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Bua Thai Restaurant & Bar

3.5 (329 reviews)
ModerateThai
Closed • 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Updated over 3 months ago

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BUA THAI RESTAURANT & BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials

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Duck Red curry - Gang Ped Yang Lunch

Great lunch place. Will come back again! Quick service and lunch selections are very nice!

Veggie dumplings
Khristina S.

Close to where I got a spur-of-the-moment pedicure, my work colleague & I stopped here to catch the last 15 minutes of happy hour and dinner. It was surprising to have to walk upstairs to the dining area, but it was spacious and the small, portable ac unit made the indoor seating comfortable. We ordered an appetizer each (crispy wontons for my friend, veggie dumplings for me), a house salad each, and combo see ew with chicken & beef. We also ordered happy hour beverages. The food was delicious. The peanut sauce on the house salad was tasty but because the lettuce & toppings weren't cut to bite-sized pieces, I used them as dippers for the dressing until the dressing was gone. The veggie dumplings & crispy wontons were both good. I was pleased to have the combo of beef & chicken on the entree. The sauce was tasty and coated everything well without being greasy. My two points of contention were the wait for the check after asking directly and everyone else in the dining area being addressed before us and the bathroom situation. Before leaving the restaurant, my colleague & I both used the bathroom; I noticed feces smeared on the wall in one stall, chipped paint throughout the room, and watered down soap that made its cleansing capabilities questionable. That was a disappointing way to end my dining experience here.

The Tom Ka Gai Soup Lunch was amazing i recommend asking for side of white rice in the spicy coconut broth.
frankie m.

It was very good they are very accommodating. You must get a side of rice with a spicy coconut broth..

Thai Stick Lunch
Jahaan T.

Accidentally ordered from the wrong Thai place but I wasn't disappointed at all! I tried the Thai stick which were beef skewers. They came still hot and juicy. Very well seasoned and the sauce was good. I tried the red curry with duck. I was a little skeptical because it had pineapples in it and I don't like to mix my sweet with my heat. It surprisingly was very comforting. The duck was sliced a little thick. Although an accident, I was pleased! Also had the Thai iced tea. It was a little too sweet for my taste though.

Balcony views
Doug B.

Ok, this isn't my neighborhood go-to but decided to revisit. I really enjoyed the red curry with chicken. They added grean beans. It was very good! Loved the spice level and multitude of fresh veggies. Love the space, location, and service has always been good. It was a beautiful night and enjoyed the balcony overlooking P St. Let me know what you think?

Entrance
Sharlene S.

Service- they took good care of us, waters filled and plates removed. Happy hour- they have happy hour 7 days a week from 4-7pm. That's an awesome flex. I repeat, if it says spicy. It's Thai spicy. Not gringo spicy. Hehe. Larb gai was super spicy and drunken noodles had quite the kick. We also got wontons, dumplings, pad see ew, drunken noodles, spring rolls, green curry, larb gai. All food was super flavorful and good portion sizes. Seating- they have a bar, tables upstairs and down, and outdoor seating. Love all the options.

Pad See Ew Dinner, Bua Duck

AUTHENTIC THAI FOOD WHERE YOU CAN TRULY TASTE THE LOVE. Coming from Indonesia to America I have determined find authentic food that really just hits home. my partner and I were immediately greeted and quickly brought to our tables. We were brought upstairs where it was extremely cozy and I was one step into being home. The menu was absolutely immaculate, prices were affordable and there were an endless amount of options, perfect for everyone. We ordered the bua duck and the pad see ew with beef, my favorite thai dish ever. I am very snobby about my asian food so i was skeptical at first. LET ME TELL YOU. both dishes were brought to our table and under eight minutes, right off the stove. The aromas filled the room and they brought a tray of chili oils and flakes along with it. The duck was phenomenal, the texture was perfect. The sauce wasn't drowning out the taste of the duck, and every bite was phenomenal. finally, it was time to try the pad see ew. I turned my fork, grabbed the perfect amount of noodle versus beef. When I placed it on my tongue, I was transported back home. It was as if I was surrounded by the people I had grown up with. The same people who celebrate everything with food and food holds immense value in our culture. representation is so important and it is not talked about enough within food. Bua Thai has done stellar job at giving everyone the opportunity to experience the culture and beauty of these dishes. The texture of the noodles were perfectly cooked, not overdone, not undercooked the type that just melts in your mouth in the beef was cooked to perfection. they weren't stingey at all with the portions, in all honesty I am still dreaming about that bite, this pad see ew was magical. it was so flavorful, and was even more delicious with some of the chili flakes and white pepper. i genuinely had to stop and reflect. we initially were going to go to Astoria right nearby before we stumbled upon this absolute GEM. besides the beef noodles at Astoria are double the price and taste more on the Panda express side of asian food than authentic. GET THE PAD SEE EW HERE INSTEAD. Bua Thai, prepare to be sick of me, i'll be bringing everyone, I know and love, back here.

