We had the grilled pork jowl salad and the beef shanks panaeng stew. The food tasted great, the flavor was intense. We enjoyed both entrees very much. The waitress was friendly and helpful. Two things we didn't like though: 1) the food came out very slowly. I didn't time it, but it was long enough for us to keep wondering if they've forgotten us. But we looked around and noticed that other patrons didn't have their food either. Then after my wife's entrée came out, we still had to wait for some time for my entrée to come out. If my wife had started eating right when her entree came out, she would've finished by the time my entree came out. 2) No public restroom.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Beef Shanks Panaeng Stew
K. G.
This is the best Thai food I have ever had outside of Thailand! The flavors presentation and authenticity is unmatched! I am not exaggerating! We ordered NamTok (steak), the pad Thai tofu, brussel sprouts pork and green curry chicken with vermicelli noodles! Every dish was 10/10, no joke, the chef here knows how to cook. If you love Thai food, you'd be doing yourself terrible injustice if you don't eat here! The service was A+ too. The only small downside is there is no customer restroom.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
BK
Decent Food, But Comfort Could Be ImprovedI recently dined at this Thai restaurant and had a mixed experience. On the positive side, the food was good, offering authentic flavors that reminded me of Thailand. However, there were a few downsides that affected my overall experience.Firstly, the lack of restroom facilities, even for customers, was a significant inconvenience. This was particularly problematic because it made it hard to wash hands before and after eating, which is essential for hygiene.Additionally, the restaurant’s air circulation was poor, leading to a very hot and somewhat uncomfortable dining environment.While I enjoyed the food, these issues with basic amenities and comfort made my visit less enjoyable than expected.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 2
Ten E.
Decent Food, But Comfort Could Be ImprovedI recently dined at this Thai restaurant and had a mixed experience. On the positive side, the food was good, offering authentic flavors that reminded me of Thailand. However, there were a few downsides that affected my overall experience.Firstly, the lack of restroom facilities, even for customers, was a significant inconvenience. This was particularly problematic because it made it hard to wash hands before and after eating, which is essential for hygiene.Additionally, the restaurant's air circulation was poor, leading to a very hot and somewhat uncomfortable dining environment.While I enjoyed the food, these issues with basic amenities and comfort made my visit less enjoyable than expected.
Erik W.
An incredible hidden gem. Plern is a breath of fresh Thai air. I enjoyed their take on Thai, seems to be a little bit tweaked from the normal faire. Is it more sophisticated? Is it new-wave? I don't know. I just know it was delicious. We tried the coconut soup and 2 different curries and wolfed it all down. Take away 1 star for not having a menu on the wall or a physical menu to look at. Having to swipe/stare/swipe/stare at my tiny phone screen to try to order is a 2023 curse I try to avoid.
Gummy N.
I recently dined at a local Thai restaurant and had a pleasant experience. The food was impressive in terms of flavor and authenticity. Each dish I tried was a delightful mix of traditional Thai spices and ingredients, perfectly capturing the essence of Thai cuisine.However, the presentation was somewhat underwhelming. Understandably, due to the current trend of takeout and delivery services, all the dishes were served in to-go boxes. While this is practical and ensures food safety, it does detract slightly from the overall dining experience, as the presentation is a big part of enjoying a meal.Despite this, the quality of the food was undeniably good, making me eager to return and try more dishes. For those who prioritize taste and authenticity in their Thai cuisine, this restaurant definitely delivers. I'm looking forward to my next visit, hopefully with an opportunity to experience their dishes presented in a more traditional manner.
Richard Woo
Wow, the first two times I had food delivered from Plern it was a little light on portions, but the food was great.I recently ordered 5 items:- 2 orders of the crispy chive cakes- braised beef panaeng curry- grilled steak naam tok (steak with salad)- pork toroThe food was tasty, but I was DISAPPOINTED with the portion size.I felt like someone ate half the curry in the bowl before delivering it to us and there was about a palmful, if that, serving for the pork toro dish.I wasn’t really expecting a massive portion size, but you couldn’t even feed half of a person with the amount of food in these dishes.
Catherine V.
