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The No.1 restaurant of "Top DC Thai" on the Beli App. Claiming to be a Thai izakaya inspired by Bangkok's Chinatown, the regional characters are somehow confusing, and the food did indeed resemble Asian fusion. Salmon Crudo: Best dish of the meal, 5 stars. The salmon was fresh and high-quality, with a rich fatty aroma. The fresh chili, garlic slices, cilantro, and lime were the ingredients for authentic Thai seafood dip, and it was emulsified into a smoother, richer sauce that coats the salmon perfectly. Essan Skewers: The beef was grilled to tenderness. The dipping sauce and marinade were both tamarind-based, offering a refreshing sweet and sour flavor. The menu mentions roasted rice, but I didn't taste it. Beef Horapa: A "must-try" dish on the menu. Honestly, it's not bad. The Thai basil was fragrant, and the beef shank was tender and flavorful. However, the seasoning was like kra pow but without spiciness, and the braising before stir-frying resulted in insufficient wok hei鑊氣 (wok aroma), significantly diminishing the flavor. The entire combination felt like eating a simple entree with rice at a Caa Caan Teng茶餐廳 (Hong Kong-style cafe), clashing with the restaurant's style. Fresh Grapefruit Brûlée: I was really looking forward to the combination of grapefruit and crème brûlée, but it turned out to be just grapefruit sliced open and coated with caramel... I don't need to elaborate on the taste; it didn't even have the pulp pre-separated from the skin, making it very difficult to scoop out. So frustrating. I don't remember the exact name of the cocktail, but it was mango sticky rice and pandan flavor. The mango aroma was mellow and rich, very tasty. To be honest, I don't like such a dark environment. I can't see anything clearly, and it's not convenient to take pictures.
I had the beef horapa, lychee drink (NA) and 2 deserts. The main was okay but nothing spectacular, the lychee dessert and drink were both great! The service and ambiance were both good
This was a great Thai place! I was under the impression that I would have to make a reservation to dine in, but they do take walk-ins too. They were able to refund my reservation deposit once they brought me to my seat. I like the aesthetics here once you go down the stairs! I enjoyed my mango sticky rice milk punch, although I wish there was more of the drink for the price point. The entrees I got were great! Perfect levels of flavour, spice, and heat. Even the veggies in my dishes were seasoned greatly to make every part of the dish savory alongside the meat. Their calamari was great too with the sweet and sour sauce. Dessert was solid too, but I wish I was able to try their lychee creme brulee, which they ran out of. Staff were pretty attentive and nice to us! Would recommend for Thai food in the DuPont area.
What a unique Thai fusion restaurant! I'm used to more traditional Thai cuisine, such as pad thai, pad see ew, panang curry, and so on. This place gives a unique twist to Thai dishes with creative combinations that I have not seen before: - Essan skewers - beef meat was good and chewy. The tamarind coating was really unique, adding a sweet, sour, and tangy flavor. The dip is great but spicy, just so you're aware! - Grilled shrimps kari rice - good and very filling dish. The shrimp was absolutely perfectly cooked, not dry at all, and well-charred on the outside. - Lychee brulee - nice crunch, and you can definitely taste the lychee! There are also a few pieces of the lychee fruit inside. This dessert comes with 3 koala bear crackers, and that instantly brought me back to my fond childhood days munching on these Asian snacks. The restaurant is located in a basement, but there are colorful lights and decorations that brighten the interior. It feels like a cozy insulated environment. Service was sweet and super quick.
The waitstaff here is awesome - they're really friendly and quick without being overbearing. We got the calamari, Brussels sprouts, beef horapa and the spicy belly bow. Everything was a flavor bomb and amazing - calamari was perfectly crispy with a zing of taste. The brussel sprouts were crispy and full of flavor with a kick of spice. The star for me for the night was the spicy belly bowl- it had so much flavor and if you mix it the rice gets mixed in with the sauce. If you're a fan of spicy food this is definitely the dish to get. The horapa was good but it wasn't anything to hype over. I also got the mango sticky rice cocktail which was one of the best drinks i've had in DC, but I'm also a huge pandan fan and the pandan flavor really came through. The prices are super reasonable for the amount of food- overall highly recommend if you want truly authentic Thai food!
