Kai's Thai Street Food And Bar

We visited Kai's Thai in Seattle in the U district and were not disappointed. There are so many choices of food in this area that it was difficult to decide where to eat. Im so glad this is what we chose. The service is amazing and the food is spectacular. We started with crab puffs, they were so light and fluffy but full of flavor. The sipping sauce was on point too. For dinner I had the garlic pepper sautéed chicken - highly recommend! My wife had the pad thai and my son had the basil fried rice with chicken. These were also excellent choices. We will be back when we are in Seattle again and you should check it out as well.

Went here with my mom to get food the last day she could before surgery. The bartender was really sweet and talkative!! The atmosphere and food made me feel warm and loved. It really made my mood brighter after a month of cloudy lows, the bartender/server made it 10x better as well! The food was filling and amazing, gosh, I wish I had a Thai place like this in my hometown!! Probably the BEST Thai place I've gone to out of many past ones.

Got the pad kra pow to go. The dish had potential but I feel like they were holding back. For example, I asked for a 4/5 in spice but what I got was closer to a 1/5 spice in my opinion. The savory flavors were mostly there but the low spice level meant that I couldn't get the pad kea pow experience I was expecting. Especially given the price, I was a bit disappointed.

Stopped here during the weekday with a colleague and it did not disappoint! Service was quick and the waiter was friendly! I ordered the Pad Kra Pao with ground chicken and my colleague ordered the pineapple fried rice! Both were full of flavors, hot, delicious, and made to order! It was also during the lunch hour, so we wanted it to be quick. I highly recommend this location for Thai over other locations on the Ave!

Food was good but had small portions for the prices. Hard to compete with so many other Thai restaurants nearby, but the food came out quickly. I also wish they offered a spice tray on the side so you can add in your own heat level vs trusting that a 3 star is really a 3 star level of spiciness. It's a small restaurant with limited seating and may have a wait during peak times.

My partner and I saw this spot and decided to try them. Soooo good! We came during the calm times so it was super cozy and food was amazing.

It seems to be impossible to have disappointing Thai in this city and I'm glad this location is no exceptions. Service is kind and prompt, but they don't have a public restroom which I found to be odd. The bar is quaint and they have outdoor seating. I ordered their specialty dishes with a tom kha, and everything was spectacular. The minced pork had the right texture and seasoning. I will be returning as it provided large portions at a reasonable price. Other reviews allude to their incredible happy hour which I have yet to try.

If you’re looking for great food and vibes, I highly recommend Kai’s! Everything was delicious but you must order the Crying Tiger, Chicken Wings, and Crispy Pork Belly. Service was fantastic as well. Will definitely come back next time I’m in Seattle!

A nice quiet spot for amazing Thai food. We got the Green and Red curries, level 2&3 spice respectively, and the garlic rice. The prices were standard and reasonable, ~$18/plate. The service was attentive and prompt. Our servers, also the owner, was warm and welcoming. The food was amazing. So flavorful and perfectly face-tingling spicy on the level 3 red curry. Wonderful flavor explosion on the level 2 green. The garlic rice is, in no uncertain terms, addictive. Come and eat here asap. Can't wait to come back.

Came to this Thai place for quick lunch with a friend and it was okay. Order came in pretty quickly and it tasted good. I got the Pad Thai and my friend ordered for Chicken fried rice.

We went for a late dinner here and were seated really quickly. For thai food, I typically order anything containing thick egg noodles or curry with rice. Their house sauce for drunken noodle was very flavorful. I've had their yellow curry with tofu on a separate occasion, in which I also enjoyed. For me, I would return here for a quick bite. The food "hits the right spot," when you're craving Thai food.

This is my favorite thai place in the area! I LOVE their pad thai, it is so flavorful & is a generous portion. The thai iced tea is a delicious large glass. In person - the service is amazing, all the people I've met there are kind and attentive. The restaurant is very nice & nothing beats eating in person but the to-go is also very good!

Went in with a friend on a Monday night - we were initially the only people there (6pm) but it picked up a bit. I ordered the drunken noodles with tofu 3 stars - I probably could have gone with 4 stars but you never know with a new restaurant. My dish was fantastic! I had to actively stop eating reminding myself that I wanted leftovers for lunch. The waiter was very kind and attentive. The restaurant was clean and adorable. I loved the little elevated window tables for two. Can't wait to come back!

