On a Saturday night, the wait time for dinner was 75 minutes, but was able to get in about 35-40 minutes. The chicken pho has flavorful broth, and comes with a baby bowl of toppings. You can ask for chili oil, hoisin, and sriracha. Laap Nuea has a lot of great balance of cabbage, tripe, beef, and greens. Love that it comes with sticky rice to balance the flavors out even more. Would definitely recommend this dish read more

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This place was definitely worth the drive from Milwaukee! I knew this place was going to be amazing when there was a 40 minute wait for 2 people on a Wednesday night. We ended up finding 2 spots at the bar top as it was first come first serve. The tapioca pork dumplings were recommended to us by the staff which were AMAZING. The flavor was incredible and I will be dreaming about these. The chicken with the praram long song was so flavorful and wow the peanut sauce was the best I've ever had! I also loved the butter chicken sandwich - I had to try it since I knew it was a rotating special on the menu. The flavors here are just so perfectly melded to create amazing dishes. read more

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I really can't say enough good things about Ahan - I talk about it to anyone that will listen! The best food - always hits the spot and they have so many specials on the regular that are always incredible. The Green Curry with Fried Tofu and the Praram Long Song are two of our go-tos, but you really can't go wrong. You just have to keep going back! read more

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What a great place to visit as an out of towner. I'm in Madison for the long weekend and needed my Lao food fix - found this place and was not disappointed. I got the khao poon w/ roasted chicken and the Thai iced tea. The waiters were very attentive and quick with service. The soup was very tasty and so flavorful. I will need to come back and try some of the other dishes. The inside is super cute!! It does get pretty packed so keep that in mind. I didn't have to wait at all as they had one table left at the time. Highly recommend!! read more

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Tried out their new location in the old Candy making building. There is street parking and a few parking lots nearby for businesses that have no restrictions to park there in the evening hours. We arrived at 8 pm and they had switched to their late night menu already so we were limited on what to have but we still enjoyed the beef pho and chicken sandwich. We found the chicken sandwich tasted better with the sauce on the side. It has a great crunch! The pho comes with condiments and toppings on the side. The new digs are spacious with more room to move around and more seating than the old location. I hope to return during their full menu times, so we can try more of their new menu items. Glad to see they were able to expand their tasty fusion selections. read more

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So worth the wait! Absolutely wonderful service, inventive menu items, and really tasty food. The cocktail menu is really fun and you're guaranteed to find a good one! It's a little loud, a little dark, and a little crowded, but it lends itself further to feeling like you're experiencing something awesome with the rest of the patrons. The portion sizes stand out - more than enough per entree to have a full meal the next day with leftovers! The bar is pretty small but if you're lucky enough to grab a seat this is a great way to try some apps and a cocktail while you wait for a table. I've heard they purchased a nearby bar to help accommodate their long waitlist and what a great idea, especially if they serve these apps there! read more

Ahan - Pork dumplings - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Southeast Asian fusion restaurant with good flavors and a cozy interior, but not very authentic. While the food tasted good, I had an issue with the names of some of the dishes, as they were not authentic to the actual dish. The drunken noodles were disappointing, as I was expecting the traditional spicy, soy based sauce with a strong basil flavor. However the dish had an oddly sweet and sour tomato-like sauce. Our server was very kind and helped us pick our dishes. I enjoyed the various toppings on the Nam Khao Salad, and the fish sauce was a great addition. I also was impressed by the size of the chicken satay and the strong lemongrass flavor. read more

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This my first time at Ahan and promise you its worth the wait. Its delicious Laos cuisine , the ambience is cozy, comfortable and intimate. I loved the bar area too. We ordered from the soup menu - Khao Poon Kathi Dang , Khao Soi Luang Prabang and pad see ew- all super delicious and left us so full. We loved it. read more

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Waited a little over an hour to eat dinner here on a Saturday night. I ordered the praram long son and it was amazing! It was enough to last for two meals. I also got the mango sticky rice and while the mango was not in season, it was great! It was super loud in there though, but the restaurant was nicely decorated and dimly lit. read more

Ahan - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Be prepared for a wait to be seated. But my goodness is it entirely worth it. I was concerned when they told me it would be at least an hour that the food may be all hype. That is not the case here. What did I get? Drunken Noodles- I love drunken noodles but I'm no connoisseur. However I don't know how you perfect this dish any more than what they have done here. Everything this dish is suppose to do (cheer you up, cure a hangover, fill your belly) it does. I couldn't let a drop of it go to waste. Tom Kha- only served on Fri,Sat and I believe Sunday. Normally on a hot and humid day as it was today soup is farthest from my mind. However, the Tom Kha being limited had to be special. And it sure was incredible! Good to the last drop. Service here is also impeccable. We were always attended to but never bothered. It seemed that they knew exactly when to come fill up water, take an order or to interact. This is one of those meals and places that I'll never forget and is good enough to bring me back to Madison read more

