I went here on a weeknight with my friend, and we had such a fabulous meal! I visited Lao a few years back and loved the food there, so I was excited to try Thip Kao! The waitress was very helpful in answer our questions and giving us recommendations. We started off with the Laab, which was amazingggg. The flavor and spice were excellent. For our entrees, we shared the Gaeng Som (lemongrass flavoring was on point!!) and Pon Paa (really delicious and unique eggplant stew dish). We loved that the dishes on the menu were very unique and different from other types of Asian restaurants. For a DC restaurant, it is also pretty inexpensive! The amazing quality of the food combined with the low prices make it a terrific restaurant! The service was also great. I highly recommend you check out Thip Kao! read more

Just did the take out - both veg and not. OMG this is the best takeout we have had since the outbreak of Covid. If I could give 10 stars I would. read more

Yum yum! If you like a touch of exotic and extraordinary flavor, give Thip Khao a try. I especially loved the Naem Khao Hu Muu with pig ears and the park laden special ramen. I encourage you to "go to the jungle"! read more

I LOVE the food. I always get the jerky (beef or pork...doesn't matter...both great) and the Kua Mee with shrimp. Thip Khao is really close to my place and so I come here often. It's always busy so I usually just get take out or sit at the bar. read more

Really cool place! This is probably one of the few restaurants I've been to that is really adventurous/ traditional to the Laotian culture and doesn't try to "Americanize" their dishes. The flavors are unique but tasty! If you plan to eat here, be sure to make a reservation because it's always busy! I've heard that it's a good date night place, which it is, but probably not first date night because the flavors are pretty intense and you will leave satisfied but with stinky breath lol. Really creative, tasty food at an affordable price! Come eat hereeee! read more

Awful. Everything tastes the same. Pretty adventurous but I hated this. Maybe Laotian is not for me.

I absolutely LOVE thip khao! I tell everyone to go, especially if they are from out of town. The naem khao is one of my favorite things ever and the khao siin/muu haeng is also incredible! read more

This was my first introduction to Lao food, and it did not disappoint. My favorite thing on the menu is the Gaeng Phet - a red coconut curry with eggplant and bell peppers. It has an incredibly complex curry flavor with a basil freshness, which is complemented well by the sweetness of the peppers. Though I prefer this dish on its own, you can add blue catfish, tofu, or chicken. The salads are easy to overlook on this menu, but they are amazing. Although I found the Laab overly salty, it's one of my favorites! Many dishes on this menu I find are overly salty, which is why I didn't rate it at 5 stars. I believe the food has enough great flavors that pop that the extra salt isn't even needed. Either way, I find myself going back for more. read more

Great spot for vegetarians. Everything on the menu that either is vegetarian or can be adapted to be vegetarian is clearly labeled, as are all the gluten-free items. The dishes are all delightfully spicy and interesting, and the cocktails are a wonderful accompaniment. Last night I had a "Big Drink", which tasted like a mezcal sour. My wife and I have been twice in recent months. It's a solid date-night go-to spot. Recommended in the highest terms. read more

It really was as good as the reviews. Great service and food ....my only thought was appetizers were a bit pricey The curry though was everything I hoped for... will go again for sure. Good job everyone! read more

Came here for dinner on a Monday evening, the wait was about 30 mins so this is a popular spot. Overall, 4 stars and highly recommend. Ambiance: very casual and lively, for a Monday night the place had a good crowd and a wait. We walked around the neighborhood so the time flew pretty quickly. Food: Delicious. We had the pork belly which was amazing/ accompanied by sticky rice (complementary). The pork belly was extremely flavorful and unique. We also had the iced tamarind tea- if you love sour and don't mind pulp it was delicious! Last but not least we had to green mango cocktail- also highly recommend. It had basil, lime, chili and green mango and definitely had a unique taste. I would return to try more food! Service: Service was okay. Our food did not take long to arrive but it would have been nice to have our waiter checking in on us (we had to pull someone else to order more food and drinks). However everything else arrived quickly. Overall- it was my first time having food from Laos and it was a great experience. I would return to try more items off their menu! read more

