Laid-back Thai restaurant offering standard entrees, plus indoor booths & a garden patio.
After a few hours of kayaking in La Jolla, we were craving something hot and satisfying. We stumbled upon this charming spot with beautiful outdoor seating. We started with the Tom Yum soup, which was deliciously flavorful. For the main course, we ordered the pumpkin curry and green curry; both were distinctly tasty and well-prepared. Although there was a mix-up with our order, the staff handled it with professionalism, offering to exchange the dish and letting us keep the incorrect curry. Their courteous and accommodating service made a great impression. I highly recommend this place to anyone who loves Thai food.
I recently tried this Thai restaurant for the first time, located conveniently near La Jolla Shore Beach, just 10 minutes from La Jolla Shore. We ordered the yellow curry and Pad See Ew, both of which were delicious. The Tom Kha soup was full of flavor, though I found the spice level to be milder than expected. I ordered a level 6 out of 10 for spice, but it wasn't as hot as I anticipated, so if you're a fan of spicier food, consider ordering a higher level. What really stood out to me, however, was the exceptional service. The staff was incredibly kind, efficient, and attentive, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I’ll definitely return for the great food and top-notch service!
Came here with friends for a weekday lunch. It was pretty empty except for 2 other parties. We sat outside on the cute patio. That was where everyone was seated.
The interior rooms had furniture that looked dated. The outdoor patio has nice succulent planters around and lots of shade.
The service was great. The young man who was our waiter that day made sure we weren't going to feel forgotten. He checked on us often and always with a smile.
We all got the lunch special. I'm used to spicy Thai food and ordered a level 7 for my vegetarian drunken noodles. It wasn't spicy, but it was still good with lots of vegetables and tofu. The salad was ok and the vegetarian egg roll was plain.
Came here for a late lunch with three friends. Ordered pad see-ew with tofu, beef drunken noodles, calamari pad Thai, curry with beef, and basil eggplant to share (not pictured). My drunken noodles were top notch, although some morsels of beef were *very* tough. Our shared eggplant dish was great; nice texture and an amazing sauce to mix with a side of rice. As for the rest, a generally positive consensus—good flavors (but slightly muted), great portion sizes, and as authentic as it can get!
Loved the hospitality, the silverware, the seating (which is cushioned if dining outdoors), and the overall peaceful vibe. Even though the location is tucked away, come here if you want a leisurely luncheon! It may even be a nice date spot too. Just make sure to bring around $25 per person; our bill split perfectly somehow ($100.44).
It was a pleasant surprise to find a hidden restaurant. It has a nice and cozy outdoor dining area. Papaya salad and Tumeric Pineapple Fried Rice excellent. Spicy cod was ok, while the sauce was good but the cod's soft texture didn't seem to work together. Traditional Thai ice tea was good not overly sweet.
Such a lovely experience. The best Thai - fresh, flavorful, authentic. The servers are warm and generous. It’s my goto!
Best Thai meals and a great value too
I recently tried this Thai restaurant for the first time, located conveniently near La Jolla Shore Beach, just 10 minutes from La Jolla Shore. We ordered the yellow curry and Pad See Ew, both of which were delicious. The Tom Kha soup was full of flavor, though I found the spice level to be milder than expected. I ordered a level 6 out of 10 for spice, but it wasn't as hot as I anticipated, so if you're a fan of spicier food, consider ordering a higher level. What really stood out to me, however, was the exceptional service. The staff was incredibly kind, efficient, and attentive, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I’ll definitely return for the great food and top-notch service!
First time here. The location is a little unexpected, but that makes it that much more cool. It's like a hidden gem. I loved this place. The staff were attentive. The food was amazing! The atmosphere was great. Highly recommend! So, go and make your tastebuds to the happy dance.
Turmeric Thai Graden is a hidden gem in LaJolla. They offer delicious Thai food in a pleasant environment.
This is for sure a must try in San Diego if you're looking for Thai food.
My goto place for lunch
Amazing ambiance and food at this small but cozy Thai place. The surroundings are beautiful too.
We had lettuce wraps, Penang curry and Thai fried rice. The food was amazing and service was good too
Turmeric Thai Garden has good food and good service. The outdoor patio is nice and the location is unique. Its my go to Thai restaurant in the area. The Panang curry is excellent.
