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Sawasdee Thai Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Thai Thai [Edit]
4250 Main StVancouver, BC V5V 3P9
Neighbourhood: Riley Park
(604) 876-4030
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- 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:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
47 reviews for Sawasdee Thai Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Duck Curry w/ side of coconut rice."
(in 11 reviews)
"...love the pad Thai, yellow curry, and crying tiger beef."
(in 3 reviews)
"this was to compliment the green curry."
(in 7 reviews)
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47 reviews in English
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Review from Traci B.
Sunset, Vancouver, BC
1/19/2012
I moved to Vancouver a little more than a week ago, and this is my first Thai restaurant here. My husband is coming out in a couple of months, and based on this meal, the verdict is that I definitely want to bring him here!
The restaurant is gorgeous, and somehow it manages to offer privacy even in an open dining concept. Our server was incredibly friendly and helpful with his suggestions, and the food came out of the kitchen quickly.
We started with spring rollls, which were amazing. I had never had Thai spring rolls, and I was skeptical of the idea of a noodle and mushroom filling. I was dead wrong. The peanut sauce to accompany it was great, and my companions also enjoyed them with hot sauce.
I, and one of my mates as well, ordered the Crying Tiger Beef dish, which was good, but not amazing. The beef was a bit dry, but the sauce, with medium heat, was excellent. It wasn't overly sweet and had just enough tang to go with the heat. The steamed rice had good texture, but again, it wasn't amazing. I'm one of those annoying people who can eat a bowl of good steamed rice plain.
My other mate ordered the red curry chicken, mild, with hot sauce on the side to add as she desired. I am in her debt for letting me taste it, because it was fantastic. I didn't think I liked curried dishes before I had this, but I am officially a convert now, at least for this version. The coconut milk in the sauce made it a bit rich and sweet, which was an excellent balance to the heat of the hot sauce we added. I'm definitely ordering the red curry next time.
As far as beer goes, I tried the Granville Island Lager, which was perfect, and one of my mates ordered the Thai beer, which was also good. And Heineken is always a good standby, which is what my other mate had.
The bill was more than reasonable at $70 for an app, three entrees, and three beers. This place will be on my regular rotation for sure! -
Review from Jason G.
1/29/2012
I want to give this place two different ratings, a rating based on how it compares to other thai places in vancouver (probably a 3) and then against places in Portland and Seattle (a 1).
Curry, Pad Kee Mao (a chef recomendation according to the menu), and spring rolls, all bad compared to any other place I've been out of this town, but decent for Vancouver spots. I'm going to try Aree Thai tonight, but for the most part Thai food is not Vancouvers strong suit.
The restaurant itself is pleasant enough, especially as far as most thai places go. The bathroom was broken though. -
Review from Annie M.
Vancouver, BC
Came back here for lunch, it only have few tables filled.
The food still good. Tom Yum soup was good but a bit salty. Pad thai was delicious.
However, the fried rice was very wet.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/16/2010
We were craving for spicy food tonight and found this restaurant with good review in general.… Read more »
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Review from Purdy J.
Updated - 12/23/2011
Still one of the best Thai places in my books. I challenge you to recommend a better place. We thereonther take out dinner. The order did not come out quickly...perhaps because it was a busy thursday or maybe because they were making it fresh? Maybe both?
Pad Thai was fresh and tasted great... Not too spicy or sweet. The green curry was good but had gotten a little cold on the way home so wasn't as good as I hope. It tastes best when it's hot, hot, hot! Again, not too spicy but since I like spice, I could of done with more spiciness! Including tip, this came to about $30.
Good portion sizes that satisfies my large appetite. The dinner portions are larger than the lunch but lunch is also cheaper. Overall, still a happy customer.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/24/2011
There are a lot of vancouver Thai restaurants and Sawasdee is definitely one of the bests!
Food taste… Read more »
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Review from Vishal T.
Vancouver, BC
11/28/2011
This was our first visit (and my birthday too). Awesome food. Period. The green curry with chicken was amazing and had the right amount of fire. We also got the chicken satay which were fresh, juicy and mouth watering.
Kid friendly and nicely priced too. The service was fast, friendly and left us wanting for more.
