Tara Thai
11800 W Broad St,Ste 2516, Richmond, VA, 23233
Tara Thai Menu
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Address :
11800 W Broad St,Ste 2516
Richmond, VA, 23233 - Phone (804) 360-0001
- Website https://www.tarathai.com/richmond-Thai-Restaurant.html
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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David R.
Ordered drunken noodle with beef and shrimp. This dish is really spicy. I recommend getting this if you can take the heat. You have a choice of spiciness (low, medium or very spicy). I got medium. Very spicy will have your nose running like a fire hose. The seasoning is awesome, as well as the beef and shrimp. The noodles were really soft, a bit squishy and easy to fall apart.
(4)Ashley S.
The overall ambience of the restaurant was refreshing to look at the under-the-sea theme! It's located in Short Pump and has an upstairs and downstairs level. Our server was lovely but she rarely checked on us and would be gone for long periods of time. My boyfriend and I shared the chicken kabob and mussels appetizer which were portioned well and tasted pretty good. For our entree, we shared the arkhanay noodles and the yellow curry. Both of these had a decent amount of food and were quite tasty! However, halfway through our meal both of our stomachs were hurting and when we got home we think we had food poisoning due to the frequent trips to the bathroom after our meal. We will not be coming back here again. Service = 2.5/5 Price = decent! Food = 3/5
(2)Chanhong L.
First off, I love the "Under the Sea" theme here (a very unpopular opinion lol). It makes the dining experience ten times better for an ocean lover like me. The restaurant is very convenient if you're shopping or working at Short Pump and have a craving for Thai food. I've also been to the Charlottesville location several times. On this occasion, I ordered the Arkanay Noodles, an item not usually found at other Thai restaurants. The noodles are spiced with curry and served with seafood, including a heaping of crab meat. The dish was very satisfying, but when I microwaved my leftovers later, the noodles weren't soft and delicious anymore, not uncommon with most Thai noodle leftovers. I've also had the pad thai, pad see ew, panang curry, green curry, spicy eggplant, kua gai, and seafood fried rice at the Charlottesville location. The pad thai was okay but definitely not their specialty. The pad see ew, one of my favorite Thai dishes, was super salty, and the kua gai was basically the pad see ew without broccoli and tasted even worse than the pad see ew. However, I've never been disappointed with the curries here: they're always pretty to look at and contain a lot of meat if you're into that. I also really enjoy the spicy eggplant at Tara Thai-a good vegetarian option also not found at other Thai restaurants. Lastly, the fried rice was really good the first time I had it-I could really taste the basil flavor-but meh the second time I had it, which is basically a summary of my Thai food experience. All in all, Tara Thai is a good place to get your Thai food craving fix and if you have a big appetite (the portions are huge), but if you want out-of-this world Thai food, which I'm still looking for, then this is probably not the best place to go (it is a chain after all). Tara Thai is also a bit pricer than most Thai restaurants. With tax and tip, I ended up paying around $17 for my most recent meal.
(3)Peter M.
I had a business lunch here back in July of 2015. It was actually a good place for a post-meeting bite. Here's the good: - Fun, hip ambiance. It has a lively, modern feel an quirky décor. - Fast, friendly service - Clean and convenient Here's why they are not getting four or five stars: It was just your run of the mill Thai food. They need to take chances! Get creative. Get wild. Everything about the experience shouts, "this is not your average mall restaurant!" - until the food arrives. Then it's just A-OK. Not bad in any sense. Just no 'wow' factor.
(3)Amber D.
This place can be a bit deceiving...I mean it's in a great location...and nicely kept up...although I don't really understand the whole nautical/under the sea sort of theme...I guess the decor does set it apart a bit from your typical Thai eateries. However, the prices...not so great (all day Saturday it MUST be the dinner prices that you refer to)...even with a groupon...my friend had one by the way, and so we tried to see how far we could stretch 30 dollars...which didn't go far at these prices (no apps or desserts), and just as an FYI, if you go over your amount, you MUST pay in cash when using a groupon...of which I don't typically carry cash around sad to say, and a bit weird to force someone into cash only these days...but our server was super adamant about it, and so we just rolled with it. Not worrying too much about it! You groupon...ya learn! I ordered Chicken Pad See Eaw. First time ordering this particular dish, and it had a grilled flavor to it with some broccoli thrown in for good measure. The food....meh at best :(. I wanted to like this place, I really did! I mean I am crazy about Thai food....the portion was slightly bigger then a lunch portion...and so it should be for 10.95 for some soggy noodles which should have been firm and grilled chicken and broccoli mixed together. I had leftovers for the hubby so that was good....I guess, lol. I didn't tell him my thoughts on the meal, and hoped maybe he wouldn't notice the dish was a bit off! Poor guy! Lol Ok, so right about now I am probably gonna sound a bit anal....but the supposed "jasmine tea" was SO not Jasmine Tea! In fact, I am pretty sure it wasn't any particular specialty flavor tea at all...but none other then some fake knock off brand of your regular run of the mill Lipton's hot tea...and don't get me wrong, I have no issues with Liptons...but if you order Jasmine Tea and are told they serve Jasmine tea....well, you kinda expect Jasmine Tea. Now that I sound slightly redundant in all of this, I will try to move on and get off my high horse about teas....it's just, I don't know...does anybody else feel the way I feel?! It's not just one element...it's the experience of how it all flows together and tastes together or doesn't flow for that matter...is anyone feeling me here?! Mix Nautical theme, with hardcore serious waitress, soggy Pad See Eaw, and some freaky tea of unknown brand or origin? Equals the feeling of dissatisfaction to the degree of no return...groupon or no groupon it's just not worth it...Chadar Thai I will quickly be returning to you soon when next I am in town....please don't think me a traitor! I still love you best! It was my friends fault...she had the groupon! :)
(2)D V.
How is this place rated the best Thai 4 years running? the Tom Kha chicken soup I ordered came out all white in color. And tasted like a warmed up can of coconut milk---All white. There is absolutely no flavor. Perhaps the owners should eat at foo dog in downtown to see that there is a market for spicy Asian food in RVA.
(1)Tina Y.