Ahan - Restaurant located in a historic building - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I didn't know this place existed this used to be a coffee shop I frequented when I was in my twenties. While in Madison for work I came across the Yelp posting and decided to get dinner to go. Food was packed well and smelt amazing as I drove to my hotel. EVERYTHING was delicious and fresh. Tom Yum with tofu, Bun, and rhubarb wontons. I couldn't stop eating I had to because the amount of food was also very generous. I will be back! Yum! read more

Group trip to Madison warranted a lovely dinner at Ahan! We tried to come here earlier in the week and the wait was too long but this time, we were prepared and came earlier. As a heads up, we experienced that the wait times were quite a bit longer than the hosts expected, so just be ready for that. Everything we ordered was excellent, and our server was so helpful. Some aspects of service were a little slow but the excellent cocktails, and perfect flavors and textures in every bite of food made up for it! Definitely a top dining destination in Madison and if you love bold flavor and fresh, exciting dishes, it's a must. read more

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What a cute and delicious place. We visited Madison and found this spot and had to give it a try. The food was absolutely delicious and the service was great. Had the drunken noodles and the yellow curry, both were absolutely fantastic. Rich flavor. The papaya salad was nice and limey too. We also couldn't leave without eating all the desserts! Every one was yummy. This place is an absolute gem. If you are ever in Madison and looking for a great Asian spot, look no further. read more

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Lunch here today. No wait for a table as the restaurant was about half full. Maybe it's busier at night. We had pork dumplings, khao soi, and pad see ew . Food was flavorful but very mild on the spice level. Perhaps other items are more spicy. Overall good but not the best Thai/Lao food I have had. Service was good. read more

We ordered takeout - a variety of dishes. They were so interesting and so different in flavor from Thai or Indian. Some were better than others but all were interesting. I'm sorry that I didn't have photos of the remaining dishes. One of the best things is that when they forgot some of the dishes they texted to tell us and offered to deliver. We were not very far and drove back and they included some egg rolls in the bag. (These were surprisingly good.) read more

Ahan - Mok Pa - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

S & P tool us here for lunch and learned this is P's favorite Madison restaurant. Portions are plentiful but given that aspects of the menu vary, your experience may differ. For example, S ordered a chicken sandwich and it was essentially a fried chicken breast on Cesar salad lettuce in a bun. She said it was good but not what she expected nor like the chicken sandwich she ordered the last time here. We had several appetizers and II can say the satay was excellent. The bun was something new to me and I liked it though G wasn't as much of a fan as I was. I had the Tom Gah, which is only offered on certain days and I was pleased with my choice. So much that there was enough for another meal. Prices are reasonable and there were plenty of lunch customers who obviously agreed with P that this was a good meal choice. Service was excellent and offered free refills on diet soda and ice tea. And kept up with the water drinkers (which can be challenging!) We teased S and P they ought to hang their photo on the wall - a nice personalized touch that shows just how popular this place is. Next time we're in Madison, i suspect we'll be back! read more

We had to wait a bit for a table but it was worth it! Tiki bar vibes, delicious food with tons of vegetarian options. Staff was great. They were busy when we went but don't let that turn you off - they turn over tables quickly. 5 stars! read more

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Consistently my favorite spot in Madison. Started with the summer spritz cocktail and Thai iced coffee, both were perfect for brunch. This time we had our go tos: the sakoo dumplings, tom kha, and nam khao salad. We also tried a few new things: the mango sticky rice and drunken noodles, both were great and I would definitely have the drunken noodles again. The sticky rice was simple but the ice cream machine was broken so it was missing that :( Always impressed by the service and quality! We tried the patio seating for the first time and it was wonderful, very relaxing. read more

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This was my first time trying Ahan, and I loved it! My friend and I sat at the bar instead of waiting for a table. This place does get very busy and popular during the dinner hour! The highlight of the meal was definitely the red curry noodle soup! Would highly recommend & is perfect for the upcoming chilly season:) read more

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Got this for takeout. Only took 20 minutes! The portion was great and I liked the variety of vegetables it had and the fried egg included was a nice touch. Would love to come back and try the drunken noodles and a lao appetizer! read more

