Thai Avenue
1310 College Ave, Boulder, CO, 80302
Thai Avenue Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Boulder for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Boulder for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
1310 College Ave
Boulder, CO, 80302 - Phone (303) 443-1737
- Website https://www.thaiavenueboulder.com/location.html
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 7:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 7:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Aggie I.
My last meal would probably be here. Located in a little downstairs area on the Hill at Boulder, Thai Ave. is the ultimate hidden treasure. The best thai food you will ever have. Plate-full portions, perfect price, made to order and the mom&pop place. Mr. Kim & A are friendly & they will certainly take care of you. I've been coming here often for over 4 years now. Any excuse to eat here, I will take it! I've tried almost everything & i have never been disappointed. If you've never had thai food, this is the place that'll make you fall in love. They adjust their spiciness to your liking. Not Spicy - medium - hot - & Thai hot. If you have no idea, just ask & Mr. Kim will point you in the right direction. There's something for everyone here & you can even watch them cook with their woks. My Fav.s breakdown by Category: Noodles - Pad thai. Rice - Siriacha Fried Rice. Stir Fried - Spicy Eggplant. Curry - Massamum or Red. Specials - If i told you, i'd have to kill you.. Hope this helps but either way, you can't go wrong here (: Take note: -Lunch special: Your choice of entree, springrolls or crab cheese wontons, & a drink for $7.50!
(5)Alice K.
Short & sweet: Service: 4 Food: 4 Wait time: 3.5 Price: 4 Cleanliness of bathroom: n/a (in a joint mall complex) In prose: I have a million things to do, so naturally, this is the best time to yelp. If I'm good at anything, it's prioritizing and letting all of the 3 people who read my reviews what I think. When I think Thai, I think Thai Avenue. That's probably because when I think Thai, I think Pad Thai (can't help it, I've been conditioned to do so). Thai = Pad Thai = Thai Avenue. Thai Avenue's Pad Thai is the tastiest in Boulder. I haven't tried the Pad Thai from all of the Thai places *in* Boulder, but trust me, it's a gut instinct and I'm (almost) never wrong. I was first introduced to Pad Thai when I was a young college freshman by my then-boyfriend. "It's the best Pad Thai!" He exclaimed excitedly, and what could I do but to follow him to this hole-in-the-wall place on the hill. The boy is no longer my boy, but Thai Avenue still happens to be my Pad Thai place. And being the person that I am, the only thing I ordered for a good two and a half years was their Pad Thai. And then I thought, 'Self, you happen to also obsessively love curry. Why not try their curry?' I did. It was good. Don't get me wrong. Thai Avenue is not a swanky sit-down place. There are tables to eat your food in the joint food court, but Thai Avenue is a small food place among other small food places, and I would still consider Thai Avenue to be a very delicious fast-food place. (Think Chipotle as opposed to an upscale Mexican restaurant.) But for the $6-9 you pay, the food is well worth it. Upon craving unhealthy Asian food, I went and ordered their Pad See Lew, the fat, slippery noodles. My past Pad See Lews have been plenty slippery with a sweet, nutty flavor; Thai Avenue's was a little lacking. Wouldn't recommend this particular dish. However, Thai Avenue will always remain close to my heart. (I'm reading about the deliciousness of their Spicy Basil; I'll have to give it a try.) PS: You can order in mild, medium, and hot. Their hot is actually quite spicy. I'm Asian and my tolerance is quite high, so I love it, but in case you've developed a large ego for handling spicy foods, you've been forewarned.
(4)Nadia H.
Eaten here once, although I've heard and heard and heard and heard about this place for years from all my physics grad student friends. The food was great. Definitely greasy thai, but that's their thing. If I were a college student, already on the hill, and happy to hang out with other college students in a dank dungeon of a food court, then I'd give this place 5 stars for sure. As someone who doesn't live or study on the hill, I head to Chy Thai for my thai cravings.
(4)Margaret C.
So glad I finally got a chance to try Thai Avenue!! Have heard it was splendid, and many thanks to Hannah E. for recommending it! Met a friend for lunch here today. I wasn't sure what to order...skipped breakfast and was extra hungry but didn't want to overdo it. So I tried the lemongrass soup which was full of beautiful vegetables and chicken. Yum! I also got the red curry, medium spicy. Exquisite... In addition, we shared the won ton crab cream cheese appetizer. So delicate and perfect, with real crab. Best won tons ever. The fragrant rosewater lemonade from the vendor next door went perfectly with this meal. In fact, I recommend it, when & if you go to this food court! Today's meal was one of the dreamiest Thai meals I've ever experienced. Even though I'm fairly certain school is out for CU students, a huge crowd arrived shortly after we sat down, and a line from Thai Avenue at the rear of the food court clear out to the stairway near the entrance formed. It is clearly the most popular vendor in the court of 3. I've tried 'em all now, and they're all very good.
(5)Zubey L.
Best THai food in Boulder... its so authentic the family that owns it closes down in the summer time and goes back to Thailand.
(5)Hannah E.