4.50 stars. For a new restaurant, Thip Khao certainly has an immense amount of buildup. Chef Seng heads Bangkok Golden in Falls Church, a restaurant that recently ranked in the top 40 of Washingtonian Magazine's Top 100 restaurants. Fans of Chef Seng's kitchen include some of the most talented chefs in the entire city. As such, Thip Khao could bank on a steady level of clientele from its inception. So how is the food? In a word, great. We started with a diabolical preparation of ceviche studded with bird and chili peppers. Chef Seng is a genius when experimenting with toasted rice, and here the additional ingredient adds a pleasant crunchy texture that also effectively counterbalances spicy notes. The dish contains a bounty of fresh scallions, mint, cilantro, and shrimp. Overall, it's a complex dish that is execution to perfection. We really enjoyed this starter. Next, we devoured an extraordinarily flavorful pork sausage masterfully paired with a chutney of tomatoes, fish sauce, shallots, and garlic. The sausage itself was soft, juicy, and not too spicy. This dish worked very well with the spicy ceviche we had ordered. The crowning achievement at Thip Khao on this particular visit was a perfectly steamed Chilean sea bass enveloped in a mask of herbs and sauces all served within a banana leaf. My initial worries that the fish's buttery flavor might be shrouded by the sauce disappeared at the first bite, and this very well might be one of the better preparations of Chilean sea bass in the entire city. Taro root served in warm coconut milk served as a nice, light, refreshing end to the meal though it admittedly placed me in a position between zen and sleepy depending on who you ask. On a subsequent visit, I might try a bit more of the jungle menu (although diners should be warned that said menu includes hearts, intestines, and a number of other organs that might make some diners squeamish). Based on one cocktail I sampled, Thip Khao could use some work in that department. Also, the Thai iced coffee I ordered wasn't anything special. Still, overall, this is certainly a destination level restaurant. It might be your first experience with Laotian food, but don't come here for that novelty. Come here because the food is absolutely delicious. read more

Everything we ordered was delicious and prices are very very reasonable. Portions of the main entrees are on the smaller side but still very good value considering the quality and also the location (you'd find cheaper Southeast Asian restaurants easily in the suburbs but of course their rent is much cheaper). The interior is somewhat plain and simple but not an issue this since the food is amazing and well priced. I was a bit worried that their food would be too spicy for me based on a few other reviews, but turned out the they had the perfect amount of spiciness for my tongue. I can't wait to go back to try their other items. read more

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Favorite restaurant in DC hands down! We lived in Raleigh for the past year and had to suffice with their Laotian restaurants (Brewery Bhavana is actually really cool, even my friends visiting from Brooklyn loved it) but we take all of our out-of-town guests here and it is always the go-to for birthdays, graduations, and random cravings. I'm not the most adventurous with the jungle menu, my favorite dish is usually the fish wrapped in banana leaves. read more

Truly loved this restaurant. The food was outstanding, the service was on point, the atmosphere was relaxing. Get the laotian deviled eggs. The chuenh Taohu (crispy tofu app) was a favorite of the S.O, as was the green papaya salad (Tom Muk Houng). It's hard to go wrong with any of their curry's, but the goat curry was unusual, tender, and left me yearning for more. Tasted the Muu Som which was also amazing. As a lover of spicy things... this place knows how to do spice, without overriding flavor. An amazing meal from start to finish! read more

We finished dinner over 3 hours ago and I am still full. The Yelp DC, Yelp NOVA, and Yelp MD Burbs crew got together for our holiday celebration. If you think a group of Yelp CMs and BAs indulge and eat a lot, well then, you would be correct. I cannot even begin to list everything we had, because we likely ate about 1/3 of the menu. I am going to give you the highlights, the best of the best, the tastiest of the tasty. As most know, Chef Seng opened up Bangkok Golden in the Seven Corners shopping center in Falls Church, which is a hidden gem with no frills good food. See my review to read about my love for the panang curry. Unlike BG, which has a complete Thai menu and complete Laotian menu, Thip Khao appears to be a completely Laotian menu, but if i am incorrect, please forgive me. On to the food! Appetizers - Siin Heng: sun-dried beef with ginger and sesame (great with the papaya salad) - Sai Qua: the lemongrass pork sausage is amazing and similar to the one at BG - Chuenh Peek Gai: crispy wings, basically sweet and sour wings, so good - Chuenh tofu: the best appetizer we had! Small pieces of tofu with a sweet and sour sauce - Naem Khao: crispy rice salad, which you can eat with lettuce as a wrap. - Papaya salad: so good, but I am not sure which one we ordered as there are a few on the menu, you likely cannot go wrong - Muu Som: braised pork belly with shimeji mushroom, onion, bell pepper, this was so good! - Mok Paa: Blue fish, steamed and wrapped in a banana leaf with curry paste and dill. Delicious - Fried catfish: I believe this was a special, but ask for it. Literally the best thing I ate. The catfish had a very light batter, which allowed you to just taste the batter and really experience the fish in a sauce that tasted to me like a mixture of fish sauce, garlic and spices. Yum. For dessert, we tried the avocado sticky rice, which was surprisingly super tasty, but hot! Like warm hot, not spicy hot. I got a thai iced tea (simply the best) and everyone at the table really enjoyed their various cocktails. They also have fresh whole coconut to sip on. It's a real coconut. With a straw. In case you did not get that point. Amazing. Thip Khao is a delicious and upscale spot in a bit of a rough area in Columbia Heights. Parking is sparse, so be on alert. It is worth the time and effort! read more

