If you want really good food that cooked from the heart, served in a quaint little neighborhood restaurant with a welcoming dose of warm & friendly service, THIS is it! After hearing good things, We went for a weeknight dinner out & we were both blown away by everything we ate and the happy & informative service. We shared the Lao Beef Jerky appetizer that is served with sticky rice & Lao tomato sauce. What an absolutely scrumptious start! We were already won over at this point. We shared entrees trying the Red Curry with eggplant & green beans (I chose chicken) & Nam Khao. The curry was a tad less sweet than you sometimes get in restaurants, which I liked. Eggplant is not always my favorite vegetable, but this was delicious! My son even commented on how perfectly the eggplant was cooked. The Nam Khao was a massive portion of fried rice, red curry, coconut, green onions, & these tasty and crispy little gems of fermented pork. You roll portions of rice in lettuce leaves to eat it. My hungry 15yo ate maybe half before fullness defeated him but loved every bite & asked to take the rest to school for lunch the next day. We also had Thai red tea & unsweet tea that were both served in huge glasses that were bigger than your average already big tea glasses. We definitely plan to add this absolute treasure to our regular rotation of neighborhood spots. They also do BYOB. I'm already planning in my head what wine I will take to go with the truly delicious Laotian food for the next time.

What an amazing experience! The food was delicious and the owner was the best!
I had their special chicken noodle soup with qual eggs and it hit the spot post-winter storm! My sister had the chicken basil and as you can see from the picture, she loved it and finished it all. I’m so full of not id try their beef jerky, my sister said it was yummy. Definitely coming back to try the rest of their menu.

When I believed that Thai cuisine had reached its pinnacle, I stumbled upon yet another delightful surprise. I shall certainly revisit this establishment. I highly recommend their soups and pork skins. The flavors were exquisite, and the service was impeccable. It is a wonderful place to unwind and savor a meal with friends and family.

Lunch at Sao Loa Cafe Saturday at 11:30. It was good, but my experience was not great and didn’t hold up to the rave reviews I’ve read. Not bad but not fantastic.

It is a smaller, cute, informal place with 8 tables, mostly 4 tops and 2 two tops. Laid back vocals were playing (Billie Elish). You order at the counter and your food is brought to you. The server was very friendly and met me with a warm welcome.

I ordered Chicken Veggie Dumplings ($8) and Thai Chicken Basil ($15). I ordered Diet Coke but they were out. Total cost was $29.88 including 20% tip. There is a $5 cork fee except Monday & Wednesday.

I’ve edited this paragraph of this review. I had commented that the dumplings came out ten minutes after the entree which I did not enjoy. It has been pointed out that Sao Lao is counter service so you can expect to get all your food at once. That has not been my universal experience at small restaurants even if counter service, but I’ll concede the point. However for me it’s a reason I might not return. I don’t enjoy having all my food at once.

The basil chicken was very good. I recommend it. Rich flavors and served with jasmine rice and an egg prepared to your preference. I sometimes find ordering Thai and Lao food tricky on spice level. I like a little kick, but not “hot.” I ordered medium and next time I would go mild at this restaurant.

I was not happy with the dumplings. Yes, I know I could have sent them back and did not. I didn’t want to wait for them again and I think when you have send something back it’s worth mentioning in a review. To my taste they were well overcooked. Quite crunchy to the point of affecting the flavors (mild burnt taste).

Overall good but not up to expectations. There were two other parties there who were commenting on how great the food was and I went because of very positive online reviews, so I’ll give it another try.

Came here as a recommendation from a coworker and it did not disappoint! I brought the rest of my team with me for a delicious dinner and we couldn’t stop talking about how delicious the food was for the entire night. I had the pork belly basil but got to taste everyone else’s dishes and all were equally as amazing. Will definitely come back in the future since they sold out of their mango sticky rice!

The owner and staff were all very kind! The food smelled and tasted great! Will definitely be coming back!

Not the best Lao food. I was very disappointed as this was on my list to try for a long time. We ordered the Lao style eggrolls, $12.50 for 5 of them is overpriced but I thought it would be served with lots of veggies. They came with one lettuce leaf, some bean sprouts and shredded carrots. When I asked where the cilantro and green onions were (as described on the menu) the staff person told me they were in the eggrolls, no they weren’t. The eggrolls just had pork, carrots and maybe yellow onions. We did not finish the eggrolls, they were so porky in taste. Then the mushroom lap was way too acidic, it was all I can taste. The Nam Khao also was overpowered with lime, I love lime and it is essential part of Lao cooking but whoever was behind the kitchen the day must not have tasted the food they sent out. The Tom yum soup was okay, it was as expected sour in taste but not as overpowering as the other dishes. Overall I’m disappointed, the dishes we ordered were not as aromatic and balanced in tastes as good Lao food should be. The eggrolls are overpriced and very porky. We won’t be returning, as there are some more authentic Lao places in Houston.

