Thip Khao

Thip Khao is a Lao restaurant on 14th Street NW in Columbia Heights, and it is one of the best places in Washington to try a cuisine that is still unfamiliar to many visitors. It is led by chef Seng Luangrath, who is widely known as the godmother of Laotian cuisine in America for her work in bringing Lao cooking to a wider audience in the United States.

A meal here is best approached as a shared table. Ask the staff to guide you through the menu, tell them how much heat you enjoy and order several dishes for the group, so that everyone gets to try a range of flavours.

It opens for dinner from 5pm to 10pm on Sunday and Monday and is closed on Tuesday, so check the full schedule when you book. Reservations are taken through OpenTable, which the restaurant announced on its site, and carryout orders can be placed online through ChowNow.

The restaurant also runs cooking classes, which are a good option for food lovers who want to learn how to cook Lao dishes at home. Details are on the restaurant's website, along with gift cards and a newsletter for updates on events.

Thip Khao suits adventurous eaters, groups of friends and anyone who wants to eat away from the downtown business district. It is a moderately priced choice compared with the restaurants near the White House and the Mall. Allow around 90 minutes for dinner, and bring a group if you can so you can try more of the menu. If you are unsure what to order, ask for a mix of dishes with different levels of spice so that everyone at the table finds something they like, and order extra if you want leftovers to take away.

Columbia Heights is a residential neighbourhood north of U Street, with shops, bars and restaurants along 14th Street, and it is served by its own Metro station, so it is easy to reach in the evening. Combine dinner with a drink on 14th Street for a night out in a part of the city where many locals live.