Saen Sook brings Thai street food to North Killingsworth
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You'll be surprised by what you find inside. Photo: Meira Gebel/Axios
I've been dining out at some pretty fancy new restaurants lately, but when I'm not on assignment I'm perpetually searching for reliably delicious takeout.
- Luckily for me, a spot matching that description opened up in my neighborhood recently.
Zoom in: Saen Sook, located next to North Killingsworth's Tulip Shop Tavern, boasts a menu of Thai street food staples like papaya and larb salads, khao soi (coconut curry soup) and wok-fried rice noodles.
- I've eaten at Saen Sook four times in the last month (once in person, three times via takeout), which in my house is a glowing endorsement.
Best bites: Never skip the appetizers. While the cream cheese golden bag is an easy choice for crab rangoon lovers like me, try the red curry-peanut wings, grilled shrimp satay and som tom Thai (for a cold, crispy crunch) instead.
- The tom kha soup — a sweet-and-sour blend of coconut, lemongrass, galangal (like ginger) and lime — was the standout for me among Saen Sook's other soup offerings. It's delicate, but you can easily adjust for your spice tolerance.
- The stir-fried dishes truly shine. I'm still thinking about the sticky, peppery kick of the pork belly pad kra pao, the sweet, building heat of the pad kee mao and the juicy hunks of crab in the khao pad puu.
Wash it all down with a Thai iced coffee and side of sticky rice with taro and you've got a pretty sweet ending.
If you go: Saen Sook (833 N. Killingsworth St.) is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30am to 9pm.
📧 Got a hole-in-the-wall restaurant I should try? Let me know!