality and freshness can't be beat. Recommended!
Try that delicious red chili sauce they have at the till, but BEWARE. It is really, really hot. I always end up sweating and red-faced in class. So good though.
Only downside: styrofoam plates and containers. Obviously they help keep the cost down but I feel guilty when I use them. :( I bring my own fork already - I should start bringing my own container too. -
Review from Alice A.
10/21/2011
The lady who served me was super nice and chatty. She loaded me up on chili and boy was it spicy - loved it! She also threw in a prawn fritter or something like that for free.
I would definitely return for more authentic South East Asian food. Yummmy! -
Review from Haedis L.
10/10/2011
Oh how I love this place!
Honestly.. I'm going to give it five stars for food court food. First of all.. they have fantastic vegan options.
Second of all.. she calls you dear everytime and she means it. No fakery there. She admits when she's tired. She laughs and jokes. Yet she is still very loving and motherly.
She allows everyone to try a sample.. she even throws in a little deep fried not sure what it is goodnes into my lunch.
She asks you if you have **enough**.. Is that not amazing?
You can tell who she really loved by the amnount of food she stacks on their plate!
I love supporting a family business and even more, people who take time to be kind during the day. If you are vegan, or trying to eat healthy in the downtown core.. stop in!
But be quick.. because courteous, kind and gracious service like hers is a dying fad.
She has so many options of rice to choose for.. coconut rice, pad thai, brown rice, so many different options. Not to mention the peanut sauce is delish!
Come here for a smile on a rainy day :) -
Review from Kari C.
11/22/2010
I went here for lunch today after my hair stylist (Kim at Colourbox) recommended them for having yummy vegetarian and meat options. We always talk about food when I'm in the chair!
Bali Thai is a mom-and-pop setup in the middle of Harbour Centre's depressingly outdated and creepy chain-shop food court, like seeing my tiny Asian grandma standing in front of a bunch of strangers in boxy 80's power suits with Flock of Seagulls haircuts to match.
I decided on the Indonesian coconut beef with pad Thai noodles, and the adorable little old man piled noodles onto the plate, then asked if I wanted more. What? I get a choice? Love the friendliness. There are also bowls at the register where you can pick up cilantro, chili sauce, or pickled veg (carrots, celery, cucumber, bean sprouts) to sprinkle on top. I was there at about 12:15 and the lamb curry was already gone, so you KNOW it was fantastic. Argh!
The rice noodles were good. Not clumpy, or overly sticky or sweet, and they still had a little chew to them, perfect. The beef and its sauce added a little something special to the dish, making the noodles saucy, and the coconut milk was so aromatic. Usually when I go for Asian takeout, I pick one dish that has vegetables, so I don't feel gross, but the man added on some (excellently cooked) asparagus tops, like he was some magical mind-reader. All this was for $4.99 + HST. I had to search for the tip cup (shoved far behind the tiny bowls), which wasn't huge and prominent like at some brazen food court setups.
A lineup arrived shortly after I ordered. Good for them! These people deserve some serious hugs and high-fives. Nothing but love, here. -
Review from Ramon V.
1/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not your typical food court establishment at all.
The options here are delicious, and for the most part, healthy.
My combo of choice is black rice, tofu and kale curry, and a leg of chicken with enough garlic to make you remember your lunch well into the evening.
They also offer several other veggie options, noodles, rice, catfish and other meats. All of which are very good, and varied enough to make you want to come again and try different combinations. At under $7, can you afford not to? -
Review from Phil S.
Vancouver, BC
8/31/2009
Despite the name, their strength lies in Indonesian food. Former owners of Tak Sangka opened up this vendor stall at the Harbour Centre Food Court years ago and to this day remains one of my fav food stalls located in food court. I would actually trek across downtown from Nelson to Cordova just to have their beef rendang sapi. If you have never had beef rendang sapi which is basically beef simmered for hours in a thick dry curry spiced with galangal and many exotic spices, then you haven't really lived. I actually can vouch that no one makes a better beef rendang than them.
It's located in a food court so one knows what to expect in terms of ambiance but for their service, they are uber friendly and the entire family runs the stall and I am forever grateful to them for being around and consistently feeding me with mouth watering Indonesian food. -
Review from Nadine N.
Vancouver, BC
10/6/2009
Overall, the food court in Harbour Centre makes me really sad. Until I tried Bali Thai, the Quizno's was the best thing I'd had at the food court, which isn't saying much since I try to avoid Quizno's like the plague. While I'd probably give Bali Thai three stars if it were located elsewhere, they get four stars for being a tiny beacon of light in an otherwise dark, dank and depressing food court.
Bali Thai serves up Southeast Asian food. You can get one item (or more) plus a side of a variety of rice or noodles. In addition to meat and fish dishes, they also have several vegetarian options. The yellow curry with tofu and kale is pretty tasty as is the eggplant and the spinach. Service is fast and friendly. Make sure to get some of the red sauce by the till before you leave.Listed in: Lunch Downtown
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Review from Frankie G.
Vancouver, BC
10/29/2009
As had been said, the Harbour Centre is a bit sad, but do not let his turn you off, go to Bali Thai. I have been a few times and have not been let down. I really like Pad Thai and despite it being in a warming tray, this one is very good. The taste is clean with no overly fishy taste. I enjoyed it very much.
The vegetables are good but add little to the meal, the garlic spinach or beans are fine.
The Indonesian beef coconut curry and the other beef dishes, are really special; tender, extremely well spiced fantastic balance between hot and tasty.. like a being on a tightrope of flavour.
Go for $6.55 with tax very good value Have a try but just do not wait to long after 2pm not suggested -
Review from marta F.
Vancouver, BC
6/25/2011
Delicious food for a food court. More than I ever would expect. Pad Thai noodles and curry chicken were well spiced and I'd even venture to say healthy. Not greasy at all. On top of this the lady at the counter was helpful and even asked of the portion was enough! Makes me a happy customer.
