- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Numchok Wilai
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 9 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
Sat 4:30 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
22 reviews for Numchok Wilai
Review Highlights
-
"Piled on top of your coconut rice, it's simply divine." In 6 reviews -
"I especially like the mango salad and the panang curry with..." In 3 reviews -
"...dishes, with a delicious soup and spring rolls to start." In 6 reviews
Loading...
22 reviews in English
-
Review from Alouise D.
Edmonton, AB
3/8/2012
Yesterday I took a break from school and decided to go out for lunch. I'd heard a lot of good things about Numchok Wilai and I wanted to check it out. I got there just before noon, which was my goal because I know it's a pretty popular lunch option in the area.
I was given a lunch special menu. For $10.50 (before tax) you get your choice of main dish (there's meat and vegetarian options), rice, two small springrolls and and lemongrass soup. The lemongrass soup was delicious, tangy and not too spicy. The springrolls were also delicious and came with this dipping sauce. The rice is just regular sticky rice (you can substitute coconut rice for an extra cost), and for my main dish I ordered the Pa-Nang Chicken. It has chicken and vegetables in a peanut curry sauce. Your able to spice up the dish if you want, but I decided to leave it at the default spice level which was pretty mild. This dish was delicious. I don't know who decided that peanut sauce and chicken and vegetables would go well together but kudos. One of the vegetables in the dish were carrots, and I usually hate cooked carrots (too many places over cook them). These cooked carrots were perfect.
Service was fast and friendly. I like that I got a really filling meal for a really decent price (under $15 with tax and tip). Numchok Wilai is definitely a restaurant I'll visit again. -
Review from Keith B.
4/2/2012
Good food and service. Feel welcomed by the staff.
-
Review from Jessie K.
Edmonton, AB
4/5/2012
I have never had Thai food before and really wanted to try it and this place had good reviews so I tried and my god was it ever delicious!!! The portions are perfect, staff is very friendly they treat you like your a regular. I will definitely come back and highly recommend this place!! It's in a sketchy area and you have to park in the back alley and enter through the back door (which made me a little skeptical but the food totally made up for it) :) I had the peanut curry and it was soooo good!!
-
Review from Karlie M.
I always used to want to try Numchok Wilai but wasn't often nearby. Now that I work across the street I've been three times and have been happy each time!
The restaurant is spacious and very clean. I love the way it is decorated simply, yet elegantly at the same time, with golden statues and wall hangings.
Twice I've had the absolute cutest waitress - so polite and always smiling, asking if everything is alright and filling up water. All of the staff are friendly and happy, but she is just the best.
I've had the Pa-Nang Shrimp ($13.95), Green Curry Chicken ($11.95) and Stir Fried Lemongrass with beef ($11.95), as well as bites of Cashew Chicken, and the veggie spring rolls. Rice costs extra - $1.50 for steamed rice, $1.95 for coconut rice. Everything always tastes fresh and comes out hot. The flavours are nice and the portions are perfect. The leftovers are really good the next day, too.
One of the best things about this restaurant is the daily lunch special. A limited selection of items from the dinner menu all priced lower at $9.95, plus a small bowl of lemongrass soup, two spring rolls and rice! An amazing deal for sure. -
Review from Maria F.
9/7/2011 ROTD 12/4/2011
After falling in love with local food while on vacation in Thailand, husband and I have been on a hunt for good authentic Thai restaurants in Edmonton. Numchok Wilai may just be the place. I wouldn't call the food mind-blowing but it is definitely tasty and authentic.
We have tried spring rolls, tom yum, pa-nang shrimp and pad khing (with chicken). Everything was good: tasty and flavorful. Shrimp in pa-nang and chicken in pad khing were in abundance. Tom yum could have been better though. I felt that it lacked something - I can't quite put a finger on it. I could locate all usual ingredients that go into this magnificent soup: kaffir leaves, lemongrass, galangal...and yet, it lacked certain oomph. Tom yum served in Thailand spoiled me for life, I guess:) The hunt for perfect tom yum in Edmonton continues...
I'll be back to Numchok Wilai to try more menu items, though. For sure!
Service was excellent: timely and courteous. -
Review from S J.
Edmonton, AB
7/26/2011
One word: value. Maybe two: taste.
This is the best Thai place for lunch. Great 3 part lunches that are delicious, quick and really well priced. I love this place.
The mushroom broth soup is a little bit of heaven and the pad Thai has great layers of flavour. Also love the curry shrimp.
