Pakpao Thai Design District Reviews

This restaurant is a little hard to find...in the Design District behind Oak and Interior Resources. The social scene was nice and lively. I had the pad Thai and probably was one of the most memorable in town...plus the different sides of rice they offer cannot be missed!

Second trip in a week. We found this place on the way to a STARs game and it rocks. Perfect stop for dinner before Game or concert. The Tom Kha soup is the best and there beef jerky is awesome followed up by Pad Thai with shrimp. Delicious!

Loved the ambience and we had a fabulous pork eggplant dish but we should have asked for it mild. Will definitely go back.

We were staying with family who live in the Design District, and we had heard about this restaurant and thought we would give it a try. Believe it or not, it was warm enough to sit outside on the deck in February. We started with a specialty cocktail, and the Bangkok Snow was absolutely delicious! Member of our party feasted on chicken pad thai,crispy catfish, and duck with red curry. The food was beautifully presented and expertly prepared. Everything was delicious. Our waiter was knowledgeable and helpful and our service was very good. Definitely would recommend.

Really nice Thai restaurant. In fact some of the best Thai food I've ever had. A good mix of traditional and modern dishes Well worth the trip

Staying at the nearby Hilton Anatole, we wanted to eat off property. Due to rain, I called in and picked the food up to go. The menu is fun and offers plenty, though the prices are a bit high for what I am used to for Thai. The shrimp lettuce wraps were delicious and the pumpkin curry with chicken was fantastic! Great flavor and very quality chicken. I would definitely give Pakpao another visit if in the area!

This is my second visit to this restaurant, & menu items have remained consistently good. Tasty flavors, innovative presentations, & prompt friendly service were as good as our first visit. Starters include a very good selection of spring rolls, skewered pork tenderloin satay, steamed mussels with basil, & other equally interesting combinations of flavors. Soup is great, but would benefit from more vegetables, which preference may vary among customers. I always like to see the lemongrass in Thai soup. Entrees are generally outstanding ranging from traditional pad thai, chicken curry with rice, to rib roast, mixed with vegetables, curry, & on a bed of jasmine rice. The rib roast is incredible & has the reputation of having simmered for 10 hours. The taste & tenderness of the dish validates it's reputed cook time! Cocktails are a specialty, & they look elegant. My daughters & wife love to try the cocktail menu, & they seem to enjoy a good buzz while giggling their positive appraisals of the drinks. I am always the designated driver, & so I have to abstain! The patio is spacious & comfortable, & I recommend an evening seating since it is always cooler this time of year. There is no view unfortunately, but the food & service compensate for the parking lot scenery. Fair enough trade. The menu is a little pricey, especially since portions are "chic size." The setting is definitely leaning into 21st century minimalist, sharp edging, ultra-clean architectural design. A good fit for the younger generation! Recommend that old timers like myself try this site at least once.

Nice atmosphere. Drinks were ok. Appetizers were great. Dessert was good. My entree - pineapple rice- looked beautiful and it was a lovely presentation but the dish itself was bland and tasteless. So was the cubed chicken in the rice. I have never been to Thai restaurant & experienced a flavorless dish. I didn't even bother to take any of the uneaten dish home. Why bother? We did let the manager know. Bottom line...paid a lot for an unsatisfactory experience.

Its an amazing place with , very calm and nice ambiance. They have the best Iced Tea and Fried Rice in town. I keep travelling a lot and every time i got to Dallas. I visit there.

Was at PakPao on 6/7 evening, and was very impressed. We had the pork belly starter (delicious sauce and melt in your mouth goodness), the tomato nam prik (basically veggies and salsa with a fish sauce kick), and after asking about the best option out of the two duck dishes and the short rib curry, the waiter strongly recommended the tamarind duck and man was it good! The Phuket Fashioneds (Old Fashioned with a Thai kick!) were delicious. I can't wait to go back here. Great service, atmosphere, food, and drinks!

We went on vacation to Dallas last May and OMG this place is so amazing. The food is great and it has a really fancy casual atmosphere. We also got to meet chef Jet Tila who turned out to be a really cool guy. He comes out on cut throat kitchen. Just an amazing experience.

My wife and I ordered take-out (delivered by Amazon Prime Now) from Pakpao for a date night-in. While my wife ordered more traditionally Thai--pad Thai--I ordered a bit more continental--curry chicken. The portions were small, and my curry chicken came without rice. Luckily, though, we had ordered, what we thought would be extra, jasmine rice. The jasmine rice was bland (I make better at home) and the coconut jasmine wasn't fantastic either. My wife enjoyed the pad Thai, but it wasn't the best she's had. My curry was a good blend of sweet and spicy. Overall, the fare was mediocre and the prices a bit more than the fare justified either in portion or taste.

Been here a few times. Might not be "authentic" Thai, but I am from Indonesia and somehow their crispy duck and spicy cat fish remind me of street food back home (It is a compliment!). I love their generous portions, bold seasoning and excellent service. I tried their papaya salad (too sour for my taste) and coconut rice (yummy!) Things I don't like: The seating arrangement inside is too crowded, w/o adequate intimacy between tables. Outdoor seating is far nicer, if it's a beautiful day. Also, it's not so affordable for diners on a budget, but that may not be their intended clientele. But hey, they have Pad Thai Monday (daily special) - so I'll probably drop by again next week. It's good!

