Sala Thai Restaurant Tempe — Restaurant in Tempe

5 stars – A Thai Heaven on Earth

Sala Thai Cuisine is a hidden gem that delights all the senses. From the moment you step in, you’re greeted with the warmest smiles and a tranquil ambiance that instantly transports you straight to Thailand. The restaurant is immaculately clean — the tables are spotless, the floor gleams, and the air smells faintly of lemongrass and jasmine rice.

Now, let’s talk about the Thai tea. Oh. My. Word. Imagine a tall, chilled glass of deep amber sweetness layered with creamy evaporated milk. The first sip is a rich, velvety wave of earthy tea, perfectly balanced between floral notes and caramel-like sweetness. The ice clinks softly as you swirl the glass — pure ASMR. It’s not just a drink, it’s an experience — smooth, cool, and decadently refreshing.

And then comes the mango sticky rice, the crown jewel. The mango is sliced with precision — golden, ripe, and almost melting as it hits your tongue. It’s floral, fragrant, and naturally sweet. The sticky rice is warm and luscious, with a whisper of coconut cream drizzled generously on top. Each bite is a symphony of textures: soft and chewy rice, juicy mango, and the luxurious silkiness of warm coconut milk. There’s even a subtle crunch from toasted sesame seeds that adds the perfect contrast. Close your eyes, and you’ll hear the spoon gently scoop through the rice and mango — it’s that kind of satisfying.

The servers are attentive without hovering, always ready with a kind word or a refill. The pacing of the meal was perfect, and every dish was served with care and presentation that shows pride in the kitchen.

If you’re craving Thai food that touches your soul — from first sip to last bite — Sala Thai Cuisine is where...

First off, I don't think this is the same as the other Sala Thai in the valley. Sala Thai Tempe has a distinct menu that focuses on street food - think skewers, wings, salads, etc. They've also got the classic Thai dishes most of us are used to - curry, pad, fried rice, etc. I've been here a couple times now and everything has been fire! Most Thai spots in the valley trend towards sweetening their dishes too much. Here, they balance salty, spicy, sweet, and umami perfectly. The classic Pad Kee Mao was great with a nice little twist - veggies besides the usual bell peppers and carrots. Spice level at 4 was decent - definitely a touch above other Thai spots in the PHX area. Ladyboy wings were sticky with a sauce that encapsulates the balance of salty, spicy, sweet, umami I mentioned earlier. They were also very large and juicy - great appetizer for sharing. The Khao Soi was satisfying and had perfectly cooked chicken breast. Though I did miss the usual drumstick and pickles that Khao Soi usually has, it was still delicious. Spice level at 5 was solid. I'd say the spice levels are comparable to Soda Bun Thai. Last but not least, the Moo Ping Pork Skewers were a definite standout. Covered in a sweet and salty glaze, the skewers were grilled to a smoky crisp. There were some fatty pieces of pork in between the leaner cuts which helped the skewers stay juicy. The dipping sauce added a tangy, umami kick to the skewers which were laid on a bed of fresh lettuce and cabbage. EAT YOUR VEGGIES! Psyched to try out some more dishes. I highly recommend getting out of your comfort zone and ordering something you don't...

I'll preface this by saying Sa Bai: On the Fly (which Sala Thai replaced), was my favorite Thai restaurant. That being said, while I'm sad Sa Bai's Tempe location is gone, I was not disappointed with my visit to Sala Thai.

The updated aesthetics are nice, they replaced the old tables and chairs, and it still feels like a small hole-in-the-wall gem like Sa Bai was. I ordered the Panang Curry with chicken (medium spice); it was excellent! It came out quickly, was piping hot, and delicious. The ingredients' texture and taste felt fresh. The portion size was perhaps a tad on the light side, but was still more than adequate. For what I got, the pricing feels very reasonable. All in all, it was wonderful and I would be more than happy to order this again, though I'm excited to try some of the other dishes during future trips!

Not to detract from the experience I had, as I will absolutely be recommending Sala Thai, but there are two things I'm really going to miss from Sa Bai that Sala Thai did not have. 1) Sa Bai included a small salad (more like a garnish), with that delicious peanut sauce, as an included side with their Curry while Sala Thai does not. 2) The Sa Bai Sweet Curry was the best Thai curry dish I've ever had; Sala Thai's Panang Curry is excellent, and delicious, but I would give the Sa Bai Sweet Curry the edge.

In conclusion, Sala Thai was extremely good and I will certainly be coming back. I'll miss Sa Bai: On the Fly, but I'm very glad Sala Thai stepped in for this Tempe...