Went south to visit a friend and decided to try this place since I've had it bookmarked for so long since I wanted to try Laotian food. The ambiance and service were really good, but the food was okay. I got the Pha Khao Lao platter with the sausage and ai really liked the sausage but the rest were not that good. The gang nor mai tasted too strong of fish sauce that you couldn't really taste anything else. The papaya salad was basic and the sticky rice was good to pair with the sausage and salad. Overall, I think their other dishes may be better. I tried the Pha Lao and I liked it. It was also really big for only ~$16 vs the ~$43 platter. read more

Service is excellent. The interiors are authentic with soft lighting and nice colors. Had thank you guys thank you. Have a good day the papaya salad, which was delicious and the Nam Khao Lettuce wraps andnalso the Lao sausage is wonderful Also, the pepper tofu! This place is awesome and just realized it was in the neighborhood!! Will come bk read more

Pha Khao Lao Cuisine - Laotian Near Me - San Diego, California

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We wanted to try Lao cuisine for the first time and while there are not many options in San Diego, this was a definitely good choice! Ambience - it's casual but good enough for a nice lunch/dinner out. The space is big and beautifully decorated with Laotian elements. Service - amazing! The guy who served us was friendly and attentive even if he's the only one FOH during lunch. What we go: Crab rangoon - simple but delicious and came with generous filling Laotian steak with jeow bee - the dish I've been wanting to try the most. The steak was juicy, perfect doneness, and I loved the jeow bee sauce. I also like how there are fatty and charred bits Pork belly - my husband loved this the most! Crab fried rice - generous crab meat and serving for two people! Honestly could be split among three 5/5 and we'll be back! read more

Pha Khao Lao Cuisine - Steak, Pork Belly, Crab Fried Rice - Laotian Near Me - San Diego, California

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wow wow wow everything was bursting with flavor and soo yummy!!! my only con is that everything was also overly oily and salty. however, we both agreed we would return; it was just that good. but maybe order extra rice on the side to balance out.. garlic pork belly - crispy greasy fatty. id get this again but this + fried spring rolls r so overly oily fried spring rolls - 10/10 and to die for house made sweet and sour sauce fried tofu - a classic appetizer item these were perfect pad ped - medium spice level w/ chicken protein. it is more sour than spicy but still great. i Have to point out that i enjoyed the veggies in this so so much pretty attentive service, spacious interior, lots of parking read more

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Ive been craving lao food and this place always hits the spot. Spice level is always on point. Small mom and pops shop that taste like authentic lao food. I always get the nem khao and you can have them make it spicy. Trust me its the best spicy!!! Love there tum khapoon dark and funky style. I tried their beef drunken noodle for the first time today, but it was a little on the sweet side for me. I like mine more savory. Service was super quick and friendly. They constantly refill your water without having to ask. Nicely decorated with booth and table seating. They share a large parking lot with Panda Express and Ding Tea. read more

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I love that the fried rolls is made in rice paper. It was tasty and not salty at all. Also ordered the fried pork belly, which was equally tasty. Will def try other dishes. read more

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The restaurant is very nicely and compfrtably decorated inside. The servers were all very nice and helpful. They asked questions to make sure we enjoy our food. We ordered the Me Ka Tee and this is where they checked if we were OK with chicken feet or if we would just like to have more of the other chicken meat instead if we were not comfortable. I thought that was so nice. This was a very creamy curry based soup and my only negative is that I wished the soup was hotter but I think we could just ask for that next time. We also tried the mok kai which was a chicken steamed in banana leaf with some coconut and chilies. It has a good spice kick, the chicken was juicy and delicious, I would recommend trying this if you haven't before. The second noodle soup we tried was the khao soi luangprabang. I'm only familiar with the Thai version and I understood this is a completely different soup so I ordered it just so I can learn the Lau version. It was delicious. I loved the clear flavorful broth and the fried onions with the ground pork was amazing. There was a lot of good things on the menu and I can't wait to come back to try more. read more

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Came for quick lunch service and all I can say is that I need to come back and experience a family style meal! The steak entree and the crab fried rice was delicious. I would have loved some greens with the steak entree, but nonetheless I would eat it over and over again if I could. The crack sauce that it came with was my favorite. The restaurant is so neatly decorated. It reminded me of dining at home at my parents house but with an elevated clean kitchen. lol Great experience! read more

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Came here on a weekend to enjoy an early dinner. The inside has plenty of tables to sit at and is very clean. Service was fast and attentive. We ordered the wings special and the mango sticky rice. Would definitely recommend this place for an authentic experience. read more

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Aesthetically decorated restaurant with nice staff. We started with egg rolls, nice and crunchy. We got the Pha Khao Lao platter. The grilled chicken wing was nicely flavored! Although I wish it was crispier. The papaya salad was mild in flavor, I typically like it more of the pungent shrimp/crab taste but the spice level was there. The drunken noodles were surprisingly sweet. The bbq beef had a nice char to it, but didn't really care for the dipping sauces. We ended our meal with mango sticky rice - 10/10. read more

