Great food and great service. Would recommend their ribs in peace, pandan creme brulee and crying out lao read more

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Amazing Laotian food tucked away in Rockville. Good to ask server for recommendations if you are not sure. Chive pancake, beef ribs, and noodle with veggies/ pork were yummy choices. read more

This was my second visit to Eat a Lao. I've also dined at Padaek (both locations) and Thip Khao numerous times, so I have a good point of reference for Lao cuisine in the area. One reason I enjoy Eat a Lao is that it's a much easier commute for us. The service has been consistently good, and the staff pays attention to how you want your dishes prepared. During this visit, I requested a lower spice level so I could better appreciate the flavors, and they accommodated that perfectly. The Nam Khao was decent, but it wasn't my favorite. I wasn't a fan of the size and texture of some of the ingredients, and I personally prefer the version served at their sister restaurant. The standout dish of the meal was the beef drunken noodles. They were packed with flavor, perfectly cooked, and something I would order every single time. The crab fried rice had good flavor as well, but the texture was a bit too mushy for my liking. The ribs were another highlight--tender, flavorful, and generously portioned. Unfortunately, the Lao papaya salad was a miss for me. It leaned too heavily on the lime, which overpowered the dish, and it lacked the funky, savory depth that I look for in a great Lao-style papaya salad. read more

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Eat at Lao offers a large menu featuring Vietnamese, Thai and Laotian cuisine. We made a reservation for our Friday night dinner and it's good that we did because the place was packed! I had never tried Laotian food before and was looking forward to it. However, when I discovered that most of the Laotian dishes were pork-based, I skewed more toward the Thai menu. We tried a few menu items to share -- the pad Thai, a spicy larb chicken salad, an appetizer and crème brûlée for dessert. All of the food was food, but the larb chicken salad was most memorable because it was truly spicy!! It was actually too spicy for our enjoyment and we only ate a little of it. It was an adventure!! The interior is really cute and the service was friendly and fairly fast considering how busy they were. If you've never tried Laotian food or want access to a variety of Asian dishes, this is the place to do it because the menu is so diverse. read more

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Loved this place! Quick and delicious service. We had the fried rice and pork belly. I'd definitely recommend. read more

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The owners also run my favorite Thai spot so I had to stop by and try Eat a Lao. The space was nicely lit and had ample seating. Service was quick and friendly. I went with my lao friend and she said some of the Lao food can be a hit or miss. Everything tasted good to me though. Service for Togo orders is great too. I ordered online and was able to pickup in 15 minutes. The bucket of drinks option is pretty nice for larger parties. read more

Eat A Lao - Vietnamese Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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Hidden in the back of this plaza, Eat A Lao is an unassuming place. Can't say I've ever had Laotian food, so while Eat A Lao serves Viet & also Thai, we came here just to try their Lao stuff. - Crispy Chive Cakes: very nice, not overly "onion-y" in taste with a chewy, almost mochi-like center, but crispy on the outside and a very nice complimentary dipping sauce! - Lao Fried Chicken: this was interesting and the sauce on these wings didn't feel quite as palate-pleasing as other Asian-flavored combos - Lao Udon Noodle Soup: thick, clear chewy noodles. This dish was reminiscent of childhood Teo Chew noodle dishes (aka flavorful and fulfilling) - Sugar Cane Drink: was decent but tasted of they added something else besides just having sugar cane. The place was clean and spacious. Will def come back again! read more

Eat A Lao - Crispy Chive Cakes - Vietnamese Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Service is quick especially on weekends where it gets pretty busy. Servers are friendly and attentive, explaining the dishes, they routinely stop by to check on you. We ordered som tum(Thai papaya salad), basil pork crisp(moo krob) and don't leaf me alone. Presentation of the dishes was well done and food quite flavorful. Love the fresh crunch of the papaya and the spicy kick of the som tum. The basil pork crisp was not quite crispy and a bit too sweet. The tilapia dish, don't leaf me alone was quite interesting with the different sauces and condiments adding dimension to the dish. Looking forward to trying other dishes next time. read more

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This place never disappoints. My friend and I went to have lunch. We were pleasantly greeted as we walked in, and promptly seated. The dining room was empty since we were the first ones for lunch. I got the Chop Chop Basil with chicken, I requested very spicy. It was absolutely delicious. My friend got Pad Thai Noodles which she loved. By the time we were ready to leave the place was full. It's pleasantly decorated and clean. I look forward to returning to try other items on the menu. read more

