Hot Cafe

My first time here. Menu had a nice selection. The green curry with beef, chicken and shrimp was excellent. Wonderful flavor and spice level to my choosing. The meats were all tender and not overcooked. The beans and peppers also cooked to perfection with some bite and not too soft. I went there after 8pm and there was a number of tables occupied, which reassured me the food would be fresh. From the outside the strip mall is not fancy and I am unsure of the neighborhood. The food was worth the trip and I would like to try more.

I didn’t know what to expect when I first read about this place. Read that it was in a sketchy area. I never did feel that I was in danger. But the best way to find out about an area and try out new cuisine is to go there and see and try for yourself. I am sure glad that I did. Totally worth it to drive two and a half hours one way to try it for myself. Some people say that I am crazy but you are crazy if you don’t try this place out. People who know me,know that I want to go to authentic food places and this place is authentic. The Loas owner can definitely cook and is very happy and friendly and the wait staff are great. They are very knowledgeable and if you need anything or recommendations about what to order they know what they are talking about and will gladly chat with you and discuss any questions about the food and culture. They have an excellent selection of foods that you can choose from and also a combination of food that is cooked in most Loa people homes. I got the Pad Woo Sen and should have gotten some more to take home with me it was so good.There is more Loas restaurants in the area but this is a restaurant owned by the family. If you seek down to earth people and great food it will be hard to find somewhere better.

Lovely 😍 place for some authentic Loas and Thai cuisine plus is a little grocery shopping with in .

Do not be dissuaded by the location! You will miss out on a gem if you do. My parents visit often and took me here for my birthday. I cannot for the life of me remember the names of the app and entree. I did remember of the name of the dessert which was the mango sticky rice. Everything was do good. Many local Thai, Laotion, and Vietnamense people frequent the spot according to another regular so you know it is legit. Get you some, yesterday!

Very authentic Thai / Laos / Khmer food . Very flavorful . My flavor is the papaya salad .

Waiting to pick up a friend at the airport. Stopped by. Had Laos spring rolls, pad thai, and mixed protein spicy basil. The pad thai was a little too sweet, but the other dishes were great and all fresh!

I can appreciate a restaurant with food that comes out piping hot, especially soups. I stopped here to have lunch, not sure of the new menu / management we ordered our go to apps : chicken wings, Laos sausage, jerky, and papaya salad spicy of course with a side of sticky rice.. The food was delicious and the service is better, would recommend revisiting. Also will be coming back to try other menu options.

First time eating here and it was a good experience. Everything we ordered was good. Would've been 5 stars if it was peanut sauce with the basil rolls and if the price were a tad lower. Seemed a bit high for the portion size. Almost $18 for the noodle combo. The noodles were cooked just right, not too soft like some places might cook it. The soup was a tad bit too salty but I was fine with it. Just add a bit of water and you get more soup!

Big and delicious portions every time. I love it. My favorite dish so far has been the duck fried rice. Their signage is always funny, too (the candy dish in front says not to be greedy). The service is fast and the employees are personable. They play pretty good music when I go, as well. I usually go for take out, but it's also quaint and clean so dining in isn't a bad option either. And there's plenty of parking in their lot! I've never had an issue with that.

Hot Cafe: A Laotian Foodie Find 5286 Riverdale Rd, Atlanta Still on the hunt for an authentic Cambodian restaurant, I decided to check out this spot after hearing rave reviews about its Laotian cuisine. And let me tell you--it did NOT disappoint! Let's kick things off with the Laos papaya salad (medium spice). The presentation was stunning--bright, fresh, and topped with crispy pork rinds for that satisfying crunch. The flavors? Bold, tangy, and just the right amount of heat to keep things exciting without sending you into panic mode. The star of the show? 10-piece crispy wings served with jasmine rice. These wings were next-level--golden, crunchy, juicy, and seasoned to perfection. They're the kind of wings that make you sit back and wonder why you've been eating subpar wings all your life. We also ordered the Pad Kee Maow with shrimp and added Chinese broccoli for good measure. The noodles were perfectly wok-seared with that smoky, charred flavor we all crave. Add tender shrimp and the crunch of fresh broccoli, and it's a total win. Now, let's address the ambiance--it's a little cluttered, like someone's storage room decided to moonlight as a restaurant. But honestly? The food is so good you'll barely notice. Service was quick, staff was friendly, and the meal came out piping hot. Oh, and don't forget to wash it all down with an ice-cold Beerlao! It's the perfect companion to all those bold, spicy flavors. Final Verdict: 4 stars From the fresh, flavorful dishes to the speedy service, Hot Cafe is a must-visit for Laotian food lovers. If you're in the area, make the trip--you won't regret it! #FoodieAdventures #HotCafeATL #LaotianCuisine #CrispyWingsAreLife #PapayaSaladGoals #BeerLaoMagic #HiddenGemATL

