Best Restaurants in Austin, Spring 2025 | Eater Austin
"The 2024 Eater Award-winning Far East Austin bar is chef Bob Somsith’s fully realized vision of fiery Laotian American cuisine, which he started during his food truck days. Lao’d Bar is all about full-on spices, from the nam khao (crispy fried rice with red curry) to its papaya salad, to the meaty skewers with dipping sauces (try the chicken with yellow curry and pineapple jicama slaw). First-timers should not miss the coconut escolar ceviche — escolar tuna cured with coconut water, coconut cream, and punchy vinegar — served in a fresh coconut bowl; it’s never too soon to order a second round. The converted space has garage doors for patio season and stellar tropical cocktails like the frozen guava-lanche margarita. Must-try dish: Get as much of the menu as you can, but don’t skip the nam khao or the rib-eye skewer." - Erin Russell
