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Ka-Prow Bistro
Categories: Restaurants Asian Fusion Restaurants Sushi Bars Asian Fusion, Sushi Bars
1200 W Howard LnSte O
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 990-2111
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri 5 pm - 10 pm
Sat 12 pm - 10 pm
Sun 4 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
85 reviews for Ka-Prow Bistro
Review Highlights
"Pad Kee Mao was just the right choice for me."
(in 5 reviews)
"Step 1: Order the cheese rolls."
(in 7 reviews)
"...is the sweet sticky rice topped with coconut ice cream."
(in 3 reviews)
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85 reviews in English
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Review from K D.
Cedar Park, TX
1/21/2012
Ka-Prow is amazing! Tucked away it is really a hidden treasure, but well worth the drive. The Thom-Ka soup is the best I have ever had, you have the choice of tofu or chicken. The consistency, flavor, and spice of the Thom-Ka soup is unparalleled. The sushi rolls are always fresh and the chef has always been willing to customize rolls ie: extra sesame seeds etc. They staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive and due to the small size of the establishment it is easy to get their attention. They offer a good selection of beers and have pretty good revolving Happy Hour specials. They have a variety of fried rice options which are all phenomenal. I literally have eaten here a hundred times and I have never had a bad food or service experience. The ambiance is really nice and quaint it is dimly lit and is a wonderful date spot. They also have Live Music on certain nights of the week which I enjoy.
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Review from Julian H.
Austin, TX
1/20/2012
Ok, they only get 2 stars for now. I see this place is rated high, so I'll have to return to see what everyone is talking about.
I had their tom yum and can honestly say Madam Mams (or whatever) had a better Tom yum.
Anyway, not giving up on this joint yet. -
Review from Robert G.
Round Rock, TX
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ka Prow has never blown me away but for modestly priced sushi close to my locale in Round Rock this is my first choice. I've never had anything but sushi, green tea and miso soup here.
Other than green tea that comes in a tea bag the quality is ok. The establisment is quaint, never obscenely busy and a nice place for a dinner date. It's casual and low key.
Most of the rolls I get are fairly standard, just spicy tuna, california and the like. When I want a few rolls for lunch at a decent price this is where I drop in. -
Review from Katie T.
Wow, I was going to give this place 3 stars - until I met the chef. Now? ONE.
When you walk in the doors of a restaurant you assume it's open. The doors are open because it's 10 after 5. That means it's 5:10. If the restaurant has opened at 5:00 (as stated on the door) and the doors are open, it stands fair to say that the restaurant has been open for ten minutes. So why is it I was greeted by three waitresses and none of them wanted to seat me?
This is an "Asian Fusion" restaurant posing as just that. Asian Fusion. I should have known better. Sushi, Thai, Chinese, they belong in different places if they are to be done well. I should have known when I ordered my Thai Iced Tea and it came from a giant metal container, the same as McDonald's. I should have known when our waitress had no clue which beer on the menu was actually Thai beer, and then read the menu to us to confirm what she didn't know. I should have known when we ordered our Tom Kha soup that it was a waste of $4.00. A bland, watery, coconut soup with hardly any flavor. Unfortunately we ordered two. I should have known when I ordered my Pad Kee Mao and the waitress put it in the computer and then turned around and said from the other side of the room "is it okay if there's egg in your Pad Kee Mao?" "Ughhh... sure" I replied. Never in my entire life having heard of Pad Kee Mao with egg. That's because she had no idea what Pad Kee Mao was, no egg in the Pad Kee Mao on the menu.
My food arrived as I was still trying to find something nice to say about my soup. After a minute she came whizzing by to see if everything was okay. "I guess so" I said. What can you say when you haven't tried your main dish yet? If she asked me a half hour after we left I would have said "sick" but instead I told her, when it was time for the check, that my Pad Kee Mao was greasy. It lacked any flavor (except for burnt noodles) and there wasn't a spec of spice to speak of. The noodles were extremely thick and some were burnt, leaving a very dark sour and foul taste in my mouth.
