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    Absolute Thai Restaurant

    3.5 (514 reviews)
    ModerateThai
    Closed 12:00 pm - 10:30 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    ABSOLUTE THAI RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Lunch - Pad Thai
    Christina M.

    Walked in during lunch and was sat immediately. I ordered the fried chicken dumplings and the pad Thai. This wasn't like any other pad Thai I've ever tasted. It was more sweet and tangy which I really liked. It was also a big portion! The food came out very quick and the service was great.

    Tom Yum
    Samuel K.

    The food was exquisite. The Tom Yum soup was delicious, the broth was extremely flavorful and the vegetables were perfect. The only downside was the portion size... I would have liked for a slightly larger portion. Other than that, the staff was fantastic!

    Basil Fried Rice & Drunken Noodles
    Samina M.

    My sister and I were craving Thai food and popped into Absolute while in Chinatown. This restaurant is cute, quiet, and brings the food out to you very quickly! I got the Basil Fried Rice with level 1 spice. The rice was well cooked and I appreciated the big pieces of onion throughout the dish. However, the food lacked flavor and spice as a whole. Perhaps if I had gotten level 2 spice my review would have been different, but nonetheless this dish was missing something. My sister felt the same with her Drunken Noodles. For their prices being the same as most DC Thai spots, I would suggest they try to make more flavorful entrees!

    KA PRAO WITH SHRIMP
    Boobie D.

    Cute x Quiet Thai restaurant right across the street from Capital One Arena. My partner loves this place && always rages about it because she works in the area so ae finally made it praise of lunchtime. Which they do have a Lunch Menu vs a Dinner Menu. They are pretty similar but what we got was worth it either way. Next time I am trying something different. For my first time i just got what my partner has had before. I'm grateful for the pitchers of water and quick service!

    Spicy Crispy Duck
    Katie H.

    I've lived in DC for years and have struggled with finding a consistent Thai option. This place is my new go to spot. Cozy spot right outside the Capitol One arena. Great staff, quick service, and incredible dishes. We got the nua sawan and Kanin jeeb dumpling for apps, and the special spicy crispy duck and pad Thai for entrees. Large portions and great flavor. I can't say enough great things about this place and will be back soon!

    Super dirty ceiling fans... kind of gross
    L.A. D.

    The service was very good. Drinks and food came out very quickly. I wanted a non spicy meal and it came out to hot and they happily switched it out for a drunken noodle chicken dish that was exceptional. My rating is based on the dirty ceiling fans. I did mention it and they told me they just cleaned them. I said well you probably need to change your filters. I want to return because it was easy to park on a Friday. But if I walk in and see dirty ceiling fans... I won't stay.

    Thai fried rice w/pork tender
    Terrell R.

    This is a quiet local Thai spot in the Chinatown area. Nothing too fancy on the outside or inside, there's a small bar as you walk in and to left the main dining area with your classic wooden decor. I stopped in for dinner their menu features appetizers like veggie spring rolls, garden rolls, wings, and fried calamari ($8-$12), a variety of soups like wonton and grilled shrimp (around $10), and entrees like pad Thai, basil fried rice, Chinese broccoli, and specialty items like grilled salmon and roast duck ($20-$27). I was in a hurry and opted for the Thai fried rice with pork. The servers were polite and the food was prepared fairly quickly. While the presentation wasn't great the dish itself was pretty good, not too salty, the pork was tender, and the ingredients like the scallions, tomatoes, and egg were fresh and vibrant. All in all a solid spot to grab a quick bite at.

    Pad Thai
    James W.

    Hidden gem within DC that's not well-known but serves delicious and authentic Thai food with perfect portions and incredibly kind staff. The space is cozy with some great options. Their Pad Thai has a little bit of a crispy flavor that other places are lacking and this was a highlight of the meal. Their Massaman Curry is full of flavor and their Eggplant Tofu was also delicious. Their fried banana and ice cream was not what I'm used to, as their fried bananas came in thin tubes, but the food still tasted good. Only downside is that they have disposable chopsticks and cups for water.

    Pad See Ew Lunch, very greasy and not a fan
    Aarti B.

