This place is hard to find since they don't actually have signage for this place out front. They're located in a dingy plaza attached to their Thai/Lao market. You seat yourself at this place and place your order/choose your items at the counter. The food here is good. There are so many yummy items to choose from the combo (already made) items. We got a three item combo ($10.50) with Green Curry, Basil Chicken, and Lao Sausage. I loved the Green Curry and Basil Chicken. The Lao Sausage was dry. I was surprised that they didn't give that much rice for the combo. The Thai Style Papaya Salad ($12.95) was okay. It had the fermented fish paste that greatly resembles Lao style. So either they made it wrong or that's how they do their Thai Style Papaya Salad. I don't think the portion sizes screams great deal here. Overall, this is a good no frill place to get some tasty Thai food at an okay price. . read more

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Authentic holeinthewall thai food, extremely affordable. They only have about 4 tables inside and are connected to a market. Service is nice and fast. Love their crispy rice salad and pad krapow! read more

E-San Rod-Sap - Thai Near Me - Anaheim, California

Came here with a friend for lunch and it was absolutely delicious! This spot is a true hole in the wall serving authentic Thai/Laos food. We got the crispy rice salad, papaya salad, and pad kee mao and it tasted like a true home cooked meal. The portion sizes were pretty large with generous portions of protein and it was more than enough food to feed 2-3 people. Highly recommend you try this spot! The service was very friendly and fast. There is a market connected to the restaurant as well. Lots of parking space available in the area. Make sure to bring cash! read more

E-San Rod-Sap - Thai Near Me - Anaheim, California

Love this restaurant, it's authentic as you can get. Ordered Togo pad thai and lao papaya salad, both delicious. I come and eat here every 2 weeks atleast. read more

E-San Rod-Sap - Laos papaya salad TOGO - Thai Near Me - Anaheim, California

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I LOVE Kao piek and I was ecstatic when I found some here because I can't find it anywhere in the area I live. It wasn't really to my liking though.. the noodles weren't cooked well enough and the soup was really salty. I've had better Kao piek. I like my soup base thicker. My boyfriend got the pad kee mao which was delicious. We got it with beef. And we also got the Thai larb which was delicious as well but super spicy but that's ok cuz that's how we like it I mainly wanted to try this place for the Kao piek and was kinda disappointed. It's an awesome spot for some authentic Thai/laos food though. read more

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***Cash only - make sure you bring cash!! They do have an ATM on site but better to bring it with you. Now for the review: My mom and I stopped here on a Thursday afternoon around 11:45am. There were only 2 other people sitting and eating and the restaurant was otherwise pretty empty. It is connected to a small market with access via the left wall. The restaurant itself is pretty unassuming / there isn't even a sign outside but just follow the sign for the market and you'll see the restaurant entrance on the right. What I can say about this place is if you want authentic Thai/ Laos food then look no further! I am neither nationality but Thai food is one of my favorite cuisines. What I can say about this place is that it is unlike any other Thai restaurant that I've been to simply based on the fact that it is true, authentic HOME COOKING. It felt like someone had invited me into their home and prepared a meal just for me. All of the ingredients were fresh and you could tell they were prepared by hand in the kitchen. Most Thai restaurants all have a very specific taste which is great, but I never noticed it until visits Esan when I was finally able to pinpoint what it was: sugar. Most Thai places cater specifically to an American palate and are quite sweet, but we don't notice because we are used to it. But the food here at Esan is not sweet but extremely flavorful and I immediately noticed and appreciated the difference. The food wasn't super spicy but it did have nice mild kick to it which I enjoyed, even as someone who is sensitive to spice - it was the perfect amount. Service was great; there were 2 women at the counter who answered any questions I had and even offered for me to sample a dish before committing. There were so many great options to choose from that both of us each got a 3-item combo + rice. I ordered red curry with chicken, Thai basil ground pork, and string beans with pork. My mom got yellow curry, green curry, and stir fried greens with eggs. The red curry was great - you could truly taste the coconut milk base. The green curry was good was well, but the yellow curry was our favorite. It was reminiscent of a Japanese and Indian curry mix. All 3 curries were very different from the kind of Thai curry you'd eat at your average Thai restaurant because the flavors were blatantly different from each other and much less sweet. We were able to try 6 different dishes plus rice, sit in a comfortable & quiet environment, received great service, and left feeling full (and with food to spare) all for $22! If you are wanting to try actual authentic, home cooked Thai or Laos food, I can't think of anywhere I'd recommended than this restaurant. Truly a great experience and I look forward to coming back! read more

