So blown away. My fiance and I tried this place on a whim after signing up for the InKind app at my sister in law's suggestion. We decided to try this place craving something new, and we weren't disappointed. It wasn't busy around 6pm, but the vibes were really cute inside. I love the patio area they have. Would be perfect for a group meet up on a nice day. We ordered the pork sausage to start, the saikoo which according to my fiance is a must for laotian food, the yellow curry, and the crab fried rice. Everything was genuinely amazing. Here are my rankings below: Sausage: 8.5/10 Crab Fried Rice: (with the fish sauce) 9.5/10 Saikoo: (with the fish sauce) 9.5/10 Yellow Curry: 9/10 Would definitely order everything again. It's not quite thai, but thai with a twist I'd say. Bit on the pricey side, but everything was so fresh and you can see where the chefs are making everything, so you know you're getting quality. And the portions honestly made it really worth it. Such a great place! Will 100% be back. read more

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Stopped by Lao Thai for lunch and had a bit of a mixed experience. We ordered the 3-piece chicken wings from the lunch menu, and unfortunately they were pretty underwhelming -- nothing bad, just not particularly memorable. But the Lao papaya salad completely saved the meal. It had that perfect salty-sweet balance with just the right amount of punch, and paired with the sticky rice, it was SO good. The kind of combination where you keep going back for "one more bite" until suddenly it's gone. Honestly, I would come back just for that papaya salad and sticky rice. Sometimes one dish is enough to earn a return visit, and this was definitely it. #PapayaSalad #LaoFood #StickyRice #FoodieFinds read more

Lao Garden - Laotian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here for a birthday and the place was really pretty, fun, and vibrant and I really liked the vibe. The open windows made the place really bright. Our two favorite dishes were actually the appetizers - the vientianne crispy rolls which was basically an egg roll wrap and the saikoo made of pork and tapioca balls. Each of the dishes were very well made, flavorful, and fresh, especially with the lettuce and herbs. We also got the drunken noodle, crab fried rice, fish steamed in a banana leaf and a papaya salad. Everything was either really salty or really bland. The drunken noodles came with about 3-4 bites of noodles and was mostly just cabbage and other veggies. The papaya salad was overly salty and came with a whole bunch of noodles but not much papaya. The steamed fish came with some random steamed veggies on the side but was actually pretty bland, even with the sauce. Overall, the food was well prepared but flavors could use some work. read more

The ambiance is so mellow and comforting. I love their decor and they have a beautiful outdoor garden area. The service we received was exceptional. They are incredibly kind, friendly, and helpful. We really enjoyed our order of khao poon, nam khao, and crispy rice roll wraps. Everything was flavorful, rich, and herbaceous. My partner is allergic to peanuts and they were very careful about handling his food and even went as far as recreating the tamarind sauce (which was delicious of course) without the peanuts. The portions are also generous. If you dined alone, you would definitely have leftovers to take home. We are already making plans to return and try more dishes! read more