    This unassuming corner Thai restaurant has delicious Penang Curry bursting with flavor with a mild spicy kick! The curry hit the spot and the fried tofu was a little stiff, but not too tough. Will get veggies next time! Skip the Pad See Ew, the noodles were disgustingly greasy and after 1 bite, I threw in the towel. The restaurant kindly comped me for them. Will come back for the Penang Curry!

    Ka Prao
    Torkorche F.

    One of my favorite Thai places. Love the food really fast service the staff is always nice! I always stop by when I'm in the area. I also add shrimp to my Ka Prao as well!

    Garden roll
    Keith T.

    Food was excellent. Service was great. Music was abit loud and raucous at first. I'd definitely go back.

    Rex C.

    I would have given them a 4 or 5 but our food was not even edible for being extremely hot! We told them medium and this must have been an error because the food was beyond hot! My girlfriend couldn't even eat it. It was so dam hot! Lol Food: the Thai fried rice was so dam good but got dam we ordered medium and like I said earlier it was extremely hot and not edible for my gf. I was able to eat it but it was so hot i felt sick after lol. It was insanely hot. I could only imagine this was an error and they gave us Thai hot. The flavor was dam good though. The tiger cry beef appetizer was so dam good. I would definitely come back and try more food but I would be sure to make sure they understand that we cannot have Thai hot again! Do yourself a favor and give them a try! We will definitely come back soon.

    Pad See Ew Dinner spring Garden Rolls
    Herb's B.

    I waddled in with a friend of mine.... Picture this: a rainy day and we want some comfort food. Lightbulbs appear over our heads - THAI FOOD! We walk in and automatically are seated. I order the spring rolls and she orders the pad see ew. (Ik a cat eating veggies?!? Hey I'm sick!) I got a green tea as well. The food came out relatively quick and we immediately dug in. My friend gave the egg a shoutout (must've been really good) - I had a bit of the noodles and it sure was paw licking good! The vibes were sure comforting after a hot rainy day. We will be leaving with our to go plates and our insides nice and warm. Please come and enjoy!

    Mago Sticky Rice

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

    I come weekly for a work lunch takeout and the two ladies are so nice and welcoming! Portions are always great and food comes out quick.

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    2 years ago

    Nice staff and the food is always delicious. Perfect for takeout after a long day at the office.

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    Really good Thai food. Big portions, high quality, fast service, friendly staff. Would definitely recommend.

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    Page 1 of 13

    Absolute Thai Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

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    Baan Siam

    Baan Siam

    4.5(727 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    This meal was absolutely delicious! While in DC for a nearby convention, my friends and I were…read morecraving Thai food and came across this restaurant, and I'm so glad we did! The service was great, and the restaurant itself was really pretty and had such a nice atmosphere. We all got the mango frozen cocktails, and they were AMAZING; so refreshing, and honestly the perfect pairing with the food. Everyone in our group ordered something different, and everything we tried was so good. I got the Thai vermicelli, and it was absolutely delicious! I also got to try some of my friends' dishes, and everything was flavorful and really well done. I'm usually pretty nitpicky when it comes to coconut curry sauces, but it was so perfectly balanced and flavorful. It was easily some of the best Thai food I've had in the DMV (honestly!). No complaints whatsoever. I'll definitely be returning next time I'm in the area! :)

    Amazing Thai food at this restaurant. Got the green mango Salad, chicken wings, khao soi, and beef…read morecurry. The mango salad was delicious, I could eat that all day. The khao soi had good flavor, and it came with rice. The chicken wings were for my son, he said they were the best wings he's ever had. The beef curry had good flavor, but the beef was a bit overcooked. Service was a little bit of a miss. When the waiter first came, he asked us for our food order. However, we wanted to order drinks first. I was able to order my cocktail, however, the waiter left before anyone else at my table could speak to order a beverage. Food came out very quickly. This is not the type of place where you would want to enjoy drinks and food over a period of time. However, if you are super hungry, your food will definitely get to you quickly. Restaurant was crowded, but not super loud. Overall, I would come back for the food, I just wish that I could have more time to enjoy my restaurant experience.

