The new standard for good Thai food! It's clean, it's nice, it has all the good smells and tastes! The menu had me wanting to come back again before I even chose what I wanted. My friend and I both loved our meals and want to bring everyone here. Quite possibly the best Pad Thai I've had, and the Khao Soi was so good too! Will definitely return with friends! read more

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Food is absolutely delicious just like the original Location. Derive is also wonderful. I got pork and rice which is my favorite. I really like the spaciousness of this location in contrast to the original. The server was a little odd as she didn't seem very familiar with the menu. She just recommended the priciest items. She also said they had no caffeinated drinks but clearly I ordered the green tea. Which was really tasty. I would definitely be back. read more

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The food is amazing -- fresh, brilliant in taste. The service is incredible. Everyone there is just so nice and attentive. I would recommend this place. It's the best Thai Food in Arlington, in my opinion. I usually sit outside because there is a breeze and it feels private. read more

Padaek - Arlington - Curry soft wheel crab! Delicious. - Laotian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Went here with family and they were kind enough to seat us on short notice. Parking was easy and the place is very nice and spacious inside. I would absolutely recommend this place and go back. The prices are reasonable and the food is absolutely amazing. The only think we didn't love were the fish cakes, but everything else was fantastic. The chicken satay was juicy and perfectly cooked and seasoned, the spring rolls were crispy and so was the fried fish. We also got ribs from the special menu which were fantastic. The flavor combinations were very unique across the different foods we tried. I wish their dessert menu was a little larger but this place is great! read more

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Last night we paid a visit to the Padaek in Arlington Ridge on S. Glebe. There's another Padaek in Falls Church. We arrived shortly after the 5pm opening to a modern smartly decorated restaurant. Service was excellent: affable and responsive. JP started out with the Lost in Oaxaca cocktail, a potent blend of mezcal and tequila. But hey, wait a sec, aren't all tequilas mezcals? Actually, mezcal is a term for tequila that is distilled from agave in a Mexican state other than the five states where tequila is distilled. I ordered the Thai Iced Thai since I didn't see any coffee on the menu. I had Thai Iced Tea years ago, and pardon the pun, it just isn't my cup of tea. Too sweet and pungent. We ordered the Tamarind Glazed chicken wings, which were actually a combination of party wings and drumsticks. These are quite good, the best dish we had on this visit. JP ordered a noodle dish with pork belly. He could have selected tofu instead of prok belly. This dish was okay. I opted for the curried Kaho Soi (Gai). It was so-so. Way too many noodles. Really skimpy on the pieces of dark meat. Not a big deal, but I like the mustard greens and pickled onions to be delivered on a side plate along with the kaho soi bowl. Padaek just dumps the sides in the khao soi beforehand. This place is spendy for what you get, so we probably won't be back. read more

Padaek - Arlington - Khao soi - Laotian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Found my new favorite Thai/Laos place. My husband and I ordered pad Thai, catfish, crab noodles and dumplings. The dumplings I ordered was something new I never had and I enjoyed it. The pad Thai, although we asked for Thai spicy, wasn't spicy enough to my husband's liking, but still very good. The crab noodles were a bit on the saltier side but that was to be expected because they did mention it. The catfish was very delicious. And the Thai tea was perfect. Not too sweet!! Service was great. Our server was attentive and helpful with our questions. The place was also very nice. Can't wait to come back and try other food items. read more

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Flavor above everything else The spot doesn't miss. Everything is so delicious! We had a group of 8 and were seated shortly after we checked in. They were very fast and we got our food quickly, which is nice because we were hungry! We started with the chicken wings and everyone loved them! Really tender and crispy. The fried rice was amazing - one of our favorites. The pork was really good too and came with a delicious sauce. And the salad was spicy!! But we loved it. Everything was so good. We can't wait to come back and try more dishes! read more

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I've been twice now and it is unforgettable! The service is great and the inside is inviting. Whatever dish you get will be delicious and have you craving it later in the week, especially the Piing Muu and Sai Oua. Highly recommend and one of my favorite meals in the DMV. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Food, service and ambience were all great![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I've been to both locations and food is consistently excellent.

