Chili Lemon Garlic Cafe

CLG is like what other Unilocalers have said. in pretty much a hole in a wall location. it’s easy to miss, but after hearing from a friend who lived in the mission saying that CLG was pretty good. my BF and i decided to give it a shot since it is now in SOMA. so glad we did! it is much better than chaat-​am on third and folsom.
we love the pad see ew and the string bean dish! only downers were when i wanted the mango sticky rice, they weren’t able to make it since their mango wasn’t ripe enough, but at least they didn’t give me raw mango sticky rice: P and once they did give us a wrong dish (was not tasty.) when we had ordered the string beans.
overall, we always order out from CLG. the restaurant is pretty small, so would recommend you just order and pick up.

Unilocaling is like a personal Journal.
Came here last night before the Miss Asian Beauty Pageant promo at Lava Lounge. It was across the street from this bar and I was craving Thai food. You would never know there was a Thai restaurant here. I can say the same for Lava Lounge as well. 2 businesses stranded in the middle of no where.
I was here with a buddy of mine so we ordered the mince pork with basil, red curry fried catfish, and pad Thai. I thought I was going to bring the pad Thai home for a midnight snack. All three dishes were good but the portions are very small. We ate everything. The service was very bad and we waited for our food for a very long time. By the time we got our pad Thai… it was cold. So… I’m thinking… it’s the server.
We were the only ones in the restaurant but she was bombarded with to go orders. That phone was ringing off the hook. It was like watching a Jerry Lewis marathon. It took us a good fifteen minutes to get our water and tea.
Food is great
service is bad
portion is small
location …you would never know there was a restaurant here
ambiance…cozy and quaint
price is above the norm for Thai food 35 dollars for the three orders.
You can probably get better and cheaper Thai food from king of Thai, osha (on Geary), chabaa, or marnee Thai. But if you live around here… you really don’t have that many choices.

OK, I tired CLG about a year ago and LOVED it. The Tom Yum Goong was great and the Chicken w/​Basil was fantastic. They just opened up a new spot on Bryant @ 3^rd right by my office. I just happened to be walking by and was STOKED to see that they are so close now. I had the Tom Yum with Chicken and the Chicken Larb. Got back to my office and was ready to tear that shit up. To mu surprise the Tom Yum was not Tom Yummmmmm. It had no Lemon grass in it what so ever. IT pretty much the FUCKN’ base of the soup besides Chicken stock. It also had carrots in it, did they think the carrots would replace the pungent odder and the crunch of the Lemongrass? It got tossed, not at all what I wanted. I had the Larb which was OK at best. they did not give me any fish sauce for the Larb either which bugged me.
If this was the first time trying this place out I would NEVER go back. but knowing how good the food can be I’ll give it another shot.

While the reviews have been mixed and my personal experience would rate about 3 stars, I’m giving CLG 5 STARTS b/​c it’s a DAMN SHAME that we are losing one of the few non-​Mexican/​Latino restaurants on 24^th Street to GREEDY LANDLORDS. I don’t know what they think is going on but the gentrification of 24^th has not happened yet so to raise the rent on some hardworking folks is ABSOLUTE CRAP. So, I ask you to try CLG one more time before they loose their lease. Thanks. I’m Sig Naah and I endorse this message.

I noticed as I walked out the door last night a review from the Chron written in July of ’07. I didn’t read the whole thing, but the last line made reference to «leisurely service.» I should say so!
I’ve lived in Thailand, and there are plenty of places in the city that all do a good job of Thai food. I had the calamari and pork PraRam, and it was good; the portion was a little small for the price (especially the calamari) but it was tasty enough. My problem was simply the service.
There were 3 tables seated, including us, while we were there. We waited a solid 30+ minutes for the calamari appetizer, during which point no less than 6 takeout/​delivery orders were handled. Another 30 minutes for our meals, which were delivered one at a time over about 10 minutes, again while delivery orders go.
Delivery food can wait a few more minutes, they will hardly know the difference. Meanwhile, I am here at your table getting madder and madder and thinking about whether or not you’ve lost the 3^rd star.
Ultimately, you did. I felt the experience was rude and disappointing, and I won’t go back. I may order the takeout if I’m nearby, but there are at least 2 places equally good closer to my house (Dusit Thai and Pad Thai). I left your place still hungry and cranky, with absolutely no incentive to return.

