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Get ready for East Dallas’s tiny Laotian restaurant Khao Noodle Shop to be even more packed, because it’s been named one of the country’s best new restaurants.
Today, Eater published its annual ranking of the best new restaurants across the United States, and Khao joins 15 much-lauded spots like Houston’s Indigo and Nightshade in Los Angeles on the list. Khao marks Dallas’s first entry on the list since its inception in 2015, and it’s an excellent showcase that this city’s dining scene isn’t just limited to boring steakhouses and bland, trend-obsessed chains.
Opened by chef Donny Sirisavath in August 2018, Khao Noodle Shop has quickly become a Dallas favorite, thanks to its intricately-layered Laotian fare that’s served in an endlessly fun, totally casual environment. There’s no better time than the present to head to Khao, either. Sirisavath recently debuted a brand new summer menu, which boasts dishes like fried chicken feet and mok pa, a steamed fish dish spiced with galangal and makrut lime leaf. And of course, there’s still Sirisavath’s Laotian riff on sukiyaki, which may truly be a perfect summer dish.
Get thee to Khao right now before the crowds get too thick, and get ready to enjoy some of the city’s — nay, the country! — best noodles.