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Jo's Modern Thai

4.3 (534 reviews)
Ultra High-EndThai, Cocktail Bars, Noodles
Closed Closed
Updated 2 months ago

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JO'S MODERN THAI ATMOSPHERE

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Reviews With Photos - Jo's Modern Thai

Drunken noodles with beef brisket
Nina Z.

Saw this place listed on Oakland Restaurant Week and the SO was intrigued by the modern twist on Thai food, so we decided to book a reservation. We were able to make reservations online for the patio the day of. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Loved the tropical, vibrant vibes and the shaded outdoor patio area.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] For $45 per person, we got to choose one starter, one entree, and a dessert to share, so of course we chose all five dishes listed. For appetizers, we had the catfish salad and coconut cakes with ceviche. The crunchy catfish salad was citrusy and had a nice mix of textures. Wasn't too sure about the combination of coconut and ceviche, but enjoyed the coconut cake base. For entrees, we had the masumman curry and drunken noodles. Both were good, but the masumman curry stood out in flavorful, which surprised us because it was completely vegetarian. Lastly - but not least - we had the mango blue sticky rice to share, which was the perfect way to end the evening. Would definitely order again. The tartness of mango, pandan flavored rice crispies, sweetness of mango sorbet, and warmth and subtle sweetness of sticky rice provided contrast but worked well together. Service was friendly but a bit disorganized. They delivered two dishes that weren't ours to our table on two separate occasions. Would just recommend the staff being a bit more organized and knowing which tables to deliver dishes to. Would be happy to come back for that masumman curry and mango sticky rice along with their full menu items.

The check had a Yelp button :)
Gina G.

Jo's Modern Thai..finally was able to try this spot during Oakland Restaurant Week! They started executing a trial period of being open for lunch for restaurant week and we were able to swing by during those specific hours for the lunch menu. With the special, they offered some of their favorite dishes for $15 a pop. We started with the Thai Caesar Salad (not on the restaurant week menu), ordered a few Singhas (they also offer Thai Micheladas too!), and then moved onto the Northern Thai Curry Noodles (Khao Soi), and the Thai Green Curry. We also ordered two sides of rice to compliment the curry sauces. Wowee, what a spread. I will say, when I was in Thailand the Khao Soi was a spicier dish for me, so much so I was served milk at the table (haha), and the dish was equally as spicy in Oakland..in all the best ways. The Thai Green Curry also had a spice level to it too. My dad had been fighting a cold and his smell/tastebuds were positively awakened. The flavors were excellent ~ I'm not sure if Jo's is known for their fried chicken, but it seems special. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This spot is elevated and feels also very contemporary.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is clean and modern, and they also have a nice cocktail bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My guess is reservations may be needed for dinner, so this was truly a cool moment to get a sneak peek of what lunch could look like. Would love to come back and try more from the menu. Service was excellent and everyone made us feel very welcome. I'll let my pictures/videos speak for themselves :) Leave a few additional minutes to find parking in the Laurel District.

Crunchy Catfish Salad (GF)
Camila Y.

Went here during Oakland restaurant week and got to try multiple different items! The catfish salad was really good in flavor and I enjoyed it, but it was a bit on the saltier side. Drunken noodles were also good but spicy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Staff is friendly and had a nice vibe inside with a small bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]However the whole space isn't very big so would recommend reserving ahead of time if you have a large group.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There is only street parking right jn front so can be hard to find parking during busy hours.

Inside
Allie G.

We visited Jo's Modern Thai around noon on a Saturday, and got seated right away. They are on Yelp Waitlist though, so I assume they get busier for dinner. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior had simple, modern decor with a neon monkey sign towards the back.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] For drinks, I ordered the Ginger Lime Soda, which was very sweet but still tasty. There was only one guy working the whole front of house and he looked a bit stressed as the host/bartender/server. He was really nice though and proactively comped my soda since he thought it took too long. For food, my partner and I shared the Brisket Drunken Noodles and Beef Kra Pao. The Drunken Noodles rocked my world! They were so flavorful, the spice level was perfect, and the brisket went so well with the dish. I'll be dreaming of those for a while! The Beef Kra Pao, however, was not my favorite. The meat had good flavor but the pieces were just so fatty and chewy, it was hard to eat. Portion sizes were slightly smaller than your typical Thai restaurant. Would return to try out their dinner menu!

Lychee or Love It
Shawna E.

