The answer is….Lao food from Khao Niew up at Cully Central (4579 NE Cully Blvd). Pictured above is their Spicy Noodle dish with tofu. It packed a legit heat, I was sweating and clearing my sinuses afterwards. Ramen-type noodles with a warm, spicy sauce and veggies like bok choy and scallions amongst others. Very tasty, hearty and cheap. And I had a rare beer at lunch since I’m on vacation for 2 weeks.

One of my favorite places in town, it seems criminally unknown amongst a lot of food fans in town. They have a lot of interesting flavors and dishes and specialize in high quality street food from Laos. Think larb, sticky rice, noodle dishes, soups, and a wide variety of salads. Special shout outs to their Larb Gai and Nam Khao, but honestly everything I’ve had there has really blown me away. I dream about their Nam Khao, which is a crispy rice salad that is unlike anything else. Wild, bold, delicious flavors!

I highly recommend this place for any food fans out there, especially those interested in asian food who maybe need a break from their standard Thai joint. Good beer selection and drinks as well, and a good hang any time of year, but especially in the summer when they open the garage doors.