Kin Khao Thai Eatery — Restaurant in Crescent City

When reviews say “The best Thai in Town” and you’re from a city that has MANY “Best Thai in Town” restaurants, you tend to be a bit…apprehensive? Suspicious? Incredulous?

Arriving at any restaurant touted to be “the best in town”, the first thing that comes to mind is, “how busy is it?” Then, “how many ‘locals’ are eating there?” Keep in mind that by ‘locals’ we all usually mean ‘of the same culture as the that of the restaurant’s food’. While this is an outdated and often improper way of gauging culinary goodness, it remains with most, THE way to do so until we actually try the food.

So, we drove to it, found it to be very, very busy with peoples of all backgrounds and ethnicities eating in and taking out. This place must be all it’s said to be.

Trying to get a place to sit was not difficult, just a bit lengthy. Staff are walking back and forth, carrying delicious-looking dishes and inadvertently wafting the amazing smells each dish has to offer in our direction, making us hungrier by the second.

Finally, we are led to a table apologized to for the delay and given menus and water. Looking at the menus, we see some familiar names and photos resembling foods we’ve had before but more importantly, we see dishes rarely seen in other Thai restaurants as well as promises of delectable fusions and photos of dishes that would make the least hungry person turn and have a second glance.

So many dishes…we make our choice and wait to order…and wait…to…order…ANd WAIT TO ORDER! Really, it only took like 8 minutes but when you’re hungry and see and smell the smorgasbord of foods and dare I say, exotic scents, it feels like a lifetime.

We settled on the Tom KAH for my wife, the Spicy Garlic Shrimp with a side of rice for me as well as their Summer Rolls and Crispy Rolls for appetizers. Then more waiting. I tell you they were soooooo busy!

Once we got our food, we were as close to culinary heaven as you can get. The flavours and textures were right on point. The appys were fresh and freshly fried and so flavourful that we pondered getting more.

Like I said, we have many Thai restaurants in our city. My wife is a stickler for good Thai food and we will be returning to try more of this deliciousness that Kin Khao is putting out en masse!

In all seriousness, the wait wasn’t that long and the staff were fantastic, always checking up on us and updating us. Friendly and proud of the work the do and the food they serve. We definitely...

TLDR: Great food; bad/slow service

I eat here frequently. It’s one of the few places in Crescent City that I can say the food is objectively excellent (not just “good for here”). The tropical crispy duck and crispy basil duck are some of the best duck dishes I’ve had anywhere. The coconut prawns and farmers pad Thai are also delicious.

Unfortunately the experience is marred by slow and generally disorganized service. I frequently have to flag down a server to get my order put in. I was particularly embarrassed today when I brought in some foodie friends visiting from San Diego. As usual, we sat for a long time looking around for a server, and as usual we had to ask for a drink menu and ask to order drinks (you would think management would be proactive about selling high-markup drinks, but sometimes it feels like they don’t want you to have one!). Anyways, we were so happy to finally capture the attention of a server, we ordered drinks, appetizers, and entrees all at once (lest we never get another rare opportunity to order!). The entrees for everyone but one person came out before the appetizers. The server (young blonde girl) did not even recognize that one person was sitting there without a meal when she checked in and never apologized or even acknowledged that there was an error when it was brought to her attention. Most of us were nearly done with our meals when the last person’s meal finally came out, so I’m guessing she forgot to put the order in the first time. Again no apology or any indication that this is not just how they roll there. So anyway, good food (if you can get it!), bad service as usual. Hopefully they will get their staff some training…this could be a really excellent restaurant if they...

The reviews seemed too good to be true ( which in part they were) so our party of 4, staying overnight in town, arrived not expecting too much. As soon as we walked in the greeting was immediate. We were shown to our table and within 10 seconds water was delivered with the menus. After disappointingly being told they did not have alcohol free beer as advertised on their menu we ordered 2 starters and 4 mains.

The first starter (appetiser) arrived within 5 mins. Before the 2nd had even arrived the 4 mains turned up. Despite saying we wanted our starters first the waitress kept saying “it’s OK” and then walked off, coming back with the 2nd. starter 5 mins later.

The food was superbly presented and delicious, with generous portions.

However before two of us had even finished the waitress removed the plates for those who had and asked what deserts we ALL wanted. We said none. Within another minute she came back with the bill (check) still whilst 2 of us were eating.

We felt rushed from the start to the finish and were effectively pushed out within just over half an hour.

What a shame as the food was excellent, but the way we were constantly rushed, no doubt so they could get more diners in, although it wasn’t full but did have a constant stream of people coming in, was really disappointing. For that reason we would not visit again if we were locals.

My advice is refuse to order the mains until you have finished your starters. That way you may be allowed to stay...