Manaao - Thai Comfort Food

I recently visited Manaao, a Thai comfort food spot in Tustin, CA, after hearing rave reviews from a friend. My expectations were high as I walked through the doors, ready to indulge in my usual Thai favorites. I ordered the Pad See Eww with beef and Crab Fried Rice, dishes that I typically use as a benchmark for any Thai restaurant. Intrigued by the sausages listed on the menu, I decided to give them a try as well. Unfortunately, the sausages were not to my liking. They were far from what I had anticipated, and I quickly realized that they were not my cup of tea. This was an order made in error, a culinary misstep on my part. As for the Pad See Eww and Crab Fried Rice, they were average at best. While they were not bad, they didn't stand out as anything special either. Perhaps I need to explore more of their menu to find their standout dishes. However, the visit was not without its highlights. The Unsung Dream Hazy IPA Beer was a delightful surprise. It was really good, and it certainly lifted my spirits, making up for the less than impressive food. The ambiance of the place was another saving grace. The restaurant has a great vibe, making it a pleasant place to dine in. It's a spot where the atmosphere is as comforting as the food is meant to be. In conclusion, my experience at Manaao was a mixed bag. While the food didn't quite hit the mark, the beer and ambiance made the visit worthwhile. I'm willing to give it another shot, perhaps with some different food choices next time.

Im flabbergasted, oh my lawd, this is the best Thai food in OC. I was so bummed these past few years because our favorite spots were in LA and now we live to far in south OC. Guys this is it! Look no further. The food and service here is delicious and high quality. Just be prepared to wait for a while, but that's worth it when your eating good food

Hmmm maybe they tried to modernize it…. Drunken noodles were not flavorful. Definitely not THAT flavor. Pad sew ew wasn’t either. Also please don’t get the coconut water, just tasted watered down . BEAUTIFUL inside. Love the green and gold menu and gold silverware. Beautiful lime wallpaper. Seats are closely next to each other, so can get quite noisy. Also my partner pointed out that everybody in the restaurant was eating soup and we were the only ones eating noodles so maybe their specialty is SOUP?

Authentic Thai food. Good Ambience. Service was good and quick. We will come back again

Food and services was super ! I highly recommend this place

Arrived at this very small restaurant around 11:30 for lunch and were seated right away. Unfortunately, the service was terribly slow, with the waitress attributing it to being short-staffed. We ordered a variety of dishes, including fried chicken wings, spicy beef salad, papaya salad, and chu chee curry with fried catfish filet. Around half an hour after getting the wings and one of the salads, we were informed they had run out of catfish, so we ordered the green curry with beef rib eye as a substitute. The spicy beef salad lacked the promised heat and resembled more of beef strips on a single lettuce leaf than a salad. However, the beef itself was tender and flavorful. The wings were decent but not particularly exciting. On a positive note, the papaya salad was a highlight, and the green curry turned out to be rich and savory. The accompanying roti had a satisfying texture. One notable downside was the limited attention from the server, who only dropped off the food and never returned to refill beverages or inquire about our needs. Despite the service hiccup, the flavorful dishes make me consider a return visit, hoping for an improvement in the overall service experience.