This place is the best Thai place in OC/LA. Its extremely authentic and I feel so at home at this place. I absolutely love this place for everything I love, from the noodle dishes to the authentic fried fish and pork. Sooooo good. I love the fact that they get their ingredients next door, a Thai and Laos market. Theyre family always and the food is magic. Youve never had Thai food unless youve been here !!
Okay spot. Decided to try this place as we were craving Thai food at lunch time and this was open. They have ready to eat food displayed on the counter. You can also order food to be freshly cooked.Customer service is non existent. They served the person behind us first since she was getting food from what were displayed in the counter.The lady didnt acknowledge us what so ever until I told her we have been waiting for a good 8 minutes. Thats when she just acknowledged us.Dont think Im coming back to this place.BTW, there yellow curry was so watery.
I usually go to You and I Thai, im not going there anymore...this is now my go to spot! The food was so dam good im switching! The lady in the front was not in such a great mood but i dont care the food was so good ! lol
My family and I used to come here with my parents when we were kids. This place has been around for years. They have never disappointed us with their food. Also convenient to have a store next to it when youre looking for the right ingredients for thai food.My sister and I had their boat noodle and it was so good. We have not found a place that makes it as good as they do. Hands down, this is the place for it in orange county. Their menu items are all good but we enjoy the thai boat noodle.
The food was great. I just had tom yum goong (medium spicy), two Esaan sausages, rice and coconut milk with jello.The not-so-great part is the customer service. Its virtually non-existent. I dont think Ill be coming back. Im down to try the next door places with Thai/Lao signs but I dont think customer service would be any better. xD
This is the best Thai food restaurant in Orange County. They have been here for at least 30 years. The best Pad Thai in Orange County, the best beef salad in OC, the best Pad See ew in Orange County. They even have a Thai market next door so that you can bye authentic ingredients to make your own Thai food if you decide to.
With no English sign, one can easily pass over this hole in the wall Thai-Laotian restaurant connected to a mini-market. I passed by it the first time and had to double check the number to locate it. There are about 10 tables available for all diners, whether you ordered from the express deli or off the menu. Theres a steady stream of diners coming and going, so food should be good here.Express Deli: 2 item combo was only $5.95 and 3 item cob $6.95. Sounds like a great deal with a variety of goodies to try! However, I found the food at express bar too salty for me, not sure if I ordered the wrong thing (tom ka kai and chicken larb) or its just been sitting there too long that the sodium prevailed.The menu has pretty standard Thai items with reasonable pricing, there are also special items not on the menu that you can order if you know the secret menu. Need to try this next time.TIP: Cash Only and theres an ATM by the register if you forgot to bring cash.
Tried this place on a whim while in the area. Honestly not sure how I feel about it.Service: Nonexistent, if not just plain terrible. Stood waiting to be helped for close to 10 minutes. Slightly okay, we needed time to figure out what we wanted. But we were ready, we stood had to wait. The lady taking orders at the counter then decided to help a woman who just walked in instead of us. Lastly, after walking out the door, the lady chases us down in the parking lot to say she gave us the wrong order, and needs to switch an item..Food: Not the best Thai food Ive had. We tried the Tofu Yellow Curry and Pad Kee Mao. The curry was very watery, almost no coconut cream in it. Tofu was softer than would have liked. Asked for it to be no spice at all, was more like mild. But it is a curry, its gonna have some level of spicy.The noodles for the Pad Kee Mao were overcooked and too soft. Chicken portions were good, as well as everything else. Order it mild, but it was way spicier than that. Did she still give me the wrong dish? If not, the spice levels are likely higher more Americanized Thai places and more in line with traditional and authentic Thai food. Thats not a bad thing.
Always awesome, best food around this area. Today was sticky rice and beef jerky, delicious.