I love it when people complain on Unilocal that their Thai food was too spicy. If you don’t like spicy food, you have no business reviewing a Thai restaurant. In fact, you have no business even entering a Thai restaurant.
CLG is a great casual date spot, thanks to the cozy patio which is often deserted, and a couple of nice little nooks inside. The Thai food is appropriately spiced and very good, the Thai hot basil is as good as I’ve had.
The outdoor seating, location, and dessert menu are what make this place a 4 star spot. What are fried bananas without coconut ice cream? All other Thai spots, take note.

I had been craving crispy tacos all week and on our way to 24^th st. Mexican food mecca, we got sidetracked at CLG. We poked our heads in to check out the décor and wouldn’t you know it, 5 minutes later, Chang beers in hand, we’ve decided on Thai.
We ordered veggie panang curry — mild. It came out medium/​spicy, too watery and heavy on canned corn (which I would have loved in my taco, but not as part of my veggie Thai entrée). The pad see ew was lackluster — it had absolutely no flavor to it.
2 beers, 2 veggie entrees, $ 45 dollars spent!
This place certainly isn’t the worst Thai in the city, but I wouldn’t recommend it for anything beyond the lunch special (which looked like a good value). They also have a small back patio which might be nice on a sunny warm outer mission day.
The point being, fellow Unilocalers, where can I get GREAT thai in this city?

Sure, it’s a bit overpriced, but it seems CLG is really getting a lot of shit.
The food is really pretty good — I’d say some of the more authentic Thai food I’ve had since Thailand. I guess I should clarify that this doesn’t mean it’s perfect or chic; not at all. But everything from the servers to the utensils to the music to the decorations to, yes, the dishes, is pretty damn authentic. And I’m a fan.

I understand that I am asking for Thai in a Latin-area…but CLG really let me down.
I’ve lived in the area for four or so months, and I always wanted to try CLG, as I am a HUGE Thai freak… but burritos always got the better of me when seeking yummy, cheap food.
Last night, I finally got the change to try CLG… and I kinda wish I had just gotten the darn burrito. CLG is cute as far an interior design is concerned, but we had shoddy service from the get-​go. We were the only people when we got there, yet we were seated in a pretty crappy spot right next to the kitchen… when there were SEVERAL other desirable places nearby, like the little table that is in a little cave in the wall, or next to the fountain. But, no, we were settled next to the back… where storage and kitchen-​noises abound.
Alright, fine, so our seating sucked. Surely the food can make up for this, right?
Wrong.
On the whiteboard by the register, it announces that they proudly serve «Vegetarian Meat.» (Don’t let me even start on the phrase «vegetarian meat»…) That’s great and everything, but they have no dishes that are vegetable dishes. In fact, when I enquired about vegetable dishes, the girl was confused and listed off «onions, potatoes, and carrots.» Right, so… you have carrots.
Whatever.
We got the peanut-​sauce and fried tofu for an appetizer. This was probably the only reasonable part of the meal… except they didn’t give you NEAR enough of their too-​sweet sauce.
We ordered brown rice (which was actually wild rice when it came out) and we both got yellow curry, he with the prawns and I with the «vegetarian meat.» When our order came out, we both looked at it with a «that’s it?» attitude. It really wasn’t that much food… especially considering how scrimp they were with the rice orders. It turns out that the «vegetarian meat» is actually just tofu, and they certainly load it up with WAY TOO MUCH (I REPEAT: WAY TOO MUCH) tofu. This dish was primarily tofu, I swear… I picked out half of it. As far as the veggies were concerned, I think I had four carrot slices in the whole thing, and the curry was ultra-​watery.
The prawns in my boyfriend’s dish were not soaked in the curry at all, or at least should have been soaked longer or something… they were bland, but good. Fresh enough and all of that… they WERE generous with the prawns.
Regardless, it tasted fine and thus they earn one star. (I should revoke the star for the ridiculous prices, though. Our entrees were each around the $ 10 mark, and the amount of food given was weak.)
We both demolished our food, as it wasn’t that much, and I desired a little more.
When the girl asked if we were done, I asked to see a dessert menu and she acted confused, then starting listing off desserts. The minute I heard «fried banana and ice cream,» I was in.
This is where the other star comes from. This fried banana was the most unique fried banana I’d ever seen. Most places just fry up the whole banana, but they seemd to wrap it up like a little present and then fry the banana in chunks wrapped up… hard to explain, but super-​tasty. This was the ONLY thing I was 100% satisfied with.
We waited a really long time to get our check, as she was busy giving checks to people who got there after us, and then leaved before us.
When we got the check, I couldn’t believe it was so much given what we ordered.
I’ll never go here again. Save your money and patience and just go to a better place in general. It’s just not worth it to go here, unless you like over-​priced, only-​meat mediocre dishes.
In fact, go to Ploy II off of Upper Haight.
…I’d have been infinitely happier with an average bean-​and-​rice burrito last night.

