Khe-Yo

Really wanted to love this place. Came here for brunch. The service was good and our table of 9 was well attended to. So why the low rating? The food was just average or overpriced — take your pick. I tried the prawn bowl and the skirt steak bowl. The skirt steak was cook well and with the sticky rice the dish was filling. Unfortunately I ordered the short rib and received the wrong dish. Decided not to send it back because I didn’t want to ruin it for the group. The prawn bowl was good as well but it only comes with two. Three would have definitely been appreciated.
All in all the place would be good for drinks because of the great service and the general ambiance but wouldn’t stay for dinner.

*** First Unilocal & 2-​Star Review ***
Normally I would not take the trouble to post reviews for Unilocal restaurants — be the experience good or bad. The good ones will always attract me; the bad ones, I would spread the words with friends and never go again. Also reviews are subjective, which are absolutely applicable to what I am about to write below. I am not comfortable publishing negative ratings based on subjective perceptions so as not to mislead anyone. However, for this time I feel compelling responsibility to share my experience to the community after feeling somewhat being «misled» by the overwhelmingly positive reviews on this Khe-​Yo in the hope that my personal experience can help counter-​balance the overly-​inflated ratings and hype for Restaurant Week.
Under the dim light stands the wood-​carved «Khe-​Yo» store sign, a low-​key spot which is easily betrayed by the long queue wrapped around outside the entrance at a 7-​pm Friday night. Luckily my friend and I have long made the reservation and went in smoothly without any hassle. Waiters are amiable, the interior décor cozy and modern — the typical hardware for an upscale establishment in the city. Nothing to complain yet. We get seated shortly, and was presented the menu by a waiter with a smile that is warm enough to melt the Jan snow. Menu is small, names are cute/​exotic, and choices were few. We decide to go with the RW menu first as planned. I got a banana leaf minty salad, a coconut rice noodle broth with minced Snapper (this is huge — I will go through details later), and Blood Orange Sorbet combo; my friend ordered the pork dumpling, beef broccoli stir-​fried noodle, and rice-​pudding combo. All set, 2 girls after a long working week waiting anxiously for a comfort dinner — In hindsight how naïve were we!
Food came fast. I have only had banana leaf once years ago when I was traveling in Thailand so was excited to try it out again in the States. The salad has sharp minty taste with Sesame oil spread on top. A little spicy for me but people are different. I do not have strong feelings against the salad — the portion is understandably tiny for a typical upscale place. I was bit shocked though when I overheard a lady sitting next to me chatting away to the gentleman across her how she «loves the banana leaf salad and that it is the best salad she ever had and that if she had to choose one dish to leave on for the rest of her life it gotta be this banana leaf salad «- very dramatic comment but she may have other motives like getting his attention etc which let’s just not take it too serious. Nothing particularly about the pork dumpling for my friend — the skins are flat, pork tiny, below expectations.
Main dish is hilarious. And both my friend and my faces were wearing the «Are-​you-​kidding– me» look when the plates are delivered. I shall start with my coconut-​broth rice noodle with shredded Snapper. To me this bowl of noodle broth is more like overnight left-​over for a lazy morning — why is the portion only ¹⁄₃ of the usual size you get from a regular tasty Thai place? And more devastatingly, the scanty rice noodles did not come in complete form. Rather they look like having being chewed off half-​way. And hello, why is the shredded Snapper? Because I do not see ANY. No wonder the waiter made a polite yet hesitant FYI remark before I ordered that the Snapper did not come in wholes — it is chopped up and part of the broth. But are you saying it is a fish broth, or the fish is chopped up and thrown into the broth? Because the closest thing I can find related to fish in the broth is a bread-​crumb-​shaped stuff, which may be battered fish minces. As for the broccoli beef fried noodles … I do not want to speak for my friend, but her noodles are literally poured from the instant noodle package where you can easily find at any Asian supermarket. I do not understand why the chef have to fried them, but she ended up having to munch on a tiny cluster of snacks. I cannot comment much on the beef and broccoli because I did not have them, but from what I saw, they are chopped up in extremely tiny bits, but at least visible, which beats mine invisible «Snapper“broth.
We stared at each other swallowing down the main dish with sinking hearts. It didn’t take long before we snacked up the dishes. With what happened prior, we now have a much calmer mentality for the closing dessert, and were glad that we managed our expectations. The rice pudding for my friend was no better than the yogurt you get from Pret A Manager at $ 4 but at almost ¹⁄₃ of the size. The blood orange sorbet is regular sorbet, nothing particular.
Having said much, you can imagine the WTH that went through our minds when the bill came up on table with outstanding $ 84 including taxes. This is going to be a remarkable dinner in 2016, because I do not think I will be able to find similarly priced combo with so hilarious food quality. Why are there so many good ratings here is beyond me.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have the chance to try the food. We made a reservation for a party of 5. When we arrived, we informed the maitre d that two of the guests in our party would be 15 minutes late. Even though our table was ready, the maitre d told us we couldn’t sit until everyone had arrived, even though my mother in law is elderly. My mother in law also asked her if we could sit, but she once again replied in an arrogant and condescending tone that my MIL would just need to stand and wait. It would have been different if there was an area near the entrance where patrons could sit and wait, but there isn’t even standing room! We walked out and dined next door at Takahachi instead, where we did need wait but there were benches in the entryway for guests to sit. Your restaurant may serve great food, but you need a maitre d /​host with manners.