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Hole in the wall restaurant. Walk up to the register towards the back to order your meal. I got the 3 combination meal for $11! Everything was delicious and packed w/ authentic flavors. I got the braised pork belly w/ egg, home beef jerky, and eggplant w/ pork. Rice is included with the combinations. Note: CASH ONLY. read more

E-San Rod-Sap - Thai Near Me - Anaheim, California

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Years later and I still come here. Food and service are both still amazing! Loved the food and the people here. Very affordable and good portions. You literally feel like you're eating a home cooked meal and eating at home. The catfish, lao bamboo soup, red beef curry, and pork jerky are my favorite from the quick express table. Honestly can't go wrong with any of your choices. Crispy rice salad is also very good. Also make sure to bring CASH! There's a ATM but save yourself the service fee. read more

The food is always very good here! Some of my favorites are: Lao Papaya Salad (Spicy Level - burn your cheeks), Lao Sausage, Tom Yum Goong, Yellow Curry, Rad Nah, Kao Piek and Larb to name a few. I love that they have a market attached to it next door to buy all kinds of ingredients, sauces, snacks and so much more! read more

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The food was delicious ( I had the green curry and all the pork options) and the staff felt really allowing me to sample things to see what I wanted as well. I was expecting things to be more spicy but it wasn't, which is perfectly fine. Overall recommend, I love local businesses like these. read more

E-San Rod-Sap - Green curry, regular tea, pork options. - Thai Near Me - Anaheim, California

We order foods from this place more than once a month. Good stuff: crispy rice salad, sausages, papaya salad, pork jerky... Never disappointed! read more

Amazing food and amazing service! Hands down the best and most authentic Thai/Laos food in the area. The staff is always so friendly and food always fresh. Whenever we come dine in with a larger party we order family style and try more variety of dishes. You can't go wrong with any dish, but my favorite of all is crispy rice salad. Pro tip: the shop is cash only but they do have an ATM on site. Be sure to also visit the convenience store next door that's connected to the restaurant. read more

This place is very authentic and is CASH only. Prices are affordable, but some items are hit or Miss. Thai papaya salad is delicious, they also offer it Laos style. The pad see ew was yummy as well. Personally, I didn't think the Green curry was as flavorful. I've had curry better elsewhere. I've also tasted their stir fry, which is good. Lunch specials are a great deal, but items like pad see ew and papaya salad are ordered off the main menu, not the specials. read more

This is my go to place for Thai or Lao food. Their prices are very affordable for the amount of food you get. They do have a lunch special available at a certain time. The Lao style papaya salad was tasty and spicy. The pad Thai was could have been served to 2-3 people. There's is seating indoor and also a little Asian market right next door that is connected. read more

E-San Rod-Sap - Lao style papaya salad - Thai Near Me - Anaheim, California

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Amazing find in Anaheim! Was looking for some local OC Thai food and this came up. It's "Panda Express" style, aka you pick out what you want from behind the glass and they scoop it into the container for you. The employees are super friendly. So far I've tried: - Eggplant - one of my favorites - Red curry - has a good kick - Green curry - not as spicy as red but good flavor - Pork ribs - good, but can run out if you go mid afternoon - Bitter melon - SO likes this generally, so it was good - Chicken and basil - loved this too - Catfish - good flavor but seems a bit dry (not sure if it's normally like that?) - Fishball with bamboo - spicy and good I love good eats that don't break the bank - and 2 x 3 item lunch boxes came to a little over $20. It's a no frills place and is great for a quick lunch! read more

E-San Rod-Sap - 2 x 3 item lunch! Eggplant, bitter melon, red curry, green curry, pork ribs. All for a little over $20. - Thai Near Me - Anaheim, California

TL;DR Very friendly staff and yummy Thai favorites. I went here on a whim with my mother-in-law since I was craving Thai food but not quite hungry. When the food came out, my mouth was watering. I got the Chicken Pad See Ew and Chicken Satay skewers which came with a tangy sweet mini cucumber salad and peanut sauce. Taking out to-go was easy and the service was fast. Since we came at a slow time in the post-lunch afternoon, the staff had a chance to make conversation with us. We had a great time. read more

