A review of Meun Fan Thai Cafe at Santa Barbara.com

Meun Fan Thai Cafe
1819 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 882-9244

Category: Thai
Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 4pm-9:30pm
Price: < $10
Serving: Lunch, & Dinner
Map
Menu
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Reviews by the General Public

Impressed, 11/4/2009
Reviewer: Aaron from Santa Barbara, CA
I was sad to see Mesa Thai go, but happy to find out Meun Fan Thai is a acceptable replacement. I had the panang curry, and the drunken noodle, both were fresh and full of flavor. I phoned in a pickup order, so I can't comment on the service, but everyone I spoke with was nice, and my food was hot and ready right when they said it would be. If I had to complain about something, I ordered both dishes "very spicy" but they were a bit on the mild side for me.

Who cares about the service?, 6/9/2009
Reviewer: Lily from Santa Barbara, CA
True, the service can sometimes be a little slow, but everyone is very nice. And although service is one area that could use slight improvement, the wonderful food more than makes up for it. Isn't the reason we eat out to enjoy delicious food? This is by far the best Thai place in town, and I've tried them all. Try the Shrimp Rolls or Chicken Satay as an appetizer, and for dinner get Spicy Eggplant w/tofu and brown rice and Drunken Noodles with shrimp. Don't forget Mango Sticky Rice for dessert. It's sublime! Definitely go with a group so you can share a bunch of dishes.

Just ok, 4/27/2009
Reviewer: Nicole from Santa Barbara, CA
I love Thai food and fortunately there are several options in SB. This place was simply ok. It's probably just in the middle of the pack. The best is Galanga Thai!

Great Food! Poor Service, 4/20/2009
Reviewer: Dan from Santa Barbara, CA
We have been here several times, and it is a bit of a puzzle. The food is first rate, the premises are kept very clean, and the staff is very pleasant. What they are missing is the basics of what constitutes good service. Order everything you need up front, because the chances are good you will never see anyone again. It seems like a restauranteur would sieze every opportunity to sell as much wine and beer as they could,these people haven't a clue. I really dont think I will bother to eat here again.

You Owe It to Yourself to Try Meun Fan, 4/19/2009
Reviewer: Jim from Santa Barbara, CA
I ate there with my partner and a friend tonight. I wouldn't describe any of us as easy to please. We had two starters. The Fresh Rolls were like little salads wrapped in rice sheets with a delicious peanut sauce. The Dumplings were delightfully tender. We had two entrees. The Spicy Chicken Sweet Basil was tasty, but the Masman Curry was fantastic. I think it was spicier than "medium," which we'd asked for, but I'm not going to complain. We had two desserts. The Sticky Rice with mango was divine. The mango was PERFECT, and the sticky rice had just the right texture. But the Fried Banana was worth coming to Santa Barbara Restaurant Guide and writing this review for. Imagine light mini egg rolls filled with banana and drizzled with maple syrup. Yum! The service was very friendly and helpful, even guiding us away from a dish that wasn't ideal this time of year. The decor is tasteful and my friend pointed out that the music is culturally appropriate. We will definitely return.

Terrible, 4/7/2009
Reviewer: Nikolai Lambert from Santa Barbara, CA
I went there for lunch yesterday and the food was not good at all. I had mixed veggies and I added shrimp to it. The veggies were over cooked, The Garlic sauce tasted like burnt Garlic. The shrimp had a fishy taste to it. And to top it off when my food arrived I had no silverware on my table and had to wait 3 minutes to flag down a waitress and get my silverware before I could begin eating. Never going back.

Great for Take-out Thai, 4/6/2009
Reviewer: Joe from Santa Barbara, CA
Since it is relatively close to my house, I make Meun Fan a pretty regular stop on my dining circuit. I usually eat alone for dinner, so calling in and picking up the food is the best. The ladies are always so nice and accommodating. Food is awesome, even though I never try anything new. One time, however, the Panang Curry was not sealed well and spilled all over the front seat of my car. Bad news: my car smells like Panang Curry. Good news: my car smells like Panang Curry!

