We have tried, and recommend both the Yucaipa and Redlands Papaya Bay Restaurants, which are separately owned by related family members. The menus, quality and cooking styles seem to be identical, with the Redlands store being slightly more popular because of location than the Yucaipa branch. We feel both are exceptional.

 The Redlands “Papaya Bay” is an eclectic collection of very pleasant furnishings… not all traditional Thai, but both restaurants present a very enjoyable “upscale” dining experience at moderate pricing. All of this combines to make Papaya Bay the perfect restaurant for a romantic dinner date or reasonably priced business lunch… which brings us to the menu.

 Start with the freshest ingredients available and blend in cashews, bell peppers, onions, chicken, and chilies, all stir-fried in Thai style sauce and you have Papaya Bay’s Cashew Chicken… which is one of my favorite items. But everything is exceptional; perhaps because it is so different from the typical “American Fare.”

 We would recommend living life a little more adventurous than most and trying Papaya Bay’s Calamari. Served Thai style, the calamari rings are lightly battered in tempura and fried crispy, served with a sweet & sour sauce; YUM!! Or if squid is not your thing to start you meal out with try Papaya Bay’s “Tom Kha Gai” soup. This is a soup made with coconut milk with chicken or tofu infused with fresh Siamese galangal, lemon grass, mushrooms, and kefir leaves… another of my favorites.

 A must try item is the Pad Thai; a staple menu item at every Thai restaurant… Stir-fried rice noodles, choice of meat, egg, crushed peanuts, and bean sprouts in a Pad Thai sauce; which is sweet and spicy, and a welcome change from typical sweet & sour sauces! 

 Impress your taste-buds today and experience the amazingly tastes and flavors assured to remove all desires to retreat back to the “Dollar Menu” doldrums of the fast food menus... seriously “Good Eats" made only better when enjoyed with friends.