Crab fried rice with cucumber garnish
DJ J.

It was a great day the other week for an outdoor lunch. I visited Bua Thai and had the crab fried rice. It was very flavorful, and the presentation was more than I expected. Our service was great and it hit the spot for a nice work lunch. I'll be back!

Khao Soi
Randy L.

Came to Bua Thai to eat after walking around to see the Cherry Blossoms. Overall the food was okay, but left me feeling full. I didn't know what I was getting myself into when ordering the Khao Soi, as the crispy noodles weren't what I was imagining and there wasn't much chicken in my dish. The curry puffs and the Thai iced tea made up for it, as they were both delicious. I would come back just for the Thai tea. We also got the mango sticky rice, fried bananas, and the 3 ice cream deal. Nothing special about any, just refreshing after all that spice. The service was good at the start, I felt our waiter was really attentive and would come back at a good amount of time. However towards the end of our meal, they came out to bring us the check but we told them that we wanted dessert, and their response made it seem like they just wanted us to leave. Note that there is an automatic gratuity added to the bill.

Kee Mao veggie
Sreenivas R.

Very good service. Old classic ambiance. Tasty typical food with sensible portion sizes. Host was also very honest and notified us that we might be ordering too much food for our party. We started with spring rolls that were pretty standard and not too oily. For the mains, we had a Tofu Kee Mao and Todu with basil and spicy sauce. It was comforting and typical Thai American fare. We washed it down with a creamy Thai iced tea.

Tyler C.

Just off DuPont Circle is this friendly and Thai place with excellent food. Started with a bowl of salad with peanut dressing. Salad was crisp and dressing peanuts enough. The crispy duck Panang curry was special! Duck was crispy with meat and skin on every slice. Cooked so that it was still juicy. And the curry was thick and plentiful. I will be coming back for this dish!!!

Pad See Ew

Ordered delivery through Uber Eats. Food was good considering it was take out and had been sitting for a short time

Kanom jeeb

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Reviews are mixed. Many highlight the flavorful food, generous portions, and cozy atmosphere, along with friendly service.

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6 months ago

It was okay. I ordered tom kha gai, and panang curry, two stars. It was 1/2 star spicy, at the most. Service was fine.

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Baan Siam

Baan Siam

4.5(735 reviews)
1.3 mi
•$$

This meal was absolutely delicious! While in DC for a nearby convention, my friends and I were…read morecraving Thai food and came across this restaurant, and I'm so glad we did! The service was great, and the restaurant itself was really pretty and had such a nice atmosphere. We all got the mango frozen cocktails, and they were AMAZING; so refreshing, and honestly the perfect pairing with the food. Everyone in our group ordered something different, and everything we tried was so good. I got the Thai vermicelli, and it was absolutely delicious! I also got to try some of my friends' dishes, and everything was flavorful and really well done. I'm usually pretty nitpicky when it comes to coconut curry sauces, but it was so perfectly balanced and flavorful. It was easily some of the best Thai food I've had in the DMV (honestly!). No complaints whatsoever. I'll definitely be returning next time I'm in the area! :)

Amazing Thai food at this restaurant. Got the green mango Salad, chicken wings, khao soi, and beef…read morecurry. The mango salad was delicious, I could eat that all day. The khao soi had good flavor, and it came with rice. The chicken wings were for my son, he said they were the best wings he's ever had. The beef curry had good flavor, but the beef was a bit overcooked. Service was a little bit of a miss. When the waiter first came, he asked us for our food order. However, we wanted to order drinks first. I was able to order my cocktail, however, the waiter left before anyone else at my table could speak to order a beverage. Food came out very quickly. This is not the type of place where you would want to enjoy drinks and food over a period of time. However, if you are super hungry, your food will definitely get to you quickly. Restaurant was crowded, but not super loud. Overall, I would come back for the food, I just wish that I could have more time to enjoy my restaurant experience.

