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    Saap

    4.4 (134 reviews)
    Closed 4:30 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Saap Photos

    SAAP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Saap

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    Thai iced tea
    Hayley P.

    My partner surprised me with a birthday dinner at Saap. I had been wanting to try here because I had been hearing so many good things so I was really excited. This restaurant is located in downtown Cary close to the downtown park. We did not have any issues with parking when we visited at 7pm on Saturday. There is a parking deck and lot close to the restaurant. It is a small, intimate restaurant. I would definitely recommend grabbing a reservation. They were very busy when we went in. Our server was amazing. She was so kind and helpful. We started off with drinks. I got their version of an old fashioned. It was good but I realize now how odd of a pairing that is with Laotian cuisine. We also ordered for appetizers the cucumber and vermicelli rice salad and spring rolls. While we waited for our food and drinks, they brought us fish chips. These were so light and had the best texture. So good! The cucumber salad has such a beautiful presentation in addition to being a refreshing combination with the more savory entrees at Saap. For my meal, I ordered the Pad Lao and my partner had the Pepper Beef. We were both blown away by how good our food was. And so much of it! These type of noodles are, in my mind, the best type of noodles. Then for dessert we tried the Winter Trio. Honestly, these were some of the most unique desserts I have ever had. They're so cool. All very good too! I can't recommend enough how you should stop in and give Saap a try.

    Crackers (so addictive)
    Sneha P.

    It's been a while since we went to Sao but it's high time I complete the review. We tried Saap because we love Bida manda and heard the chef opened his own place. We did get a bunch of apps, mains, drinks and dessert. Their noodle with tofu was the best dish we had, the braised pork was very mediocre and the beef was a bit chewy and under seasoned. Their drinks were very potent especially the Ube cocktail. Our server was lovely, very efficient and friendly. The ambience was nice but a little loud but that just means everyone's having a good time. Overall the food didn't slap or maybe it was an off night for them, but it hasn't motivated us to try it again.

    Kabocha Squash & Root Vegetable Curry (GF, V)
 $26.00

    We had a wonderful dinner at SAAP on a recent Tuesday night. The area was quite busy with people enjoying the adjacent Downtown Cary Park. We enjoyed people (and pup) watching from the outdoor patio. Our server, Lexi, could not have been more pleasant, professional, and knowledgeable regarding the menu. (All the servers working around us appeared very professional and polished). We started with the Seafood Salad, which struck me as almost like a Ceviche. Very vibrant fresh flavors with just the right amount of heat. We then split two entrees, the Kabocha Squash and Root Vegetable Curry along with the Khao Poon Gai. Both were very good, although the curry dish, while recognizing that it is vegetarian, was a bit heavy on starchy veggies for our liking, both had great flavor. We finished the meal with a delicious "deconstructed" carrot cake with a cream cheese ice cream that was fabulous. This is a great addition to the Cary dining scene. Beautifully plated and presented items at a fair price with first class service.

    Thom khem
    Julia W.

    We came to SAAP for a nice holiday family get together, there were 4 of us at a table. Initial service was great, but we were soon forgotten about by our server midway through our meal. We had to wait about 20 minutes after finishing our food to ask our server for the check - and that was only because we saw her and asked her to come to our table. I mention this solely because of the price of the food - you pay for the food and the experience. The food was good, but I feel like I should've ordered something else. I ordered the Thom Khem-- the fatty pork belly parts were great, but the ribs were very tough and hard to bite through. I don't think I would come back again unfortunately.

    Mee Ka Tee, Shrimp Chips, and Ube Colada
    Tim C.

