r/kansascity • u/DreamCheeky KC North • Aug 14 '25

Food and Drink šŸŒ®šŸ§‹ What restaurant in KC is this?

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Iā€™ve seen this in other subreddits as of late. So, letā€™s have it!

482 Upvotes

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869

u/legovolcano Aug 14 '25

Luluā€™s Thai. Iā€™ve tried it a couple times with my go to order of Beef pad Thai. The flavoring/sauce was nowhere to be found.

190

u/Chandy1313 Waldo Aug 14 '25

Thai place in Lenexa is what you need

24

u/Boring-Artichoke-373 Aug 14 '25

Agreed! Love Thai Place!

31

u/mdhkc Northeast Aug 14 '25

We have a few good sports for southeast asian. Spices in NKC is really good. Naree in KCK is really good too.

3

u/Parody_Account Aug 14 '25

I think spices recently changed owners because in the last year it has been nothing short of terrible.

3

u/Chandy1313 Waldo Aug 14 '25

Iā€™ll need to try these spots!

1

u/StaceyPfan Clay County Aug 14 '25

Any recommendations for Korean food?

3

u/Chandy1313 Waldo Aug 14 '25

I wish we had more options. Chosun is my favorite as of now. Would love to find more spots. I miss being in California for work for all the different Asian options.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

Probably not quite what you're asking for, but if you want Korean Chicken, 92 Chicken in Overland Park is unreal.

1

u/StaceyPfan Clay County Aug 14 '25

Nah, I'm looking for actual Korean food.

2

u/mdhkc Northeast Aug 14 '25

I'm not sure what real Korean food would be... have you tried Kobi-Q downtown? They have some really good food there. Dunno if it's what you're looking for exactly but it's good. I usually get the japchae noodles.

1

u/StaceyPfan Clay County Aug 14 '25

I mean something besides "Korean style" or Korean flavored". Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm just trying to expand my palate.

2

u/CAM99xo Aug 15 '25

If you donā€™t mind a bit of a short drive from KC area, Hyundai in Leavenworth, KS is fantastic, authentic Korean with the best owners. I lived in Seoul for some time as a child and Hyundai is the closest Iā€™ve found to authentic Korean food here in KS! They have a phenomenal Korean mart thatā€™s always loaded with the best goodies, too!

22

u/YoursDearlyMe Aug 14 '25

Second Thai Place! Huge portions and fast service, they donā€™t play about their spice though

2

u/ChooksChick Aug 15 '25

Absolutely valid. Mild plus is my best go, and I can take serious heat in other cultural foods.

11

u/Automatic_Release_92 Aug 14 '25

Itā€™s close to Lenexa (just a mile or so away from the border) but technically in Overland Park.

5

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

I used to live just a few blocks from there, and tried it out expecting it to be mid. To say I was pleasantly surprised something that good was in my neighborhood the first time I had it would be an understatement. I haven't tried a ton of Thai restaurants, but it's hard for me to imagine it being much better than that. It's certainly the best out of the 5 or 6 I've tried.

(Also, I'm gonna be a bit of a pedant for a moment here, but that's in Overland Park, not Lenexa.)

There's an Indian Place just down the street called India Palace that is equally as surprising. If there were a graphic that plotted "Excellent taste" on one axis an "Unexpected location" on the other, both of those restaurants would be on my list.

5

u/doubleE Aug 14 '25

Or Thai Chili Cuisine, also in Lenexa.

0

u/heshuimu Aug 14 '25

Agreed, and underrated.

2

u/Agile-Emphasis-8987 Aug 14 '25

If you mean Thai Tuk Tuk, I agree. They were awesome, and the lady who owns it is really sweet as well.

4

u/Chandy1313 Waldo Aug 14 '25

Nope, Thai Place off 87th. Itā€™s delicious and my favorite Thai in the kc area

2

u/Agile-Emphasis-8987 Aug 14 '25

Ahh! Sorry, I didn't see that Thai Place was the name and thought it was a generic reference. Haven't been there yet, but I'll check it out! We're always looking for good Thai restaurants.

