Lao Lao Bar in Toronto

Perfection from start to finish! Wow Wow

Nice experience eating delicious Vietnamese dishes. Good price, and nice place to share with friends

We hosted our company holiday party here, and our team hasnt stopped raving! From start to finish, the experience was seamless smooth planning, professional communication, and warm, friendly service throughout. The restaurants ambiance was truly something to admire, including the private party space. The food? Delicious and fresh with a variety of options to suit everyones taste. A special shoutout to Cati, the owners, their staff, and the bartender everyone brought great energy and made us feel welcome. It was a night to remember, and we cant recommend this spot enough for any special event!

This place, WOW it s amazing!! Was treated like a king. The food was spectacular. The owner s pick was unbelievable. Love this place.

First time getting laotion food, essentially it s similar to Thai, lots of coconut and spice, 2 things I am not a fan of but I didn t want to impede mu friends choices in anyway. Pleasantly surprised how good the food was. The tapioca balls to be assembled in lettuce wrap was callback to some of my mom s cooking, and a great start to dinner. While some of the dishes were spicy, it wasn t overtly imbalanced and struck a nice cord with the dish. Pork belly fish with rice had subdued flavours but worth Trung if you are a pork belly fan and the sauce had a nice thick consistency. The fried rice was my favourite, on point taste and presentation. The grilled chicken was cooked perfectly and paired well with the noodles and salad that had a little kick. Dessert had coconut infused in parts of it and so only had the fritter which had a nice crunch and a surprisingly creamy center. Service was good, the place was packed but my only complaint was it felt tight and we only had 2.5 hours of seating time and had to leave as the next party had arrived. Had we known about the time limit, we wouldn t have picked this restaurant so make sure you ask if there is a time limit as it shortened what was a great evening dining with friends at Christmas time. It is close to TTC Wellesley station so getting here when driving and parking downtown isn t enjoyable, is a plus.

Everything we ordered was amazing. Definitely coming back!

We had wonderful experience at Lao Lao Bar! Been craving Laotian food like crazy and everything hit the spot. We got Lao sausage and BBQ pork skewers with sticky rice, tum mak hoong and ping sin nam tok. As my friend said, the moo ping and sai kok brought him back to place where he grew up on, and the sticky rice was really good. The service was friendly and attentive. The restaurant is not only a place to eat but also brings Laotian flavors with every unforgetable touch. Definitely would love to come back again!

I went here with a group of 10 recently for lunch. The servers were incredibly nice and hospitable. The food that our server recommended to us was delicious. A lot of us got the Pad Gra Prao with the Crispy Pork belly that was very flavourful with great portions. I have never had a service as good as this in any other restaurant.

Good food Had the green curry which was warming on a cooler evening..much like Thai green curry.but mine was not as spicy (hot) as some Still enjoyed though. Good appetizers and knowledgeable staff. Will return

Im a big fan of Laotian food and this place did not disappoint. Each dish, from appetizers to desserts, tasted like the best iteration of that dish Ive had. Atmosphere was very warm and cozy.

Amazing food and service Fish curry with coconut was really delicious!

Delicious meal. Great atmosphere! Great service

Feels like somewhere Samantha, Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte would go. Also get the drunken noodles!!!! I would have ordered a second order if it was acceptable

Highly recommend the pineapple fried rice - it was excellent even delivered.

Great atmosphere, the restaurant is quite big with a section in the back. Really liked the flavors from the food. Would recommend people to try.

First time here. This place was highly recommended to me to try. First impression, host seemed a bit stand-off-ish when asking if we had resos, like he was dying to say there were no spots available without a reso. A bit presumptuous. Next place is very nicely decorated but seating is a bit cramped. The pathway behind my chair and the table behind me was too small and every time someone walked in between I could feel them brushing up on my chair. The tales are also very small! maybe like 2 X 4? Waiter was ok. He didnt write down what we wanted and got the salad mixed up. I ordered a mango salad and they bought out a papaya salad. Waiter also did not check up on us after the first few bites to see if everything tasted good. He also refilled our water without asking me if I wanted another beer. Lastly, I asked the Waiter which of the curries was the least spicy, he told me the green. It was actually the spiciest of all the curries they had, another miss. This place just seem really pretentious and everyone working there had a chip on their shoulder. I didnt get a chance to record it but even the bartender was giving exact amounts for the drinks, like exactly 1 oz or exactly 2 oz. Most places when they pour out a shot theres always a bit of over pour but not this bartender. The papaya salad wasnt really good. The papaya was really from and not sweet. They also used some fish sauce in the papaya salad that really overpowered the flavour. Green curry was way too hot (even asked for mild spice). I had the braised pork belly. Nice flavours a bit sweet though. Saw the table beside us order the spring rolls and fresh rolls and man we were shocked!! Its 2 tiny spring rolls cut diagonally in half. The entire size of the spring roll was like 4 inches? So each half is only like 2 inches long but it cost over $2 for the 2 inches? Total is $17 for 2 small tiny spring rolls!! Wow. Even the fresh rolls were the same! 2 tiny fish rolls for $16 or $17? Pricing here is just outrageous! Overall I wont be retuning. I dont find the price worth the food or experience here. I dont want to recommend this place to other as well. Its just too pricey for what you get and what you get isnt even that great. The ambiance and service doesnt justify the price they charge. There are literally TONS of other thai places you can go into the city that will blow this place out of the water in terms of flavour and experience.

Overall flavourful, but portions are relatively small. The interiors are really nice and cozy!

Cute and chill vibes, with lunch menus CAD$25 a simple 2 course meal with a pop! Enjoyed the Tong Yum Gong and Mango Sticky Rice especially, very flavourful Laotian, very unique!

