We lived in southeast Asia for 6 years and visited Thailand many times, so we've eaten a lot of authentic Thai food. This was very different from any we've ever had there! Maybe the chef's time spent in Laos, Taiwan, and China has influenced her cooking style. We had Prik Khing Mu (a pork and green bean curry with a side of brown rice); it was pretty good, but very salty. We also had one of the "chef's specials": Bamee Nam Prik Pao (stir-fried fresh egg noodles w/ shrimp, chicken, and veggies w/ Thai chili paste); it was decent but forgettable. read more

Actual rating: 2.5 stars This is an authentic Thai restaurant. Authentic as in the temperature in the restaurant is not much cooler than streets of Bangkok, I would imagine. Every year, it's the same story. No air conditioning in the summer. Luckily for Bobby Flay, he came before the heat wave. So, why do I come back? Well, with all due respect, the food is pretty good and the servers are friendly -- I just hate coming here in the summer. Another criticism is the service. Before, there were young and very quick servers. On my latest visit, there was some poor old guy trying to keep up with the unfortunate young girl who had to pretty much serve the entire restaurant. Usually, when you are featured on TV, you upgrade your service. Sadly, Thai Basil has done the opposite it appears. Maybe the Bobby Flay appearance has gone to their head. So, back to the food. As I mentioned, it's pretty good, although their "signature" pad thai is not as good as advertised. In fact, it seems to have gone down a bit since the Throwdown. Maybe all the extra business has put the same strain on the kitchen as the air conditioner. With that said, I do really like the drunken noodles and the Tom Yum Ga. All in all, a pretty good place. However, certain intangibles do knock a 3.5 to 4 star food place down to 2.5 stars. At least in the summer. And right after a Bobby Flay repeat. read more

I really LOVE the Pad See Ew here. So much that I can't eat it anywhere else because other places just can't cut it. The fried catfish is also very good as well. If you want spicy, trust me, they will make it spicy unlike some other places. read more

So the first couple of times I was here I had decent meals, not the best Thai food I've had, but its close to my office, so I've dined here several times. On my first visit with my wife, she ordered the shrimp pad Thai, the signature dish of Nong, the owner/head chef, and it came out with only 4 shrimp. I found this odd on account of what Nong said in her "throwdown" with Bobby Flay that 7shrimp were lucky and therefore she always put 7 in her pad Thai. They weren't even large shrimp and there were only 4. The next few visits were uneventful until I went back with a coworker this past Tuesday. He ordered the chicken pad Thai, and I the pork pad kra praw. I have had this same dish here with pork a few times before and it came out to my liking, though on this occasion it was off. By the time we made it back to the office, I was already starting to feel the effects of the tainted meal. I had a fever nearly instantly, followed by diarrhea. I have never had a uti until now, which studies have now shown can be linked to e. Coli bacteria being ingested. This has been a miserable experience following a series of lackluster performances of whoever the chef may be. I will not be dining here again, and I urge anyone else to be wary of dining here themselves, at the very least don't get the pork. read more

This restaurant totally lived up to the hype. I went because I heard the chef beat Bobby Flay on some Chef Throwdown show on the Food Network, and was absolutely impressed. The location and decor are nothing special, but their food more than makes up for it. My fiance and I shared the Tom Ka Gai and steamed dumplings which were scrumptious and flavorful. We then shared the Shrimp Pad Thai and both agreed it was the best we'd had. For dessert we ate the Sticky Rice with Thai Custard which perfectly completed our meal. 5 Stars absolutely, I'm definitely going back!!! read more

A-OK. Although they need to get rid of the on-table advertisements and stop milking the whole Throwdown thing already :)

3.5 stars. For as much as they advertise about the throwdown with Bobby Flay, the pad thai was about on par with the pad thai I had everywhere else. The "thai spicy" was the right amount of spicy and not overly done. We went at around 4 p.m. on a Sunday and the food came out within 10 minutes after ordering. There was this uncomfortable part where the owner (?) came to our table and started to tell us a string of horror customer stories (e.g. pretend to have hair in food). Maybe we just looked like nice people who would listen? read more

