Spicy Joi Banh Mi x Lao Street Food

Second time coming here, and this time, we came to celebrate a very special day. Spicy Joi is just so good to go just one time. Anytime I am in the concord area, I would love to come by and show my friends this place. The best thing about here is the amount of food you can get for a good price. The Ultimate Bomb Platter can feed 6 people. The variety of meats you get that show off Laos food is great at the convenience of ordering one of the platter. The drinks are great as well. I enjoy everything about this place. The wall art is incredible and gives a fun vibe to the restaurant. I’ve been to a few Laos restaurants around the bay, and I can say this is the best one for pricing and taste.

What an amazing find! Spicy Joi Banh Mi x Lao Street Food is an absolute must try spot.. as in do it this week! Put it down on your list for something to swing by and try because I had no idea how much I needed this food in my life. Every single bite was bursting with flavor and left me wanting more. The BBQ pork banh mi? Hands down, the best I’ve ever had. The pork was incredibly juicy, packed with flavor, and paired perfectly with the crisp baguette and fresh toppings. They did not skimp on the pork and the ratio of meat:veggies:bread was perfection. Drizzle some of the spicy lime sauce with each bite for added flavor and spice that you won’t regret! The fried chicken was another standout—crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, with just the right amount of seasoning. And the Lao sausage combo with sticky rice? Unreal. The sausage was so flavorful, and when dipped into the lime sauce, it took things to a whole new level. Order it spicy and it pairs perfect with the sauce, sticky rice and fresh cucumber! I’m beyond happy we decided to stop in and try some Laotian food. Now, I know I’ll be craving this meal as soon as I head back home to Arizona. If you’re anywhere near this spot, do yourself a favor and go—this is the kind of food you don’t forget!

I usually really like this place, but on my recent visit I ordered the Shrimp Vermicelli Bowl that I usually get, and noticed a change Previously the shrimp were BBQ'd, this time they were clearly precooked shrimp. - no searing, no skewer punctures The dish was just under $20 with shrimp (a +$3 charge), so I wouldn't expect precooked shrimp to be served. Otherwise it was really good, the toppings were nicely done

I was dreading to check this place out after seeing it all over social media. However, I'm quite sad to say it's not like how everyone claimed it to be, least for me. Walked in just me and my 2 other folks. Stood by the front door waiting for some minutes, confused, no signs, no greetings and took a seat upon ourselves. We then was approached by a server/cashier lady who kindly handed us the menus and instructed us to go to the front to order our food and pay when we're ready. Odd... guess it's the first for some such as myself? For a Laotian restaurant, I was pretty bummed about their papaya salad. For they are notorious when it comes to Lao style. But, other than that... I did enjoy their Khao Piak (however you spell it) (would prefer my soup thick vs running though), and their Khao soi. If I'm really craving for just papaya next time, I'd make it myself or make the extra travel to Stockton for some real authentic lao style papaya at The Green Papaya.

Ordered a banh mi, it was a generous amount of meat and tasted good as well. However, my friend ordered a rice plate and ended up with a banh mi with a side of rice that came in plastic wrap - it was not even close, and the presentation of the side of rice was strange. The interior was spacious but felt stuffy.

I would love to give more stars to the fast service. I saw this place on TikTok being on a must try list in Bay Area. I’m a Thai/Laotian/Viet-Chinese myself which I eat spicy foods regularly. I asked for medium spicy, but the papaya salad came out to be overly spicy that it wasn’t enjoyable. You can clearly see the big amount of dried chilies in the picture. This platter cost $60 and didn’t really fill us + was too spicy… 😥

An authentic Lao and Thai restaurant. Food was on point. You just place your order and can dine in or take it to go. Pork belly was crispy and the kao soy was really hot that it burned my tongue. Make sure you let it cool down a little if you order that. Will have to try the papaya salad platter next time when we're in town. It was just too much for two people to eat it.

Food: it was ok We like the Crispy Pork Belly & Lao Sausages. We also ordered - BBQ Chicken Banh Mi, BBQ Pork Banh Mi - my kids says the only good thing was the bread🤣 - was okay - Soy Sauce noodles and chicken fried rice - a bit plain Food was a bit pricey as well. I love the art wall. The place is nice, clean and spacious. The staff was nice and welcoming.