After a few hours of kayaking in La Jolla, we were craving something hot and satisfying. We stumbled upon this charming spot with beautiful outdoor seating. We started with the Tom Yum soup, which was deliciously flavorful. For the main course, we ordered the pumpkin curry and green curry; both were distinctly tasty and well-prepared. Although there was a mix-up with our order, the staff handled it with professionalism, offering to exchange the dish and letting us keep the incorrect curry. Their courteous and accommodating service made a great impression. I highly recommend this place to anyone who loves Thai food.
Atmosphere place
Nice little area. The outdoor seating was nice, but their a/c unit was fairly loud which took a bit out of the atmosphere. Service was good but the food itself was rather disappointing. The drunken noodles themselves lacked the depth and rich flavor that I find in some of my more favorite locations. Overall, I think I’d probably pass on returning.
You have to be in the know to find this neighborhood That Restaurant. Its near the top of Mt Soledad in La Jolla but worth the drive. This is our second time here and it is now our favorite Thai food restaurant! We had the "Sea Bass Lime Chili" which was not to spice but just the right flavors. This is my favorite dish so far. We also had and split the "Turmeric Pineapple Fried Rice" with pork. Both dishes are very tasty and filling. We sat outside in the garden area which is really quiet and has a great atmosphere. All in all a 5 Star experience!
Food and service was excellent. Will definitely come back.
Great ambiance. Food quality is amazing for the price compared to other Thai places.
Came here with friends for a weekday lunch. It was pretty empty except for 2 other parties. We sat outside on the cute patio. That was where everyone was seated.
The interior rooms had furniture that looked dated. The outdoor patio has nice succulent planters around and lots of shade.
The service was great. The young man who was our waiter that day made sure we weren't going to feel forgotten. He checked on us often and always with a smile.
We all got the lunch special. I'm used to spicy Thai food and ordered a level 7 for my vegetarian drunken noodles. It wasn't spicy, but it was still good with lots of vegetables and tofu. The salad was ok and the vegetarian egg roll was plain.
We loved our dinner. Especially the spicy basil chicken
Location is near a residential area. It's right before a big residential gate. At first, we thought we were at the wrong place. Little hidden gem. We sat outside & was warm that day, but the waitress was helpful with rearranging our seating for shade. Outside patio area was nicely decorated with lots of plants and a waterfall by the tree, very peaceful. Fresh spring rolls were ok but the Tom Kha soup was really good. Pineapple fried rice was really good. They do not serve beer for anyone looking for that. Forgot to take pictures of the food.
Cute little place, convenient spot, no alcohol fyi
I was there with my family of 5. The food was ok. A litlle salty..sour. i did not like that upon paying the attendant tipped herself about 20%. When i saw my bill to decide how much i should tip she had already tipped herself. Even if it was company policy it feels abusive. Over all I dont think i would return.
Lettuce wraps, Drunken noodles, and pineapple chicken fried rice 👌🏼this place was like a hidden gem. We loved it and will definitely return.
This restaurant has a beautiful outdoor area. The inside, not so much. Be aware that much of their outdoor seating does not have back support. The food itself was good and was decently priced.
atmosphere was amazing, the food was delicious and fresh, and the staff was incredibly kind. will absolutely be back!
Super delicious shrimp pad thai!! We went back a second time while we were visiting! We'll definitely come back for more if we're in the area.
Place is absolutely amazing - best Tom Yum soup ever. 10/10!
A cozy place with great food and service. It is now our favorite Thai restaurant in San Diego
Came here for a late lunch with three friends. Ordered pad see-ew with tofu, beef drunken noodles, calamari pad Thai, curry with beef, and basil eggplant to share (not pictured). My drunken noodles were top notch, although some morsels of beef were *very* tough. Our shared eggplant dish was great; nice texture and an amazing sauce to mix with a side of rice. As for the rest, a generally positive consensus—good flavors (but slightly muted), great portion sizes, and as authentic as it can get!
Loved the hospitality, the silverware, the seating (which is cushioned if dining outdoors), and the overall peaceful vibe. Even though the location is tucked away, come here if you want a leisurely luncheon! It may even be a nice date spot too. Just make sure to bring around $25 per person; our bill split perfectly somehow ($100.44).
