Authentic flavours
Several diners describe the pad Thai, curries and soups as fresh, bold and recognisably Thai, including one reviewer reminded of Bangkok’s Khao San Road.
Cafe Isan (JVC, Circle Mall) - Authentic Thai Street Food Restaurant
Jumeirah Village Circle
Cafe Isan is a Thai street food restaurant in Jumeirah Village Circle’s Circle Mall, serving Thai classics alongside Isan specialities. Reviews point to bold, fresh dishes such as pad Thai, tom yum and mango sticky rice, with a cosy setting and generally attentive service.
Reputation Score
4.4
★★★★☆
335 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Generous portions
Portions are often described as filling; one diner said the meal sizes were worth AED 78 and left them satisfied.
Fast service
Multiple reviews mention friendly, attentive service, and one lunch visit was quick enough for diners who were in a rush.
Strong desserts
Mango sticky rice is a standout for several customers, with one diner returning specifically for the dessert and calling it very filling.
Fresh ingredients
Reviewers noticed freshness in dishes including Thai basil beef, papaya salad and the restaurant’s broader menu.
What to Eat at Cafe Isan (JVC, Circle Mall) - Authentic Thai Street Food Restaurant How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Cafe Isan (JVC, Circle Mall) - Authentic Thai Street Food Restaurant, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
These items at Cafe Isan (JVC, Circle Mall) - Authentic Thai Street Food Restaurant got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 5
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Mango & sticky rice dessert Net +5
“Nice lovely atmosphere to come and dine. Friendly staff, nice food. We only ordered Mango Sticky rice. And it was fantastic. Would come back again for that. Very filling.”
Positive 6Negative 1
Review excerpts
“Nice lovely atmosphere to come and dine. Friendly staff, nice food. We only ordered Mango Sticky rice. And it was fantastic. Would come back again for that. Very filling.”March 2024
“This is my go-to place whenever I crave Thai food! The dishes taste so authentic, it feels like I’m in Thailand. I ordered Pad Thai, milk tea, and mango sticky rice — all were absolutely delicious. The staffs are very attentive and accommodating. Highly recommend!”August 2025
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Pad thai Net +5
“The Pad Thai was perfectly cooked with incredible flavor, and the Tom Yum was rich, fragrant, and just the right balance of spicy and sour. Everything tasted fresh and authentic.”
Positive 5Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Pad Thai was perfectly cooked with incredible flavor, and the Tom Yum was rich, fragrant, and just the right balance of spicy and sour. Everything tasted fresh and authentic.”January 2026
“Sheng and edward service is very good this is our first time to dine here in cafe isan and the food was superb specially the pad thai noodles my mother loves it.”October 2025
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Green curry Net +3
“the green curry was 10/10.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“the green curry was 10/10.”May 2025
“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Food was great my favorite was the Green Thai Curry! I didn’t regret ordering it at all. The service was fast and excellent. Franco and Shang was our waiters, did an amazing job they were friendly, polite, and very attentive. Highly recommend Café Isan for authentic and flavorful Thai food!”October 2025
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Papaya salad Net +3
“Very nice food! Excellent service, friendly and fast. I absolutely loved the papaya salad!”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Very nice food! Excellent service, friendly and fast. I absolutely loved the papaya salad!”April 2026
“Loved it!! Papaya salad is a must try! Do not have pic of all the dishes that we ordered but was really good!!”April 2024
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Cashew chicken Net +2
“Not sure why the reviews have some inconsistencies. I’ve been here twice now and both visits were great. Quality food.. Cashew chicken, pad Thai, dim sum 🥟”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Not sure why the reviews have some inconsistencies. I’ve been here twice now and both visits were great. Quality food.. Cashew chicken, pad Thai, dim sum 🥟”February 2026
“We ordered Tom Tum Soup,pad Thai noodles ,and cashew nut chicken. Everything tasted great. Too hungry to take photos.”December 2023
Honorable mentions (19)
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Beef fried rice Net +1
“Had a late lunch here with some interesting Northern Thai food. The beef fried rice had a nice unusual taste, different from Chinese fried rice. The mussel omelette (Hoi Thod) was crispy and had a good wok flavour, although not everyone will appreciate the strong mussel taste. The fried chicken liver was a tad too dry and hard. And finally, the Mamasan red curry was rich and delicious. Overall, it’s a pleasant lunch experience.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had a late lunch here with some interesting Northern Thai food. The beef fried rice had a nice unusual taste, different from Chinese fried rice. The mussel omelette (Hoi Thod) was crispy and had a good wok flavour, although not everyone will appreciate the strong mussel taste. The fried chicken liver was a tad too dry and hard. And finally, the Mamasan red curry was rich and delicious. Overall, it’s a pleasant lunch experience.”December 2024
