Laotian Restaurants near Berkeley, CA

“Lao Garden is an amazing new addition to West Berkeley! The food is incredible- every time we’ve been there, we have been blown away by how delicious everything is. The lettuce wraps are incredible, as are the drunken noodles, red curry, papaya salad….. and everything else on the menu. They are able to make almost everything into a vegetarian option, which is great too! I highly recommend supporting this local business. It’s the best!“

“I order here all the time for my family (usually pick-up)
It's always super delicious and very good quality.
The other night, they forgot to give me one dish I had ordered - I called to let them know I was headed back there so they started making it right away. Then was given a Thai iced tea upon arrival (for my troubles) - Super nice of them - Will come back for sure :)“

“Vientiane Café is a solid spot for flavorful Laotian cuisine. The dishes are fresh, well-seasoned, and generous in portion. The service is friendly, though it can be a bit slow during busy hours. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming, making it a great choice for a relaxed meal with friends or family.“

“Food was delicious. Service initially was started by a lady who barely understood anything. Then the man came outside and he was more knowledgeable. Ambience was good but the seats are really hard. They are wooden chairs. If you have a sensitive behind, it can actually cause severe pain. My husband was trying to order egg noodles since he’s allergic to rice. They have egg noodles on the menu, but he said they don’t have. That is why the four stars. Every noodle they had was rice based. They need to have a different option for people with allergies
if not, do not have it in the menu.“

“We stopped here on a whim as we were looking for something new after a workout class.

Walking in there were plenty of tables open. This place has an enormous bar area as well. It must have been a sports bar in its former life.

We ordered the Roti to start and my wife ordered the spring rolls with shrimp. I went with the roast duck over rice. The Roti was fine… it seemed like they put their roti in a panini press and just served it like that, so not a lot of flavor. The Thai restaurant down the street (infinity) has a much better roti. The curry dipping sauce was really good though. My wife said the spring rolls were “fine”. I really enjoyed my duck over rice dish though. The duck was moist and full of flavor and the hot soy sauce had a nice kick to it.

Service seemed a bit off, slow to get water for us and hot sauce, but everyone was nice.

I’d come back for the duck rice, but I don’t know if this place would get elevated to a “must return”.“

“I order the pumpkin curry. It was delicious. I also ordered the Tom Ka chicken soup. It was too tart, the chicken over cooked. A disappointment for a soup I usually love“

“Everything we’ve had here is so delicious!!! Our faves are the Tom Kha soup, BMV platter, Pad Kee Mao, Chicken Satay, and Mango sticky rice dessert…all so very yummy!!!“

“Great food, Indoor dining and excellent service!“

“I eat Thai food once a week and this ranks among the best in the area...smaller, unassuming place but a very pleasant waitstaff and crazy good food...they also understood “mild” and adjusted all the dishes perfectly...we tried 5 items and all were good!“

“Visiting San Francisco with my cousin, who lives locally, along with my sister from Los Angeles, we came to celebrate my birthday and to hopefully have a memorable dinner experience. We were overwhelmed with delicious and creative food presentations. Just so interesting sounding, we ordered their Watermelon salad appetizer. The combination of refreshing watermelon and the savory sauce/dressing made this unique (to us) dish the most perfect start to our dining experience. Loved it! Our other dinner choices were just as delicious-highly recommend the spicy (mild level) garlic with fried tofu, noodle dish with chicken and a beef dish. The dessert we chose was coconut ice cream with sweetened rice, crunchy toppings and anchovies (they looked like hard sticks which I chose not to eat) served in a “brioche” bun. Super sweet and delicious. I didn’t think the bun was anything more than a heartier hot dog bun. Our service was really good and considering the restaurant was packed and there was simultaneously a party of maybe at least 20 diners, the kitchen and staff took excellent care of our needs. Loved my birthday celebration-ringing one of their huge bells, they announced to the entire restaurant my birthday with song and special complementary Thai tea ice cream complete with candle. A lucky and delicious find for us after visiting SFMOMA.“

“Been going to CG for years. I'm stuffed and sleepy so short review. All the food at CG is good you can't go wrong. Get the sampler plate that sausage will change your life the crispy rice that's a meal and a deal. I need a nap.“

“Great food and service. My earring came off during dinner and I didn’t discover that it was missing until I got home. I called the next day and they went out of their way to find my favorite Christmas earring.“

“On my first visit to San Francisco, I stumbled upon this gem. From the moment I walked in, I felt at home. The food was incredible, and meeting the owner-chef was a treat—everything was perfectly prepared, fast, and the service was excellent. The location was clean, and I can’t thank them enough for making me feel at ease. A true standout!“

“Great food and service. My earring came off during dinner and I didn’t discover that it was missing until I got home. I called the next day and they went out of their way to find my favorite Christmas earring.“

“We tried A Taste of Lao for the first time last Saturday for lunch and were absolutely blown away! Every single dish we ordered was tasty and exploding in flavors. The Lao sausage, a personal favorite, was phenomenal with its distinct hint of lemongrass. The duck basil is just amazing—a must-try! The service was friendly and fast, and the decor is cute, featuring lovely flowers and art. Such a great addition to the local food scene“

“We’ve been coming to Noodle 21 for over 5 years now, and it continues to be one of our favorite spots! My husband introduced me to this place, and over time I found my perfect pho order — #21 with thin egg noodles, no bean sprouts, and soup on the side.

Back in August 2024, the original owner told us he was leaving and passing the business on to his partner. He was always so kind, always made time to chat with us, and greeted us warmly every visit. I was pregnant at the time, so sadly, he never got to meet our baby — but we’re happy to say we’ve kept coming back and still love it just as much as day one.

The staff now is just as welcoming. They remember us, they remember our baby, and it truly feels like a place that values its regulars. The food is consistently delicious, and the atmosphere is comforting and familiar. We’re so glad this spot continues to thrive, and we look forward to many more meals here as a family.“

“Excellent Thai cuisine. They have quick service and the curry dishes are full of flavor. It's a small restaurant so you can order to go if it's too crowded to find a seat. If you're game for dessert, try their mango sticky rice dessert.“

“Very authentic Thai food. Casual environment. Love their dessert and the shrimp paste fried rice.“