Friendly quick service in a quaint family run restaurant. One of the best Pad Thai plates I've ever had. Sauce was amazing, chicken was tender and the plate had tons of flavor. Tried a bite of the Drunken noodles with beef and it was equally amazing. Best Thai food in the Valley for sure. read more

Lao Esan Kitchen - 47 - Pad Thai w/ Chicken - Thai Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

Some pros and cons. Overall, I would not comeback here. There's much better options for Thai food elsewhere. The fried rice was dry and lacked flavor. I wish there was more shrimp in that as well. I got like 4 shrimps on my shrimp fried rice. The rice itself was stale or maybe overcooked? Something was off with the flavor. My husband got meat and said it was "meh." The mango sticky rice was mediocre. Sure, it had all the ingredients, but just wasn't good flavor wise. Maybe it was the coconut sauce not being my favorite? It wasn't exciting and I love mango sticky rice. This one was so blah for some reason. The Thai tea was very sweet. I liked that. Service was fine. Ambiance was not busy when I went to pickup the order. I liked the vegan rolls. Those were fresh and tasty. read more

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So I've been afraid to try this place... Why? The last place that was here, was a Thai and Chinese fusion type of spot and I just heard bad things about their practices. Stuff like they cleaned or rinsed the mop in the same sink they prepared the food in. Just unsanitary things and I was concerned that this was perhaps the same business, just rebranded-still not entirely sure. Plus, the appearance kinda gave me fast food vibes-typically whenever a plus has that 'look-up menu' (a menu you have to look up at), it's the unhealthy, cheap fast food variety unseen at most every Thai restaurant. But, for some reason, I decided to give them a chance. And I'm glad I did. They may have my favorite pad thai in the area.I enjoyed it so much, I had to run it back again the next day. I'd also ordered the mango sticky rice. It was satisfying, just a little more syrupy than I care for. I forgot to get a picture of it. I only ordered delivery but I wouldn't mind stopping by in person and seeing how they do a number of my other favorite Thai dishes. read more

Lao Esan Kitchen - pad thai - Thai Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

Food:4 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 3.5 I've never had Lao cuisine before, so I was really excited to try Lao Esan Kitchen for the first time. We came on a weeknight about an hour before closing and while they were friendly, you could definitely tell they were ready to close right on the dot. Because of that, I would recommend giving yourself more time and not coming right before closing if you want to relax, talk, and enjoy your meal. When we walked in, the ambiance was actually really fun. It is located in a random strip mall, which might throw you off a bit, but once inside it is light, bright, colorful, and full of nice ethnic decor. I really liked the vibe. We were hungry and ended up ordering quite a bit including the Lao sausage, nam khao todd , catfish, and pad see ew. Everything was actually very tasty and I would order it all again. The standout for me was the nam khao todd. It was crispy, fresh, flavorful, and just a whole bunch of goodness. I was really pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. I also really enjoyed the Lao sausage and the steamed catfish. The pad see ew was good as well, but nothing that really stood out compared to the other dishes. Service was just right. Friendly enough but not overly attentive, and they were there when we needed things like water refills. Overall, I would recommend this place if you are craving Lao or Thai food. I would definitely return. Four stars all the way. read more

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Went to the little hole in wall. Wanted to try this spot on the way to the lake. We ordered a cashew nut chicken and rice, pad kee mao, and a chicken satay. The food was delicious. The cashew nut chicken and Pad kee mao were my favorite. I didn't care for the chicken satay. We ordered everything at a medium spice level thinking it was going to be spicy. I would recommend just ordering it spicy if you love spicy food because medium level was not it. The atmosphere is nice for a small place and its super clean. Definitely a cool spot to have lunch at. The lady was super nice and kind. She provided great service. read more

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The food is good but the BBQ chicken is a ripe off. A few pieces of chicken with a lot of rice and full bed of veggies .. extremely overpriced priced for this item. Will not purchase that again if I go back. read more

