Krathom Lek - Visalia

I visited this restaurant this afternoon. Unfortunately, no one greeted us at the door, and we had to wait a few minutes before being seated. However, the food was incredible—definitely better than some of the restaurants in my area.

Pad see ew is usually my favorite; it's absolutely delicious. It comes with broccoli, egg, and a choice of protein. However, today we tried the beef pho, and the noodles were a bit tough and seemed old. We tried to soften them by heating them with the broth on the stove, but unfortunately, they fell apart and were hard to eat. On a positive note, the broth was excellent!

To my surprise, the staff member raised her voice from across the restaurant, loudly informing us that we could not sit at that table because it was reserved for four people. She then pointed to a table closer to the cashier for us to use. This embarrassing situation drew the attention of the few other patrons present, and it was evident that none of them were reprimanded in the same way. We decided it was best to take our food to go instead, and ended up sitting in a chair without a table. While we waited, another family arrived and was promptly served, as well as a woman who ordered takeout but was allowed to sit down and receive her food. After about 40 minutes from when I first entered the restaurant, I approached the counter to inquire about my order. The server smiled and said she was "working on it now." Eventually, we received our food and left. I had ordered the curry shrimp, specifically requesting it not to be spicy at all. The server reassured me it wouldn’t be spicy unless requested, but when it arrived, it was quite spicy and contained only four shrimp along with a lot of bamboo shoots. I also ordered a side of rice, which was good, but the curry itself did not come with any. Overall, our experience was disappointing, and we have no plans to return. The way we were treated was entirely uncalled for, and it’s unacceptable for a staff member to take out their frustrations on customers.

I highly recommend this place! It's our first time in Visalia for work, and we weren't sure where to eat. We decided to stop by Krathom Lek, and we were extremely satisfied! The portions are HUGE, and the food was delicious!

The Pad 11's Pad Thai was fantastic! If you're concerned about the spice level, you can leave a note for the restaurant specifying whether you want it mild, medium, or hot. If you're unsure, I recommend ordering it mild and asking for the sauce on the side.