I was then told that I "should have complained when (she) asked how my food was". That's great, except I hadn't even tried it when she asked. She was really rude about it. Next thing you know, the "chef" is in my face. He tells me that everyone else loves his dish. He asks me if I've ever even had Pad Kee Mao before. Yes, I've had it all oveseas and all over Austin I reply. He's noticeably disgruntled and I'm freaking uncomfortable.
Needless to say, I will never be coming back. And hey, "Chef O" or whatever they call you, if that even was you, I have sampled Pad Kee Mao all over Austin and some internationally. Your food is greasy and so is your attitude. Here's a list of the places I've been. Maybe visit, try some Pad Kee Mao, and then we can talk.
To anyone who reads this - here is an ever evolving list of alternatives:http://www.yelp.com/li...Listed in: aww, hell no!, KaPOW Ka-Prow
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Review from Anita C.
7/10/2011
I planned a "The Hangover Part 2" day for my friends, and Ka-Prow was the first stop to get us pumped up to see the movie. We weren't exactly pumped when we left, but we did have enjoy each other's company and an ok meal while 'Drops of Jupiter' and similar songs serenaded us.
The ambiance was relaxed and comfortable, and the place was very quiet for lunchtime on a Saturday. Aiming for a light lunch, my friend and I split the Pad Se Ew with chicken and a Rainbow Roll. The Pad Se Ew was ok. A little underwhelming and the chicken tasted stale to me. The Rainbow Roll was good, but I wished it had more salmon on top. The fish it did have was fresh and satisfying though. There are some interesting things on their menu. Our other friends adventurously got a sushi roll with bacon in it and said it was pretty good.
All in all, great service may have bumped up my rating a little, but there are some good eats going on here.Listed in: Satisfying My Sushi Obsession
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Review from Jacqui P.
Austin, TX
12/31/2011
A hidden gem! We found this place because a family member is gluten free. This place is a true food delight. It is reasonably priced, never overly crowded, but best of all the food has never disappointed. Having lived in NYC I can be a bit of a food snob and this place never disappoints. I encourage you to leave the Pad Thai behind on this one and be adventuresome. The Chef here has made some veritable flavor showcase with his signature dishes. The place may be low on frills as far as the look and presentations, but the levels of flavor are the real show pieces here. My husband and best friend's boy friend cannot get enough of the Pad Ped (be careful this dish is best for those that like their food spicy) and I had a truly delightful Chu-Chee Trout: the level of flavors Chef "O" has created made this meal more like a food experience. I feel like the Chef has no patients for your run of the mill items like the egg rolls but knocks other items like their soups out of the park.
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Review from John P.
Austin, TX
7/14/2011
A few Gluten free options at an Asian food restaurant is good, something like 30+ options is unheard of. Most dishes at kaprow are able to be made gluten free. I had gluten free pad Thai, something I hadn't had in 2 years. Wow, so good you'd think it was full of gluten!
For dessert, gluten free bacon fried rice. Ok, so not desert, however it has bacon in it, so I couldn't argue, sounded amazing, and it delivered. Would actually be an awesome Breakfast dish as well.
Lots of commonly heard of dishes but several uncommon as well, large menu and variety. The ambience was average, however obviously the big draw for me is the variety of gluten free options. -
Review from Tom M.
6/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This place is a 3.5 only because of the mediocre service. However, the service is graciously mediocre so it is hard to get angry. A lot of people complain about the pricing of this place. True, it is above average compared to most mom and pop Asian strip mall restaurants. However, it is about the same as Pei Wei and Pei Wei does not have sushi or happy hour.
What I like most about this place is when you dine in groups there is always that one person that does not care for sushi...Ka Prow has them amply covered. While they have all the classics there is also a chef oriented section of the menu. Supposedly there is a Chef "O" on the premises, but I have never seen him. The "features" will send your bill quickly to $20 a person, but they are what sets this place above the average Pan-Asian strip center restaurant. What would make this place perfect is a little less salt on the Chinese side of the menu and little more polish on the waitstaff so the service would match the menu.
My partner and I had (1) shared happy hour priced appetizer, (2) soups and (2) entrees with non-alcoholic beverages for $44 with tip. -
Review from Mark G.
