Update: 2/11/2025
Went again today and ordered the mango salad and fried tilapia and it was so amazing.

OLD:
This is my 2nd time here, but only now reviewing, but I love this place. They have some amazing food. I can't even remember the name of the chicken dishes, but they were so, so good. The pad woon sen was good as well and the last time I had the pad thai with egg on top and that was also amazing.

I would love to come back and try their dishes again.

Good Thia place. All the food was very good. The prices weren’t bad either $15 for the plate of noodles then plus meat $2-$5. They also have a little spot to buy stuff.

We enjoyed our experience. The Pad See Ew and Panang Curry were both good. One of the better dine in spots for Thai food in the San Marcos area.

Food: 3/5 food was a bit salty and dessert (fried ice cream) was too sweet. Tom yum soup was good, I enjoyed it.
Service: 3/5 only one waitress, had to wait for food, for dessert, for cheque.
Atmosphere: 4/5 serene and nice. Indoor and outdoor dining.
Bathroom: 3/5 hand soap container didn’t had soap, no diaper changing station.
Parking: 5/5 plenty and free
Veg option: 5/5 plenty

We just had this delivered all the way up to Buda. OMG! We finally found the Thai food experience we didn't think was real. The absolute BEST Thai we've had in 5 years. Delicious, quality food with exceptional service. Thank goodness great food still lives 😋

An overall amazing experience!

The service was friendly and spectacular. The owner came over and chatted with us about Thailand. It's always great when you can learn something about the origins of exotic foods.

The food was phenomenal. The Pad Thai Rolls were unique and excellent! Such a good mixture of flavors. The Massaman Curry was great, and the Pad Thai was too. The spice levels were perfect.

The restaurant was nice, clean, and had a comforting ambiance.

The red curry ( Gang Phed) was absolutely delicious, bursting with authentic flavors. The hotpot (Tom Jeud) with Tofu and veggies was a delightful surprise, brimming with fresh ingredients and a spicy kick that left my taste buds dancing with joy.

What truly stood out, though, was the impeccable service. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our dining experience was exceptional. He was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu, offering excellent recommendations for Vegetarian and Vegan food. Even Chef came out and asked us about the food.

We went here for the first time after moving to the area from Austin. We were used to pretty tasty Thai food and were super happy to find this local spot with delicious Thai food. We ordered some of our norm favorites and weren’t disappointed.

Been here twice, every single thing was amazing. No complaints. Will be back!

Good Thia place. All the food was very good. The prices weren’t bad either $15 for the plate of noodles then plus meat $2-$5. They also have a little spot to buy stuff.

Update: 2/11/2025
Went again today and ordered the mango salad and fried tilapia and it was so amazing.

OLD:
This is my 2nd time here, but only now reviewing, but I love this place. They have some amazing food. I can't even remember the name of the chicken dishes, but they were so, so good. The pad woon sen was good as well and the last time I had the pad thai with egg on top and that was also amazing.

I would love to come back and try their dishes again.

We just had this delivered all the way up to Buda. OMG! We finally found the Thai food experience we didn't think was real. The absolute BEST Thai we've had in 5 years. Delicious, quality food with exceptional service. Thank goodness great food still lives 😋

Big favorite of mine and my partners, the red curry is a must!

Excellent!

Best Thai restaurant in San Marcos hands down. Tom Yum, Gang-Karee, and the larb are my favorites.

Great food! Some language challenges with the waiter and the space was a little eclectic. But ìt's authentic Thai!

Best fried rice in San Marcos!

Very good and authentic Thai food! Love their shrimp Tom yum and drunken noodles. Highly recommend this place!

THIS PLACE HAS AMAZING FOOD !!

Excellent fried rice 👍

We ordered Shai Yo Gai Yang/Grilled Chicken with Fried Rice, it was so good and worth the price. We have to take it away and still had the delicious left over for the next 2 meals.

Food is fantastic. Best drunken noodles I’ve ever had. Tom yum soup with chicken was also delicious. I could not stop eating. Inside their restaurant you can buy curry bases, Tom yum bases, fish sauce, different pastes, umami seasoning etc

We enjoyed our experience. The Pad See Ew and Panang Curry were both good. One of the better dine in spots for Thai food in the San Marcos area.

The food was tasty, especially the Tod Mun Pla Appetizer and the house special Shai Yo Gai Yang

I love this place. The quality of the food has stayed consistent since it has open. My favorite Thai food in the area for sure.

