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    Kua Lao Thai Kitchen

    4.8 (64 reviews)
    Closed 9:30 am - 6:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Pork fried rice
    Georgia R.

    What a delicious Lao and Thai food spot inside a grocery store out in the Central Valley! We came on a Monday afternoon for lunch and found street parking right in front. The dishes are a great value with generous portion sizes and food made to order. We ordered a chicken pad Thai, beef pad see ew, and pork fried rice. Amazing smoky flavor from the wok and perfectly seasoned! Our favorite was the pad Thai as the noodles were cooked well and not soggy or stuck together. We also tried the Green Thai Tea and Sugarcane juice which were both solid. All the food comes in take out containers but if you dine in there is an area to sit inside and they provide water + cups, plates, utensils and napkins.

    Steve H.

    One of the best restaurants I have gone to. I'm planning to come back here again soon, that's how good it was. I came here on a Saturday around 1030am and luckily there was only one person in front of me. I ordered the #33 - Pad Kra Prao w/ beef (traditional) and medium spicy. The lady taking my order was so nice and helpful. She was so cheerful and it made me excited to try the food. There isn't much seating so I would recommend coming early or ordering to go. Waited about 15 minutes and the food came out. It smelled amazing. There was so much flavor to it. I devoured it within minutes. My friends got the Nam Khao, Pad Kee Mao fried rice and the Lau sausage. I was able to try all of it and it was so good! This was such a great experience. The restaurant is located inside a small grocery store so you have found the place. I can't speak enough about this place. Definitely a hidden gem and I can't wait for others to try it as well. Thank you so much Kua Lao Thai Kitchen!

    Mango sticky rice
    Raquel P.

    Absolute gem of a place. This time around I wasn't able to take photographs of all the dishes without having a few bites first. We tried a few new dishes and everything was sensational, and FRESHLY made dishes, which is what we love about this establishment along with the flavors they are working with. Highly recommend trying this place out. Everything was so good that we plan on going back today to try out two more dishes we regretted not ordering.

    Orange chicken & fried chicken
    David R.

    Food was awesome Service was great Ambiance is typical asian market with a little seat down place to eat! Longan ice tea and sugar cane tea was delish! Come and try the food!! Will be back!!

    Updated menu 7/28/2025
    Jeankaylyn E.

    I've been here 3 times already and it's family owned grocery store/restaurant. Everyone is so kind and welcoming. Food is amazing! The papaya salad isn't your traditional Thai papaya salad cause it's a lao's version, but it's really good! Spice level if you like spicy food they definitely bring the heat. Place is clean. Parking is decent . The amount of food you get for the amount you pay is unreal! They also currently have 4party tray options: laab, fried rice, pad de ew, and pad thai. Small tray ranges from $60-$80. I wish I lived closer cause I'd eat here every day!

    Alexa O.

    Shrimp pad Thai and chicken potstickers! Great food, great service, awesome variety. They Areli ate in the back of a market with space to dine in, I usually take out. The ladies that help you are the sweetest and always have a wonderful smile on their face.

    Rich L.

    Kua Lao Thai Kitchen brings some authentic Southeast Asia dishes for you. So authentic that if you like Thai pepper spicy this your place. Follow your nose through Aqua Blue Store to the smells on basil and spices to the order counter. Be patient, every time we went there was a line. Usually the owner, Noking (I'm sure I screwed up the spelling), is the person taking your order. We had several dishes here, most recently was the Pad Kee Mao and Lao Sausage. I ordered the Pad Kee Mao medium spice and it had me sweating with others sitting around me laughing, it was fire and the heat level gets even hotter. It was delicious! The Lao Sausage was firm and very complex in texture. In the past we had the Pad Thai and the Pad Se Ew, all delicious. If you're in or passing through Modesto, CA you need to stop in here.

    The eggrolls are amazing too they have a great flavor
    Joey G.

    Berkeley ,San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles Santa Clara , Sunnyvale and then we find this place. The food here is so amazing. Flavorful spice and cooked just right. The chicken is tender the noodles al dente the eggrolls are superb the rice is so damn delicious. The service was great too making sure we received what we asked for. This place is inside a store so you may be thrown off but don't worry this is authentic for sure.

    Papaya Salad, Thai style
    Del S.

