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    Laka

    4.0 (167 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Laka Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    LAKA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Laka

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    Reviews With Photos

    Hainan rice plate.
    Ed Y.

    Although this is not one of those restaurants that has been in Millbrae since the beginning of times but it's been here for awhile. Originally it's the same owner as Porridge and Things but not sure whether this is still true. Anyways this has evolved into a restaurant that pretty much everything including Chinese rice burritos, Chinese deli (chicken and duck) and random other HK cafe style rice plates. I do want to remind people that HK style hainan chicken is not very tender (so I tend to prefer Malaysian/Singaporean style Hainan chicken instead). The food is alright especially if you want a rice plate for lunch. Nothing stands out enough for me to give it 5 stars but not bad enough for 1-2 stars. However I do like the duck "jaws" from the deli section and that's why I'm bumping the typically 3 star place to 4 stars. The place itself is small and loud like most Chinese places in Millbrae. The service is prompt.

    Jojo P.

    Our friends recommended this spot and I'm glad they did because there are so many options in this area. They excel on the Chinese bbq and noodles! I can quite pin point what region of China this cuisine focuses on but it's fine as long it's delish. Recommend: Haninan Chicken Knif cut noodles with mala Onion noodles Beef rib noodles Just ok: Soy milk Quick tip: their knife cut noodles are off menu! Just ask for it when you order.

    tere p.

    Food was great. Their vegetarian chow mein is good for 3 people @ $9.99. Their roasted duck and bbq pork also tasted so good; will definitely come back (service is fast too and a lot of people keep coming and going)

    Steph C.

    Cantonese comfort food. You can order a la carte or a set menu. I enjoyed the set menu of chicken sticky rice, rich milk tea, and a millet congee. Hit the spot. I felt like an old person bc a see a lot of elderly eating this lol Vibe is HK cafe. Staff will get you what you need once you get their attention.

    Mary L.

    First time here. Hidden gem. Place looks very busy, but it's really the lines at the takeout counter and BBQ meats window area. You can actually bypass that line and put your name on waitlist paper or wave down a server in back. The restaurant isn't fancy or new inside, but they sure had plenty of tables and chairs. Breakfast hour is usually very busy and much better during lunch hour. All meal sets looked pretty darn good and prices are considered cheap and affordable for the good food quality offered. Hong Kong style/Cantonese employees. We had the special meal set C $13.99 and meal set F $12.99. Both comes with a beverage, foods were huge in portions, and very good in flavors/ingredients too. Not disappointed here. My C meal came with my favorite chow mein noodles & club sandwich cut in half. I really liked the taste and looks of it. Delicious. I picked the hot cup soybean milk for my meal. Organic and nutritious! Meal F was the chicken and rice wrapped in leaf. The egg yolk and sausage inside it was a bonus/so good. F meal came with the porridge & sides. Nice! Hot cup coffee and cream is good enough. Frugal meals/frugal prices, but very good quality authentic foods. Fully satisfied. Public restroom was not small and it was decent for use. Cashiers in back were quick during checkout as well. Again, it's not a modern style or fancy place, but great for casual loud environments. Seats were comfortable and tables were clean. Looks like a good stop again in the near future. Everything looks tasty here. Breakfast menu looks tempting. Must try! Frugal eats. Under $15 per person in this current economy for a good full meal is worth it. Yes, they do accept credit cards here.

    Crissy G.

    Cute place! The food was great! They ran out of item I really wanted. Quick and great service! Enjoyed it!

    Beef Noodle Soup
    Clifford W.

    Walking to Laka, street parking 1hour only. We ate snack before dinner. Roast pork, crunchy skin was very good. Hainan chicken rice was good, brown rice not too garlicky. Food overall very good. Service minimal as chopsticks and napkins were on table. Ambiance minimal, eat and go restaurant. This event was 4 out of 5 stars.

    Laksa
    Ari A.

    One of my favorite breakfast places in the Bay. Pricing is great and love the set meals. If Cantonese style breakfast is not your thing, they have other small plate options. One thing to note, congee comes with sliced ginger. If you don't like ginger, ask the to take it out.

    rice roll
    Elizabeth N.

    ordered for takeout, the rice roll was tiny and smaller than my hand for $7, and the rice was really hard. the porridge is where it's at, with huge chunks of preserved egg, its perfectly savory and comforting! their menu is huge, so I would come back to check out other menu items. we also came before they closed, so that might have affected the rice quality as well

    Spicy noodle soup
    Jaky Y.

    Great spot for Cantonese food. We ordered their chow mein, spicy noodle soup, marinated tofu, and char siu. Everything was delicious, big in portion size, and came quickly. Service was also super friendly and prompt. The char siu in particular was very juicy and tender and not at all tough, overcooked, or dry. Despite it being Wednesday lunch, Laka was packed, and we noticed a few folks who came later had to wait a few minutes for tables to open up. Prices are very reasonable. Seating is comfy, and interior is clean and spacious.

