Monsoon Siam
2045 Atwood Ave,Ste 109, Madison, WI, 53704
Monsoon Siam Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Madison for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2045 Atwood Ave,Ste 109
Madison, WI, 53704 - Phone (608) 284-9282
- Website https://www.monsoonsiam-wi.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Biothyoideus C.
Born and raised in Thailand and as a foodie, I can tell you that this is the only authentic Thai restaurant in Madison. The taste is actually like what you would get when you visit Thailand. The service is very impressive yet sometimes slow due to limited number of staffs. We ordered Kao Soi (with beef is recommended), Drunken noodle (3 stars may be too spicy if you are not familiar with Thai chilli), Mussamun curry, and pineapple fried rice; everything was delicious. I would definitely go there as often as I could. Strongly recommended.
(5)Chuck S.
Great food, friendly staff! We had the papaya salad and mussumun, both were great. The fried papaya appetizer was really interesting.
(5)Luther Z.
Hmm... Good Thai cuisine, but so far not great. A bit of sticker shock, particularly once you see the entree portion/serving size for carry out, relative to similar restaurants in the area dishing out generous servings at a reasonable price. The dishes were decent, not the best, by no means the worst. We'll try again.
(3)Bobby O.
Great addition to the rotation. Friendly staff, pretty authentic Thai food and they'll spice it up for you if you ask. I've enjoyed what I have had so far, with a highlight being the tasty Panang Curry...can't wait to try more menu items!
(4)Prudhvi C.
I really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere of the restaurant. I had ordered the Chicken Ka Pow and felt it had a great balance in sweet and spice you get in Asian cooking. Normally when dealing with Asian cooking the sweetness overpowers the spice and tends to ruin the flavor. Their chicken and egg fried rice were also really good. They were well made and presented but for me seemed to lack something.
(4)Loren H.
Very disappointed,expected better food after reading all the yelp reviews. The 14 dollar crying tiger was a small portion of flank steak that was tasty but very tough. Not worth the price. The pad tai on the other hand was quite Good. Not at all sweet like another reviewer said. The fresh roll was an odd thing. It was two or more spring rolls cut into small chunks that were mostly carrots. The dipping sauce was something like fudge with crumbled nuts on top. Not Good. Dry and tasteless. This was all carry out so maybe it would be better in the restaurant. I would try this again but I am not in any hurry to do so. It's very pricey for what you get.
(3)Ro K.
Food tasted good. Fast and friendly service (5pm on a Saturday). Only reason for 1 star is because the sign outside said it was happy hour with discounted prices but when we got our bill, no discount was applied. When we asked, the server said that happy hour is only M-F, which would have been OK, except the sign outside didn't say that. They didn't seem to understand why it was a problem to keep the sign up on the weekend.
(1)Tim S.
Excellent food. Excellent service (5 Stars!). Ambiance leaves me a bit underwhelmed and the seating seems a bit tight. If they can eliminate 2-3 tables, it would make for a more comfortable dining experience. We came during their second week of operations and we experienced none of the usual new restaurant quirks (see my review of Graze in 2010 when they first opened!). The food seemed a bit more expensive than what I would expect for the neighborhood- and since there are a number of similar restaurants in the area- the prices did factor into my review. Having said that, they totally delivered on food and service- so perhaps they can command the prices. I wish them great success in the neighborhood.
(4)Michelleski ..
I thought this day would never come, but clean, fresh Thai food has finally come to Madison and I am greatly looking forward to eating my way through the Monsoon Siam menu. Spicy basil fried rice (a/k/a Kao Pad Ka Pow which may be one of the most fun to say food names ever!) is one of my favorite things in the world, and I am pleased to report that Monsoon Siam's is delicious and by far the best I've had since moving to Madison 8 years ago. Everything I have tried so far has been delicious, the drunken noodle being second runner up to my beloved fried rice. There are always too many things I'd rather eat than curry so I haven't tried any, but my lunchtime companions have all raved about the curries.
(5)Mark C.
Spectacular food. The best papaya salad I've had in the states. Green curry is wonderful as well.
(5)Elizabeth M.
I was so happy with my entree, I wanted to go back the next day and have it again. Two of my other dinner companions were just as happy with their entrees. I had The roasted tofu curry, and got it with less heat then was listed. Our waitress informed us that they could change the heat on any dish, which was great to know. I widpsh we had known that when we received our menus, I would have looked closer at the spicier dishes. The spring rolls were so-so, but the fresh roll was very good. One person was very unhappy with her dinner, she had the Chef's special-Tofu Angel. There was nothing angelic about it. The chef's special sauce appeared to be a pool of extra salty soy sauce. It was almost inedible. My friend is not a complainer, so she ate what she could and shared some of mine. Other positives: The waitress was very friendly, and it was kind of fun to watch the goings-on in the kitchen. Negatives-their mixed drinks aren't on the menu and a request for a drink list was never fulfilled, it was quite noisy, and it is very small. Luckily we made a reservation. Personally, I can't wait to eat their food again, but will probably get carry-out or delivery.
(4)Samantha H.
In town for a week and decided to have some thai. Very glad we did as we both had the best curries we've EVER had!! Loved it so much we went back the next night for more. I would have licked the bowl if it wasn't inappropriate.
(5)Sarah H.
Yum! Monsoon Siam's food is really special. We ordered Pad Fresh Ginger with beef which had a deliciously complex sauce - very memorable and we will no doubt order it again. We also had Green Curry with chicken with a one chili hotness rating. Again, the sauce was full of deep flavors. All of the ingredients were fresh and it was fun to see the cooks at work and smell all the delicious dishes they were cooking up. I am so happy they are in the 'hood!
(5)Ron B.
Visiting a different city is always a bit of an experience especially when you have specific tastes. My traveling staples alone are almost always indian and thai, so after having Indian in a different city last night it was going to be thai tonight. Monsoon Siam had easy delivery available right here through Yelp and so, I placed an order over an hour before I was hoping to have it show up and not only did it show up almost exactly on time, but the food was hot and ready to go. Didn't have any plasticwear in the bag, which could be a problem for a person in a hotel, but otherwise...I thought it was great. On the most important part, the Chicken Massaman is of course gluten-free and when you order from a thai place and tell them "medium" it means different places in different parts of the country. Here it meant "this isn't going to be so spicy that your face will melt and distract from whatever flavor this once had," but not "this isn't spicy at all and thus it has no flavor you wuss," so I appreciated the balance. Good sized portion too for takeout, so no complaints there. Monsoon Siam got the job done for this traveler and I'm grateful.
(4)Ka L.
Love it!! So glad I visited with my girls, thanks to recommendations from fellow yelpers!!! Decent clean setup, with booths and tables that can cater to larger groups of 10. Surprisingly it was rather busy on a weekday! The servers and cooks seem to be Thai, so food is authentic. Service was overall attentive, but our server forgot our Thai iced tea and insisted on bringing us after we cancelled it later on. Food: Sun dried beef - nice marinate and great meat. Not sure I would say its as good as other yelpers have made it sound like but I definitely would order it again Pad see ew - love the fat thick noodles. Sauce is a little bit sweet just like it should be!! Pad Thai - pad Thai was decent. According to my friends, it is better than sa bai thong! Quality and price. Will be back! They also do take out, which is another option for people in a hurry
(4)Matt W.
