By Liz Steen

A steady rain outside seemed to be helping business at KinD Asian Noodle House, the new popup at 4509 California Ave SW.

 “This is soup season. We’re in the soup season right now,” said Dream, greeting guests at KinD (pronounced with the D emphasized to rhyme with “windy”). The new Junction restaurant is cozy and comforting, whatever the weather.

Dream said the name is a play on words. Kin is a phrase that means “Eat well, live well”  in her native Thai. She said she also likes that the word “kin” goes “with the kin and family, connection.” Families and kids are welcome. Dream said they intentionally made the space accessible for larger groups because her family tends to travel as a group. “ I don't know, people who would just go out with like, you know, mom, dad, and one person.”

“(I said) let's get the bigger table so we can accommodate family outings sometimes,” she said, “My dad has 12 siblings, so any time we go anywhere, it's like a big deal.” Large groups also get a chance to spin the wheel that stands by the front door to win prizes for the table. The prizes are “Drinks and appetizers mainly, just to kind of introduce people to our new menu and just… a little game,” Dream said. The trio worked at a Japanese restaurant with a similar game and brought the wheel with them to their new place for, “a little fun.”

Family- and kid-friendly dishes include vegan Scallion noodles, “An Asian version of butter noodles,” that so far has been popular with families, as well as the usual noodle soups. “I'm Thai,” Dream said. “I want to do a Tum. But stay tuned. That is coming.” The hidden menu, if you ask for it, includes Dream’s childhood favorite, tomato eggs, a stir fry that’s “Comfort food. I grew up eating that every day.”

Spice levels are moderate, but can be amped up on request. “Right now there's a couple of people who are like, I need it to be more spicy,” Dream said, and the three-person team of Chef Jin, Randy, and Dream can make it happen. “That's also another thing that we're really focused on is if we don't like it, we're not going to sell it.. So that that's kind of how it is,” Dream said. The three met through work and “just kind of clicked” before starting their own venture in the space vacated by Bounjour Vietnam. “They used to have music playing and a stage.” The trio thought about keeping the stage at first. In the end they realized, “I’m clumsy, and other people could be too,” Dream said.

The menu took weeks to come together with nightly tests. Everything gelled when they realized  the two-day stock simmered overnight was a non-negotiable. “At first we thought… maybe we can shortcut,” but taste tests were definitive. “We (realized) we can't take it easy with broth... We've got to put our all into this.”

The noodles are made off site during the soft launch this month. The trio bought a noodle maker and are “playing with it” in order to bring the handmade noodles in house soon. “You make it work,” said Dream.

On a recent visit, the Braised Shank Noodle soup had an elevated, balanced broth that didn’t overpower the wontons and tofu bites - both fried perfectly. The house tea was brought to the table with an adorable teapot set. Dream offered a tea pouring ceremony that made for an instagram worthy moment. The whole meal felt like being a guest at the house of a friend who absolutely loves to cook, and is good at it.

Even if your experience isn’t as perfect as mine was, Dream and her friends want to hear your thoughts. “Please leave us in honest review,” she said. “It helps us learn.” The soft launch will be the rest of this month. Posted hours right now are noon to 9 p.m., seven days a week. 

Leave a review on Yelp HERE.

Find them on Facebook HERE.