FISH FLAN SOUFFLE CRACK SMOOTHIE. What feelings does that invoke in your inner being?! No cheating!!!!!!!!!!!! Disgust?! Pleasure?! Happiness?! KNAP PAA = FISH FLAN SOUFFLE CRACK SMOOTHIE= HAPPINESS. You will get the KNAP PAA at Thip Khao, and YOU WILL LIKE IT. Get the KNAP PAA- Chilean Bass, and get a straw, a bib, and leave with a huge grin. What is KNAP PAA?!!? Your choice of fish, grilled inside banana leaves with curry paste, ginger, dill. I didn't know I needed this in my life on a regular basis until I had it, honestly to tell you the truth when I opened the banana leaf up I thought it looked like a fishy mess of gelatinous gingery dill weirdness, and I wish I had unseen what I saw. But to my surprise, my eyes enlarged as did my belly as soon as the first bite entered my mouth. The texture was so melty and flan like, that it just dissolved in my mouth and offered the most perfect fishy bite. Honestly, if I'm 90, with dentures, no ability to chew, please feed me this everyday for every meal please..... SO-Wash down that fish with a glass of the Thai Iced Tea while you're at it! Portion could be bigger for the tea, but all in all who can complain because it tasted so rich and decadent. NAEM KHAO- Crispy coconut rice, lime, scallions, sour pork, peanuts, cilantro, served with lettuce wraps. WOW the variety of textures meant that every bite felt like I was experiencing this dish in a different way! BLOOD SAUSAGE- If you're a fan of chinese sausage, give this a try it has a milder taste. Thank you Bad Saint for having a 2 hour wait, and thus allowing me to come to this Laotian food heaven...I'll be back!!! read more

Thip Khao, for what I thought would be Bangkok Golden's upscale sibling, is a more spacious, though no more fancier version of its predecessor. The illuminated wall cutouts were nice, but the bar and tables were your run-of- the-mill Asian restaurant features. Seemed like they were trying to embrace the industrial feel that is now as common as Starbucks. However, some little details showed lack of polish, taking away from this experience. For example, tableware could have been washed a little more carefully. My plate had these little black flecks all over it. They resembled small bits of ash. And my initial set of utensils looked grimy and really scratched up. I would expect newer looking forks and knives in a less-than-a- year-old restaurant. Service also wasn't consistent. Our main server was really nice and helpful, but the woman who helped us to our table and the "assistant server" both didn't seem too happy. They looked and acted grumpy the entire time. A smile wouldn't hurt. So I gave you all the negatives first. The good news is that Thip Khao's kitchen churns out some seriously delicious and unusual dishes, making all these things minor nuisances since, at the end of the day, you're here for the homey, pungent, and bold flavors of Laotian cuisine. Everything we ordered was on point. *Fish and tofu cakes (forgot the name). These were like fish balls in other Asian cuisines, but with tofu mixed in. They came served with a sweet and sour sauce. I can see this being a popular street snack. It was good, but probably my least favorite of everything we got. *Sadkoo yasai or tapioca balls stuffed with peanuts, radish, and cilantro--Really tasty, Reminded me of Vietnamese bo bia or the Chinese popiah with its tangy, sweet, and salty interior. Unlike popiah, the wrapper is stretchy tapioca, formed into cute little balls. Would definitely order this again. *Khao tom or rice congee with guinea fowl, poached egg for $3 more (your pick of salty duck or thousand year egg), and pork floss. Looked so comforting. My mom ordered this one and said it was well-seasoned and very filling. Very street-stallish. *Khao poon or coconut curry noodle soup.This is my go-to dish. I knew I should try something else from their brunch menu, but sometimes you gotta go to your comfort dish. This does it for me every time. My soup was spicy and very red (create your own bib?) and pleasantly salty. The fishy flavors might have been a tad too much for the hubby, but it was perfect for me. Had mine with tofu; you can also get chicken or cod. *Khao piek sen or rice noodle soup with cilantro, scallion, and fried shallots. The rice noodles are fat like banh canh or tapioca noodles. The broth, in contrast, is very clear. Hubby got the vegetarian stock for fun and was super pleased. He said he would definitely get this again, and that this was the ideal soup for him. *Khanom krok or coconut rice pancakes. Finally!!! This isn't even listed on the online brunch menu. It's my absolute favorite Lao/Thai dessert. Woohoo!!!!! Thip Khao's rendition is super flavorful, and they add on this yellow pudding thing, which makes it super special. Tip: Let the cakes sit for a little before extracting them from the little griddle; freshly cooked ones are a bit sticky, so not all will come out and you'll not get whole pieces. Some cool things: Little spice basket with add-ons like white pepper Regular, meat stock can be replaced with vegetarian stock upon request Menu items change pretty regularly. Weekend brunch menu offered This is as authentic Laotian food as you can probably outside of Laos in the DC area. At Thip Khao, you get bowls and plates that call to mind hawker or street stalls in in Asia. The portions are generous and the flavors are like something out of a Laotian grandmother's kitchen. The con is that you might receive hawker-quality service--friendly and efficient at its best and indifferent and negligent at its worst. Still, it doesn't get much better than this if you're looking for excellent Lao cuisine. 4.5 read more

