Padaek — Restaurant in Irving

Restaurant person here: We've been meaning to try this cute little place across from Di Risonti's (which is AMAZING). We came in to grab to go lunch. The nicest lady greeted us warmly and look our order. Such a spotless chill place to dine in we thought. After seeing all the 5 star reviews we ordered an entrée and 3 apps. Thai Herbs Steamed Seafood, Fried Gyoza (Pork), Lao Sausage and Fresh Spring Roll (Shrimp). We were extremely disappointed in the quality of every single thing we got. The Steamed Seafood was mostly Mussels and should have been served with rice or with crusty bread. The Spring Roll was 90% lettuce unlike anything I've ever had anywhere else and the rice paper wrapper was sticky. I make these fresh at home so I know what they should taste like and the texture. The dumplings (Gyoza) were rather hard and although I ordered them fried they are supposed to be supple like steamed and finished off with a crispy bottom when cooked properly and these were far from that. Finally, the worst thing was the Lao Sausage. I have had it homemade at the Lao Monk's yearly festival by our house and at numerous restaurants before. It was overcooked to the point of being hard as a rock and extremely dried out. I've never had anything like it anywhere. For us, as much as we wanted to support this family owned business right by our house, it will be a...

Padaek in Irving is a flavor explosion that deserves a standing ovation! Tucked away at 120 S Main St, this Laotian gem is serving up some of the best Thai and Laotian dishes I’ve ever tasted, and I’m still dreaming about their Tom Kha and Tom Yum soups. The Tom Kha is a creamy, coconutty masterpiece with such depth of flavor—lemongrass, galangal, and lime leaves dance together in a way that’s so complex, it’s like a symphony in a bowl. The Tom Yum? Oh, it’s a spicy, sour knockout with that same unforgettable richness, punching you with bold, authentic Thai vibes. I’ve had these soups everywhere, and Padaek’s versions are hands-down the best I’ve ever tasted. Then there’s the pineapple fried rice—sweet, savory, and studded with juicy pineapple chunks that make every bite a tropical party. It’s so good, I’m tempted to write it a love letter. The spice levels here are perfection; I go for a 5 because I love a fiery challenge, and they nail it with just the right burn. But if you prefer mild, they’re spot-on with a no-spice or 1-star request, sticking faithfully to your preference without losing an ounce of flavor. The staff is friendly, the prices are reasonable and the carryout is quick and easy. Padaek is a must-visit for anyone craving authentic, soul-warming Southeast Asian food in Irving. Support this local treasure—you...

We used to really enjoy this place, but after three disappointing experiences, we've decided not to return.

The first issue occurred when the chicken in my orange chicken was undercooked. I thought it was just an unlucky mistake that day, so I gave them another chance.

The second time, I ordered pad thai, and the chicken had a sour, unpleasant smell. That was hard to overlook, but I hoped it was another isolated incident.

However, today was the final straw. We were on our lunch break and waited for our food for 35 minutes. The food included spring rolls. after 35 minutes the nice waitress came with just spring rolls. Since we were running out of time, we decided to cancel the order. The chef became angry about the cancellation and still charged us for the spring rolls, despite the fact that we were loyal regulars and hadn’t even received our full meal. It was a really disappointing experience, and sadly, we won't be...