Photos
Baan Siam - Bar seating

Bar seating

Baan Siam - Coconut soup- divine!

Coconut soup- divine!

Baan Siam - Kitchen

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Kitchen

Tiki Garden Thai Street Food - Pad Thai

Tiki Garden Thai Street Food

4.7(178 reviews)
2.7 mi•H Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast
•$$

My son and I were visiting D.C. for a wedding and decided to check this place out after reading…read moregreat reviews and strolling down the street. We came in for lunch, and the Panang curry and mango sticky rice were both fantastic and packed with flavor. Our server, I believe Server S (what was on the receipt), was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and very charming. The overall ambience was just fun and lively. Later in the day, we looked at other restaurants for dinner, but nothing else on the street looked appetizing or had good reviews. We easily decided to head right back for round two! For our second meal, we tried the curry puffs, another curry, and the Larb salad. The Larb salad was an absolute standout-- it perfectly matched a nostalgic flavor from a favorite old restaurant of mine that no other place has ever been able to replicate until now!The entire staff was hilarious, engaging, and some even spoke Spanish. This is an amazing spot with incredible food and great energy. We will definitely be back next time we are in town!

Came here on a weekday evening around 98:45M. Shared a chicken satay and mango sticky rice, I had…read morethe khao soi. The chicken satay was fried chicken with peanut sauce, definitely not authentic (chicken satay is usually grilled). Decent for what it was though. The khao soi's flavor was great, there were pieces of chicken which is also not authentic (usually has a chicken leg). The mango sticky rice was tasty though, rice was warm and chewy, mango was very little though. I originally asked for tom yum noodles with thick rice noodles (it usually comes with super thin noodles), and the kitchen "couldn't" do it. Yes you can, all you have to do is cook a different type of noodle and put it in, it's not that hard. I'm not sure what you "can't" do about it. Price was okay, decent for DC. Service kept reminded us probably at least 3 times throughout the meal that they're almost closing (at 9:30PM).

Photos
Tiki Garden Thai Street Food - Entrance room divider- love the message to be kind

Entrance room divider- love the message to be kind

Tiki Garden Thai Street Food - Many

Many

Tiki Garden Thai Street Food - Thai Tea

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Thai Tea

Rimtang - spicy cold noodles -- 8/10

Rimtang

4.3(86 reviews)
1.5 mi•Georgetown

Went here on a Wednesday afternoon around 2pm. Me and my wife were seated immediately in their…read moreupstairs seating. We ordered the Tom Yum Soup and Pad Thai. Both dishes were flavorful and cooked to perfection. We both enjoyed the dishes very much. Plenty of seating upstairs, with nice touches of Thai portraits throughout. We also got Thai Iced Teas to wash it all down. Would recommend this Thai Place in the heart of Georgetown DC!

I had mixed feelings about our dinner at RIMTANG during a recent business trip to DC. Let me start…read morewith the food, because it was very good. Our group shared the Moo Yang and Crab Dumplings to start, and both were delicious. For our mains, two of us ordered the Pad Thai and the others had the Panang Curry. Everything we tried was flavorful and well prepared, and I can definitely see why this place gets praise for its Thai food. The only issue was the timing coming out of the kitchen. Our Panang Curries arrived several minutes apart, and we waited more than 15 minutes for the Pad Thais after the first entrees were served. We had to ask our waiter a few times about the rest of the food so we could actually eat together. It wasn't just our table either. I noticed the same thing happening around the restaurant, including a couple on a date where one person had her meal sitting in front of her for about 10 to 15 minutes before the other person's food arrived. Hopefully they can work out the timing because the food itself is worth coming for. Despite the issue, I would definitely give Rimtang another try.

