This place absolutely rocks! The Khao Soi, the Lao sausage--everything we ordered was surprisingly delicious. Holy moly! I honestly never would have thought to stop in here. From the outside, it looks like one of those places you'd just walk right past, and the food court has a simple, no-frills vibe. I usually don't expect much from food court food, but I was completely wrong. I ordered two orders of the Lao sausage, and now I wish I had ordered five! It's so flavorful, perfectly spicy, and packed with fresh herbs that make every bite amazing. I also saw someone eating the Pad Thai, and it looked incredible. I'll definitely be coming back to try that next. This place is a hidden gem! read more

Nam Kho - crispy rice is fire 5/5 Papaya salad 4/5 Lao style If you are craving Lao food and wanted to test around the local restaurants, Sweet Rice and Spice is a mom and pop shop that offers authentic Lao food. Service is good. You can call in to order to go if you don't want to eat inside. The shop is inside a market along with other vendors. read more

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stumbled across this place from an instagram video and was so surprised when i found out it was so close to me and in a plaza i frequent quite often! it's a food stall in a market that has other food stalls and lots of tables and chairs to eat at. on a friday night, it was quite lively with older adults singing karaoke and friends and families sharing meals together. the stall must be ran by a family as the adorable kids were at the front initially but an older woman came out to help take our order and everyone was very sweet and explained what the dishes were. i came specifically for their khao piak sen and my goodness was i blown away with how hearty and delicious the soup was. it was a pretty generous portion too and came out piping hot! tender pieces of shredded chicken, thick dense udon like noodles and just a warming yet somewhat delicate but still very flavorful broth. my boyfriend ordered their pad ka pao i think it was and it was pretty much a stir fry beef with bell peppers, onions and came with white rice and a fried egg. another great dish with good seasoning! but i would absolutely come back for the soup again! read more

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My brother and I tried it today and we are both Laotian. It's now our favorite Lao food restaurant. We are going back tomorrow to try the Khao piek and nam! The owners were really friendly and nice to talk to. read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Lao papaya salad and Beef larp. - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

Food was surprisingly good and service was friendly but took time for them to have our food ready, but not complaining bc it was fresh. Pretty good for Lao food. read more

Their pad see ew was good, very flavorful. Food takes like 10-15 mins to be ready. Price was decent. The portion was also decent, definitely sharable but I don't eat a lot. I like to try the boat noodle next time :) read more

Tastes like home! If you're looking for authentic Lao food at a great price, this is it! Every time I've stopped by, it doesn't disappoint. This time I tried the sausages ($10) and a side of jasmine rice ($2) and it really hit the spot. The side of a rice is a good portion for an individual and the serving size of the sausage is good for 2 people if it wasn't the only entree. The sauce it comes with, delicious. Also not spicy, which is unfortunate for me because I LOVE spice. It's an order and sit down type of spot. Think of mini night market but inside...plenty of other stalls as well. read more

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I've been seeing this on Instagram and wanted to give it a try! I was craving Kapoon, but it wasn't a popular option here. So I decided to try the khao piak! It was good, very hot, flavorful, and plenty of noodles, I just wish there was a bit more toppings and chicken. The khao soy was also good, but it had a strong aftertaste. Maybe the fermented paste? But it was still good, wish there were meatballs in it! The Lao sausage was super spicy, but it was also good! The restaurant is located in like a Vietnamese food hall/market (that's a bit run down) so don't expect anything luxurious LOL. The guy was super nice, but the food did take a while to come out. I would probably come back here though! read more

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After my favorite Lao restaurant in Huntington Beach closed, I've been on a mission to find something even half as good with little success... until recently. I stumbled upon Sweet Rice & Spice after seeing a post on TikTok. I didn't have high expectations, but I'm so glad I gave it a try. The papaya salad has incredible flavor, and medium spice is spicy. The sticky rice is cooked to absolute perfection. On my first visit I ordered the pork belly, but after trying it again, I've found myself preferring the sausage. The service has been consistently great, and I've already been here four times in the last week and a half which says a lot. Portion sizes are generally generous, though they can vary slightly from visit to visit. The restaurant is located in a busy shopping plaza with lots of other eateries and stores, so parking can be hit or miss. Overall, if you're looking for authentic Lao food, I would definitely recommend this place. read more

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Located in a food hall in GG and is a hidden gem for sure! I got the Laotian sausage and one of the noodles dish and I love the sausage! It was great and packed with flavor! It was a bit spicy so I wouldn't recommend this to someone who doesn't eat spicy! The noodles were great and portion was BIG! I'd definitely come back again. The cashier lady was nice and recommended us some great stuff! Ambiance was loud because it has a lot of shops in here read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