I gotta be honest, I'm a little disappointed. I've been wanting to try Padaek for years and was underwhelmed after finally stopping by for dinner. My family and I came here for a birthday dinner and ordered the tum thai papaya salad and peek gai chicken wings to start. Then did a family style dinner with crab fried rice, aom curry, kua mee noodle, and piing muu pork. First of all, the appetizers came out at the same time as all the entrees so it wasn't really an appetizer. Second of all nothing really stood out to us about any of the dishes. Like nothing was bad but also nothing was that good either. Aom curry: the dill flavor really threw us off. I'm very unfamiliar with dill used in Asian cuisine but safe to say I don't think I'm a fan. This came with a ball of sticky rice which didn't really work with the curry in my opinion. The curry just slid off the rice and didn't soak it up at all. Kua mee noodle: noodles were cooked really well but there was barely any pork belly. I felt like this could have been really good but something was missing Tum thai: decent papaya salad. Only complaint is that it wasn't spicy. Mostly just sweet Piing muu: this was pretty much moist thicker cut beef jerky. The jaew sauce was very unique. This came with a ball of sticky rice Peek gai: this was my favorite dish. Reminded me of Korean fried chicken. Super crispy, big chicken wing, sweet sauce. Very good Crab fried rice: also good. There was a lot of crab in this which I enjoyed. We sprinkled some dried pepper flakes on top which was delicious Padaek left something to be desired. Service was great but not sure if I'd come back read more

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Food was okay but I've had better elsewhere. We were seated next to the kitchen so we were constantly greeted with smoke and strong smells. read more

Padaek - Arlington - Laotian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

First, three stars is not bad. It is ok, and OK is a good way to describe our experience. We ordered similar dishes that we often order at our favorite Thai restaurant, Thai Noy and honestly still prefer Thai Noy. But to be fair, the overall reviews at Padaek are good, and it was busy on the Friday night we visited. For our starter we tried the pork jerky since it was listed as a speciality on the menu. However, for our main courses we ordered beef krapow and seafood drunken noodles. We ate everything we were served (as we almost always do ;- ) ) , but the flavors were not our favorite. They all leaned more on the sweet side, so this is, of course, a matter of taste but did not work as well for us and overpowered the shrimp and beef. Service was ok, but we did have to do a couple of reminders about food and drink orders, so not the best but adequate because the mistakes were corrected fairly fast. All in we had one starter two main dishes and ordered one extra serving of rice. Also, we had two beers and one glass of wine. The total price with about an 18% tip was $108. Certainly not unreasonable but to us not a great value either. If we were invited to join others, we would go again, but likely we would not initiate another visit on our own. However, I suggest you try for yourself and see if the tastes match your preferences because I think that we are in the minority on this one. read more

We went as a group of 5 for a Sunday lunch and we were seated right away. The service was quick and attentive. Food had good portions (4 of us had leftovers) and we also loved the coconut water. read more

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Came here for a team dinner, we made a reservation so we're seated right away. The ambiance is nice and modern. The food here was really good and comforting. We got a couple of appetizers to share, and we al enjoyed them. I got the beef curry for my main course, it was very tasty. We all left here satisfied and full. read more

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Really great! We ordered takeout but the restaurant interior is very cute and trendy. Definitely great for a nice sit down dinner. This is pretty typical for most places but the takeout portions were definitely smaller than that of dine-In. We really loved the basil chicken though! Great flavor. We got it at its normal spice level (medium) but it wasn't spicy at all. Definitely next time will get the spicy level. Takeout was a little slow but it was busy inside. Looking forward to trying other dishes! read more

Padaek - Arlington - Pad Thai and basil chicken - Laotian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Among the several Padeak restaurants in the DMV area, the one in Arlington stands out as especially romantic, with food that is simply perfect. The staff are polite and well-mannered, and the restaurant offers authentic dishes from the Isan region--such as Crispy Rice Salad and Nam Khao--that are rare to find in this area. Their noodles and fried rice are also excellent. If you're a Thai food lover, I highly recommend giving this place a try! read more

