Hidden gem in El Sobrante that serves up some of the best Laotian and Thai food in the Bay Area. Every time we visit, must-orders are the Nam Khao (crispy rice ball salad with fermented pork sausage and fresh herbs) and Ka Soy (Laotian noodle soup). If you see Nam Khao on the menu of a Laotian/Thai restaurant, that means they know what they are doing just because it's so labor-intensive to make a salad(!) and the fermented pork has to be damn-near perfect for this salad to really shine and round out the fresh herbs and seasonings which includes lime juice, vinegar, and fish sauce. Ka Soy (the noodle soup) is a comfort food enjoyed in Southeast Asia. It's not the Thai-style where it's a curry broth and the noodles are fried, so let's not get it mixed up. Instead, it's bone broth that been simmered for hours and it's somewhat a lighter broth. The noodles are wide rice noodles in a big bowl of hot broth served with a mixture of ground pork cooked down with tomatoes along with fresh bean sprouts, scallions, and cilantro - simply a divine noodle soup that a must-try. It's not overly complex in terms of flavor, but it's a bowl of good ol' noodle soup that is comforting and great-tasting. If you haven't tried Laotian food, give Sue's Kitchen a try. try some new flavors and you may just become a regular (if you aren't already). The owners are friendly too! It's a husband-and-wife team! read more

The people here are exceedingly nice but the food is not. For example, I had their chicken noodle soup yesterday for lunch. It had basically two tablespoons of chicken that looked boiled. The soup tasted like water which made me add too much chili paste. The noodles were nothing to write home about though homemade. There were not a lot of noodles and mostly a lot of water for 15 dollars. I think the soup was supposed to come with crunchy garlic but it did not come with anything but a little bit of cilantro. All in all, just a very sad dish for $15 which I could have made at home with nothing but boiled water and noodles from the supermarket. My husband had their massaman Curry beef. They were training someone to cook in the kitchen and this curry came out with the texture and flavor of water. They were very kind to refund us for the curry as it was completely tasteless. One of the kitchen staff tasted the curry themselves and said that it had no flavor and apologized profusely. The restaurant itself though clean has a strong unpleasant smell. read more

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Outstanding Food and Service at Sue's Kitchen! I can't rave enough about my experiences at Sue's Kitchen in El Sobrante! The food is always hot and fresh, even when it's delivered. The portions are generous, and the curries are rich and absolutely delicious. The restaurant maintains a clean and welcoming atmosphere, and the staff genuinely enjoys interacting with customers, making the wait feel like a pleasant chat rather than a chore. One of my fondest memories is when I was under the weather, morning sickness or the flu. My husband kept this place a secret for years, bringing me their comforting pho without revealing where it was from. After enjoying that delicious bowl, I always felt so much better! He finally let me in on his little hidden gem, and I couldn't be more grateful. I've tried a variety of dishes: the curries, chicken satay, Pad Thai, coconut soup, and chai tea--everything has been absolutely delightful. They even accommodate my requests for extra veggies and basil, avoiding too many potatoes in my curry. Silvia has always been a favorite; we love chatting with her, although we haven't seen her in a couple of years. If you're looking for a fantastic place to eat, whether you want to dress casually or just need a cozy spot to regroup, Sue's Kitchen is the place to go. It's perfect for those days when you want to hide out and enjoy a great meal by yourself. Highly recommend Sue's Kitchen for anyone craving delicious food and a warm, inviting atmosphere! read more

Sue's Kitchen - Nam Kao - Thai Near Me - El Sobrante, California

In my opinion, this humble establishment is one of the best Thai restaurants in the SF bay area. Every time we have come here, the food taste and presentation has been excellent. The dishes ingredients taste very fresh, spice levels were great and food was delicious!. Portion are a good amount and prices are reasonable. The staff is very friendly and our waitress checked in on us a couple of times during the meal. Our most recent visit we enjoyed the Chicken Larb Salad, the Moo Young, Chicken Yellow Curry, and Kao Soy. We left very satisfied and had leftovers to take home. In regards to the ambience, the restaurant is very clean but the decor is a bit underwhelming. We still love this place though and will continue to go to his local gem. They have a fair amount of diners coming in and we saw many pick up orders being filled. Happy they have business. read more

We had another lovely meal at Sues. Fresh appetizers, warm savory soup and bbq pork. In all very delicious read more

Sue's Kitchen - Our meal - Thai Near Me - El Sobrante, California

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Can never go wrong with Sue's Kitchen. I have always enjoyed their food since I have been going the past 15+ year read more

Sue's Kitchen - Chicken Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - El Sobrante, California

