Updated on November 7, 2023 by Julie McCool
Cold and rainy weather makes us crave Thai food, especially spicy soups and warm curries. Oddly enough, warm weather has the same effect, so we pretty much love Thai food all year round. Fortunately, there are many delicious Thai food restaurants in Northern VA, with new options springing up often.
Favorite Thai Food Restaurants in Northern Virginia
Panang curry and Duck with Spicy Thai Basil are two of our favorite dishes. Our kids prefer Pad Thai and other rice and noodle dishes. Whether you love the heat, or choose a cooler option, you'll find plenty of choices at local Thai food restaurants.
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Here, in alphabetical order, are some of our favorite places to eat Thai food in Northern Virginia.
Elephant Jumps, Falls Church
Ignore the basic decor and prepare for some delicious and authentic Thai food when you dine at Elephant Jumps. The friendly, expert staff is happy to help newbies and adventurous palates explore the menu. We highly recommend the Fried Papaya Salad and the beautiful Mango Sticky Rice dessert.
Kob Kun, Oakton
For delicious curries and a lovely ambiance that is more elegant than most strip mall restaurants try Kob Kun in Oakton. Quiet and relaxed, this is a nice spot for a lunch with your Mom or BFF. Read our full review: Tasty Thai Curry at Kob Kun in Oakton VA.
La Ong Thai, Herndon
A 2014 addition to the Fox Mill Shopping Center in Herndon, La Ong Thai offers two soups—Tom Yum and Tom Kha—and they are both delicious. The curries are also worth a try and they serve one of our favorite Crispy Duck with Basil dishes.
La Ong Thai has a fairly large patio for warm weather dining, and the interior decor is sleek and inviting. Yes, the patio borders the parking lot, but at least it gets us outdoors.
Natta Thai, Vienna
This small restaurant in a Vienna strip mall, offers tasty Thai food in a cozy setting. Service is especially friendly and welcoming, and they offer an extensive menu for such a small space. We ordered Pad Prik King and Shrimp with Chili and Basil, but were tempted by the many vegetarian options. Both of our dishes had a nice level of heat and lots of flavor. Seating is limited at this popular spot, so be prepared for a wait if you come at prime time.
Sisters Thai Living Room, Old Town Fairfax
Sisters Thai is the place we'd take out-of-town guests. The cozy ambiance and the tasty street food menu are unique and comforting. There are 5 main soup options, plus others on the street food menu. To fight the cold, or enjoy the heat, we'd go with the Poh Tak Soup and its spicy seafood. Sisters Thai also has Virginia restaurant locations in the Mosaic District, Tysons, and Alexandria. Read our full review: Sisters Thai Living Room in Fairfax VA.
Thai Luang, Herndon
Thai Luang has been our go-to for Thai Crispy Duck with Sweet Basil for almost 20 years. If soup is what you crave, the Duck Noodle Soup is a rich and satisfying bowl of warmth. We also like the Panang Jumbo Shrimp and the Pad Prik King, ordered Thai spicy. Thai Luang is in a somewhat hidden location—at the end of an office building on Elden Street in Herndon, across from Outback Steakhouse—and they do not have outdoor seating.
There are many, many more Thai food options in the Northern Virginia area and we plan to try them all.
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