The viral video of Lovely Mimi on TikTok brought me in for what I had hoped to be the fried rice of my dreams. Sadly it was not. On the video, the food looked SO good. I decided to make my way to the south side to try it out on a Saturday afternoon. It's a hole in the wall and from the reviews, it's been around for a while. I placed my order and waited about 15 minutes. I ordered the combination fried rice medium spicy, minus the imitation crab and squid.The total was $24 and the portion sized was generous. When I opened the box, I was surprised to see that it didn't look as flavorful as what I saw on TikTok. The dish contained chicken, shrimp, beef and pork. None of the protein seemed seasoned and the rice overall was lackluster. Some of the meat was tough as well. While I received great customer service from the gentleman taking my order, I can't see myself returning.

This was my first time trying Laotian food. I believe I ordered the Pad Kee Mao which was really good. The food was hit and flavorful. I initially ordered online and picked up at the restaurant. It didn't seem like they were doing dine in service most orders seemed to be to go. The gentleman assisting me was handling multiple orders but was very professional and remained attentive and polite. It's an easy spot to miss, but the food is great I would definitely try it again and hope you do too.

I tried the butterfly coconut shrimp which was very savory, but that mango sticky rice!! That was a winner the fresh mango and the nuts in the sticky rice in the cream very beautiful placements!! Service was great, and it was pretty quiet while I was there due to it being early but nice place for sure very family friendly and oriented

I found my go-to Thai/Chinese restaurant. Since relocating to Atlanta, I hadn't been able to find a "Mom & Pop"-style restaurant that was high quality and flavorful without breaking the bank. Hot Cafe is just that. I ordered on DoorDash and went to pick up. The restaurant surpassed my expectations and looked very nice inside. The service was impeccable as well. The lady helping us had a great attitude, and we chatted for some time as she made sure I had the utensils I need. The shrimp fried rice and cheese rolls were soooo good. My only qualm is that my shrimp fried rice only had one large shrimp, I will definitely be going back.

Ordered food to go and it was great. The broth had so much flavor! It was piping hot! Love the amount of garnish given. I will be ordering from here again.

Love the ambiance, larger interior than I expected. Located in Riverdale right off the highway, I thought it was going to be a small restaurant, but walking in. I can see that I've completely misjudged this place. Staff is great, front of the house is a lady who refers to herself as an auntie, as she is not the owner. Great pace in service, no hovering, and we didn't feel rushed finishing our food. They don't have tofu on the menu, but if you ask, they'll be able to accommodate if it is available, they don't always have it. Food serving is generous, and you can tell it's made with lots of care. Really delicious. My friend got the Pad Thai, and I got the Pad See Ewe. The Pad Thai sauce is made in house. So glad that I have another option for good food in this area. We'll have to try the Lao dishes next.

Basil duck with jasmine rice was good ! I would order again. The services was fast for the Togo order on a Saturday afternoon. Hella veggies with the meat. 10/10

This place is legit. Grew up eating Lao food and it is extremely challenging to find any restaurant that serves truly authentic dishes like Khaaw Poon (curry noodles) with ALL the fixings and kaapi (shrimp paste) on the side. I'm in love. I've had their other dishes and cannot complain. As close to home cooked Laos food you can get without making it yourself. Loved when I was asked which kind of broth I preferred (nam ya or red curry). So impressed.

I'm not from around there, but the place wasn't hard at all to find. I have a flight attendant friend that travels all the time and she loves this spot so I wanted to check it out. The iced coffee was really good. I loved it and if you're a coffee person, I definitely recommend it. The ladna seafood was also pretty good. The gravy had a perfect consistency and the flavor was also pretty good. I liked their ladna flavor a lot. I also liked how they used different seafood in this. I also ordered their papaya salad lao style. I requested medium level spice. It came out on a tray with cabbage and pork grinds. The papaya salad was pretty authentic. Next time I come, I'll probably ask for a lower spice level lol. I have a low tolerance in spice so I shouldn't have ordered a medium. I also tried their pho. I liked how it came with a lot of veggies. They gave me a plate full of beansprouts, basil, lettuce, lime, pepper, and shrimp paste. I love lao pho because I love the lettuce and shrimp paste. The customer service was pretty good. The girls that worked there were very nice and courteous. In all, I will probably be back to try their other dishes if I'm ever in the area. Their menu has a lot of authentic lao dishes (dishes you would get at home from your momma) so I can't wait to try more of their items!

