Kitti's Place is a straightforward, family-run restaurant on Bridgeway where the focus has been on home-style Thai cooking for over 25 years. The whole operation is a family affair – Chef Payao Suthipipat grew up cooking in Bangkok and sources fresh ingredients from produce markets in San Francisco, her husband Kitti works alongside her in the kitchen, and their daughter Lisa manages the front of house. This setup gives the place a warm, welcoming feel without any extra frills.
The space itself is simple, with a sunny outdoor patio that serves as the main dining area for lunch. The menu is an eclectic mix of Thai classics and some Californian touches, all coming from Payao’s recipes and experience. You’ll find standards like Pad Thai and Pad See Ew, but also a hometown specialty called Kow Soi – an egg noodle curry soup with chicken. Another popular dish is the Ga Prow Kai Dow, which is minced chicken or beef with a spicy basil chili garlic sauce, all topped with fried eggs. The soups, from Tom Yum to Pho, are a big part of the menu, and appetizers like Chicken Pot Stickers or Lettuce Cups are common starters.
One thing to know right away is that the portion sizes are consistently massive. It’s also important to understand the rhythm of the service here. The restaurant is open for sit-down dining on the patio during the day, but after 4:30 PM, the kitchen switches to a take-out only model. So for lunch, you can settle in, but dinner is strictly an affair of picking up a huge Thai meal to take home.
Kitti's Place
