We had reservations for 6pm and they were able to seat us 10 minutes earlier. Tiffany was our server and I think she was the only server for the whole restaurant. It's a small place but she was running around like a headless chicken. She messed up on our bill and the table next to ours. Also, she forgot about her our second cocktail order. A 20% service fee is included in the bill but what if the service isn't great. She tried her best and was nice but I don't think it's fair to add a 20% service fee. They should hire extra help especially on a busy Saturday night during dinner service. The customers suffer! Overall the food is salty and food listed as spicy is not spicy. We asked our server if they had any spice condiments. They had two options - chili oil or fresh chilis in fish sauce. They charged us $1.50 for the second option. We only asked for more spice because the dish wasn't spicy at all. The food tasted better with the chilis because it helped with the richness. We ordered four dishes. Mama's calamari was very good (my favorite). Soft and tender and the dipping sauce was delicious. Esaan skewers were also delicious. Tasted similar to galbi. Spicy belly rice was too rich and salty. The pieces of pork belly was mostly fat. The best part of the dish was the green beans and pickled peppers. Fried egg helped with the richness. Special chili noodle was salty and mushy. The shrimp and egg we added for extra $ was good because it was bland and balanced out the dish. I don't think I'll revisit this place. They need to add more food and alcohol options to their menu. There's so many other options in DC and I've had tastier Thai food elsewhere. read more

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(4.5 stars) Easily one of my new recommendations for my friends. Love the street food concept and they really nail it. The spicy belly rice may be one of my favorite DC bites I've had. Such great mouthfeel and flavor with every bite, could've been a little spicier but it really rocks. Also loved the crudo, which really had some heat to it, and the beef skewers. Oh and it's super affordable. The only dish I didn't really care for was the sweet chili noodles. Great flavor and loved the shrimp but the noodles were just so rich and oily, I could only really have a handful of bites. May be good for sharing with a big table but otherwise would lean to a different radish. read more

Sura - Spicy belly rice - Thai Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Service was great! Awesome happy hour 4-6pm. Recommend the salt & pepper tofu. Fun location and vibes. read more

Sura - Salt & pepper tofu - Thai Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

LOVED Sura's innovative twist on traditional Thai flavors! Starting with atmosphere: the walk-down stairway decorated with newspaper gives a chic, but mysterious/speak-easy vibe! Once inside, you're greeted by a small, but illuminated bar where they craft fun and unique cocktails! I loved the music and dark lighting in the seating area! Playing poppy/karaoke hits - this place is perfect for a date night or girl's night! The Lychee Collins and Chinari Spritz were both tasty and paired as great refreshers with our spicy food! One of my favorites was the Salt & Pepper Shrimp - they were seasoned well with a blend of salt, pepper, ginger, & garlic - and the spicy cilantro chili sauce really added a kick! The Boneless Duck Laab's lime flavor was really good and we enjoyed the bite-sized duck pieces included! Do not miss the Beef Horapa: the jasmine rice with a fried egg added a lot of texture and balancing flavor to the beef! We were able to try the new special: The Thai Steak Tataki! The olive oil marinated seared steak went perfect with the sweet chili paste vinegar and the pomegranates added a fruity refreshing flavor! And finally - The Lychee Brûlée was such a great twist on the traditional French dessert! The lychee meat hidden inside the sugary crispy shell was a sweet surprise! Additionally, all dishes were plated IMMACULATELY: including pretty colorful floral garnishes! I appreciated the multiple check-in by Chef Billy and the other employees who checked in with us about clearing the table and asking how our food was! Overall would love to come here again! read more

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Very fun and creative take on Thai food. Very delicious with meals that cater to all flavor profiles. Decor was really wonderful and will definitely be back! read more

Sura - Thai Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Very good and new trendy Thai place! The bean curd skin rolls were awesome. Duck laap was a bit spicy but we were warned when we ordered. Also, the staff here is great. The special chili noodle was yummy but a bit too greasy for my liking (cause of the bacon). I would get it without bacon next time. The pad thai was very saucy, the way I like it. Banana spring rolls were a great choice for dessert. Has all t he textures and flavors I craved. The food overall is a bit spicier than other Thai places in the area. Also, the restaurant is pretty dark and not handicap accessible. read more

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The food was great! We had the dumplings, spicy noodles, yaowarat, and duck laab. The duck laab was the best dish! The service was good but the atmosphere is very loud and chaotic. read more

Sura - Thai Dinner at Sura - Thai Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The ambiance is definitely more intimate, so I'd recommend a small group come here. The food is delicious, with some menu items being unique to Sura. Would love to come back to try things I didn't get to the first time around read more

