Thai Valley Cuisine

This place is a hidden treasure! It is a family friendly cozy restaurant with great food. My kids love the crispy fried calamari. It is not greasy or too salty like some restaurants in town make it. I love all of their stir fries… Some places make stair fries with too much garlic which i can not handle. Thai valley does it with their own delicious sauce. It is flavorful, yet still light. I really like the way they prepare sticky rice as well. My husband likes their pad thai and green curry. They are all delicious.
I give 4 stars because their service can be slow. The server was friendly but it can take long for the food to be ready. As long as you are not in hurry this is a great place to eat. I recommend it over Mailey’s in hawaii kai.

The food and service is good but I couldn’t get past the mold smell that hits you when you walk in the door. I also felt the food was over priced and the portions of noodles was small.

My favorite Thai dishes are curries and pad Thai noodles. Loving a wide variety of cuisines means that I may not dine at a Thai restaurant for months because there is so much to choose from in Honolulu. When I do start to crave Thai, I usually want green curry and, if I’m really hungry, an order of pad Thai noodles. That’s what I ordered today.
The green curry was VERY light on flavor, almost watered down. The portion was fair, the mix of vegetables was good but it didn’t have enough green curry flavor.
The pad Thai noodles was average. This dish was definitely more flavorful than the curry.
This is a small, clean restaurant with a pleasant ambiance and the staff was cordial.

This is the WORST experience I have ever had!!!
We ordered by phone to take out and this lady who has a strong thick accent had picked up the phone (found out she was the owner). I ordered Pad Thai with chicken, some stir fried dish with PORK and Curry with FISH.
30 mins later, my husband picked up the food and came back home.
Then we found that everything was made with BEEF except Pad Thai noodle.
I called the restaurant right away and told them that I have ordered with different ingredients.
I wanted to bring in the wrong dish and get them exchanged.
The owner/​the cook got very mad saying, «I repeated the order and you said YES, just bring in the dish and we will refund you but I DON’T WANT TO MAKE FOOD TO YOU ANYMORE, DON’T COME BAAACK.»
Don’t worry lady, we will NEVER go back.
I was just calling to see if she could exchange the food to what I really ordered.
This is my first review with Unilocal and wanting everybody to know how rude this owner lady is and never want anybody to feel the same way I feel.

Its been a while since I’ve eaten here and i must say, the food is still tasty but not quite like i remember. I tried to call in the order but no answer! Not exactly what i was expecting but then again its been a long time since the last time i was here!

Losing faith in this place. Past few times I tried to order takeout, no one answers the damn phone! Considering I live right down the road, food isn’t worth this type of service. Taking my business else where.

We had the worst Thai food here. Do not order their Cornish game hen that was listed as a specialty item. It was dry, overcooked and didn’t taste fresh. We also had the worst green curry shrimp whereby the sauce tasted odd and watery.
We went back to our favorite place the next night and we had such a wonderful meal there. We won’t ever try any other Thai place again.

This is truly a hidden gem in Kalama Valley. It’s a small, out of the way restaurant in the Kalama Valley Shopping center. You’re greeted by a warm smiling staff that treats you like you’re family. My favorite go to dishes are the yellow seafood curry, the seafood pad Thai, Tom Yum soup, and the shrimp summer rolls. Sometimes I’ll change out the seafood with chicken and it’s still just as tasty! This Thai food tastes like it comes right out of Grandma’s kitchen. The service is fast and they constantly keep your water glass filled. Occasionally, the water will have a hint of lemon or lime in it. Love that they do that. If you want Thai and you’re in Hawaii Kai, skip the overpriced alternative and head here! I go at least once a week, sometimes twice if I’m really craving the yellow curry. Oh and the leftovers taste even better the next day.

Thai Valley is a MUST stop for me whenever I’m in Hawaii. I love that it’s family run and use local products. Definitely, gives me the feeling of OHANA!
Love the papaya salad, I asked for Lao style!

This place is great! My favorite thing is the seafood eggplant stir fry. So good! Good portions, comes with fish, shrimp, mussels, calamari, with perfectly cooked eggplant.
They aren’t the most friendly bunch, but it’s a small family restaurant and honestly I don’t know if the cook (the grandmother or mother or something) speaks English. I have not dined in, I know their takeout is amazing and travels well.

