Sticky Rice invites guests to sit and stay awhile with a small-plates menu full of a cuisine new to Orlando: Laotian. The southeast Asian country’s food is represented well in this small restaurant just east of downtown Orlando.
What I would try a second time
Sticky Rice’s small-plates menu has drawn me to the restaurant several times. The lineup of food changes on each visit — but there’s one item that always makes it onto my table.
How do you not order the namesake dish paired with two dips ($2)? Besides the obvious gluey consistency, the sticky rice has a nice crispness around the edges, too. It can be used to pick up the other foods — or dunked into a sweet and spicy chili paste called jaew bong or a more tart lime chili sauce called jaew som.
What I didn’t like
Despite the nice char on our sticky street wings ($5), I found the meat fairly bland. It was even more noticeable thanks to the bright, pungent flavors of the rest of our meal.
What I would put on Instagram
A large spread of food is always impressive to see. Pull your paper boats of food together and take a few shots for the web.
Or wait for dessert. Sticky Rice serves its sweet purple rice ($3.50) in a specially prepared halved piece of bamboo stem. Coconut appealingly weaves itself throughout the treat from the warm sticky grains laced with coconut milk to the coconut gelato that pools overtop.
Other eats
Dotted with scallions, diced onion and cilantro, the ground chicken for the chicken laab ($4.50) was a light, safe option on Sticky Rice’s menu. We eschewed the sticky rice for a utensil and went with the accompanying lettuce leaves instead.
Other easy favorites included skewered crisp meatballs glazed in a sweet chili sauce ($4); the fragrant, earthy lemongrass pork sausage ($4.50); and the crackly fried pork spring rolls ($3).
We opted for a regular hot (not Lao hot) versions of Sticky Rice’s salads — papaya in one ($4.50) and cucumber ($3.50). The resulting combination of cool ingredients and spice was delicious. Both dishes have a bit of “funk” in them, thanks to the addition of seafood pastes or sauces.
How I was treated
Employees at this counter-service restaurant helped us choose our dishes, which were delivered quickly to our table.
My next visit
I’m not sure what my main dishes will be, but mango sticky rice ($3.50) topped with coconut creme will be my dessert.
For bar-hoppers
For those ready to imbibe, Sticky Rice offers Laotian beer along with some popular Asian brews. If beer isn’t appealing, choose from Thai tea, iced coffee, Asian juices and major soda labels.
For those with special diets
All of Sticky Rice’s entrees use animal products.
ldelgado@orlandosentinel.com
Sticky Rice
Where: 1915 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
When: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $2-$5.50
Beverages: Beer, tea, coffee, juice, soda
Wine by the glass: No
Attire: Casual
Extras: Takeout
Noise level: Low
Wheelchair access: Good
Credit: Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Discover
Call: 321-800-6532
Online: Facebook
