On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
"Had dinner here with a friend after hearing another friend go on and on about their delicious roti dessert for several weeks. Guess what? He…" read more »
Loading...
I have not had such attentive, personable and informative service at most restaurants in this life! Moreover, if you paddle smoothly, you may just gently bump up against other boats and share a communal evening of conversation.
Nice wine compatibilities and artistic, edible garnishes :)
I'm not a cheater. Well, that's not entirely true. I used to be a cheater, then I had a revelation as I got older, and just didn't do it anymore.
But I lapsed, and I cheated on my fav Marin thai spot, My Thai, and came to Khan Toke, in my hood in SF. I stumbled upon it one day, never ever really noticing it from the clean, but boring brown exterior. It blended into everything on the block. I must have walked past it thirty times and never even seen the sign. How very me of me.
We went in recently, and were blown away, by not only the amazing authentic food, but the gracious service and the elaborate intricate detailing inside.
With a very romantic interior, the hand done carvings on the walls and tables are conversation starters. The old ivory tusks in the cases, and the beautiful silver accoutrement are amazing to look at while you peruse their diverse menu. The booths are "below" floor level, creating an intimate setting, but making it a little tight sometimes when people are above 5 foot 7.
Cody, when talking of their seafood soup in a rich red broth said "this is the best soup I've ever had, period." and he's a REAL stickler for good food. I trust him on that one, but their spicy noodles, farmers salad, and fresh mango and sticky rice caught my attention. The mian kam (seven ingredients) is an amazing starter, and their sauce that can smother the toasted coconut, limes, and fresh spinach is out of this world. When people weren't watching I acutally licked the dish (very unusual for me). And quite embarassing and trashy. But I can do that sometimes. Don't tell anyone.
Their dishes can come as spicy as you want, not just regular "white people" spicy, but really authentically spicy. Right up my alley. Give it to me hot. And their prices, well, much less than what I though they would be. I'm always pleased when the bill comes.
This part of the city is chilly, and I've either got to move hoods or get a thicker sweater to wear in the house. But the food around here, that makes me want to stay. I'd drive across the city for Khan Toke, but make sure you wear socks if it's chilly out, as you must take your shoes off at the door. While I'm constantly satisfied with the amazing food there, my feet are consistently cold.
I've been eating here for 3 years and realized after another great experience last night that I really need to write these people a review.
I suppose I'll start with my only complaint, which is that parking in this area is a major pain in my ass. Of course, this is no fault of the restaurant so it's not reflected in the # of stars. But be warned!
This isn't one of those places where you have a favorite dish and you order it every time you go. We order something different on every visit and we've never been disappointed! They have a fantastic selection of decently priced wines, especially their whites. This also isn't one of those places that you feel like rating 5 stars after your first visit... it's more that you've been so many times and realize that it has been exceeding your expectations time and time again. Reliability and consistent quality counts for a lot!
Last night, the waiter overheard my boyfriend's father wish my boyfriend a happy birthday, so when he brought out a dessert he put a candle in it. At first we thought that someone else at the table must have called ahead and asked them to do something special, but later we realized no one had said anything, and that the waiter did it on his own. Talk about great service and helping each customer feel special!
Consistently good food and friendly service. Each time we eat here, we leave happy. The dishes are flavorful and fit the spicy requirement. The ambiance is warm and homey.
There's one big ding-a-roo though. As much as I like the traditional decor and setup, not easy to find these days, it IS in dire need of a revamp. The carpets and cushions are pretty tired and have surely seen better days. They have you remove your shoes once inside and who knows how many thousands of peeps have walked on the very same carpeting, either bare footed or with stinky socks?! Eee-gaads.
This is a very popular place, so even if you make reservations, you still wait. I haven't been here in a while as I moved to Reno, but still love the place. It makes a great date place cause you have to take off your shoes upon entering. The tables and big pillows and formal service make for a very romantic time. The food is pretty standard Thai food. May not be the greatest, but if you just care about food there might be better places, but for the total dining out experience, this is the place. The place still looks the same as it did 6 or seven years ago and BF says its the same as 20 years ago! I was like 6 living in Europe then! Never did Thai food till I moved to Oakland. Parking is the only real drawback here....but what place actually has good parking in SF?
Kaven T.'s post is a hoot! I guess we didn't get the same waiter! This is the only Thai place I've… Read more »
What a cute restaurant! The ambiance is adorably decorated with Thai wooden carvings, elephant tusks, and seating that is built in to the floor. Definitely the best Thai restaurant with atmosphere included.