Table for two was so tiny and uncomfortable it was a struggle to fit 2 main dishes and an appetizer. The aisles are so narrow that every 2 minutes a server would bump into my chair sometimes knocking my jacket to the floor in the process. Not a single apology from any of these people. One of the servers snooty response was something along the lines of well we gotta serve customers on the other side Music so damn loud we could barely hear our own waiter. Service extremely slow and he never bothered to check up on our table. Could not wait to get out of this place

I ve been going to Lao Lao since they opened and have always loved the food and drinks there. So much so that I ve introduced so many people and hosted a lot of dinners there. It s also like a regular weekend delivery order for me and I spend like $100+ every time. LAO LAO BAR as a super regular customer I am CALLING YOU OUT on some very cheap and scummy behaviour. You have significantly reduced your portion sizes for some of your greatest appetizers - the Lao Lao sausage and the pork skewers now are an absolute joke and you charge more for them. You even have pics on Uber eats of the original decent sized portions you used to send customers. The skewers now have more stick that actual meet. You took an amazing sausage dish that you charge for as a main and now you send 4 small pieces of little frankfurters. This is so insulting to people who order from you regularly. Stop pulling this shit and ripping people off - it takes away from how good your dishes actually are. GO BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL PORTION SIZES or lose many loyal eaters cuz we see through the scam you re pulling

Lao Lao Bar, while boasting an impressive international-level service and ambience, unfortunately falls short in delivering authentic cuisine. The food is disappointingly westernized, which is a significant letdown for those seeking genuine cultural flavors. Its disheartening to see a place that could be a beacon of cultural representation instead opting to dilute its culinary heritage. Authenticity in food is crucial, especially when it comes to representing a specific culture. Despite the high standards of service and a pleasant atmosphere, these factors do not excuse the whitewashing of the menu. Its a sad reality that such potential is overshadowed by a lack of commitment to true cultural authenticity.

Great food and the restaurant is beautiful!

This is a great little spot for a date night. The apps for us started out strong with the jerky and morning glory. Unfortunately as the dishes kept coming, the flavours youd expect in authentic lao food really started to become muted. They toned down the flavours in the papaya salad, laap salad and even beef salad which are all known for their strong pungent flavours. I know they were trying to appeal to the masses, but then it really tastes away from the authenticity and flavours of thr dishes

Not very parking friendly so your best bet is a parking garage and a short walk. What an amazing place, we showed up with no reservation and it was packed, after 15 mins we had a table. The service was great and the food was amazing! We are from Laos and it was just like the food back home. The bar was decorated with several reminders of Laos and looked awesome, although I didn t see a Lao flag or the hammer&sickle? The prices were pretty reasonable but a little bit expensive. My only disappointment was when paying I had 3 options of tip starting at 18%, instead of pay the bill and a cash tip.

Had a reservation but they only had bar seats. Came from after work and there was no spot to put my backpack and tote bags... First time I came they mentioned reservation only. The food took soooo long to arrive. Maybe 20-30 mins to get the main after our 1 app arrived. I think they waited for both mains to be ready at the same time because 1 main (chicken lemongrass) was cold. Like room temperature, while the other main (pad ke mao) was hot. The pad ke mao was good but very oily. Portion for both mains was small. Definitely need to order at least 1 main and 1 app per person. We Ordered 2 apps, 2 main, and then ate a 2nd dinner elsewhere lol. Our fav items were the pork skewers, lemongrass bbq chicken, tapioca dumplings.

Loved everything about it. Food was delicious! Wouldnt hesitate to go back.

Went there to try Laotian food and it was my first time trying the cuisine. We got the Tam Mak Hoong (Papaya Salad), Sai Oua (Lao Sausage) that came with Khao Niew (Sticky Rice) and Khao Poon (Vermicelli Noodles in Red Coconut Curry). All of them tasted good and the service was great too. Vegetarian options: Yes Dietary restrictions: Yes Gluten Free options available

I was here for lunch on a Thursday. The restaurant was not busy at all at noon with only a handful of tables occupied. I enjoyed the empty restaurant as it gave me an opportunity to catch up with a good friend over a delicious meal. We ordered the spring rolls, taro rolls, green curry with chicken, and the pork belly. Our appetizers came quickly and by the time we were done, the mains came out with a side of steamed rice. The flavours were exceptional, as was the attentive service.

Amazing, amazing food.

The Dried Tom Yum Noodle is waaaaaaaay too salty, amd the lunch special is for dine in only.

Very good food. Easy pick up experience. Friendly staff. Looks nice to eat inside, too. Vegetarian options: Drunken noodles vegan option. Dietary restrictions: Nut-free options available.

We ordered the bbq pork skewers, Penang fish curry and the Lao BBQ chicken , everything was shared and it was enough between two people. Delicious! Customer service was alright ,

A legit 5 star flavour and portion size restaurant. I got delivery and I was blown away. Can only imagine how good in person. Food : 5/5

Amazing place. Food is so tasty, everything was delicious. Staff is very friendly and helpful. It has a great atmosphere. Tapioca dumplings and fried noodles, highly recommended. Food

Lao Lao bar is very Aesthetic. I had the Satay Chicken and Thai Tea. Both were very good.

good portions, great vibes, fantastic food. had the drunken noodles, papaya fritters, and green curry. I would absolutely get any of these again next visit!

This experience was disappointing; it wasn t like that at the opening days. The place was packed, loud, and the noise made it hard to hear anything. The lighting has also been dimmed so much that it s hard to read the menu. They ve changed some menu items as well: I ordered the Lao sausage, but instead of the usual sliced sausage, I got a different type round ones that were undercooked. They also swapped out the mango salad with cucumber salad in the Ping Kao dish and removed the cucumber slices. Comparing with photos from my previous visits, the portions now seem noticeably small . Too bad because the food are still good but need improvements . I am Laotian and know very well the dishes The waitress was great and professional .

