What a unique and fun place that feels upscale and casual at the same time! The downstairs is dark, cozy and moody, while the upstairs is lighter and vibrant! Definitely doesn't feel like you're in downtown Minneapolis! The food was so unique and a food adventurers dream! I'm not sure I've ever had Laotian food before but always willing to try a new cuisine. The menu included a variety of more well known dishes like pad Thai and traditional Laotian dishes like laab! I wanted to try something different and hard to get most places, so I went with the laab seen, which was beef and vegetables, and had a side of sticky rice as well. I'm glad I tried something new because this was night and flavorful in a way I've never experienced. We also shared the crispy fried tofu which was in a spicy sauce. Super crispy and the right amount of spice, definitely worth branching out and trying. The desserts are next level! Don't let others talking you out of the kanom krok. They were like coconut friend donuts and could have ordered 12 orders of them they were so good! The mango cremeux was fresh, creamy and bright at the same time. Highly advise getting them both to share! The service was friendly and quick. The only downside is that you have to have your full party present before you're fully on the wait list and can be seated. Otherwise this is a fun place to check out! read more

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Another great visit to Gai Noi! Got the usual basil wings and then tried some new items including udon and kanom krok, their coconut dessert. I also got to sit outside this time which was lovely! I always have great service when I'm here and I love that they have fun drink options, including NA. read more

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This place was so cute we sat in the upstairs section but next time will sit outside for the rooftop feel! The food was so good my favorite was the jalapeño wontons they were the perfect amount of spice. For this restaurant they don't do spice levels but it is indicated in their menu which items are spicy and which aren't. If you want additional spice they will bring you a spice rack which is really nice too! I will say they do charge an additional 18% service fee and they do not take tips at this restaurant, I would say it was pretty pricey but overall worth it. Will be coming back for those wontons! read more

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Thank you, Yelp community. Your high reviews were spot on. This place lives up to its rating. Start to finish my experience and meal were delicious. I had the chicken yellow curry lunch special and think the before and after photos really speak for themselves. I would recommend sitting in the plant filled atrium or outside on the second floor patio. *chef's kiss* read more

Gai Noi - omg. I ate everything. - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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What can I say Gai Noi hit the cities and it has been a hit since. I wish they would allow reservations - just be prepared to wait a while. The atmosphere of the place places you in a tropical vibe; alot of thought went into creating the perfect place with bold Southeast Asian flavors. I had the fried rice and egg; these are my usuals for Thai restaurants due to my limited diet. The food was pretty decent but the rice was a tad bit oily. I do appreciate the perfectly cooked over-medium egg on top of my rice. They have an assortment of great cocktails so be prepared to order 1 or more. However, the tab for this establishment can add up pretty quickly so if you are on a budget; I would caution you. Like most restaurants in the area, parking is a challenge; there is paid street parking but the likelihood of securing one is low but possible so be patient. I would encourage rideshare if you can especially because you will need more than one cocktail! read more

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We had a great server and amazing food. The only reason why I didn't give it five stars was because in our chicken curry, half of the chicken tasted spoiled like it was old from a few days prior. A bad batch must have been mixed in with a good chicken because half of it tasted amazing and half was disgusting. Also didn't look at the bill, but somehow it ended up $40 more expensive than expected and none of us could figure out how it happened. Tip is included and even with the bump for tax, we think we were accidentally charged for another meal/drink. Because we were out with friends and our waitress was busy we just paid it. There's no way to contact the restaurant either, so it just is what it is. The atmosphere is incredible and we will definitely be back. Two things that we could have fixed if we had not been dining with friends and focused on catching up! read more

Gai Noi - Entry/bar - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Food was absolutely amazing! The server was very friendly, service was quick and place is very roomy. They serve family style. This is my first time having Laotian food and its very flavorful. Mee Tom yum was very spicy. Very flavorful but very spicy. I had to dilute it with water because I was choking on the flavor. The fish tamarind was also really good and the curry fried rice. I wish I would have added egg onto the curry fried rice, it was still a good flavor. My absolute favorite was the basil wings! The tempura veggies was amazing, I was mixing that up with all of my dishes. read more