We had spring rolls for appetizers that were good. I had drunken noodles. They were not spicy at all. They could have been a little spicy! I tasted the yellow curry and it was good and spicy. We even tried the Thai donuts. Good service and good food.

Overall enjoyable. Fast service and delicious food. Flat noodle dish with chicken excellent. I thought curry was hot and thick but others liked it.

We sat outside and someone came to take our drink order pretty quickly. We then saw that guy just wondering around inside--along with the rest of the staff--while we waiting outside. We waited for about 15 minutes before someone else came to take our order. It was a tad ridiculous. We went on a Monday and that is when they have their Pad Thai special. I ordered chicken and shrimp. The shrimp was delicious and huge, chicken was ok. The Pad Thai was also, ok. I've had better, and worse. My friend said the curry was some of the best she's had. I don't like curry so I didn't try it.

Found this resturant from a recommendation of a local friends. Good food the best part was the beef jerky was really good. Portions were just the right size the EU noodles were good. Duck was great

In short - really tasting food. Will be back for sure. Make sure to try the duck -:) The prices are reasonable.

Pakpao is easily the best Thai food in Dallas. And really, it's not even close. They don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait. But I promise, it will be worth it. Don't miss the crispy tamarind duck, the shortrib with massaman curry, or the ground pork with holy basil (with a fried egg on top). If you like your side dishes to double as dessert, you'll want to order the coconut rice.

A rainy night and a craving for a fried rice dish led me to Pakpao Thai, in the Design District. As it was near closing time, I had my pick of tables, so I settled in for dinner. I zeroed in on the Khao Pad Fried Rice, with chicken, egg, onion, bell pepper, scallion and fresh cucumber. As I waited, I enjoyed the restaurant's clean design features and interesting accent art pieces. The dish exceeded my expectations, as it was light, with a medley of vegetables, and chicken, with a great array of flavors! The best fried rice I have sampled. Glenn Almack

In town for a conference. Looking for gluten free options. Haven’t had good Thai since State College, PA. Figured we would try it out. WOW. We all had Pad Thai. All different levels of spice. They have a spice rack if you want to do it yourself. It was such a great meal. I will be back next time I can.

Saturday lunch, was not too crowded. The service was good and did not take much time. We loved the pad Thai and the braised crispy duck... Both were delicious. Looks like the evenings are more fun here in weekends. Can surely visit again for the food.

terrific menu - wish we'd had time to eat (we asked to taste the neighbor's soup, but her reply was a (logical) no) the drink menu was just as enticing tho - loved my ginger pisco!

you will congratulate yourself finding this restaurant tucked at the back of a former industrial showroom building. the tight quarters are attractive and abuzz with local trendies. very good noodle and rice dishes. try the beef brisket for a larger meal. flavors are authentic and memorable. One of the best Asian cuisine choices in Dallas.

My husband's food was ok but my coconut milk/sauced chicken was very dry. I did not enjoy it at all. The cashews we had were very good.

Went for Thai food in the "Design District" and WOW...Had the duck, some noodles, great dumpling appy and good drinks. Excellent menu and the staff were knowledgeable and helpful. Duck was "to die for". Will be back!!

I love Thai food, and I've had the opportunity to have some of the best in Thailand, but Pakpao has remarkably good food. I can't remember the ambience or setting, but the food lives on in my memory, and I can't wait to go again. We started with the pedestrian sounding chicken meatballs. These are not your anybody's meatballs - they are packed with flavor and perfectly set off by the small cucumber salad on the plate. The sauce is delicious. We then had three entrees. The grilled, marinated chicken was my favorite, and it couldn't have had better flavor or texture. The accompanying sauce was too good to pass up, but it wasn't necessary because the half chicken was so great. The salmon with green curry may have been the weakest entree by being *only* very, very good; it was perfectly prepared and the green curry sauce was impeccable. The crispy tamarind duck was another beyond-anything-I've-ever-had-dish-of-its-kind, with beautifully tender veggies and decadently crispy duck in a yummy sauce.

very delicious. Flat egg noodle dish with chicken excellent. Salad with cooked beef good. Pad Thai liked by companions. Good service. Slightly pricy for dinner

More Pork Basil, Please. Met a friend at this new location near Central Expressway. We were both pleasantly surprised. This is obviously a new space: open, clean, crowded and noisy. I ordered the Pad Kra Pow which was a variation on one of my favorite Thai dishes in that it only came with ground Pork. When my plate arrived it smelled great and tasted better. A delicious commingling of aromas, ingredients and flavors skillfully prepared and presented. It's a little pricey for lunch ($14 for Pad Kra Pow) but the quality is apparent. I took some some leftovers home so it's a bargain. If you like Thai I think you'll like Pakpao.

The food is great and the spiced cashews are one of the best things I've ever had. I've had lunch here with ease (no lunch portion menu, so rather expensive), and attempted dinner but there is not much of a bar area to wait comfortably. Definitely make reservations and skip if you have a group of 6 or more.

I went to Pakpao during my lunch break with a work colleague and it was brilliant. I was so impressed with both the food and service, it makes me want to fly all the way back to Texas to try it again!