E-San Rod-Sap - Pad See Ew and Satay Chicken Skewers with peanut sauce - Thai Near Me - Anaheim, California

CASH ONLY! This is a hidden gem. You can't beat the price here. A lot of people come here for the Lunch combo 2 and 3 items which are either $8.50 or $9.50. Pick the 2 items if you're not a big eater. Too many people in this country ordering food that they can't finish!!!!!!! The portions are big! The food is really good. Limited seating here but usually no line. It's nice to eat something else in this area other than Viet and the regular Asian stuff. read more

E-San Rod-Sap - Thai Near Me - Anaheim, California

A buddy of mine was in the mood for good Thai food, and I remembered I had bookmarked this place for awhile. E-San Rod-Sap is a Thai Laotian restaurant located in a small shopping center on 1719 W La Palma Avenue in Anaheim. I originally learned about this place from another foodie friend who said this was one of their go-to spots. Inside, E San Rod Sap has a straightforward, no-frills layout and design. The restaurant houses half a dozen tables in the dining area. Up front is a display counter with all the premade food items along with the front register, which is where you place your order before sitting down. On the left, there's a doorway that leads to a small, Southeast Asian store. The store carries a variety of Thai and Laotian goods (sukiyaki sauce, tom yum flavored chips, Bento squid snacks, and more). The display counter in the restaurant has quick food items which include a spread of curries, stir fried dishes, marinated eggs, etc. There's even a table in front which holds a selection of Thai-Laos desserts (coconut pudding, pandan jelly, etc.) as well as to-go dishes. Food (4.5/5) 1) I ordered a chicken Pad Thai ($12.95). Pad Thai had a nice balance of sweet and nutty flavors. There's a good coating of sauce on the noodles too. 2) I also ordered the Lao Sausage. The Lao sausage was the star amongst the dishes. It had a smoky, slightly charred flavor along a great mix of heat, salty pork, and aromatic herbs. So good that I immediately ordered another. 3) My buddy got a plate of Som Tum to share as well. They do a great job blending the profiles of acidic zest, umami, sweet, and sour flavors of the shredded papaya, cherry tomatoes, palm sugar, lime, fish sauce, peanuts, etc. Boy oh boy, though, that spice is no joke. He got the full spice version, and I got blind-sided by a burst of fire on one of my bites (I think there were a hidden bundle of Thai chilis in that spoonful). 4) Another friend, who is a regular here, also recommended the Pork Ribs, and I agree. Lots of beautifully marinated meaty chunks on each bone. read more

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Thank you E-San for blowing my mind and taste buds away with the best lunch I've had in a while. I got the three-item lunch combo with mint basil chicken, catfish with eggplant and bamboo shoots, and red curry. I normally don't like Thai curries, but I gave it a try anyway. I loved everything, including the red curry! I also got Thai papaya salad and crispy rice toss salad. I appreciated how they packed the cabbage for the papaya salad and cilantro and greens for the crispy rice toss salad separately so they didn't get soggy and wilt quickly. The crispy rice was also separated to maintain its crispiness. While waiting for my order, I ventured to the market next door and got a Thai iced coffee and a dessert. I still paid at the restaurant register. Unfortunately this place is cash only, but there is an ATM inside. Everything was so delicious that I can't pick a favorite, which rarely ever happens. I can't wait to try more items from the regular menu and the lunch combo menu! read more