Food was everything we needed. Laos sausage and spicy combo fried rice is on another level. They're also very friendly.

It was just ok. There wasn't much flavor. Standard service. Parking lot is shared and the place is largely to go, both in structure and appearance. Probably won't be back. Fair enough, though.

I absolutely love it here !!! I love Laotian food and this place was so good and authentic and food is always fresh. I typically choose to dine in when I come here and I get the laos special that comes with sticky rice , Laos sausage , chicken wings and papaya salad. It is sooo good. I also enjoy their beef jerky and mango and sticky rice. Service is also fast and good. I always come here when I am in the area

Food is okay. Service is good. Place is cozy. Price is high and not enough food for price.

Local hole in the wall. Good food. Family business. Food was excellent prices are fair for what you get.

Got it to go. The Laotian food was fantastic! Try the Laos Steamed Dumplings!! Highly recommend!!

They are still closed, they have turned off their voicemail. I hope that's not a sign that they are closing down.

Amazing food with a huge menu just outside the ATL airport. Hidden gem for sure! Small family business with great authentic food. Definitely coming back to try more things. We ordered the papaya salad, Laotian style. It is much much more pungent than typical Thai style. Very strong crab paste flavor. Freshly made. Pork pad Thai was excellent The Pork Belly in basil sauce is amazing! Pork had a great crunch to it. The sauce and veggies were excellent!

The food was good flavorful but the portions were small for the price. Small veggie soup was $9. The Togo orders look more promising with larger quantities filling the box. Maybe because it's fried rice and curry. Overall was good for a quick dinner. Be aware if you use CC the charge on each item is different. 3% is add on, even on the tax.

Best southeast Asian food in town!!! Flavors are phenomenal !!!!! They got all of the spice you need in your pho plus some shrimp paste and chilli Peppers on the side!! I come here every weekend with my niece and my daughter and they notice we love it here.

Food was so good!! Everything we ordered had exceeded our expectations. I'm from Cali where I am exposed to many Thai/Lao restaurants and cooking so visiting ATL or anywhere, I am always looking to try out local Thai/Lao food spots. Hot Cafe did not miss, tasted and felt like I was home. Papaya was dark, stinky, and shredded just how I like mine and the Lad Na was really tasty. The fridge was stocked with different jeows which I purchased and brought back to Cali.

This is a nice gem down in Riverdale close to the airport. If you're ever in the area or close by in midtown it is certainly worth the drive! The restaurant is in a quaint shopping plaza and there was plenty of parking when I visited on a Friday afternoon. You'll be greeted with warm welcome from the staff and a warm atmosphere full of love plants. The food menu here is extensive and we tried a variety of items and everything was really really good. Normally I am hesitant when I see menus long like Cheesecake Factory but I really do think they walk the walk on everything they offer. I also ordered the pad Thai, 3 flavor wings and duck mee noodle soup to go and those were are super delectable as well. Support this family owned restaurant and be prepared for some really tasty and authentic Lao/Thai cuisine! Can't wait for my next visit.

The veggie egg rolls extra sauce and the veggie noodles are my go to when coming here ! Hidden gem on the south side must try

Sooooo sooo yummy! I actually randomly seen This place while driving and decided to try it. Guys this papaya salad was sooooooo delicious, I asked if she could make it as spicy as possible (like literally don't hold back) lol and they did just that!!! It had so much flavor I honestly can not wait to try more on the menu! The girl up front was so nice and welcoming. I will 100% be back to try more on the menu!

I really don't have much to say here. I love this place. Everything is hot and fresh - cooked to order and delicious. Amazing Thai and Laotian food; I'm a huge fan of the Lao Sausage and Chicken Wings and recommend that you absolutely try out the Lao Spring Rolls too.

I have lived here for 20 days and I've had this place four times. The Phô is AMAZING. Tonight, I asked for pho, no meat and no mushrooms. This was the best decision I made today

They are back open after a short (seemed loong) time, due to a plumbing issue. Love that they took sanitation over profits

Service is amazing and they've improved quite a bit to the interior! Food is still amazing as always.

Food is so so fresh and filling. The service was 10/10, our server was personable and willing to answer our questions. The bill for three adults was the cherry on top--priced for excellent quality while not breaking the bank A forever customer was born today!