Amazing new location for Padaek. Space is lovely and inviting, service is wonderful. Open kitchen. Food is better than ever, especially when Chef Seng is there. Favorite dishes are always the pork neck, naem khao, crab curry, crab noodles, sai oua, chicken wings, crispy catfish. But you cannot order incorrectly here all of the food is great. I go for the more Laotian side of things but the Thai dishes are great as well and her curries are some of my favorites around. Parking can be tough read more

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The restaurant decor is nice. Staff and owner are pleasant. That's almost the end of the up side - unless you are used to dining at Asian restaurants that cater to the perceived American palate, which tends to be made far more sugary than any authentic Asian dish. Oh, also, there's no Thai iced coffee on the menu. There is Thai iced tea. One more "Oh!" moment was when I realized I didn't see any fish besides catfish on the menu. It may not matter to some, but catfish can be hit or miss and I'm not used to seeing it as the only fish option on a Thai restaurant menu. Okay...on to the food experience. Unfortunately, the food was a huge miss. Well, visually, it was lovely. Taste is another story. My mother- in-law is Thai and is an excellent cook and I've come to know certain dishes and how they should taste very well. Based on the dishes we ordered, I can only say I would not go back. Not only was every dish, except for the chef's favorite childhood dessert (go figure), WAAAY TOO SWEET, but the prices significantly inflated for what you get. This, of course, is just my opinion. For our apps, we ordered the beef and pork jerky. While they were both tender, they both had so much sugar that they were hard to enjoy. They were both served with a small dipping dish of Sriracha that tasted like it also had sugar added to it. I have to say the beef jerky was far worse (due to the overly sweet sauce cooked on it) than the pork jerky. Our entrees...too sweet and just not great, My husband and son both got a sliced pork dish. Yeah, too sweet and just not good. That said, the meat was tender. I had some red coconut curry dish with pork belly. I guess I didn't pay close enough attention to the whole description, so I didn't realize the pork belly was not crispy skin pork belly OR that it was served over noodles. That dish was the better of the entrees, but still a little sweet and nothing to write home about...at all. The dessert was called Bua Loy. They don't tell you that it comes in a bowl big enough for three, so when we ordered two for the 3 of us, it was way too much. I should have realized this when I saw the $15 price, but I thought maybe it was due to it being a Seasonal Special. It had coconut milk, tapioca, taro, and black sesame mochi. It's served in a soup bowl and comes warm. Out of everything we had, it was the most normal tasting and not too sweet. But, by the time it arrived, no one felt like having much and we wound up taking almost all of it to go. Sadly, I think we took the uneaten portions of our meals to go with good intentions or hopes that they might taste better later. We should have just left them behind because they are likely going right in the trash. Both my son and husband threw up within 15 minutes of eating and, while we've been gone from the restaurant for a couple of hours (it's 10 PM on Saturday, 1/18:2025), I feel like the little bit I ate may come back up at any time. I was hoping for much better, but at least I can say I've been there, done that, and would not recommend it. Really, I don't know that I'd try it again, because thinking of going back there just adds to my nausea. Maybe it's just my karma for not driving to Springfield for our favorite Thai restaurant in Northern VA - Thai Ghang Waan. The food is always spot on, authentic, portioned perfectly, and very reasonably priced. I love them. read more

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Colorful ambiance, friendly service, flavorful food This padaek is lot larger than the Falls Church restaurant. Great for large parties. Food came quickly. Our favorite was the pork sausage starter and the Naem Khao Thadaeu (coconut fried rice with pork, tofu and flavorful bits) read more

Padaek - Arlington - Salad- Naem Khao Thadaeu - Laotian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Came in around 1215; store had just opened. Ordered around 1220, food arrived by 1230, very fast service. Ordered a Laotian salad and the fried catfish. The Laotian salad had the correct amount of spice and savory fish sauce taste. Found myself drinking more water along the way. The catfish was cut finely and fried to perfection and served with crispy Thai basil; wasn't sure if it was decor or not, ate one like a fried kale chip. read more

