So this review is mainly about the amazing service. Although the food was great, my companion and I weren't super hungry when we got there. We split the Laos breakfast baguette and an order of the pho and the staff was so kind as to split the order into two bowls for us. I think this is the first time that something like that had ever happened to me and my mind was blown in how thoughtful they were since we could just as easily just both eaten from the same bowl. Although we didn't order as many things as other tables, I never felt like they were rushing us or anything. The service here is absolutely the best. They say that service can make up for almost everything. Well this place has it made since both the food and service are phenomenal. read more

Bida Manda - Laotian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to! Definitely recommend making a reservation on the weekends, as this place gets bussyyyy! Everything was PERFECT from the time we sat down until we paid our checks. The food came out quickly and exactly as ordered, our server had a great personality and even gave us some recommendations, and the atmosphere is so inviting! The lights are dim, music in the background, and just good energy all around! Our appetizers and entrees were 10 stars read more

Bida Manda - Pho Lao Dinner - Laotian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I was here when it first opened. the flavors has changed a lot. I originally gave this place 2stars and spat on its' authenticity claim. . . But tonight, my experienced on it's food was worth the stars. First time: had the papaya salad lacked everything! This time around, it was very well balanced with garlic, lime, sugar and tomatoes. I ordered mine with jumbo grilled shrimp (6pieces) and it came with sticky rice. The larb (lab, the r is silent) had great flavors as well! They give u a generous portion of beef sauteed in garlic, chili, and lemongrass. It paired nicely with unseason grilled veggies and fresh cut cucumbers. This time around, the chef did a fabulous job bringing out many flavors that stayed true to Laos' food yet was able to tamed the white man's palettes ... Hats off to the chef! read more

Bida Manda - Papaya salad with jumbo grilled shrimp - Laotian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The vibe is very nice inside. We got free crackers as an appetizer which was pretty good. We got the crispy pork belly soup dinner (which was split to two bowls) and crispy rice lettuce wrap. The food was tasty but for us both dishes were too salty. read more

Bida Manda - Crispy Rice Lettuce Wrap Dinner - Laotian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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We had an amazing dining experience at Bida Monda! We had heard so many great things about it and it did not disappoint. The staff were all so friendly. Our waitress was incredibly nice and friendly. Made great recommendations for drinks. We started with the spring rolls (very savory) and lettuce wraps (so refreshing). My wife had the pho which was full of aromas and delicious. I had the pork belly soup. It was savory and had a well balanced combination of spicy and flavor. I would definitely recommend it. I would highly recommend Bida Manda and can't wait to go back! read more

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Boyf and I came in at 8P on a Saturday. Atmosphere was busy and loud, decor was nice. We ordered the habenero wings, pork ribs, and pork belly soup. The food here was all really really good. Particularly noting the wings: a lot of places that say they serve super spicy wings, the wings end up being just spicy but have no other flavors whatsoever. However, the wings at Bida Manda were substantially spicy, and the peanut sauce really came through as well which I appreciated. While the food was so delicious, it wasn't new or creative, it was exactly what you would find at any decent Thai or Lao restaurant for less than $12 for most dishes. It was pretty much traditional-authentic Laotian foods repackaged in a hip and trendy "must-try" spot that serves drinks. Also, for a $20+ bowl of soup I think you can shell out for real chopsticks? I'm not a fan of the wooden pull-apart single-use chopsticks. You don't get served on paper plates, do you? Given all the buzz and the 2 month reservation, I was hoping for a little more. read more

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

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I have been meaning to get to Bida Manda for over three years now. I made it for my birthday celebrations this year!!! It was sooooo delicious. The Pork Belly Soup was everything they touted. The sauces for the chicken wings were scrumptious and worth sampling. The lettuce wraps were ridiculously mouthwatering. My sister got the salmon and polished it off properly. My other friend got the Curry chicken. The beverages were on point. I must go back to try the Larb. Our waiter, Brill, was everything you could ever want in a server, host, concierge and all around individual! He made suggestions, gave advice and answered all questions regarding food, recipes and beverages. This restaurant lived up to the hype. Thanks for making my birthday celebrations wonderful. read more

