Chuan Chim Thai Cuisine — Restaurant in Foster City

Basically... just don't bother going. By looking at other reviews, I realized this was not just an off night for them. There are plenty of good Thai restaurants around that don't give you bare minimum service with really negative vibes emanating from the staff, creating a really craptastic dining experience.

If you need me to elaborate on this, then here you go.. We went there last night, and from the moment we walked in, it was.. not great. She didn't really greet us (no hellos), so much as looked at us with a pretty unwelcoming RBF (resting b* face). We probably should have walked away right then but we thought maybe it was just the hostess. Nope. It's the entire staff. We got there an hour before closing, but from their faces, it might as well have been 15min. It was too much for them to even smile... unless someone was leaving. I was very surprised to hear joy in their voice but then realized they were saying goodbye to people. At first we thought, maybe it's just us or maybe it's because of race? Nope. We looked around and they were like that with everyone else too. Unfortunately, we both had a long day of work, we were hungry, tired and couldn't mentally go against convention and just walk out.

Initially, we had planned to try a bunch of things. Instead, we opted to get the bare minimum and leave ASAP because the ambiance was just awful and we didn't feel like any of this was worth paying more for. We got the combo appetizer and green curry. Both were pretty good, but not good enough for us to want to come back to the RBFs.

As for the service, aside from their perpetual RBFs, they don't have a concept of giving diners some space. There were plenty of empty tables, and they tried to seat us right next to another couple. We all looked at each other awkwardly for a minute before I asked if we could have another table. When we ordered, they were very short and bordering rude. We wanted to start off with a couple things, then maybe add more. She told us that the kitchen was about to close so we needed to decide right then. Nevermind that we were asked about 20min later if we wanted to order anything because.. the kitchen was about to close. When they dropped off the food, they practically threw it on the table. In the background, my partner saw another waitress angrily throwing silverware as she was sorting it. Throughout the meal they didn't ask how things were. They approached us minimally, and every interaction felt pretty uncomfortable, awkward, and, at best, apathetic if not just...

I am writing this review out of sheer frustration and disappointment with the service my group received at Chuan Chim Thai today. It is truly astonishing that in an area known for its diverse culinary scene, such a complete lack of hospitality could exist.

Just for context, we as a group of moms have always had brunch gatherings throughout the peninsula area, and never had we experienced this kind of service before.

We arrived with strollers, hoping to enjoy a meal on your seemingly empty patio. To our utter dismay, the server barely offered any alternatives in accommodating us. When we politely inquired about moving a few chairs to make space, we were curtly told that they were "too busy" to help. This was despite the fact that the patio was completely deserted.

Attempting to find a solution, we even suggested splitting our group into separate tables, thinking this might ease any perceived burden. However, our server, with an almost unbelievable dismissiveness, simply reiterated that they were "too busy to accommodate us with strollers."

This level of disrespect and unhelpfulness is not just poor service; it's a blatant disregard for customers, especially those with young children. It's truly ridiculous that a restaurant would alienate a significant demographic in such a condescending manner. We left feeling unwelcome, and utterly disrespected by the experience. I sincerely hope management takes this feedback seriously and addresses the clear issues with their staff's attitude and...

I’m extremely disappointed by the discriminatory attitude we experienced at this restaurant. As a mom with a stroller, I’ve never been treated this poorly in the Bay Area. The staff refused to help us make space for strollers, showing zero effort or empathy—something that felt clearly discriminatory toward parents and families with young children.

A staff member who called herself “Gam” told us they couldn’t accommodate us outside because it would be “fully packed at noon,” even though the entire outdoor area was completely empty at 11:30am on a weekday. Her attitude came across as dismissive and unnecessarily proud of denying basic accommodation.

Given the higher prices here, I expected much better service and basic respect. Unfortunately, the staff seemed untrained and unwelcoming. The food itself was average at best—not worth the cost.

We ended up going next door to TOAST IN TOWN, which was busy but welcoming. Despite being fully packed, their staff went out of their way to help us, the food was great, and the prices were more reasonable. A world of difference in how customers are treated.

I will not be returning, and I hope management takes this...