Located in downtown Hayward on Foothill Blvd, Khao Hom is a Thai-American restaurant worth trying. Once you step in you are welcomed with granite walls and false candles hanging from the ceiling.
Waitstaff circulate through the restaurant, quickly find you a table, and are proficient in determining if any food is problematic for people with allergies. After being seated each diner is presented with three menus. With the abundance of options, Mt. Eden senior Sofia Cordoba commented on the “complex” menu.
“I like it and their detailed descriptions,” said Cordoba.
The refreshments—fresh orange juice, lychee iced tea, and Thai iced tea—were quickly served. Mt. Eden senior Kaylyn Nguyen described the Thai iced tea as “beautiful.” Not only did it have a gradient of tea and milk, but also a rich and sweet flavor. Great for caffeine lovers with a sweet tooth. The lychee iced tea was the perfect sweetness, with natural lychee juice mixed into its green tea base.
The avocado toast, garlic sriracha wings, crab fried rice, roti gai tod, and kua gai were set at the table, followed by flashing cameras to capture the elaborate presentation. The avocado toast was the perfect size, a large piece of toast with avocado spread, thinly sliced smoked salmon on top with a poached egg, and fresh capers. All the toppings were perfect and each complemented the other with balance. However, the bread was far too crispy for the soft topping, making it difficult to cut and share.
The garlic sriracha wings are a handful of fried chicken wings coated in a thick garlic and sriracha marinade.
“It tastes pretty Asian,” said Mt. Eden sophomore Jarryd Manangan, referencing the flavor from the sriracha which contrasts your typical American buffalo wings.
The roti gai tod features a tall piece of crispy chicken impaled by a serrated knife. “The chicken is crispy, but messy. I’m still happy I ordered it,” said Nguyen. The chicken has an audible crunch and the curry is warm and creamy, perfectly pairing with the hot chicken.
The kua gai is a noodle stir fry of chicken, shrimp, noodles, buttered lettuce, eggs, and cabbage. The soft noodles mixed with the smooth vegetables and war chicken make everything perfect.
“The shrimp still has the tail on, it’s a bit inconvenient to eat,” said Cordoba.
From speedy service to crispy chicken, Khao Hom has a variety of options with simple dishes such as the stir fry, and complex ones like the roti gai tod. It is the perfect place for newcomers to Thai food and veteran Thai foodies. But, do be warned that a party of 5+ is considered a “large” party, and a 30% tip will automatically be included in the bill.
Star Rating: 4.5/5 stars
