1 Gen Thai

755 N Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22203 703-243-9669

Description: ARLINGTON. A bounty of Thai favs ­ ginger soft shell crabs, spicy eggplant, sweet and sour tempura chicken ­ and an inviting bar make this eatery a winning choice for a fun night out. Choose among beer, sake, and 20 martinis and cocktails to enjoy while watching the staff concoct creative eats in the open kitchen. Outfitted with linear black furniture and a seaside mural, the interior is subtle, but stylish.
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Bangkok 54 Restaurant & Bar

2919 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204 703-521-4070

Description: ARLINGTON. This stylish eatery, located along Columbus Pike, has emerged as one Arlington's hipper gathering spots. Sharp geometry, pendant lights, exposed ducts, a sleek lounge area and Zen-like balance characterize the space, making it a popular spot for the area's cool young professionals. Headliners from the menu include crispy catfish curry; roasted duck with fresh chili peppers, garlic and basil leaves; and shrimp and cellophane noodles served in a clay pot.
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Bangkok Joe's

3000 K St NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-333-4422

Description: GEORGETOWN. Sleek and modern, this restaurant sits just a stone's throw from Washington Harbor, and the waterside location makes it a favorite haunt of Georgetown U students and faculty. Chef-owner Aulie Bunyarataphan's dumplings steal the show, with the Foie Gras N' Shrimp and Winter Squash Potstickers among the more creative selections. Tasty rice and noodle bowls make appearances, as do a handful of choices simply dubbed "Not Your Ordinary Joes" ­ for example, grilled five-spice filet mignon and coriander-crusted Maple Leaf Farm duck. Close proximity to the nearby Loews Cinema makes Bangkok Joe's a popular place to gather before or after catching a flick. METRO: Foggy Bottom
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Busara

2340 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-337-2340

Description: GEORGETOWN. Attracting Georgetown up-and-comers, this Thai restaurant is popular with ladies who lunch, political types, and business moguls alike. Consistently good, Busara offers both traditional and innovative Thai dishes. The signature appetizer, shrimp bikini, features deep-fried morsels in a spring roll wrapper. Pad Thai, pad broccoli, and soft shell crabs are must-trys as well. The large dining room has an open feel, thanks to a series of picture windows. Reservations recommended. Smart casual dress.
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Cee Fine Thai Dining

9901 Fairfax Blvd, Fairfax, VA 22030 703-293-9898

Description: FAIRFAX. Trendy decor and a cocktail bar enhance the Fairfax digs of this Thai kitchen, and 100 menu items ensure diners plenty of choice. Curries, noodles and rice dishes display prominantly, and numerous specials are worth consideration. Try the deep-fried catfish, sauteed in oyster sauce, basil leaves, rhizome slices, young corn pepper and chili pepper.
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Crystal Thai

4819 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203 703-522-1311

Description: ARLINGTON. This upscale Thai restaurant makes a strong commitment to top-notch service, elegant ambience, and great food. Hidden inside a shopping center, the place features fresh orchids, chandeliers, and nature-themed art that seemingly transport you to another world. Soft-shell crabs topped with chiles and basil is spectacular, although other dishes have loyal devotees as well. Traditional pad thai, green and red curries, and steamed dumplings are all well-prepared and delivered by servers in authentic dress. For dessert, sticky rice with mangoes is incredible.
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Duangrat's

5878 Leesburg Pike, Near Glenforest Dr, Falls Church, VA 22041 703-820-5775

Description: BAILEYS CROSSROADS. For Thai cuisine in an understated but pleasant atmosphere, Duangrat's is a top choice. Seafood redolent with the flavors of chili and lime, chicken in an assertive peanut-garlic sauce, and pork sweetened with plum are a few delectable options. Servers in traditional garb, crystal chandeliers and muted watercolors add to the classy ambiance. One recent special, Happy Family Thai Jambalaya, with halibut, shrimp, crawfish, chilies and curry paste over rice, is a perfect example of the kitchen's creative efforts. Reservations recommended; business casual dress.
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Miss Saigon

3057 M St, Washington, DC 20007 202-333-5545

Description: GEORGETOWN. Miss Saigon serves some of DC's best Thai food, and its relaxed, breezy dining room is perfect for entertaining clients or impressing an adventurous date. The memorable setting features potted palms and a tropical garden accented with tiny lights. The food measures up too, as evidenced by caramel salmon, calamari, steamed flounder, and papaya-shrimp salad. The perfect finale: bananas flambé and table-brewed coffee served chilled with sweetened condensed milk. METRO: Foggy Bottom
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Nooshi

1120 19th St NW, Washington, DC 20036 202-293-3138

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Lunchtime crowds are intense at this fantastic place, mainly because the food is robust, spicy, and delicious. Favoring authentic cuisine over mild-mannered adaptations, Nooshi gives young professionals what they want: flavor wild enough to keep up with their lives. The eatery combines the cultures and cuisines of China, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Opt for Thai drunken noodles, Shanghai roast pork soup or even Singapore-style rice noodles. Sushi is a popular alternative in the non-noodle category. METRO: Dupont Circle
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Po Siam