Although our waitress was nice, the service is painfully slow. I think they bring food out when it’s ready, so our friend got his entree like 25 minutes before the rest of us. We were the only table in there and there were tons of waiters, so it’s strange that it would take so long to get menus/water upon being seated, etc. Food is ok, but far from authentic Thai. The Tom Yum soup was too sour and had a strange overall taste. Skip the mussels - they’re tiny, expensive, and dry. Duck was over cooked and couldn’t cut into it. We left in a pretty bad mood considering how much money we had all just spent.

We came here by coincidence. We were driving from airport to New Orleans and just looking for a quick bite. We just drove to the exit and saw the Pakpao. We like Thai food so decided to give it a try. We are happy we chose this place. Very nice stuff, hand made juices are delicious and food and all sauces were very tasteful. Also nice ambiance and fresh. Clean

Ok i am a thai food freak. To be blunt the menu has great items on the menu but it is prepared for those not familiar with Thai food. All very disappointing. I was excite to see fried morning glory salad in my mind I was expecting stir fried pak boon fai dang instead I received deep fried morning glory. The menu should be clearer and state deep fried. I couldn’t eat it, waste of 13 bucks. I also ordered the Thai beef salad. Again my stupid self was expecting a dish with more citrus like a yum salad Isaac style with beef. Instead I received a mixed greens salad with some tasty beef. The beef was nicely cooked and that was the highlight. So if you want legit Thai food and have certain expectations of how it is supposed to taste then don’t order from here.

A group of 12 of us went here for a pre-theater dinner and had a very good experience. It is a modern appearing, casual place with a small bar area and lots of seating. Variously shapes white kites line the ceiling. Service was very good. Our server, Sophia, was simply excellent. The fried cashews and siu mai dumplings were excellent. The jerky and beer sampler (3 types of Thai jerky pairs with craft beers) was creative and interesting, but just ok. One of my Thai favorites, coconut and chicken soup was good but not great. The pad thai noodles were very good. All in all, it was a very good Thai dinner experience, and I would recommend it and go again.

Second visit in the past two months and consistently great flavors and menu options. Initially had Drunken Noodles with chicken and enjoyed, however would have preferred a bit more spice. Today enjoyed a bowl of the Coconut & Chicken soup which was very good. Menu items are a bit pricier than other local Thai restaurants and therefore will continue to visit other comparable local Thai restaurants in Dallas.

Good food but similar flavor for many dishes, the flavor is good but, some dishes taste very similar, the do not have any kids option. quantities is good size and a little expensive. service was good the place is a little small and tables are very close each other.

Hidden away in the Design District this is hands down some of the best Thai in Dallas. The food is well prepared, flavorful, and the portions generous. I find the presentation also very pleasing. Their version of a swirl margarita is also worth a try and one of my favorites in Dallas. The place is small and generally crowded so there can be a longer wait for bigger parties but so worth it.

Very nice dishes. Friendly service--not impressed by the alcohol drinks. Good parking but look quickly or you might miss the entrance to the parking lot.

I had the wonderful opportunity to have lunch at this soon to be famous restaurant. The name is Pakpao, meaning, female kite. The chef's name is Jet Kim, I believe. He was there preparing for an event the next evening. I had the vegetarian lunch with the coconut, cilantro, lemongrass and chicken soup as well. I could have stayed their all day and eaten all their soup. It was fantastic, delicious, mouthwatering, rich, deep, comforting. Bravo Jet. Bravo Pakpao. I took some Coconut soup home! We had a fantastic waiter, Renee, who told us everything about the menu and the restaurant. I highly recommend.

Reliable and good food! The price is nice too! They update their menus to add some new dishes periodically- we enjoyed the shrimp ginger curry.

All dishes were authentic Thai, including the spice! Satay portion was small; only 4 pieces but peanut sauce was soooo good. Steak salad & shrimp salad were adequate portion since we split the Satay first. Music was a little loud for lunchtime.

This is a very nice Thai Restaurant on Oak Lawn Avenue. We dined there for lunch, arriving at 11:15 AM. We were quickly seated. However, by noon, there was a line waiting outside. We started with a mussel appetizer. It was excellent and the broth was a little spicy and superb. I had shrimp pad see ew, which was well prepared and tasty with a rich sauce. My colleague had yellow curry chicken, and felt the vegetables overpowered the chicken and sauce. Nonetheless, it was enjoyed. The service was fast, which I admired...however, I soon realized they were trying to subtly rush us because of the crowd. That was the ONLY negative of the experience. In summary, this is an excellent, tasty Thai restaurant. However, it is very busy. I suggest reservations and not coming during a peak dining hour.

We happened in by accident looking for another restaurant, but had been advised the food was excellent. This was Friday right before labor day weekend. We were greeted by the bartender who was very nice, helpful, friendly and explained the food very well. However, he did say he had only just begun eating This food, but was really liking it a lot. At any rate we had a broiled marinated pork belly appetizer that was one of the best thing I ever tasted. I followed with the drunken noodle dish with chicken. I asked for hot just not their hottest. Fresh wide rice noodles, white onion, bell pepper, Thai basil, egg, cherry tomatoes, savory sweet sauce. OMG I could not stop eating it, even though my upper lip was sweating (LOL). Just about one of the best plates of food I have ever had. The bartender explained that a new location was opening that very night.