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3.5 STARS I'm boring so where did I get my spice? SE AZN food! It's hard to find a Laotian resto that isn't clumped in with Thai and/or Khmer cuisine so Lao Garden piqued my interest. Walk-in only. But if you have a party of 5+, rezzies are accepted. Back patio is dog-friendly. F O O D * Nam Khao: Crispy Rice w/ fermented pork sausage, peanuts, lettuce, herbs ($25): https://tinyurl.com/yn97yper Many rave reviews on socials saying this is the best nam khao and worth the price. The crunchy, chewy texture was on-point and they were generous with the naem, fermented pork sausage....but it was oddly bland, like they forgot to dress it with the spicy, punchy acidic dressing. * Thu Lith's Famous Saikoo: Steamed tapioca balls w/ ground pork, sweet radishes, shallots ($25): https://tinyurl.com/5n8xnhsz Saikoo is hard to find so this was a must order on our visit. The saikoo had a nice bouncy QQ chew and is filled with a ground pork mixture. Flavor leaned sweet. If you like Viet bánh bột lọc, this will be your jam. * Mok Pa: Steamed catfish w/ lemongrass, green onions, dill, steamed vegetables, jeow mak len ($22): https://tinyurl.com/yxrvnxjb The catfish was flaky and moist but the flavor was one note: earthy. I wished they used more fish sauce and aromatics (i.e. lemongrass and galangal) for citrusy umami. Served with steamed veggies with a traditional Laotian spicy roasted tomato dip that was not spicy at all. * Grilled Rack of Lamb (3 pc-$32): https://tinyurl.com/57hstz93 - Requested medium rare A touch overcooked but the marbled lamb was forgiving, it was still very tender with a great smoky char from the grill. Served with nam jim jaew that felt diluted as it was missing the bold spicy, tangy, salty, and slightly sweet flavors. * Sticky Rice ($8) Aside from the incredibly steep price for a single serving, they brought this with the apps so by the time our entrees arrived, the sticky rice had cooled and hardened. S E R V I C E Friendly and earnest. We had to flag them down for things but understandable since we were the only ones in the patio. We arrived for an early dinner and were the only customers at the time so it was surprising food service was slow with entrees taking 45+ minutes. A M B I A N C E Spacious and vibrant with faux greenery and flower walls. The back patio is partially covered. P A R K I N G They have a private parking lot in back but can easily be missed; take a right after April Rose Provisions. Overall, I had high hopes for Lao Garden but the flavors were far too mild for my personal taste. When I have Laotian food, I want to be punched in the face with funk, citrus/acid, and heat. Off day? read more

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This place was SUPER cute , is a family owned restaurant run by 3 sisters sharing their late mom's recipes , & is FLAVOR BOMB.COM . We got the catfish (SO tender & unique & flavorful), the eggplant & shrimp , khao poon (coconut curry noodle soup), & this amazing Laotian dumpling dish called Sakoo Sai Moo. EVERYTHING was SO GOOD...Our favorite was the catfish (which I don't even usually like) as it was steamed in banana leaf and had this very earth, herbal flavor which we found so delicious. The eggplant and shrimp were cooked perfectly. The dumplings were so unique and is a must try at least once (there are a lot of dumplings). The Khao Poon coconut curry soup had juuuus the right amount of kick. Atmosphere is 5 stars...it's just really cute. Service is 5 stars. I just LOVE how it's run by 3 sisters and Mina on the weekend (one of the sisters) was an excellent host. Thanks go Chef Kat who came by our table to check on us as well. The best part is they are a part of the inKind network, so this entire meal was essentially paid for with inKind credits (less tax & tip). Do you want a FREE $25 to spend here or at other restaurants? AND get up to 20% back each time you dine out at participating restaurants? Really easy to rack up free meals! Click on my link to sign up for inKind & dine out at a participating restaurant! https://app.inkind.com/refer/PWW2TC9A See less read more

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My friend (who's half Lao) was visiting from Atlanta, and since there's an abundance of Lao cuisine here in the Bay Area, we had to try one out! We narrowed it down to three and chose Lao Garden because of the positive reviews and authentic menu items. Lao Garden did NOT disappoint!! We visited during Memorial Day for lunch. PARKING There's a sign outside, but I missed it. Parking is available at the back of the restaurant as well as street parking. SERVICE Since it was a week day for lunch and it was a holiday, the restaurant wasn't at capacity. There was one server who was attentive and wonderful! We met the owner and head chef, Kanlaya, who was very friendly. I could see her passion for Lao cuisine and her desire for guests to enjoy it. FOOD We were pretty excited so ordered quite a few items to try -- we definitely had leftovers. Everything was DELISH. * Pandan Green Tea -- delicious! * SAI QUA (Lao sausage) -- made fresh. Meaty and herbaceous. It was grilled and charred. Yum! * THU LITH'S FAMOUS SAIKOO --My friend was waiting to try this, which was the main reason we chose Lao Garden. It was excellent. Under "Wraps," these are steamed tapioca balls filled with pork. The tapioca balls were fresh, soft, and chewy, while the pork filling was well-seasoned and balanced. It was served with lettuce, mint, and parsley. * MOK PA -- Steamed catfish with lemongrass, dill, onions, and wrapped in banana leaves. A favorite of mine! Light and aromatic. It was served with steamed veggie medley and jeow mak len (tomato dipping sauce with various spices). * EGGPLANT PRAWNS -- Seasoned and tasty. Eggplant and prawns cooked to perfection. Since it was lunch, there was a special for this entree. * FRIED CHICKEN WINGS w/ PAPAYA SALAD -- This was also a lunch special served with sticky rice. We were chatting with the owner, and she was kind enough to change it to Lao style, which is more pungent with the umami from fermented fish sauce. The wings were crispy, and the papaya salad was well-balanced and tasty. Discovering Lao Garden was a fantastic experience, and we truly enjoyed their delicious dishes. I can't wait to return and share this hidden gem with friends and family so they can enjoy it too. read more

