Bangkok Golden chef and owner Seng Luangrath will open Thip Khao, a sister spot to her Falls Church Laotian restaurant, in Columbia Heights this September. Luangrath doesn't want to reveal the exact address yet because another restaurant is still operating there.
"We do have a lot of customers actually coming from D.C.," Luangrath says. "When I started serving Lao food, I realized how people in D.C. are accepting it and like it. So I wanted to be doing more than Bangkok Golden."
Thip Khao translates to "sticky rice serving basket," a staple on any Laotian table. Unlike Bangkok Golden, which features both Thai and Laotian cuisine, Thip Khao will focus more on food from Luangrath's native country of Laos. The traditional family-style menu will have about 30 items, including a variety of larb (minced meat salad) and grilled items, plus some rotating specials. Fans of Bangkok Golden's crispy rice salad (one of City Paper's 50 must-try dishes) will be happy to know it will also be served at the District locale. Luangrath is also interested in launching a brunch.
The restaurant will have a bar, where mixologist Jack Caminos will serve up cocktails and housemade tropical sodas. The space will have about 90 seats plus an outdoor patio, which won't debut until next year.