Authentic Thai & Lao Cuisine in New Jersey: Discover Pho Thai Lao Kitchen in Maywood

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen Introduce

Discovering truly authentic Southeast Asian cuisine in New Jersey can be a rewarding journey, and for residents and visitors in Bergen County, that search often leads directly to

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen

in Maywood. This local establishment has earned a strong reputation for skillfully blending the vibrant, nuanced flavors of Thai and Laotian culinary traditions, offering a dining experience that caters to both lovers of familiar classics and adventurous palates seeking something new.

Beyond the standard Thai takeout fare,

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen

distinguishes itself by offering a menu that is split evenly between the two distinct, yet related, national cuisines. While Thai food tends to be sweeter, the Laotian dishes here are celebrated for their more acidic, herbal, and intensely spicy profiles. This dual focus provides a unique and expansive menu, ensuring that whether you crave the coconut creaminess of a perfect curry or the bright, complex flavors of a traditional Lao salad, you will find it here.

It’s not just a restaurant; it’s a journey to the heart of Southeast Asia, right here in Maywood, NJ. The commitment to fresh ingredients and homemade components—including house-made curry pastes—is what makes this location a beloved choice among local diners.

The name itself, "Pho Thai Lao Kitchen," is a nod to its cultural roots and offerings. While 'Pho' might suggest the Vietnamese noodle soup, in this context, it refers to a kind of leaf that is a Buddhist symbol of good fortune, often pronounced as “poe.” However, for noodle enthusiasts, they do offer their own Thai-Lao style of

Pho Soup

and

Tom Yum Pho

, distinct from the Vietnamese version by featuring aromas like galangal, lemongrass, and tamarind.

If you are a New Jersey local searching for genuine, quality Thai or Laotian food,

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen

is a must-try destination that offers both comfort food favorites and exotic specialties.

Location and Accessibility

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen

is conveniently situated in Maywood, a welcoming Bergen County community. Its address at 219 Maywood Ave, Maywood, NJ 07607, USA, places it in a quaint area, often described as being nestled near the old Maywood train station. This location makes it easily accessible for dining-in or quick takeout orders for those in the surrounding New Jersey towns.

Accessibility is a key priority for the restaurant. They offer a wheelchair accessible entrance, parking lot, and seating, ensuring all patrons can comfortably enjoy their dining experience. When visiting, diners have access to both free parking in a private lot and free street parking, which is a major convenience for local New Jersey drivers.

Contact Information

Address: 219 Maywood Ave, Maywood, NJ 07607, USA

Phone: (201) 712-0700

Services Offered

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen

provides a variety of services to accommodate all dining preferences, making it a flexible choice for Maywood residents and beyond:

Dine-in: Enjoy the cozy and casual atmosphere inside the restaurant.
Takeout: Convenient options for picking up your order.
Delivery: Partnered with various services for delivery right to your door.
Accepts Reservations: Planning ahead for groups is welcome.
Catering: Options available for special events and gatherings.
Payments: Accepts Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and NFC Mobile Payments.
Alcohol: The establishment offers a Beer & Wine Only policy, making it a great BYO-friendly spot for some.
Dining Options: Serving lunch, dinner, and dessert.

Features / Highlights

What sets

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen

apart is its dedication to authenticity and a comprehensive offering of both Thai and Lao culinary gems. Here are some of the standout features:

Authentic Dual Cuisine: The menu features a balanced selection of dishes from both Thailand and Laos, which appeals to a broader range of Southeast Asian food aficionados.
Laotian Specialties: For those looking to explore, the Lao menu offers unique dishes like
Larb
(Laotian Ground Meat Salad), a national dish often served as a main course with sticky rice and lettuce, and
Nam Khao
(Crispy Rice With Pork Sausage), a classic Lao dish of crispy rice mixed with fermented pork sausage.
Exceptional Curry Selection: Diners frequently praise the curry options, with the
Green Curry
and
Massaman Curry
being particularly noted for their rich flavor, creaminess, and generous portions of fresh vegetables.
Signature Noodle Dishes: Favorites include the popular
Pad Thai
,
Pad Khee Mao
(Spicy Drunken Noodles), and their house-style
Pho Soup
and spicy
Tom Yum Pho
.
Dietary Accommodations: The menu includes excellent options for health-conscious diners, with offerings categorized as
Healthy options
,
Small plates
,
Vegan options
, and
Vegetarian options
.
Great Beverage Menu: The restaurant is highlighted for its "Great tea selection," which includes classics like
Thai Ice Tea
and
Thai Ice Green Tea
, along with other refreshing drinks like
Lychee Juice
and
Berry Hibiscus Drink
.
Cozy and Casual Atmosphere: The dining room is described as having a casual and cozy atmosphere, perfect for a relaxed meal, whether you are dining solo or with family and groups.

