Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine is a little oasis tucked away in downtown Honolulu. The beautiful outdoor seating with koi ponds, umbrellas, and string lights creates a peaceful atmosphere that makes you want to slow down and enjoy the meal. If you're looking for authentic Lao food, this place definitely delivers. We ordered the Soop Noor Mai (bamboo shoot salad), Lao-style Som Tum, Beef Red Curry with jasmine rice, and Seen Haeng (beef jerky). The standout dish for me was the Soop Noor Mai. It was unlike anything I've had before, with an earthy, herbaceous flavor and plenty of texture from the shredded bamboo shoots, toasted rice powder, fresh herbs, and greens. Every bite had something different going on, making it both interesting and deeply satisfying. The Lao-style papaya salad was fresh, vibrant, and packed with bold flavors. The beef red curry was rich, creamy, and fragrant with tender beef that paired perfectly with the jasmine rice. The only dish that missed the mark for me was the Seen Haeng. While the flavor was good, the beef was cooked a little too long and ended up drier than I prefer. I personally like Lao beef jerky with a bit more tenderness and chew. Everything else was excellent, and the relaxing garden setting made the experience even better. If you're craving authentic Lao cuisine in Honolulu, Olay's is well worth a visit. I'll definitely be back to explore more of their menu. read more

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I was really excited to try this place. A weekday around 8pm, this place was still packed. We waited about 10min for a table and another 10min to be waited...which is not a big deal. I could see the servers were busy. The food came out in a reasonable time, and the appetizer sampler was great. I usually don't really like regular egg rolls but they were so tasty. Chicken wings are also my favorite. Calamari and summer rolls were okay. The entrees....pat thai and panag curry were good but nothing special. What was really dissappointing was we found a long piece of hair when we took the left over curry home in the container. I know these things happen but wish I noticed that at the restaurant ( I barely ate the curry at the restaurant as I got full so quickly). Paid $25 for it....rarely ate it and found a hair.... Also they charge 4% credit card fee and put the default tip from 20%, 25% and 30%. All these upcharge and tip culture is getting out of control. read more

Stopped by Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine and tried the Pad Makeua (eggplant), mango sticky rice, and a Thai iced tea. The food was good and had that authentic homemade flavor. The eggplant was cooked well and packed with flavor, while the mango sticky rice was a nice way to finish the meal. The Thai iced tea was refreshing and went well with everything. The restaurant has a nice decor that feels welcoming and a nice large outdoor seating area, and the service was friendly throughout our visit. Street parking can be a little tough to find depending on when you go, but there are designated parking spaces/structures nearby which made it manageable. Overall, a solid spot for Thai and Lao food, and I'd be happy to come back and try more from the menu. read more

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We ordered the Kapun (Lao fish noodle curry), the Lao Pad Thai and the Massaman Thai curry. All of the dishes were excellent. My favorite was the Lao pad Thai but really it was a toss up. Great service -- amazing ambiance. read more

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I love how many different and solid options they have at Olay's! This was my first time trying the thai loco moco, and this is definitely one of my favorite dishes from here. It was super flavorful and something different than what I am used to. I always like ordering the sticky rice to pair with their dishes. When I come here with my office, we enjoy sharing the summer rolls. I prefer the summer rolls with avocado over the one with tofu. We placed a takeout order online and had to wait around a bit past our designated pick up time. This was understandable since our order was for 5+ people. Overall, solid lunch spot! read more

Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine - PANANG CURRY - Thai Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I've visited Olay's every single time I've gone to Oahu, and it's still just as delicious and welcoming as the first time. Located in the heart of Chinatown, Olay's has a unique touch on Thai/Lao cuisine, and allows you to bring in your own beverages! Food is always delicious, and made with spices and flavor that surely pack a punch. They have seating inside and outside, with an ambiance reminiscent of South East Asia. Highly recommend especially if you're looking for some great Thai/Lao cuisine in Oahu! read more

