What we ordered: * mun nuer with cured egg [5/5] * duck curry [4.5/5] * pad se ew [5/5] * yum yum mushrooms [5/5] * Thai tea [3/5] [Taste: ] Everything was so good and nicely curated. I would get the same exact order the next time I come. I would not get the Thai tea again because it tastes like instant Thai tea. [Service: ] Decent [Comments: ] Homey interior and modernized dishes that still manages to be true to authentic Thai flavors. The dishes transported me back to Thailand. read more

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Came in around 4:30pm on a Wednesday - highly recommend joining the waitlist via App, you'll likely have a wait since this place is incredibly popular. I came with a vegetarian friend so we tried all things veg on the menu which were the Tom Kha Hed soup (great if you like coconut milk and mushrooms), the Pad Thai (it was okay, nothing special), and the Drunken Ma Ma noodles - these were incredibly flavourful! What I would recommend ordering is the Green Curry Eggplant, this one was delicious. The thai tea also great, paired well with everything we ate and it wasnt too sweet. The standout dish for me was the Kaya Jam Toast with Coconut ice cream. So good! Is it worth the wait -- for vegetarians I would say probably not, unless you come with a big party and try multiple dishes! read more

Khao Tiew - Kaya Toast with coconut ice cream - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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i can't say good enough things to express how much i loved this restaurant. khao tiew-- the gem that you are.. i travel with my mom and find new thai places (one of our favorites) to try. we've been excited about khao tiew for a while and went on a tuesday after 4 pm. arriving, we immediately notice how insanely packed it was. putting our names in the list, we waited about 2 hours or so. southern california residents-- make sure to bring a jacket LOL! it was well worth the wait as it was warm inside, but dim enough to enjoy the presence of your table. our starters were the fried papaya salad and spicy wontons. 5/5 we LOVE a good papaya salad and this was it. its so different than the regular raw salad! the warm tempura coating was a perfect crunch and the papaya was fresh. i'm not a fan of tomato (i always try it at every restaurant to make sure), but even that was good! the sauce was savory, and acidic. i prefer a hefty amount of lime in mine, but truthfully i didn't care at all. it was so so good. it was like crack! one of the best-- if not the best papaya salads i've had. just how i like it. 2/5 as for the spicy wontons, they were okay! definitely better and more flavorful than some i've had in the city, but overall maybe it's not for me! it was spicy for sure, slightly musky and had a good bite/bounce to the meat. i personally wouldn't order it again. 100/5 the thai tea was to die for. i think i might've ordered 2-3 that night. it was sweet, strong and creamy. probably my favorite i've had in a while and ive tried hundreds of places! the thai tea is going to be what i miss the most!!! 4.5/5 spicy fried rice with chicken (mild) unfortunately we were too hungry to a picture of the dish haha! i usually will order a medium or spicy when it comes to my fried rice, but i was traveling with someone so we got mild. an amazing dish already, but definitely get medium or higher for maximum flavor! we didn't really taste any spice which isn't a huge issue at all! for non-spice goers, mild would be perfect for you. for those who love a mouth single, medium or higher! i loved the rice and we ate every last grain. 5/5 i had the duck curry and was skeptical as i was choosing between this and a pork dish. i've had good duck in my life, but most fell flat. i'm very happy to say that this was one of the best duck dishes i've had. they sous vide the breast so it practically melts in your mouth. i mean truly it was so tender. the curry was warm, creamy and it went beautifully with the fried rice. i would order again and a million times more. thank you to the fast paced and kind workers who gave us an amazing experience. we love khao tiew!! i'll be back again! read more

Khao Tiew - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

The wait for this place is kind of insane but it's really good! Probably the best Khao Soi I've had in the city! 10/10 would recommend! Definitely play the waitlist game and plan ahead of time. read more

Khao Tiew - Khao Soi - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here on a Saturday with a party of 5 ppl, we put our names on the waitlist at 4:30pm and go seated around 6:40pm. This is my first time trying the place out, and it is now one of my fave Thai restaurants in the city. We ordered 7 dishes and 1 dessert to share, and we were all pretty full. The dishes that stood out to me the most were the crispy papaya salad, crispy fried shrimp, and Khao Soi. Crispy Papaya salad - I never had deep fried papaya before and this appetizer was such a great starter! The fish sauce paired so well with the fried papaya. Goong Pad Kai Kem - this was the crispy fried shrimp with salted egg yolk. Our waitress recommended this dish and it was DELICIOUS! The shrimp was fried to perfection and the salted egg added a rich flavor. I'd order this again! Khao Soi - the texture of the egg noodles was bouncy and tasted so good with the curry broth. This dish had so much flavor and became one of my fav dishes we ordered. We added the crispy fried chicken for the protein and it was great addition to the dish. I overall had a great dining experience here. All the food was tasty and was definitely worth the hype! 10/10 would come back again! read more