We came here for Mom's birthday last month. Upon walking in, we were greeted by a shoe person who takes your shoes and stores them for you while you dine. It is mandatory to remove your shoes.
The table seating on the floor was definitely different, but it's not like you are are actually sitting Indian style or anything; you feet are just hanging off the bench. FYI, this place definitely is not very comfortable for folks who may be oversize...the table literally touches your thighs. It was uncomfortable as it felt like you were restricted to move.
Appetizers:
* Khan Toke Salad ( Green salad with bean sprouts, potato chips, hard boiled eggs and Khan Toke dressing) : Yummy, the texture with the potato chips was definitely different, the special dressing tasted a bit like a peanut sauce. I would've liked the salad to be chilled and colder, as it seemed room temperature. $6.95
* Paw Pear Tod (Deep fried spring roll) : Great portion for your money, we got 3 individual rolls with a yummy sweet and sour sauce. $6.25.
Entrees:
* Cluking Chicken ( Marinated chicken drumsticks deep fried, sauteed green beans, crispy basil, and honey sauce) : Contrary to the description, the chicken IS NOT deep fried. It was just sauteed. A bit deceiving, or maybe we just ended up ordering the wrong thing? Overall, still a great dish. $7.25
* Pla Supparod (Thai Island Style, Halibut sauteed with fresh ginger, pineapple and yellow bean sauce) A SKIP. The sauce was so bitter and not one bit of flavor or sweet at all. The pineapple wasn't ripe, even after being cooked it was hard. $12.25.
* Bamee Haw Pauk Mon (Taro wrapped with egg noodles, topped with veggies) Wow! What a dish. This is definitely something I've never had before. The crispy noodles on the outside, and the soft pieces of taro inside was a great compliment of textures. Loved this dish. $6.95.
Prices here are extremely reasonable. Everything we ordered was under ten dollars... except for the halibut which was regrettably the most expensive thing on the bill. This place definitely offers great prices and portion sizes, and extremely festive ambiance.
I will return.
delicious authentic thai food. all the dishes are flavorful, spiced and seasoned so well. they have quite an impressive menu, and it's hard to narrow down to select dishes. the chef's recommendations are class.
service is and has always been great. i love the waitstaff's beautiful thai silk outfits. the decor is beautiful, and you really feel like you are in a restaurant in thailand. it's a very intimate setting, and great for a date or large group.
note to the wise: they do require you to take off your shoes, so wear a decent pair of socks, and/or keep your feet clean and nice smelling.
Everybody loves this place, but for me I do not think "love" is the right word. Was it good...yes. Was its amazing...certainly not.
The atmosphere was really cool. I loved the maze of rooms, the low seating, and shoe-less experince. (There are a lot of people complaining about having to take off their shoes...but it is clear that you are going to have to do so. If you don't want to, then go somewhere else. Its part of the experience) I would suggest to bring a pillow to sit on. Maybe it was just my table, but my butt was very tired by the end of the meal.
The food: eh. I was slightly disappointed by the choices and the flavors. I am from Boston, a city with amazing Thai food, so it is possible that my expectations were too high. Spring rolls were good, tom kah gia was a little bland, and my curry was surprisingly boring. The curry sauce had very good flavors, but the items in the curry was few, and the tofu WAY to soft. Overall, wouldn't come back here for food. Still on a search for great Thai cuisine.
I love Khan Toke. I live in the area and go there quite often. Especially when out-of-town friends or family visit me. The ambiance of the place is great. I love the design and artwork (just tables alone - amazing!). You sit on the floor and the waiters are dressed in these traditional clothes, so every part of this place just feels so authentic. There's a window overlooking a pretty garden. The lighting is very dim so it's nice if you're a couple, it makes it very intimate and romantic. There are also a couple of private dining sections if you're a group of people. I once went there with colleagues (there was about 12 of us, at least) and we had this section in the corner of the main dining area with a long table so it was perfect.
Their food is fantastic too! Their lamb dishes are great and noodles are delicious too. Make sure to try their Young Lady Salad, egg rolls, marinated BBQ chicken, and their # 77 noodle dish (with coconut milk) - yumm!! They have a pretty decent selection of wines too. Also, most importantly, the food is very inexpensive!
This is a really cool place with a unique atmosphere, great food and friendly service - you should definitely try it!
