Orchid Thai Cuisine
74-5563 Kaiwi St,Ste 279, Kailua Kona, HI, 96740
Orchid Thai Cuisine Menu
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Address :
74-5563 Kaiwi St,Ste 279
Kailua Kona, HI, 96740 - Phone (808) 327-9437
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Patrick M.
We have awesome Thai food in Sacramento. Orchid Thai was good but didn't match up to what I'm used to. Also being on vacation we were bummed that they don't serve alcohol. I thought I would get a sprite or equivalent instead. They didn't have that either. With that being said the food was pretty good. I ordered the eggplant basil with spicy noodles. Also, when we got our bill we found that we were overcharged several dollars. They corrected the mistake but taking all of this into consideration, it was not the best experience.
(2)Amber H.
This place is my favorite Thai! Thai iced coffee....awesome! Egg rolls...awesome! Everything you eat here will be....awesome! The owner does the service and he is on his game.
(5)Sam B.
The food was okay, not bad, not great. The service was acceptable only for a thai prison camp. Lets just say that they lost our continued patronage and a pepper shaker to boot.
(1)Laura L.
Absolutely delicious thai! We struggle to find vegetarian-friendly thai (especially coming from Montreal), but this place was great and the owner assured that their dishes were being made vegan for us. We had the phad thai, cashew chicken (which turned into cashew tofu), and the evil curry with extra vegetable. The papaya salad was ABSOLUTELY heaven!! Highly recommend, and ask for dishes to be made spicy.
(4)Sydney T.
Friendly service and seated right away upon arrival. Nice atmosphere and unique decor. Devil curry with chicken and coconut milk is small portion but good. Tom Yum seafood soup is salty with very little seafood inside. Pepper garlic fish is salty and very small portion. Chicken noodle stirred fried was bland. Each small bowl of rice is charged extra $2. Total price came out to be around $65. Parking is limited.
(3)D M.
Hands down, my favorite Thai restaurant on the Big Island! I have tried many different things on the menu (curry, noodles, stir fry) and have never been disappointed. The lunch specials are a great deal and I highly recommend the spring rolls & Thai iced tea. Pad See Yew, Massaman Curry and Garlic Pepper stir fry are my favorite dishes there. Some people may be "turned off" by the owner, who seems to do everything in that restaurant by himself. I adore him. He's a man of few words, but always remembers my mom & I and never even needs to take our order. He remembers I'm vegetarian and adds a variety of veggies to my dishes and does substitutes with no problem. Wonderful dining experience! Hidden gem. Check it out for yourself! :)
(5)Willette B.
Massaman beef curry was great! It was packed with flavor. However, very disappointed with sweet and sour chicken and spicy chicken noodles. Sweet and sour was not breaded and they served very little chicken. I ordered for my two kids to share, each got exactly 3 small pieces to share. Jasmine rice was ok. Spicy noodle was overpowered by the bell peppers. It was more like a noodle salad with the amount of romaine lettuce served on.
(3)Vadim V.
Very good Thai food restaurant. Good service. The "mild" turned out too mild to my taste. The owner was very friendly and patient.
(4)Michael B.
Possibly the worst service I've experienced anywhere in the world, and certainly on island. Completely non-existent. It's as if they don't even want to serve you. The waiter barely speaks or acknowledges you. If the food was the most amazing I had ever eaten I'd maybe let it slide, but it wasn't very good...and I was drunk. I can only imagine how bad it was if I were sober. It's not authentic in the slightest, and I make better thai curry at home (and I'm a white boy). There are many great Thai restaurants on island and in the area-I've eaten at about 6 of them. The decor here is cute but I would never return. Try Phuket Monkey off Palani-the food is authentic, delicious, and the service is attentive and so welcoming I felt like we were family.
(2)Rebecca H.
We dined on a Saturday night and there were not many there so we were a little skeptical. Service was fast and the food was pretty good. Portions are somewhat small but 4 stars for the fried bananas and clean bathrooms.
(4)Yvette K.
I've had dinner a couple of times at Orchid Thai Cuisine. This is the favorite Thai restaurant of a good friend of mine in Kona. I really like Orchid Thai Cuisine a lot, but I also think the Bangkok House is the same quality, just with different dishes. (You gotta try the duck curry at Bangkok House) The dish I really like at Orchid is the garlic pepper whole fish. It's filleted, not the whole fish, and is fresh and delicious. I've also had the pumpkin curry, evil curry and volcano chicken - all were good too. The food is high quality ingredients and well prepared. The wait staff is very friendly and the clientele are regulars. I highly recommend Orchid Thai Cuisine.
(4)Cheyenne Paris M.
Yellow curry is the best!!! Clean, quiet & consistently good food :) Will definitely visit again!
(5)Chelsea S.
The Rama was amazing. I normally go for curry, but I tried something different this time, and I was not disappointed.
(4)Bobby D.
This is my sister's favorite restaurant in Kona. We went for lunch. Very clean and nice place. The server new my sister and her boyfriend and brought them Thai iced teas before we even had a chance to order. We orders a few things to split: Spring rolls: Great crisp to these. Nice sweet dipping sauce. Summer rolls: Very fresh rolls, we had them add chicken. Crab cake: Not bad, but no my favorite. I'm from Boston so maybe I'm a bit biased. Stuffed squid: I've never had this before. It was ok, but I probably wouldn't get it again. Papaya salad (slaw): Very good! A little spice and and good crunch. Pad Thai: we ordered both a non spicey and a moderate spicey. I had the spicey as I enjoy some heat. I would kick it up another notch next time with the heat. Overall taste was very good. Thai iced tea: The usual here, but not as sweet as some others so I liked it a little better.
(4)Lesley B.
Best Thai we have ever had. The lunch specials are a great buy, and all of the ingredients were very fresh! A must try!!!
(5)Bethany B.
Best Thai in Kona! Thai hot is actually spicy. The green papaya salad is soooo good! Love it all
(5)Jeziell B.
Food wasn't bad, but I have had better in my hometown in NorCal. Can't compare it to any other Thai place around here though, since this is the only Thai I had since I came to vacay. From the outside for dinner it looked kind of closed and sketchy, but it was indeed open. +Tom Yum Soup with shrimp is good. - Service was a bit slow. other notes: Yellow curry was a little watery, it had good flavor, but definitely a mild flavor. The carrots and potato in the curry weren't fully cooked though. I like to be able to easily cut my potatoes/carrots with my fork, but this wasn't the case here. Maybe because we got here at 8:15 on a Monday night (and they close at 9?) Thai Basil Chicken was ok. As it says on the menu, the meat is ground for that dish. Probably wouldn't order again. Pad Se Ewe was good but the portion didn't seem like a lot for me and my family (5 of us total). Thai Tea is yummy. But I have rarely met a thai tea I didn't like. We tried to order the mango sticky rice, they said yes we have it, then the server came back and said sorry, not today. So maybe, again, it was the timing? Not the worst Thai I have ever had, but I don't think I'd come back.
(3)Steve K.
I have not eaten inside the restaurant, but have definitely enjoyed takeout from this place over the years, and it is my standout favorite for Thai takeout. It is a family run place, as others have noted, and they work hard at providing delicious food. When I go to pick up dinner it is usually busy, and I can recommend Charlie and his family for a good meal in Kona. Don't be dismayed by the old industrial section where they are located; inside is quite nice, and the ambience inside peaceful. Enjoy!
(4)Diane C.
My husband was craving Thai so I asked around and this was highly recommended by the locals. We got in and were seated immediately. The waiters are very helpful yet not very friendly. We ordered... Papaya salad - Very good! Co Co Soup - good Fresh Fish curry - good Panang Curry (Vegetarian) - good Massaman (Vegetarian) - good White rice - small portions but good Thai Iced tea - pretty good I just wish they had the air conditioner on. With spicy food and hot room, it can get pretty uncomfortable. Would I want to come back during this trip? No. It was good but not great enough for me to return.
(3)John S.
Always good, fresh and clean!!! Delicious food which comes to the table piping hot. My experience is that in other Thai restaurants "hot" food comes to your table somewhere between lukewarm and room temperature. EVERYTHING that I or my table companions have eaten here has elicited favorable remarks. Don't miss out on the "black sticky rice" as a side dish. As a Realtor, I find that my real estate clients whom I've taken to Orchid Thai for a meal tell me they routinely return on their own. It becomes one of their favorite places on The Big Island. The exterior has NO "curb appeal" -- it's just a storefront in a drive-in shopping strip. But everything changes when you step inside.
(5)A C.
Solid Thai food. BYOB, which could be good or bad, depending on your preferences an preparedness. Kind of a random location. We had fresh summer rolls w/ shrimp, green papaya salad, tom kha gai soup, pad Thai w/ chicken, and green curry chicken. All were great. Medium spicy is white person medium spicy, so feel free to ask for spicy if you want it.
(4)Shawnee G.
This place was great. We went in earlier, around 5ish to beat the dinner rush and we were seated right away. We ordered a couple appetizers, was not impressed with the spring rolls, but the stuffed mushrooms were good. We ordered a chicken pad thai, scallop panang curry, and a shrimp fried rice for entrees. Everything was delicious. The waiter was attentive and refilled our waters and he even brought out special plastic ware for my 4 year old. There was no alcohol on the menu, but I did see a couple the next table over going through a 6 pack, so perhaps you are able to bring in your own? Overall, a good thai dining experience and I would definitely return again!!
(4)Aaron M.
On the west coast, I'd give this zero stars. It is about as good as you could expect from mall food court in Seattle. But, here, it is a lot better than some other Thai places. (Krua---- yuk!). Not as good as Bangkok House. Not terrible though.
(3)Chris O.