    Photos
    Baan Siam - Bar seating

    Bar seating

    Baan Siam - Coconut soup- divine!

    Coconut soup- divine!

    Baan Siam - Kitchen

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    Kitchen

    Thip Khao - Fried rice Kua Khao Jaew Bong

    Thip Khao

    4.4(1.5k reviews)
    2.5 miColumbia Heights
    $$

    What an awesome experience and vibe Thip Khao is. I like…read morethat it's not (underline) too fancy, so you can dress for the occasion or come straight off the street (mostly) and you will be in appropriate attire. The food was absolutely phenomenal and the service was on point. I've lived in the capital area for around 20 years but we moved away a few years back and I greatly miss the international cuisine I had access to here in the city. This one gets added to that list! Will plan to visit again next time we are in the area or passing through!

    Was really looking forward to this place. We didn't make reservations for a Monday because I saw…read moreearlier in the day that pretty much every time slot was open - but that was a mistake because it completely filled up by the time we were done at a museum at around 4pm. We ended up waiting over an hour but that's not their fault and this isn't reflected in my rating. In the order they came out: 1. Crispy catfish (Pad Phet Paa) - extremely disappointing. It wasn't crispy at all and the flavor was lacking. Also, there was supposed to be eggplant but we barely saw any. 2. Red coconut curry - too sweet for my liking and it wasn't spicy at all which was also a disappointment. 3. Kee Mao - this honestly was the best part of the meal but I honestly expect this dish to be solid at every restaurants. Overall, as someone from out of state, I wouldn't try this place again given this experience.

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    Thip Khao - Inside

    Inside

    Thip Khao - Eggplant Salad

    Eggplant Salad

    Thip Khao - Outside

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    Outside

    Sampannee Thai - Top1 Best Thai Food in DC by yelp!

    Sampannee Thai

    4.3(255 reviews)
    1.7 miDowntown
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Large group friendly

    What a wonderful spot! Not only is the decor inviting and interesting, but the food is amazing as…read morewell. We had the duck roll, spring roll, curry puffs, and the crab fried rice. We liked all of the appetizers, but the crab fried rice was the star of the show. Easily the best one I've had since it had plenty of lump crab meat. They also have a full bar and make some tasty drinks. 5 stars well deserved!

    First time trying this place and overall, I had a good experience. The restaurant itself is super…read morecute inside with an inviting atmosphere. For appetizers, I got the spring rolls and chicken satay. The spring rolls were pretty good, but the chicken satay was definitely a highlight because the chicken was so juicy and flavorful. For my mains, I tried the Veggie Tom Yum soup, Veggie Drunken Noddles, and Veggie Basil Fried Rice. The Tom Yum was delicious and had just a hint of spice that gave it a nice kick without being overwhelming. It was actually really refreshing and flavorful. The Drunken Noodles and Basil Fried Rice were also good. For dessert, I got the mango sticky rice, and the mango was SO fresh and sweet which I loved. I also tried the Thai Custard Pudding. The texture was definitely interesting and different from what I expected. I thought it would be a pudding but it was more of a cake texture. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't my favorite of everything I tried. For drinks, I got the Lychee Thai Iced Tea and regular Thai Iced Tea. The Lychee Thai Iced Tea was really good, but the regular Thai Iced Tea was absolutely bomb. Overall, I really enjoyed my first visit!

    Photos
    Sampannee Thai - Fried fermented rice salad sampannee

    Fried fermented rice salad sampannee

    Sampannee Thai - Decor

    Decor

    Sampannee Thai - Beautiful  Mango Sticky Rice

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    Beautiful Mango Sticky Rice

    Donsak Thai Restaurant  - Donsak Noodle

    Donsak Thai Restaurant

    4.3(148 reviews)
    2.5 miWoodley Park

    Definitely ask for Chat! She is a great server and knows EVERYTHING about Thai foood!read more