Excellent food quality, and chic little spot. Service was excellent and every item we ordered was excellent. Drunken noodles, curries, fried rice, also tomyum was soo good. Super authentic would recommend!
The service is extremely disappointing, despite the food being delectable. My partner and I came here for dinner last night and the girl who was our server never checked up on us, but tended to everyone else. We can’t help but to think it’s because we didn’t seem as “wealthy” as everyone in the restaurant. We tipped her 20% although she probably didn’t deserve it.
Muy rico
The waiter assured us that he understood gluten free and that all my daughter’s food would be made without wheat or soy sauce. Well 2 hours after dinner, she had been throwing up continuously. They are over confident in their understanding of gluten allergies- in a way that is dangerous.
Although the prices have increased recently due to inflation the customer service and flavors in the food never fail to exceed my expectations. The wide variety of foods means that you can always find what you are craving. Each dish is a bomb of flavor and the staff is extremely helpful.
Best Thai restaurant I’ve had in the area. Family owned and run. A must go!
Great Good. will definitely come back.
Good food and nice setting but service is very slow.
Atmosphere was great. Dishes were all very mid
Cozy restaurant with tasty Thai food
Got takeout all was very good and actually travelled well, first time - picked up and their little outdoor dining area is very cute will eat in next time
Received very weird energy from the employees. The guy that took my order seem to be down/ depressed and there’s wasn’t a smile around except my family and I. I thought gardens was supposed to bring one joy, peace and harmony.
Good thai food. Love the ambiance on the back patio. Bit pricey
Great portion sizes and awesome food
The best tai food at a great place.
Lunch special came with soup, salad and your choice of food.
Soup - 1☆. Not good at all.
Salad - 4☆
Pad see ew - 4☆
Service - 5☆
This place is a hidden gem, amazing food & appetizers! Cute outdoor seating and friendly/helpful staff
Amazing Thai restaurant! It was so delicious and flavorful.
This restaurant is super cute with amazing food!!! We loved their mussel appetizer and mango sticky rice:•)
Service was slow and entrees arrived and they weren't as hot as I'd expected. Fish entrees still had a few scales in the dish.
Ein unerwartet guter Ort um lecker Thai zu essen. Es hat etwas gedauert, aber das war es wert. Der kleine Garten lädt zum verweilen ein. Schade, dass die Klimaanlage für drinnen einfach zu laut ist, das dem Erlebnis eigentlich einen Stern Abzug bescheren müsste..aber auf jeden Fall empfehlenswert!!
This unpretentious establishment offers exceptional cuisine accompanied by friendly and accommodating staff. I chose to sit outdoors amidst the lush greenery, creating a delightful ambiance. The mussels I ordered were nothing short of phenomenal, surpassing my expectations. Additionally, I decided to try the Tom Yum soup with scallops, which presented a unique twist. Although I typically expect Tom Yum soup to contain more vegetables, my request to exclude cilantro resulted in a broth bursting with exquisite flavors, complemented by tender mushrooms and perfectly cooked halved scallops. Every dish was a delectable delight, showcasing the skill and mastery of the culinary team. If I find myself in this area again, I will undoubtedly return to this establishment without hesitation.
Good pad kee mao, great mango sticky rice
The most beautiful views ever seen.... service was terrible, but the food was good ...Better than Food, the top view of SEA and SAN was amazing...
Went in for lunch with a friend and we got Thai fried rice and pad Thai both with chicken. The food was very pleasant and spiced just right. Service was good and the waiter was attentive to our table. The place was nice and the outdoor patio was relaxing and my only suggestion is to add music as I could definitely feel it was lacking and I think it would have improved the experience a lot.
I ate lunch at Turmeric Thai Kitchen and it was an overall really pleasant experience. I ordered the thai fried rice which came in a large portion and was spiced just right. The other dishes ordered were also very tasty according to the rest of my party. Prices were affordable and the service was great -- I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for Thai food.
One of the best thai food in town. Ideal for romantic date nights. A unique experience
Good tasty Thai food.
Amazing place. Delicious food and cozy ambiance.
the best Thai in La Jolla area. Authentic and friendly.
