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    So Saap

    4.3 (806 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Laotian, Vegan
    Open 10:30 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order So Saap Takeout or Delivery

    So Saap Photos

    Business Info

    SO SAAP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

    Recommended Reviews - So Saap

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    Reviews With Photos

    Dining area
    Tiffany H.

    I love exploring new cuisines and I don't get Laotian food that often, so I was very excited to try this spot! It's tucked away in a corner of an often packed parking lot but worth fighting for a spot. Staff is warm and welcoming! They were patient enough to explain items on the menu that sounded foreign to me and also any modifications. I didn't try it this time but their vegan menu is huge which is a plus for my plant based friends. For a drink I got the calamansi sugarcane drink. So good! The calamansi has that tartness that pairs well with the sweetness of the sugarcane. We ordered a couple apps, the crab wontons and beef skewers. Both were delicious and enough to share between the two of us. The mains: Beef drunken noodles- even at its most mild level prepare for a little bit of a kick! Really can't go wrong w drunken noodles but the waitress mentioned this and the pad thai are their most popular noodle dishes Hot Yai fried chicken- 2 leg quarters that had a delicious sprinkling of fried shallots. It's not breaded how you would think fried chicken would be. Comes with that flaky roti bread (so good) and a side of green curry. The rice shaped like a heart was a cute touch. The dessert is not on the menu but they do offer it. We got mango and sticky rice, and it was the perfect ending to our meal. The rice is also flavored with pandan for that extra bit of flair. I loved this spot and will definitely come back again!

    Papaya salad Garlic pork Ribs VEGAN chicken skewers
    Christopher A.

    My best friend took me here for my first time . Have always wanted to try this place. It's a hole in the wall but those are the best places to eat from . We ordered lemongrass grilled steak, garlic ribs, and papaya salad along with sticky rice . The steak was tender and very tasty . The ribs were good and papaya salad can never go wrong . The service was fast and very attentive . I will definite come back

    Receipt: on the menus Dark and Funky was listed as $14.88 and the taro coco cane was listed as $7.75
    Cyn K.

    Overview: 3.75/5 stars rounded up for Yelp, large portions, great flavors, service was a little lacking ---- We waited by the door for a few minutes before someone even said anything to us or came to greet us. We came on a Friday night a little after 8:30pm and there were a few other patrons dining already. I really like that they are open til late (close at 12am Fri and Sat, and close at 11pm the rest of the week)! Parking was a little crowded, it's shared with a few other businesses and it's a pretty small lot. ---- The food came out quick in around 10 minutes and it was all quite good. The only thing we didn't enjoy was the Dark and Funky Papaya Salad. Dark and Funky Papaya Salad $14.88: - It sure was funky, we definitely should've asked what was in it or at least what the flavor profile was because there was no description other than the name of the dish - We blindly ordered it since it sounded interesting but it was very strong and not really for us - There's a Vietnamese dish with the same flavors as this salad, it's raw, fermented crabs with a strong fish sauce marinade Pad See Ew with Beef $17: - great savory soy sauce flavor and balanced nicely with a bit of sweetness - very large portion - lots of noodles, not that much beef - decent amount of veggies Pad Thai with Tofu $15 - one of my favorites of the night - tamarind flavor had a good tang and savory - the texture of the noodles were nice and chewy, perfectly cooked - lots of tofu and also a large portion - highly recommend this dish! Yellow Curry with Chicken $16: - comes with a side of rice - overall the best liked dish from everyone - the sauce was delicious - well rounded, and great coconut flavor - good amount of sauce, chicken, carrots, and potatoes - leftover sauce went amazing with rice Crab Fried Rice $18.99: - not the most memorable dish out of everything we ordered - large portion - I don't really remember the taste, not the most flavorful compared to the other saucier dishes ---- Notes: - there are some small discrepancies of prices on the menu bs what were were charged - the Dark and Funky Papaya Salad was listed on the menu as $14.88 but was charged $14.98 - and the Taro Cococane was listed as $7.75 but was charged as $8.25 - some menu items don't have any description and only the name of the dish so I'd ask what it tastes like or what it is - minus 1.25 star total for price discrepancies, service, and menu missing descriptions ---- Overall: large portions of yummy food, open late, can be a guessing game on what the dishes are, but if you know what you like the price and portions are worth it!

    signature thai boat noodle
    Arleen A.

