Kao Thai Cuisine

My favorite new spot! I love the food. My favs are some of the appetizers; shrimp sumai, Brussels sprouts, and the wings! Shout out to Jowell as the shrimp sumai is chef's kiss especially that aioli sauce that accompanies it. The drunken noodles and KFC chicken or shrimp (tempura-style) are also amazing. Christine, the manager is also the perfect host!! Don't miss this spot, it's a true diamond!🥰❤️

I enjoyed this place. It's my first time visiting it. The food options are wonderful and tasty. The drink I had was excellent. Sophia is an excellent server. She's hustling around and serving with care. Next time I'm down there I'm going to check out the place again. 💜

We went today after hearing so many great reviews. We started with the shrimp shú mí, pork fried goyza, and tom yum chicken soup. The shu mi were cold (not even room temperature) but the flavors were fantastic. We got the chicken Pad See Ew, Pad Kapow and the pork belly with vermicelli noodles. All of them were fantastic and very large portions. If you are downtown and looking for a great authentic Asian meal with fresh ingredients this is the place. They also have an extensive drink menu, my nephew states the Thai iced tea was top notch.

Delicious Thai food, innovative cocktails ,beautiful presentation, and served quickly. Our server, Jay, was fantastic! He was very attentive and made sure our drinks were topped off.

A solid 4 out of 5. Food was good but nothing that warranted a five. Portion size was a little small for the green Curry. A little disappointed on protein options. I typically like pork or seafood, but there was no pork and shrimp was the only aquatic option. The curry had good flavor but was on the thick side. We shared some apps with our company. The wings were so so. The panko shrimp appetizer was really good. Wish there was just more of it. My wife had had drunken noodles, she enjoyed them. One of our elder guests had pad thai and was unimpressed. Atmosphere nice. Service attentive. Drinks were okay.

I visited Columbia, SC this past weekend with my sister, and by far, Kao Thai Cuisine had the best food and drinks! We ordered roti and curry, crispy brussel sprouts, pad thai, and drunken noodles. Our server, Jay, was friendly, attentive, and he was also knowledgeable and conscientious of my dietary restriction (vegetarian). He provided peace of mind by confirming each dish was vegetarian when he brought them over. The menu was well labeled for vegetarian/vegan and gluten free. The cocktails and mocktails were beautiful and delicious. I highly recommend the Mistress of Manaw and their summer cocktail Afternoon Monsoon. And, we finished with a delicious cheesecake!

3.5/5- We’ve been waiting to try this spot for a bit. Came here on a Friday night. Outside seating was lovely and there was live music (across the street) as the soundtrack. Service was solid. Overall, the food was disappointing. I had the lumpini lotus non-alcoholic drinj which was pretty good - tart, sour and refreshing. The food itself was mid - the brussel sprouts were undersalted. As mains, we had the pad thai and the fried chicken. The pad thai was underseasoned, oily and lacked a lot of flavor. The chicken was overcooked and the sauce was quite sweet. Overall, the food was presented quite well but was disappointing. The fact they do not offer the food spiced and instead only offer sauces on the sides means that spicey aromatics are not incorporated into the flavor profile unlike any other solid Thai restaurant.

What a cool little spot! Easy to miss on Main, but don't! The atmosphere is great! Staff? Amazing! Very, very, cool! Drinks: Sabai Sabai, and Coke - both pictured

Wow! Very very very good. I would 100% come back here. My fiancé and I split the duck curry (my fav) and the Senate Street Noodles. The duck curry was more of a sweet heat, and you eat it with rice - omg I'm drooling now thinking of it. The Senate Street noodles were also amazing and you get a variety of different proteins too. The spiciness on both of the foods were just the right amount where it wasn't overpowering. Our server was also very friendly and we weren't waiting on our food very long. The inside of the restaurant was decorated really cute and I would recommend to friends in Columbia!

The food at Kao Thai is disappointing and mediocre. I had Tom Kha soup, and it was very good, but the Pad Thai was terrible. Pad Thai is the Thai equivalent of spaghetti and meatballs at an Italian restaurant, so if such a basic dish isn't good, it's a very bad sign. My pad Thai smelled like it had been fried in rancid oil and the chicken pieces were tough, almost like jerky. It's a dish that I've eaten around the world so I do know what it should taste like, and Kao Thai's version is NOT it. I'll stick with Mai Thai restaurant from now on.

