Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Uncle Chai Thailand Street Food in Rancho Mirage

4.5 (96) 69930 CA-111 Suite 122, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, United States

Categories

Thai restaurant

Location on the map

Rancho Mirage, Riverside County, California, US

Phone: +1 760-699-8884
Site: https://unclecthailandstreet...

Opening hours

Monday:5–9 PM
Tuesday:5–9 PM
Wednesday:11 AM–3 PM
Thursday:11 AM–3 PM
Friday:11 AM–3 PM
Saturday:11 AM–3 PM
Sunday:11 AM–3 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.5

96 Reviews for Uncle Chai Thailand Street Food 2024:

Review №1

2023-06-10 21:32:39

The definition of a hidden gem restaurant. The menu is relatively small compared to a lot of Thai restaurants in the Coachella valley but the food is very tasty. I got the pad see ew Thai spicy with tofu and it was one of the best pad see ews I have had in California. the service was really great as well. I will definitely be returning.

Review №2

2023-05-29 20:05:16

So this place is located in a defunct older mall. Walked into the mall and was wondering if we should even go into the restaurant - how can this be any good - everything else seems to be out of business. Decided to go in and give it a try, and are we glad that we did. The service and food were great! Fantastic tasting Thai food. We are gluten free and they accommodated us easily, and they actually knew what gluten was (so many other restaurants may say they are gluten free but when quizzed, they have no idea, and it makes me wonder if it is GF at all). Looking at the pictures for posting makes me hungry for more. Too bad we were on vacation and cant easily go back.

Review №3

2023-08-30 03:47:00

This place is a gem in the mountain side. Truly marvelous. Food was delivered quickly and efficiently. When the meal arrived, it was very well tempered, hot enough to be amazing but not hot enough to burn your mouth or tongue with the first bite. Full of flavor and aroma; it was savory from the first to the last bite.The decor/atmosphere is very welcoming, with a tad of relaxation vibe. Servers were dedicated to their table and never missed a beat!If this restaurant was in Europe, it would be a 2 star, dare I say 3 star Michelin quality restaurant!

Review №4

2022-05-31 15:18:47

Heard about this place from a friend and when I had a taste for Pad Thai, I remembered to try it after Googling Pad Thai near me. Glad I ordered Take Out from Uncle Chai! As a vegetarian, I ordered Tofu. Excellent! Some of the best Ive ever had. Definitely will come back here again. Located in the Rancho Mirage Design Center, nice ambiance and staff. Note: Be patient as they are experiencing staffing shortages like all of the restaurants in the desert.

Review №5

2023-08-07 21:03:51

Great food at a reasonable price. This place is tucked away inside a dying strip mall. Consequently the path to get there isnt all that pleasant but once inside it is nicely decorated. Hidden gem in a hole in the wall location. Maybe thats one reason their prices are so affordable. The staff was pleasant and attentive. Not all of them spoke the best English or had the best pronunciation but we worked around that. Lets agree that that just made the experience more authentic. 😋. Most importantly the food was delicious. I am eager to go back and try some of the other dishes.

Review №6

2023-04-28 20:04:10

The food is always authentic! Along with the impeccable service, the decor and atmosphere complete the dining experience. The mussel omelet is hands down one of my favorites

Review №7

2022-04-03 20:07:25

Good food. Pad thai was delicious. Very generous portions. Garlic chicken delicious but slightly salty. Green curry flavor profile was off and salty. Apetizer pork wontons, tasty but not many. Tom kha Gai soup bland. Service slow, but they were shorthanded. Overall Id go again. Im suspecting that the noodle dishes are best...as the pad thai was yummy! Prices very reasonable.

Review №8

2023-08-14 02:24:41

The service was polite and fast.The food came out fast and hot. More importantly very delicious.The place was basic and peaceful. It was relaxing to eat there.Sorry no pictures I ate it all... 😅

Review №9

2023-10-04 03:21:31

Hands down, the best Thai cuisine in the desert! Every dish is a flavorful journey that takes me back to my time in Bangkok. While delivery might be on the pricier side, the exceptional taste and quality make it all worthwhile. A must-try for Thai food enthusiasts!

