Skip the tourist strip and this tiny local Thai spot serves the real hits people ignore: kra pow and beef broth beat the pad thai hype

The Pad Thai Shop — 4.7 from 1,980. Cheap, old‑school and loved by locals. Don’t be fooled by the name: kra pow, beef broth and 10baht eggs steal the show. I reveal what to order, when to go and what tourists gladly waste money on.

Restaurant

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5Based on 1,980 Google reviews

$ Budget prices

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The Pad Thai Shop — blunt take

High average score, rock-bottom prices and a local reputation: The Pad Thai Shop earns a 4.7/5 from 1,980 reviewers while billing itself as an inexpensive restaurant. That combination promises solid food for minimal cash, and most customer reports back that promise up — with a few important caveats you should know before you go.

The food: dependable, with clear local hits

Pad Thai arrives as a balanced, familiar version — competent rather than iconic; several diners rank other plates above it.
Beef noodles stand out for a robust broth and a respectable amount of meat; this is the dish people recommend sharing or ordering for a table.
Chicken and beef kra pow show up repeatedly in praise; expect them to be the crowd-pleasers if you want a no-fuss spicy stir-fry.
Fried rice carries a desirable char and comfort-food feel; it’s not pretending to be gourmet but nails what it sets out to do.
There’s a shareable beef soup served without noodles that features a deep, herbal broth — an honest option if you want something lighter or to feed a group.
Drinks matter here: cold coconut and smoothies get called out as refreshers that match the heat.
Small but telling detail: adding a fried egg costs 10 baht, which tells you the place wants to keep prices deliberately low.

Service, vibe and who actually eats here

Staff are described as welcoming and patient, with explicit notes about them explaining which table condiments to pair with which dish. The shop reads old-school and busy; locals dominate the clientele according to reports estimating roughly 80% local customers and 20% foreigners. That local dominance usually signals authenticity rather than tourist tailoring.

Practicalities that change whether you go or stay home

Opening hours: Monday through Saturday, 08:00–17:00; closed on Sunday. This is not a dinner spot — plan an early meal.
Payment: cash only. The restaurant does not accept credit cards, so do not assume card will save you at the till.
Parking: official data lists a free parking lot and free street parking, but a guest report specifically advises parking on the roadside when you arrive from the main road. Treat parking as accessible but informal — don’t rely on valet or paid lots.
Pets: animals are not allowed — leave Fido at the hotel.
Accessibility: there is no wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance, restroom, or seating. Mobility-impaired diners should consider this a hard no unless assisted access is possible.

Contradictions worth your attention

The place is listed with free parking facilities, yet user accounts describe scrambling to park on the roadside because the shop sits on the main road and is busy. That gap matters: if you arrive during a peak window expecting an orderly car park, you’ll likely need to improvise. Also, while most reviews praise the pad thai, several regulars clearly prefer the kra pow or beef noodle soup — so expect divided opinions even among satisfied customers.

Final verdict and tactical advice

The Pad Thai Shop is a local, inexpensive eatery that reliably delivers solid Thai home-style food; its strengths are kra pow, beef noodle broth and cheap extras. It is not a night venue, it is not card-friendly and it is not accessible.

When to go: arrive before noon to avoid the busiest stretch and before the 17:00 closing.
What to order first: try the beef noodle soup or a kra pow; treat pad thai as a safe fallback, not the highlight.
Bring cash and small change for that 10 baht egg or cold coconut purchase.
If you have mobility needs or a pet, look elsewhere — this place offers none of those accommodations.
Expect a local crowd; if you want tourist-level polish, move on. If you want cheap, honest Thai cooked fast, this is worth the detour from nearby Kata.