Cha'Ba Thai — Restaurant in Portland

A Hidden Gem That’s Been Serving Portland for 26 Years – Cha’Ba Thai on Sandy Blvd Let me start with this: Cha’Ba Thai on Sandy Blvd is NOT the same as the other location you might have heard of. This spot is completely independently owned and operated, and it shows — in the best possible way. They’ve been a part of the Portland food scene for 26 years, which is impressive in itself, but what’s even more amazing is how fresh, welcoming, and vibrant the experience still feels.

They recently underwent a full renovation just five months ago, and the transformation is stunning. The interior is beautifully modern with elegant touches of Thai design that make it feel warm, inviting, and upscale — without losing that neighborhood charm. Whether you’re coming in for a casual lunch or a special dinner, the space feels like it can flex either way. Clean, cozy, and full of great energy.

Now, onto the most important part: the food. I ordered a solid lineup of dishes, and every single one was a 5/5. Truly. Panang Beef Curry – Rich, creamy, and full of depth. The beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the curry was perfectly spiced with just the right touch of sweetness. Papaya Salad – Fresh, zesty, and addictively crunchy. You can taste the care in the balance of lime, chili, and fish sauce. A great palate starter. Pad Ka Prao – One of my go-to Thai dishes, and they nailed it. Wok-fried ground meat with holy basil, garlic, and chili, served with rice and an egg — full of that signature umami-rich flavor. Spicy Chicken & Shrimp with Crisp Basil – This dish brought the heat in the best way. Perfectly cooked shrimp and chicken, tossed with crispy basil and a punchy, savory sauce. The textures were on point. Boat Noodle Soup – A comforting bowl that felt like a hug. Deep, bold broth with rice noodles, meat, and herbs — it reminded me of street food stalls in Thailand. Longan Juice & Coconut Juice – Refreshing, light, and authentic. The longan juice especially was a nostalgic treat. Mango Sticky Rice – One word: heavenly. The mango was ripe and sweet, and the sticky rice had the perfect soft-chewy texture, all brought together with a silky coconut drizzle. The ideal ending to a Thai meal.

But beyond the amazing food and beautiful space, what truly elevated the experience tonight was Lexi, my server. She was absolutely phenomenal — friendly, knowledgeable, attentive without hovering, and genuinely kind. Her service felt personal, thoughtful, and warm. You can tell she cares about both her guests and the food. Lexi, thank you for making my night so memorable — you’re a star.

In short, Cha’Ba Thai on Sandy Blvd is the real deal. It’s a neighborhood staple that somehow feels like a fresh discovery. Whether you’re a Thai food enthusiast or someone looking to explore something new, this is a place that deserves your attention and support.

I’m already planning what to order next time — and there will be a...

This is a sorry excuse of a Thai restaurant. The waitress we had was rude, condescending and impatient. There were 6 of us in an empty restaurant so don't know why they were being like this to us. We ordered the following: Pad Thai w/chicken (tasted like spicy vinegar); Massamun curry w/chicken (barely had any taste at all with it being so watered down); Lemon Chicken w/peanut sauce (no lemon taste, dry chicken was served in strips on top of a bed of broccoli with peanut sauce slathered on top...tasted disgusting); chicken friend rice (pretty basic compared to other Thai restaurants we've eaten at); Vegetable combination w/chicken (didn't taste fresh and we asked if it had cabbage with it, the waitress said yes but there was no cabbage). The only decent thing we ordered was Thai iced teas. They never asked us how the food was or checked on us. The food was brought out one dish at a time. Weird. The waters they brought out had no ice and when we asked for an ice water they brought out a cup of ice! They also wanted to automatically charge us 18% gratuity for our table of 6. I don't give tips for bad, scratch that, HORRIBLE service and nasty food. We barely ate what they served. They argued with us about taking off the 18% gratuity and instead took off one of the dishes from the check. Also, there was one lady who had been waiting for her pick-up order for over 40 minutes and they kept telling her it would be another 5 minutes (they told her this a couple times) all while handing out other pick-up orders. Unorganized, horrible, not worth it place. Plus the prices are WAY too high for what...

I just had a Tom Kha Gai soup and it was very good (perhaps a little more fish sauce than I would have liked). So why do I give a one star? Because I was deeply insulted by the staff. I recently moved in the neighborhood and two blocks away. I love Thai food. In the last 50 years I had thousands of Thai meals. I know food. I owned restaurants and was a valued restaurant consultant. So I sat at the bar shortly after 5. I noticed that the price was $ 11,50 and asked if the soup comes with rice (in most other places it does). I was told that rice is separate. I ordered. Then I asked the server if a red chicken curry comes with rice. Yes, it does was the answer. Well, I reasoned, a red chicken curry costs $ 11,50 and is more expensive to make than a chicken soup. It didn't fall right with the server. I got a yeah, yeah, which came visibly inconsiderate, rude. To go orders were flying out. So the food is good and they know it, therefore such a customer remark was not accepted. But as for myself, I do not wish anyone to feel thus insulted, needlessly insulted. Why wasn't I respected for I only made a sensible, rational observation, even though I was a first time customer? Sadly, it will also...