Sticky Rice — Restaurant in Orlando

I've been hearing about this place for a long, long time. So it's been on my list. Then, it appeared on the Michelin Guide, so it got bumped up on that list. I came here one afternoon to feast. First of all, it's in the best location possible, right in the heart of Mills 50. Second of all, when you enter the store, you get greeted by a very pleasant staff, and they offer to help you with the menu. I felt very welcome.

We browsed the menu, and take up with a plan. I got myself a Thai Tea, and we ordered like five things to share.

Thai Tea (sweetened traditional thai tea, half and half). Very delicious. The half and half amount they use makes it just sweet enough and just creamy enough. Delicious.

The employees recommended the Pork Tapioca Dumplings (sweet radish & minced pork, peanuts, cilantro, dried chillies) to me. Never had anything like this. Just like a normal dumpling, but the outside is sticky, just a little sweet tapioca. Very fun, very delicious pork. The peanuts on the outside gave it a good texture, too.

They also had a special that wasn't on their regular menu, the Mok Pah (Lemongrass and herb steamed fish). Loved this. The fish within the banana leaf was very fragrant and very flavorful. Lemongrass, ginger, fish sauce, different bites yielded different flavors, it was just a lot of fun.

Laab Rice Bowl (Chicken; sauteed, cilantro, scallions, shallots, mint, served with jasmine rice, lettuce and cucumber). This was a nice, interactive dish. Lettuce and cucumber in order to put the chicken on and eat like nachos, very fresh and flavorful. And some nice jasmine rice to mix all around and get all juicy from the laab. Super cool dish.

Papaya Salad (Lao Style with pungent and salty flavors, cherry, tomatoes, chillies, funky dank sauce). Never had papaya salad before, so I was very excited. The way this place makes their dishes, you get a cherry here, a tomato there, chili in another bite. Every bite is different, and it's just a lot of fun. A nice, fresh, sweet salad, tamped down with some salt and some heat. Loved it.

Now we come to both my favorite dish and the biggest surprise of the day for me. The Jeow Bong Chicken Bao (fried chicken, sweet chili paste, red cabbage slaw). Whatever that sweet chili paste was that coated that chicken, I had never had that flavor before, but now I want it every day for the rest of my life. It was so deep and full of spices and flavor. And that red cabbage slaw added a good pop of fresh acid. Just a lovely dish.

Overall, this was such a wonderful place, and it is legit now one of my favorite places in Orlando. Will come back soon and often. Thanks,...

This horrible photo doesn't do it justice. But this is all you get tonight because I was really hungry and it smelled great!

Finally made it to @stickyricestreetfood tonight and will definitely be back.

The sticky rice with trio of dips was great. It's less like how you think of rice and more like food play-doh or silly putty. Pick up a bit, mold it into a shape and then use it to pinch/pick up some dip or pick up some food and strangely it doesn't stick to your fingers. I really liked the two darker dips, but the third was really zesty and good at the start but ends with a fish sauce taste and I'm not a fan.

The lemongrass sausage was damn good and had a nice charred taste in spots.

The beef jerky is a similar consistency of the typical fried teriyaki steak on a stick from a Chinese takeout. But the flavors are nothing like it. It's a really great taste and the delivery is like if you had a dry rub on some nicely grilled piece of beef. Again, good to pick up with your fingers.

The crispy rice and pork lettuce wraps were probably my favorite so far. The crispness is a really great texture and I'm still perplexed as to how the rice isn't hard but somehow there's crispy spots. Definitely need extra lettuce if you get this because you'll want to use it on other items too.

The chicken laab was good and I'd eat it again but I'd much rather try other options before I go back to it. It's flavorful, juicy and works nicely in a lettuce wrap but there are other things on the menu I have to try.

The cucumber salad was pretty tasty, but we ordered it "not hot" that the guy taking our order described as not hot because they don't put any peppers on it. Well it was pretty damn spicy and hit you in the back of the throat. So, caution if you're spice sensitive, or perhaps the order was made wrong. (Me personally, it was good and spicy but not too bad)

All in all, definitely going back. I need the chicken wings, meatball skewer, maybe soup, and definitely another round of beef jerky and...

My Candid Review of Sticky Rice: A Lao Culinary Adventure

As a repeat visitor to Sticky Rice, I arrived with both anticipation and a discerning palate. Having explored their menu on multiple occasions, my expectations were set. Here's my unfiltered take:

Khao Piek Sen (Chicken Rice Noodle Soup): The noodles— They were soft, bordering on overcooked. I craved that perfect al dente texture, but alas, it eluded me. The broth, too, lacked the robustness I associate with this comforting dish. A sip left me yearning for more depth.

Kapoon Nam Gai (Chicken Coconut Noodle Soup): The minced chicken—dry and lifeless. Overcooking had robbed it of its succulence. The coconut broth, while promising, didn't quite deliver the flavor punch I sought. I longed for that balance of richness and tang.

Mocha Meatball (or the absence thereof): Ah, the elusive meatball! It had graced our previous visits, but this time, it vanished from the menu. Its name, crossed out, whispered tales of past delights. I wondered if it would ever return.

Menu Changes: The menu seems to have undergone a shortening. Perhaps this explains the disappearance of our beloved meatball. While change is inevitable, I hope it leads to culinary revelations rather than omissions.

In summary, my fourth encounter with Sticky Rice left me torn. The promise of authenticity lingered, yet execution wavered. Perhaps it's time for the kitchen to recalibrate—to find that delicate balance between tradition and innovation.

As fellow food explorers, we seek both comfort and surprise. May the next chapter at Sticky Rice bring revelations and rekindle old...