This was our last stop on a little weekend getaway and it's the truth when they say to leave the best for last. We had a horrible culinary experience the past couple of days driving through West Virginia, Ohio, and western New York. Pittsburgh was our last stop before heading home and Kiin Lao and Thai Eatery made up for all of the culinary disappointment this weekend. Let's talk about the ambiance first. Everything about this restaurant was quite beautiful. When I say beautiful, I don't mean it in an elegant way, but an artsy street vibe way. It is hip, clean, and we'll put together. You can tell a lot of love went into the decorations and into every piece of art on its walls. The service was pretty good. The server herself was attentive when needed and left us alone when needed. The food was AWESOME. We got the papaya combo with the Thum Mak Houng option, curry puffs, grilled pork shoulder with sticky rice, and Pad Gra Prow Street Style. The papaya was "lao-style" made with fermented shrimp paste. If you love deep umami flavors, this is it for you. The papaya salad was pungent and sour and savory spicy and just so satisfying. We asked for a 6/10 spiciness and they came with the heat. The chicken skewers that came with it was flavorful too. A little bit of char on the chicken would've brought it over the top. The curry puffs were so comforting and had that south Asian flavor profile that was very welcomed. The curry and spice blend did not overwhelm the potatoes. Instead it enhanced the earthy potato flavors in the best way possible. The menu said that it came with a cucumber sauce but I don't think we got that. What we got was a more like a honey sauce. The sauce was good in itself but didn't pair well with the puffs. The grilled pork shoulder was delectable. The meat was tender and it was seasoned perfectly. Again, more char on the meat would've brought it to a new level. The only gripe I have with this order was the sticky rice. The amount of sticky rice you get with it was so small I thought it was a joke initially. Nope, it was not! I thought the Pad Gra Prow Street Style was OKAY. I would've made it a little saucier. Despite this, my significant other absolutely LOVED it. Pad Gra Prow was my significant other's favorite dish when she lived overseas. She said that this was the best Pad Gra Prow she has had on this side of the world. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. We would definitely come by again when we are back this way. read more

What a great lunch we had at Kiin Lao on this past Saturday. It's a relatively smaller place that's tucked away on the upper floor of a building in shadyside. Overall, the food and service was good. We had red curry, massaman curry, and pad kee mao. I think the red curry was pretty good. We order spice level 7 and probably could have gotten the 8. I'd go for 8 if I ever visit them again. Yeah, it was just a good and decent meal with good service and all. Not very crowded, so I urge people to go if you are in the area. read more

Hidden gem right in Squirrel Hill. We were able to sit by the window to view the street and look outside. Food was delicious as well. The crispy sprouts are a great starter with the honey chili sauce on top. The chicken pad thai and the Crab fried rice were both great picks as well. Service is good and the staff are friendly and accommodating. We will be back! read more

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Very good food and great service! They have a really extensive menu where everyone can find something they're in the mood for. The mango sticky rice as a dessert was definitely a stand out item for us. It's convenient that they take reservations too, as our large party was able to plan in advance to go there. I got the garlic noodles with chicken and was really impressed and the serving size was massive! read more

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I love Kiin. Well, Kiin means "to eat", so yes, I love to eat (like most of us here). But wasn't in love with this restaurant. One and done for me. This place was colorful! We went in around 5:30 on a Sunday and were seated quickly as it was mostly empty. Within 20 mins, the place was filling up fast! I guess others love Kiin too. The Khoa Soi (Noodle Curry) with Lao Sausage was spicy at a level 2 - and the sausage kinda ruined it. It would have been better with some grilled chicken or some other options. The sausage was super mushy and kind of between lukewarm and cold. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be like that, so I just didn't eat it. I drank about 10 glasses of water it was so spicy. The glasses were small AF so they required refilling a lot. I felt like I was doing shots of Pittsburgh's finest! The Calamari appetizer was delicious as were some of the other dishes that people ordered. I should have ordered the Crab Fried Rice! The crispy chicken was OK too and may have worked well with the Khoa Soi to give it some texture. They need a Build Your Own option. I don't think I'd return as there are plenty of other asian places around I like better. Service and timing was not an issue though. read more

