Nok’s Kitchen

Our friends took us to Nok's Kitchen while in Irvine, CA. I love Lao food, and this place delivered authentic tasting Lao food. We had chicken wings, shrimp salad, steak salad, Kap piak sen chicken soup, and grilled meat combo. We also ordered the Lao coffee, Thai tea, and coconut juice. Overall, food was very tasty, and the service was great. Would recommend this place and will visit again when we're in the area.

We went to Nok's Kitchen for lunch on a Saturday. You have to add yourself to the waitlist outside the door but the wait was only about 5 min. The inside of the restaurant was small but cozy. We ordered the BBQ mix combo, larb salmon, larb rib eye, mango sticky rice with coconut ice cream, and a passionfruit lemonade. Everything was so delicious. We loved the mango sticky rice and the coconut ice cream. It had such a soft texture and pleasant flavor, like eating cold creamy coconut water. The server was thoughtful and kind. He guided us through the menu options and mentioned some of the popular dishes. We are definitely going back to try more of their food!

Our party of 4 went for lunch last Sunday. After entering our name on the Yelp Waitlist tablet @12:10, we probably waited ~35 min before being seated. But they were nice to offer us water while waiting. For starters, we ordered the Fried Pork Belly & Lemongrass Chicken Wings. The wings were super hot so be careful not to burn your tongue. We also got the Rice Noodle Salad (Tum Khao Bun), Crispy Rice Salad (Nam Khao) & BBQ Mix Combo (Pork Sausage, Wagyu Beef Skewer & Chicken Thigh Skewer). And of course we had to get it Sticky Rice! The rice noodle salad has a good spicy kick along with that distinct fermented flavor. Of the 2 sauces that come with the bbq platter, I enjoyed the spicy house sauce more. For dessert, we shared an order of sweet mango slices with pandan flavored sticky rice.

Great service. Great food overall Sticky Rice (came with dish) little bit on dry side Love their fried crispy pork (especially with their green sauce) Definitely will come back again.

I love this place! I want to go back and order most of what I already had plus try so many other dishes! So delicious and worth the drive. Flavors are on point! The crispy rice salad - definitely squeeze the lime. I always order crispy rice salad if it’s on the menu at Thai restaurants and this one is absolutely top 2 on my list! The fried pork belly is a must and you’ll want to use the sauce on everything. No lie. Grilled skewers we chose the variety one to be able to try it all, I would eat each one again, no hesitation. The chicken wings were fried to perfection. Perfect crunch and flavorful. Finished with the pandan mango sticky rice dessert. Wish the pandan flavor was more dominant but it was overall a delicious dessert. Service - it’s a tiny restaurant with some outside seating. But the staff is extremely friendly and very sweet! They’ll explain everything to you if needed. Give recommendations and clear plates, they have big serving dishes. There was a tiny wait when we arrived. They have a sign in sheet. I can see why this place would be on a wait, also note their mid day closing times! Parking - small free parking lot. We didn’t have issues finding parking at all.

We arrived a few minutes before closing and the staff was so kind to allow us in even though he initially said they were no longer seating anyone. Thank you for graciously making an exception so that we could have one of our most memorable dinners this year. Everything was well made and beautifully presented. The mixed grilled BBQ plate offered us a nice sampling. We loved the spicy dipping sauce. The papaya salad was refreshing and bright. The sour soup with shrimp was rich in flavor and, yes, sour. Don't forget to leave room for the pandan mango sticky rice for dessert with slightly tart pieces of mango.

Love this place! The atmosphere is so zen and peaceful when you walk in. The atmosphere goes so well with the amazing recipes of their food. The soup and bbq are absolutely delicious and they have a la cart items you can buy along with their sauces. The appetizers (fried pork belly with house sauce) is so good along with the soup and bbq. For sure going back 😋

《Highly Re-commanded》 The staff is very friendly, creating a warm, home-like dining experience. Every dish is deliciously seasoned. The sausage is so addictive you can't stop at one, and the fried chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—perfect for taking home to enjoy while watching a game or a movie! The beef in the rib-eye salad is cooked to the perfect tenderness.

This place have been on my list for so long and I finally ordered from them. Their dishes are served more individually instead of family style. What I ordered: sausage, beef laab, cucumber salad, papaya salad, bbq combo. Sausage and bbq combo comes with sticky rice. The sausage was soooo good. I like it better than Vientiane. Both salads were fresh and refreshing. The beef laab was also very good. The bbq combo has sausage, beef and chicken. I'm not a chicken person but my daughter really enjoyed it with the included sauce. Tried mango and sticky rice for the first time and enjoyed it. I know! Where have I been?? Prices were reasonable. I didn't dine in to comment much on services but the young lady was friendly. I really wanted some soup as well but they only had ones with noodles. My only concern was why my sticky rice tasted a little bit like soap. It wasn't overpowering where I couldn't finish my food. I ate out the container so it wasn't my things. I'd love to see combo meals that includes a little bit of salad and soup. It would be great for work lunches. Definitely return.