Review №10

2022-04-26 02:08:06

Guys! The food here is AMAZING! I’m speaking as a Thai person. You won’t find any more authentic Thai food than at Uncle Chai. The wait time can be a little long because they’re short of staff but I promise you it’s well worth it.

Review №11

2023-01-31 07:45:20

Absolutely love this place 💕 my new go to place with my friends. Everything Ive ever ordered comes out superb 😋, i love the decorations in this place, the staff is super friendly and attentive.Update: every time I come back to this establishment I get excellent services and the food is beyond amazing, the drinks are all tasty (cocktails) and superb.

Review №12

2022-04-03 22:19:25

Initial service was excellent. However when the server left table was not assigned to another server. Long wait until the owner noticed.Ordered the Glew Tod which was very good, it could have had a little more filling. The Uncle Chai Pad Thai was excellent, with a slight smokey flavor as if cooked over a open fire. Typical of Street cooking.Other then the service issue it would have been 5 Stars.

Review №13

2022-03-02 05:05:58

Very yummy! We started with the tofu appetizers and then had the uncle chad pad thai with medium spice and the kow kang massaman nue curry with no spice added and both were perfect! Authentic food, great service and great prices! We cant wait to go back :D

Review №14

2022-02-22 01:22:09

There was no authentic Thai place in the valley until now!! This place is amazing! We moved to the valley a couple years ago after living in LA for 15 years and half of that next to Thai town. Needless to say, we have missed real Thai food. I recommend Tom Yum soup, pad Thai shrimp, and Kra pow. You may love spicy food but go with mild and ask for extra chili sauce on the side to add spice as you go. I love to sweat when I eat Thai food but you still want to enjoy the food, skip the Thai heat. I got some photos or our appetizers which were delicious but dug right into the entries without getting a picture. Ill be back for sure so Ill get more next time.

Review №15

2023-08-30 22:16:54

Out of this world.Best Thai I’ve had. Great atmosphere, amazing food, terrific service.Meal was incredibly fresh, perfectly spicy, and even affordable.Highly recommended.

Review №16

2023-10-21 01:52:20

We moved to the desert a few months ago and immediately started looking for our new go-to thai restaurant. After trying 6 local places, we found what we were looking for at Uncle Chais! We absolutely love their pad thai and their pad see ew. We get takeout from here once per week and are always looking forward to it! Thanks Uncle Chai!

Review №17

2023-07-06 04:13:56

Authentic Thai food. Pad Prig King, Pad Thai and Tom Yum are all excellent. If you appreciate good Thai food you will not be disappointed. Don’t be cavalier with your spice level. They tend to be heavy handed with the Thai chillies.

Review №18

2023-05-29 21:14:34

My first time there, I had best yellow curry I’ve ever had. That’s my go-to for Thai food and I was actually kind of blown away by how good it was. I can’t wait to go again and try other dishes, but it’s going to be hard not to get the yellow curry again.The staff was very nice and good spirited as well. I’m very glad I found this place.

Review №19

2023-07-08 21:44:05

The food is way too sweet in a bad way. They must have added so much sugar and/or syrup to their food.I had their Pad Thai and it was by far one of the worst pad thai Ive had. Tye reason being way too overly sweet. The pad thai was swimming in syrup... I also had the curry that was again way too sweet... They need to stop adding these sweetners.I will not be returning

Review №20

2022-06-11 03:59:44

Great ethic food finally comes to the Desert. Kow Prik King (Chicken, Green Beans, Chili) and Drunken Noodles are great. I did not have the nerve to try ‘Thai Spicy’, medium was hot enough. The sticky rice with mango was a perfect ending. Very reasonably priced entrees. There is no Pad Thai on the menu so the basic members of the group had to try something new.