    Everything here is incredible! Truly authentic Lao & Thai food. I've been eating and ordering food from So Saap since they've started and everything has been consistently delicious. The flavors are loud, bold, spicy and balanced! The flavors hit every part of your tongue. If you want to eat like a Lao person order: -dark and funky papaya salad -fried pork belly - boat noodle - khao poon curry noodles - nam khao crispy rice -larb with sticky rice -any of their cane juices So Saap is also great for catering. I've had them for my birthday parties and corporate lunches. My coworkers love Lao food now as we had it quite a few times together. 10/10 So Saap should be recognize for their amazing vibrant Lao food.

    Stefany V.

    Lao food first timer here! This was our first stop after the 5 hour drive from Vegas. We have Lao restaurants there but I haven't tried them yet. The large menu here was a mix of familiar Thai dishes and new-to-us food, there is also a bar. We shared the Sakoo Yat Sai (tapioca dumplings stuffed with pork, served with lettuce, onion, peanuts and other garnishes), Mok Fish (Lao style catfish, steamed in banana leaves with aromatics), and the Yum Nua (Thai beef salad). I loved how every dish was so fresh and colorful, with great presentation. The catfish was the family favorite, and even my toddler enjoyed it. The tapioca balls had a fun texture and we enjoyed building wraps with them. Steak salad was on the spicier side, leftovers were refreshing the next day. Service was friendly and location was clean. A few staff members came over to marvel at my toddler devouring the catfish dish. Looking forward to trying more Lao dishes back home, will have to see how they compare!

    Fried salmon belly with jel som
    Sharon H.

    Both the nam khao and crispy salmon belly were so crispy!! The pork wasn't too sour in the nam khao and had the perfect amount of spice! The crispy salmon was so juicy and the sticky rice was soft and perfect texture Service is great and overall place is very aesthetic and good for dates, families, and friends :)

    Nam Khao
    Erika T.

    Parking lot is small and narrow but store is easy to find. The restaurant is big and spacious which decent amount of seating. Service was good and menu was easy to read. We ordered the Lao Style papaya salad, Nam Khao, and Yum Nuea, as well as the sugarcane juice (soo good!!!). The papaya salad was not my favorite as the fish sauce flavor was way too overpowering. I felt like it made my stomach uncomfy, so I was disappointed as I was really looking forward to it. The Nam Khao was my favorite as there was a lot of leafy greens and was a large portion. The Yum Nuea was alright as well... it was drenched in sauce which isn't my preference, but I should have known. The sticky rice we got on the side was a great pair for it though. Overall, I don't think I'd come again unless I was in the area since it is pretty out of the way for me and I had high hopes for it. I'm glad I was able to try it out though.

    Khao piak sen
    Quynh-Nhi N.

    Tried So Saap and really liked it! I got the khao piak sen and the broth was super garlicky in the best way, with nice chewy noodles. The Lao-style papaya salad (level 2 spice) was sooo good, just the right amount of heat and strong flavor. We also got the nam khao (crispy rice). Loved the crispiness of the ride with the chewiness of the fermented pork. Got a calamansi sugar cane juice too and it was really refreshing with everything. Portions are pretty big and the food came out fast. The interior was modern and nicely decorated.

    pad thai and Papaya Salad
    Katie L.

    one of the best thai places in san diego and definitely my favorite. Pad thai had so much flavor and the noodles were cooked perfectly. I literally dream about their pad thai and it's a good size portion too. I do miss the bamboo style plate that they used to serve it on. The boat noodles ALSO SOO GOOD AND FLAVOR PACKED. Thai style papaya salad great fermented flavor but not too overly fermented. The papaya was so fresh and had a great crunch and it wasn't sliced too thick. The sauce was soo good that I kept dipping the cabbage in it. Also beware that it's spicy even level 2 or 3 Drunken noodles... amazing. Everything is just very well cooked and had great flavor. There are so many thai places in SD, but once you try it, you'll see why this place stands out. Service was nice but it did take a bit of time to get everything even though it was a weekday night.