On a scale on 1 to 5 with 5 being the best, overall I give it a 3.5. [[HIGHLIGHT]]While I liked some things & the ambiance was nice, I don't think I'd go back unfortunately[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Lychee cocktail - I give it a 4. Very tasty, I just like a little more alcohol in mine. It could also be that I prefer Grey Goose but this came with Kettle One (no substitutions). Recommend. Wings - 5 all the way. Fried nice & crispy but were still moist inside, great flavor, not salty, lime zest was a great addition & the sauce was good as well. A little overpriced for only 5 wings, but worth every penny. Highly recommend. Lobster Pad Thai - 3. Lobster was cooked perfectly but dish tasted sweeter than I'd like for pad Thai. I also didn't like that it was basically deconstructed & not all tossed together. Crab Fried Rice - 2. Way too much soy sauce, that's all we could taste. My friend thought it could use more crab meat but I felt like I had crab in every bite. Maybe the Dungeness Crab Fried rice has a lot more crab meat. Service - 5 for sure. Jacob was our server & he was excellent. He made recommendations upon request, checked on us often, made sure we had everything we needed.

branzino
Adrienne H.

Ive been wanting to try jo's for a while. I was had reservations but sat at the bar for drink. The drink was really good but I forgot the name I also had their thai tea which was good. I sat in their back patio. The service was great. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was nice as well.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I ordered the crab fried rice which was so good. I also had the branzino and honestly i was disappointed. For dessert I tried the sweet blue sticky rice with mango sorbet now that itself is come again for. it was so different and absolutely amazing. I want to come back and give them another try trying other dishes.

Huge bar
Heather D.

Showed up again for Oakland Restaurant Week. I still love the staff but things were a little off this last visit. We ordered the oysters as an appetizer and before we had even got to the second oyster one of the entrees hit the table - that is one of my main pet peeves. We decided to try some items that appeared to be newer on the menu and went for the Crab Curry Linguini which was uni unctuous at it's very best. The Crying Tiger Steak was not such a hit, it was flavored well but the meat was pretty chewy and it really is pretty much just a steak with nothing else. I hope this was a one off because I have been loving this place up to now.

Brussel sprouts bowl
Danessa L.

Came to Jo's because of Restaurant Week as their special offer and menu made me wanna come in. Portions are generous, and my server Frank managed the whole dining room itself. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's a cute bar inside where you can buy a shirt too.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'd go back to try more on the menu.

Brussel sprouts
Angela W.

Looks like I have a new favorite Thai spot! EVERYTHING was excellent! The fried branzino was Thai dipping sauce was absolutely fantastic. The Brussel sprouts had the perfect spicy kick to them, the brisket drunken noodles were delicious and the crab curry linguini was incredible. Everything was flavored to perfection and we finished off with the blue ride pudding with mango sorbet. Our server, Frank, was SO sweet! He did not disappoint with the recommendations and was super attentive! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is small, perfect for a date night![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The drink menu was extensive as well! I ordered the Laurel punch which was made with tea infused tequila... AMAZING. I had two. I will definitely be coming back! Love having such great spots in Oakland!!!

Lychee or love it!

This is not my first time at the restaurant nor will it be my last. Friendly, quick, and efficient service. The drinks and food are stellar. You won't be disappointed in the service, food, or, ambiance. Parking is another thing however, get there early!

Drunken noodle with beef brisket. Can't even think of this as Thai food despite a few Thai basils
Lena H.

My friend and I came here for my birthday dinner as the reviews are great and I am looking for a great Thai restaurant. We made a reservation for 2 and promptly seated. The service was pretty good/attentive. It was also very nice that they gave the mango dessert for free for the birthday girl. Nice gesture. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior is nice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered the crispy catfish salad, the drunken noodle, and the chicken green curry. The 3 stars is for the foods only. It is not the authentic Thai from this restaurant in my opinion. 1) The crispy catfish salad is overly sour with way too much citrus and overpowering. The catfish is so finely chopped and fried that it tasted nothing like fish at all, and it looked and tasted like fried panko. I wonder if the person making the salad even taste it before it is served! It is a huge disappointment. 2) The drunken noodle is sautéed ramen noodle with beef brisket (American style beef brisket that you'd normally get from the bbq restaurant). This is really nothing like Thai despite a few Thai basils was on the plate and there are some green peppercorns). 3) The chicken green curry is fine and I like the strong coconut flavor balanced with the curry. The curry could be a bit thicker. The cocktail is very light and I felt like I paid $16 for a glass of lemonade. Overall I am not impressed with the food taste at all as I have had much better Thai foods at other restaurants that taste better. It is below my expectations as I was excited to try this place based on the reviews. Service is great but I wish I could have better tasted foods here.