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So glad I finally checked this place out! The roof top has an enclosed section that is so nice, and I have to assume is open year round?? The food is family style, so get a few things and share! They provide the perfect portions for a group of 4 in my opinion! The drinks (even n/as!) were so fun. Prices were reasonable for downtown! The food was overall really good. The Pad SE Ew was the only thing I wouldn't order again. Highly recommend the chicken skewers, fried green beans and pad Thai! Get place to take visitors. Oh, the service was pretty good! Very quick. read more

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This place is great! The decor inside is charming in a modern style, and second floor is almost a solarium, and the patio is perfect. I'm no fan of tofu but I have to admit that I loved the crispy tofu app. All of the food is delicious, but all of it is also a bit spicy so be careful my fellow midwesterners. The portions are generous and very shareable. Lastly the service was excellent. They use handheld devices to order and everything comes out so fast. Our server was still at our table taking the rest of our order when my beer arrived! Loved it and I will be back! read more

4.5 stars Gai Noi's will not be your Papaya Salad gateway drug. But it is a fantastic local restaurant if you're comparing to other nearby spots. For uninitiated, green Papaya salad can be just about one of the most delicious foods around. But here it is more pungent with an unfiltered fish sauce flavor, yet not very spicy, and really just unbalanced. The thick strips of papaya are also not traditional. 7/10. Still consider ordering it if you're curious. Papaya salad is often enjoyed with sticky rice and grilled meats. (Think like kimchee with Korean food, or pickles with American food.) *** The restaurant makes a great first impression, as the ambiance is just fantastic. Or even before you walk into the door, the Loring Park / Walker area of Minneapolis I have always found very pretty! Things take a swing for the worse when you look at the menu, a bit expensive. But then the cocktails are pretty good... 8/10 That aside, the pork fried rice is delicious - complex and balanced. It's seriously 9 or 10 /10. The basil chicken is a winner, if slightly salty. 8.5/10 Again, overall a cool spot. Good staff / service and I've heard good word of mouth on it too read more

First time here since I've heard so many good things about the place. Can't here with a few of my Asian mom friends for midday HH. Not much of a happy hour menu just $1 off on snacks except pork belly, $2 off cocktails and $3 off wine. We order a several dishes to share between the 4 of us. There were plenty of food and you think we were starving with the amount of food we ordered. The place was not very busy since it was still during the work day. So it was a little quieter and we sat by the door which was nice with the beautiful weather. Service was ok since we needed more water and didn't see anyone so I had to go to the host stand to ask for a pitcher of water. The food was good but it wasn't great. The tofu, Basil chicken wings, pork belly, and green beans tasted similar because they were all fried and then sauce was added or dry rub seasoning. The green papaya was ok. I'm used to them being matchsticks style not fettuccine shape and it was Lao style for the sauce. The best dish was probably the panang spaghetti noodles. It was flavorful and has a little kick at the end. I like that they have their pricing as stated up front with no tipping and that they add the service charge to the menu items so the prices are inflated which can be pricey. Overall, it was ok. read more

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Delicious food! Beautiful presentation! Great service! Beautiful ambiance. Absolutely loved my sales and green curry! Paid parking only. After dinner, take a walk around the lovely Loring Park or cross the bridge and enjoy the Walker sculpture garden. read more

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We were intrigued by the fact that an 18% service charge is added on and it's included in the price so there are no secret charges. Our server was amazing. The food comes out family style so whenever it's ready, it's delivered to your table. The decor upstairs is not to be missed, lots of plants and windows open to a patio, which will be ready when the weather is ready. Our server was amazing very friendly and very helpful with our million questions about the menu. The mild spicy was actually mildly spicy, perfect! Love the green beans, loved the red curry, loved the salad. A delight all around! read more

Gai Noi - Salad, green beans, red curry, jasmine rice - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Fantastic!! Met a coworker for dinner here. The location was great, a nice view of downtown and right across from a park. Loved the vibe, Asian flavor and culture. Two floors with my favorite being the atrium seating. The food was fabulous. It's shareable so order several little dishes the share and try. We had the pad Thai noodles, lemongrass chicken skewers and fried beef. All were great! We also shared a chocolate mouse dessert and a mango custard dessert. Highly recommend! The cocktails were amazing too. Service was great. Good came relatively fast! Highly recommend! read more

