Pakaoma Thai-Lao Diner

Larb

The Lao version — minced meat tossed with toasted rice powder, fresh herbs, lime, and padaek for a funky, herbaceous depth that separates it from Thai larb

Nam Khao

Crispy rice salad — fried rice balls crumbled and tossed with sour pork, herbs, peanuts, and a hit of fish sauce; a quintessential Lao dish done right

Papaya Salad

Lao-style som tum with padaek and dried shrimp — funkier and more complex than the Thai-American version, with serious heat available on request

Sticky Rice

Steamed glutinous rice served in a traditional bamboo basket — the essential Lao table anchor for eating with larb, papaya salad, and grilled dishes

Pad See Ew

Wide rice noodles stir-fried with egg and Chinese broccoli — a reliable Thai staple executed with good wok char

Green Curry

Thai green curry with coconut milk and seasonal vegetables — fragrant and balanced, though the Lao dishes are the stronger reason to visit