Jando S.
Yelp
There is no shortage of Thai eateries in the inner loop but few are as popular and as well regarded as Rim Tanon, located in the heart of Upper Kirby. Many Thai folks I've known have regarded this as one of the city's best contemporary Thai options and I would be hard pressed to disagree.
One of their most memorable traits is having a wooden replica Thai style building, complete with abundant outdoor seating, a group friendly layout, and a bustling Thai speaking staff that can get overwhelmed night in and out. The ambiance is vivacious at times and chaotic during other days. I've learned not to call in during these peak service hours and would recommend ordering from their website instead. The wait times can be long during their busiest nights and thus the dedicated waiting area in the lobby is clutch.
They consider their food to be modernized Thai and the flavors are on point. The standouts for the starters would be their satey ($10) and salmon rolls ($9). THe latter is so good that I'd consider ordering it every time. I would also consider ordering a soup, be it tom yum ($9-10) or their "light soup" ($9-10). Their papaya salad is a bit paltry at $12, but there is a spice kick that definitely hits, which is in all the salad options.
While I don't love the portions for the crabmeat omelet ($18) or pad kaphrao ($15), I do appreciate the heat from any of their curries, especially the panang and massaman curry ($15-17). The khao soi gai ($17) was a nice surprise and the pad see ew ($15-17) was quite good. Pad thai ($18) lovers may find the noodle dish a tinge sweet, but the chili powder and lime cut through it quite well.
Beware of the parking, which is a dedicated lot but a tight squeeze in every corner. Big cars should stay home. Group dining sessions should be reserved ahead of time and this is definitely ideal for a casual lunch or dinner date. An ambiance suggestion: I do hope they consider rocking some kind of Thai pop (#1) instead of the ad-laden trendy music that tends to get airtime. It's awkward to listen to elevator beats before it turns into a random Geico commercial.
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(#1) May I suggest some Ploychompoo or Tata Young?