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If you're looking for late-night Lao food quick to grab and go or to sit down, I recommend this spot. The food is made in a home-cooked style, just like your Maa or grandma would make it. Yes, the lady who works there makes it just like home. The place is inside a mall-like restaurant with other food court options you can choose from, but if you're seeking authentic Lao food, this is another good spot. Yes, they open late till 10pm read more

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I tried the Khao Soi, and it was so delicious--I was really impressed. The price and portion size were just right, and I'll definitely be back to this restaurant. I'd like to try some of the other items on the menu. read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Basil Fried Rice Lao Sausages - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

I was amazed how spicy a dish can be and I was so happy with tears to add on those fire burning sensation. I was a charazard‍ waking my tired soul for greater adventures. I liked it spicy however I will recommend those who don't have an iron stomach to go with medium hot. the service is cool and I got a good price for what I got. The place is chill got a lot of places to pick to sit. I would bring another friend along the way just so they get the spice kick. read more

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Ordered: Pad See Ew - Good flavors and lots of protein Papaya Salad (Spicy level can be pretty spicy) Khao Piak Sen (Udon Noodle Soup) Everything was really good! Would come back again. The staff was super nice too. read more

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Tried Sweet Rice and Spice inside the food court/marketplace -- it's tucked all the way to the right and pretty far down. I ordered the Tom Yum soup, which was packed with flavor and definitely a highlight. The Starlight dish ($18) was also really good. The Lao sausages ($10) were just okay -- nothing special to me. The Pad Thai with chicken ($15) came in a big portion and had great flavor. Overall, it was worth trying for the taste, but I do feel like everything was a bit on the pricey side for a food court spot. read more

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Had pad kee mao (drunken noodles) today. They have the option to select non spicy, mild or spicy. That's the first. Usually drunken noodles are known for its spiciness. Anyways, might try their tom yum next time read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

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My favorite place to get Nam Khao!! The portion amount is great and just the right amount of tart, salty, sweet and crispy! The textures all wrapped up in fresh lettuce and mint is chef's kiss I've come here 4 times for this now and it stays deliciously consistent read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Nam Khao - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

Great hidden gem for Laos food! I want to preface this by saying my husband is Thai/Laos, so we eat homemade Laos food very often and have pretty high expectations. First, it's located inside the market along with other restaurants! So you order first then sit down at any open table and they'll bring the food out to you. We ordered the Khao Piak Sen and Boat Noodles: Khao Piak Sen - 8/10. This item is similar to Vietnamese banh canh and has thick chewy rice noodles. It's a clean, light soup with lots of toppings, including chicken and some crispy pork bites. Personally, nothing will ever top my MIL's version but overall I still enjoyed this bowl and it definitely hit the spot! However, I do wish the broth was on the thicker side, which is how I normally eat it. It was a little too thin for my preference. Boat Noodle - 7.5/10. We're always on the hunt for good boat noodles and every place always makes it a little different. At first taste, theirs is on the sweeter side and not as hearty as we like it (we love to eat ours with a lot of liver). But, they do provide condiments: pickled jalapeños, chili powder and fish sauce. Once we added in the condiments, it tasted much more to our preference. Overall, we enjoyed our meals and would come back to satisfy our cravings if we can't get any homemade meals! I do want to try more items on their menu. If you've never had Laos style food before, I would recommend this spot! read more

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Tucked and located inside a mini mall/food court building. I wanted homey traditional lao food and this place did not disappoint. The gentleman running the place let us know there was a little wait as he was the only one working/cooking. The food came out fresh and was so tasteful. He gave us some roasted red pepper chips to try which was so nice to go along with our meal. Ordered the Khao piak sen, lao sausage and sticky rice. All the food was big enough to share with 2 people. We still had leftovers to take back with us. I highly recommend stopping by this spot if you are in the area. It definitely filled us up after visiting the beach. read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

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A hidden Thai & Laos spot tucked away in the Golden Marketplace in Garden Grove and it's run by a a sweet couple! This spot is in a food court basically and there are other tenants here serving various Viet food and there's also a boba shop and ice cream shop as well. There's plenty of seating in the middle and it's a good idea to try out the other spots in the food court as well. I came by for lunch with a friend and we ordered the Pad Thai with chicken, Pad See Ew with chicken, and basil fried rice with chicken. All of the dishes were delicious with generous and shareable portion sizes with good flavor and spice. The basil fried rice was my favorite of the three. Service was easy and food came out relatively quick after ordering. I did want to note that my friend ordered Pad See Ew with chicken but got beef instead but she still enjoyed it and would order it again. This is a great stop if you are in the area and want something different from Korean or Vietnamese food which is typical of this area and everything is easy to share! read more

