Even after having read all of the Yelp and Foursquare reviews, Bida Manda still exceeded my expectations. This is definitely one of the best restaurants in the triangle. Wait Time: I went in a group of four for a celebratory dinner on a Saturday night. We hadn't thought to make a reservation and were told that the wait would be 30-40 minutes for the bar and 1.5 hrs for a table. We decided to wait for a place at the bar. Their waiting / lounge area was very comfy and was a nice place to have a drink while we waited. It also gave me a chance to check out the beautiful interior, especially the bar. After 30 minutes, the host told us that we would be seated at a table, and we were pleasantly surprised, given that we were expecting to eat at the bar. Cocktail: The Picaflor was a unique cocktail with a lot of spice to it. To be honest, it had a similar taste profile to the pumpkin juice at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Orlando. I enjoyed it, but it I think it's one of those things that you just want to have a couple of sips of rather than the whole cocktail. Appetizer: We didn't order an appetizer, but the meals came with shrimp crackers garnished with green onions and basil. They were a perfect start to the meal. The crackers were perfectly fried so that they were light and not greasy. I've had these sort of rice crackers before, but I was really surprised how the green onion and basil really elevated them. *mental note to use these garnishes when making these at home* Entrees: I was really pleased with the menu, as they had plenty of pescatarian options. I got the saffron crepe with the roasted vegetables. I was expecting it to be something like banh xeo, a savory Vietnamese crepe and one of my favorite foods. I was really excited when it came to the table and it looked exactly like banh xeo. It was packed with veggies like shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and green onions. The batter wasn't fully cooked all of the way in the middle, but it didn't really bother me. The fish /chili sauce with peanuts was a perfect complement to the crepe. Besides the rawness of the crepe in the middle, the only other thing I would change is that they give you more lettuce and cucumbers to eat with it. With all of that out of the way, let me just say that IT WAS AMAZING. I will never not order this when I go to Bida Manda. My friends got the crispy pork belly soup, the caramelized ginger pork ribs, and Amphone's chicken curry. They all enjoyed their meals with the only negative comment being that the chicken curry being a little too sweet. However, I would take this with a grain of salt as my friend always complains of everything being too sweet. Dessert: This dinner was a belated birthday celebration for a friend, so our waiter brought us out a complimentary little dessert trio. They were all delicious. My favorite was the warm blondie with an apricot compote (I forget the actual name of this dessert, but this is what it reminded me of). The coffee creme brulee was also fabulous. The third dessert was a coconut creme in a pastry shell. I love coconut, so I was a little disappointed that it didn't have a stronger coconut flavor to it. Detoxifying shots: At the end of the meal, there are these little detoxifying shots that were super delicious. They have a fancy name, but I'm pretty sure they were just limeade. Either way, those were awesome, and I wish I could have ordered it in cocktail form. Service: The best! Our waiter was gracious and patient with us as it took us a while to figure out what we all wanted to order. He was also very attentive without hovering or being obnoxious. read more

Food and ambiance is great, low key and upscale for an eveninh out. Best for a celebratory occasion or special night.

How I haven't already reviewed you is crazy! You might be the ONLY restaurant that I have ever gone back to a second time when I am travelling for work. The perfect sear and rareness of your duck breast makes my heart flutter. The tiny little straw container of sticky rice lets me know that you care. Such a sweet and sexy dish you are mango salad. Don't tell the misses about us....she wouldn't understand. read more

Amazing food with great flavor. I've been to Bida Manda a couple of times now and never disappoints. When I want flavorful food with some spice and an amazing cocktail, I know that I can go to Bida Manda and get it all. Everything is amazing, but the wings and pumpkin curry are my faves! read more

Very good place to get something different to eat. We had the stuffed pepper and the spring roll appetizers. Both were fantastic. For the entree I had the saffron crepe. Delicious! My husband had the Crispy pork belly soup. He gave it a ..meh. Otherwise it was a great meal and will be back! read more

Absolutely delicious! I went for lunch and had the shrimp pad thai. It was the best shrimp pad thai I've ever had. My friend has the chicken wings and pork bell soup and loved it as well. I also had macaroons for dessert. They were AMAZING! Be sure to ask for those as they're no on the menu. Additionally, the price was very reasonable. I will definitely be coming back. read more

Truly one of my favorite spots in Raleigh. This restaurant brings such a fun and unique atmosphere to the area and I always love bringing newcomers here. The pork belly soup is incredible (as well as most of their dishes), the staff are friendly and helpful, and the ambiance is great for anything from dates to larger parties. read more