    I came on a Sunday evening and made a reservation for 5:30 pm online and we were seated promptly. Since it was such a nice day outside, we opted to sit outside, which they graciously accommodated. Our waiter immediately brought out some water and shrimp chips to munch on while looking through the menu, which was much appreciated. I started with an Ube Colada, which was basically an ube-flavored (think taro with some coconut) pina colada. It looked kind of gimmicky, but it actually tasted pretty good. I'm a big fan of Ube, so I enjoyed the drink. For my entree, I ended up ordering the Mee Ka Tee, which was a coconut curry flavored noodle soup with pork belly, soft-boiled egg, bean sprouts, and red cabbage. The spice level was moderate, and they brought me some extra chili powder to increase the spice level as I needed. The flavors in the broth were tasty, the pork belly was crispy and delicious, but the texture of the noodles were a bit on the mushy side. Overall, it was a satisfying dish. My wife ordered the Fried Flounder, which had a dill marinade flavor to it, and came with papaya salad and sticky rice. Her fish was fried well, and maintained a moist interior, but it didn't seem all that special - the dill was a unique flavor to pair with the fried fish, but nothing extraordinary. The papaya salad was tasty - not overbearingly acidic or salty with the right amount of crunch. The service was very friendly in answering all of our questions. The food came out really quickly - almost too quickly. I guess the noodle soup is pretty easy to prepare and assemble, but I would have expected more time would be needed for the fried fish if it were being freshly fried. The outdoor seating option was nice, especially getting to people-watch by Downtown Cary Park. Parking is convenient in the parking deck, and we were able to go for a nice stroll around Downtown Cary Park afterwards, so it's a very nice and accessible location. It's hard not to compare this place to Bida Manda, but I think the accessibility of convenient parking, the fact that reservations were easy (I made them the day before) and we didn't have to wait to be seated and the service was quick and attentive, and the proximity to a clean and walk-able Downtown Cary Park all make Saap a better alternative to Bida Manda. (Take that for what it's worth coming from a true middle-aged suburban Cary-ite)

    Lettuce wraps
    Katie S.

    Saap is such a great restaurant. Cary is lucky to have it! The servers are always attentive and kind, the food is consistently good and the restaurant is bright and beautiful. I am usually here for lunch, and have tried to eat everything on the menu at least once. I think my favorite items are the Lao Salad, the Bahn Mi, and the Pad Lao. It is tough to pick though as everything is super fresh and flavorful. They also have lots of options for gluten and dairy allergies and take such allergies very seriously, which I appreciate! No cross contamination here. Lastly, parking is easy to find as there is a deck on the same block. Highly recommend.

    Lao Beef Jerky
    Annie W.

    A Laotian restaurant located in Cary! There is a parking deck conveniently next door. The restaurant had an intimate yet open atmosphere with its large windows and stylish interior. We had a reservation for dinner on a weekday evening, and were greeted and seated right away. Our server was attentive, friendly and helpful in providing food recommendations. They provide shrimp chips for the table which were puffy and tasty. We started off with ordering the Lao Beef Jerky to share which was sprinkled with sesame and came with Jeow Mak Len (a tomato-based dipping sauce) and sticky rice to eat together. The beef jerky was incredibly savory and delicious, but a much tougher texture than I was expecting. I also tried the Khao Poon Gai, which was a noodle dish with grilled chicken and vegetables in a red curry/coconut broth. The noodles were well-cooked and a good portion (I had leftovers) and the flavor of the curry broth was fragrant and rich. The chicken was tender but wish there was more flavor. Overall, Saap presents itself as a more upscale spot that would be nice for a date night, and prices on the menu reflect this. They had some interesting desserts on the menu which I hope to try next time.

    Danielle O.

    The last time we were here was a little disappointing. We had made a reservation several weeks, if not at least a month in advanced for a party of 8 for a birthday and previously, with a large table we were at a nice large comfortable table but this time, we were squished at two tables pushed together with capped ends. It definitely should have at least been 3 tables to fit us comfortably with all our dishes. The service was a little lacking too, as we were all ready to order our drinks and appetizers, and even entrees but the girl told us only drinks first, then only appetizers then entrees, so we were forced to keep our menus on our table while already feeling squished and dishes coming to the table. The food quality wasn't as good as the last time either and I got the same dishes I've had before. It is nice that they are willing to split your dishes up for you though, like the seafood curry. Nice touch and beautifully presented still. Also cute and nice little birthday dessert at the end. The part that was the most upsetting and must be new, was apparently we were charged 3% fee for using credit card and weren't told that before paying?? I'm confused as to why a brick and mortar restaurant wouldn't be covering that charge themselves and putting it on the guests. I get it for food trucks or pop up events but a restaurant? A little tacky and cheap, in my opinion. At the very least, the server should be making you aware of that before you pay.

    Lettuce wrap
    Saloni V.

    Amazing! This place is perfect for a date night! Our server was very knowledgeable and helped answer all of our questions. Food was amazing!! It had tons of vegetarian options. Parking garage is right behind this place. We will definitely be coming back to checkout other options from their menu.

