What are the best Thai (and other Asian) restaurants in San Francisco and Marin County? We get asked that question all the time. And while there is no easy answer for this, we are delighted to share with you our opinions on some of the best Thai food in Northern California.

What we have noticed is that almost all restaurants are really good overall, but certain restaurants will have particular specialties which are superior to others. This might not be too much of a surprise. You see, the owners (and chefs) of Thai restaurants come from all over the kingdom. And since each particular province has a specialty, it makes sense that people from that province will be experts at the local cuisine.

Below are our opinions, and if you feel that we missed your favorite restaurant, be sure to send us an E-Mail and let us know.

Best Thai Restaurants in Marin County:

Orchid Thai - San Anselmo, tel: (415) 457-9470
This is the place we go whenever we want to have fried squid in garlic, or if we are in the mood for Barbecued Chicken. Nice atmosphere and friendly service. At last count, they were a four-time winner in the Pacific Sun Best of Marin awards, so they have to be doing something right. For an appetizer, try the Peak Gai Yad Sai (Chicken wings stuffed with crabmeat, ground pork and silver noodles).

Siam Lotus - Fairfax,
Well worth making the trip for their Laap Ped (minced duck salad in lime juice). Slightly spicy, the duck is always lean and tender. Their curries are good, and the traditional styling and romantic atmosphere make it a great place to go on a date (the nearby movie theater and music spots also help out in this area). Good selection of wines as well.

Royal Thai - San Rafael,
We are big fans of the curries here, especially the salmon curry. If you are looking for a few plates with zing, this might be your best bet. But the other dishes are very good as well, so if you tend to enjoy your food a bit more mild, then don't be afraid to check out their offerings. They are also multiple winners of the Pacific Sun Best of Marin awards. They also have a branch in San Francisco (on Clement St.) which is worth checking out.

Best Thai Restaurants in San Francisco:

Khan Toke Thai House, 5937 Geary, tel: (415) 668-6654
This is a classic place. Meals are served in the traditional Northern Thai style, with low tables and patrons sitting cross-legged on the ground. If you are worried about your legs cramping up, they have a unique solution: many of the tables actually have holes underneath them, so you can sit on the ground and dangle your legs down. Wear clean socks, because patrons must remove their shoes when entering. They also have classical Thai dane performances on certain nights. And by the way, the food is terrific, so there is more to enjoy than just the traditional atmosphere.

Patpong Thai Noodles, 2415 Clement St, tel: (415) 379-9726
They just opened in June of 2000, and they already have a good reputation going. A combination of good food, unique atmosphere, and very reasonable prices makes it a great place to eat. While they have many noodle dishes (some that are hard to find in Northern California), they also have a large selection of non-noodle dishes.

Marnee Thai, 2225 Irving St., tel: (415) 665-9500
This place is always crowded, and one taste of the food you will know why. Really good dishes all around, very popular for dates, birthdays, anniversaries, and just anyone who likes good food. We suggest you try the chicken wings in basil, which are slightly spicy, as an appetizer. You can't go wrong with any of their daily specials. Just look at what everyone else is ordering and ask for that.

Thai Time, 315 8th Ave., tel: (415) 831-3663
There are some dishes here that you just can't find anywhere else. In particular, we love the Kao Soy (egg noodles with your choice of meat, in a mild yellow curry), which is famous in Chiang Mai and northern Thailand. Ask for Hoy Tod, which is an omelette filled with clams, and Karm Poo Saway, which is a deep fried crab claw with sweet and sour sauce.