Long Grain
31 Elm St, Camden, ME, 04843
Long Grain Menu
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Address :
31 Elm St
Camden, ME, 04843 - Phone (207) 236-9001
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Opening Hours
- Mon :Closed
- Mon : Closed
Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Nigel E.
Great little hole in the wall restaurant. The reviews are all spot in - amazing food with a very diverse drinks menu (wine and beer only). The Thai food we had was super authentic reminding me of our travels around Thailand. I personally found the service to be lacking (not refilling water after food arrive, etc.) but the food more than made up for it.
(4)Leif M.
My family and I go here every time we are in Camden. It is possibly the best food I have ever had in my life, and I've been to top rated restaurants in large food destinations. The atmosphere is nice too. MAKE RESERVATIONS! It gets really busy. The coconut flan, soups, and spring rolls are AMAZING. Very reasonably priced for the caliber of the food. I cannot recommend enough. You will never want to leave.
(5)Andy H.
This place was a very pleasant surprise for me. Had dinner here last week and the overall experience was very good. It's small and we were fortunate to get a table with a short wait. At ambiance is very nice.Our waitress was very nice and pleasant. The food was very good.We had steamed dumplings and spring rolls for starters and then for dinners we had Pad Thai, Kimchi and ginger chicken. all were excellent. The prices were also very reasonable. I would definitely eat here again when I am back in the area.
(4)Ross V.
We have dined here twice in the last 2 years and thoroughly enjoyed the experience both times. If we were local, I'm sure it would be a staple. Great staff, unpretentious yet highly creative food. Panang beef was thick, slightly creamy and loaded with heat; meat was failing apart. Best Panang I've ever had!
(5)Kat C.
What can I say? We talk about this all year long ... We rave about the spectacular blend of flavors, the perfect level of spice, service is friendly & timed just right, and the quaint atmosphere. This is, hands down, the best Thai food we've ever had. And we recommend it all the time :).
(5)Maggi B.
Like most folks here, I would give more stars if I could. This is, by far, my favorite place to eat in Maine - and I live here. The bean cakes are, quite frankly, like crack they are so addictive. Be sure to get reservations and, if you can't, you can order pickup. Another option is to go solo and find an open seat at the bar.
(5)Kaya S.
Best Asian food I've ever had. I recently decided to stay an extra night in Maine because Long Grain is closed on Sundays & Mondays and I'd been waiting a year for my next fix. The wide noodles with pork belly are killer. I could write poetry about them. When you visit, make sure to make a reservation, and then be prepared to be a little patient. Both times I've been, they have been somewhat understaffed, and while they have really good hustle, things weren't running quite on time. Doesn't matter -- it's totally worth it.
(5)Kathleen F.
The food here is excellent...but the service is pretty terrible. They are really slow and on several occasions I have walked in (rather early too) and the woman seating people was annoyed and curt with our request to be seated...for 2 people! Love this place and want to support it, just wish the people working there weren't so "annoyed". you work in customer service, at an extremely popular restaurant, get over it!
(3)Miss Otis R.
We walked in at 5:30 not knowing you need a reservation for this place. We managed to get two seats at the bar, but later learned people were making reservations for bar seats as well! The roasted garlic rice cake was not what I expected, but delicious. I ordered the Pad Thai, tofu, no egg. It was good, lots of flavor, but honestly, I think they stir fried it too long and a lot of it was crispier than it should have been. But it was still yummy. My companion liked his dish, but wasn't over the moon about it. He had recently had the drunken noodles with duck at 5 Thai in Portsmouth, his very first Thai food experience, and he thought he died and went to heaven - clearly, this didn't compare. It's a really small place, so if you have your heart set on going, make the reservation. they were turning people away left and right.
(3)Ted W.
Yum! I was looking for a dinner place in the area and fall into the Long Grain. The place was packed, you could hardly see the sign for the place but that didn't seem to be an issue. The server created a space for me at the end of the bar and boy did I dived into Thai food haven. I got mussels soup which was Mussels in Tom Yum on Steroids, to die for! The place is crowded so be prepared.
(5)Douglas M.
This small spot, in the town center, has very good food. The ambience is fair, but not bad. The hit is, simply, the food. Service was professional and quick, and the spices in the different meals fit their menu descriptions. Good fare; I recommend this. It's moderately priced.
(4)Meredith A.
Long Grain is inventive, creative, and down right some of the best Thai food I have ever had. My Mum and I came here on our trip BACK to Camden (it was closed during the International Film Fest weekend), and I'm so glad that we did. We stopped in for lunch on Saturday, busy, but we got a table. We started with dumplings, and then shared the Ginger Chicken and Pad Thai. You might think "oh, there are so many unique Thai/Asian fusion dishes on the menu...Pad Thai you can get anywhere..." NO. YOU CANNOT GET THIS PAD THAI ANYWHERE. It was AMAZING! The noodles were perfect, the sauce was so tasty, fresh veggies and herbs, and the little flavor crunchies surrounding the egg and chicken were to die for. The Ginger chicken was excellent as well, the sauce was SO delicious and the chicken was accompanied by some wild mushrooms for added "meat" appeal. Lions mane mushrooms, I THINK. So, so good. Can Camden get any cooler? I will say that I read below that some customers had experienced sub-par service, and I can kind of attest to that. Our server was just kind of aloof...never brought us any water, until we asked, was just kind of "short" and not overly friendly...but, oh well. It would not deter me from the delicious food. And, the gentleman who delivered our food from the kitchen was VERY friendly and offered to get us whatever we needed, so it all evens out in my book. I would still call Long Grain a "5-star restaurant" any day of the week!
(5)Gerard S.
