Mai Thai
2249 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia, SC, 29169
Mai Thai Menu
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Visit below restaurant in West Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in West Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2249 Sunset Blvd
West Columbia, SC, 29169 - Phone (803) 939-4795
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Becca D.
The location (in one of the more run-down strip malls along Sunset blvd.) and weird mirrored exterior of the restaurant might be a turn-off for anyone who hasn't been before, but the food at Mai Thai is consistently good and very fresh. The presentation of the food is a major bonus - everything was beautiful, and the rice was served in the shape of a heart. The interior is well-decorated and intimate, but it can get pretty noisy on busy nights. You should definitely plan ahead if you want to take a date here, though, because there is frequently a wait to get a table, and the food preparation takes a while (which is, as others have said, a testament to the freshness). So don't come here if you're already hungry! Mai Thai isn't my vote for the best thai food in town, but it is definitely the best thai food within its price range.
(3)M. P.
I will agree with the other reviewers about the exterior of the place - I almost didn't go in because it looks very rundown especially if going for dinner. The servers are not very friendly - went there with my husband and kids and we each ordered our own entrees. I enjoyed mine very much (the drunken noodles) however my husbands tasted off (he had a chicken curry dish). He sent his back and told the server that it tasted off but they refused to take it off the bill! The servers response to my husband was "next time try something different"! I couldn't believe it - will not be going back.
(2)Sateesh N.
Sucks. Takes forever to take the order and get your food. Worse customer care. Would never go there.. Food is great though..
(1)Chris S.
Great Food. We love this place. Hot Basil Chicken is my recommendation 5 peppers and ask for the spice kit!! They can make it hot.... Best Thai in Cola!!!
(5)John B.
Pad Thai is amazing, the best we've had in years. Dumpling and spring roll appetizers are delicious and the Salmon Chu-Chee was fantastic.
(5)ken r.
I don't want to leave a good review because I 'm selfish and the place is crowded already. I agree with all the other positive reviews. My favorite Thai food in the area by far. Please don't go when I'm going so I can get a seat.
(5)Amanda F.
My little Thai gem in Columbia! Don't let the outside fool you; come inside and find a quaint Thai joint with amazing food. Service can be on the slow side at times but the food is well worth the wait. I try to make it here as much as possible to satisfy my Thai cravings and am always thrilled with what I get. I dream about the coconut soup and have to get it every time I come. I have tried many different curries and noodle dishes and have yet to find one that even slightly disappoints!
(5)Allison C.
Yummy! We went for lunch. Although food takes a little bit to come out, it is worth the wait. Service is so friendly and they do their best to be quick at lunch. I ordered the panang curry with chicken and quickly devoured my plate. Mom ordered fried grouper with ginger lunch special and it was really good too. I will definitely recommend this place. Based on others' recommendations, we did try the homemade coconut ice cream. It was delicious, but hard to eat because it was too frozen. I think their freezer is too cold of a temp...
(4)Lenny B.
Best food and amazing desserts. The donuts are out of this world. The waitresses are very friendly and keep your drinks filled.
(5)Hollie T.
At first glance, you're walking into an adult store with a mirrored exterior in a rundown strip mall... but then you're in Thailand: a quiet corner of Thailand with pleasant people and exotic smells. Try the Jasmine Rice soup and one of the curries and you can't go wrong.
(4)Thomas B.
Very long wait for my Drunken Noodles at lunch time. 30 minutes. No apology. Waitress was stressed out --made me anxious. Food was OK.
(3)Janelle A.
Amazing food! There's a little wait time after ordering but that's because it's super fresh and flavorful! A great place for true Thai lovers! We ordered the fried calamari and panang chicken! Yum!
(4)Roel F.
Mai Thai is an excellent restaurant! The food is yummy, the service is friendly and the prices are reasonable. Alright, Mai Thai does not look like much from the outside, the place looks like pornography or massages with a happy ending are on sale, but the inside is very agreeable. They tried their best to add a touch of Thailand to the place and it worked. The interior has a pleasant, cozy feel to it. In good Thai tradition, the service is very friendly. The drinks came quickly, but unfortunately we had to wait a little while for the food. Luckily, I was in good company and the wait was not too bad. We started with two appetizers, the Mai Thai rolls and the dumplings, both of which were very tasty. (Granted, we had to wait for a little while before the appetizers came out.) The entrees were nice as well. I opted for the hot basil chicken and I very much enjoyed the dish. One piece of advice, though, if you like your Thai food decently spicy then you should ask for a spiciness of five on their scale of five! The entrees of the other people at my table were also very nice. (Granted, we had to wait for a little while longer before the entrees came out.) The food was not only tasty, but there also was plenty of it. The prices at Mai Thai are not excessive, about ten to fifteen dollars for an entree, which is another plus about the place. In short: I highly recommend Mai Thai!
(4)Mia C.
Best thai food in Columbia area. Have been here couple of times with friends. They have great vegetarian options. All the curries i've tried were great. Ambience also not bad. Must go if you live in Columbia.
(4)Brianna B.
Didn't seem like much from the outside but it's beautiful inside! And the food is wonderful, well-prepared, and clean! We stopped here for dinner as we were traveling down I-26. Definitely worth it!
(5)Kimi B.
The ONLY reason I did not give this joint a 5th star is only b/c of its ghetto exterior. Thank god I was not deterred and went inside. I lived in SoCal where there is a plethora of phenomenal ethnic restaurants, one of my favorites of which is a thai place. Well, in the virtual culinary wasteland of Columbia, I've found its rival. Mai Thai is so GREAT. Inside is actually really cute and quaint w/ bamboo dividers. The service is great. I took my server's recommendation on best curry dish (green curry) and best noodle dish (drunken noodles) and split the two w/ my aunt. First of all, the portions are gigantic which is impressive for the bargain $10.95 price tag. Second of all, even if they were half the size, I'd still go b/c they were goth so flavorful and cooked to perfection. I will return here. . .and soon.
(4)Ashu S.
This is one of the best restaurants I have been to in Columbia. The decor is amazing and the servers are friendly. I love the food so much that I keep coming back every week.
(5)Frank R.
Top notch Thai food! Excellent ambiance, clean, extremely friendly & hard working staff. Great place. Highly recommend!
(5)Donny M.
I recently stopped by Mai Thai for lunch while laying over in Columbia. Great Choice! The food was very good. I had the Panang Curry lunch special, which comes with soup and salad. The service was very prompt and "on top of things." My drink never got more than half empty. The curry was great, very fresh and just the right amount of spice. Get there early though, because the secret's out...there were lots of people in this very small establishment. Check it out! You'll be glad you did.
(4)Dan S.
Popped in on my way from Buffalo to Florida for lunch - lunch specials are a great deal, include a little side salad and cup of soup, side of rice and entree for like $7 or $8. Spicy Basil Calamari is delicious. Bonus points for charging less than $2 for an iced tea too - a rarity these days! Service was very good - when I was about to ask for something, she was already on her way to bring it to me. Decor on the outside is a zero-star strip mall, but inside they have created a mood-lit oasis of tranquility and hipness. Nice find in the middle of a crazy-long driving day - thanks, Yelpers!
(4)Cynthia B.
My friend Amy and I were starving one night and we decided to get take out. We wanted to get 'asian food' and she told me she knew of the perfect place. We looked up Mai Thai's menu online and ordered via phone. My friend said it was small and that we'd leave to get the food in...30 min! Wait we did, but OMG. Honestly, the food was amazing. Large portion, amazing flavor. I got the Tom Yum soup and Pad See-Ew. The Pad See-Ew is my favorite entree ever now- anywhere. The place is small, crowded and charming. Don't judge a book by it's cover. If I hadn't of been told to eat here, I never would have thought to come inside. The waitresses were so sweet and willing to help. Mai Thai is a new favorite. GO THERE.
(5)Michael M.
This rest. Was recommended by a person who was born and raised in Thailand. Very good food. Decent pricing. A little Americanized but still tastey.
(4)Swetha G.
What other reviewers have said about the décor is totally accurate. The interior is intimate and warm and just looks a WHOLE lot better than the poor design from the outside. They have done a great job with making the small space look classy and inviting. The food is average. It also took quite a long time for our entrees to come out, which sucked for me b/c I was one of the few at the table who didn't order an appetizer, and I was getting hungry :( The dish that I got was good and tasted about the same as most other Thai restaurants I've been to. Nice seasoning and flavor. However I think there was miscommunication between my server and I because after eating several bites of my dish, thinking the vegetables were at the bottom of the bowl, I think I was served Red Curry instead of the Panang Curry that I thought I had ordered. I specifically asked the server for red curry and vegetables and she pointed at the panang curry on the menu and asked me if I wanted tofu, chicken pork or beef with it, and I said tofu. But the dish was definitely missing broccoli, carrots, zucchini and all the other colorful vegetables I was looking forward to having. It still tasted good though, so I'm not fully complaining, but just not what I thought I ordered. Also the dessert I had - the Mai Thai's Banana, was not the best fried banana and coconut ice cream. They really give a meager portion of fried banana, and the ice cream did not taste like coconut at all, it tasted more like vanilla. It was pretty hard and took me using my serving spoon and a fork to break! The berry sauce that it comes with was tasty though. Service was mediocre and not as overly friendly and welcoming as others have pointed out. We were treated alright, but the entire service we received was more attentive than friendly. I think I also feel slightly biased because the last establishment that I was at, the service was outstanding, so the bar has been raised, and what I experienced at Mai Thai, fell a bit short. All in all this place is not the best Thai restaurant around, but it's still pretty decent, and considering the lackluster ethnic food selection in Columbia, this will have to do for now. However I'll probably frequent Thai Lotus more if I had to choose between the two.
(3)Stephen S.
Had a pretty good chicken/veg/curry dish. Wasn't as hot as I normally would like but I do prefer to add the heat rather than burn my face off completely. As promised, it was fresh and flavorful with a uniquely pleasant (but loud) atmosphere. It was a Wednesday and was busy at about 8pm. I will be back. They also had a pretty decent wine list and asian beers. Service was average.
(4)Rose P.
Ordered spring rolls and Pad See Ew entree and homemade coconut ice cream for desert -- all very tasty! If I didn't have to drive from Ohio I would frequent this place. Doesn't look like much from the outside but inside is appealing comfortable and the service is friendly.
(5)Blake A.
Last night was my 5th or 6th visit to Mai Thai. The food always seems to amaze me. It good. Really good. But one thing that really stood out last last was the incredible service I received. The staff has always been friendly, but when they offered to replace my meal at no cost due to the spiciness of it... I was blown away. The error was even my fault, not the kitchen's. .. As far as food goes; the Fried Golden Angel wanton is to die for. And the Green Curry is hard to beat. Just be careful w/ the heat level. A 4 made me cry like a little girl.
(5)Kyleigh P.
I am absolutely in love with this place. The atmosphere is great. I enjoy the smaller, intimate feel the set up has. The staff is always super friendly and helpful. Most importantly, the menu is amazing. It can be hard to find genuine, delicious Thai cuisine, but this definitely does the trick. I usually go with a spicy tofu Pad Thai, and it's better than most I've tried. This is for sure a place you have to check out, even if you're not familiar with this style of Asian food. There's tons of options.
(5)Paul B.
The food here is great! the outside looks, maybe, a bit ominous~ Inside is very nice, intimate and clean! A warm cozy atmosphere that complements raspberry sake very well :) Started with wonton soup, very light and tasty- Wonton filled with ground pork served in a clear broth seasoned with sprouts and a hint of green onions and cilantro? I ordered the Panang curry with chicken, served with red and green peppers, broccoli, and sprouts with a side of rice. The curry is mixed with coconut milk, a hint of mint and is oh so good! not too spicy but full and rich! The vegetables were very crisp and tasty and the chicken was just perfect. This was a nice place to eat, staff was very nice, food very good, and did I mention the raspberry sake?
