Thai restaurants

Thai Basil Altoona

4.1 381 reviews Closed 550 36th Ave SW Suite J, Altoona, IA 50009, United States

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Thai Basil Altoona is a standout gem in Altoona's dining scene, drawing praise from many satisfied diners. With a diverse menu that showcases authentic Thai flavors, it's no surprise that patrons like Tyler Huff declare it one of the top Asian restaurants in the Des Moines area. Known for their crab-fried rice, this establishment manages to please a variety of palettes with deftly executed dishes. The Crab Rangoon, hailed as one of the best around by Olivia Kelly, features a perfect balance of savory and sweet, complementing a slightly spicy kick. Many reviewers, including S Morishita, rave about the large portion sizes, impeccable sushi rolls, and the delightful crunch of fried appetizers. The chicken fried rice, with its ideal seasoning, further solidifies Thai Basil’s reputation for excellence. Lunch offerings like the yellow curry and Pad Thai delight guests with generous portions and balanced spice levels that keep them coming back. Whitney Means emphasizes the extensive menu, showcasing the restaurant's ability to cater to different tastes, including delicious bubble teas. Amidst the chatter of positive reviews, one thing is clear: Thai Basil Altoona is a must-visit destination for any lover of Thai cuisine, serving quality food in a warm, friendly atmosphere.

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Amenities & More

Service options

Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in

Highlights

Fast service
Great tea selection

Popular for

Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Dining options

Lunch
Dinner
Counter service
Dessert
Seating
Table service

Amenities

Bar onsite
Restroom

Atmosphere

Casual
Cozy
Quiet

Crowd

Family-friendly
Groups

Note: Amenity details are aggregated from verified visits, the venue's website and Google. They may change without notice. We recommend confirming key details (pet policy, accessibility, reservations) directly with Thai Basil Altoona before visiting.

Reviews for Thai Basil Altoona

4.1

381 reviews

100%

27%

10%

20%

Review highlights

Based on 381 reviews

Thai Basil Altoona consistently receives positive feedback for its diverse menu featuring authentic Thai and Asian-inspired dishes. Customers frequently praise the generous portions, flavorful offerings like crab fried rice, crab Rangoon, and sushi, highlighting the balance of spices and quality ingredients. The restaurant is noted for its friendly and attentive staff, prompt and accurate order fulfillment, and welcoming atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the variety of options available, including specialties such as yellow curry and Pad Thai, often commenting on the satisfying spice levels and reasonable prices. Overall, Thai Basil Altoona is recognized as a standout dining destination in the Altoona and Des Moines area, known for quality food, ample servings, and excellent customer service.

Tyler Huff

May 23, 2025

One of the top Asian restaurants in the Des Moines area. Been here a handful of times and never left disappointed. Tried a new dish each time and always excellent. The crab-fried rice dish is by far one of my favorites.

Olivia Kelly

May 21, 2025

This is such a delicious place to eat! The Crab Rangoon are so good. Some of the best I’ve ever had! They have so many options and all of them so good! The staff is super friendly and are so sweet! It’s one of my favorite places to eat! We also ordered like 15 things and all of the orders were correct!

S Morishita

May 18, 2025

Hands down my favorite place for sushi, Crab Rangoon and chicken fried rice! The portions are nice and big, the rice for the sushi is the perfect chewy (not mushy) texture AND the size of the sushi roll for the Des Moines Roll is HUGE! The crab ragoons are the perfect balance of savory, sweet with a slight spicy kick and on top of that it is fried to perfection where its not too hard but has the perfect semi soft center with a nice crunch around the edge. The chicken fried rice is cooked to perfection as well with the texture of the rice and seasoning of the chicken. Absolutely love this place and totally recommend it!

Kalynn Graf

May 07, 2025

Great Thai food! My husband and I dined in for lunch. He had the special yellow curry (aka Khao soi) and I had Pad Thai (spice level 2) We also shared an app of fried pork pot stickers. All of the food was delicious and just the right amount of spicy! Portions were generous. We left with enough food to have dinner later that day. Worth mentioning, we ordered orange chicken for pickup previously and it was decent but the Thai food is the real star of the show here. The new owners are doing a great job!

Whitney Means

May 03, 2025

Lots of menu options!!! The crab rangoons, Lange Salad, and bubble teas are amazing!!! I have also loved their sushi and pad Thai! Great service, good quality food, good price for quality and quantity, and good atmosphere. Highly Recommend!

Roberto S. Fierros

Apr 30, 2025

Had the Birthday sushi roll! Simply delicious. Fresh and quality ingredients. The server was extremely sweet and attentive. Boba was a bit hard (might’ve been a little uncooked) not as chewy as I like it but still good. Fortune cookie was so cute way better taste than the original Chinese cookie.

Ellen Paullin

Apr 06, 2025

Delicious!!! I had the yellow curry stir fry and the altoona roll. Both soooooo good. Enough for 2 or 3 big meals, too. Friendly prompt service. Clean space. Cost was 30 with tip. For the quality and amount, that seemed right on. Their menu has so many things I wanted to try. I can see this becoming a regular go to. I asked for medium spice level and also feel like they delivered. Thanks Cool Basil!

Andrell Laniewicz

Mar 07, 2025

The door is not locked, I'm just weak! Worth the door struggle. Those of you who follow my reviews here know, but I'm obsessed with the perfect green curry. This place has it! I did add eggplant. It was so good, I even was eager to eat the green beans . Their Thai tea was also perfect for me, which means it's probably really sweet Seriously top 5, maybe top 3.