"Though Portlanders might be well-versed in traditional Thai dishes such as som tum, also known as papaya salad, it’s less likely that they’re familiar with it’s more funky, fermented Lao counterpart. Khao Niew makes this green papaya salad in a large mortar and pestle called a cloke and sok in Laotian. Freshly ground bird’s eye chilies play with the funky and briny flavors brought by fermented fish sauce and shrimp paste. Khao Niew, located at Cully Central, offers this dish “Lao style” for maximum heat — eat it onsite, or take it to-go." - Ron Scott
