Sivalai Thai Restaurant

Oh my god! Best Thai restaurant in town! Great service, really friendly, they gave us free sweet and sour soup and came out with our stuff really quick. The food was excellent and the whole thing came out to only $ 20, even though it was a ton of food! I’m still super full. Thai iced coffee and tea was da bomb. Will definitely be back here!

Oh my gosh! With all of the Thai restaurants in Portland, Sivali Thai is, hands down, the best Thai in the area. Super friendly, affordable and delicious! Highly recommended!!!

HOW HAVE I NOT BEEN HERE BEFORE!!!
The service was warm and welcoming from the moment we walked in, everyone working was sure to greet us with a smile.
The food came out quickly and was absolutely delicious. The crispy basil with chicken and shrimp is not to be missed!
The food was reasonably priced and the portions were a nice and «normal» size. Nothing went to waste :)

Ordered food to go once. The staff seemed really friendly. The food was good, and the portions were generous for the price they asked.

My boyfriend and I stopped in for lunch here on a weekday and had the best time. We split a noodle dish (Chicken Pad Se Ew) with a side of sticky rice and it was fresh and flavorful. One of the highlights was the $ 1 Thai Iced Teas. Most other Thai restaurants around Portland charge $ 2-​$ 4 for one so this was such a plus! The best part was the complimentary mango sticky rice dessert. It was so yummy! Our server was wonderful and very fast and friendly! We can’t wait to come back!

It’s a quaint little family owned restaurant, that’s great to come on any night. Right off the bat, you’re greeted by the sweetest server. I think this is one of the things I look forward to the most. He’s super friendly and remembers your order if you’re a repeat customer. He reminds me of the happy family member at the holiday gatherings that always wants to make sure you’re feed.
I have yet to have something I don’t like here. Some of my favorites are Heaven, pad see ew, surprise curry (this does include peaches and pineapple, interesting surprise!), and the meal comes with a complimentary mango sticky rice dessert.
Very decently priced. Portions are perfectly sized, not too big and not too small. If you do plan on sharing family style then make sure everyone gets something.

Looking at Don B’s review of Sivalia from 2011, we can only add that the quality of the food at this restaurant has not changed — and neither have its high ratings, for reasons as mysterious to us as they must have been to him, five years ago. This is not a four-​and-​a half star restaurant; far from it.
We love Thai food, but Salem, where we live, is starved for decent Thai restaurants; so we were delighted yesterday afternoon when we left an obligatory social function, half-​starved, to discover this highly-​rated restaurant within six blocks of where we were. What a disappointment it turned out to be!
Food: Two stars. Lana ordered one of her two favorites, pad Thai, while I, as I often do, ordered an entrée unknown to me: Pla Khing, which, according to the menu, is one of Sivalia’s spreciaties. Now, pad Thai probably is THE best-​known, absolutely standard Thai dish. If a restaurant cannot make good pad Thai, it has no business calling itself a Thai restaurant. Sivalai failed this basic test. Lana reported that her chicken pad Thai was mediocre at best and that the chicken chunks were dry and tough. The Pla Khing received a similar report from me, for similar reasons: mediocre at best, with chunks of deep-​fried fish that were dry and tough.
Drinks: One star. Lana ordered a Thai iced coffee and I ordered a Thai iced tea. Both were mediocre. Moreover, I prefer Singha with Thai food, but Sivalia does not offer alcoholic beverages. As the date of Don B’s review indicates, it has somehow managed to stay in business for at least five years with mediocre food and no alcohol. That’s not acceptable.
Service: Four stars. Good but overly-​attentive.
Ambiance: Two stars. The outside looks like a large, well-​maintained shack, painted white. The only signage is the name on the door. The inside, like the outside, has nothing to recommend it except that it is clean and well-​maintained. The restrooms are through the kitchen area, which makes me a bit uncomfortable. (Not a modesty problem but a sanitation problem: I want to know that a restaurant has complete control of its kitchen area.) Finally, the floor is uneven between the eating area and the kitchen area and, as nothing warned of the problem, I nearly tripped.
Price: About $ 25 for our entrees and drinks, which is well within the average for a Thai restaurant, but I expect, and normally receive, better Thai food for my money.
Summary: One star, not two, because I always deduct one star for no alcohol and no excuse, after five years, for not having a liquor license, at least for wine and beer.

This place is inviting and comfortable. The customer service surpasses most other restaurants I have been to in the area. It draws an eclectic patronage and everyone has smiles and was happy to be there.
The Thai iced tea has free refills and they were bringing out little complementary appetizer plates to the tables. You also get complementary mango sticky rice with your check too.
The food was just ok. The vegetables were all cooked perfectly, and the rice was plentiful. The sauces were lacking though. They either had a slightly watered down taste, were overly salted, or had a random aftertaste.
Overall we voted that we would be drawn to come back for the pleasant vibe, tea, and dessert. However if we were in serious eating mood we would find our Thai food elsewhere.

