Thai food is often introduced through Pad Thai, green curry, and drunken noodles. Manaao in Tustin offers a much broader introduction.
Calling itself a Thai comfort food restaurant, Manaao brings regional Thai dishes to Orange County with a menu that reaches into the country's noodle, curry, seafood, and street-food traditions.
KHAO SOI TAKES CENTER STAGE
One of Manaao's most talked-about dishes is khao soi.
The Northern Thai noodle dish combines curry, coconut milk, noodles, and protein into a bowl that is rich, aromatic, and layered.
Manaao's menu takes the concept further with variations such as khao soi with braised beef and soft-shell crab.
CRAB FRIED RICE WITH A THAI POINT OF VIEW
Thai fried rice can be much more than a side dish.
Manaao's crab fried rice uses generous crab alongside fragrant rice, making it a substantial dish that works particularly well for sharing.
It is also a good example of how the restaurant approaches familiar Thai food with a stronger regional identity.
LOOK BEYOND PAD THAI
The menu includes plenty of familiar dishes, but some of Manaao's most interesting choices are the ones that may not appear on every Thai restaurant menu.
Thai boat noodles, gaeng som, pork jowl, crispy pork belly, chu chee curry, and other regional preparations provide opportunities to explore.
For adventurous diners, this is where the restaurant becomes particularly rewarding.
THAI COMFORT FOOD FOR SHARING
Manaao's dishes are well suited to a group meal.
Instead of everyone ordering an individual entrée, diners can order several dishes and build a table around contrasting flavors.
A curry, noodle dish, grilled specialty, vegetable dish, and dessert can create a much broader experience of Thai cuisine.
THE SOCALEAT TAKE
For anyone searching for Thai food in Tustin or Orange County, Manaao offers a regional approach that goes beyond the standard Thai restaurant menu.
Its khao soi, crab fried rice, Thai boat noodles, curries, and grilled specialties make it a destination for diners who want to explore Thai comfort food in greater depth.
VISIT MANAAO
Manaao - Thai Comfort Food
13842 Newport Ave Ste F
Tustin, CA 92780
Phone: (949) 988-2009
https://www.eatmanaao.com/
Cuisine: Thai
Specialties: Khao Soi, Crab Fried Rice, Regional Thai Comfort Food
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