We celebrated my daughter's 21st birthday here and were not disappointed! Everything about our visit was amazing. The staff let me ask what felt like a million questions about seating/reservations, the cake etc; they were patient and kind. Our server, Ellis, was the best! She was so attentive to every guest in our large party answering everyone's questions with ease and comfort; she knows her stuff. Our food came out in what felt like the perfect timing from our apps to entrees. All of the food was fantastic! EVERY DISH...FANTASTIC. We loved the decor here, the music and lighting were just right. We've been back a few times since this check in. We just can't get enough of this place!

Totally forgot to check in today but what a great find. Finally some good Thai with such cute ambiance and service was great. I strayed away from my norm pad see eww and wasn't craving a curry. The flavors were delicious and portion sizes here were very fair for the size. I cant wait to come back and try more!

Kao is a great place to go for a delicious bite of Thai cuisine. The food is always fresh and full of flavor. The quality truly stands out. It's located in a perfect spot in downtown Columbia, making it an easy stop whether you're exploring or heading out for a night in the city. Don't forget HaPpY Hour. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, so you can enjoy your meal just the way you like. Definitely a must try!

So Thai is our favorite cuisine, therefore our expectations are a bit high. This place is cute, it's quaint, the customer service was fine, nothing great but not bad either. We ordered: vegetable spring rolls: the filling was very mushy, I think they were pre-frozen, not a fan. The papaya salad: didn't fire on all cylinders. It was missing that famous sweet, salty, spicy, crunchy element. It was also missing long beans, lime, and dried shrimp, so that was a bummer. Pork belly bowl: Joel said it was okay, it has A LOT of noodles, a good amount pork belly, and not enough veggies, but he liked the flavor. Chicken curry: was flavorful! The meat was a bit dry, but that tends to be the case with chicken breast. Because it's our first time, we'll come back to try more dishes, we'll see how it goes.

I came here to pick up a takeout order but upon entering the place I was greeted with a warm welcome from the hostess. The space looked so cozy and quaint. The food was better than expected. It was pricier than what I'm used to from eating at Thai restaurants but I'd say that it's worth the price. I paid $20 for the pork belly dish and $9 for the papaya salad. Both were phenomenal. If I were to visit Columbia, SC again, I'd definitely come back!

The food was delicious and the service was phenomenal. See yall the next time I visit South Carolina

Stopped here for dinner while on a work trip. I decided to sit outside which was a treat because the restaurant directly next door had a live saxophonist playing. For my drink I got the Mapow Mojito which was refreshing. For an appetizer I had the Shrimp Shumai steamed which was a take on steamed dumplings. Those were good I just wished they were larger. For my entree I got the Pad See Ew with Beef. I've had better Pad See Ew but this dish was still good. The portions were also relatively large for the price. My server was friendly and attentive. Overall I would give this place a shot because it has a cool atmosphere and the prices are reasonable. It is a small spot though so if you have a large party I would recommend making a reservation if possible.

Excellent Thai food. Nice atmosphere. Food is amazing. Nice hot tea and cocktail specials

Good place to eat with a trendy atmosphere and location. If you like Thai and the downtown areas this place is for you. If food was great. The wife and I both got the KFC chicken. Plenty of food could have shared. Cocktails were good too.

A day out in the Metro ... The wife decided we would try out Kao. Dope scenery right on Main St . Put you in the feel of spot in Manhattan minus the people . I hate to be repetitive at the Thai spots but I had to try the Crab Rangoon and the Crispy Chicken Wings (Spicy) For my entree I went with the Pineapple Curry Duck and added Thai chilies for the extra spice. The crab Rangoon came out out and I was excited but disappointed ... they didn't have any flavor that's popped.. they weren't nasty but compared to other Thai spots they don't stand a chance. The wings were better and met expectations with the spice level. The dipping sauce in the side was a plus. Wings were good but still no wow factor. My entree was delivered and I'm glad the duck wasn't drowned in the curry ....the spice level was perfect ... but once again the the let down was with the seasoning of the duck ... it was cook perfectly but didn't wow me . Wasn't nasty just didn't hit the pallet like I was expecting. I'll still try another dish at a later date. But shout out to our waiters Natalie she was on point and great service always makes up for the minor let downs. Til next time fo

Wonderful date night with my wife at this beautiful restaurant. They have many vegan and vegetarian options which is a pleasant surprise for Columbia. The waitstaff is very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu and made some excellent recommendations. The brussel sprouts were a big hit for both my wife and I. They also have some really good carnivore options for the non-vegans.

