Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen — Restaurant in Lynnwood

My girlfriend and I went to this restaurant for our one year anniversary - we had a craving for Thai food that needed to be satisfied. This restaurant did much more than satisfy us; it made us feel like we were at home. Inside is what really made me feel like I was sitting at home. The dim yellow lighting gave a relaxing atmosphere, one that invited us to sit down and rest. The greenery that leaned against the columns gave a refreshing feeling. Different pieces of art were lined on the walls, and the way that the walls were decorated gave it a rustic vibe. All in all, the individual qualities of the interior worked together to provide a safe and relaxing atmosphere, while still remaining fancy. The waiting times were amazing; barely any time had passed before we were seated at the table. A small flame flickered in a tin container on the table, adding an element of warmth to the restaurant and once again reinforcing the feeling of safety.

The menu was digital, and we were able to scan a QR code in order to access it. The pricing was very fair, and didn't seem unreasonable in the slightest. The different dishes that were printed on the menu gave the diner a wide variety of food to choose from. I personally got the Chiang Mai Curry Noodles and a side of sticky rice.

This brings me to one of the best parts of the restaurant: the staff. When I asked to have the Curry Noodles be 4 stars(in terms of spiciness), she kindly let me know that there would be chili oil on the side. "So you can put it in the curry to make it as spicy as you want," she said with a warm smile on her face. It caused me to smile too, because she was being so nice about it. There were more examples of good customer service and just a genuine kindness from the staff, but I'll get to that later.

The food arrived in no time at all - it was very fast. The dish looked amazing, and my mouth watered with anticipation. A chicken thigh that was still connected to the bone was covered with curry, egg noodles, and garnish. The curry itself looked delicious, and the chicken gleamed in the dim yellow light with seasoning and some of the curry that it was resting in. On top of the curry sat crunchy egg noodles. The staff kindly gave both of us chopsticks, and thus began our culinary adventure.

First, I tried the crunchy egg noodles. They were perfect - not too crispy, and not too soft. They were even better once I dipped them in the curry. The chicken slid off of the bone easily, and after dipping that in the curry as well, I tried a bite. Delicious. The chicken was cooked perfectly, and it melted in my mouth. The curry made it even better; the sauce was neither thick nor thin, but in a perfect medium. I then found egg noodles that were under the chicken, in the curry. As I tasted them, I was struck by how easily they slithered down my throat. Combined with the curry, these too were amazing. I also took bits of sticky rice, rolled them into balls, and dipped them in the curry. This was flavorful, as well, since the rice absorbed the flavor of the curry, while still maintaining its firmness. All in all, my food was amazing. I had decided before eating that I would do everything that I could to finish all of the chicken, leaving only bones out of respect for the chef and staff. The wonderful taste of the food made that task easy. I lost track of time, of my surroundings, of everything, as I enjoyed my meal. After my girlfriend and I finished our food, the staff came around to grab our dishes. One of them saw the bone that I had taken out, picked clean of chicken. She turned to me and said, "You did a good job." I will never forget that compliment - it will stick with me for the rest of my life. I beamed back, smiling and thanking them for the food.

I am giving this restaurant 5 stars, and it was quite easy to do so. The combination of aesthetics, taste, and customer service all made our night amazing and special. We absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone who is having a craving for Thai cuisine, and we hope that you'll have an amazing...

Its been a while since I’ve been back (pre-covid) and the food is still as yummy as I remember!

Parking: Shared retail parking lot Pet friendly: No Family friendly: Yes

FOOD: Mushroom Fritters Hed-Tod-Nga (Sesame battered crispy oyster mushrooms with sweet plum dipping sauce) $10.50: 3 Stars – I wont be ordering this again but glad I tried it. The flavor is okay but the mushrooms seemed like they were undercook as they weren’t really golden. The best part was the sweet plum dipping sauce.

