Khao (Street Food Thailand and Bar) Ottawa Restaurant Review – Lively Soft Open with Room to Shine – Average EV Score: 6.7/10
Reviewed by Tastes of Ottawa
Each dish is rated using our EV Score (Enjoyment-to-Value Score), based on enjoyment, price paid, and benchmark pricing.
Table of Contents
Khao Restaurant Overview
We visited Khao during their soft opening and the place was already buzzing. It was loud, busy, and full of energy, which was great to see. That said, the rush meant there was a bit of a wait for table service. Still, first impressions were strong enough that I’d return to see how they settle into regular service. Their selection of alcohol was decent. We ordered the carbenet sauvignon. It was very good, flavourful, and smooth.
Would return?: Yes.
Goong Pop (Popcorn Shrimp)
😋 Enjoyment: 7.5/10
💰 Price Paid: $15
🎯 Benchmark Price: $12
📊 EV Score: 6/10
🔁 Order Again?: No.
This dish from Khao looked promising but fell short on a few fronts. The coating didn’t fully cover each piece, which made the texture of each bite inconsistent, and at $15 for just five pieces, it didn’t feel like great value. On the plus side, the texture was excellent—crispy but not too hard—and the shrimp itself wasn’t overcooked. I also liked the sauce they used; it gave the whole dish a bit of a lift. With more attention to detail and better priced, this could be a standout.
Pad See Ew
😋 Enjoyment: 7/10
💰 Price Paid: $20
🎯 Benchmark Price: $20
📊 EV Score: 7/10
🔁 Order Again?: Yes.
The flavours and texture of the noodles were both solid—exactly what I was hoping for. But the noodles weren’t the wide, flat style traditionally used in Pad See Ew, despite what was shown and described on the menu. That was one of the reasons I ordered it, so I was a little disappointed to get regular-sized rice noodles instead. The vegetables were nicely cooked but didn’t pick up as much of the sauce flavour as the noodles did. A good dish overall, just not quite what I expected.
Gaeng Karee Gai (Yellow Chicken Curry)
😋 Enjoyment: 7/10
💰 Price Paid: $20
🎯 Benchmark Price: $20
📊 EV Score: 7/10
🔁 Order Again?: Yes.
This was a warm, comforting dish from Khao. The curry sauce had good flavour—familiar and satisfying—even if it didn’t do anything wildly different from other yellow curries I’ve had. That’s not a knock, though. Sometimes consistency is exactly what I’m after, and this dish definitely delivered on that front. A solid, reliable pick.
Got a good Thai restaurant in Ottawa I should check out?
I’m looking for another for another Thai restaurant to try out. If you know of a good one, please share.