    5 stars for the food for sure.. if you love spicy, they have it going on.. if you're not in to spicy, make sure you let them know you want it mild. I've been to a few of the Thai places in Modesto. We wanted to try something new, and I saw the rating, and pics of the food, so definitely wanted to try it. If you're expecting a fancy sit-down restaurant, this wouldn't be your place. It's a hidden gem for sure inside a little Asian grocery market. Flavor of their food makes up for the surroundings you're dining in. We were not disappointed. The staff were very sweet and accommodating.. and they keep the dining space clean. Can't wait to go back and try some other dishes, and I'll definitely be using them for catering.

    Chicken egg rolls and fried rice
    Carolina L.

    Yes it is a hole in the wall! It's absolutely delicious. I had absolutely no idea this restaurant existed. Honestly it never popped up on Yelp before until today. I gotta bring my husband so he can try this place out. The cook is exceptional and so is the person who takes the orders. So sweet and nice!

    Pad Thai
    Victoria B.

    First, this place is a store w/a restaurant within. The woman at the cash register near the door was so warm & welcoming. Not a ton of seating but enough when we were there at 2pm. During their lunch rush, I'm sure seating is impossible, but don't let that deter you. Take it to go! I've had a hard time finding good Thai/Lao in my area. I drove 1 1/2 hrs to meet a friend there & it was worth it. Truly. All of the food was great. My tastebuds would've liked a bit more tamarind & more lime in the pad thai, but that's my only thing. Otherwise, it was all great plus they gave us free white rice w/our entrees. Last, their prices are AMAZING! The quantity is really good too. Service was really really good & pleasant. Just know they don't have a parking lot (as far as I could tell), but they are wheelchair accessible (just ring the doorbell). Pls, go support this small business.

    Eggplant w/ beef
    Stefanie Q.

    Oh. My. Goodness!!! Run - don't walk - to this lovely gem of a Thai food restaurant nestled inside a cute market called "Aqua Blue Store." Searching for the best Thai food in Modesto, Kua Lao Thai Kitchen popped up on Yelp with a 4.9 star-rating - no small feat for ANY business on this platform - so I decided it had to be worth a try. I called in to order the eggplant with beef and spring rolls. Since it was an hour before closing, they told me it'd be ready in about 30 minutes (so make sure to plan ahead). Don't blink while you're driving by 411 H Street, or you might miss it; there are only a few parking spots on H Street, but you can park around the corner on 4th, too. While you're waiting for your food to be freshly prepared, you can browse their varied selection of Southeast Asian groceries! I loved both dishes, but the fresh shrimp spring rolls were my absolute favorite! 10/10 would order them again; they were super satisfying and refreshing on a scorching Central Valley summer day. Best of all, the prices are right. Don't sleep on this one...

    25. Pad Garlic Pepper ($11)
    Tony N.

    There were rumors in the 209 that a new restaurant was in the works after the previous restaurant closed. Through the word of friends, family, and the community it was officially announced that the daughter of the Aqua Blue Store will take over! And yes.... IT'S FINALLY HERE!! I attended with my family to the grand opening. It was pretty busy; the line never ended keeping the staff busy, sweating, but still able to keep a smile on their faces. I applaud their hustle and dedication to creating a new Lao Thai restaurant to provide delicious, authentic cuisine. The menu has a great assortment of options to choose from! You can choose a wide selection of appetizers, salads, curry, fried rice, noodle dishes, and other entrees. There are also a variety of beverages to complement your meal and dessert! We ordered egg rolls, fried chicken wings, lao sausage, Lao-style papaya salad, laab, pad Thai, and several drinks. Everything tasted fantastic and incredibly delicious! All made fresh-to-order and well worth the cost. Each dish was unique and easily different in its own way. You can't go wrong with any of them. Kua Lao Thai Kitchen is located inside the Aqua Blue Store. All the staff are super friendly and their hard work is evident. They provide excellent service and are proactive to their delivery. It was obvious there would be some kinks and stress on the first day, but that will be perfected over time. Street parking is available and there is a limited section for dine-in. I will definitely return to try other items on the menu.

    Sugar cane juice

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    2 years ago

    The service was fast and courteous. The food was delicious. I would recommend you try it out. The price is also very reasonable

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    It wasn't the best La Thai food I've ever had. Maybe I'm from Sacramento and am used to a higher quality or something.

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    1 year ago

    One of my favorite spots for lunch in town, the food is amazing and the prices can't be beat. The staff are also very friendly.

