Bida Manda

So delicious!! I can’t recommend it enough. It’s very close to a parking garage and takes reservations. The menu is clearly marked for Gluten Free options. They even have a gluten free shrimp chip they bring out as a free appetizer, and that was so good! The crispy rice lettuce wrap appetizer is a must. And the papaya salad plus trout was so tasty. Be careful on the spice levels, the medium is HOT.

We absolutely loved Bida Manda! Great vibe, friendly service, and delicious food. Started with a Spicy Khiew cocktail. The jalapeño syrup and habañero sauce paired extraordinarily well with the tequila. Very nice spicy drink. Had the crispy rice lettuce wrap appetizer and the flavors were incredible. The sweet chili salmon was so good. I love salmon and this was prepared in a way I’d never tasted. The consistency was superb; light crunch on the outside and creamy texture inside. Not sure if that’s the best description, but it’s what I experienced. Finished with the purple rice desert. OMG, purple sticky rice, fresh mango, coconut custard, and palm sugar tamarind caramel sauce! It was a flavor orgy in my mouth. This was our first time at Bida Manda and it will not be our last. You’ve gotta try it!!

First time today and everything was amazing from start to finish. Large portions and very filling. Got the chicken lettuce wraps / anda for entree I got KUA MEE LAO PAD LAO. Overall great experience if you’re in the area stop by and check it out . Reservations recommended. Very popular location. Warm welcoming and lighting. Great for anytime of day .

Amazing food and service! What a wonderful introduction to Laotian food. Gwen was our waitress and went above and beyond and guided us with her suggestions through the best meal we had in Raleigh. Highly recommended the salmon ceviche and pork belly soup. The purple rice dessert was amazing as well! Thank you for the amazing meal and again to Gwen.

Simply THE BEST LAO ICED COFFEE I’ve ever had. I loved the combination of rich bold coffee with sweet condensed milk. It gave me the perfect jolt of energy i needed to seize the day. The Café Cabana tasted like an espresso martini combined with a chocolate dipped banana (in the best way). It was a fantastic brunch cocktail and was like drinking a fluffy cloud. The service was amazing from start to finish and the atmosphere was very intimate which I enjoyed. I can’t wait to go back with friends

Absolutely great place. We came in for a Teddy Swimms concert and made a reservation for Friday the day before. We were seated promptly. “Sawyer” arrived quickly with water glasses and a filled water pitcher. Food was absolutely amazing and service was excellent. Highly recommend and we will be back next time we’re here.

the rice lettuce wraps are exceptional. this place is worth the trip for those alone. everything else was just okay. duck laab was like too bright if that makes sense. pork belly soup was really good but the actual pork was pretty flavorless. kind of got carried by the broth & noodles (which both were really great). our server was awesome, great banter.

A great experience overall! We went for my birthday dinner and were pleasantly surprised several times by both the food and the service. We started with drinks and appetizers. Our server (wish I could remember her name) pointed out something about one that made us change our minds, and we got the lettuce wraps instead on her recommendation. They were fantastic, no crumbs left. Entrees (Papaya Salad with Trout and the Tom Khem) were both very high quality, delicious, and big portions. We had a lot of leftovers. We were stuffed from all the lettuce wraps and half the entrees, so didn't get any dessert. However, when our server took the leftovers to box them up for us, she brought back some macarons as well, which we had the next day (my actual birthday anyway) and were excellent! It was definitely pricey, but overall I can't say enough about the delicious food and attentive, enjoyable service we had here. Will definitely be back for future special occasions!

So far, so good ! Got our drinks waiting for Entre, relaxing in the candle light sipping on my Ginger Beer, with Tequila

Bida Manda is hands down one of my all-time favorite places in Raleigh. Every time I go, I'm reminded why I keep coming back--absolutely phenomenal Lao food, warm service, and an atmosphere that feels both cozy and elevated. Some must-try favorites: The crispy rice lettuce wraps - packed with flavor and texture, these are a perfect way to start the meal. Spring rolls - fresh, light, and delicious with a dipping sauce that hits just right. The crispy pork belly soup - rich, comforting, and loaded with flavor. And of course, the shrimp pad Thai - perfectly balanced and always satisfying. The service here is consistently excellent--friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. The staff really makes you feel welcome. And the ambiance? Beautifully designed, peaceful, and perfect for everything from casual dinners to special nights out. If you're in Raleigh and love Southeast Asian food (or are curious to try something new), Bida Manda is a must. It's a place I always recommend and will continue to return to time and time again.