Review №21

2022-10-22 05:03:20

Finally tried Uncle Chai for the first time this evening. The food was fantastic with generous portions and surprisingly reasonable prices. My wife and I have tried a couple of other Thai places in the desert and they were terrible. I had given up on getting authentic Thai food in the valley and then remembered a friend had told us about Uncle Chai. What a refreshing surprise! Quality ingredients prepared properly! We ordered take out and it was ready promptly. 5 stars for the excellent food. Highly recommended. We will be back for sure. So happy to have high quality Thai food in the desert!

Review №22

2023-09-12 05:14:10

I liked the menu - good real Thai selections - but the som tum was not good at all and dragged down everything else.

Review №23

2022-05-30 16:45:58

Good Thai food, reasonable pricing & exceptional waitstaff even when it was busy!

Review №24

2023-01-17 01:58:40

Authentic Thai street food! The Thai spicy level is truly flaming hot!!

Review №25

2022-07-02 00:37:26

BEST THAI FOOD IN TOWN! I can’t say enough good things about this place, it is such a hidden gem! Food was so flavorful and owner was lovely. This is our go to spot for Thai food in the desert!!

Review №26

2022-12-29 05:58:50

While this restaurant is in a bit of a weird location, dont let that deter you from coming and getting the most authentic Thai cuisine in the Coachella Valley. While there are a number of Thai restaurants that I frequent and enjoy, if you are looking for legitimate, traditional Thai food rather than American style Thai food, this is definitely the place to go. The soup is appropriately sour, and for the adventurous, if you can handle a lot of heat, ask for them to make your dish extra spicy!

Review №27

2023-02-07 04:09:57

Friends of ours told us about this place. We met them there for dinner and we were worried as the chairs werent weight sufficient, flimsy. However, the service was amazing and all the food, my god, was delicious. The green curry, drunken noodles, everything was so delicious. The owner came out and was so sweet. For us, this was some of the best Thai weve had.

Review №28

2023-07-01 21:45:15

This is by far the best and most authentic Thai food I’ve had in the U.S. I have been to Thailand several times and this really brought me back! Thank you Uncle Chai!

Review №29

2022-12-23 06:48:52

Ordered the green papaya salad. After waiting for an hour, the food came with a bug within the cabbage. Cabbage was not even cut to pieces.Ordered the Kow Kang Panang as the waitress recommended, and it’s too sweet with only 4-5 small piece of beef. It’s annoying to wait for one hour long for 1 alas and 2 dishes. They didn’t gave me a head up that there took online order as first. There were only 2 tables of guest waiting there but it still took them so long. Went to another Taco restaurant and feed myself😰Food itself was mixed of too sweet and salty. Never had such taste-like Thai food in any other places. Shocked on the food there

Review №30

2023-08-13 18:28:55

Pad thai were under cooked and crunchy. Let them sit few minute and it was just okay. Will try once more.

Review №31

2022-11-05 21:21:14

They had a sign saying they were understaffed but the service here was great! Food was well priced and delicious!! I used to cook Thai food with a Thailand native many years ago and the pad thai here was spot on!! Couldnt resist finishing my meal with a delectable order of mango sticky rice. The inside is very peaceful and clean.

Review №32

2023-07-20 20:49:49

Wow. Great food. Excellent prices and good service. My go to for Thai. The curry was amazing tonight. Friendly service. Awesome lunch menu and prices

Review №33

2022-09-01 04:35:01

OK....Having traveled Southeast Asia extensively Im quite picky about my ethnic food...but this place was REALLY good. The flavors are not weak. Curries are flavorful without relying on heat alone. Best Pad Thai Ive had in the Desert. Cant comment on table service as my order was takeout, but the restaurant looked charming.

Review №34

2023-03-07 03:44:39

I don’t live around here but I’ve had a lot of thai food from countless places before and I must say this is some of the best I’ve ever had. A lot of “good” thai places have decent dishes but often lack the strength of flavor that this place delivers. I searched thai food on google and chose this place because the price was most reasonable compared to other places nearby, but I didn’t expect it to be this authentic. Highly recommended!

Review №35

2023-09-27 00:48:03

The food was good, but there is nothing street food about the cuisine or the price. $22 for fried rice is not street food.

