Chaiya Meditation Monastery Monthly Food Fair

What a great little get together with Thai Laotian monks making authentic food. Can’t believe I stumbled upon this little treasure it made me feel so homey! Food is great and reasonably priced, made with lots of love ! It taste real, almost telling a story of who mAde it

OMG! I lived in Vegas for a year and my house so close to this temple but I never knew they have food fair here. Anyway, now I know where to eat cheap Thai food lol. Today I went there a little bit late (we get lost lol) but still have some foods to buy.

My hubby and I discovered this food fair a couple of years ago. Never bothered reviewing it so as to keep this gem of a find our best kept Thai secret. Awesome pad Thai, mouth watering pork bbq, piping hot noodle soup, all kinds of rice cakes and desserts, hubby’s fave sweet roti etc. Up until a few months ago, there was not much of a wait to purchase the above goodies from the different vendors selling these delicacies. We would go back and forth, hopping from one vendor to another until our cravings are satisfied.
This morning, we got there around 9:30 am coming straight from church service (my mom’s visiting so hearing mass is a first above all else on a Sunday morning). As soon as we drive through the gates to the temple, we saw lines of about ten deep in front of each of the vendors!
I went straight for the pad thai and put in my order. Got in third page half way down! I asked how long is the wait, was told about 45 minutes. Went next for the bbq and ordered. I was surprised, there never was a line for this in the past! My order was listed just about half way the second page and wait time was about 30 minutes. Uugghh! I was getting frustrated. Went to the end where the noodle soup was. There was a line as well about six deep. Fell in line and a bit relieved it was pretty reasonable wait, about 10 minutes. Still…
So got our soup fix, waiting for the pad thai and bbq, I probably went back and forth about 3 to 5 times checking on the status of my order.
In between I met a couple of friends, did some people watching, checked out some of the other goodies that we have not had before.
Eventually got my orders about 2 hours after!!!
Despite this rant, which is like preaching to a choir, I am still subjecting myself to the endless lines and wait times just to have the pleasure of this deliciousness that Chaiya food fair has to offer. After all, it’s only once a month and the excitement of looking forward to these mouth watering delicacies is worth all the hassles.
See you all next month!

I go to the food fair to help raise money for the monastery. I stay for the roti.
The people that work the fair are so nice and seem happy; I just love it!
Prices are reasonable and the food is yummy. The process can be a little confusing to new patrons, but there are many volunteers that are more than willing to assist. Parking can be challenging but if you are patient a spot will open up. If you are looking to get the pork skewers or pad thai be sure to get there early… like 8:30 am! The wait for these items can be really long and when they give you an estimated time of your order completion — it is just an estimate — and not a good one. I have been told that it would be 45 minutes for pad thai and almost 2 ours later I got my order. Take whatever time they give you and add 30 minutes. Also watch out for line jumpers. I don’t think it is always on purpose, it might be a cultural thing. My Mom does it sometimes too and she never means to, she just gets excited. Must be the smell of roti in the air!!!
The seating is outdoor and communal which just adds to the whole experience.
Enjoy good food, new friends and helping others on the last Sunday of every month.

