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 was my first time to Sep Lai. A colleague highly recommended the restaurant. The servicer was friendly. The food was delicious & th atmostphere was cosy & unique.
Jan 5, 2026
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.
C'était ma troisième visite & j'adore. Super bonne nourriture. Tout est frais & savoureux. Le srrvice est impeccable & l'ambiance chaleureuse. Nous avons pris le menu dégautation. Un bon choix! Je recommande sans hésitation.
Super petit restaurant à pointe saint Charles, l'environnement est cosy & permet de pouvoir discuter tranquillement, la nourriture est excellente & vous pouvez ramener votre propre alcool. Le service est toujours super agréable, je recommande vivement ⭐?
Really good food & such a cute place! The only downside was that the wait between each service was quite long (from getting our menus, to between courses, & even waiting a long while to pay) which felt a bit frustrating at times. That said, our server was really nice, & overall I would recommend & would go back!
Première fois pour nous & nous avons adorer beau petit resto terrasse très agréable la cuisine était excellente nous avons pris rouleaux de printemps aux crevettes sauce arachides délicieux ,les brochettes de boeuf a la citronnelle super tendres avec un à côté de riz collant & j'ai pris les nouilles style pad thaï wow très savoureux & bonne portion aussi je recommande prix très raisonnable aussi
Sep 6, 2025
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.
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.
Small Laotian restaurant with an amazing terrace, perfect for warm summer evenings. The food is delicious & the atmosphere is truly pleasant. Service can be a bit slow when it's busy, but the staff is so friendly that it's well worth the wait. A great spot I highly recommend.
Aug 8, 2025
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.
This is our go-to place in PSC for a nice terrasse with good food. We had some of their salads (papaya & mango) as it was a hot hot day & it was refreshing. The skewers are to die for & a must! Their spring rolls were also delicious & very generous in portions. Definitely recommend for a summer eat with a quiet terrasse at the back. It is also bring your own wine!
Nous avons visité ce petit restaurant à plusieurs reprises, & à chaque fois, c'est toujours la même qualité, la même ambiance, pour un prix très abordable. Le menu est simple mais tout ce qu'on y trouve est de qualité. La terrasse à l'arrière est vraiment superbe & la déco générale à l'intérieur est trèscoquette également. Il s'agit de spécialités laotiennes, mais rien de trop extravagant pour le néophyte. Bref, nous recommandons. En plus, c'est un apportez votre vin, mais on n'y trouve plusieurs options sans alcool au menu pas très cher, & également de qualité.
So delicious & the service was so friendly & accommodating & knowledgeable, i had so many allergies & they were really patient with it! I very much recommend going
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.
Apr 10, 2025
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.
Très heureuse d'avoir découvert le Sep Lai hier. Une soirée sans faute ! Elsa a nous recommandé des plats tous plus savoureux les uns que les autres. La décoration & l'ambiance nous rendent confortable instantanément & nous font oublier le train-train quotidien.
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!!
J'y suis allée quelques fois & chaque fois c'était délicieux! Les plats sont très savoureux & gouteux. J'ai fait une réservation de groupe, & nous avions la salle pour nous. Très cute, & le service 10/10!!! Le menu de groupe vaut vraiment la peine & tout le monde a adoré. Ils ont aussi porté une attention particulière pour les allergies. Je recommande fortement !
Petit resto de quartier, simple & efficace avec l'avantage d'être BYOB. Resto tranquille mais possibilité d'avoir une salle fermée parfaite pour les groupes. J'étais là pour mon anniversaire & on était pas mal loud. La nourriture est très bonne (j'ai adoré les boulettes sai oua & le laab). Certains plats manquaient un peu d'herbes/lime à mon goût mais tout était bien savoureux. Pour le côté épicé, il faut le demander sinon la plupart des plats sont préparés assez doux. Le service était ultra chaleureux! Je recommande à tous pour un bon repas laotien! Merci encore!
We enjoyed an early dinner before the theatre. The food & service were both excellent. I especially enjoyed the Pandan crème brûlée. Delicious!! Highly recommend you try the fried spring rolls too.