Lao Der

“The lil Thai sausages were the highlight.”

The lil Thai sausages were the highlight! Savory and slightly tart

Carl

Jan 2026

“The Sai Ua Moo Laos will pick you up out of your seat and transport your across the world into a flavor ecstasy.”

Keenan Drake Erickson

Jan 2026

“I had a wonderful experience trying a variety of dishes at Lao Der.”

I had a wonderful experience trying a variety of dishes at Lao Der! I highly recommend coming here in a group try more things (perhaps 4 people for optimal/convenient seating). We got: -esan sausage -lao der jerky -tum luangphabrang -khao piek sen -sai ua moo laos with sticky rice -nam khao -coconut rice pudding thing They're all good. I recommend trying any of these! The only drawback is that the restaurant is really small. We have to wait for an hour (Friday dinner) to get seated and there's barely waiting space inside so we had to go out somewhere else.

Kelly Wen

Jan 2026

“Love everything about Lao Der.”

Love everything about Lao Der! Delicious food, excellent service. We'll be back :)

Maryn Jenkins Tan

Jan 2026

“Get the nam khao (crispy rice salad).”

Get the nam khao (crispy rice salad)! It was SO good. I wasn’t sure if it would be overhyped but we really enjoyed it! This is a cozy spot for dinner and all of the staff was so friendly. You get to specify your spice level from 0-5. Best suited for groups of 2 or 4, since there’s limited dine in room available.

Chelsie Tamms

Jan 2026

“Lao Der is a hidden gem for such an underrated cuisine.”

Lao Der is a hidden gem for such an underrated cuisine. We ordered several dishes, but the standouts were the Khao Piek Sen (chicken noodle soup) and Khao Mun Gai Tod (fried chicken rice). The noodle soup had a rich, super flavorful umami broth with tender chicken and chewy fish cakes-very comforting. The fried chicken rice was also excellent, especially paired with the dipping sauce. Definitely recommend if you’re looking to try Lao food, and I’d happily come back again.

Toan Nguyen

Dec 2025

“A cozy Lao spot with a compact menu focused on deeply comforting flavors.”

A cozy Lao spot with a compact menu focused on deeply comforting flavors. We shared several small bites, all satisfying, with highlights including the Lao jerky, chicken salad, fried chicken rice, and chicken rice noodles. The chicken salad and pleasantly chewy rice noodles stood out in particular. Dessert was also a highlight - fragrant, chewy rice cakes wrapped in pandan and banana leaves with a subtle, tea-like aroma. A speical place for Laotian food with wonderfully warm hospitality.

Bill

Dec 2025

“Authentic Laotian Cuisine Finally Gets Its Own Spotlight Lao Der Restaurant on Elston in Irving...”

Authentic Laotian Cuisine Finally Gets Its Own Spotlight Lao Der Restaurant on Elston in Irving Park is a relatively new Laotian spot that's been a revelation for us. Previously, we only experienced Laotian food at family cookouts and special events like weddings. While some Thai restaurants offer Laotian dishes if you know where to look, Lao Der takes things to another level entirely. The restaurant itself is cozy and modern, with comfortable seating and generously-sized tables. Despite having just one server during our visit, the service was exceptionally attentive and made us feel well taken care of throughout the meal. Now for the food - everything we tried was excellent: Tum Vientiane - A superb papaya salad featuring sliced papaya, cherry tomato, lime, sugar, and anchovy, served with crisp lettuce. Fresh and vibrant! Sticky Rice - An absolute must-have accompaniment to any meal here. Esan Sausage - Ground pork with sticky rice, garlic, black pepper, and brown sauce. Flavorful and satisfying. Nam Khao - Our standout dish that truly raised the bar! This crispy rice salad combines jasmine rice, red curry paste, coconut shreds, lime leaves, cilantro, green onion, peanuts, and fermented pork, served with lettuce and mint for wrapping. Absolutely spectacular. Khao Piek Sen - Traditional Lao chicken noodle soup with house-made rice noodles, onion, cilantro, fried shallots, black pepper, and homemade chicken meatballs in a deeply flavorful chicken broth. Comforting and delicious. Next time we're trying the larb and jerky - we can't wait to go back and explore more of the menu! Lao Der is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood for anyone seeking authentic Laotian flavors.

Dirk Vogel

Oct 2025

“First time trying Lao cuisine and did not disappoint.”

First time trying Lao cuisine and did not disappoint. Savory, spice ok, tasty, proportions are optimal. Try it and see for yourself. Service: 10/10 Food quality: 10/10 Presentation and place: 10/10 ***Pet friendly. I just had to mention this because we dined at ~50 temp outside. I had a small dog that we kept in the corner so it would not pose an issue with other customers. Staff was very considerate. Thank you. 🥰

N_li

Oct 2025

“This place serves pretty much real Lao food.”

This place serves pretty much real Lao food! It’s great that they’re trying something new. If you’re looking for a change from Thai food, you should definitely check this out! I ordered Nam Khao Tod (Thai Crispy Rice Salad), and wow, it was amazing! I’m a huge fan of Nam Khao Tod, but this place gave me a totally different take on it. If you’re in the area, you absolutely have to try it!

May

Oct 2025

“Everything was excellent.”

Everything was excellent. Nourishing chicken soup with perfect slices of chicken, meatballs and soft noodles. Laos sausage and nam Khao were super tasty with great textures. Thai iced tea was refreshing. Banana & coconut dessert special was tasty with pandan syrup notes and fun to try. Looking forward to a return visit!

Anthony Cesnik

Oct 2025

“The food here is so so good.”

The food here is so so good. You can taste the care and love that go into every dish. I’m not kidding, I actually cried at the restaurant because the food was that good. It reminded me of the homemade meals my grandma used to make for me. If I lived closer, I’d be a regular without a doubt. I’m so happy I stopped by to eat here.

Angela Wang

Sep 2025