Came here with BF and family last night, Sunday at 6:30, and the place was totally empty. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by a friendly gentleman and were asked to remove our shoes. We were then lead to a private room in the front where we had to walk around the table set on the ground which had a pit underneath for our legs to dangle. So basically, it's a "sit on the floor" dining restaurant. It's actually quite comfy due to the floor and backrests are all cushioned. The lighting is very dim, decorated with dark furniture, table lanterns, and paintings. There you will also find a lot of gold and wooden sculptures throughout the entire area and all the servers are also dressed in tradition Thai garment, which gives you that authentic Thai feel.
What we ordered:
Tod Mun (Fried Fishcakes Served with Cucumber Sauce) 8 pieces of fishcake greatness. The cucumber sauce is not actually a sauce. It's slices of pickled cucumber sitting in a little bit of vinegar, topped with peanuts. It's more like a salad, but very, very good!
Sa-te Chicken (Chicken Skewers with peanut sauce and cucumber salad) Again, 8 skewers of deliciousness. The peanut sauce was a little runny, compared to the ones I've tried in other Thai restaurants. I would have preferred a thicker sauce, but the flavor was there, so it's still pretty good.
Panang Neua (Beef, cooked in spicy red curry, coconut milk and basil) Great curry flavor, tender meat, not too spicy.
Kheaw Wan (Chicken cooked in spicy green curry with peas, coconut milk and basil) This is my least favorite. The sauce was bland and thin. It was just a bowl of watered down green sauce with bits of chicken here and there.
Neua Saweuy (Beef, pan grilled and served with lemon sauce) The lemon sauce went very well with the tender grilled beef. It came with a bed of raw cabbage, which I didn't care for. I wanted to drink the sauce as oppose to use it for dipping.
Cluking Chicken (Boneless and deep-fried with green beans crispy basil, and spicy honey sauce) YUMMM!!! It's a boneless version of the Spicy Angel Wings @ Marnee Thai, Irving Street and 23rd Avenue.
Rad Plig Fish (Deep-fried, topped with basil and green chili sauce) I don't remember what kind of fish they used for this dish, but it was tough and really dry even with a load of sauce smothered over it. It's either over cooked, or must be a super firm-fleshed fish. The sauce was really good though.
Pork Pad Thai (Stir fried rice noodles with ground peanuts, bean cake, bean sprouts, and egg). We had to order 2 of these guys because there were 6 of us. It was average. Nothing to write about.
White Rice served from an aluminum tureen- I think they charge $1 per person.
Thai Iced Tea- I didn't get to try this, but my mom said it was on the light side.
Overall, I'd have to say I like this place mainly because of the ambiance. It truly has an authentic feel to it. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and professional, but a bit slow in getting our food to the table. It's a great place for romantic dining or big group gatherings. By the time we were done, they place was almost full with patrons. The bill came out to be $110, before tips for the six of us. Dirt cheap! I'll definitely come back.
Great ambiance, great food, and reasonably priced. Definitely worth checking out.
Recommend the Green Papaya salad.
Hands down, this is my favorite Thai restaurant. I've been here with my family countless times, and they never disappoint. It's a traditional, family-style eatery. There's a man in the front who takes your shoes. Thai sculptures and murals fill up the amazing decor. The lighting is dim, so it has a very romantic feel.
Usually, my family orders Beef Satay (much better than the Chicken Satay), Tod Mun (fish cakes), Thai teas, Tom Yam soup, and Pad Thai. All delicious! Oh, and we always end our dinners with two orders of fried banana with ice cream.
When you go to the restrooms, there are flip flops for you to wear.
Huge, huge, HUGE fan of Thai food. It's very often when someone asks me what kinda food I'm in the mood for, Thai is always near the top of the list.
So, my relatives came by to visit from Vancouver and they wanted some authentic Thai food and this was the place to be. The moment I stepped in, I knew it was no ordinary Thai restaurant - it was beautiful. A man came by and asked us to take off our shoes, and I felt so comfortable walking on the carpet floor barefoot. He led us into a private-ish room for the 8 of us and we were pretty much sitting on the floor. I loved that kinda feel from the beginning.
