SAAP Laotian Restaurant

370 S Walker St Suite 100, Cary
(919) 377-0160

Recent Reviews

Shruti J.

Came here for dinner with a friend and this place did not disappoint! We sat at the bar and ordered a few cocktails, every drink was better than the previous one - love it! Food was flavourful - my favorites were the pork roll and spring roll. I would skip the papaya salad, lot of fish oil in it for my liking. I loved the taro dessert, so good! I was full but finished everything. Service was so great and quick, our bartender kept checking on us. This was $$$ and ambiance is nice, so definitely a place for a dinner date. I honestly would come back for the cocktails and spring rolls! Recommend

M Agni

VERY loud in the dining area. Makes it impossible to enjoy your meal. Food is average and unremarkable yet expensive.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 2

Service: 3

Luke Allery

The steak left MUCH to be desired. It was almost cold and really didn't have any seasoning on it. The noodles were great as was the aps. I dont think it was worth the 3+ week wait to get a

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Lettuce Wraps

Brandon F.

As a long-time Cary local, I've seen plenty of restaurants come and go, but Saap has truly raised the bar. The ambiance is top-notch, blending sophistication with views of the park that just can't be beaten. Service? Impeccable. Friendly staff that knows their stuff and makes you feel right at home. Let's get to the good part - the food. It's fantastic. Started off with the spring rolls and the sausage herb appetizer, which was an absolute flavor bomb. Followed that with two mains that knocked it out of the park, and some of the best cocktails I've had in a while from a restaurant. Saap easily outdoes the Raleigh competition, and I couldn't be happier they're here in Cary. Do yourself a favor: book a table, enjoy the meal, and take a stroll in the park afterwards. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Kristi B

The food here is excellent!! I ordered the lettuce wraps with flounder, the red curry chicken, and the pad lao pork belly and they were all so flavorful. I will definitely be back soon!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chicken Curry, Lettuce Wraps

Michael Torbert

Whatever you do, don’t order the crispy rice. It’s too addicting. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Jill DeCandio

Great addition to restaurants in Cary. Located in the heart of downtown adjacent to the new town park, SAAP brings new flavors to Car’e restaurant scene. The restaurant isn’t spacious, so since its new AND good, plan ahead and make a reservation. I’ve dined here twice for dinner and just made another reservation for later this month. The cocktail menu includes classics with a twist and also features specialty drinks. Had “nights in Vientiane” which was tequila based with caramelized pineapple ginger shrub, fresh pineapple, lime, and agave. Refreshing blend of flavors, perfectly balanced. Also had “Mekong River Rush”, with habanero infused mezcal, Hibiscus/orange infused syrup with lime and orange. Not too spicy with a sweet smoke flavor. I didn’t try it but someone in my party did and throughly enjoyed “The Mantra” which is vodka based with elderberry, lemongrass, lemon, and lychee. Mocktails are also available. Shrimp crisps/ chips (not sure if thats what they are actually called) were brought to the table for munching when looking over the menu. Watch out….those things are addictive! Crunchy but light, not oily or greasy and dont leave any aftertaste like others Ive had at other restaurants. A number of small plates are available. Both times I’ve dined there we order a few to share. The portions are good for “small” plates. The crispy spring rolls were a favorite. Other items include salads, chicken satay, BBQ pork skewers, soup, and sausage. One of my favorite menu items is on the small plate menu, the crispy coconut rice lettuce wraps. So good! I had them one time as an appetizer and liked them so much I ordered them for my main course the second time I dined there. I did not add the optional cured pork roll. There’s no need. The dish is amazing as is with crispy crunchy goodness in every bite. Tghe flavor us outstanding. Comes with lettuce leaves to use as wraps. On the main menu are dishes that include curry, fish, steak, stir fry, and fried rice. For dessert the server brought us sweet potato croquettes since we were there for a special occasion. I didn’t see them listed on the dessert menu. OMG! Ive never had anything like them. So good we placed another order for more once we ate the first. Delicious! Ask for them. Not sure best how to describe them … warm thin crispy round hollowed out shell (think of a munchkin donut hole empty with a light, crunchy exterior) filled with cool citrus custard/pudding/cream. Not overly sweet and very flavorful. Im already looking forward to going back and getting them again. Our server (both times) was Noel. She’s excellent. Knowledgeable about the menu, friendly, fun, personable, attentive, and professional. She goes out of her way to make sure customers have the best possible experience while dining at the restaurant.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Shrimp Chips

Nicole Osborne

Dawn was an absolutely amazing serverr!! I am new to the area and she made our experience unforgettable. If you go please ask for her. The food is incredible, just the right spice level. However the noise level is uncomfortable. It's hard to talk to the people next to you without yelling. Will come back to say hi to dawn!!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Seafood Green Curry, Purple Rain

Monica Vee

I was expecting more, and unfortunately it was OK bordering on good, but not great. I feel a bit ripped off that I paid as much as I did for mediocre food. The shrimp summer rolls were presented nicely but were dry, very cold, and just not good - all basil, tightly rolled, couldn't taste or feel any shrimp in brittle rice paper. You could tell they had been prepared way in advance. The caramelized noodles with tofu were dry. These are two basic dishes that are hard to screw up and you can get anywhere in this area. It's a shame, but won't be going back any time soon.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 3

samantha

About what I expected, not that different from their other restaurants other than the decor.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Lindsey Miron

Saap is one of the best new restaurants in the area. We’ve already been 3 times and the food is amazing every time, they’re very consistent which I appreciate. The Lao Beef Jerky is one of my favorites, it has a great sticky glaze and is super tender and delicious. The service is also wonderful and the atmosphere is beautiful. I can’t recommend this place enough!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Linda H.

I never write reviews but came here to give Noel a positive review because she was such an outstanding server--personable, attentive, and knowledgeable. In terms of servers she was 10/10. The food was delicious. My husband is a bit wimpy for spicey foods (his words, he admits it). He ordered the seafood curry and loved it. Noel brought him a sample of the sauce so he could judge the heat factor for himself before ordering the dish. I had the kabocha curry--another excellent meal. We're so happy to have this dinner option so close to our home and will definitely return.

Er R.

Sensational Food plus Superb Service! Our group of four have extremely diverse tastes and dietary preferences. Miranda, our server, did a phenomenal job answering our many questions about various dishes, as we were unfamiliar with Laotian cuisine. Her guidance and enthusiasm helped each of us a select an entree perfect for our tastebuds. Bonus! The surprise birthday dessert delighted our honoree. We agreed that we will be back! Welcome and thanks to the owner and chefs. A gem for Cary and a prime location near the new Downtown Park.

Daniel Engelstein

pretty noisy at times but tolerable.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Satay, Vegetarian Summer Rolls, Shrimp Chips, Sticky Rice, Lettuce Wraps

Forrest Mason

My wife and I had a really great experience at SAAP. The menu is deep and has a killer variety of dishes small and large. We really enjoyed the beef jerky appetizer and crispy pork belly. The cocktails are amazing and being able to take in a nice stroll afterwards through the new park in downtown Cary is the cherry on top!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

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