First thing is the decor and ambiance in the restaurant is really nice and quaint Sitting down, they have these really nice looking wooden plates. I think it's nice that they go the extra mile with all the dishware and serving platters, either being wood or bamboo. You'd think it'd be just a normal family restaurant but the whole experience feels very upscale. The food was very unique and delicious. I've had my fair share of SEA cuisine but all the flavors were totally fresh and new. Already planning my next visit!

I have been wanting to try Lao food forever now and my friend told me about this place. I am completely obsessed. Our Order Nam Khao (Crispy Rice Salad) Lao Sausage Tom Kha (soup) Sticky Rice Raw shrimp and that amazing sauce I don't know what it's called but 10/10 Service 10/10 Ambience: basic hole in the wall

We LOVE Nok's kitchen. Everything is delicious, fresh, great service!! Super clean Great presentation Again , thank you for a new Location BIGGER , more menu Come to try ...!! We keep going back every 2 months

I was so excited to try this place but I left here very disappointed. Food was mid and servers seem to be too tired to care about customer service. I already had an unpleasant experience right off the bat when we were ordering food. The woman was silent and only used her eyes and hands to confirm our orders. It's as if she didn't want to speak(?) but she was very friendly with other tables. The food was the biggest disappointment. It looked amazing in photos but honestly it's just the presentation that makes them look delicious. -pork sausage was gamey. I couldn't even finish one small piece and I doused it in their sauce too. -crispy rice salad which everyone raved about is so mid. It tasted like cold Vietnamese-style fried rice. -mee ka tee curry noodle soup (chicken and shrimp) is a rip-off version of khao soi. Just go to a Thai restaurant for a similar dish (which will taste better anyways). The shrimp was also semi-raw and broth was not hot enough to cook them fully. Safe to say, will not be coming back.

My family and I came here for dinner, excited to try Lao cuisine for the first time after hearing such great reviews. We decided to share a variety of dishes, including egg rolls, Ka Tee Gai (chicken curry), Tum Muk Huong (papaya salad), Nam Khao (crispy rice salad), mango pandan sticky rice, Combo 4 BBQ mix with sticky rice, and a Lao coffee. My mom, who's a vegetarian, particularly enjoyed the Tum Muk Huong. The dish came with pork rinds, which added a nice touch that i really enjoyed. Although every dish was delicious, the Nam Khao stood out as my personal favorite, especially because of the crispy bits in the salad. The mango pandan sticky rice dessert was another highlight it's a must-try! Overall, this place is a gem. The presentation was top-notch, the service was excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed both the food and the experience!

I've had this place bookmarked for some time but since my wife can't eat carbs and all the side dishes here are carbs I haven't had a chance to try it. My wife's garden is producing like crazy and we have pounds of cucumbers and tomatoes so I figured it was the perfect opportunity to try Nok's! My wife made a side salad from her garden and I picked up 4 a la carte sausages from Nok's. I noticed you can order online from yelp but they marked up the menu. On Chownow app there's zero mark-up so I ordered using that. I also saw they had deep fried pork belly.... my inner voice said "this is nothing but cholesterol and saturated fat, resist" but I pushed that voice aside and added it to my order. The plaza Nok's is in had plenty of parking. The inside was small but had a cozy vibe and really friendly service. I picked up my order with ease and headed home smelling the amazing aroma all the way. The sausage was pre-sliced which was nice and had beautiful grill marks. It came with some cucumber slices and some amazing dipping sauce. The sausage was slightly spicy and infused with lemon grass. Not sure if it was the sauce or the sausage but one of them was also infused with a ton of garlic that lingered on our breath all day. The flavor was fantastic and my wife and I loved every bite. I'm glad they sell it by itself. They even sell it frozen and raw if you want to cook it yourself. The fried pork belly lost some of it crispiness since it took about 30 minutes from the time I picked it up until the time we started eating and yet my wife and I couldn't stop devouring it. The spicy dipping sauce paired with it perfectly and I bet eating this fresh at the restaurant would be epic. Really loved the few items I tried and definitely want to return. I just wish they had some more veggie type side dishes so my wife could have more selection.

This was my first time trying Laotian food! Needless to say the food was amazing and unique! I love the variety. I especially like the sausage. It was very delicious and flavorful. It's a small hole in the wall with great dishes. Server took our orders and serve our food pretty fast.

