Tip's Thai House — Restaurant in Kennewick

Was disappointed by every Thai restaurant in Tri Cities area until we tried Tip's Thai House. Only one of the other restaurants in the area we tried would put fresh lemongrass in your dish (and they had to send us to another location to get that). None of the restaurants would put fresh galanga in dishes. Except as noted above, none of the other restaurants used these key ingredients fresh, opting for powdered "because nobody wants the fresh ingredients". Lily, the owner of Tip's Thai House agreed that most people don't want the lemongrass and galanga left in, because they are woody and tough. She always cooks with the fresh ingredients, then removes them before serving, except by request. You haven't tried the best Yum Neua (beef salad) without it being garnished with fresh thinly sliced lemongrass and garnished with fresh mint and cilantro. Lily uses the perfect combination of lime and fish sauce to compliment the other standard ingredients. She amazed us after that first meal. Her Tom Yum soup is at least the equal of the best Tom Yum soup we have ever had anywhere. Yes, she left the lemongrass and galanga in the soup for us (she removes it for most diners, to avoid complaints...agreeing with me that the longer the large pieces of lemongrass and galanga remain in the soup the more flavorful the soup is when reheated). We drive to Tri Cities at least once a week to purchase 3-4 meals to stock our refrigerator with. That's a 2.5 hour round trip for us, as we're living in oregon. We don't forget to pick up some of Lily's - off the menu - shrimp fresh salad rolls. She fills them with cilantro, mint, and a touch of sauce...and we love them. We have loved every dish at Tip's Thai House that we have tried. Lily is always happy to accommodate special requests, such as favorite vegetables or adjustments to seasonings. One local review of a competing Thai restaurant said of that other restaurant: "At last! A Thai restaurant that doesnt put fish sauce in everything". Perhaps that reviewer didn't realize that fish sauce in an integral part of Thai cuisine. Lily's mastery of proportional blending of traditional ingredients is complete. But one can always ask to leave the fish sauce out.... If you look at my other reviews, you will note that all are 5 stars. I will never post a negative review. I will simply never return to a lesser restaurant experience. Some reviews are worth a lot of enthusiastic words, even among 5 star reviews. In my opinion, restaurants should only be rated for the taste of the foods they prepare. Decor, service, and price are irrelevant compared to a wonderful mouth full of exquisite flavors. My conclusion: Superb customer service combined with supreme skill in combining all the right ingredients in perfect proportions to meld into the ultimate Thai experience. Worth every mile, every moment of time, and every penny to try. For us it will be again and...

Quickly became our "go to" Thai place in the Tri-Cities. Skeptical at first, because we had others before them, we gave them a shot. Impressive choices, from curry to Pad Thai to typical vegetable/meat dishes, top notch quality of food and preparation, and excellent overall value. The waitresses are attentive, personable, and efficient. They keep the place clean, serve the food hot, and make sure tables are free of excess dishware without being asked to do so. When not busy, you'll probably see them disinfecting tables, chairs, or cleaning other areas -- impressive. Their uncle, who is the head chef, obviously has the gift. He gets the orders right and the spice to the numbers (try #3 spicy; perfect!). The prices are good and the place leaves nothing unsatisfying. My only problem is they are in South Kennewick. But, hey! It gets us to that area of the Tri-Cities. Well worth the drive. Give it a shot. You may find your own...

Unfortunately, this restaurant takes the worst title for food that I have had in town. While the dishes are nicely plated, the flavors fell flat for me. I had their vegetarian tofu pad Thai and found it very unpleasant and could not finish my meal. It also had a strong chicken flavor, which could raise concerns for vegans and vegetarians. I’d recommend skipping it or confirming the base ingredients if you have any dietary restrictions.

The waitstaff was rude, and the prices felt steep for the quality of food and service provided. To top it off, my experience with the owner was disappointing.

While their rude response to my review has since been deleted, it’s worth noting that they often reply defensively to negative feedback, as seen in other poor reviews.

For delicious Thai food, and great service, I’d recommend Bangkok in Kennewick instead. Based on my experience Tips Thai is not an establishment I’d ever revisit or...