This place is so, so, so delicious. I love Laotian/SE Asian flavors back where we're from, in NYC there's really only one place called Khe-Yo, which is fusion Laotian/fancier. Our friends love this place, and made a 7pm reservation a while in advance. Even though we were running late, they kindly accommodated, and sat us as soon as we arrived. It's good to make a res because this place gets SO packed. The ambiance is good, noisy and overall it's a good place for everyone: groups, dates, families. And service is really good - We started off with drinks - I had the cocktail with herb, basil, and my friend had the appletini- of sorts which was pretty strong. The boys share two tall boy beers of different IPAs. They had a bunch of regional cocktails, so plenty of choice. We started off with 3 appetizers. All were delicious: the sun dried beef jerky, so perfectly sticky, grilled, and cooked perfectly. Came with an awesome hot sauce. We had, perhaps, my favorite of the night, the pork sausage which was crispy on the outside and soft in the inside. Delicious. We also shared a plentiful minced pig ear salad, which was spot on with flavors and textures: lemongrass, fish sauce, peanut, cilantro, ginger, etc. Came with refreshing lettuce wraps. We continued with 3 mains. We had the grilled chicken kebab, which was dark meat and with the most delicious chili dipping sauce... Perfectly cooked yet again, with the right charring. We also had the banana leaf wrapped cod, which was soaked in coconut, sauteed veggies. Yum. And lettuce wrap. Which is so refreshing and healthy. We also had the pork belly, which was sauteed with veggies- probably my least favorite because it was very gelatinous and not crispy. It was just fatty. Lastly, we got the classic standard, Laotian sticky rice, which was six-grain rice not white rice. They gave with each "course" (appetizer, mains) and the meal was well paced. We ended with the dessert which wasn't my favorite. We wanted the coconut rice soup (#3) but got #2 which was pumpkin puree, toasted rice, and pumpkin seeds. I also washed it down with a delicious Thai Iced tea. Highly recommend, $150 after all said and done but we ordered a ton of food. read more

I've never been the girl who wants to go to the Italian restaurant, or the tex-mex joint on dates. Give me spice, variety, power punches of flavor----and you'll find me smiling and happy. So when my sister told me that we could try a Laotian restaurant---I was practically in the car before she finished her thought. You walk into this place and its crisp, and clean, and full of Asian folks on staff. Promising---very promising. I had to excuse myself to the ladies room, and praise baby deities alike---it was very clean. We arrived to a restaurant with a couple of tables filled-- at 5:30pm (bc I'm 95 years old and was starving.) By the time we left, it was jam packed. First thing in the menu that we saw was a vegan dumpling appetizer. Why yes, we will. If I could have eaten 16 of these things....I would have. I'm warning you, the outside is VERY gummy. So if you're a texture person don't swing this way. But the inside is simple and sweetish, and so good. When we first sat down they brought us a basket of fresh green beans and cucumbers with a slightly sweetened chili paste. We used that with our dumplings. By the way---could not restaurants please use this concept of fresh veggies instead of bread or chips!? The waiter read us the specials, and one of the dishes he mentioned was a "very Laotian" dish that was his favorite. You could get it with snakehead fish or catfish. My sister can't eat catfish so I went with the snakehead---which is an invasive species, and let's face it---I sort of felt like a badass eating my fish called snakehead. It was basically a fish with onions, mushrooms, eggplant served in a clear broth and holy moly it was amazing. I asked for it very spicy and it hit the spicy spot. My sister asked for a salmon dish where the fish was wrapped in a banana leaf. Both of our dishes were served with rice. Y'all.... So so so good. I can't remember eating dinner at a place where the food was so dang good in a long time. Definitely hit this place up. Solid food, cute waiters with their adorable man buns, and a crisp atmosphere. No regrets. read more

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Excellent food (spicy) and service. Also community oriented which is nice. The dining room is very pretty and what a chef!!