Need to fuel our energy after shopping in the area . Nam Kao , crispy rice curry flavor topped with peanuts , be sure to ask for extra lime wedges to sprinkle over, We like ours a tad sour than most. Disappointed with our Lao papaya salad though, didn't have much of the flavor we were used to ,mom and I assume it wasn't well seasoned . We couldn't decide on which type of meat dishes , so the obvious choice was the combo #4 meat sticks, reasonable priced too. With beef, chicken and lao sausage with sticky rice. The chicken alone didn't have much flavor , definitely needed the green Jeow sauce to enhance the flavor. Our favorite were the khao piek sen noodles soup , chewy fresh noodles and savory broth hits the spout. Our waiter was attentive with water refills and clearing out empty plates . The restaurant and table were small , mom and I felt cramped .

We really enjoyed Laotian food which is pretty similar to Thai food. All the items we tried were great except the papaya salad for me. I prefer the Thai version of this dish. The grilled chicken from the BBQ Mix Combo plate was so good. Like pick every piece of chicken off the bone good. The Popcorn Chicken was a hit with my 7-yr old and my adventurous 10-yr old enjoyed the fried pork belly. I was craving their Larb Ribeye but wished it has more flavor. It is a very small restaurant with maybe about 7-8 tables. Service was very good.

Cannot overemphasize what a great experience my friend & I had here! The service was friendly and helpful; portion sizes were fairly large; food was delicious; and there was plenty of parking. We ordered the beef noodle soup, fried pork belly, larb salad, and taro sago and everything was so delicious that we had a hard time choosing a favorite. Everything was super flavorful and fresh tasting. I especially enjoyed the sauce that came with the fried pork belly; it tasted similar to the green sauce at Peruvian restaurants but less creamy. It was so good that I even bought a jar to go. Highly recommend this spot if you enjoy spicy food!

Nok's Kitchen is a rising star of Lao cuisine. The vividness of the flavors and quality of the fresh ingredients really shine in expertly executed dishes. Baskets on the wall and paper umbrellas hanging from the celling. It can get busy, so try and get on the Yelp waitlist before you arrive.  Lao Pork Sausage Combo: The two pork sausages have a delicious lemongrass, herbal, and garlic flavor. They're just so good with the warm sticky rice and fresh cucumbers. But that golden dipping sauce is something else. It's zesty and spicy with plenty of lemongrass and ginger. Mee Ka Tee (Curry Noodle Soup with Shrimp and Chicken): The bowl contains rice noodles, tender shrimp and chicken. You pour a jar of broth into the noodles. The sweet orange broth consists of coconut milk, pounded red curry paste, and eggs. The lettuce, fried garlic, mint, and shredded cabbage add a delightful and herbal crunch to the soup.  Yum Goong (Shrimp Salad): All of the vegetables are so fresh and vibrant. There's some lettuce, onions, cilantro, cucumbers, and really sweet cherry tomatoes. The steamed shrimp is tender and tasty. The lime, peanuts, and lemongrass pack a crispy, crunchy, and tangy punch to tie everything together. Shrimp crackers add a crispy garnish.  (Khao Niao Mak Muong) Pandan Mango Sticky Rice: The mango slices are sweet and juicy. The green pandan infused coconut milk and warm sticky rice is a comforting complement to the mangoes.  Dining area: There are a dozen tables in the dining room.  Parking: The parking lot is huge with many spaces since some of the businesses are empty.

After trying this place out a few times, I must say that they serve delicious food here. I had the BBQ mix plate (chicken thigh skewer, pork sausage, and wagyu beef skewer w/sticky rice). Absolutely delicious. The meat was flavorful and delicious. The portion size was excellent. We capped the evening off with Pandan mango sticky rice. That was definitely a delicious morsel that complements the meal completely. I've had my fair share of mango sticky rice, but never accompanied with Pandan sticky rice. Pandan and Mangon is an awesome combination. If you like both those flavors, you'll love them combined. Do yourself a favor and check this spot out!

came in about 2 hours before closing and was a full house! luckily workers were quick and was able to get my bf and i seated fast. they kindly greeted us with any hot/cold tea while looking at the menu and before ordering. we ordered two a la carte dishes including the lao sausage and jasmine rice. both were fresh and tasty! we also order the soup which is similar to a tom yum souo and had many veggies inside including mushrooms and tomatoes. everything came out within 10-15mins which was not bad at all and all items were priced fair. they will be having another location the start of december on bolsa ave so go check them out!

This was my first time trying Laotian food! I didn't have many expectations except (by looking at the menu) seem to be similar to Vietnamese and Thai ones. The restaurant isn't hard to find. There's ample par. Inside, though, is small and quaint. We were fortunate to get a table. By the time we left, people were waiting. The wait staff was also very nice. We didn't feel pressured to finish faster. We did family style for 4 people, and everything was very share-worthy. We thought the BBQ sampler was a good to try for the first time but I don't think we'd get it again. The sausages, which you can buy a pack to take home, were just okay for me. I'm partial to my Chinese lol churng! Another notable item is the rice salad. This was very good. The rice salad along with the oxtail soup were so flavorful and different. The squid skewers were just ok. I was a little disappointed in that. The other items we got were all good but nothing with a wow factor for us. A great first experience into Laotian food!

