You could spend a whole afternoon exploring Mountain View’s Thai food scene—not bad for a city that’s become a hub for Southeast Asian flavors. From classic pad thai joints near Castro Street to fiery curries tucked away in strip malls, here’s where to eat your way through the best of it. We’ll add more spots as we discover them—and for our coverage of other Bay Area cuisines, click here.
Pad Thai Cuisine
$ | (408) 733-2626 | WEBSITE
Pad Thai Cuisine is a gem. It’s essential, and, in terms of atmosphere, it’s also nothing fancy. You can find quality Thai food all around the Bay Area, so why eat here? Because this family-run spot has been serving since it opened, and it’s still one of the best and most affordable dinner options in Mountain View. Get the fried catfish and a Penang curry for $18.50. And don’t forget to bring your coworkers here.
Shana Thai
$$ | (650) 940-9990 | WEBSITE
Shana Thai is our top pick for Thai food in Mountain View. But the location on Castro Street is just a short walk from the Caltrain station. Right in the heart of downtown, it’s a polished spot where you can settle into a crisp white-tablecloth booth while you take in the evening’s energy. Pumpkin curry with tofu is our go-to order, and we suggest you add a side of crab Rangoon. Keep in mind, the portions are generous.
Original Krung Thai
$$ | (408) 260-8224 | WEBSITE
A long-standing favorite in the area, around for years, Original Krung Thai is a neighborhood spot where you can grab a bold curry or a well-balanced Pad Thai. The place is compact, but they manage to squeeze authentic flavors into every dish, so the food is never an afterthought. Order the Satay Chicken with a side of Panang curry fish, and enjoy in the dining area that feels straightforward and welcoming.
Barn Thai
$ | (408) 732-3319 | WEBSITE
Barn Thai looks every bit its cozy self and remains an essential source of Thai comfort food. In the evening, head over for a bowl of green curry or a plate of pad see eww with beef. For dessert, get the mango sticky rice or try the unique stir fried crab noodle, which comes highly recommended. The generous portions and friendly waitstaff make it a popular choice, though service can sometimes be slow.
Overall, the food is the highlight, with standout dishes like panang curry and spicy eggplant keeping Thai food lovers coming back.
Siam Taste
$$ | (408) 245-8585 | WEBSITE
Open for years in Mountain View, Siam Taste is one of the most well-known Thai restaurants in the area and tends to be full of locals lined up for reliably great curries. Rich and beautifully balanced, they come packed with flavors like green curry with prawns, massaman curry, and yellow curry fried rice. Supplement with a plate of the sweet and sticky coconut rice, and grab a serving of mango and sticky coconut sweet rice for dessert.
Thaiphoon Restaurant
$$ | (650) 323-7700 | WEBSITE
Thaiphoon Restaurant has been serving Mountain View for years and remains one of the top Thai spots in the area. The menu is full of vibrant, freshly prepared dishes that still manage to taste authentic and balanced. Bring a friend and try the out-of-this-world cashew and papaya salad followed by the must-try Tom Kha soup. The Red Bamboo Curry with chicken over Jasmine Coconut Rice is a standout, with flavors that are delicious without being tiresome, leaving you feeling satisfied yet healthy.
Portion sizes are decent, and the attentive, sweet service matches the nice, bright ambiance of both indoor and outdoor seating. Just note that rice is an additional charge, and you can adjust spice levels to your preference—though the mango with sticky rice dessert needs no adjustment at all.
Roost & Roast
$ | (650) 485-2395 | WEBSITE
At Roost & Roast, a gleaming kiosk sits by the entrance, glowing with menu options for crispy chicken. It’s a modern ordering system, not that the food needs it. Crispy, juicy, and coated with Thai spices that cling to your fingers, the Hat Yai chicken is destination food. It’s worth waiting for, even if it takes 15 minutes for your order to arrive from the kitchen.