This was my favorite meal on the Big Island. After many days of plate lunches and breakfasts with pancakes the size of my chest I finally got some healthy and yet most delicious food at Orchid Thai. They actually had vegetables, hooray! I come from the SF Bay Area so i have had lots of Thai and this was up there with the best of them. The Tom Ka Gai was perfect, Pad Se Ew full of veggies and delicious (not super charred), and we got a chicken garlic and veg dish too that was so tasty I ended up pouring the leftover sauce on everything that was left. The service was mostly good and the decor was nice. They also have a dive bar next door that has a happy hour from 6-10am lol Gotta check this place out if you want some great Thai.
(5)S K.
Food was great! Not the best thai I've had, but solid. Honestly if you are on vacation like us you are most involved with activities and you eat what you can get. And it beats resort food in taste and price! So in that sense, definitely a nice surprise. Casual spot, busy for lunch, the owner was our server (very nice and accommodating to our special requests) Summer rolls were mediocre but pad thai, pineapple curry and cashew stir fry were all delicious! Also served with fresh orchids which we thought was cute- a little local flair. Great for vegetarians!
(4)Ash P.
Food was good. We ordered a Tom yum soup,spring rolls and 2 vegetarian dishes. They were very accommodating with our request of not using fish or oyster sauce. The food tasted and looked fresh. I was very happy after I ate there and we paid less than $40. The outside of the restaurant was a bit unappealing. But the inside was very cosy and well kept. It also looked like the place had a lot of regular customers, there were 4 or 5 tables occupied and they all knew the owners and theirs kids...etc etc. Bottom line Yes I would go there again!
(4)Jan Z.
Excellent food. Family owned. He waits. She cooks. Outside doesn't look inviting but inside is charming. Food can be spicy so be honest about the amount of spice you want. Panang curry pad Thai and fried rice were all delicious. This was our last meal on the Big Island. Great end to a lively trip. Highly recommend
(5)Lisa C.
The food was good but it took FOREVER to arrive. Sort of ruined the mood. Our salad came and the we waited over 40 minutes for the rest of our order. It was good but not that good. There appear to be dozens of other Thai places to choose from so will not be coming back here.
(2)Karen N.
Yummy Thai in the Industrial Dist. Good food, good prices and excellent service. Try the Garlic Pepper Chicken, yummy!
(3)Julianne S.
My Favorite place for thai on the island. Love the food and the staff is very nice! Spicy noodles are my fav! great vegan options
(5)Jon C.
Very good service and food. The inside is decorated very nice. The location is in the business district and has no scenery. There is parking in a parking lot shared with a dive bar. A good find!
(4)Teresa S.
Delicious food. We had the lunch specials with summer and spring rolls. They were both great. I thoroughly enjoyed my chicken noodle #93 meal with a medium spice level. My friend had #95 and really liked it. They came with brown rice, which complimented the spiciness of our meal. I definitely will go again. We stumbled in to it, so it was a great find!
(4)Billy K.
I was hoping the food would live up to the wait but it was such a HUGE letdown. OMG! I was partially angry and frustrated at the service here because it was so freaken slow. I've never experienced worst service. Yeah I know they were busy but the food took forever to come out. We waited for an hour. After the food came out, OH GOD! I was shocked and pissed at the people on yelp who gave this place decent reviews because the food was terrible. For anyone who gave this place over 2 starts... I really feel bad for you because you've never had the same kind of Thai food that I've had....
(1)N R.
Aloha. The is the best Thai food ever! Family owned and run with pride. Ambience is calming and quiet, service is great! All dishes are made with perfection. Can BYOB - recommend coming early as it gets busy. I have been a regular for years. Never disappointed.
(5)Ezra B.
One of my favorite Thai restaurants. They have the best coco soup in town. Always fresh!
(5)Maurice S.
Went to go to this place based on reviews from Yelp, but at 5:15 on a Saturday the doors were still closed. Not sure what the deal was but we decided to go someplace else.
(1)Pat W.
I've eaten almost everything on the menu over many years. Kona is a town unusually blessed with Thai restaurants and Orchid Thai is the best of a pretty good group. It is a family operation and they have progressed in decor and service over the years. The food is as consistent as hand made food can be and the dishes are richer in flavor. Each dish is made to order ,when you order it. This is not a fusion, trendy Asian place, it is highly developed family Thai cooking. The table service is generally pretty snappy and friendly but expect to spend some time at dinner hour. This is not a fast food spot at supper but with a bottle of wine it can be a great dining experience. One of the coolest aspects is that Orchid has a rare brown bag licence which means you can bring your own beer and wine. They will uncork it and put it on ice for you. I suggest a dry Champagne. Sawadee!
(5)Yves R.
This is my favorite restaurant on the Big Island. The food is some of the best Thai I've had, and the owners are a delightful family. Not many tourists know about the location, which is a bit hidden from the main path in the old industrial area close to the center of Kailua-Kona. I go there at least once or twice every time I visit!
(5)Mackenzie O.
We stopped in for dinner here. The service was not very good. The panang curry (chicken) was quite good, but a little short on the chicken and rather heavy on cabbage. The beef pad see you was the worst that I've ever had. The rest of our dishes were below average. There are many Thai restaurants in Kailua Kona, so I can't imagine that I'd go back to this one. I will say that the place started filling up while we were there which makes me think that it is a popular joint. It is possible that our experience was not typical.
(2)Jene' G.
BEST THAI FOOD ON THE ISLAND! We love this place and best yet is they accomodate VEGAN options! the Papaya salad is soooo amazing, the stir-fried veggies/tofu is awesome, Sweet & sour veggies/tofu is ridiculously good, summer rolls are a huge order and so good, red curry (tofu/veggies) my fave, Thai fried brown rice is killer and the pad thai (veggies, no egg) is awesome! pretty much we love this place and go there way too much! lol The ambiance inside is humble and calming... water features and drk purples with brick chair railing and authentic thai statues, etc... Charlie is the owner, waiter.. thats right, one waiter and his wife sometimes. they are like little machines! Its well worth the wait, put it that way! ;) he is so sweet and definitely overworked, but always has time for a smile! try it out, and dont forget the amazing papaya salad! order it vegan (no fish sauce) and ENJOY!! :)
(5)Erik T.
Delicious, but a bit slow service-wise. Only a problem if you're trying to catch a plane, though. Nice Ambiance, spiciness fairly typical.
(4)Nuthin But T.
I love the food ... Service... And quailty!!! I always have there crab fried rice... Squid salad.. Egg rolls my favorite... And there string beans dish!!! They only bad part I can mention is that there Tom yum soup ... Is not to good ... But everything makes up for it!!!
(5)Patrick D.
Great lunch special. Super tasty!
(5)Emily C.
The food was good -- not a standout, but good. We had green papaya salad, jungle curry (red curry sauce made without coconut milk), and pineapple fried rice. They note on the menu that almost everything can be prepared vegan (using the word "vegan"), so we asked for that specifically. I did not detect any fish sauce, so yay on that front. The curry sauce felt a little thin and soupy to me -- it's not the lack of coconut milk, because I've had this dish elsewhere and the sauce isn't so runny. The beverage options aren't very exciting -- no fresh juices, and BYOB (if you're into that).
(3)Scott C.
Orchid was our first stop after getting off the plane from Oahu based on previous reviews. Ate off lunch menu which includes summer roll with meal. I ordered the vegetable stir fry (hot). It was tasty indeed but not as delicious as my wife's pad thai which was fantastic. For the BI this places only scores a 1 or a 2 for location (located in older strip mall next to a seedy bar - no ocean view) but the food is a solid 4+. We had speedy service, although we likely arrived toward the end of lunch rush on a Friday. Everyone eating there seemed to be on a first-name basis with the staff which made this place feel very welcoming. I would love to stop by here again.
(4)Brian B.
Solid three star place. Dumpy looking outside but charming inside. Good lunch specials. I had a peanutty curry that could have been better but my bro's pad-Thai was superb. Papaya salad good too. Nice service.
(3)James B F.
Good spot real authentic. Their hottest spicy is the real deal. A little on the slow side but food is good enough to make up for that.
(4)Malia A.
We were looking for dinner and were headed to Kona Brewing Company, but since we were going to take the brewery tour and have lunch there the next day, we rounded the corner and saw this small Thai restaurant that seemed pretty busy. So we pulled over and walked in! It was extremely busy and full of families and groups. It smelled amazing and we were seated in just a few minutes. As we watched the room it became apparent that this restaurant was completely run by one family - there were two people waiting tables and they would switch off running the register! Yes, the service wasn't very fast, but when our food came it was delicious and filling. I couldn't help myself and ordered the mango and sticky rice for dessert, even though I was way too full. The waiter we had didn't seem very friendly at first, but we assumed that since he was so busy he probably wasn't the talkative type. But when my boyfriend went to the register to pay, our waiter talked his ear off! He asked us how we found out about the restaurant, since they don't advertise because they want to keep it a secret and not get too big. He said, "it's just my family that works here and we don't want to get TOO busy!" He was so nice and very grateful to us for stopping by. I would definitely go here again! Nice people and homey decor that made you feel as though you were in somebody's cozy brick-lined family room. Also, we saw several people coming in just to take out food, and they all seemed like regulars.
(5)Claire B.
I like to take friends & clients who like Thai Food to eat at the Orchid Thai Cuisine off Kaiwi Street in the Old Industrial Area. My favorite meal is the Pad Thai or the Green Curry lunch meal for under $10.00. It comes with two summer rolls or one spring roll, and sticky or jasmine rice. I will also order the Thai Iced Tea too.. because it's so sweet & yummy! Charlie & Dow, the owners, are always friendly and efficient, and the food is always consistent! Highly recommended to impress any guests, friends, family and clients. Shall we meet there for lunch hour soon?
(4)Kevin S.
order the Volcano chicken!!!