Long since removed from the spotlight of the food network, Thai Basil is still turning out great dishes. In terms of the western block of NoVa this is one of the better places to get your Thai fix. To be honest I've not had the Pad Thai that made this place so well known, I'm really more of a curry man. But on our last visit I ordered the beef with basil, a staple of all Thai menus. The waiter asked each of us how how we'd like our dishes. So when ordering dont necessarily go by the chili pepper icons on the menu. Both hot and mild dishes can be modified for heat. They use a scale; 1, American Hot, 2. Mexican Hot, 3. Thai Hot, 4. Laos Hot. The food was great, the wife enjoyed and finished her pad see ew. What this place needs is a little bit of a facelift. The interior is just a bit dingy and the carpet looks ratty. Also the service was inattentive at times. read more

A great place with very good Thai food. Many authentic dishes. If you're wary of spice be very specific. "American" spiciness will still overpower. I always evaluate a good Thai restaurant by trying their Pad Thai. No peanut butter in their recipe, only an authentic, homemade sauce is used that even beat out Bobby Flay on "Throw down with Bobby Flay". This place is always packed at lunch and not a huge place either way. Definitely recommended. read more

Everything is delicious!! #1 Crying Tiger. Not great parking but everything else makes up for it.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS PLACE?? I used to dine here all the time over the years. Unfortunately, today was my last visit! I should've known something was wrong when the tables were empty. I brushed it off because I was excited to dine here again. I ordered my usual appetizers--splendid wings & spring rolls. I was shocked when the wings & spring rolls came out in less than 5 mins! The wings were old & you could smell the rotted flesh! The spring rolls were dry & greasy! I was so pissed but now we have our meals coming!! We ordered Pad Thai & the Thai Combo Fried rice. The rice smelled like spoiled chicken & the pork had a greenish undertone! The health department needs to pay them a visit ASAP! My stomach is hurting from biting into the wing! I'm so done with Thai Basil & pretty sure they'll be out of business soon!! read more

I've been coming to Thai Basil for a couple years now and it never disappoints. I typically order Drunken Noodles and always love the dish. My only negative is the spiciness is inconsistent, so it's hard to know whether to order 2 or 3 peppers for spice level. The service is quick, so ideal for lunch during the work week. read more

We came into the restaurant not expecting much due to the 3.5 star rating. We came out very satisfied with the restaurants food. The food came out fast and we loved the fried shrimp dumplings. The peanut sauce on our main course dishes was to perfection. The place wasn't too busy at the time we were here, so we had great service. read more

This was my first lunch outing in Chantilly and I was not disappointed. I love Thai food and I will try it any chance that I get. The offerings were pretty standard Thai fare and there were some lunch specials. I tried the beef massaman curry and it was tasty. The portion was an actual lunch portion so I thought it was a tad on the "expensive" side for some of the other lunch offerings in the area. The spring rolls were delicious and the staff was friendly. Had a Thai tea and the service was fast. I would go again, but first I want to try the other Thai places in the area. read more

I shared the shrimp pad thai (~$12) with my sister (spicy level = 2 peppers). I love spicy food, and two was spicy enough to make me happy, but still make the food enjoyable. Can't complain! Our server, who seemed like the owner, was super nice, which is always a plus. read more

I ate with my extended family for a Saturday night dinner. We made reservations, since it was a pretty big group. I thought the service was pretty nice and fast. The waiters brought out our food pretty quickly, and we didn't have to wait too long even though we had ordered many dishes We ate family style, so I tried multiple dishes - pad thai, drunken noodles, splendid wings, crispy duck, panang curry, and crying tiger. They were all pretty good, but weren't exceptional or rave-worthy. I read some of the reviews before eating at the restaurant, so I hadn't set my expectations too high. It's a nice restaurant and I enjoyed the food, so I would recommend. Just don't expect something amazing. read more

