The story
In Daly City, just south of San Francisco, Kan Kiin brings a dual personality to the table. By day, it serves a modern Thai brunch; by night, it shifts to traditional Thai dinner. The restaurant describes its own food as “bold flavors in a vibrant welcoming setting,” and that spirit carries through every dish.
The brunch menu is where Kan Kiin’s creativity shines brightest. Matcha Buttermilk Pancakes arrive with mixed fruit and matcha sauce. The “Kan Kiin” French Toast uses brioche, a two-way banana preparation, and homemade coconut syrup. For something savory, the “Hat Yai” Fried Chicken & Waffle pairs crispy Southern Thailand-style fried Mary’s free range chicken with a vanilla waffle and maple syrup. The Bangkok Golden—a stir-fry of Dungeness crab, shrimp, squid, and scallops in a signature house curry sauce—shows how seamlessly the kitchen blends Thai technique with local ingredients.
Even the classics get a Thai accent. The Steak & Eggs comes with an 8 oz NY strip and “Ka Pow” Thai basil fried rice. The “Jok” Crispy Pork Belly is a tom yum rice porridge with poached egg, ginger, shiitake mushroom, and fried doughnut. And the Sweet Corn Cake & Crab Benedict swaps the usual English muffin for a crispy sweet corn cake, topped with Dungeness crab and house hollandaise.
The dinner menu continues in a more traditional Thai comfort direction, with dishes like green curry spaghetti, drunken seafood noodles, and larb salads made with chicken or beef. Appetizers include “E-Sarn” chicken wings (named for northeastern Thailand) and a tuna tartare with avocado and mango. Throughout, the cooking is grounded, precise, and generous with flavor.
Kan Kiin’s approach has earned a Michelin Recommended distinction, a recognition that suits a place that treats brunch and dinner with equal seriousness. Available for both dine-in and takeout, it’s open for brunch Monday through Friday from 11 am to 2 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm. Thai dinner service runs nightly from 5 pm to 8:30 pm. Weekend brunch is first come, first served—come early and join in.
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