Saladang Song

(626) 793-5200

363 S Fair Oaks Ave (W Bellevue Drive)
Pasadena, CA 91105 34.1388 -118.1504

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Neighborhood: South Pasadena

Hours:

Sun-Thu 7am-9:45pm

Fri, Sat 7am-10pm

Price:

$$

Last updated 9.11.08

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Cuisine:

Thai

What People Are Saying About Saladang Song

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Sister to neighboring Saladang, this second (song) restaurant aspires to be even more authentic. Behind monumental courtyard walls, two palms tower over a sleek indoor/outdoor setting where the waitstaff glides among inquisitive patrons. – – The Food – Lively flavors start with appetizers like fish cakes and frittery corn cakes, both lightened with cucumber salad. Dishes pack sharp Thai contrasts--savory fish balls smoothed by milky curry, silky rock-cod with resilient shiitakes, and crunchy green papaya salad with spicy lemon dressing. For advanced…

ambiance
87.5% positive
  1. “It is one of my favorite places to go when you want a nice romantic dinner or have a large group of people.”
  2. “The decor is modern and the high ceilings open up the bright restaurant and the outdoor seating is just as beautiful with candles on the tables and a small water fountain on the side.”
  3. “Food isn't really authentic, yet people still go for the ambiance.”
  4. “The food is great and the ambience is Fantastic.”
  5. “The atmosphere of the restaurant is wonderful and so is the service, but if you are looking for a good place to eat real Thai food steer clear of Saladang Song.”
  6. “The ambience, especially on the walled-in patio on a warm evening, is relaxing and romantic.”
  7. “It has a great atmosphere with tasty reasonably priced food.”
  8. “Saladang Song is perfect for nice and romantic dinner.”
  9. “Prices are reasonable yet parking can be a hassle.”
  10. “guess, as the saying goes, when your stomach is full, you don't give a sh--- (i.e. from an owner's point of view that is).”
  11. “We enjoy the ambiance of contemporary cement walls but adorned with Thai motif ironworks.”
  12. “Both Saladang and Saladang Song dishes are delicious and great, but just their ambience is different.”
  13. “The restaurant(patio) is beautiful and ambience is fantastic.”
  14. “the ambiance is good and they are always busy.”
  15. “But do highly recommend the ambience!”
  16. “Plus the decor of the restaurant is great and perfect for a warm summer night.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “They always finish the meals with either a medley of fresh sliced fruit for breakfast or a scoop of sherbet or ice cream for lunch and dinner.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “And great Thai iced tea.”
food quality
79.6500015258789% positive
  1. “Not only is the food outstanding, but the restaurant also has dishes from the provinces of Thailand which are RARE in most Thai restaurants in the U.S. I especially recommend the sticky rice with grilled meat (a specialty of the Isaan province), the papay”
  2. “would recommend this restuarant to anybody who wants a good time eating Thai food.”
  3. “Delicious authentic Thai, in a fantastic setting!”
  4. “We absolutely love their breakfast menu and go in specifically for their rice soup.”
  5. “The waitstaff made a terrible scene and would not take the dish back.”
  6. “If you're looking for good thai food in casual environment, go to the next door Saladang.”
  7. “Food isn't really authentic, yet people still go for the ambiance.”
  8. “I've NEVER been upcharged for a meal--the prices are extremely reasonable.”
  9. “love their green curry with eggplant and either meat or tofu.”
  10. “The green curry with chicken and eggplant is my favorite.”
  11. “Their food was awful.”
  12. “went last week to Saladang Song and my friend and I shared a wonderful deep fried sea bass with a savory chile sauce, a sweet, sour & tangy Granny Smith apple salad, and a pink noodle dish that was to die for.”
  13. “The dishes were excellent, full of rich flavors and not overly spicy (which is my preference).”
  14. “have been going to Saladang Song for years and absolutely love the food.”
  15. “give this place an average overall because the food, while great, is usually overshadowed by somewhat lousy service.”
  16. “It has a great atmosphere with tasty reasonably priced food.”
  17. “The food is fresh, tasty, and beautifully presented.”
  18. “actually like the more authentic restaurant out of the two.”
  19. “It got chilly and they abliged us with outdoor heaters, who could ask for anything more, and like I said before the food was excellent.”
  20. “Since my dad loves the Thai tong-yum soup, so we ordered the soup for everyone.”
  21. “will never step foot in this restaurant again even though the food is decent.”
  22. “beautiful delicious song”
  23. “The atmosphere of the restaurant is wonderful and so is the service, but if you are looking for a good place to eat real Thai food steer clear of Saladang Song.”