Eat A Lao - Pad Thai - Vietnamese Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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Food was fantastic and flavorful. Definitely recommend eating in over getting delivery. Also come with a big group so you can try more things. This food is better when hot and fresh. Got the ribs, fried fish, pork and the larb salad. There's so many things on the menu I want to try. I'll definitely be back. read more

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I am not as familiar with Laotian cuisine so I was not entirely sure what I was getting into. However, there was a Thai restaurant nearby my house that also served a few Laotian dishes so I was certainly looking forward to my visit to Eat A Lao. I have to say the menu was very overwhelming with so many options and only a few things I was familiar with. To start, the drinks- easy choice I opted for the Sweet tiger Taro! The drink was not too sweet and very aesthetically pleasing. My husband and I ordered the crispy chive cake, LFC , Bermuda Triangle and mussels ahoy for apps. They were all delicious. The fried items were so crispy and light! The mussels were delicate and not overcooked! We also ordered the papaya salad which I do order where ever I go, as this is my favorite and this one did not disappoint. It was light, refreshing, crunchy and tangy all at once! The MVP of this meal was the Kua Kua noodles. This dish is overwhelming when it arrives as it's loaded with the grilled octopus, shrimp, noodles and sides but it is worth every penny!! Everything was cooked perfectly and works so well with each other! The staff were also very friendly, each one checking in on us and all working well together! I highlyyyyyy recommend this spot if you're in the area. read more

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I toured Southeast Asia and had some fine dining. This restaurant compares well to what I had over there. I began with a Thai salad. The portion was generous, and the spice blend was just right. I went with spare ribs next. Also great seasoning, and this portion size was beyond generous. I had to take half of them home. Lastly Tom Kha coconut soup. Once again, 10 shrimp was a lot for one portion Mushrooms and veggies added complexity. They got the broth just right. And I should add that each dish can be dialed up or down on a heat index. I dialed it down and it was just right for me. Beware that the restaurant is around the side so you don't see it from Rockville Pike. But it's there. Good service and a huge selection of menu choices puts you in the driver seat. It's easy to recommend them. read more

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First of all this unassuming location was such a hidden gem, tucked in the little places of business where the famous Duck Donuts, Crispy and Juicy and Sushi house were. Is this very lovely restaurant which you can indulge in Laotian cuisine. My bestie and i ordered a Not so Lao platter which was $46 bucks which was a good deal for 2 people to eat. Comes with sticky rice, and all sorts of meat from beef, chicken, pork belly, pork rinds, sausages,papaya salad and pickled radish and carrot salad. It was really well made. The made it medium spicy which was great since we are both south east asian ladies who loved spice. Oh they did not hold back on that i am telling you. So if you aren't into spicy food, then make sure to ask for the milder version. Because oh my gosh it was spicy but good spicy. Culturally accurate spicy. It was such a good meal. We ate half and took half of it. Because it was plentiful. The servers were nice and accommodating. They always asked if we were okay. Made sure the spice level was acceptable for us. I was also delighted how beautifully decorated the whole inside of the restaurant was. I enjoyed my meal. We were tucked in the very corner. It was nice it was like they knew it was our besties girls night and wanted us to have a little corner to talk and eat well. I enjoyed my meal the entire time and i was pleased with this wonderful new addition to my favorite restaurant i can frequent to. They had plenty of patrons coming in big groups too. I love everything and we will definitely come back for more! read more

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Tried this spot for the first time on Thursday and I'm really glad we came early (we had a 5:30pm reservation for 6 people)! By the time we were finishing up, the place had filled up quickly. The restaurant has a casual vibe with plenty of room for different seating arrangements, from solo diners to larger groups like ours. Service was excellent - our server was extremely attentive; when someone at our table dropped a chopstick, he immediately offered us a pair of chopsticks because he "heard one fall on the ground." Impressive for a casual spot like this! He also asked if spice levels were okay for each dish after we were served our food, and continued to make sure we didn't need anything throughout our meal. One of the biggest perks to coming with a larger group is being able to sample a wide variety of dishes in one sitting, which is exactly what we did. We ordered the Baby Monster (spicy pork bone soup), Laotian Papaya Salad, Belly of the Beast, Pad Thai Noodles with Chicken, Drunken Noodles with Chicken, Mekong Delta, and the Crab Meat Fried Rice. We also got a supersized La La La Longan drink for the table, which was quite sweet - almost deceptively so, as it can make you feel thirstier than expected. Probably will skip on this drink next time! The standout favorite was the Baby Monster soup. It featured medium-sized chunks of tender pork, many with cartilage cooked soft enough to chew through. The broth struck a great balance of refreshing, spicy and savory all at once. The Laotian papaya salad was interesting - it's similar to the Thai version, but slightly sweeter, with the addition of pork rinds and chopped mini eggplant for extra texture. The Belly of the Beast, a Thai/Laotian take on crispy pork belly, was a bit inconsistent. Some pieces were perfectly tender, while others were over-fried and tougher to eat. The skin ranged from nicely crunchy to overly chewy. It's served with two dipping sauces, which are essential since the meat itself isn't marinated. The Pad Thai ended up being my least favorite. While the noodles were well-coated in sauce, the flavor leaned too tangy and sweet for my taste. On the other hand, the drunken noodles were excellent - perfectly cooked with a satisfying chew and just the right level of heat for my taste (medium spice was spot on). The Mekong Delta dish, a Vietnamese style noodle bowl with grilled pork and spring rolls, was a bit of a miss in terms of authenticity. The grilled pork tasted right flavor-wise, but the spring rolls were filled mostly with glass noodles and cabbage (with no noticeable meat), and the sauce didn't resemble a traditional fish sauce. Lastly, the crab meat fried rice was also a hit with our group. While it didn't have large chunks of crab, the flavor was excellent. The rice was well-cooked and not overly salty, making it a solid, satisfying dish. Overall, I left feeling full and satisfied. Next time, I'd stick to the dishes that felt more authentic and skip a few of the less impressive ones. There are plenty of sauces served throughout the meal, so it's worth experimenting to find what pairs best with each dish for your palette. read more

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Super cute interior and lots of seat options. Also the restaurant has lots of food options, the menu is kinda overwhelming but seems to have variety with both Laotian and Thai dishes. Love how the dishes are named - so fun. I got the crispy chive cakes (3.5/5), four thousand island curry (4/5) and the over my dead body larb tilapia (5/5). Very strong flavors and interesting. I never really dabbled in Laotian food prior. The fried tilapia is a fried fish, the sauce was so tangy with lime and had a fish sauce to dip in - strong flavors. Thousand Island curry had some tamarind sweetness to the curry flavor. Very new and interesting. Crispy chives just threw me off a bit, reminded me of Korean chive pancakes my Mom used to make. Can see how other people might like it but I wasn't a fan. I think there's more on the menu I want to try. Will be back to give it another go! read more

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This was a really cool place to get Thai, Laotian, and Vietnamese food. The atmosphere of this place was super nice, with a cozy Asian feel to it. The staff here was just awesome. They went above and beyond, as they were really helpful with our dietary needs, which was great. We ordered some crispy vegetable spring rolls to start off with, which came out nice and hot with a sweet dipping sauce. We ordered some Pad See Ew Noodles, Basil Fried Rice, Regular Fried Rice, and a Som Yum Soup. My group also got a large Thai iced tea bucket, which we shared, and we even got some to go. The food was super flavorful, but it wasn't as spicy as we thought it would be (regular spicy food), so we ended up sprinkling some Thai pepper flakes to spice it up a bit. The atmosphere was super nice, so I would definitely go here for lunch or dinner. Definitely recommend this place to everyone! read more

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Tucked away in the back is this comforting restaurant. I choose this spot after reading their name and appreciating their play on words! My first time having Lao food and was pleasantly surprised. They have a large menu featuring Laos, Vietnamese, and Thai foods. The restaurant has a lot of seats, nicely lit, with approachable service. The pork neck and curry were solid, paired well with the sticky rice. The neck was cooked to perfection with this crisp and tender texture. Curry was so flavorful, felt like a beautiful fusion of flavors. The crab rice was a big portion but we thought it was only okay. Worth coming back with a bigger group to try their big platters. read more

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Bright, cozy spot with wood tables and a greenery wall that's total photo-bait. The food, though -- that's the headline. The papaya salad comes loaded with crispy pork rinds for scooping (dangerous crunch). Grilled chicken was sticky-glazed and charred, the grilled beef smoky and tender, and the seafood platter of shrimp, squid, and egg vanished in minutes. Don't skip the Kau kau noodles , and the iced Lao coffee is thick, sweet perfection. read more

