PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

San Francisco is known for its broad scope and variety, particularly when it comes to food. It may be that you've tried Thai at ten different places so far and haven't yet found one that really delivers the "wow" factor. It may be that you want authentic Thai, but don't know which places you can trust to serve up the real deal. It may be that you're just looking for something new, and Thai seems to be all the rage these days. No matter what your reason, make sure your first Thai stop is the King of Thai Noodle House.

King of Thai has several locations throughout the City; while I've patronized one or two of the others, the 346 Clement Street location is nearest to home, so it's the one I stop by most often. The wait staff is always kind and attentive, even though the dining room is generally bustling with a young, noisy crowd. Despite this, takeout is nearly always ready for me within fifteen minutes of placing my order. They're open late, till 2:30 a.m. daily, and I've never yet seen an hour at which the dining room is less than half full, but I've also never waited more than ten minutes for a table. Given typical wait times for restaurants in San Francisco, I'd say they're doing something right, wouldn't you?

If you have never had Thai before, almost anyone will recommend you start off with Pad Thai, a traditional noodle dish in a lime juice based sauce, accompanied by stir fried egg, carrot, and sprouts, and topped with raw sprouts, crushed peanuts, and fresh scallions. It's how I started, and it's still the dish I fall back on when I can't make up my mind. I've recently, thanks to King of Thai, added Pad See Iew to my Thai repertoire; this dish of wide, flat noodles with vegetables in a sweet brown sauce is another wonderful introduction to Thai cuisine, but is flavorful and unique enough to satisfy the accustomed palate.

My favorite item at King of Thai, however, is the Tom Kha Gai, a spicy chicken soup with mushrooms, coconut milk, and lemongrass, to which a pint of rice noodles can be added, turning this soup into a hearty meal that totals a mere $7.50. Walk into this place with ten bucks cash (which is the only tender they're set up to take, so hit the ATM before you head in), and walk out with a sack full of great food. How much easier can it get?

Nearly every meal at King of Thai is between $6.25 and $6.75, and no one item on the menu is more than $7.95. The cooks and wait staff are willing to do whatever is within their power to accommodate your wants and needs, and rarely is there a price tag attached to adjustments to a meal. Perhaps that's part of the original premise established by the king of Thai himself, Mr. Toy. From their menu, "… His primary goal is for patrons to arrive expecting good things, leave after having enjoyed a great meal, tell others, and look forward to enjoying yet another joyous and tasty adventure." Well, they've certainly achieved that goal with me, and I hope you'll follow my lead straight to the King of Thai for what I know will be a "joyous and tasty adventure" you'll want to turn around and share, as well.