Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan serves smoky Pad See Ew, fragrant Tom Yum Goong and bold Thai dishes near Itaewon Station, a longtime favorite of mine since 2014.
Itaewon Thai Restaurant: Khaosan for Pad See Ew and Tom Yum Goong
Whenever I’m in Itaewon with a friend who loves Thai food as much as I do, there’s one restaurant we keep returning to: Khaosan (카오산).
I’ve been coming here since it opened in 2014, which makes Khaosan one of my longtime favorites in the neighborhood.
More than a decade later, very little has changed about the reason I return.
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan is still busy, the flavors are still bold, and my favorite dishes are still just as satisfying.
On this visit, my friend and I deliberately avoided the busiest dining hours, but the restaurant was still surprisingly full.
And after the first few bites, I was reminded exactly why.
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan serves the kind of Thai food I crave when I want plenty of wok-fired aroma, acidity, spice, sweetness, and punchy seasoning rather than restrained flavors.
My personal combination?
Pad See Ew and Tom Yum Goong.
Add Yum Woon Sen when you want something fresh and textural on the side, and you’ve got the Khaosan meal I’ve returned for again and again.
If you’re searching for an Itaewon Thai restaurant near Itaewon Station, this is one of my longtime neighborhood favorites.
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan Itaewon Location
Address:
1F, 13 Itaewon-ro 20-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Korean address: 서울 용산구 이태원로20길 13 1층
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan is conveniently located about a five-minute walk from Exit 4 of Itaewon Station.
That makes it easy to add to a day exploring Itaewon and nearby Hannam-dong.
I’ve seen all kinds of diners here over the years, from couples stopping by during an Itaewon date to people enjoying a meal alone.
Despite being tucked slightly away from the main road, it’s easy enough to find once you’re in the neighborhood.
Parking Near Khaosan Itaewon
If you’re driving, I personally use the public parking lot at Yongsan-gu Office.
Parking conditions and fees can change, so I’d check the latest information before your visit.
Given Khaosan’s proximity to Itaewon Station, however, the subway is certainly the simplest option for most visitors.
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan Opening Hours
Sunday–Thursday: 11:30 AM–10:00 PM
Friday–Saturday: 11:30 AM–11:00 PM
These were the operating hours provided at the time of my visit, so check the latest schedule before heading over.
A Longtime Thai Restaurant in Itaewon
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan opened in Itaewon in 2014, but the experience behind the restaurant goes back even further.
According to the restaurant’s story, the owner began with a Thai restaurant called Ryothai in Sincheon in 1999, later operated Raya in Bangi-dong, and has also worked on consulting for other Thai restaurants.
That background makes sense when you look at Khaosan today.
It doesn’t feel like a restaurant built around a passing Thai-food trend.
After all these years, it has settled comfortably into the neighborhood as a casual place where regulars know what they’re coming back for.
I’m one of them.
Inside Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan isn’t particularly large, but the space is used efficiently.
Most of the seating consists of two-person tables, although tables can be rearranged depending on the group.
Toward the back, there’s enough room for a larger group to sit together comfortably.
On this visit, my friend and I came hoping for a casual meal and a daytime beer.
It was an unusually hot spring day, and the tables in the middle of the restaurant filled up quickly as sunlight poured through the windows.
We managed to grab one of the remaining two-person tables near the window.
Even outside the usual peak dining time, there were plenty of customers.
That’s something I’ve become accustomed to here.
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan has been around long enough to build a loyal following, and you can also spot signs inside showing that various Korean celebrities have visited over the years.
For me, though, Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan‘s longevity is more meaningful than any famous guest list.
I’ve personally been coming back for years because I still enjoy the food.
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan Menu: An Easy Introduction to Thai Food
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan still uses an old-school printed menu book, which I actually find rather charming.
The menu includes its popular signature dishes, including Poo Pad Pong Curry, as well as appetizers, Thai salads, main dishes, noodles, and rice dishes.
What I particularly appreciate is how it’s organized.
Rather than presenting unfamiliar Thai ingredient names with little context, the menu follows the natural progression of a meal and includes short descriptions and photos.
That makes ordering much easier if you’re relatively new to Thai food.
There are also set combinations built around popular dishes such as Poo Pad Pong Curry.
If you’re visiting for the first time and want to try several different things, those can make ordering easier.
My friend and I have already eaten our way through quite a few dishes here over the years, though.
This time, we wanted our individual favorites plus something fresh and textural to share.
Thai Food with Beer in Itaewon
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan also works surprisingly well as a casual place for drinks.
Thai food naturally pairs well with a cold beer, particularly when the dishes are spicy, sour, salty, and aromatic.
The drinks menu includes beer, Korean soju, Hwayo, and several non-alcoholic options.
My friend was in the mood for a cold draft beer.
I skipped the alcohol this time.
Still, watching a beer arrive in an ice-cold glass on such a hot day almost made me reconsider.
Even the water here is a little different from what you might expect.
Instead of plain bottled water, we were served roasted brown rice tea, which had a pleasantly nutty flavor and worked nicely between the stronger dishes.
My Favorite Combination: Pad See Ew and Tom Yum Goong
Our order took a little longer because the kitchen was busy.
But once everything arrived, there it was again—that unmistakable wok-fired aroma.
If you like delicate, understated Thai food, Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan may feel fairly bold.
But if you’re like me and enjoy strong sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and smoky flavors, this is exactly where the restaurant shines.
And if I had to choose only two dishes?
Tom Yum Goong and Pad See Ew.
After years of coming here, that’s still one of my favorite combinations.
