We first tried Sao Lao's food at Rare Steak Festival and were blown away. We are huge fans of Thai food and after speaking to the owner, we learned so much about Lao cuisine and her passion for her food was so engaging. We made the trip out (all of 15 minutes ), and it's now somewhere we vowed to take out of town guests to give a taste of what Houston has to offer. We started the appetiter sausage app which was homemade and delicious, and the salsa served with it is really interesting and unlike anything I've ever had before. I also got the Thai tea which was really good and not too sweet. I'm glad I didn't go too hard on the perfectly cooked sticky rice that's served with it, because HOLY COW the portions are massive! We got the red curry and drunken noodle, and they were both very good but the curry was my favorite. I generally prefer chicken with red curry but the quality of the steak was so good and not overcooked like beef often is. A highlight of our meal was when an employee came by and asked us if we were adventurous eaters and without hesitation I said ABSOLUTELY. The owner made a dish of pork belly and bamboo steamed in a banana leaf and said it was a dish from her childhood (but the pork belly was her twist). It was aromatic almost floral-like, it's kind of hard to describe, and very savory with the pork. I could see how it could not be for everyone but we loved it. My boyfriend and I normally share a curry and noodle dish all the time and usually demolish it all, but we had so much leftovers. I looked at him and said "but I don't want to be full... " I got my second fix with all the leftovers and we'll be back soon.

It's odd when you find something great in your own backyard that you never knew was there. I've bemoaned the lack of a good Thai place near my home, and now I've found I didn't need to. Because Sao Lao is turning out some terrific Thai in an unassuming little spot on north Shepherd. There's nothing pretentious about the atmosphere at Sao Lao. It's efficient--wooden benches, metal chairs, simple Formica tables. You order at the counter and pay there, too. The service is friendly and quick with a suggestion for first-timers. And they bring your order as it's ready, without any particular concern for maintaining an order of appetizers to entrees. It means you get your food fresh and hot and right when it's at its best. And it's best is really very, very good. For a Saturday lunch, my wife and I ordered dumplings and Lao sausage for starters. She got the Thai Ground Pork Basil (and the kitchen was nice enough to accommodate a request to substitute green beans for the usual Chinese broccoli), and I had the Drunken Noodles. Everything was excellent. The noodles, in particular, had that edgy heat you want from good Thai on a chilly day and loads of fresh basil. I'd also strongly recommend the Lao sausage--house made, as I understand. Those were the standouts, but the whole experience was great. So, in sum, Sao Lao is more than worth your time. Check it out. I'll definitely be back.

We returned here with a bigger group right after new years. Their dinner hour is busy but they were so on top of their orders. We got to try so many more dishes and appetizers since everyone ordered a little of everything. Their papaya salad was so great! The drunken noodles - wow! There was a minced chicken with rice and an egg on top that was also delicious. My new favorite is the chicken curry! Holy wow! Everything had a nice amount of spice on it. The appetizers were also really good. We got eggrolls, sausage, and beef jerky which was surprisingly good. I don't think you can go wrong with any of their dishes here! Love the owner Zuly (I probably didn't spell that right) but she is so much fun and hilarious! She makes the experience that much more special.

We came here for the first time and the food was great. The food didn't take long either for it being a little packed inside.

Lao sausage was wonderful. Drunken noodles were great, spice level 3 was very mild. The red curry was delicious. Service was great too. Can't wait to go back

I swing by Sao Lao every once in awhile when I'm in the area and was introduced by a friend that used to enjoy their food truck. To be clear - this is more of a Laos restaurant than Thai - don't even try to order Pad Thai :) While the food is on the pricey side - really genuine family-run business with a clear respect for the food. The owner will be more than happy to explain the painstaking food preparation process for the dishes, which makes me feel a bit better about paying $17 for a bowl of noodles. I recommend the Nam Khan (surprisingly crunchy rice!) and the Boat Noodles. Would I Go Out of My Way to Try? Yes Would I Return? Yes Ambiance- 8/10 Food Taste- 8/10 Service- 10/10 Value- 6/10

Food: sausage with sticky rice appetizer: two snappy sausages filled with laos herbs with a savory and tangy bite. comes with a dipping sauce that ties everything together boat noodle soup: the star of the show!! thick rice noodles, ribeye steak, pork meat balls, and fried pork skin all in a tangy, beefy broth. still dreaming of this! nam khao: crispy fried rice intermixed with sticky rice, the texture was so enjoyable, and the spicy red curry flavor was perfectly balanced by subtly sweet coconut. thai green tea: generous serving for two people, creamy and not too sweet! overall impression- generous portions, everything was so fresh and flavorful!! Ambience: cute and cozy mom & pop, perfect for a lunch date or small groups Service: super friendly and quick, you order and pay at the counter! Overall a wonderful and unique dining experience all around, i can't wait to come back!

The people that work here are very nice and the food is great! Small family owned restaurant serving up great food! Food: I had the Thai basil chicken which was good. However it was dark meat. Would much rather prefer white meat for this dish. Great flavor the. The side of broth is really good! I also got a spicy beef dish that came with the broth. I can't remember the name but I was amazing! I will definitely come back and try more stuff off their menu. The customer service is great! Top notch. Everyone that works here is great. I'll definitely come back soon!