It feels like I’m eating at a friend’s house and hanging out in their dining room before their very hospitable parents serve us everything we wanted and then some. The food is delicious and the staff is fantastic. They constantly refilled drinks, and gave us a few samples (fresh salad rolls, sticky rice with mango) ON THE HOUSE (without even asking)! We’re definitely coming back.

I wish I lived closer or I would be a regular customer. My friends have been talking about this restaurant constantly so we stopped by when we went on an Oregon trip.
Pricing, service, food quality is outstanding. Most of the dishes here are only $ 7 the noodle dishes, rice, soups, curries, while in Seattle it’s usually $ 12. The Thai tea was only $ 1 and refillable. I was mind blown. Tom yum seafood soup is the best! It was filled with many different seafoods and they didn’t skimp on portions. Tofu pad Thai was decent. Huge portion but too saucy for me.
On top of that, the owner gave us complimentary potstickers and mango sticky rice. I never been to a restaurant that gave free anything.
The owner truly cares about his business and I can’t wait to come back for cheap Thai food.

My friend recommended this place to us. Its like a gem that most people might not notice. The restaurant is located in a residential area. Yes if you are not specifically looking for it you might not even notice it. The restaurant looks small or not a lot of table. But the place is busy. the traffic keeps coming in at a very steady speed. So you won’t end up waiting long for a table.
The owner and the staff are super friendly. the Owner knows how to tell joke. He is a very cool guy. We told him that we are from Vancouver BC. He later gave us free appies and said this is for you guys since you guys come so far. But then he said its actually everyone gets it. LOL.
The food is decent size. The food is very good. We ordered crying tiger (luckily we get to choose the level of spiciness). I got the mus a mun which is always my favorite dish of food. The mus a mun with chicken was delicious. Pad Thai is definitely different than what I am used to in Canada. and We also ordered beef broccoli and that was good as well. Not special but good.
I got the thai ice tea and was surprised that you can get a drink for $ 1. The ice tea is highly recommended. Its like a milk tea that is very smooth.
At the end we got complimentary desert. condense milk with sticky rice and mango. That was a good finish touch to the meal.
Definitely coming back

One of my favorite Thai places in Portland! They have this amazing Chicken/​Shrimp Basil dish. It’s a must have in my opinion! They quick fry the basil leaves to give a little crunch, it’s perfect! The sauce they use is tasty and not too salty. It’s served over rice, I usually ask for extra rice because the sauce they use is so tasty that you’ll want more rice to pour over and enjoy as left overs. I live in SW Portland so not super convenient location for me, but whenever I’m in SE I’ll usually stop in and pick up an order to go. The service is awesome too, they’re so friendly and they offer me tea while I wait for my to go order. Give them a chance, you won’t regret it!

After flying all day, we were looking for a Thai place open after 9pm on our way home from the airport. We called in the order to go and it was ready by the time we got there, so props for being open late on a cold Monday night.
The drunken noodles were great. We ordered them with extra veggies, which was very worth it.
The Tiger Cry salad was also quite delicious, but not super salad-​like: it was warm and came with rice, so it felt more like a stir fry. But a delicious stir fry that made me forget I wanted a salad.
The fresh rolls were only okay, not enough herbs or flavor, not very fat. I ate them and all (because peanut sauce) but I’d skip them next time.
And how can you not like a complimentary container of mango sticky rice?

Walking out all I could think was, Gawd I hope that doesn’t make me sick.
Anything fried was fried to death. All chicken dishes were overcooked — the satay was inedible. The papaya salad was horrible, overdressed, wilty, bland. The coconut soup was ¾ onion.
And I knew it was going to be like that the minute I walked in the door and saw how run down the whole place is. Huge water spots on the ceiling and walls, a menu that is so worn out I could swear it’s been in use since the year I was born. Even the fish in the tank looked desperate to be anywhere else. Sorry, fishy bros. You’re gonna have to save yourself.
No amount of chipper service is going to make up for the next 12 hours I’m going to spend close to the bathroom. I just don’t get the good reviews. Were we at the same place?
Were we?

Meh, not that impressed. The positives — friendly attentive service & free mangos and sticky rice.
The negatives — just meh– I wasn’t impressed. I’ve got high standards for Thai food and this place didn’t do it for me. My pineapple fried rice hardly had any veggies in it, not many pineapples and it tasted bland. The hot tea had zero flavor. The portions are really small. Nothing seemed super fresh.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about living in Portland, Portlander’s seem to like to give high ratings to Asian fare places that really just aren’t all that. I keep running into it. Argh!