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This place is really delicious and for great value. The waitlist was really long, but super worth it! We got many different options to share family style -- all were good, except maybe the drunken noodles were not what we were expecting. To be fair, the description does say the dish uses Mama noodles, but I ordered thinking it was going to be the flat noodles that I typically associate drunken noodles with. The toast (dessert) is also one of the stars of the show. I would honestly come back just to get this toast. The service was friendly and fast, and the inside vibes were cozy. read more

Khao Tiew - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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As phenomenal as all the lines and reviews promise, and one of my new favorite Thai places in the city. I think we ordered eight dishes for the three of us and they were all fantastic, but definitely the fried mushroom appetizer, pad see ew, and the kaya toast dessert were the standouts. Next time, I'd probably forgo the fried papaya salad and the crab fried rice, which seemed less interesting than the other dishes, and even a bit bland in comparison (we doctored the crab fried rice with some of the crispy garlic from the chicken wings to help it along). Will definitely check out their other (brunch spot) outpost, as I'm thrilled to see this restaurant has lived up to the hype. read more

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I had an amazing dinner here with a friend! We came around 4:30pm on a monday afternoon, prepared in advance for a long wait. When we put our names on the waitlist it said it would only be a 10 minute wait but we ended up waiting closer to 30-45. We were lucky we came early, by the time we left wait time was 2+ hours. The menu looks amazing and has plenty of clearly labelled vegan options. When looking at the menu posted on the outside window we planned to order the vegan coconut crepe dessert, but after being seated we discovered the window menu was slightly out of date and they didn't offer that dessert anymore. One odd thing when we sat down- the table was set up with prefilled water glasses, in addition to a full water pitcher. We were both really thrown off for some reason by the glasses already being full, but we did confirm with a waitress that it was intentionally part of the table prep. I ended up ordering the drunken mama with fried oyster mushrooms, which was amazing. Flavors and textures of everything were great and I especially loved the super crispy oyster mushrooms. While I would love to come back to try other menu items I am not sure the food is worth the 3 hours that some people are waiting, it's definitely really good but not THAT good. read more

Khao Tiew - drunken mama with fried oyster mushrooms - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

We heard such great things about this place so we had to try it while we were in San Francisco. It's a cozy little restaurant located in a residential area. Street parking is available. We lined up at 3:30 pm to get in the first seating at 4 pm. The service here is fast, efficient and friendly. Although this is a Thai restaurant the food does not taste like any Thai food I've ever tasted. The flavors are very mild but so good! We started with thai iced teas, pomegranate lemonade and lychee iced tea which were all refreshing and hit the spot. We had to try the Kai Toon Lava that they are known for (quantity is limited). It's a savory steamed egg dish with pork, shrimp and calamari. So yummy! We also tried the pork pad see ew and train fried rice. The pad see ew was on the sweet side and very good. The fried rice went perfectly with everything. read more

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We've been here 4 times and can't wait to go back. Every time we order new dishes and none have disappointed. The line is terrible and if you aren't there when they call your name you are removed. Sometimes if you aren't only a table of 2 and the other groups of two aren't there they will seat you early. They attract large groups of 6 frequently which makes the wait longer than you mentally prepare for but staff really tries to turn tables over. On that note your food will come out quickly and all at once. The highlight is the dessert. We will always order the toast. Fantastic and crave able. read more

Khao Tiew - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here on a Friday night. Come early to check in on yelp (not on the app even though it looks like you can). We got there at 4:30 and for a party of 4 got called at 5:45. Make sure your entire party is there. Food: literally everything we ordered was really yummy. I enjoyed their fried chicken with the pad Thai. Never had that before, chicken was juicy and stayed crispy the entire meal. I would recommend, coming with a group and trying as much as you can. Everything tastes good and had no complaints. read more

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OMG everything is so good! We started with the oyster mushroom - it's that sweet and sour Thai taste, immediately opens up the appetite. Short ribs was super tender, we did medium rare but personally think it's a bit raw, would prefer medium. Tom yum seafood hotpot is full of shrimp and squid, we got mild and it's not spicy at all - had the sweet and sour Thai taste. My favorite is the crab clay pot rice, it's a must try! The portion is generous, crab rich in flavor, I definitely more rice than I should because of it. $50 pp post tax and tip - great value! Went on Monday, initially arrived at 3:20 and no one's there, came back at 3:40 and was group #4. There were still some open tables till ~4:15. read more

