Kien Svay cafe

609 E 12th St, Oakland
(510) 380-0417

Recent Reviews

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Joanie

They just opened and are still working it out. It’s right next to Thanh Ky and a block away from Cam Huong. Got the rarely found Lort Cha, Cambodian Stir fried pin noodles. It only comes with beef. (They should consider offering other proteins). And their Lao style papaya salad (spicy and stinky which I love).

I really wanted to love the Lort Cha but it was sooo sweet, chef prob went a little too heavy handed with the sugar. It’s a savory dish. Papaya salad was good. Portions are huge here bc I think it’s a new business so they don’t have their portions down yet. Everything is also hella cheap.

Will not be coming back unfortunately but try them out tho! The owner seems chill.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 4

Phanny Lun

Very good Khmer food. And they have this special sauce they put on beef sticks. It’s really good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Momo Chhann

I’m not going sitting here n lie, my wife did say the food was good as for me I didn’t order anything nothing stood out for me, service was so so host/waitress very inexperienced. We walked in with our kids we didn’t get a hello or welcome in nothing to make us feel like that our business is wanted. When it was time to pay she was not up front, and if you know the location it’s the old quickly spot by Sun hop fat so it’s not like it was a big restaurant but was very nice and clean inside, n as we were leaving no thank you come again….. me personally I won’t be back, my wife might.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 5

Service: 3

Celina Luk

Tasted like the home cooked Khmer food I missed so much! Served with amazing and friendly service as well! 🇰🇭❤️🇰🇭

Chenny Ong

As a Cambodian, I'm always excited to try new Cambodian places that reminds me of home and this place did not disappoint! Typically I would order a bunch of things and maybe like 1 or 2 things because I'm really critical with Cambodian food... but man... this place 10/10!

We ordered:
Momma wings: 10/10 that sauce had some heat but was also very balanced with a bit of sweetness. The wings itself was also very juicy!
Papaya salad: 20/10! Most places are afraid to make it dank but this place makes it the right way! It's the dank that I miss from home! And the sauce was very balanced (I asked for 12 peppers lol)
Steak and tirk pro hok: 9/10. The steak was good but I prefer mines medium rare so I would def ask if it's possible next time but that sauce!!!! Most places either don't put enough prahok or put too much and it's not balance. But this was amazingly balanced. Perfect dank, with the right amount of sweetness and citrus to make it good and refreshing.
Lort cha: 10/10 and this brings me back home. This dish... is legit Cambodian street food. I used to live there and get this for the 3 pm afternoon snack and to see this on a menu... oh man! Would definitely recommend if you never had it.
Beef stick: 10/10 and it's tender! Most beef stick are too chewy or hard with not enough fat to balance but this was great and well seasoned!

I am definitely coming back! Also pricing is a great value compared to other Cambodian place in the Bay Area and they are one of the few authentic places that I would recommend to people! The owners are very nice and they put a lot of heart into this. Thank you for giving me a piece of home away from home!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

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