Bai Yook Thai Cuisine

New owners… it is now a bistro creperie restaurant that moved from Coronado. Getting great reviews on Unilocal

This place is aiiiite, I’m still a bigger fan of Amarin thai but it’s like comparing hondas to toyotas or bmw’s to mercedes, they’re about the same. I like the hole-​in-​the-​wall vibe here. I like to atmosphere created by the decorations. I like the lady in the sexy thai dress who works here. I’m more than happy to take my friends here.

Story goes a little something like this:
Marines took me to Thailand during a WESTPAC float… While EVERYONE else was doing a million things that were fun, immoral and would make great stories for lifelong retelling, I had a recently married, devoutly christian and straight as an arrow liberty partner… so I ate at a lot of restaurants… and that’s it. I came home with my integrity and innocence in place… but a love of Thai Cuisine.
The first Thai food restaurant that I went to when I got back from that tour was Bai Yook. That was over 12 years ago… and I have to say that I still love this little, hole-​in-​the-​wall place. It is hidden in the corner of a strip mall in Hillcrest… across the street from the Alibi and near the Post Office. You would never know from looking on the street that there was this little treasure hidden for you and a friend to enjoy.
The restaurant is clean, tiny, intimate, decorated tastefully but artfully… and they are proud of being Thai and rightly so.
I have never had anything less than polite, attentive, friendly and peaceful service (yep. I said it. peaceful… there is always a feeling in most places that the person serving you is in the middle of a war zone and trying to find cover as the shells and bullets are raining in), I always feel transported out of the fray when I dine here… it is almost like taking a mini trip back to Thailand… or at least my trip to Thailand… LOL
The food is delicious, fresh and presented in a way that is thoughtful, artistic and designed to delight the senses (not just taste… but sight, smell, touch and sound… how does one delight sound in diners you ask? Just try one of the platters that comes out sizzling… I swear my ears smile whenever I hear one going out… even if it isn’t for me…)
Why four stars and not five? I have only one criticism… I was describing the place to a friend and telling her how much I liked the place and that she had to try it… She told me that she knew the place and didn’t like it… I had to find out why… she told me that she didn’t like their Pad Thai… I admitted that I had never had it, but promised to give it a try the next time I went… She was right… the Pad Thai is not the best… it is okay… but not something I would order again… and since Pad Thai is supposed to be the #1 authentic dish… I have to give 4 stars… but in my heart of hearts, this is a 5 star place… just try the following dishes to see what I mean:
Start with Thai Iced Tea
Get the Chicken Satay and Fried Spring Rolls
Get the Curry Chicken Fried Rice and Pad See Eew with Tofu
Smile as you dine with my favorites in the whole world.
Will be going back for lunch sometime soon!!!

I go to Bai Yook about once a week. Its a cozy atmosphere and so close to where I live (Uptown District).
I recommend the Yellow Curry.

A mistake…
Salty soup and bland main dishes. Service was good, but the food was not. Save your money.

We came here one drunken Friday with some friends. I had been here before with some vegetarians, but needed to give it the sober test to make a more accurate decision.
She: You just missed happy hour.
Me: So now it’s unhappy hour?
She: (laughing) It’s from 3 – 7, so maybe next time.
The staff is very friendly.
We started with an order of fresh spring rolls. I like the fact that you get 4 instead of the usual two cut in half. We ordered garlic pepper with chicken and spicy noodles with chicken. She didn’t ask about heat, and I think with the noodles they gave us #3. Yeah, we’re wimps, but all I know was that I broke out in a sweat, so maybe it was higher. Good dish with broccoli and red and green bell peppers. The garlic pepper was a bit of a surprise. The chicken was lightly breaded and sauteed. But thank God it wasn’t deep fried. Good garlic flavor and the fresh cucumber slices were nice.
On the drunken night, we had ordered panang curry with chicken and green curry with chicken. The green was really spicy, but very good. They were generous with the chicken in both dishes, a plus! since there were four hungry drunktards. They also serve nice big bowls of rice and offer more if you need it. Some places wait for you to ask. When I was here with the vegetarians, I had the mock duck, which was interesting, but good. I think it’s funny that the mock foods cost just as much as the real thing no matter where you go.
Overall, it’s a very pleasant place to eat. Parking can be a real b!@tch though.

Good, but nothing stellar. It’s Thai food that isn’t entirely authentic but tastes close enough and is overall pleasant in most aspects.
Egg Rolls seemed pre-​made and pre-​frozen. Served crispy and hot, but tasted commercial.
Diced chicken salad dish thing which I cannot remember the name of was good. Sauce was really salty in my opinion, but it tasted fine, though I probably can’t handle more than a couple of bites due to the sodium content.
Pad Thai was dry and sticky. Noodles had a good texture though it was elastic than firm. I wasn’t too impressed.
Tom Yum chicken soup was good. Nice level of spice with a good amount of flavour. Generous amounts of chicken but next to no produce.
Mock Duck curry was dreadful. Don’t get it unless you’re into that whole wheat gluten taste. I’m not.
Sauteed vegetable and tofu dish was reported to be quite good. From the looks of it, I’d say that not only was it good, but also sizable. The entrée looked large enough for a table of 4.
Jasmine tea was not loose leaf. Didn’t like that, but the bagged version was fine. Nothing spectacular.
All in all, not bad, though I’ll say that I probably won’t come back.

It’s not half bad. Sadly, it’s not half good either. It’s just right smack dab in the middle of «well it’s close to the house» and «I’m too lazy to cook tonight.»
I haven’t hated the meals here, but I haven’t loved them either. I haven’t hated the service here, but I haven’t loved it either. I haven’t hated the speed of a to go order here, but I haven’t loved it either.

I’m definitely a fan of Bai Yook Thai Cusine!
To be fair I have to compare Bai Yook Thai Cuisine with other Thai restaurants in Hillcrest. For example — I would give Lotus Thai 5 stars based on food, prices, ambiance, service — so to compare Bai Yook Thai Cuisine I’d give it about 4 stars.
I really like this place but I think the quality of the food doesn’t compare with the quality at Lotus Thai. butt other than that it is a lot more convenient in terms of finding parking. So I say go to Lotus Thai, if you can’t find parking, come here! haha