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I've been here like 3-4 times in the past week. Once was just to sit at the bar, enjoy some apps and have a drink which was nice too. Have tried a variety of dishes and they're all pretty good. The fish cake salad is very yummy, it's like fried fish cake pieces with lettuce, cucumber, onion and in a sauce of fish sauce similar to viet ngoc mam. The pad graw pao street style was $22 but also the portion is HUGE, could easily feed like 3 people. I really enjoyed it, great flavor and very yummy. The garlic noodles are similar to lo mien but less oily. The pork laab is also very yummy with no chewy bits in it which is great. Overall such a fun place to just come and eat and hang out. Trying a lot of different things and they're all very enjoyable. read more

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Really great noodles with good portions and price too! On the second floor, there is a great view of the street as well as a nicely decorated seating and bar area. The Khao Poon, rice noodles in a red curry, was nice with good flavor, wish it came with some more herbs and lime. Level 5 spice is just enough to get good hint of a kick, would bump it up if you're a spice enjoyer. It was pretty empty when I went so service and food came out fast. Would comeback to try some of their specials and other Laotian dishes! read more

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery - Khao Poon - Laotian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This is a cute little hole in the wall where you have to go up stairs to enter. Gotta love Pittsburgh's whimsical gems. Our party arrived just in time around 5:20 to a practically empty restaurant and as we sat there the place quickly filled up! Went with the Calamari for an appetizer, which I sadly didn't grab a picture of, but it was great! Others tried it as well and had no complaints. So many delicious items on the menu it was hard to pick, but I went with the Crab Fried Rice since I can't get that anywhere near my home. It was flavorful and fresh, and that chili lime sauce was outstanding! Absolutely giant portions, even though it doesn't look like it in the picture, I had ate half but my plate still looked like I hadn't touched it! Waiter was very nice and checked on us all multiple times, but I'm knocking down a star since there was no cold water! They had the already-prepared glass bottles for us to fill our cups ourselves and they were room temperature when we got there. Maybe bring them to the table when people arrive right out of the fridge? read more

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery - Laotian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Let's get straight to the point here. You need the garlic noodles with Thai fried chicken. That's number one. Number two you need the dumplings. Go for the 9 piece not the 6 because why not? That's my version of candy right there. The curry puffs were unique and light! The owner was beyond kind and I will be back! read more

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The food is great here, but don't go if you want to have an intimate (or any) conversation. The restaurant is so popular, it was very crowded with people talking. It was hard to hear my dinner companion talking. But that's okay, the food made up for it. We were able to talk later after we left the restaurant. I ordered the Green Curry with tofu. It was flavorful, including green beans, snow peas, Thai eggplant, basil leaf, bell pepper, and bamboo, in coconut milk and green curry. So yummy ! My friend ordered the Pad Thai with chicken: Stir-fried protein with noodles, eggs, green onions, ground peanuts, and bean sprouts. Having ordered Pad Thai at other restaurants, which skimped on the sauce and peanuts, my friends requested additional servings of both. It turned out that the dish had enough of both, so it wasn't necessary to request more. The portion was generous; there was enough to share and for both of us to take some leftovers home. I had some for breakfast the next morning. When the check came, we wanted to pay most by cash and the top by credit cards. They accommodated! read more

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My most recent trip was just ok. Service was extra slow, and my eggplant dish was bland. The fresh spring rolls were cut like a sushi roll, which was unnecessary in my opinion, and the wrapping was chewy and hard to bite through. read more

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery - Tofu Eggplant with Basil Leaf - Laotian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Five of us stopped by for dinner on Tuesday evening and got a table right away If you have trouble finding it, it's tucked away on the second floor above Ebisu. It's very bright and colorful on the inside with lots of seat at tables and at a bar, so it's great for groups! We came hungry and left absolutely stuffed. It was a meal where everything was flavorful and tasted really fresh. Standouts for me were the perfectly seasoned and cooked ping kai, the whole fish with basil with the BEST sauce, the delightfully crunchy crispy rice salad, and the excellent mango sticky rice, which may be my favorite mango sticky rice in Pittsburgh! read more

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I've had better Thai food, but also have had worse. Door dashed, packaging was great, and loved the real to go badlg it came in. Food also came hot. Portion sizes were well also. The curry puffs were my favorite item. These were a flavor bomb, flaky puffs nicely filled and came with a great dipping sauce. The chicken wings for me were blah. Taking a bite without the sticky sauce had no taste. The vegetable Pad See Ew was another good dish. The noodles were delicious and packed with veggies. The crab fried rice me was a let down, had crab shells in it, and really little to no crab flavor or taste. I did get the Thai spice level, and be warned that is pretty spicy, which I didn't mind. The Pad Gra Prow was ok. read more

