Best Lao food in town came from North Carolina to try this restaurant. It's really authentic food and it must try.

We ordered a little bit of everything and honestly, every single dish hit. The wings were packed with flavor, the catfish in banana leaf was super moist and cooked perfectly, and the mango sticky rice was straight up fire. The orange chicken was a standout crispy, not oily at all, with that perfect tangy sauce that wasn't too thick or too thin. You can tell they really know what they're doing. Papaya salad was fresh and interesting too, especially with the addition of fresh eggplant something a little different in the best way. Service was top notch! Definitely coming back to try even more. read more

Ahan Lao - Laotian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

After having maybe 7 dishes here over the past 2 years, I would recommend their boat noodles. It's the only place around south San Diego that has consistently good boat noodles. Limited free parking, limited seating. Lots of people ordering to go. Never had to wait longer than what they stated for to go order. read more

We had an excellent meal at Ahan Lao. We ordered the deep fried pork belly, yellow curry, pad see ew, papaya salad, and beef jerky, and every single dish was incredibly tasty and well-seasoned. The portions were very generous, and everything tasted fresh and made with care. Parking was also very easy, with a free parking lot available, which is a big plus. This is truly a small business worth supporting, the owner is also the chef, and even though she speaks only a little English, she is the sweetest and most welcoming person. Highly recommend if you're looking for authentic, comforting food and a warm, genuine experience. read more

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This is a small place it only has 4 tables inside. My pineapple fried rice with shrimp was okay the pineapple or raisins were not sweet but the rice and shrimp were good. The boy loved his chicken satay sticks we ordered a side of jasmine rice for him to go with his chicken. If you spend 40 dollars or more you get a free Thai iced tea. It was watered down but that's okay, it was free. We also ordered the lemon grass chicken that was good. This was one of those stops from rosarito to home better than a fast food joint. read more

Ahan Lao - Laotian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Was in the area and decided to stop by, and their food was so good! Definitely recommend and will be back. read more

Ahan Lao - Pad Thai, drunken noodles. 11. Lao Papaya Salad 7. Lao Beef Jerky, 4. Chicken Wings - Laotian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Absolutely loved this place. When you're served with a paper plate, you know the food is going to hit. Our favorites were the fried pork belly, pad thai, Lao papaya salad and spicy eggplant. I don't have a bad thing to say about anything that we tried. read more

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Really small and cute restaurant with 4 tables. The restaurant is run by an older Lao couple who are very sweet and friendly. The Lao Beef Pho was very flavorful and unlike Vietnamese pho. It has a deeper beef and spice flavor compared to Vietnamese pho. The khao piek is light and warm, a great soup after a long cold day. This is the only dish though that was a little light on the noodles. Me and a friend ordered one each, and neither of us left completely full. We were just barely satisfied. So if I could give one feedback, I would kindly ask that they add a little more noodles to this dish. Since I was still a little hungry, I ordered a chicken pad thai--this I would recommend. Very generous portion and very flavorful. This I would definitely get again. Also, if you spend $50, you get one free drink (soda, thai tea, or coffee). read more

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Be warned. The prices listed here is not updated. I just came here to try out this Lao Thai food and the first things the chef/owner told me was "What do you want?" I didn't know if I'm gonna laugh or get mad. Anyway I ordered the "beef pho" and thought it was nothing special like some people post here. Veggies were just 2 stalks of basil and some sprout heads. For protein they use some beef meat which is tender and some beef balls and that Lao sausage which has some sour after taste. This pho is 3/5 at its best. I prefer the traditional viet pho. I ordered fried pork belly which again is 3/5 at best. The dipping sauce was the best part of this dish. But the pork doesn't taste marinaded at all and the skin is chewy like rubber. I can cook better than this. I ordered jasmine rice and the rice they served is not jasmine at all. Overall I paid 30$ when I think I would have a better time at a Chinese buffet. Best of luck to this family business. 3/5 read more

Ahan Lao - 34. Lao Beef Pho - Laotian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

I ordered ahead on-line. I enjoyed the soup...just not sure which one that I ordered.