Whew! All is good again. Came back on a Friday night and the food was back to its usual tastiness! Had the crispy noodle appetizer, yellow curry and ong choi stir fry and everything was really good. I especially liked the ong choi stir fry.
Still can only give it 3 stars because of that unfortunate weekday experience but come on the weekends and you’ll probably really enjoy it.
Oh and just know that the food is not very spicy hot at all so the kids can eat everything but if you’re looking for spice you have to add your own hot sauce.

Pleasantly surprised… we weren’t sure what to expect because the reviews were mixed but gave it a shot since it’s so close to home.
Seated promptly at 5:30pm on a Friday, although business did pick up shortly after we arrived and all tables were full by the time we left.
Between my husband and I we shared the coconut ginger soup, pad thai, and basil stirfry with pork. Everything was very good and leftovers the next day tasted even better, they were great! Classic flavors and tasted just as they should with fresh ingredients. The soup is a large portion enough for six easily as an appetizer. Good size portions and prices overall.
BYOB with a corkage fee of $ 1/​person. Friendly staff and clean restaurant as well.
Very happy we gave it a shot as we now have a great go-​to Thai restaurant close to home! Don’t let the ghost town shopping center scare you off.

The thai coffee was good, great even. if you like it hella sweet.
The chicken curry was a bit watery and could have benefited from a veggie or two (beyond what had to be the biggest cooked chunks of potato).
The pad thai was either a mini portion or the box was waaaay to big for that dish, because when we opened it, the fried egg seemed to cover all the noodles. kinda manini.
It was early, 5, and the kitchen mama was chef-​ing up my order, but the others… meh, I don’t know. if you are desperate, go. if you can wait until tomorrow, wait. I shoulda.

Great little Thai restaurant hidden away in Kalama Valley! Came here today for lunch with friends and enjoyed a truly delicious delicious thai meal. The Panang Curry with fish was very good. The fish tasted very fresh. Also had pad thai and the som tum papaya salad.

Hawaii Kai food jewel, is so close to home I feel guilty driving to it. Good service, fast/​friendly/​top notch cleanliness. Authentic?! Absolutely. Our diet consist of Indian, Thai, Korean and Brazilian eats. We’ve had the worse in the island and the very best, this place is an 7 out of 10. This is only because, downtown Honolulu has Phuket, (I’m a bit bias) sorry! Anyhow, this place it’s perfect and consistent every time. Prices are within budget, downtown prices are rediculous. Flavor are finger licking good. Presentation is ¹⁰⁄₁₀.

Wife and I have been wanting to try this place out as we pass by it after our Costco raids.
It reminds me of some kind of «last chance diner» you see in a horror movie in it’s odd location in a semi-​abandoned strip mall.
We show up around 6 on a Friday night. There is ample seating and it is not too crowded.
We have to make our presence known as we are not greeted at the door.
We are seated in a remote corner away from the kitchen.
Loud customers were chatting in their «outdoor voice» on cell phones.
A nice Thai lady comes and murmurs a few words in a thick accent. We tell her we would like to start with a satay appetizer.
A few minutes later, young man comes and asks us for our order. We told him we already ordered appetizers and he convincingly assured us that the order never made it to the kitchen.
We placed our order… again.
Time goes by and I am enjoying my conversation with my wife.
We noticed a party come in after us. This guy was wearing a Thai flag on his shirt. His order is quickly taken and food is brought to him immediately.
More time goes by, I am getting hunger fatigue. Thai shirt guy is enjoying his meal. Wife and I are staring at our waters.
I saunter back toward the kitchen and the restaurant is full. And everyone is eating… except us.
After an hour, Wife and I made executive decision to walk out after informing the wait staff.
Wish I could have at least tried the food to review it.
Next time I go to an unfamiliar Thai restaurant, I will bring my portrait of King Prajadhipok.

