Lay Lao
We came to Lay Lao with some excitement since it is listed in the Michelin guide. The place itself was bright, casual, and friendly, filled with the buzz of families and groups of friends. It felt like the kind of spot where good food and good times should come easily.
We ordered a spread - grilled squid with seafood dipping sauce, raw crab, papaya salad, stir-fried morning glory, tom yum with prawns, crab meat rice, fried chicken wings, and a mango salad with crab. On paper, it sounded like a feast of Thai classics.
But as the dishes started to arrive, I found myself waiting for that spark, the punchy flavours, the kind of balance of spicy, sour, sweet, and salty that Thai food is famous for. Sadly, it didn’t really come except the squid. The papaya salad lacked the zing, and even the tom yum didn’t hit the depth I was hoping for. The crab rice, which should have been a highlight, felt plain. Everything was edible, yes, but just not exciting.
I know Michelin Bib Gourmand highlights value, not fine dining, but compared to other places we ate on this trip, Lay Lao felt underwhelming. Bangkok has so many incredible Thai restaurants, some hidden in street corners, some polished and modern and honestly, I think there are better choices out there for both taste and experience.
Not every stop on a trip hits the mark, and for me, this was probably the most forgettable meal of our journey. Still, that’s the beauty of travelling for food, that you win some and you lose some but every meal tells part of the story.
Lay Lao
65 Phahon Yothin 7, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