Pretty authentic south eastern menu. Lots of Asian people eat here. The food was good, nice portions. Reasonable prices $12-20 per meal. Service was good, clean Asian atomphere

Up and coming coffee shop. People were nice and the drinks were delicious! They were information regarding juices and their mushroom coffees.

Family owned business. The papaya salad was spicy but tasty. This was the first time I've tried PAD SEE Ewe and I would order it again. Calm ambience and lots of plants soften the edges of an older building.

This is one of the best places that my husband and I have found so far for Thai food. We found this place a few years ago but noticed that the prices have gone up and the portion size has decreased but the food is still good.

In the area by chance, hungry for Chinese food & was happy to hop into Hot Cafe. The food is good for this darling hole in the wall & easy on the pockets. The only feedback was the Shrimp Fried Rice was a few pieces of Shrimp hidden amongst a huge pile of rice. My order of Noodles & Spring Rolls worked for me. While I waited for my food, I thoroughly enjoyed my interaction with the employee who takes the orders & money. I nicknamed him Mr. Hot, as he was such a Gem with his petite stature, yet tall on being friendly, chatty & so engaging. I shared about being Vegan, so he went into the kitchen to ask if the Fried Bananas were ok for me to eat before he came back to offer them to me. Mr. Hot really made my To-Go experience absolutely entertaining. It looked like the dining area was closed, yet the area is huge. I say it all the time, you can not judge a food establishment by the area or exterior. I will be back to see Mr. Hot before I leave town.

Amazing people. Authentic atmosphere. Great fried rice, egg rolls, papaya salad if you like spicy. I just wish they were more consistent. Sometimes it's amazing, sometimes it's ok. I would give it 4 stars if it were more consistent.

Everything was delicious! I recommend sea food lad na, lao papayah, & sugar cane! This is the most authentic thai/lao food spot in ATL

My friend and I tried this place out because of course Mimi said it was poppin!!!! And let me you was it! We got the Loa Spring Rolls; the sauce was amazing! Wings and Combination Rice! Everything was fresh and hot and our waitress was so nice. Even better we didn't have to wait long! We will back, let's just say we just became regulars because I can't wait to go back!

Food and service here is wonderful. I recommend the drive to patronize this establishment.

This was f*cking amazing. The pad Thai, fried rice, and lo mein were all incredible. The staff was incredibly kind and the food came quick. Good vibes in restaurant. If im ever in the area again, I will be stopping here.

SO GOOD!!! Ordered spicy papaya salad, the 3 flavor chicken, and beef larb. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every dish. So full of flavor, spice, and complexity. I recommend coming here

I have been a couple of times including my first visit in 2022. I loved the friendly nature of the staff. I have been reluctant to have food delivered. So, I have driven to the spot on each occasion I ordered something. I just have seen so many Asian/Thai places fade away over the years & its great to see one thriving.

The food was amazing and the prices are great! The Laos sausage, Laos spring roll, and basil fried rice are a must!! The beef pad see ew is good but nothing special. I will definitely be back. This is my new on the way to the airport spot!

When I crave for Southeast Asian food Hot Cafe is the place to go. I love this family run restaurant. The owners are always pleasant ( mom & daugther ). I always order the same plates which are their fried chicken wings and large order of Laos papaya salad.

Best Laotian food I've had in Atlanta hands down. Everything was extremely fresh and piping hot! The staff was super attentive and courteous! 5 star dining experience.

Lardna here is so good - gravy and noodles are the best comfort food, perfect flavor. Also loved the sausages and the larb with sticky rice and lettuce wraps. Can't wait to go back.

Found this place by mistake but glad I did. The chicken fried rice is amazing and the curry is just as good!

Nice mom and pop shop and very kind owners. Came here to check it out after exiting church late on a Thursday in Riverdale. Not great, but not terrible. Definitely not the best Laotian I've ever had, but it'll fill you up if you're just looking for some food.

You've gotta order the wings. They are sooooo good. And they're not breaded like most places. Definitely recommend. Food: 1. Fried Wings - $4.95 for 5 2. Ck coconut soup 3. Pad si ew 4. Spicy Basil Ck All the dishes were very good. I really enjoyed the soup and my Pad Si Ew. The parking lot was a little sketchy and the service was okay but I didn't really expect much for a place like this. We came here for lunch, but they didn't have lunch specials or anything. As far as price goes, I think the main entrees were around 8.95 ish per dish. Not very cheap for lunch I'd say but the portions were pretty good. I do recommend this place but would not come here alone.. not very safe area.