We ordered a bunch of appetizers: the fried shrimp, chicken/beef/pork satay, spring rolls and fish cakes stood out. For the entrees, I highly recommend the fried rice and the pad thai. The pad thai noodles weren't too thick and weren't too thin, just right. And they weren't too filling that I would be dying by the end from a full stomach. They're very closely ranked with, if not even better than Marnee Thai's dish. Lastly, we ended up with the fried banana with coconut ice cream and usually I don't like bananas but when you mix the fried banana with the ice cream, it tastes like warm heaven. Gotta end your meal with that.
My friend wanted to take me to an "authentic" thai restaurant where they require you to take off your shoes (make sure you don't have any holes in your socks!) So we came here on a Monday right when they open at 5pm. We were the first diners there and I was surprised how huge the place was. From the front it looks like a small restaurant but once you enter there is a hallway to go through which leads to several rooms and they have a nice backyard garden. We were seated way in the back next to the window, and I had a nice view of the backyard. My friend was telling me that it gets really busy and noisey at night, and it was quite the opposite when we were there. It was a little too quiet actually. We decided to order the prie fix menu for $20 a person. Which included tea or coffee, an appetizer, salad, soup, 2 individual size entrees and dessert.
We both chose the fish cake as an appetizer, which we got 3 pieces each. I chose the beef salad and my friend ordered the egg salad. For my entree I ordered the spicy scallops and chicken curry. My friend had the fried shrimps (4pcs) with sweet and sour sauce and spicy beef, Lastly for dessert, I had the fried banana(1 half piece of banana) with coconut ice cream and my friend had the tapioca corn pudding w/coconut milk. Everything was perfectly portioned out and tasted great. We had a very good variety of food to share and for $40 for two, at a very nice authentic thai restaurant, it was well worth it. Service was attentive and polite.
The only thing I didn't like was they don't have chopsticks! You have to use a fork.
I have a long-time friend who loves this Thai restaurant and introduced me to it years ago.
I love the authenticity of the food. How do I know? Have I been to Thailand? Unfortunately I have not, but so far all my Thai friends have declared it least white-washed of all the restaurants around.
I do not enjoy the taking off of the shoes part (which is also very authentic) but the seating like we're on the floor is unique and totally fun.
We always order a noodle dish, and almost always one of each protein and a veggie dish and one of those always ends up being a curry. Their beef curry was really good, tender and spicy. The shrimp dish we got was also full of flavor and not overcooked. The noodles were a little dry even with the sauce but savory and chewy, just the way I likey!
The food was yummy! I highly recommend #58. There's individual prawns wrapped with crispy noodles topped with "Thai island sauce". mmm But that was $11.25!
Also, the sweet and sour soup was pretty good. I'm a total weak-sauce when it comes to spicy food, but the soup was spicy in a good way. It compliments well with the sourness, if you know what I mean. I think that's #13. Around $8 for that, and that was enough as an appetizer for 2 people.
Their thai ice tea was too sweet to my taste. =[
The service was pretty good. It's ALWAYS the same people working there, every day! The guy who was waiting on me (which I see every time) knows the whole menu inside-out. He can recite you every detail of the dish if only given the dish number.
Nice place to eat if you want to a comfortable setting. By the way, you MUST take off your shoes, so bring socks! The carpet doesn't look that clean, you know! The food is a bit pricey.
Came here tonight with my friend looking to find a decent Thai restaurant near my house. I've walked by this place before but neglected to go in because I couldn't see if there was people inside the restaurant. Turns out that once you enter the restaurant, they ask you to take a seat to take off your shoes! Yes, you HAVE to take off your shoes. They ask you to leave the shoes there (and they will eventually put it away) and then you are escorted to a table. The table actually sits low on the ground, but has a hole for your legs to dangle down.
We started out with a crepe appetizer filled with bean sports, tofu, ground chicken, and ground dried shrimp. This was really good. We then ordered the lamb curry dish, ground chicken with eggplant and basil, and boneless duck with tofu and peppers. We asked for everything to be mild - but the ground chicken and the duck dish came out SUPER SPICY. The lamb curry dish was actually my favorite - only because I really like lamb and its not often in a Thai restaurant. The ground chicken was stir fried with basil and rested on a plate of eggplant - which actually came out kind mushy - almost like it was steamed/boiled eggplant - but at least the ground chicken was tasty. My least favorite was the duck because there was like 5 pieces of duck with tons of deep fried tofu and peppers and the dish itself was a little bland.
