Something about Thai food invades our psyche and makes us crave Panang Curry and Tom Kah Gai soup to no end. After returning to Carlsbadistan from living in the northwest (just blocks from the best Thai food we’ve ever tasted) our search for something to fill the void was on.
This wasn’t a rational search—no. It was a coconut milk, peanut sauce, phad thai, spring rolled filled one that took us all over San Diego county. Recommendations from friends had us hitting places in the Gaslamp, Del Mar, Carmel Valley, Oceanside, and beyond. When the gastronomic adventure was over, we were relieved to discover that the best Thai food in San Diego County lay right here at home: Lotus Thai Bistro.
Follow the jump for the rest of the story.
Located near the corner of Pio Pico and Carlsbad Village Drive (just east of I-5) next to Nozumi Japanese Restaurant, Lotus Thai serves up tasty, affordable lunch specials from 11-3pm every day as well as dinners from 5 until 10 pm. The space isn’t very memorable. In fact, it’s quite plain: tile floors, a few carefully placed black-lacquered shelves lined with Thai-style vases and statues, and a plethora of beautiful orchids are all that make up the decor. Don’t let this no-nonsense approach scare you. All their efforts go into the food.
Though dinners are tasty, it’s not necessarily a spot for a fancy night out. If you’re just into grabbing a bite and aren’t interested in any evening-style ambiance then it is fine, but if you’re looking for a romantic Thai dinner we suggest calling ahead for take out. With orders cooked deliciously, served hot, and packaged ready to go in less than 20 minutes, Lotus Thai Bistro and a few candles is the perfect way to end a day in Carlsbadistan.
Lotus Thai Bistro
http://www.lotusthaibistrocarlsbad.com/
3050 Pio Pico Dr (click for map)
Carlsbad, CA 92008-1954
(760) 730-3345
Price: $$ (Entrees $12-$14)
Open M-F; 11am – 3pm and 5pm – 10pm, Weekends 11 am-10pm
RSS Feed-Posts
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Gai Chicken and Rice is amazing and it is food enough to feed two.
The lunch special is an amazing value for great food and mid-day eating. The soups rock and coconut ice cream is a tasty way to cool down the mouth after a spicy sauce
Being a long time “carlsbadistan-ite”, I had ventured to Lotus Thai probably 10 years ago. Vowing to probably never go back. With the latest article here, I decided to try it again thinking that maybe things had changed. Considering the japanese place did a external face lift on the building to look more appealing.
So Myself and the family decide last sunday to try Lotus Thai again. To be honest, my favorite food to eat is thai food. We might be jaded in this arena do to the fact we have scoured the north county for the hole in the wall thai places. The food was not a 10 probably a 7. Wasn’t the greatest but marginal. I ordered the “pahd thai” noodles which is the ” thermometer ” dish for all THAI establishments in regards to the quality and taste.@ lotus – It seemed dry ( but some doesn’t like their Noodles “soupy” with sauce )- also, I said Hot ( flavor ) and the waitress asked me on a scale of 1 to 10 what did I want. I said a 7 or 8 due to the fact I hadn’t eaten their in a decade- It was more like a 3 to 4 on the HOT scale. Service was GOOD and attentive I will say.So that part of the experience was good.
SO not really impressed with the food with a oray of other soups(2) ,curry, noodles and appetizers eaten this trial visit. Sad to say there is NO GOOD THAI restaurants in Carlsbad. I have found great THAI in Oceanside, Vista and other north county towns. But if I was to venture out to dine on thai food- I would be leaving carlsbadistan for sure.
A GREAT Thai place in the village (downtown) would be great. But if they didn’t have spaghetti on the menu, I don’t think it would survive !!!!! I guess there is no good italian places in Arizona………….
this place is great only been there once but i cant wait to go back