Pad thai here is some of the best I've had. But what my five stars really goes toward is their understated drink menu. Not enough people are aware of the bar at Tara Thai and hands down some of the best cocktails and martinis I've ever had in my life were at Tara Thai. They do not skimp on the alcohol and and they use actual fruit juices: mango, pineapple, strawberry, orange, coconut, etc. Their cosmos and mango/strawberry martinis are to die for. If you like pina coladas (I know you sang that in your head) try their bangkok sunset. It's probably a contender for my favorite cocktail other than the zombie (I ordered a zombie at another restaurant today and almost threw up from the overly syrupy artificial sweetened taste). Go. Go order a pad thai or pad see ew and get drunk off their delicious drink menu.
(5)Slash C.
Totally Meh! You know when you come home after being gone on a short vacation and it's late at night and you're hungry and you're tired, but you don't want takeout and so you decide to stir-fry whatever you find in your cripser which consists of a bunch of limpy vegetables with brown spots that have seen much better days and while you cook up your meal you decide to throw a bunch of sugar into it although you've never done that before just because and then you watch a bad movie on Lifetime while you eat and it's all just "Totally Meh" and you wonder why you threw the sugar into your meal which made it taste sort of like dessert but you're sort of happy you used up all the stuff in the fridge and happy that you don't have to eat a meal like this for another few years or maybe longer? Well, that's Tara Thai.
(1)B L.
Ordered deep frief Whole Rockfish in chili garlic sauce with rice and 2 sides of vegs. The food is average at best...its Asian diner food. The Dennys of Thai..The Rockfish was overcooked making a beautiful fish into a potato chip..The rice was dry and not moist..the side vegs were frozen then microwaved..no taste or seasoning..really..all this for $75.00 for 2 people? What a great experience..do yourself a favor go to Moms Siam in Carytown for Thai food.
(1)Annie E.
I have no idea why this place has 3 stars. My friends and I come here to eat regularly and the service is always fast, friendly, and professional. I usually get the Chicken Pad Thai or Cashew Chicken. Both are always hot and delicious! Give this place a try.
(5)Tammy T.
I wanted to venture out and try other Thai places in Richmond instead of limiting myself to just one establishment. Lesson learned. Ordered the Pad Thai with Chicken ( on the menu it doesn't list that you can substitute chicken or any other meat for the shrimp that's offered, but I asked if chicken could be used). I don't know what they brought me from the kitchen, but it was not Pad Thai. Overly sweet, and about three or four tablespoons of bean curd lumped on the side of the plate and raw bean sprouts. Did I mention it was lukewarm? For the money, I expected and have had better. Just not there. Will not be back. And I won't even begin on the service, or the lack thereof. For it being lunch time on a Sunday and maybe one of only three customers in the place, I guess that gave some of the waitstaff permission to stand around watching the flatscreen or text. That is a HUGE turnoff.
(1)David H.
Decent, but I've never really had thai I didn't like, so my opinion might be a bit biased. But then again, I haven't come across really good thai in RVA anyway. So yeah it's ok
(3)Charlotte S.
Not sure why they have an underwater theme but the food is delicious! Pad Thai Shrimp is one of my favorites!
(4)Brooke V.
I went there Thursday night for dinner with my niece and it was good the first time. However it tasted quite different coming back up. I'm writing this review at 3:54am on Sunday morning, still sick with food poisoning. At least I only paid $18 with the groupon
(1)Aasheesh G.
Great food. Just love the peanut curry. But, everything seems like it's premade as indicated by our server. Which means food is not fresh. Which I am not sure how they end up making it taste good anyways.
(5)Meredith B.
Disappointment. It's been a long while since I went to Tara Thai and perhaps my memory had inflated the experience, or perhaps the quality has come down. Also perhaps I ordered the wrong dish? I remember fresher flavors and more attentive wait staff. I'll admit I came for a late lunch, but that usually seems to mean that the staff have more time to spend looking after me and not less since the restaurant was all but empty. The pad pik sod, though advertised as being a choice of meat with "chili, onion, scallion, and red pepper in a tasty brown sauce", was rather limp and the sauce was bland and oversalted. Worse, while I appreciate speedy service, my lunch arrived with a promptness that makes me strongly suspect it was reheated and not cooked fresh.
(2)J K.
Capt. Nemo theme looks rather garish and puzzling ... mediocre food ... Beef kapow was watery and lacking in spice and nearly inedible. Pad Thai was way too sweet. Lettuce wrap was OK. Our waitress spoke very little English but was attentive. Prices were reasonable.
(2)Candice A.
I was very disappointed with recent service I received at Tara Thai. This used to be a favorite restaurant of mine until I was charged 18% gratuity when me, my husband and 3 young children had dinner. We've eaten there several times and never been charged 18% gratuity. Not to mention, we only ordered 3 entrées and we all had water, nothing special. Additionally, the waitress was not friendly nor helpful. This was a total waste and I will not spend my money there again.
(1)Jessie B.
Thai is my favorite food. I was very disappointed with my red curry dish. No flavor. They charge $2 to add veggies and $2 for brown rice. There were little to no veggies.
(1)Xida Z.
Great Value, Decent Food The rainbow-colored sign outside and the sea-themed decorations inside evoke a whimsical mood for patrons entering Tara Thai. Get ready for the submarine that will take you on an adventure under the sea, and treat you to something exotic and other-worldly. When it opened over a decade ago, it was a star at the time: Best Thai restaurant in Richmond 4 years in a row from 2004 to 2007. As the taste for Thai food has matured in the population and a slate of younger challengers have come along, the decorations seem dated now, reminiscent of faded glory. Food The menu is extensive with page after page of entrees, curries, rices, and noodles. The Panang curry came highly recommended. Expect the fried rice to arrive in a heap large enough to feed three. The pad see ew was good with predictably overcooked meat. The Deep Sea overwhelmed the flavors of shrimp, mussels, and scallops with a bath of delicious sauce. The cellophane noodles had reasonable portions and balanced taste. All entrees were priced in the $10-13 range, which was very affordable given the portions. Expect to bring a box home. Ambiance and Service 3 Food 3 Value 4
(3)Brian C.
