Top Ten Thai Restaurants in Hillcrest

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For ethnic San Diegan dining, there are three neighborhoods you must know about: Little Italy for Italian, Old Town for Mexican, and Hillcrest for Thai.

Surprised by that last one? You shouldn’t be. The following top ten Thai list is for great Thai restaurants that can all be found within Hillcrest’s borders. After you try them all, you may be left to wonder if Hillcrest should be renamed Little Thai.

Lotus Thai

Lotus Thai, located in Hillcrest and the Gaslamp, offers an almost-overwhelming variety of traditional Thai dishes, but doesn’t let the variety get in the way of preparing amazing, quality foods.

Taste of Thai

Taste of Thai has two locations in San Diego – Hillcrest and Del Mar – which means that you have two opportunities to indulge at this award-winning restaurant.

Amarin Thai Cuisine

Tucked behind the corner of a busy Hillcrest intersection, you’ll find this well-kept secret with entrees that surprise and delight you.

Bai Yook

Sure it’s in a strip mall, but one taste at this lovely restaurant, and you’ll agree that Bai Yook soars above its modest location with truly authentic menu offerings.

Celadon Fine Thai Cuisine

Celadon recently relocated to a larger location. Be sure to check out their private dining rooms, full bar serving late night cocktails, and a wide selection of Thai entrées.

Saffron Noodles and Sate

Saffron is legendary for its easy, hands-on approach to this exotic cuisine. Menu descriptions and translations are readily available, making this restaurant an easy pick for authentic and affordable Thai food.

Saffron Thai Grilled Chicken

Su-Mei Yoo, the owner of Saffron Noodles, opened up another restaurant—right next door, in fact—to strictly concentrate on the pleasures of Thai chicken and a variety of sauce accompaniments.

Kitima: Extraordinary Thai

With sister restaurants in Irvine and La Jolla, Kitima prides itself on using fresh ingredients in all of their dishes. The menu is extensive and promises to please even the most discerning palate.

Golden Dragon Asian Bistro

While not strictly Thai, Golden Dragon Asian Bistro serves up all kinds of traditional (and not-so-traditional) Asian dishes with a focus on Thai delights.

Thai Grill

You may originally overlook this hole in the wall, smushed between a Washington Mutual and a donut shop, but the spicy noodles will bring you back.

Photo Credit: Sue Pizarro