Got take out and wish I would have dined in since everyone working up front was so friendly and helpful. Everything on the menu looks excellent but we narrowed it down to the Drunken noodle and Thai Chicken Basil. Great Thai food in Houston!

It's a tiny place but full of flavor. Tom yum soup is the best I tried anywhere else. Tried lots of other things on the menu. All full of flavor and fresh. Owner and her staff are super friendly.

Owner is so hands on and friendly. She wants to welcome you like her restaurant is a home and she is doing the cooking. My boyfriend liked the sausages (the sauce was amazing).

The owner and staff were all very kind! The food smelled and tasted great! Will definitely be coming back!

If you want really good food that cooked from the heart, served in a quaint little neighborhood restaurant with a welcoming dose of warm & friendly service, THIS is it! After hearing good things, We went for a weeknight dinner out & we were both blown away by everything we ate and the happy & informative service. We shared the Lao Beef Jerky appetizer that is served with sticky rice & Lao tomato sauce. What an absolutely scrumptious start! We were already won over at this point. We shared entrees trying the Red Curry with eggplant & green beans (I chose chicken) & Nam Khao. The curry was a tad less sweet than you sometimes get in restaurants, which I liked. Eggplant is not always my favorite vegetable, but this was delicious! My son even commented on how perfectly the eggplant was cooked. The Nam Khao was a massive portion of fried rice, red curry, coconut, green onions, & these tasty and crispy little gems of fermented pork. You roll portions of rice in lettuce leaves to eat it. My hungry 15yo ate maybe half before fullness defeated him but loved every bite & asked to take the rest to school for lunch the next day. We also had Thai red tea & unsweet tea that were both served in huge glasses that were bigger than your average already big tea glasses. We definitely plan to add this absolute treasure to our regular rotation of neighborhood spots. They also do BYOB. I'm already planning in my head what wine I will take to go with the truly delicious Laotian food for the next time.

Food was great, full of flavor. Had my water taken halfway thru eating and was never brought back. Left with a spicy mouth and Thirsty.
Other than that. Decent Thai spot.

Great food, family establishments, go enjoy

What an amazing experience! The food was delicious and the owner was the best!
I had their special chicken noodle soup with qual eggs and it hit the spot post-winter storm! My sister had the chicken basil and as you can see from the picture, she loved it and finished it all. I’m so full of not id try their beef jerky, my sister said it was yummy. Definitely coming back to try the rest of their menu.

Lunch at Sao Loa Cafe Saturday at 11:30. It was good, but my experience was not great and didn’t hold up to the rave reviews I’ve read. Not bad but not fantastic.

It is a smaller, cute, informal place with 8 tables, mostly 4 tops and 2 two tops. Laid back vocals were playing (Billie Elish). You order at the counter and your food is brought to you. The server was very friendly and met me with a warm welcome.

I ordered Chicken Veggie Dumplings ($8) and Thai Chicken Basil ($15). I ordered Diet Coke but they were out. Total cost was $29.88 including 20% tip. There is a $5 cork fee except Monday & Wednesday.

I’ve edited this paragraph of this review. I had commented that the dumplings came out ten minutes after the entree which I did not enjoy. It has been pointed out that Sao Lao is counter service so you can expect to get all your food at once. That has not been my universal experience at small restaurants even if counter service, but I’ll concede the point. However for me it’s a reason I might not return. I don’t enjoy having all my food at once.

The basil chicken was very good. I recommend it. Rich flavors and served with jasmine rice and an egg prepared to your preference. I sometimes find ordering Thai and Lao food tricky on spice level. I like a little kick, but not “hot.” I ordered medium and next time I would go mild at this restaurant.

I was not happy with the dumplings. Yes, I know I could have sent them back and did not. I didn’t want to wait for them again and I think when you have send something back it’s worth mentioning in a review. To my taste they were well overcooked. Quite crunchy to the point of affecting the flavors (mild burnt taste).

Overall good but not up to expectations. There were two other parties there who were commenting on how great the food was and I went because of very positive online reviews, so I’ll give it another try.

I came here on a whim and I'm super happy that I did. The food was amazing and so were the people.

