Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery

Laotian restaurant · Squirrel Hill North

Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery

Laotian restaurant · Squirrel Hill North

1

5846 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

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Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery by null

Highlights

Lao & Thai food with vibrant decor & window views  

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5846 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Get directions

kiinpgh.com
@kiineaterypittsburgh

$20–30 · Menu

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5846 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Get directions

+1 412 521 0728
kiinpgh.com
@kiineaterypittsburgh

$20–30 · Menu

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Aug 31, 2025

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Laowich Sandwich Pop-Up From Thip Khao’s Owner Opens in Tysons Galleria - Eater DC

"Luangrath recently accepted her first paid consulting gig, developing the menu for new Pittsburgh restaurant KIIN." - Gabe Hiatt

https://dc.eater.com/2019/11/20/20974016/laowich-popup-opening-tysons-galleria
View Postcard for Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery

Marie

Google
We went for dinner with a larger group (10 people) last Thursday evening. My brother called ahead to just let them know a group of 10 was coming. We had the best food and service which made our evening out the best it could be! We used to frequent Bangkok Balcony but had yet to try Kiin Lao Eatery. The space is so inviting and colorful! My green curry was off the charts flavorful and the perfect amount of spice! We will be back soon!

Đan Võ

Google
The atmosphere and decorations were very delicate and nice. Food is also very nice, I had the pork shoulder and the meat was tender and juicy, the seasoning on other dishes were also very flavorful yet on point. I also love the murals and the color choice of the furniture. Overall, a really nice place to sit and eat while it’s raining outside 🥰

Harley Roth

Google
Amazing food with a fun vibe inside. The lychee margarita was so good, light and refreshing. All the food is incredible, haven’t had a bad meal here. The curry puffs are phenomenal. I can’t wait to go back.

Chrisssy

Google
Food is good, but it is Way too expensive. 22 dollars for one small fish fillet and that’s basically it. We ordered 2 dishes for 2 people, both of us are only half full.

Chris Marler

Google
Crab Fried Rice and Tofu Pho Lao were very tasty. Great atmosphere and a great view over Forbes Ave.

Switt InPittsburgh

Google
✨️I like the beautiful, bright décor of the shop. It's very vibrant and attractive! 😍 The service was average. 👉Unfortunately, the food didn't quite live up to my expectations of authentic Lao cuisine. Every dish I tried lacked the bold, spicy flavors (a bit bland and sweet). It's likely that the menu has been adapted to suit American tastes, I guess.🤔 It's not a bad option, though.👍

Oreo Cake

Google
I’ve been here three times already and each visit leaves me feeling happy and completely satisfied. The customer service is always top notch super friendly staff who genuinely check in to make sure everything’s perfect. It’s the kind of place that keeps you coming back.

Fortunus Media Ltd.

Google
Absolutely delicious! I love coming by here every time I visit Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh!
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David B.

Yelp
Delicious Laotian and Thai food. The service was prompt and professional. This was my first experience with Laotian food and I was quite pleased. The dining room is attractive, with a high window overlooking Forbes Ave. I love learning about new cuisines, and this restaurant is a great place to experience that.
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Pierandrea F.

Yelp
Shared portions with a couple of friends, garlic noodles were amazing everything else was pretty decent but nothing special. Food B Service A Ambiance A
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Emily C.

Yelp
Kiin Lao is the kind of spot that instantly draws you in with its energy and keeps you coming back for the food. I walked in on a busy Friday night, and despite the crowd, the staff was accommodating, letting me wait at the bar until a table opened up. The music was lively, the vibe was youthful, and the atmosphere felt like a perfect start to the weekend. Highlights: Sai Oua: A fantastic sharing dish! This Lao sausage was flavorful, unique, and a must-try for something a little different. Garlic Noodles with Fried Chicken: Absolutely delicious! The fried chicken was crispy perfection, and the spice level is customizable to your preference--definitely a bonus for heat seekers like me. The crowd, the food, and the overall vibe make Kiin Lao a standout. If you're looking for a lively spot with great food and a fun atmosphere, this is the place to be. I'll definitely be back!
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Tiffany Y.

