Boda

My husband and I along with another couple ate at Boda last night. Overall it was a great experience, there was a 40 minute wait but the restaurant was able to call our cell when the table was ready which was great. The waitstaff was kind and attentive. The Pad Thai was phenomenal! The waitress had great wine suggestions which were all enjoyed greatly. My husband got the beef noodles he too was very happy. We will be back next trip to Portland.

My first time there the server HIGHLY recommended we do the quail eggs. We almost didn’t. Man would that have been a mistake! THE BEST! Mussels and pad Thai are also amazing here. Everything is fresh and the staff are professional, quick and helpful! Have been back many times since.

We went last night and «OMG» it was the best I had in years!!! I had the shrimp app and the sauce was incredible, my wife had the asparagus wrapped in bacon, which was off the chain, we both had the pad Thai with chicken and shrimp words cannot describe.
On a scale of 1 to 10 it would be like 15.

I cannot say enough GREAT things about Boda… from the atmosphere to the service to the drinks to the FOOD, all seriously amazing. You HAVE to go here if you’re a fan of thai food or want to be. It is so worth the wait! I’ve only been there once but I am aching to go back.
We only had to wait maybe 15 minutes for a table the night before NYE (not too shabby) and although our table was in the middle of the upper level of the restaurant and people kept knocking us, it was all good. The décor and atmosphere is relaxing and warm. Our waitress was terrific — friendly, gave suggestions, just awesome. We each had a couple cocktails (I had the thai basil tom collins, which I highly recommend as it’s super light/​refreshing). For dinner, we had scallop shooters, the calamari, the beef skewer, pad thai, and a chicken wing special. We had no room for dessert :(Every dish was spectacular with great flavor… I recommend all of it. Their papaya salad was some of the best I had too.
Bottom line — just go here. you won’t regret it!

After seeing all the fantastic reviews we had to try this place, and I confess I don’t understand why anyone would say this restaurant «changed their life» (unless you work there and you didn’t have a job before). It is just okay. Maybe people should get out more?
First off, the tables are those blocks of repurposed teak that you find at Shake Shack and Momofuku, and here they are tiny, which just says «don’t get too comfortable», you can literally jab your neighbor with a wayward elbow. The tables are so tiny, that when they bring you the ridiculously large teapots, and 2 normal-​size teacups, there is really not enough room for the overly-​large plates with just an average amount of food. (why do restaurants do this? It’s like they want the food to look like a science experiment). Look, Boda, there are beautiful Chinese teapots that are vertically oriented, octagonal or cubes, with small size cups. In Thailand they don’t put the food on enormous plates. That’s an American affectation.
The food was aaa… just okay. The chicken satay was dry and hard to get off the skewers. The mushroom salad was tasty. The pad thai in a scrambled-​egg crust was okay, but not the Second Coming as some people describe. None of the food showed the incredible artistry that authentic Thai cuisine is famous for. It is lacking in color, flavor, and good texture.
Service was okay, although one of the servers tried to serve our meal to the neighboring tables.
It is very crowded, with people packing the entryway waiting for tables. I wonder where all these people park, we parked a few blocks down, that was as close as we could get.
I’m sorry, I really wanted this to be the transcendent dining experience people are describing, and it kind of wasn’t.

Really fresh and bold flavors. This is my second time through Portland and second time here. I plan on coming again next time I swing through. I would recommend the guay-​teow gang but fear it is only a seasonal treat.

Best Thai I have ever had… bar none.
This is just simply the best. There is no other way to put it. We frequent this spot pretty often. I want to say at least two or three times a month. The crispy squid is the most mouth watering flavor blast you might ever experience. The Pad Thai is also incredible and what’s really cool about it is the fact that it is served inside an egg omelette. I have never once had a bad meal here and I probably never will. One of my favorite spots in Portland.

This place is incredible. It has been a week since I visited Portland and I am craving the Pad Thai. It was the best I have ever had. Absolutely incredible staff. It shows when the wait staff and Chefs take pride in their work. I also had the fried quail eggs and desert. Everything I ordered was incredible. They also have a good selection of local beers. It tied it all together. Nice place.