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Rimtang - Upstairs seating

Upstairs seating

Rimtang - Chicken Satay

Chicken Satay

Rimtang - Tucked on a side street

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Tucked on a side street

Thip Khao - Fried rice Kua Khao Jaew Bong

Thip Khao

4.4(1.5k reviews)
1.6 mi•Columbia Heights
•$$

This is one of the best Laotian restaurants I've been to! We had the tamarind-glazed chicken as an…read moreappetizer, entree are kee mao and their gaeng phet. All were great choices! Their "jungle menu" also offers more adventurous dishes that might be unfamiliar to local diners. The sparkling lemonade was also one of the highlights but I don't have photo for it. If you are not into sweet drink and more on tangy, this drink is for you. The service was quick and attentive, and the space works well for both small and large groups. They also have photos displayed of people who I believe are the owners. I highly recommend this place, especially if you're new to Laotian food. You may recognize some dishes that overlap with Thai cuisine because of their shared historical ties, but the cooking techniques and some staple ingredients set them apart

What an awesome experience and vibe Thip Khao is. I like…read morethat it's not (underline) too fancy, so you can dress for the occasion or come straight off the street (mostly) and you will be in appropriate attire. The food was absolutely phenomenal and the service was on point. I've lived in the capital area for around 20 years but we moved away a few years back and I greatly miss the international cuisine I had access to here in the city. This one gets added to that list! Will plan to visit again next time we are in the area or passing through!

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Thip Khao - Inside

Inside

Thip Khao - Eggplant Salad

Eggplant Salad

Thip Khao - Outside

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Outside

Thai Chef Street Food - Crazy Thai Lady

Thai Chef Street Food

4.2(629 reviews)
0.5 mi•Dupont Circle
•$$
Vegetarian friendly
Hipster vibe

One of my favorite Thai spots in D.C!…read more I came in during their $20 lunch special which is a selected appetizer, entree, & three dollars more for a drink such as mango or lychee juice. The lunch special is available dine-in only & from 11:30am- 3:00pm Monday through Friday. I ordered crispy wontons, chicken pad si yu, & mango juice. When ordering, there's different protein options for your entree. Everything was luscious & flavorsome! The portions are filling & you may need a to-go box. The decor is beautiful & you'll find yourself admiring it for a while. The service is fast & the staff are very friendly. You don't have to have a reservation & you can tell the staff frequently clean. I also love that they reuse glass bottles from liquor when serving water at your table. This is also a family owned restaurant with a popcorn snack brand called party of snacks! I recently found out they have another location in Rockville as well. I'll definitely come back for dinner to try their cocktails & other menu items!

I dropped by this past weekend after the open widows beckoned me. I walk by all of the time, but…read moresurprisingly have never had the chance to eat here. I love the colorful decor and the woman behind the bar was hustling - she was playing the role of hostess and bartender all at once and never missed a beat! I ordered chicken satay, because I just wanted a little bit of a protein snack to hold me over for a bit. It was good - pretty standard and what I expected. But after seeing the person next to me order the Claypot Noodles, I placed that order to go. I loved the dish - light, but still flavorful and filling with a decent amount of fresh crabmeat sprinkled on top. I would definitely order it again.

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Thai Chef Street Food - Moo-Ping

Moo-Ping

Thai Chef Street Food - Poh Tak Seafood

Poh Tak Seafood

Thai Chef Street Food - Pandan-mic: made with Hendrick's gin and homemade pandan syrup

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Pandan-mic: made with Hendrick's gin and homemade pandan syrup

Siam House Thai Restaurant - Steamed dumplings

Siam House Thai Restaurant

4.2(638 reviews)
2.2 mi•Cleveland Park
•$$

Great spot with some nice history. Family run always a good time, with everyone being so nice. My…read morepartner and I both got noodles and sadly mine was unseasoned. Very tough. Hers was banging ! Delish! Another notable flag was that I would order your spice level - we were not asked. My girl was quite overwhelmed w the heat tambien - I would get that checked out.