This is a fun place to dine downtown Columbia. The food is always good and we have had great service. You can eat outside or inside which is a nice option. Their cocktails are carefully crafted. Definitely give this place a try if you haven't already. We will be coming back. Till next time....

A friend recommended this place for dinner one evening. I have already been back a second time. Everything about this spot is perfect. Nice ambiance, really great menu, and the food is just addicting. Riley was our server the first time - and he really just was the icing on the cake. Very familiar with the menu, made great recommendations and service all around in both trips was superb. I really love how many "small plate" options they have, as well as lengthy list of entrees. Prices are very reasonable as well. Everything was so good, but the Roti and Curry will keep me coming back - so simple but SO good. This is a great choice for a date night or just happy hour with friends. So happy to have discovered it!

I was touring the city and some locals recommended the place. I ate at the bar and the bartender was pretty attentive and the food came out quickly. The Brussel sprouts were delicious and probably my favourite. I ate a few more small plates and they were all delicious. I would definitely come back!

Found this restaurant while walking around Main Street. It has very nice contemporary decor with dark colored modern stylish furniture and non thematic decor. Well spaced comfortable seating. Menu is a bit limited and doesn't have several Thai dishes I like - more Americanized Thai food without the street food type favorites. We had pad kew, fried shrimps, spring rolls, and pork gyozas. All the fried items just a bit greasy but tasted good with nice presentation and prompt service. They are out of just about half the beers listed however. The dining room is not big but has a full size bar on one side and upholstered banquette seating as well as regular 2 and 4 tops. A bit pricy at about $30/pp for our three apps and one noodle dish and a beer. Seems to be a popular place - one of the reasons we picked it is on a Monday night it's probably the busiest restaurant in town while many others were empty.

Loved loved Kao Thai! Haven't ate there in a while but the food tasted just as good as I remembered. Will definitely return when in the area again! Our server was great and the new location is awesome!

Lunch on a Wednesday 2/20/25 @ 1pm. The Ambiance was AWESOME. I got the Classic Thai Fried Rice w/Chicken (Amazing). I swear the picture doesn't do it justice. Ate up the Veggie Spring Rolls before I could take a picture (Delish). Everything taste fresh & cooked to perfection. I live 25mins away from the restaurant. However I will be visiting at least 3times a mth. If you in the area TRY THIS ESTABLISHMENT. You'll thank me in

My daughters and I found this little gem while touring during USC orientation. Food was amazing and the service exceptional. Don't skip out on the Brussels sprouts appetizer!!! Shout out to Mac, the host, that went above and beyond for us. My oldest daughter left her Invisalign in a napkin and we didn't realize it until we reached the hotel. We called the restaurant and found that the table had already been cleaned and no Invisalign found. When I told Mac that it was wrapped in a napkin, he told me that he would look for it. He called back within a minute to let me know that he had found it! How many people do you know in the food service industry that would have put in the effort of looking through the garbage?!!! Thankful for you, Mac! We will definitely be back.

I honestly have to start by saying my drink was AMAZING! My waitress Violet AMazing! I love the vibe of this place and that B people actually were dressed up to eat hear made it seem a little more fancy and special. I had the gluten free version of the pad se eww it was good and my bf had the Pad Kapow with he enjoyed. I need to say again how amazing the drinks are here and the best mojito I've ever had!