Nok's kitchen is a little bit of home if you miss Laotian cooking and the freshness of the ingredients. The ambiance and atmosphere here is so welcoming. You can feel how much love came out from not only the kindness and prompt service of the staff but from the Owner as well. I will always recommend this spot. We ordered two coconut juices (it comes with the meat), Tom Saap - Shrimp (sour soup with shrimp), the three meat medley (which comes with Chicken, Steak and homemade Laotian sausage with a side of sticky rice and Tom Mak Hoong (papaya salad). Everything was absolutely delicious. The sour soup is one of my favorites, it tastes almost exactly like my grandma's Tom Saap - which really brings me a feeling of home and so much nostalgia. Especially after 14 years of not having this soup after my grandma passed. So, Khop Jai Lai lai - wishing you all the abundance and prosperity that is possible!

Our party of 4 went for lunch last Sunday. After entering our name on the Yelp Waitlist tablet @12:10, we probably waited ~35 min before being seated. But they were nice to offer us water while waiting. For starters, we ordered the Fried Pork Belly & Lemongrass Chicken Wings. The wings were super hot so be careful not to burn your tongue. We also got the Rice Noodle Salad (Tum Khao Bun), Crispy Rice Salad (Nam Khao) & BBQ Mix Combo (Pork Sausage, Wagyu Beef Skewer & Chicken Thigh Skewer). And of course we had to get it Sticky Rice! The rice noodle salad has a good spicy kick along with that distinct fermented flavor. Of the 2 sauces that come with the bbq platter, I enjoyed the spicy house sauce more. For dessert, we shared an order of sweet mango slices with pandan flavored sticky rice.

Always love coming back here. They're always crowded and busy but when you come just before the dinner rush hour, you're guaranteed to get a seat. Always love their skewers meat, it's tender but not dry. But the real superhero is this chilli, green sauce tastes like shrimp paste chili, to die for. So good.... Eat the skewers with sticky rice, combined with the papaya salad... Yum!! New pictures are added :)

This was my first time trying Laos food and I was blown away! So glad my friend and I found this place while driving since there are not that many Laos restaurants in our area. When you arrive you'll need to put your name down on the reservation list. We were 6th on the list and the wait was about 30 minutes. Because this was our first time, we decided to pick a few dishes off of their menu to try. 1. Papaya salad - similar to your papaya salads you'll find at Thai restaurants, the main difference here is that they serve their dish with boiled pork, shrimp chips and topped with pork rinds. The salad was refreshing that I ended up ordering an order to go! 2. BBQ mix combo - this includes their wagyu skewer, chicken, and their popular pork sausage all served with sticky rice. The wagyu and chicken were tasty, but the real star was the sausage with the herbs mixed in. When I come back, I definitely would order just the sausage. They also sell the sausage frozen for those who want to buy and cook at home. 3. Khao Piek Gai (chicken udon soup): the broth tastes as if it's been stewing all day. It was flavorful and the udon paired well with the soup. We finished this dish first among the stuff we ordered. 4. Nam Khao - if you love crispy rice, this is the dish for you. The rice is seasoned with a red curry and fried. The cured pork adds a nice tart flavor to the savory rice. You can eat the dish on its own or wrap it in lettuce. 5. Khao Niao Mak Muong: similar to mango sticky rice, Nok's elevates their version by cooking the sticky rice in pandan which gives the dish a nice vanilla taste and smell to the dish. One of my favorite dishes of the night! Everything on Nok's menu was a delight to try. The service was quick and everyone was friendly. I definitely will come back to try their other dishes.

This is the first time I've ever tried Lao cuisine, and I'm so upset I haven't discovered to Nok's Kitchen sooner. This established is woman-owned and she is incredibly sweet and cooks up the most delicious recipes ever. If you're looking for some recommendations on where to start, I got you: - Crispy pork belly: served with their version of jeow som, it's a perfect appetizer to start off with - Chicken Thigh skewer: so incredibly tender and juicy just get it don't even question it - Lemongrass Chicken Wings: light, crispy, juicy, tender, herb-y, yummy - Tom Saap: a sour/spicy soup with generous amounts of shrimp, mushrooms, and veggies - Papaya Salad: this stuff is like crack, but it is real spicy though I'm not gonna lie - Mango Sticky Rice: perfect dessert to finish off the meal! sweet & juicy mangoes paired with sticky pandan rice! Their Thai tea was also one of the best I've ever tried, they do not skimp on their portions here! If you're looking to venture and try new cuisines, let Nok's Kitchen be your next stop :3

Came here for a Father's Day because my mom and her bf love this place. Came in thinking it was a Thai place but it's leaning more towards Laos. Although the food was amazing, the 5 stars is mainly contributed to our service!! I didn't get his name but he had a bowl cut and only works on Sundays!! He was super accommodating and sweet to our party of 8! Constantly checked in on us and gave us recommendations. My favs of what we ordered were definitely the raw shrimp and the papaya salad (has to be Laos style so u can get the raw blue crabs, mmmMm). I would come back just for those two dishes alone. I'm surprised how much I liked the raw shrimp, the texture was not that big of a problem for me as it was butterfly cut. I definitely would've ordered another plate of it but we ordered too many dishes already. I will definitely be back (on Sundays!!).

