Amina Thai Rockville — Restaurant in North Bethesda

This is a unique one in that it boasts of having a halal (Islamic equivalent of Jewish kosher) kitchen, so you will notice that ingredients that the religion considers unclean (pork or crab) are missing from the menu, which isn't a negative but a big positive for those with such religious dietary restrictions. Imagine trying to dine out without violating your religious or vegan convictions!

Accordingly, the ladies have their head coverings, which again isn't a negative, but can and does make you feel that you have entered another's religious domain rather than just another restaurant while dining out. This is quite common in many Thai and Vietnamese eateries, where the proprietors put their religious convictions on public display, usually an idol seated in a little shrine whether Buddhist or Catholic. As much as I admire their boldness and living their convictions in all spheres of their lives, I think most of us prefer NOT to know what the proprietor's religion is. Would anyone want to dine in a temple? Maybe while on exotic tour overseas, most likely not at the neighborhood restaurant.

But that's not why I gave such low marks. The 2 items we ordered did not taste delicious, I would say less than authentic Thai (I spent 5 years in Bangkok) though all of them speak Thai, presentation is quite unremarkable (my ice coffee is served in a plastic tumbler), this is probably the most forgettable Pad Thai with chicken (too wet too sweet with little to no herbs or vegetables) that I have ever had, and the Yam Nua (grilled beef salad) is terribly disappointing, the beef is NOT grilled steak, not even pan sheared, which made us glad we only ordered 2 items to see if the chef is worthy of us trying a 3rd item. They have 2 floor fans blowing in the dining room, the room temperature is comfortably cool, so I am not sure why they have fans.

I wish them well, if only to serve those with religious dietary restrictions, but I am not returning. Actually, I do seek a religious experience when I dine out, to enjoy culinary creations that are out of this world, or at a minimum well above what I can make at home, in a setting that reminds me of Creation's beauty and harmony, so I would long for paradise (now forever lost) to come. A few miles from here, just 3 days ago, I experienced that. See my review...

I find this very extremely weird when most of Maryland restaurants are open to public indoor outdoor but I was not aware that most of the area surrounding DC or close DC are not open to public. This restaurant food was good not the best in my opinion but the services was so extremely terrible not just the server but also the owner of the restaurant I drove all the way from Baltimore Maryland to this restaurant for my 13th Wedding Anniversary there is no dining in so then we proceeded to place our orders and ate it in our vehicle driving back 🤦‍♂️ 😤 on top of that two orders out of five or wrong I specifically asked for chicken noodles for my son and she gives me chicken rice but while I was there i nicely asked just like any other customer why aren’t you guys open yet to the public the owner then proceeded to talk very unprofessionally and has the rude and literally in front of my she has audacity to talk to me like she is the customer like I asked her why aren’t you guys open yet and she’s like “I don’t feel like opening you have a problem”, I’m like wow first time to this place in the last time I would come to this place I would rather give my business to Indo Chinese in Silver Spring most families I know surrounding this restaurant will never go there again this restaurant can bet on it as well as stay warm with their PPP/SBA LOANS. Trust me if I was a food critic this...

Very disappointed in my experience here last night. The owner was disrespectful, rude, and was making it seem as though we were a burden in her restaurant. She pretty much threw our plates at us yelled "here you go" "pass it down" very loud and obnoxiously. We heard amazing things about this place, drove pretty far to come down, and left regretting ever coming. We ordered one dish spicy and everything came out spicy to the point where it was unbearable. We felt awkward even asking for an extra plate or refill of water. I would understand if she was stressed because it was super busy...but it wasn't busy. This was no way to treat a customer, even if you're having a bad day. She even got mad that my dad wanted to look at the menu while we ordered. The other young employee was fine. But nonetheless, ever...