Ahan - Pad See Ew - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We had the best experience at Ahan yesterday evening!! We hadn't been since it was in The Bur Oak and I'm sad we've been missing out! We walked in around 8:30 and were seated outside immediately. The outdoor patio is super cute and cozy with twinkle lights. All of our appetizers were incredible (not pictured because we couldn't wait to eat lol). We got the Lao egg roll, vegetable egg roll, and chicken satay. My fave was the Lao egg roll - super crunchy outside and great flavor. Our drinks were excellent and super fresh. Every entree was outstanding and came out piping hot, which I always appreciate!!! The service was outstanding. Brian did a great job making suggestions and it really felt like we were the only ones in the entire place. I can't say enough about how excellent his service was!!! We will be back ASAP! read more

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Ahan is my favorite restaurant in Madison and it's not close. The tom kha soup is incredible. Perfect balance of spice and flavor without one overpowering the other. The two times I've been here the food is consistent and you can tell there's real care behind what they're putting out. Portions were massive as well. If you're on Willy St and haven't been here yet, just go. read more

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My friend recommended this place for noodles, so I went in around 8:30 by myself. When I saw how many interesting dishes they had, I ended up ordering a lot--thinking I could take the rest home. Most dishes have great presentation, but the flavors were just okay. I think the price is high for the combination of the flavor and presentation. The Bahan Blast was amazing -- I finished it in one go. Out of everything I ordered, this was my favorite. Sakoo Yat Sai was my second favorite, but it must be eaten on the spot. After putting it in the fridge overnight, the top turned dry and hard. The dish I liked the least was their curry. The potatoes were a bit undercooked, the squash flavor wasn't very noticeable, and the chicken was dry. I did add shrimp, and the shrimp was actually very good. But the total for this dish was $23 + $7 = $30, which really didn't feel worth it. Aside from the mango sticky rice ice cream, the other two desserts were expensive and pretty average. $10 for 2 pieces felt almost like robbery. One of these is literally flavored crab Rangoon without crab. I took them home in Togo containers - so no picture. The server was very kind and attentive the whole time, and he helped me pack everything up. The overall décor and atmosphere were fun and unique. read more

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Amazing venue, friendly staff, reasonable wait time for food. Generous servings, the sauces are the best part-- sweet, savory, and flavorful. The appetizers were some of my favorite things I tried (especially the Galapao's dough). I suppose the foods tended to be a bit difficult to eat and often fell apart into my sauce but it didn't both me that much. At the bar, they have a small TV playing old episodes of Looney Toons haha. Strongly recommend going here, will not disappoint. read more

Ahan - Galapao - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Praram Long Song. Don't ask. Just Do It! You can thank me later. The ambiance was nice. Very packed and didn't mind the 30 minute wait. All the staff were attentive and kind. read more

First time dining in for lunch. We came a few minutes before opening and there was already a line. We got in with the first group. It was a little chaotic as we weren't sure who was going to take our order but we were able to find a server. We decided to try different dishes from our typical picks. We tried the Khao Tod appetizer, drunken noodle, banh xeo, and the praram long song. First time trying the khao tod appetizer and I can see why it's one of their most popular apps when reading reviews. Very crispy and delicious. I would definitely get it again. Of the mains, I really enjoyed the banh xeo the most. It was super crispy, fresh, and had a flavorful sauce. The drunken noodles is another popular dish recommended by reviews, however, I personally was not a big fan. The sauce is a little too sour, however, the pork and noodles were tasty. And finally, the praram long song is one of the dishes we'll typically order when eating at Ahan. The chicken is always crispy and the peanut sauce that comes with it is one of my favorites. The sauces at Ahan are super well done, full of flavor and balance. Definitely in my top 5 Madison restaurants. read more

Ahan - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I absolutely love Ahan's interior environment. The energy in this place is calming, joyful, and a dash spiritual. The food is phenomenal as well! Service was good, but our server did take awhile to check on us occasionally, but it was lunch rush, so we understand. Update: I was giving a free soft serve ice cream to compensate for our wait!!! It was a complete surprise. I am thrilled! Thank you, Ahan! BTW- I HIGHLY recommend getting the soft serve! The consistency was amazing and the flavor was out of this world. I heard that they gave rotating flavors so strawberry was what I got to try. It was so good! Kinda like a marshmallow strawberry flavor. read more

Ahan - Drunken Noodles with Pork - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My wife and I were on our way back from the UP. Best meal we had all week....the staff was pleasant and helpful. The food was top shelf. Great experience. I'd drive back up from Chicago just to have lunch again here. Thanks! read more

