Extremely memorable decor and theme of the restaurant. The papaya salad was beautifully presented and tasted great. The tom yum soup was delightful and was a good dish to share. The beef curry was some of the best I've ever had before, a complex sauce and tender meat. The pad Thai looked and tasted delicious, very impressive presentation for a common noodle dish. The service was also excellent, they provided crayons and coloring sheets for our lively kids to keep them entertained. Would definitely go back again and sample more of the menu next time.
Dara is a good new casual Thai spot in the Gayborhood, serving more authentic Thai dishes than other restaurants in the area. The staff was very friendly, the interior was very cute, and the food was yummy! I’ll definitely be coming back. My only complaint is that all of the food came out very quickly, so it was difficult to pace.
I’m very picky about eating out, and this is by far one of the best Thai food places I have ever been to in the US. The food tastes just like in Thailand when I visited years ago. Staff is super friendly and down to earth, food is incredibly good, and the vibe is cool. If you’re ever craving good quality Thai food, then this is the place and will satisfy your cravings. I tried their green curry and the Tom Yum (which arrives in a cool-looking shareable pot) and both were superb and exactly what I craved.
The food here was so good and came out so quickly. Portion sizes are really generous and I believe it’s currently BYOB. Highly recommend the crab curry, khao soi, and green curry with duck.
Dara is a great new addition to the Philly food scene and as someone who has a lot of Thai food, I can confidently say it beats out many of the restaurants in the area with a similar price point.
One of the rare Thai restaurants in Philly that actually have creamy Tun Yum (instead of clear-broth) and Curry with the egg mixed in (the default is the shrimp, but you can request to sub with crab to make it Poo Pad Koong/Curry Crab). Appetizers and deserts are amazing. Price is higher than expected but the portions are huge.
I love the ambiance and decor! Tom yum soup is one of my favorite dish here! The broth is elevated and you can taste the hint of lemongrass which in enhances the flavor. Papaya salad is a bit on the sweeter side - not my favorite. Crispy Pork Ka Praow is very tender and delicious.
$16 lunch special is super filling, there was even enough for leftovers aka second meal the moment I got home because I couldn’t wait to eat it
I ordered this for take out and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. The portions are great and the pad Thai was full of flavor and not dry at all (which is a common flaw with pad Thai take out typically). The shrimp were perfectly cooked (I usually find them overcooked in take out spots and rubbery), the price was a little more then typical take out spots but I can now see why- the quality of food is great and well worth the price. I will definitely consider going here for dinner and will definitely be doing take out again.
The food was good. It’s bring your own bottle, they only serve juice and water. They close at 10:30 and they will let you make reservations at 9:30 just to be rushed out. Nice clean place but really small
Arguably the best Thai food we have had in many years! My wife and I shared a green papaya salad, red curry vegetable dish, and chefs special seafood with ramen. Beautiful presentation and great service! We will be back!
The food is average, but for this portion size, the price is high.
I was there with a friend on February 8th at 5 pm. The portions are small, although the waitress said that the portion is enough for 2 people, the service is intrusive, different waiters came to us every 2 minutes and asked if we wanted to order something else. They were clearly pressuring us to quickly pay the bill and leave, when we paid and continued talking with a friend, they said that the table was reserved and we needed to leave. I do not believe it, this is just a desire to earn as much money as possible. Disgusting attitude towards customers. By the way, the staff does not understand English well. Dear restaurant, I understand that you want to earn as much as possible, but I will not come to you anymore and will tell all my friends about your attitude towards customers.
One of the rare Thai restaurants in Philly that actually have creamy Tun Yum (instead of clear-broth) and Curry with the egg mixed in (the default is the shrimp, but you can request to sub with crab to make it Poo Pad Koong/Curry Crab). Appetizers and deserts are amazing. Price is higher than expected but the portions are huge.
casual spot with okay food. The chicken puffs were just okay, and the overall food presentation could use improvement. Unfortunately, the food ordered had a bitter taste, which was disappointing. Additionally, there weren’t enough vegetarian entrée or susbsituon options, so I wouldn’t recommend it for vegetarian eaters. The coconut dessert ice cream had a good flavor. It would be great to see substitution options and more versatile, creative dishes added to the menu.
The best Thai food I’ve had in Philly so far! Friendly service and a great lunch special—perfect for a quick, tasty business lunch.
The Pad See Ew was delicious.
We had the Hoy Jur, Somtum, and Duck Green Curry. The appetizer was really small for $12 and we would have expected it to have at least been friendly for the table to share given it is a Thai restaurant. The Somtom was pretty good although there was not much shrimp flavor and I thought it was missing fish sauce. The duck was cooked quite well, with a great texture, but the menu noted it was the spiciest thing on the menu and I am not exaggerating when I say this dish had zero kick to it (is this a menu mistake?). It was my birthday and I was really looking forward to this food. Overall service was a 5/5, but knowing what else is available in Philly I don't think we will be returning.
