"Kin Khao is a destination, and not just because it might be your first stop after touching down at SFO (it’s located in the Parc 55 in Union Square). The funk-and-spice-packed dishes at this upscale Thai place leave a lasting impression. So it’s imperative you come here and experience them for yourself, whether the hotel is your home base for the week, or you live seven neighborhoods away. Access to this spot (also ’s sister restaurant) is through the Parc 55, or up some stairs by the FedEx sign on the corner of Mason and Ellis Streets. It’s not easy to forget you’re in a hotel (yes, you need a key card for the bathroom in the lobby). But you’ll overlook all the rolling suitcases if you focus 100% of your attention on the food. This place is open for lunch, but dinner is more worthwhile. The menu is longer, and the energy more relaxed, which is why you’ll find diners splitting bottles of wine instead of checking their Apple watches during a work break. Spicy, funky, salty, and sort of sweet—all the flavors are just fantastic. The khao kan jin, a mix of rice, blood sausage, shallots, and garlic chips, steals the show with its deep earthy taste and a ton of texture. Start your meal with the nam tok beans, little spice bombs that are crisp on the outside and creamy within. And know that someone will stall conversation by downing a whole glass of water after consuming the extra hot chilis on the tamarind-heavy chicken wings. Sure, there are a few misses. The previously beloved khao soi (available at lunch only) is somehow slightly bland, and the stir-fried Yaowaraj noodles are one-note. The memorable dishes, though, far exceed the middling ones. By now you might ask: what does Kin Khao have over the splashier ? Dishes at that Japantown spot are overall more impressive, and it’s where to go when everyone says f*ck it and is down to drop over $100 a head. Kin Khao’s bread and butter, on the other hand, is that it reigns supreme for any nice (but not too nice) occasion. This place is less expensive, and prices won't make you want to throw your wallet in a fire. But the food is also impressive enough for meals with your boss, or dates with someone who spends 15 hours a day in a downtown office building. Brave the Union Square chaos for this place any day. " - Julia Chen