(4)Lynne F.
I went there for the first time last night. I was the first customer of the night and received excellent service. The food was very good (Mai Thai rolls and chicken Massaman curry). Both dishes were delicious and when I asked the waitress to box up the rest of the curry, she asked if I wanted additional rice?! So, I said yes and when I looked on the bill, there was no extra charge. How sweet is that? The only thing that made me a little sad was that they did not have Tod Mun(sp?), a type of fish cake appetizer. I will *definitely* go back.
(4)Gary H.
Went here at the suggestion of friends. It was very small on the inside, and became packed shortly after we got there. Food was very good. I got the Panang Curry and wife got the Cashew Nut chicken. Don't go if you are in a hurry, as it takes a while to get your food. Servers were attentive though.
(4)David S.
Wow, this place is always great. The eggplant and shrimp amazing is...well, amazing. Panang curry also great. Matter of fact it is all good all the time
(4)Danielle B.
My husband and I favorite Thai place! The most authentic Thai you will find in Cola. We love the red and green curry takes a while because everything is cooked fresh so don't go in a hurry. Thai tea is right on as well! Mmm it's a GO I recommend this place!
(5)William K.
The food was fantastic at this Thai restaurant. I took my boyfriend out for a date here and we were blown away by the quality of the soup and pleasantly surprised by the tastiness of the dishes. While the food was fantastic, the service was lackluster and certainly affected the pleasure of dining here. While I will go back, it won't be for formal occasions as the service is not up to par for that. If you want great Thai food though, do not look any further.
(4)Epicurious E.
Mai Thai is one of three Thai restaurants (well, four if you count Baan Swaan, a Thai fusion restaurant that is kind of overpriced for what you get, IMHO) that I know of around here, and it is definitely a pretty decent option for Thai food, for the Columbia area. The flavor of the food at Mai Thai is fairly authentic, if a bit light at times, and uses the freshest ingredients in the area (my favorite Thai restaurant in Columbia, Thai Lotus, offers food with a more robust flavor, but Mai Thai uses ingredients that are just a bit fresher). Mai Thai is in a random plaza on Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia, and although the outside of the restaurant looks pretty unimpressive, the inside of the restaurant is actually quite pretty, and a nice location for a date if you are looking for it. It is also a good choice if you are looking for a vegetarian meal, as it offers a good variety of dishes with just vegetables or tofu. For more details about the food, as well as photos of both the restaurant and some of the dishes offered here, you can visit my food blog, epicurious-eats.blogspot…
(3)Mike G.
I decided to check this place out based on all of the reviews and right off the bat I was impressed. I ordered my food to go, they were very friendly and even brought out a glass of water while I waited for my order! How often does that happen? The food tasted great and I will definitely come come back next time I'm nearby.
(4)Scott G.
Everyone is correct when they say this is the best Thai in Columbia Bann Swan is to expensive for someone with a budget like myself. For $30 two can have an amazing meal, try the sweet Thai iced tea, my gf ordered it once and now we both get it every time. Be prepared to wait on Friday and Saturday nights from 7-8.
(4)Liz D.
Mai Thai is a gem in West Columbia. Once you enter the doors of the stripmall store front, you're transported to a very pleasant dining room. The layout of the tables and placement of room dividers also add to privacy in such a small space. Although, I've heard great things about other dishes, I am addicted to the Panang Curry. I really appreciate the extra attention given to presentation: the rice comes in a heart-shaped pile and the zucchini exterior is shaved in a way to give it stripes! I also love the magic yellow salad dressing! Sometimes the dining service isn't the speediest, but the meal comes with salad and soup which keeps the pace about right.
(5)Jerilynn B.
Amazing. I'd recommend it to anyone. Awesome service, pleasant environment and delicious food at a great value. It's a wonderful place for a date night. The Pad Thai is the best I've had and the spiciness is perfect at a 3 (enough to feel the kick but still able to taste the food). I've also had the Thai Fried Rice which was excellent. Check it out!
(5)Melinda A.
Don't be deterred by the sketchy exterior. Go inside and be surprised. I had the ginger lover's dinner with tofu. The tofu was excellently browned and the correct texture. Husband had the same dinner but with chicken. I had a bite of the chicken, and it was very tender. I also like that the hours are until 9:30 on Friday, but they didn't care that we stayed a bit longer.
(4)Laurin M.
My quality of life in the Midlands just got a whole lot better after eating at Mai Thai in West Columbia tonight. For years I've been bummed about the absence of a Thai restaurant in the area that meets all of my criteria -- fresh ingredients, reasonable prices, pleasant atmosphere, generous portions, and attentive service. Mai Thai has all of those elements. The drunken noodles (Pad Kee Mao) I had tonight could compete with the drunken noodles at my favorite Thai haunts in the DC area. The stir fried veggies were especially crisp, and there was a nice variety of them -- fresh mushrooms, red peppers, zucchini, snow peas etc. The servers were friendly and attentive, and the meal was well-timed. I was in a hurry and took most of my food to-go, but for the diners who were lingering and enjoying a leisurely meal, the servers even offered some complimentary Thai desserts. Mai Thai is situated in a desolate, sketchy shopping center out Sunset Blvd in West Columbia -- just beyond the Riverbanks Zoo entrance and across from Food Lion. (I'm convinced that the best Thai restaurants on the planet are located in sketchy strip malls or holes in the wall.) Upon opening the door, though, you've already forgotten where you just parked the car because you're entering a small, cheerful, calmly lit, tastefully decorated restaurant. I love Asian food more than any cuisine on earth and am picky about it. For years I've given Thai Lotus and Thailand Restaurant on St. Andrews Road second, third, and fourth chances, but they're both hit-or-miss, and the haul out to St. Andrews from downtown is a huge pain. Also, the service at Thai Lotus stresses me out. I always feel like I'm inconveniencing them and that they're ready to close the restaurant. Baan Sawaan in 5 Points is great, and I love the guys who work there, but it's prohibitively expensive. Mai Thai's food was every bit as good, the portions were twice as big, and the prices were half as much as Baan Sawaan's. I enthusiastically recommend Mai Thai. I'll be visiting again soon and trying another dish. The Free-Times' review of Mai Thai is here: free-times.com/index.php…
(5)Don F.
Crispy Duck with Curry & Pineapple! I love this place. Staff very friendly. I will be back, again and again! Only one complaint. The fried Tofu was dry and tough. But everything else exceeded my expectations.
(4)Paul V.
1st visit had spring rolls, pad Thai beef, drunken noodles, coconut sake awesome, 2nd time spring rolls, steamed dumplings, black pepper chicken, brought my two daughters and ones bf one had the amazing chicken, I introduced my picky one with drunken noodles and she raved and the bf had the sweet and sour chicken all loved it.
(5)Gautam G.
Decent food, but horrible service. I went with friends on a Friday night and had to wait 45 minutes for a table and one and a half hours for food. One and a half !!!! Eventually, after we paid the check, I spoke to the waitress and the manager there, but they kept arguing. Aren't they supposed to listen to the customer? Whatever. If you like Thai food, go to Thai Wasabi. Food is as good, if not better, Service is prompt and rates are decent.
(1)James M.
Service is great, and the panang curry is delicious...though never spicy enough for my taste.
(5)Carolyn H.
Thanks to Laurin's review, my guy and I checked this place out. I agree with Laurin that it's very similar to Thai restaurants in DC (such as Bua and Sala Thai). The decor was lovely, esp. the Siddhartha triptych along one wall and the charming porcelain salt and pepper shakers (pairs of elephants, dogs, and other cute critters). It definitely did not feel like a shopping mall restaurant, but a getaway to a more serene land. I almost ordered the drunken noodles, but then at the last minute I opted for a spicy chicken dish with bamboo shoots, bell peppers, and Thai basil. My guy ordered the red curry with chicken, which had coconut milk and bamboo shoots. Both dishes had good flavor profiles. One of the dishes (I'm not sure which one) had heat that built up over time, which I sadly discovered after I had eaten most of my rice. Still, the dishes satisfied the soul, and I enjoyed both. For dessert, we had the combo fried banana (which are tiny pockets of banana in egg roll wrappers, glazed with honey) and coconut ice cream covered in a fruit sauce. I've had better fried banana (my favorite is at Bua in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC); Mai Thai's were too compact to truly enjoy, esp. since there was very little banana filling. The coconut ice cream was pretty good, esp. with the fruit sauce, which provided a nice complement to the richness of the coconut. In all, we really enjoyed our dinner at Mai Thai. If I were to visit Columbia again, I definitely would come back.
(4)Spencer S.
I'm no Thai expert, but this place has some great food. First of all, DONT judge it when you drive up. It is in a strip mall and looks super sketchy from the outside. The inside is very tastefully done though. It is small and intimate -- would make a great date spot. I recommend the salad with the peanut sauce and the cashew chicken. The service was great and the prices reasonable. Definitely a must do for Thai fans in Cola.
(5)valencia w.
I usually eat at Bangkok Restaurant on Garner's Ferry Rd. because it's out my way but I had heard great things about Mai Thai and decided to try it. It was well worth the drive! I had also tried Thai Lotus and found it lacking in spite of good reviews I'd read, so my hopes weren't too high. I saw a line out the door soon as we drove up and we almost decided to try someplace else but I'm glad we waited. The aroma as we entered cemented our decision to wait and I'm so glad we did. My brother ordered the Duck Curry with Pineapple and I always order Pad Thai. The starters that came with the meal were lovely although the salad was comprised of iceburg lettuce, which I generally avoid. I liked the sweetish dressing and the chicken soup with rice was aromatic and satisfying. When our main courses came, I could hardly keep from sniffing--the curry smelled amazing! I sampled my brother's curry and promised myself that I'd venture from Pad Thai next time but my dish was so delicious that I'm still craving the taste, days later. The prices were the best I'd encountered in Columbia and the service was excellent. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant and plan to go back to sample each and every specialty on that menu!
(5)Snehee C.
Awesome food, awesome varieties and simply awesome service! The only reason I give it a four is the spice level...I wanted more spicy food than they could provide me with!
(4)Gregory P.
Before eating at Mai Thai, I thought the only Asian cuisine I liked was Japanese (well, the American version of Japanese). I really dislike Chinese cuisine, and actively avoid generic "Asian cuisine" restaurants. Mai Thai has disabused me of this notion. The garlic and black pepper chicken was outstanding, very tasty without pungent acidity and odor of Chinese of food. I also tried the drunken noodles; that will be the dish I order on my next trip to Mai Thai, which can't come soon enough. The service was highly attentive and the price was really a bargain for plentiful portions. Mai Thai gets a "Highly Recommended" rating from me.
(5)Janet N.
I'm very picky with Thai food - having grown up on the outskirts of Thai Town and a father who eats it once a week AT THE VERY LEAST. Comparing it to authentic Thai food that I've grown up with- it's mediocre. The dishes cater to the taste bud of the white man (LOL, jk... or not) but it's still good in it's own way. -The coconut soup was missing a few ingredients and tasted so bland. -first time ever I had soft-shelled crab at a Thai restaurant, and it definitely was a winner, for me! -Rainbow duck was extremely bland, just no flavor whatsoever and not sure about the choice of vegetables used to pair with my favorite veal. -Drunken noodles is the less sweet and spicier version of Pad See Ew and it was OK. Just a tad bit too sweet, in my opinion. Service was good- ladies attended to most of our needs even though place was pretty packed! Would I come back? Maybeeeee...
(3)Trisha W.
My favorite Thai restaurant. I always start with spring rolls, very light and crispy. We ordered Drunken Noodles and chicken fried rice. Both were absolutely delicious. This place is very small so be prepared to sit quite close to others and the wait can be pretty long, but it is so worth it!
(5)Chris R.
Amazing Thai food!!! Great price and I recommend going when you're hungry or gave a empty stomach because it will fill you up quick!!
(5)Julie R.
