Tara Thai Northwest Reviews

Used to be good. Their tree is big.

It's delightful to sit under the heritage tree and enjoy good fresh food assisted by an attentive wait staff. Portland has lots of good Thai food, but this is truly one of the nicest places to sit and enjoy the breeze, the comopany and good food. You're in the heart of everything but gritty is replaced by simple elegance.

This is a neat little place in a house. The service and the staff are family and make you feel like family. They have a varied menu and the food is prepared with care. The Tom Yum soup was very good and had a light but spicy flavor. I got steamed vegetables with peanut sauce and their peanut sauce is delicious and not as heavy or strong as some I've had. The vegs also had lots of fresh ginger and I like that a lot. Rest of our party had Pad Thai and another noodle dish, the name of which I can't remember. My bet is that everything there is delicious. They seem to take great care with the preparation and the presentation of the food. Loved it!

The food is delicious, I can whole heartedly recommend any curry here. The staff is efficient and friendly. The seating outside is great.

I had the opportunity to dine here while visiting my best friend and enjoyed every moment of it. The food was incredibly fresh, perfectly cooked, and generously portioned. The ambience on the deck under the century-old oak tree was wonderful on a mid September evening. The atmosphere was casual and family friendly but the service staff treated us with special attention. This restaurant will be on my "must visit" next time I'm in town.

Went there with a colleague. The food was prepared pretty fast and particularly the starter was delicious. My colleague's main course was too spicy, at least to his flavour. The quality of the food is good, good ingredients are used and the cooking is done just right. I think that there is some room to improve the presentation, as well as the look and feel of the restaurant. They are at a good spot on 23rd and the house/ building has a lot of authentic aspects. It needs some paint and furniture though. There seemed to be a take-away as well, and that was pretty busy, so I think it underlines the quality of the product is good. The restaurant experience is not great, but if you close your eyes, you will enjoy the flavour even more.

We go to Tara Thai quite often and have never regretted it. The food is always good. We like to sit outside when the weather is good. It has a huge tree and a serene buddha statue sitting under the tree. It adds a better ambiance to the dinner place

Wonderful service, excellent food, reasonable prices. What more could you want? We had the pumpkin curry and the duck breast curry - both were delicious. Highly recommend.

We had to entertain some business associates and we chose a Thai restaurant they could walk to. This is a neighborhood place with a nice outdoor deck. The service is friendly and quick. The food is not the best Thai we have had but it is good. Choose real Thai dishes not Chinese American dishes. It was a very successful evening with the business people becoming friends.

Found a small family run Thai restaurant in NW Portland so we tried it. Ordered the combo dish, loads of food. The ice tea had enough tea in it so you could tell it was tea, not dirty water. Great service too. Check it out.

After a long day I was ready to crash at my hotel. I was walking back and feeling hungry when I came upon Tara Thai Northwest. There was a nagging feeling in my gut or maybe my stomach that told me I should go in. Thank goodness for that! The service was great and friendly. The menu provided a variety of options and the food came back quickly. I enjoyed my entire experience immensely. The food was absolutely ambrosial. Next time I'm in Portland I know where I'm eating! I would recommend it to my friends and family for sure.

My family and I love thai food and during my research on good restaurants near the hotel where we stayed, found this one. We were delighted with the food and service. Everything we had was delicious, the fresh spring rolls, sweet and sour soup, noodles,curry... and the prices are very reasonable also.

If I find myself downtown or in Northwest Portland while on a day trip from Seattle (or a weekend visit) then this is my "go to" spot that has always had good seating, delicious and fresh food and is easy to find parking! Indoor or outdoor seating. Quick service and food is served hot. Thai tea is delicious! There is much I enjoy about this place, but it's proximity to the freeway and away from the main bustle of the "Trendy Third" foot traffic makes this an ideal place. If, in the unfortunate event you are visiting friends or family at Good Samaritan Hospital nearby, then this place provides a nice atmosphere to spend a few minutes having a good meal (by yourself or with others). Plus, if you're wanting to spend a little more time in the area visiting with a friend (or friends) there's a Starbucks across the street where you can enjoy an after dinner treat and not have to worry about moving the car! I love this place!

