SAAP is an absolute gem in Cary! Conveniently located right next to Downtown Cary Park, it's the perfect spot to grab a meal before or after exploring the park or visiting the nearby dog park. There's also a parking deck just a short walk away, which makes getting there incredibly easy. We ordered the crispy pork belly soup and the Peking chicken, and both dishes were outstanding. The flavors were bold, comforting, and perfectly balanced. The crispy pork belly soup was incredibly satisfying, and the Peking chicken was crispy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Based on our experience, it's hard to imagine ordering something that wouldn't be delicious. The restaurant itself is spotless, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The service was quick, attentive, and friendly, with the staff making sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. If you're looking to try delicious Laotian cuisine or simply want an incredible meal in Cary, I highly recommend giving SAAP a visit. We'll definitely be back to try more of the menu! read more

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We celebrated a special occasion with a phenomenal meal at Saap. For an appetizer, we tried the nightly small plate special, two steamed rice paper wrappers filled with ground pork with a mildly sweet sauce, to start the meal. It was very, very good and started our meal off on a high note. For entrees, my dining companion had the pork collar and I chose the Khao Poon Gai. The pork collar was absolutely phenomenal with a deep marinated flavor and perfect char, while my dish was incredibly flavorful from the coconut broth and the grilled chicken. I got to sample the pork collar and will order it the next time we're here. Dessert was a bit of a letdown. We split the carrot cake and found it OK, at best. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't at the same level as the rest of our meal. I would not order this again. Service was outstanding. Our server was friendly, helpful, and clearly knowledgeable about the menu. The kitchen turned over our orders very quickly. Combined with the great service, the tastefully decorated modern dining room made our meal memorable. Highly recommended. We'll be back. read more

5 stars, easily one of the most memorable meals I've had in the area. The menu is full of unique combinations that you don't come across often, but everything feels intentional and incredibly well executed. It's the kind of place where you can tell a lot of thought goes into how each dish is built. Every bite had so much flavor and nothing felt repetitive or expected. What stood out just as much as the food was the service. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and took the time to walk us through the menu, explain different dishes, and help us decide what to try. The ambiance ties it all together. It strikes that perfect balance of being elevated but still relaxed. It feels like a place you can come to wind down at the end of the day, but also somewhere you'd confidently bring friends who are visiting and want to show them a great spot. This is definitely a place I'll be coming back to. There are so many other dishes I already want to try, which is always the best sign. read more

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My partner surprised me with a birthday dinner at Saap. I had been wanting to try here because I had been hearing so many good things so I was really excited. This restaurant is located in downtown Cary close to the downtown park. We did not have any issues with parking when we visited at 7pm on Saturday. There is a parking deck and lot close to the restaurant. It is a small, intimate restaurant. I would definitely recommend grabbing a reservation. They were very busy when we went in. Our server was amazing. She was so kind and helpful. We started off with drinks. I got their version of an old fashioned. It was good but I realize now how odd of a pairing that is with Laotian cuisine. We also ordered for appetizers the cucumber and vermicelli rice salad and spring rolls. While we waited for our food and drinks, they brought us fish chips. These were so light and had the best texture. So good! The cucumber salad has such a beautiful presentation in addition to being a refreshing combination with the more savory entrees at Saap. For my meal, I ordered the Pad Lao and my partner had the Pepper Beef. We were both blown away by how good our food was. And so much of it! These type of noodles are, in my mind, the best type of noodles. Then for dessert we tried the Winter Trio. Honestly, these were some of the most unique desserts I have ever had. They're so cool. All very good too! I can't recommend enough how you should stop in and give Saap a try. read more

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My company rented out Saap for a work event and it was fantastic. I would recommend anyone in the Cary area look here for your next private event and here's why. The space is perfect. You walk in to a large bar area that serves fantastic cocktails. There was something for everyone and plenty of room for ~40 to mingle. Then the apps came out and man were they good. We had spring rolls, sausage, and satay. All of which were delicious and easy to eat while chatting with someone. Then the food came out (buffet style), and I was not disappointed! Salmon cooked to perfection, fried rice that I needed seconds of, and a beautiful crème brûlée to top it all off. With all of that came great service. It was amazing how attentive the wait staff was despite overseeing a large group. I wish I had taken pictures because it's a large space with plenty of natural light from all the windows, but you'll just have to try it to see it! read more

