Thai Palace — Restaurant in San Clemente

Consistantly very good!

So our first visit was a few months ago when we first moved to SC. We were looking for a new Thai "go-to" close by. I came really close to giving it a 4 star review as everything was good almost very good but nothing remarkable. We had the chicken pad thai. The flavors were not quite there and a little bland compared to other Thai places we have visited in other areas.

However, on our visit Saturday night, the meal was great and Flavors vibrant!

LOCATION & AMBIANCE (Rating 3.5) Tucked away in a strip mall that is not easy to find the Thai Palace is not quite a hole in the wall, but definitely not fine dining. Both times we've been there it's been moderately busy with a good take out business it seems. Most of the seating is on the side and back of the building, so we've found that the waitresses are not very responsive as there is no line of site for them to be able to do their work and keep an eye on your needs as well.

SERVICE (Rating 3) They have always been nice, but as mentioned above, great service is practically impossible if the waitresses have no line of site with you as they have allot of counter work to do as well.

YELLOW CURRY CHICKEN (Rating 4.5) First Visit (Rating 3.5) We ordered the Yellow chicken curry which was good. The sauce was heavy, in a good way and flavors were good and it did come with rice. 10/3/2015 (Rating 4.5) The flavors were vibrant, the spices perfectly balanced as just the right amount of potatoes were added which can defeat the spices very easily.

TAM KHA SOUP w CHICKEN (Rating 4.5) 10/03/2015 Visit (Rating 4.5) Tonight I found the Tam KHA soup to be excellent. The balance of sweet and spicy was superb and the soup consistency was just right. The quality of some of the cabbage used was not up to par and the chicken was just a little over cooked which happens so easily, but I'd order this again in a minute. Much better tonight than the first visit. First Visit (Rating 3.75) We had the Tam Kar soup with chicken as well, which was also good. Not quite as sweet as some others I've had, but very good. All of the chicken in every dish was over cooked which can happen in these types of dishes very easily. I think we'll give it another shot and revisit this rating.

CHICKEN PHAD THAI (Rating 4.25) The chicken phad thai is wonderful. They use the red noodles and it's consistency and spices used are nicely done. This dish is not spicy and to be honest it needs a little more heat, so plan on...

This is a great little Thai restaurant. So is their other restaurant on Mira Costa. They are every bit as good as The Royal Thai restaurants in Laguna and Newport (which are also great). Idiots from Los Angeles drive through San Clemente and are so jealous that they don't live in the most laid-back coastal village in California that they just have to find something to complain about. There is no reason why both of these restaurants shouldn't get five-star reviews from everyone. They are very good and very consistent. Over the years, we have eaten at these two restaurants easily over 100 times and never had a bad meal. The guys that pretend to be experts on Thai cuisine and nit pick the menu are the most self-delusional. This is what happens when you live where you have to fight traffic both in and out just to leave your house. You go crazy. And you wonder why the locals...

Their pricing is a factor in my rating. You can get better (tastier and ambiance) from Thai Brothers in Laguna Beach or Spice Thai in Lake Forest however both are significantly more expensive and not in San Clemente. The is a great spot to grab take out for a local Thai food craving the restaurant itself has a modestly ...generic feel but is adequate however the manager and servers are sincere good people and the food is by no means below par. It is lmost a "whole in the wall" but not quite the cozy lived-in feel however the food does not lack (the associated Thai Paradice in North San Clemente is a true "whole in the wall" but although they tell me that their recipes are exactly the same the food is never quite as good). I particularly recommend Tom Kar with Shrimp Panang with beef Green Curry with Pork Yellow Curry is better if you prefer...