Boda has been a favorite restaurant of mine in Portland for a long time. I pretty much love almost all Thai places in town, but at Boda there are magical Thai fairies dancing around in the kitchen sending out the most delicious food.
Where do I start…
The quail egg starter is amazing and so so good. I DO flip the eggs over before eating, but am sure you will develop your own «best» way to eat them over time.
The mussels in coconut milk with sticky rice are incredible (ask for extra rice, trust me)
There are two «small bite» apps served on soup spoons, I prefer the one with pineapple, but both are good
For mains, while the curry and noodle dishes are all good, big props to their pad thai! The noodles are perfectly seasoned and served in a paper thin omelet wrap which needs to be pierced in order to get to the dish.
There are a few rotating desserts, but if you happen to go to Boda during mango season (summer), the fresh mango and coconut sticky rice dessert has actually brought tears to my eyes! A mango, expertly cut at the peak of ripeness is served with warm sweetened coconut milk infused sticky rice, with a small cup of sweet coconut cream to pour on right before eating.
As a transplanted New Yorker now living in Portland Maine, I am a VERY popular destination for famiy and friends in the summer time. Boda is a must go-​to every time. Last summer, my pregnant niece and her husband came to town and went to eat at Boda three times in four days!

Belle surprise! un restaurant digne des meilleurs restaurants d’Indonésie. Les plats sont copieux mais un peu dispendieux. Toutefois, ils offrent un bon éventail de bières locales en fût pour vous faire oublier l’addition!

So there’s this dope Portland foodie vibe, as my local friend says. Indeed, there appears to be a culinary adventure on every corner. Maybe I’ll post some other Porto resto reviews, but the Boda experience just went a step beyond. We went back a second time only to discover a real surprise as it was Sunday night.
Boda bills itself as «street vendor Thai tapas and skewers». Ok then… since I’ve never been to Thailand I can’t comment on the truthfulness of that statement re. Thai tapas, but I can go with the street vendor thing (but are there really street fed Brussels sprouts in Thailand?)
Came in after 9 for the late night menu. Tried the hopped bourbon on ice. Yes, hops like in IPA beer. (I liked the way the bartender’s eyes looked when he described the hops jumping the bourbon.) A plate of lobster chips, $ 4. Crispy quail with a perfectly nippy sauce, $ 6. Crispy squid in the same chili-​garlicky-​nippy sauce, $ 7. Possibly the best squid I’ve ever eaten. Though I once had a problem with the tentacles (so snakelike) but I’m over it. Seasoned fried brussels sprouts $ 7, like spicy candy. Scallop wrapped in bacon skewers, $ 8 (waaaaay better than at your cousin’s wedding). Apple salad, $ 7 refreshing delicious palate cleanser, though I somehow doubt they are eating apple salad on the streets of Phuket. Pad thai, $ 7 — a little different than what you’re used to because it’s kind of wrapped in an omelet and there’s a bit more basil flavor.
All of it: just about perfect eating. And now the surprise: ON SUNDAY NIGHT AFTER 9 THE PRICES ARE HALVED. Yes. A big plate of fried succulent squid for $ 3.50 Expect to wait on line. Worth it unless its maybe snowing.

Beautifully made food that defies American Thai fare (for example, their Pad Thai is wrapped in a thin egg omelet). They are amazingly consistent.
No reservations and no takeout so you may have to wait during primetime. Late Sunday nights are cheaper yeah but go on a night where it’s full menu and you can hang out for a bit.

So many people have already said what I want to say, but quite honestly, Boda will change your life — it is love in the form of food! I could sit and eat the quail eggs all day. The soups, specials, the Kra Pow chicken with fried egg /​Pad Thai in an omelette… unreal!!! Also the cocktails are fantastic. The only thing I haven’t tried yet is dessert.
If I had the money, I would eat here every day for the rest of my life. Go… put your phone down and go now!!!