Not sure if this was just a bad day or if the quality has gone down for some reason. Siam House…read moreused to be my go-to spot for Thai. Maybe after receiving all their accolades and increasing their pricing due to farm-raised proteins, expectations are that the quality stays at its best. Unfortunately, it wasn't just one thing that declined. I ordered for pick-up, which even take-away food from Siam used to be excellent. This time, though, the pad thai noodles were dry and stuck to each other in one big piece that I had to use a knife to separate. It was clearly left in the wok too long as the shrimps were blackened as well. Wish someone, whether chef or other, would notice the quality and decide to remake it. The shrimps were also very small--they used to use plump shrimp that were juicy to bite into. Now, the shrimp are the small ones you get from grocery stores. Paying an up-charge for tiny overcooked shrimp is quite the disappointment. When I went to pick up the food, the restaurant wasn't even busy, half occupied. I really hope it was a bad day as I really enjoyed dining here and supporting the 3-generation family.

Photos
Siam House Thai Restaurant
Siam House Thai Restaurant - 4. Chicken Satay and Crab Rangoon

4. Chicken Satay and Crab Rangoon

Siam House Thai Restaurant - Outside sitting area

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Outside sitting area

Soi 38 - Roti - yummy.

Soi 38

3.9(642 reviews)
0.6 mi•Downtown
•$$

Tuesday and we were pleasantly surprised that there was plenty of space…read more I had their drunken noodles (here they are called Kee Mao) with shrimp, and green tea. The server indicated it would be spicy, which I was okay with, but when the dish came it was quite mild (or at least mild based on the expectations I had). Don't get me wrong though, despite the reduced spice, I thought the flavor of the sauce was great. Importantly, the portion was reasonable, filling, and just enough for lunch! I left the lettuce garnishes but finished all the noodles and shrimps. The service was excellent -- hands off with an occasional check in, which enabled our party to have great conversation. There's a reason this place has been on the Michelin guide several years in a row!

I have been dining at Soi 38 on and off since 2017, and everything about this restaurant keeps me…read morecoming back. The atmosphere is amazing, I love the dragon theme at the bar. If you are a dragon enthusiast in the DMV, you'd appreciate the tremendous detail from the lighting to the painting on the ceiling. The food is incredible. I've never had a bad meal here. On top of that, service is quick and friendly making everything about the experience easy and fun. And for the service, atmosphere, and food quality the pricing is incredibly reasonable. I recommend Soi 38 to anyone looking for a bite in the DC area!

Photos
Soi 38 - The bar

The bar

Soi 38 - Spring Rolls - delicious.

Spring Rolls - delicious.

Soi 38 - Massamun Curry - absolutely delicious.

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Massamun Curry - absolutely delicious.

The Regent - Mango & sticky rice

The Regent

3.8(531 reviews)
0.5 mi
•$$

Delicious food, quick service, and warm staff. A great asset to the neighborhood that I return to…read moretime and again. The Thai hot level is spicy!!

I'll admit that stopped by here for a late(ish) night feeding because it was the first place that I…read moresaw after leaving another business in the area. That said, I was very happy with my this random result. Upon entering the restaurant, I thought the host/bartender/server was super nice and very friendly. For my dining pleasure, I went with the drunken noodles with chicken. While the meal was pretty tasty, I thought the portion size was a bit small compared to the same dish that I've had at other Thai places in the area. While the portion size was a bit smaller for this dish, I did think the prices in general were pretty reasonable compared to other spots in the area. Interestingly enough, I did place an order to go for my family, and the portions for those dishes were pretty standard. One thing that I have to recommend: the chicken wings with the chili sauce. I'll say that the sweet chili sauce was out of this world amazing. The Regent really should bottle this sauce and sell it, because I would totally use this sauce in my everyday cooking. Actually, I probably appreciated the sweet chili sauce more than the chicken wings. ;) Overall, I cannot really complain about my experience at The Regent. Perhaps, I'll return during another one of my random adventures in that part of town.

Photos
The Regent - Takeout! Generous portions and delicious flavor. Pad Thai, drunken noodle, green curry and pad ga prao

Takeout! Generous portions and delicious flavor. Pad Thai, drunken noodle, green curry and pad ga prao

The Regent - Pork basil fried rice w extra veggies

Pork basil fried rice w extra veggies

The Regent - Menu posted outside

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Menu posted outside

Bua Thai Restaurant & Bar - thai - Updated October 2026

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