Wanna go eat thai food at 9 in the morning at a monastery in Las Vegas? Sure, why not?! This crazy city never ceases to amaze me.
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Went on Sunday 1−31−16. There is a tiny street on Rainbow between Robindale and Windmill called Santoli Ave. and that is the best way to get there. It is right in the middle of housing subdivisions. The monastery is quite beautiful and I wish we could have seen the inside of it.
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There is no fee for parking and there is plenty of room in a dirt lot outside the gate. There is a pretty big curb to drive over so if you have a car that is really low to the ground you might have to park on the street and walk a long ways.
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There was no admission fee and you just walk right up and get in one of the lines. We started at the end and worked our way to the entrance. We had phở, egg rolls, donuts, cupcakes, pad thai, and pork skewers and spent less than $ 30. They also had fresh vegetables, confectioneries, and various pastries for sale.
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The food was delicious but believe me when I tell you this place is CHAOS. There is no signs on anything so you just hop in a line and pray it is something good. Workers/​volunteers were frazzled and downright unfriendly because they were so overwhelmed. It think the word is getting out about this event and there are just too many people for them to handle.
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We stood in the donuts line for 45 minutes and when we finally got to the front we stood there for another 30 minutes or so while they made donuts for Thai people who kept walking up to the side of us. I didn’t say anything because I don’t speak Thai so for all I know they might have been waiting longer than us or had called ahead. My husband was ready to leave but I was like DAMMIT WE’VE BEEN STANDING HERE FOR AN HOUR AND WE ARE GOING TO EAT SOME DONUTS! I think if they would just cut an order down to five instead of ten it wouldn’t take so long to get them. They were good but they weren’t «wait an hour good» if that makes sense.
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It was really cool to see the monastery and to sample the delicious foods and I’m sure it went to a good cause but it’s a one and done for me. If you haven’t been, I definitely recommend checking it out.

Love this monthly event! Good food. Nice people. Great prices.
I try to bring out of town guests if the timing is right. Which is why I’m posting this review today:
Just called and learned that the monastery WILL be having a food fair this month. Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 20, 2015.
The event isn’t listed on the monastery’s website but it IS happening.

This Thai temple is really hidden. on virtue all the way to the end, follow the curve and you’re there. Beside being a very new and nice temple to pray. They also sale food monthly.
There is two ladies sitting in the front changing your money into token, and they post next month date. They have pork skewer 4 for $ 5, it’s not bad at all (no beef or chicken), Papaya salad (in my opinion it’s not good) but a lot of people order it… pad Thai made to order $ 5 a box, it’s alright.
WaFried pork and taro won ton, Thai ice tea, varieties of fruits and veggies (I usually by the fresh kaffir like leaves and Thai chili when they have it.
They have a lot of different desserts mostly $ 2 each. My fav. Are the desserts
Last stall is the noodle soup w/​pork ball and pork meat. It’s my favorite, very tasty and cost $ 5 a bowl

Thanks to fellow Unilocalers who have really spread the word about this event, I finally made it out! (Thanks to Katherine and Abby for their encouragement, I think I missed you guys! And thanks to Terri for her advice prior to attending)
Off Rainbow and 215, the monastery is not seen from major roads. It’s is aptly located on «Virtue Drive». There’s plentiful parking both within the monastery and just outside the gates. I heard rumblings of the infamous chicken pad thai line, and thought I had gotten really lucky when I saw no humungous line present over the stall. In my rookie ignorance, I didn’t realize the wait was so long, you actually put your name on a list (which was already 2 pages long by the time I got there), and you get your food when your name is called. If you are not around when they call your name, they’ll give your order to the next person in line who is around. We waited 40 minutes for our pad thai, which was fine since we could walk around the other stalls and see what others had to offer. Some of my favorite offerings were the chicken curry puffs, this sweetened pork in rice flour and their roti (which wasn’t crispy, but had a lot of flavor). There’s so many more things we could have dined out, but I think we did good for our first go around. Everyone seems to use very fresh ingredients and the quality of items rival that of busy Thai restaurants in SF and Vegas. There’s plenty of covered carport seating if you’d like to eat there or they can wrap up everything for you to go. I very much appreciated the friendly community vibe of the folks attending and it was a great way to spend a Sunday morning.

