My coworkers have talked so much about this place, that they would go any chance they had. I had it about twice while I was in the area, take out, and dine in. It's located in a small shopping area, which feels off the beaten path. The dining room itself is pretty small. What I had both times was the bbq pork and rice. The pork is cooked perfectly. Has a hint of char, which I like from bbq. Whatever is in the sauce, that's perfect as well. Altogether, it's a great homey meal. If I was still in the area, then I'd have it more often. My only hangup with my experience is that I feel like I had to go a little out of my way to be serviced, but other than that, would totally recommend. read more

4.5 stars. Everything was so good! This was our first time visiting Sue's Kitchen in El Sobrante after seeing it showcased on Check Please Bay Area. We had the Nam Kao, Satay Chicken, Panang Curry Seafood, Chicken Pad Thai, and Thai iced tea. A pleasant family run restaurant. We will return if we are in the area. read more

Update: the lady on the phone was rude, she put down the phone when I called and didn't let me know, and the kapiek taste plain, I used to like it here when it was flavorful but now it's bland like the lady who answered the phone personality. Also since this whole covid, obvi you add napkins and plastic utensils... but there was absolutely nothing in the bag of that so this place deserve NO STARS because of the customer service & horrible handling on satisfying their customers. Never coming back here read more

Sue's Kitchen - No utensils, no napkins... maybe a shortage in their restaurant but horrible customer service and satisfaction - Thai Near Me - El Sobrante, California

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The best little restaurant in ES. Love their food and eat there often. Never had a dish I did not enjoy. Good size portions and great to share with friends. read more

We've been going there since it opened. Always excellent food, nice service and good portions. Don't go there if you're not hungry.

Really good food. Small restaurant , with a comfort feel to it. Local restaurant, and I highly recommend for those that want Thai food. Service is also great as well read more

Best breakfast and brunch place ever! Service is great. Love coming back there! They have a great vibe!

Y'all this place is bomb af!! We went around 5:10pm and within 30 minutes this place was packed. We got the kasoy, nam kao, and Lao papaya salad! All the food was good and flavorful, especially the nam kao. I recommend everyone to try that, it was bursting with flavor. It had a sour, savory taste to it which I enjoyed and it comes with some green leafy (mint, cilantro, lettuce) to make the food super healthy. Eating bomb and feeling healthy? Count me in. The food came out a bit slow in the beginning but probably because they were waiting for people to order and making the food in big batches. No worries though. I usually don't mind the wait. I seriously can't wait to come back and try more food! I'm originally from sac and was looking for southeast Asian food and found it here! read more

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

An out of the way gem in El Sobrante with delicious food and friendly service! The chicken wings and fried rice combo are a favorite of our household as well as the beef Lad na read more

The food here is amazing! Super hard to find good Lao food but the food here is the best! Service is very nice as well

Great local gem. I wish the location was more accessible, but the food quality is always great and flavorful. Their portions are all equal in rice and entree and they let you choose no spice - very spicy on almost all the meals which is a really nice option read more

I'm writing this review after my second experience and I sincerely think it was much better than the first. Obviously the first experience wasn't bad, considering I came back a second time. The first go round, we ordered: Egg rolls - sauce was delicious. They were hot and crispy AND had such good filling which is everything I could ever dream of and more fried rice with chicken wings - for the most part, it was good. I love the sauce that comes with the wings but unfortunately the rice had bites with no flavor (just white rice) and it was cold. Tom Kha soup - heavy heavy on the fish sauce. Maybe it was reduced too much? It was okay, but I wouldn't individually order it again unless my company wanted it. Pad See Mao - not as much garlic flavor as I was hoping for. Still decent but also ran into the conundrum with under "dressed" noodles. However... I love their menu and decided to come back and try other things. Today it was Beef combo pho - I love this broth. The flavor is full and the noodles are cooked well. They weren't soggy which peeves me when I get noodle soups and they even topped it with fried garlic which made my heart sing. Papaya salad - DELICIOUS AND HUGE PORTION. That is all. Larb - straight forward and full of flavor. I have never had it on a bed of lettuce, usually the lettuce wraps are on the side but it was good And again the fried rice with chicken wings. Today they were crispy and the rice had so much amazing flavor. I love this place. I want to eat here tomorrow read more

Excellent food every time. We have had the most fresh fried calamari here. Excellent chicken soup, Kao Piak is my favorite. And the best Thai iced tea. Great service. Ambience feels very homey and like you are eating out of grandma's kitchen! This place is a gem! read more

So far so good. I would say Sue's has the best chicken Penang curry in town. The Rice was good. We ordered takeout and didn't want to go to Sala Thai. So we looked for a new curry place and became very pleased with the results. I'm sure they will move into a bigger place soon. Just one thing they need more waiters. read more

The food is always fresh. Not microwave it's fresh off the stove and the best Kao Poon ever 10/10

Their food is really good! I've had their yellow curry and pad see ew and both have hit the spot!