Padaek - Arlington - Laotian papaya salad - Laotian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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It was my first time at this location. The ambience is so cute with beautiful fresh flowers at each table, and many types of seating. Service was good with refills in water, and they answered any questions we had. I was given a take out container with a lid that didn't work so they gave me another one after they tried to close it. The food was ok, I've been to their other stores like Siang Khene which I thought the food was better. I had their Sau Oa (I might have misspelled it) as an appetizer. It was tasty and spicy, especially with the sauce. I was expecting it to be have a charred exterior but it was quite soft. I also got their chefs special yellow curry with noodles. It was the right amount of spice, enough to numb my lip but I liked the heat. It came with pork and some crispy noodles at the top. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Lovely thai restaurant![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] This restaurant is walking distance from my home and was a small savior during in the aftermath of the snowstorm. Highly recommend getting the spice rack with your meal and an ice cold IPA to combat the spice! read more

Padaek - Arlington - Laotian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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The new Padaek location is fabulous! As regulars of the OG location in Falls Church, we wanted to try out their new location and it's so much more spacious and decorated so well! The service was attentive, there's plenty of parking, and plenty of outdoor seating! Our usual orders are: - Naem Khao Thadaeu (this is a MUST ORDER. It's the crispy coconut rice salad and I love it with the sour pork sausage) - Siin Savanh (loved by Phil of Somebody Feeds Phil and now loved by my husband and I! A wonderfully flavored beef jerky) - laab (a classic southeast Asian dish. Theirs is tangy and delicious) - Khao Soi (maybe one of our favorite Khao soi dishes in NOVA--and tastes better than their the one at their OG location) - pad phed (almost reminded me of krapao--sooo good and flavorful) - gaeng phed puu (crab with coconut red curry--also sooo good) I'm so happy this new location opened. While the prices seem a little higher than they used to be a the OG location in Falls Church, this location seems a little more "upscale" and has some more and different menu items. It's honestly hard to miss with the dishes at Padaek and I will be returning here regularly. read more

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New Padaek location! The decor is modern and sleek and you can definitely fit more people here than their Falls Church location. My friend and I stopped by for dinner this past Monday and we enjoyed our entrees. The service was good and pretty quick, too. PING - 18 I've had this before and I really liked the marinade they used to grill the pork. This entree comes with sticky rice (definitely eat it while it's still warm, otherwise it is kind of hard to pull apart). The sauce on the side made the meat a bit more tangy with a slight spice to it. Overall, it was a great option for me and there was more than enough meat that I was able to take it home and eat it for lunch the next day. My friend got the GAENG HANG LAY which is a braised pork belly curry that was super flavorful and homey, a perfect comfort option. HIs entree doesn't come with sticky rice though, which he seemed sad about. Definitely would recommend this, too. Good experience, delicious food. Give this Padaek location a try! read more

Padaek - Arlington - Ping - Laotian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Absolutely mouth watering. Tried salad, sausage, jerky, and nam khao with my friend and we were so happy and stuffed. Chef Seng and team have done it again! I haven't been to the other location but have been to Thip Khao and love it too. Laotian and Southeast Asian food is so amazing and flavorful; I'm glad it's spreading more throughout the region. The inside of the restaurant is quite spacious and beautifully decorated, adorned with colorful paintings and ratan furniture. There is a separate room that could be used for private events as well and the space is good for parties of any size. They have a lunch menu as well that I believe is $15 so it's a great place to check out if you're in the area! read more

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I used to love Bangkok Golden and its successor Padaek in Seven Corners, but I was a little disappointed with my first meal at the new location. The crispy rice salad was good as usual, but the other dishes were disappointing, and it was relatively pricy. Given all the other food options for Thai (though, admittedly, not Laotian) that may have been my last trip. read more

Hidden gem. We were in Crystal City and were in the mood for Thai. Padaek was the highest rated place nearby so we stopped in. SO GLAD we did. We had the crab noodles, the ribs and the fried catfish. Each was delicious. The crab noodles had ample crab and a delicious flavor, with perfect noodles. (9.5/10) The catfish was spectacular - had a "salt and pepper" crust that made each morsel fantastic and it was accompanied by a delicious sauce. (10/10). The ribs were amazing - well cooked, tender and super flavorful. 9.5/10. Portions were excellent all around. Highly recommended if you want authentic Thai food. read more

