Original Thai Cuisine - Hawaii Restaurant
#31 of 199 Restaurants in Kailua

Original Thai Cuisine

4.3(262 community reviews)
Moderate ($$)

About

Discover Original Thai Cuisine, offering the best Asian experience in Kailua-Kona. Enjoy Moderate ($$) meals, explore their menu, and read reviews from the community on TasteHi.

A Taste of Bangkok on the Big Island

When the humidity of Kailua-Kona settles in, the sharp, aromatic heat of a well-balanced Thai curry provides the perfect antidote. Original Thai Cuisine has long served as a local anchor for those craving authentic Southeast Asian flavors amidst the island landscape. Stepping inside, the air is thick with the scent of roasted garlic, galangal, and fresh Thai basil, cutting through the tropical breeze that drifts in from the coast.

Signature Spice and Island Soul

The menu leans into tradition, featuring heavy hitters like the Green Curry and Pad Thai, which manages to strike that elusive balance between tamarind tang and palm sugar sweetness. The Drunken Noodles are a particular favorite for regulars, arriving with a charred, smoky finish that only a high-heat wok can achieve. While the dining room remains straightforward and functional, the kitchen’s commitment to consistent spice levels is what keeps the Kona community coming back.

What to Expect

This is the kind of spot where you aren't coming for white-tablecloth service; you are coming because you want a meal that hits hard. Expect a bustling, sometimes noisy environment during the dinner rush as locals jockey for a table. Parking can occasionally be a challenge in this busy corner of town, so arriving a few minutes early is a pro move. Whether you are grabbing a quick lunch before heading back to the beach or settling in for a hearty dinner, the flavors here offer a distinct, grounded departure from the typical resort dining scene found elsewhere in Kailua-Kona.

Location

75 Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740

Directions

Reviews

Showing 10 of 262 community reviews
A

Andrew JohnsonGoogle Maps

Recently

Oddly, I've had the food many of times when I worked at the brewpub over 10 years ago but never actually been here until today. Ive been missing out this whole time. Food was so amazing and fresh. Good service and the servers were super nice.

B

BobGoogle Maps

Recently

Overall we enjoyed the food and service. Red curry chicken and pad Thai dishes were outstanding. Will definitely return here in the future.

D

Druthi UGoogle Maps

Recently

Amazing food and great taste! We ordered a couple of dishes and requested a spice level of 5 out of 6. While the heat was impressive, a level 4 might have been slightly more enjoyable for balancing the flavors. We thoroughly loved every dish, and the server was very friendly and attentive. I will definitely visit again if I'm in the area!

C

Chris BowlingGoogle Maps

Recently

The food has been consistently good every time I've eaten there. The speed of service is a bit slow due to them being consistently busy. But the food is worth the wait.

P

Paula RGoogle Maps

Recently

really enjoyed it. You can tell they use real, fresh garlic, which made a big difference. It was really spicy, but in a good way—I loved the kick.

M

Michelle PorterGoogle Maps

Recently

This little Thai café is an absolute gem! First off, the service is exemplary. I was greeted by two lovely young ladies with beautiful smiles who took great care in taking my order. I asked for Pad Thai Shrimp "to go" and sat outside on a bench to wait. Imagine my pleasant surprise when the kind girl brought it out to me in only 5 minutes! Let's talk about the food: this pad thai is the ono kine! It has the thick, sweet sauce that holds beautifully to the noodles. I suspect the satisfying umami flavor comes from a generous amount of tamarind puree. One note of caution: I love spicy food, but the "medium" was almost too much for me. You may want to stick with "mild."

A

Anica linGoogle Maps

Recently

We feel very disappointed with the food: 1. the fresh spring roll is basically lettuce roll + half shrimp. It cost 12 USD with 3 rolls. 2. The Penang curry is a small bowl of watery curry soup cost $22 3. The beef salad cost $27, with a plate of lettuce and onion, some beef covered on the top. The meal cost about $70, and tips with $10 which they won’t even bring you the water, you have to get by yourself. It’s a ripoff, and do not recommend.

S

SWTGoogle Maps

Recently

Good customer service. The staff was very clear and nice in taking orders. She thoroughly asked us details about how spicy we would like for each meals we ordered. And she wears a nice smile 😊 I had Pad Thai and it was good. We are satisfied with the customer service and the food. Thank you!

Y

Yuqi ZhangGoogle Maps

Recently

Worse than mall food court Thai. Small portions, bad taste, and a complete disaster if you order anything with noodles. I honestly don’t know how this place is still in business. Pad Thai – They used super thin noodles, which completely ruined the texture. It was way too sweet and sour, like they just dumped bottled sauce over it. Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) – Hands down the worst I’ve ever had. It was watery, not stir-fried at all, and somehow, they also used thin noodles instead of the wide ones that are supposed to be in this dish. Panang Curry – I have no idea why there were so many cucumbers floating in the soup. The curry itself was thin and watery, lacking any richness or depth of flavor. The rice bowl was tiny, literally smaller than my fist—and I’m a slim female! Thai Basil Fried Rice – The only thing I could finish, but not because it was good—just because everything else was worse. When I asked the server about the thin Pad Thai noodles and cucumber curry—he said, “That’s how we’ve done it for five years.” Maybe that explains why everything was so bad. I have no idea how they’ve lasted this long. Do NOT waste your time or money here.

A

Alisha KamatGoogle Maps

Recently

Good food (thought won’t say the best Thai food!) The avocado fried were great! Something unheard of so we tried them. Really crispy and fun to eat! Do ask for the lunch special on weekdays - rice, egg roll and an entree. Decent quantity and good value for money! Decent service and good food.

Comments & Reviews

Please sign in to write a review.

No reviews yet. Be the first to write a review!

Frequently Asked Questions about Original Thai Cuisine

Common questions from diners about Original Thai Cuisine in Kailua-Kona.

Original Thai Cuisine provides table service and takeout.

Nearby Restaurants

Barrio Burrito Bar
$$
5.0(2)

Barrio Burrito Bar

Mexican

Kailua-Kona
Wingstop
$$
0.0(0)

Wingstop

Restaurant

Kailua-Kona
Sushi Ku'u
$$
5.0(1)

Sushi Ku'u

Sushi

Kailua-Kona