Phraya Thai — Restaurant in Denver

Perfect spot when you're craving Thai food.

We are visiting from Los Angeles and wanted to find a Thai spot and this place has a lot of great reviews. We understand why!

The space is small, but inviting. The staff friendly and efficient. The dishes here are as good as any we've had in recent memory.

We also enjoyed the ordering process. Pick your dish (rice, noodle, curry, etc), pick your protein and your spice level. A fantastic way to mix and match for everyone at the table.

We started with veggie rolls. Perfectly crispy outside, tender and flavorful inside. The dipping sauce had a "not from a bottle" feel to it.

We then had the vegetable fried rice, the shrimp curry and the shrimp drunken noodles. Each flavorful with brilliant textures. The shrimp were cooked to perfection and were large and plump. We ordered medium spice level and it created enough heat for the perfect bite. We scraped the plates clean.

Portions are large and great for sharing.

100%...

Dinner started with some confusion because although they took a reservation for our party of 6 over the phone, it wasn't written down. So they weren't ready for us and almost turned us away until the staff realized how the resv was lost. All of our entrees were ... fine, with neither complaints nor praise as we shared around. The basil fried rice was definitely the best of the table. Overall it's just Denver's par-level Thai. We had a mango sticky rice for dessert, the rice was overcooked to somewhere between congee and spackle, and the mango wasn't properly ripe yet. Skip dessert.

Also, this is a very strange space for a restaurant, and the layout and acoustics show it. The kitchen is close but not really visible and there's a prominent stairway that just goes up to what is now supply storage with the bare walls going 20'+ up around you. You're definitely not here for the ambiance, and it makes sense that the space was formerly a...

I’m so glad I found Papaya—this place is a hidden gem! I’ve tried a lot of Thai spots in Denver, and hands down, their Pad Thai and Pad See Ew are the best I’ve had yet.

The Pad Thai was perfectly balanced—tangy, just the right amount of sweetness, and full of flavor. The noodles had that ideal texture, and every bite was packed with freshness. The Pad See Ew was just as amazing—savory, rich, and the wok flavor was spot on.

Service was friendly, and the vibe of the place is relaxed but welcoming. Whether you’re a Thai food fanatic or just craving a solid meal, Papaya is 100% worth checking out. I’ll...