Padaek

Just had an unforgettable dining experience at Padaek in Arlington Ridge, VA, and I couldn't wait to share! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality. The ambiance is cozy and inviting, setting the perfect stage for what was to come. Now, let's talk about the food. Each dish was a culinary masterpiece, showcasing the rich flavors of Lao and Regional Thai cuisine. The Siin Savanh, Gaeng Hang Lay, and Mieng were absolute standouts, bursting with authenticity and boldness. And dessert? Oh, don't even get me started! The Mango Sticky Rice and Khao Niew Met Nga were the perfect sweet endings to an incredible meal. But what truly sets Padaek apart is the attention to detail and the stories behind the food. Chef Seng's dedication to preserving tradition and sharing her family's recipes shines through in every bite. Overall, Padaek exceeded all expectations. If you're in Arlington Ridge and craving an unforgettable dining experience, look no further. This place is a gem!

The larb is a toss of juicy chicken, toasted rice powder, the fermented fish sauce that gives Padaek its name and chef Seng Luangrath’s favorite herb, lemongrass. Galangal — reminiscent of fresh ginger when young and more peppery as it ages — lends its spark to the salad as well. This is food that puts your taste buds at full attention. (“Alive!” I texted a note to myself the first time I ate it.) Pretty much anyone can sample the pleasure, since the salad, like a swath of dishes here, is also offered gluten-free and/or vegan.

Been wanting to come for a while and finally got to make the trip out! I was definitely not disappointed, the food was phenomenal and delicious. I got the Naem Khao Thadaeu and the Crispy Basil and they are honestly some of my favorite dishes. All the food was extremely fresh and delicious. Went on a Saturday afternoon and were seated quite easily!

A Laotian/Thai restaurant We ordered: Siin Savanh- marinated beef jerky with ginger and garlic. It was excellent. Tum Thai- Green papaya salad which was excellent Spring Rolls-very good Pad Thai- excellent. Menu has numerous noodle dishes along with curry and other items. Beer available. Service was quick friendly and Efficient.

Great food! Their menu has a lot of unique Laotian dishes that cannot be found in many places. They also have some Thai dishes. The service was good and I enjoyed what I ordered. I highly recommend this place.

Delighted to discover the true flavors of Laos at Padeak! The authenticity of their dishes is truly impressive, making for a delightful culinary experience. The taste is exceptional, reflecting a genuine appreciation for Laotian cuisine. Highly recommend for those seeking an authentic and delicious dining experience.

Padaek is an outstanding Laotian/Thai restaurant that deserves more recognition! Compared to its two sister restaurants in DC that are better known, Padaek is more easygoing and affordable. I had high expectations for flavors, still the dishes exceeded them and left me wanting to come back for more. We ordered Crispy Tofu in tamarind sauce and Ping (grilled marinated chicken with sticky rice). Both were cooked to perfection and packed with addicting flavors. The chicken was impressively tender, juicy and yet still retained a satisfying bite. This maybe the best chicken I’ve eaten in a while. Padaek is truly a hidden gem that serves top tier Laotian food in town. Will definitely come back to try other dishes that mentioned in people’s reviews!

Very impressed by Padaek! All their dishes are extremely fragrant and flavorful. Prices are reasonable and tip was included for our party of 6+. Would definitely recommend the Pad Se Ew and their fried tofu squares.

