We decided to try Khao San Thai Kitchen when it caught our eye from across the street during margarita fishbowls on the Los Chilitos patio. Not right at that moment of course, otherwise I doubt we would have remembered much about the place other then they had food and we ate it. So a few days later we returned with relatively sound minds, excited to try the new addition to 17th Ave. With Thai dining in Calgary seeming to only exist in fast food form or as super pricey, we were eager to see if a nice middle ground had finally been established.
First to arrive, I was immediately struck by the friendliness of all the workers. After being seated I was greeted by a lovely man who I assumed to be the owner due to the sparkle of delight that appeared in his eye when I replied that the 'occasion' was our monthly dinner club.
Looking around while sipping on my wine, the interior is basically the same as it was during the space's previous tenants, JAROblue, other than the new ornate Thai wall treatments. It makes for a fairly contemporary space, which I figured would also be reflected in their Thai cuisine.
our order:
Chicken Satay
Spring Rolls
Poung Chom-Poo (Steamed Dumpling)
Pad Thai
Red Chicken Curry
Beef Sweet & Sour
Steamed Coconut Rice
When the dishes arrived there was definitely a contemporary spin on the presentation, steamed dumplings coloured pink and sculpted like roses and spring rolls served in shot glasses of chili sauce. But while the food was plated with a modern twist, the first few bites revealed tastes that were wonderfully authentic and traditional. As the plates arrived, we each delighted in every new flavour sensation. At many Thai restaurants there is barely enough of each dish to share between 2 people, but Khao San Thai's servings were large, leaving more than enough for everyone.
For me the best entree we had was the Red Chicken Curry. For being so thin the sauce was extremely flavourful and with a bit of the coconut rice even the smallest bite made my taste buds zing. Seeing the other curries listed on the menu, I can't wait to get back to try them! Even the Pad Thai, which is usually pretty basic, was exceptional. So based on that alone I can only imagine how tasty some of their more complex dishes would be.
The service continued to be outstanding throughout dinner and even when we proclaimed we were too full for dessert (but we'll take another round of drinks), the waiter surprised us with a complimentary fruit plate. Our high spirits from the delicious meal kept the wine flowing and eventually inspired us to tie one on that Tuesday night. So thank you Khao San Thai Kitchen for a wildly successful August dinner club!
- c
Steamed Coconut Rice
When the dishes arrived there was definitely a contemporary spin on the presentation, steamed dumplings coloured pink and sculpted like roses and spring rolls served in shot glasses of chili sauce. But while the food was plated with a modern twist, the first few bites revealed tastes that were wonderfully authentic and traditional. As the plates arrived, we each delighted in every new flavour sensation. At many Thai restaurants there is barely enough of each dish to share between 2 people, but Khao San Thai's servings were large, leaving more than enough for everyone.
For me the best entree we had was the Red Chicken Curry. For being so thin the sauce was extremely flavourful and with a bit of the coconut rice even the smallest bite made my taste buds zing. Seeing the other curries listed on the menu, I can't wait to get back to try them! Even the Pad Thai, which is usually pretty basic, was exceptional. So based on that alone I can only imagine how tasty some of their more complex dishes would be.
The service continued to be outstanding throughout dinner and even when we proclaimed we were too full for dessert (but we'll take another round of drinks), the waiter surprised us with a complimentary fruit plate. Our high spirits from the delicious meal kept the wine flowing and eventually inspired us to tie one on that Tuesday night. So thank you Khao San Thai Kitchen for a wildly successful August dinner club!
- c
overall ratings:
| Food | 8.5 | Service | 8 |
| Presentation | 8 | Value | 7.5 |
| Ambiance | 7.5 | Will you go back? | Yes x 5 |
final score - 7.9
