Sawan Thai Kitchen

We love Thai food, and have eaten it all over the US, as well as a trip to Bangkok including a private wedding cooked by the bride’s family, so I have a pretty good idea what it should taste like. This isn’t it. No bright flavors, no savory sauces, none of the things that make me love Thai. I had a beef stir fry and my wife the drunken noodles, and started with the delux appetizer with egg rolls, crab rongoon, chicken satay, and chicken dumplings. The app was adequate and vaguely Asian of some sort, but no different than what you get at a cheap Chinese place. The ginger sauce was the best part. The chicken texture was odd, almost friable or slightly rubbery, but not terrible.
The beef in my stir fry was the most tender I’ve had, but almost devoid of any flavor. Ordered 3 stars for spice, but completely lacking. The chilis in fish sauce I asked for to brighten up the dish was also lackluster when it should have set my mouth on fire. The drunken noodles was better for spice, but oddly sweet. Veggies were fresh, meat was good, portions good, and service was OK. Ambiance was very good, nice size inside, a pleasant place to eat.
But I doubt I’ll be back, the food had absolutely no character or flavor.

There is a reason they are on my speed dial for take out. Consistent, fresh and plentiful. Never disappoints.

Awesome. Superior service. Great atmosphere. My curry was spot on.
I enjoyed the spring rolls, crispy and served with a tangy sweet and sour sauce.
I also enjoyed that our meal was not interrupted by any calls or messaging on our cellular phones. Our carrier has no bars in that building.

Tried a new Thai restaurant on the Island. Food was fair, but I think I’ll be going back to Sawatdy. My wife had their veggie spring rolls and veggie fried rice, which she states both were a bit on the bland side in comparison to Sawatdy. I had the crispy parcels and the chicken salad. Meh… maybe I am a bit hypercritical because I have experienced authentic Thai food growing up in a southeast Asian home. Overall, Sawatdy’s comes the closest to reminding me of some semblance of my childhood… but it’s still pretty distant.

By far the best of the three Thai restaurants on BI. Service is attentive and conscientious and all of the menu items
we’ve had on multiple visits were really good. Atmosphere is very zen and they are always appreciative to have us there. We’ve never done take out, so will have to grab a take out menu on our next visit… wish there was an on line menu…

Best Thai I have had by far! From the flavors to the freshness to the aromas, the food was nothing but world-​class! The service was beyond excellent and very helpful when asking about the menu! I will definitely go back, no matter the occasion! Give Sawan Thai Kitchen a try l guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

You won’t find many reviews on this gem because it is far from the tourist scene and the favorite of locals who can afford the best, recognize true quality, variety, and value, and don’t need Unilocal to find their way back. Only fresh ingredients! Suited to varied Asian tastes! Fairly priced, every portion is comfortably sufficient for two. Take-​out is just as fresh and hot as dining in. This is a family affair where the owners, staff, and customers treat each other with graceful, friendly respect — something many families as well as businesses these days seem to have forgotten all about.

Very friendly staff and good food. The restaurant is located in an apartment building and isn’t visible from the road so, it misses out on drive by business. Restaurant is clean and décor is typical for Thai.

Hot and sour soup and the egg rolls are amazing!

We love heading to Lynwood center as it is so much closer to us than going to Winslow and let’s face it, there is a different vibe down here on the South end of the Island. This place does not disappoint. We went here on date night and my husband declared that we never had to try any other restaurants, as he loved his meal so much! I got the Drunken Noodles and he had the Pad Thai. Both were yummy and the service was great. I have only been to one other Thai restaurant on the Island, but this one was better, by far.

Ok, I really wasn’t sure what to expect, especially since it’s soooo close to my house. And Sawan being good and convenient… well, I walked in hopeful. And I must say, my expectations were happily met. The service and people were all friendly and attentive. We ordered the coconut chicken soup, beef salad, beef panang, and the chicken pad Thai. The soup had great flavor, the salad was really yummy, and the beef panang was great. I’ll agree with another reviewer that the pad Thai was a little sweet, but it was still tasty. Next time we’ll try the drunken noodles and give them a whirl. But, we will be back!