Kao is a GREAT place for a date night. The atmosphere is a total vibe with plush seating and a dope decor. The staff is super friendly, from the hostess to the bartenders to the wait staff. They provided exceptional service and had the perfect balance of checking in without being overbearing. To start I had the steamed shrimp shumai. They were cooked to perfection and unlike most places it came topped with a sweet and spicy sauce and sprinkled with some seasoning that added a really nice touch to the dish. To drink I opted for the Lychee Mule with the spiced rum and it was delicious. The drink was refreshing and balanced. As for my entree I ordered the Pork Belly Ba Mee. I was expecting the pork belly to be prepared differently but this dish didn't disappoint in the least bit. The broth was balanced with a nice balance of umami, sweetness and a slight kick. Overall I had a great experience and am looking forward to my next visit.

Atmosphere was beautiful and the food was really good. Loved the fact they had several gluten free options and the service was quick and attentive.

What a great lunch! Steamed Shrimp Shumai dumplings that melt in your mouth, classic Tom Yum soup, and wonderful Mango Sticky Rice to top it off. Love this place. Great service too!

Ate dinner at Kao Thai for the first time the other night and it was SOOO delicious!!! The restaurant has a very cool, modern vibe and they had their big windows/walls open to the street which was cool. I went with 2 friends and we all shared the pineapple fried rice, senate street noodles, & pad thai. The pad thai is a classic for a reason, it always hits the spot and needs to be a staple on any table here. Both the fried rice and senate street noodles were delicious as well and provided wonderful contrasting flavor profiles for us to enjoy, but honestly I'd come back time and time again just for the pad thai hahaha. Next time i'm craving Thai food I will not hesitate to keep Kao Thai at the top of my list.

We had dinner with friends and it was delightful! the place is lovely, the atmosphere a great, it was well patronized without it being too loud. Best of all, the food was perfect. I ordered the Panang Curry it was delicious, not too spicy and the chicken was nice and tender, all the flavors on point. My husband ordered the Vegetable medley and loved it too. The service was great, our server was cheerful and peppy which is not an obvious anymore, so yay!! We definitely enjoyed this place and will be going back soon!

Delicious food and drinks. Terrible service from the rude, smirking teenager who was serving as host on April 19th between 6:30 and 7:30. When my wife asked to be seated along the wall, he said those seats were all reserved (when I made our reservation, it was not even possible to select specific tables?). The entire time we were there, the tables we asked to sit at remained empty. When I commented on this after our meal, the jerk at the hostess stand simply said, "I had a bunch of reservations cancel." No apology. He shrugged it off. He is terrible at his job and reflects badly on an otherwise very nice spot.

Excellent authentic Thai food, great prices and good service. Kao is the place to go for Thai in Columbia!

I've been wanting to make it to this spot while I was in town and it did not disappoint. The Thai tea martini delivered!! My friend got the crab Rangoon and I got the veggie egg rolls. When I mentioned to the waitress to make sure they showed up separately because I'm allergic she reassured me they would fly solo. When I ordered my main I requested no meat and she stated that she would make sure the sauces in my main had no shellfish which I was highly impressed with since I didn't make a huge deal about it with the appetizers. I will definitely come back on my next business trip.

Upon entering, I was greeted. I opted for takeout. I ordered the chicken wings and the KFC chicken. The sauce for the chicken wings was delicious. The KFC had a good heat. The restaurant was busy and lively. The bar was also packed. I would not go back, but the patrons I witnessed seemed to be enjoying themselves.

The place was nice, great ambiance, waitress and staff were completely friendly. However, we felt it was overpriced and not authentic whatsoever, perhaps our expectations were too high. The spring rolls were great, pad thai was okay (tasted like teriyaki sauce to me but not the worst pad thai I've ever had), the crab fried rice had my significant other as well as myself feeling sick to our stomachs (10/10 wouldn't recommend the crab fried rice). I've now given up hope on finding any pad thai locally that compared to that of the New Bangkok restaurant that closed down. Paid nearly $70 dollars for 2 people just to leave unsatisfied, first and last time for us.

I arrived here pretty early and was able to sit outside. The server was really friendly. I opted for the Tom Kha and the Pad Krapow. Both were excellent and tasted authentic. There is not designated parking lot, so finding close enough street parking is a challenge. If I'm ever back in Columbia, I'd definitely want to come back here.

Had a delicious lunch with a group of friends. Be aware that the food is not strictly thai, it's more of a fusion, but delicious all the same. HIGHLY recommend the scallion pancakes. The apps were all delicious!