Monsoon Siam is taking the Madison dining scene by storm, raining down a variety of authentic Thai treats on area diners. My initial visit to this new East Side eatery left a favorable first impression, with its friendly service and well composed Asian cuisine made with fresh ingredients. While only open for a couple of months, the restaurant has quickly hit its stride, as the chef (Pooh Wonglaka) operated a Thai restaurant in Charlottesville, VA before moving to Madison. I'm not Thai, so I can't speak for whether the cuisine is authentic or not, but I can state the plates I tried during my visit were well composed, masterfully marrying the flavors of the fresh ingredients in a healthy, balanced manner. Our group of six had a 7PM reservation on a Monday evening. When we arrived, the restaurant had a handful of patrons. Within 15 minutes, an influx of Thai speaking diners flooded the restaurant to near capacity. Despite the crush of customers, our effervescent server (Kitty Ashi, the co-owner of the Charlottesville restaurant), visited our table often, making sure none of us ever went thirsty and clearing dirty plates as our group worked our way through the menu. While there was some confusion with some drink orders, our group appreciated the option of getting separate checks. I noticed that Kitty spent the entire night conversing with all the patrons, making sure that they felt right at home during their stay. The restaurant is relatively small, with a lot of tables densely packed together. Despite that, the it was not difficult to converse with my table mates. The open kitchen allowed us to watch our food being prepared. The restaurant also gets high marks for cleanliness. Here are some of the highlights of the evening: * The papaya salad and the sun-dried beef appetizers were exceptional. The papaya salad expertly balanced the slightly tart flavor of the green papaya with the spiciness of red chili, the saltiness of the fish sauce and the bright citrus flavor of the lime juice. The curing process intensified the beefy richness of the sun-dried beef. The meat is then deep-fried, but there is enough moisture left in the beef to optimize the interior chewiness - exterior crunchiness quotient. * The deep-fried tilapia served with garlic chili sauce was another exceptional dish. Again, the kitchen nailed the texture equation, masterfully balancing the flaky interior with the well-seasoned exterior crust. Complimenting the fish was a well-composed sauce, perfectly melding the flavors of the garlic and chilies. * The green curry continued on the theme of balance, masterfully layering the warmth of the curry with the aromatic Thai basil. It's easily one of the best curries I've had in Madison. * The delectable drunken noodles (wide rice noodles stir-fried with string beans, bamboo shoots, tomatoes, basil, red peppers, and chili, in a spicy garlic sauce) were also a pleasure to eat. Things I liked, but not loved: * After the papaya salad set the appetizer bar extremely high, the bland vegetable spring rolls were a disappointment. While well prepared, they didn't offer that same explosion of flavors provided by our other dishes. * The same can be said about the Crying Tiger entrée (Marinated flank steak, pan grilled, sliced, and served with a spicy dipping sauce). After enjoying the intense Asian flavors of the sun-dried beef, this dish paled in comparison. Since flank steak is toothsome to start with, it really needed to be thinly sliced to help combat the chewiness of this cut of beef. * Due to the heat of the June evening we visited Monsoon Siam, the beer taps were not working, leaving us with a very limited beer selection. In the month since my visit, the restaurant now has a full liquor license and now has a comprehensive list of cocktails and wines to enhance the dining experience. These small flaws did little to rain on our dining parade. If you are looking for well-executed Asian cuisine using fresh ingredients, Monsoon Siam should be near the top of your list.
(4)Onotse I.
I guess this place was okay but after reading the reviews for this place I expected a lot more. My first disappointment came after reading that they had a full bar only to find out that they only served beer and wine. My other gripe was the portion size; everything was a bit on the small side. I asked for extra rice and got a single scoop. Since I'm complaining I will also say that the restaurant felt a bit cramped. In regard to the food I thought most was just okay. We ordered the cigar rolls, tom yum, and a couple other non memorable dishes. The tom yum was good but that was the only thing that really stood out. With so many great Thai options in the city I doubt this is one that I will be rushing to try again.
(3)Tiffany N.
Monsoon Siam is the kind of place I'd like to eat lunch at regularly. If only they were in Denver. Gah! Corey D took me here for lunch on a recent trip to Madison when I said I wanted to eat something that wasn't too heavy and preferably vegetarian. I ended up ordering a Chef's Special which was so, so good. It was called the Tofu Angel and came with pan-fired marinated tofu, Bok Choy. carrots, mushrooms and scallions topped with spicy, sweet, and sour sauce and was served on steamed wide noodle. It was the perfect portion size and cost $13. We also shared a fresh roll which consists of lettuce, avocado and carrots wrapped with rice paper, and served with a peanut sauce. Also delicious. The food comes fast, it's fresh, and the service is nice. It's all the things I could want in a lunch restaurant and I would definitely go back the next time I'm in Madison.
(4)John G.
Food is superb. Two in our party had curry dishes, which were excellent. I had the drunken noodles, which was outstanding, but a little bit hot. Atmosphere was clean and friendly. We will definitely be going back for more.
(4)Saira L.
So let me start by saying this- their food is fabulous! Really! Really Yummy! My husband and I started with the Sun Dried Beef. I could eat this for every meal, every day. I ordered PLA PAD PED. Its a spicy crispy Tilapia dish for $15. I got four really good sized pieces of Tilapia! Where else in Madison can you get that much Tilapia for that price? Plus the flavors were spot on.The only disappointment was the drink, the Thai ice tea tasted a little fermented. I was not a fan of that. Now lets talk service. The service was really friendly. We had some hiccups in the beginning. Delay in getting drinks and a missing appetizer. It took us telling two people to get it fixed but they were really nice about it and attempted to fix it quickly. At the end of dinner when we asked for the check to be split - they were more than willing to do it. So Yay! Points for that. There were 5 of us and the check needed to be split four ways. We were told to initial by the card that was going to pay for the item on the recipet. It seemed simple enough for us and them. Unfortunately it took them a long time (about 20 mins) to do it. I suppose if I had known that I would have asked not to split it and we would have figured it ourselves later. But they were so nice about it I cannot be upset but next time will not ask for a check to be split. So the service need a little work, and the thai ice tea a little disappointing but everything else was beyond delicious! This place has some seriously good food. And I will be back.
(4)Kelsi B.
Some of the freshest and most delicious Thai food I've ever had! Monsoon Siam is so yummy. My entire family loved everything we ate. Only comment was that the food was a little spicy, but we tend to have a pretty weak spice tolerance, haha. For appetizers we ordered the Cigar Rolls, Papaya Salad and Sun-dried Beef. The Sun-dried Beef was our favorite for sure, and a bite of that and the Papaya Salad was the bomb. For our entrees we ordered Pad Thai with chicken, Green Curry with pork, Crying Tiger and Spicy Roasted Tofu with Basil. Like I said before, everything was delicious. Our waitress recommended the Roasted Tofu dish and Crying Tiger and she definitely steered us in the right direction. The Roasted Tofu was my favorite dish, followed by the Green Curry as a close second. And last but definitely not least, dessert. Let me just say that if you go here, YOU MUST GET THE FRIED ICE CREAM! It's amazing! I've only ever had fried ice cream at Mexican restaurants where it's more crusted. But here it's actually fried with a yummy dough around it. Somehow they manage to make it light, yet fried dough-y and totally delicious. I would return just for this dessert in a heartbeat.