Without Yelp and word of mouth, how many people would have walked into this building in Anaheim without an English sign and expected to find the best Thai and Lao food in town? Definitely not me.This place is somewhat of a hole in the wall. When approaching this restaurant, look for bright green squigly Thai characters on the window. There are two options when you step in, pick from the steam table with over a dozen options, or sit down and select made-to-order Thai rice, salad, or noodle dishes from the menu.I noticed that Rod-Sap has numerous specialties on the board, such as homemade Lao sausage, Isaan pork jerky, papaya salad Lao-style with crab and fermented fish sauce, nam khao tod, and kao piek. There are more specials on the weekends. I really wanted to try items from the special menu but since I was in a hurry, I chose three items from the express table.Gaeng Kiaw Wan - This was one of the most bold green curries Ive ever had. It came loaded with boneless chicken, tender eggplants, and bamboo shoots in a thin sauce. The curry had more of a soupy consistency compared to the thick nature of curries, so it was easy to soak into rice. Rod-Saps green curry contains some Thai chili for subtle heat and a generous amount of galangal and lemongrass for sour notes. Whoever prepared it did not have a heavy hand with the application of coconut milk, so there was a very delicate balance between sour, sweet, and spicy flavors.Pla Duk Sod Pad Ped - I am a seafood fan so I ordered a serving of catfish cooked in red curry paste. Although the fish was complemented with almost the same ingredients as the green curry, the red curry paste was much more mild compared to the green curry. This catfish dish yielded a large collection of bones and was a little too dry in my opinion, I thought that it could use more sauce to enhance flavor.Gaeng Naw Mai - When a grandma brings out a fresh pot of homemade Laotian soup, makes eye contact, and winks, I knew I had to try it, despite warnings from the server about how exotic the soup would be. Ive had sour Thai soup before from Isaan Station and LaCha Somtum, but turns out none were as explosively pungent as the preserved bamboo shoot soup from E-San. The soup itself was significantly more briny and fishy than spicy, and I could taste some flavors of pepper (enough to make you cough) and fermented fish sauce (enough to make your lips pucker). The bamboo shoots were a little bitter, but the baby corn and black mushroom toppings were manageable for my Chinese palate. This soup is definitely an acquired taste for people not familiar with Laotian cuisine, and not for the faint of heart.Rod-Sap is definitely a hidden gem in Anaheim for authentic Thai and Lao food. Customers can order as basic as Tom Yum Goong and Pad Thai, or for the more open-minded eaters, go for the authentic Lao house specialties listed on the chalkboard. The prices are very reasonable, most items cost $7 and under and a 3 item combo from the steam table is only $6.50. I cant wait to try the Isaan and Laotian dishes cooked by a grandma the next time I return.
My favorite place in SoCal. Just tried the coconut desert… delicious!
Lets get this place on the (Google) map! Lovingly reviewed on Yelp as Thai Laos Market and Esan Rod Sap.Short and simple: Coming from a Thai/Isaan person, this place is legit for all your Isaan dishes! Great/affordable prices for quality dishes.Dishes to Get: Nam sod khao tod (crispy rice with pork and lettuce wraps); boat noodle soup; pad Thai; crispy pork with Chinese broccoli.. will add more if I can think of some. Those are our main go to items.Note: Its not at all fancy inside, maybe a bit sticky at the tables, which are already an awkwardly high length. Take-out food may not look appetizing. Just get past the exterior and youre good to go. :) Its like eating at a side stall in BKK - awesome!
Small family owned store & Esan Lao/Thai place. Customize food orders or pick from already food made to go. Super nice people and food is authentic & delicious. Been loyal customers for almost 2 decades now!
Used to be my favorite spot, we go here for years but today dont know what happened. The food is not good, must be a new cook. The traditional boat noodles and Lao noodles soup was bland and too sweet. Im broken hearted....have to say goodbye 😕
I havent encountered any dishes that I didnt like. Everything is delicious, especially their crispy rice salad, the tom kreung nai soup, and the kang som soup.
Great Food and Great Service. I recommend trying the Khao Piak (chicken noodle soup).
Delicious and authentic Thai food, very reasonable priced. This is our favorite Thai place in LA. Their Tom Yum is the best Ive ever had.
Very good food, lunch combo meals good and inexpensive. Like their soups and love Crispy Rice Toss Salad. It is a hole in the wall, nothing to look at.
The food is delicious and very well priced. Theres a decent amount of seating for a smaller restaurant. Cash only (there is an ATM). Try the papaya salad!
Variety of Thai staple food with premade to go snacks. Taste good and great value
Best Thai food I have had in quite some time. You also cant beat the prices.
Very authentic Thai food. Dont compare with Pad Thai that made with Ketchup.
Excellent lunch specials, could be spicier but overall really tasty! Definitely recommend for cheap and quantity of foods.
Great food & friendly service. Awesome spicy papaya salad. Will definitely come back again & again.
Good food even better prices. One of my favorite Thai places if not my favorite =)
Best Thai food in O.C.! Highly recommend the Chicken Pad Thai.
Best authentic thai food in Anaheim. Good prices and portions too
Th best Thai food I have had in the USA so far out side of moms
Love the food it truly is real thai Laos food
The best Thai and Lao food in Orange County, maybe the whole of California.
Great food; Warning: medium is very spicy(at least for me)
Food was great but its cash only
Real people. Real food. Good price. My new go to spot for lunch in Anaheim.
Nasty as placeEveryone got sickBoat noodle is nasty
Authentic ThaiLao food. Delicious dessert. Cash only.
As close as traditional thai and Lao food as you gonna get without taking a flight there.
Had the crispy rice salad. It was tasty but very spicy
Good
Authentic Thai Food at a great price.
We love this place so much. The food is GOOD.
Great. Authentic Laos food. Delicious
Great tasting food and good customer service and friendly.
Very tasty Laos beef jerky,
Good for a quick Thai meals
Great pad Thai!! (Chicken)
Food is so good ...i love this place
The greatest Thai foods?
This is the real deal, so yummy
Good food
Crying tiger was good..
Nice veggies place...
Great coffee!!