It's ok but not at all what I expected I was spoken highly of this place but when I went I was disappointed. The food was ok but nothing to brag about unfortunately. read more

Hard to find! Take the steep hard right up the hill, before the strip mall with the gas station. No worries if you miss it, you can U turn back. The food was good! We asked for one noodle dish to be bland because of my kid, they did as asked and kid slurped it up, along with jasmine rice. She's not a big meat eater and liked the BBQ pork. We really liked the larb and deep fried rice thing. The deep fried rice and an interesting sweet and savory flavor, with a little vinegar. The larb was spicy! I'd go back! It's not great for big groups, there is one or two spaces that can accommodate six, otherwise it's 2 and 4 tops. It's good! read more

This was the first restaurant recommended to me when I moved to May Valley. Yum! Always good to support a local small business, so it's a win-win! read more

I love this place so much! I drive 25 minutes to eat here. The papaya salad, pad see ew, and seafood curry are my favorites. Popping w flavor and heat. Highly recommend. read more

Sues Kitchen is by far the best Thai I've had in this area. Who would of thought authentic Thai would be found in the heart of El Sobrante. Whenever I try a new Thai restaurant the three are the deciding factors on me coming back. Pad Thai: I really like it. It wasn't overwhelming sweet like I've down the street. It was simply perfect. Also wasn't spilling over with peanuts. Green curry seafood: Loved it! I ordered this one hot and it had the right heat factor without taking away the flavor. They were generous with the salmon and shrimp. This is a must if you like green curry. Papaya salad: came with a side of vermicelli noddles that complimented the dish. The salad was neither too sour nor sweet. We ordered it medium hot and it was just right. Service: the gentlemen waiting the tables came by several times to check on us. I asked for chillies and they brought me a tray of them :) made me super happy although I didn't use much since the food had the perfect heat factor. I had some leftovers, they placed the curry, papaya salad each in a bag inside the container this prevented the juices to spill, nice touch! Pros: Papaya salad Salmon and shrimp green curry Pad Thai Spicy if requested Packaging of left overs Cons: None Seis 10 17 read more

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One of my regular go-to spots and what a special hidden gem and hole-in-the-wall! Despite its inconspicuous and out of the way location, it's definitely one of my favorite local spots to eat and always get so bummed when I crave it and forget they close at certain hours or on Sundays and Mondays. What haven't I tried from there is the real question...I can probably write an essay, but then no one would read my post. Let me just point out my all-time favorites... 1) Nam Kao (Rice Salad) Even the most skeptical of people who I've encouraged to try this have become nam kao lovers! It's made with fried rice balls and a "spam" like pork, it's a little tangy but that's because it's fermented. It is tossed with peanuts, cilantro, and other delicious spices and you can eat it on a bed of lettuce with added mint and cilantro to taste. 2) Calamari Salad Lightly dressed, well seasoned soft and chewy calamari on a bed of salad. Definitely have to eat this fresh. Very refreshing and light with a hint of lemongrass? Don't quote me on that. 3) Som Tum (Papaya Salad) This isn't for everyone, but I love it. It's not sweet like the papaya most people are accustomed to. It's green, crunchy papaya tossed in fish sauce, lime with some Thai chili and peanuts. 4) Gai Young (BBQ chicken) My ALL-TIME fave! So perfectly marinaded and seasoned and cooked. The chicken is so tender and juicy and it has a nice glaze on the outside which gives a nice crisp. I can't even tell you what's on it but I do taste a hint of lemongrass in it but it's not overpowering. I love love love this dish! 5) Kao Poon (Curry Noodle Soup) Ive shared this with so many people and they all have loved it. It's not heavy like your typical Curry but still has that rich flavor. I think it has shredded chicken in it which pairs well with the soup. It has vermicelli rice noodles in it which soak up all the delicious flavors. 6) Pad Makeur (Garlic Stir-Fry) Goes well with any of the protein options, beef, chicken and tofu. I love the basil and garlic combo. The sauce it's made in goes well over the rice as well. 7) Panang Curry My favorite curry from here. It has just enough spice and is not too thick or heavy. It also has a bit of sweetness to it. I'm not sure if it's the type of curry itself or the squash it's cooked with. Also great with any of the protein options. Their noodles are all delicious as well, but I'm not the biggest fan of noodles as I am these top dishes. Drunken noodles are always a hit, and pad Thai is a hit or miss for me. I've had them made really well and times where it lacked that flavor. Also if you love spice, I love their chili garlic oil sauce. I ask for it every time! I have a high tolerance to spice so not sure how spicy it is but it has such good flavor even a drop would be good. I eat here so much I don't take pictures, but I will update next time when they're open for sit down dining. read more