Today I’m sharing some insider information on the best monthly food festival that Vegas has to offer! It’s the valley’s best kept (not so secret) and you’ll reget not coming sooner!
This popular Thai food fair happens on the last Sunday of every month. They’re a non-​profit organization selling delicious, cheap and authentic Thai food, dessert, unique produce and snacks prepared fresh on-​site. Your purchases are the funds that keep their monastery running. We love supporting this cause! The ladies volunteering the event are on top of their game and very eager to sell you all of their tasty eats. Most of them travel here from Los Angeles, so you know they are dedicated! We come every month without a second thought. Keep in mind they are getting busier and busier as the word spreads, so of course the earlier you arrive, the better. The event starts at 9 AM, but I’ve seen overzealous fair fans show up at 8 AM. If you wish to dine there, they accommodate you with covered seating under car-​ports with fold out tables and chairs, or you can take your goodies to-​go.
The menu changes unpredictably and seasonally, so don’t come expecting certain dishes — however, come and enjoy the in-​season offerings; we always find something delicious! Make sure you come prepared with cash, it’s inexpensive and for under $ 40 you can leave with a great selection of goodies and even set yourself up with food for the upcoming week! That’s what we always do! Our lunch for the week is convenient and delicious. I love it!
They sell an assortment of Thai and Laotian goodies ranging from $ 1-​$ 6, but I will mention the ones I’ve had the pleasure of tasting:
— Mango Sticky Rice $ 6 (Seasonal) Rated: ⁵⁄₅
— Chicken Pad Thai ($ 5 a box) — there’s a long wait for this as it’s the most popular dish here. I suggest putting your name down on the waiting list at this station right when you get here to secure your order (s) Rated: ⁵⁄₅
— Pork Satay Skewers ($ 5 for 4 skewers) — Very flavorful! Sweet, salty and tender pork grilled on skewers. I enjoy pairing these with the sweet roti! Sounds weird, but I love the sweet & salty combination! Rated: ⁵⁄₅
— Sakoo Sai Moo ($ 1 for 3) — Chewy tapioca dumplings filled with savory meat & mushroom and topped with fried garlic bits. I love eating these fresh, on-​site, since they are delicate and tend to get hard if you try storing them in the fridge. Rated: ⁵⁄₅
— Fried Meat Dumplings — Looks like wontons or gyoza, filled with savory meat and then fried into golden brown. Simple and nice, oily snack! Rated: ³⁄₅
— Fried Shrimp Chips — They look like fried discs made with baby dried shrimp. You can see the eyes, so maybe not for the faint of heart. Rated: ³⁄₅
— Thai Ice Coffee and Thai Ice Tea ($ 2 each) — A little watered down and maybe not my favorite version, but it’s nice to know it’s offered here if you feel the need. Rated: ³⁄₅
— Sweet Roti with condensed milk and sugar ($ 1 each) — These are ridiculously tasty! It’s unfortunate for the person trying to watch their diet. But hey, it’s once a month type of splurge so we always get it! They toast them up right in front of you with country crock butter and then top it with condensed milk and sugar which is then caramelized to golden brown. My only gripe, they are actually store bought roti, but a delicious brand at that! Rated: ⁵⁄₅
— Taro & Banana sticky rice — Traditional little wrapped treats in banana leaf. The sticky rice is moist and the filling is tasty! Rated: ⁴⁄₅
— Pork and meatball spicy and sour noodle soup/​you can ask for it non spicy ($ 5 each) — Another popular item that seems to always be present. It’s cooked on site, served piping hot with a soothing broth, and makes a wonderful warming breakfast! Rated: ⁴⁄₅
— Thai or Lao style papaya salad ($ 5 each) –Traditional, with different spice levels and not overpowered with sugar like you typically find at a restaurant. Rated: ³⁄₅
— Fried doughnuts with condensed milk (Similar to «Youtiao» also known as the Chinese cruller and also the Vietnamese version «Banh Quay») Rated: ³⁄₅
— Curry puffs ($ 5 for 7 small puffs) Taro or Chicken curry with kabocha squash pumpkin curry. These are amazing and very popular! You need to place an order for these a month in advance (Call the monastery to pace you order) Rated: ⁵⁄₅
— Veggie eggrolls ($ 2 for 3) Classic cabbage/​carrot eggrolls, maybe a little too simple and plain for me. Rated: ²⁄₅
— Fresh Produce: Okra, Lemongrass, Thai Basil, Kaffir Lime Leaves, Thai-​bird chilies & other unique produce. Rated: ⁵⁄₅
Don’t be overwhelmed and embrace the culture and local flavor this monthly food festival has to offer! Regulars are happy to give you tips if you are lost, also some of the volunteers speak English and of course they are happy to help you. We look forward to it every month and make an effort to not miss it!

