My favorite so far! I have tried many places in search of the perfect curry and long behold I was introduced to a dish called the evil princess curry dish. I attempt to change up my order, but fails every time I walk into this place. Pumpkin curry is good too. The service staff is very pleasant. Small neighborhood restaurant where I never have to wait for a table.
(5)
Wendy R.
Super cozy, good service, amazing food. Mango salad is a must, dancing prawns were so so. Mango with sticky rice is over the top delicious.
(4)
Miriam W.
We celebrated a friends birthday here recently, so I got to sample a lot. I love that this restaurant, unlike most Thai places, is pretty quiet. I am certain our table was the loudest. The ginger spring rolls were awesome! We had the pumpkin curry, the Evil Princess (spicy red curry) pad thai and the seafood green curry and I don't have a bad word to say about any of them. Make sure to get the fried bananas with coconut ice cream for dessert! Artfully presented food served by a staff with heart. I'll surely be back!
(4)
Chieko H.
My favorite Thai restaurant. Hands-down. And I've had A LOT of Thai food. If you go here, definitely get the pad thai (I know, generic, but their pad thai will blow you away....), pumpkin curry with white rice, and a thai iced tea. I guarantee you, you will go back for seconds the following week.
(5)
Craig R.
Yummmmm. Wonderful soup (Tom Yam Koog) with that slow warming spicyness. Pumpkin curry was as advertised by the many reviewers before me - just sublime on a brins fall afternoon. Chef Pai is warm and gracious. Our server was friendly and attentive. Place is cute and clean. Food was great. Open for lunch (which puts it ahead of Thep right from the start). As a super-bonus, wandering a block south we got to Bankyoto for mochi for dessert. Oh, and you won't have room, so get the mochi to go.
(5)
kathryn h.
Nice decor/flowers not your generic Thai spot. with fake posters on the wall. Staff is attentive and food is CONSISTENTLY good which is a huge buzzword for me. The chef /owner even takes time to come out when she is able. I found this place by accident several years ago and bring all my friends and OOT folks here- have not heard one disappointed commet yet. Yes, andI agree that the pumpkin curry is one of the best dishes. Try the eggplant appetizer- it will make a convert out of those who say thay don't even like eggplant.
(4)
Sumit C.
This is a cute little restaurant set in a very nice block. The eggplant stuffed with chicken and prawns was excellent, specially the basil sauce (similar to Indian chutney) on top of each piece. The ice tea and Chang beer were on mark. Took off 1-star cause the pumpkin curry was very mild, and super creamy. We (2 of us) were so full with just 1 entree, couldn't even eat dessert ! Overall nice place. The owner personally came and said hi. Will definitely go back and try out other entrees soon!
(4)
Jessica U.
Best thai food in SF. Authentic and actually affordable, given the quality. The Gaeng Deang (red curry) and pad kee mao are amazing, as is the pad thai. A bit pricier than other thai restaurants in the area, but well worth it. Go there you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Alex C.
i think the food was good.... either that, or I was on the brink of starvation that is. From ordering at the restaurant for to-go and then leaving with the food FORTY-NINE minutes could get me a little cranky...... after the food came home and I ripped through the plastic bag like a pedifile with a 6-yr old boy, i was in bliss. spicy scallops, yellow curry, pad thai(best ever, usually it's too mushy or under-cooked, but this place, it was perfection) now next time if they can do it for under 25 minutes for me, I'll change my stars to five!! woohooo....
(4)
Trevor D.
Better keep your eyes open when you're walking by or else you might just miss it. It's right next to a eye glasses store, so watch out! Nothing too spatacular stands out about this place. It taste like every other Thai restaurant I've been to. I ordered Pad Kee Mao and it was delicious, but so are the ones at every other place. I would only come back here simply because of a convenient factor. If I happen to be craving Thai and also happen to be in the area.
(3)
Cameron A.
They recently remodeled and the food is the freshest Thai around. Even when you go to the restroom you walk by their very clean kitchen. The food is outstanding and the owners are nicest people you can meet. The Spicy Basil Chicken was so fresh and delicious. Can't beat this mom and pop place!
(5)
Jason H.
Staff are very friendly..food was fantastic..prig khing with tofu was one of the best I've had..quaint interior that smells of rich mahogany and lemongrass..I will make a point to eat here each time I am in town for sure..
(5)
alicia k.
So the food is not the best, but they are extremely flexible and clearly take care of their guests. We ordered the shrimp rolls appetizer (pretty good), chicken larb (OK), salmon with noodles, beef salad, tofu with basil. The food is not outstanding, but they were willing to accommodate our friends requests. They made a special stir-fry green beans for our friends and happily accommodated half-page list of omissions/additions to the menu items.
(3)
Laurel W.
Food was good and attractively presented, but service was TERRIBLE. Three of us went for lunch and we sat there at least 20 minutes before anyone came to offer drinks or take our order, even though only a couple other tables were occupied. Our entrees came out one at a time, widely staggered -- my husband was finishing the last bites of his pad Thai when my curry finally arrived. Would not return.
(2)
Kate J.
This place is great! Conveniently located across from Hotel Tomo, this little gem was a pleasant surprise. I was only in town for a few days and ended up having dinner here two nights out of three. So deelish!
(4)
James P.
Pad Thai was superb!! We also had the Wrap me ups - there was a lot of interesting flavors going on - very tasty!! On my list for a return visit!
(5)
Double Dee D.
I'm Thai and i think I'm one of the best cook for Thai cuisine:P. But for this place, they are really high class authentic taste. It's not like what you can experience from other Thai restaurant. Their presentation and taste is about right!!! not too extreme salty, spicy or sweet.. Just right, Perfect!!! I never find myself writing things much for any establishment but they are really excellent, creative and talented chefs. I just went there today and the server named Kai, made me feel like at home. She approached you appropriately, not try to bug you around when you having meal. She's real spontaneous waitress to me as well as other table. I saw mango salad in the menu but i thought it will be a regular dish that I can find else where. THen,I told her how starving i am so she complimented me the Mango Salad!! This dish is fancy and creative, well-done creativity of taste; natural sweet, little acidity for your appetite and daily fresh cut greens (she told me).I used to work at Thai restaurant and most of them stock all greens for many days. :( I really love the way they make crispy sesame chips in there. Yum yum.. My real order was Larb Kai.To make this dish, I'm one of the best to cook it too but the way they make it is so different. I think it comes from great selection of ingredients; starting from dried chili, special mint, lean chicken meat, side vegetable and plating!! Everythings is so compliment to each other. This place make wanna give a big hugs to all the chefs at the back. Even though I love to cook Thai food for myself but Jitlada will be ONLY Thai place I'm craving for. Next time I will try Yellow Curry Noodle, Thai northern food. My mom's from there so I would love to make this a challenge:) The best royal authentic Thai taste which ever made in the foreign country. I called it royal taste because they made me feel like a princess who has the best authentic meal being served. !! :)Great place for Thai food beginner but extremely superb for experts!!
(5)
Alyssa H.
Cold soup, cold dishes, horrible service. Felt like our business wasn't wanted. Nothing special about this place.Never coming back again.
(1)
T S.
Grabbed Thai before seeing a movie at Kabuki. Parking was a nightmare! So I think this place is best for folks who live in the neighborhood. The patrons were mostly older people (senior citizens) when I dined. Prices were reasonable, but it wasn't the most authentic Thai I've had in SF.
(3)
Jodie B.
4 stars for sweet staff.. 3 stars for yellow curry... 4 stars for black sticky rice & mango... never had that before... if brown rice is good for you, this stuff must be like some kind of super extra power food. I'll have to eat it more often to know for sure...
(4)
Tiffany L.
Where do I even start?!?!?! Jitlada is hands down, my FAVORITE THAI RESTAURANT! You can never go wrong with a meal here, no matter what you order! The food always taste fresh and great! The atmosphere of it is really small and cozy, kind of reminds you of home! Most of all though, I love the staff here! They're so nice and friendly and they really make dining here an overall great experience!
(5)
Gail Q.
I like Thai food a lot. One of the things i miss most about living in Chicago is the abundance of cheap, great Thai places. I'm thinking there's a pretty good chance that, if given the choice, my last meal on this earth will be tofu Pad Kee Mao. The quality of the Thai food on the west coast makes my heart beat a little faster, and Jitlada makes me want to propose marriage. 1. Khao Soi is awesome. I'd never had it before, and will presently mount a search party to find it in my hometown (don't let me down, NYC). 2. Shrimp in sleeping bags is both a great band name, and a great way to make me want to eat shrimp. The fact that our server said "Shhh! Shrimp is sleeping!" when she brought this to our table only made me love Jitlada more. 3. The staff here is sweet and funny (at times, inadvertently so) and made us feel not only welcome, but like we owned the place. We walked in with a party of 5 on a Friday night (after a failed attempt to eat at farmerbrown) and were seated within a few minutes. They were busy and the service was a bit slow, which bothered us very little, since the service was also charming and wacky. Two of my pals ordered specials and the rest of us ordered standards, and we all inhaled our food like it was trying to run away. I'll definitely go here the next time I'm in SF (unless they make my dreams come true and move Jitlada to Brooklyn).
(5)
Michelle R.
Had the pad thai and it was excellent! Asked for some red chili flakes to go along with it - perfect! The fried tofu was crispy and the chicken was good white meat. It was a little on the sweet side (not fishy) which is exactly what I like. There are only a few tables, but it seems to move fast. I went on a Saturday night around 7pm and all the tables were full, but I didn't see anyone wait more than 15-20 minutes.
(5)
Shelly W.
My husband is not a huge fan of Asian food (chinese, thai, vietnamese, etc). But, he absolutely loves this place and thinks it's the best Thai food that he's ever had. I have to agree, I hardly crave Thai and I do crave food from this place. His favorite is the baby back ribs. The meat falls off the bone and they are sweet, tangy, and have a little spice. The green curry chicken over sticky rice is amazing too. I've also tried other dishes and they were very good. I've lived about 4 blocks from this place for a few years and walked by so many times without trying. The place never seems that busy (that's why I didn't try it in the past) but when we eat there, lots of take out orders. If you live in the neighborhood, you must try out this place.
(5)
Terry C.
I can't believe this place has 4 stars... My friend and I came here on a Saturday afternoon and the place was empty with the exception of one table. The hostess/waitress was in the kitchen. We waited a few minutes for her to seat us. There were a lot to choose from on the menu and I had a hard time deciding. But when i glanced over at the next table eating a Pad Sea Eaw, i decided to try it. It was alright. The dish was served on a giant bed of lettuce. The noodles stuck together and the entire dish was bland. My friend ordered the Jungle Curry - which is a "thai-country" side clear curry. I thought it didn't have enough flavor either. Her dish was served with a side of rice. Overall, i just thought the dishes lacked taste and it was pricey for lunch. Over $30 for 2 people.
(2)
Jade W.
Another gwu meal. This meal was pleasantly different from the last, more diversity in the group. Less techy talk and some really interesting folks with topics that ranged from traveling, food, family and non-profits. The meal seemed to fly by - I enjoyed the imperial rolls, and these stuffed Japanese eggplants. The highlights were the pork ribs, pumpkin curry and coconut ice cream over a hot roti. I enjoyed the meal would def go back if in the area.
(4)
Candice B.
Jitlada is a warm little Thai restaurant tucked in the quiet street of Buchanan near Japantown. Service is extremely friendly and warm. You know the wait staff that look so stressed they could break down at any minute? You won't find anyone like that here. Waitresses at Jitlada are like calm sweet kindergarten teachers that are only capable at whispering, never yelling. Three of us ordered the sea bass, khao soi, and jungle curry to share. Khao soi was my favorite. It's a perfect balance of curry and sweetness in a bowl of soupy thick noodles. The taste is quite addicting; you just keep on feeding yourself one spoonful after another. The sea bass had good flavors, but fish is a bit overdone. Come to think of it, I have always had this problem in Thai restaurants where the protein tends to be over cooked. That's why I often rather order the dishes vegetarian than to eat dry chicken in otherwise lovely curries. I didn't quite care for the Jungle curry. My friend claimed it to be super healthy, since it takes away the "evil" coconut milk that is, of course, packed with like a thousand calories. But I am not sure if I can enjoy Thai curry dishes without the coconut milk. Without the thickness of coconut milk, Jungle curry resembled more like a soup, which is so not good for pouring over rice to consume. Ambiance is nice and quiet, and the price is slightly more expensive than your Thai restaurant next door, about $20 a person (we didn't have dessert and only one of us ordered a glass of wine.)
(4)
Cory K.
There are better places to eat in Japantown. I had beef salad, which was somewhere in between "meh" and "not so good." The beef had a weird texture, kinda spongy, like somebody whacked it too many times with a Jaccard because it was too tough and cheap, just like the chef's ex-wife.
(2)
Tuana B.
This review is for take out only. Called 20 minutes ahead to order, arrived there, food was ready sitting on the reception desk, none besides me is there to pick up, neither a busy evening for the dine-in guests. I literally had to wait 15 minutes for someone to swipe my credit card and so I can get outta there. You know, one of those places where you feel invisible. Food was A-OK, nothing out of this world, nothing bad.
(3)
Stacey W.
This is a pretty small, nondescript place without even an entrance to wait in. The decor is pretty standard and the service was just okay. The food was great though. We tried a few of the curries and were pleasantly surprised. The sauces are very flavorful without being overly rich. I will definitely be back on my next visit.
(4)
deborah k.
Probably the best thai food restaurant I have ever been too. Yes, better than Sweetie Thai. We ordered the usual...pad thai, pad kee mao and pad see ew. All delish!
(4)
David P.
This place was a disappointment. I found it on the Yelp-o-meter (a.k.a. "Monocle" for you app sticklers!) and went here because it was closest to where I was staying at Hotel Tomo. If a place has over 100 people who give it 4 stars, you'd think it'd be a slam dunk, right? Sadly, noooooo. I should have known to avoid any restaurant with pictures of the food next to item on the menu. Bad sign right there :(. Crab wontons were $8 and contained very little crab meat, without much flavor either. I should also have known to avoid dishes with word like "Paradise" in them. It was hardly a vacation! The dish had weird, overcooked Italian-style pasta noodles with a assortment of vegetables and chicken. Nothing worked together, flavors were just odd altogether and unrecognizable from any other Thai food I've ever had. The "Khao Soi" pasta noodle dish also hit weird notes and was simply unsatisfying. It looked like a Vietnamese-style Pho but with a thick, sickly sweet yellow curry sauce instead of broth. The combination did not work, and I could not stomach the idea of slurping up the almost saccharine curry sauce (seriously, easy on the brown sugar!) as if it were a soup. I get the feeling the chef here decided to go a bit too far in the "fusion" side of things. They really need to axe some of the above dishes and just stick with Thai American staples - Phad Thai, curries, phad-see-ew, swimming rama - and avoid mismatch dishes and combinations that simply don't work.
(2)
blair k.
Hands down the best Thai food I have ever had!! It is always fresh, always delicious, always timely. I even venture out of my safety staples like pad thai, tom ka, green curry (even though theirs is the best). They know how to make spicy, too! All of their eggplant dishes are to die for, their seafood is cooked to perfection, their sauces are creamy and all the food has that perfect balance between rich and spicy.. but not that cheap spicy that tastes like one spice. It tastes very complex, artful and is worth the extra money I feel you pay when you come here. The inside is nothing to yelp about and I always get takeout. The girls are very sweet when they take your hard earned money but I definitely feel like I'm getting the better and of the deal! I wish my stomach was bigger so I could order more!!
(5)
Alan S.
Great yellow curry, peanut chicken, Bangkok salad, green curry, Thai iced tea
(5)
Judy L.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!!!!! Their green curry with eggplant is the stuff of dreams, especially with their sticky rice. Everything I've gotten here so far (except for the pumpkin curry = sub-par) has been delish, from the soup to skewers to tofu and AGAIN... the green curry is a dream. Surprisingly rarely super busy (probably due to location?), which is awesome.
(5)
Amita R.
We have eaten here for years and this is the best thai experience in San Francisco. The food is delicious! Try their wrap me ups! And the staff and service is amazing! Cant wait to eat here again!
(5)
fizza m.
Amazing super authentic. I had been looking for a Thai restaurant in the city finally found one! This restaurant was clean people were really friendly and food was amazingly delicious. We ordered yellow curry, tom gai soup, Steak on special's menu and prawn curry in pineapple bowl they really did serve the curry in half a pineapple. Everything was excellent including appetizers.
(4)
rosalinda f.
fried papaya, i love you! I live in sac and stop here every time i'm in the city (then ice cream at humphry slocombe). they have great food. the service is always good. the owners are the cutest couple ever. been a regular for over a decade, but it has a lot of regulars now, so if it's dinner time 5:30-7:30, you are better off making a reservation. they do take out if you can't get a table. the bathrooms are a little out of the way, through the kitchen, and down a scary hallway sort of outside. i've never found these green papaya fritters anywhere else, but if you have, please let me know. *if you are in japantown, swing by, buy a bag of papaya fritters to go, walk around the mall-io, then come by later for dinner that you reserved in person with your first batch of papaya fritters. everythign is good, but i'm always amazed at their fresh catch whole fish wrapped in greenery and awesomess. there are the usual suspects of curries and pad thai, etc, also amazing
(5)
Kahanalei M.
Great service and the Green Curry and Pad Thai that we ordered was very good!! I have to agree with a previous reviewer that their Green Curry in particular is one of the best in SF. Loved how the eggplants that they used were cooked so they were nice and tender. We received complimentary soup and I liked that I got free refills on the Thai Iced Tea that I ordered, which was great as well. The waitress who worked here was quite pleasant:-) I'm glad I gave this place a try!
(5)
Tamara P.
I love, love, love this place! The pumpkin curry is to die for. The Thai iced tea was perfect and refreshing. The pad thai was incredibly yummy. When we ordered the curry puffs, they regretfully informed us they were out... then surprised us with a free appetizer as an apology even though we weren't upset or anything! The service here is stellar, the people are kind and friendly and extremely attentive. This is what customer service is all about.
(5)
Brian K.
The food is dynamite. DYNAMITE. Crispy vegetables. Not soggy. Killer pad se ew and pumpkin curry. Amazing eggplant appetizer. Best Thai food I've ever had. And I've had a lot if Thai food. No delivery, but the drive is worth it. Eating in the restaurant is great too. The people that run the place are so nice and e service is friendly and attentive. So glad to have found this gem.
(5)
Avi S.
I tried their yellow curry with tofu which was just about ok.. Nothing that I'd rave about.. Their green bean tofu was good but again nothing super special.. All in all an average Thai restaurant..
(2)
Lana G.
We stopped for lunch and found good but unremarkable Thai food in a pleasant, casual space. Good service, average prices.
(3)
Kelly M.
Thanks to Nicole at the Hotel Kabuki front desk for her recommendation. We told her we were in the mood for Thai and this was the first place she mentioned. We walked in at 8pm on a Sat. without reservations. The place was packed and they said it would be about 10-15 min. wait. The sweet waitress offered us a spot at the bar to wait until a table was ready. She brought menus and water right away. Before we knew it our table was ready. Here's what we shared: *Shrimp in Sleeping bags (Such a cute name). *Yellow Curry Chicken. The sauce was absolutely amazing. We even dunked the Pad Thai Chicken in the curry sauce. *Pad Thai I don't believe there are too many Thai restaurants in the heart of Japantown. This place is clearly a neighborhood favorite. Exceptional service, delicious food and easy on the wallet. We'll be back.
(4)
A K.
Very yummy Thai food! Ended up at this place for dinner on Friday night at 9 PM. Although, they close at 9:30, they were willing to seat our group of 4 for dinner. We had: Mango Salad Ribs Chicken & Prawn Pad Thai Evil Princess Curry Pumpkin Curry Everything we had was delicious but I highly recommend the Ribs, Pad Thai and Pumpkin Curry.
(5)
Kevin F.
Delicious subtle flavors with beautifully plated food. They have gone well beyond the standard of HOT Thai food. The flavors are delicate and refined. I can easily imagine taste testing everything on the menu over a period of time. We had been exploring the Filmore/Pacific Heights area of the city with plans to see a movie at the Clay in the evening. We had an early, 530 pm, dinner here. We ordered Thai Style Curry Puff (vegetarian style) for appetizers were blown away by the delicate flavor. We realized that this was really a special place. For the main course we had Chef Pai's BBQ Chicken and Pad Kee Mao . The BBQ chicken was prepared exactly the way I like it with a sweet/spicy carmelized sauce. Pad Kee Mao was also perfection. The flavors in each dish were unique. You know how many restaurants use the same spice or sauce with everything? No so here. The portions were surprisingly generous and we enjoyed our meal immensely. They have a small dinning room so it is easy to imagine a full house. There's no bar but they do have beer. The next time we are in the city we will return to Jitlada.
(5)
Angela L.
One spot I visit every time I go to SF. Very lovely cute small restaurant. The chef is friendly and creative - she cook with what they have in hand, not according to some standard menu, after talking with me about my preferences. Surprisingly, no dish disappoint me at all
(5)
Geoffrey H.
Service is super friendly. Food is excellent. Good variety and nice ambiance to boot. My top choice for Thai in the city.
(5)
Bowdoin S.
I have now eaten here twice and now consider it my favorite thai restaurant in the Bay Area. What you get here is great food at reasonable prices. We ate here on a Sunday night and the place was quite crowded. The Thai iced tea that we started out was delicious. We next had the pad kee mao with chicken which was tasty; the only issue was that some of the pieces of chicken were overcooked, but otherwise the dish was great. We also had the duck and barbecued chicken specials. Both were extremely flavorful and tasty. Portions were good sized and we had leftovers with 3 entrees between two people. The final bill was ~ $55 with tip and tax and service was good. Despite the business of the establishment, we didn't have to wait long to get our food. The other time I was here, the chef introduced herself to us and welcomed our feedback. I will have to come back and try other items on the menu!
(4)
Karen C.
We managed to get a table at Jitlada without a reservation on a Saturday night - and boy are we glad we did! We were starving and couldn't decide on which of the delicious-looking items to try, so we got a lot of food knowing it would save well for the next day: Appetizer: Ginger Shrimp Rolls. These were delicious: crispy, flavorful, and plentiful. Noodles: Pad See Iew with chicken. It was just as it should be (with the exception of the lettuce which I don't like but seems to come with some varieties of the dish). But, sweet dark soy sauce and delicate flavor in abundance - just right! Meat: Chef Pai's BBQ chicken. Amazing flavor, crispy/spicy skin, served with two dipping sauces (sweet chili sauce and a lime/chili sauce). It also came with sticky rice and could have well been a one-plate meal for someone. Curry: Pumpkin Chicken curry. Red curry with pumpkin pieces, chicken, and other vegetables. Tasty, not too creamy, not too spicy. We will absolutely be back to Jitlada, but maybe we'll make reservations next time!
(4)
C A.
I've only ordered take out here, but the place looks cute but small. I think their food is pricy for thai food, but I think that's the case with most places around this area. Chicken pad thai - the chicken was sooo dry, but the noodles were good. Tofu with eggplant - the eggplant was good, the sauce sweet, and the dried tofu ok. Portion size was on the smaller side. Chicken pad see yu - I didn't see this on the menu but I asked them if they had it. They said they did but then when I got it, they used American broccoli instead of Chinese broccoli which in my opinion ruins the dish. The American broccoli was bitter, the chicken again desert dry, and they charged me an extra $3 for this dish when every other noodle dish was $10. They should have mentioned the raise in price because I wouldn't have ordered it, esp w/o the Chinese broccoli, I also don't like that they charge extra for rice. Anyhow, I might order from this place again but I think I'll be checking out the other places first.
(3)
Vladimir P.
Bbq chicken stuffed prawns with beef was good !
(4)
Carolynne K.
Best Thai food in the city? Really? I think you guys should make a trip out to the East Bay. The yellow curry was more soup than curry. The flavor was decent, but where was the creaminess? Where is the abundance of cauliflower? I found the potatoes and the tofu, but nothing special. The service is friendly, but next time I'm in the mood for Thai, I'll try someplace else.
(2)
Dave L.
Every time I visit San Francisco I go to Jitlada's. The restaurant has everything you could ever want, except maybe an open parking lot to park your car, but "hey," it's SF and you can't have everything. The atmosphere is soft and pleasant to your eyes. Flowers, white table clothes, and soft music plays in the background. The service is first rate, especially when the owner comes out to shake your hand and remembers the last time you were there. Her smile is warm and friendly. We started off with shrimp rolls and Thai beer. Our main dish was yellow curry, Pha Thai noodles, baisled beef stir fry and crab salad. Everything was Five Stars!!! When you need to use the restroom, and make sure you go, you get to wander through the kitchen and feel the friendly, clean atmosphere with smiles, waves, and soft singing of the chef in Thai. Ultimately, you feel like you visited a friend's house for dinner. After wards, stroll around the indoor mall at Japan town. If you live in or visit San Francisco, you have to visit Jitlada Thai Cuisine.
(5)
Kim V.
ordered pork ribs, yellow curry & papaya salad based on reviews here. all good individually but altogether too sweet. did I mention thai iced tea & sticky rice to boot? our fave was Papaya salad -super fresh- where veggies helped to balance things out.
(4)
Ennis O.
I love this place for so many reasons not least of which is the interior which feels like part of a Golden Girls set or an 80s soap opera (check out the beams in back with arched cutouts and the neoclassical stripped wallpapaer) The food here is seriously some of the best Thai food in the city and there really isn't more I can say that the hundreds of other yelpers haven't already rhapsodized about so let me just tell you what happened tonight. Two tables of total strangers struck up a convo next to me to gush about the food together. A guy brought his out-of-town relatives in who were introduced to the staff since he's that much of a regular. And three different parties of 10+ people were having celebrations. In short, come, eat, enjoy, repeat...
(5)
Hazel S.
I remember their food used to be wonderful, so I just tried to place an order for delivery. They wouldn't take my order because I was 10 cents under their $20 minimum. 10 cents? Really? They've just lost my business, as well as the business of everyone I know -- due to 10 cents. Extremely foolish.
(1)
Zvezdana O.
I checked out Jitlada after scoping out reviews here on yelp -- I was not disappointed!!! It's a really tiny, pretty little restaurant. The decor is so quaint. The waitstaff were really nice, but even better, I had the pumpkin curry and it was delicious! It was a little different to the standard Thai fare that I'm used to, but perfectly creamy and delicious. My friends really enjoyed their food too. The appetizers were OK. One of my friends doesn't eat meat, so we were restricted to the vegetarian.seafood choices. But we decided against one of the deep fried choices and ordered the "shrimp in a bag"... well, it was deep fried too. the waitress must have heard me say I didn't want anything deep fried, but she didn't say anything. Anyhow, they were really bland and the serving was REALLY small. Avoid! Avoid! I'd take half a point off for that, but otherwise it was great! I will be coming back.
(5)
H L.
Great food. They were really busy when we went and had large party reservations. They asked if we would be willing to finish dinner in an hour due to those reservations, and we first thought that request was odd but we understood that for a small restaurant. The food was fantastic! Some of the best Thai food I have had in the City. The best part is that it is close to home!
(4)
Katie W.
Best Thai I've had in SF. The names are feisty (I like the dish that is something princess) and the staff is attentive. The mango dessert is amazing! They would bank off me if they would just deliver already.
(4)
Mary-Anne C.
Its weird that I have waited this long to post a review about this place but here it is.... Every Wednesday I go to the Japanese Cultural Center around the corner to watch my boyfriend play basketball which is usually around dinner time. Glad he plays there otherwise I would not have discovered this place. I actually though, have not dined here but always have taken out. The staff knows my friend and I pretty well because we come often. I have stuck to the basics....pad thai, thai fried rice and papaya salad. All classics....and have been all suuuuuper suuuper yummy! I've actually been wanting to try the curry and maybe the first time I actually am able to sit and dine, I will order it. Beware though....this place is a bit on the pricy end, definitely not your nightly take out. Oh and check out the sticky rice with mango--to die for!
(4)
Natasha K.
This was my first taste of Thai in San Francisco. I am giving 4 stars because I don't have a basis for comparison yet, but this might turn to 5 once I've been around the block a few times. I came here for dinner due to Yelp reviews and brought my coworkers. This was my first visit to San Francisco - before moving here! We were staying on Market & 3rd. Ambiance It's a cute family owned feel, clean, small, art from Thailand on the wall. The Getting There We cabbed it to the restaurant, and it was pretty difficult to find a cab on the street on the way back. We definitely burned off our calories walking around for blocks. I'm sure there was a more efficient way to go about it, like public transportation. :) Food Everyone was happy with their meal, I got the Beef Salad which was amazing. They definitely had a wider variety than I have seen at most Thai restaurants. I would definitely come back here again (once I figure out public transportation). :)
(4)
Felix B.
Overall very tasty. Had the Spinach Wraps with shrimp and coconut and tamarind sauce as a starter and Shrimp and Pineapple Red Curry (served in a fresh half pineapple) and Pad See Euw or however you spell that =) all very recommendable.
(4)
Davey G.
My bf's mom recommended Jitlada as our post-San Francisco half marathon lunch. We were both feeling hungry, but after chomping down lots of scones from the event, a light lunch seemed in order. I imagined having a refreshing papaya salad, so I was super psyched to go. Our waitress (or was she the owner?) was extremely friendly and warmly greeted when we entered. She knew my bf's mom and brought out her favorite drink and mango salad almost instantly. Meanwhile, the dude and I kept perusing the menu for something not too heavy. I stuck with my original idea and ordered the papaya salad - he ordered pad thai. I thought that would be all, but his mom insisted we try some additional dishes, so along with the mango salad, papaya salad and pad thai we also had basil stuffed eggplant and Livia's noodles (pad see ewe with shrimp). The two salads were a nicely balanced (sweetness/sourness) and the papaya salad is even served in a tostada type of vessel, topped with prawns. I liked that the flavors of the fruit in both dishes was the main attraction - I love my local Thai restaurants in LA, but I find that they rely heavily on intense fish sauce and spiciness to flavor their salads. The basil stuffed eggplant had a really nice aroma of fresh herbs as it arrived at our table. I instantly thought of Italian food. Inside the eggplant was a type of sausage that I thought was perhaps chicken, but no one at the table agreed with me. It had a slightly bouncy and spongy texture, but it went well with the eggplant and basil sauce. The pad thai was sweet and rich, again, no super duper heavy flavors, which I liked. Lastly, the pad see ewe (Livia's noodles) had that delightfully addictive smoky flavor I can't get enough of. If we hadn't stuffed ourselves full of raspberry scones and Cytomax energy drinks immediately after the race, I'm sure every plate on the table would have been cleared off.
(4)
Kirsten C.
I went to Thailand a year ago and when I got back I searched the city for a Thai place that tasted like the food I had there. I found Jitlada and loved the food, its not perfect but its about as close as Im going to get to authentic Thai food. I typically have the pineapple chicken or prawn red curry and the Khao Soi Noodles. The noodles are very close to the ones we got in Chiang Mai and I love them! If you love Thai food this is not a place to miss in the city!!!
(5)
Bryan R.
After years and years of traveling around on my own and with family, this is easily in the top ten Thai restaurants not only in California, but in the Pacific Southwest region. Honestly, much of their menu is good, but my recommendations lie with the Pad Kee Mao (Spicy Basil), Pumpkin curry, Sticky Rice (This is a must have), Tom Kha Gai soup, Gai Himephan (Cashew and noodles), and the stuffed basil eggplant. The presentation on all these is great as well (minus the pumpkin curry, but since it is heaven in your mouth, bypass the initial turn off when it's the only ugly dish that arrives. haha) The service is pretty good as well, pretty attentive and they take care of you, especially if you are a regular and you open up to them. The only critique I can add is dinner service is much better than lunch service in my opinion, lunch I would give a lesser rating, but dinner alone earns the restaurant 5 stars. Honestly, it isn't a question of whether this restaurant is good, that I promise you. It's more of a question of what to order when you get there.
(5)
Slick S.
Tried pumpkin curry and mango salad. Very delicate. One of he best Thai restaurant ever tried.
(5)
Mark K.
This place is okay. Thai food is really hard to not well. It tasted good but there are things that have really turned me off on it, and I'll probably never come back. -They charge two dollars extra for rice. I ordered the curry and I really can't eat it without having rice along with it. Its more soupy than curry and you can almost drink it. Definitely requires some rice. With prawns, it costs 11.95. I guess I could eat it by itself but it really requires some rice. Hence, two dollars extra for that rice to go along with the curry. They should just raise their prices to 13.95 and I'd think about the place differently. Its just okay. Not that impressed.
(2)
Miss M.
Worst Thai food ever.... And I have eaten at a lot of Thai places. The veg parade was a plate of steamed soggy veg, tasteless and barely with any sauce. Red curry wasn't too impressive either. We tried the place because of high yelp reviews but were disappointed.
(1)
Jacob J.
Very good. The evil princess extra spicy was probably the best Thai dish I've ever had. Curry puffs are unique, very cool. Tip: the dishes are way on the mild side, don't hesitate to ask for very spicy.
(5)
Charles R.
Ordered the Pad Thai with chicken. It was okay. I think Thai food just may not be my thing. I tried some of the BBQ chicken; I liked that better. What I'm knocking this place for is service. It was pretty slow throughout the entire meal. They even gave us a bit of guff for requesting another table in a relatively empty restaurant. The place is nice inside and pretty clean, and our main server was nice.
(3)
Gwenn B.
We stumbled onto this restaurant a few years ago, and it still is our favorite SF restaurants! Pai the owner can and will also accommodate anyone who needs a Gluten dish; one of our friends is able to join us because of Pai's understanding and appreciation of her clientele. Everyone is so warm and friendly, they even make a point to call us by our names! Jitlada also does catering and with the same attention she gives one in the restaurant! We have had her cater many work events and large dinner parties in our home. They just remodeled and the place looks very lovely!
(5)
Alex R.
Really nice and homely. Friendly and great food.
(5)
Heidi B.
Pretty tasty Thai food. I ordered the Beef Salad which was very spicy - a side of steamed white rice paired well. The house wine was a good value at $5/glass. I'd definitely go back - it's a good dinner stop before catching a flick at Kabuki Theater.
(4)
ella a.
Upon first impression, this thai restaurant was clean and beautifully adorned with orchids and large flower arrangments all over. We were also warmly greeted and the service all night was excellent. Going to the restroom before ordering, I got to walk through the kitchen, which was spotless and all the fresh ingredients on display made me excited for my meal. I ordered a special of the day: scallops on baked eggplant in a red curry sauce. It was very delish although the texture of the scallops and eggplant was on the mushy side. The scallops did have a slight sear to them which was nice. The flavors were great tho. My dinner date got the pad thai and liked it. I tried it and thought it was too sweet. But, I like my pad thai more on the savory side. I would come back here next time im in the area...
(4)
Cole K.
Great waiters, especially liked the mango salad! Freshened up my day!
(5)
Keane L.
When I see older people walking down the street, I wonder what they must have gone through to reach that particular point in their lives. I wonder how many amazing and terrible things they've seen and how it has shaped them... but really, I wonder if they are happy with the result. A particularly wonderful memory for me was a Sunday afternoon spent dining at Jitlada Thai. We entered unexpectedly given our other choice restaurants were closed. It's a good thing we did because our experience here was wonderful! I ordered the Khao Soi (noodles in coconut curry sauce) with beef and I found myself literally drinking spoonfuls of the sauce afterward. Portion sizes are great, especially at their reasonable prices. With fantastic service and a comfortable dining environment, Jitlada ranks high as my go-to Thai place in the neighborhood. A collection of quick seconds that create one big moment, like small seeds of memories growing into a full fruit-bearing tree, or, more simply, a Constructicon.
(5)
Elizabeth C.
Service was wonderful! Only ordered a Thai iced tea to go, so I cannot comment on the food, but based on the friendliness of the staff, I'd love to go back.
(4)
Julio G.
MMMM!!!! I could not stop eating their Pad Kee Mao noodles. Absolutely addicting with lots of vegetables. This place is like a little nook in Japantown but definitely worth the trip. No line for lunch on a Sunday and we had a nice table by the window to see outside. I would come back again
(4)
Dave C.
Jitlada feels like you're a guest in a chef's living room. The dishes are prepared with a love of Thai food. Among other things, notice how the carrots or cucumbers are carved into flowers as garnish. It's a quiet place with tasty food for a relaxing evening. Wine is also served. The pad see eew was my favorite, but the curries, fried rice, and soups were close seconds. Great for take-out too as most of us in the area know.
(5)
Michele W.
Nice restraunt, decently priced. I got the noodles in green curry, and it was very good. not too heavy and just the right amount of coconutty punch.
(4)
Lana C.
I really like Jitlada. Most of the dishes I've had there are quite tasty. My favorite dish there is called "khao soi", which consists of pasta noodles in coconut curry sauce with shallots, fresh lemon and chili sauce. The chicken, pork, beef or tofu versions are $9.95, and the prawn version is $11.95. It's delicious, and not too spicy (you can order it mild, medium, hot or very hot). And if you're a fan of curry, they have dishes that use clear, green, red or yellow curries! I went there yesterday with a friend and we shared three dishes. The most spectacular one was the mango salad. The flavors were clean, bright and absolutely delicious. It was the STAR of the meal -- and I will definitely order it in the future. The second dish was an eggplant creation with tofu and other vegetables --- it was also quite good and generously portioned. The third dish (organic squash pumpkin with shiitake mushrooms and cashews) was disappointing; the sauce was too thick, too sweet, and overpowered the other items. Overall I think it's a great weekday lunch choice --- and the prices are especially good if you don't need to eat seafood, and prefer curry and carbs.
(4)
Debbie C.
Big disappointment. Thai food is hard to screw up but Jitlada...well, managed to screw it up. A bunch of us went to Jitlada for dinner Thursday night. All the dishes except the eggplant appetizer were below average. The noodles in the *Pad Kee Mao* were soggy and overcooked, the *Red Curry with Tofu* was 1 part curry and 10 parts coconut milk, the *Pumpkin Curry with Chicken* tasted like chalky rubber. I had high hopes based on all the good reviews but the quality and the execution of the food was pretty terrible. The place is nice and neighborhoody and I really wanted to like this place but the food was just not satisfactory.
(2)
Vivian W.
My boyfriend and I came to Jitlada for dinner before seeing a movie at the Kabuki Theater down the street. After seeing such fantastic reviews on yelp, we were confident that we were in for a treat. Both of us love Thai food, so we were excited to try it out. We ordered the following dishes: Jitlada Baby Back Pork Ribs $14.95 Baby back ribs marinated in a specially blended sweet BBQ sauce. Slow cooked until tender and served with a special Thai sticky rice. - These were just okay to me...I found the sticky rice to be the highlight of the dish. Pad Thai w chicken $9.95 Sauteed Thai rice noodle with eggs, tofu, and bean sprouts topped with ground peanuts. - Their pad thai didn't blow me away. I actually prefer the pad thai at New Krung Thai in San Jose. Gaeng Deang (Red Curry) $9.95 Red curry paste, coconut milk, eggplants, green beans, bamboo shoots, and sweet basil. - Their red curry was really tasty. My boyfriend and I agreed that this was the highlight of meal. Fried Banana and Coconut Ice Cream - delicious, you can't really go wrong with this dish We were greeted several times by the owner checking to see if our meal was okay. She was very sweet and asked our names. She even gave us some special caffeine-free tea she wanted us to try. As I looked around at other people's tables (I'm nosy), there were a couple of dishes that I would be interested in trying. The evil princess curry, pumpkin curry, and sea bass would be at the top of my list. I wouldn't go out of my way to come back to Jitlada, but I would be willing to give it another try if I happened to be in the area. 3.25 stars
(3)
Hale J.
My two favorite Thai places in SF have typically been OSHA and Thep Phanom; but my recent discovery of Jitlada in Japantown gives me something new. It's funny how easy it is to grow comfortable with what you know and then you discover something new. A Good reason to keep exploring. Jitlada is small, clean and neighborhoody. The service is very kind and attentive furthermore, the food is great. The Larb Gai and Pad Ka Prow are both standouts. Price is reasonable. Now I feel myself settling in again for an era of contentment since I have my Thia bases covered - OSHA for a scene; Thep Phanom for Zagat Thai, and Jitlada for great food and great service without all of the pretension of OSHA and the crowds of Thep.
(4)
elizabeth t.
I've been a fan of Thai Stick for a while, and while I still am, on nights I want thai food and don't mind the fact I can't get delivery, I will ALWAYS go here. They understand the spiciness scale and don't poo-poo the fact you aren't thai when you ask for something spicy. Their curries are well cooked, as are their spring rolls, satay, and ribs (holy crow, the ribs are good.) I ate at the restaurant most recently, and they are very, very friendly and attentive without being pushy. If only you delivered, you would be my perfect food.
(4)
Matt P.
Jitlada is one of the best Thai restaurants in SF. Not only do they have great food, but they are amazingly warm and friendly. When my friends and I visited Jitlada on New Years Eve without a reservation and were easily able to get a table. Our server seated us, took our order and subsequently brought us a salad "on the house" which was amazingly tasty. I'm not sure why they brought us the salad, but I was happy they did so! Next, our main courses came out (we skipped the appetizers and ordered an extra dish instead). We ordered Livia's Special Noodles (Pad Sea Eaw), Gaeng Deang (Red Curry) with Chicken, Pumpkin Curry with Chicken, and Spicy Basil with Tofu (Pad Ka Prow). Did I mention that only three of us were eating? Anyway, it was so good that we finished everything! After we practically licked the plates clean, this sweet little lady (presumably the owner) came over to wish us a happy New Year. To top it off, she said she would bring us out a dessert. I was already absolutely stuffed, but I found it difficult to refuse. She brought us a sticky rice dice with mango that almost melted in my mouth. The dessert was sublime as was the entire dining experience.
(5)
Sally T.
a thai place in j-town? so it is... the place is homely and quiet...and by quiet, i mean we were the only people eating there during dinner time. maybe because it was mid-week? or maybe no one knows its there unless you live in the hood because one wouldn't think to get thai food while in j-town? whatever the reason is, jitlada is a good find if you're in the area and really craved thai food. it's not the best thai food i've never had, but sure was one of the saltiest. pumpkin curry is one of my favorite things in the world and i couldn't finish it because of the saltiness...this other point didn't bother me but i did notice they were a little heavier handed with the fish sauce too. oh wait, maybe that's why it was salty...(lightbulb finally lit)...
(3)
Taryn S.
SF's best kept secret... and the hands-down BEST green curry I've ever had in my life. A. Mazing. You must eat this. The pad thai will not disappoint, and I would also recommend getting their thai tea - hot or cold, it is out of this world. The only thing I contemplated taking a star for is the ambiance... it's your typical, Japantown, cheesy, funny interior (but with tablecloths!), but really, who cared what it looks like when the food is that good?! The service here is SO friendly, and you get a great deal for your money's worth. I would come back multiple times a week if I just lived a teeeeeeensy bit closer.
(5)
Joseph E.
Amazing chicken panang, cooked very quickly and served by very friendly staff.
(5)
Cullen R.
I've eaten here a couple times now and have been very pleased with the food each time. I am an especially big fan of the dancing prawns. So much goodness.
(4)
Liz K.
At Yelp's suggestion, a group of us dined here after a lovely day spent picnicking and napping in GG Park. And what a sweet way to end our day it was! The menu is simple and not enormous - traditional staples. The one thing I was sort of craving wasn't on there - Pad See Ew - but no worries since they had my other fave (probably along with countless others) - Pad Thai! That dish ranks right up there with my all time fave available at Bulan in LA. Definitely well balanced and not too heavy on the peanut or fish sauce flavors. The others with us had the Pad Pring Khing (spicy!), Sam Sa Hai (great ginger flavor), and the Jitlada Neur Yang (steak from the specials menu). We shared things somewhat family style, and all were spectacular! Another bonus was the thai iced tea - not too sweet with a good balance of cream to tea :) The service was also stellar - very friendly and warm staff. At first I was surprised that it wasn't busier at 6pm, but then I reminded myself it was a Sunday. By the time we left it had picked up a bit and there were only 4 open tables. I know what you're thinking now - such a glowing review, why not 5 stars? Well, that's because Bulan is still my tops for thai... and I've yet to trump its 5 star rating :) Regardless, I'll definitely be back! It's super close to Fillmore St shops which makes for a lovely stroll after a superb supper.
(4)
Raman R.
Here's the dirty little secret: San Francisco is not really a "Thai" town. (Or a Korean one for that matter). It's a Chinese town---this is obvious to pick up on when you look around on a ride of the 1 bus line. LA is where all the amazing Thai food is (well, there and thailand which was my favorite trip of all time). But, since it's not so easy to get pickup from LA or Bangkok, this place is good. I really like the shrimp ginger rolls. One thing, me giving them 4 stars is not a knock on Jitlada. It's the best Thai food I've had in town, there's just no exceptional Thai food in San Francisco. (Plenty of other exceptional food though)
(4)
Matthew S.
Pad Thai, and Pumpkin Curry, and Fried Banana with Coconut ice cream. Absolutely amazing!
(5)
Verna L.
Hands down, the best thai food in Pac Hts. I love getting take-out from here. Their curries are amazing. Everything I've tried is great, I've tried almost everything on the menu I think, but their curry stands out the most. Only complaint is that you shouldn't be starving when you order, because the wait can be longer than estimated, and there are other cheaper thai places in the city.
(5)
Kim S.
Jitlada is awesome! I am a big fan of Thai food and have to say this is one of the best in SF. Try the Green Curry!
(5)
F. P.
What a surprise find in a somewhat random side street between Bush and Pine. And the decor inside reminded me of an English cottage with curtains and everything. However, everything about the food was authentic Thai (northern Thai, specifically). Both the Khao Soi (noodles in yellow coconut curry sauce) and the the Pad Pring Khing (sauteed meat with green beans) were excellent. Had both with tofu; next time, maybe try a meat option but theses were rich and flavorful. The Tom Kha Gai (chicken in coconut milk soup) was not bad either. It seems like almost everything on the menu is $9.95 (not including rice or seafood substitutions). You easily pick up the vibe that it's a family-run establishment, which i love. And it seemed oddly quiet (but I think that was because in comparison, most of the SF restaurants these days are so loud and require raised voices to be heard). So if you're up for great, comfort food in a relaxed and tranquil environment, this is a good rec.
(4)
Irma R.
Jitlada is a cute little place with great Thai food. The people there are really friendly and the food is really good. Their shrimp baskets, and skewers are really good, the mango salad is really good. I usually have the yellow curry chicken curry. They have specials and every so often change their menu, but no matter what you get it's really good. For desert, the sticky rice and the fried bananas are my fav. This place is also great for a date night.
(4)
Jeremy H.
Solid Thai option if you're in the J-town area. If you can go (slightly) further afield, Lers Ros in the Tenderloin is a much better choice. Satay Combo - this was fine, pretty flavourful, never had prawn satay before actually. Generally, I don't order satay in restaurants though as it never has that "fresh from the grill/street" taste. Had a pretty sizeable salad with it too. Papaya Salad - again this was OK, the flavours were not as sharp as I would hope and it felt a bit too wet for me. Pad Thai - Again, this was too wet/mushy, I prefer Pad Thai to be a bit drier and more al dente. The flavours were good though, definitely not overly sweet like the typical Americanised Pad Thai. Red Curry - solid, not much to comment on here. Banana fritters - had some really weird, hard batter - surprised they can mess this up. The coconut ice cream was good though :) Kind of disappointed that they only have my favourite dish "Rad Nah" at lunchtime - what's up with that? The service was friendly, although a bit slow at times, which was odd given that they weren't very busy. Definitely has an intimate atmosphere, a good place to have a quiet dinner.
(3)
Michelle R.
Oh, Jitlada, you keep me coming back for more! And more, more.. Try their peanut chicken (OMG YUM!) The chicken can be somewhat fatty at times (like the parts that you don't normally eat), but more often than not, it's breast meat. The peanut sauce is scrumptious! It's not greasy at all, it's very savory with a hint of sweetness, and the rice is steamed to perfection! No crunchy rice bits! Their coconut chicken soup is oh, SOOOOO good too! Yum! I must tell you, however, their sticky rice is awesome, but you must, must MUST have their fried banana dessert! It come out hot, topped with coconut (omg YES coconut) ice cream...it's very addicting, and if nothing else, keeps me coming back for more.
(4)
Ashley H.
Yummy! I love Jitlada. I live nearby and it is my new go-to Thai restaurant. I usually do take out, but I've also eaten there. I ALWAYS get the stuffed Basil Egglant Appetizer - it is SOOO delicious. I am not even exaggerating. I would give that dish 5 stars. I also really like the Mango Salad, it is pretty self explanatory, but a good dish. I've had the Pad Thai, which is good, but I actually prefer the Pad Kee Mao, it has a little bit more of a kick. My friend often gets the Grilled Salmon with noodles, the noodles have a really delicious peanut sauce. I also like the yellow curry, but it tastes much better at the restaurant and for some reason. Well.. you can tell that I eat there a lot.
(4)
Dr. Hans Z.
Disappointing. Nice place, good service, etc., but the food definitely lacks proper spice and flavor. This is not a good place for authentic Thai food. I've lived in Asia and been to Thailand and I think that this food is very Americanized. It's certainly okay and can serve as an introduction to Thai food. If you're a real foodie or serious fan of Thai food I would look elsewhere. My experience is a that a lot of Thai restaurants are afraid of spicing up their food because many Americans are not used to it and complain about it. A better value is San Wang Restaurant nearby at Post and Buchanan. It's an interesting Chinese - Korean no - nonsense type of place that gives good value for flavorful food.
(2)
Matt S.
Good, reasonably priced thai food in a nice clean setting. Nothing special, though, and no real reason to return. Dana and I ordered the chicken coconut soup, pork green curry and beef pad kee mao. Unfortunately, we got chicken in all three dishes. Curry arrives; me: "sorry, we ordered this with pork." her: "this is pork." me: "really? it looks like chicken." her: "pork." me: "oh, ok." she leaves, we taste; us: "chicken." same with the noodles. Whatever, it was still decent food and priced well. Just not a standout place.