Cyndy's Bottom Line: Big flavors! *Located in Seven Corners Center *Ample parking *Walk ins welcomed *Hours: Mon-Thur: Lunch 12pm-3pm, Dinner 4pm - 8:30pm, Fri-Sat: Lunch 12pm-3pm, Dinner 4pm-9pm Sunday: Closed *Thai and Lao cuisine. The menu offers a good variety of items. *Carry out, online ordering, Door Dash delivery *Serves beer and wine *Pantry Items for purchase: Jaew Bong - House Fermented Chili Paste, Tamarind Salt, Lao Papaya Salad Sauce, Thai Papaya Salad Sauce The Thai and Laotian food is absolutely delicious with layers upon layers of robust flavors. Mouthwatering dishes guaranteed. This is what we ate: -NAEM KHAO Thadaeu -Crispy coconut rice salad, peanuts, lime, cilantro, scallion, chili, served with green lettuce wraps and a choice of sour pork or vegetarian/vegan with crispy tofu. The rice is delicious with bites of crispy goodness and chewy textures of light sprinkles of coconut and peanuts. Combination of flavors of saltiness, sourness of the pork, fresh lime and herbs all blend well together. Very yummy! -KIEP MUU -roasted green chili dipping sauce with crispy pork rinds. +The crispy pork rinds are fried to a light and airy crunchy goodness. The roasted green chili dipping sauce adds a spicy savory to pork rinds. Yumminess! -TUM THAI -Green papaya salad, fish sauce, bird eye chili, tomato, eggplant, lime, garlic, served with sticky rice. +The sauce is divine! Well balanced with a savory, spicy yumminess and the freshness of the green papaya so yummy! -PING -Pork shoulder grilled & marinated with herbs, toasted rice sauce, cucumber, served with sticky rice. +The pork shoulder is so tender and flavorful. Add the toasted rice sauce - superb yumminess! The spicy acidity, with the toasted rice, fresh herbs enhance and balance the richness of the pork. DRUNKEN NOODLES -Wok tossed flat rice noodles, chili-garlic sauce, fish sauce, basil, bell peppers, onion. +Love the smokiness of a wok tossed noodle together with tasty flavor of the sauce is so yummy satisfying! *The dishes are always flavorful and consistently prepared. *Friendly and attentive service. *Highly recommend!

4.7/5 Three of my friends and I wanted to try this place because it had Laotian options. I've been a die hard Thai food girlie but I haven't tried much Laotian food. My boyfriend is obsessed with any type of Thai curry so he went in with his panang curry. I ordered the crispy rice salad which was the highlight of our meal! Such a creative and fun way to eat crispy fried rice! I didn't want to leave a grain behind so I ended up packing two bites home LOL. I ordered kee mao noodles and my friends got chicken satay. Portions were great, flavors were great! If you want to try something new, try the crispy rice salad!

Trust me, when I say.. you NEED to check this place out. This restaurant has become my favorite Thai Restaurant from just one visit. The only downside is that this location is quite small so you'll have to wait for a table. I came here on Friday evening, around 6pm and had to wait about 15-20 minutes for a table? We were so luckily that we didn't have to wait too long; a line formed behind us! When we were standing around waiting for a table, we got to really take in all the decor and aesthetic of the place. It's simply decorated with Thai paintings, curtains and tablecloth. [Food: 5 of 5] Tum Lao: 5/5 : Lao style papaya salad served with sticky rice. This dish was one of my favorites and was pretty spicy; I love spicy so this was such a great kicker for me. The sticky rice and the lettuce paired well and helped soothe the spiciness. Satay: 5/5 : Best Chicken Satay I have ever had. The sauce was a little too sweet buy it was honestly soo good, I over looked it. Drunken Noodle: 4/5 : This dish didn't WOW me but it was pretty good still. Pad Thai: 4/5 Ordered mine with no bean sprouts (yuck!). It could've used a squeeze of lime and some (or a lot) pepper flakes! [Drinks: 4 of 5] This rating is based on my personal preference. I LOVE Thai Tea and this was just the right ratio of milk to tea. I'm not giving this a 5 of 5 because I did not enjoy the coffee thai tea, I think those 2 drinks should not mix. However, my friend did really enjoy it. So if you want some extra caffeine and try something new, get the coffee thai tea! I can't wait to come back to this restaurant and try their other dishes!

Paa tod is amazing. the catfish is so crispy i had it three times in one week! the basil fried rice with shrimp was also incredible. The service is quick too and very reasonably priced! Highly recommend

I personally am not a fan of South East Asian food too much, I always hated the taste of coconut milk in Thai curry's cause my stomach would turn, or fried fried fish with lemon grass, and I can't eat pork like Hmong sausages were a no go. Though, this spot definitely changed my mind on fancying a nice Naem khao- it wasn't too sour or drowsed with fish sauce and it wasn't too fried either. The ambience is definitely a quaint little spot tucked away and I admit I never noticed it until now. The service is also attentive and I thoroughly enjoyed how it felt kinda authentic or like a homey spot.