We wanted something different from the usual Thai and so shared the Nem Khao lettuce wrap and the Khao Poon Nam Kai soup from the Lao menu. Wonderful blend of subtle flavors in both dishes. Though Tara Thai is not cheap--this is a high-rent district after all--the food was excellent and we couldn't finish it all. We did save room to split an order of the coconut ice cream, which was as delicious as it looked at the neighboring table, and there was plenty to satisfy both of us. Service was attentive.

We had a late afternoon lunch. We sat in the outside patio which was just wonderful and peaceful surrounded by plants and great tree shade. The food was delish and the portions were very very generous and the prices were great for the amount of food we got. We ordered two appetizers and 4 entrees which filled up a hungry family of 6 The Youngman that served us was friendly and Service was outstanding The wonton soup was probably the best wonton soup I ever had, and it also had shrimp what a great surprise. Every dish we ordered was full of flavor and very satisfying . Chicken fried rice, pad thai, a sampler, etc. If we're ever in Portland again we'll check it out

Very nice, tasty Thai and Lao food -- nothing elegant or lavish. Lots of food in every dish -- maybe too much. Stunning outdoor eating area under a giant oak. Very pleasant service too. 23rd NW is an interesting street too.

Excellant service. My wife & I had lunch and thouorghly enjoyed it. We both thought the food & service was excellant. There was a little bit of a crowd when we went in but no delay in service. We asked for extra spicy and believe me we got it. But we both love spicy food. I added dessert late and the server didn't charge us for it. Said it was too much trouble to go back & change the order with the crowd. Needless to say I left him a larger tip. We will go back next time we visit portland.

Two amazing noodle dishes--flavors were fresh and excellent. Only reason for 4 vs 5 is price seemed a bit high; that said, appetizers and dinners were brought out quickly and were gone quickly too!

never ate there but my friend's mom is a cheif there and she always makes great things to eat when i go over ;-)

Walked by this unpretentious victorian house and decided to sit on patio and have dinner. Food and service excellent. Friends had curry and I had singapore noodles. All were flavorful and enough for us hungry souls.

Most excellent. We were seated on the lovely patio with 2 - 80 year old friends. Very low noise. The service was genuine Thai hospitality and the food was superb. I had the pineapple rice with shrimp and grilled fresh pineapple. Everyone got something different and everyone was happy with the quality and the amount. About 14.00 per plate. I recommend the cold Thai tea.

We ate here the last time we were in Portland (3 years ago) and really enjoyed it, so we decided to come back to eat it again. The food was good, but not as good as we remembered it being the last time (we even ordered the same food: spring rolls & shrimp pad thai). Since we were staying right around the corner, it was really convenient for us to eat here. The food came really fast, so if you’re looking for a quick, good meal, this is a good place to go.

I got the Singapore noodles, it was tasty and was ample for lunch the following day. The owner is a great women and offered my water while I waited which was appreciated as it was a warm spring day.

Tara Thai was a nice little surprise in the heart of 23rd Avenue in Portland. They have a nice garden patio. Our server was great and took his time describing some of the house specialties. We had tasty Thai cosmos with lychees. I ordered the crunchy broken rice lettuce wraps, which were delicious and plenty of it. My husband ordered steak and pork with vegetables in black pepper sauce. It was really good and only $9. This place is a real bargain compared some of the other restaurants nearby.

Great setting in an old Victorian era house set in a tree lined suburb of Portland. An extensive menu with lots of vegan and vegetarian options. The level of spice could be adjusted for most meals by talking to your waiter/waitress but for most folk a mild or medium curry would be hot enough! Great food, great service and a lovely setting.

Tried appetizer combo - crab wontons, salad roll, and chicken satay. They were veryy good. The beef pad thai was ok - not best and not worest i have had. Was just bland and not warm throughoutpad that is the dish i compare thai restraunts against each other). Tried my in-law's shrimp panag currey which was very good. Will try that next time. We had them make the chickren fried rice plainm with no pineapples or veggies and it was very good. Had out door seating but we stayed inside. The younger wait staff seemed standoffish.

We dined outside on the (pleasant) deck. Even though the corner is busy, the traffic noise did not intrude. Food was wonderful and the service outstanding. My only criticism: the portions are way too large. Locals were taking boxes home, but we were staying in hotel, so the excess food went to waste. A nice place.