It's been a while since we went to Sao but it's high time I complete the review. We tried Saap because we love Bida manda and heard the chef opened his own place. We did get a bunch of apps, mains, drinks and dessert. Their noodle with tofu was the best dish we had, the braised pork was very mediocre and the beef was a bit chewy and under seasoned. Their drinks were very potent especially the Ube cocktail. Our server was lovely, very efficient and friendly. The ambience was nice but a little loud but that just means everyone's having a good time. Overall the food didn't slap or maybe it was an off night for them, but it hasn't motivated us to try it again. read more

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I came on a Sunday evening and made a reservation for 5:30 pm online and we were seated promptly. Since it was such a nice day outside, we opted to sit outside, which they graciously accommodated. Our waiter immediately brought out some water and shrimp chips to munch on while looking through the menu, which was much appreciated. I started with an Ube Colada, which was basically an ube-flavored (think taro with some coconut) pina colada. It looked kind of gimmicky, but it actually tasted pretty good. I'm a big fan of Ube, so I enjoyed the drink. For my entree, I ended up ordering the Mee Ka Tee, which was a coconut curry flavored noodle soup with pork belly, soft-boiled egg, bean sprouts, and red cabbage. The spice level was moderate, and they brought me some extra chili powder to increase the spice level as I needed. The flavors in the broth were tasty, the pork belly was crispy and delicious, but the texture of the noodles were a bit on the mushy side. Overall, it was a satisfying dish. My wife ordered the Fried Flounder, which had a dill marinade flavor to it, and came with papaya salad and sticky rice. Her fish was fried well, and maintained a moist interior, but it didn't seem all that special - the dill was a unique flavor to pair with the fried fish, but nothing extraordinary. The papaya salad was tasty - not overbearingly acidic or salty with the right amount of crunch. The service was very friendly in answering all of our questions. The food came out really quickly - almost too quickly. I guess the noodle soup is pretty easy to prepare and assemble, but I would have expected more time would be needed for the fried fish if it were being freshly fried. The outdoor seating option was nice, especially getting to people-watch by Downtown Cary Park. Parking is convenient in the parking deck, and we were able to go for a nice stroll around Downtown Cary Park afterwards, so it's a very nice and accessible location. It's hard not to compare this place to Bida Manda, but I think the accessibility of convenient parking, the fact that reservations were easy (I made them the day before) and we didn't have to wait to be seated and the service was quick and attentive, and the proximity to a clean and walk-able Downtown Cary Park all make Saap a better alternative to Bida Manda. (Take that for what it's worth coming from a true middle-aged suburban Cary-ite) read more

Saap - Mee Ka Tee, Shrimp Chips, and Ube Colada - Laotian Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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We came to SAAP for a nice holiday family get together, there were 4 of us at a table. Initial service was great, but we were soon forgotten about by our server midway through our meal. We had to wait about 20 minutes after finishing our food to ask our server for the check - and that was only because we saw her and asked her to come to our table. I mention this solely because of the price of the food - you pay for the food and the experience. The food was good, but I feel like I should've ordered something else. I ordered the Thom Khem-- the fatty pork belly parts were great, but the ribs were very tough and hard to bite through. I don't think I would come back again unfortunately. read more

Saap - Thom khem - Laotian Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Saap is such a great restaurant. Cary is lucky to have it! The servers are always attentive and kind, the food is consistently good and the restaurant is bright and beautiful. I am usually here for lunch, and have tried to eat everything on the menu at least once. I think my favorite items are the Lao Salad, the Bahn Mi, and the Pad Lao. It is tough to pick though as everything is super fresh and flavorful. They also have lots of options for gluten and dairy allergies and take such allergies very seriously, which I appreciate! No cross contamination here. Lastly, parking is easy to find as there is a deck on the same block. Highly recommend. read more

