Hidden Jewel of the Orient
An unassuming Florida Avenue row house quietly serves up the best Thai food in the city — and plenty of it.
Doesn’t get much more down-home than this. (Richard Barry/DC on Heels)
The land of smiles
If you are not looking for Thai X-ing, you might miss it. Visiting this nondescript row house turned restaurant is at once a D.C. experience and domestic dining event. Space is tight in the repurposed living room-cum-dining areas with kitchen activity visible on downstairs and upstairs levels. And though restrooms complete with showers and medicine cabinets full of, well, medicine do not easily move you from the idea that you are eating in someone’s home, the food has no trouble transporting you all the way to Bangkok within the first course.
Intimate, candlelit dining area (Richard Barry/DC on Heels)
Chef knows best
Soft, melting chunks of pumpkin in this veggie curry (Richard Barry/DC on Heels)
In keeping with the family setting, restaurant owner Taw Vigsittaboot assembles a chef’s choice menu of Thai classics that come straight from the family cookbook. With a fixed menu, the one dining decision guests make in the night is which beverage they will bring to this B.Y.O.B. joint, but in no way does this menu policy limit variety.
Lemon Grass Mushroom Soup (Richard Barry/DC on Heels)
With menus varying depending on the night of the week (Tuesdays are vegetarian with fish option, Wednesday-Saturday is meat, veggies with fish option and Sunday is vegetarian) guests can expect a five course meal of first-rate Thai food overflowing with curries, pad thai, fish, sticky rice, salads and soups all served family style on banana leaf platters.
Chicken Curry that falls off the bone. (Richard Barry/DC on Heels)
With limited seating and an ample foodie following, Thai X-ing recommends making reservations at least a week in advance. I am going to recommend you not only follow that advice but do so as soon as possible. Given the atmosphere and quality/quantity of food, Thai X-ing offers a rare meal in the most uncommon of settings. Grab some friends, a six pack of your favorite brew and see what its all about!
Richard is a freelance writer who enjoys building a healthy appetite with long runs around the city. When not logging the miles, he can be spotted training the palate at brunches, happy hours and food trucks.
