YJ

We got to Gai Noi a little before 5pm on a Friday, so there was no wait at all (they don’t take reservations). The food honestly blew me away, most of the dishes were super flavorful, very “real,” and exactly the kind of Asian food I love. Not the Americanized version. However I don't like their egg rolls, that's the only dish without flavor... ☹️ The service was really friendly, and everything came out fast. The only downside was a couple of flies buzzing around, but aside from that, the experience was great. I’d totally come back just for the food.

Jean

Really delicious food. We ordered the mok paa, a type of steamed fish curry, and it came out in a small banana leaf package that was very unexciting to look at, but it was the most delicious Southeast Asian dish we’ve tried and we eat alot of Thai, Laotian, and Burmese food. Loved the kaffir lime that really elevated and brightened the dish. It was extremely spicy, but worth sweat drop and nose sniffle. We licked the banana leaves clean. The lao sausage was almost as delicious as the mok paa, and equally spicy. It comes with a spicy tomato condiment that was also savory, sweet, acidic and our taste buds were just firing on all fronts. The kranom krok dessert was the perfect way to wrap our meal. We were full to bursting but we ate every last bite and licked up any dregs.

Alejandra Terrazas

I’d never had Laotian food before, and wow — it’s so good! The Lab Seen is spicy and delicious, the mango crémeux is amazing, and the jalapeños with basil… yummm! The environment is beautiful, cozy, and so welcoming — perfect for family get-togethers. I’ve shared this place with family and friends, and we keep coming back. Highly recommend!

+1

Adi

I have only great things to say about this place. I've only had Laotian food once and this place was my second time, and I was not disappointed. Every dish we ordered was packed with spices and flavors that worked so well together. The drinks also were unique and not easily replicated. The staff was friendly and the food came out so fast. The inside area is huge and great for a large group. I highly recommend coming here if you've never been! 5/5, no complaints.

Lisa Arnold

My husband and I walked in on a Sunday night in early August without a reservation, hoping to get onto the rooftop patio because the weather was so nice. But there was a table available immediately in the greenhouse-like room directly adjacent to the patio and it was perfect. Partly because we could be seated immediately and we were 9/10 hangry and also the light, wood floors, and the huge plants in this space were amazing. Outside without the bugs - A++ would recommend. I ordered the Phõ-Spiced Old Fashioned and it was perfection. Husband ordered beer but who cares about beer. We had the Basil Wings from the Fan Favorites section of the menu, and I would include these in my death row last meal when I've been prosecuted from killing someone after they ate my last Basil Wing. Don't sleep on the fried jalapenos and fried basil that is included with these - they are NOT decoration, and are amazing in their own right. I've changed my last life requests to include being dipped in the batter and seasonings they use in this dish. The Fried Walleye was really good too, which we had to order as out-of-staters to get some of that famous fish. Peanut Noodles were good, and the Papaya Salad was spicy as shmeckle in the best possible way. I feel like I saw someone say the Papaya salad wasn't as fishy sauce funky as they are used to...this dish is FUNKY. So please count me out for that person's normal Papaya salad. This was great. If I knew what I know now, I would have skipped the Peanut Noodles and tried the Fan Favorite Pork Fried Rice. Service was very fast, and as they tell you upon seating - dishes come out when they come out, and are meant for sharing. Except the Basil Wings. Don't share the wings.

+2

Some of the best Asian you will find in Minneapolis!! The flavors are powerful and amazing! A few different spaces for different vibes. Wish they took reservations. I had them cater my party once a…

I would kill and/or die for the mango cremeux. The fried tofu is just as good cold for a leftover snack or in the heat of summer as it is hot.

Best chicken wings I've ever had! Not too oily even if they are fried because of the refreshing flavor of basil. It's also fun to chew on the crispy jalapeños - I've been eating this dish all by my…

I have been meaning to try this restaurant for MONTHS! I was a little apprehensive because they didn't take reservations and I live 45 minutes outside of town, but good news is they have plenty of …

One of my favorite spots. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu; it's a great place to go with a group so you can try multiple dishes. Basil wings are a must. staff is always great and the vibe …

Fast paced service. Parking can be tricky... food is good. two stories dining space... very beautiful and noisy place. I tired both lunch and dinner... walking distance from where I stayed...I will…

Fast paced service. Parking can be tricky... food is good. two stories dining space... very beautiful and noisy place. I tired both lunch and dinner... walking distance from where I stayed...I will…

Fast paced service. parking can be tricky... food is good. two stories dining space... very beautiful and noisy place. I tired both lunch and dinner... walking distance from where I stayed...I will…

The food was yum!!\nThe ambiance, service and food recommendations were amazing, exactly what I was looking for on a cold winter night.