Was surprised to happen upon Lao Lao having never heard of it before. It s a variation on the theme of trendy upscale spots in the thai-lao-viet range of cuisine in town. The food was nice, if a bit derivative in menu choices that already sell well in toronto. I really enjoyed the papaya salad, although it was perhaps a bit mild. the crispy rice salad was decent but not my fave in the city (that goes to Koh Samui) and shouldn t really be at the entree price point of 24 given its smallish size. I finished the two dishes and would have eaten more if the cost was more affordable. With a cocktail (this was stand out for me, the tum jok, delish) the total with tip was eighty bucks. def the usual bougie ambiance upcharge unfortunately. for that amount i should ve left stuffed and more satisfied. the service was lovely and kind though.

I had the mango salad and the banana leaf steamed fish. Both were very flavourful and highly recommended. My only complaint is that we had to wait in line for a bit, which was annoying. But all in all, I had a very positive experience and I would definitely come back to try other things on their menu.

Interesting thai cuisine you dont want to miss

The food was excellent, a mixture of Vietnamese, Thai and other Asian cuisines, the atmosphere lovely and staff friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend.

Bold flavours and a vibey interior keeps Lao Lao popular with guests. Got here close to opening time so didnt have to deal with the long lines. We had: - Tapioca Dumplings: The star of the meal. The mushroom radish peanut stuffing was a blast of flavour, and the dumpling covering was properly plump and gummy. - Steamed Fish: Beautiful presented as wrapped in banana leaf. The steamed fish was delicate in texture but strong in spice. The spice though was delightful - full of different herbs versus just being hot for hot sake. The sticky rice on the side was a good counterbalance to the heat. - Beef Massaman Curry: Beef was super tender, though would have wanted more of it. Curry wasnt thick and a bit soupier than I like, but still was tasty. - Coconut Sorbet with Rice Crisp: The coconut icecream was average and would have liked a bit more pineapple taste. But the drizzle and rice crisp gave this dessert an added boost. Service was efficient, kitchen was relatively quick, prices were as prices are these days. Can see why this spot is so popular: Lao Lao Bar is set up for you to enjoy a night of good food and company.

Very cozy restaurant Lovely vibes It was the first time we try this cuisine and we enjoyed everything Food : 4/5

Excellent food and service. Can t wait to go back.

very handsome strawberry blond/ginger server was great. chicken wings were incredible. came with my mom but had reservations somewhere else after so had to be quick. was my third time in a month.

Vegetarian options: About half of the menu is vegetarian/vegan, with a high quality bar for either. There are appetizers, mains, and dessert options that should cater nicely to most plant based diets! Food

Loved every part of my night. Amazing food, great service, and the atmosphere was superb.

Tapioca dumplings are a must order Vegetarian options: Solid plant based menu section. Food : 5/5 |

Definately a way better place to eat in person. I wouldn t recommend ordering takeout with them. Cold food with close delivery and smaller portions. Not worth the high price point. Also there was no mango salad at all. I got this cucumber dish instead. Disappointing.

We received an amazing service by Katarina, definitely will be back again, worth every penny

I have finally had a chance to visit Lao Lao Bar and it did not disappoint! The moment you step in you take in the gorgeous and moody ambiance of the space. We were seated in the back dining room which had its pros and cons. Its a long walk down the restaurant and down a stairwell into a dark and less dramatic seating area. The upside is that youre more likely to hear your own dinner conversation vs the main dining area. Food was excellent! We ordered the tapioca dumplings, barbecued pork, chicken wings, the drunken noodles and the passionista spicy cocktail for myself. We will need to give it to the tapioca dumplings as being the star dish! There were a couple other dishes I wanted to try but this was plenty of food for a party of two. I do have to knock off 1/2 a star. It took a while to be acknowledged by the staff upon entering the venue even though there were two servers standing chatting. The dinner rush hadnt quite picked up yet. It also would have been nice for our server to be a bit more attentive to our table. Other than our waters being refilled, there wasnt much interaction involved.

the Curry there isstrange and eachbowel is not close to enough.

I ve been to Lao Lao Bar twice now, and I m still impressed by their unique food. The Laotian cuisine here is a great fusion of Thai and Vietnamese flavors. Highly recommend trying their dishes with sticky rice or the Drunken noodles absolutely delicious! The décor is stylish, and the service is great. Our server, Sam, was super friendly and gave us some excellent recommendations. The only thing I miss is their old cocktail menu, which I preferred over the current one. Overall, this spot is a gem, and I d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something different in Toronto! Make sure you book table in advance cause they are always busy! Dietary restrictions: They have plant-based options

Came with a group for a friends birthday and as a couple of us are vegan and the others are plant-forward eaters, we ordered everything to share from the plant-based menu. I couldnt believe I hadnt heard of this spot before given how varied and well laid out their vegan menu is. I felt very welcomed to dine there because of it. The food, service and atmosphere were all immaculate. Our server (Sam - I think) was so helpful and proactive with our dietary restrictions, suggesting items and mentioning things that could be modified in addition to what was listed on the menu. The La Passionista cocktail is perfectly balanced and they also have a ton of delicious plant-based dessert offerings. 11/10 experience - will certainly be back :) Vegetarian options: They have a full plant-based section in their menu so vegan friendly as well

10 out of 10, no question. One of the best south East Asian restaurants I have ever been to.

The food, overall, is unexpectedly excellent! Personally, I really love the taro rolls, the soybean skin wraps mince taco and other vegetables, and the drunken noodles, very authentic taste. The pineapple fried rice is also amazingly done and prepared. The only dish which i am not fond of is the vermicelli noodle in red curry, it s rather bland!!