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def not as good as it was the last time I came. We got everything in level 3 and there was no spice (I remember 2 being spicy before) :( I feel like portions also got smaller The garlic noodles were very savory, chewy, and chicken was fried to perfection. I would've liked more sauce in the noodles though. The tilapia was flaky and also nice and crispy despite sitting in a curry. The pineapple and tomato's paired well. The mee Kathi was the weakest dish of the 3 we got. I felt that the rice noodles were overcooked and limp. The tofu had no flavor inherently but you get that from the curry. Similar curry to the tilapia dish. I think the largest portion because there were so many noodles. I would've also liked more of the cabbage on top for crunch. All to say still solid but would've been better with more spice! read more

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From the moment I walked in for takeout, I was greeted by the entire staff with smiles and a warm welcome. It immediately made me feel good and set the tone for a great experience. Everyone was attentive and genuinely kind. The food was outstanding. We ordered the pad Thai, Brussels sprouts, green curry, and pad gra prow "street style" every single dish was delicious and full of flavor. You can tell they really care about what they're serving. I honestly can't wait to go back and dine in next time. Highly recommend! read more

So so so so good. My dad randomly took me to this place and I was so confused when he opened a random door in Squirrel Hill that led up to steps to this adorable little restaurant. Very hip decor and absolutely amazing food. Server was very kind and efficient. My only complaint is that I was fully too quickly and couldn't eat more read more

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Dropped back in here with a family group recently. I had always come on the earlier side and/or week nights; this time, around 7pm, it actually got quite busy and even a bit loud with lots of younger folks (maybe students). We shared several appetizers, all of which were good. The salad rolls went well with the spring rolls (some fresh veggies to balance fried crispiness). The fried tofu was perfect for a small bite. The laab is a nice dish. Chicken (you can try one of several proteins) mixed with rice and several garnishes. Not too big or heavy, but very tasty. read more

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Great food. The spice levels are pretty heavy, I'm Asian and the perfect level was a 5/10 for most dishes. The portions for the mains are pretty big, so the vegetarian papaya salad and the garlic noodles would've been enough for my girlfriend and I. The fish is really flavorful and a great sharing dish, you'll definitely need another main if your sharing it for two. Depending on how you order a meal at kiin can be $15-$40 per person. Well worth the visit! read more

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Delicious Laotian and Thai food. The service was prompt and professional. This was my first experience with Laotian food and I was quite pleased. The dining room is attractive, with a high window overlooking Forbes Ave. I love learning about new cuisines, and this restaurant is a great place to experience that. read more

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This was so mid. Saw lots of reviews and content hyping this place up, and it fell so short. First, we got a Thai tea, and the milk was visibly curdled... they did take it back with no issues, but I sensed a trend through the rest of the meal too. The rest of the food tasted old... maybe their food delivery day is later in the week, but we were pushing quality on that beef... Additionally, we got significant spice level (1-10) on all our dishes (ex. 6 on the pad see ew) and only the curry had some type of kick. The appetizers were good, but again, the sauces were just not right. Lastly, our service was sparse, which felt aligned with the dishes we tried. It's a cool space, which makes it more frustrating that we didn't have a good experience. I hope it was just an off night, and they can continue to be successful for others who dine here! read more

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The start was unfortunately not great. The bubble tea was off and had small floating white pieces that make me suspect the dairy was curdled. The food was average. I did like the spring rolls. We were sat quickly but the service was very slow. Our waiter seemed he couldn't get away quick enough. We were all sat very close together and it was a little loud for how big the room was. I didn't feel the price matched the food or service. read more

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This meal lives rent free in my head. Highly recommend. The sauce poured is sweet and the sauce that came with the chicken and pork bowl is delicious. read more

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery - Garlic Noodles with fried chicken and a chicken, pork, rice with a side sauce. Amazing and will be repeating - Laotian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

My friends and I had reservations and we loved this place! Specifically their garlic noodles with fried chicken. I still cannot stop thinking about the clear sauce that comes on the side with this dish - no idea what it was but it rocked my world. And the fried chicken is incredible. Vibes are cute and the food came out quick! read more

