The best Thai food in town
Excellent food and great service. The facility is so clean, especially the restrooms. Great staff!!

Thanks for providing such great food!    [16 Jan 2004 00:18:19]

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Recommended Dishes: Papaya salad with blue crab, all dishes we ordered were great

     ­DR. WAGDY MD   

New management, Same great taste
Under new management, and new look, but still caters an authentic taste. The service is excellent, couldn't ask for more, and the atmosphere is just perfect. Prices are reasonable, but the taste is priceless.    [19 Jan 2004 14:27:42]

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Recommended Dishes: Lemon Trout

     ­Anonymous   

The Inland Empire's Best Thai Restaurant - and free refills on Thai iced-tea!
This is my favorite Thai restaurant-and I have eaten at many. Honestly, the food here is better than much of what I found in Thailand, and in the US is matched only by the restaurant of the same name in Berkeley (but the prices are better in Pomona). The menu displays dishes from all over Thailand, but has a bias for northern dishes with great curries and rice dishes.

Ruen Pair closed for renovations in late 2002 and only recently, over a year later, reopened under new ownership. I had waited expectantly for the reopening, hoping dearly that the menu I knew and loved would survive the transitions. Fortunately, most items have remained intact, and will soon be joined by some new additions. (There is a whole page in the menu still blank-just waiting for the new arrivals.) It isn't listed on the menu (yet), but you can request my favorite dish: Pad Ka Praow with roast duck. The juicy morsels of duck are sauteed with garlic, basil, and chilis and served with rice. Most of the dishes I have tried live up to the standard of the old Ruen Pair (although the Guay Teow Neu Sab needs some work).

The new owner head hunted for chefs from Thai restaurants all over LA and has found a pair that produce authentic dishes of consistent quality. He is looking to add a third to keep up with the growing lunch crowd.

At Ruen Pair, all the spices are bought raw, roasted, and ground on site, and the fish and produce are hand picked by the owner or the chefs the day it is to be prepared. You can bet that anything you order will be fresh.

The restaurant looks uncharacteristically clean and new for Pomona now that the renovations are complete, with elegant track lighting above the bar. The owner hopes to obtain a full liquor liscense soon, but for now there is a decent selection of beer. New custom built booths are slated to replace the current tables and chairs, increasing seating capacity, and giving a more private feel.

For those new to Thai cuisine, Pad Si Eew is a good starting place. In fact, it is the dish I generally use as the standard of measure whenever I try a new Thai restaurant. The portions should be large, there should be a hint of sweetness, a slight taste of fish sauce, not too heavy, and most importantly-it should be made with Chinese broccoli (which bears little resemblance to what we know as broccoli). If you can handle a little heat, the the curry dishes made with cocoa nut milk are another good place to start.

Prices range from around $5 up to $15 or so, but pleasantly most of the dishes are under the $7 mark.

The wait staff is friendly and attentive, and service is usually fast. Large groups are welcome, but it is probably wise to call ahead during busy hours to be sure there is adequate space. Also, a bit of advance warning will probably speed up service for groups over 6 or so, especially if you catch the kitchen in off hours when there is only one chef on hand.    [02 Mar 2004 02:14:51]

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Recommended Dishes: Duck Pad Ka Praow, Pad Si Eew, Tom Ka Goong, Issan Grilled Pork, Papaya Salad, or any curry

     ­batmantis00   

New & Improved Thai restaurant
Ruen Pair is conveniently located in between colleges and busy streets. It is near Cal Poly, Mt. Sac, La Verne, and The Claremont Colleges. The new owner is very personable and makes his customers feel at home. As a college student, it is my second favorite place to eat, my first being Mom's kitchen. I would definitely recommend Ruen Pair to anyone who is looking for the best quality, taste, and service in this area.    [12 Mar 2004 18:59:16]

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Recommended Dishes: Nam Tok, Spicy Beef or Pork Salad, Lemon Grass Salad, Sa Dat Beef or Pork, Bangkok Style Steamed Fish

     ­Anonymous   

Excellent food served with great hospitality
Once you step into the place, a sense of authentic spices and flavor plays wonders in your mind that goes straight to your brain, urging you for that delicious, savory tasting food. This is how it felt when I first visited this restaurant as it came highly recommended by some friends who became regular customers of this establishment. Their choice of food is excellent, especially their chicken pad see ewe, I’ve had some good ones before, but this place tops it all off! I highly recommend that, their service is great, very good people and very hospitable. This is definitely one of the best Thai restaurants I’ve eaten at... 5 stars for everything!    [14 Jun 2004 16:38:16]

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Recommended Dishes: chicken pad si ewe, beef salad

     ­jane doe   

Ruen Pair is a one of a kind restaurant where the staff makes you feel like a regular even on your first visit. The food here is soo wonderful that many of friends have now become regulars as well. Ruen Pair has undergone a beautiful transformation in its ambiance and from what Patrick and Kevin tell me they have more in store for us. You can't go wrong with any choice on the menu, every dish has its own unique taste and texture to enjoy. I am almost done slowly working my way down the menu and have encountered soo many delicious flavors. I love Thai food and have been to many different restaurants all over the state and even a few in Canada and this is without a doubt the best overall. Just thinking about all their tasty dishes makes me want to take a nice long drive to Ruen pair.    [09 Jun 2005 18:04:28]

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Recommended Dishes: Seafood soup, Papaya salad

     ­Carlos Martinez, Los Angeles