Ben Thai Cafe – Thai
Vibrant aromas of lemongrass and toasted spices fill this lively neighborhood gem, where every plate arrives as a colorful celebration of authentic Thai street food. Diners can crunch into delicate, golden-fried treasures like prawn rolls and "Golden Bags" before diving into the bold, addictive heat of signature Murder Wings or the tender, savory-sweet bliss of Pork of the Heavens. It is a spirited culinary escape that balances playful innovation with time-honored traditions, ensuring every bite is as memorable as it is flavorful.
1331, Polk Street, San Francisco, CA, 94109 +14157712562 https://www.benthaicafe.com/0Cuisine: Thai
Price range: $
Dietary options: dairy-free, high-protein, vegan, vegetarian, glp1, heart-healthy, low-fat, low-sodium, paleo, pescatarian, plant-based, whole30, anti-inflammatory, dash-sodium-reduced, gerd, high-fiber, low-cholesterol, aip, alkaline, renal, tlc, volumetrics, zone, lectin-free, macrobiotic
Currently open
Hours
- Monday - Thursday
- 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
- Friday
- 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
- Saturday
- 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
- Sunday
- 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Menu
Starters
- Golden Bags - $12.5: Rice paper stuffed with potato and minced chicken, fried crispy. Served with cucumber salad and sweet & spicy sauce. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Chicken Satay - $13: Chicken skewers marinated in herbs and spices, served with peanut sauce and cucumber salad. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Prawn Roll - $12: Marinated prawn wrapped in egg roll skin and fried crispy. Served with sweet & spicy sauce. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Murder Wings - $13: Spicy fried chicken wings sautéed with fresh peppercorn, krachai, herbs, spices and fried basil. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Paradise Wings - $13: Sweet and savory fried chicken wings sautéed with garlic and topped with fried basil. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Vegetarian Fried Spring Rolls - $12.5: Deep fried spring rolls served with sweet homemade ketchup. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Pork of the Heavens - $13: Deep fried pork marinated in Thai herbs and spices; served with sticky rice. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Crispy Calamari - $14.5: Homestyle deep-fried calamari with sweet chili sauce. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- Golden Triangle - $9.5: Golden brown deep-fried tofu served with sweet chili sauce and crushed peanuts. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Fresh Roll - $12.5: Prawns or Tofu, bean sprouts, lettuce, cilantro wrapped in rice paper served with peanut sauce and sweet & sour sauce. Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Ben Thai Platter - $22: Golden bags, Prawn roll, Veggie roll, Golden triangle, and Chicken satay served with four sauces. Available at: dinner, lunch
Salads
- Papaya Salad (Som-Tum) - $14.5: Shredded green papaya, tomato, green bean, carrot and ground peanuts in chili-lime dressing. Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Larb Salad - $15: Spicy and sour salad with choice of ground chicken, fried tofu or soft tofu with chili, red onion, cilantro, toasted rice, and spicy citrus vinaigrette. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Low-Sodium, High-Fiber, Renal Available at: dinner, lunch
Soups
- Tom Yum - $14: Spicy sour soup with choice of chicken or tofu, mushrooms, lemongrass, kaffir and galangal. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Tom Kha - $14: Spicy sour soup with creamy coconut milk, choice of chicken or tofu, mushrooms, lemongrass, kaffir and galangal. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Oxtail Soup - $20: Oxtail slow stewed with carrot, tomato, and cabbage. Available at: dinner, lunch
Main Courses
- Keow-wan (Green Curry) - $16.5: Green curry in coconut milk with eggplant, string bean, bell pepper, broccoli, and basil. Dietary tags: Dairy-Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Gang-Dang (Red Curry) - $16.5: Red curry paste in coconut milk with bamboo shoots, zucchini, bell pepper, snap pea, and basil. Dietary tags: Dairy-Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Ka-Ree (Yellow Curry) - $16.5: Yellow curry in coconut milk with potato, carrot, onion, bell pepper, and pumpkin. Dietary tags: Dairy-Free, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Alkaline Available at: dinner, lunch
- Pa-Nang Curry - $16.5: Panang curry sauce in coconut milk with zucchini, broccoli, bell peppers and kaffir lime leaf. Dietary tags: Dairy-Free, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, GERD-Friendly, Volumetrics, TLC, Renal Available at: dinner, lunch
- Pad-Ta-Lay - $23.5: Sautéed prawns, calamari, and salmon with mixed vegetables in spicy sauce. Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Seafood-Delight - $23.5: Prawns and calamari in red curry and coconut milk with onions, pineapple and carrot. Dietary tags: Dairy-Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Salmon-Delight - $25.5: Salmon in red curry and coconut milk with onions, pineapple and carrot. Dietary tags: Dairy-Free, Whole30, Paleo Available at: dinner, lunch
- Garlic Duo - $22.5: Sautéed prawns and calamari with garlic sauce and crispy garlic. Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Gra-Prao - $15.5: Spicy minced chicken or choice of protein sautéed with garlic, bell pepper, onion, bamboo shoots, and fresh basil. Dietary tags: Whole30, Paleo Available at: dinner, lunch
- Spicy Eggplant & Basil - $16.5: Choice of protein and eggplant sautéed in chili paste with garlic, bell pepper, onion, and fresh basil. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Plant-Based, Alkaline Available at: dinner, lunch
- Peanut Pra-Ram - $15.5: Choice of protein topped with curry peanut sauce, served on a bed of sautéed vegetables. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Pik-King - $15.5: Choice of protein sautéed with green beans, bell peppers, onions, snap peas, and lightly spiced curry paste. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline Available at: dinner, lunch
- BBQ Chicken - $17: Chicken breast marinated in lemongrass curry sauce and grilled. Served with side salad. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, TLC, Renal Available at: dinner, lunch