I love this place! They have a tasty pad Thai and the best fried shrimp ever. They give you a peanut sauce to dip the shrimp in which is just awesome! If you go for lunch you get a little soup and salad with your entree which is a nice touch. Don't let the outside of this place scare you, the inside is decorated super cute!
(5)Lauren O.
2 trips here and I'm in love. Finally found my go-to Thai place in town (after 9 years). Don't let the area of town or strip mall location put you off. Very well priced (lunch is between $8-12/person) and most come with a cup of soup & small salad. My husband got the Pad See-ew with calamari & I got the green curry with shrimp (which had the perfect amount of burn). Can't wait to go back & try something new!
(4)Tom R.
I'm working in the area and found on yelp, so yes it is small and can take time to get a seat but I was alone and greeted seated right away. They are very busy even at 8pm, from salad to seafood Thai basil dish everything was outstanding! Very friendly good service!
(5)Nick B.
Great food and very authentic.. Shrimp and chicken Pad Thai is the best dish here in my opinion. They take a long time to make the food however it is done well and no corners are cut. They give you a lot of food and good service. Must try!
(4)Monica R.
Columbia does Thai ...Columbia does Thai reeeeeaaalll good! My boyfriend loves two things more than me... Thai and Indian ... Food not women (better not be women). So what better way to celebrate his birthday in our new city than by checking out Mai Thai! I had the masaman curry and he had the two friends panang and both were outstanding but the masaman was the winner. We also had the Thai rolls and the golden angels both were banging! I would do without the coconut ice cream and would not do without a Chang (Thai beer). I am so so so happy we found this place...it is very indicative of Columbia's culinary diversity!
(5)Nikka S.
The boys an I came for lunch food was good we had the shrimp fried rice and the massaman curry the boys had the Thai tea I had the plum wine of course then we topped it off with the Mai Thai banana desert. Thing just kept going up hill from the time we started.
(4)Rachel O.
Mai Thai? MY Thai! I've been twice now and am definitely in love. On the first trip I was a little apprehensive with the exterior but the inside is lovely! It is dimly lit (but well enough to see your food and companions) and decorated nicely. I loved the different salt and pepper shakers on the tables. I had the angel wings appetizer. They are fried, delicious and full of cheese. They are very rich so these might be best for sharing. On the second trip boyfriend and I split the sampler. The Mai Thai rolls are legit. I'll get them every time I go from now on. The spring rolls contained celery which is like my least favorite thing on the planet. It also came with 2 angel wings. Everything was crazy hot and fresh. Both times I got the Two Friends Panang for my entree. So delicious! It came with jasmine basmati rice (small charge for brown) and contained chicken, shrimp, broccoli, carrots, peppers, snow peas and pineapple. It was excellent and enough for two meals. I took some home on both trips. For dessert the first time around I ordered the Mai Thai Bananas which came with banana spring rolls, coconut ice cream and a berry and chocolate sauce. I wasn't a huge fame of the coconut ice cream so we just got a plate of the banana spring rolls when I went with Boyfriend. It came with honey and whipped cream. It also came with sesame seeds but we asked for that to be left off. The banana spring rolls are a light and sweet way to end your meal. I wish it came with honey and chocolate sauce. The staff was friendly on both trips and we didn't wait an inordinate amount of time for our food. It is a small place so think twice before you go with a group of more than 4 but they do have a little bar area where you can grab a drink while you wait or hang out while waiting for a take out order.
(5)Kristy G.
Penang curry chicken was the best part of my meal- and the starter soup. Unfortunately I ordered, but didn't care for spring rolls - I only had one bite. Sadly the restaurant wouldn't remove the item from my bill. In fact, the sever didn't even ask manager which I found extremely dismissive. Also they don't take Amex FYI. Would have given higher star review had my server even attempted to satisfy my dislike of their spring rolls.
(2)Mike T.
We came here for lunch on Monday. We were very impressed by the quality of the food. The wide variety of entrées that are available is fantastic. The menu warns you that it's "not a fast food restaurant" so you do have to wait a little bit but it's well worth the wait.
(5)David P.
Excellent Thai food. 100+ positive reviews are not wrong. I got the spicy basil chicken and number 5 hot and it was "lick the plate after finishing" good. I would definitely eat here again if I come back to Columbia.
(4)Will H.
Best Thai food I've found in Columbia. A small restaurant with a laid-back atmosphere that's always busy but worth the wait.
(4)Anthony N.
I'm no expert on Thai food, but based on my past two visits, I will gladly give this place 5/5. The atmosphere is nice, the portion sizes are great, the prices are definitely reasonable, and most importantly--the quality of the food is terrific! The "golden angels" appetizer---a MUST. It's basically fried cream cheese wontons, but there's something really special about them. Very, very full of flavor and I'm impressed because I HATE cream cheese. In addition, the fried calamari is awesome. Most restaurants will fry with a ton ton ton of batter, and you can feel "greased out" from those places. However, the fried calamari here was very "meaty" and delicious. We shared a shrimp pad thai and also a chicken pad see ew. The shrimp size is great, unlike the tiny Walmart-sized frozen shrimp many places cool. The noodles in the pad see ew are wonderful and addicting! Again, not an expert on Thai food... But there's no reason to not keep coming back to this place!
(5)Aaron B.
I really enjoyed my experience. Stopped in for lunch and ordered the rainbow duck and it was great, and I'm a big fan of duck.
(5)Jennifer R.
I loved the curry. I have never stepped into this place when it wasn't busy, which is good for the business, but not for the wait! It is awesome to call in and go pick up food, though. They're fast and good with that. For that matter, you can walk in, go to the bar in the back, and order your to-go food. Have a drink, play on your phone for a few minutes, and you're out the door in a few minutes with dinner. YUMMY dinner.
(5)Adam B. J.
This is most likely my favorite place in all of Columbia. Its in a small old strip mall in West Columbia, but don't let the outside fool you. This is great authentic Thai. There are other Thai options here in Columbia that are good (with much larger price tags), but the food is not any better, the staff isn't any nicer, and the intimate setting is no better. Mai Thai has the best soft shell crabs I've ever tasted. Sometime my wife and I will just get two orders of soft shell crabs and the Tum Yum soup and split it as our meal. Favorite entrees are Massaman Curry with Chicken, Drunken Noodles (tofu is my personal favorite with this, but my wife likes it with chicken or shrimp), and the Mai Thai duck! Thai hot 3 for my wife Thai hot 5 for me (but I LOVE SPICY FOOD). Great little hole in the wall Thai in West Columbia no less! LOVE LOVE LOVE
(5)Heather A.
Food here is great. The place is tiny and the wait can be very long. 5 of us came Sat at 6:30. We waited 45 min to be seated, and our food took about 30 minutes to come out. We ended up being there almost 2 hours when it was all said and done. Portions are large and the service was great. Just make sure to go early or be prepared to wait!
(5)Ramon S.
Coming from Asian girl the food was okay. We have been everywhere but i can't find anything that beat the Thai restaurant in PA where we found that basil thai fried rice. The service was great though but please make sure you are not as hungry when you go there because the waiting time is terrible. We have to wait almost 20 min for our appetizer and waiting time for the main course is almost an hour. We almost decided to leave because we are so Hungry. Well anyways the price wasn't too bad anyways so I guest that's why the food wasn't great either. Still searching for a real authentic thai resto......
(3)Jimmy M.
Best Thai restaurant in Columbia. Coconut soup is outstanding, Pad Thai is fantastic also. I try to come here at least once a month.
(4)Mary S.
First time eating Thai. Had the sweet and sour beef and it was very good, loved the pineapple chunks.
(3)Kristin M.
Lunch was excellent. Chicken noodle soup has an amazing broth, great Penang curry, and the peanut sauce is truly amazing. Fresh veggies and lean meats so healthy as well.
(5)Dawn W.
Lovvvved! We pulled up and debated about how good it could really be based of how it looked from the lot. We went in and we were surprised at how cute and clean it is! The two girls working the front were great, quick and friendly! We had the cream cheese fried wonton appetizer and they were amazing!!!!!! We both had pad Thai beef and chicken. Both great. Chicken a tad better. I asked for level 3 spice because I'm from Seattle where Thai is spicy! The level 3 was a decent balance. Also loved the jasmine tea! It's about half hour from home but we will travel for it.
(5)Adam H.
I read about Mai Thai on Yelp while traveling for business and decided to check it out. It was Friday night, so I didn't expect a thai restaurant in a strip mall to be very busy. I was wrong. The place was packed. I found a spot at the bar and ordered a favorite dish of mine, Drunken Noodles. The dish was served sizzling hot (temperature) and with just the right amount of spice. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the peppers, snow peas and onions had just the right amount of crunch. Even for being very busy, the service met my expectations. I would definitely return.
(5)David B.
Good food! The Hot a Basil Chicken is good, but not the best. The springs rolls are good, but a little pricy for the size. All in all, id eat here again.
(3)Linda O.
This is NOT the place to go if you are looking for quick and friendly service. The space and number of tables is highly limited and they won't let you sit at the bar because it "blocks the take-out service." I waited 15 minutes before I decided to find a staff member to ask if I could be seated. My presence was never acknowledged. Then I waited another 10 minutes. This was at 1:15pm on a week day. Consider this place as "take out only" and one may have a better experience.
(2)Troy F.
So, first impressions: when I walked up to this little hole in the wall joint with the two-way mirror outside walls, I thought I was walking into a massage parlor and the only thought that crossed my mind at that moment was, "I hope it has a happy ending!" But I digress, this gem of a place is an absolutely fantastic Thai restaurant. From the menu items to the Asian waitresses with the unmistakeable Asian accent, it is one of the best places to grab some authentic Thai cuisine. I will MOST definitely be coming back to this little treasure!!
(5)Karen S.
First place that I ever ate Thai Food at - and far the best Thai Food I have eaten compared to some of the other places I have eaten at. I ordered take out tonight and called ahead (as the other time I did carry-out and did not call ahead, I had to wait about 20 minutes for them to prepare my dish). And my food was still hot by the time I got home - which is about 20 minutes from the restaurant. Warning: restaurant is small - so probably not good for big groups of people, but nice and Intimate if you have a small group/ And the portions are HUGE! i had enough left over from my dinner for lunch tomorrow!
(5)Dee A.
I first went here with my parents when I moved down. We drove up to the mirrored front and wondered what kind of theme they were going for. Turns out it doesn't matter. This place was wonderful. The service was so great. Everyone working there was so nice. The food was amazing. My favorite dish was the green curry with chicken. It was a large portion with a spicy coconut milk broth and just a little sweetness. The pad thai was a little sweet but still some of the best I've ever had. We also tried the drunken noodles which was full of vegetables. The whole experience was great right down to the homemade coconut ice cream. I've been back a few times since and will keep coming back.
(5)Jason N.