The only place I can have fried pig ears in dc (as far as I know). Love their authentic Lao dishes! It can be quite spicy so ask for "less spicy" if you are not a big fan of spicy food. read more

Holy bageezers! I felt like I was eating food back in Asia! If you're in the area and have no idea what to eat, definitely check this place out. I had come in with a party of eight for lunch and did we pig out! When we first entered here, I really liked how the hostess had a warm greeting and was quickly able to seat us. The decorations in there are really nice, and I love the yellow color they have on the walls. It just made me happy to eat. Now the food. *gasps* So glad that I wore a dress when I came here! If you aren't sure what you want to eat, just order something as I don't think you'd find something that you would not like. With my group of girlfriends, we pretty much ordered as much as we could and did family style dining. I love the Laab. You would not be disappointed as it has so much good flavoring in that. A dish that stood out to me cause I love eating it in Thailand was the Khao Soi. I really enjoyed the flavorful broth. Just typing about it makes my mouth water thinking about it. There are rice noodles in it and I love how there were some bean sprouts in the mix of all the other delicious items in it. I don't know the name, but try the duck head. Just try it. Looking at it, I was a little worried to eat it, but then I took my first bite and thought I was in heaven. The customer service here was really well. My glass was always mainly full of water and I didn't have to even ask anyone to fill it...ever! If we needed something else for the table, someone was always quick and prompt to bring it to us. Everyone was always nice and polite. Always a plus to have great customer service while you are enjoying some awesome food! read more

Thip Khao is the only authentic Lao restaurant you can get around here besides a Lao person's mama's house. The commute from Nova traffic on a weeknight was terrible but dinner definitely made up for it. I highly recommend the beef jerky, Lao sausage, and mok paa (get the sea bass wrapped in banana leaf). Those were my top three favorite dishes. We also had some beef laab, pork skewers and this fried wonton looking dish that I don't think is Lao....but was still good! I wanted to try a ton more but my stomach couldn't keep up. Reservations are highly recommended since this place gets packed quickly. I had a great first experience here and plan to go back. Thanks to the owner for the hospitality! read more

Do I miss Thaithanic ? Meh - I do miss 20 ounce $3 draughts - but I digress. Thip Khao blew me away. After just coming back from a South East Asia trip .. I had a hankering, for an American interpretation of Laotian food. What obliterated my mind was the fact the food was legit to its region. The restaurant itself is not much different (interior wise) then its predecessor Thaithanic. What is different is the quality of food and service. The two of us ate there for $40, which included two entrees and one appetizer - not bad. Now, as y ou may know, I am masochistic and punish myself with spicy levels many of you would deem le-retarded. When our waitress insisted we order the Rockfish Ceviche and Chicken Laab medium, I questioned her for five minutes. After finally convincing me, I subsided. Our dishes came out - they demolished me. So much spice - so much nice! The great thing, its a slow burn while the flavors continue to get more involved and delicious. Props for turning it up and keeping it together! They do have some very funky native dishes there which you may find yourself questioning the validity of such fare - my suggestions, suck it up and adventure around the menu a bit. Lots of awesome food. As much as I love spicy food, I was hoping there would be a vinegar side to douse some of the flame out. Nonetheless, it was bearable (except for the next day, but that's a whole other story not appropriate for yelp teehee). Will be back with the quickness ! read more

**Disclaimer** This review was for a visit a few months ago I was way too excited to try this place when I read that an authentic Laotian restaurant was opening up in the DC area. I'm from Laos so I was glad that there was finally going to be a place to eat real Lao food without eating at home or at a relative's house. My husband and I decided to go on a Sunday around 4ish. We got there and the host was on the phone and didn't acknowledge us at all. We waited for her to get off the phone but she took forever so finally a waitress who saw us took us to our seats. The restaurant was not busy at all since it was in between the lunch and dinner rush. Anyway we got to our seats, our waiter came by, poured us water and left and literally didn't say anything at all. We looked over the menu, decided what we wanted and waited for our waiter to come by- which took forever. He also took forever to refill out drinks. Here is my food review: We ordered sausage, nam khao (crispy fried rice), beef tongue, and papaya salad. All of these items are pretty much a staple for Lao food and it's almost everyone's favorite (minus the tongue). Complimentary starters: Two slices of cucumbers, two limp green beans, and jao bong. The jao was good, but 4 slices of veggies total? Come on.. I know it was just the two of us but how much did that really cost to serve? A Penny? Sticky rice: Let me just say... purple rice is used only for desserts. Let's stop being fancy and just use regular sticky rice for the main food. Sausage: overcooked, dry, way too much lemongrass, burnt Nam Khao: too much fish sauce, too much sugar, too oily, and I've never had sliced red onions in nam khao. EVER. Gave me and my husband a stomach ache after. Papaya Salad: I like my papaya salad on the sweeter side but this was way too sweet and not enough crunch. I'm going to assume they either used half green papaya and half riped papaya- which is gross because it was just soggy. Either that or they just used old papaya. Beef Tongue: the only decent dish but still a little on the salty side. This may be a brutal review but I was so disappointed considering this was the FIRST Lao place to open and I would love it if people knew just how good the food is! And to see that there is nothing "authentic" about this place was and how rude the staff is, was just so disappointing. I've been to Laos before as well and yea, no, this place does not qualify for authentic. I probably won't go back to this place unless someone tells me their food improves. read more

