Champa Garden: Thai/Lao in Oakland

Lao Style Larp Salad, with shredded Duck.

Veggie Combo with Eggplant.

Salad greens for the Larp, plus other dishes.

Lao Chicken Noodle Soup, with Coconut Red Curry.

Robin observed: "everyone eating here looked like they were eating their favorite dish." I'm pretty sure this is the oldest Thai-Lao restaurant in the Bay Area, and they have sister locations elsewhere, including San Francisco and Redding. Family vibe: friendly, informative, open and light of heart.

Thai-style Papaya Salad. Tangy, spicy, slightly sweet, and a panoply of texture. Lime juice, garlic, dried shrimp, papaya and carrot strips, peanut garnish, vermicelli and cabbage on the side, chile, long bean, & tomato. 

Seafood Salad. Squid, scallops, & shrimp cooked to perfection, tossed with lime juice, fish sauce, chiles, onion, cilantro, carrot and celery. Soft and crisp texture contrast, all very fresh and bright.

Laotian Pork Lemongrass Sausage. Best version I've had yet. Great contrast between the lemongrass and the pork. Perfect complement to the rice ball salad. 

Greens for eating the Rice Ball Salad. Mint, cilantro, romaine leaves. Break the lettuce in half, fill with the Rice Ball Salad, and some cilantro and mint.

Rice Ball Salad. Crispy fried rice, preserved pork, chiles, cilantro, green onion & lime. Up there with all the best versions around here.

Drunken Noodles (with chicken). Nice char on the noodles, as there should be, with rice noodle, basil, bamboo shoot, onion, mushroom, peppers, & chicken. Like everything we had, up there with the finest expressions of the cuisine we've had the pleasure to experience. Sublime.

Champa Garden

 2102 8th Ave, Oakland, CA 94606

(510) 238-8819

http://www.champagardenoakland.com