What an absolute gem! My friend and I popped in for a weeknight dinner and were so pleasantly surprised at how incredible the food and drink were! We had a little bit of everything, but our desserts were the highlight! The staff were so nice and quick while the ambiance was very relaxed.
~Food/Drinks~ Boneless Duck Laab: The duck pieces were a little dry but since it was cut into tiny pieces, it wasn't too bad. I guess I'm just used to the fatty pieces of Peking duck. But the flavor was very refreshing with the red onions, tomatoes, green onions, and other leafy green herbs. I thought it would be spicy but it wasn't at all. Thai Yakitori: Comes with 3 skewers. The meat was so tender and juicy and had a delicious, sweet sticky glaze. On top of that, it comes with tom yum seasoning powder on the side, which adds this tart and extra umami flavor. Beef Horapa: Comes with a scoop of rice and fried egg. The thick slices of beef shank reminds me of Taiwanese beef noodle soup. Very tender and well marinated. There's also a lot of vegan options too! ~Logistics~ The place is kind of small so I would make a reservation just to be safe. There is a $30 deposit that is refunded at the end of your meal. Located downstairs in a basement, the restaurant has poor phone service. And I'm not sure if there's an elevator for accessibility so if you need one, call ahead to confirm before making the reservation. ~Conclusion~ Overall, I had a great meal and would love to come back to try everything else!
Picked this spot after a long work day. My coworkers and I were tired and hungry. We found this intimate spot in DC and were ready to chow down on Thai food. I ordered chicken satay and paired it with a mushroom plate. Both were savory and full of flavor. Although the staff was busy they were super helpful and friendly. I also ordered a lychee drink that was served chilled and I really enjoyed it! My coworkers were not a fan of how loud it was inside the restaurant but it was to be expected during rush hour.
Thai/Chinese fusion is right up my alley so I was super pumped to try this restaurant. Located in cozy basement in DuPont circle, this spot is super accessible via metro and in a great location in the city. The vibes were bustling and reminiscent of a NYC restaurant - loud, packed, with tables close together. I'd almost say it was too loud, I struggled to hear my friend across the table at times. The decorations were eccentric and weird, I kind of loved it. The food was generally amazing - the Brussels and spicy pork/rice bowl (add an egg!) were amazing. My friend didn't love the dumplings, and I thought they were just good. The cocktails were fun, but nothing super memorable. Great service, no complaints there. Overall a really solid spot to visit with friends, but don't recommend for an intimate date night. Also, be prepared for a long wait on the weekend!
Everything was delicious! Very unique items that I usually haven't seen in many Thai restaurants. The salt and pepper tofu, chilled mushrooms and shrimp Kari rice were my favorites. We were a group of 3 and shared everything family style. We ordered 2 appetizers and 3 mains to share and felt it was the perfect amount. Our waiter was very friendly and helped suggest some items as well.
This was my second visit to Sura and the food was just as fabulous as I remembered. We sat at the bar for happy hour before a comedy show and enjoyed every moment. The bartender was super helpful and attentive and the owner actually helped get our check when we had to leave while the bartender made several drinks. It is a family run Thai restaurant with not so traditional options that hit the tastebuds so unexpectedly. The chili noodles with tomatoes, bacon, mushrooms, and parmesan is out of this world! Sura is a basement spot with a cozy vibe and disco lights that is very inviting. I need to come back and try their dessert. Come hungry and leave oh so happy!