    Alana H.

    This is a great place to dine.. we made reservations and was seated quickly.. there is inside and limited outside seating.. it gets pretty busy and at this time a year outside seating is prime.. our waitress Kenna was very, helpful, knowledgable about questions we had about certain dishes and drinks we had and she was very attentive.. The food was delicious and the portions was just right.. I would be a repeat customer for sure.

    Shrimp chips
    Jessica C.

    Saap was pretty delicious. The shrimp chips were surprisingly tasty; I wasn't sure what to expect, but yum! I opted for the Khao Poon Gai. It very rich and flavorful with juicy chicken. I think the coconut broth may have been a little too heavy for me, but it tasted so good. My husband got the Saap fried rice with the sausage in the side. The sausage was too heavy for both of us, but it was nice to have a little taste. My husband also enjoyed a refreshing Laotian beer. Overall, such a nice addition to downtown Cary.

    Crispy Coconut Rice Lettuce Wrap / Nam Khao (GF, V)
    Priscilla R.

    Came here for the first time during their lunch service on Sunday. We booked a reservation for their last slot at 1:45pm for 4. Food was amazing with good portions and great flavors. We ordered the Crispy Coconut Rice Lettuce Wrap / Nam Khao and Summer Rolls for the table and I ordered the Basil & Garlic Stir Fry with crispy chicken. My meal was perfectly crispy and not oily and enough for me to take left overs. The meal came with white rice. I tasted the Pad Lao and Pepper Beef which were also amazing in flavor! Service was great. We were greeted and seated right away. Our server was diligent, attentive and friendly. She provided great recommendations for various dietary restrictions in our group. The kitchen closed at 2pm and once our order was placed everything came out fairly quickly. Before the kitchen closed she checked multiple times for additional orders. The seating is comfortable and the decide is sleek and modern. They have a variety of seat options and a nook that could serve for a large private dining party. Overall will come back and try more off the menu.

    Ravi G.

    Loved this place as a dinner spot with that upscale feel but casual dress code. Food was delicious, but I would say it wasn't the best Laotian I've had, although near the top. Prices are a bit higher than portions would suggest, but it is trying to be upscale as mentioned. I ordered the moo ping (pork skewers) to start. They were juicy but flavor could have been better and it was not served with a dipping sauce which I found odd. For my main, I order the basil and garlic stir fry. I ordered it with chicken and added shrimp as well. This was pretty good. I was happy with the dish overall, but it didn't blow my mind. That's what I was hoping for, but fell short. Still a solid 7-8/10 and would return for sure.

    Peppered Beef

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Both the food and service were wonderful. We look forward to going back. The view of the new Cary park is fun.

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    TrySeafood Cary - Catfish and shrimp $21

    TrySeafood Cary

    4.6(159 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    I've been here many times, and the food is always consistently good! The staff is friendly and…read moreprovides great service. It does tend to get busy, so you may have a little wait for your food, but it's definitely worth it. The shrimp Rasta pasta was creamy, flavorful, and had the perfect amount of spice, plus they give a generous portion of shrimp. The fried fish was cooked well and tasted great, and the steamed vegetables with the garlic butter seasoning were also really good. Definitely recommend checking this place out!

    After a long and exhausting week, coupled with a craving for fried fish we elected to go here…read more While nicely decorated, the interior is small and can seat about 20 ppl or so. We sat outside this day, as the weather was mild and there wasn't any available seats inside. We ordered a fried combo and a grilled combo. TrySeafood does a lot of things right. Portion size was fairly generous. We especially love the fact they serve cleaned jumbo shrimp. Food was cooked well, shrimp was tender as was scallops. The broccoli was not tender crisp nor mushy. The potatoes and corn were delicious. While service was friendly, it was a bit slow. Also, I'm not an Old Bay fan. The grilled shrimp were seasoned with Old Bay. While the fish was crispy, I prefer a cornmeal dredge to a flour dredge. Finally, (and this could have been a me thing) the tip percentage on the screen doesn't align with the math. I intended to tip 15% - which is standard especially considering slow service. That should have been approx $8 and when I got home I realized it was approximately $16. You're not given a printed receipt and if you're in a rush and going through the process quickly it's easy to miss. Again I may have missed something, but I'm pretty sure I selected the %15 option. Additionally, I've seen other restaurants that have intentionally include this practice. Would I go again, sure. I'd request a different seasoning blend or a light seasoning and check that math! Seafood: 4