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I was craving some Thai/Lao food and decided to try this place out around noon on a Saturday. Located in a shopping area, this place had no shortage of parking options. Pros: -very welcoming spot! The staff are warm and the restaurant looked nice yet allows customers to feel relaxed at the same time. -i ordered the seafood Tom yum soup and the portion was huge for one person -best Lao Sausage I have ever eaten. An order comes with two sausages Cons: -n/a Overall, delicious place. Highly recommend!!! read more

Pha Khao Lao Cuisine - Spicy Lao sausage - Laotian Near Me - San Diego, California

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The next best thing to close to homemade! I just wish they had more kao poon options, and the mok chicken tasted like it was missing something. read more

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PHA Khao is serving Lao Cuisine in a charming space. AMBIANCE Spacious, comfy interior w an Xmas tree up for the holidays. Restroom scent could improve. SERVICE Friendly, helpful staff FOOD 4.5/5 THREE FLAVORED FISH ~ (Big) Crispy Fried whole fish (Tilapia) in garlic sweet and spicy sauce topped with fried basil. Only thing I'd change is fish type if possible. 3.5/5 PAD SEE AW Stir fried flat noodle, egg, carrot and chinese broccoli in brown sauce (this tasted like it was without oyster sauce, as I only tasted soy sauce from the brown sauce) EGG ROLL (not what I'd order, but others enjoyed this) Glass noodle, carrot, gabbage, wrapped in wonton skin served with house sauce. read more

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Go to spot! This restaurant is fairly new. The interior is very spacious with a home-y ambiance. They are in the University Plaza, by Panda Express, Lee's Sandwich and Marshall's. I have been here a few times with family and friends and also have ordered take out. Every single item I have ordered was amazing. Some rotating things ordered are papaya salad (Lao style), beef jerky, chicken skewers, crispy pork belly, sticky rice, and nam khao. The staffs are friendly and super sweet. Highly recommend if you want authentic flavors. read more

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If you're craving authentic Lao food, this spot is definitely worth checking out. Every dish tasted fresh and true to its roots you can tell they put real heart into the flavors. Yes, the prices are a bit on the higher side, but honestly, it's worth every penny for the quality you get. The customer service was great from start to finish. The staff was warm, attentive, and made the whole experience feel welcoming. The atmosphere is clean, beautifully presented, and has that modern-but-cozy vibe that makes you want to sit and stay awhile. Overall, I'd absolutely recommend this place for anyone looking to enjoy delicious, authentic Lao cuisine in a beautiful setting. I'll definitely be back! read more

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The restaurant is clean, spacious, and relaxing. The staff are kind and attentive. We tried the Pho Lao and Pad Thai with chicken. The pho was only okay, the broth didn't quite hit that rich, flavorful note I was hoping for and could use a little more depth. On the plus side, the large bowl came with a generous portion of meat. The Pad Thai was different from what I'm used to; it wasn't as sweet as the typical Thai-style version. The hubby actually really liked it and thought it was one of the better Pad Thais he's had, but I personally prefer mine a little sweeter. Don't get me wrong, it's still good. We ordered medium spice, which turned out spicier than expected, so I'd advise against medium spice if you're sensitive to heat. Overall it's a pretty good spot but probably wouldn't be my go-to when I'm craving Lao food. read more

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We ordered the Laos platter and duck laarb. Both the dishes were delicious. The papaya salad has really good flavor. The soup was good. The chicken skewered were a bit salty but not too bad. The duck laarb was on point. Good food. read more

Pha Khao Lao Cuisine - The Laos platter - Laotian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Family owned Lao restaurant located in University Square plaza serving up some authentic Lao cuisine! The interior of the restaurant is clean, spacious, and beautifully decorated. There are plenty of parking spots near the restaurant which is also a plus! I had the pleasure of being served by Na, who was friendly and welcoming. I ordered the Pha khao lao platter which came with sticky rice, bamboo soup, lao sausage, and papaya salad and drunken noodles with seafood. Both dishes were very good and but the standout for me was the drunken noodles with a strong basil flavor. Be careful with the spice level if you cannot handle spice like me, it is not for the faint of heart. I bit into a chili pepper that looked like a bell pepper and was dying, but other than that, I will happily be dining here again! read more

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Their steak here is so juicy and the sauce pairing has a subtle sweetness to balance out the meat. Their pad Thai is a very good portion size (can definitely feed 2-3 people). Customer service is good and the space itself is quite spacious. read more

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Everything we ordered was pretty good, their beef noodle soup was sweet and umami, very tasty. Definitely coming back here when I'm in town read more