Just wanted to briefly reiterate the perfection that is Thai Avenue. As I may have mentioned before, I go there every week before class, without fail. And without fail, they consistently prepare heaping, delicious plates of spicy, wholesome food that I never, ever get tired of eating. I could probably come here 3 times a week, no problem. Yesterday I couldn't decide between spicy eggplant stir fry and drunken noodles, so I asked if it was possible to put eggplant in my drunken noodles. I didn't really know if they would go well together, but the man who was cooking (I think he's the owner, but I'm not sure) happily stir fried a bunch of eggplant right in with the other vegetables, and it came out damned fantastic. Better, even, than usual. I'm a sucker for a seared, crispy-skinned spicy eggplant with creamy, fall-apart flesh. Mmmmm. And I KNOW I didn't mention this before... one $6 Thai Avenue plate feeds me both dinner and lunch the next day. Unbeatable. Absolutely unbeatable. Thank you, Thai Avenue, for existing.
(5)Nuria M.
This is the one restaurant I have to visit every time I go to Boulder, cause it's so cheap and so good. We always have to get at least one pad ma kuer, they cook the eggplant perfectly so it's not greasy and the texture is just perfect. All their veggies are fresh and crisp. Their pad thai is especially good, too. It's a food court, so it's not exactly gracious dining, but it's such a deal for consistently terrific Thai food.
(4)Kate S.
If I had to eat at one restaurant in Boulder for the rest of my life it would be Thai Avenue. I love just about everything on the menu, but especially the Supreme Fried Rice, Spicy Pad Thai, and the Spring Rolls. I've had just about all the Thai food in town and to me, nothing else holds a candle to Thai Avenue. They are one of the only places around that actually makes spicy Pad Thai (as opposed to the gloppy sweet stuff on most of the other menus) and if you ask for hot, they'll give it to you. The owners, Kim and A, are really sweet people and they really care about making delicious food. At the end of the night, right around closing time, they eat with their family in the food court. Even if you come up to the window while they're eating, someone will always come back to take your order. Prices are awesome (even for the Hill), and the lunch combo is a fantastic deal. Portions are huge and I always have leftovers for the next day. If only they delivered, I would be in true Thai heaven.
(5)Cassie n.
Hands down, best drunken noodles ever. I'm actually a restaurant snob, so the location and food court feel threw me off. But ever since I had my first meal here, GOSH, I haven't found a better plate of drunken noodles anywhere! I don't know the cook does it. It's full of flavor, yet, not a bit drenched in sauce like how the other places make it. I crave this place every day, it's just a hassle to actually get down to boulder, esp when CU is in session. It's the busiest damn food court I've ever been to.
(5)Matthew M.
Kim, you're the man. Great tasting food for a great price. Yes, Thai food in the college district of Boulder, Colorado! It's located in a pretty nasty downstairs food court giving it a fast food feel, however, a great quick lunch spot for phenominal prices. Oh yeah, we shared this meal. $3.50 for soup and $7.59 for Pad Sei Yew...both had the perfect spice. too good...THANKS KIM for the chat and for serving great food.
(4)Yen T.
Maybe it's because I'm from Cali.. and we have the best food. Maybe because I'm a thai-addict customer. But this place is not all that great. For the price, it's a bargain. But quality PEOPLE, quality. I ordered the pad thai, mehhh, I took 4-5 bites and togo the rest. But if you are a poor college student and need quick easy thai food, go here (:
(3)Ian B.
I've had lots of thai, including in thailand and thai avenue stacks up with the best. In general, Boulder thai has seemed pretty weak and i was looking and looking for a good place. It's amazing that this little place tucked down into the food court on the hill was the place! sweet family place and great food for cheap = AWESOME. One thing to watch out for, when you pick up your order, make sure it's all there. I've had them get it wrong and miss my spring rolls more than once.
(5)Dennis E.
This is easily hands down the best Thai place in Boulder. I ate here all through out college and I still come down sometimes to get some Thai food. Prices are incredible for the amount of food you get. The staff is always friendly and the owner Kim always has a smile on his face. For you first timers, I know its not the best location but if you come during lunch time, the line to this place will be out the door. Never judge a book by its cover ...just judge the line waiting for the book. Go and enjoy some great Thai food.
(5)Gina L.
If Thai Avenue stopped selling authentic "make you die if you couldn't have it" Thai food, I would stop writing reviews and, well . . . probably have nothing to live for. Okay, yes, I know, food isn't that important. But I'm not kidding about how good their food is! It's all you need to know, really. BEST THAI FOOD EVER. Trust me . . . I get Thai food EVERYWHERE I go and nowhere . . . noooooowhere . . . . has rivaled Thai Avenue. Their Pad Thai is amazing (I will admit that I might be fantasizing about their food while writing this). And if you ask for hot, YES, it will ACTUALLY be hot. Not this "hot because we want you to feel like you're awesome for being able to handle hot, but not really" kind of hot that I keep getting at other Thai restaurants. The lunch special is a good deal. You get an entree, drink, and choice of egg rolls or cheese wontons for $7.95. I think it ends at 3:00pm (don't bet me on it) during the weekdays. TRY IT! NOW. You know you want to.
(5)Peter C.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet! I've been going here for years. It is great. Especially the street noodle and pad thai. It's all about the noodles here. The curries are a little watery for me... Can't beat the quality to price ratio!
(4)Alejandro D.
