Sweet Rice

While many Washingtonians are familiar with Thai flavors, their access to Laotian cuisine is much more limited. In an effort to introduce more people to Laotian food, Robert Saysana and his sister Elizabeth opened Sweet Rice, a casual Thai and Laotian restaurant in Auburn. A popular meal that parents prepare for their children is an egg omelet with sticky rice, so you’ll find that on the kid’s menu. For the more refined adult palette, the Lao-style papaya salad and their mixed plate are customer favorites. Sweet Rice has a cool, street-food feel and reputably awesome customer service.

Pro tip: Robert’s favorite dish is the Khao Piak Sen, which he says is similar to chicken noodle soup!