Thankful the good people of Reddit have recommended Padaek again and again. My husband and I have eaten here twice now and it has been great every time. The food is delicious, every dish has been delicious, the crispy basil chicken is one of our favorite dishes and we love the drunk noodles as well. The pork piing was also outstanding! For best results, invite your friends and share everything!

Low key and casual. Delicious and soul quenching Lao/Thai food. Can always expect a good meal from Padaek. Service was prompt and friendly. Easy to get a table on Thursday evening.

Stopped here for dinner after shopping in Eden Center (very close by). The restaurant specializes in Lao cuisine with some Thai offerings as well. The menu had very unique items (collard green wraps with pineapple) as well as standard curry, noodle and salad dishes. I ordered the Khao poon, which was a rice noodle soup bowl in red curry. The bean sprouts and red cage were added in raw, but cooked well in the soup broth and remained crunchy. The protein of choice was tofu, and it was very generously portioned. A very tasty dish with a little bit of spice and sour. My companion had the awk (herb stew) with tofu and sticky rice and loved it. Great place!

My wife and I stopped in to try Padaek after having heard good things about their food. I had my typical crispy Basil Chicken, extra spicy and my wife had the pad thai. Both were very large portions for a great price, and very good. We will be back again!

Hole-in-the-wall, no-frills, Laotian/Thai spot in a strip mall that fed me the best Pad Thai I have ever had The place is just comprised of a small handful of tables, and just has a small menu, but the food is very authentic and absolutely delicious My GF and I split a Pad Thai and a Drunken Noodles dish, and they were both delicious. They were both very large and came very quickly as well You can ask for their dishes at a certain spice level, but no other modifications are accommodated

Urgh I give up on this place. This place went down hill. I heard they opening a new location so maybe that where the attention and focus it. It use to be hard to get table here but now I see plenty of seat. A lot of the dish on the menu had been remove. I drove an hour to get Mee Kathi just to find they no longer making it. Tam Laos Laos Spicy 3/5 ( $14)- I use to love the papaya salad here but now it taste like premade fermented fish sauce. Just because you make it spicy and added Padak doesn't make it Laos. They Pa dak (fermented fish sauce) is way overly too sweet, you can get it spicy but it still be sweet at the same time. Plus it got extremely small. Awk Beef ($18)- Stew beef with dill and herb, it good but lost it authenticity . The amount of proteins is so small with ton of broth and the meat cut so thin and dr. It would been better if they use a different part of beef like Flank steak that will have been better Can of coke $3 Overall i give up on this location maybe went they open the new location, i will try it again. This place lost the love and humbleness that use to show in the food

Finally. Some real Laos food. And some real Thai food. For a Thai guy who was raised on the border of Thai and Laos, I'm happy. Service was fast, and top notch. The place was nice and cozy, and I got there before all the White Laos food experts arrived. Lol. I ordered the Laos style papaya salad, and it brought me back to my youth. Yummy, yummy, yummy. I rarely get papaya salad anymore. The Thai Restaurants have "Olive Garden'd" papaya salad to the point there's just no flavor to it anymore. I'm so glad the Laos restaurants can still maintain some authenticity with how things should taste. This plate, and a basket of sticky rice is all I need. You want the pork sausage here. It's heavenly. The green dipping sauce that goes with it makes this dish a must for any starter. Honestly, I'm totally stuffed, and satisfied. I got my Asian Laos Thai fix, and that should hold me over till I can head back up to Washington DC. Well done.

Wow! Every dish was bursting with flavors! The crispy rice salad was one of my absolute favorites. Bright flavors and textures make this an exceptional dish! The service was wonderful. The server was helpful and kind. The ambiance was quiet the place is warm and cozy. The portions were just right. I can't wait to go back and try more of their dishes. We had vegetarian versions of the dishes we ordered and no tastes were sacrificed at all! It was all awesome!