The restaurant itself is nice but the food was just really really disappointing. The Pad Krapow was literally just ground chicken, rice, and a few uncooked peppers with absolutely no sauce or flavor. The drunken noodles were the same... it's almost like they forgot to sauce/spice all of the dishes.

Very good experience! Service was great, ambiance was very nice, great vibes and amazing Thai Fried Rice with the crab meat. Hands down some of the best rice I've had in Columbia and the portions are a great size. The only thing would be to make the food a little hotter. I've gone twice and my food wasn't hot but it was so good that I overlooked it! Will be back.

Love the atmosphere! Service was great! Food was delicious! We had the spicy edamame and drinking noodles with chicken.

I was invited to come to dinner here and I was ecstatic, because I've always wanted to try this place since they have opened. The spot is very nice; it's across the street from The Senate and The Tin Roof, so depending on the day and time you go, you may just see the partygoers across the street jamming to the tunes of the DJ. I loved the atmosphere and decor; super Boho, Asian, Modern, Chic is the vibe that I received here. It's an old fire station so it's cool to see how they've transformed this building. The waitress was super attentive and helpful since it was my first time there and she made sure everyone was taken care of and was willing to fix anything if it was less than perfect or great. The menus are contactless so prepare to whip that phone out. Now on to the food review: For cocktails, I ordered the "Royal Rachini" which was infused with lavender and it was good. I'm not a Lunaazul Tequila type of woman, however, it went well with this drink (see picture); I got it because my friend ordered it and it was really pretty. My other friend ordered the Peachy Keen with jalapeño and side of some type of peppery-spicy alcohol. As an appetizer, I ordered the Roti and Curry, which was so tasty, flavorful, bold, yet light. The roti was toasted perfectly and the curry dipping sauce can be a dish by itself, which I have a feeling it is. The portion size was definitely shareable for 2-4 people. One of my friends ordered the Hoisin Mushroom Bao as an appetizer which was very tasty considering I didn't know what to expect. A true infusion of flavors! Nice, fluffy, and fulfilling. You get two of them however the two will be more than enough, trust me. My other friend ordered the Brussel Sprouts and she loved them! They looked a little over cooked to me but she said they were nice, tender, and seasoned very well with molasses, sea salt, soy sauce and garlic. For entrees, I ordered the K.F.C.-Kao Fried Chicken with egg fried rice instead of the white rice. I must say I was disappointed in the KFC and it's partly because of the sauce it's tossed in. The flavor was more salty than of a sweet and sour, maybe more sour than sweet. The chicken was fried perfectly and the presentation was divine since it was sprinkled with sesame seeds, yet I felt like I was eating two separate meals with this dish. They didn't balance to me, and the egg fried rice stole the show with it being tasty and cooked well versus the flavor of the chicken throwing things off a bit. The portion size was enough to take for leftovers which I did eventually eat and still felt the same later on that night. I didn't dock this place any stars since overall the food, atmosphere, staff, and even bathrooms were all top notch. Highly recommend for either date night, a group dinner, or simply hanging at the bar solo, I will be going back soon.

Waitstaff and bar folks were friendly, ambiance seemed chill, and the food was fresh, but overall pretty bland. The food wasn't terrible, just not great.

Used to be good, but the mighty has officially fallen. My wife and I used to frequent the original location monthly. Normally had good service, good food, friendly-ishh staff, and a positive experience. This was our go-to Thai spot. Since moving to Main Street, we have been there three times. We have dined in once and ordered takeout twice. The first time (dining in), the food quality was not close to what we remembered. Service was slow and staff seemed to just be standing around and chopping it up instead of providing timely service. Ended up getting sick. Attempt #2 since the move: ordered takeout. I walked in and the hostess and waitresses were speaking about non work-related gossip (loudly). I patiently waited for them to finish talking. The place was pretty empty (Friday evening) and I was just awkwardly waiting for the hostess to acknowledge my existence. After a few minutes, she walked over to me. She did not greet me, only stared at me. I told her I had a takeout order and she retrieved it while showing visible annoyance. My thought: "no offense taken.. we all have bad days." I got home and told my wife that the vibe was off and that we're now 0/2 at the new spot. Ate the food, got sick, and stayed within reaching distance of my toilet for two days (sorry for the TMI). Attempt #3 since the move: ordered takeout on a Saturday evening. SAME EXACT SERVICE lol. I walked in to a mostly empty spot, hostess and waitresses were gossiping about non-work related drama within earshot of customers. Awkwardly got ignored for a few minutes and the hostess (different from the previous visit) didn't freaking greet me and hardly acknowledged my existence I told her I had a takeout order. I ordered wings, roti and curry, and red chicken curry. Problem 1) wings were horrible quality with two drops of the spicy sauce on the side. Problem 2) no rice with curry and just enough curry to feed a hungry stray kitten. Problem 3) the most disrespectful amount of roti and curry I've ever been given. Probably 0.001ml of the normally succulent sauce... and the roti was burnt. I spent a cool 60$ for nothing really. Strike 3 Kao. Sorry guys, but the poor service and diminishing food quality is enough for me to say goodbye to a once dear friend.

