Mae Ploy Thai Cuisine & Sushi Bar

UPDATE: Sad to say this place has closed. :(
This unassuming little hole in the wall has the BEST yellow curry. Period.
The red curry is delicious also, but honestly I make it a point to get the yellow each time I call in an order.
I now have a yellow curry addiction, thank you Mae Ploy. Seriously.

The best ever!
Thai food is probably my favorite, and this place is incredible! I usually get the red curry, and I can’t recommend that highly enough. The pad thai is a real treat, also. This spot has the perfect ratio of rice to curry (unless you like A LOT of rice, in which case they’re totally happy to bring you more without adding it to the bill!), and the portions are so big you’ll totally have enough for your next meal!
I would say my only criticism is the inconsistency of spice levels. I always get an 8 out of 10 and sometimes it’s realllly hot (which I’m going for obviously) and sometimes it’s less spicy than I anticipate. But since the food is so delicious, it’s not even that big of a deal.

Great Thai food and excellent value for the price. Huge portions, even for lunch. Free soup with the entrée plus we had Rangoon and golden tofu. The Rangoon was excellent, more crab than cream cheese. just the way I like it. Even with those two appetizers, sodas and five entrees I think our total was something like $ 40. What a deal! I highly recommend the pad Thai. It’s my go to dish. The pineapple fried rice was excellent for my mom, who thinks that everything is spicy.
Overall, Unilocal helped me find a quick lunch for a vegetarian, a carnivore (high protein diet), and three other various lucky eaters. Well done!

Wow. Just what you’d hope for out of a great neighborhood spot. Unassuming storefront with deli style booths but very, very good food. I’d say the best Thai food my wife and I have had since our last meal in Koh Phi Phi Thailand two years ago. Waiter said they are moving to a different location off mainstrasse in covington. Glad they aren’t moving far. We will most certainly be back.

This is the best Thai in the area! We always start off with the spring rolls which are delicious. The pad Thai is some of the best I’ve had and the curries great. It doesn’t look too appetizing from the outside, but don’t judge this book by its cover. You won’t be disappointed!

The only Asian restaurant in NKY that actually makes their spicy hot enough for us! Please patronize this place so that it will stay open. Service is always good. Food is always good.

We’ve eaten here so many times we just love this place. You come here for the food not the ambiance. They are always consistent and the dishes are full of flavor with the many herbs and spices they use. We’ve never been disappointed in the dishes we’ve had in the many years we’ve eaten here. My wife had Pad Wun Sen, which is essentially Pad Thai but with bean thread noodles, and she loved it. She also loves their Pad Thai. I had their Mango Curry with pork for the first time, and likewise loved it. It was sweet yet the right amount of spiciness.(I asked for a level 3 spiciness). My son had Pineapple Fried rice with chicken and he woofed it down. Our other favorites are their house specials — Mae Ploy fish and Yellow curry fish. We had their sticky rice with mango dessert tonight which hit the spot. They also serve ice cream which is made on site which we love. Our favorites is their lychee ice cream. Yes, we are Mae Ploy fans and will keep coming back.

Food was good but not spectacular. Service was not very good… the waitress was very scattered and disorganized. Forgot to bring water, didn’t remember food orders, etc.
But, you get what you pay for… basically fast food Thai.

Man I’ve been coming to this place for years, therefore it amazed me to realize that I had yet to write a review! The restaurant has changed ownership over the years, and their specialty in my opinion has switched from pad thai to curry.
First of all, do not be scared away by the outside appearance. The building says «China Town» and it looks like the sort of place that would have back room gambling going on in a Scorsese film. The inside is simple and clean, and the staff is always friendly and greets you at the door. I dine-​in a lot, but have called in an order to pick up quite a few times as well.
If you’re so stoked for Thai food that you just can’t wait until the main course comes, two words: Crab Rangoon. They’re nice and. Crabby. And good. You won’t regret it.
I don’t really mess with the pad thai anymore since I know the curry will NOT disappoint. The red curry tends to be the most naturally spicy, anything above a 7 will have ya sweatin. The yellow curry is my current favorite. It has pineapple and a bit more coconut milk in it so it’s nice and creamy. There are a few others to choose from and I’ve tried them all, but those two are my jams. You can get any of them with a variety of meats, or just veggie. I’m a man that likes his chicken and shrimp, but I tend to go with the classic vegetable. Guess I’m a sucker for some baby corn and bamboo shoots. Something worth mentioning is that this place stays true to it’s spice levels! If you want something with a real kick, they will deliver! You can choose between 1 – 10.
I’ve heard rumors that they’re looking to move into a bigger space with a bar and such, so there could be some cool things in store for them in the future. Definitely a case of don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Check em’ out once and you’re sure to be back.