(3)
siutou s.
Yummy quiet little Thai place right next to Japan town. I would definitely go here again! I recommend all the food I tried: Pumpkin curry Eggplant basil appetizer Fried papayas Fried banana Yellow curry Lemongrass beef Eggplant with scallops Pad Thai Man was I full, and the price was pretty good! Fried bananas are the best! XD
(5)
Jennifer H.
Yelpers know what's up!! Came here last night based on the reviews and we really enjoyed our dinner. Parking right out front. 3 other couples dining. Small, cute w/ white table cloth and fresh flowers on the table. Nice place for a casual date. Service was attentive, but not overbearing. Ordered: Tom Kha Gai (Chicken, mushrooms, galagal, lemon grass cooked in coconut milk with chilies) Pad thai Pad Ka Prow with beef Evil Princess (Spicy red curry sauce with coconut milk, napa cabbage, and spinach) Thai iced tea Total - $50 Huge servings and it didn't look like we put a dent in the food. Easily could have fed 4 peeps, we're just gluttonous. Yay for leftovers :) Evil Princess will make you wish you were Prince Charming, just to get close to this dish!!! It was uniquely delicious. Must try and best described as an explosion of flavor in your mouth. Other dishes are staples at any Thai place, but done quite well here, especially the Tom Kha Gai. Honey has been to Thailand and all night he kept saying (between shovels of food) mmmmhhhhh very good!
(4)
Renee D.
I came in here on my last night in SF. I was pleasantly surprised by it's kitchy atmosphere, and its quaintness. I ordered take out - and the nice older woman behind the counter, seeing that I was super sick and without a voice - brought me a nice pot of tea as I waited for my order. I thought this was especially nice, considering that I had already paid, and when I went for my purse - she gestured with her hand - no. I ordered the Tom Kha Gai, a favorite of mine, and I was really impressed. I'm from Miami where most Thai food places are a joke - or have some kind of Cuban infusion in the mix. It was so good I even considered going back for another bowl. For it's size though, it was a bit expensive. But for the quality of the soup - spot on. If I'm ever back - I'd love to try the Panang or Pad Thai :)
(4)
Danielle H.
This place is absolutely amazing!!! Cute and clean interior, friendly staff and AUTHENTIC and DELICIOUS thai food! Must try the pad thai, it is one of the best i've ever had!! Forbidden Black sticky rice with mango and coconut milk is the perfect way to end a meal!!
(5)
Shannon R.
Amazing, affordable Thai food just a stone's throw from Japantown! I would go as far as to say this is some of the BEST Thai food I've had in SF! I came here with a BIG group-no reservations-on a saturday night! I had the pad see ew ($9.95) and a thai iced coffee ($2.00). Huge portions, outstanding flavors! My friends ordered a prawn dish which I tried, too, in some kind of peanut sauce that was to die for! The sweet ladies running this place are like the Thai grandmothers you never had (unless, of course, you are Thai!) One of them took the time to chat with some of the folks in our party about Thailand for a good five or then minutes. Overall, Jitlada serves outstanding food in a pleasant, homey environment-I will be back VERY soon! My new place!
(5)
ari s.
Real flowers is a nice touch. pumpkin curry and mango salad were great. Crasins would not have been my first choice but it somehow works.
(4)
Anish P.
this is a great mom and pop style thai food restaurant...definitely what i was looking for close to the apartment that i rented for the month. service is a bit slow (but no surprising) and can get quite busy but the family is very nice and helpful and entertaining. the food was amazing to include their pumpkin curry. was a big fan of the black sticky rice. definitely made several stops here during my month in SF.
(5)
anurag p.
Wow - where are the discerning thai foodies? This was like a californian farmer dreaming up what thai must be like. In a city with outstanding thai restaurants like lers ros and thai house express- this place is inexcusable. Moreover- people, to rate this in the same league as lers ros is a travesty to diners everywhere. I ordered jungle curry- a difficult dish, which sets the best apart. The results were spectacularly bad. There were no authentic eggplants, little green pepper stalks, kaffir, galangal....nothing! Just a watery gravy with gobs of salt and overboiled random veggies like bell peppers. Of course I assumed this was an exception and returned it, asking for a simple pad krapow pork- the simplest of dishes. The result was a sticky glutinous red gravy with dried overcooked chunks of pork and of course, bell peppers! Horror of horrors!! The cook doesnt know the very basic, or has completely sold her soul to the white devil- that monster that throws flames of blandness, and poisonous sweet sauces on good ethnic eats, swallowing the cuisines into a pallid nothingness. People on this board, you are trapped by the monster, escape, escape!!
(1)
Christine O.
We needed a place to go to before watching I Love You, Man last weekend at the Kabuki theater. Francis came across this place and it had great reviews. People said it was some of the best Thai food they've had outside of Thailand. I TOTALLY AGREE!!! We had a wonderful meal. The service was excellent. Everyone was so nice and attentive. And the food... Tom Kha Gai - Perfect flavor and amount of spices. They use regular mushrooms which I love. Pad Kee Mao - Never had this before. It was like chow fun but Thai style. I LOVE chow fun. Jitlada Neur Yang (Jitlada Steak) - Tender, juicy pieces of steak with a spicy sauce. Served on a platter with broccoli. Yum! Homemade Pineapple Prawn Red Curry - We had this with chicken (I don't eat shrimp.) Very interesting flavor, not like regular red curry. The pineapple pieces were excellent. ...and the dessert. If you can't make it for dinner, just go for dessert. Black sticky rice with a perfect mango - I haven't had mango like that since we were in Thailand! And coconut ice cream with bits of coconut. I LOVE IT! Oh, and they have lemongrass tea which is a big plus for me. If you're ever in Japantown and don't feel like eating Japanese food, check this place out.
(4)
Kristin L.
Had a very tasty meal here last night. We had shrimp in sleeping bags as an appetizer, the only thing that I would skip next time. For mains we had the spicy basil pork, cashew chicken, and evil princess chicken. All three were really delicious. We asked for the evil princess spicy, and it was surely that! Not much atmosphere here, but great food. I only wish that they had cocktails to wash all that food down with.
(4)
Rose C.
This place is so cozy and calm. When we came in on a Saturday evening, it was already half full and throughout our dinner, the tables filled quickly. The service was great since they always came at the right time with the food and drinks. We got the pumpkin curry with chicken and the eggplant with tofu along with brown rice. Both dishes were great and we had enough rice to soak up all the curry. It's difficult to get a good eggplant dish but the one here was sliced the right size to retain its texture and soak up the sauce. Alas, we had to skip dessert here since those dishes were so filling.
(4)
Old W.
I've eaten at this restaurant many times over the years when I've had to come here for business. This is the first time I've brought my wife for a vacation. The place hasn't change much if at all. The food is still pretty good. My wife ordered the Pad Kra Pow , medium spicy, and it was just right for her. The beef was a bit thick and overcooked though. They were a bit skimpy with the meat on both dishes we ordered but the flavor was still good. I ordered the Evil Princess. This was my first time ordering it and the flavor did not disappoint. The only negative I can think of was that they had too much cabbage and not enough chicken. I would have even prefered more spinach than cabbage and keep the amount of chicken the same. For dessert, we had the black sticky rice and mango. The texture of the rice is almost like long grain wild rice. It was very sweet but that's dessert for you. The mango was a nice balance around the sweet sticky rice. I would have given this place 4 stars if it weren't for the fact that they charge extra for rice. The dishes dont come with rice. I've never been to a Thai restaurant where they charged extra for the rice. It usually came with your dishes!
(3)
Mahsa K.
Actually make that a 3.5. Came across this place after heading to Japan town and opting not to eat Japanese food, saw this nice cozy looking place and decided to give it a shot... Ordered: Thai Curry Puffs- Pastry ball filled with a mashed mix of potato, carrot, onion and chicken served with a sweet/tangy salsa. Delish! Pumpkin Curry- chunks of pumpkin in mild red curry with coconut milk and your choice of meat..this is apparently their signature dish so I was surprised when I was left unimpressed. A bit too rich, almost pasty, and way too sweet for my taste... Jungle Curry- country-style clear curry with eggplant, green beans, bamboo, ginger, and basil with your choice of meat. This dish was well-spiced but more soupy than I'd prefer/expect with a curry Thai Iced Tea- good. Overall a nice spot with good food, could come back if in that particular neighborhood, but will most likely try out one of the many other well-rated Thai restaurants in the city otherwise.
(3)
Janae L.
I went here with the fam and every member thoroughly enjoyed themselves! Actually it was the first time I have ever purchased dinner for my entire family- so that was great! The place is nothing special to look at but the service was great and the food delicious! With all the thai food in the city I would definitely go back! Surprisingly the vegetarian dishes were the best ones! Also-I went a different time with a group of friends and my friend who traveled throughout Thailand said it was great-so there you have it!
(4)
jazzy l.
Came here a friend's birthday....loved the Thai Food...authentic, decent sized portions but not overboard. Family owned and it's definitely kept it's tradition! Need to come back again!
(4)
Erin C.
Food: We ordered the pad thai and tom yum. Both lacked punch (in the form of acidity or heat) and were a little on the sweet side. We weren't given the option to choose a heat level, but I suppose we could have specified? I did like the abundance of tomatoes and mushrooms in the tom yum, though. Service: The staff were all really friendly, and our food came out super quick. I also appreciated the fact that our waitress seemed genuinely interested in whether everything was ok or not. Cleanliness/Atmosphere: The restaurant was very clean and welcoming. The tables weren't cluttered with a ton of stuff, and the lighting was good. Overall, the food was a bit forgettable, but I think I'll probably giving it another try, anyway.
(3)
Aasim K.
I came to this restaurant with high expectations. The restaurant has all the elements to start a nice casual evening out - chill atmosphere, clean restaurant, and decent neighborhood vibe - sans the food of course. I was disappointed with our various dishes including the recs found in the other yelp reviews. Thai spots are a dime a dozen in the city, this place needs to up it's game.
(2)
Rob C.
kinda disappointed in this place, but appreciate the effort ordered pumpkin curry, baby back pork ribs, and thai omelette but after chowing, would rather just have osha. (this isn't a lers ros type of place of course) the curry was nice with large chunks of pumpkin. the ribs had meat falling off the bone, but the marinade was just ok. thai omelette least appetizing they need some air circulation in there too--so stuffy
(3)
Janelle V.
Pretty good food, but the waitress/owner/Thai lady there was really awkward. She hovered over our meal the whole time and kept telling my friend how handsome he was. She was also kind of pushy about how much we ate. I definitely got the heebeejeebees from the service.
(3)
Chase F.
High quality ingredients with great service. Pros- Food is clean, healthy tasting, and fresh ingredients. The Pumpkin Curry is to die for! You can taste the freshly pureed pumpkin bite after bite. Cons- pretty pricey- Bought 2 entrees cost $27 with tax and tip. Also, the servings are extremely small. Decor- Very comfortable and relaxing. Not your typical Thai decor.
(4)
Evil J.
I want so badly to give Jitlada five stars! My friends from the old dotcom glory years met me here and we commenced to order half the menu: corn cake appetizer, pad thai, pad khe mao, som tum, and baked scallops on eggplant. Service was outstanding, with the waitstaff very accommodating when my friends were late for our original reservation time. Ambiance was just perfect with the small, cozy restaurant decorated tastefully with Thai art and mementos. Our food arrived very quickly. All of the dishes were excellent and their presentation was similarly impressive, with little pieces of carrot cut into the shape of flowers, and so on. Sadly, the dishes lacked saltiness and what could have been very well the best Thai meal of my life was cut short on account of the dishes' consistent lack of salt. All tasted wonderful, but damn it, they just were not salty enough. I really enjoyed eating at Jitlada and will eat there again, but to fully bring out the traditional "salty, sour,and sweet" elements of Thai cooking, the cook will need to need to supplement the dishes with more fish sauce or soy sauce, depending on the dish. What would also round out the experience is waitstaff who ask for their patrons level of spiciness, rather than assume that white folks 'can't take it' and default to bland. Wish it was five stars.I hope for five stars next time. :)
(4)
Tara O.
It's gooooooood. Thanks Yelp for finding me yet another great restaurant on the fly. Heading to Japantown and I needed a good restaurant that had good vegetarian options. ::one minute time lapse while searching Yelp:: Jitlada sounds interesting, lets give it a shot. ::run out door:: This little restaurant is just up the street from Peace Plaza, just hidden enough that there was no wait when we showed up with a party of 6 (though I could see how it could get pretty busy quickly) Everything we ordered smelled and looked amazing, and the dishes I tried tasted awesome too. It says something when the pad thai, the quintessential Thai dish that you can get at any restaurant, knocks your socks off. Two things of note: 1) Some of the dish names are pretty awesome. I ordered the "Evil Princess". Awesome. 2) If you like it hot n' spicy, ask for their Thai chili flakes on the side. THEY ARE SO GOOD. :D
(4)
LeeAnne T.
I am so excited that Jitlada lived up to all of the wonderful reviews! It was comfortable and homey and all of the staff were very sweet. My mom and I ordered one of the specials, which was a seafood green curry and it was beautiful. The curry was so light and delicate, but it still had a very dynamic and exciting flavor. Some places have overpowering, too thick curry that reminds me of what I can make at home out of the jar. All of the food we had here was amazing, and really stood out. I plan on going here next month for my birthday dinner I loved it so much!
(5)
Abby D.
I absolutely love Jitlada! Hubby and I usually stop by in the late afternoon and always receive excellent food and service. Portion sizes are good and I have never been disappointed by Jitlada.
(5)
Mack L.
Went to eat here before the Bloc Party show on 7/31/08. Overall pretty good, I don't think I'd go again due to the slow service. When we first arrived the place seemed to stop and look at us. I almost felt like we didn't know the secret handshake or something to indicate we wanted to eat. Or maybe I'm overanalyzing. Anyway, we were asked if we had reservations and said no and then were instantly seated in the crowded yet nicely decorated and clean dining room. It took a long time for everything except new Beers. We had a few Phuket Lagers while waiting for our food. Appetizer of soft shell crab which was very good, took about 20 minutes to arrive. Then our food took another 20 minutes or longer to arrive. I ordered the Pad Kee Mao and my girlfriend got some Jungle Currie named dish. Hers turned out to be a spicy soup dish that tasted like chicken soup. Mine was a very tasty noodle dish that I'd order again if given the chance. The meat in both dishes was a little tough and dry. Waiting at restaraunts is the worst thing for me. I can't stand it. My trick to help get me out of a place fast if it seems the service is slow, is to order my check when I am done with any other items and have my card ready to go. I ordered the check with our ice cream dessert order and didnt' get the check for about 15 more minutes. Thank god she brought my card back faster though. It also seemed like there wasn't much of a fast turnover in mind, which in some ways is good, but it's kind of a drag waiting forever for food. I'd say try it if you are in the mood for some thai and in the area, but make sure you have time to eat and aren't in a hurry. Nice wait staff.
(3)
jeddie k.
Haven't been here in forever, but I was having a hankering for basil, chicken, and eggplant so the BF and I walked the half block from my place to here to relive what was to be deliciousness. We looked at the prices and were a little surprised-- more expensive than your usual Thai place, but it was in a better location and cleaner than most. We were hungry but decided to split the green papaya salad and thai basil chicken eggplant. House soup came five minutes after we ordered. Clear with tofu and carrots. It was a good way to warm up a bit from the cold outside and a sweet touch. The salad came in a deep fried wonton bowl. I loved the generous portions and the shrimp on the side, but I like mine a little spicier. My fault probably, for not asking. The basil dish. To die for pretty much. And filling, surprisingly filling. They also offer brown rice here which made me super happy. And medium was just spicy enough for the both of us. We left satisfied and warmed up. Pay a few extra bucks here for good Thai food and quiet ambience ( for lunch at least) and you won't regret it.
(4)
x y.
After eating at Jitlada for lunch, I give it four stars. The service was great. Our water glasses never went empty and we were seved more rice whenever we needed some. Jitlada is a small place with about 15 tables. Most are in a 2 or 4 configuration. The PadThai is ok. The pumpkin curry was delicious but could have been a little warmer & spicier. (we weren't ask about how hot we wanted it) We also had scallops & eggplant. Very nicely presented and was delicious. For dessert we tried their black sticky rice with mango. It was good.
(4)
Annie L.
EXCELLENT. Best tasting and best looking Thai food I have had. Charming little place. Generous wine pours. Everything we had was exceptional.
(5)
S S.
Favorite Thai restaurant in SF. Great for takeout-- never actually ate in the restaurant.
(5)
Terence M.
the food here rocks. it's probably hard to distinguish yourself as a thai restaurant in SF. jitlada doesn't do this with clever fusion dishes or a swank decor. instead, it serves up truly reliable yummy thai food. i live nearby and i order out all the time. i don't even use the menu, and they are always so friendly about cooking me something up. finally dined inside with my folks last week. was a great experience. the staff is very friendly (albeit a little aloof as their english isn't great). but the owner is a doll...checking on you often, and bundle of energy. highly recommended. the perfect neighborhood joint.
(5)
Ting A.
we're becoming fixtures at jitlada. ...fixtures that can't get enough of the pumpkin curry and the khao soi. the appetizers, such as the golden baskets and the stuffed basil eggplant, are also delicious. highlights: - we received complimentary salads on a couple of our visits. i'm a big fan of the dressing. - the staff is SO friendly. two of the waitresses remind me of my mom. i love that jitlada isn't an overcrowded restaurant chain. the prices are affordable, and the service is outstanding. ...i wish your rice was free though.
(5)
Daniel H.
Delicious!
(5)
masa s.
This place would be booming if it was in a better location. As it is, it's a nice quiet experience with some really good quality food. And it's just down the block from me, which makes me a very lucky camper indeed. Super tasty food. The papaya salad is the best I've had. Every other papaya salad I've had has this funny taste that I've learned to tolerate. Not so with this place. The curry was perfectly balanced and smooth, and the noodles were perfect. The service is attentive without being pushy at all. Very polite.
(5)
Josh L.
My wife and her coworkers love this place. She knows the main chef here. Good local Thai restaurant. They have a great variety of dishes. Nice place out of the busy areas of SF. Try their appetizers and desserts, will not disappoint
(4)
Stacy W.
The tofu curry was amazing! It was a very quiet place but perfect considering the long day we had at the Filmore Jazz Festival.
(5)
Johanna W.
Best thai food and best thai in the city. Ever.
(5)
Hen A.
putting care to thai cooking...gentle gesture to open table....water and menu....selection of thai beers and browsing...typical and not...curry with special names...standard pad thai and pad see ew noodles....special selections from steamed bass to babyback bbq ribs...non-standard creativity to dishes finding positive....moist julienned papaya salad a sweet, tangy and refreshing...pair of prawns top...lettuce and tomato bedding...roughly $ten and larger sizing acceptable....bbq ribs comforting...side of sticky rice and generous soft perfect easy off-bone ribs....lathered in bbq saucing..american style....saucy filling meal in a bowl for roughly $fifteen....always attentive service...water refills and extra napkins without request....jitlada pricing for portion fine...portions larger...casual thai dining in japantown....
(4)
Pauline L.
First off, it's not my fault if we walked around for 20 minutes lost....it happens that we didn't walk up Buchanan street, thank god MA had eagle eyes and saw the signage outside the restaurant. Upon entering this place, it does feel like you entered someone's dining room, complete with dividing room curtains. We ordered: Wrap Me Up (Meang Kom): the tangy salad dressing was delicious Golden Baskets: I finally found my gold bags but these guys were teeeny tiiiny! The sweet tamarind sauce was perfect. Shrimp in sleeping bags: scrumptious Pad Thai: ahh..the peanut to noodle ratio was balanced...I love tofu and they give a nice amount. Next time I'll try the curries...I'm really curious about the Evil Princess...cause that's how I roll.
(5)
Paul T.
Good quick meal at dinnertime. We walked in in the last half hour and the staff was very welcoming. The appetizers (some vegetable curry dumpling things) were bomb. The Pad Sea Maw was flavorful, however the rice noodles were a bit muuushy. Sweet place, good prices, I'll go back and give other menu items a go.
(4)
Katharine N.
This was my neighborhood Thai place for 4 years. My go-to comfort food was the pumpkin curry, though I also enjoyed the evil princess and a dish with a name involving paradise and vegetables. I usually got takeout (always prompt) but there was rarely a long wait for a table when I ate in and the service was always very good (then again, we were regulars).
(4)
Jess H.
Come here if your looking for amazing service and wonderful food. Feels like your visiting your long lost grandma(in my case my nanny). This will be my go to Thai restaurant in Pac Heights
(4)
John C.
Great place with good food and fast service. Often just order their Pad Thai to go and it is always ready with in about 10 minutes of my order. Their curry is also great.
(4)
Alexandra D.
I love this little living room Thai restaurant. Every dish here is delicious. Especially the trout in banana leaf you must try. And the pumpkin curry. Addictive. The service is friendly and fast. Good job it's so close to us.
(5)
Ron S.
My wife and I just got back from Thailand and all since we've been back I've been FIENDING for some khao soi. I'd never even heard of this dish before our trip, read some random aside in a guide book saying that while in Chiang Mai to "eat as much of this dish as humanly possible", took em up on that offer, and now I can't get it out of my head. It's amazing. Think back to that that very first time you ate pad thai and realized that a noodle dish could taste like that (sweet AND savory AND spicy at the same time?? holy smokes.), and that's how I feel with Khao Soi - that there's this awesome dish that's out there and all this time I haven't been eating it has been wasted time, and it's now my obligation to make up for said time. Anyways, when I found out that this little Thai joint near our neighborhood had it on the menu, I was unbelievably stoked and made my wife and friends go with me there tonight to sample their khao soi. And it was... pretty ok. Too thick on the coconut milk, not enough spice to it, a little heavy handed on the noodle to broth ratio. Khao soi snobbery? I'll entertain that, but it doesn't change my disappointment in dinner tonight. I noticed the same trend from the khao soi carried over into their other dishes as well - minimal heat and too much onto the sweet side. Everything was sorta band (with regards to Thai food, since you gotta recalibrate for that), despite really fresh looking ingredients. To keep things short (or at least short-er), here's a list of pros and cons. Pros: - Khao soi on the menu - Nice white table cloths - Clean - Fresh ingredients - Good sized portions Cons: - Reaaaaallly slow service (not just on the dishes, but on things like drinks, condiments, etc.), especially considering the place was pretty much empty - All of our items (papaya salad, pad see ew, khao soi, green curry) were on the sweet/bland side, just didn't have any excitement to it
(3)
Christine L.
This was a cozy little restaurant with some of the best thai food I've had so far in San Fran. There were six of us and we ordered 5 dishes and each and every one was a hit. Plus, they let us sit even though our full party wasn't there and didn't get mad at us when there was a delay, for about an hour, before the last 2 arrived. I will definitely go back. I think the pumpkin curry was my favorite!
(5)
Diana F.
This is my favorite Thai restaurant! The servers are so gracious. Even though I only visit every 3 months, they always remember me and make me feel welcome. I recommend the Pumpkin Curry and the Black Sticky Rice with Mango. You will not be disappointed!
(5)
Helen G.
Jitlada is hands down the best Thai ever and our favorite neighborhood restaurant. We go regularly and often take friends there. We've been part of several large parties for celebrations. It's a charming, understated room, sparkling clean, with real linens, full of orchids and huge bouquets of fresh flowers. The staff is smiling and helpful. When I brought my little granddaughters they were given an imaginative special dish. After all this time we keep discovering new treats. Yesterday it was the pork in green curry sauce and the crispy fried bananas with coconut ice cream. We love the wrap-me-ups, shrimp rolls and mango salad. There's almost never a disappointing dish. The only drawback may be that the bathroom is through the kitchen and up a few stairs, but so what? -- it's clean and the kitchen is interesting to see.
(5)
Scott F.
I discovered this hidden gem a few blocks from my hotel while staying in Japantown and ended up eating here several nights in a row. The restaurant space is tiny and unassuming (you have to go through the kitchen to get to the bathrooms) but the food is top notch. I had the red curry, green curry, and some of my girlfriend's pad thai and all were among the best I've ever had. Very subtle perfect balance between spicy and sweet. Staff was incredibly polite (including the kitchen staff), atmosphere was cozy and quiet and it made for a very enjoyable and relaxing dinner experience. I wish I lived in the neighborhood so I could come back here all the time. I'm going to miss this place.
(5)
Jennifer H.
The fanciest but not the priciest Thai place I've ever been to. A delicate ambiance. The service was good and bad. Eager staff, but they asked us and another table to move b/c they had a larger group. Why not just seat us in the new tables that were empty in the first place? Food is tasty. The best coconut soup, and I always order Tom Kha Gai. The best part is that it was not crazily busy on a Sat night, so it's on my list as a place worth coming back for.
(4)
Varun ..
Considering my comfort Thai food is Thai Spice, this place had a lot to live up to from the get go. We ordered the Evil Princess curry because...well... its named Evil Princess. We paired it with pad thai as a safe barometer dish. Despite asking for our dishes spicy, they arrived a bit too tame for us. As soon as the attentive waitress noticed this she brought over a bowl of crushed red chili pepper which was an instant hit. Our entire table was sprinkling crushed pepper on our dishes like Dubya sprinkled freedom on the Middle East. This was some of the best crushed red pepper I've ever had and it really added a good amount of heat to the dishes. I just wish the dishes came out that way in the first place. The pad thai didn't particularly stand out from other versions I've had and the Evil Princess curry dish had a hard time living up to its name.
(3)
Doug R.
I'd bathe in the green curry it's so good. In a city of great Thai restaurants, how can one place outshine them all? -Only the freshest ingredients -A chef so nice and friendly, she makes Gandhi look like Darth Vader -Some of the best Thai dishes this side of the Pacific If you haven't been to Jitlada and still have a pulse, get there ASAP for a mouthgasm of green curry, the pumpkin curry, Livia's Special Noodles, and the golden baskets. Don't expect trendy ambiance and European house beats because that's not how Chef Pai rolls.
(5)
Ron H.
A visitor to SF, but have eaten Thai food around the country. We chose this restaurant based upon overall good Yelp ratings...it was an unfortunate choice. While the restaurant was clean with a friendly staff, the food was disappointing. Flavors were bland and nauseating. The curried "puff" was like a samosa, only unseasoned (mashed potatoes in a puff pastry). Pad thai was greasy with little protein. Would not go back, nor recommend.
(1)
mandy f.
The best pumpkin curry in town!!! Osha on Valencia's dish doesn't compare.
(4)
Michael E.
I'd like to think of myself as objective, so I will not give Jitlada 5 stars just for having a red curry dish called the 'Evil Princess.' Hot damn, what a great name for a dish. It's one of those things where we looked at the menu and said, wow, we have to order that. So we did, and I have to say it didn't disappoint, although it was way less spicy than I thought it would be. In fact, the Pad Kee Mao we ordered was the surprise spicy dish. Who knew? But both dishes were excellent and were a lot of food, and the place was small and pretty cool. This little Thai restaurant is why I love Yelp. I would have never even known it existed, because I'm never in this part of the city, but zing here it is! And it's restaurants like this with tasty food, good service and cheap prices that make you wonder how so many restaurants fail, because Jitlada makes it look easy.
(5)
Matthew B.
Their pumpkin curry is amazing -- not of atmosphere, but that is forgivable if you taste the food.
(5)
Bulut K.
Food was nice, we got a free desert. cokes were per order, no refill.
(4)
Von D.
Yum! Food here is really good. I decided to un-vegetarianize for the night and order the grilled eggplant stuffed with chicken and prawns as an appetizer. it came with 6 large pieces that were topped with some kind of delicious green sauce. Also got the fried green papaya, which was awesome. There are plenty of veggie options here, and plenty non. Everything I ordered was delicious. When they say spicy, they mean spicy. Really spicy. Mango with black sticky rice is some of the best I've ever had. Ever. Definitely make reservations. Otherwise you may have to sit at a tiny table by the door.
(5)
Shannon T.
YUM! Had Mother's Day lunch here. We ordered a soup with cellophane noodles that was delicious. Also had pumpkin/tofu curry and a noodle - the pumpkin curry was awesome! Next time I do have to try the pad thai. Service was very slow, we had to request water and remind them about our drinks even though the place was not that full. They were very apologetic though. All in all delicious!
(4)
Edward L.
Jitlada continues to be the very best Thai restaurant in San Francisco. Fresh ingredients, beautiful presentation, reasonable prices and warm friendly service make this one of my weekly regular dining choices. My favorites are the green curry with eggplant and the seafood pad thai. Mango salad is outstanding. And be sure to have the black sticky rice -- the best.
(5)
Jessica C.
Cute, tiny restaurant with a lot of interesting things on the menu. Truly a hidden gem in the Pacific Heights area. The food is excellent and the service is fantastic. Would love to come here again :)
(5)
Karie M.
Quaint and quiet restaurant. Great service and good food. the best thing on the menu: "wrap me ups" hands down!! you gotta try it!
(4)
McKenzie M.
I like the food at Jitlada and think it is a good price for the quality, but I'm really writing this review to commend them on their service. We wanted to go a few months ago in a large group (~12-16) and called to find out when they stopped serving lunch (they close down between lunch and dinner). They told us that if we could get there by a certain time they would stay open and serve us. It was awesome! With a group this large we were there for a long time which meant they were there much later than normal. They did not rush us and took great care of us. Last week my boyfriend and I ate dinner there. There was an issue with the charge that they charged to my credit card. I won't drone on with the long detail of the story but the bottom line is they were super nice when I called, they called me back to follow up, and genuinely cared about making sure that things were correct on my card. Things happen so I wasn't hung up on what actually happened and if it was their mistake or whatever. I cared about how it was handled :)
(4)
Rachelle T.
My family and I came here for Mother's Day and were able to make last minute reservations for 5:30 at 4:30 that day!!! The service was as good as always, and the servers made sure to check up on us every so often to clear plates and refill waters, despite the restaurant quickly filling up. The pumpkin curry was really good and my parents were given complimentary cups of hot tea. Definitely a restaurant to keep coming back to.
(5)
Luis M.
I had one very pleasant dinner here one night last year. At first sight it looks like a little hole in the wall Thai eatery and it probably would be nothing more than that if they didn't serve up such tasty dishes and have great service. My meal consisted of the Golden Baskets and the Pad Thai. The Golden Baskets were tasty in and of themselves but the sweet and spicy sauce was a great compliment to them as well. The Pad Thai was very flavorful but unfortunately not spicy (which is my personal preference for Pad Thai). My meal definitly put Jitlada on the list of places to try again. I'm sure after a few more meals here I'll be able to add a star. ----------------- I ate here once again last night and it reminded me that I owed them one more star. Really though it's more like one and a half more stars. The service was phenominal once again with our hostess making an excellent suggestion to try the Jungle Curry, and specifying that it is better accompanied by beef or chicken rather than tofu. Anne Marie and I opted for the beef as we were also going to be having the spicy basil chicken. Both of these dishes went well with the brown rice. As an appetizer we started off with their ginger shrimp rolls. The ginger flavor was a unique touch to the rolls and went great with the silver noodles and shrimp. It was all the more tasty with the great sauce they serve it with. I need to come back here more often.
I love, love, love Jitlada. The Paradise Pasta is something I wouldn't normally order, but my boyfriend wanted to get it. It's amazingly delicious - try it! The employees are also really friendly. Yeah Jitlada!
(5)
Jason W.
Me and my friends decided to come to this restaurant on a whim and they were able to accommodate us on a Saturday night with just 20 minutes notice. When we got there we were shown are table immediately and handed our menus. After a few minutes, were were able to order and opted for the soft shell crab appetizer, green papaya salad, shrimp pad thai, and the pumpkin curry with chicken. All of the dishes arrived within a reasonable time and looked great! Of the four dishes, we were most impressed with the pumpkin curry! Hints of coconut in the curry and a nice thick sauce makes this a must for eating over rice. The consistency was so thick that in fact, we all felt like were were eating baby food. Nonetheless, this mild curry was extremely tasty and pretty original compared to what I've seen in other Thai restaurants. As for the Pad thai, this was pretty much run of the mill. Nothing special here, a bit on the sweet side, with just a few small shrimp. The green papaya salad tasted fresh with a sweet and sour dressing and the soft shell crab also tasted great not being too oily. For the price though, I felt these dishes could have been bigger. Over 8 bucks for one soft shell crab! Outside of this, this was a nice find in japantown. The small dining area makes for a cozy evening with friends and loved ones!
(3)
Rachel S.
Our pad thai was strangely sweet, but HOT DAMN if that wasn't the best chicken satay I've ever had.
(4)
Susuk L.
My experience with Thai food in this town has been dismal. Jitlada's the best of the bunch so far, but I wouldn't call it exemplary. Three of us attacked this place with high expectations from its almost hidden location and 4.5-star Yelp rating. Our very pleasant waiter was able to seat us promptly, but seemed a bit confused when he took our order. Five minutes later, with the same lost look, he came back to apologetically alert us to their lack of wide rice noodles. (Incidentally, is there some sort of citywide quota on the damn things? I've been to three Thai restaurants here that were out.) I eventually sent him away with my second-choice selection as well as a preemptive request for hot sauce, and our order came within a reasonable time ... sans hot sauce. I asked again. Affirmation. No hot sauce. Asked yet again. Affirmation. No hot sauce. It finally showed up after I was about 3/4ths of the way through my meal. Speaking of the meals, the three of us had differing reactions to our food. N looked like he was about to swear everlasting fealty to his baby back ribs. L and I shared our non-carnivorous dishes family style, and while she seemed pleased with the both the eggplant and the tofu pumpkin curry, I had mixed feelings. The eggplant was fresh and the sauce wasn't super greasy (a huge plus in my book), but it lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. The tofu pumpkin curry was very delicately spiced, which stood in direct opposition to its heavy cream load. I can't fault the quality of ingredients or preparation, but the results seemed a bit too nondescript. The place as a whole is more good than bad, healthily on this side of mediocre. I'll go back until I find something better in this town.
(3)
Marco B.
I give this 5 stars because the food was amazing and fresh, the service was friendly and quick and the price was just right. After being seated by a smiling waitress I started off with a nice $5 dollar glass of chardonnay and ordered the grilled Prawn salad. It arrived quickly and was to die for. The prawns were fresh and had just the right amount of BBQ flavor. Best of all were the fresh veggies - delicious green beans that tasted liked they had just been picked and were perfectly blanched and crispy. Yummy. My partner had the Stuffed Basil Eggplant, and while it seemed more Mediterranean than Thai, it was delicious as well, so we were both excited to taste the main course. I always judge a Thai place by their Basil Chicken. Jitlada passed the test with flying colors. A variety of flavors and textures with fresh chicken and just the right amount of spiciness. My partner had the Basil Seafood and was happy as a clam. We can't wait to go back and try the other dishes and soups. Ambiance was quiet and inviting. Price was more than reasonable. Fabulous!
(5)
Allison H.
What a neighborhood find. The food was amazing and the staff was very warm and welcoming! My boyfriend and I were going to Cafe Mum's the other night and noticed this spot, so we decided to check it out last nigh...and glad we did! We started out with the stuffed eggplant and the coconut battered papya w/ sweet and sour sacuce, and both were delicious. For entrees we had red curry spicy duck and a noodle dish...we ate it all! All the flavors were so fresh. Pia, the adorable pint-size chef and owner came out to thank us for coming in and explained to us that she makes all her curry paste in house and nothing ever comes from a can. Needless to say, this will be our regualar go to neighborhood thai restaurant!
(4)
Jean L.
Chef Pai's food is top-notch--flavorful, fresh, and artfully presented. She clearly takes pride in what she does. I've had good luck with all of the dishes but some of my favorites are the red curry with coconut milk and vegetables, Sam Sa-Hai (meat or tofu with sauteed baby corn, mushrooms, snow peas, and cashew nuts in ginger sauce), grilled salmon, and Bangkok salad (mixed greens with cashews, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and dried cranberries with cilantro and a light soy sesame vinaigrette). Yum! We had a good jasmine bubble tea with tonight's dinner, too. In addition to great food, Jitlada has a gentle, kind waitstaff. It's a little bubble of genuine niceness. My only quibble is that the restaurant itself is a bit sterile. It's super clean and well-kept with some nice decorative touches...but overall it feels a little spare and basic, particularly during a quiet lunch or a slow dinner night. Luckily the food and the service more than compensate. I think this is the one of the best, most consistent Thai places in the city.
(5)
Shazila M.
I was in SF for work and staying in Japantown but wasn't feeling up for Japanese for dinner again so I walked over to this restaurant... And am beyond happy I did! I had the pad see ew and it was the best I've ever had, hands down. I decided to treat myself to the fried banana + coconut ice cream for dessert and it was divine. Next time I'm in town, I will definitely be back here!
(5)
Jay C.
They have an awesome Eggplant dish that you can't get anywhere else. When it comes out, it doesn't look that good since the color of the sauce seems strange but that's all forgiven when you take a bite. I stop by everytime I stop in San Francisco.
(5)
Mike O.
We get take-out from here all the time. It is just really really good. I get the Chicken Basil, and sometimes the yellow curry or pad thai. We take it home and eat it till we're full. Then we say, "Let's save the rest for lunch tomorrow." Then we eat the rest until we explode.
(5)
J. B.
My girlfriend and I really liked this place, which is within walking distance of our apartment (a plus). I got the Yellow Curry Chicken, and she got the Evil Princess. Both were cooked perfectly and flavorful. The staff were polite and attentive, and the ambience was perfect for a nice quiet dinner for two. I think we got out of here for under $40, and that's with a glass of wine for her. We will definitely be going back.
(4)
Bai Z.
First time I went there I ordered the Pad Thai, it tasted really good and it looked really nice. Other dishes I have ordered: Pumpkin Curry (it is popular, it tasted pretty good if you like veggie curry). I have also tried some of their stir-fry stuff: eggplants, vegetables and chicken (basil). I really enjoyed the food from here, and the atmosphere is pretty clean and nice. The staff are really friendly, and the chef/owner is really really cool. Five stars.
(5)
Nick M.
I've only been here once for dinner but have ordered take out a few times. Honestly, when I think of the best thai in the city I think of Osha or Ozone. This place is a pretty good neighborhood thai restaurant and the service is great. Some suggestions: - Don't go to this restaurant on Valentine's Day for dinner with your best friend. - Also don't let said best friend order the pumpkin curry because it won't help the server's perceptions of your relationship. - To offset the feminate vibe, order beer...in bottle form only. Don't let your best friend ask for a glass. Burp if possible. - Order plenty of meat from the menu. Green Curry Chicken is just fine. - Don't start any sentances with the words: honey, sweetie, or Big papa bear. - Avoid comments about how pretty the sprinkled hearts look on the table. - Stop snorting through nose about how cute the place is and how fun it is to be out on Valentine's day.
(3)
Christine L.
I had the red curry with tofu here. While very tasty, I felt like the sauce was a little too thick and rich. I do love that they put eggplant in almost all the dishes (and with a variety of veggies.) The stuffed eggplant appetizer is great. The flavors perfectly complemented each other and the basil sauce was fantastic. I tried some of my friend's pumpkin curry but I was not a fan. The pumpkin just stuck to the inside of my mouth, kind of like saw dust.
(3)
Nicky H.
Jitlada is the best Thai place I have ever been to. It has a very friendly staff and the BEST food. I highly recommend this to anyone that likes Thai food. It is a very small place, so I recommend making reservations for busy times.
(5)
Monica M.
ridiculously wonderful. i can't believe i've lived a block away and hadn't visited before. though i did notice a lot of people doing orders for take out, i don't think that this is the place for that. its very tiny and it looks like you should be taking tea instead of your delicious food, but it is charming nonetheless. the waitresses are extremely nice and attentive, and they serve with a smile. i ended up going with pad thai, as it is usually hard to mess up and a wager to tell if i'm going to like a thai place or not. theirs was fantastic, and i got a side of brown rice that was wonderful. they serve really big portions and even though the beer was steep [4.50], it was phuket after all. i generally liked the atmosphere and the food was great, but again, this is probably good for a date or a lunch spot. i'm not into thai iced tea, but the table next to me said theirs was delicious. visit this place if you are craving thai in japantown. its definitely my new favorite!
(5)
Selina L.
I love this restaurant! The staff is friendly but don't go there if you're in a hurry. Because they will take their time to prepare the dishes. But i recommend this restaurant! Everything on the menu is soooo good. Especially the thai iced tea.. yum!
(5)
SHARON T.
I usually eat here for lunch and the food is good. I ordered take out for the first time and they gave me noodles instead of rice and the seafood dish did not taste fresh. It's good enough that I will eat there again but I don't suggest take out.
(4)
Sal B.
I've eaten at most of the Thai restaurants San Francisco has to offer and this is by far the best! I used to eat here 3-4 times a week when I lived in the neighborhood. The food is authentic and the staff is great. It's like an epsiode of Cheers when you walk in there because everyone knows your name! Everything on the menu is a hit! From the appetizers to the deserts, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Stuffed prawns yum! Mango salad, yum, yum! The pumkin curry is a favorite but I like the red curry with chicken as well. The icecream deserts are even served with cranberries and nuts to form a face similar to "Jack" from Jack in the box! Eat everything you can! Tell them Kevin sent you!
(5)
Molly C.
Fantastic all around. The coconut chicken soup, pumpkin curry and pad see ew are all amazing. Great service and prices as well.
(5)
David C.
I've ate at a lot of the Thai restaurants in the city and this one has the best and most authentic Thai food. Don't trust my opinion, my Thai friends eat here all the time and tell me its the best. Jitlada is a small, cozy place with super friendly service, and is relatively inexpensive. Chef Pai comes out and talks to customers from time to time as well. Dinner for 2 will cost you around $30. The pumpkin curry is amazing if you are in the mood for something sweet. The green curry is the best in town. The spicy basil is excellent as well. Reservations usually not needed for parties of 4 or less. Awards: Best Thai Restaurant 2003 CitySearch; Bayinsider.com top 10 in SF
(5)
Aron K.
This place is excellent. The food is well prepared and they accomodated spice and "customization" requests happily. The staff is really friendly, and the proximity to the Sundance Kabuki theaters makes it a good option for pre- or post-movie dining. I will be back!
(5)
Wen L.
SOOOOOOOOOO MANY YUMMMMMMMMMY DISHES! i love the mango salad. i love the pumpkin curry. i love the ginger shrimp spring rolls. i love the basil eggplant shrimp appetizer. but really everything is good. the atmosphere is nice. the service is great, especially the waitress who works lunches. she is so attentive.
(5)
Jonny L.
a good bud introduced this place to us and it was perhaps the best thai i've had in the states. i may be jumping the gun since i've been here only once. service is very friendly, atmosphere is intimate. it seemed to take a little time but i soon knew why when i made my way to the restroom. en route, you pass directly through their kitchen and you will bear witness to the care and individual attention paid to each of the dishes by several ladies who look like they know what's going on. kind of reminded me of family gatherings when my mom and her sisters would make the kitchen hum. their eggplant is the dark horse, kind of like george harrison
(4)
Marianne L.
We loooove Jitlada, the food and the people! If I had to pick one favorite cuisine, it would be Thai. Jitlada is my favoriteThai restaurant in San Francisco! We have been to the restaurant about a dozen times, sometimes alone, often with groups and once even took over the whole restaurant for a large party. Each time the food and service of been superb. If I lived in the City, I would be a weekly customer!
(5)
Brad M.
Jitlada is easily one of the better Thai restaurants in SF - tasty, authentic food at great prices. The only regret I have is not asking for spicier. I went here on a Wednesday after work with a friend, we ordered the Ginger Shrimp roll and the Chicken Satay to start. The Chicken Satay is large skewers of chicken with peanut sauce, I was pretty impressed by the quality of meat. The Evil Princess curry is a spicy red curry, definitely seemed to be a popular choice. Of course, a meal with only one curry is not a meal, so we also tried the Gaeng Keaw Wan (green curry) with Chicken. This was easily my favorite dish of the night, extremely flavorful with green beans and eggplant. I can still taste it now! The best part was it didn't seem like people knew about it, the restaurant was only half full on a wednesday evening. So if you're looking for a quiet spot for some great Thai food, Jitlada is the spot. I'll eat here over Osha any day.
(4)
Kellie C.
Jitlada is amazing! Pai is a great cook and she caters for our office all the time! The food is beautiful and fresh and made with the best ingredients. I recommend all the curries, the pad thai, and the salad with papaya in it!
(5)
Leah B.
I am craving Jitlada. We ordered a few beers and 3 dishes to share. The chicken dish, Khao Soi, was the best!
(5)
Jacqueline O.
This is becoming my favorite Thai spot in the city. My usual here is the Khao Soy Chicken, which not all Thai restaurants in SF tend to have. They make it really well here! I've also had the Tom Kha Gai, so delicious. The Larb is great! When you ask for spicy they really don't hold back though, you've been warned ;) and I got to try a few bites of the Pad See Mao which was quite tasty. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Brad P.
Beware if you want delivery. There do not have the same windows of delivery - some times they have it other times they don't. There's no way to know without calling them and asking! Odd practice and unfortunate for someone who is counting on a restaurant delivery when it says there is delivery. Lucky Yelp gives 1 star because this place is so disfunctional they can't even get their food to a hungry to be customer!
(1)
Asbestos L.
Went in for lunch on Sunday. Food was good, not sure how euthantic since I haven't been to Thailand. But it was much preferred than the ones I've tried in Thaitown, LA. We, party of 4 but my mum didn't share the food, ordered chicken satay, pineapple shrimp red curry, and chicken stir fry (don't remember what was it called). Except for the satay, the other dishes were supposedly spicy and sour but we requested non-spicy for my dad. Chicken satay was average; the flesh didn't stay on the skwer to play hard to get. The curry was creamy, tatsed heavily of coconut milk/cream, went well with seafood-shrimp, but pineapple was way too sour that hurt my stomach. And, the chicken stir fry was one that didn't impress us much, not that it wasn't tasty, simply average so none of us recalled how did it taste like. LOL The ambience was chill and relaxing despite the chatter of customers, somewhat cafe like since jazz music was also playing. Some of the staff spoke minimal English, so be patient, and make sure your order was understood. Will definitely go back in my next visit in SF. In fact, I'm starting to look for one with similar atmosphere here in LA.
(4)
Rafael C.
First time eating here very good service very good food. We had bbq chicken crunchy crusty very good flavors not too sweet with coconut rice and veggies. The pad thai was also very good very good flavors as well and we also had pinapple rice very good. Even the wine was good not a big selection but they recommended the silver cove Pinot noir very good wine and the wine prices were also very good. Will definitely come back and recommend everyone to come and enjoy.
(5)
Travel G.
Yellow chicken curry was mediocre and steamed fish with vegetables, was downright tasteless, even though it had a beautiful presentation. Was expecting more after reading such great reviews. Also, the service was incredibly slow, even though we didn't really see the servers on the dining room floor that much. Based on the photos, will definitely need to try a fancier dish next time, and get it to go, for hopefully better service. A big disappointment considering all of the good Thai places around town.
(2)
Nhan N.
Ordered to go: 1. Larb gai 2. Evil princess curry 3. Spicy basil minced pork Food was ready within 15min. The flavors are pretty authentic I thought but the portions (number one and three) were on the small side. Ended up paying $32.55. I would go back if I am in a bind. But otherwise I wouldn't mind driving a little further to get equally tasty food for a little less money and where the portions are a little bigger.
(3)
Tarabyte V.
I would give no stars if I could. Let me break it down. First, I am Southeast Asian so I can say that this is soul food for me. Food- it was very small portions with the least amount of veggies. I had the pad-see-ew with chicken and the tofu yellow curry. Both dishes were not very pleasant. The potatoes were not even cut properly. Kind of wish I could've cooked and cut it myself!
(1)
Mage L.
Eh, I've had better Thai elsewhere. I got the duck, which is supposed to be one of their specialties, but it was all just pretty bland. No seasoning on the duck at all, no seasoning on the steamed broccoli or spinach. The portion size was quite small as well. I guess they expect you to fill up on the rice. There was a tiny little dish of bean sauce on the side, but it really wasn't enough to give the dish any distinct flavor. I simply cannot abide by a Thai restaurant that is bland. The service was also incredibly slow. Granted, we were a group of 12, but it took about 2 hours from start to finish.
(3)
Alanna R.
Service was just OK. Food was good but not amazing. I ordered prawn salad. It didn't have prawns, it had small shrimp. I was expecting large prawns. I thought they were a little cheap with it, and I didn't appreciate that. The curries my friends looked and tasted pretty good, so I would recommend getting a red or green curry if you go. If I do find myself there again, that and if I go back I'll try the green curry. We all ordered wine and the wine was ok. Overall, it was a straight 3 star experience. Not glad I tried it, but not mad either. Just one of those things...
(3)
Homechef A.
The food is good, we really enjoyed the taste. The three stars is for the ridiculous small portion, if you are hungry, skip this place.
(3)
Tiffany V.
3.5 stars I had such high hopes for this place. It seemed to be the saving grace to the dining hell hole that is Japantown and it helps my grandmother lives around the street corner. Came here for lunch with her and my cousin. We ordered the mango prawn salad, pumpkin curry, brown rice, and some tofu lunch bento. The salad was good but the portion was super small. How hard is it to add some more lettuce?! The pumpkin curry was solid and the lunch bento was seemingly a good deal. While all the food was good, my biggest gripe about this place is the service. The waitress was a total bitch and everything took FOREVER to come out. When we were seated we were handed a set of menus, a couple minutes later we got a second set, then a couple more minutes later we got a third set. WTF?! It took ages just to get some glasses of water and it was impossible to get the waitresses attention. The bathroom is in the way back where you have to walk past the kitchen into some weird room and they seriously have like 8 people working in the kitchen. Why the hell did the food take so long to come out then?! Ridiculous.
(3)
Kaori M.
really liked this place! I had lunch box with chicken, sticky rice and veges. reasonable price and quiet cozy place.
(5)
Dire S.