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Absolutely insane meal. My party of two arrived at appx. 4:30p and we got sat in about two hours. Khao Tiew is located in such a nice neighborhood that the time went by fast! That being said, wow. From the duck curry to the Khao Pad Mun to the kaya toast, I was astounded by how unique the dishes were. Don't skip out on the dessert, btw! We were convinced at the last minute despite getting full but it was so worth. I left satisfied with one of the most memorable meals I've had in a while. Don't be afraid of the wait and make sure to try this place out! read more

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The food here is insane! But so is the wait. We signed up for the waitlist around 5PM but didn't get seated till 8:30PM. We spent the hours exploring the area nearby, so the "wait" went by relatively fast. When we were finally seated, the service was very prompt and fast. We started off with fried oyster mushrooms. The taste was very addicting and you always end up craving for another piece the moment you finish one. We ordered three dishes including duck breast red curry, steak fried rice (apparently the rice was also cooked in beef fat), and noodle with fried chicken. My favorite was easily the steak fried rice. In terms of all the rice dishes I've had, this was by far one of the top rice dishes I've had. I single handedly ate almost half of it myself. Extremely savory and cooked very well. For dessert, we got their famous butter kaya toast with coconut ice cream. I was already super full from the food earlier, barely had enough room for dessert, but had to force myself to take one final bite before I died in food coma. The dessert was also very tasty, but for me it was the fried rice that stole the show for that night. Overall the wait time here is horrendous, but if you are able to find something to do during the long wait period and is okay with getting a late dinner, then this place is definitely worth it. I don't think I've ever had a Thai restaurant with such unique flavor profile as this one. That being said, if you do mind the wait, then this place is not for you since the waitlist is always inevitably very long. Parking here is also terrible, so street parking is your best bet. read more

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I found this restaurant to be a bit overhyped. It's always extremely busy with a line out the door so I was expecting a lot more. The crab fried rice was my favorite, there was a generous amount of crab and the flavors were really good. This place is pretty authentic so I would be careful with the spice levels. We got medium spice for the seafood tom yum and it definitely had some kick to it. They are pretty viral for their short rib dish but I didn't think it was anything special. The meat was pretty chewy and the dish didn't have much flavor. Vibes were a bit strange because we were sat by the door. It felt like everyone in line was crowding around us so it felt crammed and loud read more

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The food is good. Is it one of the best Thai restaurants in America? I have to admit, I was pretty disappointed by the hype. I went around 3:30PM on Wednesday and there were already 11 people ahead of me. Our group of 5 was seated when the restaurant opened at 4pm. We ordered 2 appetizers, 5 entrées, and 1 dessert, and we each paid about $51 after tip. + Crispy oyster mushroom & pork - 9/10 - This was very good and definitely worth getting for me. The mushrooms were perfectly crispy and I loved the bits of ground pork with sauce. + Crispy papaya salad - 8/10 - Good for the novelty, but I like papaya salad for the refreshing crunch. The dressing was the same as typical papaya salad and I kept eating this because I like fried things, but I don't think this is a must-get. I don't know how they got the papaya to be so crispy, but it did kind of taste like eating chips with papaya salad dressing. + Beef tallow fried rice - 9/10 - This was probably my favorite dish; the beef tallow rice was incredibly fragrant, and I've never had anything like it. The beef was good, but nothing particularly special. + Sous-vide duck with crispy noodles and duck gravy - 9/10 - This was a very well-executed version of this Chinese-Thai dish. It was light yet flavorful, and I really liked the duck gravy. The duck and noodles were also very good. + Soft shell crab egg custardy curry sauce - 5/10 - This was actually very disappointing for me because I felt like there was very little sauce, and I couldn't help but compare it to Soothr's shrimp with egg curry that I love (in NYC). I don't like that they poured the curry sauce on top of it because it quickly became soggy instead of crispy. It feels especially aggravating when they come over and pour it on at the table; if they're going to do that, they might as well have it on the side so we can dip it instead. This was several people's favorite though. + Beef boat noodles - 7/10 - The broth's flavor was good and there were some incredibly tender pieces of beef, but I was salty that there was sooo little broth compared to the noodles and the beef. The noodles soak up broth really quickly, so the only broth I could get was from what clung to the noodles. + Shrimp/pork tom yum lava hot pot - 5/10 - This was okay but I've had better at Soothr and Jaew Hon in NYC. + Kaya toast - 3/10 - The ice cream was good and very coconutty, but the toast was incredibly disappointing. I'm confused why this was so hyped because texturally this did not do it for me. I wish the ice cream could've been served on the side so it didn't make the whole thing so soggy. The caramelized bits were overshadowed by the sogginess of the ice cream and toast, which was very unfortunate. I do like kaya, but this tasted like the kaya spread that I get in a jar, so this was not markedly better for me. Overall, there were some good dishes so I don't regret coming here, but I definitely would not come here for a random 4pm meal again or wait 2 hours to eat here. read more