This is an awesome place to go if you are craving Laotian food. Easy going feed for anyone and the service is great here. Little antique vibes and great dinner spot for the family.

Stopped by after seeing this place on Instagram. The food was pretty good but I think that it was missing a little bit of flavor. Restaurant is pretty small and compact but the waitress made sure that we were comfortable. Also sold snacks such as Crispy Chili Chips which I highly recommend! One thing that I did note was that a waitress was asking the customer as she went out the door why she did not leave a tip despite both the food and service being good. I was a little shocked to witness that.

First timer trying Laotian food. Verdict: Must try! Everything was delicious. Our friend with Laotian background highly recommended the place. Did not disappoint. Meat skewers: Easy go-tos for newcomers. That little green sauce is delicious and has a kick! It's definitely a good pairing with the meats. Skewers are similar to other Asian cuisines. Nam Khao: new taste for me. It wasn't my favorite but still a good dish. Especially when you put a spoonful on lettuce and eat it. Felt like I was eating healthy. Is it healthy? Not sure. Larb Salmon: reminds me of a poke salad with lots of fish sauce. If I had more room in my belly, I'd probably try the soups. Lots of others were trying the soups. Note that it seems a lot of fish sauce is used. If that's not your taste, it's probably not your thing, but the meats are a good one to still try. Lucky for me, fish sauce is a staple in our house. Tip: Restaurant is on the smaller side. Expect lines on the weekend. We waited an hour. Be sure to get yourself on the waitlist as soon as you get there. Service: EXCELLENT! Even though we waited long, server brought us waters and apologized often for the wait. When they ran out of my taro tapioca dessert, they ended up making more, with only a few minutes before closing. Very courteous and kind!

Food: A++ Ambiance: A++ Service: C Nok's kitchen, tucked away in a tiny corner of a unassuming strip mall, is a charming family-run restaurant that deserves at least 2 Michelin stars for its delicious and authentic Laotian food. In a landscape peppered with an abundance of Vietnamese restaurants, Nok's is a breath of fresh air. From the fragrant soups and spicy salads to mouthwatering grilled meats, each dish was carefully made, reflecting a rich tapestry of Southeast Asian flavors. On a recent visit with Minnesota Hmong friends, we had papaya salad, nam khao, the mixed bbq platter, pandan mango sticky rice and boba drinks. Every dish and beverage was delicious, memorable and something that we would order again. As much as I loved the food and decor however, we came at the tail end of the lunch rush, and waited about 30 minutes for our table. The wait staff was understandably tired and maybe hungry. We were told to order quickly since the kitchen would be closing, then within 10 mins or so given the check and told to pay. It wasn't like we ordered a lot of food, nor did we take a long time to give them our order but the abruptness and attitude from our waitress was interpreted as rudeness by everyone in our party. Despite this and the inevitable wait to eat here, Nok's is still a place that I'd come back to the next time I'm craving Laotian. Hope this helps you to decide. Bon appétit!

Was very curious about Lao cuisine and we heard a lot of good reviews about Nok's kitchen so decided to try it! Everything on the menu sounded really good but we narrowed it down to 4 things. The BBQ Mix Combo was great cause you get to try a little bit of everything! All the meats were super smokey and was seasoned nicely, but the standout skewer for us was the sausage! The sauces provided were a great addition to the meat as well. We also got the octopus salad which was just okay as the octopus itself was more on the chewy side. Flavor of the salad dressing was tasty, but octopus a little bland since I assume they just boil it. The Tom Saap with shrimp was beautifully presented and very reminiscent of a tom yum soup, so you can never go wrong with that. As for dessert we got the Mango pandan sticky rice, which was a great way to end the meal! Loved that they did a pandan flavored sticky rice since not many places offer this. Service was awesome and the staff was super attentive! Would definitely like to come back and try some new stuff!

Combo grilled meats is best! You get 1 sausage 1 chicken thighs and 1 beef skewers along with sticky rice and sauces. The green spicy sauce has a nice kick along with the gingerly lemon grass taste. It goes well with all the meats! I usually order to go as it's efficient! If you are craving Laos bbq, it's a great experience here!