How is it possible that I have not reviewed this place yet?? Maybe the fact that giving this place 5 stars is so OBVIOUS I assume that this review was written. Well I didn't so here goes: Best Thai food in Boulder hands down. I confirmed this when back in SF - quality matched if not (gasp) surprised the highest rated restaurant in that area i was in Tips: 1. Don't get the Pad Thai. not the best and everyone gets this dish and judges TA as being "just a cheap thai place" 2. Try the fried rice, curries, or --- Spicy Basil - my favorite 3. Don't be a wuss and get it spicy
(5)Alex P.
I've ate here for 5 years now and since the first day I fell in love with the pad thai there. I still try to make the trek up to Boulder every so often just to eat there then drive back to Denver. Prices are so cheap for the lunch combo and they give you a very hefty portion also. You will not be disappointed.
(4)Rob P.
If 1 star is thai in a box at the grocery store, at least this is made fresh. A friend and I visited due to the rave reviews on YELP, but frankly we'll never be back. The food was lame. Under-seasoned Pad See yew and bland Green Curry. If you enjoy thai, its best to save your tastebuds and head elsewhere.
(2)Diane K.
I'll tell you what, Thai Avenue really has something going for it. The location is sort of dodgy--dimly-lit, basement, street-side food court-- but that makes the experience all the more alluring. Its a great price for some healthy portions; I always have left-overs. I like the thai peanut sauce with chicken and noodles.
(4)Jay E.
This is the most authentic, inexpensive, and flavorful thai restaurant in Boulder. I could possibly venture the statement that it is the best value of any restaurant I've ever been to. The portions are huge, all for $6 or $7. As I've been here about 300 times, my orders have branched out, and everything is good. The owner, Kim, is very friendly. Oh, and be forewarned - if you order your food "hot", get ready for some of the hottest food you've ever had. Be prepared to wait in line for awhile if you arrive between 11:30am and 1:30pm, because the word is out on campus and everybody knows how great this place is. The ambience is, however, something to be desired. Your food is given on a styrofoam plate, and the food court is somewhat of a dungeon. The recent renovation with skylights has helped somewhat, but it's nothing to write home about.
(5)matt b.
Love this place. It's not a place to sit and eat but the food is awesome for take out!
(4)Brett B.
This is the "Chinese takeout" / airport food court quality versions of Thai food - made by real Thai people. It does not purport to be fancy or gourmet, it's affordable, tasty and filling college grub - but not taste-bud-blowingly 'delicious' like real Thai street or food court food. The ingredients are not even close authentic (they use American veggies, wrong noodles and basils, etc) - but I can't knock it for what it is (i.e., it's not a fine restaurant or a Thai street cart, it's an American food court joint.) I would easily choose this over a similar quality of takeout joint like Panda Express or Pei Wei's any day.
(3)Evan T.
Went to Thai Avenue again, and it wasn't as great as my previous visit. They both got my order wrong, and what they gave me wasn't too great. It was excessively salty with little other flavor. Still wasn't bad though. Seems like this place is kinda hit and miss, but still well worth it for the prices.
(3)Diane N.
I was reading other reviews and Thai avenue now accepts credit cards. Amazing food, I love the drunken noodles. Lunch hours has long lines but Theyre fast about getting ur food. I found out about thai avenue throgh word of mouth expressing how great it is here. I would have never found out about this place had it not been for the many people that told me about it!
(5)David S.
Bang for the buck, this place is great. Don't expect white tableclothes, waiters, anything like that. It's not a place to bring a date. It's part of a food court, though it's the only restaurant that gets any real business. For lunch, I paid 6.75, had the Thai street noodles (can't remember the Thai name, sorry) at about a medium heat, my friends had Pad Thai at medium and Thai hot. All were excellent, but I preferred mine the most. I great mix of veggies, the chicken was tender, the noodles well cooked but not falling apart. The whole dish had a little bit of that burnt/charred taste, which I love. Also, we shared spring rolls that were some fo the best I've ever had. Service wise, they are very fast, considering the quantity of people eating there. Even at the peak of lunch rush, we ordered, scavenged for a table for 2-3 minutes, waited another 5, and our food was ready.
(5)Anh T.
Ehhhh. Another biased comment! I really wished I tried the drunken noodles. I got the pad thai instead. It as alright. I asked for mild+ and it turned out to be regular? Maybe I should have asked for spicier! But hey, I can't complain, the food was dirt cheap and the guy behind the counter was nice. Friendly people gave it another star! I can tell that this place and the bento place takes up most of the customers. The other places were dead! Everyone around us was eating thai or japanese. Next time I am in town, I will drop by for some cheap thai food that will get me full!
(4)Krista A.
GET THE STREET NOODLES. Best Thai food in Boulder? I don't claim that my palate is so advanced as all that, but it's always very good-tasting to me. I know that when first-timers see they place they'll be all hesitant, but chill out, ok? Sometimes deliciousness isn't always pretty. And that's mostly the case here. Just close your eyes, order, wait like six minutes maximum, and enjoy.
(4)Liza M.
Best Thai in boulder. Love the people that work there, they will change up dishes for you if you ask. I literally go once a week. The best is the Pork Street Noodles- they will change your life.
(4)Patrick K.
Thai Ave. rocks, although they might want to consider shelling out a few more bucks a month for a better location. The food was incredible. I asked for, "thai hot." Could have been hotter, but I was happy with what I got. Thai Ave. is in a food court setting flanked by other food joints, I don't call it a restaurant. I felt bad not dining at the other places, since the only customers they had were their own employees. The Avenue was the only place with a line. There is a reason why though. One last note, the Thai iced tea is awesome!