My partner and I came for lunch today. I had the Tom Yum Soup with shrimp ($16) and they had Ginger Stirfry with Veggies. My soup was outstanding. Got it with "medium" spiciness, which was just great. The broth was smooth and flavorful and it came with 10(!) nice-sized, well cooked shrimp. Just great. The Ginger Stirfry came with a "zero" spiciness level, although we weren't asked what level of spice we wanted for this. The sauce was very flavorful and the veggies were crisp and flavorful. Another successful dish. This dish came with a side portion of white rice, which had a nice even texture and flavor. The portion of both items was very large and they were both worth the money. We didn't order any beverages. When we sat, a pitcher of ice water was brought over and we were asked if we wanted a refill. Good service. One disappointment is that all of the appetizers (we were told) are fried. We wanted to start our lunch with an app, but try to avoid fried food. Too bad. Would have liked a spring roll. I think they are a common Laotian street food item. (Yaw Khao?). We were told the Lao and Roll item on the menu is fried. The place is nice and comfortable, well lit and has a nice vibe. read more

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TLDR: Bold flavorful Laotian food, awesome milk teas, big portions, and super reasonable prices. Eat a Lao is absolutely worth the visit. Eat a Lao is serving some of the best Laotian food in the state. It is a humble spot but the flavors are bright, bold, and impressive. My party of two went for Sunday lunch and the place stayed busy the entire time we were there. Always a good sign. The dining room is nicely laid out with plenty of seating for both small and larger groups. We were next to a table of eight who were clearly enjoying their meal but there was still plenty of space between tables so nothing felt cramped. The menu is huge. You can use a physical copy or scan the QR code, which I actually recommend because the digital version has photos of every dish. With this many options it is honestly hard to choose because everything sounds amazing. We decided to go all in and try a bit of everything. We ordered the Bermuda Triangles, Crispy Chive Cakes, Grilled Mussels, Laotian Papaya Salad, Kua Kua Noodles, Lao Wings, and the Hainanese Braised Beef Noodle Soup. For drinks we got the Sweet Tiger Taro Milk Tea and the Black Tie Coffee Milk Tea. First off, the milk teas are fantastic. Easily some of the best in the area. They even offer all of their teas in pitcher format for the table, which tells you how popular they are. Food wise, the Kua Kua Noodles were a standout. It is a large format dish loaded with stir fried wide rice noodles, chicken, grilled whole squid, shrimp, egg, lettuce, preserved radish, scallion, soy sauce, and crispy pastry strips. Tons of texture and big savory flavor in every bite. The Hainanese Braised Beef Noodle Soup was also excellent. XL Vietnamese vermicelli noodles, tender beef chunks, pickled green mustard, cilantro, scallion, peanut, sesame seeds, and a rich thickened beef broth. Comforting but still layered and complex. And do not skip the Laotian Papaya Salad. Shredded green papaya tossed with chili, green bean, eggplant, lettuce, pork rind, sunflower seeds, tomato, shrimp paste, and tamarind dressing. It hits fiery, tart, sweet, and deeply umami all at once. Everything can be customized for heat level, so you can go mild or crank it up. Service was great. Food came out at a steady pace and we never felt rushed. Prices are very reasonable for the portion sizes and quality. Overall, Eat a Lao absolutely deserves a spot on your short list. Big flavors, generous portions, great drinks, and a lively atmosphere. We will definitely be back. read more

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I love Kiin Imm Thai in Rockville so I was excited to try out another restaurant by the same owners. Idk what took me so long to try this place because the food was absolutely amazing! The menu was a little overwhelming at first because there were so many pages and I was unfamiliar with some of the dishes. Definitely ask your server if there's a dish they would recommend. Everything we ordered was so flavorful. If you like bold flavors, please come here. I loved everything we ordered -- from the crunchy pork belly to the crispy tilapia with puffed rice. I love the mix of sweet, sour, spicy, and salty in all the dishes I tried. The portions were definitely shareable, so you could eat family style. They even have a bucket of Thai iced tea! The servers are also very friendly and will serve you with a smile! read more

