Ruen Pair

It's been 17 years since my last review. Is that right? Wow. I still love this place. I live in Irvine and had to get a babysitter to enjoy a meal here with the hubbie but it was so worth it.The last couple of times my extra spicy request didn't get honored so I emphasized the EXTRA SPICY this time. And boy did they bring the heat.Endorphins were kicking after a couple bites.Service was great, didn't have to wait for a table on a Saturday afternoon. Ordered right away I had been eyeing the menu since we had decided to eat there. I knew exactly what I wanted. The food came out super quick and piping hot.I did have to request a larger table since the table for 2 was not going to hold all the food we ordered. They accommodated us right away. My go to order is pad prik king and let me tell you why it's so much better here than anywhere else. The green beans are fresh and stir fried to a crisp, the pork is not BBQ pork or rubbery, it's not over powered with fish sauce, the red curry is flavorful and the spicy does not take away from the flavor and the dish has the lime leaves that add that little bit of extra flavor too. It's my favorite Thai dish and they do it perfectly. I wish they had a second Thai town in OC so we don't have to make the drive but I thank Ruen Pair for being so consistent all these years. I'll keep going back.

Def think this place is overhyped.. Always a long wait outside at night. Service can be pushy. Pricier than other restaurants in the plaza. Walked around during the 30-40min wait around 8pmish on a Monday in 12/2024 and happened to miss our name being called - when letting the hostess know, she insisted that we lost our spot and had to wait again LOL somehow my party convinced her fortunately.. Ordered: - Seafood Soup $19.95: salty, minimal seafood for the price. def would not get again- Pad Thai $14.95 + $3 Shrimp: not very memorable, but couldn't go wrong- Fried egg and salty turnip $13.95: first time trying this/seeing it! Reminds me of vietnamese bột chiên as the egg and turnips are ingredients typically included, but this dish was simpler. Interesting to try, but wouldn't get again. - Morning glory $14.95: kinda salty which was disappointing but must have greensss- Papaya Salad $14.95: I liked this - spicy! - Small Steamed Rice $3- Thai Iced Tea $4.75 - nothing memorable, more pricey than others in the plazaFree street parking at this time. This was christmas time so there were christmas carolers that came by and it was cute to see all the employees wear christmas headbands. Prob won't come back tho );

Busy but fast! We waited max 15 min for walk in which is amazing! Service is fast Food is incredible - green curry was good, the papaya salad was very good

Delicious food in a paired down space with good service. Morning glory was my favorite. The pull pork like dish was very comforting. The sausage I. The salad delicious.

Famous Thai restaurant that has an extensive menu. We opted to try some new dishes that were less seen at other LA Thai places. They were delicious and portion was generous.

Was looking to find some new Thai food, and stumbled upon this restaurant. We went on like a Tuesday night around like 8-9pm? And the place was absolutely packed, so it must mean that the food is amazing. This is a small restaurant that can accommodate a good amount of people and can accommodate large parties. The service was very quick and efficient. I ordered the pad see ew chicken, and then my friend ordered the ground beef basil leaf and my other friend got a combo which I forgot the name for it. But overall, the food was absolutely fantastic and it was a large portion of food. The great thing also, the food was not too expensive. We will definitely be coming back to this restaurant and highly recommend it

We were craving thai so we ducked into Ruen Pair which is located in a plaza of restaurants. Though it was 4 pm on a Saturday, the restaurant was busy and soon became packed. I had the Pad Thai (which I never get it because it's basic). I liked the green onion roots that were just kissed by the heat and fire. The roasted, crushed peanuts were so good. Next time will do family style and try a bunch of items.

Green curry was our favorite dish of the night followed by the pad thai. Was seated pretty quickly on a Friday night. Parking is difficult though. Mostly valet

Worth the wait! We got so many dishes such as the papaya salad, fried tofu, and beef jerky. Everything was so delicious. I thought the beef jerky was too hard to chew but the sauce made up for it. I love a good basic appetizer so the fried tofu was my favorite. We also got a thai tea as well for drinks and it was amazing! This place is a very casual dine in although the plaza only has valet (pretty cheap though). Definitely will be coming back!

Whenever I'm craving Thai food, Ruen Pair is my new go-to spot. I was lucky enough to try the Papaya Salad with crab and the Spicy Beef Salad--and let me tell you, they're not kidding about the spice. My nose was running, and my stomach wasn't too happy the next morning, but I have zero regrets. The flavors were fresh, bold, and incredibly satisfying. The crispy lettuce soaking up the juices had me craving more with every bite.I paired both dishes with sticky rice, which I ate with my hands--a simple yet satisfying experience. Typically, I stick to familiar dishes like Tom Yum soup or Pad Thai/Pad See Ew when eating Thai food. However, I was fortunate to dine with my Thai roommate, who encouraged me to explore beyond my comfort zone. It was one of the best dining experiences I've had, and it made me wonder why I haven't tried more Thai food before.For those seeking authenticity, my Thai roommate gave Ruen Pair his seal of approval. This spot has become one of my two favorite Thai restaurants in LA--the other being Lum-Ka-Naad in Northridge.Overall, it's a lively and authentic Thai experience that's well worth the 30-minute wait (and that's a short wait here).