I have only been here once, but I would say that Jitlada is a 3.5 star Thai place. Their flavours lean heavily to the sweet side, which can taste very good to some people, but it is not authentic and they are lacking most of the other incredible flavours and seasonings Thai food has. We thought the som tum papaya salad was completely bland, and missing many standard seasonings. Also, the green tea I ordered had very few leaves in the pot among some other things so as other reviewers have said it seems that they skimp a bit on their offering. We ordered our dishes medium spicy but we couldn't detect any spice at all.
(3)
Steven K.
Really impressed with this place....probably the most fancy/fine dining Thai place I've tried. And not overly expensive. Tom yum goong was incredibly tasty, though not spicy. Had an amazing chicken dish that was marinated in a honey lemongrass curry type of marinade, as well as a seafood dish. Everything was good. It's a really small place, quiet, great cozy atmosphere. Highly recommended.
(5)
Thomas C.
My fiancee flew to SF from Asia for xmas eve. We ended up ordering take out from here since it was first thai restaurant that answered the phone (after attempting 3 other thai restaurants to find them closed). My fiancee and I ordered: 1) Crispy Soft Shell Crab appetizer ($11.95): No complaints. It is just as good as any other crispy soft shell crab appetizer i've had. 2) Prawn Pad Thai ($11.95): Also no complaints. 3) Chicken Gai Himephan ($9.95): Again no complaints. Portions are smaller than other places i've been too. but nothing bad about it. 4) Rice for 2 ($Unknown/Not Listed on the Menu): Like many places, rice comes with nothing and you must pay for it. Everything was standard thai fare. nothing mind-blowing, but also nothing horrible... On a nice note, we did arrive earlier than the time they quoted us on the phone. we parked out front and called to see when the food would be ready (5 to 10m is what we were told). while we were waiting for the food to finish, they were nice enough to bring our order out to us. What we were charged was interesting. If you add up above, you see a total of $33.85 without taxes. I guess it was very expensive rice as our total was $41. Also, we were not given a copy of the receipt. I was hoping that this place would be one of my go to thai places since i live so close. unfortunately, it cannot be.
(2)
Benjamin I.
It isn't bad but there are far better options for Thai food that deliver in the area.
(2)
Francesca L.
Nice little restaurant tucked away in Japantown. It has a very quiet atmosphere (no background music playing while you eat). I ordered the Pad Kee Mao with chicken and it was good. Beware though, it is spicy!! I also shared the fried papaya appetizer with friends. That was good too but it's a little plain if you don't put some of the sweet & sour sauce that accompanies the dish.
(4)
Maya S.
Clean restaurant and courteous service. I shared: - Crying Tiger (Beef Salad): tastes just like larb salad but with beef. i love the flavors of these salads especially that lime juice. - Evil Princess Curry with Chicken: my friend and I didn't specify what heat level we wanted so i'm sure the dish was made mild. it was more of a sweet curry vs. spicy but still very tasty. the dish was a bit skimpy on the chicken though. - Roti with Coconut Ice Cream: definitely a sweet, warm treat but the roti was a bit greasy for me. On another note, the restaurant could get awkwardly quiet when peoples voices aren't filling the restaurant. I think some music might help.
(4)
Shay B.
Great Service, but forget about that, It's probably the best Thai food in the city. Everything is fresh and you feel the home traditional cooking. We come back at least 2 times a month.
(4)
Jeremy S.
This is the best Thai in the area. It's not the typical junky Thai fare (I'm looking at you My Ivy & Osha)... the quality is significantly better than you're probably used to. My recent visit was a happy one, and if my memory serves, they seem to have updated the interior (it really needed a makeover). Their whole fish was awesome and service was great.
(5)
Tanja F.
Sweet mom and pop style shop. It's a smaller place but a lot of care went into the food that we ordered. I've been here for both lunch and dinner and both times it was phenomenal. So to give you perspective, I am definitely not a thai food expert. I'm use to what I can find around San Jose which is nothing to write home about. So for me, this place is off the charts awesome. I'm a big fan of anything red curry that they make. At lunch, they do have bento box style specials where you can try a little bit of a everything (appetizer, salad, rice, entree). Normally the dishes here are more family size servings, especially for dinner. We had fun ordering a bunch of different things and sharing. My favorite part of this restaurant is that you can smell the food cooking from the street and it seduces you in through the front door. The atmosphere is cozy, clean and friendly. It's definitely really convenient if you are near the medical center for business, although it is a little bit of a walk but worth it.
(5)
Thach N.
I live about one block away so this is my go-to thai restaurant. the inside is definitely really small, only seats about 20-25 people max i wanna say. another strange thing: the bathroom is like far. like really far. like past the kitchen into a whole separate room far. HOWEVER, the food is pretty good! nothing exceptional, but definitely a nice place to have amongst all the japanese options in the area. i would really got it a 3.5, but 4 seems too generous. i really enjoyed the pad see ew here, and the pad thai was good as well just not exceptional. my friend had the curry and said it was good but i cant say for sure! prices were pretty fair, all around 10-15 dollars a plate which is pretty standard for a thai place.
(3)
Jabez T.
Food Background: I am born and raised in Singapore. My girlfriend was born and raised in Taiwan. I had to review this place because every visit here has been amazing. Firstly the staff is so friendly, and makes this place feel so homey. My gf loves the pineapple curry, papaya salad, and the pumpkin curry. I love the Khao Soi - their curry noodle soup. My gf commented that she has never been to a thai place with good noodles except for jitlada. Will be frequent visitors of this hole in the wall place
(5)
Thecitygrrls B.
Disappointing Thai food. The Pad Kee Mao was just not Kee Mao. Wrong noodles (thin rice noodles, not thick), wrong sauce (tomatoey, no), inferior cooking (no char at all, boo). A friend's curry didn't come with rice, which wasn't indicated on the menu. And that curry led to an upset stomach that afternoon. No good. Will not go back.
(2)
Mark P.
Jitlada is still my favorite restaurant in San Francisco. Really nice staff and great food. After a difficult day it is a great place to relax with a quiet meal. Great pumpkin curry!
(5)
Alex H.
It's really best to go through life with low expectations. Sometimes those expectations will come true, and you'll accept your fate and move on, but more often than not you're expectations will be exceeded and life will generally be a happier thing. Yes, there's a point to my rambling: I came in to Jitlada with unreasonably high expectations, and I paid the price. This is a fine place to go for a weekday meal or some lazy Sunday takeout, just don't expect to be blown away. I came in with family who were staying nearby and given that we all shared, (mango salad, satay skewers, shrimp wraps, pad thai, panang curry, and a few more I'm sure I'm missing), I feel like I can fairly say that everything was A-OK (minus the pad thai which was rather bad, and the panang curry which was quite good). I know everyone has a soft spot for their favorite neighborhood place, and I'm guessing this is likely the case with the great reviews here. And I agree the staff is friendly. I just don't think the food is anything spectacular.
(3)
Ryan B.
I visited Jitlada while traveling in San Francisco because of excellent reviews on Yelp. I was very pleasantly surprised the the reviews had sold it short! The food was delicious, the service polite and very professional. The restaurant is cozy and beautifully decorated. For what you get, Jitlada could charge a lot more but the prices are remarkably reasonable. I can't recommend Jitlada enough.
(5)
Aalayah K.
Most delicious Thai cuisine I've had before! I wish I lived here in San Francisco, I'd come here to get their mango salad and pad Thai all the time! Definitely coming back when I visit SF in June!
(5)
Cindy K.
I was visiting Japantown and wasn't feeling any of the eatery establishments there so I looked to my trusty Yelp app. Yay! It was great discovering this place. It was slightly empty, but that was probably because everyone was eating at the Nihonmachi fair 2 blocks down. Ordered basil stuffed eggplant and pumpkin curry. YUM! We were a little scared after seeing the eggplant come out. It looked questionable. The green sauce looked really funky, but SO TASTY! It was a nice surprise and we were happy with our choice. The flavor was just amazing. Really got me in the mood to eat. The curry was alright. It could've used more Thai flavor. The pumpkin was a little too mushy, but still good. I don't like having to pay for rice. I feel like it should come with the entree.
(4)
Brian C.
We were greeted politely upon arriving. The setting was pleasant and inviting. We ordered the Pad Thai and Red Curry of which both were equally favorable. The Chefs Specials looked and sounded delicious we will definitely come back and try one the dishes.
(4)
Andrew M.
We get takeout from Jitlada every now and then... my wife loves their red curry. The food overall is quite good and reliable, and won't break the bank. I've had most of their curries, and had the eggplant/basil dish recently, which was delicious. The restaurant itself is also nice inside, on a quiet street just north of Japantown. The service is friendly, and the owner is kind of a hoot. I recommend giving them a try.
(4)
Annie S.
I came here for dinner and I got to try... - Stuffed Basil Eggplant: This appetizer is decent... I wouldn't order it again, but some of my friends seemed to have enjoyed it. - Som Tom (Papaya Salad): I liked this the least out of everything that we ordered... I don't know why people like papaya salads in general. - Pad Thai: pretty good!! it's sweeter (and less peanut-y) than the ones that I've had at other thai restaurants. - Fried rice: I don't remember if we got chicken or beef with it, but it was good. I can't really tell the different between fried rice from different restaurants, so the fried rice here was like any other fried rice (in my opinion). - Pumpkin Curry: DELICIOUS. wow. I was hesitant about getting this curry because I don't like pumpkin... but it was so so so so so good!!! Wowowowowow I would come back here just for the pumpkin curry. tl;dr...GET THE PUMPKIN CURRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(3)
Piotr U.
We were in a rush-35 minutes to eat before the walking ghost tour started up the street. Walked in, mentioned the time crunch and sat down. Golden baskets, spicy basil chicken and chicken fried rice came out fast and piping hot. Delicious! With few minutes left over we also got the mango sorbet and glad we did. Perfect topper to tasty dinner. Next time will make sure to slow it down and properly enjoy.
(5)
Daniella O.
Ever since I have moved to the city, I have had cravings for Thai food almost every other day.The evil princess with tofu is my favorite! Luckily it is close by my apartment so I always get takeout. This has been one of my favorite Thai places so far. Friendly staff.
(5)
Vicki T.
I don't know if I can say I've had better pad thai in my life. The flavors were spot on (though I'm not Thai nor have I been to Thailand so...) The eggplant appetizer with the basil sauce is amazing. The basil sauce is just to die for. I think my whole table were just melting... The mango salad was a hit for my other friends but I prefer the Burmese style more. Not big on the greens, extraneous stuff. and just prefer straight up mangos in my salad. Trout on banana leaf has too many bones... and the sauce isn't all the best in the world... Will not order again. The green curry was awesome. Great flavor, texture was super smooth. Good spice but not overwhelming. Will order that again, as well. We had three people and ordered 2 appetizers and 3 main dishes. We had to push a bit to finish it all but totally do-able. With a side of rice. Wish Jitlada delivered...
(4)
Raina B.
I wish I had discovered this place sooner! This would have quickly been my neighborhood Thai spot and now I find it when I am soon moving... sad. The Khao Soi is the reason I will keep coming back! This dish is similar to the one at Poc Poc in Portland/NY though a tad milder. It is SOOO good though. We also got the basil chili with tofu and this was a little disappointing. I haven't had much of the menu just yet so this review is largely based on the Khao Soi but that is good enough to keep me as a customer.
(4)
Sofia R.
I've been meaning to try this place out for a while so I dragged a friend here and ate for a bit. The atmosphere is cozy yet fancy. Quiet yet not completely silent. It's definitely better suited for intimate couples/groups. The service was nice and attentive. They were polite, friendly, and they made sure we were satisfied with everything. We ordered Thai iced tea, wrap me ups, and chicken curry puffs. The Thai tea was better than most Thai teas I've had in other places yet it wasn't the very best I've ever had. None the less, I was pretty happy with it. Especially because they didn't overdo it on the ice. The wrap me ups were good although messy to eat because everything kept slipping out. It was to be expected. There was definitely a ton of coconut but the fillings they put in the wraps are more generous compared to another Thai place I've been to. The curry puffs were very good although quite hot when you first get them. The curry puffs reminded me of little empanadas but curry filled. They were by far my favorite. What's difficult about this place is finding an item on the menu that doesn't have any form of nuts in it. This is to be expected of Thai food, but I'm just putting that out there. I liked this place enough but I didn't love it. I do want to try an entree sometime so I plan on coming back.
(3)
Kim W.
Best Thai in the city! The depth of flavor is mind blowing. Warm and cozy atmosphere... feels like someone's living room, with beautiful classical guitar music in the background. The owner made us feel right at home. LOVE this place!
(5)
Shayne I.
I live near this place. I've had Thai all around the city and I gotta say, this place is the best. I'm all about pumpkin curry and I've yet to have a better pumpkin curry. The owner and chef are both super nice and the service is great. I order out or go here at least once a week. Also- the plating on these dishes is beautiful. They really take the time to make the food look amazing. Not pricy either! :)
(5)
Brian S.
Another great meal here. The nicest people working here. Totally one of those local small intimate restaurants where you recognize the staff and they recognize you. Fast meal service even when busy and the food is always tasty. Saw a table with some kind of pineapple dish- half a pineapple cut and partially scooped out, with prawns inside. Looked delicious and want to try this next time we go back.
(5)
Elliott N.
Accessibility (Parking / Wait Time) 1/1 Star: _____ Service (Waiter / Cleanness / Ambiance) 1/1 Star: clean. Nice service _____ Taste (0=Not Edible / 1=Edible / 2=Good (average) / 3=Must Try!) 2/3 Stars: good food _____ Overall Experience 4/5 Stars _____ Pictures Store Front: yelp.com/biz_photos/jitl… Pad Thai with Chicken: yelp.com/biz_photos/jitl… _____ Last Words
(4)
Sophie M.
We were really happy to find Jitlada. We really liked their food and did not find it overly sweet. The soups were really tasty. We will return.
(5)
Shell I.
Thanks to Yelpers I chose this restaurant for my group of hungry friends....and almost missed it! It's a suite in a building so we went back in front of the building and found it. It's a small mom and pop restaurant with a warm and friendly environment. I ordered the pad kee mao (spicy) which was the best I have ever had yet. I tried a little bit of everyone else's meal and and they were super delicous too. Their chicken is moist and delicious and the dishes are very well seasoned. mmmmmmm. The servers are also very attentive. I will definitely make a return visit the next time I am in town. Woo hoo!
(5)
Jen B.
Ouch. Bland Thai food. The server was really trying to please, but the hostess did not seem happy about our presence. The general atmosphere was of a place so used to take out, that I felt like I must be a fool for actually asking for a table. The chicken satay was OK, but the cucumber salad side dish was - I know this sounds weird - dry. Like it was ready to become kimchee. The good news is that the greens used for the Bangkok salad were fresh, the bad news is that was the highlight of the meal. Oh, and the sticky rice was great. There was something just not right about the baby back ribs that looked so good in the picture that someone had uploaded, and were a chef special. I was a bit worried about if the meat was old or something. But it could have been that the sauce was just not good. Like a failed attempt at sweet & sour. The noodle dish my husband had, just had no flavor. The noodles were stir fried to the correct texture, but plain noodles need more than a little bit of broccoli and a couple of small shrimp. Where's the basil, chili sauce, oyster sauce, kafir lime leaves, you know, the stuff that usually gives Thai food it's intensity? It can be done in many different ways, but bland? No, that's not Thai.
A pretty solid thai restaurant. Service was a bit slow but food was good!
(3)
Jade F.
Rating: 3.5 I like this place, for the most part. However, sometimes their quality is inconsistent, depending on the dish. We've tried: - ginger shrimp roll (delicious!) - tom kha gai (not memorable) - pad thai (overwhelmingly sweet, not a fan) - pineapple prawn curry (really good) - trout (superb, but be aware of the bones) - bbq chicken (pretty good) - pad see ew (sometimes shrimp is overcooked and sauce changes) With that said, as long as you find what you like, then it's definitely worth a shot. What keeps us coming is the nice people, the proximity to our house, and the trout.
(3)
Pablo R.
Being indecisive about where to go for lunch, I found Jitalda by making a wrong turn. A hole in the wall off Japantown's edge, this place is a small find. Run by a husband and wife, the food tastes pretty authentic and we all thought it was good. The portions can be small on some plates and larger on others. The food tastes really good though. Because of it's small size, service can be slow too. The pepper soup and noodle dishes went quick at our table. For Thai in the area, this is a good choice! Street parking can be tough.
(4)
Marc A.
I didn't think I would find better Thai in the city that my old stand by Marnee Thai but after a quick search to find a place to eat before a show at the Fillmore... we landed here. WOW! So glad we did! What's not to like about Thai samosas, pumpkin curry with chicken, green curry with chicken and pad thai with a side of the friendliest service you can imagine? I hate to tell everyone about this place because of the limited table space but.... oh well, enjoy!
(5)
Melinda R.
I was in San Francisco in July on a mini holiday. I was staying in an apartment I rented not to far from the Japan Center. Yelp showed me the way to Jitlada which was a little over half a mile from my location in Filmore. Wow! Best Thai food I have ever had!! The pumpkin curry was beyond perfection. After I finished my curry, sticky rice and jasmine tea I was actually sad that the meal had come to a close. Turns out that I made two more trips back for dinner during my week in San Fran. Bonus: I'm allergic to gluten so I frequently have to ask a ton of questions to find out what sauces or soups it's been added to. Each time I went the staff was more than helpful about my allergy. They were able to suggest menu items that were gluten free and offered to leave things like soy sauce off of my meal when I ordered. They assured me that they could make anything I needed without gluten. It was quite refreshing! P.s. please open a location in Houston! :)
(5)
Spencer R.
Had lunch here and the food was really good!
(5)
Derek N.
Quaint and comfy is what you'll get once you enter Jitlada...atmosphere-wise, it is the complete opposite of Osha @ Embarcadero. Calming and soothing, as opposed to people-watching and "hey, she's cute". I like both for the record :) So I went with the Evil Princess. Nice name, reminds me of someone long ago. It's a red curry dish and I ordered it with chicken and asked for extra spicy. It had nice flavors, and they use chicken breast meat. Brown rice is an extra $2.50 (WTF?). Service is good. Ice water was cold (sorry for that one). Extra spicy had some kick to it. It's next to an OPTH and OPTOM office. I do need some new specs when I'm not wearing my GPLs, so I got something else from the lunch. I'll try them again for their Pumpkin Curry next time...late
(3)
Andrew D.
Amazing !!! I come up to the bay regularly and this place never disappoints. Great for people that are eating PALEO. The wraps are all time and the DUCK was scrumptious!!! Thanks Ray and Pai for the years of great food
(5)
Cindy W.
I surprised myself cuz I really did enjoy Jitlada. The stand out quality was that they offered some unique dishes on the menu, and they prepared them well. * Yam Ma Meung (Mango Salad) $8.95 - First time seeing a mango salad on a Thai menu, I was intrigued and happily delighted by the diced Mango, roasted coconut, cashew nuts, lemon juice, and grilled shrimp salad. Really light and refreshing with lots of tangy sweet flavors. * Baby Back Pork Ribs $14.95 - Baby back ribs marinated in a sweet BBQ sauce. Meat was super tender and fell right off the bone. They serve it with sticky rice which is a nice change. Very delicious. * Scallop Panang on Eggplant $15.95 - Seared scallops with a red curry coconut milk sauce served over a long baked eggplant. This was so interesting having never seen this before. Really unique and quite tasty. Just wished there was a little more curry to ladle over rice. The service was friendly and attentive like most Thai places. Overall, had a favorable dining experience.
(4)
Paulette O.
Here's a little secret....this is the best Thai food in San Francisco. Every dish was incredible. What's more, the ambience of Jitlada is soothing and the customer service very friendly....it's the sort of place where you feel good spending your money. I highly recommend the papaya salad, fried chicken and spinach rolls for an appetizer. All of it was sublime. Thank you, Pai for such a wonderful meal. We can't wait to return!
(5)
Naoskar A.
Stuff was extremely rude to us. Food is decent, nothing special, nothing close to real Thai food like in Thailand and proper Thai places in BA.
(1)
Brad P.
Although we didn't order anything unusual: green curry chicken, veggie chicen sate, egg rolls, dangling shrimp (shrimp stuffed with crab), mango salad, the food (home delivered) was exquisite. As our guest commented: "This isn't Thai food, this is gourmet Thai food!" Everything tasted fresh and ever so slightly different than I was expecting, and simply delicious.
(5)
Cindy L.
its all family style... and it wasnt that good. evil princess 2/5 tom yum soup with chicken 2/5 Bathroom was all the way in the back.. u see the kitchen and everything ...makes me feel super gross.
(2)
Albert L.
Say what? Thai food in Japantown!? My girlfriend and I decided that we didn't want Japanese food (again) despite being in the heart of Japantown, but luckily we found this well-hidden spot. We were a little skeptical and debating if it was going to be a "nearby mall convince-type" restaurant or an actualy "legitimate" thai joint. Papaya Salad [ s3-media3.px.yelpcdn.com… Eh, nothing truly to rave about. Just like any other papaya salad with the standard little kick of spiciness from the chilies. The salad was served in a wonton cup but because of all the juices, it was soggy in most areas. Evil Princess Curry [ s3-media1.px.yelpcdn.com… I thought that only ordering just 1 appetizer and 1entree wouldn't be enough but I'm glad I didn't second guess myself. This curry dish was huge! A ton of spinach, chicken, and various other veggies. However, the curry texture itself was watery and I could hardly taste any "thai spices" within. I'm sorry to say that I had more flavorful curries at King of Thai.. Roti with Coconut Ice Cream [ s3-media3.px.yelpcdn.com… It was a little odd when I saw that there was a face made of nuts and raisins on my ice cream and reminded me of how Belly Good Crepes (within Japantown Center) does the same. The Roti itself wasn't all that great -- It was bland and it wasn't warm enough to really blend the ice cream together. We asked for some condensed milk but I assume that they don't normally serve their Roti with it, so there was none at all. So, Jitlada is a nice dimly light restaurant for a quiet dinner, but the food can be a miss. Like most Thai-type restaurants, you have to pay for the rice separately and Jitlada is no different. Our servers were friendly but they seemed very quiet and timid. Jitlada gets an A-OK from me, despite being a tad pricy, I left full and knocked out my non-Japanese dinner for the night, well sorta.
(3)
Sally M.
I've had Jitlada on my Yelp bookmarks for *YEARS* now, and I'm so happy I finally decided to try it a few nights ago for Thai take-out. And now I *finally* understand what others complain about with respect to the lack of flavor and too much oil in dishes at *other* Thai places. Jitlada used the perfect proportion of oil - not too greasy, yet not too dry. And the way they spiced their dish was *SUPERB* and far superior to many other places I've tried. In this one instance, I tried the Pad Kee Mao. I'll slowly start comparing all my go-to dishes, but so far, I'm much happier with this venue than most others nearby. Excited to continue sampling!
(4)
Paul B.
The place for Thai take-out in Pacific Heights! I cannot speak for the eat-in restaurant experience, but the take-out is great. Pros: Speed - Order will be ready within 15 minutes of calling it in. Price - About average for Pac Heights, but I would consider it a good value based on the quality of the food. Quality - Favorites are the pumpkin curry (w/ choice of meat) and Pad Thai
(4)
Naol T.
Really authentic pad thai and the evil princess curry was delicious!
(4)
D B.
I was all set to give this place 4 stars; going by the food alone, I still would. On our initial visit, a friend and I conversed with our server and by chance segued into asking if the restaurant had a particular traditional Thai ingredient. We described it and showed her photos of it. She said they had it but that one of the workers had already taken the rest of it home that day. She and we decided it would be best for us to call ahead next time to check before coming in to try it. The next week, I called about the item. The person who answered initially didn't understand my English (not a problem). I elaborated on my inquiry, at which point she said they don't [ever] have it and began laughing right before hanging up. It's not like I called to ask if their refrigerator was running or if I could talk to I. P. Freely. Some friends and I happened to be in Japantown later that day. The one who accompanied me on my first Jitlada visit walked over to ask in person, just in case the phone conversation had been a language barrier thing. Well, she asked and was subsequently laughed / argued out of the restaurant with, from what she told me, all the patrons watching. From my Thai friends and the Thai crew I used to run with, my impression of Thai culture is that it's looser, more relaxed than that of America. Yet I don't see openly laughing at - not with - someone and in this manner driving them out of a place as being part of any culture's joviality. Maybe I just don't know. Again, we like the menu, and we want to explore it more. We even don't mind the moths that make evening cameos around the table. Yet I'm not sure when or if my friend would be up for going back after her experience. I think you should still eat here, so long as you don't try to go off-menu. Or if you do ask about other items, bring one of your Thai friends to helm the conversation in your stead.
(1)
Meredith R.
Excellent neighborhood joint - excellent Thai food. Super cozy ambiance, very friendly staff, service was a bit slow and spotty but by no means did it effect the overall experience. What matters is they are friendly and offer up their opinions should you ask. And do go with what they recommend if you ask them about one dish vs another. I had the special barbeque roasted duck and papaya wedges - both extremely delicious. My friends had the pad thai but wished they'd ordered a house special like I did. Very much worth heading here if you don't live near by - call for a resv because it's pretty packed during peak times.
(4)
Dusty B.
These people are awesome! I needed a lunch for bidniss for next day service. And, I asked them deliver for 12 people and to just include some favorites: papaya salad, pad thai, chicken curry, crying tiger beef salad, etc They delivered it all right on time. And, they threw in some of their favorites including some eggplant dish and a tofu dish. And, they gave us the most beautiful sticky rice with mango desert. It was all delicious and delivered intact. I'd like to go and enjoy with friends.
(4)
Annalise F.
Yes! Thai done right! I'm so excited whenever I come across a good Thai restaurant. (Props to the boyfriend for picking this little diamond out of the rough!) Before catching a movie at the Kabuki, we decided to have dinner here- as it's in close proximity and Thai is one of our favorites. Jitalda is clean, quaint, and delicious- at prices that won't break the bank. What more could you ask for? We ordered: Shrimp & Ginger rolls (delish- this appetizer stole the show) Pad See Ew (This was delish too- but pretty standard) Pad Ka Prow (very tasty!) And one other dish...that is completely escaping me, despite the fact I just pulled up the menu! Would I go out of my way to eat at Jitlada? Probably not. Will it be our go-to spot prior to movies at the Kabuki? ABSOLUTELY.
(4)
D Z.
This restaurant is absolutely delicious. We ordered the Larb Gai, the papaya salad and a soup ( don't remember the name but it was noodly and light) and everything was fresh, perfectly seasoned and tasty. The people were incredibly nice - extra points for welcoming, friendly service. I don't live in this neighborhood but would drive back any time to eat here again.
(4)
JJ B.
Food - excellent Price - very reasonable Service - very good I have ordered both take away and had diner at Jitlada. in both cases, it was very good. The pad thai, sate, spring roll, the soups, the curry, all were good. One time we arrived late with friend and their children. Although we lost our table, the staff did not send us away and had us seated 10 minutes later. our kids were happy to be together so they were a bit rowdy but the restaurant owners and staff were very cool about it. I will be coming back and am planning to order out tomorrow. the only drawback is having to go through the kitchen to reach the bathrooms, but the place overall is spotless and clean.
(4)
Abby S.
Jeremy S said it best when he wrote about Jitlada a few years ago: "Delicious nondescript Thai food". Couldn't have said it better myself! Anytime I'm in the Bay Area, I like to take advantage of the tasty *and* authentic Thai cuisine. Or anything of the Asian persuasion if possible... So when someone recommended Jitlada I jumped at the chance to give it a try. One of the things that sticks out in my mind (besides the food) about Jitlada is the very warm and friendly service. I arrived about 20 minutes before my dining companions showed and the hostess was nice enough to let me sit at the bar and have a beer while I waited. Our server was also very kind and personable, which makes a dining experience that much better, IMO. Like many other SF restaurants, Jitlada is small and can only accommodate about 10-12 tables, so I can imagine there is often a wait to be seated. But you can also order your food to-go, as I watched several people pick up their order while I waited at the bar. If you want a warm, fuzzy Thai experience, definitely try Jitlada. As many others have mentioned, the food is good but it's the service that makes it worth going back for.
(4)
Can C.
I am so close to giving this place a 5-star review! Maybe if I go a few more times and try a couple more items, I will do so. For now, it is a solid 4.5 from me! When I saw that Jitlada had such high reviews and it was close to where I live, I knew I had to try it. Thank goodness the food is delicious! My favorite dish thus far is hands down the yellow curry. It is sweet and not too heavy. If you order in the restaurant, they offer you the choice of brown rice or sticky rice, the latter being more sweet. Since the curry is sweet as is, I usually go with the brown rice, which becomes a nice vehicle for this awesome curry! I've also tried the pad see ew (good as well) and pad thai (good, but both this and the pad see ew were pretty standard). Their mango and sticky rice is pretty bomb too. It comes with black sticky rice, which is cool, and they even toss in a sliced strawberry (a nice little added bonus). The mango is always so sweet and juicy. I love it! The service is always good, greeting us with smiles, filling our water glasses constantly, and boxing our food if we have leftovers. It's also conveniently located across the street from Japantown, so if you're in the area looking for some quality Thai food, stop by here!
(4)
Craig L.
Not as fresh tasting as I'd like. Seems like a contradiction, but a little on the bland side and oversauced. Not bad though.
(3)
Rachel R.
I was a big fan of Jitlada. I was able to easily get a last minute reservation for 4 on a Friday night but the restaurant did fill up while we were there. Food: Pad Kee Mao - delicious with a little kick. I finished my whole plate. Eggplant appetizer - sooo good, didn't know I could like eggplant until I tried this! Alcohol: Inexpensive but good. Think most wine glasses were about $5 each. Didn't have to spend that much and had a wonderful meal. This place could also be a nice date experience.
(5)
Natalie G.
Wow. Wow. Wow. My fellow diner was convinced this was the best place for Pumpkin Curry. I wasn't convinced, since well, that's quite a bold statement to make. But damn. That's some pretty good Pumpkin Curry. This adorable and charming restaurant has a great soul and the service was great. He seemed to be a regular here, so they definitely knew his dishes. - Pumpkin Curry: No other pumpkin curry will ever match up. Every time you order pumpkin curry, you will want it to be like this. And it won't. This curry has a great texture and overall warm and soothing taste. It simply is made with love. - Mango salad: A little summer on a platter. This light dish has a crispness and overall fresh take to it. Gorgeous starter dish to share. - Pad Kee Mao: A huge order! Nice selection of fresh veggies break away from the heavy rice noodle. Nice flavor. There is a lot of really good places to eat in SF, but hands down, this pumpkin curry is something special. If only they delivered....
(5)
Bryan B.
I ordered the pad ke maw and 2 crying/screaming/SOMETHING tiger salads with sauce on the side (medium spicy) for pick-up. Lady on the line had trouble speaking/understanding English but it was painless enough. I was staying at the Hotel Tomo across the street so I just walked to pick up my order. The Pad Ke Maw with beef was delicious. Had veggies, the right amount of sauce, and the right amount of spicy. The salad was ... okay. It's basically a giant pile of cooked strips of beef, greens, and the sauce is a peanut-y tangy brown sauce. I wouldn't get the salad again but the pad ke maw was a winner. $30 for all that so I'd put it on the pricier end for thai food. In LA, it's usually $6-7 per dish. We ordered take out so no comments on the service.
(3)
Rishi G.
This place is a great get in the lower pac heights area for solid Thai food. It's not a great place to eat-in as the ambience is lacking and it's kind of weirdly empty all the time. BUT - the food is amazing. Especially, the Pumpkin Curry, Panang Curry, Pad Ka Prow and the Shrimp Spring Roll appetizer.
(4)
Alex B.
Nice flavor but three stars for small portions at high prices, plus some disorganization among counter staff despite giving them ample of time to get a takeout ready. Ordered the green curry with chicken (excellent), red curry with beef (very good), sticky coconut rice (average) and jasmine rice (better than the odd tasting sticky coconut rice). If I went back there, I would stick to the green curry and jasmine rice.
(3)
Drea B.
Great lunch specials! Come here for great service, delicious food, and that certain-something you've been waiting for. It gets very busy during the lunch hour. Great for large groups. The women that work at Jitlada are very friendly and accommodating for bigger groups. The lunch deal is such a steal! I always opt for the tofu curry substitution. You get a yummy soup, white rice, salad, and your main entree dish. The Thai iced-tea is absolutely delightful, too! If you're looking for a great hole-in-the-wall, this is your spot!
(4)
Lili L.
The best Thai food in SF... maybe even the best Thai food anywhere ( and I've been to Thailand a couple times) ... the pumpkin curry is hands down the best.
(5)
Vinitha R.
The food here was really tasty. Good size portions that were reasonably priced and great to share! We ordered mainly vegetarian food- the evil princess curry, the pad thai, some veg curry puffs, and a green bean and tofu dish (can't remember the name). We also, ordered one chicken dish. All of the vegetable and tofu tasted fresh and well cooked- very enjoyable. 2 stars because the small location has a hard time with crowds. You feel like the next people waiting to be seated are hovering over you while you finish your meal. Also, to use the restroom, you have to get a key and walk through the kitchen which was disorganized and sort of chaotic. Its brave to let the customers into the kitchen, but since they did, the kitchens disarray sort of affects my evaluation. Still, I would go back for a quick bite if I was in the area.
(2)
Mike S.
4.5 stars... Mango salad, spinach leaves & shrimp, eggplant & scallops - just about perfect! Friendly & prompt service as well... Tasty!
(4)
Kathy R.
The location is pretty small, which makes for an intimate atmosphere. I ordered the Yellow Curry. It was good, nothing special, just a pretty straight-forward dish. It wasn't very spicy, so if you have friends that cannot handle a lot of heat this place would be a good choice. You can request to have the dishes made hotter of course. The friendly service was what made it as the staff was very cheery. I would go back if I was in the area.
(4)
Paula S.
I have never liked Thai food until Jitlada entered my world. Chef Pai is a gem. She usually come out and speaks to each table. When she does- ASK HER what to order. Whatever you get will be fabulous. The Spinach roll ups are to die for as an appetizer, so are the golden baskets (ground chicken and shrimp in a wonton fried. Also love the Mango shrimp salad, The emerald noodles are wonderful and filling Entree and so is their Grilled Shrimo and Eggplant with coconut sauce. The crying tiger entree will make you cry with the heat- but its a hurt so good thing! LOL. And their lunch BBQ chicken bento and Duck are also home runs. Extras to try are the lemon grass tea, and the Black sticky rice with fresh mango. ..Oh also the fried banana with coconut ice cream is a total SIN- but well worth the calories. Their prices have gone up a bit in the last 7 or 8 years- but whose haven't? Their decor has been completely updated so that it looks like a nice little boutique atmosphere. I wouldn't hesitate to bring either a date or guests here. They will leave loving THAI!. Even "Foodies" will be impressed! Portions are very generous compared to other similar restaurants with similar pricing. This is a San Francisco Treasure, Very unpretentious and always consistently good! The only con is parking,,but wear comfy shoes and you;ll be glad you gave this one a go!
(5)
George A.
Just when I thought I found a good Thai place pretty close by to me it closes (Neecha). Well, I decided to yelp around and Jitlada had good reviews so I thought I'd give it try. This place is solid. I've been here twice for takeout. The first time I got the paradise pasta, which was delicious! It comes with spinach noodles, veggies, chicken, and a house sauce, which has a peanuty/vinegary taste to it (it was very good...in fact I had some french bread lying around and when I finished my meal I dunked a couple pieces it in the leftover sauce). The second time I got pad Thai, which was solid as well. The noodles weren't too greasy or "sticky" and the tofu & chicken both tasted good. It came with bean sprouts, which gave the meal a good crunch. Both of these meals were about $10, which I thought was reasonable. The menu looks pretty interesting, and there's definitely some other things that I'd like to try that don't seem to be items you'd "typically" find at Thai restaurants. Since I got takeout I can't comment too much on the service, but the people who run the place seem very nice (I'm assuming it's family owned). The place is kind of hidden away in Japantown, and the inside is tiny! Both times I went the restaurant itself was pretty empty, but I'm hoping that's because I was there kind of early, and it's busier later in the evening.
(4)
Philip T.
Everything was good, especially the pineapple shrimp curry.
(4)
The Food L.
Amazing food - I never had coconut pasta anywhere else. superb service. My friend sri wants to give five 5 star as well
(5)
Sarah Z.
This place was amazing. Hands-down best Thai I've ever had. The servers were so friendly, and all of our courses arrived with perfect timing. We never felt rushed. We sampled several things on the menu and several drinks upon the servers' suggestions, and we were not disappointed. We're moving to the area next year, and we plan to eat here as often as possible.
(5)
Barb L.
This star is for the nice smiles I got when I went in...and the fact that we cannot give less than one star.... This is NOT the same Jitlada I remember frequenting years back...extremely disappointing both food wise and customer service. I will not elaborate...but our whole party are dying of MSG induced mouth burning thirst now... We will NOT be going back...
(1)
Naomi C.
Small, cozy restaurant on the edge of Japantown and a couple blocks from CA Pacific Medical Center. The food is delicious and moderately priced. I can personally endorse the BBQ ribs with jasmine rice, as well as the deep fried shrimp "baskets". Also enjoyed the fried bananas with coconut ice cream. Definitely will return!
(5)
Laurent L.
Overall the food was great. We overheard folks at the table next to us raving about the peanut sauce, so we tried the chicken skewers appetizer that comes with peanut sauce --- yum! Then we had the pad thai and the pumpkin curry. Everything was delicious. My only complaint is that the portions are a bit on the small side, so order an appetizer! I would definitely come here regularly if I lived closer!
(4)
dave m.
I was in SF for a conference, and stayed at the Kabuki. This place was just down the street, and the Yelp reviews are what drove me there. And they deserve every star. We started with a reservation for 12, and 8 more ended up showing up. Most restaurants would either a) freak out, b) make us wait 15 years, or c) flat out say no. Instead, the nice people at Jitlada did d) BE AWESOME. They rearranged tables on the spot and made a home for us, and on top of which did a bunch of grouped bills to make it easier to pay. And the food, oh man - was fantastic. Light on the sauces, fresh on the ingredients, and moderately spicy.
(5)
Karen W.
When I lived in San Francisco, Jitlada was one of our favorite places to eat for Thai with a nice atmosphere. The meals are excellent, and so are the desserts. Service is friendly as well. I live in Arizona now, and Thai restaurants here do not compare.
(5)
Chanthi L.
Background: Thai food was such a treat growing up, my family would drive for almost an hour to LA to get our fill. I developed quite an affinity for really great Thai food. I love all the big flavors. And no, it is not all about food that sets your mouth on fire. Review: I don't understand why every single dish we ordered was over-sauced. Everything was just one note...sweet. Not interested in going back.
(1)
Tammy C.
(See pics) Sitting on a quiet street just off Japantown is this quiet sparkling gem. I like the names of the dishes. Shrimp in sleeping bags are very cute and we were told not to wake up the shrimps! The homemade prawns in pineapple was lovely looking and was also rich. The chicken (think it's curry) with string beans was more of a subtle taste. The ambiance is elegant and cool, people keep the voice down with smaller chatty conversations even it's quite a busy place and it has really friendly service.
(4)
Dagmar H.
Your Midwestern parents don't want snap-pea infused duck sliders with red wine aioli every night of their SF visit. Bring them to Jitlada. It's tiny, has a neon sign, and you can get something delicious for under $20.
(5)
Maya G.
Thai food is one of my favorite foods around and I'm constantly in search of a place that can satisfy my high standards. I didn't know about Jitlada until just this past year because they don't deliver. Then one day, I was walking home and discovered that this hole-in-the-wall gem is just down the street from where I live. I finally tried the food and was hooked! They make my favorite Thai dish to perfection (Lad Na/Rad Na - it's not on the menu so you have to just ask for it) and every time I've taken people here, the other dishes we order are delicious!
(5)
Jill C.
If they have the deep fried crab appetizer GET IT. If not, no worries...just about everything else is as delish and the folks who work there couldn't be any nicer! It's not where you expect to find a gem of a Thai restaurant - it's in Japantown!! And not on the busiest of streets, Buchanan. But, boy howdy, is their food good. I get the Pad Thai with prawns usually. Generous with the prawns and the sauce is just yummy. I'm glad that Jitlada Thai is in my neighborhood.
(5)
Autumn K.
It may have been the outstanding company or the lightning and explosions sounds of the fireworks outside (It was the 4th of July) that made Jitlada my new favorite place to get all Thai'd up. However, I have a strong suspicion that the real reason this hidden gem gets 5 overly enthusiastic stars from this girl has more to do with the sweet, cozy interior, outstanding fresh veggie spring rolls, spicy basil chicken, and familial, genuine service. Peanut sauce is to die for and makes me want to get wild n' crazy in the Jitlada restroom (ssssh!). Seriously delicious, seriously friendly, and seriously clean and comfortable spot for consistently good thai food. I'll be back but in the meantime, if you're thinking of stopping by my place, pick up some of that crazy peanut sauce on your way and just see what happens.
(5)
mariel v.
I have been coming to this place for years. I no longer live in San Francisco, but when I did -- this was THE place I'd go to for thai food and for special occasions. When I come home for visits, I make it a point to have a meal here. I've probably tried everything on the menu at least once. The owner/chef Pai is a doll! She remembers faces very well and will come out to greet her customers after she has cooked their meals. I went here on New Year's Day for lunch with my girlfriends, and she came out to greet us. We always tend to be the loudest table, in an otherwise quiet restaurant, but the staff are so sweet, they've never said anything! For dessert, they also brought our table a fried banana with ice cream, on the house! The presentation of the food is incredible! Not what you'd expect from most thai restaurants. Not only is the food beautiful, it's delicious too -- not heavy, or greasy at all. They also have a lot of health conscious items, and options for vegetarians/vegans. My faves are: APPETIZERS - golden baskets and stuffed basil eggplant. ENTREES - the paradise pasta, khao soi, jungle curry, evil princess curry, and pumpkin curry DESSERTS - NOTHING beats the black sticky rice with mango! my friend mindy is a huge fan of their roti, which is very tasty. She's told me more than once that she has never been able to get roti as good anywhere else, and the last time we were there, she ordered two.
(5)
Doug C.
Americanized Thai food. I'm used to the quality of Thai food from here: thaifoodandtravel.com To me all the Thai restaurants including Osha are overrated. I'm probably not a good source for those who like the flavor of restaurants like Panda Express. I find that type of food inedible. $80/3 including $20/bottle of pinot gris. Pad See Ew; sweet and salty. Inedible. Didn't finish it. Steamed Sea Bass: small portion, not fishy. On a bed of spinach garnished w/ snow peas and zucchini. No Thai flavor in this dish. Tom Yum Goong: ok, had sour flavor. Not balanced with galanga or lime leaf. Tiger salad: beef sliced too thick. Chewy, we used the sauce on the Pad See Ew to make it semi edible. Not going back.
(2)
Abhi M.
Excellent food for the price an really good customer service. the food is served almost immediately after you order it.
(4)
Albie F.
When in search of a restaurant in close proximity to the Boom Boom Room, I stumbled upon Jitlada Thai Cuisine and I'm glad I did because it just became one of the best Thai restaurants I've been to in the Bay Area with such a wide variety of interesting and tasty entree options (and none of the plates disappointed). Sometimes you'll go to Thai restaurants and they'll have very good pad thai or just very good curries or just very good spicy beef, but Jitlada has a solid menu with many specials that are featured both on their website and in a special insert they put into the menu. What really kicked off my interest in Jitlada was the pictures of the Emerald noodles I saw on their website and the combination of green spinach noodles, tiger prawns, and a special wasabi sauce really did spark my interest. Now I actually ended up not ordering that but my friend got it and it looked exactly the same as in the picture. And based on his opinions, it was very very good too. Sometimes restaurants will spice up how their dishes look on a menu or website and when you order it, it'll look like something tossed together in a salad mixing bowl but the Emerald noodle dish was spot on. I got the Paradise pasta with the house special sauce and chicken & that was a wonderful mixture of chicken breast meat, flat thin spinach noodles, veggies, and a sweet red sauce for only $9.95. Others at my table ordered pumpkin curry, baby back pork ribs, and Chef Pai's BBQ chicken and none of them seemed to disappoint. So all together, we ordered pretty much most of the menu from noodles to curry to specialty dishes and they were all rock solid and delicious. To finish off the meal, I only got a taste of the coconut ice cream and fried banana that my entire table shared but it was SOOOOO good that next time I'm ordering one $5 order for myself and not sharing with nobody!!! On a final note, taking a trip to the restroom gives you a complete tour of Jitlada's kitchen. What a deal, a tour of the facilities included with every meal!!!
(5)
Vinh N.
We were so close to Japantown... but decided to grab Thai food. Surprise! After hearing a lot of good buzz for Jitlada, the crew and I skipped out on Osha and came here instead. It's a smaller place with dim lighting and not very loud, but it was cozy. After a round of Thai Iced Teas and Coffees, we settled on ordering the Khao Soi (noodles in coconut curry sauce), Pad Thai, Evil Princess (red curry), and the Gai Himephan (sauteed chicken with veggies and cashews). The food came out fast and we dug in. The Khao Soi tasted as good as it looked, and I thought it was fantastic. It was more limey than I expected, but I'm definitely a fan. The Evil Princess was supposed to be spicy but I didn't detect any heat from this bad girl at all so I was a bit disappointed. I guess you'd have to request for spicier when you order it. The Pad Thai hit the spot and wasn't too sweet or tamarind-y, while the Gai Himephan being the most unforgettable. All of that and the bill came out to be less than 60 dollars for a group of 4, so we were pretty surprised. The food was great but I did start feeling self-conscious as it was so quiet. I felt like everyone could hear us talk, so everyone became barely audible. Decor is pretty simple but fitting. Good food and friendly service! In any case, we'll definitely be coming back in the future.
(4)
Aleta D.
Visiting from Portland, Oregon, where there is a large Thai immigrant population, and as a vegetarian, I have eaten my fair share of Thai food. It's one of my favorite cuisines, and I'll put up with lackluster Thai because it's still predictably tasty and vegetarian-friendly. This restaurant, however, is beyond the standard Thai fare I'm accustomed to in many ways. The service is not only friendly, but genuinely helpful. The restaurant staff have a decent command of the English language to provide useful answers to my questions, and more importantly, they are very in sync with each other. There were no miscommunications, and on a busy night, my food still arrived promptly. And the food... even if it had taken a long time to arrive, it would have been worth the wait. I had great fun simply pouring over the menu and learning about new Thai dishes I had never heard of before, like the fried curry dumplings (think Thai samosas), and the Evil Princess curry entree. Being a long-time fan of Indian food as well, I just had to try the samosa-like dumplings, and I ordered the fall seasonal special entree. I forget what it was called, but it was basically a stir fry of seasonal vegetables, including pumpkin, shiitake mushroom, and whole peas in the pod with cashews in a light, sweet sauce. I've mentioned that I'm a vegetarian, and that I've put up with mediocre food before. I also cook my own food at home and know how difficult it can be to prepare vegetables well. This entree sounds simple, but the vegetables were all expertly cooked. The pumpkin was not undercooked but not falling apart either, mushrooms were not rubbery but tender and delicious, the peas were light and crisp, and the sauce was not too overbearing and helped the flavor of the vegetables shine. It was an excellent balance of flavor and texture. The price, as well, was very reasonable. I paid $30 for an entree, an appetizer, and a beer. While it's not the cheapest Thai food around, I feel the quality and service are at least two notches above the baseline, while the price is just one notch. The decor isn't the trendiest around, but it's clean and simple and I can tell a lot of thought was put into it. The few features were the Buddha statues, which all have their daily offerings of tea, Diet Coke, and toys for baby Buddha, as well as the live orchids lovingly clipped with decorative dragonflies to a support stick. Overall, the entire restaurant staff has put their heart and soul into this restaurant and the end result is superb.
(5)
Natalia Q.
Small and cozy, this place is a hidden gem. The best Thai food I've had so far around here. I'm in love with their Pumpkin Curry Chicken and Pad Thai! The waitresses are very nice and welcoming, and it is a pleasant environment.
(5)
Jenaynay W.
5 stars for the flavor- it's a party in my mouth! and no siracha sauce needed!! i love thai food, and have tried thai restaurants all over san francisco. jitlada consistently packs flavor in all their dishes. they are a little pricey for the amount of food you get. we were disappointed when we opened up our clamshell to-go container and found that it was 1/3 full of the dish. boo.
(4)
Shannon F.
Yet another wonderful Thai restaurant. I can see this one becoming a favorite! After yelping the highest rated Thai restaurants in San Fran, this gem popped up and am I ever so glad we took the little trip to indulge at this fabulous place. Located at the end of Buchanan st right next to Japan town, this place is not hard to miss and well worth driving around the block to find parking..lol This place is extremely Immaculate with white Lenin and all, adorned with beautiful decor through out. We were seated by the window secluded privately in a corner with a nice view. We were greeted by our pleasantly friendly server. After asking my server a few questions regarding the dishes, I was able to quickly come to a decision on what to order. For the appetizer we started with the papaya wedges - which are Green papaya mix with rice flour and shredded coconut batter and sesame seeds. Deep fried and served with sweet and sour sauce .This was FABULOUS!!! Light crisp and sweet muah...delish!! For one main dish we ordered the Evil princess... he he....lol - which is a Spicy red curry sauce with coconut milk, Napa cabbage, and spinach B.F ordered the Dancing prawns - Grilled prawns stuffed with crab meat and ground pork, Thai seasonings, served with home made spicy sauce skewered and suspended on half an orange Our meal stared with the soup, which is probably the best starter soup I have had at a Thai restaurant so far- incredibly light and fresh with an abundance of flavor...mmmm wonderful!! First dish that arrived was the Evil Princess. This was fantastic!! Not too spicy with a settle sweetness, a decent amount of chicken and vegetables, all exceptionally fresh with incredible flavor. Dancing prawns danced there way over shortly after, and the presentation was splendid. Each huge succulent crap stuffed shells were planked upon sticks, pocked within a round peeled orange placed upon a beautifully decorated plate which turned out to be as mouthwateringly tasteful as they looked. All and all each dish from the soup, to the dancing prawns, all danced with unbelievable fresh flavor and had me lost in blissful moments with each unforgettable bite. I will be visiting here many times to come.