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I got this to go and was pleasantly surprised at the portion! I was definitely full off of this. The noodles were pretty good, but I wished it was slightly saltier. To make it saltier, I used the fish sauce with chilies that came with bag and it hit the spot read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Chicken drunken noodle - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

Omg this place is amazing. I can't find anything like this in LA. My boyfriend and I crave authentic Laos/ Hmong food everyday and this is our go to. The food is so authentic and the flavors are just one of a kind. The ambience is also so fun because they sometimes have karaoke night. A great place to eat and get some entertainment as well. read more

Excellent local spot for Thai/Lao food. Located in what initially appeared like an Asian grocery store. Plenty of parking infront, easy to find eatery and amongst other small restaurants. There are plenty of of food options inside the establishment inside. SR&S is ran by a mom and pop. Incredibly kind people making a limited yet amazing variety of Lao and Thai cuisine. Seating area is shared with other restaurants. The food is very flavorful and delicious! So many textures! Very fresh ingredients and very nice presentation. You will not be disappointed with anything you choose. Everything made fresh to order, please be patient as your food is prepared. Enjoy the food, people watching and community karaoke that happens next door. 100% highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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Horrible wait time and I couldn't even swallow the food I got. I ordered a beef salad and had to wait around 30 to 40 minutes. That itself was disappointing but what was even worse was how it tasted. Seems like I wasn't the only one though. Others had to wait even longer than me. The area isn't bad although. It's located in a marketplace with different stalls but indoor. That still doesn't change the fact that the food wasn't good and the ridiculous amount of time I had to wait. I don't recommend dining here. read more

Not blow your mind, but easy to eat and the spice definitely builds. No sticky rice on a Saturday afternoon was weird lol Sticky rice price is the same as regular rice $14 for pork sausage + rice Comes with a small sauce The sausage isn't as flavorful as other spots. It still stands its own and quite spicy. The meat is ground more fine and it's not studded with chunks of fat so it's easy to continually eat. There seems to be less herbs inside. You don't feel so heavy after eating it lol They have a small variety of things. I'll come back for the khao piek cuz I love chicken noodle! Service was ok, but I'm here for the food. read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

Sweet Rice and Spice is located in a food court, which was a bit hard to find at first since it sort of looked like a grocery store but didn't have signage for any of the places inside. There are around 20 tables for patrons to sit and eat at, but we opted to get take out. We ordered ahead, which was very important since some dishes (especially the nam khao) took a while to make (missed the time estimate by over 10 min). My favorite dish was the Nam Khao, a salad with sausage pieces and clumps of grilled rice. There is enough foliage for a sense of healthiness, with a nice mix of textures and flavors (chili peppers, mint, cilantro, the sausage itself). This dish took the longest to prepare, definitely order ahead. Next we liked the Boat noodles, a soup with a hazy broth. The flavor is a typical beef stock (no twang) like the khao Soi), with an assortment of protein (meatballs, tripe, beef pieces). Long wide noodles, good portion size, it was finished the day of. Next the Pad see ew, standard dish with wide noodles, small pieces of chicken, copious broccoli, all in a brown sauce. I think if it had a bit more sauce then it would be elevated to the next level, but with the default sauce it was acceptable. The Lao sausages had very strong spice, including lemongrass. Good, but I personally do not care for strong lemongrass and focused in other dishes. Lastly the Khao Soi which was different than expected. I am always happy to see Khao Soi on the menu and order it, since I like the spicy coconut broth with small chicken pieces and some crunch from onions. But here the Khao Soi was different, with an almost clear broth that was beef stock with an added twang, either vinegar or lemongrass or both. Medium width noodles, minced protein, copious cilantro and a lime to squeeze on top. While the ingredients were good quality, the dish was just a stark contrast to what I was expecting that I did not enjoy it. The manager talked to me while I was waiting, and described some other popular dishes, one of which is a beef jerky that is cooked hot. Something interesting that I plan to try at the next visit. Also there is a tea place in the same plaza named MyCha that I plan to get a drink at. read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Boat Noodles and Khao Soi - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

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Just got take out from here. Ordered pad thai, pad see ew and mango sticky rice. My taste buds and belly are very satisfied! Flavors were delicious and great portions/presentation. Will definitely come back! Thai nakorn is done for in my book :x read more