Great place to try especially if you love authentic Thai food
We decided to see if they had a table on a Saturday night and they were able to seat us right away. It’s a cute spot, not super big and they were busy. We really enjoyed all our food. My boyfriend had the Thai Iced Tea and he enjoyed it very much. The dishes all came with rice. We were at a two top table and the table can get crowded since they don’t really course your meal. You may want to pace your ordering to allow space.
We started with the spring rolls, they were crispy and hot and had a great flavor. Next we enjoyed the Kao Ka Praow, it was slightly spicy and came with a fried egg on the rice. It was delicious and full of flavor from the spices and basil. We also had the Crispy Pork Chinese Broccoli. It was great. The pork belly was cooked just right and there was a good amount of everything. It was served on top of lettuce as a garnish that seemed a strange presentation. Definitely recommend trying this place.
I love the ambiance and decor! Tom yum soup is one of my favorite dish here! The broth is elevated and you can taste the hint of lemongrass which in enhances the flavor. Papaya salad is a bit on the sweeter side - not my favorite. Crispy Pork Ka Praow is very tender and delicious.
I went here 1/10/24 . I like atmosphere it’s small and intimate . ( you are very close to other tables ) please make reservation. I had the steamed chive dumplings . The texture is soft and gummy it was different but I liked it . The mushrooms I liked the texture of the different mushrooms . They were good with the dipping sauce and without . I had the veggie curry . That was good . I liked the taste of coconut milk in it . NOW …. The crab fried rice !!!! Can you say crab meat through out in each bite . The presentation is nice it’s also enough for two people .
The food here was so good and came out so quickly. Portion sizes are really generous and I believe it’s currently BYOB. Highly recommend the crab curry, khao soi, and green curry with duck.
Dara is a great new addition to the Philly food scene and as someone who has a lot of Thai food, I can confidently say it beats out many of the restaurants in the area with a similar price point.
I went here for a pickup order one day after work and everything was on point! I ordered the Beef Panang Curry but, I asked to substitute the Beef with Shrimp and they were very accommodating! It was the best curry I’ve had in a few years! The spice level was PERFECT, not overwhelming, but it showed enough to let you know it was there! I thoroughly enjoyed this meal! This was definitely a comfort meal for a cold night!
The space was small but the service was nice, me and my date enjoyed it, we will definitely come back.
Recommend the soft shell crab. 100/100
Extremely memorable decor and theme of the restaurant. The papaya salad was beautifully presented and tasted great. The tom yum soup was delightful and was a good dish to share. The beef curry was some of the best I've ever had before, a complex sauce and tender meat. The pad Thai looked and tasted delicious, very impressive presentation for a common noodle dish. The service was also excellent, they provided crayons and coloring sheets for our lively kids to keep them entertained. Would definitely go back again and sample more of the menu next time.
Dara is a gem of a Thai restaurant that truly delivers on flavor, variety, and atmosphere. Their menu boasts a delightful selection of dishes, but a few standouts make the experience unforgettable. The Tom Yum seafood soup with shrimp is a perfect balance of tangy, spicy, and savory notes, warming you from the inside out. The Crab Fried Rice is a must-try, generously packed with succulent chunks of fresh crabmeat. For those who love a kick, the Mama Kee Mao noodles bring the heat in all the right ways, while the Pad Thai Boran offers a rich, authentic twist on a classic favorite. And don’t miss the Pla Tod fish—crispy, tender, and bursting with flavor. Top it all off with excellent service and a cozy, inviting ambiance, and Dara easily earns a top spot for Thai cuisine lovers. Highly recommended!
Must try. This new Thai restaurant is good. Their desserts are top notch! Services are good.
The food is delicious and beautifully presented, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Check it out, you'll love it.
Food was fantastic, great portions, served quickly and the price was beyond fair. Two entrees and an appetizer for under $40. Almost unheard of in the city. I'll be honest, when it comes to food, I'm not hard to please but my girlfriend is very particular and quick to leave a negative review over what I would consider trivial matters. This review has also been approved by her! 😂👍🙏
Such a cute, BYOB, intimate Thai spot. Food was SO good, we will definitely be back.
Very welcoming and friendly. Great service.
Food was AWESOME and traditional Thai with a modern twist!
They also told me they have a full vegetarian menu coming soon! Truly catering to everyone.
Would 100% recommend!
Loved, loved, loved everything about this place! The flavors in every dish were spectacular and unique! The dumplings in particular were crazy good, the wrapper had like a soft mochi feel to it that was slightly chewy but just melted in your mouth… and the dipping sauce was perfection too.
Service was also great, I can’t wait to go back and try some more!!
Great dinner, great experience. Finding a Kao Ka Praow with a fried egg on top has been surprisingly rare to find in Philly and it reminded us exactly like we had in Thailand. Service was friendly, food was quick. We will definitely be back
Delicious food!!! We tried several things in the menu and everything was delicious. Great flavor and spice. The service was amazing, attentive, nice and welcoming. The restaurant is also really well decorated, clean and comfortable. Highly recommend!
Such a find on Philly’s burgeoning Asian-centric row between 12th and Broad. Super friendly staff serving up some of the best home style Thai in the city - and lunch service to boot!
