Khao Tiew

Every time I passed by, I saw the line out the door—and now I totally get it! The food is amazing. Both dishes we tried were absolutely delicious and worth every minute of waiting. The only drawback was that the dining area seemed a bit understaffed, but overall it was still a wonderful experience. Highly recommended.

Absolutely incredible! Just know that the wait is long. We went on a Friday night. We put our name on the waitlist at 515 and didn’t get seated until 745.

Vikram

Fair warning - this place is always busy. We had a 90 minute wait time for a party of 2 at 7pm on a Friday night. The great news is that this place is just around the corner from some great bars in West Portal (philosopher’s club, McCarthy’s) so you can just grab some drinks while you wait. The food was great and the dessert (burnt butter Kaya toast) was incredible and a very large portion. Overall, great food in a great neighborhood

Jittima Napawan

Every time I passed by, I saw the line out the door—and now I totally get it! The food is amazing. Both dishes we tried were absolutely delicious and worth every minute of waiting. The only drawback was that the dining area seemed a bit understaffed, but overall it was still a wonderful experience. Highly recommended.

David Shen

Need to share a table? DO IT AND STOP COMPLAINING BC ITS WORTH IT! Khao Soy and the beef dish along with the duck egg noodles were so good! COCONUT CREAM ICE CREAM ON CRÈME BRÛLÉE TOAST? Must have. don’t sleep on these amazing dishes.

ariana

The best Thai spot in SF atm. We got there right at 4pm and snatched the last table of their first seating. Highly recommend getting there when they open to avoid any wait.

Dianne Namgung

Ok get there early, put your name down on wait list then go to nearby bar until you get closer on the queue. We waited about 1.5hrs but we didnt get a text when we were up on the wait list. We got notified we were off the list and ran there and got it worked out. I guess they only call your name outside? The wine we had was fantastic and we loved the dishes we ordered. Duck curry, steak dish, Chinese brocolli.

Christina

Absolutely incredible! Just know that the wait is long. We went on a Friday night. We put our name on the waitlist at 515 and didn’t get seated until 745.

Grace A

Waited in line ~40 minutes before opening and was seated immediately. Service was quick and steady. All the dishes were a hit!

Hilda Liu

The price is fair and the environment is charming! I loved the decor—so many old Thai commercial posters from 20–30 years ago that give off a nostalgic 70s–80s vibe 🌟 The waitress was super attentive. Be warned though: if you come during peak dinner hours, there’s usually a long wait, but you can easily join the waitlist on Yelp! Despite the crowd, food came out really fast. Everything we ordered had such a great balance of flavors. 💯 My top recommendations: • Duck breast curry – rich, flavorful, and so satisfying. • Kaya toast – perfectly crispy and sweet. They also have a good drink selection, and we saw a lot of people ordering the crispy papaya salad—huge portion and definitely unique! If you’re craving Thai food, I highly recommend this place!

nikita patel

We got the shrimp and crab lump glass noodle, and short rib and rice. The rice and beef were absolutely insane, wish I got two plates. I wasn’t a fan of the pork in our noodles but overall fantastic meal.

Karl Rojas

It's funny because we found this place from a random short in YouTube, but the food was really good - probably the top 3 best things we tried were the Moo Hong, the Kaya toast, and Khao Soi Pad Haeng. We went right at open and lined up around 3:20 and we were 8th in line. By the time it was 4 PM the line was at the end of the block. And we were already being seated. I would wait at this place for maybe 30 minutes tops, but it definitely was a good experience. Food wasn't really spicy enough would be my only complaint, but it mostly felt like Thai fusion which isn't a bad thing, but you shouldn't expect traditional Thai cuisine coming here.

Allison L.

Service was great with a kind and attentive team! Food was good with a particular shout out to the khao soi and duck curry (much debate as to which was a fav amongst friends). The Kaya toast was a clear winner out of everything. And pad see ew was a surprisingly good contender that one south bay area local said was the best they've had. Tom yum was good but not the best I've ever had. Still a delicious dish on a cold, rainy winter day. The spicy wonton was decent, we enjoyed the sauce.

Anthony Giang

On a cold Wednesday evening in October, I was hoping for a delicious date night spot and Khao Tiew delivered. Though relatively new, this place has received a lot of acclaim for the food and because of that I knew I had to try it out for myself. After joining the waitlist (YOU MUST BE WITHIN 1 MILE TO JOIN), we had about 45 minutes to wait around 6:00. However we blew by that time by hanging out and checking out shops in West Portal, which unfortunately were mostly closed by that time. Anyways, after getting seated inside we decided on the Crab Fried Rice in a Claypot, the Khao Soi, the Duck Breast Red Curry, and the Crispy Papaya Salad. I enjoyed everything a lot. The crab fried rice was rich and had a really nice savory and subtle sweet flavor. The Khao Soi was probably the best I’ve ever had and it honestly did not even need the meat add on. The Duck Breast Red Curry was surprisingly fresh and rich, while the duck was super tender. Finally, the Crispy Papaya Salad was really unique and I've never had a papaya salad in this form. What we ordered was more than enough for 3 people, so I wouldn’t do much more than that. Anyways, I am super glad we came and I will definitely recommend this place as one of the best thai foods I have had in the bay.