I recently visited *Lao Lao Bar* in Toronto, and it was an unforgettable experience. The moment I stepped inside, I felt transported to another place. The ambiance is truly amazing you don t feel like youre in Toronto anymore. It s beautifully designed, and the vibe is just perfect for enjoying Laotian cuisine. I tried several dishes, including the drunken noodles with shrimp, Lao barbecued chicken, banana leaf steamed fish, and tapioca dumplings. Every dish was bursting with flavor and depth. The chicken was perfectly cooked and well marinated, and the steamed fish, wrapped in a banana leaf, was delicious. The tapioca dumplings were like little flavor bombs, and I was pleasantly surprised by how incredible the food was and how well it was presented truly above my expectations. The only minor issues I had were with the seating and the rice served with the fish. The chair I initially sat on moved awkwardly when I moved, which was a bit disorienting, but the waitress kindly replaced it although not completely comfortable. I d recommend improving the seating for a more comfortable experience. As for the rice, it was quite dry initially, but they brought a better version of sticky rice after we pointed it out though by that time, we had already finished the fish. Aside from these small things, I was blown away by the food and the thoughtful touch in the menu explaining Laotian culture and cuisine. It was a sweet gesture, and it made me curious to learn more about Laos afterward. If you re looking for Laotian food in Toronto, *Lao Lao Bar* is absolutely worth a visit!

Delicious food, kind and attentive server, great ambiance. All the dishes we ordered were super tasty, but the tapioca dumplings were by far our favourite!

Waitress was great! Some of the food are great, some can use some improvement.

Absolutely loved my experience here! The food is amazing and the decor, Service , ambiance is also top-notch. It does get busy evenings during dinner time so plan accordingly. We got the Tapioca dumplings and drunken noodles - both were delicious. Will definitely go back to try more things on the menu!

Giving 5 stars for Estebans exceptional service! Will definitely come again.

Went her for dinner and ordered taro rolls, Panang curry, and barbecue chicken. The chicken was very well cooked and came with a cucumber salad and rice noodles, both of which really complemented the chicken. Taro rolls were good too! What stole the show was the Panang curry which tasted amazing with the jasmine rice that came with it. I got it with fish. Great portion, perfectly spicy, and so, so flavourful! Great service, ambience, and, of course, food! Would definitely go back.

Food is always really good Home style Laos food Food

Every dish I ve tried here has been delicious and very flavourful! The appetizers have blown it out of the park each time. Perfect vibe/atmosphere. Excited to come back.

Such a nice restaurant!! The staff was very kind and patient as I was almost late for the lunch menu but they still served me. The food was really delicious and did not disappoint.

One of the most unique and flavourful experiences I have had in a while. I would highly recommend.

Great food, vibe, and service! Would be back again!

Food is soo good, highly recommend the taro dumplings, drunken noodles, and chicken satay. Decor is nice

When I was living in Toronto, I was a huge fan of Sabai Sabai and was there several times a week. With the new restaurant, Lao Lao Bar has taken things to new heights. I especially love the Lao Sausage and Beef Jerky, as well as the roast chicken. Cocktails are on-point and innovative. The best part is the environment; feels like I m in a good friend s living room, with warmth, kindness, and excellent service from everyone that works there. Well done to the team!

Lovely spaces but super busy, it ll be great if you got reservation

A very busy but fun stop for dinner. Lots of unique and tasty plates, we just shared a few and that worked well

Had a very unique dish, was their minced shrimp dish, not to my personal taste but was a good dish regardless. The interior is absolutely stunning. Will be coming back to try more dishes in the near future.

I came with no/low expectations and I really enjoyed the food here. We came for 6 people and ordered family style. Heads up some dishes are SPICY. So really take a look at the menu as Laotian profile is spicy and somewhat more sour than Thai. The chicken laap (ground chicken salad) was a highlight for me here. Very good, balanced and the sticky rice is excellent. Service is great too. Would come back again.

Great experience here. Our server was very friendly and made our experience enjoyable. We ordered: Drunken noodles - wish the portion was bigger) Braised Pork Belly (Tom Khem) - excellent Stir Fried Morning Glory - excellent Jungle Curry with Shrimp - was expecting a thicker soup broth but its regular broth All the dishes were good. There wasnt a particular dish that jumped out and wowed us, but they are all consistently good so you cant go wrong with that. Well be back!

Fancy-fied and Westernized version. Nice restaurant and service was good. Prepare to spend. Portion is smaller than other Asian restaurants due to the Atmosphere is the focus but we were put in the dungeon section where the low class dine .

Service was good. Food was mid but when I ordered the mango drink I literally saw them put del monte and ice for $6!

Amazing and delicious Lao food, portions are good to share, the ambience is beautiful, well decorated, great vibe. Best restaurant in town! In 1 week i went there twice. Love it!

Delicious Chicken drunken noodles, nice ambiance!

Delicious food and nice drinks. A great spot for a girls night out. It s very popular so I recommend making a reservation! I had the best spring rolls of my life here! Vegetarian options: Tons of veggie options and vegan options - I recommend for all those plant based!

A group of friends came here for dinner. The restaurant seems very popular and was packed, so you would want to make a reservation. There is a wide range of menu items which if you re not familiar with the cuisine are similar in ingredients to Thai and Vietnamese. We shared starters including the dumplings and the mango salad, both very nice, and each of us ordered our own mains. They offer good and unusual cocktails and mocktails. The table service was good. I had the green curry with shrimp which was excellent, spicy hot with the delicious flavours of lime leaves, lemon grass, coconut milk, basil - and filled with fresh tasting bamboo shoots. I immediately knew I would come back for this dish alone. It was served with a bowl of sticky rice, and was a good size serving to finish at one sitting. The others had various dishes including red curry. The prices are high compared to other similar restaurants. However there could be no complaints about quality of the food, drinks, or the service. The setting was also elegant. Unfortunately once the food was eaten we had to leave even though we were still conversing because the restaurant had another group booked at our table. I really enjoyed the evening and recommend the restaurant for special occasions. Vegetarian options: There are lots of vegetarian options.

