Taurus Ox
Restaurant · Capitol Hill ·
Lao stews, sausages, and unique smash burgers with fresh herbs
Lao stews, sausages, and unique smash burgers with fresh herbs
"Taurus Ox’s newer location on 19th qualifies it for SCRPRTCUWFF status with flying colors. That’s thanks to nothing on the menu creeping over $28, a stupendous provolone-slathered smashburger, and an atmosphere that makes it easy to lose track of time. Especially if one friend has a heavily embellished, six-part epic of a story about simply running into a coworker at Safeway. Might as well add on another of Lao beef jerky—it’ll be a long night." - aimee rizzo
"It’s a meal dilemma we’ve encountered often—khao soi or a cheeseburger? Cut to Taurus Ox, the Lao spot that does both (and more). Taurus Ox’s crown jewel is undoubtedly their smashburger, a double-pattied stunner topped with taro stem, cilantro, pickled onion, and cured pork jowl, along with the genius addition of spicy pork skin-laced jaew bong and nutty provolone that cuts through the herbs and rendered fat. It’s a drippy, tangy, beautiful mess, but that isn’t to say that the other dishes play second fiddle. Thom khem loaded with caramelized pork belly and a brussels sprout hash brown would be an ideal under-the-covers dinner, and garlicky lemongrass sausage would rule a summer barbecue. Stumble in on a weeknight, or pack your friends in before bar-hopping." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"Lettuce, tomato, and onion have their rightful spot in the burger topping Hall of Fame. But Taurus Ox, a Lao restaurant on Capitol Hill, proves that things like taro stem, spicy lemongrass-y pork skin mayo, jowl bacon, and cilantro deserve a place as well. In addition to all those Lao ingredients, this double cheeseburger also has a bunch of provolone and gets served on a soft pub bun. The result is a f*cking amazing burger that gives you fresh herbs, nuttiness, and just enough pork fat." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"Laotian dishes shine at this Capitol Hill restaurant from three chefs, Sydney Clark, Khampaeng Panyathong, and Jenessa Sneva. Items such as thom khem and chicken laap utilize produce from local farms and a whole-animal approach to butchery, and the Lao pork sausage, fragrant with lemongrass and lime leaf, is not to be missed. Meanwhile, the smash burger made with pork jowl bacon and jaew tomato sauce may be the best patty in the city. (That burger is also available at Ox Burger, Taurus Ox’s spin-off, and you can find Panyathong’s Laotian spin on pizza at Ananas Pizzeria in First Hill.)" - Sophie Grossman
"This Lao restaurant on Capitol Hill proves that things like taro stem, spicy lemongrass-y pork skin mayo, jowl bacon, and cilantro deserve real estate on a smashburger. In addition to all those ingredients, Taurus Ox’s double stack also has a bunch of provolone and gets served on a soft pub bun. The result is a specimen with fresh herbs, nuttiness, and just enough pork fat. If you’re in a hurry, note that you can secure a replica at fast-casual sibling Ox Burger." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley, gabe guarente