I'm not sure RVA is a Thai town just yet. We have some work to do. Tara Thai is one of the better ones (even if it is a chain) out in the west end. I want to be short b/c I'm writing this review with a specific point that Ill make at the end. The food is good. The service is friendly and fast - making it a good lunch spot. The prices are good, too. Nothing amazing, but good all around. Here's what is gross to me - the air vents around the restaurant have black stains around them like they've been blowing out dirty air. It's really really obvious. It's not an unclean restaurant otherwise, but there are multiple vents and some decore that are just straight up dirty. PLEASE clean these things up, Tara Thai! Please. It's a good restaurant but it's hard to dine while seeing that all around.
(2)Gee C.
Tara Thai is not terrible but definitely not my favorite. They offer a wide selection of dishes. I ordered their Pad Thai and it wasn't anything special. What I did like was that they offered a spice tray to make your dish exactly how you like it. With the spice tray, I definitely enjoyed my pad Thai more. Deco in the place is kinda cheesy, they do an underwater feel and in the evening it's a bit dim. Service is very attentive though and pricing is right around the usual prices for Thai.
(3)Sonya S.
I'm here for the chicken fire-red curry. It's not the best Thai red curry I've tasted but it's close. Sauce is thick with coconut milk and the spice is enough. Their shrimp pad Thai is generic, like any other ones I've tasted (still tasty). Service is great. Food comes out fast and hot. Nothing too outstanding about Tara Thai. I don't like to talk too much about decor because the food should speak for itself.
(3)Laura S.
I heard many bad reviews about this place and decided to try it out for myself. I ordered the green curry (my usual dish that I order at thai restaurants) and the curry actually came out fabulous. it was very creamy but had a nice balance of flavors. the menu says it's very spicy (it had 3 chili pepper symbols) but I would rate it with 1 chili pepper. it's all good though, they had spices to spice it up! the only thing I did not like about this dish were the egg plants. the texture was hard and wasn't what I was used to. other than that, I rate this place 4 stars because the eggplants... and because the interior design is very tacky lol
(4)Thuy V.
Was pleasantly surprised by Tara Thai given it was a chain in Short Pump. Like someone mentioned the decor is a little under the sea, but very clean. Waitress was pretty perfunctory yet not around when we needed her, oh well. But the food was really good. Tried the golden tofu triangles. Cooked well, hot, and the sweet sauce was yummy. Had the pad see ew but with 2 star spice level, had a lot of heat but so good. Chicken was cooked well. Can now safely recommend Tara Thai in Short Pump.
(4)Luci B.
Let me start off with the atmosphere. You walk in to what looks like a horribly designed theme park. They have tribal design seahorses, seaweed columns and fish that look like you're viewing through a porthole with airbrushed dolphins in the background. I ordered the pad Thai with chicken and it tasted like that fish at the market smells. I told our waitress that my chicken tasted like bad fish and she had no apologetic apology nor did she offer anything else so I had nothing for lunch. At least they didn't charge me for my meal.
(1)Michael R.
I was recently in the Short Pump area with some friends, and we'd decided on Tara Thai for dinner. Tucked away in the Short Pump mall, Tara Thai is a smaller restaurant, however that doesn't mean that they don't have efficient service, as we were promptly seated after arriving. The restaurant has an unusual aquarium/underwater decor that doesn't really go with the Thai theme, however overall the place was well kept up, and tidy. Our server was prompt in bringing our group water all around while we perused the menu; I ended up getting a Thai Iced Tea to drink as well; I was pleasantly surprised by the concoction as it wasn't as sickly sweet as I've had them before, and it was actually quite refreshing. One of my absolute favorite Thai dishes is Drunken Noodle, and really, it's one of the dishes that I can compare across Thai restaurants, so I was disappointed not to find this traditional dish on the dinner menu. They did have something called "Drunken Spaghetti" or something like that, which was akin to Drunken Noodle, but with angel hair pasta instead of the wide rice noodles; not anywhere near as appealing as the traditional. As I cook Thai a lot at home, I opted for the Pad See Eaw and my wife the Lad Na. The food came out promptly, and for the prices, you get quite a healthy serving on their large plates. Overall I would say that the food was good, but not great; while my dinner was well spiced, it seemed to be more vegetable heavy, and the noodles were a bit rubbery and over-cooked. the Lad Na gravy was more watery than either of us expected, and while the dish was savory, it was a bit too salty and bland; it could have been kicked up a notch easily, and this is from my wife who's not a spicy eater. Overall I feel that this is a pretty good bet for decent Thai food, especially given the reasonable prices and quantity of food that you get.
(3)Nick A.
Tara Thai was my first experience with Thai food and has become the baseline by which I now base other restaurants. I had heard great things from my friends in DC, so I was very excited when this location opened the in Short Pump Town Center. I started off with the Cashew Chicken, which was good for a first timer, but I immediately decided that I wanted to try something different next time. While I like cashews, this dish was just too nutty for me. 2nd time out, I tried the Yellow Curry -- better than the Cashew Chicken and I loved that there was plenty of sauce to pour over the rice! While the Yellow Curry was good (I loved the potatoes), I wanted to try a noodle dish the next time. Then my life changed. I tried the Kua Gai. End scene. The Kua Gai is a delicious, rich, and saucy blend of uber-delicious rice noodles, chicken, and fried egg. The "out of the kitchen" version is not spicy at all, but there is always the option to kick it up a notch or two if you like heat. At just over $10, the portion is downright enormous -- I almost always take a portion home (and I can put away some food). My wife has a similar love affair with a similar dish -- Pad See Ew. The difference is that Pad See Ew has a bit of a sweeter sauce than Kua Gai and is served with broccoli (not to mention offers a choice of meat vs. the chicken that is served with the Kua Gai). Looking beyond the food, the Short Pump location is definitely starting to show its age a bit (the aqua theme is starting to get a bit tired and the air vents above the windows have collected a, frankly, disgusting amount of dust), so I'll detract a star for ambience/atmosphere. Given that my love of Thai started here, I have started to sample other fare around Richmond (e.g. Thai Diner, Mama Siam, etc) and am pretty sure that there is higher quality options out there for the foodies, but Tara Thai is consistently good, very reasonably priced, and conveniently located. Easily 4 Stars in my book.