There are only a few places on Bainbridge Island to get Thai food, and I find this restaurant’s food to be the most acceptable of them. The spring rolls are delicious, but the phad thai is a bit «americanized» with the red color and sweet taste. (My personal preference is a more neutral looking color for phad thai.) The drunken noodle is a better noodle dish to order.

There are 3 Thai restaurants on Bainbridge Island. This is the overall best: for food, service and ambiance. The staff are mostly family and consistently good; unlike other Bainbridge restaurants that suffer from too many unskilled, inexperienced wait staff. The restaurant is not in Winslow, it is in Lynwood Center towards the south end of the island. Worth the trip.

Great family owned place. Been going here for years, the food is awesome and very reasonably priced!

Worst ‘Thai’ food ever. There is so much sugar in the food that I thought I was getting desert.
Doesn’t really resemble the food of Thailand much.
But the people are nice!

Great Thai food from a family that runs another great local Thai spot. Not sure how they are connected, but the food is great. Drunken noodles with chicken is great! I seem to think it was better at the other place so 4. Need to eat at both places during one visit to decide which gets the 5^th star. Maybe both? ;-)

I love the people here and the food!
I have been going to our island’s Thai treat since the day it opened.
I love their Traditional Pad Tha, I think it is called Pad Lao, and their special Sawan Salad. When I walk in now they know my order and my Gluten Free, Peanut Free and Soy Free needs. They are always happy to make adjustments and value their customers. Everyone that walks in is treated like family.
Their Coconut Soup is also very good. Lunch time they serve a cup of soup or a salad with an smaller entrée, but it is still a very good size meal at a good deal.
The location is in the Lynnwood Center neighborhood so it is perfect to go to a movie after you have an awesome meal at Sawan Thai.

My wife and I have eaten there a number of times now, both alone and with friends. It is ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT! (And I am HARD to please!) Good food. Reasonable quantities. Good service. Quiet, comfortable setting and facilities. A bit farther to drive, but WELL worth it!
Oh — and also, my wife is Thai!
We had been referred to Sawatdy, and went there once — which was more than enough! Food was, at best, mediocre. Crowded, noisy, slow service, patrons crushed together presumably to maximize profits, and the owner-​hostess was amazingly abrupt with both the long line of [foolish] patrons and her own staff.

Located within an apartment complex, so it seemed, Sawan Thai had a peculiar exterior but pleasant interior. I have had a lot of Thai-​food in the states and my favorite, by far, had to be located in Thai town in Los Angeles. Now Bainbridge Island isn’t exactly the place I would think of as a place to go for any ethnic foods and it is wrong of me to compare to LA. But here are my qualms:
1) The five star system level of hotness is way too weak. Apparently, we could have ordered past the five stars, but didn’t know… and the five star was WAY weak… didn’t even have to sip any water.
2) Apparently none of the entrees, including curry dishes come with rice. Granted it’s only about 1.25 for white rice, you shouldn’t have to order it separately… when I order red curry vegetable dish, it’s an entrée, not a soup! If they want to charge separately, they may as well just add on the cost of the rice to the dish. I can understand why a noodle dish doesn’t come with rice… but curry?
3) The red curry vegetable dish I ordered was pretty sweet (i felt like I was eating desert and dinner at the same time – which may not be too bad). And it didn’t even have any eggplant in it when the menu said it would. Don’t get me wrong, it was still tasty… but that’s why this place is just about an average thai joint.
The prices are very reasonable. There is a good variety of dishes for about $ 10. I probably will come back because I need my thai fix on this side town. I just have to get over the fact that the little things that I expect are to be thrown out the door when I cross the ferry.
Oh, they have pretty well priced lunch specials if you get there before 2pm. For $ 7.50, you choose an entrée and soup or salad.

I have to give this place 5 stars for the excellent food and superior service!
We used to be big, loyal Sawatdy fans, until Sawan opened it’s doors. This is by far the best Thai restaurant on the Island, if not in the whole county!
Everything is good here, the décor is simple yet elegant. The tables seemed a little close together, but that’s not uncommon for Thai restaurants in my experience.
Go the extra few miles past Sawatdy to Sawan and enjoy your meal without feeling like a burden!