It is safe to say this place has my two favorite soups in the Heights area. I am typically not a huge Pho fan because I prefer the more traditional Bun Bo Hue with more depth of flavor but the Laotian Pho is amazing here and I would recommend adding the 24 slow cooked beef to it. The other amazing Thai Boat noodle soup is another heavy hitter. Really impressed with the Food here. The staff/Owner is also very friendly and attentive. This is the best soup spot in my area and I am ready to try the rest of the menu if I can keep myself from ordering these two soups that keep calling me back. Don’t sleep on this place

Delicious food and friendly service. It’s worth a visit! Been here many times and never had a bad dish.

Such a great find! The staff is lovely and gave us great recommendations about what’s on the menu. We will be back for sure!

Excellent food. Wonderful service. Reorder Thai basil ground pork dish.

This place is WAY to expensive for their very small food portions. I had the beef pho, it was mainly broth and barely any noodles, they cut them in half, like really Ive been to many restraunts and never had the pho noodles cut in half. The egg rolls were small but very expensive, they give you one egg roll cut in half for 8 dollars. I liked them so much I ordered a full order which is 2 cut in half which was 14$!! The service was ok, the girl was really nice, but they were taking advantage of her making her take orders and serve and clean up after guests by herself! Poor Girl! I would never go back to this place mainly cause its way too expensive for very small portions of food.

Awesome! Enjoyed the Sausage with sticky rice, Drucken Noodles, & Mushroom Laab. BYOB adds a lot of value. Great server, she was helpful w suggestions. Reservations possible its not very big. We will be back !
Prices are good, this is not SE Asia :)

Cute place. Great food.

When I believed that Thai cuisine had reached its pinnacle, I stumbled upon yet another delightful surprise. I shall certainly revisit this establishment. I highly recommend their soups and pork skins. The flavors were exquisite, and the service was impeccable. It is a wonderful place to unwind and savor a meal with friends and family.

I love their food

Amazing food, great service, highly highly recommend!

Was an amazing experience loved it and will be back! I felt spontaneous on a Monday after work and wanted to go to a decent restaurant with good food and I came across this gem of a place. Great flavorful food with really fresh ingredients I could tell, and the environment and energy was great the owner lady was so nice and welcoming definitely would recommend for anyone who likes great food that is fresh. It is also byob 5$ fee but you just can’t take any liquor just wine and beer which I thought was pretty awesome honestly💯

Amazing flavor and awesome 90s R&B in the background. Loved it!

We love this place. It is BYOB or wine, and the food is incredible. There is not a lot of seating, but I have already been twice and did not have a problem being seated. The portion sizes are great, and it's easy to share several things as a table. We loved it so much we went back within a week!

Update: October 7th 6PM. I did come back and I had hoped that there would be improvements to the quality of the food and the service. I purposely made a reservation on a Monday. I have only one word to describe the experience CHAOS. I met the “owner” of the restaurant and after experiencing her personality and the utter chaos that was occurring (wine tasting event that was still being set up as guests arrived as well as completely taking up the dining area asking me to move 3 times as well as help physically move the tables and being told to open the front door because the owners hands were full) will not be back, the food once was “wow” and now it’s only satisfactory and as far as the service goes I won’t ever return. It’s clear to me that this restaurant has gotten itself over its own success and without intervention soon I can see how it will all go crashing down.

I’ve dined here many times and always come on a Saturday. I always make a reservation. It seems every Saturday I’ve been here there is at least one new server and they are understaffed. I get it, the food is great except this time… it was just ok, got my order wrong and was pretty disappointed because I look forward to coming here. I’ll come back and it will be on a Saturday and I hope that my experience August 10th 2024 was just an anomaly.

Came here as a recommendation from a coworker and it did not disappoint! I brought the rest of my team with me for a delicious dinner and we couldn’t stop talking about how delicious the food was for the entire night. I had the pork belly basil but got to taste everyone else’s dishes and all were equally as amazing. Will definitely come back in the future since they sold out of their mango sticky rice!

Solid

Service was incredible! We ordered take out; I enjoyed the food but wish there were more kid friendly options. I will be returning, but only if it's just me and my husband. Staff was incredibly nice and I definitely will dine in next time I go.

The atmosphere, is really nice I had the chicken soup boat, I made it 🥵 spicy
and started to sweat. Paired with a huge green iced, thai tea 🍵. Excellent it was all very tasty I ordered the chicken soup served in a huge bowl 🍜 with lots of flavor hard boiled eggs and thick noodles packed with flavor 😋 try them.

