Manaow Thai — Restaurant in Long Beach

Without a doubt one of the three worse customer service experiences I've ever had. We were attracted to this restaurant because of the wonderful reviews and appealing food. Unfortunately our customer service experience was shocking and unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. We reviewed their menu and decided on the drink sampler, papaya salad, yellow curry and pad see ew. When the server came he asked what spice level we would like and we asked what the difference between each level was. He replied with "chose whatever you like, personally I chose the mild, but you should pick whichever makes you happy." We looked at him in confusion and asked okay, well what do most people get? What's the most popular option. To which he responded "Why does it matter what others enjoy or want, it matters what you like most. You shouldn't base your food choices on the likes or dislikes of others." These responses were so incredibly vague and useless that they did not help us decide at all. But my husband regularly eats spicy curries, salsas, and raw peppers, we decided to try the papaya salad at the spiciest of the three levels, and the yellow curry at the medium spice level. After the salad came, it was so spicy it nearly inedible. When the sever came over we told him that our mouths and lips were burning and he took it back to the kitchen. A few minutes later another male employee came over and said "we tried our best to make it less spicy, but you guys ordered it this way so there's nothing we can do. Also, our Thai restaurant isn't like other American Thai restaurants, we use fresh chilies so our food is hotter." So we decided to give it another chance, but it was still so overwhelming that we couldn't eat it. Also, when the original server came back again he again he was much more direct and clear about the three spice levels and and how their restaurant is different than others.... While we appreciated the explanation, it was too late and they refused to re make the salad. Luckily the pad see ew and yellow curry were, although smaller than most other restaurants, delicious and the yellow curry was the perfect spice level. When a third and new employee came by we told him that unfortunately we couldn't eat the salad, and asked if it could be removed from our check. He politely said yes, no problem. But a few minutes later the second employee that brought out the "fixed and less spicy" salad came out and said unfortunately it wasn't possible for the $8 salad to be removed from our check. We didn't want to have to say anything about the original servers strange explanation, but at this point we decided to explain that. He then said he would go back and talk to our server about it. He came back and finally said he would remove the salad from our check but felt the need to remind us again and again that we ordered it and we should remember that when we visit restaurants in general that not all of them are the same so we shouldn't order without knowing what we are getting. I am still in shock and awe of this horrible customer service and don't understand why this happened. Needless to say I will never be going back to this...

I have been coming to Manaow religiously for at least 8 years. Unfortunately, I had my last visit there due to an unnecessary confrontation stemmed from honest feedback on a product that was below par in taste.

I have ordered the Southern Style Curried Noodles for the past 8 years, at least two to three times a month I was having this plate because it’s that good and filled with flavor. This last time around, the curry was just bland. Not the usual flavor I know and loved.

Our server proceeds to ask us how everything went and I was honest and told her my plate was bland. I didn’t ask for it to be removed from my check. Just answering a question with honesty. We got the check, I paid for it and proceeded to leave. Didn’t make a fuss, was courteous, tipped my server and walked out.

As I was leaving, the supervisor or manager (an Asian fellow in his 30’s that’s always there in the evenings and has been since I began going) comes up to me and my family, (we’re already in the parking lot walking towards our car) and proceeds to say the server shared our feedback with the back of the house. He let me know the kitchen tasted the batch and that the curry tasted as it should and that they weren’t sure what I was talking about basically.

My point is, in this day and age with these prices the consumer is paying, it is absolutely unacceptable for a business to confront the paying customer for giving their feedback on their product or service, especially when it’s the business asking for the customers feedback and the product or service was not good. If you’re not ready to hear honest feedback then just don’t ask for it. But don’t come up to me and confront me saying I’m wrong for my honest opinion, especially after the product and service was paid for.

If the pot of curry wasn’t stirred before serving my plate (possible explanation for the difference in taste this time around) or it was an hour before closing, then just take accountability of the possible scenarios that could have occurred and impacted my experience but confronting me about it and disregarding my opinion as if it’s not what it was because you say so?

I guess it’s just the times we live in but I’m not here for it and could take my money and business elsewhere, especially in this marketplace with plenty of good Thai food options in Long Beach. Chiang Rai is just as good and haven’t had a negative interaction....

There are two places that I eat at regularly in Long Beach that make me rethink all of the other five-star reviews I've previously left: Bake and Broil for breakfast and Manaow for Thai.

We go out to the eat often. Of all the places we have dined in Long Beach, the only one that we immediately returned to later in the week has been Manaow. It's just delicious.

We've had crab cakes, tamarind eggs, herbed fish, seafood with glass noodles, shrimp salad and a couple other seafood dishes. All have been out of this world.

There are so many things on the menu that are unique from anything I've had at other Thai restaurants. The tamarind eggs are especially distinct. They are hardboiled eggs that have a crispy fried exterior but soft, delicious interior and a great blend of salt/savory with a subtle hint of sweet. If you like eggs, I really recommend that you try these.

The thing about Manaow is that everything they make is just done well. The crab cakes and herbed fish appetizers provide portions large enough for an entrée. And, again, prepared perfectly. Maybe I'm not skilled enough of a reviewer to adequately describe why the quality of everything they prepare tastes so good, but I can tell you, it just does. Everything just has the exact right level of what you'd expect in the flavor profile, crunchy when it should be and tender when it should be that. Seems like a place where heart and care is put into the preparation of all the food being served.

We haven't had a wait any of the times we visited. There is a parking lot where we have always had available parking, though there is also street parking in the area. Service has been attentive and fast. The restaurant is small but we have never been crowded. Prices are as expected and maybe even a bit lower than what I'd expect to pay given the high quality of the food.

Really recommend Manaow. it's becoming one of our...