Hey yo, why are meat portions so tiny? The Char-​Siu Caramelized Short Ribs should be changed to the singular noun «Rib,» since you only get one small cut in the Market Bowl. It comes with your choice of Sticky Rice, Noodles, or Jasmine Rice and vegetables. Although everything was fresh and light, Khe-​Yo left me wanting more. way more.

*** Good service, Mediocre food ***
I came here not too long ago for a nice dinner meal. I wasn’t too impressed by the food, to be honest. I had the green papaya salad and the vegetarian noodles (not on the menu); the food was really salty. I wouldn’t come back here, but maybe the other dishes are better.

Granted I have only ordered from Khe-​Yo once and I didn’t have the full-​on, sit-​down, dining experience that probably would have made my experience better, more or less.
Placed an order for their Bell & Evans Lemongrass Chicken with Fresh Rice Noodles Market Bowl. I didn’t realize it’d come in a takeout paper box, which wasn’t the biggest of my problems, although the food was much more watery than I expected it to be (more on that later).
When I first opened the box, I couldn’t wait to chime in because the grilled chicken looked delicious, but I couldn’t help but wonder why there was so much water underneath – I know I didn’t go for noodle soup, though it does look like stir-​fried phở. I brushed it off, thinking the water excess was probably from the steam, but no. It was the juice from the loads of pickled carrots and turnip it came with. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to have a sour, pickled taste, but the juice soaked up most of the noodles and I ended up eating pickle-​juiced noodles. Had it not been for that overpowering taste, I think I would’ve really enjoyed the noodles overall. Sadly, I had to toss this because I couldn’t go through with a meal that was sour. The chicken was the only good part of it and was grilled perfectly, but that also started to taste like the rest of the meal as I got through halfway.
I can’t compare this to other Laotian food because, frankly, this was my first time having Laotian food (an upscale one, too), but I’m positive there is so much more (and better) that defines Laotian cuisine. That being said, even though this place left a sour taste in my mouth (literally), this is the only restaurant in New York that serves Laotian-​inspired (notice I said «inspired» because it is not Laotian-​operated) food, I would be opened to coming back for brunch to give this place another chance.