Been here twice! Loved the menu, the food and the fast service. This is the perfect restaurant to go to if you want to be adventurous and explore a new type of cuisine. read more

Thip Khao - Laotian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came here with a small group on a Saturday evening and put our name down. I like how you can give them a mobile number and they text when your table is ready. We walked over to Sticky Fingers to get a snack while we were waiting and got texted as we were heading back--perfect timing! One person had been to Thip Khao like 5 times already and we had read good things about the restaurant in a magazine, so we were excited to try it out. Overall, I highly recommend! The food is pretty amazing and I'd definitely come back the next time I'm in town. We ordered the Pak Nam, a crispy watercress salad with tofu, tamarind-lychee sauce, dried shrimp, cashews, and green mango. This dish was definitely the standout. Everything about it was perfect!! The watercress and tofu were that perfect combo of being what I think of as "dry fried"--fried but almost dry with no extra oil and nicely crispy but not burnt. It was almost light and refreshing, a bit unusual for a fried dish, but it was executed super well. The Kua Mee (wok rice noodles w fish sauce caramel, we got w fried tofu) and Kua Khao Jaew Bong (fermented chili fried rice, we ordered w pork belly) were both really delicious, however if I came again I wouldn't order them together since they seemed a bit similar when eaten together. The one dish that was disappointing was the Gaeng Phet, a red coconut curry soup with blue catfish. We had a hard time tasting the coconut and it was pretty unremarkable compared to the other dishes. They have quite an extensive drinks menu, which seemed to me to be a funny mix of British and other drinks. I was surprised to see a Pimm's Cup on there, but perhaps it has to do with the history of Laos? I wish I would have noticed their interesting selection of ciders while I was there! I *love* cider and they have ones I've never heard of before, like Txopinondo (a dry Basque cider) and Argus Fermentables Ginger Perry (unfiltered tart ginger cider). If you sit outside during the summer, wear bug spray! My friends and I all got bitten pretty badly by mosquitoes. Another person sprayed one of those Deet-heavy bug sprays on herself and it wafted over to us and I ended up breathing some in...not fun! Despite moving the citronella candle by us right underneath our table, we still got bitten more. It would be great if they had some of those bug zapper machines nearby. I'd say to check out the menu beforehand--our server didn't really hold our hand or provide a lot of guidance or explanation of the menu. He was nice enough and attentive though, so no real complaints there. Oh and getting to the bathroom is a little awkward, bc the end row of tables you have to walk past is pretty close to the wall. All in all, pretty wonderful! I highly recommend and want to check out their sister restaurant Padaek in Falls Church. read more

The best thing about this place was one beer...Wookey Jack from Firestone. In all seriousness, that's not too far off from the truth. Sadly, the other beer we had was a draft that tasted flat. The Wookey was fortunately in a bottle. What we had: 1) Quail- note the menu doesn't say "crispy" like the wings. Unfortunately, the quail is VERY CRISPY because it's VERY FRIED. It's also very greasy. It was served with a sauce that sadly could only be described as an Asian mumbo sauce. It was super sweet which would have made sense MAYBE if the quail was spicy but it was really just greasy fried quail. So disappointing. 2) Snakehead fish from the Jungle menu. I really expected this dish to be served warm but it was actually cold. That lent to a strange texture/taste to the dish. The spice/heat factor was spicy but overall the dish was one-dimensional. 3) The grilled seabass in banana leaves was the only dish that we actually finished. I think that had more to do with the 2 disappointing items we had but we eventually agreed that the dish was well prepared and had the most interesting flavors. It definitely, for the size, was not a $19 entree. Also, the sticky rice we each received wasn't very good - it was very hard. We've been to Little Serow a few times and really like spicy, Northern thai-style food. There are many similarities between Lao and northern Thai cuisine To spend $55 on 3 dishes whereas at Little Serow, for $90, get about 7 different dishes, all prepared close to perfection, including a basket of super fresh vegetables and all the rice you desire, I don't think there is much question that Thip Khao is a pretty poor restaurant outing. I only mention this because some have liked the idea of spending 1/2 the price and waiting 1/10th of the time compared to Little Serow but don't kid yourself, you get what you pay for. read more