My 8 year old can't wait to go back again. -
Review from Matthew P.
Vancouver, BC
7/13/2011
I have yet to find some decent Thai food here in Vancouver. In total I think I've eaten at five in the past two years. I really didn't think I would being going on six. I've been evaluating/judging the restaurants based on one well known Thai dish, pad see ew and I have to say I've had better Thai food in hong kong style cafes in los Angeles.
What did it for me at Sawasdee was the chunk of glass I bit into while evaluating their pad see ew. I really had to examine it because I couldn't believe my eyes, and just to confirm I asked my lady for a second opinion and she confirmed... glass. How it happened, I dunno and don't care. I highly doubt it was intentional, but I won't ever be going back. Even if the glass wasn't present, the dish was sub par. Maybe I need to fly back to la for some good Thai. Ahh Thai town in Los Angeles! -
Review from Larry L.
8/23/2011
They make their curries mild and if you want it spicy, just let them know how much and they'll customize it for you.
The Tom Yum was very good. Sweet and sour and lemongrassy.
Nice pieces of meat and mushrooms.
Green curry spicy was good.
Their red curry in young coconut was very nice and the dish that the kids all liked was the pineapple fried rice.
Staff is friendly and the service is pretty good.
Well recommended and a great place to do my 600th review! -
Review from Ly H.
6/1/2011
Salty, salty food. We ordered tom kha with shrimp, red curry with fish, pad thai, and a serving of coconut rice. Everything tasted the same, which was salty.
Definitely not planning to go back. -
Review from Sam L.
4/19/2011
3.5 stars
I'm going to catch some flack for this, but 4.5 out of 5 stars? Let's be reasonable - Sawasdee definitely delivers some decent Thai food, but it's not THAT good. 4.5 is putting it up there with some pretty heavy hitters, and I don't think it deserves such a high rating.
I've been here 4 or 5 times over the years, with the most recent visit being last night. Service is friendly and fast if maybe a bit pushy. When I say "can we have a couple more minutes?" I mean 'a couple minutes' and not '15 seconds'. This forced me to ask for 'a couple more minutes' three times. Since we don't come here very often we decided to order 4 dishes between the two of us, knowing that we'd have lots of leftovers, which was fine with us.
Thom Yum soup - out of control, super good except for the obviously canned mushrooms. I know fresh straw mushrooms are hard to come by here, but maybe some shiitake or oyster mushrooms (ok, so maybe not that traditional, but it would be good).
Crying Tiger beef - nice and rare with great flavour and a yummy zesty sauce. Tough cut of meat though.
Pan fried pork with ginger, onion and mushroom - utterly forgettable, way too salty and the same canned mushrooms.
Seafood combo in red curry - the red curry sauce was super good, but the rest was nothing special. 4 tiny clams, a few prawns, chunks of some sort of white fish and some flavourless squid tubes.
Considering we he had all this plus two beers, $65 (excluding tip) was ok, and I truly enjoyed the soup and grilled beef, but the rest left me feeling a bit disappointed especially with all the 5 out of 5 stars on here. There were a few gems, but the other dishes brought them down. -
Review from Ken T.
Vancouver, BC
6/14/2011
Great Thai food! Always go here when I'm having a craving for Thai. Parking is the only thing that sucks.....
Service is awesome, the people here are extremely attentive.
The usual:
Pad Thai
Pineapple Fried Rice
Duck Curry w/ side of coconut rice -
Review from Tim B.
Vancouver, BC
7/10/2011
I've spent a fair amount of time in Thailand and have been looking for a good Thai place here in Vancouver. This is the best, most authentic place I've found.
The tom yum gung in particular took me right back to Thailand - although it's not everyone's favourite dish.
The service is fine. It's not the type of place where the staff will engage in small talk, but they will take your order and bring your food efficiently. They're very good about refilling water as well.
They did make one mistake on a dish, not making it quite as we asked, but it still tasted delicious.
It's nice how the spice level can be customized so those not accustomed to spicy food can still get a taste of some dishes without being overwhelmed. -
Review from Lauren C.