  24. “To our surprise, the manager came and started accusing us that "if the soup taste that bad, then why you drank almost half of them?”
  25. “Their beef salad is perfection, the meat is tender and the vegetables crisp with just the right amount of lime.”
  26. “The outside dining area with huge iron walls makes it a beautiful place for an evening meal, too!”
  27. “From all the times I have been here I have never had bad service or bad food.”
  28. “the food was good.”
  29. “Both Saladang and Saladang Song dishes are delicious and great, but just their ambience is different.”
  30. “Great dishes are Kao Pad Ka Na (broccoli and cashew nut), Pad See Iew (rice noodles with broccoli and egg), yellow curry, spicy beef salad, rice cups with tofu (appetizers) and the apple salad (unusual but fantastic!)”
  31. “The kids always order the rice soup with chicken sausage.”
  32. “The food is great and the ambience is Fantastic.”
  33. “This is made up for by exquisite and authentic Thai cuisine.”
  34. “There was also a salad with a sweet clear dressing that was incredible and I plan on going back to see if I can get a bottle of my own!”
  35. “bought my girlfriend here 4 years ago (yes, still with her) and it was a blast, the food was pretty good and the place was upbeat and lively at the time.”
  36. “The food was excellent-- very flavorful, sweet and spicy.”
  37. “Their curries are so delicious!”
  38. “They always finish the meals with either a medley of fresh sliced fruit for breakfast or a scoop of sherbet or ice cream for lunch and dinner.”
  39. “Each time I dine at Saladang Song or Saladang, I am amazed at how flavorful the dishes are and how creative the chef is.”
  40. “Decent food, very very sub-standard service.”
  41. “This is the best Thai food I have had BY FAR since leaving Bangkok, where I lived for two years, and I have searched extensively.”
  42. “Being Thai myself, I could say firsthand that Saladang Song is not authentic Thai food.”
  43. “My sister was soo upset that she said "We will not order this soup next time" and to our bigger surprise, the manager raised his voice and said "GOOD”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “We absolutely love their breakfast menu and go in specifically for their rice soup.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “The atmosphere of the restaurant is wonderful and so is the service, but if you are looking for a good place to eat real Thai food steer clear of Saladang Song.”
  2. “bought my girlfriend here 4 years ago (yes, still with her) and it was a blast, the food was pretty good and the place was upbeat and lively at the time.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “definitely recommend this place and will be back for more.”
service
61.76000118255615% positive
  1. “Decent food, very very sub-standard service.”
  2. “The service is excellent.”
  3. “The atmosphere of the restaurant is wonderful and so is the service, but if you are looking for a good place to eat real Thai food steer clear of Saladang Song.”
  4. “can not explain the horrible service I received at Saladang.”
  5. “The waitresses are quite rude and abrupt.”
  6. “From all the times I have been here I have never had bad service or bad food.”
  7. “give this place an average overall because the food, while great, is usually overshadowed by somewhat lousy service.”
  8. “Their waitstaffs are very friendly.”
  9. “My sister was soo upset that she said "We will not order this soup next time" and to our bigger surprise, the manager raised his voice and said "GOOD”
  10. “To our surprise, the manager came and started accusing us that "if the soup taste that bad, then why you drank almost half of them?”
  11. “You do need to ask for water as they're conserving water for the environment (there are signs clearly posted) but they are NEVER rude and the manager is always amazingly attentive.”
  12. “The wait staff is very attentive and greet and seat us immediately when we arrive.”
  13. “We had a party of 20 and the service was the best.”
  14. “It is one of my favorite places to go when you want a nice romantic dinner or have a large group of people.”
  15. “Saladang Song eclipses its older sister restaurant (across the street) with more imaginative entrees and a more attentive wait staff.”
  16. “Food isn't really authentic, yet people still go for the ambiance.”
  17. “paid the entire check, but when the waitress came to collect the receipt, I told her I was surprised they didn't do anything to ameliorate the terrible dining experience.”
value
50.0% positive
  1. “The outside dining area with huge iron walls makes it a beautiful place for an evening meal, too!”
  2. “I've NEVER been upcharged for a meal--the prices are extremely reasonable.”
2 Star Rating: Below Average

12/13/10

Overpriced Thai Food

by ocean129

Fried tofu appetizer, you can get this at any other place for 1/2 of the price. We had 6 people, the restaurant automatically filled in our tip at 15%. So overall we had a disappointing dinner and was sad I had wasted my money at this place.