Khaopiak kind of day for me. I come here often for the khao soi (but Laotian style is not as good as Thai (sorry!!)). You order with the front desk and they come out with the dish. Pretty fast service. There is also choice to buy their side snacks (like crispy skin chips). If you come early enough, you can get those extra expensive items that someone makes only til the supply lasts for the day. And if you're bored waiting, look at the mural and the surroundings. It's captivating

Very comforting food in the heart of the concord plaza. Definitely recommend trying it at least once. The ambiance is very laidback and they have paintings on the wall with maps that give a bit of insight into Lao cuisine and its origin. In terms of service this is very self service, meaning you have to grab your own food and get your own water and utensils, which I don't have any issues with. I really like their fried chicken here, specially with their spicy sauces! So refreshing and savory. The taste is out of the world for me. I do have to add that for me there are a lot of limitations in what I can and cannot eat since many of the foods contain pork. While I understand that pork is a huge part of Lao cuisine, I hope that in the future there will be more options with alternatives like chicken, beef, or tofu/veggies. Great little spot if you're looking for a casual lunch with friends or just want to get fresh air and go on a self date.

Good food, the service is a bit slow. I ordered the BBQ chicken sandwich and it was great fresh produce plenty of cilantro and jalapeños. I'm gonna try the rest of the menu soon.

Still great Lao fare, just wanted to provide menu pics. The Oua Lao Sausage Banh Mi and the Nam Khao were both well-balanced and extremely tasty. Unfortunately, the Khao Soi was a major letdown this time. It was obscenely salty to the point where you couldn't taste anything else but salt on your tongue. Thankfully, we were able to secure a refund for it in the end

Called 3 times cuz i I wanted to go but nada and when I came in, no line lol. Walls are decorated pretty well with Laos and its surrounding neighbors on a map. Lao sausage banh mi: so good! banh mi was perfectly crisp without hurting the roof of your mouth. Do chua was more on the sweet side which paired better with the spicy Lao sausage and yes, get it spicy! First time trying something other than the usual meat we've become accustomed to and it worked perfectly.

Second time coming here, and this time, we came to celebrate a very special day. Spicy Joi is just so good to go just one time. Anytime I am in the concord area, I would love to come by and show my friends this place. The best thing about here is the amount of food you can get for a good price. The Ultimate Bomb Platter can feed 6 people. The variety of meats you get that show off Laos food is great at the convenience of ordering one of the platter. The drinks are great as well. I enjoy everything about this place. The wall art is incredible and gives a fun vibe to the restaurant. I've been to a few Laos restaurants around the bay, and I can say this is the best one for pricing and taste.

Randomly came across this place today with some colleagues, the outside is really eye catching! We were all excited to try this place. It's not common to see Laos food! Walking in you see amazing art on the wall, and well displayed drinks and homemade snacks. Great menu! Lots of authentic dishes! The customer service was definitely 10/10, super friendly staff. Affordable prices. Our order today: Butterfly Hibiscus drink, sweet and delicious! Makhoung/Papaya Salad (medium spicy), the perfect amount of heat and got that authentic crab flavor taste, we loved it! Nice and refreshing Shrimp Kua Sa-Ew/Soy sauce noodles, full of flavor! This was my favorite dish of them all. Noodles had good texture and delicious veggies with a good crunch. Shrimp was nice and juicy. Ping Gai/Bbq chicken combo plate, delicious moist flavorful chicken! The dipping sauce it came was sweet n spicy I could dip everything in that! Comes with fresh cucumber and lightly steamed cabbage and rice it all blends so well together! Crispy Pork Belly combo, I did not try this one but this was my colleague's favorite. They said was perfect taste and texture. Also ordered chicken banh mi to go, that will be for my lunch tomorrow, can't wait to try. Smells amazing! All the food was delicious and the presentation was amazing! The owner super cool and proud Laotian! Left this place full and satisfied. I can't wait to share my experience here with my family and friends. Definitely 5 star!

I really wanted to like this restaurant, but the food didn't hit the spot like I thought it would, especially with all the high reviews on Yelp. We arrived on a Friday afternoon for lunch and noticed quite a few tables available. I was surprised that we didn't have to wait in line given the amount of people inside. I noticed the colorful mural on the wall right when I walked in and thought it was really unique. My husband and I ordered two items - Nam Khao/Crispy Coconut Rice and the Lao Sausages. The presentation was 5/5 but the flavor was lacking for both dishes. Not sure what type of seasoning was used but it didn't taste like the Laos food I've had. I'm a bit disappointed since these were their most popular items. I want to give this place another chance next time I'm in the area since Laos food is a cuisine that I typically enjoy. I'm sure there are other items on their menu that I would like such as their banh mi sandwiches or even their salads. Also, I appreciated the friendly staff and fast service.