Indochine
$ | (650) 853-1238 | WEBSITE
The stretch of Mountain View’s midtown is dotted with Thai spots, but for a reliable survey, head to Indochine, a cozy family-run place offering noteworthy curries in several variations. If you want it in lunch form, go for the generous set plate, served with soup, salad, and spring rolls. The Velvet Walnut Shrimp that arrives perfectly crisp is another great pick.
The friendly owner herself ensures each dish—from the Honey Walnut Prawns to the Singapore noodles—is freshly cooked and nicely presented, with spicy sauce that even complements plain jasmine rice. While prices run a bit higher than typical for an informal meal, the quality and variety, including gluten-free and vegetarian options like kumpao tofu, make it a worthwhile stop for locals seeking a calm, relaxed experience, often with leftovers to take home.
Must be Thai
$$ | (408) 816-7179 | WEBSITE
Near Westfield Valley Fair, tucked away in a kitschy space where colorful lights and quirky decor create a festive glow even on a weekday evening, Must be Thai serves authentic dishes that turn any meal into a celebration. This popular spot is where your feast should involve a steaming bowl of Tom Yum Fried Rice, a crispy plate of Hat Yai Fried Chicken, and a big platter of Pad Thai. (The Pad See Ew with beef is a great place to start.)
Kurated Kitchen
$ | (408) 430-3450 | WEBSITE
Fusion restaurants often miss the mark, but Kurated Kitchen gets it right. The Mountain View spot has been serving since 2025, offering a thoughtful blend of Thai and American dishes with a focus on vegan options. A lunch order of tofu pad thai here is a Silicon Valley staple, but the standout is actually the fried tofu rice bowl that comes loaded with fresh vegetables. Add garlic French fries—crispy outside and fluffy inside—for the complete meal.
Bai Tong
$$ | (408) 872-1319 | WEBSITE
Waits are the worst. But if you’re going to endure one, make it the wait at Bai Tong in Saratoga, where the kitchen works at its own deliberate pace. I can’t tell you exactly how long you’ll have to wait, but it’ll probably be twenty or thirty minutes. If the cooks are juggling multiple takeout orders or the place is unusually busy, it could stretch to forty-five. The payoff is a spread of authentic Thai food with spice that hits like a freight train—not watered down for timid palates.
The Pad Khee Mao with beef arrives savory and tangy, the chicken satay is tender, and the laab packs genuine heat if you dare to request level 7 or 8. Sure, it’s a bit pricier than your average Thai spot, with most dishes running $16–$22, but the flavors justify every penny. The cozy, no-frills dining room has limited seating—maybe a dozen tables—with warm lighting and simple wooden chairs, but walk-ins usually snag a spot without much fuss.
Service is super friendly, and while the food might not fly out instantly, it’s prepared quickly once the orders are in. Two people can easily share three dishes and still have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Just remember: when they say spicy, they mean it.
Thai Basil Restaurant
$ | (408) 773-1098 | WEBSITE
Thai Basil Restaurant is a genuine neighborhood Thai spot where regulars greet the servers like old friends and the whole operation feels refreshingly straightforward. Slide into a booth in the cozy dining room with its warm amber lighting, and zero in on the classics, like the fiery pad kee mao beef or the vibrant kra pao gai. There are flashier Thai places closer to downtown, but this one’s worth the short detour for its authentic flavors and welcoming vibe.
Siam Station Cupertino
$$ | (408) 495-9959 | WEBSITE
During the Bay Area’s culinary boom, Siam Station Cupertino has established itself as a destination for authentic Thai flavors. The restaurant offers Southern California prices, making it accessible while maintaining exceptional quality. Get the Pineapple Fried Rice, which arrives steaming hot with generous shrimp, and pair it with a few appetizers like the perfectly grilled Northern Thai Sausage.
Customers enjoy the Khao Soi curry noodles and refreshing Larb salads, all served in portions that satisfy. The consistent and amazing flavors make this one of the best Thai places around, with dishes like the Pineapple with Shrimp delivering that signature balance of sweet and savory.