    Crispy pork belly that they accidentally gave us. It was yummy!
    Young N.

    Husband and I were in SD for the weekend and came here for dinner. I never had Lao food before (except for Lao sausages) so we decided to try the crispy rice dish. It was a very good dish! It had a lot of ingredients I'm familiar with like this fermented/cured sour pork that we also eat in Vietnamese cuisine. The dish is not too salty, you eat it with lettuce wrap but I was just eating it by the spoonful. Another dish we got was the panang curry with beef. Also really good. Last dish we got was the Lao sausage appetizer. It was ok IMO. I wouldn't order again but I think that's just me. A little salty for me but it did seem like a popular dish as a lot of tables ordered it. We also ordered the fried salmon belly but they accidentally brought us fried pork belly which I tired a piece of then realized it wasn't salmon. They took it back and didn't bring us the salmon but it was ok b/c we were really full. The fried pork belly that I did get to try a piece of was really really good. If we ever came back I'd get this. I liked that the menu lists gluten free items clearly. Service was good, very friendly although just a bit disorganized. Nothing that would deter us from coming back though.

    Sakoo (filled tapioca balls)
    Evie S.

    I always try to prioritize cuisines that are less commonly found when visiting bigger cities and not to mention ones with lots of vegan options. This is why So Saap made it to the itinerary. I have had Laotian food mostly in DC and was excited to try it here again. So Saap had an extensive vegan menu in addition to the non-vegan offerings. The dishes were presented beautifully in Laotian plating style. My husband and I tried these dishes: - Nam Khao crispy rice salad w/ Fried Tofu- This was our favorite. We tend to always like this dish. -Kao poon Laotian style curry noodle soup -Sakoo (filled tapioca balls) with ground vegan chicken, sautéed radish, peanuts balled in tapioca top fried garlic, wrapped in lettuce, cilantro -They were kind to honor my request for only white ones as the green ones have food coloring which I prefer to avoid. The tapioca balls were harder and more chewy here I think and I didn't notice the filling as much. We enjoyed our meal and I'd totally come back here to try more in the future. My general rating system: 1 star: I would stay away 2 stars: Has some good things about it but I generally don't recommend. 3 stars: Pretty good. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back but a decent place 4 stars: Great place. I would go back. 5 stars: I highly recommend stopping whatever you are doing and making plans to try it out! An Evie favorite!

    Takeout: Thum Saap Platter and Mango Sticky Rice
    Anabel G.

    Ordered takeout on a Sunday night. While the lady who was taking our order over the phone seemed very customer-oriented, when we arrived, the service was the complete opposite. We understand the restaurant was quite busy (very much so - it was hard to hear any of the servers over their music system and the chatter), but there were sadly several people waiting aside from us for their pick-up orders. We were given an estimated time to pick up the food, and waited well over 30 minutes past that. We were also asked a few times while we were waiting whose name the order was for, and we couldn't help but finally feel a bit disappointed when they seemed confused about the status of our order. When we finally returned to the Airbnb, we discovered they had forgotten our order of sticky rice. I had ordered the Green Curry (as spicy as they can allow) and was greeted with an underwhelming heat. Unfortunately, the food was just not worth the wait and frustration that came with the experience; however, I do wish them luck as it seems they're trying, and perhaps it was just one of those hectic dinner rushes where details were overlooked and staff were just exhausted.