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    2 years ago

    Great food, great service, great price. First time there and I was satisfied compared to other places I've been.

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    1 year ago

    Honestly our favorite place to get Lao food! Everything we've gotten so far has been good, they have great service!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    I came with my family to this restaurant, I ordered pad kee mao and pad thai, it's very bland and not tasty, sorry

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    2 years ago

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Kua Lao Thai Kitchen

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    Sticky Rice Restaurant

    Sticky Rice Restaurant

    3.9
    (435 reviews)
    4.1 mi
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    I really don't like giving 5 stars from one visit. I like to give the 5 stars after a few visits,…read moreto ensure there is consistency in all the things, but I couldn't help it. This restaurant is off of Mitchell, which is a busy street, so it is easy to get to. It is part of a large shopping center so lots of parking. The restaurant itself it pretty spacious and has lot of seating. Could very well accommodate a larger group. We were greeted and seated right away. The lady that seated us was very pleasant and met us at the table with iced water and our menus. We ordered: 1. Thai teas: refreshing and delicious. 2. House Special: came with fried shrimp, fried broccoli, Laos sausage, fried chicken, beef jerky and fried egg roll. All fried to perfection and a great plate to purchase to appease most palates. 3. Large sticky rice: which is a must! 4. Laos papaya salad (mild): this comes with 6 Thai chilies and was perfect heat. It comes with a side of fresh cabbage. It was all the things we needed the salad to be. The sauce was dark in color, salty and that danky goodness! 5. Laos sausage: ordered this on accident because I didn't realize there was some sausage that came on the house special platter which was fine because we knew we were taking stuff home. 6. Crispy pork belly: marinated perfectly and fried to perfection. Dipping sauce complimented it well. So much food and I believe the bill came in under $90. A good amount of food, delicious and filling. Glad we stumbled upon this place and don't think it will be our last visit!

    Everything was overcooked Chicken wings were disgusting…read more They were hard and freezer burned. The server didn't interact with us. Just a really weird experience that was memorable for all the wrong reasons. This restaurant is clean, though, in the surroundings are pleasant.

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    Papaya Small Platter
    Papaya Small Platter
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    Lao Der

    Lao Der

    4.4
    (166 reviews)
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    We love coming here. Everything from the food to the customer service has been excellent…read more We ordered so many delicious dishes, including the papaya salad, kaopoon, fried tilapia, kao piek, beef laap, and several other tasty items. I would say their level 3 spice for the laap can get pretty spicy -- it's a slow heat that creeps up on you as you continue eating. One thing I'd ask for next time is some lemon or lime, as I like my laap a bit more tangy. They make their sausages in-house, and while they were good, I think they could be a bit larger considering the price, along with a touch more salt for a more savory flavor. That's just my personal preference. Overall, the food we ordered left us very satisfied. Our waiter was very kind and recommended a few dishes for us to try. Unfortunately, some items were out of stock, but that was completely fine. The decor is beautiful, and I love the lighting! It has the feel of a fancy dining establishment, but you can skip the suit and tie. We had no issues finding parking and their bathrooms (2) have been generally clean when I visited. Overall, a great experience, and we look forward to coming back.

    I can't say it any louder, but this is a must if you enjoy fresh asian flavors and especially…read moreLaotian cuisine. The yum salmon, wok tossed beef and pretty everything else is deeeeeelicious! Service was great and Ramano made you feel like a long lost friend that is hungry and he wants to feed you, with plenty of recommendations if needed. The restaurant has a relaxed vibe, with chill music and it is an easy place to love to come back to. You better hurry on down and get you some!!

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    Decor
    Decor
    Imperial Rolls
    Imperial Rolls
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    The Papaya Lady

    The Papaya Lady

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    When my sister went to school in Merced, we always made sure to stop by Papaya Lady whenever we're…read morein town. Since she has graduated, I won't be in town anytime soon, but I highly recommend them for some good Thai and Laotian bites if you're ever in Merced! They have a selection of delicious dishes and I have loved everything that I've tried. My go-to orders are the Papaya Salad and Khao Poon. The papaya salad is a must and the spice level was the perfect amount. The Khao Poon is a coconut curry based noodle soup that is so flavorful. I've also come to really enjoy the Nam Khao (Laotian crispy rice salad), each bite is crunchy and absolutely delish. Your Asian comfort food cravings will definitely be satisfied here. Wishing The Papaya Lady continued success!

