Royal Thai Cafe

Don Calley

Thought we give it a try. We were very pleasantly surprised. The spring rolls, 4 to an order, were lightly crisp and packed full with fresh veggies. They are shorter but much fatter than what we are used to. Two could be a while meal. Each meal was enough for four senior meals. The royal pad Thai had an explosion of flavors. Nicely prepared but what a great taste! The rice were small and went well with the Panang Curry. The best for last. The panang was the best we have eaten compared to the earlier couple of dozen restaurants where we have tried panang. It had a light flavor that blossomed in your mouth. Lots a good veggies and chicken. They have outside dining which faced the boutique shops on this small road. We'll have to try that later.

Royal Thai Bistro isn’t just our favorite Thai restaurant in Big Bear, it’s one of our favorite Thai spots overall! Consistently great food, and wonderful staff! Dabinda and Sheiba are awesome, always have a smile on their faces, and are very attentive to all of our table’s needs. Thank you and we’ll be back soon! One suggestion that I’d love to see in the future is switching from plastic/styrofoam to-go containers to paper! :)

Heidi Hanson

Royal Thai Bistro isn’t just our favorite Thai restaurant in Big Bear, it’s one of our favorite Thai spots overall! Consistently great food, and wonderful staff! Dabinda and Sheiba are awesome, always have a smile on their faces, and are very attentive to all of our table’s needs. Thank you and we’ll be back soon! One suggestion that I’d love to see in the future is switching from plastic/styrofoam to-go containers to paper! :)

Popped in for lunch after we did some village shopping and sat on the front patio which is a great little spot to people watch. We got seated right away as it was not very busy. Our server was attentive and the food was brought out nice and hot. We started with a couple of cold beers and then I had the chicken satay. The pieces of chicken were very large with good flavor and nice and tender, but the satay sauce was clumpy and not that flavorful. Could barely taste any peanut butter. Then I moved onto a nice half bottle of champagne, which was lovely. I got the chicken pad Thai, which had a nice large portion. You have to ask for peanuts on request so I did because that’s part of the dish! There was a lot of chicken throughout it, but it was just too dry and some pieces were even chewy. Flavor was just OK. It needed much more fish sauce. He said the same thing about his royal chicken pad Thai. Prices weren’t bad at all considering the location. Might or might not be back.

If you're strolling through the Village in Big Bear Lake and craving something warm, flavorful, and a little spicy, Royal Thai Bistro is a gem worth checking out. Tucked into the heart of the town, this cozy Thai restaurant offers a satisfying mix of authentic flavors, generous portions, and friendly service. I visited on a chilly evening, and the vibe inside was welcoming — low lighting, simple decor, and a relaxed atmosphere. The staff was attentive from the start, happy to answer questions about the menu and accommodate dietary preferences (they have plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options). I started with the Crispy chicken rolls, which was tangy and aromatic, though I did wish it had a bit more punch from the lemongrass. For the main course, the Fried pork rice was excellent — perfectly spiced, served with fluffy rice. The Pad Thai was solid as well: sweet, savory, and loaded with tender chicken and fresh bean sprouts. A table near us ordered the Drunken Noodles, and based on their enthusiasm, I’ll definitely try those next time. One thing to note: while most of the dishes hit the mark, there were a few inconsistencies. A friend mentioned their curry wasn’t as flavorful on a previous visit, so it might depend on who's in the kitchen. But overall, the experience felt thoughtful and genuine. Prices are reasonable for a resort town, and the portions are generous enough to share or take home for leftovers. Plus, the location is perfect for a relaxing lunch or dinner after a day of hiking, skiing, or browsing the local shops.

This place was very accommodating. There is not a lot of space inside, but the staff was able to accommodate a party of 5 adults and 1 child. They were especially understanding as our toddler was in high energy mode. The food tasted great and we received generous portions. Additionally, the decor in the restaurant is fun to admire.

Great food. Nothing was labeled vegan but the waiter seemed to know what that meant and adjusted accordingly. The tofu wasn’t deep fried, but it was still decent. Got the pad se ew and cashew stir fry. My parents enjoyed their Omni meals too. Went here for dinner on a Tuesday at 530 - very few people in, but within an hour, it had filled up. Decent ambiance. Highly recommend if you’re looking for vegan options in Big Bear.

Ordered hotpot with beef and Thai iced tea. Beef is not tender but tea is great. Staff are friendly and just OK.

If you are looking for a fine Thai food in big bear, you can try this out for sure! We ordered Tom kha hotpot (could improve on taste as our order was a bit tangy), chicken satay, pad kee mao was delicious, the spring rolls, chicken fried rice and royal fried rice was fine (it contained pineapple). They provide you some spices to add if asked. The chef can make the fried rice yummy through addition of flavors and cooking the rice in the sauces for a bit. The staff is quite friendly and responsive. Clean place with clean restrooms. Good affordable Thai food available here. Would recommend for you try it!