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Olay's Thai has become my regular take-out restaurant for Thai food. I love their vast number of vegan and vegetarian options. I usually go there after their busy lunch schedule or before dinner. Their service is friendly and fast during the off hours, and they do a great job packing the food. My usual orders are green and red curry with tofu, drunken noodles or pad Thai. I've also ordered the pumpkin curry. All of the dishes are tasty and they come with jasmine rice except the noodle dishes. This time I wanted to try their Lao dishes. I ordered the Lao pad Thai which was delicious and sweeter than the Thai pad Thai that my friend ordered. I also ordered the Lao bamboo stew which took extra time to cook (they have a note on the menu about the cook time). The stew was very earthy and had a unique taste. I enjoyed it but for others it may be an acquired taste. The stew was on the saltier side than I'm used to but since this was take out, I was able to dilute the stew with water when I got home. They do add a credit card fee so bring cash if you want to save a few extra bucks. read more

Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine - Papaya salad - Thai Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Went here for my birthday dinner on a whim, and I was completely satisfied with my choice. I wish I would've taken more pictures of the interior and the outdoor seating area but from the outside, you cannot tell how far back the restaurant goes and it is beautifully decorated. I got there probably around the last time I was able to be seated, but the staff were very friendly. The order did seem to take a little bit longer than I would've expected, but they were still pretty busy considering it was like an hour before closing. The Thai tea was nice and fresh + not overly sweet, the salad was so delicious, the drunken noodles were flavorful, and the sticky rice was soooo good. Would recommend and go back if I visit again. read more

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Ambiance was great. Very unexpected but really pleasant. My husband's Pad Thai was very good. He said it even got better the more he ate. My Drunken Noodles were very strange and had extremely burnt parts. It seemed very overcooked and even the pasta was wilted if that's possible. The flavor was alright, but it wasn't even close to the best I've had. I would go back to try the Massman Curry though since the Pad Thai was so good. The server was very nice but completely inattentive once our food was delivered. read more

Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine - We sat by the Koi pond. - Thai Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Olay's is THE BEST Thai restaurant on the island! I go here regularly whenever I'm craving Thai food. I really really recommend their Pad Thai and get it extra spicy! The chicken skewers were amazing as well! But their Thai is hits the spot! It's an outdoor ish seating but theres umbrella shade you'd sit under! There is also a koi fish pond you can sit close to and I find it so calming to eat and watch them swim. I had no problem with the service I received. The ladies here are really friendly and helpful! read more

Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine - Pad Thai and Thai tea and Satay Chicken Skewers - Thai Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Olay's! Conveniently located in the heart of Chinatown. Honestly, I wish they had a more healthier and safe location like somewhere with no shishi smell, like outside of Chinatown or something lol but oh well. It is what it is. Their restaurant is so cool tho. Upon walking in, you sign in if needed, wait to be seated. As you walk in, there's a pretty decor, I would say photo opp, but there's a table and stuff blocking. They should clear that area, so people can take pictures with it lol but when you get seated, you walk through, and they take you to the back for outdoor seating. There is no indoor seating. They have the commercial tents, and pretty outdoor decor out there too, like lights and stuff. And there's a koi pond. Bathroom is back there. The only sucky part is if it was to rain hard or have strong winds, I wonder how they deal with that. But make sure you go when it's nice weather. It's BYOB!! They have a good amount of seating too. Our go to for Olay's is the Lao style papaya salad. We eat it with chicharon, and I think they have option to order a side chicharon, but we were prepared and went store before heading over to buy bag chicharon and they allowed it for us instead of spending the same amount for a handful, you get more when you BYOBC - bring your own bag chicharon lol I just made that up. If it's BYOB, I'm sure they'll allow it. We eat that with sticky rice. Omg so bomb. I like to get the stuffed chicken wings, we ordered the calamari. Was good. We got yellow chicken curry. The wife wanted to try the beef jerky, she likes it. We take the sticky rice and roll it in to a ball, and dip it in the bagooong papaya salad sauce and even the curry. Eat it with the papaya salad and stuffed chicken!! Omg so good! One thing I forgot to mention, they are located in the heart of Chinatown, on hotel street, so you gotta find parking. Street parking or pay for public parking. Would we come here again, definitely! 10/10 recommend. Check out Olay's for your Lao food fix! read more

