Other than yelp, I may gate keep this place. Definitely a hidden gem in this community! It's hard to find notable Thai food anywhere in the bay, and I think this place may be it for me. Food. You can really taste the love, effort. Aunties and uncles in the back definitely throwing it down. You know the Thai food is good when the spice level is the actual spice level (some places say medium when there's no spice at all, lol). The khao soi alone is worth the trip. We'd also recommend (quite literally anything else). We also loved the Thai Arnold Palmer. Service feels like home. Respectful, friendly, kind and prompt. Ambience is busy during lunch! As they should be. Though, very attentive. Had us reminiscing about our time in Thailand - and felt the same kind of love, same notes of flavor of food. If i didn't have self control I'd probably be here once a week read more

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Khao Soi - Thai Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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First, the positives: the staff were inviting, pleasant, and attentive, and the restaurant itself was comfortable and nicely decorated. Their friendliness is the main reason I'm giving two stars instead of one. Unfortunately, the food was a completely different experience for me. Everything I ordered was overwhelmingly oily. I don't mean slightly greasy--I mean so saturated with oil that it overpowered virtually everything else. At one point, I felt like I might as well have bought a bottle of (spicy) red hot chili oil and tried drinking it through a straw. I ordered a mild curry, but after only a few bites, my mouth was on fire from the unexpected chili oil. More importantly, I couldn't taste the complexity or balance of Thai spices I was expecting. The curry sauce seemed to be watery without any thickness yet somehow excessively oily at the same time. The vegetables were also severely overcooked. Instead of having any texture, they were extremely soft and mushy. Between the mushy vegetables, excessive oil, and lack of discernible flavor, I simply couldn't continue eating. I genuinely dislike leaving a review this negative because the staff were very nice, and I had high hopes based on the reviews. However, I spent far too much money on a meal that I ultimately couldn't eat and ended up throwing away while still hungry. I was specifically trying to find a good Thai restaurant closer to home rather than spending time on a long BART ride into San Francisco for some of the Thai restaurants I've enjoyed around the Inner Sunset area. Unfortunately, this didn't come close to what I was hoping for. read more

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - drink (spicy) hot chili oil - Thai Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Drove from Hayward to try out this place because we've been seeing some post about their boat noodles being amazing. Was it great? It was decent. Would I make the drive again? Definitely not. The broth was a good balance of sweet, savory and spicy. What I wish I had more of was noodles. I felt that for the cost, it was a small amount (more like kids portion). For the boat noodles, I'd give it 5/10. We also order duck larb, Lao style papaya, sticky rice, bbq pork neck plate, and Thai ice tea. The duck larb was so good. Like 9/10. Not too fatty. I could eat that all day with sticky rice. The sticky rice was really good too! I am a picky sticky rice eater so I give it 10/10. The bbq pork neck plate was seasoned very well and my kids ate it up! Totally kid approved 9/10. As for the Lao style papaya, 2/10. Lao style papaya is my favorite style so when we had it here, I was greatly disappointed. It really just tasted like fish sauce. Nothing else. If it was closer it Hayward, I might go back for the duck larb but guys, the boat noodles was just alright. I know everyone has their own taste but to me, it wasn't worth it. Also! Our 5G didn't work there! Our kids couldn't watch anything to keep them busy so it was hard to have lunch with 2 kids. We didn't ask the restaurant if they had wifi mainly because they looked really busy. We didn't want to bother them. Just download some videos before you go . Honestly, if it was just me and my husband that went, it might have been a better experience. It's quite small and is more a great place for catching up with friends. The waitress was very nice and just left us to enjoy our food. read more

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Thai Boat Pork Noodle - Thai Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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This was a good find. I heard about this place here and there and I'm glad I gave it a try. From the moment I arrived, we felt welcomed. Our server was incredibly kimd and helpful, helping us choose our order. The space itself was cozy and relaxed. I enjoyed all the dishes my party ordered. Everything was flavorful and satisfying. Definitely would reccomend to others. read more