5/2/2011
I initially gave Ka-Prow four stars, but had to revoke one after a couple of subsequent visits to nom on happy hour sushi. The happy hour sushi tasted like, well, discount sushi... go figure. You'd think the Thai dishes would excel but for me they just pass muster without much distinction. Still, I have little doubt there are some four-star items on the menu... I just can't recall what dishes inspired the extra star on early visits.
Service is pleasant - typical Thai politeness. The menu covers a lot of Asian culinary ground, and the prices are right for a place that offers decent quality on multiple fronts. Solid variety and some fusion, without paying the premium for the promise of some elusive Asian fusion magic. Haven't met "Chef O," but if he's in charge here, he presides over a nice breadth of offerings without trying to achieve transcendent depth - which seems to keep the offerings familiar, solid, and reasonably-priced. -
Review from Kathi J.
Austin, TX
1/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
We've been coming here since their first week, and it's still our fallback place when we can't figure out where else to go. We love the quiet atmosphere and the food. We love that Chef O waves a hello and good-bye to us. We even love the discount card which gives us 10% off.
My faves:
Cheese rolls (app). Light, and with a lovely dipping sauce.
Dune roll (sushi). I'm not a huge tofu fan, but this roll has such a great combination of textures - love it!
The sake maki is also great.
We also enjoy the hot entrees - especially the pad thai (which I order peanut-free because of an allergy).
And one of my favorite things on earth is the Mango roll (dessert). We helped taste-test this and I've loved it ever since. Not sure if this is a special, or a regular thing. I order it and they bring it. :) Mango, sticky rice, wrapped in a wonton wrapper and lightly fried, served with a lovely raspberry sauce and coconut ice cream. Sigh.
And if you ever see that guitarist Bret Boyer will be playing, take advantage of it. Beautiful music, artfully played. -
Review from Lysa N.
Austin, TX
12/19/2010 1 photo
Ka-Prow is definitely a place you can get your friends their Asian food/sushi training wheels!
Step 1: Order the cheese rolls. It comes with a dipping sauce that I think an angel had to part with their wings to make.
Step 2: Order the shrimp & pork eggrolls. Their dipping sauce will surely fusion you and your friend together, so dip lightly. It's one of the strongest sweet-and-sour sauces I've ever encountered. The eggrolls were pretty close to the Vietnamese ones I'm used to, so great job, Ka-Prow!
Step 3: Order their Bacon Roll. It's on the back of their menu hiding out and just smirking at you to discover it. Don't worry, your mega-meatatarians will find it before you. It's Bacon, avocado, cream cheese, and topped with a spicy sauce.
Step 4: Order a spicy tuna roll. It'll clear your sinuses.
Step 5: Come back another day and get your grubby chopsticks on some bowls that start with "PAD" -
Review from ashley o.
Austin, TX
Massamam curry with pork is orgasmic!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/15/2010
short and sweet: me and my bf go at least 3 times a month.
best on the menu: avacano appetizer,… Read more »
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Review from Lenah K.
Bastrop, TX
10/27/2010
My husband and I don't often venture into this part of Austin, but we were meeting up after I went to a wedding shower in Leander, so ended up nearby and hungry. Well, actually, he was hungry ... I'd been filling up on wedding shower food (I'm a sucker for pigs in blankets, sigh), so wasn't really.
So we started talking about sushi as a viable option since one can eat a little or a lot, and as we were about to head back to Austin proper, saw this place and decided to turn around instead and try it out. We'd been hearing about it for years but never tried it.
The restaurant was fairly small inside and kind of dark. There were only a couple of other tables occupied (it might have been 8:30 or so, but that's not really that late for a Saturday night dinner).
I had an Asahi Black to drink ... wasn't too bad, kind of like Shiner Bock, which is the lightest beer I drink. I would've wanted another one if it wasn't over $6. Can't remember what my husband got to drink, not alcohol though.
We ordered the Tod Mun (fish cakes) for an appetizer; they were pretty good. A bit greasy, but okay after I blotted them. Imagine a somewhat-spicy hot dog frank made of fish, that's kind of what these taste like. The cucumber salad accompaniment was nicely refreshing.
I decided to order one of the sushi roll specials to eat, since I wasn't that hungry. I chose it because it had red snapper on the outside. My husband ordered the Eel Don (barbecued eel over rice) and some escolar sashimi.