My girlfriend approached me and said " I feel like Thai tonight " and I was off to the Yelp Races to find the answer!... Well the reviews on this place were all pretty accurate. you know what they say about places that seem " Divey " usually you get a good surprise, and that's what we got here. The exterior is definitely something more than a few might pass up as its located in a older style strip mall, but inside the decorations were of a modern nature, mixed in was a traditional Thailand theme of color and décor. The place inside is definitely small and fills up fast so that is something you will want to take into consideration when visiting i.e. day of the week and time of day. We got there a little past 7pm on a Friday and there was one table.. and it stayed that way until 10pm. So, the best option to ensure some decent seats would be to get there between 5 and 7.. probably after Thursday til the weekend... We started with appetizers and like many reviews, we tried the Calamari and the Angel Wings... While the Calamari was larger and tasted pretty fresh, the batter was somewhat bland and a bit too greasy, but not something that I wouldn't try again if the place was a bit slower. The Angel Wings (6 per order), well they were downright awesome, similar to a Rangoon, but altered with the type of cheeses inside, definitely Rich, but if sharing, with 2 or more people, totally worth a try. The main course choices were the Drunken Noodles and the Pad Thai(beef) ... I feel as though Pad Thai , albeit street style food, represents an important cultural link to know how well a Thai joint is linked with flavors and spices, so I tend to order this every time I try a new place, to see how they treat their version. I was not overly disappointed at all, the noodles were good, the spices and flavors were all well balanced, the beef was good although slightly bland, when mixed as an all in one bite with the other ingredients, it was tasty... I felt like they could have added just a touch more veggies, but I would get this again... The Drunken Noodles were also very well done, with solid flavor profiles, spice levels were on point ( low to med ) doneness and chew of the noodle itself, with only a similar comment about the amount of veggies which could have been a touch more, but totally worth getting again. The price points on this meal were definitely in the bargain range.. both of us with Saki and wine, appetizers, Food, Tip came to a few bucks shy of under 50bucks and we went home with leftovers, so to me this is what makes this place a definite return stop in the future. I cant say this place is the BEST in Columbia, as I haven't tried all of the other places yet, and there are "a lot"... and my 4 is based on a few things... 1. it was my first time there, so I don't know about consistency just yet and that is important when giving 5 ratings , at least to me... 2. there were on this visit, some very minor things with the calamari being just a bit greasy; which could have been attributed to the level of business at the time. The Service was good even when busy, but do not expect rocket fast service, go there with the aim of having some time between orders, so don't be in a rush if you go at the times I quoted in this review. all in all, great place!.. look forward to a second trip to see if the 5 comes out in an update!
(4)Kenny K.
Best Thai food in the city, without question! The Massaman Curry was so good! Thai Tea is a must! My friend had the Wild Shrimp and raved about it. Don't forget the Thai Donuts for dessert!
(5)S H.
BEST THAI FOOD IN COLUMBIA. On our most recent visit, my husband got the panang curry w/ chicken and I got the drunken noodles w/ veggies only. We also split the spring roll appetizer. He was in love with his curry, so much so that before I could even eat 1/4 of mine, his was completely gone. Somehow I managed to save 1/2 of mine to take home, but it wasn't easy. Both dishes had great flavor, with mine having small hints of anise and perfectly cooked vegetables - crisp but cooked just right, no hint of sogginess. The spring rolls were very simple but did not disappoint. (Tip: This is the place to order an appetizer b/c the wait for food is longer than you'd typically expect. So worth it though!) During our meal, we looked at each other and said, "Why do we even go to Basil when Mai Thai is so much better?" This last experience has caused me to revamp my Basil review. Somehow Mai Thai is just so much fresher, more flavorful and they aren't trying to rush you out the door, meaning you can enjoy your meal or date night with your significant other. :) The icing on the cake was when I forgot my take-out container on the table. We were driving out of the parking lot when I realized what I'd done and ordered my husband, "Go back!" He turned the car around and we spotted the waitress running across the parking lot, taking my container to various parked cars looking for us. How sweet!
(5)Pamela L.
The food is great... However the service leaves much to be desired. Waited 30 mins before someone even came to get our drink order, at the end of the night we had been sitting there for 2 hours before we got our food. There were only 3 people on staff and the place was packed, so I'm sure on a slow night the service would be as exceptional as the food. Unfortunately that was not the case during our visit.
(3)Raul R.
I've eaten here several times and the food has always been good. The food has great flavor and the staff is friendly. You should check it out!
(4)Liz D.
Mai Thai is wonderful! Looks like a closed store front in an ugly little strip mall. Once you open the door, it's beautiful! The service can be a little slow sometimes, but it's always nice. The food is fantastic! My favorite things on the menu are the curries (particularly the Panang curry) and the Drunken Noodles, but I've had so many things and they've all been fantastic. Went yesterday for lunch, and the place was packed. Still, we got a table for 2 in under 10 minutes. Lunch specials are really decently priced (we got food for 2 with Thai teas and an extra drink for under $25), so this is a good way to enjoy them inexpensively. Everything was fantastic!
(5)Jennifer N.
My absolute favorite Thai restaurant of all time! I've been to Thai restaurants in Greenville, Atlanta, Spartanburg, etc. Nothing compares to Mai Thai. I highly recommend their signature pad Thai or pad see ew! My boyfriend loves their duck curry. The quality and taste is consistent. Don't let the sketchy area fool you, Mai Thai is the best around. You can't get better Thai food anywhere else. Love, love, love!!!!!
(5)Carolyn G.
You must ignore the exterior of this restaurant to get to the treasure inside. Looks like an X rated dive from the outside, but inside it is a nice, small sit down restaurant. The service was fine, but it did seem to take a while for the food to arrive. We ordered the spring rolls to start. My entree, the drunken noodles was awesome with just the right amount of spice. I ordered them with the steamed tofu. The dish was loaded with vegetables and good enough to order again. My daughter ordered the chicken pad Thai which was good, but next time she will try another dish. Overall a pleasant surprise worthy of a return visit.
(4)Joel W.
Doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's lovely inside. Food was very good, menu wasn't overwhelming, but had many choices. We started with buffalo shrimp and then had pad Thai, grouper and black pepper & garlic chicken. Very happy. Would go back.
(4)Paul W.
Food is good for what Columbia has to offer. If you go for lunch, go early. It will get packed real quick. Dinner seems to be little over priced for me and way too close to next table to my comfort. Good is good though.
(4)Gregory G.
Nom nom nom. Best Thai food in town! Don't let the scary run down strip mall setting fool you. When you walk through the doors its super cute and run by the sweetest little Thai ladies. The waiting area is tiny and so is the restaurant so getting there earlier is advised. The decor is cute and clean and the staff is very friendly (but super slow! Never in a rude or uncaring way but I think its just standard for them.) I've never had a bad dish and the sake is tasty. They're closed on Sundays and open for lunch so give them a shot whenever you can.
(5)Kelsey T.
I went for lunch and had the cashew chicken. It was fresh and flavorful. A lot of big cashews and fresh veggies. I got 4 star spicy and I would go up to 5 next time because it was too mild for my taste in Thai. Perfect size portion and not too pricey either. I will definitely be back to try more of their menu.
(4)Jeni N.
Best Thai restaurant in Columbia, hands down. My friends and I carry out, but dine in just as often. They also serve lunch! The servers are so sweet and attentive. Their tom yum soup is warming, delicious, and good for the soul. I love the cashew nut--stir fry blend of veggies and a meat. And of course the classic favorite, Pad Thai, never disappoints. I've had the Rainbow Duck a few times too--not bad. That's just to name a few of my favorite dishes. I've never had a meal that disappoints here. OH, can't forget dessert! Mango and sticky rice. Trust me, you won't regret it.
(5)Christa C.
Best Thai in Columbia, hands down. The word is out, so it fills up quickly. Service is efficient dining in, and we've never had a hiccup with our takeout order. Love their noodle entrees in particular. Only wish they delivered!
(4)Rob K.
This is the best Thai restaurant in all of Columbia. Without question I've eaten here a dozen times and never had a bad meal. Lunch or dinner you can't go wrong.
(5)Lynette P.
Great food and great service! The food is very tasty and server was nice enough to accommodate my party ordering additional items. Everything was correct! If you want to avoid the long waits and crowds, don't go during peak hours. I came here in the middle of the afternoon, on a week day and it was not crowded at all. Will definitely go again and highly recommended!
(5)Qi G.
Worst dining experience ever. I ordered Beef Pad Thai. The beef was really hard to chew and I did not like it. I told "the person in charge" that I did not like it and she just kept me: "You ordered it yourself! We cannot do anything about it, can't take it off or switch to another dish." Never been to a restaurant with such bad attitude and service. After talking/arguing for 10 minutes, she finally agreed to give me some side tofu for the hard-to-chew beef. Definitely not coming back.
(1)Stephanie V.
Whenever I hear that depressing Kanye West song, "Runaway," and he says "let's talk over mai tais, waitress top it off..." I think not of the fruity tropical concoction, but of my hands-down favorite take-out spot when I lived in Columbia. As others have noted, it's located in a depressing strip mall and the outside looks alarmingly like an adult toy store, but the inside is clean and usually crowded with adoring regulars. Service is pleasant, but if you are ordering take-out, be prepared for a long wait (up to 45 minutes at times). I usually ordered the same thing, which took some serious devotion considering their long menu of tantalizing options. I'd start with the coconut soup and appetizer sampler (so what if they say it's for two and I'm only one? How could I even think of sharing such a box of delicately fried deliciousness with anyone??). If you're not in the mood to splurge, just get the Mai Thai roll - it's amazing. My go-to dish was panang curry. The green curry is similar and also delicious, but a good bit spicier - *almost* too spicy for me, and I have an above average tolerance. To top it off, I would sometimes order the cheesecake tempura. You would love it, unless you hate things that taste good. Once I ate the whole damn piece sitting in my car right there in the sketchy parking lot, and I didn't care who saw. Oh, and the prices are pretty cheap, too - I'd usually get all of that for about $30 - so go ahead and indulge.
(4)Taylor H.
This place gets super crowded because they have amazing food! Try the drunken noodles!
(5)Gary G.
I have had friends say this it the best Thai food in Columbia, but I have been disappointed each time I have been here. Green Curry is hard to screw up, but they do. Even the pad thai was a greasy mess, with sweet sauce. Go somewhere else, any place is better.
(1)Adam H.
Walked in at about 8pm on a Thursday evening. The place was busy (typically a good sign). I'm staying at the hotel a few blocks away so I was looking for something I could take back and eat in peace - I didn't want to occupy their table space. After waiting many minutes, I finally caught the attention of the hostess. I told her I'd like to please place an order to go. I was told that I was not allowed to get food to go. I had to wait for a table and eat there. Ridiculous. I don't mind waiting for food and I was very polite. This isn't a 5 star establishment, it's a tiny joint in a run down strip mall. Last time I checked, money is money. Glad I don't live here so I don't have to worry about giving them another shot.
(1)Tracie D.
First, I have been coming to Columbia with some regularity for three years. Dinner options exist in downtown but it is lunch places near the office that tend to trend toward Bojangles, Chik a Filet, Subway, etc.. The other option was an Applebee's which is, well, an Applebee's for crying out loud! Was a little hesitant when a colleague mentioned going out for Thai this week. Wow, was I happy he did!! Hands down the best lunch I have had in Columbia. The place was packed, the service amazing, and food incredible. Great presentation and even better quality. A must do if you are in the area.
(5)April B.
I LOVE Mai Thai, but I generally only prefer to get takeout, as the few times I've been in for lunch I wasn't able to get in an out in a hour. Go sit inside when you have the time. The drunk noodles are my absolute favorite, with the garlic and black pepper coming in a close second.
(4)Rob G.
I had the Shrimp Fried Rice, HUGE portion. Service was friendly and fast, no complaints, I feel they charged the right price for the perfect amount of food. I am definitely going to stop by the next time I'm in the area.
(4)Unknown S.
I generally don't write reviews, but I had horrible experience twice that's why I m writing one. This place is shit, lot of peoples like it for some reason, But the quality is very bad. Moreover they take too much time to serve.
(1)George H.
Absolutely a fantastic place to eat. Was a bit wary after seeing the outside of the building but opening the door proved beauty is more than skin deep. The inside was nice and quiet and we were seated immediately as we arrived. The servers were very fast and responsive. My wife order Chicken Pad Thai and I had Penang Curry. The starter soup was one of the best soups that I have gotten to start a meal. It was more than just broth but had chicken and lemon grass in it. The salad came with what tasted like honey mustard and was not very large. The courses came out and they were fantastic. The meals were rich with flavor. My curry could have had a little more heat behind it but is was fantastic nonetheless. We sat down at 11:30 and were done by 12:15 When we left there was already a line waiting for seats so get there early. Easily the best place for Thai food in Columbia
(5)Jessica H.