I've little to add to the positive reviews here: My lunch was excellent. The steamed mussels in spicy coconut lemongrass broth were plump, plentiful and perfect. The house-made noodles also a treat. There was an inexpensive Rully (white Burgundy) on the menu which went very well with my food. A varied and decidedly international bottled beer list was available. The bar service was perfect - friendly and very knowledgeable. The prices were downright inexpensive for the quality. A little girl, apparently family, ran about - loudly expressing her delight (I think). Chopsticks accompanied the food, but I presume that forks would have been made available. The whole experience was a joy.
(5)Bruce D.
There's a reason this tiny little restaurant carries a big reputation, has a James Beard nominated chef and critical acclaim. It earned them. As other reviewers have noted, you will need a reservation. There are eight tables and seven bar seats. Don't bother looking for a web site. As of this writing they don't have one. There isn't much signage on the exterior either. It's located next to 'Zoot Coffee'. Parking is on street, no meters, with a 2 hour limit. The atmosphere is pleasant and has a slightly eclectic small farmhouse feel. The decor is rustic and understated. No need to dress up, whatever you have on will do. Service is studied and deliberate, not lightening quick and applies a team approach. A different person may; seat you, take your drink order, run the food, bus the table and drop the check. It works well in getting food to the tables quickly. Don't be surprised if they aren't exactly sure 'who had what' when your meals arrive. We had a 6:30pm reservation, were seated at 6:35pm and leaving very satisfied at 7:20pm after having enjoyed both appetizers and entrees. The beer and wine list is primarily focused on asian beers, with some nice sake choices and a healthy selection of wines, across a number of varieties, by the glass. A few regional craft brews, including Allagash White, are also offered. The food is everything you've read it will be. The menu focus is primarily spicy however the heat level is mild, very mild for Thai food, and flavorful. At no time did we find ourselves reaching for water glasses and it never interfered with the wonderful tastes of the various dishes. For example, mussels in lemongrass broth carefully balanced both sweet and spicy flavors to pleasant effect. We also enjoyed the spicy basil pork belly fried rice. Servings are generous and if you can control yourself, which we didn't even try to, they will wrap whatever is left for you to take home. There is one dessert, a coconut flan. Credit cards are accepted but you can leave your American Express at home. This is a Visa and MasterCard situation. Our check, including 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and a glass of wine with tax and a 20% tip came to $73. It was memorable and worth every penny. I am tempted to suggest we return for lunch tomorrow and try the dishes we didn't order at dinner. I wholeheartedly recommend this place and have no hesitation confirming the 5 star rating well respected Yelpers have rated it.
(5)John D.
Poor service, which is why I'm deducting a star. The server at the bar was unattentive, and when we politely asked periodically for food or drinks, she was downright hostile. Not acceptable. This is an Asian fusion restaurant. It's exotic, if you live in Camden, or maybe in Maine period. But the food, while modestly curated, was fresh and good, so a nice choice if you're taking a break from lobster. (Space is cramped and crowded, though, so caveat.)
(3)Bethany B.
Only giving it 3 stars because the homemade rice noodles were excellent & they have a lot of gluten-free options! There was a Japanese Beetle dead on the plate from the greens. It kind of ruined the whole meal. They did take one meal off the bill.
(3)Brian Q.
I, too, will chime in with, "This is the best Asian food I have had outside of Asia." We couldn't get in here for dinner when we'd hoped to, and our consolation prize was lunch here before leaving Camden the next day. (Moral: Plan ahead and make a reservation. The bar is also reserved seating, FYI. And the place is T-I-N-Y.) We ordered three dishes, part based on our guts, part based on our (funky, fun) server's recommendations. We ended up with locally harvested muscles, served in a zesty lemongrass sauce (which we drank like soup when we'd exhausted the accompanying rice--YUM!); a spicy skirt steak salad, cooked to perfection, served under a pile of refreshing greens; and a pork belly fried rice that was out of this world. Too often lemongrass tastes like Mr. Clean, but I didn't get that here at all! It was actually flavorful in the muscles, penetrating gloriously the water chestnuts (or radishes?) in the broth. When given the choice of pork belly as a meat, one can NEVER say no. (This is a Commandment, even for non-hipsters, like me. I just love fatty foods!) It didn't have an overwhelmingly bacony or fatty flavor, though. Everything, I thought, was forcefully executed, yet delicate in effect, from the presentation to the palate. I marveled at how well the three dishes actually completed each other . . . and just wished I'd had more room to try more dishes. As far as heat goes, we were warned everything we ordered would be spicy, but it was very doable for me (thanks to constantly refilled water glasses)--and at $10 to $20 per plate, the price was right! (Two apps and a main filled us two Yelpers us for lunch.)
(5)Karen S.
Between the lousy service and mediocre food I cannot see why people rave about this place. I'm surprised there aren't more negative reviews. Went for lunch this past Saturday and were seated right away. 10 minutes later the one server stopped by to say she would be with us shortly. This was after no fewer than 12 trips sauntering up and down the length of the restaurant for Lord-knows-what reason since someone else delivered half the food orders. Our order was taken shortly thereafter but, about 10 minutes after that, the server told us she'd forgotten to enter our order and she wanted to reconfirm what we wanted. We restated our order and she assured us she'd ask them to cook our food right away. Over she came with one, not two, iced teas. Almost 20 minutes after she finally entered our order one entree arrived - what, no appetizer? When the second entree arrived it was not the spicy Thai basil minced chicken I had ordered. Instead it was Pad Ke Mao that was supposed to be spicy (wasn't), had mushrooms (which I don't eat) and organic greens (that were so raw the stalk couldn't be bitten through). The dish was blander than bland and barely an appetizer portion. Oh and it was $3 more than the dish I'd ordered - which I wouldn't have minded, except it a) wasn't what I had wanted, b) had no flavor and c) had barely an ounce of chicken in it. Much ado about nothing I'd say. One of the worst hours of my life in recent memory.
