Banana Leaf Thai Cuisine

Shhhh...the secret is getting out!

by cowpilot

July 16, 2007

In a city that is supposedly known for its restaurants (but that also consistently rates places like PF McChangs as "Best Chinese" in diners' surveys), it's a pleasure to be able to spread the word about a true Dallas gem. My office is nearby, and since 2002, I've been a regular customer, visiting Banana Leaf at least twice a week for lunch, and frequently for dinner. That's a lot of Banana Leaf, folks, and I have to say, in five years, I've never been disappointed. How many places can you say that about? I keep meeting people who secretly love this place (and it is getting harder to get a table sometimes; the secret is out, I guess...wait, why am I writing this?). I've worked my way through most of the delightful and varied menu, and though I certainly have my favorites, there's nothing I don't recommend to the many, many people I've turned on to this place over the years. When we entertain business clients and partners from out of town - more than a few of whom have travelled and lived in Thailand - we are asked to take them back here more than anywhere else ("we're flying in for a Thursday morning meeting and have a flight out in the afternoon but thought we could do lunch at that Thai place"... ). In my own travels, I often sample locally-recommended Thai in larger cities and few compare.

• Pros: Food. Service. Everything.
• Cons: Harder to get a table sometimes!

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Good food, bad manager

by Annathomas

June 10, 2009

I've been going to Banana Leaf for a couple years now and I really love them.

the food is fantastic, but we were quite disappointed.

I went to this restaurant Tuesday 9th, and I was really up sad with one guy

I think he is a manager of the restaurant. My kids was crying and he asked me not to let

my kids cry in the restaurant. I can't stop them in that moment because they are kids.

I just want to let you guy know that I like the food, I like the service

but i don't like the people talk be hide me the same as that short, dark, and

not friendly guy. And I won't come back to that restaurant any more- as long as he

still working there. very disappointed. I wrote a note for the owner

I believe that the owner should tell him to change the way he did to the customer.

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The Best Pad kee mow! ( flat noodle basil dish)

by wendyyork1

April 17, 2009

When I first came in ( see my review back last year) They gave me a vip card. The vip card gives you 50% off the second entree. I came back several times to this thai restaurant and each time the basil flat noodle dish has consistently been the best. Keep in mind that they will change it to spicy or not , extra veggies, no veggies etc... They are very accommodating to your taste. Give them a try, ask for a vip card and tell them Wendy sent you.

• Pros: Great service, food and location
• Cons: none

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Wonderful restaurant, food, service, atmosphere. Ask for Steve this guy is freaking awesome and will take care of you

by NicolePW

March 05, 2009

It should be noted first that the meal price under restaurant info states one dollar sign and in the dallas observer two. Everything on our ticket except the drinks ranged from $10-$20.

I came here with my fiance' looking for a place to cater our wedding. We had no expectations (good or bad) going in to the restaurant and came out raving about it. I definitely want them to cater for our special day.

After Steve brought out a sample of their pineapple red curry sauce we wanted to taste everything. So we ordered 4 different entrees and the sampler LOL (subbed cream chz rolls instead of dumplings on the sampler w/ no problem). I really like that the spicy can be customized as spicy really is a matter of opinion.

We ordered the pineapple curry duck, the ClayP ot (not the Aladdin but the one with chicken, beef, pork, and shrimp (apparently p o t is an inappropriate word here), the Cajun fried rice, and orange chicken. Everything we tasted we wanted in the wedding, and I am sure if we tried anything else it would have been the same.

The portions are big too, so we have plenty for our families to try with leftovers for ourselves. There was a glitch with our order when it was brought out but it was cleared up by Steve before I could figure out what it was they brought us LOL. Our waitress was all smiles and very sweet

We went on a Wed and it was not crowded. I read the previous reviews before writing this one and felt compelled to say in response to the one star review; the food was not even close to greasy, not even the fried food. Everything was very fresh and came out in a very timely manner. I would suggest giving it another try.

Steve is going to itemize our catering order and email it to me. I will post again after the wedding to leave a review for their catering.

• Pros: Service, food, atmosphere, everything
• Cons: n/a

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Finally

by joy162

November 26, 2008

Since moving to Texas at the end of 2004, I had about resolved myself to never having good Thai food again. Last night I found Banana Leaf online in a last ditch effort to solve my Thai need. Sadly I don't remember the name of the person that took my phone order, but would know him again instantly. Good first impressions go so far and he was exceptional in every possible way. Warm, charming, personable, he made helpful suggestions and covered everything far and above anything I have ever encountered with any business. This guy was nothing but an asset. For two people I ordered three entrees and the Cajun Fried Rice. From the very first bite, I knew my money was well spent. Each bite following only re-enforced that. Today as I was bragging on my experience, a co-worker suggested we go one day for lunch. Geez, can we go tomorrow...I can't get there fast enough. Thank you Banana Leaf.