This was my absolute favorite meal on this DC trip; I'd been craving some fresh veggies which wasn't exactly what Sura had on offer but still so glad we ended up here. Every time a dish came on we basically squealed with delight at PORTION SIZE + presentation. PLUS everything was very flavorful, right amount of vinegar, nothing overdone. Great for dates, a friend catch up, or a small group-- atmosphere and music were really lively and the host took his job seriously. Will absolutely be back! read more

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This is a vibey, underground Thai restaurant in Dupont Circle that expands from the classic Thai dishes like pad see ew and panang curry and instead, features unique dishes that represent food from Bangkok's Chinatown I was able to try the Thai chili brussel sprouts and their special chili noodles with tom yum essence read more

Sura - Thai Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Overall, I had a mixed experience. My friend and I arrived had a 7:30 reservation; however, they did not have a table ready for us until 7:40. While Sura has great decor, it is one of the loudest restaurants I've ever been to and it was hard for me and my friend to have a conversation. Once we sat down, we were able to place our order by 7:45. As Sura is an izakaya-style place, dishes come as they're ready. Our first dish (my main) came out shortly after 8:00, followed by the appetizer five minutes later. However, my friend's dish did not come out until 8:25, 40 minutes after our order. In that time, the people two tables over from us who were seated after us got all of their dishes. The food was fantastic. I ordered Boneless Duck Laap extra spicy, and it was spectacular. I especially enjoyed the onions, chili, and the interesting addition of tomato, which I did not know pairs extremely well with duck, especially spicy duck. My friend and I got the quail egg wontons, which were unique and came with a delicious sweet and spicy chili dipping sauce. I got to try my friend's Pad Thai, which was good if unspectacular. When we paid the check, my friend asked for a discount on her dish due to its extremely late arrival and the server immediately agreed with no disagreement. They ended up taking 50 percent off her dish, which was an appropriate, appreciated, and welcome gesture and recognition by Sura of their error. I would recommend this restaurant unless you are hard of hearing, don't do well with loud noise, or have mobility issues (it's located in a basement down a steep flight of stairs). As it's only been around since May, they may be working on some of the logistical service issues. Therefore, I'd recommend waiting until late Fall or early Winter 2022 before trying Sura. read more

Highly recommend making reservations in advanced. The ambiance is of a casual sit down restaurant to enjoy for a date night, or a night out with friends. The servers were very attentive and fast. The food consists of small plates that are meant to share. The special chili noodles were a favorite, as well as the salmon crudo. If you're not a sushi fan or like raw fish, that may not be the dish for you. The beef skewers were so tender and juicy, that a second order was placed. The spicy belly rice was large enough to share, that there were leftovers. The lychee creme brûlée was a delicious final touch to the meal. read more

This restaurant is in a tiny space down a flight of stairs, and the lighting, decor, colors, and noise definitely gives a little bit of a Bangkok Chinatown at night vibe. The servers were very helpful, friendly, and came back frequently to check on us, although the restaurant was full at the time. The cocktail menu has both classic (old fashioned, margarita, etc.) and Thai cocktails such as the Yaowarat which had a mix of baiju and mezcal for a very flavorful and interesting drink that I loved. We enjoyed the salmon crudo to start, which was dressed with a green curry sauce and topped with at least two types of fish roe for added texture. The fried calamari was good but really stood out with the spicy pickled chili and garlic that came on the side. I loved the spicy belly fried rice with egg added and tofu subbed, which was surprisingly interesting with a wonderful blend of Thai chilis, spices, and flavors. We need to go back soon to try the special menu. read more

Sura - Spicy belly fried rice with tofu - Thai Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came here on their last day of the "One night in Bangkok" pop up and it delivered! Can't stop gushing about how good the skewers and pad Thai are. I would say skip the chicken as both dishes taste like Americanized kung pao chicken. My partner also ordered the cocktails and really enjoyed them. read more

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Unique twist on some Thai staples done right. Everything is meant to be eaten family style so the perfect spot to order and try many different items. We had the duck laab, salt and pepper shrimp, chili noodles, and Thai papaya salad. The perfect amount for 4 with sticky rice! Everything come out super quick too. Will come back again. read more