the workers here are very friendly. when i went it was a bit busy, so the service was a bit on the slower side, but i didn’t mind the wait.
chicken spring rolls: i ordered this as an appetizer. i thought it was good. not the best spring rolls i’ve ever had, but not the worst either.
thai phở: (i know, why eat phở out of everything else right? but i thought i would give it a try) it came with shrimp, steak, calamari, and scallops. soup was alright tasting, not the best but perhaps its just not something i’m used to. was bummed that they did not have sriracha, but at least they had chili sauce! there is only one size and portion was huge though! i couldn’t even finish half. i suggest you share with someone if you order this
thai iced tea: i love thai tea. its my fav. this one has a different flavor from what i’m used to. idk if it was just me, but it kinda tastes weird and extra sweet
overall, it was an «okay» experience. not somewhere i would come back to. gave 2 stars since it was «alright» food, and since we waited about 10 – 15 for the check to come after i asked for it. i ended up just going to the front to pay for it

Moving to Hawaii Kai and this restaurant is tucked in a very under utilized shopping center. Blink you miss it. The spice level is not that spicy, so to get some heat you need to order got or thai hot. I had the green curry thai hot and had to add spice lol. But it was good and I will be back. The tom yum soup with shrimp add calamari was plentiful. Medium spice was mild. Next time I go hot hot hot. Good quality food we will be back:)

Truly a neighborhood gem. A quaint restaurant with friendly staff. The food is always tasty and I can’t get enough of their Thai Iced Tea.
I know this is harsh that I docked a star because when I ordered their chicken yellow curry (because I was with the parents and can’t handle spicy food), the dish was super salty. I’ll just blame an off night for the cook.

Let me start off by saying… I understand that there are different styles of Thai food… and that there is a huge difference between Thai and Laotian. That being said, I love this little restaurant.
The food here has been consistent since the first time I went here… longer ago than I care to admit.
The owner Carol is a hard working «aunty» that is there cooking and prepping and making sure her restaurant runs. We have been going to TVC for years, my family has occupied more than a half of the restaurant at times. It’s not a big place, but it works.
As with any restaurant, there are favorites and then the other things, I think we have tried them all and we have our go-​to menu that we order… always family style. We appreciate Carol’s different style, which is to add flavor without spice… she feels like you can always add spiciness later but if the underlying flavor is good, then whatever spice you add just enhances it.
Our go-​to order for groups of around 6:
Spring Rolls… one order chicken/​one vegetable. They are smaller than chinese spring rolls, and each order is 6 pieces.
–they are crispy and hot!!! made fresh to order. with romaine lettuce, cucumber slices, and mint for wrapping, sauce for dipping. (I love adding the chili sambal to it for kick).
Changmai salad… usually chicken or beef
–lemongrass, mint, and other spices mixed in with the meat… served with cabbage for scooping up the yumminess
Calamari
–deep fried, minimally battered, and served with the standard spring roll dipping sauce. Nice and crispy… with just the right amount of calamari chew.
Sticky Rice… one order for every 2 people is usually more than enough.
–yup…it’s purple. something about that purple rice gives this extra texture to the sticky rice.
Panang Curry with fish.
–Carol’s curry is not a thick curry… in fact, some people say it’s runny… but the flavor is great, and if you eat it with the sticky rice, it will all get sopped up into a delicious mouthful of goodness.
Street Noodle (Pad See Ew) with chicken
–thick «chow-​fun» like noodles, with broccoli and other veggies… nice amount of sauce and egg.
With more people we add in:
Green Curry
Papaya Salad
Pad Thai
Fish Filets with Chili Basil Sauce
and on special occasion (called ahead of time) we will bring in something we caught fishing and Carol will prepare the whole fish for us… it’s AMAZING!
They do take-​out, which we do when they are too busy for a large group. I’ve taken my fair share of people to this restaurant and have never had any negative responses… everyone usually leaves happy and full.
It’s sad to hear that Mako H. had such a bad experience… I’ve been lucky enough to only eat there when Carol is in the kitchen, and the timing for me has never been off… but I will say that we have had to remind our servers for the rice when it gets busy… but it’s a quick fix.
TVC is tucked away, but has been successful for year… there is a reason for that. they are wonderful, nice, hard-​working and the food is delicious! If you are particular about thai food, talk to Carol… tell her what you like and she is very accommodating.
We are fans and regulars.
PS-​BYOB