(5)Adam R.
Since it has opened, Monsoon Siam has quickly become one of my favorites in the area, and it's now on my regular visit rotation. Although their service is good, the staff is nice, and the prices are reasonable, I keep coming back here for two main reasons: The dishes, and how fast they come to the table. Concerning the food: There's a lot more variety on the menu than one would expect. Some of the specials are interesting and unique concoctions, like the lemongrass tofu and tofu angel. Otherwise, there's a lot of classics to choose from as well, like the Pad Thai, and the selection of curries. One aspect I really like is that in the dishes where you can choose your protein, you can pick a tofu BALL, which is different from your regular old tofu in that it's deep-fried and packed with herbs. I very much recommend trying those at least once. And all of this food comes to you FAST. Like I put in an order with 1 other person, and the dishes came to us in 4 minutes. It's almost too fast, because it makes me wonder if they're even made to order. But they're delicious regardless, so who cares? The speed of the service always makes me consider Monsoon Siam when i'm in a pinch for time and am feeling too lazy to cook. With all that said, I can say that even if you think that there's too many Thai places in Madison, Monsoon Siam is still well worth your time to check out.
(5)Christine L.
We ordered the sun dried beef as an appetizer. I got the Southern Heat and my dining partner ordered the Andaman noodles. The sun dried beef was just okay. I didn't love it. I was expecting an intense burst of flavor, and while flavorful, I just wasn't impressed. The meat tasted too beefy for me and I felt that the flavoring came mostly from marinating in soy sauce. My friend liked it and said he would order it again. My dish, the Southern Heat, had minced chicken stir fried with lemongrass and other herbs. The menu displayed 4 peppers next to it and it was SPICY! I love my dishes spicy and it was a thrilling kind of heat, but probably much too spicy for most people. The dish reminded me of the Hmong dish laab. I liked it, but found it heavy on oil. It came with some steamed bland vegetables, and the minced chicken was in a fried shell that was dripping with oil by the end. A side of rice helped the spice and oil. My friend asked for the Andaman noodles to be made spicy. He requested it to have 3 peppers, but there was barely any spice when we ate it. Their spice scale seems to be exponential rather than linear. The Andaman noodles were a curried noodles with shrimp and shredded crab meat. I felt that the crab meat was unnecessary. The curry flavor overwhelmed any crab taste. Neither of us was a fan of this dish. They have a full bar it seems, but the server never brought a drink list or beer list. I would also really like them to have a stronger fan since my clothes and I came away smelling like stir fry.
(3)Sara M.
THANK YOU cool yelp eliters for guiding me to yet another wonderful spot. I've passed this on Atwood but it never stood out enough to convince me to take a night off of my usual Thai places. The reviews all are correct - the food here is fantastic. It's super casual so it's somewhere I would go if you're really just looking to treat your taste buds for a low key dinner. I want to try ordering delivery, but the fees are such that I would probably only do it with a large group. Here are some of the highlights: Tom Kha soup: this coconut broth soup is a favorite of mine and something I use to compare Thai restaurants because it usually doesn't vary so much. Monsoon Siam probably served the most unique version I've ever tasted; it was tangy and I want to say citrusy! I also liked that you could order mushrooms with this instead of the usual tofu or chicken. Sun dried beef: ordered this because of a yelp review that claimed people "sing praises" to this dish. After one bite, we were singing praises. It's sooo flavorful and not overly dry! A lot of food for $7, easy to share with at least 3 people. Red curry: spicy (be warned if you can't take the heat) without losing the inherent flavor of the dish. Very brothy, which I personally prefer. I got the tofu because of a yelper who said they don't typically love tofu but this tofu is an exception. I totally agree; the texture is sophisticated and it really takes the flavor of the dish. Pad see ew: fluffy noodles! Great with tofu. My friend who ordered this was so happy! My friend is a huuuuge Ha Long Bay guy, and admitted that Monsoon Siam's food is better! Can't wait to come back and try more!
(5)Oscar Y.
I went to Monsoon Siam with the Madison Review Crew meetup group with the intention of writing a review. Then, a day before, a member of the group writes that he can't come, but is looking forward to hearing if it is indeed of authentic Thai quality, since he is Thai, and he cooks traditional foods here at home. So. Is Monsoon Siam authentic Thai? Is it Thai traditional, fresh, authentic, vivid? I have no idea! It could be authentic Serbo-Croatian for all I know - - I have never been to Thailand - - but whatever it is, they should not change ANYTHING, because this is splendid cuisine. The presentation - - just the very looks of the meal? You will be tempted to let it sit getting cold on the plate for 45 minutes, staring at it, just because it LOOKS so gorgeous. If you were really small, or got down really low to the table, and looked at them, it would be like going to Disneyland for the first time - - it would be that colorful and fantastical. And same with the flavors. The three dishes we got - - one was big, broad, flat, floppy noodles that were sublime delicious (with just a touch of sweetness); another was crispy squid done up luscious with smatterings of fresh herbs and veggie touches, and you just wish that the dish was big as a house, instead of just a regular portion, because you could eat it nonstop for a month; the last was minced chicken with spices in a thin flaky-formed shell that was super hot but unlike anything else anywhere. All three dishes were electrifyingly interesting, pretty, and delicious. And did I mention the cigar roll appetizer? No, I did not yet mention the cigar roll appetizer. It was like egg rolls, but actually FUN. The texture was the thing - - it made life more interesting and alive, just sharing one of the three cigar rolls in this appetizer. When was the last time you could say that about an egg roll? Service was great, because these were (also) real people, enjoying themselves, and being themselves, and loving what they were doing. (BTW: the company was great too!)
(5)The H.
We ordered kao soi through Yelp's EatStreet plug-in, and it was exactly what I was hoping for. I'm resisting the urge to go back right now! The service wasn't terrible: there was confusion about the EatStreet functionality, but we just explained and it was fine. Apparently, they also work through Mr. Delivery, and assumed we were the driving service. In any case, we weren't upcharged for using the form, so I suggest it if you have issues with the phone service.
(5)Erica M.
My partner and I ordered two dished and cigar rolls. He had curry, which was ok, nothing amazing. We were really looking forward to visiting this place, it was a bummer. I had a dish with shrimp and crab, it was pretty decent... the biggest let down was when I hopped on my bike to go home, and once I got home I received a call stating that my cigar rolls were not put in the bag. So, back I went to Monsoon, to get THREE cigar rolls for $5. I should have just stayed home, so if you get the cigar rolls, let it be known you only get three.
(2)Bob S.
2 dinners and 2 lunches in house. Verdict, I'm a fan and I must admit that, except for the joint off of Gammon Rd, I don't say that about any Thai places in Madison. Bust out of the basics and try some beautifully presented specials. One night we had the tilapia and it rocked! Don't hold back, go for spicy! It's how Thai food should taste. At last a better than passable Thai place in Madison!!
(4)Bryn G.