Very good! Lots of vegan options. Big portions. Food was tasty

Expensive!!! Prices are outrageous… and boss and waitress rude when something is said about their food or service.

I really rate this Tai cuisine restaurant a 10/10!! All smiles. My boyfriend and I tried this place and I’d say try the whole menu because you won’t regret it! Our new favorite Tai restaurant in San Marcos! Even the service is amazing!

Food was great. Elly was an amazing waitress. Very helpful. A++++

Great dining experience. I loved the Pad Thai with shrimp, golden crispy rolls, and Thai tea. Delicious food, friendly service at an affordable price. I will definitely be coming back.

One of my favorite spots to eat at! Great service and great food! The different curry and drunken noodles are 100/10

The best Chicken Phad Thai we’ve ever eaten, and we have been around lot of restaurants. It’s awesome place.

It is clean, neat, and friendly atmosphere. My waiter was professional and courteous.

Very good ! I recommend the Larb salad , very fresh.

Love this local spot. I go a couple times a month. Consistently delicious!! Love their Thai curries especially

This is one of my favorite places to eat in San Marcos! Excellent food made with fresh ingredients.

Delicious food every time!

Really good rice and chicken

Very good food and great service!

Amazing staff and food is delicious!

Shai yo is absolutely delicious

The eggplant with brown sauce is delicious! The service was amazing!

Go to authentic Thai.... best in Central Texas

My first time trying Thai and it was amazing and had a great experience too with customer service .

Great food always! Never fails me

Excellent food. Highly recommend. Nice engaging service.

This place is legit! I eat here about once every 2 weeks and it is constantly so delicious. The service here is always nice and they even remember my girlfriend's dietary restrictions which is awesome to see. If you want the best food San Marcos has to offer come here!!!

Food: 3/5 food was a bit salty and dessert (fried ice cream) was too sweet. Tom yum soup was good, I enjoyed it.
Service: 3/5 only one waitress, had to wait for food, for dessert, for cheque.
Atmosphere: 4/5 serene and nice. Indoor and outdoor dining.
Bathroom: 3/5 hand soap container didn’t had soap, no diaper changing station.
Parking: 5/5 plenty and free
Veg option: 5/5 plenty

We went here for the first time after moving to the area from Austin. We were used to pretty tasty Thai food and were super happy to find this local spot with delicious Thai food. We ordered some of our norm favorites and weren’t disappointed.

I LOVE Shai Yo. Their food is fresh, piping hot, and delicious. It feels nourishing and I honestly can't compare it to anything else in San Marcos. I've ordered the gang phed curry 3x in a row now because i'm obsessed and their portions are perfect. Their service in person and on mobile order is 10/10. Literally no complaints!!

Amazing!

I am an a self-proclaimed experienced Thai cuisine diner and cook for 30+ years, spoiled and taught by an elderly Thai couple with one of the first Thai restaurants in a large metropolitan city. I was spoiled by their home cooking that brought me to know authentic thai food well. This restaurant has some of that, however simply misses the mark! The beef larb and pad see ew was good - the larb could have had more toasted rice… and that was kinda the extent of the good part of the dining experience. Otherwise, the curry’s were way too salty (Panaang, Mussaman, and Red) the Tom Kha was excessively lemony and limey and void of much coconut cream, and the pad krapow was also excessively limey (it should have kaffir lime and lemongrass but not dominate the flavor). All other dishes were, simply underwhelming. Sugar wasn’t the theme however that you find in a lot of “Thai” restaurants catering to a perceived American palate.

Always love this place!!

Best Thai food in San Marcos!! Me and my bf love Thai food and have tried a lot, and we thought Shia to was the most authentic and delicious that we have had in San Marcos, location is also conveniently next to campus.

San Marcos had the most authentic Thai Food

Great food, great atmosphere, cant go wrong.

First time trying this restaurant. Food is amazing, I love spicy so it’s awesome that they had spice levels. But what was even better was the service. The cashier dude was so friendly and accommodating to my order.

Best Thai in town! I’ve been here multiple times and have tried something different every time, each meal has been delish! Ellie is a very nice waitress and gives great recommendations!

Best Thai noodle bowls I've had! Everything is fresh, flavors are dialed in and you can custom order the heat. Tofu options as well.. service is great. Give it a try if you like to eat Thai!

Easily my favorite Thai place in San Marcos -- the food is always sooooo tasty and the people working here are super nice. I'll definitely be coming back very soon :)

Great Pad Thai with duck, which is hard to find. Their Tom Yum is very flavorful. Highly recommend!