Excellent food, ambiance, and service. I really enjoyed the inventive menu and the cocktail program is top-notch. It's the perfect place for a high-energy dinner or a stylish night out. I'll definitely be coming back soon!
have to write an update after the most recent experience - quality has gone way downhill. there wasn't a dish we wanted to finish. just lacking flavor and execution all around, drinks included. service is very quick and we were able to walk in on a weekend which was nice the crispy pork belly had maybe the worst texture of a pork belly dish I've had - it was rubbery, hard chewy, with no good flavor to help it out. half of it was inedible. the must order beef horapa was flavorless, and the whites of the fried egg weren't cooked (this is more personal preference). the chicken himapan which we've loved in the past, was not crispy, and very one dimensional - salt and nothing more. the chilled mushrooms and chili noodle were passable but not enough to redeem this meal. and could barely finish the two cocktails we had which were unbalanced
9.5/10 food 10/10 service 5/10 ambiance This was one of those dinners where the food was so good and came out so incredibly quickly that we completely forgot to take pictures. Sura is interesting in that they won't have your typical pad Thai, drunken noodles, pineapple rice etc on the menu. However, every single thing we tried was so so tasty and different. You can't go wrong. Standouts were the shrimp rice dish with crab meat, the chili noodle dish, the lychee crem brûlée, and the drinks (both mocktails and cocktails). The drink with the earl grey foam was especially delicious, innovative, and refreshing. Can't speak to the secret menu because they didn't have it as an option the night we went, but I hope to try it next time! The service was so great. Everything they recommended was perfect, they were so kind, and food came out fast. The only thing I would knock them for is the ambiance. The decor is not very intentional or cohesive. I felt it wasn't reflective of the level of food or service. read more
The food is SOOOOOO good. Wow. I'm a really picky eater and I wasn't sure about the menu but I actually really enjoyed everything. My first worry was about spice: we ate the special chili noodle (not pictured) and it was nicely spiced but not at all spicy. It was really really good though. We also had the Grilld Shrimp Kari Rice and that was really good too. The sauce on that is delicious. Not spicy. The appetizers (salt and pepper shrimp, brussel sprouts, mushrooms) were all so good. We shared our entire meal (two entrees, three apps) between 4 people and it was plenty of food. Our meal was a little less than $50 each. Our server was attentive and nice. The place was not loud, the seating was not cramped, so the overall dinner experience was also calm and pleasant. No complaints at all. Love. read more
The No.1 restaurant of "Top DC Thai" on the Beli App. Claiming to be a Thai izakaya inspired by Bangkok's Chinatown, the regional characters are somehow confusing, and the food did indeed resemble Asian fusion. Salmon Crudo: Best dish of the meal, 5 stars. The salmon was fresh and high-quality, with a rich fatty aroma. The fresh chili, garlic slices, cilantro, and lime were the ingredients for authentic Thai seafood dip, and it was emulsified into a smoother, richer sauce that coats the salmon perfectly. Essan Skewers: The beef was grilled to tenderness. The dipping sauce and marinade were both tamarind-based, offering a refreshing sweet and sour flavor. The menu mentions roasted rice, but I didn't taste it. Beef Horapa: A "must-try" dish on the menu. Honestly, it's not bad. The Thai basil was fragrant, and the beef shank was tender and flavorful. However, the seasoning was like kra pow but without spiciness, and the braising before stir-frying resulted in insufficient wok hei鑊氣 (wok aroma), significantly diminishing the flavor. The entire combination felt like eating a simple entree with rice at a Caa Caan Teng茶餐廳 (Hong Kong-style cafe), clashing with the restaurant's style. Fresh Grapefruit Brûlée: I was really looking forward to the combination of grapefruit and crème brûlée, but it turned out to be just grapefruit sliced open and coated with caramel... I don't need to elaborate on the taste; it didn't even have the pulp pre-separated from the skin, making it very difficult to scoop out. So frustrating. I don't remember the exact name of the cocktail, but it was mango sticky rice and pandan flavor. The mango aroma was mellow and rich, very tasty. To be honest, I don't like such a dark environment. I can't see anything clearly, and it's not convenient to take pictures. read more
7 months ago