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Khao Tiew is one of the most popular places to eat in the city. Highly recommended to me by a friend. We arrived around 3:30 hoping to make the first seating, but the line was already wrapped around the building. I tried checking in on the Yelp Waitlist while we were standing in line, only to find out you can only join by checking in on their tablet once you're there. We just missed the first seating and ended up waiting about an hour for a table. The restaurant itself isnt very large but cozy and modern and easy to have conversation in. The appetizers came out quickly, but once those were cleared there was a pretty long wait for our entrees. Service also wasn't very attentive throughout the meal, which took away from the overall experience. We started with the Crispy Shrooms Yum Yum with Ground Pork and the Spicy Wontons. The crispy mushrooms were one of my favorite dishes of the night great texture, packed with flavor, and something I'd absolutely order again. The wontons were also good with a nice spicy, sweet, and tangy sauce, but they were probably the least memorable dish we ordered. The Ba Mee Ped was outstanding. The duck was perfectly cooked with crispy skin and tender meat and honestly some of the best duck I've had. The rich duck gravy coated the noodles perfectly. We also ordered the Khao Pad Mun Nuer. Short rib came out medium rare just as we requested, the fried rice completely stole the show. Every grain was packed with flavor from the short rib tallow, and the fried garlic brought everything together. I will order this one every time. The Thai iced tea was really good without being overly sweet. Dessert was the highlight we thought about skipping it but I'm so glad we didn't. The Burnt Butter Kaya Toast with Coconut Ice Cream absolutely lived up to the hype. The thick milk bread had an incredible caramelized crust, the pandan cream was light and fragrant, and the coconut ice cream was rich with real coconut throughout. A must order. Despite the long wait to get in, slow pacing between courses, and inattentive service, the food is executed with a ton of love and it shows. Even though the service was slow I would still come back because the food is that good. read more

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Khao tiew is a place where the food is comfort food! This is my second time coming here and the food is always good. The papaya salad is different here where the papaya is fried and crispy. The fish sauce definitely adds the flavor. The pad Thai was okay but there is a generous amount of shrimp. The khao soi was flavorful and goes well with rice. They do not take reservations but there is a yelp waitlist. Dinner can get crowded and there are limited tables so try to come early to get a seat. Although, the whole party has to be present to be seated. Inside is small but a cozy and intimate vibe. The service is friendly. read more

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Ambiance: Ample seating inside. Lots of larger tables and they'll also ask if you're okay with sharing table space with strangers, which was fine for us. Noise levels weren't too loud, considering all the tables are packed. There's one bathroom and it's hard to wait without being in the way of the kitchen or the door as it swings open, so that's the only awkward thing. Service: Knowledgeable and friendly. Came by several times because we couldn't decide, but it wasn't a rushed feeling like they were trying to get you in and out (even with the long wait times). They give you a bottle of water for the table, so you don't have to ask. Food: While the food was okay, I don't think it was exceptional nor does it warrant the hours long wait times. Khao Soi - We got the crispy fried chicken version, but maybe a different version would have worked better. Since it was in a soup, the steam and the curry sogged it up and wasn't super crispy by the time we mixed to consume. The egg noodles were a bit soggier than my preference - I like them to be al dente for a nice bite, but it was more to the texture where you can mash it with your tongue to the roof of your mouth and it would squish. I did enjoy the crispy noodle ball that they topped, so you can break up at your leisure and add to the soup and still give the dish texture. 2/5 rating. I don't think I would order this again. Gaeng Kamen Ped (Duck Breast Turmeric Curry) - I am a fan of everything duck. The curry was light, flavorful, and paired very well with the rice. The pieces of duck were not exceptionally fatty, which was nice. There were only 2 pieces of fried okra, while tasty, I wish there were more. 3.5/5 rating. Khao Pad Mun Nuer with Soy Cured Egg Yolk - Probably the best thing we ordered. Since the fried rice is cooked in beef tallow, it's extremely flavorful and almost caramelized crunchy, giving pieces of texture throughout. It's like that mouthfeel of when you cook rice in a cast iron and have that nice crisp on the bottom, except rather than one large sheet, it's a bunch of little ones speckled throughout the rice. The beef was tender and melted in your mouth. Perfect with the creamy egg yolk and bits of fried garlic. The slivered green onions also brightened the dish. Would highly recommend this dish and if I came back, this would be the thing I order every time. 5/5 rating. Burnt Butter Kaya Toast with Coconut Ice Cream - Thick piece of toast with caramelized sugar on both sides, topped with a pandan?? sauce and coconut ice cream. Surprisingly light and refreshing. The flavors are subtle and nothing really smacks you in the face. The crunch of the, essentially, creme brulee on both sides made the dish sweet, but the ice cream and pandan?? dampened the sweetness of the sugar, making it much more palatable. 4/5 rating. Overall, I'm not sure if I would wait more than 20 minutes for a table here, as there are many other Thai places in the city that don't have the long lines where the flavors are more pronounced and, honestly, better. I'm glad I tried it, but I don't know if this place would stand so much on their own without all the influencers bringing business here. read more

