Chiang Mai Thai Cookhouse — Restaurant in McLean

UPDATE! Since their move to a new location, Chiang Mai Thai in McLean has become one of the best thai food restaurants in northern Virginia!

The food, atmosphere, and friendly service in this medium-sized restaurant are exceptionally good!

Original post: I saw this little restaurant a few times on my way to other places and decided to give it a try.

Ordered two dishes by phone for pick up and carry out. The order process went smoothly, and the food, once received, was mediocre.

Upon arrival, I realized the four parking spots in front were sized too small, even for compact cars.

Several hand-written signs on the entry door and inside the tiny restaurant space said, "...baby sleeping...no cell phones or conversations please..." and another asked, "...for patience due to staff shortage."

The only people I saw were a couple sitting outside at a small bare table (no menu, food, drinks etc) and three patrons whispering over their food in cramped corner inside the doorway adjacent to a room divider that hid a crib with a small child near the kitchen.

After a few minutes, I peeked into the kitchen to see if there were any staff or signs of my to-go order.

A young man came out with a bag containing my order. I paid and left with the neatly organized paper bag. As mentioned, the food was prepared and packaged well, but the taste and quality were only adequate.

I reflected on what I had seen in the restaurant and felt compassion and appreciation for the operator who seemed to be momentarily overwhelmed but still doing his best to maintain his business.

There was also a sign that said the restaurant will be soon moving into the old "Greek Taverna" location around the corner in the near future.

I appreciate tenacity in the face of all the adversity that life can bring. My review is currently at 3 stars... but I will revisit Chiang Mai Thai in the new location when...

We enjoy Thai food and decided to have lunch at this highly rated restaurant today. It was fantastic. As soon as we entered, we noticed various decorative items throughout the restaurant. The ceiling was decorated with stylish metallic lanterns, creating a sophisticated atmosphere with vintage objects and collected items displayed on the shelves. Additionally, there was a large bar with various wine bottles on display.

The dishes we ordered were tasty and not overly heavy in flavor or sweetness. They were not Westernized Thai food but were similar to the authentic dishes we enjoyed while traveling in Thailand. We started with Lao papaya salad with fermented fish paste and fermented crab, served with a flavorful sauce and crunchy green papaya, nicely complemented by freshly deep-fried calamari rings. The shrimp pad Thai was delicious with tangy tamarind sauce, and the Beef Ka Pow Krob was delightful with a sweet chili garlic sauce that wasn't overpowering. Unfortunately, they were out of their signature desserts, so our server recommended the lemon pudding cake and Thai tea chocoflan, which were great, especially the Thai tea chocoflan!

Our experience at this restaurant was truly delightful. The food was excellent, the service was great, and the ambiance was just right. We left with a strong desire to return soon and sample more of its dishes, eager to recreate our...

Tastes like home! So mad at myself for not trying them out earlier. Got the Kanom Jeen Nam Nguaw noodle soup, green curry with tofu, papaya salad and Pad Thai with chicken for pick up and everything was amazing! I asked for the noodle soup and green curry to be Thai spicy and both dishes were wonderfully fiery! The noodle soup is a unique soup I’ve never had before. I could see adventurous eaters really loving this dish. I haven’t had any Asian curries in ages because it’s usually too rich and sweet. But here, it’s a beautifully balanced and flavorful dish. I love papaya salad and have had it everywhere and theirs is beautiful! Really appreciate that it’s not too sweet. Their pad Thai is hands down THE best I’ve ever had. It’s elegant and sophisticated, two adjectives I didn’t even know could apply to this dish. Customer service was excellent! Super nice on the phone, even called me when my order was ready and brought my order out to me!

They’re on that small road where Domino’s and the outdoor Four Seasons garden center are. This is my new go to...