We've been here twice now, both times ordering the ultimate bomb platter, but the second time we ordered drunken noodles and the curry chicken. The ultimate bomb plate is fantastic for sharing, we definitely haven't brought enough people to try the king's platter unfortunately. All the dishes were very flavorful, the drunken noodles had that wok flavor you're always looking for and the curry chicken was equally as good. My only gripe with this place is, if you're ordering a ultimate bomb platter why do you only get one small package of sticky rice, especially if you're sharing with 4 people. 2 packets makes sense but 1 leaves the plate a little lackluster.

It's been a while since I've made it to this side of the Bay, and as soon as I knew I'd be in the area, there was only one place I had in mind for lunch - Spicy Joi! The authentic Lao cuisine is just as delicious as I remembered. Every dish is packed with flavor, and you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We definitely need more spots like this serving true Lao flavors across the Bay Area! It's always a treat to eat here.

Wow what a hidden gem. I'm in my thirties and it took this long to have Lao street food? What took me so long? I send out this cry for everyone - if you're sleeping on Spicy Joi - this is your call! Get on it! It'll be your new favorite obsession. My husband and I grabbed a pork bahn mi, a la carte chicken wings & pork, and a Lao sausage combo (with sticky rice and spicy lime juice). WOW. Everything was so flavorful! The wings and the pork were very nice but what stands out was the Lao sausage combo and the bahn mi! - Bahn Mi was probably the best we've had! It was a healthy portion, including what felt like extra protein and veggies! In addition, we didn't get to eat it till we got home, and it travelled well (15 min drive). Most bahn mi's skim on the protein, relying more on the bread - not this one! So good! - the Lao Sausage, WOW! We had it with sticky rice and a spicy juice and when you mix that and the veggies together, it's like an explosion of flavor, spice, and freshness all at once in your mouth. That sounded very exaggerated, but, it's true. It was delish. It's a good thing I'm no longer a local cause this would be a weekly regular and my gut and wallet would feel a certain kind of way.

Wow! What a unique spot in Concord! We tried it on a whim on a Saturday evening and it was super busy! We ordered the a la carte Lao sausage, a la carte Lao fried chicken, drunken noodles with chicken, crispy pork belly salad, papaya salad, and two drinks: lychee and passionfruit. We also ordered a dessert but not notable enough to post a pic. Definitely recommend skipping ordering the pre-prepared dessert and drinks because they were way too syrupy and sweet. However the food was exploding with flavor and all the fish sauce funk that they advertise on the menu. Our favorite was the crispy pork belly salad and lao sausage! I also feel like the combos might be a good idea as their sticky rice looks good but we didn't try it. Free parking outside and staff are very friendly!

What a hidden gem in Concord! We took the kids cherry picking and were on the hunt for a good lunch spot nearby--shoutout to our friend for finding this place, because wow, what a score! Let's start with the Lao sausage--absolutely delicious! It had a perfect snap and was bursting with flavor. We got it in the street combo with sticky rice and veggies, and it hit every note. Oh, and that lime sauce? Unreal. We couldn't stop dipping everything into it--we even ordered more. I may or may not have considered drinking it straight (no regrets). My wife had the Vietnamese salad, and it was a total win. Fresh, crisp, and super generous on portion size. The chicken had this beautiful char that made each bite pop with flavor. Now, the banh mi... not quite the showstopper. It was meat-packed (props for that), but the bread didn't quite hit the mark, and the pickled veggies needed a bit more oomph. Overall, if you're craving a tasty Southeast Asian food adventure, this place is a must-visit. We left full, happy, and already planning our next trip back.

I went in with my brother because we heard great things. Decided on the bomb platter to get a taste of proper Lao staples. The staff were friendly and the restaurant was nice and clean. The food was great and satisfied our craving for spicy food. Will definitely be coming back.