(4)Daniel P.
Thai Avenue is well known among my peers up here in Boulder. It's arguably the best thai food I've ever had. The price is right and the service is spot on. I've ate here many times, and never once did the food come out less than expected. So far, I've had the pad thai, drunken noodles and pad see u... All of which are amazing! The spiciness ranges from those less daring to those born with iron stomaches. The only downside? Smelling like pad thai during lecture.
(5)Sarah B.
I went in search of good Thai food after having multiple bad experiences at another popular Thai restaurant in town. I was so happy when I discovered Thai Avenue. The food is delicious, especially the curry and the pad thai! I also like the fact that they remember my name, and it seems like a true family run business. Only negative would be the wait time during lunch (15 mins), which is really not bad. Normally the wait is about 5 mins. Highly recommend!
(5)Davuth T.
Thai Avenue is one of the most authentic Thai restaurants in Colorado. Yes, I know that doesn't really say much in the grand scope of the world, but it's still really good. You can tell it's authentic because we ate there really late one night, and the kids of the cooks were doing homework on the tables right before the restaurant closed and the entire family sat down for their dinner. The pad thai is bad-ass, but I found that the spiciness was inconsistent across other dishes. For example, a hot tom yum soup will surely catch your rectum on fire, whereas a hot pad thai might just give it first-degree burns.
(5)Julian P.
Probably the best thai food in boulder, and it's fast and cheap. It is in a semi-basement food court sort of thing on the hill which might be a turnoff to some, but personally I see two advantages in this. First, you can go with a big group and everyone can find something to eat. Second, if you're a CU student/staff/faculty it's a great place to stop for lunch close to campus. Plus you have to respect the fact that they've kept it in the family.
(5)Trish L.
My friends and I go here, on average, 2-3 times a week when we have lunch or dinner breaks during the school year. I've tried almost the entire menu and my top favorites would be spicy eggplant and drunken noodles, and if you get to know the owner well enough, the secret menu items are soooo good!! But they'll only cook those for you when it's not busy =] The prices are great for us poor college kids and you'll just keep wanting more! Yum yum!!
(5)Paula R.
crystal noodles are the tastiest, tofu is a little chewy though
(4)True M.
I came to Thai Avenue two times and both of the times I went, they were very nice to me. The first time I went, their credit card machine wasn't working and I didn't have cash, but they told me to just order anyways and pay them back later. I thought that was such a nice gesture. I ordered the Beef Noodle Soup, and I thought it was just okay. Nothing spectacular about it. It was made hot and fresh, which I liked, but it tasted like pho, but lacking in depth I guess, and brothiness you could say. The second time I went there, I ordered their most popular item, Pad Thai. I thought their Pad Thai was just OKAY, nothing phenomenal about it. Kind of on the greasy side too. Although the flavor was there, it was bland in color, the eggs seemed to not be present, the peanuts weren't there and the chicken was pretty dry in my book. Maybe if I tried some other items, I might give this place another star. I can see why people rate it four and five stars, but for me, the food was just average, and nothing really special. The customer service though, is pretty awesome, they were very nice people!
(3)Anhers M.
I like thai avenue because of the owner Jim. The food of course can't be compared to California but they hold their own. Great spice and incredibly low prices. It's a bad location but good for locals. It's downstairs next to illegal pete's in a weird cafeteria style dining hall.
(4)Hannah W.
The Pad Thai was a great flavor, but too oily to be something I really want to experience again.
(2)Sara H.
Ok, so this is a time when I wish Yelp had half stars. I would give this 3 1/2. We had to stop here after reading the great reviews. This is in a little food court thing so there really isn't any atmosphere to speak of. It is however clean and cool on a hot day. I had the drunken noodles and it was not anything to write home about. It didn't suck, but was just ok. My biggest problem was that there was no spice to it. None. I at first said I wanted it hot, but then chickened out. Thai hot hot would take my head off, so I said, "no, medium to hot" And this was cooler than mild. Zero heat, and to me that is just not Thai food. It was however PACKED so this is a place to be. I actually felt bad for the other vendor in the food court because he had no business and everyone was queuing up in front of his stall. I would try this place again, but I would order something else and I would ask for it flaming hot. Also, it was very reasonably priced which was nice, but cash only so be prepared for that.
(3)Barbara F.
Easily the best Thai food in Boulder. Yum, yum, yum! On my first visit, I ordered my chicken kraprow "hot" and it was plenty hot, and I do like spicy food. I personally would not venture into "Thai hot" territory here. I can't wait to go back! Atmosphere in the food court is fine, not bad for a food court on the Hill...obviously, the food is the reason to go to Thai Avenue. Bring cash - they don't take credit cards. YUM.
(5)Hera O.
Love this place. Ever since I graduated from CU Boulder, I have been driving to Boulder from Denver just to eat here. Although I've only had their Thai noodle and fried rice dishes, I have heard that their curry dishes are very good as well. It's also sort of hard to complain when $7.50 can buy you a whole plate of food, eggroll (or wonton), and a large drink. I have yet to find a Thai restaurant in Denver with the same great taste and price as Thai Avenue.
(5)Bryant N.
I don't see why everyone raves about this joint. The food is terrible, the atmosphere sucks, and the staff is slightly retarded. I have given this place several chances, but every time I eat here I seem to be more disappointed than the last time. Do not recommend. If you are in Boulder and want good Thai food, I recommend eating at Chy Thai on Canyon and 28th.
