Thai Dara — Restaurant in Dana Point

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Thai Dara, and I have to say that it was one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time. From the moment we walked in, we were struck by the efficiency of the service. The wait was less than 5 minutes, which was impressive considering it was a busy New Year's Day. Once we were seated, the service was lightning fast, with the staff being attentive and catering to our needs.

One thing that really stood out to us was the restaurant's willingness to accommodate my girlfriend's dairy allergy. They were very helpful in checking the ingredients in each dish to ensure that she could safely enjoy her meal. We opted to dine in, and were struck by the beautiful flowers on each table (and even in the bathroom). It was a nice touch that added to the overall ambiance of the restaurant.

The drinks hit our table in less than 2 minutes of ordering them, and our food arrived only 7 minutes later. I ordered the Panang Curry with chicken, which was delicious, and my girlfriend ordered the Pad See Ew, which she said was equally delicious. The portion sizes were generous, and the prices were very reasonable, providing good value for the quality of the food with enough left over to take home.

The restaurant itself is located directly on PCH, and while there is outdoor seating available, we chose to sit indoors. The chairs were padded, and the decor was traditional and inviting. The seating was a bit tight, but the large mirror on the side of the room made the space feel larger than it was. The restaurant was clean and well-maintained, and the staff seemed to take pride in their work.

Throughout our meal, the waitress checked in on us multiple times, taking a genuine interest in the guests at all her tables, asking them about their day and lives. She was friendly and efficient, and it was clear that she enjoyed her job. When it came time to pay, the process was smooth and seamless, with no issues or delays.

Overall, our experience at Thai Dara was excellent. The service was fast and efficient, the staff were friendly and accommodating, and the food was delicious. If you're in the mood for some delicious Thai food, I would highly recommend giving this Thai restaurant a try. The location is convenient, with ample parking available, and the exterior of the restaurant is beautifully maintained, with a fresh and welcoming appearance.

Inside, the restaurant is clean. The bathrooms are also clean and well-maintained, which is always a plus in my book. Overall, Thai Dara is a fantastic place to enjoy a delicious and surprisingly affordable meal, and I will definitely be returning in the future.

In addition to the great food and service, I also have to mention the convenience of the restaurant's takeout options. Whether you're in the mood to dine in or take your food to go, Thai Dara has you covered. Whether you're craving a delicious curry, some savory pad see ew like us, or any of the other delicious dishes on their menu, Thai Dara is the place to be.

In conclusion, I have to say that Thai Dara is a top-notch Thai restaurant that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for delicious and affordable Thai food. Our bill came to $33 (2 meals + waters) and I left a $10 tip. The service is fast and efficient, the staff are friendly and accommodating, and the food is simply amazing. Whether you're in the mood to dine in or take your food to go, Thai Dara has something for everyone, and I can't wait to...

This is the most delicious Thai food I've ever experienced. Everything we got was good! Exceptional service — we really felt well taken care of and the staff felt like real people — not just treating us well to play the part but just genuine, kind, and had a great sense of humor. The restaurant interior was clean, comfortable, with just enough ambient lighting to not hurt your eyes but still able to see everything well. Also their dishware is beautiful — really presents the food very appetizingly. Portions were just right.

Here's a rundown of each of the items we ordered:

Spicy noodles at level 4 spiciness has a beautiful heat ramp up that slowly makes it's presence known on the lips and towards the back of the mouth. Really enjoyable and I'm usually the mild-spiciness-only-please type of person!! So delicious that we ordered another one to-go!

The tom kha soup had a nice richness in flavor and nice balance of veggies and tofu to liquid ratio. Served in an aluminum donut-shaped container with a tall cone-like structure emerging from the center so a fire could keep the soup warm when you go for seconds! Practical and delicious.

Pad see ew — so yummy! The soy sauce had a nice balance of sweet and savory and the flat noodles and veggies were cooked to perfection. No mushiness of the carrots or the noodles getting stuck together in a heap.

Chicken panang curry was delicious. It was also level 4 spiciness but the heat wasn't as strong as the spicy noodles. I love sweet and savory foods and this panang curry really hit the spot!

Pineapple curry — also delicious! This had a heat forward spiciness experience. I didn't indicate a spiciness level so I'm assuming it was maybe a level 3/mild but it packed some heat! This curry wasn't as sweet as the panang curry. Pineapple pieces seemed like it was cut from a fresh pineapple and not canned.

Mangoes are in season!! Mango sticky rice was so good!! Definitely recommend it!

Ginger tea was served in matching dishware to everything else and came in a teapot with small tea cups! Freshly brewed and strained! Had a good sweetness level with a just right balance of ginger. Could gulp this whole pot down. Highly recommend. Great to pair with a great meal!

I'm looking forward to getting to eat the leftovers already!! Thank you so much Thai Dara for a wonderful dining experience and...

GPS takes you to the upper parking lot. Park towards the center before or after the handicap spaces and you’ll see stairs that lead you down. Then take a right. It’s easier to park on the Main Street than up in this lot.

There are a few tables outside for dining with a heater. Inside is tiny with 4 tables that seat four and one table that seat six.

We ordered two dishes that were $18 each! Tom yum seafood soup was lacking sour flavor and lemongrass aroma. Flames blew out early so our soup was cold. Shrimp and seafood was chewy, it’s like they just dumped it in right when it got boiled. Two slices of fish, bunch of mushrooms, carrots, a few calimari and six shrimps. Not worth $18 when it doesn’t come with rice (extra $2). Also the seafood option only comes in large size not bowl.

The other dish we got was seafood pad Thai for $18. It had peanuts, carrots, bean sprouts, noodles, shrimp, fish, same seafood as what’s in the Tom Yum soup. This dish came out super sweet and needed to balance out with lime. Honestly it tasted like instant pad Thai not something crafted with quality and taste when it took a long time for it to come out.

Prices here match Newport Beach which was super expensive for the quality and quantity. Charged extra for everything. They were reusing paper take out menus and the one I got had oil stains. However I do like that every table had a hand sanitizer bottle and wipes along...