Kao Sarn Thai Street Food — Restaurant in Falls Church

Avoid at All Costs – This is Not Thai Food If you’re looking for authentic Thai cuisine, Kao Sarn Thai Street Food in Falls Church is the last place you want to visit.

Let’s start with the papaya salad—or whatever they tried to pass off as one. This wasn’t Som Tum. It was plain shredded papaya soaked in fish sauce and sugar. No chili, no lime, no vibrance. Just a soggy, foul mess. Don’t be fooled by the name.

Then came the chicken skewers. Dry, flavorless, and borderline inedible. I don’t know how you ruin grilled chicken, but they found a way.

The coconut ice cream was next. Except it wasn’t ice cream. After 30 minutes sitting out, it didn’t melt—not even a little. That’s not a dessert, that’s a synthetic science experiment gone wrong.

Then there was the khao soi chicken—which was nothing more than coconut milk with a hint of spice and zero complexity. The chicken thigh was bone-dry, which is the opposite of what it should be when simmered in curry. Whoever made this dish clearly has no connection to real Thai cuisine.

To round out the disaster, we ordered the mango sticky rice, a dish so foundational that most Thai restaurants get it right in their sleep. But not here. The rice was soggy and way too sweet. The “coconut sauce” tasted like it was scooped straight out of a can without any preparation. It was insulting.

I’ve had Thai food at over 300 restaurants. This is hands down one of the worst meals I’ve ever had. Calling this “Thai street food” is not only misleading—it’s an embarrassment. The chef either doesn’t care or doesn’t know what they’re doing. Either way, they should not be behind the scenes at a restaurant claiming Thai authenticity.

Do yourself a favor: skip this place. You won’t miss anything but...

Delightful little hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant! I never thought I would be looking for anything other than Vietnamese food in the Eden Center, but this hidden gem surprised me with their outstanding food, friendly service, and great prices. I visited Kao Sarn with a fairly large group for late weekend lunch. We had just gotten back from a long hike so were fairly ravenous, but, thankfully, Kao Sarn was super efficient and got our food to us really quickly. I ordered their yen ta fo, a traditional Thai pink noodle soup made with rice noodles, a variety of seafood, veggies, and tofu. The gorgeous pink color comes from red fermented bean curd, which not only gives the soup a beautiful hue, but also imparts a deep, rich umami flavor. The dish was outstanding, with an incredible flavor from the broth, tons of perfectly cooked mixed seafood, and a generous portion of tender, easily slurpable wide rice noodles. The bowl was topped with two large fried wonton wrappers, which added a great crunch to the dish.

We were seated at a wooden picnic table outside of the actual restaurant, but inside of the broader complex the restaurant was located inside of. The hallway was very quiet and peaceful, although it seemed like the inside of the actual restaurant was...

We wanted Thai for dinner and Kai Sarn was a close by restaurant that we never tried. Eden Center was very quiet for a Saturday night but it was very cold today. Maybe it was our best timing, but this restaurant was the only place in the strip mall that was crowded (or open)! Granted this place is tiny! We decided to sit at one of their tables outside in the mall’s hallway. Pro - not crowded. Con - Cigarette smoke that we have no idea where it’s coming from. Service was exceptional! It was like they knew when we were ready to order and was right by our table to take it. It wasn’t long til our chicken satay appetizer was served. Very tender and tasty with the peanut sauce. Soon after my YenTaFo Noodle Soup came out. Nicely robust in flavor even though I ordered it mild. I loved the flat noodles. My dinner mate ordered the Drunken Noodles. Also ordered it mild which she wished she had asked for something a little more spicier. It didn’t help the dish was slightly burnt. But overall the meal was good and service...