From the decor to the bold curries, everything is colorful and informal at this Michelin-starred Thai restaurant. Kin Khao – which translates to 'eat rice' – is the passion project of chef Pim Techamuanvivit, who was born and raised in Bangkok. (Her stated mission: 'To liberate her beloved Thai cuisine from the tyranny of peanut sauce.') All of Techamuanvivit’s produce, meat and seafood is sourced from local Northern California purveyors. The dishes are shareable and generously spiced, from the 'pretty hot wings' glazed with fish sauce, garlic marinade, tamarind, and Sriracha to the dry-fried Duroc pork ribs in a turmeric curry paste. Don’t miss Kin Khao’s modern spin on curries, like the rabbit green curry or the mackerel gaeng som sour curry.
SF is a hotbed for Thai food, from buzzy Michelin-starred restaurants to food trucks and authentic, family-run mainstays. Whether it's a hole-in-the-wall or a high-end establishment you're looking for, these restaurants serve the best Thai food in San Francisco, where you can find favorites like pad see ew and khao soi as well as innovative fusion dishes packed with flavors from Southeast Asia.
No matter what pocket of the city you're in, we've got a spot for you. The Tenderloin is the best neighborhood to find family-run joints, from the original Lers Ros (a local Thai legend) to Thai Idea and House of Thai. For more modernized takes on traditional fare, head to one of the many new and trendy restaurants in the Mission, where spots like Farmhouse Kitchen and Hawker Fare are whipping up contemporary spins on classic dishes in party-like settings. And then there's Kin Khao, a Michelin-starred masterpiece that will take your tastebuds on a journey you won't soon forget.
Whatever your style, the best Thai food in San Francisco ventures far beyond pad thai and green curry, and these are the restauarants to try right now.
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