If you're a food enthusiast or looking for a memorable dining experience, I highly recommend trying the amazing food at this place. Their menu offers a variety of mouthwatering dishes, including Pad Thai, grilled shrimp, pineapple fried rice, and Holy Basil pork. The combination of flavors is sure to delight your taste buds. Sharon and Danny, who work there, go above and beyond to ensure that every customer has the best dining experience possible. Whether you're dining with your family or simply seeking delicious food, this place is a must-visit.

A friend suggested this little gem. Food and service spot on. We had to send on entrée back because it was overcooked and the staff handled the situation professionally & expediently. Price very reasonably. 30 minute call ahead seating. I will return!

This small restaurant in the Design District is worth a try if you find yourself in or near downtown Dallas. The big D does not have a tremendous selection of Thai restaurants and this place ranks 1 or 2 among those that exist. Some highlights are the salmon which has a wonderful green sauce that has deep and beautiful flavor profile. The cashews are a fun starter as well as the spring roll (non-fried). I am also partial to the grilled chicken. Also of note is the diversity of wines. The list isn't just a list of California wines but there is a great variety from lots of countries. There is outdoor seating and bar seating in addition to the customary tables inside - which are a bit close together. If you like Asian food, you won't be disappointed in this somewhat out of the way but not far away restaurant which is just off of Oak Lawn and just south of I35.

What to enjoy Thai food with out going to Thailand this is the place. Pad-Krall-prow mou makereau WOW!! Time to go. Back and enjoy another dish. You will thank me a thousand time once you eat here.

Got a reservation here for lunch, it was packed. The tables are very closed to each other. Very busy at lunch time, food is decent, no complains. There is valet parking in the front, the restaurant is not that big honestly. Waiter was standard, nice. Food and drink were fine, no issue. Would return

Food was amazing. Spring rolls, coconut soup, coconut rice all very tasty! Staff very friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend!

Definitely the best Thai food in town at a reasonable price! Good choice of "traditional" dishes. We had Paopao shrimps, drunken noodles, and green papaya salad! Ok, it is crowded, tables are close together but this the place foe a quick and good lunch! really worth a try!

Good Thai food with a friendly staff and I sat at the bar. Tried 2 Vegan dishes, that were filling and delicious.

An very good choice for fun Thai restaurant good drinks and their Thai dishes consistently good, do suggest that if you like spicy food you request at least a level 7 Enjoy

Different type of Thai food. I had pad Thai with thin noodles steak, told them make it spice with no sprouts. It came with sprouts and taste mild. My wife had Pad Se We, thick noodles with veggies, asked to be mild but was not. She never adds hot sauce but this time she did. To me the food was ok.

We have dined here a few times now. The service is very good, the food is amongst the best Thai I've ever had. The portions are generous and the flavors are both tradi to onal and unique. Other reviews are accurate about the menu being a bit pricey but it is not overpriced by any means, the value is still there. This is a regular place for us now.

Did not have to wait for a table; the server was knowledgeable and very helpful explaining the menu items, ingredients, how prepared. When the food arrived everyone in our group stopped talking to eat and eat and eat some more. Delicious! Pork Satay was tender, the fish was fresh (sweet and flakey). Be sure to order the peanut sauce on the side.

The food here is above average for Dallas Thai restaurant fare; the service is excellent - our server was attentive without being intrusive. However, this is NOT a place to have a conversation unless you enjoy shouting at your dining partner over the table. LOUD MUSIC.

I frequent this restaurant with some regularity and have found it to be consistently very good. The staff is attentive and friendly, while the patrons seem to be from the Design District with designer airs about them. They changed their menu recently, and I miss their old steak salad. I do recommend their current steak salad, coconut chicken soup (tom kha tai) and drunken noodle (pad kee mao). Pakpao offers a refreshing twist on a wonderful cuisine. I am looking forward to their new location at Preston Hollow Village. Two thumbs up!

Pad Thai has a great sweet flavor. You can heat it up if you wish with your choice of chilis. This is my 2nd time here and I will definitely be back!

Wanted something different from usual brunch . Had incredible crab omelette and Thai chicken Benedict! /Salmon and avocado toast and then coconut pancakes to die for. All topped off with a mimosa then a lychee Bellini.. so loved it! Not expensive either and great staff ..

We were a group of 8 and had a great time. Pakpao doesn't take reservations but we called 30 minutes ahead of time and were seated right away. Highlights: punctual serving of all our dishes; the pork belly and fish cake appetizers; both duck entrees, any of the mung noodle dishes and any of the pork meals. We happily shared our food and look forward to dining here again. The only downfall, we were close to the door and it was cold outside. Oh well...

Authentic Thai food. Enjoyed pow pow shrimps, Tom Yum soup, green curry, pad sew kew and the Thai fried were delicious.

Our waiter was very friendly and enthusiastic. Of my family of 3 at the restaurant, all of us enjoyed our meals immensely. The only problem I found about my meal (short rib) was that I found the curry and the rib didn't go well together, but that they were perfect when separate. Our appetizer (the dumplings) made up for it though.They were the best dumplings I have ever had!