What is Worth Choosing

For New Jersey residents eager to experience the best of what

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen

has to offer, focusing on their specialties can lead to a truly memorable meal. The menu is structured to allow diners to choose their adventure—be it familiar comfort food or a more exotic dish.

For the adventurous diner, exploring the Lao-style dishes is highly recommended. The

Larb

—available with your choice of protein—is an iconic Laotian main course that provides a refreshing, spicy, and herbaceous experience. Likewise, the

Som Tum Poo

(Lao Papaya Salad With Salted Crab) or

Som Tum Lao

(Lao Papaya Salad With Anchovy Sauce) offer the traditional, pungent, and fiery kick that is characteristic of genuine Laotian salads. The inclusion of dishes like

Esan Sausage – Fermented

and

Nam Khao

showcases the depth of their commitment to this less common, yet equally delicious, regional cuisine.

If you are in the mood for Thai comfort food, the curries are an absolute highlight. The

Massaman Curry

is frequently mentioned by patrons for its creamy texture and deep, satisfying flavor. The

Green Curry

is another favorite, and the

Avocado Curry

offers a unique and creamy twist. For noodle lovers, while the

Pad Thai

is popular, the

Pad Khee Mao

(Spicy Drunken Noodles) is a flavorful and satisfying choice, especially for those who enjoy a little heat.

When it comes to appetizers, the selection of rolls, skewers, and dumplings is extensive. Patrons who enjoy unique regional treats might try the

Lao Crepe

or the savory

Moo Ping

(Lao Style Grilled Pork Skewers). And to end your meal on a sweet note, the

Mango With Coconut Sticky Rice

is a classic and highly praised dessert option that provides a satisfying blend of sweet, creamy, and tropical flavors.

Whether you are seeking a fiery Lao salad or a soothing Thai curry,

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen

provides a delightful and authentic taste of Southeast Asia right in Maywood, making it a valuable destination for foodies throughout New Jersey.

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen Menu

Appetizer
Edamame $7.95
Steamed Shrimp Dumpling $9.95
Feried chicken and shrimp wrapped with dumpling skin served with Thai sweet soy sauce topped with scallion – cilantro mixed and crushed fried garlic.
Marinated Pork Spare Ribs (Tender) $19.95
Marinated pork spare ribs Thai style. Served with homemade sweet chili sauce. Served with rice and steamed vegetables.
Lao Chicken Wings (Original) $10.95
Fried chicken wing pieces sprinkled with fried garlic and served with house sauce topped with scallion - cilantro mixed.
Lao Fresh Rolls $9.95
Soft rice paper with vermicelli rice noodles, shrimp, scallion - cilantro mixed, lettuce. Served with house sauce topped with crushed peanuts.
Avocado Sumer Roll (Vegetarian) $8.95
Avocado, Rice noodles, vegetables wrapped with the rice wrapped, Served with homemade peanut sauce.
Coconut Shrimp $9.95
Fried Butterflied Shrimp served with hommade sweet chilli sauce. Topped with peanut and scallion-cilantro mixed.
Steamed Vegetables Dumpling $8.95
Fried vegetarian dumplings served with Thai sweet soy sauce topped with scallion – cilantro mixed and crushed fried garlic.
Kong Kra Bork (Fried Shrimp Roll) $9.95
Fried Shrimp Roll, served with house sauce.
Duck Spring Roll $8.95
Fried duck spring roll; marinated duck meat with mixed chopped vegetables. Served with sweet chili sauce
Kai Chai (Chive Pancake) $8.95
Fried homemade vegetarian chive pancake. Served with sweet soy sauce
Spicy Wing $12.95
Chicken Satay $9.95
Chicken skewers served with the homemade house sauce
Lao Crepe $9.95
Rice flour crepe with chicken, bean sprout, topped with scallion - cilantro mixed and fried garlic. Served with house sauce topped with crushed peanuts.
Fried Veggies Curry Puff $8.95
Fried vegetable curry puffs served with homemade house sauce.
Thai Spring Rolls $9.95
Fried vegetarian spring rolls served with house sauce topped with scallion – cilantro mixed and crushed peanuts.
Moo Ping (Lao Style Grilled Pork Skewers) $9.95
Lao style grilled pork skewers marinated with house sauce. Served with sweet chili sauce.