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Pad See Ew, Thai Fried Rice, Kho Soi - Thai Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Larb Thai Food & Tapas is one of my favorite Thai places in the East Bay. The crispy rice salad is incredible -- super crunchy and full of flavor. I also love the larb, the boat noodles, and pretty much anything from the skewers section. It's absolutely banging and definitely one of the most authentic Thai spots in this area. This is the kind of place you almost want to keep to yourself, but it honestly deserves the recognition. read more

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Today I ordered takeout. I got the crispy rice ball salad (medium spicy) and the dry tom yum noodles (medium spicy, no liver). I really liked the crispy rice ball salad--it was quite tasty. I noticed they added coconut, which I didn't expect, but it actually worked and made the dish interesting. As for the dry tom yum noodles, they were decent but not something that really wowed me. The restaurant decor has a Thai vibe and looks nice for a small place. The staff were friendly and kind, which I really appreciated. read more

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Yum! I really enjoyed our lunch here! Really deep flavors. All the dishes we ordered were good in different ways. I probably would want to try different Larb salads next time, love the sauce in it. I also was feeling spontaneous and ordered a Tom Yum Beer, super refreshing! Overall good experience. Good service. Good food. read more

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I'm a sucker for noodle soups. It's my go-to order here but I'll have to try the lemongrass chicken next time! The overall setup is nice.. leaning towards Instagram vibes.. but not at the expense of the food. I tried a couple different noodle soup so far - always good and sweaty! Can't say the same for the pad thai though. My wife didn't quite like it in either of our visits. Found the staff to be nice and friendly. Keep it up! read more

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I'm glad I found this place through social media. I understand the other reviews wanting to gatekeep this place. The server was very very nice and explained the food to us. It has a very cozy atmosphere with rustic decor. I tried their pad see ew, kho soi, and thai fried rice. I loved all the dishes! Excited to come again and try other menu items. read more

Solid local Thai place! If you like spicy food this place is for you but if not then be careful when ordering. We got mild for everything and it was all pretty spicy (for me) but tasted delicious. Our favorites were the crispy rice ball salad and the pad see ew. The dry tom yum noodles were good but didn't really give a strong tom yum flavor-tasted more like a pad Thai with some different toppings. Wouldn't get the lemongrass chicken again as it was too dry. The khao soi was good but not amazing. read more

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Thai Near Me - El Cerrito, California

This is a mom and pops Thai restaurant, small and quaint, located within a mini commercial mall. There was a wait, so we waited outside sitting at one of their tables until we were called. The wait wasn't too long and we were seated promptly. Waters were brought out and menus passed out. We ordered fried tofu, papaya salad, side of brown rice, lemongrass chicken, chicken pad Thai, and larb duck. The entrees were served promptly. The tofu with dipping sauce was hot and cooked right with a nice crunch to the edges. Pad Thai was well flavored, the larb duck and lemongrass chicken was juicy and very tender, papaya salad was mild spicy. All in all, the food was excellent, the ambiance cozy (tables may have been a bit close between groups), but the service, hospitality and attentiveness were excellent! There is open parking but spots are shared with other businesses there, and on busy weeknights/weekends, you may have to park on the street. We'll definitely recommend this restaurant to others! read more

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Best Thai food ever! The prices were also so good compared to what I am used to in San Francisco. The service was so warm and sweet and the ambiance was so nice! The decorations were so pretty too! I'll be back! read more

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Green Curry, Drunken Noodles - Thai Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Flavorful, affordable Thai spot! Family owned restaurant who always provide great service. Located in a small strip mall with decent amount of parking. Interior has a cozy feel. Been here a few times, on our most recent visit we had the pork larb, pad see ew, cucumber salad, crispy chicken wings, and a side of sticky rice. The larb with the sticky rice is fantastic, the larb is spicy and acidic and the sticky rice cuts the strong flavor nicely. The crispy chicken wings are as advertised, with a dipping sauce for flavor on the side. Every dish we had was balanced in flavor. Highest recommendation for this restaurant! read more

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Amazing authentic Thai food ! Service was fast and friendly atmosphere. Order fish cake; papaya salad; read more

Service is awful. It was a moderately busy day for them, so we waited in line to be seated. More people started arriving after us and waiting in line as well. Once inside, we were given a table and ignored. The server took the orders and served 2 parties that came in after us, and took refill orders from other parties already inside. Didn't even get water. read more