This place has never been known for great thai food regardless of beating Flay. When we walked in, there was absolutely no customer, that should of been a major scream to turn around and go elsewhere, but decided to stay and give it a try. Ordered chicken satay, what a joke, flimsy tiny skewer chicken, dry absolutely no taste and $7 bucks for this?! Ordered chicken Pad Thai, all I saw was 3 piece of chicken, the noodles had no tamarind flavor, and also ordered chicken Panang, other place has nothing but chicken, this place adds lots of carrots, onions, few shreds of chicken and for 10 bucks for that, LOL! I was so disappointed, should of called it vegetable panang! The staffs acted they didn't want to be there, we'll yeah with no customers! I left feeling hungry, went and grabbed burger, can't go wrong with that! I'll drive a little further and go to Duangrats for some real Thai next time! read more

We were looking for a place to eat after visiting the Air and Space Museum near Dulles airport and found this Thai restaurant through the Yelp mobile app. The ratings are true, this is one of the best Thai places I've been to in the DC area. The Tom Yum Gong was one of the best I've had. The food was well spiced and not toned down for "Americans" as many Thai places do. I'll definitely be back here again if I'm looking for a meal near Dulles airport. read more

This place is great! If it's your first time, you have to order the signature pad thai! Try the appetizers too! I recommend whatever appetizer special that is written on their chalkboard when you walk in! Keep in mind that the place gets really crowded at lunch time. Go early. The line will be out the door by noon. read more

3.75 stars, actually. I had heard about the "Throwdown" episode and also from a good friend that this place was awesome. So, I packed an overnight bag (I jest) and ventured OTB (outside the Beltway) just to come here. I was disappointed. It was good, definitely better than your average neighborhood Thai place, don't get me wrong. But it wasn't outstanding, and sure doesn't beat my beloved Mai Thai in Old Town. If I lived nearby, I would come back, but it's definitely not destination dining. read more

Yes, yes, the food network/bobby flay stuff may be a bit over the top, but it really is very good! The service my wife and I receive when we go is excellent. I love going to places where management always comes around, and in this case its the owner, she is dedicated to her craft, and it shows. We can't wait to go back again. read more

Food is definitely good, but their not very generous on portions. Especially their white rice..

I think this place is probably a bit overrated. The location is awful and the interior is a bit tired. I'd easily overlook both of these things if the food were spectacular, but it isn't. I consider this an average Thai restaurant. The food here is OK, but neither the food nor the service will blow you away and it certainly doesn't justify the drive. read more

We went to this joint because we heard a lot of things since it was on Bobby Flay. We had the Pad Thai and it was good as good as the TV show made it maybe not. It was a little bit on the sweet side also. So it was good but not extraordinary and the price was one the higher end for portion size. Also tried the Pad See Aw and it was better than the Pad Thai but I agree that it was a little oily. read more

Just ok. Nothing special, had ok flavors for our curry dishes. Thai tea was very good. Probably wouldn't come back. We will stick to our normal Thai place as trying different ones haven't lived up to ours. read more

Great Pad Thai, what else can you say, she beat Bobby Flay. Its tucked away in a shopping center right off of Route 50, if your in Chantilly, definitely worth stopping by. read more

I'm always on the lookout for non-trendy Thai, and I've finally reached the much discussed Thai Basil. First I heard how great it was, "they beat Bobby Flay," then the naysayers had their say, "it is so greasy and overrated," and now it's my turn. For me it was nice solid 3. Good, but it didn't blow me away, and while the food isn't the trendy-watered down crap you usually get from Thai restaurants in NoVA, I'm not sure it's so good that I'll make it a point to go back, at least not at that price. The famous Pad Thai was better than most, but not the very best I've had. The best I've had was homemade by a Thai chef. The next best are a couple other restaurants that nearly approximated the homemade. This would be fit in next. It had the spicyness, sweetness, peanut, and a certain greasiness that comes with good Thai, but was missing the sourness I love so much. The other dishes (curry and something else) rate about the same -- good, certainly better than average for NoVA, but not enough to blow me away. All in all solid, though slightly overpriced. Ultimately, for me it' a matter of going here or paying the same prices and driving the same distance to Arlington, and I think more often than not Arlington will win out. read more

I first saw this place on the Food Network.. With Bobby Flay,... I came here with my Mom and my son.. The waiter and waitress were rude as if they were trying to rush us out. The food was bland I've had better Pad Thai.. read more