I read the reviews of PT and, based on those, my partner and I met a friend for dinner there on a Friday. Don't get me wrong - it is perfectly fine. But, like Mexican food, I expect my Thai food to come with a very big bang for the buck. PT is good, not great and it is more expensive than many other much less expensive and better Thai restaurants

We came here bc a friend recommended. We were seated quickly, the place was half empty on a rainy Sunday night. We ordered Tom Yum soup with Shrimp and pad Thai with chicken - both to split but asked for soup first. Our food took forever! During that time no one checked on us. We had a 5 month old baby with us, so I thought they might give us updates but we got nothing. When the food finally came, we got the soup and meal at the same time. Someone dropped it off and didn't ask if we needed anything else. Our waitress never checked on us or asked if we needed anything. No chop sticks, no extra sauces or spices on the table or offered. Waitress showed no interest in us. The portions for what you pay are small, so splitting was not a good idea. We both left hungry. Soup was ok. It did have some interesting flavors but I don't like shrimp so I just ate broth. Pad Thai was bland and lacking a lot of flavor. Not enough sauce for the noodles and not spicy enough. It was getting cold by the time we were finishing and the chicken was definitely cold. Meal was $30 for both items and we were so disappointed. There is so much legit Thai food in Dallas that you better blow my socks off for $30. Definitely one of my least favorite pad Thais and that should be a staple for a restaurant like this. Our whole meal no one checked on us. Someone came to gather our plates and didn't ask how our meal was. Our waitress was slow to bring the check and did I say we had a 5 month old with us! Never going back. Way to many better options in Dallas for less money.

If you are looking for spicey authentic Thai... well this is not the place to go. This is Americanized Thai in nice setting. Presentation of food is very nice, staff friendly and service good. The Tom Kha soup is pretty bland and the basil Thai was not very spicy. Good vegetarian and gluten free options though, if you have special dietary needs. Best place for good Thai found in Dallas so far is Bangkok City (not the one on Greenville, but the one Bryan Street). Not as pretty restaurant nor presentation, but food is very good.

This is my favorite restaurant in Dallas. The food is so flavorful, clean and inventive. I always love Thai food, but this place is in league of its own. I've read that it's the same owners as Oak, and the former "Belly and Trumpet" which shows, because it's obviously seriously talented chefs cooking the food. I've had upscale food in Thailand that was bland and soulless; Pakpao is the opposite. The flavors are strong yet balanced. The coconut rice is so unctuous and yummy, you might "slap your mamma." Also they have a "tuk tuk" cocktail with an amazing flavor of passion fruit that will make an American that travels to Asia or South America, who craves passion fruit, totally satisfied. Their margarita is also awesome to someone who would otherwise turn their nose up at a frozen margarita. The negatives: the wine glasses aren't appropriate for red wine. The stemless glasses are too narrow for Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. The mediocre wine tasted even worse in the terrible glasses. Our waiters have always been super-real and very friendly. Unfortunately the host lost our New Year's Eve reservation and I was even more ANNOYED that the host didn't listen to the words I was telling him. However the restaurant doesn't usually take reservations so I think he is just inexperienced. Anyway, by the first bite of roasted oyster with subtle curry and Thai sausage we were all in foodie ecstasy and all was forgotten. The restaurant also has a great casual vibe and an awesome music mix of The Strokes, Foster The People, and other great music. The food and service is awesome and completely unique for Dallas. It's also a great value for the quality of food and service that you receive.

After over 2 weeks of being on the road we arrived in Dallas on a wild thundery evening and found this restaurant close to our hotel. We arrived around 7.30 and the restaurant was full - no reservations accepted - so we were asked to wait a few minutes at the bar. We perused the menu and ordered as soon as we were seated. Decor was chic and the room was, for me, well lit. Service was efficient, friendly and the food arrived quickly. What we ordered tasted (and looked) very authentic. We are from Thailand and through all our travels we agreed that this had to be the 'best' Thai restaurant we have so far visited. Indeed, we tend to avoid Thai food when traveling as most places produce such a poor version. This was a very welcome exception - and quite intriguingly so considering there was not one member of staff from Thailand! The manager told us they used to have a Thai chef who returned home but clearly he has taught the cooks well and they continue to do a great job. The presentation of the food was good, - a good selection of condiments was available (Thais typically season their own plates and there should be small pots of fish sauce, sugar, ground chilli and vinegar chilli on the table), and the atmosphere in the busy restaurant was pleasant and convivial. Altogether a good evening out and we will definitely go back if we are in this area again.

Great tasting food and the service was nice too. Very friendly. Everything we had was good. Only reason for 4 stars was the casual and crowded environment. We had the pork and grilled chicken entrees. Pork was spicy but delicious.

I had read that some customers were not happy with the food. But our food was excellent and the server never let our water glasses get empty. We were very pleased.

We just celebrated a birthday lunch and had some wonderful food. We ate outside on the patio since it was crowded inside and it was very comfortable (they have fans to help with the heat). Our table shared the chicken meatballs and shrimp spring rolls and they were both very good. I ordered the shrimp pad thai and was not disappointed. It was very good. The presentation of all of the dishes was excellent - especially the pineapple fried rice that was served in half a pineapple. The portions are large so I have enough for another lunch. Hope to go again soon.

not sure what the hipe was about when reading reviews but most ppl rate it it a 5. i rated 3 because ive had better thai than this place. food was good, atmosphere was so fun,servers were so nice and kind,portion great, im trying out no gluten for health reason so not much to choose from on the menu, i had pad thai and it was good only because i had them spice it up. my spouse had padi keo mao and said it was good. would i come again probably not. would i recommend it??yes i would.