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Excellent khao pad mun nuer (steak over fried rice)! Once in a blue moon I eat a dish that makes me stop and think "how can food taste so good?!" This was that kind of moment for me. My mind went elsewhere the whole time I was eating. Don't bother me kind of moment. After finishing, the food was still on my mind for a while, just processing... that I ate something so delicious. Steak quality was wonderful. Medium rare. Service was polite and friendly Takeout orders available on website and Pay in advance. When picking up walk all the way inside to the counter at the back of restaurant. No need to wait at the door like I did at first First time weekday 4:30pm there was no Line and some tables available. Second time I went, at the same time it was already fully packed with waitlist outside and people sitting. So it's random read more

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After months of hype and hearing about how amazing this restaurant was, we finally braved the huge wait and went to Khao Tiew. this review is a bit belated but we went back in November and got there around 4:30 or 5 PM on Friday and there was already a two hour wait quoted. We hung out at the Starbucks nearby in this neighborhood and just headed over closer to our time. Inside the ambience is lively and well-decorated, like many other Thai restaurants in the city. got the fried mushrooms to start, which were good, but also not the top tier ones I've ever had. My favorite dish of the night was the duck curry, which was absolutely decadent with thinly sliced tender pieces of duck and a rich creamy curry that wasn't too overbearing. We also got the steak curry, which was good, although a little too overpowering and the crab fried rice, which was very uniquely presented in a clay pot and creamy umami and very savory. And the night we got a toast, which was very creamy and tasty. It was on the sweet side. We both left very full from the experience and satisfied although I do think a two hour wait is totally ridiculous... and I wouldn't wait that long for any food in the future unless I was really doing nothing. Hopefully the hype has died down more because it is a great addition to the west portal neighborhood. read more

Khao Tiew - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

Excellent service and food overall - it definitely lived up to the hype but I'm not sure it's worth a long 3 hour wait. Go later around 8pm to avoid the long lines: they let you sign up on the Yelp waitlist till 830. The duck turmeric curry paired perfectly with the crab clay pot rice and the soup we had (I forget the name) was also excellent. Don't be afraid to ask the server for their recommendations! read more

Khao Tiew - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Solid 4.5/5! I saw how much hype this place was getting and didn't want to chance the wait time. I skipped lunch, showed up right at 4pm, and got seated immediately. Here is what we ordered: Khao Pad Mun Nuer: The fried rice itself was good, but the beef was the real star of the show. I ordered it medium-rare as recommended, and it was unbelievably tender. When you mix it with the egg yolk, it melts in your mouth. Khao Soi: The soup base was incredibly rich, and leaned a bit too salty for me ...Like I wanted to order a side of rice to eat with this! Crispy Soft Shell Crab: I ordered this mostly because it was a dine-in only limited special, and I'm glad I did. I'm typically not the biggest fan of soft shell crab, but this dish won me over. The curry sauce had a custard-like texture after it hit the sizzling plate. Kaya Toast with Coconut Ice Cream: This dessert felt like a full meal in itself. The edges of the toast were sticky and caramelized, and it came with a BIG BOY scoop of coconut ice cream. The interior is very charming, decorated with vintage Thai posters. The food came out pretty fast. Our servers were practically zooming around the floor making sure every need was met. read more

