The King & I has a longstanding tradition of preparing excellent Thai food and exotic drinks. In fact, they have some of the best cocktails in the city. The King & I is set at mid basement level on the outskirts of Loring Park. They have an outdoor patio that is inviting for dinner. The King & I has an eclectically Asian designed interior and an inviting lounge feel. The lounge is the most popular at night and they serve a full menu all night until close. The King & I is popular for bringing in local DJ’s and providing an intimately lit and comfortable lounge area.
Bring a group of friends and sit at a booth, space is ample and the servers are both friendly and punctual. The crowd at the lounge is usually in their 20’s or early 30’s, but it is definitely not your typical downtown scene. Everyone is friendly, talkative, and hip. It’s usually pretty common to see some cool tattoos, a mix of ethnic groups, and a lot of trendy clothing (think Williamsburg in Brooklyn).
Normal prices are around $18 for an entrée (for 2) $5 for a tap beer, and $8-11 for a specialty drink. We recommend the basil fried rice ($12), the tastiest thing on the menu and big enough for 2. With such a wonderful menu, colorful specialty drinks, and nightly live music, why wouldn’t you want to come here?
THRIFTY TIP: Valet is $5, there are usually meters on 14th & Nicollet (free after 10).