I had one of my most satisfied meals in Raleigh at Bida Manda. It was not expected given it appears to be a simple mixed-asian fusion type of restaurant. But from the decor to the lighting, this place screams out relaxation and sets the mood for a nice dinner with friends or on a date. They place lots of fresh flower on the table (always a plus!) with attentive servers circling around to refill your water. This is my first time trying Laotian food. I am not sure how authentic it is, but certainly delicious! My friend and I shared an appetizer of Salmon Ceviche, which came in what I believe to be rice paper wonton-style cups. Crispy, but super sour. I winced with every bite. However, my entree made up for the strange appetizer. I ordered none other than their most renowned Crispy Pork Belly Soup. The pork belly was fried and dried with a chewy consistency. The fat part of the pork belly was amazing, without tasting too fatty. The broth was thick with the most amazing curry-coconut aroma. Needless to say, I was very satisfied with my meal. I would recommend this place to anyone, especially their Crispy Pork Belly Soup!! read more

Bida Manda - Crispy Pork Belly Soup - Laotian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Excellent food. Admittedly the only Laotian food I've ever tried, but Bida Manda has some of the best dishes around. Only negatives - They can pack them in this place, might not be the best spot for business lunch. And while I've had some great service here, I've had poor service as well. But overall a must try if in the area. read more

This was a dining experience. We went for dinner on Saturday night. I was excited to go - as BM has gotten rave reviews and its a good group that is out of my comfort zone. I've also seen the decor and it looked cool too. Again, my description of our dinner was a true experience. Our service was great, which wasn't a surprise based upon the reviews. We had a party of 12 and our server did a fantastic job with us. I chose not to order a drink but, my husband and friends obliged. My husband went w the old fashioned. It was good but, not the best he has ever had. My girlfriends were pleased w the piña colada and one tried a unique cocktail called cereal milk. In the future I may splurge for one of the unique cocktails but, I was saving money and calories for an appetizer and possibly dessert. Food wise, the served us all shrimp chips to start. Sounded scary to me but, no fear. They are like a cheese puff in texture and not really seafood flavored at all. They were good. As an appetizer we ordered the lettuce wraps. I loved theses. Others wished they had meat in them. I loved them though! Wish we had a few more pieces of lettuce but other than that, fantastic. The filling was a crunchy, nutty type of rice and the sauce was a fantastic, sweet drizzle with a hint of heat. Yum! Entree wise, I went with the papaya salad with filet mignon. Growing up in a very small town in America, I thought papaya was bright pink and sweet. I don't think it is after this salad. It's sort of fleshy in color but unique in flavor sweet and a little spicy, as I ordered mine medium. The filet was great. I felt like I was branching out a bit with the papaya but, staying somewhat safe w the filet. Good choice if we have the same prerogative. My husband had the ginger glazed ribs and was happy. My friend had the chicken curry and it was yummy - good coconut flavor with some spice. Since we were celebrating a birthday, we had a dessert trio. I absolutely loved the coconut pudding. I think I might have to return just for this! Next time, I want to try the sticky purple rice dessert as it has this pudding with it too. A few closing thoughts, you can take most anyone here as you can try something Laotian and new but, they also have safe, Asian dishes like pad Thai and Vietnamese pho. Also, I loved the closing palate cleanser drink, this was an experience. Allot time for the experience. It was neat! read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Raleigh. Diverse menu, but still very approachable and simple. Perfect for a late night dinner in a very comfortable environment and setting. I go here as much as I can; I think it's in the top five restaurants in all of Raleigh. The Crispy Pork Belly Soup is outstanding and more filling than any soup I've ever had. The Sweet Chili Salmon is also spectacular. read more

Honestly, I had been wanting to try Bida Manda since it opened just to see the interior, which was designed by my architecture professor. I had checked the place out online and had already developed an appreciation for it as an establishment that respected good design, as everything from the logo to the website to the dining room seemed to be tastefully and thoughtfully done. I made a last-minute decision to stop by at 9:55 on a Friday, but was told they had stopped serving dinner (They've now changed this from 10 to 10:30). Went back a week later for a birthday dinner with the full family. The ambiance inside lived up to expectations. But while I do appreciate mood-setting-dim-lighting, this was a bit much! My father had to use the backlight of my phone to read the menu hahaha Our waitress was incredibly friendly and good-natured. The food, from the appetizer to the dessert, was great; I think my favorite from our table was the papaya salad with chicken. One of the servers informed us of the traditional Laotian way of eating with your hands, which is basically picking up a wad of the sticky rice and using it to sort of scoop up your food. Being of South Asian descent, I was already used to this (albeit with flatbread instead of rice) so it didn't feel strange at all. I highly recommend trying the technique for some fun! A note on the spice level: I'm used to being extremely underwhelmed when I order medium or hot spice levels. But "medium" at Bida Manda was on the spicier side of things for me -- just perfect. We were very surprised at how reasonable the pricing was. A quality dinner for $12-14 per person in downtown Raleigh? Impressive, and lunch seems to be even more affordable. This definitely looks like it's going to become a favorite of ours. read more

