Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City
My memory of an incredible meal at Khe-Yo still lingers. To my knowledge it has been the only Laotian restaurant in NYC. And while it has gotten quite a bit expensive, it was a very exciting experience.
So I was stoked when I learned a new more affordable Laotian restaurant recently debuted in the East Village. And I was even more excited when I learned they are open for weekday lunch. And then on top of it all, I learned it was from the same owners as Khe-Yo.
Dhom sits in the old location of legendary cocktail bar Mace. And its menu of mostly small plates showcases the Southeast Asian flavors of Laotian cuisine. The dishes resemble bar snacks, but it wouldn’t be difficult to make up a full meal. Skewers, salads, even a sandwich. And the best part is everything is under $20.
I had a modest meal of two dishes. A sweet, funky, umami-laden Hanger Steak and Lemongrass Skewer. And an addicting mouthwatering crispy coconut rice salad.
It’s kind of fitting that the one dish I highlighted at Khe-Yo all those years ago also involved crunchy coconut rice. When you see that ingredient on the menu at a Laotian restaurant, it’s clearly a must-order.
This messy salad was full-on textures and flavors. A garden of green lettuce, mint and lime leaves hid among a heaping serving of crunchy sweet coconut rice and crisp bean sprouts. Then there was sweet herbal pork sausage crumbled up among these wonderfully chewy little fatty slivers (of what I learned was tuna). Hot peppers loomed around the plate and when tossed with a sweet carrot and peanut sauce, the flavor bomb exploded.
This dish, with its rolodex of flavors and textures, is a great example of Laotian cuisine and a wonderful testament as to why we need more restaurants serving this under-represented food. Price: $12
| DHOM |
| 505 East 12th Street (between Avenue A and Avenue B), East Village (646) 833-7965 |
| dhomnyc.com |