Vancouver, BC
12/18/2011
Food is flavourful, fresh and hot. Service is heartfelt and speedy. I recommend the 'Red Chicken Curry', the 'Crying Tiger' and 'Sawasdee Rice'. Super reasonable prices - this is where we'll go if we feel like eating out and having something special and tasty in a casual setting ... without breaking the bank. This place is Zagat rated and more often than not very busy - so I advice booking a table in advance... even a quick call a couple of hours ahead :)
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Review from Siri W.
7/11/2011
Mmm mm yummy Thai!
Went to this place with a friend for a catch-up-dinner and had a lovely (albeit brief) time. The exterior decoration is really cool and bright (definately will be able to spot it from the street!) and inside is a bit dark - but hey, let's call it atmospheric.
The place was buzzing on a Thursday night, so we were optimistic about good food yet to come. Our table wasn't quiiite ready, and the busboy kinda made it while we were sitting there while not interacting with or talking to us at all, which was minorly awkward. When your jovial joking is met with complete obliviousness, it's a little sad, not gonna lie. I ordered some Coconut Rice, Green Curry (Medium) with Chicken, and the Phad Thai - all of was delish. The Coconut Rice was sweet and subtle and steaming, the Green Curry was not spicy at all (here I thought a medium might be pushing it, but apparently this place doesn't buy into the Thai Restaurant Game of "See-how-spicy-you-can-make-the-mild-'til-someone- loses-it."
Both the Phad Thai and the Green Curry were good...but not GREAT. I am surprised at the many ranking this place as the Best Thai of Vancouver. I hope that's not true! 'Cause I've had good Thai and it should be hard to ignore. I mean, we can't talk, we can't do anything but say (with mouths full, natch) "Oh my GOD!"
Didn't get that here. Not to knock it at all, 'twas very tasty...I just feel there might be some elusive, yet to be discovered Thai place out there that is my Thai Holy Grail. I'll keep looking.
But in the meantime, I'd definately come back and grab some more yummy food! -
Review from T P.
Vancouver, BC
11/10/2010
Here is another good Thai food on Main st.
We always go there for Thai food for several years now.
The place is clean and also it has good service.
Food always come out quick.. Even thought they are very busy..
It is very good when you are very hungry!
Also their food is really tasty and constancy for us ..
We usually order Papaya salad, Tom yum, BBQ squid with Thai sweet sauce, Whole fish with spicy sauce, Marinated grilled beef with hot and spicy sauce, and etc. Everything is good! I wish I can go there everyday..
Please make sure to make a reservation for dinner time..
Especially, on the weekend if you don't want to wait for 15-30 mins or more...
Cheers! -
Review from Reena M.
10/20/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Before coming here, I was turned off from Thai food. Too much red chicken curry and I was done. However, I came here with a Thai friend in a group and he did all the ordering! Man, I never realized Thai food could be so good!
We got those yummy flower dumplings, spicy beef salad, thai friend rice with shrimp and crab (I loved it! and normally I hate rice), red curry with duck, green curry with chicken (my least favorite dish of the evening), some kind of prawn with vegetables, and another sort of stir fried veggies. It was all soooo good.
In the words of the Governator, "I'll be back."Listed in: Reena M's Guide to Main St.
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Review from Tay D.
7/14/2011 7 photos
Presentation, Portion and Taste will not displease you if you like Thai food. This place isn't top notch but it was pretty good still and I would recommend this place to any of my friends. I order Kang Panang with 3/4 on the hot meter which was delightful : ) w/ a side of rice and I didn't have any issues gobbling down this dish !! Next time I come back to visit Vancouver I'll definitely make sure I come visit this place and of course other Thai joints ; ) .. can never stop once you start.
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Review from Joanne S.
7/17/2011
From the look of out side, my stander wasn't so high. Once I walked inside I was shock to see how everything was total opposite. From the customer service to the menu and the presentation, it was very nice. I order the red curry with rice on the side, took one bite and it was over. The curry was so good. Over all, the experience was pleasant. If I'm ever in town I will have to stop by here again.
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Review from Rich B.