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Was here for a birthday luncheon for a good friend! The party was next to the garden! Great ambiance! Service was excellent and so was the food! We spent close to 3 hours and had a blast! Lao Garden is a great place if you want to have a small party with a buffet style menu! read more

I'm a new fan of Lao Garden! One of my friends and I came here on our lunch break. We chose this spot for convenience, and we both couldn't stop saying it'll be on our work lunch rotation! We came on a weekday, and it was super quiet. There weren't many diners, so service was excellent! We were constantly checked on, and everything came out quickly. We both loved the vibes! Super colorful with bright and cute decor. Plus a spacious dining area with ample tables for various party sizes. It's also nicely lit inside. My friend and I shared the Nam Khao and Thu Lith's Famous Saikoo. Oh my gosh, these dishes were phenomenal! I'd never tried either, and I couldn't get over all the flavors. The Nam Khao was tangy and savory, and it was perfect with the lettuce. The Saikoo was so chewy, well-seasoned, and filling! We had leftovers for both, but appreciated how outstanding and fresh everything was. I look forward to coming back to Lao Garden with my friends and family. It's the perfect place for family-style dining in Berkeley. I recommend anyone in the area try it, whether you're familiar with or new to Laotian cuisine. Find them off San Pablo Ave. with metered parking in front and a parking lot in the back. read more

Lao Garden - Nam Khao - Laotian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The first thing you notice when you enter the restaurant is that you really get the feeling that you're in a garden. And the colorful lighting and the things that they have set around the room to represent Leo is really a wonderful first impression. We were quickly seated at a table that we wanted to be at and menus arrived with water almost immediately. I have to say everyone who worked there that we felt very special coming in there, and everyone greeted us. From the kitchen staff to the table servers it was very pleasant. Lao food is similar, but very different from Thai food so when you go there, but don't be expecting it to be a Thai experience. Enjoy the wonderful flavors of all the herbs and spices that go into making the sauces in the broth. And where Thai focuses on peppers and seasonings that are too hot for some people. The Lao food has very soft and vibrant flavors. We shared our plates. So we ordered the Nam Khao, Thu Lith Saikoo, Laab Gal, sticky rice, blue lemonade, and coconut mango with sweet rice. If I tried to pick a fav ... I couldn't because every bite was lovely. We will return and explore new items. The adventure continues. Ty Lao Garden. Until we return. read more

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This place is in a quiet part of the San Pablo corridor that doesn't get a lot of foot traffic and it's easy to blink and miss it. But it's so good I'm compelled to fire up Yelp like it's 2011. The food is excellent. I've run the whole weekday lunch special menu and started trying the full menu. I haven't been let down yet, everything is tasty. Better still is the service. Where else in Berkeley can you shuffle in solo or with a crowd and get a quality lunch for under $25 that includes well-attended table service, frequently refilled water, clean and fully appointed tables, an owner/chef that wears her chef whites and comes by to explain the menu and make recommendations and teach you about Laos and Lao food, an open kitchen where you can see the other chef (the guy) cooking, and an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere? Check out the wall decor and the ceilings in this place. Sit by the front window and watch the world go by. Sit in the back patio area. Sit at the bar. Just go. read more

