Kim Thanh

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

The management have no manners. They argued with us over two dollars and shook their heads at us when they made a mistake on the bill. They told us they only had broken rice but when we ordered rice seperate it was normal rice. I had finished my meal when my wifes meal was served.

They should realise that there are many nice restaurants in this area for us not to feel the need to go back there and its one place I will not be revisiting.

Jan 13, 2012 

3.5 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  4      Service  3      Value  3     

We used to dine very regularly at Kim Thanh many years ago before it was burnt to the ground but had not tried it since it's rise from the ashes. It was our favourite 'cheap and cheerful'. Last weeks nostalgic lunch visit was more than ordinary though. From the 'ping' of the microwave to the one-dish-at-a-time service (and we were the only 2 customers!) we realised it no longer offers the same value for money experience.

The Vegetarian Spring Rolls (4 for $4) were decent enough if a tad oily and the Salt and Pepper Squid ($12.50) was luckily set on a bed of chopped lettuce spiced up with some chilli, onion and capsicum, as the squid itself wasn't particularly salty or peppery and also somewhat tough. 'Kim Thanh Spicy Noodle' ($11.50) which used to be a must-order dish consisted of bland thin egg noodles with no hint of spice whatsoever, just an overwhelming sauce of near pure hoisin sauce with a few prawns and vegies for good measure.

Not enjoyable and didn't have more than a mouthful or two of this. Left $28 lighter and sorry, but won't be back.

Sep 04, 2010 

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  8     

Staff were friendly and we didn't have to wait long even though the restaurant was full on a Friday night. The decor could do with a spruce up but it didn't really bother us. Our entree was pork and prawn rice paper rolls, tasted a bit bland but was fresh and a nice light start. My partner had mongolian beef which he said was very different to the usual chinese style, but he enjoyed it (we noticed many people ordering it around us too).

My chicken pho was delicious, strong flavour and full of tender chicken, noodles, and bean sprouts, we both agreed we would go back for the pho. Prices were very cheap for the size and quality of the meal. It made for a nice casual dining experience.

Sep 26, 2009 

4.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  4      Value  4     

Lunch of beef noodle soup today. Service was slow and the guy forgot to come out to take order. Waited at counter for service. The pho took a while, when it came the soup was lukewarm, the beef was already cooked and slices were not very generous or uniform. Some of the beef were gristly, there was hardly any rice noodles and plenty of onions. The broth was way too sweet and one dimensional, I could hardly taste the beefiness. All in all probably caught them on an off day?

Jun 23, 2009 

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  8     

Friendly service, good value. Some really nice dishes, particularly the beef salad.

Feb 17, 2009 

7 Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  10      Value  7     

Locals keep saying how much they love this place but the 4 times I've been taken here, I've observed the following: great service, prompt. goopy food, heavy on garlic. The price is average for asian food, around $12-17 per main. The good thing is that its such a large space. You could easily have parties of 20 in here. Something that is not quite possible in any of the other restaurants on Hardgrave Road.

Nov 11, 2008 

7.5 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  10     

Having been a part of the Brisbane restaurant scene for well in excess of 20 years, the team at Kim Thanh are obviously doing something right. The food is fresh, and full of flavour and value for money is extremely high with a VERY large bowl of ingredient packed soup only setting you back around $8 and is filling enough to be eaten as a main meal.

The 20 years in operation have its adverse effects as well with the overall ambience suffering. This place is in need of a pretty major do-over as the tables, chairs, paintwork and appearance are very dated. The one major qualm I have with this restaurant (along with most other Asian restaurants) is the clean up area for waiting staff is in the dining area itself which detracts from the meal as the used dishes mount, and as is well known, "no one should air their dirty dishes in public!". The waiting staff could do with a little bit of help as well as far as ensuring that all requests are catered for, an example being that the person who I dined with asked for some water at the beginning of the meal yet none was ever delivered.

Overall though two large serves of soup, a serve of very fresh transparent spring rolls, and a mineral water served with lime and $28.50 later made for a very enjoyable evening out.

Aug 29, 2008