Lao Table - San Andreas

The atmosphere is lively with fun pink and purple lighting, and the staff joyfully ring bells to celebrate birthdays. The food is decent, but I wasn't particula... read more The atmosphere is lively with fun pink and purple lighting, and the staff joyfully ring bells to celebrate birthdays. The food is decent, but I wasn't particularly impressed. Overall, it was a pretty enjoyable experience!

Lao Table is my favorite spot for Asian fusion when I'm downtown with coworkers. It's conveniently located near Montgomery BART, and if you make a reservation,... read more Lao Table is my favorite spot for Asian fusion when I'm downtown with coworkers. It's conveniently located near Montgomery BART, and if you make a reservation, you can usually find a table available. Before the pandemic, they had some excellent lunch specials, including impressive family-style meals for larger groups, but their menu has since changed, and the portion sizes are smaller now. The restaurant features many dishes inspired by Thai and Burmese cuisine, such as papaya salad, drunken noodles, fried rice, and various curries. Just be careful with the spice levels! We ordered the papaya salad at medium heat in Lao style, not realizing how spicy it would be—my taste buds were overwhelmed for the rest of the meal! The seafood stir-fry was delicious, and the shrimp was cooked to perfection. Fortunately, I had some fresh coconut water to help cool things down.

I dined at this restaurant on a bustling Friday night, but we were seated right away. Having recently moved to the Bay Area, we’ve been on the lookout for a gre... read more I dined at this restaurant on a bustling Friday night, but we were seated right away. Having recently moved to the Bay Area, we’ve been on the lookout for a great Thai restaurant, reminiscent of Thai Villa in NYC, and this place certainly met our expectations. We ordered Lao Rice, Red Curry with chicken, a hot Thai drink (the Christmas special), and a Mai Tai. The food struck the perfect balance between spicy and flavorful—it was just what we were hoping for! I believe they also allow you to bring your own beverages. We'll definitely be back to explore more dishes from their menu!

I ordered the happy hour platter, and it was decent. The platter includes sausages, chicken wings, oysters, and calamari. However, I found the Thai iced tea dis... read more I ordered the happy hour platter, and it was decent. The platter includes sausages, chicken wings, oysters, and calamari. However, I found the Thai iced tea disappointing; it comes with a paper straw that isn't very sturdy, so you might find it unusable halfway through your drink unless you finish it quickly. The restaurant is easy to locate, and there is plenty of seating inside. We were greeted and seated promptly by the host. Unfortunately, the server seemed rather indifferent, speaking without making eye contact or showing enthusiasm. We were checked on during the meal, which was a nice touch. The restrooms were clean and accessible. The decor is attractive and well thought out. However, the music was a bit of a mixed bag; one moment you're listening to bachata, then it shifts to K-pop, slow jams, and then jumps to another random genre.

We haven’t been back at Lao Table in ages, and were really happy to return to one of our favorite restaurants. The food was good, as always. The restaurant was... read more We haven’t been back at Lao Table in ages, and were really happy to return to one of our favorite restaurants. The food was good, as always. The restaurant was packed with diners. Remarkably, the staffers were attentive. Good food, good service couldn’t ask for anything else, really.