4th time I ordered the eggs over easy and this is what I get wish I could show the pictures

Small restaurant, but food was great; owner was friendly and service was outstanding. No parking problems. BYOB if anything other than soft drinks are desired.

Delicious red curry. It’s the only curry on the menu but I understand why. Be ready to enjoy eggplant. If you’re not a vegetable eater this is not your dish and you are missing out.

Great restaurant with amazing food and friendly service. We stopped by on a whim and it did not disappoint. I will defiantly visit again.

Great Thai food and super nice staff.

Not good

Not the best Lao food. I was very disappointed as this was on my list to try for a long time. We ordered the Lao style eggrolls, $12.50 for 5 of them is overpriced but I thought it would be served with lots of veggies. They came with one lettuce leaf, some bean sprouts and shredded carrots. When I asked where the cilantro and green onions were (as described on the menu) the staff person told me they were in the eggrolls, no they weren’t. The eggrolls just had pork, carrots and maybe yellow onions. We did not finish the eggrolls, they were so porky in taste. Then the mushroom lap was way too acidic, it was all I can taste. The Nam Khao also was overpowered with lime, I love lime and it is essential part of Lao cooking but whoever was behind the kitchen the day must not have tasted the food they sent out. The Tom yum soup was okay, it was as expected sour in taste but not as overpowering as the other dishes. Overall I’m disappointed, the dishes we ordered were not as aromatic and balanced in tastes as good Lao food should be. The eggrolls are overpriced and very porky. We won’t be returning, as there are some more authentic Lao places in Houston.

Food is really good. Very large Thai tea

The owner was very friendly and nice.

All I can say is wow!!! I’ve been driving past this place for awhile now. I noticed this cute storefront about a year ago maybe??! When my friend suggested it because her friend is the owner, I was excited to go! The service is awesome! You feel like you’re amongst family. We were immediately offered the Thai Tea which is green and reminded me of my matcha. It was SO GOOD! I had the Lao Chicken Soup Pho and feel so much better than I did this morning when I woke up! My friend had the Beef Basil. I’m definitely doing that next time cause there will be a next time. Sorry to post the empty bowl but I forgot to take a picture of it when she set it on the table! The place is so little and intimate. I love how quaint it is! Definitely coming back!

Owner was so warming and friendly. Her enthusiasm is infectious! We enjoyed the food and I really like the Laotian sausages!

Best Thai food I’ve ever had.

One word: AMAZING!
The food is beyond flavorful, the staff was so friendly, service was on point! This is the number #1 Thai restaurant in Houston.

If you haven’t tried Sao Lao Cafe on North Shepherd- RUN don’t walk there! We’ve been several times and the food is always sooooo fresh and tasty!

A few of our favs are:
-drunken noodles
-Nam Khao crispy fried rice
-Veggie egg rolls
-pho

Oh my goodness! We have loved our meals there- yet the owner says shes wishing for more business- and that they aren’t bringing in enough foot traffic to eat in.

I hope you’ll give it a try! Tell Su Lee Bill & Amydell sent you! ❤️❤️ She will take amazing care of you!

I love everything about this place. The menu is limited but everything is fresh and delicious. I am the most Lao person I know and finally finding a place that actually uses kapee and padaek in the appropriate dishes is a GEM!!! The laab is better than my own and chefs kiss to the boat noodles! It tastes just like my dad used to make for us as kids. Thank you Souli, for having a place like this for us to enjoy!

Awesome artwork and decor and the staff are friendly. We enjoyed the food and will gladly return

Waited almost an hour and a half for my DoorDash order and they had my doordasher waiting over 45 mins for the order as well and it said 20-30 mins to arrive! Got my order and was missing two items! Sticky rice and one basil chicken , very upset after waiting that long for my order

All around fantastic food. The owner is absolutely amazing.
Food is always fresh and tasty.

The service is amazing, the food is delicious. I can bring the family to have a nice lunch or pick up the food and it is still great.

The BEST authentic Thai food in Houston! The owner is so kind and friendly as well! You’ll find her running around, helping in the kitchen or waiting tables. She’s so humble and wonderful!

Delicious food and great service!

First time coming here for an early dinner date. It's a small, tidy spot with very friendly staff. The food came out quickly and was delicious! Will definitely be back.

Excellent food! Super friendly staff!

Delicious dinner.

Can’t get order correct! Order Thai Chicken and received some shrimp pho dish. Super frustrating!

1st time and I was not disappointed! Excellent food & service! Will return.

