Inspired by bustling night markets in Bangkok, this aquamarine-soaked Dupont mainstay that expanded to Rockville Town Square in 2021 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 crabmeat fried rice. 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, around since 1998, takes reservations by phone and 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, head-on spicy prawns, and soft shell crab entrees. 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.

Named for Thailand’s seafood-centric city, this welcoming Woodley Park newcomer comes from Beau Thai alum Supisa Teawbut and Boontom Ratana (the former chef at Arlington’s Urban Thai). One early fan is Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema, who praises Donsak’s well-executed papaya salads, steamed dumplings, and red curry with fried squash suspended in spiced coconut milk. A whole menu page honors the Esaan-style cooking Ratana grew up around in Northeastern Thailand. Sietsema’s can’t-miss dish is the flavorful nham kao tod — a tossed medley of seasoned rice, curry paste, fermented ham, peanuts, onions, and fresh ginger. The cozy restaurant offers dine-in service, takeout, or free delivery within 1.5 miles.

Middleburg, Virginia’s popular Thai restaurant make its D.C. debut this spring in the historic 1890s row house that formerly housed Darlington House. Opening lunch and dinner menus include crispy shrimp wraps, kimchi dumplings, fiery salads, stir-fried Thai basil chicken with veggies, chef’s specials like duck in tamarind sauce, curries, rice and noodle dishes, and more. The multi-level dining, drinking, and event space has room for 222, with a sizable streetery out front.

This family-run underground lounge in Dupont debuted last 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 salmon crudo, wok-tossed tom yum noodles with roasted chili jam, herbaceous duck laab, 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 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.

Chef Jeeraporn Poksupthong relocated bustling Logan Circle standout Baan Thai to a much bigger home in Mount Vernon Triangle. Now called Baan Siam, diners can expect unapologetically spicy Northern Thai dishes. Khao soi, a yellow curry with crunchy egg noodles and chicken thighs, has enjoyed its own following since 2015. Other comeback hits include spicy green mango salad; tapioca skin dumplings with ground chicken, peanuts, and sweet fermented radish; and rice vermicelli in chile peanut sauce. Plus, an expanded lineup represents specialties from Northeast, Central, and Southern Thailand. Pickup and in-house delivery are through the website; reservations for dine-in are here.

Chinatown’s unassuming standby for Thai food continues to deliver on staples like curries and noodles alongside fast and friendly service. Locals and tourists alike come here before Capital One Arena events for a veggie-heavy menu full of crispy spring rolls, basil fried rice, and curry puffs. Open daily for lunch and dinner, with dine-in, pickup, or delivery until as late as 10 p.m. on weekends.

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. Padaek will soon relocate to Arlington Ridge with an ongoing focus on Lao and regional Thai food, and the Falls Church site will transform into a fast-casual bistro called Met Khao. 

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.

Located off bustling Route 7 between Baileys Crossroads and Seven Corners, specializes in Thai street food. It’s one of the oldest in the area and was honored with a 35-year achievement award by RAMW last year. There’s an extensive collection of appetizers and salads, and seafood aplenty, whether it be cod spiked with mango or an entire fried rockfish. Open for dine-in; call the restaurant for takeout or curbside pickup. Delivery available.