(4)Morgan T.
Tara Thai gives a horrific first impression! The decor needs some drastic renovation. The finishes look like they came straight out of Max's from Saved by the Bell... Neon as far as ye eyes can see. It's a shame because Tara Thai isn't nearly as bad as it looks. While there wasn't anything particularly awesome or memorable about the food, there also wasn't anything particularly horrible. Service 5/5 - service was prompt and attentive. Waitress was knowledgeable and very nice. Atmosphere 1/5 - see above Food 3/5 - it came out extremely quick and piping hot which leads me to believe there wasn't anything fresh about it. The green curry did an admirable job of tasting authentic but failed the "oh hell yeah" test. The Thai tea was good and not excessively sweet. Bottom line - Tara Thai is like the Red Lobster of Thai food. It gets the job done but you feel bad and somewhat dirty about it afterwards. For me, it's too "chainy" and not cost effective (shrimp green curry was $13). For the area, I'd recommend Elephant Thai instead - but be warned, Elephant Thai is not that great either.
(3)Sarah H.
This place gives Thai food a bad name. The smell of the fryers is pungent enough to turn my stomach. My noodles were soggy and soaked through in a fishy smelling sauce. Everything was greasy and I couldn't even finish my meal because the nasty sauce just permeated everything. I felt nauseous for the rest of the evening. I'm not sure how they managed to make food that bad.
(1)Peter P.
Horrible!!Horrible! Horrible!!Horrible! Horrible!!Horrible! Horrible!!Horrible! Horrible!!Horrible! Horrible!!Horrible! Horrible!!Horrible! Horrible!!Horrible! Horrible!!Horrible! Horrible!!Horrible! Horrible!!Horrible! Horrible!!Horrible! Horrible!!Horrible! Horrible!! And Soooooooo RUDE!!! But they served the white folk really nice! I been here many times! Maybe 10+ but the last few times, their server was Horrible!!!! I definitely will not go there ever again! They rush us with our order and did not ask us for our drinks!! So upsetting!
(1)Kirstin Y.
The location of the restaurant is on the quiet side of the mall, so it does not get much traffic. Every time I have been in there, only a hand full of tables have had people. The food is very good, and portions are huge. I usually get the Pad Thai or the Chicken Pad Sea Eaw. The flavors are great. My boyfriend will get some of the curry and the waiter brings him extra rice every time. On time he had rice left over so the waited brought him a little more of the curry, which I would have never thought would happen. We always have one waiter, who has to be part of management because he makes sure our experience is enjoyable. The underwater theme is a little strange but the food and service is excellent!
(5)Brynt L.
Great location... Great service... Mediocre food
(3)Angela B.
Very cute (and large) thai restaurant in Short Pump. The food is always consistent, and the staff is super friendly. I recently had the lettuce wraps, which although lacking on the amount of chicken you get, were still tasty. The Tom Ka Hed soup sounded amazing based off its description, but was not what I was expecting. The broth is very harsh due to the coconut milk and lemongrass mixture. For my entree, I always get the Kua Gai, and it has yet to fail me. Anytime I find myself in Short Pump Mall, this is my go to.
(4)Lisa G.
I ended up at Tara Thai after I went to Thai Flavor and found it closed on Mondays. First visit was decent. I arrived around 6:30 p.m. and it was dead. By 7 p.m., the place was pretty well filled up. I was greeted and seated immediately. My waiter was came and took care of me immediately. I went with the pad Thai and a Sam Adams. Of course the Sam was great. And the pad Thai passed the litmus test, which means I would go again and try other things, but I really don't go to the mall to eat. And I really don't like the decor (are we in the fish bowl or outside of the fishbowl looking in?). I'd probably rather eat at Thai Flavor instead, unless I were already in the mall. Fair prices. Good sized portions.
(4)Aarti P.
Vegiterian beaware.....Taste was good. I specifically asked for vegiterian food but I have chicken piece in my to go box.
(1)Jamie D.
I was a Tara Thai virgin until last week, when I finally tried this regional chain. With only a few locations in Virginia and Maryland, this place didn't feel like a chain. In fact, if I didn't know ahead of time (or peep the other locations on the menu), I would never have known this wasn't the only Tara Thai in existence. Props for that. I'm a huge fan of thai food and am always on the lookout for great pad thai or tom kha soup. On my lunchtime visit to Tara, I decided to go for the soup and a papaya salad, rather than the pad thai. After all, I wasn't looking for a mid-day food coma so I wanted to keep the meal a little lighter. In hindsight, I wish I would have tried the pad thai. Perhaps I'll give it a go next time. The tom kha was decent, although not the best I've ever had. Clearly I like the creamy coconut flavor if I'm ordering this soup to begin with, but something tasted a bit too creamy or perhaps a bit too sweet about this particular version. I subbed the meat for tofu, and I loved the texture of the tofu cubes, however. As for the papaya salad, it was refreshing and crisp, but it left me feeling a little hungry. I did order it without shrimp, so I realize that the salad was void of one of its main ingredients. My own fault, but the kitchen couldn't sub tofu and I wasn't feeling shrimp. I'm sure it would have been better with a protein, but the salad was still pretty flavorful on its own. The service was great - our waiter was very accommodating (with my vegetarian requests) and totally on-the-ball. As others have mentioned, the decor does feel a bit aquarium-ish. Kinda cool, actually. I'd go back to Tara if I was out at Short Pump and craving thai, but I'd definitely venture into other parts of the menu. A soup and salad just won't cut it for me at TT.
(3)Ramona R.
This was a great treat - given that it's located in a mall but I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food and service. I had the yellow curry and the lad na - both with chicken and they were delicious. Plus the biggest calamari I've ever seen. The lettuce wraps were really good too. My only complaint was the bathroom - I wish the trash can has been empty, it was overflowing with paper towels.
(4)HK M.
