Where to Eat in Washington DC: Thai Chef
Thai Chef is a restaurant inspired by the food you’d find on the streets of Bangkok. The owners, Pornnapa and Chalisa, are a mother and daughter team who’ve been bringing authentic Thai food to DC since 2017. If you are looking for a new food spot to eat at in DC, Thai Chef is one that is worth your time.
While I’ve yet to have the opportunity to travel to Bangkok, I’ve always imagined it as this grand, bustling, and energetic city. I feel Thai Chef captures some of Bangkok’s liveliness. My senses awaken as soon as I walk in. The walls are painted a bright blue and accented with a blood orange throughout. There are these cool lantern-style light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. The decor transposes me to a night market somewhere in Thailand.
Address: 1712 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009. It is located in Dupont Circle.
I’ve been to Thai Chef on multiple occasions, and each time I am impressed. The staff is both attentive and friendly. Luckily, on the times I visited I didn’t encounter long wait times. They also take reservations and seem to have plenty of seating both downstairs and upstairs. However, the place itself is rather small, and if you come with a large group you might feel somewhat cramped.
They have a vast menu with fun street food options ranging from spicy Thai style chicken wings to veggie dumplings. Their selection covers a lot of different tastes and there is something for everyone on their menu. To start, our table ordered crispy spring rolls, crispy fried tofu, and the veggie dumplings. While tofu has never been a huge fan favorite for me, their fried tofu has a nice golden crispiness that pairs nicely with the dipping sauce. The dumplings, served with a spicy soy sauce, are another good choice, and they were my favorite from the selection of street bites that I tried.
The bar has a great drink menu with their own specialty cocktails, and they have a selection of refreshing Thai teas as well. One drink, the Fishing in Mekhong, comes adorned with coconut shavings on the side, which I think is a cute touch.
They have a lot of different options on the main menu with many of the classic Thai dishes that I’m familiar with and plenty of dishes that are new to me. I got to taste some of the massaman curry a friend ordered. Their massaman curry has a coconut milk base and is served with potatoes, onions, peanuts, carrots and a side of white rice. I typically like massaman curries but I felt this one was slightly too sweet for my liking.
I prefer their red curry over the massaman curry. It is spicier, while still retaining a hint of sweetness to it, and the base seems somewhat thicker. It is made with traditional red curry, coconut milk, bamboo shoot, bell peppers, and basil leaves. I ordered mine with chicken to make it more filling.
The Guay Teow Tom Yum is another really enjoyable dish, and I tried it for the first time at Thai Chef. You smell the tartness once it is placed down in front of you. This lemongrass soup has small rice noodles, minced chicken, bean sprouts, and grounded peanuts throughout. It is also flavored with lime juice and chile peppers. The dish is paired with the perfect addition: crispy wontons for extra crunch. It has a spicy and sour taste that is balanced by the nuttines of the crushed peanuts.
I really like Thai Chef because I can tell everything here is done with intention. From the decor of the restaurant to the smallest details in their food, Thai Chef left me wanting to plan a trip to Thailand to explore more of what the Bangkok streets have to offer. If you are in the area and looking for a place to eat in DC, I recommend ordering from here, as they are still open and doing take-out during this coronavirus era. I for sure will be making a return to Thai Chef to enjoy the full experience once quarantine is over.
