Bua Thai Cuisine

Quick, affordable and always yummy! Cute little restaurant with a friendly waiter. Atmosphere feels like you are right at home. Chiang Mai noodles are my favorite!

#1 veggie spring rolls (deep fried spring rolls filled with mixed veggie and glass noodles, served with sweet plum chill sauce) $ 7.95 2.5÷5 — nothing was wrong but not exciting neither.
#4 fish cake (deep fried minced fish blended with Thai herbs, red curry paste, green bean, lime leaves, egg, cilantro and green onion, served with homemade sauce) $ 8.95 ³⁄₅ — it tasted just like any regular fish cakes. Some of us said they could taste the salmon in the fish cake.
#7 stuffed chicken wings (Deep fried chicken wings stuffed with ground chicken, grass noodles, carrot, tree ear mushroom and cilantro) $ 8.95 ³⁄₅ — I have had better stuffed chicken wings. The filling was more like a meatball than actual ground chicken, The skin was not as crispy as a deep fried chicken wing should be.
#15 north east larb (Minced chicken or beef, tossed with Northeast Thai dressing, lemongrass, lime leaves, cilantro, green onion, garlic oil and crispy shallots) $ 10.95 2.5÷5 quite spicy! There was also a hint of bitterness from some kind of spices. Not my cup of tea.
#20 papaya salad (Green papaya with crushed peanut, Thai chili, lime juice, fresh garlic, tomato, tamarind sauce, plum sugar, carrot, served on lettuce) $ 7.95 2.5÷5 — very garlicy. The garlic overpowered the sweetness from the plum sugar and the sourness from the lime.
#34 gang hang lay curry (Lemongrass, coconut milk, ginger, tamarind juice, curry paste and lime leaves) $ 10.95 2.5÷5 — another spicy dish. The ginger and garlic was too strong for me. The diced beef was quite tough.
#33 jungle curry (No coconut milk. Thai herbs, eggplant, green beans, bamboo shoots, pumpkin and Thai basil) $ 10.95 ³⁄₅ — okay spicy curry. Not as spicy as the gang hang lay. Maybe it was too watery without the coconut milk.
#36 panang wild salmon (Wild salmon, bell peppers, coconut milk and lime leaves) $ 12.95 ³⁄₅ — I’ve had better panang curry before. This one was way too watery but another one of the less spicier ones.
#31 green curry (Eggplant, green beans, bell peppers, coconut milk and Thai basil) $ 10.95 3.5÷5 — sweeter curry and one of the less spicier curry.
#49 eggplant basil (Eggplant, Thai basil, bell peppers, with homemade chili paste) $ 11.95 ⁴⁄₅ — one of the less spicy dishes. It was something different than the curry dishes. This one comes with sliced beef instead of diced beef in the gang hang lay curry.
#54 pla rad prik (Crispy basa fish with chili tamarind sauce, white and green onion, cilantro, tomatoes and soy bean sauce) $ 15.95 3.75÷5 — It reminds me of a Chinese dish.
The lady didn’t ask how spicy we wanted. I also found most of the curries a little too watery than average. Food was a little spicier than expected but still tolerable. I would ask for something less spicy next time if I’m going back.

Quick and affordable, good Thai food. Only had the red curry lunch special but was just enough food. Could use some more spices. I will definitely try some more items next time and review again.

I had been coming to Bua Thai very regularly, back before it went through its couple of name changes, but we’d found that since it had become Bua the food was less vibrant. Last night we decided to give it another shot as it had been a year since we were last there, and Boyfriend and I were both craving something homey and comforting.
Stepping in there were a couple of tables full already — a good sign! We were greeted by the same woman we’ve always been served by and she was very smiley and cheerful. We were sad that it wasn’t licensed, but ordered two teas — and although it was just tea in a bag it was very flavourful.
We ordered red curry with chicken and bamboo shoots (I meant to get pumpkin but forgot!), pad prik king, tom ka gai to start, and two servings of coconut rice. The tom ka gai was good, but heavy on the fish sauce which left me with a parched and salty taste in my mouth. There was a little spice to it, and the mushrooms were good; the chicken was mostly good but I had a couple of fatty, gristly pieces I chose not to eat. The pad prik king was a bit flavourless, unfortunately, and the green beans were a little too crunchy for our taste. The red curry was excellent, however — the coconut sauce was rich and flavourful, the chicken was good, and the bamboo shoots plentiful. The rice came in a giant bowl that we somehow managed to demolish, and was quite tasty.
It was better than I’d remembered, and I will be back as the prices are reasonable, the food decent, and the service still great.