Kind and accommodating staff. Every thing I’ve had has been delicious.
Served a large party of people with me with no issues, met every request and answered all questions kindly.
I recommend the drunken noodles and the fried ice cream :)

I love coming here every time I visit

All the food here is great and authentic tasting! It’s one of my lunch must haves for my work week while traveling from SA to Austin!

Food is great! Tiger cry with the Thai sauce is awesome! Drunken noodles were good. Good service from server, Autti.

Amazing and authentic Thai Food. Excellent service and comfortable atmosphere. 2nd to none.

Food was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS and service was phenomenal!

Not a fancy place (and we don’t care) but clean and comfortable. The food was delicious and the server was super friendly.

The best pad thai in texas! The Pad Thai is incredible, the sauce they make here is a 10/10 sauce

Amazing food!

Great food and great service, and the soups are always 10/10!

I eat here at least once a week. They never disappoint. Service is Super quick and friendly. Definitely recommend!

Loved the environment service was great!

My daughter recommended this and we’re going back for more!!!

So good food is always great!

Great food and great service!

Overall great experience, love the food and can they enough of the Thai tea

Amazing food service and location. Best peanut sauce I’ve ever had. Satay was grilled perfectly and the curry is spicy and delicious. Definitely will be coming back. Server was a big help with recommendations and explaining the different dishes

One of my favorite spots in San Marcos. Their food is so delicious and full of flavor! It is a must-try. My favorites include crispy shrimp rolls, pad Thai, and pad see ew! Love it

usually we only do take out but today decided to dine in, & we had a lovely time! food was amazing like always! def my go to thai place in san mo!!!!

The best Thai food in area, highly recommended 🙏

Truly amazing traditional tai cuisine 🤩 simply A-Roy !

Love this place !!!!! and the people who operate it…I come here all the time. It’s my favorite place to unwind :) karaoke weekly also! 🎤

first time here and it’s the best thai food i’ve had in town. they have crazy good peanut sauce!!

Always delicious, heart warming food. Surprisingly not busy, y'all need to make sure this place doesn't fail. Go eat here or order it for delivery.

The food is good. Very friendly

Great family owned thai place. Highly recommend for the San Marcos and surrounding areas.

This place was so good!! The food came out fast and it was delicious!!

Family-owned business and some of the best food you can find in San Marcos. I recommend the Curry Fried rice. 10/10!

Very bard service, the food is very spiced up to the point where it can make you sick. They also give very little food compared to the price you are paying. I honestly you tell you to avoid , because you can get your money worth some where else.

This place is great, ive had a lot of thai food, and the khao soi gai yang is one of the best ive had, so I hope more people come check this place out

Amazing food

An overall amazing experience!

The service was friendly and spectacular. The owner came over and chatted with us about Thailand. It's always great when you can learn something about the origins of exotic foods.

The food was phenomenal. The Pad Thai Rolls were unique and excellent! Such a good mixture of flavors. The Massaman Curry was great, and the Pad Thai was too. The spice levels were perfect.

The restaurant was nice, clean, and had a comforting ambiance.

Nice Thai food conveniently tucked away in a strip mall.

lots of vegan options here! you can veganize most of the dishes by choosing their delicious tofu as your protein. their mango sticky rice, fresh spring rolls and smoothies are all traditionally meat and dairy-free. 😋

The food was packed with flavor. We 2 grilled items (G1 Salmon and G2 Goong Yang) both delicious. We will definitely come back.

The red curry ( Gang Phed) was absolutely delicious, bursting with authentic flavors. The hotpot (Tom Jeud) with Tofu and veggies was a delightful surprise, brimming with fresh ingredients and a spicy kick that left my taste buds dancing with joy.

What truly stood out, though, was the impeccable service. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our dining experience was exceptional. He was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu, offering excellent recommendations for Vegetarian and Vegan food. Even Chef came out and asked us about the food.

Genuinely best pad Thai ever, always amazing food and lunch special is amazing deal

Great food! Awesome staff!!

Got To Go for the first time here. The food is good and is packed in foil to keep it warm. The shrimp was substantial. Definitely recommend and definitely will be back!

Yummy!

I’ve been here several times and the food hasn’t disappointed! I’d say it’s starting to become a favorite comfort food 😍

Food was really good, servers give you your space so if that’s good for u it’s great:)

Don’t let the reviews fool you. This place is trash. Not spicy. Not flavored. Had to add a ton of dry chili mix. Service was terrible. Older man was super rude. Just don’t go and thank me later.

Food was great!! Friendly service!