Hint: park in the back and come in the back door, makes it easier to come for lunch and you don't have to have loonies for the meter.Listed in: Stretch Your Dollar
-
Review from larry h.
11/2/2011
Good solid Thai food in Calgary, and now in Edmonton? What's going on? I had the stir fried noodles, which came with thin egg noodles which was not too salty, and not too oily. It had a variety of veggies, including cauliflower, which was the first time I've had it in a stir-fried Thai dish. The chicken was nice and flavorful for breastmeat, and it smelled great. The restaurant, although empty when I picked up my to-go order, looked bright, cozy, and clean. Prices were average for Thai places, approximately $11-14 per entree.
The negatives? Not too many! The meal itself wasn't as colorful as I'd expected from all those veggies, and they forgot shrimp in my shrimp fresh spring rolls...they almost forgot my Thai iced tea and I had to remind them.
What saves it from becoming a 5 star is that the flavors are solid, but not unique or unforgettable like at some other places. -
Review from Lauren N.
5/30/2011 ROTD 9/24/2011
A quaint little Thai restaurant that probably, I'm guessing, doesn't get much attention due to location. And boy, is that unfortunate, because this place is great!
Our food came out in a matter of no time, one of the quickest wait-times I've seen actually. I don't think we had to wait longer than 5-7 minutes for our order. Why can't it be like this everywhere you go?
The green curry tofu is delicious, with lots of bamboo shoots, carrots, green peppers, and tofu balls. Piled on top of your coconut rice, it's simply divine. It's not too spicy, but a nice spice that builds up in your mouth the more you eat, with a full and deep flavor. Great vegetarian option if you're not into meat!
Also highly recommended is the garlic chicken served with a bowl of hot sauce on the side. It's got lots of toasted garlic on it, so full of flavor and kick!
We finished off with the black sticky rice and fresh mango, sooo good ... The mango was just as a mango should be -- sweet and juicy! The sticky rice was okay, I liked the sweetness but some of it was oddly hard and crunchy, and I prefer my sticky rice to be chewy and gooey. But still good! The condensed milk they serve on the side makes everything really sweet, so if you don't like things too sweet, skip the milk. It tastes fine just the way it is sans milk.
Besides the food, VERY fast and friendly service, and a beautifully decorated, cozy dining space. And FYI, parking is in the back.
Will definitely be back for more!Listed in: (Cheap) Date Night, Best Eats
-
Review from Rachel F.
8/26/2011
When I first arrived in Edmonton, this was my favourite Thai restaurant. But then I moved and was no longer just a few blocks away. Thus my trips there slowed and eventually stopped. I was delighted to be reacquainted with this charming restaurant on 124th Street this past week.
The food at Numchok Wilai is yummy and satisfying. I especially like the mango salad and the panang curry with tofu. My one complaint about this place is that they always use deep fried tofu, thus the vegetarian dishes, especially noodle dishes can be a bit greasier than my liking. But overall, I like this place. And now that it's back on my radar, I suspect I'll be coming here again.
Oh, I want to add that they can easily accommodate larger groups, so call ahead and they'll move tables together. -
Review from Quoc H.
Edmonton, AB
7/12/2011
Summary:
- Great Thai food with awesome flavours
- Very good value for money
- Quiet simple space with friendly service
Detailed review:
I've found my new favourite Thai place in Edmonton!
My wife and I were here for dinner on a Tuesday and we had the following:
- Som Tum mango salad -- primarily shredded green mango (not ripe and a bit sour) with shrimp in a spicy fish-sauce dressing; it's a party in your mouth!
- Chu Chee shrimp curry -- shrimp in a very comforting red curry sauce; served on top of basil leaves with provides a nice flavour blast
- Crispy chicken in garlic sauce -- fried half chicken that's topped with fried garlic and served with a garlic sauce; needless to say, perfect for garlic lovers
- Veggie Pad Thai with tamarind sauce -- tasty and no ketchup, 'nuff said
- Black sticky rice with mango (dessert) -- loved how the rice was both sweet and crunchy and it's perfect with very ripe mango
We were stuffed after the meal and had some leftovers. I think there are some really good Thai places in Edmonton but find many of them pricey - couldn't say that about this meal as all the dishes were reasonably priced and delicious. Will definitely return! -
Review from Kristin K.
Edmonton, AB
6/15/2011
Love this little Thai restaurant on 124th street! They have AWESOME lunch specials that all come with a bowl of their soup of the day - usually around $10 - standard options - Pad Thai, Green/Red Curry, etc.
Their menu is available online (lunch specials not listed on the menu when I just checked it):
http://numchokwilai.ca...