Noodles Soup Thai-Lao Style
Tom Yum Pho $17.95
Hot and sour lemongrass broth soup with rice noodle, lime leaves, bean sprout, mushroom, napa cabbage, scallion-cilantro mixed.
Pho Soup $17.95
Pho homemade broth with rice noodle, bean sprout, beef balls, napa cabbage, scallion-cilantro mixed and fried garlic.

Curry
Green Curry $17.95
Spicy homemade Thai green curry with coconut milk, basil, and seasonal mixed vegetable.
Chicken Massaman Curry $15.95
Potato, Cabbage, Carrots, Peanut in Thai Massaman Curry Sauce
Avocado Curry $18.95
Red Curry $17.95
Spicy homemade Thai red curry with coconut milk, basil, and seasonal mixed vegetable.

Fried Rice
Pineapple Fried Rice $17.95
Stir-fried Thai jasmine rice with eggs, pineapple, seasonal mixed vegetables in a light brown sauce.
Crab Fried Rice $16.95
Basil Fried Rice $17.95
Stir-fried Thai jasmine rice with eggs, basil, seasonal mixed vegetable in a light brown sauce.
Thai Fried Rice $17.95
Stir-fried Thai jasmine rice with eggs, seasonal mixed vegetables, in a light brown sauce.

Appetizer Soup
Tom Kha Gai Thai Style (Thai Coconut Milk Soup With Chicken) $8.95
Chicken soup with coconut milk, mushroom, napa cabbage topped with scallion – cilantro mixed and sprinkled with lime leaves.
Shrimp Wonton Soup $8.95
Chicken and Shrimp mixed wontons in a light broth, commonly accompanied by napa cabbage and scallions.
Tom Kha Gai Lao Style (Clear Broth Soup With Chicken) $8.95
Chicken in Thai herbs soup with mushrooms, napa cabbage topped with scallion – cilantro mixed and sprinkled with lime leaves.
Tom Yum Koong (Hot & Sour Soup) $8.95
Spicy lemongrass shrimp soup with mushrooms, napa cabbage topped with scallion – cilantro mixed and sprinkled with lime leaves.

Sautéed
Pad Kratiem (Garlic Sauce) $17.95
Sautéed seasonal mixed vegetable in garlic sauce topped with fried garlic.
Pad Kraprow (Basil Sauce) $17.95
Spicy. Sautéed seasonal mixed vegetables in homemade chili sauce, basil, garlic.
Pad Khing (Ginger Sauce) $17.95
Sautéed seasonal mixed vegetables in fresh ginger sauce.

Desserts
Mango With Coconut Sticky Rice $12.95
Sweet mango served with coconut sticky rice topped with coconut sauce.
Fried Ice Cream $8.95
Khanom Khrok Our Signature Dessert $12.95
Rice flour mini pancakes with creamy coconut center, palm sugar, topped with chive. Made on a special hot cast-iron pan.
Fried Banana With Ice Cream $8.95
Banana rolled in spring roll pastry and deep-fried, topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.

Meat & Poultry
Pork Chop Garlic Sauce $22.95
Pork Chop with stir-fried seasoning veggie in garlic sauce.
Pork Chop Pineapple Fried Rice $22.95
Pork Chop with stir-fried jasmine rice, egg, seasoning veggie and pineapple.
Esan Sausage – Fermented $19.95
Ground pork, garlic, onion, lime leaves, lemongrass, topped with scallion-cilantro mixed and fresh ginger. Served with sticky rice.
Duck Basil Sauce $29.95
Sliced duck, mixed vegetables in homemade basil sauce.
Esan Sausage Basil Fried Rice $19.95
Stir-fried fermented pork sausage cooked with jasmine rice, egg, basil, seasonal mixed vegetable in a light homemade brown sauce.
Duck Pineapple Red Curry $29.95
Sliced duck, mixed vegetables in homemade tamarind sauce.
Nam Khao (Crispy Rice With Pork Sausage) $19.95
Crispy fried rice with fermented pork sausage, lime juice with Lao seasonings, garlic, scallion cilantro mixed. Served with lettuce and house sauce.
Gaiyang & Somtum $19.95
Grilled chicken (with bone) & Thai papaya salad (green papaya, string bean, carrots, peanut mixed with garlic lime dressing. served with rice.
Moo Dat Deow (Pork) $19.95
Fried marinated strips of pork served with spicy Lao sauce and sticky rice.
Nuer Dat Deow (Beef) $19.95
Fried marinated strips of pork served with spicy Lao sauce and sticky rice.

