One of San Francisco’s Oldest, and Most Beloved, Thai Restaurants Is Closing
It’s the end of an era for diners in San Francisco. After more than 50 years, one of the city’s most beloved—and oldest—Thai restaurants has announced that it is permanently closing its doors.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Khan Toke Thai House, a staple of the city’s Richmond District since the 1970s, has suddenly shuttered its doors. Guests learned of the eatery’s closing courtesy of a sign that was hung in the restaurant’s window. The restaurant’s phone numbers have all also been disconnected.
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As recently as last year, Khan Toke Thai House was named one of the city’s “Best Classic Restaurants” by the San Francisco Chronicle. Part of the restaurant’s charm was its old-school rules and traditions, which the Chronicle described as follows:
"Guests are reminded to remove their shoes before entering Khan Toke Thai House, one of the city's first Thai restaurants. The restaurant is a place of celebration and ritual, where you sit on the carpeted floor—tables have spacious nooks for your legs underneath, while soothing strings vibrate through the air.”
Khan Toke Thai House, a Richmond District staple in operation since the 1970s, has permanently closed. https://t.co/EsdLhonTPM
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) August 18, 2025
Part of what makes the restaurant so iconic is what one critic described as its Thai temple-like design. The main attraction, of course, is the vast menu of fresh dishes. An original time crepe filled with Thai cream, minced shrimp and pork, tofu, and shredded coconut; deep fried chicken wings marinated with lemongrass; and a variety of fresh curries and noodles.
On Tuesday, the restaurant posted a photo to its Instagram page, where it explained its departure—and left the door open for a return.
"After much consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to downsize our restaurant as our current lease has come to an end," wrote the restaurant. "Combined with today’s economic challenges, we’ve realized this location is no longer the right fit for our future. However, this change allows us to refocus on serving you a wider variety of foods in a more efficient setting. While it’s bittersweet to say goodbye to this space, we’re excited for this new chapter and the opportunity to continue sharing our passion for food in a fresh way."
So while the restaurant may be gone—it sounds like it might be a very temporary situation.