During our last night in Portland we went with our innkeepers recommendation and came here for dinner. We were pleasantly surprised as a spot was available for us and although it looked like there was a wait, we were seated immediately.
We ordered a couple cocktails, my wife had wine, and I went with an old fashioned. I like mine to be a little «cleaner» as they overly muddled the orange and cherry. This isn’t always a bad thing if the ice sits on top but every sip I was getting fruit chunks.
started with the Thai chicken wings as an appetizer and they were fantastic, super crispy and the right amount of spice. I wasn’t a fan of the pickling they did on the veggies unfortunately.
I went with the Kee Pao (spelling?) with chicken, otherwise known as drunken noodles in most cities I’ve had it. I will say this is the best version I’ve ever had with super fresh veggies and a nice amount of heat. My wife had the beef dish with jasmine rice. Sauce almost had a mole taste and texture but she ate the whole plate so she must have liked it.

My first visit to Boda with my son. I’d call this Asian fusion with a Thai emphasis. Quite an eclectic menu. Parking in the side lot on the one way street adjacent to Boda had ample marked parking. I’ve read reviews complaining about parking… dismiss those… there is plenty of free parking less than 200 yards away.
I always start sampling the homespun cocktail specials. The Tanqueray Thai based basil Tom Collins was delicious. Try it if you like gin. Ample other choices with at least a dozen good microbrews.
For small plate apps… my son and I tried the quail eggs. Escargot style in a cupped fry pan, they were Thai funk delicious. Perfectly, el dante, they combined soy, Thai spice, and a yoked deliciousness that needs to be tried. Trust me. From there, we split the pork belly grilled skewers, one each, dipped in a spicy soy marinade. Again, just delicious. We finished apps splitting the scallops with bacon skewers, two scallops each, perfectly Thai seasoned and dipped with a mild spiced soy sauce. I’d eat these apps every day, all three were that good.
I enjoyed a funky dish called a shrimp paste rice dish. It was possibly one of the best Thai dishes I’ve eaten. It is served large plate style with small groupings of diced pork belly, Chinese sausage, dried shrimp with a Thai paste, cukes, various Thai veggies, and some sneaky chili flakes. The deal is to three year old mix all the flavor pockets together into a flavor large rice bowl. Absolutely delicious. My son ate a omelette style pad Thai dish that was equally as funky and delicious.
Two drinks each, three apps, two entrees, 20% tip…$ 100 for two with great service and knowledgable bar and wait staff. A bargain in my foodie book. Highly recommend 4 ½ stars… if they replicate with a different menu dabbling on return… I’m upping to 5 stars.

Felt like more like a Thai Fusion place to me, but either way it was very good! Close to the Art Walk, and also to several other museums, so location is a great too.
Kanom-​Krok Quail Eggs — I was honestly expecting hard boiled eggs, but this was definitely a treat. Each egg packed a lot of flavor for such a small bite.
Pad Thai — Wrapped in an omelette! Why don’t more places do this?! Pad thai itself was good, but then again I’ve never had bad pad thai. Omelette cover was a big plus,

A couple of friends and I went to Boda for dinner and drinks on a Tuesday night and we were able to be seated in less than 2 minutes. Last time I went here was about two years ago and I waited for about 45 minutes so this was definitely an improvement for a busy night!
I ordered the Thai sticky rice ball from the grill bar and Kee Mao Noodles with Chicken. The Kee Mao Noodles with Chicken was too salty with a sweet aftertaste. I have had this dish before and I remember my tastebuds not crying out, «too much sodium.» The Thai sticky rice ball was the only highlight of my meal because the soy sauce wasn’t overpowering to the pepper, scallion, and garlic.
Two of my girlfriends shared the crispy squid, quail eggs, and Beef Panaeng. It was a first for me to try crispy squid with a spicy chili garlic sauce coat and I enjoyed it! It wasn’t too spicy and was in fact crispy and not soggy. I have never tried quail eggs before and I took an honorable risk of doing so. I was worried that the taste would be gamey, but it really really was not! The soy sauce and scallions gave the eggs robust and appetizing flavors.
Our waitress was helpful and didn’t write any of our orders down. I appreciate that from a server because they know the menu to a T and get the orders right as well.
There is a parking lot for Boda customers, but it’s a row few parking spaces that’s also reserved for Mercy Hospital employees. One of my girlfriends had to find street parking and I was lucky enough to find one spot since I parked in King of the Roll’s parking space by accident.