(5)Amy K.
Little place with real orchids decorating the tables, and folding chairs with red velvet covers for the back part. The menus were really cool: wooden covers, with cutouts on the front and a handpainted restaurant logo with an orchid, rendered in several colors. AND, the menu opens on wooden hinges. Everything we ordered was delicious, and I was really pleased that the menu specified most dishes are made with fish sauce or chicken broth, so vegans need to notify the server. I love being considered, and I like that they were willing to alter recipes. The summer rolls as an appetizer were light and came with peanut sauce. My family ate spicy noodles with pork and chicken Evil Curry; I had veggie/tofu pad Thai and veggie/tofu massaman curry (which was essentially yellow curry). Yum. When we ran out of rice, I started sticking my fork in the curry sauce and licking it off the tines. Minus a star because it seemed to take a while to get our food.
(4)Sherry B.
Amazing Thai food with the bonus that they will cook anything vegetarian and or vegan as requested! My absolute favorites are the pumpkin curry and Rama. They even have brown rice! Everything is just a little spicier than usual...so order one level under your usual! Mild=Medium, Medium=Hot! Delicious food. Relax about how long it may take you. Bring a bottle of wine and enjoy your evening. If you are in a big rush, Hawaii will drive you crazy. Relax and chill out!
(5)Leann Y.
Favorite Thai food!!! Always consistent great tAsty Thai food. I love the ck Rama and the evil curry:)
(5)Shannon G.
Prefer restaurants locals patronize instead of the tourist traps, so had dinner here one night based on Yelp reviews. Love my fellow Yelpers! Food very good, and menu offered a big variety to choose from. The service was not fast, and while not unfriendly, it was efficient. Clearly this is family-operated and they are all moving as fast as just two people can to service the whole dining room. It would be nice to eat there again during off-hours to see if they have the chance to visit a little. The decor is dark and warm. Restrooms - like aging latrines in an old state park. Unexpected after the cleanliness of the dining room. Hope that prosperity funds a remodel. That being said, we will return. The food was a good value.
(4)David D.
WOW.. If you miss this storefront little gem you wasted your trip to da Big one.. I you like Thai food that is.. The Tom KA Gai soup was great , the veggies were fresh and noodles just so.. The restaurant was darkened on a sunny day and made a perfect light for lunch.The waiter/ owner? was subdued and prompt. No smiles but the food smiles for you. Thanks.....
(5)Marcia Z.
Nice place with decent food but nothing out of the ordinary. One poor waiter for whole busy restaurant and must of been same situation in the kitchen as it was slow too. If you are in the neighborhood give it a try but don't go out of your way. BYOB.
(2)regina t.
This is the best Thai on the island. Truly a "hole in the wall" type of place but well worth the search. Their sticky rice can't be beat. The Pumpkin Curry is some of the best I have ever had. The only trick to this place is they don't serve alcohol so most folks run across the street to get a bottle of wine or beer. I have tryed nearly everything on the menu and havn't had a bad dinner yet!
(5)Tony T.
4/2/11 My wife and I had lunch. The best deal is lunch special which comes with spring rolls. The host is very attentive and hospitable. We occassionally go out for dinner on Friday or Saturday which is usually croweded. So, be patient for their service. They allow you to bring own alcohols without set-up charge. We feel this restaurant is one of the best Thai on this island.
(4)Margaret R.
This place seemed to have a lot regulars who would order their food before they arrived. That's kind of cool - to get your food as soon as sit down. It also seemed like a place that embraced BYOB since waiter didn't hesitate to chill people's wine and beers. The decor had a sophisticated feel with paintings of Thailand put up. My green curry was good, but a little spicer than I like it, but that's my fault since they did ask how spicy I wanted it.
(4)Jyoti C.
Best Thai food on the island!!! We went there thrice in our 6 day stay...need I say more? It's a very simple place..and I guess it's just a couple running it...absolutely wonderful food!!! I really loved the orchid flower that came with our Spring Rolls..I love such little details..just adds a personal touch to the entire experience..A Must try if you are in Kona!!
(5)Mitch T.
Tried the Pad Thai, Egg Plant and Fried Chicken wings. Delicious. The dimly lit ambience with soothing Thai music was nice touch and the water service outstanding. The food service was not as bad as others wrote considering it was freshly cooked. Highly recommended. Do not let outside atmosphere fool you.
(5)David E.
Food was very good. Had a curry dish and basil eggplant, plus pad thai for the kids. Being from San Francisco, we're used to some pretty excellent Thai food, so I wasn't expecting that level. But the quality was good, taste very solid and the service/staff excellent. I'd definitely eat there again!
(4)Ryan W.
Service was slow, one person, but was our first time in Hi. The lady here is very nice and gave my wife a flower to wear. Food was good, I agree. Five star because she told us about a place to have local food, outside a $80 to $100 a person Luau.
(5)Jody L.
I was actually there on 12/26 but took some time to post. Painfully long wait to get food, like 1 1/2 hours. Wasn't even that busy, unclear what problem was. Food was good- not great (I have had better in SF) and definitely not worth the wait. I don't think I have ever waited that long for food- painful! Also I thought it was expensive for Thai food, very disappointing.
(1)Karl S.
Excellent food. Fresh rolls, curry, basil chicken.
(4)Tom T.
Yuck, really dirty place, with just ok food. Dark inside, so hard to see how grubby it is, but the bathrooms were gas station gross, with no hot water. Staff was disinterested bordering on rude. Wouldn't go back on a dare. Want great Thai? Ratana's take out hut at the Hilo farmers market has great wraps and papaya salads.
(1)Troy M.
I eat thai food on a weekly basis at great places in Honolulu. The food was average in my opinion. We had the Phad Thai, Panag Curry & papaya Salad. Good but not great. I would have giving this place 3 start but the server was not very friendly, slow, seemed like he did not want to be at work. Took forever to take our order and refill our water. Hence the loss of a star The pull back another star because toward the end of the meal i noticed a couple small roaches on the wall next to our table. The menus were also very stick and dirty. The place looks nice a clean but it was a bit dark. The sticky menu and roaches are a bad sign. You know if their are roaches in the front the back must be much worse. Won't repeat mainly because the felt the place was not very clean.
(1)Justin M.
When I come to the island I usually eat mainly seafood but I heard this place was good from my father and grandfather so I wanted to check it out. It didn't disappoint. We stopped by for lunch and it had a good ambiance. The staff was friendly and the food was great. We all had lunch specials with my grandpa having chicken pad Thai, my father having garlic chicken stir fry and me settling on cashew chicken. They were even kind enough to hold the onion on mine. In addition, the prices were very reasonable. If I have another craving for Thai food I'll definitely be back.
(4)Laura L.
Absolutely delicious thai! We struggle to find vegetarian-friendly thai (especially coming from Montreal), but this place was great and the owner assured that their dishes were being made vegan for us. We had the phad thai, cashew chicken (which turned into cashew tofu), and the evil curry with extra vegetable. The papaya salad was ABSOLUTELY heaven!! Highly recommend, and ask for dishes to be made spicy.
(4)Sydney T.
Friendly service and seated right away upon arrival. Nice atmosphere and unique decor. Devil curry with chicken and coconut milk is small portion but good. Tom Yum seafood soup is salty with very little seafood inside. Pepper garlic fish is salty and very small portion. Chicken noodle stirred fried was bland. Each small bowl of rice is charged extra $2. Total price came out to be around $65. Parking is limited.
(3)Jyoti C.
Best Thai food on the island!!! We went there thrice in our 6 day stay...need I say more? It's a very simple place..and I guess it's just a couple running it...absolutely wonderful food!!! I really loved the orchid flower that came with our Spring Rolls..I love such little details..just adds a personal touch to the entire experience..A Must try if you are in Kona!!
(5)Mitch T.
Tried the Pad Thai, Egg Plant and Fried Chicken wings. Delicious. The dimly lit ambience with soothing Thai music was nice touch and the water service outstanding. The food service was not as bad as others wrote considering it was freshly cooked. Highly recommended. Do not let outside atmosphere fool you.
(5)Patrick M.
We have awesome Thai food in Sacramento. Orchid Thai was good but didn't match up to what I'm used to. Also being on vacation we were bummed that they don't serve alcohol. I thought I would get a sprite or equivalent instead. They didn't have that either. With that being said the food was pretty good. I ordered the eggplant basil with spicy noodles. Also, when we got our bill we found that we were overcharged several dollars. They corrected the mistake but taking all of this into consideration, it was not the best experience.
(2)Amber H.
This place is my favorite Thai! Thai iced coffee....awesome! Egg rolls...awesome! Everything you eat here will be....awesome! The owner does the service and he is on his game.
(5)Jody L.
I was actually there on 12/26 but took some time to post. Painfully long wait to get food, like 1 1/2 hours. Wasn't even that busy, unclear what problem was. Food was good- not great (I have had better in SF) and definitely not worth the wait. I don't think I have ever waited that long for food- painful! Also I thought it was expensive for Thai food, very disappointing.
(1)Tom T.
Yuck, really dirty place, with just ok food. Dark inside, so hard to see how grubby it is, but the bathrooms were gas station gross, with no hot water. Staff was disinterested bordering on rude. Wouldn't go back on a dare. Want great Thai? Ratana's take out hut at the Hilo farmers market has great wraps and papaya salads.
(1)David E.
Food was very good. Had a curry dish and basil eggplant, plus pad thai for the kids. Being from San Francisco, we're used to some pretty excellent Thai food, so I wasn't expecting that level. But the quality was good, taste very solid and the service/staff excellent. I'd definitely eat there again!
(4)Ryan W.
Service was slow, one person, but was our first time in Hi. The lady here is very nice and gave my wife a flower to wear. Food was good, I agree. Five star because she told us about a place to have local food, outside a $80 to $100 a person Luau.