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Decided to go here as I was looking for a place to use my Resy credit on my trip. While the front might not look too impressive, the back dining area is actually really cozy. I tried the Drunken Noodles w/ tofu and the Panang Curry w/ beef. Both dishes combined were definitely too much for one person. I went with Hot option for both and I think I chose correctly because it was definitely compounding heat with each bite, but it was still manageable. I'm a fan of both entrees but I would probably just get the drunken noodle if I had to choose one. read more

Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine - Drunken Noodles (Tofu) - Thai Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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What an experience. Looking from the outside at the quaint, small store front you would have no idea that a lavishly decorated, courtyard restaurant hides just in front of you. As I approached the entrance with my family of five, I assumed we were walking into a hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant. Although, that authentic taste you only find in small, family run businesses was very much present, the beauty of the establishment captivated me. The dining area occupies the ground floor of a courtyard Mand with tents adorned with lights of all floors and flanked with plants of all types. A large koi pond is centered in the courtyard. While we were waiting for our food, I was so captivated I explored the space. The curry was one of the finest I have ever tasted, the eggplant fried wok was perfectly seasoned and crispy, and our broccoli wok was tender and delicious. I could barely keep my hands off the chicken satay we ordered for our young boys; they were not eating it fast enough. The service was efficient and friendly. Our waitress was so sweet to our three children. I cannot wait to come back. read more

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Absolutely my favorite Thai place on Oahu! The chicken sauté is amazing and the curry's are always way beyond basic. I'd like to end a meal with the mango sticky rice which most places don't a drizzle enough of the white frosting on, but here they are not stingy with it! read more

Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine - Pumpkin curry pad Thai drunken noodle chicken sauté - Thai Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

A friend recommended Olay's to me, and now I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. The atmosphere is reason enough to go here, with an outdoor courtyard with covered seating serving as the dining area. I was happily surprised to be seated right next to the koi pond and waterfall which is also home to a turtle! I had been exhausted before arriving, but the gentle rush of the waterfall, spicy dishes of khao pad phet and pad ki mao, and a cold Thai coffee to finish things off was just the pick-me-up I needed. Would highly recommend visiting with a group of friends or bringing a date. read more

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Amazing food, excellent ambience, and great service! It's been months since I've wanted to try out this restaurant and I was ecstatic to try this place out and had such high expectations. As soon as you enter, it was filled with exotic decor. The host was prompt and friendly, as well. They led us to the dining area, which is technically all outdoors with umbrellas covering the tables. The best part about this place was their menu. Every single one of their menu has a photo of it on the next page, which was helpful because it was our first time trying Laotian food. The foods themselves were also amazing and I can't wait to go back to try more. read more

Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine - Sticky rice - Thai Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Food is great here but the last few times we've made an order for pickup, they would never have our order ready at the time of pickup. This last order, we arrived and saw 5 workers just standing around in the back. Waited a few minutes just to be acknowledged and then we were asked TWICE what name the order was under. Smh. Food was meant for pickup a little before 8pm, and we waited well over 30 minutes for our food to be ready. Yes, it did seem busy, but when you see people who come in after you to pick up their order and THEIR order is ready but yours still isn't, something isn't right. Although I do like the food here, the wait and service is not worth it and would rather eat Thai food elsewhere. read more

