Visited Lai Kanok (ライカノ), a Thai restaurant famous for its appearance on The Solitary Gourmet (Kodoku no Gurume). Overall, it’s a decent spot, but the dishes were a bit hit-or-miss. The Food Breakdown: The Soups: ⚠️ Disappointing. The broth was incredibly salty, to the point where it overpowered the other traditional Thai flavors. The Curries: 👍 Good. Rich, well-balanced, and exactly what you'd expect from a solid Thai kitchen. Fried Soft-Shell Crab: 🦀 Delicious! Perfectly fried with a great texture and savory flavor. Highly recommended. The Desserts: 🏆 The absolute highlight of the night. Surprisingly, the sweets stole the show. They were phenomenal and easily the best part of the entire meal.

+3

🫳🫳🫳 Not bad But not amazing Tried: - Morning glory / Kang kong / 空芯菜 - Curry crab - Pad Thai - Chicken rice Morning glory ★★☆☆☆ Texture was good, but lacked garlic and saltiness. Was quite sweet. Nothing like the proper dish in terms of taste. Not recommended unless you like things sweet Curry crab ★★★★☆ The sauce was very tasty, and the crab was great. However, they didn’t break the shell well, nor did they provide tools for opening the shell (all we had were disposable chopsticks). It was quite messy to eat. Be careful if you don’t want to get your hands dirty. Pad Thai ★★★★☆ A tad sweet, but quite tasty. My partner really enjoyed it. Chicken rice ★★★☆☆ Standard dish. Not bad, but nothing particularly special. If you like it, it’s worth ordering it. Service ★★☆☆☆ We were hurried a lot (e.g. to leave the store) plates were sometimes taken when there was still food on the plates. Maybe staff aren’t compensated well enough and just want to leave early. We were forced to pay at the table, but it’s cash only. Seems like they’re trying to be fancy, but they just don’t want to pay credit card fees? Overall: Would go there if there was nothing else better. But personally I prefer a place in Yushima. ↑ 2024 Update (2026) ↓ Tried: - Masaman - Pad Thai - Beef Noodle soup Masaman ★☆☆☆☆ Super stingy with the chicken. It’s basically potato curry with rice. If you like carb on carbs, then I guess it’s not bad. Sauce was decent but also stingy. There was not enough for the dish. So, can’t recommend this dish unfortunately. - Pad Thai ★★★★☆ The only dish that was worthwhile. Tasty. - Beef Noodle soup ★★★☆☆ (Me:★★☆☆☆) Depends on your taste. It has a kind of medicinal taste. Some people probably like it.

+3

This Thai restaurant in Kita-Senju offers a fantastic dining experience with authentic flavors, cozy ambiance, and excellent service. The dishes are well-prepared with bold spices and fresh ingredients, making it a great spot for Thai food lovers. We tried classic Thai dishes such as papaya salad (som tam), stir-fried morning glory, Thai green curry, and a spicy stir-fried crabs dish. The use of traditional blue-and-white patterned plates adds to the authenticity of the experience. The presence of Thai beer and colorful drinks enhances the meal, making it feel even more immersive. The restaurant’s walls display a framed autograph referencing the famous Japanese TV show “孤独のグルメ” (Kodoku no Gourmet), suggesting that it has been featured on the show. This is a strong endorsement, as the show is known for highlighting excellent eateries. Overall, this place stands out as a must-visit for Thai cuisine enthusiasts in Kita-Senju. Whether you’re craving spicy, savory, or refreshing Thai flavors, this spot delivers an enjoyable and satisfying meal. I only wish that the rice and also the dishes could come with a bigger portion.

+2

Likes: -location,3-min walk from JR Kita-Senju Stn -reasonable prices, 3 dishes+4 drinks ¥5000+ -good quick service despite all tables filled Dislikes: -not 100% authentic Thai taste, detail info with enclosed photos -dishes a tad sweeter than my preference -no usual Thai condiments on table -small with 10 tables; noise volume of next-table over-the-top loud Tourists really makes any kind of conversation impossible; making it a quickly eat-and-go place -cash only Note: best make reservations

+3

Cash only. We did not have reservations (tried calling three days before but no answer), which I would recommend as they squeezed us in, but the table was a bit uncomfortable for a group of five. Menu is extensive and will take you a while to pick what you want. They have all the expected Thai dishes one would know, but that’s about it. Overall, the food was decent but the service could be better. The bill was ambiguous and did not detail the prices. The taste was great. Recommended if you're looking for Thai food.

+3