This restaurant is located near a lot of great shopping which is great if you are shopping, but if you are looking for a nice place to have dinner then this isn't going to be the best place for you. The food was good. I got the shrimp Panang Curry which I didn't really like that much, but my friend got the chicken Pad Thai and it was awesome! I suggest the Pad Thai, lettuce wraps, and Hoi Pik Pow. pros: near shopping, good food cons: service was okay, not great. ugly decor (I'm sorry, someone has to say it.) It's like an under water, Little Mermaid, theme. I give this place...3.75 stars (but that isn't an option). Want lunch or an informal dinner and shopping....stop by here!
(3)Bill P.
The food is so-so. I only come here if I'm craving Thai food and want to have a drink with dinner. Thai Flavor is just down the street and blows this place away but doesn't serve alcohol. The curry dish I had wasn't very flavorful which is a shame. How does one make curry without it being flavorful? Anyway, I've had better, I've had worse.
(2)Dominic B.
I usually come to the Tara Thai for lunch or dinner.The decor in Tara Thai is amazing.Some of the best decor I've seen in a restaurant in Richmond.Tara Thai has a good selection of food and drinks on the menu.Some of the alcohol drinks are reasonable priced.The food is delicious and comes out hot .Tara Thai entrees comes with alot of food.You will take some to go more than likely.The service is usually good.Tara Thai has a nice family atmopshere.The restaurant is very spacious and not cramped.Tara Thai is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Richmond. Tara Thai is a good reason to visit Short Pump Mall.Tara Thai is located next to Macy's.
(4)Duy N.
A pretty restaurant nestled right outside Short Pump mall. Since the area itself is expensive, expect the prices on this menu to be $1 to $2 dollars more expensive than your average Thai place. The food was good and service was friendly. Not a bad place to stop by if you're shopping and want to escape the hot (or cold) weather.
(3)Ms.kay W.
The food is good but don't ask for extra sauce after you've gotten your food because they will charge you for it.. The service is ok but iffy. The waiters and waitresses act weird. This is my second time here so I liked it that much but there are better and closer places than this one. The decor is a little odd and outdated. Some of the booths have duck tape on them and no sweet tea here either.. Ceiling has some fire damage that is very strange looking. Last but not least this place could use a good deep cleaning inside all over.
(3)Deidre O.
Fantastic experience from the staff to the meal. Atmosphere was warm, welcoming and unique. Very reasonably priced. Food was fresh, hot and delicious. My only warning would be if your like me and just like a little spicy/warm level go for 1 pepper rating not the 2 pepper. Really enjoyed and definitely will return.
(5)Sean D.
Normally this place isn't that bad, the food is decent Thai and the service is okay for the most part. However, I had family from England visiting and they wanted to have some drinks. The restaurant refused to serve them drinks even though they produced valid England driving licenses. They said they would only accept passports as ID even though we had been to D. C. and other bars in the Richmond area and had no problems ordering drinks with their English licenses. In the end, they accepted a picture of one of their passports that was on their phone that did not even show his face. Service was exceptionally poor this time around.
(1)Venn R.
Came in at 130pm on a Sunday, and the service was slow. There were two servers and 5 occupied tables, but they took a very long time getting the order. Once they got it, the food came out in ok time so will let that pass. The food was good! The pad Thai was tasty and only light sweetness, with a hint of fish sauce. Nice twist, and I enjoyed that. Serving was big enough for two if youre not a huge eater. I had the chicken curry, and it was delicious! Great mix of spices and the meat was cooked just right. Neither dish was too oily or over seasoned. Prices were not bad at all, and they are generous with the rice. Would definitely come back.
(4)Rin N.
I absolutely love this place! The menu was very nice, it inform you the spiciness level! The food was wonderful. The scenery was also amazing at night! I love the spin doors. It's just different and I love it! The waiter was SUPER HELPFUL! This was my first time come there and they were super helpful explaining to me what was what! I came here with some family and friends and they all had a great experience. I will definitely come back! Everyone there was super friendly~ I love this place.
(5)Monica V.
If I could, I'd rate this restaurant 3.5 stars. It is slightly above A-OK, but not good enough for four stars. The service is good and the restaurant style and atmosphere is better than your typical Thai place. But maybe I like the cozy intimate feel of a hole-in-the-wall, family-owned, almost-like-homecooking, non-chain restaurant. Nonetheless, glad I tried it and probably would come back IF I was at the mall looking for an ambient place to nosh. Their food is just A-OK, pretty standard from what I'd expect from a corporate chain and a restaurant in a mall. Being Asian, my standards for Thai food are pretty high. Ordered the shrimp cakes and it tasted a little off. It's pretty difficult for me to dislike anything battered and fried, but unfortunately this didn't hit the spot. The Nua Sawan (marinated beef slices) appetizer was dry, overcooked and bland, even with their dipping sauce. Had a bowl of their Tom Kha soup. Again, just average. Their panang beef curry was good, but still think it could have been better. I ordered pretty standard dishes and I was less than impressed with the flavoring. In summary, good customer service and beautiful restaurant space. But if you're looking for the "best Thai food restaurant in Richmond"...I have a few other recommendations for ya. Kabkoon ka!
(3)Omar B.
The seafood soup I ordered was tepid the mushrooms weren't sauté or cooked they were just floating around. The soup was just not flavorful like the kind I've had. However, my friend's dish was bomb. I'm just gonna stick to the basics so that I don't get disappointed with the soup
(3)Jennica D.
Really love the friendly attentive staff and great pad thai! Their hot sauces are very hot! But I love it that way. I gave Tara Thai 3stars simply because the overall cleanliness is not so great. Bathrooms are gross and the bottom of my shoes became super sticky after walking on the dining room floors. I hope it is not a reflection of their kitchen :(
(3)Meeka A.
I don't know how I ended up here but im glad I went! I started off with the Coconut Dream, a non-alcoholic creamy drink. It was great and came out fast. Next I ordered the spicy lemongrass soup. The soup was great!!! For my entree, I ordered the drunken noodles with chicken. I left very satisfied.
(4)Catherine D.
Yellow curry!!!! YUM!!
(5)Adam N.
Tara Thai is declining. The Pad Thai is still on point, but the rest of the menu feels like its past its prime. This restaurant was good 5 years ago and has been going downhill ever since. Broken mirrors in the bathroom for the last year are what's behind it's otherwise flashy fascade.