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery - Garlic Noodles with fried chicken - Laotian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I got the Orm with salmon, which was good (4/5)! It was something I have not had before with a nice flavor and a good sized piece of salmon! However, the portion was a bit on the smaller end. The service was a little slow (3/5). The restaurant is up stairs with a nice view of one of the busier streets in squirrel hill, and the interior is well decorated (4/5). read more

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery - Orm with salmon - Laotian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Authentic from a rarely explored part of Asian cuisine in Pittsburgh. In the old Bangkok Balcony space, this place is very nice in a unique space right above Forbes Ave. The service was friendly and the prices were fair. Good place to go if you can get a seat! read more

kiin Lao and Thai was so great!!! The second you walk into the restaurant you can just smell how good the food is. Got the fresh spring roll for an appetizer and the pad se ew and green curry for entrees. The noodles were super flavorful and the sauce was so good. The green curry was the classic flavor you crave from a coconut curry and it was great too! You can really tell how authentic the food is in the flavors! I got the mango sticky rice for dessert and that was super yummy too! I loved everything here and I can't wait to come back and try more dishes here! read more

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Loved the takeout from here, and can't wait to dine in soon!! The food was so delicious. I got the tofu pad thai and crab rangoons. The pad thai was great and you can't go wrong with crab rangoons read more

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery - Crab Crown - Laotian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Kiin restaurant serves Thai and Lao food. Its menu (see my photos) lists a variety of Thai and Lao appetizers, entrees, sides, desserts, and non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Prices are reasonable. So far, I have visited Kiin restaurant twice, and both times, I enjoyed the prompt and friendly service and the delicious foods and beverages. Here are my reviews for the foods: Curry puffs - 5 stars - The dough was nicely crispy and contained potato, onion, and yellow curry powder. On the side was a small bowl of cucumber sauce that balanced the slight spiciness of the curry. Ping kai - 4.5 stars - This appetizer was a very large size. It consisted of three skewers of juicy, seasoned chicken. On the side was a flavorful jaew dipping sauce. Pork-shrimp dumplings - 4.5 stars - My husband ate this appetizer. The dumplings were cooked nicely and contained a good amount of meat. He liked the black sauce. Green curry with chicken - 4.5 stars - I had ordered a spiciness level of 5 on a scale from 1-10, and the cook matched my expectations. The green curry and coconut milk contained green beans, snow peas, eggplant, basil leaves, bell peppers, and bamboo. Pad see ew - 4 stars - My husband ordered this entree. The food was room temperature, I assume because it had been sitting for minutes. My husband seemed to like it. Garlic noodles with Thai fried chicken - 4.5 stars - My husband said that the egg noodles reminded him of spaghetti, but he enjoyed the juicy chicken with crispy breading and the sauce. Tilapia with pineapple sauce - 5 stars - The tilapia had a crispy breading and was covered in a curry sauce and sweet chunks of pineapple. The chef gave it a spiciness level of 5/moderate, which is what I had requested. Bubble tea - 5 stars - I chose the flavor of honeydew melon. I really liked the sweet fruitiness of this beverage. Thai iced tea - 4.5 stars - This tea had a nice flavor. read more

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Tiny restaurant with great ambiance and setup. Staff were friendly. Papaya combo and grilled fishballs were really good here, tasty and full of flavors. The fried rice was simply divine, perfectly cooked with just the right amount of spice to give it that authentic Thai kick. They definitely bring the heat, so choose your level carefully! read more

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Kiin Lao and Thai was very tasty! The Lemongrass noodles and mule I had were both solid but just not the most exciting things I've ever had. The vibe was very cute. The murals were bright and it was well-lit. The service was good. I was a little bummed they were out of the drink I originally wanted but they let me know right away and gave other options which was great. I would definitely come back! read more

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery - Lilly Mule - Laotian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The curry puffs were delish and sad I won't eat them again! Everything else was good, nothing terrible and nothing incredible. I picked up an order on a busy evening when I didn't have time to cook and they did not include any rice for my order of orm (an herbal stew described as coming with sticky rice). I thus ended up with a liquidy sauce with tofu in it, and nothing to eat it with for $17. I requested a refund for this item. First I was told I needed to select sticky rice when I ordered (there was no option to do this on the ChowNow website), then I was offered a free sticky rice next time I come in (why would I want this when rice would be included with a meal), and when I reiterated that I wanted a refund for $17 for sauce they said they would call me back but never did. If something goes wrong the "boss" is uncompromising and you will not be treated well, as I can see now from many other reviews both eat-in and takeout. The gentleman on the phone was kind and seemed to want to help me, but kept having to ask the "boss lady"who was cheap and preferred stubbornness (and a negative review) rather than providing good customer service. read more

