We went to Gai Noi for dinner last Saturday, August 8, and had a wonderful time. We got to the restaurant around 7PM. The line outside looked intimidating but we told them any table would do. We were told that the wait is 20 min. but was seated after only 10 min. wait. We ordered the egg & basil fried rice, crispy tofu, Laab Seen (beef) , Fried Walleye, and Curry. Everything we ordered was delicious. I appreciate the added 18% reflected in the price so no surprise and the waitstaff earned their 18% tip. The dining room is cozy and clean. We loved our experience at Gai Noi. read more

Been here twice so far and it's been a great experience both times. Wonderful service, unique food, and an absolutely beautiful setting. It's family style so expect food to come out when it's ready and to pick from multiple plates. Go in with an open mind and you'll be very happy with the experience. I'd recommend holding off on the cocktails, they're okay at best and definitely not worth the price. Stick to water and enjoy the amazing food! read more

Gai Noi was a great spot! It's a bit hyped up (and has lines so beware) but was very good. FOOD: Very enjoyable and well priced. See photos. SERVICE: met/exceeded our expectations and was a very pleasant experience AMBIANCE: bustling but not too loud. Comfortable. Overall I enjoyed this restaurant and if not for the wait time/logistics, would be back more often! read more

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The crispy tofu here is life changing. Just WOW! Likewise, their drunken udon noodles were beyond fantastic. Their patio is lovely on a warm summer evening. Truthfully I wasn't a fan of their Thai tea but I'm not a big fan of super sweet drinks. read more

Really excellent food, ambiance and service all around. The restaurant itself is huge. We opted to sit outside on their patio. I'm not familiar with Laotian food, but I found it to be identical to Thai food. I had questions about dairy in their food and the kind server brought out a huge binder with all of their menu items and their allergens. read more

Came with a group on Friday night and sat on the patio. Our server, Serena was phenomenal! Very kind and made good recommendations and some warnings (that we should have heeded). The rooftop vibe was very cozy and cute, especially at night. We tried a variety of meals and enjoyed everything, aside from the green papaya, which Serena had tried to gently warn us about, saying it can be funky. But my friend had tried it before, so she thought she would enjoy it (not our favorite). We as a group did love the Thai tea, yellow curry, fried tofu, pad thai, and egg & basil fried rice! Everything was phenomenal, aside from that green papaya dish, which wasn't bad just not for us! The tips are included here, which is an interesting business model but makes it easy to pay! We'll be back for sure! read more

Gai Noi - Yellow Curry - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Overall, it was an okay experience. The food was flavorful and tasty, but everything was extremely salty. We actually had to order an extra serving of rice to balance out the flavors. The desserts were definitely the highlight and are worth trying. I'd probably come back for the desserts, but I hope they can tone down the saltiness in the main dishes. read more

Gai Noi - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Nice location near Loring Park. Trendy spot, reservations probably a must. Parking could be a challenge as it's limited to a small lot and street. Staff were sweet, food was delicious. We weren't aware that random dishes would just come out when they're done, which was fine, just new to us. read more

Gai Noi - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Wow exceptional dining experience. This is my first time in Minneapolis and I have to point out how impressed I am by the quality and diversity of food here. Our friend from Minneapolis recommended this place and I am so happy he did. Everything we ordered was a hit - our favorites including the basil wings, fried rice, laab and khao poon gai. The spice here is real and we definitely leaned in. Everything was so flavorful and fresh and I am so happy we shared everything. It was a great time. We sat upstairs and had a great view of the park. Service was great. Everyone's moods seemed so high especially on Monday. Highly recommend to go with your food friend(s) and try a little of everything! read more

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Holy smokes. First off, the place is huge - table for 2 on a Friday night on a place that doesn't take reservations... we thought we'd be toast but NO ... zero wait at all. We sat outside and it was well shaded and despite being hot out we didn't feel it that bad. And then the food - one of the more difficult ordering experiences recently because there was so much we wanted but only so much we knew we could eat. We got the basil wings, drunken undon, laab seen, and pork fried rice... not a single bad bite across everything we ate. Someone of the crispest wings I've ever had ... good crunch and wet juicy insides.... The udon was DRUNK as hell and deliciously tangy The laab was so good... we need more sliced beef ... minty fresh and so good with the lettuce wraps and sticky rice Then the pork fried rice... great fried rice with pork belly AND sausage? Get out of town. This feel like the kind of place you could come to weekly and have a different meal each time. read more