(2)Amanda M.
I'm probably not coming back. There's nothing wrong with Tara Thai, the ambiance is strange, the food is okay, but nothing special. I just think they're overpriced. The portions are very large though -- I wished they had a lunch menu rather than just dinner sizes (but perhaps I just missed that). I find their food a little greasy. There are much better thai places in town, but if you're already at the mall, this one is will do.
(2)Conner W.
Best Thai food! And best price! Fast service and everyone who works here is so friendly!
(5)Nina H.
Average Thai at best, but I love Thai. Used to be much better and the atmosphere is cool. Restaurant has a funny smell...
(3)Thomas C.
I love the food here. The service has always been great, and the food is terrific. If you like your dish Nice & Extra Spicy.... Ask for them to make it "Thai Hot" as appose to "American Hot".
(5)Gwen N.
My hometown is in Northern Virginia and the Tara Thai up there is really good. So when I came to Richmond to go to VCU, I was happy to see that there was one down here too. However, I was really disappointed. There was too much salt in the seafood dishes and their noodles lack flavor. Also, their food is pricier than other Thai restaurants in the area...and in my opinion, not worth it. The restaurant itself looks really nice though, as if you're underwater with the turtles.
(1)Jenny B.
Narnie (this is my made up word for gross), but really, greasy pad thai? I loathe greasy noodles. This place is a chain out of Northern VA and I didn't like it much there. Plus, the decor reminds me of a knockoff version of a Little Mermaid ride at Disney World. I had a bad taste in my mouth and a strange desire to go to Florida.
(2)Kathryn H.
I have been going to the mall for a while now, and my husband and I decided to pop in and see what was going on. The decor is very under the sea like and seems as though it needs to be updated. I ordered the seafood fried rice and my husband ordered a more traditional dish. Mine was better than his, but regarding presentation I was not impressed. Overall, there was an odd feeling about this place that I could not put my finger on. It may have been that the table was violently wobbly and everything looked blue.
(2)Amanda F.
Lately I have been on a serious Thai kick, so when I stayed in Richmond a few weeks ago, Tara Thai was my first choice. The restaurant is conveniently attached to Short Pump mall-- who doesn't want delicious comfort food after shopping all day? The whole ambiance of the place makes you feel like you are in an underwater aquarium, which is a little strange for a thai restaurant, but the food makes up for it. The spring rolls for an appetizer is a great choice, and I recommend the Pad Thai for an entree, which is always an easy go-to. Portions are decent sized and the prices seem to be average. I did notice it is a chain restaurant, with locations all over Maryland, DC and VA. Overall, Tara Thai is a tasty restaurant with a great Richmond location. Will definitely come back soon.
(4)Ronny W.
Been here several times, the first few were pretty good, but over the last couple of years, I've noticed a certain degradation in quality, especially the most recent time I was there about a couple of months ago. The service was minimal, the food was bland, and when I asked for the food to be extra spicy, the waitress responded "it's already spicy", which I felt was somewhat rude and presumptuous. I have been to a number of Thai places in the Richmond area, and I would not recommend this one to someone new to Thai food. That visit would only end in disappointment.
(2)Salina U.
The food was average for a Thai place. I always get the pad see ewe and that was delicious. One problem I had was that they tricked us into double tipping. They automatically added 18% gratuity for our party of 8 which is completely fine. The issue was that on the credit card receipt that you sign, you don't see that 18% gratuity was already included and they had a tip line for you to fill out. Therefore everyone in our party just filled out the tip and total without knowing that they already gave themselves a tip. VERY DISHONEST practice and I will never go back because of this.
(3)Tripti S.
We went there for lunch. The staff is friendly. Quick service. Lots of space to park your baby's stroller. Enough of vegetarian options. Spicy eggplant - 9 on 10 Thai green curry - 7 on 10 Wine - reasonably priced
(4)Danielle B.
Tara Thai, your food is above average for a Thai Restaurant. You actually brought some heat and I loved that my Kee Mai Goong-Gai had both chicken & shrimp. I'm not really a spring roll fan, but even those had a nice flavor and a tasty sauce. That being said, I think your should cultivate your takeout business. I was there in the middle of the afternoon (between lunch and dinner) on a Saturday. The bathroom was fairly gross (if you are going to put in a clear sink, make sure you clean under/around it) and the carpeted dining room floor was noticeably sticky. Add to that the fact that the place looks like a poorly converted aquarium and I'm not really going to rush back for another dine-in experience. But they brought they did bring some heat and to me that warrants a bit of flaw-overlooking. Next time I'm passing through Richmond I might just swing by, but it'll be asking for a to-go box.
(3)Kimberli W.
Stopped in here with a friend for dinner on a Friday evening! The food was good, a bit spicy, but I think we may have forgotten to ask for it mild! It had great flavor! We got a couple of appetizers that were recommended by our waitress and were pleased with her recommendations! The Green Curry Shrimp was great!!!
(4)Matthew L.
Not bad at all. Dulled down a bit, but the ingrediants are really good. The seafood is fresh and flaky. The Pasta is cooked just right. The rice is sticky and fluffy. The decor is a bit tacky and you feel like you are in a luau, but you can't argue with the service. Get in and get out quick.
(3)John M.
Great place to go for a business lunch. I always get the same things, and they are always good. I would branch out, but I don't want to risk buying something when I don't know what it is.
(3)Sunny D.
As a lover of Thai food, I have to say this is some of the best thai I have ever had. I'm very picky about Pad Kee Mao and they make some of the best Pad Kee Mao that I have ever have. Their food is very well-seasoned. The Pad Gra Pow is excellent also. I come to this restaurant whenever I am in Richmond. I took off a point for the old lime they put in my fiance's drink...it was turning brown and should have been thrown in the trash. Also as someone else mentioned, their air vents on the ceiliing have dirty stains from the air ...can you not paint over them? the stains are distracting from the otherwise nice decor. Also the bathroom was really dirty. I have been to bathrooms at gas stations that were cleaner than their bathroom. Tissues on the floor, what appeared to be feces on the handle bar by the toilet, the soap dispenser left a trail of sticky soap all on down the wall and into a puddle on the floor. The trash was overflowing with tissues and the bathroom faucet pipe was leaking water all on to the floor and I had to notify the waitress. I hope their kitchen isn't as dirty as their bathroom. I think they have the food part down, now they need to focus on cleanliness. Tara Thai-Don't neglect your bathroom and repaint your ceilings and get rid of old state lemons and limes and you will be fine!
