Marnee Thai Restaurant
(415) 665-9500
2225 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122
Irving St Location: 2225 Irving St. San Francisco, CA 94122... read more
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General Info
When Chai Siriyam opened his celebrated Marnee Thai restaurant in San Francisco in 1986, he hoped to give his patrons a taste of Thai cuisine and culture so transporting that they could enjoy the country?s wonders without ever having to leave the neighborhood. His plan worked. Ad yet more than twenty years on, Chef Chai?s artistry and balanced hand with Thailand?s inimitable cuisine may in fact have sent just as many newly minted Thai-food enthusiasts to his homeland as they?ve brought through his restaurant door.
The Taste of Thailand Skilled Thai cooks have an almost sixth sense for synthesizing disparate flavor elements into a seamless, unified, utterly balanced whole. And that?s not something they?ve achieved by accident. Thai cuisine has been developing as long as has Thailand itself, and over that time, it?s practitioners have learned which ingredients counter others, when to pair something mild with something heavy, and when to balance something hot with something s weet.
The chief tools of this edible art are the herbs, spices, roots, shoots and other ingredients that comprise the Thai cook?s seasoning armamentarium. There?s nothing particularly mysterious or exceptional about the contents of the Thai pantry. Ingredients like cilantro, kaffir lime leaf, sweet basil, mint, lemongrass, coriander seed, cumin, peppercorns, garlic, galangal, ginger, chilies, tamarind, shallots, coconut milk palm sugar, dried shrimp, and fish sauce are common coin throughout SE Asia.
Reviews & Recommendations
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Best Thai in SF
Provided by Citysearch
This is the best Thai Food in San Francisco.\r My boyfriend introduced my to Marnee a few years ago and I have never been able to find another place that I love more!! The food is authentic (as far as I can tell) and extremely tasty!!!! I love their daily specials. \r The people that work there are always nice and friendly as well.\r A few of my favorite dishes are...\r \r Papaya Salad with Soft Shell Crab\r Spicy Chicken\r Beef with String Beans\r Pumpkin Curry\r They have some sort of fish dish with garlic that is amazing (look on the specials)\r Chicken Satay\r and of course - Fried Bananas.\r \r I suggest that you try this restaurant!!!\r Happy Eating
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Delicious
Marnee serves some of the best Thai cuisine in the city. The curries, noodles, and rice plates are all to die for (the pad thai is my favorite). If you can't stomach spicy foods, you can ask the waiter for a milder version of the dish. Inside the restaurant, the tables are a bit small and cramped, so try not to bring a party of 10 (unless you have a reservation). Parking on Irving is terrible during the lunch hour, but it's decent at night.
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Wonderful Thai Food
Provided by Citysearch
My husband and I have been to Marnee Thai for over 20 years and always enjoy their authentic Thai food. We had to move out of the city due to my husband's work, but we always go back to eat and visit the staff there when we are in town. We love all their dishes especially the new dish called ""Avocado Salad"". For the new customers, I reccommend to order different dishes everytime you go back; don't be afraid to try new dishes because you will love them all like us.
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Great Place for Authentic Thai Food
Provided by Citysearch
My family have been dinning at Marnee Thai restaurant for the last 15 years and never one time disappointed. Our last visit to the restaurant was last nite. We love the mango salad, corn cakes, spicy and sour PoTaek soup, Prawns with String Beans, and Pad Thai Silver Noodle. We would recomend anyone for any item on the menu you will never be disappointed.
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WORST RESTAURANT ALL TIME
Provided by Citysearch
I had a worst experience of all time in this restaurant. First of all, reservation does not work here. I made a reservation and I still had to wait in line for our table. Second, they just want to make money and rush you. We were asked to place the order while standing waiting for our table, and then they rushed the food to us and give us the check before we even finish our dinner. Bad services, they didn't give us water after we asked 3 times. WORST attitude, because their service was so bad, I decided that forget about the tip. They don't deserve it. The owner even came out of the door and asked for the tip. What the... I will be happy to give the tip if you perform good service. But, ask for tip outside the door.\r \r The food is not as good. You can have better Thai food at Ploy II on Haight or Grand Pu-Bah on Division.\r \r TOTALLY DISAPPOINTED. NEVER GO BACK.
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Inexpensive, tasty Thai food!
Provided by Citysearch
I went here just the other day, and just the place surprised me. I saw on the walls that it was chosen best thai food in SF by Citysearch. It wasn't a small, stinky, germy place. It was designed so that you felt like you were in a hut. The thai ice tea is very sweet. Pad thai is nice and refreshing, while at the same time is tasty. I think that the waitress was a little bit slow, but the food came in about 10 mins. It's inexpensive, and all comes together as a nice dinner and lunch place.