The walls and the ceilings here are all made out of wood here. I actually really like the ambiance of the restaurant. The service here could be a little friendlier though. The older guy just seems kinda grumpy working here. The dessert selection could be a little better - I was hoping that they had roti- but they didn't. Just the usual friend banana and ice cream selection. Nothing special there. What was the most amusing as we got back our shoes and we were putting it on is that I notice a sign that said "we are not responsible for lost or stolen items". All I thought was what if my shoes were lost in the shoe closet - shoot it wasn't my choice to take them off! =P Overall - not the best Thai food I've had, but the restaurant itself is pretty nice. Just a warning, their idea of mild is pretty darn spicy!
I was a thai food virgin when I came to Khan Toke about 3 years ago. I love the ambiance...you get to sit in the ground and take off your shoes. Awesome place for a date...unless you have smelly feet, then maybe, not so much.
Khan Toke made me fall in love with thai food (thanks Ash!) It's delicious and affordable and the service is always pleasant. The fried banana dessert is DELICIOUS!
It was always a trek to make it to out to Geary and 25th when I lived near school, but I have now relocated 4 blocks away....it's fate! I will continue to enjoy wonderful food here now that I live so close.
Thanks Khan Toke for popping my thai food cherry, I'll love you foreverrrrr!
*Occasion: 22nd Birthday Dinner
*Time-of-Day: Dinner; about 8:00pm
*Decor: clean, authentic Thai decor; statues, place settings, tables, and wall murals were beautifully elaborate.
*Type of Food Served: Thai cuisine... When I had my dinner, I had all the dishes "family-style" meaning we all shared and nibbled on each of the dishes. My favorites were the crabcakes, spicy eggplant w/chicken, and the fried chicken w/ some sweet sauce. All the dishes are very flavorful, good in portion, and WORTH EVERY PENNY!
*Price: $6-$12 per entree
*Service: My dinner was on a Wednesday and I made reservations for a party of 32 people (we pretty much took up the whole back area). My friends and I weren't loud or rude but somehow, the lady and man serving us were SOOOO RUDE. They were dressed in authentic Thai costume and all but they never smiled or were prompt with bringing our dishes or water refills. The older male server just looked miserable the whole night and made grunting sounds whenever I politely asked for extra silverware.
*Music/ Ambiance: no music. However, the one thing I loved about this place was the fact you get to take your shoes off and sit on pillows on the ground. The tables have divets under so your feet can hang.
Overall: the food, decor, and mood of the restaurant are WONDERFUL... a perfect place to take a date too! However, service was THEE WORST I have ever experienced at a sit-down restaurant. Next time, I'll opt for take out!
A very traditional Thai place. When you walk in, you're greeted and asked to take your shoes off. They store your shoes in this room and give you a tag so you can claim your shoes after. They guide you to your table in almost darkness and you sit on the ground with a pit in the middle where you can dangle your feet. Very authentic Thai cuisine and very delicious. Always wonderful food and quality time with my good friends whenever we come here. Good place to impress your family, friends or dates if they haven't been here yet.
This is honestly my favorite thai restaurant soo far in the city!! Not only do you feel completly authentic walking in, when you sit down and take your shoes off for the shoeman, but the tables are just as awesome having to sit on the ground with your feet under the table. The food was really good, and for those of you who like spice out there they have a dish called fire, fire, fire that my boyfirend was thrilled about he qouted it as the first really spicy food since texas. They also had alot of really good vegetarian options which i was thrilled about! I also loved the decor and the backyard to the place i felt it looked as if the place was from Thailand (or what i would imagine).
I have not been to Khan Toke for a few years and am glad to report that they are still as good as I remembered them. I love the decor of the restaurant and the fact that everyone has to take off their shoes to be seated. Make sure your socks have no holes!
We ordered many of their salads to try and their shredded papaya salad was oh so yummy! My nieces ordered the young ladies salad because they thought it was funny and the salad was really good with beef chunks. The ground chicken with basil was excellent and you can tell them the degree of spiciness you want the dish to be cooked. I ordered the pompano fish (no. 60) and I liked it with the basil and sauce on top. Their menu is quite large and many of the chef's suggestions sounded delicious so I'm going to have to return to try all their dishes!
Lastly, save room for desert! Their mango with sticky rice and fried banana with honey or ice cream was the perfect ending. They make them well.
Khan Toke Kan't Cook .... I know lame, super lame but this is by far the worst experience. My first experience was great but came out here for dinner with Daniel and Larry and thought the following, "how stupid of me to spend $30 when I can get the same thing at King of Thai." -- SERIOUSLY.