First visit to Kiin did not disappoint! I've been venturing into trying Laotian food since I have another place near my house, and I really enjoyed the food here! Upstairs in a loft space right on Forbes, great location but not handicap accessible. Fun bright decor and very nice service. Extremely hands off but still helpful. I had the Mee Kathi with chicken and the Thai iced tea. This dish was like if curry meets egg drop soup with rice noodles. So tasty! I ordered it 6 spicy but will go hotter next time. read more

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery - Pad Kra Pao with chicken - Laotian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Yum!!! Went on a Tuesday evening and it wasn't busy. The dishes and presentation were gorgeous!!! I got the garlic noodles w fried chicken (after seeing lots of reviews) and they didn't disappoint, but the noodles were so good I didn't really need the chicken. Dumplings were great too with a good sauce. I'd love to go back and try something more new to me next time!! read more

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery - Garlic Noodles - Laotian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

If you like Thai food, Kiin is some of the best Thai food in PGH. I always take visiting friends and family here and they have great vegetarian options. My top recommendations are the Crispy Rice Salad (Naem Khao) with Tofu, the Pho Lao (again with Tofu but I've heard the Beef is good too), and the Vegetarian Papaya Salad! Kiin is a really colorful place and very family friendly. It's also great for a dinner with friends. Kiin is busy and lively, which sometimes makes the service a bit slow but the staff there is kind. Last time I went, we had to take 10 minutes to track down people so we could get utensils and water however, in all the time I've been to Kiin, I feel like that's a rare occurrence. There is also only street parking, which sometimes is hard to get in Squirrel Hill. Despite this, I always find myself coming back for the great food! read more

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery - Lao Pho (Lao-Style Noodle Soup) Red Curry - Laotian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great food and great service! This is one of my favorite restaurants since starting school. I brought my family and in laws for graduation and we had a fantastic time. My family can't handle spicy food and the spice range is great for that. We had a reservation for a party of 12, were seated quickly even with the very busy restaurant during graduation, and were given our food very quickly. The servers were also very helpful when we had to split our bill by 9-3. The place does require going up a large staircase, but it is worth it if you are able to. read more

My daughter had the garlic noodles and I had Kathi's bowl- both were so good! Spring rolls- brought out with our meal. We had enough to take home for another meal. Presentation was lovely. View was nice -to sit by the window. read more

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery - Spring rolls and garlic chicken - Laotian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Visiting Pittsburgh to see our son n he suggested kiin lao n thai eatery as it had good reviews. We also have not tasted Laotian food so thought we'd try the restaurant. And we were v excited. It's in squirrel hill area of Pittsburgh on a busy Forbes ave. As in any city parking is a lil hard but we found street parking. The restaurant is above a shoe shop - little shoes. Has an entrance/ stairs next to the shop. Rustic n clean restaurant w friendly welcoming staff. We tried the spring rolls n sautéed jackfruit. They both tasted good. The sautéed jackfruit w rice cakes n cucumber looked like shredded pork chicken. V tasty n flavorful n if someone just gave it to me n told me to try it I wouldn't have thought it was jackfruit. When the waitress brought the whole fish w mango salad was a lil disappointed n thought I'd made the wrong choice. Was whole fried branzino w strips of mango n onion n a yellow watery sauce. But it was delicious from the first bite/ taste. Not a morsel left. The lemongrass noodles w shrimp was v tasty too. Also got the Khao soi w sai oua. Thin noodles w a nice spicy broth n Laotian sausage. For a very cold day it was so good. Thank you Kiin Lao n Thau for a great lunch. Will sure come back again. read more

Stumbled upon this place while shopping and wow. I hadn't had lao food since living in nyc and the crispy rice salad and crispy spring rolls were sooo good. 10/10 read more

Excellent service Great atmosphere The jackfruit appetizer was unique and delicious read more

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery - Jack Fruit Appetizer - Laotian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Really unique spot in Squirrel Hill. All the food we have ever gotten has been very good and unique in flavor, as they use a lot of lemongrass and dill in their cooking. Unfortunately, sometimes it has been far too spicy for our liking, and too small of portions, leaving us hungry for the money spent. read more