Glai Baan

"Twinkling with string lights, this cozy, brick-walled Thai restaurant in Central Phoenix is a beloved standby for chef-owner Cat Bunnag’s delicious take on Thai street food, and the specialties of her native Isan. Local favorites include steamed dumplings filled with local pork; mackerel fried rice; and PEI mussels, fragrant with lemongrass and chile jam. Start with outstanding cocktails, which incorporate Thai ingredients." - Mcconnell Quinn, Chris Malloy, Nikki Buchanan

"“Glai Baan would have to be my favorite restaurant in the valley. It’s perfect for any occasion and always first on my list when I have friends visiting from out of town. Every time I go, Dan welcomes [us] like we’ve been lifelong friends—it feels like home. Next time you go, make sure you try the Laab Sided cocktail. During Covid, I missed it so much that my girlfriend and I started making it at home.” - Garrett Nickelsen" - jess basser sanders

"Glai Baan has achieved something that seems otherwise impossible: making Phoenix known for exceptional regional Thai food. Chef and co-owner Pornsupak “Cat” Bunnag’s dedication to bringing the flavors of her Bangkok upbringing to the Arizona desert has helped create a dining experience that feels both authentically Thai and also distinctly phoenix. Glai Baan, translating to “far from home,” specializes in dishes reminiscent of Bangkok street food and the bold flavors of northeastern Thailand’s Isan region. The menu is chock-full of traditional and tweaked dishes that all stand on their own, yet the pork dumplings (Kanom Jeeb) are a standout. Made with local Arizona pork, these steamed dumplings are outstandingly juicy and succulent, pairing perfectly with their scallion and ginger soy sauce." - Mcconnell Quinn

"Northeastern Thai fixture Glai Baan has kept its kitchen open, and some genre-bending cocktails are ready for takeout in illustrated bottles. Diners can order ahead and grab chef Cat Bunnag’s staples like khao soi, panang curry, and smoked mackerel fried rice for curbside pickup." - Chris Malloy

"Glai Baan is a lively Thai restaurant perfect for a night out with friends. It’s located in a converted bungalow in Midtown and serves shareable street food-inspired Thai dishes that are all under $20 - like salted crab papaya salad and pork skewers. Seating is limited and wait times can run high, but it’ll be worth it once you’re eating panang curry with braised beef and nua num tok under a string of twinkling lights." - Joanna Boyle