I highly recommend all the curries, Pad Thai, and their Calamari for an appetizer - Mmm... Mmm... spicy calamari! Their stir fries and Thai Hot Basil Tofu is really good too!
Another little thing I like about this place... If you order rice they don't gauge you! Maybe it's just me, but being charged $4-$5.95 for a side bowl of rice drives me crazy! They charge $1.50 to $2.50 for sides of rice depending on if you order regular, sticky, or coconut rice. Rice is included in their lunch special price for curries... Who eats a curry without rice anyway???
They are closed Sundays.
The service is always friendly and efficient - they truly make you feel appreciated and cared for. One of our favorite gems in the city!Listed in: All Star Food!
-
Review from Jeff M.
Sherwood Park, AB
Went to this little restaurant yesterday for lunch. Great experience. I will admit right off that I don't go to Thai restaurants regularly. I have a peanut allergy, so I'm always a little antsy.
I told the server right off that I have an allergy and he helped me pick something without peanuts. The lunch deal comes with a small but very tasty bowl of lemongrass soup and 2 spring rolls. Both were great. Then you get your pick of an entree from a list of about 20 or so items. The items range from curries to coconut sauces, from pad thai to the Hot Beef Basil entree I had. My meal was great and a huge portion. I was, surprisingly, only able to eat half of it and took the rest home for later. The entree was served with a good helping of rice. The others with me had pad thai and a thai green curry. Both look excellent!
Now here's the great part... lunch was only $9.95 per person, with drinks on top of that. Great deal given the quality of food and the quantity you receive.
The have some limited parking in the back of the restaurant, with a door that allows access from the back. Bathrooms were clean and the decor or the restaurant was tasteful.
Overall, a great choice for a quick lunch! If you only have an hour, this place is a great choice! -
Review from Lea A.
8/2/2011
I was excited to try this place due to the great Yelp reviews, but I have to say: was underwhelmed. I was concerned that the wait times were almost non-existent -- almost like fast food. That made me uneasy.
What of the quality of the food? Just okay at best. It wasn't bad in the least, but I suppose it wasn't what I expected. The green chicken curry I ordered was a lot "soupier" than I am used to, and it looked -- dare I say? -- bland with just bamboo shoots and barely there other veggies. In other Thai places in the city, the green curry is much thicker and brimming with a variety of veggies including mushrooms, giant bell pepper slices and exotic eggplant. This seemed relatively anemic in comparison.
I did enjoy the stir fried pork with the garlic pieces, and that was the highlight of my meal. My husband, a giant Tom Yum fan, was gravely disappointed in his bowl. I tasted it, and it was fine to me, but I agree -- it wasn't our favourite, either.
Still, the food WAS tasty, just not worth four or five stars, in my opinion.
Interior is clean and pretty, service is fast and friendly, but no one came by to ask how our meal was or to top off our water.
Don't think I'll be rushing to get back.Listed in: 30 Day Challenge
-
Review from Matt S.
Edmonton, AB
6/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I frequent this restaurant often! the Food, and Environment is Amazing. The Owners treat You with the utmost Respect and Loyalty. The Food is top notch, and rather affordable, especially when compared to other Thai restaurants. I highly recommend this place...
Enjoy! -
Review from Tess R.
4/3/2011
At last we've made it into this curiously named spot. The service was nearly spot on and the food was delicious.
I'm not sure if they gave us the right salad, we ordered the Som Tum Mango (Thai Style Spicy Mango Salad). It wasn't medium spice as ordered, but perhaps we should have ordered hot spicy. Regardless, it was very good and was a nice balance to our curries.
The red curry and massaman were very similar, I loved the high bamboo to chicken ratio in the red, and peanuty cream in the massaman. The stir-fried eggplant was good, but the sauce overpowered these delicate little veggies. Not sure that I'd order that dish again, and it wouldn't win over any newcomers to eggplant. The coconut rice was yummy and the perfect base for the curries. Our group paired the meal with Singha and Chang Thai beer and the meal came in at a very reasonable price with a couple bevies each.
Our server was very welcoming and friendly, it felt like being welcomed into the family with gentle recommendations and timely service. We'll be back.
UPDATE: We took our leftovers home and they were delicious. The only caveat is they didn't send home the left over mango salad or one of the curries. I know there was leftover sauce with a few bamboo shoots that weren't in our doggie bag, and darn it, I loved the sauce and those crispy tidbits. I'd take away a star if I didn't enjoy the food that much! -
Review from Jacqueline S.