I am actually rating their takeout service but then I assume TripAdvisor readers use takeout. I have dined in many Thai restaurants all over the United States and I have to say that the take out menu offered here and the quality and quanity of the food is at the very top of the list. There were 6 adults in our group and we actually ordered 8 items; all were superb and were delivered promptly after placing our order. I would judge the price as very reasonable. One of my daughters (who will be most distressed if she ever reads this) is a very picky eater and everything met her standards for good food. What I most liked was that each dish tasted fresh, something not common to a lot of takeout food I think. If you cannot make it to this restaurant I do think you will be glad you used their takeout service.

My wife and I went today for lunch. Food was good, not great but music was so loud that we could not talk to each other even though we were at a small table for two. Maybe the target clientele don't really want to talk to each other, but that was not our preference. We also recently dined at Oak, a neighbor from the same group. There too the music was loud, but not so loud we could not talk. Food there was great so they can do better.

Some co-workers and I were in town on business, and we had to break free from the hotel. So, we took an Uber here to get some Thai food. While the dumplings were just ok, the Pad See Ew was some of the best I've ever had. One of my co-workers is super picky about food, and even she LOVED her dish. If I ever come back to Dallas, I will definitely visit again.

We're from the Bay Area where there's no shortage of Thai food, so we were somewhat skeptical to try it in Texas of all places, but we were pleasantly surprised. I had the crispy tamarind duck and the wife, a tofu pad see ew. The duck was very plump, the skin was crispy, and the sauce was a perfect accompaniment. The wife's pad see ew was very good as well, and we had enough food that we had some leftovers despite only ordering two entrees. If we find ourselves in the area again, we'll definitely make another visit here.

Absolutely loved this restaurant. Had a wonderful entree and an out of this world dessert (Forbidden Rice). I am gluten, dairy, and soy free, which makes Thai food a bit of a challenge. However at Pakpao our server was happy to check with the kitchen on ingredients for my allergens. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. The manager was very attentive. The prices were reasonable. What more can you ask for?

This is our new favorite Thai Restaurant in Dallas. It is in the design district with easy access to a major freeway & lots of parking in the back. They have great house drinks and a not extensive but nice wine list with lots of GLUTEN FREE menu items. These are easily discernible with GF after each GF item. We started with the cashews and the papaya salad, both completely yummy. Everyone had different entrees from chicken to pork to pad thai, all quite good. We did not have desert as just too full, we will be back and next time give the desert a go. I suggest you make reservations or go early enough if you don't want to wait for a table. Service was excellent and manager has his eye on the customers and seems to care / notice what is coming out of the kitchen, making certain everyone is well taken care of and happy.

I recommend the tamarind duck! Crispy and flavorful. The green papaya salad was not bad but i have had better in Dallas. But the duck is worth the trip for me!

Met a business colleague here for lunch. She raved. I ordered Gai Yang/Grilled Marinated Chicken at server's suggestion and did not enjoy it. Cucumbers were part of the meal and they were very bitter, unusually bitter. I left not feeling a deep need to return, for the food. I've had better Thai in Dallas and was hopeful that the chef change to Jet Tila (http://dallas.eater.com/archives/2014/05/08/pakpao-brings-la-chef-jet-tila-on-board-as-chefpartner.php) to the eatery would produce an impressive result. Meh. Service was good, lunch crowd buzzes this design district / downtown accessible restaurant. Outdoor patio looks like a good spot to hang out, when the weather is agreeable. Inside decor lacks. Pops of green and nod to the origami thread across the ceiling…well, it's just weird, not cool. I will give this place another try, another day. I will order my staple dish (something with curry) to judge it again. I'll post something of an update after that happens.

Not the best, not the worst. Pricey though. Went for Brunch last Sunday (5/21/17) but decided to order off the lunch menu instead. The waitstaff though pleasant, disappeared for 20 mins after seating us, though the restaurant was virtually empty when we arrived, still so, upon her return 20mins later. I ordered the Pad Thai with chicken and have to say, it was very vinegary and otherwise lacking in any other flavours, size-wise, it was pretty large. My wife had the Congee, which though large, again was overwhelmed by vinegar. Didn't deliver on it's promise, but, my Wife would like to return and try for dinner...we'll see!

My husband and I ate at this restaurant. We loved the recommendations made by our server, Andrew. We've eaten in lots of Thai restaurants,this one is top-notch. ....very fresh ingredients, wonderful service!