We came here for lunch today. Normally, orders are placed at the counter, but since we were a group of 7 (4 adults, 2 adolescence & a toddler), someone came to our table to take our order. We had the Lao Sausage Banh Mi, Lao Sausage w/Fried Egg Banh Mi (both spicy), Khaopiak, Nam Khao, and Pad Kee Mao/Drunken Noodles & Spring Rolls w/Shrimp. Everything was very good as usual, but the rolls for the Banh Mis were super fresh! They were the best tasting rolls we've ever had as far as Banh Mis go! The second standout item was the dipping sauce for the Spring Rolls. It was the bomb! It brought out the fresh herbs in the Spring Rolls. The restaurant is small, but it's got seating inside and outside. The big mural of Southeast Asia is always a delight (I was born in Laos). Anyhow, service is always friendly. We'll definitely return!

updated review - owner is sweet and attentive, food comes out fast and is tasty. I got the khaopiak and it was extremely comforting!

We were craving for banh mi and decided to give this place a try. We were greeted by a friendly cashier upon entering the establishment. We ordered the Pad Thai with pork, Lemongrass Pork Banh Mi, and Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi to go. Our order was ready in about 15 minutes. The pork in the Pad Thai was tender and the sauce was flavorful. The chicken and pork for the banh mi were tender and tasty. However, we didn't taste the lemongrass . The bread was very crunchy, and the veggies were fresh. They were generous with the portions and the prices are fairly reasonable. We will be back to try their Laos entrees.

Literally can't ever get enough of this place. The nam khao is everything! We also love getting the mango sticky rice too. Service is always quick and restaurant is always clean which is great

Food: it was ok We like the Crispy Pork Belly & Lao Sausages. We also ordered - BBQ Chicken Banh Mi, BBQ Pork Banh Mi - my kids says the only good thing was the bread - was okay - Soy Sauce noodles and chicken fried rice - a bit plain Food was a bit pricey as well. I love the art wall. The place is nice, clean and spacious. The staff was nice and welcoming. If we're ever back in the area we might give it another try trying other food items.

This well-priced Laotian restaurant in a strip mall filled with Asian restaurants (and a Ranch 99) serves hearty portions, but the spice level is high. It's a counter-service restaurant that provides some surprisingly-good dishes. I particularly enjoyed the noodles and the banh mi. The salad - which everyone else raves about - did nothing for me, though.

I really like there food a lot espescially the fried pork chop and bbq pork chop plus the soup # 3 with pork its the bomb, not to forget there drinks and desserts as well. I always come back here whenver im around at concord

I'm pretty picky with my Nam Khao since it was something I grew up eating as a Lao American girl. It's pretty top notch here! Super crispy, without being burnt. So much flavor! Lots of red curry paste, but perfectly mild for me. Generous with the pork. If it had a little shredded coconut in there, it would taste exactly like my mom's! My friends also tried the Lao Sausage combo, which comes with jeow and sticky rice. I liked the jeow a lot! Good flavor. I wish the lao sausages were grilled with a sear, but otherwise, these were still really tasty! Soft and flavorful. Needed a bigger portion of sticy rice, but definitely a good choice for a lunch combo.

As a Lao girl who's a little picky with Lao food, this place....bomb. Got the Lao sausage combo with jeo makpet, fried chicken combo with jeo makpet and papaya salad (no crab sauce as I'm allergic so color is lighter here). Their sausage is so good, it's hard to find places that get them right- juicy and flavorful! Their fried chicken is simple yet delicious and papaya salad is great. One thing I have noticed is that when ordering takeout, the food isn't as good as eating in the restaurant. Staff are great and we enjoyed conversing with the employees while waiting for our food to come out.