Good vibe and good food! Ordered the morning glory and the beef massaman curry, both are very rich in flavour and authentic! Definitely worth a second visit!

Such a cute place, great ambiance for a girls night. Drunken noodles is a must-try! Love the signature Been there done that Food

Great authentic Northeastern Thai/Lao food. Youll see some unique menu items here which is great. Makes sense why the place is bustling. Highly recommend checking the place out!

First time trying Laos cuisine. Food was good, especially the 3 pics in this review. Great vibe and cocktails. Didn t really like the fish dish at all. It has a rotten taste and none of the 5 ppl at our table liked it. Also not sure why it is paired with sticky rice. Dessert offerings were ok, not very interesting.

Yummy! Delicious and unique. Simple flavors for a divine experience. Service was amazing too. Thank you to the lovely ladies who served us

Amazing food, excellent service, perfect location, very clean, i highly recommend it

Amazing experience, amazing food! Love that they have so many vegetarian and vegan friendly options!

We went to the bar without making a reservation on a weekend and we still got a table (time restricted but worked for us). We ordered the tapioca balls appetizer and fried papaya. They were delicious. The lemon grass chicken was good but the jungle curry was dominated by lemon grass flavour and the curry was very watery with no taste. Made it difficult to eat with the rice. Overall good food and I recommend to others.

Tonight was my 3rd visit to Lao Lao Bar and I was just as impressed as the previous outings. This time, I tried the Drunken Noodles and I loved them. I asked for no salt or reduced salt and the server confirmed when she brought the dish that they had add as little as possible of the soya sauce. Previous visit July 2023: I wanted to try something different, so a Laotian meal seemed enticing. I was not disappointed. The service was most friendly and efficient. Together with their signature cocktail Lost in Lao, I ordered a dish of Tapioca Dumplings as well as one of Green Curry. The servings were not only appealing but they were delicious. This is definitely a restaurant where I want to return with friends or family.

The food was great! The service was also amazing. The green curry really reminded me of the curry I had in Thailand

Wow Wow Bar was spectacular. We are blown away by this place. It s definitely a must try. The flavours of the food were incredible. Honestly one of the best places I have ever eaten at. Viv s recommendations were spot on. Great atmosphere music and staff. See you again next week.

Nice place, great food, make sure you have a reservation

You should try this one

Lao Lao offers a charming ambience in a historic building. The food presentation was appetizing - we ordered the green papaya salad, pineapple fried rice and the steamed fish in banana leaf served with sticky rice. I enjoyed the Thai milk tea.

The BEST Thai food restaurant in Toronto. I ve been dining with this skilled chef since her last restaurant and am always amazed by her food and integrity!

Such a great vibe!! Great food, great drinks (non alcoholic options were limited but still great) and a such a nice interior!

Delicious food - we had the morning glory, jungle curry and chicken laab. All were excellent and reflective of the food we had when we travelled around Laos. The service was also extremely attentive. The atmosphere was also busy and fun but not too hectic - really recommend going.

Pricy for what it is but delicious. Staff can get overwhelmed but interesting dishes that aren t found everywhere in the city. Tapioca Dumplings were a hit and the Beef Massaman was delicious. Vegetarian options: Plant based menu options Dietary restrictions: They are able to accommodate banana and shellfish allergies on some dishes

Delicious Lao food in a hip busy restaurant

Delicious food and wonderful friendly, relaxed service. Will definitely come back.

Absolutely love the atmosphere and decor here. Been here twice. Food portions are small but the quality of food makes up for them. You can also take advantage that they are currently offering 15% Lunch till end of Aug. The coupons are kept at the front of the restaurant itself.

Enjoying really delicious Thai food in a cozy restaurant is a wonderful experience. Picture a comfortable and welcoming space with soft lighting and traditional Thai decor, creating a relaxing atmosphere. The menu boasts a wide range of authentic Thai dishes. Each dish is a burst of flavors that delight your taste buds. The cozy ambiance adds to the charm, making you feel right at home as you enjoy your meal. The background chatter and soothing music further enhance the overall experience. Whether youre dining with friends, family, or on a solo culinary adventure, this Thai restaurant offers a great combination of delectable food and a comfortable atmosphere for a memorable dining experience.

We visited on a weekday and had made a reservation for four at the bar two days prior, the only spot available for an earlier seating time. The restaurant was mainly packed when we arrived. The drink selection was impressive, with two unique mocktail options alongside various alcoholic beverages. We ordered drunken noodles, sausage, tapioca dumplings, fried chicken wings, BBQ chicken, and papaya fritters for four people. Every single dish was flavorful and delicious! The side of the chilli sauce was also so good! My favourites are drunken noodles and papaya fritters. There were enough dishes for us, and we left full. The service was exceptional, and everything arrived quickly. I am definitely coming back here again to try their other dishes! Accessibility: automated button to open the door outside; washroom is upstairs. It is difficult to find street parking depending on the day and time. Nearby subway stations.

