Cham Thai Cuisine at Carrboro — Restaurant in Carrboro

Food is absolutely wonderful but the service is subpar-if they work out the kinks, they will really have something here. We arrived around 6 and were seated immediately, we were brought water and menus and pretty much ignored for 20 minutes until I finally made eye contact with our server-who was as sweet as can be-just didn’t stop to get our order despite walking by the table multiple times until I literally waved and made eye contact. We ordered an appetizer and three entrees. My entree came within five minutes. The server said “the rest is on its way”. My dish was delicious but it was so awkward eating in front of my hungry family. I shared but still-not much joy in them watching me eat. When I was about half done with my meal the egg rolls came. $2 each. They were good. They weren’t egg rolls to me-they were giant spring rolls. They were good but not what I expected. Bland inside. After my meal was completely gone, they brought out my daughters dish. About ten minutes later they brought out my husbands and at that time, I ordered a dessert. The dessert came about the time my husband was finishing his meal. So-we all sat at the same table but didn’t really get to eat together. Pad se ew-so so good. Pad Thai good. My husband got a vegetarian dish-mushrooms and garlic-was very ginger forward but good. Serving of rice that came with his was way too small. Mango and sticky rice dessert was delicious but very steep for the size of it.

We would come again because the food was really good. We probably wouldn’t give them a third try, however, unless they could give us our meal at the same time.

When they brought the egg rolls, I asked why my entree came out so quickly-young woman explained that it was a mistake-the order should have gone to another table. I get that 100%. Mistakes happen. And that one had two ends. Someone else was waiting for the meal I was eating, but good management admits it right away and makes up for it somehow. If, when they mistake was made, someone had come to the table and said-we made a mistake-please share this around your table now-can we make you something different for when the meals are coming out? Or just acknowledge it upfront-my review would be a five. We were a $75 table. No reason for this to happen the way it did.

Young woman who seemed to be running the place was so sweet and was working really hard. Just not quite there I’m how to Manage and give five star service. I believe she will get there because she was working really hard. Better to lose the cost of a dish than a...

My partner and I loved Cham Thai for over 2 years. It’s been my favorite place for yellow curry. Since the new management/owner took over in January 2023, we have had 3 out of 3 negative experiences and will not return. The first time we didn’t realize it was new management until our go to meals tasted so differently - less tasty, more salty, and smaller in portion. The menu appeared to have similar items and ingredients including a papaya salad that was previously amazing. I thought it was a fluke so I tried months later to order to go. The website and google indicated it was open on a Wednesday afternoon but no one answered after multiple attempts and there was no automatic message regarding hours. We then tried to give dine in another chance instead and it was open this time. When we arrived on a Sunday around 7pm, they were clearly busy with a lot of to go orders so I waited patiently before asking for a table for 2 outside because we had dogs. The waitress going back and forth never acknowledged me or said she’d be with me in a minute. Eventually someone else came from the back who I informed we’d be sitting outside for 2 and he said he’d be out soon. We waited 10 minutes before someone came out to bus the table from the people there before us. But she didn’t bring menus or water and just said she’d be back. It was another 15 min and still no one came. No table outside had food and one other customer who was also waiting a while went inside to ask to place their order. It was then we realized they were just pervasively neglectful of customers and we started packing up. The guy taking their order didn’t even stop by and as he was going inside only spoke to us because he noticed we were getting up - he asked if we still needed menus. When told we were leaving he gave a very nonchalant apology and walked back inside. We will never return. We miss the old management, wait staff and friendliness. The previous employees and food were amazing and will be...

I don't usually spend time from my life to leave reviews that are not positive. But it would be irresponsible for me not to say something publicly about our experience at Cham Thai in Carrboro. I don't know WHAT day the beef I was served was cooked, but it wasn't TOday. I ordered Mongolian Beef "hot" - there wasn't even an attempt, a two on a ten scale. It wasn't as tough as shoe leather, but it wasn't far behind. They did serve a lot of it, tho, and my little dog was well pleased. Not so my dining partner, who ordered BBQ pig belly. Barbeque is a means of cooking, not just a color. There is no way what they were served had ever been near fire. And again, so tough, so hard to chew. I don't know, maybe the word "Cham" means "tough" in Thai. It was served with a really beautiful presentation, a lil flower on top. Too bad there wasn't any flavor on the inside.

Now, let's talk service. Number one: some tables at Cham Thai get a fresh carafe of water, some do not. If you are at a table sans carafe, you will literally have to raise your voice in order to get water. No one will ever come to the table and just see how you're doing. Don't bother asking for chopsticks, just use the flatware on the table. You'll be happier.

A fellow diner told us about the place a few months back, with just glowing reviews of the food. I don't know what has happened since then, but what we were served today was underwhelming to say the least. There was absolutely nothing exceptional about anything we were served. There's nothing I could say back to the person who recommended Cham Thai, other than "the restrooms were clean."

The entire time we were there, we and another table were the only diners inside, while there were young people at three tables outside. Pick up of take out orders was near constant. I hope the other diners had a better experience than we did. Best of luck Cham Thai, try...