Yelp
Kiin restaurant serves Thai and Lao food. Its menu (see my photos) lists a variety of Thai and Lao appetizers, entrees, sides, desserts, and non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Prices are reasonable. So far, I have visited Kiin restaurant twice, and both times, I enjoyed the prompt and friendly service and the delicious foods and beverages. Here are my reviews for the foods: Curry puffs - 5 stars - The dough was nicely crispy and contained potato, onion, and yellow curry powder. On the side was a small bowl of cucumber sauce that balanced the slight spiciness of the curry. Ping kai - 4.5 stars - This appetizer was a very large size. It consisted of three skewers of juicy, seasoned chicken. On the side was a flavorful jaew dipping sauce. Pork-shrimp dumplings - 4.5 stars - My husband ate this appetizer. The dumplings were cooked nicely and contained a good amount of meat. He liked the black sauce. Green curry with chicken - 4.5 stars - I had ordered a spiciness level of 5 on a scale from 1-10, and the cook matched my expectations. The green curry and coconut milk contained green beans, snow peas, eggplant, basil leaves, bell peppers, and bamboo. Pad see ew - 4 stars - My husband ordered this entree. The food was room temperature, I assume because it had been sitting for minutes. My husband seemed to like it. Garlic noodles with Thai fried chicken - 4.5 stars - My husband said that the egg noodles reminded him of spaghetti, but he enjoyed the juicy chicken with crispy breading and the sauce. Tilapia with pineapple sauce - 5 stars - The tilapia had a crispy breading and was covered in a curry sauce and sweet chunks of pineapple. The chef gave it a spiciness level of 5/moderate, which is what I had requested. Bubble tea - 5 stars - I chose the flavor of honeydew melon. I really liked the sweet fruitiness of this beverage. Thai iced tea - 4.5 stars - This tea had a nice flavor.
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Rachel S.

Yelp
First visit to Kiin did not disappoint! I've been venturing into trying Laotian food since I have another place near my house, and I really enjoyed the food here! Upstairs in a loft space right on Forbes, great location but not handicap accessible. Fun bright decor and very nice service. Extremely hands off but still helpful. I had the Mee Kathi with chicken and the Thai iced tea. This dish was like if curry meets egg drop soup with rice noodles. So tasty! I ordered it 6 spicy but will go hotter next time.
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Corey Z.

Yelp
Excellent Laotian and Thai food in Pittsburgh! I ordered the garlic noodles with fried chicken and spice level 4/10. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly, with an excellent crunchy exterior and plenty of moisture inside. The noodles were also cooked very well, covered in a delicious sweet and sour sauce. My friend and I were able to sit next to window, which provided a nice view of the street. The server was friendly, and the food came out quickly. Looking forward to my next visit!
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Aaron W.

Yelp
My wife and I went back here for a quick week night dinner recently. It was pretty quiet when we arrived on the early side (5:30) so service was very quick. The restaurant was a bit warm, especially for a hot summer day, maybe in part because it's located on the second floor. We split green curry and pad see-ew. Both were good. The curry had a lot of veggies and the broth was very rich. We got spice level 1 (0 to 10 scale) and still felt that the curry had hint of a kick. The see ew came with delicious wide noodles, making for a great comfort dish. It was a bit on the sweet side.
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Isabel S.

Yelp
We came here for my graduation dinner. I got the Mee Kathi and thai iced tea! It was so yummy the perfect amount of flavor in the red curry mixed with the crunch of the peanuts and cabbage. I finished the whole bowl after not getting to eat all day and was more than content. I paired this with the Thai iced tea which was sweet. The service was good and the ambience of the location is wonderful overlooking squirrel hill
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Kaylie W.

Yelp
Kiin Lao&Thai is home to cuisine you won't find anywhere else in Pittsburgh. I've loved every dish that I've had here. It offers Southeast Asian food outside the typical Thai food you'd find in Pittsburgh. I really wished there were more diverse food places like this. The cooking is also great. The skewers are juicy and tender, with a taste profile with layers. Food is a bit on the spicy side. Again, there's really no place else like this in Pittsburgh so I keep coming back over the years when I'm in the mood for Southeast Asian food. The place is busy during peak hours so I'd recommend calling ahead for a reservation. Service is pretty fast after being seated though.
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Vicki K.

