Long Grain
Thai · Camden
Restaurant in Camden, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Coastal Maine, Thai Precision
Chef
Bas Nakjaroen
Dress
Casual
Why go
Book Long Grain when Camden's seafood and hotel-dining options are not the mood and Thai food is the clear craving. It is a casual, flavor-led pick with credible recognition from Opinionated About Dining, better suited to lunch or an easy dinner than a formal occasion.
About Long Grain
Against Camden's broader dining options, Long Grain is the pick when the meal calls for Thai food. The appeal is direct: a casual setting with Thai cooking at the center. For a return visit, the clearest reason to choose it again is the restaurant's Thai identity and its easygoing Camden setting.
Choose it when Thai food is the point, not just a change of pace
This is a useful Camden option because it solves a specific problem: where to go when the table wants Thai food. Chef-owner Bas Nakjaroen gives the restaurant a clear culinary lane, Opinionated About Dining has recognized Long Grain in its Casual in North America coverage, including a 2025 ranking and a 2026 recommendation.
The practical schedule matters here. Long Grain is open Tuesday through Saturday for both lunch and dinner, with a midday service from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and an evening service from 4:30 to 9 PM. It is closed Sunday and Monday. Lunch works for a daytime Camden stop; dinner fits when the group wants an evening meal.
Good for repeat visitors who want a looser Camden dinner
Long Grain is not the obvious choice for formality. That is part of the point. Its dress code is casual, so it works well when the group wants Thai food without turning the meal into a highly staged event. Couples can make it a casual date, regulars can use it for the kind of meal where ease matters more than ceremony.
For a different Camden meal, Natalie's and The Norumbega Restaurant are worth comparing as you plan. Long Grain makes the strongest case when Thai food is the shared craving and the table values ease. For broader planning, use Our full Camden restaurants guide, then cross-check lodging with Our full Camden hotels guide.
Planning details
- Location
- 20 Washington St, Camden, ME 04843
- Website
- longgraincamden.com
- Phone
- (207) 236-9001
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Long Grain positions thoughtful Thai cooking against a small Maine harbour backdrop, creating a scenic yet quietly refined presence in Camden. The writing emphasizes a kitchen that respects the Thai “four pillars” of sweet, sour, salty and spicy, and that technical focus gives the room a sophisticated edge even as it sits amid a town known for seafood shacks and salt air. The result reads as intimate and considered: a neighborhood restaurant that feels purposeful rather than flashy, where the coastal context frames the experience without overwhelming the cuisine's Pacific-rooted priorities.
Best For
Long Grain is best for diners seeking an elevated, evening meal in Camden—especially those who want Thai flavors that aim for balanced complexity rather than broad, flattened versions of the cuisine. It suits couples on a relaxed date night as well as visitors building an itinerary around Camden’s dining scene; locals who want a standout meal beyond the town’s seafood defaults will also appreciate it. The restaurant’s recognition on continental casual-dining lists signals appeal to adventurous eaters and travelers looking for a noteworthy dinner destination in a small coastal town.
Ordering Tips
Focus on dishes that showcase the kitchen’s balancing of sweet, sour, salty and spicy: the menu’s signature items are reliable starting points. Try the Pad Kemao, the Maine Crab Fried Rice and the housemade wide rice noodles to get a clear sense of the restaurant’s strengths. Given the description’s emphasis on a kitchen that doesn’t ‘flatten’ Thai flavors for a broad palate, bring a willingness to taste assertive, well-proportioned profiles rather than expecting uniformly muted heat or sweetness.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cozy and compact with natural light from windows and skylights, warm atmosphere, background music, and a bustling feel that can get a little noisy.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Intimate
Signature Dishes
- Pad Kemao
- Maine Crab Fried Rice
- Housemade Wide Rice Noodles
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to go if Long Grain is not the fit
Choose Natalie's for a more polished Camden dinner, especially when the occasion matters more than keeping the meal casual. Choose The Norumbega Restaurant when the group wants a hotel-restaurant setting and a more composed evening.
Restaurant context
How Long Grain compares in Camden
Natalie's is the better fit for a polished special occasion, while Long Grain is the better call for a casual Thai meal with less ceremony. If the table wants a dressed-up room, choose Natalie's; if the priority is a more relaxed dinner built around Thai cooking, choose Long Grain.
The Norumbega Restaurant sits closer to the refined hotel-dining lane, so it makes sense for guests who want atmosphere and structure. Long Grain is easier to justify for repeat Camden visitors who have already done the coastal-inn meal and want a different flavor profile. Sammy's Deluxe and Primo are stronger comparisons if the group is willing to leave Camden for seasonal New England or Italian cooking.
Chase's Daily is the better alternative for café-style ease, especially earlier in the day. Long Grain makes more sense when the meal needs to feel like a proper lunch or dinner rather than a light stop. For value, the edge depends on appetite: Thai shared ordering can work well for groups, while the more formal Camden peers are better saved for occasions where room and service matter as much as the food.
Explore Camden
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Long Grain guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Long Grain
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Grain | Camden | Thai | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #808 |
| Natalie's | Camden | No published awards | ; |
| The Norumbega Restaurant | Camden | No published awards | ; |
| Sammy’s Deluxe | Rockland | Seasonal, New England | 2025 New York Times America's Best Restaurants |
| Primo | Rockland | Italian | 2026 Forbes 4-Star2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence2025 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence2025 Michelin Plate2025 Forbes 4-Star |
| Chase’s Daily | Brunswick | Café | 2024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #4082023 OAD Cheap Eats in North America in Recommended |
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How Long Grain Camden compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lunch or dinner better at Long Grain?
Dinner is the better pick if you want an evening meal, since Long Grain serves 4:30–9 PM Tuesday through Saturday. Lunch is also available Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 AM–2:30 PM. The restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday, so plan around those service days.
What should a first-timer know about Long Grain?
Start with the fact that this is a Thai restaurant in Camden. It is led by chef-owner Bas Nakjaroen and has Opinionated About Dining recognition for Casual in North America. Go expecting a relaxed meal rather than a formal one.
Does Long Grain handle dietary restrictions?
Those details are not published in the information. If you have strict dietary needs, contact Long Grain directly before visiting Camden rather than assuming the kitchen can accommodate every restriction.
Is Long Grain good for a special occasion?
Yes, for a relaxed special occasion, not a formal one. Long Grain works when the point is a Thai meal in Camden with a casual dress code.
What are alternatives to Long Grain in Camden?
In Camden, Natalie's and The Norumbega Restaurant are other options to compare as you plan. Long Grain is the move when Thai food is the point and a casual setting is part of the appeal.