Ohm…
Sunday morning, weather’s fine, feeling hungry…
Ohm…
Getting Pad Thai, there’s a line, very hungry…
Ohm…
Wait my turn, see pork skewers, I’ll take two…
Ohm…
Banana sticky rice, is that phở, something new…
Ohm…
Pad Thai ready, oh the joy, find a seat…
Ohm…
Eating well, maybe too much, people to meet…
Ohm…
Food is great, lots of choice, real good deal…
Ohm…
Wish this place, opened it’s doors, for every meal…
Ohm!

*** Unilocal 100 CHALLENGE 84/​100***
WOW just WOW! I’ve been wanting to go for months now but something always came up. Last Sunday I made it my mission to go no matter what! We got there at around 9:30 and I was pleasantly surprised there was a lot of parking in the area, I was dreading that part as I know this event is pretty popular, especially among my Unilocal friends, and rightfully so! The place was abuzz when we got there, you could feel the excitement in the air or maybe it was just me overjoyed at finally being there hahaha.
Being first timers, it was pretty overwhelming walking in a mass of people but everyone was really nice and courteous which made the experience much more favorable. Everything I tried was delicious, and very inexpensive for the portions you get. Did I mention the food was awesome and cheap??? Everything ranges from $ 1 to $ 5. Seriously, I’m kicking myself for not coming sooner but no love lost as I now plan to come every month!
For $ 40 we were able to take home a feast.
–2 Pad Thai ($ 5 each), a portion easily feeds 2 people. It was very flavorful, better than most of the ones I’ve had in restaurants.
–8 Pork Satays (4 for $ 5) I was delighted at the price especially when I’m used to paying twice as much at Filipino joints. Perfect balance of savory and a little bit of sweetness. Tastes a lot like the Filipino bbq sticks I’m accustomed to minus the price tag.
–5 Sweet Roti ($ 1 each) This was my first time having this and easily the best bite there in my opinion! I would have gladly paid $ 5 each for it. It’s drizzled with condensed milk and I believe fairy dust! They’re oh soooo addicting! I’m salivating now thinking about it, best when eaten right then and there but you could pop in the microwave for 15 seconds and voila!
–Fish cakes ($ 3), rice cake dessert ($ 2), 2 Thai iced tea ($ 2 each), popsicles (3 for $ 2), sticky rice ($ 1 each) and Thai basil ($ 1)
Even though I was heartbroken that they didn’t have the mango and sticky rice in season anymore, I was glad we went and experienced the tastes and sights at Chaiya. There are a lot more things I want to try, I can’t wait till next month!

Always try to attend this monthly food fair whenever they have them because all the food served tastes good and the prices are decent for the amount of food you get. I always get the pork skewers, sticky rice, Thai papaya salad, pad Thai, and soup. Best to go early as the stalls can get crowded lines and sometimes they can run out of food. Pad Thai especially, usually you are on wait list until they can prepare order. Last visit I had some soup and it was an awesome deal for $ 5!

Fun and delicious Thai food experience!
Get started early– I got here at 8:30 and it was still pretty empty, left at 9:30 and parking was getting full, cars were pouring in. Apparently, they start as early as 7:30.
Having read tons of reviews, I got on pad Thai list right away, for 2 orders, was quoted about 20 min. I actually took longer to pick it up because I was busy stuffing my face with noodles and buying meat on a stick.
Bought a bit of everything– roti, sausage, skewers of pork, some fried dough, noodle bowls. Didn’t spot the fried rice or curry pastries I’ve read so much about, bummer.
My daughter stalked the Popsicle people, swooped in with her dollar and got one, then was told to come get a second one for free when she was done with the first.
Bring a sturdy canvas tote, I filled mine to the brim and can’t wait to sort through all the goodies.
Take your time going up and down the row of tables, everyone is friendly and happy to answer questions about the food. It’s totally ok to point at everything and ask what’s inside.
At the entrance, you have an option to trade your cash for tokens, but either form of payment is fine.
There are tables and chairs set up, they do fill up pretty quickly, but I got most of my food to go and didn’t all that much feel like lounging in 100 degree heat.
Totally worth checking out!