During our DC trip, we were craving for some Asian food & this place really hit the spot! Their tamarind soup & papaya salad were bomb! We also ordered the catfish dish which was surprisingly very well prepared as catfish can sometimes have an unpleasant taste. For dessert, we ordered the sticky rice with pumpkin puree which was pleasantly tasty & not too sweet. This place is a must try when in DC! read more

The pork sausage is pretty good! But the papaya salad has too much sauce, too sweet & salty. read more

Thip Khao - Laotian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Yesterday (12/5/14) was the grand opening of Thip Khao. I was able to sample some of their food at the DC Emporiyum event and I've read a couple of articles in DCist, Washington Post, DC Eater, and other DC papers and blogs about this new restaurant. Also, I've eaten at Chef Seng's sister restaurant, Bangkok Golden, which specializes in Thai and Laos food. So I was eager to try Thip Khao. Since it was opening night, the place was incredibly crowded. We had to wait about 45 minutes to get a table. We all ordered drinks of some kind and ordered a few dishes. They've got a bartender, Jack Caminos, who makes typical drinks like Thai iced tea and iced soy milk with Pandan leaf or coconut juice, but he also makes cocktails with a Laos spin, such as an Old Fashioned with tamarind and charred sugar or Thai rum with chilies. +Moak Pah: steamed fish wrapped in banana leaves, curry paste, and dill. We opted for flounder ($15), but we got sea bass ($19). +Ping: Grilled pork neck ($12) +Yum Muk Plee: banana blossom salad, steamed pig's ear, spicy tamarind sauce, cashew nut ($13) +Laab Gai: minced salad, toasted rice, garlic, scallion, cilantro, mint ($11). Sticky rice in thip khaos (aptly named for the Lao bamboo rice basket) and lettuce for comes out with most dishes. Most Laotian food is eaten with your hands, so don't feel shy about doing this here. You can wrap food into the lettuce to make wraps or scoop rice with the food. All the dishes were really good. I was even shocked by how spicy the yum muk plee ended up being. Even though I eat Chinese Sichuan food all the time, the level of this spice took me by surprise. I should mention that there is actually a separate menu for more adventurous eaters. It's called "Let's Go to the Jungle" and features dishes like papaya salad with crab and shrimp paste and chilies; spicy blood sausage; grilled beef tongue; fried intestines; and much more. The restaurant features Laotian/Southeast Asian artwork and pottery. Service wasn't too bad, but since it was opening night, dishes and drinks were forgotten or mixed up. One of my friends didn't get his drink, some of our dishes were mixed up, and we had to constantly ask for more lettuce and rice. Can't complain too much since it was their first night entertaining the lot of DC. I'm sure service will get better with time. First come, first serve for the opening weekend. However, the restaurant is taking reservations for dinner starting Monday, December 8. Great for groups and communal feasting! read more

Definitely some delicious Thai and Laotian food! Very accessible in the Columbia heights neighborhood and flavorful. I do recall the serving sizes being a bit scarce but could've been a bad day for me. I ordered the pad thai, good way to gauge the quality of the food and they definitely killed it. I'll be back to try more entrees read more

This was a great dinner. I've never tried Lao food but I read that it was a lot like Thai cuisine. I like this place better than any Thai I've had before. My husband and I started off with the fried quail and fried pork ears. Both were great! The quail was fried and seasoned to perfection. I needed no dipping sauce to add flavor. The pig ears were awesome. It reminded me of pork cracklings it more tender. Both appetizers were served so fresh we had to let them cook down for a moment before digging in. The chili sauce that is served with the cucumbers and pork is delicious. I ordered a main dish with pork belles, wood ear mushrooms, galangal, tomatoes, and it was very good. I had a guava punch, it was tasty, not too sweet. The only negatives I had while here were to my main course came out about 8-10 minutes before my husbands. Other than that, the staff was great, the food was delicious, and the restaurant was attractive. read more