Place is clean service good. Wife got laab gai salad, ground chicken with herbs like mint and a citrus dressing very refreshing give it a 10. Lao sausage also a 10 nice toasty skin herbs and meat taste yummy plus red sauce give it a kick of spicy. Mee khati coconut curry peanut noodles give it 8 not a lot of meat lots of noodles. Flavor is amazing wont get it again though. Last mango sticky rice give 8 still good wife says a lil off. Over all 5 stars good experience eating lao food. Lao sausage my favorite. Have a nice day! read more

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Came to the Murietta area to visit family and was feeling adventurous to try some new cuisine. If you've never had Lao food before, Lao Esan Kitchen is an awesome place to try! The staff were some of the warmest and most welcoming people I've encountered. As someone unfamiliar with Lao cuisine, I appreciated how thoughtfully they explained the menu. Super genuine in hospitality. You can tell they care about sharing their food and culture. The ambiance gives cozy, home-style sit-down vibes. The kind of place where you can bring friends or family and order a spread. It feels comfortable and communal. Goong Gra Borg (4/5) Crispy shrimp rolls to start off our meal! The exterior had that light, golden crunch that doesn't feel greasy, and inside was tender, well-seasoned shrimp with a subtle sweetness. Dipped into the sweet and sour sauce, it balanced crispy, tangy, and savory in a way that made it more than "just a starter." It set the tone for the meal without trying too hard. Lao Sausage (5/5) Fragrant with lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, each bite was savory, citrusy, slightly spicy, and incredibly juicy. It didn't feel heavy like most sausages do. Instead, it had this bright, herbaceous lift that kept me going back for more. It was bold without being overwhelming. This dish stood out to me the most. The Boat Noodle Soup (4/5) The broth had layers: rich and savory up front, then slightly sweet, followed by a gentle herbal warmth that lingered. It tasted like something that had been simmering all day, full of complexity and depth. Every spoonful felt comforting. Spicy Basil Crispy Pork (5/5) This one hit home for me. The crispy pork immediately reminded me of lechon kawali from my culture. It that same satisfying crunch giving way to juicy, flavorful meat. The garlic and basil didn't just sit on top; they infused the dish with fragrance and heat, making every bite aromatic and bold. It was savory, slightly spicy, and honestly addictive. Please please give this place a try, you won't regret it! read more

Lao Esan Kitchen - Thai Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

This is absolutely the best Thai food I've ever had. Barely finished eating and I can't wait to come back already with more dishes I want to try than I can possibly eat in one seating. Noodles were saucy, spicy, and bursting with flavor. I got beef with drunken noodles and the beef was so tender too! The pad Thai was the best I've ever tried also. Place got pretty busy after we came in but our server made her rounds with everyone pretty well and the food came out much faster than I expected and was steaming hot. The location feels a little sketch, but inside is adorable with good music, vibes, and instagram worth decor. This is totally worth the trip and I'll be back very soon! read more

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This is one of the best if not the best restaurant Lake Elsinore has to offer. I lived in Los Angeles for years before coming to this area and Lao Esan is one of the few gems I've found. Highly recommend: beef drunken noodles, khao soi, chicken soup, curry noodle soup, and the sausages. Definitely give them a try. Truly a hidden gem in an underwhelming area! read more

The food here is delicious and so full of flavor. The Thai tea was the only think that was lacking, it had too much milk and it overpowered the actual tea. The restaurant is very clean and so are the restrooms. The staff is very friendly and attentive. The dining area is spacious and could accommodate a large party. There is lots of parking. The soup was my favorite m, the lemon flavors mixed with the coconut were perfect. The chow mien was also a favorite. I wasn't a huge fan of the fried rice. It was good but it was lacking something. Overall it was a great dinning experience. read more

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I had been wanting to try this place since I found out it existed. There are few Asian restaurants in Lake Elsinore, so I was happy to come and support them. Husband and I finally had the opportunity to dine-in on Sunday for lunch. Others have described the atmosphere as warm and cozy. I will agree with that observation, and I'd go further by saying that it feels like I'm visiting a family member's home. Vibes are relaxed and informal giving me a sense of aunties and grandmas cooking in the kitchen. Service was friendly and ordering was easy. We ordered the calamari and Lao sausage for appetizers. Our entree dishes were the steamed pork, crispy pork with Chinese broccoli, and shrimp fried rice. A Lao style tomato dipping sauce came with the sausage and steamed pork dishes. It was tangy, sweet, and spicy. The way the lemongrass was mixed into the pork dishes took me back to flavor profiles of my childhood. This place fully deserves 5 stars for their food, service, and atmosphere. Hubby and I are already planning on coming back. I definitely recommend to give them a try. read more

