This much anticipated (at least for those of us who work at the Hoffman complex) Thai restaurant is a bit of a disappointment. The interior is beautiful. The service leaves something to be desired. The food is adequate. Expect to pay more than you'd like to for very average fair. Lunch dishes are $10 min, the signature dishes are all over $16. Since they have a "captive audience" in the Hoffman employees, they may manage to survive. Out in the 'real world' I doubt this place would make it. [And the Hoffman folks may grow weary of their mediocrity and eventually take a pass on overpriced passable Thai food.] read more

To paraphrase Winston Churchill, Galae Thai is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. Previous trips to Galae Thai have been wildly uneven experiences. Service has consistently been good, but the food left a lot to be desired. The girlfriend and I were feeling too tired to cook after being in the sun all day at a wine festival so we decided to order out. Galae Thai is conveniently-located and offers free delivery. We ordered the Mango Salad, Red Curry with chicken, and Gra Prao Ped (crispy fried boneless duck with Thai basil in a chili garlic sauce). We requested all three dishes be seasoned Thai hot. Approx. 45 minutes later, the delivery man was knocking on our door. I think Galae Thai may be a family run place, but I don't know for certain. The person who delivered our food was a very polite, middle-aged, Thai gentleman who gave me the impression that he may have been the dad tasked by the mom to handle deliveries leaving her to run the kitchen. Needless to say, our wait for our food seemed appropriate in length. Most importantly, the cold food was still cold and the hot items still hot. The mango salad with julienned mango was tart, spicy and enjoyable. The curry was suitably spicy and contained ample amounts of chicken and vegetables. My one critique is that the curry was a bit thin in consistency compared to thicker, creamier versions I've received at other Thai restaurants. That said, it was properly seasoned and still tasty. The best dish was the Gra Prao Ped. The duck was crispy yet still tender. The sauce really worked well with the fried duck goodness. All three dishes were not over-salted as has been the problem in previous experiences with Galae Thai. This was my best experience with Galae Thai in a long time. The food was a strong 3.25 performance trending upward. The delivery service was easily a 4-star effort. Call it an overall 3.6 star experience...rounding up to 4. With Galae Thai, perhaps there is a key and that key is to get it delivered. read more

4.5 Stars! High-end atmosphere, great service with reasonable prices. I came here when they first opened and then again just recently. I have to agree with the trend of reviews that they have gotten better. Now, they are almost perfect. First off, the atmosphere alone is worth coming here. You step into another world when you enter Galae. Dark floors, dark heavy wooden tables, dark wood decor, a waterfall and large metal traditional sculptures. On top of that, the service is fast and perfect. I don't feel rushed when I come here, but when I want to eat quickly (to catch a movie) they accomodate. And they always refill my water. I strongly disagree with anyone who says the prices are steep. My entree was $11.95 and I would expect to pay more for the atmosphere and the service I've received here. I've had the papaya salad, the hot and sour soup, spring rolls and drunken noodles with tofu. And they accomodate my request for soft tofu. As far as their spicyness scale: my entree had three hot peppers next to it, but I thought it tasted medium spicy (i.e. sinuses weren't cleared). Everything is top quality - among the best thai food I've ever had. read more

This place is gorgeous on the inside, especially for a strip mall joint, the food and service are solid. Beware: the cocktails are rancid. I ordered a duck dish with lychee and pineapple, extra hot. It was a generous portion and quite delicious I might add. The Tom Yum lived up to its name and was major yum, though the lemongrass and ginger pieces in it were HUGE. I would go back since it's so close to where I live, though it's a bit pricier than some other Thai spots where the food is better. read more

This review is based 100% on the food. I did not call the order in, I did not pick it up, I was just on the receiving end of a Thai dinner... with that being said, I can't comment on the service, location, parking or the décor. I had the pad prig king with pork. The meat was cooked perfectly, the veggies were bright and still had a snap to them and the sauce was served on the side so things weren't mushy. Others in my group ordered the chicken panang and Thai fried rice, everyone was pleased. I'd order from them again based on what I experienced. read more

Horrible is the only thing I could use to describe this experience. There was a funky smell when we walked into the door on a cold night and on our way to the movies but the decor was really cool and the service very friendly so we stayed. That's where the good vibes ended. The bf ordered a red curry and I feeling a little lighter ordered a Thai chicken salad. It's just an untossed Greek salad with no sauce and some unseasoned grilled chicken breast strips. Underwhelming would be an understatement for the levels of fail that this dish achieved. Flavorless and dry there is nothing to redeem this dish. The red curry on the other hand is watery, not cooked long enough to incorporate the prodigious amounts of fish sauce splashed in and seriously lacking on any spice. Not once after the initial greeting were we asked if everything was okay with our dishes. Paid our bill and left with feelings of regret. I want to have happy feelings after eating, you guys need to work on getting your act together Galae! read more

