Pho Lao — Restaurant in Morganton

BEST LARP EVER.

I am lao and my lao auntie makes the hour+ drive often to eat at this restaurant from the triad just for this larp. The owners are also lao and specialize in raw beef larp aka larp dip. It's the first place I've ever had this on the menu and it's fiiiiire. If you're feeling adventurous for something different, I'd encourage you to try it because they do it the best. My auntie knows the owner, who pridefully cooks the food herself, and told us she has the butcher specially deliver the specific meat to her restaurant for her larp. She knows what she's doing and how she wants to serve it up. Can't be more emphatic about how great it is.

Otherwise, walking into the restaurant, the decorations just scream laotian influence. There are a lot of Thai places that have Lao owners but it's not often Lao folks front being a Lao restaurant. There are certainly more these days, but it's not common. It was nice being able to be intentionally represented and picking through very well executed Lao cuisine. We also ordered the Lao papaya salad, with the funk (badack aka fermented fish sauce), Lao sausage, gang (beef soup), and nam khao (lao fried rice) not pictured to go.

This place is a go to for my fam especially when treating ourselves or visiting family members to the best. Can't wait to visit again. In the meantime, I've got the larp I've packed to go in the fridge to enjoy...

About 2 months ago (I forgot to leave a review so I am leaving it now), my Dad and I came to try this place for the first time. We asked the hostess about the origins of the restaurant, trying to get an understanding of what the food options would be. She was a so unbelievalby unprofessional, I believe she said she was the owners daughter. She sat us and reluctantly got our drinks and then never came back. I guess we asked too many questions about the business, menu, food, etc. Sat in there for 30-45 minutes and eventually just got up and left. I am NOT a mean person and this was THE ugliest I have ever been treated at a restaurant! She was obviously ignoring us on purpose, some weird vendetta she must have had against us and she even left in the middle of a conversation when we were trying to get our food ordered. I was genuinely shocked at how rude and weird it was. I wanted to come on here and recommend that NOBODY go here and support this place. I am sad to be leaving this review and I am not one to leave reviews, but the way we were treated was disgusting and I will never be going back. I hate that the business has to suffer because of the actions of one employee, but it...

Somehow I stumbled upon this place & I promise it has been one of the best finds in Morganton!! We moved here almost 2 years ago & I've been so disappointed in the lack of allergy friendly places in the area. I have a wheat allergy (gluten free). So this place is an absolute gem!!

We are obsessed with their Pad Thai (we get it spicy of course), it is the best Pad Thai we have ever had!! The summer rolls are absolutely amazing & always super fresh. On my own I will have two & no shame. Their Laab Kai (we get it spicy too) is fantastic, don't be afraid to get it. It comes with lettuce for wraps. But to have the full experience of Laab Kai, you need to go on Friday/Sat when they have the purple sticky rice & order the papaya salad with it. The Laab is awesome either way. We've had a few other things, but those are our top picks. The owners are super sweet too & that also keeps us coming back!

I'll try to add photos later. Just never think about it because we're always ready to...