Had the best Thai red curry I've ever experienced here recently. 30 years' experience in Thai food, including a lot in NYC and the bay area. The Pad Burapa (Pad Kra Pao) is also to die for, as is their Vientiane Sausage appetizer. read more

Absolutely incredible experience tonight at Vientiane! I visited for an event through Yelp, who is celebrating Women's month with all women owned businesses! The two daughters took over the business from their parents who opened Vientiane in 2001. It's wonderful to see family owned businesses stay in the family! We even learned more about Laos culture with trivia :) We were offered wine, Lao beer, Thai tea, or iced coffee. I had a white wine and Thai tea. It was my first time to try Thai Tea and I loved it! It's sweet, but delicious. I enjoyed everything I tried! From the apps, I loved their spring roll with sweet chili sauce! Their tofu pad tai was to die for. I would order that for dinner any day! I chose chicken for my Pho and the flavor overall was delicious. For dessert, we got mango sticky rice which was so good! Overall, Vientiane is a great authentic local Laotian restaurant! When you walk in, you can just tell the food is going to be amazing. I will definitely go back soon with more friends and family. read more

See all

Back again for Phobruary! Always a great pho from Vientiane Noodle Shop! It comes out piping hot which is perfect on a cold winter day. Ample noodles and protein. Good amount of bean sprouts and limes served with it and a nice variety of sauces. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Meatball Pho - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This is a cute small mom and pop restaurant. We tried the banh cuon, banh xeo, kang kan lau, and the duck larb. I think my mom's favorite thing was the duck larb, which had a bit of a kick. We also tried the lard nah, which I found less good than other versions that I had. When I ordered the banh cuon, I was thinking of the Vietnamese one so that's on me because this is not a Vietnamese restaurant. I did enjoy the banh cuon and banh xeo but probably wouldn't go out of my way to come back to this restaurant. read more

See all

It's a small place that has been there for years. Phofebruary always pulls me in here for a tasty hot pho during the cold. It's gone up in price but a nice size bowl is only 8 bucks. I love pho that doesn't need any broth tweaks and this always delivers. Yes if you want heat you need to add it like normal but I never need to add flavor. It's not a ton of meat so the noodle and broth ratio is high but I don't mind The gyoza were very good with a sweet hot dipping sauce. Will definitely get those again along with the pho. I've tried other items on the menu and they are always good. The inside isn't much to look at and it's a small space. Parking isn't great because a bus stop blocks spots close to the entrance. Service is quick and friendly. They turn tables quick which I like. Bathrooms have a shared sink so this isn't a fancy place but worth a stop. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Gyoza - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

I usually don't order chicken pho but decided to give it a try at Vientiane noodle shop and it was absolutely delicious the broth was so tasty the chicken was nicely shredded and tender. We also ordered papaya salad, and mango sticky rice (not pictured) but it was 10/10 Definitely recommend if you want delicious pho I will be coming back to try the beef one. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Chicken pho - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The food was great and a good portion. You could tell the vegetables were fresh. I ordered pick up through their website and it was very easy. The food was ready before they said it would be and the service was quick for pickup. There is plenty of seating in the place and is a good place to find authentic food. Parking is a bit difficult being street parking. Be prepared to pay for a meter if coming before 7. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Padsee eiw - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I attended a yelp event at this establishment and I was blown away. The staff was phenomenal. I very much enjoyed hearing the history of the restaurant and the family. The food was simply amazing. The eggrolls we had were the perfect blend of flaky and crunchy at the same time. The Laotian beef jerky It's not something you usually find at a restaurant however it was very flavorful and prepared just right. This is definitely a great place to go back again and again to try everything they have to offer. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Ate at Vientiane for a Yelp event and I absolutely will be back! Everything was delicious, my favorites were the Pad Thai and Pho. The pho broth was everything you'd expect from a hearty and warming pho. The staff was so welcoming and truly made you feel like you were invited into their home. Overall a cozy and comfortable atmosphere that you must experience for yourself. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Pho - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I've no idea why it has taken me so long to get to Vientiane. It's been on my "to try" list for ages. I recently tried it on a Sunday afternoon. The staff were quite friendly and attentive to taking our orders. The little restaurant itself has some interesting wall art and a TV playing some odd music videos, but otherwise it's pretty basic. I ordered a salad, really wanting something fresh. It was just okay - iceberg lettuce, pale winter tomatoes, a sweet dressing and peanuts. It was large enough to share and have leftovers, but I thought a little pricey for something made with such cheap and minimal ingredients. the noodles dishes, however, were excellent and generously portioned. We both ordered Thai dishes, so i can't speak to the Laotian menu yet. My Pad Sieew had great flavor, fresh, perfectly cooked vegetables and those great, wide, fat noodles. I loved it and brought 1/2 home for a second meal. BF had the crispy yellow noodles with pork. He said it was great and finished his entire dish with gusto. There are definitely tasty reasons this is a classic Milwaukee dining destination. read more

See all

We were so excited to find Lao food in Milwaukee that we went twice! During both lunch and dinner, there was a steady stream of customers. Even though it was quite busy, the server was so friendly and on top of everything. The steamed fish was YUM! The khao piak was YUM! The larp was a bit salty but still good. The green curry was YUM! Highly recommend this place read more

See all

I feel words can't describe how amazing the soup is. The menu is lengthy, very much a hidden gem. The pricing is unmatched. Please go experience it yourself you will not be disappointed read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

First time trying & I ordered the Pad Thai. Got the high spice level and it was exactly what I asked for . Service was great as well as ambience felt like I was in Chinatown in Chicago. Overall great experience if you want authentic food. read more

Came for Phobruary. $8 bowl, a good deal. I liked the broth and meat/noodle portion was great. Did order the spring rolls but did not like them or the sauce very much. They have a big menu and a good amount of seating. Would try some other dishes! read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Pho - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We came here for pho-bruary and got a delightful $7 bowl of beef pho. I'm very picky about my pho, and I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was!! For $7, you got a really good portion of fresh broth, noodles cooked to perfection, lovely sliced beef, and the cherry on top was the beef meatballs. They tasted homemade to me! Service was fantastic and speedy. It's super cute inside too with Laotian cultural decor. I would definitely come back especially after pho-bruary to try out other things!!! We weren't super hungry then, but I regret not trying more! read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Pho - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Food is awesome, service amazing and really good prices. Bubble tea is just $5! Today we had the pad Thai, crab Rangoon and the wonderful mango sticky rice. My kids love this place. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Pad Thai, bubble tea and rangoon - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I have been going to the Vientiane ( pronounced Vien chun) Noodle Shop with my family for over 20 years. I love that it's authentic Lao food. The service is friendly. During COVID-19, my husband and I would call in to go orders, and the owner would know how we wanted our laap. The food here and close to how my dad's recipe. I love it because it's the kind of food I grew up and still eat. I recommend the Lao beef jerky with sticky rice. I usually have my papaya salad Lao style, which is very spicy and has a fermented crab sauce. If you are not that adventurous, you can order it without. The food is always flavorful and prepared well. Highly recommend it. read more

This place is an absolute Milwaukee gem. My veggie pho today was so very flavorful. Service is always efficient. Anytime I have the craving for Laotian food, I make the 25 mins drive from the suburb and head to this restaurant. My husband loves the beef jerky. My sons love the steak sauce which they like to eat with the sticky rice. Their curries are solid as well. This is my happy restaurant. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Laotian-Style Fried Beef Jerky Fried Chicken Wings Shrimp Pad Thai Sticky Rice Steak Sauce Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

