LAOS IN TOWN: AN AWARD-WINNING RESTAURANT SERVING UP LAOTIAN FOOD IN NOMA
The Cost - $43 per person
The Atmosphere – Located in between the H Street Corridor and Union Market, Laos in Town’s tucked away location allows it to have a large outdoor seating area in front of the restaurant to go along with its nice interior setup. The restaurant buzzes with a lively crowd even on weeknights and its casual and relaxed atmosphere makes it a great spot for groups of friends, solo outings, or an informal date. Reservations are accepted and are recommended especially for busier days and times.
It isn’t often that you come across Laotian food outside of Laos itself. Though its cuisine does resemble that of Thailand, the Southeast Asian country has its own dishes and they are pretty darn good. When I saw that Laos in Town served some of those dishes, I knew I had to go. I didn’t even realize that it had received Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition until I got there.
The Order – Crab Cake, Seen Hang, Mieng Kana, Ping Gai, Pla Tong Na, Grilled Beef, and a Strawberry Cheesecake.
The Fantastic – Between its incredible presentation and flavors, the Pla Tong Na, a fried rockfish dish, stole the show. The fried fish was placed on the plate curved around the pile of fried fish meat which was cooked with chilis, lemongrass, cashews, peanuts, ginger, onions, and a roasted chili dressing. The dish was topped with some fresh basil and crushed nuts and I really loved the bold, spicy, and fresh flavors that took this otherwise plain white fish to the next level. This is a dish I’d highly recommend ordering.
The Great – Another dish that was even fresher-tasting and equally as spicy was the Mieng Kana, a trio of lettuce cups that were filled with rice noodles, shrimp, and a basil sauce which was all topped with a bit of chili pepper and fresh herbs. It was a true delight to eat and was a wonderful appetizer because it was easily shareable, was light and easy to eat, and had great flavor.
The Crab Cake was another excellent appetizer that deserves recognition. The single crab cake was presented on a small dish in a pool of sauce with a few radish slices and some crispy kale. The sauce, a sriracha cream, was wonderful and was way more fun than a tartar sauce. It gave the dish a great flavor and a kick, and it combined well with the crispy kale, which was a nice touch.
The last of the three appetizers ordered was the Seen Hang, a Lao beef jerky style dish that is made with sun-dried beef. It, too, came with a sriracha sauce that was also delicious and the slices of beef were presented nicely alongside it. The Thai and Lao style sriracha was excellent but the meat was also good enough to eat alone – it wasn’t rough or hard to chew and tasted great. This dish was very well done and it is a great option for those seeking authentic Lao food.
The second entrée that was ordered was the Ping Gai, a large, single piece of chicken that was cooked in a cashew curry sauce and served with some radishes and sliced apples on the side. The chicken was cooked very well and had good flavor and the curry was delicious. I was skeptical of the sliced apples, but I enjoyed the combination more than I thought I would. Overall, it was a lovely main course that I’d be happy to order again.
The Good – The final entrée was the Grilled Beef. The dish consisted of slices of beef served alongside a small salad and a Jaew dipping sauce. The meat was nicely done but it was a bit plain without the sauce, which did have a nice spice to it. It isn’t a dish that I personally would run to order again but would be good for someone who isn’t a fan of bold flavors and wants something a bit more simple.
The Strawberry Cheesecake was one of many desserts offered by Laos in Town, which also had classics like mango sticky rice on the menu. The cheesecake came out with some fresh strawberries, a red syrup, and a rosemary sprig on top. It had a nice crust on the bottom and was tasty. I was not at all disappointed with the choice but would try some of the restaurant’s other fantastic-looking desserts next time.
The Verdict – The meal at Laos in Town was really wonderful and it is so great to see a Lao restaurant doing so well. It is no wonder why Laos in Town has become a go-to for many locals and after receiving the Michelin Bib Gourmand, it will likely become even more popular among visitors. If you’ve never had Lao food before, Laos in Town is an excellent place to try it.