(1)Maggie C.
To be fair, Long Grain had quite a reputation to uphold -- we had heard so many amazing, outstanding, rave reviews about this place! Alas... it was meh. It all began when my boyfriend and I walked in one evening, excited and anticipating a delicious Thai meal. A server/hostess/bartender (?) asked us curtly if we had a reservation and we replied, "No, we are just walking in," (yes, we now know that we should have read about the need for reservations.) She snapped, "We have NO SPACE," and quickly moved on. This was our first impression of Long Grain. After this interaction, we weren't sure that we wanted to go back, but since it was supposed to be soooo good, we decided to call for a reservation. And call. And call. And call. No answer a single time and they request on their answering machine that you not leave a voicemail regarding reservations. Eventually, we just walked in order to get one. As one other recent Yelper said, the service was terrible. Our waitress took about fifteen minutes even to come by and only when we had made our drink decision did she mention that they were out of the one my boyfriend wanted. She didn't recommend anything else and waited impatiently while he decided on another, literally tapping her foot and looking around. He decided, she came back, and then told us that they didn't have the beer that I wanted... Oy. Add on top of our drinks snafu that they never delivered our appetizer. The food was fine. Nothing extraordinary. I'm vegetarian and don't like tofu/think it is terrible for me, so we ordered the Pad See Ew and the Spicy Basil Fried Rice with veggies instead of tofu.. they were mostly veggies without substance and much of the greens were undercooked. The fried rice lacked flavor, I'm sad to say. The coconut flan was the happiest part of our meal and the only aspect I would go back for. Such a bummer -- we were really excited about this place.
(1)M H.
The food is great. Delicious and totally worth the wait. Last weekend we were very lucky on a cold winter night to get in without reservation. So why the 3 stars? Because I ordered tofu and got and ate chicken. When I brought it to the waitress' attention she went back and reordered. She said something about ordering "pork" and I wasn't clear if she thought I ordered pork or she reordered pork. I clarified tofu again. I haven't eaten pork or chicken for 16 years and it was my birthday. But hey, she didn't know that. She brought out some spring rolls "as an apology" and the reorder came out pretty quickly. For good customer service they should have at least removed the dish from the bill and actually said sorry.
(3)W. J. S.
Loved it. Fusion food with unique and full-bodied flavor. Nicely spiced but not overdone. Wish we lived closer to go back!
(5)Foodie W.
Had a late lunch there over the Labor Day weekend. Indistinct storefront, name of restaurant on a piece of paper taped to the front door. A hidden JEWEL! We ordered the spring rolls first, they were superb! The rice wrapper was gelatinous (softly fresh)! I have never found a Thai restaurant in the Boston area that serves such a fresh spring roll! The pork dumplings were so tasty! One could tell they were hand-made. We ordered the pad thai with chicken. The rice noodles had been stir- fried in a pan first and then the other components were added on top. Stir-frying the noodles made for a memorable (flavorable) difference!
(5)Joanna F.
We had a reservation for 4 at 8 pm but we weren't seated until about 10 minutes after our reservation. It seemed like they did not manage the timing of their reservations that wonderfully, but besides that everything about this experience was top notch. Loved the vibe and decor of the place. The waitress was helpful and prompt and all of our dishes were absolutely delicious and RIDICULOUSLY cheap for the quality of the food. I got Pad Seaw which I order at a lot of fast food Thai places. This was so much better. Local kale, jalapenos and other greens with soy sauce, eggs and homemade noodles. The homemade noodles made all the difference. They had a wonderful texture and flavor. All in all, a reasonably priced, quality Thai food experience.
(4)Steve A.
I feel like a bit of a broken record here but I, like everyone else, was a bit skeptical after reading the reviews of Long Grain. A word to the wise -- believe the hype. After eating a whole lot of Thai food in just about every major east coast city, I can comfortably say that this was by far and away the best Thai food I have ever come accross. Absolutely nothing is one note -- the flavors are delicate, balanced, and flat out delicious. The homemade noodles in the pad kee mao might have ruined future noodle dishes for the rest of my life. Artfully coated in a chili-based sauce, they almost pop in your mouth when you bite into them. Add in the local greens and you have a perfect dish. The Kao Soi soup was one of the most addicting broths I've ever tasted and easily rivals or surpasses any ramen or pho spot on the east coast. Finally, the panang curry with beef was the absolute star of the show. I get panang curry at every Thai place I eat at and this was head and shoulders above the rest. The depth of flavor that they manage to get into that curry sauce was ridiculous. Throw on beef so tender you can cut it with a fork and I was in food heaven. In short, believe everything you read about Long Grain. Make a reservation, expect to wait an extra 15-30 minutes for your table, and then order just about everything on the menu (and definitely the panang). This is truly a special restaurant and a destination for anyone within one hour of Camden.
(5)Aaron Z.
Food was good, but not good enough for the painfully long wait! Seriously, took 70 minutes to be served our lunch entree. Asian street food is suppose to be fast. I really don't understand all the praise from other yelpers ... service was terrible and food was decent at best.
(2)dave w.
solid asian street food. an unexpected find in camden. dont miss the pork buns and spicy noodles.
(4)Joel H.
This is the first 5 star review I've given on Yelp. Everything people are saying below is true. This place was fantastic. We live in NYC and are quite snobby about our asian foods so it was a complete surprise to find this in such a seemingly random place. We ordered the handmade wide noodles with pork belly and the special pork belly dish that night (I forget the name) and both were outstanding. The noodle dish had that delicious wok fried flavor that so many restaurants miss and the pork belly special was so loaded with meat that it probably would have been two portions of belly at most NYC restaurants. The broth it came in was complex, fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. For the quality, portion size, and interesting wine selection, the price is VERY affordable.