I loooove Sue's Kitchen! The servers are always so kind. I will say I've only try most of the Thai/Lao offerings and haven't tried their more Vietnamese leaning offerings like pho. I will basically come here just for nam khao, always. I love that they're able to sub in tofu. Everything else we get has always been delicious and I like that their curries and etc come with a side of rice. It can get crowded on weekends etc, so sometimes there's a wait. Totally worth it though! read more

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Typically if you ask a server what is good on the menu and he/she replies everything is good I tend to be wary. Not here though as from what I've had everything is good and their portions are good too. I didn't label the attached pics as different people ordered dishes. I will say that this establishment provides good value for your money and more people should try it out. We came tonight in Christmas Day early and were the only ones here but people did trickle in and more dine in customers did arrive as the evening progressed. If there is one complaint I would say the service could be a bit improved although the staff here did have a pleasant attitude. The interior was alright, it's not a very big place. read more

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Wow. We haven't been back in this area since moving to Marin county. This place is a hidden gem. You guys are lucky to have them in your town. One of the best Thai restaurants in the Bay Area for sure. Large portions as well. Will be back. read more

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Foods are good！I love the noodles and curry rice. But the location seems a little bit hard to find. read more

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Food very tasty Great menu option's Service is okay Great takeout service Easy Parking read more

Kind server let me in a little before they opened which I appreciated since I'm short on time. Menu is varied & expansive and has yum woon sen which is what I ordered. A lot of Thai places don't have this on their menu. The portion is really generous. Bathroom was also clean and serviceable. Happy to have found a gem of a Thai Lao place! read more

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The food here is exceptionally flavorful, authentic, and serve in generous portions that often leave enough for a second meal the next day. Nam Kao is an absolute must order item. I love the satisfying crunch of the deep-fried rice balls mixed with sour pork, fresh herb and lime juice wrapped in lettuce. read more

Delicious spot to stop on your way out or in to San Francisco. The staff was kind and very helpful. Easy spot for toddlers. Ordered several dishes and liked the pad ke maw the best! read more

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Food was fresh and tasty. I asked for mild on my Yellow Curry and it was a bit spicier than I prefer however that's easily adjusted next time. The potatoes were slightly undercooked and hard. I asked for brown rice and was told they didn't have any- and then saw someone a few minutes later being served brown rice- maybe it wasn't cooked yet as i was there 5 ish. However the freshness and flavor will have me back to try again! Service was good and the simple yet clean interior was comfortable. read more

Sue's Kitchen - Yellow Curry & Jasmine Rice - Thai Near Me - El Sobrante, California

This was an all around 5-star experience. The service was spot on, though inside & outside is nothing fancy, it is quaint and clean, and the food was outstanding. The portions were HUGE and the food delicious. What are terrific little hidden gem! A must-try if you find yourself in the area. read more

Sue's Kitchen - Tofu Panang Curry with steamed rice - Thai Near Me - El Sobrante, California

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The food was amazing! I love the eggplant with the garlic sauce. The portions were big and everything was freshly made. I will definitely come back read more

What can I say I have been coming here ever since they opened up. Back story. Sue use to serve food out her house in San Pablo. So you can say I've been a fan of her food. We occasionally say high to her when she's cooking. But ok think she low key sold the spot. But Ibe never been disappointed here. I will be trying it again soon. I'm going on a Thai/Lao eating spree around the hercules through Berkeley area. I'll pop up and give you and honest review. Of course pad Thai will be the main dish I will critique the food off of. Let's go! read more

Like a moth to fire I'm a sucker for amazing food. I was pleasantly surprised to find this mom & pop restaurant that serves up delicious Thai & Laos cuisine that goes well beyond the average. I ordered the bbq boneless chicken of their special menu that comes with a scoop of white rice and Lao style papaya salad. The thinly cut chicken was perfectly seasoned and went well with steamed rice. My absolute favorite was the papaya salad which had the right amount sourness,spice with a hint of fermented taste and the right amount of crunch. The person that took my order was pleasant to talk to and even spent time talking about other items on their menu. He explained the flavor profile differences between Laos and Thai dishes and even gave me a glass of water while I waited for my to-go order. If your in the mood for delicious food I highly suggest giving Sue's Kitchen a try and if you like spicy food ask the person taking your order what they suggest. read more

Sue's Kitchen - BBQ Chicken with steamed rice & Papaya Salad. *Special Menu Item - Thai Near Me - El Sobrante, California

Fantastic place! The food is super good and the staff are friendly. It's fun local restaurant with really amazing flavors. We just moved to the area and this place is already going to be one of our go-to's. read more

Sue's Kitchen - Kao Piak - Thai Near Me - El Sobrante, California

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Great food, ample quantity and friendly efficient service! Once you brave the very steep driveway, you are in for a treat!