S L.

My friend recommend about this place and here to try it , [[HIGHLIGHT]]restaurant is clean[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and staff is friendly, and the food tastes really good

Chicken curry
SK G.

Five of us went there to celebrate a birthday. Our first time. They moved us to the outdoor patio which was very perfect on a nice evening. There was a birthday card at the table from the restaurant- nice touch! We ordered a number of cocktails and different dishes. The papaya salad was the only disappointment. Too much liquid and unlike the traditional version the papaya was not beaten/crushed so it didn't absorb the flavors. The other dishes were great, but nothing was like memorable! The service was good. Will try again.

Mango sticky rice pudding - the granola gives it a nice texture!

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3 months ago

Excellent!! Food, service and cocktails all excellent. Will make it my regular spot, it's literally so close to my home. Yum

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Page 1 of 14

Ask the Community - Jo's Modern Thai

Can a negative Covid test be used in place of vaccination to dine in?

if it’s a test within the last 3 days then yes.

Can you get takeout?

visit our webpage Josmodernthai.com… 

Are dogs allowed on the patio?

No, only service dogs.

What type of cooking & frying oil is used? Canola, soybean, rice etc?

Good question, We using rice bran oil.

Do they have heat lamps on the patio?

Yes they do!!! And if one is not enough, just ask for more!

Do they offer vegetarian versions of any dishes? Looks like only one vegetarian option on the menu.

View All 10 Questions

Lemon Drop

Lemon Drop

4.3
(207 reviews)
2.9 mi
$$
Outdoor seating
Vegetarian friendly

Drinks: Him: the old fashion was great. We we were only…read moresupposed to have one but I ordered a 2nd round Her: Can't go to a spot named lemon drop and not order one. It was worth every penny! Food: Her: The chicken in the tacos were over cooked The shrimp in the tacos was WTF and the sauce in both was left to be desired The fish taco was just ok. The tikki masala flat bread is and actual pizza and should be offered with chicken Him: food was good! We had a good time! She thought the food should be better but the drinks were good. We might be back!

The vibe was awesome from the moment we walked in. We had every visible staff member welcome us in…read more It is seat yourself, we found our seat and did not wait 30 seconds for our server to come to the table with menus. Great attitude, ready to answer any questions we had. We had a margarita and a lemon drop (of course!) and the drinks were excellent! We ordered the fish tacos and the chicken tikka masala tacos. They were AWESOME! The fish was cooked perfect with a delicious batter, the chipotle sauce was spicy spicy but so flavorful, it was pleasant to eat. The tikka masala tacos were a complete surprise! In a great way. We expected something super saucy and messy, but they were not at all. We aren't sure how they got the perfect tikka masala flavor without a lot of sauce, but they killed it. Great flavor, the cook on the chicken was perfect. We can't wait to go back!

Photos
Lemon Drop
Lemon Drop
Lemon drop

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Lemon drop
Bardo Lounge & Supper Club

Bardo Lounge & Supper Club

4.4
(332 reviews)
2.8 mi
$$$

What to say about Bardo! The vibe and decor are both immaculate. Truly put together by someone with…read morea vision and they executed it splendidly. The food is pound for pound some of the best in Oakland. My wife and I dined here last night and did the Dinner Party Menu and it did not disappoint. Everything we had was excellent but the highlights for me were the incredible scallop crudo, the fried artichokes with fava bean and pea hummus, and the chicken and grits. The other major highlight was the staff and service. Everyone was so friendly and stellar at their jobs. Finished plates were taken quickly, drink orders were filled and served within a few minutes, and new plates of food were swiftly fulfilled between courses all on a fully-packed Saturday night. I would 100% recommend Bardo to anyone visiting Oakland, or locals looking for a nice night out. Since their menu is seasonal, I can't wait to return to sample their new offerings.

Visiting Oakland from Las Vegas, read great reviews about the Bardo Burger…read more 6/18/2026, Ambience was nice but my burger was a disappointment. Instead of getting garlic fries I was served overcooked French fries And my Bardo hamburger bun was very soggy on the bottom. I had to remove the meat and leave the soggy bun on the plate. I mentioned to the waitress that I would not be ordering the burger again and mentioned that I thought I was getting garlic aioli fries. She informed me that they do not serve garlic fries.