Salad
Mango Salad With Coconut Shrimps $13.95
Sliced fresh mango in homemade lao sauce with tomato, scallion, cilantro, garlic and carrot.
Som Tum Poo (Lao Papaya Salad With Salted Crab) $18.95
Shredded green papaya with hard-shell crab anchovy sauce, tomatoes, lime, garlic, chili peppers, special homemade Lao sauce. Served with cabbage and sticky rice.
Larb $20.95
Larb is a distinctive kind of Lao salad. Minced meat with special homemade Lao sauce, lime, rice powder, galangal, scallion-cilantro mixed. Served with cabbage and sticky rice.
Yum Woon Sen (Lao Glass Noodles Salad) $19.95
Clear bean thread noodles with shrimp, chicken, seasonal mixed vegetables in homemade fresh lime garlic sauce topped with scallion-cilantro mixed.
Som Tum Lao (Lao Papaya Salad With Anchovy Sauce)) $16.95
Shredded green papaya with tomatoes, lime, garlic, chili peppers with special homemade Lao sauce. Served with cabbage and sticky rice.
Som Tum Thai (Thai Papaya Salad) $16.95
Thai Papaya Salad; green papaya, tomato, string bean, chili lime and garlic. served with sticky rice and cabbage
House Salad With Avocado And Peanut Sauce $8.95

Drinks
Soda $3.00
Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Ginger Ale, Orange and Seltzer
Thai Ice Coffee $5.95
Thai coffee mixed with milk and sugar.
Coconut Water $5.95
Sweet Thai coconut water with coconut meat.
Lychee Juice $5.95
Thai lychee juice with fresh lychee meat.
Lemonade $5.95
Thai Ice Green Tea $4.95
A green color drink made from Thai green tea leave, milk and sugar.
Thai Ice Tea $5.95
An orange-colored drink made from Thai tea leaves, milk and sugar.
Berry Hibiscus Drink $5.95

Fish Dishes
Salmon Green Curry $22.95
Fried fillet salmon, seasonal mixed vegetable in green curry sauce. Served with jasmine rice.
Salmon Basil Sauce $22.95
Fried fillet salmon, with seasonal mixed vegetables in basil sauce topped with fried garlic. Served with jasmine rice.
Whole Red Snapper Lad Prik (Fried) 1 Lbs Size $29.95
Fried 3 lbs whole red snapper, shredded cabbage, scallion-cilantro mixed in homemade spicy sweet chili sauce. Served with jasmine rice.
Salmon Lad Prik $22.95
Fried fillet salmon, shredded cabbage, scallion-cilantro mixed in homemade spicy sweet chili sauce. Served with jasmine rice.
Whole Red Snapper Garlic Sauce (Fried) 1 Lbs Size $29.95
Fried 3lbs whole red snapper, seasonal mixed vegetable, scallion-cilantro mixed in homemade garlic sauce. Served with jasmine rice.
Whole Red Snapper Basil Sauce (Fried) 1 Lbs Size $29.95
Fried 3 lbs whole red snapper, seasonal mixed vegetable, scallion-cilantro mixed in homemade spicy basil sauce. Served with jasmine rice.
Whole Red Snapper Ginger Sauce (Fried) 1 Lbs Size $29.95
Fried 3 lbs whole red snapper, seasonal mixed vegetable, scallion-cilantro mixed in homemade ginger sauce. Served with jasmine rice.

Seafood Dishes
Seafood Basil Sauce $22.95
Sautéed seafood with seasonal mixed vegetables in basil sauce topped with fried garlic. Served with jasmine rice.
Seafood Ginger Sauce $22.95
Seafood (Shrimp, squid, mussel) with stir-fried seasoning veggie in ginger sauce.
Seafood Long Song $22.95
Sautéed seafood (Shrimp, squid, mussel) with seasonal mixed vegetables in garlic sauce topped with fried garlic. Served with jasmine rice.

Lao Hot Sauce
Lao Hot Sauce (4 Oz: Extra Spicy Chili Sauce) $6.00
Spicy. Pho Thai Lao special homemade fresh Thai chili hot sauce. We use special seasonal Thai chili mixed with our special sauce; perfectly spicy for spicy lover. (5 once)
Lao Hot Sauce (10 Oz: Extra Spicy Chili Sauce) $12.00
Spicy. Pho Thai Lao special homemade fresh Thai chili hot sauce. We use special seasonal Thai chili mixed with our special sauce; perfectly spicy for spicy lover. (10 once)

Side Order
Steamed Mixed Vegetables $6.95
Steamed Sticky Rice $3.00
Brown Rice $2.50
Steamed Rice $2.50
Steamed Rice Noodles $5.00

Special Soup
Special Lao Soup $20.95
Homemade broth Laotian style with bean sprout, seasonal mixed vegetable.
Salmon Head Soup $19.95
Salmon head cooked in Lao homemade broth. Served with jasmine rice.