The sushi stuff was fine, not great. I remember the snapper taste from the outside of my roll, and that there was some tangy sauce involved, but not what was in the roll (probably something cooked since the outside was raw, but who knows), so it must have been just okay. The escolar sashimi was in thick triangle-ish pieces (3), my husband gave me one and well ... I thought it wasn't as good as the escolar that I'd previously had, but maybe I was just having a hard time eating a thick floppy piece of raw fish (I think usually sashimi cuts are thinner ... maybe have more pieces that are less thick, instead of 3 thick pieces? My husband devoured his eel box, and I liked the bite of it that I got ... it didn't seem to have much of that grey fishfat on it, but I think he tried to give me a bite that I would like. The eel sauce and the rice were both quite tasty.
If we find ourselves in far North Austin again, we may be back to try Ka-Prow's Thai food. But if not, that's fine too. -
Review from Justin B.
Austin, TX
9/4/2011
Another superb meal. Fresh, quick, and unique. Crab fried rice is amazing AND can be ordered any day even though it's not on the menu. Sashimi always pleases. Soups are so satisfying and clean tasting. The Avocano is a marvel of fusion cuisine, simple and decadent. Don't overlook this hidden spot in a N Austin strip mall. The service is very friendly and the servers consult for individual taste and dietary restrictions.
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Review from Errol M.
5/12/2010
AlLwORkAndNopLAYmAkEseRrolEAtSeSAmEChIcKenaLlwoRKa NdNopLAymAkeseRrolEaTSeSAMeCHiCkEnOKaYhOwMaNytiMEs mUStitYpETHistOhAmMeRtHIspOiNthOMe?
Okay, I love me some sesame chicken, and Ka-Prow's was a pleasant surprise--light and crisp, all white meat, and gently touched with a delicate but piquant sauce. It was everything Jacquelyn N. said it would be in her review. I'd never heard of this place before, and now I'm curious about their real Thai specialties. This is exactly why Yelp rules.Listed in: "Can you tell me how to get,…, "Let's Thai one on..."
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Review from Marshall J.
Austin, TX
6/8/2010
Four stars was my impulse rating of Ka-Prow, but I keep turning it over in my head and I can't come up with any reason to give it less than five stars.
It's not five stars as in OMG YOU ALL HAVE TO GO THERE RIIIGGGHHT NOWWW ALL CAPS!!! ... It's five stars as in they do everything they set out to do, everything they're supposed to do, without missing a beat. From the service to the presentation, from the price to the cleanliness and neatness of the place, Ka-Prow is top-notch all the way.
We went to lunch here because we rarely have any business in Pflugerville and wanted to try a place in the area (since who knows when we'll be back). The ugly stretch between the suburbs and the highway didn't give us cause to hope for a stellar lunch, but as it turns out we got lucky.
Not many people were there (a couple of other tables were seated at just before noon on a Monday). The menus were straightforward and nicely labeled each dish's country of origin (Thailand, Japan, etc, with some items labeled "fusion" to indicate a pan-Asian and American influence).
I got a Thai coffee ($1.99) and a Coke (an actual can of Coke and a glass of ice! I always prefer the cans to the fountain versions). The Coke was free with my entrée order.
The tofu spring rolls with satay ($2.99) made a nice appetizer. My entrée was a made-to-order rainbow roll for $10.99.
Alicia ordered Pad Thai ($7.99) without egg and with a slightly modified sauce (she's gluten-free). The waitress even brought her some gluten-free soy sauce. I don't think Alicia does soy sauce, but it was a very considerate touch.
We left full, and brought home half.
These guys were perfectly attuned to what we wanted, gave us free sodas (well, they're included with some meals, so they weren't really free, but you get me), offered fast and friendly service, and--last but not least--served up some fresh and tasty stuff.
Now if they just weren't up in South Dallas. -
Review from CeCe R.
Pflugerville, TX
7/9/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I like this place because it's never super busy and the chef is always there. You can see him preparing sushi at the sushi bar when you order. If you're up north and want some good sushi, I would recommend, especially if you don't want to go downtown to some of the "go to" spots. Its just good food with a lot of heart and you can tell. They have Thai food and some items for the kids too like chicken fingers, which I appreciated. The menu is actually pretty big for a small place. The sushi happy hour is great, and I think it might be every night from 4-7pm. They have a few decent wines and beer as well. Don't be thrown off by the strip mall.