This was a great Thai place! I was under the impression that I would have to make a reservation to dine in, but they do take walk-ins too. They were able to refund my reservation deposit once they brought me to my seat. I like the aesthetics here once you go down the stairs! I enjoyed my mango sticky rice milk punch, although I wish there was more of the drink for the price point. The entrees I got were great! Perfect levels of flavour, spice, and heat. Even the veggies in my dishes were seasoned greatly to make every part of the dish savory alongside the meat. Their calamari was great too with the sweet and sour sauce. Dessert was solid too, but I wish I was able to try their lychee creme brulee, which they ran out of. Staff were pretty attentive and nice to us! Would recommend for Thai food in the DuPont area. read more
What a unique Thai fusion restaurant! I'm used to more traditional Thai cuisine, such as pad thai, pad see ew, panang curry, and so on. This place gives a unique twist to Thai dishes with creative combinations that I have not seen before: - Essan skewers - beef meat was good and chewy. The tamarind coating was really unique, adding a sweet, sour, and tangy flavor. The dip is great but spicy, just so you're aware! - Grilled shrimps kari rice - good and very filling dish. The shrimp was absolutely perfectly cooked, not dry at all, and well-charred on the outside. - Lychee brulee - nice crunch, and you can definitely taste the lychee! There are also a few pieces of the lychee fruit inside. This dessert comes with 3 koala bear crackers, and that instantly brought me back to my fond childhood days munching on these Asian snacks. The restaurant is located in a basement, but there are colorful lights and decorations that brighten the interior. It feels like a cozy insulated environment. Service was sweet and super quick. read more
The waitstaff here is awesome - they're really friendly and quick without being overbearing. We got the calamari, Brussels sprouts, beef horapa and the spicy belly bow. Everything was a flavor bomb and amazing - calamari was perfectly crispy with a zing of taste. The brussel sprouts were crispy and full of flavor with a kick of spice. The star for me for the night was the spicy belly bowl- it had so much flavor and if you mix it the rice gets mixed in with the sauce. If you're a fan of spicy food this is definitely the dish to get. The horapa was good but it wasn't anything to hype over. I also got the mango sticky rice cocktail which was one of the best drinks i've had in DC, but I'm also a huge pandan fan and the pandan flavor really came through. The prices are super reasonable for the amount of food- overall highly recommend if you want truly authentic Thai food! read more
6 months ago
What an absolute gem! My friend and I popped in for a weeknight dinner and were so pleasantly surprised at how incredible the food and drink were! We had a little bit of everything, but our desserts were the highlight! The staff were so nice and quick while the ambiance was very relaxed. read more
~Food/Drinks~ Boneless Duck Laab: The duck pieces were a little dry but since it was cut into tiny pieces, it wasn't too bad. I guess I'm just used to the fatty pieces of Peking duck. But the flavor was very refreshing with the red onions, tomatoes, green onions, and other leafy green herbs. I thought it would be spicy but it wasn't at all. Thai Yakitori: Comes with 3 skewers. The meat was so tender and juicy and had a delicious, sweet sticky glaze. On top of that, it comes with tom yum seasoning powder on the side, which adds this tart and extra umami flavor. Beef Horapa: Comes with a scoop of rice and fried egg. The thick slices of beef shank reminds me of Taiwanese beef noodle soup. Very tender and well marinated. There's also a lot of vegan options too! ~Logistics~ The place is kind of small so I would make a reservation just to be safe. There is a $30 deposit that is refunded at the end of your meal. Located downstairs in a basement, the restaurant has poor phone service. And I'm not sure if there's an elevator for accessibility so if you need one, call ahead to confirm before making the reservation. ~Conclusion~ Overall, I had a great meal and would love to come back to try everything else! read more
