13 replies to this topic

[PollyG]

Thai by Thai is one of Sterling's Thai restaurants, and the only one I know of with a "secret" Thai menu. It has become our Thai restaurant of choice. I couldn't find a thread devoted to it, and it is deserving of one.

It's a brightly lit place where you order at the counter and they bring food to your table and has a much nicer vibe than most counter-ordering locations.

The menu posted over the service counter doesn't hint at the existence of the special Thai menu, but does have a few street food items, such as the sun-dried beef. They have monthly specials posted on the cash register, which are items they are auditioning as possible additions to the Thai menu.

The Thai menu is available upon request and includes English translations. Its content changes with some frequency but includes wonderful fare such as deep fried pork belly strips with Chinese Broccoli, fried pork rib chunks with sticky rice and an incendiary dipping sauce, and a pig organ soup. Be sure to have one of their noodle dishes other than the Pad Thai. Noodles come out with a wonderful smokey touch. The Pad Thai is unexceptional, probably tailored for the tastes of the majority of their lunchtime customers. When we look around at our fellow diners, most have ordered a fried rice dish or the Pad Thai. Our experience has generally been that the person running the deep fryer knows their business--the pork strips in that pork with broccoli are perfectly crisped and maintain that texture for as long as it takes to inhale the dish.

Noodle dishes are generously portioned; the other dishes are often less so.

Thai by Thai's Sterling location is on Rt. 7 just West of Dranesville Road, across the street from the Shoppers Food Whorehouse and the Burlington Coat Factory, in the same plaza as Grand Mart.

They also had a sign announcing the December 19 opening of a second location, this time at 29 and 50, near a mobile phone shop. We're just hoping that the chefs who do such exceptional woking and frying are not headed off for that location.

[xdcx]

weekly lunch stop. the exploding egg special is one of the best things I've ever eaten.

[PollyG]

weekly lunch stop. the exploding egg special is one of the best things I've ever eaten.

We tried that today on your recommendation. I wasn't blown away by it, and preferred the current noodle dish on the "specials" menu (lower right side). But it was pretty good and I've certainly never had anything like that before, anywhere.

[xdcx]

We tried that today on your recommendation. I wasn't blown away by it, and preferred the current noodle dish on the "specials" menu (lower right side). But it was pretty good and I've certainly never had anything like that before, anywhere.

If you get the egg where it still has a soft yolk it makes all the difference. I get it maybe 1/2 of the time, but when I do, it's great.

[PollyG]

Yum Woo Sen and Thai iced coffee for lunch today. The Yum Woo Sen was exploding with perfectly balanced fish sauce and lime, with a nice tingle of hot pepper. Total cost, $10, including tip to the counter staff. The smokey aroma of their expertly wokked noodles made me pause in the parking lot, tempted to go back in for a second course. Why is this place not bursting at the seams?

[hoosiereph]

Did they ever open a Fairfax location?

[Joe H]

Did they ever open a Fairfax location?

Yes. We absolutely love this place (...Sterling is closest to us). A concept that is amazingly good. We probably have visited it once every two weeks for the last two or three years. I must note it is about ten miles away. And worth every foot of the drive. Note that there are two menus: the standard and also an off the menu version. I've never taken notes-I just return and eat everything they put in front of me.

[PollyG]

Did they ever open a Fairfax location?

The Fairfax location is at the intersection of 50 and 29, near Super H, in a tiny new strip mall that is mostly restaurants/food counters.

[chaofun]

This is right in my new area, and I had even visited and was left unimpressed with what I had (Pad Thai). I had no idea about the secret menu. I had it the other day and it was great. Thank you all for the tip!

[PollyG]

The Sterling location has 3 monthly specials listed for September. I had the Pla Goong, a shrimp and lemongrass salad, today. It is full of torn lettuce (possibly Romaine), red onion, scallions, lemongrass, and shrimp, all in a nicely balanced citrus and lemongrass sauce with just a bit of heat. I'm hoping this dish makes it onto the regular or secret Thai menu.

[Joe H]

At the risk of being redundant...

"We absolutely love this place (...Sterling is closest to us). A concept that is amazingly good. We probably have visited it once every two weeks for the last two or three years. I must note it is about ten miles away. And worth every foot of the drive. Note that there are two menus: the standard and also an off the menu version. I've never taken notes-I just return and eat everything they put in front of me."

It is well worth those on this board who live within 15-20 minutes or less visiting.

[B.A.R.]

I stopped by the other night between the girls dance classes. The menu was concise and read like a "greatest hits" Thai menu and if there were specials, none were displayed or offered at the counter service.

What I was served was tasty and very fresh (spring rolls, woon sen soup, pork pad cha), but indistinguishable in flavor from most Americanized Thai restaurants I have been too. Is there a secret to this place?

[chaofun]

I stopped by the other night between the girls dance classes. The menu was concise and read like a "greatest hits" Thai menu and if there were specials, none were displayed or offered at the counter service.

What I was served was tasty and very fresh (spring rolls, woon sen soup, pork pad cha), but indistinguishable in flavor from most Americanized Thai restaurants I have been too. Is there a secret to this place?

You have to ask for the "Thai menu" which they keep underneath the register for any of the stuff that is not run of the mill. They will not offer it, and there is no other way to know they have one. I don't recall specials but I've only been here a handful of times at best.

[PollyG]

I stopped by the other night between the girls dance classes. The menu was concise and read like a "greatest hits" Thai menu and if there were specials, none were displayed or offered at the counter service.

What I was served was tasty and very fresh (spring rolls, woon sen soup, pork pad cha), but indistinguishable in flavor from most Americanized Thai restaurants I have been too. Is there a secret to this place?

Which location did you visit? A few of the dishes formerly only on the secret Thai menu have made it onto the overhead menu at the Sterling location, such as the jungle fried catfish, sun-dried beef, and fried pork ribs. For noodles, go for the deliciously smoky pad see eww dishes. I'd also suggest one dish with fried pork; the Chinese broccoli with fried pork belly slivers is excellent.