I ordered from here at 8:54PM today for delivery. They close at 10. I called at 10:15 and spoke to someone who was unsure if my order was on its way or not, and he said they would check on it and call me back. It is now 10:40pm and I have been unable to get in touch with anyone and food still has not arrived, and no word on a refund. Do not recommend. read more

Galae Thai - Thai Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Got the Galae shrimp, identified as a house special. Amazingly bland with rubbery shrimp. Told two different members of the wait staff; no offer to replace. read more

I watched 2 minutes of the debate and then decided that the night would be much better spent playing video games. My brother told me about this Thai place that was close to his place. We decided to get some takeout. We ordered up some pineapple fried rice and a duck dish with pineapple, onions, peppers, and lychee. His roommate ordered up Panang Curry. The pineapple fried rice came in a pineapple gourd and came with shrimp, cashews, carrots, peas, and onion. It was good, but not 17 dollars good. The pineapple gave it a nice sweet taste, but in the end, we realized that the pineapple gourd made it appear to have more rice than there actually was. The duck dish was good and tasted like Panang curry with more fruit in it. The duck was pretty tender and there was a decent amount in it. My brother's roommate was satisfied with his Panang curry as there was none left when he was finished. I never walked in and don't know what the interior looks like. This place is a decent takeout option although a little pricey. I could be convinced to eat from here again, especially if I'm not paying. They also have sushi on the menu, but I tend not to order sushi from Thai restaurants. read more

Poor customer service. Would be five stars with better customer service. I went in basically to try their sushi... As I usually do, I start by trying a hand roll to see if I should bother with everything else. I ordered a salmon avocado cucumber hand roll with no sesame. I said no sesame over and over. I can't stand sesame. I also ordered a miso soup and asked if they have wine. She said, "yeah. Red and white. What do you want?" I asked what types of white they have... She rolled her eyes and went to check. She came back and said "only chardonnay". I asked how much it was (only beer and sake on the menu, no wine) and she said, "I don't know. You want it or not?" I had just spent two hours at the DMV and needed a glass of wine so I bit my tongue and just said okay, I'll have a glass of that. She promptly came back with the wine, someone else came with the miso. Delicious... Very delicate yet cloudy... Just perfect. Then comes the sushi. What is on it? That's right... Sesame. A lot of it. Not "damn... She said no sesame... Well hopefully she won't see it". Just super full of sesame. So I just sip on my wine... I contemplate sending it back, but I very rarely would send anything back because I really don't want a hock of spit along with my raw fish... So I said I'll just try it and if I can't do it, hell, its 6 bucks. Now, I'm sure for anyone else the sushi would be quite good, for me it was awful, because again, I hate sesame. She passes by and looks at my plate, I guess realizes there is sesame on it, and sprints away without asking how everything is. Lol. I try and finish the roll, and then ask for the cheque... The wine was ten bucks! Now, I won't go on record as guaranteeing that it was even as good as Yellowtail... This was like... 7/11 brand $3.99 a bottle wine... Which is usually fine, but not at ten dollars a glass! Seriously? My one glass of wine was more expensive than my meal! And I wouldn't have ordered it if rudey had told me it was ten bucks. Now, I am known for tipping. I don't remember the last time I tipped less than 30%...I was a server for many years, so I tip... But I could not this time. I gave a measly tip and wrote why. I'm sorry, but she needs to step it up. There was literally only 2 other tables, and both were finished before my food even came. This wasn't a kitchen error. This was her brainfart and she could have made it better, but instead she hoped I'd just bite my tongue like I did. Customer service means a lot to me... So... That's my reason. You can look at my other reviews. I'm not nitpicky... But this was just too ridiculous. read more

