DCReview
Included In
There are some things you can’t stop obsessing about. Like that time you saw your coworker on the red line at midnight, but didn’t know if it was weird to say hi so you awkwardly sat in your seat and hoped they wouldn’t notice. Or anytime you eat at Thip Khao, and that’s because this Lao spot in Columbia Heights serves some of the best food in DC.
By the time the doors open, the restaurant is already managing a line of people waiting eagerly to get in. Once in, you'll share the stripped-down pastel yellow dining room with locals, transplants, and a three-headed dragon painted in a mural on the far wall. The wooden tables are crammed so close to one another you might overhear your neighbor’s conversation—nice if you’re a nosy person or curious about what other people are ordering, not so nice if your date’s breaking up with you. But even then, you’ll find a reason to cheer up—like the sesame rice pudding you order for dessert to make the pain go away.
photo credit: Nina Palazzolo
Dishes like the mee kathi, a noodle soup we can’t stop dreaming about, are incredibly well-crafted and packed with flavor. Other menu standouts include the crispy beef sesame jerky paired with a sour chili sauce we would gladly take home by the bucket, and the fried catfish marinated in a glorious mint and lemongrass glaze. Everything is so good that you’ll spend your whole meal plotting your next visit to try all the things you can’t get to this time.
That’s the thing with Thip Khao, the food here is just that good. It’s an instant serotonin fix and a refreshing reminder that good food speaks for itself, especially in an era where restaurants are preoccupied with aesthetics and decor. No matter the occasion—a casual first date, a hangout with co-workers, or the occasional uncomfortable conversation with friends—Thip Khao works. And that’s because regardless of what’s going on around you, everyone understands that the moment the food hits your table there’s not much else to focus on.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Nina Palazzolo
Siin Or Muu Haeng
photo credit: Nina Palazzolo
Mee Kathi
photo credit: Nina Palazzolo
Chuenh Paa Sa Moun Pai
photo credit: Nina Palazzolo
Naem Khao
photo credit: Nina Palazzolo