(5)Ben H.
Get a reservation. Period. Then, be happy you did. It is worth it! This is the best Asian food I have had. Absolutely delicious! The flavors were delicate, varied, and complex. The Pad Kee Mao was perfect. I honestly could not imagine changing one thing about the dish... forget it, about the whole meal. Everything from the appetizer (roasted garlic rice cakes, a spongy extravagant pleasure with this incredible sauce) to the dessert (a coconut flan with this light fantastic crust on top of rice pudding) was flawless. Even the the fried rice we ordered our three year was incredible. It had a layered, complex flavor and the vegetables and nuts were cooked to perfection. We came with our three year old boy and 10 month old daughter. We were treated wonderfully, which can be an issue for a nicer restaurant. My wife and I will definitely be back for a date night. This place is truly just awesome.
(5)Eria L.
Love this cozy little restaurant! Great food, local produce, lots of gluten-free options...just ask! Would like to see them expand the menu for more delicious options. Make a reservation.
(5)Rachel D.
Delicious and affordable! Woo! Make sure you make a reservation though because you never know when they're going to be fully booked. The first time I went to Long Grain I had the Lemongrass Coconut Mussels and they were really great, the broth can be sipped and has enough flavor to substitute as a soup after you've eaten all the mussels! However, the real treat I had was the Pad Thai. I've had really great authentic Pad Thai, but their Chicken Pad Thai was very fresh and savory - different but good. My mom always orders the spring rolls which have fresh mint and basil in them - a yummy treat for the herbivore. I also had the sake and it seemed like a bottomless flower glass. For $8.50 I was sake'd out. All around great!
(4)B G.
Definitely make a reservation. We called at the last minute and snagged a place at the bar. This place is tiny. I have only been there once, but it is on my top ten best meals list. We were skeptical with all the over the top reviews, but they have earned all of them. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the meal (ambience, wine/beer, appetizer, entree, and dessert (coconut flan is a must). It was delicious and the staff was really nice and attentive. Vegan options, and even offered to make vegetarian dish vegan. Awesome. Adorable, highly recommended.
(5)Taylor J.
Admittedly a little skeptical of Thai food in Maine when my friend recommended this place but glad that we ended up following through on her recommendation! We ordered the pork belly, homemade noodles and crab fried rice and everything was spot on. The noodles are worth mentioning again - definitely get a noodle dish here if you're on the fence. Desert was a crazy amalgamation of what seemed to be a Thai take on creme brulee with sweet black rice and a milk-like syrup (not condensed milk). Decor is very Maine - old timey wood and very homey. To sum it up: a pretty exceptional meal in a great spot
(5)Mie T.
Dishes were hit or miss but the service was horrible. We visited from Portland for a late lunch on a weekday and were greeted by an extremely snotty server who acted very put out by our presence. After standing around awkwardly and then finally being seated at the bar ten minutes later, we were brought menus and chopsticks. We started with the fresh rolls and rice cakes. I'll admit the rice cakes were absolutely delicious. The rolls were nothing to write home about but perfectly fine. For entrees, we split the multi grain fried rice (bland), noodles and a curry. The noodles were still chewy and undercooked and the sauce was overly salted. Had the noodles and sauce been prepared correctly, this dish would have been quite good. The curry was decent but not any better than something I would make at home. Throughout our lunch, our server neglected to stop by with waters, napkins or to check in on the food. For the life of me, I can't understand why the service was so overtly rude and neglectful. I think this place could be great if they adopted a more personable, humble attitude and tightened up the recipes. As it stands, I wouldn't visit again.
(2)C M.
OK people. I am going to say a really, really weighty thing. This restaurant. Randomly in Camden, Maine. Has the best Asian food I have eaten outside of Asia. And it MIGHT be the best Thai food I have eaten anywhere--including in Thailand. Maybe? (Disclaimer: I ate pretty terrible tourist food in Thailand, though.) I AM NOT JUST SAYING THAT. I AM A REALLY CRITICAL AND CYNICAL AND HARD TO IMPRESS PERSON. I DON'T WRITE IN THESE YELL-Y CAPITAL LETTERS ABOUT JUST ANY FOOD. I was all like, pssh, New York Times writes a review and we all blindly follow and do what it says. Skeptical me. Whatever. Y'all. You should eat here. I would drive all the way up the Eastern Seaboard from DC to eat here again, maybe. We had steamed dumplings, a homemade noodle dish, and the NIGHT MARKET SOUP. One time I ate something similar in Vietnam, and it was so good I stayed in the same city for three days just to keep eating it. And this was almost that good. We also had this crazy awesome warm black rice pudding! We ate every single last bit of food. We probably licked dishes. We continued to talk about it for the next five hours. I am still talking it about it now, months later. We tried to make a reservation the day-of, and the only opening they had was at 5:00. But it was worth eating at a weird time. People were being turned away at the door as we sat there smugly. Make your reservation early!
(5)Julie T.
All the positive reviews are true! We lucked out and got a table at lunch but everyone after us had to wait as all tables were reserved. This place us worth the wait. Don't go for the decor Go for the freshness and authenticity of the dishes. Can't wait to go back
(5)Mike B.
The crab fired rice was so good! Really all the food would keep me coming back when I am in the area. Wife and I went at 2 on a random day in the spring, thus crowds not a problem. Considering we were the only ones in the dining section, we didn't get much attention from the waitress (that was my only complaint). Instead I got to hear her flirting/socializing with the 3 people at the small bar. Was it enough to ruin our meal, no, but it was enough to lower this ranking one star.
(4)Ryan L.