My girlfriends and I went to Boda for the first time yesterday evening. I would say the place measured up to the other positive reviews on Unilocal.I wish I could give the place 3.5 stars.
Pros: I had a delicious $ 8 mango mania cocktail that was made with grapefruit juice. Love grapefruit. I also had a sip of my friends Thai iced tea and that was excellent! I will probably order one of these next time.
The Thai sticky rice ball was awesome! If you’re not a fan of garlic though, do not get this. It is VERY garlicky. Is that a word?
Cons: Does not have it’s own parking lot. There is a shared parking lot to the side of Boda which has a small row of designated spots. When I arrived at 6:30 on a Tuesday night they were all taken and I had to find a spot on the street to park. Just a small inconvenience.
My main entrée– the kee mao noodles with chicken was just okay. I felt that the portion was a bit small for the price ($ 14) after I picked all of the leaves and sticks out of it (decoration?).
The wait staff was nice and accommodating. I would come back and definitely go for more of the cocktails!

I feel like I missed the Boda train on this one. I’ve been here three times so far, not on my accord… and I’m still not sure what all the hype is about. I’ve tried some appetizers, entrees, and even their late night menu… and I’m still not running to board the Boda train. The food is fine, it’s good. I’ve had their brussel sprouts, shrimp skewers, a fiddle head salad special, pad thai, tom yum soup, and fried rice with crab and shrimp. The entrees are kind of expensive for what they are, the rest of the menu is really reasonably priced though.
Everything has tasted very good, but I feel like it’s nothing I haven’t tried in Portland before. Just hasn’t left an impression on me like it has for everyone else.

I had never been to Boda before, not sure why, but I’m kicking myself even now. Last night’s food was amazing and I will definitely be back.
Once we were seating, a server came over to us almost immediately. I had an amazing coffee, that’s the name on the menu. It definitely lived up to its name. Creamy and well flavored, it was a great contrasting flavor to my meal. My dining companions got a cocktail and a beer and both were good as well.
The menu is of average length. I skipped the regular appetizers and headed for skewer territory!!! Both the chicken satay and bacon wrapped scallops were SO delicious and there are more that I would love to try when I return. My friend had the tofu skewers, she said they were amazing but I am allergic to tofu so sadly I had to pass.
The main course for me was the fried rice with shrimp and crab. It was so delicious it was gone in about ten minutes. My friends had the same opinion about this dish. There were a significant number of shrimp on the plate and they were well seasoned. I also tried my friend’s pad thai with chicken. I will definitely be returning for that.
Our service once at the table was great! Super fast but not over solicitous. My only negative, and the only reason for four instead of five stars, is that it took forever to get seated. I’m fine with waiting but a more accurate quote time would have been nice. We were quoted 40 minutes and it was more like an hour and fifteen minutes. The hostess was kind of rude when my friend inquired about the time. I get that you can’t always make people leave but it was a damper on the otherwise great experience.
I will definitely be back and hope to try even more!!!

If you’re looking for the best Pad Thai in Portland, look no further than Boda! I have been here once and would recommend it to anyone. The service is wonderful, not to mention that every employee my sister and I came across were very knowledgeable. The food comes out quick and hot.
My recommendation is the chicken Pad Thai. It comes in a wonderful Thai egg omelette with peanuts and chili pepper on the side. The noodles are thin and the dish is bursting with flavors. Thinking about it now makes my mouth water. Also, their employees go to Thailand over some weeks in the winter to learn more about the food. If that doesn’t persuade you to try Boda, I don’t know what would.