The Spicy Cafe

For diners who come for the khao soi, the combination of a mellow coconut-milk broth with a touch of heat and flat, wavy noodles leaves a lasting impression. The bowl also contains chicken, bean sprouts and red onion, with crispy noodles on top. You get both noodles softened in the broth and the crunch of the fried topping. Some diners say they add the accompanying seasoning to change the flavour as they eat. It’s a good option on The Spicy Cafe’s menu if you’re in the mood for noodles with a little variety.

When a tangy broth sounds more appealing, there’s also a tom yum noodle dish. One diner who ordered a large portion at lunch enjoyed kutio, a rice-flour noodle, in a sour, spiced soup, then adjusted the flavour with the seasoning served on the side. With shrimp and coriander in the bowl, it offers a different way to enjoy Thai noodles from the mellow khao soi.

For something other than noodles, one combination worth considering is yum woon sen with gapao rice. One diner described the yum woon sen, with its vegetables and nuts, as a refreshing dish, and added pickled chilli in vinegar from the table to the gapao rice. There’s pleasure in choosing a few dishes to share—or deciding what to order for a satisfying meal on your own.

This restaurant in Arai, Nakano Ward, offers both dine-in and takeaway. Payment is cash only.