Royal Thai Bistro — Restaurant in Big Bear Lake

I moved from Orange County to Big Bear Lake in May. It has been hard getting used to higher restaurant costs here, high delivery fees, not as many restaurants to select from. But love Big Bear Lake and the people are very nice overall. I recently broke my leg and my daughter does not drive. So have tried Instacart for groceries, plus Domino's, plus two Asian restaurants for delivery, this being one of them. Each establishment charges high delivery, service fee, tax, tip So by time you place small order have to add on another $10 to $15.00. I do not have extra money to waste. Other day decided to try ROYAL THAI CAFE for delivery. I called, man was very nice said I could order over the phone it would be easier. Best part - he said if we order $30.00 or more, there would be NO delivery fee. We ended up ordering 2 Thai iced teas, an order of 4 ea Spring Vegetable rolls, Royal Pad Tai and Vegetable Fried Rice. We spent $40.00. We literally heard our door bell ring within 30 minutes, food was delivered hot, in large brown bag with sturdy handle. Good presentation. The drinks were in nice tall cup mugs covered in plastic wrap. He gave us sauces and utensils. There was alot of food and we were hungry. It was delicious and ate half next morning breakfast. I wanted a wide noodle dish with broccoli and vegs. So I think I mistakenly ordered Royal Pad Tai, had spicy tomato? Sauce and thin noodles. Next time order the right dish. Would love to try the cold glass spring rolls too. I used to go to a Thai restaurant in Brea called Pho Ha which had excellent food. This food here was pretty good and I would definitely order again. I cannot wait until my leg is healed and I can walk in next year to sit down at Royal Thai Cafe and be served....

If you're strolling through the Village in Big Bear Lake and craving something warm, flavorful, and a little spicy, Royal Thai Bistro is a gem worth checking out. Tucked into the heart of the town, this cozy Thai restaurant offers a satisfying mix of authentic flavors, generous portions, and friendly service.

I visited on a chilly evening, and the vibe inside was welcoming — low lighting, simple decor, and a relaxed atmosphere. The staff was attentive from the start, happy to answer questions about the menu and accommodate dietary preferences (they have plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options).

I started with the Crispy chicken rolls, which was tangy and aromatic, though I did wish it had a bit more punch from the lemongrass. For the main course, the Fried pork rice was excellent — perfectly spiced, served with fluffy rice. The Pad Thai was solid as well: sweet, savory, and loaded with tender chicken and fresh bean sprouts. A table near us ordered the Drunken Noodles, and based on their enthusiasm, I’ll definitely try those next time.

One thing to note: while most of the dishes hit the mark, there were a few inconsistencies. A friend mentioned their curry wasn’t as flavorful on a previous visit, so it might depend on who's in the kitchen. But overall, the experience felt thoughtful and genuine.

Prices are reasonable for a resort town, and the portions are generous enough to share or take home for leftovers. Plus, the location is perfect for a relaxing lunch or dinner after a day of hiking, skiing, or browsing the...

I'm originally from Toronto Canada and if you don't know, Toronto is quite diverse in terms of culture and FOOD! I think it's a little step up to Los Angeles in terms of cuisine variety but not more than the bustling New York City. Anyway...having said that... I've eaten in a lot of places and my practical review on it is this:

For the price, it is not worth it. If the prices were lower, it would be an "okay" go-to meal.

It mimics THAI food but I did not feel that it is authentically THAI. For one, the sauces they give you reminds me of year old off-the-shelf-grocery-store sauces. And!! I ordered an original Pad Thai (not the usual ketchup type) and I was expecting that a). sauce is not red in colour (because there's no ketchup) and b) fresh smell of veggies and less sweet. I got quite the opposite. It was very red and doesn't taste fresh. The meal is less than mediocre in my opinion... I would not order it again. Also, my partner ordered the coconut pork dish and not only did it lack flavour but it lacked any veggies.. I felt as though the cook was lazy and just threw some sliced carrots in the bowl and that was it! You can definitely taste the coconut milk but it was missing that kick and extra depth... Again...it's "okay" but I would not go back there again.

Service? It was better than the food.

I know this commentary is a little harsh as I've heard others say this is a good place. But because of my experience and what I've tasted everywhere else, I give this restaurant a...