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I have questions, can you make the pad Thai vegan or Pad see ew vegan? I know that you have vegan rolls. Everything said that has pre added oyster sauce, can be without sauce and made vegan. read more

Today we decided to come to our favorite Thai place in the IE. Their food is authentic and delicious. I used to live in Los Angeles and would go to little Thailand to eat so I know what's authentic Thai food. Our favorites are the Pad Thai, Tom Ka soup and Yum Woon Sen salad. Service is good. Place is always clean! read more

Lao Esan Kitchen - 22 - Tom Ka (Spicy Coconut Milk Soup) 14 - Yum Woon Sen - Thai Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

I didn't have time to dine in but everything looks great on the picture. It looks like a clean and a decent size restaurant. I ordered drunken noodles with pork to go. I asked for medium spicy level and it's spicy but good. I can't wait to go back go try more dishes. read more

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Whole menu is labeled vegan but not a single dish is vegan. All their sauces contain oyster sauce and no dishes can be made without it. Response to owner: I called in to place an order for pick up and was told, "we cannot make any dishes vegan. The sauce is pre-made with oyster sauce". This is after eating there multiple times, being told it was vegan, and thinking to myself that the food tasted as though it had oyster sauce but disregarding because I double checked when ordering. read more

I was home bound today and craved for curry when this restaurant popped up on a "restaurant that offers delivery" search and I am glad I placed an order with them! I had their green curry that was tasty and filled with generous amounts of chicken, bamboo shoots, bell peppers, and steamed rice! It was awesome!! For dessert, I enjoyed their mango sticky rice. Mangoes were semi-ripe and paired well with the black sesame seeds mixed in with the sticky rice and it was delicious! Delivery service was provided by door dash and a he driver was kind enough to place food delivery carefully on the front porch on a wooden box. I would definitely return to try other menu items! While this was a delivery order, I am unable to share the dining atmosphere, however, based on how the staff packed my order, I can tell they take pride in the quality of the food they serve. read more

We've been coming to this restaurant for a year and have ordered the same dish many times. Because my son has a milk, seafood and peanut allergy, I always double-check that the dish I order for him contains nothing he's allergic to and every visit we were assured it was safe. On our most recent visit, the dish unexpectedly came with peanuts. This was extremely upsetting and could have been dangerous. I messaged the owner afterward to share what happened, hoping for an explanation or at least an acknowledgment -- but I never received any response. At this point, I'm really disappointed. This wasn't just a small mistake; it was a serious safety issue, and the lack of communication afterward makes it worse. For families dealing with allergies, consistency and clear communication are essential. After this experience and no response from the owner, our family will no longer come here. I hope they take allergy concerns more seriously moving forward. read more

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One the best Thai/Lao restaurants I have ever been to. It is really amazing. Service is awesome and the restaurant is very comfortable and clean! Some of the of the best Thai food we have ever had. I had guests and ordered quite a few items. Kim was nice enough to put the entrées in trays that made it easy to serve my guests. read more

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I don't have any pictures because I ordered take out. Got home and ate our food. We ordered a little over $100 worth of food. The tom ka soup was delicious. The yellow curry was delicious but next time I'll order with no spicy because even with mild spicy it was still too spicy. The chicken pad Thai was a little sweet. The crab fried rice was good enough. The fried chicken wings were ok. The wings were tiny. The egg rolls were delicious. Everything is a little over $13 except for the crab fried rice...it was $17 something. Here's why they didn't get a 5 stars. While the egg rolls were delicious I don't think it was worth $13 something for 5 little egg rolls. My husband and son wanted to give them 3 but I'll be generous and give them 4 stars. The food overall was good but prices on certain things are not great or cool either. This restaurant has a lot of potential to improve. I don't think I'll order the egg rolls again. Service was pretty good and ambiance was ok. read more