Pork belly soup I could eat for breakfast lunch and dinner. That good. Macaroons complimentary for an anniversary celebration were perfect touch to a great night. Service was great. Thank you. If ever in Raleigh this is a place I'd return to. read more

Amazing! We had our anniversary dinner and it was perfect! They gave us desserts for our anniversary on the house. Now that's how a restaurant goes from a 4 star to a 5 for me! Great customer service. On top of that the dessert was yums :-) I recommend this place. read more

Loved loved loved this place. We made reservations early for 1pm and it was a packed house when we arrived. Were seated at about 1:15 but gave us enough time to wash hands, review menu & share a local beer, "Paycheck." Kids are a little picky so they shared a naked order of fried wings + some of my Ginger Cashew Chicken. Hubby had the Chicken Pad Thai and they picked on that as well, w/ a side of jasmine rice. read more

getting a reservation here can be tough for a reason! Excellent food atmosphere and service. Thai Laotian Fusion that is incredible. I love trying dishes here. The design and interior are fun but the food takes it over the top. I dont think you will be disappointed. great unique drinks as well. read more

Pleasant surprise. Wandered in after the museum and found this bustling place. The wait was short and the staff friendly. The menu was creative yet simple. We tried the lettuce wraps, curry chicken and lemongrass sausage. The sausage was fun and different. The curry was just ok. Bland with little chicken but a nice portion. The lettuce wraps were great. A little different spin on a traditional wrap. Good food and service. read more

Best Asian food I've found thus far in Raleigh. Closest thing to SF Bay Area Asian cuisine which is saying a lot in my book.

The pork belly soup is amazing! Every time I go there, I try to get something else, but never do, it's that good! You have to book it out a few weeks, but so worth it! read more

One of my very favorite restaurants in Raleigh. The food is always delicious, and drinks are interesting, and the servers & bartenders are very kind. The ambiance is lovely, though not kid-friendly IMO - perfect for a date, or a special occasion with a larger group. Reservations are difficult to come by, so call well in advance or plan to go during the week / at an off time. read more

Been here twice, and the second visit confirmed this is one of our favorite spots in Raleigh. The chic decor, delicious food, and friendly ambience make Bida Manda outstanding. You will be greeted and seated by the owners' family members (if you're lucky), and if you show up early, you should grab a seat on the plush couch (if you're lucky) or the wooden benches (if it's mobbed), and order a cocktail from the bar. The libation menu changes regularly, and the drinks are strong and tasty, often featuring alcohols you can't find locally (like Trinidadian rum - lip-smackin!) We also found all of the waitstaff to be not only pleasant to order from, but very knowledgable about the ingredients, pairings, and recommendations. They have made both our dinners an absolute delight! The summer rolls are a delicious appetizer, and the spring rolls aren't bad either. We tried the stuffed peppers this last time, and gooey cheese-and-meat filling balanced the fresh hotness of the pepper perfectly. The standout main of this visit was fresh black drum served whole stuffed with flavorful spicy rice. Wow, it was good. We also ordered the curry chicken to share and the soup with pumpkin and spice - both were good, but not as amazing as the fish. We skipped dessert this time, but they offer several mouth-watering choices. We'll be back, and you should meet us there! read more

Since my initial visit to Bida Manda back in September, I've dined there many, many times. Working in downtown Raleigh has its perks. My go-to is usually the pork belly soup (hearty, porky, delicious), or the green papaya salad, but honestly, I haven't tried anything there that I didn't really enjoy. The small house salad and the sausage-stuffed Anaheim pepper I tried today were just the right portions for a filling, but not overwhelming, lunch. And the prices are certainly reasonable. It's been fun introducing friends and colleagues to Laotian food - all are impressed with Bida Manda's cuisine, decor, and service. Glad to know they're likely to stick around. read more

Great restaurant for lunch or dinner. The Crispy Rice Lettuce Wrap is incredible, and the Crispy pork Belly Soup is a rainy day MUST. Basically, you can't go wrong if you go crispy. A bit pricey, but worth the extra $$$ read more

