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    So Saap

    4.3 (833 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Laotian, Vegan
    Closed 10:30 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 2 months 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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    Wooo!!!
    Leland S.

    Oooiii! I've seen their social media posts and So Saap's marketing game is So good. Does it live to the hype? Let me share with you. AMBIANCE Parking: Plaza parking and street parking. It can get pretty busy so do Depending on the time of day, it can get busy, but there are usually enough spots to make it manageable. Seating: Inside seating that's casual and comfortable with enough room for let's say 15 groups good for pairs or families. Vibes: Welcome to City Heights! It's not the flashliest place of San Diego but it's a nice local grit and grind neighborhood. It's not overly flashy or trendy, jst a neighborhood spot serving food that clearly comes from culture, family, and tradition. The spot itself is well decorated with Lao and Thai artifacts to represent their culture. There are tvs if you want to catch a show or game and I dig the pop music in the background for a nice familiar tune. Great place for a friendly food adventure or dinner with family. FOOD / DRINKS Dragon Fruit Sugarcane (Recommend) Refreshing and fun. The sweetness of the earthy sugarcane paired really well with the subtle fruitiness of the dragon fruit. It was light, cooling, and the perfect drink to accompany the meal. Sausage Platter (Highly Recommend) This was delicious! The Lao sausage was incredibly flavorful with its herbal notes and spices, while the jerky had that perfect chewy, savory quality that made it hard to stop eating. Pairing everything with sticky rice and papaya salad gave it that unique Lao feel. Mok Fish (Recommend) This impressed me. Delicate fish wrapped and steamed with scentful Southeast Asian herbs and seasonings, creating a dish that felt both comforting and deeply flavorful. It had a home-cooked quality that made it memorable. Chicken Skin Laab (Recommend) Your solid chicken skin crisp but what separates it from your usual crispy chicken skin is the mixed laab herbs and lime. Every bite had a little crunch and a little kick. CUSTOMER SERVICE Awesome! Friendly and welcoming. The staff seemed genuinely excited to share their food and answer questions, which always makes the experience better. TL;DR OVERALL 4.5 Stars. Good food, reasonable prices, and an opportunity to experience flavors that you don't often find everywhere. So Saap isn't just serving a meal--it's sharing a culture. This is no hidden gem, much love to Owner Carrie and the So Saap crew for sharing their Lao/Thai culture with us. #RepresentAZN TIPS * Bring a friend to share and check their social media for good deals!

    Cuong T.

    Got their pork ribs, lemongrass wings, and sakoo yat sai. Pork ribs and lemongrass wings were ok. Sakoo yat sai was better than both. Price seemed highish though. That being said, we were stunned that zero sauces came with our dishes. Our order came bare with just the items when the pictures show that it comes with it. Same with the garlic ribs but I'm too lazy to post it. Also, there was not enough garlic in the garlic pork ribs. 4/10, the food was ok. Wouldn't order again or bother to come to the restaurant now.

    Pad See Ew
    Justin C.

    So Saap serves authentic Thai and Lao food. This is a regular spot for me and my family. We've dined in many times and most recently ordered take out. The attention to detail on presentation whether dining in person or taking to go in stellar. Some recommended dishes: Khao Soi Chicken: I actually recommend this as a to-go option if you can swing it. They separate the ingredients leaving the chicken leg and thigh with crispy skin and the crunchy noodles fully in tact. Fish Platter (1 and 2 fish options): if you're with a big group and enjoy fried whole tilapia this is the dish for you. It is a lot of work to eat but the fish is cooked really well, crispy skin and tender meat. The two fish platter option is the one to get for value ($39) as the one fish option is ($26). Nam Khao pork: this one is a must get! Fried crispy pork that you wrap in lettuce Pad See Ew with fried pork belly: this one is another standout option especially for the pork belly I've come over 5 times and service varies depending on the server. I've gotten parking in the lot every time but sometimes it gets quite crowded during dinner time as there is a Little Caesars and Starbucks in the plaza. Overall, will continue coming back as their authenticity and quality for Thai and Lao food is difficult to beat.