    Set B.
    Natalie M.

    This place is okay. For $13 or so you can get a breakfast special. This might not be for me because I thought the breakfast was unsubstantial. I had a breakfast fan tuan which was tiny and some dumplings. This was maybe a 3.5/5 stars for me. Service was quick. I liked that it came with hot milk tea. It's very simple but again, maybe not the breakfast type that is hearty since it's very carb-y. It is traditional and they have a lot of other choices too. The place is very clean.

    Seafood noodles soup
    Shauna f.

    Nice place to eat. Good value for the price. Pork was juicy and tender and soup had lots of seafood.

    RamonaEliza D.

    My team and I almost every other weekend decides to come by this spot and order breakfast to go. The place is open early and it is always ready to go. It is clean and well maintained. The staff are friendly. We always elect to order the combo packages from their menu which we thought they are such good deals. The quality of their food are excellent with them all made fresh at a daily. I personally elected for SetB combo and I absolutely enjoy it. And we keep coming back for more...

    Pork

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    Laka Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Laka

    Do they have non spicy foods?

    Yes! We have the "Design Your Own" choice, and you can choose the non spicy base and add additional items you like. We also have the combos, and there are also non spice options in there.

    Do they have vegetarian or vegan options?

    There are vegetarian options for both the appetizers and DIY hot pot bowls, including a variety of vegetables and toppings.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Jinweide Lanzhou Beef Noodles

    Jinweide Lanzhou Beef Noodles

    4.1
    (280 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Speaks Mandarin

    I recommend coming here to eat northern style Chinese food. The noodles are handpulled and cooked…read morewhen order. The broth was sweet and had depth; you can tell that a lot of ingredients and spices were used to achieve the subtle broth flavors.

    If you're craving a comforting bowl of noodles, this is a great place to go!…read more FOOD: 10/10 The noodles had the perfect chewy texture, and you can really taste the difference with fresh hand-pulled noodles. The broth was rich, flavorful, and comforting without being overly salty. Every bite just hit the spot, especially on a chilly day. The portions were also very generous, so you definitely get your money's worth. They had complimentary sauces and spices for you to add to your dish as well. The only note I have is that I wish the broth was a bit hotter. SERVICE: 10/10 Our server was friendly (and honestly looked familiar???) and efficient, and the food came out surprisingly fast. Everything felt organized, and the dining experience was smooth from start to finish. The waiter gave us a run down of what sauce pairings to try out and what sauces commonly go onto specific dishes. AMBIANCE: 9/10 The restaurant has a clean, casual atmosphere that's perfect for grabbing a comforting meal. It's welcoming and lets the food be the star of the experience. If you're looking for fresh, authentic hand-pulled noodles that are flavorful, comforting, and filling, I highly recommend giving this spot a try. I'll definitely be coming back whenever I'm craving a good bowl of noodles!

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    Tasty Place

    Tasty Place

    4.0
    (319 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Really enjoyed this place. The fish we had was very delicious and the fish and chives dumplings…read morewere great. I've never had fish and chive dumplings before. Service was prompt and there was no wait. Theres parallel parking in front but its usually filled. Theres a lot behind the store and parking in the next street. The surrounded area is residential so you should be able to find a spot after some hunting.

    We had not planned on eating here but last-minute decided to dine here given this was our only…read moreoption in the vicinity. But I'm not upset at all about this impromptu decision as we had a great meal here. Our table of 6 ordered a variety of dishes and everything was delicious. the most notable items for me were the spicy wontons and fish in chili oil. The dishes were spicy but not so much so that you couldn't enjoy the actual flavors of the dish. For those that like the Szechuan tingling feeling, the chicken in explosive chilis was also quite good. We had also given the string beans, green onion pancake, and pork and shrimp dumplings a shot and all of them hit the spot. I'm usually a huge fan of braised beef noodle soup so decided to get that here too. It wasn't the same as if I had gotten this dish at a Taiwanese restaurant; compared to the strong flavors of the other dishes, this one was pretty mild. So it's something I would skip next time I come, but every other dish was on point. Our waitress was also great at taking care of us, bring out our food quickly and helping us to clear the other plates. Even after we finished our meal and overstayed our welcome by continuing to chat, the staff didn't make us feel rushed to leave.