Review №36

2022-11-20 21:33:52

My mother in law was raving about the Pad Thai so i have to try. I ordered the Moo Dang Moo (red bbq pork and crispy pork on rice) along with my Pad Thai and had to try both at the same time! Made me remember when I first visit Thailand back in year 2000, the flavor is AUTHENTIC!!! Uncle Chai is now my new favorite! Yum!

Review №37

2022-07-29 17:55:30

Everything is super delicious and the atmosphere is very relaxed at dinner time. My only issue was that they have only two levels for spiciness: medium (not enough heat) and thai spice (way too hot for me). But you can ask for a tiny bowl of peppers on the side to personalize your spice level perfectly. I love that!

Review №38

2022-02-21 05:33:04

We just tried this newly opened Thai restaurant. The food was excellent, They have some unusual dishes which are some of the best street food in Thailand.I have been in Bangkok many times and therefore can attest to both quality and authenticity of the food they served. The special deep fried mussel dish is not to be missed. Finally, the service was very good as well. The owners and staff were very accommodating to all of our needs.

Review №39

2022-10-05 02:52:03

The Yellow Curry, Suki Hang and Pad Thai were the most flavorful versions of our favorite dishes. The service was attentive and prompt. With so many Thai restaurants in the Coachella Valley, Uncle Chai is a top contender.

Review №40

2022-02-20 03:25:54

Uncle Chai opened 10 days ago; since then, we have dined there twice. The menu selections are flavorful and the portions are generous at a most reasonable price.We love Thai cuisine; we’ve eaten at every Thai restaurant in the Coachella Valley, most of which are very good. However, Uncle Chai is considerably better than the others.“Ally”, the owner is charming, the service is very good and as I’ve already said, the food is excellent. If you love Thai food, do yourself a favor and visit Uncle Chai at the Atrium in Rancho Mirage!

Review №41

2022-05-14 04:51:48

The food is absolutely delicious, the prices are great, and the staff and owners are very customer-oriented. Went there today as a visitor from out of state and having spent an extended time in Thailand. This food was amazing, a feeing echoed by my sister and my mother. Between us we had two appetizers (pork wontons and pork dumplings) and two entrees (drunken noodles and pad thai). Great portion sizes and the food had such a great layering of flavors. Will try to get one more visit in before we leave town! Yum!

Review №42

2022-12-23 04:19:01

We ordered two dishes and one salad, this place take mobile order as priority, so dine in will have to wait about one hour. The four people site next to us said they have been waiting to be served for one and a half hour… what a bad experience, people choose to dine in have to wait extra hour. And the food is super sweet, not authentic

Review №43

2022-02-26 04:26:35

AMAZING and truly authentic Thai Cuisine. The best.. and I am emphasizing this because I’ve been to alot of the Thai food places around the Coachella Valley and this place is the real deal. It’s not “watered” down and tasteless. If you’re looking for great eats. This place is it. Located in The Atrium behind the Palms and very easy parking. The owner Ally and hostess Michelle gave us the personal touch. I will definitely be a regular here.

Review №44

2022-02-20 18:46:03

Great delicious food at affordable prices and great staff. Absolutely love this restaurant

Review №45

2022-02-28 05:23:43

This place just opened 13 days ago and it shows. The decor looks bare and not very warm and welcoming. They are awaiting a liquor license but have tea and soda. The menu is very good and varied. But, service on a very slow Sunday evening (we were the only table there tonight), was lacking. They were out of several menu items. The wait for the food was slow. They were slow to bring drink refills.For a 6-person group, they automatically posted a 18% tip to the bill because we were a big group. Most places start at 8 in the party.Furthermore, if you are in a group, you would have the impression that the food for the entire group would be served at the same time. However, it came out phases. One persons entrée was entered wrong, resulting in a delay before he received the right order.Suggestion - the wait staff should be trained to recognize a Thai food newbie at a table and take on a more guidance role and make suggestions.Bottom line - this place has potential to become a good place to go to. Ill hold back for a few months before I consider going back. Thai Smile, which is close by is much better right now.