Tom Yum Goong: Fragrant, Sour and Spicy
The Tom Yum Goong arrived in a generous portion, kept warm over a small solid-fuel burner underneath the pot.
I love this detail because Tom Yum Goong is one of those dishes I want to remain properly hot until the final spoonful.
The aroma hits before you even start eating.
It’s tangy, spicy, fragrant, and unmistakably Thai.
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan‘s version has the intensity I look for in Tom Yum Goong rather than tasting overly softened for diners who aren’t accustomed to Thai flavors.
And that’s exactly why I like it.
I sometimes pay extra to add noodles to the soup.
Adding noodles turns it into something closer to a complete meal and is especially satisfying when I’m particularly hungry.
This time, however, I deliberately skipped them.
Noodles absorb the broth and inevitably soften some of its intensity, and I wanted to concentrate entirely on the original flavor of the Tom Yum Goong.
It was the right decision.
After all these years, that familiar combination of acidity, spice, and fragrance was still exactly what I remembered.
Pad See Ew: Smoky Stir-Fried Wide Noodles
If Tom Yum Goong is one half of my favorite Khaosan combination, Pad See Ew is the other.
Unlike Pad Thai, Pad See Ew uses wider noodles and is stir-fried to create a savory dish with plenty of wok-fired aroma.
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan‘s version came generously loaded with shrimp, bok choy, dried chili, and mushrooms.
That means there’s plenty going on beyond the noodles themselves.
The vegetables and other ingredients add different textures with every bite, while the wide noodles carry the savory sauce beautifully.
What I particularly love is the smoky flavor from the wok.
It’s substantial enough to order as your main meal, but the slightly salty seasoning also makes it excellent with beer.
That’s probably why I order it whether I’m here specifically for dinner or stopping by for drinks and food.
Why I Recommend Pad See Ew with Tom Yum Goong
These two dishes balance each other particularly well.
Pad See Ew is savory, smoky, and satisfying.
Tom Yum Goong is hot, aromatic, sour, and spicy.
Take a bite of the chewy stir-fried noodles, then follow it with a spoonful of fragrant soup.
The contrast keeps the meal interesting from beginning to end.
If you’re visiting Khaosan for the first time and aren’t sure what to order, Pad See Ew + Tom Yum Goong is my personal recommendation.
It’s the combination I’ve continued to enjoy after years of visits.
Yum Woon Sen: Fresh, Tangy and Full of Texture
We also ordered Yum Woon Sen, another dish I regularly add when I want something with a different texture alongside the heavier main dishes.
Yum Woon Sen is a Thai glass noodle salad known for its refreshing yet punchy seasoning.
I’ve heard it casually compared to everything from Korean kimchi to Italian pickles because of the role its acidity plays alongside a meal, although it’s very much its own Thai dish.
For me, its biggest appeal at Khaosan is the texture.
The ingredients are cut generously enough that you really notice the crunch and chew rather than everything disappearing into the noodles.
That makes it more substantial than I sometimes expect from a salad.
It’s refreshing, but it can also be surprisingly filling.
One thing to know before ordering: Khaosan’s Yum Woon Sen is strongly seasoned.
Compared with versions I’ve eaten elsewhere, I find this one noticeably more intense.
I enjoy that boldness, particularly alongside beer and the other dishes.
But if you’re sensitive to salty, sour, or strongly seasoned foods, keep that in mind when ordering.
Is Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan Good for Solo Dining?
Yes.
I’ve seen plenty of people dining alone here, and the many two-person tables make it relatively easy to visit without a group.
If you want a simple solo meal, ordering one noodle or rice dish is perfectly reasonable.
But personally, I think Khaosan is even more enjoyable with at least one other person.
Thai food is one of those cuisines where I always want to order too many things.
Coming with a friend means you can share a soup, noodle dish, salad, and perhaps another main without having to choose just one.
For a first visit, I’d particularly recommend coming as a pair if you want to experience a wider range of flavors.
What Should First-Time Visitors Order at Khaosan Itaewon?
Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan‘s Poo Pad Pong Curry is one of its best-known signature dishes, so that’s certainly worth considering if you’re curious about the restaurant’s most popular menu items.
But as a longtime customer, my own recommendation is slightly different.
I’d start with: Pad See Ew + Tom Yum Goong
The Pad See Ew gives you smoky, savory wide noodles with plenty of texture, while the Tom Yum Goong adds that intensely fragrant, spicy-sour Thai flavor.
If you’re sharing with another person and want a third dish, add Yum Woon Sen for something fresh and chewy.
And if you’re drinking, a cold beer fits naturally with all three.
It’s a simple combination, but it’s the one I keep returning to.
Is Khaosan Itaewon Worth Visiting?
I’ve been eating at Khaosan since 2014.
For me, that probably says more than a single enthusiastic meal ever could.
Restaurants change, neighborhoods change, and personal favorites sometimes disappear.
Yet after all these years, I can return to Itaewon Thai Restaurant Khaosan and still find the bold flavors that made me like it in the first place.
I especially appreciate that the restaurant doesn’t make Thai food feel complicated or intimidating.
The menu is approachable, solo diners can eat comfortably, and there are enough dishes to make sharing with friends even more fun.
Then, at the end of the meal, there’s often that simple little candy handed over almost casually.
Nothing elaborate.
Just a sweet final bite after a table full of spicy, sour, salty, smoky flavors.
If you’re searching for an Itaewon Thai restaurant near Itaewon Station and you enjoy assertive Thai flavors, Khaosan is one of my longtime recommendations.
Go with a friend if you can, order several dishes for the table, and if you want to eat it the way I do, start with Pad See Ew and Tom Yum Goong.
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