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If you're only ordering one bowl at Gai Noi, make it the Khao Soi. The Khao Soi is everything you want in Northern Thai comfort food--rich coconut curry broth with just the right amount of spice, incredibly tender chicken, silky rice noodles, and a fresh cabbage slaw that adds the perfect crunch. A squeeze of lime brightens the whole bowl and keeps every bite balanced. What I love most is how layered the flavors are. It's creamy, savory, a little spicy, and somehow still feels light enough that you keep going back for another bite. Gai Noi continues to prove why it's one of the Twin Cities' best restaurants, and this dish is a perfect example of why. This is the kind of bowl you'll be craving before you even leave the restaurant. read more

Gai Noi - Khao Soi--rich coconut curry broth, tender braised meat, silky noodles, and fresh cabbage with a squeeze of lime. Comfort in a bowl. - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I start with my one regret lol which was paying for parking - if you are willing to walk like five minutes, there's free street parking to be found near the famous cathedral/basilica nearby. Either way, the food was good and we had a delightful lunch here. The drunken udon was flavorful (I do love udon) and the basil wings were flavorful and crispy. Lowkey the fried veggie garnishes that came with the basil wings were even better, which is not a dig at the wings but a testament to they seasoned and fried those garnishes so well. The dole whip was a pretty green color but a skip for us (and my boyfriend has a sweet tooth / loves a sweet drink aka a piña colada but found this whatever). It's also very cute in here and we chose to eat upstairs which was a lovely vibe. read more

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Went here when it first opened and I thought it was ok Gave it another chance since they've had a few years to improve. Dont get me wrong this was good but I was not as impressed as I feel like most people are. Nothing had a large amount of packed flavor and was all one noted flavor. Service was ok but it wasn't busy when we went and they didn't really check on us much. read more

Gai Noi - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Great experience! We went for lunch and chose to sit under the covered outdoor patio, but the space is so large there are tons of seating options and all were available. Split a few dishes, I would say the mango sticky rice and lemongrass chicken skewers were the stars of the lunchtime show. Service was great and explained the menu and spice level well. Would definitely go back to try more of the menu! read more

Gai Noi - Mango sticky rice! - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Nobody should be surprised that Gai Noi is this good, but it just is. Having been here a couple of times now, it continually exceeds expectations. The food - amazing, vibes - immaculate, service - stellar. There really isn't a "wrong" choice here, and I love shaking it up from time-to-time. My only downside is the parking situation, but that could be said about anything in Loring Park. Plan ahead, be patient, and you're golden. read more

I was in Minneapolis for a work conference three weeks ago. My colleagues and I enjoyed our last sit-down dinner at Gai Noi. This was my foodie destination dinner spot. I'd read about the restaurant and wanted to try a few of their Laotian dishes on the menu. We ordered a bunch of dishes and ate family style so we could try a little of everything. Below is what we ordered as a group: -- Crispy Pork Belly (this was a hit at the table) -- Laab Seen with Sticky Rice (like a meat salad - I liked this a lot) -- Mok Paa (steamed white fish in banana leaf - aromatics off the charts good) -- Peanut Noodles -- Lemongrass Chicken Skewers (thumbs up) -- Pad See Ew (thai fav of one colleague) -- Yellow Curry with Chicken & Jasmine Rice -- Mango Cremeux (always leave room for dessert - light and tasty) If you dine here, please be aware that there is an 18% Service Charge that is added to all orders. 100% of this charge is paid to the service team as additional wages. read more

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I had the most incredible Lao/Thai dishes today. Definitely might've been the best calamari I've ever had in my life. The squid was very fresh and it was not robbery or not chewy it was literally the perfect texture. I absolutely love the pad Thai here. It is so delicious. It does not come with protein and there's no protein option. It just comes as with the eggs, scallions and bean sprouts. I can't wait to come back here and try the fried tofu and some of the other skewers. There's only metered parking in this area. The parking lot next to the restaurant is not their parking lot. It is a pay lot only. The service was spectacular, very attentive and not too pushy. The interior is very dark small it does have an upstairs however I dined at the bar in the main room main entrance. read more

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One of my favorite spots for Lao and Thai food. The flavors here are incredibly unique, every dish feels thoughtful and packed with authenticity. The atmosphere is just as impressive as the food -- the upstairs dining room and patio are filled with lush greenery and offer amazing views that make the whole experience feel special. Everything comes out beautifully plated, and you can tell there's so much care put into each dish. It's usually busy (for good reason), so if there's a wait, grab a drink at the bar and enjoy the vibe while you wait for your table! read more