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A true hidden gem on the east side of San Diego! We were so pleasantly surprised to find pure Lao food on our weekend road trip, and we'll be sure to make a pit stop every time we're in the area The khao piak sen was exactly what I was hoping: perfectly chewy noodles in a savory broth with fragrant fries onions and herbs. Our waitress brought a couple chili options out that added a nice kick. The Lao sausages are phenomenal here too. We got the non-spicy but they're still so flavorful with plenty of herbs, including lemongrass and kaffir leaves, in every bite. I also highly recommend the tum mak teng -- basically a cucumber version of Lao-style papaya salad, with fermented fish sauce and all. It's more refreshing to balance the savoriness. The restaurant was super clean with very friendly service, and we were seated immediately. Can't wait to be back to try some other specials, like duck larb and some of their platters! read more

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I came in around 11am and was told to sit anywhere. The waiter gave me the menu and left. I ordered the lychee ice tea and their fish sauce noodles. The lychee ice tea was sweet and delicious. The fish sauce noodles was amazing. Plenty of chicken and the added mint was a good pairing. The loss of a star was due to the service. I only saw the server when he gave me the menu, took my order, and gave me my food. I had to walk up for a refill of water and napkins. I had to walk up to pay as well. read more

Pha Khao Lao Cuisine - Laotian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Lovely restaurant! Would highly recommend. My family/traditions typically eat food similar to this, and we had no complaints! Beef larb tasted homemade, and the pork belly was delicious. I didn't have any of the soup, but there were no complaints! The Lao sausage was a bit spicy, and as someone who can handle mild spice, I was surprised! 10/10 would come back though! Fairly priced as well! read more

Pha Khao Lao Cuisine - Lao sausage and pork belly - Laotian Near Me - San Diego, California

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My first time having Lao food and quite good! Unique flavors for each item ordered. Staff was super sweet and the inside was very cozy.

Wish we would have come sooner! We really enjoyed our experience here. Bottom line: great food, service, and value for your dollar. Atmosphere: outside looks daunting due to plain tinted windows, but inside is quite lovely! Wide open spaces, relaxing decor and plenty of seats. Family friendly as well, they have high chairs. The food: we ordered 5 items, the fried spring rolls, drunken noodles, chicken larb, khao soi phan, and nam wan lao . All were great and generous portions. The fried spring rolls and drunken noodles were our "safe" dishes as those are crossover into other Asian cuisine like Thai and viet. The others were new to us and pretty good! Def enjoyed the khao soi most. The service: wonderful! Friendly and warm, and very attentive to water refills, special attention to us having a toddler (water cup with lid and straw, as well as paper plate and plastic utensils, cause you know... babies!) and explaining how to eat certain items, as well as recommendations and asking if we'd like anything else. We really enjoyed our dining experience and highly recommend this spot for any Asian cuisine lovers, specifically southeast Asian cuisine! read more

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I love Lao food, so when I heard this place had recently opened, I had to try it. When we arrived, it wasn't busy, and we were seated and served right away. The restaurant is spacious, clean, and very welcoming. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The khao piak sen was especially yummy and comforting, the noodles were perfectly chewy, just how I like them. The service was great throughout our visit, and I'll definitely be coming back to try more dishes! read more

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Overall the food was a let down. The only thing that saved it was the sauce with the nam Khao. There was 3 groups and the woman that was our waitress was too busy on her phone rather than taking care of the guests. read more

Hi all, trying a new gem in bringing in the New Year. Happy New Year by the way. This restaurant is called "Pha Khao Lao Cuisine" which is located at 5801 University Avenue, Suite B2 in San Diego, California. Being intentional to complement "Pha Khao Lao Cuisine", for their service, their flavors, and chill atmosphere. If you like Thai, Vietnamese, Laotian, or Asian food seize this moment and stop by "Pha Khao Lao Cuisine". Yelp reviewers, and Yelp eaters try it for yourself and don't be intimidated by sticky rice (khao niao), chicken fried rice, or the shrimp fried rice, Sai Oua (herbal sausage), Khao Piak Sen (chicken noodle soup), Tam Mak Hoong (green papaya salad), extra care, or something special. Enjoy the Laotian dishes for yourself. read more

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The owners are so welcoming here. Really felt like such an authentic experience. I dined in with my family and enjoyed our favorite dishes. Everything tasted so amazingggg. Flavor bombs. The interior is delightful. Will be back! read more

Pha Khao Lao Cuisine - lao sausage, papaya salad - Laotian Near Me - San Diego, California

Just adding more photos................................. My previous review stands My favorite Lao place ................. read more

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If you're looking for an authentic Lao restaurant in San Diego, this is the place to go! I love coming here with friends because we get to sample a variety of dishes from the menu. My personal favorite is the Nam Khao.. (might be the best nam khao I've had) it's perfectly crispy and packed with flavor. I didn't order it this time since we already had plenty of food, but it's definitely my go-to dish. 10/10 experience every time! The place is always so clean! read more