(4.5 stars) finally writing a review after ordering take out and dining in! the first time i tried sura via takeout for a friend and me. we were so impressed by how good the food was for take out that we were convinced we need to experience dining in. i've tried numerous dishes from sura at this point and none have yet to disappoint! apps: shumai, quail egg wonton, old skool satay, boneless duck laap entrées: special chili noodles, kari rice w shrimp, khao soi (winter special), poor man's noodles (winter special), tom yum souper zab they do have a secret menu and have regularly have special items, so be sure to ask the servers about it! it's truly one of the top thai restaurants in the city! docking half a star because i personally think some of the dishes could be a little spicier, but you can always ask for chili on the side. read more

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My wonderful significant other took me on a surprise date to Sura recently and I was not disappointed. We tried so much of their menu. It was a fantastic date to say the least. However, I was pretty upset because they placed us near the door while there were plenty of other seats open around the restaurant. It was 20% full by the time we arrived. Not sure why after we request multiple times to be moved. Nevertheless, we were hungry and were excited to try the food. We started off with drinks. I tried the old fashioned and it was great. Next we tried the Jek Pa's Dumplings, Crispy Shrimp, Essan Skewers, and Quail Egg Wontons to start. They were amazing. The quail eggs were especially delicious. They looked pretty interest by exceeded expectations. Our main course was the Special chili noodle which were fantastic. The level of flavor was fantastic. We closed the evening with trying the Lychee Crème Brûlée, Mango Ice Cream and the Banana + Brie Springrolls. To be honest I loved every food item I tried. I just did not enjoy the placement of seating especially on a cold day. read more

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Cute bar though a little loud. The food looks good but felt the noodles were a little greasy and wish the pork belly had more of the meaty parts. Overall the portions are kind of small for the price paid and they automatically charge 20% gratuity which we weren't aware of. read more

Sura - Spicy pork belly rice - Thai Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The atmosphere was cool. Food was interesting and we ordered way too much. The noodle was bomb! read more

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Made a reservation for 6 pm. At 5:46 pm received a text saying my table was ready. Upon arrival at precisely 6 pm, my reservation time, the host asked if I wanted the bar or a table. As a solo diner on frequent business trips I get this question a lot. I answered that I wanted a table - he then grimaced and said "can you give the table back by 7:15 pm?" I said ok as I clearly had no choice...But their website very clearly says 90 minutes on tables when you make a reservation via Tock. The clear unspoken message was - I hereby give you 75 minutes only because you dare not sit at the very cramped bar in the entryway! I asked if he understood that I had a reservation and he said yes. To say the least, this really soured my mood for the whole experience - particularly when I left at 7:13 pm and there were 9 empty two-tops and 2 empty four-tops left in the restaurant. Maybe all of this would have been redeemable if the food had been as "wow" as hyped, but it just simply was not. Food rundown: Quail egg wontons - much hyped but definitely would not order again. The hard boiled texture quail egg was dry inside - the scant sauce did nothing to offset this fairly bland dish. Pork satay (Old Skool Satay) - one of my street food mainstays in Thailand so I was extremely excited and unfortunately very disappointed. The peanut sauce was bland. The pickled veg on the side didn't add much. The pork was chewy and with less char caramelization than I would have expected. Duck laap - the duck came chopped in very large chewy chunks that frankly had little flavor in and of themselves. The rest of the salad components were good but the duck just felt a bit off. Note: this dish was marked as spicy but it was not at all to me. I then attempted to order that day's secret menu item - Massaman curry. As of 6:36 pm they had already run out! They created a new secret menu item with noodles but it didn't sound particularly appetizing so I didn't order it. (For the record, there's not really a secret menu - the secret menu is one item that is that day's s Beef Horapa - the beef was very tender and tasty. I would order this again. The beef itself wasn't spicy but the sauce resting at the bottom of the dish was. For the record I had planned to order more (was planning on lots of leftovers for takeaway from the get go in an attempt to try lots of the dishes) but I ran out of time given my 7:15 pm curfew. The very polite and nice waitress asked if I wanted desert at 7:06 pm but I informed her that the host wanted me out by 7:15 pm. He was standing there and overheard this. Neither of them said "oh don't worry, you have time for desert." Drinks - I ordered the two that had mezcal as an ingredient, a Spicy Paloma and a Yaowarat. The first was very refreshing, the latter was basically a Manhattan with mezcal. Pro tip - the table next to me made the mistake of ordering all their dishes at once. They all came out within 15 minutes of ordering and they had to send half full dishes away just to make space. I'm not sure how you master the pacing of orders versus time limited tables. I could've done it with a full 90 minutes...but whatever. I'm afraid to say there are better Thai restaurants in town. This place gets three stars because the food was good but not mind-blowing-crave-worthy good. The prices for DC are abundantly fair. But to Sura DC's chef/owner - get yourself a new host. The foul taste he left in my mouth means I will never return nor recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

