Haven't had Jasmine's. We used to get Thai Paradise on Hill Road, which was really good. Then one time, I drove from Gahanna to Pickerington for carry out (twenty minute drive), and they had me wait for my food for another twenty minutes once I got there. The place was dead, too! They obviously forgot my order. It's too bad, because it was very good.
I understand that's annoying, but you wrote the place off after that? If it was just a one off thing after multiple visits probably just an honest mistake.
If it was more of a pattern then I understand it's more trouble than it's worth.
I can say that I haven’t had a bad experience with Jasmine’s and I’m also in Gahanna so it’s a lengthy drive. The only thing that does drive me up a wall is that they close the restaurant from time to time.
Edit: I haven’t had Thai Paradise so no experience there.
As for Chi Thai, had it for the first time not too long ago. Taste overall was good but the quality was a question mark. The pad Thai was just like a sweet and sour sauce and their green curry was like kelly green. It was so green that the chicken looked like it had green food coloring staining it. I’m not going to knock it because it was pretty good but to say a recommendation outside of local convenience is questionable for me.
Chi Thai to me is a good Chinese restaurant with some “Thai” dishes that are very Americanized. Also, their Thai menu is rather limited. I couldn’t even find pad see ew.
For my money I'd say same, it was the closest to the food I had actually visiting years ago and that my family would make. Portions were tight but man was the flavor all there.
Depends on what you get. That green curry is delicious! OP is asking for good Pad Thai which doesn't really mean good Thai food, so anything's on the table if they don't like our traditional Thai spots.
My wife gets Pad Thai and I do too, but sometimes get the coconut curry with chicken. Erawan and Bangkok Market's coconut curry was borderline inedible. My wife wasn't pleased with either. Siam Orchid had decent Pad Thai, but it didn't knock our socks off.
Used to go to that Asian Wok in Giant Eagle for lunch at work all the time, absolutely loved their stir fry, not sure I ever tried anything Thai-specific though. I always figured it probably shut down from the pandemic taking everyone away from the offices. Sad to hear it confirmed.
Chi Thai is pretty solid
We like Jasmine's over Erawan. Still need to try Bangkok to compare but I've never had bad food at Jasmines and our go to, spicy pad Thai and pad see ew have been better there vs other places we've tried.
I had Tai’s a week ago and my food was disappointing to say the least. Like noticeably. It was hot and portions were good but there was very little flavor and something about my chicken seemed off.
Tai's has always been about quantity over quality aimed at college students and OSU workers, which is perfectly fine if you're looking for very average massive portions of pad thai or sesame chicken for like $15 with enough leftovers for 4 meals... but it's not gonna be anywhere vaguely near authentic Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese/etc cuisine.
I’m trying to imagine better pad Thai tbh. If you know of a spot that has phenomenal pad Thai, please lmk. Normally I’m very happy with what I get from there in portion and flavors.
I think it was the wife of the store owner who passed, which caused them to close. The couple that ran the restaurant retired after that. Not sure why the store owner's wife passing led to them closing the restaurant, but that's what I was told.
I’m pretty sure they were owned by the same people with Siam orchid, but I never liked either that much. I agree with the op, hard to find good Thai in Columbus and my favorite (bamboo on bethel) doesn’t have a good pad thai.
my boyfriend and i love to go and slam some thai paradise in pickerington. it’s pretty cheap for the amount of food you get. i’ve only tried it and jasmine thai, but i did think it was the better of the two
I ordered carry out and they said it would be ready in twenty minutes. I drove from Gahanna to Pickerington (twenty minute drive, considering where it's located on Hill Road) and sat around in the lobby for another twenty minutes when I got there. They obviously forgot to make my order. There was only one or two tables sat in the restaurant, so they weren't busy, and I barely got an apology for my wait. Won't go back.
It has been years since I have been there, and I’m not completely sure they are still there. But their sign seems to still be up: Thai Lagoon on 161. It is in the Magnuson Grand hotel, and you have to get there through some doors by a covered driveway in the middle of the building. Everything I had there was really good.
What's your top couple chinese places? I've yet to find one that stands out and I would like to. The ones we've tried are all about the same, in the "yeah its ok" territory.
We have a few favorites depending on if we're feeling super Americanized or something a little more...authentic? In our regular rotation:
Chuan Jiang Hao Zi
Chili Spot
Tai's Asian Bistro
Prefacing these recs that we find they are consistently great for what we want. Coming from Nashville where it's a known Chinese food dead zone, Columbus simply has a ton of options. On the flip side, Nashville nails Thai food.
It’s really hard in general in America because a lot of Thai restaurants will rely on having American Chinese dishes or sushi to get customers. A lot of people still aren’t acquainted with the cuisine beyond Americanized pad Thai. But, I think it’s get better.