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Great food and service in a tiny, unassuming setting. Came here with Southeast Asian food connoisseur Hannah E to see how they lived up to the LA Times hype, and I'm happy to report that they were indeed great. This was my official introduction to Laotian food and I loved it! We ordered the following: - Laotian coffee (a hint of salt, not as strong as Vietnamese coffee--delicious) - Night Market squid - grilled deliciousness served with a spicy sauce - Mokpa salmon (steamed starchy fish in banana leaves--totally yummy) - Papaya salad traditional style with pieces of raw crab (medium spicy was plenty spicy) - Taro pudding for dessert (a velvety and delectable coconut/taro/banana stew) Our server was very friendly and helpful, and while not the cheapest, the quality was great and portions generous, so I felt like we got our money's worth. Definitely get there early, as it's a tiny space and getting ever more popular.

I haven't had Lao food in a while, so I was excited to see what this restaurant had to offer. Bbq Mix combo (4/5): This comes with pork sausage, Wagyu skewer, chicken thigh skewer, and sticky rice. I really liked the pork sausage as it was smoky and flavorful. The Wagyu was very dry for my taste. Ka Tee Gai-chicken curry soup (3/5): I don't remember why, but I was not the biggest fan of this. I really like curry from other ethnic cultures, but I don't think this was as good. For some reason, I don't think the flavor was the best. Larb ribeye (5/5): Probably the most authentic dish I tried. The beef was chewy and meaty. The salad was tangy and flavorful. Night Market Squid (5/5): Very chewy and tender. Just like a typical night market Khao Par-fried rice (5/5): It was very comforting and flavorful. Khao Niao Mao Muong (5/5): I never get dessert and I'm so happy I did. It is sticky rice infused with Pandan and coconut milk. Perfectly sweet and flavor ful.

Six (6) of us came here for dinner last Saturday. We got 2 orders of chicken wings as appetizers. These wings look small from the photo on the menu but they are actually larger pieces of wings & drumsticks. I personally did not like them that much because I do not like chicken skin. And they are greasy. But one person from the group loved it. I think he ate most of them himself. :) We also had 2 orders of sausages. These are always good, except for the little pieces of fat stuffed inside the sausages. I picked them out. :) My sister got the oxtail soup and she liked it. Sour soup with shrimp: 4/5 Wish it was hotter (temperature-wise) Cucumber salad: 4/5 Crab fried rice: 5/5. This is their most popular dish. And for us too. Everyone loved it. Perfectly made, not too salty, not too greasy. I loved all the dipping sauces that came with the dishes. Spicy, tangy, and very tasty. I put each kind over the steamed sticky rice and enjoyed it. Yum. We also had their mango sticky rice for dessert. Good but very pricey compared to most Thai restaurants we've been to. Overall, everything was good. Excellent service, very attentive. What I love most about this restaurant is their transparency. When we were ready to pay, the gal went over our orders, one by one, to confirm them before giving us the total. Great way to do it!

Our go to place for arguably the best local Thai / Laos food in OC. We absolutely love everything on the menu. The sauce is rock star of this place! Goes great with the sausage, the rib eye, honestly... it goes with everything! Thank you for staying consistent with you Mr flavors! Highly recommended for all who love Thai food!

I'm so grateful this place exists. I think Burmese food should be way more prevalent! It's so homey, comforting and just delicious. It goes beyond Thai food which is new and fun. Their sausage is absolute fire and they know because they sell it! That plus sticky rice is just delicious. Their grilled chicken is also so good. Was satisfied with their papaya salad. Seriously I was about to order everything on the menu. Everything looked so good. I was a bit disappointed with the bland khao soi and the grilled squid but still I really think people should give this place a try. It's def a cute spot.

Visited Nok's Kitchen for the first time this past weekend and we loved the selection of dishes they have. We ordered the BBQ Combo, Papaya salad and chicken udon soup. The BBQ Combo comes with chicken, beef, sausage and two kinds of dipping sauce; love that for the chicken they gave us chicken thigh, which makes the chicken more juicy. The three meats in the BBQ Combo were very good flavor and the meat was very tender. We ordered the papaya salad with mild spice and it was very good; loved the generous amount of peanuts that it comes with for extra crunch. The chicken udon soup came in a clear broth and it was perfect for the gloomy weather we had. The staff is very attentive and efficient. Can't wait to come back and try their other dishes and dessert.

I was a bit skeptical seeing "trendy" places when it comes to asian food- especially Laos food (since I am so used to eating hole in the wall and grandma ambience type places) but I thought this place was SOLID!!! Everything we got was so so yummy and tasted pretty authentic! It came out very pretty too which made it better- they got the aesthetic and flavors down! Great service as well, please check it out!!

Dang..... they got some bomb food here. This is a Laotian Restaurant, that has an array of food items. We ordered the: - Salmon Larb (my absolute favorite item here) it has so much flavor to it and it is made with Raw Salmon. Think of it as a more Asian-style Poke. And the tons of crispy shallots are sooo good! - Larb Ribeye (dry and over cooked meat) - Katee Gai - Chicken Curry Noodle Soup (delicious) - Lemongrass Chicken Wings (needs more lemongrass flavor, barely tasted it) - Oxtail Soup (flavor reminds me of a Filipino dish called Nilaga) - Warm Taro Dessert - Mango Sticky Rice - Coconut Ice Cream Service was great. Parking is easy. The presentation of every dish was beautiful and very Asian, which I loved. Thank you Nok's Kitchen for my favorite dish, Salmon Larb!