The food was yum!!\nThe ambiance, service and food recommendations were amazing, exactly what I was looking for on a cold winter night.

The food was yum!!\nThe ambiance, service and food recommendations were amazing, exactly what I was looking for on a cold winter night.

Gai Noi is great! The Khao Poon Gai is a standout, warm, aromatic, and perfectly balanced. The coconut curry broth is rich but not heavy, the chicken is tender, and the cabbage slaw adds the right …

super good!! portions are pretty big so come with a group of people and share a bunch of stuff. the ambiance is cute and the staff was nice.

We simply love this place, the dishes are extraordinaire, the service is exceptional and the ambiance is spectacular especially the 2nd floor atrium. This was our 2nd time dining here, the first was …

Absolutely fantastic. Very lucky to have this spot in Minneapolis. Stop reading reviews and just go, you can’t go wrong.

Review of Gai Noi Delicious tofu dishes and refreshing mocktails! The outdoor space is inviting, the staff are super friendly, and the overall vibe is fantastic. Highly recommend for a chill and ta…

Pleasant casual restaurant specializing in Laotian food. Our server, Elias, was helpful and attentive. He had a number of suggestions which we followed and enjoyed - Laab Gai, Lao sausage and sti…

Pleasant casual restaurant specializing in Laotian food. Our server, Elias, was helpful and attentive. He had a number of suggestions which we followed and enjoyed - Laab Gai, Lao Sausage and stick…

Soooo good, I was very happy with the food and service- crazy busy night and asked for first availability the wait was way shorter than expected. Got four dishes for two people- wish I wasn’t trave…

Soooo good, I was very happy with the food and service- crazy busy night and asked for first availability the wait was way shorter than expected. Got four dishes for two people- wish I wasn’t trave…

First time here and we absolutely loved it! Service was top notch & the food is a bit pricey but outstanding. We had the basil wings, fried green beans and chicken laab. Dessert was a delicious …

Excellent food, a bit of a wait as they don’t do reservations but hang out at the bar as you wait. Service is great parking could be a bit of a challenge

Excellent food, a bit of a wait as they don’t do reservations but hang out at the bar as you wait. Service is great parking could be a bit of a challenge

Excellent food, a bit of a wait as they don’t do reservations but hang out at the bar as you wait. Service is great parking could be a bit of a challenge

D Barlow

I met friends here and we were seated at the top level by the fireplace (which was nice), but by the door (which I would not recommend as it was a bit cool on a winter night and people coming and going to the back). We came early and by the time we left 2 hours later the whole place was almost full on a Wednesday night and buzzing. We all really enjoyed our food and experience. I particularly enjoyed the Lemongrass Palmer (zero-proof) which was EXCELLENT and not sweet at all (yay), the Peanut Noodles (which reminded me of my favorite dish at Blackbird back in the day), and Salmon Skewers (delicious). My friends also ordered Laab Gai, which was fine but in general is not my thing and the Tom Yum which they told me would be too spicy for me (it was but it was really good!). I can't wait to go back. There is a big bar when you enter so I would be comfortable eating here alone. And it is a great place to meet friends. Street parking was easy early on a Wednesday night, but pretty full by the time we left.

Yuhui Ma

The atmosphere was really good. Glad we came across this restaurant on our trip. The crispy pork belly and Vietnamese steak was delicious. We also got this white fish with gravy and green papayas which were okay but a bit too heavy to our taste. Overall it was a fun interesting tasting experience for Laotian food