(5)
Kean S.
Nice little neighborhood place - friendly wait staff. Great wine and priced low. My wife found a piece of hair in her food - they brought us another one - the chef came to our table and personally apologized. At the end, without us asking, we were not charged for the dish. The food is very tasty. And YES, I'll go back again.
(4)
Aban E.
This was a cute little place by J-town. Normally, I end up eating something Japanese or Korean when around J-town, so I decided to try something new in the neighborhood. It was better than average, I thought. Service was great when I went there. I guess from reading other reviews, it's a hit and miss and though.
(3)
Nilu r.
Pork ribs. Hello! I would have been happy with these alone for dinner...but the clear broth "jungle curry" was also delicious as well as light and healthier than a typical coconut cream curry dish. The restaurant is quaint, clean and the service very friendly. The bill for the two of us came to about $40 bucks. This place is so close to our place that we might roll down the hill more often now that we found it.
(4)
Joe C.
First, I want to start off by saying that I'm Thai. And I am very turned off by many Thai restaurants in SF. If I want quick Thai food on a night out or for a meal before a movie, that's one thing. SF has many of those quick and ok places to offer. If you want good food with feels-like-home kind of service, I cannot name a single Thai restaurant that I can say that about. Well, that's no longer the case, in my book, about a Thai restaurant with good food and awesome service. Jitlada has become my favorite Thai restaurant in SF! I tried Jitlada out because I was in the neighborhood to see a play. And I will definitely come back, even if I don't have anything to do in that neighborhood. The food was excellent. We ordered the Barbecue Pork Ribs which were just so tender and melted in my mouth. The Pumpkin Curry was as yummy as everyone on yelp raved about. The restaurant staff were extremely friendly and not some high-maintenance servers you see everywhere else. They even talked us out of ordering too much rice because the Barbecue Pork Ribs come with some sticky rice already. We were greeted and taken care of throughout the whole dining experience. (genuinely and not because they wanted tips) I highly recommend Jitlada. And I'll come back to try some other dishes for sure!
(5)
Anna T.
One of my favorite Thai places in the city. It's so ridiculously popular that I saw a couple wait at the counter for a table the entire 1.5 hours we were eating there. Trust me, make a reservation beforehand. The food here is just plain good. Everything was good. I normally never even bother to take home leftovers at a restaurant because I don't like to eat things twice in a row, but this place was good. And their portions are substantial to match the slightly higher price. I tried my friend's Kau Soi and I thought it was pretty good. Their pad kee mao was really good, I went home and ate the leftovers... Then the next day I ate the leftover spicy ground beef with basil . Man that was really really good for left over food. The crowd here is really yuppie, I noticed. It's expected since it's located in Pac Heights. Just an observation. Doesn't affect the food at all, which is delicious!
(5)
Jen K.
Good Thai food, but nothing I would go out of my way for. Lunch boxes are a good deal.
(3)
S. M.
Super clean! Super nice service! Super yummy food! 2 thumbs up!
(4)
Danny B.
Khao Soi (Northern Thailand Dish) was my favorite
(4)
Robert M.
Cozy space with excellent food. The pumpkin curry was excellent, as was the prawn soup. Waitstaff was prompt and courteous. The bathroom is a real adventure. Go behind the counter to get the key, which is attached to a bottle of purell, and then around the corner, through the kitchen, and out the back. Then go up the stairs and you will find the restrooms on the left. KNOCK BEFORE YOU GO IN, as there is more than one key... Sorry, dude.
(4)
Alex B.
Very good food very nice environment i will defenetly come back here many more times. Thanks.
(5)
Lisa F.
I've eaten at numerous Thai restaurants throughout San Francisco and NYC (where I'm from). This has to be up there with some of the best Thai I've had (and such reasonable prices too!) The Tom Kha Gai (I had mine without the chicken, being vegetarian) was INCREDIBLE. I have to say, that is one of my pickiest dishes. Either its made right, or its made terribly wrong, and this was superb. My friend and I both had the Pad Thai as well which was really delicious. The wait staff was very friendly and accommodating. I'll definitely be back here, and I highly recommend it!
(5)
Mark L.
Went here for the first time to celebrate a friend's birthday - about 14 of us! Enjoyed the delicious meal - the ribs were wonderful and I had the pumpkin curry with chicken - yummy! Definitely go back again!
(4)
Kevin L.
Although this restaurant is a little hard to find, it is worth the search. The pad thai was amazing. The noodles were cooked to perfection, the chicken was moist and incredibly flavorful. I was left wanting a better hot sauce to spice it up, as opposed to chili flakes, though this by no means made the food better or worse. The presentation of the dish was creative, as far as pad thai can be. It was served atop a bed of fresh sprouts with a nice slice of pineapple to garnish. Add in the salad before the entree (which is not mentioned on the menu), and the great service, and you have a great thai experience.
(4)
Jaime R.
with so many great options for Thai food in the city, why settle for the mediocre? i've been looking forward to visiting Jitlada, since i started spending more time in the japantown/lower pac heights 4 months ago, but had never had a chance to drop in for a meal until this past friday evening. Drinks - the thai ice tea was just OK. Starters - the chicken satay's, well tender and juicy lacked flavor, as did the peanut sauce. the thai version of an empanada was ok, according the person dining with me. the saving grace for this meal was the golden pockets. they were better than average. Mains - the mango salad was massive, and very good per the person dining with me. the Livia's Special Noodles (Pad Sea Eaw) i had was poor when compared to OSHA's (or Basil's) version. the noodles were overcooked, and mashed together into mush. this might have been because we were eating late on friday night, but good restaurants should maintain their standards. If you are looking for great Thai food in the city i'd recommend looking elsewhere in the city. if you are looking for a good meal in japantown/lower pac heights, i'd recommend hitting one of the many japanese food options, or head over to Fillmore street, and the Woodhouse fish Company for a memorable meal.
(2)
Suzy Q.
I came here on a date...well, he ended up being a loser but the food was amazing. I can't wait to come back to this place...sans loser. The pumpkin curry was the best!
(5)
Tim G.
Jitlada Thai Cuisine is a gem of a restaurant, even by San Francisco standards. My wife and I moved here two years ago and we had been looking for a replacement for our favorite Thai restaurants in LA. Well, we found it and it has surpassed our expectations! The pumpkin curry is AWESOME! I love the ginger spring rolls! Sticky rice is a great side dish too! I've tried about 65% of the menu and have not been surprised and intrigued about how great everything is. The owners and waitresses are very friendly and welcoming. If you go don't be surprised if it puts your current favorite Thai restaurant to shame.
(5)
Gina S.
This place was recommended by a friend who lived in Thailand, so I figured it was worth a try. A group of us went there last night without a reservation. It's a small place and was fairly crowded (note to self: make a reservation on a Saturday night next time), but they cheerfully managed to make a table for us. The service was fantastic - the women there were really friendly and attentive, and they were also funny. The waiter 'carded' my father (who is in his 80's) when he ordered a beer, and she did it with such a straight face that he almost fell for it! The menu is lengthy which always worries me - when a place has too much on the menu, I wonder if they can execute all of it well. So we ordered almost exclusively from the "specials" menu. The only exception was the pumpkin curry, since I was already told to try it. We had mango salad, Larb Gai, and curry puffs as appetizers to share. All of these were fresh and delicious! The salads were crispy, filled with a variety of vegetables, and the flavors were nicely balanced. The curry puffs weren't greasy and were mild but tasty. Larb is one of my favorites, so I was happy to find a great one. We ordered it "medium" spicy, and it had a great kick but didn't blow our heads off - perfect! The scallops and eggplant main course is really unusual. I've never eaten anything quite like it before. It was delicious, although the peanut sauce did overwhelm the delicate flavor of the scallops a bit. The sea bass was nicely-prepared and also a bit unusual for Thai food. The pumpkin curry was as-advertised by other Yelp reviewers - luscious and totally worth returning for! They offer white rice, brown rice, and sticky rice. We all chose sticky rice, which comes in individual servings wrapped in banana leaves. It was delicious. The restaurant also serves quite nice white wines - better than one usually finds in Thai restaurants. The black sticky rice with mango was fantastic (even though the waitress apologized that the mangos weren't totally in season and weren't as good as they like to serve - they weren't stringy and were beautifully prepared. Everything was beautifully presented, and this place clearly takes pride in their food. I'll definitely be back soon!
(5)
Mike S.
Very good. Clean and kind if romantic atmosphere. Pumpkin Curry was awesome.
(5)
Victoria D.
I love this place. I honestly think it is the best Thai food in SF. I use to use them for catering for a tech company in SF and they were very accomodating. Also, the owner, Pai...is one of the sweetest women I have ever met. As for the food... one word, AMAZING. Fresh ingredients and exotic flavors are always a winning combo. I think I will have my birthday dinner here, and have the black mango sticky rice with a candle on top.
(5)
Walter C.
This is the neighborhood Thai place by my friend's house. They love it. It is walking distance to Japan Town. The food isn't bad, but nothing great. The staffs are friendly and it is family own restaurant. I tried their BBQ chicken lunch special, it was actually very good. I do need an extra plate for all the bones though. I stop by when I am in the neighborhood, but it is not a destination.
(4)
M'ia K.
Friday--- 11AM, in the middle of my 'thyroid disorders' lecture, I send a text message to cbp: "I m out of class at 12pm so lets meet @ 1230 in j-town- i have an eye appt at 130 so we have 1hr for lunch!" So we went to Jitlada.. which HAPPENS to be right adjacent to my eye doctor, Dr Totsubo. I ordered the "pumpkin curry"- cpb is torn between the 'evil princess' and the 'jungle curry', and he opted for the jungle curry. Verdict? My pumpkin curry trumped his jungle curry big-time. To be nice, the leftover pumpkin curry was offered to cbp as a peace offering for lunch tomorrow. Their portions are pretty big, they have brown rice as an option (for you health nuts,) and the ambience is nice.. only minus is the fact that the bathroom is waaaay down the hall behind the kitchen in the back of the building. Parking in the jtown garage is cheap (enter on Post near Webster), so it's a great little 'hidden' spot for lunch.
I hate to say this, but their pad see ew was the worst I've had in SF. Absolutely flavorless. Not to mention the portion is incredibly small for the price. I'm talking wow-I-feel-ripped-off small. All I wanted were some tasty noodles for lunch. It was a toss up between the pad thai and pad see ew. I went with the later, even though it was like $4 more. I paid $15 total for these crappy noodles and a Thai Iced Coffee! Needless to say, my expectations were high. I had ordered takeout and they said it would be 15 minutes. I did some shopping at Japantown Center and came back after 20 minutes, and it still wasn't ready. It ended up taking about 22-23 minutes total. There was one large party there, and they were complaining a lot about not getting the right dishes. Other people had positive reviews, so maybe this was just bad luck...
(1)
Jon S.
Excellent food, not oily - even the plain veggies were deliciously prepared, neither over nor under done. They also had an extraordinary Russian River Valley Chardonnay on the wine list - very grapefruit-y.
(5)
Jess V.
MMM...i have to say, this was pretty good thai. We shared the pad see ew w/shrimp which has good flavor, but a little too much lettuce. And we also shared the Pineapple curry with prawns (served in half a pineapple) which was amazing. The customer service is good. Bathroom kinda wack but definitely more than your everyday "hole in the wall"...more like a cubby in the wall :p
(4)
Annie W.
I find it ironic that right after I write a review praising the hallmarks of good customer service (read my review of Ann Taylor on Post St.), I am disappointed to report that I received anything but good service during a recent dining experience at Jitlada Thai Cuisine. I made reservations for a party of 8 last Friday to have dinner before heading over to catch a screening of the film Red Doors (by the way, it's a great film -- go see it if you haven't already!). I made the reservations for a full 2 hours before the start of the movie to ensure that we had plenty of time to order, eat, and walk the 5 short blocks to the theater afterwards. Our food arrived nearly an hour after we placed our order, but that was merely one instance in a series of poor service we experienced throughout the night. As for the rest, where do I begin? After our party arrived (on time) at the restaurant, we were seated at a long, cramped table in the corner. One friend was an unexpected late addition, and she stood for nearly 15 mins before someone brought over an extra chair. All the while, the lady behind the register was chatting/flirting with a take-out customer right in front of her! The woman who took our order was an older lady with a snappy, know-it-all attitude, who rarely smiled. Very unpleasant. One of my friends is vegan, so naturally, she had some questions about how the food was prepared. Every time she started asking a question, our server cut her off and assured that the kitchen would make her dish "without meat." Our server was also very pushy. She tried to sneak in an appetizer that no one ordered. When we told her we wanted to dine "family style" and ordered a total of 8 entrees (to split between the 9 of us), she complained that we didn't order enough dishes. She informed us in a haughty tone of voice that she was willing to "let us do it this time," but "just so we know in the future" it is house policy to order at least as many dishes as the number of people dining. First of all, let me point out that nowhere on the menu does it state such a "policy." And secondly, there will be no "future" visits. I mean, what a stupid thing to say in front of a large party! At our table were 9 customers, all of whom she just made very uncomfortable. Moreover, she just lost 9 potential returning customers who will NOT likely be coming back after the horrible treatment we just received. I had read all these positive reviews on Yelp about what a delightful person Chef Pai is. I sincerely hope this woman is not Chef Pai! On the plus side, several of the dishes we ordered were inventive. The stuffed basil eggplant appetizer, the pumpkin curry, and the evil princess were all delicious. That being said, there is NO EXCUSE for rude, pushy service. For that reason, I will not be going back. And for the same reason, Jitlada Thai Cuisine deserves no more than 2 stars.
(2)
Holly M.
After a crappy day and a craving for thai that lasted hours, Jitlada hit the spot. The food kicks a** and the atmosphere is just down right pleasant. Yeah, that's right, I said 'pleasant'! The servers are so nice, appreciative that you're enjoying their food, constantly filling your lemon water and at your table before you have to lift your arm to wave them over. My favorite part is the small fresh flower arrangements at each table and all around the restaurant....last night was red roses. It turned my day around.
(4)
Jay V.
Four of us dined here this evening. We each had different entrees and shared them with each other. Pad Prihk King was mighty spicy and flavorful. The Pad Thai was not too peanutty and just right. The Thai Iced Teas were not too sweet. We all really enjoyed our meals and left satisfied and with bellys full!
(5)
Spartacus C.
no frills - just hands down - the best thai food (for your money )in the city. Sorry Basil!
(5)
Eric C.
This place was somewhat of a disappointment. The food was non-distinctive and somewhat bland for Thai. We ordered this 'special' noodle dish (don't remember the name) but it was basically tom kha gai soup poured over some noodles...and since we had just started with that very soup, the similarities were very apparent. And the noodles appeared to be spaghetti and not the kind of noodles one would expect at an Asian restaurant. Everything tasted fine, certainly not bad - just nothing special. The setting is quaint and service is decent.
(3)
James R.
great service - sincere, thoughtful, attentive. our food was good, not great. pumpkin curry was a bit heavy for our taste, and eggplant dish could have used a bit more spice. would definitely come back if in the area and wanted thai, would not come across town for it, but next time I go I'll try some of the other dishes that people have raved about on yelp.
(4)
crystal n.
was in sf for business and ate here since it was right across from my hotel. mediocre thai food. i'm from minneapolis and we must have exceptional thai restaurants because jitlada wouldn't be able to compete. so perhaps my standards are just really high. had the meang kom, pad sea eaw, pumpkin curry and sticky rice. everything was fine but nothing special.
(2)
Travis W.
When was the last time you had Thai food that threw you over the fence? Jitlada is an amazing little place that offers some of the most beautifully arranged food this side of Bangkok. The modest owner, who is also the head chef, is abundantly friendly and accomidating. She puts her heart into each and every dish that leaves the kitchen to insure that you leave the restaurant delightfully satisfied. Highly Recommend!
(5)
Ken L.
Jitlada, oh how I miss thee! This place used to be semi-secretive, is that still the case?
(5)
Kathryn E.
I have spent 13 days in SF in the last 9 months and have had 4 meals at Jitlada, and wish I had eaten there more - it is that good. A nice little neighborhood restaurant blocks from friend's house that serves delicious authentic Thai fare. Love their curries! Service has always been good also. This is a family-owned place where they really do know their craft - it is also the type of place that when we left our doggy bag on the table, the waitress ran a block up the hill to catch us and give it to us... how often do you find service like that anymore?
(5)
Sam S.
I had extremely high hopes for Jitlada, and for the most part was not let down. The food was excellent, the menu well thought-out with many options, and the overall ambiance and service experience was comfortable. My only complaint? None of the curry dishes included rice, which was conveniently sold for $2 extra per cup. Now, don't most curry dishes all but require rice? Then why is it not included? Jitlada probably would have gotten another star from me tho w/o the fast-move they're pulling on the rice front... But overall Jitlada was a nice experience. The curry I got was very unique and truly excellent, and overall I liked the place. I'd recommend it to friends in town, but caution them to not get too excited about the prices until they factor in the over-priced rice...
(3)
David F.
This place is absolutely amazing. First the staff are so warm and friendly I forgot I was in a restaurant I felt like I was at someone's home. Like I am Italian, and there is a certain warmness and I think some Italian influences in the food too. the last reviewer I think did not get that or communicate with waitress - my experience was totally different: with the appetizers she asked if I liked it spicy and gave this great red dipping sauce. out came this AMAZING FISH! order the rainbow trout and a glass of red from there fantastic wine list. there was this Markus Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles it was a beautiful wine and exactly as described on the menu. so the flavors in of the trout with ginger basil tomatoes etc - absolutely blew my mind. I am no foodie or food critic just a normal layperson, but I have loved trout all my life but my family hates it so every restaurant I went I would order or when they would catch it straight out of the stream and into a campfire - I have to tell you brothers and sisters - nothing on Earth compares to this fish - I highly, highly recommend this place.
(5)
Emily W.
It's worth it to come here just for their house special pork ribs...they are the juiciest, most tender, fall off the bone, finger licking piece of BBQ that you'd never expect to get in a thai restuarant! It comes with a side of sticky cocunut rice that tastes like desert. OH SO YUMO!
(4)
Carissa R.
After having lived in the same location for more than three years and thinking I'd tried everything the 'hood had to offer, I recently discovered this little (obviously well known from the number of reviews) gem less than 2 blocks from my house. No delivery, but with only the wicked hill back up to Pine as only a minor deterrent, Jitlada has quickly become my go-to spot for take-out Thai. I've tried several different dishes, but the one I keep going back to is the "Evil Princess." Oh, and in case you're wondering, none of the other dishes have weird names, just this one. And it's WONDERFUL.
(5)
Natalie P.
I discovered a particularly good dish here, but have since found places which make it much better. The last time I ordered it here, it was extremely over-priced and the shrimp was dry and had obviously been frozen. If you're looking for fresh Thai food, I'd recommend Osha on Geary.
(2)
Melisser E.
It's been awhile since I've been to a Thai place where I was SHOVELING the food in to my mouth! Well, my friends, tonight I went to Jitlada & it was ON! I stuffed myself with delicious Jungle Curry & the perfect Pad Thai with that sweet tangy taste I love! The service started to suffer once a large party came in, otherwise I'd be shouting "5 STARS" from the rooftops. Teen Girl Squad sez, "SOOOO GOOD!" & I agree!
(4)
John Y.
Pad Thai and pumpkin curry were delicious.
(5)
Miller H.
So what does a yelp 4 1/2 star Thai restaurant have that all the other great Thai places in the city don't? The answer is a flair for creativity. It's all about the presentation here. Located a block away from the center of Nihonmachi, you can see the influence of this neighborhood in everything from the decor, the plating of dishes, to the attitudes of the servers. I found the taste to be about the same as many other good Thai restaurants. But I truly appreciated the little things that they did such as the large chucks of Pumpkin in the Pumpkin Curry with Chicken. This is definitely a place to come back to, especially for an intimate dinner.
(5)
Lei Z.
Honestly, it's regular ol' Thai food to me. Tastes pretty much like any hole-in-the-wall Thai place, and I've eaten at many in California. But very nice owners :)
(3)
Nate K.
great thai
(4)
Dani H.
Delicious! The special curry served in the pineapple is great.
(5)
Richard S.
Street parking is kind of tough around the neighborhood that this restaurant is in. If you're starving or in a rush, I'd park in the Japan center parking lot. The service here was good and the people are really friendly. They're the kind of folks that want to make sure you enjoyed your food and are slightly disappointed if you didn't, which is good and bad. The bag of gold appetizers are good but the soft shell crab was bland and not crispy. I had the pumpkin curry with chicken which was good. Overall I found Jitlada overrated and slightly pricey for what you get but decent.
(2)
miriam b.
Get yo "To go" on. Tiny place with spotty service, i.e. they don't understand the words "Warm, Welcome", just "yeah, we wantcha moola". small place and easy to miss, but good pad thai, red curry. Though many YELPsters like the pumpkin curry....it is TOOOOOO Sweet yuck...were they wanting that sugar high to last the whole month of November after Halloweeennn-ease?
(3)
ehnonymus ..
delicious. adorable. try the basil eggplant, it might just rock your world.
(5)
Tamara M.
We went here for a quick meal before a movie. As my friends mention in earlier reviews, the food was good but not quite spicy enough. The server brought us some crushed red pepper that took care of that right away! It was soooo good. I don't think I've ever had a hot sauce that compares. I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Marsha Z.
From their small wooden sign to the handwritten hours posted on the door, Jitlada's a simple, unassuming Thai food restaurant off the beaten path in Japantown. I've dined in and gotten take-out on several occassions, and the service has always been quick and friendly. The portions aren't very much, especially for lunch. The food is nothing outstanding. And even though you can always specify, there's no separate vegetarian section (or any mention for substitutions) on the menu--especially odd for a Thai restaurant. The food is presented nicely, though, such as with the black sticky rice with mango. It was yummy. I doubt you could go wrong with any of their desserts.
(3)
Lily S.
I found this place on yelp for before a movie. We ordered green curry with chicken and spicy basil with beef. Both were OK, but the flavors were a bit too strong, like they didn't dilute the sauce base with enough coconut milk (in the case of the curry). I like that they offered brown rice; the ambiance was sweet, relaxed but accommodating. The water jug they served from had a slice of lemon. So, lots to like about this place... except for the flavor of the actual food. Maybe we ordered the wrong things.
(3)
Jim P.
We went to dinner to someplace we have never been, the Jitlada Thai Cuisine, and we will definitely go there again. They are so friendly and we were treated very well. We had the Ginger Spring Rolls and then I had the Banana Wrapped Trout. The spring rolls were so good we could have made a dinner out of just those. Very tasty. Then came the Banana Wrapped Trout it was the best. Tasted fresh and full of flavor.
(5)
R N.
So I decided to try this place out since it got such great reviews. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed. I eat a lot of Thai food and consider myself a self-proclaimed connoisseur of it. I tried a variety of dishes and while some were OK, most were not. The evil princess was the only dish that pretty decent. The beef and green beans dish, the beef with basil dish, the sea bass and the beef salad were OK. The papaya salad was horrible, the seafood tom yum soup was too sweet, the jungle curry was more like a soup than a curry, and definitely do not get the awful salmon and peanut pasta. Terrible. If you want some authentic Thai food in San Francisco, go to Clement St. Or if you want some good food in the Japantown area, go eat Japanese! The ramen there is superb!
(1)
Jackie S.
Foods Delicious, and the best part is, there inspection score is 100. WHOO!
(5)
Carolyn T.
Small and intimate, Jitlada can sit around 40 people. With great, attentive service, we started with two specials; soft-shell crab and ginger shrimp rolls. This was one of the best soft-shell crabs I've had, served with some sweet & spicy sauce, sliced bell peppers, and sweet pickles. The ginger shrimp rolls were stunning - filled with cellophane noodles, large shrimp, and redolent with fresh ginger, I could have made a dinner with just these. We added a larb gai as an entree and was only disappointed by the lack of a fish sauce to accompany this offering. I'll add that it was a bit too spicy for my weak palate. Our other entree was an Imperial Curry, served in a small hot pot and filled with large shrimp, eggplant, bell peppers, green beans, and fresh basil. It was also on the spicy side, but so fresh and well-prepared. Chef Pai spent time touring the tables and ensuring that all her guests were happy. It was a pleasure to meet her and I look forward to going back (other reviews rave about a pumpkin curry that I am now dying to try).
(4)
Lisa D.
Very authentic neighborhood restaurant with friendly staff. I went once, and the food was TOO spicy. I went again, and was a bit embarrased when the waitress asked me if the food was too spicy or not...I think I made a scene round one, oops! Anyways, all was deliecious, especially the whole trout.
(4)
Lily K.
I really liked this place! Definitely a good kept-secret thai place. Very typical Asian-cozy-cute. Good portion size and prices and flavorful food!
(4)
Jerry O.
Could be the best #Thai #food in #sf. Worth the trip to Japantown.
(5)
Cher E.
I am so glad to finally find some great thai food in the neighborhood! I stumbled upon Jitlada the other night and from now on, it will be my go-to place in Pac Heights. It was super easy to get seated and service was very attentive and friendly. We had the tofu pumpkin curry and pad thai with prawns, both of which were amazing. I would highly recommend this place to anyone and it's the perfect place to stop by before a movie at the Kabuki or a night out on Fillmore.
(5)
Elli F.
We have only lived in the city for a month and have already been there twice. It's is very good. Very relaxing atmosphere. Highly recommend the spicy basil and the evil princess curry as well as any of the appetizers.
(5)
Peter W.
My second favorit Thai place in SF right near Japantown, who would have thought? I had the red curry with pork for lunch with some co-workers. We also ordered something that I forget the name but they looked like little bags. In these these bite sized fried delights were a mix of veggies, chicken, and shriming. It was very nice. Yum Yum.
(4)
David P.
the pork ribs are amazing!! so much so that i regret giving a rib to each of my friends... the servers are very funny and honest (at least the older woman). when's the last time you heard a server say they didn't like something on the menu?? atmosphere is rather quiet, so it's not the best place to bring kids or loud friends who will embarrass you. if you're going on a friday night you should make a reservation, we didn't make one and we ended up sitting in the middle of the room in front of the door (kind of awkward...) whenever we asked to move to another table we got shot down because it was reserved :P -1 star because the service was kind of slow (i understand that it's a full house but when we ordered dessert we each got ours like 10 minutes apart from each other...) other than that it's some of the best thai in the city and i will be coming back again and again :D
(4)
Joel B.
Food was good and it was reasonably priced... one thing I didn't like was they were a bit rude and rushed us out around closing which was early 9:30pm on a Saturday.
(3)
Debora G.
I have been a fan of Jitlada for many years. It was recommended by a friend of a friend, and from the first time to this day is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in San Francisco. The food is always consistently great, the service is very attentive, and the atmosphere is casual, as if you were sitting in someone's dining room. I still don't understand why it is isn't packed everytime I go there, but at least I am glad I never have to wait in line for a table. My favorite dish is the pumpkin curry with prawns. But anything I have ever tried there was delicious, and they always bring you a complimentary dish. They also do take-outs.
(4)
DeLune Avec DeBussy B.
Wanting Thai near Japantown, I decided to hit up Yelp. Needless to say, the reviews brought me here and I was not disappointed! The pumpkin curry was divine! I'd definitely go back again!
(4)
Niko P.
No wow factor for us: The Pad Thai is good, but I did not find this Thai food nearly as good as other Thai restaurants. Compared to Thai food on upper Polk Street the portions are smaller and the prices are higher (Pacific Heights). Long walk to the bathroom with a key is a bit odd. If this is your local spot, okay, but if not, save yourself the walk.
(3)
Joy C.
Nicely decorated restaurant, a stone's throw from Japantown. Me and 7 other pals got a bunch of dishes, which didn't put too big of a dent on the wallet. All were delish! Somewhat smallish portions, but really flavorful and well-executed.
(5)
Glyde W.
Thai soul-food! Holla!
(5)
Scott F.
Delicious Thai food.
(4)
Debbie T.
We just went for dinner for our first time, it was a pleasant place, I especially liked the decor, with creatively hung curtains in several spots in the dining room, and pretty flowers too. The menu was good, not great, in my opinion. I am a veggie and my husband is primarily, so we both ordered the pumpkin curry, since many reviewers liked it here. I had the tofu and he had the chicken curry. We both liked our dishes, it was very creamy smooth, mild, and looked nice. We also had the fried corn appetizer, which was ok, it comes with mini cuke slices over a little sauce to dip in. He had Thai iced tea, which I took a sip of, and as a person who generally loves the stuff, I'd say it was very good. I just had basic tea, I didn't think to ask about flavors, but it was fine. She refilled my cup halfway through dinner, and it was a nice sized cup. We skipped dessert since we were quite full and had a party to get to. Our waitress was efficient and nice, but didn't seem too friendly to us otherwise. When we arrived, we weren't greeted by the door, a gal just waved us over to a corner table near the back of the room, so I take off points for that. I think hosts should welcome diners by the door, then seat them. Call me old fashioned, but it seems more welcoming and friendly to eat there then. They were nice though, just didn't offer any suggestions or ask if we had questions on the menu. We may go back again sometime, I wanted to try the sticky mango rice, but forgot to order it. There are a few other things that caught my eye on the menu for vegetarians, but only maybe one or two entrees. We have been to Osha 3 times since we moved here this summer, and we think it's much better overall.
(3)
Joe H.
This is a great, intimate place, well decorated, with nice flowers that blossom with the sweet fragrance of expectation (hers---that you will pay the bill with none of that pathetic "Dutch treat" stammering overture.) Everyone is really friendly, the service is easy, and politely attentive. The flavors are delectably great. The Mexican dishwasher, whom one encounters on the way to the bathroom, is a cool dude. Ask to try on his sombrero. The owner is a sweetheart, gracious and pleasing. All the staff are cool. The "Wrap Me Up" is an explosion of sensuality in one's mouf! The mango salad is ummmm ummmm good. All the dishes are so very tasty that one should chew yer grub very slowly, and eschew mastication wat too hasty. I reckon pert near everbody would enjoy the place 'cept fer the reviewer, "Suzy Q." who musta thunk the bloke with whom she went, wasn't as much of a loser as he turnt out to be. Definitely worth a sojourn an' plop!
(5)
Keith W.
I visited this charming little restaurant for the first time yesterday, and the food was delicious. More impressive, the chef/proprietress was so friendly and kind to us I just had to leave her a great review. I called to make a reservation for 15 people (my company) and wanted to start our meal at 4:30. Even though they normally don't open until 5:00 for dinner, she opened 30 minutes early just for us. I also asked her to prepare a variety of dishes for us, including some vegetarian fare, and left it up to her. We settled on a fixed price per person (very reasonable) and the staff kept bringing out more and more plates (served family style). We stuffed ourselves! I don't know the names of the dishes, but I do remember a pumpkin curry that I thought was great. I tried everything (about 8 different dishes), and it was all good. At the end she brought out a mango/sweet rice dish with black rice that was the best I've ever had.
(5)
Saquib P.
Food was delicious!! Service was great as well. We had the tom yum soup, the spicy basil beef and the mango sticky rice (dessert). All 3 items were very tasty. I would highly recommend this place.
(5)
Cass C.
aroi mak mak! This place is great. I have been searching and searching for Khoi Soy since visiting Chiang Mai last year and have finally find a spot! My only disappointment is that, though the menu says they have them, I have yet to recieve the pickled veggies with the dish. So sad, but great in all other ways, friendly staff, tasty food and pretty darn clean and sanitary.
(4)
Sarah T.
Tasty pad thai, great tom ka gai soup, and my daughter's favorite "shrimpies in a sleeping bag." We try to stop in on Wednesdays between Nihonmachi Afterschool and Enshin Karate for a weekly Mommy + Daughter Date. Nice servers, mellow atmosphere, and so far, all the dishes we have tried have been delish!
(4)
Ai M.
We were truly looking forward to the restaurant, however we were so disappointed. Had the worst khao soi I had ever tasted. The noodles were made with linguine (not the original egg noodles) and the broth was made from canned pumpkin without much flavor/curry/spice. It lacked all the condiments that usually goes with this dish as well. Also had a stir fry eggplant dish - another disappointment. The service and the location (near the kabuki theaters) were the only good things going for that restaurant. Would definitely NOT recommend it. If you want more authentic Thai food, go some place else.
(1)
sweetie p.
Baby, that place rocks, guess one of the best Thai places in SF
(5)
Stacy N.
This was my favorite Thai place in the city.... until I was served food that was way past its prime. using cheap quality ingredients and service has gone way down hill.
(1)
Rae G.
Great place! Food was amazing! Loved the mango salad...yummie!
(5)
Kevin Y.
Appetizer was a fried papaya type dish. My friends complained that the fried batter, which contains some coconut shreds, was not crispy enough, but I enjoyed it along with the sweet dipping sauce that was provided. I had the jungle curry, which was so spicy that I had to steal a few sips of my friend's Thai iced tea. When that failed, I ran to the bathroom to scrape my tongue. I would recommend it if you like spicy food and/or tongue scrapes. My friend ordered the steak, which was prepared in a delicately sweet sauce. The portion was not large, but was a good size. Dessert was mango and sticky rice, which was elegantly presented and tasted good as well. Normally four stars, but they lose a star because they took a while to bring food out to us. That may be attributable to them having a small kitchen, or maybe our party of four showing up at 8:30pm on a Sunday night. I would still recommend this place if you are looking for non-Japanese food in the Japantown area.
(3)
Nancy C.
LOVE this place. Food is amazing!
(5)
Sara S.
This is my favorite Thai in SF, hands down! The ginger shrimp rolls, tom ka soup and red curry are always fantastic. The curries are a bit soupier than some other places, but I like it that way. The service is always great and its a nice, quiet place to have a meal.
(5)
farmta s.
This place is a little fancier for the typical Thai restaurant, which would justify the slightly more expensive pricing. Don't get me wrong though, the food here is very good. I would definitely come back if i was in the neighborhood. If you were looking for a nicer/cleaner looking place for thai food, this is a good choice. Not very much seating inside so I wouldn't do a large party.
(4)
j. d.
This place used to be better. The presentation is stil great, as is the service. But I took 6 friends there one night a few months ago, and I could tell they had that "ok, it's not as good as you raved" look on their faces like I thought they would. The thing is ... it used to really be that good, guys ... but the last couple times I've been the flavors just didn't punch me in the mouth like in the good old days. That said, it's a great thai place and probably the best in the city that I know of. I love pretty much all their soups, and pretty much any curry is still pretty great. But there's best and best of the best, and now it's just best. come back!
(4)
Michelle A.
I've been to this place about 4 or 5 times. Some dishes are really great, like the trout wrapped in a banana leaf. Others are just so-so like the pumpkin curry. The service is usually pretty good. For example, the server asked us if the spiciness of the salad was okay before having the kitchen prepare our entrees. If you're in Japan town and you feel like Thai rather than Japanese, I think it's a good bet. Dinner for two (a salad, 2 entrees and 2 drinks) ran us about $60.
(3)
Ben T.
I liked this place. It has a nice intimate atmosphere and the food is good.
(4)
irwin s.
After reading a few reviews, my friend and I visited the restaurant last week with anticipation of a very good dinner. It was OK, but not memorable. The menu did not have many choices and most were shrimp based. They were good if you liked all your courses to be shrimp.. I tried the pork, which was not reccomended by the owner. She was right in not suggesting it. The menu was not as varied or interesting .as other Thai dinners. I will try it for lunch as I live three blocks away.
(3)
Kristin D.
perhaps more of a 3.5er, but solid choice... reasonably priced. friendly/good service. enjoyed the tom yom gai soup as well as the pumpkin curry. yummy blacksticky rice and mango to finish. none of it was worth writing home about but definitely decent Thai.
(4)
Lane K.
Get the friend shrimp appetizer.
(3)
rachel p.
when we lived on fillmore we were quite disturbed to find out that our neighborhood thai place was 2001 thai stick. i don't even know what that means. what does that mean? anyone? now 2001 thai isn't horrible, but it lacks something. and it's not eat-until-you-bust thai. anyway, i was really glad to hear there was another spot within walking distance that was quite good. jitlada probably has the nicest servers of any thai place in SF. they really remind me of the thai people in thailand because whenever you say something to one of them they will smile shyly or giggle. it's really adorable. plus these people take pride in their restaurant. they actually take the time to care about the presentation of their delicious dishes. plus they have white tablecloths and cute lil flowers on every table. did i mention the food is good? i'm a fan of their pad thai, their pumpkin curry (so sweet and delicious), and their basil chicken.
(4)
rasaka s.
the pad thai is to die for ....... your chicken curry and the spicy basil beef where very well done and i look forward to coming back soon. try the tom yum soup...tastyyyyyy
(4)
Pierre K.
Had an amazing meal here last night. Wow, who would have thought that my Thai food would look and taste as good as it did. Really beautiful presentation, amazing flavor and unusual combinations, and super, super nice service. Don't be put off by the kind of blah interior, GO!
(4)
Jessica D.
Just the other day a co-worker asked me, "What's your favorite restaurant in San Francisco?" "Um," I stalled, "Like favorite *how*?" Like favorite sugar-daddies-only, or favorite food-I-dream-about; favorite ambience, what? Not to get hostile, but 'favorite' is a pretty vague concept. I mulled over this for a few hours, but it wasn't until I ordered take-out from Jitlada that I settled on my favorite "favorite" definition. To rank as one of my faves, I've got to be able to eat there often, which means the food has to be consistently awesome, relatively affordable, and varied enough to keep me happy when I order multiple dishes and want to switch up my flavors. Make no mistake, Jitlada is a cozy neighborhood find that's often overshadowed by the louder, more prominently located Thai Stick 2000. There's nothing special about the ambience, but it's entirely pleasant and comfortable. The waitstaff are totally friendly and respectful, and the menu a tad leaner than other bustling Thai eateries. That said, the food is always, always terrific and there are interesting dishes you won't find on other menus. NB, the gingery trout makes me emotional.
(4)
Jan C.
I think this is the best thai food in SF (yes, I've been to Marnee. I like Jitlada better). My friends rave about the green curry, but I think the pumpkin curry is a standout, as are the salads. I even liked the eggplant-shrimp appetizer here and I virulently despise eggplant. I find that the more unusual dishes shine here (as opposed to the standard Thai curries). Service can be slow for big groups or when the place is crowded. The dining room is nice, but they can really pack people in there. You have to walk through the kitchen to get to the bathroom.
(5)
Lee M.
This has become our go-to Thai restaurant. We actually live closer to Thep Phenom, but regularly choose Jitlada instead, due to the better service and more pleasant dining experience. The food at Jitlada is just as good, if not better than Thep Phenom, and the service has always been great. It gets busy, but we've never been unable to get a table when we've stopped in. I'm a big fan of the Pumpkin Curry and any of their specials (especially anything served in a pineapple). And I love the fact that they serve Chang beer. I even left my winter hat there the other night, and they had it waiting for me when I came back for it a few hours later. Great people, great service, and great food.
(4)
Erin L.
This is one of our favorite neighborhood spots. The food is incredible-some of the best thai food I've ever eaten. The sauces are incredibly delicate and delicious and I can't say enough about the service. Everyone who works here is very sweet. I love the pumpkin curry and the papaya wedges. It's a nearly perfect meal.
(5)
Jeannie L.
The Pumpkin Curry hits the right spot every single time. Yum! This is a little hidden gem near Japantown with classy decor, fairly priced menu, and delicious Thai dishes.
(4)
Tatyana M.
Every time we visit San Francisco from the East coast we can't escape the feeling that the trip is not going to be complete without eating at Jitlada. Once we tasted their amazing food no other Thai restaurant we tried over the years could come even close to that level of flavor and presentation. We experienced a friendly, attentive service and felt very cozy and comfortable in their little but nicely decorated restaurant. We recommend it to everyone who loves great Thai cuisine and cozy, nice ambiance. Once you try it you'll never going to forget it. My only "complain" is that we can't have them here on the East coast :). Thank you Jitlada, we'll be back any chance we get.
(5)
Gun Dawgy C.
Yum!! Thats the best description that comes to my mind!! Love the pad thai with tofu ....golden basket appetizers and the evil princess curry.....have to stop now...making myself hungry.....
(4)
Sarah R.
Went here last night. We really enjoyed the Tom Yam Koog soup - excellent flavor. We loved the Pad Kee Mao prawns - this was the best thing of the night. We also enjoyed the Spicy Basil Chicken but it was pretty darn hot! It was also a lot of food for 2, next time we'd just do the soup and the noodles. Reasonably priced for the quality and fast service. We'll be back!
(4)
So L.
Two thumbs way up. My personal favorite Thai restaurant in Sf. Appetizers are addicting and make you want to fill up just on those alone. However, you will be missing out since the other dishes are quite wonderful. Pleasant atmosphere (not too big or too small) and always a good time with friends. Food presentation is surprisingly nice quality. Servers are friendly.
(5)
Grace G.
Chef Pai is wonderful! She is very friendly and makes the most delicious pumpkin curry I have ever had. Our office always gets catering from Jitlada and they are excellent!
(5)
Michelle N.
If you like Thai food you'll love this little place. The owner/chef is this outgoing wonderful woman who loves to take care of her guests and cook great food. The yellow curry is the best we've had and the Pad Kee Mow was fantastic. Be careful when you tell her spicy because she will absolutely fire you up!!
(4)
Kristina W.
My favorite Thai restaurant in the Bay Area. They even have Kao Soy which I can't seem to find in too many Thai restaurants in the US. Their pumpkin curry is also excellent. My only disappointment was their black sticky rice because it was too crunchy.
(4)
andrew l.
I knew we made the right decision when I found parking right out front of Jitlada, a neighborhood place recommended by a world savvy friend of my Mother's. It was early (I was with my 82 year old mother) and the place was pretty empty, but it was pretty and we had our pick of the tables. The staff were typicall .. friendly, courteous, helpful, charming, and rightfully proud not only of their native cuisine, but also of the first-class food they served. With some help from the delightful wait staff, we selected Larb Gai and fresh spring rolls for appetizers. Both first class -- the familiar flavors of Larb - lime, chili, mint, and cilantro made for one of the best I've eaten, and I know my Larb. Spring rolls also delicious. Main courses were three, all stars .. the Bass with garlic was smooth and silky, with veggies and a light but perfect sauce. Pad Thai (not my first choice, but the wide noodles were apparently not in supply) .. was among the most complex and flavorful I've had -- but the highlight of the dinner was the scallop and eggplant panang .. wow -- gorgeous to look at, even better to eat. Don't miss the black sticky rice or the fried banana either. My wife and I would have ordered the food spicy - we like the fire-breathing drunken noodles and panang, but I didn't want to kill mom, so I ordered everything 'medium' .. it was perfect for all. Hugely flavorful without the seared lips and burnt tongue we've come to expect from really authentic Thai. (That said, I can't wait to go back to see what 'hot' or 'extra hot' delivers. Did I mention that I"m spoiled with good Thai food? I live in Arlington, can practically walk to a handful of what I thought were the best Thai places around. Now I have a new standard -- the combination of service, presentation, and taste at Jitlada make it tops on my list.
(5)
serena j.
not as good as expected: i ordered the yelloe curry: which is too salty, and the chicken is so dry, and too little rice lor. my sis ordered pai thai: which she said is ok , nothing special at all. and the fried banana w/ ice cream: ice cream is fine, not too sweet. banana is ok lor i expected taste very good after reading all these review. but it comes out it ok..nothing special lor
(2)
Chris C.
I went here on my brother's reccomendation for my birthday last year and it didn't disappoint me. The staff are super freindly and attentive and we met with Chef Pai where I thank her for her wonderful meal she cook. If you want unique Thai food, then this is the place to go. Their golden basket so good. So did their ginger spring rolls, the curry fabulous and the dessert were simple and good. All my freinds were having a great time and will most likely go back to there soon.
(4)
Ken H.
After seeing that this Japantown Thai restaurant won best in Citysearch, I checked it out for take out a few times and have been blown away every time. Best Thai I've had in the city. I second the reviewers who rave about the pumpkin curry. Also, the eggplant appetizer (stuffed with chicken & shrimp) is amazing. I have only done take out so far, but am anxious to dine in - as it looks like a very quaint, still relatively undiscovered, neighborhood find.
(5)
Vienna X.
When I eat Thai food, I'm all about the rainbow of curries: red, green, yellow, panang. Jitlada delivers the goods. They use fresh, flavorful ingredients with the perfect balance of spices. The tofu is not deep-fried, the chicken is tender, and there are a variety of veggies (not just the standard cabbage and scallop-cut carrots!). When I say that Jitlada delivers the goods, I am speaking figuratively. They do not deliver food to your house. This is why I am giving them four instead of five stars. I have not eaten in the restaurant, I only get take-out, so I cannot speak for their service. But the food is so good and they also offer brown rice, a healthier option to the standard white.
(4)
Stacee B.
Wonderful! The best Thai food in SF! The food is amazing and super fresh. The staff is great and makes us feel like we're at home. My husband loves the thai omelet and my favorite is the basil chicken or... well who am I kidding, just about everything else on the menu. Oh...definitely try the crispy ginger shrimp rolls.
(5)
Tom C.
Rock star food. This place is fantastic. Not the greatest of decors but who cares because this place is all about the food. Fantastic green curry tofu (p.s. I have a strong disdain for tofu and I may have to change my opinion). A must visit if on a budget but stay away from the front window on a chilly night (I was freezing!). Service was great too, they apologized in advance for the slow service (they were down a man in the kitchen). In reality, service not slow.
(4)
E.Mo. ..
I've had some amazing meals here. It's a very small place, off the beaten path, but worth finding. The service is fantastic, and if you say you've never been there before, they'll sometimes give you free appetizers. Great curry, prawn dishes, and samosas. Take a date.
(4)
David C.
I live just a block from Jitlada, so we decided to give it a shot. Maybe it's just me - judging from the other raves here - but I was not impressed. Yes, the service is VERY friendly and helpful, as others say. But the food didn't taste like anything special to me. Why is it Thai places in San Francisco all seem to serve stuff that is so sweet and mild? I've never been to Thailand, but in other cities Thai places I have been to serve food that is nice and SPICY. I have always read that the food in Thailand is rather spicy, also. So what gives? Do they just decide that SF people can't handle heat? I mean, the Indian and Chinese places in the city serve dishes that are quite spicy compared to most other cities, so it's not as if San Franciscans don't enjoy spicy cuisine. Any way, Jitlada's food was fresh and nicely presented. I had the "spicy" red duck curry with mangos and string beans. Nothing spicy about it, but it had a nice flavour. My friend had a cashew chicken dish that was just OK. We had 2 appetizers: 1) chicken satay - nothing special and the peanut sauce was WAY too sweet, 2) something called "curry puffs" - the menu described these as filled with chicken curry and potatoes. The potatoes were mashed, however - not cubed as I expected. This overwhelmed any other flavours. They were kind of like samosas filled with mashed potatoes - not recommended! I agree with the others that the staff here was really sweet, but sadly the food was TOO sweet also. It's not as if the meal was bad - it just tasted like Thai food at any of a half dozen other Thai restaurants around town I've tried. The place is hidden if you aren't looking for it. We were the only two customers at 8:00 on a Friday night. So maybe it is worth a shot if you don't want to wait and enjoy the mild/sweet style of Thai. Prices were reasonable. The decor was awful, not very exotic or pretty at all - which I have noticed seems to be another hallmark of San Francisco Thai restaurants.
(2)
B C.
4.5 stars. The .5 star is knocked off is because this is a small, homey place, not a fancy restaurant, so there are certainly some things they cannot offer. The thai food here is simply delicious, rich and bursting with flavor. The only little drawback is that the food is on the sweet side. You have to order to balance that. If you order 3 curries you're definitely going to get sugar overload. Chef Pai, the chef/owner, is one of the sweetest people alive. She is the one in the kitchen cooking up a storm, with some help from her sistet. She cares about her food and customers, so you may notice the wait time for your food may be a little long. Just don't go when you are famished. The menu is not extensive like some Thai restaurants, but the every single dish on the menu is excellent, so try them all. Chef Pai's cooking is Royal Thai style, very delicate and meticulously prepared. She makes all her curries from scratch. She plates her dishes with love (you will literally find little carrot hearts on your plate). Pai will also try to come out and greet customers if it's not too busy. The service is usually good , as Pai would only pick nice people to serve her food, but when the restaurant is packed the service does get very slow. To get to the bathroom you have to get a key and go through the kitchen, so it's a bit of a drag.
(5)
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Address :1826 Buchanan St,Ste B
San Francisco, CA, 94115
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Palak P.
My favorite so far! I have tried many places in search of the perfect curry and long behold I was introduced to a dish called the evil princess curry dish. I attempt to change up my order, but fails every time I walk into this place. Pumpkin curry is good too. The service staff is very pleasant. Small neighborhood restaurant where I never have to wait for a table.
(5)Wendy R.
Super cozy, good service, amazing food. Mango salad is a must, dancing prawns were so so. Mango with sticky rice is over the top delicious.
(4)Miriam W.
We celebrated a friends birthday here recently, so I got to sample a lot. I love that this restaurant, unlike most Thai places, is pretty quiet. I am certain our table was the loudest. The ginger spring rolls were awesome! We had the pumpkin curry, the Evil Princess (spicy red curry) pad thai and the seafood green curry and I don't have a bad word to say about any of them. Make sure to get the fried bananas with coconut ice cream for dessert! Artfully presented food served by a staff with heart. I'll surely be back!
(4)Chieko H.
My favorite Thai restaurant. Hands-down. And I've had A LOT of Thai food. If you go here, definitely get the pad thai (I know, generic, but their pad thai will blow you away....), pumpkin curry with white rice, and a thai iced tea. I guarantee you, you will go back for seconds the following week.
(5)Craig R.
Yummmmm. Wonderful soup (Tom Yam Koog) with that slow warming spicyness. Pumpkin curry was as advertised by the many reviewers before me - just sublime on a brins fall afternoon. Chef Pai is warm and gracious. Our server was friendly and attentive. Place is cute and clean. Food was great. Open for lunch (which puts it ahead of Thep right from the start). As a super-bonus, wandering a block south we got to Bankyoto for mochi for dessert. Oh, and you won't have room, so get the mochi to go.