Wow, as a loyal follower of Padaek falls church, I was absolutely ecstatic to go to their new location in Arlington Ridge. As soon as your see and enter the restaurant, everything is absolutely beautiful, I love the door and the beautiful designs of the door. Everybody was soooo kind and welcoming, despite the crowd, staff seemed excited that we were there and during both visits, the staff was incredibly attentive. The food absolutely passes the same delicious standard of the original restaurant. We ordered the fish cakes, moak paa, crab noodles, Kua mee, Tom yum, papaya salad, and laab. Everything was absolutely delicious, we would absolutely order everything again and we are excited to continue to make our way through the menu! We are excited to continue to be loyal Padaek followers and support the new location! read more

Padaek - Arlington - Crab noodles - Laotian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Love their new location! They did such a great job with the new decor in this spot. It's very conveniently located to grocery stores so you can stop to get food during lunch or dinner. We got the Tom Yum soup, drunken noodles, and papaya salad. Everything we had was very tasty and they did a great job making food spicy. I wish for my drunken noodles the tofu was fried instead but in total very good. read more

Padaek - Arlington - Drunken noodle - Laotian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

We had an excellent first meal here with a couple of friends. Being able to sit outside was a blessing because it was a bit too cold inside. We had the beef jerky and spring rolls for appetizers. The jerky was flavorful even without the very nice spicy red sauce. I did not have the spring rolls because I was scarfing down the jerky but the others liked it. Our mains included two salads: the excellent laab, and the Tum Lao (super spicy as well as sour, terrific). Dick ordered a curry whose name I did not get, but I liked it. Also fairly spicy, My choice was the nam tok, ribs which I expected would come in a rack but instead it was flavorful slices with lots of salad on top. And Nancy got the eggplant salad which all of us liked, even Paul who usually does not like eggplant. Lots and lots to eat, we came away with many doggy containers. We look forward to returning to try more of the menu read more

When I heard that Padaek was getting a new location, I was so so sooo happy for them! I love the original location which is small and quaint-- like the vibe of an auntie or mom making a nice home cooked meal. However, with their new Arlington location, they've modernized into a hip and very aesthetic restaurant. Very different. It think the changes make a lot of sense. It appeals to the new neighborhood. While I think it's very cute and Instagrammable, I find that it is indistinguishable from other local restaurants' aesthetics. I am also happy to report that the food is still very good! Simply delicious. They seem to have added new menu items as well as alcoholic beverages. My friend and I ordered the Naem Khao Thadaeu (must order with the sour pork), Pad Thai, and the Crab Noodles. We also got the two of their specialty cocktails that wr both enjoyed. I'll probably continue getting take out at their Falls Church location, but definitely eat in at this one. The staff here are running a tight ship and you can tell how important the success of this new adventure is to them-- many of whom I recognize from their original location. I love to see it and they genuinely seem to love what they're doing. I can't wait to see them continue to succeed! read more

Padaek - Arlington - Crab Noodles & Naem Khao Thadaeu - Laotian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Came in for lunch on a weekend, it was not as busy as i thought it would be. We were seated immediately, water came quick, but there wasn't any ice in it and it was warm, tasted directly from the sink, yuck. I had to ask for ice. We ordered: Nam Khao thadaeu - 4/5 Pork Spring rolls - 4/5 Tum thai - 4/5 Drunken noodles beef - 3/5 Jaew bong fried rice - 2/5 Tom yum shrimp -2/5 Paa tawd - 5/5 From the bottom up, Paa tawd is made with fried catfish, they cook it so well that you cant tell its catfish, that distinguish taste to catfish. Sweet and tangy, its a must try. Tom yum soup is alright, i think they cooked it too long with the lime in the broth, it's over powering with boiled lime, yuck. Fried rice was too wet to be called fried rice. It's ok but not really fried if it's semi soggy. Drunken noodles had flavor to it, i got it with beef, beef was a little chewy and the entire dish is a tad salty. Tum thai is the papaya salad i didn't get to try but the family enjoy it. Spring rolls were pretty good, crispy and flavorful. The nam khao was an int dish for me, my bro loved it. It's a must try. I definitely would like to come back and try their other dishes, overall it's a keeper. read more