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A Laotian restaurant located in Cary! There is a parking deck conveniently next door. The restaurant had an intimate yet open atmosphere with its large windows and stylish interior. We had a reservation for dinner on a weekday evening, and were greeted and seated right away. Our server was attentive, friendly and helpful in providing food recommendations. They provide shrimp chips for the table which were puffy and tasty. We started off with ordering the Lao Beef Jerky to share which was sprinkled with sesame and came with Jeow Mak Len (a tomato-based dipping sauce) and sticky rice to eat together. The beef jerky was incredibly savory and delicious, but a much tougher texture than I was expecting. I also tried the Khao Poon Gai, which was a noodle dish with grilled chicken and vegetables in a red curry/coconut broth. The noodles were well-cooked and a good portion (I had leftovers) and the flavor of the curry broth was fragrant and rich. The chicken was tender but wish there was more flavor. Overall, Saap presents itself as a more upscale spot that would be nice for a date night, and prices on the menu reflect this. They had some interesting desserts on the menu which I hope to try next time. read more

Saap - Lao Beef Jerky - Laotian Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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We had a wonderful dinner at SAAP on a recent Tuesday night. The area was quite busy with people enjoying the adjacent Downtown Cary Park. We enjoyed people (and pup) watching from the outdoor patio. Our server, Lexi, could not have been more pleasant, professional, and knowledgeable regarding the menu. (All the servers working around us appeared very professional and polished). We started with the Seafood Salad, which struck me as almost like a Ceviche. Very vibrant fresh flavors with just the right amount of heat. We then split two entrees, the Kabocha Squash and Root Vegetable Curry along with the Khao Poon Gai. Both were very good, although the curry dish, while recognizing that it is vegetarian, was a bit heavy on starchy veggies for our liking, both had great flavor. We finished the meal with a delicious "deconstructed" carrot cake with a cream cheese ice cream that was fabulous. This is a great addition to the Cary dining scene. Beautifully plated and presented items at a fair price with first class service. read more

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This is a great place to dine.. we made reservations and was seated quickly.. there is inside and limited outside seating.. it gets pretty busy and at this time a year outside seating is prime.. our waitress Kenna was very, helpful, knowledgable about questions we had about certain dishes and drinks we had and she was very attentive.. The food was delicious and the portions was just right.. I would be a repeat customer for sure. read more

Saap - Laotian Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Food is pretty good with an eclectic selection. The restaurant is clean and modern with very responsive servers and bartenders. My only knock on this place is the price which is too high but consistent with other restaurants in the immediate area. May return again. read more

Amazing! This place is perfect for a date night! Our server was very knowledgeable and helped answer all of our questions. Food was amazing!! It had tons of vegetarian options. Parking garage is right behind this place. We will definitely be coming back to checkout other options from their menu. read more

Saap - Lettuce wrap - Laotian Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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The last time we were here was a little disappointing. We had made a reservation several weeks, if not at least a month in advanced for a party of 8 for a birthday and previously, with a large table we were at a nice large comfortable table but this time, we were squished at two tables pushed together with capped ends. It definitely should have at least been 3 tables to fit us comfortably with all our dishes. The service was a little lacking too, as we were all ready to order our drinks and appetizers, and even entrees but the girl told us only drinks first, then only appetizers then entrees, so we were forced to keep our menus on our table while already feeling squished and dishes coming to the table. The food quality wasn't as good as the last time either and I got the same dishes I've had before. It is nice that they are willing to split your dishes up for you though, like the seafood curry. Nice touch and beautifully presented still. Also cute and nice little birthday dessert at the end. The part that was the most upsetting and must be new, was apparently we were charged 3% fee for using credit card and weren't told that before paying?? I'm confused as to why a brick and mortar restaurant wouldn't be covering that charge themselves and putting it on the guests. I get it for food trucks or pop up events but a restaurant? A little tacky and cheap, in my opinion. At the very least, the server should be making you aware of that before you pay. read more

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Saap was pretty delicious. The shrimp chips were surprisingly tasty; I wasn't sure what to expect, but yum! I opted for the Khao Poon Gai. It very rich and flavorful with juicy chicken. I think the coconut broth may have been a little too heavy for me, but it tasted so good. My husband got the Saap fried rice with the sausage in the side. The sausage was too heavy for both of us, but it was nice to have a little taste. My husband also enjoyed a refreshing Laotian beer. Overall, such a nice addition to downtown Cary. read more