Scott W

First time here. Came to celebrate a birthday for a family member. Got here around 7 p.m. on a Saturday night. The adjacent parking lot was full, but after circling a couple of times, a spot opened up. There were people waiting outside, and the host told us it was about a 45-minute wait. We got lucky, and several seats opened up at the bar. Decided to get some drinks and was able to order an appetizer. It turned out that sitting at the bar was probably the highlight of the night. The bartender not only did a great job with the drinks (I got the "Heavy on the Ginger Mule" that was as hot as it was tasty) but had an encyclopedic understanding of the entire menu. He also wasn't shy about recommending all of his favorite dishes (thanks, Dave). The Jalapeño Wontons were cooked perfectly and had just the right amount of heat. The caramelized pineapple sauce was an excellent companion to the creamy center. Once our table opened up, we were led upstairs to the second-floor dining area (there is also an outside patio, but it was now closed for the season). We ended up getting Pad See Ew, Shrimp Skewer, Basil Wings, Crispy Pork Belly, and Vietnamese Shaken Beef. Things that really stood out: The Basil Wings were amazing. The best part was the fried basil and jalapeño clumps that you could pop into your mouth. Really nice textures. The Vietnamese Shaken Beef was very good. The beef was tender and flavorful. Good portions. The Crispy Pork Belly had great flavor; however, they weren’t chunks as is typical. They were more the size of bacon pieces. (We ended up using that as a topping for the Pad See Ew.) The things that were disappointing: The Pad See Ew had excellent sauce and flavor. However, the noodles were undercooked and overly chewy. The Shrimp Skewer flavor was awful. It tasted as if it had fallen into ash. It was the one part of the meal that did not get finished. (We mentioned this to our server, and she simply shrugged it off. No expression of concern, no apology, no checking into it.) Decided that we needed to have a sweet finish to our dinner. Got an order of Chocolate Cremeux and the Kanom Krok. I cannot describe what a delightful surprise the Kanom Krok was. Imagine little fried balls of tapioca. (We were interested in how they make them, so we asked the server, who was now a different server than the one we had originally, and she simply said, "I don't know," showing not the least bit of interest in getting any information to our query.) This review might be going on a bit longer than intended. But what started out as terrific service slowly degraded over time and left us feeling underserved and abandoned. The server that we had at the beginning simply vanished without a mention. The replacement server didn't seem much interested in our remaining time and just wanted to cash us out. There was such potential for our visit to be excellent. Not a place that I would be excited to come back to.

+24

Q Nguyen

I took my wife to Gai Noi for her birthday on Sunday, October 12, 2025. I gave her a list of restaurants and she chose Gai Noi. We also took our three boys so there were 5 people. There are no reservations accepted except for larger parties (10 or so?) so we showed up at 5:00 p.m. No problem getting a table. We chose the 2nd floor and the decor is beautiful. It was cold and raining outside so the patio wasn’t open, but if it were a beautiful day, the patio would have been a fantastic option with the backdrop of the Basilica and Loring Park. I referenced a review of Gai Noi by a former Star Tribune newspaper food critic. I really didn’t care for his style of writing and I definitely don’t agree with his choices of food at Gai Noi. He recommended the papaya salad in which he called a “revelation”. I thought I would give it a try. Yeah, not my favorite or any of my family’s favorite. Not worth ordering. He said it had “funky” flavors. You can give it a try, but this is really the only dish we didn’t like. The other dish I thought was a 3 out of 5 was the tofu. I think it was too breaded and dry. I prefer a lighter tempura type batter where I can taste the tofu. This batter is heavy and thick. Also the tofu was dry because I think they used firm or extra firm tofu. What we really enjoyed was the basil chicken wings, laab gai, salmon skewers (2), shrimp skewers (2), Jasmine rice, and the sticky rice. Also…make sure you order the dessert. We ordered the Kanom Krok (mini coconut pancakes) and the mango cremeux which is a mango custard. My wife said it was one of the most phenomenal desserts she has ever eaten. Overall, I enjoyed Gai Noi, but would usually only come for special occasions for a family of 5, which can get prohibitively expensive. This place is definitely worth a visit.

+6

Cindy Li

We had a great time at Gai Noi. I’ve gotten togo from here before but it was my first time dining in. We got patio seating on a nice day, so the vibes were super nice, definitely recommend the patio seating if the weather permits. The food was good, we ordered seasoned fried beef, basil wings, pad Thai, and chicken yellow curry. We also ordered Thai ice tea and that was good. Would definitely recommend the dishes we ordered. The only negative interaction we had was a server (not our waitress) was being super passive aggressive when he brought out the first bowl of jasmine rice on its own before any of our food or drinks were even out (we ordered two bowls), we asked him if we could wait to get the first cup of rice with the rest of the food and whether the second bowl of rice we ordered was coming. He proceeded to say that they can’t time when things come out, and in a very condescending tone, he said “I’m sure someone will bring your other rice out to you when it’s ready” and walked away. Besides this unfriendly interaction, everything else is great. We loved our waitress, she was great and made sure we had everything we needed and was super friendly.

+1

Lori Bartho

Overall, we had a fabulous experience. I wish I could give them 4 1/2 stars. They don’t take reservations, so be prepared to wait. Food is served family style, it comes out when it’s ready, so make sure you go with people who like to share. Cocktails- fantastic Food- ranged from exceptional to good. Biggest disappointment for me were the noodles dishes. Flavor wise they were great, the texture of the noodles was on the too soft side. Loved everything else! Vibe- awesome Service- terrific Would I go back? Absolutely!

