Patrick Vuong
Google
This is an Asian fusion restaurant that serves solid Thai and Laotian cuisine at decent prices.
The Food:
I was thrilled to see Kaow Soi on the menu. This is often my go-to dish when I go to a Thai restaurant, as I love its thick egg noodles, creamy yellow broth, and unique flavors. Unfortunately, that's not what I got when I ordered "Lue's Noodle Soup - Kaow Soy" from the menu. It had pretty much the same ingredients of the Kaow Soi I'm used to, but this had white rice noodles while the broth was more watery than creamy and more brown than yellow -- think beef noodle style rather than creamy coconut broth. Taste-wise, it was fine, but I was just disappointed it wasn't what I was expecting. Maybe this is the Laotian version?
Fortunately, the other dishes my group got was more or less solid. The Pad Se-ew was standard fare, but the fried tilapia was delicious, with a perfectly crispy exterior and moist interior. The Champa Sampler (Lao sausages, fried spring rolls, and fried rice ball salad) was good and a good dish to get for sharing. But perhaps the best order was the Mango Sticky Rice. Simply delicious.
The Service:
The entire staff was friendly, prompt, and competent. Unlike at most Asian restaurants, the servers checked in with us from time to time and refilled our waters.
The Setting:
It's a medium sized establishment that was clean and well organized. The restrooms were clean, though some parks vandalized the mirror and paper towel dispenser with graffiti.
Also, like many places in The greater San Francisco area, finding parking can be difficult. We lucked out with free street parking in front, but don't expect such lucky during peak weekend hours.
The Conclusion:
If you're looking for traditional Thai food, you might be a little disappointed. But if you enjoy trying a different take on Thai food or want the option of also having Laotian cuisine, Champa Garden can deliver the goods. It's really all about expectations. My true rating is 3.5 out of 5, but since Google doesn't allow for half stars, I'll round up to 4 because the staff was so nice.