We love this place! It is small inside, but is very nice and decorated with various objects from Thailand. The staff have always been friendly and helpful. The prices for dinner and around $ 10 – 12, but you get a lot of food for the money.
The food is excellent! I’ve tried quite a few dishes and have never been disappointed. I keep going back to the traditional fried rice. It is so good, and has so many things in it, making it a true meal, unlike the fried rice you usually get in a chinese restaurant.
If you like it spicy, they can do that, but sometimes when I take my toddler, I ask for not spicy and it turns out great. My toddler loves it too!
They have a lot to choose from! I love going and eating my old favorites and trying new things!

My wife, 1 year old, and I ate here on a Saturday evening for the first time. Other than a few carry out orders, we were the only customers in the store. So, the service was prompt and attentive. Some of the owners/​employees were working on carving a watermelon/​carrots for a display, and our son loved it. He wouldn’t stop talking to them.
Ok, the food. I was in the mood for Thai, but couldn’t say no to the yellow curry. Glad I made that choice. It was delicious. My wife went with the pad thai, and since she doesn’t like chicken during pregnancies, got tofu. It was good, spicy, but a tad greasy. The portions were large, so we ended up having leftovers. I actually preferred the pad thai cold in the fridge the next day. But again, the yellow curry was excellent.
We had a coupon from the Entertainment book, so it was very affordable. Even without the deal, the prices are like $ 10 for a dinner entrée.
Would definitely go back again.

This is, hands down, my favorite Asian restaurant in the Northern Kentucky/​Cincinnati area. My fiancé and I used to live right next to NKU while he was finishing the last few years of his degree and when we decided to try this place one night on a whim, we clearly realized that it was the best choice we had made in a very long time! From the outside it might look a little run down, but I assure you, the food will NOT disappoint. I’ve even gotten to the point where I prefer Mae Ploy over the big chains like PF Changs.
The fried rice is by far my favorite and as I sit here and type this, I begin craving the delicious, sweet and savory flavors that I get in a simple order of chicken fried rice. I recommend this place to friends and family who might be in the area for an event at the Bank of Kentucky center. Especially before the children’s shows, places like Applebees will get packed and Mae Ploy sits empty, less than half a mile away and they have a very kid friendly menu.
I love the fact that you can customize the level of heat you want in your dishes. 1 – 10 with 10 being the hottest. I usually go with a 3 and my fiancé sticks with a 7. Take this into consideration, and you quickly realize that you aren’t getting a Chinese buffet style meal. Instead you are getting fresh food that is made to order, when you order it. For the price that you pay per person for this food, you honestly can not go wrong.
Folks, if there was ever a time to not «judge a book by its cover,» it would be at Mae Ploy. Don’t let the outside or décor scare you. Just go for the food and you won’t be disappointed.