Nok's Kitchen continues to be my favorite Lao restaurant! The food here is so good! The presentation of the food is always a showstopper. Service is friendly and attentive. I rarely eat at the restaurant and mostly do takeout. They pack the food really well. One time, they did forget the sticky rice to one of the dishes... so I recommend to double check your food before leaving. Papaya Salad ($13), Nam Khao - crispy rice salad ($15), and Larb Pork ($15) are my favorites to order from here. I also always have their packaged Lao Sausage in my freezer because it is so good to have on hand to cook up - it's very tasty! The restaurant is small and it gets very busy on the weekends so I suggest coming early if you're dining in.

5 stars all around! My cousins gf brought a large tray of Nam Khao which is crispy rice salad to our Christmas gathering from this place. We just knew we had to come and try other dishes. Staff is SO NICE and friendly. Welcoming atmosphere, it feels like I'm in someone's home. All the dishes we tried were exploding with flavor. All the spices, sauces, crispiness, and freshness left us wanting more. We thought we ordered way too much food but there is something special about our meal, we didn't feel heavy from it being greasy or too salty. Everything hit all the taste buds. We are already looking forward to coming back! Purchased their house made chili sate oil for $8. It's better than Trader Joe's or any other chili oil I've had. Highly recommend.

When I think about a restaurant, I consider their quality of food, service, and atmosphere that I experience all around. I must say, you will be transported a bit upon entering this small restaurant in Garden Grove. Some of the highlighted dishes I recommend: Crispy Salad, Sausages with Seafood Sauce, Lemon Grass Chicken Wings, Crispy Pork Belly, Beef/Chicken Skewers. Some of the dishes comes with sticky rice which is a nice pairing. If you order the soup, be sure to get the vermicelli noodles because it goes so well with it! The flavors of these items are one of a kind and you will definitely get a gratifying impression upon every bite. Their Mango Sticky Rice and Coconut Ice Cream is a great finish to the meal. I would recommend you come with 4-6 people to take advantage of the multi dishes and family style it. Can't wait to visit here again and try some of their other variations. This place top notch on its own with pricing that is unbelievable.

Love the presentation of my food on bamboo tray!! My server was excellent. I've been eating their food few years back from OC night market. Delicious!! 10 out of 10

Laotian restaurant / cafe located in an area, that I typically associate with Viet food...but come to think of it, I don't know of any other Laotian restaurants in the area of LA/ OC before hearing of this place, which is unfortunate. So from the pics and what I've been reading, this place looked and sounded amazing and really wanted to come here. Finally got that chance recently. And off the bat, I just have to say - the food and dining experience here is just an absolute joy. The service is friendly, attentive, and probably better than it needs to be (but no complaints here!). The vibe is warm and home-y. The space is clean and feels modern and well decorated. We ordered the oxtail stew, the papaya salad, and The Basik - which includes fried pork belly, rice, steamed vegetables, and boiled egg. The dipping sauce for the pork belly adds quite a kick. Each item, you can order on a spiciness scale, but they use fresh chilis so it's not an exact science. All mild was plenty enough spicy, especially for me. Started sweating a bit... The fried pork belly and the papaya salad was a great complimentary ordering because of the acid cutting into the savory pork belly. The oxtail soup was warm, comforting, and tasty. The oxtail meat was cooked really well and was easy to pull off. Off the top of my head, I can't remember the last time I had Laotian food, if ever, but for the uninitiated, the culture seems to share some food items with Thai culture and familiar flavors of Thai and Viet cultures. This is not surprising as the countries do share similar geographic locations and are really just split by imaginary lines. And I'm here for all of it! Couldn't eat anymore, but wanted to try the pandan mango sticky rice, so got an order to go for later, haha. Really enjoy this restaurant and highly recommend! Parking is easy at least early on a Sunday. There is a lot that is tied to this strip mall.

Amazing service & food Small restaurant & tiny. We came late Sunday afternoon and waited about 15 mins before we sat in. The server was so amazing and very helpful. Huge portion also. We didn't realize how big portion was till our food came out. Papaya salad was delis. I can eat that everyday. We enjoy our meals here. Will definitely come back to try other dishes on menu.

Went to Nok's Kitchen for the first time and it was great! I've been quite homesick and saw their food items were closely related to Hmong food which is incredibly hard to find in SoCal so I decided to visit. I ordered the red chicken curry, chicken udon soup, papaya salad (spice level 2-3) and the pork larb (spice level 1-2). It was very good, but the only thing was that we found a small fly in the chicken udon soup. We let the server know and they offered to replace it and even gave us a complimentary Thai tea (which was very yummy!) We later ordered sticky rice and it came in a cute container. Therefore, I'm giving Nok's Kitchen 5 stars and would definitely come again.

