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Address and Contact Information
Address: 3922 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Phone: (872) 241-4879
Website: https://www.laoderchicago.com/
Menu Photos
Related Web Results
Lao Der | Chicago, IL | View and Order Online
Lao Der. 3922 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618. “Lao Der is a restaurant I created with deep intention and pride. Every dish comes from my family’s secret …
Lao Der Chicago (@laoderchicago) – Instagram
Top-rated Lao food in Chicago! Lao Der is Chicago’s first sit-down Lao restaurant in over a decade, and it’s Spicy Tum Luangphabrang (papaya salad) …
Lao Der’s Chicken Soup Is My New Cold-Day Craving | Eater Chicago
Chicago’s only sit-down Lao restaurant, Lao Der, opened in Irving Park in 2025. It’s a much-welcome entry point to a corner of Southeast …
Reviews
Isaiah Tong
this was good, but I’m a little sad I didn’t like it more. all the flavors were good: some that were unique and new to me, some that felt familiar and comforting. I think I wished the textures were a bit better? the ground beef was a bit wet, kinda soggy almost, the fried pork was not quite as crispy as it could’ve been, same with the fried chicken.
it very much felt like home cooking, for better or worse. it was all good, nothing bad, but felt like it was missing just a final *something* to bring it up to a 5/5.
… moreit very much felt like home cooking, for better or worse. it was all good, nothing bad, but felt like it was missing just a final *something* to bring it up to a 5/5.
Bill
A cozy Lao spot with a compact menu focused on deeply comforting flavors. We shared several small bites, all satisfying, with highlights including the Lao jerky, chicken salad, fried chicken rice, and chicken rice noodles. The chicken salad and pleasantly chewy rice noodles stood out in particular. Dessert was also a highlight – fragrant, chewy rice cakes wrapped in pandan and banana leaves with a subtle, tea-like aroma. A speical place for Laotian food with wonderfully warm hospitality.
… moreAnthony Cesnik
Everything was excellent. Nourishing chicken soup with perfect slices of chicken, meatballs and soft noodles. Laos sausage and nam Khao were super tasty with great textures. Thai iced tea was refreshing. Banana & coconut dessert special was tasty with pandan syrup notes and fun to try. Looking forward to a return visit!
… moreChelsie Tamms
Get the nam khao (crispy rice salad)! It was SO good. I wasn’t sure if it would be overhyped but we really enjoyed it!
This is a cozy spot for dinner and all of the staff was so friendly. You get to specify your spice level from 0-5. Best suited for groups of 2 or 4, since there’s limited dine in room available.
… moreThis is a cozy spot for dinner and all of the staff was so friendly. You get to specify your spice level from 0-5. Best suited for groups of 2 or 4, since there’s limited dine in room available.
Kelly Wen
I had a wonderful experience trying a variety of dishes at Lao Der! I highly recommend coming here in a group try more things (perhaps 4 people for optimal/convenient seating).
We got:
-esan sausage
-lao der jerky
-tum luangphabrang
-khao piek sen
-sai ua moo laos with sticky rice
-nam khao
-coconut rice pudding thing
They’re all good. I recommend trying any of these!
The only drawback is that the restaurant is really small. We have to wait for an hour (Friday dinner) to get seated and there’s barely waiting space inside so we had to go out somewhere else.
… moreWe got:
-esan sausage
-lao der jerky
-tum luangphabrang
-khao piek sen
-sai ua moo laos with sticky rice
-nam khao
-coconut rice pudding thing
They’re all good. I recommend trying any of these!
The only drawback is that the restaurant is really small. We have to wait for an hour (Friday dinner) to get seated and there’s barely waiting space inside so we had to go out somewhere else.
Matt Vang
Food overall 3/5.
Papaya salad – 3/5 I asked for max spicy. It was not spicy at all. It was more sour versus what other Lao papaya salad that I’m used to. Papaya was not shredded. This dish is based on personal preference. Just not mine.
Beef Laab / Larb – 3/5 it was ok. Seasoning seemed to be missing something. A little runny. Small portion for its price. Very herby which I liked.
Beef pho – 1/5 it was bland. Broth wasn’t as flavorful as I would like. Not really a big fan.
Sausage – 3/5 it was okay. Not bad.
Chicken wings – 4/5 probably the best thing we got. Very flavorful. Meat was soft. It was crunchy and crispy. Definitely get this for sure if you’re trying this place out.
Overall, I hear nice things about this place on social media. I wanted to try it out and I did. Im sure there will be a lot of people who like it. It’s just not for me. It’s not catered to what I’m used to. Portions were smaller than what I anticipated.
Vibe was nice. And the waitress was really great. Overall okay food, good service, and clean restaurant.
… morePapaya salad – 3/5 I asked for max spicy. It was not spicy at all. It was more sour versus what other Lao papaya salad that I’m used to. Papaya was not shredded. This dish is based on personal preference. Just not mine.
