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.
Cute resto right next to the Charlevoix metro, it looks smaller than it seems. There are different types of seating & in the summer you can sit outside. We tried different soup dishes, brochettes, meatballs. Tasty dishes ressembling other southern asia areas.
Having tried Laotian food in Toronto, I was looking forward to this place. I didn't read the 3 star reviews which often are honest reviews before booking the reservation. My mistake. Only one server for the the whole place. some dishes came out tasting uncooked, not one dish wowed, had the $55/person tasting menu. Expensive for what you get.
Nov 9, 2025
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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.
Soooooo good. Highly recommend !
So many good dishes, the Kua Mee was my favourite though. Go with people who love eating family style & sharing multiple plates. Service was great as well & their terrace is so good. Super reasonably priced. Can't wait to go back.
We were really looking forward to trying Sep Lai for authentic Lao food, but unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. Every dish we ordered was dominated by an overwhelming artificial lime flavor that tasted anything but authentic.
The sai oua (Lao sausage) was far too salty, & both the papaya salad & mango salad were nearly inedible. The nem khao & laab gai (chicken) didn't fare any better. In fact, we barely finished the dishes we ordered - which says a lot.
When a place advertises as authentic, you expect freshness & balance, but this was the opposite. I do not recommend Sep Lai & will not be back.
Unassuming & deceptively large BYOB Laotian restaurant definitely delivers! Must try-dishes: Nem Khao, pork Sai Qua meatballs & crispy chicken skin Nang Kai Tod. The dishes were large enough to be shareable. We were stuffed by dessert rolled around! For dessert, the pandan creme brulée was light, creamy & delicious! Would definitely return & take advantage of the backyard terrasse before summer's end! If you happen to forget your wine like we did, there is a lovely beer & wine store across the street from the restaurant on rue Charlevoix (Beau Dégât, bièrerie de quartier) that offered great wine pairings with our meal.
Aug 10, 2025
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We were group of 11 so we had the tasting menu. Service was quite good. The food was very tasty, although the warm dishes, especially the Nem Khao, were very salty. The soup was amazing.
The place is beautiful, the first taste of the food was delicious lots of flavours however the food was extremely salty to the point that I couldn't eat most of it. I ordered 4 different dishes, each had its unique taste but the amount of salt spoiled the experience. Once we got the food the waitress never came back to ask how we were, so we didn't get a chance to tell her about it. We ordered 4 meals 1 was not salty, the second one was salty but we were able to eat it because of the mixture of the vegetables but the other 2 none of us could eat.
Excellent experience at Sep Lai. We were 3 & ordered 4 dishes & they were good potion. All of them were very good & nicely presented. The waitress was nice & friendly & we loved the terrace. It is really great to be able to bring our own wine or beer. I will go back.
Very nice place & unusual cuisine! I've got a discovery menu & none of the dishes disappointed! The service lacks a bit of attention, which is not surprising,'cause the place was full.
If you are more than 3 make sure you have a reservation ;)
May 6, 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.
Charming, relaxed, delicious food. Our waitress was friendly & attentive. She also made great recommendation of dishes to try since this was our first time eating laotian food. We're definitely going back 👍👍👍👍.
Mar 16, 2025
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Loved the food! Has so many different dishes you can get & share. Some classics but are still made differently or have a different twist. Cute spot, bring your own wine, can't go wrong!
I came with a group so we decided to order many dishes to share among us. The Laap is a fresh herb salad. The French shallots are so pungent, they overpower the taste of the herbs. So I preferred the papaya salad which was sweeter. The vegan meatballs taste & feel like real meat! They bring you a container of crushed peanuts to add on your dishes if you need. My mistake is I didn't asked if the Pina colada was vegan. It came with whipped cream on top. During summer, dining at the terrasse is a must! However, it was a bit incommodating when somebody smoking was passing by, since the terrace is in the backyard of the restaurant.
Don't get the Thai tea. It's just mainly condensed milk & it doesn't taste Thai tea. I'm not certain the tasting menu for 47$ each is worth it. We were 4 & the portion does't seem right. I feel like ordering individual dishes might be better. Really cute place, good service. Food is ok, worth to try, but needs work.
Good service & good food overall. The place is not very big , but it is nice. Is a BYOW / BYOB ( bring your own wine ) restaurant. Prices are decent as well, not expensive. Dishes are small & can be easily shared. Verdict : give it a try.
Very cute hole in the wall restaurant (in the best possible way), the food smells amazing making you want to order everything on the menu. I will be returning to try other dishes