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    Kajiken

    Kajiken

    4.4
    (1.5k reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    Kajiken was the perfect Michelin-recommended lunch stop before my flight out of SFO! There was a…read moreshort line when I arrived, but the staff turned tables quickly and kept everything moving efficiently, so the wait wasn't long at all. I ordered their #1 recommendation, the Homura Aburasoba, and immediately scarfed it down. Popping the perfectly runny egg yolk into the noodles was incredibly satisfying, and every bite was packed with rich, savory umami. The noodles themselves were thick, chewy, and had a great bite that held up well to the sauce. I also tried the Wagyu dish, but it arrived more cooked than it appeared in the photos, which made the texture and overall experience a bit underwhelming. The sauce also leaned on the creamier side, which isn't my favorite pairing with Wagyu, so I'd probably skip that one next time. That said, the Homura Aburasoba alone is worth coming back for and easily earns Kajiken a well-deserved 5/5.

    The food here is amazing, but unfortunately I can't say the same about the service. I don't usually…read moreleave negative reviews, but my experience here was disappointing enough that I don't think I'll be coming back. From the moment we walked in, the server who was seating guests spoke to us in a very harsh tone. It was my friend's first time visiting, so he didn't realize there was a line and walked inside. Instead of simply pointing him to the line, the server abruptly told him to get back in line. Once we did, everyone in front of us received menus except for us. When it was our turn to order, I pointed directly to the #1 menu item because I couldn't pronounce it. He acknowledged me by saying "okay," so I assumed my order had been entered correctly. About 15-20 minutes later, my friend received all of his food while mine never came. After waiting even longer, I politely asked if we could cancel my order. Instead of apologizing, the server immediately responded, "You never ordered that. I even read the order back to you and you confirmed." This confused me because I distinctly remember pointing to the item I wanted on the menu when I placed my order. Mistakes happen, and I completely understand that. What disappointed me wasn't that my order was missed... it was the lack of accountability and basic customer service. There was no apology or attempt to make things right, and I ended up leaving without ever eating. My friend and I remained polite throughout the entire interaction and even left a tip. Unfortunately, this experience makes it hard for me to want to come back.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Oroshi Ponzu Karaage($10)
    Oroshi Ponzu Karaage($10)
    Complimentary Accoutrements ($0) Vinegar, Chili Oil, Dried Garlic, Sesame seeds, & Chili Powder

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    Complimentary Accoutrements ($0) Vinegar, Chili Oil, Dried Garlic, Sesame seeds, & Chili Powder
    Pho de Nguyen

    Pho de Nguyen

    4.2
    (842 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Literally the best spring rolls ive ever had super chill…read moreatmosphere bon bue was amazing perfect spice level

    I had a pretty awesome experience here at Pho de Nguyen. The service was great. A very friendly…read morestaff who steadily checked in on me if I was ok or needed anything. Customary at most Vietnamese restaurants, you get your food with minimal check ins and not even a plate clearing until the bill comes. This was NOT the case here. There service was definitely in the A/A+ range! I ordered on my phone via QR code, but there was an option to order in person from a server. I ordered many items to try out. I ordered spring rolls, crispy salt and pepper wings, grilled pork banh mi, beef dac beit pho, and a Thai iced tea. Thai Iced Tea was pretty good. Grade: A I thought the Spring Rolls were decent, but what made them even better was the peanut sauce! I always hate when the peanut sauce is watery and this was far from that! An excellent gooey peanut sauce and maybe one of the best I've had fpr consistency. Grade: A- Crispy salt and pepper wings definitely had an incredible crunch. They were up there in crunchiness. The drumettes were meaty which I appreciated. They were well seasoned also. I think I need to try their other wings before crowning these, but some of the cruncheist wings I've had for sure. Grade: A- Beef Dac Biet Pho had some real high quality meat in it. I had options in noodle and my go-to for any pho spot is the egg noodles. I wish it had more bo vien in it, but I appreciated the combo of meats. The broth seemed authentic, but I wanted a tad more flavor out of it without adding sauces. Overall, the pho grade was a B+ bordering an A-. The star of the show was the grilled pork banh mi. The meat was tender and saucy. In fairness I asked for extra pickles and mayo, but I was very impressed. The bread had the crispy crunch we all look for but minus the stale bread. The breads soft yet crispness made it seem as if it just came out of the oven! I'm going to dub this as the best I've had in the Bay Area! There I said it! Grade: A+ Everyone who ordered the sampler seemed very pleased at other tables, I would definitely try that. Also, want to try the other banh mis and noodle options for the pho. There was a nice vibe at this place. I didn't feel rushed although they do close fairly early at 8pm. The server's mom is the one cooking in the kitchen and I appreciated the family feeling at this place. They do have a newer location in San Francisco that has a DJ Friday nights that I may check out. I believe the server said that they are open til 2am on most nights, but I may have misheard her. Feel free to Yelp that location. My only disappointment was that I really love papaya salad and it was not an option. I may make this my go-to spot from now on, but as a Yelper, we all know we will keep trying new places. This will be the one I continue to frequent. Well done Pho de Nguyen!

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