I was in town meeting up with a friend for dinner and we settled on LaoTable. It was nearly full as there was a conference at the Moscone that week, but there didn't seem to be much of a line the whole time I was there. You didn't need a reservation at least for a party of 2. My friend and I were seated at the bar as she was bringing her dog so that we gave the other parties a bit of space and overall the restaurant was very accommodating to that last minute request. My overall impression, the food is solid and their menu spans from the classics like thai basil to more unique options like their sea bass. Pricing is a bit high, we ended up dropping ~120 for three items, but the portion sizes are quite generous, so I wasn't upset at all. Tum Marg Hoong Papaya Salad (3.75/5): Just a solid papaya salad. Nothing crazy impressive, but served as a fresh break between the heavier entrees. I honestly could have done without the egg and prawns on the side, but the chicharron added an extra crispy crunch that I thoroughly enjoyed. Green Curry Beef Short Rib (4.5/5): Super fatty short rib that is insanely tender. The paratha was quite solid - lightly crisped on the outside and flaky inside. Everything is fatty, oily, and rich, so it's a bit of a challenge to eat by yourself, but certainly worth sharing. Lamb Curry (4/5): Creamy, sweet, and savory sauce with tender chunks of lamb that are just very slightly gamey. Great staple and they were fairly generous with the protein. read more

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I had Khao kai noodles and they were awesome. Service was quick. Ambiance amazing. Their portion size for the noodles is unbeatable. Really generous! read more

LaoTable - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food was amazing!! Glad I came for a late bday dinner celebration. From presentation to flavor!! I had ordered the crispy veg rolls to start, Pad Mee Lao noodles w/ prawns, and then a Matcha Lava Cake for dessert. Sooo good. Service was just as perfect. Everyone was so nice, and attentive. Ambiance was beautiful too. I highly recommend, and I can't wait to come back. Keep it up Lao Table!! read more

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Tasty dishes with quality ingredients. It's exactly what you'd want it to be. Good food, and the ambiance is not stuffy but I'd say it is a more upscale restaurants. Lots of professionals coming for happy hour and dinner after work. read more

LaoTable - Papaya salad - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My son and I had dinner tonight, January 10, 2025. We were seated right away near the door. First of all the wait persons have no warmth at all. We ordered three dishes and drinks, and a dessert, which we cancelled. The food is okay but not great. The soup was served last, which should have been first. We had to ask when it was coming. The service was awful. Just to catch their attention, we had to call or wave at them several times, although they were passing by our table multiple times. No one checked if we need anything or how we were doing. When we ordered the dessert, I asked for the check already, which was fast. Our first choice of dessert was not available, so we chose another one, and waited so long, at least 15 minutes. I checked with the wait person when it was coming and the response was if we still want to wait or cancel it. I chose to cancel. We left with 0 tip. I've never done this before, but the service was really bad. I live in the neighborhood, one block away, but I don't think I would come back. Juanita B read more

Tried the beef ribs green curry, and it was very good! The eggplants were especially delicious, and the sauce had a great flavor, though it was a bit on the salty side. The roti was fresh and tasty as well. The service was attentive, and even though it's a bit pricey, the quality made it worth it. It was surprisingly busy for a weekday at 8 PM, but there was no wait. Would definitely recommend giving this place a try! read more

I'm all about happy hours and aesthetically decorated restaurants! Happy hour runs on the weekdays which my companion and I enjoyed. When we entered the restaurant, we were greeted with cordial and prompt service. He made reservations for us which was helpful as the restaurant got busier. We were taken care of for our entire duration by all of the staff. The interior was filled with bright colorful lights, snazzy and modern details, and holiday decor. We came for happy hour which allowed our tastebuds to relish in Lao cuisine. We chose to share the Tod Tod Happy Tray. Each item we had was flavorful and nicely seasoned. Since I don't eat beef, they were kind enough to add more pork belly instead. We also got a side of Steam Vegetables because we both love our greens and needed something to cleanse our palate; it was good but nothing special. I'd come back to try other happy hour offerings or their regular menu. Lao Table is a popular choice in the heart of FiDi. The restaurant is ideal for all party sizes--girls' nights, work outings, or a date. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here as prices are steep but it's easy to spot off of Second Street with limited parking and near public transportation. read more