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IF YOU ARE ANYWHERE NEAR BIDA MANDA YOU 1000% NEED TO DINE HERE. I always try to do a little research on restaurants before visiting a new place. Every article I read, Bida was on. My friend and I lucked out and scored a reservation on a Tuesday night. We started off with fresh summer rolls and chicken wings (with the sauce on the wide). The summer rolls were vey fresh, light and paired with a peanut sauce. The chicken wings had a nice deep fry and since we couldn't decide which sauce to go with (Penang curry sauce, sweet chili sauce and Lao spicy roasted habanero and peanut sauce). My favorite of the three was the curry sauce. Beware the Lao spicy roasted habanero and peanut sauce is incredibly spicy - like so spicy that they brought us a coconut and seltzer drink to counter the spice. For an entree I ordered the crispy pork belly soup. This is a huge serving! It was so delicious! All of the flavors in it worked so well together the pork belly added texture to the soup and a had a smokey flavor. I can't say enough good things about this dish. The hype was real. I am happy I got a chance to stop here. read more

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Yup. Still amazing and I still love it here. I came in with a group of family friends who had never been here before and I'm so happy that their tummies were just as happy as mine was! Definitely make a reservation! Walk-in's are welcome but not a for sure thing! I also recommend If you have a group of 10-12 people...ORDER EVERYTHING ON THE MENU. You won't regret it, especially if you've never been here before! DO IT! Try everything! You won't go wrong here! The chefs know what their doing, and you won't be disappointed! The staff is always super nice and always accommodating every time I come in. With my group of 9, our reservation was supposed to be at 9:45, thankfully there was a cancellation and we got bumped up to 8pm! I really appreciate little things like this! It's one of the other reasons why this Bida Manda is one of my favorite places in Raleigh! read more

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We really enjoyed our time at Bida Manda. When you first arrive they bring a basket of shrimp chips that are great. They have a selection of fancy cocktails surprisingly none of the beers from brewery Bhavana which was disappointing as I know they're associated. We had crispy lettuce wraps for a starter and pork belly soup and duck salad for the mains. Everything was great. Our favorite was definitely the pork belly soup which had incredibly crispy pork belly in a curry. I like the ambience at Brewery Bhavana better but the interior is calm and cute and the service is great so it is an excellent place to dine in. I love the location being close to MoreSquare. Definitely would return! read more

Bida Manda - Crispy Pork Belly Soup Dinner Crispy Rice Lettuce Wrap Dinner - Laotian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

came on a weeknight and was looking forward to try the food here because of all the hype but when we called they said that they couldn't provide a table for our party of 17. when we said that we dont mind getting split up into different tables the proceeded to say that it's their company policy to not break up any parties even when we said that it'll still be under one check and they'll still get their 20% gratuity. they ended up refusing to sit our party and i was very disappointed with them. it would've been understandable if they couldnt sit us because the place was full but it was simply because they refused to sit us separately read more

Food was very good and the portions were just right. I think they have some water issues going on. We were served very lukewarm tea to start but our waitress soon brought us all fresh pots once we pointed it out to her. The place could use some updating and repairs. There was water on the floor under our chairs and a part of a friend's leather coat was sitting in the water during our meal. She did not complain but beware if you are sitting near the back of the restaurant. Several of us had Pad Thai and enjoyed it very much. My Shrimp Pad Thai was very good with a generous portion of shrimp and tofu. Others had the vegetable curry and said it was really spicy and they enjoyed it. read more

Upscale atmosphere with very good service! We ordered their lettuce wraps and chicken wings with both panang curry sauce and roasted habenaro on the sides. Loved the lettuce wrap; it was very different than any other place. Wings were okay; do not get the habenaro sauce if you cant handle spicy! It was super hot! We got chicken curry for entry and it was descent. Glad we didn't order more than one entry as the portion was very large. Overall nice upscale place with descent food. read more