Bida Manda is consistently an 'A' experience and I recommend it to anyone visiting Raleigh if you've got time to stop by. Food wise, I'd say everything is good! I've had chicken curry, Pad Lao, Tom Khem, the appetizer Lao sausage, summer rolls with shrimp, and a noodle soup. Very enjoyable! Some dishes seem mild compared to home cooked food with Lao friends. The staff is super friendly and server Gwen is an absolute rockstar. When we entered, the host took good care of us and got us seated. The. Gwen showed up and made sure our dinner experience was outstanding. She helped with delicious food choices and made sure we were well fed! Thank you, Gwen!!

First of all, Gwen is a superstar. Excellent service the entire night. The food - high level opinion is that it's very tame and safe; flavors were good but not strong across every dish except the sausage appetizer which had great, strong, distinct flavors. The Summer rolls were nice and fresh with the wrapper nice and soft so you can tell it wasn't sitting there. But nothing mind blowing. The Tom Khem, pad lao, and chicken curry was the same - mild in flavor, nothing really standing out. But still satisfying and comforting. Pricey for what it is, but you'll have a good night out here in a place that does have nice ambiance if you care about that.

Venue was clean, dimly lit, and spacious. It's recommended to make a reservation. Our server was good about ensuring we were able to order what we needed. I enjoyed the crispy rice lettuce wraps (no meat/seafood). I got the pad lap with tofu, it was ok. My friends enjoyed the short ribs in a soup/broth. I liked the Thai tea and my friends enjoyed their alcoholic beverages. I would return to try more things!

This place is like eating at a cute library with delicious modern Laotian food. I felt like I was eating back home at an LA artisan restaurant. I came to RDU for a layover and this caught my eye and I was not disappointed. The servers are all great, especially ours, Jarrett who was very knowledgeable and kind to us. The food was astonishing and at a good value. I highly the pork belly

I would come back to Raleigh just to eat here. The crispy rice lettuce wraps are to die for. The chicken curry and Kua Mee Lao were both flavorful and delicious. The coconut ice cream was heavenly. The service knocked it out of the park though! Our server was smiling and friendly, gave us a history of the restaurant, and helped with choices. I can't say enough about how great she was. The restaurant is cute and clean and reflective of the care they take with their dishes. Just an amazing experience all the way around.

Get the crispy pork belly noodle soup. It's so good! It was the table favorite. That and the crispy rice lettuce cups were delicious. It comes with a yummy ginger and garlic fish sauce (I think those were the ingredients but don't quote me on that). We had a reservation (which I recommend you make in advance because it can get extremely busy) for 5:30pm on a Monday and it started off fairly empty but quickly filled up. We were surprised at how packed it was on a Monday night. Things to note about the service: it's slow AF and not very attentive but there seemed to only be one server for our half of the restaurant and one other guy bringing out some dishes. It was extremely difficult to flag down our server whenever we wanted to order or ask for anything. It felt like she was on a mission back and forth from the kitchen and to every table but ours haha. She said the lettuce wraps/cups come with 6 lettuce leaves but we only got 5 and when we let her know we were short she ended up bringing us 4 extra leaves which was nice. The lemongrass sausage was tasty as well (toddler approved!). Dessert was good but the mango was not ripe (don't know if it was intentional) and not very sweet. The iced coffee drink was too sweet according to my MIL who loves sugar and she asked for more milk (they only have half and half) which balanced it out. I would skip the pad lao which was pretty basic and not memorable. We got it with shrimp. We also ordered papaya salad with ribeye which was absolutely massive and the salad portion is more of a side salad size. It was overall tasty but just something to keep in mind if you're expecting more salad than protein. The server said that the chicken option comes with two huge chicken breasts. The taste of the meat was good as well but the texture was pretty fatty and sinewy. We also didn't realize that it came with rice until we were basically through eating it. They also have some chili sauce on the side if you like heat but fair warning it's spicy AF. Overall good, a bit pricey, and would return but just for the wraps, sausage, and pork belly noodle soup. I'd like to try some of the other items of the menu as well.

