Vientiane Lao Thai

If you’re interested in exploring Laotian cuisine in Orange County, there aren’t many choices, and Vientiane has long been considered the best of them. While the number has grown healthily in recent years, including super compelling but smaller restaurants Kra Z Kai’s Laotian BBQ and Nok’s Kitchen, Vientiane has a larger menu with more options to explore, as well as a much larger dining room to accommodate families.

Though Vientiane offers dishes from Laos and Thailand, the Lao dishes are both harder to find around here, and include some real rarities. Beyond Lao sausage, which is perhaps the most common Lao dish locally, Vientiane offers Lao-style fresh sliced catfish salad, Lao takes on curry and pho soups, raw butterflied shrimp with a spicy dip, and pan-fried noodles are available.