    Spice Carousel
    Vivian

    The casual restaurant offers a trendy ambiance with a huge extensive menu. So Saap is located in a small shopping strip in City Heights with really tight parking, so beware. We visited on February 17 and were greeted and seated immediately. There were about four other parties dining. Our server let us know she was the only one working and asked us to bear with her, but honestly service felt totally fine. It was a very appropriate pace and we never felt rushed or forgotten. She was super sweet and even brought out a carousel of spices after we ordered. I do wish it was labeled, but everything was delicious. My favorite was the pickled jalapeños because the acidity helped balance the oilier dishes. We came during happy hour. I ordered the mini Thai boat noodle for $7 and a longan tea. My partner got the drunken noodles with chicken at a 4 spice level. We shared the fried salmon belly and I grabbed the laab flavored chicken skin snack bag to go. Longan Tea Smooth, cold, and refreshing. On the sweeter side but with a clear longan flavor. It reminded me of my mom's Sâm Bổ Lượng. So good with spicy food. Fried Salmon Belly For around 14.50, you get eight pieces with jel som sauce on the side. The sauce had garlic, cilantro, sweet, sour, and salty notes that paired perfectly with the fatty salmon. I do wish it was a little more crispy because some parts were soggy, but overall still a solid appetizer. Thai Boat Noodle Warm and comforting with a rich dark broth flavored with beef blood. I got two braised pieces of beef and a good handful of noodles. For $7 during happy hour, the portion felt right and it actually filled me up. Drunken Noodles They did this right. Great ratio of noodles, veggies, and protein. Just the right amount of seasoning and spice. No complaints here. Laab Chicken Skin Snack Bag If you grew up loving chicharrones, imagine that but with chicken skin flavor. Crisp, crunchy, then it melts in your mouth. Tangy from lime and nutty from toasted rice. Addictive. At $10 a bag, it is honestly worth it. Overall, I really enjoyed this visit. Kind service, flavorful food, and a menu that makes me want to come back and try more.

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    Page 1 of 21

    So Saap Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - So Saap

    How can I order your fried chicken skin by mail ? Saw in Facebook that we can order my mail.

    Hi, I thought this buisiness had a name change. Or did they relocate?

    They relocated and bought out Ban Lao.

    Can you make Laotian papaya salad vegan? And the Thai tea?

    Hi so Laotian style papaya to get it real Lao umami style unfortunately a vegan version of fermented fish sauce etc will be harder to come up with. Maybe one day in the future. And our Thai drinks unfortunately are made with item that contain milk.… Read more

    Do you have vegan options?

    Hi yes a lot of our items can be made vegan

    I would like to place a large order for delivery for a catered dinner event for 12 people on a Friday at 6pm. When is the best time to call to place the order?

    Which items are in the taste of Lao party platter?

    Hi our taste of laos platter 4-6 people $99 -papaya salad of choice -Larb salad (beef, pork, or… Read more

    What is the pricing for the party mini size nam van cups?

    Hi so our mini size Nam Van 30 for $90 50 for $130

    Do they have outdoor seating?

    No there isn't

    The only way to order klf is on the weekends?

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Peace Pies - Mystical Mushroom Quesadilla and kale chips

    Peace Pies

    4.7(595 reviews)
    7.5 miOcean Beach, Point Loma
    $$

    I only ordered a slice of strawberry Cheesecake and it tasted sooo good. Plus it was nice that I…read moredidn't have to worry about gluten or lactose because it was gluten free and vegan, but somehow tasted way good! There was a super cool seating area surrounded by foliage.

    The staff was super patient and friendly as we asked what everything was, for recommendations and…read moreto make sure our dietary needs were met. Everything is gluten, dairy free and raw and vegan. No refined sugar either! We both enjoyed a wrap- my husband had the falafel and I had the mango. The wraps are likely made with coconut and dehydrated. They were good to eat! The sprouts alone were worth the money! The plants outside give it a nice earthy, hippy vibe and we ended up talking with a family there. It's nice to be among others who like the same type of things. They had driven an hour to come there and loaded up on take home items and a cookbook too! You know it's good and unique if you see that!! We are visiting from Washington so we were super happy to make this our first food out of the anniversary trip! We will be back for sure! The only problem? We were so full, we couldn't eat both halves of the wrap. But don't worry, the Twix replica and the mint chocolate "cheese" cake were able to fit in our tummy's!! Highly recommend for every raw vegan (be ok with nuts!) and any healthy eating non vegan as well.