We happened to be in Seattle for something up at UW, and it we set out in search of food, wandering around University Way, and something caught our eye. That proved to be closed, but across the street we saw the sign for Kai's. A closer inspection of the menu turned a "why not" into a "hell yes". The sign if anything undersold the interior of the restaurant - it was small, quaint, well appointed. We wound up a table in the window, which was a bit of a novelty but a lot of fun. We really, really liked the raw slate serving platers. The service staff was super friendly, made helpful suggestions and was overall delightful. We started with fresh garden rolls, with shrimp, served with a mint sauce that was unlike anything I've had before. Absolutely wonderful. For entrees, I had crispy garlic chicken served with jasmine rice. it was firm and juicy on the inside and lightly crunchy on the outside, with just enough basil and spiced to perfection. My partner had a daily special pork dish, served with a Thai pepper chutney and julienned veggies. It was all beyond delightful, as now on our list for all return trips to the U district. Highly recommended.

TLDR: amazing food!! Definitely worth it (: Came here with my group before we went to the airport since it was right off the u district link. The service was great, they were very helpful and quick! The food was absolutely amazing. It came to our table hot, it smelled absolutely amazing and tasted even better. It was satisfying and kept us full and happy till we landed. I can't wait to come here again and try more! The chicken wing appetizers were absolutely the best chicken wings I've ever had. I don't even like chicken wings but my friend ordered them-- they were perfect. Hot, juicy, crispy golden brown. Full of flavor. Also got the phad woon sen- absolutely delicious. Perfect balance of flavors, hot and filling. Lastly got the Tom yum soup-- also hot and fresh. We ate everything up. Definitely worth it and we can't wait to go back next time we're in Seattle!

The service was very kind! He was very attentive and packed up my to go for you. Ambiance was cute and not busy at 7pm on a Wednesday. Which is why it pains me to say that.... I didn't really like the panang curry. I didn't like the eggplant in it. I wish it was either cut smaller or cooked more. I don't know. I've just had better. It did come with rice though which is really nice. If you're on the ave and looking for a thai place... I think there are better ones. I'm sorry.

Good food! Small restaurant but big flavor! The bartender/server (At least the same person every past visit) is friendly and is always welcoming, and helpful. I like their shrimp pad Thai, it's my favorite dish. Their crab rangoons are yum as well. I would maybe stick with a straight liquor and or mixer, because the cocktails were just alright. I would like to try a veggie dish one day!

Please eat here! This place is small and easy to miss, but don't. We had pad see ew and pork belly, both were outstanding. Smaller servings, but flavor, texture and spicy were outstanding. The bartender, Kile is extremely friendly, welcoming, and pleasant. The chef came out to say hello and accept accolades. Quick and delicious, but they won't give you the recipe to their amazing esan sauce.

All the Thai food on the menu tastes as good as if you were eating it in Thailand. The service is friendly like being a close relative. The atmosphere in the shop is comfortable like sitting at home.

I love Kai's Thai Street Food and Bar. I haven't had a single bad dish here. The presentation is beautiful. The prices are reasonable (for Seattle). The staff is friendly. What more could you want? About the menu: Kai's has all the standard Thai dishes (like pad thai, spring rolls, curry, etc) but also has some great entrees that you won't see at every Thai restaurant, like Kao Kha Moo (braised pork). They also added Thaiger Room's menu (after the restaurant just across the street was shut down due to an unfortunate fire in the building). I really like their fried pork belly appetizer, which is sinfully fatty without being too oily. They make a great Pad Woon Sen (savory glass noodles), which is my favorite Thai dish. They also have a full bar and make several unique non-alcoholic drinks, like the color-changing butterfly pea lemonade. They also make THE BEST CRAB FRIED RICE!!! Big, beautiful, real pieces of crab atop a salty, savory, eggy fried rice. Fantastic. I also appreciate that they're always available via Uber Eats, Postmates, and other food delivery apps, which means that I can satisfy my craving even when I'm working from home. About the location: Super convenient, literally next door to the U District Link Station. The restaurant is very small and has very limited seating (not more than 25 people, if I remember correctly). The tables only seat 2-4 people. If they're not too busy (and they usually aren't, except the evening on weekends), they might be able to pull a couple of tables together. But there just isn't that much space to work with. So, it's better to come in a small group. I think this would be a really nice spot for a date, too.

