By Alexis Berry and Erin Kain By Alexis Berry and Erin Kain | April 25, 2022 | Food & Drink Feature
From curry and fried rice to noodles, stir fry and more, these are the best Thai restaurants in San Francisco you need to try.
Osha Thai Restaurant and Lounge
Housed in the Embarcadero Center, Osha Thai has enjoyed 25 years as one of San Francisco’s favorite Thai food destinations. Nosh on award-winning cuisine with an extensive menu, offering everything from authentic street-style fare to reimagined modern dishes. Sit back and sip on a steaming bowl of Tom Yum or nosh on a sizzling plate of sauteed river prawns topped with curry paste and kaffir lime leaf over a bed of fried eggplant. 4 Embarcadero Center
This ever-popular Thai eatery boasts an impressive menu of bar snacks, roti tacos and flavorful entrees. Enjoy a refreshing Thai tea with an order of crispy vegetable rolls and spiced corn fritters, or take it a step further with hearty kitchen specials like the pan-roasted sea bass with fried Brussels sprouts. Top it off with a sweet plate of mango sticky rice or fried bananas with coconut ice cream. 1175 Folsom St.
Jitlada Thai Cuisine boasts a bevy of especially spicy southern Thai specialities. A tried-and true-favorite? The spicy green curry with coconut milk, bamboo, bell pepper, eggplants, basil and green beans, expertly paired with a cup of fresh coconut milk soup. Take a stab at chef Tui's Spicy Dynamite Challenge, where challengers must finish off a fiery stir-fry with bell peppers, green beans and Thai basil in a scorching mix of fresh and dried Thai chiles, if you dare. 1826 Buchanan St.
This dynamic hot spot infuses classic Thai cuisine with contemporary American twists, serving up innovative dishes bursting with new, unexpected flavor profiles. Purists can nosh on classic Thai staples like the chicken pad thai and crispy crushed tiger prawns, while adventurous diners will love the BW Burger—seasoned wagyu with white cheddar, cilantro aioli and sesame Thai salad on a brioche bun—or the Marina Treasure, millionaire's bacon-wrapped scallops in a spicy cilantro sauce. 2150 Chestnut St.
A Nob Hill staple since 2015, Ben Thai Cafe boasts a solid selection of Thai favorites alongside speciality dishes that can’t be found anywhere else. Cheeky menu items include the ominous Murder Wings—spicy fried chicken wings sauteed with fresh peppercorn, krachai, herbs and spices and topped with fried basil—while chef specialties feature creative Thai fusion, such as succulent Chinese-influenced pork palo and American-inspired oxtail soup. 1331 Polk St.
Boasting both indoor and outdoor dining spaces, this modern Asian lounge serves up elevated Thai cuisine with mouthwatering menu items like coconut and curry ceviche, butternut squash dumplings, Burmese curry, firecracker beef, and creative sandwiches and burgers. Be sure to stop by for happy hour to nosh on light bites like oysters, satay skewers and fritter bites while sipping on imaginative cocktails like the kimchi bloody mary. 314 Sutter St.
Expect unique flavors and bold spices from Southeast Asia, such as fish sauce, chiles, curries and more at this Mission District eatery. Opened in 2015 by James Syhabout (owner of two-Michelin-star restaurant Commis in Oakland), the hot spot serves up family style dishes such as blistered green beans and khao poon nahm prik, a red curry with rice vermicelli noodles, minced chicken and bamboo shoots. Don’t forget to check out Holy Mountain, the vibey cocktail bar upstairs. 680 Valencia St.
This casual family-run chain specializes in super cheap Thai staples prepared according to ancient recipes and with a focus on how premium quality flavors and textures react to each other. The pad ma-keur made with Japanese eggplants, basil, chile and bell pepper in a soy bean paste served with rice is every herbivore’s dream. Craving dessert? Try the roti, a crispy Thai pancake topped with condensed milk and sugar. 901 Larkin St.
A sophisticated spot for contemporary Thai-Californian cuisine, Nari means “women” in Thai and is chef-owner Pim Techamuanvivit’s personal tribute to the women who taught her how to cook. Start with the pork croquettes seasoned with northern curry paste, then sample the grilled flank steak stir-fry with spicy green curry, green mango and white turmeric. Myriad inventive craft cocktails perfectly round out the effortlessly sumptuous meals. 1625 Post St.
Calling all veggie lovers: Thai Idea Vegetarian boasts an all-vegetarian menu composed of modern, produce-focused interpretations of Thai classics. Try the deep-fried panko enoki mushrooms dipped in sweet and sour sauce, or feast on the roasted “chicken” served with chile powder and rice powder sauce. To round out the meal, treat yourself to a Thai iced tea float with fresh coconut ice cream—a tasty twist on the American root beer float. 710 Polk St.
Boasting three San Francisco locations, this upscale Thai eatery’s menu is anything but basic—in fact, it consists of over 100 fresh and authentic dishes sure to delight. The daily chef’s specials promise plenty of adventurous eats, with past offerings including pig liver with wilted greens and red onion; garlic frog served with red chile sauce; and an eggplant stir-fry with generous chunks of alligator and eel. Multiple locations
Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine
At Farmhouse Kitchen, cheekily-named classic eats and harder-to-find street foods abound. A famous menu item is the King of Spice, a dish created by chef Kasem Saengsawang on Food Network’s Alex vs. America that includes braised pork ribs, dropped egg, tomato, bell pepper, habanero simmered in red chiles, coconut milk, shrimp paste and turmeric rice. Wash it all down with one of the resto’s deliciously boozy cocktails, like the Peek-A-Mule or the refreshing Permanent Vacation. 710 Florida St.
This relaxing dining experience in the Russian Hill district features a wide variety of flavorful Thai dishes alongside authentic Thai decor, instantly transporting diners across the world to Southeast Asia. Stop by for a bite or two—we recommend the crispy Thai curry puffs, papaya salad and deep-fried snapper topped with mushrooms, onion, ginger and tamarind sauce. 2348 Polk St.
A family-run resto for over 30 years, Manora’s Thai Cuisine is known for its bountiful portions and vegetarian-friendly menu. Start with an order of the Tong-Tong fried dumplings with shrimp, chicken and vegetable with a cucumber dipping sauce. For the main, kai yad sai Thai-style omelets are stuffed with a decadent mixture of crab, shrimp and chicken sprinkled with flavorful Thai herbs. 1600 Folsom St.
Photography by: BY EMY/UNSPLASH
