KINKHAO — Restaurant in Jakarta

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A beautiful revamp of one of my favorite Thai restaurants in town.

Kinkhao Thai Restaurant by Arka Group has just revamped part of their menu — now far more affordable, yet still true to their fine quality of Thai comfort food. Family-friendly, generous in portion, and consistently satisfying in flavor.

Papaya Som Tam – Spicy and delightfully refreshing, the perfect dish to awaken your appetite.

Prawn & Fish Cake – One of their signature starters; richly meaty, with an intriguing rengginang crunch base for added texture.

Chicken Satay – Flabbergasted by how a simple dish like chicken satay could impress me to the core — superbly meaty, tender, and utterly delicious.

Lap Cheong Claypot Rice – Incredibly generous chicken lap cheong (just as good as the pork version), beautifully crisp, paired with rice that forms an addictive crunchy layer at the bottom of the claypot — so tasty!

Pad Thai Noodle – Seafood – Now serving Pad Thai! Delightfully sticky in texture, leaning on the sweeter side, yet thoroughly enjoyable.

Three Flavour Whole Fish – A well-executed fish dish that can be enjoyed by anyone, even those who aren’t usually fond of fish. Perfectly crisp with no fishy scent, and beautifully perfumed by fried basil.

Dry-Aged Duck Breast Red Curry – One of their enduring signatures since the opening. Tender dry-aged duck breast with an enjoyable hint of gaminess, paired with generous shredded duck in a rich, creamy red curry sauce.

Thai Egg Omelette – Still my number one favorite! Their signature fluffy omelette now comes in a more affordable chicken & gravy option — every bit as delightful as the famed crab version. A beautiful play of three egg textures: a fluffy, soft, and airy base, a molten yolk center, and a crisp fried top. Comforting to the core, elegantly savory, and immensely satisfying.

Thai Tearamisu – Never did I expect Thai tea to blend so harmoniously with chocolate and rum in such a delicate tiramisu. Rich and creamy, with a bold yet pleasantly balanced rum aroma that remains thoroughly enjoyable.

Drinks: Dragon Sii Faa & Mango Thai – Both naturally sweetened with honey, mildly sweet, pure fruit goodness, and refreshingly light.

Overall, a stellar dining experience — thoughtful revamp, excellent execution, and great value without compromise. Highly recommended for anyone seeking authentic Thai comfort food elevated...

KINKHAO Jakarta – A Swing and a Miss (⭐️⭐️ 2/5)

I walked into KINKHAO with high hopes, ready to be blown away by bold Thai flavors. Instead, I got blown away by… smoke. The Brisket Pad Seuw? Not bad, but it tasted like someone slow-cooked it inside a chimney. Every bite was just smoky smoky smoky—like a BBQ pit in overdrive.

Now, nothing else on the menu was terrible, but nothing really wowed either. Just decent dishes that didn’t quite hit the mark. But then came the Crab Omelette, the dish we were most excited about. We had dreams of a rich, fluffy, golden masterpiece—what we got was a crushing disappointment. If it had delivered, this review might have been way different. Instead, it tanked the whole experience.

So yeah, not the worst meal ever, but definitely not worth a return trip. If you love food that tastes like a campfire and enjoy paying premium prices for letdowns, KINKHAO might be for you. Otherwise, you might want to...

I always order from this restaurant — it’s one of my favorite spots in town. The flavors, quality, and consistency are always impressive.

Here are my go-to dishes: • Prawn Tom Yum Soup: Bold, tangy, and spicy with fresh seafood and a great balance of lemongrass. • Green Curry Chicken: Creamy, flavorful, and aromatic with tender chicken and rich curry. • Crab Fried Rice: Fragrant, perfectly seasoned rice with fresh hand-picked crab and a touch of egg floss. • Short Ribs Dry Curry: Absolutely tender and delicious — the 48-hour slow-cooked ribs are melt-in-your-mouth, paired beautifully with grilled banana and romaine.

Service is excellent, the ambiance is warm and stylish, and the presentation is spot-on. Highly recommended for anyone looking for high-quality Thai cuisine...