Ambiance is small yet very "misplaced". We ordered their version of the beef kaprow, Shrimp drunken noodle, and fried rice. Its sad to say, their food is not what it used to be. The beef in my kaprow had a frozen after taste.. the fried rice had no flavor, and the drunken, I have no words. Did ownership change? If so, its so sad.

That Naem Khao Thadaeu (Crispy Rice Salad)!!!! So delicious. Not many Laotian food places around here so I was happy find this hole in the wall place. I did a carry out order so service was very quick. I would like to go back and try other dishes on their menu.

Padaek serves some of the best southeast Asian food I've had in the DMV area! I like to think of this place as Thip Khao's more accessible and reasonably priced sibling. It's tucked away in a plaza near Eden Center with plenty of parking space, which is a huge plus that already separates it from Thip Khao. It also feels more like a small family-owned business, as Thip Khao is modern and larger. I'm absolutely obsessed with the crispy rice salad, which I usually get with sour pork. I come here at least once every month and never get sick of eating this dish because it's THAT good. It's the perfect texture because of how crispy it is, especially if you use the lettuce wraps they give. The toppings with the onions, sour pork, and nuts all come together to give it this tangy and refreshing flavor. I'm also a huge fan of their kabobs and Khao Poon curry.

Make no mistake - this is the Padaek location to go to if you have a choice, not the Arlington one. The Arlington one is significantly closer to my place but I always end up making the trek out to Falls Church because the OG location is simply better. Recommendations: the Naem Khao rice salad is crispy, crunchy, savory and delicious - I recommend getting it with the tofu, even if you're a meat eater like I am. I order the Ping with pork shoulder literally every time, because it's a fantastically heaped plate of seared meat with a nice mildly spicy dipping sauce. It also comes with a bag of tasty sticky rice that makes a low-carb eater like me abandon my low-carbness, at least for one meal. Padaek Falls Church will always be on my list of places to take out of towners.

We're always looking for the next Lao restaurant, whenever I'm with my family. They were visiting from CA, and we had to see how this place compares to some of the restaurants back home. Everything was very good. We ordered 8 dishes and shared. My top 3 dishes are the Naem Khao, Egg plant, and Green Curry. I grew up on Lao food and i think they're authentic here here. We also ordered the Prok Rind plate, Pad Se Ew, Ping Muu, Laab Chicken, Drunken Noodles, and a few orders of sticky rice. Everything had so much flavor and the spicy dishes were actually spicy, but of course my family still needed the spice rack. Service was fast and friendly. Located in a large shopping center, so parking shouldn't be an issue. Looks like they get fairly busy in the evenings. My only complaint about the restaurant is that it's located next door to a cigar shop. Most of the time, we leave restaurants smelling like food, but in this case we left smelling like smoke. I'm thinking it's an issue with their ventilation.

I really enjoyed my dinner at Thip Khao, so I wanted to try out Padaek, which shares the same co-owner. Fantastic food. Literally everything we ordered was delicious and was devoured. While Thip Khao is more elevated, has its own bar and serves pretty cocktails, Padaek is more casual and homey. Still has food quality that is just as good. The fried rice, for instance, tasted the same as that of Thip Khao. This is what we ordered: SIIN SAVANH - beef jerky 5/5 TUM LAO - green papaya salad 4/5 PING - grilled and marinated pork shoulder 5/5!!!!! SOOO good KRAPAO - chicken 4/5 it's interesting because I think this dish usually comes as ground meat, but there were pieces of chicken in this dish. still very delicious and worth getting, but expect a standard stir fry dish KHAO PAD (beef) - we added the fermented chili paste and that made the fried rice sooo tasty. 5/5!!!! Definitely stop by here for a casual dining spot and food that will stick in your memory, not because of the sticky rice, but because it's sooo good :D

Haven't been here since pre-covid but came back for a group dinner recently. We came on a thursday night around 6:30pm without a reservation and there were no issues with getting a table. Although they no longer offer the buffet (sad face), the food is still pretty good. We ordered the Crispy Basil Chicken and Khao Poon Curry Noodle Soup with chicken. Flavorful and decent portions, although my soup barely had any chicken. It had maybe two slices of chicken in it, chopped up into tiny pieces. This was disappointing since it was an $18 soup. Was really happy to see they still offered the Bua Loy dessert. We got one to go and it was half a pint for $9. Hot and delicious.

