Skip to content

Frogtown · Saint Paul

Lao and Thai,made by hand.

Family kitchen on University Avenue since 2019. Rice noodles pulled by hand for the kao piak sen, papaya salad pounded Lao or Thai style, curries and wok noodles, and bottled Thai tea made in house.

585 University Ave W · Lunch and dinner · Dine in, take out, delivery

What to get

If it is your first time, this is the order — a mix of the Thai dishes people arrive knowing and the Lao ones they come back for.

Everything on the menu →
  • Spring Rolls

    Rice vermicelli, cabbage, carrot, bean sprout, lettuce, cilantro, mint and cucumber. Peanut sauce. Chicken, shrimp or veggie.

    $6

  • Fried Pork Belly with Garlic

    With sweet Thai chili sauce.

    $9

  • Papaya Salad

    Shredded green papaya, carrot and tomato in fish sauce vinaigrette.

  • Kao Piak Sen

    Hand-made rice noodles and chicken in chicken broth, with green onion, cilantro, fried onion and garlic. Combo available.

    $14

  • Red Curry

    Red and green bell pepper, bamboo shoot, green bean, Thai eggplant, Thai basil.

    $14

  • Green Curry

    Red and green bell pepper, green bean, Thai eggplant and Thai basil.

    $14

  • Pad Thai

    Rice noodles, bean sprout, green onion and egg, with peanut and lime.

    $14

  • Pad Ka Pao

    Thai basil, bell pepper and onion with white rice, a crispy fried egg and cucumber.

    $15

  • Khao Moo Krob

    Crispy pork belly with white rice, cucumber, house sauce and fried garlic.

    $15

  • Thai Tea

    $7

  • Tri-Colour

    Tapioca pearls, jackfruit, green jelly and basil seed in brown sugar and coconut cream.

    $7

Our story

A family business, three doors long.

The Ratsamy family has been feeding this stretch of University Avenue for two decades — first at 88 Oriental Foods, then here at Basil since 2019, and more recently at ZAO, the bakery next door.

The kitchen cooks both sides of the family's table. The Thai dishes are the ones people arrive knowing — the curries, the pad thai. The Lao dishes are the ones they come back for: kao poun in coconut broth, papaya salad pounded to order, and kao piak sen, whose noodles are made by hand each day and taste nothing like a noodle out of a package.

Ask for it Lao style if you want it the way the family eats it.

Come by

585 University Ave W
Saint Paul, MN 55103

On University between Dale and Mackubin, next door to ZAO. Green Line riders: Dale Street station is a two-minute walk.

Delivery

Ordering direct by phone leaves the most with the kitchen.

Hours

Sunday
11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Mondaycall to confirm
11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Hours are being verified. Tuesday through Friday the kitchen closes between lunch and dinner. Please call ahead if you are making a special trip.