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I came by at 3:45 pm on a Thursday to get in line and was 8th in line. From other reviews, the line and waitlist is up to 2 hours on weekends and peak dinner times. Hed Tod: Fried oyster mushroom. Nicely fried and not oily. Good portion. Khao Pad Mun Nuer with soy cured egg yolk: beef short rib tallow fried rice with boneless beef short rib. The beef was chewey and not as tender as should've been. Cooked well though to medium rare. Kai Toon Lava, Seafood and ground pork steamed egg hot pot. This was a light broth but not much broth. There is a lot of egg that soaks up the broth. A lot of calamari and good amount of shrimp. Gaeng Kamin Ped, duck breast tumeric curry. This was really good. Curry was creamy and thick. The duck was cooked well. Pad Maa - kaeue- stir fried Chinese eggplant. The sauce with this was really good and went well with the tender eggplants. Decent sized restaurant inside with a lot of tables. The service was friendly and nice. Street parking read more

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Overall: Very good food, not mindblowing, but maybe that's because had higher expectations with the wait. Otherwise, very solid place and decent value for SF. With tip, for 2 people paid $99 which is a decent price for a trendy restaurant in the city. I'll be back. Wait: Showed up 20 min ahead of opening time on a weekday, made it in the second wave, seated 1 hr 20 min after restaurant opened. Server told us every day if busy, there is no "less busy" day. Food: - kai toon lava with the tom yum sauce (seafood and ground pork steam egg hot pot) *dine in only*: the tom yum was a nice addition, not that I've had it without. The egg was nice and silky, and the seafood was nicely cooked (not too overcooked although some of the pieces were inconsistent which is expected). I wish it had a little bit more broth. It was still surprisingly filling. It's a good dish to share. - crispy shrooms yum yum with ground pork *dine in only*: the fried oyster mushrooms were lightly battered and not too oily. I really enjoyed the Thai dressing salad sweet chili sauce and I wanted to lick the plate afterwards! A pretty good portion considering it was a small plate/appetizer. - we had steamed white rice in addition with the kai toon lava - burnt butter kaya toast with coconut ice cream: The crispy bits of the toast were good. Definitely get it with the ice cream on the side to not overwhelm the dish. It would be nice if the toast was thinner (I know it's milk toast haha) so that the ratio of crispy to kaya would be improved because that's the special bit. This did not taste like kaya from a jar. It had a fragrant pandan. Drinks: - cha pom (sweet thai tea x pomegranate): A nice surprise! Not too sweet. It really does taste like 50% thai tea and 50% pomegranate. One flavor did not overpower the other. Service: They were busy! The servers were nice and attentive once you got a hold of them, they were certainly busy. I hope they get nice breaks. We felt so lucky/grateful that as a group of two we were seated in a table for 2 that felt more separate than the rest of the dining area because there were plenty of other groups of 2 that were seated very close to each other. read more

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Khao Tiew is hands down one of the most exciting Thai restaurants in San Francisco right now. After hearing all the buzz, I finally made my way to West Portal, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Every dish felt thoughtfully crafted, balancing traditional Thai flavors with creative touches that made the meal memorable from start to finish. read more

Finally decided to try this hyped-up restaurant that always seems to have a line out the door. I came around 6pm on a weekday and still ended up waiting about 30 minutes to be seated. The restaurant definitely leans toward upscale Thai cuisine, and the pricing reflects that as well but that's typical of SF restaurants. My favorite dish of the night was the Khao Pad Mun Nuer with Soy Cured Egg Yolk. I requested the beef to be cooked medium instead of medium rare, and it came out perfectly. The rice was rich and coated in beef fat, while the beef itself tasted incredibly buttery, almost like wagyu. It was easily the standout dish of the meal. The rest of the dishes, unfortunately, felt rather lackluster in comparison. We also tried the Khao Soi and the Tom Yum Seafood Hotpot, but both were surprisingly lacking in flavor, which felt atypical for Thai food. That said, the spice level was accurate. We ordered the soup medium spicy, and it definitely delivered the heat, which I appreciated. Overall, I don't personally think the food is worth the current wait and hype, but if the crowds die down, I'd come back specifically for the beef fried rice dish. read more

Khao Tiew - Tom yum seafood hotpot, Khao Soi, Khao Pad Mun Neur with soy cured egg yolk (beef rice) - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

this is undoubtedly sf's BEST thai place! we got the pu nim pad pong karee (soft shell crab), fried chicken khao soi, duck breast curry, and kaya toast with coconut ice cream. not a single bite here -- the soft shell crab was delightfully crispy, the fried chicken khao soi packed a flavor punch, and the duck breast curry was so tender. the kaya toast was the stuff of dreams & paired perfectly with the coconut ice cream! on the drink side, we tried the cha pom (thai tea + pomegranate) & longan juice! both were incredibly unique & refreshing, but all three of us preferred the longan juice. as a party of three on a friday, we got in line at 3:45pm (they open at 4pm), added ourselves to the waitlist, and got our table at 5:20pm! the wait can be intimidating, but khao tiew is definitely worth the wait to try at least once! read more