Unreal. Unbelievable. Delicious. Everything on the menu is fantastic, the service is fantastic, the ambiance is fantastic, this place is the real deal. If you haven't been you need to go out of your way to come here. You won't regret it. read more

The Ambiance is top-notch! Some of the items on the menu are hit or miss, for example, Nasi Goreng could be better taste-wise it's more like fried rice and not so flavorful. The dumplings are amazing though... Yes, the reservations are hard to get but if you book well in advance you will get the spot at your preferred timings. read more

Amazing food, staff were super friendly and great atmosphere, the Sea Bass Mok was WOW. Must TRY

The atmosphere is super hipster paired with really great food. I ordered the ramen but the lettuce wraps stole the show for me. Next time I will probably just order the lettuce wraps as my entree! read more

We really enjoyed our food. We started with the shrimp summer rolls. My wife had the papaya salad with sea bass and I had the stir fry ginger cashew chicken. They all were very tasty and the portions were sufficient to fill you up. The server was very attentive and provided good recommendations. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and we will be going back. read more

Bida Manda was the perfect place for my birthday dinner!! The interior is a beautiful, slightly more upscale design with lovely ambiance. Our waiter was super attentive and made sure I got a nice bday dessert. We started out with the crispy lettuce wraps. This was the perfect appetizer as it was nice and light. I then got the pork belly soup and WOW was that delicious. For dessert, we got the purple rice. It was good, but wouldn't recommend if you are already very full from your meal, which we definitely were! Our waiter then brought us lemon/lime palate cleanser drinks which were the perfect combo. I would highly recommend eating at Bida Manda! The food is delicious!! read more

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

Very nice modern upscale Laotian /Thai restaurant.That pampers their guest with shrimp chips to munch on as customers peruse the menu. After dinner you get a shot of the digestive of the day. Way cool. Located behind the bus station in Raleigh. This restaurant has a great atmosphere that is perfect for the 20 something professional crowd. Really good food. But don't expect the same ole take on dishes that you get in the usual Thai restaurants. For instance the pad thai is simular to other pad thais in ingredients, but the taste is fairly different. All is as good, yet not the traditional flavors. Loved the soup, the short ribs. I will return. read more

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Can't go wrong! I've eaten here several times and have yet to experience anything but a great meal with good service.

Just lovely! Such a wonderful experience. Service was wonderful - prompt, attentive, friendly. The little shrimp puff complimentary appetizers were oddly delicious. My friend and I split a Sauvignon Blanc that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was crisp and perfectly chilled. Do yourself a favor and get the crispy rice wraps...they're phenomenal. The Pad Thai was pretty standard (I had shrimp, friend had chicken), but the portion was huge! I was so happy. Make your reservations early, though, because they book up weeks in advance. The atmosphere is so cozy - this is the perfect place for a date night with your SO. read more

My husband and I had a great time. The food was wonderful. The service was great. It was very cozy.

We ordered crispy pork belly soup and larb with duck. The larb with duck has a strong herbal smell that may not be for everyone but we (Chinese and Japanese international) enjoyed it. The food is no doubt one of the best Asian fusion restaurants around the area. My friend and I were lucky enough to get seats at the bar without any wait on a Saturday night. The waiter was very thoughtful and initiated to split the soup into two bowls. But they didn't have recyclable chopsticks so sad for the environment. read more

Bida Manda - Laotian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

the food here was BEYOND amazing! i highly recommend ordering the purple sticky rice, it was literally the most amazing dessert i've ever had. the prices are reasonable. the staff is so sweet and the food was brought out so quickly after we ordered. the atmosphere is very welcoming, great background music, and it was a wonderful experience. if you are looking for a place to expand your tastebuds and enjoy some great food, this is the place. read more

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The food was amazing. Highly recommend the crispy rice appetizer. One of the best things I have ever eaten. Great date spot!

My food here has always been good to very good. Ambiance is nice. Like most spots downtown, parking during lunch is tough.