My friend introduced me to this cute spot. The food was great and the staff were friendly. I am fairly new to Lao cuisine. We tried the Vientiane Crispy Rolls, Thu Lith's Famous Saikoo, Thum Lao Lao, Kua Khao, and Mango Sticky Rice. Everything was so flavorful! We had ordered the Thum Lao Lao as medium spicy and that built up fast! I'd be interested in returning to try other dishes. Great neighborhood spot! read more

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===TL;DR=== - Drunken noodle - Khaki poon gai ===TMI=== Beautiful garden interior with a photogenic wall. Lovely staff and good food. Love the flavor profile on the drunken noodle, Those that love their noodles extra thick and wide, look no further. On the other hand, can't go wrong with the classic red coconut curry with noodles and chicken! Creamy but not overly heavy. Both were great individual or sharing portions! read more

Lao Garden - Khao Poon Gai - Laotian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Absolutely delicious food, you can tell there is love and pride in every dish. Perfectly seasoned and flavorful. I had the joy of coming here back in January and couldn't stop talking about the restaurant. The owner personally came and checked in on the table and introduced herself. She is very kind and has created a truly valuable place. Gorgeous plating, ambiance, and decor. You can tell a lot of thought has been put into it. I had to return, especially with how hot it's been there is nothing more refreshing than Lao cuisine read more

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We happened to come here for our girlfriend's birthday celebration and it turned out to be a vegetarian day for most of us so this review is based on vegetarian entrees we ordered. One of our girlfriend did order a meat larb which we didn't try and I forgot to take a picture of. Upon entering, the place is decorated with cute fake flowers backdrop. We were the first ones there and got to choose where we wanted to sit indoor which was very nice. They had outdoors seating as well. We ordered as many vegetarian dishes as possible and I made a note on my phone but somehow some of the entrees in my notepad showed up bold and enlarged and some didn't and our waitress only wrote down what was bold and enlarged so we tried less than we wanted to. By the time we wondered where the rest of our food was and found out the reason, we didn't order the rest because it would take longer than the two hours we already put in for meter parking. A few of us ordered Lao tea and some lycee tea. The Lao tea I heard was super sweet so ask for more ice if it's too sweet to your liking. My lycee tea was sweet as well but not overwhelming sweet. We especially enjoyed the vegetarian larb and the vegeterian papaya salad with vermicelli. The pineapple fried rice and jackfruit salad was a little wet to our liking. We ordered two mango sticky rice and one the pandan sticky rice was better and the sticky rice fell apart more. Overall, this place is nice for meeting up with a large group and cute for a girls day out. There's street parking and meter parking and you may need to drive a few rounds around if you're not so lucky. The food was okay but food did take awhile once you order so give yourself time here if you go in a bigger group since it seems like there's one chef and one person running the place herself. But she's a sweetheart doing her best holding down the cute looking restaurant. read more

Lao Garden - Laotian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Lao Garden opened in Paisan's vacated space. Decor and seating totally renovated. Some seating outside. Back area not utilized. Parking available in private lot. Was seated promptly by Gia who was very helpful answering questions re food & how to reheat same. G very knowledgeable for the few years in the industry. Did eat in eateries G worked at but years or decades earlier. *stopped eating Thai food as it was too sweet, too "Americanized". Ordered. Food ready in 15ish minutes. Cooked to order. Offerings (Laotian): wraps, noodles, stew/curry, platter specials, desserts, small plates, chef's specials, fried rice, grills, roasts, soup, salads(yum, Thum, laab) Bites: seen savanh (12) -dehydrated pork pieces, flash fried. No hint of oil.. Very chewy. Frying can be skipped. Probably goes good with beer. (Too early for me.) -flavorful. Takes getting used to. Gang Phet Gai (chicken) 18 -stew like dish a mix of red curry, chicken pieces, green beans. Bamboo shoots, lemongrass & basil. -best eaten with rice but I passed. -nice alternative to classic curry. Slightly spicy, not overly sweet like American curry version. The herbs adds nuanced flavas.. I like.. Thu Lith Saikoo (22) should be shared. -similar principle as Nam Kao. House made steamed tapioca balls with ground pork, roasted peanuts, sweet radishes, shallots within. -place a ball within partial lettuce leaf. add drizzle of chili oil & other leafy herbs. Eat slowly, repeat. Prefer nam kao. Portion too big for me. Carbs an issue. 4.5 stars Worthy! Quality: Ultra. Quantity: reasonable for top quality-YMMV read more