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Review from Ryan J.
10/6/2010
It's hard to find decent Thai food in Austin. I find Thai or Chinese food in town to be served in either buffet style (gross), or a place that cooks in too heavy of an oil making their dishes too greasy (PeiWei - I'm looking at you).
Thankfully KaProw does not suffer from either affliction. I had the PadThai sans sprouts and my wife had the chicken satay with peanut sauce. The PadThai was one of the best I've had so far in TX and the satays were very moist, cooked perfect with a curry seasoning. The peanut sauce was good but was a little on the sweet side (but that didn't keep me from eating it once the chicken was gone).
My only gripe is, their sodas are served from cans. Not sure why so many mom and pop places don't go to the fountains, is it that much more? I always down my drink before the main entree arrives. If you are going to only offer cans, might I suggest moving to the 20oz bottles?
It was good Thai for TX, glad to find a decent place - I've spent so much time chasing bbq joints I've not had any focus on thai food so it was a nice change. -
Review from Ryan S.
1/26/2008
Four words to greatness:
Spicy Bacon-wrapped Scallops.
Minus one star for not being really spicy.
Seriously, though, I think this guy's on the verge of making bacon-maki. Which would probably cause a rift in the time-space continuum. Also, you can order most any dish with adjustable hotness--one to five peppers. I, being a mild spicy eater, went with the Pad KaProw, with both its peppers and was plenty satiated for spice by this. My cohort, being of unsound mind and lacking feeling and nerves in the mouth and stomach, ordered the 5-pepper version of the Pad Pug. The smell alone made my eyebrows catch fire.
Good stuff. If he ever makes a bacon maki, I may just move in.
(bonus trivial fact: ka phrao is fried holy basil)Listed in: Bacon
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Review from Rachel P.
Austin, TX
7/25/2011
Delicious, generally not crowded, and great sushi. We really like the pad peanut sauce.
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Review from Clark H.
Round Rock, TX
6/19/2007
Roll up your sleeve's We're goin' in.
I have eaten here twice. I make it my mission to find every Thai restaurant I can get to and sample their wares. I'll say right up front that I am not a fan of fusion-anything restaurants. I like to find a spot that knows what they are good at and works hard to be number one.
...and yet...
I took my son here to allow him to sample Thai and sushi. So I opened up the checkbook and let 'er rip. We had Tom Yum (slightly hot and sour chicken in broth) and Tom Kha (Coconut/chicken). The Tom Kha was good and ingredients were generous. the Tom Yum was also generous but was nearly too salty to eat (and I *LIKE* salt).
We added one order of Escolar (Super white tuna): it was nicely done and tasty.
I should stop to to brag on our waitress. She was attentive, very sweet, and very prompt. Though, it could be that my son is handsome or even my own rakish good looks (...ahem). We'll go with the youth theory.
We had two Thai dishes: Pad Kaprow and the other (noodle dish) I am ashamed to say I cannot remember at the moment. All rice dishes offer brown or white rice.
Second trip: Tom yum (salty again). Pad Ped (HOT)! This dish has chicken with rice. It had a distinctive wang to it but it was tasty and unique. Salad with cucumber, carrot, iceberg lettuce and deceptively zingy dressing. Very nice! [Note: I did follow up and eat the leftovers (Pad Ped) which is rare for me]
Will have to finish this later
4/5 based on price and consistently over-salted Tom Yum.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Dusty K.
Pflugerville, TX
7/10/2010
Atomosphere is pretty nice and relaxing. Good service.
Had the veggie spring rolls. Definitely like spooning the baby jesus. For the main dish, I had the Sesame tofu it was radiculously great! The tofu was fried light and airy.The sauce reminded my girlfriend of some sort of breakfast syrup. PANCAKES AND SAUSAGES!! -
Review from Brian S.
Austin, TX
8/11/2008
Hungry during a day of furniture shopping (ick), a friend and I stopped here for lunch at around 2pm on a Saturday. It is right off of the I-35 frontage road. Do not be fooled by Yelp's map.