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Oh heck yes!! Please can I eat the lunch special everyday of the week?? And let me tell you how much I love places including tip!! I freaking love it!! Especially because our service from Megan was superb!! Like it was so so so good!! I loved the green curry even though my lip felt like it was going to burn off. The flavors were so fresh! And, I didn't get the yellow because I don't like potatoes in my curry and I like the vegetables better in the green one. The lunch platter had white rice, two gyozas, one cream cheese wonton and slaw. The star dish was the mango sticky rice for dessert!! I haven't eaten a dessert that good in a while! Mango perfectly ripened, rice with the perfect amount of sweetness, like so so so good! Getting hungry just thinking about it!! read more

Gai Noi - Mango sticky rice - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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This place is amazing. The inside is beautiful and the outdoor patio has a lovely vibe to it. Service staff are always welcoming and friendly. Our table got the basil wings, peanut noodles and pork fried rice. The basil wings are sooo good. They fry up pieces of basil and jalapeño and it's just out of this world. Peanut noodles were served warm which surprised me at first but they were tasty (cold leftovers were delicious too). The pork fried rice was good and didn't lack on the pork part. read more

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A memorable mean in Minnesota. I saw this place recommended from TikTok before my trip and it did not disappoint. Everything was delicious! We had a late reservation and the place was still pretty crowded! It's got a chill vibe - great place for dinner and drinks with friends. We ordered so much food and everything was delicious, we ended up having leftovers that we took home and ate in the hotel a few days later. I would definitely come back here if im ever in this area again! read more

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Gai Noi is the real deal. The restaurant does not disappoint in food, service or ambiance. Whenever I have folks visiting from out of town this is a staple. The 2 dishes that I always order are 1. Basil Wings 2. Tofu Snack. The basil wings are known for being a stand out star but the tofu snack gives it a run for its money as an underdog in a menu crowded with gems & variety. Go explore read more

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Highly recommended from the Visitor's Center (Meet Minneapolis). Everything was great! We now have recommended to multiple others while in town! Got the green beans which were battered, fried, and coated in a dry rub. Also got steak laab - great and complex flavors. Served more "lettuce wrap" style. Other people seemed to be enjoying their food too; made us want to order more ;) Go to the rooftop if you can. Prices include an auto-gratity. read more

I looove Gai Noi! The authentic Laotian cuisine paired with the elegant, lush vibes is always amazing here! You don't need a reservation, which is nice, but parking can get kinda packed--just something to keep in mind. It was such a beautiful day out, so my family and I stopped by for some mocktails and a few small bites. We ordered our go-to favorites: the green beans and basil wings, both tempura-fried and coated in their signature dry rub. Absolute chef's kiss--rich, tangy, and perfectly spiced! We also tried the crispy pork belly, which was deliciously crunchy and savory. My only note is that the portion was rather small. For drinks, I had the Pineapple Butterfly, which was sweet and refreshing, while my husband enjoyed the Guava Mule. I highly recommend Gai Noi--great food, drinks, and just an all-around good vibe. read more

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Normally I have laab with sticky rice but the beef laab came with just the right amount of lettuce to pair with. The sticky rice is still great texture and was great for soaking up the sauce. Panang spaghetti is a fun twist, and the dish was spice-forward. The pad Thai was unexpectedly so good, especially if you like extra peanuts and bean sprouts - and the waiter brought extra lime wedges unprompted (mvp) I've sat in the regular dining, patio, and atrium and they have all been great (not sure how accessible it is - but going up a few flights of stairs are required for the patio or atrium seating). read more

If you're looking for a flavorful, unique dining experience in Minneapolis, Gai Noi absolutely delivers. Every dish we tried felt intentional, fresh, and packed with personality. The restaurant had a pleasant atmosphere with lots of wicker and woody designs. We started with the gai basil, which made the perfect appetizer, flavorful, slightly spicy, and surprisingly fresh. It set the tone for the rest of the meal in the best way. The peanut noodles were a standout for me. They had this creamy, almost carbonara like texture, but with a subtle sweetness and crunch that made them really memorable and different from your typical noodle dish. The basil wings were easily a highlight, super crispy with tons of flavor in the breading. They had this lemony, spicy kick that made them hard to stop eating. For our main, we had the red curry with jasmine rice, which leaned on the milder side. It had a gentle sweetness with gingery notes and bamboo that made it feel comforting without being too heavy. To drink, the guava mule (mocktail) was fresh and tropical, light, refreshing, and a great balance to the richness of some of the dishes. Overall, Gai Noi feels like a place where every dish is thoughtfully crafted, with bold flavors and a menu that's fun to explore. It's perfect for sharing plates and trying a little bit of everything. read more

