Chao Baan - St Louis

There aren't a vast amount of choices available, but I opted for the spicy option and found it to be full of flavor with generous portions. My entire family, including those who are not vegan, also enjoyed the meal. I think I may have developed a strong liking for the cucumber salad.

My family dined at this restaurant in January. The food was excellent, with many options for vegetarians. The restaurant is spacious and has an open layout. Our only issue was that the service was a bit slow, which seemed to be because the staff was busy fulfilling a high volume of takeout orders, causing a delay in serving dine-in customers.

Our server, along with every other staff member we encountered, was very friendly and helpful. We ordered the KEE MAO Spicy noodles with tofu well done and Chinese broccoli (without tomatoes) at the hot spice level. The flavor was fantastic! However, the dish had no spice at all. I asked our server about the spice levels before ordering, and he mentioned that hot was the highest level they offered. I inquired about Thai hot options, but he said they didn't have any, and that their hot was similar to Thai hot 1 (which it definitely was not). I am serious about spice, and I do judge ethnic restaurants when they do not deliver on spice. Nonetheless, the dish was delicious and vegan-friendly, and I would order it again. The portion size was excellent, providing enough for a full meal the next day. We also ordered the PANANG CURRY with tofu well done, ordered hot. Again, it was not spicy, but the flavor was excellent. I felt that there was not enough curry for the price, and may choose to omit the tofu next time to see how much curry we really get. I spoke with the owner to confirm all of their vegan options, which include Crispy spring rolls, cucumber salad, all curries with tofu or no protein, Spicy Kee Mao with tofu or no protein, Pad Thai with tofu or no protein (without egg), BKK Fried Rice with tofu or no protein (without egg), Grilled Eggplant, and Laap Tofu. I asked about the Thai Fried Rice, but was told it contains fish sauce and shrimp paste. While these can be omitted, it may leave the dish bland. I appreciate the owner's honesty and will focus on the other listed items next time. I would definitely return to Chao Baan, but I challenge them to expand their vegan and spice level options.

My family dined at this restaurant in January. The food was delicious, with a variety of vegetarian options. The dining area is spacious and open. Our only issue was the slow service, which seemed to be caused by the high volume of orders the staff needed to handle in order to ensure all guests were served in a timely manner.

Our server, along with every other employee we encountered, was extremely pleasant and helpful. The Kee Mao spicy noodles we ordered with tofu were expertly prepared, and the Chinese broccoli (without tomatoes) was deliciously spicy. The dish had a fantastic taste and there was nothing wrong with it. Before ordering, I asked our server about the spiciness level and he mentioned that their highest level was "hot." I asked about the Thai hot options, but unfortunately, they didn't offer them. However, he assured me that their hot level was comparable to Thai hot 1. Although it wasn't too spicy for me, I take my flavors seriously and usually expect ethnic restaurants to deliver on spice. Despite this, the vegan-friendly dish was flavorful and tasty, and I would definitely order it again. The portion size was generous, enough for a satisfying meal the next day. The Panang curry we ordered with tofu was well-made and flavorful, although it lacked in spiciness. I also felt that there wasn't enough curry for the price. Next time, I will skip the tofu to see how much curry we actually receive with the dish. I spoke with the owner to confirm all their vegan options, and he mentioned that all curries can be made vegan when ordered with tofu or no protein. The spicy Kee Mao and Pad Thai dishes with tofu, as well as the Bangkok fried rice with tofu, were all vegan options. He advised against the eggplant dish, as it would make it taste bland. I appreciated his honesty and focused on exploring the above-mentioned options. Despite the minor issues, I would definitely return to Chao Baan, but I challenge them to expand their vegan and spicy level options.