We started with the Crispy Rice Lettuce wrap & Bida Sompheng's salmon Laab Ceviche with crispy shrimp chips. (I would have preferred no fIsh sauce), both were Stars. We ordered the crispy pork belly soup for our main dish. it was good, I wish the pork belly was a little better, it come on a separate plate, cold, and with some salad and veggies. With that said, the soup was still amazing. we also had Khao Poon Gai Noodle soup. Just amazing...flavors that you you may have never tasted, sooo good. cant wait to explore more of this great menu.

The food was amazing and our server was the bartender who was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. So glad that we tried this place. We will be back again soon! Everything tasted fresh and the serving sizes was generous.

First time at Bida Manda did not disappoint! Our server Gwen was amazing and super friendly, and was so considerate of my nut allergy when serving all our dishes, which was greatly appreciated. Seating was plentiful, and the space had a great vibe and was very clean as well. The appetizers we got (lemongrass and summer rolls) were delicious, as were our Thai Iced Teas. As for entrees, they were delicious and non-offensive, although we wished the curry would've had a slightly stronger flavor and kick to it. But that, along with the Pad Lao and Tom Khem were still delicious and tasted great with the rice. Gwen also hooked us up with plenty of tasty shrimp crisps to much on as well. Overall, a great dining experience, and excited to come back to try some other items on their menu!

Absolutely delicious!! Years ago we were passing through Raleigh and had dinner here and I have always said this was the best restaurant!! We went again last night and I still say they have the best Food! Great portion size, friendly staff, cute decor. and the appetizers and dinners are so delicious. Menu has a great variety of appetizers and main course. Highly recommend!

What an amazing restaurant! In town for a business trip and looking for dinner. After reading all the great reviews, I walked over from my hotel. I arrived just as they opened for their dinner service at 5pm and took a seat at the bar. I started with an order of crispy pork spring rolls, which were served with a nice dipping sauce. The rolls were fresh, hot, crispy and nicely seasoned. After finishing the rolls, my main course of sweet chili salmon was delivered. It was beautifully plated over a bed of fresh spinach and garnished with a piece of lemon grass and a side of rice. The dish was incredibly flavorful and salmon was cooked perfectly at a medium temperature. I highly recommend Bida Manda and will be back the next time I am in Raleigh.

First time at Bida Manda and we really enjoyed it . My husband ordered the papaya salad with duck & I got the shrimp pad Thai. We both chose medium heat levels. We both really enjoyed our entrées ! Unfortunately, we did not have room for dessert. Maybe next time :) We will be back !

The best lettuce wraps Everyone talks about the lettuce wraps and for good reason. This is my second time here and the wraps are as good as I remember. They are so delicious with the right amount of crisp and fragrance. Paired perfectly with lecture and cucumber slices (and don't forget to ask for extra). We also tried the pad Lao which was a tad salty but otherwise excellent. Lecture wraps are the star of the show tho. PSA: we informed the restaurant that we were celebrating graduation and they took the wraps off our bill! Excellent service

This place is amazing !!! Took the family for a birthday dinner and it was sooo amazing !! The service was great and our waitress was so sweet. This place is really good.

This place was recommended to me during the peak of the COVID era by North Carolina locals. I suspect one reason that I did not make it is that I figured I would be missing something if I did not eat inside in person. I think I was correct, as the atmosphere included some rather splendid bamboo paneling, and my salad was the sort of thing that's better fresh. The place offers clearly labeled options for special diets, and I wanted to stay on the lighter side. Still, my salad was a robust creation, with fried eggplant and tofu, a sliced spring roll, and some noodles to mix with the herbs and greens. It came with more sweet chili sauce than anyone would ever need, but I certainly used plenty of it for a dynamic flavor experience. My Thai tea didn't really impress, being both small in size and not especially noteworthy in flavor. The price was on the higher side, but given the splendid presentation and unique options, I found it worthwhile.