(5)Erik T.
Delicious, but a bit slow service-wise. Only a problem if you're trying to catch a plane, though. Nice Ambiance, spiciness fairly typical.
(4)N R.
Aloha. The is the best Thai food ever! Family owned and run with pride. Ambience is calming and quiet, service is great! All dishes are made with perfection. Can BYOB - recommend coming early as it gets busy. I have been a regular for years. Never disappointed.
(5)Troy M.
I eat thai food on a weekly basis at great places in Honolulu. The food was average in my opinion. We had the Phad Thai, Panag Curry & papaya Salad. Good but not great. I would have giving this place 3 start but the server was not very friendly, slow, seemed like he did not want to be at work. Took forever to take our order and refill our water. Hence the loss of a star The pull back another star because toward the end of the meal i noticed a couple small roaches on the wall next to our table. The menus were also very stick and dirty. The place looks nice a clean but it was a bit dark. The sticky menu and roaches are a bad sign. You know if their are roaches in the front the back must be much worse. Won't repeat mainly because the felt the place was not very clean.
(1)Justin M.
When I come to the island I usually eat mainly seafood but I heard this place was good from my father and grandfather so I wanted to check it out. It didn't disappoint. We stopped by for lunch and it had a good ambiance. The staff was friendly and the food was great. We all had lunch specials with my grandpa having chicken pad Thai, my father having garlic chicken stir fry and me settling on cashew chicken. They were even kind enough to hold the onion on mine. In addition, the prices were very reasonable. If I have another craving for Thai food I'll definitely be back.
(4)Pat W.
I've eaten almost everything on the menu over many years. Kona is a town unusually blessed with Thai restaurants and Orchid Thai is the best of a pretty good group. It is a family operation and they have progressed in decor and service over the years. The food is as consistent as hand made food can be and the dishes are richer in flavor. Each dish is made to order ,when you order it. This is not a fusion, trendy Asian place, it is highly developed family Thai cooking. The table service is generally pretty snappy and friendly but expect to spend some time at dinner hour. This is not a fast food spot at supper but with a bottle of wine it can be a great dining experience. One of the coolest aspects is that Orchid has a rare brown bag licence which means you can bring your own beer and wine. They will uncork it and put it on ice for you. I suggest a dry Champagne. Sawadee!
(5)Yves R.
This is my favorite restaurant on the Big Island. The food is some of the best Thai I've had, and the owners are a delightful family. Not many tourists know about the location, which is a bit hidden from the main path in the old industrial area close to the center of Kailua-Kona. I go there at least once or twice every time I visit!
(5)Mackenzie O.
We stopped in for dinner here. The service was not very good. The panang curry (chicken) was quite good, but a little short on the chicken and rather heavy on cabbage. The beef pad see you was the worst that I've ever had. The rest of our dishes were below average. There are many Thai restaurants in Kailua Kona, so I can't imagine that I'd go back to this one. I will say that the place started filling up while we were there which makes me think that it is a popular joint. It is possible that our experience was not typical.
(2)Jene' G.
BEST THAI FOOD ON THE ISLAND! We love this place and best yet is they accomodate VEGAN options! the Papaya salad is soooo amazing, the stir-fried veggies/tofu is awesome, Sweet & sour veggies/tofu is ridiculously good, summer rolls are a huge order and so good, red curry (tofu/veggies) my fave, Thai fried brown rice is killer and the pad thai (veggies, no egg) is awesome! pretty much we love this place and go there way too much! lol The ambiance inside is humble and calming... water features and drk purples with brick chair railing and authentic thai statues, etc... Charlie is the owner, waiter.. thats right, one waiter and his wife sometimes. they are like little machines! Its well worth the wait, put it that way! ;) he is so sweet and definitely overworked, but always has time for a smile! try it out, and dont forget the amazing papaya salad! order it vegan (no fish sauce) and ENJOY!! :)
(5)Amy K.
Little place with real orchids decorating the tables, and folding chairs with red velvet covers for the back part. The menus were really cool: wooden covers, with cutouts on the front and a handpainted restaurant logo with an orchid, rendered in several colors. AND, the menu opens on wooden hinges. Everything we ordered was delicious, and I was really pleased that the menu specified most dishes are made with fish sauce or chicken broth, so vegans need to notify the server. I love being considered, and I like that they were willing to alter recipes. The summer rolls as an appetizer were light and came with peanut sauce. My family ate spicy noodles with pork and chicken Evil Curry; I had veggie/tofu pad Thai and veggie/tofu massaman curry (which was essentially yellow curry). Yum. When we ran out of rice, I started sticking my fork in the curry sauce and licking it off the tines. Minus a star because it seemed to take a while to get our food.
(4)Shannon G.
Prefer restaurants locals patronize instead of the tourist traps, so had dinner here one night based on Yelp reviews. Love my fellow Yelpers! Food very good, and menu offered a big variety to choose from. The service was not fast, and while not unfriendly, it was efficient. Clearly this is family-operated and they are all moving as fast as just two people can to service the whole dining room. It would be nice to eat there again during off-hours to see if they have the chance to visit a little. The decor is dark and warm. Restrooms - like aging latrines in an old state park. Unexpected after the cleanliness of the dining room. Hope that prosperity funds a remodel. That being said, we will return. The food was a good value.
(4)regina t.
This is the best Thai on the island. Truly a "hole in the wall" type of place but well worth the search. Their sticky rice can't be beat. The Pumpkin Curry is some of the best I have ever had. The only trick to this place is they don't serve alcohol so most folks run across the street to get a bottle of wine or beer. I have tryed nearly everything on the menu and havn't had a bad dinner yet!
(5)Tony T.
4/2/11 My wife and I had lunch. The best deal is lunch special which comes with spring rolls. The host is very attentive and hospitable. We occassionally go out for dinner on Friday or Saturday which is usually croweded. So, be patient for their service. They allow you to bring own alcohols without set-up charge. We feel this restaurant is one of the best Thai on this island.
(4)Ezra B.
One of my favorite Thai restaurants. They have the best coco soup in town. Always fresh!
(5)Maurice S.
Went to go to this place based on reviews from Yelp, but at 5:15 on a Saturday the doors were still closed. Not sure what the deal was but we decided to go someplace else.
(1)Teresa S.
Delicious food. We had the lunch specials with summer and spring rolls. They were both great. I thoroughly enjoyed my chicken noodle #93 meal with a medium spice level. My friend had #95 and really liked it. They came with brown rice, which complimented the spiciness of our meal. I definitely will go again. We stumbled in to it, so it was a great find!
(4)Billy K.
I was hoping the food would live up to the wait but it was such a HUGE letdown. OMG! I was partially angry and frustrated at the service here because it was so freaken slow. I've never experienced worst service. Yeah I know they were busy but the food took forever to come out. We waited for an hour. After the food came out, OH GOD! I was shocked and pissed at the people on yelp who gave this place decent reviews because the food was terrible. For anyone who gave this place over 2 starts... I really feel bad for you because you've never had the same kind of Thai food that I've had....
(1)Nuthin But T.
I love the food ... Service... And quailty!!! I always have there crab fried rice... Squid salad.. Egg rolls my favorite... And there string beans dish!!! They only bad part I can mention is that there Tom yum soup ... Is not to good ... But everything makes up for it!!!
(5)Diane C.
My husband was craving Thai so I asked around and this was highly recommended by the locals. We got in and were seated immediately. The waiters are very helpful yet not very friendly. We ordered... Papaya salad - Very good! Co Co Soup - good Fresh Fish curry - good Panang Curry (Vegetarian) - good Massaman (Vegetarian) - good White rice - small portions but good Thai Iced tea - pretty good I just wish they had the air conditioner on. With spicy food and hot room, it can get pretty uncomfortable. Would I want to come back during this trip? No. It was good but not great enough for me to return.
(3)Cheyenne Paris M.
Yellow curry is the best!!! Clean, quiet & consistently good food :) Will definitely visit again!
(5)Chelsea S.
The Rama was amazing. I normally go for curry, but I tried something different this time, and I was not disappointed.
(4)Bobby D.
This is my sister's favorite restaurant in Kona. We went for lunch. Very clean and nice place. The server new my sister and her boyfriend and brought them Thai iced teas before we even had a chance to order. We orders a few things to split: Spring rolls: Great crisp to these. Nice sweet dipping sauce. Summer rolls: Very fresh rolls, we had them add chicken. Crab cake: Not bad, but no my favorite. I'm from Boston so maybe I'm a bit biased. Stuffed squid: I've never had this before. It was ok, but I probably wouldn't get it again. Papaya salad (slaw): Very good! A little spice and and good crunch. Pad Thai: we ordered both a non spicey and a moderate spicey. I had the spicey as I enjoy some heat. I would kick it up another notch next time with the heat. Overall taste was very good. Thai iced tea: The usual here, but not as sweet as some others so I liked it a little better.
(4)Lesley B.
Best Thai we have ever had. The lunch specials are a great buy, and all of the ingredients were very fresh! A must try!!!
(5)Bethany B.
Best Thai in Kona! Thai hot is actually spicy. The green papaya salad is soooo good! Love it all
(5)Jeziell B.
Food wasn't bad, but I have had better in my hometown in NorCal. Can't compare it to any other Thai place around here though, since this is the only Thai I had since I came to vacay. From the outside for dinner it looked kind of closed and sketchy, but it was indeed open. +Tom Yum Soup with shrimp is good. - Service was a bit slow. other notes: Yellow curry was a little watery, it had good flavor, but definitely a mild flavor. The carrots and potato in the curry weren't fully cooked though. I like to be able to easily cut my potatoes/carrots with my fork, but this wasn't the case here. Maybe because we got here at 8:15 on a Monday night (and they close at 9?) Thai Basil Chicken was ok. As it says on the menu, the meat is ground for that dish. Probably wouldn't order again. Pad Se Ewe was good but the portion didn't seem like a lot for me and my family (5 of us total). Thai Tea is yummy. But I have rarely met a thai tea I didn't like. We tried to order the mango sticky rice, they said yes we have it, then the server came back and said sorry, not today. So maybe, again, it was the timing? Not the worst Thai I have ever had, but I don't think I'd come back.
