Inspired by bustling night markets in Bangkok, this aquamarine-soaked Dupont mainstay that expanded to Rockville Town Square last year comes from Bangkok native Pornnapa Pongpornprot and her eldest daughter, Chalisa Fitts. The eye-popping restaurant is covered with ornate metal sculptures, merry-go-round horses circling a soaring interior atrium, and neon-lit catch phrases. Best sellers on the menu include its Crying Tiger steak entree, “after-school” wontons, spicy drunken noodles dubbed “D.U.I.” and a new fried rice section. Both locations are open for dine-in and takeout.

This Thai restaurant, with locations in Rockville and Vienna, keeps things interesting with options like a fried tofu larb; street food dishes like boat noodle soup; and monthly specials a jack fruit dip served with pork rinds and sticky rice and “night bazaar chili flounder” in chili garlic sauce. Dine in or get takeout or delivery through each location’s own website.

Wheaton is one of the best neighborhoods around D.C. for Thai food, and Ruan Thai is one of the reasons. Here fried watercress appears alongside shrimp, squid, and cashews and spicy lime dressing. The restaurant has limited dine-in service (no reservations); takeout is available here.

This hidden gem in McLean specializes in Northeastern Thai fare. The kitchen has a flair for presentation, serving regional specialties like steamed fish in a Thai hotpot, marinated minced pork sausage, and head-on spicy prawns. The whimsical menu includes a “somtom bar” section full of papaya salads and other smashed vegetable dishes and ample cocktail list. Look for Bangkok street food on the weekends. Open for indoor dining, with takeout and delivery available through the website.

Chef and owner Taw Vigsittaboot cooks up his family’s recipes at Thai X-ing is a special experience in D.C. Along with its best-selling pumpkin curry, the menu includes pad see ew, house specialties like five-spice duck, stewed chicken drumstick noodle soup, and more. Order online here.

This family-run underground lounge in Dupont debuted this spring to early praise from Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema. Former sushi chef Billy Thammasathiti teamed up his aunt behind the popular Fat Nomads supper club to create a Thai street food menu full of quail egg wontons, spicy crudo, fiery papaya salads, and spicy beef or pork skewers. Andy Thammasathiti of Baltimore’s Mayuree Thai Tavern whips up passion fruit daiquiris and Sichuan baijiu cocktails from a red-lit corner reminiscent of a bar in Bangkok. The 50-seat newcomer swings open at 4 p.m., with walk-ins welcome but reservations encouraged.

Around since 2001, this Logan Circle pioneer (formerly Thai Tanic) continues to serve consistently good pad Thai and tom yum soup in a friendly, family-owned atmosphere. Other popular orders include a gloriously large portion of Thai fried rice and green curry marked with a “medium” spice tag. A months-old sibling spot upstairs called Takara 14 serves superb sushi and nigiri from a Nakazawa alum, with a lively Bangkok-inspired bar in the back accented with colorful string lights. Order online for takeout or delivery.

Soi 38 came on the D.C. scene in 2014, with the goal of bringing Thai street food dishes to Foggy Bottom. Owners Nat Ongsangkoon and Dia Khanthongthip are natives of Bangkok, and part of the downtown restaurant’s charm is its vibrant design. Creative cocktails get matched with dishes like fried sun-dried beef, honey roasted duck, goong kratiem (crispy shrimp), and slow-roasted pork belly, a chef’s special. Make a reservation or order delivery.

This restaurant from chef Seng Luangrath used to be known as Bangkok Golden: Its name-change to Padaek signaled an increased emphasis on Lao cuisine. But there’s still an entire Thai menu available at the Falls Church restaurant near Seven Corners, featuring noodle dishes, curries, and rice dishes like the spicy khao paad ka pao. It’s open for dine-in, pickup, and delivery (both available through the website) for lunch and dinner. D.C. siblings Thip Khao and cocktail bar Hanumanh are also best bets.

This decade-old Merrifield favorite keeps spice levels high if a customer desires. Standout dishes include most soups, a Thai play on spaghetti, crab curry, and the sen yai ladd na moo mug, which marries marinated pork, rice noodles, pickled pepper, and Chinese broccoli. Dine-in service is available; takeout and delivery through the website.

Consistency is one of the hallmarks of this Arlington Thai mainstay. Curries and chicken satay are popular orders, but the kitchen shakes things up with dishes like sweetened shredded fish and pig knuckle stew. Online ordering available here.