(1)Dave C.
Only reason I'm not giving Thai Avenue 5 stars is because they're located on the Hill in the food court which makes it really difficult to get to during the school year. I grew up in NYC with authentic thai all over. Hands down they are the best Noodle place in Boulder. Looks like a family run business and they work really hard. Every dish I've had reminded me of home!!!
(4)Denise N.
My friend and I had their pad thai, which tasted all right, but then an hour later both of us were sick from the food. I would venture to guess someone didn't wash their hands in the kitchen.
(1)Colie J.
Hubby and I ate here a week ago before going to a movie. I thought we were going to a restaurant and not a food court type place. The 7(?) year old taking our menu struck us as odd, but I will say that my PadThai was pretty tasty. Not overly sweet or drowning in sauce like I have had at a few other places. My hubby liked his rice, much more than what her ordered at Know Thai a couple of weeks ago. Overall, it was good eating and certainly convenient for CU students.
(4)Corinthia C.
Decent food for the price. At $6-7 for the curries, it's worth it. The owner makes all the curries himself; he said he didn't use a prepackaged curry. And his main ingredients are salt and sugar. So the curry wasn't quite as flavorful as other curries, but it was still tasty. The potatoes were apparently fresh, too. The staff are nice. I would eat here again.
(4)Edward Y.
Best thai food period. Everytime I'm in Boulder I eat thai avenue with friends. Spicy eggplant is my favorite.
(5)Nancy K.
I am thai and was a student at CU for 6 years. This is definitely the Thai students hang out place. They have the best Thai food around. It's still my favorite. I would recommend this place to anyone. One word of advice, tell them to make it the Thai style. They do change it up for the Americans for some reason. I love the Thai style, Thai veggie, Thai sauces etc. Definitely give this place a try. My favorite is Pad See Ew. It is a little greasy but that's the way it's supposed to be!
(5)Graeson N.
Best Thai in Boulder!!! Love the Pad Thai and the Thai Fried Rice.
(5)daryn b.
I'm surprised that more people don't know about this place. It's super cheap and pretty delicious, plus the people that work there are always so nice. I get the pad thai with tofu or some kind of curry. This is a great place to go for dinner and diversifies the age old debate: Pizza versus Sandwich (the only Hill foods available). Neither! Go Thai!
(5)Sean S.
The only thing other than Salvaggio's worth eating on the hill. Couldn't have graduated without the help from Thai Ave!
(5)Randy L.
Bummer! It is closed!
(1)Jon G.
I've been coming to Thai Avenue for years now and it never gets old. In my opinion, it is the best thai food in the entire Boulder / Denver area. I believe that I have tried all of the notable thai restaurants including wild ginger, us thai, khow thai, the thai place on 17th in denver, thai basil (eeekkk), and a few others - nothing compares. At lunchtime, well actually anytime, you are able to get the "Lunch Special" and it comes with a drink, eggroll or wonton, and an entree for around $8. Kim the owner is so gratious and friendly everytime I'm there and greets me with the most enthusiastic handshake. Kim has told me that the employees are mostly family from Thailand and you will always see many asians lining up to get the delicious food throughout the day. The pad thai and pad se iew are terrific and hit the authentic flavors perfectly. The tom yum soup is spicy yet has the perfect taste we have all come to love. The currys are delicious as well. I feel bad that I haven't reviewed Thai Avenue sooner. Perhaps it was a subconcious effort to hoard all of the tasty noodles for myself... Don't let the food court or Boulder Hill vibe throw you off - walk in with an open mind and enjoy!
(5)Norman P.
This place may seem like a sketch hole-in-the-wall place. But it is hands down the best pad thai I've had in Boulder for the price. They hook you up here and the food is awesome. I live in Denver and I sometimes get the craving for pad thai. After the urge gets too strong, which it often does, I am more than willing to make the drive to the Hill and order up some medium spicy pad thai from Thai Ave. Try it out!
(5)Ryan F.
Terrible Thai. I had the street noodles, as several yelpers recommended, and each one seemed to be enveloped in Pennzoil 5w 30. I would rather use these noodles as some kind of heavyweight industrial lubricant than try to digest them again. In any case, Buddha Thai is far better Thai food in Boulder. The food there is nowhere near as oily, it is more authentic and spicy, and the veggies are much fresher. I will try it one more time, but my first visit was abysmal.
(1)Andrea R.
Reasonably priced, friendly & prompt service, delicious food! I highly recommend the street noodle dish. My only complaint is that they have inconsistent hours.
(4)Kells N.
Best Thai food in Boulder. The atmosphere is horrible. Basically a food court. But the grub is great.
(5)Kim F.
So Yummy. This is the real deal, guys. I recently spent a few months in Thailand eating tons of street food with the locals, and have been totally disappointed with every Thai restaurant I've been to since I've been back to the States. FINALLY I found a place that serves proper Pad Thai... not mushy noodles swimming in a sweet, gloppy sauce (sorry Khow Thai!). I can't speak for the other dishes yet, but I'll be sure to try them all. This place makes me really happy.
