Kin Khao
Thai restaurant · Union Square ·
Michelin-starred Thai cuisine with inventive dishes and cocktails
Michelin-starred Thai cuisine with inventive dishes and cocktails
"Even if you aren’t staying in the area, this upscale Thai restaurant inside the Parc 55 is a destination—and that’s thanks to the funky, spicy dishes, which are worth braving the pillars inside the 5th and Mission parking garage for. Any time spent in gridlock traffic will melt away once chunks of caramelized pork belly, and tamarind and Sriracha-glazed wings with a smattering of Thai chilis arrive in front of you. Get here for catch-ups with friends from out of town or birthdays that call for excellent cocktails and food." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez
"Temporarily closed for the entirety of the pandemic, Kin Khao returned in 2022 and managed to maintain a star for its funky and fiery Thai dishes. (1 star)" - Eater Staff
"Tucked into an alcove of the Parc 55 hotel, the space is no great shakes in the décor department, but when it comes to layered, vibrantly flavorful Thai cooking with a produce-driven northern California flair, Chef Pim Techamuanvivit is in a league of her own.The menu draws on tradition, but it’s a far cry from run-of-the-mill, with creative interpretations of classics as well as original offerings. A fragrant steamed curry mousse (hor mok), studded with tender mushrooms and served with crispy puffed rice cakes, is a tantalizing starter, and even a familiar dish like green curry is made memorable with slow-cooked rabbit sourced from a local farm. Expect bold, unapologetic flavors—certain dishes feature spice levels not for the faint of heart." - Michelin Inspector
"For the uninitiated, Kin Khao is Nari’s older, less-splashier sibling. But the funk-and-spice-packed dishes coming out of this Union Square destination are a force. Start with the hot chicken wings before turning to the fiery, crispy nam tok beans or caramelized pork belly that glistens. Sure, you might have to dodge a few roller bags to get here—it’s located in the Parc 55 hotel—but seek this place out regardless of whether you’re staying there or not." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez
"Prince range: $$ On a recent spring night, Kin Khao remains packed and noisy more than a decade into its run in Union Square. Dishes arrive fast. Mushroom pate on rice crackers is simple and fine enough to attract customers on just its own merit. Then come oily pork cracklings, yaowaraj noodles with spicy tofu. Chef-owner Pim Techamuanvivit maintains the quality and prestige of Kin Khao’s flavors and dishes even while jet-setting around the world and running restaurants in both San Francisco and Bangkok. Order the green rabbit curry with meatballs, with a tin of fluffy brown rice, that hints at deeper levels of spice expanding through the meal while keeping the palette on cruise control. Best for: Peeking into the origins of modern Thai American cuisine by way of one of the best to ever do it." - Paolo Bicchieri