Review №46

2022-09-17 04:21:38

This not an authentic Thai Restaurant, nothing tasted like the real food. I was super hungry so I had to eat it. It took them forever to bring out our plates.Waitress was nice!

Review №47

2022-05-03 17:36:17

I was so eager and patient to get food from here for months! Last night it finally happened! I ordered for my family of four which includes two adults, one 11 month old and a 4 year old. First, the flavors for all of the dishes ordered were a solid 10 in the rating department! The dumplings(6pc) and papaya salad I would rate an 8. They were delicious and standard appetizer portion size. Now the entree dishes I sadly give a 1 rating. They included the Pad Thai (shrimp +Tofu), Kow Mun Gai and Tom Kha (coconut soup). They all failed in the portion department.The amount of food given was just enough food to serve my entire family of 4! That was extremely disappointing! For the $61 and driving from the east end of the valley, I just dont think Ill be giving this local establishment any of my support nor will I recommend in the future.

Review №48

2022-02-26 04:28:42

Enjoyed the food with my friends. The menu selection is great. I wanted to try more but one order is actually good for 2 people. I ordered a panang curry to give to my picky husband. Lo and behold he loved it. He wants me to bring him there one of these days.

Review №49

2022-04-08 16:03:49

Well be back a hundred times over.Boyfriend and I love thai food, both of us experienced with the real stuff. Their food is so crisp and fresh with so many layers of flavor that are so well balanced; and the portions are amazing for their prices.We had: Tom Yum soup, Kow Kang Kew Wan green curry, and the Uncle Chai Pad Thai....and were ecstatic with everything. Ill be eating their Tom Yum Gai every chance I get.The vibe is fairly typical with a touch of modern, spacious, clean, and updated. Theyre tucked back in the NE Corner of the Atrium, easy to get to. Lovely, friendly staff without being overbearing.Theyve been open 7 weeks as of our visit and seem to have a handle on things; cant wait to become a regular!

Review №50

2022-11-18 14:34:47

This was a special find in the desert, thanks to a friend who is from Thailand. The menu items are authentic, delicious and reasonably priced. The ambiance is nice and the staff and owners are very helpful and engaging.

Review №51

2023-09-22 20:36:45

One dish was great, rest was decent, service was incredibly slow.

Review №52

2022-02-19 05:12:41

Best Thai food in town. Owners are amazing and food is outstanding. Weve already been there twice and cant wait to get back there again. So excited to have Thai food of this quality in our desert.

Review №53

2022-04-02 14:26:33

We enjoyed our dinner there last night. The staff was very efficient and kind. Ally and her crew did a spectacular job. There are lots of dishes on the menu that I want to try, so I look forward to returning.

Review №54

2022-06-07 16:30:52

Very good food! Unfortunately the advertised prices are not the same for takeout, which is 2-3$ more per entree.Was told 40 minute wait over phone and waited an hour and 15 minutes. Place didn’t seem super busy, either.But, the food made up for that.

Review №55

2022-03-11 20:22:41

We have been looking for good Thai food in the valley and Uncle Chais was excellent! I had the yellow curry with chicken and this was the best curry Ive had in a very long time. Highly recommend.

Review №56

2022-06-06 20:52:37

Great service, and the tom yum was delicious.

Review №57

2022-06-23 01:13:18

This place reminds me of being in Thailand, the owner is hospitable and is always very welcoming and remembers our order. The food is full of flavor and delicious! Must try the moo ping and jasmine tea!

Review №58

2022-02-18 21:01:06

Delicious! Was curious to try this place as soon as I heard it was opening up and Im glad I did! Got the pad see ew and the flavor was great and a good size portion too for the price. Ill definitely be back!

Review №59

2023-12-02 05:09:58

Great food, service, and atmosphere! 10/10!

Review №60

2023-04-02 04:11:24

The food was good. The place is large. It was not busy, just two tables occupied. Had to ask for water twice.

Review №61

2022-09-13 01:45:38

Amazing service! Great food! Tom Yum and Green curry were really good. Will definitely come back!

