Hug Thai Express - La Mesa

This was my first time with Hug and also first time trying a new item. (Since the Pad See Ew had such great reviews) It met the expectation and the heat level 3 was perfect (they do run on the spicy side as others have reviewed). Very tasty and fresh.

Absolutely love Hug Thai! Best green curry in SD by far. Their Hawaiian fried rice and Pad Thai are great, too. I especially love the messages on their takeout containers. ????

Ugh! I used to love this place and had proclaimed them my favorite TomKha. Part of the problem starts with the assumption of the tip in advance. I prefer to tip cash, so I click, no tip. Well, the formerly cute Hug Thai offers you a customer service kickinstead of a hug. I am hard of hearing and couldn 't hear the cashier 's flippant greeting. I had to get close to the plexi glassbarricade where she was arranging thin paper napkins. She then took care of the two other patrons who came in after me. I knewexactly what I wanted as I have ordered it before. Sadly, my salad was just a poor arrangement of untorn lettuce leaves, copiousonions, lukewarm beef, and hot chili even though I asked for zero heat. My Tom Kha was supposed to be heat level 4 and it washotter than when I had gotten a 6. The lemongrass stalks were left in. They are supposed to be seasoning; not an edibleingredient. I had tried to go three days prior, but they were closed for lunch an extended time period and refused to open ontime. They looked at us, but the cook kept eating while staff were arriving late. That should have been my warning to neverreturn. My mom was right to choose to go somewhere else. Mom really does know best. I will never return.

My daughter found this place and I can honestly say it is our favorite Thai restaurant from now on. We had the Hawaiian rice, the fried pork ribs, the garlic chicken wings, pad Thai, and pad see ew. Every dish was delicious, I was floored I couldn?t findanything bad about it. I adore Thai food so I?m very happy to have this establishment so close???? We scarfed it down so fast wedidn?t get pictures so next time.

It's a tiny hole in the wall, but arguably one of the best Thai restaurants in the area. A bit pricy, considering sizes are extremely small. That's the only downside to this place. We had Pad Kee Mao with beef, Tom Kha with shrimp, side of steamedrice, mango and sticky rice.