Best of KC 2025: Baramee Thai Bistro gains fulfillment through making you full

Pad Key Maw at Baramee Thai Bistro. // Photo by Sarah Sipple

Earlier this month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can take a peek at the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some local people, places, and things that we thought clearly won 2025. We’ll be publishing these items online throughout November.

Baramee Thai Bistro has been serving Kansas City since 2019, when Thai native and chef-owner Nutnisa Hoffman opened the doors with her husband, Doug. The word baramee can mean “fulfilling yourself by making others happy,” and the restaurant lives up to that promise with dishes rooted in Northeastern Thai traditions. 

By sourcing fresh produce from City Market and working with local growers, Baramee Thai Bistro delivers plates with a bright, balanced punch. It has become one of Kansas City’s go-to spots for bold, reliable Thai food without the fuss. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming—casual enough for a quick lunch or a prolonged stay on the leafy patio or in the uncomplicated dining room that makes it just as easy to linger over dinner.

The menu covers all the essentials: pad Thai, pad kee mao, curries, and fried rice, but regulars know to branch out. The Baramee Thai Catfish, topped with a sweet-spicy sam rod sauce, is a standout, and the Baramee platter makes the perfect shareable starter with its mix of spring rolls, crab rangoon, and dipping sauces. Portions are generous, flavors are balanced, and there are plenty of vegetarian options.

To round it out, the bar serves cocktails that echo the kitchen’s bright, fresh approach—think Thai basil, ginger, and citrus—alongside bubble tea, hot sake, and other drinks that make the menu as versatile as the crowd it attracts.

Click below to read the November Best Of 2025 Issue of The Pitch Magazine: