After returning from our latest trip, there was one place the Missus wanted to eat at…..Spicy Lao Kitchen. It had been six weeks since our initial foray and we were interested to see how things were coming along. Based on our last visit, which took a bit over two hours, we decided to arrive a bit later and got there at 130pm.
Things were a lot quieter this time around as only half the tables were full.
There was one woman working the entire dining room, a different one from the last visit. This time there wasn't a wait to place our order. However, just like our previous visit, it took 45 minutes for the first dish to arrive.
We had seen the Moo Tod ($10) on the menu and though it might be a good dish to try.
Man, this was delici-yoso! The pork was crisp at first bite, but not hard, and kinda melted away into a nice, pork-bellyish creaminess. Great array of flavors; coriander-garlic-chili. As before, the Jeow Mak Len was the weak link, being too mild, and not spicy enough. It wasn't really needed.
Our next dish came out a few minutes later. Now, I'm not sure why the Missus ordered the Chicken Satay ($9)?
But this was our least favorite dish of the bunch. The chicken was dry and bland. The sate sauce was really thick, like miso paste, and overly sweet.
Of course, we had to get the Goong Nam Pla ($17). This time we got it at a "3" heat level. And though it took a while to get to our table, this was even better than what we'd had on our previous visit.
The tender shrimp had a decent amount of "heat"; but it was also seasoned better, great sour tones, loved the spice, and the presentation was also quite nice. This dish is a keeper.
And then there was a pause in the action……and 30 minutes later, our last dish, the Nam Khao ($15) arrived.
We were just thankful the dish arrived. The couple behind us had already been eating when we arrived and was still waiting for their papaya salad! They finally cancelled that dish, paid, and left.
The nam khao was a confluence of textures, different variations of crisp, toothsome, and crunchy, with nice sour tones. We enjoyed the spice and the pungency of the onion. Sadly, this time, there wasn't quite as much sour sausage in the dish, and we missed that.
Spicy Lao Kitchen still seems understaffed as indicated by us having another 2-hour lunch here. We're hoping that things get better as this place as we enjoy the food and the folks working a bit harried but nice. But we don't always have time for 2-hour lunches.
The place still opens at noon, but now is closed on Sundays.
Spicy Lao Kitchen
5375 Kearney Villa Rd.
San Diego, CA 92123
Current Hours:
Mon – Sat 12pm – 8pm
Closed Sundays