We have eaten here 3 times: in the summer, the seating atmosphere outside is really cool. Inside is a mess - stacks of boxes, spray cleaner, and linens all over.
Food was excellent the first 2 times we ate outside, but more recently the meat was tough, and the flavors were missing spark. Maybe the chef changed?
Servers continue to wear masks for some reason (???) and have little personality or charm. It could be a great spot again but needs some management.
It was a pleasant surprise to find a hidden restaurant. It has a nice and cozy outdoor dining area. Papaya salad and Tumeric Pineapple Fried Rice excellent. Spicy cod was ok, while the sauce was good but the cod's soft texture didn't seem to work together. Traditional Thai ice tea was good not overly sweet.
Best Thai in San Diego. BYOB. A+
Wonderful food and ambience.
Gluten free eater here- had the yellow curry and spring rolls & it was delicious. Fast & kind service!
Unpretentious place with excellent food. Staff is friendly and accommodating. I sat outside where there are a lot of plants. Had the mussels and they were phenomenal. Also had Tom yum soup with scallops. I'm used to Tom yum having more vegetables. Since I asked for no cilantro the soup was just the broth (VERY flavorful) with mushrooms and two halved scallops, but everything was delicious and not overcooked. If I come through this area again I would definitely come back!
Curry tastes like water. Drunken noodles were good.
We really like this place for the food (& price), but I can't give more than 3 stars as our take-out experience (online order) is always lacking something. Last night we were missing a side-order of steamed veggies (which I had specifically asked to be kept separate - as sometimes they add it directly to the main dish), but in this case they did neither. They tie up your order into a bag (with a knot) which is thoughtful, but makes it very hard to verify what is actually inside (they're popular so usually a line of people waiting) until you get home. The staff always seem rather rushed which I guess explains why they get things wrong - quite often it seems.
They made my pad Thai vegan per request- IT WAS DELICIOUS!
Great vegetarian options. I ordered the cashew nut w/ tofu dish 8/10 spice level. Large portion and super tasty. Very satisfied!
Service, price and environment is great. Food is not the best in town...
Came here to pickup an order and the guy hardly acknowledged me. Also noticed the service with other customers was very dry. I felt like i was in trouble when i asked about my order with the way the man responded. Also very long wait.
Everything (basil lime mussels, papaya salad, Tom Yum soup) tasted pretty good until this stale sea bass dish recommended by the waiter. It tasted like mud. Its texture was very tight. Doesn’t taste like sea bass I know. I drove all the way for its high ratings :(
Great location, outdoor seating, heaters available. All of us enjoyed the food here. I would easily recommend this place to anyone.
Hands down the best Thai place in San Diego, relatively cheap too
Soup is great. In the entrees, meat is really chewy and tasteless.
Turmeric Thai Garden is a cute, hidden gem in La Jolla. We thought we were lost when we're driving to the restaurant, but there's an unassuming small plaza within the residential area. It is mostly outdoors sitting and they have heaters all around. Cute and warming vibe. The service was quick and we got our food within a few mins of ordering. I ordered the beef pad see ew; it was tasty but a bit salty towards the end. They don't have big menu options but it was enough for this cute spot.
The Thai curry is the best part of their menu. It is authentic Thai cuisine with a lovely outdoor atmosphere. The best part is their staff and service! Absolutely friendly and polite without chatting much. We asked about other mango and sticky rice we had seen that was died and the water came out to show us what they did in Thailand and explain where their particular food came from. Great quaint date spot
Excellent! We ordered take out Pad See Ew and Drunken Noodles, along with Vegetable Pot Stickers. Everything was delicious and very fresh ingredients. The service was polite and prompt. Looking forward to eating here frequently!
Turmeric has free parking, nice outdoor seating and reasonable prices but
The quality of food has gone down, quantity is average, service is average as well. Perhaps inflation is the cause but I will not recommend this restaurant till it changes its practices.
Some of the best yellow curry I’ve ever had! Staff is so sweet. Great find!
The curries were flavorful, the veggies were fresh, and had a good grading of spice level (1-10), we could feel the difference between 7-8-9 levels. Good portion size, reasonably priced and overall a very good experience!
I was very pleased with the food here, their service, and the price was very reasonable. Highly recommend!!!