I've gone a few different times and their dishes all have been really good. The drunken noodles, the wings, chicken sate and the beef sticks as well. read more

Lao Esan Kitchen - 50 - Lao Fried Rice - Thai Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

Read the reviews and decided to risk it, the last 2 were not very good. It's cute and clean,... and empty but still early so we were told to sit where we want. We ordered and the food was excellent. Yellow curry and grilled chicken which I held little hope for. But the chicken was way better than I expected. The yellow curry was also excellent but I had expected that. We will go back. read more

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We came to visit lake Elsinore with our Asian family and saw this and got excited. This was a gem to find as it is super authentic. My mom is usually a picky eater but she was like this place was GREAT! We had amok fish, crispy pork, and more. More importantly the mango sticky rice was the best because the rice was so soft and that's hard to do. You can dine here or take it out. Not many guests but you see a whole lot of take out. read more

Exceptional Food and Warm Atmosphere at Lao Esan Kitchen! I had an amazing dining experience at Lao Esan Kitchen! The food was exceptional--I ordered the drunken noodles with a combination of chicken and beef, along with a medley of fresh vegetables, all cooked to perfection with a mild heat level. I also tried the Goong Gra Borg (shrimp paper-wrapped egg rolls) with sweet and sour sauce, paired with a refreshing glass of Thai tea. My only small disappointment was that they didn't offer boba with the Thai tea, which I think should be noted somewhere on the menu, as I noticed other guests asking for it as well. That said, the service was wonderful--it had the charm of a family-owned and operated restaurant, and I loved seeing young family members involved in making the business thrive. The ambiance truly transported me, giving off the warm and inviting feel of a homestyle restaurant in Thailand. This spot is clearly a local favorite, and after experiencing it myself, I can see why! Great food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Definitely worth a visit! Thank you to the team for serving delicious food and making sure I had a great experience. Plus, the portion sizes were just right! I'll definitely be back! read more

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Me and my friend went to eat here and it was absolutely delicious. Always my go-to spot in Lake Elsinore

Expect to be intrigued by the vast and varied menu here. This menu goes a step further than most Thai/Lao restaurants, especially for the Inland Empire. Being our first time here, my husband kind of went wacky and left his restraint at the door. And still, we are far from deciding what is best here. So here is what we chose: Khao Poon, turned out to be a coconut milk based soup with lots of egg noodles, chicken feet, and pork blood cake. It sounds strange, but oddly would have gotten a thumbs up except the chicken feet were tough and under-cooked. It came with a plate piled with tasty, raw shredded cabbage, carrot, and cilantro which, when added, sadly cooled down the soup too much. The rich flavors were delicious however. The pork blood cubes, relatively flavorless, were not a big deal for me, as I indulge in a Filipino dish, dinuguan, frequently which incorporates pork blood in the gravy. I would consider ordering a similar noodle soup base but with different proteins and request it be served extra hot. Another dish, the crispy pork with Chinese broccoli, was disappointing. I was expecting this to be one of the better ones, but it was not. The main reason was that the pork belly, while quite generous a serving, was hard, tough, and not at all crispy. The broccoli, too, was a little too al dente for my preference. This dish was served in a thin, soy sauce based gravy that was tasty, but this dish needed work, especially the pork. The crab fried rice was good. Real crab, not fake, and good asian flavors throughout, but my only wish was the rice was a bit more fluffy. I have my eye on the pineapple fried rice for next time. The stars of the meal were our two appetizers, the pork eggrolls (5) and Lao sausage (3). Both were absolutely delicious and nice sized! The eggrolls were all meat and nicely seasoned, and came with a sweet dipping sauce. The exotic, savory, lemon grass flavored sausages were possibly even better than a place we love in Eastvale, and that is saying a lot! It too came with a thick dipping sauce that was mostly made from sauteed fresh tomato. Subtle, but good. And last, but not least, a special dessert. Sticky rice with a sweetened coconut milk glaze and fresh mango slices. It is served warm and sprinkled with toasted black sesame seeds. Always a great finish. The Thai tea was a very good one. I say that because I am not fond of it being overly sweet. If anything, it was under sweetened, which is fine for me. It was also very creamy, and a large serving. The menu is quite varied, and I appreciate the number of Laotian dishes offered, something we rarely get to try. Nice decor. Very clean. Good, very friendly service. Generous servings. I am looking forward to returning. read more