First time trying Lao food, but definitely won't be my last. If I had to use one word to describe the food here, it would be "vibrant". The flavors, colors, and ingredients are all so vibrant. All our dishes came out within 10 minutes on a bamboo tray. I was pleasantly surprised by the nice presentation. Lao pork sausage- we got this a la cart. The sausage itself is already flavorful, but the star of this dish is the dipping sauce. It's tangy and definitely has a kick. Crispy rice salad- this is more like a fried rice (with really crispy rice) than a salad. It's extremely delicious and unique. It's hard to describe the flavorful profile but the aromatics, spices, and herbs are very pronounced. Ka tee gai (chicken curry noodle soup)- this is similar to Thai khao soi or Indonesian laksa. The fresh herbs and veggies pair really well with the rich coconut curry broth.

Wow. Wow is the appropriate word to describe Nox's kitchen. This is the homiest and authentic type of food there is in Orange County if I'd be quite honest. You can taste the authentic organic ingredients that is harness within the dish. I leave absolutely satisfied, light without bloat, and depressed because I want more, but I'm so full. The yummy... 100/5 You literally think about the taste the whole week until you have it again ____________ The quality... 100/5 Authentic and organic tasting/feeling ingredients ____________ The quantity... 5/5 Big and adequate amount for the price ____________ The specialty... 5/5 I think this is the only Laos food around OC... but the oxtail soup is my favorite. I'd drink it like water. ____________ The affordability... 5/5 For the quality and quantity, it definitely is a bargain ____________ The service... 5/5 Top tier. Warm and welcoming. Servers that bring the beauty of the land of Laos ____________ The ambiance... 5/5 Beautiful interior _____________ The cleanliness... 5/5 Super clean!! Nox's kitchen has a customer for life that will bring his family and friends! This restaurant takes the title for SOUL FOOD. Best homie and soul food out here.

I don't know many Laotian restaurants but I think I already have a favorite. Nok's Kitchen is legit. This is a small casual place serving Laotian soul food with friendly and attentive down-to-earth hospitality. The cuisine is similar to Vietnamese so I have a natural affinity for it. Pretty much everything on the menu was intriguing to me, and it's a pretty big menu too! The papaya salad was refreshing with a good balance of acidity and saltiness. Could have used a few more shrimp chips to accompany it though. The oxtail soup is very similar to one my family makes. The broth was rich and full of flavor. The oxtail could have been a touch more fall-off-the bone tender (but that could just be a personal preference). The basik was a great variety entree of rice, fried pork belly, steam veggies, and boiled eggs. So basically, a great overall staple dish. The pandan sticky rice with mango was great. Pandan added a nice twist to a classic southeast asian dessert.

My friend and I tried take out from here. The combo we got had chicken, sausage, and steak. The meat was tender and really good. I enjoyed the crispy pork belly and love their 2 sauces! The green sauce has a kick to it and the other sauce is like a sweet and sour type of sauce. No comment on service since this was for take out. We ordered over the phone and when we arrived to pick up, it was ready at the expected time they gave us over the phone. The restaurant was crowded on a Sunday evening around 6:30/7 pm. I would come back!:)

Come with me to this amazing Laos restaurant. Their food is exceptional with beautiful presentation. Very quick service with casual setting. Love!! Highlights of the menu: 1. Tum mak huong - papaya salad 2. BBQ mix combo - pork sausage, wagyu skewer, and a chicken thigh skewer. Also has a side of sticky rice and the spicy house sauce + sweet and sour sauce 3. Mee ka tee - curry noodle soup (chicken & shrimp). Pho rice noodles in broth with coconut cream and red curry paste 4. Khao niao mak muong - pandan mango sticky rice 5. Freshly sliced mango on top of steaming glutinous sweet rice, drenched in pandan leaf infused coconut milk 6. Thai tea

Very authentic Lao/Thai food. MUST TRY or if you're craving authentic Lao/Thai food. I got the ribeye beef stick, sticky rice, papaya salad, and oxtail soup. My parents are from Laos and I ate a variation of Lao food growing, and this is spot on homecooking that is super delicious. The funny thing was, their ribeye tastes exactly like how I make it at home. I am still GLAD I tried it. Their oxtail soup was spot on, good loving, home cooking as well. It also tastes exactly like how I make it too. I loved how they fried their peanuts and pork rinds fresh. I was worried I would get an old batch since I came too early, but I am GLAD it was freshly fried. Shout out to Kim Thai, the YouTuber for letting her viewers know about this place! I'm traveling from NorCal and I made sure to stop by here.

Always great food great service, bigger restaurant now so less wait! Love this place!!