Went here for a birthday dinner on a Saturday night and it was everything we hoped it would be. We were quick to be seated and they let us know that it was still order at the counter and then they'll bring the food & drinks out. It's great that they've kept this system even with the new location as it seems to move along better. The drinks came out pretty quick and were quite tasty. The food came out in cycles, but when they saw all entrees didn't come out at once, staff was quick to check on the order in the kitchen. We were very impressed with the prompt service, even though we didn't have a specific waiter. For food we ordered many things, starting with the Laotian snacks. On the plate the Sein Savnh (jerky) was the most surprising and my favorite. It had a sweetness to it that I wasn't expecting. Friends also thought the Son in Law Eggs were pretty standout. For entrees we got the special PB & apple chicken sandwich, cabbage rolls, drunken noodles, and Khao Poon Kathi Dang. The chicken sandwich was a favorite by all. Would definitely recommend. The Khao Poon Kathi Dang was my favorite as it had a good kick of spice and lots of noodles. I only wish we would have got it with tofu instead of chicken; next time! The drunken noodles were also good as always and our friend liked the cabbage rolls. We ended the meal with the ube soft serve that we've been wanting to try for a while. It was unlike any flavor that I've had before and would definitely order it again! Overall very good service, tasty food, and ample portion sizes. Highly recommend and can't wait to get back to try more! read more

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I read a foodie list on Yelp and this place was #1. I love Asian food and it looked great, so I decided to try it on my trip to Madison. Good choice. The soups were delicious. My husband and I ordered two and shared. Each bowl was brimming to the top with soup and very flavorful. We didn't order any drinks but the cocktail menu looked amazing. Would definitely try drinks next time. Service was absolutely fantastic too. read more

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Wonderful Asian restauraunt in restored candy factory. Amazing rice balls and cream cheese wontons. Table shared four entrees, all of which were excellent. Waitress was fantastic! read more

I've been meaning to try Ahan forever and can't believe I waited this long! They have an incredible menu featuring a rotating soft serve with really interesting flavors. I tried the yellow curry, red curry soup, summer rolls and the chèvre wontons and was blown away by how tasty everything was. They also have an interesting cocktail list and their specials seem to rotate frequently. The restaurant does not take reservations but has a good amount of seating so waiting usually isn't too bad. Would highly recommend this place for a date night or night out with friends and I can't wait to visit again soon. read more

Ahan - Yellow curry - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I have been wanting to try Ahan since the first time I visited Madison but we just didn't have the time. I'm glad we made time to go for lunch this time around, because we all loved this meal. We ordered a number of things, including far too many desserts for three people, but they all sounded good and we wanted to try them. The meal is definitely on the pricier side, but we were so happy with what we got. The highlights were definitely the sakoo yat sai - those tapioca dumpling appetizers were one of my favorite things and I know other people also really enjoyed them. I also will say I tried this same item (same name) afterward at another place and Ahan's version was so much better and high quality. The red curry udon was also cozy and yummy, although has a bit of a kick to it. Of the desserts, we got the banana soft serve with the sticky rice, a glutinous fried dough thing, and a more gelatinous corn dessert in an adorable flower shape (if you are familiar with Filipino kakanins, it resembled maja maiz). I personally would have skipped the soft serve sticky rice - I've had better mango sticky rice elsewhere. But the other two desserts were delicious. Loved this place and I like that they have specials and the menu can change, so would definitely check this place out again next time I'm in Madison. read more

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Food is so good here! And the service was excellent! The mango moves mocktail was so refreshing and delicious. The soups are good and the udon noodles were tasty with a little kick to it as well. read more

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Gonna start with the bad because I want to end on a high note. I was bummed that Ahan didn't feature a Thai beer like Singha. That lager pairs nicely with most Thai foods. It also took a long time to get my food. While I waited, I enjoyed the music and vibes. All that said, I haven't had as fine a plate of Thai curry in quite a while. The taste reminds me of Phuket. Rich green curry with great body and depth of flavor. The fattiness of the curry is offset well with the lime wedge provided. The sprig of greens is a nice touch. read more

Ahan - Green Thai curry with chicken and added jalapeños for heat. - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I had a long flight delay in Madison, and although I wasn't super hungry, my boss wanted to get something to eat. We decided to come to Ahan because it was fairly close to the airport, and I saw they had soft serve. It was a little hard to find the entrance, and when we got in, we weren't sure if we were supposed to wait for them to seat us because we saw people going up to another area to order food from someone. A host did come by, seat us, and let us know to go up to order. He also let us know which items would be quickest since we wanted to get back to the airport. My boss and I both ordered the drunken noodles with tofu. I also got the salted Vietnamese limeade and the dole whip. When the drunken noodles came, it was pipping hot. And honestly, it was the best drunken noodles I ever had. I really really liked it, I wish I was hungrier. It was flavorful and complex. The tofu was perfectly cooked. I wish I could get this whenever I want. The dole whip was huge and also refreshing. I would most definitely come back the next time I'm in Madison. read more