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SAAP is a wonderful restaurant for a night out for a refined but relaxing meal right in the heart of downtown Cary. I was excited to try this restaurant since the former Bida Manda Chef, Lou Basanga, was behind it. I am happy to report that it did not let me down! The meal starts with a delightful bowl of complimentary shrimp chips. The menu spans a range of southeast Asian inspired foods that will likely be familiar to most diners. There's a mix of small plates and larger dishes that are good for family style dining. I went with a few friends, and we shared some great dishes. We ordered the Crispy Coconut Rice Lettuce Wrap, Seafood Green Curry, and the Pepper Beef. I absolutely loved the Crispy Rice Lettuce wrap-- it was flavorful and provided a really nice blend of crunch with every bite. For the larger plates the Seafood Green curry was delicious with perfectly cooked scallops and shrimp. We found the pepper beef tasty, but nothing special or exciting. Our server was great! He was so attentive, and was able to provide excellent food and drink recommendations. The service was quick, and we never felt rushed to order. The ambiance of the restaurant is tastefully refined, light, and airy. It borders the gem that is Downtown Cary Park, which is a great option to explore before or after your meal. The restaurant itself is smaller and more intimate, so it makes for a better date night or small gathering than for larger parties. I don't regret making a reservation here! read more

Came here for the first time during their lunch service on Sunday. We booked a reservation for their last slot at 1:45pm for 4. Food was amazing with good portions and great flavors. We ordered the Crispy Coconut Rice Lettuce Wrap / Nam Khao and Summer Rolls for the table and I ordered the Basil & Garlic Stir Fry with crispy chicken. My meal was perfectly crispy and not oily and enough for me to take left overs. The meal came with white rice. I tasted the Pad Lao and Pepper Beef which were also amazing in flavor! Service was great. We were greeted and seated right away. Our server was diligent, attentive and friendly. She provided great recommendations for various dietary restrictions in our group. The kitchen closed at 2pm and once our order was placed everything came out fairly quickly. Before the kitchen closed she checked multiple times for additional orders. The seating is comfortable and the decide is sleek and modern. They have a variety of seat options and a nook that could serve for a large private dining party. Overall will come back and try more off the menu. read more

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Amazing! Place was packed for dinner but they seated us promptly with our reservation time. The cocktails had a nice twist to classics. I got the pork belly and coconut curry soup and it was so delicious. The curry was perfectly sweet yet had a nice heat and the pork was cooked well. We also got the green curry, made with local seafood. It was so fresh and paired so well with rice and curry. The restaurant is located right next to the park so made for a great date spot! read more

Saap - Pork belly, coconut and egg drop soup / Mee Ka Tee - Laotian Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Loved this place as a dinner spot with that upscale feel but casual dress code. Food was delicious, but I would say it wasn't the best Laotian I've had, although near the top. Prices are a bit higher than portions would suggest, but it is trying to be upscale as mentioned. I ordered the moo ping (pork skewers) to start. They were juicy but flavor could have been better and it was not served with a dipping sauce which I found odd. For my main, I order the basil and garlic stir fry. I ordered it with chicken and added shrimp as well. This was pretty good. I was happy with the dish overall, but it didn't blow my mind. That's what I was hoping for, but fell short. Still a solid 7-8/10 and would return for sure. read more

Saap - Laotian Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Very nice atmosphere and service was good. The peppered Beef was good but for the price they don't give enough food. I had Tom khem the Pork belly and ribs in sauce.. it was way too salty for me. Probably wont come back. read more

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Great space and great food to match. Lao food is a cuisine that's getting more popular and as a Lao person it's such an honor to have a space that represents our food well. The servers were attentive and knew a lot about the menu and the bartenders had such unique cocktail options. I love being able to take friends out to experience Lao food at a beautiful restaurant that properly represents the flavors of Lao food. read more