OMG, I'm back for round two and it's just as delicious as the first! The papaya salad, pork belly soup, and spring rolls were all winners. And who knew the cheesecake would be so good? Definitely a must-try in the RDU area

so good! i came here for dinner alone, no rez and got seated at the bar. service was excellent, everyone so friendly, and food was really thoughtful. everything i ate was tasty and fresh. ordered: crispy rice lettuce wraps, crispy pork belly noodle soup, purple sticky rice. noodle soup was SO good. i loved the lettuce wraps as well. the guy who boxed up my leftovers told me he accidentally dropped my lettuce wrap and rice and he gave me a whole new dish to go! i literally had only 1 lettuce piece and about 2 bites of rice left. very kind service! would definitely highly recommend this place

My wife and I came here on a whim because we were out and I happened to see there was an open reservation at 5:45 on OpenTable. However, after I booked the reservation, I got a call immediately from the hostess letting me know that it was a mistake on OpenTable's part and there was not actually availability at 5:45. (OpenTable can be slow to update sometimes and causes conflicts. I've had this happen before.) She apologized but said there were some open seats at the bar if we still wanted to come. We love sitting at that bar, so no complaints from us! We arrived and she was very apologetic and thanked us for understanding. We were greeted as we sat by the bartenders. They actually sent out the crispy rice lettuce wraps as an appetizer for the OpenTable mixup (very kind considering it wasn't even their fault!) I had the Nutty Negroni cocktail. Really delicious and interesting. Classic Negroni flavor with a little more complexity and sweetness. My wife had the roselle freezy, which was also very good. A nice balance of tartness and sweetness. We got the soft shell crab with papaya salad, which was a special, and the crispy pork belly soup. If they have it when you go, GET IT. We're suckers for some soft shell crab and this one was really good. The papaya salad was a perfect pair with it. The pork belly soup was also delicious. Very warm and comforting. (We had just walked 10 blocks in the freezing cold, so we were quite happy with it.) We got all of it medium spicy, which I think is the way to go if you're somebody who likes spicy and has a good but maybe not great tolerance for it. If you don't like spicy or aren't the best with it, then mild is probably what you want. Now let's talk about prices. Yes, it's a little more expensive but the value is there. Most apps $15-20, entrees $20-30, and drinks $8-16 at the time of this writing. All very very delicious AND the portions were large. We finished the crab but had a little bit of the papaya salad left, and while we tried to work on the soup, we didn't make much a dent at all. When we asked for a box, they didn't bring us one. They took all of the dishes away, boxed it up neatly for us, and brought it back bagged and ready to go. Just outstanding service. Truly exceptional hospitality and food. Can't recommend Bida Manda enough!

Another win. This charming and delicious restaurant is one of my favs. It's beautifully decorated, staff is impeccable. The crispy rice lettuce wraps are a must have appetizer. I got the PHO LAO was incredible.

Went here for my husbands birthday! Loved all the food. Drinks were strong. Server was a little awkward. Parking is hard to find. If you are looking for a great spot to drink and eat this is the place to be. My husband also loves brewery bhavana which is also owned by the same people.

Very vanilla... not a lot of flavor. Had the pad Thai and curry. Both were just meh. The Kao poon soup was pretty good though.

This place is incredible. It's never let me down. The food is so good, and it has such a unique, warm atmosphere. Get the chicken wings. It might seem like a strange thing to order off this kind of menu, but no. They're perfect. Some of the best chicken wings I've ever had. You can tell that the owners and staff take pride in this place. I can't wait to return.