1/9/2010 ROTD 4/2/2010
I've had some pretty good Thai food in my time - in Thailand and also in Sydney, Australia where Thai is something of a religion. Finding good Thai food elsewhere is something of a grail quest. Sawasdee may not be the resting place of that grail, but it certainly ought to have a grail-shaped beacon on the roof.
We started with Tod Mun Pla fish cakes and the classic Som Tum green papaya salad. They were excellent - the fish cakes in particular were delicious packets of flavour with that traditional texture that comes from the fish being ground very fine. The Som Tum was sour, fiery and crunchy.
The mains didn't quite live up to the promise of the appys. The flavours were good but they were all a little too sweet - we both went for rich curries so I can't speak for the quality of the stir-fried dishes. The Pad Thai was very good, though.
Sawasdee comes pretty close to the authentic Thai experience. The flavours are bold and complex, presenting the full range that seems to be missing in many 'westernized' thai presentations: salty fish sauce and sour citrus with the spice of chilis and the richness of coconut. The only place they fall down is being a little heavy-handed with the sugar. -
Review from Emily L.
7/17/2011
I lived in Vancouver 10 years ago and used to go to this restaurant about once a week. We still send people to it when they visit Vancouver. Every city I visit, I go to Thai food and this is hands down the best Thai food I've ever had. Their vegetarian Tom Yum soup in particular is spectacular!
Don't get me started on the customer service! Love them. Funny, personable, and warm. -
Review from Maha E.
12/25/2009
Who knew that there was a door to Thailand on Main Street?
The dishes are chock-full of flavour that they give your taste buds a pleasant awakening. I'm also quite a stickler when it comes to rice, so I really appreciate the fact that I can order a couple of sides of rice with my main deal.
Aside from their filling main dishes, I cannot tell you how many times their deep-fried banana has taken me from my previously overly-emotional state, to my calm, cool and collected self. No matter how full I am by the end of my meal, I always make room to share this delicious treat.
Recommended bevvie: thai iced-tea.
Recommended Main Deal: #26 Chicken with mushrooms and ginger, or chicken with peanut sauce.
Recommended Dessert: deep fried banana with a scoop of mango and coconut ice-cream.
Score: sawasdee taste buds! -
Review from Anita T.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 6/1/2009
Had a great experience here (yet again!). It's really the places with great customer service that keep calling you back and back again!
The staff here is exceptional! It's a family run restaurant and you're able to notice that authenticity right away. From the speedy service (in and out whilst enjoying 3 courses in 45 minutes!!!) to the fantastic quality, if I want thai - Sawas Dee is my choice =)
ps. My all time favorite dish here is the vegetable thick red curry with coconut rice! And don't forget to top off your delicious meal with some mango ice cream!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/17/2008
Authentic thai taste in a funky atmosphere... it honestly doesn't get any better. All the curries… Read more »
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Review from Patrick R.
Victoria, BC
6/4/2009
This is one of my favourite restaurants ever. My family has patronized the Sawasdee for years, to the point that the old owner knew us by name and face (and nearly by order, we could never go far from our favorites). While the new owner (the previous owner's son) doesn't recognize us in the same way, the food has not suffered in the slightest.
The food is to die for. As many other reviewers have mentioned, the Panang Curry is amazing (I recommend Kang Panang) and the coconut rice is extremely good (it is not on the menu, order it anyway). Some other very good dishes which I would highly recommend are the Cho Muang, delicious flower shaped dumplings filled with peppered chicken, and the Pad Thai Woon Sen, a very different, non-tomatoey Pad Thai variant made with bean thread (glass) noodles and prawns. And yes, go for dessert. The selection is not huge, but the two ice cream flavours (coconut and mango) are amazing, especially after the meal.
I find the speed of service to be appropriately variant. When I have been in for a quick meal, the service has been nice and quick, but when I have gone in for a nice long meal, the service slows to a nice leisurely pace, leaving ample time to converse and enjoy our drinks.
The one drawback of the Sawasdee is parking. There is very little room in their "lot" behind the restaurant and street parking can be very hard to find on Main Street (though if you're willing to walk a little, there is usually some not too far away on the residential streets) However, parking is never anymore than a hiccup. -
Review from Adelina W.