-
Chicken tom-yum Net +1
“2.chicken tom-yum 8/10”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“2.chicken tom-yum 8/10”February 2023
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Chocolate spring rolls Net +1
“Chocolate Spring rolls with vanilla ice cream were splendid.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Chocolate Spring rolls with vanilla ice cream were splendid.”December 2023
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Crispy fish Net +1
“Mains get the green curry, crispy fish, and pad kra pow. Also very spicy so recommend mild if you can’t handle the heat, but really flavourful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Mains get the green curry, crispy fish, and pad kra pow. Also very spicy so recommend mild if you can’t handle the heat, but really flavourful.”December 2025
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Grilled squid Net +1
“Find no more, this is the place for legit Thai Street Food. Delicious and authentic dishes. Friendly staff and the service was excellent. Loved the modern interior. The grilled squid is a winner! Wishing your business to flourish and maintaining the standard & quality of your food. Yummy Tummy 😋”
Positive 1Negative 0Neutral 1
Review excerpts
“Find no more, this is the place for legit Thai Street Food. Delicious and authentic dishes. Friendly staff and the service was excellent. Loved the modern interior. The grilled squid is a winner! Wishing your business to flourish and maintaining the standard & quality of your food. Yummy Tummy 😋”October 2023
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Hainan chicken rice Net +1
“We had some hainan chicken rice, khao pad koong and mango sticky rice. Pretty authentic thai.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had some hainan chicken rice, khao pad koong and mango sticky rice. Pretty authentic thai.”February 2025
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Khao pad koong Net +1
“We had some hainan chicken rice, khao pad koong and mango sticky rice. Pretty authentic thai.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had some hainan chicken rice, khao pad koong and mango sticky rice. Pretty authentic thai.”February 2025
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Mamasan red curry Net +1
“Had a late lunch here with some interesting Northern Thai food. The beef fried rice had a nice unusual taste, different from Chinese fried rice. The mussel omelette (Hoi Thod) was crispy and had a good wok flavour, although not everyone will appreciate the strong mussel taste. The fried chicken liver was a tad too dry and hard. And finally, the Mamasan red curry was rich and delicious. Overall, it’s a pleasant lunch experience.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had a late lunch here with some interesting Northern Thai food. The beef fried rice had a nice unusual taste, different from Chinese fried rice. The mussel omelette (Hoi Thod) was crispy and had a good wok flavour, although not everyone will appreciate the strong mussel taste. The fried chicken liver was a tad too dry and hard. And finally, the Mamasan red curry was rich and delicious. Overall, it’s a pleasant lunch experience.”December 2024
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Masaman curry veg+ tofu Net +1
“I ordered Masaman curry ( veg+ tofu) with Jasmine rice. They have chicken and beef options as well. Positives Serving was good quantity Rice were cooked properly Service was fast and staff was very nice and friendly Negatives Too much spice, considering in middle east the focus is on less spicy food. Tofu felt a littlt bit too oily Overall very nice place for people who can eat spicy food.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered Masaman curry ( veg+ tofu) with Jasmine rice. They have chicken and beef options as well. Positives Serving was good quantity Rice were cooked properly Service was fast and staff was very nice and friendly Negatives Too much spice, considering in middle east the focus is on less spicy food. Tofu felt a littlt bit too oily Overall very nice place for people who can eat spicy food.”January 2023
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Massaman curry Net +1
“Their Massaman curry was truly authentic!!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their Massaman curry was truly authentic!!”January 2024
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Mussel omelette (hoi thod) Net +1
“Had a late lunch here with some interesting Northern Thai food. The beef fried rice had a nice unusual taste, different from Chinese fried rice. The mussel omelette (Hoi Thod) was crispy and had a good wok flavour, although not everyone will appreciate the strong mussel taste. The fried chicken liver was a tad too dry and hard. And finally, the Mamasan red curry was rich and delicious. Overall, it’s a pleasant lunch experience.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had a late lunch here with some interesting Northern Thai food. The beef fried rice had a nice unusual taste, different from Chinese fried rice. The mussel omelette (Hoi Thod) was crispy and had a good wok flavour, although not everyone will appreciate the strong mussel taste. The fried chicken liver was a tad too dry and hard. And finally, the Mamasan red curry was rich and delicious. Overall, it’s a pleasant lunch experience.”December 2024