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Fast service. Cocktails amazing. Def would recommend family style dining here. It's a super gorgeous restaurant and hip. They have a variety of choices to choose from and all the flavors def tasted authentic to me. Prices are fair for the quality. The service was great, always checking in and making sure we were okay and water was filled. read more

Not good for the wait. Long wait and literally expensive food for not good quality. Not positive

So good, everything was so good. Couldn't even pick a favorite. Everything about this place is awesome. There will be a wait, though. It's worth it. read more

Gai Noi - Peanut noodles, yellow curry with chicken, crispy green beans - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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This is ideal for poorly-planned conference attendees like me since they don't take reservations. I've eaten quite a bit of Lao (and Northern Thai) food, and was wowed despite having been to some excellent places in the past. The laab here was incredible--they had some fresh herbs (lime leaf?) with spices sticking to them in a way I've never tasted before. Papaya salad was perhaps non-traditional with how thick-cut the papaya was (almost like noodles?) but it was seasoned perfectly. The steamed whitefish came with a really intriguing rice-based gravy (as if one made a roux with rice flour?) that I'd never even imagined before. And the Lao sausage was the most savory and meat-y I've had. Be warned that the food can be quite spicy and they don't have any option to scale it down. read more

Had the beef laab, basil chicken wings and chicken skewers. Only the skewers were good. The laab was doused with chili powder and too spicy to be able to taste the beef. The beef is a mushy texture. I think the spice hid the poor quality of the beef, but it was inedible. The wings were standard bar fare. Not fresh or tasty, and covered in a greasy batter. The water glasses were the size of juice glasses and I had to hunt down someone to refill our waters after eating the over spiced beef. The place is also very noisy and it's impossible to have a conversation. Big no!! read more

First time eating Laotian food and it was delish. Limited metered parking in front and a lot on the side. Walk ins only, 5 min wait on a Saturday night for 2. Ambiance is elegant, service was below average. Pleasant server but didn't really come by except to fill our water around when we were receiving the bill. Food: The whitefish in banana leaf is not for folks with texture issues. It was soft, flaky, flavorful with a white gravy on it, served with a bowl of sticky or regular rice. I enjoyed trying it. The peanut noodles were the best. The shrimp skewer was delicious and had unique flavor with a nice char. The tofu has been raved about by everyone on yelp. It was the most beautiful mountain of tofu I had ever seen. Really generous portion and very well cooked. It was quite sweet though so if that isn't your vibe, you will not enjoy. It got a little one-note after a while between just the two of us at our table. read more

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Loved everything about Gai Boi. Great atmosphere whether you're seated inside or on their rooftop. Highly recommend going "family style" with your dining. I enjoyed everything we ordered. The red curry (perfect flavor), basil wings (awesome dry rub), and beef skewers (so tender) really standing out. The black sesame mochi bars were a delight (surprisingly they are warm not frozen). Eggs rolls and udon noodles were just okay. Server was friendly and attentive. read more

Gai Noi - Eggs rolls, basil wings, red curry, and beef skewers - Desserts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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During my trip to Minneapolis, my friend took me to Gai Noi for Thai/Laotian food. This place was recommended by her friends and coworkers, so we had to try it. The hosts and servers were welcoming, kind, and friendly! We sat in their lovely outdoor patio to enjoy some of the sun! For a drink, I ordered the Pho Spiced Old Fashioned. I love the Asian twist in the drink and it was unique! For food, we split a Pad Thai and Gai Basil. The Pad Thai was very saucy and had a rich peanut flavor! It can get a bit messy, so be careful! The Gai Basil was not lying when it said it was spicy! It wasn't overpowering, but it was definitely a surprising kick! If you're in the area, you must check out Gai Noi! You will not be disappointed! read more

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We've been to Gai Noi about 4 times now. Absolutely delicious food. I could eat the fried tofu as my main dish everyday but every thing is great. Last night we had the green beans and spring rolls to accompany the tofu for starters. We added a wide noodle dish to over feed ourselves. Drinks were great too. The vibe is fun but really very, very loud. Service is good and fast. read more