Bomb
Legit by
Total reviews rating 4.5
64 Reviews for Esan Restaurant 2024:
Review №1
2022-03-31 23:35:53During my travels in Thailand I would always order noodle soups at the small shops. Be it a mall in Bangkok or a small street vendor in Phuket, I was always craving the noodle soups. Here in the states most Thai restaurants serve the same stir fry or rice dishes. There are restaurants that serve noodle soups but theyre a little more difficult to find. Ive been looking for a place that offers both Boat Noodles and Tom Yum Noodles. I was delighted to find a hole in the wall spot in my area. Its a restaurant attached to a market.CASH ONLY! They do have an ATM in the building if you meed it. Employees all speak Thai and give a very authentic feel. They offer a wide variety of food but I only tried the Tom Yum Noodle Soup. Super tangy and spicy and filling. I sat there alone eating my hot bowl of soup surrounded by people speaking Thai. I felt a little lost and a little in awe. Brought me back to my travels.The market is also cash only. They have pre made Thai dessert there. A few snacks and spices and traditional tools used for cooking. I only had enough cash on me for my soup so Ill have to come back for some snacks from the market. Will definitely be back for the Boat Noodles and other dishes.
Review №2
2019-10-21 19:09:46THAILAND 🇹🇭 / LAOS 🇱🇦Excerpt from Eat the World Los Angeles:The restaurant connected to the Thai Laos Market in Anaheim is the type of place that will be circulated as hidden or some sort of secret, but the name is right there in the front window. The only people it hides from are the folks that do not read Thai language. That being said, the old script on the old strip mall facade of the market itself is more than enough for the curious passerby to wander in and check out what is happening inside.While there are many delicious options for both Thai and Lao dishes available à la carte, it is that steam table that should take your focus on a weekday lunch. The lunch/dinner combo express is available all day and includes jasmine rice and either two options for $6.50 or three for $7.50. Extra items on top of this are only $2.This way of eating, or type of establishment is often referred to as khao rad kang, literally meaning curry over rice but signifying here that you get rice as well as some other choices. Some plate combinations here would never be found in Thailand because they include dishes from Laos and southern Thailand that would not be cooked by the same folks. But they do it all here, and so far to pretty good effect.
Review №3
2017-01-31 17:34:34Just go here. But bring your cash. Real authentic Thai/Laotian cuisine. A good way to tell if a place is authentic is to see who else eats there. This place was busy with local families and older couples when I went for a late lunch on Saturday, so I knew it was going to be good. This restaurant is in a tiny strip plaza attached to its storefront, so if you cant find any parking in the front, head behind the building and you will find plenty of parking. This is essentially a hole in the wall place, so scrub out all you want while you nurse your hangover. If this is your situation, I recommend any of their noodle dishes. The most popular one is their Boat Noodles. Hearty beef broth, rice noodles, and beef meatballs. The Duck Noodle Soup is also hearty and delicious, with the broth having a little more tanginess. If youre a spice thrill-seeker, try their Tom Yum Soup. Made fresh to order and full of shrimp and vegetables, youll be sweating out last nights shenanigans no problem. Into steak? Order their Crying Tiger Steak. Super tender, chargrilled, and plated with a smokey chili oil dipping sauce. The chef/s are amazing here, so you really cant lose with anything on the menu. Oh, and dont forget the Thai tea :)
Review №4
2023-01-26 21:26:04Hello I Got Thai Boat noodlesI requested without tripePayment in advance Cash onlyUpon employees noticing me removing all the tripe they said they can give me another bowl without tripe nowAfter already removing the tripe and it consumed some of the foodI declined, then the sameEmployee said, future please give reminder when ordering if dont want a item when they tell the kitchen in that back in ThaiThe time from what I ordered I paid and they told the back was less 1 minuteI was the only customer in the storeWhen I paid and made my orderthe atmosphere did remind me of some small stalls and restaurants when I travel in ThailandThe food itself cooked by the cooks was great seasons right with accurate proportionsCash payment only they have ATM inside $2 feeI will try this location again if in the area or buying stuff from the store attached to the sideMinus this issue communications between the server are taking the food order needs to be worked onThe cannot remember by word of mouthShould probably write it down
Review №5
2023-11-24 20:39:22Little hole in the wall with great Laos food. I loved the khao piak noodles. Everything was delish and home made. The ladies gave excellent service.
Review №6
2020-10-10 03:06:15Nice market with southeast Asian products and ingredients. Very nice staff. Love their very list cost 2 item combos.
Review №7
2019-07-22 02:37:38Absolutely authentic Thai food, Had the Seafood Noodle, Fantastic! Tasty and Filling!!
Review №8
2016-11-01 14:47:43This crispy fried rice salad is amazing! So many textures and flavors.
Review №9
2021-08-29 05:16:28Delicious food! Weve been coming here for years and have seen no fluctuation in quality. People in my family come here for their birthday, and while the price is nor low, its worth it.Try the Pad Thai, crispy crispy meat salad, and Pad See Ew. Great as takeout too!
Review №10
2021-08-05 22:59:25The stir fried dishes here are amazing!!!!!!!I get all dishes spicy and if stir fried, extra charrrrrr (big big fire):Green seafood curryDrunken noodles seafoodCrispy pork fried rice (they use sticky rice)Tom yum seafoodCash onlyFew seats insideHole in the wallConnected to a Thai groceryLunch specials served from buffet line