Friendly owners , good service and food was super delicious. Can not get enough !!! highly recommended

The taste of Khao soey was fine but the quantity of food especially meat served is very less. The place is somewhat student friendly. The staffs are a bit awkward/ confused but it was okay. Personally, din't like the Sake served over here.

I’ve never dined in, only picked up. I love their food. It’s wrapped in tinfoil and still hot whenever I get it. The pad Thai is so good. They don’t put too much sugar in it, which is what I love about it! Crab Rangoon is always on point. Love this place. Keep it up y’all.

I love the yellow curry and the egg fried rice ... Their rice is sooo yummy. 😋

Great meal!

Talk about good food! I had the Pad See Ew; so flavorful and a huge portion. I'm definitely coming back!

I had drunken noodles and kao soi gai tang there. Both were absolutely delicious. One of the best things I had in San Marcos. Always, the waiters are always super nice.

Awesome family restaurant, super friendly and HUGE portions for cheap

Tum yum is super good!

Everyone's dish was way too sweet, they use too much sugar in recipes, service was almost nonexistent during lunch that had no rush, dead flies on table, just not a great overall experience. Food wasn't bad, it was ok, not amazing for Thai, but fair to good.

Great Thai food at Shai Yo Thai restaurant

Been a while since I've been there, sadly to say it has gone down hill in a bad way. Beyond bad staff and the spring rolls had wilted lettuce. I hope it was just a bad day and it hasn't turned bad forever.

The food was excellent. Our wait staff seemed put upon and indifferent, I had to get up and go find them a few times. Then, when we asked for some containers to take out our food, she came by our table 3 times in quick succession to hurry us along. Definitely a terrible experience. But the food was good.

I have tried several of the Thai restaurants and this one is the best. Their shrimp fried rice is terrific. The Tom Kha soup is wonderful and the crab Rangoon is to swoon for! You will not regret eating Herr if you like Thai food!!

The food here is amazing with very generous proportions at a great price.

My family and I enjoyed a meal at Shai Yo Thai recently. Honestly, it was the BEST Thai food I’ve ever had.
We took my daughter, who’s been to Thailand, and loves the cuisine. She was very impressed with the authenticity and blend of flavors.
We had the Tom Yum pot (level3 heat) which we shared 3 ways, the crispy spring rolls and the whole fried tilapia. It looked like way too much to eat, however, we managed to eat it all. SO GOOD!
We will most definitely be going back!

My favorite dish is their very flavorful Tom Yum Soup! The other dishes, like the spring rolls ands trout are also delicious. My niece who’s been to Thailand says the food is authentic. The service was also good. My family and I will definitely come back again!

We really wanted to try this place. We were returning to San Antonio from a memorial. We walked it 20 minutes before they closed. The waitress as she's walking up to the table tells us "Great, show up 20 minutes before we close." She asked if we scanned the menu or if we needed hard copies. We asked for real menus. She had an attitude that we don't feel we deserved. We are the paying customers. My husband and I chose to leave. She asked if we were leaving. We told her she gave us the attitude. Stands in front of me and says "you're missing out on some good food" and she thought we were her regulars. We are a couple in their 50s, I had foot surgery using a scooter, dressed up in a college town. The food looked good and she's right, we don't know how good the food tastes, but she also won't get our 25-30% we usually give to wait staff close to colleges

Consistently good food. C6 and some pad thai!!

Went there for lunch with my husband. Got full and had food to bring home. Food was quick and delicious. I plan on returning in the future to try other dishes.

Great service and amazing food. Best crab Rangoon I've ever had!

The food is amazing and what I love about this place is that I can choose how spicy I want my food

Delicious I love the pad see U and thai tea

Food is good. Has the requisite picture of the king of Thailand on the wall behind the bar. However, I will choose takeout next time, as the dining room smells strongly of old cigarettes.

Just walked out of Sho Yo Thai. The restaraunt had two tables with people eating. In other words it was empy
We chose to sit in a booth but keeping an appeopriate distance from the othern 2 tables that were occupied. Then, the waitress asked if we could move to another table with only 2 sets of silverware 🤔🤨? We said we liked the table and that the restaraunt was basically empty. She responded with "yes, well it can change from 0-60 real quick". We were astounded. Again, the restaraunt was empty! We stood up confused and told her politely we will return later. I have not been here for 3 years. Prior the food was great. I guess we will never know how the food is now. It was a very strange exchange with the waitperson.

