Guilty Pleasures: In Search of the Perfect Pad Thai

Friend of IT Lola Akinmade loves pad thai, and gives us the lowdown on where to grab the best in Northern Virginia.

Maybe it’s the final sprinkling of crushed peanuts that seals the deal or bean sprouts as the only vegetable in the mix alleviating my guilt, one thing is for sure: whatever magic portion this Thai delicacy wields, it has me completely hooked.

The beauty of living in the Washington, D.C. metro area means you’re blessed with instant access to high quality and authentic cuisine from all over the globe right in your backyard. With its sinful stir-fry blend of rice noodles, chili, coriander, fish sauce, egg, and your meat of choice, Pad Thai is the most popular and instantly recognizable Thai dish worldwide. My insatiable need for Pad Thai can be broken down into three distinct scenarios.

Pad Thai for the Journey
It was fate that brought me to Neisha Thai Cuisine in Tyson’s Corner. Heavily frequented by native Thai customers, a clear indication of its authenticity, I stumbled upon this gem during a shopping trip. Its location in McLean and proximity to Washington Dulles International airport meant I could indulge in one pleasure, Pad Thai, en-route to observing another pleasure of mine, travel. Now, each time I head to Dulles to catch an international flight, my excitement is two-fold. A quick stop to stock up on enough Pad Thai to last the entire journey, and the journey itself.

The Pad Thai Feast
It’s the large fried soft-shell crab balanced delicately atop a generous pile of rice noodles that draws me to Duangrat’s Thai Cuisine in Falls Church, Virginia. Once I got over the restaurant’s name, I found lurking within its bowels a fresh, decadent menu with the right amount of oil and spices, and of course, its supreme Pad Thai entrée. When I feel particularly gluttonous, I head over to Duangrat’s on Leesburg Pike, gorge on savory Pad Thai, and worry about the consequences later.

Quick-n-Easy Pad Thai
So my office isn’t particularly close to a metro stop, but its walking proximity to T.H.A.I in Shirlington more than makes up for this inconvenience. Known for lunch bowls at unbelievable prices and not one to be easily swayed by deals, I head right for its Pad Thai. Working late at the office means I get to call in a dinner order of Pad Thai.

What more could I ask for ?!

When it comes to Thai cuisine, I consider myself the easiest dinner guest. You know what I’ll be ordering.

What’s your favorite Thai restaurant in the D.C. area?

Photo: Robyn Lee via Flickr