Chaa Roen Pohn - Review - Parkside - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"Lao food is tough to come by in San Francisco. But Chaa Roen Pohn in Parkside serves dishes that scratch the mhok pla itch. Everything under the Lao section of the menu at this Lao-Thai walk-in-only spot is fantastic, whether it’s pla nil tod tilapia that’s so crispy it triggers a noise complaint from three blocks away, or the crackly nam kao tod with sour pork sausage. The Thai options, though, feel like filler songs on an otherwise hit-filled album. The dishes are bland. Pad see ew and tom yum lack any kind of zing. But with Lao food this good, you don’t need to try anything else. So walk in with a few friends, and order everything from just that side of the menu. And don’t despair if the dining room looks full—there’s another one hiding in the back with plenty of seating. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Food Rundown Satay Chicken This chicken is charred to a crisp on the outside and is remarkably juicy on the inside. It’s served with peanut sauce that’ll make you rethink if drinking condiments is acceptable. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Tum Laos Get this papaya, salted crab, and fish sauce-drenched salad (medium) spicy. The salted crab is a nice little touch, but we’d be happy with just the tangy papaya. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Por Laos Prepare to throw these crispy ping-pong-ball-sized ground-pork-filled rice rolls into your mouth like candy. There are about a dozen per order. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Nam Kao Tod We love this crispy rice salad, in large part because of the tart pork sausage that makes eating this satisfyingly sour. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Pla Nil Tod The skin on this deep-fried fish is so crispy you should soundproof the dining room. Make sure to order this. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Mhok Pla This flaky banana leaf-wrapped catfish dish has enough dill to power a pickle factory. If you’re looking for a non-fried fish, this is it. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth" - Ricky Rodriguez