We love this place! The Angel hair with chicken is worth the wait. My kids love the spring rolls. The Tom yum soup is my hubby's fave. It is always packed at lunch.
(4)Gregory P.
Before eating at Mai Thai, I thought the only Asian cuisine I liked was Japanese (well, the American version of Japanese). I really dislike Chinese cuisine, and actively avoid generic "Asian cuisine" restaurants. Mai Thai has disabused me of this notion. The garlic and black pepper chicken was outstanding, very tasty without pungent acidity and odor of Chinese of food. I also tried the drunken noodles; that will be the dish I order on my next trip to Mai Thai, which can't come soon enough. The service was highly attentive and the price was really a bargain for plentiful portions. Mai Thai gets a "Highly Recommended" rating from me.
(5)Janet N.
I'm very picky with Thai food - having grown up on the outskirts of Thai Town and a father who eats it once a week AT THE VERY LEAST. Comparing it to authentic Thai food that I've grown up with- it's mediocre. The dishes cater to the taste bud of the white man (LOL, jk... or not) but it's still good in it's own way. -The coconut soup was missing a few ingredients and tasted so bland. -first time ever I had soft-shelled crab at a Thai restaurant, and it definitely was a winner, for me! -Rainbow duck was extremely bland, just no flavor whatsoever and not sure about the choice of vegetables used to pair with my favorite veal. -Drunken noodles is the less sweet and spicier version of Pad See Ew and it was OK. Just a tad bit too sweet, in my opinion. Service was good- ladies attended to most of our needs even though place was pretty packed! Would I come back? Maybeeeee...
(3)Trisha W.
My favorite Thai restaurant. I always start with spring rolls, very light and crispy. We ordered Drunken Noodles and chicken fried rice. Both were absolutely delicious. This place is very small so be prepared to sit quite close to others and the wait can be pretty long, but it is so worth it!
(5)Chris R.
Amazing Thai food!!! Great price and I recommend going when you're hungry or gave a empty stomach because it will fill you up quick!!
(5)Julie R.
I love this place! They have a tasty pad Thai and the best fried shrimp ever. They give you a peanut sauce to dip the shrimp in which is just awesome! If you go for lunch you get a little soup and salad with your entree which is a nice touch. Don't let the outside of this place scare you, the inside is decorated super cute!
(5)Lauren O.
2 trips here and I'm in love. Finally found my go-to Thai place in town (after 9 years). Don't let the area of town or strip mall location put you off. Very well priced (lunch is between $8-12/person) and most come with a cup of soup & small salad. My husband got the Pad See-ew with calamari & I got the green curry with shrimp (which had the perfect amount of burn). Can't wait to go back & try something new!
(4)Tom R.
I'm working in the area and found on yelp, so yes it is small and can take time to get a seat but I was alone and greeted seated right away. They are very busy even at 8pm, from salad to seafood Thai basil dish everything was outstanding! Very friendly good service!
(5)Nick B.
Great food and very authentic.. Shrimp and chicken Pad Thai is the best dish here in my opinion. They take a long time to make the food however it is done well and no corners are cut. They give you a lot of food and good service. Must try!
(4)Monica R.
Columbia does Thai ...Columbia does Thai reeeeeaaalll good! My boyfriend loves two things more than me... Thai and Indian ... Food not women (better not be women). So what better way to celebrate his birthday in our new city than by checking out Mai Thai! I had the masaman curry and he had the two friends panang and both were outstanding but the masaman was the winner. We also had the Thai rolls and the golden angels both were banging! I would do without the coconut ice cream and would not do without a Chang (Thai beer). I am so so so happy we found this place...it is very indicative of Columbia's culinary diversity!
(5)Nikka S.
The boys an I came for lunch food was good we had the shrimp fried rice and the massaman curry the boys had the Thai tea I had the plum wine of course then we topped it off with the Mai Thai banana desert. Thing just kept going up hill from the time we started.
(4)Rachel O.
Mai Thai? MY Thai! I've been twice now and am definitely in love. On the first trip I was a little apprehensive with the exterior but the inside is lovely! It is dimly lit (but well enough to see your food and companions) and decorated nicely. I loved the different salt and pepper shakers on the tables. I had the angel wings appetizer. They are fried, delicious and full of cheese. They are very rich so these might be best for sharing. On the second trip boyfriend and I split the sampler. The Mai Thai rolls are legit. I'll get them every time I go from now on. The spring rolls contained celery which is like my least favorite thing on the planet. It also came with 2 angel wings. Everything was crazy hot and fresh. Both times I got the Two Friends Panang for my entree. So delicious! It came with jasmine basmati rice (small charge for brown) and contained chicken, shrimp, broccoli, carrots, peppers, snow peas and pineapple. It was excellent and enough for two meals. I took some home on both trips. For dessert the first time around I ordered the Mai Thai Bananas which came with banana spring rolls, coconut ice cream and a berry and chocolate sauce. I wasn't a huge fame of the coconut ice cream so we just got a plate of the banana spring rolls when I went with Boyfriend. It came with honey and whipped cream. It also came with sesame seeds but we asked for that to be left off. The banana spring rolls are a light and sweet way to end your meal. I wish it came with honey and chocolate sauce. The staff was friendly on both trips and we didn't wait an inordinate amount of time for our food. It is a small place so think twice before you go with a group of more than 4 but they do have a little bar area where you can grab a drink while you wait or hang out while waiting for a take out order.
(5)Kristy G.
Penang curry chicken was the best part of my meal- and the starter soup. Unfortunately I ordered, but didn't care for spring rolls - I only had one bite. Sadly the restaurant wouldn't remove the item from my bill. In fact, the sever didn't even ask manager which I found extremely dismissive. Also they don't take Amex FYI. Would have given higher star review had my server even attempted to satisfy my dislike of their spring rolls.
(2)Mike T.
We came here for lunch on Monday. We were very impressed by the quality of the food. The wide variety of entrées that are available is fantastic. The menu warns you that it's "not a fast food restaurant" so you do have to wait a little bit but it's well worth the wait.
(5)David P.
Excellent Thai food. 100+ positive reviews are not wrong. I got the spicy basil chicken and number 5 hot and it was "lick the plate after finishing" good. I would definitely eat here again if I come back to Columbia.
(4)Will H.
Best Thai food I've found in Columbia. A small restaurant with a laid-back atmosphere that's always busy but worth the wait.
(4)Anthony N.
I'm no expert on Thai food, but based on my past two visits, I will gladly give this place 5/5. The atmosphere is nice, the portion sizes are great, the prices are definitely reasonable, and most importantly--the quality of the food is terrific! The "golden angels" appetizer---a MUST. It's basically fried cream cheese wontons, but there's something really special about them. Very, very full of flavor and I'm impressed because I HATE cream cheese. In addition, the fried calamari is awesome. Most restaurants will fry with a ton ton ton of batter, and you can feel "greased out" from those places. However, the fried calamari here was very "meaty" and delicious. We shared a shrimp pad thai and also a chicken pad see ew. The shrimp size is great, unlike the tiny Walmart-sized frozen shrimp many places cool. The noodles in the pad see ew are wonderful and addicting! Again, not an expert on Thai food... But there's no reason to not keep coming back to this place!
(5)Aaron B.
I really enjoyed my experience. Stopped in for lunch and ordered the rainbow duck and it was great, and I'm a big fan of duck.
(5)Jennifer R.
I loved the curry. I have never stepped into this place when it wasn't busy, which is good for the business, but not for the wait! It is awesome to call in and go pick up food, though. They're fast and good with that. For that matter, you can walk in, go to the bar in the back, and order your to-go food. Have a drink, play on your phone for a few minutes, and you're out the door in a few minutes with dinner. YUMMY dinner.
(5)Adam B. J.
This is most likely my favorite place in all of Columbia. Its in a small old strip mall in West Columbia, but don't let the outside fool you. This is great authentic Thai. There are other Thai options here in Columbia that are good (with much larger price tags), but the food is not any better, the staff isn't any nicer, and the intimate setting is no better. Mai Thai has the best soft shell crabs I've ever tasted. Sometime my wife and I will just get two orders of soft shell crabs and the Tum Yum soup and split it as our meal. Favorite entrees are Massaman Curry with Chicken, Drunken Noodles (tofu is my personal favorite with this, but my wife likes it with chicken or shrimp), and the Mai Thai duck! Thai hot 3 for my wife Thai hot 5 for me (but I LOVE SPICY FOOD). Great little hole in the wall Thai in West Columbia no less! LOVE LOVE LOVE
(5)Heather A.
Food here is great. The place is tiny and the wait can be very long. 5 of us came Sat at 6:30. We waited 45 min to be seated, and our food took about 30 minutes to come out. We ended up being there almost 2 hours when it was all said and done. Portions are large and the service was great. Just make sure to go early or be prepared to wait!
(5)Ramon S.
Coming from Asian girl the food was okay. We have been everywhere but i can't find anything that beat the Thai restaurant in PA where we found that basil thai fried rice. The service was great though but please make sure you are not as hungry when you go there because the waiting time is terrible. We have to wait almost 20 min for our appetizer and waiting time for the main course is almost an hour. We almost decided to leave because we are so Hungry. Well anyways the price wasn't too bad anyways so I guest that's why the food wasn't great either. Still searching for a real authentic thai resto......
(3)Jimmy M.
Best Thai restaurant in Columbia. Coconut soup is outstanding, Pad Thai is fantastic also. I try to come here at least once a month.
(4)Mary S.
First time eating Thai. Had the sweet and sour beef and it was very good, loved the pineapple chunks.
(3)Kristin M.
Lunch was excellent. Chicken noodle soup has an amazing broth, great Penang curry, and the peanut sauce is truly amazing. Fresh veggies and lean meats so healthy as well.
(5)Dawn W.
Lovvvved! We pulled up and debated about how good it could really be based of how it looked from the lot. We went in and we were surprised at how cute and clean it is! The two girls working the front were great, quick and friendly! We had the cream cheese fried wonton appetizer and they were amazing!!!!!! We both had pad Thai beef and chicken. Both great. Chicken a tad better. I asked for level 3 spice because I'm from Seattle where Thai is spicy! The level 3 was a decent balance. Also loved the jasmine tea! It's about half hour from home but we will travel for it.
(5)Adam H.
I read about Mai Thai on Yelp while traveling for business and decided to check it out. It was Friday night, so I didn't expect a thai restaurant in a strip mall to be very busy. I was wrong. The place was packed. I found a spot at the bar and ordered a favorite dish of mine, Drunken Noodles. The dish was served sizzling hot (temperature) and with just the right amount of spice. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the peppers, snow peas and onions had just the right amount of crunch. Even for being very busy, the service met my expectations. I would definitely return.
(5)David B.
Good food! The Hot a Basil Chicken is good, but not the best. The springs rolls are good, but a little pricy for the size. All in all, id eat here again.
(3)Linda O.
This is NOT the place to go if you are looking for quick and friendly service. The space and number of tables is highly limited and they won't let you sit at the bar because it "blocks the take-out service." I waited 15 minutes before I decided to find a staff member to ask if I could be seated. My presence was never acknowledged. Then I waited another 10 minutes. This was at 1:15pm on a week day. Consider this place as "take out only" and one may have a better experience.
(2)Troy F.
So, first impressions: when I walked up to this little hole in the wall joint with the two-way mirror outside walls, I thought I was walking into a massage parlor and the only thought that crossed my mind at that moment was, "I hope it has a happy ending!" But I digress, this gem of a place is an absolutely fantastic Thai restaurant. From the menu items to the Asian waitresses with the unmistakeable Asian accent, it is one of the best places to grab some authentic Thai cuisine. I will MOST definitely be coming back to this little treasure!!
(5)Jason N.
