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

Jo's Modern Thai

4.7
4.7
47 Reviews
$31 to $50
Thai

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 18 times today
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
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
  • Neighborhood
    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 47 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    Thai

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Jo's Modern Thai offers a unique twist on classic Thai cuisine with standout dishes like "lobster pad thai" and "coconut cakes." Guests praise the "creative and delicious" dishes, "friendly staff," and "inviting ambiance." While the service can occasionally be uneven, the "wonderful food" and "great atmosphere" keep patrons coming back.

47 Reviews
  1. LaurenB

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    10/10 service!!! The staff was absolutely incredible! Good was great but fairly pricey. We will definitely go back for special occasions.

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  2. Liss

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went to celebrate a birthday and the experience could not have been better. The hostess was friendly and welcoming. At our table was a birthday card! The service was friendly and knowledgeable about the dishes with great recommendations . Thank you Pisani. Menu has something for everyone. Our favorite of the night was the Massaman Curry, delicious. Recommended by our server! Thank you!

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  3. Ramona

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I had gone there before but when they changed hands I wasn't sure it was going to be the same but it was and I love it. Glad they're back open. Go there great for and ambience for reasonable prices.

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  4. Cynthia

    VIP

    San Francisco

    109 reviews

    5.0

    109 reviews

    Dined on February 24, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our third time at Jo's Modern Thai. Every time we've been treated to creative, tasty food. Don't miss the coconut cakes and the lobster pad Thai. Cocktails are delicious too -- creative but not overly sweet. Service was excellent. If you want a quieter experience, I recommend the back patio -- it was perfectly warm on a February evening with the heater on.

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  5. Marina

    VIP

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    Great food albeit sweeter, lights are a little too bright.

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  6. Alfonso

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We went there for a birthday dinner. Jo's staff placed a birthday card at our table, seated us early, the staff were very friendly and checked in frequently to ask/place orders and pick up used plates. The place was very clean and the ambiance was great! Not even to mention the food... YUM!! Will def bring more people/friends/fam here. :)

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  7. Timothy

    Atlanta

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
     Jos exceeded our expectations all around. We came in not super hungry from a late lunch and still ended up enjoying three courses. Delicious fresh herb mixes with each dish and fantastic service! We’ll be back soon.

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  8. Jeff

    San Francisco

    35 reviews

    3.0

    35 reviews

    Dined on February 14, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    I’ve been wanting to try this place after hearing positive reviews and having seen it highlighted on Check, Please! Bay Area. The food definitely is excellent; unfortunately, the service was very uneven. The waiter was pleasant and engaging but the food came out at different times. We did not do family style and it was evident that the four of us were ordering individually. One meal came out ten to fifteen minutes before the second entree came and then several more minutes went by before the final two dishes were delivered. One of the managers stopped by, apologizing, but somehow tried to put the finger on us, suggesting that we didn’t make it obvious that we were ordering individually. That’s basically going against restaurant service 101. Kind of disappointing considering that this place has a Michelin Star. The food met expectations, but sadly, the service isn’t deserving of the high rating. I’ll give it a second chance at some point in hopes that I get a second experience.

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  9. Barbara

    San Francisco

    42 reviews

    5.0

    42 reviews

    Dined on February 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Delicious and unique! The masaman curry is far more interesting and flavorful than usual. Coconut cakes are a must try if you like seafood: the taste of Tom Kha soup in a charming little coconut milk custard bites topped with jewels of seafood ceviche . Lobster pad Thai was amazing. We loved the eggplant and the regular and alcohol free cocktails too. We’re pescatarian so we skipped the meat dishes.

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  10. Sikina

    VIP

    Washington DC

    20 reviews

    3.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on February 7, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The cocktails were fantastic but the food was pretty mediocre. The lobster was overcooked and the eggplant was undercooked. It would have been fine for a regular Thai place but was quite a disappointment compared the last time invited this time last year

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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 4.7 stars by 47 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 PM
Booked 18 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.
  • Neighborhood
    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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