Crying Tiger Sua-Rong-Hai (8oz grilled ribeye steak marinated Thai style served with a dry chili tamarind sauce) $18.75: 4 Stars – I’ve been craving this for weeks now and super happy I got it! The steak was grilled perfectly to my medium rare and the sauce was very flavorful. I did have TWO things I wish was better – the cut of the steak… it was so thin LOL and the sauce had no heat. I solved that problem by take the fried chili oil from my friend’s curry noodle dish.

Lamb Massmum with Roti (Australian lamb with potatoes in a hearty brown curry served with a crispy flat bread and small cucumber salad) $21.25 + Sticky Rice $2.50: 4 Stars – The lamb was so good. Nice flavor and texture. I wish I could sub out the potatoes with more lamb! I’m pretty sure the roti was deep fried as I’ve never seen it like this before so I don’t know what they were doing in the kitchen.

Chiang Mai Curry Noodles (Egg noodles and chicken thigh simmered in curry soup. Topped with crispy egg noodles w/ pickled mustard, red onions, lime, and fried chili oil) $15.95: 4 Stars – great flavor and a lot of noodles! I wish the curry was a little thicker as that’s how I like mine but that is a personal preference

DRINKS: Thai Iced Milk Tea – soooo good. I cant even remember the last time I had Thai iced tea. I always want to make it at home just so I could have it whenever I want but the bag the tea leaves come in is way too big LOL

MENU/RESTAURANT: I love the design of their menu. They put a lot of thought in the menu – presentation and the items themselves. Not sure if that makes the food seem more active but two thumbs up!

The restaurant is pretty small but nicely decorated with Thai art and kitchen items that make it very homey but pretty. I’ve never been here when it as super packed that I had to wait ::fingers crossed:: which shows they have a steady line of folks which reflects why they are still around post-covid.

SERVICE: Everyone here is super friendly and always checking on us without pestering. We did have a funny moment when one of the server was trying to take the curry noodle from my friend before she was done. To be fair, her bowl...

Summary: Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen is a fantastic spot for authentic Thai food. My wife and I came for dinner, and we were thoroughly impressed with the authenticity and flavors. The curry was exceptional, and while the papaya salad was a bit too spicy for us, the other dishes were adjusted perfectly to our spice preference. I’m giving it five stars for the overall taste, authenticity, and excellent service. If you’re a fan of Thai food, this place is a must-visit, and I’ll definitely be coming back to try more dishes.

Ambience (4.5/5): The atmosphere was warm and inviting, perfect for a relaxing dinner. The restaurant has a cozy yet vibrant vibe that complements the bold flavors of the food. It’s an ideal spot for both casual dinners and special occasions.

Authenticity (5/5): The food here is very authentic, and that’s what really impressed me. The curry we tried had a rich and traditional Thai flavor, exactly what you’d hope for. The papaya salad, while delicious, was a bit too spicy at the level we chose (3), but the staff made sure the spice levels for the rest of our dishes were just right.

Flavor (5/5): The flavor of the dishes was spot-on. The curry was rich, well-balanced, and full of the vibrant spices that make Thai cuisine so delicious. While the papaya salad was spicier than we anticipated, the other dishes were adjusted to the perfect spice level for us. I’m looking forward to coming back and trying more dishes like their pad Thai, which we haven’t had a chance to sample yet.

Cost (4.5/5): The prices were reasonable for the quality and authenticity of the food. The portions were satisfying, and considering the excellent taste and service, it’s well worth the price.

Service (5/5): The service at Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen was top-tier. The staff were attentive, friendly, and quick to accommodate our spice level request on the other dishes. The overall dining experience was smooth and enjoyable thanks to their excellent service.

Tips for Visiting:

Be cautious with spice: The papaya salad at level 3 was too spicy for us, but the staff adjusted the spice level on the other dishes we ordered, so don’t hesitate to ask for modifications if you prefer a milder experience. Try the curry: The curry was recommended to us, and it didn’t disappoint. If you’re unsure what to order, this is a great choice. Great service: The staff are attentive and quick to accommodate requests, making the dining experience even better. Plan to try more: We didn’t get to try the pad Thai this time, but based on the flavors of what we did order, I’m excited to return and explore more...