I enjoyed our dinner at Bida Manda in downtown Raleigh. This restaurant is fairly unique, especially in North Carolina, because it specializes in Lao food. Lao cuisine is similar to Thai cuisine, but it's not exactly the same. Generally, I thought the food and drink here were good and service was great. I recommend this place. Bida Manda opened on September 5, 2012. It's next door to Brewery Bhavana, across from Moore Square. Both businesses, which are popular and have become Raleigh staples, have the same owners: brother and sister, Vansana ("Van") and Vanvisa Nolintha. Brewery Bhavana opened on March 29, 2017. A fellow Yelper recommended Bida Manda to me years ago, but also made me aware of the employee allegations that came out against Van: https://carolinas.eater.com/21611662/bida-manda-bhavana-brewery-misconduct-sexual-assault-allegations-van-nolintha-raleigh During our visit, Bida Manda appeared alive and well. My coworkers and I had a Monday night reservation at 7:30pm. Around that time, the place was completely packed - bar and dining room. It was really loud. It looked like there were other work groups there too. Due to the popularity of this place, even on a Monday night, I recommend making a reservation. Bida Manda is on OpenTable and awards dining points (not all OpenTable restaurants do), so that's a plus. You can park on the street or in the nearby Moore Square Station parking deck. During my visit, street parking was metered Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm. I couldn't find street parking, so I parked in the deck. The deck is located behind the restaurant, in the same block. Its address is 233 S Wilmington St. It was free to park in the deck outside of Monday-Friday, 7am-7pm. Note: If you park in the deck, you have to walk by the bus station, which can have some sketchy characters. Bida Manda means "father mother" in Lao. The restaurant was named in honor of the Nolinthas' parents. Large black and white photos of the parents are suspended above the hostess stand and are among the first things you'll see upon entry. The interior has exposed ceilings, pendant lighting, concrete floors, and Tolix chairs. Below is a list of what four of us ordered and shared, plus my single cocktail (the others got drinks too, but I didn't document them). This list should give you a decent idea of what Bida Manda offers and how much it costs. Cocktail * Berry Old Fashioned ($15.00) - bourbon, blueberry, cinnamon syrup, bitters Appetizers * Crispy Rice Lettuce Wraps ($16.90) - "served as afternoon snack in Laos, this is our most beloved appetizer at Bida Manda," hand-tossed crunchy coconut rice with fresh herbs, fried garlic, shallot crisp, peanuts, eggs, lime, and baby romaine lettuce; served with housemade caramelized sweet chili sauce * Luang Prabang Lemongrass Sausage ($16.90) - aromatic housemade pork sausage with fresh herbs, jasmine rice, ground pork belly, and served with pickled ginger * Lao Beef Jerky - Seen Savahn ($15.90) - housemade fried dehydrated beef with peppercorn, sesame seeds and spices, served with charred tomato jeow, and a side of sticky rice Entrees * Crispy Pork Belly Soup ($26.90) - "traditionally served as breakfast in Laos," coconut curry broth with lime leaf, julienned vegetables, peanuts, eggs, fresh herbs, rice noodles, and crispy pork belly * Green Papaya Salad ($16.90) - hand-julienned unripe papaya, tomatoes, peanuts, housemade tamarind dressing, and sticky rice; with fresh Thai chili added to heat preference * Duck Laab ($26.90) - hand-tossed meat salad with fresh local herbs, spicy lime and fermented Padek fish sauce, shredded galangal, toasted rice powder, and sticky rice * Sea Bass Mok ($40.90) - eight ounces of aromatic sea bass marinated in a housemade curry with coconut cream, wrapped in a banana leaf and baked; served with sticky rice * Kua Mee Lao - Pad Lao ($24.90) - caramelized fried rice noodle, julienned egg omelette, fresh herbs, bean sprouts, peanuts, and fried tofu (can also choose pork belly or shrimp for your protein) Dessert * Purple Rice ($10.90) - "traditional Laotian dessert" with purple sticky rice, fresh mango, coconut custard, and palm sugar tamarind caramel sauce Overall, I thought all of the food and drink were fresh and tasty. There wasn't a single bad item. Everything was presented beautifully as well. For me, the standouts were the Lemongrass Sausage, Crispy Pork Belly Soup, Green Papaya Salad, Duck Laab, and Purple Rice. That said, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the items listed above. They were all enjoyable in their own unique way. For example, I thought the quality of the Sea Bass was very good. It was tender and flavorful. Service was exceptional. Two examples: (1) Our server neatly packed and labeled my leftovers. (2) One of my coworkers wanted some of the local cookies, but they were sold out. The manager got my coworker's name so he could set aside free cookies for her the next time she visited. How nice and thoughtful of him.

Took visitors from out of town here with my fingers crossed it would be everything people said it was.. it definitely delivered! Gwen was our server and she was amazing from start to finish. Very interactive, brought a free appetizer out, and gave great recommendations. The food was really unique and flavorful and you cannot find another place to compare to the flavor pallet here.