I just adore Gai Noi. The community seating upstairs is so wonderful, whether someone gets seated next to you or not, because of all of the plants and gorgeous natural light. The servers are attentive and kind but not overly present at your table. And the food of course- is the star of the show. I cannot over state how often I think about the basil wings. We got 2 entrees and 1 appetizer and shared between 2 people and we were completely stuffed. read more

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Stopped here for lunch. It was not too busy and we were able to get in right away. We got the basil wings, tofu, and peanut noodles. All were excellent! My favorite thing was the wings. We also tried the dole wip mocktail and the Arnold Palmer, which were amazing. The restaurant itself was so cute and clean. Parking was metered street parking. read more

We ordered Pad Thai, Drunken Udon and Basil chicken and of course drinks. The food was savory and filling. Since we are visiting state it will be our last time however, i'd come again if opportunity presents ourself and i'm in for it. read more

I heard about this place on TikTok and by a fellow Yelp Elite member. I decided to come here with my Nana who is into plant-based diet. Unfortunately, my Poppop didn't go because of fear of cross-contamination for seafood allergy, and some dishes on the menu mention the use of fish sauce. We went on a Saturday for a late lunch. FOOD: The food was delicious. 10/10 all around. It was flavorful, the portion was meant to serve as a family style, and overall it was delicious. Nana and I agree that we do not have a favorite because it was all good. Fried Tofu: I was hesitant when Nana ordered this. I have eaten tofu, but in my experience at Chinese restaurants, it is plain. Not these tofus! It was a crispy outer shell, flavorful sauce, slight kick that you don't know you're eating tofu. Basil Wings: The wings were crunchy on the outside. I can see a dry rub on it. It has a hint of zestiness. It comes with tempura jalapenos and basils. The meat was juicy. Overall, I love it. Panang Spaghetti: Creamy curry flavor noodle dish. No meat. It was good. Peanut Noodles: Definitely can taste the peanuts in here. The noodles were sitting in peanut sauce. The crushed peanuts added texture. Pork Fried Rice: Overall, delicious. I really like the Chinese sausage used in this dish. SERVICE & AMBIANCE: It is a casual dining. It is very calming. We sat on the second floor at one of their communal tables, which isn't an issue. Everyone seems to mind their business. The room seems busy for the staff compared to the first floor. It is a good place to people watch and see other dishes that people order. I love the natural lighting in the room. I don't think it is handicap accessible if you want to go sit in the atrium or rooftop or to their private room. Our server checked on us a few times. There is a 18% service charge that goes towards the staff. PARKING: There is a self-parked and pay parking lot next to the restaurant for like $6. Otherwise you can do parallel parking and use the Minneapolis parking app to pay. If you can't do parallel parking, there is regular parking too that also use the Minneapolis parking app. At the time it was $1/hour. Overall, it was very delicious. I would bring more people back. read more

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Wonderful dining experience, awesome customer service and pretty solid food. I liked the Laab seen & the star fruit margarita. Everything we ordered was packed with flavor, with light spice and flavors that complimented one another. read more

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I rated this place a 3/4 in my book only I am sure it's a 5 but that was my experience I really wanted to Love this place because I know Chef Ann's restaurants are superb. I have gone to all her three restaurants and this was my second time at this location but wasn't in love with choices I made for this place. Which really is on my part I get that but still was left to be desired on the menu. I brought a family member to this place and we decided to order two appetizers and two main courses the apps were phenomenal I'm highly allergic to jalapeños so informed that to my server and our chicken app arrived with basil jalapeños toppings and on the side which was nice!! The main courses were left to be a little desired. The pad tai I was informed comes with no meat it's eaten with no protein and I was informed it's the only plate I could have eaten that wasn't Spicy ( from our server , I highly doubt it but they work there so took her word) I was immediately turned off by my only choice was pad tai with no meat for non spicy meal The Mok paa is served ice cold. I found that so odd !! I had my friend Stephanie informing me ( later on ) that it's not suppose to be cold but ours was ice cold even her plate it came in was cold. Yes I did informed the server at the time and they just said oh it's cooked and then served left our table ( after my family member was too embarrassed to asked for another mok paa ) if I were the server I would have brought another one apologized about the meal or removed the mok paa from the bill and say sorry about that neither of those were done. I will want to try this place again for third time because it's a really cool aesthetics and the ambiance so nice!! So will be back and update my post based on experience. read more