I had seen Sao Lao on Texas Eats awhile back, so I wanted to give it a try while in Houston. My friend and I tried the Nam Khao and a lovely shrimp dish with noodles--both dishes were outstanding! We also tried the dumplings and the mango-sticky rice dessert. All were delicious!
The restaurant is neat and clean, and the owner, Souli, is friendly, gracious and very accommodating. If I lived in Houston, I'd be there at least once a week. This has to be one of the best restaurants in Houston!

One of my favorite Thai spots, flavors are great! The owner is super nice and friendly!

Was in the neighborhood and thought to give this cozy spot a try: I wasn’t disappointed! Ordered the Lao sausage, mushroom salad and papaya salad. The food came out fast and definitely fresh. We were treated really well, too. We’ll be back!

Got take out and wish I would have dined in since everyone working up front was so friendly and helpful. Everything on the menu looks excellent but we narrowed it down to the Drunken noodle and Thai Chicken Basil. Great Thai food in Houston!

First time visitor. Ordered my standard drunken noodles with medium heat. The dish was savory and full of flavor The heat was right on target Service was quick and the interior is very cute. Can't wait to go back!

My girlfriend is Thai and we have been searching for good authentic Thai food for 3 years. We finally found it at Sao Lao. The food is delicious, authentic and the owner is lovely and more than happy to make recommendations and adjust spice levels. We just returned from Thailand and this is the real thing.

Warm and friendly staff that are hustling! Food is delicious and will be back.

Over priced and food was average.

The owner is the best! The food is just as good. Never disappointed. Well, actually I am that I didn't get the mango sticky rice for dessert this time. I'll be back for it!

Raw beef in curry dish

Laotian Thai restaurant. Service/food were good and the owner was nice

Excelente 5 estrellas me encantó

I'm a fan of various Asian cuisines, especially Thai. And I'm a big fan of spicy food. So this place was a win on both fronts -- which, according to reviews I've read here and elsewhere, was not unexpected. I had the Boat Noodle Soup, and it was outstanding. (And the owner recommended -- and provided -- some fresh chili pepper mash, for a nice added kick.)

What I was struck by was the hospitality. It's nice when you encounter a place run by people who truly get it -- "it" being the idea that the public you serve ultimately makes the final call on your success. It felt more like I was having dinner in someone's home, thanks to the lovely hostess and owner. Really nice, welcoming crew here.

I'll be back, and I'll be letting friends and business associates know about this place as well.

Owner very friendly, our first time and she made sure to let us know about all the dishes. Their Taiwan tea is amazing! Had their boat noodles, dumplings, sticky rice, the spicy chicken noodles, drunken noodles. Everything came out quickly.

It was a great place, the food was tasty, if you love spice this place is for you. Susie was the lady that served us and took care of our stay and she was lovely.

Delicious soups. If you like spicy they have your fix.

Food was very tasty. Thai green tea yummy. Service was great.

This is a great restaurant! A hidden gym the food is really good

Cute little place and good tasty authentic Laotian style food

Very nice food. Service is excellent providing the feeling of a family owned restaurant. Definitely worth your visit

Great overall! Great food, the red curry is to die for as well as the Laab with ground pork.

Great looking small little cafe.

The food is consistently top notch for the price range. They are a small place so big groups could be an issue. Always fast and friendly service!

Impeccably clean and great, flavorful food. Great for a quick and efficient lunch.

It was terrible, terrible and terrible!!

Great food and great vibes !!

Can’t go wrong with Pho and it was really good. You get alot with your order and I ended up taking the left overs home to eat for dinner that night. The spring rolls were also very nice.

Small, simple eatery serving Laotian and Thai food that’s pretty authentic. Portions are generous and the food is served fast by friendly staff. We ordered the Nam Khao crispy fried rice seasoned with curry paste. We swapped out the pork for tofu. Really enjoyed this dish. We tried the papaya salad, something we would eat almost daily during our visits to Thailand. It was OK but there was something about the seasoning that I didn’t like. My wife enjoyed it, though. Finally, we tried the Mushroom Laab, which had a nice minty flavor. I would definitely go back to the Sai Lao Thai Cafe.