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This is the location of the former Italian restaurant - Paisan - which I'm a little sad of their closing because they had a great budget friendly, delicious ribeye steak. But Lao Garden did a nice job of transforming the space - colorful, vibrant and cozy - which seems to be the trend among Thai/Lao restaurants these days. Not that I'm complaining. This space has a huge back area which they aren't fully utilizing. Perhaps if/when they become more popular, they can have a real "Lao garden" with a fountain and all. Staff is attentive and friendly, deserving of 5 stars. Their dishes were solid and on theme with the interior decor. I had ordered the Thum Lao Lao, which is basically Lao style papaya salad. For those that aren't familiar, basically they use a thicker/cloudier and more pungent fish sauce which they refer to as "funky". For those that are less into funk, they do have the Thai style papaya salad - Thum Tum Ma-Da, which tends to be milder since they use the clear, less "fishy" fish sauce. But to be honest, theirs isn't the funkiest in town, in case you felt adventurous but needed that stepping stone. I also ordered the Khao Poon Gai, which was good. The chicken was tender and moist, and loved the contrast of the fresh veggies and herbs to compliment the hot soup and noodles. But I had to inject some of the funk from the Thum Lao^2 to elevate it to what my taste buds have been calibrated to from eating my Laotian friends' authentic home cooking. Over all, expect a good dining experience keeping in mind that the flavors have been toned down a notch to accommodate Western palates. read more

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Came here on a Saturday for lunch around 1pm. No wait for party of 2. The decor inside is super cute and girly. Service was quick. We ordered spring rolls, Vientiane crispy rolls, mok pa, Lao steak and Lao iced tea pandan. The spring roll was very light and fresh, it came with a sweet oyster dipping sauce. You could tell the veggies were fresh and good quality. The Vientiane crispy rolls were also delicious and flavorful. It has a nice balance and very refreshing to eat with the lettuce. The Lao Steak had a good grilled flavor however it didn't have much lemongrass flavor and was very small. The size looked like an appetizer but was $32. The mok pa had great lemongrass and dill flavor. It was wrapped with vegetables outside and the banana leaf. However it came out kind of cold where I had to ask the waitress if the dish was to be served cold. They sent it back and had it steamed longer since it was supposed to come out hot. Once it came out hot it was tasty with the tomato sauce and rice. The iced tea with pandan was great, had good pandan flavor and wasn't overly sweet. Overall would come back, it's a little pricey though. read more

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Great food, warm service, beautiful space. We enjoyed a salad (yum salat Lao), mok catfish, and lettuce wraps with crispy rice balls and pork sausage (nam khao). Bold flavors with nuanced preparation. No wait for weekend lunch. read more

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Came here with my family when they visited! Food: A bit on the pricier side but it was great to try Laotian food. I absolutely loved the catfish! It was so tender and very fragrant. It pairs well with sticky rice. I liked how it came with steamed veggies so the entire plate was well balanced and not overdoing it. The drunken noodles were great- chewy saucy noodles with a spicy kick. The curry (I forget the name of the dish) was also well cooked although the portions for this were small. we tried the famous saikoo. I thought I would be a big fan of it but it lacked flavor and I couldn't taste anything other than the chewy tapioca. We wrapped it in lettuce like we thought it is usually eaten, maybe we ate it in a different way? Regardless I wish we tried the crispy rolls instead. It was still nice to try. You pay extra for sticky rice and jasmine rice on the side. Service: kind waiters and staff all around! Ambiance: this place is well decorated and so pretty! The bar area looks great. If I ever come here again, I'd want to try their mimosas read more

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Delicious food. We ordered the jackfruit salad, drunken noodles, red curry and sticky rice and the mango sticky rice for dessert. The service was relatively quick given they only had 1 server on duty. Friendly staff and great ambiance. Highly recommend. read more