My business party stayed at the Silver Cloud Inn and walked down 23rd Avenue looking for some place to eat. We passed Tara Thai and it looked inviting. So, we decided to try it. The restaurant is on the bottom floor of an old house (quaint). We opted to sit inside since it was getting a bit cold (they have an outdoor patio area as well). Our server was attentive but not intrusive. We ordered appetizers and our main dishes at the same time. The apps came first - salad rolls and chicken satay. I only tried the chicken and found it to be a bit rubbery. Not my favorite. My main dish, however, was excellent! I had tofu pad thai and it arrived piping hot and full of flavor. Personally I would have like the tofu cut up a bit more but that is just me. The portion size was ample and I didn't finish the entire dish. If I hadn't been staying in a hotel I would have asked for a to go box. The prices seemed very reasonable for the portions and quality of food. No complaints!

I took my husband for the first time to my secret lunch place. I usually come here with friends or by myself because I like the food and location. They have a wonderful seating area outside that is shaded by a extremely large oak tree. He does not normally like Thai food due to a bad experience he had at another restaurant. He ordered the Kings fried rice. It was served in a pineapple bowl. He loved it! I ordered the Thai beefsteak salad. #15 on the menu if I remember correctly. Yummy and light. We shared an appetizer of coconut shrimp which we both enjoyed the freshly made treat. You can tell they make their own- these didn't come out of a frozen bag. This lace has changed his mind on Thai food and he's a fan now. No longer just my secret lunch place! We then walked up to the Salt & Straw for ice cream , followed with a trip to my favorite bookstore. Lovely day and lunch.

Laotian husband and wife team up in the kitchen with a daughter waiting tables, the ingredients are high quality and fresh with excellent flavors. Here is one of the Laotian specialties, by far the most expensive item on the menu at $18. but easily for two people: Pla Neung (subject To Availability) succulent halibut marinated and steamed with fresh lime juice, gingerroot, pickled garlic and green and white onions. delicately arranged over a bed of tofu and topped with fresh ginger, baby bok choy and basil. choice of steamed jasmine or sticky rice.

We were walking around the area by our hotel and came upon this place. Saw good reviews on Trip Advisor so we stopped in. Glad we did. Some of the best Thai food I've had. We eat a lot of Thai and Laotian food back home, plus I lived in Thailand for a couple of years, and this place is one of the best. The prices were good which we were surprised at due to a previous reviewer complaining of the high prices. No higher than we pay elsewhere. Very attentive wait staff. If you are looking for great Thai/Laotian food, try this place.

We stumbled across Tara Thai, and are very glad we did so! It is a lovely casual dining option. The service was friendly and our food came unexpectedly fast. Our meals (Rainforest rice and a teriyaki chicken dish, followed by a mango and sticky rice dessert) were both great. They have a nice, tranquil patio/garden area, from which you can admire a beautiful 200-year-old oak tree. We'll be back.

Love trying something new - tradition Lao chicken noodle soup with coconut milk, galangal and banana flowers, both brought in fresh. The owner made sure I knew that it needed to be spicy for it to be done right! It was medium spice and not too much, but I like lots of spice. More noodles than soup! I'm used to Tom Kha which is generally more broth. A filling meal and delicious.

We all enjoyed our meals, we had green curry, red curry, and a vegetable noodle dish (cannot remember the name). All were vegetarian and super yummy. We sat outdoors where the patio is hidden from the street by shrubbery.

Great for Loatian as much as Thai food.

I have eaten here several times for lunch and dinner. Its a quaint little place with outside seating in the heart of 23rd district. The food has always been great and the staff always pleasant.

Another quick Portland excursion. Visiting friends & family! I had spent the day with my sister (who was visiting from AZ) and she planned to met up with a friend at Jake’s. I needed a quiet moment from our busy day. So, even though I was welcome to join them, I preferred to enjoy a solo meal and visit with my husband. Immediately I knew exactly where I wanted to go: Tara Thai in Northwest PDX. I love that they have patio or inside seating. I chose to eat inside, because the day was so beautiful and everyone else seemed to want to enjoy the patio. I mentioned my desire to just enjoy a quiet meal and visit with my husband on the phone, so they seated me in a corner. The waitress was very pleasant and gave me the respect of my privacy, while I respected her queries throughout my meal. I’m sure that whatever your fav Thai dish is, you won’t be disappointed!! Nice ambiance, beautiful patio seating, delicious food, friendly service. I Love Tara Thai!! Give it a try!

