MB
Must Be Thai
Authentic Thai Flavors with an American Twist
4.2
Restaurant
$$
Authentic Thai Flavors with an American Twist
Must Be Thai is a vibrant Thai restaurant located in San Jose, CA, renowned for its bold and flavorful dishes that cater to the American palate. With a cozy yet bustling ambiance, this dining establishment offers a variety of made-to-order dishes, including favorites like Pad See Ew, Tom Kha soup, and a delightful selection of curries. Guests can customize their spice levels, ensuring a unique culinary experience for everyone. While the food is praised for its quality and flavors, the dining environment can sometimes be a focus for improvement. Nonetheless, Must Be Thai is a great spot for those craving delicious Thai food in a friendly atmosphere.
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Enjoy made-to-order meals with adjustable spice levels and ingredient choices to suit your taste.
Savor classic dishes like Pad Thai, Green Curry, and Tom Kha soup, prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients.
Try popular starters such as Crispy Fried Calamari and papaya salad for a flavorful kick.
A welcoming atmosphere with options for all ages, including kid-friendly noodles and customizable plates.
Conveniently join a waitlist via our website and enjoy quick takeout service for busy days.
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Overall rating
Jude B
This place is one of my go-to Thai restaurants. The flavors lean a bit more American-style than super traditional Thai, but it’s honestly perfect for the American palate — bold, flavorful, and super satisfying. You can tell they use high-quality ingredients and the seasoning/spice is on point. My favorites are the Pat See Ew with beef, Tom Kha soup, and Pad Kra Pao — all packed with flavor. The papaya salad is fresh with a great kick, and the Pad Thai is amazing. Also they even have fresh coconut water. Everything I’ve tried here has been delicious — highly recommended!
Muthu Kumar
First time at Must Be Thai in San Jose and it was buzzing on New Year's lunch. Food's made-to-order with customizable spice levels and ingredients. We tried Pad Thai, Pad Ki Mao, and Green Curry - the eggplants in the curry were a unique touch. Green curry was a bit underwhelming though - missed bamboo shoots and Thai basil flavor. Limited portions, but worth a try. Avg experience, might revisit for the vibe and customization options.
Sylvia Lan
Must be Thai offers more of a street food style cuisine and food was decent. The Crispy Fried Calamari with cuttlefish was especially delicious: crispy, tender, full of flavor, and not oily. The Tom Yum soup was spicy and flavorful, though a bit light on ingredients. I also enjoyed the assorted meatball appetizer with sweet chili sauce, and the fried rice was well-seasoned, although the texture was mushy — possibly a one-off issue with the rice cooker that day. Unfortunately, the dining environment was a major letdown. There were flies everywhere — even inside my drinking cup — and the table was sticky. The utensils wasn’t clean either. While the food is good, the lack of cleanliness makes it hard to fully enjoy the experience. If that doesn’t bother you, the food is worth a try.
Samantha L
Been here couple times for weekend dinner. Usually packed so waiting can be long. You can get on the waiting list through the web ahead, but you only have like 5mins to be present after they let you know it’s your turn. Food is good; less salty than other thai places. Our fav are green curry, hang lei curry, tom yum fried rice, and pok pok thai (like it more than pok pok lao which is saltier). Our young kids like the noodles.
Johnny HSIEH
It wasn’t the best Thai food I’ve had, but it was delicious. I was expecting spice from all the dishes, but received little to no spiciness. The pork rice did not have enough garlic and basil. It just tasted like ground pork rice. The calamari was the best dish here, interesting shape, sufficient crunch, and tender.