My new favourite restaurant is Monsoon Siam, Compared to other Thai restaurants, this one's the Grand Slam! The staff are so attentive and sweet, Whatever you order it's bound to be a treat, And the papaya salad is the bomb, it'll make your mouth go ka-blam!
(5)Boom O Smash O.
Chron Jon!!! Super fast and friendly service. A+ Way better then anywhere else around! Must say way to make my day!
(5)Ami R.
I ate here once days after it opened. I was tempted to write a review but decided to try it one more time. I ate here again and again, now a total of 4 times in 2 weeks. I feel adequately prepared to say that this place blows me away. I have never eaten Thai cuisine so expertly prepared and beautifully presented. I harken back to the first time I ate at Lao Laan Xang on Willy St about 18 years ago. The subtle flavors of lemon grass, coconut milk and galanga were amazing and so new to my palate. Southeast Asian food continues to be my favorite but the general quality of the food seems to have declined in the past few years. No matter where you go the menu looks the same and presentation is an after-thought. My old favorite haunt has become tired and uninspired. Monsoon Siam is a different animal. The dishes are new and exciting. I have never seen tofu so expertly prepared. Some dishes are bold and bright, like the Spicy Roasted Tofu with Basil or the Panang Curry. Some dishes are delicate and sexy like the Asparagus Delight with a light flavorful sauce highlighting perfectly cooked asparagus and shrimp and the Rama Tofu which is a gorgeous sight to behold. The tofu is deep fried, placed on a bed of steamed broccoli and topped with crispy fried onions. The dish has a luscious peanut sauce which enhances but does not overpower the tofu. I have sampled the tofu soup, simple yet delicious, as well as the Papaya Salad. The salad was lovely, light and spicy just to the right level for my somewhat timid partner. To be fair, I love the Papaya Salad/Chicken dish at LLX but the presentation is sorely lacking. Monsoon Siam is right across the street from Lao Laan Xang. There is plenty of room for two great Southeast Asian restaurants. I hope LLX will be moved to create some new dishes, throw away the tired menu and spruce up their aging home. They still are very busy and have a loyal following. But the gauntlet has been thrown by newcomer Monsoon Siam. For now I declare the new kid on the block a winner!
(5)Cassie R.
We ordered for delivery mid day. It came super fast, still hot. We ordered pad Thai and pad garlic. The lunch specials came w amazing little egg rolls and tasty soup. Both entrees were delicious, better than expected. We will absolutely order from here again!
(5)Paola M.
Very good Thai food here. I tried some of the apps and then had the green curry. Papaya salad and the sun dried beef were the appetizers that stood out. Papaya salad was fresh and tangy and just spicy enough without being overwhelming. I Was surprised by the lack of fish sauce, which instead I have seen in many traditional Thai places (including in Thailand). I have to say, I like this departure from tradition. Makes the salad more palatable for me. Sun died beef was just good food. Chewy and sweet and salty and generally good. The green curry was delicious! Layer on layer of flavor and a spiciness that slowly builds up, while not overpowering the aromatic flavor of the Thai basil. I would recommend extra rice and a friend to share the pretty generous serving of curry. My only complaint is that they did not have any Asian/Thai beer, only craft US bier. I realize this might be a plus to many, but craft beer to me are just not that good: way too heavy and often very flat. Service was very friendly: both the chef and the manager are very cheerful and their passion for the food shines through when they talk to customers. Will be back for more thai!
(4)Eric B.
Overall an enjoyable meal. I'll certainly will go back. I ordered both the drunken noodles with pork and the yellow curry with chicken. The drunken noodles were prepared with a rich spicy garlic sauce - but I thought a bit too salty. The yellow curry with chicken had a bold slightly sweet flavor profile. The potato was slightly undercooked. The curry sauce had a very smooth and satisfying texture. I didn't specify a hot or spice level. Both dishes came with what I'd call medium spice level. While I thought the drunken noodles were overly spicy I found them very satisfying - I couldn't keep my chop sticks out of them. Both certainly had enough spice to get a good brow sweat going. If you wanted more spice a 3-dish condiment "rack" was available. I didn't indulge - but companions did. One seemed to be a red chili spice powder, another a vinegar based chili sauce and some sort of red chili oil. Bonus: Brown rice available for $1.50 up charge. Round Two: this time we ordered for delivery. I'd have to say the delivered food was better than our previous sit down experience. I re ordered the Drunken Noodles and Yellow Curry - This time both with Chicken. During my first dining experience I thought the dishes were a bit heavy handed with the salt. Not so tonight - great flavor balance and profile.
(4)Richard J.
BEST most DELICIOUS and FANTASTIC thai food in madison hands down! having lived in nyc for 10 yrs and travelled through thalland this is EASILY my FAVORITE THAI PLACE IN MADISON my litmus test for any thai place is chicken pad si ew. they knock it out of the park. everything else is solid we have explored the menu since their opening and we have difficulty finding anything we dislike favs: papaya fries pad si ew ginger chicken pinapple fried rice red curry whole fish CRISPY!!! beef salad crying tiger HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! we do take out once a week....yum! also: wait staff is friendly accommodating and prompt
(5)Barney C.
Don't let the mini-mall exterior fool you, Monsoon Siam is a real treat. Yellow curry with beef and potatoes - inexpensive and phenomenal. Food presentation was fun and everyone ate in silence for half a plate. Looking forward to returning to try many other dishes. Service was super slow but it was worth the wait.
(4)Tarragon 7.
Love the sundried tomato beef appetizer and chicken panang curry is the best in Madison. Go for lunch specials where you get the entree, soup or salad, and a mini spring roll.
(4)Nelly M.
Hello Hello hello.... A new Thai restaurant in town! How ecstatic I was upon hearing this good news from my Thai friend who recommended this place to me almost a month ago: "Try it, Nelly! You'll love it. I can say the food is authentic." I had no doubt about her suggestion, the only thing stopped me from coming earlier to this place was my schedule! It sucked! Weeks after that, Yelp brought my attention that we have a new Thai restaurant in town. I was surprised that Yelpers have reviewed it. Wow. So quick. Reading one of the elites' reviews, I couldn't hold it any longer: I had to give this place a try. It was yesterday, after a long day and Madison was still raining, hubby and I drove to the east part of Madison. While we're familiar with the area, we happened to miss it. It's smaller compared to other Thai restaurant in town. We passed it so we had to make a turn to be finally able to find it! We parked at the back of the building- very convenient. We ordered the sun-dried beef, which was GOOD. It reminded me of an Indonesian dish which is very similar. My tongue can recognize the taste right away. As the main dishes, we ordered chicken green curry and drunken noodles. We were happy! The sticky rice and mango was another goodie. It was coming in a decent portion- not too big, but the taste had it all! Try their hot Thai too! It comes in a big pot and tastes fresh!
(4)Christoph J.