Had an incredible time at this hidden gem of a Lao restaurant in SF! The flavors were so authentic, Service was warm and welcoming. A must-try for any Southeast Asian food lover! read more

Lao Garden - Laotian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My first time at a Lao restaurant. I was suspicious of the difference between Thai and Lao food. I thought it would be similar, but it turned out that they are very different. Lao has more sourness into their sauce and cooking. The people here are very welcoming and nice. They would give you recommendations and joke around you. The place is also cute, when we were here, we felt a different place from the outside world. My favorite was the sausage, and the salad was my least favorite as it is way too sour for me. The fried banana with ice cream is a must try item. You will not regret it. read more

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Service was prompt and friendly from Kanlaya. The restaurant decor is lovely. I don't know what was here before, but the yellow chairs are fun and refreshing and the greenery and Buddha head waterfall offer a soft ambiance. Relaxing Lao background music is clutch. Thum Lao Lao - Lao green papaya salad: Was ordered medium spicy. The flavor was great and there was the right amount of fish sauce and crab paste. I'm considered the weak one in my family when it comes to spice, so medium was perfect for me -- maybe even a tad too spicy. If you're accustomed to spicy food, go for medium on your first visit. If you're not accustomed to spicy food, go for mild. Would recommend if you like spicy Lao papaya salad. Khao poon ghai - Vermicelli noodles with chicken in red curry soup: The noodles weren't cooked enough for me, as they were still a little chewy. The chicken was sliced, not shredded or ground. The flavor was good and there were bamboo slices. I don't know if I would order again, but if you're a kapoon lover, give it a try. Nam khao - Crispy rice with nam sausage: Tasty and crunchy! Perfect size for sharing. I recommend ordering, but beware it comes with peanuts if anyone in your party has an allergy. Sai oua - Lao sausage: A little spicy and cooked to perfection. The side sauce was also really good. Would order again. Side of sticky rice: Ordered to enjoy with the Lao sausage and papaya salad. It came in a little bamboo basket. Would order again. Mango & sticy rice dessert: Cute heart display. The mango was almost ripe, so the slight sour with condensed milk was a great combo. Recommend ordering if you have space left for dessert! My only complaint, if I had one, is that the Lao tea was much too sweet. I had to separate half into another cup and add water. It was still too sweet. I wouldn't order again unless they change the ingredients / amount of sugar or sweetener. Metered street parking out front and in the surrounding neighborhood. The single use bathroom is outside the restaurant. There is a second bathroom located outside the backyard area, but it requires a code to enter the bathroom as well as a code to return to the backyard. The backyard has seating, but while useable, it looks like it might be undergoing a makeover and would be a great outdoor dining space when it's ready! read more

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My friend and I stopped by to have dinner there last night and were not disappointed at all! The food is very authentic and the flavors are amazing. If you want a true experience of Lao food this is the place! The restaurant is nicely decorated which brings you into another place in time and the owner is super welcoming and helps to serve the customers. If you are looking for authentic flavors then this is the place. We loved everything that we ordered and would definitely return to try more items on the menu! read more

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Drunken Noodles with Beef was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend. Trendy atmosphere, delightful visit. You won't be disappointed.

Came here for lunch on a Saturday. We ordered the fried fish, som tum Lao style, the kao soy, and two drinks. Fried fish was delicious, a 10/10. It comes with sticky rice and a dipping sauce. Crispy, fresh, would definitely order again. Som tum Lao style was soooo good. Also a 10/10. I love a good papaya salad and theirs was delicious! Good portion and also comes with some noodles and pork rinds to mix together. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Kaosoy: not good today, we had to substitute the noodle because they ran out of the wide noodle which is fine with us but the soup itself lacked flavor. It must have been an off day because the other photos I saw of the kaosoy looked much better. I would order it again in the future because I'm sure they can do better I think it was just an off day hopefully. Drinks: both were good, I liked my Lao tea which is basically a Thai tea and my sister got the blue lemonade which she really loved. Can't wait to come back here, I love Lao food and I'm happy to support local restaurants. read more