Galae Thai - Miso soup (delicious) and ten dollar 7/11 tasting wine. Lol - Thai Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I read through all the reviews already posted and saw a trend: sucked at first but getting better. Tonight we ate there and it was GREAT! Indeed, the decor is excellent (very clean, high quality, and themed). The service was better than MANY restaurants I have eaten at in the DC area. We had two waitors assisting: very attentive but not TOO attentive. The food portions were perfect (appetizer and entrees). The quality of the food was spot-on. The price was GREAT! I would recommend for a cheaper meal in the Hoffman environs to hit up Potbelly near the PTO if you are looking for something under $10. But if you are willing to spend $12 on an entree (a STEAL for the great food you get!!!), I recommend Galae Thai for the Hoffman area. It beats all the rest in my opinion. Go to Galae Thai, go to a movie, grab ice cream at the Slab if you need a topper. It's a perfect evening to relax at Hoffman. read more

Having just finished a 90 minute bikram session, and on the heels of spending the rest of the day road biking around DC, I was looking to fuel up, and quickly. Thai sounded like a good option, and 15 minutes later I was back in my car with my to-go order of Thai Fried Rice with Shrimp. Hello tastiness! This dish offered a nice kick, and plenty of flavor. The shrimp were medium sized, grilled perfectly, and plentiful. Can't ask for anything more!! I'd gladly return to check out the rest of their menu! read more

Really REALLY tasty dishes but the staff couldn't understand things on their menu. I had to explain over and over until she called manager. Felt bad for poor girl but need to give staff lesson before they serve ! It ONLY helps the business read more

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Pleasant atmosphere and service always. Food is healthy and delicious. This is the place if. You want speedy, friendly service and great food. Pineapple Fried Rice. Three words. I love this restaurant read more

You know something is wrong when food doesn't taste heavenly as you eat it while STARVING. Man, I've thought Chef Boyardee is the best thing ever in my life when I ate it while starving. This place not so much. I wasn't any bit impressed. The food is edible, I suppose. We ordered the tofu pad thai which I thought was too sweet. We also ordered the pad krip king. That dish also didn't impress me. A fruit fly guest came to visit our table and food too while we were dining there. Service was good. The servers seated us quickly and got us our food almost immediately. This place is a bit overpriced too for what they serve. read more

Went here with a group of friends who all happen to love some Thai food (and a few of whom are Thai!). The decor is really pretty, service was OK (I think our waiter had a hard time understanding some things and vice versa.), and since I am seriously not a fan of really spicy food, I ordered the sizzling beef skillet (I think). It was pretty good, with julienned ginger on the top, which gave it a nice little kick. They also seem to have some "fusion"-type cuisine here, as well, such as empanada appetizers, which were really, really good. My only complaint is the parking situation (or lack thereof, really...one hour parking spaces? Really? And apparently they're pretty stringent about it, so don't park over an hour!) We parked over at the movie theatre and were lucky to even find a spot to park there. read more

Not sure if it's jeezy because it's my guest time here, but everything was perfect. Im a big fan of customer service and value. The food was hot, the drink was made to order and accurate, service was outstanding. The price was reasonable. Couldn't have asked for more read more

Galae Thai has been my favorite restaurant for over four years now. The staff is always very nice and the food/drinks are always amazing. I suggest getting the Dragon roll, a Lychee-tini, Thai iced tea and the pineapple fried rice. ( Just a few of my favorite things :D ) read more

The driest drunken noodles I've ever had the displeasure of attempting to eat. I had the seafood version and in addition to being dirt dry, the tires are less chewy than the squid in my entree was. Sigh. My table companion sent back her entree because it wasn't fresh. But, it was plated prettily enough. Helpful tip - NEVER GO ON SUNDAY! read more

This restaurant has some of the best food I have had. First, let me talk about the decor. It is clean, simple and elegant. Perfect for a dinner date. Now the food. I have had good Thai and bad Thai. This is great Thai. Unlike most who overpower the flavors of the ingredients with the heat of the spices, Galae has found the perfect balance. You can taste the flavors of the spices, the ingredients, the texture. The presentation was very clean. The service was great as well. I was approached several times by different staff to make sure everything was going well. An added plus was that my server noticed my glass of water and refilled it. This was done after she brought me the check, which almost never happens unless you ask for it. Again, worth it every step of the way. read more

It's better than Delia's next door, but I'd opt for the Ben & Jerry's if you have to eat at this strip mall. Had the lunch special: chicken pad thai with spring rolls and miso soup (waaaay too fishy, skipped this). The portions are large, but the pad thai had minimal tofu (like 3 pieces) and flavorless chicken. Service was nice, and the place never gets crowded. I did like the decor (slightly dark) and dishes (beautiful curvature to the plates). Thai food should have some kick to it... this place has more of a poke. read more

