Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
oChef » Mangrove Kitchen – San Francisco
Mangrove Kitchen - San Francisco
Photo from Mangrove Kitchen
Mangrove Kitchen at a glance
San Francisco North of Panhandle
- 🌶️ Thai Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 53 of the guests
#1993 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#41 Thai Restaurant out of 46 in San Francisco
Good
6.5 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
355
Reviews
62.5%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Thai cuisine
- Good ambiance
- Welcoming service
Frequently criticized
- Service issues
- High cost
- Front area issues
The restaurant Mangrove Kitchen brings authentic Thai flavors to San Francisco’s North of Panhandle neighborhood. You’ll discover a cozy atmosphere perfect for a casual meal, whether you’re stopping by for lunch or dinner.
With a focus on fresh ingredients, you can enjoy a variety of healthy, vegan, and vegetarian options, alongside small plates and a selection of wine, beer, and cocktails. It’s a welcoming spot where you can relax and savor delicious Thai cuisine.
Overview: Introducting Mangrove Kitchen
Mangrove Kitchen offers a culinary experience where many appreciate the tasty food and cool decor , often noting the friendly staff . However, some visits are marred by inconsistent service interactions, which can impact the overall impression.
While the atmosphere generally receives praise, a few find the overall vibe a bit off, and there are concerns about high prices for what some consider mediocre food in certain instances, suggesting a varied experience.
Good
6.5
out of 10
355
Reviews
62.5%
Satisfaction
110
negative
23
neutral
222
positive
Mangrove Kitchen holds an overall score of 6.5, placing it in the average category, with customer satisfaction at a mixed 62.5%. This assessment is drawn from 355 customer comments, comprising 222 positive and 110 negative remarks, indicating a generally favorable but not universally acclaimed experience.
Diving deeper, the Food (6.8) stands out as a strong point, often praised for its quality. The Ambience (7.4) also receives good marks, contributing positively to the dining experience.
However, Service (5.6) appears to be a more inconsistent area, while Value (3.5) is clearly a significant concern for many patrons.
What people like
- Delicious Thai dishes
- Pleasant dining atmosphere
- Often friendly staff
What people don't like
- Inconsistent service quality
- Perceived high prices
- Disruptive front area
With a recommendation score of 6.8, Mangrove Kitchen presents a mixed but generally positive picture. If you prioritize well-prepared Thai food and a pleasant setting, it could be a worthwhile visit, especially for a casual meal or date night.
However, be prepared for potential inconsistencies in service and a price point that some find steep. It’s a place that shines in its culinary offerings and atmosphere, but you might need to manage expectations regarding value and service flow.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Mangrove Kitchen
Food (6.8 out of 10)
mentioned by 95% of the guests
The food here generally hits the spot, with a score of 6.8 indicating its good, though customer satisfaction at 65.9% suggests a mixed but leaning positive reception. Many diners raved about the "delicious food" and "flavorful" dishes, especially praising the "curry" and "ramen" options. With 153 positive remarks, theres a lot to love, including a large vegetarian selection and healthy options.
However, not every dish is a winner. Some 63 comments pointed out issues like dry chicken and tough pork, while others found certain items had an overly sweet flavor or were simply tasteless. It seems consistency can be a bit of a challenge, with some ramen and noodle dishes receiving criticism.
Food
232
Reviews
65%
Satisfaction
63
negative
16
neutral
153
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious curries
- Flavorful ramen
- Great vegetarian options
What people don't like
- Dry, tough meats
- Overly sweet dishes
- Inconsistent quality
Often praised
- foodtasty food. light healthy and delicious
- ramenIt had some crunchy ramen on top, beef, and red curry. Divine!
- Pad See EiwGot Pad See Eiw to go, which was great too
- Thai foodMy experience at this restaurant was very positive. I enjoyed the very good Thai food and the relaxed ambiance. It's a good place to come for a casual dine-in or a date night.
- pumpkin curryThe pumpkin curry and pad Thai were also favorites
- Aloha Fried RiceAloha Fried Rice (5/5): No complaints here!