Super authentic southeast asian cuisine. The flavors in their simple bbq chicken and fried rice dish are amazing. We always need to go mild though, these guys keep it hot! read more

Have been coming to this place for a while, due to loving the food and usually never have any problems. Today we recieved poor service because apparently we didnt " tip last time " when we confidently have, and as my boyfriend was checking out she insisted he tipped but because we had a server who was rude and acted as if we were an inconvenience when we asked for one thing but treating everyone else nicely we just decided this would be our last time. it just only backfired on them bc they assume we didnt tip we should recieve poor service . read more

We go here all the time. I really love the tofu scramble food is fresh and delicious, staff and friendly and quick.

I remember the days when this was Bamboo Chopticks under a different ownership. It was excellent then and the food is still excellent! It has built quite a reputation among El Sobrante locals as the go to place for inexpensive flavorful and authentic Southeast Asian food. The dishes are just bursting with flavor! We had the pad thai, pad kee mow (sp?) and a shrimp and chicken salad (forgot the name). The first two dishes were excellent as always, but I thought the shrimp and chicken salad had too much fish sauce making it salty and fishy for a salad, which is kind of weird. I wish I had ordered the nuer num thoke (their beef salad) which I have had in the past and has always been an amazing and unique blend bursting with flavors and textures! I would have given this place 5 stars but had to down grade it to 4 or 3.5 because service here has really gone downhill. I agree with some of the recent yelpers that the service was inattentive, disinterested, and non-caring. They never came by to refill our water glasses (my food was salty) or to ask if we needed anything. My daughter had to get up and get her own water because she was so thirsty. When we were done eating, they ignored us and we sat there for a while obviously done until I had to get up and ask for the bill. Ditto for asking for a box to take home leftovers. What a difference from before, their service used to be so good but now there's a definite changeover in staff as well as their attitude. All in all, I would say go here if you would like affordable and really delicious Lao/Thai food, that hasn't changed, but be prepared to assert yourself to get water and service. read more

I've been coming to this place for years, it is tucked away in El Sobrante which I call a hidden gem. They have to me by far the best Thai/Laos food in the East Bay. I've eaten there a few times and it's a nice small hole in the wall, but I mainly takeout from there. They do get busy during lunch when they are doing dine in, it's a can't miss place to try. They do some specials not on the menu, but for the most part I recommend a few things on the menu like the combo appetizer, Kao piak, pad mekur, pho combo, papaya salad, and a few others if I name a few more the list would be too long. Staff are friendly and since it's a small place there will be await, but it's worth it. read more

Good food, service is inconsistent. The ambiance is ok just a basic place. If it's peak time you might need to try to get their attention. I recommend for take out rather than dining in. read more

Great food! Get the egg rolls every time and ask for extra sauce! The yellow curry is always a good choice!