Had a dinner party of 6 on a Tuesday night, And was introducing 4 of them to Pakpao Thai. Ordered 3 different appetizers for the table each one came out at different times, the last one Jerky took 15 minutes. Drinks were offered early but the wine pours were all different. One glass was a good pour over 5 ozs? Another glass of the same wine was an under 5ozs pour. Lag time for wine was over 10 minutes. Note it took over 15 minutes for the 3 hot tea orders...really not good for an Asian Thai restaurant? Crispy duck has good as usual and the other plates were good as well, but the service level was really bad. Had to ask several times for service and we were almost the only folks there. We were the last folks in the place at 8:45...and they seemed ready for us to leave! Ok Thai food not ok service. I will Pass on Pakpao

My wife and I went for dinner on a Friday night at 8pm. They were crowded but a table was immediately available. Atmosphere was loud and tables were tightly packed. Decorations were more modern than Thai. While I would have preferred less noise, the atmosphere was nice. Our waitress was friendly, fast and attentive. Food prep and service was fast. We waited to order a main course until the first was served, and the timing was excellent. I ordered hot and sour shrimp soup. The bowl was generous, and the light broth was good. The shrimp was perfectly done, and they were fresh. Unfortunately there were 3 shrimp for an $8 bowl of soup...then my wife are one... My wife ordered the papaya salad. It was prepared a little differently from previous experience. To her it was too spicy and not sweet enough. I liked it. Her mIn course was drunken noodles with tofu. She thought it too little tofu and did not particularly taste like Thai food. It was not spicy, but our waitress warned her so. I ordered the red catfish curry. I luv spicy food, and this was too much for me. It tasted like catfish stir fried with veges in chili sause ... No coconut milk or flavor. It seemed to be more of a machismo spice thing than A flavorful dish. $65 w/ tip for two of us, and no alcohol. It is a good restaurant, but not really worth a special effort.

Food not as flavorful as I normally expect Thai food to be. We tried chicken satay which was small and burnt tasting plus a curry that didn’t have much flavor. Food was overpriced and under seasoned. Server was nice though!

This two month old bar/restaurant in a densly populated rental area with cinemas almost next door, is not as busy as it should be. May be they are settling in with the Americanized Thai offerings. Food is fine tasting though pricey compared to any other Thai restaurant in Dallas area. Service was excellent.

Nice atmosphere, great presentation of food. Attendant was very friendly and seemed excited about his menu, so we ordered Pad Kee Mao and Yellow Curry spicy. After waiting a reasonable amount of time after we received our dishes, he asked us how it was. We said it was pretty bland and not spicy at all. He frowned and walked away. The star of the show at our table was the stir fried veggies. No return visit for us.

In years past, the Dallas Design District was void of note worthy restaurants. Fortunately for foodies everywhere, that is no longer the case. New comer Pakpao Thai Cuisine, which recently opened behind it's sister restaurant "OAK", will undoubtedly be a favorite of the Dallas restaurant scene. Open only for dinner, this small but beautifully designed restaurant was busting at the seams by 6:00pm. We started with mussels in a zesty broth infused with lemon grass and ordered a side of sticky rice to sop it up with. Next was Pad Thai noodles with shrimp which was abundant and flavorful. The highlight however was their grilled chicken. It is vacuum sealed in a special marinade for 24-48 hours resulting in chicken you can cut with a fork served with fresh sliced tomatoes and cucumbers. So many restaurants and so little time, but Pakpao will be my "go to" for Thai Food!

I had the duck. It was very good. My friend had a Green Curry and is was very nice too. Employees are friendly and the place is quite nice. On the bad side, the cocktails are not good at all.

Ordered the Pad See Ew via Doordash while I was staying in Dallas. The food was still piping hot, and tasted great. Small thing that I really appreciated was their to go box. Often times to go boxes are thin styrofoam, but this one was nicer, and made the takeout experience more enjoyable. Great food.

Unless you’re under 30 this may be a ‘has been’ location It had a fairly nice vibe, but it was very hard to carry on a conversation, the waitstaff either wasn’t well trained or didn’t much care about proving good service, multiple appetizers didn’t come out at the same time. The entree was fine.

Visited during a business trip and sat at the bar. Bartender was hospitable and attentive. Ordered the combo pad thai with shrimp and vegetables. While tasty - I found the overall sense of sweetness to be the only lingering flavor after I was finished.

The Thai food was great. We started with Brother in Law eggs that we new to us. They we sweet and spicy and very different. Then I had a shrimp red curry that was fantastic! The down side was thier Thai Ice Tea did not turn out as they wanted so they removed it from the menu that night. The other problem is the background music is so loud it was impossible to understand the waiters or have a conversation across the table. It would have been a great experience if not for the music.

Went with four others,which is the only way to visit an Asian restaurant. Ordered five different dishes and shared. Plenty to go around. The chicken curry with roti was excellent. Also had satay, drunken noodles, short ribs and fried rice, all of which were very good and fairly priced.

The food is worth a visit, the decor is ethereal, and the bar offers a lot! The two bartenders are friendly, informative, and talented. The lemon grass margaritas are so tasty and are a reason to visit, in and of themselves!

This restaurant is good... service is good if you booked it... the food as usual american style... but good to try

Nice décor, pleasing environment. Went on a Sunday evening and it was packed and they were struggling to handle the crowd, most table were complaining over the slow service, food ready to be served just sitting and the same for drinks. The managers were struggling going to many tables handling the complaints, it appeared they were just not ready to be full. The food is really not Thai, it is more of a Thai fusion, for instance the spring rolls had what is expected but then much more was added such as pickles and other items I have never tasted in a Thai spring roll. Not bad, just very different. Then the entre I had was excessively salted, not that great. Not to my liking, I prefer a traditional Thai kitchen.

