Vientiane Bistro
Thai restaurant · East Kensington ·
Lao & Thai comfort food, vegetarian options, standout beef jerky
Lao & Thai comfort food, vegetarian options, standout beef jerky
"This Lao spot in Kensington is perfect for catching up with friends over spicy tom yum soup, light and coconut-y banh xeo, and earthy green chili curry. All of those options are gluten-free—as are around 15 other items on the menu—and taste so good that you’ll want to eat it in small forkfuls just to make the entire dish last longer. Most of the GF dishes are under $20, and they open as early as noon, so it can work as your go-to spot for a casual lunch or dinner that doesn’t make you wince when you pay." - candis mclean
"This Kensington Avenue spot is where you should come to catch up with friends over shrimp wontons, spicy tom yum soup, pan-seared tilapia, and some small plates from the very long menu. We always order their pad kee mao, which mixes a spicy basil garlic sauce, broccoli, bell peppers, your protein of choice, and rice noodles in a stir fry. Its blend of flavors works so well that we eat it in small forkfuls just to make the dish last longer. There’s nothing on the menu over $20 and they open as early as noon, so it can work as your go-to spot for a Thai iced coffee or a casual lunch." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"This Lao spot in Kensington is where you should catch up with friends over shrimp wontons, spicy tom yum soup, pan-seared tilapia, and some small plates from the very long menu. We always order their pad kee mao that mixes a spicy basil garlic sauce, broccoli, bell peppers, your protein of choice, and the rice noodle stir fry. There’s nothing on the menu over $20, and they open as early as noon, so it can work as your go-to spot for a casual vegetable-leaning lunch. And if you feel like your meal is getting too healthy, you can always add a banana chocolate spring roll or sugary macaron." - candis mclean
"This Lao spot in Kensington is perfect for catching up with friends over spicy tom yum soup, light and coconut-y banh xeo, and earthy green chili curry. All of those options are gluten-free—as are around 15 other items on the menu—and taste so good that you’ll want to eat it in small forkfuls just to make the entire dish last longer. Most of the GF dishes are under $20, and they open as early as noon, so it can work as your go-to spot for a casual lunch or dinner that doesn’t make you wince when you pay. " - candis mclean
"Sunny Phanthavong spent years working with her mom, Daovy, at Vientiane Cafe in West Philly before opening Vientiane Bistro, an outpost in Kensington where Lao beef jerky and three takes on papaya salad (Lao, Thai, and vegetarian) share menu space with spicy yum salads and eggplant sautéed with basil." - Ernest Owens