Yelp
I got the tofu mok. It was so so good. I loved the flavors and it was my first time having Lao food. The vibe of this place is cool with lots of neat lamps and photos on the wall. The service was great as well and I will definitely be back.
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Ahron B.

Yelp
Really used to love coming here a decade ago when they were called Bangkok Balcony. I got the Crispy Brussels Sprouts (which really weren't crispy at all) which had a honey / chili / lime dressing that was ok. And then the Chicken Lemongrass noodles, which I used to absolutely love when they were Bangkok Balcony, and worth the 35 minute drive it would've taken me. Ordering them again a decade later, and I have to say they were ok, but didn't match the nostalgia. The noodles were soft and flavorful, and the chicken was maybe a bit dry, but very few pieces of cabbage or other ingredients so it just felt like noodles and protein. Furthermore, the service was almost non-existent. They greeted us and sat us right away as we came early and they weren't busy. The table they gave us overlooks the street below, which was really nice and they brought us some water (which didn't taste good for some reason). However, that's basically where the service ended. We sat there for 15-20min while various people stood around or cleaned tables right next us and didn't acknowledge us at all. Someone finally came over after we were visibly confused and looking around in how we should order food, and then took our order.... They didnt really care about acknowledging the wait, though. The food came out pretty fast, but we never saw our server again since the initial order. Even after other people cleared our plates, and we sat there for another 15+min before having to let someone else know to please bring us the bill. Our server comes back with it and we pay, no apology from them though. All in all, the food was ok, but the service was really bad where if we wanted anything we basically had to be extremely proactive about it.
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Alexandra A.

Yelp
decided to check squirrel hill out for the first time and landed on kiin lao & thai eatery, and i would say i made a great decision for the night! there seems to be a lot of hype on the garlic noodles and chicken so i decided to be the one to try it out in my little group, and it was super yummy. highly recommend that if you like the taste of a juicy, garlicky, and veggie filled noodle dish. the crispy chicken was a perfect compliment to the dish and i would even eat it by itself. my friends also got the pad thai and thai style noodles which were also a must-try. the dining ambiance was great as the place had many cool decorations around. the place is also located on a second floor of a building so make sure to watch out for the little entrance that leads into a stairwell to get up there.

Brenda Y.

Yelp
Food was good but was nothing too special. Decor is nice and the view near the window are nice. However, going up the stairs was inconvenient and not as accessible.
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Jennifer Á.

Yelp
Yummy food. Very impressed with the food. Not very spicy so go up on your spice level. I got a 6 cause sometimes Thai food is spicy even for me. But this was not spicy at all. I will be getting a 10 next time. I got the Thai northern noodle, great taste. Good sized portion. Got the lychee margarita, was not too impressed by the drink. Small portion of the mango sticky rice. But overall the food is amazing and I will be coming back! Service is okay. Not bad not great. Still fine though! Doesn't dissuade me from coming back.
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Jason F.

Yelp
I stopped by here earlier today with my wife and kids for dinner. We had placed a to go order earlier in the day for a couple of entrees and had picked for it to be ready at 5 PM. Whenever I arrived to Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery a couple of minutes before that my food was just coming out and it was quickly handed over to me. It has been years since I had been in this space as it was solely Bangkok balcony at that point and was before their fire. Since I was only in the place for a minute I didn't get to see too much. It did seem to be brightly painted in pastels and seemed nice and bright. For our dinner on this day my wife and I both ordered the garlic noodles with fried chicken. She ordered hers a 2 spice level while I went with an 8 and we also decided to get an order of curry puffs to share. I first started out with one of the curry puffs and thought it was good. The shell of it was baked nicely and it had a good flavor of curry spices and the finish on it was a little sweet instead of spicy. After eating one of those I was able to taste my meal and thought it was really good. The fried chicken reminded me of a Korean fried chicken. So the outside was super crispy and the inside was juicy even after it had sat for awhile on our traffic delayed trip home. Then the noodles themselves had some good flavors to them and I enjoyed the spice level to mine while my wife's barely had any. Best of all, both of my twins really liked the noodles too and helped eat a bunch of my wife's food. The bottom line for me is that I would stop by here again in the future. Both my wife and I thought the flavors on everything we had were fantastic and I would definitely be interested in trying some more of the Lao Mains.