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I have been wanting to check out this place since last year. The owners of Eat A Lao are also associated with KIIN IMM Thai, just a mile away. I've had good experiences there, so I opted for their Thai dishes. I had their classic beef pad see ew and tried their 4000-curry with mild spice. Their pad see ew met the basic flavors, but the egg seemed re-heated or microwaved rather than fresh off the pan. I was a little disappointed by this, but the beef was tender and well marinated. For dessert, I tried their classic creme brûlée and Have Bean a Lao. I LOVED the Have Bean a Lao! I would have ordered another if I had more room. Their creme brûlée was also good (just more basic). Service wise, the servers worked collaboratively. My friend and I ate at 5pm, and we were one a just a few tables. The ladies rushed us a little when ordering both our entrees and dessert. We got dessert around 5:45, and noticed a dramatic change in service. The restaurant started filling up and our servers were hard to find. We didn't get our check until 7 and could clearly see how distressed and busy the servers were. This was fine for my friend and me, as we were not in any rush...but I would say anticipate longer wait times around 6-8pm and be patient. It was just the two servers managing the whole floor; we felt bad for them. read more

Eat A Lao - Have Bean A Lao and Pandan Crme Brle - Vietnamese Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

The restaurant is located in the very back of the shopping center. The service was efficient and courteous! The menu was extensive. The food was good, but I'm still learning to experiment Laos food. The dishes We ordered were mostly fried, good but not healthy. read more

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I had a great experience at Eat a Lao, a Vietnamese/Thai restaurant with a really cute and cozy interior. I ordered the big bucket of iced tea and it was a great deal. It is perfect for sharing with a group. I ordered the spring rolls which were really good, crispy, and fresh. Also, the spring rolls came with a pineapple sweet dipping sauce and it was amazing. I also got the veggie tom yum soup, which was delicious and really comforting after a long day. read more

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Plenty of food options off rockville pike but this one is slightly tucked away and such a gem. A great selection of delicious foods and beers. Notables that we'd order again: Rice me up (crispy rice salad) and the sticky ribs (they are fall off the bone TENDER). All the food here pairs very well with beer. They had some good specialty pints here! read more

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A first timer to this Laotian-Thai restaurant. Decided to check this restaurant out with my family on a Friday night at 7:15 PM (reservation). Found parking easily right in front and walked in. Got seated promptly at a corner table. The menu looked inviting as there were many choices to choose from and decent descriptions. Once we figured out what we wanted, ordered Spring Rolls, a Lao Platter, and a Panang Curry along with 3 Jasmine Rice and 2 Sticky Rice. For our drinks, got 1 Singha Beer, a Thai Jced Tea and water. After about 10 minutes or so, we received our appetizer. Then the entreés came out. The Laos Food Platter had a variety of meats - Beef Jerky, Chicken Wings, Pork Belly, Sausages, along with a Papaya Salad and Pork Skin Rinds. The meats were pretty tasty overall. Liked the Pork Belly which was crispy and tender. The Beef Jerky was good with rice, had a good balance of sweetness and spiciness to it. We didn't get our Jasmine rice at first so had to tell the server that they had forgotten it. Also had to ask for extra napkins and refills on water. Still had an enjoyable time eating here for the first time! Will surely be back at some point. read more

Eat A Lao - Not So LAO Platter - Vietnamese Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

On a weekday night a friend and I came to this hidden gem of a restaurant, tucked away in a shopping center. It was spacious and warm, where it wasn't overwhelming with random decor. We were greeted immediately and we were able to grab a seat quickly. The menu was quite extensive and definitely felt a bit overwhelmed, so definitely ask the server what food they recommend. We ordered a couple of appetizers, but my favorite dish of the night was the 4000 Island Curry. The pork was tender and the curry was so flavorful. I enjoyed how the spice wasn't overwhelming, but still had a nice kick to it. We also shared a bucket of Thai iced tea. We were told that it served 2 people, but it was definitely much much more than that. I'm excited to go back and try other food there. Probably order another bucket of their delicious iced tea again. read more

Eat A Lao - 4000 4,000 Islands Curry - Vietnamese Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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Excellent service, this place offer a wide variety of selection. It's a casual place but it did get packed the later it gets. We ordered the round tray which consists of various meat and papaya salad with sticky rice. The tray was big enough to feed the three of us. We also ordered the fish tofu which I highly recommend. They have an amazing Thai Icetea which we decided to get a bucket. Boy that bucket of Thai ice tea can serve six people. All in all I will return to this establishment. Plenty of parking also which makes it easier but if you are coming from DC, it is quite a drive. read more