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So glad I came across this place on IG and saved it as a place to check out. After taking my son to the batting cages we wanted to grab some dinner somewhere that was different than the typical food we always eat so I thought of this place. I'm so glad we decided to come here. They easily accommodated my family. We ordered a few dishes to share: nam khao and the lao sausages were both delicious dishes. My kids loved one of the stir fried rice noodle dishes and sticky rice. Their sauces were all so great and paired well with all the food. The only dish I'd probably not get again is the salad like noodle dish similar to papaya salad. I thought it was a bit too salty. Aside from that everything was great. Next time we come I'd come with more people so we could try more dishes. We came before the typical dinner time so it wasn't very busy which was nice. As we were leaving I noticed it got really busy. It's tucked in a shopping plaza with plenty of parking. We will definitely visit again! read more

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This place has only been open a couple months but they are OG authentic, The quality is outstanding. Best of San Diego county status, authentic Lao/thai Isaan cuisine is rare. This place is special, we love the Nam Khao and Tom Ken here, also the spicy Lao sausage and dipping sauces are amazing. They aren't nearby or convenient for us but well worth the trip. Service has always been excellent, they get hit with unexpected rushes sometimes but they manage... Restaurant is clean and well laid out. Don't pass this one up It's in a big strip mall so parking is not an issue. read more

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The food was so delicious I could not take a photo before everything was gone. Everything that came to the table was drool worthy. The night was rainy outside so soup was killer and the noodles in the soup was so good. read more

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I like to give places a couple tries before reviewing. This was my 2nd time here. Both times the service, speed, and foods were amazing! I came when they first opened and ordered noodle soup dishes with my mom. My last visit was just yesterday and we ordered a combination of items. This is one of the few restaurants in San Diego to offer not only Lao foods but authentic Lao foods that's either hard to make or where you only eat at parties or if you have an older generation to make for you. Everything is delicious. Literally. They have a lot of items that aren't sold in most restaurants and a lot of foods that are hard/takes a lot of time to make. Some of the items tried are khao piak, my mom had khao soy and she said that was really good. The Pha Khao Lao Lao platter with papaya salad, gaeng nor mai, and chicken wings. Chicken wings were surprisingly very flavorful and huge. We also tried beef larp, jeow tomatoes sauce, and mok pah which were all just okay for me. Love their thum khao poon here it's so good. If you know me and trust my taste buds, request them to make your thum khao poon "please ask Pouy to make thum khao poon Lina-style" and she will know exactly how to make it lol just tell them not so spicy like medium because my spice tolerance is very high. You'll thank me later lol Pouy is an amazing chef in the kitchen so if she's making your food, it'll be delicious! read more

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$15 for 6 pieces. Not enough to share let alone not enough for one person. I'm not sure how they thought this was okay to leave the kitchen. read more

Pha Khao Lao Cuisine - Laotian Near Me - San Diego, California

Wonderful food, ambience, and service! I am gluten intolerant and would not consider this a Go-to for allergens. However, they went above and beyond checking with the chefs to make sure I could safely eat something. Landed on the pad Thai and really enjoyed it! The gluten eaters enjoyed drunken noodles, gyoza, and a very fancy big lettuce wrap and fried spring roll plate read more

The food here is amazing. The staff are super courteous, warm, and personable. There are other Laotian restaurants closer to where I live, although I drive out of the way to dine here. I love their Lao BBQ Beef, Khao Piak Sen, Spicy Lao Sausages, papaya salad with long green beans, Mok Pa, Tom Yum Kung soup and caramelized braised pork. YUMMY!!!! The ambiance is aesthetically appealing. There are plenty of parking spaces in the parking lot. read more

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I've been to at least 5 different Lao restaurants and this is my current favorite one in San Diego! I love the crispy spring rolls with the fresh herbs so much! It called "Phan yur juen " read more

Pha Khao Lao Cuisine - Phan yur juen - super delicious, crispy hot spring rolls with fresh herbs. The noodle soup in the back = khao soi LBP soup - Laotian Near Me - San Diego, California

Came on a day they were out of pork blood but it was okay although I really wanted my kao piek sen with some lol the soup just tasted like straight chicken broth. The noodles were overcooked. When it got served to me, the usual milky white color or even light yellow it is supposed to be was dark yellow. Very light handed on the garnishes as well, barely any garlic. It is pictured red in photos because I added chili oil. The beef larb was good, very large portion. Mine definitely needed some lime so I got some on the side. Maybe don't order red wine here because they had to re pour me a glass since mine had fruit flies in it. I don't really think anyone drinks wine at places like this btw so maybe if I ever come again I'll just get some beer like a normal person lol Friendly workers. read more