Ahan - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We were genuinely excited to try this place, but the experience was unfortunately overshadowed by the service we received from our server, Maggie. Throughout the meal, it was difficult to get basic requests addressed, and there were long stretches where our table was completely unattended. When we were able to get her attention, the interactions felt curt and dismissive rather than welcoming. Hospitality is a big part of what makes dining out enjoyable, and that element was noticeably missing. Everyone can have an off day, but the overall experience left our table feeling uncomfortable and frustrated rather than relaxed or cared for as guests. It's disappointing to say, but because of this experience we won't be returning. read more

Came here during a day trip to Madison with my bf! It was a great dinner with loads of flavor and spices. Really enjoyed everything we had. Kung Pao with Tofu was great and so was his dish, the service was good, you get a menu and have to order on your own and then everything gets served to you. It's nice since you don't have to worry about the bill when you're done and allows you to leave at your own leisure. There is lots to do down the street and we were able to grab drinks before and find parking with no problem on a Saturday. The restaurant felt family run/hole in the wall while having a lively crowd. Even though it was a Saturday we were able to get a table for 2 at dinner time around 7pm no problem! read more

Ahan - Kung Pao Tofu - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Visited on a Tuesday around 7pm, grabbed a seat at the bar, the restaurant was busy but you likely could grab a table with a short wait. Drinks: The bee charmer - a wild rollercoaster of flavor, spicy, sweet, tangy and nutty. The jasmine foam was light sweet and flavorful, the Thai chili and sesame gin was spicy and nutty, super unique and worth a try Thai tea time - really smooth, aromatic tea with a hint of richness, great balance of sweetness with a hint of acidity, surprisingly slight and refreshing Food: Laotian snack: a delicious assortment of appetizers, the sausage was well seasoned with a great snap, paired well with the sticky rice and Jeow Som sauce, son in law egg was so creative hard boiled egg stuffed with glass noodles, pork and veggies lightly battered and fried, the jerky was crispy with a nice sweet savory flavor, a fantastic way to start the meal Galapao Pad Kra Pao - bartender recommend this special and it did not disappoint, bun was moist, soft and fluffy, pad kra Pao filling was well seasoned the Thai Basil really shined and the hard boiled egg made this a filling appetizer Service was fantastic, staff was so warm and friendly, they provided great recommendations. Water was refilled regularly, and drinks and food came out without much of a wait. Overall highly recommend giving Ahan a try, great spot to dine solo but would be fun to come with a group to try more of the menu. Definitely look for the specials and drinks were really fun and unique. read more

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Visited for the first time a few days ago, and it was a great meal. Their menu has some unique items, so I wanted to try something unique, as well as traditional Lao dishes. You place your full order(all courses) in advance, I assume to help the kitchen plan their cooking efficiently, and a team of servers brings the food out, then you pay your bill where you ordered. I started with the pork dumplings, which were pure perfection, with great flavor and texture! Next were the Lao Steamed Buns with Chinese pork, which I ordered off their Specials menu. The buns were slightly sticky like Chinese steamed buns, but easier to eat and filled with hard-boiled egg and Chinese pork sausage. Laap Nuea (Beef Laap) was listed on the menu as the National Dish of Laos, so I felt I should order it. It arrived in a large lettuce leaf with a side of a sliced cabbage wedge, salad, and sticky rice. I expected the laap to be spicy, but it was mild, yet incredibly delicious from the great seasoning they use. I asked how best to eat it, and my server said he likes to put the laap on the cabbage slices. I did that, but decided to use my hands to pick up sticky rice and the laap together, and that was a winning call! Great dish! I was full but ordered Lao eggrolls and Khao Tod (deep fried sticky rice with curry and crab) to-go but I opened the containers to take a bite while they were freshly cooked and took photos before putting them back in the containers. The eggrolls were really crispy on the outside and thicker and larger than I expected, and the center was softer than I expected. I thought there would be a little crunch from cabbage inside. The Khao Tod stuck to my teeth, and I didn't see or taste the imitation crab or curry, but I'm glad I tried this dish I've never seen before. It was a great visit, and I'm glad I finally got to try it! read more

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