Recommends

skrutiny

Joined 5 years ago

Fav Thai Spot in Philly. The best thai place I've found in Philly, so far. The taste has been consistent. Their 7/7 dishes are REALLY super spicy; they dont hold back.

They have mock duck, which is amazing in panang curry for vegetarians and everyone else, too.

BYOB. Reasonably priced. Often busy on weekends, it's better to call ahed and make reservations for groups > 4 ppl.

Negative: the thai iced tea is NOT good.

Recommends

ChairmanKaga

Joined 5 years ago

Best and most "real" Thai food in the city. Tamarind is easily the best Thai food in Philadelphia. I've been to Thailand recently, and this place compares rather favorably. Obviously every country has regional differences and everybody will say "no one cooks like my mother," but this is very much like the food I got in Bangkok.

First off, their food is very spicy, like it should be. They have a hotness scale of 1-7 which really is very hot. I eat extremely spicy food and sometimes a 4-5 here is too much for me. They have quite a variety of meat, noodles, rices, soups, and vegetarian options. Everything I've tried has been excellent, but I highly recommend the Drunken Noodles, and the Basil Beef/Pork. This place is so good it converted a friend's girlfriend who was terrified to try anything remotely foreign. One bite, and she's a dedicated patron to Tamarind!

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Zoomiespaz

Joined 4 years ago

Favorite Thai Place in Philly!. I always take guests to Tamarind when showing them around Philly. It is right on South Street, which makes it easy to find. The duck is amazing; so tender, and it comes in various flavors. My husband loved the duck with a curry sauce and I prefered the signature Tamarind duck, which has a sweet sauce. If you like Thai food, this is the place to go. There are so many delicious appetizers, many types of curry, and dishes that are not so spicy. You may order curry at different levels of spicy: 1-7. 3 or 4 is incredibly hot, so beware of being too brave. It is also BYOB, so bring a nice wine to share.

Doesn't Recommend

Michelle1997

Joined 5 years ago

Not for Thai Fans or Newbies. After dining at Tamarind, I pray that any first-time Thai samplers will not venture into this South Street restaurant. While the food was OK, it was sub par and there were very few authentic dishes to choose from. I had to settle for pad Thai because the noodle dishes I usually order (eg, Pad See Ew) were not on the menu. Also, there weren't any authentic Thai desserts available! I was craving sticky rice with mango or even the Americanized fried banana, but nope. All they had were some cakes. My Thai iced tea was made incorrectly as well.

For anyone obsessed with Thai food (like myself) or trying it for the first time, do not go to Tamarind. If you already have been, and think you don't like Thai, try someplace else.

Recommends

RCSandSCM

Joined 5 years ago

delicious, authentic thai food!. I lived in thailand and this is the real deal. make sure to ask for the papaya version of the som tom. we ate the steamed dumplings, pad thai and red curry. everything was fresh and delicious. restaurant was cozy, clean, and comfortable. waitstaff was very friendly. highly recommend.

Recommends

beatrice9sanctuary

Joined 7 years ago

Best Thai EVER!. This restaurant is fantastic. The food is great and always exceeds expectations. The curry is the best in the city, especially the ginger curry. It is a true gem.

On our last trip we got a chance to meet and compliment the chef. She was incredible gracious and unassuming. I wish I could eat here everyday!

Recommends

marisadz

Joined 6 years ago

Nice place, good food. Every time we've eaten here, it's been great. The food is authentic and the service is very attentive. Take their spice advice - it's accurate.

Recommends

bbethd10

Joined 6 years ago

great food, good price. I had a great experience at Tamarind. We tried a little of everything--soup, two appetizers, and entrees--and everything was delicious. I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. Bring a bottle of wine and you're set.

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dreamery215

Joined 6 years ago

Cozy Thai. I love this little BYOB! I've been difficult to impress ever since traveling to Thailand, but this place is definitely very authentic. The food is well prepared and they put thought into the presentation. Great for a date or with a few friends. Try the thai iced tea and ginger salmon...my favorites :)

Recommends

maryb_1973

Joined 8 years ago

Genuine Thai Food and Gr8 Prices. I love Tamarind. It is the best Thai food in the city. The owner and chef are Thais who come out to meet and greet the patrons.

I highly recommend this restaurant.

If you are dining with a large group, you must call ahead so that they can arrange the tables.