I was definitely let down by the hypes on yelp. First the food....mediocre at its best. Ordered 3 things....crab rangoon was cold inside. The pineapple fried rice was barely seasoned. Basil chicken was just underwhelming with too mich veggies and I can honestly cook way better. The price is alright but the credit card fee was such a bummer. I definitely did not expect that when the restaurant puts a sticker from Amex says "support small business". I am not sure what the good standard in San Diego for Thai/Lao food is , but this place is mediocre at best. read more

The Lao sausage was ok, there was too much vermicelli in it for my taste. The dipping sauce wasn't familiar or anything reviewable. This menu item must not be a specialty here. The restaurant was small and clean, service was warm and welcoming. read more

Small place with big flavor. My friends and I tried various items and all were equally as delicious. Portions are generous so it was easy to share. Especially loved the Tom kah soup and spicy eggplant stir fry. Service was great too. read more

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The food was SUPER good! The only thing is that the shop is pretty small so if you dine in, you might have to wait. Also the service is pretty laid back but it's good. Also the portions are a little small. read more

Ahan Lao - 16. Pad Thai, 17. Pad Sa Ew, 3. Crab Wonton - Laotian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Based on the reviews, we decided to try this place. It is small with maybe 3 tables inside and one or two tables outside. We ordered for takeout so that wasn't a concern for us. I ad the mixed seafood Pad Thai and my wife had the Lao Beef Pho. Both were excellent. I also ordered the Lao Beef Jerky which was very good. We really enjoyed the quality of the food. The service was great and the gentleman even offered my a free drink because I spent more than $40. Our first time but definitely will not be our last. read more

The food was overall ok. They did not have condiments out to add to the kao piek. Not having condiments out for the kao piek was a little disappointing. Also not enough spice, I asked for Medium spice but I think they thought I wanted mild. Overall service was nice. The flavors weren't there. read more

Ahan Lao - Kao Piek, 11. Lao Papaya Salad 8. Deep Fried Pork Belly 16. Pad thai - Laotian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

The food is always amazing Love the pad see ew. The spicy level is always perfect and I order it with peanut sauce in the side. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! wanted to eat some pad thai but my normal place was closed, and might I say that if this place wasn't so far i would cheat on my og pad thai place EVERYDAY. i ordered pad thai, pork belly and some sort of salad dish and good god and all the highest heavens, i was in bliss. flavorful, good portion, JESUS CHRIST!!! can i add that the guy up front was super nice on the phone and gave me a free thai tea? LIKE LITT!!! also the restaurant itself is so cutesy it felt so cozy authentic. tbh just stop reading and go, this place is GOOD AF if yall told me that this place had 5 michelin stars i would not doubt it for a SECOND read more

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The food here is a MUST! Been going here for a few years now and the service and quality never disappoint! There is seating but I usually take mine to go. There is plenty of free parking as they have their own lot. The service is quick and I usually place my order on the phone. The atmosphere is clean and simple. read more

Ahan Lao - 6. Lao Sausage 8. Deep Fried Pork Belly - Laotian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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My husband and I very much enjoy eating here. The workers are kind and the food is delicious. The food really tastes like home made dishes. Its definitely a small whole in the wall kinda place but highly recommend! read more

Laotian cuisine is quite rare to come across in San Diego. My boyfriend who is Laotian himself and I was excited to try this place and have had our eye on this place for a while but we don't live anywhere near Chula. That day we happened to be nearby and decided it was time to try this place. We weren't super hungry so we decided to get a cucumber salad and beef larb to-go. The shop itself is super small, there were only about 3 tables inside. The man helping us was also super nice and the pick up process went smoothly. We were a bit disappointed when we came home because the beef larb that we ordered wasn't the minced beef like we were expecting and was super watery. Unfortunately, I ended up finding a fly in the beef larb when I already was halfway done eating it. We threw both dishes away. So so sad because we were really looking forward to it but our first experience just left our stomachs churning. I'm glad to say we tried it but I don't think we would come all the way down here again. read more

Ahan Lao - fly in my food... - Laotian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

AMAZING MATCHA AND LATTES!!!! love this place the food is also bombservice is EXCELLENT!!!!!!! everyone is so sweet and kind i had an amazing experience. LOVE is so sweet!!!! read more

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Out in San Diego for a conference. Found this amazing family-run, mom and pop shop in Chula Vista. I'm Thai, Laotian, and Cambodian so trust me when I say not only is it authentic, but it tastes just as good as my mom's. My mama can cook so I'm picky. The restaurant is clean, the service is great, and the food is phenomenal. I had the mok pla, Lao papaya salad, Lao beef jerky w/ jeow, and a side of sticky rice. Washed it down with a Thai tea that was not too sweet. My tummy will be happy all day. read more

