Lil Thai Place — Restaurant in Jacksonville

An absolute delight! My wife and I were in town, trying to decide what to eat and I while searching in Google Maps, spotted Pad Ka Prow on the menu here. (Search tip, you can search in Maps for "Restaurants with Pad Ka Prow on the menu" or anything you like. It can do a lot more than look up by name or ethnic restaurant type) I've been a huge fan of Ka Prow ever since learned this is a staple for Thai but little known in the US.

It's worth noting there's a sign on the wall that has some interesting details about the restaurant including that this is an authentic Thai restaurant and not an Americanized Thai and if you only want Americanized Thai it's probably not the place for you. I haven't been this excited to eat somewhere in months!

The chef came out and was very kind and spoke to us through dish selection. The only Pad Ka Prow I'd been able to find previously was the dry crumble pile type whereas this is the wet brothy version. When it came out I tried a few tastes, and the broth was fabulous! So flavorful. So I set about systematically destroying the dish! The secret to eating Pad Ka Prow (to me) is that magical combination of a bit of the spicy beef and veggies on the spoon, with a small chunk from a sunny up egg, and a bit of the rice and add a bit of the broth. It's perfection on a spoon. So balanced, hitting every flavor angle at once. I've encountered very few things in life as satisfying as this bit of perfection. Overall the best thing about the dish was that balance of flavors. Usually in many dishes there's one hero flavor pumped up, but this is about everything working in harmony to make every part a delight.

My wife had the Pad Khing, a ginger dish which was also a symphony of balance of flavors. Clearly the chef has a deft hand at building flavors well.

After the meal, she came over and we discussed her recipes and approaches and she even brought over a sample of different basils so we could appreciate the differences in what gets called "Thai basil" here versus Ka Prow basil Where one is sweet and every so slightly minty, the other is subtly lemony and spicy with a lingering pepperiness.

There's something that's delightful about the whole experience of getting authentic food, the story behind how she grew up eating this dish and why making it the authentic way is important to her. She is so warm and giving that it absolutely made our day and we'll be back every time we are in...

Blown away by the incredible flavors and quality of the food. This restaurant serves the best traditional Thai cuisine I have ever had. The menu is filled with a variety of authentic Thai dishes made with fresh, healthy ingredients. Each dish was bursting with flavor and expertly prepared. The Pad Thai was perfectly balanced and the curry dishes were rich and aromatic. I could taste the care and attention to detail that went into each dish.

The ambiance of the restaurant was warm and inviting, and the service was top-notch. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and they were happy to provide recommendations and answer any questions we had.

Overall, I highly recommend Lil Thai to anyone looking for a truly authentic Thai dining experience. If you appreciate delicious food made with fresh, healthy ingredients, this is the place for you. I will definitely be returning to Lil Thai in the future.

One of the highlights of my dining experience at Lil Thai was when the Chef came out to speak with us personally. It was a special touch that made us feel welcomed and appreciated as first-time visitors. The Chef was friendly and passionate about her food, and she generously offered us samples of Sake to complement our meal.

It was a delightful surprise and added to the overall enjoyment of our dining experience. It was evident that the Chef takes pride in her craft and is dedicated to providing a memorable dining experience for her guests.

This personalized touch, along with the amazing food and warm ambiance, truly sets Lil Thai apart from other restaurants. I left feeling satisfied and eager to return for another delicious meal. Thank you, Lil Thai, for a wonderful...

Absolutely phenomenal experience at Lil Ty Thai! We started with the best Crab Rangoon I’ve ever had, and the Thai Milk Tea was the perfect complement. I ordered the Massaman Curry as my main dish and it was absolute perfection - rich, flavorful, and cooked to absolute perfection. My girlfriend’s Pad See Ew was equally incredible. The Mango Sticky Rice dessert was the ideal sweet ending to an outstanding meal.

But what truly made this experience unforgettable was Kevin, our server. His service was nothing short of exceptional - attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring. Kevin elevated an already amazing meal into something truly special.

Every dish exceeded our expectations, but Kevin’s hospitality made us feel like VIPs. This is what dining should be - incredible food paired with world-class service. We’ll absolutely be back and will be requesting Kevin every time. Lil Thai Place has earned our highest...