Immediately to the top of the list for Philly Thai spots to order in. I got the Gui Chai, Pad Kee Mao, and Beef Panang Curry. All were fantastic and I’d ordem them all again. The Gui Chai I’ll probably get every time.
I stumbled upon Dara while walking through Philly and was immediately drawn in by the cute atmosphere. I convinced my friends to give it a try, and I'm so glad we did! The food was absolutely delicious!! The staff were so friendly and attentive, which made the experience even better. I will definitely be back :D
Food was delicious and the staff were very kind. Went with a group and staff were accommodating to allergies that some of the group had. BYOB and a very nice ambiance!
Dara is a good new casual Thai spot in the Gayborhood, serving more authentic Thai dishes than other restaurants in the area. The staff was very friendly, the interior was very cute, and the food was yummy! I’ll definitely be coming back. My only complaint is that all of the food came out very quickly, so it was difficult to pace.
Amazing Thai food that other Thai restaurants don’t have on their menus. You’ll find crabmeat omelettes, dry egg noodles with pork and a side soup, and my favorite dessert Bananoffee (ice cream, bananas, bread pudding).
I’m very picky with food, especially Asian food, and this restaurant definitely impressed me.
I went here with 4 other friends and we loved every dish one another had. The calamari was the perfect appetizer and the pad sew ew was divine. We are definitely coming back!
I’m very picky about eating out, and this is by far one of the best Thai food places I have ever been to in the US. The food tastes just like in Thailand when I visited years ago. Staff is super friendly and down to earth, food is incredibly good, and the vibe is cool. If you’re ever craving good quality Thai food, then this is the place and will satisfy your cravings. I tried their green curry and the Tom Yum (which arrives in a cool-looking shareable pot) and both were superb and exactly what I craved.
Really great experience
Best panang in Philadelphia! I’ve been looking for a good panang since I moved to Philly in 2017. Finally found it!!! Great mix of spices, paired with coconut milk to balance it all out. I finished my dish. Highly recommend. Also super cute atmosphere and very friendly people working there. An overall excellent experience! :)
First time trying Thai food in the city and won’t be the last
Calamari was light and crispy. Not heavy on the oil or too thick of a batter. The mushroom salad was refreshing with a nice umami fish sauce dressing. The rice noodles in the drunken noodles was delicate with a punch of flavor. I was a little bummed that they couldn’t add tofu but it was still delicious. My partner’s vegetable curry had the right amount of richness and sweetness w/the curry not overpowering. She wished the veggies were cut to be more bite size. My friend really liked the ground chicken sautéed in basil sauce with a fried egg.
I’ve lived in Philly for almost 20 yrs and haven’t found a go to Thai spot since college. Both my partner and I agree that this will be our new go to Thai spot.
Great new Thai spot. Food was delicious and portion sizes were very generous. Thai iced tea was perfect
Amazing food and spectacular service. Will definitely be back :)
Overall everything was amazing! Delicious food and very friendly staff! Very impressed for their second day!
The service and food was top notch. Very well highly recommend
A Stellar Start for Dara!
From the moment you step into Dara you’re greeted by a warm and inviting ambiance that sets the tone for what’s to come. For a restaurant on its first day, they’ve managed to create a seamless experience that feels polished yet personal.
The menu, though fresh and new, is thoughtfully curated. Every dish we tried was a delightful blend of flavors, showcasing the kitchen’s commitment to quality ingredients and culinary creativity.
Service was impeccable, with staff striking the perfect balance between attentiveness and allowing diners to enjoy their meals at their own pace. For a debut day, the team worked like a well-oiled machine, which is no small feat.
Whether you’re looking for a cozy spot for a date night or an exciting new place to gather with friends, Dara is off to a brilliant start. We can’t wait to see how this gem continues to shine. Highly recommend!
Walked in off the street not knowing what to expect. Food was fantastic with a good spice level for those who like spice and those who don't. BYOB for the time being.
Wow!! Stumbled upon this restaurant during their opening night, and what a treat!! The service was fantastic, food was amazing, and the space is beautiful to be in. For an opening night, you’d expect a bit of chaos but everything seemed to run so smoothly & I cannot wait to come back!
What an awesome experience! The staff was extremely kind and helpful, the food was absolutely incredible, and the atmosphere was out of this world. I don’t write reviews often, but this place deserves all the praise. highly recommend.
- 9 photos
- 76 reviews
- 4.7 Health Rating
- Contact: +1 267-876-8107
- Website: http://www.daraphilly.com/
- Location: 1221 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
- Map: 39.9491951, -75.1615152
- Thai restaurant
- Monday: 11:30 AM–4 PM–5–10:30 PM
- Tuesday: 11:30 AM–4 PM–5–10:30 PM
- Wednesday: 11:30 AM–4 PM–5–10:30 PM
- Thursday: 11:30 AM–4 PM–5–10:30 PM
- Friday: 11:30 AM–4 PM–5–10:30 PM
- Saturday: 11:30 AM–4 PM–5–10:30 PM
- Sunday: 11:30 AM–4 PM–5–10:30 PM
- Seating: Available
- Casual: Available
- High chairs: Available