My girlfriend approached me and said " I feel like Thai tonight " and I was off to the Yelp Races to find the answer!... Well the reviews on this place were all pretty accurate. you know what they say about places that seem " Divey " usually you get a good surprise, and that's what we got here. The exterior is definitely something more than a few might pass up as its located in a older style strip mall, but inside the decorations were of a modern nature, mixed in was a traditional Thailand theme of color and décor. The place inside is definitely small and fills up fast so that is something you will want to take into consideration when visiting i.e. day of the week and time of day. We got there a little past 7pm on a Friday and there was one table.. and it stayed that way until 10pm. So, the best option to ensure some decent seats would be to get there between 5 and 7.. probably after Thursday til the weekend... We started with appetizers and like many reviews, we tried the Calamari and the Angel Wings... While the Calamari was larger and tasted pretty fresh, the batter was somewhat bland and a bit too greasy, but not something that I wouldn't try again if the place was a bit slower. The Angel Wings (6 per order), well they were downright awesome, similar to a Rangoon, but altered with the type of cheeses inside, definitely Rich, but if sharing, with 2 or more people, totally worth a try. The main course choices were the Drunken Noodles and the Pad Thai(beef) ... I feel as though Pad Thai , albeit street style food, represents an important cultural link to know how well a Thai joint is linked with flavors and spices, so I tend to order this every time I try a new place, to see how they treat their version. I was not overly disappointed at all, the noodles were good, the spices and flavors were all well balanced, the beef was good although slightly bland, when mixed as an all in one bite with the other ingredients, it was tasty... I felt like they could have added just a touch more veggies, but I would get this again... The Drunken Noodles were also very well done, with solid flavor profiles, spice levels were on point ( low to med ) doneness and chew of the noodle itself, with only a similar comment about the amount of veggies which could have been a touch more, but totally worth getting again. The price points on this meal were definitely in the bargain range.. both of us with Saki and wine, appetizers, Food, Tip came to a few bucks shy of under 50bucks and we went home with leftovers, so to me this is what makes this place a definite return stop in the future. I cant say this place is the BEST in Columbia, as I haven't tried all of the other places yet, and there are "a lot"... and my 4 is based on a few things... 1. it was my first time there, so I don't know about consistency just yet and that is important when giving 5 ratings , at least to me... 2. there were on this visit, some very minor things with the calamari being just a bit greasy; which could have been attributed to the level of business at the time. The Service was good even when busy, but do not expect rocket fast service, go there with the aim of having some time between orders, so don't be in a rush if you go at the times I quoted in this review. all in all, great place!.. look forward to a second trip to see if the 5 comes out in an update!
(4)Kenny K.
Best Thai food in the city, without question! The Massaman Curry was so good! Thai Tea is a must! My friend had the Wild Shrimp and raved about it. Don't forget the Thai Donuts for dessert!
(5)Karen S.
First place that I ever ate Thai Food at - and far the best Thai Food I have eaten compared to some of the other places I have eaten at. I ordered take out tonight and called ahead (as the other time I did carry-out and did not call ahead, I had to wait about 20 minutes for them to prepare my dish). And my food was still hot by the time I got home - which is about 20 minutes from the restaurant. Warning: restaurant is small - so probably not good for big groups of people, but nice and Intimate if you have a small group/ And the portions are HUGE! i had enough left over from my dinner for lunch tomorrow!
(5)S H.
BEST THAI FOOD IN COLUMBIA. On our most recent visit, my husband got the panang curry w/ chicken and I got the drunken noodles w/ veggies only. We also split the spring roll appetizer. He was in love with his curry, so much so that before I could even eat 1/4 of mine, his was completely gone. Somehow I managed to save 1/2 of mine to take home, but it wasn't easy. Both dishes had great flavor, with mine having small hints of anise and perfectly cooked vegetables - crisp but cooked just right, no hint of sogginess. The spring rolls were very simple but did not disappoint. (Tip: This is the place to order an appetizer b/c the wait for food is longer than you'd typically expect. So worth it though!) During our meal, we looked at each other and said, "Why do we even go to Basil when Mai Thai is so much better?" This last experience has caused me to revamp my Basil review. Somehow Mai Thai is just so much fresher, more flavorful and they aren't trying to rush you out the door, meaning you can enjoy your meal or date night with your significant other. :) The icing on the cake was when I forgot my take-out container on the table. We were driving out of the parking lot when I realized what I'd done and ordered my husband, "Go back!" He turned the car around and we spotted the waitress running across the parking lot, taking my container to various parked cars looking for us. How sweet!
(5)Pamela L.
The food is great... However the service leaves much to be desired. Waited 30 mins before someone even came to get our drink order, at the end of the night we had been sitting there for 2 hours before we got our food. There were only 3 people on staff and the place was packed, so I'm sure on a slow night the service would be as exceptional as the food. Unfortunately that was not the case during our visit.
(3)Raul R.
I've eaten here several times and the food has always been good. The food has great flavor and the staff is friendly. You should check it out!
(4)Liz D.
Mai Thai is wonderful! Looks like a closed store front in an ugly little strip mall. Once you open the door, it's beautiful! The service can be a little slow sometimes, but it's always nice. The food is fantastic! My favorite things on the menu are the curries (particularly the Panang curry) and the Drunken Noodles, but I've had so many things and they've all been fantastic. Went yesterday for lunch, and the place was packed. Still, we got a table for 2 in under 10 minutes. Lunch specials are really decently priced (we got food for 2 with Thai teas and an extra drink for under $25), so this is a good way to enjoy them inexpensively. Everything was fantastic!
(5)Jennifer N.
My absolute favorite Thai restaurant of all time! I've been to Thai restaurants in Greenville, Atlanta, Spartanburg, etc. Nothing compares to Mai Thai. I highly recommend their signature pad Thai or pad see ew! My boyfriend loves their duck curry. The quality and taste is consistent. Don't let the sketchy area fool you, Mai Thai is the best around. You can't get better Thai food anywhere else. Love, love, love!!!!!
(5)Dee A.
I first went here with my parents when I moved down. We drove up to the mirrored front and wondered what kind of theme they were going for. Turns out it doesn't matter. This place was wonderful. The service was so great. Everyone working there was so nice. The food was amazing. My favorite dish was the green curry with chicken. It was a large portion with a spicy coconut milk broth and just a little sweetness. The pad thai was a little sweet but still some of the best I've ever had. We also tried the drunken noodles which was full of vegetables. The whole experience was great right down to the homemade coconut ice cream. I've been back a few times since and will keep coming back.
(5)Carolyn G.
You must ignore the exterior of this restaurant to get to the treasure inside. Looks like an X rated dive from the outside, but inside it is a nice, small sit down restaurant. The service was fine, but it did seem to take a while for the food to arrive. We ordered the spring rolls to start. My entree, the drunken noodles was awesome with just the right amount of spice. I ordered them with the steamed tofu. The dish was loaded with vegetables and good enough to order again. My daughter ordered the chicken pad Thai which was good, but next time she will try another dish. Overall a pleasant surprise worthy of a return visit.
(4)Joel W.
Doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's lovely inside. Food was very good, menu wasn't overwhelming, but had many choices. We started with buffalo shrimp and then had pad Thai, grouper and black pepper & garlic chicken. Very happy. Would go back.
(4)Paul W.
Food is good for what Columbia has to offer. If you go for lunch, go early. It will get packed real quick. Dinner seems to be little over priced for me and way too close to next table to my comfort. Good is good though.
(4)Gregory G.
Nom nom nom. Best Thai food in town! Don't let the scary run down strip mall setting fool you. When you walk through the doors its super cute and run by the sweetest little Thai ladies. The waiting area is tiny and so is the restaurant so getting there earlier is advised. The decor is cute and clean and the staff is very friendly (but super slow! Never in a rude or uncaring way but I think its just standard for them.) I've never had a bad dish and the sake is tasty. They're closed on Sundays and open for lunch so give them a shot whenever you can.
(5)Kelsey T.
I went for lunch and had the cashew chicken. It was fresh and flavorful. A lot of big cashews and fresh veggies. I got 4 star spicy and I would go up to 5 next time because it was too mild for my taste in Thai. Perfect size portion and not too pricey either. I will definitely be back to try more of their menu.
(4)Jeni N.
Best Thai restaurant in Columbia, hands down. My friends and I carry out, but dine in just as often. They also serve lunch! The servers are so sweet and attentive. Their tom yum soup is warming, delicious, and good for the soul. I love the cashew nut--stir fry blend of veggies and a meat. And of course the classic favorite, Pad Thai, never disappoints. I've had the Rainbow Duck a few times too--not bad. That's just to name a few of my favorite dishes. I've never had a meal that disappoints here. OH, can't forget dessert! Mango and sticky rice. Trust me, you won't regret it.
(5)Christa C.
Best Thai in Columbia, hands down. The word is out, so it fills up quickly. Service is efficient dining in, and we've never had a hiccup with our takeout order. Love their noodle entrees in particular. Only wish they delivered!
(4)Rob K.
This is the best Thai restaurant in all of Columbia. Without question I've eaten here a dozen times and never had a bad meal. Lunch or dinner you can't go wrong.
(5)Lynette P.
Great food and great service! The food is very tasty and server was nice enough to accommodate my party ordering additional items. Everything was correct! If you want to avoid the long waits and crowds, don't go during peak hours. I came here in the middle of the afternoon, on a week day and it was not crowded at all. Will definitely go again and highly recommended!
(5)Qi G.
Worst dining experience ever. I ordered Beef Pad Thai. The beef was really hard to chew and I did not like it. I told "the person in charge" that I did not like it and she just kept me: "You ordered it yourself! We cannot do anything about it, can't take it off or switch to another dish." Never been to a restaurant with such bad attitude and service. After talking/arguing for 10 minutes, she finally agreed to give me some side tofu for the hard-to-chew beef. Definitely not coming back.
(1)Stephanie V.
Whenever I hear that depressing Kanye West song, "Runaway," and he says "let's talk over mai tais, waitress top it off..." I think not of the fruity tropical concoction, but of my hands-down favorite take-out spot when I lived in Columbia. As others have noted, it's located in a depressing strip mall and the outside looks alarmingly like an adult toy store, but the inside is clean and usually crowded with adoring regulars. Service is pleasant, but if you are ordering take-out, be prepared for a long wait (up to 45 minutes at times). I usually ordered the same thing, which took some serious devotion considering their long menu of tantalizing options. I'd start with the coconut soup and appetizer sampler (so what if they say it's for two and I'm only one? How could I even think of sharing such a box of delicately fried deliciousness with anyone??). If you're not in the mood to splurge, just get the Mai Thai roll - it's amazing. My go-to dish was panang curry. The green curry is similar and also delicious, but a good bit spicier - *almost* too spicy for me, and I have an above average tolerance. To top it off, I would sometimes order the cheesecake tempura. You would love it, unless you hate things that taste good. Once I ate the whole damn piece sitting in my car right there in the sketchy parking lot, and I didn't care who saw. Oh, and the prices are pretty cheap, too - I'd usually get all of that for about $30 - so go ahead and indulge.
(4)Taylor H.
This place gets super crowded because they have amazing food! Try the drunken noodles!
(5)Gary G.
I have had friends say this it the best Thai food in Columbia, but I have been disappointed each time I have been here. Green Curry is hard to screw up, but they do. Even the pad thai was a greasy mess, with sweet sauce. Go somewhere else, any place is better.
(1)Adam H.
Walked in at about 8pm on a Thursday evening. The place was busy (typically a good sign). I'm staying at the hotel a few blocks away so I was looking for something I could take back and eat in peace - I didn't want to occupy their table space. After waiting many minutes, I finally caught the attention of the hostess. I told her I'd like to please place an order to go. I was told that I was not allowed to get food to go. I had to wait for a table and eat there. Ridiculous. I don't mind waiting for food and I was very polite. This isn't a 5 star establishment, it's a tiny joint in a run down strip mall. Last time I checked, money is money. Glad I don't live here so I don't have to worry about giving them another shot.
(1)Tracie D.