We ordered the crepe, it was super dried and not savory. The shrimp was dried shrimp. Then the taro wrapped around egg noodles was showered in a sweet & sour sauce. Everything in moderation and this goes with pineapples. Nothing Thai about this dish. I went ahead and ordered the seafood curry and I thought that my seafood curry was far better. The ingredients were not fresh, the eggplants looked like it's been sitting in the refrigerator for awhile. Lastly, our noodles were bland and too spicy.
I'll skip this place and head over to Marnee Thai, Ploy, or King of Thai. Best bet is that the flavor of the food will win ambiance any day.
3.5 stars.
This is very close to where I live but I haven't been there that many times even though I eat Thai food about 5 times a week. Why?
Because everything in this place is soooooo Thai.... except the food!
The decor and atmosphere are incredible... one of the nicest looking restaurant interiors around here.
It is fashioned after the Khan Toke style in Chiang Mai and if you've been there before, it will bring back good memories!
All the wait staff is wearing traditional outfits which is a nice touch.
They're also all well over 30, which adds a little seriousness and professionalism in my opinion... they are also super knowledgeable about the food and can explain it very well (i.e they spead good english :)
They have the traditional seating on the floor, but also a modified version closer to regular seating for people who have trouble with that.
They also ask you to remove your shoes at the entrance, so be ready for that.
Now the minus: the food.
It's not bad, but it's not really Thai. And with all the Thai-ness of this place, that's what you'd expect.
A yelper says in a previous review Thai food=Chinese food with peanut butter. It is definitely not the case about real Thai food, but too many places in this city helped spreading this idea... and Khan Toke is one of them, sadly.
But if you don't mind a better version of King of Thai, give it a go.
Their pre-fixed menu option for $20 is nice if you don't really know what to order.... curries are decent.
If only they had more traditional food, I'd go there at least one a week!
This is definitely a must if you live in the area and like Thai food. The decor is beautiful, as soon as you arrive you feel like you are going into another world entirely. You take your shoes off and someone whisks them away and then you sit on the floor at a low ornate table.The garden outside is a pretty view too.
The food is served in ornate dishes by well-dressed women who seem a little strained. I got the feeling that both of the women who served us were not pleased to be there. Maybe there was a spat in the kitchen?
We had the vegetarian Pad Thai and a soup - both were good. I think I might try something a little more adventurous next time but we were in the mood for comfort food this evening and both dishes hit the spot.
The bill came under $25 for two adults for dinner with non alcoholic beverages which makes this a great bargain.
Khan Toke is an awesome experience. I say experience because it isn't like the same old Thai places most people visit.
You're first greeted by a young man who asks you to take your shoes off, and puts them in a shoe closet, and then takes you to your table when its ready. Walking through the restaurant, there are ornate wood carvings adorning the walls and the smells of amazing food surround you. You sit down at your traditional floor seating, table in front of you.
Your waiter, usually an older lady or gentleman wearing a traditional outfits, are super friendly, and can help you decide what to eat, and know all about all of the foods. The best part, is with a little persuasion, you can get them to cook off menu.
The food is always great. I've had just about everything on the menu. I continue to go here, and always have had great experiences. Always with enough food to take home and as nice as the place is, its not too expensive either.
I still don't get how the maitre di always remembers which shoes are mine?!
Still lovin' it! I went again last last week--same awesomeness as usual, but my favorite waiter, Winter (what a cool name is that), was not there. I hope he still works there!
P.S. read my older review of this place. It still applies.
OMG, we went to this place since Pacific Cafe, also on Geary in the Richmond, had a wait of over an… Read more »
i absolutely love this place. i love how you have to take off your shoes and sit on a cushion. the walls and furniture makes you feel like you are in thailand, eatting at the royal palace. the food itself was fantastic as well.
this is a great place for a nice sit down family dinner, dinner with friends, or a romantic date :)
Things went well here after my initial upset about having my shoes wrangled away to an undisclosed location. My friend in sandals was led barefoot into the dining area, something she was not terribly comfortable with. I would imagine it's not in the best of health code interests either, but hey, I'm not the one cleaning the carpets in that joint.
It was a busy Friday, but we were greeted relatively quickly. We got a table where our feet hung into a pit underneath, which had its' own odd charm.
