Khao (Street Food Thailand and Bar)

We're home in Ottawa visiting family and friends and noticed this place on our way home one night. We lived in Thailand for 6 years and are on our way back there next year. When we realized this wasn't just any Thai restaurant but had a long list of street food (with clearly labeled gluten-free options!) we knew we had to squeeze in a visit. We popped in on a Friday afternoon for a cocktail and a few bites. The khao welcome cocktail is delicious, I love unexpected combinations - like a gin drink with rice powder. We had luk chin tod (fried Thai style meat balls with a yummy dipping sauce), baw bia sot (fresh spring rolls with an amazing peanut sauce and a spicy sauce), and Moo grob tod (fried pork belly with the spicy sauce). Everything was incredible amd took us straight back to Thai markets and street vendors, just served in a cool way. The decor is fun, there's a TV playing videos of walking through Thai streets, you can hear the staff chatting in Thai, and even the kind of dishware is right out of Thailand. We loved our quick visit and highly recommend eating in.

Only gripe is the khao soi - it tastes like a nice coconut lime soup - nothing about it tastes like khao soi. :( So don’t order it expecting to have the distinct flavour of khao soi. Whilst I am not Thai, khao soi is one of my favourite foods and when I lived in Thailand I ate it twice a day for a month at a different restaurant every time. Fancy places, casual places, dusty tents on-side-of-the-road-with-the-taxi-guys-at-lunch places where you sit and eat on the curb. Never in Thailand did I have such a bland khao soi. I hope the chef sees this and decides to amp up the special flavour ❤️ When we order khao soi; we want khao soi! Not lime soup :( Fast, tasty, cute spot. Everything else is delightful. Even the lime-soup was delicious - just not…khao soi. Good vegetarian and gluten free.