FIRE FOOD It was delicious! The service was exceptional and we really enjoyed our meal read more

- [ ] Ka-Kai was fantastic! I loved the rigatoni green curry it was such a beautiful blend of flavors and cultures. The butterfly pea tea was fantastic as well! Can't wait to return. The servers were very attentive and kind. read more

My friend and I were looking for a good spot to eat in the Castro and found Ka Kai on Yelp. The restaurant doesn't have a lot of reviews but the reviews and photos looked promising. The restaurant was cozy and had a good vibe. However, they were playing the same darn song for like 45 minutes lol. It was some old school funky song that just kept on repeating and repeating LOL. Anyways, my friend and I ordered several items including the papaya salad, hang lay curry, mu yang and Thai iced tea. I have never seen the hang lay curry at any other restaurant other than at Must Be Thai restaurant in San Jose which is my favorite Thai restaurant in the Bay Area. The flavor for the hang lay curry was good but the pork was a little tough and chewy. Also, the rice crackers don't really match with the curry. The rice crackers were very hard and tasted like cardboard lol. I was eating the curry with steamed rice instead which was way better. The papaya salad was nice and pungent and my friend absolutely loved it. The mu yang was good but I think the best one in San Francisco is at the classic Sai Jai Thai in the Tenderloin. Overall, our dinner was good but it was quite expensive at over $100 including the tip. Service was friendly and the staff pretty much knows the menu pretty well. If I was in the area again, I would try some of their other items. read more

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Had high hopes for this northern style Thai resto, as I'd heard good things about it, but the best I can say is the pad see ew was good, and the ambience was nice. I met here with a couple of friends for dinner, and we got the larb nuea, som tam nampu salad, pad see ew with tofu/veggies, and mango sticky rice for dessert. The larb nuea had a good flavor, but I don't particularly like ground or minced meat because of the texture and difficulty eating. One of my friends wanted salad, which is why we ordered the som tam nampu salad at the recommendation of our waiter. It was very similar to a salad I got at my favorite Thai restaurant in Manhattan with a salty anchovy flavor so very standard but not exactly my or my friend's exact flavor profile preference. My other friend and I agreed the pad see ew was our favorite dish on the table, and they even considered it one of the best they've had. Moving onto dessert, we opted for the mango sticky rice since I'm lactose intolerant but didn't bring any lactaid. It was pretty good but rather small so not great value, but that's to be expected here. Overall not bad but not a place I'm dying to return to. The service was very nice and friendly, so there's that. read more

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Food- very authentic Thai and I said this as a Thai person. I saw many comments complained about their Pad Thai- that's not red lol You guys just get used to with American version of Pad Thai. At Ka-Kai you can taste the authentic Pad Thai that some places in Thailand still can't serve you this flavor! Kao Soi, Larb, Papaya salad, and Sai Uaa were also good and well-executed if considered what ingredient they can find here:) However, I expected to see more Northern dished like Nam prick noom, Gang Ho, Konom jeen Nam Nge-aow etc. -Service and ambiance were great, servers very attentive and nice decoration. The price wise, a bit higher than typical Thai restaurants. - read more

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A relatively newcomer in the Castro. Quite a busy crowd on a Thursday night. I can see why, really good food at reasonable prices. Nuea Thod: The menu says this is jerky, but it's so much better than that. It's thinly sliced and firm, but it tastes freshly cooked. Plus all the spices attached to it make it taste pretty great. Som Tam Nampu: A tart and refreshingly salad, tossed in some nice sweet and hot juices. Khao Kor Mu Yang: Rich grilled pork, fresh veggies and a tangy dip. Good portion of pork, though parts were a little fatty. Overall, a very fun and interactive meal. read more

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Really great new Thai restaurant in the Castro! I saw this new spot opened up recently and had to try it as Northern Thai is one of my favorite cuisines. We tried the eggplant papaya salad, ka kai chicken noodle soup, pork jowl, and spicy basil duck. Everything was delicious but my favorite had to be the spicy basil duck which was super flavorful! The duck was tender with crispy skin and served with a broccoli and pepper stir fry, rice and a fried egg making it a meal in of itself. I would come back just for the duck! The ka kai noodle soup is on the lighter side with a sweet broth but the housemade chili sauces they provide on the side are a great way to provide a kick. The restaurant itself is gorgeous and it definitely could be a good date night spot. It's on the pricer side but for the portions and ambiance it's definitely worth trying. read more

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New Thai spot in the Castro! We went around noon on a weekend and were seated immediately. The som tam nampu (green papaya salad with Northern style dressing) was extremely sour, so I don't recommend ordering this unless you love sour flavor profile. The larb was good and had a nice heat but didn't have much of the tangy & sour flavor. The crispy pork skin on the side was great. The hang lay curry was fantastic! It was rich and flavorful with soft pork belly. I just wish it came with a bit more curry sauce so I could enjoy it with the sticky rice and crispy rice cracker. Service was friendly but a little slow. The inside is clean and has a nice relaxing ambiance. It wasn't too difficult to find street parking nearby. read more