I've dined here at least five times now, and every visit has been consistently great. The host always greets me with a warm smile, which sets a welcoming tone right away. I usually sit on the bar side since I enjoy watching the whole environment it's lively and full of energy. The noise level can get a bit high, especially when there's a large party or when most of the main floor tables are filled, but that's to be expected at a popular spot. The bartender is fantastic always friendly and quick to recommend appetizers or daily specials. She checks in regularly to make sure I'm enjoying my food and drinks, which I really appreciate. Overall, dining at SAAP's has become one of my go-to experiences in downtown Cary. If you've had a less-than-great visit before, I'd definitely recommend giving it another try you might be pleasantly surprised! read more

Great food, atmosphere and service. The Purple Sticky Rice is like the love child of a mochi and creme brule custard. A truly unique and memorable dessert experience. The vibe here is kind of uptown New Orleans...not that there's jazz or anything but it's a modern, slightly industrial place with big windows, right next to an older neighborhood. I got to Saap for lunch today about 15 minutes before they closed for the afternoon break. I was genuinely welcomed and didn't feel rushed at all and truly appreciated the friendliness because I took the day off work to decompress. The food and the service were outstanding. I got the crispy spring rolls and the satay chicken with peanut sauce. I wasn't super hungry but both of the appetizers made a really decent meal. The chicken was very lean and tender and the spring rolls came with a sauce that had a little citrus with the perfect hint of spice at the end. I saw a picture online of Saap at night...it looked so cosmopolitan and inviting. I'd love to go back and sit on the patio on a cool evening. read more

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The team behind Brewery Bhavana and Bida Manda in central Raleigh have brought their brilliance to Cary! Very impressed with Saap. Small comfortable interior with fabulous service. Food was very impressive. Green papaya salad was very tasty, with typical flavors of southeast Asia. Vegetable curries often lack depth, but the not theirs, it was delicious! Our friends enjoyed summer rolls, tiger shrimp, and chicken satay--all delicious and well above the standard of most restaurants. Finally, their take on creme brulee for desert was a masterpiece! Very complementary flavors in addition to the perfectly prepared brulee underneath. read more

We loved everything about this place. The atmosphere is so sophisticated. Even the chairs are super comfy. Everything we had was delicious and the service was great. We had the shrimp fried rice and chicken lettuce wraps. Both were wonderful. read more

Saap - Lettuce wraps with chicken and shrimp fried rice. - Laotian Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

We were promptly seated and greeted by our server Nevaeh. She suggested the coconut lettuce wraps, but my companion doesn't care for coconut so we opted for the beef jerky and crispy pork belly. The crispy pork belly is a must! I almost got one to go but since I had to run errands I didn't. The beef jerky was also great! I did take some of that home to have with a beer later. We then opted for the papaya salad and pad lap with shrimp. Our server Informed us the papaya salad did have a hot chili sauce so we got it on the side, and glad we did. We only used a little and it was very hot, but had a nice taste. The pad lap was also delicious it had a great flavor. We will definitely go back to try other entrees. They have a full bar and beer on tap. read more

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Delicious food, variety and friendly servers! Several pescatarian dishes. My server Kena was especially knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommended! read more

Servers were extremely polite and helpful with the menu options. Food was served promptly with generous portions, enough for the next day's lunch! It was our first time there but definitely won't be our last! read more

Great hospitality and family owned restaurant. Reservations made in advance and seated right away! Our server was incredible. She made all the right recommendations. We were more than satisfied with the small and large plate. The crispy pork belly was and chicken curry was my favorite. Both had the perfect texture and flavor. read more

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A lovely Laotian spot, conveniently located next to a parking garage and the downtown Cary park. Perfect for a dinner date. Waitstaff was attentive, good portion sizes. Standout was the Ube Pina colada. read more

Saap - Ube pina colada - Laotian Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Feeling a little salty! My wife and I went to SAAP because we are big fans of Bida Manda and Brewery Bhavana and had high hopes for SAAP, so we went on my birthday. Ambiance was nice, nice views of the park next door, service was good, but the food was underwhelming. The papaya salad was just okay, maybe too fish sauce heavy. Our server strongly recommended the beef drunken noodles, which my wife then ordered. The noodles were underseasoned and the beef was overcooked and it was stringy. We live in North Raleigh, and get Asian takeout from Ni Asian, which charge half the price for their dishes yet are more flavorful and their beef more tender, so her dish disappointed. I got the lemongrass chicken, and it was pretty dry. I got sticky rice with it and it only came with a small dish of sauce, so it ate very dry. Overall, we'd be willing to try again, maybe it was an off night for some reason, but we're not impressed with the meal we had. read more