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I tried to order food through their website. I placed and paid nearly $200 for an order through the service they use -- Toast. No food was ever delivered. Toast did not reply in anyway to my contacting of them through the "help" link. I have called the restaurant at least 5 times but they do not answer their phone. read more

The main floor is perfect for date night. We visited in the middle of the day on a weekend, and it felt cozy. I'm sure their patio is stellar in the summer. We tried multiple items, family style, and enjoyed each and every one of them! We started with a bao from Ann's Noodle Shop (only available between certain hours). It was sweet and savory. The noodle soup was bright and aromatic. The peanut noodles were packed with flavor and texture. Not pictured: Seasoned Fried Beef - a great little protein boost. The beef jeow added a unique acidic/umami flavor. We enjoyed it so much, we even ordered a red curry to go! It was sweet and spicy, and reheated well. read more

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At last I've seen the trifecta of Gai Noi, Lat 14 and Khaluna! Gai Noi definitely lived up to the hype I've seen and heard from friends of the three restaurants, Gai Noi had the most natural light and "accesible" food options for those that aren't very familiar with the cuisine. The crispy tofu and basil wings were incredible as usual, the service was friendly and helpful, and the ambiance was welcoming and inviting. We sat upstairs where seating is communal style, and we loved it! My faves were the Laab Gai and the garlic beef. Very flavorful and made me smile with every bite. They also had the best rendition of an Arnold Palmer that I've ever had! Definitely try the ginger palmer if you want something refreshing and beautiful. We didn't have to park but I'm not sure how we would have if we needed to - it didn't seem to have much of a parking lot. Also they don't take reservations so make sure to allow time to wait in case it's busy! read more

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Delicious! We came here on a Saturday evening and there was quite a long line (I think because it rained recently, so they weren't able to use their outdoor space!?). However, their service is very quick, so they get people in and out of the restaurant quickly. We were surprised by the wait, but it seems like this is basically the most popular restaurant near the downtown area. With good reason! I'd describe this as authentic Lao flavors with an updated/fusion spin. First of all, their cocktails are fantastic! Delicious, well-balanced. The chicken wings was by far my favorite. So flavorful, so crunchy. This is what every chicken wing should taste like, in terms of both flavor and texture. We also could not stop eating the fried bits of jalapeno and basil. Surprisingly, the jalapeño pieces weren't spicy either! The Panang Spaghetti was surprising - in a good way! My brain thought spaghetti, but each bite was a pleasant surprise of creamy panang curry flavors! I think that I was underwhelmed by the Lao Yum salad. I wanted more flavor and more funk. It was lightly dressed with a light dressing. read more

This is one of the worst experiences I have ever had at a restaurant. I was there with a work group for lunch. I was the first person to arrive, and they said my group was seated upstairs - a very narrow and long staircase. One of my colleagues uses a wheelchair, so I said that would not work for us. Then the host insisted we were not allowed to sit downstairs during lunch and they would bring her in a backdoor to use a service elevator. Eventually they brought my friend from the service elevator, as if she was an employee, and not a guest. They ushered me upstairs and the server asked for my drink order and I said "Just water for now" since the rest of the group hadn't arrived. She brought back a smudged glass of warm water with about 8 ounces of water in it. I gulped it down, which turned out to be a huge mistake - she came back after my co-workers arrived and pushed us to order from the cocktail menu. We could not drink alcohol at a work lunch, but a couple of people ordered mocktails. They were rewarded with all the water they could drink, while the rest of us never got a refill, despite the oversalted food. Everything "comes out when it is ready" and is "family style", which means you everyone's order arrives at a different time and is supposed to be passed around the table for sharing, even if it is a $22 cereal bowl of rice. No cutlery was provided - there was a dented tea tin in the middle of table full of some spotted spoons and a few forks. Surprisingly, we were told upon ordering drinks that they do not offer tea. Where did he mystery tin come from? I cannot believe this place has a Michelin star. Did they drug the reviewer? read more

