Esan Thai
(503) 223-4090
133 SW 2ND Ave
Portland,
OR
97204
45.5218
-122.6726
Neighborhoods: Neighbors West - Northwest, Old Town - Chinatown
Reviews & Ratings for Esan Thai
36 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 36 reviews
By Far the Best Thai Food I've Had
by Thai_Food_Lover
May 14, 2003
Ive had Thai food from at least 20 restaurants and nothing has been as good as this. I love the downtown location and feel, but was more impressed with the food and service.
I've been back about 10 times and had a different meal each time. Everything is awesome. I've had some of the other big name places and was very disappointed.
Esan's please keep up the great work.
- Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Good Drinks
- Cons: Honestly, none!
GOOD for lunch
by Bnugent
January 28, 2009
this place is pretty good for lunch. Very efficient and the food is good. DON'T mistake this place with Esan in NORTH portland. That place is terrible.
- Pros: good lunch food
- Cons: crowded
Great for Lunch by Katie H. at InsiderPages
Contributor
December 12, 2008
While I've never been to Esan for dinner, every time I've gone for lunch, no matter how busy, the service is always good and the food is a great portion for the price.
Outstanding Thai by Dean C. at InsiderPages
Contributor
November 11, 2008
What great food. I go there for lunch quite often and the service is freindly and fast and the food is outstanding. There is nothing there that I have not liked and it is very consistent from meal to meal. The price is right for what you receive.
great Thai food by Carley F. at InsiderPages
Contributor
August 11, 2008
E-San Thai Cuisine has some of the best Thai food in the Portland area. They have a large menu and the wait staff is knowledgeable and helpful. One of my favorites when I'm craving Thai... especially the Masaman Curry.
Man, I love this place!
by pdxmodchick
July 14, 2008
They have great hours and such tasty food. All for a reasonable price and in a great location! Little is lacking, except sometimes the service can be slow, but again you will be happy you waited. Watch out for spicy as you get what you ask for!
very good thai, good prices
by myswami
May 14, 2008
I am new to the area and have had a hard time finding good thai restaurants and this one surprised me with how good it is. I've been a few times and always get chicken w/ veggies and ask them to add cashews. They also have some liquor drinks which most thai restaurants don't have. I will definitely be going back here. The pricing is pretty reasonable and they also have happy hour drinks.
- Pros: good food, good prices, some bar drinks, very fast service
- Cons: none
Favorite Thia
by jo_portland
April 12, 2008
I love E-San!
Ther are so many Thai resteraunts in P-land these days it is hard to differentiat. E-San has consistently been my favorite for years. I hold all other Thai reseraunts to their calaber. The only other that is better is
Typhoon but they are extremely different. Typhoon is fancy gourmet Thai food and E-San is classic Thai food just done very well. There are a lot of Thai resteraunts (by sheer number) that are decent but don't settle for OK if you are downtown and can go to E-San.
- Pros: Best basic Thai flavors.
- Cons: It's downtown so parking can be a bummer.
The Best Pad Thai
by ebiztress
December 04, 2007
Now, I'm not going to lie ... the service can be S-L-O-W, especially during lunch hour, Mon-Fri. However, my friends and I have learned that if you get there before or after the usual traffic hour then you're good to go. But, I won't promise you anything. Yes, I've been a waitress -- at another Thai restaurant -- so I know what good and bad service is because, first and foremost, I am a consumer and I love Thai food! At the downtown E-San Thai, there are only a handful of good waiters and the others can use some improvements. To those good waiters, I thank you.
For those that have bad things to say about the food, I think it's because you're used to other Thai restaurants' cooking that you're stuck on their flavor only. No, I didn't care much for E-San Thai when I first visited a few years back; but, I gave the menu another shot and I'm glued to it now!
Anyway, the REAL reason why I am posting this review is because the food is so GOOD. Their Pad Thai and Beef Salad are the BEST! And, I love my food EXTRA SPICY, please! If you can't deal with the spices then take it down a notch or two; everyone is different so you can't blame the restaurant for not knowing YOUR actual tolerance when others are totally okay with it, like me. Yes, I know what REAL Thai food is all about. My grandmother was a Thai chef and helped launch many Thai restaurants before she passed on; people still rave about her cooking to this day. Needless to say, I grew up on Thai and Lao homecooking.
If you don't like the food at this establishment then that's fine, you're not forced to. I'll understand. In my opinion, that just leaves more open tables for my friends and me! Thanks!!! =) BTW, their happy hour rocks! Their fresh mango mojito is yummy!!!
- Pros: THE GOOD FOOD!
- Cons: Parking and the occasional slow service
Service needs improvement
by pcha72
August 27, 2007
This review is for the location on 2nd Ave. First, service is lacking, as others have related. No greeting or thanks, and S-L-O-W service. Granted, it was lunch hour, but people who came in after us got their food first (same # of people in their party too). Although the pad thai was good, the service ruined it for us. I've also done take out and once asked for an extra lime wedge with the pad thai. I was charged an extra .50 cents and after I already got back at work, only noticed that there was no extra lime!! Maybe that's a small gripe, but come on, .50 cents for an extra lime wedge?? I haven't been back since, there are other places in Portland that do better.
- Pros: Good pad thai
- Cons: Service, parking
Yummy in your tummy by Robert S. at InsiderPages
Contributor
July 31, 2007
The food at E-San Thai is outstanding. Very fresh and large portions. The happy hour is the best deal in town, and includes reduced prices on food and beer.
Plus, the staff at E-San Thai is very knowledgeable, attentive and extremely attractive.
Highly recommended.......
