Khao soi is not the easiest bowl to find in St. Paul, and this list leans honest about that: most rooms below are Thai kitchens with strong curry and noodle work rather than dedicated khao soi houses, so the reporting here follows the broader Thai and Lao strength of each spot. St. Paul's Thai tier runs from strip-mall counters to sit-down family rooms, and the best of them earn their reputation one curry at a time.
№ 01
Ruam Mit
St. Paul $$
367 Wabasha St N, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16512227871
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Ruam Mit works both Thai and Lao dishes from the same kitchen, and the pad thai sauce is mixed with a heavier hand than most competitors attempt. The fried tofu appetizer comes crisp rather than soggy, and portions run generous enough that two people can split an order of pad thai plus mango sticky rice and still leave full. A dependable choice for anyone chasing Lao flavor alongside the Thai standards.
What to orderpad thai, mango sticky rice, fried tofu
№ 02
Thai Café
St. Paul $
371 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · +16512258231
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Thai Café keeps its footprint small and its prices lower than most of St. Paul's Thai tier, landing at the most affordable end of this list. Without a deep public record of standout dishes, it reads as a straightforward neighborhood counter rather than a destination room, the kind of place suited to a fast, inexpensive weeknight order rather than a special occasion.
№ 03
Krungthep Thai
St. Paul $$
1141 Rice St, Saint Paul, MN 55117 · +16513408681
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Krungthep Thai's seafood curry draws the strongest praise here, rich enough to distinguish the kitchen from the pad thai and green curry pack that fills most Thai menus. Service moves quickly even when the booths fill up, and the menu carries enough range that a table of picky eaters can each find something without anyone settling for a fallback dish.
What to orderseafood curry, pad thai, green curry
№ 04
Friends Cafe
St. Paul $
1711 Rice St, Roseville, MN 55113 · +16514877696
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Friends Cafe is a family-owned counter built for speed, and the pra ka pao, Thai basil stir-fry, comes out with real heat rather than a tamed version for outside diners. The curry dishes rotate and stay fresh through a lunch rush, making this a reliable stop for takeout after work rather than a sit-down destination. Reasonably priced and unpretentious in setup.
What to orderpra ka pao, curry dishes, pad thai
№ 05
Eastside Thai Restaurant
St. Paul $
879 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130 · +16517766599
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Eastside Thai Restaurant anchors its menu in both Thai and Hmong comfort cooking, and the pad thai and drunken noodles keep regulars coming back on the strength of portion size alone. The catfish curry stands out as a heartier option than the noodle dishes, and street parking makes it an easy stop for a casual weeknight dinner on St. Paul's East Side.
What to orderpad Thai, drunken noodles, catfish curry
№ 06
HOT GRAINZ - Thai Street Food
St. Paul $$
882 7th St W, Ste 12, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16514000126
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HOT GRAINZ moved to a new location with a lounge area near the entrance, leaning into a street food identity built around pad thai, som tam, and Thai basil chicken. The reputation built on social media has drawn crowds, though the kitchen's execution reads as inconsistent across visits, so it suits diners going in for the vibe rather than guaranteed precision.
What to orderpad thai, som tam, thai basil chicken
№ 07
YaiGu
St. Paul
526 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102
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YaiGu's duck curry breaks from the standard red curry formula with sweet notes from pineapple and rambutan, a dish distinctive enough to build a following around. Service moves fast even for groups, and the mango rice pairs well against the richer curry. A newer name in St. Paul's Thai scene that has quickly built a strong word of mouth reputation.
What to orderDuck Curry, Mango Rice, Pad Thai
№ 08
Karen Thai Food
St. Paul
300 Larpenteur Ave E, Saint Paul, MN 55117 · +16517712078
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Karen Thai Food's Thai style pho draws the loudest praise on the menu, a noodle soup format less common on St. Paul Thai menus, alongside drunken noodles that hold up on their own. The room stays small, and reports on consistency and cleanliness have varied, so diners should treat this as a hit or miss stop rather than a guaranteed favorite.
What to orderThai style pho, drunken noodles, green curry
№ 09
Lanna Thai Restaurant
St. Paul
2295 Como Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55108 · +16124707172
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Lanna Thai Restaurant sits in St. Paul's Saint Anthony Park neighborhood, running a robust menu built around pad thai, green curry, and som tam. The room stays small and the atmosphere leans toward the intimate, making it suited to a quiet dinner rather than a large group outing. Regulars recommend adding a protein to the base dishes for a heartier plate.
What to orderpad thai, green curry, som tam
№ 10
On's Kitchen
St. Paul $$
1613 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104 · +16513309664
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On's Kitchen has built a following through repeat delivery orders as much as dine-in visits, with the pad see ew standing out for its char and balance against the more common pad thai. Service runs prompt and the seating stays comfortable even at capacity. A consistent execution across a large volume of orders is the strongest case for this kitchen.
What to orderpad see ew, pad thai, green curry
№ 11
Basil Cafe
St. Paul $$
585 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55103 · +16514932893
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Basil Cafe draws steady weeknight crowds, busy enough on a Thursday afternoon to signal demand well before the dinner rush hits. The spring rolls rate well as a starter, and the room's plant filled interior and wood detailing make it a comfortable stop for a group meal. Waits can run long on weekends, a tradeoff regulars say is worth it for the green curry and pad thai.
What to orderspring rolls, pad thai, green curry
№ 12
Coconut Thai on Grand
St. Paul $$
720 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105 · +16513487250
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Coconut Thai on Grand runs pad thai, curry, and tom yum across two locations, with loyal regulars naming it a favorite in the Twin Cities' Thai tier. Reports on the Grand Avenue room diverge sharply from praise for its Edina sibling, with some diners finding the flavor here flatter and the execution inconsistent. Worth trying with expectations calibrated to that variance.
What to orderpad Thai, curry, tom yum
Frequently asked
Where can I find good khao soi near me in St. Paul?
Dedicated khao soi houses are rare in St. Paul; most of the city's Thai kitchens, including several on this list, build their reputation on curry, pad thai, and noodle dishes rather than the northern Thai coconut curry noodle soup specifically. Check current menus directly, since khao soi availability can shift seasonally even at strong Thai rooms.
What does the Insider Score measure on this list?
The Insider Score reflects a pattern read from the public review record for each restaurant, covering food quality, consistency, and service as described by diners over time. No restaurant pays to be listed or to improve its placement; the ranking is independent of advertising.
Is Coconut Thai on Grand the same as the Edina location?
They operate as sibling locations under the same name, but diners have reported differences in flavor and consistency between the St. Paul room on Grand Avenue and the Edina location. Each should be judged on its own record rather than assumed identical.
Which of these St. Paul Thai restaurants is best for large groups?
Krungthep Thai, Eastside Thai Restaurant, and Basil Cafe all read as strong choices for groups given their varied menus and casual group friendly setups. YaiGu also handles groups well with fast ordering and quick turnaround on food.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Kou Thao
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Kou Thao is the St. Paul & Corridors Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born in St. Paul and raised in Frogtown, he grew up working the family egg-roll stand at Hmongtown Marketplace. He covers the marketplaces, University Avenue, the East Side and West Side, and every corridor counter worth the trip across the river.