While it’s not much to look at outside, the inside is homey and comfortable.
We started off with hot tea. I appreciate that they gave us 3 tea bags. I wish the teapot was larger with a cap. It didn’t take long for the hot water to cool off. They also gave us jar of mostly solidified honey with a wooden honey dipper. I had to ask them to microwave the honey to melt it. I would have preferred a honey squeeze bottle.
1. Egg rolls. Nothing special here that you can get elsewhere.
2. Lao sausage: this was flavorful and tasty.
3. Boat noodle soup: This was quite tasty. Soup was tangy and full of flavors. Although I’ve had something similar before I feel that this will be a hit with locals.
4. Drunken noodles: This wasn’t bad. Flavors were there but taste is not what I’m used to for Drunken noodles.

Overall I thought the food was decent. I’m always glad to see another authentic Asian restaurant give us a peek of their culture.

อร่อยมากคะ!!!😍🥰🥰🤘
Very delicious.

Didn't expect the slap in the face with this bomb ash food ! Got dayum so yummy in my tummy, this that type of place u always gotta stop by when you're visiting. 🔥🔥🔥💯💯💯👍

I order beef salad ลาบ salty test very bad can't eat I throw to bird eat

Extraordinary customer service!!! The food is amazing!!! We especially love the broth😁

During my visit to Houston, I was treated to a delightful experience at Sao Lao Thai Cafe. From the moment we stepped in, the owner's warm welcome set the tone for a fantastic dining experience. She was not only friendly but also a joy to converse with.

We opted for a variety, ordering a total of four dishes, and each one exceeded expectations. The Nam Khao, a crispy Laos style fried rice with fermented pork, stole the spotlight. It was a symphony of flavors, with a delightful crunch in every bite. Intrigued by the crispy element, we inquired, but the owner playfully kept it a secret.

This experience was a culinary highlight, and I'm already looking forward to revisiting Sao Lao Thai Cafe on my next trip to the city!

This is a must-try spot in Houston. We stopped in for lunch on New Year's Day. It was busy but service was excellent. We shared three dishes - the boat noodle soup, mushroom laab, and Thai Pork Basil. They were out of nam khao when we visited, something I want to go back and try. Everything was delicious and full of flavor. The pork basil was probably our favorite of the three dishes, but I would order them all again. The owner shared her story about opening the business and how she designed the menu. Beginning to end this is a great experience. Highly recommend stopping here.

Authentic Lao dishes with flavors that make your mouth water and numb your mouth if you want spicy food.

My gosh! Brought my parents here for the first time and loved it. The girls there are so attentive, polite and clean! The food is fantastic, the portions are big so you might want to share which is always a plus to try different things! We also the had the green Thai tea which is a bit sweet for me but was still refreshing and satisfying. I had the red curry with chicken and my gosh it was so good, creamy, the chicken dissolved, I’ve never been a fan of egg plant and the way they prepared it was so juicy and delicious! While we were there so many people came to pick up orders! Anyway definitely try it out if you are looking for tasteful and autentique Thai food!

Amazing food! Cannot wait to go back and try new dishes with every visit! Wonderful atmosphere, kind staff and delicious food!
Thai Basil Beef, Drunken Noodles, Chicken and Vegetable Dumplings. Even the iced tea was fantastic!

One of, if not, my favorite Thai restaurants in the whole city. The food is out of this world. The red curry & boat noodle soup are absolutely a must try. Souli & her crew really go above and beyond. You would be hard pressed to find a friendlier, more hospitable staff anywhere. I will always recommend this place to anyone willing to listen!

I'm always surprised this place isn't busier because the food is fabulous. My absolute favorite things to get are the Nam Khao (fermented pork fried rice) and the Boat Noodle Soup (soup with ribeye steak). Then make sure you cap off your meal with the mango sticky rice! You really can't go wrong with anything here.

The owners are always lovely to chat with and they're lightning fast with take out orders. My family and I will order here again and again!

What an adorable little place! Both ladies were so appreciative of our visit. The food was beyond delicious!!!!!! Drunken beef noodles were sooo good but the Nam Khao was the star!! What an amazingly delicious dish!!! I highly recommend this place!! We will be back!!

Great food 😋 Great customer service 👍

if i could give 6 stars i would! this restaurant specializes in northeastern thai/lao food. their menu is so unique too! the owner, Suli, is constantly perfecting and adding new authentic dishes. She also makes sure you’re treated well and you can tell she makes an effort to get to know every guest and takes a lot of pride in the food :)

and needless to say the food is so delicious and is exploding with flavor! i’ve had the mushroom laab, nam khao, and boat noodle soup so far and they all are to die for! i’ll be a regular here for sure.

Amazing quality Thai food with even better hospitality! The quality of the noodles, rice, dumplings, curry, and dessert is top notch. The owner is a hardworking entrepreneur with a heartwarming story about getting her start. Definitely recommend for anyone looking for Thai cuisine in Houston 🇹🇭

Amazing food, amazing staff! Loved my time here.