First time having Laotian food and it was amazing. We were a party of five and got a series of dishes to share. Although we wanted to try more of the dishes, my party ended up really liking the papaya salad so we ordered two services. My personal favorite was the tapioca balls and the drunken noodles. We were seated in the back so it was a quieter and more intimate setting. Would definitely come here again.

came here for our anniversary dinner, we had a reservation and was a bit early, but luckily we were still able to get seated. Food was amazing and very traditional to Laotian cuisine we ate growing up. However, when we asked to pack up our leftovers - they also brought us our bill which we didn t ask for. We wanted to order dessert or even take a look at the menu, but the server had already brought the machine so we felt rushed to leave (we weren t even seated for more than an hour). Most likely will just order takeout in the future and skip dining in.

laap, nam khao, drunken noodles + banana leaf steam dish & mango sticky rice

I m a frequent flyer here. Cozy restaurant with super attentive staff! The food is one of a kind in the downtown area for Laos food. Pretty much a fan of everything on the menu. The bbq pork skewers are tender and so flavourful. The beef jerky is a good and the house made hot sauce is really good. The Papaya fritters are a favourite, with great tamarind sauce - although difficult to eat given the shape. The tapioca dumplings are really unique and are highly recommended. I also really like their coconut sorbet - they often run out, which is a testament to how good it is! Also had the drunken noodles, not shown, but was really good! Also- dog friendly patio :)

A beautiful restaurant with delicious food! We tried the Lao BBQ chicken, the green papaya fritters, the tapioca dumplings, and the satay chicken. Every dish amazed me and left me feeling so happy! I especially loved the papaya fritters the crispy batter and the tamarind chili sauce were exceptional! The chicken from the Lao BBQ chicken dish and the satay chicken were also both so tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. The restaurant seems to be pretty popular we came right when they opened on a Saturday, and it immediately started getting busy. I would highly recommend coming here with your family or friends just so you can try out multiple different dishes and experience the beautifully decorated interiors ;))

We came with a group of 8, and everything was great! Our serve was helpful and knowledgeable. The food was amazing, the beef salad was my favourite but their green curry was also amazing. We even ordered the wrong small plate but there was so regret as it tasted good too! Definitely worth the hype!

Delicious.

A delicious affair of Lao cuisine. This is a share plates situation. I genuinely recommend every single thing I tried! For drinks try the Thai tea, a spicy yet sweet milky treat. The desserts were delicious and I love the amount of pandan. Our server was really wonderful as well.

We were shocked. The server spilled water on my partner and not provide a napkin. While we understand that mistakes happen, when we asked for a napkin, she used it to clean the floor instead. When we clarified that we needed napkins for us, she responded with yes, give me a second. We didn t eat and left.

Everything about this place was perfect. We ordered multiple dishes and everything was excellent. The beef massaman curry has ruined me from ever having it anywhere else - I know that this is the best one I will ever have. The drinks were excellent. I really liked mine - La Passionista. Our server was absolutely wonderful. He was well informed on the dishes and the drinks, very engaging young man that really made our experience at the restaurant superb. It had been twenty years since I was last in Toronto but Lao Lao Bar is a reason to make the next trip much sooner.

Delicious authentic Thai dishes and great ambiance.

This is such charming bar and restaurant. The service was super friendly. I was very pleased to see how quickly the food was brought to our table. The food was fresh and tasted amazing. I will definitely go back!

Came here Monday June 24 with my sisters and was blown away by the food. Our server was very friendly and helped us pick out the best drinks to go with the food we ordered. Its almost a week later and Im still thinking about the beef massaman curry. This place is high up on my list of places to go next time I am in Toronto!

I would rate it high for its Food.

Amazing food and environment! A must visit

Great food and attentive service. All the dishes we ordered were well presented and very tasty. Was very busy when we visited and had a 30 minute wait time, recommend reserving a table in advance

I discovered this place when planning my sister s bachelorette, both the food and the service were amazing then with a group of 10+. We went there again last weekend during pride, they were busy but they found us a spot at the bar, the food and the service were again impeccable! We are vegetarian and they have great plant-based options.

A very solid 4.5/5. Great spot for Laotian/Thai food that is more unique than your standard Thai restaurant. Very cool ambiance, lighting is on the dimmer side, a good option for date night or dinner with friends (highly recommend sharing multiple dishes). Between the two of us, we ordered the tapioca dumplings (small plate), Lao BBQ chicken, and beef massaman curry. Everything is super tasty. The tapioca dumplings are very unique, we loved the blend of flavors and texture. The Lao BBQ chicken was cooked well but not super remarkable on its own, but the spicy garlicky sauce that accompanied it was delicious. Beef massaman curry was very rich and flavorful too. Portion sizes and prices are decent. On another recent visit (with a larger group), we ordered the Lao sausage and beef massaman curry again, both of which we really enjoyed. We also got the vermicelli in fish coconut red curry - we didnt love the texture of the fish that was mashed into a paste and mixed into the dish (wouldve preferred actual chunks of fish), but the flavours were great. The caramelized pork belly stew was tasty, but pork couldve been more tender. Service is friendly and attentive. The restaurant is quite spacious but tables are packed closely together. Thankfully, we were seated in the back room which was cozier and quieter. Its always busy so make a reservation!

This place was to die for. Every single thing we ate was incredible, with the perfect balance of flavours - it was absolutely delicious, and it left us wanting more. We had the satay chicken, fritters, green curry, drunken noodles, and tapioca dumplings. I will 100% be coming back. Could not recommend more!

Somewhere i gonna highly recommend! Amazing taste ! Awesome service! Definitely gonna back to this spot next time!

The place was lovely, the staff were friendly, and the food was tasty, but the portions were minuscule given the expensive price. The drunken noodles contained only four small shrimp, and the jungle curry had just three pieces of tofu.

Celebrated a birthday with family and friends the service was great and the food is delicious the flavours are authentic and the portions size are good for sharing.

Had a good experience here. It was busy on a Tuesday night so definitely recommend making a reservation. Service seemed disorganized and I was here to celebrate my 30th bday, yet we were seated at the bar. I decided to keep the seat since everything was full. While my friend and I were having dinner conversations, the bart staff seemed overwhelmed and taking our order was elongated. Not a huge issue, but by the time we got our food it was the wrong order and we were too hungry to wait for it to be corrected. That was our choice but kind of just made the experience feel like it could have been better. Overall, the atmosphere is beautiful and the food is well prepared, seasoned and delicious. They could use some nicer music!