Noodle Dishes
Pad Khee Mao (Spicy Drunken Noodles) $17.95
Spicy. Sautéed broad rice noodles with basil, chili sauce, seasonal mixed vegetables.
Pad Thai $17.95
Sautéed rice noodles with tofu, bean sprouts, egg. Served with peanuts and lime wedges.
Pad See Ew $17.95
Sautéed broad rice noodles with seasonal mixed vegetables in brown house sauce.
Lad Nah (Noodles In Gravy Sauce) $17.95
Sautéed broad rice noodles with brown gravy sauce, seasonal mixed vegetables, topped with scallion – cilantro mixed and fried garlic.

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen Details

Service options
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in

Highlights
Great tea selection

Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings
Coffee
Comfort food
Healthy options
Small plates
Vegan options
Vegetarian options

Dining options
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert
Seating
Table service

Amenities
Gender-neutral restroom
Restroom

Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy
Quiet

Crowd
Family-friendly
Groups
Locals

Planning
Accepts reservations

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments

Children
Good for kids
High chairs

Parking
Free parking lot
Free street parking
Parking

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen Photos

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen Location

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen

New Jersey Bergen County Maywood Maywood Avenue

219 Maywood Ave, Maywood, NJ 07607, USA

Pho Thai Lao Kitchen Reviews

An average rating of ★3.9 from 411 user reviews.

spicylao cuisinecrepeshrimpmomthai iced teabrothappetizersdumplingssoy sauce

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Our visit was a mixed bag of some highs and major lows. I'm not sure there was anything that wowed us to entice a return visit any time soon but if you find yourself here, I can at least recommend the massaman curry and pad woon sen noodles. The massaman curry here is insanely creamy and tasty, with a hearty helping of vegetables. We ordered it with tofu, which came in cubes of the soft, unfried variety. Paired with rice, this was a winning dish. The pad woon sen - a savory glass noodle dish - can also be ordered with one's choice of protein. We liked it well enough with the chicken, and found it to be well-seasoned. Our server brought us some hot chili sauce on the side, and the spice lover in me was only too happy to heap spoonfuls of it over everything.Our interactions with servers were...interesting. One of our servers seemed rather terse and cold, while the other hovered a little more than I would've liked. When he saw me taking out my camera, he reached in to take my fork. He used it and his bare hands to rearrange our appetizers, seemingly for the pictures. It was a raised brow moment for us, as was finding that our coconut shrimp neither tasted remotely close to coconut and that it was still frozen in the middle. We pointed this out to our server, who apologized and took it back. But instead of bringing out a fresh plate, it turned out they'd just refried our original pieces, even the ones we'd half eaten. Much as I'd hate to raise alarms for such a small and homely business, we couldn't help but wonder about whether it was sanitary to recook eaten food in their deep fryer.This restaurant has been described in lots of other reviews as a hole-in-the-wall, which feels true. While it's more spacious on the inside than it seems on the outside, there's a smallness and intimacy to the restaurant. The menu is also fairly short and streamlined to a few categories. There's no dedicated parking lot, but we were able to find free street parking without too much trouble.
September 29 · Jane C
I ordered the pork chop through UberEats, and I honestly couldn’t believe how bad it was. The flavor was unpleasant from the first bite, the texture made it even worse, and finishing it felt impossible. This wasn’t just below average — it was truly inedible for me. I haven’t tried their other dishes, so maybe those are better, but this pork chop was an unforgettable disappointment — and not in a good way.
August 09 · zhao kevin
I have only ordered through GrubHub.From what I have ordered, the taste is on point. The execution needs work. That being said I would go to this place over all others because the taste profile is correct.Keep up the phenomenal tastes! Thank you
August 17 · Malice Grim
Excellent, flavorful, FreshSoft shell crabs was a special on a day. It was very excellent made, and prepared and their vegetarian dumplings and a curry puffs.
July 11 · Chef L. DiLullo
If you are looking for a true hole in the wall experience, then you should visit. Pho Thai Laos. The owners are offering a cuisine that is a mix of Thai and Laotian . Everything is made from scratch. The owners have been there for 20 years. While the decor is outdated the food is outstanding. Last night we started with Edamame and Vegetable Dumplings. The dumplings were steamed, moist and delicious with their variations of soy sauce.As you can see by the menu board they had a number of specials. We had the shrimp avocado curry and the salmon green curry. The rice was cooked to perfection. The restaurant is located by the old Maywood train station which makes the area very quaint. Parking is ample along the side of the building or the back. If you are looking for a variation of Thai food at a restaurant off the beaten track then I highly recommend this restaurant.
March 30 · Andrea Link