To Thai For

Wow, I eat a lot of Thai food and this was amazing! I had the pumpkin curry and fried rice, with vegetable tempura as the appetizer. It was all great. Service was good and the place was clean. A+ loved it!

This friendly, comfortable neighborhood restaurant offers excellent food as well as relaxed and welcoming ambiance. On the server’s recommendation we had the panang curry (with tofu) and the black sea bass with garlic black pepper sauce. We also shared thai basil chicken, green papaya salad and some sticky rice. All of the above was delicious and well prepared. I am looking forward to going back again soon to try more of the menu (though we might need to eat that curry again… mmmm).

Nice restaurant, clean with charming ambiance and live entertainment on Friday evening. The pumpkin chicken curry was delicious, the special of the evening. The tofu pad thai was nice, but a little on the sweet side. The papaya salad was good too. The pork chop house special was good too, though again on the sweet side. Good, affordable restaurant to enjoy with family and friends.

Went around 7:45 and the place wasn’t busy at all. Thought with all the good reviews, the place would be packed. Had their pad see u with chicken (delicious), panang curry with tofu (ordered it mild but it was fire cracker hot) and spring rolls (delish). When we were done, I asked the waiter about the spiciness of their curry and he said they could tone it down. Waiters were very pleasant and the food came out pretty quick.
Next time I’ll have to make a reservation on opentable for credit.

Best Panang curry on the island… hands down!
I just tried another spot tonight and it reminded me why Mondays are so dreary: To Thai For is closed on Mondays!
Panang curry with vegetables is my staple dish… However, I also like the green curry with tofu and the pad see ew. Most of the noodle dishes are good!
They have a full bar and table service for date nights but also have a quick take out service in case you feel like just lounging on the couch with a movie. Service is always with a smile!
Would love if they switched to a more eco-​friendly packaging though– styrofoam is so horrible for the environment :/

Great Thai cuisine here. Food is fresh and service is good. Had the green curry with beef, very flavorful and just the right amount of heat and fresh veggies. Decided to go with chicken pad Thai, which was tasty and on the sweeter side. Veggie spring rolls always a great way to start a hearty Thai meal, love the light, crispy rolls they serve here.

This place was nearly empty (two tables besides ours) from 11:45am to 1:00pm. Still, we waited 15 minutes for someone to take our order. Positive point — when I went and asked for a server someone came immediately.
We got Tofu Larb and Pad Chicken Pad Thai. I can’t stand larb, but my friend said it was good. It looked like a plate of tofu chunks, large lettuce leaves and carrot shards and smelled like fish sauce to me, and I did not like it when I tried it on her insistence. But, my friend really really liked it so, what do I know about larb?
I do know Pad Thai. I’ve been eating it for years in NY and HI in places where it is well loved and well rejected. I know it probably should have fresh bean sprouts and maybe mint leaves with p-​nuts optional (in this p-​nut allergy world). I know that it should probably be piled on the plate — a hill of delicately placed bright orange noodles. This is not what came to our table. We got a plate of pale orange-​brown noodles mixed with chicken and what looked like crispy egg. The noodles laid flat on the plate unadorned by anything — no sprouts, no mint, no nothing. It tasted spicy hot and bland at the same time; a new experience for me.
Also for the first time ever, we left a Thai restaurant hungry and went else where for dessert. Note: these were not lunch portions that we received. We ordered off the dinner (only
?) menu.
It was a bit annoying that I had to go ask for the check, but once again it was delivered quickly, so maybe this is how they do things at lunch.
The server was very friendly, which offset the lack of spontaneous attention.
I’ve eaten here before; it was a little better, but these two experiences combined do not = a return. There are so many consistently good Thai restaurants on Oahu to give this one a third try.

I thought that the quality of food was good but not great. We got spring rolls, yellow curry with fish, and a noodle dish with tofu. I felt it was kind of pricey for the amount of food you get. Four tiny spring rolls were $ 8. I didn’t like that the noodles were all chopped up into small pieces. I don’t know if that was intentional or just from the cooking.