Had a bad experience here - was told they would waive minimum spend for our group but still made us basically hit it. Also the food is just suboptimal, much better thai places in toronto. Would not return.

Great atmosphere, friendly staff and deliciously fresh food!! Will definitely go back!!

Came here with my friends for the first time and it was disappointing. I understand that it was busy but the service was *extremely* slow, took us more than 30mins for our food from the point of ordering. Safe to say Ive been to many popular and busy places but here it seems overall hard to get attention from any server. The food was good but not worth it for the price point, definitely a spot if you want to drink due to their bar but overall food-wise Pai or Koh Lipe remains the best spots in the city imo

The food is an excellent assortment of both Loas and Thailand based cuisine. I would highly recommend getting dishes to share. I would recommend the dumplings. Definitely worth a visit.

Best food in Toronto by far! Only do NOT eat the small pepper on the mocktail. It will burn your mouth.

Surprise by this restaurant! Vibe is great, servers are attentive and nice. And their food is excellent and not pricey! Will definitely come back with an appetite!

Such a cool place!

Unprofessional staff

Food from various south east Asian countries. Its technically Laotian and the pork belly dish was my favorite (with rice of course). Perfect blend of fattiness and meatiness cut with some rice

Party of 4 - they recommended 2-3 small plates and 3-4 large plates. We shared everything and it was enough food. Not huge portions but sufficient. Tried everything with the word, Lao in front of it. Lao jerky (my fav!) Lao chicken, Lao sausage...etc. Great vibe, loved the food, lots of flavor, our server was excellent. We would 100% go back again and try the rest of the menu. Limited desert menu which we did not try. Do make a reservation. Ive tried to walk-in before and they are a busy restaurant.

Really liked the Tom yum soup Food : 5/5

Truly love at first bite. Whats not to love with a chewy tapioca dumpling thats filled with a sweet and umami filling that perfumes through your mouth with pleasant aromas and an addicting texture. The caramelized shiitake, preserved radish and peanuts inside with a fried shallot sprinkle are the product of my new Tinder match, which can be dressed up with lettuce, mint, coriander and dried chilis for a pungent spice. Barbequed to a juicy tender texture, the char adds a wonderful depth of smokiness on top of the lemongrass, galangal and chilli marinade. It also comes with a tamarind lao noodle salad thats slightly smoky, and a sweet mango salad mixed with a fish sauce. The lime dipping sauce cuts through the fattiness of the chicken, and I wish there was more of it.

Saw a lot about this place online so decided to try it out when some visitors came to town. Wow was the internet correct! The food was delicious and sharing everything was the way to go. I was most surprised by the Beef Jerky with chilli sauce and the BBQ chicken. The Thai iced tea cocktail is also a must try!

Great variety of Asian-style food. Tom Yum was perfect Fried rice is my favorite.

Nice restaurant with good ambiance but it is noisy for an intimate dinner. Food is very tasty, but it is very pricey and the quantities are small. Service was absolutely appalling. The waitress didnt know the menu or take the time to even explain how best to pair the dishes. They were very quick to try rush you out of the restaurant as well. Overall it was a mediocre experience.

By far one of the best restaurants in Toronto! Food is so packed with flavor, cocktails were amazing too. Ambience is chill, decor is stunning and music is not too loud like at some other spots. We asked our server I believe her name was Savana for the specials and her passion for the menu really came through. We also met one of the owners Jason and he is so fun and besties with Michelle Yeoh!

Food, ambience and service were all great!

Best restaurant in Toronto

Definitely a vibe.

Such a cute spot! We did not make a reservation and got a table for 2 on a weeknight after a short wait. Ordered the drunken noodles, coffee cocktail, and slushy cocktail! All delicious, fair pricing for a pretty downtown restaurant. Fairly loud location but lovely ambiance and energy!

Absolutely fantastic food and a beautiful space. Highly recommend the drunken noodles and tapioca dumplings.

Worth the hype. This Laotian restaurant is super delicious. Crazy busy so book ahead. Fun cocktails. Lots of vegetarian options.

It was lovely trying to try Lao food. The service is top notch everyone is so friendly and a special thanks go to Myleen. The food is impecable and the atmosphere is so cozy. I ll definitely be back!

Very delicious! Amazing customer service! The atmosphere is excellent. This is a very good restaurant that does justice to promote Laotian cuisine.

The experience and food were quite disappointing considering how popular this restaurant is. The food was edible and portion was on the smaller side. I got a shrimp drunken noodle. The shrimps were overcooked and lacked of freshness. Their tip options started from 18 percent, but had subpar customer service (ex. Didn t check on us, no water, etc.) Personally would not go back.

Great food, great vibes, our server was really nice and recommended us a bunch of dishes to try. We came here to celebrate a birthday and it was a great time, this place is huge and has many seatings for bigger groups in a different room that s more quiet. I originally heard about this place because of their popular tapioca dumplings, it was good, the rest of the food was good as well. Pretty good but i have to say I ve had better in terms of flavours. Their cocktails were quite tasty and strong in alcohol taste. I would recommend you to check this place out in groups so you can get a bunch of dishes, share and try a little bit of everything.

Agree with the other reviews. The place got below average tasting food and the service was questionable. Staff are inexperienced and uninterested. We sat there, waited for ages for our drinks while overhearing them flirting and making summer plans. It was funny when the patio customers had to line up for the pos machine to pay the bill and one person couldn t help but fixate on the machine. Drinks from the bar were horribly made and tasted worse than homemade mixers. Moreover, the patio is located right below the condo s balconies posting an apparent safety hazard on windy days. It was honestly the worst experience we had in Toronto. personally, can t wait to see it go to make space for better businesses.