It's still there!!! Went to Sue's Kitchen today for take out lunch for my mom and I and ordered the combination and my favorite crab fried rice! Haven't had crab fried rice for awhile and wow, they still serve it and it's still good! Very tasty. crabs are visible, and served in good portion! I'll order it again next time! The combination was fried egg rolls, deep fried tofu and chicken satay. However, it didn't come with a rice. So you have to order rice separately! The service was good and got my food fast despite being a lunch hour. I will definitely come back again! FYI: Parking can be a challenge during the weekend! read more

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As usual another delicious meal at Sues Kitchen. Our soup, appetizers and rice plate were so delicious only exceeded by wonderful service. If you live in El Sobrante and haven't tried Sue's Kitchen treat yourself you won't regret it! read more

Sue's Kitchen - Kao Soy soup marinated pork rice plate - Thai Near Me - El Sobrante, California

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My friend and I happened to be in the neighborhood at around dinner time. Being new in this area, we yelped and found this place! It's a hidden gem, tucked away on a hillside strip ... one could miss it so drive slowly as you want to turn into the uphill parking lot. The seating is functional and practical. The hosts are truly warm and kind and helpful. The menu is perfect - they do adjust ingredients if you let them know in advance of any food allergies (my friend and I cannot eat peanuts and tofu and the hosts adjusted that)!! We ordered: Tum Yum soup - so fresh and so flavorful and absolutely tasty!!! We ordered Papaya Salad and we asked for it to be spicy and BOY it was perfectly spicy!!! (Read XXX hot)... the crushed red chili did the magic! My friend ordered a red curry chicken dish, I ordered a side of veg fried rice. This was the perfect combination of all things!! Everything was SO fresh, tasty and delicious. Not too oily, not too greasy, just right!!! See pictures! The cutlery and eating utensils are spotless and clean, no stains on anything. The hosts keep filling your water - we wanted water with no ice and they totally understood with a smile. There's a great choice of side hot sauces on the table. There's a washroom, a TV that displays their menu, ample tables and chairs. The place is clean. They accept credit cards. I didn't ask about WiFi. The door is definitely wheelchair accessible. Absolutely a must go. My friend and I will go back there!! read more

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Love this place, food is authentic and delicious. I usually order over the phone and pick it up. The wait staff is quick and friend. Casual and home vibe. read more

My husband are from out of town and were excited to try a favored local place. My husband had the Panang Curry and ate all of it. Good savory flavor. I had a HUGE soup... with home made rice noodles, chicken, garlic, green onion, and cilantro. It was perfect and I'll be chasing that flavor balance for the rest of my life . The noodles were a perfect texture too. Oh and we had a Thai iced tea Togo... also amazing. Service was awesome! read more

This is my favorite Thai restaurant. Their nam kao is perfection as is their kao soy and kao poon. I am also a fan of their beef noodle soup. read more

The food was really good and authentic ! My family loved it and we been to Thailand ! We will go back !! I was a little upset to find that they closed for vacation maybe but hope it opens again soon ! read more

The food was AMAZING. Service was good, and everything came out super quickly. I ordered the Pho Beef (picture) and I would give it a 10/10! Cozy and Comfy place, very homey. read more

Sue's Kitchen - Pho Beef - Thai Near Me - El Sobrante, California

Came here last night for the first time with my family. I haven't been here but my family has. Sue's kitchen is the most underrated restaurants you'll ever come across to. There food is authentic and you can taste the flavors as how much they represent the Laotian and Thai cuisine combined. For appetizers, We ordered the chicken satay, wings, and calamari. I forgot to snap a pic of the wings because it was too good as I glazed it with the sauce it came it. For mains, we got crab fried rice and chicken pad Thai. The food is great. Lastly, we had their coconut ice cream with fried banana. It was something different for a change, and I liked it. The restaurant got busy after we left and I'm glad more people came. Service was good, not a disappointment in sight! Thank you! read more

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First of all, i rarely eat Thai/Lao food. Only Thai I know is pad tai. If you're new here, and no idea what to get, order from the menu on the wall. Those food there is not included in the paper menu they give you. And those food there are safe choices. The crispy tilapia w/ friend rice is on the wall menu. That one is food. I pick something on the paper menu but didn't like it much. That's just my tip. Atmosphere is nice casual vibe - hole in the wall mom and pop type restaurant. The servers were nice. Homely. Just what I expected from reading the reviews here. Bathroom is clean. Decent parking. Portions were good. Egg roll was good. I will definitely comeback for the fried foods. read more