Great food, terrible service, 4/5/2009
Reviewer: David from Santa Barbara, CA
When Mesa Thai went away, I was sad but my frown turned upside down when Meun Fan came in. The food is very tasty, albeit a bit on the sweet side (every dish seems to have sugar added). The real problem with this place is the service. It's horrendous. They have one or two servers for a full house. 20 minutes to take your drink order, 20 minutes to get your drinks, 20 minutes to take your food order, 30 mins to take your food. The worst is when you finished eating for half an hour and they refuse to take give you your check, then refuse to take it. I am not sure what their problem is. Go here for excellent food and when you have 2+ hours to kill.

Must Say this is the Best Thai Food
Reviewer: Sally from Santa Barbara, CA
Had lunch here with my friend. I would have to admit, they have the best Pad Thai. Thai tea was really good. Service was Good. We will be back again!

Really good
Reviewer: John from Santa Barbara, CA
I'd say a very close 2nd place to Zen yai...it's very good. the eggplant special is really good. their Sizzling Platter is great and the Drunkin Noodles are great... The place was just remodeled and they did a really nice job. The food and ingredients are very fresh.

Tasty food on the Mesa...
Reviewer: Alex from Santa Barbara, CA
I am very pleased to have a good Thai food place on the Mesa. The food is great and I recommend the Drunken Noodle or the Panang. Enjoy and support local businesses.

Fantastic!
Reviewer: RC from Santa Barbara, CA
Fantastic! We’ve eaten here several times now and the food has always been great. We really enjoy the spring roll appetizers, the curry noodles, and the sizzling platter. Plus, for those who like their food really spicy they have a chili tray so you can add what you want.

Great dinner experience
Reviewer: patrick from Santa Barbara, CA
My wife and I (finally) ate here the other night. The restaurant looked very nice and inviting, quite a change from the previous donut shop turned restaurant. The staff was very nice and attentive. The food was very clean and healthy tasting, not the usual over-cooked, over-done Thai food. It was nice to feel good after eating out, rather than feeling guilty. The only negative comment we'd have is the lack of vegetarian options -- it would be nice to have more of a selection. We'll be back!

3 Lunches and a Dinner - All Terrific
Reviewer: Solla Sollew from Santa Barbara, CA
Gracious staff, delicious curries and calm, pleasing atmosphere. I've enjoyed both green and red curries - fair to say I'm addicted. (Not as wild about the Pad Thai.)

Great food a little slow service
Reviewer: Glenn from Buellton
Pad Thai was really good along with the Thai Iced Tea. Chicken Satay was coated with sauce, unsure if its supposed to be that way or not, probably the marinade? They did have peanut sauce of course to dip into. Service was slow, nice waitress though just hard to hear her and english not so great, she was very nice though. I had to kill a fly on the window that was "bugging" me. Nice ambiance/music/decor though beside that. I have not tried Your Place to compare but it is the best Thai in SB area I have had.

People Just dont get it! PLEASE the big picture folks
Reviewer: J F from Santa Barbara, CA
This Has to be one of the cleanest, most organized, and best restaurant in Santa Barbra. This restaurant is only 4 months old, people don't have patience. The owner is working very hard to make the best place for the locals and for reasonable prices. Who wants to see another good restaurant fail because the check was not brought fast enough, get a life people. This is someone's livelihood. Good things take time to improve on. I would rather have authentic Thai people and Thai cuisine than your typical MacDonald personal. People of S.B. DEAL WITH IT! The food is the best! People aren't perfect. The service WILL improve. But I forgot that the people of SB are perfect!.......

Authentic Thai Food - Great Family Style Service
Reviewer: RS from Santa Barbara, CA
Finally a Thai place in town that actually makes authentic Thai food - we know b/c we've been to Thailand! In the last 3 months we have been there at least 8 times for dinner! We love the Spring Rolls and edamame for apps., and the green curry with potatoes and tofu and the sizzling platter for dinner. We have not tired any noodle or rice dishes. They will also bring you Thai chilis on the side if requested - you must like really spicey food!! The prices are very reasonable too - all the above plus a couple Singha's and the bill is only around $60. The owner/wife is Thai and is the cook, her daughter helps serve, and the american owner/husband helps all around - it is a great family Thai restaurant and they are good about engaging with thier customers so be patient, relax, and have a good time.

