Skip to main content

Isan Cuisine

Northeastern Thai · Allston, Boston

Isan cuisine is the food of Northeastern Thailand — bold, bright, and unapologetically spicy. Pounded papaya salads, smoky grilled meats, and herbaceous minced-meat larb served with hand-rolled sticky rice. In Boston, you'll find the real thing exclusively at Laughing Monk Cafe Allston.

Signature Isan Dishes

Som Tam (ส้มตำ)

Green papaya salad pounded to order — bright, tangy, spicy. The soul of Isan cooking.

Larb (ลาบ)

Minced meat salad with toasted rice powder, fresh herbs, fish sauce, and lime. Warm or cold.

Bping Yang (บิ้งย่าง)

Chargrilled meats marinated in spiced pastes. Served with sticky rice and dipping sauces.

Tam (ตำ)

A family of pounded salads beyond papaya — cucumber, corn, and seasonal variations.

Gaeng (แกง)

Isan-style curries, herbaceous and lighter than Central Thai versions.

Sticky Rice (ข้าวเหนียว)

Hand-rolled glutinous rice — the staple of every Isan meal.

Only at Allston