I ordered a pad thai and ima simply say its amazing the flavors there the portions are huge im amazed completely its 100% worth trying out

I like it. Good food and friendly staff. Priced moderately and portions are good...you won't feel cheated when you leave this place. I like the Kao Soy, #1 from special menu. Try any of those, you'll never regret. Tip: if you aren't in a rush, no time to wait but want to dine in (maybe lunch break), you can call ahead of time. Food will be ready when you get there. read more

Been trying Thai restaurants in the area. Staff was great and the food was excellent. Decor was simple but with good food one doesn't need extravagance. Will be back. read more

My wife recommended Sue's Kitchen for awesome noodle dishes that you typically don't find in most Thai Restaurants. She used to frequent this place when she worked in Richmond. Sue's Kitchen specializes in Thai-Laotian cuisine, and despite their small size they boast a pretty sizable menu. We split three dishes for lunch. Nuer Num Thoke is how all salads should be - fresh cilantro and lettuce, lots of flavor pop from lemongrass and mint, and just a little kick from the chili sauce. Add some thinly-sliced grilled beef and a squeeze of lime and you have a 5-star starter. Pad Kee Mao with Chicken is normally one of my go-to Thai dishes. The version here seems sweeter than what I'm accustomed to. After a few bites, I finally got some spicy kick. (4 stars) Their Kao Soi is probably one of their better noodle soups. The lemongrass broth was really intense, and I liked the combo of beef meatballs, spicy ground pork, and bean sprouts. Its sort of like a hybrid between laksa and BBH (5 stars). Service very friendly. Note the restaurant is located on a steep hill, so be careful driving downhill on the way out. To avoid scratching your car's bottom, maybe drive a SUV or pickup truck here. read more

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Delicious little gem of a restaurant. Try the rice ball salad and some of the curries ... they never disappoint.

Ordered chicken larb and som tum (green papaya salad) and it was so much food (like 4x what is pictured here) and SO GOOD. I ordered it medium spicy and I loved that it was actually spicy. Perfect meal, will definitely have to stop here again when I'm in town. **ate it for dinner and for breakfast, cuz it's that good!! read more

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

Came here for lunch. Be careful when entering and exiting this place. The location of the restaurant id on top a a very steep driveway. If it wasn't for their yummy dishes, I would not enter here. Ordered: Papaya salad. They will ask you how spicy 1,2 or 3. We got 2 but it wasn't even spicy. It's pretty delicious and the sauce is more of lime, fish sauce and sugar. It also is served with shredded cabbage and their vermicelli noodles which makes it all a perfect blend. There is crunch from the cabbage and chewiness from the noodles with the sweet and sour sauce...YUM! Nam Kao under the appetizer section. This dish is deep fried seasoned rice mixed with their specialty cured ham, herbs and seasonings. You eat it more like a lettuce cup style which they serve with some fresh lettuce leavers, mint and cilantro. This can be a meal on its own. It reminds me of another version of fried rice with the fresh herbs/lettuce. Very delicious and refreshing! Fried rice with chicken wings is pretty good. Though it is not authentic thai fried rice that I have tried, it is better than other fried rice I have tried elsewhere. The chicken wings are crunchy and has great flavor. Pad kee mao is flat rice noodle stir fried with some chili sauce, veggies and your choice of meat. I really enjoy how they prepare it here. It is not spicy at all. The noodles are not overcooked. Has a great bite to it and so delicious! You can even ask for their condiments while eating your dishes. They have chili peppers in oit, sliced serrano chili in vinegar and their hoisin and siracha sauce. Pros- Great food, price and service. Cons- parking/location, and be careful not to scrape the bottom of your vehicle especially if it somewhat low when exiting the place. read more

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First time here and not the last! Hidden gem, so hidden nobody would know it's there when driving by. We only heard about it because of the locals. Fast & friendly service, generous serving sizes and prices are excellent! Coming back with a goal of trying everything on the menu - bet! read more

We happened to be in the area and found this restaurant on Yelp. It was challenging to find coming from San Pablo as it is up a hill parking lot with one way in and hidden from the street view. The restaurant is modest and clean. We had lunch specials that turned out to be outstanding. Such a nice surprise! The chicken tasted fresh and was very tender, the vegetables good quality, portions generous and the flavors so yummy. You won't be disappointed! read more

We have visited again and finally were able to sample a medium spicy dish spouse had feared would be too hot. It was perfectly spiced and not excess heat at all in our mouths. The Pad Peanut was perfect as was the mild Pad Massaman Curry which had lemongrass that was beautifully balanced. read more

My grand boys like to order padseeu and yellow curry. The adults appreciate the beef salad and the pad Thai! All dishes are consistently flavorful and delicious. The service is always prompt and friendly. This time we ordered to take it home instead of eat-in and it was just as delicious eating at home. The ambience is simple, nothing fancy, pretty plain. So if you want fancy, go elsewhere. But if you want really, really good food, this is your place! read more