Souk Savanh 2.0, a Lao and Thai restaurant, soft-opened Sept. 28 at 745 San Pablo Ave. in Albany, in the former Match Point Brewing taproom, according to Nosh.
A third try
KQED food writer Luke Tsai calls it one of the best and most elusive Lao spots in the Bay Area. The original closed in East Oakland in 2016. Ten years later it reopened in downtown Oakland, KQED wrote, but it closed again after a couple of months; co-owner Tea Chaiyasith told KQED the landlord kept raising the rent. Chaiyasith and his wife, Nai Sailee, chose Albany partly because it's closer to their home in Richmond.
What to order
KQED reported that the new restaurant would be a fast-casual, counter-service spot with rice and noodle plates starting at $10. "Not everyone can afford a $20 meal every day," Chaiyasith told KQED. Highlights include nam khao (crispy rice ball salad), house-made fermented Lao sausage, laab, meat skewers and kao soy noodle soup. Fusion dishes like garlic noodles and honey walnut shrimp also have a following.
Next door
KQED reported that the restaurant would be part of a new mini food hall run by the owners of 310 Eatery, the burger spot next door. The couple also runs the Pai's Eatery pop-up at The Lot in Richmond.