LA｜Chiang Rai – A 4-Year Michelin Bib in Long Beach

When I searched for Long Beach eats, this spot popped up the most—maybe because expectations were too high, but it was just… a decent Thai place. 🍛 Khao Soi Beef Curry Beef cheek curry – super tender, fall-apart braised meat with soft tendon—first bite was amazing! The cucumber salad on the side cuts the richness perfectly. Wanted to try the beef tongue curry but they didn’t have it. 🍜 Dry Khao Soi Noodles Dry-fried Northern Thai curry noodles—a house specialty. Reminded me of sizzling iron-plate noodles or street wok-fried noodles—full of wok hei and chewy texture. The complex curry spice blend makes every bite satisfying. 🍍 Pineapple Fried Rice Loaded with cashews, peas, raisins, and chicken—texture and flavor were fun. Only downside: the rice wasn’t as fluffy and separate as it could be. 🦐 Tom Yum Soup Just okay. As a tom yum lover, I could drink it, but it felt watered down and bland. The shrimp tasted frozen. 🧋 Thai Tea Solid! Strong tea flavor and sweet condensed milk—felt authentically Thai. Verdict: Worth visiting if there’s no wait—tasty but not mind-blowing. I’ve had better Thai in NYC and Seattle… But the hype is real—tiny space, gets packed fast. We walked in right at 4 PM opening and it filled up immediately. Parking is tricky (on a busy road)—better to find free street parking in the nearby residential area. #Foodie #LongBeach #LosAngeles #ThaiFood #Michelin #LongBeachEats #FoodExplorer #EatUp