Mango sticky rice is one of Thai cuisine’s most iconic desserts, and it’s easy to see why. It’s traditionally served with a bed of sweet, creamy rice (often incorporating flavors of coconut or pandan) and slices of fresh ripe mango, sometimes topped with sesame seeds or mung beans. It’s light, summery, and not too sweet. In Northern Virginia, an abundance of great Thai food means that the dessert is available all around — some in the classic form and others with more creative spins.
Southeast Impression
First, get a taste of the dessert in its traditional form. Southeast Impression offers the dessert on its expansive Southeast Asian menu. The dish comes with a bed of steamed coconut sticky rice and vibrant fresh mango, plus a garnish of mung beans. 9530 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax
Magnolia Dessert Bar & Coffee
Magnolia — part of the same family of restaurants as Sisters Thai — has a classic mango sticky rice on its menu, but for a different take on the dessert, try the Mango Bing Bing. This dessert comes with a heaping helping of mango-flavored shaved ice, with a portion of blue-tinged sticky rice served on the side. It’s one of five shaved-ice desserts on the menu here. 431 Maple Ave. W., Vienna
Ocha Thai
Ocha Thai in Centreville is known for its inventive dessert drinks that fall somewhere between a smoothie and a parfait. The signature offering is the mango sticky rice smoothie. This dish comes with sweet sticky rice and coconut sauce at the bottom of a glass, which is then topped off with a mango smoothie. It’s everything you want from mango sticky rice, served through a straw. 5037 Westfields Blvd., Centreville
Tiki Thai
At Tiki Thai, try the Mango Lava dessert. Much like the traditional version, this dish comes with slices of fresh mano atop a bed of sticky rice, but it doesn’t stop there. It also features a scoop of mango ice cream and cream cheese mousse for an extra decadent version. Or, try the Mango Experience cocktail, made with two types of rum, a mango sticky rice–flavored cordial, lime, and mung beans. 12100 Sunset Hills Rd., Ste. 107, Reston
Elephant Jumps
Elephant Jumps in Falls Church is another go-to for Thai bites, and its mango sticky rice is no exception. Sample its classic mango sticky rice, or branch out into other Thai desserts like kao niaw tu rian, which has sticky rice, coconut cream, and durian. 8110 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church
RiceBerry Market
The sticky rice at this Thai market is pandan-flavored, meaning it comes out in a vibrant shade of green. Pair it with bites like pad thai rolls or chicken larb — if you spend more than $30, you’ll get a free drink like a Thai iced tea. 22034 Shaw Rd., Ste. 114, Sterling
Feature image of Ocha Thai’s mango sticky rice smoothie by Alice Levitt
