Sukhothai — Restaurant in City of Albany

I had just picked up a takeout order and returned shortly afterward to ask if I could use the restroom. I was with my kids. As a paying customer, I assumed this would be a simple, reasonable request. But instead, I was immediately shut down by the owner, who harshly told me, “Restrooms are for customers only.”

When I explained that I had just ordered and paid for food, the tone didn’t change. In fact, it got worse. I was surrounded—verbally ganged up on—by the staff and owner in a way that felt aggressive, belittling, and deeply rooted in prejudice. The energy shifted the moment they looked at me. The message was clear: I wasn’t welcome—not because of anything I said or did, but because of the color of my skin.

What hurt even more was that my children were right there watching. They saw their mother being disrespected, denied basic decency, and treated as less than human. No child should have to witness that. No mother should have to explain to her kids that sometimes, people will look at you and decide you’re not worthy of respect, simply because you’re Black.

This wasn’t about a bathroom. It was about the humiliation, the racism, and the total lack of compassion shown to a family who did nothing but try to enjoy a meal like anyone else.

I’m sharing this so others—especially people of color—know what to expect if they walk into this place. I hope the owners and staff reflect deeply on how they treat Black customers, and the harm caused when bias goes unchecked.

We deserve better. Our children deserve better. Until real change happens, I will never support this business again—and I encourage others to...

Service was non-existent from the start. We walked in the door and already the waitress saw us and pretended to not see us until we started walking towards an empty table. Upon taking our order, she quickly rushed away without asking about drinks. We had to go to the counter and order there. After our dishes started coming out, she practically threw the plates at us instead of setting them on the table. When we were doing with apps, she didn’t even take away our appetizer plates that took up the entire table for 2. She handed us our entrees. We had to set aside the plates on the wall next to our table to make space.

Food was a 0/10. Even unauthentic Thai food tastes better than the unseasoned food we were given. Basil fried rice tasted like plain jasmine rice and drunken noodles had no taste whatsoever. Not once did she ask us if our food was okay, or if we were doing well. We would’ve kindly asked if the food could’ve been remade or taken back. Instead, she spent the entire time catering to two white folks over and over while completely disregarding us. Not sure if this was a case of bias, but sure seemed like it.

For all the recommendations I’ve gotten for this place, I 100% would never go back nor recommend it to anyone. Save your money and find just about any other...

I entered the restaurant politely and simply asked to use the restroom. What should have been a normal and human interaction quickly escalated into an uncomfortable and deeply offensive encounter. Instead of being treated with basic respect and decency, I was met with hostility, suspicion, and a level of rudeness that felt clearly rooted in racial bias.

The tone, body language, and dismissive attitude of the owners made it very clear that I was unwelcome—not because of anything I said or did, but simply because of who I am. Their actions were not just impolite—they were discriminatory. It was a painful reminder that racism is still alive in places where all people should feel safe and respected.

I left feeling hurt, humiliated, and angry. No one should ever have to feel less than human because of the color of their skin. This kind of treatment is unacceptable anywhere, but especially in a public business that serves a diverse community.

I hope this review serves as a wake-up call to the owners and a warning to others. Until meaningful changes are made in the way customers are treated—regardless of race, background, or appearance—I cannot recommend or support this establishment. Racism has no place in our communities, and it certainly has no place in...