    I had the Papaya Lady bookmarked for a long time when I finally had the opportunity to try them on…read moremy way home from Merced. Located off on the corner of 16th Street and G (same plaza as Little Caesars), the Papaya Lady is actually tucked away inside a carniceria. The aisles of the market nearly block the counter to this little kitchen. It's the neon sign of "The Papaya Lady" buzzing that guides you to the back. We came in the late afternoon on a Saturday and they were already out of the fried chicken and sticky rice (next time!). We ended up ordering: Papaya Salad (extra spicy) - The little peppers in this gave the dish a nice kick. Super refreshing on a hot day. Nam Khao (crispy rice lettuce wrap with pork skin) - I highly enjoyed this one with all the crunchy textures and flavors. Will 100% get again. Khao Poon (noodle soup) - This broth had a subtle peanut flavor which was delicious. Wished it had more toppings. Nam Vanh (tapioca drink) - My drink seemed to lack the other jellies that I saw in other pictures and only had the lil tapioca balls, sweetener and coconut milk. It felt like it was missing something for sure. The owner is so nice and friendly. I don't know if it's a psychological thing, but every time he acknowledged or spoke to me, he used my name. It just felt automatically more warm and welcoming lol The price per portion is also legit. You get so much for what you pay. Our order kept me and the SO fed for almost 3 days. So nice to have some good Asian food in the Central Valley. Will definitely be back!

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    Still the best Nam Wan around!
    Still the best Nam Wan around!
    The Papaya Lady
    Mmmm...Spicy Papaya Salad!

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    Thai Kitchen

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    It's been a minute since we've been to Thai Kitchen. We were living in Stockton and this was our…read morespot for Thai from 2014 - 2016. We were in town for wine tasting and hadn't had Thai food in a while, so we decided to stop by. What can I say...? Same great iced Thai coffee, deliciously fresh spring rolls, and the green curry couldn't have been better. We didn't see too many veggie dishes on the menu, yet at my wife's request, the kitchen made her fresh green beans in a garlic sauce. Thats right - fresh crisp green beans with plenty of "crunch" in a velvety garlic sauce. The prices are very reasonable considering today's crazy economy and we took food home! This is a family run business and the care and attention to customers is worth giving Thai Kitchen your support. We understand that they will be moving soon (just two storefronts away from the current location) and will have more room for more clientele. Judy and Sonny are very welcoming and personable. We wish them great success in the new location and we can't wait to be back to check it out!!!

    Spring roll, best thing I had 9/10 BBQ pork with rice: 7/10…read more I can not recall the last item that we had, but it was a ground meat with herbs and was kinda spicy but manageable. That was really good as well 9/10 The service was nice, very helpful, and attentive My experience was good. The location is really tiny, a party of 10 people can fill up the whole restaurant.

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    Green Papaya

    Green Papaya

    3.9
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    I've been a fan of Green Papaya since discovering them as a food truck at UC Davis and I'm so glad…read morethey have a brick and mortar. It's a casual ambiance, order at the register, then seat yourself and they bring your food out. My go-to has always been the yellow curry with chicken, but decided to try their basil chicken most recently and it was delicious! The sauce had a sweetness to it that was well balanced by the basil, but I do wish they added Thai chilis for some spice like authentic Pad Kra Pao. You also can't go wrong with any of their noodle dishes. They have vegan options as well and my family loves the papaya salad. I appreciate their affordable prices, generous portions (an order of their yellow curry always yields 2 meals for me), and consistently good food.

    Green Papaya remains one of our go-to spots in Stockton for Lao and Thai food!…read more We shared the Pad Thai (my personal pick) and the Yellow Curry, which is my husband's favorite because of its creamy texture. We also added the Crab Fried Rice and the Fried Riblets. The fried rice is seasoned perfectly, and the riblets are the absolute ideal pair for the rice! Portions are generous, the space is clean and spacious, and the service is always friendly. If you haven't been here yet, definitely give them a try next time you're in Stockton.

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    I don't like that mango sticky rice is displayed & not made when it's ordered, very salty
    I don't like that mango sticky rice is displayed & not made when it's ordered, very salty
    To go order of Kao poon
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    Table Condiments

    Kua Lao Thai Kitchen - laotian - Updated July 2026

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