When you see the sign out front, you may find it illegible. You may forgive yourself, it's not your fault. Spicy Joi is the name. The people in charge here decided to creatively misspell "Joy." They then doubled down on creativity. The letters J-O-I are spelled out using hieroglyphics; represented with a chili pepper, a mortar, and a pestle, respectively. While the chili and the pestle are clear enough. The side view of a stone mortar and the letter 'O' bear about the same resemblance as an Eskimo and a Swahili. Then, on the glass door, there is a diminutive, yet arresting photo of a cheesy looking Lao man. Presumably the restaurateur. If that is him, he knows how to run a counter service restaurant better than most, dorky photo aside. Two women, one slightly younger, the other slightly older, both very pretty and friendly are in control of the front. The dining room smells stinky in the right kind of way. The funk of fermentation tells you the food will be bursting with umami. The khao soi is different from the khao soi you've eaten at Thai places. This is not an orange colored curry with coconut. The Laotian khao soi is a bowl of cut noodles (as the name states) in a lighter broth of fermented soy bean. The beans, caramel in hue, are anchored at the bottom of the bowl. The soup exudes garlic. There's more garlic blast per mL therein than in any other soup known to man. Swimming too in the bowl are some of the most savory tomatoes I've ever had. A red oil slick covers the surface. It wasn't spicy: I wonder if that was oil from a tomato confit. The tomato flavor is amplified. There's also pork. Bits of what I gather to be pork but swim alongside minced pork. It's even been garnished with a candy bar sized piece of pork belly. The khaopoon is reminiscent of Thai tom ka gai: broth rich with coconut, freshened up with kaffir leaf, populated with bits of chicken. This soup uses vermicelli noodles. The chicken is from the thigh. There's also stray bits of curdled blood and chicken gizzards. I assure you, it will be pleasant. Very tasty are some housemade sausages, filled with a coarse grind that is enveloped with a natural casing that snaps under the pressure of your bite. You can choose to pair them with either sticky rice, steamed rice, or vegetables. You want the sticky rice. Sticky rice and grilled meat go like a hand in glove. I ordered mine with the hot and sour lime sauce. Very refreshing. Very delicious. Maybe the best part about Spicy Joi is that the chef/patron, whose photo is stuck on the front door, is an individual. He has designed this place according to his own fashion. I love southeast Asian food, it might be my favorite. But most of the Thai and Vietnamese places in the suburbs are cooking by numbers. They all follow the same template. Go to one; you've gone to them all. Spicy Joi has individual personality.

Been craving Nam Khao for a while so when I found out there's one place that serves this food in Concord, I drove myself at once. I ordered nam khao, bbq chicken and pandan dessert that came in a plastic cup. The chicken bbq was lukewarm and dry I guess because they use chicken breast. The nam khao's rice was a bit too soft but it was flavorful and the crunchy part of the dish was yummy. I had to take home most of my meal so I requested for more vinegar dipping sauce and here comes the shocker -- 2 smallest ramikens came up to almost $7! I don't think it's worth it! Because service is friendly, and the space is airy and clean, I'm being generous with 4 stars.

I love Lao food and have had delicious Khaopoon in Sacramento and Stockton. I was pleasantly surprised to find good Khaopoon slightly closer to home. I always order Khaopoon without pork blood. I asked mine to be spicy, and it was it. I wish the cabbage and herbs were on the side instead of already in the soup, just like Vietnamese restaurants that serve all their veggies on the side. Some places put way too much cabbage. I will definitely come back and try their other dishes.

I don't get Laotian food from my hometown so it's nice to try something different. Affordable tasty food with fast food convenience. It's the a bright interior. Located in a strip mall with several other yummy food options as well. We had the chicken laab and the chicken udon soup w/o pork blood.

Ordered takeout of the sausage and crispy pork belly. Food of great! The sausage was savory, juicy, and had a slight kick. The pork belly was seasoned well but the skin wasn't cooked long enough. Some pieces were chewy and hard. I don't want to review the pork too harshly since I ordered a crispy dish to-go. The sauces I could DRINK. It complemented the fatty meats and instantly amplified the meal. I think they could chill with the takeout packaging. I understand they want to avoid spilling, but packaging tape to seal the boxes was a little much.

Tried the crunchy coconut rice salad. Delicious! Infused with fresh basil and cilantro gave it a savior kick. Also tried the deep fried pork belly. It was not as dry as one would expect and was not very salty. Ordered the pepper sauce to go with it. We also ordered a fresh coconut pre opened for easy access to the natural coconut juice. They will cut it open so you can eat the coconut meat if you choose. Did you know coconut is a natural laxative? Buy the home made pork rinds. My friend says they're the best she tasted. She knows what she's talking about. She bought three bags. The staff are friendly and welcoming. We felt like family. In fact we meet many new friends who were mutually enjoying the Laotian cuisines. Half the restaurant said goodbye to us when we left! We're going back for lot pork rinds and to try the binh mi sandwiches. Stayed tuned.

We just discovered this place and cannot wait to go back! Ordered the Ultimate Bomb Platter, and it did not disappoint - basically an amazing sampler of south east asian inspired meats. It's a lot of work to prepare some of these dishes. Our family is Mien, and rarely do we get to see Khaopoon ("Ka-poon") or Khaosoi ("Ka-soy") on the menu. I didn't even know how to spell those words lol. Those noodle dishes are some true home-cooked comfort food. If you've never tried it, give it a shot!

Khaosoi ... enough said! Khaosoi/Minced Pork flat rice noodles, minced pork, chopped pork belly, in spicy tomato fermented bean pork broth, topped with veggies So good!

