Kanlaya Thai Kitchen — Restaurant in Hampton Township

Ordered Every Soup on the Menu So You Don’t Have To.

Let me cut right to it. This is Americanized Thai food. I ordered every single soup on the menu, and my wife ordered a rice dish. The flavors were muted across the board. Nothing was bad, but nothing stood out either. The salt levels were low, the seasoning was timid, and the spice level felt like it was designed for someone who thinks black pepper is bold.

For context, I always order every soup when I visit a Thai restaurant. It is the best way to compare places, since most of them serve the same core classics. This spot followed that pattern. The lemongrass flavor was strong in almost every bowl. While that is authentic, it was overdone and ended up drowning out everything else. I ordered all the soups vegetarian, and to their credit, they loaded them with vegetables. That part was well executed.

I also try rangoons and dumplings everywhere I go. They did not have dumplings here, which was disappointing. The rangoons were folded in a way I had not seen before, and I actually liked that. They tasted good, but I did not see any distinct crab meat like I do at better Thai spots. Still, they were enjoyable.

They also had Thai chicken wings. I have no idea if wings are actually traditional in Thailand or if this is just another American spin, but they were excellent. They were fried perfectly and had a flavorful sauce that hit just right. They were crispy, juicy, and not greasy. I would absolutely order them again.

The service was outstanding. The staff was friendly, fast, and very accommodating. That alone raises this review to three stars. If the service had been average, this would have landed at two stars based on the food alone.

Some of the five-star reviews calling this place authentic Thai made me laugh. This is about as authentic as your average American Chinese restaurant. If you have ever had real Thai or Chinese food, you know how bold and different the flavors can be. This was not that. This was safe and watered-down to appeal to everyone.

Also, check my review history. I have been to the majority of Thai restaurants in Pittsburgh. I do not hand out ratings blindly. I know what Thai food should taste like. This place sits firmly in the middle of the pack. Not bad, but not memorable and in a city with plenty of better Thai options, that simply is not good enough.

Three stars because the service was top-notch, the portions were generous, the vegetarian soups were packed with veggies, and the wings were genuinely well done. Everything else...

Kanlaya has gone downhill! I used to think this was the best Thai restaurant in Pittsburgh. Sadly, I don't feel that way anymore! I ate there this evening and my experience was awful! Food was terrible, service was SO rude, all the tables were dirty! I don't think the staff can handle getting busy and they take it out on the customers! i've experienced this type of attitude before from wait staff and i kept going back. I don't know why cause the food never gets better, they have changed the noodles in the meals probably to cut costs but in Thai food it changes everything!! Also when they get busy they always skip making fresh rolls and claim they don't have them which it's just laziness! This was my last time going here it won't be missed for sure! If they keep this up this restaurant won't be around for much longer! RESPONSE TO OWNER!!! Your job as owner is to apologize for your rude staff and not make excuses for them! Anytime i come to that restaurant im told to seat myself! As a matter of fact I watched another customer do it and the same waitress that waited on me and my son treated him so nicely! Secondly, you were not that busy when i arrived but once again your staff cannot handle it! MAYBE HIRE MORE PEOPLE!!! You should never as a business owner make excuses or respond to a review in the way that i see in your reviews! It comes off as DEFENSIVE and makes you look like you are in THE WRONG! Your waitress was out of line with the way she treated me and my son and they other waitress noticed! If you don't want people seating themselves you shouldn't let it happen on a non busy day! Or put a sign up! NOT MY FAULT!!! P.S. I don't go to Thai restaurants looking for gluten free noodles hahaha! That's great if it's an option.. but gluten free noodles are horrible especially in Thai food! It's like...

Food was fantastic- as usual. Server was pulled a little thin, but they've had a "hiring" sign on their billboard visible from Route 8 I'm guessing for at least a month. Have either allergies or head cold coming on, so did Pad Thai, spicy level 3 (of 4). Noodles were perfect, chicken was nice hunks but could easily cut with the side of my fork, and the wild onions were almost crunchy. Here's the real bonus- I worked on clearing my plate right to left, and- after having been eating a good twenty minutes, pulled some noodles up to my gullet with my chopsticks and- surprise!- had to drop them on my plate because that side of my Pad Thai was still piping hot almost a half-hour after they brought my plate out. This is not an easy feat in Pittsburgh's current weather. Family next to me was OBNOXIOUS. Loud talking like typical Americans (and especially Pittsburghers)- all this stuff about good schools, friends getting into Harvard, etc., a yell-volume eruption about one of the little boys at the table picking his nose, and the one woman was standing with a baby literally doing aerobics in black leggings with her hips/ bottom maybe 12" from my table. I like that Kanlaya is family-friendly and laid-back (I've brought my kids there), but honestly folks, the restaurant isn't your personal Pittsburgh rags-to-riches less-attractive version of the Kardashians echo-chamber. But guess what- the cute young couple in the corner on a date didn't seem bothered by it. The other tables didn't notice. I just had the bad fortune to be seated by the Gibsonia/ Hamptons version of Kim, Khloé, and Kourtney. Not Kanlaya's fault- and you can rest assured that I will...