Yum!! Service was quick and food was AMAZING. I ordered the green curry, pad see yew, and crispy beef. Everything was incredible.

I have been here several times. This resturant never fails me.Best food in town .Each and every dish is unique.Full of flavor and you will want to eat more . Friendly waiters. Reasonable priced.

Excellent service. They really embodied the hospitality of the Thai/Laos region. Kind, hospitable, good advice about what to select, especially regarding the.Paa Tod. Now let's talk about the ambience. Very cheerful, straightforward, uncluttered, clean, hospitable,, not fancy. I loved it but if you want something fancy, this place is not for you. And the best for the Last. The food was absolutely amazing. Fresh, excellent quantities, reasonably priced absolutely delicious and we could not be happier. We ordered the Awk with catfish, gaeng keow wan shrimp, basil fried rice chicken , basil fried rice fried tofu, and drunken noodle fried tofu.

Food, Ambiance, Service...like most Asian restaurants you forget the wait when you get the food!! It's people friendly but a bit crowded. Go EARLY!! Depends on your level of spice and how willing you are in trying new things, cause this is VERY AUTHENTIC!! You won't be disappointed but make sure you have some milk for the spicy dishes...you're gonna probably need it. Happy Eating!!

One of our typical rotation of restaurants that we always go to. Padaek typically always deliver on flavor and speed. We've eaten here probably more than 10+ times since living in the NOVA area and probably won't stop any time soon. Normally we start off with the Naem Khao Thadaeu (not pictured here). It's essentially a crispy lettuce wrap starter with pork that always hits the right spot. It comes with an optional dried chili on top of the dish that can be crushed for an extra kick. Their drunken noodles are always a crowd please. Typically I like to get it a bit spicy but can't go wrong either way. The Orm is a very soothing soup that comes with sticky rice. It does have a lot of dill, so if you're not a fan of dill, best to avoid. Overall Padaek is a staple that we will revisit time and time again. The 4 stars is due to the recent increase in price. While before it felt like a good value now, with the increase in price there's less of an immediate pull to Padaek. Most of their dishes now clock in at $17/$18 plus which just makes me think twice about going now. BUT still great flavors nonetheless.

If you're looking for no frills, comforting, fast and fresh Thai and Laotian food, then Padaek is the place to visit. My girl and I stopped by for a quick dinner of pad see ew with chicken and crispy chicken basil. Each dish was delicious, hot, not greasy, and plentiful. The spice level was tailored towards a western clientele, which I didn't mind at all. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant could definitely use a renovation, or at least some new tables as the wear and tear was noticeable, but that didn't take away from my dining experience. I look forward to dining here again.

Really lives up to the taste and quality of this restaurant. I absolutely loved the crispy coconut rice salad with sour pork. It came with a lettuce wrap. It was so flavorful with all textures in the mouth, I highly recommend! The satay meat was so tender it melts in the mouth with the peanut sauce. The sauce was just right not too sweet to complement the seasoned chicken. The drunken noodles is definitely a go to with a little bit of a kick! Noodles were delicious. I am so excited to come back and try other dishes on the menu!

Delicious Laotian food that is mind blowing because it's not available anywhere else. We got these to bring home with us. The papaya salad is flavorful and so delicious. It's not too spicy for me but for others, it might be mouth burning so be careful when order. I don't know what's the other one called but the crispy rice salad is so unique and have a flavorful coconut taste. Crispy and very flavorful, you don't even need any sauce! The sausage is delicious as well. Totally recommending this place if you want authentic laotian fold in the dmv area.