We had discovered this cute cafe a couple of months ago and the food was good. We were excited we finally found a good Thai place to add to our repertoire. Service was good, serving plates and bowls were ceramic. Food was on point. However last week hubby and I came back for dinner and everything took a 180?! Everything was now served in plastic and paper to-go containers, service was minimal and we had to order at the counter, and food went downhill! Our favorite wagyu roti appetizer was greasy, lacking curry flavor and just limp. The green curry was very watery and lacking rich coconut cream. The pad Thai was sweet and lacking the balance of tartness and saltiness to counter the sweetness although the 21/25 shrimps were ample. We left just very disappointed. Will have to rethink if we want to give it another chance in the future...
Mayu T.
I ordered the Green Chicken Curry with vermicelli. I'm used to getting rice, but the vermicelli worked well with the soupier consistency, which was light but still creamy without being heavy and had a nice spice level even at medium. I also tried a bite of the Pad Thai, which was made with a thinner noodle than I'm used to. This gives it a stickier texture, and I was taken by surprise by the contrast of the dried shrimp. For those who prefer savory flavors, add a good amount of lime and the chili they provide with the dish. Overall, it's not bad, and I appreciate the variety in menu compared to your usual roundup; impression sits at a 3.5 for food, rounded up for support.
Hugo Moctezuma
This place is delicious, everything is so flavorful and aromatic! The crispy chive cake is soft and fluffy inside and goes well with the sweet soy sauce. The Basil Wagyu is my go to but I tried over half their menu and they're all tasty!I recommend going after the lunch time rush (after 1 pm) so that you don't have to wait as long for the food. The place can get packed and there's usually only one server.
My family and I went here for the first time and it is such a great find!The staff was very attentive and friendly. Our server was knowledgeable and answered all of our questions about the menu and provided great recommendations. Plern has a unique menu with a mix of classic Thai dishes and fun, fusion dishes. The food was DELICIOUS! We started with the wagyu roit mataba - the flavors were on point and well-balanced. For entrees, our group got the pad Thai, green curry with chicken and the grilled steak naam tok. Everyone was very pleased with their dishes. I had the curry and had the perfect level of spice Everyone else loved their food. The portion size was great too. All around wonderful experience. This is a hidden gem for sure and we will be back!
boneyard jay
Excellent beef paenang curry, also don't sleep on the swimming pig!
Yolanda S.
Such a gem! Loved the interior and the food was good. We opted for a Wagyu Roti Mataba as a starter, green chicken curry, and grilled crying tiger steak salad. I really enjoyed their wagyu roti mataba and all the sauces. Loved that they mixed the right amount of spiciness and acidity, very appetizing! Service was super friendly as well. Honestly, I came with zero expectations but ended up leaving pretty satisfied. I recommend this place. Note: no public restrooms
Carina V.
Hidden gem tucked away in a random strip mall in Lake Forest. Don't let its unassuming appearance deceive you. The food is delicious. My mom and I came in at 7 pm on a Sunday and were promptly seated. Our hostess was so pleasant and attentive, constantly asking if the food was good and refilling our water.Everything we ordered was a hit. For our appetizers, we started with the gui chai tod and the wagyu roti mataba. Gui chai tod is my favorite appetizer, and Plern's version is delicious and chock full of chives. I loved the sweet and spicy soy they serve it with. I think they steam the chive cake a little longer before frying, so it was a tad softer, but it still had a great crisp to it. The wagyu roti was probably my favorite dish of the night. Super flaky and buttery roti wrapped around this perfectly-seasoned beef and potato mixture. The pickled cucumber, jalapeño, red onion on the side is the perfect accompaniment.For our main dishes, we split the salmon tom yum and this curry dish with pork and morning glory (the name was like three pig something I think? I'm totally blanking). The Tom yum was well balanced in seasoning and had ample salmon in it. It could have been a tad bit more tart, but that's just personal preference. The curry dish was spicy and like a soupier curry. Loaded with tons of pork belly and morning glory. I've been to Hanuman and Manao, but Plern is now my favorite Thai restaurant in OC. Will most definitely be coming back to try all the other menu items!
Sarah
Who the hell made my food??? ?????I ordered their pad thai with shrimp togo after checking out the reviews.Very disappointed with the quality and taste.Noodles were way way overcooked and tasted like they forgot to add any sauce.Just lots of noodles and was lacking the rest.Shrimp was fresh and that was all.I never like to waste food but I threw away almost half of the noodles cuz it was BAD.I checked what other people posted and the color looks so different!I liked how they used the box instead of plastic container and that's why I uploaded the 1st pic.