This was a great way to kick of restaurant week. It’s a cute little spot in TriBeCa. My darling and I decided to come here for lunch. During restaurant week we love trying new places. We arrived shortly after 12, it was very quiet and not many guests. But within the hour oh my it was buzzin
Serves: oh it was wonderful. We were greeted by a handsome and friendly host.
Ok let’s talk food. The menu was rather simple like most restaurant week menus. Here’s what we had:
Appetizers: Luang Prabang Salad (Curried House dressing, Fresh greens & Herbs) & Sweet Carolina Shrimp (Spring rolls with carrot peanut sauce)… I didn’t go crazy over the salad. But the spring rolls were DELICIOUS!
Entrees: Lemongrass fried bell & Evans Chicken served with sticky rice. Sweet Sausage & Egg Fried Rice… Ok both meals were yummy! I would have definitely taken home some of the sweet sausage fried rice. Just writing this now makes my mouth watering.
Dessert: Vanilla & Assorted Citrus.& Toasted Coconut Gelao… Ok to be honest go with the toasted coconut Gelao! It was absolutely divine! The perfect hint of sweet to finish off dinner.
Would I go back? I sure would!

The food was OK but not great. I was debating on 2* or 3* for this place.
The free sticky rice appetizer was good and the chili sauce was really, really spicy. However, we were not impressed by the fried rice crackers or curry.

Really enjoyed the environment and service, food was unique and good value, but the shrimp wasn’t cooked properly, hence the star deduction. A description of what we and was below:
Starters:
Crunchy Coconut rice — this is their most popular starter, and it was amazing, very nice presentation
Chicken sausage with star fruit — this is a lighter tasting dish which was nice considering the amount of rice we ate
Mains
Chilli prawns — the sauce that comes with these prawns is amazing, prawns are whole but easy to shell. One of ours wasn’t cooked thoroughly, but the rest were good
Berkshire ribs — these were nicely seasoned but did not fall off the bone, making for a messier eating experience.
Not sure I’ll come back, given the abundance of restaurants in NYC. But ths was a cute spot fora chilly Friday.

This is the second Laotian restaurant I’ve ever been to and it is quickly making Laotian cuisine one of my favorites.
This restaurant is definitely hipper than I am accustomed to for Southeast Asian food but it definitely did not disappoint. It is a tad expensive but I do think it is worth it for the quality of food you are getting. I was pretty hungry but two entrees was plenty for me and a friend.
What we ordered:
Red Snapper Curry with half a dozen of bay scallops: Holy moly. This dish was a beautiful blend of textures and flavors. It comes with vermicelli, raw vegetables, a creamy decadent curry, and perfectly cooked skewered scallops. This dish went quick.
Chili Prawns: I really hate paying such a premium for a few prawns at other restaurants but this was out of this world. Though the prawns were a little too cooked for my liking (probably could have been cooked 30 seconds less), the sauce that it was bathing in was phenomenal. The dish also came with beautifully buttered toast to mop up the sauce. If you get this dish, make sure to suck the contents in the head too – that’s where all the creamy good stuff is!
For drinks I got the ginger and tamarind with sparkling wine and my friend got a rum drink that tasted like early Christmas.
I really love this place and I love the fact that your cell phone signal dies once you’re in the restaurant.

Upscale modern Laotian food establishment. If you are new to Laotian food, this will be a great start!
Highly recommend their Chili Prawn! It’s one of a kind! You won’t be disappointed!

My favorite restaurant in New York, hands down, is this little Laotian gem. I lived very close when I spent my summer in the city, so Khe-​Yo was my go-​to for dinner. Being right off the 123 line makes it a very accessible location as well. The vibe is fun but intimate, never overwhelming. The service is immaculate. Most of the dishes are easy to share, so you can avoid serious meal envy. The chef typically does specials and the menu changes quite often so see what your waitstaff recommends for the day.
Rather than bread & butter, this Laotian spot serves up sticky rice with different sauces. The eggplant sauce is my personal favorite. The bang-​bang sauce is intense.
The crunchy coconut rice with sausage is my #1. I love wrapping it up in the lettuce that accompanies it. Be careful with crushing the red peppers if you’re not spice-​tolerant because it can easily make the dish too hot.
When the sriracha chicken wings are on the menu I highly recommend them. They are crispy fried wings of delicious, in a hot sauce that is neither overwhelming nor boring. Don’t pass these up.
Bamboo ginger quail is an adorable and tasty dish, but so tiny that the overall value is less than I would like.
Whole caramelized sea bream was very well done – not too fishy. It’s a lot of work dealing with the bones but worth the effort.
Honestly, everything here tastes amazing so come with an open mind and a hungry stomach. This place has stolen my heart.