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I stopped by Sura on my way home from work, and it did not skip a beat! The entrance to the restaurant is unassuming. You take a flight of stairs into the basement restaurant which boasts an open concept and intimate vibes. I ordered the Thai Iced Tea, and it was tasty -- admittedly the first time that I tried Thai Iced Tea. There's a lot of caffeine which I didn't realize at the time. For dinner, I ordered the Spicy Belly Rice, and it was phenomenal! The pork belly was tender and juicy with a good kick of spice thanks to the peppers on top. I highly recommend this dish when you're here. It did not disappoint! You should definitely snag a reservation before this place becomes more popular! read more

Sura - Spicy Belly Rice - Thai Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had an unpleasant encounter at this place. Upon arrival, they seated me at the back near the kitchen. When I politely requested to move closer to the front (with plenty of empty seats available), the hostess accommodated us. However, the waitress began arguing with her in Thai and pointing at us, needless to say, we felt very UNWELCOME!. Later, when she brought water to our table, she dropped it without acknowledging us and walked away. I do not recommend. read more

Service was good. It's a bit dark and gets a bit loud inside. Food was ok. Note that you can't really change the food (adjust the spice level). The duck larb and skewers weren't spicy for those that can't take spice. Everything is well flavored. read more

Sura - Pork belly bowl Beef skewers Duck laab - Thai Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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There is a small door you walk through to go downstairs. It has a romantic dark atmosphere. I am a fan of Sura! Although I can't handle spicy food, this restaurant is meant for people who have a high spice tolerance. They do have dishes that are not spicy. They were all very flavorful and delicious. Spicy crudo was delicious, but actually pretty damn spicy. It was so good, I sucked it up and finished it all (with lots of water at hand haha). The quail egg wonton was surprisingly delicious (not a huge quail egg person) but it was fried. Anything fried is delicious ;) The sesame rice chips and dip was airy and delicious with the dip (like one of those Chinese banquets where you get those crispy chips with duck ha). The skewers were juicy and tasty. The tom yum chili noodles and the spicy pork belly were all great dishes. read more

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Great meal-- high quality, delicious food, incredibly friendly staff. Totally recommend this place.

I picked Sura for a recent date night and was absolutely blown away by the food. The chili noodles and cashew chicken are a must. Both bright back strong memories of late night street food. The flavor of lycee in the crème brûlée was perfect--not too overpowering. All items on the menu are a good deal for the quality and portion size. I can't wait to go back! read more

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To me, 4.5 would be a good rating for this restaurant. It is relatively new and I am sure the menu items will continue to improve, but the first time experience was good overall. It is a bit difficult to locate because it is in a basement sort of place, but follow the signs and everything will be fine. The chicken himapan and the fried tofu laap were both very good, along with the quail egg wontons. For the provincial pad thai, personally I did not quite see how it tasted better than pad thai from other Thai food restaurants. The spicy belly rice was too spicy as I thought in some ways the spiciness had become too dominant to the point of preventing me from enjoying the pork belly. Dessert-wise, I enjoyed the coconut ice cream, and I would love to go back to have the lychee crème brûlée. But I tried the grapefruit brûlée, and it was underwhelming as it only tasted like hardened candy on top of half of a grapefruit, so the flavors did not really mesh and the dessert itself did not feel like one entity. Regardless, I enjoyed the food overall. If given the chance to return, I will also give the esaan skewers a try! read more

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My experience at Sura was absolutely delightful. I was worried it couldn't possibly live up to all the glowing reviews but it did! We were seated promptly for our reservation and the space quickly filled up after. Note of caution it is a place that gets very loud very quickly since it's not the largest space and the floor echos so if you're looking for a quiet meal... this isn't it. We shared the chips and na-tung dip, the shrimp himapan, beef esaan skewers, calamari, salmon crudo, and glass noodles with tofu. The noodles and the crudo were probably my favorites - both spicy and flavorful. I loved that all the dishes had complexity and the perfect level of spice. We had the banana spring rolls for dessert. Service was also great and attentive! Super happy with the experience. read more

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It is refreshing to see a restaurant does not compromise with the spice level of Thai cuisine. I have a good luck with the salmon dish but not so much on anything with pork in it. The pork is too stiff. Other than that, the cooking is quite authentic and worth a try. read more

