Lao Der
Kelly Wen · 165 Google reviewsLao Der — high-caliber food in Avondale. Nothing about this place is trying to impress you, and that's the point. The kind of menu that makes you want to order everything. Ric Tambio: "The Essan sausages were flavorful, the best I've had so far in Chicago"
What 254 diners keep saying
What 254 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Came early on a Saturday with my Laotian neighbor. We were able to find seating right away. My neighbor took care of the ordering, and I was blown away. Every dish was packed with flavor. The waitress told us they are also byob. I thought the food we got would have paired great with a beer. Additionally, the service was great. I definitely plan to return.”
“Tried Lao food for the first time here and left happy and full! The khao piek sen was comforting and delicious. The chicken wings with tamarind sauce are one of the tastiest wings I’ve ever had and loved the tang of the sauce. The jerky is nice to snack on and the tomato jeow that came with it was a great pairing. Can’t wait to come back and try more of the menu!”
“A random unplanned lunch/dinner picked off Google Maps turned out to be amazing! Highly recommend 💛”
“Absolutely delicious and extremely affordable! Service was great and very nice”
“As a Lao person who grew up on these foods - I approve! My favorites were the Mok gai (I only wish it had the bean thread noodles in them but the texture and flavor were on point!), Lao sausage, and papaya salad which were in thick ribbons instead of the thin shreds of papaya. The service was great too. One other note is that it’s nice to see so many people from different ethnic backgrounds dining in here and enjoying Lao cuisine, which is often overlooked. The place stayed packed (in a good way) which I think is a good indicator of this place being a good spot to eat!”
“I’ve never tried Laotian cuisine before, but everything from the papaya salads to chicken and rice is delicious. It’s a very small hidden gem I’d recommend for anyone trying to experience Southeast Asian cuisine for the first time or even to find a new go-to spot. The service is friendly and atmosphere is small, but that makes it feel all the more homey and authentic in a way.”
“Brought my Lao friend there last summer, he said it’s not the best(prob bc nothing can compete with home food) but I liked it anyways haha!”
“Cute little place with good lao food. First time I went I got the Lap Der Combo, and it was good. Two sausages, jerky, tomato sauce, papaya Vientiane salad, sticky rice, and seaweed. I wish it had a vegetable, so if you were to get a veggie side it would be a perfect dinner for two. Small and cozy inside, great service. You can make a reservation, which seems silly but there are only 7 table tops, and it's a popular place.”
“We order few things to try out. Everthing was good.”
“I don't know how this place has managed to fly under the radar thus far, but what an incredibly delicious, delightful and amazing restaurant! It is a fantastic culinary experience, everything we had was 10 out of 10. I particularly loved the Nam Khao. We had fantastic service from Ploy we won't soon forget. She was attentive, welcoming and kind. Prices were also very reasonable for how great the food and everything is. Definitely can't wait to come back to Lao Der!”
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