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Pad kra pow Net +1
“Mains get the green curry, crispy fish, and pad kra pow. Also very spicy so recommend mild if you can’t handle the heat, but really flavourful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Mains get the green curry, crispy fish, and pad kra pow. Also very spicy so recommend mild if you can’t handle the heat, but really flavourful.”December 2025
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Pad thai beef Net +1
“i tried the pad thai beef and mango sticky rice Everything was full of flavor and perfectly cooked.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“i tried the pad thai beef and mango sticky rice Everything was full of flavor and perfectly cooked.”February 2026
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Som tom Net +1
“The colourful Som Tom flavours were fresh and bright.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The colourful Som Tom flavours were fresh and bright.”July 2025
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Thai basil beef Net +1
“I ordered the thai basil beef its one of the best meals I’ve had! you can really taste the freshness of the ingridients.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered the thai basil beef its one of the best meals I’ve had! you can really taste the freshness of the ingridients.”February 2026
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Thai basil stir fry Net +1
“The Thai Basil Stir Fry was exceptional – a must-try!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Thai Basil Stir Fry was exceptional – a must-try!”December 2025
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Tom tum soup Net +1
“We ordered Tom Tum Soup,pad Thai noodles ,and cashew nut chicken. Everything tasted great. Too hungry to take photos.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered Tom Tum Soup,pad Thai noodles ,and cashew nut chicken. Everything tasted great. Too hungry to take photos.”December 2023
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Tomyum soup Net +1
“Best restaurant in the area! The food is fresh and very tasty. Sheng is very accommodating and polite. Highly recommended! Definitely coming back specially the Tomyum soup is giving the taste!! ✨✨✨✨”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Best restaurant in the area! The food is fresh and very tasty. Sheng is very accommodating and polite. Highly recommended! Definitely coming back specially the Tomyum soup is giving the taste!! ✨✨✨✨”February 2026
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Veg spring-rolls Net +1
“1.Veg Spring-rolls 8/10”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“1.Veg Spring-rolls 8/10”February 2023
Drinks 1
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Fresh orange juice Net +1
“I followed it up with their Mango & Sticky Rice dessert, and everything was perfectly complemented by fresh orange juice.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I followed it up with their Mango & Sticky Rice dessert, and everything was perfectly complemented by fresh orange juice.”December 2025
What to Avoid (6)
Food 6
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Fried chicken liver Net −1
“Had a late lunch here with some interesting Northern Thai food. The beef fried rice had a nice unusual taste, different from Chinese fried rice. The mussel omelette (Hoi Thod) was crispy and had a good wok flavour, although not everyone will appreciate the strong mussel taste. The fried chicken liver was a tad too dry and hard. And finally, the Mamasan red curry was rich and delicious. Overall, it’s a pleasant lunch experience.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Had a late lunch here with some interesting Northern Thai food. The beef fried rice had a nice unusual taste, different from Chinese fried rice. The mussel omelette (Hoi Thod) was crispy and had a good wok flavour, although not everyone will appreciate the strong mussel taste. The fried chicken liver was a tad too dry and hard. And finally, the Mamasan red curry was rich and delicious. Overall, it’s a pleasant lunch experience.”December 2024
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Ground beef Net −1
“Ordered “best seller” ground beef with jasmine rice and fried egg. Egg was fresh, beef was like rubber. Had a feeling i am eating instant food from the bag made in 3 minutes in boiling water. Serving in plastic plate and paper cup, like on a gas station. Not recommended!”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Ordered “best seller” ground beef with jasmine rice and fried egg. Egg was fresh, beef was like rubber. Had a feeling i am eating instant food from the bag made in 3 minutes in boiling water. Serving in plastic plate and paper cup, like on a gas station. Not recommended!”January 2026
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Mango sticky rice Net −1
“Mango Sticky Rice: This is where it turned from bad to worse. It wasn't mango sticky rice, it was mango pudding. Instead of using the proper seeds, they used sesame seeds, instead of sticky rice, it was a literal pudding, that also takes away 1 one more star.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Mango Sticky Rice: This is where it turned from bad to worse. It wasn't mango sticky rice, it was mango pudding. Instead of using the proper seeds, they used sesame seeds, instead of sticky rice, it was a literal pudding, that also takes away 1 one more star.”August 2025
