Mae Krua - San Francisco

I love this place it?s great! Clean, simple, delicious, authentic Thai food. This is a great place if you are looking for a quick light meal in the neighborhood.

Mae Krua is part of an intriguing concept in Bernal Heights. They've taken an industrial kitchen and filled it with a group of chefs (with no waitstaff or sous chefs), giving them the freedom to unleash their creativity. The result? Mae Krua. Interestingly, there are also Jamaican and pickle/sandwich chefs working in the same space. The dining area is quite small, with just three or four tables shared among the three kitchens, so it’s best to visit during off-peak hours or, like 80% of the traffic, grab your food before settling in for your favorite Netflix show. Mae Krua is the real deal. The chef hails from southern Thailand and skillfully prepares each of the ten dishes on the menu to the requested level of spice. A tip: go for medium spice—it strikes a perfect balance for those who prefer milder flavors as well as those who enjoy more heat. Be sure to ask for the hot sauce and the delicious lemongrass meat sauce to enhance the flavors. One standout dish is the pumpkin curry, where the flavors transport you straight to the streets of Bangkok, Phuket, or Pattaya. While you relish the pleasantly warming spices, a splash of fresh coconut can help cool your palate, with the pulp available for dessert. The rice balls are another treat; they are large, fried, doughy morsels that pair beautifully with the lemongrass fish sauce. Do be prepared for a wait, as a single cook can sometimes feel overwhelmed by orders. This is not a fast-food spot; it’s slow food made with love. However, the chef is quite accommodating and will serve your food to your table once you're seated. We tried the spring rolls with tofu, which were decent but not the highlights of the meal. Everything else, especially the pumpkin curry, outshone them. Next time, we plan to try the chef’s Penang and green curries, which I bet have fantastic flavors. If you’re in the mood for soup, don’t miss the Tom Kha; for something more filling, the classic Pad Thai is a solid choice. Menu options include tofu for vegetarians and chicken for meat lovers. The best part? The prices. We may have gone a little overboard, but at just $10 a dish (or about $20 for two), you can indulge your craving for authentic Thai food without breaking the bank.

The concept is fantastic, and one of the staff members from the pop-up was wonderful. Unfortunately, the menu didn't appeal to us on this occasion. However, I really loved the idea! It had a vibrant atmosphere with some great food choices.

The Thai food was disappointing, and the owner seemed uninterested, shutting down before 3:00 PM. I ended up trying another Thai restaurant at Mission and Francis, but they were on vacation until June 22nd. It might be best for Thai restaurant owners to reconsider their operations or take a break back in Thailand.

I love Panang Curry