Chili Lemon Garlic is everything it needs to be as a neighborhood thai spot: it’s small, quick and cozy. The menu has all the basics — noodle dishes, soups and curries — as well as beer and wine to go along with it. The staff is attentive and always polite. The name is entirely appropriate as the spicy dishes are actually spicy, everything is heavy on the garlic and the lemongrass soup is just as tangy as it should be. Plus, they can substitute the meat in pretty much every dish with a vegetarian (soy) option.
Basically, you aren’t going to be amazed at some innovative approach to Thai cooking or dazzled by the amazing outdoor patio designed by so-​and-​so architect, but as a local Thai place, I’d say it hits the spot.

If you’re wandering 24^th St. in the Mission looking for a non-​Latin place for dinner, CLGC is there to help.
I’m particularly sensitive to interior smells and CLGC has its own distinctive scent of old-​cooking-​scents-​in-​drapery-​and-​upholstery. Some sketchy-​looking (full) wine bottles adorn all tables as an example of what’s available.
Service is exceptionally kind and sweet; the food is average for what it is. They had a version of Phở (beef noodle soup in broth) that was fairly tasty. I had some sort of shrimp-​stuff eggplant in curry and a bowl of brown rice that had somehow lost its characteristic nutty sweetness.

I was not impressed with their takeout. They left me on hold forever and the food took longer than I expected to arrive. The dish I ordered spicy was not spicy in the least, though the pumpkin curry was delicious. Over priced for what it was, I think.
Dining in was a different experience. The service was friendly and prompt. The food had lots of flavor and kick and there was more than enough to take home for lunch the next day. Not the best Thai food ever, but good when you have a hankering– just don’t order takeout!

Man, that was some super awkward service. The girl looked so terrified I felt bad for even ordering.
The patio is charming, but the heater is broken. Either that or the server was scared of it.
I think I’ll stick to take out from now on. At least their Tom Yum is good.

I just discovered this place in my neighborhood — it was literally less than a block away. I always wished for a hole-​in-​the-​wall authentic Thai food restaurant near my pad and now my wish has been granted!
I had dinner there last night w/​a girlfriend. They have an extensive menu, offering up the classics (pad thai, curries, hot noodle soups, rad nar, etc.) and a Thai BBQ section on the menu. We ordered the Chicken Larb (delicious) for an appetizer and had sticky rice w/​it (truly authentic Thai & Laos eating). I ordered the grilled Rainbow trout that came in a banana leaf full of lemongrass, cilantro, basil and garlic, my girlfriend ordered a stir-​fried basil noodle dish. Both were delicious.
The only downside is that there was only 1 waitress for 6 busy tables. We cut her some slack, but this could get old for dining in. The other worker was in and out delivering home orders.
There is an outdoor patio — should it ever be nice enough to eat outside here in S.F. They serve wine and beer as well. The décor is «rustic» but the owner and staff are all Thai — so the food is authentic.
I will definitely be ordering take-​out next time.

As you may have seen in previous Thai food reviews, they come in the form of a Haiku. Even though they aren’t Japanese. I now present…
A Chili Lemon Garlic Café Haiku:
The yucky Pad Thai
You really hurt my stomach
Stay away from me.
Now that doesn’t mean that it was all bad. I had duck curry from them and it was awesome on levels I can’t explain. I don’t even think it was on the menu… I feel special. The interior is really small, and almost always never full. It isn’t in the right area to be a restaurant like that… not a lot of hustle and bustle for this part of the mission.