Such a gem in Falls Church! One of my favorite Thai places in the DMV. The restaurant itself isn't anything too fancy, but has a good amount of seating. My friend and I went on a Monday night and there was a decent amount of people dining in. SERVICE: The server/host was super friendly and gave us a bunch of recommendations on what to get. Being able to adjust the spice level of the dishes was really helpful (because I can't handle spicy). Everything we ordered came out within 10 minutes after ordering! FOOD: - Tam Thai: 5/5 - Out of the two papaya salads, this one is less fishy and sour. We got this in mild and it was delicious! Don't forget to mix the salad before eating, or else the spice will hit you all at once. - Khao Soi (w/ Chicken): 3/5 - I wasn't too impressed with this. The flavors were there, but the egg noodles were undercooked. - Paa Tod: 5/5 - My friend has gotten this multiple times and it never disappoints. - Pad Se Ow: 4/5 - Such a classic dish! This was solid, but tasted like any other typical Pad Se Ow.

Padaek was amazing! We got the Crispy Basil Tofu, Pad Thai with Tofu, and the Gaeng Keow Wan Curry with Tofu. All three dishes were phenomenal and our group thoroughly enjoyed the flavors of each dish. The food came out quickly and the service was really great. I highly recommend getting the curry!

Mango sticky rice for $13, the portions were disappointing for the price and quality.

Exceptional laotian food, never disappoints. Now a regular night out spot for us. We try new dishes each visit and every one has been awesome.

The Drunken Noodles were soooo good! They were saucy and savory, and i loved the chili taste without it being too spicy for me! Prices were reasonable in this economy ($17 thumbs up) Padaek is an underrated Lao and Thai spot that made my taste buds swoon! I have so many positive points to make about this establishment - from the cozy, sentimental interior, TASTY flat noodle dishes, and very polite-casual staff; I really like so much about Padaek. :) lately restaurants have been slowing down on quality and quantity but there's plenty of yummy food for dinner and a midnight snack!

This was our second meal at Padaek and it still tasted as good as the first time! I would highly recommend the fish.

Padaek doesn't have a big sign on the outside so it took me a while to find it but it is a hidden gem!Having had Thip Khao in DC, Padaek rivals as my favorite Laotian restaurant in the area! The crispy rice salad was my favorite! It is an entree and comes with lettuce (to wrap in). The crispy rice salad was really good when dipped in the peanut sauce that came with the chicken satay!

There are two locations, the Falls Church location being the OG and Arlington Ridge being the newer restaurant. We came to the OG location on a Friday night at 6:30PM and were promptly seated. The restaurant is smaller and there was only 1 host and 1 server for the whole restaurant. After we were seated, there was a line waiting for a table to open up or to be cleared. It took a while for the tables to be cleared since there were only 2 people out front working so some people in line ending up leaving. To avoid waits, I'd come before 6:30PM! Venture out of your comfort zone and order something besides the pad thai and drunken noodles. These were OK but definitely not the star of the show. Don't be afraid to try something new! We got the Naem Khao Thadaeu (cripsy coconut rice salad, $18) with tofu as an appetizer, pork shoulder ping ($18 + $2 pork upcharge), and drunken noodles ($18 + $1 beef upcharge). My favorite item was definitely the rice salad, it was packed with different flavors and textures (crispy rice, lime, red onion, peanut crunch, lettuce). The pork shoulder ping was really flavorful too. It actually reminded me of Vietnamese grilled pork. There was sauce on the side and was flavorful but a little sweet. I inhaled the spicy powder on top of the sauce and let me tell you, it definitely isn't for those who think Sriracha is spicy lol. That didn't stop me tho, I asked for a spice tray and added the pickled peppers to my dishes for an additional flavor bomb. Again, the drunken noodles were ok. Portions were on the smaller side or just individual portions instead of serving family style like I'm used to at asian restaurants. The thai iced tea was good as well. We got the thai iced tea with half and half but I want to come back and try the thai iced tea with lime. Overall, I would definitely be back to try more of their dishes!!!!