(5)chewy c.
i had been craving authentic thai food for months. i tried to quell my cravings with a trip to phat thai. i might as well have eaten some cardboard and saved myself $20. right when i walked up to the counter at thai avenue, i knew i had finally found what i had been hoping for. sweet, sweet, noodley love. i almost cried when mr. hongpananon offered to make my pad se ew with chinese broccoli instead of the other veggies pictured in the dimly-but-beautifully-lit menu photo. it was thai street food at its best. $5.50 buys you any entree on the menu. damn good & damn spicy.
(5)Jackie B.
Consistently tasty Thai. I never get too creative with my orders, because the staples are just so good it didn't seem necessary. I don't mind the food court location, especially because it comes with a reasonable price. I guess it would be nice if they were open a little later for dinner, but oh well. I'm just glad they don't deliver because then I'd really be done for.
(5)Christina J.
It made me put stars, and I'll happily update my review when I get to try it, but I went to see what all the fuss is about, and found out that the owners are in Thailand for the summer. They should be back in August when the CU students get back. I didn't want anyone else to make the same mistake. I guess I'll just have to wait...
(3)Daniel B.
This is Thai food done right. The ambiance is odd and dirty, the food is spicy and perfect. Just the way it should be. By far the best (and only decent) Thai food in Boulder.
(5)Will C.
I've eaten at this place when it was Thai Basil and it was the best pad thai ever. The new ownership is doing just as well with the food, but I must say that the service is much better. If you want a lot of bang for your buck, this is the place to visit. I love how they can alter your dish to the right amount of scoville units you like.
(5)david k.
I have tried alot of Thai restaurants in Boulder and this is by far the best Thai food for the money. Two entrees for a little over $13 and the food was good and fresh and made to the way we ordered it.
(4)Chris B.
I would rate Thai Avenue as a 10 if I could! I started eating here when I was in college. I was going at least once or twice per week to the point where I got to know the owner Kim very well. Thai avenue has THE BEST Pad Thai I have ever had! Every Pad Thai that I try at other restaurants I compare to Thai Avenue and I haven't found even one that's at all close. Out of all the things I miss in Boulder, I miss this restaurant most of all! Even though I live in Denver, I still try and make it up to Thai Avenue at least once per month. Not only is the food great, but it is very cheap as well. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone who likes Thai food!
(5)ally c.
yikes, the greese had my stomach girgling all afternoon ! WAY too much oil in the cooking- 1/4 inch or so left on the plate of my flavorless pad thai dish. the flavors were just simply too flat. i did have high hopes for a yummy authentic meal,
(1)Megan B.
Always delicious! They're so friendly here and pretty fast to make your food. It's my favorite place to go when I'm on campus and need a good meal- I just run up to The Hill and grab my food and go. I mix it up every time I go and order curry, pad thai, or pad see ewe. They're all delicious and they are serious about their spices. If you ask for spicy they'll give it to you and I love that! Their Thai iced tea is so good and sweet and creamy and helps balance out the spice. The lunch special is such a deal because you get two meals worth for $8 and it comes with a drink and an app.
(5)Hannah J.
Best place to eat in boulder! Although $7 can really add up it's a great way to treat yourself from time to time. I would highly recommend getting the beef pad Thai. Let me warn you, it's highly addicting!!
(5)Eric C.
This is the best Thai food I've ever had. After I moved away from Boulder, I haven't even found anything that can compare... =( It makes me so sad. Kim is the nicest man ever. He takes very good care of me when I am there. My favorite order is the drunken noodles. Every so often, pad thai or the spicy eggplant is a good choice. Those looking for something not on the menu can't go wrong with the Chicken Avenue or the Egg Bomb. I miss this place...
(5)Joan P.
Definitely my go-to place for food on campus. I started going here back when they were only accepting cash and have never been unsatisfied with anything I've ordered. I've never eaten here, since the underground cafeteria feel is not exactly my ideal place to catch a meal, but it's fine if you're in a hurry, I guess. I recommend the crystal noodles, pad se yew, drunken noodles, pad thai, and any of the curries. Just a warning, though: the curries have a higher baseline spice level.
(5)Gina W.
OMG where to start! Can you say one of the best restaurants in Boulder. Located on "the hill" very casual. Prices are very reasonable and the food is very delicious! I definitely recommend the crystal noodles!!!! My fav!!!!! Must visit if you are in Boulder!!!
(5)Vanessa R.
I am a big fan of this place. It's a quintessential college town gem. The kind of place you only know about if you're a local. It's tucked away in a nondescript food court on "The Hill". Their hours aren't always consistent, which can be disappointing when you're in the mood for some great Thai food and find that they're closed for the day. But, I still love this place. I get Chicken Pad Thai every time and it's delish. They have a great lunch special that includes an egg roll or wontons and a drink for around $9.00. I stay on the lower end of the spice spectrum and then add spice to my liking. I highly recommend this spot if you're looking for a filling meal on "The Hill" in Boulder!
(4)Elena V.
Was super stoked to try this because of the raving reviews, but ended up disappointed. I got the chicken Pad thai and boyfriend got the beef drunken noodles. Pad thai was really sweet and needed more fish sauce in my opinion. Drunken noodles were okay.. Both dishes were very oily.
(2)Annie C.