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I came back to Khao Tiew recently and this time, I ordered the right dishes! First, the beef short rib with tallow fried rice was amazing! I would come back just for this dish. The short rib is super tender and I loved how flavorful the rice is with scallions and the cured egg yolk to pair with. The duck breast red curry was still really good (I got this the first time) and not too spicy. Finally I got the Pad Ngor Ngae which is their wok-fried rice noodles with Chinese sausage, tofu, egg and served with lettuce. This was a pretty yummy Chinese fusion dish although I didn't think the noodles needed the lettuce wraps. The spicy vinegary sauce on the side was great tho and added a nice kick. All in all, is it worth waiting for 1.5 hrs on a Wednesday night for dinner? I wouldn't do it every week but I'd say the food here is worth trying at least one. We ended up driving closer to get onto the Yelp waitlist and went elsewhere to wait. read more

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The boat noodles are among the best dishes I've had this year, and certainly one of the best Thai dishes. We got four items and I wish we got four orders of the boat noodles instead. The broth was rich and slightly sweet with tender beef and chewy noodles. It was remarkable. I would get them for takeout if I could because the wait was brutal. Also, they will seat you even after they've 'closed' if you entered the waitlist before closing. We were seated an hour and a half after closing. read more

Khao Tiew - Boat noodles. Must order - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

Long wait times, but great tasting food! I reserved a table for a party of 2 around 6pm on a Monday, and it took over 2 hours for us to get seated. If you decide to dine here, please be aware of the long wait times. Overall, the food was delicious. We got these items: 1. Duck Breast Curry: does not come with rice, but the curry and duck breast was flavorful and delicious -not too spicy -great saucy consistency with the curry -duck breast is tender and not too fatty 2. Khao soi (with beef): tender steak-like beef, curry and noodles taste fresh -also not too spicy -noodles are cooked thoroughly yet also coats the curry sauce well -not too salty Overall, I think the food here is very delicious and is a great option for Thai food! However, I don't think it is worth a 2+ hour wait if you want to eat fast. The prices are also slightly higher than other places, for two people it was ~$70 total ($35 per person). read more

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Joined the waitlist at 5:46pm and got a table at 7:00pm. The severs are extremely nice! The interior is super warm and cozy. The food is 100% worth the wait. The beef short ribs are melt in your mouth fatty and the duck is DIVINE! read more

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Outstanding place to eat! Best Thai food ever!! Unusual items on the menu and very tasty. Rain or shine, there's always a line at this place. read more

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Second time is a charm and this continues to be one of the best Thai meals and restaurants I have been to in the city. Is Khao Tiew worth the wait and the hype? Absolutely. To get the best optimal experience at Khao Tiew, please remember to put your name on the waitlist and to get there on time when your party is close in queue (if you're not there, you're square, no expectations since they have tons of people waiting). I came here on a Monday night with my friend and I put my name down on the waitlist around 5 pm on the yelp app (heads up you have to be one mile away to be applicable to put your name down). Since I have been here before I know the deal and expected the wait. We were seated around 6:40 pm but it was so worth it in our opinions. The shop itself has a good amount of tables with a nice retro Thai feel from its decor. The servers are very nice and friendly but also the food comes out super quick which is what I personally appreciate as well. Here are some highlights from our absolute feast that we demolished (no food was left behind or forgotten). * Nuer nam tok: The medium rare beef was chewy, had the right amount of spice, and paired well with the crunch of the herbs. The saltiness of the meat ate well with the fresh sides of lettuce and cucumbers. * Crispy shrooms with ground pork: The crispy mushrooms were my favorite last time and the version with ground pork was exceptional. The mushrooms had a nice light batter and the sauce coated your mouth with an umami punch. * Drunken noodles: I love the amount of shrimp and calamari they gave! The noodles itself were coated in a semi sweet sauce that had a delicious soy flavor. * Duck curry: WOW the most tender duck dish I ever had, no notes! * Kaya jam with coconut ice cream: Creamy, fluffy, and a great way to end a meal. This dish is so hard to explain in words, you have to get it. Overall, amazing spot, amazing find, would wait 2 hours again for a third time :) read more