    Photos
    Peace Pies - Garden sitting area

    Garden sitting area

    Peace Pies - Remains of a Buffalo Wrap, cookie sandwich and smoked cheesy kale chipa.

    Remains of a Buffalo Wrap, cookie sandwich and smoked cheesy kale chipa.

    Peace Pies - Buffalo cauliflower wrap

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    Buffalo cauliflower wrap

    The Yasai By Rakiraki - Front entrance of building

    The Yasai By Rakiraki

    4.2(369 reviews)
    4.0 miLittle Italy
    $$

    I came here 9 years ago during its grand opening when it was still called Raki Raki. You can still…read morefind my review here. Unfortunately on my morning walk this week, I noticed the restaurant is empty and there's a for lease sign up. To be honest, the food was good but not cravable --I never felt the need to go back. In recent years the restaurant rebranded and focused more on vegan options. Their business hours were also scaled back and I can't remember seeing them open during lunch hours.

    Came here for a birthday celebration and was less than thrilled with the experience. Made…read morereservations which I would recommend as the location is fairly small and packs up quickly. They have a really nice selection of both vegan and non vegan options. Ordered the Garlic Edamame, Karaage Bao Buns, and Crispy Gyoza. Garlic Edamame was delicious! It had that perfect combo of chili and the garlic was just right. And by just right I mean LOTS of garlic. Little side note, they didn't provide another dish to discard the eaten ones and also had to ask for plates which made a bit of a mess when you are sharing a bunch of small plates. Karaage Bao Buns were so good that we wound up ordering another order. If someone had ordered these and not told me they were vegan I would have never know. The texture of the Not chicken was perfect and the rest of the added flavors from the aioli's and garnish were well balanced. Our least favorite was the Crispy Gyoza. The ends were perfect combo but the middle was mush and the texture and flavor was not spectacular. It might have just been the cook but the the ingredients seemed like they were too wet when they were fried. Service was the absolute worst. Had to ask several times for our drinks when tables that were sat well after us all had theirs. I would come back in hopes the service was better but what a let down when we were there to celebrate and were ignored with the servers passing by us and not checking on us.

    Photos
    The Yasai By Rakiraki
    The Yasai By Rakiraki
    The Yasai By Rakiraki

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    Meet Dumpling - Wonton Soup

    Meet Dumpling

    4.7(302 reviews)
    7.5 miPoint Loma, Fleetridge
    $$

    Yes, there's a wait just like at any spot that's actually worth it. The place is small, so come…read morewith a little patience or just order to go if you're in a rush. We tried a few dishes. The green onion pancake was crispy and golden on the outside with flaky, layered bites.The sweet corn with chili dumplings had that perfect balance- slightly sweet, a little heat, and super juicy filling. The green pepper with corn dumplings had a light crunch and savory flavor. The standout for me was the Beijing zhajiang noodles. That was probably my favorite. Noodles were perfection. The owner was kind. You can tell it's a family-run spot, especially with the sweetest little girl helping out, which made the whole experience feel even more genuine and homey. We were seated in about 20 minutes, which honestly isn't bad at all. Free parking lot. Will be back soon.

    Came for Mother's Day. It's in a nice little shopping center. There's a good amount of parking, but…read morethe restaurant itself is quite small. So there is a line that lines up quickly and hopefully hopefully you get a seat. I don't think the biggest table can be more than four people. There's also a kiosk where you can order to go. The menu is very simple. I feel like the dumplings are actually a great price for how many pieces you get. Service was fine. The food was good but nothing solid out to us, I could taste the freshness in the dumplings but maybe because they're boiled, they were a bit bland to us. Definitely needed the sauce with it. Maybe we will be back to try something different. Overall 3/5 for the dishes we ordered that evening

    Photos
    Meet Dumpling - Inside

    Inside

    Meet Dumpling - Cucumber & Wood Ear Mushroom Salad

    Cucumber & Wood Ear Mushroom Salad

    Meet Dumpling - Zucchini & Egg with Shrimp Dumplings

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    Zucchini & Egg with Shrimp Dumplings

    So Saap - thai - Updated May 2026

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