Is there parking near 55 Thai Kitchen in Pacific Beach?

Street parking is available on Garnet Ave and nearby residential streets, though it can get tight during peak dinner hours. The spot is walkable from the Pacific Beach boardwalk and promenade if you're in the area exploring—might be worth parking there and grabbing a walk.

Do I need a reservation or can I just walk in?

Walk-ins are welcome and encouraged; this is a casual neighborhood spot. There's outdoor seating that moves pretty quick, so even if it looks packed, you won't usually wait long. If you're coming with a large group (8+), calling ahead is smart.

What should I order on my first visit?

Start with the pad Thai with shrimp ($8) and the spicy basil chicken ($14)—both show why regulars come back weekly. The crispy spring rolls (5 for $6) and fried tofu ($6) are killer sides that don't break the bank. The drunken noodles have earned their reputation too.

Is this place good for kids and groups?

Absolutely—it's tagged as a locals' favorite and group-dinner spot for a reason. The casual vibe, outdoor seating, and reasonable prices make it perfect for families. Kids typically dig the pad Thai and spring rolls.

What dietary options do you have?

They've got solid vegetarian options including fried tofu and veggie-forward noodle dishes. Most Thai curries and stir-fries can be customized, so ask your server about swaps—the staff here is known for being flexible and friendly.

Is there outdoor seating and can I bring my dog?

Yes to outdoor seating, which is a huge draw in Pacific Beach. Dog-friendliness isn't confirmed in their services, so call ahead if you want to bring your pup to the patio—worth asking since the casual, beachy vibe suggests they might be cool with it.

When's the best time to go to avoid crowds?

Lunch is typically less packed than dinner and gives you the same fresh-cooked quality. Weekday evenings are easier than weekends. Even when it's busy, the kitchen keeps things moving, so don't stress too much about wait times.

55 Thai Kitchen — Thai in Pacific Beach, San Diego

“55 Thai Kitchen is the spot that turned Pacific Beach Thai food from an afterthought into a weekly ritual.”

While most PB Thai spots treat weeknight dinner as an opportunity to dial down the heat and dial up the pad Thai sugar, 55 Thai differentiates by actually respecting the flavors — the **drunken noodles** have the char and punch that converts skeptics, and the **spicy basil chicken** doesn't apologize for the basil or the spice. This is Thai food for the surfer who just got back from Chiang Mai and refuses to settle for the Americanized version served three blocks up Garnet.

The menu keeps it tight: fried tofu as a starter, a handful of noodle dishes, curries that don't taste like they came from a jar. Portions are generous without being wasteful, and prices make it easy to justify coming back weekly — the **pad Thai with shrimp** clocks in at $8, which is borderline suspicious until you taste it and realize they're not cutting corners. The **crispy spring rolls** come five to an order and are exactly what they claim to be: crispy, not soggy.

The space itself is small, casual, decorated with more care than most beach-adjacent Thai spots bother with. There's outdoor seating for when the marine layer lifts. Service is fast and friendly, the kind of place where regulars get recognized and newcomers don't feel out of place. It's walkable from anywhere on the boardwalk, which makes it a solid post-session option when you're too sandy for anywhere nicer but too hungry to wait.

One operational note: double-check your takeout order before you leave — at least one reviewer got pad Thai noodles in their pad see ew, which suggests the kitchen can get sloppy during rushes. But for dine-in, it's consistent, affordable, and exactly what PB needed: Thai food that doesn't coast on proximity to the ocean.