Pretty expensive for small servings. Otherwise good service, and great taste. That is all.

This place was really good! Cool spot & a super close walk. We were greeted as soon as we came in and were seated. I ordered fresh garden rolls which were amazing and what made this place stand out to me honestly, they were presented beautifully with a different but really tasteful sauce. I also ordered the chicken pad Thai. It was very good, if you've had it before you won't be disappointed, well prepared and served hot. The service was A plus, couldn't have been better. Definitely recommended to check this place out. Also saw that they have a full bar & a cool cocktail menu.

I got lunch and ordered the pad kee mao with chicken. It was a solid meal, and I thought the portion sizes were great since I got to take home leftovers. The service was quick, and the atmosphere was busy but also quiet enough for a proper conversation. I would overall recommend this place!

Occasion Bday dinner with my bestie! Food Yellow curry with tofu (5/5) my friend thought this dish was absolutely delectable! Khao moo (5/5) braised pork portion was huge and the rice was delicious! I would 10/10 order this dish again Service Kyle was a stellar server. He was super friendly, funny, and super conversational with us! He made a sweet hibiscus tea and I would order this for the summer. Ambiance Casual Highly recommend!

My boyfriend and I came here for dinner last week craving Thai food. Normally we go to Noodle Nation or Thaiger Room, but both restaurants are temporarily closed due to a building fire a few weeks back. Thaiger Room had a sign saying to go to Kai's Thai Street Food and Bar and so we assumed that maybe they were temporarily sharing a kitchen there. However, we learned that this was not the case. Kai's and Thaiger Room are actually owned by the same owner, but have slightly different menus. Plus, Kai's is a bar as well. Regardless, Kai's serves noodles and rice dishes similar to Thaiger Room, but they don't serve curries and they definitely have a more limited menu. My boyfriend and I ordered chicken pad see ew (about $14); I got 4 stars and he got 3 stars in spiciness. We were the only ones in the restaurant when ordering and so we got our food within 15 minutes. The portions are noticeably bigger than Thaiger Room and the dish is just noodles and vegetables (Thaiger Room serves a side of rice with their pad see ew and so you get less noodles). The pad see ew came with fresh choy (Chinese lettuce) which we both enjoyed as well as some raw carrots and cabbage for color and plating. The noodles were well-cooked and marinated; I wish they were charred a but more, but they were still very tasty. I also didn't find the noodles very spicy, but there's a good chance that the waiter accidentally mixed up my boyfriend and my dishes because he was chugging water across from me. Kai's is a fairly small restaurant and so I wouldn't recommend having large group dinners here. However, service is great and the waiters are very friendly. I would definitely come back again. Overall, 4/5 for food, 5/5 for service, 4/5 for atmosphere

Got the real street food experience with a food walk, but was disappointed. Tried both the popcorn chicken and pork balls on the fine day, both at $3 each. Popcorn chicken was better than the pork, but it was a bit interesting. Honestly, the chicken had some duck aftertaste which I found strange, but I like duck so it wasn't a bad surprise, just unusual. Friends commented on this too. Not sure why that was. Eventually we were confused whether or not the pork also tasted like duck or if it was the aftertaste from the chicken. Bird family, I guess. The chicken was a bit dry and stiffer, not juicy at all. On top of that, it was overly salty, felt like it was the chicken from the very bottom of the batch where all the salt fell down to. Pork balls were rubbery with a hint of pork but not as strong as you usually expect, which likely contributed to thinking the pork also tasted like duck. Coming in at $1 per pork ball, not sure how to feel about the taste. Overall an underwhelming experience of small eats.

The food was excellent. Large portions, steaming hot, and delicious! I wish I lived in Seattle so I could eat here again.

I stopped in for lunch and had a nice time. The pad Thai (basic I know) was really saucy and flavorful, and truly came out so fast. I was in and out in under an hour. Perfect for a quick solo lunch for sure.