Picked this spot after a long work day. My coworkers and I were tired and hungry. We found this intimate spot in DC and were ready to chow down on Thai food. I ordered chicken satay and paired it with a mushroom plate. Both were savory and full of flavor. Although the staff was busy they were super helpful and friendly. I also ordered a lychee drink that was served chilled and I really enjoyed it! My coworkers were not a fan of how loud it was inside the restaurant but it was to be expected during rush hour. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Thai/Chinese fusion is right up my alley so I was super pumped to try this restaurant. Located in cozy basement in DuPont circle, this spot is super accessible via metro and in a great location in the city. The vibes were bustling and reminiscent of a NYC restaurant - loud, packed, with tables close together. I'd almost say it was too loud, I struggled to hear my friend across the table at times. The decorations were eccentric and weird, I kind of loved it. The food was generally amazing - the Brussels and spicy pork/rice bowl (add an egg!) were amazing. My friend didn't love the dumplings, and I thought they were just good. The cocktails were fun, but nothing super memorable. Great service, no complaints there. Overall a really solid spot to visit with friends, but don't recommend for an intimate date night. Also, be prepared for a long wait on the weekend! read more
1 year ago
Everything was delicious! Very unique items that I usually haven't seen in many Thai restaurants. The salt and pepper tofu, chilled mushrooms and shrimp Kari rice were my favorites. We were a group of 3 and shared everything family style. We ordered 2 appetizers and 3 mains to share and felt it was the perfect amount. Our waiter was very friendly and helped suggest some items as well. read more
This was my second visit to Sura and the food was just as fabulous as I remembered. We sat at the bar for happy hour before a comedy show and enjoyed every moment. The bartender was super helpful and attentive and the owner actually helped get our check when we had to leave while the bartender made several drinks. It is a family run Thai restaurant with not so traditional options that hit the tastebuds so unexpectedly. The chili noodles with tomatoes, bacon, mushrooms, and parmesan is out of this world! Sura is a basement spot with a cozy vibe and disco lights that is very inviting. I need to come back and try their dessert. Come hungry and leave oh so happy! read more
8 months ago
Excellent food, ambiance, and service. I really enjoyed the inventive menu and the cocktail program is top-notch. It's the perfect place for a high-energy dinner or a stylish night out. I'll definitely be coming back soon! read more
have to write an update after the most recent experience - quality has gone way downhill. there wasn't a dish we wanted to finish. just lacking flavor and execution all around, drinks included. service is very quick and we were able to walk in on a weekend which was nice the crispy pork belly had maybe the worst texture of a pork belly dish I've had - it was rubbery, hard chewy, with no good flavor to help it out. half of it was inedible. the must order beef horapa was flavorless, and the whites of the fried egg weren't cooked (this is more personal preference). the chicken himapan which we've loved in the past, was not crispy, and very one dimensional - salt and nothing more. the chilled mushrooms and chili noodle were passable but not enough to redeem this meal. and could barely finish the two cocktails we had which were unbalanced read more
A group of us came here on a weekday at the start of happy hour (M-Th 4-6pm). We got the sesame rice chips & dip, Jek Pa's dumplings, Mama's calamari, and Beef Horapa. Our favorites were the Mama's calamari, and sesame rice chips & dip. The calamari was cripsy, and not overly breaded which we liked. The dip from the sesame rice chips & dip is very peanut based, and good. The other food dishes were decent, but did not stand out. The lychee collins was light, and refreshing, but a little weak. I like the lounge and intimate feel, but it still gives the basement feel. To get to Sura, there is a set of stairs going down. We did not have a reservation, and the restaurant was empty, but the staff were hesitant, but allowed us to stay. After an hour, only two other patrons came in. read more
Well. I really hate giving low star count. I wouid rather not say anything. However. I do want to say something here : only because the way it's presented on Instagram and other reviews : you really feel like you are in for an experience. However EXPERIENCE is lacking. Why ? Well : once a restaurant wants to charge me extra 1:50$ for a spicy sauce, i can not ever be back. It's not fast food McDonald's drive through Let's be real here. Ok. 1:50$ is still not an issue Like i said : i was coming for a mysterious experience. You see and read about on Instagram reels and other reviews but it's not mysterious. And their secret menu isn't even present in any cool way. The waiter. Just gives you some unenthusiastic explanation of what is offered. Our night - it was steak with something. I really couldn't hear. But service was great. With hiccups. Example : bartender Put a sprite bottle in from us and opened. I took it. Then he asked if i wanted the bottle. I just rolled my eyes. Food was great We got Mushrooms platter. It's great I got shrimp egg rice plate - very delicious My