Enjoyed the atmosphere, the Thai green tea, and Mango coconut ice cream

Love this place! everything on the menu is fresh and delicious and their Green Thai tea is very flavorful.
Definitely will be back again.

Amazing food and service! Highly recommend! Best I have ever tasted, the flavors are superior!!

Everything was Delicious! Can’t wait to
go back.

Ugh this is why I love Houston’s food scene.

I felt like I was in Thailand for minute when I ate their food (drunken noods & beef nood soup).

#Yum

The best fried rice I ever had. Period. Their spicy levels are no joke so be careful

The food was great! The owner uses her family's delicious recipes. I highly recommend it.

Generous portions and absolutely great food in my opinion.

Surprisingly good find. The food and service was excellent in such an inconspicuous place. Would go back again and recommend reserving before you go.

Service was REALLY good. Super nice and helpful. I recommend the red curry that was amazing and the drunken noodles really tasty. We will come back to try the soups!

From the moment you walk in this quaint little restaurant, you are greeted by the owner in a personal way that makes you feel welcome! The food is amazing and the flavor is wonderful with a Thai Lao fusion!! I will be back frequently to try other items on the menu! You definitely feel the pride of ownership here! I would encourage everyone to visit this restaurant so it thrives and has the resources to remain open indefinitely!

Best kept Asian secret in Houston! Very easy to get to from both downtown and North Houston. A real hidden gem Thai and Lao restaurant!! They have the best Thai soups I’ve ever tasted. The owner uses recipes from her family that are 100% authentic, she is knowledgeable regarding questions, and she is passionate about her food. They also have BYOB and Thai drinks. I recommend the Thai iced tea during hot weather. The food always comes out quick and fresh. Check it out if you are in the area!

This was my first time here. I had the beef pho with green Thai tea.
The food was so good! The owners were very welcoming. The restroom has a nice vibe, and it's very clean. I am definitely coming back.

Original Laos food

Excellent food and the Thai tea was awesome

Omg! 1st time here and I ordered the chicken noodles soup and my son ordered the beef pho both broths were delicious but the chicken noodle was superb! We also ordered pork egg rolls and those were so good. The staff and owner gave white glove customer service! I will definitely be back!!

Great food and service definitely recommended

Such a hidden gem. My new favorite Thai in Houston! The owner is really awesome too.

Awesome little Thai spot up in North Houston! We came here for lunch after a volunteer event nearby and had a great experience. It’s a small venue that does counter service but does have indoor seating. We tried the drunken noodles, Nam Khao, and the red curry dishes. Service and friendly and fast, and all the dishes had amazing flavors — the Nam Khao in particular had a nice crisp on the rice, and was also a unique dish that we don’t always see on menus at Thai restaurants. Tofu can be substituted for the proteins so a great spot for vegetarians as well. Would certainly recommend to anyone looking for a quick but tasty meal in this area!

Great restaurant, food and atmosphere too along with the music!

You truly feel like you’re eating a home cooked meal. Traditional and yummy!

Great food! Had the Thai beef basil and red curry. Both phenomenal, just the right amount of heat but still extremely flavourful. Will def be back and soon!!

Buen lugar

We did not love our take-out, but will try to make our way in-person.

The Thai-Lao Pho was delicious. Excellent costumer service✌️

Have been 4-5 times. The food is authentic and delicious and the prices are reasonable. The owner is often there with a smile. The entire staff is great. Sitting here thinking I can’t wait to go back!

Food is awesome, tasted very authentic. I got the Nam Khao and Lao Sausage which was very tasty and generous portion for the rice dish. Probably one of the best fried rice I ever had.

Staff were attentive and extremely friendly. I highly recommend this place if you are in the Heights area. I will be coming back

Every time I come, the food is amazing and I always see other people ordering meals I can’t wait to try the next time. It is easy to customize an order to your liking as things are made fresh to order. They also ask about your spice level preference. Portion sizes are large and each entree or soup can easily be shared or leftovers taken home.

The dining space is small and charming. Comfortable tables or booths. You order your meal at the counter but they will come refill drinks if they aren’t occupied taking orders or delivery meals.

Every person I’ve recommended the restaurant to loves it!