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New spot in the Castro for Thai food! The inside is very cozy and well decorated, with many cute chicken motifs! We ordered the papaya salad, pork jowl, green curry rigatoni, and the Thai toast dessert. Everything was very flavorful, and my favorite dish was the jowl! Portions are a bit on the smaller side though. read more

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New spot in the Castro that opened about a week ago! Really fantastic food and service - loved all the dishes we got and dessert was really tasty as well. Really generous portion sizes - we got a main and 2 apps and were quite full for two people read more

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Really happy Ka Kai opened up in our neighborhood! We went with a group of 8 and ordered 7 dishes, and we were beyond full. Highly recommend the khao soi (we had enough for all 8 of us to eat a bowl!), the duck, the pad Thai, and the hang lay curry. I'll for sure be returning to try the steamed bass next time! read more

The Pad Thai gets a solid 10/10 for authenticity. What makes it special is the crispy pork rinds sprinkled on top--such a delicious touch! The fresh vegetables served on the side included not only bean sprouts but also garlic chives, which is a detail that really shows the restaurant's commitment to traditional Thai flavors. Little touches like these make the dish feel truly authentic and just like what you'd find in Thailand. The other dishes were just as delicious. I also highly recommend the Khan-Thok Box. It comes with a great variety of traditional Northern Thai dishes, just like the way they are served in Northern Thailand. It's a wonderful way to experience different flavors in one meal. I will definitely be coming back again and look forward to trying even more dishes read more

Ka Kai - Kahn-Thok Box - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here as a part of a large party so we were able to try so many dishes!! And everything was so good and flavorful - we LOVED the khao soi cocktail - pineapple fried rice was a surprising standout - the pork collaaaarrrrr - khao soi came with a HUUUGE chicken portion and the tenderest noodles Highly rec checking this place out! read more

There's been a lot of conversation about this restaurant. It's popped up on my feed a few times. A friend suggested we go try this out after deciding on a place for dinner. I figured it would be difficult to get in because of all the buzz. It was also near the end of the night for the restaurant. I called and asked when their last seating was and it turned out to be perfect. I arrived at the restaurant and entered. An employee said hello to me after standing there for a few seconds. There were two others waiting to be seated. I assumed she would be back to greet me or be put onto some sort of waiting list. Two others walked in to the restaurant and a different employee came over and greeted them and handed them a clipboard to write their name on. I figured I should join the list after noticing they had a waiting list. I guess I should have asked upon first entering. They were busy and it seemed a bit understaffed. The restaurant smelled amazing..like really goooood. It was very warm in the restaurant as well. It felt like the heater was on really high. After getting our table we had a few moments to review the menu. We decided on our dishes. They were out of the khan-tok box which we planned to share and one other dish. So we went with the other delicious dishes. The food is really good and so much flavor. The khao soy was very rich and creamy. The meat was tender and the crispy noodles gave the perfect texture. I would definitely recommend this spot. I think there should be more clarity upon entering with a check in or waiting list. For me it was really warm in the restaurant and even while eating. The food is delicious and very reasonably priced. The interior is great and I love the Mosnstera plant in the entrance. Definitely give them a try!! read more

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Service is great! Decor and ambience are lovely! Food is delicious! We had the fresh spring rolls, green curry, and sea bass. Highly recommend all of these dishes. The drinks are also great. The lychee martini paired nicely with our meal. Would definitely come back and bring friends here! read more

Ka Kai - Fresh spring rolls - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

To someone only familiar with Americanized Thai food, this Northern Thai restaurant presents some pretty unique flavors, very earthy and spicy. The soup was a stand-out (spice lovers unite!) and the box sampler was delicious. My only note was that the coconut rice is very dense and comes wrapped in plastic (a bowl would be nicer). Lovely staff. read more

Service was not ideal - had a reservation for 730pm and got seated closer to 8pm after they seated a group that came after us.. Food was decent. Best dish (everyone's fav) was the pork belly called Hang Lay Curry - will be going back for this specific dish. Next fav was the green curry (tofu) which I'd recommend. The pineapple fried rice was solid but didn't come close to the two above dishes. I personally wouldn't order the Som Tam Nampu papaya salad again - unique flavor I'm not a fan of. read more

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Solid new spot with very cute interior :) Be warned, there can be a wait since it's new and the inside is on the small side. We got the tom yum soup and pad kee mao - both were yummy. read more

Ka Kai - Pad kee mao, tom yum soup - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

Lovely atmosphere and staff! I would recommend for an easy neighborhood meal. Thanks for the lovely meal.

Love this place. Cool vibe great food. My husband said that it was the best pad Thai he's ever had. I really enjoyed the ksi soy noodles

Cozy, warm atmosphere that feels like home. Beautiful decor, relaxing vibe, and very friendly staff. The Khoi Soi Colada cocktail was so creative and delicious -- tropical coconut, citrus, and warm Northern Thai spices that really reminded me of Khao Soi flavors. The papaya salad was fresh and flavorful, and the Khan-Thok Box was perfect for sharing with so many tasty Northern Thai dishes. Also loved the Mo Thod pork jerky! Finished with the Bo-Ran Ice Cream dessert -- not too sweet and perfect for coconut lovers. Highly recommend! read more

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This location used to be Thai chef closed after 21 yr open for business, now This new restaurant with new owner and northern Thai street food style , restaurant updated look clean and fresh . We ordered khao soI colada little too sweet for me , papaya salad had a good flavor, the roasted duck is good meat very tender, overall dinner was great! read more

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Wonderful vibe with great food, friendly service, obviously come back when we're craving thai food.