    Klariza F.

    I can't believe it's been a year since their last anniversary when I first started coming here. I swear it was just yesterday when I started eating here. I was pleasantly surprised the parking lot wasn't packed like it always is when I arrive. Unfortunately they were out of everything I wanted, but that's ok. They have plenty of other food I enjoy. The service is always so friendly! We had a ribeye salad. The salads here are always so freakin good! I also got a peppermint tea and a Thai coffee. The Thai coffee was so good and perfectly sweetened. It was a nice meal to share with my friend after ballet. I love coming here after ballet class. It's such a nice routine I wish I could do every Saturday.

    Alex A.

    Finally getting around to exploring the food scene in City Heights, and I'm so glad a Yelp friend recommended this spot. We left so full and happy. They serve a mix of Thai and Lao dishes, and the menu has a ton to choose from. We started with apps and ordered the Lao‑style beef skewers and the cream cheese wontons -- both were amazing. They offer beer, wine, and a whole lineup of sugar cane drinks. They looked delicious but a little too sweet for me, so I went for a fresh coconut instead, which felt tropical and fun. For mains, we ordered the fried chicken plate and the drunken noodles. The portions were big. The fried chicken was extra crispy and cooked perfectly -- it came with rice, a green‑curry‑style sauce, and a piece of bread. The drunken noodles were fantastic. We ordered them mild, and even then they had a little kick, which I loved. Of course, we ended with mango sticky rice, and it was lovely. I also love that you can pop in just to grab their snack bags of crispy chicken skin or one of their signature sugar cane or Thai boba drinks. Such a great spot, and I'd definitely recommend it. Parking in the strip mall is a little chaotic, so just be prepared.

    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!

    Audrey T.

    Come eat here!! The spot: cozy spot with ample seating! The service: got sat right away on a Friday night, the staff was so friendly and nice and super helpful with ordering. The food: we ordered the Mother's Day platter & tom yum. The platter was a great way to try a little bit of everything. Everything was delicious. My favorite was the crispy rice and fried chicken. The papaya salad was Laos style, so a bit more pungent than normal Thai papaya salad. Still great flavors! The sugarcane juice with calamansi was so tasty. Overall, a great spot for Laos/thai food. 8.4/10! Cannot wait to come back and try out more dishes!

    Thai GREEN tea 24oz
    Vicky

    So Saap's green thai tea hate to see me cominggggg cus Imma devour this in under five minutes!!!! Seriously so good and not overly sweet at all. It has the perfect amount of tea and creaminess. One thing Id love for them to add to the drink menu is a herbal jelly topping, I think it'd go perfect with this drink. 10/10 recommend :) Service was quick with a relaxing ambiance.

    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.

    Beef jerky
    Hnin A.

    This restaurant truly brings Thailand and Laos to the United States! The food was absolutely amazing, and the service was excellent from start to finish. We ordered three dishes, and every single one was delicious, the famous Laotian plate , the beef is a little dry , other than that no complaint . The portion is huge.  The wait is little longer than expected . Only one thing is that their spice level is authentic and be very hot. If you don't handle spice well, I recommend only order mild . The name "SO SAAP " matches their restaurant perfectly! The atmosphere was clean and welcoming, and the servers were friendly, attentive, and professional. The flavors felt authentic and reminded us of real Thai and Lao cuisine. If you haven't had the chance to visit Thailand or Laos yet, this is the perfect place to experience the taste of home. The authentic food, warm hospitality, and clean environment make this restaurant a must try .  Highly recommended !

    Kayla K.

    It was my friends' first times trying Lao food, and this was a great place to introduce them to the cuisine. Our server Venna was also the best!! She helped us w our questions abt the menu and was so warm & welcoming! We got: Nam Khao** Laab Beef** Lao Famous Plate Pad Thai Crab Fried Rice All were very yummy, but the starred dishes were our collective favorites. Would def come again :)

    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

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    17 days ago

    The food was amazing and the inside was a vibe. Great for a dinner with the family, no long wait times and the service was fast.

