THAI CAFE

Health grade
B · 88/100
Orange County rank
Safer than 37%
Diner rating
4.7 ★ · 636 reviews
Violations
1 high-priority and 4 basic
Last inspected
Jan 2026

It currently ranks safer than 37% of Orange County restaurants we grade. The most recent report (January 14, 2026) still cited 1 high-priority and 4 basic violations, so there's room to climb. Diner rating: 4.7 from 636 reviews. Menus here flag vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, healthy, and other dietary options.

Trend: improving · B (88/100) · safer than 37% of Orange County restaurants we grade

Get directions Call (407) 839-0541

Restaurant details

Health grade
B (88/100)
Violations
5 total — 1 high-priority, 4 basic
Address
217 N MAGNOLIA, Orlando, FL
Cuisine
Thai
Categories
Thai restaurant, Asian restaurant, Laotian restaurant
Price
$10–20
Rating
4.7 stars (636 reviews)
Neighborhood
Central Business District
Seats
46
Phone
(407) 839-0541
Website
Official website
Photo of THAI CAFE
Photo: Thai Cafe

Community Rating

Reviews via Google
4.7 Community-sourced rating 636 reviews
Read all reviews on Google →

What diners say — our read

The recurring subject in this corpus is the staff, not the food in general. Reviewers who mention front-of-house rate this place 4.8 on average — it is working in the restaurant’s favour. After that, freshness and temperature appears most often — 24% of the corpus, averaging 5.0.

The single most common rating left here is 5 stars (18 of 21). Of the 21 rated reviews, 20 sit at four stars or better and 1 at two or below.

The kitchen graded a B (88/100) on 1 high-priority and 4 basic violations at its last inspection, which is roughly where the reviews sit too. The visit behind that grade was January 14, 2026. Across its inspection history the kitchen is improving, which argues for giving it the benefit of the doubt. That puts it ahead of 37% of graded kitchens in Orange County. For specifics, the last inspection cited cross-contamination and handwashing.

Nothing here pulls in opposite directions — an unusually clean read. The underlying reviews are reproduced in full underneath.

Our own analysis of 21 reviews for this restaurant, set against its Florida DBPR inspection record. How we calculate grades →

  • June 16, 2026

    I ordered Green Curry with Seafood and Chicken Satay for pickup. Everything was cooked and seasoned to perfection. i was looking for something delicious and comforting and this definitely hit the spot. 👍🏼👍🏼

  • June 12, 2026

    Decent Thai food, mountains of it, and quirky attentive service. Not very full on a Saturday night, maybe because it’s not licensed and there’s no liquor store nearby to pick up a take-in. But the food is worth it.

  • June 5, 2026

    Welcomed warmly and promptly Food was delicious and flavorful. Salad was crunchy and dressing very good

  • May 31, 2026

    Great mango sticky rice! Loved it

  • May 22, 2026

    Love the Food here!! And such wonderful service too. Our favorite!! 😍

  • May 10, 2026

    Thai Cafe in Downtown Orlando was an absolutely wonderful experience from the moment I walked in. The owner immediately greeted me with kindness and brought me a cup of water right away, which was such a thoughtful touch and made me feel genuinely welcome and comfortable. You can really tell that they care about their customers and take pride in creating a warm atmosphere. The restaurant itself has a cozy and relaxing feel, and the food was amazing. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and made with care. It’s hard to find places that consistently combine great food with such personal hospitality, but Thai Cafe absolutely does. The staff was attentive, friendly, and made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. What stood out to me most was how authentic and welcoming the environment felt. It didn’t feel rushed or impersonal at all. It felt like a place where they truly appreciate every customer who walks through the door. I’ll definitely be coming back and recommending Thai Cafe to friends and family looking for great Thai food in Downtown Orlando.

  • May 9, 2026

    This place is the best Thai food and service in the downtown area for sure! I met them through work and they are an amazing group of people that serve everything fresh to order. I've tried the pepper steak with white rice, peanut chicken with fried rice, spring rolls and chicken satay. They were all absolutely amazing! I've been to this place several times. It is always perfect. Great service. I got to go food today. Started eating it about an hour ago after it was sitting for a few hours. Heated it up. Absolutely amazing again!

  • May 5, 2026

    Delicious flavor , beautiful Ma&Pa feeling.

  • May 4, 2026

    The food was lacking in flavor.