Thip Khao - Guava Punch, has quite a punch. - Laotian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Situation: Came here with a friend to try Laotian food and see what the rave was all about. We arrived at 7:30 pm on a Friday and the place was packed! So we went to Target, came back at around 9:30 pm, and, though the place was still busy, got seated immediately. The Food: 1 Sai Oua (pork sausage): $10 1 Tam Som (mango salad): $9 1 Awk Beef (beef curry): $11 1 coconut juice: $6 1 Avocado rice: $6 Total with tax, no tip: $49.50 The Good: - Thip Khao is one of those Asian places that have "made it". That means the interior is quite modern, with high ceilings, large windows, and a classy decor. It's the opposite of the mom and pop Asian restaurant we're used to: it's clean looking! For some this could be a drawback. - The food is very pleasant looking. They've put an effort into style and presentation. You feel you're in for a treat. It makes for a special night. - The avocado rice is very good. - The menu is extensive with a more risque one replete with pig ears, beef tongues, and chicken livers. - The service is good, the establishment friendly. The Not So Good - As good as the food looks, it tastes pretty mediocre, at least what we had. The beef in the curry was tough and tasteless, the pork sausage was very unimpressive, and the mango salad was unbalanced as it was just very spicy. And the sticky rice though fun to eat with one's hands lost its allure after several bits. (Only the avocado rice would be a repeat buy.) - As some other reviewers have noted, the prices are on the high side. $6 for a coconut! - Long waits. Conclusion: Thip Khao is a solid 3.5 star restaurant. You're eating in a classy place, the food looks beautiful, and the service is friendly. But it is more style than substance. The food is mediocre, prices are high, and the initial allure gives way to thoughts that the food is no different than the average Thai place. If I'm looking for a fun place to take someone and share an evening of experiencing a new cuisine, I might take them here. But if I'm looking to indulge my taste buds at an affordable price, I'd go somewhere else. read more

No way to make reservations. No online system. No one is answering the phone. Voicemail is full. Walk-ins are an 1 1/2 wait. I get it that sometimes it's hard to manage the customer flow. But investing in some reservations system or at least a digital voicemail (!) is kind of expected in 2019. read more

What good is life without second chances? I'm glad I gave thip khao one. My one disappointment this time around was the lack of the Mann said you should drink this cocktail. Moving on.. SAI OUA (G) Pork Sausage, lemongrass, peanut, ginger, Jaew Mak Len: Our waitress recommended this sausage from heaven. First, it's just a sausage, I'd say about the size of a brat. Secondly, it was delightfully crispy on the outside and perfectly juicy in the middle. Third, I now want ginger and lemongrass with every piece of sausage I ever eat. It's such an unexpected flavor for sausage and was my run away favorite dish. ORDER THIS. PAK NAM (G V) Crispy Watercress, shrimps, tamarind sauce, mango, green apple, cashew: Salads don't always excite me, this one did. The slightly sweet flavor with the shrimp and the crisp and the, wait why didn't I order two of these I want it to myself? KNAP PAH (G) Grilled fish wrapped in banana leaves, herbs, ginger, dill: Good. Dill is still a newer spice to my palate so I'm working out whether I like it. GANG DANG (G V) Red curry, coconut milk, Thai eggplant, green bean, Kabocha squash, sweet potato leaves, basil.: I ordered with beef and was pleasantly surprised by the heat level - I didn't have to ask it just was. They also give you some sitcky rice on the side which is super fun to eat. And some pork rinds with an addictive sauce as a side. For desert we had these little coconut cake things, piping hot, crispy on the outside, googey in the middle. I was so stuffed from gorging on dinner that I couldn't finish but, um, yum. read more

I stand by everything I said about the regular menu (and I'm happy to see from other Yelpers' reviews that orm sometimes makes an appearance), but I'm back to say: Try the Jungle Menu! If you are ever going to try hearts and ears and such, this is a great place to do it. They present these cuts so well butchered and with such amazing flavors, that you probably won't even realize you're eating something outside your normal comfort zone. We had the pig's ear salad, laab with pork skin and liver, crispy fried intestine, chicken hearts, ceviche, and a crazy spicy papaya salad. And honestly, the most challenging thing was that papaya salad--they are not messing around with those chili peppers. If you don't want to commit to a full Jungle Menu dinner, any of those dishes would make a great appetizer to share with the table. I happily wolfed down everything, but my favorite dish was probably the chicken hearts--they had a strong grill flavor, a richness like dark meat, and a slightly sweet sauce. read more

Amazing food, the Nam Khao was the best salad I've ever had! Helpful staff and nice ambiance.

Absolutely loved this place! It's so refreshing to see a true Lao restaurant represented as Lao. Too often you see places operating under the facade of a Thai restaurant, so kudos to Chef Seng for bringing the Lao food movement to light! Now to the food, I ATE SO MUCH. No really I did. My friends and I tried almost everything on the menu. The stand out dishes for us were the Naem Khao, Moak Pah, and Sai Oua. Great flavors, nice presentation and easy to share. The atmosphere was also really nice. Very big space for DC and relaxed. The staff was really friendly and kind too. This captures the Lao culture perfectly. We didn't try the jungle menu, because we had stuffed our faces. But I'll definitely be back to try it next time! read more