Stopped in with a friend for lunch. The lunch special prices ($7.99) were what really lured us in the door. It was a sadly mediocre experience. You get a lot of food for your money, which I was excited about. But when I started eating my Pad Fresh Ginger, I noticed the flavors were all over the place. One bite was way too salty, another bite was funky. The quality of the chicken seemed to be pretty good, and was plentiful. But overall, it just tasted unpleasant and was very greasy. The lunch special came with a cup of soup and an egg roll. The soup tasted fine, but was only sparsely adorned with vegetables. The eggroll was a greasy, bland little nugget. My friend ordered the Ka Pow, which was equally greasy and underwhelming. Our server was fine, and the space was inviting enough. Too bad the food was pretty forgettable. I would not recommend this place.
(2)Wis S.
My favorite Thai restaurant in Madison. It makes me want to move a nearby apartment so that I can have lunch there everyday! Lunch special is so cheap!!
(5)Shannon F.
The chicken red curry was the highlight of the meal. Good flavor and just the right amount of spice. Serving size is less than many other Thai restaurants but still plenty. We were disappointed by the cigar roll appetizer. They just didn't have much flavor you basically just tasted the wonton wrapper. The pad Thai was good, not much tofu in it though. What tofu was in it was prepared well and tasted really good. We ordered it extra spicy and it was definitely spicy but the spice didn't overpower the flavor. The drunken noodles with beef had good flavor and spice. A little on the salty side though. The beef was good, not chewy or fatty. We got everything delivered and it came in about 45 minutes.
(4)Tawnie R.
We went here a couple weekends ago for dinner. IT WAS EXCELLENT! Followed Matt W's suggestions. We had the papaya salad, and the sun dried beef for our appetizers. Man, were they good! For our entree's, we had the Drunken Noodles w/chicken, and the River Monster. I loved both, hubby said he would of rather had another order or two of the sun-dried beef. We will definitely be returning! I'm thinking the Tofu Angel next time.....
(5)Max G.
This restaurant exceeded expectations. -The servers were friendly and the service was fast -The food tasted great and seemed authentic -Well priced (dinner entrees were only around $12) They even made us fried ice cream that was delicious for free since it was my brother's birthday. Overall I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants a relatively fast, inexpensive, and tasty meal
(5)Marty L.
It wasn't as good as Ha Long Bay. My food was pretty good. I had a beer. They drew a heart on our reservation sign. Oh, whatever that appetizer was was really good. We had to go down a creepy alley after we parked and we got lost on the way back. They did not allow dogs.
(4)Adam H.
After being on hold for 10 minutes, I decided to go into the store and try to order dinner. After waiting 20 more minutes, I decided it wasn't worth it. I can't tell you how the food tastes, but I can tell you that you will wait.
(1)Phu D.
Best Thai I've had in Madison! The drunken noodles were flavorful and spicy. Pad Thai and basil chicken were perfect too. I consider these the staple Thai dishes and monsoon delivers! It'd a good atmosphere here too. Modern decor, good service, clean and full bar.
(5)ArchaeoFiero S.
The only positive thing I can say is that the employees were very friendly. This is a poorly managed restaurant with mediocre food at best. It was odd to walk in to a busy restaurant where every single patron had their coat on. This place was freezing. As a result, the chilled plates arrived feeling like they came out a refrigerator, and the food was cold before it reached the table. Tell Scrooge to adjust the thermostat! Here are my impressions of the food: Pad thai (tofu): sickly sweet and the only real toppings were uncooked bean sprouts. Tofu was soggy and very musky tasting (in a bad way). Served on an ice-cold plate and arrived cold. Calamari: Very chewy. One teaspoon of high-fructose dipping sauce was included for about 10 calamari... Arrived cold Pineapple rice: Rice was overcooked, clumped and mushy. Arrived cold
(1)Khiang S.
First customer for lunch so no problems finding a parking spot on the street in front of the restaurant. Found out later, there are more spots in the back. Anyway, a friend had dinner here and recommended this restaurant so I had to try it. Server said they opened last Memorial Day and she thinks this is the only Thai restaurant in town where the cook is a Thai. I decided on the Lunch menu and at first asked for pad Thai. Classic Thai dish to try, right? After reacting to the server's expression, I asked for her recommendations and she suggested pad see yew or Pad pik sod so I choose the latter. soup or salad, and a spring roll comes with the order during lunch. I picked soup which was tofu soup. I also wanted to use my traditional appetizer to evaluate the restaurant- tod mun. Unfortunately, that's not on the menu so I tried the fresh calamari with sweet chilli sauce. 1) big plus for a nice environment. 38 seats + 8 more by the bar. Clean kitchen with friendly staff. 2) no traditional Thai or Asian music either. I was greeted with songs from an older crooner about London Town on a vinyl player. :-) 3) soup came and I was unimpressed. Looks good because it is a clear broth and you can see carrots and tofu with sprinkling of green onions and a sprig of cilantro. Taste is very familiar - home made beef bullion with water. It was also too salty for my preference and I had to add water to dilute it. 4) spring roll is nice and compact but too greasy. My recommendation is you let it sit on a paper napkin for a couple of minutes to soak up the extra grease before eating. The dipping sauce is pleasantly sweet. 5) my fresh calamari was battered. That is not a bad thing if done right but in this case, the batter is too thick. So thick that it was still soggy inside on some of them and a couple were stuck together. I removed the batter to eat the calamari. Sweet chili sauce is your usual grocery type, nothing to write about. Few things that will made this better. If using store bought calamari rings, they tend to be skinny so use very light batter, not the doughy type. Use doughy batter is the inside will also be soft, like banana. 6) pad pik sod is simply stir fry chicken with vegetables and a few slices of green chilli, served with rice on the side. Rice is good. I asked for mild spiciness because I was told their average level can be spicy. Vege used is fresh so that's good. Friend said they have wok hey, I disagree. With some wok hey, the vege or chicken will have some charred areas but none in this dish. More like cooking the ingredients together with the sauce and bringing it to boil. The sauce is also too salty and sweet. Not my type of food. I recommend readers ask for less saltiness when ordering this dish. Otherwise all you taste is the salt and sugar. I say this is not traditional Thai and the food is average and they have room for improvement.
(3)Supanut R.
The taste was exactly the same as Thailand. It was really fantastic ! Please, order some special menu that the waitress offered, you will have some special Thai meal, which sometime is rare. Also, the service was really great ! They are really friendly. I've dined here for several times and everything is just perfect! THE BEST THAI RESTAURANT IN MADISON !
(5)Angela K.
Absolutely my new favorite place to eat! First time we tried this place we ordered take out, the order was ready at the time we asked for and it was piping hot when we got home. They also do delivery and it was fantastic when we tried that out one night. Order was delivered in record time and just as good as getting take out. The food is amazing, I haven't been disappointed with anything I've gotten from there. The cigar rolls taste just like another app from a different restaurant that has slowly been losing my business over the year. I would highly recommend MS to anyone, its worth it.
(5)Brett H.
Have eaten here twice since it opened, and it is our new favorite Thai restaurant in Madison! The location is ideal in the neighborhood, and the staff is the most friendly you'll find in town. The fresh rolls and cigar rolls are both excellent appetizer options. My favorite dish is the Spicy Roasted Tofu with Basil on the vegetarian part of the menu. The tofu is seasoned to the point that it tastes like actual meat, and it is perfectly spicy without being too hot. We have also tried the Pad Thai and Pad See Eaw and both are great, as well. Try this place out, you won't regret it. I really hope they stick around!
