Pad Thai Restaurant — Restaurant in Mechanicsville

I absolutely love this restaurant. I have nothing to compare to authenticity of the food since I have never been to Thailand to experience local table fare but I would be willing to say that their recipes are the real deal. I would rate this restaurant above all other Thai restaurants I have tried in the entire Richmond area. If you love the family owned, hole-in-the wall gems that concentrate on quality, taste, freshness, and consistency in reproduction; this place certainly fits in that category. The family (owners) and wait staff are extremely friendly and welcome all with open arms. The establishment anchors itself at the end of a run down warehouse about 30 feet from some active railroad tracks which adds a slight element of surprise while dining if you're not expecting it. The parking lot is small but it can be done with a little creativity during peak hours. The restaurant doesn't offer much visual flair and has small/compact seating but who cares about that when the food makes you wanna slap your mama cause the slop she fed you doesn't even compare. If you wanna make your boo happy and feed her well and still have some $$ left over then this is the place; the prices are more than fair and the portions are generous in comparison to the average chain restaurants. They draw a tremendous following of customers and can get overwhelmed due to overall size but they have established a good flow to keep wait times down to a minimum; plan accordingly. You can marvel over the talented green thumb of the owner while you wait for seating since he grows several fresh vegetables and all of the Thai chili peppers that are used in their dishes. My family and I have frequented this establishment since its' inception and they have earned my loyalty...I would rate more stars if I could. Sorry so long but thanks for reading...now go get...

EDIT: They're back open with new owners and dishes! We decided to try the new version tonight, and other than a few nitpicks, it was great! Will still be remaining a frequent customer here! I'm very picky about numtok/grilled beef salad, and their recipe is very close to the flavors of the original that I liked so much. The rice we got with our curry also seemed to be cooked perfectly! The fish cakes were also just as good as the original, slightly different tasting (as expected!) But no complaints here! I liked the extra chunky sauce that comes with them now. The curry came with tons of meat!

The tiny nitpicks- the curry sauce in the original recipes were always so insanely smooth and extra creamy and luxurious, unlike any other place I've been to, and that seems to be lost with the original owners- however the new curry is absolutely still delicious!

The straw mushrooms and asian green beans have been swapped out for button mushrooms and (american?) Green beans- which is fine, but the more fitting vegetables would be an improvement.

The thai tea is nearly identical, but less creamy, flavor still great and the size is larger than before!

All of this to say, there's some very minor personal things I will miss, but outside of that I am thrilled to know we still have an incredible thai restaurant in mechanicsville!!

Original: This is my favorite thai restaurant and always has been since it opened. I don't know what I'm gonna do after hearing that it's closing! Your recipes are so much better than everywhere else I've tried, please don't go! 😭😭😭😭

But I also seriously hope you guys are happy and enjoy your future...

Please note, as of July 2022, they are still doing Carry Out only. This is one of the best Thai restaurants in Richmond. The food is consistently good since the day they opened. The portions are good and the prices are reasonable. It is a family owned restaurant, you often find the husband or their son at the front. All the delicious dishes are cooked by the wife, once she told me that she learned how to cook from her mom. We have been coming here for sixteen years. Pad Thai is truly a hole in the wall. A small dining room right off Meadowbridge road and right next to the railroad. If you are lucky, you get to experience the sound and vibration when a train goes by. The owners have built planters around the front entrance and filled with spicy Thai pepper plants. This is also where you can get real spicy food; the heat level ranges from Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, to Thai Hot. My favorite dishes are Crispy Duck, Chicken Red Curry, and Drunken Noodles. It might be out of your way, but you really should give it a try. Right now, they are doing take-outs only. Inside the restaurant foot traffic marked clearly with silver arrows on the floor to minimize physical contacts. Be aware that they are closed from...