Easily one of my favorite places to eat at in Minneapolis. Terrific food, great service and will always circle back for a return. read more

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I'm going to start this post saying I was so impressed with the whole experience. Walking in the door, the decor caught my attention. I felt transported. My friends and I sat at the bar to wait for a table but not too long. I didn't realize at first but the drinks are pre-made so the menu is what you get but they were delicious! We started with fried tofu, a personal favorite of mine in general but they blew me out of the park off the bat. The pork lumpia was succulent and had a great crunch. The peanut noodles and gai dish were hands down my favorite. The fried rice was great. And finally, the nicest dessert I've had in so long... black seasme mochi. I would fight people over it, so dang good! If you like Asian cuisine and don't mind the heat (or especially love it) I recommend stopping in! read more

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The pad tai stole the show, the portion was huge and the flavor was amazing. I also got the calamari which I wasn't to be of a fan of, I felt there was not a lot of calamari and more jalapeño. Our server was awesome and food came out super quick! We sat up on the roof top which was super cute and fit the group of 10 of us nicely. read more

We went on a rainy Monday evening thinking it wouldn't be busy but when we got there at 7pm finding parking was hectic and walking there in the rain wasn't ideal. We had to wait 30 mins for a table but it was all worth it. Even while waiting all the smells got me excited to try this restaurant! We loaded up on appetizers - calamari, basil wings, jalapeño wontons, and tofu. They were all so good! My personal fav was the calamari. I honestly think it's my favorite calamari. They weren't over breaded and had such good flavors. They come with fried jalapeños and fried basil and they tasted so good altogether. The jalapeño wontons were very tasty as well, a good kick accompanied with a sweeter dipping sauce. The tofu had a wonderful crunch! We were already full from the apps but couldn't not order entrees. So got pad see eww and beef laab. Pad see eww was very good and flavorful. I'll start off with disclosing laab is not something I typically look forward to but for what it is, it was good! Perfect amount of spice that the side of sticky rice helps! We finished with sharing the kanom krok. Wasn't sure what to expect but it was delicious! It made me determined to find out how to make it! It was like a pancake ball with a crispier outside filled with a wonderful coconut filling. It wasn't too sweet and was a perfect way to end our meal! Oh, and our server was great too! read more

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This is a good restaurant to recommend to people who are in town on a business trip. The food is high quality, enough that if some work person is coming to Minnesota for the first time and you can tell they don't expect to be impressed, they will totally return to their home and brag that they got to eat here. Beyond that, the interior is beautiful, and the service is really friendly and really professional. For my first visit, I had a noodle dish that was on their separate specials menu. I don't remember what it was called but it tasted amazing and the rice noodles were more like noodle-shaped rice cakes with their succulent chewiness. Another time I got Green Curry Noodles, which had a very cool flavor, but the curry sauce was really more like the broth of a soup and I didn't want to slurp it. I was really glad I decided to get a side dish of Seasoned Fried Beef, which tasted great and had delicious Jeow sauce to dip it in. I also ordered a steamed bun one time, and it came wrapped in plastic, and there was a paper sticker thing under it that I didn't understand about until I had eaten some. I've eaten steamed buns before, but that was a first. Dinnertime is very busy despite their large dining room, but when I've gone for lunch it has always been very quiet. I definitely recommend trying them for lunch. Prices are high enough that, again, it's like they're aiming for the business-expense clientele. You're not paying for portion size, that's for sure, but you are totally getting quality. Everything is very thoughtfully created and served, so I definitely recommend trying them out if it's in your budget. read more

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I came to Gai Noi with 2 other people on a Saturday afternoon. We were seated right away - many of the tables are communal, so we sat at one side of a large table and there were two other people at the other end. Far enough apart that we felt private still. My friends and I shared dishes so we could try different things -- Jalapeño Wontons (delicious!) -- Seasoned Fried Beef (my favorite dish, don't google what the beef jeow sauce is that comes with it) -- Pork Fried Rice & Pad See Eww. I had the Star Fruit Margarita and it was one of the best cocktails I've ever had! Such great flavor. Very beautiful restaurant. I can't wait to visit again. read more