The place was amazing and so was our server! He was patient with us as we asked many questions and he gave us recommendations on drinks and food. The drink I loved the most was the Mekong Sunrise! The food had so much flavor and just the right amount of spice. The setting was a bit dark in there but the atmosphere was lovely! I definitely recommend this place if you are looking to try some pretty authentic Laotian food!

I've been dying to try Bida Manda since they opened, and I have been an absolute OG Fan of the restaurant group since Gravy stole my heart many years ago. Now I've been many times. This place is solid. Every dish is perfectly executed and full of flavor. Laos cuisine options are not plentiful in North Carolina, but this place holds its own when it comes to Laos food. The service is always excellent at the bar, and in the dining room the place is always buzzing with people. Their cocktails are delicious as well. 10/1 recommend.

I've been wanting to eat at Bida Manda for so long (reservations are hard to get unless you plan ahead), and I thought an early Valentine's Day dinner would be the perfect time to try it out! All of their Laotian food was superb, and we cannot wait to come back again. Definitely hoping to try the pork belly soup next time as it was just rated top 50 soups on Yelp! I would highly recommend the crispy rice lettuce wraps (the crunch and flavor was amazing) and pad thai (has such a deep color which translated into its deep flavor)! Those were both unbelievable. The green papaya salad with crispy dill & lemongrass trout was also amazing - I got it medium heat which was perfectly spicy for me. The crispy trout was perfectly crispy, even the skin! I also loved the atmosphere here. The low lighting, exposed brick, and bamboo-like NC wood accents were beautiful!

A cozy family run jewel, nestled in the downtown area. A good friend recommended I visit, and he truly earned his good friend status by sending me here. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, topped only by the service and food. This is a must try if you are in the area wanting some excellent dishes. Be sure to take a walk back to the bathroom so you can take in the artifacts that decorate the space. Ask questions and learn about the heritage of the restaurant and the photo of the two people hanging above the entrance. Also, that pork belly soup. Get it. You won't regret it. Thank you so much for having me as a guest in your restaurant. I hope to be back when my travels bring me back to town.

The chicken lettuce wraps were so good we ordered two more!!! The broccoli was like fair food meets culture, so so so good. The sprouts were also delish. We had 6-7 mains for the group and not one person was disappointed. Our server was prompt and did a great job if you're looking for a great dinner in Raleigh THIS IS IT!

Very good food, great ambience, excellent service. Staff takes a lot of pride in the family heritage of the restaurant. Great appetizers (spring rolls, lemongrass sausage), and excellent meals (pork belly soup with noodles, stir fry, pad Thai). Great location, great vibe. Excellent choice when in downtown Raleigh.

The level of service I experienced here was great. Gwen was extremely attentive and detailed. Unfortunately, half of the crispy pork belly strips (3 of appx 6) were overcooked. It was dry to a degree like jerky and hard to chew.

Disappointed... after reading all the rave reviews I drove half an hour to try Bida Manda. The food was fine, but only marginally better than your local thai place except in an aesthetic setting. I was hoping for some unique Laotian flavors but the Crispy Pork Belly Soup just tasted like any other coconut curry I've had but with a very very mild flavor. My partner and I both took a couple sips and didn't touch it after. We weren't even compelled to take it home, so that was a definite pass. The Pad Lao with tofu was our favorite dish. It tastes pretty much like pad see ew with a different noodle shape. The Crispy Rice Lettuce Wraps were okay. It tastes great with the sauce, but the rice itself doesn't have much flavor. The Thai Tea cocktail was really novel and tasted great albeit strong. Portions were generous so you'll likely have leftovers to take home. Our server was also great and offered to have the soup brought out in 2 separate bowls for sharing. Many dishes on the menu are more generally Southeast Asian rather than Laotian specific (Pad thai, Thai papaya salad, Vietnamese lettuce wraps, spring rolls, summer rolls, etc). I think this place would be better appreciated by someone less familiar with SE Asian cuisine. Otherwise, it's pretty run of the mill.