This restaurant has moved from my Want to Go to my Favourites ! First off, it s a really cute and casual atmosphere. The decor was beautiful and thoughtful depicting Laotian culture. I had their boozy coffee cocktail: Bean there, Done That which is a great alternative to an espresso martini. I sampled the papaya fritters and satay chicken. I really liked the chicken because it was saucy. The fritters also will have you second guessing that you re eating papaya, because they don t taste it at all! Just tastes like a fry. A fan favourite was the tapioca dumplings (although I didn t try them) my co workers really enjoyed them. Now the main star of the night was their Drunken Noodles. I m normally a slow eater, but I finished this plate quick! One of the most flavourful dishes I ve had. They also put plenty of shrimp in it (no shrinkflation here!) Finished the dinner off with a classic mango sticky rice. But I d recommend the Coconut Sorbet as well. I left there full! I also appreciated their prices being reasonable. 100% recommend this one. Thanks for a lovely meal!

Youre looking at the next big restaurant in Toronto, before its getting a Michelin star. Fabulous service, and an ambiance that transports you to a different place altogether. The flavours are top notch - esp the tapioca dumplings and the panang curry, and the mango salad. Also, finally a place that isnt worried about using the right spice levels (I love spicy food) - but still finds a way to make it inclusive for all spice tolerance levels. Fantastic vegetarian and vegan options. Just wish their wine selection was broader - and wish they included natural wines.

One of our favourite dinner places in Toronto! The decor is beautiful but most importantly, the food is excellent and flavourful. Highlights include beef salad, BBQ pork skewers, spinach, drunken noodles. The cocktails are also very good. We come here at least once a month and highly recommend it!

yummy yummy yummy food, a must try!

Dont do takeout. Just come in person.

The food all tastes super good, and the atmosphere is amazing! Loving the bbq chicken and the drunken noodles

Very good food, great cocktails and friendly staff! Make sure to make reservations during the weekend!

Totally recommended!

Food was amazing. I think this restaurant may squeek into my top 5

I had high hopes for this restaurant since it is in my neighborhood and being Asian it would be nice to have a decent Asian restaurant within walking distance. Unfortunately not to be. First impression the decor is quite pretty and hip. Dark lighting, leis draping the bar, lamps shaped like straw hats. Quickly goes downhill but let me start with the shocker (at least for me when at a restaurant that is positing itself as semi upscale, hip). I asked for green tea. I got a Twinnings green tea bag and a glass of hot water. Really?? Don t tell me we re an Asian restaurant and don t have green tea At least pretend you care a tiny bit, break open the bag, sprinkle the tea leaves into a teapot and give me a sieve. Where am I ? At a Best Western breakfast buffet. Just sloppy - screams don t care . Other than tea - there are no other hot drinks . No coffee - last I checked Laos is a coffee producer and coffee is important to its economy. At least when I have Vietnamese food even upscale places I can get (usually wonderful) Vietnamese drip coffee (again don t tell me we re an Asian restaurant so can t offer decent coffee.) They do have iced Thai coffee. Why not add boba to the menu to up the fine dining quotient. The second won t go back again is the noise level of this restaurant. It is loud. Very loud. Shouting at your dinner companion at the same table loud. Thumping club music. At 630 dinner. Not a place for a quiet dinner where you can TALK ! The place is small, ceilings are high. Thumping music carries. Food is ok. Nothing special that you can t find at other restaurants (Thai, Vietnamese..). Or you can make at home. Bigger portions at other places for the same price. I think Lao Lao bar has an identity crisis. It s really a club / after dinner lounge. Doesn t work as an upscale dinner hour restaurant. Suggestion : maybe move to King and Portland, offer small plates only, ply the drinks and stop pretending to be a sit down dinner restaurant. Kid-friendliness: Not kid friendly

We enjoyed our meal here. The papaya fritters were the star of the show. I wasn t the biggest fan of the pineapple rice, but prices were reasonable and portions large.

Bravi! Such good food taste and great quantity. Minor, for my taste the music was too loud. Food

Had the most beautiful dining experience here. My party was vegan and they made excellent recommendations. The na drink menu was also on point. Highly recommend!!

I let the server know I was a vegetarian and opted for the mango salad, after conversing about the options. After I ate it I learned it was not vegetarian at all. I felt tricked and let down. There was no indication in the menu ingredients that there was fish and other ingredients in the sauce? Why couldnt they make me a vegetarian version? It was a weird experience.

Really good food and cocktails. Not many items that are GF and vegan but they can tailor if the main chef is there, and they are looking to increase the options available. We only went for the dumplings and they were really good. First time experiencing Lao food. Dietary restrictions: Vegan and GF options

Their food is outstanding, the massaman curry is fantastic every time, such a great vibe and nice servers and hosts, love coming here for birthdays

We enjoyed some unique and tasty dishes here such a tapioca dumplings, beef jerky, lao sausage and banana fritters. Objectively the food is very good with quality ingredients and some dishes that you would not find in other restaurants. Portions are small for the price though. Their cocktail menu is also very interesting, using uncommon ingredients and infusions. We were also impressed with the very attentive and friendly service. The dining experience as a whole was unfortunately subpar. Tables are so tiny that youre worried about knocking things over and youre dining almost shoulder to shoulder with the next table. The servers had to lean over us to talk to/serve the other tables. I think when youre charging $25 a plate, its important to make your patrons comfotable. Overall we paid $100 for 2 people (no alcohol) and while I thought it was good to try, I will not be returning soon as most dishes (e.g. satay, pad kee mao, curries) are at least equally good, cheaper and with bigger portions at places like PAI, Khao San Road etc.

Excellent food and amazing drinks. Service was also good but not great. It was very noticeably slow in between courses and drinks. I think they were either understaffed or overbooked though. On a good night this would easily be a 5 star.