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Jo's Modern Thai, Oakland, CA
Award-winning

Jo's Modern Thai

4.6
4.6
24 Reviews
$31 to $50
Thai

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 11 times today
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Innovative
Jo's Modern Thai is a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant in Oakland's Laurel District.

Born from the cultural exchange between Oakland native Kao Saelee and his wife Jo, Jo's Modern Thai embodies vibrant Thai flavors with a modern twist. The menu blends bold, balanced Thai dishes with creative, irreverent approaches. Highlights include smoky barbecue brisket drunken noodles and a laab-inspired pork burger, with customizable spice levels to suit all palates.

Jo's celebrates the deep connections between food, culture, and community, reimagining traditional recipes with Thai and Californian flair. We prioritize thoughtful sourcing, partnering with local farmers and artisans to showcase the best seasonal ingredients. Our curated selection of wines and inventive craft cocktails further elevates the experience, inviting guests to savor the flavors of Thailand in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Thai, Asian
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (510) 479-3167
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2024
  • Neighbourhood
    Oakland
  • Cross Street
    Nearest cross street is Brown Ave.
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wine

What 24 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    Thai

  • East Bay

    Innovative

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Jo's Modern Thai is a delightful neighborhood gem offering a creative twist on Thai cuisine. Guests rave about the "outstanding" creativity and flavor, particularly in dishes like the pork belly curry and lobster pad thai. While service can be inconsistent, the overall ambiance and "wonderful" cocktails make it worth a visit.

24 Reviews
  1. Clay

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Always great food and service, Modern Jo’s has quickly become a favorite!

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  2. Robert

    San Francisco

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    For a graffiti marked neighborhood, this was a surprising find, but what a diamond in the rough it was. Apparently newly remodeled, it had a clean and crisp look and feel. The professional staff doted on us throughout the evening providing a cozy experience. The food was well deserving of the Michelin guide and the value was undeniable. They easily adjusted the spice levels to suit both my wife (for whom most things can’t be spicy enough) and myself whose spice tolerance is quite low. Flavorful, intriguing, artistic - every dish was a delight. If you haven’t yet been, book now.

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  3. Maureen

    Tampa

    29 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    29 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Exceptionally prepared food, always a surprise with the layers of flavor in every dish! The oysters leave you wanting more. The "coconut cakes" are such a surprise, smooth and delicious with an unexpected little kick. The roasted eggplant which looks so plain and then is so flavorful with perfect texture. We always have to have the catfish salad which is actually lettuce cups you get to make and enjoy. Finally the lobster pad Thai which is better than any other! Every dish with layers of flavor and varied textures. This restaurant is a must stop every time we are in the area.

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  4. Clay

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food and wait staff were excellent! Highly recommend!!

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  5. Qin

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 14, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Lobster Pad Thai is the best pad Thai I’ve ever had. Strongly recommended! Overall experience was excellent and will definitely recommend to our friends!

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  6. Freddy

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 16, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was okay. Drunken noodles flavor was just okay. Pork belly curry was definitely the star dish of the night. Surprised there wasn't pad gra prow or other staple thai dishes on the menu. Service was okay. Server could have used more personality.

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  7. Traci

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We loved this clean, bright neighborhood find with indoor/outdoor seating, friendly staff, and creative twist on Thai cuisine. Our crispy party wings were delicious- garlicky and flavorful without the garlic dominating the dish. The Shrimp Mousse Toast was unlike anything we'd ever had- a combination of slightly sweet, slightly umami flavors featuring a light cake (milk bread) topped with pork lard, sweet& sour mayo, cilantro pickled shallots, sweet peppers and a refreshing cucumber plum salad. Really nice. Our main dish was Beef Cheek green curry- a spicy bowl of green rice noodles, shredded cabbage, pickled mustard greens, & Thai basil dotted with Thai globe eggplant , and melt-in-your-mouth beef cheek medallions. Portions are adequate for two, and the prices on the high side. All round, it was a great experience. Beat our recent visit to Octavia in the city on all fronts. We can't wait to go back and explore more of this unusually creative and delicious chef's preparations.

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  8. LauraJ

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 12, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great service, delicious food. Nice ambiance in the back patio area.

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  9. L

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved the food and the service and would definitely go back!

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  10. Jessica

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on October 6, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    It was not the best experience but I thought there was great potential. Room for growth in the food area. Some of the dishes need refinement.

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FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Jo's Modern Thai using the Order Online button.

Jo's Modern Thai is rated 4.6 stars by 24 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 11 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Jo's Modern Thai

3725 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619-1329

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2024
  • Cross Street
    Nearest cross street is Brown Ave.
  • Neighbourhood
    Oakland
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Thai, Asian
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wine
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