Shim Thai & Japanese Bistro

Shim Thai & Japanese Bistro is an Asian restaurant at 238 S Main St in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its menu brings Thai and Japanese comfort-food favorites together, with customer reviews highlighting Japanese curry, pork katsu, pad see ew, green curry, orange chicken, and Thai basil stir-fry. That range makes it a useful downtown choice when one person is craving a savory curry and another wants noodles or a familiar stir-fry. The restaurant has a 4.7-star rating from 361 reviews, offering local diners a substantial base of customer feedback to consider when choosing where to eat.

For a filling, warming meal, reviewers especially recommend the Japanese curry served with a chicken or pork cutlet. One customer describes the curry as delicious, affordable comfort food and prefers the chicken cutlet, while noting that both versions were tasty. Pork katsu is another customer favorite. On the Thai side, pad see ew is praised for its flavor, and green curry has been described as yummy. Reviews also mention orange chicken and Thai basil stir-fry with beef, with diners appreciating the fresh, flavorful food. These are customer impressions rather than promises about every visit, but they give a concrete sense of the dishes people return to enjoy.

Shim Thai & Japanese Bistro may suit downtown workers looking for lunch, diners who enjoy both Thai and Japanese cooking, and anyone seeking familiar, satisfying dishes without a formal dining occasion. Customer feedback notes lunch specials priced at $10–$11, including an entree and a spring roll in a takeout-style container. Another reviewer ordered lunch online and found the process straightforward, with the meal ready at the stated time. That account makes online ordering worth considering for a workday meal or a convenient pickup. Reviewers also describe the owner as friendly and the food as homemade, adding a personal, welcoming note to the dining experience.

The atmosphere described in reviews is casual and unpretentious: one diner recalls Thai music playing on a television during lunch. That detail, along with the practical lunch specials and takeout experiences, suggests a relaxed spot focused on approachable meals rather than a formal setting. Spice preferences are worth communicating when ordering; one reviewer chose level 1 for the Thai basil stir-fry and found it mild. Shim Thai & Japanese Bistro is located at 238 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. Its listed hours are Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m.; and Sunday, 1:45–8:00 p.m. Check the current schedule before visiting, especially for Saturday evening plans.