Wow! My husband and I stumbled onto this beautiful restaurant one evening after dinner elsewhere and decided to try it out the following weekend for our anniversary. What a great find this place is! From the moment we walked in, the staff was very friendly, polite and attentive. Our server Julia answered all our questions, offering her suggestions and interesting tidbits of info about the restaurant. The food.....oh my, the food. Presentation was lovely, but the taste was even better. Flavorful and fresh:) Also, they treated us to a delicious complimentary dessert for our anniversary! As a side note, my Caipirinha was excellent. We will definitely be back there. read more

The setting: Bida Manda has a warm, intimate vibe, particularly after dark: soft lighting, velvet Antoinette sofas, dark colors, and beautiful bamboo walls. It's always busy, but never crowded---it has an aura of exclusivity about it. This is a great place to take a date, take your in-laws, take your friends, take yourself....just go. It feels special, and you will enjoy being there. The bar: As many have mentioned, excellent cocktails. I'm pretty sure my boyfriend could live off of the piña coladas--they're made using house-made coconut cream, thick as can be. The caipirinha and martinis are great, too. The wine and beer lists are short; cocktails are definitely meant to shine at Bida Manda (though they are pricey). The food: Vegans, you can eat here!! The staff will not moan and groan at your inquiries about menu items and they are happy to veganize the menu items that can be made vegan. You can do the veggie spring rolls to start--I'm not crazy about them, but that's bc I'm planted firmly in the "fry or die" spring roll camp. The pumpkin curry is delicious: it's spicy, but not overly so. My favorite is the tofu basil stir-fry (minus the poached egg): sweet basil, stir-fried peppers and tofu with perfectly steamed jasmine rice. I usually have leftovers (like half of my meal---and I'm not one of those dainty bird-like eaters....); so even though it's pricey, I guess you could look at it like you're buying two meals? But really, you should look at like "I am buying an awesome meal! Who cares how much it costs!" ($16--I realize to most people that is nothing, but to me that is like 8 microwave rice packets.) The verdict: Stop reading this review and make a reservation, right now. Depending on how many cocktails you have, expect a (well-worth it!) tab of around $75 for 2. read more

I am a part of a dinner club, each month we try a restaurant we haven't tried in search of the best food in Raleigh. This month was Bida Manda. We've been anticipating this one for 2 months so our bar and expectations were raised high. We started with the lettuce wraps and summer rolls. Both were very good! I'd recommend them to anyone. We usually ask the server for a recommendation because they're usually pretty accurate. He just kept saying, "Get the soup." We would ask about other items, which looked incredible as they passed our table but clearly the soup was the star. I'll jump to it, the Crispy Pork Belly Soup was SO RIDICULOUS. The only thing I could think of while I was eating it was, "I am so happy." So my take-away from Bida Manda was GET THE SOUP! Just get it. Seriously, get it. read more

Go to get your mind BLOWN! I had the rainbow trout and a nice pour of Pino Grigio. Bartender was charming and relaxed. Its a wait but they have great art books and a good waiting area that serves for some epic selfies. It was a treat for my college student, saving for a house self. But worth it. Cool crowd. Dim, rad, top notch food parings. I also had the papaya salad. Thought I was eating pasta. Nope. Fruit! read more

This is the stuff dreams are made of. Fantastic appetizers, entrees, drinks, and hospitality. I cannot emphasize just how above and beyond their hospitality is. So synergistic, host, server, everyone is playing a constant role in making sure you have a great dining experience. I can't wait to go back. read more

By far one of the best restaurants in raleigh. The decor is beautiful and I'm pretty sure everything they make is great. I personally recommend the pork belly soup. It's amazing and huge. It's served in a like coconut broth that I would happily drink everyday. You won't be disappointed! read more

I love Bida Manda. I can't believe I haven't already written a review. Just go. Trust me. Order anything, and be happy. Everything on the menu is great. My favorites are the rice lettuce wrap appetizer and pork belly soup or papaya salad entree (it's not really a salad, but instead a protein of your choice, sticky rice and papaya salad). Great drinks too. And double points for good house wine. Love the feel of the restaurant. Service is always top notch. Have been here at least a dozen times, and always left happy and full. Great date night, girls night, or heck even taken my parents and they love it too. read more

Great food. Very busy, almost always, expect to wait. Everything I've had except for duck larb traditional style has been yum.

