Angela W.
Yelp
I've been excited about trying Gao Lhao ever since I found out it was opened by the same people behind Kin Len. I expected beautiful ambiance and amazing food, and Gao Lhao definitely delivered! We came right at the start of happy hour and the restaurant was already bustling. They use Yelp waitlist, so you can put your name down and stroll around the surrounding area. We waited maybe 10 minutes before we were seated. Walking through the restaurant, I appreciated the neon signs on the walls, vintage art, and aesthetic seating that give this restaurant its unique flair. The happy hour deals are amazing, and they have many appetizer options and drinks on their HH menu. We ordered a TON despite being a party of two, and I am glad I got to try so many items! Food came out very quickly as well, my thoughts are below.
Chrysanthemum slushy (HH): This was so smooth, you could hardly taste the alcohol. The texture of the ice was satisfying, but it honestly gave teeny-tiny pebble ice more than slushy texture. Though I am not the biggest fan of chrysanthemum tea, this was super refreshing to sip between rich and flavorful bites of food, like a palate cleanser!
Fish sauce chicken wings (HH): These were SCRUMPTIOUS. The meat was super tender and the sauce was sweet, savory, and super umami. I loved the caramelized edges and how the sticky sauce coated the crisp skin. All of the wings were flats, in case you are a fellow drum lover like me.
Calamari and Salted yolk salad (HH): This was the absolute winner for my friend and I. All the veggies were crisp and clean, and there was a generous portion of crispy, tender calamari, but the star of the show was the dressing! The creamy sauce had crumbled, earthy, mealy bits of salted duck yolk throughout, and the flavor combo was something I have never tasted before. If I manage to replicate this dressing at home I may enter my salad girl era. I actually could not relinquish my fork until this salad was DECIMATED.
Crab curry noodle wrap: This was another stunning dish that combined flavors I had never thought to put together before. The curry sauce was a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, creamy goodness, and the crab claw option comes with three plump, tender crab claws. You definitely aren't getting a ton of crab in each wrap but a little does go a long way to complete the bites. You dip the vermicelli in the curry sauce, then pile a leaf (idk what it was) high with the saucy noodles, a piece of flaky crab meat, some fresh pineapple, cucumber, mint, and pickled mustard greens. Put a spoonful of curry sauce on top for good measure. The flavors unfolded beautifully as I chewed through my wrap. First the creamy curry, then the bright, sharp, sour, salty notes of the other toppings. This dish would not be complete without any one of the sides.
Sukhothai tom yum noodles: I have had stupendous tom yum noodles at other restaurants before and my standards are quite high. While Gao Lhao's rendition is by no means bad, there were a few things that keep it from taking the top spot in my ranking. Namely, the BBQ pork topping felt a bit like an afterthought. While there were many pieces, it was dry and tough. I did enjoy the sweetness from the long bean, but I think it could have benefited from a bit more acid in the broth. We opted for the egg noodles and they were perfectly springy. The portion was absolutely massive!
Creamy galangal coconut hot pot: Everyone talks about the seafood hot pot, but this coconut chicken soup is a flavor explosion that is so, so unique yet drinkable. It is almost hilariously simple at first glance, just some mushrooms and chicken breast sliced against the grain, stewed in a coconut broth with some glistening spots of oil on top. However, the galangal-forward, savory chicken broth is the perfect sipping soup for Seattle's perennially cold and rainy weather. The soup is thin and not overpoweringly creamy. The coconut gives the soup a luxurious richness without making it taste like straight coconut milk. The chicken was just a tad tough, but given that we had neglected this dish in favor of the other four on our two-person table, it is honestly not that surprising.
While this is on the pricier side for a Thai restaurant, you are getting great portions and unique, delicious food that you get to enjoy in a gorgeous ambiance. Whether you are looking for unique bites or a show-stopping dinner spot, Gao Lhao is a must-try!