Eat a Lao: Rockville’s Must Try Spot
I finally made my way to Eat A Lao, and wow, what a lovely lunch. I went with my dear friend Jan Galvan, and yes… we absolutely overordered on purpose because leftovers are a personality trait at this point, lol. Keep reading to see what we got!
A Little Background…
EAT A LAO is located on Rockville Pike and serves up an extensive menu of Lao and Thai-inspired dishes. It’s one of those places where you open the menu, get instantly overwhelmed (in the best way), and then want to order half of it. The space is casual, parking is easy, and service was really great.
What I Ordered (…and What You Should Too)
Fried Fish Tofu ($7): You get nine pieces plus a dipping sauce, and this was such a fun start to the meal. Think smooth, springy texture that’s lightly fried and super snackable. I’d absolutely get this again.
Drunken Noodles ($16 with Beef): Classic, comforting, and well-executed. If you’re craving noodles, this is a solid, reliable pick. Nothing wild or unexpected, just good flavor and satisfying bites.
Pig A Lao Platter ($50): A massive shareable platter featuring all of the following –
- Bambooza salad
- Candy pork
- Fried cured spareribs
- Grilled pork shoulder
- Thai–Lao tai oua sausage
- Pork ribs with tamarind dipping sauce
- Double sticky rice
This was a lot of food so definitely go with friends or embrace the leftover life. My faves were the sausage (super flavorful) and the bamboo salad (refreshing and delicious). Great variety overall and perfect if you want to try a bit of everything.
Pandan Crème Brûlée ($7): The pandan custard was tasty and aromatic, but it was missing that signature caramelized top I love. Also a bit heavy on the coconut for me. Still yummy, just wish it had that crackly brûlée moment!
You’ll love Eat A Lao for allll the reasons. It’s especially great for groups thanks to its generous shareable platters, and the flavors across the board are solid and satisfying. Add in friendly service and plenty of parking, and you’ve got the perfect spot for a casual lunch, an easy dinner date, or a meal that doubles as tomorrow’s leftovers.
Nomsters, this spot is absolutely worth a visit, and I’m already planning my next trip because the menu is huge and I barely scratched the surface. Send this post to someone who’d love to join you here!
For a deeper look at everything on the menu, the hours, and what to prioritize on your first visit, check out my full Eat A Lao Rockville review.
📍 1327 Rockville Pike Ste K, Rockville, MD
⏰ T–Fr 11:30–2:30 PM, 4–8:30 PM, Fr 11:30–9:30 PM, Su 11:30–8:30 PM
For more on tasty Rockville restaurants, click here!