(5)kathryn h.
Nice decor/flowers not your generic Thai spot. with fake posters on the wall. Staff is attentive and food is CONSISTENTLY good which is a huge buzzword for me. The chef /owner even takes time to come out when she is able. I found this place by accident several years ago and bring all my friends and OOT folks here- have not heard one disappointed commet yet. Yes, andI agree that the pumpkin curry is one of the best dishes. Try the eggplant appetizer- it will make a convert out of those who say thay don't even like eggplant.
(4)Sumit C.
This is a cute little restaurant set in a very nice block. The eggplant stuffed with chicken and prawns was excellent, specially the basil sauce (similar to Indian chutney) on top of each piece. The ice tea and Chang beer were on mark. Took off 1-star cause the pumpkin curry was very mild, and super creamy. We (2 of us) were so full with just 1 entree, couldn't even eat dessert ! Overall nice place. The owner personally came and said hi. Will definitely go back and try out other entrees soon!
(4)Jessica U.
Best thai food in SF. Authentic and actually affordable, given the quality. The Gaeng Deang (red curry) and pad kee mao are amazing, as is the pad thai. A bit pricier than other thai restaurants in the area, but well worth it. Go there you will not be disappointed.
(5)Alex C.
i think the food was good.... either that, or I was on the brink of starvation that is. From ordering at the restaurant for to-go and then leaving with the food FORTY-NINE minutes could get me a little cranky...... after the food came home and I ripped through the plastic bag like a pedifile with a 6-yr old boy, i was in bliss. spicy scallops, yellow curry, pad thai(best ever, usually it's too mushy or under-cooked, but this place, it was perfection) now next time if they can do it for under 25 minutes for me, I'll change my stars to five!! woohooo....
(4)Trevor D.
Better keep your eyes open when you're walking by or else you might just miss it. It's right next to a eye glasses store, so watch out! Nothing too spatacular stands out about this place. It taste like every other Thai restaurant I've been to. I ordered Pad Kee Mao and it was delicious, but so are the ones at every other place. I would only come back here simply because of a convenient factor. If I happen to be craving Thai and also happen to be in the area.
(3)Cameron A.
They recently remodeled and the food is the freshest Thai around. Even when you go to the restroom you walk by their very clean kitchen. The food is outstanding and the owners are nicest people you can meet. The Spicy Basil Chicken was so fresh and delicious. Can't beat this mom and pop place!
(5)Jason H.
Staff are very friendly..food was fantastic..prig khing with tofu was one of the best I've had..quaint interior that smells of rich mahogany and lemongrass..I will make a point to eat here each time I am in town for sure..
(5)alicia k.
So the food is not the best, but they are extremely flexible and clearly take care of their guests. We ordered the shrimp rolls appetizer (pretty good), chicken larb (OK), salmon with noodles, beef salad, tofu with basil. The food is not outstanding, but they were willing to accommodate our friends requests. They made a special stir-fry green beans for our friends and happily accommodated half-page list of omissions/additions to the menu items.
(3)Laurel W.
Food was good and attractively presented, but service was TERRIBLE. Three of us went for lunch and we sat there at least 20 minutes before anyone came to offer drinks or take our order, even though only a couple other tables were occupied. Our entrees came out one at a time, widely staggered -- my husband was finishing the last bites of his pad Thai when my curry finally arrived. Would not return.
(2)Kate J.
This place is great! Conveniently located across from Hotel Tomo, this little gem was a pleasant surprise. I was only in town for a few days and ended up having dinner here two nights out of three. So deelish!
(4)James P.
Pad Thai was superb!! We also had the Wrap me ups - there was a lot of interesting flavors going on - very tasty!! On my list for a return visit!
(5)Double Dee D.
I'm Thai and i think I'm one of the best cook for Thai cuisine:P. But for this place, they are really high class authentic taste. It's not like what you can experience from other Thai restaurant. Their presentation and taste is about right!!! not too extreme salty, spicy or sweet.. Just right, Perfect!!! I never find myself writing things much for any establishment but they are really excellent, creative and talented chefs. I just went there today and the server named Kai, made me feel like at home. She approached you appropriately, not try to bug you around when you having meal. She's real spontaneous waitress to me as well as other table. I saw mango salad in the menu but i thought it will be a regular dish that I can find else where. THen,I told her how starving i am so she complimented me the Mango Salad!! This dish is fancy and creative, well-done creativity of taste; natural sweet, little acidity for your appetite and daily fresh cut greens (she told me).I used to work at Thai restaurant and most of them stock all greens for many days. :( I really love the way they make crispy sesame chips in there. Yum yum.. My real order was Larb Kai.To make this dish, I'm one of the best to cook it too but the way they make it is so different. I think it comes from great selection of ingredients; starting from dried chili, special mint, lean chicken meat, side vegetable and plating!! Everythings is so compliment to each other. This place make wanna give a big hugs to all the chefs at the back. Even though I love to cook Thai food for myself but Jitlada will be ONLY Thai place I'm craving for. Next time I will try Yellow Curry Noodle, Thai northern food. My mom's from there so I would love to make this a challenge:) The best royal authentic Thai taste which ever made in the foreign country. I called it royal taste because they made me feel like a princess who has the best authentic meal being served. !! :)Great place for Thai food beginner but extremely superb for experts!!
(5)Alyssa H.
Cold soup, cold dishes, horrible service. Felt like our business wasn't wanted. Nothing special about this place.Never coming back again.
(1)T S.
Grabbed Thai before seeing a movie at Kabuki. Parking was a nightmare! So I think this place is best for folks who live in the neighborhood. The patrons were mostly older people (senior citizens) when I dined. Prices were reasonable, but it wasn't the most authentic Thai I've had in SF.
(3)Jodie B.
4 stars for sweet staff.. 3 stars for yellow curry... 4 stars for black sticky rice & mango... never had that before... if brown rice is good for you, this stuff must be like some kind of super extra power food. I'll have to eat it more often to know for sure...
(4)Tiffany L.
Where do I even start?!?!?! Jitlada is hands down, my FAVORITE THAI RESTAURANT! You can never go wrong with a meal here, no matter what you order! The food always taste fresh and great! The atmosphere of it is really small and cozy, kind of reminds you of home! Most of all though, I love the staff here! They're so nice and friendly and they really make dining here an overall great experience!
(5)Gail Q.
I like Thai food a lot. One of the things i miss most about living in Chicago is the abundance of cheap, great Thai places. I'm thinking there's a pretty good chance that, if given the choice, my last meal on this earth will be tofu Pad Kee Mao. The quality of the Thai food on the west coast makes my heart beat a little faster, and Jitlada makes me want to propose marriage. 1. Khao Soi is awesome. I'd never had it before, and will presently mount a search party to find it in my hometown (don't let me down, NYC). 2. Shrimp in sleeping bags is both a great band name, and a great way to make me want to eat shrimp. The fact that our server said "Shhh! Shrimp is sleeping!" when she brought this to our table only made me love Jitlada more. 3. The staff here is sweet and funny (at times, inadvertently so) and made us feel not only welcome, but like we owned the place. We walked in with a party of 5 on a Friday night (after a failed attempt to eat at farmerbrown) and were seated within a few minutes. They were busy and the service was a bit slow, which bothered us very little, since the service was also charming and wacky. Two of my pals ordered specials and the rest of us ordered standards, and we all inhaled our food like it was trying to run away. I'll definitely go here the next time I'm in SF (unless they make my dreams come true and move Jitlada to Brooklyn).
(5)Michelle R.
Had the pad thai and it was excellent! Asked for some red chili flakes to go along with it - perfect! The fried tofu was crispy and the chicken was good white meat. It was a little on the sweet side (not fishy) which is exactly what I like. There are only a few tables, but it seems to move fast. I went on a Saturday night around 7pm and all the tables were full, but I didn't see anyone wait more than 15-20 minutes.
(5)Shelly W.
My husband is not a huge fan of Asian food (chinese, thai, vietnamese, etc). But, he absolutely loves this place and thinks it's the best Thai food that he's ever had. I have to agree, I hardly crave Thai and I do crave food from this place. His favorite is the baby back ribs. The meat falls off the bone and they are sweet, tangy, and have a little spice. The green curry chicken over sticky rice is amazing too. I've also tried other dishes and they were very good. I've lived about 4 blocks from this place for a few years and walked by so many times without trying. The place never seems that busy (that's why I didn't try it in the past) but when we eat there, lots of take out orders. If you live in the neighborhood, you must try out this place.
(5)Terry C.
I can't believe this place has 4 stars... My friend and I came here on a Saturday afternoon and the place was empty with the exception of one table. The hostess/waitress was in the kitchen. We waited a few minutes for her to seat us. There were a lot to choose from on the menu and I had a hard time deciding. But when i glanced over at the next table eating a Pad Sea Eaw, i decided to try it. It was alright. The dish was served on a giant bed of lettuce. The noodles stuck together and the entire dish was bland. My friend ordered the Jungle Curry - which is a "thai-country" side clear curry. I thought it didn't have enough flavor either. Her dish was served with a side of rice. Overall, i just thought the dishes lacked taste and it was pricey for lunch. Over $30 for 2 people.
(2)Jade W.
Another gwu meal. This meal was pleasantly different from the last, more diversity in the group. Less techy talk and some really interesting folks with topics that ranged from traveling, food, family and non-profits. The meal seemed to fly by - I enjoyed the imperial rolls, and these stuffed Japanese eggplants. The highlights were the pork ribs, pumpkin curry and coconut ice cream over a hot roti. I enjoyed the meal would def go back if in the area.
(4)Candice B.
Jitlada is a warm little Thai restaurant tucked in the quiet street of Buchanan near Japantown. Service is extremely friendly and warm. You know the wait staff that look so stressed they could break down at any minute? You won't find anyone like that here. Waitresses at Jitlada are like calm sweet kindergarten teachers that are only capable at whispering, never yelling. Three of us ordered the sea bass, khao soi, and jungle curry to share. Khao soi was my favorite. It's a perfect balance of curry and sweetness in a bowl of soupy thick noodles. The taste is quite addicting; you just keep on feeding yourself one spoonful after another. The sea bass had good flavors, but fish is a bit overdone. Come to think of it, I have always had this problem in Thai restaurants where the protein tends to be over cooked. That's why I often rather order the dishes vegetarian than to eat dry chicken in otherwise lovely curries. I didn't quite care for the Jungle curry. My friend claimed it to be super healthy, since it takes away the "evil" coconut milk that is, of course, packed with like a thousand calories. But I am not sure if I can enjoy Thai curry dishes without the coconut milk. Without the thickness of coconut milk, Jungle curry resembled more like a soup, which is so not good for pouring over rice to consume. Ambiance is nice and quiet, and the price is slightly more expensive than your Thai restaurant next door, about $20 a person (we didn't have dessert and only one of us ordered a glass of wine.)
(4)Cory K.
There are better places to eat in Japantown. I had beef salad, which was somewhere in between "meh" and "not so good." The beef had a weird texture, kinda spongy, like somebody whacked it too many times with a Jaccard because it was too tough and cheap, just like the chef's ex-wife.
(2)Tuana B.
This review is for take out only. Called 20 minutes ahead to order, arrived there, food was ready sitting on the reception desk, none besides me is there to pick up, neither a busy evening for the dine-in guests. I literally had to wait 15 minutes for someone to swipe my credit card and so I can get outta there. You know, one of those places where you feel invisible. Food was A-OK, nothing out of this world, nothing bad.
(3)Stacey W.
This is a pretty small, nondescript place without even an entrance to wait in. The decor is pretty standard and the service was just okay. The food was great though. We tried a few of the curries and were pleasantly surprised. The sauces are very flavorful without being overly rich. I will definitely be back on my next visit.
(4)deborah k.
Probably the best thai food restaurant I have ever been too. Yes, better than Sweetie Thai. We ordered the usual...pad thai, pad kee mao and pad see ew. All delish!
(4)David P.
This place was a disappointment. I found it on the Yelp-o-meter (a.k.a. "Monocle" for you app sticklers!) and went here because it was closest to where I was staying at Hotel Tomo. If a place has over 100 people who give it 4 stars, you'd think it'd be a slam dunk, right? Sadly, noooooo. I should have known to avoid any restaurant with pictures of the food next to item on the menu. Bad sign right there :(. Crab wontons were $8 and contained very little crab meat, without much flavor either. I should also have known to avoid dishes with word like "Paradise" in them. It was hardly a vacation! The dish had weird, overcooked Italian-style pasta noodles with a assortment of vegetables and chicken. Nothing worked together, flavors were just odd altogether and unrecognizable from any other Thai food I've ever had. The "Khao Soi" pasta noodle dish also hit weird notes and was simply unsatisfying. It looked like a Vietnamese-style Pho but with a thick, sickly sweet yellow curry sauce instead of broth. The combination did not work, and I could not stomach the idea of slurping up the almost saccharine curry sauce (seriously, easy on the brown sugar!) as if it were a soup. I get the feeling the chef here decided to go a bit too far in the "fusion" side of things. They really need to axe some of the above dishes and just stick with Thai American staples - Phad Thai, curries, phad-see-ew, swimming rama - and avoid mismatch dishes and combinations that simply don't work.
(2)blair k.
Hands down the best Thai food I have ever had!! It is always fresh, always delicious, always timely. I even venture out of my safety staples like pad thai, tom ka, green curry (even though theirs is the best). They know how to make spicy, too! All of their eggplant dishes are to die for, their seafood is cooked to perfection, their sauces are creamy and all the food has that perfect balance between rich and spicy.. but not that cheap spicy that tastes like one spice. It tastes very complex, artful and is worth the extra money I feel you pay when you come here. The inside is nothing to yelp about and I always get takeout. The girls are very sweet when they take your hard earned money but I definitely feel like I'm getting the better and of the deal! I wish my stomach was bigger so I could order more!!
(5)Alan S.
Great yellow curry, peanut chicken, Bangkok salad, green curry, Thai iced tea
(5)Judy L.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!!!!! Their green curry with eggplant is the stuff of dreams, especially with their sticky rice. Everything I've gotten here so far (except for the pumpkin curry = sub-par) has been delish, from the soup to skewers to tofu and AGAIN... the green curry is a dream. Surprisingly rarely super busy (probably due to location?), which is awesome.
(5)Amita R.
We have eaten here for years and this is the best thai experience in San Francisco. The food is delicious! Try their wrap me ups! And the staff and service is amazing! Cant wait to eat here again!
(5)fizza m.
Amazing super authentic. I had been looking for a Thai restaurant in the city finally found one! This restaurant was clean people were really friendly and food was amazingly delicious. We ordered yellow curry, tom gai soup, Steak on special's menu and prawn curry in pineapple bowl they really did serve the curry in half a pineapple. Everything was excellent including appetizers.
(4)rosalinda f.
fried papaya, i love you! I live in sac and stop here every time i'm in the city (then ice cream at humphry slocombe). they have great food. the service is always good. the owners are the cutest couple ever. been a regular for over a decade, but it has a lot of regulars now, so if it's dinner time 5:30-7:30, you are better off making a reservation. they do take out if you can't get a table. the bathrooms are a little out of the way, through the kitchen, and down a scary hallway sort of outside. i've never found these green papaya fritters anywhere else, but if you have, please let me know. *if you are in japantown, swing by, buy a bag of papaya fritters to go, walk around the mall-io, then come by later for dinner that you reserved in person with your first batch of papaya fritters. everythign is good, but i'm always amazed at their fresh catch whole fish wrapped in greenery and awesomess. there are the usual suspects of curries and pad thai, etc, also amazing
(5)Kahanalei M.
Great service and the Green Curry and Pad Thai that we ordered was very good!! I have to agree with a previous reviewer that their Green Curry in particular is one of the best in SF. Loved how the eggplants that they used were cooked so they were nice and tender. We received complimentary soup and I liked that I got free refills on the Thai Iced Tea that I ordered, which was great as well. The waitress who worked here was quite pleasant:-) I'm glad I gave this place a try!
(5)Tamara P.
I love, love, love this place! The pumpkin curry is to die for. The Thai iced tea was perfect and refreshing. The pad thai was incredibly yummy. When we ordered the curry puffs, they regretfully informed us they were out... then surprised us with a free appetizer as an apology even though we weren't upset or anything! The service here is stellar, the people are kind and friendly and extremely attentive. This is what customer service is all about.
(5)Brian K.
The food is dynamite. DYNAMITE. Crispy vegetables. Not soggy. Killer pad se ew and pumpkin curry. Amazing eggplant appetizer. Best Thai food I've ever had. And I've had a lot if Thai food. No delivery, but the drive is worth it. Eating in the restaurant is great too. The people that run the place are so nice and e service is friendly and attentive. So glad to have found this gem.
(5)Avi S.
I tried their yellow curry with tofu which was just about ok.. Nothing that I'd rave about.. Their green bean tofu was good but again nothing super special.. All in all an average Thai restaurant..
(2)Lana G.
We stopped for lunch and found good but unremarkable Thai food in a pleasant, casual space. Good service, average prices.
(3)Kelly M.
Thanks to Nicole at the Hotel Kabuki front desk for her recommendation. We told her we were in the mood for Thai and this was the first place she mentioned. We walked in at 8pm on a Sat. without reservations. The place was packed and they said it would be about 10-15 min. wait. The sweet waitress offered us a spot at the bar to wait until a table was ready. She brought menus and water right away. Before we knew it our table was ready. Here's what we shared: *Shrimp in Sleeping bags (Such a cute name). *Yellow Curry Chicken. The sauce was absolutely amazing. We even dunked the Pad Thai Chicken in the curry sauce. *Pad Thai I don't believe there are too many Thai restaurants in the heart of Japantown. This place is clearly a neighborhood favorite. Exceptional service, delicious food and easy on the wallet. We'll be back.
(4)A K.
Very yummy Thai food! Ended up at this place for dinner on Friday night at 9 PM. Although, they close at 9:30, they were willing to seat our group of 4 for dinner. We had: Mango Salad Ribs Chicken & Prawn Pad Thai Evil Princess Curry Pumpkin Curry Everything we had was delicious but I highly recommend the Ribs, Pad Thai and Pumpkin Curry.
(5)Kevin F.
Delicious subtle flavors with beautifully plated food. They have gone well beyond the standard of HOT Thai food. The flavors are delicate and refined. I can easily imagine taste testing everything on the menu over a period of time. We had been exploring the Filmore/Pacific Heights area of the city with plans to see a movie at the Clay in the evening. We had an early, 530 pm, dinner here. We ordered Thai Style Curry Puff (vegetarian style) for appetizers were blown away by the delicate flavor. We realized that this was really a special place. For the main course we had Chef Pai's BBQ Chicken and Pad Kee Mao . The BBQ chicken was prepared exactly the way I like it with a sweet/spicy carmelized sauce. Pad Kee Mao was also perfection. The flavors in each dish were unique. You know how many restaurants use the same spice or sauce with everything? No so here. The portions were surprisingly generous and we enjoyed our meal immensely. They have a small dinning room so it is easy to imagine a full house. There's no bar but they do have beer. The next time we are in the city we will return to Jitlada.
(5)Angela L.
One spot I visit every time I go to SF. Very lovely cute small restaurant. The chef is friendly and creative - she cook with what they have in hand, not according to some standard menu, after talking with me about my preferences. Surprisingly, no dish disappoint me at all
(5)Geoffrey H.
Service is super friendly. Food is excellent. Good variety and nice ambiance to boot. My top choice for Thai in the city.
(5)Bowdoin S.
I have now eaten here twice and now consider it my favorite thai restaurant in the Bay Area. What you get here is great food at reasonable prices. We ate here on a Sunday night and the place was quite crowded. The Thai iced tea that we started out was delicious. We next had the pad kee mao with chicken which was tasty; the only issue was that some of the pieces of chicken were overcooked, but otherwise the dish was great. We also had the duck and barbecued chicken specials. Both were extremely flavorful and tasty. Portions were good sized and we had leftovers with 3 entrees between two people. The final bill was ~ $55 with tip and tax and service was good. Despite the business of the establishment, we didn't have to wait long to get our food. The other time I was here, the chef introduced herself to us and welcomed our feedback. I will have to come back and try other items on the menu!
(4)Karen C.
We managed to get a table at Jitlada without a reservation on a Saturday night - and boy are we glad we did! We were starving and couldn't decide on which of the delicious-looking items to try, so we got a lot of food knowing it would save well for the next day: Appetizer: Ginger Shrimp Rolls. These were delicious: crispy, flavorful, and plentiful. Noodles: Pad See Iew with chicken. It was just as it should be (with the exception of the lettuce which I don't like but seems to come with some varieties of the dish). But, sweet dark soy sauce and delicate flavor in abundance - just right! Meat: Chef Pai's BBQ chicken. Amazing flavor, crispy/spicy skin, served with two dipping sauces (sweet chili sauce and a lime/chili sauce). It also came with sticky rice and could have well been a one-plate meal for someone. Curry: Pumpkin Chicken curry. Red curry with pumpkin pieces, chicken, and other vegetables. Tasty, not too creamy, not too spicy. We will absolutely be back to Jitlada, but maybe we'll make reservations next time!
(4)C A.
I've only ordered take out here, but the place looks cute but small. I think their food is pricy for thai food, but I think that's the case with most places around this area. Chicken pad thai - the chicken was sooo dry, but the noodles were good. Tofu with eggplant - the eggplant was good, the sauce sweet, and the dried tofu ok. Portion size was on the smaller side. Chicken pad see yu - I didn't see this on the menu but I asked them if they had it. They said they did but then when I got it, they used American broccoli instead of Chinese broccoli which in my opinion ruins the dish. The American broccoli was bitter, the chicken again desert dry, and they charged me an extra $3 for this dish when every other noodle dish was $10. They should have mentioned the raise in price because I wouldn't have ordered it, esp w/o the Chinese broccoli, I also don't like that they charge extra for rice. Anyhow, I might order from this place again but I think I'll be checking out the other places first.
(3)Vladimir P.
Bbq chicken stuffed prawns with beef was good !
(4)Carolynne K.
Best Thai food in the city? Really? I think you guys should make a trip out to the East Bay. The yellow curry was more soup than curry. The flavor was decent, but where was the creaminess? Where is the abundance of cauliflower? I found the potatoes and the tofu, but nothing special. The service is friendly, but next time I'm in the mood for Thai, I'll try someplace else.
(2)Dave L.
Every time I visit San Francisco I go to Jitlada's. The restaurant has everything you could ever want, except maybe an open parking lot to park your car, but "hey," it's SF and you can't have everything. The atmosphere is soft and pleasant to your eyes. Flowers, white table clothes, and soft music plays in the background. The service is first rate, especially when the owner comes out to shake your hand and remembers the last time you were there. Her smile is warm and friendly. We started off with shrimp rolls and Thai beer. Our main dish was yellow curry, Pha Thai noodles, baisled beef stir fry and crab salad. Everything was Five Stars!!! When you need to use the restroom, and make sure you go, you get to wander through the kitchen and feel the friendly, clean atmosphere with smiles, waves, and soft singing of the chef in Thai. Ultimately, you feel like you visited a friend's house for dinner. After wards, stroll around the indoor mall at Japan town. If you live in or visit San Francisco, you have to visit Jitlada Thai Cuisine.
(5)Kim V.
ordered pork ribs, yellow curry & papaya salad based on reviews here. all good individually but altogether too sweet. did I mention thai iced tea & sticky rice to boot? our fave was Papaya salad -super fresh- where veggies helped to balance things out.
(4)Ennis O.
I love this place for so many reasons not least of which is the interior which feels like part of a Golden Girls set or an 80s soap opera (check out the beams in back with arched cutouts and the neoclassical stripped wallpapaer) The food here is seriously some of the best Thai food in the city and there really isn't more I can say that the hundreds of other yelpers haven't already rhapsodized about so let me just tell you what happened tonight. Two tables of total strangers struck up a convo next to me to gush about the food together. A guy brought his out-of-town relatives in who were introduced to the staff since he's that much of a regular. And three different parties of 10+ people were having celebrations. In short, come, eat, enjoy, repeat...
(5)Hazel S.
I remember their food used to be wonderful, so I just tried to place an order for delivery. They wouldn't take my order because I was 10 cents under their $20 minimum. 10 cents? Really? They've just lost my business, as well as the business of everyone I know -- due to 10 cents. Extremely foolish.
(1)Zvezdana O.
I checked out Jitlada after scoping out reviews here on yelp -- I was not disappointed!!! It's a really tiny, pretty little restaurant. The decor is so quaint. The waitstaff were really nice, but even better, I had the pumpkin curry and it was delicious! It was a little different to the standard Thai fare that I'm used to, but perfectly creamy and delicious. My friends really enjoyed their food too. The appetizers were OK. One of my friends doesn't eat meat, so we were restricted to the vegetarian.seafood choices. But we decided against one of the deep fried choices and ordered the "shrimp in a bag"... well, it was deep fried too. the waitress must have heard me say I didn't want anything deep fried, but she didn't say anything. Anyhow, they were really bland and the serving was REALLY small. Avoid! Avoid! I'd take half a point off for that, but otherwise it was great! I will be coming back.
(5)H L.
Great food. They were really busy when we went and had large party reservations. They asked if we would be willing to finish dinner in an hour due to those reservations, and we first thought that request was odd but we understood that for a small restaurant. The food was fantastic! Some of the best Thai food I have had in the City. The best part is that it is close to home!
(4)Katie W.
Best Thai I've had in SF. The names are feisty (I like the dish that is something princess) and the staff is attentive. The mango dessert is amazing! They would bank off me if they would just deliver already.
(4)Mary-Anne C.
Its weird that I have waited this long to post a review about this place but here it is.... Every Wednesday I go to the Japanese Cultural Center around the corner to watch my boyfriend play basketball which is usually around dinner time. Glad he plays there otherwise I would not have discovered this place. I actually though, have not dined here but always have taken out. The staff knows my friend and I pretty well because we come often. I have stuck to the basics....pad thai, thai fried rice and papaya salad. All classics....and have been all suuuuuper suuuper yummy! I've actually been wanting to try the curry and maybe the first time I actually am able to sit and dine, I will order it. Beware though....this place is a bit on the pricy end, definitely not your nightly take out. Oh and check out the sticky rice with mango--to die for!
(4)Natasha K.
This was my first taste of Thai in San Francisco. I am giving 4 stars because I don't have a basis for comparison yet, but this might turn to 5 once I've been around the block a few times. I came here for dinner due to Yelp reviews and brought my coworkers. This was my first visit to San Francisco - before moving here! We were staying on Market & 3rd. Ambiance It's a cute family owned feel, clean, small, art from Thailand on the wall. The Getting There We cabbed it to the restaurant, and it was pretty difficult to find a cab on the street on the way back. We definitely burned off our calories walking around for blocks. I'm sure there was a more efficient way to go about it, like public transportation. :) Food Everyone was happy with their meal, I got the Beef Salad which was amazing. They definitely had a wider variety than I have seen at most Thai restaurants. I would definitely come back here again (once I figure out public transportation). :)
(4)Felix B.
Overall very tasty. Had the Spinach Wraps with shrimp and coconut and tamarind sauce as a starter and Shrimp and Pineapple Red Curry (served in a fresh half pineapple) and Pad See Euw or however you spell that =) all very recommendable.
(4)Davey G.
My bf's mom recommended Jitlada as our post-San Francisco half marathon lunch. We were both feeling hungry, but after chomping down lots of scones from the event, a light lunch seemed in order. I imagined having a refreshing papaya salad, so I was super psyched to go. Our waitress (or was she the owner?) was extremely friendly and warmly greeted when we entered. She knew my bf's mom and brought out her favorite drink and mango salad almost instantly. Meanwhile, the dude and I kept perusing the menu for something not too heavy. I stuck with my original idea and ordered the papaya salad - he ordered pad thai. I thought that would be all, but his mom insisted we try some additional dishes, so along with the mango salad, papaya salad and pad thai we also had basil stuffed eggplant and Livia's noodles (pad see ewe with shrimp). The two salads were a nicely balanced (sweetness/sourness) and the papaya salad is even served in a tostada type of vessel, topped with prawns. I liked that the flavors of the fruit in both dishes was the main attraction - I love my local Thai restaurants in LA, but I find that they rely heavily on intense fish sauce and spiciness to flavor their salads. The basil stuffed eggplant had a really nice aroma of fresh herbs as it arrived at our table. I instantly thought of Italian food. Inside the eggplant was a type of sausage that I thought was perhaps chicken, but no one at the table agreed with me. It had a slightly bouncy and spongy texture, but it went well with the eggplant and basil sauce. The pad thai was sweet and rich, again, no super duper heavy flavors, which I liked. Lastly, the pad see ewe (Livia's noodles) had that delightfully addictive smoky flavor I can't get enough of. If we hadn't stuffed ourselves full of raspberry scones and Cytomax energy drinks immediately after the race, I'm sure every plate on the table would have been cleared off.
(4)Kirsten C.
I went to Thailand a year ago and when I got back I searched the city for a Thai place that tasted like the food I had there. I found Jitlada and loved the food, its not perfect but its about as close as Im going to get to authentic Thai food. I typically have the pineapple chicken or prawn red curry and the Khao Soi Noodles. The noodles are very close to the ones we got in Chiang Mai and I love them! If you love Thai food this is not a place to miss in the city!!!
(5)Bryan R.
After years and years of traveling around on my own and with family, this is easily in the top ten Thai restaurants not only in California, but in the Pacific Southwest region. Honestly, much of their menu is good, but my recommendations lie with the Pad Kee Mao (Spicy Basil), Pumpkin curry, Sticky Rice (This is a must have), Tom Kha Gai soup, Gai Himephan (Cashew and noodles), and the stuffed basil eggplant. The presentation on all these is great as well (minus the pumpkin curry, but since it is heaven in your mouth, bypass the initial turn off when it's the only ugly dish that arrives. haha) The service is pretty good as well, pretty attentive and they take care of you, especially if you are a regular and you open up to them. The only critique I can add is dinner service is much better than lunch service in my opinion, lunch I would give a lesser rating, but dinner alone earns the restaurant 5 stars. Honestly, it isn't a question of whether this restaurant is good, that I promise you. It's more of a question of what to order when you get there.
(5)Slick S.
Tried pumpkin curry and mango salad. Very delicate. One of he best Thai restaurant ever tried.
(5)Mark K.
This place is okay. Thai food is really hard to not well. It tasted good but there are things that have really turned me off on it, and I'll probably never come back. -They charge two dollars extra for rice. I ordered the curry and I really can't eat it without having rice along with it. Its more soupy than curry and you can almost drink it. Definitely requires some rice. With prawns, it costs 11.95. I guess I could eat it by itself but it really requires some rice. Hence, two dollars extra for that rice to go along with the curry. They should just raise their prices to 13.95 and I'd think about the place differently. Its just okay. Not that impressed.
(2)Miss M.
Worst Thai food ever.... And I have eaten at a lot of Thai places. The veg parade was a plate of steamed soggy veg, tasteless and barely with any sauce. Red curry wasn't too impressive either. We tried the place because of high yelp reviews but were disappointed.
(1)Jacob J.
Very good. The evil princess extra spicy was probably the best Thai dish I've ever had. Curry puffs are unique, very cool. Tip: the dishes are way on the mild side, don't hesitate to ask for very spicy.
(5)Charles R.
Ordered the Pad Thai with chicken. It was okay. I think Thai food just may not be my thing. I tried some of the BBQ chicken; I liked that better. What I'm knocking this place for is service. It was pretty slow throughout the entire meal. They even gave us a bit of guff for requesting another table in a relatively empty restaurant. The place is nice inside and pretty clean, and our main server was nice.
(3)Gwenn B.
We stumbled onto this restaurant a few years ago, and it still is our favorite SF restaurants! Pai the owner can and will also accommodate anyone who needs a Gluten dish; one of our friends is able to join us because of Pai's understanding and appreciation of her clientele. Everyone is so warm and friendly, they even make a point to call us by our names! Jitlada also does catering and with the same attention she gives one in the restaurant! We have had her cater many work events and large dinner parties in our home. They just remodeled and the place looks very lovely!
(5)Alex R.
Really nice and homely. Friendly and great food.
(5)Heidi B.
Pretty tasty Thai food. I ordered the Beef Salad which was very spicy - a side of steamed white rice paired well. The house wine was a good value at $5/glass. I'd definitely go back - it's a good dinner stop before catching a flick at Kabuki Theater.
(4)ella a.
Upon first impression, this thai restaurant was clean and beautifully adorned with orchids and large flower arrangments all over. We were also warmly greeted and the service all night was excellent. Going to the restroom before ordering, I got to walk through the kitchen, which was spotless and all the fresh ingredients on display made me excited for my meal. I ordered a special of the day: scallops on baked eggplant in a red curry sauce. It was very delish although the texture of the scallops and eggplant was on the mushy side. The scallops did have a slight sear to them which was nice. The flavors were great tho. My dinner date got the pad thai and liked it. I tried it and thought it was too sweet. But, I like my pad thai more on the savory side. I would come back here next time im in the area...
(4)Cole K.
Great waiters, especially liked the mango salad! Freshened up my day!
(5)Keane L.
When I see older people walking down the street, I wonder what they must have gone through to reach that particular point in their lives. I wonder how many amazing and terrible things they've seen and how it has shaped them... but really, I wonder if they are happy with the result. A particularly wonderful memory for me was a Sunday afternoon spent dining at Jitlada Thai. We entered unexpectedly given our other choice restaurants were closed. It's a good thing we did because our experience here was wonderful! I ordered the Khao Soi (noodles in coconut curry sauce) with beef and I found myself literally drinking spoonfuls of the sauce afterward. Portion sizes are great, especially at their reasonable prices. With fantastic service and a comfortable dining environment, Jitlada ranks high as my go-to Thai place in the neighborhood. A collection of quick seconds that create one big moment, like small seeds of memories growing into a full fruit-bearing tree, or, more simply, a Constructicon.
(5)Elizabeth C.
Service was wonderful! Only ordered a Thai iced tea to go, so I cannot comment on the food, but based on the friendliness of the staff, I'd love to go back.
(4)Julio G.
MMMM!!!! I could not stop eating their Pad Kee Mao noodles. Absolutely addicting with lots of vegetables. This place is like a little nook in Japantown but definitely worth the trip. No line for lunch on a Sunday and we had a nice table by the window to see outside. I would come back again
(4)Dave C.
Jitlada feels like you're a guest in a chef's living room. The dishes are prepared with a love of Thai food. Among other things, notice how the carrots or cucumbers are carved into flowers as garnish. It's a quiet place with tasty food for a relaxing evening. Wine is also served. The pad see eew was my favorite, but the curries, fried rice, and soups were close seconds. Great for take-out too as most of us in the area know.
(5)Michele W.
Nice restraunt, decently priced. I got the noodles in green curry, and it was very good. not too heavy and just the right amount of coconutty punch.
(4)Lana C.
I really like Jitlada. Most of the dishes I've had there are quite tasty. My favorite dish there is called "khao soi", which consists of pasta noodles in coconut curry sauce with shallots, fresh lemon and chili sauce. The chicken, pork, beef or tofu versions are $9.95, and the prawn version is $11.95. It's delicious, and not too spicy (you can order it mild, medium, hot or very hot). And if you're a fan of curry, they have dishes that use clear, green, red or yellow curries! I went there yesterday with a friend and we shared three dishes. The most spectacular one was the mango salad. The flavors were clean, bright and absolutely delicious. It was the STAR of the meal -- and I will definitely order it in the future. The second dish was an eggplant creation with tofu and other vegetables --- it was also quite good and generously portioned. The third dish (organic squash pumpkin with shiitake mushrooms and cashews) was disappointing; the sauce was too thick, too sweet, and overpowered the other items. Overall I think it's a great weekday lunch choice --- and the prices are especially good if you don't need to eat seafood, and prefer curry and carbs.
(4)Debbie C.
Big disappointment. Thai food is hard to screw up but Jitlada...well, managed to screw it up. A bunch of us went to Jitlada for dinner Thursday night. All the dishes except the eggplant appetizer were below average. The noodles in the *Pad Kee Mao* were soggy and overcooked, the *Red Curry with Tofu* was 1 part curry and 10 parts coconut milk, the *Pumpkin Curry with Chicken* tasted like chalky rubber. I had high hopes based on all the good reviews but the quality and the execution of the food was pretty terrible. The place is nice and neighborhoody and I really wanted to like this place but the food was just not satisfactory.
(2)Vivian W.
My boyfriend and I came to Jitlada for dinner before seeing a movie at the Kabuki Theater down the street. After seeing such fantastic reviews on yelp, we were confident that we were in for a treat. Both of us love Thai food, so we were excited to try it out. We ordered the following dishes: Jitlada Baby Back Pork Ribs $14.95 Baby back ribs marinated in a specially blended sweet BBQ sauce. Slow cooked until tender and served with a special Thai sticky rice. - These were just okay to me...I found the sticky rice to be the highlight of the dish. Pad Thai w chicken $9.95 Sauteed Thai rice noodle with eggs, tofu, and bean sprouts topped with ground peanuts. - Their pad thai didn't blow me away. I actually prefer the pad thai at New Krung Thai in San Jose. Gaeng Deang (Red Curry) $9.95 Red curry paste, coconut milk, eggplants, green beans, bamboo shoots, and sweet basil. - Their red curry was really tasty. My boyfriend and I agreed that this was the highlight of meal. Fried Banana and Coconut Ice Cream - delicious, you can't really go wrong with this dish We were greeted several times by the owner checking to see if our meal was okay. She was very sweet and asked our names. She even gave us some special caffeine-free tea she wanted us to try. As I looked around at other people's tables (I'm nosy), there were a couple of dishes that I would be interested in trying. The evil princess curry, pumpkin curry, and sea bass would be at the top of my list. I wouldn't go out of my way to come back to Jitlada, but I would be willing to give it another try if I happened to be in the area. 3.25 stars
(3)Hale J.
My two favorite Thai places in SF have typically been OSHA and Thep Phanom; but my recent discovery of Jitlada in Japantown gives me something new. It's funny how easy it is to grow comfortable with what you know and then you discover something new. A Good reason to keep exploring. Jitlada is small, clean and neighborhoody. The service is very kind and attentive furthermore, the food is great. The Larb Gai and Pad Ka Prow are both standouts. Price is reasonable. Now I feel myself settling in again for an era of contentment since I have my Thia bases covered - OSHA for a scene; Thep Phanom for Zagat Thai, and Jitlada for great food and great service without all of the pretension of OSHA and the crowds of Thep.
(4)elizabeth t.
I've been a fan of Thai Stick for a while, and while I still am, on nights I want thai food and don't mind the fact I can't get delivery, I will ALWAYS go here. They understand the spiciness scale and don't poo-poo the fact you aren't thai when you ask for something spicy. Their curries are well cooked, as are their spring rolls, satay, and ribs (holy crow, the ribs are good.) I ate at the restaurant most recently, and they are very, very friendly and attentive without being pushy. If only you delivered, you would be my perfect food.
(4)Matt P.
Jitlada is one of the best Thai restaurants in SF. Not only do they have great food, but they are amazingly warm and friendly. When my friends and I visited Jitlada on New Years Eve without a reservation and were easily able to get a table. Our server seated us, took our order and subsequently brought us a salad "on the house" which was amazingly tasty. I'm not sure why they brought us the salad, but I was happy they did so! Next, our main courses came out (we skipped the appetizers and ordered an extra dish instead). We ordered Livia's Special Noodles (Pad Sea Eaw), Gaeng Deang (Red Curry) with Chicken, Pumpkin Curry with Chicken, and Spicy Basil with Tofu (Pad Ka Prow). Did I mention that only three of us were eating? Anyway, it was so good that we finished everything! After we practically licked the plates clean, this sweet little lady (presumably the owner) came over to wish us a happy New Year. To top it off, she said she would bring us out a dessert. I was already absolutely stuffed, but I found it difficult to refuse. She brought us a sticky rice dice with mango that almost melted in my mouth. The dessert was sublime as was the entire dining experience.
(5)Sally T.
a thai place in j-town? so it is... the place is homely and quiet...and by quiet, i mean we were the only people eating there during dinner time. maybe because it was mid-week? or maybe no one knows its there unless you live in the hood because one wouldn't think to get thai food while in j-town? whatever the reason is, jitlada is a good find if you're in the area and really craved thai food. it's not the best thai food i've never had, but sure was one of the saltiest. pumpkin curry is one of my favorite things in the world and i couldn't finish it because of the saltiness...this other point didn't bother me but i did notice they were a little heavier handed with the fish sauce too. oh wait, maybe that's why it was salty...(lightbulb finally lit)...
(3)Taryn S.
SF's best kept secret... and the hands-down BEST green curry I've ever had in my life. A. Mazing. You must eat this. The pad thai will not disappoint, and I would also recommend getting their thai tea - hot or cold, it is out of this world. The only thing I contemplated taking a star for is the ambiance... it's your typical, Japantown, cheesy, funny interior (but with tablecloths!), but really, who cared what it looks like when the food is that good?! The service here is SO friendly, and you get a great deal for your money's worth. I would come back multiple times a week if I just lived a teeeeeeensy bit closer.
(5)Joseph E.
Amazing chicken panang, cooked very quickly and served by very friendly staff.
(5)Cullen R.
I've eaten here a couple times now and have been very pleased with the food each time. I am an especially big fan of the dancing prawns. So much goodness.
(4)Liz K.
At Yelp's suggestion, a group of us dined here after a lovely day spent picnicking and napping in GG Park. And what a sweet way to end our day it was! The menu is simple and not enormous - traditional staples. The one thing I was sort of craving wasn't on there - Pad See Ew - but no worries since they had my other fave (probably along with countless others) - Pad Thai! That dish ranks right up there with my all time fave available at Bulan in LA. Definitely well balanced and not too heavy on the peanut or fish sauce flavors. The others with us had the Pad Pring Khing (spicy!), Sam Sa Hai (great ginger flavor), and the Jitlada Neur Yang (steak from the specials menu). We shared things somewhat family style, and all were spectacular! Another bonus was the thai iced tea - not too sweet with a good balance of cream to tea :) The service was also stellar - very friendly and warm staff. At first I was surprised that it wasn't busier at 6pm, but then I reminded myself it was a Sunday. By the time we left it had picked up a bit and there were only 4 open tables. I know what you're thinking now - such a glowing review, why not 5 stars? Well, that's because Bulan is still my tops for thai... and I've yet to trump its 5 star rating :) Regardless, I'll definitely be back! It's super close to Fillmore St shops which makes for a lovely stroll after a superb supper.
(4)Raman R.
Here's the dirty little secret: San Francisco is not really a "Thai" town. (Or a Korean one for that matter). It's a Chinese town---this is obvious to pick up on when you look around on a ride of the 1 bus line. LA is where all the amazing Thai food is (well, there and thailand which was my favorite trip of all time). But, since it's not so easy to get pickup from LA or Bangkok, this place is good. I really like the shrimp ginger rolls. One thing, me giving them 4 stars is not a knock on Jitlada. It's the best Thai food I've had in town, there's just no exceptional Thai food in San Francisco. (Plenty of other exceptional food though)
(4)Matthew S.
Pad Thai, and Pumpkin Curry, and Fried Banana with Coconut ice cream. Absolutely amazing!
(5)Verna L.
Hands down, the best thai food in Pac Hts. I love getting take-out from here. Their curries are amazing. Everything I've tried is great, I've tried almost everything on the menu I think, but their curry stands out the most. Only complaint is that you shouldn't be starving when you order, because the wait can be longer than estimated, and there are other cheaper thai places in the city.
(5)Kim S.
Jitlada is awesome! I am a big fan of Thai food and have to say this is one of the best in SF. Try the Green Curry!
(5)F. P.
What a surprise find in a somewhat random side street between Bush and Pine. And the decor inside reminded me of an English cottage with curtains and everything. However, everything about the food was authentic Thai (northern Thai, specifically). Both the Khao Soi (noodles in yellow coconut curry sauce) and the the Pad Pring Khing (sauteed meat with green beans) were excellent. Had both with tofu; next time, maybe try a meat option but theses were rich and flavorful. The Tom Kha Gai (chicken in coconut milk soup) was not bad either. It seems like almost everything on the menu is $9.95 (not including rice or seafood substitutions). You easily pick up the vibe that it's a family-run establishment, which i love. And it seemed oddly quiet (but I think that was because in comparison, most of the SF restaurants these days are so loud and require raised voices to be heard). So if you're up for great, comfort food in a relaxed and tranquil environment, this is a good rec.
(4)Irma R.
Jitlada is a cute little place with great Thai food. The people there are really friendly and the food is really good. Their shrimp baskets, and skewers are really good, the mango salad is really good. I usually have the yellow curry chicken curry. They have specials and every so often change their menu, but no matter what you get it's really good. For desert, the sticky rice and the fried bananas are my fav. This place is also great for a date night.
(4)Jeremy H.
Solid Thai option if you're in the J-town area. If you can go (slightly) further afield, Lers Ros in the Tenderloin is a much better choice. Satay Combo - this was fine, pretty flavourful, never had prawn satay before actually. Generally, I don't order satay in restaurants though as it never has that "fresh from the grill/street" taste. Had a pretty sizeable salad with it too. Papaya Salad - again this was OK, the flavours were not as sharp as I would hope and it felt a bit too wet for me. Pad Thai - Again, this was too wet/mushy, I prefer Pad Thai to be a bit drier and more al dente. The flavours were good though, definitely not overly sweet like the typical Americanised Pad Thai. Red Curry - solid, not much to comment on here. Banana fritters - had some really weird, hard batter - surprised they can mess this up. The coconut ice cream was good though :) Kind of disappointed that they only have my favourite dish "Rad Nah" at lunchtime - what's up with that? The service was friendly, although a bit slow at times, which was odd given that they weren't very busy. Definitely has an intimate atmosphere, a good place to have a quiet dinner.
(3)Michelle R.
Oh, Jitlada, you keep me coming back for more! And more, more.. Try their peanut chicken (OMG YUM!) The chicken can be somewhat fatty at times (like the parts that you don't normally eat), but more often than not, it's breast meat. The peanut sauce is scrumptious! It's not greasy at all, it's very savory with a hint of sweetness, and the rice is steamed to perfection! No crunchy rice bits! Their coconut chicken soup is oh, SOOOOO good too! Yum! I must tell you, however, their sticky rice is awesome, but you must, must MUST have their fried banana dessert! It come out hot, topped with coconut (omg YES coconut) ice cream...it's very addicting, and if nothing else, keeps me coming back for more.
(4)Ashley H.
Yummy! I love Jitlada. I live nearby and it is my new go-to Thai restaurant. I usually do take out, but I've also eaten there. I ALWAYS get the stuffed Basil Egglant Appetizer - it is SOOO delicious. I am not even exaggerating. I would give that dish 5 stars. I also really like the Mango Salad, it is pretty self explanatory, but a good dish. I've had the Pad Thai, which is good, but I actually prefer the Pad Kee Mao, it has a little bit more of a kick. My friend often gets the Grilled Salmon with noodles, the noodles have a really delicious peanut sauce. I also like the yellow curry, but it tastes much better at the restaurant and for some reason. Well.. you can tell that I eat there a lot.
(4)Dr. Hans Z.
Disappointing. Nice place, good service, etc., but the food definitely lacks proper spice and flavor. This is not a good place for authentic Thai food. I've lived in Asia and been to Thailand and I think that this food is very Americanized. It's certainly okay and can serve as an introduction to Thai food. If you're a real foodie or serious fan of Thai food I would look elsewhere. My experience is a that a lot of Thai restaurants are afraid of spicing up their food because many Americans are not used to it and complain about it. A better value is San Wang Restaurant nearby at Post and Buchanan. It's an interesting Chinese - Korean no - nonsense type of place that gives good value for flavorful food.
(2)Matt S.
Good, reasonably priced thai food in a nice clean setting. Nothing special, though, and no real reason to return. Dana and I ordered the chicken coconut soup, pork green curry and beef pad kee mao. Unfortunately, we got chicken in all three dishes. Curry arrives; me: "sorry, we ordered this with pork." her: "this is pork." me: "really? it looks like chicken." her: "pork." me: "oh, ok." she leaves, we taste; us: "chicken." same with the noodles. Whatever, it was still decent food and priced well. Just not a standout place.
(3)siutou s.
Yummy quiet little Thai place right next to Japan town. I would definitely go here again! I recommend all the food I tried: Pumpkin curry Eggplant basil appetizer Fried papayas Fried banana Yellow curry Lemongrass beef Eggplant with scallops Pad Thai Man was I full, and the price was pretty good! Fried bananas are the best! XD
(5)Jennifer H.
Yelpers know what's up!! Came here last night based on the reviews and we really enjoyed our dinner. Parking right out front. 3 other couples dining. Small, cute w/ white table cloth and fresh flowers on the table. Nice place for a casual date. Service was attentive, but not overbearing. Ordered: Tom Kha Gai (Chicken, mushrooms, galagal, lemon grass cooked in coconut milk with chilies) Pad thai Pad Ka Prow with beef Evil Princess (Spicy red curry sauce with coconut milk, napa cabbage, and spinach) Thai iced tea Total - $50 Huge servings and it didn't look like we put a dent in the food. Easily could have fed 4 peeps, we're just gluttonous. Yay for leftovers :) Evil Princess will make you wish you were Prince Charming, just to get close to this dish!!! It was uniquely delicious. Must try and best described as an explosion of flavor in your mouth. Other dishes are staples at any Thai place, but done quite well here, especially the Tom Kha Gai. Honey has been to Thailand and all night he kept saying (between shovels of food) mmmmhhhhh very good!
(4)Renee D.
I came in here on my last night in SF. I was pleasantly surprised by it's kitchy atmosphere, and its quaintness. I ordered take out - and the nice older woman behind the counter, seeing that I was super sick and without a voice - brought me a nice pot of tea as I waited for my order. I thought this was especially nice, considering that I had already paid, and when I went for my purse - she gestured with her hand - no. I ordered the Tom Kha Gai, a favorite of mine, and I was really impressed. I'm from Miami where most Thai food places are a joke - or have some kind of Cuban infusion in the mix. It was so good I even considered going back for another bowl. For it's size though, it was a bit expensive. But for the quality of the soup - spot on. If I'm ever back - I'd love to try the Panang or Pad Thai :)
(4)Danielle H.