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I wanted to try something new and ended up here. No regrets! It is located on the side of the building. There's a decent mount of parking in the strip mall. The decor inside was cute and there was plenty of seating. There are two restrooms with both a toilet and urinal. The menu was huge and the dish names were entertaining. Service was prompt and we ended up ordering (for a party of 4) the V R Lao and Pig A Lao round platters as well as a bucket of Dirty Black Tie (meant for 4-5 people). Service was prompt and the food/drink tasted great! The round platters are a great way to try multiple menu items, especially for the indecisive and overwhelmed. Upon request, they provided separate cups and straws for us to share the bucket beverage. My favorite would have to be the Pig a Lao round platter. I also liked the Dirty Black Tie (mix of Vietnamese Coffee and Thai Tea with half & half and coffee jelly), albeit there was a lot more ice than desired and the jelly was a bit small. The Thai tea was also stronger than the Vietnamese Coffee, but that suited my taste better. read more

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Delicious food with plenty of options for everyone!! Eat A Lao serves both Lao and Thai food. There are many options reminiscent of what you would get at Thai restaurant and other options that I've only seen here. All the dishes we got were tasty and well portioned. We ate family style so everyone could try all the different dishes. There is plenty of seating inside the restaurant. Service was good as well. read more

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What a great little Restaraunt! Tucked in a strip mall, full of all kinds of ethnic wonders. The four of us went there and got right in on a quiet Thursday night. We had a ton of food and it was all really good and flavorful. For apps, we started with the crispy chive cakes that come with a soy dipping sauce and the Little Hanoi, which is the (Nem Chua Rn). Tasty and both come with the shredded side, which has a delicate sweetness very much like we expect to see the typical of Vietnamese restaurant (if you are new to Laotian food). We shared the Ka Pow with pork, the Belly of the Beast, the chili Peeper Stir fry with veggies, the pad Thai with chicken, and the basil fried rice. The Ka POW is a great lighter blend of spice, the pork belly is chewy and superb. The chili pepper stir fry was probably the spiciest of the dishes. We did not ask for extra spice and the things did have a good kick. I had a green tea, which was simply a Bigelow bag and in a hot water cup. Nice sweater came to our table pretty much right away. Extremely reasonable prices. definitely will be back read more

Chicken Larb was herby: the mint & cilantro shone through. Ginger Beef Stir Fry was also great! It wasn't as spicy as most pure Thai restaurants, but got close enough for me, plus very flavorful! read more

Drunken noodles and Thai iced tea are heavenly! The portions are huge and the service is super quick. Can't recommend enough!

Recently dined here two weekends back to back. The staff was attentive and polite. Very hospitable. The atmosphere was inviting. The food, as always was good. The ribs in peace were tender, succulent, and fell off the bone softness. The crab fried rice was tasty. The shrimp chop chop is a simple dish with great flavors with an egg on top of the rice. Like a home cooked dish. The shrimp were cooked well. The appetizers Lao & roll, taro temptress, and Bermuda Triangle were a great choice for a vegetarian. As a meat lover, i quite enjoyed them. The curry on the sunset on the mekon river was savory and sweet, but needed more curry sauce. The Laoatian Papaya salad had too much bean sprouts that mask, the minimal amount of papaya, that was served. However, the taste of the dish was good. read more

Ok this is the worst restaurant I have ever had. Beef jerky is stinky, chicken wing is flavorless and hard. We only finished the papaya salad on this platter. Taro drink is overly sweet, full of ice, and lack other flavors. Pad Thai was not even as good as the fast food restaurant. We spent over $200 and only ate maybe 15% of the food. I think this restaurant is heavily advertise on social media. Highly suspected fake review. Will never go back. read more

Eat A Lao - Round platter - VR Lao - Vietnamese Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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What's the fuss about Eat a Lao on the Pike? The food is good and authentic, and that may be enough for a fuss nowadays. Eat a Lao is in an awkward spot in the strip mall, and the parking is scattershot, but once you arrive, the folks are happy to help you. And you'll need help because the menu is mammoth and all over the place. Take your time - it'll be worth it. We got spring rolls, fried, crispy and delicious, and a shrimp salad and tom yum soup. Tasty for sure - but one warning, when they spice, they mean spicy! The chili peppers are a guide, but they represent Asian spice levels, not US spice levels - consider yourself warned! Good food, authentic and delicious - if that's what you're looking for, get to Eat a Lao right away! You'll be glad you did! read more

