What to get and not to get at Dara
Diagonally across the intersection from Crepevine on Shattuck are one Thai restaurant and one Thai-Lao restaurant, right next to each other. We know that it’s pretty much impossible for us to get a pure Lao dish in America, given that we can’t really tell the difference between Lao and Thai names. Still, the three-lettered word addition on the sign has an alluring effect on us mini-globavores. So we choose Dara over Cha Am.
Secluded high above street level with a red brick gradation ascending up to the door, Dara offers its patrons two seating choices: out in the garden curtained by a multitude of mini palm trees, bamboos, and kalanchoes, or indoor, surrounded by faux gilded statues, metal vases, and wall ornaments. There’s no music; except for the talking in the kitchen far back, the only sound you hear here is your own voice.
The dinner menu at Dara has a list of house specialties, Lao finger foods (with familiar items like sai gauk, satay gai, noke todd, nam lao), various noodles and curries, and of course, pad thai for those who never order anything else when they go to Thai restaurants. The lunch menu is more compact and has no separation between Thai and Lao dishes. The foods range from really good, good, alright to eh-inducing, but the quick and gracious service is always the same. I ask our host if we pronounce the names correctly, he smiles and nods “of course”. I’m sure the “not” is hidden behind his big grin. 🙂
Get: sticky rice roll with peeled shrimp, wrapped in moist rice paper. Although accompanied by a thick tamarind dip, the rolls are already robust with their supple grains coated in some sweet and salty sauce. Its solid and chewy texture makes you full for hours. This is xôi disguised in gỏi cuốn form, ~$9 for two fat long ones.
Definitely get: mor din – stir fried glass noodle with mussel, salmon, fish cake, shrimp, squid, straw mushroom, cilantro, bell pepper. All sorts of goodies for about $13. I cannot understand why pad thai is more popular than mor din. (FYI, Dara also dishes out a better mor din than Little Plearn Thai Kitchen on south Shattuck.)
Get with caution: kao gee ($8.95) – simply a block of baked sticky rice seasoned with anchovy fish sauce, fried shallot, green onion, a little bit of egg, and peanut sauce to spread. The rice has a light crisp on the surface, but the taste, however interesting, gets monotonic after a while.
Get with caution: soub naw mai even if it’s on the House Specialties list (with kao gee). This is bamboo shoot (mai) salad with minced pork, spiced up by a generous dose of ground chili pepper, black pepper and mint. I have mixed feelings about this. It’s good at first, but then it’s too spicy for me, the bamboo shoot is refreshing at first, but then too soggy and not chewy enough. It’s good as a small side salad, but not as an $8.95 entree.
Get: catfish curry noodle soup (lunch menu, $9.95). Don’t expect to see any fish under the rice noodles, it has all dissolved in the broth. This soup is as vibrant in colors as it is in taste: sour and hot play the two high keys. I like how the main ingredient, the fish, stands behind the scene.
Definitely get: som tum gai yang (lunch menu, $9.95). What can go wrong with BBQ chicken (gai yang in Thai, or ping gai in Lao), simple white rice, and green papaya salad (som tum in Thai, tam mak hoong in Lao)? The portion is too small. Although I’m a meat lover, I think the mild som tum totally steals the lime light on this plate (pun intended :-P). Its crunchy strings, soaked in sugar and tangy lime juice, are fruit crack.
Of the limited times we’ve been to Dara, the only disappointing thing we encounter is how the diners, however young, like to order nothing more than pad thai. The playing-safe mentality is stickier than sticky rice. Seeing how big the menu is at Dara, there is one thing you should NOT GET here: pad thai.
Address: Dara Lao Thai Cuisine
1549 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 841-2002
Other Thai-Lao restaurant in the vicinity:
Champa Garden
I couldn’t resist commenting
1What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely helpful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & aid other users like its aided me. Good job.
2I keep listening to the news bulletin lecture about receiving free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the most excellent site to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i get some?
3Some truly fantastic information, Gladiolus I observed this. “Speak when you are angry–and you will make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” by Laurence J. Peter.
4Precisely what I was looking for, regards for posting.
5You made some decent points there. I appeared on the internet for the issue and located most individuals will go along with with your website.
6I am extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a nice blog like this one nowadays..