LaoTable - Steam Vegetables - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Was excited to try this place due to the great reviews. Sadly I thought the food was lacking. We came for a quick dinner while at Downtown First Thursday. Ordered the duck rice to share. Little busy so the service was a little slow but that's understandable. Inside is bright and has cute decorations. The duck rice tasted like a lot of hoisin. The soup was refreshing and a good cut. In all, felt like a tourist location. read more

LaoTable - Pho Duck - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious fusion of Laos and Thai food here! Went here for a work lunch and we had the opportunity to try tons of dishes here. My favs were the Laos papaya salad, pad see ew, steak, and the dessert. Everything is presented beautifully and the portions are HUGE - highly recommend doing family style so you can share and try new things. The ambiance is nice and clean, modern, and the staff were really friendly. The only thing was we had to wait a bit after having a reservation and it cut into our lunch time. Would come back again when im in the area craving Laos food! read more

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What a wonderful looking restaurant with nice service and tasty food! The food is delicious and nicely plated. We enjoyed every single dish! read more

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Lunch at Lao Table was a recent team lunch treat. I love the vibrant interior decor and flowers. The food was also colorful and beautifully presented. Six of us shared six items: *FRESH SPRING ROLLS: Fresh rice paper wrapper, pork sausage, green lettuce, Vietnamese mint with Laotian peanut dip *MOO NAM PLA: Fried pork belly tossed with fish sauce caramel, chili-lime dip *RED CURRY CHICKEN: Coconut milk curry, fresh chicken, bamboo shoots, Thai basil served with fermented noodles, boiled egg, jasmine rice *SPICY THAI BASIL CHICKEN rice bowl: Wok fried minced chicken, bell pepper, Thai basil, chili-garlic brown sauce, with fried egg, jasmine rice, cucumber consommé *"PAD MEE LAO" PRAWNS noodle bowl: Stir fried thin rice noodles, fresh prawns, beansprouts, omelette crepe, crispy tiny prawns garnish accompanied with peanut and lime *SEAFOOD SIZZLING TOM YUM: Wok fried fresh scallops, prawns, calamari with "Tom Yum" smoked chili base, hard herbs served on a sizzling plate, jasmine rice My favorite dishes were the Spicy Thai Basil Chicken rice bowl and the Red Curry Chicken - both super flavorful. I also enjoyed the Spring Rolls for a light and fresh appetizer. Despite the restaurant being busy at lunch, the service was attentive and the food came out quickly. Prices are on par with other downtown SF dine-in restaurants. I really enjoyed Lao Table and would recommend it to anyone looking for Lao/Thai food in SF. read more

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Came here on a Monday night and didn't have a reservation but we got seated immediately! Good: - LOVED the Khaw Kai noodles here! I had one that was like a pad see ew with thick noodles and it was so so good. I liked how big the dish it came in was as well and I felt quite full after. - The soups here were good as well, I think I had a tom yum soup and it was really salty, but also just flavorful enough to be addicting - A really nicely dim location so that you can have a good catchup with friends! Bad: - The wait time is pretty long since there's a lot of people here - It can be a bit louder and busier inside Overall this place was a good find right after doing some hot yoga. read more

LaoTable - Khaw Kai Noodles - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here for a team lunch and decided to order a bunch of plates to share. We went with the red curry, pad mee Lao, spicy Thai basil chicken rice bowl, seafood sizzling Tom yum, fresh spring roll, and moo nam pla. Personal favorites were the moo nam (crispy pork belly appetizer), spicy Thai basil chicken, and the shrimp from the seafood sizzling Tom yum. The rest of the seafood wasn't that impressive, but I did enjoy the flavor and cook on the butterflied shrimp. The pork belly bites were fantastic, I could've eaten the whole portion for myself and still wanted more. They were packed with flavor and came with a good dipping sauce. The spicy Thai basil chicken was probably the most flavorful dish we got. Lots of spices that shone through. The rest of the dishes were good, but nothing to write home about. The decor inside, as well as the presentation of the food is very pretty and upscale feeling. Lots of flowers and bright colors all around. Service was quick as the food came out promptly as well. Food was on the pricier side, but it was pretty consistent with SF and the vibe of the restaurant. I probably wouldn't come back here own my own, but would definitely be happy to come back for a team lunch in the future! read more

