Khao Tiew
Thai restaurant · West Portal ·
Modern Thai spot with creative spins on classics, popular hotpot
Modern Thai spot with creative spins on classics, popular hotpot
"In West Portal, this spot shows San Franciscans a new class of Thai cuisine—understated but inventive—from a kitchen that roars with energy. I’d order the massaman curry, where tofu gets treated like the substantial protein puck it really is, fried and paired with peanut, pickled radish, and a bath of curry. The dine-in-only, limited-order dishes are stars, especially the kai toon lava, a $30 hot pot of shrimp and squid with ground pork that displays balance, leveling silky egg alongside cilantro. I save room for the small serving of sticky mango rice, decadent and undressed; the creamy sweetness of the mango outshines the mediocre versions Americans are forced to battle over at Trader Joe’s. The room appears lantern-lit before you spot the big TV showcasing a rotating series of random food videos, and everything between you and the kitchen’s heat is a sea of people laughing, couples enjoying each other for what seems like the first time—an energy many restaurants try to manufacture but this one achieves effortlessly. Buffer in extra time: arrive when it opens at 4 p.m. and put your name down on the restaurant’s kiosk, or do it through Yelp’s app." - Paolo Bicchieri
"The line outside on a random Tuesday night might have one thinking they leapt back in time to March 2024 when the punchy new Thai restaurant first turned on its open sign in West Portal. The delectable fried hunks of tofu standing tall in a sweet and savory brown sauce will bring you back to the present: the snap of a peanut and the softness of accompanying potatoes meet the flavors in this dish and raise the stakes once again. It’s described as a harmonic, vegan, gluten-free, line-inducing grand slam. If you have to wait for a table, put your name down and play pool at the Philosopher’s Club to pass the time. Open Wednesday through Monday 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m." - Paolo Bicchieri
"The dining room of this casual spot is decked out in 70s Thai ads and movie posters and filled with tables of friends loudly catching up. The menu is made up of spins on Thai classics. We always order the creamy tom yum soup with bouncy calamari, shrimp, and mushrooms, and the panang curry that’s served with a tender duck breast. Getting a table during the weeknights isn’t tough, making this a great pick for a casual weeknight dinner." - ricky rodriguez, julia chen 1, patrick wong
"Sleepy West Portal is having a moment thanks to some hot new openings, first with Elena's and now Khao Tiew. Like Elena's, this modern Thai spot is filled most days of the week, mainly with groups of friends packing into the dining room with ‘70s Thai ads and movie posters on the walls. The tom yum seafood hotpot at Khao Tiew is more than enough reason to keep coming back—it’s sour, tangy, just the right amount of creamy, and comes in a mobile hotpot that’s warmed via flame, so it’ll never get cold. And the duck breast panang curry should also get your attention—it’s got tender duck and a thin but still flavorful curry with a zing of makrut lime. They only take reservations for groups larger than six, but you can add yourself to the waitlist on Yelp before you head over. " - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez
"Khao Tiew is a buzzy restaurant in West Portal that’s filled most nights of the week with big cackling groups of friends catching up. The dining room is decked out in 70s Thai ads and movie posters, and the menu is made up of spins on Thai classics. For the most part, Khao Tiew does a great job. Tom yum soup here is a creamy hotpot dish with appropriately bouncy calamari and shrimp and mushrooms. Their version of panang curry is thinner than others, but is rich with a zing of lime, served with sous vide duck breast. But other Khao-Tiew-ified dishes, like the deep-fried papaya salad, feel like they’re overcomplicating an already good thing. Execution is sometimes an issue, like the khao soi, which misses the mark with overcooked egg noodles and has us scrounging for another squeeze of lime. Still, it’s worth going out of your way to come here, if only for the excellent hotpot. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Pause Unmute Food Rundown Tom Yum Seafood Hotpot This is the best thing on the menu. Get this sour, bubbling cauldron of shrimp, calamari, and mushrooms, and savor every last drop of it. Order a side of rice if you want, but it’s not necessary. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Crispy Papaya Salad The first few bites of deep-fried papaya feel like a fun gimmick, but it quickly gets greasy. We wish they served a fresh papaya salad instead. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Khao Pad Mun Nuer with Soy-Cured Egg Yolk With the beef tallow used to fry the rice, the thick pieces of short rib, and the egg yolk to top it all off, this dish is decadent. Order this with a group and split it at least three ways. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Duck Breast Panang Curry The menu warns that this curry is spicy—but it barely registers on the scoville scale. Still, everything tastes well-balanced with the galangal, lemongrass, coconut milk, and even the (non-existent) spice. Order this with a side of jasmine or sticky rice. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth" - Ricky Rodriguez