We had the grilled pork jowl salad and the beef shanks panaeng stew. The food tasted great, the flavor was intense. We enjoyed both entrees very much. The waitress was friendly and helpful. Two things we didn't like though: 1) the food came out very slowly. I didn't time it, but it was long enough for us to keep wondering if they've forgotten us. But we looked around and noticed that other patrons didn't have their food either. Then after my wife's entrée came out, we still had to wait for some time for my entrée to come out. If my wife had started eating right when her entree came out, she would've finished by the time my entree came out. 2) No public restroom.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Beef Shanks Panaeng Stew
This is the best Thai food I have ever had outside of Thailand! The flavors presentation and authenticity is unmatched! I am not exaggerating! We ordered NamTok (steak), the pad Thai tofu, brussel sprouts pork and green curry chicken with vermicelli noodles! Every dish was 10/10, no joke, the chef here knows how to cook. If you love Thai food, you'd be doing yourself terrible injustice if you don't eat here! The service was A+ too. The only small downside is there is no customer restroom.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Decent Food, But Comfort Could Be ImprovedI recently dined at this Thai restaurant and had a mixed experience. On the positive side, the food was good, offering authentic flavors that reminded me of Thailand. However, there were a few downsides that affected my overall experience.Firstly, the lack of restroom facilities, even for customers, was a significant inconvenience. This was particularly problematic because it made it hard to wash hands before and after eating, which is essential for hygiene.Additionally, the restaurant’s air circulation was poor, leading to a very hot and somewhat uncomfortable dining environment.While I enjoyed the food, these issues with basic amenities and comfort made my visit less enjoyable than expected.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 2
Decent Food, But Comfort Could Be ImprovedI recently dined at this Thai restaurant and had a mixed experience. On the positive side, the food was good, offering authentic flavors that reminded me of Thailand. However, there were a few downsides that affected my overall experience.Firstly, the lack of restroom facilities, even for customers, was a significant inconvenience. This was particularly problematic because it made it hard to wash hands before and after eating, which is essential for hygiene.Additionally, the restaurant's air circulation was poor, leading to a very hot and somewhat uncomfortable dining environment.While I enjoyed the food, these issues with basic amenities and comfort made my visit less enjoyable than expected.
An incredible hidden gem. Plern is a breath of fresh Thai air. I enjoyed their take on Thai, seems to be a little bit tweaked from the normal faire. Is it more sophisticated? Is it new-wave? I don't know. I just know it was delicious. We tried the coconut soup and 2 different curries and wolfed it all down. Take away 1 star for not having a menu on the wall or a physical menu to look at. Having to swipe/stare/swipe/stare at my tiny phone screen to try to order is a 2023 curse I try to avoid.
I recently dined at a local Thai restaurant and had a pleasant experience. The food was impressive in terms of flavor and authenticity. Each dish I tried was a delightful mix of traditional Thai spices and ingredients, perfectly capturing the essence of Thai cuisine.However, the presentation was somewhat underwhelming. Understandably, due to the current trend of takeout and delivery services, all the dishes were served in to-go boxes. While this is practical and ensures food safety, it does detract slightly from the overall dining experience, as the presentation is a big part of enjoying a meal.Despite this, the quality of the food was undeniably good, making me eager to return and try more dishes. For those who prioritize taste and authenticity in their Thai cuisine, this restaurant definitely delivers. I'm looking forward to my next visit, hopefully with an opportunity to experience their dishes presented in a more traditional manner.
Wow, the first two times I had food delivered from Plern it was a little light on portions, but the food was great.I recently ordered 5 items:- 2 orders of the crispy chive cakes- braised beef panaeng curry- grilled steak naam tok (steak with salad)- pork toroThe food was tasty, but I was DISAPPOINTED with the portion size.I felt like someone ate half the curry in the bowl before delivering it to us and there was about a palmful, if that, serving for the pork toro dish.I wasn’t really expecting a massive portion size, but you couldn’t even feed half of a person with the amount of food in these dishes.