Best Feature: New special deals card, absolutely amazing food, and super friendly service!
Worst Feature:. .. *crickets* No complaints about food, service, or price — Only change is they should update the outside sign so people can find it more easily!
**Quick tip: Ask for their restaurant card! Just found out they’re starting a promotional thing of handing out cards that they stamp for each visit — I believe the 9^th visit is FREE!**
After reading other reviews + my earlier review, I wanted to update my review to clarify some basic points and add in some great new things that they’ve been doing.
This is, hands down, my boyfriend + I’s favorite Thai restaurant in the Tri-​State area. Big reasons why are the prices, portions, food quality, and service. Entrees only get up to about $ 10 – 11 per person at their most expensive, so if you like pad thai, curry, fried rice dishes, etc., even normally higher-​priced dinner dishes won’t be as wallet-​gouging as other thai restaurants we’ve been to in Cincinnati /​Northern Kentucky.
My first review was based of my love of their pad thai, but I’m happy to say that over the past year I’ve tried several more of their dishes. Chicken pad thai is always a guaranteed favorite, but I’ve also tried pineapple fried rice, pad wun sen, and several of their curry dishes. We always love their sushi — we recommend the Tropical Lox roll or the Yum Yum roll!
Not only have I not found a dish I don’t like, but we are a huge fan of the portions. They are always filling and provide us with plenty of food to fill our bellies and make it worth the money we’re spending. Even the lunch portions they serve are fantastic + filling! I love the price is only about $ 6.95 and comes with a complimentary cup of soup — that’s erased our need to get an appetizer, which helps the price factor. They are also very open to customizing our order — we’ve asked for extra green onion in our noodle dishes and I added pineapple to a particular curry, put things on the side, and they’ve never once turned me down or acted rude about it. Fantastic!
Once in a while service might get slower during busier hours, but we’ve met almost everyone who has worked their and not once have I dealt with rude attitudes. If they take a bit longer, they’ve apologized proactively without us ever needing to complain. They even make sure to remember our orders so if we come in again, we feel like they care we visited.
Worth a mention — our recent visit (today) led to our server asking if we had their «stamp card» — we said no, and before we left he was sure to hand us these punch cards. I usually love the perks restaurants offer, and this one is definitely worth it. Be sure to grab one and have them stamp your card for each visit, because the 9^th is apparently FREE! That’s just plain awesome. So be sure to ask for one if they don’t give you one! Saving money is always a plus.
We’ve since moved out of the area and far north in Cincinnati but make sure to still stop back in despite the distance — we’ve been trying new thai places out by us and still haven’t found anything that stacks up to the quality of food and service we’ve found here. We love this place and HIGHLY recommend it if you’re in the mood for thai cuisine!

I first went to Mae Ploy when it opened in 2007. The service was great, the food was great, then everything went downhill.
First, it started when the sushi wasn’t being offered every day at lunch. There was no regular schedule for sushi days. Sometimes the rice hadn’t arrived. Some days I received no explanation. As this was the primary reason for going, I started losing interest pretty quick.
The entrees began going down hill. The Pad See Ew noodles were soggy or the stir-​fried vegetables were undercooked. We would start waiting a ridiculous long time to receive our meal when we were the only customers in the restaurant. My friend once contemplated leaving and grabbing fast food because he was going to be late getting back to work… on his 90 minute lunch break.
The service has gone down hill as well. In 2007, there was a delightful dark-​haired woman waiting tables. She was always cheerful and attentive. About a year later, she left and a stream of college students from NKU began serving there. Most of these folks would be slow with service, forgetting parts of our meal and supplementing with aloofness and sarcasm. It was rather unprofessional and disappointing for a restaurant I once admired.
Take away the sushi, the entrees fall short, and the dismal service, all for $ 15-​$ 20 per person. There’s no reason for me to return here.

This Thai place really gets it right – even during busy lunch hours. I recommend the veggie spring rolls, jasmine tea and anything with fried tofu.
The location and atmosphere isn’t ideal, but they work well with what they’ve got. Very friendly and efficient service will cause one to forget about the drab setting.
I will definitely seek this gem again.

Great Service
Great Curry
Great Pad See Ewe
I have eaten at Mae Ploy at least a dozen times and I have yet to be disappointed. I am always greeted by friendly staff and served hot, delicious food. Pad See Ewe is my go to for most lunch visits. When you order an entrée at lunch you will be served a cup of a delicious hot and sour soup with chicken, tofu, noodles and numerous other ingredients that make for quite an enjoyable soup with a variety of spices and flavors. The spicy scale runs from 1 — 10 and I typically get an 8, not terribly hot for me but a great balance of spice and flavor. A word of warning though, there seems to be a significant jump between an 8 and a 10. If you need to clear your sinuses a 10 will do it! I can also recommend the yellow curry, a great balance of spices, sweetness, and heat (if you so choose). The pineapple and potatoes meld wonderfully in the curry. Their Pad Thai is also extremely tasty, though I have only tried it a couple of times.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the tri-​state and is a must visit for any fan of Thai food. Great food at even better prices. Just make sure to not miss it, the large sign still does not display their name. Don’t let the external appearance cause you to miss a great meal!
Update: I am lowering my rating by one star as the food and service has gone down from what it used to be. Today it was 35 minutes from the time i walked in until I had food, it was 15 minutes before i even got to order or get a drink. The server was clearly overwhelmed and even the cook was serving and bussing tables. My favorite dish, the Pad See Ewe has been changed with the addition of onions and a fresh herb, basil maybe, that totally overwhelmed the dish and was not served with broccoli. The typically delicious soup was just ok as well. I hope this is a temporary slide as this was a fantastic Thai restaurant.

