Siam Palace: Authentic Thai Cuisine and Inviting Ambience

Siam Palace is an excellent and very affordable Thai restaurant on the corner of Foothill Boulevard and A Street in Hayward.

It has two dining rooms, recently renovated and tastefully decorated with river rocks, colored glass, fountains, and intricate Thai art pieces.

It consistently serves fresh low-fat flavorful dishes, prepared to order. For many years it’s been a staple for every Thai cuisine lover all over the East Bay and beyond.

The place is busy on most nights and during lunch hour, and its owner, Sandy, (Sagul Nantaya) is always on the premises, greeting her visitors with a smile and helping her wait staff.

On the Menu

The restaurant’s menu lists a wide array of traditional dishes with well-pronounced flavors of lemon grass, garlic, basil and chili. Tom Kha soup became legendary for its balanced, nuanced flavor, created by a combination of coconut milk and various spices.

The house specialty, green papaya salad, is drenched with a delicate clear lime dressing and is a favorite of many regulars.

Angel Wings, a couple of de-boned chicken wings, are stuffed with ground pork and clear noodles, then lightly breaded and deep fried to delicious crispiness.

There are too many delightful things on the menu to mention them all. Appetizers like fish cakes and egg rolls are not to be missed. There are a dozen salads to choose from, and it would be a tough choice.

Chicken, mushroom, and prawn-based soups are complemented by noodle soups – from Yen-Tow-Fo with fried bean curd, fish balls, calamari, crab, and spinach, to sukiyaki, beef, and roast duck varieties.

You can’t go wrong with curry, be it red, green, yellow, wild or panang. Meat or seafood, vegetarian, fried rice or noodles – every dish here is good, very good, or might become addictive.

Siam Palace serves beer and wine, orange juice and coconut juice, or you can opt for some very special Thai iced tea or Thai iced coffee – refreshing, creamy, and sweet. 

On the Dessert Menu

Traditional fried bananas, with or without added ice cream, and delicious coconut ice cream, with or without sweet rice, are always on the menu. The very best dessert, though, is Mango with Sticky Rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds. The fruit is always fresh and juicy, and the rice shines like pearls and tastes like heaven.

Siam Palace is located at 22545 Foothill Blvd., Hayward. Open seven days a week for lunch, dinner and take-out. Call 510-581-6706. Reservations recommended.