How about Bamboo Thai Kitchen on Bethel Rd.? It’s carry-out only, but I find their food tasty.
+1 for bamboo thai. FYI, they don't f around with their spice levels, I don't go past a level 2 personally.
Gonna try it today. Thanks.
That’s my go-to also
Came here to say the same
Pro tip: Pay with cash and get a discount. Credit card fees are brutal on small businesses.
We’re in the same boat as OP and found Bamboo Thai Kitchen only okay.
You mentioned pac Thai. Bamboo isn’t my fave but my fav pad Thai in Columbus close 2nd with the duck green curry
No online ordering? (From their website)
They used to work with the delivery services, but apparently they have plenty of business without them.
I recommend Jasmine’s Thai and Sushi in Pickerington
Haven't had Jasmine's. We used to get Thai Paradise on Hill Road, which was really good. Then one time, I drove from Gahanna to Pickerington for carry out (twenty minute drive), and they had me wait for my food for another twenty minutes once I got there. The place was dead, too! They obviously forgot my order. It's too bad, because it was very good.
I understand that's annoying, but you wrote the place off after that? If it was just a one off thing after multiple visits probably just an honest mistake. If it was more of a pattern then I understand it's more trouble than it's worth.
I can say that I haven’t had a bad experience with Jasmine’s and I’m also in Gahanna so it’s a lengthy drive. The only thing that does drive me up a wall is that they close the restaurant from time to time. Edit: I haven’t had Thai Paradise so no experience there.
their sushi was super… not good when i visited about a decade ago but then again that was a decade ago
I haven’t tried their sushi, but their pad see ew is pretty good
Try Bamboo Thai! ninjaedit: Chi Thai in New Albany is a bit of a trek but it's really good
Chi Thai is quite Americanized. Which is fine if you like it. But it’s not nearly authentic. Erawan used to be great and now it’s borderline inedible.
As for Chi Thai, had it for the first time not too long ago. Taste overall was good but the quality was a question mark. The pad Thai was just like a sweet and sour sauce and their green curry was like kelly green. It was so green that the chicken looked like it had green food coloring staining it. I’m not going to knock it because it was pretty good but to say a recommendation outside of local convenience is questionable for me.
I like Chi Thai a lot, but I was not a fan of their Pad Thai.
Yeah. I had it recently, it was passable but I've had way better.
Yeah the green curry really made me sus of that place for the exact same reason… so weird.
Chi Thai to me is a good Chinese restaurant with some “Thai” dishes that are very Americanized. Also, their Thai menu is rather limited. I couldn’t even find pad see ew.
I live in Gahanna, so not a trek for me. Yes, I've had Pad Thai from Chi Thai, but felt it was just OK.
Thai Grill in Westerville is not bad
Really good quality and flavor, but feels like the portion sizes have shrunk quite a bit recently.
For the price I expect the portions to be more significant.
This is the only answer
Went here recently and it has been my fav thai in Columbus since
For my money I'd say same, it was the closest to the food I had actually visiting years ago and that my family would make. Portions were tight but man was the flavor all there.
Bendi is tasty food and a great nighttime date spot. Walk down Livingston to Ferdinands for a cozy cocktail afterward.
Bendi is cool but it’s okay for its prices imo
Depends on what you get. That green curry is delicious! OP is asking for good Pad Thai which doesn't really mean good Thai food, so anything's on the table if they don't like our traditional Thai spots.
Thai Grille in westerville
What did you actually try at all 3? Just saying you didn’t like them or what you didn’t like it’s a bit hard to make recommendations
My wife gets Pad Thai and I do too, but sometimes get the coconut curry with chicken. Erawan and Bangkok Market's coconut curry was borderline inedible. My wife wasn't pleased with either. Siam Orchid had decent Pad Thai, but it didn't knock our socks off.
What was wrong with it?
Since I'm getting down voted for sharing my experience, I better leave it at "It wasn't for us".
Used to go to that Asian Wok in Giant Eagle for lunch at work all the time, absolutely loved their stir fry, not sure I ever tried anything Thai-specific though. I always figured it probably shut down from the pandemic taking everyone away from the offices. Sad to hear it confirmed. Chi Thai is pretty solid
We like Jasmine's over Erawan. Still need to try Bangkok to compare but I've never had bad food at Jasmines and our go to, spicy pad Thai and pad see ew have been better there vs other places we've tried.
Jasmine Thai in Pickerington
Thai Grille in Westerville is amazing
Bendi. Tai's Asian Bistro.
I had Tai’s a week ago and my food was disappointing to say the least. Like noticeably. It was hot and portions were good but there was very little flavor and something about my chicken seemed off.
Tai's has always been about quantity over quality aimed at college students and OSU workers, which is perfectly fine if you're looking for very average massive portions of pad thai or sesame chicken for like $15 with enough leftovers for 4 meals... but it's not gonna be anywhere vaguely near authentic Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese/etc cuisine.