The food was okay, not really worth the price considering the small portions and bad service.

Authentic Northern Thai home cooking right on Commercial — yum! This is our new favourite east side Thai joint.
Adorably decorated, very colourful Thai café style; while there’s no patio there are windows + shutters that are fully opened in the summer, so it’s airy — just like sitting on a sidewalk patio (but with shade — awesome). Bicycle parking right in front. Great people watching as the world passes by.
The menu here is has something for everyone, from the familiar Pad Thai to Goong Ob Woon Sen (glass noodles) and Red sea noodle soup (with squid/​fish balls); everything we’ve tried so far has had vibrant layers of flavours. Stuffed yam crispy wontons — delicious — we couldn’t gobble these down fast enough. Lunch special is a generous portion and cheap ($ 7.95). Larb Gai Lettuce Wrap is tasty and refreshing. Panang Wild Salmon (Sockeye) curry was flavourful, and Lak Sa Noodle Soup was good too (it’s a yellow coconut curry with pineapple + cucumber). Thai iced tea (not caffeinated) is milk + magic. The Thai iced coffee is also excellent. Desserts we’ve tried are the tapioca with coconut milk and the deep fried banana — both were good.
I can’t do spicy food, but my partner can. Both of us found the requested level of spiciness to be right on. I’ll be taking my vegetarian friends here too; I eat meat but there are lots of veg options on the menu.
Both times I’ve been here the service has been very friendly and very sweet. The Thai owner sometimes does double duty as the cook and the server during the day. Her cooking is amazing and it makes the place feel very homey. This is not factory Thai food like you find in so many other places. If you haven’t tried Northern Thai cuisine this is a good place to explore it.
Note: the place can be hard to spot since the sign is partly obscured by tree foliage — it’s on the east side of Commercial, just north of 3^rd Ave., nestled between Nunu’s Hair Salon and Volcano Sushi.

Whatever you order, avoid the fish cakes. They were like rubber and very oily. I would say this is the worst Thai food I have ever eaten. We won’t be returning.

Green curry with chicken! Yum!

Had dinner at Bua Thai for the first time this evening. The service was fast and friendly and the food was fresh and good. We ordered the Yum Mamuang salad (green mango) and Chicken Pad Khing. We’ll definitely be back to try some of the other dishes on the menu. All in all a good first impression.

Yesterday was the 4^th time I tried to come to the restaurant in the afternoon to find it closed with a handwritten «open at 5» sign. Each time, I have gone out of my way and have been both disappointed and inconvenienced. If you don’t want to be open between 2 and 5, change your hours… just opening and closing as it suits you even though your website and posted hours on the door claim you are open all day is very inconsiderate. I can’t be the only customer that has been put out by this and I’m probably not the only customer you have lost over it.

The green curry is good, not as good as Thai Away Home but the service is decent and the thai iced tea is ahhhhhmaaaaazing! Too bad about my super lactose intolerance, I only had a sip… I think the spring rolls were way over priced so I didn’t order any but I might if I go back and give it another go with a little extra cash on hand…

Bua Thai has taken over what was Ya Yahs. And I loved Ya Yahs, so maybe that’s why I wasn’t that impressed with their take on the dishes.
We got the Pineapple Fried Rice and the Pad See Ew, which were both ok.
If you check in here on the Unilocal app, there is a coupon for one free spring roll.
The bill for two dishes came to $ 29 with tip, way more than what the dishes were worth.

Had the pad thai and the green curry lunch specials… the food was excellent. Odd to see the owner (?) cook the meals as well as wait on the tables all by herself. Service was adequate but also lacking because this person was all by herself. While it’s questionable how the food can be sooo quick and tasty in a restaurant seemingly run by one sole person (at that time anyway), it was nevertheless incredibly delicious. Will definitely be back!

Bua Thai quickly became one of my favourite go-​to places for Thai cuisine. Hidden away on The Drive, this little restaurant might be difficult to come across, but guaranteed to leave you satisfied.
My ideal meal (something I order upon ever visit) includes an order of spring rolls, wonton crisps, Thai green curry (with pork), a bowl of rice, and a bowl of tom ka gai. To wash it all down, a glass of Thai iced tea. It sounds like a lot of food, because it is! Thankfully my girlfriend shares this feast with me. We’re always full, and pleased with the service. The restaurant is clean, quiet, and cool — ideal for a hot summer day.

Glad the new owners didn’t change, food’s still good and authentic.
great lunch deals too under $ 8.
Nice lady owner, & service.
Enough metered parking and some free side street parking if you’re willing to walk a block or two.