Jo's Modern Thai

Having previously lived in Oakland’s Laurel District prior to Jo’s opening, I was highly motivated to return to the neighborhood and check it out. I frequently tend to over-order when establishing a baseline set of dishes, and tonight was no exception—though the excess was manageable. The dining room is remarkably comfortable and pleasant, showcasing a beautifully curated interior. The bar area is visually stunning; I would certainly enjoy having a cocktail there on a future visit. The front-of-house wait staff took exceptional care of our table and were all highly pleasant and accommodating. The Timing & Service Cadence: We started with the Crunchy Catfish Salad and the Scallop Kanom Krok. Following these starters, the remainder of our entrée selection materialized within a remarkably short time window. This flawless service cadence was highly appreciated; many contemporary restaurants consistently struggle with timing and kitchen execution, but Jo's had their sequencing down perfectly tonight. Course-by-Course Technical Breakdown: Crunchy Catfish Salad (Yum Pla Duk Foo): A spectacular way to begin the meal. The flavor profile is deeply savory, salty, and incredibly tasty without delivering an overpowering catfish taste at all. Flawlessly balanced. Scallop Kanom Krok (Savory Coconut Cakes): These savory coconut-rice pastries emerged next. While pricey, they are an absolute revelation and entirely worth a try. The briny pop of the trout roe pairs perfectly with the rich, creamy coconut custard core, yielding a highly creative and texturally elite starter. Kang Kua Massaman Curry: This was absolutely delicious and my undisputed favorite dish of the evening. This is the exact dish I think of when I think of premium Thai food. The curry base is incredibly comforting, and Jo's version stands as one of the finest I have ever tried in the Bay Area. The accompanying jasmine rice was executed perfectly to absorb the sauce, and I loved the deep, earthy colors present in the dish. Stir-Fried Eggplant: Flawlessly cooked to yield soft, melt-in-your-mouth pieces of tasty goodness. There is a unique affinity between eggplant and Thai cuisine that completely elevates the dish, and Jo's recommended version delivers a remarkably hearty portion size. Smoked Brisket Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao): Spicy and delicious. While you can customize the spice level of your choosing on select dishes, this noodle dish carried a spectacular extra kick. The technical execution here is elite: the deeply smoky brisket transfers its charred flavor notes directly to the noodle strands in the most perfect way. The inclusion of a fried egg on top—allowing the rich, liquid gold taste and texture of the egg yolk to bleed into the noodles—completely elevated the entire composition. Blue Sticky Rice with Mango Gelato: I truly wasn't sure what to expect here as I am typically not a huge fan of traditional mango sticky rice, but Jo's version is exceptionally good and departs completely from your standard version. The indigo butterfly pea flower sticky rice creates a great visual bedrock, and the contrasting textures present in the dessert complement each other perfectly. The flavor profile of the mango gelato was very good, especially when matched with the generous chunks of fresh mango and crunchy toppings. I would definitely order this again, although their alternative dessert—the fried ice cream—sounded amazing. Final Verdict: This has easily secured its placement as my new favorite East Bay Thai restaurant, and I am incredibly grateful it is situated only 10 minutes away. Give Jo's a try. It is an elite, high-utility addition to Oakland’s Laurel District.

Service is awesome. Flavors are great but everything is too salty esp the pork jowl...and I'm southeast Asian. We needed more vinegar or lime on the side.

The food was good not great. Ordered the brisket drunken noodle, a wok charred cabbage and two Thai teas. The brisket overpowered the dish and the fried egg while tasty didn't warrant spending $6.5 for a single egg. The brisket while tender felt like it was added after the drunken noodles were cooked, tasting like a separate dish rather than finding balance and cohesion. The cabbage was excellent, the best of everything. The drinks were acceptable though probably should have tried one of their many mixed drinks. Loved the service and atmosphere though next time I'd probably try the lobster.

Fantastic flavors and options . We had the wings, vegan coconut cake, oysters, charcoal claypot pork jowl. We loved every single dish we tried. Can’t wait to go back to try their other dishes!

Service was great. EVERYONE was friendly and accommodating. Ambiance was a bit cold and like a diner. Cocktails were spectacular. I preferred “The Mango One.” Green curry with chicken was delicious; flavors on point, but I could do without the bone. Drunken Noodles also very tasty, but odd to have skinny noodles instead of classic fat noodles. Enjoyed the meal but unsure to return.