partner got pepper shrimp - was ok. No pepper really. Fresh. But nothing to write home about They had just white rice or sticky rice. Amazing presentation. Ambience - loud from people talking. But no vibe. No real music Tables are super close to each other All i want to say is this : Great food. But nothing special. Super small portions I asked for spicy sauce. They didn't have. So he says it's extra 1.50$ for spicy oil. WHAT??? even chick Fila doesn't charge you extra. Nobu. Mastros. I have been to many. And no restaurant ever did. So. I was pretty turned off. Bar fits 5 people Bathroom terribly dirty Chairs were dirty. I had to clean myself. Staff nice but clueless. Experience underwhelming I hoped for so much more Try if you just there for a good meal : fusion of Chinese and Thai. read more
I have been to Sura several times and have previously rated 5/5. However, I was very frustrated with the customer service aspect this time. I called to make a reservation and was told via phone that they only make reservations online and no longer book via phone. Fine, I went online to Tock to book, and it requires a $10 deposit per person to book. I reserved a party of three. When I showed up, I let them know one of our guests couldn't make it. The host acted frustrated and made a bigger deal than it should have been to change the table to two people. He told me I should have called to change it, and I informed him I was told they don't do bookings via phone. Then I received a Tock notification that they refunded only $20 of the $30 reservation deposit because our third guest did not show. They did not put the deposit towards our bill and they were unwilling to refund the $10 deposit for the third guest. I even ordered food for our third guest to-go because he couldn't come and didn't want to miss out. The restaurant host said they couldn't help me at all and that I would have to contact the Tock app directly to get the refund. This isn't even about the stupid $10; it's about the unwillingness to help and the damper to the whole experience when you have to inquire about how your deposit is handled. People adjust their number of guests on a reservation all the time. There needs to be a smoother way to handle this common situation without making it seem like a waste of money. read more
Honestly pretty pricey for Thai food, but the service was great (friendly waiters, fast food) and the interior was cool, so that somewhat makes up for the prices. I had the pork belly rice which was excellent and flavorful, and my friends got the beef horapa and the grilled shrimp rice. Presentation was nice and I thought portion sizes were fair -- I was starving when I showed up and had a little bit leftover. Definitely a good start for my first restaurant in DC! We also had the cocktails which I didn't find to be that strong -- not worth $14, but maybe worth happy hour. read more
I had the tofu himpan Got it to go and asked for spicy but it wasn't spicy at all The tofu had a good coating but it was overall pretty bland I asked for hot sauce but they said it would be extra The actual restaurant is underground and it feels like you're on a street in asia Not sure I'd go back read more
What a fantastic meal. Started with Dumplings and the Shrimp & Pork Roll. The dumplings were good, typical option for a Thai menu. The roll was unique and very good. I loved how they sliced the roll. Crunchy on the outside and lots of good flavors. For the main course, had the Beef Horapa, Grilled Shrimp Kari Rice, and the Special Chili Noodle. It was unanimous, we all loved the Special Chili Noodle dish. Great flavors, loved it. The other two dishes were good too. Great mix. The beef was tender. Enjoyed the Kari with shrimp and crab. I'd say the only negative was the basement setting. The fun decor helps to overcome. ** They include an automatic 20% (tip) on all meals. Give them a shot. read more
Wonderful food here, not quite the typical "American Thai" menu. A true highlight was the belly rice - it was marvelous. The duck laab was incredibly tasty also. We found the atmosphere cozy and fun but not cramped. The entire staff here was amazingly quick and kind to us as we had a show to get to, and we were lucky enough to get a same day reservation despite how busy the place was. We are looking forward to coming back! read more
1 year ago
Sura in DC was amazing. The food was full of flavor and beautifully presented, and the service was genuinely warm and attentive. Everything we ordered was delicious, and the atmosphere was relaxed but polished. Highly recommend read more