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worst experience ever!
Provided by Citysearch
I went to the 9th ave branch. \r After I went home, I found that I have been charged extra for the tip.\r The waiter charged exactly 20% for tip although I gave 12%. The cashier changed the tip amount and charged more on my card.\r What a bad experience! \r I never had such an experience in any restaurant.\r Tip is given for great service and 20% tip should be given on my will.\r I will never go to this restaurant.
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Fabulous blends of flavors with a warm and welcoming vibe
Provided by Citysearch
We happened upon this gem of a restaurant while visiting from LA for the weekend. Serendipity was at work steering us here! The proprietress, May, took us under her wing, recommending their most famous and popular dishes. The Larb salad with beef was light, but substantial, with incredible flavors on the beef and in the lime dressing. Another of May's recommendations was the noodle dish with soft shell crab - a melt-in-your mouth combination that all of us loved. Overall, we were totally impressed with the freshness of the food together with the brilliant use of spices and sauces. It was clear to us that the food is not only infused with love, but also with real culinary know-how. An added bonus was the great conversation we had with May, who advised us not only on food choices, but also on our future fortunes. A great evening overall!
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Thai food here is one of the best!
Provided by Citysearch
The food was good as always. The servers were busy as usual. There was a tall guy serving in particular and he gets the food to us with no problem. Mind you that the spaces between the tables are quite narrow and you can hurt yourself when you're not careful! = Other than that, the food was something! From what I've read here below, all I can say is I can respect everyone's opinion. Hey we can say all we want! It's a free country! Haha! Now I want some Marnee Thai again for sure! Bring on the Pad Tai! =)
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Go for the food... Pick up the new book when you go home!
Provided by Citysearch
I've eaten at many Thai restaurants around the Bay Area. By far the best one I've been to. I tend to be picky and usually only eat the same dish. Can't go wrong with about any dish and makes being ""adventurous"" a good thing! Went on a night that Chef Chei was at the original restaurant, selling his new book and signing them as well. He's a great guy to put the price at a low amount for a signed, first edition book ($35... try getting any of those Food Network chefs signed books for under $100) and even stayed at our table to discuss the receipes with us on a busy night. I'll keep going there, but now I can have any of these great dishes whenever I don't have the time to get out there...
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Best Thai Food in SF
Provided by Citysearch
As soon as you arrive the staff greets with you a hello and quickly begins setting up your table even on their busiest nights I've only had to wait for a few minutes. The spicy angel wings are best in town, a little messy but totally worth it. Also, ask about the recommendations or favorite dishes that's how I discovered the green papaya salad and corn cakes. Both scrumptious and other favorites include the yellow curry followed by anything from the wok and topped off with Roti with coconut ice cream. It's all about sweet and spicy at this place and I was surprised at the good selection of wine they had to compliment the food. I've taken several friends and family members to this restaurant and they all walk away loving it and looking forward to their next visit.
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Entered Pad Thai Competition in Thailand and WON!
Provided by Citysearch
Living in the bay area, I have eaten at many Thai restaurants. I can honestly say Marnee Thai has the best Thai food I have ever eaten. Both locations! On top of that, this place has won more awards worldwide than any Thai restaurant I know of, including an award specifically for Pad Thai, which was won in Thailand!!!!!!! Anytime I think about going out for Asian cuisine, my first thought is here. The only time I WONT eat here is when I've had it the night before! Two thumbs up!
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Best Pad Thai and Angel Wings Ever
Provided by Citysearch
Went to Marnee Thai due to Zagat reviews and friend's recommendations and it was the best. I recently traveled to Thailand and the pad thai's and angel wings there were not as tasteful as Marnee's. The owner might seem outspoken but once you get to know them, they greet you with a warm and loud greeting! The service is fast and the food is delicious. Been back to both locations ever since. So come with a big appetite for fast service and amazing food!!!!
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Mediocre
Provided by Citysearch
What's the deal with the rave reviews about this Thai place. It was a real disappointment. My advice is to go anywhere but here.
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The owner is seriously unprofessional & rude!
Provided by Citysearch
Food was definitely overrated! Service ok, but the owner? Oh boy, HORRIBLE! Rude, unprofessional, no customer service oriented, and simply just money hungry! The owner of Marnee Thai was rude to us as well. In our experience, we had a party of five(two who are elderly, one was handicapped) and she refused to seat us at a table set for six(not reserved at all) simply because we were just a party of five. Instead, she sits us in a table set for four. For the whole time we spent at the restaurant, the table of six remained empty! Just very unprofessional and outright rude. She was always yelling at servers, treating them with no respect -like slaves. I feel sorry for those who work there.