(5)Anna Z.
More love for Monsoon Siam! The food was delicious, and the waitstaff was kind and attentive, without being overly so. You could tell this was the kind of place that the owner and employees were proud of. And with good reason! Most of the food we had was great, but the real stand outs were definitely the papaya salad (as others have said!) and the khao soi, which might be my favorite one-dish meal ever (the only other place in town I've been able to get it is Sa-Bai Thong, and there you have to know to request it, as it's not on the regular menu). Our table also ordered the spicy eggplant (good, but not amazing), the pad ginger (lots of good ginger flavor!), and the lemongrass chili tofu (beautiful presentation, but the tofu texture was lacking--really the only reason for 4 stars instead of 5). Oh, and we also had a baby with us, who was treated kindly, even amid some fussing. We will be back!
(4)P J.
I would give more stars if Yelp allows me to! I have been searching for an authentic Thai restaurant since I got to Madison 2 years ago and I have not been to a Thai restaurant here that met my native tongue's expectation until I went to Monsoon Siam! This is a new Thai restaurant in Atwood neighborhood. The owner is a native Thai who owns a Thai restaurant in Charlottesville, VA and moved here because her husband accepted a job as a professor at UW. Their menu is extensive and has several signature Thai dishes (including variety of vegetarian options) but also reasonably priced as well. The atmosphere of the restaurant is clean, nice and modern. There is a parking space behind the restaurant (it is situated in a business complex/apartment). I went with a large group of friends and we tried variety of dishes ranging from Chicken Satay, Kanom Jeeb, Num Tok, Papaya Salad, Pad cashew nut, pla pad ped (deep-fried tilapia fillets in special chili paste sauce), pad see-ew (stir-fried rice noodle with chinese broccoli), drunken noodle, and pineapple fried rice. All of them were flavorful and we enjoyed our meal so much that each of us ordered extra to go home! (oh, we also tried some desserts including mango sticky rice and they were awesome!). We are so glad they came to Madison and hope they will continue to serve us authentic Thai food. Definitely a new go-to place for me. I highly recommend this place if you are interested in trying out some authentic Thai dishes. The staffs are very friendly and they can accommodate your taste preference/spiciness level (which is also listed on the menu)
(5)D. M.
The first time I went I was impressed, the second time it was closed when Yelp indicated it was open (Sunday it is closed between 15:00-17:00). Still I plan to return because I think there is a lot of potential here. Third time is a charm, I got in for lunch tried two new dishes and the papaya salad all were great. If you are going exclusively for Thai in my opinion this might just be the best Thai place in town
(4)Ryan S.
Looking over my other reviews, it seems I really only review a place if I love it or hate it... I guess I just can't get it up to review unless I'm swooning or pissed. So, I feel just compelled to review this place, despite the plethora of 5-stars they've received in their short time here. I also have the urge (despite my annoyance at myself) to relate that is likely the most "authentic" (cringe) Thai food I've eaten in Madison, despite the prevalence of Lao-Thai-Vietnamese food all over town. The waitstaff made a point of letting us know that it's the only Thai-owned restaurant in the area (with so much Lao food here, which we love, I don't doubt it). It definitely conjures up flavor memories of traveling in Thailand, the same way other places bring back memories of Laos, and that's all I'll say about that... We've eaten from Monsoon Siam twice now, once in the restaurant (they must have been just recently opened as we were the only people there) and once getting take-out. The food was excellent both times... so far we've had: fried spring rolls, the ka pow crispy squid, massaman curry, the pad thai, pad fresh ginger, drunken noodles, papaya salad (best in town!), Everything was fresh, well-presented, and amazing. The fried squid was a standout, with a fairly light fried texture and spicy-sweet coating. If I had any gripes, it would be that take-out is just under the amount needed to really pig out multiple times, but 2 meals provided enough for dinner and lunch for 2 people, so what am I talking about? The waitstaff was super nice both times (even when I was just picking up), but more important they were ON IT and damn EFFICIENT. I don't know if they brought any staff up from NC (except for the owner-chef) when they opened this branch, but these people know how to run a restaurant. We'll continue to visit our favorite Lao-Thai places (Sala Thai 4eva!) in town but the addition of Monsoon Siam to the roster has taken it up a notch.
(5)Ri M.
After reading all the good reviews I got so excited to try this restaurant so I convinced my boyfriend to take me there today, I even showed him the pictures posted here on yelp so that I could get him into the mood, hey, some of us have to work a little bit harder to get to places you know. Once we headed there the address got a little bit confusing for us, we had to call the place to guide us. It is a very simple place, however, food was neatly presented on each plate, nice portion sizes and it really felt made with love and care. To start, we had to have the papaya salad, it was wonderful, sweet, tangy and spicy (we had teared eyes) but I don't mind, I would definitely order it again, it was so fresh and the shrimp on top was really good (it had like a very light tempura breading). For our entrees, My boyfriend had the River Monster (he joked saying"I hope I don't have to ask for a bigger table") but he didn't have to, it was a "monster Jr.":) anyway, this fish smelled and looked very good (he really enjoyed it to the last tiny bone), he had a cilantro lime sauce on the side and he liked it also. I had the Rama Tofu, the tofu was breaded and it came in a bed of broccoli with a delicious thick peanut sauce on top and some fried onions. On the menu it says the tofu it's crispy but it wasn't and that dissapointed me a little bit, for me, the star of the dish it's the sauce, if it wasn't for that it would have been bland. Our waitress was really nice. I'm sure we will come back hungry for more.
(4)Jirapa S.
Great food, really friendly people. If you want real Thai food, this is definitely the place you want to go. I am Thai, I love eating and I have been eating at every Thai and Thai-Lao restaurants in Madison. This is the best!! We ordered 4 dishes, and one of them was my favorite but it was not on the menu. I asked them if they might have it. They said they can make it, and It was wonderful! It feels like home. We were excited for food and we enjoyed talking to the staff, so I didn't take any photos. Everything was great. The portion is not too big, which is great because I can order many things. Monsoon Siam2 just opened one week before me and my boyfriend moved from Madison, which is sad, but we will be back every time we are back in town! Promise.
(5)Bethany K.
The food at Monsoon Siam was delicious. There were enough quirks and drawbacks in the service and ambiance, however, to make it unlikely that I return soon. We ordered tom ka soup with mushrooms as a starter and the spicy roasted tofu with basil and the spicy eggplant with tofu for entrees. The soup came with one spoon and I asked for a second. It came from behind me as the server passed it over a wall dividing the dining area from the kitchen over my shoulder, which was really awkward. I ordered brown rice ($1.99) with my meal, but white rice ($0.99) came instead. It took a long while before the server checked in so that by the time my brown rice did come, we had nearly finished our meal. Our plates were ice cold (though the food was hot) which wasn't a pleasant sensation. The soup and the entrees were all quite tasty, though the tofu in my stir fry was more deep fried than stir fried (as advertised). The portions were adequate, but I had no leftovers like I usually look forward to at Lao Laan Xang. The roasted tofu entree comes with a side of steamed carrots, snowpeas, and cabbage that were essentially a flavorless plate filler. A final drawback: the restaurant was freezing. It was so cold that we ate in our winter jackets and stared at the video playing of a fireplace hoping it would help. The kitchen staff and some of the servers were wearing hats and gloves to stay warm, and other patrons were dining in their big winter hats. Given that I had sought out Monsoon Siam for a hot, fiery meal to ward off the January cold, a cold restaurant was definitely a turnoff. I'd order delivery from here in the future, provided they remember my brown rice. I'll likely wait until summer to try dining in again because I just don't want to be that cold when I'm eating.