3 Star Rating: Average

08/15/10

Ins n' Outs of the Song

by JeepK9

This Thai establishment is located right on the hustle and bustle of Fair Oaks and while that might be fine for finding the place or eating inside the restaurant, for the folks eating in Song's beautiful patio area, it leaves a bit to be desired. Apparently, Fair Oaks is the chosen flightpath for emergency vehicles, and with the uber high yet ornate prison wall-type of concrete that surrounds us, the siren sound is bounced around and amplified to a point of utter annoyance. Just the mild sounds of the traffic is enough to disturb some people. I'm not sure why they can't just shut the large ornate doors.

As compared to other LA-area Thai places I have frequented, the food is average. The quaint and romantic setting is selling point at this place. The wait-staff lacks in both personality and attentive factor. We got the feeling that they just wanted us gone and leave our money on the way out. I had to ask each time for my water glass and/or soda to be re-filled. My Pad Se Ew (or Pad See Lew as they call it) was on the level of strip mall quality Thai food. Bottom line is that the food is average, the servers are not attentive but the ambiance (sans the sirens) is wonderful.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/03/10

Among the Top Five Restaurants in Southern California

by Milano Kay

The owner/ designer (Dang; I do not know her last name) of this unique restaurant has put her heart's energy into creating one of the most sensitively developed commercial establishments currently existing in Southern California. Her sensitivity funnels through deeply wrought humanistic philosophical roots, heightened visual artistic acumen, and superb culinary mastery into creating this not to be missed experience in eating out.

  • Pros:  Cuisine, Architectural Environment
  • Cons: (none)
4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/30/10

Terrific Authentic Thai in a Beautiful Setting

by Jon Fox

Saladang Song is a housed in a gorgeous cement, glass and metal structure that is so unique and beautiful, you'd think the dining experience would be more formal. I marvel at the design of the building and it's quasi-outdoor setting surrounded by a minimalist asian designs and lighting scheme. Based on this I expected eating here would be a more formal affair, but instead lent itself to a more standard thai dining experience.

That's not necessarily a bad thing though. It's just how I might have preferred it being in such a beautiful building. This is made up for by exquisite and authentic Thai cuisine. The dishes were excellent, full of rich flavors and not overly spicy (which is my preference). There are many items on the menu you won't find at regular Thai restaurants, which makes it that much more unique. Overall, everything we tried from the Fried Taro roll appetizer to the Pad See Iew and Roast Duck with Ginger were excellent.

In addition to a complimentary custard dessert, we ordered homemade coconut ice cream, which came with shredded mango and coconut mixed within and was extraordinary. Definitely save room for this simple little add on. It was delicious!

  • Pros: The Atmosphere and Ambience, the food, coconut ice cream
  • Cons: Too casual
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/17/10

Great Thai Comfort Food

by msmleong

My family has been going to Song for at least 6 years on a frequest basis. We enjoy the ambiance of contemporary cement walls but adorned with Thai motif ironworks. All the tables have live orchids for centerpieces. The wait staff is very attentive and greet and seat us immediately when we arrive. Yes, they don't serve water unless it's asked for.

We absolutely love their breakfast menu and go in specifically for their rice soup. The kids always order the rice soup with chicken sausage. It's comfort food that warms not only the stomach but our sense of being. I like ordering the rice porridge with 3 accompanying dishes, usually shredded chicken, sauteed spinach and scrambled eggs. We all sip on the fresh made sweet ginger tea. It's very strong.

The portions are generous and we usually take home half the meal.

Their dishes are mostly comfort food. I love their green curry with eggplant and either meat or tofu. It's great over steamed brown rice.

They always finish the meals with either a medley of fresh sliced fruit for breakfast or a scoop of sherbet or ice cream for lunch and dinner.

For all the guests that i've taken or recommended, they have all been pleased with the food and service. They always thank me for taking them, or recommending it to them.

  • Pros: Best Thai Breakfast
  • Cons: Can't think of one

The Details on Saladang Song

Place Categories:

  • decent thai food
  • beautiful place
  • great saladang song dishes
  • favorite more authentic restaurant
  • romantic dinner
  • never bad very substandard service
  • delicious saladang
  • more attentive wait staff
  • enjoy ambiance
  • great atmosphere
  • beautiful structure
  • beautiful saladang song
  • that bad soup
  • great decor
  • favorite green curry
  • never extremely reasonable prices
  • fantastic ambience
  • great everything
  • quite rude waitresses
  • delicious curries
  • especially recommend sticky rice
  • lousy service
  • terrible scene
  • great thai dining experience
  • superb mastery
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