CityBeat "Best Thai" 2024

Thai Express

Cincinnati's Original Thai 🌶️

A Clifton Heights institution for nearly 30 years.
The local mom-and-pop, not the national chain.

4.5 stars · 300 reviews on Yelp

Order Online See the Menu

The owner cooking fresh at the wok inside Thai Express

~30

Years in
Clifton

Our Story

The Original, Not the Chain

Tucked into West McMillan near the University of Cincinnati, Thai Express has been a family-run, mom-and-pop kitchen for nearly three decades, long before a national chain borrowed the name.

Regulars come for the phenomenal Pad Thai, the bold drunken noodles, and curries with that unmistakable star-anise depth, all made fresh, all at prices that have kept students and neighbors coming back for years.

In 2024, CityBeat readers named it the Best Thai in Cincinnati. Step inside and you'll see why: unpretentious, generous, and made with the kind of care that keeps regulars coming back for decades.

4.5

Yelp Stars

300

Yelp Reviews

138

Yelp Photos

Made Fresh to Order

The Menu

🥟 Appetizers

Satay$5.00
Grilled marinated skewers with peanut sauce
Crab Cheese$3.00
Crispy crab & cream cheese wontons
Thai Spring Rolls (2)$2.50
Veggie Spring Rolls (2)$1.50
Curry Roll (2)$3.00
Thai Style Fried Chicken$5.00
Thai Style Beef Jerky$5.00
House-marinated and fried, a cult favorite
Northern Thai Sausage$5.00
Fried Tofu$4.00

🍲 Soups

Hot & Sour Soup$3.00+
Chicken, shrimp, or mushroom
Chicken Soup$3.00+
Chicken Galanga (Tom Kha)$5.00+
Coconut galangal soup

🥗 Thai Salads

House Salad$12.00
Mango Salad$10.00
Beef Salad$10.00
Waterfall Beef$10.00
Grilled beef, herbs, lime, chili
Northeastern Salad (Larb)$10.00

🍜 Noodles

Stir Fried Thai Noodles (Pad Thai)$9.00
The one everyone raves about, egg, bean sprouts & peanuts
Soy Sauce Noodles (Pad See Ew)$9.50
Dunkard's Noodle (Drunken Noodles)$9.00
Wide noodles, basil & chili
Thai Noodle Combination$13.00

🥥 Curries

Masaman Curry$10.00
Rich, mild coconut curry with potato & peanuts
Panang Curry$10.00
Red Curry$10.00
Green Curry$10.00

🍚 Stir-Fries & Rice

Holy Basil Stir Fry (Pad Krapow)$10.00
Holy basil, chili & garlic
Sweet Basil Stir Fry$9.00
Ginger Stir Fry$9.00
Pepper Stir Fry$9.00
Sweet Chili Paste Stir Fry$9.00
Black Pepper Garlic Stir Fry$9.00
Drunkard's Stir Fry$9.00
Thai Sweet & Sour$9.00
Beef with Oyster Sauce$9.00
Three Flavor Fish$11.00
Three Flavor Tofu$9.00
Thai Omelet$9.00
Stir Fried Vegetables$9.00
Thai Style Fried Rice$9.00
Curried Fried Rice$9.00

🥤 Drinks

Thai Iced Tea$3.00
Thai Iced Coffee$3.00

Order Online

Cash in-store · vegan and vegetarian options available. Order ahead for pickup or delivery.

Must-Try

Our Signatures

Fan Favorite

Pad Thai

The dish regulars call phenomenal, springy rice noodles, egg, peanuts, and that perfect sweet-tangy tamarind balance.

Cult Favorite

Thai Beef Jerky

House-marinated and fried until deep and savory, served with a dipping sauce. Regulars order it every single time.

Crispy Starter

Crab Rangoon

Golden, blistered wontons with a creamy filling and sweet dipping sauce. The perfect way to start the meal.

What Cincinnati Says

Loved by Regulars

"Without a doubt, this is the best Thai restaurant in Cincinnati. The charming mom-and-pop atmosphere makes it feel like you're enjoying a meal at your Thai aunt's house."

Yelp review

"The Pad Thai is phenomenal, and the food is always fresh with a variety of flavors to explore."

Yelp review

"The curry is absolutely delicious. Fantastic star anise flavor."

Yelp review

Straight From the Wok