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We came here TWICE! On a Saturday and Sunday evening with my Thai mom. What attracted us here was their Esan and Lao menu... We ordered a lot of food because we really wanted to try as many dishes as we can. Some of their dishes were sweet like the drunken noodle so I had to ask for some fish sauce. I really enjoyed most of their dishes... The sticky rice was really nice and soft on Saturday but really tough on Sunday. 5/5 Service 4/5 food 5/5 Ambiance Favorite dishes were the BBQ beef. Lao esan sausages and Mi Kha Ti. They are a new restaurant with a lot of potential. Needs a bit of work on the consistency but, it's definitely worth a try if you're in the area... Rock on Lao Esan Kitchen! read more

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Customer service is always great, back to try more of the menu. Everything was solid as usual, the Nam Khao Todd remains undefeated read more

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I've only had my husband do pick ups here so I can't comment on service yet. But I love their nam khao Todd (crispy rice with fermented meat) & their Lao papaya salad. I really like the Lao version of the papaya salad more because it has more umami flavor. Smells a little funky & makes your breath stink, but I still love it. Their nam khao is one of the best I've tried because it's flavorful & they always make the rice crispy. Looking forward to trying more on the menu and will hopefully be able to finally sit down in the restaurant one of these days. read more

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Moved to Murrieta 2 years ago and have been searching for good food, especially Asian food, ever since. Lao Esan is the best I've found so far. Our appetizer was deep fried crispy shrimp in an egg roll paper. Really good, did not have that old oil taste in so many egg roll wraps. The wife and I ordered drunken noodles and a fried rice. The fried rice was above average but the drunken noodles were fantastic. Service was good and it's just one of those magic places hidden in a strip mall. We will be back and I will update this review at that time. For now I highly recommend read more

My favorite Thai restaurant in the area. So authentic and delicious! Also I recommend being truthful about your spice level because they definitely make it spicy, yet still delicious! I love this place! read more

Don't be fooled by the location and casual vibe. Their food is flavorful and good prices. You won't be disappointed.

The food is excellent, and the people are friendly. It's tucked away in the little shopping plaza, but it's worth looking for.

Had the red curry w mixed seafood , the drunken noodles with shrimp and the eggplant dish. Everything was absolutely fantastic. Some of the best Thai food I've v ever had in my life the flavor and we got med heat was perfect . read more

Food is absolutely delightful, friendly service in tact, interior is kept nice and clean. 10/10!! read more

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Great family restaurant with traditional flavors reminiscent of Southeast Asia! Reasonable prices and great customer service. read more

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my husband has been trying to bring me here for the last year and i'm so sad i waited so long! probably the best curry i've had and the mango sticky rice was amazing!!! ps don't forget to grab a thai tea to go! read more

Lao Esan Kitchen - Mango Sticky Rice - Thai Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

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Amazing Lao and Thai food, so delicious. We get delivery from here from time to.time and each time its a treat. read more

The food was great, I wish I took pictures but I was too excited to dig in. There was a misunderstanding when i did the order ( pretty sure it was my bad ) but the guy went outta his way and made it right, which was very very appreciated. I got the drunken noodles, pad se ew and pineapple fried rice. I get these dishes at every Thai spot and theirs were very good! read more

Mee kha Ti was our favorite!! So so good. I'm sure all their other dishes will be super flavorful. We tried things we've never had before and I'm glad we did. Even if our taste buds weren't quite use to the flavor profiles. I can't wait to go back and try their other dishes like their boat noodle and chicken noodle with crispy pork cuz for sure it's going to be cooked well and flavorful. Appreciate the authenticity and the hospitality. Joey was super nice. Come support this mom-n-pop. Definitely a great addition to this area. read more

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