We went here for our anniversary dinner and everything was amazing !!! The decor made you feel like you had stepped outside of Downtown Raleigh! We started with the lettuce wraps which were amazing ! I got a noodle soup dish and my husband got the salmon. We recommend both!! The palette cleanser was a surprise and then they gave us a sparkling wine toast and the purple rice dessert as a treat for our anniversary! I do not eat dairy and my menu options were endless !!!! Our waitress was so sweet, easily engaged in conversation and regularly he led in! 5 of 5

It was amazing that my wife was able to secure reservations here for my birthday. What a great dinner. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and made some great recommendations. We started with the crispy rice lettuce wraps, a surprisingly tasty vegetarian option for an appetizer. Both my wife and I had to try the Crispy Pork Belly Soup that was, simply put, AMAZING. One of the tastiest heartiest bowls of wonderful yumminess I've had in years. Fantastic flavors infused into a coconut milk curry broth. I'm salivating just thinking about it. The crypt pork was just that, with a crunchy pork skin. Everything tasted super fresh. Our daughter enjoyed the Khua Mee/ Pad Lao with tofu. She enjoyed the dish but wished she'd asked for some chili add on to spice it up a little. She did that with her generous leftovers and enjoyed it even more. Our bad. Not theirs. The service was top notch. A solid quality meal that made us at we have to return to try other things on the exciting and varied menu. We were not disappointed, and neither will you.

My husband and I were craving some pho and green papaya salad and after seeing this restaurant on yelp, we decided to give it a try. We were promptly seated, and the service was amazing and all of the food that we had eaten was great. I just wish that the soup was more hot and wish they kept the condiments on the table because our waitress did not bring them out until we were nearly finished with our soup.

We went to Bida Manda on a Monday night to attend a friend's birthday dinner and had a really enjoyable meal. The ambiance of the restaurant is very hip and calm. Our food was delicious and we consumed a variety of some starters and popular entrees. I thoroughly enjoyed the Chicken Pad Thai. The only unfortunate part of our experience was the service - our group of nine had a longer table and the waitress only spoke to one half of the table, or was very quiet when speaking to the other end. We missed out on any recommendations or specials she may have shared. Our waitress also mixed up our dessert orders, causing further delay. We still had a great time but were there much longer than expected.

My boyfriend and I drove out from Durham to try Bida Manda, and it was worth the trip. The food was delicious all around-- flavorful, generously portioned and customizable (with a range of spices provided on the side). We were seated at the bar and the service was excellent. Even though it was packed, the food came out quickly. I would come back and recommend Bida Manda to anyone looking for upscale Laotian/Asian fusion cuisine.

Everything here so delicious flavorful, and fresh it delighted my taste buds. I think my biggest disappointment in this whole meal was the drink. It was just average for the price, whereas the seafood salad that I got was delightful and refreshing and full of seafood, the papaya and duck salad that I had was enough for two people. It was filling it. It was well executed the flavors and the melody was delicious and refreshing. You didn't feel heavy after the meal which I think is amazing. my companion had the curry dish and said it tasted just like homemade she portions are big enough to share.

My girlfriend and I went to Bida Manda when I visited in August. The atmosphere is quiet and cozy, the food was amazing and the drink selection was also pretty great. They have amazing deserts, as well! The service was fast and friendly. All in all, a great date night out!

Fantastic food and service. Sat at the bar bc this place was poppin! Pretty open space so it was a little chilly.

Jerry (our waiter) was exceptional, steered us to what to order and it was amazing. Starting with the seasonal drink. Lettuce wraps were hard to put down so I ate it all. The pork belly soup.... Damn! Papaya salad was the best I've ever had. Then to finish it all perfectly the purple sticky rice that had a hint of chocolate. Delish!!!!

