Opal Thai: A Beloved Thai Restaurant in Honolulu Offering Authentic Flavors and a Warm Atmosphere

Absolutely the best meals I have ever had in my life. My family and I came here the second to last night of our vacation and ended up coming back on our last night as well because we loved it so much. If you are looking for pad Thai and green curry then this isn’t the place for you. But if you’re willing to expand your horizons a bit and let Opal order for you, you will not be disappointed! I honestly don’t know exactly what I ate, all I know is that it was delicious and I wanted more! Everything tasted familiar but different at the same time. I highly recommend coming to this restaurant!

Chef Opel (Thai spelling) and his staff are incredibly friendly and inviting. My wife is from northern Thailand and chef came over, made us put our phones away (hard for my wife lol) and asked us about the types of food we love to eat around Thailand and what we order when we go out. We didn’t select a thing off the menu as chef decided what he thought we would like and we loved every plate! Starting with Moo Ping! (honey pork bbq skewers) and northern Thai sausages. Then one of my favorites Khao Soi and my wife got spicy pork with chili’s basil and eggplant. The food was great, the experience was friendly and unique. This is a must stop for anyone looking for real Thai food. We will always stop by whenever we are visiting Honolulu

Best Thai food! One of a kind experience. Opal really went above and beyond. He asked us some questions and then started making our food based on what we told him. All the food came out AMAZING! Even the food catered to the kids. There was a good variety of dishes. We had some leftovers (but not much because we kept eating LOL). $280 for all that food, tip, and some drinks for 10 people was actually inexpensive. Definitely coming back!

They used to be in Haleiwa but they relocated in Chinatown. This restaurant has a slightly different type of experience because you don't get to order off the menu. Opal, the owner, is friendly and greets all his customers. For first timers, he'll ask if you've eaten Thai food before and to name a few dishes. He'll also ask if you have any allergies, dislikes and your spice tolerance. This is his process for figuring out what dishes to bring to the table. I recommend coming with a group of 4-6 people and factor in 1.5 to 2 hours for your meal. For regular customers, you have the option to order off the menu but when I bring my friends here, I let Opal create the whole menu. There hasn't been a dish I don't like and I always let him know in the beginning that I don't like curry. My friends still get to try a curry dish but Opal will say, "I have something else coming for you." The atmosphere in here is lively and the staff are attentive. The menu is a bit on the pricey side but the food taste delicious and the portions are decent. If you are coming with a group, you should make reservations a few days in advance. For parking, there is metered parking along Smith Street and a parking structure in Marin Tower; on the next block.

So if adventure and authentic food is what you crave, then this is the place for you. Opal is awesome, he comes out to your table and has a chat with you regarding your likes and dislikes, allergies and where and if you have travelled to Thailand. He is from Bangkok and his wife is from Isan. After finding out that my date and I are experienced eaters, HAVE been to Thailand, and that we love to try new things, he was off to put in our order. They must have their liquor license, I have seen some reviews questioning it. We got their signature sangria which is made with a red wine and plenty of fruit. It is so amazing, we had to order two. The best part is eating the wine soaked fruit right from the glass once you have consumed the beverage. He told us what we ate when we had completed our meal. He is pleasant and eager to share culinary experiences and how he got started from a humble food truck beginning. Pay attention to the instructions on how to eat. If you aren't instructed...ASK HIM! The half special cake was a sticky firm fish. So soft with an interesting texture. But oh so delicious. The crunch of the bean sprouts and the fresh cilantro help to round out this dish nicely. The flavor profile that he and his wife create their culinary masterpieces just overwhelm your mouth with balance between spicy, sweet, savory and acid. The crispy rice salad with the sausage was just amazing. I loved it. So tasty and with fresh ginger and crunchy cabbage helped offset the fatty crispy rice and Isan style sausage. Like I said, perfect balance. The Kao Soy soup with chicken was cooked perfectly. The chicken fell off of the bone and the sour soup was the perfect compliment. He actually brought me out this special hot chili condiment to eat with it and it paired perfectly. I was SWEATING! The sauteed eggplant and crunchy string bean dish cooked to perfection. A great veggie dish. So savory and herbacious with tomatoes and crunchy fried basil! The total experience, including talking with Opal was Amazing! I decided there that this would be my new favorite restaurant. We spoke of a few dishes that we wanted to try, a fried cat fish fluff and Kra Pao. We also wanted to have a curry with the small eggplant the size of marbles and a special crab dish. He asked that we call him a few days in advance so he could get the ingredients. Don't get me wrong, if you are stuffy and unable to be adventerous, perhaps this isn't the place for you. If you are fun and willing to be amazed by culinary experiences outside of your comfort zone, then head on down. Let him guide you on a culinary tour of Thailand. Just let go and enjoy what you are served.

INCREDIBLY AWESOME EXPERIENCE! Aside from some of the absolute best food on the island, this place should be a 'must go' for the experience alone. The owner will chat with you about what kind of food you like, and place the order for you. Don't be concerned about not picking from the menu - the food is mind blowing! The owner has a way with kids. He had my 3 year old eating vegetables like I've never seen! The service from the rest of the staff is on point too. Our waters never got empty, and we almost never noticed when empty plates would just disappear. Staff members are always right there if you need anything. Need another beer? They'll probably beat you to asking, but if not they're all over ready to assist. This is our new date night restaurant. Nothing on the island can even come close to comparing to Opal Thai!

Best Thai food I've had in the US. You can order from a menu but I prefer letting Opal customize the nightly menu and surprising me. He'll do his best to make sure you don't repeat dishes. I went twice in a week and wish I could've gone more. Sending all my friends here. (call for a reservation!)

A cozy little spot with unconventional ordering style. The owner, Opal asks everyone at the table their food preferences, spice tolerance and if there's any food allergies. Then the food just comes out! It was a nice way to try different dishes, as I normally stick with Panang Curry and drunken noodles so, it was nice to get out of my own box. Opal, Leo and the female waitress who's name I didn't get were all very attentive, kind and hilarious and most importantly the food was delicious! (Shout out to the kitchen!) My gal pals and I will defs be back and a bit of advice be on time, the entire party must be present for Opal to ask the aforementioned questions and if you're late he will scold you. But the food is worth it!