Best Laotian restaurant in a town that has many great Laotian restaurants. I want to stress it's not a Thai restaurant, but there is a good Thai place across the street. As a retired professor, I feel the need to point out to YELP readers who might be a little confused about Southeast Asia, Vientiane is not in Vietnam or Thailand, the restaurant is named after the capital and largest city of Laos. Sure, lots of commonalities among Southeast Asian cuisine, but here in the Silver City neighborhood you can eat the variety and learn the subtle differences. This place has been consistently excellent since I first came here when I first moved to Milwaukee 18 years ago, and that's yet another accomplishment. Consistency is so important, well, being consistently great. I was extra impressed with how they weathered the COVID quarantine, they took so many extra precautions to stay open, they clearly feel some sort of community obligation to their regulars. Remember, all Southeast Asian food is authentically extremely spicy, so unless you know you like that, you should try starting out with what they call mild. Every dish they serve is delicious, so don't just get the usual Vietnamese Pho (which is great here), try something different every time. I have run through their menu a few times through and have yet to find a dish that isn't incomparably scrumptious. Khao poun is one of their specialties. The "Thai" iced coffee is an example of cultural diffusion, it's found all over Southeast Asia as a result of French colonization, and the Chinese influence shows in the "smoothies" which are Boba. I highly recommend both, but not the iced coffee after 5pm, it's pretty stimulating. Parking can be challenging, and crossing the street can be dangerous, use caution. read more

See all

Real authentic food, fantastic prices, and real spice levels. The fried sausages are really good. Beef pho has a lot of herbs and greens which I love, but a little on the salty side. Will definitely be back often to try more things! read more

It's been 8 years since my review. Time to update and upgrade! I've had pho and apparently Khao Poun a couple of times, in addition to fresh spring rolls and the Vientiane Salad. The Khao Poun is not as spicy as most places, but every bit as delicious! This restaurant serves up authentic dishes and has the reputation for being the best, if not one of the best, at what they do. Make it a point to get here soon, if you haven't already! read more

See all

Service and price is very good! Low price and flavorful dishes. I enjoyed the authentic Lao experience as well. I'll definitely come back to try other dishes. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Chicken Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Service is slow and intermittent. Wait staff disappears for extended periods of time.

Vientiane Noodle Shop came to our attention when we read that "Top Chef" host Kristen Kish and judge Gail Simmons visited the restaurant when they were in Milwaukee filming the 10th season of the show. We stopped by around 1:00 pm on a weekend on our way to another store nearby. The space inside the restaurant is pretty tight, which is not unusual for eateries in this price range. It was quite crowded that day, indicating the popularity of the restaurant in the community, although the staff seemed to run the place efficiently. We ordered Fried Vientiane Sausage, Pork Larb, Chicken Pad Sieew, and Beef and Meatball Pho for our lunch. The qualities of the dishes were quite large, and the leftovers were more than enough for another meal. All the dishes are flavorful, but we liked the Fried Sausage and the Pad Sieew better particularly because the meat was tender and largely free of chewy bits. The flavor combinations of the sausage were quite distinct, and the Pad Sieew had a mild but relatively complex flavor profile. The ground pork in the Larb and the beef in the Pho, however, were not from the best cuts of meat and had a lot of gristle (tough elastin). The Larb was also too salty; with all the spices and fresh herbs in the dish, we didn't think it needed so much salt to bring out the flavors. The taste of the Pho was just fine; so, our search for a great Pho in the city continues. My overall impression is that the restaurant serves flavorful Laotian dishes but tries to keep the price low for their loyal customers in the community by using inexpensive ingredients such cheaper cuts of meat. We will for sure stop by again when we are in the neighborhood and want a quick lunch. read more

See all

This is my second stop at Vientiane Noodle Shop. And for lunch I ordered the Kao Piek Sen with chicken (like chicken noodle soup). Kao poon chicken to go and a bag of their house made Lao sausages. The service is consistent and the food and flavor is comfort. The taste of Vientiane. I recommend anyone who have traveled to Laos cell in love with the food and people, this restaurant has it going on. Literally sitting there writing this review, and can't wait for the food to come! Well it's here ! read more