- FoodFood:5
- RamenRamen with a curry base 🤤. Get the Moo Ramen
- currythe curry and curry ramen was absolutely amazing
- curry ramenthe curry and curry ramen was absolutely amazing
Frequently criticized
- foodMy experience at this restaurant was marked by great service, but a weird vibe and mediocre food. The prices were also quite high, with it costing $35 per person including a beer and a shared appetizer, which felt like a lot, lol.
- Khao Mun GaiKhao Mun Gai (2/5): Pretty disappointed by this one.
- chickenThe chicken was dry and over cooked.
- portion sizeportion size was extremely small
- spicyHowever, the Thai spicy fried noodle was the most disappointing meal I’ve had at a restaurant in a long time. The dish was not spicy, and the chicken was cooked to oblivion. The lack of any sauce made the dry, unseasoned chicken barely edible.
- 24 hour slow cooked beefthe “24 hour slow cooked beef” was stone-hard
- CRISPY pork bellyCRISPY pork belly with broccoli which turned out to be a tasty disaster
- Green Currysweet flavor including the Green Curry
- Kai Ramensweet flavor including the Kai Ramen
- Pad See Ewthe pad see ew had sen-me noodles
If youre craving flavorful Thai curries or unique ramen, this spot is definitely worth a try. Just be mindful that some dishes might be a hit or miss, particularly with meat quality or sweetness levels. Go in with an open mind, and youll likely find something delicious.
Service (5.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 59% of the guests
When it comes to service, this spot is a bit of a mixed bag, landing an average score of 5.6 with customer satisfaction sitting at a mixed 52.3%. Based on 65 customer comments, with 34 leaning positive and 27 negative, youll find plenty of praise for the "friendly staff, " "speedy/good" service, and helpful "recommendations, " especially when theres no wait. Many appreciate the kind and attentive team making their dining experience pleasant.
However, it's not always smooth sailing. Some experiences highlight issues like being understaffed, leading to frustrating wait time and even mistake with orders. A few customers encountered a bad attitude from staff, which definitely put a damper on their visit.
It seems consistency can be a challenge, particularly during busy periods.
Service
65
Reviews
52%
Satisfaction
27
negative
4
neutral
34
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, kind staff
- Speedy, good service
- Helpful recommendations
What people don't like
- Long wait times
- Rude staff attitude
- Order mistakes
Often praised
- serviceMy experience at this restaurant was marked by great service, but a weird vibe and mediocre food. The prices were also quite high, with it costing $35 per person including a beer and a shared appetizer, which felt like a lot, lol.
- ServiceService:5
- serverthe server was knowledgeable and friendly
- serversboth servers were friendly, one super friendly
- staffSuper nice staff
- deliveryGreat for delivery, you can order from them directly
- eating in the restaurantEating in the restaurant—rather than taking to food to go—is a must
- experiencesboth excellent experiences
- friendly staffI enjoyed the delicious food and the perfect portions. The friendly staff made the visit even better, and the super cool atmosphere added to the overall enjoyment. It was absolutely worth the visit.
- kind and happy serverOur server was the most kind and happy server ever
Frequently criticized
- serviceBack I went again to ask for the correct order. I was met with SO MUCH ATTITUDE as if I had done something wrong. They literally made me open the soup and handed me a fork to “prove” that there actually wasn’t any shrimp.
- 10 minutes to take ordertook 10 minutes to take our order
- attentionfinally do get their attention to place an order
- attitudebut it’s the attitude.
- bad attitudewaiter had a bad attitude
- fix itWe recently were given someone else's order. When we called to try to fix it, they acted annoyed and didn't offer to try to get us our order sooner. They still quoted us the standard wait time and said they wouldn't prioritize fixing it.
- front of houseHowever, I had to wait an additional 45 minutes to receive my meal. The front of house was extremely understaffed, and the front of the restaurant was filled with Uber drivers waiting for pickup. I wouldn’t want to eat here or order from here again.
- managerPésimo servicio por parte de la manager
- mistakeMy first attempt: they gave me the wrong soup, one I’m actually allergic to. No big deal, mistakes happen. Second attempt: I went back, clarified my order (with the prawns, please), and they confirmed it was the wrong soup.
- ordersshe somehow managed to mess up all our orders
If you catch them on a good day, youll likely enjoy friendly and efficient service. But be prepared for potential delays or attitude issues, especially if they seem busy or understaffed. It might be worth a try if youre not in a rush.