I called in an order to go on my way home from work. I remember eating inside the restaurant a year ago so i called in an order. I got the papaya salad and musseman curry. They both were really my only complaint is that the papaya salad came in a large container and was only filled halfway (see pic). I thought the amount provided was just alright but the size of the container was misleading.

authentic, satisfying tofu salad rolls, Pad Thai, Pad Kee Mao, rainforest fried rice; quickly prepared....

Had a nice meal here, dined on the patio. Food was good -- didn't wow us as particularly inventive or flavorful, but certainly above average. Good value.

Food is always fresh and WONDERFUL here. Menu has lots of options not usually seen at most Thai restaurants, beef pho, Laotian and more. It was dumping rain outside and my son and I were craving hot noodles and this hit the spot, his spicy Pad Thai and my Singapore noodles with veggies and chicken, both amazing. Took home spicy basil fried rice with beef for my husband, it was also perfect. Great service. Especially nice when the weather is nice to sit outside on their large patio and people watch.

My husband and I were enjoying the boutique shopping in Nob Hill and decided to stop here for lunch when locals recommended it. It did not disappoint! We sat on the deck, it was beautiful out. The spring rolls were EXCELLENT! So crispy, fresh, and light! We split the Pork Fried Rice also. The fried rice has great flavor. Next time I'd do shrimp.

the purple rice and coconut milk dessert is the best in the city and the first place to sell crab and cream cheese wontons. Excellent service and food.

The food is as good as when this restaurant was located in Beaverton. I try to stop by a few times a year. Typically bring visiting family so they can experience the good food. Love the old house the restaurant is located in.

When we chose our dishes we had a detailed conversation with the kitchen interface staff. The point was to request that some specified dishes be prepared without using sugar or palm sugar. The result was terrific. The grilled beef salad was superb perhaps because the tart fresh lime flavor shone through. A seafood dish benefited likewise. The duck red curry was also excellent. It proves that Thai food can be well prepared without loads of sugar

Every dish I've had is excellent - exceptionally fresh, authentic spices. Excellent value for the price

I got a Bulgogi Bahn mi and my mom got a Lemongrass Chicken Bahn mi. Both were fresh and delicious. The service was nice and we enjoyed waiting for our food while people watching on the rocking chairs on the porch.

After a bit of shopping on 23rd avenue we needed food. So many choices so we asked around and were pleasantly surprised. The menu has a number of options but not so many that one can not choose. We decided to start with a couple appitizers which pretty much filled us up for lunch. Definitely a place we would go back to for apps, lunch or dinner

I'm not sure why this place isn't packed all the time. We went for dinner and we were the only people in the restaurant. We were greeted right away and ordered. The dumplings were perfectly crisp with thin skin (our favorite kind). Hubby had the green curry and it was the best he's ever had. I tried it and although Thai is usually too spicy for me, this had the perfect amount of heat for a wimp like me. Tons of fresh veggies and looked amazing. I had the spring roll lettuce wraps. I ate every bite. The lettuce was super fresh and it was served with a clear dipping sauce that was super yummy. I also ordered the chicken skewer satay. The chicken melted in your mouth. All at a reasonable price. Service was super quick too. You have got to try this place! I rely on reviews and find them quite valuable. So I strive to leave you valuable reviews. If my review helped you in anyway, please take a second to click the "thumb up" button below. Thanks for reading & give this place a try.

I have had mixed results from tara thai. Sometimes they are right on it and the meals are delicious. They have a great patio for enjoying lunch in the summer.

Found this restaurant a short walk through the neighbourhood from our hotel. It looked like it had been converted from an ordinary family house, but it works. The surroundings are very pleasant, and we were lucky to be able to eat outside on the large patio area which extended to the rear and side. (I had tried to reserve a table here earlier in the day but was told reservations can only be made for tables of 5 or more people) It is obviously a very popular place and the atmosphere was good. After we arrived, we noticed other customers arrive who were squeezed onto tables on the front porch of the property. Our food was extremely good. We were asked how hot (spicy) we would like our dishes, and I said 'very hot' Usually - outside England - this does not get you very much in terms of heat... but here, it definitely did. This was probably the most enjoyable meal of our road-trip. The service was informal, friendly and great. And the prices were very reasonable