    Good quality Thai food at reasonable prices. The dishes were rich in layer and satisfying…read more Corn Fritter: An equisute and interesting appetizer. Corn coated in a thin layer of tempura batter, fried until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, showcasing its natural sweetness and slightly chewy texture. It was somewhat like a Chinese yumi-lao玉米烙 but more moist. The most surprising thing was that despite being entirely vegetarian food, it has the sweetness and meaty texture of fried shrimp paste. The sweet and sour sauce is similar to the Thai sweet chili sauce commonly found in China, but thinner. Served in a small cup, it looked like a cup of black tea, making it more refreshing. Grilled Pork Neck: Very different from pork neck in Chinese Thai cuisine; it's more like Cantonese char-siu叉燒. The pork neck was very well marinated and grilled to a very tender perfection, with a rich and smooth honey aroma, and a subtle wine aftertaste, but it was slightly too sweet for me. Nam Jin Jaew was primarily composed of the tangy kick of lime and the savory saltiness of fish sauce, complemented by the mild spiciness of bird's eye chili, the special fragrance of cilantro, and the sweetness of palm sugar, with a subtle hint of smokiness. It was refreshing on the whole, and incredibly layered - I fell in love with it instantly. Tom Saab Soup: It looked light, but it was surprisingly spicy and sour! The ribs were very fresh, all marbled with fat and lean meat, stewed until incredibly tender, allowing you to taste the natural aroma of the meat. The sourness was subtle, clear, and mild, with a base of lemongrass fragrance that added even more depth. My friend thoughtfully ordered it mildly spicy, but in the end, it just felt like it lacked a kick. Mango Sticky Rice: The best mango sticky rice I've ever had! The sticky rice was cooked to perfect texture and warmth, absorbing the coconut milk flawlessly - neither too watery nor too dry. The first taste was the fragrance of glutinous rice, followed by the sweetness of coconut milk, and a refreshing, slightly tart mango to cut through the richness. Thai Iced Tea: Too much condensed milk, excessively sweet. My friend said it was much sweeter than the last time she had it. Was this a change in the recipe, or did the quality control need improvement? Donsak is a district in Surat Thani, Thailand, and also the hometown of the restaurant's co-owner and manager, Boom, where she was born and raised. The restaurant's introduction states: "When she left for the US, Boom didn't know she wouldn't get to see her home again for many years - and she still hasn't. Donsak is a way around that." No wonder what truly touches the heart, is indeed the taste of love and home.

    Photos
    Donsak Thai Restaurant  - Interior

    Interior

    Donsak Thai Restaurant  - Panang Curry

    Panang Curry

    Donsak Thai Restaurant  - Bar

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    Bar

    Rimtang - spicy cold noodles -- 8/10

    Rimtang

    4.3(80 reviews)
    2.5 miGeorgetown

    A great option for Thai. I can see why they get such good reviews. Pad see ew had an authentic…read moreflavor to it. Would have liked some more char on it, but it was so well seasoned, it made up for it. The noodle consistency was good too. The curry and fried rice we ordered were also great. Definitely quality well prepared food here. We got there before they got busy at 6pm on a weeknight. They also have a dining area upstairs with a large table for groups.

    Charming Thai restaurant off of the busy M Street corridor- when you walk in, your instantly feel…read moremore relaxed. I dined there for a mid afternoon lunch with a friend and we ordered the spring rolls, papaya salad, chicken panang and the Thai lemongrass pandan drink. The spring rolls were generously sized and the papaya salad was a nice contrast with it's sharp, fresh flavors. The chicken panang had a light, mild spice and wasn't too sweet or heavy like other restaurants . I had never had a Thai pandan lemongrass drink before so was pleasantly surprised at how well it complemented the dishes. It's a bit "grassy" on it's own but it works well with food. The service team was great- attentive but never overly so. The space is intimate so if you she a group larger than 6 it might be hard to get a table unless you make reservations. There is a cute upstairs dining room that seemed to have a few larger tables. I am so glad that we encountered this restaurant and will add it to my regular Georgetown restaurant rotation!

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    Rimtang - Upstairs seating

    Upstairs seating

    Rimtang - Chicken Satay

    Chicken Satay

    Rimtang - Tucked on a side street

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    Tucked on a side street

    Absolute Thai Restaurant - thai - Updated August 2026

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