Ambience (7.4 out of 10)
mentioned by 43% of the guests
When it comes to ambience, this spot generally hits the mark! With a solid score of 7.4 and a customer satisfaction rate of 82.1%, its clear most diners find the atmosphere quite appealing. Many rave about the "decor, " "atmosphere, " and "interior aesthetic, " describing it as a "lovely space" with "great energy.
" Out of 39 pieces of feedback, 32 were glowing about the restaurants vibe, often highlighting its visual beauty and chilled, cozy feel. However, not every aspect of the ambience receives universal praise. A few of the 6 negative comments mention a less-than-ideal neighborhood feeling or a weird vibe that impacted their experience.
Some also noted practical concerns like limited street parking and the front of the restaurant being crowded with Uber drivers, which can detract from the overall arrival experience.
Ambience
39
Reviews
82%
Satisfaction
6
negative
1
neutral
32
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Beautiful decor
- Chilled atmosphere
- Great energy
What people don't like
- Poor neighborhood feel
- Weird vibe
- Limited parking
Often praised
- atmosphereatmosphere was quiet and relaxed
- ambianceThis is our favorite among the several Thai restaurants we've tried in San Francisco. Around 2019, they underwent a name change and renovation, and now, in addition to the excellent food, the ambiance is also phenomenal. Highly recommended!
- interiorMy experience at this Thai eatery was one of a kind. It's one of many casual-to-upscale Thai restaurants in SF, offering a well-executed menu and a cleverly designed interior. However, the prices are relatively high.
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:4
- ambiencetheir amazing ambience
- atmosphere and decorthe atmosphere and decor are chilled
- boothgot a whole booth to ourselves
- cool decorCool decor
- crowdmanaged to avoid the crowd
- decorNice decor
Frequently criticized
- Uber driversfront of the restaurant is filled with uber drivers waiting for pickup
- experienceit ruined my experience
- neighborhood feelingNot a good neighborhood feeling here
- street parkinglimited amount of street parking in the area
- tableWe were hoping for a good dinner after a long Sunday, but it fell short. The service was terrible, and the table was dirty. First, it took 10 minutes to take our order, even though it wasn’t busy.
- vibeMy experience at this restaurant was marked by great service, but a weird vibe and mediocre food. The prices were also quite high, with it costing $35 per person including a beer and a shared appetizer, which felt like a lot, lol.
If youre looking for a place with a visually appealing and generally pleasant atmosphere, youll likely enjoy the vibe here. Just be prepared for potential parking challenges and a less-than-charming immediate neighborhood upon arrival.
Value (3.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 23% of the guests
When it comes to value, a few customers found some pleasant surprises, with 3 out of 19 remarks noting that their meals were totally worth it or that the place felt cheap/chill. These positive experiences, often centered around the overall price, suggest that good value can be found. However, with a customer satisfaction of just 15.8% and an overall score of 3.5, its clear that these positive moments are unfortunately rare.
The majority of feedback, however, paints a different picture. With 14 negative comments, many felt the "meal itself" wasnt worth the price, frequently citing high prices and even upcharges for basic items like hot water or a single shiitake mushroom. It seems the cost often didn't align with expectations, leading to disappointment and a feeling that the value was poor.
Value
19
Reviews
15%
Satisfaction
14
negative
2
neutral
3
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Worth the cost
What people don't like
- Very high prices
- Unexpected upcharges
- Poor meal value
Often praised
- priceMy app and entre was $37 and totally worth it
- cheap/chillthe place was cheap / chill
Frequently criticized
- priceI just wanted a simple soup, so I figured it would be low risk. I ordered soup with shrimp and brown rice, which somehow came to $30. My first attempt: they gave me the wrong soup, one I’m actually allergic to.
- pricesrelatively high prices
- hot watercharged money for hot water
- meal itselfThe meal it self was not worth $22, more like $7
- shiitake mushroomThey charged me five dollars for one shiitake mushroom cap?