For the number of servers working and the very few diners, service was inexcusably slow, disorganized and absent. The green papaya salad was decent and portion size was generous. The young chicken coconut milk dish was flavorful and the chicken was cooked perfectly. The trout dish (which today was snapper) was disappointing. They served the worst, small, overcooked cut of the fish (must have been from near the tail). Such a letdown. The plate was beautiful with purple cauliflower and edamame, but the star of the dish, the fish, was just sad and dry. No suggestion of dessert or effort to sell us any signature dishes. No one asked how our meal was. It felt as if the servers were busy on their mobile phones and their day would be easier if all the customers would just leave so they could relax. No plans to return.

The food was downright amazing. The drinks were great. The customer service was fantastic. They had a great menu with lots of options. The waitresses were pleasant, one of the best best meals we’ve ever eaten in Dallas.

We had dumplings for an appetizer, and they were delicious meatballs in a noodle with a slightly spicy sauce. Yum! I had the Crispy Tamarind Duck. It was crispy with a sweet sauce and several vegetables. Of course it came with rice. My husband had Pad Kaprao with pork. He said that it had the perfect amount of fish sauce for the American palate. Overall, we had an excellent meal!

I am not a fan of flat noodles but a business partner from Virginia on our Ambitvip.com team recommended this restaurant. We walked in around 6:30PM on Saturday the 30th. We opened the doors and noticed that the tables were not fancy but the place was full. The citrus ice tea and the Thai tea was a refreshing start. We ordered the Pad Kee Mow / Drunken Noodles with Fresh rice noodles, white onion, bell peppers, Thai basil, egg, cherry tomatoes and a savory sweet sauce. What did my business partners have you ask? Crunchy duck over baby Bok Choy and braised beef in a curry and coconut milk sauce. Roasted Chicken with sweet chili sauce. It was delicious. Average dish around $14-18 per person. Wonderful experience! Please note that they were willing to create a dish if we wanted something off the menu.

Was a rainy Sunday afternoon and we ran in for a quick bowl of soup. Had the hot and sour Tom Yum with shrimp. Wonderful! Also enjoyed the dumplings! Husband tried their signature Chula-rita, a lemongrass margarita, he really liked. Will go back and try some of the entrees.

It really surprise me. Small, cosy and delicious food. Best Thai in Dallas. We ordered a variety of food, all to share. We started with the beef jerky, chicken meatballs and the pork satay. Then we moved to the entrees, best pad thai ever!!! Crispy Tamarind Duck DELICIOUS!!! and the chang mai curry noodles. All of this with a delicious Chularita (lemongrass margarita). I really recommend this restaurant and definitely will come back next tome I'm in Dallas

Lovely lunch today with my friend. Our first time eating Thai food and did not disappoint! Our waiter Sofia was really nice!

Pakpao Thai food is an upscale modern Thai restaurant near Trader Joes in the Design District. It is very reasonably priced and has good hours 11 am - 10 every day except Friday and Saturday when it is 11 am to 11 pm. It does have gluten free and vegetarian options. Service was just right - enough attention, but not hovering. The food hover, was just ok. We eat at Thai all over the world and it was good, but not worth a long drive over from the Fort Worth Area. I ordered what I thought what a vegetarian salad and it had dried baby shrimp in it - something I'm allergic too. Reservations are recommended if you are coming during prime dinner time.

I like ducks. They are very cute. I always smile every time I look at a silly little duck waddling around, or swimming in a pond - going "quack quack quack".... But what I absolutely love MOST about ducks, are their flavor! Sorry, my cute little duckies... but you are the yummiest birds on the planet. And Pakpao knows how to serve them up in style. One of life's guilty pleasures is when I am presented with a plate of Southeast Asian cuisine that has been prepared in such a way, that indigenous people of that region would violently gobble it up with enthusiasm! So the next time you're browsing around the design district, in search of your next $8,000 chair, don't forget to stop by Pakpao Thai, and get some lovely duck for just a few buck(s).

Even with a GPS, this place was hard to find, being off the street and pretty much a store front. It does have a large patio, but inside, it was much smaller than I expected, and the bar only held about 6 stools, which is where I sat. Aesthetics lacking, but then it is about the food, right? Servers are great, and there are a lot of them. Service is prompt, and they have take out and delivery. I tried the fried cashews with herbs, and that was delicious/ample for one person, served in a unique obliquely cut tube on greens. The tamarind duck was another matter. Veggies were very unique and well selected, and when I ordered spicy, they took me at my word; that is my fault, but I enjoyed it. However, the duck was cut in pieces and deep fried and was pretty much dessicated in nearly jerky consistency. Really too bad for duck. The mocha dessert was ok with very subtle flavor. I saw the couple next to me had it, too, and they only ate half of it -- empty calories? I might go back, but I would order a different main dish, to be sure.

I'm a huge fan of thai food and was looking forward to trying this place. Thai is actually a pretty challenging cuisine to prepare and Pakpao does a fantastic job. The food was delicious and blend of spicy, salty, sweet was perfect. I like extra spicy so I asked them to kick it up a notch....and they did perfectly. I also appreciated the amount of rice. Most thai places will overwhelm you with rice. Pakpao had just enough to compliment. My only issue was value. I thought their drunken noodles and pad thai were priced fair but the rest was more pricey than you expect.