Our meal order was met with a clear face of dismay from our server when he discovered we were sharing all of our food. We weren't asking to have it split or anything, he just seemed annoyed by our lack of gluttony and subsequent lower tab. Hey buddy, times are tough right now and we were not starving!
Which was probably good.
The vegetarian lettuce wrap appetizer was delicious, however, it came with negligible amounts of fillings. For the price, there should have been double the ingredients on the dish. Tasty, but very skimpy.
Our sweet and spicy soup promised to "serve 2-4". We were planning this as the main part of our meal, so imagine our sadness when the large bowl our soup was served from was whisked away half full after filling our small cups with one ladle. What? Are you going to go serve that soup to another table? Apparently, 2-4 servings actually means 3, and not an ounce more.
Our service really began to taper at this point, even as the restaurant emptied out. We asked for our bill when our dessert came, as we felt our service was taking a Hudson-style nosedive. We were none too pleased when our 3 cards were returned to us after a quick exchange between our server and a matronly looking woman working the floor. "Sorry, 20.00 minimum per card. You'll have to just split this between 2 cards." This, of course, was not posted anywhere upon entry or on the menu, and it is not a legitimate policy for payment anyways.
Our server admitted to us that the practice was "probably illegal, but I don't make the rules here". He was nice, and we tipped him 20 percent, but not without leaving a short novelette on the back of our tab as to why we would never return. I'm sure it had little to no effect on whomever read it, but they sure took their time, as our shoes were unavailable when we went to leave. Then followed a round of controversy and hubbub as we tried opening random doors to find our footwear.
We finally found them in a tiny closet in the entryway, along with a very small man. Perhaps our minimum charge went to pay the rent on the shoe-room he lives in? In any case, the joke on the way out the door is the jar to tip the person who keeps your shoes while you're eating. It's like valet for Valentino...which I won't be paying for anytime soon. I would have just as happily toted my clogs to our table and kept my own eye on them for an hour. (I would have rather not been asked to take them off in the first place!)
I Khan Toke my business elsewhere, and I shall.
Wear clean socks (or at least ones without holes) because you are asked to take off your shoes as soon as your enter. Khan Toke gives you one of the most authentic Thai restaurant experiences in the Bay. The waiters/waitresses don colorful, traditional Thai gowns and the tables are carved wood-more pieces of art than a place to eat on! Be prepared to sit on the floor. Its a very comfortable, romantic place to dine.
*Starter- tom yam soup- spicy lemongrass soup (typical Thai flavors) and satay (chicken skewers) with peanut sauce.
* Dinner- Pad Thai, chicken in yellow curry (not too spicy) and spicy eggplant.
Such a good meal.
The service is top notch; they check up on you every so often. The prices are the same or cheaper than other equally awesome Thai places. Save room for dessert because the fried banana with ice cream and honey is really a good way to end your meal.
Sorry folks I did not enjoy this joint at all besides the atmosphere!
The presentations is nice too.
The food was a tad bit bland.
Enough said.
I think I would have loved to gone outside and take a walk on their premises...
ATMO
Loved the carved wood everywhere, especially under the glass at the table. Tender lighting, dressed up staff, shoes off at the door, raised floor with an area cut out under the table to put your legs down... cool place.
CREPE APPETIZER
So tasty! Coconut shavings up in there... yum!
GRILLED PRAWN
Nice grill job. Butterflied with NO poop (big plus in my book). Loved the spices as well as the mango salad that came with it and the sauce.
ORANGE DUCK CURRY
Very tasty curry. Not a lot of duck. Not a lot of vegetable. Still, tasted so good.
OVERALL
Great selection. A lot more to be had here than most Thai places. The portions are pretty small but the quality is high. A great "nice date" place if you are going to go for Thai food. Oh, NO chopsticks (they don't use those in Thailand)!
Another of the Outer Richmond's super-sized high-concept restaurants, Khan Toke is a warren of wood-panelled halls where you eat shoeless at a "hole-in-the-floor" table. Sound intriguing? It is, and the ambiance is an easy 5 stars. Now if only I could say that about the food. Ok, so the coconut-banana dessert is to die for, and we had a pretty solid vegetarian curry. But other dishes veer into blandness or goopy sauces. Are they coasting on the atmosphere? I'm afraid it looks that way. But it's a fun place nevertheless, especially if you're bringing Thai-unsavvy out-of-towners (and especially if you order them plenty of Gewurtztraminer to wash it down).
This place is a really neat place to eat at, however the food itself doesn't really live up to the presentation of the location.
