Funny how you can love a certain little restaurant in your neighborhood so much, live so close to it and yet forget it exists for months or even years at a time. Then, you finally go back once and you’re kicking yourself because it’s even better than you remember. That happened to me last week. King of Thai Noodle House, and sister restaurant The Noodle House, pulled me back under their spell after my first sip of roasted pork broth in nearly two years.
It was a particularly hectic morning as I schlepped my 11 year old to soccer tryouts on a rainy Saturday morning only to find out that they were not at Crocker Amazon fields, but down at the Beach Chalet instead. Ouch! We got there a half an hour late, my tail lodged solidly between my legs and my son rendered mute. I was in desperate need of a turn-around. On the way home, we spotted The Noodle House sign and that was it.
We ordered the Roasted Pork Noodle Soup with skinny rice noodles and beef larb. While the larb alone was totally capable of winning us over, we ignored it completely. Instead, we gorged on thick slices of salty pork, slippery noodles and fresh greens swimming in a savory broth that’s got a special hint of sweetness to it that makes me want to weep with every spoonful. Ok. Really, I wasn’t weeping, but it’s unbelievably good, so just roll with me here. Less than a week later, we were back for round two at King of Thai.
More diners or dives, than real restaurants, you kinda wonder how places with such little attention to atmosphere can prepare food with such finesse. (Perhaps that explains why you end up spending next to nothing and leave with a full belly and enough leftovers for two additional meals.) My suggestion is simply to ignore the surrounds and focus on what’s in front of you. From expertly prepared soups, fried noodles and rice to satay and larb, The Noodle House and King of Thai Noodle Cafe have it down.
The Noodle House 1507 Sloat Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94132 (415) 566-9921
King of Thai Noodle Café 1541 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116 (415) 682-9958
westportalish 
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