Sep Lai

Mélodie

5.0

Sep Lai est une super belle découverte! La terrasse est magnifique, le service est super & la nourriture est délicieuse. Nous avons essayé le rouleau de printemps frais & le nem khao avec saucisses. Le rouleau est un des meilleurs que j'ai mangé & la sauce aux arachides qui l'accompagne était incroyable. Le nem khao m'a surpris, c'est une salade de riz tiède qui est servis avec des feuilles de laitue pour faire des petits wraps. Le côté acide de la lime & de la saucisse balance bien le côté un peu plus gras du plat. Je recommande sans hésiter!

Robert

5.0

1st, i am Lao, & i can assume i'm an expert on Lao food, eating what mom have been cooking since i was born. Cozy atmosphere, we ordered 6 different stuff on the menu to try them all out. food is good & represents well the lao cuisine. the only thing that made me grudge a little bit was the price for a portion of khao niew, 8$ per portion (I have unlimited quantities at home). But then i came to think about how long it is to prepare that type of rice so it is justified. Congrats to the team behind the kitchen who are able to prepare that much different items without loosing on the quality!

Zachary

5.0

If you are looking for an incredible introduction to authentic Laotian cuisine in Montreal, the family-style tasting menu at Sep Lai in Pointe-Saint-Charles is an absolute steal at $54 a person. The pacing splits the meal into beautifully balanced stages, prioritizing fresh herbs, bright acids, & complex textures over standard takeout tropes.

Fried Rolls with Vegetables: Crisply fried wrappers with a savory vegetable filling, made even better by the signature, tangy Dao sauce. A good start to a great meal ahead.

Broth Khao Poon: A standout comfort bowl. The red curry & coconut milk broth manages to be incredibly rich & aromatic without feeling heavy. So much flavour bringing us back to our Tom yums we got in Thailand.
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Tam Mak Houng (Papaya Salad): Bracingly vibrant, funky, & packing a sharp, spicy punch. It cuts beautifully through the richer items on the table.

The Chicken Laap: A beautiful execution of the national dish of Laos. It is incredibly fresh, finely minced, & heavily perfumed with fresh Laotian Herbs. So freaking good & light!

Nem Khao (Crispy Rice with Pork Sausages): A textures-driven masterpiece. The crunch of the seasoned rice mixed with the savory, sour pork sausage creates the ultimate bite.

Sai Oua Balls: Perfectly spiced lemongrass porkballs. The herbal notes shine through, especially when dunked in the accompanying jeow som (a sour, spicy dipping sauce). One of the favourite of the meal.

Ping Kai: Simple but flawlessly executed grilled chicken skewers. They arrive juicy, smoky from the grill, & are served with a savory jeow for dipping.

We also got the giant shrimp Mok PA! So delicious, perfectly cooked & tender & accompanied with that herbaceous sauce!

The Verdict: For $54, this is easily one of the best-valued tasting menus in the city. Because Sep Lai is a cozy, intimate spot, the food feels deeply personal & home-cooked, offering a massive variety of bold Southeast Asian flavors without breaking the bank.

Domi

5.0

the most incredible vegan options, I had the khao poon & green mango salad. I'll be dreaming about your food for a long time :)

Lise

5.0

Nous avons choisi plusieurs plats que nous avons partagé.
On y allait pour goûter aux boulettes au porc faites à l'émission Curieux Bégin. Elles étaient bonnes.
La soupe Khao Poon au cari rouge & lait de coco est vraiment délicieuse, ça vaut le détour. Le Nem Khao, est très bon, on se fait un petit wrap avec de la laitue.
Note: il y a plusieurs entrées & sorties du restaurant à cause des commandes à emporter. Des courants d'air froid nous frôlent dans le restaurant.

Marcela

5.0

Un petit bijou caché à PSC! Nous étions un groupe de 6 personnes & nous avons eu une expérience incroyable dans ce restaurant. Les assiettes ont un concept un peu particulier : ils sont normalement faits à partager entre tous, comme dans un repas familial. Tout était vraiment délicieux & frais. Mes coups de coeur : la soupe khao poon & la crème brûlée. On n'a pas commandé le menu dégustation, mais je vais sûrement y retourner & l'essayer.

Lisa

5.0

Superbe découverte !

Nem Khao, Khao Piak Sen, Sai Oua
On a tout aimé

Thuy

3.0

Les plats n'ont pas été réussis hier soir. Le khao poon était trop salée & le laap, trop acide. Prix excessif pour la portion de riz collant. Pour nous qui mangeons régulièrement des plats laotiens, c'était une déception.

Foodie21474

2 Reviews

1.5

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.

Mpress

4.0

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.