I've been coming to this eatery for years, and it continues to impress with its consistent food quality and reasonable prices. My go-to dishes are the rice ball salad -- still the best I've found among countless Thai spots -- along with Pad See Ew, drunken noodles, Tom Yum, Pad Thai, and the Thai papaya salad. Before the pandemic, they used to offer daily specials featuring authentic Thai dishes, which I really miss. It added a unique touch and variety to the menu. The service is always warm and attentive, and the ambiance has a charming, rustic feel -- somewhere between a farmhouse and a cozy beer hall. read more

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Amazing Thai food! Everything was super fresh and flavorful. The restaurant itself is very cozy and was pretty busy on a Friday night. The parking lot outside is a bit small as this place is in an unassuming strip mall. Service was pretty fast. We had the Larb Chicken, Dry Tom Yum Noodle, and Fermented Pork Belly Skewer. The larb chicken was light, savory with a lot umami flavor. The dry tom yum comes with a savory, hot broth on the side, perfect for cold nights. We got it at a medium spice level, which was the perfect amount of kick. The pork belly skewer was extremely tender and juicy. Overall, lots of flavor and will definitely come back! read more

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This is a cute little restaurant nestled in a plaza with other interesting restaurants, but I digress. The space is small, I don't recommend coming during peak lunch hours. We got there around 2ish and got seated in a few minutes, which was great. The service was pretty good. They did come around to check on us occasionally. It was pretty busy too, so that's telltale. The interior was clean and they had a lot of posters everywhere, which added some character to the restaurant. Now to the grub. We like to sample, so we got: -Chicken larb (medium spicy) 4/5 The spice could've been higher and I usually like dark meat with my larb, but overall, the flavors were there. I think the tastes seem to be Westernized a bit for me. -Nam Kao 3/5 Not the best nam kao I've had, but not bad. It could use more nam and spices. -Boat noodles 4/5 The broth was a little too thick for me, but it was flavorful and had all the right aromatics and seasonings. -Fried chicken 3/5 It was just OK. The sauce that accompanied it was good. -Fried calamari 4/5 Pretty good We also got some beers and sticky rice. Overall, it hit the spot, but I've had a lot of Thai/Lao food with deep roots, so my standards are a bit up there. read more

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My favorite Thai place still has quality food and the kindest service even after discovering them over 5 years ago. I used to frequent this establishment often but moved away over a year ago and only recently revisited. Everything is still top-notch however more busier. I ordered the chicken Thai fried rice (perfectly portioned for two to share), chicken wings (never greasy and have a nice crunchy flavorful profile), and some skewers. Hands down my comfort Thai shop and I'm happy other people love this place as much as I do. Highly recommend everything on their menu! read more

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Limited parking in a cozy plaza. We were seated quickly and the place is definitely cozy. Staff is super friendly too. We waited a bit for our food but it was busy. Since this was our first time visiting, I wanted to try items I couldn't find anywhere else. So I opted for the tom yum dried noodle. It was absolutely delicious! You can taste the tom yum flavors. Our waitress told us that it's not suggested to pour the soup base into the noddle and I appreciated that tip. I'll definitely make the trip back to order it again! read more

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So many Thai restaurants around East Bay, and I'm still going around trying them all! Here's a local spot that gives a lot of mom and pop shop vibes - lots of anime and sci-fi fandom references in the decor, and very friendly service. I normally just go for a basic pad thai, and I got the chicken option ($15.75). Unfortunately, this particular one just wasn't it for me. Not sure if it was a one time slip up or just a regional style, but the sauce was WAY too acidic for me. Not too much to say besides that, because pad thai is just pad thai :') read more

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Thai Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Everything was fabulous! Full of flavor, balanced heat, bright and fresh dishes. We ordered a feast to share. Apparently their spice can be high so if you let them know they'll tone it down. We showed hesitation so they sent out slightly spicy dishes rather than blow your doors off heat. I could have handled more but that's ok. We feasted on the prawn larb, tofu crispy rice salad, pad see ew with prawn, Thai papaya salad, some skewers including the okra, mushrooms and pork shoulder. Everything was fantastic but my favorite bite of the day was the crispy tofu crispy rice salad. All the texture from the crispy, the heat from the spice and the crunch of the lettuce cups. I would absolutely eat here again when in the area. It was easy to park (there's a lot), easy to access, and clean inside. Pricing was reasonable for the feast we devoured. If I go again I'd ask for more heat but that was our issue for our hesitation when ordering not the restaurant's fault. read more