Went here for dinner to catch up with a friend. There was a slight wait on a weeknight but bar seating was open as well. A few of the tables are super close together which some might like some might not, but the aesthetic was nice! I got the drunken noodles with chicken and the flavor was really good with some charred wok flavor but I do wish it was spicier. On Wednesday's they do half off wine bottles so will likely go back for that and to try the duck curry. Overall I think this is a great Thai place and would recommend!

Stopped here 3 times during my 2-wk training in Columbia, SC and all 3 times did not disappoint! Great Thai food quality for this Thai chic with perfect spice level! It's on a fancier side and great ambient! The papaya salad was on point so I know that the rest on the menu would be amazing and they were! Great cocktails options to top things off with plenty of whiskey to choose from and a yummy old fashioned! It was pretty during our visits but I wouldn't expect anything less as it was a great spot and great vibe from all the staff that had served us.

Tied for #1 downtown as best bar for dinner, most veggie options, and a willingness to make it the way you want it. Longtime happy customer appreciating the new location. Thank you for keeping it fresh.

The food was great. The restaurant is more upscale than a traditional Thai place. Staff is friendly and very pleasant.

The food was really good and the fried brussel sprouts were absolutely AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

The food is very bland and overpriced for what it's worth, especially compared to other thai spots in the area. I got drunken noodles, and the flavors were very underdeveloped and bland. Portion sizes were underwhelming. Nice Staff, but I believe the food came out quick because parts of it were frozen. Ambiance wasn't bad, and the bar seemed like it made good drinks.

I ordered Red chicken curry. The curry itself was totally fine, and decent thai food is hard to find in this area. Average rating is because they are SOOOO stingy with the rice. I ordered two EXTRA sides of rice and I got about two spoonfuls of rice total. I can't believe they used two styrofoam containers because all the rice wouldn't take up a third of the space in one container. I wish I had the foresight to take a picture to show how ridiculous that was. After spending $30 I feel like I've eaten an appetizer.

Wasn't my best Thai experience for my first experience but I am willing to give them another try. I only had some wings (yes I know wings aren't a try Thai dish but I wasn't that hungry) which were very bland and some sort of tomato soup which was overpowering tomato flavor. Next time I will try one of the more traditional dishes.

Great location on Main Street in Colombia SC. I sat outside on what is likely the last nice day of 2023, which was pretty special. The food was great as was the service.

Located in the downtown area where parking is always complicated. So expect to pay for metered parking or flat rate parking. We were greeted promptly as we arrived shortly after opening. From the beginning I didn't get the authentic Thai cuisine vibe, I guess it doesn't help that all the employees aren't Asian. Nonetheless, our young server was nice and pleasant. I'm not a fan of servers NOT writing orders down, because they're susceptible to forgetting things, as was our case. She remembered our main dish, but forgot our soup. We didn't even bother mentioning it, as it was already too late, because we started eating our meals. The Roti w/ curry appetizer was delicious! They could definitely put more roti on the plate. The Chicken Pad Thai was awful. It was extremely dry both the noodles and the chicken! Very very very dry! I did not enjoy it. The pineapple fried rice was better. It's a lot so you can easily share it. The prices are high but then again most downtown restaurants are. I wouldn't return. Not good enough to deserve a second visit.