E-San Rod-Sap is located in a strip mall with Boost Mobile Phone and across the street from a Dollar Tree store that looks like it used to be a Long's Drugs or a CVS. Thanks to someone at work, my husband and I ended up checking this place out. We came on a Saturday morning around 11 am. After looking at the food on the steam table behind the glass, we ended up purchasing: 3 Item Combo, $9.50 prior to tax- For this entrée, we ended up getting: Spicy Mint Basil Chicken, Fried House Pork Ribs, Glass Noodles, Steamed Rice. I liked the basil chicken but thought it was too spicy for me (I'm not a spicy eater like my husband, who thought it was just fine). The fried house ribs were really good (which was also recommended from my friend from work to try). The meat was flavorful and tender and wished I had more of it. The glass noodles dish was good and found it to be flavored just right. The amount of the food with the 3 item combo was good enough to feed 2 people and would recommend getting 3 items. Banh Cuon (steamed rice rolls)- I am a fan of steamed rice rolls so we ended up getting this, as this was one of many premade food items on the counter. Reminds me of the Banh Cuon that I have had at Vietnamese places. I did enjoy this entrée and would probably pick it up again if I saw it on the counter. Mango with Sweet Sticky Rice, $6.95 prior to tax- My friend at work was stressing the fact that I should visit E-San Rod-Sap while mangos are still in season (please note that I visited during May) so that I can purchase this dessert. I ended up purchasing two because I only saw 2 on the counter. I am not sure if this hole in the wall eatery was going to make more or not (but my friend did tell me they do run out of food). The mango was ripe and the sticky rice was perfect. My mom enjoyed the second one I purchased. --------------------------- (Total= $32.86 after tax) Please note that this place is CASH ONLY. Service was friendly and I had no trouble ordering in English. E-San Rod-Sap is definitely a hole in the wall gem that I wished I lived closer because I would probably visit more often. I definitely have plans to come back here in the future to try all the many other items. read more

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I can't believe that I had never heard of this spot before and can thank Reddit for this amazing find! How often can you find something for under $10 nowadays. While it is cash only, there are so many options available that it totally makes up for it. I came in on a Saturday around 2pm so there wasn't a ton of assortment left (out of eggplant) so I picked the chicken larb, green curry and pork ribs. All of the food was solid and I loved that you can eat different Thai dishes versus when you normally order takeout, you kind of committed to one dish. I loved the portion and the flavors of all the dishes. There are so many grand and go options available too. I will definitely be back again to try other dishes! read more

I would come here everyday if I could. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FAMILY BUSINESS especially since I have never seen a Thai style deli locally. The review don't lie here Authentic southeast Asian food Red curry I rarely/never order but here at this spot is BOMB . Coconut curry chicken with lemon grass and spices and Bambo shoot and beef . There is an art to cooking bamboo shoots and this place will convert you. The spices and That ever so slightly burn on the lips that just radiates icy with coolness. Yes I'm there and I'll be back ! Super authentic Food Papaya salad for next visit ! Thank you Sister Sharon and family for sharing your awesome food. I can't wait to be back Honestly I would pay 2x . The flavors and taste are unparalleled to none read more

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Love love love this place! It's a little hidden gem in Anaheim if you're looking for quality, cheap, and authentic Thai food. Highly recommend going for their hot lunch plate specials. A 3 item combo is only $10 including tax. You can't beat that anywhere. Their selection is plentiful. From curry, to vegies, to meats. Keep in mind that this place is cash only. If you're craving quality Thai food without breaking the bank I highly recommend E-san. read more

Very cheap and authentic Thai/Lao eat in OC! Pay close attention when you drive since the place has no sign! I only saw Thai Lao food banner, so I know it's must be the place! Parking is free and cash only! They do have an atm machine! We ordered some Thai tea, crispy rice salad, papaya salad, beef Satays and pandan curry chicken with rice to share! Everything came fast and fresh! It's delicious with great seasoning and some might be spicier than others. If you or anyone in the group can't take the heat, make sure to ask them to be easy on the spiciness or put the spiciness on the side, so the people who can eat hot spicy stuffs won't miss out too! After you are done, don't forget to check out the adjacent local Thai market! A lot of interesting spices and snacks! read more

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Thai Son-in-law Eggs and Catfish bamboo And some street food sticky rice dish All Amazing food here is authentic thai style food read more

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Authentic thai/lao food!! LOOK NO FURTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Been going here since I was a kid and nothing has changed in terms of quality