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We had a reservation for 5pm on a Tuesday, and I arrived about 15 min early so stood on the street watching traffic and watching Lao Table prep for opening. Watching them clean the glass doors and glass around it right before opening gave me a good vibe. When we walked in, I wasn't expecting it to be so beautiful. It's truly a calming spot. We sat on the banquette wall and service was very friendly and quick. We each only order one drink and one entree...skipped the appetizers and dessert, as we were heading to the Valkyries game and didn't want to be late. I ordered the Pla Kamin - crispy Tilapia marinated with tumeric-garlic. When the meal came, I literally had to ask the lovely hostess how best to eat it. I was thinking I'd go after with my fork and knife, but wasn't opposed to my hands. I can't recall what she told me, frankly...what I know is I started with utensils and ended with my hands because it was so delicious I wanted to get every single morsel of fish. The fried garlic on top and the sticky rice were perfect accompaniments. Adult daughter ordered the same preparation in fried chicken (we had not discussed our orders ahead of time...just a crazy coincidence). She also loved it. I would definitely return.... read more

LaoTable - Tilapia - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

6 years later, a review update! This spot is a solid 3.5 stars. A Beautiful, large space, dishes made with fresh ingredients and well prepared, with not a ton of spice. My previous review was 3, I will give it 4 this go round for that targeted 3.5 average. Prices are still justifiably high: downtown SF in an absolutely beautiful space with fresh flowers and high end vibes, and good food. However, all items are for the most part $25-$40 - with a few options below that range and some above. We went family style and most dishes are good for 4-5 with everyone getting a nice array. We were a party of 6 and we made it work. The spicy chicken basil, fresh vegetable rolls and the pork belly app were the fan favorites. They were substantial enough and really well done. I'd say most other dishes while prepared well, were lacking in the flavor department. Overall, Lao Table is a great option for a corporate lunch and the big boss is picking up the tab. While nothing food-wise stands out, it's a good enough lunch with approachable food for all palates. read more

LaoTable - Pork belly - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Watermelon peanut salad... my beloved. So refreshing and flavorful and delicious. I'm going to be thinking about that dish every day until I make it back to SF. And special shoutout to Donut!! I can't remember the last time I had a waiter with such good vibes. read more

I was recently on a business trip to San Francisco, so I had the chance to return to the Lao Table, which we had visited a couple of times on our trip there last year. It's a small, unassuming exterior which doesn't do the place justice. We started with the Tod Tod Platter, which was a selection of appetizers on one plate, for the table. This included really tasty Pork Belly, Calamari, Garlic Chicken Wings, Beef and Tom Yum Fries. It really is a great, varied, and yummy dish for your table to share. I went with my go-to dish, which is the Spicy Thai Basil Chicken. It's a jasmine rice-based dish, with diced chicken, bell peppers, chili sauce and a cucumber consommé, topped with a fried egg, which compliments the spiciness of the dish. It's so nice, I ate this 3 times in one week....and I don't regret it for a moment. On my second visit, I finished off my main course with the Khao Tom Mudd desert. This is coconut ice-cream, served in a young coconut alongside some great sticky red bean rice, wrapped in a banana leaf (which keeps the rice nice and warm for eating). The mix of sweet, raw coconut and stick rice is a treat. This was all washed down with some hot green tea. In total, I've been here about 6 times over the last couple of years. The place is kept super clean, the staff are very observant and quick to help you out in any way they can. They're also very efficient at recycling tables when you're done, or when you're waiting to be seated, which shows you how well-drilled they are. Their prices are good for the area, and they have a really wide selection of meals to choose from. I can't recommend this place enough if you're visiting the center of downtown San Francisco. Give these guys a visit. You won't regret it. read more

