Thara 8 thai cuisine — Restaurant in Arcadia

Thara 8 Thai Cuisine is a delightful new addition to Arcadia's dining scene, offering an authentic and refreshing take on Thai food. As someone with Thai heritage who has visited Thailand numerous times, I can confidently say this restaurant stands out for its genuine flavors that feel much closer to what you'd find in Thailand, rather than the often overly Americanized versions served elsewhere. In addition, they are fairly priced and give generous portions.

The space is small, cozy, and modern, primarily catering to takeout but also providing limited seating for quick and casual dining. It's perfect for grabbing a flavorful meal to-go or enjoying a relaxed bite in a welcoming atmosphere.

I have only tried a handful of their dishes so far, but here is what I think on some of them:

Lad Na Noodles: Their lad na is a great dish. The wide, flat rice noodles are perfectly stir-fried with a smoky wok-charred aroma, then smothered in a rich, savory gravy. The addition of tender pieces of meat and crisp Chinese broccoli gives it just the right balance of textures. Crab Fried Rice: This dish is generously packed with sweet chunks of crabmeat (it surprises me how much crab they give) that complement the fragrant jasmine rice, which is stir-fried to perfection. The subtle seasoning lets the natural flavors of the crab shine, making it incredibly satisfying. Tom Yum Noodles: A soul-warming bowl filled with bold, tangy flavors. The broth is infused with the perfect blend of lemongrass, lime, and chili, creating a harmonious balance of spicy and sour. It's loaded with fresh ingredients and makes for a deeply comforting meal. Golden Bags and Chicken Wings: The appetizers are equally impressive. The Golden Bags are delightfully crispy pouches filled with savory goodness, while the chicken wings are perfectly seasoned and fried to golden perfection--crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. These are the kind of dishes you'd normally have to travel to Thailand to experience.

The charm of Thara 8 doesn't stop at the food. This small family-run operation is managed by a lovely young husband-and-wife duo who are warm, welcoming, and clearly passionate about their craft. Their hospitality adds a personal touch that makes every visit special.

If you're looking for authentic Thai flavors and a chance to support a hardworking family business, Thara 8 Thai Cuisine is an absolute must-try. I can't wait to return and explore more...

Don't sleep on this spot for Thai food. I started going when they had opened a few months back and have been a repeat customer for their lunch specials, which are a really good deal, especially with inflation and the cost of eating out going up.

The lunch specials are about $15; it comes with rice, two fried dumplings, & a small salad; and you have a bunch of choices to pick from for your entree. I've tried about half of their lunch special offerings and have been really satisfied with the flavor, they also don't skimp on the protein which I really appreciate. I personally find the lunch special very filling, but if you're someone who packs away multiple plates per meal then you should probably order the full sized dishes.

Lunch Special Recommendations: Spicy Seafood (actually pretty spicy), Pumpkin Curry Shrimp (probably one of my top favorites), and the Tom Yum (my other favorite).

I've also gotten their Thai Ice Tea which I think is also a pretty generous size in my experience.

They use authentic ingredients like kefir lime leaves, galangal, etc. I just wished the spice level was consistent, even when it's not as spicy as I would like the dishes still have...

The store is very small with very few seats. Luckily, they were not busy so we got seats without a wait. We ordered the Golden Bags (8.95), Pad Thai (13.95), Red Curry Chicken (13.95), and Boat Noodle Soup (15.95). The pad thai ans curry chicken were lunch specials so the portion was a bit small. All of the dishes were served in take out disposable containers and utensils were disposable as well. First time seeing this happening at a sit down restaurant.

The Boat Noodle and Red Curry are both spicy but the boat noodle was spicier than the curry. All of the dishes tasted pretty average, not very great or bad. It is like fast food version of thai food. The portions are also small. My only favorite was the Golden Bags because they were fried just right and seasoned well.

The service was okay, like the owner lady had us place our order at her podium desk instead of her walking over. They also did not provide much service, like refilling water and etc. As the food was nothing special, I would not recommend coming here if you are looking for authentic thai food. There are much better places. This would be a good place if you want budget thai food for a...