We had discovered this cute cafe a couple of months ago and the food was good. We were excited we finally found a good Thai place to add to our repertoire. Service was good, serving plates and bowls were ceramic. Food was on point. However last week hubby and I came back for dinner and everything took a 180?! Everything was now served in plastic and paper to-go containers, service was minimal and we had to order at the counter, and food went downhill! Our favorite wagyu roti appetizer was greasy, lacking curry flavor and just limp. The green curry was very watery and lacking rich coconut cream. The pad Thai was sweet and lacking the balance of tartness and saltiness to counter the sweetness although the 21/25 shrimps were ample. We left just very disappointed. Will have to rethink if we want to give it another chance in the future...
I ordered the Green Chicken Curry with vermicelli. I'm used to getting rice, but the vermicelli worked well with the soupier consistency, which was light but still creamy without being heavy and had a nice spice level even at medium. I also tried a bite of the Pad Thai, which was made with a thinner noodle than I'm used to. This gives it a stickier texture, and I was taken by surprise by the contrast of the dried shrimp. For those who prefer savory flavors, add a good amount of lime and the chili they provide with the dish. Overall, it's not bad, and I appreciate the variety in menu compared to your usual roundup; impression sits at a 3.5 for food, rounded up for support.
This place is delicious, everything is so flavorful and aromatic! The crispy chive cake is soft and fluffy inside and goes well with the sweet soy sauce. The Basil Wagyu is my go to but I tried over half their menu and they're all tasty!I recommend going after the lunch time rush (after 1 pm) so that you don't have to wait as long for the food. The place can get packed and there's usually only one server.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Coconut Soup, The Basil Wagyu, Braised Beef Panaeng Curry
Restaurantji Recommends
My family and I went here for the first time and it is such a great find!The staff was very attentive and friendly. Our server was knowledgeable and answered all of our questions about the menu and provided great recommendations. Plern has a unique menu with a mix of classic Thai dishes and fun, fusion dishes. The food was DELICIOUS! We started with the wagyu roit mataba - the flavors were on point and well-balanced. For entrees, our group got the pad Thai, green curry with chicken and the grilled steak naam tok. Everyone was very pleased with their dishes. I had the curry and had the perfect level of spice Everyone else loved their food. The portion size was great too. All around wonderful experience. This is a hidden gem for sure and we will be back!
Excellent beef paenang curry, also don't sleep on the swimming pig!
Such a gem! Loved the interior and the food was good. We opted for a Wagyu Roti Mataba as a starter, green chicken curry, and grilled crying tiger steak salad. I really enjoyed their wagyu roti mataba and all the sauces. Loved that they mixed the right amount of spiciness and acidity, very appetizing! Service was super friendly as well. Honestly, I came with zero expectations but ended up leaving pretty satisfied. I recommend this place. Note: no public restrooms
Hidden gem tucked away in a random strip mall in Lake Forest. Don't let its unassuming appearance deceive you. The food is delicious. My mom and I came in at 7 pm on a Sunday and were promptly seated. Our hostess was so pleasant and attentive, constantly asking if the food was good and refilling our water.Everything we ordered was a hit. For our appetizers, we started with the gui chai tod and the wagyu roti mataba. Gui chai tod is my favorite appetizer, and Plern's version is delicious and chock full of chives. I loved the sweet and spicy soy they serve it with. I think they steam the chive cake a little longer before frying, so it was a tad softer, but it still had a great crisp to it. The wagyu roti was probably my favorite dish of the night. Super flaky and buttery roti wrapped around this perfectly-seasoned beef and potato mixture. The pickled cucumber, jalapeño, red onion on the side is the perfect accompaniment.For our main dishes, we split the salmon tom yum and this curry dish with pork and morning glory (the name was like three pig something I think? I'm totally blanking). The Tom yum was well balanced in seasoning and had ample salmon in it. It could have been a tad bit more tart, but that's just personal preference. The curry dish was spicy and like a soupier curry. Loaded with tons of pork belly and morning glory. I've been to Hanuman and Manao, but Plern is now my favorite Thai restaurant in OC. Will most definitely be coming back to try all the other menu items!
Who the hell made my food??? ?????I ordered their pad thai with shrimp togo after checking out the reviews.Very disappointed with the quality and taste.Noodles were way way overcooked and tasted like they forgot to add any sauce.Just lots of noodles and was lacking the rest.Shrimp was fresh and that was all.I never like to waste food but I threw away almost half of the noodles cuz it was BAD.I checked what other people posted and the color looks so different!I liked how they used the box instead of plastic container and that's why I uploaded the 1st pic.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3