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    Spicy Lao Kitchen

    4.3 (228 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Laotian
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Spicy Lao Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

    Spicy Lao Kitchen Photos

    Business Info

    SPICY LAO KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Spicy Lao Kitchen

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    Boat noodles.
    Nate C.

    Went for an early dinner on a slow Thursday evening. I came in to try one of their bowls of soup. I settled on the boat noodles. The broth was very flavorful. They give you condiments on the side if you want to add more spice or fish sauce. In my opinion, you really don't need to add anything else. Service was quick and easy. Nothing to complain about. The boat noodles were about $17. They give you a lot of food so I think it's worth it for the price. I would recommend giving this place a try - especially if you like spicy food.

    Lao Sausages "Sai Oua", Crispy Rice Salad "Nam Khao", lao Papaya Salad, sticky rice
    Brooke T.

    Felt like a hidden gem! Came in on a Sunday for dinner, and the place was empty except for the staff in the back tables, who were having a grand old time watching the NFL playoffs. The staff were very friendly, and the place felt very authentic and family-oriented. They told us to give them a holler once they were ready to order and we did, and he complimented our choices as we picked the most popular items on the menu. We got the Lao Sausage, nam khao, and the lao papaya salad to split between me and my friend, and we got a side of sticky rice. They very kindly brought us over a complimentary dessert which were these yummy coconut rice flour cakes. I think it was because we were the only ones there but it was a nice gesture nonetheless. Then they brought us out all our food at once, and made sure we were taken care of before leaving. The lao sausage was both of our favorites; it had such good balanced flavor, and it was delicious to eat along with the sticky rice, which was well cooked. The nam khao was pretty good, but not my favorite in San Diego, as it was a little salty. It tasted better when I ate sticky rice along side it. The Lao papaya salad was very funky and felt like a good representation of how lao style papaya salad should taste like, with the strong fermented fish sauce flavor coming forward. Overall, very nice spot to go and hang out with a friend and enjoy some comfort Lao food for a decent price.

    Pad Thai with tofu and Boat Noodle Soup
    lisa j.

    Stopped by Spicy Lao for lunch on Sunday afternoon. The place was only a quarter filled, but did brisk takeout business. Service was friendly and quick. We ordered boat noodle soup, pad thai with tofu and pad see ew with Chinese sausage. The portions were generous and flavor on point. Boat noodles could have been a pinch spicier. Price point was fair at about $15-20 based on your protein choice. At the register they offered a few desserts, fried chicken skin ($20 a bag), fried pork skin ($17 a bag) and assorted Jerry. Looked good, but didn't buy. Note there is a 4% discount if you pay by cash. Parking is hard since there are 4-5 more more eateries in the lot. If you go around back there is a second lot and plenty of street parking.

    CJ L.

    This is my second time here. My friend and I came here for our birthday lunch. We ordered the Lao sausage, Laap, and stir fried noodles with seafood. The Lao sausage was amazing! The sauce that comes with it was also bomb! The beef Laap was also very tasty. There was an abundance of citrus flavor to this dish, so if you are not a fan of lemons, I would not recommend it. The stir fried noodles was nothing special - meaning that every other Asian cuisine has something like this (Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese). Aside from that, the food here was excellent! I would come back and try some of the other menu items for sure.

    Lao Sausages "Sai Oua"
    Monique W.

    Stopped by Spicy Lao Kitchen for takeout after a long morning at the hospital--my mom insisted (post-anesthesia cravings are real ). The gentleman who took our order was friendly and extremely patient with us. We took our order to-go. I went with the pad see ew--not traditionally Lao, but I needed wok'd noodles--asked for Xtra Veggies and spice- it hit the spot. The Lao sausage was better than okay, but I'm used to the extra spicy, homemade kind from a friend's aunt in Southeast San Diego, so my bar is a little high. The seafood salad. It was full of crisp greens and, fresh herbs, like South East Asian salads I've had-- the raw tuna was a nice change, especially compared to papaya salad with raw shrimp, which I usually go for. We both got the lemon Thai iced tea and WOW--this was magical. It had that creamy Thai tea feel (without condensed milk! Which I cannot drink) with this unexpected citrusy brightness from the lemon. So good. Definitely coming back to try the Tom Yum wings and more of the menu!

    Close up of the jackfruit with sweet sticky rice.
    Jesse S.

    This is a great place for Lao and Thai food. We have been here 3 times so far. The sausage is the best. Very taste with some kind of thin noodles and meat inside. That crack sauce that comes on the side is the perfect combo. Nice and spicy! The wife had a little the Tom Yum soup with shrimp. It was very good. The broth was nice and flavorful. The mango sticky rice wasnt available but they had jack fruit sticky rice. It was very sweet and the jack fruit had a good flavor. Its kind if a mango flavor but mixed with something else. Maybe a melon type flavor. Tough to describe but delicious. Lastly, they also sell some killer beef jerky. Mango and pineapple chilli. Both are very good. Way better than some mass produced stuff.

    Menu - Nov 2025
    Quynh-Nhi N.

    I grew up eating homemade Vietnamese banh canh (my parents even handmade the noodles), so I was so curious to try khao piak sen since it's so similar. The broth was piping hot, garlicky, flavorful, and packed with chicken. Noodles were bouncy and chewy, my fav. Just a heads-up, it also comes with chicken feet and pork blood cubes, which I didn't mind but might surprise some people. I also got the papaya salad, Lao style, level 2 spicy. It was more pungent and bold than the Thai style. Honestly, I liked it way more made this way! Service was quick, and the waiter even brought extra seasonings. Only downside was parking. I came on a Saturday and it took a solid 10 minutes to find a spot.

    Appetizers menu 12/2025
    Amelea J.

    A hole in the wall - clean restaurant and the restroom is good, but could be better. The service is quick and friendly. The food - I probably won't come back again. The best thing I've had is the lao sausage - I'll eat that again. The wings were crispy and light on the tom yum flavor. Everything else that we had had an acquired taste that wasn't for me. I would recommend people to try it and give it a shot, but for me there wasn't anything that floored my taste buds.

    Tom Yum Chicken Wings and beef laap
    Liz B.

    An underrated spot for Lao food with bold flavors! The laap was amazing and the sauce was so tangy and spicy. We got a level 7 spice, which is perfect for people who can handle the heat. The khao piek sen was also a unique dish with a collagen rich chicken broth made with chicken feet. The udon that came with it was perfectly chewy, but I thought the soup was a little too salty. The spot is casual and the workers are very welcoming. Our server was so friendly and checked up on us frequently! I can tell that the food was made with love and authentic ingredients!

    Cari A.

    Pros: -available for delivery via GrubHub. -generous portions -tasty! Fresh ingredients -wide range of spice level that you can choose from Cons: -none

    Boat Noodles "Kuay Tiew Reua"
    Addy L.

    Came here the other night for dinner and it was delicious! The food was flavorful and service was quick.

    Thum kapoon level 7. Spicy and addicting
    Sary O.

    Came here for the first time and everything we ordered was delicious! We ordered thum kapoon, but they accidentally brought out papaya salad instead. As soon as we mentioned it, they quickly made the thum kapoon and gave us the papaya salad on the house. Amazing customer service from Noy! I can honestly say this is now one of my favorite Lao restaurants to dine at. Definitely coming back! Must!!!

    Protein On A Stick beef
    Steph L.

    Large parking lot shared with other businesses but tough to find spots during lunch/dinner. The side of the building's parking is taken up by cars for sale. One person was taking orders/serving so it was quite busy at lunch time. Order took around 20 minutes so be prepared during lunch. They have tables inside to eat there. Tried: Tom yum wings - these were disappointing. Flavor was okay, but crunch wasn't as good. Beef protein stick - good. The sauce added another dimension of flavor. I would recommend to get this. There was a lot of fat/crunchy tendon though. Prices are high, $15 per item even for apps. Spent $30 on just two items that were more of a snack than a meal.

    kao Chicken Udon Noodle Soup "Khao Piek Sen"

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    3 months ago

    Amazing flavors and fresh plates. The folks running the place are nice and thorough. I appreciate living near here!

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Spicy Lao Kitchen

    Are there vegan options?

    Doesn't look like it based on the menu as they use fish sauce and other animal based sauces in their food. But give them a call and ask.

    Can you make some of the food not spicy for little kids?

    Hi Gene, Of course, we can! We can adjust spice levels according to your or kids' tastebuds.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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