Tucked away on N. Mississippi Ave near the intersection at Fremont is a tiny cart “pod” with two carts: J’s Cuts and Wraps & Little Bloom. Little Bloom has been open now going on 10 years. J’s Cuts has been around a long time as well. This was a place that I drove past for years and years without stopping or really thinking about the food. That stopped last year when I made a point to give both a try. And here is the secret: both are some of the best food carts in town! On one hand I’m proud of myself for stopping to support my local food carts, and on the other hand I’m kicking myself for not stopping by years earlier! Little Bloom is that cart that has a 4.8-4.9 rating on Yelp and Google. No small feat! She serves Lao and Thai food and she is Lao. All the Thai classics like Pad Thai and Pad See Ew as well as lesser known dishes like Nam Khao and Beef Laap. Also these unique Lao sausages that aren’t like anything else I’ve eaten before. I fell in love with Lao food years ago at Khao Niew in the Cully neighborhood. Highly recommend a stop at Little Bloom for lunch that is delicious, healthy and reasonably priced. You won’t be disappointed! Onto the food now.

Starting with the first dish I ordered there last year. Pad Kee Mao with Lao Sausage. She asks if you want it spicy (I always do) and then cut up a little Thai chili to sprinkle over the dish, perfect! I love Pad Kee Mao, it’s one of my go-to orders at Thai places. This was one of the better versions I’ve had. Everything cooked and seasoned perfectly, lime garnish is crucial, and these sausages are delightful. They have a sweetness to them, and some warming spice flavors, and something else I can’t quite put my finger on. This is a great dish to start with.

Nam Khao is a Lao crispy rice salad. This is the first dish that made me fall in love with Lao cuisine when I tried it for the first time at Khao Niew years ago. While they still have my favorite version, this is a close second. Ginger, lime juice, palm sugar, fish sauce, mint, green onion, peanuts, red onion, cilantro, coconut, curry paste, egg, and rice and your choice of protein (sausage, beef, chicken, tofu). This dish is so intoxicating and delightful, so crave-able. I love the process of eating it and making little boats with the lettuce. The lettuce is key to this dish and gives it a nice crunch and a surprisingly important flavor addition. Lettuce does have flavor y’all!

Beef Laap. Another one of my favorite Lao dishes. Like a beef salad served with rice. Beef, rice, chopped lettuce, green onion, red onion, mint, cilantro, lime juice, chilis, palm sugar, and fish sauce. This is tangy, spicy and funky and so delicious. I love fish sauce and any Asian food that features it. While I enjoy the unique Lao sausages, the meat I like best at Little Bloom is the beef. I really like the quality, cut and marinade to it as well as the cook on it. My go-to for all the dishes is the beef. I’ve been there more times than these three, I just wanted to feature these three dishes and also they had the best photos. Happy Eating!