So this is one of those places where you take your shoes off when you come in and you get to sit at the floor and everything when you eat, which I think's pretty cool (just like home). They have these really cool, like, sunken floor booths so you sit on the floor and put your legs under the table in a lower leg-trough thing. Ok, it's hard to explain, just check it out.
The insides are really nice and the staff is all gussied up in Thai-type dress. The food however is on par with any other Thai delivery place in the city. I'm not saying it's bad in any way, but when you walk in, you kinda expect more.
If you really like Thai food and want to eat it in a very nice atmosphere, here's the place.
Like I've said though... Thai food = Chinese food with peanut butter.
i gotta admit this place is really unique. i've never been to a place where i have to take off my shoes before im seated. and the tables are set really low, and you sit on cushions, but they gut out an area below your table so it's still like you're sitting normally. very cute. (going to the bathroom with the rubber slippers they provide outside is really weird)
the place was really big and sorta maze like with all the 'private' rooms so the 3 servers are never in sight. they never came to check on us after we placed our orders. the food took REALLY LONG to arrive. and when it did it was really nothing special. and one of the noodle dishes (which on the menu said it had a lil bit of coconut milk) the whole f*cking dish was covered and drenched in coconut milk!!! HELLA GROSS!!
aside from one other couple, everyone else was White... and you draw whatever conclusions you want.
I couldn't decide where to have my b-day dinner, and after much deliberation, I chose Khan Toke. I've always want to eat here, just never got around to it, but I'm very glad I choose it. Everyone definitely thought it was a great spot for the night.
The inside is very nicely decorated, and feels very authentic Thai. They have a huge a menu, much larger than most Thai places I've been too, and considering the decor and the menu selection the price is very reasonable. It's basically the prices of house of thai or maybe a dollar or two more. They were very accommodating on the reservations, and very cordial. Overall I totally recommend it for a party or just a dinner for two in a nice romantic setting.
I have had better Thai food, but you for the overall experience it's hard to beat this.
one side note, you do have to take your shoes off when you enter, so don't wear stinky socks...;)
i'd give it a 94%
The food is phenomenal, the ambiance is soothing, and the service is great. I love eating on the floor (either with the wells, which let your feet hang down and make it feel like a normal table, or without the wells, where you're just sitting on the ground) with the waiters walking around like tall giants.
It's a wonderful place to take out of towners who haven't eaten at many Asian restaurants.
I really like this restaurant. So far, I think this is one of my very favorite Thai restaurants. The atmosphere is nice. It's nice to go to on a date with your significant other. Guests sit in little enclaves so that's kind of a fun ice breaker. The tables and walls are ornately adorned. The food is good and the prices not too exorbitant. Plus, it's situated in the Richmond, so even though it's a nice place, it has a mellow non-pretentious feel to it.
I've only been here once, and it was a few years ago when I took my (then)girlfriend out to dinner in the City. I wanted to bring her some place nice, so I heard about this little Thai place.
Once you step through the door, you're asked to take your shoes off (an accustomation with all Asians). They then bring you to your table. But wait, where are the chairs?! Nope, you sit on the ground at this place. Gotta love the authenticity. Fortunately, there's a big gap underneath the table so you can hang your legs instead of having to fold them the whole time.
The restaurant is dimly lit so I think it can be a bit romantic, especially if it's not too busy with too many people. We were here on a December night, but there weren't that many people in the restaurant. The place is filled with various pieces of artwork and other artifacts and such.
I honestly can't remember what we ordered, but I don't remember it being bad. But since I can't remember what it was, it probably wasn't anything to write home about, either.
All in all, I like the place and I would go again if I could. I just need to fo find someone else to take now... lol
I took my girlfriend here the other night. We had a fantastic meal. The food was fantastic, the service was pleasant, and the atmosphere is second to none. Well, except for the delipub.
Do yourself a favor and check out this San Francisco gem.
As far as that two star hater. Lol. Stay at home and keep blogging about your TV.
Free Dinner Delivery!
Neighborhood: Outer Sunset
Order Online for free delivery
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond
Category: Thai
My favorite places to go for all things Asian in…
As if San Francisco didn't have enough ethnic…
Fun places that illustrate the Bay Area spirit,…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Why I love living here at the corner of Ocean…
The hunt is on for spicy, flavorful, generously…
Michael Bauer has nothing on me! Except a job…