(3)Steve K.
I have not eaten inside the restaurant, but have definitely enjoyed takeout from this place over the years, and it is my standout favorite for Thai takeout. It is a family run place, as others have noted, and they work hard at providing delicious food. When I go to pick up dinner it is usually busy, and I can recommend Charlie and his family for a good meal in Kona. Don't be dismayed by the old industrial section where they are located; inside is quite nice, and the ambience inside peaceful. Enjoy!
(4)Malia A.
We were looking for dinner and were headed to Kona Brewing Company, but since we were going to take the brewery tour and have lunch there the next day, we rounded the corner and saw this small Thai restaurant that seemed pretty busy. So we pulled over and walked in! It was extremely busy and full of families and groups. It smelled amazing and we were seated in just a few minutes. As we watched the room it became apparent that this restaurant was completely run by one family - there were two people waiting tables and they would switch off running the register! Yes, the service wasn't very fast, but when our food came it was delicious and filling. I couldn't help myself and ordered the mango and sticky rice for dessert, even though I was way too full. The waiter we had didn't seem very friendly at first, but we assumed that since he was so busy he probably wasn't the talkative type. But when my boyfriend went to the register to pay, our waiter talked his ear off! He asked us how we found out about the restaurant, since they don't advertise because they want to keep it a secret and not get too big. He said, "it's just my family that works here and we don't want to get TOO busy!" He was so nice and very grateful to us for stopping by. I would definitely go here again! Nice people and homey decor that made you feel as though you were in somebody's cozy brick-lined family room. Also, we saw several people coming in just to take out food, and they all seemed like regulars.
(5)Claire B.
I like to take friends & clients who like Thai Food to eat at the Orchid Thai Cuisine off Kaiwi Street in the Old Industrial Area. My favorite meal is the Pad Thai or the Green Curry lunch meal for under $10.00. It comes with two summer rolls or one spring roll, and sticky or jasmine rice. I will also order the Thai Iced Tea too.. because it's so sweet & yummy! Charlie & Dow, the owners, are always friendly and efficient, and the food is always consistent! Highly recommended to impress any guests, friends, family and clients. Shall we meet there for lunch hour soon?
(4)Jan Z.
Excellent food. Family owned. He waits. She cooks. Outside doesn't look inviting but inside is charming. Food can be spicy so be honest about the amount of spice you want. Panang curry pad Thai and fried rice were all delicious. This was our last meal on the Big Island. Great end to a lively trip. Highly recommend
(5)Lisa C.
The food was good but it took FOREVER to arrive. Sort of ruined the mood. Our salad came and the we waited over 40 minutes for the rest of our order. It was good but not that good. There appear to be dozens of other Thai places to choose from so will not be coming back here.
(2)Karen N.
Yummy Thai in the Industrial Dist. Good food, good prices and excellent service. Try the Garlic Pepper Chicken, yummy!
(3)Jeff D.
EXCELLENT food. Service was good, but on "Hawaiian Time". The place was packed Monday night.
(5)Julianne S.
My Favorite place for thai on the island. Love the food and the staff is very nice! Spicy noodles are my fav! great vegan options
(5)D M.
Hands down, my favorite Thai restaurant on the Big Island! I have tried many different things on the menu (curry, noodles, stir fry) and have never been disappointed. The lunch specials are a great deal and I highly recommend the spring rolls & Thai iced tea. Pad See Yew, Massaman Curry and Garlic Pepper stir fry are my favorite dishes there. Some people may be "turned off" by the owner, who seems to do everything in that restaurant by himself. I adore him. He's a man of few words, but always remembers my mom & I and never even needs to take our order. He remembers I'm vegetarian and adds a variety of veggies to my dishes and does substitutes with no problem. Wonderful dining experience! Hidden gem. Check it out for yourself! :)
(5)Willette B.
Massaman beef curry was great! It was packed with flavor. However, very disappointed with sweet and sour chicken and spicy chicken noodles. Sweet and sour was not breaded and they served very little chicken. I ordered for my two kids to share, each got exactly 3 small pieces to share. Jasmine rice was ok. Spicy noodle was overpowered by the bell peppers. It was more like a noodle salad with the amount of romaine lettuce served on.
(3)Vadim V.
Very good Thai food restaurant. Good service. The "mild" turned out too mild to my taste. The owner was very friendly and patient.
(4)Michael B.
Possibly the worst service I've experienced anywhere in the world, and certainly on island. Completely non-existent. It's as if they don't even want to serve you. The waiter barely speaks or acknowledges you. If the food was the most amazing I had ever eaten I'd maybe let it slide, but it wasn't very good...and I was drunk. I can only imagine how bad it was if I were sober. It's not authentic in the slightest, and I make better thai curry at home (and I'm a white boy). There are many great Thai restaurants on island and in the area-I've eaten at about 6 of them. The decor here is cute but I would never return. Try Phuket Monkey off Palani-the food is authentic, delicious, and the service is attentive and so welcoming I felt like we were family.
(2)Rebecca H.
We dined on a Saturday night and there were not many there so we were a little skeptical. Service was fast and the food was pretty good. Portions are somewhat small but 4 stars for the fried bananas and clean bathrooms.
(4)Yvette K.
I've had dinner a couple of times at Orchid Thai Cuisine. This is the favorite Thai restaurant of a good friend of mine in Kona. I really like Orchid Thai Cuisine a lot, but I also think the Bangkok House is the same quality, just with different dishes. (You gotta try the duck curry at Bangkok House) The dish I really like at Orchid is the garlic pepper whole fish. It's filleted, not the whole fish, and is fresh and delicious. I've also had the pumpkin curry, evil curry and volcano chicken - all were good too. The food is high quality ingredients and well prepared. The wait staff is very friendly and the clientele are regulars. I highly recommend Orchid Thai Cuisine.
(4)Jyoti C.
Best Thai food on the island!!! We went there thrice in our 6 day stay...need I say more? It's a very simple place..and I guess it's just a couple running it...absolutely wonderful food!!! I really loved the orchid flower that came with our Spring Rolls..I love such little details..just adds a personal touch to the entire experience..A Must try if you are in Kona!!
(5)Ash P.
Food was good. We ordered a Tom yum soup,spring rolls and 2 vegetarian dishes. They were very accommodating with our request of not using fish or oyster sauce. The food tasted and looked fresh. I was very happy after I ate there and we paid less than $40. The outside of the restaurant was a bit unappealing. But the inside was very cosy and well kept. It also looked like the place had a lot of regular customers, there were 4 or 5 tables occupied and they all knew the owners and theirs kids...etc etc. Bottom line Yes I would go there again!
(4)Margaret R.
This place seemed to have a lot regulars who would order their food before they arrived. That's kind of cool - to get your food as soon as sit down. It also seemed like a place that embraced BYOB since waiter didn't hesitate to chill people's wine and beers. The decor had a sophisticated feel with paintings of Thailand put up. My green curry was good, but a little spicer than I like it, but that's my fault since they did ask how spicy I wanted it.
(4)S K.
Food was great! Not the best thai I've had, but solid. Honestly if you are on vacation like us you are most involved with activities and you eat what you can get. And it beats resort food in taste and price! So in that sense, definitely a nice surprise. Casual spot, busy for lunch, the owner was our server (very nice and accommodating to our special requests) Summer rolls were mediocre but pad thai, pineapple curry and cashew stir fry were all delicious! Also served with fresh orchids which we thought was cute- a little local flair. Great for vegetarians!
(4)Sam B.
The food was okay, not bad, not great. The service was acceptable only for a thai prison camp. Lets just say that they lost our continued patronage and a pepper shaker to boot.
(1)John S.
Always good, fresh and clean!!! Delicious food which comes to the table piping hot. My experience is that in other Thai restaurants "hot" food comes to your table somewhere between lukewarm and room temperature. EVERYTHING that I or my table companions have eaten here has elicited favorable remarks. Don't miss out on the "black sticky rice" as a side dish. As a Realtor, I find that my real estate clients whom I've taken to Orchid Thai for a meal tell me they routinely return on their own. It becomes one of their favorite places on The Big Island. The exterior has NO "curb appeal" -- it's just a storefront in a drive-in shopping strip. But everything changes when you step inside.
(5)A C.
Solid Thai food. BYOB, which could be good or bad, depending on your preferences an preparedness. Kind of a random location. We had fresh summer rolls w/ shrimp, green papaya salad, tom kha gai soup, pad Thai w/ chicken, and green curry chicken. All were great. Medium spicy is white person medium spicy, so feel free to ask for spicy if you want it.
(4)Shawnee G.
This place was great. We went in earlier, around 5ish to beat the dinner rush and we were seated right away. We ordered a couple appetizers, was not impressed with the spring rolls, but the stuffed mushrooms were good. We ordered a chicken pad thai, scallop panang curry, and a shrimp fried rice for entrees. Everything was delicious. The waiter was attentive and refilled our waters and he even brought out special plastic ware for my 4 year old. There was no alcohol on the menu, but I did see a couple the next table over going through a 6 pack, so perhaps you are able to bring in your own? Overall, a good thai dining experience and I would definitely return again!!
(4)Aaron M.
On the west coast, I'd give this zero stars. It is about as good as you could expect from mall food court in Seattle. But, here, it is a lot better than some other Thai places. (Krua---- yuk!). Not as good as Bangkok House. Not terrible though.
