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    Rao Thai Eatery

    3.9 (754 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Salad, Barbeque
    Open • 12:00 pm - 2:30 PM, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Order Rao Thai Eatery Takeout or Delivery

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    RAO THAI EATERY ATMOSPHERE

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    David L.

    Wow it has been awhile since I last reviewed this place. We came here for dinner, for something different. The parking lot is small since this strip mall is small too. Just a couple of restaurants and some beauty places. We found a parking spot in front of a liquor store. I had to get Lottery tickets later. heheh. WE didn't have reservations but we never get them for here. It's a small place and like a local spot. There was only a table of 4 in the place when we arrived. They seated us right away. The staff are very nice here and super helpful. The wife and I ordered a bunch of stuff. I always get the crispy chicken skins. They are addictive. Garlic green beans, chicken Hell, and the tofu pad Thai. Everything was really good. The chicken was nice and crispy on the Chicken Hell. Liked is a lot. and the Pad Thai is always good and flavorful. We couldn't finish it all and had to do take home heheh. Nice place and will come again.

    One of their specials with crispy pork belly, bbq pork, and Chinese sausage
    Carmen W.

    This place is pretty solid. I've had their Panang curry, pad Thai, drunken noodles, larb. All are pretty good and flavorful, good portions. I think their crispy pork belly could be more fresh and tender.

    Pad Thai and Pad See Ew
    Araceli C.

    Great service, the guys were very sweet. Good food. All we ordered was Pad Thai and Pad See Ew, very good flavors. I'd come again :)

    Pad See Ew
    Mary N.

    Came here right when the place opened at noon on a Sunday and I'm sure glad we did. By the time we left, the place was completely packed and staff was struggling to keep up with all of the orders. Staff was very friendly, just needed maybe one more server on a busy day. I saw they had Nam Kao Tod on the menu. I came here for that item and the fried chicken skins because you don't see those two items everywhere and I love both. The flavor of the Nam Kao Tod was spot on, however, it was not crispy. The dish is supposed to have crispy rice. I was quite disappointed. With crispy rice, the dish would have been a 10/10, but as is, I would not order it again, maybe only a 6/10. The Fried Chicken Skins were a solid 10/10. It came with a dipping sauce but the sauce wasn't for me. I preferred the chicken skins without the sauce. It already had good flavor. Perfectly fried and not oily. 10/10 Pad See Ew was good but pretty standard. Nothing out of the ordinary. But still solid. 8/10. There is a lot of parking available so that is a "plus".

    Pad See Ew
    Sophie M.

    I actually really loved the Pad See Ew here. They used Chinese broccoli instead of the regular and it makes the dish much better. I got take out but the service was super friendly and the place had a good amount of seating and good vibes (: I will def try the pad Thai here. I think if I could make one thing better about the pad see ew is maybe higher heat for the wok. A little char on the noodles makes pad see ew a lot better (:

    RAO's Platter - steamed wonton, egg rolls and chicken satay
    Robyn F.

    I have seen this restaurant so many times while driving along Whitelock Parkway and decided to finally give it a try. The restaurant is located on the corner of a shopping center. The parking lot had plenty of spots available. I was warmly greeted before being seated to a table along the window. The menu has many options of popular Thai dishes. I thought the RAO's platter was the perfect appetizer to order so I could try multiple dishes at once. I almost always try a rice dish at any Asian restaurant so I chose crab fried rice. At the last minute I decided to add the crying tiger to my order. Especially since the server said it wasn't very spicy. Food arrived without too much of a wait. The platter was delicious and I appreciated three sauce options for different palates. The egg roll was nice and crispy, not too oily. The wonton was yummy. The chicken was fine for a skewer, but the other two were my favorites. The crab fried rice was decent. I would prefer a little more crab because as I am writing this out, I don't remember seeing big pieces of crab meat. The crying tiger was a deliciously prepared NY steak. I was able to request how to have the meat prepared and asked for medium rare. The meat had a nice pink color and was tender. There were some fatty pieces, but that is to be expected. We ordered mango sticky rice and asked that it be brought out at the end of the meal. The dessert was prepared as expected. The mango was sweet and the rice was chewy. I liked that the condensed milk was served on the side so we could add it to our liking. The dining room had beautiful decor and artwork along the walls. I spent some of the time waiting for my food looking around and enjoying the art pieces.

    Spicy Basil Eggplant
    Girlie M.

    Rao has continued to be one of my go-to spots for Thai food in Elk Grove. The staff is always pretty accommodating, but be patient if the service is a little slow at times -- they can get pretty busy, and the food definitely makes up for it. One of my favorite dishes is the Larb Salmon, especially paired with the Fried Chicken Skin. I also really enjoy their Pad Thai and Nam Khao. Try their Green Thai Tea, it's refreshing with a nice jasmine tea flavor. On my most recent visit with friends, we tried the BBQ Pork. It was okay, but not really my favorite. The Thai Basil Eggplant with chicken was good. I'm still not completely sold on their papaya salad though. It's been a bit hit or miss for me.