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    TrySeafood Cary - Restaurant interior

    Restaurant interior

    TrySeafood Cary - Whole Red Snapper Fish Dinner (grilled)

    Whole Red Snapper Fish Dinner (grilled)

    TrySeafood Cary - Menu

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    Menu

    Cape Fear Seafood Company - Kids burger sliders

    Cape Fear Seafood Company

    4.0(80 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    We came to Cape Fear Seafood Company in Cary for a Valentine's Day dinner…read more We've been wanting to try this place for a while. Super excited to finally get in to check it out. We made reservations ahead of time online since it was a Holiday. First off the front staff was super friendly and got us to our table right away. Love the feel and the decor. The lighting was a tad dark but that's ok. It was still cozy and romantic. Our waitress was super friendly and knowledgeable. They had a special Valentine's Day menu. She ran down the specials by memory. She took our drink and appetizer order ( the calamari fritti) gave us time to check out the rest of the expansive menu. The drinks came and our app. The lemonades were very sweet and nicely tart from the real fruit purée and lemons. Delightful! The calamari fritti was a knock out, home run. The breading was delicious. The calamari was nice and tender. The marinara was so good. Get this is you like calamari! For our mains we got the Sea bass special with the creamy risotto and asparagus and the figure 8 stuffed Flounder. Lemme tell you...This place knows sea food. What an incredible experience. The sea bass Valentine's Day menu special was cooked to perfection. So flaked and moist. Seared and seasoned perfectly. They should add it to the main menu. The risotto was amazing. Creamy and flavorful. The asparagus was cooked perfectly. The figure 8 stuffed flounder was delicious as well. The crab stuffing was absolutely great! The sauce over top was creamy and worked perfectly with the flounder and crab. It came with the most delicious fresh green beans with a couple nicely seasoned tomatoes. The rice pilaf was also really nice. Around this time I realized the Valentine's Day menu had Oysters Rockefeller ... and I love oysters Rockefeller. So I put in for an order of those. Best oysters Rockefeller I've had in a long time! Add these to the menu! For dessert... we ordered the apple crumb at vanilla bean ice cream. Perfect way to end out meal. We cannot wait to come back and try the rest of the menu! Save us a table! Kudos to the staff and chef / cooks. Yall did an amazing job.

    Bottom line: A good meal experience here at the Cary location of Cape Fear Seafood Company. The…read moremini crab cakes were a perfect starter and I enjoyed their very flavorful but not spicy version of their popular shrimp & grits. Nice atmosphere inside, but recommend reservations as they fill up quickly. The Deets: Some friends/coworkers and I decided to catch up over a meal and we decided on trying out this location of Cape Fear Seafood Co. on Lake Pine Drive. I had been to the one located in the Village District (formerly Cameron Village) of DTR in the past and knew of this one opening up through Yelp. If you know me, I am usually not one for seafood but remember I had a pretty good experience at the one in DTR. We noted that it would be a good idea to have a reservation so one was made. Good thing, this place gets crowded fast, even around the 5pm point. Upon arrival, we were promptly shown to a table with menus. While walking in, this restaurant has that beach type feeling with brightly painted areas and subtle pelagic decor without going overboard. The bar area gave a warm, inviting vibe. Back to the menu, their menu is pretty expansive but not over the top multiple pages. I think even the non-seafood lover can find something to like here. We started with hush puppies for the table and I went with the appetizer sized mini crab cakes for myself. I loved the mini crab cakes and the lemon beurre blanc sauce with them, just enough for a starter and tasted great. The hush puppies were good as well but just a tiny bit too brown for me, they were a little bit more done than I'd like. I like them more of a golden finish instead of brown, just my preference. For my main dish, I went with their Cape Fear Shrimp & Grits. They are a pretty popular choice here and I remember liking them at the DTR location. They remained a great choice, they were delicious. They are very flavorful and enjoyable without being spicy, which I like as I am non-spicy food person and it seems most everywhere does their shrimp & grits spicy. I find this take on them refreshing. I would have liked more cheese grits in the serving as it seems to be like a half serving, however the shrimp as well as the creamy sauce were plentiful. Service did a good job here, checking on us periodically. In all, I liked this experience here at Cape Fear Seafood Co. for the most part and would enjoy visiting again in the future.