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Been to Gai Noi a few times, including for a private tasting event through the Minneapolis Community Education. Food has been pretty great every visit. The latest visit was this past Friday for an early dinner (before 6pm) with friends before going to a performance at Orchestra Hall. One of our friends arrived early so she hung out in the bar area and put our name of the list for a table. We were lucky that our table was ready when we all arrived because it was the busiest I have seen Gai Noi (probably because it was a very warm Friday eventing) in mid-March. Keep in mind that Gai Noi is walk-in only, no reservations unless for a private party/event. Our group got a variety of dishes to share and it was delicious! We also liked sitting in the top floor of the building because it has a lot of nice decor and natural light. Our server was super friendly and helpful. However, it felt like everything took some time because he was pretty busy managing many tables. Highly recommend Gai Noi for the delicious food and great atmosphere. read more

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I loved my experience at Gai Noi! There was a long line for a table around 530pm on a Friday, but luckily there were several spots available at the bar top which was first come first serve for food & drinks. We started off with cocktails - the passionfruit punch was delicious. The menu is designed for shared plates so its fun to try several items to share. We ordered the crispy wings which were as described - perfectly crispy - and topped with fried jalapeños. Also not pictured (because it was so good) was the crispy pork belly - yum! We ordered the peanut noodles as a main dish which had incredible flavor. read more

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THIS PLACE IS INCREDIBLE!! We were visiting from out of town and were recommended this restaurant and we are so happy we came. All the entrees we received were delicious and came out quickly. The waitress warned us about how spicy each dish was and we are glad we went with her recommendations. The space is massive with a downstairs and upstairs and both are beautiful. Wish we could come more often or had a place like this back home. It's a MUST try! read more

Gai Noi - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I've been coming to Gai Noi regularly since they opened several years ago, and they NEVER miss. The mocktails are just as yummy as the cocktails. The food is flavorful, shareable, and satisfying. Perfect for groups or date night! Note that your whole party does need to be there to get seated and parking can be a bit tricky if the lot next to the building is full. Give yourself time to get there and get ready for a great meal. read more

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This is one of the most upscale Thai/Lao restaurant with delicious and authentic cuisine from our culture. We love every dish on the menu! Service was incredible - our server was friendly, attentive and took such great care of us. The vibe is comfortable, family friendly, accommodating for a big group and the decor is just lovely. They have the best cocktail drinks! We had the Mok Paa, Pad Thai, Jalapeno Wontons, Khao Poun Gai, Fried Walleye, Laab Gai, and lots of sticky rice. Everything was perfect and so delicious! Highly recommend this spot!! **Something to note: this is a no-tipping restaurant and an 18% gratuity charge is added to the price of each entree. read more

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I very much enjoyed my time at Gai Noi! The vibes both on the main level and upstairs are great. I really loved sitting upstairs and I recommend it on a nice day given the conservatory vibes! The staff are very friendly and always up to make recommendations. Cocktails are absolutely delicious. 10/10 recommend the fried green beans, Chicken wings, and the fried pork belly. I personally didn't enjoy the papaya salad but I think part of that was because the fish sauce flavor was too strong for me (though I do enjoy fish sauce in other dishes). This is a great place for groups who want to try lots of things and share! read more

We went for dinner and ordered a lot of yummy food! The food came out pretty fast one by one. Everything tasted great! I also tried their Passionfruit Punch cocktail and that was also pretty good. My favorite was the basil wings! Love the dry rub and mayo sauce that came with it! read more

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I absolutely love Gai Noi- if I lived closer I would be getting this at least once a week. They don't take reservations which I honestly really like! The tables open up pretty quickly! The service is always top tier and there's constantly servers, managers, and staff asking if everything tastes good and if they can get you anything else. For drinks we got the Star Fruit Margarita and Over the Horizon. Food- basil wings. Literally a 100/10- best wings ever!! Pork fried rice- perfect flavor and so yummy! Seasoned fried beef- so flavorful and really good with or without the sauce! I love how open and big the tables are on every floor. It never feels crowded and everything feels so welcoming. I love coming here because they serve the food as family style! read more