Long Grain is delicious! First, as others have said, you won't get a seat here on a Friday or Saturday night without a reservation. Even at the bar, and even during the off season. The place is tiny. I would strongly recommend if you're visiting and you have a decent room to just get take out and eat it at your place. Or go eat it at the park overlooking the harbor and bay. My fiancee is in love with the crab fried rice. We've been there twice and both times she has gotten it and loved it. My first time I got the yellow noodles with chicken. Unfortunately the menu doesn't give you details of what's in the dish, and I didn't ask, so I got served a ton of mushrooms, which I'm not a fan of. My fault for not asking, but even so the dish was very good. Next time I got the whole grain fried rice with chicken and an egg and it was really good and very filling. I think it maybe got stir fried a bit too long because some of the rice had a little crispy texture to it. I would strongly recommend the spring rolls - lots of great flavor with delicious fresh herbs in the roll. Also, I have to mention the staff - they're awesome. They are all very friendly and very helpful. In our first visit my fiancee, who is averse to mushrooms as well, got their soup, which had some big oyster mushrooms in it. She didn't touch it much more but also didn't say anything because it's not their fault we didn't ask what was in it. However, the waitress approached us about it and we said it wasn't our thing and we're fine with paying for it, no big deal, but they insisted on taking it off the bill. This is a really well managed restaurant.
(4)Shannon C.
Just WOW. This was really incredible thai food. Everything was so fresh and delicious! I had the Kea mao noodle with tofu and I had to stop myself from licking the plate. Everyone at the table was very happy with pad thai, panang, rice cakes, and spring rolls. As far as desert goes, sticky rice with coconut custard is my absolute favorite, which is great because it's the only desert they offer. Why offer more when you do this one sooooo well. Again, wow! They also offer a large variety of Maine craft brews, which is really nice. Like everyone has said, make a reservation! The place is small and the food is great, you will be happy you did.
(5)Dana J.
This is my favorite restaurant in the area. I usually get the special and while I don't ever recall the dish, it's always great. the pork dumplings are a good starter.
(5)Jeff L.
Simply the best. Greens in your noodle dish? Pad Thai that actually tastes unique and yummy? Vegetarian options? Yes on all.
(5)Heather C.
I almost wish I never found this place. My husband and I almost reluctantly ate dinner here in early June (Thai in Maine??). But I heeded the advice of reviewers that insisted we eat there and made a reservation. (thanks Yelpers!) The reason why I wish we never found Long Grain is because the Pad Kee Mao has ruined me for all subsequent Thai food, and possibly even just all food. I said to my husband while we were eating "I'll never forget how this tastes." I've tried pad kee mao or drunken noodles in Thai restaurants ever since and nothing even comes close. Some day I'll be back, that I know for sure.
(5)Sarah B.
Excellent, excellent, excellent! Not only the best Asian food in Camden, but also the best Asian food in Maine. In fact, The New York Times recently named Long Grain as one of the best Asian/Thai restaurants in the country! An honor thoroughly deserved. Price is very affordable given the quality of the food. Love the broad rice noodles, rice cakes (Nothing at all like the Quaker variety! These are soft and chewy.), and fried dumplings. But the dish not to be missed is the Thai custard dish with coconut sauce for dessert. Truly memorable! The place is small and it can be hard to get a reservation. As a local, I'm hesitant to leave such a glowing review that might make it even harder to get a table, but this restaurant has earned its glowing reputation.
(5)Manny V.
We needed to have an early dinner before going on a sailing trip. We picked Long Grain based on the Yelp reviews which were really helpful. This is another restaurant with no signage. Its only sign is an 8x11 paper with" Long Grain" printed on it taped on to the window, but when you enter you walk into a restaurant with an eclectic feel to it. Very hip and yet maintains a rustic feel to it. We were their first customers that evening and we're glad we came early since they usually require reservations. We started with the Pemquid mussels in spicy coconut lemongrass soup. Wow that was good. We had a variety of entrees - Pad Thai, Multi-grain fried rice with pork, Pad Seaw noodles with chicken, Main Crab Fried Rice and Beef Curry with rice. All the entrees we ordered were soo good - full of rich flavors and spices. They make you go "wow!" with each serving. We ended our diner with desserts (thai iced tea ice cream and sticky rice) which were just spectacular! We are definitely fans and plan to come back one more time before our vacation at Mid-coast Maine is over. Wow!
(5)Alex G.
Came for lunch on a beautiful Camden afternoon. Very funky, intimate interior; not crowded, just "cozy." Menu was authentic and innovative, with a ton of fresh, local ingredients. Tofu is made in Camden, and wide noodles were made in house - yum! Flavors were all tasty and well integrated and all the dishes we had were prepared perfectly. Possibly my favorite Thai restaurant in Maine - and I have dined at a lot of them. This ain't your grandmother's Thai food, baby.
(5)Michael C.
I would give this place 6 stars if I could. Anyone who gave this place a bad review has no idea what real food tastes like. I had the kimchi with pork belly and let me say it was quite possibly one of the best dishes I have had on a vacation. Coming from the greater NYC area I know good food. And am sometimes hesitant when eating in small towns on vacation. Let me stop there Camden, ME is not like most small touristy towns I would say 98% of the restaurants here are f**king amazing. The way this chef seasoned the dish was out of control I just sat there amazed looking at my empty plate wondering how the hell did I just eat a meal this good in a tiny restaurant with not even a sign outside and the dish was 12.50. If you come to Camden and don't eat here punch yourself in the face.
(5)Abi C.
Freshest greens in Camden! The basil and mint in the spring rolls is perfectly blended. The fresh noodle dishes are such a delight with the abundance of greens and homemade noodles. The coconut flan is divine! Do not attempt to share it with anyone. Also, make reservations no matter what time or day you decide to go.
(5)Steven R.