Ordered pad Thai on door dash with shrimp and chicken spicy.
When it arrived it wasn’t spicy and had 2 shrimp. Probably not a good idea to order on door dash because the restaurant can short change your entire order and think it’s ok. I have ordered the same meal and picked it up several times and it was way better. It’s not the drivers it’s the restaurant. I hope the driver gets the high up charge for delivery.

Delicious food, and good service

This restaurant is so good, definitely will be back. Not only is the food fabulous but the customers service is amazing as well!

Food was 10/10- I'd highly recommend the Shai Yo Thai house special! (Pictured below).
My one complaint is the noise- when my sister and I walked inside at 1 PM on a weekday and were immediately blasted extremely loud club music. Thankfully the waitress was kind enough to turn it down at my request. I'd just advise noise-sensitive people to be wary. If we had gone at a later hour, I have a feeling the noise levels would've been worse.

Horrible customer service I called in to speak to someone about fixing my incorrect order I ordered rice with shrimp and beef and I never received the beef and when I called the man who picked up the phone hung up in my face because he was “too busy” he was just very rude throughout the whole conversation asking me what I want him to do about it . Very wonderful food but horrible customer service I will not be returning

Really great staff

The flavor is out of this world. Food comes out fast. Big plates that last for another day. Chicken curry fried rice is to die for. Drunken noodle has aromas right from Thailand’s

First time try, delicious and rich with flavor. I got Thai beef soup w/ level 3 spice (I love spicy foods) and it hit the spot in so many ways!! My bf is very picky but ordered chicken fried rice w/ level 2 spice and he ate it up ! Even the crispy fried vegetable rolls, 10/10 so many flavors in all dishes. Definitely did not disappoint, we loved it ! Music matched the energy also the remixed songs to fit the vibe. Customer service was great also had questions about the menu and answered with full details.. Worth the $$’s. Loved my experience definitely going back !!!

I ordered the pad see ew to-go, I asked for no spicy and after arriving at home and starting to eat the flavor was okay but it was so spicy!! Did someone change what No Spicy means? Probably not coming back, lost my appetite for the rest of the noodles. A little pricy to end up with an upset stomach.

The boba was not cooked correctly and the food was too spicy to enjoy. The mango sticky rice was awful and it was drowned in the coconut sauce which tasted old.

Walked in on a Sunday evening. Great food, good variety and prompt service! Their spicy means spicy so don’t be unnecessarily brave :). Very much recommended.

I’ve been a few times. Both times I had Pad Thai - the first time was excellent. Very delicious. The second time was decent, but not quite as good as the first. It’s still one of our favorite Thai places around here

We all really enjoyed our take out from this place. We haven’t been here long, but one in our group remarked it was his favorite meal in San Marcos so far. Get a spice level that’s realistic for you. Most people will be happy with a 1. I LOVE spicy food and 2 was Almost too much for some people in our group. It was pretty spicy at 2 and in my opinion perfect but everyone else thought it was almost too spicy. Regardless the flavor was there and we enjoyed it!

Stopped in for a late lunch and was very happy I did!!! Will be back for sure!

Best Thai food I've had in a long time, I would definitely recommend. Their chicken was so tasty

I got the house fried rice and boyfriend got the curry w/ chicken. Both were AMAZING. We will be back for sure!

Absolutely fantastic. I got the Drunken Noodles with beef and my only regret was not taking a picture before I inhaled it like a Dyson vacuum. I look forward to my ongoing relationship with this place.

Delicious! Spicy Red Curry and fresh, awesome Fresh Rolls w/ Shrimp n Pineapple in em. Will return!

Food tasted great and came out quickly.
Server was kind, conversational and attentive.
It wasn't very busy when I went, so I am not sure how the business performs under pressure, but I can say that my experience there was fantastic.
Will be returning!

Great food! I really enjoyed the food here! Staff was friendly. Place was clean and comfortable. I’ll be frequenting this place

We ordered three entrees, spring rolls, dumplings, and two orders of mango sticky rice to go. The entrees were fine - I love the drunken noodles here and the soup was great. But we didn't get our dumplings, got shrimp rolls instead of spring rolls, and mango sticky rice was SALTY. The coconut sauce was really thick, and like, inedibly salty. Maybe they used salt instead of sugar today??? Really disappointed, this used to be my favorite place to eat, but lately the quality has been way down .

I ordered a pad se ew with shrimp and she asked what level of spice from a scale 1-5 and she had gave me extremely spicy. I wonder what 5 would have been. Lost my appetite after my noodles came out and they were undercooked and rubbery. I’ve had better places.

Excellent food.