32 Best Thai Restaurants in Oakland

“We brought our friend here to celebrate his birthday because we wanted to gift an experience. We saw you featured on Check Please . . . And you guys WOW’d us beyond our expectations!! Amazing staff! And amazing food . . And yes, amazing cocktails!! Down to the last finishing touches ! We will definitely be back !“

“A Humble Plea: Bring Tanya Back!

We’ve been ordering from Hawking Bird for the last year - it’s our go-to spot for delicious fried chicken and flavorful garlic noodles. Our standard order: the Tanya Special. This ingenious dish focused on my favorite Hawking Bird offerings with none of the fluff. Imagine my disappointment when I learned this special was removed from the menu! Yes, you can alter the fried chicken bowl (sub noodles, remove the cucumber/cilantro/mint) but Tanya was generous, providing a larger portion size that cannot be recreated. Times are tough, and Miss Tanya provided some relief.

My loyalty to Hawking Bird has not wavered, I’m placing an order right now - but please consider bringing this special back!“

“First visit here. The dishes we ordered were flavorful, well portioned, and excellent. A city parking lot is adjacent, so that could be beneficial if you drive over. They honored their closing time of 9 pm as we arrived shortly after 8:30 pm, and they gladly seated us for a quick but unrushed meal. Looking forward to coming back to try some of the other dishes.“

“Had to take my daughter to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and we were looking for a good place to have lunch before her appointment. My daughter spotted this restaurant and we are absolutely in love. Clean, comfortable eating area inside and outside. Variety on the menu and best Thai food we’ve eaten in a long time. Amazing flavors and portions are just right. And let’s not forget the Thai tea, best everrr! Seriously highly recommend for lunch and dinner if you are in the Oakland area.“

“The food was soo delicious!! 10/10 recommend the Yellow Curry with Chicken. Gorgeous ambiance and amazing service. The Thai tea was also delicious. My first time here and would definitely recommend this place. Great price too! The Curry comes with rice also!“

“Delicious food, great service, fun atmosphere!“

“We often bring out-of-towners here because it's hard to find Laotian food outside of the Bay and Vientian Cafe always delivers. The menu is super extensive and very reasonably priced, so you can try a bunch of new things each time. We always get the nam kao and the lao sausage (which you can also take home frozen). Angel wings are also super addictive.

Food also travels well if you're looking for takeout. One of our favorite spots in the east bay!“

“Really cute little place which actually reminded me of being back in Bangkok! Delicious food, especially their soup which opens the lunch special. Super nice people running the place and serving here and very welcoming to my small dog. I will return!“

“Pork jowl fried rice is 🔥 We will be back for that and the fried chicken wings. The cod was delicious as well. Definitely hoping to try the pad Thai and duck curry next time.

The logistics are a bit tricky; leave 10-15 minutes for parking and expect to navigate some narrow and uneven roads. I would also not rely on the restaurant to respond to calls or texts very quickly. Changing a reservation within 48 hours is allowed by policy but not easy.“

“Came here for lunch. DELICIOUS flavors. Quick service, polite and respectful host. Plenty of room inside with free parking behind the establishment. Very reasonably priced. All one could ask for. And they were not stingy with refills of the hot tea! 🫖🍵“

“5 stars for food, but giving 4 because historically their phone almost never rings properly, and their hostess told me last call was 9:45pm when I called earlier today but they actually close at 9 🤦🏻‍♀️ Their website also doesn’t work properly… so yeah amazing food but management could really use some work.

Favorites:
- Larp
- Pumpkin curry
- Pad ped pla cook (catfish)
- Rice ball salad

Everything, especially the vegetables, is literally cooked to perfection.“

“We've had consistently delicious and high quality food at Nua. The prices are reasonable and it has cute sunny above-average ambience. This restaurant is underappreciated and therefore punches above its weight as far as quality and table availability. We have had the pineapple fried rice and The tamarind tofu appetizer among other dishes, extremely generous and delicious. I hope they stay around for a long time.“

“Cool place (love the decor/style), nice staff & tasty food. Some dishes you will not find in the average Thai restaurant in the Bay Area. For example, the chef or owner is from northern Thailand so the menu features a top Northern Thai dish - Kao Soi noodle soup (beef or chicken), or the all time fav 'street food' grilled pork skewers (moo ping) served with sticky rice (ck out the menu on their website). I had the Pad Kemao Chicken (menu says beef but they are happy to make dishes with what you like & even have Beyond Meat dishes on the menu - cool to see stir fried basil with Beyond Meat (Krapao Beyond Neur)). The taste of my wok fried pad kemao was delicious, same or better than any I've had on prior trips to Bangkok. Glad to have discovered a solid Thai restaurant that doesn't have watered down flavors. Good to see they have a lot of gluten free and vegan choices on the menu too. Definitely will be back, keep up the good work!“