Meh. The food was bland. We ordered the papaya salad with chicken, pad Thai with shrimp, basil beef, fried rice, pork spring rolls, chicken wings, and dessert trio. Truly disappointed. The papaya salad was not crunchy or fresh. The papaya had the texture of cooked spaghetti squash. Disgusting. There was no robust flavor. The lime, fish sauce, and cilantro flavors were non existent. The pad Thai is as also lacking in flavor. The chicken wings had a weird coating of cornstarch. They were crunchy but flavorless. Hubby enjoyed the fried rice but did not enjoy the basil beef. Neither of us finished the dishes. If you want flavorful Thai food, I'd suggest eating elsewhere. Boy how I miss my Thai spot in my hometown. What is up with the RDU area's failed attempts at authentic Thai? The coconut custard and chocolate cup thingy in the dessert trio were tasty but tiny. The Thai iced tea was delicious. At least they got that right. read more

After having an awesome meal at Brewery Bhavana, a friend of mine convinced me to try Bida Manda. I followed the advice of Yelpers and got the sangria and green papaya salad! I wasn't crazy wowed by either, but enjoyed the space so much that I'd definitely come back and try other stuff. Our waiter was fantastic and felt like the service overall couldn't be better. Parking is a bit of a pain, so give yourself plenty of time if you made a reservation! read more

We found this place in a rush to the airport after a business trip. I didn't give them the full 5 stars because I was amazed that a simple request wasn't able to be accommodated, so please if you're not in a huge rush, don't even consider the lack of the 5th star. We were on a time crush and we called ahead of time to see if we could order something so they can start cooking it and pay by phone (as a to go order) But either we needed to wait to get there and order or take our containers to go. Not even eating from the containers and use one of their tables. I have to say the place is really nice, kind of Thai/hipster/modern. Their food is pretty good, but their curry options were limited to just a red/yellow curry combination. Parking can be challenging, as is street parking. Overall, I would come back to enjoy a calmer experience here. read more

Bida Manda - Pad Thai - Laotian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This place is 100%, one of my favorite asian fusion restaurants. From the appetizers, entrees, and desserts, they got it all covered. If you plan on eating here, you'll have to make reservations. They do walk-ins, but chances are they're booked. The appetizers we had the shrimps chips, wings, and fried spring rolls. The wings and spring rolls were delicious. Shortly after the appetizers, entrees were served. I ordered the Sea-bass mok, and the others shown in the pictures were the pork belly soup, chicken pad thai, and the fried red snapper. Each one of those was a size for a family, the sea-bass was kinda just made for one. Fortunately enough i was able to taste the other entrees, and they were amazing. The red snapper had a sweet/sour sauce poured over it and i loved that there weren't many bones to pick out. The pork belly soup though, i could eat that for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The chicken pad thai, surprisingly enough had more chicken than noodles. It was enough to share with a group of 8 and still have some chicken leftover, not so much noodle. My sea-bass was amazing. It comes wrapped in a banana leaf, and the fish resting on a bed of a laotian/thai curry sauce. Gladly enough it comes with a small side of sticky rice. I personally like mixing my rice with the sauce. The fish is very light, and it doesn't have that fishy taste to it. Its those reasons why i chose it. After the group and i killed our entrees, we ordered desserts. I highly recommend the sweet sticky rice w/ coconut custard and mango. You WILL NOT leave this restaurant disappointed. Kudos to the waiters/waitresses here, amazing staff, catered to a group of 9 and allowed us to stay a little passed closing. Also, thank for wiping down the condensing HVAC duct. We'll definitely be back. read more

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We met someone on the plane who recommended this place. This is not our usual way of finding someplace to eat in a new location. We are so glad we took the leap of faith. First let me say that Lindsay at the bar is the best individual/bartender /waitress/hostess that we have ever encountered. She was so helpful in making decisions on dinner. The food was very different. We had the green papaya salad with miso glazed duck breast. Prepared medium rare. Perfect. The pumpkin curry was also good. We sat at the bar where we could talk to others about their experiences. read more

Bida Manda - Pumpkin curry - Laotian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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WOW! We were pleasantly surprised with our experience here. Service was prompt and friendly and food was scrumptious! Ambiance was perfect for a casual lunch or a date night. For starters, we had the Luang Prabang Lemongrass sausage and the Tom Ka Gai soup . I had the Mee Ka Tee (crispy pork belly noodle soup) and hubby had the Kao Pboun Nam Pohng (Manda's Herb Salad). Everything was SO GOOD! We're typically pretty hard to impress being that we're from NYC... especially when it comes to Asian cuisine, but this place exceeded our expectations. So glad we decided to give this place a try and we would absolutely be back ASAP to try out some other menu items! read more

My favorite restaurant in Raleigh. The fusion of flavors is enticing and delicious. Highly recommend.