Tom P.

Yelp
Delicious!!!!!! Had the dumplings, veggie tom yum soup and noodles with chicken katsu. All were so good. I took out but the place is decorated bright/vibrant! A must try.
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Mike B.

Yelp
Good Lao and Thai food with a few really excellent dishes and a nice space overlooking central Squirrel Hill. The staff are also very friendly and helpful. We ordered takeout, and the food was well-packaged and well-presented even after we got home. Our order stuck to mostly vegetarian items, and there were plenty to choose from. The sautéed jackfruit with rice cakes was intriguing and tasty. The thum som salad was excellent. The pun mieng lettuce wraps offered up lots of texture and flavor with a delicious pineapple sauce. That said, some of the stir fry dishes in the Thai side of the menu were okay, but not great: the noodle dishes and curries might have been better options. Despite the stir fries, I think this place is well worth checking out.
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Sara M.

Yelp
Delicious and fast! Great authentic food! Loved the lettuce wraps and curry. Windows provided a nice view of the bustle on squirrel hill.

Jazz G.

Yelp
This is great restaurant for small and large groups! 9 of us had a great spot to enjoy delicious Laotian and Thai food! The food can be spicy so think 5 or less if you don't like it too spicy! We loved their pad Thai with tofu and their khao poon w chicken! The spring rolls and curry puff pastry were also yummy! Mango sticky rice was devoured too! I'd go back for sure!
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Tabitha C.

Yelp
I was excited to try this place, a friend and I came for lunch on a Sunday. We were seated quickly and at the time only 3 other tables. We ordered fast and the wait staff were ok. I love the decor and paintings as well as view. There is sufficient parking lots nearby and easiest to visit on Sundays even lot is free not just street. I had the pineapple curry which was delicious, spiced just right. My main complaint is it took one hour to get our food which was unacceptable being as we came with only 3 tables there but as we sat and others came in the dining was full and most everyone had their food that came after us. I asked after patiently waiting and she apologized and gave us thai iced tea complimentary which was nice. We only ordered one order of pad thai and one order of curry. I was taken back by that but otherwise good experience.
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Michelle M.

Yelp
Came here with a friend to catch up and loved the vibe of the place. Very colorful and great art on the walls. Love that it overlooks the street too. We ordered the Thai norther noodle (new) and the pad gra pow. I expected the noodle to be similar to pad Thai but it actually had a different taste and thinner noodles. Heavy on fish sauce for those who enjoy the taste. The pork was great too and loved that the egg was runny. Service was generally great although we did feel a bit rushed. The place was empty but around 30 minutes into our food someone walked over and put a takeout box on our table and asked if we wanted the check.
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Debasis P.

Yelp
Even at 8:30pm, the place is almost full. Great food and ambiance. The Tom Yum Soup with Chicken at spice level 5, spicy enough to open up your taste buds and feel you warm on a cold evening.

Richard L.

Yelp
After living in PGH for just a few years, this is my family and my favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh.

Kim J.

Yelp
My friend and I always look for new places to try. The view from the second floor is nice! The food came out quick and their service was great! Food was amazing as well!
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Kelsey R.

Yelp
This was a fabulous lunch spot in Squirrel Hill on a Saturday Afternoon. I've heard about this place before, but I've never even seen it on Forbes; it's super easy to miss since it's on the second floor (not handicap accessible, it seems, just a fyi). It was cool to see the view of Forbes from up above! The restaurant was pretty empty. My friend I had the spring rolls, I had the laab with chicken, and he had the pineapple curry. The laab was outstanding! I did get it too spicy for my taste; I picked a 3 spice level which I thought would be more than safe, but the spice person was very heavy handed. We also had some Thai beers which was cool. Service was kinda slow, but the food was terrific- I will definitely be back!

Robyn C.

Yelp
Great food and fun decor. I loved the Naem Khao. The Ping Kai, Green Curry are so delicious as well.
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Trish T.