We went here on a Saturday night. Unfortunately we did not make any reservations so we had to wait for about 25-30 minutes before we were seated. We were seated in the bar for there was no place in the restaurant, so I went ahead and ordered pimms. I did not enjoy it as the flavor of cucumber overpowered the whole drink. We ordered crispy vegetarian spring rolls for appetizers. It was just perfect!! Crispy outside and a yummy filling on the inside. For the entree we ordered saffron crepes with vegetables after hearing some good reviews about it from a friend. They were very good as well. We loved it. Over all very good food.Would have given 5 stars if the drink had been good. We will definitely be coming here again. read more

This maybe this first restaurant we go to regularly that I will eventually have everything on the menu. Yeah, everything we've had so far has been excellent. The Crispy Pork Belly Soup is a must have; the Green Papaya Salad (Laotian spiced) is a whole lot better than you think it will be! i had it with the Garlic Pork Neck, next time ill do it with the duck. the Larb w/Duck was mind-blowing! Last night we split the Baked Whole NC Fish, a 2lbs striped Bass stuffed with a crispy rice mixture and served with roasted veggies. OMG! The staff is very friendly and helpful. But we've gone there so much now that they know us and remind us what we had on our last visit. I hesitate to call THIS my favorite eatery in Raleigh because there a so many great restaurants here, but, boy-howdy, I LOVE Bida Manda!!! read more

My boyfriend and I headed here on a Saturday night. The tables were all committed for the night, but the wait for the bar was only 30 minutes. The hostess offered to take my cell number so we can take a stroll around Raleigh, which was great since the weather was so nice. We made it back before she had to call, but the option was very nice. Since we were sitting at the bar, we ordered a couple of drinks. The bartender, Jordan, was very good and gave really great recommendations. I had the Corn and Oil and my boyfriend ordered a Martinez (recommended by Jordan). I thought the Corn and Oil was just a little too sweet. But the Martinez was really nice. Not too sweet and a quite refreshing. For dinner my boyfriend and I split the Crispy Belly Pork Soup and the Baked Whole North Carolina Fish (again at the recommendation of Jordan). It was nice since they brought the Crispy Belly Pork Soup in two bowls. This soup was so good! We loved the noodles and all the veggies. I am not always the largest fan of coconut soups, but this really was exceptional. The Baked Whole Fish was fantastic. It was a 2.5 lbs Striped Bass from Locals Seafood. The whole fish was baked with an assortment of veggies: carrots, bok choy, red bell peppers, and green beans. The fish served atop the veggies and stuffed with rice. During the cooking the rice had benefited greatly by acquiring a crunchy fried texture and absorbing the sauce from the fish and veggies. The fish was excellently cooked with tender flavorful skin and subtly sweet meat. We had little difficulty extracting all the meat as the fish was falling off the bone. There were very few small bones typically associated with whole fish. The fish was served with a side of white rice and a sweet and spicy sauce. The sauce paired wonderfully with the fish and enhanced the rice substantially. We completely devoured the fish, the only disappointment of the night was having no more fish to eat. We were having an enjoyable evening and had let enough time pass from the entree that we decided on dessert. We order the Macarons. The Macarons were of the French preparation and consisted of 4 total cookies. There were 2 peanut butter and 2 cinnamon cookies. Between each pair of similar cookies was a peanut butter sauce between the peanut butter and a pumpkin sauce between the cinnamon cookies. They were very good and a nice finish to dinner. We had a great time sitting at the bar, but if you are not a bar person, I would recommend making reservations, especially if you are thinking about coming on a Saturday. We will absolutely come back and cannot wait to try the next local fish. read more

Five stars hands down!!!! what an amazing restaurant with an awesome vibe. Drinks are fantastic and staff is very friendly, if you're in town this is a must you wont regret it. read more

Bida Manda - Bar - Laotian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Had a business meeting here and ordered the cashew chicken. Service was prompt and attentive, portions were just right and the espresso shot at the end made the experience that more special. Everything was spot on and the owner was visible the entire time- checking on guests, giving a hand when needed, excellent experience. read more

Went a few months ago and had the pad thai I think? Umm, so not sure what all the fuss is about this place, pad thai was okay but overpriced. Nothing to write home about, my guess is this place is popular because it's trendy and not for awesome food. read more

Amazing food! Great service. Don't miss dessert!!!

This place was a wonderful spot for a birthday dinner. The food took a little bit of time to come out, but when it did it was amazing. I personally had the papaya salad with steak, but I also tried others food and everything was delicious. The environment is also very warm and cozy. read more

In college I had some Lao friends that made authentic Lao style tham mak houng, which is papaya salad with Lao "country style" fish sauce and raw thai peppers. Pit Lai Lai!!! This is eaten by hand with sticky rice. I have not found any restaurant that will make this, and was skeptical when I saw it on the Bida Manda menu. I had this with chicken (I hear the duck is better!) and it was incredibly delicious! Downed with some Duck Rabbit Stout and it was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Bida Manda ROCKS! read more