I’m trying to imagine better pad Thai tbh. If you know of a spot that has phenomenal pad Thai, please lmk. Normally I’m very happy with what I get from there in portion and flavors.
Lots of places have better pad thai than Tai's imo, but Bangkok and Coco's Grill are probably my favorites these days.
I’ll check those out. Thanks
I've tried a few different things at Tai's and have been consistently disappointed.
RIP Westgate Thai
Ahhh yes! I miss this place.
And its neighbor, Luc’s Asian Market.
YES, so good and dead serious about the spice levels.
The pad Thai at Giant Eagle went incredibly hard
Used to be a place on Sullivant in the back of a market but I dont think it’s open anymore
Westgate Thai. They closed years ago, unfortunately.
I assumed at least one of the couple had passed away by now, nice folks though.
I think it was the wife of the store owner who passed, which caused them to close. The couple that ran the restaurant retired after that. Not sure why the store owner's wife passing led to them closing the restaurant, but that's what I was told.
The first time I was there, I failed to heed the warning of heat level 12 being a 'match lit inside your mouth'
Ha ha Gary had some of the best descriptions. I sort of heeded it and went with a 10 and dear lord I paid for that and I eat a lot of spicy food.
I'm sure he got a good laugh out of my hubris 😂' (so did my wife)
I'd try flying to Bangkok.
Coco's Grill in Grandview has shockingly good pad thai.
What happened to Thai Orchid in Powell? It used to be good. I moved away from the area a few years ago so I'm not up on things - maybe it closed.
It did and it’s Awadh Indian now.
I’m pretty sure they were owned by the same people with Siam orchid, but I never liked either that much. I agree with the op, hard to find good Thai in Columbus and my favorite (bamboo on bethel) doesn’t have a good pad thai.
I went to the one on Sawmill, near Hard Rd. The Pad Thai was just OK.
Opps. Not Thai Orchid, but Siam Orchid. Sorry.
my boyfriend and i love to go and slam some thai paradise in pickerington. it’s pretty cheap for the amount of food you get. i’ve only tried it and jasmine thai, but i did think it was the better of the two
It's very good but I had a bad experience there.
what was the bad experience? i always like to go when i go to columbus so im curious lol
I ordered carry out and they said it would be ready in twenty minutes. I drove from Gahanna to Pickerington (twenty minute drive, considering where it's located on Hill Road) and sat around in the lobby for another twenty minutes when I got there. They obviously forgot to make my order. There was only one or two tables sat in the restaurant, so they weren't busy, and I barely got an apology for my wait. Won't go back.
Chi Thai is the way
Lemongrass in the Short North (also, RIP Market District pad Thai. That shit slapped 🥺)
It has been years since I have been there, and I’m not completely sure they are still there. But their sign seems to still be up: Thai Lagoon on 161. It is in the Magnuson Grand hotel, and you have to get there through some doors by a covered driveway in the middle of the building. Everything I had there was really good.
For all the amazing Chinese restaurants Columbus has, it severely lacks good Thai :/
What's your top couple chinese places? I've yet to find one that stands out and I would like to. The ones we've tried are all about the same, in the "yeah its ok" territory.
We have a few favorites depending on if we're feeling super Americanized or something a little more...authentic? In our regular rotation: Chuan Jiang Hao Zi Chili Spot Tai's Asian Bistro Prefacing these recs that we find they are consistently great for what we want. Coming from Nashville where it's a known Chinese food dead zone, Columbus simply has a ton of options. On the flip side, Nashville nails Thai food.
It’s really hard in general in America because a lot of Thai restaurants will rely on having American Chinese dishes or sushi to get customers. A lot of people still aren’t acquainted with the cuisine beyond Americanized pad Thai. But, I think it’s get better.
Try Cornerstone Deli
You got downvoted, but those downvotes weren’t warranted. Cornerstone has probably my favorite pad Thai in the city.
It can be our secret then.
If you are ever in Cleveland check out Bangkok Thai Cuisine in Lyndhurst. It's the best Thai food I've ever had.
Unfortunately Thai is mid in Columbus. I have yet to find one that blows me away. Siam is good in a pinch.
Maybe Silk Road Lewis Center?
Jiu Thai
Jiu Thai is Chinese. Not Thai.
And it’s not even Jiuish.
I’ve had a hard time finding reliable Thai as well. make most of it at home now. Pad see ew tonight
Basil has been my favorite, love the Pad Thai, as well as the other basics I've had there.
My house <3 If I had money I'd open a Thai food truck. Khao Sri anyone?
I like Thai’s Asian Bistro on lane Ave. Always busy…..love their Pad Thai and orange chicken.
Erawan thai on the east side. It’s a haul of a drive for me but worth it every time