I thought Khe-​yo was very average. We started with the coconut rice balls which were my favorite part. My boyfriend and I also shared the red snapper and the lobster pad see yew. Both were fine but not memorable. For dessert we got some coconut ice cream that felt as though they were just 3 balls scooped out of an ice cream tub. Had some coconut water out of a coconut which was nice.
When you have a name like Marc Forgione behind a restaurant, you expect something great. Save your money and go to American Cut or Marc Forgione restaurant instead!

So you know how at Italian places they give you bread and oil? Here, you get sticky rice and dips to dunk it in. Yummmm
This is one of those places where you just order a bunch of small places. Aka the best kind of place because you get to test out everything.
You seriously need to order the Crunchy Coconut Rice. That was probably the best pick there.
Their drinks are amazing as well. I’m a fan of spicy drinks, so I went for the chili vodka. Highly recommended! Personally, I would stick with what others have recommended here. We had ordered some chef special they had and it was… not that great. I think it was something along the lines of seafood (shrimp/​scallops/​some fish) with curry soup and noodles. The flavors just didn’t mix well.
The service could have been a little better. The waitress rarely came by to check up on us and I felt like I needed to wave my hands up in the air to get her attention.

This place is the bomb! Staff is friendly, nice bar, nice décor, reasonable prices for one of the areas better restaurants!
I can say I haven’t had anything bad here! The food is full of flavor and some dishes pack a punch in the spice level!
I’ve been here at least 4 times and some items on the menu has changed. We usually try the new items and we’re never disappointed!
Stuff to try: the pig face special (marinated and fried crispy. You cut pieces of the face, put it into rice paper along with carrots, noodles, cilanto, mung beans, and sauce), pork curry noodles, crunchy coconut rice, and spare ribs.
They are open for lunch and the menu is different. Also awesome is the complimentary sticky rice with bang bang sauce (own blend of exotic spices and chili) and mashed eggplant app!

Had two tasty lunches here. Lots of spiciness, fresh herbs, citrus. Not cheap, single-​dish lunch with tap water, and a reasonable tip and that’s $ 20. But it’s a stylish place with good service in Tribeca, that is the what it costs round here

I can’t tell if it tastes authentic because it’s the only Laotian Restaurant I’ve ever been to in Manhattan. However, the food is phenomenal. The food definitely tastes different from any other restaurant you been to that serves the same kind of dish, such as sticky rice, fried fish, soft shell crabs, sausages, and beef ribs. There was one or two dish I’m not comfortable with such as the «pig face». It was a bit too dishearten to me. But that’s just me; my friends seem to enjoy it so it must be good also. I’m more of a veggies and fish kind of person; therefore I don’t care much for the meat dish.
I recommend the soft shell crabs, the perpetual flavor of freshness & delightful throughout the dish. They garnish with grilled scallions and a light mayo. The «bang bang» sauce is contains fish sauce, garlic, cilantro and jalapeño peppers. If you like spicy and a heavier flavor to the appetizers, dip into this sauce. I also suggest the imported Lao’s beer (light one). Why not try the beer if you’re in the restaurant trying the food? Right!
I’m pleased with my dining experience here because the waitress and waiters were very friendly and helpful. They were patience with me as we order and had many questions for the menu.