Jia (꼬부기&쵸비)

This place is absolutely worth the wait. It’s unbelievably delicious, please please try it. You won’t regret it. I had been craving the Khao Soi I fell in love with in Chiang Mai, and since it’s so hard to find a great one here, I came to try theirs. The Khao Soi was decent but pretty standard, nothing mind blowing. But the Steak Fried Rice? OMG. It hits you in the best, most addictive way possible. Insane flavor bomb. And the Kaya Toast? The combination of the warm toast, the kaya jam, and the coconut sticky ice cream is sooo good. Truly unforgettable. If there’s one place you absolutely cannot skip, it’s this one. We showed up on Saturday at 3:30, about 30 minutes before they opened, and the first round filled up right in front of us. We ended up getting seated for the second round at 4:45. And honestly, I’d do it again.

We arrived 20 minutes before open and the was already a long line outside on a super rainy day. Luckily we were still in the first round of people to go in. They don't serve cocktails and seem to only have canned beer. Spicy wontons were extremely spicy.. could barely eat it (and I usually eat spicy food). Duck curry and butter bread dessert was amazing. We got another dish that had very fatty meat... The food came out lukewarm.. not sure why.

Got on the waitlist at 4:20 pm on Saturday. I was 36th on the Yelp list and got seated around 6:55 pm (party of two). It was nice not having to stand in line, since we could walk around while we waited. You do need to show up in person to join the Yelp waitlist, and they’ll call you when it’s your turn. If you arrive before 4 you might skip most of the wait, but it’s best to get there as close to opening as you can. The waitlist was around 150 people when we left. We ordered the Tom Gai Bai Ma Kham, the Khao Soi with fried chicken, and the Khao Pad Mun Nuer with a soy cured egg yolk. The Tom Gai Bai Ma Kham was excellent. Really fragrant and fresh, with lots of acidity and spice. The portion was generous and had a good amount of meat. The Khao Soi was also great. The broth was creamy with a lot of depth and the noodles were cooked perfectly. I’ve tried this dish elsewhere but this version was easily the best. The Khao Pad Mun Nuer was a bit disappointing. There wasn’t much steak and the ratio of meat to rice felt off, with way too much rice. The steak had a nice smoky flavor but the dish ended up feeling pretty one note. The atmosphere was nice and not too crowded, with fun Thai posters and decor. Overall, if you pick the right dishes and come early, the food is worth the wait and the prices are pretty reasonable.

I felt like this place was a bit overhyped, at least for the food. Me and my boyfriend both tried beef short ribs fried rice, and it was just... oily and greasy 😞 The wait line was insanely long, even though I arrived 20 minutes before the store even opened, there were still people waiting ahead of me. Welp I will definitely come back and try other dishes and re-rank this place later

Khao Tiew San Francisco is a standout establishment, serving delicious, simple, and authentic local Thai dishes. They truly impress with creative and tasty twists on old favorites, such as their exceptional Khao Soi. The baseline heat level is mild, which is perfect for most palates, but you can easily customize your spice level by adding the hot powder conveniently available on the table. Highly recommended!

we came in person on a saturday night to put our name down and then came back 2 hours later to be seated. none of the dishes here were stellar, and everything was fried, including the papaya salad. food was still good though, just not sure it’s better than other spots in town. glad we tried it, cozy spot!

The desssert and Dungeness crab clay rice was good. The rest was nice. Overall a good diner but very TikTok/reel populair nowadays. Long wait

If the wait’s less than 30 minutes, worth it. If longer than that, look for other Thai restaurants there are some great options in the neighborhood. Food’s great, don’t get me wrong. It’s just not that special to wait for 3 hours. Their Thai iced tea is great if you’re down for it.

AJ F

Khao Tiew San Francisco is a standout establishment, serving delicious, simple, and authentic local Thai dishes. They truly impress with creative and tasty twists on old favorites, such as their exceptional Khao Soi. The baseline heat level is mild, which is perfect for most palates, but you can easily customize your spice level by adding the hot powder conveniently available on the table. Highly recommended!

Winnie Xu

we came in person on a saturday night to put our name down and then came back 2 hours later to be seated. none of the dishes here were stellar, and everything was fried, including the papaya salad. food was still good though, just not sure it’s better than other spots in town. glad we tried it, cozy spot!

Hong Ashley Tran

The desssert and Dungeness crab clay rice was good. The rest was nice. Overall a good diner but very TikTok/reel populair nowadays. Long wait

Min

If the wait’s less than 30 minutes, worth it. If longer than that, look for other Thai restaurants there are some great options in the neighborhood. Food’s great, don’t get me wrong. It’s just not that special to wait for 3 hours. Their Thai iced tea is great if you’re down for it.

