Rao Thai Eatery — Restaurant in Elk Grove

I typically go to Rao at least once a week whether I’m ordering out or eating in. I’ve never had any issues with the food or service until today. I ordered two pad thai orders via their online ordering system and received probably the worse service ever. I picked up my order: one I had requested to be spicy and the other mild. Once I came home and opened the plates, I realized neither were spicy like I had requested. Being someone who goes their frequently and orders the same dish, I knew my order was incorrect. I called Rao and spoke with “Bella” around 4 pm today. I told her I put in an online order and one order was made incorrectly. She asked what the issue was and informed her that one was not made spicy as I had requested. She told me that it is normal for it to not be made spicy even though I had requested it to be spicy. She said that I could throw some spicy sauce on it and it would be the same as being cooked spicy or next time I went in, she would provide me with a spicy sauce to put on my pad Thai. I told that in my previous experiences at Rao or any other Thai restaurants, I was never told to just “throw some spicy sauce in it”. Then she told me that the cooks will purposefully make it mild because people call and complain their food is too spicy. I told her that I have never had those issues and then she started interrupting me and cutting me off saying that there’s nothing for her to do. I told her offering me hot sauce or making excuses does not compensate for my order not being made correctly. Then she said “so what do you want me to do? Obviously you think I’m making excuses about your food”. I said “ma’am I called to let you folks know my order was made incorrectly. So if you stop cutting me off…” and then she cut me off again and stated “I’m not cutting you off. You want the order again? I’ll make a mild one..okay bye.” And hung up the phone on me. Then I called again and said “ma’am why did you hang up on me?” And she said “must’ve gotten disconnected” while telling the cooks I wanted a mild pad Thai. I said “ma’am, I told you my spicy pad Thai needs to be made again. Please stop cutting me off. I’m just asking for this to be fixed. You didn’t even provide me an ETA”. And she said “I’m not cutting you off. You have to wait 30 mins, we can’t expedite your order..we have others to serve first”. She was just so rude for no reason. I run a bakery and I have been stressed, working alone yet I would never be this rude to a customer. I will no longer be going to Rao. This woman Bella made me feel uncomfortable for asking for a mistake by the restaurant to be fixed even though I was asking politely. I didn’t even ask for my money back. That is no way to act with a customer. Please support a business that provides better...

I've driven by this place a bunch of times because I'm a frequent flyer to Cool Tea Bar a few doors down. Today I was in the mood for Thai so I decided to drop in to try it. It's supposed to be 100 degrees today and as I walked in I could feel the AC here was struggling to keep the inside cool. The waiter greeted us when we walked in and pointed us to sit at a two seat table. I looked around and noticed the place was empty so I asked to be sat at a larger table. I was ignored so I just sat at a different table.

The menu is normal for a Thai restaurant. Nothing really standing out. I chose the pork jerky off of the lunch specials and my wife ordered the boat noodle. We also placed an order for papaya salad. The waiter seemed new and didn't really know the menu when I asked a few questions about the items but i wasn't bothered by it.

The papaya salad came out and was placed in front of us. The waiter walked away so I continued my conversation with my wife. A few minutes passed and my wife asked me if he was coming back with small plates for us to eat the salad from. I looked up and he was syanding at the register. I waived my hand and asked if we could have some plates for the salad in which he responded "yes yes I was going to get those" as if it were on his to do list and I interrupted him. I ignored it yet again, determined to have a good first experience here.

The food arrived and the taste tests passed with flying colors. The food no doubt is great tasting however portions seemed small. I didn't mind as I am trying to watch my portions but for less you could get more elesewhere. The dish I had was supposed to come with a tamarind based sauce for dipping but that never came out. My wife was disappointed that the boat noodles didn't come out with any pepper or hot sauces to add but was satisfied with the flavor as it was presented.

Half way through the meal the waiter returns to ask if everything was alright. At this point I didn't want to ask for the sauce because my meal was practically gone. My wife however asked if they had any pepper or condiments for the soup. The waiter said yes they did have things and asked if we would like it. We said yes please but felt like we were offended that he never even asked us for any in the first place. We finished our food, paid, and left.

If it weren't for the food tasting well enough I would probably never come back. But since it is next to one of my favorite places for milk tea I might give it another chance in the future but definitely not my first choice for Thai food. I will update my review of this place in the future if decide to eat there again but this first experience didn't go so well, but first impressions...

Rao Thai Eatery is an absolute gem tucked away in Elk Grove, and I had the pleasure of dining there recently. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that set the stage for an incredible dining experience. As a senior data center engineer based in Silicon Valley, I value efficiency and precision, and Rao Thai Eatery delivered on both fronts.

Plus, I was fortunate to be served by a remarkable young lady who truly enhanced my dining experience. Her warm and friendly demeanor immediately put me at ease, creating a welcoming atmosphere that made my evening special.

The menu at Rao Thai Eatery offers a delightful array of Thai dishes, each packed with authentic flavors that transport your taste buds straight to Thailand. I had the Pad Thai, chicken skin deep fried, papaya salad, fried rice, ...and it was nothing short of spectacular. The balance of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors in the dish was perfect, and the quality of the ingredients was clearly top-notch.

But what truly set this restaurant apart was the outstanding service. The staff were not only attentive but also very knowledgeable about the menu. They were more than willing to provide recommendations and answer any questions I had about the dishes. Their friendly and casual approach made me feel right at home, and that's something I truly appreciate.

In addition to the delicious food and impeccable service, the ambiance of Rao Thai Eatery is charming. The decor, combined with soft lighting and Thai music playing in the background, created a cozy and inviting atmosphere that's perfect for a relaxed dinner.

Overall, my dining experience at Rao Thai Eatery was exceptional. As a senior data center engineer, I can appreciate attention to detail and top-notch service, and this restaurant exceeded my expectations. If you're in Elk Grove or even just passing through California, do yourself a favor and visit Rao Thai Eatery. You won't be...