10/26/07

Unprofessional Staff, Mediocre Food

by fizzlesnit

My husband and I recently went to Kwanjai Thai for lunch. Since I'm allergic to MSG, I approach new restaurants with caution. The moment we entered, we asked if they use MSG in their food. The man who greeted us assured us that, no, they did not. Unfortunately, three bites into my lunch, I got that familiar scratchy throat, achy head, dizziness. My husband asked a woman who worked there if they use MSG, just to clarify and ease my worried mind. She informed us that YES they do use MSG. While my head swam and my throat closed, my husband explained the situation. We heard her yelling at the man who greeted us. Then, she offered to replace our food, but I was already sick. She was very nice, but it was too late. Despite my uneaten food, she brought us a check and proudly announced that she'd taken 10% off. I spent the rest of the day in bed recovering.

• Pros: One friendly waitress
• Cons: Unprofessional staff, mediocre food, stark decor

03/03/07

Great value

by trittipo

I still don't understand why Kwanjai Thai isn't more crowded. It has really excellent service, great food, and affordable prices. Occasionally the very spicy food will overwhelm this very small space, causing diners to be a tad overwhelmed. But it's well worth it! Spare yourself the overhyped Mamacita and A16, and check out this local, underappreciated restaurant.

• Pros: A great value, exceptional food, very good ambience.
• Cons: None.

09/03/06

Amazing Service, Spectacular Food

by armista

I eat Thai all of the time - and this is by far the best Thai restaurant I've found in the entire Bay Area. The service is spectacular and the ambience is perfect for a date, business meeting, or good family meal. The restaurant is also very kid friendly!

OK - now for the food. I love the vegetable wraps, tom kha soup, pad thai, thai samosas, brown rice, and spicy eggplant. Everything is perfectly prepared and the food is not overpowered by oil, sauces or spices. I've never had to send anything back or ask for adjustments - if I had to, I'm certain the staff would have been extraordinarily gracious about helping out.

We'll go back here often, and continue to take our out of town guests.

One last thing - the prices are great!

• Pros: Service, Authenticity of Food, Ambience
• Cons: None!

07/28/06

Pristinely fresh, delicious Thai food

by wentay

Kwanjai is the best Thai restaurant I've found in over ten years of living in the city. Everything is prepared to delight your eyes as well as your palate. There's some fusion going on, from the unique and delicious flank steak appetizer wrapped around slivers of cucumber and carrot served with a fantastic wasabi dipping sauce to some Japanese and Indian inspired entrees.

Their Tom Yum Gai soup is tinglingly spicy and full of tender, carefully deveined shrimp, and their main dishes use superior quality meats and vegetables presented beautifully. Standouts include a salmon with crispy fried basil leaves, chicken with chili paste (or any meat with chili paste) and eggplant with or without pork. Their lunch specials include Vietnamese style summer rolls, soup and rice with your choice of entree and are too big for most people to finish.

Spicy usually really means spicy here, so request it only if you mean it.

I am really shocked by the bad review I found here--it actually inspired me to write in and share my many positive experiences I've had eating here or bringing food home. It's the cleanest tasting, most artfully executed and best Thai food I've had in San Francisco. I've been to many Thai places in the city, but Kwanjai is fantastic AND consistent. Judging by the masses of people who've also found this place and have made it so popular for dining in and takeout, I'm not alone.

• Pros: Innovative, delightful food, warm and attentive service; if you love hot food you can really get it here.
• Cons: It's a small space--don't plan on having a huge party here.

06/02/06

Fabulous!

by mananyaart

I have been a regular at this restaurant since its opening and love every meal I have there. Being Thai myself, I can attest to the food as being authentic and tasty, just like home! It's also easy on the wallet, especially during lunch hours.

• Pros: authentic, inexpensive, nice staff
• Cons: none so far

05/17/06

User review by ning007

by ning007

This was our fifth visit to Kwanjai Thai restaurant

We were made very welcome at Kwanjai from the moment we arrived. The food was delicious and excellent and fantastic value for money.

My chicken Green curry was very lovely! and sweet sticky rice with Mangoes was so delicious!!

We would highly reccommened this restaurant.

• Pros: Inexpensive

05/03/06

Great Thai Food

by pb800

This was the best Thai food I've had in the two years of living out here. Finally I found a place that makes my favorites the way I like them. The Red Curry Prawn dish is excellent. Lunch is a great deal...for about 8-10 bucks depending on what you order you get a full lunch with awesome spicy soup,(chicken or shrimp-your choice) a spring roll,entree & rice.

The decor is pretty and the waitstaff is very nice. Large portions...I had to take mine home. If you want great Thai food, you will be very pleased with the quality.

04/03/06

Awful food, Good Service

by nnayebi

The place looks cool, and I like Thai, so lets try it. The service was good; I never had to refill my own cup... Unfortunately, the food was awful. The Tom Kha soup had so much thick coconut milk, it was almost solid, and too salty. We also ordered the Beef with Brocoli, and the chicken with garlic and green beans. The Beef was unedible; it was so rubbery/tough, and the broccoli was raw. The whole dish was taseteless. The Chicken dish had no garlic, the green beans were again raw, and the whole thing was bathed in this super-sugary, awful tasting spicy sauce. To top it off, the dishes look cool, but they're not practical. It is so dificult to eat soup out of their square/pyramid bowls, and the steamed rice is served in a bowl with no lid (it got cold immediately.) Actually, all the food arrived cold!

• Pros: Good Service
• Cons: Disgusting cold food, Boring ambience, Awkward Dishes

A sexy, ultra-modern look attracts a stylish crowd to this sleek Thai bistro in the Marina.

by Contributor

In Short
The narrow, minimalist space is filled with chocolate browns, wine reds and stark whites. Well-dressed couples and small groups crowd glossy white tables and line a slinky banquette for traditional Thai specialties infused with a modern sensibility. Chef Khuanruen Phopon churns out a menu designed to match the jet set surroundings, such as a pumpkin curry that toes the line between sweet and savory and marinated flank steak grilled and rolled with celery, carrot and mint leaves.