Yelp
So excited to find a Laotian/Thai place. We had an awesome one in our old hood in DC. Kiin Lao in Squirrel Hill is pretty close us, yay - we have good food close by! We popped in before the recent night craft market. The colorful place has a fun vibe, & we were seated facing the windows overlooking Forbes (the restaurant is up on the 2nd floor - prepare yourself for a climb up those stairs!). Good selection of wine & beer. We started w/ Thai apps: Tamarind spare ribs (super flavorful & fall-off-the-bone tenderness) & the roasted Brussels (my hubs loved this dish; I thought it was ok -- the veg was a bit overwhelmed by the honey lime chili sauce). Lao side for entrees: Crowd-fave Garlic noodles w/ fried chicken (egg noodles were a bit too chewy - but the chicken was good along w/ the sweet/sour sauce ---- this dish was actually much better the 2nd day!) & --- another crowd fave which was *our* fave: Mee Kathi w/ chicken (yuuuuummy red curry w/ crunchy veg; another great one the 2nd day!).....Great meal. Good service. Great atmosphere. Well be back!
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Dante M.

Yelp
I don't know why Yelp won't let me attach more photos, but I came here back in May with my family during my graduation celebrations, and they had just released their new summer menu items. I tried the Khao Soi with their homemade sausage, and it was absolutely to die for. I need to come back here before they take it off of their menu because it was incredible. And if they are reading these comments, PLEASE add it to be a full-time menu item! It was INCREDIBLE!
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Suzan H.

Yelp
The flavors are terrific. We really enjoy trying new things. This last time, however, I was slightly disappointed-mostly with the customer service. Why, you may ask. Well, I'll tell you. One dish had very little chicken in it, although it was a mostly noodle and chicken dish-noodles galore-chicken no more! All in all, the food was really good. But, the music was SO loud! We asked multiple times if they could turn it down. They did...then, by the time we left-full blast again. So you may say-shut up, sit down-you must just be old. And you may be right-I may be old-but, my old money spends just as well as young money. I would like to talk to the people I'm dining with not text them! Just saying...and again...great food and we'll be back-but, perhaps for take out!
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Steven H.

Yelp
My wife and I decided to try this restaurant after seeing it highly ranked on Yelp. It has a subtle presence on Forbes Ave in Squirrel Hill, such that it took me a minute to find the small sign marking the entrance after parking nearby. The restaurant is at the top of a large set of stairs, so keep that in mind if you have difficulty climbing steps. Once upstairs, the narrow stairwell opens up to a spacious and airy dining room. We ordered to go, so I did not get to experience the dine-in service, but I was greeted politely and the food was fresh and ready when I arrived. I ordered the curry puff as an appetizer and the see ew chicken as the main entree. I like my thai food on the medium side of spicy, so I ordered my typical 4 out of 10. The heat was in line with what I was expecting, and the flavor and texture of the dish were good. My wife thought that her laab with pork was a bit over seasoned and quite strongly flavored. While we were satisfied with our take-out experience here, this restaurant will not displace our top choices in the area for Thai food.
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Dani J.

Yelp
This place was so cool looking and we got to sit overlooking squirrel hill. It was the best pumpkin curry I've ever had. I wasn't drinking that day but they did seem to have interesting beverage choices as well.
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Anisha D.

Yelp
So, I'll tell you that I was very much upset when a Bangkok Balcony closed and was under ownership. However, I still wanted to try it out while visiting. It still had the same aura and feel to it. I ordered: 1 - 3-piece curry puffs. They were good in size, delicious and flavorful !! 2 - Brocolli with stir-fried tofu. What I loved about this dish was how juicy and crispy the brocolli were. The tofu was cooked well, and this dish, although simplistic, was flavorful and good!! 3 - Pumpkin curry with stir-fried tofu. By far, the BEST DISH. I can hardly ever find pumpkin curry in SoCal so I try to sneak it in while I'm in Pittsburgh. Mmmmmm.... so rich, go flavorful and spicy. Worth every bite. This is a seasonal dish so get it while you can !!!!!!! 4 - Thai Iced Tea - definitely without saying, this was exactly how I remembered the initial Thai teas tasted at Bangkok Balcony. Just perfect. So perfect that I got 2 glasses. This goes without saying but - BEST THAI ever ! I'll never come to Pittsburgh without coming here in the future for sure. Some downfalls - 1. They do not offer brown rice 2. Our server was not that great nor helpful. He just wasn't as friendly 3. They didn't offer the alcoholic version of the Thai Tea.
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Kristen E.