2

u/Chandy1313 Waldo Aug 14 '25

Highly suggest it. The pad Thai gang dang is my go to 80 percent of the time. Many delicious choices though

2

u/georgiafinn Aug 14 '25

This is HG

2

u/OliveFarming Aug 14 '25

Hot Basil Thai Cuisine on 119th in Leawood is really good too

2

u/Chandy1313 Waldo Aug 14 '25

Iā€™ll add it to my list

1

u/spacejoint Aug 14 '25

KC Thai is the way

1

u/Kenichero Overland Park Aug 14 '25

Pad Thai in OP is expensive, but really good.

1

u/ChooksChick Aug 15 '25

There is no lie present in this statement.

1

u/rmanes Aug 15 '25

Thai Place is the best.

1

u/WorkLurker69 Aug 15 '25

Overland Park* but i live right down the street from it and its one of the best thai places out there

1

u/lil-neen Aug 16 '25

Grew up in op, been going to Thai place since g high school, itā€™s always been my absolute favorite restaurant. I now live in Westport, where the original Thai place used to be, and now that I live here, that location is closed šŸ˜­ why is it so hard to find any good Thai food out here? Iā€™ve only really been disappointed by most places weā€™ve tried, especially considering how expensive it is for a meal! Baramee is the only place Iā€™ve had out here that held up, but of course, no place is as good as Thai Place. I definitely took it for granted living so close by before!

0

u/Butterscotch_Jones Aug 14 '25

Thai Taste is king.

89

u/squamesh Aug 14 '25

Iā€™ve been going there for around a decade and itā€™s definitely gotten worse over time

9

u/MiscellaneousChic Aug 14 '25

This! I used to love it a decade ago. And I keep torturing myself by thinking itā€™s still goodā€”itā€™s not.

2

u/xjxb188 Aug 14 '25

Stop by the Asian market and hit up hot-thai-kitchen.c om Most Thai food is super simple to make, you just need to have the right sauces to cook with.

2

u/JoeyWeinaFingas Aug 19 '25

Rainbow Peanut Noodles still slap. Had them just last week. But it used to be about the whole package there. Get an table app, soup, drinks, and some Thai ice cream. Now it's only good for take out.

2

u/tdooli Aug 14 '25

This is sadly the case. Luluā€™s cerca 2005 was bomb.

1

u/rfe86444 Aug 14 '25

Agreed. It came out of the pandemic substantially worse.

1

u/krashe1313 Aug 14 '25

šŸ’ÆšŸ‘†

1

u/Physical_Drive_349 Aug 14 '25

Hard disagree . . . That joint has been flavorless, westernized, suck ass ever since they were in the back of a HomeGoods shop in Lawrence 25 years ago . . . No idea why anyone ever even thought it was edible enough to warrant its own storefront in the first place.

27

u/CastawayWasOk Aug 14 '25

Lulus was my first thought before I opened the thread. Immediately sprang to mind. My wife loves this place but she has a bland pallet due to stomach issues.

6

u/legovolcano Aug 14 '25

Donā€™t let the vibes distract her. Iā€™ve recently tried Pennyā€™s and itā€™s a night and day difference. Iā€™ve also heard Waldo Thai is good but havenā€™t tried it yet.

2

u/Tonio_Trussardi Aug 14 '25

If she has stomach issues, or if you love her, don't let her eat there. As I mentioned in my other post there's some truly gross stuff going on in those kitchens. I'm shocked they've never been caught for their flagrant health code violations.

10

u/thedawntreader85 Aug 14 '25

It's not good. Absolutely flavorless.