I visited this place late at night after a long day of studying for final exams. I don’t like spicy food at all and at the time I had eaten Thai food only once before. This could have been the perfect storm… but it wasn’t. It was quite pleasant.
We were served quickly, the waitress helped me make a selection using a 1 – 10 spice level (I asked for a 0 and got food that wasn’t spicy at all… it was perfect), and the food came out hot, tasty, and plentiful. I had enough to take some home with me.
The downside is the sketchy looking building it’s in. Without hearing positive things about it I probably wouldn’t have gone inside because of how it looks. Overlook it if you can and enjoy some of this food because this place is legit.

Finally! A Thai restaurant that is true to it’s spice rating (1 – 10)! I love spicy food and it is typically NEVER spicy enough for me. However, I found that Mae Ploy’s spice level is very accurate… well at least their 10 was!
I have had two varied experiences here, so I want to be sure and evaluate accordingly. My first visit was a complete mess. I walked in and the only empty tables were littered with residue and leftovers of previous visitors, their dirty plates stacked high. Yuck. Where’s the health department when you need them? The service was extremely slow, and I eventually walked up to get my own menu. The bright side: the server was friendly, the food was piping hot, and the taste was authentic.
There was drastic improvement on my second visit. Not only was the service impeccable, the food was great, but I was also attuned to the fact that I received a complimentary soup with my lunch entrée… something the previous server did not offer.
The rundown: They lose a star for their uncharming location and the lack of style/​creativity in their dining room. They also lose a star for the quality of seafood they use in their entrees. They gain stars for their prices, the flavor/​spice of the food, AND for their last server who was so attentive (maybe the previous server just had a bad day, but remember, he was STILL friendly!).

Pros: The Pad Thai is amazing, the soups and appetizers are delicious, and the portion/​price ratio is awesome!
Cons: It’s small, the sushi is hit or miss depending on who is preparing it, other than that I can honestly say this is a favorite place to eat.
I recently moved into Ft. Thomas and go to school at NKU, so I would pass by this place on an almost daily basis. Eventually one day I decided to give it a try, and have been coming back regularly ever since!
At first glance one would think it’s a Chinese restaurant due to the gigantic sign out front that reads China Town, but apparently that is left over from the previous owner. Don’t worry though, inside those doors awaits scrumptious Thai cuisine and sushi with great service!
I have to admit, every time I go to this place I get the same thing. That same thing is Chicken Pad Thai — 5 on the spice scale. (1 – 10) It’s amazing — the noodles, the green onions, the spice, it’s all blended so well together.
Other than that I have also had their version of crab rangoons, which you really can’t mess up, but they also give you some tasty duck sauce to go with them and it’s always good.
I usually only get sushi when I am there with my girlfriend, since it’s such an easy food to share. The few times we have gotten sushi it has always been relatively good. The size of the rolls are decent, and the taste is usually pretty good, although once I ordered an eel roll and there was only eel on the two ends… which made me sad.
If you are in the Fort Thomas/​Highland Heights/​Cold Spring area, you owe it to yourself to check this place out, simply amazing food!

Thanks to my Unilocal pals, I just discovered this place and was thrilled to find Thai and sushi in my neighborhood, even if the exterior looks super sketchy and the name on the sign isn’t even correct (tip: it’s right by the Highland Heights Lowe’s and China Town is on the sign).
The interior is in contrast to the outside: simple, clean, and with friendly and fast service. Prices are extremely reasonable ($ 6.50 for an enormous plate of chicken pad Thai at lunch with a cup of hot and sour soup included if dining in). I knew I wanted pad Thai when I walked in, so I honestly didn’t look too much at the rest of the menu, but I do remember curries and sushi, in addition to other noodle dishes.
The pad Thai itself was a tad greasy, but hot and delicious and well spiced. Plenty for lunch and dinner later too. I’m probably rating a little higher than I would otherwise because of location, but I’m eager to try it again and branch out a bit on the menu.