5 star reviews may be awarded a little too liberally. That having been said, Long Grain's 5 stars from this reviewer is a no brainer. Simply the best Thai I've had, including NYC and SF and one of the better all-around restaurant experiences I've had regardless of price. The place is small and always crowded, but we were able to get 2 seats at the bar, which was a great vantage point for all the culinary activity. Started with pork and seaweed dumplings in a paper thin wrapper and an excellent roasted eggplant salad with ground pork in a cilantro chili-lime dressing. The Chinese yellow noodles with tender roasted pork also included thinly sliced sausage and was an excellent milder foil to the more fiery beef panang curry, like a super tender beef Bourguignon with an incredibly complex sauce that was stunningly good and likely spoiled any future visits to local Thai places in my home state. Beware that the Yelp listing incorrectly states that there is a "full bar", but some items from the eclectic beer list went quite well with the meal (especially the Weyerbacher Verbotten). We had an entertaining chat with the great two servers/bartenders as they wound down from their shifts.....great night.
(5)Ken G.
Absolutely delicious, but come early or make a reservation. The tiny dining area fills up fast!
(5)Marya D.
Very cozy and super great place to eat! Never fails to impress with their rice cakes out of this world! Long Grain has true Thai taste and is quickly made! Highly recommend the Thai tea and homemade noodle dishes! Might recommend a reservation for dinner. Not many options for young children.
(5)OReland O.
Outstanding meal! The place was really hopping. Had to wait for a seat for lunch but well worth it. We had the beef curry and spicy chicken stir fry. Excellent choices. Staff was friendly, great place. I'd highly recommend it.
(5)David C.
This place is just plain awesome! We lucked out and walked in without a reservation at lunch (who needs reservations for lunch?) and we scored seats at the bar. There wasn't an empty seat by noon! The food was just wonderful. Perfectly prepared, delivered quickly and with a genuine smile. If you find yourself in Camden you really should visit.
(5)Robert S.
Crab. Fried. Rice. Just do it! Went for lunch. Busy little place, but the service and the food were fantastic.
(5)Kate S.
I haven't been to Asia (YET), but this is certainly the best Asian food I've had since moving back to Maine from San Francisco. Beats everything I've tried in Portland, too. Liked it so much we ordered to-go & took it back home to Portland. It was just as delish.
(5)Maggie S.
We stopped by for lunch on our visit from Boston. If you walk in without a reservation and get seated, consider yourself very lucky. The food was so amazing, I ordered seconds to take home as leftovers. Definitely one of the top 3 of Thai restaurants I've been to in the US.
(5)Happy T.
When you ask locals where's a good place to eat this is always their recommendation. And we were not disappointed. After not realizing you can't just walk in (place is busy and takes reservations) they seated us extremely fast. We started with the wanton's then moved on to the Coconut soup both which had amazing flavors and tasted fresh. My wife had curry and I had Pad Thai with tofu. Both are main dishes were great as was the atmosphere. It's nice to be on vacation and find places like this.
(5)Marie P.
It was good, just not as good as I was hoping it would be. I stopped in for a lunch by myself and say at the small bar area. The ladies serving me where nice enough, but seemed a little weary after what was, I'm sure a long 4th of July weekend. On their suggestion, I ordered the fresh spring rolls and pork belly with kimchi. The spring rolls were fresh, but the vermicelli filling was over-cooked and that made the texture off. The pork belly kimchi only tasted of kimchi with no other flavored to balance it. The jasmine ice tea was light and refreshing. Not sure that I would come back.
(3)Kate P.
We were only able to squeeze a lunch in during our trip to Camden but could tell how good it was. We split the spring rolls which were better than almost any others we've had and the home made noodles with pork belly - YUM ! I broke all my rules about no ethnic hot food at lunch on a hot summer day....I enjoyed it immensely.
(4)Debby K.
We are visiting from New York and Long Grain was definitely one of the best restaurant experiences we've ever had in Maine. We made a reservation and the service was excellent-- the wait staff was warm and friendly, and the food came promptly. We ordered the garlic tofu as an appetizer, and split the tofu pad thai, spicy chicken, pork soup, beef curry, and organic greens and tofu. Everything was just wonderful-- full of delightful flavors and textures, thoughtfully prepared, and made with fresh ingredients. Each dish is a creative and innovative take on Asian fusion. Definitely order tofu; it's locally made and delicious in a way you don't usually think is in tofu's arsenal. I didn't have the soup but the other members of my party said it was addictive. If you are in midcoast Maine, call up Long Grain and make a reservation! Not to be missed.
(5)Ken M.
Our reservation was for 8 pm for four people and the table was not ready until nearly 8:15. I'm going to give the restaurant the benefit of the doubt and say that the patrons that had the table before us were slow to get up. The decor is really nice, kind of a farmhouse and Asian fusion. The restaurant is far more upscale than most of the Thai places in the area. The food was delicious and arrived promptly. Our server was pleasant and friendly and was happy to answer questions and make suggestions. The bartender/hostess was a bit overbearing, obnoxious and loud, but the rest of the experience was so good that it barely mattered. The place is small and fills up quickly, make a reservation definitely if you plan on eating in. Also, there is no sign currently, save for an 8x11 sheet of paper on the door, so it is kind of hidden (next to Zoots Coffee) right now.
(4)Suzannah K.
Awesome Thai food especially for Midcoast Maine! I love the spicy food! Make a reservation even at lunch!
(4)Turbo Smurf X.
Now that I am the Duke of Long Grain and have been dining here for two years, I feel it is time to review Long Grain. First, let me say this to all the reviewers who whine about not getting seated immediately even if they have a reservation. Relax people you are on vacation. So what if you have to wait a few minutes. It's a small place, in a small town, with people taking their time. This is a mom and pop restaurant serving local grown food that is freshly made. The food here is, in a word, spectacular. Not because it is wildly creative or uniquely plated, but because it is fresh, plentiful and flavorful.The plates are creative looking and have they feel that they are made for you and only for you. The noodles, whether cruncy or as part of a broth have flavor and texture. The curry hits your nose and your tastebuds with full authority. The vegetable dishes look and taste like they came out of the garden that day (which they probably did).They variety of mushrooms are amazing, even if you don't like mushrooms. Step away from the lobster roll and chowder/fried shrimp world and indulge in local produce and mussels, fish etc. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Whitney C.