The Good: - Thai Avenue has a pretty square idea of how spicy a medium level of spice is (a mix between sriracha and cholula -- Thai style). - Thai Avenue serves a fairly generous amount of food for what you pay (~$7). The Not-So Good: - The Pad Thai is lacking that "oomph", that zing, that out-of-this-world experience that Pad Thais should induce. - The noodle dishes are terribly oily! I could only take a few bites before I felt the imminent face-wide breakout and a massive tummy ache. The latter actually did happen. SIDE NOTE: I couldn't eat the Pad Thai with chopsticks because the noodles were itty-bitty (about .5"-1" in length). Use a fork, or a spoon, or both!
(3)Jenn M.
Large portions of really tasty Thai food. Will definitely be coming back for more chicken pad Thai!
(4)Jamie C.
Kim is one cool dude and his secret menu food is to die for. I don't know where else to get my favorite dish ever, EGG BOMB!!!! But if you ever want to order off the secret menu, you'll have to go in at a time when he's not as busy if not they'll say no, i.e. not lunch time! Other items are RadNa and Chicken Avenue. TIP: YOU CAN CALL AHEAD A PLACE A TO GO ORDER IF YOU ARE IN A RUSH!!!!! This is hands down one of the main things I miss about Boulder and it's nicely tucked under in a little food court. I've seen so many restaurants come in and out of there but Thai Ave is still standing strong and their lines are still just as long. There's been times when I've had a meal here every day of the week. Kim even knows me by name! Some Thai places make their food too sweet so Thai Ave suits my palette more in the sense that he has a good balance and you can tell from his pad thai! Suggestions: -Beef Noodle Soup in the winter time. OMG. -Beef Eggplant, I've seriously haven't had a better one that Kim's family recipe! -Chicken Pad Thai, honestly a signature dish. -Street Noodles-Can't go wrong with that -Tom Yum Soup-Don't get this more than at a medium hot because the heat mixed with the spiciness is killer. -EGG BOMB-hands down my favorite ever and I don't know where else to get it! It's a chicken based dish with mushrooms, baby corn, basil and you guessed it, an EGG BOMB! ahaha You can get 5 levels of spiciness: -Mild -Medium -Hot -Thai Hot -Double Thai Hot (I can't believe I used to eat at this level ahaha) Depending on who is cooking, there will be a difference in spiciness. Kim's wife makes things a little more mild so if you want it medium, i'd order hot and it would be about right. Kim tends to get more carried away with the chili but that's how I like it!
(5)Gregory B.
Pad Woon Sen (glass noodles) whipped up with lots of crispy veggies.... heck yeah! I don't know what they're using for oil but the darned thing actually tastes kinda buttery. I've spent about two months in Thailand over the last couple years and this plate was darned good.
(4)Eva F.
Cheap & cheerful, not to mention delicious! Keep in mind this is in a food court so ambience is not what you'll find here - but the food is cheap and delicious, and the staff are friendly. Me: Spicy eggplant with tofu, loved it! A greater variety of veggies would be great, but that's hear nor there. Him: Pad Thai Woon Sen - a lower-carb version of pad thai made with bean thread noodles instead of rice noodles. So delicious! Portions are HUGE, so bring an appetite!
(4)Michael E.
One of the best inexpensive thai restaurants I have tried around the city. The service was excellent and the food was authentic. Would definitely recommend!
(4)Ross H.
Definitely the best take-out deal in boulder. I survived on this place. Some of my favorites are the street noodle, spicy eggplant, and himmapan fried rice. Go for the lunch special!
(5)Tim J.
An awesome secret on the hill.
(5)Matthew C.
I moved out of Boulder almost five years ago. Before then, Thai Avenue was a multiple-times-a-week dining pleasure. I would always order either the Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mow), or (occasionally) Street Noodles (Pad See Ew). In my bolder younger days, I would order "Thai Hot", and through the sweating, cringing, and multiple glasses of water, I would assure my concerned friends that I was actually enjoying it! As I got older, I scaled back to the Medium or Hot depending on how I felt that day. I swore at the time that Thai Avenue was the best Thai noodles on the planet, but I said so having eaten very little other Thai food. After I left Boulder, Thai Avenue gradually faded from my consciousness. I ate lots of good Thai food all over the place (always trying the pad thai so I could compare apples to apples), from New York to LA to Portland to Seattle to Taiwan. I even spent a couple months trying to master cooking pad thai from scratch. The only piece I'm missing is eating pad thai in Thailand... Fast forward five years, and I return to Boulder, with a much less naive approach to Thai food. I decide to hit up Thai Avenue for old times' sake. Maybe now when I try it again, it will seem mediocre in comparison to all the other wonderful Thai food I've eaten. I order the Pad Thai, of course, (Spice level: Hot, Protein: Chicken), and after an excruciating wait, it arrives. I squeeze the fresh lime wedge on top, I take a single bite, and absolutely melt. It is the most perfect thing I have ever put into my mouth. It is challengingly spicy, but the spice enhances the flavor rather than distracting from it. The noodles are fresh and the perfect texture (There's a Taiwanese word "Q" or "Kiu" which describes this texture and is impossible to translate into English. It basically describes the texture of gummy bears, Mochi, or Boba). These noodles are freaking "Q"! The flavor is outstanding. Pad Thai sauces run the flavor gamut from Oyster Sauce-y to Ketchup-y to Sugary, and are nearly never perfect. In making my own Pad Thai, getting the right flavor from the sauce was always the biggest challenge. Somehow, the folks at Thai Avenue have hit upon the perfect sauce. It is the platonic ideal of Pad Thai sauces. It is sweet and savory, zesty and umami. It is heaven. What else do I love about the dish? The big chunky bits of green onion are surprisingly wonderful, the crushed peanuts are perfect. Now that my visit to Boulder is over, and I know that my idealization of Thai Avenue was well-deserved, I will dream about those noodles until my next pilgrimage to the mecca of Pad Thai.