I rarely leave a review of a place on my first visit, but wow, this place deserves it. I've never had Laotian food before, but Saap gave me a great introduction. Literally everything was superb, from the spring rolls, fried flounder, the cocktails, and a jaw-dropping coconut curry ramen soup. The vibe and service were also very pleasant. Will def be coming back when in the Cary/Raleigh area. read more

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Had an amazing meal here. There are so many gluten free options, including dessert! Our waitress mentioned that the pastry chef's wife has celiac disease so he prioritizes making sure there are good gluten free options. The service was incredible and very allergy informed, I felt totally comfortable the whole time. The food had great balanced aromatic flavor. We sat on the patio and this restaurant is right next to the downtown Cary park so we were able to look at all the lights as it got darker. The inside of the restaurant is very pretty as well. Highly recommend! read more

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I came here to celebrate Founder's Day for my sorority. They were so accommodating and our waitress was so sweet! The food was delicious and the ambiance was the perfect setting for our group! We really enjoyed ourselves. read more

Saap - Salmon (special of day) - Laotian Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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I've visited SAAP several times for lunch, and I absolutely love it! The food is consistently delicious, although I do prefer the lunch over dinner. This time, I brought a young lady I'm mentoring who had never tried Laotian cuisine, and she really enjoyed it. However, I found tonight's experience to be just okay compared to previous visits. We ordered chicken wings, papaya salad, SAAP fried rice, and pork belly. When I placed our order, I specifically requested the SAAP fried rice without any vegetables, just eggs and sausage. However, when the dish arrived, I noticed scallions and carrots mixed in. I encouraged my son to try it, and while he thought it was alright at first, he soon discovered the onions, carrots, and scallions in it. I called the server back to request a new bowl of the SAAP fried rice, and he agreed to help. The replacement dish was correct, but when we received our bill, the charge for the first dish was still there--it seemed to be a miscommunication between the server and the kitchen regarding the order. Ultimately, I ended up paying for the extra dish, but the server kindly offered us a complimentary dessert as a gesture of goodwill and apologized for the mix-up. Prior to this experience, the service has always been impeccable. I highly recommend visiting during lunch, and I will definitely be returning but I will say that when it's a server error or kitchen error - the customer shouldn't have to pay for the dish. read more

Great atmosphere, delicious food! I enjoyed the recommended dishes and had birthday celebration for my friends.

Must go back!! Yum!! X xxxxxoooooox xxxxooooooooo Good staff Great food Fun times Nicely decorated read more

I had a lovely dinner at SAAP. Service was incredible slow and they just brought the check before even asking about dessert. However I think it was just very busy and the server was very friendly. The food was delicious. Of course since this is the chef from Bida Manda the food will feel very reminiscent of their dishes. We started with the seafood salad and bbq pork summer rolls, both were tasty. The star of the show was the whole fish for dinner. It was a fried red snapper and it was spot on. I also found the pricing very reasonable at $38. If you've never been to this area I found parking to be easy in the deck. I totally drove right by the deck though and had to turn around. read more

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Convenient location near the new Cary park. Apple Maps has it in a slightly different place but if you park in the parking deck, take a left and you'll see the sign near the corner of the building. We ordered the Mee Ka Tee and a papaya salad with Rib Chop Ambiance: 4.5/5 It's not a romantic spot but it has a pretty cool urban feel. Service: 4.5/5 Food: 4.5/5 The Mee Ka Tee was amazing- probably the best I've had in the triangle. The papaya salad itself was decent (would have preferred slightly more robust acidic flavors) but the rib chop itself was really delicious and perfectly cooked. Price: 4.5/5 In comparison to other Laotian spots like Bida Manda, the price wasn't bad at all. We'll be back for the Mee Ka Tee read more

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