As previous reviews stated, the panang curry was GREAT! and we got the 2 – 3 level spicy. We also ordered the pad thai, which was not that great, and was a bit on the ketchup-​y side. So what we did was use the panang sauce and put it on the pad thai and it was quite tasty! We also got the crying dragon salad, and it was NOT To Thai for, and we were crying because they definitely slayed the dragon. The meat (beef) was dry and cooked well done, and the fish sauce was too heavy. The prices are a bit high for Thai food. The panang is worth it, but the other two, aren’t. I would come back again for the panang… which is in fact to thai for… the rest so far, meh… definitely better.
p. s. they have a bar area in the back (small) with some bar stools… and one flat screen TV. they were playing the laker game when we were there.
service was great and fast! :) food came out also pretty fast as well!
the inside is quaint, mostly quiet, and the chairs have little cushions on them. bathroom was clean (i know the ladies want to know)-though they ran out of soap and were putting water in the end of the soap bottle to compensate :/

On a girls night out, there were four of us one day we came here for dinner and I remember it somewhat okay there was nothing particularly out of an ordinary or a shocking surprise.
We had the well-​known curry, all-​time favorite pad-​thai, a spiced soup, and some sticky rice.
There was probably another order I really do not remember to the detail and perhaps I was just happen to be at the self-​oppressing stage when I found everything to be plain and blair.
It nonetheless had reminded me that enlightenment indeed comes from within and little do we realize the protocol of being in vegetarianism.

Amazing food! I really like all their curries, papaya salad, spring rolls, but my favorite is their summer rolls! The place is nice and clean. I didn’t give 5 stars because the parking sometimes sucks and they are randomly closed. I’ve gone twice recently and they were closed both times during their business hours! I went out of my way too :(

I’m addicted to this place currently. My friend and I stumbled upon it about 5 weeks ago and since then I’ve been back 4 times, which is really saying something since I have very limited income.
My friend lives their curries and I admit they are tasty but my go-​to dish is on he noodle menu. I’m sure I’m spelling this horribly wrong, but Pad Segyu is awesome! It’s a chow fun noodle dish with broccoli, carrots, cabbage, and egg, in a sweet black bean sauce. I get it customized with no carrots and added onion with Beef. It’s $ 13 and is about two meals worth for me.
I love love love this dish.
They’ve also recently repainted and done some updating: their chairs were falling apart and the leather cracking and turning your legs black, so they’ve added cushions to all the chairs. It’s a great place to go in Kaimuki, and the food is well worth it!

Of the top 3 reasons why I miss Honolulu, THIS is reason number one. By far, TTF is my favorite restaurant to visit when I’m back home. It has so many good memories for me there – what can I say, I’m sentimentally attached. The owners are so nice and their mom, who IS THE CHEF is by far one the best cooks on the island.
TTF is really the only place I know of that serves Thai Kalbi. The thing that makes it so special is the unique marinade, glaze, garnishes, and seasonings that are used on the Kalbi meat. It is prepared more than likely in a very hot pan or wok, using a peanutty type of oil. Somehow the meat is browned lightly crispy on the outside, yet succulently juicy and soft on the inside. Combine that over hot sticky rice, and you have just created pure heaven.
Here’s how you know this place is the best: when you can’t order just one entrée for yourself, but you need to order two! TTF has the best basil chicken that is true to Thai flavor tradition. It is served using ground chicken, which is wonderful because it soaks up all of the juices and stays soft yet textured through the meal. Eat this with hot sticky rice as well and you’ll know what perfection tastes like.
To Thai For, I miss you every day. There is not a minute that goes by where I do not think about your wonderful flavors, textures, spices, and love/​passion for your food. I can’t wait to see you again…
*end psychotic ode to food*