First of all, I've lived in this neighborhood for most of my life and the food has always been great. I went there with my family today for the first time and they loved it! The service was great, we arrived on a Thursday evening and were immediately seated. The host who I believe was the owner even moved us to a better table immediately when we noticed our table was a little wobbly. We already knew what we wanted so we just ordered it immediately and with all of our requests the owner happily and joyfully delivered. The combo platter was delicious , we swapped the regular egg rolls with veggie ones and they were delicious with the peanut sauce. I got the pad see eew and my family member got the seafood pad Thai and both were delicious and plentiful! They really do give you a hearty portion for a great price! The ambiance was pleasant and nice like it was since I first came here. Overall we will be back again! read more

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We were coming back from visiting family in Hercules and needed a place to have dinner. This place stood out and was on our way. Glad we came here as the food and service was excellent. We had Pad Thai (benchmark for Thai restaurants ) Tod mon pla, crab fried rice and tom yoong koong. The food was a little different as the folks are Laotian but it was super good read more

It wasn't that good today. I got take-out. ( first time ) Ordered pad thai. It just didn't taste like anything. I've eaten here several times and thought it was good. ‍ read more

My favorite restaurant. Used to come here more often when we lived in the East bay, but now we try to come whenever we're close by. Housemade chili hot sauce is good on everything. read more

Was in the area and a friend suggested this spot. We came in for a late lunch on a Sunday but it wasn't super busy. There were three of us and we all got noodle dishes so can't speak for the rest of the menu but the noodles were alright. Very mediocre. Service was good though, staff were very friendly and nice. read more

Sue's Kitchen is a small,family owned restaurant which serves Thai and Lao food. The location is hard to find so be on the look out for a small plaza which you go up a small hill. The atmosphere is welcoming and homey. My go to soup is their Kaopiek it's soo delicious for these cold days. The bowl is filled with freshly hand cut rice tapioca noodles and chicken. It is topped with freshly fried garlic and green onions And you can top it with your favorite condiments. Looks soo simple but the taste is flavorful and delicious! A must try!! read more

Sue's Kitchen - Kaopiek!! Soo good - Thai Near Me - El Sobrante, California

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Solid 4.5-5 stars! I've been coming for years and everything I've had is delicious! The only reason why it isn't a 5 is because the last few times I've come, the portions were half the size and the nam kao wasn't as dynamite delicious as usual. It makes me think that the portions are now consistently smaller. Nonetheless, the flavor is amazing! Nam kao: usually amazing! Recent trips haven't been as good and portion was half the usual size. Hopefully not a permanent thing... Tom kha gai: always good! Delicious coconut flavored broth that isn't overwhelming or too sweet! Chicken satay: love! Small portion for price but good. Papaya salad: love! I prefer Thai style since Cambodian style is a bit too intense in flavor for me. Both delicious but depends on your palate preference. Fried tofu: good but not amazing. Egg rolls: good but also not amazing. Thai iced tea: good! I always get it Service is friendly and the space is large and spacious. read more

Sue's Kitchen - Menu Dec 2023 - Thai Near Me - El Sobrante, California

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This place needs to blow up and get more popular, Sue's is sooo good, everything they make here never misses in my opinion. You have to drive up a super steep ramp to get into the parking lot though. But that's ok. The food is worth it. We also always immediately get seated very quickly. Service is good. My favorite dish to order here is the Khao Piak. The noodles are so chewy - good amount of chicken and the most hearty bowl of soup ever to cure your hangover. I also really like the pad Thai here, pad see ew, papaya salad, moo young, the list goes on and on. Also the Thai tea never misses too. That's all I gotta say. Eat here. Food is great read more

This place is one of the more well known Lao restaurants in the area. I will say though, the parking is the worst. It's up a super steep hill so the parking lot is slanted downwards so folks might find it annoying to park in the area. The inside is simplistic and small but feels very homey. It can get busy around dinner especially so sometimes there may be a wait time for a table. Unsure if they take reservations. The food is really great! I usually get the kao poon and I have also tried their Kao soy. Both really great and flavorful dishes. I would say that the broth is more tamed and not as heavy as other places which I personally am a fan of! The staff is super friendly and have always been very on top of it. They get the food out FAST and they check up on you throughout the meal. They are all so nice and welcoming. Definitely worth the try if you want to try some good Lao food and are in the area. read more

Sue's Kitchen - Kao poon - Thai Near Me - El Sobrante, California