With locations in University City and Kensington, you can savor delectable Laotian food on either side of Philadelphia. Opened by immigrants Chef Daovy Phanthavong, her husband and their two daughters, this resto started humbly under a blue tarp outside the chef’s home. Once enough residents got a taste of her $3 pad Thai and various curries, word spread of her culinary talents.
Nowadays, she’s feeding the community from a cozy brick-and-mortar resto on West Philly’s main drag. You can, of course, still try the famous pad Thai, complete with bean sprouts and ground peanuts, and a rainbow’s worth of curries, each in a soul-warming coconut broth. But the laab, made with a protein of your choice that’s marinated in roasted rice powder, kalanga, fresh herbs, and an electrifying amount of fresh lime juice, is positively life-changing. It comes with a classic side of sticky rice for good measure. The king’s soup, starring a red curry coconut broth over vermicelli noodles, herbs, and fresh produce, is also a stellar choice for first-timers.
The vibe: Unpretentious and warm
The food: Traditional Lao-Thai cuisine that’s teeming with vibrant flavors
The drink: Bring your own
Time Out tip: The Baltimore Avenue location is cash only, but don’t worry if you can’t get money in advance—there’s an ATM on site.