Tucked away not to far from the Circle is Sura, an underground Thai & Cantonese food experience I got a the Garlic Shrimps Kari Rice - a garlic butter curry & egg sauce, roasted chili jam, celery & onion, atop ikura & black tobiko (fish eggs), and crab meat. It was a very rich curry with the shrimps grilled nicely (my favorite part of the dish). However, the copious fish eggs and thick curry did not compliment each other very well. My Thai Iced Tea hit the spot, but was a bit on the watery side. I appreciated the restaurant newspaper decor, red signage, and intimate seating. However, it does get quite busy and noisy making it difficult to maneuver around the place. read more
Had dinner here with friends. It should also be noted that the restaurant doesn't seat parties unless all members are present. The inside of the restaurant is not clean or nice. The sound system is not good. We were seated in the back next to their single portable speaker and they wouldn't turn the volume down, so it was very loud. Thai food is my favorite because of the flavors and sauces. I found the food here to be underwhelming. Overall, dishes were small-portioned and expensive. Quail Egg Wontons - novel but not particularly good. The inside of the wonton is just a plain quail egg. Kind of bland (3/5) Grilled Shrimps Kari Rice - surprisingly bland. The different components of the dish didn't complement each other and consisted of plain grilled shrimp, crab meat, and fish eggs thrown on top of curry and rice (3/5) Beef Horapa - a ka pow but with braised beef. The dish is a smaller portion for a ka pow than you would find at any other Thai restaurant in dc despite being the same price (3/5) Special Chili Noodle - reminded me of instant ramen or mi goreng that I can make at home (4/5) read more
never did I think I would want to be in a basement in any condition but here I am - this is such a groovy spot. the attention to detail with the decorations is wonderful. the ceilings are low with a tiny bar with maybe 2 seats and about 10 tables total in the room. if they decide to adjust/fix the lighting one day, it has major potential to be even groovier - the quail egg wontons are special. such a crispy outer layer around soft almostttt runny little eggs. a texture heaven. a good duck sauce provides a slightly sweet counterpart to all the savory - best dish was the boneless duck laab, scoop up the spicy veggies and chewy duck with crispy rice crackers. super fresh, light, and flavorful. duck was cooked so well and not too fatty at all like duck can be - the chicken thigh skewers were bland and boring. dumplings were decent, very soft! - for such a tiny place you'd think the service would be very personal, you know what scratch that, you would think the service would at least be responsive. we had our first waiter ditch us (awk bc we kept seeing her) and then the second one was on another planet wandering around just refilling water and not helping us - lychee drink was so delicious, it was super sweet so maybe that's why I couldn't taste the alcohol?? read more
2 years ago
Sura is a family owned Thai restaurant tucked away in a basement in DuPoint, less than a 5 min walk from the metro. It's dimly lit and very cozy but also hard to maneuver since it's such a small space. All the food came out pretty quickly and tasted good but not amazing. The drinks were good but not very strong. Overall it's a cute spot that's worth trying but not sure if I would go multiple times, I had the salt and pepper shrimp, quail egg wontons, jek pa's dumplings and the beef horapa (spicy). I really liked the shrimp. They also have HH Mon - Thurs. 4-6pm and 20% gratuity is automatically included. read more
2 years ago
I'll never forget how good the salmon crudo was, the belly rice was such a good compliment to the meal and I also had the fried rolls for dessert that were also amazing, couldn't forget the espresso martini and the lychee collins. I sat at the bar to make some conversation with the staff and the bartender did not disappoint, I had the pleasure to be taken care by Anthony that recommended me some awesome places to visit. The lighting at the bar was so cozy I didn't wanted to leave, everyone was close to each other in a family way, it was awesome. read more
Sura is the most innovate Thai restaurant in DC, bringing an exciting new concept to Dupont Circle based on Bangkok Chinatown style cuisine. The atmosphere, quality of food, and drink really make this spot a standout and a must-visit for DC folks who want to try a different take on Thai flavors. The concept, mostly small plates, is also a fun departure from the usual noodles and curry Thai spot, though this place has those options and does them really well too. The salt and pepper shrimp was probably the best version of the dish I've ever had. The texture was outstanding; the shrimp was perfectly fried and well seasoned; the green sauce it was served with was slightly spicy and complemented the shrimp very well. The woodear mushrooms, were the least exciting dish we ordered but tasted good