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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.

    https://sosaapchickenskin.com/

    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!

    Civico 1845

    Civico 1845

    4.3
    (3.5k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$$

    Food was fantastic. Gnocchi was just perfect. Sauce was just right!…read moreBrooke was our waitress. She was not only helpful with selections, she was friendly and welcoming. We ate outside. Love watching people pass by. Qauint seating for two.

    I visited here on September 2025 with a reservation for 8PM on a Saturday for a party of 2. It was…read morefilled to the gills and not a single table was unoccupied, so a reservation is highly recommended. It's a busy and buzzy place. We scouted the menu online and planned to order the yellowtail ceviche, calamari, tacos calabrese, casareccia tartufata, ravioli de carne, and pesto e gamberi. However, the menu we received in person was slightly different from the one we saw online. The yellowtail, pesto, and tacos were all gone, so we replaced them with a carpaccio and a ragu pasta. After placing our order, we got some bagged bread and oil. The bread was really good - it had a crunchy crust but was super fluffy. It took about ten minutes for our appetizers (calamari and carpaccio) to come. The calamari was lightly battered and extremely tender. The carpaccio is interesting and had a good flavor. Both of these were good. The carpaccio portion is pretty small but the calamari portion was pretty large. After another 25 minutes, our mains came. The ravioli is good, especially the meat filling. The ragu is good too, the pasta has a very good texture, the meat was soft, and the tomato flavor was strong. The ragu felt pretty light. The casareccia tartufata has a very strong truffle scent. It was creamy and truffle. Out of the three pastas I tried, this was my favorite. Despite having a thin looking sauce, this was the heaviest pasta too. Overall this was a pretty good dining experience.

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Fiori Di Zucca
    Fiori Di Zucca
    Burrata Caprese

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    Burrata Caprese
    The Yasai By Rakiraki

    The Yasai By Rakiraki

    4.2
    (369 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    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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    Veganic Thai Cafe

    Veganic Thai Cafe

    4.5
    (726 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    Absolutely delicious!! I got the pad Thai with fried tofu and it was some of the best pad Thai I've…read morehad!! I also tried the garlic pepper with soy beef and it was phenomenal!!! It looked so good that when it arrived, I forgot to take a photo and dove right in!! I will definitely be back :) I highly recommend trying this place out! Delicious vegan food, fast service, and great vibes!!! Very good pricing as a cherry on top!

    Haven't been here in years. We decided to check out the spot and see how it's been since we last…read morevisited. We luckily got parking in front of the restaurant. Pay at the meter. After we paid, we thought the place was closed...but then realized it wasn't. We tried to go in a different door that was locked. The entrance is so confusing because it's literally on the inner side that you can't see! Can easily be missed! Good thing we found it before leaving. When else entered, it was empty! On a Friday night. It felt like VIP and private we had the restaurant to ourselves but it was so sad at the same time. They were more strong on to-go orders as customers came and went. We ordered their vegetable tempura, pineapple fried rice, and panang curry. Everything came out hot. All was good except the pineapple in their fried rice was spoiled. We brought it to their attention, and they corrected it right away. They explained it was canned so they're not sure how it could've been spoiled. We were unable to eat it. They made us a fresh new hot plate. They also brought us everything we requested like condiments and boxes. The lady was very nice about it. I couldn't hate on the place. It's just sad to see it dead compared to how it was before. The economy is really tough, and too expensive to dine out. The only one-off would be the spoiled food many because the food isn't circulating due to low demand. Anyway, the staff were very nice and polite though. Was not at all mad or rude when we mentioned it.

    Photos
    Inside back seating
    Inside back seating
    Veganic Thai Cafe
    Thai Iced Tea

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    Thai Iced Tea

    So Saap - thai - Updated July 2026

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