Thai Lunch Worth the Trip from Medford, MA

Name: KaO | Thai & Asian Flavors
Address: 125 Essex Street, Lawrence, MA, 01840, US
Telephone: 978-923-0065
Price range: $$

Real Thai Flavor, Ordered Around Your Medford Lunch Break

Medford runs on a mix of Tufts University staff, biotech employees along the Mystic corridor, and tradespeople moving between job sites. Lunch options downtown can feel repetitive fast — another sandwich, another pizza slice. When a craving for something bold and fresh hits mid-week, KaO | Thai & Asian Flavors in Lawrence, MA is the answer Medford workers keep coming back to.

We're located at 125 Essex Street, Lawrence, MA — roughly a 30-to-40-minute drive from Medford depending on traffic on I-93 or Route 28. That's not a daily commute, but it's absolutely worth planning into a longer lunch outing, a Friday afternoon treat, or a full group catering order brought straight to your Medford office or event space.

What to Order When Lunch Time Is Short

If you're driving over from Medford, you want dishes that are ready fast and hold up well on the ride back. Here's what regulars count on:

Pad Thai — the benchmark dish; satisfying, familiar, never heavy
Kao Fried Rice — house-style fried rice that travels exceptionally well in a sealed container
Thai Fried Rice / Spicy Basil Fried Rice 🌶️🌶️ — great if you want heat; the spicy basil version has real kick
General KaO Chicken — crispy, saucy, and crowd-pleasing for anyone who's on the fence about Thai food
Grilled Chicken Teriyaki — clean flavors, easy to eat at a desk
Crab Rangoon or Gyoza — grab these as a starter or pair them with an entrée for a fuller meal
Thai Ice-Tea — order one. You'll understand why people drive for it.

Drunken Noodle and Lo Mein are also strong picks — hearty enough to carry you through an afternoon of meetings without the 2 p.m. slump.

Feeding a Medford Team? Catering Makes More Sense

Tufts has a busy events calendar. Medford's bioscience offices host lunch-and-learns. Local contractors and project teams need food that shows up ready to serve without fuss. If you're organizing for a group, KaO's catering option is built for exactly that.

What to know before you book: - Minimum 10 guests - Please place your catering order at least 48 hours in advance - Kao Platters are designed for group service — ask about them when you call - No in-house delivery; catering orders are picked up or arranged directly

For a Medford office, that 48-hour window is easy to work with once you build it into your event planning. Call us at 978-923-0065 to discuss what your group needs, portion sizes, and which dishes work best for your setup.

Why Medford Customers Keep Coming Back

Medford doesn't have a deep bench of independent Thai restaurants. When people here find something authentic — not a chain, not a food-court approximation — they hold onto it. KaO's menu is built around dishes made with real technique: wok heat, fresh aromatics, balanced spice levels that you can customize. The Drunken Noodle and Spicy Basil Fried Rice in particular are dishes that regulars request by name, not just by category.

The drive from Medford to Lawrence is a straight shot north. Plan it for a day when you have a bit more time, bring a coworker, and order more than you think you need — leftovers from KaO are never a problem.

---

Ready to order or plan a catering pickup for your Medford team? Call KaO at [978-923-0065](tel:9789230065) or stop by 125 Essex Street, Lawrence, MA 01840. For catering, reach out at least 48 hours ahead so we can make sure everything is exactly right for your group.