Arun Thai Restaurant
Arun Thai Restaurant, located at 385 Bel Marin Keys Blvd, Novato, CA 94949, is a standout destination for those seeking an authentic Thai dining experience. Nestled in a unique location within an industrial park, this hidden gem is well worth seeking out for a memorable meal. The ambiance is modern and elegant, featuring a posh foyer and cozy dining areas perfect for small groups or solo diners.
The menu at Arun Thai offers a fantastic variety of traditional Thai dishes, with some seasonal specialties that add a refreshing twist to the classic offerings. For those who enjoy bold and flavorful dishes, the drunken noodles with beef and the pumpkin curry with prawns stand out. The rich, savory flavors of the curry are balanced perfectly with the sweetness of the pumpkin, even for those who aren’t usually fans of squash. The drunken noodles are sauced generously with a delightful balance of savory and slightly spicy flavors, creating a satisfying dish.
One of the restaurant's highlights is the tom yum soup, which stands out with its tantalizingly tart flavor from lemongrass and tamarind, a must-try for any soup lover. Though typically known for its spiciness, the dish can be customized to your desired level of heat. For dessert, the fried banana with coconut ice cream provides a delightful finish with a crispy exterior and sweet, smooth ice cream, perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth.
While the pricing is on the higher end, the quality and quantity of the dishes make it a great value, especially when considering the generous portion sizes. The service is friendly and attentive, ensuring that each dining experience is smooth and enjoyable. With a good selection of wines and ample parking, Arun Thai Restaurant is a great spot to enjoy a special evening out, whether you're craving comfort food or looking to try something new.
Arun Thai Restaurant Reviews
I love Thai food. While in Novato, I decided to try dinner at this place for its high ratings. I arrived at it opened at 5 pm and was greeted by a modern, posh, elegantly decorated foyer and dining area. I was dining alone but didn't mind as the place had nice little alcoves for small parties. I decided to order a simple dish and dessert: angel hair noodle curry with pork and fried banana with ice cream. My dish came in about 10 minutes piping hot. The noodles were perfect, the yellow curry broth had a kick and all the trimmings complemented the dish. My fried banana was had just the right amount of fried batter and was complemented by a huge scoop of coconut ice cream. I'll definitely be back.
This hidden gem is located in the middle of an industrial park, so if you weren't looking for it, you're not likely to find it. That being said, its worth looking for. The menu is reasonably priced, with a good selection of traditional Thai fare; but also some seasonal specialties that are worth trying. They've got a good selection of wines, by the glass or by the bottle (also reasonably priced) and the staff is super friendly. Oh...and plenty of parking. This place should definitely be added to your regular rotation.
Located in a business park, my expectations weren't too high for arun. While the outside was already neat, I was pleasantly surprised entering a well and tastefully decorated restaurant! The staff was very friendly and observant throughout our dinner. Now to the fun part ... we started off with grilled octopus. Not deep-fried ... grilled. Was delicious and came with a well balanced sauce on the side. For entrees we went all in ... pumpkin curry prawn, yellow curry and drunken noodles. It all was very well balanced in flavor with fresh ingredients. The delicious meal is well portioned, you'll definitely leave fat and very happy!
A nice new place that opened up close to where I work. I remember getting lunch at the Chinese place that was here before Arun, which was kind of worn down in comparison. The new owners did a great job of fixing up the place and making it much classier. I now see 3-4 tables of coworkers every time I have lunch at Arun. Prices are reasonable, their lunch specials come with a salad and cost around 8-10 bucks. Most of the selections I've had were solid, the drunken noodles being my favorite.
Came on a Wednesday night. Everything was outstanding, albeit pricey, but it matched the quality and quantity (I had leftovers for lunch the next day). We started with what I know as tom yum soup (the menu called it another name), which was tantalizingly tart from the lemongrass and tamarind. I am used to that soup being spicy, so that was the only thing I'd change about it - next time I'll ask for heat. Then we had the drunken noodles with beef - sauced to be super savory and slightly spicy. The pumpkin curry with prawns was rich and flavorful, and although I'm not a squash fan, I enjoyed every last bite. We finished with banana fritters a la mode, which had a delightful texture, but surprisingly lacked sweetness, which I am accustomed to and prefer with this dish, but the vanilla ice cream saved the day! All of the above, with tea and tip, was $80. Service was courteous and attentive, but subtle, which I like. This won't be where I go to take-out, but it will be my destination for a special dinner out when I'm craving Thai food.