3.5 stars
The food here is pretty standard average Thai food, but I will rave about the service. It is great. The hostess seated us pretty quickly for lunch when we got there. They also brought out spring rolls soon after. The waiter was so wonderful — super gracious and welcoming. I don’t even remember the food that much, but I do remember that the waiter was so kind and happy. He checked up on our table throughout the meal, and kept bringing out Thai tea for everyone. We even got mango sticky rice at the end of the meal. What great service!

I happened to stumble upon this place as I was out for a walk. Even when I ordered my food to-​go, the owner gave me a complimentary salad roll or soup as I waited for my food (Score!) Also, don’t forget to specify how spicy you want your food.
On my first visit, I ordered their papaya salad which really hit the spot on a warm day. The dressing was perfectly seasoned and spiced. The papaya and veggies were crisp and fresh.
Their curries were also very tasty. My favorite was their yellow curry with potatoes, bamboo, and meat of your choice. Perfectly spiced and creamy which paired nicely with the steamed white rice it came with.
If you like desserts, their mango with sticky rice was awesome (and complimentary with my meal, another Score!). I liked that it was not too sweet but it had a lot of creaminess and richness from the coconut milk. The mangoes added a nice touch of acidity to balance out the dessert. A perfect way to end a meal.
The staff is very friendly, especially the owner of the establishment. No parking lot but plenty of street parking. This place is not only convenient for whenever I am craving Thai food, it is very affordable.

AMBIANCE
What a great place to have a meal! From the outside it looks like a highway stop, but don’t be fooled. Inside it’s friendly and has a very nice vibe. It’s quiet enough for quality conversation. The décor is calming. The servers and cashier are incredibly gracious. They are so very nice, so innately happy. This is why I’m giving it so many stars. The people draw you in, and draw you back.
FOOD
Whether you’re craving noodles or curry or hot thai soup, you’ll be satisfied here.
This is a cheap thai restaurant. You’re not going to get crazy flavor combinations or unique notes in the dishes. And yes, the chicken tastes like it was cooked from frozen rather than fresh. And maybe there’s just *a little something* missing from every dish. But you’re getting the thai dishes you expect to get, the thai dishes you crave, and they’ll leave you feeling good. They’re not greasy or unbalanced, they’re just straight up what you’re looking for.
Plus, they start you off with complimentary fresh veggie rice wraps with peanut sauce, and leave you with sweet glutinous coconut sticky rice with mango. These two things are just another reason why they are so nice here, and why you will leave happy.
*SPICE NOTE: It’s not too wild here. They have mild, medium, and spicy. If you have a spicy tooth, don’t hesitate to order the hottest level and you’ll probably be left a little wanting.
This is my new go-​to thai spot. I’d go back with a friend, on a date, with family, or even alone. The service and ambiance and consistency keeps me going back.

So the service is great. I think thats what keeps me coming back. They are SO nice and friendly, everyone has a smile on their face and they make you feel so welcomed here. The prices are also a plus, very affordable dishes for the size.
The food is good, not great.
I’ve had the Jungle curry which is my favorite. They do warn you before you order that it isn’t like traditional curries, theres no coconut milk in it, but its really delicious.
I don’t recommend the Duck Curry, the flavors were ok but all the pieces of duck skin in the dish was a bit much for me.
The Pad Thai is good, but nothing special.
Come for the service, you’re guaranteed to leave with a smile!

The first word that comes to mind as I was sitting and waiting for my to go order was hospitality. I have seen great service at many places in Portland, but sometimes it’s the little things that make a restaurant great. It might not always be the food either. The food here at Sivalai was pretty good.
Allergy season has struck me with a vengeance and I have the sore throat and hoarse voice to prove it. I was heading home from Walgreens and some Tom Kha would help make me feel a bit better. I’ve been living in the North Tabor neighborhood for a few months now and down Stark in I’m guessing Sunnyside is Sivalai Thai. Not exactly the best location, but according to what I’ve seen, they have been around since 2000 and I see people in there frequently as I pass by.
They make you feel welcome here. I said it’s the little things. I ordered chicken Tom Kha and fried wontons to go and took a seat. I was given some hot tea while I waited. Not unusual for an Asian restaurant but nonetheless greatful for my scratchy throat. I was also given a vegetable roll and peanut sauce. Not very typical, but really good. I appreciated that very much.
I got my food, the gentleman running the front thanked me and told me to feel better. He had his regulars to take care of, which there were a couple. I got home and found my last little surprise in with my food. Mangoes over coconut rice for dessert. Totally unexpected. I hadn’t read other reviews to this point so I didn’t know about that.
The only minor flaw was a packaging one. My Tom Kha was in a flimsy plastic container and it spilled some broth on the was home, thankfully it was double wrapped and it didn’t effect anything else. Little things.
As I said, the food was good, but in this case it was more about the hospitality and the experience I had there. Go enjoy Sivalai Thai.