We used to love Thip Khao in D.C., but it's a bit of a trek for us, so we were super happy to discover their sister restaurant in Falls Church. Some of the dishes are exactly the same but a few dollars cheaper, so it makes us feel like we're getting a good deal (although the food is still a little pricey for what it is since the portions aren't huge and you need probably three dishes for two people to be full)! Now onto what to get: -the crispy rice salad--amazing, but wish they gave us a little more lettuce -mee kathi - super flavorful and a decent portion -nam tok muu--can get actually spicy but super flavorful Honestly, skip their Thai dishes (i.e. pad thai, pad kee mao, khao soi, curries, etc.) and just come here for the Laotian food. There's a good Thai restaurant a few blocks away that is better and cheaper (shoutout to Duangrats).

I had the Laab Chopped Chicken with spicy fish sauce, toasted rice powder, lemongrass, scallion, cilantro, mint. Unlike many places the chicken was not dry, the right level of spice, and was ready when they said it would be. Highly recommend the Laab chicken.

I've been to Padaek's sister location Thip Khao in DC and thought that the flavors were unique and fantastic but much too salty. So I was a bit wary about Padaek at first. However, after hearing only good things about Padaek from my friends, I was excited to finally give this place a try. I came here for dinner this evening with three friends and we ordered a few different entrees with the intention of sampling each other's options. PING WITH PORK SHOULDER - 16 The server recommended my friend to try this Laotian dish with pork shoulder and it was definitely worth it. I really enjoyed the few bites of pork shoulder that I was able to try as it was very flavorful marinade with lots of umami (kind of reminded me of what Korean galbi would taste like). It was also super tender! The toasted rice sauce gave it a boost in flavor and was super delicious. The sticky rice that came with it was wrapped in plastic and stored in a cute little container (not sure how to describe so you can look at the picture I attached for visuals). The rice wasn't anything special and didn't have any additional flavors or anything, but went well with the pork shoulder. I'd recommend giving this entree a try. CRISPY BASIL CATFISH - 17 There were a lot of positive reviews about the crispy basil (a Thai dish) and I was debating between catfish and duck. One of my friends got the duck so I knew I had to try the catfish to see which one I liked more. I love how crispy the catfish was, yet the breading still soaked up a lot of the spicy basil sauce. Each bite was crunchy yet so flavorful, and the catfish itself was very enjoyable in terms of its soft texture and mild taste. There is a generous amount of catfish here, which made it easy to share with friends. I tried my friend's crispy basil duck and enjoyed that one a lot since duck (in my opinion) is more of a delicacy. I love the taste of duck and would probably pay an extra dollar to get the crispy basil duck next time. MIENG WITH CATFISH - 19 I didn't really get to eat much of this, but the portion size was huge and the catfish was super crispy and crunchy. This doesn't come drenched in sauce, so you have to dip each piece in the tangy pineapple sauce it comes with. Super yummy! I love that it came with collard green wraps so you can make a wrap out of all the toppings it came with like peanuts, tomatoes, lemongrass, etc. I didn't get to try a full wrap, but my friend seemed to enjoy his entree and was happy with what he got. I would definitely consider giving this entree a try next time. While the entrees here aren't cheap, the reason why I am giving it a 5/5 is because of how delicious all of our entrees were. They were unique in their own way, and yet super tasty and rich in various flavors. I don't know about my friends, but I was pretty impressed with the entrees we were able to try tonight. Looking forward to my next visit!

Amazing!!! My first time ever having Laotian food and it couldn't have been better. We had the crispy coconut rice - it's served with lettuce and we got it with tofu. We also had the mieng with cat fish and the drunken noodles - there was nothing left on any of the plates. Please give this place a try! The staff is also super super kind and attentive! Loved it!!

I was super excited to try Padaek after seeing it on @alwaysbemyfoodie. I split the chicken satay with a friend and ordered the crispy rice salad as my main. The starter came out with three skewers, doused in peanut sauce with another sauce on the side. I was surprised the peanut sauce wasn't on the side as well. The chicken was super juicy but I would've loved to be able to control how much sauce I wanted on top. The first bite of the crispy rice salad, wrapped in lettuce was so delightful. The various ingredients provided a beautiful combination of textures and the lettuce left the bite feeling refreshing. My only complaint was that as I kept eating I felt like the crispy rice was a bit tooo flavorful, too salty. That being said, I was still amazed by the flavors. This was definitely one of the best Thai / Laotian spots I've tried in NoVA (well it's the only Laotian spot I've tried here lol). Would come again.

