Sense of Thai St.
Ashburn / Thai / $$
Whether you’re looking for the drunken noodles and curries you’ve been craving since you were a kid, or you want to indulge in a lesson in the cuisine of the southern-coastal Chumphon region, this restaurant is for you. Fans have long flocked to this One Loudoun eatery for Jeremy Ross’ cocktails, but the food can be just as worthy of a pilgrimage.
Order the Siam tray for a meaty meal built around green papaya salad (som tum) that will make you sweat. Just mix it with sticky rice and an Old Bay-flavored Chesapeake Bay cocktail for some relief. And yes, you can order pad thai, but skip the basic one in favor of the crab-filled Chumphon version or co-owner Porntipa “Pat” Pattanamekar’s take, upgraded with roasted pork shoulder and bok choy.
See This: Thai movie posters and ironwork roosters decorate the chicly colorful interior.
Eat This: Siam tray, Pat pad thai, Thai tea creme brulee
When to Visit: You’re hoping for a Thai-hot date night.
This post originally appeared in our November 2020 issue’s Best Restaurants cover story. For more food reviews, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