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Not one of my favorite places but cute decor and fun drinks! We got the purple-tinis and a Thai iced tea. The drinks were pretty and cocktails were STRONG but I didn't like the flavor very much. We got the spring rolls (or crispy rolls I can't remember which it was). Presentation was beautiful and this was definitely our favorite thing we got! We also got 3 entrees to share. I can't remember the exact dishes but we got the pork belly rice bowl, a fried rice, and a noodle bowl. The food was flavorful but a bit on the salty side and too spicy for me. Maybe it was the dishes we picked but I wasn't a big fan of any of them.... It was also a bit hard to order as I came with coworkers and we were trying to find dishes that all would enjoy. Would like to come back with friends and try one of the platters!! read more

LaoTable - Purple-Tini and Thai Iced Tea - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I am sweating. Talk about spicy! A friend suggested we grab dinner here as it is close to where her office is. The ambiance has a very cool hang out vibe and has a very upscale feel. It was packed with many groups and even a few 'date night' couples. We made reservations at 7pm but got there a bit earlier. They have happy hour (Mon-Sat) from 5pm-7pm and we ordered wine, the Tom Yom Beer, and Ruby Sunset. All beverages were delicious and the Tom Yom Beer was unique and actually tasted like Tom Yom. For our food we got an assortment of dishes because family style dishes are my favorite because that means you can try all types of dishes. We ordered the LAO Sausage, Moo Nam Pla, Surp Nor Mai-Bamboo Salad, Spicy Thai Basil Chicken, and Pad Pha Beef. All the flavors! Each dish were exquisite and most of all actually spicy! My mouth was on fire but it was so good! The vegetables are fresh and the beef was tender and juicy. I would imagine that all their dishes are super tasty and would love to come back to try the other items. Overall, it was a great place to get together with friends and their happy hour seems to be a very popular time...which is understandable since they have such great dishes and beverages! read more

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I came here for happy hour on a Tuesday and it was pretty busy!! We were seated right away and started with some cocktails and Tom Yum Fries - which were AMAZING! The texture of those fries were perfectly crispy. For my main dish, I tried the Nam Khao (Crispy Sticky Rice Salad). It was packed with flavor!! So much fish sauce and umami. My only gripe was how spicy it was!!! I have had nam khao hundreds of times and this was one of the spiciest ones I've had at a restaurant. The raw onions also overpowered the dish sometimes... Overall, it was very authentic. A must try is DEFINITELY the Gai Yaang Ka Min! I shared this with another person and it was plenty of food. The chicken was incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful! The crispy skin was soooo good. Gotta dip it in the tamarind jeow!!! We got the Papaya Salad Lao Style and it had the perfect padaek funky flavors that I grew up eating. The eggplant, green beans, and tomato were very fresh too. I liked that the salad wasn't soggy! read more

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White people asian food no flavor in anything. first red flag was they didn't offer chopsticks. Not worth price. read more

Went here with my team for lunch.The team was super nice and they explained a lot of specials from the menu. Our appetizers were really good, the pork belly was great. My duck dish unfortunately wasn't great, the duck was super chewy, the flavor was good. My co workers had something like pad Thai and it tasted great and so did the chicken dish. The Thai iced tea was also really good. Everyone (except me) enjoyed their dish. They tried mine and didn't like the chewy duck but I would recommend you give this place a try regardless. read more

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Food - From the happy hour menu. We got the taste of Lao: - ten oysters - good, tasted fresh. - garlic wings - super crispy and good, but a lil too spicy for me. - crispy calamari - tasty and crispy. the dip (sauce) was realllly good! my fav. it was a bit tangy and sweet. - lao sausage - not my fav. it had some lemongrass taste to it. From regular menu: Lao Fried Rice - it was decent. Wasn't amazing but definitely too spicy for me. The staff said it's mild, but I think Laotian food tends to be a little spicier than most or they have higher tolerance of spiciness. Dessert: - Mango shaved ice. A bit disappointing. It's like the Hawaiian style so it's just literally shaved ice and not the soft snow kind. - Mango sticky rice - REALLY GOOD. Loved everything about it, perfect sweetness, perfect consistency. Highly recommend. Service: pretty good, staff were attentive and quick. Ambiance: really cute place, nice vibes, chill, dimmed lights. Overall was good but a little too spicy for me. read more

