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Kao Thai Cuisine

4.7 (446)
$31 to $50
Thai
1307 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Booked 10 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Good for business meals
Our menu offers modern Thai eats that are commonly found on the streets of Bangkok as well as a mix of creative pan-Asian and Asian-American fusion dishes that are fresh and exciting. With a rotating menu of specials, we hope to continuously bring new flavors and dishes to the Main Street District!

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Thai, Asian, Fusion / Eclectic
  • Hours of operation
    Sat 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Fri 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Columbia
  • Cross street
    Main St. and Lady St.
  • Parking details
    We offer customers free parking in our adjacent lot. Enter on Senate St. and exit onto Park St.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 446 people are saying

Kao Thai Cuisine reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Columbia

    Best Overall

  • Columbia

    Best Food

  • Columbia

    Best Ambiance

  • Columbia

    Best Value

  • Columbia

    Innovative

  • Columbia

    Healthy

  • Columbia

    Neighborhood gem

  • Columbia

    Great for fine wines

  • Columbia

    Romantic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Kao Thai Cuisine offers a flavorful journey with "the tastiest Thai food in town." Known for its "incredible ambiance" and a mix of traditional and creative dishes, the restaurant ensures a memorable dining experience. While some mention service delays, the majority praise the "great food and drinks" and "excellent service."
446 Reviews
  1. Jared

    South Carolina2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was fantastic service left nothing to be desired. The indoor/outdoor setting reminded me of restaurants in Thailand.

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  2. Mark

    South Carolina1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great restaurant, excellent food choices, incredible ambiance, but a little pricey!

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  3. Abbie

    Charlotte2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love it! We have been several times and had a superb experience everytime!

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  4. Kathleen VIP

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill37 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was great and the service was even better. Our visit really topped off a wonderful graduation weekend.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Kate VIP

    New York City25 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The tastiest Thai food in town by far! Kao is a delight from the first bite to the last sip. The food is flavorful, fresh and and fantastically prepared. The menu is a lovely combination of traditional Thai dishes and more creative meals. If you’re in Columbia and craving Asian food, Kao is an excellent choice - if not the best one.

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  6. Elena

    South Carolina1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great experience over-all except for the the long delay in the food being served.

    Is this helpful?

  7. karl VIP

    South Carolina45 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I have been coming to Kao for years and have always loved the food and service. The last time I came the food was very poor (and reviewed it as such and even sent a person note that went unanswered) and so I decided to come and try it one more time last night. To my delight the food was excellent and back on track, which I was delighted! Thanks,

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  8. Jeff

    South Carolina3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My wife was celebrating 10 years of being cancer free and we love the food at Kao Thai so we chose to eat there. Our table was in/outside and the weather was perfect along with the service and food.

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  9. JOY VIP

    South Carolina3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 19, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful dinner at one of our fav places! The drinks were cold & delicious and the food hot, spicy & flavorful! The servers made us feel welcomed and were attentive to our needs. We look forward to enjoying another evening w/ you soon. Thanks Sunshine!

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  10. Amy

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was so fresh and delicious. Will be back very soon!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Kao Thai Cuisine offers delivery in partnership with Chow Now. Kao Thai Cuisine also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (803) 569-6881.

Kao Thai Cuisine is rated 4.7 stars by 446 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. South Carolina
  4. Columbia
  5. Columbia

Make a reservation


Booked 10 times today
Google Map for Kao Thai Cuisine

1307 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Main St. and Lady St.
  • Neighborhood
    Columbia
  • Hours of operation
    Sat 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Fri 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Thai, Asian, Fusion / Eclectic
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    We offer customers free parking in our adjacent lot. Enter on Senate St. and exit onto Park St.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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