    April S.

    Had dinner here with my family and we had a great experience. The restaurant is on the smaller side but there was plenty of seating. It has a cozy, artsy atmosphere with unique decor that gives the place a lot of character. The food was great and I enjoyed everything we ordered. The service was excellent as well. Very friendly and welcoming server. I'd definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a delicious meal in a relaxed and inviting setting.

    Boat Noodles
    Ashley C.

    We haven't been back here in a few years and I have no idea why! It's just as delicious as I remember. I'm so glad they've survived all this time despite the isolated location. The food is so delicious, the menu has just the right amount of options (not too many and not too little), and the service was fast and friendly. We started off with the Rao's Platter which was a perfect amount of food to serve as an appetizer for us and also as a meal for our toddlers. We also tried the tom yum noodle soup, and I picked beef and she let me pick between slices or ground beef. I chose the latter since it goes well with the tom yum in my opinion! The flavor was really good and I liked the spice level. My husband chose the new menu item, kao moo dang moo krob which is perfect for the protein lovers. It comes with three types of meat and boiled egg over rice and some Chinese broccoli, with the most delicious sauce! All of the meats were good but the sweet Chinese sausage was cooked to perfection. The Thai tea and Thai green tea are a must here, you must pair one with your meal! If you have the stomach space for it, make it a float instead. We finished off with the shaved ice but I wasn't a fan of most of the toppings or the flavor of the pink ice itself so I'd probably pass on it, but I'm glad we tried it out. Next time mango and sticky rice for sure! Will definitely be back sooner rather than later!

    Crispy Singha Beer Crispy Pork, Spicy Basil Eggplant with chicken
    Monica K.

    Favorite local place to go when I'm craving Thai, and want something nearby. Best things to order are the singha deep fried pork belly, and the eggplant story fry with chicken. The spring rolls were yummy too! Loved that they had a variety of chillis on the side. Flavorful and filling everytime! Staff is always attentive and super sweet when I'm dining in, or ordering takeout.

    Oyster shooters
    Ying Z.

    Stopped by Rao Thai for lunch while passing through Elk Grove. The decor and ambiance in there is casual and trendy. Very approachable staff. It was pretty busy in there but they were very friendly and checked in on us a few times. Food was delicious! Here they ask how spicy you'd like each dish on a scale of 10, so we were able to customize everything to our liking. We were a group of four and I believe we finished all four entrees. The group especially enjoyed the cashew nut chicken and the noodle dish. I'd recommend plating the oyster shooters in big spoons rather than the shot glasses because the chilis all hit at the end which wasn't the most pleasant. Overall, a very solid meal and if I find myself in Elk Grove again, I would definitely stop by here.

    Julia C.

    Pretty average Thai food here, nothing spectacular but not bad. We got a variety of dishes but my favorite was the pork combo that they had on special. The chicken satay had good flavor, but that pad see ew was overcooked and almost mushy.

    Pad Thai with shrimp
    Cristina A.

    Rao Thai Eatery, a hidden gem in Elk Grove. Tucked away in a plaza, this cute restaurant serves amazing food. Service is great also!

    Thai iced tea float so good!

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    Ask the Community - Rao Thai Eatery

    Any safe outdoor seating option?

    Yes we have outdoor seating and it’s 6 feet social distancing . My server and chef are wearing mask , we are providing hand sanitizing too .

    Do they have any gluten free options?

    Yes we do

    View All 4 Questions

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    MacQue's Barbeque

    MacQue's Barbeque

    3.8(512 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    •$$

    First time impulse visit, was not disappointed! Tried the…read moreBart sandwich with a side of Mac n cheese. Tri-tip was very tender and juicy. Hot link was a nice addition to the flavor profile. Paired with their 50/50 sauce which put it over the top! Mac was tasty but a little dry, probably due to the shallow dish and heating process. Staff was helpful in the ordering process ands attentive to us during our visit. Will definitely go back again!

    9/19/2026 Food was…read moreokay and definitely satisfied the craving for smoked BBQ, but overall I'd say it was a "hit or miss" experience. I ordered the XL Family Pack for a group of 6-8 people. Unfortunately, they were out of brisket that day, so I went with the following: Bone-in Chicken: Moist, and probably my favorite of the meats. Good flavor and didn't feel dried out. Tri-Tip: This was the biggest disappointment. The meat was very dry, lacked moisture, and was noticeably chewy. It could have used more tenderness and juiciness. Pork Ribs: Also a mixed experience. The ribs seemed to have been smoked for a little too long, which made the outer crust quite dry and tough. The thicker pieces were actually pretty decent and had better moisture, but the thinner pieces were noticeably over-dried and harder to eat. Overall, the BBQ did satisfy the smoked BBQ craving, but the quality seemed inconsistent depending on the cut and thickness of the meat. The chicken was good, while the tri-tip and thinner rib pieces were too dry for my liking. There was quite a bit of food we couldn't finish because most of the meat was just too dry and chewy. Overall: Hit or miss.