Stopped in for a friend of mine to use the bathroom. The service was rude. Ordered drinks and first sip was extremely pungent. The cost was also pricey. The staff refused to top off my friend's drink after he asked for less ice. Overall not a pleasant experience. Very displeased with this excuse of a restaurant. Don't go here!!!! Hard pass!!! Bye Felicia!!!!

Amazing food! The crispy pork belly is a must! Had pad Thai along with pad Kara pow! My mouth couldn't stop chewing! Will come again and try! Service was really nice and friendly!

Kai's came through for us on a Monday night. Crab wontons were amazing, crispy pork belly off the chart. Wanted to order one other item, but they said they were out of it. I asked for a recommendation and they hooked us up with an amazing dish. Just wish I could remember what it was.

I ordered through Uber Eats. I called the restaurant to ask them to add a side of Thai chili and fish sauce. Their response was "we don't have fish sauce". What kind of Thai restaurant doesn't have fish sauce ?! I'm We ordered: Pad kee mao: 2 out of 5 stars Pad Kra Pao: 1 out of 5 stars Pad see ew: 2 out of 5 stars I'm pretty sure fish sauce is used for the above items. After traveling all day we were tired and hungry. We had no other option, but to eat it. Would I recommend this place? No. Would I order from here again? No.

My sister and I stopped and ate here before attending a comedy show. It is a small restaurant and it got pretty busy. We ordered some appetizers. We got the spri g rolls they were good, but not enough stuffing in them, we also had chicken skewer, which was very tasty. I would go back and actually get a meal

Delicious Crying Tiger and Green Beans. The drinks were crafted would recommend stopping here to relax and enjoy some wonderful selections.

Salty, crunchy, deep-fried food? Yes! Friendly local atmosphere? Check. Refined culinary gustatory experience? No. Cretinous one-star writers need to stop hating Kai's. It's not ever going to earn a Michelin star, but who cares? Foodies who want to show off their arrogant pomposity ought not bother dining here. C'mon people, recognize this place for what it truly is. You see, this is a real man's watering hole with excellent deep-fried appetizers and cheap drinks to get your night rolling. Kai's is a super cool, fun-times boys' bar that has great small plates. If you want a 5-star meal fit for royalty, go to Canlis. But if you're looking for a helluva good time on on a Friday night, go to Kai's. I'm heading over there now.

Mediocre food. I had a basil fried rice and it was very mediocre. It costs about the same, actually, exactly the same as the one from the other Thai restaurant on Bellevue Main Street. I wouldn't go again, unless I have to.

Very tasty ! A rare legit restaurant with full bar right on the Ave, not student fast food. Flavorful and quality dishes, friendly service too.

We came in after 10 on a Saturday after a comedy show at the Neptune. Friendly, seated right away and the dishes were amazing. Cute clean little joint. Portions a little small for price but still well worth it. Will be back.

It's hard to argue with decent Thai food that keeps its doors open late! I have ordered Uber Eats from them now twice and they have been consistently on time, fresh, and delicious. My favorite things here are the guay tiow and the crab fried rice. It's hard to find char kway teow (Malaysian noodle dish) in Seattle but this place makes it very well as a hybrid Thai/Malaysian style noodle dish. I love that they are open late and are near enough to be able to be delivered within 40 minutes!

I wish there was more option for Thai street food but the fried shrimps were delicious and freshly made for the U-District street fair. The girls were the sweetest!

Stopped in for an afternoon drink. The drinks were okay (and expensive! $11.00) The service was mediocre, will not make a big effort to patronize this place a second time.

1st time here, was a quite nice environment. Had the Papaya salad, fried rolls. Was good and filling.

Brought in a party of 7. Was told they couldn't accommodate. Asked if we could split up and do a party of 3 and a party 4 and was told no. Asked if we could sit at the empty bar. No. Judge availability by the picture. They don't want your business. Sad.

Best Thai on the Ave. The new revamped menu is amazing. Crying Tiger steak, Thai Sausage, and the crispy pork belly always our go too's. And not to mention the best chicken wings in the state! Highly recommend coming.