7This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post. Also, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks!
8Great post, I believe website owners should acquire a lot from this web site its really user friendly.
9Fantastic site. Lots of helpful info here. I am sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks on your effort!
10Hello there, I found your site via Google while looking for a related topic, your website came up, it looks great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
11With almost everything that appears to be building throughout this subject matter, a significant percentage of points of view tend to be somewhat stimulating. Having said that, I beg your pardon, because I can not subscribe to your entire plan, all be it exhilarating none the less. It would seem to everyone that your comments are generally not completely validated and in actuality you are your self not totally certain of the assertion. In any event I did enjoy looking at it.
12Magnificent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a weblog website? The account helped me a applicable deal. I have been a little bit familiar of this your broadcast offered vibrant transparent idea
13You should take part in a contest for probably the greatest blogs on the web. I will advocate this website!
14Very good written story. It will be beneficial to anybody who usess it, as well as yours truly :). Keep doing what you are doing – i will definitely read more posts.
15Howdy! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thank you
16You got a very good website, Glad I found it through yahoo.
17Admiring the hard work you put into your site and in depth information you present. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed material. Wonderful read! I’ve saved your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
18I think this web site has got very superb written content material articles.
19You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
20There is evidently a bundle to know about this. I suppose you made some nice points in features also.
21Your style is so unique compared to many other people. Thank you for publishing when you have the opportunity,Guess I will just make this bookmarked.
22Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
23I have learn several excellent stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot effort you put to make the sort of fantastic informative web site.
24Sweet blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thank you
25But a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw great pattern. “The price one pays for pursuing a profession, or calling, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.” by James Arthur Baldwin.
26I carry on listening to the reports speak about getting boundless online grant applications so I have been looking around for the best site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i get some?
27I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i am happy to convey that I’ve an incredibly good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to don’t forget this web site and give it a look on a constant basis.
28I haven’t checked in here for some time since I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
29of course like your web site but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I will certainly come back again.
30I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site. Reading this information So i’m satisfied to express that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I such a lot definitely will make certain to do not overlook this website and provides it a look regularly.
31I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thanks again!
32I went over this web site and I believe you have a lot of wonderful information, saved to bookmarks (:.
33Hello there, I found your web site via Google whilst searching for a similar topic, your website got here up, it seems good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
34It’s truly a nice and helpful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you just shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
35I just wanted to type a simple remark in order to express gratitude to you for these great guides you are showing on this website. My time-consuming internet look up has now been rewarded with brilliant know-how to share with my relatives. I ‘d declare that many of us readers actually are quite endowed to be in a good place with very many wonderful people with interesting hints. I feel very much happy to have used your webpages and look forward to plenty of more amazing moments reading here. Thanks again for all the details.
36You are my breathing in, I possess few web logs and occasionally run out from to post .
37Utterly written articles, Really enjoyed reading through.
38I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.
39Spot on with this write-up, I really suppose this website needs way more consideration. I’ll probably be again to learn much more, thanks for that info.
40Attractive part of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to say that I acquire actually loved account your weblog posts. Any way I will be subscribing for your augment and even I success you get entry to consistently rapidly.
41I have learn a few good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot attempt you place to create such a fantastic informative site.
42Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all people you actually recognise what you’re speaking about! Bookmarked. Please also talk over with my website =). We may have a link trade agreement among us!
43What’s Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to give a contribution & assist different users like its aided me. Good job.
44Wow, fantastic blog structure! How long have you been running a blog for? you made running a blog look easy. The whole look of your website is wonderful, let alone the content!
45I like this post, enjoyed this one appreciate it for putting up. “No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.” by Agnes de Mille.
46It’s really a cool and helpful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
47Excellent site. Lots of helpful information here. I’m sending it to several buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And of course, thank you on your sweat!
48Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue with your web site in internet explorer, would test thisK IE still is the market chief and a good portion of folks will pass over your fantastic writing due to this problem.
49I do love the way you have presented this particular concern plus it does provide us some fodder for thought. On the other hand, from everything that I have experienced, I basically trust when the actual reviews pile on that individuals remain on point and not start upon a soap box associated with the news of the day. Anyway, thank you for this excellent piece and while I can not go along with the idea in totality, I respect the point of view.
50