Ok… so I don’t know if I’m pissed at the restaurant, or at my brother in law for dragging us from friggin’ SAN JOSE to try this «INCREDIBLE» Thai place. I got all dressed up and so excited to try a new place in The City.
Half way through the ghetto, I figured it’d be one of these hole in the wall places that was spectacular! **I get even more excited!**
We finally get there and I have to cart my 15 month old over the bum passed out on the door step. ok… so, the place isn’t the Ritz and I wore my heels for nothing, but I’m ok with that. Kinda cute… like you’re really in Thailand.
So, we order some of the specials, and I so agree with one of the other reviews — YOU HAVE NO IDEA IF YOU’RE GONNA GET REAL MEAT OR NOT.
Long story short, it was good Thai food at best, and would probably eat there on occasion if I lived close, but I have NO CLUE why someone would drive 45 long minutes for it.
Also, not cheap. $ 120 for 5 of us… yikes
blah

By far the best Thai restaurant I’ve been in the bay area.
I’ve been to a couple around San Francisco but found out the hard way i should not do that and be faithful. Not alot of people know about this place since is a couple blocks from the Mission. The restaurant is nicely decorated, quiet and a good vibration is perceived throughout. They have a garden like porch in the back where u can eat on a beautiful Mission sunny day. The food tastes like is prepared at the moment and the service is better.
I recommend the coconut milk red curry and chai tea.

I don’t get all the bad reviews on this place. I found our two in restaurant dining experiences to be quite pleasant. I mean WTF does everyone expect? Happy endings? Jeez.
The food was fresh and promptly presented in piping hot substantial portions. The pad thai is prepared just the way I like it and how I’ve had in on the streets of Bangkok! The food is great, yeah OK maybe not the best, but definitely good!
I thought the service was attentive but not overbearing and the prices were reasonable!
Oh and did I mention they deliver? How cool is that? Thai delivery — and it’s fast!

I remember when this restaurant was about to open, and the anticipation I had of finally having a place to eat thai in the mission. It’s not that there aren’t any thai places around here, but they were not always so appealing to me.
CLG was different, for one thing the décor was interesting, and the fact that there is (at least when it opened) a patio in which to enjoy the food. The menu options looked promising as well. The big plus was the free delivery, not that I needed it since I can easily walk there, but still it’s comforting to know that I have that option. You know in case I come down with the flu and hibernate for days with a pile of kleenex by my side and a steeming cup of tea.
I ordered several times from here and was underwhelmed by the food. They made an abomination of the chicken pad thai, the noodles were greasy stuck to each other like long lost loves, and they were lukewarm. It’s almost like they pulled the leftovers out of the fridge and reheated them. There is this one curry dish I would order again, and the thai iced tea is good. But that is all I would consider ordering from here. Also the price is definitely not right at CLG. For cheaper, better tasting thai go to Thai House express, or Osha, or Mekong.

Eugh — Chili Lemon Garlic had to ruin my «I’m always right» streak this weekend. Damn them! When it comes to food choices — I’m it. I always seem to get the best main dish, the best dessert, and can usually work a little magic when it comes to restaurant picking… but apparently not this weekend.
This is how it all went down… After a long day of shopping, as my bf and I argued over food — I saw CLGC and I figured why not? I’d been a couple of times before and it was ok. My bf shook his head, but I persisted «Come on — I want something kinda healthy (I have a warped conception of what I think is healthy)… I’m always right about food, right?» And so CLGC it was.
We walked through the doors. No one came out to seat us and there was only one other occupied table in the place… So… we sat ourselves down.
About five minutes later, our waitress came over to take our order. We ordered pineapple fried rice, pumpkin curry (shrimp and chicken), and some spring rolls.
The spring rolls took forever to come out, although were actually pretty good. We figured our main courses would quickly follow…
…and so we just sat there waiting and waiting and waiting for the main portions to come out. How hard could it be to whip up rice and curry, when you only have two tables of customers in your place?
After about a good 40 minutes — they bring out my pineapple fried rice. I have to admit that I’m dissapointed. It tasted as though they’ve just whipped up some rice and egg — carefully placed two pineapple chunks on it — sprinkled two cashew nuts on and maybe been a tad more genrous with the rasins. And then for that je né sais quoi — doused it in curry powder. Quoi? But I was hungry so dug in… Half-​way through my rice, in a hunger induced trance, I realize that my bf hasn’t had his dish yet — and it’s already been about 15 minutes. I am about ¾ through my meal when they bring out a small portion of curry. I sit and watch him try to eat his, since mine is now done. Nice — I get to watch him eat now…
And ah… the check! Our meal or lack of — comes to 30 dollars! For what? Augh… this does not bear well for my restaurant picking track record…
My bf looked at me hard…“Well…it looks like you were wrong on this one… um…I’m totally picking next time“
And so… CLGC marks the end of my magic food touch. Now I have to think of some amazing restaurant with phenomal prices to redeem myself. We’re so done CLGC. SO DONE!