Rude. Took 10 minutes to offer water. Please Don’t sit customers if your not ready to serve them. Especially if they are regulars and try to support your business
Good food that is quick to the table. Great mussels
Wonderful place with a very responsive staff. Went here 5 nights in a row (not embellishing). Drunken noodles are fantastic!
Just wow! Such delicious food!! Everything we ordered was amazing! 100% recommend.
Everything was more than perfect! Excellent food. I highly recommend it.
Very good food
This location is a hidden gem. Tucked in the corner of a mini mall next to the Windermere homes, the entrance is open to the public - thankfully you don't have to go through Security to enter.
The food is excellent, healthy, and great value. The staff are as gracious and kind as you'd expect of Thai people. Conveniently too, the weekday lunch special is available from 11 AM to 2 PM. Sitting on their outdoor patio is delightful, with a fountain, surrounded by greenery, tables spaced apart.
Very delicious food and friendly staff. Definitely worth it to check out.
Nice hidden Thai eatery
Got this for lunch today with some coworkers from doordash & it was delicious. Super fresh! We got the pot stickers, pad see-ew, beef curry, yellow curry, lettuce wraps and pad Thai noodles. Everyone loved the food! Normally people have leftovers at my job but everyone finished the food lol.
I got the beef curry spice level 5 and it was flavorful!!! nice and spicy too. The beef was tender and the veggies were so good.
To feed 6 of us it was around $83 which is an amazing price. I'll definitely be ordering from here again soon!
Always Great!
The red curry could not be more delicious! Perfectly cooked, fresh and crisp vegetables. Realistic spice levels, and completely dialed-in texture. Warms the body and soul!
Little gem with lovely outdoor seating. Great Thai food. Spicy basil, curry and drunken noodles go-to dishes.
Great food!
Enjoyed Thai ice tea
My favorite spot for Thai and the service is always attentive and friendly!
Great food!!! Very nice staff, however please remodel the interior. The interior gives me all kinds of creepy/stinky vibes by the kitchen and bathroom. They're really missing an opportunity to take this place to a whole new level. 😕 My family was grossed out from the atmosphere, but I love the food. Lots of spider webs need to be removed outside.
the outdoor seating is so pretty!! my dog came along and they even gave her a water bowl :) wonderful service and food!!
Great location, reasonable prices and delicious food!
Love this place. 10/10
Great Tom Yum, Pad See-Ew and Mango Stickey Rice! Authentic!
Accessibility: read until the end of this paragraph as it is important especially for wheelchair users. There are a few disabled parking spots and flat ground from the parking lot onto the sidewalk where this place is. There are tons of short tables to sit at outside in their patio and moveable chairs perfect for wheelchair access. The only thing that is not accessible at all is the bathroom. Way too tiny of a bathroom; a wheelchair will not fit in here at all. There are heaters next to most of the tables outside and there are seats inside, but again, a single toilet and sink, tiny bathroom.
Experience: getting here was weird because the restaurant is surrounded by houses and is right in front of a gated neighborhood. I was so relieved to see this place not busy at all on a Friday night! I sat outside In their patio and it was super cute. There was no one sitting at any of the tables near me so it felt very COVID safe. The staff were all wearing masks and some even wearing gloves. The staff were all super friendly and the food was out of this world delicious! I was so surprised at how incredible everything tasted. I absolutely recommend this place, but sadly not for folks who need more room getting around in bathrooms.
Price: For three meals, one appetizer and one dessert the cost was around $75. With a tip it was $90-100. This fed 4 adults.
Our neighbors told us about this place after we'd shared about a trip to Thailand and our love for Thai food and culture. I'm so, so grateful they did as it is now our new favorite restaurant! We chose some options that we'd hoped our children ages 4 and 5 would enjoy and everything was a hit! We ordered the green curry with tofu, pad Thai with chicken, spring rolls, pot stickers, Tom Kha soup and mango sticky rice. Every single dish was so good, particularly the Tom Kha soup! 🤤 I love that you can choose the spiciness level from 1-10, giving us room to customize the heat for our variety of family members. Ever since our honeymoon to Thailand in 2014, we'd been searching for authentic flavors to satisfy our memories and this place knocked out of the park!
absolutely tasty
Great food!