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I always drive by this place and hesitate to stop by because the line is always out the door but now I totally get the hype. There were 3 of us and we lined up around 3:45pm before their 4pm opening and luckily made it in with the first wave of seating. The restaurant has a decent amount of tables, though it's not super big so I'd definitely recommend coming early especially if you have a big group. We started with the papaya salad and didn't realize it was deep fried. It was still good but I personally would've preferred it fresh. The fried mushrooms were AMAZING - perfectly crispy and paired so well with the sweet and sour dipping sauce. For mains we ordered the khao soi with crispy fried chicken and it was hands down my favorite dish. The broth was so rich, flavorful, and comforting. We also got the sizzling soft shell crab which was solid but probably something I'd skip next time. The duck breast turmeric curry was my second favorite - the curry flavor was absolutely chef's kiss. To end the meal we got the dessert toast and it was the perfect finale. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, buttery, warm, and topped with the perfect scoop of ice cream. read more

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We finally returned for another meal because the lines can get crazy long and we were not willing to wait. But on this 6th or 7th visit, we decided to take a chance to see if we can get in. We arrived at 4:15 PM on a week night and were told a 12 minute wait. Don't believe them. The restaurant was completely filled when we arrived. The 3 of us were finally seated in a table really meant for 2 about an hour later. Service to take your order was a tad slow. But they were quicker to give you your bill at the end so they can seat the 3O+ folks in the wait list after us. No one checks on you after all your food has arrived We ordered 4 dishes including one of their limited entrees , the soft shell crab. It was good. The duck breast in curry sauce was good too. Hubby especially enjoyed the short rib over rice which is one of his fav dishes there although the meat was under seasoned but tender. We always order the fried papaya salad. Unlike in the past, the dish today was clumpy with areas inside softer and not completely crispy. We were very full and skipped the sole dessert, Kaya toast with ice cream, but have tried it many times before. Good meal, virtually no service to check on you when they are you crowded and busy. Food wasn't as consistent than during less busy days but acceptable. read more

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Another one of our staples and a place we bring visitors after we discovered it. The wait is insane so I'd recommend showing up 30-40 minutes before opening to get in line. If you show up a few minutes or at opening you're likely waiting in a 3-4hr wait, but you can check in on yelp to save your place. Service is great, the restaurant is very spacious with multiple tables for small and large parties. We've had the steak and garlic rice, papaya salad, mushroom, Khoi soi, phad thai and everything is amazing each time. I'd skip the tom yum. Great portions for price. The only downside is because it's so flavorful, it's high in sodium and I usually get a food coma crash and become dehydrated, but it's worth it every single time. read more

I hate to say it, but I think this place is hyped up too much and not worth the wait. Don't get me wrong, the food is good but not 2-3 hour wait good! I put my name on the list last Sunday at 6 pm and finally sat at 9 pm. They still try to sit everyone that signed up on the list that night so I think the latest seating is 9:30. read more

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Saw this place on TikTok and had to try it out with some friends- it is AMAZING Thai food. Everything here was absolutely delicious and insanely flavorful. I definitely recommend getting (honestly everything pictured) the pad see ew and the sliced beef fried rice. Pad see ew was super tasty and sweet and the sliced beef fried rice just melts in your mouth. My favorite was the burnt Kaya toast with coconut ice cream... it's huge but the ice cream paired w the honey toast is perfection. Very cute on the inside and service was great. read more

Khao Tiew - Burnt Butter Kaya Toast w/ Coconut Ice cream - Thai Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Yet another long line to wait in in San Francisco... and is it worth it? Yes. I queued up for Khao Tiew half an hour before opening and was still not the first person in line. It's a Thai restaurant with a cult following in SF for their delicious Thai classics and innovative new dishes. One thing you have to get is their fried papaya salad. Truly, I have never had anything like it. Nets of thinly sliced green papaya, fried until crispy, and served with a very flavorful Thai, fish sauce-based citrus sauce. It's a very delicious way to start the meal, both light and yet so punchy with bold flavors.  For classics, we got the Tom Yum Soup and the Thai Boat Noodles. Tom Yum soup was fantastic and the Thai Boat Noodles were just okay. I think you can get better for cheaper elsewhere. We also got crab pot fried rice and fried rice with steak on top. Both of them were pretty underwhelming and one-noted honestly. I would only recommend getting these if you're in a large party and eating family style. It would be quite boring to eat the entire plate by yourself. Best surprise entree was the Drunken Mama Noodles, which are an elevated take on the classic instant noodles, Mi Mama. It was so flavorful and delicious! I would recommend this spot, despite the long line that begins before they're even open. read more

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