Lao Table

Lao Table

149 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94105, United States

+1 415-278-9991

Laotian restaurant, Asian restaurant, Bar, Thai restaurant
(1395)
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About This Place

Nestled in the heart of San Francisco's vibrant downtown, Lao Table is a standout destination for lovers of authentic Laotian and Thai cuisine. This chic Asian restaurant and bar merges traditional flavors with a contemporary dining atmosphere framed by sleek glass and steel interiors — perfect for both casual meetups and celebratory occasions.

Lao Table’s menu is a masterful journey through Southeast Asia’s rich culinary landscape, featuring a variety of dishes that capture the essence of Lao and Thai food with a modern twist. Start your experience with the Original Lao Platter or the Lao Table Special Set, which showcases Chef Lalita’s impeccable selection — from fiery Tom Zaab spicy beef soup and delicate fried salmon belly to the robust flavors of Lao sausage and crispy cumin fried chicken. These shareable platters are ideal for those eager to sample an authentic spectrum of tastes, textures, and aromatic herbs, providing a satisfying and well-rounded meal.

Seafood aficionados will relish the freshness of the Grilled Calamari and the invigorating Fresh Oysters, while vegetarians can indulge in dishes like the Spicy Eggplant or Mixed Vegetables wok-fried with seasonal produce and flavorful sauces. The menu also offers an intriguing array of beverages, including creative non-alcoholic options like Sassy Berry and Mango Mania, as well as happy hour cocktails that complement the spices and herbs with refreshing balance.

Particularly memorable are desserts like the luscious Mango Sticky Rice with Cream of Coconut and the decadent Matcha Lava Cake, which provide a sweet, silky, and cooling finish to your meal. Whether you’re sipping on a classic Thai Iced Tea or savoring the tropical chill of a Fresh Young Whole Coconut, every component of your visit sparks a delightful sensory experience.

Guests consistently praise Lao Table for its friendly and attentive service, making every visit feel warm and personalized. The vibrant yet elegant ambiance strikes a perfect balance—inviting enough to relax with friends, yet refined enough to celebrate special moments. With convenient proximity to public transit, it’s easy to plan a get-together or an after-work dinner here.

“Absolutely delicious Thai and Laotian food and beautiful presentation,” shares one delighted diner, highlighting the authentic and artful approach to each dish. Another notes the “perfect balance of spices and fresh ingredients,” while many commend the restaurant’s thoughtful hospitality and elevated menu selections.

For anyone eager to explore the layered flavors of Lao and Thai cuisine in San Francisco, Lao Table offers an honest, vibrant, and deeply satisfying culinary adventure. Whether you’re craving the bold tang of a Tom Yum Soup, the rich indulgence of Green Curry Short Rib, or a refreshing twist in your cocktail glass, Lao Table promises an unforgettable taste of Southeast Asia’s best.

From the business
Identifies as Asian-owned Identifies as women-owned
Service options
Kerbside pickup -contact delivery Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Highlights
Fast service Great cocktails Serves local specialty Sport
Popular for
Lunch Dinner Solo dining
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Comfort food Happy-hour drinks Happy-hour food Healthy options Organic dishes Small plates Spirits Vegan options Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Catering Dessert Seating Table service
Amenities
Bar on site Gender-neutral toilets Toilet
Atmosphere
Casual Trendy Upmarket
Crowd
Family friendly Groups LGBTQ+ friendly Tourists Transgender safe space
Planning
Lunch reservations recommended Dinner reservations recommended Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids High chairs
Parking
Paid multi-storey car park Paid parking lot Paid street parking
Pets
Dogs allowed Dogs allowed inside

Opening Hours

  • Monday
    11:00 AM - 03:00 PM 05:00 PM - 09:00 PM
  • Tuesday
    11:00 AM - 03:00 PM 05:00 PM - 09:00 PM
  • Wednesday
    11:00 AM - 03:00 PM 05:00 PM - 09:00 PM
  • Thursday
    11:00 AM - 03:00 PM 05:00 PM - 09:00 PM
  • Friday
    11:00 AM - 03:00 PM 05:00 PM - 09:00 PM
  • Saturday
    05:00 PM - 09:00 PM
  • Sunday
    Closed

Map & Directions

Visitor Reviews

  • Eve Thitima
    3 week ago

    Absolutely delicious Thai and Laotian food and beautiful presentation! They provided a variety of choices for authentic Thai and Lao food and desserts. Perfect location near public transit - my classmates and I went to celebrate a birthday after school. Very friendly and attentive service. Recommend to make a reservation for big groups.

  • Christopher Chung
    3 week ago

    Yummy, though not very homey, Laotian food in glass-and-steel surroundings typical of downtown. An elevated take on Southeast Asian. Tour the menu with the all-around crowd-pleasing Original Lao Platter. Easily shareable amongst 3, a very filling meal for just 2. Highlights include Fried Chicken (topped with fried shallots) accompanied with a sweet-savory, lemongrass-fragrant curry dipping sauce. Duck Larb, a delicate protein-rich salad mixed with handfuls of fresh herbs (mint, dill, cilantro, Thai basil) and served with lettuce wraps. A good ethnic option when downtown.

