Bida Manda — Restaurant in Raleigh

Bida Manda has found its way into the 7 or 8 restaurants that make up my Raleigh top 5 restaurants. The service has always been friendly and attentive. The restaurant is clean and has a nice aesthetic that transports you out of Raleigh during your stay. The bar has good imagination with some delicious interpretations of classic cocktails. Even if the only thing you are looking for is a drink you’ll be happy stopping in here but then you’d be missing out on some truly amazing food. Where to begin? The chicken wings should be in consideration for Raleigh’s best fried chicken. Crispy juicy yummy even before you add one of three sauces available for dipping. The crispy vegetable spring rolls, made to order, come out crunchy fresh without being greasy and the dipping sauce is sweet with just a touch of heat and funk and are the best spring rolls I’ve had in years. The Crispy Rice Lettuce Wraps, I get it, nothing sounds great in that name. They are so good. Great texture, great flavor, perfect for sharing. Take a chance on these and you won’t be disappointed. The Crispy Pork Belly Soup, specifically the coconut curry broth of the soup is next level, rich hearty salty up there with the best noodle broths I’ve had and the serving is huge. I split mine when I got it and still didn’t finish half after sharing an appetizer. The fried rice is delicious and the Green Papaya Salad with the Crispy Dill and Lemongrass Trout is one of my favorite dishes I’ve had anywhere. It’s spicy, almost too spicy, but all of the different textures and flavors come together perfectly. So so good. I’ve also tried the Pad Thai and the Manda Curry, both were just okay for me and I probably wouldn’t order either again when I can order the other dishes I mentioned. Can’t wait to get back into here.

Previous review follows: This review is based on a very small sample of what the menu offers but every bite and every sip I had, sitting by myself at the bar, was amazing. The HAZELNUT MANHATTAN made with “Bourbon, frangelico, cardamaro, and black walnut bitters” was served in a coup glass that was aggressively frozen so the first sip was a little slushy. Simply delicious. It reminded of not too sweet butterscotch. The best Manhattan variation I’ve ever had. There are several drinks on the menu I want to try but the Manhattan was so good I just ordered another one for my second (last) drink. I also ordered the SAO NOY’S CRISPY SPRING ROLLS “Filled with local herbs, vermicelli noodles, vegetables, ground pork, and served with our house-made caramelized sweet chili sauce with peanuts” for an appetizer. They are crispy salty with a complex mix of flavors and not a bit greasy, these are a next level spring roll. Loved them. Finally for dinner I had the GREEN PAPAYA SALAD “made with hand-julienned unripe papaya, tomatoes, peanuts, our house-made tamarind dressing, and sticky rice. Fresh Thai Chili is added to your heat preference. With the Crispy Dill and Lemongrass Trout added”. The bartender asked if I liked spicy food and I told him I do but also that I wanted to be cautious. He said the medium spice was a 7 out of 10 and recommended that based on the fact I like spice. He also added a side of chili paste in case I needed more heat. I did not need more heat. If anything it was a bit more spicy than I would have wanted but that didn’t stop me from stuffing myself. Every part of this dish is delicious. The papaya is finely julienned and dressed with every surface covered but not a ml more so the salad is not soggy. The trout might be the best trout I’ve ever eaten. Lightly breaded with crispy breading and skin. The flesh is heavily seasoned amazingly moist and flaky. A masterclass of fresh water fish. I will be back to Bida Manda at my earliest opportunity and I will try some of the other items on the menu. Based on my first experience here this is one of my top 5 restaurants in Raleigh and on par with the best Asian food I’ve had anywhere. (I cut and pasted the restaurant’s dish descriptions into this review and placed those excerpts inside...