My family and I went here for my father's birthday. It was a success. The ambiance was perfect, the food was good, the staff was friendly, and the prices are fair. Whatever you do, get the grilled salmon roll! Their sushi bar is legit. The Thai food is legit. Unsure if you wanna do Japanese or Thai? This place is perfect. read more

Einstein stated that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results was the definition of insanity. Well I keep going to these Asian fusion restaurants thinking that I'll be getting top grade sashimi. My mistake, although the presentation was fine, the quality was average. For example, twice I bit into a fish bone. Once I had to spit out a fish scale. All in all it was fine. But I will stick to authentic Japanese restaurants if I'm wanting quality sushi. The salmon and scallop quality was noteworthy. read more

It is only 3 hours later I am wishing that I had enough soft shell crab leftover to bring it home and munch on it now. The meal was so delicious. It was lightly battered and so crisp with a nice amount of crab meat. The sauce was only mildly spicy (I love spicy dishes) but it had a nice flavor to it. It might be too sweet for some but spicy/sweet is my favorite flavor combo so I was satisfied. It was topped with delicious crispy basil and served with steamed broccoli, asparagus, and I think bok choy. My friend had a basic fried rice but it must have been good because when she got done I don't think there was even one tiny bit of food left on her plate. I hate going out to Hoffman as there isn't too much to do in the area before the movie but I would make the trip again just to have some more of that tasty stuff. read more

I visited for lunch on a Thursday. Galae has lunch specials, but based on what I saw, they are not much cheaper than dinner prices. I got the Panang Curry with chicken. I wish that the curry came with more rice, but it was a good combination of sweet and spicy, with plenty of flavor. Several of my friends went for the sushi and mentioned that the fish was fresh and high quality. Decent Thai food and so-so value, but the service could be a lot better. Our orders were taken fine and ice waters were topped up, but one of our servers had an accent so thick that none of us could understand her, and half of our party that ordered the lunch special didn't get their soup. 4 stars for food, -1 for service. read more

Thai with a great sushi bar! Food is top notch! Drinks are mixed well! and Service is great! This is my alexandria Sushi spot! I love the decor too! read more

This place is close to my work and I have walked by it so many times. Finally tried it today. The decor is very nice and the quality of the furniture is top notch. They definitely dropped a lot of money into this place. Wait staff was quick and efficient. They were pleasant as well. Strictly from a lunch perspective, the prices are pretty steep. This will keep me coming back too frequently as I generally don't like to spend in the $15+ range for lunch. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area for work or a movie. read more

Given the location of the restaurant in an upscale mini strip mall / movie complex I wasn't sure what to expect, but this is a great place. Nice interior, very attentive staff, fast turnaround once the orders were placed. I had the crispy spring rolls...very good, lightly fried, not greasy, and the drunken noodles with chicken. The rice noodle were excellent, lots of fresh basil and peppers...excellent! My compadres had panang curry (huge serving) and a fried Tilapia special. The presentation of the meals was exceptional...very good deal for the money. read more

IMHO: Great dine-in place for well-prepared and presented Thai food. (+)Pro's & (-)Con's: +Excellent food +Nice food presentation +Decor is unique +Decent level of ambiance is created -Some of the staff may be ESL? -Can't recommend for carry-out or delivery due to the prices # of Visits: 1 My Experience: It's been a little while since I dined here and if I recall correctly I wasn't feeling too hot that day. Still, I remember that the food itself tasted great and was well-presented. I also recall that the decor and ambiance provided an ideal setting for a night out. The combined presentation of the food and atmosphere alone qualifies this restaurant as a place worth trying. I'd probably not call in for delivery as it would end up nullifying these highlights for the same cost. Otherwise, the service didn't leave any lasting impressions in either the positive or negative lights. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! i go at least once a week. The decor is phenomenal and the service has been getting better each time I go. Their best sushi is the tiger roll and galae bake thai - i HIGHLY recommend trying these when you visit. The pad thai, pad see ew is the best i've had in old town. read more

I tried this place for their sushi, and I have to say this is the best Sushi I've had in the DC area, hands down. (I haven't been to many DC sushi locations, but this certainly trumps all the sushi in oldtown. If you're looking for a slightly cheaper second in the area, Momo on Queen St. is pretty good.) The sushi is awesome, but if you have a big appetite for it, be ready to spend like $50 per person. It's so gooood though. I went there and tried their Thai once, and it was a little to modern fusion for me. I do appreciate my food looking like art, really, it's just it better taste as good as it looks. It was pretty fresh though, like the sushi, which is a plus. read more