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    Cape Fear Seafood Company - Lobby decor

    Lobby decor

    Cape Fear Seafood Company - Not on the menu

    Not on the menu

    Cape Fear Seafood Company - Interior/bar, Feb 2026.

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    Interior/bar, Feb 2026.

    Sea Depot - Spiced and In the steamer!

    Sea Depot

    4.1(55 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $

    Came here for the first time on a friend's visits. They had…read morea wide selection of fresh fish on display. There's no where to eat in, only takeout. The place was clean and the people were friendly and helpful. Food is cooked when you order so have a little patience. We got the fish sandwich sandwich and it was fresh and hot. It did have bones in it, so bd careful. A nice place to stop on the way home if having a seafood urge. We will be back to try many other kinds of seafood.

    Richmond, VA has an annual all you can eat Blue Crab event that's hard to beat! Reminiscing on that…read moreexperience, I considered ordering an online Blue Crab delivery - however the delivery fee alone is $30-$50. Sea Depot to the rescue! Sea Depot will steam an order of 12 crabs for you. In addition, they provide fresh and cooked fish/seafood options. With that being said, they suggest you reserve your crab section as they do sell out. Unfortunately, you don't actually select your crabs. We received a mixture of mid-sized female and male crabs. The quality was solid, and the service was exceptional. We also, ordered fresh fish. We found this to be a good selection if you want to order precooked or fresh fish, but be mindful there are other providers that are 20-30% lower in price but equal in quality. We'd definitely try again! Fresh/cooked seafood market: 3.98

    Photos
    Sea Depot - Oyster Sandwich with Fries Soft Shell Crab Sandwich Fish Sandwich Fish Sandwich Combo Fish & Chips Frog Legs Plate Bay Scallops Catfish.

    Oyster Sandwich with Fries Soft Shell Crab Sandwich Fish Sandwich Fish Sandwich Combo Fish & Chips Frog Legs Plate Bay Scallops Catfish.

    Sea Depot - Oyster Sandwich with Fries Soft Shell Crab Sandwich Fish Sandwich Fish Sandwich Combo Fish & Chips Frog Legs Plate Bay Scallops Catfish.

    Oyster Sandwich with Fries Soft Shell Crab Sandwich Fish Sandwich Fish Sandwich Combo Fish & Chips Frog Legs Plate Bay Scallops Catfish.

    Sea Depot - Inside.

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    Inside.

    The Crunkleton - Parmesan fries, dry rubbed wings, pimento and country ham biscuits

    The Crunkleton

    4.2(66 reviews)
    7.5 mi
    $$$

    Beignets, beignets, beignets!…read more This place is perfect for a girls night, date night, friends night, solo night... honestly any night! I came here for drinks and dessert with friends, and the star of the show was definitely the beignets. As someone who has visited New Orleans and tried the real deal, I thought I knew what good beignets tasted like. Turns out, I did not have to travel that far after all! The beignets here are like a cross between a classic beignet and a croissant. Light, fluffy, and just the right amount of indulgent. I will definitely be back to check out more of the menu, but no matter what, I am saving room for the... say it with me... beignets!!

    Wanted to try something new, and, since I liked the reviews for this place, I figured I'll give it…read morea shot. The ambiance is classy but laid back. The Service was outstanding thanks to Hayley. Her recommendations for pairing the drinks with the food were flawless, and each drink was prepared like a work of art. I started with the raw oysters, paired with a glass of Rose, which I loved. They switched from the Halibut with Fennel to Mahi with Forbidden Rice. The rice is black and inky and potent and extraordinary, but it overwhelmed the fish completely. Still greatful I got to experience it, but I would pair it with something more gamy like lamb or goat. The Pecan pie with warm salted caramel ice cream was nothing short of a spiritual experience, and Hayley's recommendation to pair it with Rum Flip was perfect. Yes, I Ubered. Overall, this one is going to be a frequent hangout.

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    The Crunkleton
    The Crunkleton - Dry Rub Chicken Wings

    Dry Rub Chicken Wings

    The Crunkleton - Espresso martini

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    Espresso martini

    Saap - laotian - Updated May 2026

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