Aiyara Thai Café

The past few times we've been to Aiyara (we usually get takeout) have been just OK. We always order the same dishes: pad thai, green curry and #22, the veggie stir fry with chicken. The sauce on #22 is always yummy, but for a veggie dish, it has been sorely lacking. Last night's version was mostly onions, celery and carrots -- not the colorful and fresh combo I recall -- and they've been stingy with the pineapple that always took this dish to the next level for me.

The pad thai last night was just weird. It's never my favorite (my son always orders it). It's kind of tomatoey or something. Last night he complained that it had way too much egg, plus the chicken was scarce and mushy and I swear there was tofu on there too -- but honestly, we couldn't tell if it was really tofu, crispy/oily egg or mushy chicken.

We much prefer Noodle n Thai these days but Aiyara is closer and open later, so we won't give up on it yet. I just wish they'd raise the bar back to where it used to be.

Strip mall Thai restaurant without the nice decor - food wasn't quite like any I'd had in bigger cities - flavors were a little - off.  Too much fish sauce in the Phad See Yu - my son who normally loves the stuff wouldn't take more than a bite.  Also had either the ginger chicken or the cashew chicken - can't remember because it wasn't memorable.  Won't be going again...

Went here on the way from Medford to Portland. Saw 4 stars on yelp and thought it would be a great place for dinner. We got there just before 5:00 knowing they were not open for dinner yet. It looked promising because there were a decent number of people parked and waiting for them to open. Service was quick and our waitress was polite. However, this was the most disappointing Thai food I have ever had. I was not expecting it to be up to par with San Francisco or Portland restaurants but my pad see ew with beef (for $9.95) was the smallest portion I've ever seen at a Thai place and just did not taste good. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing because my husband liked his peanut sauce curry. Maybe the reviews are so high because this is the only Thai place nearby, but I felt like I paid way too much money for not that good of food. Won't be stopping here again.