nonetheless. The Brussels sprouts were a really fun and fresh take on the vegetable; they were roasted and crispy but served in a fresh salad that tasted really good. For main courses, we got the shrimp curry rice and the beef. The beef seemed very popular and had a really nice kick. It was served with egg and rice and felt traditional without being boring at all. The shrimp curry rice was super interesting and tasty; the curry was more like a concentrated, cooked curry paste rather than a wet sauce. The shrimp was perfectly cooked as well. The cocktails were solid, though this place really brings the quality with its food, and our dishes all came out within 15 minutes of us placing our order. Super fast and friendly service on P St in Dupont; can't wait to come back to Sura very soon. read more
3 years ago
Pretty middle of the road for me. For clarification, for me that means that while everything was good, I wasn't wowed by anything, and I wouldn't have any qualms going back if someone invited me, but I wouldn't pick this place myself-- does that make sense? Hope so! We ordered a variety of dishes, ranked best to least fave (since nothing was bad, per se): 1. Sesame rice chips & dip-- crispy fried sesame rice crackers served w/ coconut curry dip with pork. (Quite tasty! I definitely will be trying to recreate this at home.) 2. Spicy belly rice-- pork belly and bacon stir-fried with chilis over rice. 3. Boneless duck laab. (It's made with small chunks of duck, but thought (wished) it been made with ground duck meat and perhaps some duck skin cracklins tossed in.) 4. Mama's calamari. (Tender and light batter.) 5. Salt & pepper shrimps. (Nice sized shrimps, but really lacking on the salt and pepper taste bc I tasted neither. Would've loved for a nice peppery kick, whether from fresh cracked black pepper, white pepper, or dried Thai chilis.) The one thing I didn't like is that they charge $1.50 each for side of chili oil or chilis in vinegar, both of which are standard complimentary table side items at most Thai restaurants. Rice (sticky or Jasmine) is also $3 per serving which I didn't have an issue with given the Thai bar/street food feel of the shareable plates. On the bright side, they have a nice cocktail list which can be hard to find at Thai restaurants. read more
I really liked the salt & pepper shrimp starter and their cocktails are really fun. The spicy belly rice was flavored well but I wish the pork belly was more tender. I think the premise of the menu is interesting and I'd like to come back and try more of the dishes. read more
Went on date night a few weeks ago and it was really nice. Atmosphere is cozy and dark, and the vibes were great. We ordered calamari (perfectly crispy and tasty) and old school pork satay (great flavor and tenderness) for appetizers and couldn't be more happy. For entree, we got the "special chili noodle with shrimp" and it was great. Sweet and spicy, all the ingredients such as the Thai Tom Yum essences, bacon roasted chili jam, shiitake, tomato, basil & parmesan all came together perfectly. The pork belly rice entree was okay, nothing crazy. Of the two; the noodles were more enjoyable for us. For dessert we got banana spring roll and it was good. We also accidentally ordered the quail egg wontons, and that was not that good. I would not order that item again. Overall though, it was a great time with mostly good food. read more
What I remember most about our dinner at Sura was that it was dark. So dark I reached over to the other tables that were still awaiting diners and nabbed their candles. So dark we each had to use our phone flashlights to see the menus and our drinks and our first course or two. That was a little bit of a tough start to what turned out to be a nice meal. It seemed that the lights turned up once the crowds came in. Maybe the each brought their own phone flashlights or maybe the house finally raised the lights. Once we could see, there were beautiful dishes and drinks to enjoy and eclectic touches in the décor. We love the street food/small plates that allow us to sample so many different dishes. One of our favorites, was the brussel sprouts which was unexpected. We were three to dine that evening and there was definitely enough in each menu item we selected for everyone to enjoy. read more
Just fantastic--- while they call it fusion, apparently it is from the Thai who are ethnically Chinese in Bangkok. There is nothing Japanese about it --just the small plate/ grill. LOVED IT-- no complaints except they should delete the word izakaya! Can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu! read more
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The $10/person reservation fee is refunded when you arrive and cannot be used toward the bill.
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