SO GOOD! I will definitely be back. I picked up food yesterday after a recent recommendation. I ordered the Khao Soi Chicken Noodle Soup and the Crispy Rice Ball Salad. I cant wait for lunch today to have the leftovers, both dishes were so full of flavor. read more

Having lived in Thailand for ten years, I'm admittedly picky about Thai cuisine. After a string of disappointments in Oakland, a friend recommended Larb Thai, and it did not disappoint. I was thrilled to find Boat Noodles on the menu--a personal favorite that is surprisingly rare in the Bay Area. The rich, dark broth and tender stewed beef were perfectly authentic to my experiences in Thailand. Beyond the delicious food, the staff was friendly and the service was impressively fast. Even with a 90-minute drive ahead of me, I'm already planning my next trip to explore the rest of the menu." read more

Delicious food. We just order our dishes 'mild.' Pad thai, larb chicken, yellow curry tasted so far.

One of my favorite restaurants in El Cerrito because of all the vegetarian options! And there are SO MANY. There are a lot of thai/lao restaurants in the area that aren't able to make a vegetarian nam khao, but they can here!! Nam Khao is definitely a must order. Crispy, different textures and flavors that tingle your tastebuds. The mushroom larb was also really delicious, I was surprised they used white fungus so it provided a really nice crunchy bite. The dry tom yum noodles are a bit on the sweet side, so if that's what you like, give it a try! My only warning is be careful of their spice level! I ordered medium and was crying, questioning my life choices. The servers are always friendly and the dining room is spacious with plenty of tables. read more

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I ordered TOGO dry tomyamnoodle,It's good.Thin noodle.Staff is friendly.Ambiance is good.yumm read more

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Thai Near Me - El Cerrito, California

I'm very new to The Bay from Los Angeles. This place was just what I was looking for. Authentic flavors and aesthetics. Cute little place with great food and service. I had their boat noodles and it hit the spot! Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu. read more

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Beef Boat Noodle Soup. - Thai Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Came here on a Sunday around 1pm with my fiance and there was no wait. The food was delicious and the portions were perfect. We ordered the pad see ew, wings, cucumber salad, and larb. Everything was so good and the service was great. I'll definitely be back! read more

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Cucumber salad - Thai Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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WOW FACTOR? No. But nice small, local restaurant. We love Thai but have a hard time with a new one because "mild" has too many meanings and here "mild" is "medium spicy" for us. Good service. HAVE AGAIN: Pad Thai with steamed tofu was very good NOT HAVE AGAIN: The pumpkin curry with added salmon was good but it had very few pumpkin pieces. read more

Flavorful dishes! Wonderful service! Calming atmosphere! Favorites: pad see ew and khao soy Skip: larb duck Caution: papaya salad. If you can't handle spicy, please order mild! I made the grave mistake and ordered medium spicy... I took one bite and my mouth was on fire for the entire meal. I'm glad I stopped by the restaurant again after all these years. I'm so so so happy to see this business thriving. It's the best Thai/Laos food in this area :) read more

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A friend of mine recommended this place as he's heard good things and the reviews were promising. They did not disappoint! It's a comfy place & service was friendly and attentive. We ordered quite a number of items because we wanted to try everything. Appetizers: Deep Fried Tofu & Fried Cylinders Rolls Entrees (to share): Larb Chicken, Drunken Noodles, Half Lemongrass chicken Drinks: Thai Arnold Palmer, Thai Hibiscus Juice Side: Hot & Sour Prawn soup (medium spice), cup of rice We enjoyed it all! It was the perfect amount for 3 people. Thought we over ordered, but guess we were hungry. LOL read more