If you're in Chinatown, Olay Thai is an absolute gem. Hands down some of the best Thai food I've had in a long time. Heads up, this place gets very busy (for sure a local favorite), but it's 100% worth the wait. The space itself is charming, with a beautiful backyard setup with tents and string lights that make the whole experience feel special. I visited twice on this trip, and both times the service was fantastic, super friendly and welcoming. Here's what we tried: Appetizers: Satay Chicken: WOW. The peanut sauce is to die for, and you get a great portion with four skewers. Appetizer Platter: Loved it, comes with 2 spring rolls, 2 summer rolls, fried calamari, and fried lemongrass chicken wings. Perfect for sharing and trying a bit of everything. Mains (We did family style): Pad Thai (with shrimp): Honestly, the best Pad Thai I've had on the island. No notes. Pumpkin Curry (with chicken): Divine, rich, slightly sweet, and just the right amount of spice. So comforting over white rice. Pineapple Fried Rice (with beef): Really good, not greasy at all, and a generous portion to share. They also offer desserts and non-alcoholic drinks, and it's BYOB, which is always a plus. I absolutely love this place and will be back every time I'm in Honolulu. read more

Decided to try this place out during a weekday during my lunch break... on a Monday @ 11:50am. Place has a down to earth ambiance. Especially when the dining area is outside. Water fall feature which has koi fish / turtle. Big bonus on the different plants! The food was awesome so YUMMY! but the service could have been better. Only 2 servers , loads of tables occupied and I believe everyone's food took a while to get served. I was hoping for a quick bite not this long. I'll give this place a try again but I think take out is my go to. read more

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was super excited to try this place bc of the great reviews on yelp but unfortunately the cleanliness and management of this place was disappointing to say the least. upon arrival, we stood at the host desk for approximately 10 minutes before being even acknowledged, we almost walked away then but figured they might just be super busy. come to find, that was not the case and only about half the patio was filled. there was unfortunately human hair in the skewers & the pad thai was much too sweet with little protein, and the noodles were overcooked resulting in a mushy texture. food looks much better than it tasted. on top of this, it took nearly 30 minutes for the food to come out despite it not being very busy. the ambiance of this place was unpleasant as well due to the numerous flies buzzing around the outdoor patio space with no option offered to sit indoors. waitress never checked in on us during our meal and we had to hunt her down ti request water refills. we ended up pointing out the hair to the waitress to which the owner said because we found it after having eaten half of the skewers already, that there was nothing he could do & they ended up taking away the plate altogether. definitely super disappointing experience while on vacation & will not be returning to this poorly run establishment. read more

Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine - Thai Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

After my doctor's appointment it was wonderful to see all the fresh produce in the outdoor walkway, with Okay's Thai Lao Cuisine set up at the tail end of the produce aisle. They were selling different types of curries and deserts but I was hungry for lunch and picked up their Pad Thai and Summer Rolls. So glad they were there, as they have been for some time now. Big help for the doctors and staff and patients alike, along with Dis n Dat cart around the corner by the garage entrance. Linda has plenty drinks to supplement your meal. read more

Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine - Two takeout items from their Kaiser Pensacola location - Thai Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

If you've never had thai food, this is a MUST try spot in Hawaii. They also frequent food events, so if you've been to a few of those, you may have came across one of their stands. Olay's has an large and expansive menu and I came here a couple of years ago with a friend. We didn't have the best experience then, they were very busy but we waited to get a table. That wasn't an issue but once we were seated, it was by the bathroom and against a wall, with a shaky table. However, the food was so good I really didn't care to complain at all. We got the stuffed chicken wings, their curry with sticky rice and drunken noodles. The stuffed chicken wings were very good, crispy and meaty, a great start to our meal. It was my first time trying drunken noodles and I've been chasing that high ever since (HAH), it was soooo flavorful and delicious. I think I got medium spice and it was perfect, each bite with an explosion of flavor and the flat noodles had the perfect amount of bounce and chew. The curry was quite forgettable for me, but I liked it paired with the sticky rice. We also ended our meal with mango sticky rice which was just *chefs kiss*. I came by here again with my coworkers recently (which is what the images are from) and I obviously had to get the drunken noodles again. It was just as delicious as I remembered. We also got spring rolls to share and it was hot and crunchy, and paired perfectly with the fresh lettuce & dipping sauce. This time I also got a much better view of the inside of the establishment and it is so nicely decorated, it almost feels like you've been transported to a different place when you walk into the main dining area. Like what I said at the beginning of my review, I would 100% recommend this spot, the food is delicious and decoration is immaculate. read more