Still a great place for lunch! One of the hard things to give up when I cut back meat were pork Banh Mis but the tofu one here is a great alternative. My wife and daughter love the chicken.

We had such a great dinner here tonight! As soon as we walked in, the owner personally greeted us -- super friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere throughout the place is warm, and the wall art makes it feel just like home.The food is amazing!!! Just wow!! You have to try the King Platter if its your first time.. It's perfect for big groups -- packed with all kinds of delicious dishes and more than enough to share. Definitely come hungry, because the portions are no joke. And, what really stood out was the level of attentiveness. It's rare to find such genuine care and hospitality at other restaurants. The energy is so positive, and the service truly elevated the whole experience. Can't wait to come back!

Got take out from here and got the Drunken Noodles. The noodle was okay, a bit oily. I wish there was more flavor to it. It didn't really stand out.

3.5 stars. Came here to actually try Lao food for the first time. I love eating Thai food and I have grown up eating Burmese food too, so I was excited. I was in the mood for Banh Mi, ordered 3 Banh Mi Sandwiches (get the fried egg add-on! Worth it!) and it was pretty goood! Large portions of chicken in it! Would recommend. Also got the "papaya salad." I don't remember what it's really called on the menu. It wasn't my preference. It was really watery and less flavorful compared to regular Thai papaya salad. What I disliked was the front register lady didn't seem happy taking my order. Also very important to note that they DO NOT PRIORITIZE TAKE-OUT! We waited 20 min total while the people that came way later for dine-in got their food waaaay faster. Better to just order online in advance for take-out.

When I'm craving some authentic south East Asian food I go here. Great use of lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime. Brings me back to Lao and Cambodia. Good Bahn mi, Kua sa-ew, Kua Kapow and Lao sausages! Alot of good regional food here.

This is a really good lao spot in the contra costa area. Everything is made fresh and all ingredients are bright and clean! I've never ate inside but I plan to but it's always so packed. I miss when they use to have little thai/lao street deserts in the counter but I hope they bring the khanom back! I'll update my review when I dine in because their khao poon and khao piak are my absolute fav things on their menu!

I've only been here a couple times but their banh mi is one of my favorites! The people working there are always very quick and courteous, and the interior always seems to be busy but they get the orders out in under 10 minutes. Their sauces and stir frieds are very good but I think my favorite was their crispy pork belly combo.

What an embarrassment is this place. I came to order I changed an order to my liking I had to pay extra. Then they said they weren't suppose to do that. The food honestly not worth it . The next day I came the employees started bullying me coming up to me to not order how I wanted. That's insane because I payed extra and that was the day before and mind you that day I ordered another type of food. One time I came back and I think the owner is a white dude I said I wanted a drink with light ice. His response was..... (long pause) I'm not going to put more drink in it...... I was so confused of him saying that. This place will rip you off and harass you DO NOT COME HERE !

I'm forever craving and always down for some good, authentic Laotian food!! Thanks to a Yelp friend, I bookmarked Spicy Joi Banh Mi for a future visit, in case I was ever in the area. Today, I was able to put this spot to the test... My visit was pretty quick being that I stopped by and opted for take out. Service was prompt and the employees are efficient. I placed my orders for: *Thum Makhoung (Lao style, Spicy) *Kua Mee Lao w/ Chicken & Medium Spice. The papaya salad was good. Spicy Joi's "spicy" level was perfect for me. It was spicy enough to make me pant but delicious enough to keep me wanting more- anything lower than what I was given wouldn't have been as enjoyable. I appreciated the fishy fermented taste that wasn't watered down to accommodate the more Americanized palate. The only thing this dish was missing was a bit more sour and a side of noodles. Kua Mee Lao is essentially Lao's style of pad thai. This unfortunately was not a hit for me. I came in assuming the flavors would be very similar to Thai style and it really wasn't the case. Not bad but not good either. 4 stars. I wouldn't recommend the pad Thai if you're used to the traditional Thai version but I'd happily come back for another order of the papaya salad. If possible, id love to dine in and try a few other dishes while they are piping hot.

We wanted something different for dinner and went to Spicy Joi. After looking at the menu for a while, we decided to have the street combo Lao sausage and crispy pork belly. The foods came out fast and were delicious. The portion of the Porto belly was bigger than expected. For dessert, we ordered Khao Lodd Xong (Pandan coconut) Ruam-Mit (Mixed Delight). Both were refreshing. There weren't many restaurants serve Pandan.