(2)Philip R.
Great service, great food, and incredible fried ice-cream! I like the sun dried beef a lot. Happy to have this place in my neighborhood!
(5)Phillip L.
People be buggin about the sun dried beef. So I ordered it. It's aiiiiiiight. The texture is great but I was mislead when I read Sriracha on the description. Thought it was gonna be marinaded with it, not get it on the side. Drunken noodles was the litmus. Was good. Not about to slap my mama over how good it was...but not about to slap the chef for a refund either. Those cigar rolls looked unappealing. Looked like Mutombos long ass fingers. But they were solid. Wished for more spice in that curry, but the "demographics" prolly wouldn't be down - and you gotta keep those door open for business so I feel ya on that. Papaya salad was BOMB. And why? The fish sauce dressing was what I hoped for and it was there. Don't serve it to those vegetarians without it. Treatin papaya like noodles is genius. I'd hit it again but dine-in this time.
(3)Kate O.
We ordered take out and was very pleased. Their green chicken curry was AWESOME. Be ware, it has a MAJOR kick!! Holy spicy, my tongue and lips are on fire. But so good you just cannot stop. We also got the shrimp fried rice which was also good but the green curry sticks out most so I will have to try another curry next time. Delicious! The curry is 5 stars for sure!!!!
(4)Lizzie S.
Dine here and your life will never be the same. The service and food cannot be beat. The food is SO delicious. The Crying Tiger is my favorite; I highly recommend.
(5)Erika K.
Had chicken satay and fresh rolls for appetizers, then pad Thai and mussaman curry for entrées. Delicious! Would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves thai food! Good price, fast service
(5)kate c.
We had the cigar rolls, Tom yum with shrimp, green curry and pad pik pow. Best was pad pik pow- it was very flavorful. Tom yum was good but not as complex as others I've tried. Portions are large. Everything was fresh, spicy and tasty. Good service. Highly recommend.
(5)Elyse M.
Great food, ordered for pickup and they had our food ready quickly. We had pad Thai with seafood and tofu plus chicken satay. Great light sauce paired with peanut sauce!
(4)Nate O.
So the food was good... But when they delivered my order they forgot my Thai ice tea and when I called they told me that they were to busy to bring it out me! Then I asked for a refund and they said that they would take my name down and give me free one with my next order... Good food weak service!!!
(1)Nina O.
Our meal was fine, but the decor was very spartan. I don't honestly remember much about this meal, so A-Ok it is.
(3)D B.
Our new favorite Thai place amongst many good choices. Nicely executed dishes ranging from the expected to the unexpected. That crazy-spicy fried tilapia thing is great--wow. Drunken Noodles are excellent too. Tiny little space, but service is good. Even take-out Pad Thai is really good. Been here four times and it's 4-for-4.
(5)Christina P.
I only gave this place a 4 because I have never actually dinned in. The food is sooo good. I have done take out a couple of times and constantly crave the green curry. It's actually spicy too. As someone who grew up on Thai food, it is very hard to find places where 'spicy' is actually spicy. Would recommend on food alone!
(4)Madison F.
Very good depth of flavor on all of the dishes I had. I liked the glass noodle with crab and bok choy the best. Quality and attention to detail in the food was outstanding. Only disappointment was the rice. Mine was a little mushy. But this can be easily fixed. Ordering online for pick up was super fast and packaging was superb.
(5)Linda L.
Papaya salad was too sweet for my taste. The Tom Yum was delicious! My sister ordered the drunken noodles which she thought was a bit salty. My fiancé got the prik sod which he liked with the exception of biting into a few very spicy pepper by mistake. Overall food was a 4 star. While our server was friendly, the service was extremely slow. We waited 30 minutes to order, an additional 30 minutes to get our food. Which was sad because the people that arrived after us got their check at the same time we did. We waited 20 minutes to get our check. I might order take out next time. Only dine in if you have plenty of time.
(2)B R.
I can tolerate bad service in an Asian restaurant, if the food is good. This was not. Dry, bland, "Americanized" Thai food. How does a Thai place screw up Pad Thai? Walking in this place was a mistake we won't make again.
(1)Patrice L.
I stumbled on this place between meetings. When you enter you are greeted by friendly weight staff. I was seated right away. i ordered the Panang Curry with chicken, which is my go-to in Thai restaurants. The portions were long and the food came quickly. The prices are also reasonable. Of the various Thai places i've been too in Madison this curry was the best! (better even than hay long bay - which is where I normally go for Thai - fusion) In fact the curry reminded me of a Thai restaurant that i frequent back in New York City. I look forward to coming back to Monsoon Siam again and trying some of their other dishes.
(4)Autumn A.
This place is amazing -- and I want to shout it from the rooftops so that their business is successful and they stick around (though not so successful that there's a 3-hour wait on Friday nights...). As far as I'm concerned, ALL of the other Thai restaurants in Madison serve a terrible approximation of Thai food, but this one is the real deal. We ordered the Papaya Salad, Ka Pow Crispy Squid, and a chef's special called Southern Heat. It was a lot of food for two people (and less than $30) but it was so good, we ate every single bite. (Except for the steamed vegetables on the side, which I think the kitchen might want to reconsider, as they don't add much to the meal.) The restaurant itself is fine (nothing special, but comfortable and clean), and the staff were super-friendly, but the real reason to go is the fresh, flavorful, authentic food. You know when you can hear someone hammering away on a mortar and pestle in the kitchen that it's going to be good! I agree with the reviewer who said they would give it six stars if they could, mostly because great Thai food has been so sorely lacking in Madison, and I'm so happy that Monsoon Siam fills that gap.
(5)Aaron K.
Excellent everything - including the service! Seriously, you won't be disappointed. Stopped here while in Madison for business.
(5)Catie G.
Absolutely fabulous. Had the chicken satay, dried beef, and pad cashew nut. I couldn't get enough of it all, so delicious! The staff is super friendly and sweet. Only reason I wouldn't give it 5 stars is we tried to order delivery a bit late and were told we could from the restaurant and to call a different delivery number, but the delivery number said they were not open. A bit complicated with no result!
(4)Victoria B.
I've always been a fan of Ha Long Bay for takeout curry in the Wil-Mar neighborhood but Monsoon Siam can definitely hold its own in a 1on1 battle. On a Friday night for takeout, the order was ready in 10 minutes and their staff was kind and efficient in quickly saying hello and checking me out both on the phone and upon my arrival. The chicken red curry was delicious with a pleasing amount of kick. It was pretty slow inside for a Friday night but upon reading another Yelpers review, I wonder if folks were enjoying the beautiful outdoor seating.
(5)Chy L.
