Tamarind Thai Restaurant — Restaurant in La Mesa

Restaurant was clean & welcoming, no old musky smells nor anything offensive. Gentlemen at the desk was customer service oriented and generally friendly and polite to us and to others as we could tell. He definitely welcomed his repeat customers with a smile. The food was fair, nothing to write home about nor anything to encourage me to return. Appetizer of Chicken satay presentation wise was basic, rinse repeat on the bed of lettuce and with peanut sauce and the pickling of onion and cucumber. The chicken was rubbery, it was not rustic to align with fresh chicken that had been marinated and cooked thoughtfully. It tasted like a skewer of rubber was put on a stick and made to look edible, it was not the best, felt like a cheapened dining experience , i really wanted it to be good but it wasn’t. The Thai Spring Rolls, Awful, small, Burnt They were cooked in OLD vegetable oil that you could smell and taste— that was extremely not delicious and they were also deliberately served burnt. I say deliberate because the server man and the lady in the kitchen cooked them, plated them and brought them to the table. That is deliberate and diabolical poor service to place them on table and want your customer to consume them, it screams of NO CARE. If you have no consideration for your product, why are you serving food? Each plate deserve maximum attention. . The Pad See-Ew, vegan, again, basic, boring, not memorable. If you are unable to create a favorable experience with vegetables then there should be some review of your culinary knowledge and skills. The noodles were basically doused in a sauce. We know the mix of veggies was not expensive to obtain yet there still was no care to ENSURE that everything had an expanse of flavor that would make it not only smell wonderful but be an appetizing treat to the palette, if done well, this was not done well, again NO CONSIDERATION, this meal was served with rote practice, it’s when you fail to lend your attention to the details that you bit by bit can come up short, don’t rest on your laurels even if you get somewhat high marks, exceed expectations always!!! Needless to say, . OVER 90% of the food was left on the plate uneaten, that should have been a clue to the staff IF they were attentive versus just wanting to ensure they got money for a subpar dish. Clearly money was more important than you asking if there was an issue with a dish. Duly Noted. The spicy Thai Fried Rice with shrimp, was generally hot but carried NO depth of flavor, or left anything to savor or be excited BY. Again, when you make the basic extraordinary, IT SHOWS. Your kitchen has gotten into a rut!!. Again basic ingredients + rice + shrimp, carrots and the result was boring basic uninspiring flavor, it was just hot, that’s not a successful dish. Kinda disappointed after spending well earned money but it’s a chance you take. Overall, I wish I would’ve gone to another Thai spot in La Mesa, but went here on a local suggestion and ended up with a stomach ache at the end of the day. I would really encourage this owner to brighten up the menu, spend time creating quality flavors like you actually care about what your customers are going to experience , like it matters not if you give people huge portions IF it’s low grade and subpar, you’re wasting my time & yours. And also a gentlemen’s asked for some simple sauce at the counter in a small cup and you haggled over money — regarding giving him some complimentary sauce—- like somethings are part of superior customer service and when you engage with lack consciousness, it’s this types of practices that make you seem miserly. Never again for me....

Wednesday night dinner for two... The food was very, very good.

The menu was comprehensive, yet not overwhelming. We ordered the combination appetizer platter, as well as an order of mixed vegetables with chicken. The food was fresh, delicious, plentiful, perfectly prepared, and served in a very reasonable timeframe. Each sauce was just right. The pricing was very fair. I would definitely return for the food.

In my opinion, the wine offerings were over priced, and most of the wine options were not compatible with Thai cuisine. Perhaps a bit of consultation with a wine specialist could enhance the pairings, and assist the servers in their recommendations. (Our wait person recommended a Cabernet Sauvignon with the most delicious and light chicken and vegetables.

The staff was friendly and attempted to be helpful, but seemed baffled not only with the wine recommendations, but also by my friend's inquiries regarding what they thought were the best items on the menu. Knowing how to respond to such questions without accidentally denigrating the other selections on the menu would be helpful.

The entire environment is really quite casual, beginning with the exterior. Although there are a few really lovely features (the gorgeous floor, as well as the mural on the wall outside of the bathroom) the ambiance doesn't do justice to the delicious food served in this tiny treasure. In my opinion, a brief consultation with a professional designer could elevate the entire experience to the same level as the...

I found this little La Mesa gem tucked away in a corner across from the VONS on University during the start of the pandemic. This review is overdue. It's a cozy (yeah, small) restaurant that maximizes the space. Tasteful decor and a great smooth jazz playlist starts your experience.

What is outstanding is EVERYTHING. Firstly, the hostess/server ERICA sets the stage with her friendly smile and warm greeting. The food. Every dish I've had for the past 4yrs I've been going here has been top tier. Tom Yum soup, Panang curry and Drunken noodles are my favorites here. You can see the colors of the ingredients and herbs in each dish. Always cooked to perfection. Have some cold Chrysanthemum tea with your meal. A cup of soup, entree and drink and tip was less than $40.00. I've spent just over $100.00 for dinner for 4 adults. Very affordable.

You can hear the kitchen staff singing and laughing (not loud, you have to sit near the kitchen to hear them) and I like that they enjoy what they do and who they work with.

Every Thai dish I have anywhere else, I always compare to TAMARIND LA MESA. I cannot overstate how good the food and service is. What's also telling to me, there's a steady stream of food delivery drivers coming to pick up orders. TAMARIND LA MESA is always my...