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Great for diets

by wendyyork

August 05, 2008

i am on a diet and can only eat chicken, carrotts and veggies like that, no carbs, no dressing etc...... I simply told the tahi waiter what I could eat, he made some suggestions and it was perfect! If you are on a special diet they are very accommodating! When I am not on a diet I come here too, but felt compelled to write for us ladies that may need some help but don't want to eat in all the time. Great place, great service, great food

• Pros: very accomodating to my special diet

Response from this business

nilkamhaeng-1– November 11, 2008 at 11:50:41 PST

Some guest just won't allow you to take care of them. I am glad you allowed us to do what we normally do, and that is to take care of the guest. I can probably cook your Thai Food anyway you want it, but the only person who knows how they want it is you. Thanks for allowing us to take of you-Steve

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Awesome food, great dining experience

by FLJOE

July 24, 2008

I was on a business trip and was fortunate that this was the very first restaurant that came up on a search for Thai restaurant on my Blackberry. Steve (the owner) introduced himself and bought me a sample of the red curry from the kitchen for me to guage the level of spicyness for the food I was going to order. I ordered the Chicken Satay which was much bigger chicken on the stick compared to other Thai places. I also had the Thai Basil Chicken for the entree and the dish was extremely flavorful and very well made. Rounded off the evening with Fried Bananas & Coconut Icecream. Will definitely visit him when I am next in town.

Response from this business

nilkamhaeng-1– November 11, 2008 at 11:45:25 PST

Thanks for the kind words and hope to see you the next time you are in town. Maybe I can set-up a catering for your company. Thanks again, Steve

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Love it there by Tom S. at InsiderPages

Contributor

June 22, 2008

This is a must try dinning in for Thai food fan - I am a big fan here since they one. All of the staffs are very friendly and foods are fantastic

I wish they should open more in different location

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Best Thai Food In Dallas by Jason E. at InsiderPages

Contributor

June 20, 2008

I have eaten Thai food at many different places in Dallas and Banana Leaf is by far the best. The service is great and the food is fantastic! Have been eating there for over three years and never had a bad experience.

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yummy thai by jo l. at InsiderPages

Contributor

April 30, 2008

My bf and I come here often. We can't find a thai place we like more than Banana Leaf. They will make it however you want, spicy, minus one thing or more of another thing. Their portions are very large and we usually come home with food for the nexy day's lunch.

The owner and staff are very friendly. The owner seems very passionate about his business and making sure the customer's satisfied. Some of the wait staff have problems speaking english, but they always get our orders right. The food takes a little longer but it always seems fresh. Their eggrolls are great too. If there's a problem, they seem very willing to fix it. We usually get the chicken pad thai made spicy and pineapple fried rice with chicken.

I'm not thai so I can't say how this compares to real traditional thai food, but the food is good. Most all asian restaurants in the states are americanized minus those few hole in the walls where the restaurant name's not in english and the people barely speak english. I don't see why people are bashing this place b/c it's americanized.

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Don't spend 2 hours to eat greasy unhealthy food!

by bellaflora3

March 20, 2008

ok not sure where all of the rating is coming from but this place was the worst Tai place I have EVER been to! I looked to see on here where is a good Tai spot to go to for lunch, this place is not it yall. Waited over 30 minutes for appetizer and water , we were there for over an hour by the time they brought our food so we had it to go and take back to work with us! Took 20 minutes for her to bring the to go food now, waited 10 minutes for the check and this is while she was cleaning up tables! I?m now at my desk writing this to save you some time, the food is the greasiest Pad Tai I have ever had and the peanut sauce had layer of oil on top of it. So in a nutshell, you?ll spend too much time waiting for a table, starve before you get your food and beverage and be an hour late back to work all for food that is not worth it. Save time, find another place!

• Pros: I don't have any pros!
• Cons: bad greasy food, takes over an hour to get your food, bad and slow service during lunch

Response from this business

nilkamhaeng-1– March 27, 2008 at 11:11:58 PDT

**WE APPRECIATE ALL RESPONSES...good and bad**

First of all thank you for taking time out to write this response. Some bad days are like a snowball going downhill, it gets bigger and bigger.

Did you eat lunch on Thursday, March 20th? Was it you and another lady friend. If so I apologize for your experience. Normally I am always there, but that day I was not in (kids spring break).

To make things short and sweet, I would like to comp your meal and also send you a gift certificate. That is not the norm for our restaurant. My family has been in this restaurant location for 19 years, and I know things happen. I just hope they don't happen too often.

Please pick up a phone and call for me-Steve(the cajun-asian). I believe we have most of your credit card info to give you credit, but I need just a little more info.

Thanks again for the response and I am sorry.

Steve

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