This place is absolutely amazing!!! Cute and clean interior, friendly staff and AUTHENTIC and DELICIOUS thai food! Must try the pad thai, it is one of the best i've ever had!! Forbidden Black sticky rice with mango and coconut milk is the perfect way to end a meal!!
(5)Shannon R.
Amazing, affordable Thai food just a stone's throw from Japantown! I would go as far as to say this is some of the BEST Thai food I've had in SF! I came here with a BIG group-no reservations-on a saturday night! I had the pad see ew ($9.95) and a thai iced coffee ($2.00). Huge portions, outstanding flavors! My friends ordered a prawn dish which I tried, too, in some kind of peanut sauce that was to die for! The sweet ladies running this place are like the Thai grandmothers you never had (unless, of course, you are Thai!) One of them took the time to chat with some of the folks in our party about Thailand for a good five or then minutes. Overall, Jitlada serves outstanding food in a pleasant, homey environment-I will be back VERY soon! My new place!
(5)ari s.
Real flowers is a nice touch. pumpkin curry and mango salad were great. Crasins would not have been my first choice but it somehow works.
(4)Anish P.
this is a great mom and pop style thai food restaurant...definitely what i was looking for close to the apartment that i rented for the month. service is a bit slow (but no surprising) and can get quite busy but the family is very nice and helpful and entertaining. the food was amazing to include their pumpkin curry. was a big fan of the black sticky rice. definitely made several stops here during my month in SF.
(5)anurag p.
Wow - where are the discerning thai foodies? This was like a californian farmer dreaming up what thai must be like. In a city with outstanding thai restaurants like lers ros and thai house express- this place is inexcusable. Moreover- people, to rate this in the same league as lers ros is a travesty to diners everywhere. I ordered jungle curry- a difficult dish, which sets the best apart. The results were spectacularly bad. There were no authentic eggplants, little green pepper stalks, kaffir, galangal....nothing! Just a watery gravy with gobs of salt and overboiled random veggies like bell peppers. Of course I assumed this was an exception and returned it, asking for a simple pad krapow pork- the simplest of dishes. The result was a sticky glutinous red gravy with dried overcooked chunks of pork and of course, bell peppers! Horror of horrors!! The cook doesnt know the very basic, or has completely sold her soul to the white devil- that monster that throws flames of blandness, and poisonous sweet sauces on good ethnic eats, swallowing the cuisines into a pallid nothingness. People on this board, you are trapped by the monster, escape, escape!!
(1)Christine O.
We needed a place to go to before watching I Love You, Man last weekend at the Kabuki theater. Francis came across this place and it had great reviews. People said it was some of the best Thai food they've had outside of Thailand. I TOTALLY AGREE!!! We had a wonderful meal. The service was excellent. Everyone was so nice and attentive. And the food... Tom Kha Gai - Perfect flavor and amount of spices. They use regular mushrooms which I love. Pad Kee Mao - Never had this before. It was like chow fun but Thai style. I LOVE chow fun. Jitlada Neur Yang (Jitlada Steak) - Tender, juicy pieces of steak with a spicy sauce. Served on a platter with broccoli. Yum! Homemade Pineapple Prawn Red Curry - We had this with chicken (I don't eat shrimp.) Very interesting flavor, not like regular red curry. The pineapple pieces were excellent. ...and the dessert. If you can't make it for dinner, just go for dessert. Black sticky rice with a perfect mango - I haven't had mango like that since we were in Thailand! And coconut ice cream with bits of coconut. I LOVE IT! Oh, and they have lemongrass tea which is a big plus for me. If you're ever in Japantown and don't feel like eating Japanese food, check this place out.
(4)Kristin L.
Had a very tasty meal here last night. We had shrimp in sleeping bags as an appetizer, the only thing that I would skip next time. For mains we had the spicy basil pork, cashew chicken, and evil princess chicken. All three were really delicious. We asked for the evil princess spicy, and it was surely that! Not much atmosphere here, but great food. I only wish that they had cocktails to wash all that food down with.
(4)Rose C.
This place is so cozy and calm. When we came in on a Saturday evening, it was already half full and throughout our dinner, the tables filled quickly. The service was great since they always came at the right time with the food and drinks. We got the pumpkin curry with chicken and the eggplant with tofu along with brown rice. Both dishes were great and we had enough rice to soak up all the curry. It's difficult to get a good eggplant dish but the one here was sliced the right size to retain its texture and soak up the sauce. Alas, we had to skip dessert here since those dishes were so filling.
(4)Old W.
I've eaten at this restaurant many times over the years when I've had to come here for business. This is the first time I've brought my wife for a vacation. The place hasn't change much if at all. The food is still pretty good. My wife ordered the Pad Kra Pow , medium spicy, and it was just right for her. The beef was a bit thick and overcooked though. They were a bit skimpy with the meat on both dishes we ordered but the flavor was still good. I ordered the Evil Princess. This was my first time ordering it and the flavor did not disappoint. The only negative I can think of was that they had too much cabbage and not enough chicken. I would have even prefered more spinach than cabbage and keep the amount of chicken the same. For dessert, we had the black sticky rice and mango. The texture of the rice is almost like long grain wild rice. It was very sweet but that's dessert for you. The mango was a nice balance around the sweet sticky rice. I would have given this place 4 stars if it weren't for the fact that they charge extra for rice. The dishes dont come with rice. I've never been to a Thai restaurant where they charged extra for the rice. It usually came with your dishes!
(3)Mahsa K.
Actually make that a 3.5. Came across this place after heading to Japan town and opting not to eat Japanese food, saw this nice cozy looking place and decided to give it a shot... Ordered: Thai Curry Puffs- Pastry ball filled with a mashed mix of potato, carrot, onion and chicken served with a sweet/tangy salsa. Delish! Pumpkin Curry- chunks of pumpkin in mild red curry with coconut milk and your choice of meat..this is apparently their signature dish so I was surprised when I was left unimpressed. A bit too rich, almost pasty, and way too sweet for my taste... Jungle Curry- country-style clear curry with eggplant, green beans, bamboo, ginger, and basil with your choice of meat. This dish was well-spiced but more soupy than I'd prefer/expect with a curry Thai Iced Tea- good. Overall a nice spot with good food, could come back if in that particular neighborhood, but will most likely try out one of the many other well-rated Thai restaurants in the city otherwise.
(3)Janae L.
I went here with the fam and every member thoroughly enjoyed themselves! Actually it was the first time I have ever purchased dinner for my entire family- so that was great! The place is nothing special to look at but the service was great and the food delicious! With all the thai food in the city I would definitely go back! Surprisingly the vegetarian dishes were the best ones! Also-I went a different time with a group of friends and my friend who traveled throughout Thailand said it was great-so there you have it!
(4)jazzy l.
Came here a friend's birthday....loved the Thai Food...authentic, decent sized portions but not overboard. Family owned and it's definitely kept it's tradition! Need to come back again!
(4)Erin C.
Food: We ordered the pad thai and tom yum. Both lacked punch (in the form of acidity or heat) and were a little on the sweet side. We weren't given the option to choose a heat level, but I suppose we could have specified? I did like the abundance of tomatoes and mushrooms in the tom yum, though. Service: The staff were all really friendly, and our food came out super quick. I also appreciated the fact that our waitress seemed genuinely interested in whether everything was ok or not. Cleanliness/Atmosphere: The restaurant was very clean and welcoming. The tables weren't cluttered with a ton of stuff, and the lighting was good. Overall, the food was a bit forgettable, but I think I'll probably giving it another try, anyway.
(3)Aasim K.
I came to this restaurant with high expectations. The restaurant has all the elements to start a nice casual evening out - chill atmosphere, clean restaurant, and decent neighborhood vibe - sans the food of course. I was disappointed with our various dishes including the recs found in the other yelp reviews. Thai spots are a dime a dozen in the city, this place needs to up it's game.
(2)Rob C.
kinda disappointed in this place, but appreciate the effort ordered pumpkin curry, baby back pork ribs, and thai omelette but after chowing, would rather just have osha. (this isn't a lers ros type of place of course) the curry was nice with large chunks of pumpkin. the ribs had meat falling off the bone, but the marinade was just ok. thai omelette least appetizing they need some air circulation in there too--so stuffy
(3)Janelle V.
Pretty good food, but the waitress/owner/Thai lady there was really awkward. She hovered over our meal the whole time and kept telling my friend how handsome he was. She was also kind of pushy about how much we ate. I definitely got the heebeejeebees from the service.
(3)Chase F.
High quality ingredients with great service. Pros- Food is clean, healthy tasting, and fresh ingredients. The Pumpkin Curry is to die for! You can taste the freshly pureed pumpkin bite after bite. Cons- pretty pricey- Bought 2 entrees cost $27 with tax and tip. Also, the servings are extremely small. Decor- Very comfortable and relaxing. Not your typical Thai decor.
(4)Evil J.
I want so badly to give Jitlada five stars! My friends from the old dotcom glory years met me here and we commenced to order half the menu: corn cake appetizer, pad thai, pad khe mao, som tum, and baked scallops on eggplant. Service was outstanding, with the waitstaff very accommodating when my friends were late for our original reservation time. Ambiance was just perfect with the small, cozy restaurant decorated tastefully with Thai art and mementos. Our food arrived very quickly. All of the dishes were excellent and their presentation was similarly impressive, with little pieces of carrot cut into the shape of flowers, and so on. Sadly, the dishes lacked saltiness and what could have been very well the best Thai meal of my life was cut short on account of the dishes' consistent lack of salt. All tasted wonderful, but damn it, they just were not salty enough. I really enjoyed eating at Jitlada and will eat there again, but to fully bring out the traditional "salty, sour,and sweet" elements of Thai cooking, the cook will need to need to supplement the dishes with more fish sauce or soy sauce, depending on the dish. What would also round out the experience is waitstaff who ask for their patrons level of spiciness, rather than assume that white folks 'can't take it' and default to bland. Wish it was five stars.I hope for five stars next time. :)
(4)Tara O.
It's gooooooood. Thanks Yelp for finding me yet another great restaurant on the fly. Heading to Japantown and I needed a good restaurant that had good vegetarian options. ::one minute time lapse while searching Yelp:: Jitlada sounds interesting, lets give it a shot. ::run out door:: This little restaurant is just up the street from Peace Plaza, just hidden enough that there was no wait when we showed up with a party of 6 (though I could see how it could get pretty busy quickly) Everything we ordered smelled and looked amazing, and the dishes I tried tasted awesome too. It says something when the pad thai, the quintessential Thai dish that you can get at any restaurant, knocks your socks off. Two things of note: 1) Some of the dish names are pretty awesome. I ordered the "Evil Princess". Awesome. 2) If you like it hot n' spicy, ask for their Thai chili flakes on the side. THEY ARE SO GOOD. :D
(4)LeeAnne T.
I am so excited that Jitlada lived up to all of the wonderful reviews! It was comfortable and homey and all of the staff were very sweet. My mom and I ordered one of the specials, which was a seafood green curry and it was beautiful. The curry was so light and delicate, but it still had a very dynamic and exciting flavor. Some places have overpowering, too thick curry that reminds me of what I can make at home out of the jar. All of the food we had here was amazing, and really stood out. I plan on going here next month for my birthday dinner I loved it so much!
(5)Abby D.
I absolutely love Jitlada! Hubby and I usually stop by in the late afternoon and always receive excellent food and service. Portion sizes are good and I have never been disappointed by Jitlada.
(5)Mack L.
Went to eat here before the Bloc Party show on 7/31/08. Overall pretty good, I don't think I'd go again due to the slow service. When we first arrived the place seemed to stop and look at us. I almost felt like we didn't know the secret handshake or something to indicate we wanted to eat. Or maybe I'm overanalyzing. Anyway, we were asked if we had reservations and said no and then were instantly seated in the crowded yet nicely decorated and clean dining room. It took a long time for everything except new Beers. We had a few Phuket Lagers while waiting for our food. Appetizer of soft shell crab which was very good, took about 20 minutes to arrive. Then our food took another 20 minutes or longer to arrive. I ordered the Pad Kee Mao and my girlfriend got some Jungle Currie named dish. Hers turned out to be a spicy soup dish that tasted like chicken soup. Mine was a very tasty noodle dish that I'd order again if given the chance. The meat in both dishes was a little tough and dry. Waiting at restaraunts is the worst thing for me. I can't stand it. My trick to help get me out of a place fast if it seems the service is slow, is to order my check when I am done with any other items and have my card ready to go. I ordered the check with our ice cream dessert order and didnt' get the check for about 15 more minutes. Thank god she brought my card back faster though. It also seemed like there wasn't much of a fast turnover in mind, which in some ways is good, but it's kind of a drag waiting forever for food. I'd say try it if you are in the mood for some thai and in the area, but make sure you have time to eat and aren't in a hurry. Nice wait staff.
(3)jeddie k.
Haven't been here in forever, but I was having a hankering for basil, chicken, and eggplant so the BF and I walked the half block from my place to here to relive what was to be deliciousness. We looked at the prices and were a little surprised-- more expensive than your usual Thai place, but it was in a better location and cleaner than most. We were hungry but decided to split the green papaya salad and thai basil chicken eggplant. House soup came five minutes after we ordered. Clear with tofu and carrots. It was a good way to warm up a bit from the cold outside and a sweet touch. The salad came in a deep fried wonton bowl. I loved the generous portions and the shrimp on the side, but I like mine a little spicier. My fault probably, for not asking. The basil dish. To die for pretty much. And filling, surprisingly filling. They also offer brown rice here which made me super happy. And medium was just spicy enough for the both of us. We left satisfied and warmed up. Pay a few extra bucks here for good Thai food and quiet ambience ( for lunch at least) and you won't regret it.
(4)x y.
After eating at Jitlada for lunch, I give it four stars. The service was great. Our water glasses never went empty and we were seved more rice whenever we needed some. Jitlada is a small place with about 15 tables. Most are in a 2 or 4 configuration. The PadThai is ok. The pumpkin curry was delicious but could have been a little warmer & spicier. (we weren't ask about how hot we wanted it) We also had scallops & eggplant. Very nicely presented and was delicious. For dessert we tried their black sticky rice with mango. It was good.
(4)Annie L.
EXCELLENT. Best tasting and best looking Thai food I have had. Charming little place. Generous wine pours. Everything we had was exceptional.
(5)S S.
Favorite Thai restaurant in SF. Great for takeout-- never actually ate in the restaurant.
(5)Terence M.
the food here rocks. it's probably hard to distinguish yourself as a thai restaurant in SF. jitlada doesn't do this with clever fusion dishes or a swank decor. instead, it serves up truly reliable yummy thai food. i live nearby and i order out all the time. i don't even use the menu, and they are always so friendly about cooking me something up. finally dined inside with my folks last week. was a great experience. the staff is very friendly (albeit a little aloof as their english isn't great). but the owner is a doll...checking on you often, and bundle of energy. highly recommended. the perfect neighborhood joint.
(5)Ting A.
we're becoming fixtures at jitlada. ...fixtures that can't get enough of the pumpkin curry and the khao soi. the appetizers, such as the golden baskets and the stuffed basil eggplant, are also delicious. highlights: - we received complimentary salads on a couple of our visits. i'm a big fan of the dressing. - the staff is SO friendly. two of the waitresses remind me of my mom. i love that jitlada isn't an overcrowded restaurant chain. the prices are affordable, and the service is outstanding. ...i wish your rice was free though.
(5)Daniel H.
Delicious!
(5)masa s.
This place would be booming if it was in a better location. As it is, it's a nice quiet experience with some really good quality food. And it's just down the block from me, which makes me a very lucky camper indeed. Super tasty food. The papaya salad is the best I've had. Every other papaya salad I've had has this funny taste that I've learned to tolerate. Not so with this place. The curry was perfectly balanced and smooth, and the noodles were perfect. The service is attentive without being pushy at all. Very polite.
(5)Josh L.
My wife and her coworkers love this place. She knows the main chef here. Good local Thai restaurant. They have a great variety of dishes. Nice place out of the busy areas of SF. Try their appetizers and desserts, will not disappoint
(4)Stacy W.
The tofu curry was amazing! It was a very quiet place but perfect considering the long day we had at the Filmore Jazz Festival.
(5)Johanna W.
Best thai food and best thai in the city. Ever.
(5)Hen A.
putting care to thai cooking...gentle gesture to open table....water and menu....selection of thai beers and browsing...typical and not...curry with special names...standard pad thai and pad see ew noodles....special selections from steamed bass to babyback bbq ribs...non-standard creativity to dishes finding positive....moist julienned papaya salad a sweet, tangy and refreshing...pair of prawns top...lettuce and tomato bedding...roughly $ten and larger sizing acceptable....bbq ribs comforting...side of sticky rice and generous soft perfect easy off-bone ribs....lathered in bbq saucing..american style....saucy filling meal in a bowl for roughly $fifteen....always attentive service...water refills and extra napkins without request....jitlada pricing for portion fine...portions larger...casual thai dining in japantown....
(4)Pauline L.
First off, it's not my fault if we walked around for 20 minutes lost....it happens that we didn't walk up Buchanan street, thank god MA had eagle eyes and saw the signage outside the restaurant. Upon entering this place, it does feel like you entered someone's dining room, complete with dividing room curtains. We ordered: Wrap Me Up (Meang Kom): the tangy salad dressing was delicious Golden Baskets: I finally found my gold bags but these guys were teeeny tiiiny! The sweet tamarind sauce was perfect. Shrimp in sleeping bags: scrumptious Pad Thai: ahh..the peanut to noodle ratio was balanced...I love tofu and they give a nice amount. Next time I'll try the curries...I'm really curious about the Evil Princess...cause that's how I roll.
(5)Paul T.
Good quick meal at dinnertime. We walked in in the last half hour and the staff was very welcoming. The appetizers (some vegetable curry dumpling things) were bomb. The Pad Sea Maw was flavorful, however the rice noodles were a bit muuushy. Sweet place, good prices, I'll go back and give other menu items a go.
(4)Katharine N.
This was my neighborhood Thai place for 4 years. My go-to comfort food was the pumpkin curry, though I also enjoyed the evil princess and a dish with a name involving paradise and vegetables. I usually got takeout (always prompt) but there was rarely a long wait for a table when I ate in and the service was always very good (then again, we were regulars).
(4)Jess H.
Come here if your looking for amazing service and wonderful food. Feels like your visiting your long lost grandma(in my case my nanny). This will be my go to Thai restaurant in Pac Heights
(4)John C.
Great place with good food and fast service. Often just order their Pad Thai to go and it is always ready with in about 10 minutes of my order. Their curry is also great.
(4)Alexandra D.
I love this little living room Thai restaurant. Every dish here is delicious. Especially the trout in banana leaf you must try. And the pumpkin curry. Addictive. The service is friendly and fast. Good job it's so close to us.
(5)Ron S.
My wife and I just got back from Thailand and all since we've been back I've been FIENDING for some khao soi. I'd never even heard of this dish before our trip, read some random aside in a guide book saying that while in Chiang Mai to "eat as much of this dish as humanly possible", took em up on that offer, and now I can't get it out of my head. It's amazing. Think back to that that very first time you ate pad thai and realized that a noodle dish could taste like that (sweet AND savory AND spicy at the same time?? holy smokes.), and that's how I feel with Khao Soi - that there's this awesome dish that's out there and all this time I haven't been eating it has been wasted time, and it's now my obligation to make up for said time. Anyways, when I found out that this little Thai joint near our neighborhood had it on the menu, I was unbelievably stoked and made my wife and friends go with me there tonight to sample their khao soi. And it was... pretty ok. Too thick on the coconut milk, not enough spice to it, a little heavy handed on the noodle to broth ratio. Khao soi snobbery? I'll entertain that, but it doesn't change my disappointment in dinner tonight. I noticed the same trend from the khao soi carried over into their other dishes as well - minimal heat and too much onto the sweet side. Everything was sorta band (with regards to Thai food, since you gotta recalibrate for that), despite really fresh looking ingredients. To keep things short (or at least short-er), here's a list of pros and cons. Pros: - Khao soi on the menu - Nice white table cloths - Clean - Fresh ingredients - Good sized portions Cons: - Reaaaaallly slow service (not just on the dishes, but on things like drinks, condiments, etc.), especially considering the place was pretty much empty - All of our items (papaya salad, pad see ew, khao soi, green curry) were on the sweet/bland side, just didn't have any excitement to it
(3)Christine L.
This was a cozy little restaurant with some of the best thai food I've had so far in San Fran. There were six of us and we ordered 5 dishes and each and every one was a hit. Plus, they let us sit even though our full party wasn't there and didn't get mad at us when there was a delay, for about an hour, before the last 2 arrived. I will definitely go back. I think the pumpkin curry was my favorite!
(5)Diana F.
This is my favorite Thai restaurant! The servers are so gracious. Even though I only visit every 3 months, they always remember me and make me feel welcome. I recommend the Pumpkin Curry and the Black Sticky Rice with Mango. You will not be disappointed!
(5)Helen G.
Jitlada is hands down the best Thai ever and our favorite neighborhood restaurant. We go regularly and often take friends there. We've been part of several large parties for celebrations. It's a charming, understated room, sparkling clean, with real linens, full of orchids and huge bouquets of fresh flowers. The staff is smiling and helpful. When I brought my little granddaughters they were given an imaginative special dish. After all this time we keep discovering new treats. Yesterday it was the pork in green curry sauce and the crispy fried bananas with coconut ice cream. We love the wrap-me-ups, shrimp rolls and mango salad. There's almost never a disappointing dish. The only drawback may be that the bathroom is through the kitchen and up a few stairs, but so what? -- it's clean and the kitchen is interesting to see.
(5)Scott F.
I discovered this hidden gem a few blocks from my hotel while staying in Japantown and ended up eating here several nights in a row. The restaurant space is tiny and unassuming (you have to go through the kitchen to get to the bathrooms) but the food is top notch. I had the red curry, green curry, and some of my girlfriend's pad thai and all were among the best I've ever had. Very subtle perfect balance between spicy and sweet. Staff was incredibly polite (including the kitchen staff), atmosphere was cozy and quiet and it made for a very enjoyable and relaxing dinner experience. I wish I lived in the neighborhood so I could come back here all the time. I'm going to miss this place.
(5)Jennifer H.
The fanciest but not the priciest Thai place I've ever been to. A delicate ambiance. The service was good and bad. Eager staff, but they asked us and another table to move b/c they had a larger group. Why not just seat us in the new tables that were empty in the first place? Food is tasty. The best coconut soup, and I always order Tom Kha Gai. The best part is that it was not crazily busy on a Sat night, so it's on my list as a place worth coming back for.
(4)Varun ..
Considering my comfort Thai food is Thai Spice, this place had a lot to live up to from the get go. We ordered the Evil Princess curry because...well... its named Evil Princess. We paired it with pad thai as a safe barometer dish. Despite asking for our dishes spicy, they arrived a bit too tame for us. As soon as the attentive waitress noticed this she brought over a bowl of crushed red chili pepper which was an instant hit. Our entire table was sprinkling crushed pepper on our dishes like Dubya sprinkled freedom on the Middle East. This was some of the best crushed red pepper I've ever had and it really added a good amount of heat to the dishes. I just wish the dishes came out that way in the first place. The pad thai didn't particularly stand out from other versions I've had and the Evil Princess curry dish had a hard time living up to its name.
(3)Doug R.
I'd bathe in the green curry it's so good. In a city of great Thai restaurants, how can one place outshine them all? -Only the freshest ingredients -A chef so nice and friendly, she makes Gandhi look like Darth Vader -Some of the best Thai dishes this side of the Pacific If you haven't been to Jitlada and still have a pulse, get there ASAP for a mouthgasm of green curry, the pumpkin curry, Livia's Special Noodles, and the golden baskets. Don't expect trendy ambiance and European house beats because that's not how Chef Pai rolls.
(5)Ron H.
A visitor to SF, but have eaten Thai food around the country. We chose this restaurant based upon overall good Yelp ratings...it was an unfortunate choice. While the restaurant was clean with a friendly staff, the food was disappointing. Flavors were bland and nauseating. The curried "puff" was like a samosa, only unseasoned (mashed potatoes in a puff pastry). Pad thai was greasy with little protein. Would not go back, nor recommend.
(1)mandy f.
The best pumpkin curry in town!!! Osha on Valencia's dish doesn't compare.
(4)Michael E.
I'd like to think of myself as objective, so I will not give Jitlada 5 stars just for having a red curry dish called the 'Evil Princess.' Hot damn, what a great name for a dish. It's one of those things where we looked at the menu and said, wow, we have to order that. So we did, and I have to say it didn't disappoint, although it was way less spicy than I thought it would be. In fact, the Pad Kee Mao we ordered was the surprise spicy dish. Who knew? But both dishes were excellent and were a lot of food, and the place was small and pretty cool. This little Thai restaurant is why I love Yelp. I would have never even known it existed, because I'm never in this part of the city, but zing here it is! And it's restaurants like this with tasty food, good service and cheap prices that make you wonder how so many restaurants fail, because Jitlada makes it look easy.
(5)Matthew B.
Their pumpkin curry is amazing -- not of atmosphere, but that is forgivable if you taste the food.
(5)Bulut K.
Food was nice, we got a free desert. cokes were per order, no refill.
(4)Von D.
Yum! Food here is really good. I decided to un-vegetarianize for the night and order the grilled eggplant stuffed with chicken and prawns as an appetizer. it came with 6 large pieces that were topped with some kind of delicious green sauce. Also got the fried green papaya, which was awesome. There are plenty of veggie options here, and plenty non. Everything I ordered was delicious. When they say spicy, they mean spicy. Really spicy. Mango with black sticky rice is some of the best I've ever had. Ever. Definitely make reservations. Otherwise you may have to sit at a tiny table by the door.
(5)Shannon T.
YUM! Had Mother's Day lunch here. We ordered a soup with cellophane noodles that was delicious. Also had pumpkin/tofu curry and a noodle - the pumpkin curry was awesome! Next time I do have to try the pad thai. Service was very slow, we had to request water and remind them about our drinks even though the place was not that full. They were very apologetic though. All in all delicious!
(4)Edward L.
Jitlada continues to be the very best Thai restaurant in San Francisco. Fresh ingredients, beautiful presentation, reasonable prices and warm friendly service make this one of my weekly regular dining choices. My favorites are the green curry with eggplant and the seafood pad thai. Mango salad is outstanding. And be sure to have the black sticky rice -- the best.
(5)Jessica C.
Cute, tiny restaurant with a lot of interesting things on the menu. Truly a hidden gem in the Pacific Heights area. The food is excellent and the service is fantastic. Would love to come here again :)
(5)Karie M.
Quaint and quiet restaurant. Great service and good food. the best thing on the menu: "wrap me ups" hands down!! you gotta try it!
(4)McKenzie M.
I like the food at Jitlada and think it is a good price for the quality, but I'm really writing this review to commend them on their service. We wanted to go a few months ago in a large group (~12-16) and called to find out when they stopped serving lunch (they close down between lunch and dinner). They told us that if we could get there by a certain time they would stay open and serve us. It was awesome! With a group this large we were there for a long time which meant they were there much later than normal. They did not rush us and took great care of us. Last week my boyfriend and I ate dinner there. There was an issue with the charge that they charged to my credit card. I won't drone on with the long detail of the story but the bottom line is they were super nice when I called, they called me back to follow up, and genuinely cared about making sure that things were correct on my card. Things happen so I wasn't hung up on what actually happened and if it was their mistake or whatever. I cared about how it was handled :)
(4)Rachelle T.
My family and I came here for Mother's Day and were able to make last minute reservations for 5:30 at 4:30 that day!!! The service was as good as always, and the servers made sure to check up on us every so often to clear plates and refill waters, despite the restaurant quickly filling up. The pumpkin curry was really good and my parents were given complimentary cups of hot tea. Definitely a restaurant to keep coming back to.
(5)Luis M.
I had one very pleasant dinner here one night last year. At first sight it looks like a little hole in the wall Thai eatery and it probably would be nothing more than that if they didn't serve up such tasty dishes and have great service. My meal consisted of the Golden Baskets and the Pad Thai. The Golden Baskets were tasty in and of themselves but the sweet and spicy sauce was a great compliment to them as well. The Pad Thai was very flavorful but unfortunately not spicy (which is my personal preference for Pad Thai). My meal definitly put Jitlada on the list of places to try again. I'm sure after a few more meals here I'll be able to add a star. ----------------- I ate here once again last night and it reminded me that I owed them one more star. Really though it's more like one and a half more stars. The service was phenominal once again with our hostess making an excellent suggestion to try the Jungle Curry, and specifying that it is better accompanied by beef or chicken rather than tofu. Anne Marie and I opted for the beef as we were also going to be having the spicy basil chicken. Both of these dishes went well with the brown rice. As an appetizer we started off with their ginger shrimp rolls. The ginger flavor was a unique touch to the rolls and went great with the silver noodles and shrimp. It was all the more tasty with the great sauce they serve it with. I need to come back here more often.
(4)Darbie D.
I came here for dinner a few nights ago, and 3 days later I'm still thinking about the amazing baby back ribs that I had. They came covered in a sticky, sweet barbecue sauce, with the meat so tender it was literally falling off the bone. See, I've read that phrase a hundred times on menus everywhere and reviews here on Yelp, but this is the first time I've actually eaten ribs that were worthy of that description. YUM! It also came with this sweet, sticky coconut rice which I thought was delicious as well. It was very similar to a Filipino sticky rice delicacy called "suman". The restaurant itself was decorated like a cozy little café, with white interiors, floral curtains, and picture frames dotting the walls. Soft, calming music played in the background, similar to what you would hear in a spa while you're getting a massage. It is tiny though, and although we went on a Tuesday night, the place was full, with diners coming in even at the relatively late (for a weekday, anyway) hour of 9 PM. So if you're coming on a weekend I suggest calling ahead for reservations. For the appetizer we ordered the combination satay skewers. It came with 6 skewers of chicken, beef and shrimp on a bed of salad greens. They were good, and the peanut sauce was much tastier than others I've had in the past, but overall this was your regular Thai satay dish, nothing to be blown away by. Other than the fact that it took our waitress about 15 minutes to get us the check after we asked, service was good (food came promptly, water glasses were refilled regularly), and I have to give props to our waitress for recommending the ribs over the yellow curry to me. She said I could get the curry in any other Thai place, and I'm so glad I followed her advice!
(4)Ali M.
I love, love, love Jitlada. The Paradise Pasta is something I wouldn't normally order, but my boyfriend wanted to get it. It's amazingly delicious - try it! The employees are also really friendly. Yeah Jitlada!
(5)Jason W.
Me and my friends decided to come to this restaurant on a whim and they were able to accommodate us on a Saturday night with just 20 minutes notice. When we got there we were shown are table immediately and handed our menus. After a few minutes, were were able to order and opted for the soft shell crab appetizer, green papaya salad, shrimp pad thai, and the pumpkin curry with chicken. All of the dishes arrived within a reasonable time and looked great! Of the four dishes, we were most impressed with the pumpkin curry! Hints of coconut in the curry and a nice thick sauce makes this a must for eating over rice. The consistency was so thick that in fact, we all felt like were were eating baby food. Nonetheless, this mild curry was extremely tasty and pretty original compared to what I've seen in other Thai restaurants. As for the Pad thai, this was pretty much run of the mill. Nothing special here, a bit on the sweet side, with just a few small shrimp. The green papaya salad tasted fresh with a sweet and sour dressing and the soft shell crab also tasted great not being too oily. For the price though, I felt these dishes could have been bigger. Over 8 bucks for one soft shell crab! Outside of this, this was a nice find in japantown. The small dining area makes for a cozy evening with friends and loved ones!
(3)Rachel S.
Our pad thai was strangely sweet, but HOT DAMN if that wasn't the best chicken satay I've ever had.
(4)Susuk L.
My experience with Thai food in this town has been dismal. Jitlada's the best of the bunch so far, but I wouldn't call it exemplary. Three of us attacked this place with high expectations from its almost hidden location and 4.5-star Yelp rating. Our very pleasant waiter was able to seat us promptly, but seemed a bit confused when he took our order. Five minutes later, with the same lost look, he came back to apologetically alert us to their lack of wide rice noodles. (Incidentally, is there some sort of citywide quota on the damn things? I've been to three Thai restaurants here that were out.) I eventually sent him away with my second-choice selection as well as a preemptive request for hot sauce, and our order came within a reasonable time ... sans hot sauce. I asked again. Affirmation. No hot sauce. Asked yet again. Affirmation. No hot sauce. It finally showed up after I was about 3/4ths of the way through my meal. Speaking of the meals, the three of us had differing reactions to our food. N looked like he was about to swear everlasting fealty to his baby back ribs. L and I shared our non-carnivorous dishes family style, and while she seemed pleased with the both the eggplant and the tofu pumpkin curry, I had mixed feelings. The eggplant was fresh and the sauce wasn't super greasy (a huge plus in my book), but it lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. The tofu pumpkin curry was very delicately spiced, which stood in direct opposition to its heavy cream load. I can't fault the quality of ingredients or preparation, but the results seemed a bit too nondescript. The place as a whole is more good than bad, healthily on this side of mediocre. I'll go back until I find something better in this town.
(3)Marco B.
I give this 5 stars because the food was amazing and fresh, the service was friendly and quick and the price was just right. After being seated by a smiling waitress I started off with a nice $5 dollar glass of chardonnay and ordered the grilled Prawn salad. It arrived quickly and was to die for. The prawns were fresh and had just the right amount of BBQ flavor. Best of all were the fresh veggies - delicious green beans that tasted liked they had just been picked and were perfectly blanched and crispy. Yummy. My partner had the Stuffed Basil Eggplant, and while it seemed more Mediterranean than Thai, it was delicious as well, so we were both excited to taste the main course. I always judge a Thai place by their Basil Chicken. Jitlada passed the test with flying colors. A variety of flavors and textures with fresh chicken and just the right amount of spiciness. My partner had the Basil Seafood and was happy as a clam. We can't wait to go back and try the other dishes and soups. Ambiance was quiet and inviting. Price was more than reasonable. Fabulous!
(5)Allison H.
What a neighborhood find. The food was amazing and the staff was very warm and welcoming! My boyfriend and I were going to Cafe Mum's the other night and noticed this spot, so we decided to check it out last nigh...and glad we did! We started out with the stuffed eggplant and the coconut battered papya w/ sweet and sour sacuce, and both were delicious. For entrees we had red curry spicy duck and a noodle dish...we ate it all! All the flavors were so fresh. Pia, the adorable pint-size chef and owner came out to thank us for coming in and explained to us that she makes all her curry paste in house and nothing ever comes from a can. Needless to say, this will be our regualar go to neighborhood thai restaurant!
(4)Jean L.
Chef Pai's food is top-notch--flavorful, fresh, and artfully presented. She clearly takes pride in what she does. I've had good luck with all of the dishes but some of my favorites are the red curry with coconut milk and vegetables, Sam Sa-Hai (meat or tofu with sauteed baby corn, mushrooms, snow peas, and cashew nuts in ginger sauce), grilled salmon, and Bangkok salad (mixed greens with cashews, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and dried cranberries with cilantro and a light soy sesame vinaigrette). Yum! We had a good jasmine bubble tea with tonight's dinner, too. In addition to great food, Jitlada has a gentle, kind waitstaff. It's a little bubble of genuine niceness. My only quibble is that the restaurant itself is a bit sterile. It's super clean and well-kept with some nice decorative touches...but overall it feels a little spare and basic, particularly during a quiet lunch or a slow dinner night. Luckily the food and the service more than compensate. I think this is the one of the best, most consistent Thai places in the city.
(5)Shazila M.
I was in SF for work and staying in Japantown but wasn't feeling up for Japanese for dinner again so I walked over to this restaurant... And am beyond happy I did! I had the pad see ew and it was the best I've ever had, hands down. I decided to treat myself to the fried banana + coconut ice cream for dessert and it was divine. Next time I'm in town, I will definitely be back here!
(5)Jay C.
They have an awesome Eggplant dish that you can't get anywhere else. When it comes out, it doesn't look that good since the color of the sauce seems strange but that's all forgiven when you take a bite. I stop by everytime I stop in San Francisco.
(5)Mike O.
We get take-out from here all the time. It is just really really good. I get the Chicken Basil, and sometimes the yellow curry or pad thai. We take it home and eat it till we're full. Then we say, "Let's save the rest for lunch tomorrow." Then we eat the rest until we explode.
(5)J. B.
My girlfriend and I really liked this place, which is within walking distance of our apartment (a plus). I got the Yellow Curry Chicken, and she got the Evil Princess. Both were cooked perfectly and flavorful. The staff were polite and attentive, and the ambience was perfect for a nice quiet dinner for two. I think we got out of here for under $40, and that's with a glass of wine for her. We will definitely be going back.
(4)Bai Z.
First time I went there I ordered the Pad Thai, it tasted really good and it looked really nice. Other dishes I have ordered: Pumpkin Curry (it is popular, it tasted pretty good if you like veggie curry). I have also tried some of their stir-fry stuff: eggplants, vegetables and chicken (basil). I really enjoyed the food from here, and the atmosphere is pretty clean and nice. The staff are really friendly, and the chef/owner is really really cool. Five stars.
(5)Nick M.
I've only been here once for dinner but have ordered take out a few times. Honestly, when I think of the best thai in the city I think of Osha or Ozone. This place is a pretty good neighborhood thai restaurant and the service is great. Some suggestions: - Don't go to this restaurant on Valentine's Day for dinner with your best friend. - Also don't let said best friend order the pumpkin curry because it won't help the server's perceptions of your relationship. - To offset the feminate vibe, order beer...in bottle form only. Don't let your best friend ask for a glass. Burp if possible. - Order plenty of meat from the menu. Green Curry Chicken is just fine. - Don't start any sentances with the words: honey, sweetie, or Big papa bear. - Avoid comments about how pretty the sprinkled hearts look on the table. - Stop snorting through nose about how cute the place is and how fun it is to be out on Valentine's day.
(3)Christine L.
I had the red curry with tofu here. While very tasty, I felt like the sauce was a little too thick and rich. I do love that they put eggplant in almost all the dishes (and with a variety of veggies.) The stuffed eggplant appetizer is great. The flavors perfectly complemented each other and the basil sauce was fantastic. I tried some of my friend's pumpkin curry but I was not a fan. The pumpkin just stuck to the inside of my mouth, kind of like saw dust.
(3)Nicky H.
Jitlada is the best Thai place I have ever been to. It has a very friendly staff and the BEST food. I highly recommend this to anyone that likes Thai food. It is a very small place, so I recommend making reservations for busy times.
(5)Monica M.
ridiculously wonderful. i can't believe i've lived a block away and hadn't visited before. though i did notice a lot of people doing orders for take out, i don't think that this is the place for that. its very tiny and it looks like you should be taking tea instead of your delicious food, but it is charming nonetheless. the waitresses are extremely nice and attentive, and they serve with a smile. i ended up going with pad thai, as it is usually hard to mess up and a wager to tell if i'm going to like a thai place or not. theirs was fantastic, and i got a side of brown rice that was wonderful. they serve really big portions and even though the beer was steep [4.50], it was phuket after all. i generally liked the atmosphere and the food was great, but again, this is probably good for a date or a lunch spot. i'm not into thai iced tea, but the table next to me said theirs was delicious. visit this place if you are craving thai in japantown. its definitely my new favorite!
(5)Selina L.
I love this restaurant! The staff is friendly but don't go there if you're in a hurry. Because they will take their time to prepare the dishes. But i recommend this restaurant! Everything on the menu is soooo good. Especially the thai iced tea.. yum!
(5)SHARON T.
I usually eat here for lunch and the food is good. I ordered take out for the first time and they gave me noodles instead of rice and the seafood dish did not taste fresh. It's good enough that I will eat there again but I don't suggest take out.
(4)Sal B.
I've eaten at most of the Thai restaurants San Francisco has to offer and this is by far the best! I used to eat here 3-4 times a week when I lived in the neighborhood. The food is authentic and the staff is great. It's like an epsiode of Cheers when you walk in there because everyone knows your name! Everything on the menu is a hit! From the appetizers to the deserts, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Stuffed prawns yum! Mango salad, yum, yum! The pumkin curry is a favorite but I like the red curry with chicken as well. The icecream deserts are even served with cranberries and nuts to form a face similar to "Jack" from Jack in the box! Eat everything you can! Tell them Kevin sent you!
(5)Molly C.
Fantastic all around. The coconut chicken soup, pumpkin curry and pad see ew are all amazing. Great service and prices as well.
(5)David C.
I've ate at a lot of the Thai restaurants in the city and this one has the best and most authentic Thai food. Don't trust my opinion, my Thai friends eat here all the time and tell me its the best. Jitlada is a small, cozy place with super friendly service, and is relatively inexpensive. Chef Pai comes out and talks to customers from time to time as well. Dinner for 2 will cost you around $30. The pumpkin curry is amazing if you are in the mood for something sweet. The green curry is the best in town. The spicy basil is excellent as well. Reservations usually not needed for parties of 4 or less. Awards: Best Thai Restaurant 2003 CitySearch; Bayinsider.com top 10 in SF
(5)Aron K.
This place is excellent. The food is well prepared and they accomodated spice and "customization" requests happily. The staff is really friendly, and the proximity to the Sundance Kabuki theaters makes it a good option for pre- or post-movie dining. I will be back!
(5)Wen L.
SOOOOOOOOOO MANY YUMMMMMMMMMY DISHES! i love the mango salad. i love the pumpkin curry. i love the ginger shrimp spring rolls. i love the basil eggplant shrimp appetizer. but really everything is good. the atmosphere is nice. the service is great, especially the waitress who works lunches. she is so attentive.
(5)Jonny L.
a good bud introduced this place to us and it was perhaps the best thai i've had in the states. i may be jumping the gun since i've been here only once. service is very friendly, atmosphere is intimate. it seemed to take a little time but i soon knew why when i made my way to the restroom. en route, you pass directly through their kitchen and you will bear witness to the care and individual attention paid to each of the dishes by several ladies who look like they know what's going on. kind of reminded me of family gatherings when my mom and her sisters would make the kitchen hum. their eggplant is the dark horse, kind of like george harrison
(4)Marianne L.
We loooove Jitlada, the food and the people! If I had to pick one favorite cuisine, it would be Thai. Jitlada is my favoriteThai restaurant in San Francisco! We have been to the restaurant about a dozen times, sometimes alone, often with groups and once even took over the whole restaurant for a large party. Each time the food and service of been superb. If I lived in the City, I would be a weekly customer!
(5)Brad M.
Jitlada is easily one of the better Thai restaurants in SF - tasty, authentic food at great prices. The only regret I have is not asking for spicier. I went here on a Wednesday after work with a friend, we ordered the Ginger Shrimp roll and the Chicken Satay to start. The Chicken Satay is large skewers of chicken with peanut sauce, I was pretty impressed by the quality of meat. The Evil Princess curry is a spicy red curry, definitely seemed to be a popular choice. Of course, a meal with only one curry is not a meal, so we also tried the Gaeng Keaw Wan (green curry) with Chicken. This was easily my favorite dish of the night, extremely flavorful with green beans and eggplant. I can still taste it now! The best part was it didn't seem like people knew about it, the restaurant was only half full on a wednesday evening. So if you're looking for a quiet spot for some great Thai food, Jitlada is the spot. I'll eat here over Osha any day.
(4)Kellie C.
Jitlada is amazing! Pai is a great cook and she caters for our office all the time! The food is beautiful and fresh and made with the best ingredients. I recommend all the curries, the pad thai, and the salad with papaya in it!
(5)Leah B.
I am craving Jitlada. We ordered a few beers and 3 dishes to share. The chicken dish, Khao Soi, was the best!
(5)Jacqueline O.
This is becoming my favorite Thai spot in the city. My usual here is the Khao Soy Chicken, which not all Thai restaurants in SF tend to have. They make it really well here! I've also had the Tom Kha Gai, so delicious. The Larb is great! When you ask for spicy they really don't hold back though, you've been warned ;) and I got to try a few bites of the Pad See Mao which was quite tasty. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Brad P.
Beware if you want delivery. There do not have the same windows of delivery - some times they have it other times they don't. There's no way to know without calling them and asking! Odd practice and unfortunate for someone who is counting on a restaurant delivery when it says there is delivery. Lucky Yelp gives 1 star because this place is so disfunctional they can't even get their food to a hungry to be customer!
(1)Asbestos L.
Went in for lunch on Sunday. Food was good, not sure how euthantic since I haven't been to Thailand. But it was much preferred than the ones I've tried in Thaitown, LA. We, party of 4 but my mum didn't share the food, ordered chicken satay, pineapple shrimp red curry, and chicken stir fry (don't remember what was it called). Except for the satay, the other dishes were supposedly spicy and sour but we requested non-spicy for my dad. Chicken satay was average; the flesh didn't stay on the skwer to play hard to get. The curry was creamy, tatsed heavily of coconut milk/cream, went well with seafood-shrimp, but pineapple was way too sour that hurt my stomach. And, the chicken stir fry was one that didn't impress us much, not that it wasn't tasty, simply average so none of us recalled how did it taste like. LOL The ambience was chill and relaxing despite the chatter of customers, somewhat cafe like since jazz music was also playing. Some of the staff spoke minimal English, so be patient, and make sure your order was understood. Will definitely go back in my next visit in SF. In fact, I'm starting to look for one with similar atmosphere here in LA.
(4)Rafael C.
First time eating here very good service very good food. We had bbq chicken crunchy crusty very good flavors not too sweet with coconut rice and veggies. The pad thai was also very good very good flavors as well and we also had pinapple rice very good. Even the wine was good not a big selection but they recommended the silver cove Pinot noir very good wine and the wine prices were also very good. Will definitely come back and recommend everyone to come and enjoy.
(5)Travel G.
Yellow chicken curry was mediocre and steamed fish with vegetables, was downright tasteless, even though it had a beautiful presentation. Was expecting more after reading such great reviews. Also, the service was incredibly slow, even though we didn't really see the servers on the dining room floor that much. Based on the photos, will definitely need to try a fancier dish next time, and get it to go, for hopefully better service. A big disappointment considering all of the good Thai places around town.
(2)Nhan N.
Ordered to go: 1. Larb gai 2. Evil princess curry 3. Spicy basil minced pork Food was ready within 15min. The flavors are pretty authentic I thought but the portions (number one and three) were on the small side. Ended up paying $32.55. I would go back if I am in a bind. But otherwise I wouldn't mind driving a little further to get equally tasty food for a little less money and where the portions are a little bigger.
(3)Tarabyte V.
I would give no stars if I could. Let me break it down. First, I am Southeast Asian so I can say that this is soul food for me. Food- it was very small portions with the least amount of veggies. I had the pad-see-ew with chicken and the tofu yellow curry. Both dishes were not very pleasant. The potatoes were not even cut properly. Kind of wish I could've cooked and cut it myself!
(1)Mage L.
Eh, I've had better Thai elsewhere. I got the duck, which is supposed to be one of their specialties, but it was all just pretty bland. No seasoning on the duck at all, no seasoning on the steamed broccoli or spinach. The portion size was quite small as well. I guess they expect you to fill up on the rice. There was a tiny little dish of bean sauce on the side, but it really wasn't enough to give the dish any distinct flavor. I simply cannot abide by a Thai restaurant that is bland. The service was also incredibly slow. Granted, we were a group of 12, but it took about 2 hours from start to finish.
(3)Alanna R.
Service was just OK. Food was good but not amazing. I ordered prawn salad. It didn't have prawns, it had small shrimp. I was expecting large prawns. I thought they were a little cheap with it, and I didn't appreciate that. The curries my friends looked and tasted pretty good, so I would recommend getting a red or green curry if you go. If I do find myself there again, that and if I go back I'll try the green curry. We all ordered wine and the wine was ok. Overall, it was a straight 3 star experience. Not glad I tried it, but not mad either. Just one of those things...
(3)Homechef A.
The food is good, we really enjoyed the taste. The three stars is for the ridiculous small portion, if you are hungry, skip this place.
(3)Tiffany V.
3.5 stars I had such high hopes for this place. It seemed to be the saving grace to the dining hell hole that is Japantown and it helps my grandmother lives around the street corner. Came here for lunch with her and my cousin. We ordered the mango prawn salad, pumpkin curry, brown rice, and some tofu lunch bento. The salad was good but the portion was super small. How hard is it to add some more lettuce?! The pumpkin curry was solid and the lunch bento was seemingly a good deal. While all the food was good, my biggest gripe about this place is the service. The waitress was a total bitch and everything took FOREVER to come out. When we were seated we were handed a set of menus, a couple minutes later we got a second set, then a couple more minutes later we got a third set. WTF?! It took ages just to get some glasses of water and it was impossible to get the waitresses attention. The bathroom is in the way back where you have to walk past the kitchen into some weird room and they seriously have like 8 people working in the kitchen. Why the hell did the food take so long to come out then?! Ridiculous.
(3)Kaori M.
really liked this place! I had lunch box with chicken, sticky rice and veges. reasonable price and quiet cozy place.
(5)Dire S.
I have only been here once, but I would say that Jitlada is a 3.5 star Thai place. Their flavours lean heavily to the sweet side, which can taste very good to some people, but it is not authentic and they are lacking most of the other incredible flavours and seasonings Thai food has. We thought the som tum papaya salad was completely bland, and missing many standard seasonings. Also, the green tea I ordered had very few leaves in the pot among some other things so as other reviewers have said it seems that they skimp a bit on their offering. We ordered our dishes medium spicy but we couldn't detect any spice at all.
(3)Steven K.
Really impressed with this place....probably the most fancy/fine dining Thai place I've tried. And not overly expensive. Tom yum goong was incredibly tasty, though not spicy. Had an amazing chicken dish that was marinated in a honey lemongrass curry type of marinade, as well as a seafood dish. Everything was good. It's a really small place, quiet, great cozy atmosphere. Highly recommended.
(5)Thomas C.