Good food, poor service
Reviewer: David from Goleta, CA
I am glad Mesa Thai came back. Or did they? I don't know. New decor, same location, new owners? Anyway, I went here for lunch the other day with a co-worker. The food was good and the cook's style is slightly different than most other thai restaurants. For example, the chicken satay was not completely dry (like you'd expect something that was grilled to be). Instead, it tasted like it was basted with a coconut + curry sauce too many times. The thai iced tea had too much of the wood-y flavor but was still good. I had one of the noodle dishes and it was new to me but still good. The thing that irked me was the slow service. It took forever for them to bring us the check and refill water. I'll be back but only if I am not in a hurry.

Really Bad service
Reviewer: Amanda Hu from Santa Barbara, CA
Today, I'm craving that I wanna eat thai food and search google all thai food restaurants in Santa Barbara. Then, I chose Menu Fan Thai Cafe on Cliff dr. because this is the nearest one from me. Oct 22 2008, at 11:30 am, Wedensday,the waitress lady, doesn't seem to like that I ask questions about what kind of noodles. She made a face and said "I know what you want" and grab the menu. I'm like " What the ....! " It's for sure, I"ll never going back there again no matter how craving I am for thai food. I rather go to other places which at least answer the customer's questions nicely. By the way, food is delicious.

Much Better then the "Yours"
Reviewer: Bruce from Santa Barbara, CA
The seafood was fresher and the food tasted better than the Thai restaurants Your Place and Your Choice. We shared the Dumplings appetizer and each had the Seafood Platter (stir-fried with chile paste). The spiciness was right on the mark (medium for me and hot for my wife).

Very good experience
Reviewer: Vic Smith from Marina del Rey, CA
Even though I know the owner I arrived unannounced to find the owner out on an errand. The waiter didn't know me from Adam. I ordered Wanton soup with shrimp and Stirfry scallops and shrimp in garlic. The food was absoutaly wonderfull. The service was very good. Do yourself a large favor and try this reasturant. I live in Marina del Rey so I can't get there very often. I envy those of you that live closer.

Great dining experience
Reviewer: Lisa R. from Santa Barbara, CA
Love the new Thai food on the Mesa. Big improvement over the old place. The food was terrific as was the waitstaff. They anticipated our every need

Very yummy Thai and highly recommended
Reviewer: Mollie from Santa Barbara
Today, our office group enjoyed lunch here and we all thought the food was very yummy! Initially, we noticed the change in atmosphere, now, fresh and nice. We loved the dressing(s) on the salad and the fresh spinach soup was wonderful. Our lunch entree shortly followed and was served hot, generously portioned and very flavorful. Because the service was very good and the food was super yummy, we will return for more of Meun Fan's well prepared Thai food.

Great Thai food - Maybe the best in Santa Barbara
Reviewer: Joe from Santa Barbara, CA
Great new restaurant. The Panang Curry was very tasty and the Pad Thai was delicately prepared and seasoned. Not at all "gummy" as some Pad Thais are. This is absolutely worth a try if you love Thai food and are looking for a new place in town.

Great food!
Reviewer: Shilpa from Santa Barbara, CA
This was our first time to Meun Fan, based on reviews from this website. Great ambiance, and delicious food!The only reason we gave it 4.5 stars is because we thought the white rice that accompanied the curry dish was on the smaller side. Otherwise, the food and service was outstanding! I recommend the coconut ice-cream for dessert..Yummy!

Yummy!
Reviewer: Susan from Santa Barbara
We had a great lunch here today. We loved the new decour and the food was REALLY good! Great spices and flavor. The new owners seem to know what they are doing! I'd highly recommend it.

Clean, professional and delicious.
Reviewer: Dion P from Santa Barbara, CA
Just visited this new Mesa Thai restaurant to give it a try. I went in not knowing what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere was very comfortable, everything was clean and professional. The menus where nice, the tables clean and the chairs comfy. The food came out in good time, and I was pleasantly surprised with both the quality and the seasonings. I would recommend to anyone, both the Thai food aficionado and the Thai food newcomer.

Great Addition to the Mesa!
Reviewer: Jamie from Santa Barbara, CA
My boyfriend and I had found out about this place when they were still remodeling. We were looking forward to it's opening and weren't disappointed. The decor was very sleek and presentable, and the food was great enough to match. We ordered the dumplings appetizer, the chicken pad thai, and the garlic pepper beef. The dumplings were nice and light and didn't weight us down before the meal. The pad thai was made to our specifications and they were very generous with their substitution options. The garlic pepper beef was just amazing. Also they have really good salad dressing! The server was very attentive and the owner really seemed interested in our satisfaction. We will be back.

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