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This is a cute place (photogenic wall of flowers and butterflies), very calm and clean, serving Lao food, with outdoor seating as well. We ordered two dishes and were served with smaller plates with the correct assumption that we would want to share. I ordered noodles with an omelet-style egg on top, and even though it was a lot of food, I just kept eating it. So delicious! My husband ordered a medium spicy smashed salad with noodles, and its sauce had a fresh jalapeño heat mixed. I liked how the food was presented. It's all around a very aesthetically pleasing restaurant. I don't think I have ever had food that was specifically Lao, and I am eager to go back to try other dishes. It's a great spot to eat if you are in the neighborhood, especially for dates or groups of four. They have a wine and beer list. read more

Food was very good. Nam Khao is a must order. Loved the drunken noodles and egg rolls. Service was attentive and friendly. The place feels like you're eating in a wonderland. Beautiful decor and clean dining room. I highly recommend this place. read more

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This was my second time visiting so I feel like I can be honest. I grew up with a ton of Laotian friends so I am very familiar with the food and excited that a Lao restaurant opened in Berkeley. It's a beautiful restaurant but they need a manager to run the restaurant. My family and I went for dinner tonight. The servers seemed so stressed out and all over the place. We placed our order with one, then another would come to take our order. We asked for water 3 times before someone actually brought us some. Our dishes started coming out one by one at a VERY slow pace.. Entrees before appetizers.. it was just a mess. My husband asked for hot sauce from 3 different servers and it never came. We ordered: Grilled fish (really crispy and tasty!) Lamb chops (marinated nicely, just slightly dry) Bamboo shoot appetizer (good but a little on the salty side Saikoo (this is one of my absolute FAVORITE dishes and they missed the mark soooo bad on this. It was over steamed so the balls could not even be separated, it was just a mushy mess. See photo) We decided to add 2 dishes after our initial order (crispy rolls and a noodle dish) but after being there for almost 2 whole hours and they never came, we canceled the orders and just asked for the bill. The restaurant was extremely busy and overall the food was good (except the saikoo) BUT they need a better system. Maybe divide the restaurant in sections and have one server per section instead of all the servers working the whole restaurant. There was a table behind us that ordered before us and they didn't receive their first dish till we got our 4th. Hopefully they can get it together soon. read more

Lao Garden - All clumped together - Laotian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came in for lunch; not too busy. Quick and friendly service. Sausage was the best item from what was ordered. Tilapia dish was interesting and I can't stand it when it's too fishy, but with the sauce and the sides made into a wrap, it was delicious. Noodle soup was ok. Would come back to try other dishes. read more

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I came here to try Laotian cuisine for the first time, excited to come back & try more dishes! I came on a Friday as a party of one (I was curious & wanted to taste Laotian food) & they treated me just the same as if I were with a larger party. Kind and friendly, seated me right away at the bar area (UNDER-BAR HOOKS FOR YOUR HANDBAG!!! I love when restaurants have those!) I felt happy right away. Pretty, inviting decor that feels cozy & classy at the same time. I ordered the mok catfish (catfish in a sauce with herbs, steamed in a banana leaf) the blue lemonade, and the side of pickled vegetables. The catfish and pickled vegetables were very yummy! ... I didn't expect such a generous portion of either, but I am not complaining! I have lunch for tomorrow. The only thing I wouldn't give 5 stars is the steamed veggies that come with the mok catfish. Will definitely be coming back, so many more things on the menu I want to try. Service is kind and thoughtful, dishes are flavorful (& generously portioned) read more

I don't usually write reviews but I was blown away by the service and amazingly delicious food from this place. The owner, Kanlaya, was so friendly and sweet - you can tell she takes a lot of pride in this place. Highly recommend coming here if you're in the area for lunch or dinner - the quality and ambiance of this restaurant is 10/10 for me. I will definitely be coming back!! read more

Lao Garden - Lunch special- fried chicken wings with papaya salad and sticky rice - Laotian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food and service was great! It was our waitress's first day and she did amazing! We ate outside in their garden area and it was really nice to have a refreshing meal on a hot day. The papaya salad was saurrrr good as well as the savory salmon. My only thing was that i wasn't expecting the luang prabang khao soy to be a soup based on the description, but it was still good! I think maybe disclosing that its a soup in the description on the menu would be helpful. Otherwise, great experience, and would come again! read more