Richmond, BC
4/21/2010
Decent Thai food for a decent price. While I wasn't wowed by the food, it definitely satisfy my craving for Thai food. The Pad Thai was disappointing. It was overly sweet and didn't offer any option for spice. Also ordered the yellow curry with shrimp at a mild spice level. This was really good.
Service was good and very friendly, but I felt the overall experience wasn't the most authentic. I will probably explore other Thai places before heading back. -
Review from Trish C.
Port Coquitlam, BC
11/22/2010
OMG, this was amazing. absolutely perfectly prepared dishes.
we basically said to the very experienced waitress, bring us 6 of the best dishes and she did and we ate every last bit.
chicken cashew something
tiger beef spicy something
pad thai medium
chicken pineapple fried rice
coconut curry chicken
spring rolls, OMG BEST EVER
and one other, but I'm sure I could say any dish and it would be awesome
each had their own flavour totally unlike the other dishes
all served hot, fresh, cooked perfectly
fast service
amazing price
dinner for 4 under 80 bucks.
awesome
will be back asap! -
Review from Ed B.
Port Moody, BC
1/18/2010
My wife and I stopped by here the other night because we wanted to try a restaurant we hadn't been to before.
The atmosphere here is great and the wait staff was super friendly. Being vegetarians, we had several questions about the items and our server was more than happy to help.
The food itself was really good. The Pad Thai is probably some of the best in town, the yellow curry was great and the fried tofu and cashew was delicious.
I love Thai food and this place has become one of my favourites. It's up there with Sala Thai. Highly recommended.
My only complaint, which has been listed once or twice, is that we had to what longer than we would have liked to get our bill. -
Review from Brady R.
Vancouver, BC
2/4/2010
Sawasdee Thai is quickly becoming one of my favourite spots on Main with its convenient location, nice ambiance, solid service, and great variety and quality of menu items.
The appetizers are quite nice and arrive promptly after ordering. The spring rolls are probably my most-ordered appy, and I'm pretty picky when it comes to spring rolls. There's a great variety of entrees to choose from; the menu is sorted by the type of meat (chicken, beef, pork, seafood), with many options under each. There are also several vegetarian options with soups and mixed vegetable dishes. Most dishes give you the option for several levels of spiciness. One thing I can't stand is a restaurant whose "spicy" isn't much more than "mild", and Sawasdee doesn't disappoint here. Don't order spicy unless you're ready to sweat! The garlic beef here is done just right with just enough black peppercorn, and the red curry with chicken is what keeps me coming back to this place.
I am always pleasantly surprised by the staff at Sawasdee Thai. They certainly rise above the ho-hum service that people often expect at this type of restaurant. They're very efficient and helpful, if a little quiet. My water glass always remains topped up--a sure sign of quality service.
Overall, Sawasdee Thai is a great choice! If you're in the area it's definitely worth a try, and if you're craving some authentic Thai of great quality and a reasonable price, I don't hesitate to recommend it. -
Review from Nano H.
Vancouver, BC
7/19/2010 2 photos
Went to Sawasdee last night, it has some really interesting dishes!
Great atmosphere, good server, prompt service, quick cooking.
What really stands out and that I want to tell you about is #5, Cho Muang, a flower shaped dumpling filled with chicken and spices. It's purple, glistening and smells great. When you bite in, the chicken is flavorful and comes with such an interesting taste.
The #20. Kang Panang. a thick red curry in coconut milk with your choice of chicken, beef, pork, prawn or fish. Went with mild and it was still pretty spicy, I'd only recommend medium for the brave!
The ginger beef, spring rolls and pad thai were all OK, but the real highlight was the two above.
Great meal and super quick. -
Review from Barry M.
7/31/2009
Food was great - the flowery dumplings were tasty, and so was the spicy beef with coconut milk.
Unfortunately:
My main dish took a long time to arrive, even after the dinner rush had died down.
After finishing, no one came around to offer me my bill for a fair amount of time, had to go to the till and pay.
There is little or no air conditioning in this buiding. Eating spicy food during a heat wave in a building with no AC isn't comfortable.