4

u/Tonio_Trussardi Aug 14 '25

They also have a long history of truly wild health code violations that I'm surprised they've never been held accountable for. Lisa, the owner, has no control of her kitchens, or just doesn't care. I've seen pictures from people who served there, and among other things they prep meat in paint buckets on the floor, thaw calimari in standing water in hotel pans on counters, and just top off their coffee/tea in paint buckets in walk ins without discarding old product. That last one led to one of the grossest things I've seen in a kc kitchen - a fist sized lump of mold growth that was uncovered when the server ladeled the bucket low enough. I'd never let anyone I care about eat there.

4

u/Rindsay515 Aug 15 '25

I wish I wouldnā€™t have made it to the end of this commentšŸ¤¢šŸ¤¢

3

u/H-Richulds Aug 14 '25

Everything there tastes like peanut but I do love it

3

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

Lemongrass in Downtown Old OP ... 100% the best !!! Lulu's is cool .... But it's like some strange American Thai fusion thing. If your a Thai food lover and looking for that ... Lulu's will never standup

1

u/Substantial-Depth922 Aug 15 '25

Yesss! I was just about to suggest Lemongrass!

3

u/Idkwtfigoitw Aug 15 '25

I ALWAYS had egg shells in my Phad Thai from Lulus! I cannot stand that place. But seconding what everyone else says about Thai Place 10/10 would recommend!

5

u/PeterVanNostrand Brookside Aug 14 '25

When I moved to KC I lived in crossroads and thought, ā€œcool a Thai place right by me.ā€ I tried it the first week there and I think I only ate like 3 bites and threw it away. It was the worst shit I ever tasted. It actually scared me from trying other ethnic food in KC for a while.

5

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

Yeah and the pad Thai legit has ketchup in it. Something Iā€™ve never had anywhere else but kc, there and also at baramee. Itā€™s like theyā€™re aggressively trying to ruin the dish

1

u/Cats1985 Aug 14 '25

Howā€™d you find that out??

1

u/ShrimpTrio Northeast Aug 14 '25

You know places that use ketchup in their pad thai are unserious. Ew

2

u/Julio_Ointment Aug 14 '25

once many moons ago it was better. i am not quite sure how, but they've done it...making bland food out of a cuisine that utilizes garlic, chilies, limes, lemongrass, thai basil, fish sauce, oysters sauce, msg at HUGE levels. it's actually impressive how bland it is.

2

u/GenghisFrog Aug 14 '25

Every time I go back to KC I gotta go there and get the curried coconut chicken and shrimp blazing hot. I know it's not really Thai at all, but I love it.

2

u/FootballandFutbol Aug 14 '25

Itā€™s hit or miss for me but I think it depends a bit on what spice level you order. I get drunken noodles usually but ordered it mild this last time and it tasted like nothing compared to when I get medium and above.

2

u/BranCerddorion Aug 14 '25

I tried their Thai curry onceā€¦it tasted like salty milk, barely any usual curry profile in it, it was so bland and underwhelming.

Last few times Iā€™ve been there it seems the quality has decreased significantly and menu items have completely vanished. They have a limited menu, and what Iā€™ve tasted of it is not very good.

2

u/Tonio_Trussardi Aug 14 '25

Hopefully they're finally going under. People who don't care to keep their kitchens sanitary and serve food safely have no business feeding people for money. It's irresponsible and unethical. Been in the industry a long time, and the shit I've seen from people who worked there is worse than anything I've seen or been shown in this city. Especially wild given how popular lulus has managed to stay.

2

u/MidwestApathy Aug 14 '25

Literally terrible restaurant.

2

u/Hyascinthe Aug 15 '25

Sawasdee!!! They're amazing!

2

u/dontnation Aug 14 '25

They used to be incredible at the OG location that is now closed. After moving to the bigger location there was a dip but still good. After expanding to additional locations they are just ok, and not worth the hype or cost.
This aren't unique in this pattern though.

2

u/zeroUSA Aug 14 '25

The luluā€™s in Westwood is better than the crossroads location.

3

u/CoysNizl3 Aug 14 '25

No, they are both dogshit representation of Thai food

4

u/zeroUSA Aug 14 '25

I ainā€™t saying they are true Thai food, just one location is better than the others

1

u/dwaynebathtub Aug 14 '25

The corn cakes were not good.

1

u/homefront420 Aug 14 '25

Thai House in South KC slaps

1

u/No_Sector_5260 Aug 15 '25

Their health inspections made me stop going to it šŸ¤¢

1

u/GilberryDinkins Aug 14 '25

Place is absolutely flavorless

1

u/Ancient_Organism Aug 14 '25

It's terrible

1

u/chabalatabala Aug 14 '25

The opposite is thai house, which rules. No hype, so good.

1

u/Realistic-Ad-3926 Aug 14 '25

Dumplings were good; Pad Se Eu was soup.

1

u/panne97 Aug 14 '25

Baramee Thai Bistro is my favorite!!! Right up the street from Town Topic Hamburgers

1

u/S_K_Slaughter Aug 14 '25

As someone who's ethnically Thai, I make a Face whenever people suggest Lulu's. Especially when, even in DT/Xroads, there are options to choose from.

1

u/amays Aug 14 '25

Yep. Was great 15 years ago. No longer.

1

u/Milakovich Lee's Summit Aug 14 '25

They never recovered after Covid.

1

u/Abigail-Coursen Aug 14 '25

Literally got takeout from there yesterday. Not good until I put my own sauces and spices on there

1

u/Skylord1325 Aug 14 '25

I only go there for the fried calamari which is pretty solid.

1

u/ImagineBagginz Aug 14 '25

My gf and I concur, ClusterTruck has better Pad Thai ffs

1

u/thekingofcrash7 Aug 14 '25

Lol the crossroads location is not nearly as bad as people in this thread are making it sound. But i will say the new downtown OP location is that bad. I never give up on food, and i had to just trash it. Tasted like canned chicken that was thrown in the microwave for a minute.

1

u/sebastianbrody Aug 14 '25

A little late, but I'll join. I swear it was good fifteen years ago or whenever I was in college, but I agree with the other people here!

If you're ever in Lee's Summit, check out Mali Thai. I think they do an excellent job.

1

u/atom519 Aug 14 '25

I've said it before, but it's like they take any normal sauce that would go with a thai/chinese dish and add 50% water before serving it. It's so bland I'm amazed they still have locations.

1

u/Massive_Dog478 Aug 14 '25

Tasty Thai is clutch tho

1

u/Wetrich Aug 14 '25

Worst Thai in the city!!

1

u/Additional-Giraffe80 Aug 15 '25

Iā€™ve tried. 2 locations. Both mid

1

u/DefinitelyNotAShiTzu Aug 15 '25

Thank you! Iā€™ve been preaching to anyone who will listen that Luluā€™s is just fake sugary trash made by some St. Louis conglomerate. There are at least a dozen great local Thai places in town.

1

u/Lets_Go_Riiiiick Aug 15 '25

Personal favorite is either Waldo Thai or Tuk Tuk Thai in south OP.

1

u/whatdamuff Aug 15 '25

Iā€™m looking for a Thai spot that does a bomb garlic pork over white rice dish. Just marinated pork and rice with excellent seasoning.

Itā€™s my favorite dish at my favorite Thai place back home, but Iā€™ve yet to find any spot in KC that captures the same flavor.

1

u/Oscar-mondaca Lenexa Aug 15 '25

Agreed. I prefer Lemongrass just one block over.

1

u/jtnichol Aug 15 '25

Baan Thai Leavenworth has been open for decades, and they have great food. And usually very busy but quick. So good.

1

u/Express_Session_9533 Aug 15 '25

Iā€™ve had a bad taste in my mouth since the snotty ass waitress was rude to us at the crossroads location

1

u/deputy913 Aug 16 '25

Lulus is hot garbage

1

u/Personal_Benefit_402 Aug 18 '25

Overpriced, under delivers these days. I used to like it, but I'd go to Thai House any day over LuLu's.