(4)Megan M.
I like the Richmond location of this Virginia and Maryland Thai food chain. The under-the-sea decor with ocean scenes on the table tops, jelly fish hanging lights and funky water-inspired lighting could be construed as over the top, but I think it's fun. Restaurants don't always have to be serious. It''s food, not rocket science. The menu has lots of traditional Thai dishes, and while I wouldn't say it's the best in town, I'd say everything I've tried has been very good. I like the Pad Thai, the freshly fried spring rolls, the pad pik king and the curry. Everything always comes out hot and freshly prepared. Service is always quick and friendly. There's also an extensive vegetarian menu. This is definitely one of my favorite spots to eat at Short Pump Town Center.
(4)Sheila V.
Ordered: Chicken Pad Thai and Thai Iced Tea It was my first time trying thai food and I fell in LOVE with the Pad Thai and the underwater/sea decor. The service was great and super fast (It was a week day). 4 stars because it was my first time so I can't compare to others.
(4)Bill P.
Soooooo far the best of the Tara Thais in my opinion still got Charlottesville to go.....sorry Nick. Couldn't make it all on one trip. Billy Thai was Thai-ed out believe it or not. If you haven't been to Short Pump Mall.....nicest outdoor mall on the East Coast......must be crazy during winter months though. 100 degrees out yesterday. This two level gem rocks.....wish it had a tad better location in the HUGE Short Pump Mall.....a bit on the outskirts of the action. Servers Sucker? and others work well as a team..... Lettuce wraps $6.95 great start and Tara is one of the few Thais I know of that had this app. on its menu. Shrimp, minced chicken, cashew nuts mixed with spicy lime dressing, julienned ginner, red onions and scallion $9.95 3,4 servings of Pad Prik Khing chicken........the largest portion of this dish I've seen yet. Tender pieces of chicken cut green beans and red curry paste wonderfully cooked and not watery at all like some Thais who add coconut milk. Had the fried ice cream $4.95 huge ball of vanilla ice cream with vanilla shell and drizzled with strawberry sauce.... Too much :) so three courses and Thai Iced tea for $26.....can't beat it. Billy Thai off to Charlottesville soon.....real soon.
(5)Dilbert D.
One word for the food here: Revolting. All I could think while I was attempting to choke down my food was, what are all of these people doing here? The restaurant was pretty full, and there were tables full of seemingly content people, though I question if our experience is just the status quo for a chain Thai restaurant. Maybe our food quality was an anomaly? If so though, it was a hat trick of unpleasant anomaly. We ordered (1) the vegetarian spring rolls, (2) pla dook pad ped, and (3) rama tofu. The spring rolls were bland and greasy---inside was cabbage and cellophane noodles--pretty flavorless, but the best of our food. The pla dookie pad ped was a mess of mushy catfish in a watery sauce of fresh peppercorns, eggplant, peppers, and some spices. The garnish was wilted and looked like a messy pile of salad that had been sitting out for days. The heat was mild, and this was supposed to be the spiciest dish on the menu. It was nearly inedible. I am feeling pretty lucky that I didn't get sick. Unfortunately, the rama tofu was the worst dish of all. ZERO flavor. The tofu was mushy and wet. The red sauce was very sweet giving nothing to the dish but more shame. The brocoli was not seasoned at all, undercooked, and it was like eating styrofoam in the shape of brocoli. The water was up to par, it tasted like actual water from the tap and it was exactly what I expected. I will never eat here again...dinner here was a rotten surprise and I felt obligated to write about it. The service was acceptable. Additionally the men's bathroom was gross---needed to be cleaned---and this was at prime time on a Saturday night at 7pm. Won't be back here.
(1)Bernice S.
We loved the lettuce wraps and Penang curry. Received excellent service. Conveniently located in the Short Pump Town Center Mall.
(4)Tim C.
I used to frequent their original location in Vienna when I was a student at GMU, so I was quite happy to discover they'd opened one near Richmond where I grew up. Solid Thai food, though not entirely authentic it's still very delicious. Almost without fail I order Panang curry with a Thai iced tea. Definitely a good place for lunch while shopping at Short Pump.
(4)Nary S.
I've been a loyal customer since it opened back around 2003. Of course it's not the most authentic Thai cuisine, but it's delicious! They sometimes make some dishes a bit too sweet if you don't mind that. It's a great place to stop by while you're shopping at Short Pump. Shopping can be exhausting! I usually order Pad See Ew (flat rice noodles), Pad Thai (thin rice noodles), Pad Prik King (beef with string beans) or Hoi Pik Pow (Mussels). Occasionally, I'll get an appetizer or a papaya salad. The service has always been consistent for me. The servers are very friendly and constantly make sure your beverage is refilled. They make pretty good dirty martinis (which I specifically order with Stoli). The leche martini is a bit too sweet for my taste and it comes with julienned ginger on top which I'm not too fond of. They have a list of other special martinis to choose from. I made reservations last night for my Father's Bday. I highly recommend to make reservations for the weekends for they tend to be busy. Our entrees were made quickly and the only negative aspect was 1 dish. The Pad Thai was a bit mushy and lacked that hot wok charred flavor. Other than that, everything was great.
(4)Matt E.
Yeah, it's a chain - but it's actually pretty good. I used to work fairly close to this place, and was a frequent lunch spot for my co-workers and i. The Chicken Kapow was great - was pretty spicy and they'll make it extremely spicy if you want. Haven't had much else here besides that, but Tara Thai is pretty good and we've always been impressed with the service and food.
(4)Vik G.
I have tried this place twice and I would rate the food as average. I have tried much much better tasting Thai places in other parts of the country. It's a spacious place and caters to big groups. The favorable point for it is it's in the short pump mall and you can stop by after a day of shopping through the mall. The ambiance is strange and tasteless.
