
“Solid neighborhood Thai near the beach—order your heat level, brace for the parking hunt.”
Multiple reviews mention it as a stop 'before we were head to the beach' and being 'walkable' in La Jolla's coastal neighborhood.
Reviewer specifically calls out 'lunch specials were still very generous portion sizes,' indicating a go-to weekday value play.
One reviewer warns to 'spin the block at least 5 to 6 times before you get a parking spot'—classic La Jolla problem, especially during Saturday farmers market.
Reviewer notes 'prepared to a spice level of your choosing' with medium being 'fairly mild'—kitchen clearly tailors heat to order.
“King Of Thai Cuisine is the spot that lets you walk off beach sand without changing clothes, then order red curry at whatever spice level your ego can handle.”
What sets this place apart in La Jolla is the willingness to serve actual Thai heat levels — not the watered-down versions most coastal restaurants default to — while maintaining the kind of casual, come-as-you-are vibe that makes sense after you've been at the Cove all morning. While competitors lean on location or chase Instagram-worthy fusion, King Of Thai sticks to Thai standards done properly, with a staff that'll genuinely dial up the spice if you ask for it.
The **sweet and sour soup** (tom yum) comes with real depth — lemongrass-forward, not just vinegar heat — and the **crab Rangoon** hits that cream cheese-to-crab ratio that most places get wrong. The **lunch specials** are legitimately generous portions, not the shrunken "lunch size" hustle you'd expect on Girard. Ask for medium spice and you'll get something fairly mild; if you want heat, request level 4 or higher.
The space itself feels more neighborhood Thai spot than Prospect Street polish — comfortable booths, outdoor seating that works for post-beach lunches, and a waitstaff that'll let you settle in without hovering. Weekday service can be slow when they're short-staffed, so don't come here in a rush.
Parking on Girard is the usual village nightmare — plan to circle the block multiple times or park in the public structure on Herschel and walk three minutes. Saturdays are worse when the farmers market is running. The outdoor tables are your best bet if you're sandy or just want to avoid the marine layer chill that sneaks in later. Reserve if you're coming with more than four people, especially on weekends.
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7734 Girard Ave C, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
5 months ago