Baan Mae
Southeast Asian restaurant · Shaw ·
Progressive Southeast Asian cousin serving unique dishes and cocktails
Progressive Southeast Asian cousin serving unique dishes and cocktails
"At Baan Mae I watched Seng Luangrath blend deep knowledge and playfulness, serving traditional Lao dishes like sakoo—sticky tapioca dumplings stuffed with fermented radish—alongside cheeky inventions such as the Fi’Lao O’Fish, a fried fish sandwich with chili paste and whipped tofu mayonnaise; she also stretches beyond Laos to offer plates native to Malaysia, Burma, and Cambodia, making the meal feel like a singular, personal world where the server’s enthusiasm matches the chef’s adventurousness." - ByThe Bon Appétit Staff
"Identified as a cocktail bar associated with the Thip Khao family, part of the extended Lao-food ecosystem in the region." - Eater Staff
"When we heard that the owners of Thip Khao were opening another spot, we sprinted to make a reservation. This Shaw restaurant puts a modern, fusion twist on Lao cuisine, with small plates like citrusy cilantro shrimp crudo next to buttery Thai-style massaman curries served with shredded beef brisket. You’ll likely spot first dates cozying up on bar stools, sharing bites of banana jicama blossom salad under soft, golden-orange lights. Follow suit, and make sure the warm tapioca dumplings filled with sweet peanuts and wrapped in crisp lettuce, the crispy catfish sliders (we could eat ten of these), and the impeccably seasoned crab curry are a part of your order." - omnia saed, tristiana hinton
"When we heard that the owners of Thip Khao were opening another spot, we sprinted to make a reservation—and we’re so glad we did. This Shaw restaurant puts a modern, fusion twist on Lao cuisine, with small plates like citrusy cilantro shrimp crudo next to buttery Thai-style massaman curries served with shredded beef brisket. photo credit: Nina Palazzolo photo credit: Nina Palazzolo photo credit: Nina Palazzolo Pause Unmute Similar to Thip Khao, the space is intimate (you might find yourself awkwardly bumping into other diners) but the ambiance here is much more romantic. You’ll likely spot first dates cozying up on bar stools, sharing bites of banana jicama blossom salad under soft, golden-orange lights. Follow suit, and make sure the warm tapioca dumplings filled with sweet peanuts and wrapped in crisp lettuce, the crispy catfish sliders (we could eat ten of these), and the impeccably seasoned crab curry are a part of your order. Food Rundown Sakoo Opposites attract is an understatement for these tapioca dumplings, stuffed with sweetened peanut, peppery chili, and cilantro. Served with lettuce wraps, they offer a mix of cold and warm, sweet and spicy. It’s like a blind date—you never know what you’re gonna get, but in this case, it’s a really great dish. Fi-lao O'fish Spectacular—crispy catfish, fresh chili-cilantro sauce, and tangy mayo. Give us 14 of them right now. photo credit: Nina Palazzolo Gaeng Phed Thip Khao earned its spot as one of our top-rated DC restaurants because they absolutely nail the flavors every time. This crab curry from their sister restaurant is no exception—it’s buttery, rich, and luxuriously coconut-creamy. photo credit: Nina Palazzolo" - Omnia Saed
"Laotian chef Seng Luangrath (Thip Khao, Padaek) reboots the 5-year-old Shaw space that formerly housed cocktail and small plates bar Hanumanh. Newly named Baan Mae, billed as a “progressive Southeast Asian cousin” to its other restaurants, opened in June with giant head-on prawns with Lao chili paste, fish cake sliders with tofu mayo and pea shoots, and a list of mains like Southern-style curry with short ribs, potato, and Jasmine rice. A trio of opening cocktails includes the Next Question (calamansi-pickled plum, tequila, and orange blossom)." - Tierney Plumb
