At Thip Khao, not only will you see other people, you'll practically be sharing your meal with them. The cozy wooden tables at this lively Lao restaurant in Columbia Heights are packed close together—which works well if the only person you've eaten with this week is your boss over the last-minute Zoom that should've been an email. The restaurant is something of a cult classic, a haunt for just about any occasions and that's because the food here is obsessively good, like the mee kathi, a noodle soup we can’t stop dreaming about made with a rich red coconut curry, peanuts, cabbage, bean sprout, mint and cilantro.

Thip Khao is helping put Laotian cuisine on the map, even scoring a spot on Bon Appétit’s “50 Best New Restaurants.” Ease into Lao with laab—a minced meat dish with explosive flavor thanks to toasted rice, scallion, cilantro, and mint. Or, try one of the curries or noodle soups whose flavors aren’t a far off from Thai food (which, let’s face it, you order weekly). Once you’re ready to take on Chef Seng’s “Let’s Go to the Jungle Menu,” laden with heat and offal, don’t miss the spicy pig’s blood sausage.

Some of the things I love about Korean food are very much the heart and soul of Laos food," says Barreto when talking about Thip Khao, the Laotian restaurant by chef Seng Luangrath, who fled Laos as a child and learned how to cook in a refugee camp in Thailand. Barreto describes the cuisine as "spicy funky fermented" and reminisces about the first time Luangrath offered him Sai Oua — spicy pork sausage served with charred green chili dipping sauce. "It was just amazing. I've never had anything like it. It was sour, fatty, grilled, delicious, served with herbs and peanuts and chilies. And this is what I really love — these are all really bright, punchy flavors in one dish and it has pork.

Thip Khao: When Laotian-born chef Seng Luangrath took over the Virginia-based Thai restaurant Bangkok Golden, her short menu of Lao specialities quickly became the most in-demand items being offered. Thip Khao was born from that menu and less than two years later, it’s one of the best places to eat in the entire city. Luangrath, who co-owns the restaurant with her CIA-trained son chef Bobby Pradachith, serves an unapologetically funky menu laced with house-made fish sauce and mountains of herbs and peppers grown in her home garden.

But if I had to pick my absolute favorite, it’d have to be Chef Seng Luangrath’s Naem Khoa (Laotian crispy rice salad). It’s always on the menu at her flagship Thip Khao and Padaek in Falls Church (although it’s not on the recent opening menu at Baan Mae, I hope it’s just a matter of time). The salad starts with coconut rice, lightly crisped and a bit warm (take-out unfortunately loses the crisp) and then tosses it with peanut, lime, scallion, cilantro, sour pork, mint, banana blossom, red onion, and a sprinkling of pixie dust.

With a passion to share her Lao culture and food with the masses, Chef Seng Luangrath opened up this restaurant in the Columbia Heights neighborhood in early 2015. Lao food is known for its heat so be sure to check out the menu descriptions which include ingredients like chili and spicy sauces. Guests may chose from appetizers like sai oua (spicy herbal pork sausage), salads such as tam som (green papaya salad) and soups and noodles.

Thanks to Thip Khao, Laotian cuisine is having its day in DC. This Columbia Heights restaurant serves up a menu of classic dishes like curry puffs, crispy coconut rice with sour pork, khao soi soup, and various meats grilled in banana leaves. You can choose your protein for most of the mains--with options like tofu, chicken, salmon, Chinese sausage, and Chilean sea bass--mostly within the $15 range.

After debuting her acclaimed Thip Khao in D.C.’s Columbia Heights neighborhood in 2014, she introduced a small plates and cocktail joint, Hanumanh, that recently reopened as a Southeast Asian eatery called Baan Mae (which translates as “Mom’s house” in Lao). Thip Kao is the first Lao restaurant to garner a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation. Luangrath has twice been nominated for a James Beard award.

Thanks to Thip Khao, Laotian cuisine is having its day in DC. This Columbia Heights restaurant serves up a menu of classic dishes like curry puffs, crispy coconut rice with sour pork, khao soi soup, and various meats grilled in banana leaves. You can choose your protein for most of the mains—with options like tofu, chicken, salmon, Chinese sausage, and Chilean sea bass—mostly within the $15 range.

Chef Seng Luangrath and Bobby Pradacith’s Lao restaurants in DC and Falls Church are both open for takeout. It’s hard to miss on either menu, but the crunchy rice salad strewn with herbs, morsels of sausage and peanuts, and lettuce leaves for wrapping is a must (it can also be made veggie). Available for carryout from Padaek; order online for Thip Khao._

Luangrath falls into the rare category of women who are both chefs and restaurant owners. As a young child she lived in a refugee camp in Thailand, where she fled to from Laos during the Vietnam War. Eventually, she discovered an opportunity to pursue her love of cooking, and since 2010 she has been a chef and restaurant owner in D.C.

When Seng Luangrath opened Thip Khao in 2014, it was one of the first Laotian restaurants in the country. Now, it is one of several in the DMV metro area alone. The full-service concept has plenty of indoor seating, but if you prefer a cooling breeze while chowing on your khao piak sen, getting a table can be harder to come by.

Thip Khao in Columbia Heights has served Laotian food since 2014. Highlights of the menu minclude kua mee, which is wok-tossed thin rice noodles, fish sauce caramel, egg, beansprouts, scallions and Cilantro. Another favorite is muu som, braised pork belly with lime leaves, ginger, toasted chili and more.

If you haven’t tried Laotian food yet, you’re high key missing out. Located at 3462 14th Street NW, this Columbia Heights Bib Gourmand is everything you never knew you needed. And FYI, their food packs some serious heat so consider yourself warned because chef Seng doesn’t mess around.

Having dinner at Thip Khao felt like going home in the best way. Thip Khao opened in 2014 by Chef Seng Luangrath and is now co-owned with her son Bobby. Since the opening, Thip Khao and Chef Seng have made a cultural impact on Lao food in the US.

The list, just published today, focuses mostly on restaurants in the District — from Thip Khao to Ethiopic to Reveler’s Hour — but includes a few in Maryland and Virginia. Mama Chang made the list in Fairfax, though Alexandria was shut out.

In addition to sampling signature dishes from celebrated local restaurants such as Incheon, Tiger Fork, Maketto, China Chilcano, Thip Khao and Baltimore’s Nihao, attendees will enjoy cultural and musical performances throughout the evening.

Thip Khao put Laotian food on the map in D.C., and their papaya salad represents the dish that's ubiquitous throughout Lao and central Thailand. It's bold and flavored with spicy chili, umami fish sauce, sour lime, tangy tamarind and more.

One of the hottest newbies- in more ways than one- is Thip Khao. Thip Khao, serving up Laotian food in Columbia Heights, is my restaurant of choice for Valentine’s Day dinner. A romantic dinner for two on Valentine’s Day is traditional.

With a passion to share her Lao culture and food with the masses, Chef Seng Luangrath opened up this restaurant in the Columbia Heights neighborhood in...

restaurants where you can find Laotian cuisine, this Columbia Heights restaurant excels in offering classic Lao dishes with excellent service.

Thip Khao: This Laotian restaurant on upper 14th Street has gotten a lot of buzz since Laotian native Chef Seng opened it in 2014.

Thip Khao: A hidden gem serving authentic Laotian cuisine, known for its flavorful papaya salad, sticky rice, and noodle dishes.