  • May 3, 2026

    This is a gem downtown Orlando, the owners are welcoming, the food is always fresh and delicious, we've dined here countless times.

  • May 2, 2026

    The food was excellent and the gentleman serving us was very nice and attentive.

  • April 25, 2026

    Very nice lady and gentlemen. Very good spring rolls. Excellent Thai tea.

  • April 10, 2026

    Came here on a whim and the food exceeded my expectations, everything was rich in flavor and generously portioned. You get free salad with your order as well. Highly recommend if you're in the mood for Thai food!

  • April 8, 2026

    First timer, food and service was awesome!

  • March 25, 2026

    Wonderful service and delicious food! The owner was so kind.

  • February 12, 2026

    The service was fantastic. Our server/resturant owner? Made reccomendations upon request and everything was amazing! We had Tom kha soup (flavor on point), spring rolls, yellow curry with chicken and veggies, and drunken noodles with beef. Best meal we had in Orlando. Affordable and delicious! We will be back.

  • February 7, 2026

    This is my favorite Thai place. It feels so homey, and the food is always delicious. I will literally cry if this place ever closes down. I will give them my money 10 times over. I got the shrimp Tom Young soup, pepper, steak, and summer rolls

  • January 29, 2026

    I happened to bump into this hidden gem! The staff was so nice. The restaurant was clean. The food was super fresh amd extremely hot. Loved it. Would highly recommend Chicken pad Thai..

  • January 26, 2026

    Every dish was outstanding. If you’re nearby and craving bold, authentic flavors, this spot is a must. I’ve eaten at plenty of Thai restaurants, and this one easily earns a 10/10. Definitely ask for the papaya salad… it’s a lesser-known item that’s not on the menu but hands down my favorite.

  • January 4, 2026

    This Thai cafe is an absolute gem! Everything we tried was full of flavor and made with such care. The Thai iced tea was perfectly balanced—rich, creamy, and refreshing. The crab cheese rolls were crispy on the outside and wonderfully creamy inside, easily one of the best appetizers I’ve had. The Thai soup was comforting and delicious, with deep, authentic flavors that instantly made it feel like a home-style meal. From appetizers to drinks, everything tasted fresh and well-prepared. A cozy spot with amazing food—definitely coming back to try more items from the menu. Highly recommended for anyone who loves authentic Thai cuisine!

  • January 3, 2026

    Tasty Thai food and friendly service in a nice, casual setting! I got the fried rice and a Thai tea and both were delicious! The fried rice also came with a small salad which was also very tasty! The service was fast and friendly too! I'll definitely be coming back again sometime!

Overall Score

72 / 100

  • Health inspection grade 30/40
    Grade B
  • Dietary transparency 17/20
    5 options listed
  • Community rating 19/20
    4.7★ average
  • Hidden-gem status 0/10
    Not flagged
  • Track record 6/10
    Improving, 0% clean

Composite score from health grade, dietary options, ratings, and inspection record — distinct from the state-derived health grade.

Opening hours

Monday
11 AM to 3 PM, 5 to 9 PM
Tuesday
11 AM to 3 PM, 5 to 9 PM
Wednesday
11 AM to 3 PM, 5 to 9 PM
Thursday
11 AM to 3 PM, 5 to 9 PM
Friday
11 AM to 3 PM, 5 to 9 PM
Saturday
5 to 9 PM
Sunday
Closed

Inspection history

The following records are from Florida DBPR public inspection records, most recent first.

  1. January 14, 2026 · Routine - Food

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    1 high-priority · 0 intermediate · 4 basic

    • 08 — Cross-contamination: raw foods separated; food protected during prep/storage
    • 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
    • 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
    • 35 — Insects/rodents/pests; outer openings protected against pests
    • 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation
  2. August 1, 2025 · Routine - Food

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    3 high-priority · 2 intermediate · 3 basic

    • 03 — Temperature control of foods (cold/hot holding, cooking, cooling, reheating)
    • 05 — Food & equipment thermometers provided and accurate
    • 08 — Cross-contamination: raw foods separated; food protected during prep/storage (×2)
    • 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
    • 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
    • 41 — Chemicals / toxic substances properly stored & used
    • 50 — Current license, properly displayed

Safer options nearby

Higher-graded restaurants close to THAI CAFE, by Florida DBPR grade:

This grade is calculated by us from Florida DBPR public inspection records — Florida does not issue official grades. How we calculate it →

Data last updated: January 14, 2026