Review №62

2022-07-17 05:23:39

The food is *chef’s kiss* and the staff is wonderful. You could literally order ANYTHING on the menu and it will be delicious. A hidden gem in the desert!

Review №63

2022-03-08 03:13:53

Racist! Was waiting on food order And was randomly told if I didnt like the wait I can leave. Apparently The white waitress went and told the owner I was disrespecting her and interrupting her service. When the only conversation was how long the wait was going to be

Review №64

2023-06-17 06:52:12

Great little hidden gem! Vegan options as well

Review №65

2023-03-19 07:29:57

Excellent food and grate services

Review №66

2022-04-23 01:31:29

My only favorite Thai restaurant in the area (from La Quinta to rancho mirage) great foods! Great price! Great service!

Review №67

2023-05-01 18:44:17

Finally found a place in Palm Springs that is authentic! No other place uses Chinese broccoli!

Review №68

2023-02-23 21:49:57

Food and service is great. Restaurant atmosphere is a little bland but can get past it as the food is so good!

Review №69

2022-12-30 05:17:33

Love to see another great Thai restaurant with a modern ordering system just across the street!

Review №70

2023-11-04 19:56:33

The panang curry is life-changing 💯

Review №71

2022-02-27 21:12:47

The food was awesome. The service was good and the tastes on the 5 or 6 items we ordered were just wonderful. We will be back!!!

Review №72

2023-10-23 18:33:52

Excellent curry and noodle dishes!

Review №73

2022-04-05 02:15:48

So nice！

Review №74

2022-04-08 13:51:59

Delicious food, good service and nice atmosphere at an affordable price made for perfect dinner. Ill be a regular from now on!

Review №75

2023-04-04 23:27:43

Absolutely delicious! Brings me back to my visits of Thailand...

Review №76

2022-03-15 13:52:19

Food was delicious. Great flavor. Very friendly staff. Can’t wait to go again.

Review №77

2022-05-02 22:02:24

Great food and great service. Will definitely be back to try other menu items.

Review №78

2023-04-25 02:01:15

Great food choices and all tasted fantastic!

Review №79

2022-02-27 21:07:08

Best Thai food in the valley, great service, reasonable prices, very nice owner.

Review №80

2022-05-21 03:54:51

Delicious green curry & fried tofu! YUM Thai spicy 🌶 🌶 🌶 😋!

Review №81

2022-10-24 22:58:10

Really great eats and service ... as good as being in Thailand.

Review №82

2023-03-28 03:50:20

Excellent food at a very reasonable price! 👌

Review №83

2022-03-10 02:40:40

Absolutely amazing, takes me right back to thailand. This place is going to be a huge hit here

Review №84

2022-02-17 04:24:01

AMAZING AUTHENTIC THAILAND FOOD 🤎 !!The Kow Krapow Moo Sub Kai Dow dish was delicious !!!

Review №85

2022-08-06 03:28:54

The food, and service is top notch. Staff is super friendly.

Review №86

2022-03-16 02:48:34

Great affordable authentic Thai street food.

Review №87

2022-04-22 23:11:03

Absolutely incredible place. Amazing food and great prices

Review №88

2022-09-04 03:27:03

Thank you. We loved everything we ordered.

Review №89

2022-07-18 21:00:43

Flaky. Two take-out orders cancelled. No explanation.

Review №90

2023-06-19 01:49:46

Fresh, friendly service

Review №91

2022-03-24 00:10:12

So good! Great for take out too!

Review №92

2022-04-14 01:08:48

GO EAT HERE!!!!!!!! Absolutely delicious food. Every time.

Review №93

2022-04-17 21:49:30

Not a fan of this place. Many better options to choose in the area

Review №94

2022-05-05 11:51:31

Excellent Thai Food !

Review №95

2022-10-17 04:43:53

Love this place!

Review №96

2023-12-12 09:14:09

Quality and flavor just doesn’t get any better.I pick up at least 2-3 times a month since they opened. Staff is always super nice.