Vancouver · Thai
Kin Kao
Commercial Drive Thai comfort from chef Tang Phoonchai since 2015; the original room behind Song’s Bib Gourmand story.
- Price
- $$
- Opened
- 2015
- Neighborhood
- Commercial Drive903 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC V5L 3W7
About
Kin Kao (“eat rice”) opened on Commercial Drive in February 2015 under Terrence Feng and executive chef Tang Phoonchai, a Bangkok-born cook who builds a compact Thai menu from imported spices and local produce. The room presents authentic Thai comfort in a short list: curries, pad Thai, papaya salad, stir-fries, and snacks, with an early emphasis on craft beer that helped it stand out on the Drive. Song (by Kin Kao) on East Broadway came later as a spicier, wine-forward sister and took the Michelin Bib Gourmand; Kin Kao remains the quieter original for classic plates. Dinner service typically runs evenings only; phone reservations are limited to larger groups, so smaller parties usually walk in.
Menu highlights
- Pad Thai
- Panang and other coconut curries
- Green papaya salad
- Pork neck and stir-fries
- Wings and Thai snacks
- Mango sticky rice
Diners say
Public reviews often praise pad Thai, curries, papaya salad, and friendly service in a small Commercial Drive room. Recurring themes include evening-only hours, a tight floor plan that gets loud when full, and prices that sit above basic takeout Thai. Diners who prefer Kin Kao usually want the original team’s comfort cooking without Song’s reservation scramble.
Review synthesis as of 2026-07-28. Synthesis of recurring themes in public Yelp and Google Maps reviews sampled July 2026; not a rating or ranking. Cross-checked against the restaurant site and Kin Kao / Song press histories.