If there is one word that perfectly encapsulates our experience here, it would be: family. My husband and I listened to the This Is Love podcast Eight Thousand Miles about a year ago and were both brought to tears at the hard work and dedication of Van and his sister, Vanvisa. Dining at Bida Manda had been on our bucket list for such a long time, and our first visit did not disappoint! I called to make a reservation for a Wednesday night, and luckily they had an opening at just the right time for us. When we showed up, we were greeted with such warmth from the staff that we felt right at home immediately. We arrived a few minutes early, but that wasn't a problem because we were ushered directly to the best spot in the house - Table 2, which is nestled perfectly in the front corner of the restaurant. From here, we had an incredible view of the whole restaurant, while also being able to enjoy the crisp breeze of outside air from the open window. The service had already proven to be quick and welcoming, but the best welcome we received was when Vanvisa, the co-ower of the restaurant and the Sister from the podcast, personally came to our table to welcome us and offer us a menu. Both my husband and I were in complete awe and happiness to have met such an inspiring young woman! We felt so honored to be welcomed into her restaurant and served with such hospitality. Vanvisa was so kind and conversation with her seemed to flow naturally, despite the restaurant bustling with excitement on a typical weekday night. Our waiter, Matt, was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable of the menu and also the history of the restaurant. He was very quick to bring out our food, and the staff was kind enough to offer us an extra appetizer to try: the lettuce wraps. Additionally, we ordered the lemongrass sausage and the tom kha gai soup. Both of us agreed, without a doubt, that this was the best food we have EVER eaten in a restaurant. The flavors were full and delightful, and we felt like we were instantly transported to their home in Laos. We also ordered the curry and the bass as our main dishes and couldn't recommend these enough! Although we weren't able to finish all of our main courses (we tried!) the staff was kinda enough to bag them up for us in a very classy brown bag. Since we were originally there to celebrate an early wedding anniversary for ourselves, Vanvisa herself brought a complimentary dessert for us to try, two flavored macaroons. You guessed it... the BEST macaroons we have ever had! This was such a special moment for us and a perfect evening to celebrate our second anniversary. We truly felt like we were a small part of the family during our visit. This outstanding evening had to come to an end at some point, but not before we had the opportunity to meet Van himself. He came over to our table at the end of the evening to introduce himself. Just like in the podcast, he was humble and kind. Everyone at Bida Manda works to ensure that you feel as though you are home. We feel that this is the best restaurant you will ever encounter, from the personable staff and owners, to the flavorful food and warm environment. Thank...

Hooooooly Molé! Or maybe Yuuuuumy Curry? I don't know. Anyway, what follows is an epic meal review (the meal, not the review).

The Ambience Smack dab on S. Blount, this place aims to impress. The tall entry doors would be imposing except that they are an invitation to a slice of paradise. As you step in, your eyes are met with horizontally-laid and lightly-colored mature bamboo chutes adoring the walls. The rich colors of wood and their many shades instantly infuse one with a sense of warmth and class. They were booked til 8p (it was 5p), but the bar was open for full service. The bar is equally beautiful; wood welcoming weary wanderers to this lovely place.

The Victuals Started out with some complimentary shrimp chips (tapioca flour and shrimp paste, fried) that were lightly flavored and heavily tasty. We ordered some mocktail style drink with hibiscus and club soda that was tastefully tart and nicely sweet. We placed an appetizer of Crispy Rice Lettuce Wraps -- wOAh! The camarero es fried rice added a wonderful nuttiness and texture to the dish, replete with scallions, mint and cilantro. The eggs and peanuts added a nice richness and substance to it and the sauce adds an appropriate brightness that makes this dish hit all the flavor profiles to some degree. I like best, so I ate the Thai chilis that came with it and regret nothing.

My lady ordered the Crispy Pork Belly Soup and I ordered Pad Lao with Pork Belly. The Crispy PBS was richer than Kanye, with the coconut curry hitting your palette front and center, followed closely by a hint of sour. The noodles and veggies added a wonderful substance and "tooth" to the dish. The crispy pork belly was perfectly crispy on the edges and tenderly rendered in the inside. Each spoonful, a symphony of flavor.

The Pad Lao was fantastic. The richness of the peanuts contrasted with the fresh crunch of the bean spouts, which happily weren't overly pungent. The herbs danced a traditional dance on my tastebuds and the the pork belly, also perfectly rendered, was the expert dance partner. Together, sweet and umami made me cry out for my mami as I was wrestled into culinary submission.

We ended with Coconut Melon Shaved Ice. This was a completely new type of dessert for me and I approve! The star is the coconut cream, it's heavy and cool embrace surrounding the fresh and light melon balls; making a wonderful balance. The tapioca pearls throughout added a nice texture to the dish that was highlighted by the shaved ice in the middle.

The Service The service was relaxed, informed and helpful. We asked for recommendations and our captain steered us into bliss. Attentive and laid back, it was great!

This was one of those meals that transcends into an experience. Executing everything well, I was full bellies and even fuller-hearted. I was aglow with the experience and ready for a nice nap, which I did not enjoy since I had to drive an hour back home. BUT! I slept like a baby...