Yak Yai Thai Restaurant — Restaurant in Richmond

We had the pleasure of visiting Yak Yai Thai Restaurant for their soft opening lunch, and it was an absolutely delightful experience. From the moment we walked in, the warm and welcoming atmosphere set the tone for a great meal. The restaurant's interior design blends a cozy yet stylish ambiance, with exposed brick walls, rustic décor, and a carefully curated aesthetic that makes the space feel inviting.

The food was outstanding—a true testament to authentic Thai cuisine. Every dish we tried was well-balanced in flavor, fresh, and expertly prepared. The Pad Thai had just the right amount of sweetness and nuttiness, while the Basil Noodles packed a wonderful mix of spice and aromatics. The curries were rich and fragrant, with perfectly cooked proteins and vegetables. The fried rice options, particularly the Crab Fried Rice, were also a highlight, offering a great balance of umami and texture.

The menu offers a great variety of choices, from traditional noodle dishes to flavorful soups, curries, and even chef's specials. There’s something for everyone, including vegetarian options and customizable protein choices.

One of the standout aspects of our visit was the exceptional service. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about their menu. They made great recommendations and ensured that we were well taken care of throughout our meal. Even though it was a soft opening, the team handled everything smoothly.

We also tried a few drinks, including the Thai Iced Tea and Matcha Lemon Tea, both of which were refreshing and well-prepared. For dessert, the Mango Sticky Rice was a perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess—definitely a must-try.

Overall, Yak Yai Thai Restaurant is a fantastic addition to the Richmond food scene. The combination of delicious food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere makes it a spot we’ll definitely be returning to. If you’re a fan of Thai cuisine, this place is a must-visit. Plus, with a 10% discount for their soft opening, it’s the perfect time to check it out.

Highly recommend giving them a...

I went to Yak Yai for dinner about 1 week ago. Overall, I would give the food a 3.75 out of 5 stars. I got the tom yum soup, massaman curry with chicken, pad kra pao, and mango sticky rice. Although we ordered medium spice level for all of our food, the spice level was barely even mild for each dish.

Tom yum soup - 4.5/5 - Flavor was great and you could really taste the keffir leaf and lemongrass in the soup. Great to eat with rice.

Massaman curry with chicken - 3/5 - The massaman curry flavor was good and the potatoes and chicken were perfectly cooked. However, the entire dish was completely overpowered by the excessively sweet flavor likely from the amount of palm sugar used. I could only have a few bites before I had to stop because the sweetness unsettled my stomach. I think if this dish was more savory it would be perfect

Pad kra pao (fried pork with basil and rice) - 4.5/5 - The fried ground pork in this dish was very tasty and it went perfectly with the rice.

Mango sticky rice - 3.5/5 - The mango that came with the rice was ripe and delicious. Unfortunately, the rice that came with the mango was cold and pressed into the shape of a rectangle. The temperature of the rice made it a bit unpleasant since this dish commonly comes with warm rice.

The location of the restaurant is just okay. The only parking that is available is a paid parking lot nearby. Street parking is virtually impossible at night.

Yak Yai is definitely one of the best Thai restaurants in Richmond but there are some things that can...

My wife and I are not from the Virginia area, so when we were craving Thai food, we looked up reviews for the Richmond area and found Yak Yai with a perfect 5 star rating. The ratings were absolutely true. We were immediately welcomed and seated with the feeling that we were long time friends of the establishment. After placing our order the owner quickly appoligized for taking so long to come over and explained how this was a family owned and staffed business that had only been open for three weeks. I order the Massaman curry with chicken and my wife ordered the Pad Thai w/chicken. we also ordered spring rolls. The food came out promptly and exceeded our expectations. The spring rolls were tasty by themselves, but even better with their home made plum sauce. My wife says her Pad Thai was better than anywhere she had been; It was cooked to perfection, super moist (not dried out as usual) and tender and flavorful. You could immediately recognize that the ingredients / Veggies were all fresh. My Massaman dish was almost like a soup with an amazing red curry sauce like none I've had before; super flavorful and again, super fresh, and the portions were such that we both ate our leftovers the next day and were satisfied and full once again. The owner and staff were so welcoming and friendly and attended to our every need as if we were the only customers. We will definately return to work our way through their menu the next time we are in Richmond and definatley recommend that you seek out this new and...