- upchargecertainly not worth the upcharge
- very high pricesthe very high prices certainly set expectations
- warm waterThe waitress tried to charge $1.5 for warm water
If you're considering this spot, be prepared for a mixed bag on value. While a few find it cheap/chill and worth it, many others are disappointed by high prices and unexpected upcharges. Proceed with caution, as consistent value seems hard to find here.
How are the prices at Mangrove Kitchen?
On average, you’ll spend around 29 per person – from 53 guests. That puts the restaurant in the $21–$30 category. For a Thai Restaurant in San Francisco, that’s comfortably mid-range.
Looking at what people actually spend, most diners find themselves in this $21–$30 sweet spot, showing prices cluster nicely around the average.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 53 reviews.
How this restaurant’s value for money stacks up against similar spots in San Francisco.
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Thai restaurant in San Francisco, offering good value for a mid-range experience.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Mangrove Kitchen
Visit Type
- Delivery
Service Type
- Takeout
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
2
Long Wait Despite Pickup Time
I ordered food for pickup and arrived at the restaurant when they said it was ready. However, I had to wait an additional 45 minutes to receive my meal. The front of house was extremely understaffed, and the front of the restaurant was filled with Uber drivers waiting for pickup.
I wouldn’t want to eat here or order from here again.
- pickup time7
- wait time2
- front of house2
- Uber drivers3
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Best Thai Spot with Great Curry
My experience at Mangrove was fantastic! It's the best Thai spot in the area. I usually order the Penang curry and pad Thai, but I highly recommend not overlooking their ramen.
The food was excellent, and the service was top-notch.
- Penang curry9
- pad Thai9
- ramen10
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Friends
Group Size
- Small Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
Noise Level
- Quiet
9
Friendly Staff, Cozy Atmosphere, Great Food
My experience at this restaurant was very positive. The staff were friendly, and the atmosphere was cozy. I ordered the Thai fried rice and really enjoyed the strong paprika flavor.
My friend's ramen was also well-presented. We visited towards the end of the day, which allowed us to avoid the crowd and enjoy a quiet dining experience where it was easy to talk. The restaurant offers a large vegetarian selection and is highly recommended for vegetarians.
- staff10
- atmosphere10
- Thai fried rice9
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Solid Tofu Curry Experience
My experience at the restaurant was quite positive, particularly with the food. I ordered the tofu curry, which was flavorful and not overly creamy. While the tofu itself was a bit tough, it didn't significantly detract from my enjoyment.
It seems the dish was quite popular, as it was nearly emptied by the end of the night. The service and atmosphere also contributed positively to my visit, with ratings of 5 and 4 respectively.
- tofu curry8
- tofu6
- service10
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
Noise Level
- Quiet
9
A Neighborhood Gem with Delicious Ramen
This is one of our go-to neighborhood spots. The decor is nice, the food is delicious, and it doesn’t disappoint. I really like the ramen with the Tom Yum broth and the red curry.
- decor8
- food9
- ramen9
What Mangrove Kitchen offers
Crowd
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Healthy options
- Vegan options
- Wine
- Coffee
- Beer
- Small plates
- Cocktails
- Vegetarian options
- Alcohol
Dining options
- Table service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- No-contact delivery
- Takeout
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Casual
FAQs
What dietary options are available at Mangrove Kitchen?
At Mangrove Kitchen, you can find a range of healthy options, including dedicated vegan and vegetarian dishes. They cater to various dietary preferences, ensuring there’s something delicious for everyone to enjoy.
Is Mangrove Kitchen accessible for all guests?
Yes, Mangrove Kitchen is designed with accessibility in mind. You’ll find a wheelchair accessible entrance, seating, and restroom, ensuring a comfortable dining experience for every guest.
How does Mangrove Kitchen generally perform?
Mangrove Kitchen holds an overall score of 6.5. Its Food (6.8) and Ambience (7.4) are well-regarded, while Service (5.6) is average and Value (3.5) is a notable concern.
What do customers enjoy most about Mangrove Kitchen's food?
Many customers praise the tasty food , highlighting specific dishes like the ramen with a curry base, Pad See Eiw, and pumpkin curry for their delicious flavors.
What are some common complaints regarding Mangrove Kitchen's service and pricing?
Service can be inconsistent, with some experiencing bad attitude or long waits. Additionally, many find the prices to be relatively high, with some items feeling overpriced.