For those working with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, taking a spin at the Grand Victoria Casino, or needing an immediate break en route to Madison, I highly recommend Lao & Thai Spicy Noodle, a family-run strip mall joint nestled between a martial arts studio and an L.A. Tan. The homemade Lao sausages, sauces, and rice noodles - from scratch onsite - are destination-worthy.
The original menu is built for family style sharing - egg rolls (without Burbank Spicy Thai Lao's turmeric lacing), sausage, and build-your-own neam neung (massed artfully for takeout) have relatively high entry pricepoints but significant quality.
The condiment caddy includes Squid brand fish sauce, sugar, pickled peppers, and some damn fierce chili oil. Nam khao, mild by design, is perfectly fried and served with pristine lettuce. To my taste it's markedly less sour and more coconutty than the Chicago Thai places - a really nice contrast for the apps and meats (definitely no halal going on here).
On two visits the gregarious children of the family have been front of house, offering frank advice on what mom is making best today, including when noodles are fresh in what dishes (they also have packaged onhand). I've only had a sample of the boat noodle broth but it was rich and herbaceous.
I have also heard nice things (
here and elsewhere) about nearby White Pearl, also Lao-inflected. This all would be a fun LTH field trip sometime.
Lao & Thai Spicy Noodle
612 Randall Rd, South Elgin, IL 60177
https://www.spicynoodle.online/