While visiting, I was excited to hear Raleigh had Loatian food! Bida Manda is a must try! I love the old brick style building downtown Raleigh. Upon opening the doors we were greeted by such wonderful staff. The decor and ambiance are inviting and cute. Romantic enough for dates and warm and welcoming for large groups. We were lucky enough to get seated by the "lucky" table with the painted hummingbird on the wall. Our server was top notch, friendly, accommodating, and she truly made our experience. She brought us complimentary shrimp chips to start the meal, which I love! They are so light and crunchy. The cocktails are fun and delicious. We ordered a variety including the "Dill With It - Gin, lemon/lime juice, pickle juice, honey", the "Pina Colada", the "Lilac Lotous - gin, elderberry, cucumber, fresh lime juice" and my personal favorite, the "Spicy Khiaw (Green) - tequila, cointreau, pineapple, lime, cilantro-jalapeno." I always over order because I get excited and want to try so many things on the menu. For our appetizers we got the Crispy Rice Lettuce Wraps (5/5), Chicken Wings which come with some great sauces including Panang Curry Sauce, Hot Sweet Chili Sauce, and Lao Spicy Roasted Habanero Peanut Sauce (5/5). For our mains we ordered the Chicken Curry which was quite tasty and a special dish, Khao Soi that I had really high hopes for that I rated a 2.5/5. I had this dish in Thailand which was one of the best meals I've ever had. Maybe the Lao one is different but I expected a creamy broth with noodles and it was clear broth. I was just really let down by that. Overall a great experience and I look forward to going back.

Absolutely awesome experience! Food, service, quality and uniqueness made for a memorable dining experience. Definitely recommend and will return.

Bida Manda is one of my friends go to spots. She and her partner love this place and were talking it up. I'm happy to report it passed with flying colors! From my experience it's uncommon to come across a Laotian restaurant, let alone of all places in a small town in North Carolina! I gotta say I was impressed. Bida Manda is a ritzy restaurant with a bar. The food was delicious and our waitress was awesome. #adulting: ~ LILAC LOTUS - 4.5/5 Very well done. Refreshing and light, I do wish it wasn't served in a tiny wine glass. Tasty Laotian Eats: ~ CRISPY RICE LETTUCE WRAPS - 5/5 It's all about the rice ball in the middle. Dig in, break it up, devour and enjoy the complex mesh of flavors from the herbs, fried garlic, shallot crisp, peanuts, eggs and lime. Don't forget the house-made caramelized sweet chili sauce... Brilliant! It's actually big enough to be an entree if you aren't all that hungry. ~ LUANG PRABANG LEMONGRASS SAUSAGE - 5/5 I wasn't too sure about this one. The presentation looked good in the pics. I was ecstatic the taste matched the presentation. Delicious Pork Sausage with fresh herbs made in house. ~ CRISPY PORK BELLY SOUP - 5/5 The star of the show! The Crispy Pork Belly was cooked to perfection! The flavor of the soup was just divine! I'm not usually a fan of Coconut curry broth, but this one knocked it out of the park. Perfectly balanced, not too creamy or coconutty. There is a Chicken version of this as well. I'll get to it the next time...maybe. ~ CHICKEN FRIED RICE - 4/5 A solid fried rice dish with chicken. The flavor just got overshadowed by every other dish we ordered. ~ MANDA'S HERB SALAD (w/ Shrimp) - 5/5 Dayumn! Bring an appetite for this one...talk about generous portions! The gigantic bowl of deliciousness is fairly intimidating. You won't leave disappointed. Just a perfectly done "Salad" with vermicelli noodles & so much more. Added Shrimp to this one! Stop by for some delicious exotic Laotian eats at Bida Manda when you are in the area...you won't be disappointed!

Bida Manda is an all-time favorite for me. I like Asian food, and Bida Manda has some great dishes representing the cuisine. The ambiance and service are outstanding. I have had several dishes there. The Crispy Rice Lettuce Wraps are fresh. The way it is served needs a minor assembly, but it is an easy and quick dish. It only lasts for a short time on the table. The same is true with the summer rolls. The green papaya salad was exceptional. There are so many vegetarian dishes that I do not need to indulge in eating chicken.

Fantastic ambiance, waiter Emma was great. The beef moon cakes small plates were fantastic - would order several of those just for my meal next time. (The char siu bao were okay in comparison) Quick service! Loved the hot masala chai and great selection of beers. Got the soy chicken came out super hot and server poured the sauce to keep it crispy as possible. I would recommend like mixing the chicken a bit so it gets fully covered but so good!

AMAZING!!! Literally one of the best restaurants I've been to in the triangle area. My boyfriend and I came here for date night and had a wonderful experience. Our server was very chatty and attentive, and catered towards my gluten-free restrictions very well. The menu has so many delicious items to choose from. Definitely would love to come back here soon with my family.