A recent addition to the Thai food scene, this hip, airy, organic street food-focused restaurant features Thai chicken wings, khao man ghai (a chicken dish with chicken broth-infused coconut rice), along with tofu they make in-house. The place also serves a full drink menu from a Thai mule to a young Thai coconut. Owner James Limjoco (who owned Sublime Ale House in San Marcos) makes this place a cheery hangout just a few blocks from the Oceanside Pier.

Nestled in a nondescript Solana Beach strip mall, this popular longtime standby, around since 2004, has lines out the door on a Saturday night. Try the chicken satay, marinated in coconut milk, or the creamy panang curry with chicken. The drunken noodle dish is a must-try as well.

After closing its acclaimed spot in Linda Vista, this Rancho Penasquitos restaurant is still specializing in the Isaan style of cooking from the northeastern region of Thailand that borders Laos. Start off with a shredded green papaya salad and follow with the nahm tok with grilled beef made with homemade spicy chili and lime sauce.

This Thai restaurant is known for its generous portion sizes. Some must-order items include the Spicy Basil Chicken with preserved egg. Chaba Thai also has a fine pad see-ew, a classic dish with wide noodles and a choice of protein. They even give out dessert: a refreshing bowl of coconut milk with tapioca.

Diners heading to this Convoy District restaurant get to sample Thai platters as well as Laotian plates. Here, you can discover flavorful renditions of larb, a ground meat dish that packs the fresh flavors of lime juice, chilis, mint, and cilantro in every addicting bite. Don’t overlook the Laotian portion of the menu which includes beef jerky, lemongrass sausage, or bamboo shoots steamed with sticky rice in a banana leaf. 

This modest counter restaurant with limited tables and seats in its outdoor patio showcases the wonderful variations of pad Thai by regions. The northern Chiang Mai version features a massaman non-spicy curry while the southern Chaiya style is heavy on the roasted coconut cream. There are a few other options, including a hybrid pad Thai, combining the southern style with green curry that’s trending in Thailand.   

If you’re a newbie to Thai cuisine and you’re not sure how much heat you can handle, Lanna Thai in Pacific Beach may be a perfect place to get an introduction. The curries are trustworthy with a complex depth of flavor that makes Thai food so addictive. The don’t-miss dish is dessert. Sticky rice comes topped with a crunchy combination of toasted yellow rice and black sesame seeds with perfectly ripe, almost custard-like mango. 

This Linda Vista spot serves a good selection of street food fare like chicken satay and garlic pork spareribs. While customers will find the usual Thai dishes like curries and noodle dishes, one dish that separates this place from other Thai restaurants is steamed chicken rice. The homestyle comfort of slow-poached chicken and fragrant chicken-ginger rice may look unimpressive but the accompanying chicken broth makes it a standout menu item. 

In this cozy University Heights restaurant, you’ll find sidewalk seating but generally, it’s geared for takeout and catering. Be sure to try the bai grapow with ground chicken, a stir-fry dish with basil leaves and sweet peppers. A few other dishes like the yum nuea, a beef salad, or young duck curry, are worth trying. Unlike other places, Bahn Thai does not fool around with spice levels and diners get the heat they order.

Here in North Park, the atmosphere of a Thai street stand is captured with neon lights, nostalgic posters, and cheery tableware. They have a remarkable menu of Thai beers not found in too many places in San Diego. Bite into tender lenk ribs or butterfly shrimp served Phuket-style with spicy lime sauce. They may also one of the few here that Thai street specialty of deep-fried silkworms. The fried sous-vide chicken and rice (fried Haianan-chicken version) is highly recommended.  

Serving since 1999, this Thai restaurant is focusing on its East Village spot, having shuttered its Hillcrest location. With indoor waterfalls and Buddha statues, the ambiance adds a bonus touch to the happy hours and lunch specials. Choose from drunken noodles and a variety of curries. Dinner is equally memorable with chef dishes like sea bass in pesto-lime sauce. Pair with local or Thai beers or their eye-catching cocktails. 

The adorable Thai restaurant on Shelter Island maintains a regular delivery of fresh local fish. Be sure to try the crispy whole fish. The dishes feature organic ingredients from the owner’s garden, including edible flowers that are delicately wrapped in the shrimp summer rolls. The Nam Kao Tod, or crispy rice salad, is made with minced pork sausage and crunchy rice in a house specialty. 

AAHARN grew out of the mother restaurant, Koon Thai on Convoy, to add locations in Little Italy, University City, and Rancho Penasquitos. Order the heat level at what you can handle but don’t be shy about electrifying your senses. Standout dishes include lemongrass tum yum broth, loaded with sturdy straw and wispy enoki mushrooms, and pad Thai tiger prawn. 

Not surprising that a sticky rice burger joint has found a home in Pacific Beach where customers can grab a bite to sit on the boardwalk or beach. Popular items include the Thai sticky rice burger bun with marinated Thai-style barbecue chicken. If you’re not in the mood for bread with Thai flavors, try the Thai chicken satay-loaded fries or spicy karao pork bowl with sticky rice. 

Head south to Imperial Beach to try this unassuming restaurant, run by a team with kitchen experiences in Bangkok, Britain, and Cupertino, where they also own Siam Elephant. Try their roasted duck, yellow curry with tender chicken pieces, and end with a sticky mango rice dessert.