My favorite Thai place, Long Grain has great wild rice and pah see ew. Their dumplings are making me hungry as I write, and their rice cakes are out of this world. By rice cakes I don't mean the Quaker kind. These were soft and warm and more wonderful than you can imagine. I'm not really sure what was in them or how to describe them better but literally they were fabulous.
(5)Amy D.
We had one of our favorite meals at Long Grain in Camden. It is an absolute surprise to find such delightful Thai food in Camden, Maine. We had two appetizers, three entrees, one dessert, two beers and a Thai iced tea for only $75. It was unbelievable. Here's the breakdown: Apps- spring rolls and steamed dumplings - both delicious, fresh and flavorful. Entrees- Spicy night market soup was to die for. My husband proclaimed that he would bathe in the broth. That might be too much, but it really was magnificent. Sweet, sour, spicy, homemade noodles, yummm. It was definitely the best thing we ate the whole night. Spicy ground chicken w/ poached egg was good but paled in comparison to the former. That said, it was still probably better than the best dish at your average Thai restaurant. The sweet soy noodles w/ kale and tofu was also fantastic. The kale was a bit crispy around the edges and the homemade noodles had a lovely texture and great flavor. Dessert- Coconut milk bruleed flan-type dish on black sticky rice. Dessert typically is not my thing at Thai restaurants but this dish definitely changed my mind. Are you sensing a theme? This restaurant is awesome. Service was prompt and friendly. The atomsphere of this place was very relaxed and not at all pretentious considering the recent New York Times review that compared it to some of the best Thai restaurants in the country. That said, reservations are a must. We called one day in advance and could only get a reservation at 4:30 on a Wednesday. It's worth your while, however, to fight people off for a spot at the bar just to eat the delicious night market soup or anything else the chef has to offer. We definitely will.
(5)Louise B.
We were having an enjoyable dinner starting with rice cakes and dumplings when a woman in her thirties with long brown hair delivered our homemade wide noodles main course. We asked her to please tell us what the spice was in the sauce for dumplings and she said,"it's a secret!" give me a break! - information is to be shared - what's the fun otherwise. Then we asked her if she could possibly turn down the AC which was blowing right on us (it was 66 degrees outside and I had popsicle toes) - her response? "We keep it at full blast." We will never return - it was those home made wide noodles we came for on recommendation and she ruined the experience. That said, everyone one else was a delight - the food on final analysis was good but average and the possibity of really good was spoiled by one person who should not be working in a service industry - beware chef and owner.
(3)David D.
My good friend and daughter one, took old dad out for lunch today and experienced Long Grain, Asian Home Cooked and Street Food. This restaurant is so good, I'm trying to figure out a way to live in the back and step-by-step, eat my way through the current menu. We had a pot of tea, then split an order of steamed pork, shrimp & local seaweed dumplings. Oldest daughter ordered the Multi-grain fried rice (she shared) and I had the Pad Thai with Tofu (I didn't want to share but did), the best Pad Thai I've ever had. Finally we split a light dessert, mung bean pudding on sticky-rice with a whipped coconut milk creme. Call 207-236-9001 and find out the winter hours and go, now.
(5)Jeff S.
Excellent food. Small space and bit noisy. We did'n't have reservations so we did a "to go" order . Can't say enough good things... Very affordable !!
(4)Sgt. S.
I had to round up from 4.5 stars, based on the customer service. They were open for lunch till 3.00 on Saturday, and we showed up at about 3.01, and the door was locked, but my wife persuaded one of the customers near the door to let us in, at which point the waitress couldn't help but serve us -- a simple party of four with an octogenarian and a 4-year-old. The kitchen was essentially closed, but they could serve us some coconut soup and spring rolls, which we gratefully accepted, and which we are so glad we did. The spring rolls were so delicate, like a tender leafy green salad wrapped deliciously in whatever those wrappers are made of. The dipping sauce was light and had just the slightest spice to it that my lifelong-Mainer-mother-in-law noticed but did not object to. And then the coconut soup -- with huge chunks of tender and flavorful dark and white meat chicken, succulent mushrooms, and ethereal coconut flavor. Wow. People at the table next to us commended the mussels to us (one of them had had them the week before and come back again, they were so good), but our options were limited. We will absolutely come back to attack the rest of the menu, which is a creative combination of Maine coast and southeast Asian. Can't wait. The waitress had 90 minutes between the end of lunch and the start of dinner, and she spent 30 of those minutes waiting for us to eat and finish, and we are so grateful to her for that, because otherwise we would not have had such a delicious meal! And she complained not a whit.
(5)Laureen O.
My husband and I are vegan and finding a place to eat in Camden was quite a challenge. Locals directed us to Long Grain and we were not disappointed. We had the rice cake for appetizer which was recommended by the wait staff. We then had greens with tofu and a spicy noodle dish with tofu as well. Everything was fresh and tasty. Considering the fact that our vegan choices were very limited in Camden, this was truly a wonderful find.
(4)Mark E.
Wow! One of the highlights of my recent summer trip. Food is amazing, make a reservation in summer. Make sure to ask for a side of their homemade hot sauce, I bought 3 jars to bring home. DO NOT MISS trying any of the homemade rice noodle dishes.
(5)Susan B.
Fantastic food and lively atmosphere. We haven't had noodles this good since we spent a year in Yunnan, China.
(5)Eli S.