The was a root of some sort that was in khaopoon curry . Never seen it services was very poor

Stopped in for takeaway on the way into the city & I am glad we did. The cashier greeted us and directed us to a menu. They politely answered some questions we had about some items on the menu and then we ordered: 3 chicken banh mi sandwiches 2 drunk noodles (one spicy & one not) 2 Thai iced coffees with coconut milk The banh mi were well made with generous amounts of chicken. The bread was not stale, good amount of veggies and all around yummy. (5/5) The drunk noodles that I ordered spicy were actually spicy. I'm Mexican, so spicy is the standard for me, but these were hot!! I might've been okay with mild but I don't regret what I got. The regular were tasty too. (5/5) I'd probably skip on the coffee next time, it was just okay. (3/5) The murals inside are cool, lots of tables for folks, no outside seating. We skipped dining in because there's still a really high amount of Covid going around and we don't really feel like getting infected again (wear an n95 folks). But the food stored nicely for takeaway and didn't detract from the flavors. Would recommend it!

Place was really clean, greeted nicely and friendly right when entering. The bahn mi was really good, added their chili oil for an extra spicy kick. Ordered the mild (non spicy) drunken noodles for my kids, I was not a fan of how the egg was in big chunks and had a more of a bitter taste it was overcooked. Hopefully it is better next time.

i've always liked lao food but this restaurant really confirmed for me that i actually LOVE lao food!! i came here with a friend as i was craving papaya salad, but instead we ordered her personal favorites as i haven't tried anything else here besides the papaya salad (which is also super yummy). we ordered the lao sausage combo and the fried chicken combo and both were super delicious. don't be fooled by portion size either because they definitely filled our tummies. also super appreciative of the owner of the restaurant checking in on us and asking if our food was okay. it was more than okay, it was so delicious!! will definitely be coming back to try more of their dishes, i've been eyeing their nam khao :D

I found Spicy Joi Banh Mi while perusing through Yelp for some unique spots to try in the Area...I hardly frequent the East Bay. We came here for dinner before the Sting concert, it's not too far from the Concord Pavilion. The venue located in a strip mall; very unassuming, bright, clean and inviting with a massive mural on the wall. There is a beverage cooler in the left corner of the restaurant and snacks available to purchase on the counter as well. Lao Street Eats: ~ Ultimate Bomb Platter - 4/5 Since there were three of us we concluded it would be best to get the Ultimate Bomb Platter so could try a bit of everything. Turned out to be a brilliant decision. GENEROUS PORTIONS! This platter was massive...most definitely come with an appetite if you are going to order this. We had enough leftover for another meal after we were done! It truly feeds 4 people or even more if you have a smaller appetite. While just about everything was tasty and filled with flavor, some Items that stood out were the pork belly, sausage links, pork rinds. The papaya salad had a bit too much fish sauce, I had better. Other than that no complaints. The staff were friendly and helpful. No issues coming back...

I ordered for pickup and food was quickly prepared, well packaged, and delicious! The inside of the restaurant is on the smaller side but there were some groups who were enjoying their meals. We ordered 2 banh mi sandwiches, a papaya salad, and the Nam Khao. My husband finished his sandwich but I got full from eating 1/2 of it and the salads, which resulted in great leftovers for the next day! Looking forward to trying some of their soups.

I came here with my mom recently because we were craving some asian food and this place was nearby and seemed to have good reviews. I ended up getting the bbq chicken combo with substitution of extra vegetables. We also got an order of fried rice to-go. Overall, all of the food tasted great and hit the spot. Pretty standard and exactly what we were expecting. Service-wise, can't complain. They took our orders and the food came out in a decent amount of time. There was also self-service water which was fine for us. We came during late lunch / early dinner, which wasn't that busy so it was pretty slow inside. But no complaints on this end either, I usually prefer less crowd inside a restaurant compared to more. Overall, solid place. Great tasting food and good value. Would recommend and I would definitely come back if i'm in the area again.

I wanted to like this place but this was a disappointing experience unfortunately. I ordered the chicken noodle soup - they were nice to substitute the default noodles with vermicelli. Unfortunately the soup tastes like salt water and there was only 2-3 pieces of chicken in it. I felt very skimped. The drunken noodles which in my opinion is hard to mess up was also not fried very well... There are other southeast asian options out there that I would recommend. It's unfortunate.