The plaza it's in on Riverdale Rd. looks so suspect. You won't even know where the door really leads. Once you park and step inside it's such a cheesy mom & pop business overly decorated in Thai decor. The restrooms are ALWAYS clean. This is not fast food, you will wait a little while even 15-20 mins for takeout, but it's worth it. My favorite spot on the Southside. I first discovered this restaurant while in Real Estate school at Barney Fletcher. Most evenings we tried to hurry and find close dinner options. The portions are large and the prices are reasonable. It can add up to over $40 if you're greedy ordering several items like an appetizer + entree + dessert. I've eaten on my leftovers maybe 2-3X. No exaggeration! The best dish I've had is Naam Khao (crispy rice w/ fermented pork bits, fresh veggies and wrapped in lettuce) and Laos spring rolls (crunchy) . Thai tea overly sweet so it's best when watered down from the ice. Mango sticky rice is a purple color and yummy as well. Unique earthy taste, but still sweet and on par. I will drive 20-30 mins bcos I crave it sometimes. Everyone I've introduced to this place are fans on the first visit. I almost want to gate keep! lol read more

Hot Cafe - Naam Khao - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I originally went for the rice steamer set but ordered the dish with the sausage and wings with papaya salad just to say I've tried Lao food I really don't eat pork but I was open minded and tried it. ofc I didn't care for it but that has nothing to do with the chef I'm just not a pork person. The wings were crispy and nice I was dipping it all in the sauce. I didn't care for the papaya salad it tasted like dead sea animals then I noticed a lil crab in it so that explained why I tasted fish/crustacean. Maybe they also added fish sauce? I don't use those flavors in my dishes so the flavor profile was new for me. No hate just my experience I would still recommend you give them a try. I love the rice steamer I washed it and immediately started cooking sticky rice for the first time. The staff were nice. Nice ambiance, quiet, pretty plants and cultural memorabilia all around. read more

Hot Cafe - Rice steamer set - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Wonderful food and nice dining room. The staff were very helpful. I had the crispy noodles with tofu and honestly wasn't really sure what to expect but it was really good and a generous portion. There were lots of fresh veggies and the sauce was savory but slightly sweet. Not spicy. My husband ordered a bowl of noodle soup. I cannot remember what it was called but he liked it. Again, very large portion. read more

Hot Cafe - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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While the exterior is nothing to write home about (a tired, past-it strip mall), this place is hopping when it comes to food. The door dash drivers never stopped coming in. Great shrimp parang curry! Careful service, but the interior could do with an upgrade too. read more

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Nice place to eat. Be living over here for years and this my first time coming. The server guy is fast and attentive. Food hot and fresh read more

Hot Cafe - Pad See Ew - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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We hadn't been here in years so my mom asked to go for mother's Day because it's so far from us now. Well worth the hour drive though! The parking lot is not huge but enough for these shops in the strip The food here is so good. I don't remember the last time I came but I'd wager it's improved! We had 6 in our group but my mom wanted to try everything so we had a ton of leftovers I loved their som tum lao with crabs! If you like spicy, it's a must try! I got it spicy and they actually gave it spicy unlike many other places We also got pork & beef jerky, sticky rice, nam tok (beef salad), sausage, fried rice, pad Thai, chicken wings, larb moo and maybe more. I didn't try everything but the table was filled to the brim Everything i tasted was delicious & well cooked! The pad Thai sauce was so flavorful and perfectly chewy noodles! Definitely give this place a try; it's worth the drive! read more

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Yum, yum, yum! You can order anything you have a taste for at Hot Cafe - pho, fried rice, mussels, soup, edamame, spring rolls, duck, fried chicken, Laos sausage, etc. I'm not sure if it's family owned but that's how it felt (in a positive, intimate way). Food came out hot and delicious. The servers were nice and checked in, but everything you would need is already at the table (soy sauce, fish sauce, white pepper, chopsticks). Must try the Thai coffee. read more

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This is one of our go to spot for takeout. We decided to sit down and have dinner instead of taking it to go. The space is larger than it looks. Very clean and they decorate for the holidays. At the time we were the only ones there and I think more people get take out but it's a nice place to sit and eat. The service was very quick and friendly. We got spring rolls, chicken wings and basil fried rice. My son always ask for Thai tea. This is a very solid place. You can't go wrong here read more

Hot Cafe - Basil Fried Rice - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

IYKYK. Hot Café is a staple. Every time I land at ATL, I make a stop at Hot Café because I know anything I order is going to hit. My go to order is the LAO COMBO which is a platter that comes with Lao-style papaya salad, chicken wings, and Lao sausage. We tear this thing up and it doesn't stand a chance. Another go-to item is their PAD KEE MAOW. So many times, I want to try other items, but I always just go to my tried and true. I can't recommend this place enough and I will always be a returning patron! read more