Insta: dmv_reels So so good. Affordable and food was amazing. Get their crispy chicken basil and nam Khao sour pork. Atmosphere is mid but food is bomb. Will come back.

I'd be happy to help you with that! Here's the corrected text: "My daughter introduced me to Padaek, located at 2931 South Glebe Road, Arlington Ridge, VA 22206. This family-owned restaurant showcases Lao and Regional Thai cuisine. A shout out to Chef Seng, who adds spicy flavoring to each dish. Even though I attended an event in Baltimore, MD, I drove to their Arlington location because it had the best Thai food we've ever had. The portions are plentiful and the selection will make you want to come back for more."

Hostess and staff are super friendly and helpful. Food is great! Authentic spices. Nice environment in the dining area.

This was my second time here. Last time we came it was my family's first time trying Laotian food and we were pleasantly surprised with how delicious it was. My boyfriend took us here the first time and we got the fried catfish, papaya salad, skewers, laab and it was all so good! the papaya salad was a little too much fish sauce for me compared to Thai papaya salad but it was pretty good. This is my go to Laotian restaurant highly recommend !

We tried the Ping, drunken noodles and crispy catfish. 100% recommend the crispy catfish. The umami flavor slapped for that dish, just the right amount of salty and sweet. The drunken noodles could be a little more flavorful, but it was good and chewy regardless. The ping with peanut sauce was one of my fav too! Classic chicken skewers in a delicious sweet sauce! Service was decent, nothing to complain about. Laid back and chill vibe. It is a bit pricey but I think it is worth it

Always wanted to try this place and finally made it happen. Early dinner time but the restaurant was already packed. We waited approximately 10 minutes to be seated. The service was not too bad but the attitude of server was not friendly. I'm wondering if it was due to overwhelming number of customers and constant rush. On the other hand, the food was marvelous besides how sweet it is and non-spicy it is even for spicy dish. The ingredients were fresh and probably made to order. I would like to try their lunch buffet and how different it is.

The food at Padaek was absolutely delicious! What padaek lacks in ambiance, it more than makes up for in food quality. We ordered the khao soi and the fried fish. Both dishes were delicious. The curry noodle soup was flavorful and didn't taste sweet, which can sometimes be an issue at Americanized restaurants. Although the fish was fried, the fresh mint, peppers, and lime juice made the dish taste extremely light and healthy. I'd order it again for sure! Definitely check this place out, if you're looking for an authentic Thai and Laotian dining experience!

My girls and I were hungry after a trek to Eden Center, and we decided to stop here for dinner before heading back to the city. It was a GREAT decision. Had high hopes given this since it is the sister restaurant to Thip Kao, which I live close to and have been frequenting for years. Padaek absolutely lived up to our expectations. They could make practically anything vegan and our server was extremely helpful and kind (and even gave us the info for her nail lady after we ogled at her mani lol). Started with the papaya salad - on point. Parang curry with tofu was delicious as well, though I wish we would have ordered it spicier as it was a tad bit salty. The best dish by far though was the eggplant krapao - I'm still dreaming of it days later. The eggplant was luscious, nicely caramelized, and oozing with umami goodness. We fought over the last bite. Will absolutely return the next time I'm in the area to try the other curries and noodles.

Small Thai eatery behind Home Depot at Seven Corners in VA. Stopped for late lunch and almost missed the opening hours. They close at 3 pm and reopen at 5 pm. Ordered spicy beef jerky from small plates menu (quite good, not very hot/spicy, a little bit too sweet to my taste, 4 out of 5). We also tried two main dishes ( easy to share): stir fry with beef and crispy basil (4 out of 5) and red curry with coconut cream and pork ( one can choose chicken, beef , shrimp or tofu instead). Rice is served on the side. Loved the curry/coconut souse. Service was efficient but not welcoming. The place is clean. I wouldn't come here for a romantic date but if you have a craving for decent Thai food, it is a good choice. Will come back to try other dishes.