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    MacQue's Barbeque - Our Backyard Boogie Party Pack, features Ribs, Pull Pork. Mac and Cheese, Mustard Greens, Red Beans and Rice, and Green Beans

    Our Backyard Boogie Party Pack, features Ribs, Pull Pork. Mac and Cheese, Mustard Greens, Red Beans and Rice, and Green Beans

    MacQue's Barbeque - BBQ Chicken Sandwich

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    BBQ Chicken Sandwich

    DQ Hawaiian BBQ

    DQ Hawaiian BBQ

    4.3(117 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    •$$

    We love coming here! The food is consistently delicious. We're big fans of Hawaiian barbecue and…read morehave tried a lot of different places, but the kalua pork here is the best we've ever had. We also get the chicken katsu curry pretty often, and it's always fantastic. Everything we've tried has been great, and this has definitely become one of our favorite spots! The people who work here are always so friendly, and the staff taking orders are wonderful. They've consistently given us great recommendations, and we're really looking forward to trying more of the menu. Of all the places in Elk Grove that serve Hawaiian barbecue, this is definitely our favorite spot!

    Service: 4.2 friendly Food: 3.7…read more Friday night and my wife lets me pick the spot, so I've been wanting to try this place and been craving Hawaiian food; so I guess it's my lucky night! When we arrived, I opened the door and thought there was no seating since all I saw was the counter to order food. But there's a few tables that sit mostly two or four people, which gave that hole-in-the-wall vibe. So that was also a sign for us to stay and dine-in. We ordered the BBQ mix (w/brown rice & salad) and the Seafood & BBQ combo with all rice. The young woman working the counter was kind and brought our order to our table, even though everything was packed in "to-go" containers. All the meat was served hot and the seafood fried & crispy. The piece of fish that was in my combo was lightly battered and seasoned which did not require any sauce (the highlight of my dinner). The shrimp tasted like from a packaged product, but it was fried to perfection and not greasy. The BBQ beef was thinly sliced and overly marinated since I can still taste the saltiness from the marinade even drinking several glasses of water after dinner. Oh and the nice young woman working kept checking in on us throughout our meal. And I will need to come back and try the other food on their menu to hopefully provide a more insightful review.

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    DQ Hawaiian BBQ - Interior

    Interior

    DQ Hawaiian BBQ
    DQ Hawaiian BBQ

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    Louisiana Heaven - Red snapper dinner

    Louisiana Heaven

    3.9(370 reviews)
    5.4 mi
    •$$

    I had the Catfish and Cabbage. I Absolutely Love their…read moreCabbage and really Only go there to get some. This Night the Catfish was Very Fresh Tasting and DELICIOUS!!! For whatever reason I'm sure is probably because I went there late at night, the Cabbage wasn't tasting like I normally like it to be. It was really soggy, not crisp and very salty. Yet this is just one night of tasting It. Whenever I eat It is VERY, VERY, VERY DELICIOUS. So my suggestion would be don't go there to eat cabbage an hour before closing. Go during the day and you will be very satisfied. THE SERVICE WAS AWESOME. THE YOUNG LADY WAS VERY FRIENDLY, PERSONABLE WITH THE WONDERFUL SMILE ON HER FACE AND HAPPY TO HELP ME. My visit was Friday May 8, 2026 about an hour before closing.

    Trip one: The service on the phone was terrible. And the service once we came to pick up the order…read morewasn't much better, IDK who answered the phone 4/8 around 12:30 but boy was she rude. We called to check about the lunch special and if we didn't really want this place we would have said hang up and tried another place. Once we received our food, the lady didn't add any bbq sauce and the potato salad was warm. Trip two and Three: 4/25 and 4/28 the lady with the locs is amazing and I wish I interacted with her from the beginning. After the initial interaction two weeks ago I probably would have never returned however after randomly seeing the offering on Too Good To Go App the nice lady at the store was phenomenal with her service. We had ribs each time and while I was irked the first order didn't include any I'm definitely not a drench my meat gal either. Hoping next time I get something other than BBQ but who knows what I will try next. I'm sure I'll return and the next time I will get her name

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    Louisiana Heaven
    Louisiana Heaven
    Louisiana Heaven - Mac and cheese and catfish

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    Mac and cheese and catfish

    Rao Thai Eatery - thai - Updated September 2026

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