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Larb Chicken - Thai Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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I stumbled upon this wonderful Thai restaurant. A boutique, family owned restaurant that just does everything with excellence. Authentic, perfectly cooked Thai food. Don't let the tiny strip mall and exterior façade for you. This is a gem. The service is so friendly and the food comes out in no time piping hot. I highly recommend either going solo or with others. Thank you, I will see you again soon. read more

LOVE this place my gf and I's favorite Lao food. I had the pumpkin curry, fried tofu, chicken laarb, Khao Soi, and pad see ew/pad Thai. Some of the best curry is here and I love how big the fried tofu appetizer is. Khao soi here is a MUST and the tom yum fried noodles were unique and tasty. I hope this place never leaves read more

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Pumpkin curry - Thai Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Larb has Almost everything I like in a dining establishment. When you are seated you feel pleasantly like "No way Broheim, this is El Cerrito?" Nice mood music playing, prompt service, everything looks clean. Wood accents around what looks like corrugated walls are elegant and simple at the same time. Unfortunately "Almost" is the key word today. The food was a bit of a miss. The Chef's special Crab Fried Rice looks on the website like it has a decent portion of crab. Nope. Though it was tasty, I found one modest piece of crab that I gave to my wife. Those chunks of "meat" you see on the Larb website are mostly bits of egg and clumps of rice. You also need to ask for that wedge of lime in the picture if you want it. Like condiments? There are no condiments on the tables. We were not the only table that had to ask for them while we were there. Pro Tip: The one restroom was clean and well stocked but ask staff for the access code before you go. The fish larb was also flavorful but it looks a bit threadbare compared to the robust looking picture of Fish Larb on the website. Camera angles and distances can make food hard to judge. So though Larb is conveniently close for us, we may try the Vietnamese Banh Mi place next door to it next time. read more

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Larb Thai is definitely one of my fave Thai restaurants in the bay! I absolutely love their khao soi. It's rich, sweet, creamy, and spicy. The crispy noodles on the top added some nice texture as well. Also tried their fried tofu today. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside; paired with the sauce, the tofu was super addicting! They recommended the kabocha pumpkin curry. It was delicious. The first time I had gone to Larb Thai, I tried their chicken larb as well, and it's one of the best larb I've had. Service was great! Our server noticed I was wearing light colors and recommended I zip up my dark jacket just, so my khao soi didn't stain my sweatshirt underneath. So grateful for her recommendation as I would've definitely got some on my light sweatshirt knowing myself. She also brought over extra napkins without us having to ask. My partner and I were also checked often. The inside is very well decorated. I absolutely love the vibes inside! If you're craving Thai and you're in this area, check out Larb Thai! I would give them a 5/5 in their food, service, and ambiance. read more

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Good and fast service, cute set up and good was delicious. Visited during the week for lunch before a work meeting and grateful for the quick and friendly service read more

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Chicken Pad Thai , Green Curry and Calamari - Thai Near Me - El Cerrito, California

My first time, and I went with someone who has been there on several occassions. Comfortable and clean environment, wonderful and attentive staff members, and delicious food. We had the drunken noodles, duck larb, and papaya salad. These dishes offered an enjoyable, complementary variety of textures, flavoring, and degree of heat. I look forward to visiting again and trying other food. read more

I grew up in Thailand, and have tried dozens of Thai restaurants around the Bay Area. I'm always looking for restaurants that not only serve delicious food but food that is authentically Thai. This is hands down the best: the most authentic, the most delicious, and the place I keep coming back to again and again. It's important to understand this restaurant has a regional specialty - Northeast Thailand, and that the best dishes on the menu speak to that: the papaya salad, crispy rice salad (which is incredible), larb, and the lemongrass chicken or grilled pork. Some combination of these are eaten with sticky rice. The Khao soi is also absolutely incredible, by far the best in the bay. The decor of the place is an homage to a road side family establishment in the northeast serving just these dishes. They're often very full, and it's a family operation (shoutout to Chef Paul!), so you're not going to get Michelin-style service, but they're attentive, helpful, friendly, and the food comes out fast. I can't recommend it highly enough - but come in expecting something slightly different than your usual Thai restaurant! read more

Delish! Loved the Khao Soi here. Friendly staff as well. Highly recommend and will return here when I'm in the area.