We 4 checked it out after visiting the Udvar-Hazy Center (Smithsonian) at Dulles, based on the positive reviews, and found we all agreed that the better reviews were more accurate. For the food quality, prices and value, it's a 5-star, though I rate it at 4 due to its unimpressive, hard-to-find location in a strip center southwest of Dulles Airport, and cramped tables. We ordered 2 different appetizers and 4 entrees, and all 6 dishes were very well prepared. The drunken noodles were milder than we're used to, but still very tasty, and the waitress provided us a spice and sauce platter when we asked for it, to spice it up a bit. The beef dishes had plenty of good beef, and the shrimp dishes likewise. Pad Thai was excellent. Don't recall the names of the others, but ALL the dishes were delicious. The wait staff was very casual but friendly and responsive. Food was a bit rushed, but others might call it "good quick service." Beers were reasonably priced, too. If we lived closer, we'd make a point of going back. If I am in that general area again, though, I'll look forward to returning. read more

Yum, yum, yum! Came here with a co-worker while we were in town for a meeting. I started with the Tofu Soup. A simple dish, but flavorful. I loved that it was topped off with fried garlic. My pad thai was delicious - the perfect combination of sweet, tangy, and crunchy... and the noodles and chicken were cooked perfectly! My co-worker was very happy with her curry. Success!! read more

I heard about this restaurant from a segment about making curry paste on "The Splendid Table" on NPR/WAMU 88.5, which featured the chef. Everything was really delicious from start to finish. We strongly recommend the fish cakes for an appetizer. Super light and very flavorful. Very easily the best I've ever had. Tried two soups: both were excellent. Rich coconut flavor in one, outstandingly fresh light tomato in the other. The excellence continued with the entrees. My matsuman curry was bold and the beef was fall-apart tender. Finished the meal with a slice of blueberry cheesecake which was superb. Fresh blueberries, tasty blueberry sauce (with just a hint of lime was it?). During our visit, we experienced attentive waitstaff and a lovely visit to our table from Chef Nong. She clearly enjoys sharing knowledge about Thai cuisine--when we thanked her for explaining a dish to us, she happily exclaimed we needed to be sure to come back to try everything on the menu. As she departed out table, Chef Nong exuberantly told us her new cookbook came out that day! Since I'm unlikely to be able to cook any of the recipes in jt as perfectly as she, I'm glad there's Thai Basil in Chantilly. read more

Hidden in a strip shopping center, easy to miss. Thai Basil serves great Thai food at reasonable prices. I had the Chicken Drunken Noodles, highly recommended. read more

Good service...got the satay, spring rolls and curry puffs...got the beef kapow....was very good.

I always gave them 4+ stars. But today's experience left a lot to be desired. The food flavors have gone down the last 2 times I have been there. read more

Nothing really big deal on the famous pad thai they have. I have been to different thai resto and im sure i have tastes better pad thai than this. But ambiance is good and quick serve as well. read more

For being across the world from Thailand, this is as close as one can get! The curry and Thai Tea are awesome. The restaurant is even complete with lovely Thai basil plants outside. Its noticeable that the owners have taken real care and put a lot of patience into their business, and done a good job of delivering a Thai experience to Virginia! read more

The quality has gone down...We ordered chicken drinken noodles and fried rice...After eating, the kids well sick that night because of rotten chicken that was used.... Actually one of our kid fainted and had to go to emergency room....It was crazy and didn't expect this from Thai Basil...Complained to the manager and he said Hopeless Sorry to me...Watch out!!! read more

I've been going here for years and always enjoy it! I can't think of one meal I've disliked. Highly recommend the crispy duck!

Got take out from this place last week. Thought the chicken pad thai was ok - the chicken was a little dried out. Maybe it was because I didn't eat it fresh at the restaurant. Will try again... read more

Everything on the menu is delicious! This place bet Bobby Flay in a "Throwdown" so you know it's got to be good! The service is fast and the food is fast and delicious! I think the owner is always there...he is always chatty and pleasant. This could be a low-key first date location, the food is great and the atmosphere is peaceful and lively. Enjoy!!!!!! read more