Banh Phonekeo's/Harborside Cuisine

C M-R 4 months ago

I discovered this restaurant through a colleague in the culinary field, and her recommendation regarding this discreet Laotian establishment was indeed accurate. According to the proprietor, this restaurant has been in operation for 35 years. I was very pleased to learn about this establishment and finally had the opportunity to experience its offerings. During my visit, I sampled three distinct food items and a generous serving of Thai iced tea. The Laotian sausage was exceptionally well-prepared. Its tender and juicy consistency is noteworthy, and it is prepared in-house by the owner. The use of chopped, rather than ground, meat provides a distinctive textural element that enhances the culinary experience. The freshness of the ingredients is evident in every bite. The crispy pork belly was also commendable. It featured thinly sliced pork belly, lightly floured and expertly deep-fried, which paired excellently with plain jasmine rice. The Lad Na with chicken is a signature dish of the establishment. It is characterized by its comforting and mild flavor profile, along with the distinct char imparted by stir-frying the noodles. The dish is accompanied by additional condiments s

Kantong K 7 months ago

My new favorite spot for Lao food! The food is always great, and the staff are very friendly and welcoming.

Pam Luang a year ago

We discovered this spot a while back and recently visited San Diego again and had another chance to stop by. By far this sweet little spot makes Lao Cuisine closest to homemade. All the flavors were there in the mix salad which I loved because a lot of Lao Cuisine don’t make it this way. And the fried chicken and sausage was a great pair with the salad. We also had a side of sticky rice. The set up was changed and may have different ownership? But we felt like it still hit the spot. Many complain about the cost, unless you know how much time and effort goes into Lao Cuisine, it shouldn’t be any less than any other cuisine. Otherwise, it may be best to make it yourself at home than complain about the cost of what things should be. We thought it was all reasonable and generous amount of food in this economy. My husband and I still didn’t finish it all. We visit San Diego often so we will be back!

Rosanna Tran 2 years ago

Love this little spot. We try to steer away from service restaurants because they seem to be the least consistent in terms of food. I’ve eaten here every time I visit San Diego. Love that they allow you to taste your papaya salad and have them adjust it to your liking before they plate it. I always get: Papaya salad medium spicy Beef larp medium spicy, medium rare or RAW depending on who I’m eating with Lao sausage Chicken wings (salt n pepper) Side of sticky rice I’ve tried other items but those are the ones I always get!

SR Edited 2 years ago

Even though there are new owners and the portion size is smaller, the prices are about the same. The food is not better but still very good. I would be sad if they shut down so go support this mom n pop restaurant! Food here tastes like home. 3 1/2 star review Update They gave less portion size than usual. Even the laab was in a different sized black plastic container box. It was good but I still had to add my own fish sauce and toasted rice seasoning to make it better. The fried chicken was not as flavorful and a little burnt tasting. I usually spend $45 and up here but their quality went down. They keep giving less and less everytime. My go to spot for fish laab and premade Lao bamboo soup. The laab portion size is ok and the price is decent for how much they give you. Depending on who makes it, the ratio between meat and herbs varies. It's meant for sharing at the table so it would be a waste for a single person. The only thing I didn't like was that they didn't add garnishes like cucumbers, mint leaves, lettuce, on the side for laab so depends on who the cook is. Food is always authentic and delicious. It hits the spot whenever you are craving a homemade Lao meal. The price