My fiancee flew to SF from Asia for xmas eve. We ended up ordering take out from here since it was first thai restaurant that answered the phone (after attempting 3 other thai restaurants to find them closed). My fiancee and I ordered: 1) Crispy Soft Shell Crab appetizer ($11.95): No complaints. It is just as good as any other crispy soft shell crab appetizer i've had. 2) Prawn Pad Thai ($11.95): Also no complaints. 3) Chicken Gai Himephan ($9.95): Again no complaints. Portions are smaller than other places i've been too. but nothing bad about it. 4) Rice for 2 ($Unknown/Not Listed on the Menu): Like many places, rice comes with nothing and you must pay for it. Everything was standard thai fare. nothing mind-blowing, but also nothing horrible... On a nice note, we did arrive earlier than the time they quoted us on the phone. we parked out front and called to see when the food would be ready (5 to 10m is what we were told). while we were waiting for the food to finish, they were nice enough to bring our order out to us. What we were charged was interesting. If you add up above, you see a total of $33.85 without taxes. I guess it was very expensive rice as our total was $41. Also, we were not given a copy of the receipt. I was hoping that this place would be one of my go to thai places since i live so close. unfortunately, it cannot be.
(2)Benjamin I.
It isn't bad but there are far better options for Thai food that deliver in the area.
(2)Francesca L.
Nice little restaurant tucked away in Japantown. It has a very quiet atmosphere (no background music playing while you eat). I ordered the Pad Kee Mao with chicken and it was good. Beware though, it is spicy!! I also shared the fried papaya appetizer with friends. That was good too but it's a little plain if you don't put some of the sweet & sour sauce that accompanies the dish.
(4)Maya S.
Clean restaurant and courteous service. I shared: - Crying Tiger (Beef Salad): tastes just like larb salad but with beef. i love the flavors of these salads especially that lime juice. - Evil Princess Curry with Chicken: my friend and I didn't specify what heat level we wanted so i'm sure the dish was made mild. it was more of a sweet curry vs. spicy but still very tasty. the dish was a bit skimpy on the chicken though. - Roti with Coconut Ice Cream: definitely a sweet, warm treat but the roti was a bit greasy for me. On another note, the restaurant could get awkwardly quiet when peoples voices aren't filling the restaurant. I think some music might help.
(4)Shay B.
Great Service, but forget about that, It's probably the best Thai food in the city. Everything is fresh and you feel the home traditional cooking. We come back at least 2 times a month.
(4)Jeremy S.
This is the best Thai in the area. It's not the typical junky Thai fare (I'm looking at you My Ivy & Osha)... the quality is significantly better than you're probably used to. My recent visit was a happy one, and if my memory serves, they seem to have updated the interior (it really needed a makeover). Their whole fish was awesome and service was great.
(5)Tanja F.
Sweet mom and pop style shop. It's a smaller place but a lot of care went into the food that we ordered. I've been here for both lunch and dinner and both times it was phenomenal. So to give you perspective, I am definitely not a thai food expert. I'm use to what I can find around San Jose which is nothing to write home about. So for me, this place is off the charts awesome. I'm a big fan of anything red curry that they make. At lunch, they do have bento box style specials where you can try a little bit of a everything (appetizer, salad, rice, entree). Normally the dishes here are more family size servings, especially for dinner. We had fun ordering a bunch of different things and sharing. My favorite part of this restaurant is that you can smell the food cooking from the street and it seduces you in through the front door. The atmosphere is cozy, clean and friendly. It's definitely really convenient if you are near the medical center for business, although it is a little bit of a walk but worth it.
(5)Thach N.
I live about one block away so this is my go-to thai restaurant. the inside is definitely really small, only seats about 20-25 people max i wanna say. another strange thing: the bathroom is like far. like really far. like past the kitchen into a whole separate room far. HOWEVER, the food is pretty good! nothing exceptional, but definitely a nice place to have amongst all the japanese options in the area. i would really got it a 3.5, but 4 seems too generous. i really enjoyed the pad see ew here, and the pad thai was good as well just not exceptional. my friend had the curry and said it was good but i cant say for sure! prices were pretty fair, all around 10-15 dollars a plate which is pretty standard for a thai place.
(3)Jabez T.
Food Background: I am born and raised in Singapore. My girlfriend was born and raised in Taiwan. I had to review this place because every visit here has been amazing. Firstly the staff is so friendly, and makes this place feel so homey. My gf loves the pineapple curry, papaya salad, and the pumpkin curry. I love the Khao Soi - their curry noodle soup. My gf commented that she has never been to a thai place with good noodles except for jitlada. Will be frequent visitors of this hole in the wall place
(5)Thecitygrrls B.
Disappointing Thai food. The Pad Kee Mao was just not Kee Mao. Wrong noodles (thin rice noodles, not thick), wrong sauce (tomatoey, no), inferior cooking (no char at all, boo). A friend's curry didn't come with rice, which wasn't indicated on the menu. And that curry led to an upset stomach that afternoon. No good. Will not go back.
(2)Mark P.
Jitlada is still my favorite restaurant in San Francisco. Really nice staff and great food. After a difficult day it is a great place to relax with a quiet meal. Great pumpkin curry!
(5)Alex H.
It's really best to go through life with low expectations. Sometimes those expectations will come true, and you'll accept your fate and move on, but more often than not you're expectations will be exceeded and life will generally be a happier thing. Yes, there's a point to my rambling: I came in to Jitlada with unreasonably high expectations, and I paid the price. This is a fine place to go for a weekday meal or some lazy Sunday takeout, just don't expect to be blown away. I came in with family who were staying nearby and given that we all shared, (mango salad, satay skewers, shrimp wraps, pad thai, panang curry, and a few more I'm sure I'm missing), I feel like I can fairly say that everything was A-OK (minus the pad thai which was rather bad, and the panang curry which was quite good). I know everyone has a soft spot for their favorite neighborhood place, and I'm guessing this is likely the case with the great reviews here. And I agree the staff is friendly. I just don't think the food is anything spectacular.
(3)Ryan B.
I visited Jitlada while traveling in San Francisco because of excellent reviews on Yelp. I was very pleasantly surprised the the reviews had sold it short! The food was delicious, the service polite and very professional. The restaurant is cozy and beautifully decorated. For what you get, Jitlada could charge a lot more but the prices are remarkably reasonable. I can't recommend Jitlada enough.
(5)Aalayah K.
Most delicious Thai cuisine I've had before! I wish I lived here in San Francisco, I'd come here to get their mango salad and pad Thai all the time! Definitely coming back when I visit SF in June!
(5)Cindy K.
I was visiting Japantown and wasn't feeling any of the eatery establishments there so I looked to my trusty Yelp app. Yay! It was great discovering this place. It was slightly empty, but that was probably because everyone was eating at the Nihonmachi fair 2 blocks down. Ordered basil stuffed eggplant and pumpkin curry. YUM! We were a little scared after seeing the eggplant come out. It looked questionable. The green sauce looked really funky, but SO TASTY! It was a nice surprise and we were happy with our choice. The flavor was just amazing. Really got me in the mood to eat. The curry was alright. It could've used more Thai flavor. The pumpkin was a little too mushy, but still good. I don't like having to pay for rice. I feel like it should come with the entree.
(4)Brian C.
We were greeted politely upon arriving. The setting was pleasant and inviting. We ordered the Pad Thai and Red Curry of which both were equally favorable. The Chefs Specials looked and sounded delicious we will definitely come back and try one the dishes.
(4)Andrew M.
We get takeout from Jitlada every now and then... my wife loves their red curry. The food overall is quite good and reliable, and won't break the bank. I've had most of their curries, and had the eggplant/basil dish recently, which was delicious. The restaurant itself is also nice inside, on a quiet street just north of Japantown. The service is friendly, and the owner is kind of a hoot. I recommend giving them a try.
(4)Annie S.
I came here for dinner and I got to try... - Stuffed Basil Eggplant: This appetizer is decent... I wouldn't order it again, but some of my friends seemed to have enjoyed it. - Som Tom (Papaya Salad): I liked this the least out of everything that we ordered... I don't know why people like papaya salads in general. - Pad Thai: pretty good!! it's sweeter (and less peanut-y) than the ones that I've had at other thai restaurants. - Fried rice: I don't remember if we got chicken or beef with it, but it was good. I can't really tell the different between fried rice from different restaurants, so the fried rice here was like any other fried rice (in my opinion). - Pumpkin Curry: DELICIOUS. wow. I was hesitant about getting this curry because I don't like pumpkin... but it was so so so so so good!!! Wowowowowow I would come back here just for the pumpkin curry. tl;dr...GET THE PUMPKIN CURRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(3)Piotr U.
We were in a rush-35 minutes to eat before the walking ghost tour started up the street. Walked in, mentioned the time crunch and sat down. Golden baskets, spicy basil chicken and chicken fried rice came out fast and piping hot. Delicious! With few minutes left over we also got the mango sorbet and glad we did. Perfect topper to tasty dinner. Next time will make sure to slow it down and properly enjoy.
(5)Daniella O.
Ever since I have moved to the city, I have had cravings for Thai food almost every other day.The evil princess with tofu is my favorite! Luckily it is close by my apartment so I always get takeout. This has been one of my favorite Thai places so far. Friendly staff.
(5)Vicki T.
I don't know if I can say I've had better pad thai in my life. The flavors were spot on (though I'm not Thai nor have I been to Thailand so...) The eggplant appetizer with the basil sauce is amazing. The basil sauce is just to die for. I think my whole table were just melting... The mango salad was a hit for my other friends but I prefer the Burmese style more. Not big on the greens, extraneous stuff. and just prefer straight up mangos in my salad. Trout on banana leaf has too many bones... and the sauce isn't all the best in the world... Will not order again. The green curry was awesome. Great flavor, texture was super smooth. Good spice but not overwhelming. Will order that again, as well. We had three people and ordered 2 appetizers and 3 main dishes. We had to push a bit to finish it all but totally do-able. With a side of rice. Wish Jitlada delivered...
(4)Raina B.
I wish I had discovered this place sooner! This would have quickly been my neighborhood Thai spot and now I find it when I am soon moving... sad. The Khao Soi is the reason I will keep coming back! This dish is similar to the one at Poc Poc in Portland/NY though a tad milder. It is SOOO good though. We also got the basil chili with tofu and this was a little disappointing. I haven't had much of the menu just yet so this review is largely based on the Khao Soi but that is good enough to keep me as a customer.
(4)Sofia R.
I've been meaning to try this place out for a while so I dragged a friend here and ate for a bit. The atmosphere is cozy yet fancy. Quiet yet not completely silent. It's definitely better suited for intimate couples/groups. The service was nice and attentive. They were polite, friendly, and they made sure we were satisfied with everything. We ordered Thai iced tea, wrap me ups, and chicken curry puffs. The Thai tea was better than most Thai teas I've had in other places yet it wasn't the very best I've ever had. None the less, I was pretty happy with it. Especially because they didn't overdo it on the ice. The wrap me ups were good although messy to eat because everything kept slipping out. It was to be expected. There was definitely a ton of coconut but the fillings they put in the wraps are more generous compared to another Thai place I've been to. The curry puffs were very good although quite hot when you first get them. The curry puffs reminded me of little empanadas but curry filled. They were by far my favorite. What's difficult about this place is finding an item on the menu that doesn't have any form of nuts in it. This is to be expected of Thai food, but I'm just putting that out there. I liked this place enough but I didn't love it. I do want to try an entree sometime so I plan on coming back.
(3)Kim W.
Best Thai in the city! The depth of flavor is mind blowing. Warm and cozy atmosphere... feels like someone's living room, with beautiful classical guitar music in the background. The owner made us feel right at home. LOVE this place!
(5)Shayne I.
I live near this place. I've had Thai all around the city and I gotta say, this place is the best. I'm all about pumpkin curry and I've yet to have a better pumpkin curry. The owner and chef are both super nice and the service is great. I order out or go here at least once a week. Also- the plating on these dishes is beautiful. They really take the time to make the food look amazing. Not pricy either! :)
(5)Brian S.
Another great meal here. The nicest people working here. Totally one of those local small intimate restaurants where you recognize the staff and they recognize you. Fast meal service even when busy and the food is always tasty. Saw a table with some kind of pineapple dish- half a pineapple cut and partially scooped out, with prawns inside. Looked delicious and want to try this next time we go back.
(5)Elliott N.
Accessibility (Parking / Wait Time) 1/1 Star: _____ Service (Waiter / Cleanness / Ambiance) 1/1 Star: clean. Nice service _____ Taste (0=Not Edible / 1=Edible / 2=Good (average) / 3=Must Try!) 2/3 Stars: good food _____ Overall Experience 4/5 Stars _____ Pictures Store Front: yelp.com/biz_photos/jitl… Pad Thai with Chicken: yelp.com/biz_photos/jitl… _____ Last Words
(4)Sophie M.
We were really happy to find Jitlada. We really liked their food and did not find it overly sweet. The soups were really tasty. We will return.
(5)Shell I.
Thanks to Yelpers I chose this restaurant for my group of hungry friends....and almost missed it! It's a suite in a building so we went back in front of the building and found it. It's a small mom and pop restaurant with a warm and friendly environment. I ordered the pad kee mao (spicy) which was the best I have ever had yet. I tried a little bit of everyone else's meal and and they were super delicous too. Their chicken is moist and delicious and the dishes are very well seasoned. mmmmmmm. The servers are also very attentive. I will definitely make a return visit the next time I am in town. Woo hoo!
(5)Jen B.
Ouch. Bland Thai food. The server was really trying to please, but the hostess did not seem happy about our presence. The general atmosphere was of a place so used to take out, that I felt like I must be a fool for actually asking for a table. The chicken satay was OK, but the cucumber salad side dish was - I know this sounds weird - dry. Like it was ready to become kimchee. The good news is that the greens used for the Bangkok salad were fresh, the bad news is that was the highlight of the meal. Oh, and the sticky rice was great. There was something just not right about the baby back ribs that looked so good in the picture that someone had uploaded, and were a chef special. I was a bit worried about if the meat was old or something. But it could have been that the sauce was just not good. Like a failed attempt at sweet & sour. The noodle dish my husband had, just had no flavor. The noodles were stir fried to the correct texture, but plain noodles need more than a little bit of broccoli and a couple of small shrimp. Where's the basil, chili sauce, oyster sauce, kafir lime leaves, you know, the stuff that usually gives Thai food it's intensity? It can be done in many different ways, but bland? No, that's not Thai.
(2)Marti L.
Jitlada surprised me. With its big windows and white interior, the place looked more like a café in Hayes Valley than a Thai restaurant in Japantown. Small place with tables mostly for 2 or 4 people. The atmosphere is intimate enough for couples and dates, but also casual at the same time for friends and coworkers. Service was friendly and attentive. Chef Pai, the owner and head chef, came out and chatted with every table when she was not busy in the kitchen. Thai Curry Puffs ( yelp.com/biz_photos/DhxB… ): Compliments of the chef. She's working to have these curry puffs on the regular menu and wanted our opinion. The pastry shell was crispy and the mixture of potato, carrot and onion mashed together was fantastic. The puffs alone were delicious already, but the sauce made them amazing! Sweet and tangy sauce with assorted vegetables and peanuts! Thanks Chef Pai! Evil Princess Curry ( yelp.com/biz_photos/DhxB… ): How can I say no to a name like that? Red curry with spinach, cabbage, bell pepper, bamboo shoot, coconut milk and choice of beef. The beef was a bit tough, but the curry was perfect. Great balance of coconut milk in the curry. The spiciness was there but didn't burn my tongue or stomach eating it. Chef Pai's BBQ Chicken ( yelp.com/biz_photos/DhxB… ): Chicken roasted in a honey lemongrass curry marinade. The skin was so flavorful. Big meaty bites of deliciousness! Both of the dipping sauces were very good. One was a sweet tangy chili sauce and the other had more savory and smoky taste to it. It seems like Jitlada has a lot of regulars. Customers were greeted by name and people called in for their usual. Great little spot.
(4)Lee R.
A pretty solid thai restaurant. Service was a bit slow but food was good!
(3)Jade F.
Rating: 3.5 I like this place, for the most part. However, sometimes their quality is inconsistent, depending on the dish. We've tried: - ginger shrimp roll (delicious!) - tom kha gai (not memorable) - pad thai (overwhelmingly sweet, not a fan) - pineapple prawn curry (really good) - trout (superb, but be aware of the bones) - bbq chicken (pretty good) - pad see ew (sometimes shrimp is overcooked and sauce changes) With that said, as long as you find what you like, then it's definitely worth a shot. What keeps us coming is the nice people, the proximity to our house, and the trout.
(3)Pablo R.
Being indecisive about where to go for lunch, I found Jitalda by making a wrong turn. A hole in the wall off Japantown's edge, this place is a small find. Run by a husband and wife, the food tastes pretty authentic and we all thought it was good. The portions can be small on some plates and larger on others. The food tastes really good though. Because of it's small size, service can be slow too. The pepper soup and noodle dishes went quick at our table. For Thai in the area, this is a good choice! Street parking can be tough.
(4)Marc A.
I didn't think I would find better Thai in the city that my old stand by Marnee Thai but after a quick search to find a place to eat before a show at the Fillmore... we landed here. WOW! So glad we did! What's not to like about Thai samosas, pumpkin curry with chicken, green curry with chicken and pad thai with a side of the friendliest service you can imagine? I hate to tell everyone about this place because of the limited table space but.... oh well, enjoy!
(5)Melinda R.
I was in San Francisco in July on a mini holiday. I was staying in an apartment I rented not to far from the Japan Center. Yelp showed me the way to Jitlada which was a little over half a mile from my location in Filmore. Wow! Best Thai food I have ever had!! The pumpkin curry was beyond perfection. After I finished my curry, sticky rice and jasmine tea I was actually sad that the meal had come to a close. Turns out that I made two more trips back for dinner during my week in San Fran. Bonus: I'm allergic to gluten so I frequently have to ask a ton of questions to find out what sauces or soups it's been added to. Each time I went the staff was more than helpful about my allergy. They were able to suggest menu items that were gluten free and offered to leave things like soy sauce off of my meal when I ordered. They assured me that they could make anything I needed without gluten. It was quite refreshing! P.s. please open a location in Houston! :)
(5)Spencer R.
Had lunch here and the food was really good!
(5)Derek N.
Quaint and comfy is what you'll get once you enter Jitlada...atmosphere-wise, it is the complete opposite of Osha @ Embarcadero. Calming and soothing, as opposed to people-watching and "hey, she's cute". I like both for the record :) So I went with the Evil Princess. Nice name, reminds me of someone long ago. It's a red curry dish and I ordered it with chicken and asked for extra spicy. It had nice flavors, and they use chicken breast meat. Brown rice is an extra $2.50 (WTF?). Service is good. Ice water was cold (sorry for that one). Extra spicy had some kick to it. It's next to an OPTH and OPTOM office. I do need some new specs when I'm not wearing my GPLs, so I got something else from the lunch. I'll try them again for their Pumpkin Curry next time...late
(3)Andrew D.
Amazing !!! I come up to the bay regularly and this place never disappoints. Great for people that are eating PALEO. The wraps are all time and the DUCK was scrumptious!!! Thanks Ray and Pai for the years of great food
(5)Cindy W.
I surprised myself cuz I really did enjoy Jitlada. The stand out quality was that they offered some unique dishes on the menu, and they prepared them well. * Yam Ma Meung (Mango Salad) $8.95 - First time seeing a mango salad on a Thai menu, I was intrigued and happily delighted by the diced Mango, roasted coconut, cashew nuts, lemon juice, and grilled shrimp salad. Really light and refreshing with lots of tangy sweet flavors. * Baby Back Pork Ribs $14.95 - Baby back ribs marinated in a sweet BBQ sauce. Meat was super tender and fell right off the bone. They serve it with sticky rice which is a nice change. Very delicious. * Scallop Panang on Eggplant $15.95 - Seared scallops with a red curry coconut milk sauce served over a long baked eggplant. This was so interesting having never seen this before. Really unique and quite tasty. Just wished there was a little more curry to ladle over rice. The service was friendly and attentive like most Thai places. Overall, had a favorable dining experience.
(4)Paulette O.
Here's a little secret....this is the best Thai food in San Francisco. Every dish was incredible. What's more, the ambience of Jitlada is soothing and the customer service very friendly....it's the sort of place where you feel good spending your money. I highly recommend the papaya salad, fried chicken and spinach rolls for an appetizer. All of it was sublime. Thank you, Pai for such a wonderful meal. We can't wait to return!
(5)Naoskar A.
Stuff was extremely rude to us. Food is decent, nothing special, nothing close to real Thai food like in Thailand and proper Thai places in BA.
(1)Brad P.
Although we didn't order anything unusual: green curry chicken, veggie chicen sate, egg rolls, dangling shrimp (shrimp stuffed with crab), mango salad, the food (home delivered) was exquisite. As our guest commented: "This isn't Thai food, this is gourmet Thai food!" Everything tasted fresh and ever so slightly different than I was expecting, and simply delicious.
(5)Cindy L.
its all family style... and it wasnt that good. evil princess 2/5 tom yum soup with chicken 2/5 Bathroom was all the way in the back.. u see the kitchen and everything ...makes me feel super gross.
(2)Albert L.
Say what? Thai food in Japantown!? My girlfriend and I decided that we didn't want Japanese food (again) despite being in the heart of Japantown, but luckily we found this well-hidden spot. We were a little skeptical and debating if it was going to be a "nearby mall convince-type" restaurant or an actualy "legitimate" thai joint. Papaya Salad [ s3-media3.px.yelpcdn.com… Eh, nothing truly to rave about. Just like any other papaya salad with the standard little kick of spiciness from the chilies. The salad was served in a wonton cup but because of all the juices, it was soggy in most areas. Evil Princess Curry [ s3-media1.px.yelpcdn.com… I thought that only ordering just 1 appetizer and 1entree wouldn't be enough but I'm glad I didn't second guess myself. This curry dish was huge! A ton of spinach, chicken, and various other veggies. However, the curry texture itself was watery and I could hardly taste any "thai spices" within. I'm sorry to say that I had more flavorful curries at King of Thai.. Roti with Coconut Ice Cream [ s3-media3.px.yelpcdn.com… It was a little odd when I saw that there was a face made of nuts and raisins on my ice cream and reminded me of how Belly Good Crepes (within Japantown Center) does the same. The Roti itself wasn't all that great -- It was bland and it wasn't warm enough to really blend the ice cream together. We asked for some condensed milk but I assume that they don't normally serve their Roti with it, so there was none at all. So, Jitlada is a nice dimly light restaurant for a quiet dinner, but the food can be a miss. Like most Thai-type restaurants, you have to pay for the rice separately and Jitlada is no different. Our servers were friendly but they seemed very quiet and timid. Jitlada gets an A-OK from me, despite being a tad pricy, I left full and knocked out my non-Japanese dinner for the night, well sorta.
(3)Sally M.
I've had Jitlada on my Yelp bookmarks for *YEARS* now, and I'm so happy I finally decided to try it a few nights ago for Thai take-out. And now I *finally* understand what others complain about with respect to the lack of flavor and too much oil in dishes at *other* Thai places. Jitlada used the perfect proportion of oil - not too greasy, yet not too dry. And the way they spiced their dish was *SUPERB* and far superior to many other places I've tried. In this one instance, I tried the Pad Kee Mao. I'll slowly start comparing all my go-to dishes, but so far, I'm much happier with this venue than most others nearby. Excited to continue sampling!
(4)Paul B.
The place for Thai take-out in Pacific Heights! I cannot speak for the eat-in restaurant experience, but the take-out is great. Pros: Speed - Order will be ready within 15 minutes of calling it in. Price - About average for Pac Heights, but I would consider it a good value based on the quality of the food. Quality - Favorites are the pumpkin curry (w/ choice of meat) and Pad Thai
(4)Naol T.
Really authentic pad thai and the evil princess curry was delicious!
(4)D B.
I was all set to give this place 4 stars; going by the food alone, I still would. On our initial visit, a friend and I conversed with our server and by chance segued into asking if the restaurant had a particular traditional Thai ingredient. We described it and showed her photos of it. She said they had it but that one of the workers had already taken the rest of it home that day. She and we decided it would be best for us to call ahead next time to check before coming in to try it. The next week, I called about the item. The person who answered initially didn't understand my English (not a problem). I elaborated on my inquiry, at which point she said they don't [ever] have it and began laughing right before hanging up. It's not like I called to ask if their refrigerator was running or if I could talk to I. P. Freely. Some friends and I happened to be in Japantown later that day. The one who accompanied me on my first Jitlada visit walked over to ask in person, just in case the phone conversation had been a language barrier thing. Well, she asked and was subsequently laughed / argued out of the restaurant with, from what she told me, all the patrons watching. From my Thai friends and the Thai crew I used to run with, my impression of Thai culture is that it's looser, more relaxed than that of America. Yet I don't see openly laughing at - not with - someone and in this manner driving them out of a place as being part of any culture's joviality. Maybe I just don't know. Again, we like the menu, and we want to explore it more. We even don't mind the moths that make evening cameos around the table. Yet I'm not sure when or if my friend would be up for going back after her experience. I think you should still eat here, so long as you don't try to go off-menu. Or if you do ask about other items, bring one of your Thai friends to helm the conversation in your stead.
(1)Meredith R.
Excellent neighborhood joint - excellent Thai food. Super cozy ambiance, very friendly staff, service was a bit slow and spotty but by no means did it effect the overall experience. What matters is they are friendly and offer up their opinions should you ask. And do go with what they recommend if you ask them about one dish vs another. I had the special barbeque roasted duck and papaya wedges - both extremely delicious. My friends had the pad thai but wished they'd ordered a house special like I did. Very much worth heading here if you don't live near by - call for a resv because it's pretty packed during peak times.
(4)Dusty B.
These people are awesome! I needed a lunch for bidniss for next day service. And, I asked them deliver for 12 people and to just include some favorites: papaya salad, pad thai, chicken curry, crying tiger beef salad, etc They delivered it all right on time. And, they threw in some of their favorites including some eggplant dish and a tofu dish. And, they gave us the most beautiful sticky rice with mango desert. It was all delicious and delivered intact. I'd like to go and enjoy with friends.
(4)Annalise F.
Yes! Thai done right! I'm so excited whenever I come across a good Thai restaurant. (Props to the boyfriend for picking this little diamond out of the rough!) Before catching a movie at the Kabuki, we decided to have dinner here- as it's in close proximity and Thai is one of our favorites. Jitalda is clean, quaint, and delicious- at prices that won't break the bank. What more could you ask for? We ordered: Shrimp & Ginger rolls (delish- this appetizer stole the show) Pad See Ew (This was delish too- but pretty standard) Pad Ka Prow (very tasty!) And one other dish...that is completely escaping me, despite the fact I just pulled up the menu! Would I go out of my way to eat at Jitlada? Probably not. Will it be our go-to spot prior to movies at the Kabuki? ABSOLUTELY.
(4)D Z.
This restaurant is absolutely delicious. We ordered the Larb Gai, the papaya salad and a soup ( don't remember the name but it was noodly and light) and everything was fresh, perfectly seasoned and tasty. The people were incredibly nice - extra points for welcoming, friendly service. I don't live in this neighborhood but would drive back any time to eat here again.
(4)JJ B.
Food - excellent Price - very reasonable Service - very good I have ordered both take away and had diner at Jitlada. in both cases, it was very good. The pad thai, sate, spring roll, the soups, the curry, all were good. One time we arrived late with friend and their children. Although we lost our table, the staff did not send us away and had us seated 10 minutes later. our kids were happy to be together so they were a bit rowdy but the restaurant owners and staff were very cool about it. I will be coming back and am planning to order out tomorrow. the only drawback is having to go through the kitchen to reach the bathrooms, but the place overall is spotless and clean.
(4)Abby S.
Jeremy S said it best when he wrote about Jitlada a few years ago: "Delicious nondescript Thai food". Couldn't have said it better myself! Anytime I'm in the Bay Area, I like to take advantage of the tasty *and* authentic Thai cuisine. Or anything of the Asian persuasion if possible... So when someone recommended Jitlada I jumped at the chance to give it a try. One of the things that sticks out in my mind (besides the food) about Jitlada is the very warm and friendly service. I arrived about 20 minutes before my dining companions showed and the hostess was nice enough to let me sit at the bar and have a beer while I waited. Our server was also very kind and personable, which makes a dining experience that much better, IMO. Like many other SF restaurants, Jitlada is small and can only accommodate about 10-12 tables, so I can imagine there is often a wait to be seated. But you can also order your food to-go, as I watched several people pick up their order while I waited at the bar. If you want a warm, fuzzy Thai experience, definitely try Jitlada. As many others have mentioned, the food is good but it's the service that makes it worth going back for.
(4)Can C.
I am so close to giving this place a 5-star review! Maybe if I go a few more times and try a couple more items, I will do so. For now, it is a solid 4.5 from me! When I saw that Jitlada had such high reviews and it was close to where I live, I knew I had to try it. Thank goodness the food is delicious! My favorite dish thus far is hands down the yellow curry. It is sweet and not too heavy. If you order in the restaurant, they offer you the choice of brown rice or sticky rice, the latter being more sweet. Since the curry is sweet as is, I usually go with the brown rice, which becomes a nice vehicle for this awesome curry! I've also tried the pad see ew (good as well) and pad thai (good, but both this and the pad see ew were pretty standard). Their mango and sticky rice is pretty bomb too. It comes with black sticky rice, which is cool, and they even toss in a sliced strawberry (a nice little added bonus). The mango is always so sweet and juicy. I love it! The service is always good, greeting us with smiles, filling our water glasses constantly, and boxing our food if we have leftovers. It's also conveniently located across the street from Japantown, so if you're in the area looking for some quality Thai food, stop by here!
(4)Craig L.
Not as fresh tasting as I'd like. Seems like a contradiction, but a little on the bland side and oversauced. Not bad though.
(3)Rachel R.
I was a big fan of Jitlada. I was able to easily get a last minute reservation for 4 on a Friday night but the restaurant did fill up while we were there. Food: Pad Kee Mao - delicious with a little kick. I finished my whole plate. Eggplant appetizer - sooo good, didn't know I could like eggplant until I tried this! Alcohol: Inexpensive but good. Think most wine glasses were about $5 each. Didn't have to spend that much and had a wonderful meal. This place could also be a nice date experience.
(5)Natalie G.
Wow. Wow. Wow. My fellow diner was convinced this was the best place for Pumpkin Curry. I wasn't convinced, since well, that's quite a bold statement to make. But damn. That's some pretty good Pumpkin Curry. This adorable and charming restaurant has a great soul and the service was great. He seemed to be a regular here, so they definitely knew his dishes. - Pumpkin Curry: No other pumpkin curry will ever match up. Every time you order pumpkin curry, you will want it to be like this. And it won't. This curry has a great texture and overall warm and soothing taste. It simply is made with love. - Mango salad: A little summer on a platter. This light dish has a crispness and overall fresh take to it. Gorgeous starter dish to share. - Pad Kee Mao: A huge order! Nice selection of fresh veggies break away from the heavy rice noodle. Nice flavor. There is a lot of really good places to eat in SF, but hands down, this pumpkin curry is something special. If only they delivered....
(5)Bryan B.
I ordered the pad ke maw and 2 crying/screaming/SOMETHING tiger salads with sauce on the side (medium spicy) for pick-up. Lady on the line had trouble speaking/understanding English but it was painless enough. I was staying at the Hotel Tomo across the street so I just walked to pick up my order. The Pad Ke Maw with beef was delicious. Had veggies, the right amount of sauce, and the right amount of spicy. The salad was ... okay. It's basically a giant pile of cooked strips of beef, greens, and the sauce is a peanut-y tangy brown sauce. I wouldn't get the salad again but the pad ke maw was a winner. $30 for all that so I'd put it on the pricier end for thai food. In LA, it's usually $6-7 per dish. We ordered take out so no comments on the service.
(3)Rishi G.
This place is a great get in the lower pac heights area for solid Thai food. It's not a great place to eat-in as the ambience is lacking and it's kind of weirdly empty all the time. BUT - the food is amazing. Especially, the Pumpkin Curry, Panang Curry, Pad Ka Prow and the Shrimp Spring Roll appetizer.
(4)Alex B.
Nice flavor but three stars for small portions at high prices, plus some disorganization among counter staff despite giving them ample of time to get a takeout ready. Ordered the green curry with chicken (excellent), red curry with beef (very good), sticky coconut rice (average) and jasmine rice (better than the odd tasting sticky coconut rice). If I went back there, I would stick to the green curry and jasmine rice.
(3)Drea B.
Great lunch specials! Come here for great service, delicious food, and that certain-something you've been waiting for. It gets very busy during the lunch hour. Great for large groups. The women that work at Jitlada are very friendly and accommodating for bigger groups. The lunch deal is such a steal! I always opt for the tofu curry substitution. You get a yummy soup, white rice, salad, and your main entree dish. The Thai iced-tea is absolutely delightful, too! If you're looking for a great hole-in-the-wall, this is your spot!
(4)Lili L.
The best Thai food in SF... maybe even the best Thai food anywhere ( and I've been to Thailand a couple times) ... the pumpkin curry is hands down the best.
(5)Vinitha R.
The food here was really tasty. Good size portions that were reasonably priced and great to share! We ordered mainly vegetarian food- the evil princess curry, the pad thai, some veg curry puffs, and a green bean and tofu dish (can't remember the name). We also, ordered one chicken dish. All of the vegetable and tofu tasted fresh and well cooked- very enjoyable. 2 stars because the small location has a hard time with crowds. You feel like the next people waiting to be seated are hovering over you while you finish your meal. Also, to use the restroom, you have to get a key and walk through the kitchen which was disorganized and sort of chaotic. Its brave to let the customers into the kitchen, but since they did, the kitchens disarray sort of affects my evaluation. Still, I would go back for a quick bite if I was in the area.
(2)Mike S.
4.5 stars... Mango salad, spinach leaves & shrimp, eggplant & scallops - just about perfect! Friendly & prompt service as well... Tasty!
(4)Kathy R.
The location is pretty small, which makes for an intimate atmosphere. I ordered the Yellow Curry. It was good, nothing special, just a pretty straight-forward dish. It wasn't very spicy, so if you have friends that cannot handle a lot of heat this place would be a good choice. You can request to have the dishes made hotter of course. The friendly service was what made it as the staff was very cheery. I would go back if I was in the area.
(4)Paula S.
I have never liked Thai food until Jitlada entered my world. Chef Pai is a gem. She usually come out and speaks to each table. When she does- ASK HER what to order. Whatever you get will be fabulous. The Spinach roll ups are to die for as an appetizer, so are the golden baskets (ground chicken and shrimp in a wonton fried. Also love the Mango shrimp salad, The emerald noodles are wonderful and filling Entree and so is their Grilled Shrimo and Eggplant with coconut sauce. The crying tiger entree will make you cry with the heat- but its a hurt so good thing! LOL. And their lunch BBQ chicken bento and Duck are also home runs. Extras to try are the lemon grass tea, and the Black sticky rice with fresh mango. ..Oh also the fried banana with coconut ice cream is a total SIN- but well worth the calories. Their prices have gone up a bit in the last 7 or 8 years- but whose haven't? Their decor has been completely updated so that it looks like a nice little boutique atmosphere. I wouldn't hesitate to bring either a date or guests here. They will leave loving THAI!. Even "Foodies" will be impressed! Portions are very generous compared to other similar restaurants with similar pricing. This is a San Francisco Treasure, Very unpretentious and always consistently good! The only con is parking,,but wear comfy shoes and you;ll be glad you gave this one a go!
(5)George A.
Just when I thought I found a good Thai place pretty close by to me it closes (Neecha). Well, I decided to yelp around and Jitlada had good reviews so I thought I'd give it try. This place is solid. I've been here twice for takeout. The first time I got the paradise pasta, which was delicious! It comes with spinach noodles, veggies, chicken, and a house sauce, which has a peanuty/vinegary taste to it (it was very good...in fact I had some french bread lying around and when I finished my meal I dunked a couple pieces it in the leftover sauce). The second time I got pad Thai, which was solid as well. The noodles weren't too greasy or "sticky" and the tofu & chicken both tasted good. It came with bean sprouts, which gave the meal a good crunch. Both of these meals were about $10, which I thought was reasonable. The menu looks pretty interesting, and there's definitely some other things that I'd like to try that don't seem to be items you'd "typically" find at Thai restaurants. Since I got takeout I can't comment too much on the service, but the people who run the place seem very nice (I'm assuming it's family owned). The place is kind of hidden away in Japantown, and the inside is tiny! Both times I went the restaurant itself was pretty empty, but I'm hoping that's because I was there kind of early, and it's busier later in the evening.
(4)Philip T.
Everything was good, especially the pineapple shrimp curry.
(4)The Food L.
Amazing food - I never had coconut pasta anywhere else. superb service. My friend sri wants to give five 5 star as well
(5)Sarah Z.
This place was amazing. Hands-down best Thai I've ever had. The servers were so friendly, and all of our courses arrived with perfect timing. We never felt rushed. We sampled several things on the menu and several drinks upon the servers' suggestions, and we were not disappointed. We're moving to the area next year, and we plan to eat here as often as possible.
(5)Barb L.
This star is for the nice smiles I got when I went in...and the fact that we cannot give less than one star.... This is NOT the same Jitlada I remember frequenting years back...extremely disappointing both food wise and customer service. I will not elaborate...but our whole party are dying of MSG induced mouth burning thirst now... We will NOT be going back...
(1)Naomi C.
Small, cozy restaurant on the edge of Japantown and a couple blocks from CA Pacific Medical Center. The food is delicious and moderately priced. I can personally endorse the BBQ ribs with jasmine rice, as well as the deep fried shrimp "baskets". Also enjoyed the fried bananas with coconut ice cream. Definitely will return!
(5)Laurent L.
Overall the food was great. We overheard folks at the table next to us raving about the peanut sauce, so we tried the chicken skewers appetizer that comes with peanut sauce --- yum! Then we had the pad thai and the pumpkin curry. Everything was delicious. My only complaint is that the portions are a bit on the small side, so order an appetizer! I would definitely come here regularly if I lived closer!
(4)dave m.
I was in SF for a conference, and stayed at the Kabuki. This place was just down the street, and the Yelp reviews are what drove me there. And they deserve every star. We started with a reservation for 12, and 8 more ended up showing up. Most restaurants would either a) freak out, b) make us wait 15 years, or c) flat out say no. Instead, the nice people at Jitlada did d) BE AWESOME. They rearranged tables on the spot and made a home for us, and on top of which did a bunch of grouped bills to make it easier to pay. And the food, oh man - was fantastic. Light on the sauces, fresh on the ingredients, and moderately spicy.
(5)Karen W.
When I lived in San Francisco, Jitlada was one of our favorite places to eat for Thai with a nice atmosphere. The meals are excellent, and so are the desserts. Service is friendly as well. I live in Arizona now, and Thai restaurants here do not compare.
(5)Chanthi L.
Background: Thai food was such a treat growing up, my family would drive for almost an hour to LA to get our fill. I developed quite an affinity for really great Thai food. I love all the big flavors. And no, it is not all about food that sets your mouth on fire. Review: I don't understand why every single dish we ordered was over-sauced. Everything was just one note...sweet. Not interested in going back.
(1)Tammy C.
(See pics) Sitting on a quiet street just off Japantown is this quiet sparkling gem. I like the names of the dishes. Shrimp in sleeping bags are very cute and we were told not to wake up the shrimps! The homemade prawns in pineapple was lovely looking and was also rich. The chicken (think it's curry) with string beans was more of a subtle taste. The ambiance is elegant and cool, people keep the voice down with smaller chatty conversations even it's quite a busy place and it has really friendly service.
(4)Dagmar H.
Your Midwestern parents don't want snap-pea infused duck sliders with red wine aioli every night of their SF visit. Bring them to Jitlada. It's tiny, has a neon sign, and you can get something delicious for under $20.
(5)Maya G.
Thai food is one of my favorite foods around and I'm constantly in search of a place that can satisfy my high standards. I didn't know about Jitlada until just this past year because they don't deliver. Then one day, I was walking home and discovered that this hole-in-the-wall gem is just down the street from where I live. I finally tried the food and was hooked! They make my favorite Thai dish to perfection (Lad Na/Rad Na - it's not on the menu so you have to just ask for it) and every time I've taken people here, the other dishes we order are delicious!
(5)Jill C.
If they have the deep fried crab appetizer GET IT. If not, no worries...just about everything else is as delish and the folks who work there couldn't be any nicer! It's not where you expect to find a gem of a Thai restaurant - it's in Japantown!! And not on the busiest of streets, Buchanan. But, boy howdy, is their food good. I get the Pad Thai with prawns usually. Generous with the prawns and the sauce is just yummy. I'm glad that Jitlada Thai is in my neighborhood.
(5)Autumn K.
It may have been the outstanding company or the lightning and explosions sounds of the fireworks outside (It was the 4th of July) that made Jitlada my new favorite place to get all Thai'd up. However, I have a strong suspicion that the real reason this hidden gem gets 5 overly enthusiastic stars from this girl has more to do with the sweet, cozy interior, outstanding fresh veggie spring rolls, spicy basil chicken, and familial, genuine service. Peanut sauce is to die for and makes me want to get wild n' crazy in the Jitlada restroom (ssssh!). Seriously delicious, seriously friendly, and seriously clean and comfortable spot for consistently good thai food. I'll be back but in the meantime, if you're thinking of stopping by my place, pick up some of that crazy peanut sauce on your way and just see what happens.
(5)mariel v.
I have been coming to this place for years. I no longer live in San Francisco, but when I did -- this was THE place I'd go to for thai food and for special occasions. When I come home for visits, I make it a point to have a meal here. I've probably tried everything on the menu at least once. The owner/chef Pai is a doll! She remembers faces very well and will come out to greet her customers after she has cooked their meals. I went here on New Year's Day for lunch with my girlfriends, and she came out to greet us. We always tend to be the loudest table, in an otherwise quiet restaurant, but the staff are so sweet, they've never said anything! For dessert, they also brought our table a fried banana with ice cream, on the house! The presentation of the food is incredible! Not what you'd expect from most thai restaurants. Not only is the food beautiful, it's delicious too -- not heavy, or greasy at all. They also have a lot of health conscious items, and options for vegetarians/vegans. My faves are: APPETIZERS - golden baskets and stuffed basil eggplant. ENTREES - the paradise pasta, khao soi, jungle curry, evil princess curry, and pumpkin curry DESSERTS - NOTHING beats the black sticky rice with mango! my friend mindy is a huge fan of their roti, which is very tasty. She's told me more than once that she has never been able to get roti as good anywhere else, and the last time we were there, she ordered two.
(5)Doug C.
Americanized Thai food. I'm used to the quality of Thai food from here: thaifoodandtravel.com To me all the Thai restaurants including Osha are overrated. I'm probably not a good source for those who like the flavor of restaurants like Panda Express. I find that type of food inedible. $80/3 including $20/bottle of pinot gris. Pad See Ew; sweet and salty. Inedible. Didn't finish it. Steamed Sea Bass: small portion, not fishy. On a bed of spinach garnished w/ snow peas and zucchini. No Thai flavor in this dish. Tom Yum Goong: ok, had sour flavor. Not balanced with galanga or lime leaf. Tiger salad: beef sliced too thick. Chewy, we used the sauce on the Pad See Ew to make it semi edible. Not going back.
(2)Abhi M.
Excellent food for the price an really good customer service. the food is served almost immediately after you order it.
(4)Albie F.
When in search of a restaurant in close proximity to the Boom Boom Room, I stumbled upon Jitlada Thai Cuisine and I'm glad I did because it just became one of the best Thai restaurants I've been to in the Bay Area with such a wide variety of interesting and tasty entree options (and none of the plates disappointed). Sometimes you'll go to Thai restaurants and they'll have very good pad thai or just very good curries or just very good spicy beef, but Jitlada has a solid menu with many specials that are featured both on their website and in a special insert they put into the menu. What really kicked off my interest in Jitlada was the pictures of the Emerald noodles I saw on their website and the combination of green spinach noodles, tiger prawns, and a special wasabi sauce really did spark my interest. Now I actually ended up not ordering that but my friend got it and it looked exactly the same as in the picture. And based on his opinions, it was very very good too. Sometimes restaurants will spice up how their dishes look on a menu or website and when you order it, it'll look like something tossed together in a salad mixing bowl but the Emerald noodle dish was spot on. I got the Paradise pasta with the house special sauce and chicken & that was a wonderful mixture of chicken breast meat, flat thin spinach noodles, veggies, and a sweet red sauce for only $9.95. Others at my table ordered pumpkin curry, baby back pork ribs, and Chef Pai's BBQ chicken and none of them seemed to disappoint. So all together, we ordered pretty much most of the menu from noodles to curry to specialty dishes and they were all rock solid and delicious. To finish off the meal, I only got a taste of the coconut ice cream and fried banana that my entire table shared but it was SOOOOO good that next time I'm ordering one $5 order for myself and not sharing with nobody!!! On a final note, taking a trip to the restroom gives you a complete tour of Jitlada's kitchen. What a deal, a tour of the facilities included with every meal!!!
(5)Vinh N.
We were so close to Japantown... but decided to grab Thai food. Surprise! After hearing a lot of good buzz for Jitlada, the crew and I skipped out on Osha and came here instead. It's a smaller place with dim lighting and not very loud, but it was cozy. After a round of Thai Iced Teas and Coffees, we settled on ordering the Khao Soi (noodles in coconut curry sauce), Pad Thai, Evil Princess (red curry), and the Gai Himephan (sauteed chicken with veggies and cashews). The food came out fast and we dug in. The Khao Soi tasted as good as it looked, and I thought it was fantastic. It was more limey than I expected, but I'm definitely a fan. The Evil Princess was supposed to be spicy but I didn't detect any heat from this bad girl at all so I was a bit disappointed. I guess you'd have to request for spicier when you order it. The Pad Thai hit the spot and wasn't too sweet or tamarind-y, while the Gai Himephan being the most unforgettable. All of that and the bill came out to be less than 60 dollars for a group of 4, so we were pretty surprised. The food was great but I did start feeling self-conscious as it was so quiet. I felt like everyone could hear us talk, so everyone became barely audible. Decor is pretty simple but fitting. Good food and friendly service! In any case, we'll definitely be coming back in the future.
(4)Aleta D.
Visiting from Portland, Oregon, where there is a large Thai immigrant population, and as a vegetarian, I have eaten my fair share of Thai food. It's one of my favorite cuisines, and I'll put up with lackluster Thai because it's still predictably tasty and vegetarian-friendly. This restaurant, however, is beyond the standard Thai fare I'm accustomed to in many ways. The service is not only friendly, but genuinely helpful. The restaurant staff have a decent command of the English language to provide useful answers to my questions, and more importantly, they are very in sync with each other. There were no miscommunications, and on a busy night, my food still arrived promptly. And the food... even if it had taken a long time to arrive, it would have been worth the wait. I had great fun simply pouring over the menu and learning about new Thai dishes I had never heard of before, like the fried curry dumplings (think Thai samosas), and the Evil Princess curry entree. Being a long-time fan of Indian food as well, I just had to try the samosa-like dumplings, and I ordered the fall seasonal special entree. I forget what it was called, but it was basically a stir fry of seasonal vegetables, including pumpkin, shiitake mushroom, and whole peas in the pod with cashews in a light, sweet sauce. I've mentioned that I'm a vegetarian, and that I've put up with mediocre food before. I also cook my own food at home and know how difficult it can be to prepare vegetables well. This entree sounds simple, but the vegetables were all expertly cooked. The pumpkin was not undercooked but not falling apart either, mushrooms were not rubbery but tender and delicious, the peas were light and crisp, and the sauce was not too overbearing and helped the flavor of the vegetables shine. It was an excellent balance of flavor and texture. The price, as well, was very reasonable. I paid $30 for an entree, an appetizer, and a beer. While it's not the cheapest Thai food around, I feel the quality and service are at least two notches above the baseline, while the price is just one notch. The decor isn't the trendiest around, but it's clean and simple and I can tell a lot of thought was put into it. The few features were the Buddha statues, which all have their daily offerings of tea, Diet Coke, and toys for baby Buddha, as well as the live orchids lovingly clipped with decorative dragonflies to a support stick. Overall, the entire restaurant staff has put their heart and soul into this restaurant and the end result is superb.
(5)Natalia Q.
Small and cozy, this place is a hidden gem. The best Thai food I've had so far around here. I'm in love with their Pumpkin Curry Chicken and Pad Thai! The waitresses are very nice and welcoming, and it is a pleasant environment.
(5)Jenaynay W.
5 stars for the flavor- it's a party in my mouth! and no siracha sauce needed!! i love thai food, and have tried thai restaurants all over san francisco. jitlada consistently packs flavor in all their dishes. they are a little pricey for the amount of food you get. we were disappointed when we opened up our clamshell to-go container and found that it was 1/3 full of the dish. boo.
(4)Shannon F.
Yet another wonderful Thai restaurant. I can see this one becoming a favorite! After yelping the highest rated Thai restaurants in San Fran, this gem popped up and am I ever so glad we took the little trip to indulge at this fabulous place. Located at the end of Buchanan st right next to Japan town, this place is not hard to miss and well worth driving around the block to find parking..lol This place is extremely Immaculate with white Lenin and all, adorned with beautiful decor through out. We were seated by the window secluded privately in a corner with a nice view. We were greeted by our pleasantly friendly server. After asking my server a few questions regarding the dishes, I was able to quickly come to a decision on what to order. For the appetizer we started with the papaya wedges - which are Green papaya mix with rice flour and shredded coconut batter and sesame seeds. Deep fried and served with sweet and sour sauce .This was FABULOUS!!! Light crisp and sweet muah...delish!! For one main dish we ordered the Evil princess... he he....lol - which is a Spicy red curry sauce with coconut milk, Napa cabbage, and spinach B.F ordered the Dancing prawns - Grilled prawns stuffed with crab meat and ground pork, Thai seasonings, served with home made spicy sauce skewered and suspended on half an orange Our meal stared with the soup, which is probably the best starter soup I have had at a Thai restaurant so far- incredibly light and fresh with an abundance of flavor...mmmm wonderful!! First dish that arrived was the Evil Princess. This was fantastic!! Not too spicy with a settle sweetness, a decent amount of chicken and vegetables, all exceptionally fresh with incredible flavor. Dancing prawns danced there way over shortly after, and the presentation was splendid. Each huge succulent crap stuffed shells were planked upon sticks, pocked within a round peeled orange placed upon a beautifully decorated plate which turned out to be as mouthwateringly tasteful as they looked. All and all each dish from the soup, to the dancing prawns, all danced with unbelievable fresh flavor and had me lost in blissful moments with each unforgettable bite. I will be visiting here many times to come.
