Lil Rita's Grill House (Thai Cuisine)

Absolutely amazing! Lil Rita’s Grill House is hands down one of the best Thai restaurants in the Valley. Everything was so yummy and full of flavor. The staff was super friendly and made the experience even better. Highly recommend trying the Thai Tea (so refreshing!), the Pad Thai (classic and delicious), and my personal favorite—the Yellow Curry. It was rich, creamy, and just the right amount of spice. Can’t wait to go back!

Recently, the Wife and me had an opportunity to stop in on this hidden gem of Harlingen when it comes to Truly Authentic Thai cuisine. At first glance, you arrive to think that you are going to visit someone at their home but as soon as you open the door, you are greeted with wonderful aroma of herbs and spices that are permutating the room from the kitchen. We were welcomed by two lovely ladies (Sarah and Steph) who advised us to sit where we would like. The cozy atmosphere was very warming and inviting to where we did not feel like we were in restaurant but rather visiting family. We looked over the menu and decided for trying out a few different options. Thai Iced Tea: Sweet and bold that blended quite well together but should be taken in stride as if you are not careful, you will finish this drink quickly and no refills are included with it. Spring Rolls: The fresh rolls were great but what set them off was having them placed on fresh spinach to compliment the Peanut and Garlic Vinegar Dipping sauces. Pad Thai w/ Shrimp: This dish absolutely screams "Made with love from Bangkok" as the flavors mixed with spicy goodness was a homerun in my books as it has been quite a long time that i have not had great Thai food. Pad Wun Sen w/chicken: Glass noodles stir fry with mushrooms, egg, cherry tomatoes, onions and cilantro was a balance of sweet and savory. The wife mentioned that it was a little salty for her taste but when mixed in with the jasmine rice, it blended great. Each portion was made just right, not too little or too much. For those who complain that the portions are too small, there are all you can eat buffet places down the road. As for the pricing, Each entree plate was about $15/ person which is appropriate for the authentic flavors that can not be substituted with local markets as many of the ingredients have to be imported. Overall, if you have not had a chance to stop in, you do not know what you are missing and expect that we will be returning again soon hungry for another great meal. Thank you Sarah and Steph for the amazing service and conversation.

We got the pad Thai and the pineapple curry. And a Thai tea of course. The flavor of everything was amazing! But we won’t be back because the portions simply ARE NOT worth the price. The tiniest portions I ever seen and they asked if I wanted to add a side of rice for an up charge and it was so tiny! $40 for two small plates and one drink

Delicious panang curry. Pad thai was awesome. Thai tea is also very well made. Very polite service but not the fastest. It is worth the wait, however. Portions are not the biggest, but again, they are worth it. Very homemade Thai.

Lovely place! Great food. Awesome service. Our waiter was very patient with us despite us not knowing what we wanted. Did not catch the gentleman’s name, but many thanks! Been to lil ritas a handful of times and it is always a pleasant experience!

Arguably the best authentic Thai restaurant in the valley. I lived in Thailand, and this is about as close as you can get from southern TX to the real thing. Don’t expect any mexicanization of this… eat it as it was designed to be… Thai food. Been here many times and It never disappoints. Gang keow wan eggplant, green curry and coconut milk. It’s the bomb!

Yummy food! Definitely homemade and authentic. My only complaint is it is a bit on the pricey side. However, I probably expected that with Thai food being a bit scarce here in the valley. Otherwise great! Def recommend!