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The bar
The bar
Mushroom Bolognese
Mushroom Bolognese
Ribeye.

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Ribeye.
Almond & Oak

Almond & Oak

4.4
(430 reviews)
3.0 mi
$$

Very tasty, Southern inspired foods. I loved the spicy chicken sandwich and their cornbread. There…read morewas a wait list on a Saturday morning, but the text to let us know our table was ready came fairly quickly. Our server was very prompt and kind. The restaurant is beautiful, with a full bar and view of their grand oven. Highly recommend to make a reservation here for brunch.

Came here for lunch with a friend at 1 PM on a Saturday. We came 15 minutes late after our…read morereservation because of parking and they were understanding of it. As soon as you walk in, you're hit with the smell of a campfire from the oven. The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous with an Art Deco design. The ambiance is cozy but elevated. Benedict (buttermilk biscuit, dungeness crab cakes, marinated swiss chard & beet greens, herbed hollandaise, poached eggs & mixed greens): I'm not a huge benedict person because they can feel heavy, but this one was fantastic. I loved the textures and flavors of the crab cakes pairing with the greens and vegetables. It felt balanced and not too creamy or exhausting to eat. It definitely stands out from the run-of-the-mill brunch benedict. Vegetable Hash (roasted sweet potatoes, garnet yams, sunchokes, cauliflower, cremini mushrooms, celery root & onion, savoy spinach & poached eggs): This was also delicious and also set itself apart from the standard brunch hash. I loved the different vegetables in it besides being just potatoes and onions. The mushrooms and root vegetables worked really well together. Everything was well-seasoned. I'm glad we ended up choosing these dishes even though neither were my original top choices (I decided on the menu with my friend). It made me feel like you can choose anything and it'd be a banger. We were quite full from these dishes, and we forget we also ordered beignets to come out last. They were fluffy and mostly air (but not in a bad way). The service throughout the meal was good. We were checked on from time-to-time and our waters were refilled, although I wish the water glasses were a little bigger. One small thing to note was that we were given the check while we were still eating, even though the restaurant was still seating people despite it being close to closing time. Unsure if/why we were rushed like this. Overall, this was a memorable brunch spots I've been to in the Bay (dare I say one of the best?). We left smelling like a campfire. I would recommend it.

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Almond & Oak
Baked strawberry rhubarb French toast
Baked strawberry rhubarb French toast
Eggs Benedict

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Eggs Benedict
Town Tavern

Town Tavern

4.3
(199 reviews)
3.0 mi
$$

This spot has very good cocktails. This time I tried Georgia on my Mind, it has cognac and peach…read moreliqueur. My friend has the chicken sliders with fries. Good choice. Server was helpful and attentive. Cheers!

I stopped by here for happy hour and had a really pleasant experience! They offer $10 classic…read morecocktails and discounts on appetizers like chips and salsa and guac, French fries, nachos, and other bites. I ordered a classic martini with a twist, it wasn't my favorite drink ever but it was made well, just not my usual. After that I ordered a classic margarita which was super good and came with a black salt rim and dehydrated lime. The margarita was super tasty and both drinks were made right away! For food, I ordered the chips and salsa and guac. The guac was very good, it tasted fresh and was a good size portion. The salsa was really good, it was chipotle tasting but had a lime tanginess to it that was unique and refreshing. They were generous with the portion of chips and the chips were thick and crispy and seasoned well with just a little bit of salt. I also ordered the impossible taquitos which came with guac, sour cream, and salsa on top. The presentation was beautiful and the food came out fast but the taste was a bit weird, it wasn't bad but it just tasted like burger meat in a taquito. I really appreciate that they offered a meat alternative but wish it tasted better, like maybe use potatoes instead of fake meat, or use fake chorizo over a burger seasoning. It would also be nice if there was a vegan version not just a vegetarian version. Despite my critiques of the food, I have no critiques for the service and atmosphere! My server was phenomenal and attentive and checked in often! I had a great experience and look forward to coming back but would definitely be more eager to come back if they updated with more vegan options!

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Toki, hazy IPA, Basil gimlet.
Toki, hazy IPA, Basil gimlet.
Nachos
Nachos
Pick your specials

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Pick your specials

Jo's Modern Thai - thai - Updated July 2026

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