I recently visited a Royal thai for lunch and had some delicious tom yum soup and vegetable fried rice. The soup had a wonderful flavor, the vegetables were cooked perfectly, and the fried rice was flavorful and satisfying. The service was outstanding as well and the staff was always friendly and attentive. I definitely recommend this restaurant if you're looking for some good Thai food. 4 stars!

Raegan Newman

Popped in for lunch after we did some village shopping and sat on the front patio which is a great little spot to people watch. We got seated right away as it was not very busy. Our server was attentive and the food was brought out nice and hot. We started with a couple of cold beers and then I had the chicken satay. The pieces of chicken were very large with good flavor and nice and tender, but the satay sauce was clumpy and not that flavorful. Could barely taste any peanut butter. Then I moved onto a nice half bottle of champagne, which was lovely. I got the chicken pad Thai, which had a nice large portion. You have to ask for peanuts on request so I did because that’s part of the dish! There was a lot of chicken throughout it, but it was just too dry and some pieces were even chewy. Flavor was just OK. It needed much more fish sauce. He said the same thing about his royal chicken pad Thai. Prices weren’t bad at all considering the location. Might or might not be back.

Martin Zazueta

This place was very accommodating. There is not a lot of space inside, but the staff was able to accommodate a party of 5 adults and 1 child. They were especially understanding as our toddler was in high energy mode. The food tasted great and we received generous portions. Additionally, the decor in the restaurant is fun to admire.

Derick Foster

If you're strolling through the Village in Big Bear Lake and craving something warm, flavorful, and a little spicy, Royal Thai Bistro is a gem worth checking out. Tucked into the heart of the town, this cozy Thai restaurant offers a satisfying mix of authentic flavors, generous portions, and friendly service. I visited on a chilly evening, and the vibe inside was welcoming — low lighting, simple decor, and a relaxed atmosphere. The staff was attentive from the start, happy to answer questions about the menu and accommodate dietary preferences (they have plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options). I started with the Crispy chicken rolls, which was tangy and aromatic, though I did wish it had a bit more punch from the lemongrass. For the main course, the Fried pork rice was excellent — perfectly spiced, served with fluffy rice. The Pad Thai was solid as well: sweet, savory, and loaded with tender chicken and fresh bean sprouts. A table near us ordered the Drunken Noodles, and based on their enthusiasm, I’ll definitely try those next time. One thing to note: while most of the dishes hit the mark, there were a few inconsistencies. A friend mentioned their curry wasn’t as flavorful on a previous visit, so it might depend on who's in the kitchen. But overall, the experience felt thoughtful and genuine. Prices are reasonable for a resort town, and the portions are generous enough to share or take home for leftovers. Plus, the location is perfect for a relaxing lunch or dinner after a day of hiking, skiing, or browsing the local shops.

Emily Hess

Great food. Nothing was labeled vegan but the waiter seemed to know what that meant and adjusted accordingly. The tofu wasn’t deep fried, but it was still decent. Got the pad se ew and cashew stir fry. My parents enjoyed their Omni meals too. Went here for dinner on a Tuesday at 530 - very few people in, but within an hour, it had filled up. Decent ambiance. Highly recommend if you’re looking for vegan options in Big Bear.

X R

Ordered hotpot with beef and Thai iced tea. Beef is not tender but tea is great. Staff are friendly and just OK.

H VS

If you are looking for a fine Thai food in big bear, you can try this out for sure! We ordered Tom kha hotpot (could improve on taste as our order was a bit tangy), chicken satay, pad kee mao was delicious, the spring rolls, chicken fried rice and royal fried rice was fine (it contained pineapple). They provide you some spices to add if asked. The chef can make the fried rice yummy through addition of flavors and cooking the rice in the sauces for a bit. The staff is quite friendly and responsive. Clean place with clean restrooms. Good affordable Thai food available here. Would recommend for you try it!

Mohamed AlAli

I recently visited a Royal thai for lunch and had some delicious tom yum soup and vegetable fried rice. The soup had a wonderful flavor, the vegetables were cooked perfectly, and the fried rice was flavorful and satisfying. The service was outstanding as well and the staff was always friendly and attentive. I definitely recommend this restaurant if you're looking for some good Thai food. 4 stars!

Service was fast, almost too fast- we didn't have time to discuss too much, but we were hungry so happy there wasn't much wait. We ordered two different stir-fry dishes with oyster sauce that were protein + vegetable. The chicken was a bit dry/stringy and tasted like it had been previously cooked & reheated- not much flavor. The sauce was very sweet and lacked the salty/savory flavor you would expect; I ended up eating rice with it to cut down on the sweetness. Overall, it quality was very much mall foodcourt/fast food level - nothing special. We would eat here again, but would not be my first choice.

Cheryl Hertz

Service was fast, almost too fast- we didn't have time to discuss too much, but we were hungry so happy there wasn't much wait. We ordered two different stir-fry dishes with oyster sauce that were protein + vegetable. The chicken was a bit dry/stringy and tasted like it had been previously cooked & reheated- not much flavor. The sauce was very sweet and lacked the salty/savory flavor you would expect; I ended up eating rice with it to cut down on the sweetness. Overall, it quality was very much mall foodcourt/fast food level - nothing special. We would eat here again, but would not be my first choice.