I just don’t get it. The place feels like you’re in a hong kong thriller, the seats are so worn that your okole touches the frame of the chair because the cushion is too soft.
Then the food, geez. Have you guys never had good Thai before?
The pad thai was weird, pasty, no vegetables, and qiute an overdose with the fish sauce. The chicken in it was tiny and looked like tofu with specks of dots making it look like beauty spots. The papaya salad was drenched in sauce. And then the so called ‘Devil Chicken’ was a fried mess– if you get the popcorn style you’re basically asking them to give you fried pieces of dough because the chicken is either cut so tiny OR disintegrated in the fryer.
The only part they got right was the spice level. The asian waiter was cool, but the guy with the funny hipster haircut, i think he was the host— was sassy and shocked that «i’ve never heard anyone complain about the devil chicken’
And the worse part is how over priced the mediocre food was.
My wife and I fought after leaving this place because she insisted on cooking at home. I’ll let her win this one because To Thai For killed my wallet and my mood.
Step it up a notch for $ 14/​dish.

Sitting here at the bar having a refreshing Chang Beer and listening to the Blues!
Putting me in a Mello mood to relax and enjoy my Chicken Satay appetizer! This place ROCKS!

BEST THAI FRIED RICE EVER!!! I have recently discovered Thai food this summer and literally can’t get enough. A friend of mine brought me her and the food was so good I ordered another plate to take home for later!
My only complaint would be that I tried to go last Tuesday only to find out they are closed on Tuesdays :(
Def make a reservation if you want to go because this place is AMAZING and fills up quick because everyone knows it!

I wish the food served at To Thai For was to die for, but I think I’d rather die another day. That isn’t to say the food is bad, but it was anything special in comparison to other Thai restaurants I’ve dined at. The ambience is quaint — more homey than fancy — and the service was generally good.
My problem with To Thai For is the way the menu is the way is structured. Items don’t have a set price; rather, what type of protein you order dictates the price. For instance, if you order any soup, curry, noodle or rice dish, and/​or wok stir-​fry with chicken, pork, or tofu, then your selection will cost $ 12. (Beef is $ 13). If you want shrimp, squid, mussels, or fish, then the dish will cost $ 14. And, if you want the seafood combination, then your dish will cost $ 16. From a business standpoint, this is probably a very effective strategy, but I don’t think the cost of a bowl of Tom Kah is equivalent to the cost of Pineapple Fried Rice. After all, at other Thai restaurants, these dishes go for only $ 6 – 8.
As previously mentioned, the food itself was all right, but if compared to other Thai restaurants in other states/​cities, I would have to say that the food served at To Thai For would be squarely in the middle of the pack. I ordered the Tom Kah with chicken, which was satisfying and filling given that I needed hot liquid to help get over a sickness. There was a nice hint of lemongrass and a bit of spice that complemented the creaminess of the coconut milk. The veggies and chicken were all right, but it’s not hard to get those elements right.
I believe the restaurant has parking in the back, but we managed to find free street parking in front of the restaurant.
Overall, I think I would have enjoyed To Thai For if I hadn’t been spoiled by the cheapness of equally good Thai food at other restaurants. Nonetheless, this is a solid place for Thai food if that’s what you’re craving.