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Best Pad Thai I've ever had. Full stop. Food is hot and fast. Pricing is good. Service is friendly and clean. Been coming here for years. Small shop so plan accordingly. Sometimes its cash only so bring some bills just in case. Thank you, Ahan Lao! read more

One of the best South Bay Lao/Thai spots! Super underrated. We normally order: drunken noodles, pad Thai, crispy pork belly and the crispy fried rice (nam khao)! Owners are literally the sweetest people, and when you call in a pick up order, I love when they hype you up to order! Lol. I'll say my order and right after, he'll be like "ooooh-kayyyy! What else!?" If you order over a certain amount, you get a free Thai tea too! If you have a peanut allergy, make sure you let them know because most of their food has peanuts included. It's a very small restaurant where you can definitely dine in, but not big enough to have big parties. Take a chance on them! So delicious. read more

We did takeout from Ahan Lao and were seriously impressed! Everything we ordered was flavorful and clearly made with care -- the Pad Thai hit that perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tangy, and the Panang Curry was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. The Lao sausage and beef jerky were standouts -- savory, well-seasoned, and full of that deep, comforting flavor you crave from good Lao food. The papaya salad had just the right amount of kick, and the chicken satay was tender with a delicious peanut sauce. As a bonus, they included a free Thai tea with our order, which was such a thoughtful touch! On top of the great food, the service was fantastic -- friendly, fast, and super accommodating. We'll definitely be ordering again soon. Highly recommend if you're craving Laotian-Thai food done right! read more

This place offers some great Laotian eats. I am already a fan of Lao Sausage with lemon grass, and these guys make their own in house version. That being said, I order the Lao Sausage with a Laotian Papaya Salad. The sausage came with ground pork, Thai chili peppers, lemongrass, and cilantro served with jeow bong or a slightly sweet and savory Lao chili paste that goes very well with any protein in my opinion. The sausages were not only tasty but yielded great texture as well. I loved that the lemon grass flavor came through clean. Loved it! The Lao Papaya Salad was good. I forgot that a Lao "Medium" is a lot hotter than a regular medium, so the salad was a little spicier than I would of liked, but if offered good flavors. The fermented fish sauce was pungent and tasty. The thin strips of papaya were crisp and tasty. It sure was spicy. In addition to what I had, they a variety of Loa Specialty dishes and some Thai meals as well. Service was super friendly and helpful when going over the menu. They offer a table outside and a few tables inside. read more

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Cozy ambiance. Fresh, delicious and authentic food. Service is friendly and food came out quickly. Came in for lunch - I'll be back!

One of my favorite thai spots in San Diego without a doubt. Their Tom kha is my favorite, lots of lemongrass and mushroom, and rich with the coconut milk. Their pad thai is good too, not greasy at all and for their prices they truly give you your money's worth. The place itself is small so only a little bit of seating but the man and woman who run the shop are really sweet and you can tell they put love into the food they make. read more

Ahan Lao - 16. Pad thai - Laotian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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I love Lao food and this place definitely hit the spot. I came here during lunch and ordered chicken pad Thai, drunken noodles with shrimp, Lao beef jerky, sticky rice, a Thai iced tea, and mango sticky rice. The food came out so fast! Everything came out at once too. I started with the beef jerky and it came with spicy jeow sauce! I dipped a little bit of it and ate it with sticky rice. That's not how you're supposed to eat, it buy that's how I like it! Both noodle dishes were very flavorful! I really enjoyed the pad Thai here, when I normally don't care for this dish. The Thai tea was a bit sweet, but refreshing! The dessert was also really good! Service here is so great too! I am already looking forward to my next visit! read more

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We were greeted with Lao/Thai hospitality, they seemed very happy to see us 28 mins before they close. The ambiance inside is very authentic to their culture. The dining area is spotless, one thing I like because you can already tell that they are clean even in the kitchen where they prepare the food. The food is Good for the price and it only took a couple of minutes for them to prepare it, it was cook after we place the order. I love their Thai tea! 10/10. The vegetable dish is also a 10 - fresh ingredients and flavor. I was a bit disappointed with chicken satay coz it lack flavor maybe because it's loa/Thai satay? not sure. Pad Thai was good too! Try their food and support them I think this is the only decent Thai food in Chula Vista that I can recommend. Plus the owners are very nice. You know that they will serve only the best For everything in the picture it's only $45.++ so read more

