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 described as a warm, casual spot with vibrant Laotian flavors, where dishes arrive beautifully presented and many guests appreciate the BYOB option and a lively terrace for sharing plates with friends or family. Reviewers praise friendly, attentive service, varied options including vegan choices, and memorable dishes like soups and desserts, with several noting the tasting menu as a great way to explore the menu. While some meals are noted as salty or portions feel small for the price, most visits are described as delicious, affordable, and welcoming, making Sep Lai feel like a neighborhood gem worth returning to.
Wow! What a little gem of a place.
Right by Charlevoix metro, it's super accessible either by public transit or by cycling from the nearby canal bike path.
We decided to order the tasting menu for 2, which had most of the items we wanted anyways. Plus, our server modified some items for similar ones that we preferred!
The spring rolls were incredibly fresh & tasty, & the peanut butter sauce was pure goodness. Same thing for the soup!
I'd say it's not the ideal place for vegetarians as there's a lot of fish & oyster sauce in most of the meals, but it's perfect for pescatarians.
They also use local mushrooms & shrimps from Gaspesie.
The mini crème brûlée was the perfect ending to the night.
They're a shared-table style of restaurant, but the tables are very big so you wouldn't feel much different than at regular tables that are close to each other.
I can't wait to come back for the terrasse!
Bonus points for it being a BYOW. :)
Apr 28, 2026
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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.
Great neighborhood treasure ...creative, delicious Laotian cuisine. Dinner last night was so good I thanked the chef. Everything she prepared was delicious & fresh, with great combinations of flavors. The tapioca & taro pudding with coconut cream & black sesame seeds is one of the best desserts I've ever had. Charming terrace out back in the summer.
Superb spot! Cute courtyard for summer night dinning! Fresh ingredients, great flavours & a fantastic tasting menu! Humble spresentation from a humble chef! BYOW as well is an added bonus. A must try…You'll be back!
Feb 15, 2025
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Food is spectacular & great sized portions! So tasty!! Our table tried about 8 different things & i can't even tell you which was the best because they were all 10/10!!
The coconut red curry soup is so unbelievably delicious & hearty & the crispy chicken wings are so fresh & flavourful & huge!!
The sticky rice even being as simple as it is was so delicious!
💯 will be back & often!
Can't wait to sit on the patio in the back!!!
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.
Delicious fresh food, beautiful peaceful back patio. I found service to be a bit lacking in terms of warmth & attention but overall our experience was wonderful.
Jul 8, 2024
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An absolute gem of a find. Food was extremely fresh & savoursul, service was friendly & quick & prices were estreemly reasonable! Great experience A-Z!
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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Great food made fresh, if you want alcohol you have to take your own though. They will provide a wine bucket with ice & open your bottles for you. Intimate & friendly place
Absolutely wonderful experience, the food was so fresh & flavourful, the outdoor patio was so whimsical & private & the service was perfect! One of Montreal's best kept secrets!