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Took a chance stopping by without a reservation at 6:30pm on Saturday night. Hostess was kind enough to squeeze us in. I was delighted that she graciously sat us at the table right in front of the koi pond. Server greeted us and bought our delicious drinks, Thai tea and an ice coffee. Next came the crispy fried calamari and the garlic pork sticks. Calamari was crunchy and the pork was tender and well seasoned. My guest enjoyed the Sai Qua, the homemade Lao sausage with sticky rice and I liked the Thai hot pad siew. They didn't have mango and sticky rice nor the lod xong so we'll be back! Food was tasty, service was attentive and the ambience was spectacular. read more

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Ever stepped into Narnia going into a restaurant? A little hole in the wall hidden on hotel street. When you enter, you think it's a small restaurant... well I thought so. Then when they take you to your seat, you step into a great outside seating area decorated with tents, colorful ensembles, and Thai culture. It also features a small rock waterfall with some koi fish and their own turtle. The food is very good. For Thai standards, I would have to say it is above average. I do like certain other places compared, but Olay's does a good job being flavorful and the portions are great. The only thing I can think of to ding off the score is service. It's not horrible by standards. I do find it hard to get the attention of the servers but they are understandably running around doing stuff. read more

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Food was okay and was pretty pricey. I was disappointed with the service because it wasn't that friendly. Parking was bad and hard to find in a very dangerous looking area. Most of the aesthetics are inside where you don't get to sit. read more

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Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine in the middle of Chinatown on Hotel. We had passed by during the Chinese New Year's parade. We saw their Outstanding reviews from our fellow Yelper's. We were finally able to make reservations. It was an amazing experience. We're glad we had the chance to go. The food was amazing and delicious. We tried the Appetizer sampler and the Entree sampler. We were treated to a wonderful selection of delicious food. We were fortunate to be seated outside in what I can only describe as a "Magical Garden". Brightly decorated with lanterns, lights, and flowers . The Koi pond raised it to another level. . Their servers and kitchen staff are top notch. A definite must try. read more

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The family and I decided to try something different while in Chinatown. We setup the map quest and headed here first for our Chinatown adventure. Upon arrival you will have to find parking. It is a small pay for parking lot behind the restaurant or you can take your chances with the street parking. I parked in the pay parking lot. It is a 2 minute walk from there to the restaurant. We went in and were immediately seated. After seeing our table I took my photo opportunities of the lovely environment. It was very nice and gave relaxing vibes. I didn't expect the indoor/outdoor area. But it was nice since it had the coverings that blocked out the sun. I picked the spicy fried rice and the fried calamari. The rice and calamari were great. I asked for hot sauce and they brought me the 4 different heat sauces. I tried them all and liked the chili oil the most. I wanted to order the chicken but was told it only comes with the sampler platter. My family and I loved our meals and will go again. read more

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Inside court is awesome. Super pretty. Service is always kind and welcoming, wide choice of dish - with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options - and general quality of the food is fantastic. read more

Olay's exceeded my expectations! Such great food and a beautiful ambiance , would definitely come again . read more

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The food was lacking flavor as we usually expect from them. I have eaten there many times even at their Halawa place years ago. Not sure if kitchen staff changed. read more

ambiance is everything here. your almost feeling like your at an outdoor party garden. the koi fish is really beautiful. the workers are very nice here and they are super busy. maybe only couple times i had to flag them down because they move so fast. GET * mama olay salad * pad gra pow * rad na * lao style mango salad PASS * stuff chicken wings read more

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Iv'e had Olay's for take out and at the food trucks before and the impression I had of it was good so I finally took the time to head there for a sit down dinner. Walking in I saw a small store front and was expecting a small space that we would be squeezed into but I wasn't expecting it would be outdoors in a nice wide area! The menu was overwhelming at first but after realizing it was split into the lao and thai sections it started to make sense more. I liked that I could have the option to try both. For me the Lao me u stood out. i had never trued lao pad thai or som moo, their pickled pork so I was excited to experience that. The pd thai was good, its key difference is that it came with a sauce on the side and eggs sliced on the side. It was a different fewl but overall not too foreign of a flavor. The Som Moo was amazing! I like the texture and flavor. Also it cones with raw peppers and garlic and for me thats amazing. O ones probably going to want to takk to me after that meal but thats a price im willing to pay. read more