Yelp
Curry puffs: 5/5 for coming to the table piping hot, yummy, and with a pleasingly spicy dipping sauce Tamarind ribs: 6/5 because they were so moist the meat just fell off the bone Pineapple curry: 4/5 for being generally delicious; 2/10 spice level was hot enough We got to sit in the window to people watch in the street and enjoy the sun going down. The kitchen was super fast, and we didn't have to wait for the bill, which was entirely fair. The portions were generous enough to make us full but not large enough to make leftovers to take home. Please note that steps are required to enter the restaurant, and the restrooms are single stalls but gender segregated.
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Leandro D.

Yelp
The food was great: well seasoned and flavorful and a spice level 5 was ideal. I expected it to be a bit spicier so I'll probably order a higher spice number next time. The drinks were alright, better than your generic bar drinks, but nothing outstanding. The folks who run this place are really nice but I was surprised there were only two people working on a Saturday afternoon. Overall, really great restaurant and I would recommend the food and the ambiance and cool view of Forbes from up above. I'll give the drinks another try as well next time, but they also have your standard Thai ice tea that might have hit the spot instead.
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Sara Z.

Yelp
Still a favorite!! Came here with a 10+ party with a rsvp and they were great with all of us and very accommodating. I tried their lychee Margarita which was really yummy! I also tried their papaya salad this time and my friends had previously asked for the spice level to be 20 which I didn't know was possible. Either way it's become a new favorite of mine and I can't wait to come back and get it again.
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Cj D.

Yelp
Great food and ambiance, located in a cool spot with nice big windows. Lovely in the evening. My girlfriends and I had a delicious meal (the pad thai was large and the perfect amount of spicy) with quick and friendly service. Great vibes here all around!
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Nai A.

Yelp
The menu on the website is a little different from the menus in restaurant. So keep that in mind. Our first time here and I was surprised it was a lot bigger then I was expecting. You do have to go up a flight of stairs so it's wouldn't be handicap accessible. The decor and art on the wall definitely screams Laos which made me feel at home. Since we got there early we order from the happy hour menu 4-6:30. They only were able to offer the food option from HH since there was no bartender there yet when we arrived. To start we got the tamarind wings (3 pieces) and garlic noodles. Both $5 each during Happy Hour. The wings were good, it was more like a sweet chili sauce, not a tamarind sauce. The garlic noodles were different then what I'm use to, they use rice noodles. I seen other pictures on Yelp and it wasn't rice noodles so I was surprised. Overall it had a ok. Definitely could use a little spice and some peanuts, it would have been a lot better in my opinion. Entree- we got the papaya salad platter. The chicken was marinated well but it was cold. We had to send it back to be warmed up. Definitely think they premake and Cooke the skewers, then heat it up when it's ordered. It was very flavorful though. It has been really hard for me to find a place that has Laos style papaya salad. I have been very hesitant about trying this place because I didn't want to be disappointed but I was very surprised that the papaya was delicious and tasted like what I'm use to getting from the West coast. We also got the pad gra prow spicy level 6 and it was perfect spice for us. The rice tasted like day old rice but they was a lot of it. Overall it was good. The service was good. I would come back and try other dishes. And this will be my go to spot for Laos papaya salad.
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Kimberly C.

Yelp
The decor of this place is undeniably super cute and fun! There are so many paintings on the walls and it's a great vibe. The service is also great, the employees are very attentive. However, the food is a little lacking for the price. The Tom yum noodle soup was extremely sour and salty, although they did give me a large portion of chicken which was nice. My friends ordered different noodle and rice dishes that all tasted relatively mediocre.
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Alex S.