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Rudest Restaurant Owner, food is not worth being treated like trash!
Provided by Citysearch
I had a very similar experience to the person that wrote the 9/4 review. I used to love this restaurant, ate here for 3 yrs.There's no order, owner refused to have a sheet where people could sign in. She claimed she could remember the order that people came in. I waited for bout 45min, standing in the cramped doorway only to have her forget that I came in before this other group. In an accusing voice, she told me there was no way I came in before this group. Luckily, the group knew I was there first & told her that. FINALLY I was seated after much humiliation. We had a party of 4, me, my parents, &my grandma. At the time, only me & my mom were there so we sat down. My dad went to get my grandma in the car. The owner snapped @ me TWICE about where the rest of my party was. Told her they were on their way, just out front, my grandma is 85 and walks slow. Owner kept insisting that she would have to give my table away if my party did not show up right this min. My grandma gets inside bout 3mins later, she & my mom went to the restroom. The owner yells AGAIN bout where my party is. She is NOT a polite, well mannered person mind you, she is screaming across the restaurant with her overly loud voice. She was very condescending the entire time. I'm not sure if it is b/c I am young or if it has to do w/ race b/c she seemed jus fine w/ letting 1 group(Caucasian) keep their table even though 1/2 of their party (total of 10) didnt get there til 20min after they were seated. She didnt question them rudely every 5mins. or threaten them. We wanted to order 2 dishes and a large soup, we weren't very hungry. She comes over to take our order and WOULD NOT LEAVE til we ordered another dish. NEVER had I been forced to order more dishes than I wanted. Food itself is good, but not fantastic enough for me to deal w/rude service &an owner that acts like she is doing ME a big favor by allowing me to eat there. DON'T GO HERE unless u want to be treated like dirt!!!! Go to Chabaa=GREAT thai
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A touch of Angel Wings
Provided by Citysearch
I've been living in San Francisco for 6 years and I daresay Marnee Thai is one the best Thai cuisine restaurant in the Bay Area. To start off, their Angel Wings are incredibly delicious that it made my cousins come all over from L.A just to get dibs on those wings. Also, the prawn silver noodle that they serve is fabulous. The noodle is so soft and smells so good. Another memorable dish is the dessert that they have, the Roti. It's so simple yet superb and you can add ice cream on top of it. The list can go on and on but I highly recommend anyone who is craving for a Thai food, pick this one out. The place can get crowded sometimes and you might have to wait due to the small size of the restaurant. But I still think it worths the taste. They got 2 locations now so you should not have much problem with getting a seat.
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Worst service ever!!!
Provided by Citysearch
You may have read my same review somewhere else, but it's only because I need to get the word out there that the service is ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE.\r \r So I've been coming to this place for years but after last night I will never come here again. THE SERVICE WAS AWFUL. When my boyfriend and I walked in, there were 2 groups ahead of us. After they were seated, the owner lady said we were ""going to be seated next"". 45 minutes later we were still not seated. AND not only were not seated next, she sat 4 groups of larger parties who walked in AFTER us before us! And no they did not have reservations. I guess to them more people=more $ and all they care about is $. Loyalty and good service means nothing to them. I DO NOT RECOMMEND coming to this place. There are tons of of other Thai places in SF that have good food AND great service. They have officially lost my businesss.
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Great Food!
Provided by Citysearch
We had lunch there, and the food was exceptionally delicious. If we lived in SF, we would eat there often.
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If I had to choose just one Thai place for the rest of my life...
Provided by Citysearch
This would be it. I have been going there for years, and recently took my parents who were in the country for a visit. The decoration is very interesting in the original location, like being in a big straw hut. The tables are a little close together, but it doesn't take away from the experience of dining there. The food was all perfectly seasoned, not too spicy, but just spicy enough for the sweet Thai tea to offer a wonderful contrast during the occasional sip. Marnee was on the dining room floor, sure that we ordered well and that when the food came that it was served properly. She stopped my mother just before she took a bite of her imperial roll to be sure she included a leaf, some sauce, and noodles in the bite. Maybe someone who is way too sensitive would have been put off, but really it was funny and added to the experience of eating there. Marnee just wants to be sure you get the absolute most from the experience of eating there. And for the price, which is very, very inexpensive, you get such a great meal. This is one of my favorite away (from downtown) spots to take people, and I will keep visiting until I leave the city, which I hope never happens.
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