3807 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305 703-548-3925

Description: Perfect for a business dinner or a night out with friends, this Thai restaurant creates excellent meals customized for each patron. If you like curries tongue-tingling hot, they can do that, and if you prefer tamer Thai, they'll gladly accommodate your wishes. First-rate servers are happy to help navigate the menu, which includes Beef Mussaman with peanuts, mussels served in a clay pot, and Drunken Noodles with caramelized pork. Modern sculpture and Thai art adorn the dining room. Casual attire.
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Rice

1608 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-234-2400

Description: LOGAN CIRCLE. Simple charm pervades the interior of this dining room, carefully concealed behind a white storefront. Tables are packed closely together to accommodate the numerous folks who inhabit the tiny spaces in hopes of devouring choice Thai cuisine. Among the kitchen's works are papaya salad with fresh shrimp in garlic and chili sauce, and sautéed ginger with mushroom and mixed vegetables. The bar offers a limited selection of beer, wine and several cocktails.
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Sakoontra

12300-C Price Club Plz, Fairfax, VA 22030 703-818-8886

Description: FAIRFAX. This large dining room often fills up with Thai food aficionados out for a great meal. Reasonable prices and great service enhance the tasty menu, which features crispy spring rolls, pad Thai, and a variety of mild and hot curry dishes. The pleasant interior is distinguished by a tuk-tuk (Thai taxi) standing sentry at the entrance. Often-requested dishes include Panang Chicken (prepared with coconut) and Yum Watercress (with chicken, watercress, shrimp, and squid). Casual dress.
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Sala Thai ­ Dupont Circle

2016 P St NW, Washington, DC 20036 202-872-1144

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. If you've eaten at any of the area Sala Thai restaurants, you already know what a treat you're in for. The crowded dining room attests to the place's success, both in terms of ambience and food. Enjoy traditional Thai eats and such innovative options as Pinky in the Blanket (egg roll-wrapped fried shrimp) and spicy, curry-accented fried pork. Grilled shrimp accompanied by grapefruit and fish dressed with lime juice and exotic herbs are also tropical-style kickers. Casual dress.
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Seven Seas

1776 E Jefferson St, Federal Plaza (lower level), Rockville, MD 20852-4028 301-770-5020

Description: ROCKVILLE. The pseudo-Chinese decor is uneventful, but the seafood, prepared with an Asian influence, more than compensates. Positioned near the entrance, fish tanks hold potential entrees, so you get an immediate sense of the quality and freshness of the seafood. The kitchen offers several menus, including one for health-conscious diners ­ low in fat, salt and oil. Selections include Chinese dim sum, Japanese sushi, and even some Taiwanese dishes. Opt for the simmered black cod, steamed whole fish, lobster or Dungeness crab. Try some of the black bean sauce too; they're famous for it. Business casual to casual dress.
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Sweet Basil

4910 Fairmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-657-7997

Description: BETHESDA. Sweet Basil is synonymous with Asian fusion. The menu offers Thai standbys as well as more innovative selections. Examples include grilled rack of lamb with tamarind sauce and sea scallops with Asian eggplant and green curry. Vegetarian options are tasty as well ­ portobello mushrooms grilled satay-style or baked acorn squash. Pair them with something from the well-selected wine list or a Thai beer. Intriguing sculptures and natural colors define the interior. Smart casual dress.
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Tara Thai ­ Bethesda

4828 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814-5202 301-657-0488

Description: BETHESDA. Festive and popular, this Asian establishment sports an aquatic theme, complete with blue tones and fanciful lighting. You may struggle to pronounce items on the menu, but it takes no effort to enjoy the ambience or cuisine. Deftly cooked and seasoned, each dish is a visual and gustatory success. Rockfish wrapped in banana leaves is a long-time favorite, as are steamed mussels with chili-basil dip. Seafood, in fact, comprises the bulk of the menu, along with noodle dishes and Thai curries. Vegetarians are offered a range of meatless entrees.
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Thaiphoon ­ Dupont Circle

2011 S St NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-667-3505

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Cheerful and colorful, Thaiphoon offers a modern setting and delicious, traditional food. Start with a bowl of Tom Ka Gai (coconut milk soup), and then try savory pepper beef or fragrant lemongrass chicken. Exceptional curries can be customized to your spice tolerance; they can also be made with either chicken, beef, or shrimp. Seafood salad satisfies folks in the mood for lighter fare. Smart casual dress.
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The Regent

1910 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-232-1781

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. For classic Thai eats in a thoughtful, well-composed setting, The Regent is an attractive option. The walls are hung with gallery-quality pieces of Eastern art. Signature dishes include Neua Krata (beef served over mixed veggies), Gra Prao Ped (stir-fried duck with sweet basil and ginger sauce), Pla Neung Manao (rockfish with lime-chili sauce) and the menu also lists several familiar noodle dishes and curries.
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