There's nothing I like better than a plate of Thai food with lots of creamy sauce, and Galae Thai certainly hit the mark on that! My Panang Tofu was presented beautifully on neat plates that we all commented on, and plenty of wonderful sauce. My only complaint was that it was quite spicy, which I don't enjoy, and particularly picked this dish because it didn't have any pepper indicators on the menu like other dishes did. We had a wonderful mango sticky-rice for dessert - highly recommend. The decor was great - rustic and cozy, and service was excellent. read more

Service is quick and efficient, certain plates can be very spicy such as the panang, but they still taste wonderful and full of flavor. The portions are generous, and the thai iced teas are phenomenal. They deliver food as well if you're feeling like s home body. I have zero complaints, I will certainly come back. read more

This is a great place to go either before/after a movie at the Hoffman AMC22. It's moderately priced, and it has a great lunch special menu. Restaurant has a nice feel inside and, as other have commented, is very well decorated inside. Excellent, attentive service, and the food was great. read more

Just got done with a delivery order. The lady over the phone that took my order was very pleasant. She said the order would take 45 mins and it showed up in 30. I always am a fan of sooner rather than later! I got the chicken pad thai and tom kha soup and my hubby got the chicken panang curry. The pad thai was good- nothing over the top about it or anything but tasty nonetheless. The tom kha was also really good - not as flavorful as others I've had but again not bad at all. I would say from my selections this is a Thai place that you'd take someone who has never had it before to get their feet wet. Not too spicy or over the top with fish sauce etc. The chicken panang curry was definitely the star of our order - nice balance of flavors and just the right amount of spice. They also threw in a coke for us at no charge and that was a nice little bonus :) Definitely will order from them again and hope to make it to the restaurant eventually. read more

I understand that sometimes you can get a bad order, but bad attitude from the staff will never be acceptable. They screwed up our order. We paid extra for mushrooms instead of eggplant and they missed that. On top they didn't close one container properly and all the curry spilled. Nat took our call to explain our issues and with an attitude of "I don't believe you" she just made us waste time. Glad that pictures speak more than words. Please think twice before ordering, with so many options is not worth dealing with a place that in 2020 still don't understand that a happy customer is much more valuable than a 14.95 red curry with mushrooms instead of eggplant. read more

Galae Thai - They tried to blame the deliver guy - Thai Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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This place was a pleasant discovery! We came here for dinner before catching Saturday movies at the Hoffman theater, and I have to say, it was a very comfortable dining experience. Overall, this restaurant has a very chic decor, friendly servers and good, reasonably priced food. We ordered drunken noodles and coconut flavored curry with rice, and both dishes were delicious and filling. Although we didn't order any, we noticed a decent list of tasty-looking cocktails. We would definitely come back for a nice pre- or post-movie meal! read more

Friendly staff and decent prices. The food however isnt the best thai. Its a little bland and both times Ive gone and had a meat dish that Ive had to send back. It was discounted from check but wish they had better cuisine. Gave it a good chance as its one of the nearest thai places. read more

Atmosphere: Very pleasant, the decorations really gave a glimpse into traditional Thai art and furniture and that was really refreshing to see that much in one restaurant. Staff: When we first walked in, it took awhile for the hostess to notice us but that was the only hiccup. Throughout the whole meal, our cups were constantly filled and we had staff stop by to check up a good amount as well and that really made up for that first impression. FOOD: I ordered the pork panang curry, which was very different from others that I've tried but good in its own way. From my own experience, I would say it was on the sweeter side, and somewhat peanut-tasting, it also had a slow build up in spice that was surprising. Personally I do prefer less sweet, and spicier but this dish was still really great considering its unique taste. I tried my friend's pineapple shrimp fried rice, and it was definitely the first pineapple rice dish I have ever liked. (I'm usually not a fan of pineapple in foods so ...this is big!) The presentation was really cute too since it was inside of a pineapple! I'd definitely come back to try the other dishes. If my next favorite dish is great, I'd definitely bump up to 4 stars. read more

It was okay for the money. I ordered the "Regular" Sashimi dinner which was okay. (It's a gamble with these types of meals. You never know what the chef's going to put on them; if they're in a bad mood, you might end up with the most horrible sea "food" with a texture of a tire.) Perhaps I should've gone with one of the Thai dishes. I don't remember much about the meal itself, which is pretty telling, but I did enjoy the black-rice pudding. As most have stated, the decor was groovy. read more