Meat quality in beef salad was remarkably terrible. It was 80% gristle/cartilage. The few pieces of meat in there were inedibly chewy. I understand using a cheaper cut of meat, but this was so far beyond that. I couldn't believe this is something someone would serve to a paying customer at a restaurant. I also ordered the shrimp pad see ew, Thai style papaya salad, chicken satay. All 3 were pretty average. The quality of the chicken specifically was very rubbery and dry. Don't know what's going on there. Flavor of the food was okay, not worth returning for honestly. I was looking forward to eating here based on all the reviews. Every Thai restaurant is different as the seasoning the chef specializes in varies, so it's hard to rank based on that. However, it should at minimum, be serving a quality product to the consumer. Serving a plate of gristle and cartilage is pretty low though. I have had this dish at other Thai restaurants and while the flavor varies, there is actual pieces of edible meat in the dish. Not the case here. Pretty disappointed, felt like I wasted my money. Wouldn't return. read more

Half market and restaurant that specializes in Laotian and Northeast Thai (Issan). This place is a total dive - Love! Food: Great, sometimes hit or miss... mostly a hit. Authentic eats. The majority of the crowd that comes thru here probably never heard of Yelp, lol. If so, there would be more reviews. It's fobby here, hahaha... ok, on to the food. We got: -The Laotian chicken noodle soup: wonderful. -Chicken Green Curry: Spicy, a tad sweet, but good. -Minced meat salad/Larb: Good, not great. Fishy. -Stir fried spicy catfish: bomb! -Pork jerky with sticky rice: pork was too sweet and on another visit was great. Sticky rice is a must in a Laotian -Thai joint. - Spicy basil with ground beef: yummy! Thank you Denny B. for this wonderful find. I would eat here weekly if I lived closer. Food just like how my aunt makes Thai food at home. read more

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Obsessed with this place!! The pad see ew and beef salad are my go to. Well made and great flavor. The lunch special has excellent options and so reasonably priced. Check out this local gem!! read more

Not to be dramatic but this place changed my life today lol Cash only with ATM inside $2 fee. Authentic Thai/Lao food, attached to a market. Nothing is aesthetic, everything is spicy flavorful delicious. I love thai food but this place surprised me - portions and price was top notch. Lunch special is an amazing deal. Red curry, chicken spicy basil, pork stew with egg is what I had today and I ate it so fast I have no photos! I never rave about a place like this, so even my fiance was shocked Don't expect amazing service or insta worthy pics. Just come hungry with cash. You're welcome read more

Stop Scrolling! You found your new spot.. good food good prices You HAVE TO TRY THIS PLACE.. read more

Best naked shrimp salad EVER;) I've been coming here for over 34 years. Super authentic Thai food for sure read more

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My family and I usually order take out from here and pick it up. The Thai food is hot and fresh every time. It's a small family owned and operated business. The parking lot is small and the restaurant itself is small. I didn't see that you can eat here. I didn't see tables. I visited this establishment during covid so maybe that's why? I haven't been back too recently so I couldn't tell you. I have only ordered take out from here. The last time we ordered take out, my mom picked the food up for my grandpa and uncle. read more

Incredible food, generous portions, and unbeatable prices. This might be my favorite larb I have ordered. The mushroom chicken soup was so satisfying, very savory and well balanced. The purple eggplant was seasoned well and the basil really added to the dish. The service was good. The restaurant had a decent amount of seating inside. read more

E-San Rod-Sap - Chicken larb, chicken mushroom soup, purple eggplant - Thai Near Me - Anaheim, California

I'm not 100% sure yet but will give it four stars for now. I do like most of the items I tried here so far, but the flavor is different than what I expected. I expected it to taste like other Thai restaurants but I do realize this place describes itself as Thai-Laos restaurant. I'm not sure what the formal difference is but I noticed the dishes I tried weren't as rich or spicy as Thai dishes I had in the past. Even when I ordered some of my dishes "spicy" they weren't that spicy. My favorite items so far are #40 Kao Ka Paow and #49 Mint Basil. Both are pretty similar in flavor since they both have basil. Main difference is mint. Both come with choice of beef, chicken, or pork, and served over rice. #51 Pad Woon Sen (stir fried glass noodles with green onions, egg, cabbage, and tomatoes) was ok. Flavor is pretty mild but my wife and kids like this dish. #38 Kao Mun Kai (somewhat similar to Hainan chicken) was my least favorite. The rice and dipping sauce for the chicken were pretty good, but the chicken itself was very dry and bland. I won't get this dish again. Price is reasonable and portion is quite generous, although most of the portion is coming from rice or noodles. read more