- BBQ Pork - $17: Grilled pork marinated in Thai herbs and spices. Served with side salad. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Low-Sodium, TLC, Renal Available at: dinner, lunch
- Pork Palo - $19: Fatty pork belly and egg slow-cooked in Chinese five spice stew; served with pickled cabbage. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Roasted Duck Curry - $23: Red curry in coconut milk with roasted skin-on duck, tomato, snap peas, bell pepper, zucchini, pineapple and basil. Dietary tags: Dairy-Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Spicy Pikking Swai - $23.5: Deep fried white fish filet topped with sautéed green bean, bell pepper, snap pea and spiced pikking paste. Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Salmon Avocado Curry - $26: Red curry paste with salmon in coconut milk with bell pepper, snap peas and avocado. Dietary tags: Dairy-Free, Pescatarian, Alkaline Available at: dinner, lunch
- Pumpkin Curry - $20.5: Red curry paste with prawns in coconut milk with bell pepper, pumpkin and basil. Dietary tags: Dairy-Free, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Low-Sodium, High-Fiber, Alkaline Available at: dinner, lunch
Noodles & Fried Rice
- Pad Thai - $16.5: Rice stick noodle with choice of protein, egg, garlic, tofu, pickled turnip, scallions, peanuts, and bean sprouts. Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, TLC Available at: dinner, lunch
- Pad See Ew - $16.5: Rice noodle with choice of protein, broccoli, egg, and house soy sauce. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- Pad Kee Mao - $16.5: Rice noodle with choice of protein, snap peas, broccoli, onion, bell pepper, tomato, and basil in spicy house chili soy sauce. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Pescatarian, GLP-1, Anti-Inflammatory, High-Fiber, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics Available at: dinner, lunch
- House Fried Rice - $16.5: Fried rice with choice of protein, egg, onion, and scallions. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Gra-Prao Fried Rice - $17.5: Spicy fried rice with choice of protein, onion, scallions, and basil. Topped with a sunny side up egg. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Khao Soi - $18.5: Egg noodles in red and yellow coconut milk curry topped with crispy pork skin, cilantro, onions, fried shallots, pickled mustard greens, and fried egg noodles. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Emperor Khao Soi - $35: Ultimate Khao Soi noodles loaded with roasted oxtail, roasted duck and chicken satay. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Chan Pad Poo - $19.5: Pan-fried rice stick noodles, egg and real crab meat with house sauce. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Roasted Duck Noodle Soup - $21: Choice of thin rice stick or flat fun noodles in rich broth with spinach, cilantro, and bean sprouts. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Pineapple Fried Rice - $20: Curry Thai fried rice with pineapple, onion, egg, cashews, chicken and shrimp. Dietary tags: High-Protein Available at: dinner, lunch
Sides
- Jasmine Rice - $3.25 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, TLC, Renal, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Brown Rice - $3.75 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, Volumetrics, TLC, Renal, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Sticky Rice - $4 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, TLC, Renal, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Fried Egg - $4.5 Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, DASH Sodium-Reduced Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Peanut Sauce - $2.5
- Cucumber Salad - $5.5 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Steamed Vegetables - $7.5 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Sautéed Vegetables - $9.5 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Roti - $4.5 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, Volumetrics, TLC, Renal, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Curry Sauce - $9
Desserts
- Mitchell’s Ice Cream - $6: Choice of vanilla bean, buko or Thai tea ice cream. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Mango and Sweet Sticky Rice - $12: House-made sticky rice with coconut milk, black sesame seeds, and fresh mango. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, High-Fiber, Macrobiotic
- Sweet Sticky Rice with Ice Cream - $10: House-made sweetened sticky rice with coconut milk and Mitchell’s Ice cream. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium
- F.B.I (Fried Banana with Ice Cream) - $11: Batter-fried banana with Mitchell’s Ice Cream, peanuts, and honey. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Thai Crepe with Ice Cream - $10.5: Crispy Thai roti served with choice of Mitchell’s ice cream. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Brownie Matcha Lava - $17: Uji Matcha Chocolate Lava Cake with cookies crumble, seasonal fruits and Vanilla Bean ice cream. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
Beverages
- Coke/Diet coke/7-up - $4 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Apple Cider - $4.5
- Sparkling Water - $4.5
- Thai Ice Tea - $5.5 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Thai Ice Coffee - $5.5 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Ginger Honey Limeade - $5.5 Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Hot Tea - $4
- Whole Young Coconut - $9 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, Volumetrics, TLC, Alkaline, AIP, Renal, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Ginger Mimosa - $11: Prosecco and house-made ginger lemonade Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Tropical Sangria - $11: Red wine sangria with tropical fruit Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Lectin-Free
- Draft Beer - $10: Rotating selection of San Francisco Craft Beer
- Singha / Chang - $6.5: Lager - 5% ABV Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Renal
Restaurants near Ben Thai Cafe
- Lapisara — Thai
- House of Thai — Thai
- What the Cluck — Thai
- BANGKOK STREET Thai Street Food — Thai
- The Thonglor — Thai
- Kin Khao eatery — Thai
- Thai Curry — Thai
- Gai — Thai
- NaYa Dessert Cafe — Thai
- Rooster and Rice — Thai
- Rooster & Rice — Thai
- Lao Table — Thai