Ahan Lao - 5. Chicken Satay 25. Vegetable Delight 16. Pad thai - Laotian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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This is based on an order for pick up. Decided on this place because my brother always orders from here and it's conveniently close to the house. Ordered drunken noodles, pad Thai and Lao sausage. Said that the order will be ready in 10-15 mins. Place is a nice little shop. And what I brought home was absolutely delicious food. I highly recommend trying them out as I will be coming here to order again. read more

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Got my Lao food fix. Friendly service from the owners, they're really nice. Ordered yellow curry, pad see ew, Thai tea, and lao sausage. Loved every item, especially the Thai tea. I love how I still had to mix it and it's so good and refeshing. Cute little hole in the wall and the owners are quick with the food. Will def come back. read more

Get the Lao Sausage! So tasty with lots of flavor and the spicy sauce it comes with is amazing. The customer service is casual but the lady was super sweet! I will definitely be back! read more

I came here for the first time, I read reviews with mixed experiences good and bad...overall it had a decent amount of good reviews. Some of the reviews mentioned the male worker was rude, which I agree. The woman worker was nice. I ordered pad see ew with chicken Pad Thai with chicken Cream cheese wontons Banana matcha When I got it the pad Thai was missing, I checked the receipt and he didn't add it there but I was too tired to wait again so I left. When I got home, I noticed the pad see ew had 2 pieces of chicken in it, the wontons were flat with a pea size amount of cream cheese, and the matcha was not great for $10. The pad see ew was good, just wish it had more than 2 pieces of chicken. I probably won't come here again. read more

One of the best pad tai I've ever gotten. Greta portions and delicious food :) the people who work are so kind and very quick for only two people working! Loveed this place and can't wait to come back read more

Ahan Lao - 16. Pad thai - Laotian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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I was so excited to try this place by reading the reviews and they did not disappoint! They are authentic Lao food at its finest. We were staying at a hotel right next door, so it was super convenient. We ordered a whole spread -- I mean it was enough for a party of 20 and we only had 4 adults and 3 kids. It was to go, but the service was great and it was so easy to order online and the food was ready as promised. They even gave us a nice tray since we ordered past a certain amount. Here is the spread - Papaya salad 5/5 -Larb 3/5 -Lao sausage 5/5 -Fried chicken wings 3/5 -Drunken noodles with beef 4/5 -Lao bamboo soup 5/5 -Nam Kao 4/5 -Sticky rice 5/5 My personal favorite was the bamboo soup because it is a rare dish you don't get at many places. I'm still thinking about the food now. I can't wait to visit the area again to eat here. read more

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This place is located in a small strip mall across from Auto Zone. This place appears to be a fusion of regional foods that may be beyond my understanding. There are some pictures of Laos inside so maybe there is some influence from that region. I usually always order Pad Thai when we go to a Thai restaurant. This time, having recently discovered Drunken Noodles at another restaurant , I decided to give them another try here. Well, I learned that drunken noodles do not have a uniform recipe. I ordered mine with chicken. While you might expect that noodles would be the primary ingredient, not here. These seemed to be equal parts noodles, chicken and vegetables. The seasoning was very very good. I asked for mild heat, and I'm pretty tolerant of spicy foods and mild had no kick at all for me. It didn't matter, the taste was amazing. My wife had the Pad Thai, and I regret I didn't order it. Not because my food wasn't good, but only because the Pad Thai was simply amazing, which is why it's my usual order when we have Thai food. The place was run by a couple who appeared to be the owners. He took our order and she cooked. The food arrived very hot. I mean like right out of the grill. So, be careful. Before our main dish we had some Thai Ice Tea (very sweet) and some spring rolls that were very large and very good. As we left the woman came to say thank you and wish us well, and said "see you next time." And she's right. We'll be back. Give this place a chance. You won't regret it. read more

First time eating here, did a to go order. Pretty good.. pad see eww needed something. Spring rolls were my fave. read more

Ahan Lao - Egg rolls, curry panang and pad see eww - Laotian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Food was okay I asked for spice on a take out order and they didn't add any spice at all. I went with papaya salad Thai style and the pad thai, maybe I should've stuck with the Lao food. Flavors were mid I wanted to like this place but just wasn't for me. I like extra extra level spice and not getting any at all took away from the whole experience. read more