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I have been meaning to try this restaurant for MONTHS! I was a little apprehensive because they didn't take reservations and I live 45 minutes outside of town, but good news is they have plenty of seating and my friend and I were able to get seated within 10 minutes of getting there! The menu is robust! I had a hard time deciding what I wanted but went with the infamous basil wings, green curry noodles and wontons. The wings were well worth the wait and are so good! They were fried but not too heavy which I always struggle with when eating fried food. The wontons were not great. Could have done without those. The green curry noodle was the perfect entre and I was so happy with it! Perfect for a cold Friday evening meal and it hit the spot! There is so much more I want to try so will be back! Tucked into the Loring Park neighborhood, the restaurant itself was buzzing and so cozy. I felt very at home and loved it! Will be back!!! read more

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Quite remarkable. It is really hard to find unadulterated Lao (or for that matter Thai as well) food in the US. This place is unapologetically Lao, their papaya salad is laden with fish sauce and very funky and delish. Restaurant is lovely and set against Loring park adding to the ambiance. Service is Brooklyn chic. read more

Gai Noi - Papaya salad on the left and laab seen on the right - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

My friends have been raving about this place, and I finally got to try during a recent visit back to Minneapolis. Southeast Asian food is where the Minneapolis food scene really shines, and Gai Noi did not disappoint. We were having a leisurely weekend day, so dropped by the restaurant around 4:30 in the afternoon for a late lunch/early dinner (lunner?). This worked out well in our favor, because we were seated right away, without the customary wait at peak hours, because this place does not take reservations. The restaurant interior is very interesting and is divided in multiple areas which almost feel like different restaurants. We were originally seated in a dark cozy corner, but noticed there was a beautiful sunroom on the second floor which was not yet full, and thankfully, were able to transfer over there for a more beautiful sunlit dining experience (so definitely ask!). We ordered drinks (my friend a cocktail, and me a Thai tea), a rice dish with minced chicken and an egg, a noodle soup dish, salmon skewer, and an eggplant sauce which came with sticky rice as a side. Everything was well made and delicious, although the fish sauce and lemongrass were quite overpowering in the noodle dish for us, and we did not finish it. The rice dish is our absolute favorite (my friend's standing order). The salmon skewer was well cooked, but in my opinion, the skewer flavors probably went better with other meat options, and overall was nothing to write home about. The eggplant sauce portion was very small, which we were initially very perplexed by, but it turned out to be very flavorful and spicy (in a good way), that the portion size turned out to be perfect, not to mention a pair perfectly with the sticky rice it came with in a very cute bamboo container. Our server told us to think of it like a salsa we could add to everything, and it was perfect. Overall, excellent experience although some food items were clearly better than others. (This is of course a preference thing. We saw Penang spaghetti was very popular amongst the other guests, but my friend did not like that at all the last time she was here.) Our bill came out to about $50 per person, which seemed reasonable for the experience. (Something like Hot Grainz in my mind is a similar type of cuisine, at a more affordable price). Will be back! Street parking (we were luckily able to snag a place right in front of the restaurant). I think coming during off peak is definitely a great idea if you can be flexible. read more

Food was delicious! I just wish they had more of a selection of filling dishes. Most dishes were more like appetizers, even the main entrees. read more

Gai Noi - Chocolate Cremeux and Mango Cremeux - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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This restaurant doesn't take reservations and is huge but still gets packed, so go at a time when you're able to wait for a table! It's so cute inside here, I love the second level that had the beautiful windows. For a drink I got the Thai tea, which I don't think I would get again. Food: - Basil Wings (9.4/10): One of my favorite things to get at their restaurants. The dry rub is spicy and delicious. Love that it comes with fried peppers too - Jalapeño wontons (8.7/10): the star of this is the pineapple sauce imo! So good - Drunken Noodle (6.6/10): The noodles were cooked well however, I didn't like the tamarind sauce on it - Gai Basil (7.1/10): Not my favorite Thai basil chicken type of dish - Mango Custard (9.3/10): Light and refreshing! Perfect end to the meal read more

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Gai Noi was a delicious experience! I remember when the restaurant 4 Bells used to be in the same location. Gai Noi maintained some of the same fixtures like the round silver suspended balls from the ceiling as decorative accents. We went here for dinner and the website says they do not take any reservations so we walked in and got promptly seated upstairs. There was a large party on one side of the restaurant. Upstairs had a great view with the greenhouse style ceiling allowed light to come in from the patio and the sky. My companion loves everything on this menu but we decided to share the Basil Wings which is very popular and the Sticky rice. Both delicious! Basil Wings- Well seasoned piping hot and full of halepeno peppers Sticky rice- Cute presentation, small portion so needed to order a second serving. For my main course, I had the green curry! Now this was a large portion that I can consign on. It was wholesome and very well favored. The aroma was devine. read more

Gai Noi - Green Curry - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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