Information on Chef Nir Levy is scarce. He appears to be an Israeli chef with an Instagram presence but lacks a widely available online profile with details about his culinary background, restaurants worked at, or...
Insights
ThaiVegan-friendlyModerateLunchDinnerCasual
Last updated: 7/2/2026, 5:02:46 AM
Key Information
Kapao is known as the first strictly kosher Thai and Japanese restaurant in Israel, offering an authentic Thai culinary experience. The owner, Nir, spent time in Thailand learning traditional food preparation, bringing genuine flavors to Petah Tikva. The restaurant provides a beautifully decorated, magical atmosphere, making it a unique dining destination.
Customer Perception
Customers generally praise Kapao for its delicious and authentic Thai food, noting that it's spicier than typical Asian restaurants in Israel. Many appreciate the attractive prices, especially the lunch deals, and the friendly, fast service. The ambiance is often described as beautifully decorated and pleasant. A recurring minor complaint from some reviewers is that the music can be too loud.
Kapao prides itself on being the pioneer of strictly kosher Thai cuisine in Israel. The menu features a blend of traditional Thai dishes and Japanese sushi, all prepared under strict kosher supervision. The restaurant aims to transport diners to Thailand with its authentic flavors and unique atmosphere.
Strictly Kosher (Badatz Beit Yosef)Vegetarian optionsCooked fish sushi options
Best Times to Visit
Lunchtime is highly recommended due to attractive lunch deals. The restaurant offers a pleasant dining experience throughout the day.
5
Kapao specializes in Thai food, which is spicier than the standard fare served at generic Asian restaurants in Israel. Furthermore, Nir, the owner, is an enthusiast of the cuisine, after spending time in Thailand and learning traditional Thai food preparation. The common Asian restaurants here go to some lengths to adapt their offerings to the Israeli palate. You probably haven't had food quite like this before. I liked it a lot.
We came at lunch time, so we enjoyed two lunchtime deals: my wife got two sushi rolls for a bargain price, and I got a free (reduced size) starter before my main.
I selected Pik Gai (everything but the sushi has a fancy Thai name) as my starter, a plate for four chicken wings in tempura and garlic sauce. (The regular portion has 10 wings. That should be enough to share.) That was nice, but not outstanding.
For my main, I ordered the Geang Kio Waan Gai, a soupy stew with chicken and vegetables in a curry sauce with coconut milk. This dish was justifiably marked spicy in the menu. It made my eyes tear; I loved it. I scooped the side of Jasmine rice into the liquid to moderate the heat.
I also tried the Chang beer, a Thai product I had never encountered. This was a light beer, very nice. Try it.
My wife chose the California Roll, but requested cooked salmon rather than raw fish, and the Hot Salmon Roll, which comes with cooked salmon and panko coating. It was noticeably warm on the inside. I probably would not have taken two rolls but with cooked fish, but I can say that they were both tasty. I particularly liked the crispy texture of the panko coating.
We shared a unique dessert: Mango Sticky Rice, mango sorbet next to sweet sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and sprinkled with toasted coconut. The rice was warm and the sorbet of course was cold. I'm told that the combination of temperatures is characteristic of Thai cooking.
The service is friendly and fast, possibly a bit too fast, as my main came before I had finished my starter. But maybe that's because I was busy sharing the sushi, which was really good.
Kapao is a nice place to dine in, and the prices are attractive, especially at lunch.
The restaurant is small but decorated beautifully, nice staff, tasty food and I think really well priced. Most dishes were sauced a little too heavily for me, including the slaw which was soaked, but the banana loti was really exceptional. Overall a nice night out and a great addition to the new center
The music was way too loud, and I couldn’t hear the person sitting across from me at the table. I asked several times if they could lower the music, but nothing changed. This was my second time eating here, and both times the music was an issue, so unfortunately I won’t be returning.
