Khaosan opened its doors to customers on January 8.
Past JP Licks and right beside Shoyu sits Andover’s newest restaurant: a Thai-and-Vietnamese-fusion eatery called Khaosan. Khaosan occupies what was previously an Indian fusion restaurant named Indulge India. We walked downtown and headed in for lunch, and here’s what we think.
As soon as we entered, a mural greeted us from the opposite wall, with a turquoise-tiled counter on our left, and a signature waving cat perched on top. Our server brought us to the right side of the restaurant, where all the tables were. The space was well organized to appear bigger.
Quiet music played in the background, and bamboo lamps overhead created a calm atmosphere. The tables, which range from two to six seats, were far enough from each other to feel private. Along the far wall of the restaurant was a large wooden wall with hunter green shutters, framing spices, toys, and jars of sauce. At the back of the space, an archway hung with paper fish frames the entrance to the bathrooms, which are convenient and easy to find.
As for the food, the menu is split into Thai and Vietnamese sections, and we sampled both with one appetizer and two entrées. In addition to the main dishes, Khaosan offers classic Thai and Vietnamese drinks and desserts, along with spicy, mild, and vegan options, making the menu accessible to a wide range of palates. We ordered summer rolls with a thick peanut sauce, beef pho served with bean sprouts and a lime wedge, and a spicy fish fillet accompanied by lettuce.
Khaosan’s mango sticky rice, priced at $10, is set on a table.
The summer rolls were heavy on lettuce, which made them feel dry, especially since the peanut sauce was more paste-like than expected. However, the sauce did add a strong burst of flavor. The fish fillet, paired with lettuce and a spicy sauce, was flavorful and had a satisfying kick. The beef pho was also well done, generously topped with cilantro and green onions, though the rice noodles were noticeably short. Portion-wise, the pho was more filling than the fish fillet, which left us less satisfied. We enjoyed the presentation of the dishes and the reasonable timeliness of their arrival. Although there was only one server working during our lunch visit, service was efficient.
In terms of prices, Khaosan is definitely on the pricier side. It’s about $15-$25 per person, depending on what you order. For some dishes, like the fish fillet ($17.95; not as filling as we expected) and summer rolls (two rolls for $8.25), it’s not completely worth it. Because the pho’s portion size is large, we would say their pho is worth the cost.
This restaurant, which is one of the few serving Asian cuisine in the area, can only be compared to Shoyu and Kokoro Craft Udon. It’s for sure less commercial than Shoyu, but its prices and vibes are similar to Kokoro, especially in the way both restaurants are decorated to emphasize their respective cultures. Compared to the Indian eatery that used to call Khaosan’s location home, the interior is quite similar, perhaps even a bit more polished, with its red and yellow booths.