  • Eric Lim
    1 month ago

    Having schooled on Laotian cuisine through close friends, this place certainly maintains its roots of authenticity while infusing modern flavors. Winners from the dishes ordered were the beef tartare (really good) and the grilled cuttlefish. The satay fell flat in spice and texture compared to those from other neighboring countries like Indonesia and Malaysia where satay originated . Then again, Lao style satay is an adaptation. The list of cocktails were creative and playful in color and Asian fruit flavors. Highly recommended. Staffs were very friendly and attentive. We enjoyed the dining experience in an authentic comfortable ambiance.

  • Joe Suzuku
    2 month ago

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ When in San Francisco, don’t miss out on visiting Lao Table, a renowned Thai-Lao restaurant in the city. Thank you for the warm hospitality! The flavors were absolutely delightful—each dish was rich, authentic, and beautifully presented. The perfect balance of spices and fresh ingredients truly brought out the essence of Thai-Lao cuisine. From the savory curries to the perfectly grilled meats and fresh, zesty salads, every bite was a burst of flavor. The atmosphere was equally impressive—modern, stylish, and cozy, with a welcoming vibe that made the dining experience even more enjoyable. It’s a perfect spot for both casual dinners and special occasions. To top it off, their full bar offered an excellent selection of crafted cocktails, fine wines, and refreshing beverages that paired perfectly with the meal. It was not just a dinner, but an unforgettable experience where quality meets great value. Definitely a must-visit!

  • Sonya Hu
    2 month ago

    Absolutely delightful! I came to Lao Table for my anniversary dinner, and it 100% did not disappoint. The food was delicious, the ambiance was beautiful, and the service was super friendly. We shared the vegetable crispy rolls, red curry with tofu, and khaw kai noodles, all of which were fantastic. We started with the vegetable crispy rolls, which, as the name implies, were packed with veggies (and flavor) and were perfectly crispy. The outer shell was fried to perfection, and the super thin, crispy, flaky shell beautifully contrasted vs. the well-spiced and soft filling. To add to the contrast, the rolls were also served with lettuce, rice noodles, and a variety of herbs that you can use to assemble a lettuce wrap. The crunchy, uber-fresh lettuce and fragrant herbs added a great new dimension to the rolls. It was served with a sweet, sour, and spicy chili sauce (typically also served with peanuts, but I'm allergic), which was a great pairing. For entrees, we split the red curry and khaw kai noodles. The curry was tasty and absolutely packed with veggies, although I think it was a little less flavorful and less packed with tofu than I had expected. The khaw kai noodles, however, were absolutely phenomenal; the noodles were a beautiful harmony of sweet, salty, and sour flavors, and I loved the added char from the wok. They were pretty generous with the prawns, and I loved the added accoutrements: crispy garlic, bean sprouts, and sliced egg. The space was also lovely -- not overly fancy (so maybe not most folks' cup of tea for a date or anniversary dinner, but it worked well for us) but still beautiful. I loved the giant lanterns and golden leaves hanging from the ceiling, and the space felt intimate but not overly crowded. The servers were super friendly and helpful, although they seemed to still be working through a few kinks in communication between the front and back-end of the house. I have a severe peanut allergy that our server (who was lovely) noted down, but the kitchen did not notice. Thankfully the peanuts in the first item (vegetable spring rolls) were extremely obvious, so we were able to catch it.

  • Dyanna Volek
    3 month ago

    The ambiance is beautiful and inviting. I love the decor and soft purple and pink lighting. The restaurant is great for groups as you can order large platters of the samples - trying a bit of everything whether meat or seafood. We ordered the Garden Fish - Crispy whole tilapia, Lao sausage, beef jerky, garlic chicken wings, peanut papaya salad paired with vermicelli, sticky rice, leafy greens and soft herbs. We also ordered the Original Lao Platter: fried chicken, larb duck Pakxe, “Tom Zaab” hot & spicy beef soup, Lao sausage, pad mee Lao paired with sticky rice and soft herbs. It was enough to feed six! Service was a little slow - you really have to get their attention because it's so busy. But they did a nice dessert presentation for my mom's birthday. Also try the Tom Yum Beer that was brewed in partnership with the restaurant!

  • Anjera C
    3 month ago

    Have been here before ordering other things but this time I got the duck pho and the emperor cocktail. The pho wasn’t really pho, there was only a small bowl of soup provided, but it was still good. I would order something else though. The emperor cocktail was unlocked in a smoked enclosure and was really a nice experience to get. Drink was good and I’d be interested to try something else. I remembered their cocktails being good so I enjoyed going back. On the pricier side, but what isnt in SF!

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