(3)Mitch T.
Tried the Pad Thai, Egg Plant and Fried Chicken wings. Delicious. The dimly lit ambience with soothing Thai music was nice touch and the water service outstanding. The food service was not as bad as others wrote considering it was freshly cooked. Highly recommended. Do not let outside atmosphere fool you.
(5)Chris O.
This was my favorite meal on the Big Island. After many days of plate lunches and breakfasts with pancakes the size of my chest I finally got some healthy and yet most delicious food at Orchid Thai. They actually had vegetables, hooray! I come from the SF Bay Area so i have had lots of Thai and this was up there with the best of them. The Tom Ka Gai was perfect, Pad Se Ew full of veggies and delicious (not super charred), and we got a chicken garlic and veg dish too that was so tasty I ended up pouring the leftover sauce on everything that was left. The service was mostly good and the decor was nice. They also have a dive bar next door that has a happy hour from 6-10am lol Gotta check this place out if you want some great Thai.
(5)Patrick M.
We have awesome Thai food in Sacramento. Orchid Thai was good but didn't match up to what I'm used to. Also being on vacation we were bummed that they don't serve alcohol. I thought I would get a sprite or equivalent instead. They didn't have that either. With that being said the food was pretty good. I ordered the eggplant basil with spicy noodles. Also, when we got our bill we found that we were overcharged several dollars. They corrected the mistake but taking all of this into consideration, it was not the best experience.
(2)Amber H.
This place is my favorite Thai! Thai iced coffee....awesome! Egg rolls...awesome! Everything you eat here will be....awesome! The owner does the service and he is on his game.
(5)Jody L.
I was actually there on 12/26 but took some time to post. Painfully long wait to get food, like 1 1/2 hours. Wasn't even that busy, unclear what problem was. Food was good- not great (I have had better in SF) and definitely not worth the wait. I don't think I have ever waited that long for food- painful! Also I thought it was expensive for Thai food, very disappointing.
(1)Tom T.
Yuck, really dirty place, with just ok food. Dark inside, so hard to see how grubby it is, but the bathrooms were gas station gross, with no hot water. Staff was disinterested bordering on rude. Wouldn't go back on a dare. Want great Thai? Ratana's take out hut at the Hilo farmers market has great wraps and papaya salads.
(1)David E.
Food was very good. Had a curry dish and basil eggplant, plus pad thai for the kids. Being from San Francisco, we're used to some pretty excellent Thai food, so I wasn't expecting that level. But the quality was good, taste very solid and the service/staff excellent. I'd definitely eat there again!
(4)Ryan W.
Service was slow, one person, but was our first time in Hi. The lady here is very nice and gave my wife a flower to wear. Food was good, I agree. Five star because she told us about a place to have local food, outside a $80 to $100 a person Luau.
(5)Troy M.
I eat thai food on a weekly basis at great places in Honolulu. The food was average in my opinion. We had the Phad Thai, Panag Curry & papaya Salad. Good but not great. I would have giving this place 3 start but the server was not very friendly, slow, seemed like he did not want to be at work. Took forever to take our order and refill our water. Hence the loss of a star The pull back another star because toward the end of the meal i noticed a couple small roaches on the wall next to our table. The menus were also very stick and dirty. The place looks nice a clean but it was a bit dark. The sticky menu and roaches are a bad sign. You know if their are roaches in the front the back must be much worse. Won't repeat mainly because the felt the place was not very clean.
(1)Justin M.
When I come to the island I usually eat mainly seafood but I heard this place was good from my father and grandfather so I wanted to check it out. It didn't disappoint. We stopped by for lunch and it had a good ambiance. The staff was friendly and the food was great. We all had lunch specials with my grandpa having chicken pad Thai, my father having garlic chicken stir fry and me settling on cashew chicken. They were even kind enough to hold the onion on mine. In addition, the prices were very reasonable. If I have another craving for Thai food I'll definitely be back.
(4)Pat W.
I've eaten almost everything on the menu over many years. Kona is a town unusually blessed with Thai restaurants and Orchid Thai is the best of a pretty good group. It is a family operation and they have progressed in decor and service over the years. The food is as consistent as hand made food can be and the dishes are richer in flavor. Each dish is made to order ,when you order it. This is not a fusion, trendy Asian place, it is highly developed family Thai cooking. The table service is generally pretty snappy and friendly but expect to spend some time at dinner hour. This is not a fast food spot at supper but with a bottle of wine it can be a great dining experience. One of the coolest aspects is that Orchid has a rare brown bag licence which means you can bring your own beer and wine. They will uncork it and put it on ice for you. I suggest a dry Champagne. Sawadee!
(5)Yves R.
This is my favorite restaurant on the Big Island. The food is some of the best Thai I've had, and the owners are a delightful family. Not many tourists know about the location, which is a bit hidden from the main path in the old industrial area close to the center of Kailua-Kona. I go there at least once or twice every time I visit!
(5)Mackenzie O.
We stopped in for dinner here. The service was not very good. The panang curry (chicken) was quite good, but a little short on the chicken and rather heavy on cabbage. The beef pad see you was the worst that I've ever had. The rest of our dishes were below average. There are many Thai restaurants in Kailua Kona, so I can't imagine that I'd go back to this one. I will say that the place started filling up while we were there which makes me think that it is a popular joint. It is possible that our experience was not typical.
(2)Jene' G.
BEST THAI FOOD ON THE ISLAND! We love this place and best yet is they accomodate VEGAN options! the Papaya salad is soooo amazing, the stir-fried veggies/tofu is awesome, Sweet & sour veggies/tofu is ridiculously good, summer rolls are a huge order and so good, red curry (tofu/veggies) my fave, Thai fried brown rice is killer and the pad thai (veggies, no egg) is awesome! pretty much we love this place and go there way too much! lol The ambiance inside is humble and calming... water features and drk purples with brick chair railing and authentic thai statues, etc... Charlie is the owner, waiter.. thats right, one waiter and his wife sometimes. they are like little machines! Its well worth the wait, put it that way! ;) he is so sweet and definitely overworked, but always has time for a smile! try it out, and dont forget the amazing papaya salad! order it vegan (no fish sauce) and ENJOY!! :)
(5)Maurice S.
Went to go to this place based on reviews from Yelp, but at 5:15 on a Saturday the doors were still closed. Not sure what the deal was but we decided to go someplace else.
(1)Teresa S.
Delicious food. We had the lunch specials with summer and spring rolls. They were both great. I thoroughly enjoyed my chicken noodle #93 meal with a medium spice level. My friend had #95 and really liked it. They came with brown rice, which complimented the spiciness of our meal. I definitely will go again. We stumbled in to it, so it was a great find!
(4)Amy K.
Little place with real orchids decorating the tables, and folding chairs with red velvet covers for the back part. The menus were really cool: wooden covers, with cutouts on the front and a handpainted restaurant logo with an orchid, rendered in several colors. AND, the menu opens on wooden hinges. Everything we ordered was delicious, and I was really pleased that the menu specified most dishes are made with fish sauce or chicken broth, so vegans need to notify the server. I love being considered, and I like that they were willing to alter recipes. The summer rolls as an appetizer were light and came with peanut sauce. My family ate spicy noodles with pork and chicken Evil Curry; I had veggie/tofu pad Thai and veggie/tofu massaman curry (which was essentially yellow curry). Yum. When we ran out of rice, I started sticking my fork in the curry sauce and licking it off the tines. Minus a star because it seemed to take a while to get our food.
(4)Shannon G.
Prefer restaurants locals patronize instead of the tourist traps, so had dinner here one night based on Yelp reviews. Love my fellow Yelpers! Food very good, and menu offered a big variety to choose from. The service was not fast, and while not unfriendly, it was efficient. Clearly this is family-operated and they are all moving as fast as just two people can to service the whole dining room. It would be nice to eat there again during off-hours to see if they have the chance to visit a little. The decor is dark and warm. Restrooms - like aging latrines in an old state park. Unexpected after the cleanliness of the dining room. Hope that prosperity funds a remodel. That being said, we will return. The food was a good value.
(4)regina t.
This is the best Thai on the island. Truly a "hole in the wall" type of place but well worth the search. Their sticky rice can't be beat. The Pumpkin Curry is some of the best I have ever had. The only trick to this place is they don't serve alcohol so most folks run across the street to get a bottle of wine or beer. I have tryed nearly everything on the menu and havn't had a bad dinner yet!
(5)Tony T.
4/2/11 My wife and I had lunch. The best deal is lunch special which comes with spring rolls. The host is very attentive and hospitable. We occassionally go out for dinner on Friday or Saturday which is usually croweded. So, be patient for their service. They allow you to bring own alcohols without set-up charge. We feel this restaurant is one of the best Thai on this island.
(4)Erik T.
Delicious, but a bit slow service-wise. Only a problem if you're trying to catch a plane, though. Nice Ambiance, spiciness fairly typical.
(4)N R.
Aloha. The is the best Thai food ever! Family owned and run with pride. Ambience is calming and quiet, service is great! All dishes are made with perfection. Can BYOB - recommend coming early as it gets busy. I have been a regular for years. Never disappointed.
(5)Ezra B.
One of my favorite Thai restaurants. They have the best coco soup in town. Always fresh!
(5)Billy K.
I was hoping the food would live up to the wait but it was such a HUGE letdown. OMG! I was partially angry and frustrated at the service here because it was so freaken slow. I've never experienced worst service. Yeah I know they were busy but the food took forever to come out. We waited for an hour. After the food came out, OH GOD! I was shocked and pissed at the people on yelp who gave this place decent reviews because the food was terrible. For anyone who gave this place over 2 starts... I really feel bad for you because you've never had the same kind of Thai food that I've had....