See all

Ater a long road trip we were looking for the comforts of a home. We were driving through Milwaukee was looking for an authentic Lao restaurant and found this little restaurant. I was suprised about the amount items on the menu but they did not disappointed. All the dishes and the flavors was spot on. The restaurant as a bit small and got fill up real quick during lunch rush. The price was reasonable and the food did not disappoint. I will definitely return if I am in the area again. I highly recommend this little gem. read more

One of my all time favorite restaurants. We go almost weekly! I mainly get their crab rangoon, regular pho (currently my all time fave), or Tom yum kha gai with a side of rice. Their food always hits in quality and flavor. read more

this place never disappoints!! i went yesterday evening around dinner time and they were about half full of folks. i ordered the kang seen which was sooo tasty. full of flavor, so warming, and finished every drop!! my partner got the pho w veggie stock and tofu and theirs was just as delicious!! decorated beautifully and super cozy. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - left Kang Seen right Pho with tofu - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Fantastic gem in the Silver City area of Milwaukee. I was visiting Milwaukee with a friend for the weekend, and we were craving some more homemade Asian food and not the typical American burgers and cheese curds, so this place did the trick! The Ox Tail Khao Poun was delicious! We love a good flavorful noodle soup and I was impressed. Laotian food is just so good! My friend was basic and got a Pad Thai here which we did think was good, but I will say that the egg rolls here were delicious as well! Definitely recommend this place to others. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Of Ox Tail Khao Poun - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Nice little place. I got some egg rolls & suki yaki. The egg rolls were so flaky & tasty, especially with the sauce. I really enjoyed them! As for the suki yaki, there wasn't anything wrong with it. It was good, but just not for me. I think I'll try something else next time. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - 2 Egg Rolls - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

Go to Vientiane for a warm, wholesome experience! The small noodle shop and restaurant is in the heart of Silver City in Milwaukee. My partner grew up in this neighborhood, so it definitely was a walk down memory lane for him when we parked and walked up to Vientiane. We were greeted by the staff and asked to sit sit anywhere we please. We got the Phobruary specials - Veggie Pho and Chicken Pho with Thai coffee and crab Rangoon. Absolutely delicious, full of flavor and overall feel good food. Go support these small businesses for Phobruary or any other day, it's great for the body and the soul. read more

See all

Vientiane Noodle Shop is my current go to for Thai/Laos food. This ma&pa shop is packed with flavor, variety, and value! You know a place is going to be good when there is fish sauce on the table! We have been a handful of times and we always get the papaya salad, fried vientiane sausage, tom yum combo, and the pad sieew. I recommend getting a side of sticky rice with the vientiane sausage. You can taste and see the wok hei on the pad sieew noodles. I try a new menu item every time I can come and also recommend lao style beef jerky, the vientiane stir fry, and the larp. I would skip on the volcano chicken, khao moo deng (all rice, hardly any bbq pork), kang kheaw whan (too soupy), sweet rice mango (too sweet & not fresh), personally. They were fine but not stellar. Give this place a taste! read more

See all

Pho is delicious. The green papaya salad was not fresh and tasted like sewage, and the spring rolls fell apart and had no flavor. The service was okay. There was no beer, but you need it to get through the meal. The ambiance was '70s dirty yellow, hazy, and sticky. The bathroom was surprisingly clean. would only go back for pho and to photograph the time capsule. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - green papaya salad /// or nightmare sewage mix - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I grew up eating Lao food and the flavors here is what I grew up with. Super authentic Lao food! My family usually orders the Khao piak, which is Lao chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles, Khao poon, Tom kha, Lao papaya salad, beef laab (cooked the way my mom used to growing up), pho, spring rolls and egg rolls. Everything that I've ordered here has been amazing! Service is great. It's just a small restaurant, nothing fancy, but you're just there to eat delicious food, so that shouldn't matter anyways, right? For anyone looking to try authentic Lao or Thai food, I say give Vientiane Noodle Shop a try! You won't regret it! P.S. I eat here all the time so pictures are of the meals I've had here at different times. read more