Edmonton, AB
3/31/2011
I've gone passed this place a lot (mostly on my way to Duchess) and after hearing some great things, I went for dinner there with my aunt. We got our standard "starving student" order, which means we order a giant pile of things so we can try a bunch of different dishes, and then I get a couple days of leftovers.
We started with the chicken satay, which was really nice, and then got crispy chicken with garlic sauce, a seafood curry, tofu red curry, and coconut rice. Everything was absolutely delicious, although at the upper bound of what my northern Alberta palette can handle for spiciness. We end up at Thai restaurants a fair bit, and while they're mostly pretty good, this place won hands down for the best Thai we've had in Edmonton so far.
Our bill was about $50 for two dinners (and two lunches....) and I saw a menu up for a $10 lunch special, so the prices here are pretty reasonable.
There were two servers working that evening, and they were both very friendly and very helpful. Service was fast and my water was refilled every time before it made it past half full.
The only thing I found surprising was how quiet it was. They've been in that spot for 3 years, and have got great reviews (which they deserve), but there were only a couple other tables in there that night. Come on Edmonton.... -
Review from Alan D.
6/20/2011
A Thai friend told me about this place, and it really is excellent. Most of the usual Thai dishes are here, and a few unusual ones and specials as well.
Some are really spicy, which I love - ask for the 'authentic Thai' spice level if you are feeling brave! -
Review from Violet P.
8/21/2011
I went with my colleagues to try this restaurant as we were looking for a great Thai restaurant to try. We arrived before noon to ensure we could get a table for 5 and were promptly seated. There is a lunch special for $9.95 for soup, spring rolls, rice, and a dish. I ordered the pad thai which did not come with rice but a healthy serving of noodle, bean sprouts, 2 large shrimp, and chicken. The soup was a little too spicy for my liking but was a hit with my colleagues. The 2 vegetable spring rolls came with a sauce and were a nice appetizer before the main meal. I sampled the chicken, beef, and pork dishes my colleagues ordered and was impressed by the heat, sauce, and amount of food. No surprise the restaurant gets busy at lunch so best to go early and don't be too rushed as the service isn't the quickest either. But for the value and food, I will definitely be back.
-
Review from Martin K.
Edmonton, AB
11/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Can't beat their $10 lunch special. Great selection of curries and noodle dishes, with a delicious soup and spring rolls to start. Fast and friendly service. Only downer is both times I've ordered coconut rice I've been served plain rice.
-
Review from Ricardo L.
Nisku, AB
3/6/2011
I was looking for something new in town. Something tasty and reasonable in a normal price range 20.00 or so per person. Voila, SEE magazine had a review of this restaurant. I was surprised to hear that it had also been selected for the Where to Eat in Canada review guide.
The food is remarkable, of course the satay is delicious, the two soups we ordered, one a coconut, the other a seafood hot and sour were also very spicy and full of complex flavours, The green curry was superb as was the mango salad. Just thinking back on the meal makes me want to run over and pick up something to snack on.
Highly recommended, a big yum in my books, the bill for four with two drinks each was just under 30 per person. -
Review from Dirk H.
Edmonton, AB
8/19/2011
Wonderful value with tasty food, except the chicken satay which needs work; it's my neighbourhood restaurant. The lunch special is only $ 9.95.
-
Review from Michelle T.
Edmonton, AB
5/24/2010
This place is a gem. As a native Calgarian who has recently moved to Edmonton, I was on a hunt to find authentic Thai food. What I found, iis that not only is this better than any Thai restaurant in Calgary, but it's the most authentic Thai food I have had outside of Thailand, where I have traveled to on several occasions.
My significant other and I LOVE Numchok Wilai, and have taken several of our friends here, who have resoundingly agreed with our assessment. Their green mango salad is a perfect balance of sweet, sour and spice. Their Pla Ra Plik (fried whole pomfret) takes me back to seafood restaurants in Phuket. The Thai basil with seafood has a generous helping of seafood, and although not truly a Thai dish, the stuffed chicken wings are delicious. As an extra bonus, their prices are extremely reasonable for their portion sizes. Thai food tends to be served in relatively small serving dishes for customers to share in a family-style manner. Numchok Wiliai's serving dishes, though small, are at least almost double the size of Viphalay (a very popular Thai restaurant in Edmonton), and their prices lower as well! To top it off, the owners are extremely sweet and polite. Service is efficient and fast without being overbearing.
I'm not sure why this place is not teeming with people each night. Perhaps the odd name turns people off, but truly it is a gem.