This is the first time my wife and I have come and I must say it was everything I expected. Really good food, great atmosphere, and some awesome Thai culture. From when you enter, they’re these really sweet and pleasant ladies who greet you and they are responsible for changing your money out to these coins of equal value (I feel this makes it a lot easier to pay the vendors). By the suggestion from our good friend Nelson, as soon as you arrive it is best to place your Pad Thai order in right away. You’ll probably wait 20+ minutes for your order but it is well worth the wait, some of the best Pad Thai you’ll ever eat. In the meantime, enjoy all of the other food vendors, desserts, and the homemade popsicles YUM! Everything is very reasonably priced $ 1 — $ 6 so come hungry!

I look forward to the last Sunday of every month because Chaiya has a special place in my heart. And by heart, I mean stomach.
This is basically a small little food fair held in the parking lot of the monastery where all the funds raised goes towards the monastery itself. FYI, the lovely vendors here donate their time, money, and resources! They keep absolutely none of the profit.
The food selection is not that vast, but what they do have is always ace. In addition to food, they have home-​grown herbs and vegetables, desserts, and Thai snacks.
Here’s a rundown of the items I typically get:
— Moo Ping/​Pork Skewers: 4 for $ 5, grilled, juicy, and sweet, get it with the sticky rice ($ 1)!
— Pad Thai: $ 5, probably the most popular item, generous portion, cooked to order so may take some time, there is a sign-​up sheet
— Clear Pork Noodle Soup: $ 5, light, choice of thin or thick noodles, condiments on the side
— Thai Tea or Thai Coffee: $ 1, too sweet for me
— Ba Tan Ko/​Chinese Donuts: 50 cents a piece, dip in condensed milk, childhood favorite :)
— Roti: $ 1, filled with condensed milk and cooked with sugar until crispy
— Saku Sai Moo: 3 for $ 1, tapioca dumplings filled with pork, soft and tender, ask for veggies and fresh chili!
— The rice noodle dumpling next to the tapioca dumplings: 3 for $ 1, super soft, kind of oily
Other notable items are sticky rice with pork, sticky rice with mango, coconut milk dessert, and naam (fermented pork sausage).
My main gripe is that seating can be difficult to find because word has gotten out about this little gem. This year is the busiest I have ever seen! Great for business, but not so much for those looking to eat on the premises. However, you can always share a table with some friendly folks.
Everything is affordable and delicious and the proceeds go towards a great cause. Chaiya is one of the few places in Vegas that feels like there’s an actual community rather than a gathering of strangers.

I have been going to this food fair for awhile now but never had the chance to write a review. What’s great about this monthly fair is that all proceeds go to the monastary. The monthly fair used to be every 3^rd Sunday, they’ve changed it to last Sundays of the month.
Like on all the reviews you have to get there early to get a table, parking and the order for your pad thai. Today I just brought everything home, it seems that it’s getting bigger and bigger every month, which is a good thing. Bad is they can’t accomadate the fast growth.
Items ordered:
Phad thai– $ 5
Satay — 4 for $ 5
Chicken and rice– $ 5
Mango and sticky rice– $ 5
Papaya salad– $ 5
Sticky rice -$ 1 per bag
Fried fish– $ 5 this was with the dessert lady
Shrimp fritter and shrimp wonton combo — $ 5 deal of the day. They gave me lots.
Everything we had was good and some really good. You can’t really go wrong, you can see the moms, grandmas are cooking everything and it’s for a good cause.