(5)Julie R.
I was so very excited for Thai Avenue to open and give it a try! I absolutely love thai and it hard to find in Boulder. I went with 5 other people and had both great food and service. Granted, we were the only ones there, but we were well taken care of. Prices are reasonable and on par with other Thai/Asian places in the area. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and the environment was one where we felt comfortable and relaxed. I will definitely try Thai Avenue again and encourage all to give it a try too.
(4)Peter H.
An extremely good deal for decent thai food. The flavors are really bold around 5 bucks for almost all the dishes. Be careful here as the spice level can be hard to handle for those who don't eat thai often. This is basically a fast food place that out performs every time!
(4)Solange J.
The best place to go for Thai takeout in Boulder Now this is what I'm talking about!! Great, authentic tasting Thai food with robust flavors. Everything that I've ordered here has been spot on and excellent. I usually order the veggie chow fun noodles and it's always great. They're pretty accommodating and so if you don't eat gluten (and don't only want to have the pad thai), you can order some of the other noodle dishes with the pad thai rice noodles. This is a food court, so definitely not really the sit down, date- night kind of place, but definitely an excellent choice for a quick lunch or takeout dinner. When all the students are back on campus, the wait time during lunch runs about 15 minutes, which is definitely not a deal breaker for food this good.
(5)Anthony G.
This is my favorite Thai food stop in all Colorado. Food is great! Service is friendly and fast.
(5)Ran C.
It's been over two years since I last went to Thai Ave because I no longer live in Boulder but the countless times I've been while at CU have left me with some wonderful memories. This small self-service Thai restaurant produces some of the best Pad Thai and Pad See Ew I have ever had in my life. When you order the noodles, they ask you for a choice of protein and how spicy you want it. "Beef, Medium" I'd say. The noodles are then made to order, cooked to perfection with the perfect balance of flavors. I wish all Thai restaurants tasted like this. Sigh. The entire staff is wonderful. It didn't take long for the owner to start recognizing me, and he would always ask me where I've been if it's been more than a couple of weeks since I've visited. Everyone always had a smile on their face which made for a wonderfully welcoming environment. Even thinking about it now makes me want to go back! The prices were so affordable too! Lunch special came with a soft drink as well as fried wontons which were crispy and on the outside and creamy delicious on the inside. If they opened a Thai Avenue in DC, I would go every single week (like I used to). The restaurant is located in a half basement on The Hill with multiple restaurants neighboring it. I've tried many different dishes off Thai Ave and they've never disappointed so I was never even tempted to try any of the other places... Seriously, just go and experience some delicious, fresh, and authentic Thai food! Tip: For the daring, ask for "Thai spicy". There are also secret off-the-menu items but I don't think I should be giving those away ;)
(5)Nina F.
Great service, amazing food in the best location with the best prices! I look forward to lunch breaks from school so I can eat here. It is hands down the best Thai I've ever had and I eat out a LOT. I've gotten the spicy basil stir fry with chicken, the street noodles with pork, the wontons, and the red curry with chicken. I'm amazed at how well done each dish is. Great food is one thing, but for me consistency wins all, and this place has got it. And for an unbeatable price.
(5)Paul S.
I was excited to try this place after seeing all the positive reviews. YUCK! Go there if you're into bland Thai food that is served on styrofoam plates. I'm totally dumbfounded- how in the world did this place get such high stars...
(2)Lisa M.
It's a crying shame that so many people keep talking about the "GREAT" Thai food they've found at one of the Chinese restaurants in town (in which case I've found that maybe half of the so-called "Thai" dishes friends order have fish sauce and maybe one in ten or less have tamarind) when Thai Avenue is tastier, less sugary and way cheaper! I know it's Boulder and some might be leery of the "hole in the wall" vibe of the little cafeteria-nook on the Hill, but I've found time and again, the best Asian food tends to come from odd-looking spots! The usual suspects of Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles are fantastic and they don't short-change you on portion sizes either! The Tom Kha Gha (Chicken Coconut Soup) is served under the Curry section of the menu as an entree and their curries tend to have a thinner sauce (think soup-like) than say, Wild Ginger or Swing Thai but are still extremely tasty! As has been mentioned, they will make your dishes hot (and they mean business) so if you are sensitive to spiciness, stick with the mild and then grab some of the chili options from the four little pots they keep on top of the canned drink cooler next to the water cooler! The only thing I would possibly change about this place would be to have them open late-night and all-day everyday (for totally selfish reasons of course!) **You might want to check/call before going during the summer, they sometimes scale back their hours when CU is not fully in session or over holiday breaks**
(5)Max K.
I went to Thai Avenue with my girlfriend the other day. It is in a little food court with a half dozen other restaurants. We went for lunch on a weekday and it probably took 15 minutes to get our food. We split the pad thai lunch special and it was very good. A little light on the meat, but a decent portion, and very good tasting. The special was only $8, which was quite a deal for the two of us. I'd go back if I get another craving for Thai.
(4)