Yelp
It can be hard to find these little stairway entrances sometimes, but this is a seriously cool spot in Squ. Hill. They've got it plastered with original graffiti art and the whole design is so colorful and unique. If that's not enough, the whole spot sits right in the main strip of Squirrel Hill Forbes - which is so fun to sit and people watch while eating. (TLDR - great date vibes) The service has been quick and friendly the multiple times I've gone for either eating in or to go. Their menu is half Thai and half Laotian themed and both are great. The crowd favorites among my friends are their thai green curry, pad see ew, and lemongrass noodles, and the laab (I tried but didn't love their pumpkin curry, it was too rich and sweet for me). Honestly it's hard to go that wrong their their food here, we've eaten through most of the menu and frequently debate stopping by for almost any occasion! Go find the stairs, check out the art, and enjoy some great food :)
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Sonali G.

Yelp
Came here for dinner with a friend - hadn't been here since May 2021 - used to get food from here every now and then when I still lived in Pittsburgh. I love the environment and food. The servers are quick and friendly too. Just wish the thai tea had less ice in it....
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Doug E.

Yelp
Maybe it's what I ordered, but I wish this place had been better. I bet the Lao food would be good. I got Thai.
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molly r.

Yelp
Love this place. It's on heavy rotation at my house. Especially love the hearty Boat Soup with its combination of hot and fresh ingredients, and the noodle dishes. Never had something I didn't like here.

Maria A.

Yelp
You don't always get a lot of variety in Pittsburgh so this place is so fun for trying something different, highly recommend ordering from the Lao side of the menu, everything is so good! It's got a nice view of Squirrel Hill and a colorful interior. They also have a happy hour with some great cocktails, definitely one of my favorite spots in the city!
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Molly H.

Yelp
I really wanted to love this place, but for me, it's just okay! Stopped in before a movie at the Manor on Saturday, and it was busy, but not packed to the gills. It's a cute space with lots of color and plenty of seating. The big draw is the window seating over Forbes, which is a fun element of the design. I tried the Thai iced tea and a Laotian dish called mee kathi, a red curry noodle soup. While the tea was delicious and sweet, the soup was semi-marred by the addition of chicken. I was really put off by the rubbery texture and bad flavor given by the meat (it tasted like old dark meat that was hastily reheated), and while I tried to eat around it, it did still seep into the flavor profile of the curry. The noodles and the curry flavor otherwise were pretty good, but not super memorable, unfortunately. I smelled other dishes that looked really great, so maybe I ordered wrong! I'd give it another try, but I just wouldn't order chicken from this menu again, I think.
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Saloni S.

Yelp
kiin lao is, for me, always a solid meal. the restaurant overlooks squirrel hill and the seating by the window especially is beautiful and lets in a lot of natural light. i've had both the thai and the lao food on the menu and ngl the thai options are lacking compared to the lao options. get the mee kathi - it's my go to order and so hearty and flavorful! the thai iced tea is a hit or miss but it pairs well with the spicy dishes on the menu
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Kaleb M.

Yelp
The food here was bomb! We tried two dishes from the Laos side of the menu. The vibe is really cute and sitting next to the windows leads to good people watching.
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Aditi S.

Yelp
Came here for a NYE dinner and had a great experience! The restaurant has really cute decor and ample seating. The entrance to the restaurant looks like a hole in the wall and then you go upstairs for seating. We got a table near the windows with a great street view. We got the garlic noodles with fried chicken and the Thai style fried rice for our entrees. Everything came out promptly and tasted amazing! Portions sizes are good for sharing and service was very good. Can't wait to come back!
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Sarah S.

Yelp
The last couple times I've been here it was really good but today the fried chicken garlic noodles were realllllly sweet, it was a bit difficult to eat. The crab fried rice was really good and authentic I would give it a 5/5. The pork pad see ew was also really good. Normally I would have given this restaurant a 5/5 but the overly sweet noodles from the garlic noodles dish adjusted my rating. The service was good, I came here with my siblings on a Thursday around noon and it seemed like there was only one server with a couple people eating in the dining area. I would come back again and hopefully the dish isn't too too sweet next time!
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Crystal L.

Yelp
I've been to Kiin Lao and Thai eatery a few times out and every single time it's delicious! I always get the laab with pork and it comes with a side of sticky rice, perfect size for a main dish. I usually get a 7-8 for spiciness and it's pretty spicy while still having great flavor.