Sabaidee! Welcome to Sep Lai! We serve traditional Laotian food using many local ingredients to create unique and authentic dishes. As is the norm in Laos, all our dishes are made to be shared! Although you may find similarities with other Southeast Asian dishes such as Thai or Vietnamese dishes, Lao cuisine is a distinct cuisine with its own complex and exciting flavors. Full of fresh herbs, raw vegetables, flavorful meats and always accompanied by a basket of sticky rice, we are proud to share this cuisine with everyone, including vegans, vegetarians and those sensitive to gluten! We hope that the dishes of our parents and grandparents will inspire you with the same comfort and joy as they do us, and that you will exclaim: "Sep lai! It was delicious!"
Our Specialties
Spring rolls, Imperial rolls, Khao Poon soup, Papaya salad, Laap, Som Pak, Lao burger & Winter melon noodle soup.
Sep Lai is a charming Laotian spot where sharing plates and aromatic notes of citronella, coriander and ginger set a travel inspired mood, especially on the cozy back terrace. Dishes like khao poon, nem khao, laap and a fragrant coconut curry showcase fresh ingredients, generous portions and good value, with many noting the option to bring your own wine adds to the relaxed vibe. The atmosphere is warm and unpretentious, with friendly service that suits dinners, dates and groups alike, and the terrace is a favourite in nicer weather. Occasional comments mention saltier preparations or slower service when busy, but the overall experience is consistently praised for tasty, well balanced flavors and a welcoming neighbourhood feel that invites return.
Cozy little spot with décor that perfectly fits its intimate vibe. The menu is simple but appealing, we tried the chicken brochette, pork boulette, papaya salad, rice salad, & fried chicken skin. Everything was tasty, but unfortunately almost all dishes were a bit too salty.
It's a charming place, especially for a date night or a quiet evening with someone special. Probably less ideal for bigger groups due to the space. Overall, a good experience & worth a visit if you're looking for a cozy night out.
Sep 20, 2025
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Cozy atmosphere, cute decor & decent favors but not too unique savours to the dishes. Certain dishes were too salty, some simple flavours meals not too authentic to Laos. Small portions for the price.
Service was the most disappointing. One host ( pardon my description but she was white) was very welcoming & accommodating to combine both parties of 4 into one table. The other waitress was really unhappy, unwelcoming & unwilling to provide us with advice on what is best to order, if you asked for any napkins no response but will go & get it, she wont introduced us to special dishes like curry or ask us if we want drinks. Had to get another the other waitress to complete the order. She was not friendly plus at the end we recognize in front of her one uncooked prawn in our curry. They didn't give us another dish nor apologize for their mistake. We paid $ 450 for our meal but quite unhappy with the service mist disappointing coming to visit from Toronto That would be unacceptable to the Toronto standards even Montreal. If only the service was better the experience would not have been such disappointment. Love trying different culture food & willing to pay for great restaurant but must say service was not to the standard.
My friend & I meet monthly to catch up on life, & this time we chose a cozy Laotian restaurant in Montreal-& what a treat it was! The menu is affordably priced, which made it easy (& fun) for us to try nearly everything: all the entrées & almost all the hot dishes. Each plate was beautifully presented & bursting with flavor-there's something uniquely comforting about Laotian cuisine that sets it apart from other Southeast Asian fare. It felt almost homemade, in the best way possible.
We sat at a tiny two-person table by the window with elegant high chairs-cozy, charming, & perfect for a long, relaxed dinner. & yes, we took our time! The bring-your-own-wine policy was a bonus, & the place had a really friendly, happy atmosphere. Everyone-from the staff to the guests-seemed genuinely glad to be there.
Pro tip: Make a reservation! The restaurant may look small at first glance, but there's a whole second section in the back. Still, if you're a party of two or three, I highly recommend asking for a seat in the front section-it's where the charm really shines, in my opinion.
I'd go back in a heartbeat. Honestly, not a single complaint from start to finish.
A delight! Each dish was intensely flavourful & satisfying. Favourites: laab, boulettes de porc, muu heng mao, greens, & pandan crème brûlée. Kind, attentive service. Cozy ambiance - we sat at the counter looking out at the snowy street. Highly recommend!!
Amazing find! Cozy & lovely place popular amongst locals, for gathering & chill & enjoy special Laotian cuisine that's very well done & seasoned!! Perfect place & great staff! The meatballs are impressive, jerk & rolls too!!
Everything we tried was delicious, especially the tau huu tod & the Sai oua meatballs! Really nice cozy set up with lots of smaller rooms & nice decor. & if the Pandan crème brûlée is on the menu, don't question, just get it & enjoy. An excellent dinner treat!
I keep coming back here & bringing family & friends because it's cozy,the food is fresh, delicious & reasonably priced, service is informal & friendly. It's always been a positive experience. Sep Lai, you have such a good thing going! Keep it up.
Terri
Jan 18, 2024
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We really enjoyed our visit! The food was delicious (that pandan crème brûlée was unbelievable), the staff was very friendly, & we loved the cozy space. We'll definitely be back!
This is a cute little cozy restaurant right across from the Charlevoix Metro station. There is also free street parking. So it is a very convenient for people who drive & who take the Metro. All in all, the food was very tasty. The meatballs were my favorite. However, I found that a lot of sauces were fish sauce based. If it's something you're not used, you might want to ask for the dishes that do not have fish sauce. I did enjoy my experience at this Laos restaurant. The gummy bears at the end were perfect to clean the palette.
We had a fantastic dining experience & really enjoyed sitting in the shared room. It was cozy, not noisy, definitely worth making the reservation. We were 3 this time but when we come back, we're looking forward to the tasting menu that is meant for parties of 4+.