(2)Jungmin D.
Lets get to the straight out facts: Q) Is the food good? A) No, it's just around average and when I say just around I mean 90% of the time it's below average. Q) How are the prices? A) For the area it's reasonable. Most of the dishes come with more than reason portions and that makes the money well worth it at times. (if you are only looking for quantity) Q) How is the service? A) Every time I've gone I've gotten the same waitress. She's very kind and cute to boot. She's also very tentative to my needs such as refilling my drinks and asking if I need anything else. Here is the review: The reason I gave this place 3 stars is because it's convenient. The place is busy enough to make you feel like you are eating at a place that other people enjoy yet not busy enough where you know you have to wait your entire life just to get a simple meal. Tara Thai is something of a middle class got to go get some Thai food kind of place. It's not for the people who are looking for an authentic 5 start Thai cuisine delight kind of experience. But this place isn't bad either. Sure their food isn't spicy but all you have to do is add spices to your dish with a variety of spices given to you on a spice tray. The decor is nice though I have no idea why it looks aquatic when hardly any food there has any marine life in it besides shrimp... The prices aren't too bad, the service isn't too bad, the food isn't too bad, all in all go there when you just feel like eating, not when you are really wanting some exceptional dining.
(3)sherri s.
Just OK. I use to loooove this place... I haven't been here for a while... had lunch here today...and thought...has this gone down hill? Is this an off day...or have I just had better elsewhere? It was medicore...and not as great as I remembered. I started with the Tom Ka soup (lemon coconut w/tofu) it was luke warm and wanted to send it back to be reheated but the waiter was no where to be found and I did not want my soup and food at the same time so I just ate it cold. It was not as good as it could have been. So off to ...NOT a great start! My friend ordered the Tom Yum soup...and her soup was cool also. We both ordered the Pad Thai...mine with fried tofu and hers with chicken. Again the waiter dropped off our food and disappeared. We wanted chop sticks and refills on our drinks...so I got up and got my own chop sticks and flagged a different waitress down after a while. The Pad Thai was NOT very flavor full but it was a very generous portion. I must say, the fried tofu was very good! Wanted to get the doggie bag & pay the bill but still no waiter...finally flagged down another person to wrap up the left overs and take our check...but what the heck...where was our guy? I thought the rest rooms were very dirty...I wanted to say something but I didn't...maybe this place is just mis-managed. I don't plan on running back any time soon...too many better places! After re-reading my own review...I am actually thinking two stars are too many...but I will give them a one star credit for previous visits.
(2)Sarah H.
I went to Tara Thai yesterday an ordered the Drunken Noodle. It was really quite good, one of the best I've had in Richmond so far. I got it through take-out, which had very good and fast service. The atmosphere was interesting..kind of like being inside of a fish tank. I would visit here again.
(5)Inigo M.
Straight out of The Little Mermaid, this goofy-looking restaurant fails to deliver on quality. A bit too salty and curryish (unpleasant surprise) on the Deep Sea (seafood) dish. The menu items have convoluted names that require long descriptions. Yum Woon Sen, Yum Talay, Tom Klong Goong, anyone? K-I-S-S for your customers, please.
(3)Lori S.
I am so angry at this restaurant I could spit. My husband and I visited last night after shopping all day at Short Pump Mall. All other restaurants had a one hour and ten min wait so we were happy to see only one party in front of us. That should have been a sign. The greeters (if I can call them that) asked how many in our party three times and never wrote it down. They seated the party ahead of us and told us there would be a 15 min wait. We said fine and sat down. Several more parties came in, and when one party of two sat down in a booth next to where we were waiting I asked them if they had had a reservation and they sd no. Both ourselves and another party of three complained to the greeters that we had been waiting and these other folks were seated immediately. We, along with the other party, walked out. The most disorganized place I have ever seen. Never, ever, will go there again and will be sure to tell everyone I know!
(1)Tony H.
Went to this place for a business dinner. Heard a lot of good things about it but frankly it's overrated. The food was actually not bad. What killed the place for me was the cleanliness and the service. The men's room was a train wreck. The restrooms in Thailand are cleaner than this. The floor, walls and sink were filthy. The toilet was from another planet. When I walked out my feet were sticking to the floor. If you look up at the ceiling in the restaurant you'll see stains up there. Considering this is in the Short Pump mall, I assumed it would have been clean. The waiter we had was totally useless. Not enough he forgot place settings, wine glasses and had to be asked three times for water, he screwed up the order and brought one wrong dish and forgot to put in one of the orders. Like I said the food wasn't bad. It's just the cleanliness and service kill the place.
(2)Adam R.
i like this place! the smell, not so much. food, def. good thai, but have had better. friendly price, friendly service, friendly surroundings!
(3)connor R.
Good Thai food being that it's a chain. You have to try the crispy flounder. It a deep fried whole flounder lavished with spicy basil sauce that will bring joy to your taste buds. If you are not a big fan of flounder than you can't go wrong with Kee mao gongai or pad-tai.
(4)Candy Y.
Very good Thai Resturant. Highly recommend KEE MAO GOONG-GAI.
(5)Jacob K.
Never actually had a bad meal here, though I haven't eaten there particularly recently. I generally favor Thai Dinner Too, but there are a few things that Tara Thai does better. It's also a little nicer than Thai Dinner Too, so we tend towards it for double dates.
(4)Phil C.
The fluorescent-plastic-curvey decor just didn't do it for me. I felt distracted and slightly nauseated the whole way through dinner. The service was sloppy and slow, and the food was mediocre, with some decent exceptions - their chicken and shrimp spicy curry was pretty tasty. That, and everything from the floors to the tables to the bar felt sticky to the touch. Yuck. I've never felt more like I was inside a used fishtank in my life.
(2)blain t.
Certainly not the best Thai food I've ever had, but for the most part pretty good and not too expensive.
(4)dsk a.
i ordered the usual (red curry chicken). portions were plentiful. i asked for a second serving/scoop of rice and took about half of the red curry chicken dish home with me to eat for midnight snack. this is the second time i have graced them with my presence. the atmosphere is ocean-like from the tables to the lights to the bathroom sink...
(4)