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Pad thai with mixed seafood Net −1
“Next came the Pad Thai with mixed seafood. The noodles were overly sweet and sticky, the prawns chewy and overcooked, and the calamari fishy and rubbery. While it vaguely resembled Pad Thai in presentation, the flavour was completely wrong.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Next came the Pad Thai with mixed seafood. The noodles were overly sweet and sticky, the prawns chewy and overcooked, and the calamari fishy and rubbery. While it vaguely resembled Pad Thai in presentation, the flavour was completely wrong.”January 2026
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Shrimp spring rolls Net −1
“We started with the shrimp spring rolls. What arrived was a freezing-cold bundle of carrots and cucumbers, wrapped in a soggy, chewy glutinous skin, with one prawn sliced in half so that two shrimps could be stretched across four rolls. It was tasteless, cold, poorly prepared, and frankly disgusting.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We started with the shrimp spring rolls. What arrived was a freezing-cold bundle of carrots and cucumbers, wrapped in a soggy, chewy glutinous skin, with one prawn sliced in half so that two shrimps could be stretched across four rolls. It was tasteless, cold, poorly prepared, and frankly disgusting.”January 2026
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Tom yum soup Net −1
“Worst Tom yum soup of my life. It’s nothing like an original Tom yum by any standard. Upon asking I was told ‘it’s the isan special style’! Never going back. I could not even consume the soup it was that bad.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Worst Tom yum soup of my life. It’s nothing like an original Tom yum by any standard. Upon asking I was told ‘it’s the isan special style’! Never going back. I could not even consume the soup it was that bad.”February 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Ask spice level. Ask the staff about spice before ordering, especially for papaya salad, green curry and pad kra pow; several reviews describe these as very spicy.
Allow extra time. If ordering the mussels omelette, allow for a longer wait or ask how long it will take before committing to the dish.
Try milk tea. Thai milk tea is a well-liked accompaniment and was specifically called a must with a meal and drinks.
Expect street style. The restaurant leans into a street-food setup, so expect basic cutlery rather than a formal dining presentation.
Plan the visit
Practical details
The Circle Mall - Jumeirah Village Circle - Unit G015 Ground Floor
Al Barsha South Fourth - Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai
| Mon | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Tue | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Wed | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Thu | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Fri | 10:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Sat | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sun | 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Uneven quality
Two visits could differ noticeably: one reviewer found the second pad Thai and grilled squid less impressive than the first.
Price concerns
Several diners felt the prices were high for a mall street-food setting, with value not always matching portion size or quality.
Long waits
Some dishes can take longer than expected; the mussels omelette was specifically reported to leave diners waiting without warning.
Loud music
The music was uncomfortably loud for one diner, which may matter if you prefer a quieter meal.
Spice mismatch
The food can run hot, and one diner found even a medium-spicy meal too intense for their preference.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
AED 54
Tom Yum Soup
“AED 54 for a Tom Yum Soup is a lot for a mall diner”Google review · November 2023
AED 100/= - 130/= per person
full meal
“It was around AED 35/= If you are having a full meal it will be around close to AED 100/= - 130/= per person”Google review · March 2024
100 AED per head
per head with drinks included
“100 AED per head with drinks included (Thai milk tea is a must!)”Google review · December 2025
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Cafe Isan is a Thai street food restaurant in Jumeirah Village Circle’s Circle Mall, with a menu that includes pad Thai, tom yum, green curry, papaya salad, curries and desserts. It is worth considering if you want bold, aromatic Thai food in a relaxed setting rather than a formal hotel restaurant. Mango sticky rice, green curry and grilled squid receive especially memorable mentions.
The atmosphere is one of the clearer strengths. Diners describe the interior as cosy and relaxing, while lunch service has sometimes been quick enough for people in a hurry. Staff are generally described as friendly and attentive, though one review found the music too loud.
There is some inconsistency in the kitchen. One pair of visits produced excellent pad Thai and a gigantic grilled squid, followed by a less impressive version of both. Other diners complained about small portions, high prices or dishes that did not match their expectations, including a disputed tom yum and a disappointing mango sticky rice.
Ask about spice levels before ordering: the papaya salad, green curry and pad kra pow can be seriously hot. Prices mentioned by diners include AED 35 for mango sticky rice, AED 54 for tom yum soup and roughly AED 100–130 per person for a full meal.