Larb Thai-Isan
Thai restaurant · Fort Lauderdale ·
Authentic Northeastern Thai dishes like khao soi, larb, and som tum
Authentic Northeastern Thai dishes like khao soi, larb, and som tum
"Perfect if you like:Lung Yai Thai TapasIt’s going to be a little hard to go back to Lung Yai’s khao soi after you have the one at this strip mall spot in Fort Lauderdale. Larb Thai-Isan is a destination restaurant for any South Floridian who loves Thai food. The flavors here don’t just jump off the plate—they are launched at you through a T-shirt cannon. It should be a lifelong goal of yours to eat through the entire menu, but start with the Isan sausage, kra pao, and that khao soi. Try to go at off-hours, since wait times can get intense." - Ryan Pfeffer, Mariana Trabanino
"We haven’t found a better Thai restaurant in all of South Florida than Fort Lauderdale's Larb Thai-Isan. This narrow, colorful restaurant is making the best versions we’ve ever had of Thai dishes like khao soi, larb, and som tum in an area that’s dense with corporate chain restaurants. Every ingredient in every dish—from each spicy strand of papaya to the tender drumstick that floats in the khao soi—tastes like the perfect form of itself. And it’s also just a pleasure to eat here. Service is friendly and most tables have a view of the kitchen, where you’ll watch cooks pound and chop away. There will probably be a wait, but you can drink beer outside and stare at the Outback Steakhouse across the street to kill time." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino
"We haven’t found a better Thai restaurant in all of South Florida than Larb Thai-Isan. This narrow, colorful Fort Lauderdale restaurant is making the best versions we’ve ever had of Thai dishes like khao soi, larb, and som tum in an area that’s dense with corporate chain restaurants. Every ingredient in every dish—from each spicy strand of papaya to the tender drumstick that floats in the khao soi—tastes like the perfect form of itself. At one point, this place was a strip mall secret. But now all of Fort Lauderdale knows about it, so try to come at an off time or prepare to sip beers while you wait outside for a table." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo
"For Northeastern Thai fare, Larb Thai-Isan is the king in Broward County and perhaps well beyond. Highlights include perfectly crispy kra pao with a basil sauce, green papaya salad topped with salted cram (tum pu), and pork spareribs bedazzled in three different tangy sauces."
"We haven’t found a better Thai restaurant in all of South Florida than Larb Thai-Isan. This narrow, colorful Fort Lauderdale restaurant is making the best versions we’ve ever had of Thai dishes like khao soi, larb, and som tum in an area that’s dense with corporate chain restaurants. Every ingredient in every dish—from each spicy strand of papaya to the tender drumstick that floats in the khao soi—tastes like the perfect form of itself. And it’s also just a pleasure to eat here. Service is incredibly friendly, quick, and most tables have a view of the kitchen, where you’ll watch cooks pound, chop, and prepare the most delicious things you’ll find in a 20-mile radius. photo credit: Cleveland Jennings Food Rundown Tum Pu & Pla-Ra There's an entire chunk of the menu dedicated to som tum, and our favorite is this mash-up, which tosses salted crab and fermented fish sauce into the crunchy papaya. If you really want it spicy, don't hesitate to say so. They’ll ask, and if you say medium, you won't get much of a kick. photo credit: CLEVELAND JENNINGS / @EATTHECANVASLLC Larb The larb is tender, flavorful, and (like pretty much everything here) the best version we've had in South Florida. Go for the pork over the chicken. photo credit: CLEVELAND JENNINGS / @EATTHECANVASLLC Khao Soi Every noodle dish on the menu deserves a little noodle-shaped trophy engraved with, like, 400 exclamation points. But even infinity exclamation points doesn’t do the khao soi justice. It’s that rare dish that truly deserves the word perfect. And the chicken leg that juts from the bowl has meat so tender the breeze from the air conditioner could knock it off the bone. photo credit: CLEVELAND JENNINGS / @EATTHECANVASLLC" - Ryan Pfeffer