The food was very tasty and aromatic. I have been eating Thai food for over 35 years. My 1st intro to Thai food was through my 1st GF who was half Thai half Swedish. Yes to what your thinking lol. Anyway I ordered the beef curry dish my son had the chicken basil. 2 things, 1. There was was no where near enough beef for the 16 dollars the dish was and the beef was over cooked. I prefer meat especially ribeye steak to be cooked at medium at the highest. This was well done an a bit tough. 2nd traditional chicken basil is done with ground chicken not cut or sliced chicken. Now it was cooked very well and had great taste. Its just that I am used to the traditional ground chicken. The atmosphere is great, the music was great for older children 17 and up as there was some adult language that was being used. Clean facility, clean bathrooms. The woman working the cashier is very pretty and very sweet and was helpful. I would give it a second chance I would just make sure I made certain request about how to prepare my dishes.

Had to drop in on my classmate I've known since junior high!! This place did not disappoint!! I had never had Thai food and said lets try!! The food was flavorful, light, and filling! Staff very friendly, and atmosphere mellow. She told me SHE should have ordered for me 😁 I told her next time cuz we will be back!!! New found spot!

Really good food. Great staff, very friendly and cool about answering questions about the food. Went by accident and so glad we did!

The food was good. I think the spice in the drunken was a bit too over powering for me but that isn't to say someone else wouldn't love it. The pho has great flavor, sadly I can't say I like quail eggs 😔.

The service was great and friendly.

Nice ma and pa feel shop.

Amazing place! It was 5 of us and we all left full and satisfied. For appetizers we ordered egg rolls
and dumplings; yummy! Best fried rice (Nam Khao) we’ve had in Houston. My husband and I shared the Drunken noodles, so we ordered them mild, with extra peppers and hot sauce on the side for him (made him cry with joy).
The girls who served were very helpful and friendly. The owner took the time to take our pictures and even pose with us. Looking forward to coming back.

Huge fan of Sao Lao! Have been 4-5x now and have tried a lot of the menu. The Nam Khao and the boat noodle soup are fantastic. They come mild, but if you like it spicy they'll make it how you like it.

Cannot recommend this place enough. Great customer service and the owner is there most of the time to welcome you and answer any questions!

Just excellent food!!! Service was six star. Small restaurant with great service and unique/authentic thai food.

Very tasty food in generous portions. 10/10, do recommend

Super charming restaurant with great service. More importantly the food is delicious! Everything we ate was super flavorful. Can't wait to go back again.

My meal was good overall, but it was not as described in the menu. This was not a big deal in itself, but the response from the staff was not ideal. They said the dish no longer included chicken livers because people didn't like them, but they didn't tell me when I placed the order. Honestly, since I didn't get what I ordered, I should not have paid for that meal, but I accepted it and was not going to make a thing out of it. But when my friend pointed this out because it was the only reason that I ordered the dish, they were quite rude to her.

They should update the menu, and also inform guests when items on the menu have changed. They should also not be rude and defensive when a guest suggests ways of redress.

Food took an extremely long time to come out. Ingredients did not taste fresh. Portions sizes are small. Dunken noodles had a weird flavor to them. I don't understand why there's baby corn in it.

Cute patio seating and cozy place! Friendly staff and amazing food!

Good for locals but not for a food critic

Good service okay food. They get their heat from black pepper.

Mango sticky rice and crispy fried rice is pretty good, although I wish their crispy fried rice was more on the ‘crispy’ side! Their papaya salad is not too bad either but I wish it was spicier! Every time I ask these Thai/Laos places that I want something ‘Asian’ spicy, it always comes out being extremely mild and disappointing.

Service is great. Foods come out very fast. If you live in the area, it’s worth a try. Not as flavorful as I like it to be

Love this place!! Limited but curated menu. I love how fresh everything tastes (even when taking it to go). You can tell they take a lot of pride in their food and maintain high quality sourcing. I’ve been really impressed with their meat quality as well! Usually I’ll find the beef very tough at other restaurants but I’ve eaten here around 5 times and each time the beef has been tender with huge portions! Highly recommend this hidden gem!

Amazing customer service and delicious food!

I don’t write many google reviews but felt compelled to after my lunch here today. I ordered the Nam Khao and the Tom Yum soup just to be able to try a few different dishes. The food was great, hot and fresh and just the right amount of spice. The Tom Yum was bursting with flavor and the green Thai tea was delicious and the perfect pairing to cool down. The owner was extremely friendly and welcoming. She talked about how she had been working on a few of the recipes for over 7 years, honestly it showed. It was obvious she really cares about the food she’s serving. She even took the time to wrap up my left overs for me. If you’re on the fence give it a visit, I doubt you’ll leave disappointed.