When Khe-​Yo opened in late 2013, the restaurant had the honor of calling itself the first and only Laotian restaurant in Manhattan. Take it with a little grain of salt, however; while the chef may be Soulayphet Schwader, an immigrant from Laos who grew up in the Midwest, the restaurant is still overseen by Marc Forgione and Nick Bradley, who don’t exactly have reputations in showcasing ethnic cuisines. The TriBeCa-​appropriate prices deterred me for a while, until a few friends suggested meeting here for brunch, which explains why I found myself entering the nearly-​empty dining room of Khe-​Yo on a Saturday afternoon.
The dining area is pretty bare-​bones, featuring several extensive exposed brick walls interrupted only with a few drapes and a chalkboard drawing of an elephant in the back. It’s unfussy and probably not coincidentally reminiscent of the décor at Restaurant Marc Forgione, located only a few blocks away. Once our full party had arrived, we attempted to decide on our dishes; a good number of the dishes on the brunch menu are pulled from their dinner selections, so we all veered from the modified egg-​heavy dishes.
I wound up ordering the Char-​Siu Caramelized Short Ribs, a less than impressive dish that featured one lone cut of bone-​in short ribs with two small sides of charred eggplants and roasted mushrooms. There was a serving of sticky rice accompanied by their signature Bang Bang sauce, an aggressive mixture of red chilies, cilantro, fish sauce, and lime juice that will jar even the most dedicated spice lovers. The main element of the dish, the short ribs, were neatly caramelized in a basic sweet-​savory char siu sauce, but was difficult to eat given the fact that the bones had been left intact. Neither was there anything particularly noteworthy about the vegetable sides, other than giving the appearance of providing substance to a near non-​existent entrée. In retrospect, was the dish worth $ 16? In my opinion, no.
It’s not entirely fair to give a firm rating to a restaurant based on just one dish and one experience, so I’ll hold the three stars in the best of my judgement. While I certainly give Khe-​Yo credit for highlighting a less-​than-​recognized cuisine in New York City, it seems to have focused less on the quality and flavors of the food and moreso on the capability to garner increased business. At the end of the day, though, only time will tell if it’s a successful tactic.

Disclaimer: this review is for brunch only.
Having walked by this place so many times and as another establishment by Iron Chef Marc Forgione, I have always been skeptical about Khe-​Yo, because, after all, it’s supposed to be «Laotian», or Southeastern cuisine, and we all know chef Forgione didn’t make his name known by making Laotian food. However, my sister in law and her husband, who lived in Southeast Asia for over 4 years, couldn’t stop talking about how authentic the spices were after dinning here, so we finally decided to give it a try for brunch on a random Saturday.
Maybe it started offering brunch not too long ago, when we walked in around noon, we were the only people there. No problem, that means we’d get 100% attention by our lovely waitress, and yes we did. I ordered Market bowl of pork chop and sticky rice, and my husband ordered the sausage fried rice. The pork chop was those thin chops that’s slightly chewy, but the condiments came with the sticky rice were soooo amazing! It was some eggplant side, mushroom, and «bang bang» sauce. The bang bang sauce tasted like something I’d have in Southeast Asia, it was spicy and sour and I just wanted to dip everything in it. The sausage fried rice, per my husband, was pretty good too, because he practically finished the whole thing.
In terms of price, for a brunch place in Tribeca, it’s VERY reasonable. Two entrees and one coffee came at less than $ 35.
Now I will definitely come back and try its dinner.

Laotian food for $$$? I’m from Thailand and had a hard time with the price, especially since Lao style food is typically very cheap in Thailand. This place came highly recommended and after a botched attempt to dine at a restaurant we had a reservation at, we decided to go to Khe-​Yo,
The restaurant is hard to spot. We actually walked past it twice without realizing that it was right in front of us. The inside is quite dark and nicely decorated. I definitely did not feel like I was in an Asian restaurant but more like a classic tapas lounge.
The food is quite good but the price tag definitely matches the ambiance. Although it’s not cheap, I would say that the price here isn’t completely unreasonable for a Manhattan restaurant.
Their menu changes often so some of the delicious-​looking dishes I saw on Unilocal was no longer available. We tried the grilled octopus salad, the sour pork sausage, the fried sea bream, and the spicy prawns. Everything is super flavorful and even though it’s not the most authentic stuff, I really enjoyed my meal.
They also give you this eggplant paste and a spicy dipping sauce with your meal. The sauce is delicious. They also give you sticky rice with your meal even though it doesn’t actually go with all your dishes. If you would like to get the more authentic experience, you can eat your entire meal with your hands.
I give them props for making Laotian food classy. I don’t know if I’ll make it a point to come back here but I would recommend trying it if you have never had Laotian food.