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5 Stars - A Hidden Gem You've Gotta Try! My family and I discovered Lao Garden while out for lunch before dropping off our granddaughter--and WOW, what a five-star experience from start to finish! This place is an absolute gem, and it's already secured a spot on our favorites list. As soon as we walked in, we felt at ease. The vibe is clean, cozy, and welcoming, with a warm, relaxed atmosphere that just feels right. We let our server, Gia, know right away that we planned to enjoy everything family-style--her smile lit up as she said, "Perfect! That's how we do it here!" It was such a great sign that we were in the right place. We kicked things off with the Crispy Rice Balls (Nam Khao), and let me tell you... game changer! Perfectly crispy on the outside, soft and flavorful inside, topped with slices of som moo (Laotian fermented pork) and drizzled with a tangy sauce. Every bite was bursting with flavor and texture--seriously addictive! Next up, we shared the Drunken Noodles and Fried Crab Rice--both knocked it out of the park! The noodles had a bold, spicy kick with vibrant, fresh veggies, and the crab rice was packed with sweet, tender crab meat and rich seasoning. Each dish was generous, beautifully plated, and made for sharing--just like Gia said! To top it all off, we couldn't resist the Fried Bananas with Vanilla Ice Cream --a warm, crispy, sweet finish paired with cool, creamy ice cream. Simple and perfect. Oh, and get this--this was just lunch! I can only imagine how amazing dinner must be here. Between the incredible flavors, top-notch service, and the genuine hospitality (we even got a visit from the owner/chef, Kanlaya Palivan, who was as kind as she is talented), Lao Garden isn't just a meal--it's a full-on experience. Bottom line: If you're anywhere near the area, do yourself a favor and check this place out. We're already planning what to try next time--and we can't wait to be back in the neighborhood! read more

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I feel so fortunate to have another Lao restaurant in Berkeley. I've dined here in person (cheerful decor) and ordered for delivery. Both formats are great. Their food is authentic and unapologetically Lao - not trying to masquerade as a Thai restaurant. Basically everything tastes amazing. Our waitress was really helpful and funny. She asked if we wanted papaya funky or not funky! Then she explained the funk comes from fermented fish paste. We got the funky and it was great! read more

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Very delicious! Everything made to order and exceptional! Very diverse menu that feels authentic. Staff is great and the space is equally enjoyable. read more

service was lacking, sad to say, for a place with such rave reviews. as for food, I really enjoyed the crispy rice balls with lettuce wraps and the lao sausage! the steak was a bit on the dry side probs bc it was well done. And the fried egg rolls were just ok. my friend mentioned the noodles were a much bigger portion at Champa Garden. I think this place will have a hard time not being compared to the OG laotian resto in Oak as there aren't many and it's a go-to for a lot of people. ambiance-wise, I would give it 5 stars. but because the service was such a let down and food was just okay, it averages my score out to 3. I hope they can hack it at the current space because I've seen it vacant for such a long time. there have been many new and excellent restaurants popping up in the area. I would def come back if I were in the mood for Lao. read more

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Absolutely delightful food and service! Exquisite, fresh, complex flavors that excite my palette. Ask for a side of the chili oil, it's a must. The loa sausage was so decadent. Beautiful and large restaurant. I can't wait to go back for bottomless mimosas! $22 is such a deal! read more

Lao Garden - Laab gai - Laotian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Finally got a chance to try Lao Garden. This was as authentic as it can get. The ambience and decor was beautiful. I enjoyed the music that they had playing, it reminded me of being at home with my parents. The staff was so sweet and helpful. Made me feel like an auntie was taking care of us. The best part about Lao or any southeast Asian food is the balance between salty, sweet, spicy, and pungentness of fermented fish. Meant to. There's so many dishes on the menu that I really wanna try and I'll definitely be back to try them all. If you are ever in the Berkeley area, I highly recommend you give this place a try. You will not be disappointed. read more