The place was completely empty. However, the decor was nice and it smelled quite good inside (and we were starving).
Every moment was pleasant. They were clearly having a slow day, so service was fast and friendly. We both got the Thai Iced Tea (now my favorite in Austin) which came out nice and separated milk/tea halves. You know they make it in-house.
The soup was delicious, as was the main course. They didn't dumb down the spices, either.
To make things very clear and convenient, the menu has icons to tell you if the food is soy free, vegetarian, etc. That makes things very convenient for people with dietary restrictions (soy free, though?) Also, they clearly state what type of asian dish each item is (Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, etc) for those people who may not know what the different origins are between Pad Kee Mao and Miso Soup.
They also had several Thai dishes I've never tried. I've always liked Pad Se Ew, but it was never spicy enough. Pad Kee Mao was just the right choice for me.
Oh yeah, and then the bill came-- separated by seat. Nice! Why can't all restaurants do this? Icing on the cake.
I think this is now my favorite Thai place in Austin, way better than Madam Mam's. Too bad it's so far north from me. I can still feel the burn in my mouth. Yum. -
Review from Jennie C.
Austin, TX
2/20/2009
"It's not disgusting, it's just expensive."
I went to Ka-Prow on a Sunday night for a birthday dinner party (28 guests). The only patrons of the restaurant were the dinner party attendees and one lone diner in the corner. The service was pretty slow and non-existent at times, even though the only other customer was sitting in the corner reading the newspaper. The restaurant certainly wasn't busy.
After looking over the menu, my companion and I decided to share the Pad Ped (9.99). It was supposed to be chicken with young peppers, rhizome, bell peppers, onions, scallions, chili and Ka-Prow leaves in shrimp red curry sauce. Since no one knew was rhizome and Ka-Prow leaves were, we googled it. Ginger and Basil leaves respectively. When we got the dish, I noticed there was no ginger or basil in it. It was also pathetic looking. The portion was small. The veggies looked sad. This was something I could have easily made for about 75 cents.
It tasted alright. Not disgusting, just expensive. And the service blows. It gets 2 stars. I wouldn't come back under my own free will. -
Review from A G.
Austin, TX
3/12/2008
Wow! What a great surprise!
We really wanted sushi, but our favorite sushi place is closed on Sundays!
So, we wandered a little farther north and were really pleasantly surprised. A very sweet staff (all men this night).
I had the pad thai and it was comparable to other Thai places. My companion had Pad Ped and it was definitely spicy. The red curry sauce was delightful and I even used some to add some zing to my dish.
Our biggest surprise and what we'll go back for, was the sushi. We tried the surf clam and eel.
Never in my life have I had such succulant, fresh and large surf clam. The eel was really great, too!
The whole meal with more than 20 percent tip was right at $30. -
Review from Selena E.
Austin, TX
Updated - 5/3/2010
Took my mom and stepdad here for lunch. Mom, who is also a veggie, really had a great time with the soft tofu springrolls. Mmmmm good! As someone here on Yelp has said, "it's like spoonin' the baby jesus!"
Got the KaProw fried rice, mom got the Pad Woonsen and stepdad got the curry of the day. We ALL left full and spiced out! Thanks again, Chef O for a great meal.
Only demerit is for the waitstaff. No refills on tea/water during the latter part of the meal until the glasses were completely empty, plus there was very little 'ice' in our iced tea. Otherwise, the meal itself rocked.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/12/2009
I really like Ka-Prow. For years, I hesitated going there simply because of the word 'bistro' in… Read more »
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Review from Rosalind C.
Atlanta, GA
5/23/2007
I have made it my unspoken mission to try every Thai place in Austin and I happened upon this one while riding along with friends to finally see what this megastore Ikea was all about. I ordered the pad see ew, which is not on every menu in town and I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent flavor.
The Thai iced tea was also delicious, but the glasses are never big enough to satiate my Thai iced desires. One downfall is that they did not use Chinese broccoli in the pad see ew, but every place in Austin that I have tried this dish also fails to use this type.
I liked it enough that I plan to give it another try tonight. My staple is tofu panang curry and that will be the true test in comparing it with the other Thai restaurants around town.
