Padaek

Klara Raymond

Small parking lot in a shopping center but we came here on a Tuesday night and didn't have any issues with parking. I ordered the Singha beer which was really crisp, light and refreshing. For our appetizer, we opted to split the Naem Khao Thadeau (Crispy Rice Salad). You can pick between sour pork or tofu and we opted for the Pork. I chose this based off of other reviews and this was by far the most mentioned dish and it didn't disappoint. One my of my friends who come here often actually usually gets this for her main dish. Definitely recommend. For my entree, I ordered the Khao Poon (Red Coconut Curry Noodle Soup) with Shrimp. This was incredibly flavorful and I loved the noodles and the soup. My friend ordered the Gaeng Keow Wan (Green Curry) that looked good. My other friend ordered the Pad Thai with tofu. The pad Thai was very flavorful but the tofu was a little too firm and not crispy, just very firm which seemed a little strange to me. Overall great food and decent service. It was quiet at first but started to fill up a little bit. Food is pretty quick but definitely recommend and would absolutely come back to try other dishes!

Bo

I loved their Tom Yum Soup—rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced with a sour and spicy kick. The Drunken Noodles were another highlight, with bold flavors and just the right amount of spices. The dining environment is great—comfortable, welcoming, and perfect for a casual meal or a night out. Definitely a place I’ll be coming back to!

Sonya Hu

Phenomenal Laotian and Thai food served in a cozy, hole-in-the-wall spot tucked into a mini shopping center! Although I live in DC and am 100% reliant on the metro, Padaek is absolutely worth the trek into Virginia -- the staff is super friendly, and every item on their menu is executed to perfection. My friend and I came by for a Saturday evening dinner, and we were absolutely famished. We split the paa tod and khao poon, both of which were phenomenal. The khao poon, or red curry rice noodles, was super flavorful, with a heavy umami, creamy, and almost cheese-like richness. The raw cabbage and mint leaves gave the dish some much-needed freshness and crunch, and the squeeze of lime really helped to bring the whole dish together. It was perfect for sharing, and they even brought out a ladle and two small bowls to split the dish without us having to ask, which was super sweet of them! I wish there was a little more curry in the dish, since the noodle / filling to soup ratio seemed a tiny bit off, but it was delicious nonetheless. The paa tod was similarly phenomenal. The dish included four fillets of perfectly tender, perfectly fried catfish topped with fresh Thai basil and served with a side of garlic chili sauce and white rice. The fish was absolutely incredible; I generally find catfish a little bit tough and too fishy, but they somehow managed to make it super tender, flaky, and juicy. It was the perfect contrast against the crispy, yet light, fried outer shell. The herbs helped to lighten up the dish was a hit of freshness, and I'm genuinely obsessed with the sauce. It was a tiny bit too salty, but I loved the balance of acidic, sweet, garlicky, and spicy flavors. All in all, I can't recommend Padaek enough! The food is amazing, staff is super friendly, and the space is super cozy. It does trend a smidge too salty, but the flavors more than make up for it. I've also heard that they have a few other items on their Arlington Ridge menu, so I can't wait to make the trek out to their other location to try out the rest of their offerings!!

Chi Mai N

This is a pretty good restaurant for Laotian food. You'll probably recognize some of the dishes if you know/are into Thai food. However, the taste pallette of Laotian cuisine is quite distinct (the food is a little more savory & has more umami taste; think of them more as having a soy-based kind of flavor as opposed to sweet & sour & spicy like Thai cuisines). I highly recommend awk/orm (not pictured here, sorry). I know beef & dill sound like an interesting combo, but it works together very well!

Grace Marchello

An incredible first experience with Laotian cuisine. The flavor profile is comparable to Thai but has its own distinct blend of savory flavors. The Chicken Awk is marked as a mild but it's authentic preparation manifests with more spice. If you have a lower spice tolerance, consider asking for less spice. Other than the spice, the chicken was absolutely tender with a wonderful blend of vegetables and spices. My partner enjoyed the Pork Kua Mee and commented on the distinct flavor profile and the tastiness of the overall dish. The service was consistent and excellent throughout the meal. For the quality of this meal, I was surprised how affordable the prices were. There is plenty of parking in the free parking lot. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible.