Old Town Pasadena just scored a serious hit of Bangkok energy. Thaim, a compact new Thai spot on a busy stretch of Colorado Boulevard, is turning out wok-fired plates and nostalgic sweets that feel like a straight shot from old-school Bangkok street stalls to a pastel-tiled Pasadena storefront.
The menu is tight but ambitious. Fans of high-heat cooking will zero in on Suki Yaowarat and a smoky Midnight Train fried rice, both cooked hot and fast in the wok. On the sweeter side, slush-style desserts like a mango sticky rice slushy and a Thai tea slushy come crowned with coconut foam and shards of toasted coconut. Bright tile, soft colors, and a cozy footprint make the room feel equal parts retro and right now.
Eater Los Angeles critic Kat Thompson praised Thaim for taking Bangkok street classics and spinning them into dishes that feel both nostalgic and refreshed. She highlighted the Suki Yaowarat and Midnight Train fried rice as standouts, and pointed out that pad thai can be ordered with fried egg tofu or salmon. The spicy basil bowls sometimes get a luxe twist too, swapping the usual minced meat for grilled short rib. The Dining Report ultimately slots Thaim among Pasadena's more intriguing recent Thai openings rather than just another quick-casual drop-in.
What To Order And Drink
Thaim's online ordering page lays out the greatest hits: Bangkok Pad Thai Boran, Bangkok Basil Bowls, Suki Yaowarat (a dry-style suki), and the Midnight Train Fried Rice all sit alongside snacky plates like grilled pork jowl and steamed fish balls. The same page confirms two signature slushies, mango sticky rice and Thai tea, each finished with coconut foam and crisp flecks of toasted coconut. It is a menu that leans into street-food comfort while still leaving room for shareable entrées tailored to both dine-in groups and efficient pickup runs.
Sweets And Sister-Shop Ties
Thompson notes in Eater Los Angeles that Thaim is presented as a sister restaurant to U: Dessert Story, a connection that helps explain the dessert focus. U: Dessert Story lists a Chocolate Matcha Lava Cake on its menu, the same indulgent dessert that appears at Thaim. Meanwhile, Wanderlust Creamery documents a pandan tres leches flavor, matching the pandan tres leches served alongside Thaim's sticky rice baked in bamboo. Those overlapping desserts essentially stitch Thaim into an existing web of regional sweets favorites, which means dessert here is not an afterthought.
Where Thaim Fits In Old Town
Thaim arrives as part of a fresh wave of Old Town Pasadena openings, giving the neighborhood a focused Thai street-food hub amid all the cocktail bars and brunch stops. The Infatuation slotted the restaurant into its running guide to new Los Angeles openings, calling out both the colorful look and the street-food-leaning menu. For locals, that translates to another casual, group-friendly option where passing plates and sharing bowls is basically the point.
Thaim's ordering page shows that the restaurant is accepting scheduled orders and lists a phone number of (626) 345-5126 for pickups and questions. The site also posts current hours and live ordering status, so checking before heading over is a smart move. With its unapologetically Bangkok flavor and no-fuss setup, Thaim looks ready to serve both curious visitors and Old Town regulars who want some serious street heat without leaving Pasadena.