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Service was absolutely terrible... we came for happy hour for drinks & appetizers and they rushed us out so quickly because we weren't ordering full dishes. I won't be back because of the service. They tried to grab our plates before we were even finished with the appetizer. However, drinks & appetizers were good with oh is why there even getting 2/5 stars from me! Gratitude was added which is fine but place is pricy and I don't think it was worth the price & service! read more

Came here for a work lunch and it was packed to the brim, luckily we had a reservation so we were seated immediately. All the menu options were so tempting but we settled on the crispy veggie rolls for app to share, and we all got individual main dishes. I got the garlic pepper pork rice dish and the portions were really good! The dish itself was incredibly tasty and the came with a heaping portion of meat, rice, a fried egg on top, with slightly runny yolk, house sriracha sauce, and a cucumber consommé (which I didn't try). The food was so good and the meat was perfectly cooked, and I got it spicy which made it even better. For the restaurant being so packed, the food came out really fast and service was prompt as well. I'd def love to come back when I'm in the area and I recommend this spot for a nice meal! read more

LaoTable - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Lao Table is a very comfortable and pleasant restaurant. The team was helpful in explaining the different dishes. This was clearly a Lao/Thai restaurant and the food choices and ingredients were a bit different from 'traditional' Thai restaurants - but very good. We both enjoyed the appetizer and entrees we ordered. A prawn and noodles dish was recommended by our server and was very good, it was ordered with a 'mild' spicy and it had a nice tang and great flavors. Another entree was a vegetarian stir-fry - again good flavor and well prepared. We loved liked Lao Table and will look forward to going again. I recommend trying this restaurant. read more

Had a great time at happy hour! The meatballs were my fave. Great drink specials and friendly service. The menu looked good for lunch too if you were meeting friends or grabbing a quick bite. read more

LaoTable - Great presentation! - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

We came here for a work team lunch and made reservations in advance. Nice decor inside. It was pretty crowded inside and the food came out really slow. They should plan on getting out everyone's dish almost around the same time as some want to wait until everyone gets their food before eating, especially with big groups. It was pricey too. The service was terrible as they had a bit of attitude and wasn't friendly at all. The staff kept getting the drinks and gave our party the wrong food order multiple times. The food was meh... wasn't anything special and was lacking flavor. The Thai iced tea was good and it came in a really big cup. It was really strong and good but they use paper straws so it got nasty and had to change it a couple of times. read more

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Service is fast and friendly Generous happy hour goes to 7pm Flavors are fresh in most dishes Only weakness is that cocktails are almost always too sweet read more

Came here for lunch with a friend today. What a pleasant surprise. Interior is nicely decorated and so festive! I was greeted and seated right away. Speedy and friendly services. Super love the menu with photos. Very helpful. I ordered some green tea. Tea set is so lovely and comes with an Oreo cookie. Yum. I ordered spicy basil chicken and my friend got the green curry beef short rib. Food was served super fast. Short rib was so tender. My basil chicken was super yummy. Serving size was huge. Again, service was attentive, fast and friendly. Would love to come back. read more

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Super overpriced and terrible quality. The duck noodle soup had a tiny cup of broth and charged $2 for extra hot water. Chicken noodle soup was dry. read more

Ambiance is great. Nicely decorated. Very chearful. Food was good, but not memorable. Thai is one of my favorite types of food. Actually, I've never had bad Thai food. This place gets a ratting of average simply because the prices are ridiculously high for simple Thai dishes. Even with the fresh chili giving the dishes a fair amount of heat. The prices just aren't warranted. At our table of three, the bill was $165.00. Two main dishes and three appetizers. No alcohol. - chicken basil, eggplant with tofu (main dishes) - chicken wings, calamari, & pork belly (appetizers) Service was fine, but again...average for Thai restaurant. What offended me the most was having 18% gratuity added to my tab of 3 people. I am a very generous tipper, but my table didn't have any special service or attention. Service was no where near a 18% gratuity. Took order, brought food... then I grabbed someone for a container when finished. I would say this place is more like 3.5.... but gouging in full effect. I also thought it was funny that there were pictures in multiple places advertising that they were featured on "check, please". Usually, the fact that someone likes your restaurant and refers it to others isn't posted... unless you get listed for Michelin star or Frommers... just saying read more