(1)Nuthin But T.
I love the food ... Service... And quailty!!! I always have there crab fried rice... Squid salad.. Egg rolls my favorite... And there string beans dish!!! They only bad part I can mention is that there Tom yum soup ... Is not to good ... But everything makes up for it!!!
(5)Patrick D.
Great lunch special. Super tasty!
(5)Emily C.
The food was good -- not a standout, but good. We had green papaya salad, jungle curry (red curry sauce made without coconut milk), and pineapple fried rice. They note on the menu that almost everything can be prepared vegan (using the word "vegan"), so we asked for that specifically. I did not detect any fish sauce, so yay on that front. The curry sauce felt a little thin and soupy to me -- it's not the lack of coconut milk, because I've had this dish elsewhere and the sauce isn't so runny. The beverage options aren't very exciting -- no fresh juices, and BYOB (if you're into that).
(3)David D.
WOW.. If you miss this storefront little gem you wasted your trip to da Big one.. I you like Thai food that is.. The Tom KA Gai soup was great , the veggies were fresh and noodles just so.. The restaurant was darkened on a sunny day and made a perfect light for lunch.The waiter/ owner? was subdued and prompt. No smiles but the food smiles for you. Thanks.....
(5)Jon C.
Very good service and food. The inside is decorated very nice. The location is in the business district and has no scenery. There is parking in a parking lot shared with a dive bar. A good find!
(4)Scott C.
Orchid was our first stop after getting off the plane from Oahu based on previous reviews. Ate off lunch menu which includes summer roll with meal. I ordered the vegetable stir fry (hot). It was tasty indeed but not as delicious as my wife's pad thai which was fantastic. For the BI this places only scores a 1 or a 2 for location (located in older strip mall next to a seedy bar - no ocean view) but the food is a solid 4+. We had speedy service, although we likely arrived toward the end of lunch rush on a Friday. Everyone eating there seemed to be on a first-name basis with the staff which made this place feel very welcoming. I would love to stop by here again.
(4)Brian B.
Solid three star place. Dumpy looking outside but charming inside. Good lunch specials. I had a peanutty curry that could have been better but my bro's pad-Thai was superb. Papaya salad good too. Nice service.
(3)James B F.
Good spot real authentic. Their hottest spicy is the real deal. A little on the slow side but food is good enough to make up for that.
(4)Karl S.
Excellent food. Fresh rolls, curry, basil chicken.
(4)Marcia Z.
Nice place with decent food but nothing out of the ordinary. One poor waiter for whole busy restaurant and must of been same situation in the kitchen as it was slow too. If you are in the neighborhood give it a try but don't go out of your way. BYOB.
(2)Sherry B.
Amazing Thai food with the bonus that they will cook anything vegetarian and or vegan as requested! My absolute favorites are the pumpkin curry and Rama. They even have brown rice! Everything is just a little spicier than usual...so order one level under your usual! Mild=Medium, Medium=Hot! Delicious food. Relax about how long it may take you. Bring a bottle of wine and enjoy your evening. If you are in a big rush, Hawaii will drive you crazy. Relax and chill out!
(5)Leann Y.
Favorite Thai food!!! Always consistent great tAsty Thai food. I love the ck Rama and the evil curry:)
(5)Kevin S.
order the Volcano chicken!!!
(5)Patrick D.
Great lunch special. Super tasty!
(5)Emily C.
The food was good -- not a standout, but good. We had green papaya salad, jungle curry (red curry sauce made without coconut milk), and pineapple fried rice. They note on the menu that almost everything can be prepared vegan (using the word "vegan"), so we asked for that specifically. I did not detect any fish sauce, so yay on that front. The curry sauce felt a little thin and soupy to me -- it's not the lack of coconut milk, because I've had this dish elsewhere and the sauce isn't so runny. The beverage options aren't very exciting -- no fresh juices, and BYOB (if you're into that).
(3)David D.
WOW.. If you miss this storefront little gem you wasted your trip to da Big one.. I you like Thai food that is.. The Tom KA Gai soup was great , the veggies were fresh and noodles just so.. The restaurant was darkened on a sunny day and made a perfect light for lunch.The waiter/ owner? was subdued and prompt. No smiles but the food smiles for you. Thanks.....
(5)Malia A.
We were looking for dinner and were headed to Kona Brewing Company, but since we were going to take the brewery tour and have lunch there the next day, we rounded the corner and saw this small Thai restaurant that seemed pretty busy. So we pulled over and walked in! It was extremely busy and full of families and groups. It smelled amazing and we were seated in just a few minutes. As we watched the room it became apparent that this restaurant was completely run by one family - there were two people waiting tables and they would switch off running the register! Yes, the service wasn't very fast, but when our food came it was delicious and filling. I couldn't help myself and ordered the mango and sticky rice for dessert, even though I was way too full. The waiter we had didn't seem very friendly at first, but we assumed that since he was so busy he probably wasn't the talkative type. But when my boyfriend went to the register to pay, our waiter talked his ear off! He asked us how we found out about the restaurant, since they don't advertise because they want to keep it a secret and not get too big. He said, "it's just my family that works here and we don't want to get TOO busy!" He was so nice and very grateful to us for stopping by. I would definitely go here again! Nice people and homey decor that made you feel as though you were in somebody's cozy brick-lined family room. Also, we saw several people coming in just to take out food, and they all seemed like regulars.
(5)Claire B.
I like to take friends & clients who like Thai Food to eat at the Orchid Thai Cuisine off Kaiwi Street in the Old Industrial Area. My favorite meal is the Pad Thai or the Green Curry lunch meal for under $10.00. It comes with two summer rolls or one spring roll, and sticky or jasmine rice. I will also order the Thai Iced Tea too.. because it's so sweet & yummy! Charlie & Dow, the owners, are always friendly and efficient, and the food is always consistent! Highly recommended to impress any guests, friends, family and clients. Shall we meet there for lunch hour soon?
(4)Jan Z.
Excellent food. Family owned. He waits. She cooks. Outside doesn't look inviting but inside is charming. Food can be spicy so be honest about the amount of spice you want. Panang curry pad Thai and fried rice were all delicious. This was our last meal on the Big Island. Great end to a lively trip. Highly recommend
(5)Lisa C.
The food was good but it took FOREVER to arrive. Sort of ruined the mood. Our salad came and the we waited over 40 minutes for the rest of our order. It was good but not that good. There appear to be dozens of other Thai places to choose from so will not be coming back here.
(2)Karen N.
Yummy Thai in the Industrial Dist. Good food, good prices and excellent service. Try the Garlic Pepper Chicken, yummy!
(3)Julianne S.
My Favorite place for thai on the island. Love the food and the staff is very nice! Spicy noodles are my fav! great vegan options
(5)Jon C.
Very good service and food. The inside is decorated very nice. The location is in the business district and has no scenery. There is parking in a parking lot shared with a dive bar. A good find!
(4)Scott C.
Orchid was our first stop after getting off the plane from Oahu based on previous reviews. Ate off lunch menu which includes summer roll with meal. I ordered the vegetable stir fry (hot). It was tasty indeed but not as delicious as my wife's pad thai which was fantastic. For the BI this places only scores a 1 or a 2 for location (located in older strip mall next to a seedy bar - no ocean view) but the food is a solid 4+. We had speedy service, although we likely arrived toward the end of lunch rush on a Friday. Everyone eating there seemed to be on a first-name basis with the staff which made this place feel very welcoming. I would love to stop by here again.
(4)Brian B.
Solid three star place. Dumpy looking outside but charming inside. Good lunch specials. I had a peanutty curry that could have been better but my bro's pad-Thai was superb. Papaya salad good too. Nice service.
(3)James B F.
Good spot real authentic. Their hottest spicy is the real deal. A little on the slow side but food is good enough to make up for that.
(4)Karl S.
Excellent food. Fresh rolls, curry, basil chicken.
(4)Marcia Z.
Nice place with decent food but nothing out of the ordinary. One poor waiter for whole busy restaurant and must of been same situation in the kitchen as it was slow too. If you are in the neighborhood give it a try but don't go out of your way. BYOB.
(2)Sherry B.
Amazing Thai food with the bonus that they will cook anything vegetarian and or vegan as requested! My absolute favorites are the pumpkin curry and Rama. They even have brown rice! Everything is just a little spicier than usual...so order one level under your usual! Mild=Medium, Medium=Hot! Delicious food. Relax about how long it may take you. Bring a bottle of wine and enjoy your evening. If you are in a big rush, Hawaii will drive you crazy. Relax and chill out!
(5)Leann Y.
Favorite Thai food!!! Always consistent great tAsty Thai food. I love the ck Rama and the evil curry:)
(5)Kevin S.
order the Volcano chicken!!!
(5)Laura L.
Absolutely delicious thai! We struggle to find vegetarian-friendly thai (especially coming from Montreal), but this place was great and the owner assured that their dishes were being made vegan for us. We had the phad thai, cashew chicken (which turned into cashew tofu), and the evil curry with extra vegetable. The papaya salad was ABSOLUTELY heaven!! Highly recommend, and ask for dishes to be made spicy.
(4)Sydney T.
Friendly service and seated right away upon arrival. Nice atmosphere and unique decor. Devil curry with chicken and coconut milk is small portion but good. Tom Yum seafood soup is salty with very little seafood inside. Pepper garlic fish is salty and very small portion. Chicken noodle stirred fried was bland. Each small bowl of rice is charged extra $2. Total price came out to be around $65. Parking is limited.
(3)D M.
