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.
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.
Been here before & had a great meal, love that it's BYOB & well located by a metro, I think the menu was a little different than last time. Came here again & did not dissapoint. SERVICE The service was slightly lackluster when it came to the waitress or host (or she was both?) Wasn't super busy & there was 1 person. I don't love the waiters come every 2 seconds to ask if everything is okay but we weren't asked once & at some point I had to get up & wait at the entrance counter to get someone's attention to get a refill on water so service was a little meh for that this time around. One of the cooks was very sweet & friendly & helped me with refilling my water. Super cute atmosphere too, in an old house, feels quite intimate. We booked a communal table for 2 several days in advance & then when we got there were told it was full (a party), it ended up being fine as the counter had plenty of space. FOOD TAM MAK HOUNG we did not like & told the waitress found it to too fishy tasting, I believe it's due to the Padaek (fermented fish). We were told that's how it is. So be warned - wish the waitress would've advised us when taking down the order if it's more of an acquired taste. Like when you order something spicy & they warn you how spicy it is. I wouldn't get this again. We barely touched it. KUA MEE noodles look unassuming but very delicious. BOULETTES SAI OUA had plenty of flavor & was juicy, tender & vibrant. ROULEAU IMPÉRIAUX was good, very similar to Vietnamese ones. MUU HENG MAO okay, a bit on the dry side, though it does specify dried pork that's fried. Glad I tried it, wouldn't be a repeat for me personally. 4 dishes is enough for 2 people with medium appetite & medium stomachs. 5 if you want to be safe or have a little snack leftover after. We also got a little free dessert at the end, some sort of pandan flan which was delicious!
Oct 30, 2023
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
We came to Sep Lai as a group of 15 people, & we had a blast! Our waitress Sophie was incredibly sweet & attentive, the food was very delicious & tasted fresh. We were on the terrace, & it was beautifully decorated. We had a wonderful & unforgettable evening.
Some suggestions:
The food did take a little while to come, it would be great to reduce the waiting time between dishes.
It was a little bit windy when we visited, an outdoor heater would maybe be a good addition on chillier days. However, they did offer blankets for guests who were starting to get cold which was very nice!
Good food! Nice sized serving for the taster's sampler. Crispy rice was the best dish! I would recommend you try the taster's sampler to get to know the different dishes.
All three dishes we wondered were fantastic. The Curries soup with noodles, vegetarian meatball & the lettuce wraps with pork. Highly recommend- amazing flavour profiles.
Sep Lai serves delicious food, prepared with fresh ingredients. Our favourite appetizers are Rouleau fromage, rouleau printanier & soup Khao Poon. For main course we love Kua Mee, Brochettes de Filet mignon, Nem Khao & Calmar Frit Tom Yum. Their Salade de Mangue is absolutely delicious. What makes this place unique is the fact that you can chose the protein you like that will be added to your dish. Because of this flexibility the restaurant is able to cater to people with allergies. Sep Lai is a bring-your-own-wine restaurant that is conveniently located across the street from the Charlevoix Metro Station. This is a perfect place for dining as a group because you can share & taste different dishes.
Nov 28, 2022
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Sep Lai serves great food. We just love Kua Mee, Nem Khao, Calmar Frit Tom Yum, their wonderful soups & of course the rouleau Printanier & rouleau fromage. I love their salad dishes as well. Our guests are very happy to have been introduced to Sep Lai. Sep Lai is a "bring your own wine" restaurant & it is conveniently located across the street from the Charlevoix Metro station.
Wow authentic. My Lao husband said so... "pretty close to mom's". Delicious, artfully prepared dishes. We loved the laap & the fresh salads. Lovely patio & considerate service. Even a bday dessert for my daughter's 21st
We absolutely love the food at Sep Lai. It is made with fresh ingredients to order. It is especially convenient if you have any dietary issues. The menu is quite unique & refreshing. The salads are really delicious. One of the new items on the menu is a mango salad. It is light & refreshing & very different. I just love it. Sep Lai has so many dishes that we love. Calmar Frit Tom Yum is the best we've ever tasted. Each time we visit the restaurant we order Rouleau printanier & Rouleau fromage. Both are absolutely delicious! We also love Kua Mee & Nem Khao. On cooler days we love their soups, They're amazing. Sep Lai is a bring-your-own wine restaurant & it has a charming patio in the back of the building. It is conveniently located across the street from the Charlevoix metro station.
Sep Lai is a charming neighbourhood restaurant. It serves delicious Laotian dishes. The spring rolls, soups & unique salads are really delicious. I also love the Lap au ceviche. If you're looking for something different & inexpensive to eat, Sep Lai is the place! It is a "bring your own wine" restaurant that is conveniently located right across the Charlevoix metro station. Gluten free & vegan options are indicated on the menu.
Sep Lai is a lovely addition to our neighborhood serving Laos dishes, similar to what we found in Thailand. Sep Lai serves many interesting & delicious dishes with everything freshly prepared to order. Their menu clearly indicates which dishes can be prepared gluten free & which can be made vegetarian. The service is friendly & efficient. We had Jacqui serve us with her usual lovely smile. Sep Lai has a lovely heated patio in the back of the building, with a retractable awning. Sep Lai is a bring your own wine restaurant & is conveniently located across the street from the Charlevoix metro station. I highly recommend this very affordable restaurant.
The chefs at Sep Lai come from Laos so the dishes presented have a unique flavour. Everything is prepared fresh to order & majority of the dishes can be prepared gluten free or vegetarian. These options are clearly indicated on their menu. Sep Lai has a charming terrace in the back of the restaurant. In the event of inclement weather they have a collapsible roof that they extend over the tables. The restaurant is a bring-your-own wine & it is conveniently located across the street from the Charlevoix metro station.