First, I want to emphasize that Lao food is not as common or popular as Thai food and it's so hard to find it. I was looking for a place to have a solo dinner and I found this gem! It's inside a communal marketplace so there's open seating and so many options for South East Asian food and treats. The lady in the front was so wonderful and it was so refreshing that she spoke to me in Lao even though mine is not as good anymore. I got Thum mak hung (Lao papaya salad) with regular sticky rice, Lao sausage and mango sticky rice. Absolutely amazing, so nostalgic and just like how my family cooks it. No fancy aesthetic just really good authentic food! She checked in on me from time to time and she was so sweet. Thank you for keeping the traditions alive! read more

Small Mom and Pop. Very good authentic Lao food. Got the sausage, beef jerky, Tom Yum Goong, pad se eww, Jungle salad. Sorry no pictures we ate it so fast, that good. read more

I just had to share my experience at Sweet Rice and Spice! It's hands down one of the best Thai Lao kitchens I've ever visited (besides my mother-in-law's, of course)! The food was incredible! We ordered the Green Papaya Salad, Jerky, Khao Piek Sen, Lao Sausage, and a small order of sticky rice (because, you know, rice is life). Everything was delicious, and we received our food very quickly--the Khao Piek Sen was still piping hot when it arrived! The portions were extremely generous; we were so full after lunch that we even had leftovers for dinner. The staff were also friendly and attentive, which made the experience even more enjoyable. We will definitely be returning! If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend you check it out! read more

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Locate inside the Vietnamese market, this is a hidden gem not to overlook! Got the: - Boat noodle: 8.5/10, almost exactly like what we had in Thailand in boat noodle alley but not quite the same as the OG old guy on the boat in the famous Thailand water market - Drunken noodle with beef: 12.5/10, gave me flashbacks to our time in Bangkok and transported me all the way to Thailand. The seasoning, the wok hei, everything was so on point - Khao Soi: 7/10, a different flavor than what I'm used to and needed to use both limes, but it might be a personal preference Definitely coming back, just for the drunken noodle alone! Service: the owner boss lady was really nice. You order at the counter and she takes the food to your table. Parking: plenty in large shared parking lot with other businesses read more

Sweet Rice and Spice is a great spot for authentic Laotian food. The Laos sausage is smoky and flavorful, the Khao Plak Sen has a rich, comforting broth with soft handmade noodles, and the papaya salad is fresh with a perfect balance of spice and tang. Friendly service and generous portions--definitely worth a visit. read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Papaya Salad, Lao Sausages, Khao Piak Sen, Sticky Rice and banana chips - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

I tried the khao soi here and it was good. It had minced pork and came with a side of sate. read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

Located inside the food court, the service was amazing. Food was delicious and spice was served on the side automatically. Food brought out to the community tables and taken away after eating. You can hear karaoke from nearby stalls and the place got lively during dinner time on the weekend. Great Laos spot read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Khao Soi, Khao Piak Sen - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

This place is amazing if you're ever craving Lao food. I don't know where else you could get Khao Soi in OC so I was so happy to have found this place. The sausages and papaya salad were tasty too. They also sell chicken skin and pork rinds. Service was great - the family is so friendly. read more

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Place fire Soooo good. I loved everything we ordered, pad see ew has a lot of meat, sausage has some fireee sauce it comes with and papaya salad has tamarind in it so it's slightly sweeter than regular Thai papaya salad We're definitely coming back for more. Very nice lady that helped us. She surprised us with sweet sticky rice as a free extra. Place is located in a Vietnamese food court and at night live music on the other side of the building. read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Lao Papaya salad Lao sausage Pad see ew - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

Omg best Laos food I eve had!!!! I ordered the basil fried rice, jungle papaya salad, sausage and mango sticky rice. The flavor is blasting! Customer service is amazing too! read more

Amazing larb. Keep coming back it's so good and the stickey rice is esteemed so well. Love this place read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Larb Laab (Chicken) - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

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Amazing Lao sausage and sticky rice! Must get! Support small businesses! Service was awesome! Wishing this place gets more foot traffic. Will be back to try other great looking items! read more

Came here 2x already so that should already say something. Food here is great, one of the most authentic Lao food spots in OC compared to the other ones I've had here. This is my top favorite. I hope they expand bigger Service is great, very attentive read more

Sweet Rice and Spice - Laos sausages with sticky rice - Laotian Near Me - Garden Grove, California

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