The Similans- Fine Thai cuisine

Oh, The Similans! This tasty Thai place is a welcome addition to the restaurants of East Cambridge (which seem to be made up of sub shops, pizza joints and the Galleria Food Court). When I get the ultra rare opportunity to unchain myself from my desk at lunch, I'd rather not gobble fast food....but lunch time is limited. Sigh. Fortunately, The Similans can serve up Pad Thai I dream about in around 10 minutes or less. The lunch portions are smaller and less expensive than the dinner portions, but offer plenty of deliciousness to get your tummy full and ready to finish up the day. Though service is fast, efficient & friendly, lunchtime does seem to be busier than dinner; I'd recommend taking that into consideration so you don't exceed your allotted 60 minute lunch :-) Pros: very quick service, reasonable prices Cons: $11 martini is as much as a pad thai dinner. Ouch-a! more

After growing up on the excellent Thai cuisine in Seattle, I was sorely disappointed by Cambridge Thai food . . . until I found The Similans. I'd tried all the usually Thai spots around Harvard Square - 9 Tastes, Spice, Smile Thai, etc. - and never found anything that was better than mediocre, so I decided to head further afield and check-out The Similans because it's part of the Brown Sugar group of restaurants that won for best Thai in Boston. I was not disappointed. Conveniently located a couple blocks from the Cambridgeside Galleria, The Similans' exotic fish tank and elaborate Thai artwork make for a great ambiance. And, of course, the food was excellent! Not only did the restaurant have the usual East Coast-style pad thai (white noodles and slightly sweet), but it also carried what I'd been craving for months . . . authentic (spicy, saucy) pad thai! There was also a huge array of other tantalizing dishes, and I would highly recommend the ice cream with sticky rice for dessert. Pros: fantastic food, nice setting, timely service, reasonable prices more

The food was absolutely delicious and extremely fresh! This is the best thai food in Boston. The ambience is really soothing/peaceful. Too bad more people don't know about it. it was empty when we arrived. more