If I wanted thai food again and I was in the area, I'd make sure it wasn't as cool, and sit in the middle of the restaurant so they don't miss me. -
Review from Tom D.
Vancouver, BC
5/21/2011
Recommended to us by a former Vancouverite, we tried to go on Mother's Day and it was packed, so my wife and I went on a random Friday night instead. Due to the Canucks game, we virtually had the place to ourselves.
Forget the parking in the back, just find a meter on Main, or the Parking garage up the street.
Hands down, best Thai food we've had here. Better than Sala Thai and its many offshoots, without question.
We had:
Chicken satay: best. ever.
Tom Yum soup: fantastic, truly hot and sour. I didn't mind the mushrooms.
Chicken dumplings (I forget the name, but the ones mentioned previously in the reviews, they're purple and resemble flowers): really different, I'd never had them before, but I really liked them.
Green curry: excellent
Crying Tiger beef: I *loved* this. I thought the beef was cooked perfectly, and the sauce was delicious - not too hot, but very, very good.
Coconut rice: perfect
We did not have room for dessert and brought home plenty. I'll try the vaunted fried bananas next time. I went home with a distended stomach, I could not stop eating this fantastic food.
The owner told me that it was quiet because of the game, and that normally Friday Saturdays and Sundays are very, very busy. I'm not surprised. We lucked out.
The neighborhood is really cool too - we'd never been. We're looking forward to going back. -
Review from Masaki L.
Richmond, BC
5/3/2010 1 Check-in Here
Went there on a Sat night without reservation, luckily my wife and I were able to get a small table around 7pm (the previous customers just left).
All servers (we only saw females) are very polite and friendly. We wanted to order Gai Yaang (Barbecued chicken - Thai Style) but unfortunately it's sold out. Then the server came back and told us, this dish is a very popular one and usually will be sold out soon during dinner time, and suggested us to book the dish at time of booking a table next time.
We turned out ordered: 1. Tom Kah Soup - Lemon flavoured coconut milk with straw mushroom and galanga (Thai ginger) and your choice of chicken or prawns (we chose prawns), 2. Roast Duck Curry - Red curry with roast duck, pineapple, tomato and bamboo shoot in coconut milk, and 3. Phad Thai - Stir fried rice noodles with tofu, prawn, egg, peanut, green onion and bean sprout.
1. The soup has a very light spicy in taste with coconut flavor, a little bit on the sour side, but we just loved it. It's better to be consumed while it's still hot/warm, cuz it became too sour when cool. Lots of straw mushrooms (I think they're fresh ones but not canned) and prawns.
2. The curry is not as spicy as we expected (we love spicy food though) and it's in creamy sauce with coconut taste. Duck pieces are boneless. Even we have fried noodles, we ordered a bowl of steamed rice cuz it's the best to match the curry. :b
3. The fried noodles has less meat as we expected, but still very delicious. And there are both cooked (mixed with the noodles) and raw (on the side) bean sprouts, which is a good thing for us cuz we don't like raw bean sprouts much, so it's a lot easier for us to just ignore the raw ones on the side.
Overall, we're happy to give a 5 star and for sure we'll go back again! -
Review from geraldine g.
Toronto, ON
7/31/2009
It's been a long time since I've eaten at Sawasdee. Moving to the westend makes me favour things a little closer to home base but tonight I went back looking forward to a good meal.
I was not disappointed. I came with a crew of eight and all us were pleased with the dishes and portions. The only thing, I would have to take points away from them for was our appetizer, Tofu Tord - deep fried tofu served with their house sauce. I've ordered this dish at other restaurants, and have to say it is was over done. I was so looking forward to it to :(
However, with that being said, the rest of my meal was tasty! I ordered chicken with ginger, onions and mushrooms. NOw, it doesn't come with rice. This must be ordered separately with a choice between plain and coconut rice.
Portions were a good size. Enough for next days leftovers. Speed of service was just right. Prices were reasonable.
If you are in the mood for something Thai, this place won't steer your stomach wrong. -
Review from Mandy R.