I like this restaurant for a number of reasons but wouldn't necessarily say it's one of the best places in Raleigh. The space itself is in a prime location and has very unique decor. The staff is typically friendly and knowledgeable. The menu is different, even for Thai food. The cocktails are out of this world! As for the food, the shrimp pad thai is a usual pick along with the lettuce wraps and a papaya salad dish - duck is tasty. I wasn't super impressed with the saffron pancake last time, you can get more flavors and filler from a Vietnamese restaurant. The pad Thai is good, just not what you typically would think the sauce would taste like (tomato base). Even the lettuce wraps aren't typical and quite honestly have no clue what they're made of! I think I prefer coming here for the atmosphere and a cocktail but definitely give it a shot if you haven't. read more

Very attentive service Delicious and nutritious food , although two of three items I got were too salty. Quite expensive read more

Every single person I met in Raleigh (and some strangers who just went out of their way) told me about Bida Manda, regardless of whether it was otherwise relevant to our conversation. I tried to get reservations here on a Monday night, but they were booked solid, except for super early or late times. On a Tuesday, they were also booked, but my cousin and I decided to try our luck and were able to immediately get seats at the bar. I was excited to try this place, because I love Lao food. However, I couldn't find any of the authentic Lao dishes there I love at other places. The menu seemed to be sort of pan-Southeast Asian, including things like pho and pad Thai. The food was fine. My fish was nicely cooked and reasonably flavorful, though not particularly memorable. The stuffed peppers were also fine. I didn't love it, but since everyone agrees this is the best restaurant in Raleigh, I'm inclined to believe them. read more

Top notch service. Tried the two best selling items crispy pork noodle soup and lettuce crispy rice wrap. They are very popular Americanized Laotian food. Pretty comforting and decent. read more

This is one of those restaurants that everyone and their mother in the Raleigh area will recommend, and the place is always packed to prove it. I came here for Lunch as many of the same dishes are served (including their famous Pork Belly soup) for much lower prices. I got the soup as well as the Green Papaya Salad with steak. The soup had a great flavor, rich and spicy with a coconut base. The only qualm I would have is that it didn't have enough pork belly or noodles. The "salad: (basically vegetable noodles) was also good and very spicy! It came with rice on the side and the steak was a good size. Both meals were good and tasty. I would definitely say they are overpriced if you come outside of Lunch as Dinner prices are almost $5 for each dish. I don't think this is the best restaurant in Raleigh but it's up there and definitely one you should try! read more

We started with Crispy Rice Lettuce Wraps and Crispy Vegetable Spring Rolls. The spring rolls were typical but the lettuce wraps were extraordinary! I wasn't sure about the combination of flavors in the rice mixture (coconut, herbs, roasted peanuts) but it worked perfectly and the sweet chili sauce was the perfect complement. The pumpkin curry is an absolutely delicious entree, rich and spicy with perfectly cooked vegetables and just the right amount of heat in the broth. I also tasted the pad thai which had a bit too much fish sauce for me but that is absolutely a matter of personal preference since everyone else loves it. Dessert was the trio plate of apricot-tamarind cobbler, semi-sweet chocolate creme brulee, and coconut custard crisp. The cobbler was by-far my fave dessert (super sweet) and the custard was a close runner up (just a hint of sweetness). Drinks were great too! I recommend making a res a couple weeks in advance for prime weekend dinner times. Otherwise you should be able to plan a couple days out for an early or late seating on a weekday. Service and food are excellent and I highly recommend! read more