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After my second visit with a few friends, we reached a consensus that the food is delicious. My panang curry was excellent, and my tofu was soft and supple. Sometimes other Thai places will deep fry the hell out of tofu and it will have an oily strange coating, but this tofu was delectable.
A friend of mine got some sushi and would not stop talking about how delicious the fresh salmon was on her roll. She insisted on ordering another roll after we had all finished eating, it was that good.
There are descriptors on the menu beside the dishes denoting the country of origin and, yes, a few items are in fact described as "fusion." Service was just fair. My friends wanted me to mention the nice bathrooms. They all seemed to agree that the bathrooms were noteworthy, so, when I went to check them out myself I expected a bidet and some nice lotion in a basket, but it was just your average clean bathroom at a nicer dining establishment.
I would come here again, wish it wasn't so far north.Listed in: FOOD!!!
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Review from Laura P.
Austin, TX
10/5/2010
Atmosphere: modern and relaxed
Food: decent
MSG: Overdose! I had a major headache after eating here that didn't go away for hours. I would not recommend this place if you're allergic to MSG. -
Review from Angelica S.
Austin, TX
4/22/2010
My sister in law suggested that I should try this place. I'd never been so my husband and I double dated with my SIL and her boyfriend. We went in and were seated and had our orders taken.
The food was decent and hot. I don't think it was over-priced but I can get comparable dishes elsewhere for the same or lower.
I wouldn't be opposed to returning but it will never be my first choice. -
Review from D J.
Austin, TX
6/10/2008
Damn...I forgot about this one. This was a major delight and surprise. I went with friends on their recommendation (and they are real foodies cuz none of them cook...and they are more or less food snobs). Anyway...whoa! I don't really rember what I ate (other than this delicious, albeit sizzling 'bowl of fire' soup) because it was soooo long ago ( few months), but I do recall that everything was great! I believe I went rather pedestrian with a noodle dish with no meat (cuz I was kinda hung over ;). It had mushrooms, broccoli, sprouts and a brow sauce. All were delicious and the bowl of fire soup really did wonders on my hangover. But my nose ran a 4 minute mile, as well. So...get extra napkins if you're spice sensitive.
I also, remember that the ambiance was just right. Not too cold or bright...in fact it was pretty dark (with candles, if I recall). This was perfect because as I said, I was hungover. They also had an amazing guitarist (on the weekends) who played some really great tunes through an echo unit. I just love that sound on sound thing! I think I remember that even the diners were courteous enough to talk quietly during his set. What a nice surprise. Polite patrons!
All in all great food, great ambiance and a very nice dining experience!! -
Review from Catherine Y.
Austin, TX
12/10/2007
Now that I have tried more Thai places in town KaProw is no longer as good as it sounds...
Lunch was decent but lacks the authenticity in taste. -
Review from Frank M.
Austin, TX
5/15/2009
So we've been here twice. The first experience was good.. The first time I had some flat noodle basil dish (sorry forgot the name) and asked for it spicy cuz that's how I like it. And it was great. Portions aren't huge, but enough to get you full.
The second time I had a dish that required you to add on extra money for chicken, shrimp, etc... for like 3 bucks or so. I opted to add shrimp. Well, I was pretty pissed because I only got like 5 pieces of shrimp. I dunno, but I just don't like feeling cheated out of the quantity of food I deserve.
So on that note, prices are a little higher than ideal at this place. The place is nicely decorated in a modern sense, and when I read that this place was an "Asian-fusion" place, i was a little hesitant. I think I've written in other reviews that _________-fusion usually means overpriced and doesn't taste good. There's a lot to choose from on their menu, so I guess I have to try something out a third time around and hope I get a good impression like the first time. -
Review from Stephen V.
Austin, TX
3/24/2007
When they say Pan-Asian, they mean it. Ka-Prow has a huge menu with everything from curry to Pho, and as someone who loves Asian food I found this very exciting. Plus, you can say their name over and over again to endless delight. "Ka-Prow!"
Unfortunately, much like the Cheesecake Factory, breadth results in poor depth. We ordered the steamed dumplings and got the very same ones you get out of the freezer at HEB (trust me, I know these dumplings). We got a fish plate that was dry and unappetizing.