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I am OBSESSED with all of Chef Seng's restaurants. I've been to Padaek (in Falls Church) probably no less than 40 times, so when Chef opened up a new restaurant closer to me, I was elated. I've already been to the new Arlington Ridge location at least 10 times, and I have no plans on slowing down, especially since the menu at the ARL location is a bit more expansive than at the FC location. (Also, the ARL location is gorgeous! Kudos to the interior designer!) Listen to me when I say EVERYTHING ON THE MENU IS GOOD. If you've never been, here are some suggestions: - Tum Thai (Thai-style papaya salad): I love, love, love papaya salad and I can say that Padaek has the best version, hands down. It's not too sweet or too sour, the flavors are super balanced, and the papaya is always nice and crunchy. (If you're feeling adventurous, opt for the Tum Lao, which features fermented fish sauce for an extra punch of flavor.) - Sai oua (spicy herbal pork sausage): flavor-packed perfection. I'd suggest ordering a side of sticky rice to accompany the sausage, and dipping both into the accompanying green chili sauce. - Naem Khao Thadaeu (crispy rice salad): divine! Heaven sent, if you will. Get it spicy if you can handle it. - Aom (Lao herbal curry stew): it's so hearty and herbaceous and delicious. - Pad Thai Mun Goong (specialty shrimp pad Thai): I keep using the word delicious for everything, but this is truly delicious. I love a well-balanced pad Thai that packs flavor in every time, and this gets the job done. The Arlington Ridge location also has a full bar and happy hour at the bar M-F from 4-6! read more

Padaek - Arlington - Pad Thai Mun Goong - Laotian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Ate here 2 times and really like the food, but there's some things you need to know. First, not all of the dishes will satisfy a big hunger. I left feeling hungry. Next, they don't know what spicy means. The medium plus was very mild. Go for the Thai spice to see what that means. I will next time. Finally, they bring out the food when ready. My wife got her dish 5+ minutes before I did. On the plus side the food is tasty and worth the visit. IMO Prices are a little higher than they need to be given the location. read more

Having been to their original location a handful of times before, was excited to check out their new one in Arlington. Went here for dinner on a weeknight. Ordered Drunken Noodles with beef ($21) and Pad Thai Mun Goong ($21). The dishes are pricey compared to other restaurants in the area. I would say probably 25% more expensive. The drunken noodles were tasty, loved how spicy it was. But the beef was inedible due to the cut they used. It was tendons and cartilege pieces. We couldn't eat it and for $21, this was very disappointing. The noodles were also cut up in small pieces which was unusual. The Pad Thai with shrimp oil (Pad Thai Mun Goong) was good overall. Probably wouldn't come back due to the pricing. read more

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This place was amazing!! If you're craving Thai food full of flavor, Padaek is it! They had great service. Everyone was very nice. PANANG CURRY: I absolutely loved my Panang Chicken Curry. Full of flavor with just the right amount of heat. FRIED RICE: If you're undecided between the Jaew Bong Fried Rice and the Spicy Basil Fried Rice, go with the Jaew Bong. We tried both and the Jaew is so much better. The rice is reddish-orange so it looks like it absorbed all the spices. If you're looking for something that's not too intense and less complex then go with the Spicy Basil. It's great but the flavors aren't as strong. I love the flavor and spice in the food. read more

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Fantastic food and great service. The menu changes pretty regularly so it's always worth a re-visit. Servers are always happy to advise as well. read more

Padaek - Arlington - Whole branzino and catfish phet. - Laotian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

One of my favorite places to go eat, however we came for their buffet today and the food options felt very limited for $30 per person. One chicken dish, drunken noodle had tiny chicken pieces, eggplant with ground meat, and the rest were vegetarian. Tom yum was tofu and one dessert. I should've checked first before going with that option and ordered directly from the menu instead. Also, surprised they charge 7+ year old kids full price which is shocking considering my daughter barely ate a full plate. Again, should've checked but most places kids under 10 usually are half price. Unfortunately won't be coming back for the buffet option. Ended up with a $144 bill for 2 kids and 2 adults for LUNCH, not even dinner. Extremely disappointed. read more

Have only done takeout here but very flavorful and good portions. Have ordered here twice now

Finally got a chance to try this cute restaurant. It's definitely a neighborhood gem! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice Ambiance and very flavorful dishes.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more