Royal Thai Bistro in Big Bear Lake is a decent option if you're craving Thai food and don't want to drive, since it seems to be the only Thai game in town. The best thing about this spot is the cost. The prices are pretty reasonable for a resort area, so it won't break the bank. The service is fine; nothing over-the-top, but the staff is generally friendly and gets the job done. Where it loses a star is the actual food. While they offer a good selection of classics like Pad Thai and curries, the flavors tend to be a bit bland and sometimes need a little extra punch. You might have to load up on the chili sauce! All in all, it’s a perfectly acceptable, affordable, and convenient choice for Thai in Big Bear, but it won't blow you away.

Frank L

Royal Thai Bistro in Big Bear Lake is a decent option if you're craving Thai food and don't want to drive, since it seems to be the only Thai game in town. The best thing about this spot is the cost. The prices are pretty reasonable for a resort area, so it won't break the bank. The service is fine; nothing over-the-top, but the staff is generally friendly and gets the job done. Where it loses a star is the actual food. While they offer a good selection of classics like Pad Thai and curries, the flavors tend to be a bit bland and sometimes need a little extra punch. You might have to load up on the chili sauce! All in all, it’s a perfectly acceptable, affordable, and convenient choice for Thai in Big Bear, but it won't blow you away.

"Tom Yum Soup" was just a tomato tasting soup. Not original flavour, plus the beef i had to spit it out since it was just rubber. Yellow Cury w Chicken was very amazing and the portion was decent as well. Just dont get anything with beef since they dont want to get good quality beef. Place was clean and convinient. Price was ok for the portions.

Z XY

Literally the most terrible Thai food I’ve ever had. The service was also bad:(

Carlos O.

"Tom Yum Soup" was just a tomato tasting soup. Not original flavour, plus the beef i had to spit it out since it was just rubber. Yellow Cury w Chicken was very amazing and the portion was decent as well. Just dont get anything with beef since they dont want to get good quality beef. Place was clean and convinient. Price was ok for the portions.

Drove an hour to try this place. My boyfriend and I are obsessed with Thai food. Although we have our favorite go-to spot in Victorville, we love trying signature dishes at different spots. We ordered Tom Yum soup and chicken fried rice. Our sever appeared to be the owner or manager and he was not very personable at all. When we ordered the soup, we requested the seafood pot and he said “I don’t think we have seafood right now just shrimp”, so we settled for chicken. When the Tom Yum pot arrived I immediately knew it was off. There was zero Lemongrass flavor which is the signature “sour” component for Tom Yum. It tasted like pure tomato juice and my favorite part (the mushrooms) were canned and slimy. Gross! The chicken fried rice was disgusting it had so many vegetables like peas, broccoli, carrots, and cabbage. The rice was hard and tasted microwaved. Lastly, I asked for chili oil to add some sort of flavoring and he brought soy sauce and sriracha in a bowl. 0/5 stars honestly! Would never recommend and would definitely never spend my money here either.

A big disappointment. Food is bland, with no flavor. My girlfriend (thai native) ordered the grilled beef salad. Beef is anything but grilled, boil most likely. no flavor to the whole meal, she barely eat any. I ordered the sweet and sour with chicken. sweet ? barely. sour ? still waiting for it, only thing sour was the bill for such bland food. It feels like a tourist trap, sorry to say. I rarely leave bad reviews as I always try to find something positive. In that case, nothing to save it. To be honest, there is plenty of good options in Big Bear, this one can be skipped, you won't miss anything.

Well maybe I am just used to good LA Thai food options. But this was just not good. Red sauce pad Thai was not good. Curry was decent and spring rolls tasted weird. Courteous staff. But not worth a price for the food. Update: I’ve been sick for two days from here. Don’t do it too!

I love Thai food, and drove half an hour to get to this restaurant. The staff told us to wait until a table filled up before it was our turn. After waiting for over half an hour, the table became available, only to be told by another staff member that we would have to wait another hour and a half – outrageous! They then gave the table to other customers. Their management is seriously flawed, or I suspect they discriminate against Asians. I didn't see a single Asian face in this restaurant. I will never return; this is the first time I've encountered such a situation. I have never been treated like this before. If I had a choice, I hope they get zero points.

jun xu

I love Thai food, and drove half an hour to get to this restaurant. The staff told us to wait until a table filled up before it was our turn. After waiting for over half an hour, the table became available, only to be told by another staff member that we would have to wait another hour and a half – outrageous! They then gave the table to other customers. Their management is seriously flawed, or I suspect they discriminate against Asians. I didn't see a single Asian face in this restaurant. I will never return; this is the first time I've encountered such a situation. I have never been treated like this before. If I had a choice, I hope they get zero points.

Rose Reznor

Well maybe I am just used to good LA Thai food options. But this was just not good. Red sauce pad Thai was not good. Curry was decent and spring rolls tasted weird. Courteous staff. But not worth a price for the food. Update: I’ve been sick for two days from here. Don’t do it too!