We arrived with the idea of getting carry-out but noticed they had nice outdoor seating area in the back of the building. We were greeted right away by a smiling waitress with water in hand. We ordered the papaya salad ($8), pad see ew with beef ($9.95), and drunken noodles with chicken ($9.95). The papaya salad arrived with two warm jumbo, skewered shrimp, which is a nice addition compared to other Thai restaurants. The young green julienned papaya were crisp, however was sadly drowned in salt, and too much sauce. There was two shots of juice remaining on the plate. The portion left something to be desired as well. The pad see ew contained the correct, pillow-y rice noodles, generous and equal portions of Chinese broccoli, scrambled eggs, and beef. The sweet and savory soy sauce was distributed evenly among the entire dish. The drunken noodles was done very well. It also contained, cooked to perfection wide rice noodles, and sweet and spicy sauce. It was welcoming to have perfectly balanced vegetables and chicken mixed throughout. Our dining companions ordered the fried rice dish and really liked it. The spring rolls appeared satisfactory, appearing to have generically identical shape and texture. I would not think twice about coming here again. Next time I'd skip the appetizers and go straight for the real stars of the show - the entrees.
(4)Lonnie M.
This unquestionably will be my new fav go to for Thai food. Took the fam there for late dinner. What a pleasant surprise to say the least. They close at 9:30 and we walked in after nine and they were super friendly and welcomed us with open arms!! We started with fresh rolls like cold spring rolls. They were different and delicious with carrots lettuce and mango with a peanut spread. Then Tom yum soup, thee best I've ever had. We all tried different entres which were delicious. Everything tasted fresh and the portions were large. I had Thai tea with lemon, like an Arnold Palmer with more flavor, it was a real treat. We will definatly be back in fact my daughter said since they deliver to have the food ordered next time she's in town. I noticed they have lunch specials for 7.99. Can't beat that. The place is small but prices are reasonable and the place looks clean. They have beer and wine and a large selection of nonalcoholic drinks which I really liked. Their menu has a great selection for anyones taste buds.
(5)Belinda L.
I expected a lot after reading the reviews and hearing raving recommendations from close friends who share the same likings for food. And it was with great anticipation that I came here with a bunch of friends on my birthday for lunch. The experience was meh. Not that the food wasn't ok, I thought the food was actually pretty good. We share the lemongrass tofu, the green curry, drunken noodles, yellow curry and red curry. For most of their dishes, especially those curries, they offer custom level spiciness to suit your taste buds and adventure. We were not that brave to try the highest level of spice, but we had a 3 star for the green curry, and 2 stars for the red and yellow. I love spicy food, but that said the 3 stars was a little too spicy for me, bearable, but 2 would make it less painful to go through the entire bowl of curry I feel, just fyi ~~ But that said the curries were delicious. I love the tofu! It was so soft on the inside. The lemongrass sauce and bok choy really enhances the taste of the tofu being light yet fragrant. I'm glad that lived up to expectations. We also tried their thai iced tea, but were not too impressed either. So what was the problem? Service. There was only one waiter the entire time. Since it was lunch period they were busy and one person simply could not handle the crowd no matter how efficient you are. He forgot about one person's orders and also a thai tea as well so we had to remind him. Also, we had asked for split checks, but the waiter mixed up almost the entire table's orders. So what was written on the receipt was completely different to what we were actually charged on our cards. It was such a mess, and overall not the best experience.
(3)Steve L.
By far, still the best tasting Thai food in all of Madison - seriously. But the service continues to suffer. I've dined here around 4-5 times over the past few months and have tried to call for carry-out a few times. + Food: 5-stars. Truly outstanding. Every single thing is spectacular. + Great quality, good value + Interesting tap selection, and good prices, including happy hour specials - Very small bar area, but it's quaint and cozy + Servers are extremely friendly and personable My biggest gripe has to do with the last two visits... I called to order carry out (I live about 2 blocks from here), and both times, no one answered the phone. It rang 5-6 times on each try, and then went to a voicemail box, that was full. I called back several times over a period of 30-minutes or so (both days) and never got an answer. Upon walking over, sitting at the bar, and placing my order, I could hear the phone ringing throughout the entire store. Sometimes it was answered, other times, not. And granted, neither visit was super busy. There were a modest number of customers there, but no one was waiting for a table, nor was it super packed. On the last visit, the bartender/server took my order for food (to go). I indicated I'd like to get a glass of wine, and she said, "Sure thing - I'll be right back." And then never came back. Well, that's not entirely true... she went back-and-forth to the bar several times to get other items, but never followed-up. The food arrived, and I waited to pay. I had to flag down the bartender so that I could pay for my food; she gave me the, "Sure thing - just a minute" response, and again, I waited for easily 10 minutes before I decided to leave cash on the bar and leave. I don't understand it. I really do like the place, and I like the people that work there. Just wish they were more accountable/responsive. So... food? Can't beat it. Service? Spotty. Carryout? Very challenging.
(3)Dan L.
Really good food with really slow delivery. The first time we called, they put is on "hold" for a few minutes before hanging up. Hold is in quotes because you could tell that someone just put the phone on the counter. The second time we called we got a message saying that voicemail wasn't set up for the number. Third time's the charm, and we actually managed to place an order. They told us delivery would take 40 minutes and it took over an hour and a half to arrive. 4 stars for the food, 1 star for the delivery service.
(3)Corey D.
Ok, here's the thing. Monsoon Siam has become my east side jam. I'm here at least once a week it seems for meetings, solo lunches, take-out, whatever! It's just sort of a perfect place! And the fact that they totally did the outdoors up for Halloween just makes me smile! Recently I've fallen in love with anything that includes tofu. Not normally a soy fan, I have to say these folks know how to cook it, and they know how to sauce it up so it's plate licking good! The fried tofu is insane, and the lemongrass tofu on the fist page of specials is just plain nuts. Deep fried lemon grass? Yeeeeeassss. I like that lunches come with your choice of soup or salad and a small lil spring roll. It's a good amount of food for around seven bucks, and faster than a speeding bullet. I sat down and placed an order last week and could barely get comfy before my order was up.
(5)Jessica F.
Sooo..I came here on a very empty stomach, after not eating a thing at all for the last 22 hours, I was very hungry. My roommates suggested this as soon as I got home, I was so very down from some Thai food. We started our meal off with the Chicken Satay, that came with a cucumber relish that to me resembled almost like a vinaigrette, and as well as a peanut sauce, which I wasn't too fond of, but my roommates loved it. We also got the Cigar Rolls as well which was almost like a spring roll, but had potato, peas, and onion in them, and came with a sweet and sour sauce...fantastic! I ended up ordering the Kao Pad Ka Pow, a fried rice entree (with three little chili peppers next to its name...so I was of course drawn to that.) Ka Pow had nice big strips of red bell pepper, and onions, and a few smaller bites of chili atop a bed of jasmine fried rice in a garlic spicy cause and a few basil leaves. So so good. I ended up eating maybe a fourth of it, probably because I was scarfing down the first few bites. But I gladly have my left overs in the fridge ready for tomorrows lunch at work. I'm giving only 4 stars because the staff was a bit off to me. One waitress had a leopard head hat on, and was on her phone constantly. But everything else was very inviting, awesome environment, kind of a cozy little place.
(4)