“PoMo’s 2014 Restaurant of the Year is still on a winning streak, unlocking the interactive, herb-zinging secrets of regional Thai cooking in choreographed evenings—each month trekking to a different region. Start looking for reservations now—it can take a while to get in.”
“Arguably America’s finest Thai restaurant…”
“Langbaan, which introduces eaters to the different regions of Thailand.”
“We’re hoping, praying (OK, begging) for a return trip in 2016.”
“For me, the flavor of the moment is funky and pungent, with a balance between acidity, salt, and spice..”
“Langbaan is welcoming and generous, the food homey and gentle. Only the recipes are complicated, like the handwoven egg net enclosing pork, peanuts, and much more. (There’s always much more with Thai.) Live scallop sitting in a crispy cup made from coconut milk and rice flour was so sumptuous I wondered if it was intended to pass for dessert, and the salads contained tuna ceviche or marinated pork jowl—my kind of greens. This is the first Thai food I’ve ever eaten that made me wish I lived over there.”
“Owner Akkapong Earl Nimson and Rassamee Ruaysuntia seem to be in a kind of wordless trance, working together, silently tasting the balance of flavors, plating each intricate dish. They handed the first plate of their tasting menu across the table – miang som (above) – and it took me right back to Thailand. This is Thai food as I have not experienced it in any other restaurant in America.”