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Severely underrated restaurant. While getting to the restaurant can be tricky, the food, service, and atmosphere more than makes up for it. All the food is amazing. I'm a big fan of Laotian food and was pleasantly surprised by the extensive and delicious menu. Staff are wonderful, helpful, and nice. It seems to be a true small business, which I appreciate. Food can be a bit of a wait, but absolutely worth it. I crave it all the time! read more

The viral video of Lovely Mimi on TikTok brought me in for what I had hoped to be the fried rice of my dreams. Sadly it was not. On the video, the food looked SO good. I decided to make my way to the south side to try it out on a Saturday afternoon. It's a hole in the wall and from the reviews, it's been around for a while. I placed my order and waited about 15 minutes. I ordered the combination fried rice medium spicy, minus the imitation crab and squid.The total was $24 and the portion sized was generous. When I opened the box, I was surprised to see that it didn't look as flavorful as what I saw on TikTok. The dish contained chicken, shrimp, beef and pork. None of the protein seemed seasoned and the rice overall was lackluster. Some of the meat was tough as well. While I received great customer service from the gentleman taking my order, I can't see myself returning. read more

Hot Cafe - Combination fried rice - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Big and delicious portions every time. I love it. My favorite dish so far has been the duck fried rice. Their signage is always funny, too (the candy dish in front says not to be greedy). The service is fast and the employees are personable. They play pretty good music when I go, as well. I usually go for take out, but it's also quaint and clean so dining in isn't a bad option either. And there's plenty of parking in their lot! I've never had an issue with that. read more

Hot Cafe - Duck Fried Rice - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I keep going back!! The pho is great and so is the drunken noodles & pad Thai. Service is great and place is like home. Highly recommend!! read more

Hot Cafe - Pho!! - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I came to ATL for work and I wanted some Lao foods. So I found this place on grubhub and order the Khao piek, keo jerky and sticky rice for $48. Got my order and it was good. The only disappointment is that they did not include any chili oil or sauce. I have put it in the special instruction too. Server should have looked at the order better next time. Don't think I would order to go again. read more

Hot Cafe - Khao piek, keo jerky and sticky rice - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

First time trying this restaurant on Postmates, I'm very impressed. The food was fresh and was a perfect portion read more

Hot Cafe - Pad Thai with Duck - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I ordered the Basil Fried Rice with shrimp and it was 500000000 damn good! Seasoned well, loads of veggies and big shrimp! The portion that was given was HUGE...I couldn't make a dent in it! Next time I'm in town...Hot Cafe will be my FIRST stop! read more

Hot Cafe - I ordered the Basil Fried Rice with shrimp - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Living in Kennesaw, I don't mind making the trip down south of Atlanta when it's for authentic Lao comfort food. Since moving here, this spot has become my go-to whenever I'm craving a true taste of home. What I ordered: * Lao platter (Lao sausage, crispy chicken wings, papaya salad + jasmine rice) * Pad See Ew (a must!) * Paired it all with an ice-cold Lao Beer --because it's only right! Family-owned Fair prices Excellent service Bonus: There's a Khmer market right next door--perfect for grocery shopping after your meal. This place brings that up north Southeast Asian vibe that's so hard to find in Georgia. If you're looking for authentic Lao flavors, put this on your list. (4/5) #FoodieAtlanta #LaoFood #ATLFoodie #AuthenticEats #ComfortFood #AsianFoodie #Foodstagram #EatLocalAtlanta #FoodieAdventures #FamilyOwned #SupportLocalRestaurants #PapayaSalad #PadSeeEw #LaoBeer #SouthEastAsianEats #AsianFoodAtlanta #FoodieLife #FoodReviewAtlanta #TasteOfHome #FoodieTravels #AtlantaEats read more

Food was nothing short of AMAZING! The service was great, I brought my laptop to work and they quickly went to get WiFi without me even having to ask. The atmosphere was full of great smells. I'll be back for this exact meal. read more

Hot Cafe - Chicken Egg Rolls Basil Spaghetti Side of Fried Rice - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Been coming for years even with change in owners I've never been disappointed. They've updated the menus twice in the past year. This is the most recent iteration. The photos are VERY accurate. read more

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The food was fantastic. Don't let the outside aesthetics fool you. Inside is beautiful and the staff were all very friendly and helpful. Must try is the beef jerky! OMG it was amazing! Will definitely be back. read more

Love the ambiance, larger interior than I expected. Located in Riverdale right off the highway, I thought it was going to be a small restaurant, but walking in. I can see that I've completely misjudged this place. Staff is great, front of the house is a lady who refers to herself as an auntie, as she is not the owner. Great pace in service, no hovering, and we didn't feel rushed finishing our food. They don't have tofu on the menu, but if you ask, they'll be able to accommodate if it is available, they don't always have it. Food serving is generous, and you can tell it's made with lots of care. Really delicious. My friend got the Pad Thai, and I got the Pad See Ewe. The Pad Thai sauce is made in house. So glad that I have another option for good food in this area. We'll have to try the Lao dishes next. read more