(5)Kean S.
Nice little neighborhood place - friendly wait staff. Great wine and priced low. My wife found a piece of hair in her food - they brought us another one - the chef came to our table and personally apologized. At the end, without us asking, we were not charged for the dish. The food is very tasty. And YES, I'll go back again.
(4)Aban E.
This was a cute little place by J-town. Normally, I end up eating something Japanese or Korean when around J-town, so I decided to try something new in the neighborhood. It was better than average, I thought. Service was great when I went there. I guess from reading other reviews, it's a hit and miss and though.
(3)Nilu r.
Pork ribs. Hello! I would have been happy with these alone for dinner...but the clear broth "jungle curry" was also delicious as well as light and healthier than a typical coconut cream curry dish. The restaurant is quaint, clean and the service very friendly. The bill for the two of us came to about $40 bucks. This place is so close to our place that we might roll down the hill more often now that we found it.
(4)Joe C.
First, I want to start off by saying that I'm Thai. And I am very turned off by many Thai restaurants in SF. If I want quick Thai food on a night out or for a meal before a movie, that's one thing. SF has many of those quick and ok places to offer. If you want good food with feels-like-home kind of service, I cannot name a single Thai restaurant that I can say that about. Well, that's no longer the case, in my book, about a Thai restaurant with good food and awesome service. Jitlada has become my favorite Thai restaurant in SF! I tried Jitlada out because I was in the neighborhood to see a play. And I will definitely come back, even if I don't have anything to do in that neighborhood. The food was excellent. We ordered the Barbecue Pork Ribs which were just so tender and melted in my mouth. The Pumpkin Curry was as yummy as everyone on yelp raved about. The restaurant staff were extremely friendly and not some high-maintenance servers you see everywhere else. They even talked us out of ordering too much rice because the Barbecue Pork Ribs come with some sticky rice already. We were greeted and taken care of throughout the whole dining experience. (genuinely and not because they wanted tips) I highly recommend Jitlada. And I'll come back to try some other dishes for sure!
(5)Anna T.
One of my favorite Thai places in the city. It's so ridiculously popular that I saw a couple wait at the counter for a table the entire 1.5 hours we were eating there. Trust me, make a reservation beforehand. The food here is just plain good. Everything was good. I normally never even bother to take home leftovers at a restaurant because I don't like to eat things twice in a row, but this place was good. And their portions are substantial to match the slightly higher price. I tried my friend's Kau Soi and I thought it was pretty good. Their pad kee mao was really good, I went home and ate the leftovers... Then the next day I ate the leftover spicy ground beef with basil . Man that was really really good for left over food. The crowd here is really yuppie, I noticed. It's expected since it's located in Pac Heights. Just an observation. Doesn't affect the food at all, which is delicious!
(5)Jen K.
Good Thai food, but nothing I would go out of my way for. Lunch boxes are a good deal.
(3)S. M.
Super clean! Super nice service! Super yummy food! 2 thumbs up!
(4)Danny B.
Khao Soi (Northern Thailand Dish) was my favorite
(4)Robert M.
Cozy space with excellent food. The pumpkin curry was excellent, as was the prawn soup. Waitstaff was prompt and courteous. The bathroom is a real adventure. Go behind the counter to get the key, which is attached to a bottle of purell, and then around the corner, through the kitchen, and out the back. Then go up the stairs and you will find the restrooms on the left. KNOCK BEFORE YOU GO IN, as there is more than one key... Sorry, dude.
(4)Alex B.
Very good food very nice environment i will defenetly come back here many more times. Thanks.
(5)Lisa F.
I've eaten at numerous Thai restaurants throughout San Francisco and NYC (where I'm from). This has to be up there with some of the best Thai I've had (and such reasonable prices too!) The Tom Kha Gai (I had mine without the chicken, being vegetarian) was INCREDIBLE. I have to say, that is one of my pickiest dishes. Either its made right, or its made terribly wrong, and this was superb. My friend and I both had the Pad Thai as well which was really delicious. The wait staff was very friendly and accommodating. I'll definitely be back here, and I highly recommend it!
(5)Mark L.
Went here for the first time to celebrate a friend's birthday - about 14 of us! Enjoyed the delicious meal - the ribs were wonderful and I had the pumpkin curry with chicken - yummy! Definitely go back again!
(4)Kevin L.
Although this restaurant is a little hard to find, it is worth the search. The pad thai was amazing. The noodles were cooked to perfection, the chicken was moist and incredibly flavorful. I was left wanting a better hot sauce to spice it up, as opposed to chili flakes, though this by no means made the food better or worse. The presentation of the dish was creative, as far as pad thai can be. It was served atop a bed of fresh sprouts with a nice slice of pineapple to garnish. Add in the salad before the entree (which is not mentioned on the menu), and the great service, and you have a great thai experience.
(4)Jaime R.
with so many great options for Thai food in the city, why settle for the mediocre? i've been looking forward to visiting Jitlada, since i started spending more time in the japantown/lower pac heights 4 months ago, but had never had a chance to drop in for a meal until this past friday evening. Drinks - the thai ice tea was just OK. Starters - the chicken satay's, well tender and juicy lacked flavor, as did the peanut sauce. the thai version of an empanada was ok, according the person dining with me. the saving grace for this meal was the golden pockets. they were better than average. Mains - the mango salad was massive, and very good per the person dining with me. the Livia's Special Noodles (Pad Sea Eaw) i had was poor when compared to OSHA's (or Basil's) version. the noodles were overcooked, and mashed together into mush. this might have been because we were eating late on friday night, but good restaurants should maintain their standards. If you are looking for great Thai food in the city i'd recommend looking elsewhere in the city. if you are looking for a good meal in japantown/lower pac heights, i'd recommend hitting one of the many japanese food options, or head over to Fillmore street, and the Woodhouse fish Company for a memorable meal.
(2)Suzy Q.
I came here on a date...well, he ended up being a loser but the food was amazing. I can't wait to come back to this place...sans loser. The pumpkin curry was the best!
(5)Tim G.
Jitlada Thai Cuisine is a gem of a restaurant, even by San Francisco standards. My wife and I moved here two years ago and we had been looking for a replacement for our favorite Thai restaurants in LA. Well, we found it and it has surpassed our expectations! The pumpkin curry is AWESOME! I love the ginger spring rolls! Sticky rice is a great side dish too! I've tried about 65% of the menu and have not been surprised and intrigued about how great everything is. The owners and waitresses are very friendly and welcoming. If you go don't be surprised if it puts your current favorite Thai restaurant to shame.
(5)Gina S.
This place was recommended by a friend who lived in Thailand, so I figured it was worth a try. A group of us went there last night without a reservation. It's a small place and was fairly crowded (note to self: make a reservation on a Saturday night next time), but they cheerfully managed to make a table for us. The service was fantastic - the women there were really friendly and attentive, and they were also funny. The waiter 'carded' my father (who is in his 80's) when he ordered a beer, and she did it with such a straight face that he almost fell for it! The menu is lengthy which always worries me - when a place has too much on the menu, I wonder if they can execute all of it well. So we ordered almost exclusively from the "specials" menu. The only exception was the pumpkin curry, since I was already told to try it. We had mango salad, Larb Gai, and curry puffs as appetizers to share. All of these were fresh and delicious! The salads were crispy, filled with a variety of vegetables, and the flavors were nicely balanced. The curry puffs weren't greasy and were mild but tasty. Larb is one of my favorites, so I was happy to find a great one. We ordered it "medium" spicy, and it had a great kick but didn't blow our heads off - perfect! The scallops and eggplant main course is really unusual. I've never eaten anything quite like it before. It was delicious, although the peanut sauce did overwhelm the delicate flavor of the scallops a bit. The sea bass was nicely-prepared and also a bit unusual for Thai food. The pumpkin curry was as-advertised by other Yelp reviewers - luscious and totally worth returning for! They offer white rice, brown rice, and sticky rice. We all chose sticky rice, which comes in individual servings wrapped in banana leaves. It was delicious. The restaurant also serves quite nice white wines - better than one usually finds in Thai restaurants. The black sticky rice with mango was fantastic (even though the waitress apologized that the mangos weren't totally in season and weren't as good as they like to serve - they weren't stringy and were beautifully prepared. Everything was beautifully presented, and this place clearly takes pride in their food. I'll definitely be back soon!
(5)Mike S.
Very good. Clean and kind if romantic atmosphere. Pumpkin Curry was awesome.
(5)Victoria D.
I love this place. I honestly think it is the best Thai food in SF. I use to use them for catering for a tech company in SF and they were very accomodating. Also, the owner, Pai...is one of the sweetest women I have ever met. As for the food... one word, AMAZING. Fresh ingredients and exotic flavors are always a winning combo. I think I will have my birthday dinner here, and have the black mango sticky rice with a candle on top.
(5)Walter C.
This is the neighborhood Thai place by my friend's house. They love it. It is walking distance to Japan Town. The food isn't bad, but nothing great. The staffs are friendly and it is family own restaurant. I tried their BBQ chicken lunch special, it was actually very good. I do need an extra plate for all the bones though. I stop by when I am in the neighborhood, but it is not a destination.
(4)M'ia K.
Friday--- 11AM, in the middle of my 'thyroid disorders' lecture, I send a text message to cbp: "I m out of class at 12pm so lets meet @ 1230 in j-town- i have an eye appt at 130 so we have 1hr for lunch!" So we went to Jitlada.. which HAPPENS to be right adjacent to my eye doctor, Dr Totsubo. I ordered the "pumpkin curry"- cpb is torn between the 'evil princess' and the 'jungle curry', and he opted for the jungle curry. Verdict? My pumpkin curry trumped his jungle curry big-time. To be nice, the leftover pumpkin curry was offered to cbp as a peace offering for lunch tomorrow. Their portions are pretty big, they have brown rice as an option (for you health nuts,) and the ambience is nice.. only minus is the fact that the bathroom is waaaay down the hall behind the kitchen in the back of the building. Parking in the jtown garage is cheap (enter on Post near Webster), so it's a great little 'hidden' spot for lunch.
(5)PJ C.
I went to Jitlada on a date little more than a week ago. The food was amazing, well-priced, great portions. The restaurant is cutely decorated, clean, with good service. We went on a Wednesday evening. The place was half-full, but it's so small, it still felt a little crowded. Seating capacity seems to be less than 40-50 people. We started with an appetizer of Thai Chicken Curry Puffs. These are great deep-fried pastry shells filled with chicken, curry, carrots, potatoes, and onions. Simply delicious! For the entrée, I ordered the Pineapple Prawn Red Curry, and it was awesome. It is served in a hollowed out half pineapple. It's a coconut red curry served with large tiger prawns, bits of pineapple, fresh string green beans, diced tomatoes, diced cucumber, sweet basil and red and green bell peppers. I ordered a side of steamed rice with the meal, as it was not included. My date ordered the Tiger Prawn Emerald Noodles, which was one of the dinner specials that week. It was delicious. The plate gets most of its flavor from a secret wasabi sauce that wasn't overpowering (unlike wasabi in general). I don't know how they do it, but the taste with the wasabi sauce was just great. We finished the meal with excellent fried bananas & ice cream. The fried bananas were fried in like little croquettes. Overall it was a delicious, excellent meal, great service, at a clean and well appointed locale. Definitely 5 stars
(5)Josh L.
I hate to say this, but their pad see ew was the worst I've had in SF. Absolutely flavorless. Not to mention the portion is incredibly small for the price. I'm talking wow-I-feel-ripped-off small. All I wanted were some tasty noodles for lunch. It was a toss up between the pad thai and pad see ew. I went with the later, even though it was like $4 more. I paid $15 total for these crappy noodles and a Thai Iced Coffee! Needless to say, my expectations were high. I had ordered takeout and they said it would be 15 minutes. I did some shopping at Japantown Center and came back after 20 minutes, and it still wasn't ready. It ended up taking about 22-23 minutes total. There was one large party there, and they were complaining a lot about not getting the right dishes. Other people had positive reviews, so maybe this was just bad luck...
(1)Jon S.
Excellent food, not oily - even the plain veggies were deliciously prepared, neither over nor under done. They also had an extraordinary Russian River Valley Chardonnay on the wine list - very grapefruit-y.
(5)Jess V.
MMM...i have to say, this was pretty good thai. We shared the pad see ew w/shrimp which has good flavor, but a little too much lettuce. And we also shared the Pineapple curry with prawns (served in half a pineapple) which was amazing. The customer service is good. Bathroom kinda wack but definitely more than your everyday "hole in the wall"...more like a cubby in the wall :p
(4)Annie W.
I find it ironic that right after I write a review praising the hallmarks of good customer service (read my review of Ann Taylor on Post St.), I am disappointed to report that I received anything but good service during a recent dining experience at Jitlada Thai Cuisine. I made reservations for a party of 8 last Friday to have dinner before heading over to catch a screening of the film Red Doors (by the way, it's a great film -- go see it if you haven't already!). I made the reservations for a full 2 hours before the start of the movie to ensure that we had plenty of time to order, eat, and walk the 5 short blocks to the theater afterwards. Our food arrived nearly an hour after we placed our order, but that was merely one instance in a series of poor service we experienced throughout the night. As for the rest, where do I begin? After our party arrived (on time) at the restaurant, we were seated at a long, cramped table in the corner. One friend was an unexpected late addition, and she stood for nearly 15 mins before someone brought over an extra chair. All the while, the lady behind the register was chatting/flirting with a take-out customer right in front of her! The woman who took our order was an older lady with a snappy, know-it-all attitude, who rarely smiled. Very unpleasant. One of my friends is vegan, so naturally, she had some questions about how the food was prepared. Every time she started asking a question, our server cut her off and assured that the kitchen would make her dish "without meat." Our server was also very pushy. She tried to sneak in an appetizer that no one ordered. When we told her we wanted to dine "family style" and ordered a total of 8 entrees (to split between the 9 of us), she complained that we didn't order enough dishes. She informed us in a haughty tone of voice that she was willing to "let us do it this time," but "just so we know in the future" it is house policy to order at least as many dishes as the number of people dining. First of all, let me point out that nowhere on the menu does it state such a "policy." And secondly, there will be no "future" visits. I mean, what a stupid thing to say in front of a large party! At our table were 9 customers, all of whom she just made very uncomfortable. Moreover, she just lost 9 potential returning customers who will NOT likely be coming back after the horrible treatment we just received. I had read all these positive reviews on Yelp about what a delightful person Chef Pai is. I sincerely hope this woman is not Chef Pai! On the plus side, several of the dishes we ordered were inventive. The stuffed basil eggplant appetizer, the pumpkin curry, and the evil princess were all delicious. That being said, there is NO EXCUSE for rude, pushy service. For that reason, I will not be going back. And for the same reason, Jitlada Thai Cuisine deserves no more than 2 stars.
(2)Holly M.
After a crappy day and a craving for thai that lasted hours, Jitlada hit the spot. The food kicks a** and the atmosphere is just down right pleasant. Yeah, that's right, I said 'pleasant'! The servers are so nice, appreciative that you're enjoying their food, constantly filling your lemon water and at your table before you have to lift your arm to wave them over. My favorite part is the small fresh flower arrangements at each table and all around the restaurant....last night was red roses. It turned my day around.
(4)Jay V.
Four of us dined here this evening. We each had different entrees and shared them with each other. Pad Prihk King was mighty spicy and flavorful. The Pad Thai was not too peanutty and just right. The Thai Iced Teas were not too sweet. We all really enjoyed our meals and left satisfied and with bellys full!
(5)Spartacus C.
no frills - just hands down - the best thai food (for your money )in the city. Sorry Basil!
(5)Eric C.
This place was somewhat of a disappointment. The food was non-distinctive and somewhat bland for Thai. We ordered this 'special' noodle dish (don't remember the name) but it was basically tom kha gai soup poured over some noodles...and since we had just started with that very soup, the similarities were very apparent. And the noodles appeared to be spaghetti and not the kind of noodles one would expect at an Asian restaurant. Everything tasted fine, certainly not bad - just nothing special. The setting is quaint and service is decent.
(3)James R.
great service - sincere, thoughtful, attentive. our food was good, not great. pumpkin curry was a bit heavy for our taste, and eggplant dish could have used a bit more spice. would definitely come back if in the area and wanted thai, would not come across town for it, but next time I go I'll try some of the other dishes that people have raved about on yelp.
(4)crystal n.
was in sf for business and ate here since it was right across from my hotel. mediocre thai food. i'm from minneapolis and we must have exceptional thai restaurants because jitlada wouldn't be able to compete. so perhaps my standards are just really high. had the meang kom, pad sea eaw, pumpkin curry and sticky rice. everything was fine but nothing special.
(2)Travis W.
When was the last time you had Thai food that threw you over the fence? Jitlada is an amazing little place that offers some of the most beautifully arranged food this side of Bangkok. The modest owner, who is also the head chef, is abundantly friendly and accomidating. She puts her heart into each and every dish that leaves the kitchen to insure that you leave the restaurant delightfully satisfied. Highly Recommend!
(5)Ken L.
Jitlada, oh how I miss thee! This place used to be semi-secretive, is that still the case?
(5)Kathryn E.
I have spent 13 days in SF in the last 9 months and have had 4 meals at Jitlada, and wish I had eaten there more - it is that good. A nice little neighborhood restaurant blocks from friend's house that serves delicious authentic Thai fare. Love their curries! Service has always been good also. This is a family-owned place where they really do know their craft - it is also the type of place that when we left our doggy bag on the table, the waitress ran a block up the hill to catch us and give it to us... how often do you find service like that anymore?
(5)Sam S.
I had extremely high hopes for Jitlada, and for the most part was not let down. The food was excellent, the menu well thought-out with many options, and the overall ambiance and service experience was comfortable. My only complaint? None of the curry dishes included rice, which was conveniently sold for $2 extra per cup. Now, don't most curry dishes all but require rice? Then why is it not included? Jitlada probably would have gotten another star from me tho w/o the fast-move they're pulling on the rice front... But overall Jitlada was a nice experience. The curry I got was very unique and truly excellent, and overall I liked the place. I'd recommend it to friends in town, but caution them to not get too excited about the prices until they factor in the over-priced rice...
(3)David F.
This place is absolutely amazing. First the staff are so warm and friendly I forgot I was in a restaurant I felt like I was at someone's home. Like I am Italian, and there is a certain warmness and I think some Italian influences in the food too. the last reviewer I think did not get that or communicate with waitress - my experience was totally different: with the appetizers she asked if I liked it spicy and gave this great red dipping sauce. out came this AMAZING FISH! order the rainbow trout and a glass of red from there fantastic wine list. there was this Markus Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles it was a beautiful wine and exactly as described on the menu. so the flavors in of the trout with ginger basil tomatoes etc - absolutely blew my mind. I am no foodie or food critic just a normal layperson, but I have loved trout all my life but my family hates it so every restaurant I went I would order or when they would catch it straight out of the stream and into a campfire - I have to tell you brothers and sisters - nothing on Earth compares to this fish - I highly, highly recommend this place.
(5)Emily W.
It's worth it to come here just for their house special pork ribs...they are the juiciest, most tender, fall off the bone, finger licking piece of BBQ that you'd never expect to get in a thai restuarant! It comes with a side of sticky cocunut rice that tastes like desert. OH SO YUMO!
(4)Carissa R.
After having lived in the same location for more than three years and thinking I'd tried everything the 'hood had to offer, I recently discovered this little (obviously well known from the number of reviews) gem less than 2 blocks from my house. No delivery, but with only the wicked hill back up to Pine as only a minor deterrent, Jitlada has quickly become my go-to spot for take-out Thai. I've tried several different dishes, but the one I keep going back to is the "Evil Princess." Oh, and in case you're wondering, none of the other dishes have weird names, just this one. And it's WONDERFUL.
(5)Natalie P.
I discovered a particularly good dish here, but have since found places which make it much better. The last time I ordered it here, it was extremely over-priced and the shrimp was dry and had obviously been frozen. If you're looking for fresh Thai food, I'd recommend Osha on Geary.
(2)Melisser E.
It's been awhile since I've been to a Thai place where I was SHOVELING the food in to my mouth! Well, my friends, tonight I went to Jitlada & it was ON! I stuffed myself with delicious Jungle Curry & the perfect Pad Thai with that sweet tangy taste I love! The service started to suffer once a large party came in, otherwise I'd be shouting "5 STARS" from the rooftops. Teen Girl Squad sez, "SOOOO GOOD!" & I agree!
(4)John Y.
Pad Thai and pumpkin curry were delicious.
(5)Miller H.
So what does a yelp 4 1/2 star Thai restaurant have that all the other great Thai places in the city don't? The answer is a flair for creativity. It's all about the presentation here. Located a block away from the center of Nihonmachi, you can see the influence of this neighborhood in everything from the decor, the plating of dishes, to the attitudes of the servers. I found the taste to be about the same as many other good Thai restaurants. But I truly appreciated the little things that they did such as the large chucks of Pumpkin in the Pumpkin Curry with Chicken. This is definitely a place to come back to, especially for an intimate dinner.
(5)Lei Z.
Honestly, it's regular ol' Thai food to me. Tastes pretty much like any hole-in-the-wall Thai place, and I've eaten at many in California. But very nice owners :)
(3)Nate K.
great thai
(4)Dani H.
Delicious! The special curry served in the pineapple is great.
(5)Richard S.
Street parking is kind of tough around the neighborhood that this restaurant is in. If you're starving or in a rush, I'd park in the Japan center parking lot. The service here was good and the people are really friendly. They're the kind of folks that want to make sure you enjoyed your food and are slightly disappointed if you didn't, which is good and bad. The bag of gold appetizers are good but the soft shell crab was bland and not crispy. I had the pumpkin curry with chicken which was good. Overall I found Jitlada overrated and slightly pricey for what you get but decent.
(2)miriam b.
Get yo "To go" on. Tiny place with spotty service, i.e. they don't understand the words "Warm, Welcome", just "yeah, we wantcha moola". small place and easy to miss, but good pad thai, red curry. Though many YELPsters like the pumpkin curry....it is TOOOOOO Sweet yuck...were they wanting that sugar high to last the whole month of November after Halloweeennn-ease?
(3)ehnonymus ..
delicious. adorable. try the basil eggplant, it might just rock your world.
(5)Tamara M.
We went here for a quick meal before a movie. As my friends mention in earlier reviews, the food was good but not quite spicy enough. The server brought us some crushed red pepper that took care of that right away! It was soooo good. I don't think I've ever had a hot sauce that compares. I'd definitely go back.
(4)Marsha Z.
From their small wooden sign to the handwritten hours posted on the door, Jitlada's a simple, unassuming Thai food restaurant off the beaten path in Japantown. I've dined in and gotten take-out on several occassions, and the service has always been quick and friendly. The portions aren't very much, especially for lunch. The food is nothing outstanding. And even though you can always specify, there's no separate vegetarian section (or any mention for substitutions) on the menu--especially odd for a Thai restaurant. The food is presented nicely, though, such as with the black sticky rice with mango. It was yummy. I doubt you could go wrong with any of their desserts.
(3)Lily S.
I found this place on yelp for before a movie. We ordered green curry with chicken and spicy basil with beef. Both were OK, but the flavors were a bit too strong, like they didn't dilute the sauce base with enough coconut milk (in the case of the curry). I like that they offered brown rice; the ambiance was sweet, relaxed but accommodating. The water jug they served from had a slice of lemon. So, lots to like about this place... except for the flavor of the actual food. Maybe we ordered the wrong things.
(3)Jim P.
We went to dinner to someplace we have never been, the Jitlada Thai Cuisine, and we will definitely go there again. They are so friendly and we were treated very well. We had the Ginger Spring Rolls and then I had the Banana Wrapped Trout. The spring rolls were so good we could have made a dinner out of just those. Very tasty. Then came the Banana Wrapped Trout it was the best. Tasted fresh and full of flavor.
(5)R N.
So I decided to try this place out since it got such great reviews. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed. I eat a lot of Thai food and consider myself a self-proclaimed connoisseur of it. I tried a variety of dishes and while some were OK, most were not. The evil princess was the only dish that pretty decent. The beef and green beans dish, the beef with basil dish, the sea bass and the beef salad were OK. The papaya salad was horrible, the seafood tom yum soup was too sweet, the jungle curry was more like a soup than a curry, and definitely do not get the awful salmon and peanut pasta. Terrible. If you want some authentic Thai food in San Francisco, go to Clement St. Or if you want some good food in the Japantown area, go eat Japanese! The ramen there is superb!
(1)Jackie S.
Foods Delicious, and the best part is, there inspection score is 100. WHOO!
(5)Carolyn T.
Small and intimate, Jitlada can sit around 40 people. With great, attentive service, we started with two specials; soft-shell crab and ginger shrimp rolls. This was one of the best soft-shell crabs I've had, served with some sweet & spicy sauce, sliced bell peppers, and sweet pickles. The ginger shrimp rolls were stunning - filled with cellophane noodles, large shrimp, and redolent with fresh ginger, I could have made a dinner with just these. We added a larb gai as an entree and was only disappointed by the lack of a fish sauce to accompany this offering. I'll add that it was a bit too spicy for my weak palate. Our other entree was an Imperial Curry, served in a small hot pot and filled with large shrimp, eggplant, bell peppers, green beans, and fresh basil. It was also on the spicy side, but so fresh and well-prepared. Chef Pai spent time touring the tables and ensuring that all her guests were happy. It was a pleasure to meet her and I look forward to going back (other reviews rave about a pumpkin curry that I am now dying to try).
(4)Lisa D.
Very authentic neighborhood restaurant with friendly staff. I went once, and the food was TOO spicy. I went again, and was a bit embarrased when the waitress asked me if the food was too spicy or not...I think I made a scene round one, oops! Anyways, all was deliecious, especially the whole trout.
(4)Lily K.
I really liked this place! Definitely a good kept-secret thai place. Very typical Asian-cozy-cute. Good portion size and prices and flavorful food!
(4)Jerry O.
Could be the best #Thai #food in #sf. Worth the trip to Japantown.
(5)Cher E.
I am so glad to finally find some great thai food in the neighborhood! I stumbled upon Jitlada the other night and from now on, it will be my go-to place in Pac Heights. It was super easy to get seated and service was very attentive and friendly. We had the tofu pumpkin curry and pad thai with prawns, both of which were amazing. I would highly recommend this place to anyone and it's the perfect place to stop by before a movie at the Kabuki or a night out on Fillmore.
(5)Elli F.
We have only lived in the city for a month and have already been there twice. It's is very good. Very relaxing atmosphere. Highly recommend the spicy basil and the evil princess curry as well as any of the appetizers.
(5)Peter W.
My second favorit Thai place in SF right near Japantown, who would have thought? I had the red curry with pork for lunch with some co-workers. We also ordered something that I forget the name but they looked like little bags. In these these bite sized fried delights were a mix of veggies, chicken, and shriming. It was very nice. Yum Yum.
(4)David P.
the pork ribs are amazing!! so much so that i regret giving a rib to each of my friends... the servers are very funny and honest (at least the older woman). when's the last time you heard a server say they didn't like something on the menu?? atmosphere is rather quiet, so it's not the best place to bring kids or loud friends who will embarrass you. if you're going on a friday night you should make a reservation, we didn't make one and we ended up sitting in the middle of the room in front of the door (kind of awkward...) whenever we asked to move to another table we got shot down because it was reserved :P -1 star because the service was kind of slow (i understand that it's a full house but when we ordered dessert we each got ours like 10 minutes apart from each other...) other than that it's some of the best thai in the city and i will be coming back again and again :D
(4)Joel B.
Food was good and it was reasonably priced... one thing I didn't like was they were a bit rude and rushed us out around closing which was early 9:30pm on a Saturday.
(3)Debora G.
I have been a fan of Jitlada for many years. It was recommended by a friend of a friend, and from the first time to this day is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in San Francisco. The food is always consistently great, the service is very attentive, and the atmosphere is casual, as if you were sitting in someone's dining room. I still don't understand why it is isn't packed everytime I go there, but at least I am glad I never have to wait in line for a table. My favorite dish is the pumpkin curry with prawns. But anything I have ever tried there was delicious, and they always bring you a complimentary dish. They also do take-outs.
(4)DeLune Avec DeBussy B.
Wanting Thai near Japantown, I decided to hit up Yelp. Needless to say, the reviews brought me here and I was not disappointed! The pumpkin curry was divine! I'd definitely go back again!
(4)Niko P.
No wow factor for us: The Pad Thai is good, but I did not find this Thai food nearly as good as other Thai restaurants. Compared to Thai food on upper Polk Street the portions are smaller and the prices are higher (Pacific Heights). Long walk to the bathroom with a key is a bit odd. If this is your local spot, okay, but if not, save yourself the walk.
(3)Joy C.
Nicely decorated restaurant, a stone's throw from Japantown. Me and 7 other pals got a bunch of dishes, which didn't put too big of a dent on the wallet. All were delish! Somewhat smallish portions, but really flavorful and well-executed.
(5)Glyde W.
Thai soul-food! Holla!
(5)Scott F.
Delicious Thai food.
(4)Debbie T.
We just went for dinner for our first time, it was a pleasant place, I especially liked the decor, with creatively hung curtains in several spots in the dining room, and pretty flowers too. The menu was good, not great, in my opinion. I am a veggie and my husband is primarily, so we both ordered the pumpkin curry, since many reviewers liked it here. I had the tofu and he had the chicken curry. We both liked our dishes, it was very creamy smooth, mild, and looked nice. We also had the fried corn appetizer, which was ok, it comes with mini cuke slices over a little sauce to dip in. He had Thai iced tea, which I took a sip of, and as a person who generally loves the stuff, I'd say it was very good. I just had basic tea, I didn't think to ask about flavors, but it was fine. She refilled my cup halfway through dinner, and it was a nice sized cup. We skipped dessert since we were quite full and had a party to get to. Our waitress was efficient and nice, but didn't seem too friendly to us otherwise. When we arrived, we weren't greeted by the door, a gal just waved us over to a corner table near the back of the room, so I take off points for that. I think hosts should welcome diners by the door, then seat them. Call me old fashioned, but it seems more welcoming and friendly to eat there then. They were nice though, just didn't offer any suggestions or ask if we had questions on the menu. We may go back again sometime, I wanted to try the sticky mango rice, but forgot to order it. There are a few other things that caught my eye on the menu for vegetarians, but only maybe one or two entrees. We have been to Osha 3 times since we moved here this summer, and we think it's much better overall.
(3)Joe H.
This is a great, intimate place, well decorated, with nice flowers that blossom with the sweet fragrance of expectation (hers---that you will pay the bill with none of that pathetic "Dutch treat" stammering overture.) Everyone is really friendly, the service is easy, and politely attentive. The flavors are delectably great. The Mexican dishwasher, whom one encounters on the way to the bathroom, is a cool dude. Ask to try on his sombrero. The owner is a sweetheart, gracious and pleasing. All the staff are cool. The "Wrap Me Up" is an explosion of sensuality in one's mouf! The mango salad is ummmm ummmm good. All the dishes are so very tasty that one should chew yer grub very slowly, and eschew mastication wat too hasty. I reckon pert near everbody would enjoy the place 'cept fer the reviewer, "Suzy Q." who musta thunk the bloke with whom she went, wasn't as much of a loser as he turnt out to be. Definitely worth a sojourn an' plop!
(5)Keith W.
I visited this charming little restaurant for the first time yesterday, and the food was delicious. More impressive, the chef/proprietress was so friendly and kind to us I just had to leave her a great review. I called to make a reservation for 15 people (my company) and wanted to start our meal at 4:30. Even though they normally don't open until 5:00 for dinner, she opened 30 minutes early just for us. I also asked her to prepare a variety of dishes for us, including some vegetarian fare, and left it up to her. We settled on a fixed price per person (very reasonable) and the staff kept bringing out more and more plates (served family style). We stuffed ourselves! I don't know the names of the dishes, but I do remember a pumpkin curry that I thought was great. I tried everything (about 8 different dishes), and it was all good. At the end she brought out a mango/sweet rice dish with black rice that was the best I've ever had.
(5)Saquib P.
Food was delicious!! Service was great as well. We had the tom yum soup, the spicy basil beef and the mango sticky rice (dessert). All 3 items were very tasty. I would highly recommend this place.
(5)Cass C.
aroi mak mak! This place is great. I have been searching and searching for Khoi Soy since visiting Chiang Mai last year and have finally find a spot! My only disappointment is that, though the menu says they have them, I have yet to recieve the pickled veggies with the dish. So sad, but great in all other ways, friendly staff, tasty food and pretty darn clean and sanitary.
(4)Sarah T.
Tasty pad thai, great tom ka gai soup, and my daughter's favorite "shrimpies in a sleeping bag." We try to stop in on Wednesdays between Nihonmachi Afterschool and Enshin Karate for a weekly Mommy + Daughter Date. Nice servers, mellow atmosphere, and so far, all the dishes we have tried have been delish!
(4)Ai M.
We were truly looking forward to the restaurant, however we were so disappointed. Had the worst khao soi I had ever tasted. The noodles were made with linguine (not the original egg noodles) and the broth was made from canned pumpkin without much flavor/curry/spice. It lacked all the condiments that usually goes with this dish as well. Also had a stir fry eggplant dish - another disappointment. The service and the location (near the kabuki theaters) were the only good things going for that restaurant. Would definitely NOT recommend it. If you want more authentic Thai food, go some place else.
(1)sweetie p.
Baby, that place rocks, guess one of the best Thai places in SF
(5)Stacy N.
This was my favorite Thai place in the city.... until I was served food that was way past its prime. using cheap quality ingredients and service has gone way down hill.
(1)Rae G.
Great place! Food was amazing! Loved the mango salad...yummie!
(5)Kevin Y.
Appetizer was a fried papaya type dish. My friends complained that the fried batter, which contains some coconut shreds, was not crispy enough, but I enjoyed it along with the sweet dipping sauce that was provided. I had the jungle curry, which was so spicy that I had to steal a few sips of my friend's Thai iced tea. When that failed, I ran to the bathroom to scrape my tongue. I would recommend it if you like spicy food and/or tongue scrapes. My friend ordered the steak, which was prepared in a delicately sweet sauce. The portion was not large, but was a good size. Dessert was mango and sticky rice, which was elegantly presented and tasted good as well. Normally four stars, but they lose a star because they took a while to bring food out to us. That may be attributable to them having a small kitchen, or maybe our party of four showing up at 8:30pm on a Sunday night. I would still recommend this place if you are looking for non-Japanese food in the Japantown area.
(3)Nancy C.
LOVE this place. Food is amazing!
(5)Sara S.
This is my favorite Thai in SF, hands down! The ginger shrimp rolls, tom ka soup and red curry are always fantastic. The curries are a bit soupier than some other places, but I like it that way. The service is always great and its a nice, quiet place to have a meal.
(5)farmta s.
This place is a little fancier for the typical Thai restaurant, which would justify the slightly more expensive pricing. Don't get me wrong though, the food here is very good. I would definitely come back if i was in the neighborhood. If you were looking for a nicer/cleaner looking place for thai food, this is a good choice. Not very much seating inside so I wouldn't do a large party.
(4)j. d.
This place used to be better. The presentation is stil great, as is the service. But I took 6 friends there one night a few months ago, and I could tell they had that "ok, it's not as good as you raved" look on their faces like I thought they would. The thing is ... it used to really be that good, guys ... but the last couple times I've been the flavors just didn't punch me in the mouth like in the good old days. That said, it's a great thai place and probably the best in the city that I know of. I love pretty much all their soups, and pretty much any curry is still pretty great. But there's best and best of the best, and now it's just best. come back!
(4)Michelle A.
I've been to this place about 4 or 5 times. Some dishes are really great, like the trout wrapped in a banana leaf. Others are just so-so like the pumpkin curry. The service is usually pretty good. For example, the server asked us if the spiciness of the salad was okay before having the kitchen prepare our entrees. If you're in Japan town and you feel like Thai rather than Japanese, I think it's a good bet. Dinner for two (a salad, 2 entrees and 2 drinks) ran us about $60.
(3)Ben T.
I liked this place. It has a nice intimate atmosphere and the food is good.
(4)irwin s.
After reading a few reviews, my friend and I visited the restaurant last week with anticipation of a very good dinner. It was OK, but not memorable. The menu did not have many choices and most were shrimp based. They were good if you liked all your courses to be shrimp.. I tried the pork, which was not reccomended by the owner. She was right in not suggesting it. The menu was not as varied or interesting .as other Thai dinners. I will try it for lunch as I live three blocks away.
(3)Kristin D.
perhaps more of a 3.5er, but solid choice... reasonably priced. friendly/good service. enjoyed the tom yom gai soup as well as the pumpkin curry. yummy blacksticky rice and mango to finish. none of it was worth writing home about but definitely decent Thai.
(4)Lane K.
Get the friend shrimp appetizer.
(3)rachel p.
when we lived on fillmore we were quite disturbed to find out that our neighborhood thai place was 2001 thai stick. i don't even know what that means. what does that mean? anyone? now 2001 thai isn't horrible, but it lacks something. and it's not eat-until-you-bust thai. anyway, i was really glad to hear there was another spot within walking distance that was quite good. jitlada probably has the nicest servers of any thai place in SF. they really remind me of the thai people in thailand because whenever you say something to one of them they will smile shyly or giggle. it's really adorable. plus these people take pride in their restaurant. they actually take the time to care about the presentation of their delicious dishes. plus they have white tablecloths and cute lil flowers on every table. did i mention the food is good? i'm a fan of their pad thai, their pumpkin curry (so sweet and delicious), and their basil chicken.
(4)rasaka s.
the pad thai is to die for ....... your chicken curry and the spicy basil beef where very well done and i look forward to coming back soon. try the tom yum soup...tastyyyyyy
(4)Pierre K.
Had an amazing meal here last night. Wow, who would have thought that my Thai food would look and taste as good as it did. Really beautiful presentation, amazing flavor and unusual combinations, and super, super nice service. Don't be put off by the kind of blah interior, GO!
(4)Jessica D.
Just the other day a co-worker asked me, "What's your favorite restaurant in San Francisco?" "Um," I stalled, "Like favorite *how*?" Like favorite sugar-daddies-only, or favorite food-I-dream-about; favorite ambience, what? Not to get hostile, but 'favorite' is a pretty vague concept. I mulled over this for a few hours, but it wasn't until I ordered take-out from Jitlada that I settled on my favorite "favorite" definition. To rank as one of my faves, I've got to be able to eat there often, which means the food has to be consistently awesome, relatively affordable, and varied enough to keep me happy when I order multiple dishes and want to switch up my flavors. Make no mistake, Jitlada is a cozy neighborhood find that's often overshadowed by the louder, more prominently located Thai Stick 2000. There's nothing special about the ambience, but it's entirely pleasant and comfortable. The waitstaff are totally friendly and respectful, and the menu a tad leaner than other bustling Thai eateries. That said, the food is always, always terrific and there are interesting dishes you won't find on other menus. NB, the gingery trout makes me emotional.
(4)Jan C.
I think this is the best thai food in SF (yes, I've been to Marnee. I like Jitlada better). My friends rave about the green curry, but I think the pumpkin curry is a standout, as are the salads. I even liked the eggplant-shrimp appetizer here and I virulently despise eggplant. I find that the more unusual dishes shine here (as opposed to the standard Thai curries). Service can be slow for big groups or when the place is crowded. The dining room is nice, but they can really pack people in there. You have to walk through the kitchen to get to the bathroom.
(5)Lee M.
This has become our go-to Thai restaurant. We actually live closer to Thep Phenom, but regularly choose Jitlada instead, due to the better service and more pleasant dining experience. The food at Jitlada is just as good, if not better than Thep Phenom, and the service has always been great. It gets busy, but we've never been unable to get a table when we've stopped in. I'm a big fan of the Pumpkin Curry and any of their specials (especially anything served in a pineapple). And I love the fact that they serve Chang beer. I even left my winter hat there the other night, and they had it waiting for me when I came back for it a few hours later. Great people, great service, and great food.
(4)Erin L.
This is one of our favorite neighborhood spots. The food is incredible-some of the best thai food I've ever eaten. The sauces are incredibly delicate and delicious and I can't say enough about the service. Everyone who works here is very sweet. I love the pumpkin curry and the papaya wedges. It's a nearly perfect meal.
(5)Jeannie L.
The Pumpkin Curry hits the right spot every single time. Yum! This is a little hidden gem near Japantown with classy decor, fairly priced menu, and delicious Thai dishes.
(4)Tatyana M.
Every time we visit San Francisco from the East coast we can't escape the feeling that the trip is not going to be complete without eating at Jitlada. Once we tasted their amazing food no other Thai restaurant we tried over the years could come even close to that level of flavor and presentation. We experienced a friendly, attentive service and felt very cozy and comfortable in their little but nicely decorated restaurant. We recommend it to everyone who loves great Thai cuisine and cozy, nice ambiance. Once you try it you'll never going to forget it. My only "complain" is that we can't have them here on the East coast :). Thank you Jitlada, we'll be back any chance we get.
(5)Gun Dawgy C.
Yum!! Thats the best description that comes to my mind!! Love the pad thai with tofu ....golden basket appetizers and the evil princess curry.....have to stop now...making myself hungry.....
(4)Sarah R.
Went here last night. We really enjoyed the Tom Yam Koog soup - excellent flavor. We loved the Pad Kee Mao prawns - this was the best thing of the night. We also enjoyed the Spicy Basil Chicken but it was pretty darn hot! It was also a lot of food for 2, next time we'd just do the soup and the noodles. Reasonably priced for the quality and fast service. We'll be back!
(4)So L.
Two thumbs way up. My personal favorite Thai restaurant in Sf. Appetizers are addicting and make you want to fill up just on those alone. However, you will be missing out since the other dishes are quite wonderful. Pleasant atmosphere (not too big or too small) and always a good time with friends. Food presentation is surprisingly nice quality. Servers are friendly.
(5)Grace G.
Chef Pai is wonderful! She is very friendly and makes the most delicious pumpkin curry I have ever had. Our office always gets catering from Jitlada and they are excellent!
(5)Michelle N.
If you like Thai food you'll love this little place. The owner/chef is this outgoing wonderful woman who loves to take care of her guests and cook great food. The yellow curry is the best we've had and the Pad Kee Mow was fantastic. Be careful when you tell her spicy because she will absolutely fire you up!!
(4)Kristina W.
My favorite Thai restaurant in the Bay Area. They even have Kao Soy which I can't seem to find in too many Thai restaurants in the US. Their pumpkin curry is also excellent. My only disappointment was their black sticky rice because it was too crunchy.
(4)andrew l.
I knew we made the right decision when I found parking right out front of Jitlada, a neighborhood place recommended by a world savvy friend of my Mother's. It was early (I was with my 82 year old mother) and the place was pretty empty, but it was pretty and we had our pick of the tables. The staff were typicall .. friendly, courteous, helpful, charming, and rightfully proud not only of their native cuisine, but also of the first-class food they served. With some help from the delightful wait staff, we selected Larb Gai and fresh spring rolls for appetizers. Both first class -- the familiar flavors of Larb - lime, chili, mint, and cilantro made for one of the best I've eaten, and I know my Larb. Spring rolls also delicious. Main courses were three, all stars .. the Bass with garlic was smooth and silky, with veggies and a light but perfect sauce. Pad Thai (not my first choice, but the wide noodles were apparently not in supply) .. was among the most complex and flavorful I've had -- but the highlight of the dinner was the scallop and eggplant panang .. wow -- gorgeous to look at, even better to eat. Don't miss the black sticky rice or the fried banana either. My wife and I would have ordered the food spicy - we like the fire-breathing drunken noodles and panang, but I didn't want to kill mom, so I ordered everything 'medium' .. it was perfect for all. Hugely flavorful without the seared lips and burnt tongue we've come to expect from really authentic Thai. (That said, I can't wait to go back to see what 'hot' or 'extra hot' delivers. Did I mention that I"m spoiled with good Thai food? I live in Arlington, can practically walk to a handful of what I thought were the best Thai places around. Now I have a new standard -- the combination of service, presentation, and taste at Jitlada make it tops on my list.
(5)serena j.
not as good as expected: i ordered the yelloe curry: which is too salty, and the chicken is so dry, and too little rice lor. my sis ordered pai thai: which she said is ok , nothing special at all. and the fried banana w/ ice cream: ice cream is fine, not too sweet. banana is ok lor i expected taste very good after reading all these review. but it comes out it ok..nothing special lor
(2)Chris C.
I went here on my brother's reccomendation for my birthday last year and it didn't disappoint me. The staff are super freindly and attentive and we met with Chef Pai where I thank her for her wonderful meal she cook. If you want unique Thai food, then this is the place to go. Their golden basket so good. So did their ginger spring rolls, the curry fabulous and the dessert were simple and good. All my freinds were having a great time and will most likely go back to there soon.
(4)Ken H.
After seeing that this Japantown Thai restaurant won best in Citysearch, I checked it out for take out a few times and have been blown away every time. Best Thai I've had in the city. I second the reviewers who rave about the pumpkin curry. Also, the eggplant appetizer (stuffed with chicken & shrimp) is amazing. I have only done take out so far, but am anxious to dine in - as it looks like a very quaint, still relatively undiscovered, neighborhood find.
(5)Vienna X.
When I eat Thai food, I'm all about the rainbow of curries: red, green, yellow, panang. Jitlada delivers the goods. They use fresh, flavorful ingredients with the perfect balance of spices. The tofu is not deep-fried, the chicken is tender, and there are a variety of veggies (not just the standard cabbage and scallop-cut carrots!). When I say that Jitlada delivers the goods, I am speaking figuratively. They do not deliver food to your house. This is why I am giving them four instead of five stars. I have not eaten in the restaurant, I only get take-out, so I cannot speak for their service. But the food is so good and they also offer brown rice, a healthier option to the standard white.
(4)Stacee B.
Wonderful! The best Thai food in SF! The food is amazing and super fresh. The staff is great and makes us feel like we're at home. My husband loves the thai omelet and my favorite is the basil chicken or... well who am I kidding, just about everything else on the menu. Oh...definitely try the crispy ginger shrimp rolls.
(5)Tom C.
Rock star food. This place is fantastic. Not the greatest of decors but who cares because this place is all about the food. Fantastic green curry tofu (p.s. I have a strong disdain for tofu and I may have to change my opinion). A must visit if on a budget but stay away from the front window on a chilly night (I was freezing!). Service was great too, they apologized in advance for the slow service (they were down a man in the kitchen). In reality, service not slow.
(4)E.Mo. ..
I've had some amazing meals here. It's a very small place, off the beaten path, but worth finding. The service is fantastic, and if you say you've never been there before, they'll sometimes give you free appetizers. Great curry, prawn dishes, and samosas. Take a date.
(4)David C.
I live just a block from Jitlada, so we decided to give it a shot. Maybe it's just me - judging from the other raves here - but I was not impressed. Yes, the service is VERY friendly and helpful, as others say. But the food didn't taste like anything special to me. Why is it Thai places in San Francisco all seem to serve stuff that is so sweet and mild? I've never been to Thailand, but in other cities Thai places I have been to serve food that is nice and SPICY. I have always read that the food in Thailand is rather spicy, also. So what gives? Do they just decide that SF people can't handle heat? I mean, the Indian and Chinese places in the city serve dishes that are quite spicy compared to most other cities, so it's not as if San Franciscans don't enjoy spicy cuisine. Any way, Jitlada's food was fresh and nicely presented. I had the "spicy" red duck curry with mangos and string beans. Nothing spicy about it, but it had a nice flavour. My friend had a cashew chicken dish that was just OK. We had 2 appetizers: 1) chicken satay - nothing special and the peanut sauce was WAY too sweet, 2) something called "curry puffs" - the menu described these as filled with chicken curry and potatoes. The potatoes were mashed, however - not cubed as I expected. This overwhelmed any other flavours. They were kind of like samosas filled with mashed potatoes - not recommended! I agree with the others that the staff here was really sweet, but sadly the food was TOO sweet also. It's not as if the meal was bad - it just tasted like Thai food at any of a half dozen other Thai restaurants around town I've tried. The place is hidden if you aren't looking for it. We were the only two customers at 8:00 on a Friday night. So maybe it is worth a shot if you don't want to wait and enjoy the mild/sweet style of Thai. Prices were reasonable. The decor was awful, not very exotic or pretty at all - which I have noticed seems to be another hallmark of San Francisco Thai restaurants.
(2)B C.
4.5 stars. The .5 star is knocked off is because this is a small, homey place, not a fancy restaurant, so there are certainly some things they cannot offer. The thai food here is simply delicious, rich and bursting with flavor. The only little drawback is that the food is on the sweet side. You have to order to balance that. If you order 3 curries you're definitely going to get sugar overload. Chef Pai, the chef/owner, is one of the sweetest people alive. She is the one in the kitchen cooking up a storm, with some help from her sistet. She cares about her food and customers, so you may notice the wait time for your food may be a little long. Just don't go when you are famished. The menu is not extensive like some Thai restaurants, but the every single dish on the menu is excellent, so try them all. Chef Pai's cooking is Royal Thai style, very delicate and meticulously prepared. She makes all her curries from scratch. She plates her dishes with love (you will literally find little carrot hearts on your plate). Pai will also try to come out and greet customers if it's not too busy. The service is usually good , as Pai would only pick nice people to serve her food, but when the restaurant is packed the service does get very slow. To get to the bathroom you have to get a key and go through the kitchen, so it's a bit of a drag.
(5)