Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine

The 38 Best Restaurants in Honolulu, Hawai‘i | Eater

"Olay’s is the kind of place that I recommend to a friend who asks where she can take her family, including two young children and her senior mother, and also, one of them doesn’t eat gluten. But it’s also the place for a casual date night or solo lunch. There’s something for everyone here, in a lush courtyard setting complete with a koi pond. You’ll find the usual Thai classics, but where Olay’s shines is in the Laotian side of the menu. Get the nam khao (crispy rice salad) and sai oua (Lao sausage), with chunks of juicy pork fat. And if you’re here with a group, don’t miss the whole fried fish. You’ll find Olay Thai at farmers markets around town where owner Olay Somsanith started her business decades ago serving Thai basics, but you want to visit the Chinatown restaurant for the vibe and Laotian dishes. Know before you go: Olay’s is BYOB." - Martha Cheng