Hot Cafe - Pad See Ewe - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I had delivery through GrubHub, in the comments I asked for spicy fried rice and put in quotation "Thai Hot!" The rice had a good flavor, but there was zero heat, why have a comment section available if you don't read it. read more

I'm not from around there, but the place wasn't hard at all to find. I have a flight attendant friend that travels all the time and she loves this spot so I wanted to check it out. The iced coffee was really good. I loved it and if you're a coffee person, I definitely recommend it. The ladna seafood was also pretty good. The gravy had a perfect consistency and the flavor was also pretty good. I liked their ladna flavor a lot. I also liked how they used different seafood in this. I also ordered their papaya salad lao style. I requested medium level spice. It came out on a tray with cabbage and pork grinds. The papaya salad was pretty authentic. Next time I come, I'll probably ask for a lower spice level lol. I have a low tolerance in spice so I shouldn't have ordered a medium. I also tried their pho. I liked how it came with a lot of veggies. They gave me a plate full of beansprouts, basil, lettuce, lime, pepper, and shrimp paste. I love lao pho because I love the lettuce and shrimp paste. The customer service was pretty good. The girls that worked there were very nice and courteous. In all, I will probably be back to try their other dishes if I'm ever in the area. Their menu has a lot of authentic lao dishes (dishes you would get at home from your momma) so I can't wait to try more of their items! read more

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It was just ok. There wasn't much flavor. Standard service. Parking lot is shared and the place is largely to go, both in structure and appearance. Probably won't be back. Fair enough, though. read more

Hot Cafe - Beef entree - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

This place is underrated - very humble location but food is excellent and authentic, portions large, beautiful presentation, friendly service, family friendly, and comfortable ambience. This is our go-to place in Atlanta for Thai and Lao food! read more

Hot Cafe - Yum salad with squid - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Everything was so delicious, the service was great definitely felt like home cooking. I highly recommend this place if you love Lao dishes. read more

Hot Cafe - Beef Larb Salad, Papaya Salad, Sticky Rice - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

The food is authentic as it gets for Laotian style food. I had the sample plate: papaya salad, Laos sausage, chicken wings, sticky rice. Everything was delicious and tasted like back home. The portions are large so bring your appetite. read more

Food and service is always amazing here. My favorite is the combination fried rice extra spicy!

Fresh, authentic, tasty food! I was a little upset I hadn't discovered this place years ago!!

I absolutely love it here !!! I love Laotian food and this place was so good and authentic and food is always fresh. I typically choose to dine in when I come here and I get the laos special that comes with sticky rice , Laos sausage , chicken wings and papaya salad. It is sooo good. I also enjoy their beef jerky and mango and sticky rice. Service is also fast and good. I always come here when I am in the area read more

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Extremely excited to say this place was a delight! My taste buds adored all the flavors from the papaya salad with fermented shrimp . Please stop by and lock your doors! read more

very expensive with small portions food is your average Chinese restaurant taste waste of money they claim it's Thai so it's better I disagree read more

Ordered food to go and it was great. The broth had so much flavor! It was piping hot! Love the amount of garnish given. I will be ordering from here again. read more

I really don't have much to say here. I love this place. Everything is hot and fresh - cooked to order and delicious. Amazing Thai and Laotian food; I'm a huge fan of the Lao Sausage and Chicken Wings and recommend that you absolutely try out the Lao Spring Rolls too. read more

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This was my first time trying Laotian food. I believe I ordered the Pad Kee Mao which was really good. The food was hit and flavorful. I initially ordered online and picked up at the restaurant. It didn't seem like they were doing dine in service most orders seemed to be to go. The gentleman assisting me was handling multiple orders but was very professional and remained attentive and polite. It's an easy spot to miss, but the food is great I would definitely try it again and hope you do too. read more

I tried the butterfly coconut shrimp which was very savory, but that mango sticky rice!! That was a winner the fresh mango and the nuts in the sticky rice in the cream very beautiful placements!! Service was great, and it was pretty quiet while I was there due to it being early but nice place for sure very family friendly and oriented read more

Hot Cafe - Mango Sticky Rice - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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it looks like a family lead food place. the waiter was so cute young man, extremely helpful. the food was very tasty. did not expect it in this lication read more

Absolutely five stars for Hot Cafe! The Thai tea with milk was a perfect blend of sweetness and creaminess, while the Pad Thai was a flavorful delight with just the right balance of spices. Our server was incredibly nice and friendly, making the dining experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommend this gem for anyone craving delicious Thai/Chinese cuisine! This place is super cute and definitely a hidden gem--the decor is so cute and eclectic. We will definitely be coming back! read more

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Basil duck with jasmine rice was good ! I would order again. The services was fast for the Togo order on a Saturday afternoon. Hella veggies with the meat. 10/10 read more

Hot Cafe - Thai Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Heard about how good this place was on tik tok and the hype was right. They had such a big menu with a variety of different food options. My son and I came in for the Pho and it was delicious, the staff were very friendly and attentive. Can't wait to come back and try the fried rice I hear is the best! read more

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