Cheap Thai in Jacksonville?

Pavers · August 01, 2007, 03:12:59 PM

Fellow foodies, please assist me in my quest for tasty, affordable Thai food in Jacksonville!

Having recently moved to Jax from Chicago, I am accustomed to having my choice of a wide variety of Thai restaurants that serve a tasty bowl of noodles (Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Lad Nar, etc.) for like $7-8 a bowl. The restaurants are clean, but nothing fancy. But the food is great.

The Thai places here that I've been to are quite pricey! $18 for Pad Thai at Pom's?!? $14 at Lemongrass?!? And that's just for the most basic items on the menu. Yes, they are both quite nice places - white tablecloths and neat decor - but forking over ~$15-20 for a bowl of Thai noodles seems insane.

Are there any storefront or strip-mall type of Thai restaurants that serve quality, inexpensive Thai Food? I'd appreciate your thoughts and advice! Please point me in the right direction...

Bon Appetit!

-Pavers

jason_contentdg · August 01, 2007, 04:30:07 PM

I believe "Taste of Thai" on University Blvd would be your best bet.

alohameisha · August 01, 2007, 05:03:54 PM

The cheapest I know is Thai Cafe in OP right off 17.

teresangel · March 11, 2008, 02:36:31 AM

There used to be an awesome place in the Landing, great owners, and of course typical food court price range. They closed. The funny thing is they own the Cajun place instead. I'm told the bourbon chicken tastes much like the chicken from their old Thai place

Joe · March 11, 2008, 09:26:17 AM

Thai Palace on San Jose Blvd in Mandarin

blizz01 · March 11, 2008, 10:21:53 AM

This is probably blasphemous, but Mama Fu's Asian House on San Jose is REALLY good - it is, however, a chain fast/comfort food under the Moe's umbrella. I've had the Pad Thai in the HUGE noodle bowl & have never been disappointed. Hence the name, the menu is Pan Asian & is a mixed bag of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, & Vietnamese. Clean & cool.......

JaxByDefault · March 11, 2008, 11:49:23 AM

Taste of Thai on University is the best in town. The owner's son Justin used to have a great place in Murray Hill called Aurathai that recently closed, but he's running his parent's place (Taste of Thai) this week while his parents are abroad.

Go for lunch for a deal; the regular menu prices are good, too.

JeffreyS · March 11, 2008, 12:09:17 PM

I love Thai Garden off blanding in OP. 10.00 to 16.00 a plate. The green curry is my fav.

jaxlore · March 11, 2008, 12:20:33 PM

Taste of Thai is the bomb and the most affordable but Pattaya Thai on Baymeadows still is my favorite, probably in the same price category as the others you listed but food is out of this world and you get a good serving. There only down fall is there Thai tea, taste of thai has the best Thai tea. But both are worth a visit.

billbo · April 22, 2008, 08:09:21 PM

Mama fu's is the place off of San Jose and it's excellent for the price. Another place I have really grown to like is Pattaya Thai off of Baymeadows. It's wonderful thai food and it's not too expensive. Also, Thai palace off of San Jose and in the same shopping center as the loop is also pretty good.

2Qwick · June 30, 2008, 03:54:23 PM

I 2nd Pattaya Thai

Eazy E · June 30, 2008, 03:59:34 PM

Taste of Thai is your best bet, definitely.

ChriswUfGator · October 25, 2008, 02:44:58 PM

I just ate at Lemongrass the other day for the first time, and while the food quality was good and so was the service, the pricing is...uh...wow!

Being something of an amateur chef, I've cooked thai dishes before, and know that they are exceptionally cheap to prepare. So how my cashew curry chicken that consisted of 1/2 of a chopped up chicken breast, a few cashews, some curry, a few veggies, and some plain white rice, for a grand total of maybe $1.50, could wind up costing around $26 I have no clue. Actually, a majority of their entrees are $20 and up, which is nuts considering what it costs to make Thai food. Ditto on rest of the menu, including the $12 crab rangoon that's the same stuff you get for $3.99 from Wok n' Roll, the $13 Thai fried rice that costs $0.50 to make, the $14 padt thai that also costs maybe $0.50 to make, or the $10 for two spring rolls, etc. etc.

They have done a nice job with the decor and with providing good service, but at the end of the day it's still a strip-mall restaurant. The pricing is directly comparable to Pom's, but I'm not sure that the 'experience' is comparable. Their wine list is pricey as well. The total tab was around $170 for 4 people, which is absolutely insane for strip-mall Thai food. It is good, but at that price point, you can easily go to Pom's.

I used to like Aura Thai, which was expensive for dinner but had GREAT and reasonably priced lunch specials. Like $7.99 for thai fried rice, $6 for padt thai, combo's, and then for awhile they had unlimited refills on Thai iced teas. The portions were large, too. I really wish they hadn't closed.

alta · October 25, 2008, 03:15:42 PM

Pattaya Thai on Baymeadows is really good. There is also a place that is located in the Town Center by the airport called Green Pappaya that is cheap and supposed to be good. Haven't tried it yet though.

ChriswUfGator · October 25, 2008, 03:20:51 PM

Quote from: alta on October 25, 2008, 03:15:42 PM
Pattaya Thai on Baymeadows is really good. There is also a place that is located in the Town Center by the airport called Green Pappaya that is cheap and supposed to be good. Haven't tried it yet though.

I will give pattaya a shot, I have heard good things about them before! Thanks for the suggestion.