E Lee

Came here with a group about an hour after opening and placed our names on the Yelp waitlist. We did not have to wait too long which was great but the place was packed. I thought the food was okay. We only had one dish I did not like because it tasted burnt. It was the steamed egg with large pieces of shrimp but the inside was burned and seeped throughout the dish. I would also pass on the mango sticky rice given presentation, size, and lack of complexity.

Daksh Jain

Got on the waitlist at 4:20 pm on Saturday. I was 36th on the Yelp list and got seated around 6:55 pm (party of two). It was nice not having to stand in line, since we could walk around while we waited. You do need to show up in person to join the Yelp waitlist, and they’ll call you when it’s your turn. If you arrive before 4 you might skip most of the wait, but it’s best to get there as close to opening as you can. The waitlist was around 150 people when we left. We ordered the Tom Gai Bai Ma Kham, the Khao Soi with fried chicken, and the Khao Pad Mun Nuer with a soy cured egg yolk. The Tom Gai Bai Ma Kham was excellent. Really fragrant and fresh, with lots of acidity and spice. The portion was generous and had a good amount of meat. The Khao Soi was also great. The broth was creamy with a lot of depth and the noodles were cooked perfectly. I’ve tried this dish elsewhere but this version was easily the best. The Khao Pad Mun Nuer was a bit disappointing. There wasn’t much steak and the ratio of meat to rice felt off, with way too much rice. The steak had a nice smoky flavor but the dish ended up feeling pretty one note. The atmosphere was nice and not too crowded, with fun Thai posters and decor. Overall, if you pick the right dishes and come early, the food is worth the wait and the prices are pretty reasonable.

Like most people I came here from highly rated social media influencers who claim that this is a great Thai restaurant. Beware, it isn’t. First it isn’t even real Thai food, it’s a form of Thai fusion, which should be a warning sign. Thai food tastes best just being simple Thai food. For instance, Tom Yum Soup had coconut cream when a real Thai Tom Yum soup doesn’t. It would taste better if they got rid of the coconut cream and actually cooked the soup with all the ingredients instead of just adding everything in the end. The seafood was also tuff and hard to chew. If not cooking seafood correctly, just don’t use it. In addition, stay away from the Branzino. It isn’t fresh. It’s frozen and it’s redeep fried instead of being fresh fish in SF and it’s not stir fried, it looks and tastes redeep fried from frozen. Deep frying the frozen fried fish makes it smell, tuff, chewy, and hard to eat. The most outrageous dish was their deep fried papaya salad. Papaya salad isn’t meant to be fried. It may get you likes on social media, but It doesn’t taste good. It supposed to be fresh papaya mixed with the papaya sauce instead of being separated and for me to mix it, what am I paying the cooks for??? Besides the low quality of food and taste, they like using sweet chili sauce for most their dishes. They restaurant is also over packed, stuffy, hot 🥵, and waited almost 3 hours for unsatisfactory, over priced, and over hyped food. There are far more better and actual “authentic” Thai food and Thai deserts close by. This isn’t one of them. Don’t believe the hype, if you have taste buds and know what Thai food should be and taste like. Save yourself a two to three hour wait to be highly disappointed, like I was and the many others that leave the place still hungry.

Shlo Mo

Like most people I came here from highly rated social media influencers who claim that this is a great Thai restaurant. Beware, it isn’t. First it isn’t even real Thai food, it’s a form of Thai fusion, which should be a warning sign. Thai food tastes best just being simple Thai food. For instance, Tom Yum Soup had coconut cream when a real Thai Tom Yum soup doesn’t. It would taste better if they got rid of the coconut cream and actually cooked the soup with all the ingredients instead of just adding everything in the end. The seafood was also tuff and hard to chew. If not cooking seafood correctly, just don’t use it. In addition, stay away from the Branzino. It isn’t fresh. It’s frozen and it’s redeep fried instead of being fresh fish in SF and it’s not stir fried, it looks and tastes redeep fried from frozen. Deep frying the frozen fried fish makes it smell, tuff, chewy, and hard to eat. The most outrageous dish was their deep fried papaya salad. Papaya salad isn’t meant to be fried. It may get you likes on social media, but It doesn’t taste good. It supposed to be fresh papaya mixed with the papaya sauce instead of being separated and for me to mix it, what am I paying the cooks for??? Besides the low quality of food and taste, they like using sweet chili sauce for most their dishes. They restaurant is also over packed, stuffy, hot 🥵, and waited almost 3 hours for unsatisfactory, over priced, and over hyped food. There are far more better and actual “authentic” Thai food and Thai deserts close by. This isn’t one of them. Don’t believe the hype, if you have taste buds and know what Thai food should be and taste like. Save yourself a two to three hour wait to be highly disappointed, like I was and the many others that leave the place still hungry.