We went to Long Grain for a late lunch and could not have been happier. It was cold and snowing, so the only thing on my mind was something hot, preferably something soupy. We got an order of the steamed dumplings, which were quite good and piping hot. Next up, the spicy/sweet noodle soup with ground pork and the lad nar -- noodles, pork belly, greens and a thick broth (a dinner special that they made us for lunch). We could not decide which was better. Each was the best version of that dish that we had ever had. We kept passing the plates between each other and diving in to each bowl. The pork belly was quite fatty but that prob made the broth that much better. The place itself is very comfortable and the staff was very friendly. Who knew some of the best Asian food out there was in Camden, Maine.
(5)James H.
I don't know what the food is like here. I hear it's great! Too bad I will never know. I made a reservation for two. Went in at the time we agreed to. Waited 30 minutes. A table for two is open. But alas, we are told that the open table is not for us, but rather it is to be pushed together with a four-top currently occupied by people eating their entrees to make a table for six. We could have finished our meals by the time this table of six was to arrive. Why bother making reservations if they are meaningless? One of the waitresses was a blank wall of condescension. This place thinks it is SOOOOOO great and they are delighted to tell you to get lost. Rude, nasty service.
(2)Spench V.
Long Grain was excellent. Usually I go for seafood when visiting family in Maine, but the Yelp posting caught my eye... ...and then I scrutinized almost every individual review of Long Grain because I went to a horrible tourist spot a couple nights ago based on a positive Yelp review. Having the NY Times rate it one of the best Asian/Thai restaurants in America gave some weight, but I was still a bit skeptical. Not any more. We were able to secure a reservation on relatively short notice, probably because it is a rainy Tuesday night and still early in the tourist season, and I went with my parents - who are not the most adventurous eaters. They are locals so they had been there before, and that they would go there again speaks volumes. We had the Pemaquid mussels appetizer which had a slightly spicy sauce that made a great fusion between local seafood and Thai cuisine. They had home made noodle dishes and I had beef Panang curry, all of which were delicious. The wine and beer list was extensive. The server was friendly and knowledgeable. The owners took her and one of the other servers to Thailand and Vietnam last winter - how cool is that? This place lives up to the hype.
(5)Julia P.
We went to Long Grain for dinner last night and it was hands down one of the best Thai dinners we have ever had. This is not your typical Thai restaurant. On par with Boda Thai in Portland (but much more reasonably priced), Long Grain has unusual items. The braised beef curry was unbelievable! Service was outstanding and quick. Our waitress was knowledgeable and friendly. It was my birthday and when the thai desserts offered didn't spark our interest, our waitress called a couple of other local places and relayed their offerings (the irony of course is that we should have just stayed there because the dessert we ended up with was not great!). Ambiance is intimate and funky. Highly recommend!!
(5)Stu T.
Loved it, the local ingredients they used in the dishes were great. It's a great place to mix it up while in camden or maine. Everything was great.
(4)Westie W.
There is no sign, the exterior is run down, reservations are mandatory, and the interior is crowded, but do not let any of this deter you from dining at Long Grain. Do make reservations in advance a few weeks in advance or expect to be turned away at the door as we witnessed over and over on the Tuesday night of our visit. All expect a delay after ordering because the locals and vacationers in the know call for takeout which backs up the kitchen. We witnessed a young threesome who sat for an hour at the bar before receiving their orders. We were a little more fortunate with my wife ordering chiang mai curry noodles, aka kai soi, with chicken and I, the pad ke mao with chicken (stir fried wide noodles with basil, organic kale and mushrooms). We have had both dishes in the past and this year's version did not disappoint though my wife felt hers was a bit too hot.
(4)Stan K.
What a surprise to find such an gem in Camden! Food was delicious! Recommend the curry chicken noodles as the entree. And make sure you get the street chicken wings!!
(5)Dreababy O.
As a New Yorker I definitely had better in NYC. But when up in Maine you choose long grain as second best. I had their crab fried rice def not visible crab but tasty and oily Their mussel was good too and the ginger chicken with mushroom was bomb. We did take out for dinner and brought it back to our cabin. Service was a bit slow so be prepared they don't answer the phone when it's busy we had to go there.
(3)LuRee A.
Great food but a very small restaurant and difficult to pick up your to go order. We had visited Thailand and had some of the best Thai food and this was as good . The pad Thai was my favorite.
(5)Robert B.
I'm considering moving to Camden, just so I can be near this restaurant. Absolutely fantastic. Spring rolls: perfection. Spicy basil minced chicken: could have eaten it all night; considered ordering more to take home. Service: friendly, welcoming, prompt. Go there -- you won't be disappointed.
(5)Chris C.
Great Southeast Asian food right on Main Street in Camden, Maine! Long Grain has been written about and talked about for some time now. Its full if flavor and very fresh. We had the steamed dumplings and spring rolls to start, the had Pad Thai and a great "spicy street soup."
(4)Debbie M.
Can't rave enough about Long Grain! Every time we are in town we make sure to eat here at least once. We have never ordered anything that we didn't love, so we tend to be pretty full by the time dinner is over. However, even if you are full, you MUST order their one and only dessert, which is just heaven in a dish! It is an out of this world coconut custard on black sticky rice. The perfect balance of sweet, creamy richness while still being light and not the least bit cloying. SO GOOD!!! Service has always been delightful by everyone. This is a small spot, so make sure to make reservations. It's so worth a little extra planning!
(5)Lee L.
I have been lucky enough to travel everywhere and Thai food is always a must. Let me tell you that this little restaurant is a gem! It's definitely the best Thai food I've had stateside and found in the small seaside town of Camden. Their crab fried rice and pad seaw are musts! Service is awesome and food comes out fairly quickly. Don't miss out on this yummy restaurant!!
(5)