I thai for thai food! I’m eating my way through my bookmarks and To Thai For was next. It didn’t disappoint at all! Getting here was easy enough with ample parking if you arrive early or don’t mind waiting for a stall to open up (Municipal parking) or perhaps metered street parking (I paid $ 3.00 for 2 hours).
First off, the furniture is a bit dated and the feel is a little dark and dank. I was hoping that the food would be on a brighter note as I had invited family to come join me on a «first visit.» The seats are quite «cushiony and sinky» so don’t be alarmed if you feel like you’re sinking and needing a booster chair. My barely 90 lb cousin was sinking and she was the lightweight in our group. Seats and décor didn’t deter my decision to eat here — i was already committed.
We ordered Muay Thai Pork Chops, the special Pumpkin Red Curry and Chicken Green Curry — all with sticky rice (of course). We were asked if we wanted spicy-​spicy or mild spice. I was a bit hesitant with really spicy food but I was surprisingly pleased that our dishes were edible and not requiring a glass of milk on the side to quench the fire.
As an amateur vegetarian wanna-​be I ordered the Pumpkin Red Curry and honestly, I was so happy! If I didn’t have an ounce of shame I would’ve slurped that beauty of a dish up. The sweetness of the pumpkin stands out initially but then the flavorful punch of coconut curry and the moderate hint of «hotness» makes this dish sing a multitude of notes. Definitely a win!
I had a taste of the Muay Thai Pork Chops (again…still working on being a full fledged vegetarian /​pesctarian. I’m weak… don’t judge) and boy oh boy! It was tender with garlic and pepper skillfully infused in every bite. Winning!
Chicken Green Curry was also very good but I was obsessed with my Pumpkin Curry and couldn’t stomach another bite of anything.
The beauty of going with a group of people is that you can sample their dishes and share, I was so happy to have been able to sample more than one dish. This is a busy place and if you don’t arrive early you may have to wait. There is a bathroom on premise but it leaves much to be desired.

What’s in a Name?
I had passed by this restaurant several times as it shares the same Municipal Parking Lot with Happy Days, Café Laufer, Seed, Big City Diner, Earl Sandwich, etc. The name was so catchy that I mentioned it to my Unilocal friend, Cheryl S., and she said she was a big fan of the place! We agreed to go on my day off and invited our friends, Minky C. & Daniel C. who had just returned from their trip to Thailand.
When I walked in, I felt like deja vu. The bar looked so familiar, so I asked about it — yes… this space was formerly an Italian restautant. However, the interior was updated with red comfy chairs and modern décor. Cool!
We were seated right away and had the best service! Minky was happy to speak in her native dialect and eat authentic Thai cuisine! We had the Crying Tiger Salad, the Special of the Day: Crab Fried Rice, Deep Fried Fish, Muay Thai Pork Chops, and sticky rice. Since I’m really sensitive to hot & spicy food, I stuck with the Crying Tiger Salad with it’s citrusy flavors and tender slices of beef, the delicious Crab Fried Rice, and the sticky rice which I needed for the «hot» sauce of the Deep Fried fish. The Muay Thai Pork Chops were more on the peppery side, so I could handle that better than the fish. It was moist and yummy!
A great time was had by all! We got a chance to catch up with each other in a calm and beautiful atmosphere with exotic food and wonderful company! What more could one ask for???

Thai restaurants seem to be popping up all over town these days. On Waialae, for example, To Thai For is one among the many Thai restaurants in Kaimuki. Ask your friends for a recommendation and they will quickly swear by one and try to sell you on it.
For serious Thai lovers, an appropriate level of spice with balance of other unique Thai flavor is the deal maker of a dish. It’s fair to say we may even base our decision on which Thai restaurant is king based on this factor without taking into consideration non-​spicy appetizers, unusual and authentic dishes, and the quality of the Thai iced tea.
So back to the main point. Why To Thai For? For variety and authenticity, that’s why. Thai food lovers and newbies alike will find something to enjoy, and possibly even agree on a few appetizers to share. The curry dishes feature the kabocha red curry which adds a sweet, non-​sugary flavor to the otherwise spicy dish. By incorporating complex flavors, To Thai For offers a memorable and truly unique approach to popular curries and other dishes.
My favorite aspect of the restaurant is the bar seating which gives a closer, more personal connection to the shop owners. They are personable and keen on interacting with the customers, which gives it a truly small town feel, especially for Honolulu. The seating on the floor is surprisingly comfortable. I can’t stress enough how much I appreciate having chairs which give your back the support it needs through a relaxed, leisurely meal.
Parking in the Kaimuki lot can get hairy during peak hours, especially on nights and weekends. Plan ahead to reserve your spot, or try your luck at the metered stalls (free after 6p and on Sundays, holidays). Don’t forget that To Thai For is closed on Tuesdays.