Beef Laab / Larb – 3/5 it was ok. Seasoning seemed to be missing something. A little runny. Small portion for its price. Very herby which I liked.
Beef pho – 1/5 it was bland. Broth wasn’t as flavorful as I would like. Not really a big fan.
Sausage – 3/5 it was okay. Not bad.
Chicken wings – 4/5 probably the best thing we got. Very flavorful. Meat was soft. It was crunchy and crispy. Definitely get this for sure if you’re trying this place out.
Overall, I hear nice things about this place on social media. I wanted to try it out and I did. Im sure there will be a lot of people who like it. It’s just not for me. It’s not catered to what I’m used to. Portions were smaller than what I anticipated.
Vibe was nice. And the waitress was really great. Overall okay food, good service, and clean restaurant.
May
This place serves pretty much real Lao food! It’s great that they’re trying something new. If you’re looking for a change from Thai food, you should definitely check this out! I ordered Nam Khao Tod (Thai Crispy Rice Salad), and wow, it was amazing! I’m a huge fan of Nam Khao Tod, but this place gave me a totally different take on it. If you’re in the area, you absolutely have to try it!
… moreToan Nguyen
Lao Der is a hidden gem for such an underrated cuisine. We ordered several dishes, but the standouts were the Khao Piek Sen (chicken noodle soup) and Khao Mun Gai Tod (fried chicken rice). The noodle soup had a rich, super flavorful umami broth with tender chicken and chewy fish cakes-very comforting. The fried chicken rice was also excellent, especially paired with the dipping sauce.
Definitely recommend if you’re looking to try Lao food, and I’d happily come back again.
… moreDefinitely recommend if you’re looking to try Lao food, and I’d happily come back again.
Tania Negrón Vélez
Very cozy restaurant. We went with my brother and sister in law as she is laotian and had a handful of dishes. Sausage with sticky rice was my favorite as well as the fried chicken with garlic rice.
… moreDirk Vogel
Authentic Laotian Cuisine Finally Gets Its Own Spotlight
Lao Der Restaurant on Elston in Irving Park is a relatively new Laotian spot that’s been a revelation for us. Previously, we only experienced Laotian food at family cookouts and special events like weddings. While some Thai restaurants offer Laotian dishes if you know where to look, Lao Der takes things to another level entirely.
The restaurant itself is cozy and modern, with comfortable seating and generously-sized tables. Despite having just one server during our visit, the service was exceptionally attentive and made us feel well taken care of throughout the meal.
Now for the food – everything we tried was excellent:
Tum Vientiane – A superb papaya salad featuring sliced papaya, cherry tomato, lime, sugar, and anchovy, served with crisp lettuce. Fresh and vibrant!
Sticky Rice – An absolute must-have accompaniment to any meal here.
Esan Sausage – Ground pork with sticky rice, garlic, black pepper, and brown sauce. Flavorful and satisfying.
Nam Khao – Our standout dish that truly raised the bar! This crispy rice salad combines jasmine rice, red curry paste, coconut shreds, lime leaves, cilantro, green onion, peanuts, and fermented pork, served with lettuce and mint for wrapping. Absolutely spectacular.
Khao Piek Sen – Traditional Lao chicken noodle soup with house-made rice noodles, onion, cilantro, fried shallots, black pepper, and homemade chicken meatballs in a deeply flavorful chicken broth. Comforting and delicious.
Next time we’re trying the larb and jerky – we can’t wait to go back and explore more of the menu! Lao Der is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood for anyone seeking authentic Laotian flavors.
… moreLao Der Restaurant on Elston in Irving Park is a relatively new Laotian spot that’s been a revelation for us. Previously, we only experienced Laotian food at family cookouts and special events like weddings. While some Thai restaurants offer Laotian dishes if you know where to look, Lao Der takes things to another level entirely.
The restaurant itself is cozy and modern, with comfortable seating and generously-sized tables. Despite having just one server during our visit, the service was exceptionally attentive and made us feel well taken care of throughout the meal.
Now for the food – everything we tried was excellent:
Tum Vientiane – A superb papaya salad featuring sliced papaya, cherry tomato, lime, sugar, and anchovy, served with crisp lettuce. Fresh and vibrant!
Sticky Rice – An absolute must-have accompaniment to any meal here.
Esan Sausage – Ground pork with sticky rice, garlic, black pepper, and brown sauce. Flavorful and satisfying.
Nam Khao – Our standout dish that truly raised the bar! This crispy rice salad combines jasmine rice, red curry paste, coconut shreds, lime leaves, cilantro, green onion, peanuts, and fermented pork, served with lettuce and mint for wrapping. Absolutely spectacular.
Khao Piek Sen – Traditional Lao chicken noodle soup with house-made rice noodles, onion, cilantro, fried shallots, black pepper, and homemade chicken meatballs in a deeply flavorful chicken broth. Comforting and delicious.
Next time we’re trying the larb and jerky – we can’t wait to go back and explore more of the menu! Lao Der is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood for anyone seeking authentic Laotian flavors.