Castro can sometimes feel like a food desert of boring food catering to drunk people - not here. Other reviewers mention the strong bold herbal flavors. They're not wrong. Larb has a spicy heat that sneaks up on you with a slow burn. This is not the Americanized junk Thai food you've had before. So glad to have some good food in the neighborhood. Good luck! Keep it up and don't ever tone down the food. read more

Ka Kai - Larb - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

The ambiance was warm and inviting, the service was excellent, and the food was absolutely outstanding. I'm so excited to have discovered a Northern Thai restaurant here in San Francisco read more

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The food is amazing! Must try! Best Thai restaurant in the city, especially the Hang Lai curry.

Great new place (to me) with great food and great service! Get the tasting box, for two, it's worth it. read more

Ka Kai - Menu - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Huge portions but flavors were not there. There are much more flavorful Thai restaurants in the city. We did appreciate the great service and festive ambiance. read more

Honestly, I'm so happy to have finally found a Northern Thai restaurant here in San Francisco. It really means a lot to me because that's the kind of food I grew up with. This place instantly brought back memories of my grandma's cooking. The flavors feel so authentic and comforting. I can't even describe how happy it made me. My favorite dish here is the "ap mu." It's packed with herbs and spices, full of flavor, and absolutely delicious. I honestly feel like this is the kind of place I could wake up and eat every day, haha. The service was also great. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and had such a warm attitude. The atmosphere made the whole experience even better. Overall, such a lovely spot, and I'll definitely be coming back. read more

Ka Kai - Ap mu - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Loved everything about Ka Kai--elevated flavors, beautiful presentation, and a chic yet relaxed atmosphere. Service was attentive without being over the top. A standout spot in Castro for a refined but fun dining experience. read more

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Must-try Khao Soi! My favorite spot in the Castro. "Finding a truly great Khao Soi in the city can be a challenge, but this place absolutely nailed it. The chicken was fall-off-the-bone tender, and the broth was incredibly rich and fragrant. Adding a squeeze of lime with the pickled mustard greens and shallots made every bite perfectly balanced. The atmosphere is cozy and the service is fast--perfect for a comforting lunch or dinner. If you're in the Castro, you have to give this a try!" read more

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I was so excited that the recently-closed Thai Chef would remain a Thai restaurant. I didn't know that there was a distinction between Thai and Northern Thai food, so that may be the root of my displeasure. I normally judge a Thai restaurant by their Pad Thai, my favorite of all Thai dishes. So I ordered this item to go. When I got it home, MAN was I disappointed. There was absolutely NO red sauce in the noodles, which were all dry and clumpy. The shrimp were so dreadfully overcooked they were like shrimp jerky. The tofu chunks, thankfully, were good, although this was overall the most unflavorful Pad Thai I've ever tasted. Plus, at over $25 without tip, the dish was a ripoff, especially at lunchtime. I will never return. read more

Another gem in the Bay now.. Highly recommended for Thai Northern Style food.. good vibes, great food and best services

The food is really delicious and the serves is really good, the food is well cooked and it well served

The best Northern Thai spots ! The food was so good. Everything we ordered was amazing, the staff were really sweet, and the vibe of the restaurant was cozy and welcoming. Definitely coming back again read more

Had such a great Northern Thai dining experience at Ka-Kai. We ordered the Kun Tok set (a combination of 6 appetizers), and my favorite was definitely the kang hang lay--rich flavor and incredibly soft pork belly. The krapow duck was also amazing: tender duck with perfectly crispy skin. Drinks were super cute--"Kai Ja" comes in a chicken jar Ended the meal with I tim boran (traditional Thai ice cream), which was a perfect finish. Overall: very, very Northern Thai style--authentic and memorable! read more

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Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the Pad Thai I ordered to go today. It lacked seasoning, salt, and overall taste. The dish was very bland, and I would not recommend this place based on my experience. read more

Had soup and a lychee cocktail. Both on point. I'm so happy to finally see a fully packed restaurant in the Castro. It's been too long. My server was Bee and he went above and beyond to explain the menu despite it being busy. Top notch. I'll be back! read more

Had the chicken leg noodle soup. Broth was only 1/3 filled with the bowl and was thick and sugary. Would not recommend getting this dish. also pretty expensive. With tip the bowl of soup cost almost $35. read more

I visited Ka-Kai last week and was thoroughly impressed. The atmosphere is lovely, and the service is excellent ! the staff are very welcoming and helpful with the menu. The food is exceptionally delicious and authentic. I highly recommend the Duck Basil (Pad Kra Pao) and the Khao Soi Chicken! they taste exactly like authentic Thai cuisine. It's now one of my top favorite spots! read more

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