Lao cuisine @ Lao Der

*NOTE: The $2 meetup fee is charged to pay for fees charged by Meetup.com. Payment can be made via Cashapp/PayPal/Zelle - I will PM you payment details upon RSVP.*

*NOTE: Lao Der is BYOB. Lao Der does not take reservations*

*NOTE: Depending in the capacity of the restaurant, our group might be split into multiple tables.*

Menu: https://laoderil.smiledining.com/

Table for 12 at Lao Der, a Lao restaurant in Irving Park. The restaurant is Chicago's only Lao restaurant offering table service. It has been featured on WTTW Chicago, Eater Chicago, and The Infatuation.

From The Infatuation:

"As the city’s only current sit-down Lao restaurant, Lao Der sticks out in the Chicago food scene. But Lao Der’s one-of-one restaurant status isn’t why we keep coming back. In fact, we wished this Irving Park spot would franchise itself, because we want as much access to their food as possible.

And it seems we’re not the only ones embracing our Lao Der fandom—its small, wood-paneled space tends to get busy. But any wait is usually short, and also a good opportunity to plan your order while studying the concise one-page menu of Lao staples (plus some Thai dishes) and sneaking glances at the packed tables. Inspiration is plentiful. Herby sausages and peppery jerky are seasoned perfectly, and taste even better with BYOBeer. Salads with fermented pork or crab paste are an exciting maximalist whirlwind of umami, spicy, and tangy flavors. And their khao piek sen is satisfying from the first spoonful of chicken broth to the final slurp of chewy noodles. At Lao Der, Lao food finds a long-awaited, more permanent home in Chicago, and we can’t wait to come over again."