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Food excellent. Small venue, very intimate and quiet, unless you get there after 7p, then the crowd comes and the noise level raises. No problem, but if you plan to do a date, get there early. Service is on point, again, small family restaurant so the servers pay special attention. Ambience-quiet, intimate, K Pop playing in the background. I enjoyed my drink, even though I couldn't pronounce it. read more

Sura - Spicy Pork Belly w/Shrimp - Thai Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Get the spicy belly rice!! So chewy, spicy, and well balanced. They've also got delicious noodles that my partner gets every single time. Cocktails are delicious -- I recommend the lychee collins. read more

Amazing Thai food. Not your typical Thai restaurant. Mom owns the joint and two dons seem to run it. On behind the bar and one in the kitchen. Wish I took pics of the food but didn't. All 4 dishes we had were amazing. If I lived there this would be a weekly stop read more

Sura is a new addition to the neighborhood, a surprisingly good Thai restaurant in the middle of P Street which, generally, is not where I'd expect to find good Thai. In fact, the District as a whole is not where I'd expect to find good Thai. So far Sura is about the best I've found. Thai food is all about bold, clear flavors, and similarly bold fragrance. On this front Sura delivers. I'm a vegetarian, but my friend got the cashew chicken and I swear that thing smelled incredible when it hit the table. (He also raved about the calamari.) The laab was similarly a standout, a smash hit to the mouth of sour and spicy with that melange of herbs that is classic NE Thai. Other Thai places in DC (and Lao as well) have fallen down with dishes like laab, either the sour isn't bright enough, the chilies not fiery enough, or the herbs muted and muddy. This is good laab - we got tofu but I'm sure the meat version would be great as well. My dish, the spicy fried rice, was rather oddly tofu over jasmine rice, very fragrant and savory but neither spicy nor...fried rice. Regardless, the flavor was round and complex, and the texture of the fried tofu exceptional, soft with body on the inside, covered with a light crunch of delicate breading. Clearly the kitchen knows how to work with mouthfeel, a very good sign. Finally, the portion of tofu was very generous, so I was satisfied. One last point is that the servers are helpful and very sweet, and though we didn't order any cocktails, their menu there seems interesting and well-considered. I'm looking forward to my next visit. read more

Absolutely loved it !! Service was great. Food was delicious. Cocktails were on point. Vibe was hip and relaxed. Easy walk from metro and a lot of reasonable parking close by. I made the trip from Baltimore and it was so worth it! Highly recommend read more

I've been to Sura TWICE since the grand open yall almost a month ago and I am here to say everything on the menu is FABBBBULOUS!!!!!! The duck laap by far is thee best duck I've ever had! I can go on & on about how amazing the food is but this place must be experienced in the fresh! *the lychee ices tea is so refreshing! read more

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Delicious! Smaller menu with many wonderful flavor combinations. I'd say it was more of a non-traditional Thai restaurant with authentic Thai flavors. Servers were friendly and helpful. We had several people in our group with dietary restrictions and the server was helpful with what would be good alternatives that were delicious with substitutions. We had a vegan and vegetarians in our group and our meal was fresh and flavorful. This place was a pleasant surprise for Thai with a twist. read more

New favorite restaurant. The spicy salmon crudo, hard boiled eggs, chips and dip, crying tiger skewers, chicken cashew dish and duck dish were all absolutely incredible. Banana spring roll dessert was great. Seriously, the least good dish here would be my favorite dish at other Thai restaurants. Coming back here as often as possible. read more

I eat a lot of Thai food so I'm very picky, but I would definitely come back to Sura. Came with a group of 5 and ordered a bunch of different things, and everything was delicious, including cocktails. They do have a creepy doll greeting you at the entrance--not really sure what that's about--but otherwise it's a cool ambiance. read more

Sura - Thai Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Seriously so delicious!!! I love the ambiance inside and wasn't crowded at all on a Friday night. Everything on the menu sounded amazing and it was hard to choose but ended up going with the spicy belly rice and the shrimp dish and split it among 3 people. Simply amazing food and will 100% be back!! Friend also tried the lychee cocktail and said it was divine! read more

Sura - Spicy belly rice - Thai Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My companion and I were really excited to try this underground spot. We ordered four dishes: quail egg wontons, na-tung chips and dip, special chili noodles and shrimp hamapen. Four dishes was more than enough for both of us at a medium hunger level. We enjoyed every dish, but our favorite was definitely the hamapen! The shrimp was perfectly fried and had a wonderful texture. It seems like they rotate their menu items fairly often. I'll definitely be back to explore more! Just a few notes on the spot: it's small with a lot of tables and low ceilings, and thus VERY noisy, even on a Tuesday night. read more