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What a cute and charming restaurant! Outdoor garden patio feels like you've been transported to another place. Food was delicious. Wide variety menu. Street parking. Service was great. Wonderful evening read more

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Visiting from out of town and this restaurant was worth the trip. Delicious Thai and also food, good service and very accommodating to dietary restrictions. Great for gluten free. The papaya salad and drunken noodles were some of the best ones I've ever had read more

Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine - Papaya salad - Thai Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Solid thai food! I was able to do a walk in with no wait on Sunday evening. The seating area is outdoors, with beautiful ambient lighting and vibes. The food was honestly really delicious with big portions. The pad siew had a strong garlicky flavor which I loved. I've deducted a star because they charge a credit card processing fee. Additionally, I was able to find street parking, but the area is a little sketchy after dark. Overall, I'm happy I got to try this place. If I come again, I'd likely do take out and bring cash. read more

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Superb Thai option in China Town. Fantastic decor. Felt like an oasis of tranquility with great eats. I had the Panang Curry with Chicken. I always enjoy veggies and was happy to see the string beans. We also had the Mango Salad. With medium spice it was very spicy. Be warned :) Definitely give them a try for your China Town visits. Keep it in your rotation if local and consider it for a China Town visit for tourists. We heard the neighborhood can be a bit dodgy at night. read more

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Was really good! I can't believe I'd never been here before! It's a beautiful courtyard--who would have known it existed in the middle of Chinatown? Sketchy outside, but transported to a whole new world inside. We went early--I was lucky to find street parking and when we finished, it was still light out. The service is good--our waitress was cute and helped explain the difference between Thai and Laotian pad thai (the latter is spicier?) besides recommending dishes and amounts. The food was delicious! I would totally go again and bring my family! read more

Been here before on last trip and had a really good experience so this trip warranted another visit. I ordered the Pad Siew (Wide fried noodles) with chicken and asked for medium heat. We also ordered the summer rolls, which were quite good, refreshing and tasty. The Pad Siew was hot. Not medium. As a Texan I'm use to hot. Jalapenos are a must addon for most things. I love Thai food but I know when to bow down and rarely order hot (Thai hot), but that is what I got so I really couldn't enjoy the food, the spiciness overwhelmed any flavor I might have enjoyed. This forced us to order coconut ice cream for dessert to put out the fires that were still burning in my mouth. S ilver lining, coconut ice cream was good! But I still downgraded the review mainly for 2 reasons: 1) It was Thai hot instead of medium. 2) The wait person never asked for feedback on the meal. read more

Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine - Pad Siew chicken. Should have been medium, but was Thai hot. - Thai Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

LOVED it!!! The little courtyard in the back was like stepping into Southeast Asia! Ambiance was key!!! Including spotting a Madagascar Gecko! The food was full of flavor and so satisfying! I got the Lychee Squeeze to drink and it was refreshing! Loved that it came with two Lychees! Everything we ordered from noodles to curries to crispy rice salad and soup were spot on! Can't wait to eat here again! Yum yum yum!!! read more

Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine - Beautiful gecko!!! Just like I saw while traveling in SE Asia :) - Thai Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Olay's is always a fun place for lunch when I want to escape downtown. When you eat in the back outdoor seating area, you're transported to this lush and beautiful escape-- as if you're no longer in Chinatown/downtown! Went for lunch with some mentors and we shared this fermented pork salad (odd, I know but pleasantly delicious), panang curry, beef pad see ew, and sticky rice. All were delicious but my favorites this time were the pad see ew and panang curry. Service is always friendly and quick but you don't feel like you're rushed! read more

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