First, I have been coming to Columbia with some regularity for three years. Dinner options exist in downtown but it is lunch places near the office that tend to trend toward Bojangles, Chik a Filet, Subway, etc.. The other option was an Applebee's which is, well, an Applebee's for crying out loud! Was a little hesitant when a colleague mentioned going out for Thai this week. Wow, was I happy he did!! Hands down the best lunch I have had in Columbia. The place was packed, the service amazing, and food incredible. Great presentation and even better quality. A must do if you are in the area.
(5)April B.
I LOVE Mai Thai, but I generally only prefer to get takeout, as the few times I've been in for lunch I wasn't able to get in an out in a hour. Go sit inside when you have the time. The drunk noodles are my absolute favorite, with the garlic and black pepper coming in a close second.
(4)Rob G.
I had the Shrimp Fried Rice, HUGE portion. Service was friendly and fast, no complaints, I feel they charged the right price for the perfect amount of food. I am definitely going to stop by the next time I'm in the area.
(4)Unknown S.
I generally don't write reviews, but I had horrible experience twice that's why I m writing one. This place is shit, lot of peoples like it for some reason, But the quality is very bad. Moreover they take too much time to serve.
(1)ken r.
I don't want to leave a good review because I 'm selfish and the place is crowded already. I agree with all the other positive reviews. My favorite Thai food in the area by far. Please don't go when I'm going so I can get a seat.
(5)George H.
Absolutely a fantastic place to eat. Was a bit wary after seeing the outside of the building but opening the door proved beauty is more than skin deep. The inside was nice and quiet and we were seated immediately as we arrived. The servers were very fast and responsive. My wife order Chicken Pad Thai and I had Penang Curry. The starter soup was one of the best soups that I have gotten to start a meal. It was more than just broth but had chicken and lemon grass in it. The salad came with what tasted like honey mustard and was not very large. The courses came out and they were fantastic. The meals were rich with flavor. My curry could have had a little more heat behind it but is was fantastic nonetheless. We sat down at 11:30 and were done by 12:15 When we left there was already a line waiting for seats so get there early. Easily the best place for Thai food in Columbia
(5)Jessica H.
We love this place! The Angel hair with chicken is worth the wait. My kids love the spring rolls. The Tom yum soup is my hubby's fave. It is always packed at lunch.
(4)Becca D.
The location (in one of the more run-down strip malls along Sunset blvd.) and weird mirrored exterior of the restaurant might be a turn-off for anyone who hasn't been before, but the food at Mai Thai is consistently good and very fresh. The presentation of the food is a major bonus - everything was beautiful, and the rice was served in the shape of a heart. The interior is well-decorated and intimate, but it can get pretty noisy on busy nights. You should definitely plan ahead if you want to take a date here, though, because there is frequently a wait to get a table, and the food preparation takes a while (which is, as others have said, a testament to the freshness). So don't come here if you're already hungry! Mai Thai isn't my vote for the best thai food in town, but it is definitely the best thai food within its price range.
(3)M. P.
I will agree with the other reviewers about the exterior of the place - I almost didn't go in because it looks very rundown especially if going for dinner. The servers are not very friendly - went there with my husband and kids and we each ordered our own entrees. I enjoyed mine very much (the drunken noodles) however my husbands tasted off (he had a chicken curry dish). He sent his back and told the server that it tasted off but they refused to take it off the bill! The servers response to my husband was "next time try something different"! I couldn't believe it - will not be going back.
(2)Sateesh N.
Sucks. Takes forever to take the order and get your food. Worse customer care. Would never go there.. Food is great though..
(1)Chris S.
Great Food. We love this place. Hot Basil Chicken is my recommendation 5 peppers and ask for the spice kit!! They can make it hot.... Best Thai in Cola!!!
(5)John B.
Pad Thai is amazing, the best we've had in years. Dumpling and spring roll appetizers are delicious and the Salmon Chu-Chee was fantastic.
(5)Amanda F.
My little Thai gem in Columbia! Don't let the outside fool you; come inside and find a quaint Thai joint with amazing food. Service can be on the slow side at times but the food is well worth the wait. I try to make it here as much as possible to satisfy my Thai cravings and am always thrilled with what I get. I dream about the coconut soup and have to get it every time I come. I have tried many different curries and noodle dishes and have yet to find one that even slightly disappoints!
(5)Allison C.
Yummy! We went for lunch. Although food takes a little bit to come out, it is worth the wait. Service is so friendly and they do their best to be quick at lunch. I ordered the panang curry with chicken and quickly devoured my plate. Mom ordered fried grouper with ginger lunch special and it was really good too. I will definitely recommend this place. Based on others' recommendations, we did try the homemade coconut ice cream. It was delicious, but hard to eat because it was too frozen. I think their freezer is too cold of a temp...
(4)Lenny B.
Best food and amazing desserts. The donuts are out of this world. The waitresses are very friendly and keep your drinks filled.
(5)Hollie T.
At first glance, you're walking into an adult store with a mirrored exterior in a rundown strip mall... but then you're in Thailand: a quiet corner of Thailand with pleasant people and exotic smells. Try the Jasmine Rice soup and one of the curries and you can't go wrong.
(4)Thomas B.
Very long wait for my Drunken Noodles at lunch time. 30 minutes. No apology. Waitress was stressed out --made me anxious. Food was OK.
(3)Janelle A.
Amazing food! There's a little wait time after ordering but that's because it's super fresh and flavorful! A great place for true Thai lovers! We ordered the fried calamari and panang chicken! Yum!
(4)Roel F.
Mai Thai is an excellent restaurant! The food is yummy, the service is friendly and the prices are reasonable. Alright, Mai Thai does not look like much from the outside, the place looks like pornography or massages with a happy ending are on sale, but the inside is very agreeable. They tried their best to add a touch of Thailand to the place and it worked. The interior has a pleasant, cozy feel to it. In good Thai tradition, the service is very friendly. The drinks came quickly, but unfortunately we had to wait a little while for the food. Luckily, I was in good company and the wait was not too bad. We started with two appetizers, the Mai Thai rolls and the dumplings, both of which were very tasty. (Granted, we had to wait for a little while before the appetizers came out.) The entrees were nice as well. I opted for the hot basil chicken and I very much enjoyed the dish. One piece of advice, though, if you like your Thai food decently spicy then you should ask for a spiciness of five on their scale of five! The entrees of the other people at my table were also very nice. (Granted, we had to wait for a little while longer before the entrees came out.) The food was not only tasty, but there also was plenty of it. The prices at Mai Thai are not excessive, about ten to fifteen dollars for an entree, which is another plus about the place. In short: I highly recommend Mai Thai!
(4)Mia C.
Best thai food in Columbia area. Have been here couple of times with friends. They have great vegetarian options. All the curries i've tried were great. Ambience also not bad. Must go if you live in Columbia.
(4)Brianna B.
Didn't seem like much from the outside but it's beautiful inside! And the food is wonderful, well-prepared, and clean! We stopped here for dinner as we were traveling down I-26. Definitely worth it!
(5)Kimi B.
The ONLY reason I did not give this joint a 5th star is only b/c of its ghetto exterior. Thank god I was not deterred and went inside. I lived in SoCal where there is a plethora of phenomenal ethnic restaurants, one of my favorites of which is a thai place. Well, in the virtual culinary wasteland of Columbia, I've found its rival. Mai Thai is so GREAT. Inside is actually really cute and quaint w/ bamboo dividers. The service is great. I took my server's recommendation on best curry dish (green curry) and best noodle dish (drunken noodles) and split the two w/ my aunt. First of all, the portions are gigantic which is impressive for the bargain $10.95 price tag. Second of all, even if they were half the size, I'd still go b/c they were goth so flavorful and cooked to perfection. I will return here. . .and soon.
(4)Ashu S.
This is one of the best restaurants I have been to in Columbia. The decor is amazing and the servers are friendly. I love the food so much that I keep coming back every week.
(5)Frank R.
Top notch Thai food! Excellent ambiance, clean, extremely friendly & hard working staff. Great place. Highly recommend!
(5)Donny M.
I recently stopped by Mai Thai for lunch while laying over in Columbia. Great Choice! The food was very good. I had the Panang Curry lunch special, which comes with soup and salad. The service was very prompt and "on top of things." My drink never got more than half empty. The curry was great, very fresh and just the right amount of spice. Get there early though, because the secret's out...there were lots of people in this very small establishment. Check it out! You'll be glad you did.
(4)Dan S.
Popped in on my way from Buffalo to Florida for lunch - lunch specials are a great deal, include a little side salad and cup of soup, side of rice and entree for like $7 or $8. Spicy Basil Calamari is delicious. Bonus points for charging less than $2 for an iced tea too - a rarity these days! Service was very good - when I was about to ask for something, she was already on her way to bring it to me. Decor on the outside is a zero-star strip mall, but inside they have created a mood-lit oasis of tranquility and hipness. Nice find in the middle of a crazy-long driving day - thanks, Yelpers!
(4)Swetha G.
What other reviewers have said about the décor is totally accurate. The interior is intimate and warm and just looks a WHOLE lot better than the poor design from the outside. They have done a great job with making the small space look classy and inviting. The food is average. It also took quite a long time for our entrees to come out, which sucked for me b/c I was one of the few at the table who didn't order an appetizer, and I was getting hungry :( The dish that I got was good and tasted about the same as most other Thai restaurants I've been to. Nice seasoning and flavor. However I think there was miscommunication between my server and I because after eating several bites of my dish, thinking the vegetables were at the bottom of the bowl, I think I was served Red Curry instead of the Panang Curry that I thought I had ordered. I specifically asked the server for red curry and vegetables and she pointed at the panang curry on the menu and asked me if I wanted tofu, chicken pork or beef with it, and I said tofu. But the dish was definitely missing broccoli, carrots, zucchini and all the other colorful vegetables I was looking forward to having. It still tasted good though, so I'm not fully complaining, but just not what I thought I ordered. Also the dessert I had - the Mai Thai's Banana, was not the best fried banana and coconut ice cream. They really give a meager portion of fried banana, and the ice cream did not taste like coconut at all, it tasted more like vanilla. It was pretty hard and took me using my serving spoon and a fork to break! The berry sauce that it comes with was tasty though. Service was mediocre and not as overly friendly and welcoming as others have pointed out. We were treated alright, but the entire service we received was more attentive than friendly. I think I also feel slightly biased because the last establishment that I was at, the service was outstanding, so the bar has been raised, and what I experienced at Mai Thai, fell a bit short. All in all this place is not the best Thai restaurant around, but it's still pretty decent, and considering the lackluster ethnic food selection in Columbia, this will have to do for now. However I'll probably frequent Thai Lotus more if I had to choose between the two.
(3)Stephen S.
Had a pretty good chicken/veg/curry dish. Wasn't as hot as I normally would like but I do prefer to add the heat rather than burn my face off completely. As promised, it was fresh and flavorful with a uniquely pleasant (but loud) atmosphere. It was a Wednesday and was busy at about 8pm. I will be back. They also had a pretty decent wine list and asian beers. Service was average.
(4)Rose P.
Ordered spring rolls and Pad See Ew entree and homemade coconut ice cream for desert -- all very tasty! If I didn't have to drive from Ohio I would frequent this place. Doesn't look like much from the outside but inside is appealing comfortable and the service is friendly.
(5)Blake A.
Last night was my 5th or 6th visit to Mai Thai. The food always seems to amaze me. It good. Really good. But one thing that really stood out last last was the incredible service I received. The staff has always been friendly, but when they offered to replace my meal at no cost due to the spiciness of it... I was blown away. The error was even my fault, not the kitchen's. .. As far as food goes; the Fried Golden Angel wanton is to die for. And the Green Curry is hard to beat. Just be careful w/ the heat level. A 4 made me cry like a little girl.
(5)Cynthia B.