I ordered food from Samir next door, who told me that I could get a beer at Kai's, but Kai refused to serve the beer Outdoors even though he has tables Outdoors, which made no sense at all. I have the impression this area is ratty and lots of trouble. It's dirty and the servers and owners are unfriendly to potential customers. Don't waste your time or money here. Avoid the whole street (university)

I was staying in the University District and had two meals here. Both were excellent. Very nice service, but what impressed me most was the exceptional freshness of all ingredients. The vegetables were crackling with energy! Chicken satay, one of my favorites, was tender and the peanut sauce was one of the best I've had, again so fresh. Great spring rolls, wings and vegetable fried rice. A small, unassuming place with delicious food I would love to visit again.

So so delicious, this business had a huge upgrade and menu change. We had all our food in front of us in less than 20 minutes from sitting down. Amazing service and holy moly the food is outstanding. Great for a date night, but also the drinks are superb for just hanging with a group trying to get nice cocktail or beer on tap

1 star for the delicious foods, but I can't handle the customer service skills. The guys always give us the attitude and seem like don't want business!!!

Best Thai food and good service, I will recommend my family and friends to eat here.

I've tried to come here a couple times and the same guy tells me they're closed when the open signs are on and the hours say they're open. I don't know if he just doesn't want to serve me but if that's not the case they should change their hours :/

Hands down the best pad see ew I have ever had. And I've had my fair share of Thai food! Will definitely be coming back

I was surprised when I reread my review for Kai's. This place has been my newest place to hang out on the Ave. I guess in my last review the bathroom really grossed me out but now that they cleaned it up this bar is bomb. The tenders and owner here are some of the kindest in the industry. I love the back room of this place, every now and then you'll run into a dance party. It's random and fun, great drinks with amazing people. My new home away from home.

Kai's had potential, but over the past couple of years I've seen it go downhill drastically. They do have a great happy hour, very reasonably priced, and some of the old bartenders were really cool, so it was fun to come in for a drink and chat for a while. The kitchen was always a bit slow, but lately it has become excruciatingly painful (I once waited 45 minutes for a steak salad) so I've sworn off ever ordering food here again. The service is entirely hit and miss as well. All the cool, chatty bartenders of old seem to have moved on to greener pastures, leaving us with vacant-eyed girls who appear to never have worked in a bar before. Last time I came here, there were two girls standing behind the bar - one was talking to some guys sitting on the other side and the other just stood there, staring into space as we tried to get her attention so we could order drinks. Later, I saw the owner teaching her how to open a bottle of wine. Look, if you can't open a wine bottle on your own, what business do you have working as a bartender? I might come back if I want a cheap glass of wine during happy hour and I'm not in any hurry, but this place is nowhere near the top of my list.

This space reopened with a completely new menu (and presumably new owners?). Ordered the Boat Noodle Soup and Spicy Sausage / Sai Oua, and was blown away by both! The flavor of the boat noodle soup was really excellent, and the combination of pork bits, pork meatballs, noodles, herbs, and more in a really yummy broth blew me away. The spicy sausage had a yummy strong lemongrass + lime flavor, and though it was a little dry for my preferences, I will still definitely be getting it again. Excited to have these dishes in the U District!

Ordered some pickup from this restaurant for 6:00pm when I went in to grub it and this rude old man kept saying No Order! No order! Definitely won't be back

Actually varies from 2-5 stars. I've seen several restaurants come and go from this location. The usual pattern is they start good then cheapen their food and go out of business. It seems to me they might be at that crossroads. Could be worse but could be much better. One thing they have that most of the Thai restaurants in Seattle I've tried recently lack is heat. They are willing and able to put some fire in your mouth. The Pad Kra Tiem was very tasty. Tender well seasoned pork in a delicious sauce. The Tom Yum was killer hot just how I like it. The ginger rice and the turmeric rice were a flavorful step beyond the ordinary. The sauce that came with the Crying Tiger was a top notch dipping sauce however the beef was overdone, mediocre quality and fatty. The papaya salad was bland and light on ingredients. The menu claimed anchovies but none were noticeable. A meager 4 previously frozen mushy prawns did not satisfy (I hate mushy shrimp) I hope they take a step up and avoid the hole that has taken other restaurants in this location.

Stumbled into this place and what a surprise. It may look like a local bar, but Kai's is the real deal! Fun friendly atmosphere with a great bartender/host. The food was well presented, fresh, and full of unique flavors that can battle some of the great 5 Star Asian restaurants in Seattle.