Thai Fresh — Restaurant in Austin

I've eaten here a couple of times over the past few months so I feel comfortable leaving a review.

Top level: The food here between brunch and the regular menu has a good number of hits and some misses. Desserts on the other side of the restaurant are also good across the board. I do think the value proposition here is not great but it's in line with their thinking on fair wages and no tipped wage workers (I think). You should also be aware that they started applying a 15% automatic fair wage surcharge to the check in December 2024.

Beer battered mushrooms and the rice balls are both excellent starters (both come with excellent sauces that make the dish). Green curry fried rice (which I ordered with pork belly) were also nice. From the brunch menu I ordered the waffle and breakfast fried rice, both of which were delicious for me. The basil lime fresca house drink is also really refreshing (although the taste does change from visit to visit which is odd). My friends and I have never missed with any dessert from the attached cafe.

Drunken noodles (ordered with Tofu that night) missed because for some reason it tasted only sweet which I found odd for this dish (no spicy, salty or umami notes). Spicy basil fried rice (ordered that night with pork belly) just did not taste like much it fell flat.

Finally the value proposition of the restaurant is not great. Do not expect large portion sizes (since they commit to local producers' products which I'm guessing are not cheap). Main dishes with meat run from $15-$20 (slightly less for no meat option), starters run from $6-8, and desserts run from $4-$9. Add on any drinks, add on tax, the fair wage surcharge, and sometimes tips and this place starts adding...

I live a few blocks from Thai Fresh and used to frequent SEVERAL times a week for lunch, baked goods, and hot drinks as the food is truly fantastic. Also as a small business owner I enjoyed working from there during the day or meeting others for discussions.

Unfortunately, they recently changed their prices and it feels inappropriately high for a casual restaurant. I visited for lunch as usual after the price change and ordered a Pad Thai with chicken and one modification of subbing avocado oil and was surprised that the bill for that one dish totaled $25 😮 I respect paying a living wage, but for a dish that is mostly rice noodles and honestly has a little amount of meat, $25 feels like I am being taken advantage of and feels inappropriate for me to support. Additionally, the only interaction I had with a person was 3 seconds when they brought my food since it is digital ordering. There were less than 5 other customers and I received no other interaction, and yet was forced to pay a premium price and tip.

It seems like this is no longer a spot for lower to even middle class folks to eat at regularly. As a local, small business owner and a young parent I disappointingly can no longer afford the now wildly high prices, nor can I frequent or support my neighborhood restaurant. I used to excitedly recommend Thai Fresh, unsolicited, but now when others ask if I recommend it I tell them the food is good but overpriced. Every time they have agreed $25 for Pad Thai is too much. Genuinely delicious food, and also genuine disappointment at the loss of one of my favorite places to...

Such good food! Highly recommend the green curry fried rice, and the baked goods are solid. However, the staff acts too-cool-for-school and will gas-light you. About a month back, I put in a catering order for 9 people for a surprise birthday party 1 day in advance. About an hour before we were supposed to pick it up they called and said they could not make one of the items, no big deal. We went to pick up the order an hour later, and they had not made anything and said "look around, we are really busy tonight". Just straight up did not make the order, no call, no heads up. I guess they hoped we would just forget that we ordered food for 9 people. Call me crazy, but 9 people isn't a ton of people, right? And like, they just didn't make it, can't stress that enough. And didn't call, like what?? I have gone back since and the service only seems to be getting worse. The staff will mess up your order and blame you for it. And they're good at that, they really make you feel bad for correcting them that you ordered a brownie and not cheese-cake (again, both yummy!). Just an un-fun, uninviting culture among the employees. Enough that I don't want to go anymore. It's a shame since the food is great and it's an awesome location. Check out Super Thai on South Lamar instead!! The food is comparable, and the staff is so much friendlier. Way better atmosphere if that is something you value. Sorry Thai Fresh, I really tried. And truly, great green...