I’ve never been to Laos, and I’ve never ever had Laotian food. So when a new Laotian restaurant opened just a stone’s throw from us, we decided to check it out. I mean, why not?
Dear husband (DH) and I agree on one thing: a trip to Asia needs to be planned, again, so we can eat. Eat and eat and eat. So much excellent food to be had.
And beer. I love, love trying new beer, and this was one of the best I’ve enjoyed in quite a while–it was perfect to cool down the spice that was to come! Unsurprisingly named Beerlao, it is a darker beer but not heavy.
I loved the menu at Thip Khao, which has a huge variety of options. If you have a picky eater in your group–or a picky child–there are some mild noodles that will fit the bill. If you have someone who will try everything, there is an “Let’s Go to the Jungle” section that will do the trick.
Highlights from the “Let’s Go to the Jungle”–and not for the faint of heart (and definitely not for me. I’m big on flavors, but not on strange/unusual/meat delicacies): pig’s ear, fried intestine, pigs blood sausage…you get the picture.
I am excited to say we did try one thing out of the ordinary–a snakehead fish dish, that was by far the favorite of the night. Snakehead fish are a huge problem here as an invasive species, but are a delicacy in Laotian cuisine. Ours was served with cilantro, mango, and just the right amount of spice (we ordered it in “medium” for reference). Oh, it was SO good.
I Never Thought I’d Like Snakehead Fish
In addition, we ordered the Lao shrimp ceviche (also delicious and a bit spicier than the snakehead fish), and some noodles (Kua Mee…sort of like a Pad Thai). All of the dishes are served with red sticky rice. You just ball up the red sticky rice and dip it into the dishes. It’s fantastic. And they sell their side sauce Jaew Bong, which is SO tasty! Fish sauce, scallions, spices–it’s very simple, but very delicious.
Kua Mee
Sticky Rice!
The service at Thip Khao was attentive and helpful, particularly because it’s hard to figure out what is good and what should be ordered. We can’t wait to go back and try some new dishes, or head to the new Laotian noodle place which Chef Seng is opening soon!