My friend Amy and I were starving one night and we decided to get take out. We wanted to get 'asian food' and she told me she knew of the perfect place. We looked up Mai Thai's menu online and ordered via phone. My friend said it was small and that we'd leave to get the food in...30 min! Wait we did, but OMG. Honestly, the food was amazing. Large portion, amazing flavor. I got the Tom Yum soup and Pad See-Ew. The Pad See-Ew is my favorite entree ever now- anywhere. The place is small, crowded and charming. Don't judge a book by it's cover. If I hadn't of been told to eat here, I never would have thought to come inside. The waitresses were so sweet and willing to help. Mai Thai is a new favorite. GO THERE.
(5)Michael M.
This rest. Was recommended by a person who was born and raised in Thailand. Very good food. Decent pricing. A little Americanized but still tastey.
(4)Kyleigh P.
I am absolutely in love with this place. The atmosphere is great. I enjoy the smaller, intimate feel the set up has. The staff is always super friendly and helpful. Most importantly, the menu is amazing. It can be hard to find genuine, delicious Thai cuisine, but this definitely does the trick. I usually go with a spicy tofu Pad Thai, and it's better than most I've tried. This is for sure a place you have to check out, even if you're not familiar with this style of Asian food. There's tons of options.
(5)Paul B.
The food here is great! the outside looks, maybe, a bit ominous~ Inside is very nice, intimate and clean! A warm cozy atmosphere that complements raspberry sake very well :) Started with wonton soup, very light and tasty- Wonton filled with ground pork served in a clear broth seasoned with sprouts and a hint of green onions and cilantro? I ordered the Panang curry with chicken, served with red and green peppers, broccoli, and sprouts with a side of rice. The curry is mixed with coconut milk, a hint of mint and is oh so good! not too spicy but full and rich! The vegetables were very crisp and tasty and the chicken was just perfect. This was a nice place to eat, staff was very nice, food very good, and did I mention the raspberry sake?
(4)Lynne F.
I went there for the first time last night. I was the first customer of the night and received excellent service. The food was very good (Mai Thai rolls and chicken Massaman curry). Both dishes were delicious and when I asked the waitress to box up the rest of the curry, she asked if I wanted additional rice?! So, I said yes and when I looked on the bill, there was no extra charge. How sweet is that? The only thing that made me a little sad was that they did not have Tod Mun(sp?), a type of fish cake appetizer. I will *definitely* go back.
(4)Gary H.
Went here at the suggestion of friends. It was very small on the inside, and became packed shortly after we got there. Food was very good. I got the Panang Curry and wife got the Cashew Nut chicken. Don't go if you are in a hurry, as it takes a while to get your food. Servers were attentive though.
(4)David S.
Wow, this place is always great. The eggplant and shrimp amazing is...well, amazing. Panang curry also great. Matter of fact it is all good all the time
(4)Danielle B.
My husband and I favorite Thai place! The most authentic Thai you will find in Cola. We love the red and green curry takes a while because everything is cooked fresh so don't go in a hurry. Thai tea is right on as well! Mmm it's a GO I recommend this place!
(5)William K.
The food was fantastic at this Thai restaurant. I took my boyfriend out for a date here and we were blown away by the quality of the soup and pleasantly surprised by the tastiness of the dishes. While the food was fantastic, the service was lackluster and certainly affected the pleasure of dining here. While I will go back, it won't be for formal occasions as the service is not up to par for that. If you want great Thai food though, do not look any further.
(4)Epicurious E.
Mai Thai is one of three Thai restaurants (well, four if you count Baan Swaan, a Thai fusion restaurant that is kind of overpriced for what you get, IMHO) that I know of around here, and it is definitely a pretty decent option for Thai food, for the Columbia area. The flavor of the food at Mai Thai is fairly authentic, if a bit light at times, and uses the freshest ingredients in the area (my favorite Thai restaurant in Columbia, Thai Lotus, offers food with a more robust flavor, but Mai Thai uses ingredients that are just a bit fresher). Mai Thai is in a random plaza on Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia, and although the outside of the restaurant looks pretty unimpressive, the inside of the restaurant is actually quite pretty, and a nice location for a date if you are looking for it. It is also a good choice if you are looking for a vegetarian meal, as it offers a good variety of dishes with just vegetables or tofu. For more details about the food, as well as photos of both the restaurant and some of the dishes offered here, you can visit my food blog, epicurious-eats.blogspot…
(3)Mike G.
I decided to check this place out based on all of the reviews and right off the bat I was impressed. I ordered my food to go, they were very friendly and even brought out a glass of water while I waited for my order! How often does that happen? The food tasted great and I will definitely come come back next time I'm nearby.
(4)Scott G.
Everyone is correct when they say this is the best Thai in Columbia Bann Swan is to expensive for someone with a budget like myself. For $30 two can have an amazing meal, try the sweet Thai iced tea, my gf ordered it once and now we both get it every time. Be prepared to wait on Friday and Saturday nights from 7-8.
(4)Liz D.
Mai Thai is a gem in West Columbia. Once you enter the doors of the stripmall store front, you're transported to a very pleasant dining room. The layout of the tables and placement of room dividers also add to privacy in such a small space. Although, I've heard great things about other dishes, I am addicted to the Panang Curry. I really appreciate the extra attention given to presentation: the rice comes in a heart-shaped pile and the zucchini exterior is shaved in a way to give it stripes! I also love the magic yellow salad dressing! Sometimes the dining service isn't the speediest, but the meal comes with salad and soup which keeps the pace about right.
(5)Laurin M.
My quality of life in the Midlands just got a whole lot better after eating at Mai Thai in West Columbia tonight. For years I've been bummed about the absence of a Thai restaurant in the area that meets all of my criteria -- fresh ingredients, reasonable prices, pleasant atmosphere, generous portions, and attentive service. Mai Thai has all of those elements. The drunken noodles (Pad Kee Mao) I had tonight could compete with the drunken noodles at my favorite Thai haunts in the DC area. The stir fried veggies were especially crisp, and there was a nice variety of them -- fresh mushrooms, red peppers, zucchini, snow peas etc. The servers were friendly and attentive, and the meal was well-timed. I was in a hurry and took most of my food to-go, but for the diners who were lingering and enjoying a leisurely meal, the servers even offered some complimentary Thai desserts. Mai Thai is situated in a desolate, sketchy shopping center out Sunset Blvd in West Columbia -- just beyond the Riverbanks Zoo entrance and across from Food Lion. (I'm convinced that the best Thai restaurants on the planet are located in sketchy strip malls or holes in the wall.) Upon opening the door, though, you've already forgotten where you just parked the car because you're entering a small, cheerful, calmly lit, tastefully decorated restaurant. I love Asian food more than any cuisine on earth and am picky about it. For years I've given Thai Lotus and Thailand Restaurant on St. Andrews Road second, third, and fourth chances, but they're both hit-or-miss, and the haul out to St. Andrews from downtown is a huge pain. Also, the service at Thai Lotus stresses me out. I always feel like I'm inconveniencing them and that they're ready to close the restaurant. Baan Sawaan in 5 Points is great, and I love the guys who work there, but it's prohibitively expensive. Mai Thai's food was every bit as good, the portions were twice as big, and the prices were half as much as Baan Sawaan's. I enthusiastically recommend Mai Thai. I'll be visiting again soon and trying another dish. The Free-Times' review of Mai Thai is here: free-times.com/index.php…
(5)Don F.
Crispy Duck with Curry & Pineapple! I love this place. Staff very friendly. I will be back, again and again! Only one complaint. The fried Tofu was dry and tough. But everything else exceeded my expectations.
(4)Paul V.
1st visit had spring rolls, pad Thai beef, drunken noodles, coconut sake awesome, 2nd time spring rolls, steamed dumplings, black pepper chicken, brought my two daughters and ones bf one had the amazing chicken, I introduced my picky one with drunken noodles and she raved and the bf had the sweet and sour chicken all loved it.
(5)Gautam G.
Decent food, but horrible service. I went with friends on a Friday night and had to wait 45 minutes for a table and one and a half hours for food. One and a half !!!! Eventually, after we paid the check, I spoke to the waitress and the manager there, but they kept arguing. Aren't they supposed to listen to the customer? Whatever. If you like Thai food, go to Thai Wasabi. Food is as good, if not better, Service is prompt and rates are decent.
(1)Jerilynn B.
Amazing. I'd recommend it to anyone. Awesome service, pleasant environment and delicious food at a great value. It's a wonderful place for a date night. The Pad Thai is the best I've had and the spiciness is perfect at a 3 (enough to feel the kick but still able to taste the food). I've also had the Thai Fried Rice which was excellent. Check it out!
(5)Melinda A.
Don't be deterred by the sketchy exterior. Go inside and be surprised. I had the ginger lover's dinner with tofu. The tofu was excellently browned and the correct texture. Husband had the same dinner but with chicken. I had a bite of the chicken, and it was very tender. I also like that the hours are until 9:30 on Friday, but they didn't care that we stayed a bit longer.
(4)James M.
Service is great, and the panang curry is delicious...though never spicy enough for my taste.
(5)Carolyn H.
Thanks to Laurin's review, my guy and I checked this place out. I agree with Laurin that it's very similar to Thai restaurants in DC (such as Bua and Sala Thai). The decor was lovely, esp. the Siddhartha triptych along one wall and the charming porcelain salt and pepper shakers (pairs of elephants, dogs, and other cute critters). It definitely did not feel like a shopping mall restaurant, but a getaway to a more serene land. I almost ordered the drunken noodles, but then at the last minute I opted for a spicy chicken dish with bamboo shoots, bell peppers, and Thai basil. My guy ordered the red curry with chicken, which had coconut milk and bamboo shoots. Both dishes had good flavor profiles. One of the dishes (I'm not sure which one) had heat that built up over time, which I sadly discovered after I had eaten most of my rice. Still, the dishes satisfied the soul, and I enjoyed both. For dessert, we had the combo fried banana (which are tiny pockets of banana in egg roll wrappers, glazed with honey) and coconut ice cream covered in a fruit sauce. I've had better fried banana (my favorite is at Bua in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC); Mai Thai's were too compact to truly enjoy, esp. since there was very little banana filling. The coconut ice cream was pretty good, esp. with the fruit sauce, which provided a nice complement to the richness of the coconut. In all, we really enjoyed our dinner at Mai Thai. If I were to visit Columbia again, I definitely would come back.
(4)Spencer S.
I'm no Thai expert, but this place has some great food. First of all, DONT judge it when you drive up. It is in a strip mall and looks super sketchy from the outside. The inside is very tastefully done though. It is small and intimate -- would make a great date spot. I recommend the salad with the peanut sauce and the cashew chicken. The service was great and the prices reasonable. Definitely a must do for Thai fans in Cola.
(5)valencia w.
I usually eat at Bangkok Restaurant on Garner's Ferry Rd. because it's out my way but I had heard great things about Mai Thai and decided to try it. It was well worth the drive! I had also tried Thai Lotus and found it lacking in spite of good reviews I'd read, so my hopes weren't too high. I saw a line out the door soon as we drove up and we almost decided to try someplace else but I'm glad we waited. The aroma as we entered cemented our decision to wait and I'm so glad we did. My brother ordered the Duck Curry with Pineapple and I always order Pad Thai. The starters that came with the meal were lovely although the salad was comprised of iceburg lettuce, which I generally avoid. I liked the sweetish dressing and the chicken soup with rice was aromatic and satisfying. When our main courses came, I could hardly keep from sniffing--the curry smelled amazing! I sampled my brother's curry and promised myself that I'd venture from Pad Thai next time but my dish was so delicious that I'm still craving the taste, days later. The prices were the best I'd encountered in Columbia and the service was excellent. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant and plan to go back to sample each and every specialty on that menu!
(5)Snehee C.
Awesome food, awesome varieties and simply awesome service! The only reason I give it a four is the spice level...I wanted more spicy food than they could provide me with!
(4)