All dishes that we ordered were awesome. Including the Thai tea. We will be back for sure whenever we are near La Jolla.
Best vegetarian Thai food I have eaten so far here in USA. I recently moved from NJ/ NYC area to South California and this is the best food I have had in San Diego so far :D Would recommend this place to anyone and everyone. The place is lit as well :)
Very interesting area. Food is pretty good but the design of the restaurant is not very consistent. (Might be a personal preference though)
This place is very rude! Discriminated against my gender identity! Told me to wait outside because of how I look when I was just picking up food! I will be filing a formal discrimination complaint against you! Nobody should ever have to be treated like that IN AMERICA 🇺🇸
It is truly a delight ! Our favorite place in all of San Diego to treat ourselves to an awesome lunch or dinner. Staff is so friendly and efficient. Our favorite person there is Lilly !
Ordered for delivery and was very specific with some details. They didn’t fulfill.
Most upsetting part is we had other closer locations to choose from but we chose this restaurant due to the Google ratings. What a disappointment.
Level 6 spice didn’t even come close to mild. Yellow curry was watery.
Overall, for the price we paid and lack of attention to detail, we will not return or recommend.👎🏽👎🏽
Best Thai food I've had in all of California. Great outdoor seating and it's cheap/reasonable too.
I thought this was going to be an expensive place, given the location and ambiance, but it was just good food, service, good environment, at reasonable prices.
Best Thai food I've ever tasted. I went for a lunch date with my wife and we both loved the food so much we ended up boxing a lot due to the sheer quantity we ordered. Best soup (both of the options), best appetizers, best main course and best desserts in Thai cuisine. Specifically we ordered Fish Cake and Fried Spring Rolls. For lunch my wife ordered the Drunken noodles (veg) and I ordered seafood version of the Pineapple fried rice. We both loved our food and were immediately craving for more of the same. The dessert was fried banana ice cream and it was so delicious it reminded us of home cooked version
The ambience was very nice as they had outdoor seating and we could sit without fearing the dreaded COVID. The hostess was very gracious and checked in occasionally to make sure we were fine. The food kept coming at the right times so that we never felt like we waited. Overall we loved it very much and will definitely be going back for more
Do give the restaurant a try as I'm sure you won't regret it.
Great place! The food is amazing!😊
Hidden gem! Went here while visiting my on laws on their referral and the food was great. Super low key easy parking and quite affordable. They don't have a liquor license but the waiter said you could BYOB.
- 12 photos
- 200 reviews
- 4.5 Health Rating
- Contact: +1 858-886-7985
- Website: https://www.turmericthai.com/
- Location: 6435 Caminito Blythefield suite g, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
- Map: 32.8323992, -117.24428959999999
- Thai restaurant
- Restaurant
- Monday: 11 AM–2 PM–4–9 PM
- Tuesday: 11 AM–2 PM–4–9 PM
- Wednesday: 11 AM–2 PM–4–9 PM
- Thursday: 11 AM–2 PM–4–9 PM
- Friday: 11 AM–2 PM–4–9 PM
- Saturday: 12–9 PM
- Sunday: 4–9 PM
- Outdoor seating: Available
- Delivery: Available
- Takeaway: Available
- Dine-in: Available
- Fast service: Available
- Great tea selection: Available
- Lunch: Available
- Dinner: Available
- Solo dining: Available
- Wheelchair-accessible car park: Available
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance: Available
- Wheelchair-accessible seating: Available
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet: Available
- Alcohol: Available
- Beer: Available
- Coffee: Available
- Comfort food: Available
- Healthy options: Available
- Quick bite: Available
- Small plates: Available
- Vegan options: Available
- Vegetarian options: Available
- Wine: Available
- Lunch: Available
- Dinner: Available
- Catering: Available
- Dessert: Available
- Seating: Available
- Toilet: Available
- Casual: Available
- Cosy: Available
- Trendy: Available
- Groups: Available
- Dinner reservations recommended: Available
- Accepts reservations: Available
- Credit cards: Available
- Debit cards: Available
- NFC mobile payments: Available
- Credit cards: Available
- Good for kids: Available
- High chairs: Available
- Free of charge street parking: Available
- Free parking lot: Available
- Parking: Available