Hands down, my favorite Thai restaurant on the Big Island! I have tried many different things on the menu (curry, noodles, stir fry) and have never been disappointed. The lunch specials are a great deal and I highly recommend the spring rolls & Thai iced tea. Pad See Yew, Massaman Curry and Garlic Pepper stir fry are my favorite dishes there. Some people may be "turned off" by the owner, who seems to do everything in that restaurant by himself. I adore him. He's a man of few words, but always remembers my mom & I and never even needs to take our order. He remembers I'm vegetarian and adds a variety of veggies to my dishes and does substitutes with no problem. Wonderful dining experience! Hidden gem. Check it out for yourself! :)
(5)Willette B.
Massaman beef curry was great! It was packed with flavor. However, very disappointed with sweet and sour chicken and spicy chicken noodles. Sweet and sour was not breaded and they served very little chicken. I ordered for my two kids to share, each got exactly 3 small pieces to share. Jasmine rice was ok. Spicy noodle was overpowered by the bell peppers. It was more like a noodle salad with the amount of romaine lettuce served on.
(3)Vadim V.
Very good Thai food restaurant. Good service. The "mild" turned out too mild to my taste. The owner was very friendly and patient.
(4)Michael B.
Possibly the worst service I've experienced anywhere in the world, and certainly on island. Completely non-existent. It's as if they don't even want to serve you. The waiter barely speaks or acknowledges you. If the food was the most amazing I had ever eaten I'd maybe let it slide, but it wasn't very good...and I was drunk. I can only imagine how bad it was if I were sober. It's not authentic in the slightest, and I make better thai curry at home (and I'm a white boy). There are many great Thai restaurants on island and in the area-I've eaten at about 6 of them. The decor here is cute but I would never return. Try Phuket Monkey off Palani-the food is authentic, delicious, and the service is attentive and so welcoming I felt like we were family.
(2)Rebecca H.
We dined on a Saturday night and there were not many there so we were a little skeptical. Service was fast and the food was pretty good. Portions are somewhat small but 4 stars for the fried bananas and clean bathrooms.
(4)Yvette K.
I've had dinner a couple of times at Orchid Thai Cuisine. This is the favorite Thai restaurant of a good friend of mine in Kona. I really like Orchid Thai Cuisine a lot, but I also think the Bangkok House is the same quality, just with different dishes. (You gotta try the duck curry at Bangkok House) The dish I really like at Orchid is the garlic pepper whole fish. It's filleted, not the whole fish, and is fresh and delicious. I've also had the pumpkin curry, evil curry and volcano chicken - all were good too. The food is high quality ingredients and well prepared. The wait staff is very friendly and the clientele are regulars. I highly recommend Orchid Thai Cuisine.
(4)Cheyenne Paris M.
Yellow curry is the best!!! Clean, quiet & consistently good food :) Will definitely visit again!
(5)Chelsea S.
The Rama was amazing. I normally go for curry, but I tried something different this time, and I was not disappointed.
(4)Bobby D.
This is my sister's favorite restaurant in Kona. We went for lunch. Very clean and nice place. The server new my sister and her boyfriend and brought them Thai iced teas before we even had a chance to order. We orders a few things to split: Spring rolls: Great crisp to these. Nice sweet dipping sauce. Summer rolls: Very fresh rolls, we had them add chicken. Crab cake: Not bad, but no my favorite. I'm from Boston so maybe I'm a bit biased. Stuffed squid: I've never had this before. It was ok, but I probably wouldn't get it again. Papaya salad (slaw): Very good! A little spice and and good crunch. Pad Thai: we ordered both a non spicey and a moderate spicey. I had the spicey as I enjoy some heat. I would kick it up another notch next time with the heat. Overall taste was very good. Thai iced tea: The usual here, but not as sweet as some others so I liked it a little better.
(4)Lesley B.
Best Thai we have ever had. The lunch specials are a great buy, and all of the ingredients were very fresh! A must try!!!
(5)Bethany B.
Best Thai in Kona! Thai hot is actually spicy. The green papaya salad is soooo good! Love it all
(5)Shawnee G.
This place was great. We went in earlier, around 5ish to beat the dinner rush and we were seated right away. We ordered a couple appetizers, was not impressed with the spring rolls, but the stuffed mushrooms were good. We ordered a chicken pad thai, scallop panang curry, and a shrimp fried rice for entrees. Everything was delicious. The waiter was attentive and refilled our waters and he even brought out special plastic ware for my 4 year old. There was no alcohol on the menu, but I did see a couple the next table over going through a 6 pack, so perhaps you are able to bring in your own? Overall, a good thai dining experience and I would definitely return again!!
(4)Aaron M.
On the west coast, I'd give this zero stars. It is about as good as you could expect from mall food court in Seattle. But, here, it is a lot better than some other Thai places. (Krua---- yuk!). Not as good as Bangkok House. Not terrible though.
(3)Jeziell B.
Food wasn't bad, but I have had better in my hometown in NorCal. Can't compare it to any other Thai place around here though, since this is the only Thai I had since I came to vacay. From the outside for dinner it looked kind of closed and sketchy, but it was indeed open. +Tom Yum Soup with shrimp is good. - Service was a bit slow. other notes: Yellow curry was a little watery, it had good flavor, but definitely a mild flavor. The carrots and potato in the curry weren't fully cooked though. I like to be able to easily cut my potatoes/carrots with my fork, but this wasn't the case here. Maybe because we got here at 8:15 on a Monday night (and they close at 9?) Thai Basil Chicken was ok. As it says on the menu, the meat is ground for that dish. Probably wouldn't order again. Pad Se Ewe was good but the portion didn't seem like a lot for me and my family (5 of us total). Thai Tea is yummy. But I have rarely met a thai tea I didn't like. We tried to order the mango sticky rice, they said yes we have it, then the server came back and said sorry, not today. So maybe, again, it was the timing? Not the worst Thai I have ever had, but I don't think I'd come back.
(3)Steve K.
I have not eaten inside the restaurant, but have definitely enjoyed takeout from this place over the years, and it is my standout favorite for Thai takeout. It is a family run place, as others have noted, and they work hard at providing delicious food. When I go to pick up dinner it is usually busy, and I can recommend Charlie and his family for a good meal in Kona. Don't be dismayed by the old industrial section where they are located; inside is quite nice, and the ambience inside peaceful. Enjoy!
(4)Diane C.
My husband was craving Thai so I asked around and this was highly recommended by the locals. We got in and were seated immediately. The waiters are very helpful yet not very friendly. We ordered... Papaya salad - Very good! Co Co Soup - good Fresh Fish curry - good Panang Curry (Vegetarian) - good Massaman (Vegetarian) - good White rice - small portions but good Thai Iced tea - pretty good I just wish they had the air conditioner on. With spicy food and hot room, it can get pretty uncomfortable. Would I want to come back during this trip? No. It was good but not great enough for me to return.
(3)John S.
Always good, fresh and clean!!! Delicious food which comes to the table piping hot. My experience is that in other Thai restaurants "hot" food comes to your table somewhere between lukewarm and room temperature. EVERYTHING that I or my table companions have eaten here has elicited favorable remarks. Don't miss out on the "black sticky rice" as a side dish. As a Realtor, I find that my real estate clients whom I've taken to Orchid Thai for a meal tell me they routinely return on their own. It becomes one of their favorite places on The Big Island. The exterior has NO "curb appeal" -- it's just a storefront in a drive-in shopping strip. But everything changes when you step inside.
(5)A C.
Solid Thai food. BYOB, which could be good or bad, depending on your preferences an preparedness. Kind of a random location. We had fresh summer rolls w/ shrimp, green papaya salad, tom kha gai soup, pad Thai w/ chicken, and green curry chicken. All were great. Medium spicy is white person medium spicy, so feel free to ask for spicy if you want it.
(4)Chris O.
This was my favorite meal on the Big Island. After many days of plate lunches and breakfasts with pancakes the size of my chest I finally got some healthy and yet most delicious food at Orchid Thai. They actually had vegetables, hooray! I come from the SF Bay Area so i have had lots of Thai and this was up there with the best of them. The Tom Ka Gai was perfect, Pad Se Ew full of veggies and delicious (not super charred), and we got a chicken garlic and veg dish too that was so tasty I ended up pouring the leftover sauce on everything that was left. The service was mostly good and the decor was nice. They also have a dive bar next door that has a happy hour from 6-10am lol Gotta check this place out if you want some great Thai.
(5)S K.
Food was great! Not the best thai I've had, but solid. Honestly if you are on vacation like us you are most involved with activities and you eat what you can get. And it beats resort food in taste and price! So in that sense, definitely a nice surprise. Casual spot, busy for lunch, the owner was our server (very nice and accommodating to our special requests) Summer rolls were mediocre but pad thai, pineapple curry and cashew stir fry were all delicious! Also served with fresh orchids which we thought was cute- a little local flair. Great for vegetarians!
(4)Sam B.
The food was okay, not bad, not great. The service was acceptable only for a thai prison camp. Lets just say that they lost our continued patronage and a pepper shaker to boot.
(1)Ash P.
Food was good. We ordered a Tom yum soup,spring rolls and 2 vegetarian dishes. They were very accommodating with our request of not using fish or oyster sauce. The food tasted and looked fresh. I was very happy after I ate there and we paid less than $40. The outside of the restaurant was a bit unappealing. But the inside was very cosy and well kept. It also looked like the place had a lot of regular customers, there were 4 or 5 tables occupied and they all knew the owners and theirs kids...etc etc. Bottom line Yes I would go there again!
(4)Margaret R.
This place seemed to have a lot regulars who would order their food before they arrived. That's kind of cool - to get your food as soon as sit down. It also seemed like a place that embraced BYOB since waiter didn't hesitate to chill people's wine and beers. The decor had a sophisticated feel with paintings of Thailand put up. My green curry was good, but a little spicer than I like it, but that's my fault since they did ask how spicy I wanted it.
(4)