Holy Khao Lao Thai Cuisine — Restaurant in Garland

I’ve been all about supporting mom-and-pop restaurants for over 15 years now, but my experience at Holy Khao was unfortunately not that great. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt—it may have just been an off day due to the holiday, but I still felt like we were treated differently compared to other diners. The restaurant went through renovation, and it looks very clean and bright.

We were seated quickly since there were a couple of tables still available, and the waiter came by to take our order right away. The appetizers came out in about 10 minutes, which was pretty fast! However, the entrées took another 25 minutes to arrive after we finished our appetizers. It felt like they had forgotten our table, especially since another group that was seated after us was already halfway through their meal by then.

The food itself was disappointing. I loved the original restaurant and used to come here often, so I was sad when I heard the owners had retired and a new family had taken over. With all the social media hype, I decided to give the new place a try. Unfortunately, the pad Thai was super sweet, and the noodles were a bit overcooked for my taste. The other dishes were okay, but the portion sizes were small— especially considering the new prices, which are about $5–6 higher than at SBT. That said, the original spot was pretty cheap for Thai food, so I wouldn’t mind the price increase if the portions were more filling. They also charge an extra $1–2 if you want your food spicier. The only dishes that really stood out were the nam khao and the larb; they were very good, though they could’ve been more generous with the lettuce.

There was a mix-up with the larb, too. We ordered pork larb, but the waiter brought it out and said it was chicken. We double-checked with another waiter who also insisted it was chicken, even though our order slip clearly said pork larb. A third waiter ended up taking the dish back to the kitchen to confirm what it was, which was a bit confusing and frustrating.

What bothered me the most was the dessert. I ordered the pandan jelly at the beginning of the meal; it was the one thing I was really looking forward to. I saw other diners who arrived after us get theirs right away, so I assumed they had just forgotten ours, like they did with our entrées. I didn’t mention it until the end of the meal, but when I asked about it, the waiter came back and said they were out. That really upset me, especially since I had clearly seen multiple other tables who came in after us, receive the same dessert at the beginning of their meal. We were seated in the middle of the restaurant, so it’s not like they couldn’t see us.

I’m hesitant to come back and give them another chance. It really felt like the waitstaff and owners treated us differently than other tables. It’s a sad experience, especially since SBT used to be my favorite Thai/Lao restaurant in the North...

First off the atmosphere is small and personal. This is something as a rider we love. Peaceful and cozy. Owner is beyond sweet and incredible. One of the kindest people I have ever meet. Now that being said I’m sure you wanna hear about that food. The fried pork belly was perfectly crispy and not overdone. Flavor was amazing and dipping sauce set it off with the perfectly sweet and salty flavor. The egg rolls were amazing and only complaint is I did not order more of them. Papaya salad did have that fermented fragrance that turns some people off but, I know that means it is gonna be good. Flavor on point and cabbage was crispy and fresh. The Thai chi they brought me I could drink daily. The green one was a coconut milk and jelly. That thing is better than any boba tea I have ever had. Now the star of the show. Pad Thai. I love pad Thai and have had it from several regions around Asian cuisine. This took the top stop. The noodles were soft and not overcooked. No rubber texture at all. The spice was amazing, but if you are shy when it comes to spice order it mild. This was incredible and truly a special place in garland that should never be overlooked. Will be a date night spot for me and the wife for sure. Thank you for the incredible...

Holy Khao absolutely delivered one of the most satisfying and flavorful meals I’ve had in a while. Everything was fresh, vibrant, and packed with bold Lao flavors that hit all the right notes. We started with the papaya salad, which was bright, tangy, and just the right level of heat — super refreshing. The fried beef jerky was a standout: crispy on the outside, tender inside, and perfect for dipping in the sauce it came with. The Nam Khao was hands-down one of my favorites — that crispy rice mixed with herbs and fermented pork? Addictive. Balanced, crunchy, and deeply savory. The khao poon chicken was comfort in a bowl — warm, coconutty, and rich, with just enough spice to keep things interesting. Every bite was soothing and satisfying. For dessert, the mango sticky rice was a classic done right — sweet, soft mango paired with perfectly chewy rice and rich coconut cream. But the surprise favorite was the khao lod song — cold, creamy, and lightly sweet, with a great texture from the pandan noodles. A perfect finish. Staff were warm and welcoming, and the casual vibe made the experience feel both relaxed and authentic. I’ll definitely be back to try more — this place is a hidden gem for Lao...