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My friends and I chose the catch up over dinner here on a week night. Upon arrival, we waited a few minutes to be greeted. It appeared that only one staff member was managing the front during dinner service, and she seemed occupied, possibly with studying. However, once we caught her attention, she was friendly and accommodating. Given it was a weekday, perhaps they were understaffed. We ordered several dishes at a medium spice level and requested a spice rack on the side, which was a nice touch for customizing heat levels. What We Tried: Nem Nom Nom (Fried Cured Spareribs): These crispy spareribs were accompanied by veggies and some sticky rice. You could taste a little bit of fermentation and there were not actual bones in the ribs, just the tendon. This was nice! V R Lao !!!: A vibrant platter featuring Laotian papaya salad, fried party wings (7 pieces), beef jerky, Vietnamese pork ham, cured pork sausage, pork rind, vermicelli noodles, and sticky rice. A delightful assortment that let us try a variety of Lao flavors and textures. Lao Laksa (Khao Poon): Our server kindly warned us that this dish was on the "fishy" side, which we appreciated. The rich and comforting noodle soup came with a deeply flavored broth that we found satisfying. It was served with a huge plate of veggies and vermicelli noodles. This was probably my favorite dish we ordered. Pandan Crème Brûlée: A creative twist on a classic dessert, this version was coconut-y, subtly sweet with a mild pandan flavor. It was very light and a great way to cool down after some spicy food! While the food was enjoyable, the initial wait and limited front-of-house staffing slightly impacted the overall experience. Nevertheless, the unique flavors and dishes make Eat A Lao worth a visit, and I'm looking forward to trying more items on their menu in the future. read more

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Laid back and casual spot, serving Laotian & Thai food. The restaurant seemed small on the outside, but there was surprisingly plenty of seating inside! Both the food & drinks were great - I ordered the chicken curry puff and minced chicken basil and also got the dirty black tie (half Vietnamese coffee & half Thai tea, served with coffee jelly). Friendly service; however, we didn't often see our server. We did get our drinks & food fairly quickly though! Will definitely come back again to try more dishes & drinks! read more

Eat A Lao - Vietnamese Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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Overall a great experience to eat here because the staff were super friendly and the food was great quality! My favorite was the chicken curry puff :) Their menu is quite large and stays true to catering towards Lao cuisine. No waiting time as the restaurant is quite large and is perfect for any type of social setting/ meal time! read more

Eat A Lao - Vietnamese Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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I saw a PBS documentary on the Mekong River a couple of years ago and decided I really wanted to visit the countries along the river. When you have these countries, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand border each other, it seems their foods would overlap. Looking at the menu at Eat a Lao, you can definitely see that. We started our meal with a little appetizer of Lao & Roll which is a spring roll of Grilled Pork | Vietnamese Ham | Beansprouts | Cilantro | Cucumber | Fried Shallots | Lettuce | Mint | PEANUTS | Pickled Carrot & Daikon | Scallion | and a side of the ubiquitous sauce of Nước chấm. The first thing that my dining companion said was, "wow, the salad of lettuce, mint, carrot and daikon is so fresh." We both wanted to the order the Mekong Delta (Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio ) but since we're here to try more than one dish, I let him have this as his entree (though we did share the two entrees). It is made up of Vietnamese Vermicelli Rice Noodles | Grilled Pork | Veg Spring Rolls | Beansprouts | Cilantro | Cucumber | Fried Shallots | Lettuce | Mint | PEANUTS | Pickled Carrot & Daikon | Scallion | and of course, the Nước chấm Sauce. I ended up with the Torn in Between which consisted of Grilled Pork | Vietnamese Ham | Beansprouts | Cilantro | Cucumber | Fried Shallots | Lettuce | Mint | PEANUTS | Pickled Carrot & Daikon | Scallion | and Nước chấm Sauce. Both entrees were quite similar but good. The ingredients were fresh and filling. The presentation was also colorful. If you can, I highly recommend watching that documentary hosted by Sue Perkins. read more

Eat A Lao - Torn in Between - Vietnamese Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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