“Just happened to stop by, because Food Mill is right next's door . Was just gonna just get some Thai ice tea, but they had Thai ice coffee and just went with that. Spotted Thai boat noodle on the menu.... It's been awhile.... So took it TOGO. Overall... Super delicious. Great flavor. Not overwhelming. Although I probably would of want the wider noodles. I'll try to request that next's time if it's possible to switch it up. 😋“

“This place is VERY CONSISTENT!!! The food is ALWAYS fresh and prepared well. I have yet to be disappointed. The staff remembers you and treats you like a special guest EVERY TIME“

“Best Thai Restaurant here in the Philippines! Rated 5 stars!“

“The standard Thai menu items like green curry and pad see ew were unusually good. The “Thai home cooking” menu items like “mee cook”and “custard bread” dessert were bland and not tasty.“

“Wow. Drunken beef, chicken with green beans, and chicken satay were all amazing, Coming back next week with colleagues.“

“Came here when I was alone in the restaurant on a Sunday evening. Damn was this place amazing. The pineapple fried rice is some of the best Thai food I’ve ever had I can’t lie. Hit the spot perfectly and the family serving me were very polite and nice. Top tier find!“

“It’s a wonderful place to satisfy your cravings for Thai cuisine. The cozy and clean atmosphere with friendly staff adds to the overall dining experience.“

“The food was so bomb! It’s really amazing foood even it’s so prizey!“

“Great food and service, would recommend, love it 😋“

“I’ve eaten here only one time and gotten take out a number of times. This is a great neighborhood Thai restaurant. Everything I’ve ordered, which is mostly the vegetarian options has been super solid. I love their pad prik khing. I do feel terrible every time I pick up my takeout that there are so few customers dining in. In 2026, I’m going to dine in here more often since they’re so nice!“

“Great place to start your night , or end it , open till 10:00“

“Just wrapped up a fantastic dinner at Sukko Thai and I have to say, every dish hit the mark. We ordered the chicken pad Thai, mango fried rice, and basil eggplant, and honestly, it was tough to pick a favorite.

The pad Thai had that perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory, with chicken that was tender and not overcooked. The mango fried rice was a standout for me. Sweet chunks of ripe mango paired with perfectly seasoned rice made for a dish I'm already thinking about ordering again. And the basil eggplant? Bold, aromatic, and packed with that fresh Thai basil flavor that you just can't fake.

What really impressed me was how fresh everything tasted. You can tell the kitchen takes pride in their ingredients. No heavy, greasy aftertaste, just clean, vibrant Thai flavors done right.

If you're in the mood for authentic Thai that delivers on both flavor and quality, Sukko Thai should be at the top of your list. We'll definitely be back.“

“I was craving some pad see ew today and decided to try a new spot closer to the office, and I am so glad I found Rose Garden Uptown! It's only five minutes away, and the service was absolutely wonderful. My order was ready early, and the gentleman at the front was incredibly sweet.

Everything smelled so delightful on the way back, and the fried rice pork chop, sweet chicken, and beef pad see ew were all a perfect 10/10! I'm so thrilled to have found this wonderful gem, and it is definitely going to be my new go-to spot.

My only complaint is parking --parking sucks lol I had to drive around 3 times.“

“My wife survived on their Pork Curry when pregnant with our twin sons. That was 20 years ago. These folks are still grinding out some amazing Thai food for a very reasonable price. I moved away from Oakland sadly but whenever am back I try to stop in. Give them a try!“

“Excellent Thai cuisine. They have quick service and the curry dishes are full of flavor. It's a small restaurant so you can order to go if it's too crowded to find a seat. If you're game for dessert, try their mango sticky rice dessert.“

“The ultimate comfort meal! I ordered the coconut Tom Yum soup at a medium spice level. Personally, I could have gone a little spicier, but the flavor was still absolutely delicious. I also tried the mango sticky rice, which was even sweeter and more perfect than I imagined. Paired everything with one of their housemade Thai iced teas. This meal was truly designed to fix me. Highly recommend Oash Thai Express!“

“I eat Thai food once a week and this ranks among the best in the area...smaller, unassuming place but a very pleasant waitstaff and crazy good food...they also understood “mild” and adjusted all the dishes perfectly...we tried 5 items and all were good!“

“Wonderful food!“

“Vulcan Thai Cafe is the kind of neighborhood restaurant that leaves an impression well beyond the meal itself. Lily, the owner, was an exceptionally gracious host: warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in making sure the dining experience was a memorable one. She took the time to explain the menu with care and shared stories of Thai culture that gave the meal a welcome sense of place and authenticity.

I ordered the Emerald Salmon Curry, and it was excellent. The salmon was complemented by a beautifully balanced curry sauce, which was fragrant, nuanced, and seasoned with remarkable precision. The vegetables were crisp and fresh, offering just the right contrast in texture while absorbing the flavors of the curry without losing their character.

Between the quality of the food and Lily’s generous hospitality, Vulcan Thai Cafe offers far more than a good meal; it offers the sort of personal, culturally rich dining experience that makes a restaurant worth returning to.“