There's some potential that any one of the many other things on the menu could have been good, but I was doubtful enough that I have never been back. -
Review from Ian C.
Austin, TX
1/2/2010
I started visiting this place because my wife has celiac disease, and consequently cannot eat gluten. Ka-prow has a great gluten free menu, and seem to be careful about it (my wife has gotten sick from places which claimed to have gluten free options more times than I care to remember).
But while that was the original reason for going here, its far from the only reason I go back. They have excellent sushi, and their bacon sushi is incredible if unorthodox, you have to try it.
The staff are polite and efficient, and its never been too busy (although we do tend to visit at off-peak times).
I highly recommend Ka-Prow. -
Review from Kathleen M.
Denver, CO
12/15/2008
I used to live near KaProw and they were on speed dial. I love this place! I used to pick up my orders, so I didn't eat there much. From what I saw the restaurant had a very casual atmosphere. I also saw families eating there as well.
On to the food. I have had most items on the menu and have never been disappointed. As for their sushi, it has always been fresh and reasonably priced. My favorites are the Rainbow Roll and the Shrimp Tempura Roll. Mmmm.
My favorite dish is the Panang Curry with pork. It is the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. My next favorite dish(es) are the noodle bowls. You really can't go wrong with any of these, or any of the "entrees". The dishes aren't greasy like other asian restaurants. Also, try the Paradise Duck. You'll thank me.
And to top things off, they have a very descent happy hour. Check it out sometime. I am going to beg them to build a restaurant south... -
Review from Sara B.
Round Rock, TX
8/19/2010
I don't know why I haven't reviewed KaProw sooner! My family and I go to KaProw several times a month. We are sensitive to gluten and are vegetarians, and every time we leave, we leave full of yummy food that fits into our diet. My kids (4 and almost 3) love to eat here, and that gets KaProw bonus points in my book!
My favorite dish is the Mussamun Curry and my husband's is the Pineapple fried rice!
Every time I get a chance to go on a date night, KaProw would be my first choice! The service is always friendly and the food is always great, what else can you ask for?! -
Review from Isabelle K.
Austin, TX
7/28/2007
A lot of Thai dishes. I like most of them. Curry dishes or shrimp dishes. Spicy too.
I only went there several times for lunch. But it's pricy for lunch. I spent over $10 every time. -
Review from Susie G.
1/2/2009
So we show up at my favorite thai restauraunt on my birthday only to find that the place is covered in police tape and cop cars are surrounding it. Turns out some wack job had called in a bomb threat to the next door planned parenthood- which meant my birthday lunch plans were a bit out of whack. My roommate had spoken really high of Ka-Prow, so I decided to give it a try. My sister and I had very different experiences with this place.
I got tom yum soup which was good, and a spicy rice noodle dish. I was frustrated because I wanted yellow curry, but for lunch they only have the "curry of the day" of which mine was not the choice. The noodles were good but reallly oily, and I was missing the opportunity to try the curry.
We were also the only people in the restaurant at the time, which was slightly strange.
I would go back and try again, this time Ill go on a yellow curry day.
My sister was not happy with her food.
Worth a shot, anyways, as long as you are not a picky eater. -
Review from Aaron L.
1/12/2010
I have yet to have a bad dish and quality is far better than most.
Ambiance 7/10 - small, clean, quaint but better than many other asian places
Food Quality 9/10 - everything I've had rivals all but the high-end places. They make their own coconut ice cream, very creamy with chunks of coconut - HIGHLY recommended!
Food Choices 9/10 - many options, including sushi
Food Flavor 8/10 - most dishes I had were excellent, only a few were just above average.
I go here every time I'm in town. -
Review from Lauren C.
1/30/2010
Haven't been here in awhile. Went back in 2007 or early 2008 with my boyfriend to try it out. We got spring rolls as an appetizer and both got pad thai for dinner. There weren't many people in here when we went and it was right around dinner time. The food tasted pretty good but we got very small portions and it was really expensive. We got less food for more of a price than other asain restaurants I've been to. Lame. I understand that it's because of the whole "small bistro" atmosphere but that's just not for me.
The decor inside was cool. But we won't be going back. (No matter how much I like to say their name...)