We came for my buddies birthday and getting a resy was easy. They also accommodated our large group so that was a plus. We also loved that happy Hours was going on a Saturday. I ordered the HAOPY Hour plate and it was perfect to share between two people. Plus the price of $38 is perfect for the amount of food. You get oysters, chicken wings (which were the star) Lao sausage and calimari. We also loved how attentive the staff was. Would def recommend. read more

LaoTable - Happy hour plate - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Honest review - very good lamb curry 10/10 happy hour Friday good prices (oysters $1.5 and some cocktails/drinks $7), appetizers platter taste meh 6/10, khaw kai noodles (like pad see ew) 6/10 (note to chef-add side of lime slice) Serving size of entrees is good, I noticed the staff is weird -- they asked a table of 3 to get up and move after they were seated, we felt like they were rushing us (they close at 9pm), waiters are a bit expressionless read more

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My first attempt at Laotian food. I can't say I have a great impression after coming here. I got the anniversary pork loin. Great presentation, mediocre dry meat. My spouse got a papaya salad that was also mediocre. I could make a papaya salad at home for the fraction of the price and taste better. The only thing that would be missing would be the nice presentation if I made it at home. The best part of the papaya salad were the hard boiled eggs on the side. I don't know what to say if I restaurant somehow managed to mess up hard boiled eggs. The only food worth ordering was the pork belly appetizer. I would've had a better impression of this restaurant if I just had the pork belly. read more

LaoTable - Papaya salad - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Good food near the FlixBus, Greyhound bus station at the Salesforce Tower. If I had my way, I'd visit SF more often to eat here every day Cheers! read more

The food is delicious! Loved the khaw khai -- similar to drunken noodles but still unique in its own way. It comes with a "sriracha sauce" which is not at all spicy or sriracha-like. It's more like a sweet & sour and they give it on the side so you can use as much or as little as you want. I personally really liked it in my dish! I also shared the Lao Fried Rice and definitely have to recommend this! The thai basil in this makes the dish incredible and the minced chicken adds to a perfect bite. I am usually a noodle girl but... this may have been my favorite between the two. Service is great, we were a party of 11 and were able to order and get our food relatively quick. This is a great spot for a slightly elevated dining experience. The presentation of all the dishes adds to the ambiance and just makes everything pretty. read more

LaoTable - Khaw Kai Noodles - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I always enjoy my meals at Lao table, a stone's throw from Moscone center it is the perfect place for a low key but delicious lunch before heading off. The fresh coconut is worth the $s, so refreshing and cooling with a spicy meal! A large selection of Thai dishes and everything I have ordered has been high quality. The food is plated really well, the ambience is great but it might get a bit noisy for a business lunch! The servers are impeccably polite and the service is quick. Watch out for the spice levels though, I ordered a 3 and it was hot!! Would return every time I am in the area. read more

LaoTable - Fresh coconut - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Everything was super delicious! The spicy food is also actually spicy - loved my spicy Thai chicken rice plate! The portions are so hefty they're definitely big enough to share between two people or for one very hungry person. The ambiance is so nice and the restaurant is always bustling during lunch hours. I ordered the spring rolls and papaya salad for appetizers, and the hot ginger tea for my drink. Everything was beyond delicious! Definitely a worth trying type of spot if you're in the area. Perfect for large groups too! Service was consistently good, especially for my group of 5 on a busy Thursday lunch hour. I'd definitely stop by to try their other dishes! read more

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Beautiful plate presentations and friendly service. Large space that can easily accommodate groups. The tower platters are great for sharing, as is doing family style for a la carte dishes. The crispy rice salad is special, using lettuce leaves to wrap the many herbs with the salad. The seafood sizzling plate provides a different flavoring and warmth, and the basic chicken rice noodles provided a nice balance. Definitely will return to try more dishes! read more

LaoTable - Crispy rice salad - Laotian Near Me - San Francisco, California