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little small shop, not much variety but it packs a punch on that pad thai food was great, ordered the pad thai and flavor was top priority, very delicious, and will definitely order this again. 4/5 also, ordered the seafood soup, I believe it lacked flavor and was okay. probably will not order this dish again. 3/5 food service came sorta quick, and as for to go boxes you just grab them at the front. overall, good thai food, and will try other dishes next time. read more

E-San Rod-Sap - pad thai combination - Thai Near Me - Anaheim, California

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Love the crispy rice salad and pad see ew here. Truly a hidden gem that serves real Thai food. Service is no nonsense, to the point and friendly/helpful enough. read more

ALERT: CASH ONLY I grew up in Anaheim. This was one of the original known Thai Laos Market/authentic restaurant in the neighborhood and still is for a lot of us. We'd return here to support this family owned business. It's like a hole in the wall place but don't judge the book by it's cover, enjoy it here for the authenticity of Thai/Laos E San food. Highly recommend the owner of this business strip should definitely put a facelift into the shopping center. I love the concept of this restaurant. It's like a fast Chinese food joint, where hot food is already available for a quick pick to go purchase or if you'd like to dine in. No need to wait. They have that 2/3 item meal options. Or you may chose to order as individual sides/entrees. They do have the sit down menu ordering option too. Came here to dine in with my father. It's been quite some time that my father has been here and myself also. Regular kind sweet waitress took our order and of course. Recognize our face. My dad got the Kow piak chicken noodle soup and I got the Rad Nah Seafood. We did go when it just opened for the day. The food item we ordered did lack some taste, not so much flavoring. Once we added a few drops of fish sauce along w chili oils. Everything was perfected to our tasting. It Hit the spot that I miss of authentic Laos food my Mom use to make. My fav here dish for my hubby and I is the Krispy Rice Toss Salad. They make it different than other restaurants which my hubby is obsessed with. The rice is super crunchy like rice crispy. When we buy it to go. They'd separate the pickled pork meat from the rice. We'd have to toss it together ourselves. That way we can enjoy it fresh, not soggy and crunchy. The restaurant is attached to the Thai Laos Market. There's a Sliding door that leads to the market. You can find Everything you need to cook your own authentic Thai/Laos food , majority almost everything is available here except the meat department. There's dried food items, condiments and even cooking wear like sticky rice cooker, mortar pestle what our culture use to smash the papaya salad mixed together. It's a neighborhood market that my old neighborhood is blessed with. Outdoor Building is a bit older looking and parking may be a little bit hard to park. Parking is limited due to it being in a strip of other local businesses. I definitely would come here when I crave that authenticity where I really don't have to drive far for. read more

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My coworker recommended this place for lunch. He said they have a lot of choices and that the food here tastes closest to the food he had in Thailand. My first impression is that they don't have a sign. Well there's one sign outside but it is in Thai. The lunch prices are affordable. Lunch combo 2 items $6.50 and 3 items $7.50 (comes with steamed rice). I got the 3 items: chicken with basil, sour green mustard soup, and pork stew with eggs. I also ordered the Lao papaya salad for $8.95 which took about 10 minutes for them to make. Overall, food was good and not a bad choice for lunch. Quick and affordable! read more

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$$CASH ONLY$$ Teetering between 4.5 and 4.0 but I'm going to go ahead and give it the 5 since it is so hard (for me anyway) to find good issan thai food in OC. This place is definitely a little hole in the wall gem of a place. They have a menu you can order from as well as options that they make that day under a heat lamp (think fast food style) where you can point and pick out what you want. We had: Lao sausage Every time I see this on a menu I have to get it. These had the right amount of sour taste and were really good. Bbq pork ribs These had a lot of flavor. Great tasting and the meat wasn't dry. Thai papaya salad This had the right amount of sweet, acid and spice. Do be prepared that mild here tends to be on the spicy side so order with caution. Pad thai with beef This was the only disappointing dish for me. If you are a fan of a really saucy and sweet pad that - this may be for you - but I tend to like a drier and more balanced sweetness to my pad thai. This was almost like candy sweet for me. I'd probably try a rice dish or another noodle next time and not get this again. Service was fast and friendly. Seating here is pretty limited so plan accordingly. If you're a fan of thai food - do give this place a try! read more

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