Homemade Thai food prepared with love? Yes please!
Okay so first off you’re doing a good deed by contributing to a good cause (I don’t practice religion but I support anything that makes you a better person) Secondly you get cray cray delicious food at a bargain.
I visit this event which lands on the last Sunday of every month and they offer a plethora of delicious noms to indulge.
My go-to’s are the following: pad thai (holy bleep is it good and for only $ 5…are you kidding me!!!)
Mango sticky rice for $ 6! I’ll take 2 please!!! The portions are generous and delicious!
Satay — $ 5 for 3 sticks. Totally a bargain and super delish with a price to rival any food truck.
The sticky rice — sticky rice with banana and sticky rice with taro. I personally loved the taro and would eat enough of these to turn my butt diabetic. Omg I love these sinfully delicious treats so much and love how long they last in the fridge (4 days) is the longest they lasted until I killed them off.
Seriously take advantage of this event and set yourself up with lunch for the following week and kick back worry free to enjoy the flavors. I do have to mention the sticky balls they have are too die for and last a long time if you move them to a zip lock in order to avoid hardening.
Come and support a great cause and leave with a belly full of delight!
Renzo m

I came earlier this time. There was a lot of good food out but other foods that I experienced last time were either still being prepared or wasn’t around.
I finally got to taste the pad thai that has the long wait reputation. Mine at the time (8:43 am) had a half hour wait which wasn’t bad. I just took my time looking around at more treats. Was it worth it? Sure! It tasted great as my early lunch.

I found out about Chaiya way back in February but never had a chance to go until July, since it was always scheduled for weekends when I was out of town. I’ve stopped by the last 2 months and can now say that it’s the best place in town to get cheap, authentic Thai food! My favorites so far are the pad Thai, BBQ pork skewers, and Thai tea. Have yet to try the mango sticky rice everyone’s been raving about… haven’t seen it at the fairs I’ve been to. Hoping to be able to try it next time around!
The fair is staffed by the nicest volunteers that cook up homestyle eats to help raise money for the Chaiya monastery. Just make sure to show up early, otherwise the food will be all gone! That’s what happened to me the first time I went. No bueno. So get there at 9 am or earlier to have your first pick at all the great food!

How have I not written a review for this yet?!
This monthly food and fundraising event has been a nice treat in the Southwest area of town. In the past couple of years, it has really gotten busy though!
Once a month, usually the last Saturday, Chaiya Mediation Monastery holds this food gathering where you can grab homemade treats for $ 5 or less. It starts around 9 am and lasts until 12 pm or so. But these days, they run out of the popular food items way before noon. So come early if you want your pick!
You can trade your cash for tokens but it’s really unnecessary now since all the vendors take cash directly.
Among my absolute favorites are:
* Burmese Tea Salad — I love Burmese Tea Salad and I have not found one restaurant in Las Vegas that makes it. (If you know otherwise, please let me know!) The only thing is that it’s not a regular item there. It’s only been available a few times unfortunately. (Which makes me want it even more!)
* Mango Sticky Rice — Okay, who doesn’t love this Thai dessert? Sweet rice with ripe mangoes, what’s not to love? However, it’s a seasonal thing and they run out fast! You need to be there early to score an order.
* Pad Thai — Made to order and a bargain for the amount you get!
* Pork Satay — Made to order and $ 1/​stick. Put your order in and come back to get it later on. Some months it’s super tender, other months it’s only okay.
Other food items found:
* Hainanese Chicken and Rice
* Papaya Salad (spicy!)
* Curry Puffs (You need to order these a month in advance!)
* Soups
* Chive Pancakes
* Sweet Roti Pancakes
* Desserts
I was spoiled in the beginning because the Husband would head out and pick up the food while I slept in. It was a nice treat finding all these goodies waiting for me in the kitchen. But now it’s a much longer wait to get your food because it’s so crowded. Nonetheless, I’m glad the monastery is getting so much business and visitors. They could probably extend the amount of food vendors each month to accommodate the demand.
Side note: Cash only. There are tables and chairs in a shaded area, but it’s hard to get a spot these days.