See all

We stopped here on a Sunday afternoon for lunch and it did not disappoint. The restaurant is smaller and only street parking but cozy. I went there primarily for their oxtail tail Khao poun noodle dish since I heard it was good, I can confirm it was delicious! But let's start with what we ordered: Oxtail khao Poun noodle dish Rate 5/5 Delicious, noodles are nice and cooked well. Broth is sweet, perfect spice, sour and a taste of creamy peanut. The bamboo shoots, cilantro, green onion, lime leaves compliment the broth very nicely. Oxtails we're also meaty and soft, definitely cooked for hours. Pad Thai Rated 4/5 This is was great dish as well. The flavoring was on point. Complimented by shrimp, eggs, peanut and a slice of lime. Beef jerky and sticky rice Rate 5/5 Their beef jerky taste of a fermented, salty but yet very tasty. Complimented by a sweet and tangy chili sauce. This dish pairs well with a side of sticky rice. Highly recommend as a appetizer or side. Chicken wings Rate 4/5 Seasoned well and tasty. fried and crispy chicken wings. Again paid well with a side of sticky rice. If your in the mood for some authentic Asian food give this place a try. The staff was very nice and attentive. That oxtail noodle dish was the highlight! Overall 5/5. read more

See all

Food & service was spot on! Husband enjoyed the papaya salad which was more on the salty than sour side. Highly recommend. read more

Vientiane Noodle Shop - Spring rolls, papaya salad, sausage & jasmine rice. - Thai Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

This place is a hidden gem! It was so good. The people were so friendly and everything was so fresh! This is the most authentic Vietnamese restaurant I've been to in a long time. I will definitely be back whenever I'm back in Milwaukee. read more

What a killer spot. The portions are HUGE. Seriously, get one and share. The chicken broth is super flavorful and may actually be better a little watered down. Very nice man at the counter. They are generous with the chicken and onions. The noodles were very very soft though and a little mushy. We will absolutely be back. For those who are a little squeamish- did get a B for county rating. Definitely a delicious little shop and worth it. read more

Came for some pho in February and happy to see it was on some kind of a phobruary special. I wasn't sure how I would like this pho, because their dishes seem more Laotian than Vietnamese... but these were very tasty. It didn't have all the mat parts that I usually like (tripe and brisket) but it was ok anyway. The broth was very soothing, and the regular size had plenty of noodles and toppings. I'd come back for pho here! ============ Previous review of 3 stars: You can customize the larp dish in 3 ways: 1. raw or cooked meat 2. spicy level 3. bitter or not bitter I was quite used to getting asked for the spicy level, but never for whether I wanted cooked meat or whether I wanted "bitter". I opted for the cooked, very hot, not bitter version. The beef larp was good, but there was an odd seasoning taste that I didn't care for much. I wish I could identify it, but I can't. It's probably the "Latian" in this dish, but for having come to love this dish in its Thai version, I can't say I will come back for it here. Oh, and this dish really needs rice... it's a pretty spice-full dish. The server asked whether I wanted sticky or jasmine rice, and I asked for jasmine. I didn't expect to be charged for it. Hubby had the Pad-si-eww. It was OK. not great. not bad. just ok. read more

See all

My new favorite spot to add to my restaurant rotation list!! Incredible khao poun soup!! Like truly the best soup I have ever had. All the various vegetables make it light and refreshing while the chicken and incredible unique noodle mixed into a red curry cocunut soup has to be one of a kind! You can share one bowl with two people and get sticky rice and appetizer and call it a meal for 18$ which is what we did our second time coming!! Next time I will be trying the pho! The best part is it is the best bang for your buck food I have come across!! 10$ for pho, 10$ for khao poun! Absolutely fantastic deal!! Please go because I promise you you won't regret it. Add sriracha, peanuts and spicy seasoning to the curry to top it off because every dish needs some spice, am I right?! read more

See all