1/11/2011
My friend and I had been craving thai for a while, so we hunted this place down by reading reviews on Yelp. I'd actually like to give it a 3.5; the service and food were both quite good, but the spring rolls were blazing hot and a bit too greasy for my liking. I'd definitely go again though.
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Review from Mrs F.
10/9/2008
I agree, Sawasdee is one of the best Thai restaurants around. Very good service, very courteous and professional.
I always see business folks here - good sign.
Have dined in and had take out and for both, quality remained the same. Parking is difficult to find on Main Street during meal times. Solid food and service, oldish furniture and decor, but comfortable.
Casual atmosphere and just plain delicious food.
Will be back many times. -
Review from Foley L.
Vancouver, BC
7/21/2009
Been going here for years, and it never disappoints. Dropped in for lunch today and dropped $20 including tip for two lunch special dishes - generous portions and they include a chicken satay an egg roll.
Just great. -
Review from Seann G.
Vancouver, BC
7/4/2010
Solid thai food and well-priced. A good go-to in the main street area. I've only taken out, but never been disappointed.
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Review from Andrew F.
Vancouver, BC
8/1/2010 2 photos
I have never been to Thailand. I don't have any Thai friends. I still haven't tried Maenam.
Barring these three nixes against me I am a Thai food fanatic and have tried close to a dozen Thai restaurants in town, so I think I have a pretty good handle on what great Thai food tastes like. And I have to say that Sawasdee is the best Thai food I have tried in the city for sure!
On my last visit they seated my wife and I under the skylight, which I was thankful for while taking pictures of our beautiful dishes. I finally decided to try papaya salad. Oh joyous heaven, what a prefect summer dish! We ordered medium spicy which was a bit too much heat for this type of dish, but the combining heat of the chilies, the sour of the lime juice and the saltiness of the peanut on top of the crunchy shredded green papaya was a winning choice. I can't wait to try it again.
We always have a thai iced tea. I don't know what they put in it (condensed milk and orange pekoe?) but it is very addictive.
My wife had the panang curry vegetarian style. It honestly doesn't matter what you're eating the curry with; the sauce alone will hit you in the culinary jugular every time!
I had the Pad Thai for the 2nd time. This is probably the most appropriate dish to judge a thai restaurant on. The flavor combinations can vary so much that it can be quite a hit or miss dish. Sawasdee hits it. There is no overpowering fish sauce. There's no overcooked rice noodles. The prawns still have their tails on. Just make sure to squeeze the lemon wedge overtop to get that bright acidic counterbalance that completes the dish.
My wife and I were so full that we had no room for dessert. What a shame missing out on their killer deep fried bananas! But no matter. With my constant cravings for Sawasdee's food - along with such consistently cheerful and attendant service - I'll be back in no time. -
Review from Sharlene V.
Vancouver, BC
8/8/2011
Absolutely delicious, tasty Thai food. Went with a big group and everything we ordered was very good. Great ambiance, attentive service and fair prices.
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Review from Mark H.
1/4/2010 1 Check-in Here
You have to try their pad-thai, it is spectacular! Fresh, full of aroma and flavour. Service was friendly and attentive. One of the few Thai places I enjoyed.
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Review from J M.
Vancouver, BC
3/20/2010
My friends love this place-I am less enthusiastic. On average, the food is decent. The spring rolls were disappointing. Defnitely not light, crispy, authentic Thai spring rolls-more like low end Chinese restaurant spring rolls. The Tom Yum soup was better. My entree of chicken & snow peas with red curry sauce had super high sodium levels. The Pad Thai is OK. The water refill service is off-the charts good.
All things considered, I would go back but will never again get the spring rolls. -
Review from Kate R.
Vancouver, BC
7/28/2010
I loved this place! I had red curry with chicken and it was great. I went with a large group for my birthday and everyone really enjoyed their food. The people were awesome too, we had cupcakes for my birthday and they put a candle in one for me and sang to me. They also provided extra plates and silverware so everyone could enjoy the cupcakes. My only complaint is that the place was a bit hot, it was a warm evening, the place was really full and I was eating spicy food, so I got pretty hot. That's really the only reason they aren't getting 5 stars. I will definitely be going back, even though it is a pretty lengthy trip from home for me!