+5

Yum!! I'd love to try everything on the menu. Had green curry with tofu. Small portion but very good. Cream puffs and cocktail were definitely things id order again. The upstairs area was cold. Servi…

Great food, great company, nice ambiance. \n\nWent here a weekday evening for my birthday dinner, was around 5 pm. Didn't have to do reservation, no wait but parking was kinda painful. There is a p…

Great food, great company, nice ambiance. \n\nWent here a weekday evening for my birthday dinner, was around 5 pm. Didn't have to do reservation, no wait but parking was kinda painful. There is a …

Great food, great company, nice ambiance. \n\nWent here a weekday evening for my birthday dinner, was around 5 pm. Didn't have to do reservation, no wait but parking was kinda painful. There is a p…

We ordered Pad Thai, Drunken Udon and Basil chicken and of course drinks. \n\nThe food was savory and filling. Since we are visiting state it will be our last time however, i'd come again if opport…

We ordered Pad Thai, Drunken Udon and Basil chicken and of course drinks. \n\nThe food was savory and filling. Since we are visiting state it will be our last time however, i'd come again if opport…

gai noi is such a solid spot!! Depending on how busy they are, I will say their parking situation was a bit rough, but they have a dedicated lot! \n\nthis place is walk in only and your whole party…

We tried the Basil Wings, Egg & Basil Fried Rice, and Peanut Noodles. Everything was great and had great flavors. It's all made to share. The service was also very good. The only down side was the wa…

We tried the Basil Wings, Egg & basil fried rice, and Peanut noodles. Everything was great and had great flavors. It's all made to share. The service was also very good. The only down side was …

We tried the Basil Wings, Egg & Basil Fried Rice, and Peanut Noodles. Everything was great and had great flavors. It's all made to share. The service was also very good. The only down side was the …

We tried the Basil Wings, Egg & Basil Fried Rice, and Peanut noodles. Everything was great and had great flavors. It's all made to share. The service was also very good. The only down side was the …

Jennifer Chao

Came for dinner around 8:30 pm on a Friday and found a seat at the bar immediately. There is a paid parking lot next door. The Gai Basil was a recommendation from the bartender. It was good and got better when I added more chili oil. The dessert was my favorite part. The Kanom Krok was like a little mochi donut with a coconut custard in the middle. The green onions added just the right level of savory that took it over the top.

Holly Woods

We’re visiting the Midwest for first time, and came here based on the reviews. I ordered the Khao Poon Gai, which seemed delicious, but had a very over powering fish sauce smell and taste that I couldn’t finish it. We ordered the basil chicken wings, which were nice and moist, but too salty to finish. My friend liked her Pad Thai, but thought it was kinda of mid. Service was good, no issues with the staff. Atmosphere was a little bit on the louder side, but not disruptive of conversation. I didn’t give it two stars because I’m worried I’m being a bit of a Thai food snob. We have a lot of good food in the war zone of Portland, Oregon, and can be a bit particular. Other people seemed to like it, it just wasn’t for us.

Bob Downs

I’m struggling to understand the service which seemed bothered by our mere presence and frankly quite rude at times - on the other hand, it may have just been me because I was hungry, tired, hot (this was back in July 2025), and overstimulated. The food, however, is amazingly good. The atmosphere was pleasant in the cozy, little windowed nook they placed us in because we requested quiet. There are apparently several distinct areas to sit on multiple floors, including an outdoor upstairs area that sound really cool, so I’ll have to go again! ☺️

Mid-afternoon drinks and snacks for three (3). Order of the Jalapeño Wontons, crispy chicken, Calamari, two (0) Bauhaus Pilsners, one (1) mocktail. Food and drinks very good. The Bauhaus Pil…

I thought the food was quite tasty. We had the chicken basil and the salmon skewers. However, I thought the “no modifications” stipulation on the menu items was absurd. The chicken basil comes with an over easy egg on top, and my mom asked for the egg to be cooked so that the yoke wasn’t runny. They wouldn’t do it. They couldn’t cook the egg just another sixty seconds or so? Nope, every menu item comes as is, no modifications allowed, the waiter explained. Not his fault, granted, just the restaurant’s policy. Not even an extras/or à la cart portion of the menu? Nope. Can’t add a protein source to a dish that doesn’t have one listed? Nope. I don’t get it. Despite the tastiness of the dishes we ordered, there are so many less expensive places to go that will cook your food to order and the food is just as tasty if not better. Won’t be returning..

Although the food is ok, the service is atrocious. We asked a waiter to take our photo and he actually said "that is not my job" and walked away. We got our first service of drinks after our food, …

I brought my husband here for a celebration -- we ordered drinks, apps and entrees. Beware: this place serves food "Family style" which means they'll give you your stuff in whatever random order th…

I was very disappointed on many levels with this place. First, the food; if you like Basil this place is for you. Basil overwhelmed the chicken wings and won ton appetizer. Both were over priced…